A SERMON Preached at the FUNERAL OF Mr JAMES LORDEL, WHO WAS Buried at St MAGNUS Church, March 27. 1694.  
By LILLY BUTLER, Minister of St Mary Aldermanburic.  
LONDON, Printed for Brabazon Aylmer, at the Three Pigeons over-against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1694.   

To my Honoured Friends, Mr 

John Lordel,  
Benjamin Lordel,  
Samuel Lordel,  
Abraham Lordel,  
Peter Lordel,  
and Mrs Mary Lordel,  
Mr John Trymmer,  
&  
Mrs Sarah Trymmer,   Brothers and Sisters of the deceased Mr. James Lordel.  
Honoured Friends,  
MY Obligations to your Good Family are so very great, that I could not deny your request for a Copy of this Sermon, preached at the Funeral of your Dear Brother, and my very Good Friend. It must be the relation it hath to him that hath moved you to design the Printing of it. And though I am very sensible how unfit it is to be thus exposed, yet it is some satisfaction to me, that by consenting to it, I shall show how hard it is for me, to refuse you any thing that may be a testimony of my respect and gratitude. I do often think, with a great deal of pleasure, on that exemplary Virtue, and most tender Love to one another, which are so remarkable in every one of you: And that you may be steadfast and unmoveable, always abounding in these things, and long enjoy the comfortable fruits of them, is the hearty Prayer of  
Your most obliged Friend and Servant, Lily Butler.   
REV. XIV. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them. 
BLessedness is that which all men naturally desire; but the greatest part of them either cannot or rather will not understand, when, and how, and where alone it can be found. Most men seek no farther for it than their Senses will direct and guide them; and think for certain it resides amongst the things that are seen, and are but temporal. One eagerly pursueth the deceitful and uncertain riches of this World; wearieth his body, breaketh his rest, defileth his conscience, and, whilst he little thinks of it, selleth his soul too; that he may fill his bags and barns, and increase his treasures and revenues: and all this while flatters himself, that if he can but accomplish his designs, he shall then be a happy man, and may say to his soul, as the rich man in the Gospel did to his, Soul take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry; for thou hast goods laid up for many years. But, alas! in a very little while, and for the most part before he can attain to that rich-man's wealth and increase, he receives his dreadful rebuke and summons; Thou fool, saith God to him, this day or this night thy soul shall shall be required of thee; and then, poor wretch, all his hopes and expectations perish; and the intolerable misery he is condemned to sadly discovers his mistake of happiness. Another confidently persuades himself, that there is no happiness like greatness and honour; that, if he could but attain to such a height of dignity and preferment, then without all peradventure he should be a happy man. But oftentimes whilst he is studying and contriving to advance himself, before he can reach his affected honours, Death comes and spoils all his plots: Or if he do perfect his designs, he enjoys his honour but a very little while, and then is thrown down from the height of all his glory, his body into the grave, and his soul as low as hell. A third derides and laughs at the folly of others, and very confidently presumes that he hath found the truest happiness, even carnal delights and pleasures, the faring sumptuously every day, and spending his days and nights in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wantonness, in contriving and acting new scenes of lust and intemperance. But, alas! this man's fond conceited happiness, promotes and hastens his real misery, distempers his body, consumes his strength, and shortens his life, which is no sooner ended, but instead of those soft delights, those pleasures of sin he enjoyed for a season, he is forced to lie down in unquenchable flames, to weep and wail for ever in that place of torment prepared for the Devil and his Angels. Indeed we are all too apt to take up our rest here, and to look for too much happiness in this world, 
Job 5.7.  where we are born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards. But if we harken to the Divine Author of my Text, he will there discover our mistake in this matter: he will tell us, as he was taught it immediately by a voice from heaven; the season, and nature, and subjects of true felicity. I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Writ, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.  
In these words we have, First, A description of those that are blessed and happy men; Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Secondly, The certainty of their blessedness from the testimony of the Spirit. Yea, saith the Spirit. Thirdly, The nature of their blessedness; It is a Rest; That they may rest from their labours: and a Reward, Their works do follow them. I purpose to speak something to the several parts of my Text, and conclude with some seasonable Application of it.  
First, Here is the Description of those that are blessed and happy men; The dead which die in the Lord.  
First, The Dead, and not the Living. It is a true account which Job giveth us of the Life of man, c. 14. v. 1. Man that is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble. Solomon supposeth a far happier state of life than was ever yet found in this World, and pronounceth of this likewise, that it is but vanity. Eccl. 11.28. If a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. And certainly we may rely upon the judgement of Solomon in this matter; who, if there had been any happiness in this world, would undoubtedly have met with it. He had experienced most, and he had searched into all the admired enjoyments of this world; and the conclusion he made after all his diligent and exact inquiries, he telleth us himself, Eccl. 1.14. I have seen all the works that are done under the Sun, and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. There are but two sorts of men, the Wicked and the Righteous, and neither of these can be happy here. The Wicked are like a troubled Sea that cannot rest. 
Isa. 57.20  They have always something to ruffle and disturb their minds; some unruly lusts, disordering passions, unsatisfied desires, disappointed expectations, or the severe rebukes of a condemning conscience: Besides those pains and diseases, those crosses and mischiefs, and other outward evils, which are the natural or moral effects of Sin, the common fruit or punishment of it. So that were it possible to make their hearts as visible as their vices, we should soon see what little reason there is to call the proud happy, or to disbelieve the testimony of the Prophet, That there is no peace to the wicked. As for Good and Righteous men, it cannot be imagined that they should be acquainted with rest and happiness where they are strangers and pilgrims, at so great a distance from their Father's house, and the inheritance prepared and reserved for them. They are not of the world, and therefore the world hateth them, and is ready to say, and do all manner of evil against them. They are not perfectly free from Sin, which is itself a heavy burden to them, and moveth their Heavenly Father to correct them. They carry a body of flesh about them, which lusteth and warreth against the Spirit. They have an Adversary the Devil that continually assaults them. And amidst all these disturbances, who can be happy? Most certain then is it, that here is not our rest; that amongst the Living, Blessedness cannot be found; but as we are taught in the Text, it is the Portion of the Dead, Blessed are the Dead. And were this true of all that are so, it were a comfortable doctrine indeed, and Death would deserve some mild and gentle name, instead of that frightful character, The King of Terrors. But it is not every one that dies, but only those that die in the Lord, that are made Partakers of this happiness. Which brings me to the other part of their character, Who are Blessed and Happy men.  
Secondly, They are those Which die in the Lord. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. In speaking to this I shall show, First, Who they are that die in the Lord; and, Secondly, That these only are Blessed.  
First, Who they are which die in the Lord. Some, instead of in the Lord, read for the Lord, taking the Blessedness of the Text to be pronounced of those that, in the times of persecution, lost their Lives for the sake of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ. But I rather think the words are to be taken in a larger sense, as signifying those which St. Paul calleth, The dead in Christ, 1 Thess. 4.16. all those that die in the Fear of God and in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those that are faithful unto death, and keep the works of God unto the end, or as they are described in the Verse before the Text, They that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. They that do this; and, notwithstanding all the opposition they meet with, persevere in doing thus unto the end; These, and which is the next thing I am to show,  
Secondly, These only being Dead are Blessed. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, saith Solomon, but the righteous hath hope in his death. Prov. 14.32. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish, and the hope of unjust men perisheth. Whilst they live they may, and often do, flatter themselves with hopes of Happiness hereafter; but Death makes a lamentable discovery of the vanity and deceit of all such presumptuous expectations. The Son of God himself hath told us, that, If we will enter into life, we must keep the commandments, Matt. 19.17. that the Blessed are those that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city, Rev. 22.14. The promises of eternal life, glory, honour and immortality belong only to them who by patiented continuance in well doing are made meet to be partakers of them. But to those that obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, God will render, saith S. Paul, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil, Rom. 2.7, 8, 9  
Indeed, if we do but seriously consider the refined and spiritual nature of true Happiness, we should certainly think it a most absurd thing to imagine, that those who die in their wickedness should be made Partakers of it. Can you think that God will do himself that which he hath forbidden us? that he will cast pearls before swine, or that he will throw his children's meat unto dogs? that he will prostitute the divine and spiritual Blessings of the world to come, to those that have drowned their souls in the brutish pleasures of flesh and sense? But if we could suppose that God, who is of purer eyes than to behold evil, that cannot look upon iniquity, should be willing to receive the obstinate workers of it to dwell for ever in his presence; yet even there they would not be happy. For there are many Sins which in their own nature include trouble, as envy, wrath, malice, covetousness, excess, with many others. But they are all contrary to the pure and holy nature of God, to his Image, which is the Glory and Happiness of the Saints in Heaven, and wheresoever they are, they are always attended with a darkness of the Understanding, a perverseness of the Will, a disorder and depravation of the Soul. And is it possible a man should be happy, and at the same time encumbered with these, the worst of evils, such as corrupt and distemper the Soul, the better part of Man, and are most opposite to the greatest good, to God the only enjoyment that can make us happy? If then as the Tree falls, so it lies: If we must go into the other World in the same state we leave this, and those that die unjust and filthy, must be unjust and filthy still; it is impossible that they should be happy, who, instead of being faithful and obedient, continue wicked unto death, unless we can reconcile torment and bliss, sin and holiness, the image of the Devil and the image of God. But on the other side, Lift up your heads, O ye Righteous, and be not dismayed at the thoughts of Death: For as that approacheth, so your redemption draweth nigh. In your Father's house there are many mansions, and the Blessed Jesus is gone before to prepare a place for you, and yet a little while, and he will come again, and receive you unto himself, that where he is, there ye may be also. In the mean time he hath not left you comfortless, for he hath given the Holy Spirit to revive the humble and contrite soul, to give invincible testimony to the truth of all his promises, particularly to that of Blessedness to them that die in the Lord: Which brings me to the next thing observed in the Text, which is,  
Secondly, The certainty of their Blessedness who die in the Lord from the testimony of the Spirit; Yea, saith the Spirit. Wicked men may think it in vain to serve God, and count the life of the righteous madness; but it were happy for them, if they might die the death of the righteous, and have their latter end like theirs. For when a Good man dies, than all his labour and sorrow is at an end; and he enters upon a state of happiness that hath no period. And his hopes of these things are not like the flattering fancies of ungodly men, which have no foundation but their own folly: But they are founded upon a rock, upon the steady and immutable Word of God, which, though heaven and earth shall pass away, can never be moved, shall never fail. Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord: Yea, saith the Spirit, the Spirit of God Almighty, who therefore can; the Spirit of truth, who therefore cannot but do what he hath promised. And their Blessedness is as great as it is certain, for they shall rest from all their labours, and their works shall follow them in a glorious reward. Which is the next thing observed in the Text; viz.  
Thirdly, The nature of their happiness who die in the Lord; it is a Rest, That they may Rest from their labours; and a Reward, Their works do follow them.  
First, It is a Rest, a Rest from all their labours; that is, from every thing that brings with it either pain, or trouble, or sorrow.  
First, They Rest from all the necessary labours of this life. The good things of this world are gotten and preserved with care and industry, and men eat bread in the sweat of their brows. God hath therefore allotted us six days in seven for our labours of this kind. But those that die in the Lord do immediately enter upon a perpetual Sabbath. The labours of Seedtime and Harvest, of Trade and Study cease for ever: and they have a constant supply of all good, without any uneasy thought, or care, or pains taken for it.  
Secondly, They Rest from all their labours under the rage and malice, the injustice and persecution of their enemies. They that will live godly in Christ Jesus must look to suffer, under the hands or tongues of an ungodly World. And indeed oftentimes, such are the hard speeches and the cruel usage they meet with from it, that if they had hope only in this life, they would of all men be the most miserable: But when once Death hath removed them hence, they are presently advanced above the reach of all their enemies, covered with the wings of the Almighty, and received into the everlasting protection of the Lord God of hosts.  
Thirdly, They rest from all their labours under the correcting hand of their Father which is in heaven. Whilst they are in the body, they are too prone to fall into sin, and to fulfil the desires of the flesh. And therefore God, in love and mercy, doth take the rod into his hand, chasten and correct them here, that they might not be condemned with the world or delivered into the bitter pains of eternal death. But no sooner hath Death pulled down these earthly tabernacles, but thenceforth, they neither feel nor need any more correction: Then they are perfectly rescued from all pains and diseases, from all crosses and afflictions whatsoever. There is no need of patience which was so necessary in our state of trial here. For there is nothing troublesome or uneasy in that Rest which remains for the people of God.  
Fourthly, They Rest from all their labours and trouble, under the difficulty of their duty, and the assaults of their spiritual enemies. Whilst they are here, they are always in a Military state, continually combating with the Devil, the World and the Flesh. The Devil seeks, with unwearied diligence, to turn them out of the ways of God, or to render their progress therein painful and unpleasant. The Flesh is ready upon all occasions to mutiny and rebel; insomuch that they are forced to keep a diligent watch over it, or it would soon betray them to the rage and malice of their enemy without. They meet with many and violent temptations from a corrupt and naughty world, and much opposition in running the race that is set before them, and are constrained to use a great deal of care and study, labour and industry, to bring into captivity their thoughts, words, and actions unto the obedience of Christ. This is the condition of all the faithful disciples of Christ, so long as they abide here. But no sooner are their Spirits returned to God that gave them, but all their striving and fight is at an end. Their warfare is accomplished, and they are more than conquerors. Henceforth there will be no Devil to tempt them, no law in their members warring against the law of their minds. Mortification, contrition, self-denial, taking up the cross, and all the uneasy part of their duty here, will have no place. They will then be obliged to nothing but what is highly acceptable to the whole man, nothing but what is necessary to complete their happiness. Thus, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: Thus, and abundantly more too, They not only Rest from their labours, but their works do follow them; which is the Second part of the description of their happiness.  
Secondly, Their works do follow them; that is, they shall not be forgotten when they are dead, but eternally crowned with a glorious reward. When all their earthly enjoyments forsake them, than their works of righteousness will remain with them, and plead their title through the merits of Christ, to that kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. Be ye steadfast, 
1 Cor. 15.58  and unmoveable, saith St. Paul to the Corinthians, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. In vain? No, it shall be abundantly recompensed with a great and inestimable reward. A reward that becomes the Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth to bestow, and was purchased for us with the precious blood of his only-begotten Son: A reward that will make us like the Best of beings, and put us in possession of the Supreme good: A reward that contains in it, Treasures that are inestimable and incorruptible, a Crown that never fades, an eternal weight of Glory; Joys that are unspeakable, and Pleasures at God's right hand for evermore: A reward of infinitely greater value, than all that wealth and treasures, crowns and kingdoms, victories and triumphs, and a thousand more such words can signify. In short, It is a reward above all our expressions, above all our hopes, and above all our imaginations. O the height and depth of the love of God How unsearchable are his mercies, and the extent of his goodness past finding out? Shall such contemptible worms be thus advanced by him? Shall such provoking sinful creatures, be made partakers of the joy and glory, the nature and happiness of their great Creator? Lord! what is man that thou art thus mindful of him? that thou shouldst thus reward our weak and imperfect services? The best of us, when we have done our best, are but unprofitable servants. Not unto us therefore, not unto us, but unto God, our good and gracious God, be all the praise and glory of that reward, the Blessedness of them that die in the Lord.  
I proceed now to make some seasonable application of the several parts of my Text, which I have spoken to. Since there is no happiness amongst the Living, but only, The Dead are Blessed.  
First, Let us reflect a little upon ourselves, and consider whether we live as becomes those, that do in earnest believe these things. Is there something here below that hath the strongest of your affections, and the most vigorous of all your endeavours? Is your care greater, and your concern more lively for the things of this life, than for the Blessedness of those that are Dead in Christ? Are Riches, or Honour, or Pleasure the most frequent and delightful matter of your desires and thoughts? If these things are so, you have certainly made a weak, a miserable choice. You have taken up your rest here, and espoused that for your best beloved, and most desired happiness, which hath nothing to do, which hath no being in the state of true Felicity. If there be any here that find themselves guilty of this extreme and dangerous folly, let me exhort you,  
Secondly, To make a better and a wiser choice. Seeing there is no happiness but amongst the Dead, see that ye live like men that are thus persuaded. Tear the world out of your hearts, and moderate your labour for the meat that perisheth. Let your hearts be more in heaven, and your desires and endeavours most earnest for the Blessedness of such as die in the Lord. If this be not our Rest, let us labour for that Rest which remains. Let us live as becomes those that profess themselves, but strangers and pilgrims upon earth, to be seeking after, and travelling towards another, a better, an heavenly Country. Alas! What is there in this world, that is worthy to be compared, with that glory which shall be revealed and enjoyed in the other? Do but look before you, and there ye may see what, a few years hence, will be the condition of us all. And when that day is come, how little will all the pleasures, riches, and preferments of the world profit us? In what then doth the Greatest Monarch excel the Poorest Beggar, but in a little Funeral Pomp, he is nothing sensible of, a greater crowd of Witnesses, and a more lasting Monument of his return to Dust? Why then should we dote upon, and place our happiness in, such mean and perishing enjoyments? Let us live above the world whilst we are in it, and contemn the petty and ignoble designs of the Children of it, who expect a portion in this life only. Let us lay our designs for Heaven and Eternity, for that perfect Rest, and that inestimable Reward which is above, that so when the time of our dissolution is come, it may be said of us; They are Dead, and They are Blessed.  
Thirdly, Seeing those only that die in the Lord are blessed, let none of us flatter ourselves with hopes of happiness, till we are prepared to die thus. There are few Persons we meet and discourse with, but will profess some hopes of being happy hereafter; and I would to God we had all ground for the most comfortable and confident expectations of this kind. But if there be any amongst you, that live after the flesh, and fulfil the lusts of it, that allow yourselves in the practice of any known deliberate sin; Ye are not prepared to die the death of the righteous or to have your latter end like theirs. I say no more than what St. Paul tells us he had often declared, Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revel, and suchlike: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  
Fourthly, The consideration of the Blessedness of those that die in the Lord, their Rest and their Reward, should moderate our grief, for the loss of those Friends, of whom we have good reason to believe that they thus die. Such was this our Deceased Brother. He was one that discovered an early disposition to piety and religion, and remembered his Creator in the days of his youth. He very much delighted in reading of the Best Books, in a modest discoursing and recommending of them, whereby he greatly improved himself and encouraged others. He abhorred the common Vices of the Profane Sparks of this age, and could not be persuaded, that the chief accomplishments of Men were to be learned from Beasts or Devils. He was not in another extreme, morose or sour, but exceeding affable and courteous, winning and obliging, cheerful and pleasant in his conversation, as, in obedience to, and for the credit of his Religion, a good man should be. I believe he hardly ever provoked any man, or underwent the censure of having done an evil or disobliging thing. He was beloved and well spoken of by all that knew him; He was a sincere and hearty Friend, a zealous promoter of peace and unity amongst all his acquaintance, an ingenious Advocate for any that were censured or accused, of such a meek and quiet spirit as is of great price, in the sight both of God and of Man. In a word, Whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, his life was richly furnished and adorned with. It pleased God, towards the latter end of his life, to afflict him with very grievous pains; which gave him an opportunity of manifesting, a most exemplary patience and submission to the will of God, and his improvement in the virtues of an afflicted state also. I have not said these things to inform you, who were most of you acquainted with them before, from your own experience and observation; but rather to bring them to our remembrance, for the provoking our imitation, abating our sorrow, and encouraging our hopes of his happy state. The manner of his death was very becoming such a life, so quiet and composed, so easy and comfortable, that I believe all of us, who were present at it, could not but wish, that we might so die as he died, and that our latter end might be like his. He is Dead, and we may confidently hope he is Blessed too: that, to use his own words, when he saw the time of his departure was at hand, his soul hath taken wings, is fled away, and is at rest.  
Lastly, Let the consideration of the Blessedness of those which die in the Lord, encourage, and effectually persuade us all to keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus; to make it the great concern and business of our lives, to behave ourselves so, that at length we may be Blessed with all those that die in the Lord. Let the time passed of our lives suffice to have done the will of the Flesh; and let us resolve for the time to come, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. Can any thing better deserve your care and labour, than that everlasting Reward and Rest which God hath prepared for them that live and die in him? Do the Commandments of God seem grievous to you? But can you think them so, whilst you have respect unto the recompense of the reward? Will not Heaven make a sufficient amends for all? Will not the Blessedness of the Dead abundantly outweigh all the difficulties of a holy Life? Are you afraid the World should deride and persecute you, if you should be true to God and your Conscience, and lead a Virtuous and a Christian life? But why should this discourage you? There is a day coming, and it is not far off, when, if you do but endure and persevere till then, you shall be exalted above the malice of ungodly men, who shall admire your wisdom, and envy your happiness for ever. Are you loath to forego those sinful delights, you must needs forsake, if you would prepare yourselves to die in the Lord? But is there any comparison, betwixt these pleasures of sin, which are but for a season, and those pure, divine and everlasting joys that are above? Let us then contemn the frowns, and trample upon the most enticing allurements, of the Devil and the World, and resolve to be steadfast and unmoveable, diligent and abounding, in the work of the Lord. God doth now call upon you, by the motives and arguments of the Text, and by this instance of Mortality before you, that you would no longer delay the time, but make haste to keep his commandments. To day then, even whilst it is called to day, let us hear and obey the voice of God; let us not dare to harden our hearts this one day more, for who knows what a day may bring forth? If you will not know in this your day the things that belong unto your peace, your everlasting peace and happiness, for ought you know, they may henceforth be hid from your eyes for ever. Oh! that we were wise, that we did consider our latter end! and so number our days, as effectually to apply our hearts unto that holy and heavenly Wisdom whilst we live here, which may in the end bring us to everlasting life, to the Blessed Rest and the Glorious Reward of those that live and die in the Lord. Amen.  
FINIS.   

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