A sermon preached at St. Clemens Danes at the funeral of Mr. George Heycock by Thomas Fuller ... Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A40687 of text R6581 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing F2464). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 37 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 14 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A40687 Wing F2464 ESTC R6581 12581462 ocm 12581462 63783 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A40687) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 63783) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 960:32) A sermon preached at St. Clemens Danes at the funeral of Mr. George Heycock by Thomas Fuller ... Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661. [4], 22 p. Printed by R.W. ..., London : 1657. Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library. eng Heycock, George, d. 1657? Funeral sermons. Sermons, English -- 17th century. A40687 R6581 (Wing F2464). civilwar no A sermon preached at St. Clemens Danes, at the funeral of Mr. George Heycock. By Thomas Fuller, B.D. Fuller, Thomas 1657 6895 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 B The rate of 4 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-09 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-10 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2002-10 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A SERMON Preached at St. Clemens Danes , At the FUNERAL OF Mr. George Heycock . By Thomas Fuller , B. D. ECCLES. 7.2 . It is better to go to the house of mourning , then to go to the house of feasting : for that is the end of 〈…〉 the living will lay it to heart . LONDON , Printed by R. W. Anno Dom. 1657. To the Friends of the party deceased . IT grieved me when I was to perform the last office to our deceased Friend , that I had scarce the stump of a voice left me , so that very few did distinctly hear what I did deliver . This hath made me the more willingly condescend to your desire in Printing this Sermon , that your Eye may peruse what your Ear did not receive . And as you have honoured your dead Friend in attending his Corpse in so sad and solemn an equipage , so you shall truly honour your selves , in following his example , and imitating those vertues which were eminent in him . This is the desire of Your unfeigned friend , Thomas Fuller ACTS 13.36 . For David after he had served his own generation after the will of God , fell asleep , &c. IN this Chapter Saint Paul doth demonstrate the Resurrection of our blessed Saviour by three several places of Scripture , foretold and now fulfilld . The Law saith , in the mouth of two or three witnesses the truth shall be established . Two may , Three must do the deed ; Two make full measure , Three make measure pressed down and running over . And such doth the Apostle give us in the proof of this point . The first place he citeth Psalm 2.7 . Thou art my son , this day have I begotten thee : The second , Isaiah 55.3 . I will give you the sure mercies of David : The last , Psalm 16.11 . Thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption . It is observable , that the same Text , Acts 2.31 . is also alledged , expounded , applyed and pressed by Saint Paul to prove the Resurrection of Christs body uncorrupted . See here the holy Harmony betwixt the two Apostles . Though Peter and Paul had a short and sharp contest at Antioch , Galat. 2.11 . where Paul withstood him to his face ; yet here their hearts , and hands , and tongues , meet lovingly together in the improving of the same portion of Scripture : Both of them shew first negatively , how it could not litterally be meant of David , ( whose body was corrupted and his Sepulchre remained amongst them unto that day ) and therefore positively must be meant mystically and prophetically of Christ . Now as I am charitably confident that all who hear me this day , are satisfied and assured herein , That our Saviours body saw no corruption , so give me leave to be jealous over you with a godly jealousie , for fear some mistake the cause of this his incorruptibility , and bottom it on a false foundation . Some perchance may impute it to the shortness of the time he lay in his grave , being but a day and two pieces of a day , numero rotundo , though currente stilo they commonly be called and counted three daies . These do ponere non causam pro causa ; for the time was long enough in that hot Countrey , to cause putrefaction , considering that our Saviours body was much bruised and broken with the whips , nails , and spears , ( besides the effusion of much blood ) which would the sooner have invited corruption . Others perchance put the untaintedness of his body upon the account of the great quantity of Myrrh and Aloes ( about an hundred pound weight ) and other precious spices , wherewith Ioseph and Nicodemus , Iohn 19.39 . imbalmed it . This also is an unsound opinion ; for all the spices of Arabia cannot secure a corpse from putrifying , though they may preserve it that such putrifaction shall not be noysom to others in the ill savour thereof , not keeping it from corrupting , but from offending . The true reason is this , Though Christs soul was parted from his body , ( and where disposed of , God only knows , during his remainder in the grave ) yet the union with the Deity was never dissolved , which priviledged his corpse from corruption . So that had it been possible ( which was impossible , as is inconsistent with Gods promise and pleasure ) for his corpse to have lien in the grave till this instant , they had been perpetuated in an intire estate , whilst it is true of David as it is in the Text , after he had served his own generation by the will of God , he fell on sleep , and was laid unto his Fathers , and saw corruption . Observe in the words four principal parts ; 1. What a generation is . 2. What it is to serve ones generation . 3. How David served his own generation . 4. How we after his example are to serve ours . Of these in order , and first we will consider what a generation is . A Generation is a company of men and women , born , living and dying much about the same time : I say , much about the same time ; for seven years , under or over , sooner or later , breaketh no squares herein , but that the said persons are reducible to the same generation . Thus , Mat. 1.17 . All the Generations from Abraham to David , are fourteen Generations : and from David ▪ untill the carrying away into Babylon , are fourteen Generations : & from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ , are fourteen Generations . Now all generations are not of equal extent ; so admirable the Longevitie of those before the Flood , compared to our short lives , since God for our sins hath contracted the cloth of our life to three score and ten years , and all is but a course List which is more then that measure , Psalm 90.10 . And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years , yet is their strength labour and sorrow , for it is soon cut off , and we flie away . It is remarkable , that Three Generations are alwaies at the same time on foot in the world ; namely , 1. The Generation rising . 2. The Generation shining . 3. The Generation setting . For should God clear the earth of all men at once , mankind could not be recruted but by miracle ; besides , neither humane Arts nor Sciences ; nor could the Scripture hansomly be handed and delivered from one Generation to another . God therefore of his goodness doth so order it , that rather then any empty Interval should happen betwixt them , one Generation should fold and lap over another . These three degrees were most visibly conspicuous in the Levites , which till five and twenty years of age , were learning Levites , thence till fifty , acting Levites , ( as being then in the strength of their age ) imployed in the portage of the Tabernacle , and after fifty , had a Writ of ease from bodily labour , though they may be presumed to be busied in the teaching of others . Pass we now to explain what it is to serve our Generation . To serve it , is to discharge our conscience according to Gods will in his word , to our superiours , equals , inferiours , all persons to whom we stand related in our generation . And the more eminent the person is in Church and State , the more are his references multiplyed , and the more publick and ponderous the service is which he is to perform . Nor must it be forgotten , that David was a King , in which respect it was proper for him to rule and command his own Generation ; and yet it is said , he served the same . Princes are not priviledged by their greatness , only to tyranize over others , but are accountable to God , how well they discharge their duty to all such to whom they are respected . Proceed we to see how David served his generation , which he did in an eight-fold capacity . First as a dutifull son to his Father and Mother . 1 Sam. 22.3 . And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab , and he said unto the King of Moab , Let my Father and Mother , I pray thee come forth , and be with you , till I know what God will do for me . And he brought them before the King of Moab , and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold . The case was thus , David foresaw that the tempest of Sauls fury would fall full heavy on his Fathers family ; he soresaw also that though he himself might be alwaies on the wing , hunted from place to place as a Patridge on the Mountain , yet his aged P●rents could not keep pace with his suddain , uncertain , unseasonable , late and long removeance , and therefore as a dutifull son he provided for them a private place of peaceable repose . Secondly he served his generation as a very loving Brother , witness the dangerous visit ( which at his Fathers command ) he gave his Brethren in the Camp , ( when Goliah was in the field ) victualling them with all necessary provision , on the same token that he received nothing for his pains save a jeer from Eliab his eldest brother . 1 Sam. 17.28 . Why camest thou down hither ? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness ? I know thy pride , and the naughtiness of thine heart ; for thou art come down , that thou mightest see the battle . Thirdly he served his generation as a kind and carefull Husband I will not excuse his Polygamie , having many wives at once , nor dare I flatly condemn it , God conniving thereat in the antient Patriarchs . However David cannot be charged with want of love amongst his store of wives . Once I confess he made a tart and sharp return to Michal , 2 Sam. 6.21 . mocking him for dancing before the Ark . But was there not a cause , when through the sides of David she struck at all true devotion ? and smartness on such occasion is zeal , and no trespass against Marital affection . Fourthly he served his generation as a tender Father indeed ; he faulty , it was in the excess , being over-indulgent to Absolom and Adonjah , whom he never took to task nor called to account , ( 1 Kings 1.6 . ) Why have you done so ? ( and seeing he would not use the rod on them , God therefore used them as a rod on him ) such cockering we confess is a catching disease amongst us parents ; but to give David his due , for the main , he behaved himself no doubt as a discreet and tender Father to his numerous issue . Fifthly , he was a fast and faithfull Friend ; witness the exchange of hearts as well as cloathes , which passed betwixt him and Ionathan : yea David made a tripartite expression of his affection . 1. He loved Ionathan in his life , 2. Lamented him at , 3. Shewed mercy to him , after his death , 2 Sam. 9.3 . in restoring Mephiboseth to all his lands , and making him Fellow-Commoner at his own Table ; So that we may truly say and justifie the expression , There was two men , Jonathan and David ; and it will be made good by the Rules of Amity , if any question the phrase in the Rule of Grammer . Sixthly , he was a loyall Subject , whereof he gave two signal testimonies , like to find more to admire then to imitate them amongst posterity , if any should chance to be estated in his condition with the same advantage : For being Reversion'd to the Crown , he twice had an opportunity ( if so pleased ) to put himself into the present possession thereof . Once when he had Saul in the Cave , 1 Sam. 24.5 . and his heart smot him for being over-bold with Gods annointed , though he did but cut off a skirt of his Garment . Again , 1 Sam. 26.12 . when he found Saul asleeping , and ( if so disposed ) might have left him a sleeping , till the sound of the last Trumpet should summon him to awake . A surly General walking the Round , and finding one of his Centinels asleep , nailed him with his spear to the earth , and excused his act with this jest , ( whether witty or cruel , let others judge ) Dormientem inveni , Dormientem reliqui ; Sleeping I found him , and sleeping I left him . David might have done the like , especially seeing Abisha ( not to say Providence ) impelled him thereunto , but would not ( as having a principle of piety within him , which remonstrated against such proceedings . ) Seventhly , he was a prudent Soveraign both in peace and war , in Court and Camp , for the space of full forty years , going in and out before the people of Israel , whom he ruled prudently with all his might . I confess his son Absolom taxed him with neglect of the affairs of State , 2 Sam. 15.3 . that no man was deputed by him to hear the causes and redress the grievances of his oppressed subjects . But what saith our plain proverb , Ill will never speaks well . And therefore I listen to Absoloms words as to a loud Libell ; and we should be no less injurious to our own judgements then to Davids innocence , in giving credit to a proud ambitious son , against an holy and humble Father . Eightly and lastly , David served his generation as a gracious Saint ; this was the Diamond of the Ring , and I have kept the best wine for the last , to close and conclude Davids character therewith . He is termed in this Chapter , ver. 22. a man after Gods own heart , being the best transcript or copy of the best Original . Objection . But you wittingly , and willingly , and wilfully , will some say , have suppressed and concealed a necessary truth , because tending to Davids disparagement . Saint Paul saith , Titus 3.3 . that some men serve divers lusts and pleasures , and so did David himself . He did not serve his generation , but his own wicked wantonness , when he imbroydered his Adultery with Bathsheba with the Murder of Uriah . Answer , O not a word , not a syllable , not a letter , not a tittle hereof . God hath forgotten it , why should man remember it ? God hath cast it behind his back , why should we cast it in the teeth of Davids memory ; let us never mention it to his disgrace , but for our own direction ; Partly to teach us not to trust in our selves , lest we fall into sin ; partly to comfort us , that after sin committed , pardon is obtainable on our unfeigned repentance . Yea this is a very comfortable consideration , That though there be many faults , failings and defects in our performances , yet if there be sincerity ( Gospel perfection ) therein , if our hearts be set to seek the Lord God of our Fathers , God will be mercifull unto us , though we be not purified according to the purification of the Sanctuary . Thus Lot ( notwithstanding the soul fact of Incest committed by him ) is called a righteous man , 2 Pet. 2.8 . Men opprobriously taint and term people by the obliquity of one irregular act , which with uncharitable tongues is enough to ecclipse yea extinguish the credit of all other graces in him ; but God doth Denominate and Epithite persons from the rectitude of the general habit of their lives ; yea by him such shall be reputed , accepted , received to serve our generation . To conclude this point , he was a witty man who first taught stones to speak by engraving of Epitaphs upon them : But he was wicked man who first taught stones to lie , abusing posterity with notorious untruths in flattering Inscriptions on many Monuments ; but I call malice it self to witness , whether the ensuing Epitaph might not with modest truth be ingraved on Davids Sepulchre ; Here lieth interred the Corpse of him who when living , was a dutiful Son , a loving Brother , a kind Husband , a tender Father , a faithfull Friend , a loyall Subjct , a provident Soveraign , a gracious Saint ; in a word , one who served his own Generation after the will of God . But should I stop here , I should not do right to Davids deserts . Be it known that besides the serving his own Generation , David did and doth serve all Generations in the world as long as time shall last , as being the instrumentall Author of the Psalms . Far be it from me to make odious comparisons betwixt either persons or things that are eminent , or to set difference betwixt Gods Word ( as once the Disciples fell out amongst themselves which should be the greatest ) which is the most heavenly part thereof ; but surely the Psalms are inferiour to no part of the Old Testament . The Rabins have a fond conceit , that Manna did relish in the mouthes of men as the Eaters thereof did fancy to themselves , having the Gust of flesh , fish or fowl , roast , boyl'd , or bak'd , as the eater thereof did wish or desire : I call this a fond conceit , as contrary to an express in Scripture , Exodus 16.31 . wherein the taste thereof is confined to wafers made with honey . But this I will boldly say and maintain , that the Psalms of David shall relish to an hungry soul , as he shall ( not out of humour and causeless fancy , but ) judiciously desire it . Wouldst thou have it taste bitter ? it shall taste bitter and reprove thee ; taste sweet ? it shall taste sweet and comfort thee ; taste betwixt both , bitter-sweet ? it shall bitter-sweet counsel and advise thee . Proceed we now to application : It serveth to confute three sorts of people : First the covetous , who are so far from serving their Generation , that they will scarce serve themselves , and allow necessaries for their own comfortable subsistence . Secondly , the voluptuous man , who only serveth himself and is good to no other . These instead of saying , Let us fast and pray , say , Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die . Thirdly the superstitious man , who immureth himself in a Cloyster , crying his life up for an high piece of holiness , burying both his parts and person therein . Surely the Church and State he liveth in , may justly commence a suit , and have an action of debt against him , for not repaying them proportionably to his abilities , who by his laziness will not serve his Generation . Others there are , who are so far from serving their Generation , That they dis-serve it , and do much mischief thereunto , either by their bad writings or vicious example . Bad writings , either scurrilous against modesty , or scandalous against charity , or blasphemous against piety , as either in maintaining erroneous opinions , or defending vicious practises ; such black broods are bad whilest in their nests , concealed in the studies of their Authors , but well worse when fledg'd and flown abroad into the world , so that it is not in the power of the Hen to clock in her own Chickens again , and recall what they have composed . Secondly , they are not only unprofitable , but destructive servants to posterity , who leave the Copies of bad examples behind them , so that they know not when they have done sinning ; yea it is to be feared , that whilst their souls are suffering in a wofull place , they still may be sinning here on earth . If it be true what * Symmachus saith , Author est bonorum sequentium qui bonum relinquit exemplum ; By the same proportion , he that leaveth an ill Precedent , is the Father and Founder of all the evil which may ensue thereupon ; like Ieroboam seldom mentioned in Scripture but with his train sweeping after him , the son of Nebat which made Israel to sin . God grant that when we die , our sins may be buried in our Graves , or rather ( which is a more Christian expression , and more conformable to the proportion of Faith ) that before we die , our sins may be buried in Christs grave , pardoned and forgiven unto us , especially that we leave not behind us ill examples for the poysoning and perverting of such as shall survive us . For as it is said of Abel , Heb. 11.4 . He being dead yet speaketh : so is it sadly true of many who are dead and rotten , that they still lye , curse , swear , here on earth , occasioning the same in others by their wicked patterns and practises they have left behind them . Objection . But some will plead themselves priviledged and exempted from serving their Generation , because of the badness thereof . David ( say they ) had some comforr in , and credit by serving his Generation , having for his Time-fellows so many Worthies in all professions . Worthy Priests , Abimelech , Abiathar , Zadock ; worthy Captains , Ioab , Abishar , Benaia , the son of Iehejedah ; worthy States-men , Husha , Adoniram ; worthy Prophets , Nathan , Gad , &c. Whereas I live in such a Generation , that all the bad Epethite , in the Old and New Testament may truly be applyed thereunto . A stubborn generation , a froward generation , Psalm 78.8 . A rebellious generation , a generation that set not their heart aright , and whose spirit is not stedfast with God . A generation of vipers , Mat. 3.7 . A faithless generation , Mat. 17.17 . Whether you take it in Divinity for lack of belief towards God , or in Morality for want of truth and trust towards man ; and who can find in his heart to serve so wicked a generation ? Some will say , ( further to improve this Objection ) O that I had been born some years after the persecution in the Reign of Queen Mary , that so my threescore and ten years , the age of man , might have run parallel with the prosperous times of Queen Elizabeth , King Iames , and King Charls ; and have determined and expired some years before the beginning of our late civil wars : Had my nativity been fixed in that peaceable position , O then I would willingly , and readily , and chearfully , and joyfully , and thankfully have served my own generation ; whereas now I have no list , and less comfort to do it , being condemned to live in so wicked an age , made up of the dregs of time , the badness whereof is more dangerous then difficult to describe , and may with more safety be confest by the hearers , then exprest by the Preacher in his place . Ans. I have three things to return in answer hereunto . First , grant the Objector speaketh very much of truth herein , yet if the times be so bad as he complaineth , their badness will serve for a foyl to set off his goodness , and render it the more conspicuous , making him , Philip . 2.15 . to shine the brighter as a light in the world in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation . Alas , thy little Faith would have made no show , hadst thou lived in the age of Abraham ; thy Patience would have seemed but a dwarf to the Giant patience of Iob , hadst thou been his contemporary ; thy meekness had appeared as nothing , if measured with the meekness of Moses , had you been partners in the same generation . Whereas now a little Faith , Patience , Meekness , and so of other graces , will make a very good presence in the publick , if the Age thou livest in be so bad as thou dost complain , and others perchance do believe . Secondly , I suspect this to be nothing else but a device of thy deceitfull heart , thereby to cozen thine own self . The Objection speaks the state of thy soul to be much like the temper of the Scribes and Pharisees , Mat. 23.30 . If we ( say they ) had been in the daies of our Fathers , we would not have been partakers with the blood of the Prophets . Yet these pretended pittifull persons were indeed more cruel then their Ancestors . Their Fathers killed the Men , they the Master ; their Fathers the Servant they the Son ; their Fathers murdered the Prophets of God , they the God of those Prophets , so far forth as he was murderable in his humane nature ; and it is vehemently to be suspected , that if thou beest bad now , thou wouldst not have been good , had the time of thy Nativity answered thine own desire . It is a shrewd presumption , that he who behaved himself as a Woolf in his own generation , would not have been a Lamb in what Age soever he had lived . Lastly , Beggars must be no choosers ; thou art not to serve the generation before thee , nor the generation after thee , nor any other of thy own election , but thy own generation , wherein Divine Providence hath been pleased to place thee : Saint Paul saith , Ephesians 5.22 . Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands . Some will say , had I such an one to my husband , I could willingly obey him , he is of so meek , mild and sweet a disposition , but mine is of so morose and froward a nature , it goes against my nature to be dutifull unto him . However , though she hath not the same comfort , she hath the same cause of submission , obliging in conscience to Gods command ; husbands must love their own wives , wives obey their own husbands ; husbands and wives with David , must serve their own generation . But now that my sword may cut on both sides , as hitherto we have confuted such who are faulty in their defect , and will not serve their generation ; so others offend in the excess , not being only servants , but slaves and vassals to the age they live in , prostituting their consciences to do any thing ( how unjust soever ) to be a Favourite to the Times : Surely a cautious concealment is lawful , and wary silence is commendable in perilous times . Amos 5.13 . It is an evil time , therefore the wise shall hold their peace . And I confess that a prudential compliance in Religion in things indifferent , is justifiable , as also in all civil concernments , wherein the conscience is not violated : but wherein the will of the times crosseth the will of God , our Indentures are cancelled from serving them , and God only is to be obeyed . There is some difference in reading the precept , Rom. 12.11 . occasioned from the similitude of the words in the original , ( though utterly unlike in our English tongue ) some reading it serving the Lord , others serving the time . I will not dispute which in the Greek is the truer Copie , but do observe that Davids precedent in my Text , is a perfect expedient , to demonstrate that both Lections may and ought to be reconciled in our practise : He served his generation , there is serving the times ; but what followeth ? by the will of God , there is serving the Lord ; this by him was , by us must be performed . Saint Stephen , Acts 7.2 . began his Sermon to the people with these words , Men , Brethren , and Fathers ; which words I thus expound and apply . By Men , he meant young folk which had attained to the strength and stature of men , and were much younger then himself . By Brethren , those of his own standing and seniority in the world ( probably forty years old or thereabouts ) and therefore he saluted such with a familiar Appellation as a badge of equality . Thirdly Fathers , being aged people , more antient then himself , as appeareth by his term of respect addressed to persons distanced above him . This distinction will serve me first perfectly to comprise , then methodically to distinguish all my Auditors in this Congregation . I begin with you men , which are of the Generation rising , it being bootless for me to address my self to children not arrived at their understanding , concerning whom I turn my preaching to them into praying for them , and wish them good success in the name of the Lord . It is your bounden duty to omit no opportunity to inform your selves both in Learning and Religion , from those that living with you are of more age and experience , and demean your selves unto them with all reverence and respect . O let them go fairly their own pace and path to their graves . Do not thrust them into the pit with your preposterous wishes . Filius ante diem , O when will he die and his name perish ! rather endeavour to prolong the daies of your Parents by your dutifull deportment unto them , stay but a while , and they will willingly resign their room unto you , in earnest whereof those superannated Bazzilbaes do contentedly surrender the lawfull pleasures of this life , 2 Sam. 20.37 . to you their Chimchams , their sons and successors , to be by you with sobriety and moderation peaceably possessed , and comfortably enjoyed . You Brethren , who are pew-fellows in the same Age with my self , who are past our verticall point , and are now entered into the Autumn of our life , give me leave to bespeak you with becoming boldness , familiarity beseeming those of the same form together ; there is a new Generation come upon , let us therefore think of going off the Stage , endeavouring so to Act our parts , that we may come off , not so much with applause from man , as approbation from God . If we live long , we shall be lookt upon as the barren fig-tree that combereth the ground ; we must make room for succession , as our fathers have done for us . And let this be our greatest care , to derive and deliver Religion in all the fundamentals thereof , in as good a plight and condition to our sons , as we received it from our Fathers . O let us leave Gods house as tenantable as we found it , let it not be said , that we willingly let the fair Fabrick of Faith and good Life to run to ruine in our , so that the next Age may justly sue us for Dilapidations . When our Saviour said unto his Disciples , Matth. 26.21 . Verily I say unto you , that one of you shall betray me , they were exceeding sorrowfull , and began every one of them to say unto him , Lord is it I ? yea Iudas himself lagging at last with his Is it I Lord ! and was returned with Thou saidst it . Thus at the last day of judgement shall all generations be arraigned before God . But to confine our Application only to those three within the last six-score years ; if God should say unto them , One of you have betrayed my truth , how would it put them all upon their particular purgation ! Is it I Lord ? saith the first generation in the raign of King Edward the sixt ; surely they shall be acquitted who in the Marian daies sealed the truth with their blood . Is it I Lord ? saith the second generation , lasting all the Reign of Queen Elizabeth to the middle of King Iames . That also will be cleared as publickly preserving the purity of true Doctrine in the thirty nine Articles . What a shame shall it be , if when our Age shall ask with Iudas , is it I ? we shall be returned , thou hast said it . Yours is the Age that hath betrayed my Truth to Errour , Unity to Faction , Piety to Prophaness ; sad , when such a Fact shall be so clear that it cannot be denyed , and yet so foul that it cannot be defended . However , this my too just fear may consist with hope of better things of you , and such as accompany salvation . I must conclude with you Reverend Fathers , whom my loyalty cannot pass by without doing my due Homage to the Crown of your Age , especially if it be found in the way of truth . Give me leave to tell you belong to that generation which is passed out of this world : not only the Van or Front , and also the main body and battle of your Army are marched to their graves ( and their souls I hope to heaven ) whilest Divine Providence for reasons best known to himself , hath reserved you to bring up ( as I may say ) the very rear of the rear of your generation . O do not mistake this Reprieve for a Pardon ; and here give me leave to use a plain but expressive Similitude . Have you never seen a wanton child run a firebrand against the Hearth or back of the Chymney , and so on a suddain make a skie of sparks ? of which sparks some instantly expire , others continue a pretty time and then go out , others last a little longer , whilest one or two ( as having a greater stock of soot to feed them ) hold out a good while , but at last are extinguisht . Man is born to labour , as sparks do fly upward , some presently go out wafted from the womb to the winding-sheet ; others live to ripe men , others to be old men ; some whose temper and temperance are more signal then in others , to be countect wonderous old , but all at last die and fall to the earth . We read , Revelat. 10.2 . of an Angel who had his right foot on the Sea , and his left on the earth . This may seem a strange stride , save that it abateth the wonder , because Angels when pleased to assume bodies , may extend themselves to a vast ( though finite ) proportion . But you , though meet men , and weak men , must stride a greater distance ; having your left foot already in the Grave , endeavour to have your right foot in Heaven , and waving all love of this world , set your minds and meditations alone on God and godliness . In a word , whatever our Age be , rising , shining or setting , Men , Brethren or Fathers , let us endeavour with David in my Text , according to the will of God to serve our own Generation . Come we now to the sad occasion of our present meeting , to perform the last Christian Office to our Deceased Brother , well known to many of you , and to none better then to my self . A child is like a man in the similitude of parts , though not of degrees , and in some measure he did sincerely with David serve his Generation . He was a dutifull Son unto his aged Mother , as she cannot but confess , and will I hope ( as occasion is offered ) remember and reward it to his wife and children . A loving Brother , a kind Husband , and I doubt not but his widow will discharge her mutual affection to him in his relations . Bathsheba thus describeth a good wife , Proverbs 31.12 . She will do her husband good and not evil all the daies of her life . It is not said , all the daies of his life , but of her life . What if he should chance to die , and she to survive him , yea after to marry again , ( as God forbid any should be debarred marrying in the Lord , especially for their own and childrens advantage ) yet still she would do good unto him all the daies of her life . To him , that is to his memory , mentioning with respect : To him , that is to his children and friends , carefull over the one , and curteous over the other . He was a tender Father and faithfull Friend , witness the many volunteer mourners , ( an unusuall proportion for a person of his quality ) who at their own charge have habited themselves , that the outward sadness of their cloathes might express the inward sorrow of their hearts : He was an excellent Master , having bred many good workmen in his Vocation , and I hope they will prove good husbands too . Let me add , he was an excellent subject ; for according to that which his conscience ( with many others ) conceived to be loyaltie : he lost much of , and hazarded all his estate . Lastly and chiefly , he was a good Saint , having more piety then he shewed , and as daily he consumed in his body , he was strengthened in his soul in Faith through Christ , whereof he gave many testimonies before , towards , and at his death . What shall I speak of his parts of Nature , so far above his education and profession , that he might have past for a Scholar amongst Scholars , for his wit and pleasant expressions : But God now hath made him his free-man , and paid him his wages for so well serving his Generation . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A40687e-240 * Lib. none Ep. 70.