A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FUNERAL OF THAT PAINFUL And faithful servant of jesus Christ, Mr THOMAS WILSON, in his own Church at St Georges, in Canterbury the 25. day of january. In the year of our Lord God 1621. By WILLIAM SWIFT, Preacher of GOD'S Word, at St ANDREWES, within the City of Canterbury. JOSHVA 1.2. Moses my servant is dead. ZACHARIAH 1.5. Do the Prophets live for ever? LONDON Printed by I. D. for Fulke Clifton. 1622. TO MY NEIGHBOURS AND VERY LOVING Friends, the Inhabitants of the Parish of St ANDREWES, within the CITY of CANTERBURY. BELOVED being of late requested by some of you, to Preach the Funeral Sermon, of that worthy Preacher of the word of God, and a lecturer for many years in this City, M. Thomas Wilson, a man for his singular gift and faculty in Preaching, and worthy works which he hath penned of good note, even among such as never saw his person in the flesh. And of great esteem, among his own people, and many others that have profited by his Ministry; You found me ready to tender my service, as the last duty of my love, to my fellow labourer in the Lord's harvest, and now with the Lord. But to a second request, made since by some, namely, to publish what was then delivered; To this, I deferred my answer for a time, yet after a pause, having in the interim, duly considered, that it is a thing too common in these days, among the enemies of truth, secretly, and cunningly, to deprave such after their death, who have been worthy instruments of God's glory, in the time of their life, and that by the publishing, of what was then spoken of him, many abroad may truly understand the excellent resolution of this faithful Pastor, the watchful eye he hath had always over his flock, his constancy in the truth, peaceably, and comfortably, shutting up his eyes in that Religion and Faith, which he professed in his life. And also on the other side, that others may take notice, of the unfeigned affection, true zeal, fervent love; of so great a multitude within this City to the Gospel of Christ, taking to heart, the loss, and deprivation by death, of so eminent a Teacher, who by the providence of God was planted among them, whom I may term a painful labourer, and withal a skilful builder in the house of God. In respect hereof, I have at length rather satisfied others, than myself, in publishing by my pen, what I lately delivered by word of mouth. The reasons why I have dedicated this Sermon unto you (my good neighbours and friends) are these; First, because I am persuaded, many of you were well affected to the deceased, even for his message sake, as you are ready at all times, to hearken to all such as come unto you in the name of the Lord. Your diligent attention to the word of God, both at home and abroad, deserveth a due praise. Secondly, to whom more fitting can I tender the first fruits of my pen, then to such, on whom in my younger years, I bestowed both the first fruits of my ministry in the preaching of the Gospel, and also the residue of my labours, even now to a riper age? Thirdly, to signify hereby unto you my thankfulness, for the continuance of that love unto me your Minister, and Pastor, now 30. years. In which love of the Inhabitants of this Parish my most loving Father, Mr Thomas Swift, my predecessor in the Parsonage of S. Andrew the space of 22. years, a Preacher of God's word among you, did not a little rejoice. Yea, I boldly affirm, upon sure knowledge, that in his declining age, he joyed not more in any worldly blessing then in the love of his people, who on his deathbed, when as it was questioned by his friends, where his body should be interred, charged his Executor in his last Will, in these very terms, that his bones should rest in that Church where his people so entirely loved him. The premises considered, I entreat you, to accept this small token I send you. And as I have so many years past (as you all know) by the preaching of the Gospel, endeavoured to the uttermost of my power, to build you up in the faith of Christ; So my prayers still are, as they have been daily made unto God on your behalf, that you, and all yours, may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of jesus Christ, to the salvation of your souls, unto whose blessed protection I leave you. Yours in the lord WILLIAM SWIFT. A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FUNERAL OF Mr THOMAS WILSON, in his own Parish Church at S. George's, in the City of Canterbury, the 25. day of january. 1621. ROM. 8.18. For I count, that the afflictions of this present time, are not worthy of the glory which shall be showed unto us. THis Chapter, the 8. to the Romans, may fitly be termed, a store-house, or treasury of spiritual and heavenly comforts, wherein the Apostle S. Paul useth sundry arguments, to prepare, & arm a Christian against the storms and miseries of this present life. My Text that I have read, hath a dependence upon the former Verse, wherein the Apostle comforteth the afflicted in this manner; Si cum eo patimur, una cum illo glorificemur. If we suffer, saith he, with him, we shall also be glorified with him. His meaning is this; That if we now participate with Christ in his sufferings, the time will come that we shall participate with Christ in glory. Object. Ob: But here flesh and blood will object, that heaven indeed may be glorious, but the way to heaven is long, grievous, unpleasant, full of troubles, fear, discontent, and the like, so that wkile we here remain, in the participation of these sorrows, our hearts faint within us. Answered by the Apostle. The Apostle returneth answer to this Objection in the words of my Text read unto you, not denying the bitterness of the potion, but sweeteneth it with the hope of health, that will ensue upon it; he gain-sayeth not the troubles of the righteous to be great troubles, but yet not so great, as is the glory in the life to come, which is the portion and inheritance of the Saints. This is that which the Apostle resolveth and determineth in the words I have read unto you. I count, saith he, that the afflictions of this present life, are not worthy of that glory that shall be revealed unto us. Out of this answer of the Apostle, we may gather these two several Aphorisms, being the two parts of my Text. The two parts of the Text. First, that Christians are subject and liable to the afflictions of this present life. Secondly, that all the afflictions of this life, although they may be many and great, yet are not to be compared to the glory that shall be showed unto us. And thus much for the method, order, and disposition of my Text. For I count that the afflictions, etc. That which the Apostle here termeth afflictions, in the former Verse he calleth by the name of sufferings. What is meant by afflictions. By afflictions and sufferings he meaneth all such crosses as happen unto us in this transitory life, and whatsoever is grievous to our nature to bear. As the sins of man are many, and of diverse kinds, even so the wise and just God hath his many, and manifold differing corrections, according as by their sins he shall be provoked thereunto. The afflictions of this present time, as the Apostle here termeth them, they are two fold Outward, or Inward. Afflictions twofold, Outward or Inward. Outward afflictions, when as God doth smite a man in his outward estate, in his goods, in his good name, in his credit, in the loss of his liberty by imprisonment; As also with sicknesses of his body, which are many and grievous: Outward afflictions. And sometimes with the untowardness and evil disposition of his children, so that after a careful and chargeable education, when the Father looketh for pleasant grapes, as the Prophet saith, Isa. 5.2. he findeth nothing but wild and sour grapes, this is no small cross & corrosive unto Parents that fear God. Sometimes also God chasteneth man by the death of his friends, and a people by the death of a careful Shepherd, as we see at this present time. There be inward afflictions also, Inward afflictions. when as man is chastened with the unquietness of his own heart, trouble of his Conscience by reason of his sins, with a continual fear and expectation of God's wrath to take hold on him, yea, with a restless vexation of his own soul; These inward chastisements, are called by some, soule-afflictions, the which of all crosses are the greatest, and of all burdens most unsupportable. For those outward afflictions before named, the Saints of God have borne them with excellent patience, but these inward conflicts have proved too weighty for them, and they have groaned exceedingly under them. How patiently holy job did bear all outward afflictions, his History will inform you, but when he felt the heavy hand of God upon him, in the troubles of his soul, than he cried out amain, as being wounded to the heart; job 6.4. The arrows (saith he) of the Almighty are in me, the venom whereof doth drink up my spirit, and the terrors of God, fight against me. Surely, these inward afflictions, have carried so great a weight in the Conscience of some men, that labouring by all means to be rid of this yoke and troublesome burden, Nulla poenae gravior quam poena Conscientiae. Isidorus. & not knowing how, they have laid violent hands upon their own life; many such fearful Tragedies have been acted upon the stage of this world. Beloved, The Saints on earth, subject to outward and inward afflictions. Confirmed by example of Patriarches, Prophets, and Apostles. to these afflictions, both outward and inward, the Children of God are subject in this present life. jacob the Patriarch, you shall find complaining of a wearisome Pilgrimage, for when as Pharaoh demanded what was his age, he answered, an hundred and thirty years, and withal informeth him of his sorrows, * Gen. 47.9. Few and evil have been the days of my Pilgrimages. Elias also a famous Prophet of God, with a bitter complaint to heaven, intreateth the Lord to end his Pilgrimage, as being no longer able to endure the afflictions of jezebel, 1 King. 19.4. It is enough, O Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my Fathers. Saint Paul also, after his conversion to the Christian faith, passed along in alike wearisome Pilgrimage, and although the statutes of Christ were his songs in the house of his Pilgrimage, Preaching the Gospel to jews and Gentiles, 1 Cor. 9.20. and to all men, that by all means he might save some; Yet in complaints he cometh not behind jacob, nor Elias, neither Patriarches nor Prophets, If in this life only we have hope in Christ, 1 Cor. 15.19. than (saith he) we are of all men most miserable. I refer you to his reason in the 36. verse of this Chapter, Rom. 8.36. For thy sake we are killed all the day long, etc. Now concerning inward afflictions of the mind, trouble of conscience, fear of God's wrath before mentioned, it is apparent that God's children are not exempted nor privileged from them, besides the example of job before named, I will instance only in the Prophet David, whose complaints are as Symtoms of the sickness of his mind, which are these; a Psal. 130.1. Out of the deep have I called unto thee O Lord. Again, b Psal. 25.7. O remember not the sins of my youth. Again, c Psal. 88.15. I am afflicted, and at the point of death. From my youth I suffer thy terrors, despairing of my life. Last of all, in another Psalm demanding of himself a reason of this agony. d Psal. 42.5.11. O my soul why art thou so disquieted within me, etc. Now seeing that such are the afflictions of this present life, and that such manner of persons are subject unto them, to which might be added many more examples of the Scripture, yea, and Ecclesiastical stories will afford many Precedents of like nature, of God's people suffering under many Heathenish Emperors, in the Primative Church, and since also under Turks and Savages, and under the persecution of Antichrist, that man of sin, of whom it is written, Reu. 17.6. I saw the Strumpet drunken with the blood of Saints. Seeing then that the afflictions of this present life, do fall into the lot of the righteous, whereof we have a cloud of witnesses. Heb. 12.1. This may serve, to show some men their error, and withal to reprove them for the same, that if at any time they come under any bitter afflictions of this life, they sink in despair, * Yea plunged into the gulf of despair. and spare not to say, that God hath forsaken them, they are damned, and cast away, giving hereby very great advantage unto Satan, the common Adversary, Satan playeth upon advantage. who laboureth by his suggestions to bar them of all comforts. O foolish and ignorant man, A causeless despair reproved. as thou art a man, Nihil humania te alienum puta, think not that to be strange in thee which is common to all men: as thou art a Christian, and a regenerate man, Christ jesus hath invested thee into the sorrows of this life; you (saith Christ) to his own, shall weep and lament, and the world shall rejoice. joh. 16.20. The Arms of the Church militant, is the Cross. The Arms of the militant Church. The motto of the Church, The Motto of the militant Church. 2 Cor. 5.4. as one saith is this. I do well and suffer. Indeed (saith the Apostle) we that are in this Tabernacle, sigh, and are burdened. If thou wilt consult with the Scriptures, they will inform thee, that a Psal. 34.19. great are the troubles of the righteous; yea, and that b 2 Tim. 3.12. all that will live godly in jesus Christ, shall suffer persecutions. And c 1 Pet. 4.17. that God's judgements begin at his own house. d Prov. 3.11. My son (saith Solomon) despise not thou the chastizinges of the Lord, for the Lord will correct such as he loveth. This is a sentence of great note and use in the Scripture. I find it recommended by Christ to the Church of the e Rev. 3.17. Laodiceans, and also by the Apostle it is pressed home to the Hebrews with this amplification, f Heb. 12.5. seeing that God chasteneth whom he loveth, and scourgeth every son that he receiveth, if a man be without all corrections, whereof (saith he) all are partakers; this immunity and freedom causeth suspicion in deed, Heb. 12.8. that the same man cannot be the true child of God. I deny not but that afflictions, and the crosses of this life, may be counted tentations, and they that with patience bear them, of such it will be said in the last day. g Luk. 22.28. These are they that have continued with me in tentations, and I appoint unto them a kingdom. And out of question, Afflictions are great tentations, but not the greatest. great afflictions are great tentations, but not the greatest of all. The greatest of all tentations (saith a learned Father) is never at all to be tempted, which he groundeth upon that saying to the Hebrews, that he which is without all corrections is a h Heb. 12.8. Bastard and no son. The holy Disciples of Christ, through the midst of these afflictions found a passage to God's kingdom. We must, Act. 14.22. say they, through many afflictions enter into the kingdom of God. If any man should inquire the way to that City, towards which he traveleth, if it be truly answered him thus, That the only way to the same, is through many Deserts, steepy Mountains, after that he must pass by dangerous waters, and then by rough ways, and the like. This passenger going on in his travel, he findeth most pleasing, delightful, and smooth ways, and therein no cause of fear, or discontent. Will he rejoice in this? Nay, hath he not cause by these pleasant passages to suspect that he hath utterly lost his right way. Even so fareth it with a Christian that is bound for the kingdom of God, Christ jesus hath given us the marks of the way, not ease, pleasure, profit, or the like, The false way. that man who aboundeth in all these may justly fear, that he is clean out of the way. The true marks of the way to the City of God the new jerusalem, Marks of the way to the City of God. by the report of Christ are these; a joh. 16.20. Weeping, lamentations, sorrows, b Luk. 21.16. treachery of friends, c Luk. 21.17. hatred of the world, d Math. 23.34. persecutions, e Rev. 2.10. the Prison, f joh. 16.2. Excommunications, g joh. 16.3. death, martyrdom, and the like. If in these thou have thy portion in this life, comfort thyself, for therein thou hast the marks of the true way before thee. When as the Wisemen came from the East, and sought after Christ, they had the star for their guide, of whom it is thus written, h Math. 2.10. When they saw the star, (the mark of their way) they rejoiced with an exceeding great joy. Even so the Saints, and holy Martyrs, being well taught and grounded in the truth, and bound for the kingdom of God; when as in their passage they met with those marks, whereof Christ before speaketh, they were full of joy in all their tribulations, singing of Psalms, clapping of their hands, kissing the stake; for by these tokens and marks, they were well assured, that they were in the very high way, leading to the kingdom of God. But let me in the next place minister some instructions to such as are under the afflictions of this present life. Necessary instructions given to such as are afflicted. It is very necessary that the afflicted do understand who it is that hath smitten them, The Lord smiteth. a Hos. 6.1. Come (saith the Prophet) let us return to the Lord, He hath spoiled us, He hath wounded us, etc. b job 33.16. Elihu did truly answer job, That all corrections are sealed of God. Ascribing the same to God, as being his own absolute proper act and deed. c Amos 3.6. Shall there be evil in a City (saith the Prophet Amos) and the Lord hath not done it. If the d Math. 10.30. hairs of man's head be numbered, as Christ himself testifieth, yea, and these shall not perish without the will of God, then certainly greater evils cannot fall upon man without God's permission. Ascribe not then thy mishaps to Fortune: So do the Heathen that know not God; nor wrangle too much about secondary causes. When as the complaints came to job against the e job 1.15.16.19. Shabeans, and the Chaldeans, who had taken by violence all his Cattles away from him; And of a great wind that came from beyond the Wilderness, that smote the four corners of the house, which fell upon his Children, and killed them, JOB knew all these to be but God's agents, and used not so much as any murmuring speeches against them, but being assured that God hath a stroke in all the afflictions of this present life, very wisely and truly answered in these words; f job 1.21. The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed, saith he, be the name of the Lord. It is also very necessary that man under these chastizements, do understand that his sins have provoked God to these evils. Sin, the cause of Man's troubles. For when as g judg. 13.1. Israel continued to commit wickedness in the sight of the Lord, the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistimes forty years. Had it not been for sin, Man had never tasted of sorrow. God may truly say as much to all such as groan under the burden of afflictions, as Paul did to those that were in the ship with him; h Act. 27.21. You should, saith Paul, have hearkened to me, and not have loosed from Candie, so should you have gained this hurt and loss. So if man in the state of Innocency, had hearkened to the voice of God, and not transgressed his law, Gen. 3.6. by eating of the forbidden fruit, If he had remained in obedience to the great God of heaven, these afflictions, and crosses, and sorrows of this life, had been altogether prevented. Here is a necessary caveat also to be given to all afflicted, that they accuse not God of injustice, God in afflicting men not unjust. for concerning thine afflictions, be they what they are, thy sins have deserved much more. And yet take this with all for thy comfort, that the afflictions of this present life are not always judgements, Afflictions sometimes but trials. but sometimes are trials of thy faith, love, obedience, patience, and constancy in the true service of God. If therefore thou find the hand of God to be heavy upon thee, inquire by a strict examination of thyself, Referred to examination. what the cause thereof should be. If thy own Conscience shall inform thee of thy love to God, How this may be done. and his true worship, and of thy holy desires to please Cod, and that thou strivest daily against the corruptions of thine own heart, and the like, then out of question, thy afflictions are but trials. But if upon examination, thy Conscience shall intimate unto thee, a great neglect of many holy duties, and that thou livest in some sins not as yet repent of then do thou wisely suspect the worst, that by these afflictions laid upon thee, haven doth challenge thee for the same. Therefore my counsel unto thee is this, Counsel, not to be rejected, or refused of any. If upon inquiry thus made, as thou findest thyself to stand with thy God, if thou takest these afflictions to be trials, exercise all Christian patience under them, but if for thy sins, then hasten forward an unfeigned reformation, and let me answer thee with CHRIST'S words in the Gospel, i joh. 5.14. Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee. To shut up this point, The final cause of the affliction of the Saints. the final cause of afflictions of Gods elect, is this, namely, God's purpose by them to bend, not to break, yea, where he bendeth, he never breaketh. Elihu answered job truly, that the mark that God aimeth at by those afflictions that he sendeth upon his own, is k job 33.16.17.18. to open the ear of man, to cause him to hearken unto his word. And that thereby he may cause man to turn from his own enterprise, and that he might hide the pride of man. And by these corrections he intendeth to keep back his soul from the pit, and that his life should not pass by the sword. To this well agreeth that saying of Paul, l 1 Cor. 11.32 We are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. And thus much of the first part of my Text. The second Aphorism followeth, which is this; The second Aphorism. That all the afflictions of this present time, although they be many and great, yet are not to be compared to the glory that shall be showed unto us. I count (saith the Apostle) etc. The Rheims Testament readeth it thus, I do think that the afflictions of this present time, but to think, leaveth it to uncertainty. The original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Statuo. Beza Repeto Zuinglius Arbitror Trimelius. Existimo vulg. latin. is better by learned Interpreters, translated thus; I count, etc. As if the Apostle should have thus said, I have summed up together all the sorrows and afflictions of this life, having first examined every particular, I count what I find, for by experience I know what they are, namely, that they will not hold weight with that glory that shall be revealed to the Saints in the life to come. Non sunt paria, saith Beza, Non sunt paria. Beza. Pares passiones. Trimelius. If you put them all into the Balance, they will prove too light, much like to that of job, m job 6.2. Oh that saith he, my grief were weighed, and my miseries were laid together in the Balance, for it would be heavier than the sand of the Sea, etc. Even so, if all the troubles of this life were balanced with heavenly joys, they would prove much lighter than the same. Which Metaphor the Apostle also useth in his Epistle to the Corinthians, n 2 Cor. 4.17. Our light afflictions (saith he) which are but for a moment, causeth unto us a fare more excellent, and an eternal weight of glory. When as Paul was taken up into Paradise, he speaketh of himself, that he there heard ( o 2 Cor. 12.4. Beza. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) Ineffabilia verba, saith the Latin translation, Words not possible for man to utter. No doubt but it was a more harder task to express what was then seen, I mean the glory of God, then to utter those words that were spoken unto him. Saint Peter calleth the joy of Heaven begun here on earth, p 1 Pet. 1.8. Gaudium ineffabile, You do believe, and rejoice saith he, with joy unspeakable and glorious. If heavenly joy, in the heart of the Saints, when as it is but begun, while it is but in the bud, when man hath but a little taste of the same, by the work and operation of the Spirit of God, be Gandium ineffabile, that is, unspeakable joy, how unable is man to express the perfection of it, even that glory, saith my Text, that shall be revealed unto us. Saint Paul also to the Corinthians doth much magnify this glory, but he explaineth it not; q 1 Cor. 2.9. The things (saith he) which eye hath not seen, neither ear hath heard, neither came into man's heart, are which God hath prepared for them that love him. Yea, he proveth the truth hereof by Scripture, r Isa. 64.4. according, saith he, as it is written, but not explaining the excellency of this glory, by reason, or demonstration. The Prophet David also, s Psal. 45.1. whose tongue was the pen of a ready writer, yet neither by pen, not by his tongue was he able to express this glory, but in general terms, t Psal. 16.11. Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is the fullness of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. And again, u Psal. 36.9. With thee O Lord is the well of life, and in thy light we shall see light, etc. But beloved, I marvel the less that the Prophets of God, and Apostles of our Saviour Christ, have passed by the description of this glory which we hope for in the life to come, and without any particular illustration of the emminencie thereof, when as the Lord Christ himself, praying to God his Father for this glory to be given unto his Church, calleth it only x joh. 17.5. that glory, which himself had with his Father before the world was, but he explaineth it not. We shall all then know, and not before, what this glory is, when as in the life to come, it shall be revealed unto us, that is, when we are in the actual possession of it. For as he that sat upon the white Horse (spoken of in the Revelation) y Rev. 19.12. On whose head were many Crowns, Simile. had a name that no man knew but himself: So, no man knoweth the excellency of this heavenly joy, or the glory thereof, but he himself only that is crowned with it. Brethren, for my part I have had but little time to meditate upon this Scripture, but had I had much longer time, I should not have been able to have satisfied you in this point, as by any description, or demonstrations, to present unto you the perfection of this glory, for z 1 Cor. 2.9. if man's heart cannot conceive it, then much less is man's tongue able to express it. Neither doth my Text put this task upon me, for the Apostle speaketh only of this glory comparatively; comparing it with the crosses and miseries of man's life. I count (saith he) that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed unto us. Neither do I see how the comparison can well hold betwixt the one and the other, things finite, with that which is infinite. a Psal. 30.5. The heaviness of the Saints, is but for a night, the joy that cometh in the morning will be everlasting. b Psal. 16.11. At the right hand of God, there are pleasures for evermore, as the Prophet testifieth. Saint Paul also himself seemeth not so well to approve of this very comparison, even in this very respect; c 2 Cor. 4.17. For (saith he) our light affliction, which is but for a moment, causeth unto us a fare more excellent, and an eternal weight of glory. And albeit, man's life be full of sorrows, as job speaketh, yet, saith he, withal d job 14.1. it is of short continuance; his afflictions then be but momentary afflictions, and the glory of heaven eternal. Upon this hope of eternal glory, God's children have gone through (with singular patience) the wearisome Pilgrimage of this life. And although they have not a little been perplexed with the violent storms of this world, yet herein was their comfort, an expectation that they had of this haven, where they should enjoy eternal rest. Saint Paul giveth this for a reason, why he fainted not in his sorrows; e 2 Cor. 5.1. For we know (saith he) that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle be destroyed, we have a building given of God, that is, a house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens. For therefore we sigh, desiring to be clothed with our house, which is from heaven, etc. And again, there is another difference between the afflictions of this life, and the glory which shall be revealed unto us, which doth not a little detract from the fitness of this comparison, namely, that these afflictions are often times mixed with comfort, but heavenly joys have no touch at all of any sorrows in them. Saint Peter writing to such as were under great afflictions, yet in his Epistle mentioneth their great joy; f 1 Pet. 1.8. You (saith he) do believe, and rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorious. And S. Paul confirmeth this truth by good experience in himself; g 2 Cor. 1.5. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation aboundeth through Christ. Now on the other side, in the fruition of the glory to be revealed, we shall enjoy it, without any mixture of sorrow. This glory will suffer no manner of eclipse at all. h Rev. 7.17. Isa. 25.8. God will wipe away all tears from the eyes of his people. All which confirmeth the truth of this Text, that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shall be showed unto us. This glory which in a due time shall be revealed, it is no worldly glory, no vainglory; these will pass away as shadows without substance, which are lighter than the wind, they have no weight at all in them, i Luk. 16.25. there is no remembrance at all of earthly pleasures when as man leaveth them, they vanish away, as it were, in a smoke, but the glory of God is ever lasting. And this is the portion and inheritance of the Saints, wherefore (as the Apostle saith else where) k 1 Thes. 4.18. Comfort yourselves one another with these words. But principally I commend these words of comfort to all that are afflicted, that groan under persecutions, and are distressed by reason of many crosses and miseries that have taken hold on them. To all such our Saviour ministereth the like words of comfort; l Math. 5.12. Great (saith he) is your reward in the kingdom of heaven. This was Moses comfort in his afflictions, as the Apostle saith, m Heb. 11.26. He had an eye to the recompense of the reward. Saint Stephen also the Martyr, in his afflictions, was supported by the meditation of this glory; n Act. 7.55. Behold (saith he) I see the Heaven's open, and the son of Man standing at the right hand of God, etc. And this is it which Paul presseth to the Colossians, o Col. 1.5. for the hopes sake which is laid up for you in heaven, etc. So then all the afflictions of this present time, are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed unto us. Finally, if all the afflictions of Paul's time, which have been the greatest that ever were, I mean the persecutions in the primative Church, as Ecclesiastical Stories at large will inform you. If all those troubles, yea, sufferings for Christ, and Martyrdom itself be not worthy of heaven's joy, Good works cannot justify. than no other works certainly can of themselves merit eternal life, or procure for man the salvation of God: And so much for the Interpretation of this Scripture. Now touching the occasion of this present meeting, somewhat is to be spoken. TO speak much of little, saith one, needeth the help of Art; And certainly no less Art is required in him, that intendeth to speak little of much, fully and yet in few words. In which point, I suspect I may fail, having but little time left, and so plentiful a subject of my speech. At my coming into this Church, when I beheld the people here assembled, I remembered that report which the Evangelist giveth of our Saviour Christ, p Math. 9.36. When he saw the multitude, he had compassion upon them, because they were dispersed and scattered abroad, as sheep having no Shepherd. It cannot be but a pitiful spectacle indeed, to behold a people distressed in this kind. This being your own case (my beloved) I may fitly compare your sorrows, to the sorrows of jerusalem, lamented by the Prophet jeremy, q Lam. 1.1. How doth that City, saith he, remain solitary, that was full of people; she is as a widow that was great among the Nations, etc. The like say I to this present people, How cometh it to pass, that this Congregation lieth desolate, as a lamenting widow, without a Teacher, or Comforter, who of late, for the plenty and purity of the Word, rejoiced above all other Parishes and Villages round about her? Alas, the reason is soon rendered. You have lost a most painful Pastor, and a careful Shepherd that attended you, Zancheus de Caelvine. Fuit optimus interpres Scripturarum. A man called forth to the work of the Lord, and plentifully enabled of God to the work whereunto he was called. He was a judicious Divine, and Orthodox, sound in the truth, excellent for interpretation of Scripture; a professed enemy to Idolatry, superstition, and all false worship: for which he reaped the malice of some, but especially of one who opposed him to the uttermost of his power. But God soon unmasked this Adversary, Mr Wilson troubled by a false brother. whose vizard being pulled off, it instantly appeared to the world that he had the mark of the Beast in his forehead, and then gave over the pursuit of him, when as his own Conscience pursued himself, so that forth with he forsook his friends, living, country, and all, D. C. and departed from us. And as this true Shepherd of Christ was furnished with excellent gifts, both of Nature and Arts, whereby he was well fitted to the work of the Ministry, Mr Wilson very laborious and industrious in his calling. so was he most laborious, industrious, and diligent at all seasons to Preach Christ. As he had received ten Talents, so he put them all out to the use of his Master. Otherwise, people find small comfort in the great readings, knowledge of the tongues, skilfulness in the Arts, eloquence, or in any other eminent gifts of such as are placed over them, if they reap not the fruits of that learning in the public Ministry of the Word. And as he was painful and industrious, He was also constant in his pains. so also was he constant in his labours, as God still increased his gifts, so he still enlarged his pains, to the farther good of his Church, even from the time of his first coming to his charge, to the time of his death, He was resident 36. years upon his charge. Genesis. Isaiah. The Gospel of St john. having remained among you the space of 36. years, preaching usually in this place three times every week, lecturing upon three several Books of Scripture; A task of such labour, especially the same being so exquisitely performed, that the best learned have most admired him. And in all his Sermons, he gave good content to such as were most judicious, yet still spoke to the capacity of the meanest; It is well known to all that knew him, that he was both an eloquent, Like Apollo's. Act. 18.24. and a powerful dispenser of the Word. In which constancy of his labours, he fulfilled that saying of one, who would have Imperatorem stantem mori concionatorem concionantem mori, where should the Emperor die, saith he, but in the field, and where should a Preacher die, but in the Pulpit? meaning in the faithful execution of his Ministry. His Sermons you see, were more than quarter Sermons. To his continued pains of Preaching, He was a very profitable writer. I may add these excellent Books which he hath penned, whereof Divines may make good use, and all such as desire a progress in godliness. Object. But what need I rehearse these things to you that already know them, will not some reply to this Apology, as one that answered the Orator, who earnestly pleading for attention, was interrupred by one of his Auditors, demanding upon what argument he would Discourse. He answered, that it should be in the praise of Hercules, then said he, Num quis Herculem vituperat, Is there any here that dispraiseth Hercules, holding it a vain labour to praise where none dispraiseth. Or happily to my testimony of this worthy Pastor, some will answer me much like as the Samaritans answered the woman of Samaria concerning Christ, We believe all this, not because of your report, but for that we have heard him ourselves. I answer thus, Answered. What is now spoken of him, at this present, is not so much for information, as for confirmation of what ye know and believe, when ye understand that others are of the same mind with you, but principally it is now spoken of him, that God may have the glory of his works and graces in him. If you of this parish do not ingenuously confess, Ingrateful hearers reproved. to the glory of God, the manifold benefits you have received by his watchful labours; I say to you as Christ said in defence of his Disciples, If those, saith he, hold their peace, the stones will cry out; even so, the very stones of this Church, let them witness against you. And if any malignant spirits, Depraving spirits censured. shall after his death deprave him, or detract from his Preaching, or those his Books which he hath penned, all godly Christians have cause to suspect them to be rotten at the core, unsound I mean in Religion; or else for their own insufficiency (the ground of malice) unworthy to carry his Books after him. When myself did visit him in his sickness, and perceived the great weakness of his body, I counselled him, upon return of strength (if God so pleased) to be moderate in his pains for a time; He answered me in these very words, Were I in health of body, His resolution to be constant in his labours. 1 Cor. 9.16. I say always with the Apostle, Vae mihi si non evangelizavero, Woe unto me if I preach not the Gospel, but in my sickness I know the Lord will not require it of me. But alas I see tears falling from many eyes, A general lamentation in the Auditory observed. Deut. 34.8. and other signs of mourning in this Auditory; to you that lament the loss of your Shepherd, as the Israelites did for their Moses, so you for this Prophet of God, were your Shepherd to return his answer from Heaven, it would be much like to Christ's words, to the lamenting Women that followed after him. Luk. 23.28. Daughters of jerusalem, weep not for me, saith he, but for yourselves, and for your children, for yourselves, I say, and for your children, because you know not what evil may befall you, for these latter days grow evil apace. Isa. 57.1. And the righteous are taken away, saith the Prophet, because he shall not see them. But in respect of himself, For himself no cause of lamentation. there is no cause of lamentation, for he and all his labours are with God; He hath fed the flock of Christ, and is gone to receive the promised Crown. He hath met with that comfortable greeting of the Lord, Math. 25.23. Euge bone serve & fidelis, it is well done good servant and faithful, thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: enter into thy master's joy. And as he was careful for you in his life, so not careless of you at the instant time of his death. Even as the Heathen Orator said of himself, Tully. that he had no less regard, that the Commonwealth should flourish after his death, then in the time of his life, or rather like unto S. Paul's care, Act. 20.29. that when he departed from the Church of Ephesus, he would have grievous Wolves kept out, that otherwise would make a havoc of the flock the which he very earnestly committed to the care and trust of the Elders of that Church, and was the more earnest, Act. 20.38. for that they should see his face no more. Even so this trusty and provident Shepherd, was so mindful and careful of you all, Mr Wilson very careful of his flock at the point of death. that with his last dying breath, he prayed, and wished all good to the Church of Christ in general, but to you his flock in special, namely, his hearty desire was this, that the Patrons of his Church would place such a one in his room, as should be able to teach his poor flock. And I hope that his worthy * Who were present at this Sermon. Patrons will have a regard of you, even as they respect the glory of God, and for their own honour and credit, and the rather at the request of their brother deceased, who in the name of Christ craved it at their hands. Now to you his grieved flock, His grieved flock comforted. let me minister a few words of comfort, I say to you as Abraham did to Isaak his son, My son, saith he, God will provide a sacrifice; So, 1. That God will provide for them. GOD no doubt will provide a Teacher for you. And comfort yourselves in this, you the inhabitants of this Parish are not alone, but have many abroad that do share with you in your sorrows, 2. They not alone in their sorrows. that sometimes were partners with you in the comforts of your Minister. Neither be you too much discouraged, 3. Truth remaineth though true Teachers be taken away. though a true Teacher be taken from you, yet God hath left his Truth still with you, and hath given you the spirit of Truth, that shall never be taken from you: You have on every side such as are both able and willing to instruct you; 4. The spirit of Truth abideth for ever. you are well neighboured also by the cathedral Church adjoining to you, whether you do often resort, and receive instructions from diverse very learned Divines, 5. They have many instructers near unto them. Christ's Church at Canterbury. Eccle. 3.1. from whence, as from a continued springing fountain you may fetch the water of life; no small benefit to this City, if they respect the welfare of their souls. Finally, Solomon saith, Every thing hath an appointed time: And a time to every purpose under Heaven. Why then there is a time to hear, and a time to practise. You have had a long time to hear, in the name of God, make it now a time to practise. Be not always hearers, jam. 1.22. but doers of the Word. And what ye have heard by your learned Teacher in his Doctrine (as Mary did the words of Christ) so lay the same up in your hearts. Luk. 2.51. You have been often, yea, His hearers called upon, to put in practice what they have heard. early and late called upon, by your loving and beloved Pastor, God calleth you now to practise what you have learned. Let the crop and harvest be answerable to that seed that hath been here sown, certainly a plentiful seed, let the effect thereof be seen by a plentiful harvest. When to meet again with their Shepherd. 2 Tim 4.7. That in the end, you may meet again with your Shepherd, who by the hand of God is now pulled away from you, of whom this remaineth only to be spoken; He hath fought a good fight, He hath finished his course, He hath kept the Faith, from hence forth is laid up for him the Crown of righteousness, which the Lord shall give unto him at that day; And all this through the merits of JESUS CHRIST, to whom with GOD the Father, and the blessed Spirit, be all honour, glory, praise, and dominion, now and for ever. Amen. * ⁎ * FINIS. A POSTSCRIPT TO THE READER. COurteous READER, thus have I set down and presented unto thee my Sermon Verbatim, in the very same manner, so near as memory doth afford me help, as I preached it, hoping it will be the better accepted for that it cometh forth, in the very same plain habit, in which it first appeared to so great a multitude that heard the same, who with lamenting hearts, accompanied his corpse to the grave, the which was carried by six Preachers of the word of God, whereon were fixed diverse Latin Verses, deploring the loss of so watchful a Shepherd, the which Verses if they had come unto my hands, I would have brought them forth unto the light. Because I have given so free and large a testimony of his labours, let me more particularly acquaint thee what they have been. The Books of holy Scripture expounded by Mr Thomas Wilson in his ordinary Lectures, since he came to his charge, were these; The prophecy of Haggai. The Gospel of S. Luke. The Acts of the Apostles. The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, which is since printed. And many whole Psalms of DAVID; As Psalm 15. Psalm 25. Psalm 32. Psalm 73. Psalm 103. ALSO The 4. Chapter of Ecclesiastes, his first task. The 3. Chapter of jonah, in the time of a general fast. The 26. and 27. Chapters of Matthew, preparation Sermons to the holy Communion. The first and second Verses of the sixth Chapter to the Hebrews, the grounds of his Catechism, which since he hath printed. The 53. Chapter of Isaiah, in the time of Lent. The 15. Chapter of the 1. to the Corinthians, usual at Funerals. Upon these 3. books were his last weekly Lectures. The first 13. Chapters of Isaiah, every Sabbath morning. The first 29. Chapters of Genesis, every Sabbath afternoon. The first 12. Chapters of S. john's Gospel, every Friday lecture. With very many other Texts of holy Scripture, as the present times offered occasion. He hath also written 12. several Books, which are printed. His last book which he nameth, Saints by calling, or called to be Saints; In the Epistle dedicatory of the same, he calleth it, his Benjamin, or his twelfth and last Book. Such have ever been the restless labours of this servant of CHRIST, who is now at rest from his labours, and his works have followed him. Courteous Reader farewell.