A SERMON PREACHED At Rolesbye in Norfolk, on Wednesday the 12th. of January, 1680/81. AT THE FUNERAL OF Madam ANNA GLEAN, The Late WIFE of THOMAS GLEAN, Esq The only Son of Sir Peter Glean of Hardwick in Norfolk Baronet.  
By ROBERT PRATTANT, M. A. and Rector of Thrigbye in Norfolk.  
LONDON, Printed for Joanna Brome at the Gun at the West-end of St. Paul's Churchyard. 1682.   
JOB 14.14. If a Man die shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come. 
WE had the sad Occasion this day of meeting at the house of Mourning to assist at the Funeral Solemnity a young Lady lately deceased (of whom I think myself bound to speak more hereafter) and are at length come to perform the last Rights of Parentation, and to leave her body in the silent Dormitory of a Grave, in the sure hopes and Expectation of a Glorious and Joyful Resurrection.  
But before we come to that last Office of Humanity and Christian Kindness to the dead, it may not be disadvantageous to us the Melancholy Surviving, who must shortly follow, and make our bed with her in the dust, to make some suitable Use and Improvement from the Solemn Occasion now before us, and which (I have reason to believe) was the main and only intent of this Person when living, if at any time she spoke of a Sermon to be preached at her Funeral.  
No doubt but it was but of Charity to the living when (as to my knowledge) she was a Person of that Judgement and singular Modesty, that as she was assured that no Circumstance or Action of ours could concern her, so neither did she Affect any vain Praises or big Eulogies when dead, who stood so little in need of any artificial daubing, or flattering Commendation whilst living.  
And according to this Caution and having bespoke your Candour on this behalf, I shall (without offering any Apology for myself) betake me to the Office that is at present assigned me, and to the part which is allotted me at this sad Solemnity.  
And certainly the occasion itself is a prompt and speaking one, and gives you a fuller and plainer Funeral Sermon, a nearer Prospect of Mortality, and of the Instability and uncertainty of humane Life, than all the laboured Art of the most exquisite Preacher is able to do.  
For if we Consider and make remarks as we ought, if we Apply this instance home to ourselves, we shall be sufficiently Convinced of the tottering Condition of Man here in this World, and that even in his best Estate he is altogether subject to Vanity.  
For would you be satisfied of the Lastingness and Perpetuity of these things which are by most owned to Aggrandise the Fortunes and Conditions of Men here in this World, to make them to be looked upon and admired by their fellow Mortals, and you shall find that the most Considerable (though not all of them) have had their termination and fatal period some little time since in the Person here before us, and who was not arrived to the Age of two and thirty.  
If you inquire after Beauty, Affability and Candour of mind, the most native Sweetness and Obligingness, the most innocent Freedom and unsuspected Mirth, (which was not often neither) whether you Consider the advantages of the Body, or inward Graces and Beauties of the mind, you will find that all of them have had their fatal period in this Person whose early Funerals we now Celebrate, and whom we have reason to believe is removed into the peaceable Regions of Eternal Rest.  
They are all ceased and vanished as to us, ghastlines takes up the room of Beauty, and all that was once Lovely and Charming is withdrawn and shrouded under a dark Cloud cast over her Body, by the indispensible Law of Mortality.  
But that I may the better Assist your Meditations and direct you to the Use that ought to be made of this, and all such like Occasions, I shall betake myself to a Consideration of the Pious and steadfast Resolution of Holy Job here; all the days &c:  
Now that which put him, and aught to put all Wise and Considering Men into this devout Frame and Posture of mind, of a Constant and Serious Watching against the day of Change and Dissolution, was the Consideration of the misery and shortness of Life here, and the firm belief of a State hereafter.  
He Learned this Wisdom from his Faith, and from a Consideration of the Afflictions that he himself had undergone, and at present Labours under (with which he had been thick surrounded) having lived formerly in the greatest Prosperity, and from a deep sense of the misery and shortness of Life, and Certainty of Death, he resolved to Continue in a Constant and settled Preparation for it, and patiently to wait that happy Change and alteration which should set him free, and disengage him from all the Miseries and Distractions of this Life.  
He lays down the shortness and withal the certain Miseries of Man's Life, Vers. 1. Man that is born of a Woman &c: And forasmuch as he is assured how that time once past is never to be recalled, and that there is no returning to Life here again, therefore he resolves to live in a Constant expectation of that happy Change, that should set him free from the Tedders and gross Bonds of the Body, and gain him an happy Liberty and Freedom.  
'Tis true, soles occidere & redire possint, the Sun that sets to us may reneuw its Circling Course, and visit our Horizon again; and plants, as Job here Philosophically argues, may, nay oftimes do revive and sprout again; but 'tis not so with Man; when his Sun sets, it will be a Constant gloomy night with him, and when his Trunk be once cut down, it it will lie sapless and whither, and not take root and flourish again while the Restitution of all things, and that the Heavens shall be no more. If a Man dy shall etc.  
Yea doubtless, he shall live again, but not here, and it was in Expectation of that, that the Author of these Words, an eminent Instance of humane Misery and Sorrows, resolved patiently to wait till such time as that happy Change should be, for he assures us elsewhere with the most Heroic and Illustrious Faith, I know that my Redeemer liveth, etc.  
It was from this Principle that he not only waited for, but even Courted the Approach of death, and longed for the Grave more than some Men do for deep hid Treasures. It was not out of any false or mistaken Principle, not like to any doubtful Platonic Hypothesis, or out of any sullen Passion or Discontent (though he lay under strong Temptations to it from afflicting Circumstances he was in) But it was from the true Theory of the Divine Nature, and Attributes, and from thence an Assurance fetched of an Afterstate wherein he should receive the reward of all his sufferings and hard Measure here.  
I was from the true Religion that he had an early acquaintance with, that he was taught to expect Death with Patience and Resolution, and to welcome its approach not only with Courage, but with Delight and Satisfaction of mind.  
And alas! How hopeless, how far short of this true Wisdom and Philosophy comes all the sublimest discourses of the most refined Heathens, Christ being raised from the dead, death no more, and becomes the first fruits of them that slept, gives us a clearer Evidence and account of the Resurrection and Future State of the Soul, than ever any the most Laboured Discourse of the most searching Philosopher was able to do  
They were so far from giving a satisfactory Account of the Future State of the Soul, such as others might rely on, and found their belief upon, and be encouraged to undergo the the worst of Evils and Disapointments here, and with Content and Patience to sustain the unwelcome addresses of Death; they were so far, I say, from satisfying others herein, that they could not maintain themselves upon such airy food, or be induced to quit the Enjoyments of this Life for the hopes of a better.  
Their utmost Essays this way amounted no farther then to a bare or possibility, seeming probability of the Resurrection of the Body, and Immortality of the Soul. And here too they were entangled and overcome with great Perplexities. Sometimes they Contradicted themselves, and at other times delivered themselves very suspenslly and doubting about it, and that too even immediately before their deaths.  
To instance in one or two of the most eminent of them. Socrates the famed Introducer of Morality, who was worthily followed and admired be the better part of the Gentile World, and whose Case herein is very notorious, had strange Misgivings as to what should be his State in another World; and whether his Soul should Survive or no, he durst not determine, only tells those that were about him, just as he was about to suffer Death, that he should shortly experience the Certainty of it, but was not (if it did) so kind, that we read of, to return back to inform them.  
And Tully, though in his Cato Major, in his somnio Scipionis and in other places, he speaks powerfully and well of the Immortality of the Soul, and expresses a wounderful joyful Resentment of the day of Death, feelingly, Crying out, O praeclarum diem, cum ad illud Divinorum animorum Concilium Coetumque proficiscar etc. Rejoicing above all that thereby he should be admitted into the Society and presence of his beloved and admired Cato, besides those other excellent personages that he had before mentioned, who had some time since expired; yet after all, I remember that in some other places of his Writings, he propounds Annihilation with a great deal of Indifferency, and seems to be Content to allow that, as well as the post-existence of the Soul, and leaves it in equal doubt and debate.  
And we read in his Life, that when the fatal Executioner came to apprehend him, and that he found that he was discovered, that he presented himself as it were already half-ghosted with fear; and by the last Circumstances we may guests; that he tamely yielded himself more out of design, and an hasty desire to get free of the troubles of this Life, than out of any Confidence he had of entering into a better State hereafter.  
And Cyrus in his famous Speech, or Oration made immediately before his Death to his Sons and Persian Nobles, (if that were really his which we find at large in Zenophon; and some part of it, as to what Concerns the Immortality and Future State of the Soul,) translated by Cicero in the latter part of his Cato Major forequoted) though there he largely and freely discourses the Future Subsistence of the Soul, and the reasons he had to incline him to the belief of it, and that after the most manly rate: Yet I take notice that in the latter part of that his dying Speech, he takes his leave of the bystanders in expressions equally granting the Existence or Future Reduction, and Annihilation of the Soul. For these are his Words, (As Zenophon there makes him to speak) Whether I shall be with the Divine Nature, with the Pure and Eternal Essenses, or vapour into Air, and be reduced to nothing: Yet upon either of those Accounts, let those that accompany me to the Sepulchre congratulate my Excit and happy deliverance from the Body, being not Capable any longer of suffering any Grief or Evil.  
Now all this that I have instanced in, is only to show is how unable the Learnedest and Wisest of the Heathen Philosophers were (only by the light of Nature without any higher revelation) to demonstrate, and make good the reasonableness of the post-existence of the Soul of Man; and to make appear from what an higher discovery it was, that the inspired Author of these Words, was not only induced to wish for Death, and that in some sudden Fit, or Passion, but likewise taught to expect it with the most strictness and resolution. All the days of my &c.  
He went upon far higher Principles than ever any the most Celebrated Pagan essayed to do, and it was not only from a Contempt of this World, and the slighting Afflictions of it, but also from the grounded Revelation he had of entering into an immortal State, after this Life was ended, and that to be attended with the most constant and uninterrupted Joy.  
And this latter Consideration it was that put him upon his Constant Watch and Guard, resolving not to omit for the least moment or interval of time, All the days of my &c. But we may very well suppose that it was the shortness of this Life that had a powerful influence over Job, and disposed him to this Lesson of diligent Attendance, and patiently to expect that happy Change, that blessed moment that should give him his Quiet from all the Afflicting Discontents, and from the throng of Sorrows of this Life; and gain him an happy freedom into those Regions, where no Storms can ruffle or disturb the Soul of Man.  
And indeed my Brethren, the sorrowful si Conderations of the dividing Cares and Troubles that are inseparable attendments even of the most happy and prosperous here in this World, together with the undoubted Certainty and Experience of the shortness of Man's Life, should be sufficient for every one of us, to be upon our Guard that we may not through a drowsy and careless neglect be excluded from the mansions of Happiness hereafter.  
Alas, what is more Obvious and Evident to us, than that the Tyrant Death dogs us, and overtakes us every where, in variety of Accidents and Circumstances.  
We can flee no where from his diligent pursuit. He Commits daily rapes upon some or other of the Mortal offspring and calls us ofttimes home, to be eye-witnesses of his Conquests gained over some or other of our near Accquaintance and Relations: As at this time we are of his Conquest over this Lady who lays the silent Trophy of his Victory.  
But yet she speaks to us from the bed of Dust, shortly to expect the same Change that she has so lately undergone, and to provide for it.  
And sure it is but reasonable that we should be warned from such a Memento, when a Person not yet arrived to the prime of her years, of still blooming youth; of the greatest Innocency and Modesty and of the most universal Kindness and Obligingness amongst all she Conversed, has sometime since had her fatal summons, and is at present withdrawn to the Chambers of Death.  
Besides we ought to think ourselves the more nearly Concerned in this accident (and that if it had happened to any Body (as of late it has done to a Considerable and Known number here amongst us) Death being usually the more apprehended and regarded by us, when we observe him to be advanced into the neighbourhood, and that we know not how soon he may Call at our own houses, and visit our particular beds.  
And from this Consideration let me briefly recommend to you all that at present I designed from this Subject, and from this Occasion; that you live in a Constant and fixed preparation of mind, of welcoming Death, when or wheresoever he Comes to you; that you put not off your Conversion and Repentance while a more Convenient season; Knowing that it will be too late for that, when we once Come into the State into which the Person now before us, is entered, when that the faint Tapers are lighted, and that Blacks and Cyprus adorn our Funerals.  
Let us duly wait for our Change, all the days of &c before the night approaches wherein no Man can Work, before we be invelop'd with darkness and a sable Cloud, and overtaken with the Shadow of Death, and we find ourselves possessed of the Land where all are things forgotten.  
I have now finished what I intended to the living, but I have some reason to fear that I shall not be just to the memory of the dead; If I premise not some particulars touching this Excellent and Virtuous Personage.  
And here I shall not detain this Audience by tracing up things, and viewing her innocent Behaviour and Carriage from her Infancy and Cradle; which I had not the power, or opportunity of knowing, and therefore am not fit to declare them to others; nor shall I mix any thing that is in the least to me doubtful or uncertain, but shall only present you with a just and impartial Account of some of the most Considerable particulars which I took notice of during the time I lived in the family, of which She was one of the nearest Relations: And which upon being an Eye-witnest and upon my own Observation I know, and therefore dare publish to be true.  
As for her Birth and Extraction, which was more than ordinary, for her grateful Comeliness and Behaviour, as She herself did not desire they should be taken notice of whilst living, nor valued herself upon the score of them, so neither shall I now She is dead, Call them over to your Remembrance: Knowing that we are beholden to others for those and such like Advantages, and therefore do not deserve to reap any unjust Commendations from them, they having never been in our power.  
I shall therefore Consider her in the Capacity of a Christian, and as to her natural disposition, which doubtless She had much improved from the Rules of her Holy Religion.  
She was very Constant as to the Exercises and Offices of Religion: very. exemplary as to her Piety and Devotion, and would not willingly omit any Opportunity of attending at God's Sanctuary,  
She would oft utter her dislike of the Dissenting Parties from the Church of England, and had all such been of her happy Temper, of so great Humility and Self-denial, of such Condescension and Dovelike Simplicity, the Jars and Struggle that are amongst us had long since Ceased, and we had remained an happy People, United in Charity and Discipline, as well as in Faith. Nor did her Religion set loosely by her, like that of too many, who show itself only in outward forms, in external Pomp and Gaudiness, but it was Solid and Real, and if any of late have been endowed with the Ornaments of a meek and humble Spirit, She was One.  
Nor was her Devotion only to be taken notice of, when in the public Temple, and in the view of a great Number; but it was remarkable at home, and myself have taken notice (Ministering the Office of Prayer in the Family) that if at any time She had escaped the Opportunity of joining in that Holy Duty, (which was very rarely, and then too through a mistake of the time, or some other Occasion that was not her fault,) She would put on the greatest seeming anger and displeasure, that I have observed in her at any time, which discovered, how that She looked upon it to be a more grievous Disapointment to be absent from their Company at that time, when they were about that Solemn and Religious Exercise, than at any other.  
Nor were her more retired and Closet Devotions less Constant and Frequent; and I have sometimes taken notice, that she hath privately withdrawn, when their company have been that otherwise She approved of; which could be for no other Reason, then that in solitude She might enjoy far better Company: by fervent Prayer and Meditation maintaining an humble Familiarity and Converse with Heaven; which I ever looked upon to be a rare Instance in one of her years, and fortune.  
Nor was her Duty only towards God remarkable, but likewise, (as the effects of that,) towards her natural Parents, which I have heard them ofttimes express with the most Joyful and Concerned Resentments. Nor do I Remember that ever I heard her taxed for Disobedience by them in any particular; but always applauded for her Constant Affection and Duty, which was as Early as She was Capable of Understanding, what Obligations She lay under to them, and sometime before that.  
And though She did not experience that Reward promised to Obedience under the Old Law, of having her days lengthened out here on Earth, yet we need not question but that will be made good to her by vast Immortality in a far better State.  
What shall I say more? for neither the Time, nor yet my Temper or Capacity will allow me at present, to enter into the Common places of Rhetoric, or to Expatiate on her just praises:  
She was the most Obsequious and Respective Wise, her Love to her Husband was wonderful, surpassing the Love of most Women: And his to here's equal; so that I dare here declare, the Lovingest Couple I knew are here parted.  
And as a farther Argument of her Love to him, the Care and Indulgence to her Children (as many as Providence was pleased to let live with her) was extraordinary, and giving place to none.  
To sum up all in this short Character of her, She was of the most Bountiful, Liberal and Courteous Temper, of a Generous, Obliging Nature; She never willingly Disobliged any, nor did she provoke and to be her Enemies, though (to their shame be it spoke) She met with too many: As the Sweetest and Mildest Tempers are ofttimes Observed to be requited in this barbarous and ill natured World with the greatest Spire and Contradiction.  
She was every way Modest and reserved, and yet Easy and Familiar; But above all, her reservedness as to her speech was singular, and fit to be propounded for Imitation in this Uncharitable and Censorious Age, wherein the Liberty of the Tongue has not only blasted private Persons but has been Instrumental almost to the undoing of a Nation the Second time. She was very slow to Conceive or utter any ill of others; I scarce remember that I ever heard her speak detracting of any Body, though to my Knowledge she had oft had sufficient provocations so to do, having met with harsh and uncivil treatment from the malicious and unruly Tongues of others.  
One would have thought that so much goodness mixed with so Innocent and Harmless a Countenance should have guarded her from the rudeness and ill nature of the World. But alas; Innocency is a While that Malice Shoots all its darts at, and Virtue is of so different a Complexion from Vice, that no wonder that 'tis singled out and Persecuted by the Conspiring World, too fond of its Extreme.  
Her Shape, and the Air of her Face were beautiful and attracting, and seemed to have a near Resemblance and to be exactly fitted to the bright Soul that dwelled within. Her Countenance was so innocent and inoffensive, that it might have bespoke Kindness and Compassion even amongst the Savages.  
If there be any here, out of Curiosity expect to be informed as to the Circumstances of this Person in her late Sickness, before the immediate approach of Death, I shall only acquaint them that I had not the Opportunity of attending her, or Ministering to her in that last Trial, when the Sorrowful Agonies of Death beset liar. And if She discovered any disorder and tumult (as the brightest Soul may sometimes be overcast, and especially in that season, when the Faculties are weak and impaired, the Understanding benighted, and unable to rally up sufficient forces against the power of Temptations,) yet as I have been Gredibly Informed by that Worthy and Reverend Relation of Hers who was her chiest and best Confessor in time of her sickness; the storm went off, and there was nought else discernablea fter but Calm and Sunshine, a settled and peaceable composed Conscience; A happy presage of her being now arrived at the Peaceable and Blessed Haven, where both I and you have reason to believe She is. Besides to give you my sense hereof, if it were necessary to declare positively, I would sooner conceive well of the happiness of this Person in another State, whose foregoing Life had been so Innocent, and not stained with any considerable Vices, than trust to the late Vows, and resolutions of a Deathbed, though accompanied with the most formal and Ceremonious notes of Sorrow and Repentance.  
And now leaving Her to slumber in the Dust (Death being compared to sleep not only in profane Authors but in the Divine Books of Scripture:) Let me address myself to you whom I espy the principal Mourners here, and personate the chiefest parts of this sorrowful and Melancholy Scene; and from me do you bespeak those other near Relations whom I suppose extreme Grief has kept from appearing here; Let me advise both you and them, not to sorrow as them without hope; For though I allow not a Stoical Apathy, and think it not Commensurate to Humanity, nor yet serviceable to Religion, yet immoderate grief equally offends against both and argues the Weakness, if not the Nullity of out Faiths.  
Weep not for the Deceased, but weep for yourselves, Knowing that she entered into that happy State, where, Job expresses it, C. 3. v. 17.18. The wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest: Where the Prisoners rest together, and hear not the Voice of the Oppressor. She is gone but a little before, we are all moving apace, and it will not be long before we be enclosed behind the same Scene of Mourning, the solitary apartment of a Grave.  
Her Grave will prove but her better Tiring Room, from whence She shall one day come viz. in the Morning of the Resurrection, decked with the brightest Attire, when this Mortal Body of hers shall have put on Immortality.  
To show forth inordinate Sorrow would blemish her Funerals as far as lay in you, and seem to argue that you envy her peaceable and blessed Repose, and are against the privilege of this her far more advantageous Birth: And so the Death of the Martyrs were by the Primitive Writers Styled their Birthday's inasmuch as then they began in the most eminent manner to live.  
Therefore let me bespeak you on her behalf, and in her stead, as the great Cyrus in the beginning of his admired speech cited before, giving command to his Sons and those about him who should Survive him, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is to Think, Speak, and Act all things, to Behave yourselves with that Unconcernedness, as may argue that you are not in the least, doubtful or solicitous, but that She is in an happy condition, and that She has met with a Glorious and Blessed Change.  
And may we have all Grace so to apply this occasion, that we may all the Days of our appointed time wait till our Change Come: So that it may prove no other to us.  
Now to the Invisible God, and to our most Merciful Saviour, who have brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel, together with the Eternal Spirit be ascribed all Might, Majesty, Dignity, Dominion, and thanksgiving from this time forth and for Evermore.  
Amen, amen.