TWO Funeral Sermons OF THE Use and Happiness OF HUMANE BODIES.  
Preached on 1 CORINTH. vi. 13. Now the Body is not for Fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the Body.  
WITH A brief Account of the Life and Death of Mr. G. Lorimer, Merchant; upon the occasion of whose Death the second Sermon was Preached.  
By Edward Laurence, M. A. Minister of the Gospel.  
London, Printed by J. R. for T. Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside, 1690.   

TO THE READER.  
Reader,  
THou hast many Discourses of the Souls of Men: And here I offer thee one Plain and Short Discourse of Man's Body, yet also with respect to the Soul: It will cost thee but a very little Time to read it, and but a very little Money to buy it; If it may be of any use to preserve thee from wasting thy Time at the Door of Eternity, and from losing thy Soul in a vain Religion, and to save thee from a stinging Death, and tormenting Eternity, I have my end.  
Febr. 17th. 1689/90. Thy Servant for Jesus sake, Edward Laurence.   

THE BODY FOR THE LORD.  1 COR. 6.13. 
— Now the Body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the Body.  
IT is ordinary for Nations and Cities, Families, and Persons, to be in a special manner inclined to some particular sins. The Cretians were branded for a Lying People, Tit. 1.12. The Cretians are always Liars: And the Jews also to whom St. James writes, seem by his Epistle, to be much addicted to the Sins of the Tongue; and this is exemplified in the Corinthians, which were much given to Fornication; and therefore we read that in Corinth there was a Temple erected for this Sin! One reason of the prevalency of this Sin amongst them, was an Opinion of the Gentiles which prevailed in Corinth, that Fornication was no sin, but a thing indifferent. Hereupon the Apostle in this Chapter pleads against this Sin; the argument he uses against it is, That this sin is against the right use of the Body of Man. Now saith he, The Body is not for Fornication, etc.  
The words show us the true and proper use of Man's Body; And this is expressed  
(1.) Negatively the Body is not for Fornication.  
(2.) Affirmatively: But for the Lord: And this is amplified by another proposition, which shows why the Body is, and aught to be for the Lord, viz. The Lord is for the Body: By the Lord is here meant the Lord Jesus Christ; as appears by his being mentioned with God the Father, ver. 14. and hath both raised up the Lord. The words chief teach us Two Doctrines.  
I. The Body of Man is for the Lord Jesus Christ.  
II. The Lord Jesus Christ is for the Body of Man.  
I. The Body of Man is for the Lord Jesus Christ. Method,  
1. What is meant by the Body of Man?  
2. What is it for the Body of Man to be for the Lord.  
3. The reasons of the Doctrine.  
4. Use. By the Body of Man is meant, that visible and essential part of Man which is distinct from the Soul and Spirit, this is that part of Man, which was at first formed out of the dust of the ground. Gen. 2.7. and at death, returns to the Earth, when the Spirit returns to God that gave it. Eccles. 12.7. This is visible may be seen and felt; and therefore Christ demonstrates his Body by this, Luke 24.39. Behold my hands and my feet, handle and see, for a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones, as ye see me have.  
3. This is distinct from the Soul, as appears, verse the last of this Chapter, Glorify God in your Body and in your Spirit, viz. In your Body and Soul. Now this Body is for the Lord which implies Four things.  
1. The Body with all the Members of it in particular are for the Lord. The Eyes, Ears, Tongues, Hands, Feet, are for the Lord. They have all work to do for the Lord Christ. And it's a great piece of Skill to understand what is the main use we are to make of our Senses, and of the Members, and Limbs of our Bodies. What is the chief work these are to be employed in, they are to be used for the Lord, they are to work for the Lord Christ.  
2. The Life, Health, Strength and Activity of all these is for the Lord, Rom. 14.8. Whether we live, we live unto the Lord: If we have better Health and Strength than others, it is that in the use thereof we may do more for the Lord than others.  
3. All things that are for the use and service of the Body, are to be used for the Lord, that with them you should serve him. What Christ appointed his Disciples to say in a special case concerning the Ass, and the Colt, Mat. 21.3. The Lord bath need of them, is true in ordinary cases. The Lord hath need, or use for them, your Money, , Corn, Goods, and Apparel; that with them you should serve him, your Meat and Drink, Preferments, and Estates, Houses, and Lands are for the good of your Bodies; but you must eat and drink to the Lord, 1 Cor. 10.31. You must honour the Lord with your substance, Prov. 3.9. When you buy or sell, or build, be able to say, I get this Money for the Lord, I trade in this Shop for the Lord, I build these Houses for the Lord. The Lord Jesus shall have all at his service, and for his Glory. The Heavens, Earth, Seas, etc. must praise the Lord by your Mouths.  
4. All the time of Bodily Service. The time wherein we are in the Body is for the Lord. Ps. 148.12, 13. Both young Men and Maidens, old Men and children, let them praise the name of the Lord. A young Boy or Girl hath work to do for the Lord. You should make all your Works, and Recreations serviceable to the Lord. There is no time, but you may find something to do for God.  
2. What is it for the Body to be for the Lord? Account in seven particulars.  
(1.) It is for the Lord chief: This doth not exclude our Natural, much less our Spiritual Self: Neither doth it exclude our Families, Relations, or the Public, the Body is for all these in their places, but chief for the Lord, and for all these things in, and to the Lord. The Body is for Food and Raiment, for to get Money and Wealth, etc. in their places, but the Body with all these must be for the Lord, as the last end. You may take all the good God hath put in any Creature, for your use and service, but you must honour and serve God in the use of it. And it's most certain that any Creature is best to you, and you have most of the Comfort and sweetness of it, when you do honour, and serve God with it: You will eat and drink with as true gladness of Heart as any Man alive, when you eat to the Lord, and drink to the Lord; and you may get, and keep riches with as much diligence, and care as others; and you will take as much pleasure in your Houses and Lands, and Silver, and Gold, as any when you look on your estates as the Lords and improve them for him, and are ready to forsake them for him.  
(2) That our Bodies are not our own; we are not the chief and absolute Lords and Masters of ourselves, ver. 19 of this Chapter: Ye are not your own: Rom. 14.7. None of us liveth to himself: They were ignorant Atheists that said, Psal. 12.4— Our Lips are our own. We cannot according to our own Wills and Pleasures dispose of so much as a glance of our Eyes, or a word of our Tongues.  
(3.) Our Bodies are not for Sin. The Body is not for Fornication, saith the Text. Thy Body was not made for Whoremongers, and Harlots, thy Tongue was not made for Oaths, Lies, and evil Speaking. Thy Eyes are not for wanton looks, to be gazing on Spectacles of Uncleanness. God did not make the Body to dishonour himself. The Apostle tells us, Rom. 8.12. We are Debtors, we own ourselves, but not to the Flesh; we own Sin and the Devil no service, we are not to go a step in their Work; God-did not so curiously frame that Head, and those Limbs of thine for the Devil, and Sin, Rom. 8.12. Let not sin reign in your mortal Bodies. The meanest Finger or Toe in thy Body is too good to be an Instrument of Sin.  
(4.) The Body is not for the World; so as to be employed for it as its Chief Master, or its chief end, Mammon was not made for your Master, but your Servant: The World is for you, and not you for the World. The body of man was made for a higher business, than only or chief, to gather and heap up the Riches of the World; and therefore when the Body is employed about the World, we must see we are for God therein, this is the true goodness of the World, that it's good to make a Man more useful for God, and more serviceable to him. For a Man to be busied about Silver and Gold, and about Houses and Lands, and Goods and Cattles, except he can thereby do some service for God, it is not worth the Labour of a Man, Prov. 14.24. The Crown of a wise Man is his Riches: Riches are a Man's Crown and Glory; when Men are so wise as to use them for God, otherwise they are their snares, curse, and shame.  
(5.) The Body is for the Lord, so as to be an Instrument of Obedience to the Lord. It's to be employed in the Lords work in that which he sets it about, Rom. 6.10. Yield your Members Servants to Righteousness, unto Holiness. Our Bodies are at the Command of God, and should be always doing the Will of God. Whatever we do, we should be able to say, We are doing the Lords Work, and with our Saviour we are about our Father's business.  
(6.) The Body is for the Lord, i. e. for the Honour and Glory of the Lord. So verse the last of this Chapter, Glorify God in your Bodies and Spirits: Phil. 1.20. That Christ may be glorified in my Body. We should give that account of all our actions, as David did of his dancing before the Ark: 2 Sam. 6.21. It was before the Lord: And it should be said of us, as Rom. 4.6. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord: Every Member of our Bodies may be useful in its place to bring Glory to God: And we often see, how very much God is glorified by one Holy and Sanctified Body, Oh what a blessed place London would be, if all the Bodies which you see in the Houses, Shops, and Streets were employed for the Glory of God.  
(7.) Our Bodies are for the Lord, so as to be at the Lords disposal. He may choose which way he will serve himself of our Bodies: He sets us the bounds for the Habitations of our Bodies, Acts 17.26. that we may fill our places with the Name and Glory of God. He appoints us our Work and Callings, Mark 13.24. To every Man his Work: A Minister hath his Work, a Tradesman his Work, a Master his Work, a Servant his Work, and whatsoever a Man's Calling, Work and Way is, he should work for God therein, and labour to have Communion with God therein; 1 Cor. 7.24. Brethren, Let every Man wherein he is called therein abide with God; He measures out to us our outward Estates, and Conditions. Some are to be rich for God, and others to be poor for God; to some he gives Healthful, Strong, Comely Bodies; too others Sick, Diseased, Lame, Blind Bodies; and however he disposeth of them, they have their Way, and Work for the Lord. And we often see to the shame of others, how the Blind, Lame, and Deformed will find Work to do for God, and that in many Families a Blind or Lame Child becomes a Member and Spouse of Christ, when perhaps their Brothers, and Sisters, that have their Sight, and Limbs, and are comely, and do greatly dishonour God, and make their handsome Bodies instruments of Sin, and Firebrands of Hell.  
Two Reasons of the Doctrine.  

I. Because the Body is the Lords.  
II. The Body hath much work to do for the Lord.   
I. The Body is the Lords: He is the chief Lord and Owner of your Bodies, as well as of your Souls. See verse the last of this Chapter, Glorify God in your Bodies, and Spirits, which are Gods. So in the Text, The Lord for the Body. This seems to be the reason of the Text: Or as some turn the Phrase, The Lord is the God of the Body. God is the Lord of the Body, by a five fold right, all which show the Body is for the Lord.  
1. He is the Maker of the Body, as he made all other things, so also did he make the Bodies of Men, for himself. Therefore saith David, Psal. 139.14. I will praise thee, for I was fearfully and wonderfully made: He hath made the Bodies of Men capable of doing him more Service, and bringing him more Glory than any other Bodies are capable of. He hath given Man a Tongue to call on God, and to fill the World with the praises of God.  
2. Our Bodies are the Lords by purchase. He hath bought them with a great price; verse the last of this Chapter, Ye are bought with a price. Observe, Your Bodies are bought with a price, therefore they are Gods to glorify him. God hath bought, and paid for every good word thou canst speak, for the use of every Finger or Toe in thy Body: He hath bought all these for his Service, 1 Pet. 1.17, 18. God did not purchase us at so dear a rate, to leave us to live the Lives of Slaves to the Devil, the World, and Sin, but that we might live the Lives of the Sons and Heirs of God, and of Christ.  
3. By Union with the Lord Jesus Christ, he is the Owner of his whole self, and every Member of his is for himself: With this reason the Apostle proves, that our Bodies are for the Lord; ver. 15. Know ye not that your Bodies are the Members of Christ, and thence he infers, Shall I take the Member of Christ, etc. We should do nothing with our Bodies, but what is fit to be done by a part of Jesus Christ. Shall I swear, or lie with the Tongue that is a part of Christ. Shall I make any part of Christ drunk or unclean, or worldly, no certainly, our Bodies being Parts and Members of Christ, should be moved at the Will and Pleasure, and for the Honour of our Head in Heaven.  
4. By Dedication, Our Bodies are dedicated to the Honour and Service of God, ver. 19 What know you not that your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, and is of God. And therefore, saith he, Ye are not your own, ye are for the Lord, whose Temples you are. These Temples should be kept Holy and Pure, and for the Use and Service of God. You may easily conceive what a horrid thing it would have been to have seen a Company of People Whoring, and Drunk, and Swearing, and Fight in the Temple of God. What make the Temple of God a Bawdy-house? No, The Temple of God is to be a House of Prayer, a place Devoted to the Service of God; so it's a very horrid thing that our Bodies which are the Temples of God, should be filled with all manner of Sin. Eyes full of Adultery, Mouths full of Lies and Oaths; and the whole Temple of God filled with all manner of Sin. Beloved we know the Glory of God was seen in the Temple; his Glory did shine in the Temple, and indeed we may see the Glory of God in the very Looks, Countenances, and Languages, and Behaviour of the very Bodies of Holy Men, which speak their Bodies to be the Temples of God.  
5. By Covenant This is one great use of Baptism, and the Lords Supper, that we do therein bind ourselves, our Souls and Bodies to be for the Lord. So that it may be said of us, as in Deut. 26.17, 18. Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God. Or, As some read it, Thou hast made the Lord say this day that he will be a God to thee. verse 18. The Lord hath made thee say this day, That you will be a peculiar People unto him: And every time we stand before God to worship him in the use of any Ordinance: We do profess our Bodies to be the Lords, and for him.  
II. Reas. Because there is much work for the body to do for the Lord. The Commands of God bind the body to Obedience, as well as the Soul. Jesus Christ lived here in the body, and left us an Example of bodily service, and sufferings. Our profession of Religion must be by the body, Rom. 10.10. With the heart man believeth, and with the mouth confession is made to Salvation. We must by the use of our bodies confess Christ before Men, that he may confess us before his Father in Heaven, Matth. 10.32. We must with our body's worship God in all the Ordinances of Worship. We must pray with our bodies as well as our Souls. We cannot hear or read the Word but in the use of our bodies. The Sacraments are bodily Signs, that by them we may with our bodies as well as our Soul's Worship God. We cannot eat or drink in the Lord's Supper without the Body. Water in Baptism is to wash the Body: Our Bodies are to be employed in our particular Callings for the Lord. The Graces of God's Spirit come into the Soul by the Body, Rom. 10.17. Faith cometh by hearing: And all the Graces are exercised by the Body. I believed, therefore have I spoken. The Soul sets the Body on work, Ps. 45.1. My Heart is inditing a good matter, etc. and my Tongue is the Pen of a ready Writer, Matth. 12, 34, 35. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things.  
USES. 

I. Of Dehortation.  
II. Of Exhortation.    
I. For the First: Of Debortation. In respect, 

1. Of the Bodies of others.  
2. Of our own Bodies.    
(1.) If the Bodies of Men are for the Lord, do not debauch or corrupt any Persons by enticing them to bodily Sins: Do not draw them to Whoredom and Drunkenness: They have a better Master to serve, and better work to do; they may be honouring and serving God whilst they are serving thy Lusts. Their Bodies may be better employed, than by Drinking and Whoring with thee; entice no body to any thing, but what their bodies were made and purchased for: Draw them to nothing but what is fit for a Spouse and Member of Christ to do.  
(2.) Do no wrong to the bodies of any Persons, by unjust beating them, or hurting them. How darest thou disable any person for the service of God. You Masters, be not cruel to your Apprentices, their bodies are for the Lord: You would not starve or overwork or abuse a dear Horse that cost many Pieces. Look on thy Apprentice, he is a dear Child, do not abuse that body which was bought with the blood of God; prise it and cherish it for the Owners sake.  
(3.) Do not cheat any of their bodily Wealth, by Theft, by Over-reaching them in buying or selling; by withholding the just Debts which thou owest. They and their Estates are for the Lord, and the Lord will concern himself to take vengeance on thee, 1 Thess. 4.6. It may be sad to many to think that they have consumed that on their Lusts, for which many Parents and their Children would be blessing God for▪ And here I may warn Husbands and Wives, and Parents, that they consume not the bodily Wealth which is for the good of their Yokefellows and Children. Oh what a cruel Husband or Wife art thou who hast consumed that on thy lusts which would have maintained thy Yoke-fellow: And how can Parents endure their Children should cry. We might have been better Scholars, or might have had better Trades or Portions, had it not been for our Fathers and Mother's Lusts.  
II. Dehortation. In respect of your own Bodies. Do not abuse your own Bodies by Sin. This sets all the Members of the Body against the Lord, which should be for the Lord: Let not your bodies be used as Instruments to execute or bring forth the sins of your hearts; Remember the Apostle, Rom. 6.12. Let not sin reign in your mortal Bodies. More particularly keep your Bodies clean from these four sorts of Sins.  
(1.) All manner of Whoredom and Uncleanness. Mark the Text, The Body is not for Fornication, but for the Lord, see ver. 18. How the Apostle pleads against this Sin as being more against the Body than other Sins: Flee Fornication, saith he: The reason follows: Every sin that a man doth is without the Body, but he that committeth Fornication sinneth against his own Body, i. e. Although the Body be the Organ or Instrument to execute other sins, yet the matter which by sin is abused, lies more without the body. The Drunkard hurts this body, but he abuses Wine, and Drink which is without the body; but in Whoredom the body is the Instrument of sin, and that which is abused by sin: But these things are spoken comparatively; the words show what a wrong Whoredom is to a man's body: See ver. 15. how the Apostle pleads against it as a most loathsome thing to take a part & member of Christ, and make it a member of an Harlot, to join any part of Christ to a Harlot. This is a sin rots the Name, rots the Body, by this the flesh and the body are consumed, Prov. 5.11. and brings body and Soul to Hell, ver. 9, 10. of this Chap. Fornicators and Adulterers shall not inherit the Kingdom of God: It's matter of grief and astonishment that this sin should be practised with such horrid Impudence by a people that profess their bodies to be Members of Christ, and in a Land where the Bible is read that tells them, Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge, Heb. 13.4. And that people will not believe how little a way it is between the defiled Bed, and the Fire of Hell.  
(2.) Drunkenness, to which may be added gluttony: These things set the body in a readiness to do any thing for the Devil and Sin, but render it unfit for the service of the Lord. A Drunkard in his drink may swear, blaspheme, and Whore, and Murder. But can a Man pray when he is drunk, hear Sermons, or receive Sacraments, or have Communion with God in any thing when he is drunk? When a Man is drunk, he is not fit Company for a Man, how then can he at that time be fit for Communion with God? Pray therefore that nothing may enter into thy Mouth which may defile thy Soul, disease thy Body, unfit thee for the service of God, or waste the Creatures on thy craving and consuming Lusts.  
(3.) Sins of the Eyes. A great deal of Sin or Grace is seen in the Looks or Countenances of People: There are proud Looks, wanton Looks, envious Looks and angry Looks; but when the Soul and Body is serving the Lord, it puts another Face and Countenance on Men. It makes them look with a holy, humble, chaste, loving, and cheerful countenance  
Lastly, Sins of the Tongue, Jam. 3.6. How would it tame our Tongues, if we considered our Tongues are for the Lord: And what a great deal of Honour one wholesome Tongue brings to the Lord; and we should not speak a word, but it should be some way or other for the Lord.  
Use 2. Of Exhortation, which refers.  
1. To others.  
2. To ourselves.  
For the First, Is the Body for the Lord: Thence infer three Duties to others.  
(1.) Put a true value on the very bodies of all Men. Look on them as for the Lord, and prise them accordingly, 1 Pet. 2.17. Honour all Men: Wherever you see the body of a Man, Woman, or Child, be they never so poor, or weak, or deformed, yet consider these bodies were made for the Lord, bought for the Lord, and may be Members of the Lord, and therefore love and esteem the bodies of Men for the Lord's sake.  
(2.) Do all the good you can, not only to the Souls, but to the Bodies of Men: This is the great duty of the Sixth Commandment, which binds you to your power to endeavour to preserve the Life, Health, Liberty and Cheerfulness of Men: Therefore do them good on this reason, because their bodies are for the Lord; and you may fit them, and make them more capable of serving and praising him.  
(3) Lament to see the horrid abuse which most make of their bodies. When you see how most use their own bodies, can you think they use them for the Lord. What are Men Swearing, and Cursing, Whoring, and Drunk for the Lord; are they Lying, Cheating, and oppressing for the Lord? You may see Streets full of Sin, Shops full of Sin, Houses full of Sin; most people eating and drinking, talking and working for the Devil, the Flesh, and the World; but very few doing any thing for the Lord.  
2. To ourselves. Frame your Lives according to the belief of this Truth. That your bodies are for the Lord. I shall press this with a few Motives, and conclude with Directions.  
Mot. 1. Consider the great account you are to give to God for your own Body, Rom. 14.12. Every one of us must give an account of himself to God: God will question us what we have done with ourselves, What use we have made of our own Souls and bodies, 2 Cor. 5.10. We must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ, that every one may receive or carry away the things done in his Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evil. Observe, When we appear before Christ at the day of Judgement, every one shall carry away his weight. Sinners shall carry away their Oaths and Lies, etc. viz. the Wrath due for them. Saints shall carry away a weight of Glory I charge you Christians as you will answer it to the Judge before the door, when in that flesh and body you must stand before him, when he will call you to account for your Lives, Health, Ease, for your Speech, Sight, Hearing, and for the Members and Limbs of your bodies, for your Meat, Drink, Sleep, Estates; that you then be able to say, I have used this body for the Lord: remembering that of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 3.17. If any Man defile the Temple of God, (meaning his own Soul and Body) him will God destroy.  
2. Consider God accepts and will reward all that with your bodies you do for the Lord? Not so much as a good word spoken sincerely for God, nor a loving look upon a Child of God, nor a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple of Christ, shall lose its reward.  
3. It's but a little while, that your bodies will be fit to do any thing for the Lord. I would have those who have yet Youth, and Health, and Strength to study the 12. of Ecclesiastes, where young Men are required to serve the Lord, ver. 1. Remember thy Creator, and the way the Holy Ghost useth to move them hereunto, is this, he sets before them an old man with an hoary head, dim eyes, shaking hands, Feeble Limbs, with his Teeth rotten away, Faltering Speech, and bowed Back, such things as these are set out by those Metaphorical Expressions, ver. 3, 4, 5, 6. and they serve to teach the Young and Healthful, that whenever they see an Old, Lame, Withered Man or Woman, sitting in the House, or creeping about the Streets: They should consider that they should do all the service they can for God, now because they will do so little, when they are in the condition of such aged Persons.  
4. Consider, if your Bodies are employed for the Lord now, it will yield you sweet comfort, when you can serve God no longer, or at least do him but little service, Ps. 71.17, 18. God will never forsake an Old Servant, or a Sick Servant.  
Lastly, When sickness and death comes, thou canst have no comfort, if thou hast not employed thy Body for the Lord. It will be sad parting with the Body and Soul, when thou must leave a cursed Body to the Earth, and go with a Damned Soul to Hell, and more sad will be their meeting at the Resurrection to Condemnation.  
7. Directions.  
1. See that the whole Manbe-Sanctified, and made holy, 1 Thess. 5.23. The very God of Peace sanctify you wholly, Heb. 10.22. Our Bodies washed with pure water, i. e. by the powerful Operation of the Spirit, which cleanseth the heart from sin, as Water washeth the Body from Filth. When the Soul is made Holy, there will be a Holy Tongue, Holy Hands, etc. all will be Holy.  
2. Present your bodies to the Lord, Rom. 12.1. I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God, that you present your Bodies a living Sacrifice, Holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, rendered, present; is an allusion to the Sacrifices which were set before God at the Altar as ready to be offered to him; so we must set not only our Souls, but our Bodies before the Lord as his due. Say, This Tongue, and these Eyes and Hands are for the Lord. Pray him to take them, and use them for himself.  
3. In all places you are in with your bodies, consider what Work is to be done for the Lord, you can be no where but you may find work for the Lord, Prov. 27.8. As a Bird that wandreth from his Nest, so is a man that wandreth from his place: And this I think is the intent of that Scripture, Eccles. 11.3. In the place where the Tree falleth (or happeneth to be) there it shall be, for the benefit and advantage of them to whom it falls. The Context seems to justify this sense, teaching us that every Man ought to labour to be a blessing in his place.  
4. Whatever you do for your Bodies, do it as for the Lord: Take care of your bodies: Do not wilfully bring Diseases on your bodies: Preserve your bodies for the Owners sake: When you are feeding and clothing your Bodies, see that you do it for the Lord: Do not eat and drink, so as to make you unfit for the Lord, to put your bodies out of frame for the Lord.  
5. All that you do with your bodies, do it to the Lord, and for the Lord: Observe Rom. 14.6. He that regardeth a day, regardeth it to the Lord; he that eateth, eateth to the Lord. When you are employed in your Callings, if your Working, Buying, and Selling, were only to get Money, and to have great Estates: This were not worth the Care, and Thoughts, Words, and Time of a Man; but see that you and yours are for the Lord. So when you are cheerful, be ruled by these Principles, in your Laughing, Jesting, and Mirth: Have no Mirth, but what you can bless God for, and have no Mirth but what you can part with, 2 Cor. 7.30. And they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not.  
6. Keep a Guard on your Bodies, and on all the parts of them. Job made a Covenant with his Eyes, Chap. 31.1. Feed not your Lusts with wanton Objects. Bridle your Tongues: Psal. 39.1. Keep your whole Bodies in subjection to the Will of God.  
Lastly, Give up thy Body to the Lords disposal. Submit to the Lord in bodily Sickness, Poverty, Imprisonment; be ready to suffer any thing for the Lord, and so leave thy Body to sleep in Jesus when the Lord calls for it.   

THE LORD FOR THE BODY.  1 COR. 6.13. 
— And the Lord for the Body.  
Doct. 2. THE Lord Jesus Christ is for the Body of Man.  
I shall give account of the Doctrine under these Heads.  
I. What are we to understand by the Lord Jesus his being for the Body.  
II. What doth Jesus Christ do for the Body of Man.  
III. Why is Jesus Christ for the Body.  
USE.  
I. By Jesus Christ his being for the Body, we are to understand that the Lord Jesus Christ doth set himself to bless the Body of Man, so as to make it unspeakably happy, and blessed for ever. See Jesus Christ in all his Glory, and then look upon that poor Worm and dust of thy Body, and know that all the fullness of the Godhead, and all the fullness of the Manhood is in Jesus Christ for the good of that poor Body; See Col. 2.9, 10. In him dwells all the Godhead Bodily, and you are complete in him who is the Head of all Principalities and Powers. Observe, All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in the Humane Nature of Christ; that we may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, filled in him, and both in Body and Soul completely happy and blessed in him. There are three things employed in the Lord Jesus his being for the Body.  
1. That he is a Saviour of the Body of Man. The whole Work of Salvation is for the Body.  
2. That he hath the Infinite Love and Kindness of a Saviour for the Body of Man, Tit. 3.4. After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared: Observe these words, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: The words show that the goodness itself, or as I may say, the good Nature in the Lord Jesus inclines him to love Man. So that its easy and Natural to him to be kind and loving, and to have unspeakable love and kindness for Man, for every part of Man, both of Body and Soul.  
3. That all the Attributes of the Godhead are working in the Lord Jesus Christ as a Saviour to fulfil his love, and good will to the Body of Man. See the Infinite Power, Wisdom, Justice, and Faithfulness of the Godhead in Christ. He hath infinite Love and good Will for the Body; Infinite Wisdom to contrive the Happiness of the Body; Infinite Power to execute the Counsels and good Pleasure of his Wisdom, and Love for the Body of Man. See Phil. 3.20, 21. We look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body, according to the working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself. These words show that the Almighty Power of Christ, whereby he is able to do what he will, is working in him to make the Body of Man glorious.  
II. What doth the Lord Jesus do for the Body of Man? Answer in two particulars.  
1. He blesseth the Body with Temporal things.  
2. He makes the Body of Man glorious and blessed for ever.  
1. He blesseth the Body with Temporal things, Deut. 30.20. He is thy Life and the Length of thy days. He gives and prolongs our Lives, Prov. 8.18. Riches and Honour are with me.  
(1) He hath made many gracious promises for the Body. 1 Tim. 4.8. Having premise of this Life that now is, Mat. 6.33. All these things shall be added unto you▪ Deut. 28.3, 4, 5, 6. Blessed shalt thou be in the City, etc. He hath settled all things present upon us, so far as 'tis for our good; 1 Cor. 3.22. Things present are yours. We have the Word of God for the good of our Bodies in this Life; and certainly the poorest Saint who hath a right to the promises of God for things present, is better provided for and in less danger of Famine, than the greatest carnal person in the World; for the Ungodly have Riches, for the Body Silver, Gold, Houses and Lands for the Body, but a Godly Man hath the Lord of all the World for the Body.  
(2.) His Infinite Care and Providence is exercised to fulfil his promises for the Body, Mat. 6.32. Your Heavenly Father knoweth you have need of these things, i. e. he knoweth so as to supply our need of these things: And for this David tells, Psal. 37.16. A little that a Righteous Man hath, is better than the Riches of many Wicked; because, saith he, The Arms of the Wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholdeth the Righteous. The Righteous have the Lord with their little, when the Wicked have often much, but the Lord is not with them, but against them. So that this Lord who made the World for the good of Man's body, doth exercise his glorious Providence for the bodies of his People.  
2. The Lord Jesus makes the bodies of his People blessed and glorious for ever; and this appears.  
(1.) By considering what he doth for their bodies in this Life, in order to their Eternal Happiness.  
(2.) By considering what he doth for their bodies when dead.  
(3.) At the day of Judgement.  
Lastly, For ever.  
For the First, Observe Three things which the Lord doth in this Life for the Salvation of the bodies of his people.  
1. He unites their Bodies to himself, ver. 15. Know you not that your Bodies are the Members of Christ. What could he have done more for that poor dust of thine, than to make it a blessed part of himself; to make it a part of his own Mystical Body; so that what is done to the very Bodies of his People, is done to himself, Mat. 25.35. I was Hungry, and Sick, and Naked, and Imprisoned: Lord say they, when saw we thee so and so,: Yes saith he, these little ones are a part of me, I and they are all one, and what you did to them you did to me. Oh how should we be affected with the Lords being thus for the body, so as to make it a part of himself. Come and I will show you the Bride, the Lamb's Wife; Rev. 21.9. How or where shall we see that sight: Why, wherever you see a true Believer, you see the Body of the true Bride and Spouse of Jesus Christ.  
2. He puts a Presence and Glory on the very Bodies of his people, Eccles. 8.1. A Man's Wisdom maketh his Face to shine: The Image of God shines in the very face of a Godly Man: We read, Revel. 7.3. That the Servants of God must be sealed in their Foreheads; which some think is an allusion to Slaves, who have their Foreheads marked with the Names of their Masters, to whom they did belong. So there may be read in the very Faces, and Countenances, and Foreheads of God's people, the Name of Christ, to whom they belong; for although Grace is Internal, yet the Fruits thereof appear in the outward Man: And so Revel. 22 4. The Name of the Lamb shall be on their Foreheads: If that be spoken of Heaven, it's in some measure true here; and it's most certain that an upright, holy Saint, carries such a presence with him, that it daunts oftentimes the Wicked, and the very sight of them puts Gods Children in mind of their Father and Saviour.  
3. He honours them by fitting their bodies for his Service, and using them therein: And indeed it is a great Honour to serve so great and good a Master, which made Paul so often Glory in that Title, The Servant of Jesus Christ. Now when a Man is Sanctified, and made a new Creature, his whole Soul and Body are thereby set for God; for his Honour and Service: We are said, Ephes. 2.10. to be Created in Christ Jesus to good works, to be made fit for good Works. It's said of a Godly Man, 2 Tim. 2.21. He shall be a Vessel of Honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Thus you see, that by the Grace and Life of Christ, a Man is fit for any service or suffering, which Duty leads him to; and hereby the Saints of God may live as a Company of Incarnate Angels in the World.  
II. Consider what Christ doth for the Body when Dead.  
1. Their blessed Corpse are continued in their Union with Christ. Death breaks no Union made by Grace; and therefore they are said to sleep in Jesus, 1 Thess. 4.4. And are called the dead in Christ, ver. 16. Where you think of, or look into the Churchyards: What a great Mystery it is, that so great a part of the Bride and Spouse of Christ should lie amongst those ghastly Skulls, and rotten Dust, and that there should be more of his Members, and a greater part of his Body dead in the Earth, than are serving him here in the World.  
2. He owns their dead Bodies for his. They are Christ's own. 1 Cor. 15.23.— Afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Observe the Bodies of Believers from the hour of Death, till the coming of Christ, are Christ's all the while; when they are Children of their Earthly Parents no more, Husbands and Wives no more, yet Christ's still.  
3. He loves them as his own, and as united to him: He loves their very rotten Corpse as part of himself, as part of his own Spouse and Members; he knows them all in the Earth; he can distinguish between the cursed Corpse of Unbelievers that lie in the Graves under the Curses of the Law, and who are bound over to suffer Everlasting Fire; and the blessed bodies of his Saints who lie in their Graves, in a right to Heaven and Salvation: When our dearest Relations die, we cry with Abraham, Bury my dead out of my sight: Bury my dead Husband, or dead Wife, or dead Child out of my sight, and they are all to us as dead Men out of mind; as it's said, Psal. 31.12. Yet they are always in the sight and view of Jesus Christ; and when they have rotten in the Earth, or been swallowed up in the Seas; or burnt in the Fire many Hundred years, yet these blessed bodies are precious, and lovely in the Eyes of Christ. Jesus Christ is always looking on the dust of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of David, Paul and Peter, and all the Saints which are dead with great Love and Delight.  
III. Consider what Christ will do for the Bodies of his people at the day of Judgement: In five particulars.  
1. He will raise up their bodies to Glory; and herein he is said to be for the body, ver. 14. Following the Text: God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us by his Power: As sure as Christ is risen, so sure shall all Believers be raised to Life and Glory, by the same Power that raised Jesus Christ, Rom. 8.11. But if the Spirit of him who raised Christ be in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Then will he indeed show himself for thy Body, when that Body which was at death sown in Corruption, shall be raised in Incorruption, and which was sown in dishonour, shall be raised in Glory: Then shall thy Body and Soul which were so loath to part at Death, and did part with such sad gaspings and groans, meet again in Joy and Glory, and be for ever united never to die and part more; 1 Cor. 15.42, 43, 44. And all this done in the twinkling of an Eye. ver. 52. in a moment, and all be raised together.  
2. Thy Body shall be fashioned like the glorious Body of Jesus Christ, Phil. 3. last. from whence we look for a Saviour who shall change our vile Body. Believer look upon that poor dying dust of thy body; see it as it will be shortly amongst the Worms of the Earth; and then believe, that the Lord is so for thy Body, as to exercise his Almighty Power, in fashioning that Body like the glorious Body of Christ at the Right hand of God.  
3. Thou must in thy Body come with Christ, and attend him coming to Judgement, 1 Thess. 4.14. Them that sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him. He will bring the Holy Patriarches, and Prophets, and Apostles, and all the Saints with him. Col. 3.4. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then, etc. you that were so despised and scorned here, shall appear in Glory, in the open view of the World.  
4. They shall be solemnly owned and acknowledged of Christ before his Father, and the Holy Angels, Matth. 10.32. Luk. 12.8. The Lord Jesus himself will in Effect say, This is my dear Spouse and Bride; these are they that loved me, and served me, and suffered for me, and were never ashamed of me. Yonder Tongues have spoken many good words for me, and yonder hands have reached out many a kindness to me.  
Lastly, They shall with their Bodies sit with Christ to Judge the World, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3. The World of Ungodly Men, and all the wicked Angels, and Devils in Hell, must stand before the Saints to be judged by them: Indeed Jesus Christ is the Chief and Supreme Judge, but all his Saints shall sit with him in Glory, as his Members, with all their Bodies, like his glorious Body: So that they shall then be like him, 1 John 3.2. And they shall prove and applaud the just Judgement of Christ; though they see Jesus Christ judging their Parents to Hell; yet they shall see his Justice so glorious and excellent, and their own Glory will be so great, that they will be so far above the trouble for the Damnation of the nearest Relation, that they will applaud, and exalt the Righteous Judgement of Christ therein. I tell you Christians, the poorest and meanest Saints of God, whom you oft see clothed in Rags, who are accounted the Sink and Jakes of the World, shall shortly appear in such Majesty and Glory, that the highest, and proudest Ungodly Monarches in the World will be ashamed and tormented to look them in the face.  
Lastly, Consider what he doth for their Bodies for ever. In three particulars:  
(1.) He makes their Bodies to be Immortal and Incorruptible, 1 Cor. 15.43. Thy Body must last as long as thy Soul, or as the Angels in Heaven, or as the Body of Christ: Here the most healthful are but a Vapour, which appear but a while, and then vanish away, Jam. 4.14. What's become of all the bodies of the Men in the Ages before us, which were once in the Streets, Shops, Houses, and Congregations, as you see the Bodies of Men now? What's become of the bodies of your Parents, Grandfathers, and Grandmothers, they are all vanished away; but the other World is a World, without Sickness, Death, or Graves; your very Bodies must live for ever.  
(2.) They shall live in the Society of Blessed Angels. As the Devils are Haters, so the Holy Angels are Lovers of Mankind: They love the Bodies of Saints, and are undoubtedly Instruments of much good to them here; and they shall be in the blessed Company of these Spirits for ever; See Zech. 3.7.  
3. They shall with their glorified bodies, live in the Everlasting view and sight of the glorious body of Christ, and of the glorified bodies of one another, John 17.24. Thou shalt see the Body of Christ as the Body of thy Husband, Head, and Saviour; thou shalt see the body of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Paul, and Peter, and be able to say, This is the Body of Paul, Peter, and John. This is the body of Bradford, and Philpot, etc. Your Bodies shall be cloahted without Silks, or Satins; fed without Meat and Drink; Rich without Silver and Gold; and your Bodies and Souls in nearer Communion with God, than they would be here, though in the most desirable frame, you could hear a Paul in the Pulpit every day.  
Reason, Why is the Lord Jesus for the Body.  
1. God the Father hath given our Bodies as well as our Souls to Christ, to be made happy by him. John 6.39. It's the body that was given to Christ to be raised up at the last day, and not a Finger or Toe shall be lost, if the having of it will make it thy happiness.  
2. Christ is fitted to be a Saviour of the Body, as well as the Soul, Heb. 10.5. Jesus Christ hath the Body, as well as the soul of man, which inclines him so love men's Bodies, and his Mystical Body is to be made of the Bodies of his People, as well as their Souls; who as the Apostle saith, are Members of his Body, Flesh, and of his Bones, Eph. 5.30.  
3. He carries on the whole Work of Salvation, with respect to our Bodies; He died for our bodies, rose again for our Bodies, that they might rise with him, and he intercedes in Heaven, for our Bodies, and at the day of Judgement will raise up, and glorify our Bodies; for he is the Saviour of the whole Man, Body as well as Soul.  
USE 1. Of Information. Of three things.  
1. This informs us what an unspeakable privilege it is to be a Child of God, to have the Lord of all the World, for our Bodies as well as for our Souls. We would think ourselves happy, if the Princes, and Nobles, and great ones of the World were for us, if we had their Love, and Favour; so that they would improve their Power, and Interest for our good, but this hath not always been the Lot of God's People; but the Lord is for us: Infinite Wisdom and Power, and Goodness for us; for Believers are a part of Christ, a Self of Christ, and certainly he will improve all for the good, and Glory of his whole Self.  
2. It informs us of the dreadful condition of wicked men what a sad state are they in both as to their Bodies, and Souls. I am now speaking of the Body, thou hast got good Meat and Clothes for the Body, good Houses and Lands for thy Body, but is the Lord for the Body? No, this great Lord is against thy Body. Infinite Power, and Wisdom, and Justice will be all set on work to torment thy Body. Thou canst not endure an aching Tooth, a broken bone, a fit of the Stone, or Gout: The pains of a Travelling Woman: Oh little dost thou think what thy Body is to endure for ever. Go and dress thyself, make thyself fine, set out thyself to the best, look in the glass, see if every hair or pin stand right, but remember what that head and face, and arms, and Limbs must suffer, when they burn in Hell. Oh Sinners, pity your Souls and Bodies, and never rest till thou hast got the Lord for thy Body. I tell thee, thy body hath more need of Christ, than of Meat and Drink.  
3. It informs us what are the greatest and best things for the body, you may know this by considering what the Lord doth for the body; For certainly Christ & his Spouse live best, and far best, and are always most happy: And if it were best to be Lords and Ladies, Nobles and Princes, do you think Christ would not make his Members and Spouse such? Can any be so foolish as to think that Christ doth more for Turks and Pagans, than he doth for himself, and for his own Body; and therefore we must conclude that the best things are amongst God's Children to be Holy and Happy, to live a life of Godliness and Obedience to God, in order to Glory, this must needs be the best, for this is that which the Lord who is for the Body, doth in Infinite Wisdom and Love choose for, and give to his people; we must believe that the best and worst things are reserved. The Wicked for the most part have the Gold and Silver, Honours and Pleasures of the World, Oh but consider what is reserved for them, is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever, Judas 13. God's people are often poor, afflicted, and persecuted in this World: But there is an Inheritance Incorruptable that fadeth not away, reserved in the Heavens for them, 2 Pet. 1.4. It's a sweet comfort to think that those things which are best at present, are most durable: If spiritual things were to last no longer than the Vanities of the World, yet for the present, they are better than the Riches, Honours, and Pleasures of the World; if we had but a day in God's Courts, its better than a Thousand elsewhere, Ps. 84. but they are not only incomparably best at present, but they are Everlasting.  
USE 2. Of Comfort to the Godly: In three Particulars.  
1. This secures to us the Providence and Care of God in outword things for the Body. The Lord is so for the Body, that we may be assured the body shall not want any thing that is good for us in order to our Eternal Happiness. Indeed its fit we should leave it to God, who hath more Wisdom to know what is good for us, and more love to give what is good for us, than we have; to choose to do us good in his own way. He knows best how to use his own care, to exercise his own Providence, and to show his own Love, it's enough for us to know that the Lord, with the Infinite Wisdom, Power, and Love of the Godhead is for us, so as to be the Cause of our Eternal Happiness; but seeing we may believe that this will be the effect, and that the cause is sufficient to work it, we may well leave it to God to take his own way to make us blessed; Observe our Saviour; Luk. 13.32. Fear not little Flock, etc. Christ is there pleading against our inordinate care about the Body; and saith he, Fear not, for it's your Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom of Heaven, and therefore shall not want what is good for you in your way thither.  
2. Comfort against all the Enemies of your Bodies, we have more for the Body than can be against it: For the Lord is for the Body, and if God be for us, who can be against us, Rom. 8.21. And on this account, fear not them that can kill the Body: For if the Lord be for the Body, fear not all that Wicked Men can do to the Body, let them spoil us, impoverish us, imprison, kill us, yet they do but fulfil the Counsels of the Lord for the Body: For as long as the Lord is for the Body, things that are seemingly against the Body, are indeed for the body, for the Lord rules all, and turns it to the Welfare of the Body.  
3. Comfort against Death: If the Lord is for the Body, than Death is for the Body too: It comes from the Lord as a blessing on the Body, to fulfil his good Will and Counsel concerning it; and therefore welcome Death, the Body cannot be happy in this World: This World of Meat and Drink, and Money, etc. Cannot so much as make the body of Man happy; the Body must die, or at least be changed before it can be happy. And therefore take a full view of Death, of the Grave, of Worms, of Rottenness, See Job 19.25, 26, 27. I know that my Redeemer lives, etc. Believe this, that the Lord is for the Body, and then say, Death take my Body, Grave cover my Body, Worms eat my Body, yet the Lord will be still for the Body, and he will raise it up; I shall see him, and stand before him at the last day, and be like him, and appear with him in Glory.  
Last use of Exhortation to three Duties.  
1. Bless the Lord for what he doth for the body: It's the Lord that gives you Life, Health, Liberty and Estates; and therefore observe and take notice of the Lord in all your Mercies to the body. You which are Tradesmen, if a Customer come into the Shop, it's the Lord which sends him for thy good, and deal with him as coming from the Lord. See your Tables filled with the Lord, especially if you were ever enabled to do him any bodily service.  
2. Pray to the Lord for the body; there is care and love in the Lord for the body, but it must be drawn out by Prayer: As there is Milk in the Mother's breast, for the child, but the child must suck and draw it out of the breasts into his own body; so we must by Faith and Prayer, suck and draw out Mercies from the Lord both for Soul and Body.  
3. Live as those who look for the Lord Jesus, to show himself for the body; to make the body completely blessed and happy, Rom. 8.28. We groan within ourselves, etc. Observe, We groan within ourselves, viz. in the most inward parts of Hearts and Souls, waiting for the Adoption, viz. the full possession of the Inheritance which by Adoption belongs to us, viz. the Redemption of our Bodies. We look and wait that our bodies be freed from Sin and Death, and made perfectly glorious with Christ, let us live as those who look for such things.  
(1.) As ever you expect to be like Christ at the Day of Judgement, Labour to be like him now, 1 John 3.2, 3.  
(2.) Labour to be such as Christ may own you, and accept you at the day of Judgement, 2 Pet. 3.13, 14. 2 Cor. 5.9. Do nothing but what you are willing Christ should come in the Clouds, and find you doing, do nothing but what Christ will accept of, and reward you for, when you must see him with those Eyes, and in your Flesh stand before him.   

The LIFE of Mr. Gilbert Lorimer, Late MERCHANT of LONDON.  
MR. Gilbert Lorimer, late Merchant of London was accomplished with Learning and Parts: He was Master of the Latin Tongue, and understood several other Languages.  
He was most inclined to study Divinity, but by reason of his Bodily weakness, and because he could not comply with the terms of Conformity, (though he much valued all sober, good Conformists.) He applied himself to Merchandise, wherein he was skilful, diligent, and just and faithful: When he was about Thirteen or Fourteen years old, it pleased God to turn his Heart to himself; he told a Holy and Judicious Person nearly Related to him, the Time when, and Place where Infinite Grace began that blessed Work: wherein something was so signal that made such an abiding Impression upon him, as to say with David, Psal. 119.93. I will never forget thy Precepts, for with them thou hast quickened me. It pleased God to exercise him with divers Afflictions, especially Bodily Distempers, which for four or five years before he died, were often accompanied with stinging Pains; but in all God had his Heart and Love, and he possessed his Soul in Patience: This is evident by several Letters which he writ to his Holy, Learned, and Judicious Brother, Mr. William Lorimer, Minister of the Gospel, part of which I thought sit to Communicate.  
In Feb 23. 168●, After his Recovery from a dangerous Sickness, he writ to him thus, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits, who healeth my Diseases, and crowneth me with loving kindness, and tender Mercies. O that I may no more live to myself, but to God my most Gracious and Almighty Deliverer; for this I desire your Prayers, and to return thanks to God through Jesus Christ on my behalf.  
On June 7. 1687. He wrote to him of the Death of their Dear Mother: Some of his Words therein are these: O that through the hope of our being also with the Lord, we may purify ourselves as he is pure, that we may despise whatsoever in this World would take us off from the Love of Christ. Blessed Jesus, draw our Hearts to thyself in Heaven, where thou sittest at the Right Hand of the Father, that Death may be the Messenger to open the Prison Doors, that we may flee away, and be at rest with Christ the beloved of our Souls, Amen.  
In September following, his former Distemper, returned with greater force: But when by means of two able Physicians he had some ease, he wrote to his Brother aforesaid, on Septemb, 12. 1687, wherein among many other of the like Nature, are these words, Lord support and comfort me under my Bodily Pains, and grant that I may wholly resign myself to the will of my Heavenly Father. I desire your Prayers, although I am chastised sorely: Yet the Lord will not give me over unto Death, not to a Temporal Death, so long as the continuance of Life may be for his Glory and my good; however I steadfastly trust in the Infinite Mercy of God, through the perfect Obedience, Sacrifice, and Intercession of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that the second Death shall never have power over me.  
On Sept. 24. 1687. He writ to his Brother in Answer to one of his to him, wherein he saith, I have received your very comfortable and Christian Letter, the only fault in it is, that it runs in expressions more suitable to those who are in some high degree of Christian perfection, than to me a vile sinner; I am nothing, but Christ is all in all in me, and for me, adding his pain was much abated, for which (said he) Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his Name together; Salvation and Glory be ascribed to the God of Salvation, pray rather for a sanctified use of my Afflictions, than for deliverance from them; and O that the consideration of the shortness of them, may keep me from being weary of the chastening of the Lord, or fainting when I am rebuked of him.  
In a Letter of Octob. 15. 1687. He gave notice to his Brother of another Relapse into Sickness, wherein he saith, I desire to bless God for the good of my Soul through the Afflictions of my Body, pray that I may improve my Afflictions unto Victory over Sin, and increase in all Grace.  
On November 22. 1687. He wrote how ill he was, saying with David, Day and night thy hand is heavy upon me: It is the Lord, let him do with me what seemeth him good: I am his by right of Creation, and therefore at the disposal of his Sovereign Will, and I am also his by right of Redemption and Purchase in the Blood of Christ, and therefore he will save me, if not with a Temporal, yet with an Everlasting Salvation, in hopes whereof I desire to possess my Soul in Patience.  
His last Letter to his Brother was on July 14. 1688. wherein after he had given him account of his present Distemper he saith, Lord help me, that I may be more and more fitted for Communion with God here, and for the full enjoyment of him for ever; of which I am an Expectant through the alone Merits, and Mediation of Jesus Christ my ever blessed Lord and Saviour.  
About a Month before he died, his Worthy Brother heard him often say as he lay awake in the Night on his Bed, Come Lord Jesus, Amen, Even so come Lord Jesus.  
I was with him about half an hour before he died; he continued to the last both thesame Man in the use of his Reason, and the same Christian in the Exercise of Grace; I desire his surviving Relations will never forget his Counsel and Example which they heard and saw.  
This Israelite indeed passed into the World without Sin, on Octob. 26. 1688.  
I was ever tender of what I said on such occasions as this, making Conscience of these 2 things.  
I. To give no Person that Character in my Words, which they have not in my Heart.  
II. To speak nothing of any one when they are dead, which I did not think, or speak of them whilst they were alive; but I had personal knowledge of him for many years, and therefore have given this true Relation.  
Edward Lawrence.  
FINIS.