A SERMON preached at the FUNERAL OF Sir THO. BLUDWORTH, Kt. Late Alderman of the City of LONDON.  
On Wednesday, May 24th 1682.  
By SAM. FREEMAN, M.A. and Rector of St. Ann's Aldersgate, London.  
LONDON, Printed for Edward Gellibrand at the Golden Ball in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1682.   

To the much honoured the Lady Bludworth, late Wife of Sir. Thomas Bl●udworth Knight deceased.  
Madam,  
I WAS too conscious of the Weakness and Imperfections of this Discourse to have any Inclination to let it go abroad, and was not a little surprised to hear your Ladyship and some other great Persons press so earnestly for the Printing of it; What kind of usage it's likely to meet with in this Censorious and Uncharitable Age, I am altogether unconcerned, being very well assured of the honest designs and intentions of the Author in the Preaching of it; And if it prove of any Use to the public, or any satisfaction to your Ladyship, I have all I aim at in yielding to the farther Publication of it, besides the opportunity to acknowledge your Ladyships many undeserved Favours to  
Madam, Your Ladyships most humble and faithful Servant Sam. Freeman.   

A SERMON Preached May 2●. 1682.  1 THESS. IV. 14. 
If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  
I Remember to have red in Plutarch, that when Pausanias at a Banquet prayed Simonides to speak some wise thing out of his Philosophy, he only said, 〈◇〉 Remember, O Pausanias, that thou art a Man; he thought the saying was pitiful and low, without Wit, and without prudent observation; but when a while after he lost all his Prosperity, and perceived he was to be starved to death, then he found that the consideration was material, and that those plain words gave a wise Council, and foretold a great event; It is now my case, I can tell you nothing new, nothing strange, nothing but what ye all know, I can only put you in remembrance of what ye all expect now, and shall feel one day; but I shall do the work that God does every day, for he smites some or other every day, and tells you every day that ye shall die, and that every one of you shall come to judgement; that the Rich shall not be Protected for Favour, nor the Poor for Pitty; not the old Man be reverenced for his Age, nor the Infant regarded for its Tenderness, that you must exchange your fair dwellings for a Coffin, your softer Beds for a turf of Earth, your pretty Children for Worms, and all your gaieties for a black, lonely, desolate hole of Earth. But must we die, and quit all our Delights and Enjoyments? is this the condition of all Mankind, and after all this is there no Comfort? Is there no alloy to this huge Calamity? Yes, there is, In the belief of a joyful Resurrection, but in nothing else, yet herein there is enough, for thus speaks the Apostle, 
Vers. 13. I would not have you to be Ignorant, Brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others, which have no hope.  
Vers. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so them also that sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him.   
The Text you see, presents us with two powerful Arguments against the excessive fear of our own Death, and immoderate sorrow for the Death of our Friends. The first is taken  
1. From the nature of Death to a good Man. 'Tis but a sleep, he sleeps in Jesus: to sleep in Scripture-stile frequently signifies to die, but 'tis the death of those that die in the Faith, or suffer martyrdom for the Testimony of Jesus, that may most properly be so called, their deaths being but a repose of their Bodies in the Grave, and a rest of their Souls in the hands of God. The Second is taken  
2. From the Resurrection of the Dead grounded upon the belief of our Saviours Resurrection, For, if we believe that Jesus died and Rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  
For the more profitable understanding of both which, I shall endeavour  
1. To explain and confirm the Truth of them.  
2. To show wherein the Virtue and Efficacy of them lie to Support and Comfort us against the fears and sorrows of Death.  
1. The first Argument is taken from the nature of Death to a good Man, it's called a sleep. Now in what respects it is so called, I shall briefly show you, and that both in the Negative and the Affirmative.  
1. Negatively, not in respect of his Soul, as if that lie in the Grave with the Body in a State of utter inactivity, without motion, and without sense, till the Resurrection. This Opinion is warmly espoused by the Socinians, though they were not the first broachers of it; but how weakly it's founded on Scripture, and how contrary to the plain sense of it, a few words will be sufficient to inform you.  
1. How weakly it's founded on Scripture. The places they press in to their service, are some in the Old and some in the New Testament.  
In the Old Testament, such as these. Psal. 6.5. In death no man remembreth thee, and who shall give thee thanks in the grave? Sal. 30.9. Shall the dust praise thee, or shall it declare thy Truth. Again, Eccl. 9.10. There is neither work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the Grave whither thou art going.  
To these and such like Texts, these two things may be answered.( 1.) That they come in with as great a force to prove the mortality of the Soul as the sleep of it, and so proving too much, prove nothing at all.( 2.) That they are to be understood with respect to that Covenant the Jews were under, which was founded only on Temporal promises, and gave no hopes concerning a future State of happiness. I do not say, that under the Old Testament there were no promises of Spiritual good things, and of Eternal happiness, or that good men had no belief and expectation of a future State of Bliss, The contrary to which being evident from the Psalms of David, many passages in the writings of the Prophets and the whole design of the 11th Chapter to the Hebrews; But then 'tis to be remembered, that these promises were no part of the Law, that they did not belong to it as 'twas a particular legal Covenant with the Jews on Mount Sinai, that they were but few, and those very obscure and not to be understood, but by long trains and deductions of Reason.  
The Places in the New Testament are chiefly these two. Those words of our Saviour to prove the Resurrection against the Sadduces. Mat. 22.32. But as touching the Resurrection of the dead, have ye not red that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the Dead but of the Living. Now, say they, did not the Soul sleep with the Body, and need a Resurrection with it; these words could not prove the Resurrection of the dead, for to be the God of Abraham signifies to be the Rewarder of Abraham; Now if the Soul is alive and capable of Pleasure in the Interval betwixt its leaving the Body and the Resurrection, God might abundantly reward Abraham, although there were no Resurrection.  
But to this it's answered, that the design of our Saviour in those words, was not only to prove the Resurrection in particular, but a future State in general against the Sadduces, who, as we are  told, Acts 23.8. denied that there was any such thing as Angel, or Spirit, or life to come. Of this persuasion was the greatest and most powerful part of the Sanhedrim in our Saviours time; and, if wee'l believe Josephus, the High-Priest himself and all his Kindred were of this Sect, upon this they esteemed themselves wiser than all other men, and for this especially did they bear such an inveterate hatred against our Saviour and his Apostles. This then being the design of our Saviour in those words, to prove a future State in general, the Argument is very strong, and is rather confirmed than destroyed by the intermedial happiness of the Soul; it ultimately resolves itself into the justice of divine providence and runs thus, if there be a God, he must be infinitely just, and if so, he must render unto Abraham according to his works, and that either here or hereafter, but he did not here, Abrahams Faith and Obedience being signally greater than other Mens, but his condition, proportionably not happyer, and therefore he must hereafter; and consequently Abraham must be alive and in a capacity to receive that reward and those mighty blessings in relation to which God was pleased to style himself The God of Abraham. God is not the God, i.e. not the rewarder of the Dead but of the Living, But God is now the rewarder of Abraham, and therefore he is not dead, but alive to God, enjoying in part and expecting yet a more full and ample recompense from him. And therefore the Apostle Interprets that Declaration of God concerning the patriarches, 
Exod. 3.6  I am the God of thy Father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, of a future State of happiness, saying, 
Heb. 11.16.  God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a City.  
The other place in the New Testament is, that in the 1 Cor. 15.19. where the Apostle designs to prove the Resurrection of the Bod● from the Afflictions and Persecutions of good Men here for the sake of Christ; we shall rise again with our Bodies, says he, for, if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable; from hence, they thus argue, that if the Souls of good Men enjoy pleasure and happiness before the Resurrection, then they are not of all Men most miserable, though there were none; And therefore either the apostles Argument from the Afflictions of good Men, to prove the Resurrection, must be very weak, or else the Soul be in a State of insensibility till that day.  
Now to this Three things may be replied.( 1.) The former Answer may suffice, viz. that the apostles design was not only to prove the Resurrection in particular, but a life to come in general against some in the Church of Corinth that denied it.( 2) It's true, that were the Souls of the Saints, immediately upon their departure out of the Body admitted to the presence and sight of God, they were not of all others most miserable, though their dead bodies should never be raised again, for the joys of the beatifick Vision are so transcendently great and transporting, that they in the Soul alone would make them infinite requitals for all their Labours and all their Sufferings in this World; but the intermedial happiness of the Soul, being chiefly in relation to the Resurrection, consisting mostly in an enlarged and assured hope of the Bliss and Joys of that day, the Resurrection of the Dead being the only Foundation of that peace and pleasure the Soul enjoys in its separate State, it follows, that if there were no Resurrection, there would be no happiness at all for good Men, neither before nor after, and so the Argument Remains good, that of all Men, those who suffer for Christ and his Religion were most miserable.( 3.) Our Saviour leaving his Apostles uncertain as to the time of his second coming to judge the World, itis not improbable, that they generally thought that it would be in their days, and therefore we do not find that they said any thing of the interval betwixt Death and judgement, but frequently joined them together, as things very likely to happen not long after one another. So in the 2 Cor. 5.1. we know, says the Apostle, that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle was dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. The words run, as if the Apostle thought, that no sooner should the Soul put off its old rotten clothes of Flesh, but that instantly it should be new apparelled with the Celestial Robes of Immortality. 1 Cor. 15.51. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, The Apostle speaks of themselves in that Age, We. More plainly in the verse following my Text, We that are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are a sleep. And from those words of our Saviour to St. John, 21. Ch. 22. vers. What if he tarry till I come, what is that to thee; his Disciples were apt to conclude, v. 23. That that Disciple should not die. St. John therefore writing last, that he might clear all difficulties, and rectify all mistakes, thus interposes in the same verse, yet Jesus said not unto him, he shall not die.  
2. As this Doctrine of the Sleep of the Soul is without any proof from Scripture, so it's contrary to the plain words and sense of it. Our Saviour's words to the Penitent Thief are express against it, this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, 
Luk. 23.43.  So is that Parable of Dives and Lazarus, the one Represented to be in hell tormented with flames, 
Luk. 16.23.  the other at rest in Abrahams bosom full of Peace and Comfort. St. Paul no less plainly affirms it, Christ died for us, that whither we sleep or wake, 
1 Thess. 5.10.  we should live together with him, now it is strange that we should be alive and live with Christ, and yet be bereft and stripped of all vital operations. And since Christ took upon him all our Nature and all our Condition, why should not the Souls of his Servants partake of the same lot as Christ's had in its separate State; now it's certain, that Christ's Soul in the three days of its Separation, did not sleep, but exercise acts of Life, of Joy and triumph, and that to the confusion of Devils, but to the Joy and Satisfaction of those longing Souls that were Prisoners of hope. The Souls then of all those who sleep in Jesus are alive, and do think, and understand, and will, and love, and hope, and rejoice, and do all other actions of Life proper and suitable to their exalted State; and if the Opinion of some wise Men be true, that the great difference betwixt the Souls of Men arises from the different Constitution of their Bodies, itis most likely that holy Souls in the State of Separation are far more clear, and free, and vigorous in their actings, then they were when encumbered with a Body, especially with an ill organiz'd or an illdispos'd Body.  
Thus is not the death of a good Man compared to Sleep in respect of his Soul, as if that slept with the Body in a State of insensibility; but in what respects then is it so called?( Not to follow the Metaphor in all particulars,) I shall name these two only.  
1. As Sleep locks up the door of the Senses, and puts an end to the Labours and toils of Life. So does Death to a good Man. 
Rev. 14.13.  Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, they rest from their Labours.  
They rest even from the exercise of Religious duties themselves, as they are a means in order to an end. We shall not need to Fast, or Watch, or Weep any more, being set safe out of the reach of Sin and Temptation; There will be no more need of the Ministry of Men, Preaching will be ended, and the Sacraments useless, Prayer be turned into Praises, and Faith be swallowed up in Fruition. It may be, in the other State, the Soul may pray for the Resurrection of its Body and the last judgement, and the Soul and Body when United again, may pray for the continuance of their Joys. It may be also, there may be some Use of Faith, for how shall we know things past and things to come, the Resurrection and the last judgement, and the Eternity of heavenly Glories, but by believing; But then, the Soul being in a State, wherein itis impossible to fall into Sin, or to lose the Love and Favour of God, to be dispossessed of its present Peace, or defeated of its future Glorious expectations, the Exercise of these Graces cannot be in the least any disturbance and molestation to it, and consequently not the least diminution to its happiness.  
Again, They rest from all the evils that attended them in their Voyage to that blessed Haven. They are not only free from the Fears of Eternal miseries, the just Rewards of Sin and Folly, but from all those storms of fortune and persecutions of disgrace that God was pleased to Suffer them, either for the Punishment of their Sins or the Trial of their Faith and Patience, to be exercised with. Here the Weary are at Rest, no Sighs, no Groans, no Poverty, no Oppression: The Soul is set out of Prison into a State of Liberty, delivered out of a Tempest, and safely landed upon the Shore, it did weep and lament, but now its sorrows are turned into Joy, 
Joh. 16.20.  and its Joy no man is able to take from it. 
Mat. 5.4  Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.  
2. As Sleep remains but for a time, and then the Person wakes again into life and motion, so after the Body hath lain a while in a Bed of Earth, it shall a●ise again, and being united to the Soul enter with it into an heavenly State. But this leads me to the second.  
2. Argument, The Apostle in the Text makes use of to support us under the Apprehensions of Death, taken from the Resurrection of the dead, built upon the belief of our Saviours Resurrection, For if we believe that Jesus dyed and rose again, those that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. The Argument proceeds thus,  
If you ask how we know that there will be a Resurrection of the Dead, it's answered, because Jesus dyed and rose again and is become the first fruits of them that sleep; The same Almighty Power that raised him, is able to bring to Life again all that sleep in him.  
If you ask how we know that Jesus is Risen, The Apostle Answers, 
1 Cor. 15 5, 6.  He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve, then of five hundred Brethren at once.  
If you ask why we believe the Testimony of these men, since they were but men, and and so might be deceived themselves and impose upon us; Amongst many, these four Reasons may be given of it.  
1. The Apostles who were the Publishers of this Doctrine to the World, were men of a pure Life and sober Mind, without any spot of immorality in their Actions, or any touch of whimsy or melancholy in their Brains, their very Enemies could never accuse them of the one, and the clearness and strength of their Writings sufficientl● testify the other, now that such men as these should invent a falsehood and then die Martyrs to the villainy, I think is past the belief of a reasonable Creature.  
2. Though the Resurrection of Christ serves most effectually, and above all other things, to confirm the Truth of his Gospel, yet we cannot suppose that the Apostles did invent this for that end; because this Gospel more strictly than any other Religion that ever was in the World, forbids Lying and false Witness, and makes our Yea, Yea, and our Nay, Nay, or else condemns us. We cannot think that the Apostles would invent a lie to propagate that Gospel which damns the liar.  
3. God enabled them with a Divine Power to work Miracles for the Confirmation of it. God bore Witness, added a farther Testimony to theirs, both with signs and wonders, 
Heb. 2.4.  and with divers Miracles and Gifts of the holy Ghost. Now it would not have been consistent with the Divine Goodness and Wisdom to have done this, if the thing they declared, had been false, and their design thereby no other than to deceive the World and to decoy it into a false Worship and Religion.  
4. Because they could not be made to deny it by all the Torments the malice of Men and Devils could invent to lay upon them. They were so assured of it, that they took their deaths upon it, and when they were not suffered any longer to live to Publish it, they laid down their lives and sealed it with their blood: And now though a Man may suffer very much for all opinion which the Principles of his Education has deeply reveted in his mind, yet we cannot imagine that such sober Men as the Apostles were would have protection all manner of Torments for an opinion that they themselves knew to be false, and upon that account could have nothing in it to endear it to them.  
Having thus explained and confirmed the Apostles Arguments in the Text, nothing now remains but that I show you wherein the virtue and efficacy of them lie, to arm us against the stroke of our own death, and to support our Spirits under the loss of our Friends, I would not have you Ignorant Brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others, which have no hope, for, if we believe, &c. Now the Virtue and Spirit of them lye in these two particulars.  
1. That the Souls of good Men, instantly upon leaving their Bodies are blessed, tho not perfect, do not sleep with their Bodies, but immediately pass into a place of Spiritual delights and pleasures, far from fear and free from danger, enjoying a profound Peace and Tranquillity of mind, and all the Comforts that the assurance of a joyful and a glorious Resurrection can afford. In Justin Martyr's Language they remain 〈◇〉 in a far better place, then they were in here, where being gathered within themselves, they perpetually enjoy what they love. In the Language of our Saviour, they go into Paradise, to be with Abraham, to be in Abrahams bosom. Into Paradise, by which place the later Jews from the time of Esdras, when they began to speak more confidently concerning a future State, signified the State of Holy Souls expecting the Resurrection of their Bodies: Their meaning was, that as Paradise and the Garden of Eden was a place of great Beauty and Pleasure, so was the State of Holy Souls departed, a State of perfect Peace and most excellent Delights. Its called also to be with Abraham, Abraham being the Father of the Faithful, to be with him must needs signify the same thing as to be happy; and in Abraham's bosom, This Phrase being an allusion to the manner of the Jews Feasting, where the best and most beloved Guest lies in the bosom of the Master, it may not only denote the blessed State of Separation in general, but some eminency and privilege of Joy in that State, some higher degrees of Blessedness, vouchsafed the bravest and most excellent Persons.  
2. In that at the Resurrection, the Body shall be United again to the Soul, and both be admitted into a more full and perfect State of Happiness in the enjoyment of God to all Eternity. We shall then see God, we shall be for ever with the Lord, as the Apostle speaks in the last Verse of this Chapter. Here, the knowledge we have of God and our blessed Saviour, of Divine and Heavenly Spirits and things, is very obscure and imperfect, shown us as it were through a Glass, but when we come to Heaven we shall have unspeakably clearer and more perspicuous apprehensions of them, 
1 Cor. 13 12.  so the Apostle assures us. Now we see through a Glass darkly, but then Face to Face; now I know in part, but then shall I know, even as also I am known. Then shall we know God as truly, though not as fully as he knows us; our Wills and Affections will be wholly fixed on God, and our Understandings more enlarged to receive the knowledge of him, every Day we shall advance in our discoveries of God, and every such farther step, will afford us higher degrees of delight and satisfaction. God is a bottonles and boundless Ocean of all Perfection, in whom there is enough for ever to entertain, and yet for ever to gratify all the Faculties of our Souls; in his Presence there is fullness of Joy, and at his Right-hand there are Pleasures for evermore: besides, we shall not only see God, but this sight of him will transform us into the likeness of his Divine Excellencies, we shall be so ravished with his Goodness, as to become Good thereby, so enamoured with his Wisdom, as to be rendered Wise, and have such an inward sense of his incomparable Purity and Holiness as shall make us Holy in the highest degree of Finite Perfection; his Infinite Love shall so over-master our Souls that they shall in all things comform to his Mind, and be quickened into the same Thoughts and Desires with himself: we shall be rendered Living Images of God, and really changed into a true resemblance of those Divine Perfections which we admire and adore: we shall not only see the Glory of Heaven, but be made ourselves a part of its Glory, we shall not only see God, but be made ourselves Godlike-Creatures, and thus partaking of the nature of God, we shall according to our capacity partake too of his happiness, for certainly those perfections will make Men happy, that make God himself to be so.  
I have now done with my Text, and made this part of the Divine Oracle as plain and as useful as I could; but here is an other Text, and an other Sermon yet, but it shall not be long,  
This Excellent Person, Sir Thomas Bludworth, whose relics we are here assembled to Inter, was descended from a worthy Family, and not only so, but by the stock of his own proper Virtues, has added a farther Lustre and Ornament to it. His immediate Parents were Persons of Eminency and great Estate, and which is more then all, Patrons and Examples of great Virtue and regular Devotion in this Famous City; by whose care he had a very liberal and Religious Education, trained up for some time at home in the Schools of Learning, and then sent abroad to fetch in those Flowers and Embellishments, if any such there are, that grow not in our Native Soil. Thus, firmly grounded in the true Religion, competently furnished with ingenious and useful knowledge, and much improved by travail and Observation, he became a well-accomplish'd Person, able to serve, and sincerely devoted to the interests of Religion, his Prince and his country. Many Years he lived in this Great and Magnificent Corporation, deservedly Honoured with, and faithfully discharging the highest and weightiest Offices of Trust and Government in it, both Civil and Military, and whilst he served a Member of Parliament for a Neighbouring Borough behaved himself with that Justice and Integrity, that he was both valued at Court and no less respected in that August Assembly.  
View him in his private Capacity, and there we have the pattern of a good Christian, his Family governed with Prudence, restrained from 'vice, I am sure, from open and scandalous ones, accustomed to the practise of Religion, and the daily Worship of God: So Loving and Respectful an Husband, so Provident and Wise a Father, so Kind and Obliging a Master, that he justly had that Love and Regard, that Duty and Observance which his Kindness and his Care had merited from them. His Conversation abroad was very Courteous and Affable, treating all he conversed with, with an obliging look, a gentle deportment and endearing language, remarkably just to all men, very respectful to the Clergy, and Charitable to the Poor, and that which is peculiarly a true Christian temper, delighting in nothing more, than to make Peace, to compose Differences, to forgive Injuries himself, and to persuade others to do so, so far from breaking forth into a rage and storm upon every little provocation, or, when justly provoked, from suffering his displeasure to fester into Malice and Rancour, that he was always in a more then ordinary degree, easy and forward to be reconciled.  
View him in his public Capacity, and there we have the pattern of an Upright Magistrate, minding more the duty of his Place, then the dignity of it, preferring the glory of God, the public Good, the peace of the Church, and the impartial administration of Justice, before any Secular Interest or Advantage of his own, he was one, who neither courted the Peoples Favour, nor feared their Frowns, but wisely choose rather to be a good Magistrate than a popular one.  
Two things he was very Eminent and Exemplary in, he had a mighty Affection and Zeal for the King and the Church of England.  
He was a great lover of the Church, a constant hearer of its Prayers, a diligent attender to its Sermons, and an Obedient Son to its Commands and Constitutions: To this truly Primitive and best Reformed Church in the World, he was a steadfast and an immovable Friend, and that in an equal opposition to both extremes, of Popery and Superstition on the one hand, and Fanaticism and Enthusiasm on the other; To the Doctrine and Discipline of this Church, that asserts the Rights of Princes against all Usurpations, that's free from all Impostures and Innovations, all Pious frauds and arts of gain, To the Services and Devotions of this Church that are Sober and Manly, Decent and Orderly, full of Life and Spirit, terminated on the right object, and fitted to all sorts and conditions of Men, his Affections were so inflamed, his judgement so confirmed, his practise in them so incessant, that in all these, I pray your pardon, if I say, he was not outdone by any, that in the same degree and Station, profess themselves Members of it.  
And as he feared God and loved his Church, so he was no less careful to honour the King and to obey his Ordinances for Gods sake, next to the Interests of Religion, those of the Crown lay nearest his heart, and were ever most studiously and zealously promoted by him, moved thereunto not by any secret and particular Favours from Court and what were not common to all his fellow-Subjects, but only by a deep sense of his Duty, by the Principles of his Religion, of the truly Christian and Church of England Religion, and by a sincere love to his Country, having well understood that the true Interests of the People is their Kings Honour, and that they can never be happy whilst he's uneasy.  
Thus lived this worthy Gentleman, deservedly respected by his Prince, highly esteemed by his fellow-Citizens, beloved, if not by all yet which is mored, by the best Men.  
He had indeed, as all of us, the unhappiness to live in an Age that's full of uncharitable Censures, most unreasonable Divisions and Animosities, wherein regular Devotion is by too many, Ignorantly, I fear, maliciously termed Popery; decent Worship, Superstition; opposing of schism, hatred of the Power of Godliness; and Loyalty to the King, a betraying the Peoples Rights and privileges; and therefore itis no wonder, if such men as he, who are invincibly true and firm to the present Government in Church and State, should have their most innocent Actions slanderously reported, their misfortunes reckoned their faults, their little mistakes blown up into Crimes of the greatest magnitude, and their names loaded with many evil Reproaches from those presumptuous and self-willed Separatists, as St. Peter and St. judas both call them, who despise Dominion, and speak evil of Dignities; But if this be all the occasion of their ill will and bitter language, the best of it is, 'tis such dirt as will not stick, that is so far from sullying, that it serves mightily to illustrate and brighten their names and memories.  
And now we are come to the last and most sorrowful Scene of his Life, I mean, to us, not to him, who, all the time of his Sickness was not heard to let fall one word of discontent under it, but often, as far as the prevalency of his Disease gave way, expressing his Repentance for the errors of his past life, his patient submission to the Will of God, his willingness to leave this World, and his hopes of a better, and in this eveness and indifferency of Spirit as to the event of life and death he fell asleep, and 'tis our humble and confident hope that he sleeps in Jesus, that his Soul is past into the custody and bosom of Jesus, waiting in perfect Peace and in full assurance of Faith for the Resurrection of its Body, which shall at that great day be roused again from sleep by the sound of the last Trump, be United to his Soul, and then both be admitted into an uninterrupted Communion with God unto all Eternity. Which God of his infinite Mercy make us all partakers through Jesus Christ our Lord.  
FINIS.