Sinless Sorrow FOR The Dead. A COMFORTABLE SERMON. Preached at the Funeral of Mr. JOHN moil, of Buckwell, in the County of Kent Esquire, the sixth of januarie. 1614 By THOMAS JACKSON, Bachelor in Divinity, and Preacher of God's word, at Wye in Kent. Published by Authority. LONDON. Printed by T. S. for Roger jackson, and are to be sold at his Shop in Fleetestreet near to the Conduit. 1614 To the Right Worshipful, SAINT DUDLEY DIGGS, KNIGHT. THrice worthy Sir; if Demosthenes his Oration, lost it grace though pronounced by Aeschines; then much more doth reading abate the power of speaking a Habet nescio quid latenti, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unia vox, & in aures discipuli de authoris ore transs●●sa fortius sonat. Hier. Paul●●. : yet importunity of living friends, and duty to the dead; have forced me to lay aside the speech and gestures of a living man; that so, (as far as in me lieth) I might by dead letters, both preserve him in living name, whom cruel death hath untimely laid in dust; and also publish to the world my love, and loss. Yet what a detraction is this from the dead? that his weighty virtues, and boundless perfections, whilst he lived: should (now that he is dead) be ranged within the narrow compass of a few lines; and so easily turned over with a few fingers b En, sum quod digitis quinque; levatur onus. Cornel. apud propert. lib. 4. Eleg. 12. ? I am bold to commend this my poor service to your Worship's protection, as assured of your sincere love and affection to him, whose memorial it still reviveth: as also, for those rare good gifts of God and nature, wherewith your person is beautified, justly procuring present admiration, and future expectation. And lastly, as a token of an observant and thankful heart, for so many very honourable and immerited favours, and encouragements in my Ministry: go on in your holy zeal to God, Noble carriage, and undaunted resolution, in actions of best and greatest consequence: prosper in that Honourablest action undertaken in the Christian world (for these many years) the plantation of the Church of God, in Virg●●●●, and that graciously provided 〈◊〉 thereof, the Bermudas, (the 〈…〉 and Hogs, Matth. 8. into which they 〈…〉.) The best things are har●est, and meet with greatest crosses; but all good men, with Countenance, Person, Purse, or Prayers, and best wishes, do further it. Balak & Balaam shall not hinder it; and (when all men's hearts & affections shall be rectified) God will bless that small company, 1 Chro. 12 22. 〈…〉 Host of God. And whosoever shall adventure life or living in so honourable a service to God & his Country, Pro 10. 7. Psal. 112. 6. God will honour, ennoble, and eternize their names, that they may be had in everlasting remembrance. Accept this 〈◊〉 of my love, and small testimony great desires; so shall you add 〈…〉 score, till Use far passeth 〈…〉 pardon all, 〈…〉 I can pay 〈…〉 pray for you and yours, and 〈…〉. 〈…〉 in all humble duty and service, THOMAS JACKSON THE TESTIMONY, Given to M. john moil, at his Funeral, januarie 6, 1614 Howsoever 〈◊〉 never erring wisdom 〈…〉, nothing 〈…〉 john the Baptist a Matth 11. 〈◊〉. , the Centurion, b Matth. 8. 10. and others c john 1. 4● ; yet is it freest from 〈…〉 error for 〈◊〉 who are but of yesterday, and know not what shall be tomorrow, in 〈◊〉 the dead; the period and compl●●n●●● of whose days, we have seen expired, and the 〈◊〉 as well discharged as 〈…〉 neither the praiser, can be moved with flattery, nor the praised, with vainglory d Quando, nee 〈◊〉 mo●●t adulatio; 〈…〉 August. being perpetually separate, from sight, hearing, and report: praise the Mariner when he arriveth; the Soldier when he triumpheth: and Man when he is dead e Dicique; beatus, ante obitum nemo. . Whom, generally to favour, (if for no other cause, yet for that they have led the way unto us, f Tantum quia pre●●sserunt. Calcanda semel via lethi, etc. Ho●. 1 Carm. 28 and obtained priority in eternity;) is the rule of Nature g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. But to entomb them with amplest praises. whose lives have been virtuous and honourable; and to set up the lamp of virtue, that it may shine in the house of God, when Death hath put out the light of life; is the rule of Religion; and warranted both by best Examples in holy Scripture, (thus did David commend Abner, h 2 Sam. 3. 34 and jonathan: i 2 Sam 1. ult. Elishah, Eliah k 2 Kings 2. 12. ? and the Apostle those worthy Saints, whom the world was unworthy of l Heb. 11. ●8. :) and by the practice of the Church in all ages. How am I bound then, by a threefold duty, viz. 1 to God. 2. to him; 3. to you, to speak somewhat of the sanctified life, and blessed death of this Religious Gentleman, ●ow to be ●●erred? To God for all his gifts we 〈◊〉 thankfulness m Psal. 216. 16. and what greater thankfulness, then to be telling of his goodness to us or others? so that in speaking of God's gifts unto him, we do in our souls bless God for him n 〈…〉 Hier. Secondly, as it ought to be the greatest care of the living to do well; so is it the duty of the 〈◊〉 to speak well, that, so far as lieth in us) the dead, may partake in the blessing promised, the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance o Pro 10 7. Psal. 112. 6. ; for which purpose, our blessed Saviour said, Wheresoever the Gospel should be preached, throughout all the world, the good work of the woman, bestowing the box of costly ointment upon his head, should be spoken of, for a memorial of her p Matth. 26. 1●. Yea, I wish that my congue were as the Pen of a ready Scribe to en●●re his virtues q Psal. 45. 1. that both he might partake in that blessing which Alexander pronounced at the tomb of Achilles; Happy Achilles, that being dead, hast such a Trumpeter of thy praise, as Homer was r O 〈…〉, cui mertuo 〈◊〉 Praeco, etc. : and I, in that blessing, which Naomi pronounced of Boaz, blessed be he of the Lord, for he ceaseth not to do good, to the living, and to the dead s Ruth 2. 20. . Thirdly to you, that ye may know what to imitate, which is the main use of the Commemoration of the virtuous lives of the godly; that they may be patterns to them that live, their very tombs, in their kind, speaking as Abel's blood, t Gen. 4. 10. Walk, as ye have had us for Examples. A Gentleman worshipfully borne; and accordingly he lived, and well added, to the worth, and wealth, of his house and family. Matched, to a virtuous Gentlewoman, a right branch of a worshipful, religious, and fruitful tree v The daughter of M. Robert Honnywood Esquire, some●●●● of 〈◊〉 in Kent▪ 〈…〉 Essex 〈…〉 ; Grandchild of a most godly Matron, who (yet living) hath seen of her children, and children's children, to the number of two hundred and threescore at least, which do yearly increase, with the increasings of God. A Mary by name x Marry Honny●●●●. , a Mary by choice, and a Mary by condition, for the Lord hath dealt very bitterly with her y 〈…〉 . By whom he hath had, an household like a flock of sheep z 〈…〉 ; his Table beset with marry sweet children, like Olive branches round about a 〈…〉 . Of whom I may truly say, (after these twenty years inward familiarity with him;) so sweet and peaceable a natured man b 〈…〉 , so sound and zealous a Christian; so sure and faithful a friend, amongst many thousands, is not to be found. A diligent frequenter of the public Exercises of Religion, a careful worshipper of God, and sanctifier of his 〈◊〉, it was but one se●●enth night before he died, when 〈◊〉 with us in God's worship. he did b●●re his part in the Psalm c 〈…〉 , which we sung, with an extraordinary courage and 〈◊〉 as if with the Swan he would end his days with a Song d 〈…〉 , which ministered no small comfort to me (and others that noted it) that for one whole year and an half, having been visited in himself and his family, with such exceeding sickness, yet he could so sweetly comfort himself in God: whereunto we may add his daily exercises of reading and prayer with his family. And as was his profession, so was his practice, though he lived not without sin, yet without reproof g Luke 1. 6. Sine. quarrels, non sine, peccato. August. , he kept himself unspotted of the world h jam. 1. ●●. : a Father, more like than a friend to the poor; a settled good housekeeper, and ever openhanded in any good cause, as free in Charity, as ever in Duty: humble in prosperity, patient in adversity; sober in his health, comfortable in his sickness, and most blessed in his death; though but a young man for years, yet long hath he waited for his change, and daily exercised himself in the meditation of mortality; having his jestament always ready, and, as occasion served, renewed; so that though sickness came suddenly, he was prepared, his house set in order, and himself free to prepare for God, to whom with much peace and meekness, he resigned his spirit. And as he lived with much love, so is he dead with as great lamentation; the Church of God, the Commonwealth, the Parish, his family, and specially the poor, sustaining great loss; but what do I speak of loss, seeing his gain doth countervail the same an hundred fold? we have lost but a man, he hath sound God; we have lost a friend, he hath found his Saviour; we have lost his Neighbourhood, he hath found the fellowship of innumerable Angels and Saints: we have lost the help of his prayers and purse, Counsel and countenance; but he hath found the blessedness of heaven, which all God's people love and long for, in the fruition whereof we leave him for ever and ever. Amen. And to speak a word or twain of this his good Servant * john Cook. , who in ruth's resolution, hath lived, is dead, and shall be buried with his Master k Ruth. 1. 16. . Aman in his place worthy of great commendation, and a rare pattern for men of his rank to look upon; an honest, harmless, careful, willing, diligent and faithful servant: I cannot but note unto you, the good providence of God, that no service performed by any other, being comparably acceptable to his good Master, in his sickness and weakness; God was pleased even extraordinarily to raise him from the gate of death, to attend his Master. To the closing of his eyes, which service ended, that he should have a relapse, and in two days also end his life. I may say of them both, as David did of Saul and jonathan, they were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided l 2 Sam. 1. 23. ; only this difference, he that in life time often road before, is now carried after: but now no more as Master and man, for in this path there is no difference m Hac, par d●uitibus, pauper egenus erit. Maximinianus. ; in Golgotha no difference, betwixt that skull which wore the Crown, and that which bore the Tankard: all fellow-heirs of the same inheritance; but one kingdom, yet all reign; though degrees of glory, yet all have more then enough, none envy them that have more, none disdain them that have less. In which blessed fellowship, we leave them for ever. Now let us come to the Text. [And jesus wept * john 11. 35. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. .] FOr three principal respects, have I chosen this Text, before others▪ with Gods assistance, and your wont Christian patience, at this time to speak of. First, because unto profitable hearing, the remembrance of the Text is specially required; the remembrance whereof, doth necessarily draw on the remembrance of such things, as naturally arising, have thence been delivered. Now I dare entrust the weakest memory of all, in this congregation, with this Text, being so short, yea the shortest verse in all the Bible; so that here needeth no adding of line to line, or precept to precept o Esay. 28. 11. ; one bare reading will cause so sufficient an impression in the memory, that I hope if many years hence any one should be demanded, what was our Text this day, he or she will readily answer. [jesus.] Secondly, as it is short, so it is fet; mourning in feasting, and mirth in fasting agree not; it is sfit that Occasion and Matter, Theme and Time, should accord; as Christ at Jacob's Well p ● john 4. 13. did speak of the heavenly water; and from feeding the body with loaves and fishes, 〈◊〉 of the heavenly Manna & bread of 〈◊〉. Now, q john 6. 26. if houses of sickness, be houses of mourning r Eccles. 7. 4. ; times of dying, times of 〈◊〉 s Eccles. ●● 5. ; and places of burying, places of weeping s Gen. ●●. ●●. , how fit is it for me to entreat of mourning and weeping, seeing we come from an house of great and long continued sickness? Our friend Lazarus is dead and we are come to the place of 〈◊〉▪ [jesus wept.] Thirdly; as it is short and fit, so it containeth very profitable matter, for if it be the greatest perfection of a Christian, to govern his affections and passions aright; and the best have been soiled, and bewrayed their weakness herein: either weeping or rejoicing; on such 〈◊〉 or in such manner, or to such ends, as they should not; how profitable will it be, to direct this great mourning, to a true mean? which I can not possibly better do▪ then by proposing the sinless Sorrow of our blessed Saviour, upon a like occasion, Lazarus is dead, and jesus wept. wouldst thou then▪ not sin in weeping, look upon Christ, who wept and sinned not: yet if any in passion break their bounds, let the words of my Text procure a charitable excuse; for even [jesus wept.] When Christ was borne, there was much singing and mirth, old father Simeon, he sung; Luk. ●. 28. Zach●rishe sung x Luk 1. ●8. , Marry she sung; y Luk. 1. 46. and the Babe in Elizabeth's womb, did spring for joy z Luk. 1. 41. ; yea, the Angels of heaven sung a Luk. 2. 13. but Christ his ministry, and specially his death were mournful times, and of much weeping, some in passion; others in compassion. Christ he wept b I Heb. ●. 7. and the Disciples they wept c M●●. 〈…〉. ; the daughters of jerusalem they wept d Luk. 23. 27. yea time Sun put on Sackcloth and that wept e Luk. 23. 15. ; the Temple rend in ●ayle, and that wept f Luk. 23 15. ; yea the cry of the Creatures was heard so far▪ that the Heathen Philosopher said, either the 〈…〉 nature 〈…〉 or the world would 〈…〉 g 〈◊〉 Deus 〈…〉 dissolu●●●r. ▪ but I am to speak only of jesus his sorrow; [jesus wept.] Christ and Lazarus, Mary and Martha two men, and two women; two sisters; and a brother; three sinners, and their Saviour: these that had so long loved, & lived together; and many a time and often feasted & godlily rejoiced together, have now their mirth turned into mourning; and singing into sighing. Lazarus is dead, and Christ is absent, his sisters weep; the jews come to comfort them, and they weep; when they understand that jesus is coming, Martha she runneth to meet him, & saluteth him with words of bitter complaint, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not been dead: No sooner had he with words of consolation, shut the sluices and floodgates of her tears, but Marry she cometh and breaketh out into the same words of doleful complaint, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not been dead: the jews, they weep. and Christ he wept; the sluices are broken up again, as if all should be drowned with a deluge of tears: or at least here were another Hadradrimmon for Lazarus▪ as was for josuth. Zach. 12. 11. We see then, though we be never so near or dear unto Christ, yet we may not look to be exempt from mournful occasions: nay, judgement beginneth at Gods own house i 1 Pet 4 1●. ; it is enough that Christ weary with us. who in the end shall wipe all tears from our eyes k Reu. 7. 17. ▪ where as the wieked being forsaken of God, shall weep and gnash their teeth for ever l Matth. 22. 13. Division. . In these three Verses, verse. the 34. 35. and 36. we have four speakers; Christ asketh a question, (Where have ye laid him?) Mary and Martha give answer, as with one mouth, (Lord, come and see.) The Evangelist reporteth his passion, [jesus wept,] And the jews pass their censure thereon, (lo how he loved him!) [jesus wept.] As the Soldiers that marched after joab, stood still and wondered at that they saw, so may we well stand still and wonder at that we hear. What? Doth the son of God, who was from all eternity with his Father, as his delight, continually rejoicing before him m Pro. 8 30. ; he that was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows n Psal. 45. 7. ; he, who when he went to his passion, would not suffer the daughters of jerusalem to weep for him o Lu. 23. 28. ; he that was sent, by his ministery, to comfort them that mourned in Zyon, and to give them oil of joy for mourning p Esay. 61. 3. ; he that in the end, shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of his children q Esay. 25. 8. ; doth he weep? yes indeed, and fit that now he should so do, that being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and his works, theandrical, divinely human r Doct. Field. Of the Church, lib. 5. cap. 13. pag. 38. ; in this great miracle of the raising of Lazarus, both this Divinity, and humanity, by infallible demonstrations, might be seen s Commode, futuro miraculo praemissae sunt lachrymae, ut infirmitas carnis, divinae virtuti coniungeretur. Mald. : he commanded Lazarus, being four days dead, to come forth; this was the voice of divine Majesty; but he wept for Lazarus, and this was a passion of true humanity t Propriae sunt hominis lachrymae; vita verò, verae vitae est. Greg. Nys. ; that so, if divine Majesty fear us, human infirmity may encourage us: if human infirmity do offend us; divine Majesty may comfort us: and we both love and reverence our blessed Emmanuell v Esay 7. 14. , God with us. The like we may observe in other his miracles: as man, he spat on the ground; as God, with clay, he made him that was borne blind to see x john 9 6. ; as man, he fell on sleep in the ship; as God, he rebuked the wind and seas, and they obeyed him y Matth. 8. 25. . but first, Manhood, and then Godhead; first weakness, and then power; first Humility, and then Majesty do appear; he first spiteth, and then anointeth, first sleepeth, and then rebuketh; first weary, and commandeth. [jesus wept.] Amongst all the blessings which God gave unto man by Creation; there were principally two which were as the perfection of his happiness, Viz. joy and Life; or a joyful life z threefold state of man, cap. 7. sect. 1. pag. 339. . The one ad esse, the other ad bene esse; without life no joy, for it is an affection of the living; and without joy, no life, but a never-dying death. But man by sin pulling up the floodgate, hath let in a Sea of misery, and specially those two main evils, viz. Sorrow, and death: or, a sorrowing death. The child is borne with tears, and many times dieth before it be borne to live. But as the Garment breedeth the Moth which eateth it; and the Tree the Worm that consumeth it x Vt Tinea ex ligno nata ipsum consumet Lact. de ira Dei. cap. 13. : so, Sin bred Sorrow and Death, and Sorrow and Death destroy sin. To her that in godly sorrow washed Christ's feet with tears, was pronounced, Thy sins are forgiven thee y Luke 7. 48. ; and he that is dead, is freed from sin z Rome 6. 7. . It was said to Adam, Sin and die a Gen. 2. 17. : but to all his Children in Christ, Dye, and cease to sin. Christ came to take away sin b john 1. 29. , and that he might utterly destroy it: first, he weary; and then, he dieth, and pronounceth, It is finished. God reconciled, Heaven opened, Sin abolished, and Death for ever destroyed. It is written of Heraclitus, a Philosopher of Ephesus, that he continually wept, but Democritus of Athens, continually laughed, at the fading joys and follies of their times c Sen. lib. de tranquil. vitae. Lact. lib. 2. cap. 2. . Our blessed Saviour, the Prince of all divine Philosophers, is said to have often wept, but we read not in all his Story, that he once laughed d Obseruandum autem, quod flevisse quidem legitur aliquoties, nunquam autem visisse, Ferus in locum. . And truly no marvel, for if the Wiseman have given his judgement aright, I have said of laughter it is mad e Eccles. 2. 2. : and the sage Ethnic, Laughter is an argument of great levity f Risus levitatis argumentum. Sebast in 3. plat. de rep. . and another makes it the badge of a fool g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Ridet fatuus. : if by conference of Scriptures with Experience, we shall seldom or never read or observe, that any laugh, but it is either in folly, or at folly: if the Proverb hence grew, to call that which is foolish ridiculous h Dij boni, qu●m ridiculosum habemus Consulem▪ Cato Vticens'. ex Plut. : if a man cannot endure to be laughed at, and the Scriptures have branded it for a kind of cruel persecution i Gen. 21. 9 Gal. 4. 29. : if the Scriptures so often command weeping, but never laughing: if lastly, to laughter be threatened a woe, and to weeping be promised a reward k Luk. 6. 21. 25 ; how should he laugh that is Wisdom itself, l Prou. 8. 12. , and in whom, the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are hid m Col. 2. 3. ? By whose example we are taught, in this world (which (as David calleth it) is a vale of tears n Psal. 84. 6. in Me●●re. ) to look for no sound or enduring joy, but continual occasions of sorrow and mourning. We do specially read, that our Saviour did thrice weep. First, when he came to jeee lorusalem, and foresaw the misery thereof, he wept, and said, O jerusalem, if thou hadst known, at the least, in this thy day, those things which belong to thy peace, but now are they hid from thine eyes o Luke 19 42. ! Secondly, now when Lazarus was dead, as my Text saith, [jesus wept.] Thirdly, when he prayed, for the Apostle saith, He put up his Prayers and Supplications, with strong crying and tears p Heb. 5. 7. Doct. . Whose example teacheth us when to weep, viz. First, when either with our eyes we see, or with our minds foresee, the misery, ruin, or desolation, of any Kingdom, Country, City, Town, or Family; and specially, of such Places and Persons, where, and by whom the great Name of GOD is called upon, we ought to take it to heart, and, in token of inward grief, to break out into tears is no effeminateness (as the Ethnic hath censured it q Nihil uìro turpius muliebri fletu. Natta de immortal. animae. lib. 1. ,) but an argument of a mild and melting heart r 2. Chron. 34. 27. , and warranted by best Examples. Thus did jeremy lament the desolation of jerusalem, Oh that mine head were full of water, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the Daughters of my people s jer. 9 1. ! Secondly, for the deaths of our friends, and specially, if they were righteous ones, by whose death the church of God hath sustained loss: whereof more anon. Thirdly, in our prayers: the Prayer of a righteous man availeth much if it be fervent t james 5. 16. . What greater fervency then that which is testified by unfeigned tears? Tears (as an ancient Father saith,) are the blood of the soul, and wine of Angels v Lachrymae poenitentium, sunt vinum Angelorum. Bern. sup. Cantic. , which flowing from the Winepress of an oppressed and bruised spirit, are more forcible with God than all the Eloquence and Rhetoric in the world x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Cypr. Annah, when she prayed, wept sore, and God gave her a Son y 1 Sam. 1. 10. . And when God sent a Message to King Ezekiah, by the hands of the Prophet Esay, that he should set his house in an order, for he should die, and should not live, he turned his face to the wall, and presently dispatched Ambassadors to Heaven (even his tears z Mittit legatos, lachrymas Cyp. lib. 2. epist. 7. ) to pray for life▪ which no sooner appeared, but were graciously heard, the Lord sent him word, that he had seen his tears, and would add to his days, fifteen years a Esay. 38. 5. , David saith, God hath heard the voice of my weeping b Psal. 6. 8. . The observation of which phrase, made a Learned man c D. Plaif. Serm. at spital Mean in mourning. pag. 19 demand this question; What, have tear, tongues, trow we? and answereth, that the cloud-cleaving Thunder of the Almighty, doth not make so roaring a noise in the ears of man, as our tears do in the ears of the God of mercy d Oratio Deum lenit; sed lachyma cogit. jer. in Esaiam. . And truly no marvel, for even with man, whose mercies are cruel, the Poet said true, that sometimes tears are weighty words e Interdum lachrymae pondera v●●i● habent. ovid. de Pont. lib. 3. Eleg. 1. . There were principally three things, which concurred to make Christ weep, and so much to increase his sorrow, that if he had been but mere man, as he was true man f Si meras homo, ut verus homo. , he had doubtless been foiled of his passion, as many holy men of God have been: viz. 1. the death of Lazarus; 2. the sorrow of his Sisters. 3. the misery of the jews. Somesay that Christ wept not for Lazarus at all; for he knew that he would by and by raise him again g Quomodo fleret cum, quem continuò suscitare vellet. Theod. Herac. , as he told his Disciples before, Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, that ye may believe * john 11. 15. . 2. Others hold that he wept for Lazarus, not because he was dead, but that for the glory of God, he was to raise him again; and so bring him, from rest and happiness, to labour and misery h A loco requetis, ad locum laboris & miseriae. Isid. in Graec. Cat. . And indeed, whereas there are but three places of residence for God's Elect: 1. the Womb: 2. the Earth: 3. Heaven. The second doth not so far exceed the first, in liberty and comfort; as the third exceedeth the second, in all true happiness; as then, it were a miserable thing (if it could possibly be put in execution) for a man to leave the comfort of this life, and be imprisoned in his mother's womb; so, a thousand times more miserable were it for a soul to leave the unconceivable joys of heaven, and to be imprisoned in the loathsome dungeon of the body again: and therefore little did the Richman know what he begged, when he would have had Lazarus to have left Abraham's bosom, and to have gone to his Father's house i Luke 16. 27. . But I hold it more probable, that as the godly weep for the death of others, absolutely considering it; whereas Circumstances considered they should rather rejoice, as Christ said to his Disciples, being full of sorrow to hear of his death, If ye loved me ye would rather rejoice, because I go to the Father. So, Christ, absolutely, and without circumstances considering his death k Mortem amìcì & sibi chari, absolutè consideravit, & lachrymatos est. Toll. in locum. annot. 10. col. 944. , (wept for him) which thing both the Context, and the construction thereof do prove l judaei in hac re non pessum auctores. Mald. Doct. . And this Circumstance teacheth us, that it is lawful to take to heart, and even to sorrow and weep for the death of dear friends, and godly persons; so did the Israelires bewail the death of that good Patriarch jacob m Gen. 50. 11. . And afterwards for thirty days together did they weep for that singular Prophet Moses n Deut. vul. 8. : and all judah and jerusalem so lamented the death of their zealous King josiah o 2 Chron. 35. : that ever after it became a Proverb, The mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo p Zach. 12. 11. : great lamentation was made for the death of Steven q Acts 8. 2. : and when Paul told the Christians they should see his face no more, they sell on his neck and wept sore r Acts 20. 37. . Which Examples of the best, do condemn both (as an extreme on the one side) that Stoical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, with all the degrees of it, as first, 1 Use. not to be moved with their death: which thing God long since reproved by his Prophet, The righteous perish, and merciful men are taken away, and no man considereth it in heart s Esay 57 1. , but more, all shameless rejoicing, at the fall of good men, as those that sent gifts one to another, when the holy witnesses of Christ were slain t Reu. 11. 10. . Secondly, and also that faithless 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 2 use. and excessive mourning, as an extreme on the other side: and directeth all Christians to the true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v Art prob. loc. 155. de luctu pro defunctis. pag. 495. , mourning for the dead, but not as the Heathen which have no hope x 1 Thes. 4. 13. 2. . A second concurring occasion, was the sorrow of Mary and Martha, whom he so dearly loved: so saith the Text, when jesus saw Mary weep, and the jews also weep that came with her, he groaned in the spirit y john 11. 33 Propter lachrymas Mariae Amb. lib 2 de poenit cap 7. Chris Hom. 26 : and truly, Nature hath so provided, that tears beget tears; and the sight of those that weep in passion, provoketh others to weep in compassion z Natura ita com●aralum est, ut ex conspectu 〈…〉. . And this Circumstance teacheth us, the practice of that Christian virtue, which the Apostle prescribeth. viz. Be ye of like affection one to another: rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that a Rom. 12. 10. weep▪ Is there that Sympathy and fellow-feeling in the members of the natural body, that if one member be honoured, all the rest rejoice with it: if it be hurt all do suffer with it; that if the elbow receive a rap even the fingers ends will tingle? and is there not much more such fellow-feeling in the mystical members of Christ? assuredly, such as are either senseless of the miseries and afflictions of God's people, as those that the Prophet complained of, Did drink their wine in 〈◊〉 and anoint themselves with the best 〈…〉, but were not sorry for the afflictions of joseph b Amos 6. 6. and as it is noted of Aha●●●erash and Haman, They sit drinking, when the City of Sushan 〈◊〉 in great perplexity: c H●s●. 3 ult. or that (more wickedly) rejoice therein, as the children of Edom, who in the day of jerusalem, cried, Down with it, Down with it, even to the ground; d Psal. 137. 7. do fearfully show themselves to be rotten and dead members, and are near to a heavy judgement: As God threatened Ashur the rod of his wrath; I will visit the fruit of the proud heart of the King of Ashur, and his glorious & proud looks c Esay 10. 12. For as God is a God of mercy, and never but with grief correcteth his Children. f Esay 1. 4. 5. so cannot he endure that ●ay should add affliction to affliction, by 〈◊〉 over his Children, being under his rod, but rather condole and compassionate them, as Christ did here; Mary and Martha wept, the jews wept, and when Christ saw it (he wept.) Thirdly, Christ foresaw the misery of the jews, g Flevit propter judaeorum infidelitatem. Hill. in Psal. 68 Epiph. in Anchorato. that they would be so far from believing this Miracle, and glorifying God, that (as hereby more hardened) they would seek to kill him & Lazarus, h john 12. 10. and therefore as at another time, he mourned for the hardness of their hearts, i Mat. 3. 5. so now he weary for it. (jesus wept.) And this Circumstance teacheth us to take to heart, Doct. and to mourn for the sins of others, as David, whose eyes yielded rivers of water when he saw men transgress the Commandments of God. k Psal. 119. 136 Oh shall we weep to see a friend at the point of death, or to hear that his soul is departed for a season, and his body dead? and shall we not much more mourn that men should be strangers to the life of God, through the ignorance which is in them? l Eph. 4. 18. Oh ye melting and tenderhearted ones of God, mourn for them that continue in sin, the Symptom of a never-dying death Now, Applic. forasmuch as it hath pleased God (even of late) to take away by death many good and merciful men, excellent members in the Church and Commonwealth; and bring great affliction and misery upon divers persons, families, and Countries; by death of friends, famine, fire, inundations of Waters and Seas: and yet sin and wickedness reign and abound every where; it is high time for all God's people to imitate the Example of their head; and to put in practise the Counsel of the Apostle, Sorrow and weep, let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness m jam. ●●. ; lest continuing in that reproved sin, the Lord of Hosts did call unto mourning and weeping, baldness and girding with sackcloth, but behold joy and gladness n Esay 22. 1●. , etc. We pull on ourselves, the execution of that fearful doom threatened, I will turn your Feasts into mourning, and all your Songs into lamentation, and I will bring sackeloth on all loins, and baldness upon every head, and I will make it as the mourning of an only Son, and the end thereof as a bitter day o Amos 8. 10. . Now the ends of Christ his weeping come to be considered (wherewith I will conclude) and they are principally these two. viz. First, 1. Doct. to show us the truth of his human nature, in that he had not only the substance of soul and body, with flesh and bones, which a spirit hath not p Luk. 24. 39 ; but also the infirmities of both, (so far as they were general and blameless q M▪ Perk. on the Creed. ) as in the body, hanger r Matth 4. 2. , thirst s john 19 28. , wearisomeness t john 4. 6. , etc. and in the soul, sorrow u Matth 26. 38. , and ignorance x Mark 13. 32. of somethings y Merae privationis, non pravae dispositionis. . Well did Simeon prophesy by the holy Ghost, that Christ should be for a sign that should be spoken against z Luk. 2. 34. , for even in the infancy of the Church, there did arise four main heretics, VIZ. Arrius denying his Deity; Apollinarius, maiming his humanity; Nestorius, renting his Union; and E●●yches confounding his essential proprieties: which four Heretics and Heresies, were condemned by four Ancient general Councils, in sour significant Adverbs. The Council of Nice, August. de Haeres. cap. 49. 55. 91. 92. Zanch. de Incarnate. lib. 2. cap. 1. defined against Arius, that Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, truly God: the Council of Constantinople, against Apollinarius, that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, perfectly man; the Council of Ephesus against Nestorius, that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Doct. Hook. Eccles polit. lib. 5. sect. 54. pag. 116 last impresi. indivisibly one person; and the Council of Chalcedon against Eutyches; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, unconfoundedly, retaining the proprieties of both natures: and as evil manners, cause good laws: so these & such like heresies, have both caused most renowned Councils, and procured most excellent Confessions of the Christian faith; and specially (as an Antidote against the poison of the former heresies,) that short, but most pithy confession of the Emperor justinian: The word was not changed into flesh, nor flesh into the word, but one in both; and both in one: not one of his Father, and another of his Mother; but one way of his Father before the beginning: and another way of his Mother, in the end of the world a Nec verbum in carnem nec caro in verbum, mutata est; sed utrumque in uno, et unus in vtr●que est; non alter ex patre, alter ex matre; sed aliter ex patre. etc. justin Imperat. ad joannem 2 Papam, tempore. Concil. Tolet. . The learned Ancients also skirmishing with the said Apollinarists, and Marcionites, manichees, and such as have denied the truth both of Christ his humanity and actions; have (amongst others) discharged this Arrow against the faces of them, alleging his tears, as an Argument of true humanity b Lachrymae, sunt reri corpores humores. Gu●l●. hem. l. 109. , and not of distrust c Nature, 〈◊〉 diffidenti● testes Barn. Serm. 26. in Cantie. . Secondly, this showeth the sweetness of Christ, 2. Doct. his Mediation and Redemption: in that our Redeemer is not a stranger to our Nature, but (as GOD promised,) the woman's seed d Gen. 3. 15. , and seed of Abraham e Gen. 22. 18. ; so hath he performed it, in sending his Son made of a Woman f Gal. 4. 4. , a true man, like unto us in all things, (except sin g Heb. 4. 15. . Oh, this was Jacob's comfort on his deathbed, that one wrapped in the Tunicle should come h Gen. 49. 10. Shil. Shiliah. Secundae eius Tremell. : and jobs comfort, that though he should die, and all his life waited when his change should come; yet his redeeming Kinsman (for so the word signifieth) lived i job. 19 25. Goel. Ruth. 4. 14. Sic Pet. Galat. de occultis. lib. 4. cap. 4. ▪ Who is a merciful and faithful high Priest in things concerning God, who hath felt in his own soul and body, the manifold straightening passions and perplexities that we feel in our several afflictions, hath (as it were) his bowels yearning towards us; and though now exalted into glory, yet his compassion towards his poor members on earth is no whit diminished, as k M. Perk, on Creed, Treat. of Incarnate. himself witnessed from Heaven, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me l Acts 9 4. Use ? Let us then embrace this sweet Saviour, whom GOD hath sent into the world, compassed with a cloud of witnesses, that all men may believe: and specially with the foregoing of that Excellent Herald, and Trumpeter m jubilee, of jobel, a Trumpet; ●eron, de interpret. nom. Kerch. Heb. Concord. 1673 Buxt. Heb. Epit. 334. Bab on Leuit. pag 202 of the blessed jubilee, the Baptist; who went before his face to prepare his ways, and to alter the state of Faith n Fides in adventu ipsius non erat destruenda, sed solum status eius mutandus, ut quem venturum credebant venisse crederent. Toll, in johan. annot. 46. by preaching the doctrine of Repentance, that is, they should not believe in one to come, but in him that was already come o Acts 19 4. ; whom he pointed out with the finger unto them p john 1. 29. . Oh go we ever with boldness, to his sweet throne of Grace q Heb. 4. ult. : seek we to that Physician, who hath been sick of the same disease himself: lo we him, that hath shed tears for us; love how he loved us: yea, that shed his blood, and gave himself for us r Gal. 2. 20. ! Oh how he loved us indeed! To him that so loved us, and washed us from our sins in his blood, and made us Kings and Priests unto God, even his Father, to him I say be glory and dominion for evermore s Reu. 1. 5. . Amen. FINIS.