A SERMON At the Funeral of the truly Virtuous, Honourable, Valiant, in Fame, neverdying, Sir Simon Harcourt, One of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council in the Realm of Ireland, and Colonel over some of His Majesty's forces there. Preached in Christ-Church in Dublin, Mar. 31. 1642. Before the Lords Justices, and the rest of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, his Majesty's Commanders and Soldiers for that present service. By Edward Dunstervill, Bachelor of Divinity. Opus unius Diei. Now published by Command of the House of PARLIAMENT. London Printed for Richard Badger. 1642. A SERMON Preached at the Funeral of Sir SIMON HARCOURT COLONEL in IRELAND. 2 Chron. 35.23, 24. And the Archers shot at King josiah, and the King said to his servants, have me away for I am sore wounded. His servants therefore took him out of that Chariot and put him in the second Chariot that he had; and they brought him to jerusalem and he died, and was buried in the Sepulchre of his Fathers, and all judah, and jerusalem mourned for josiah. I Have this day upon this most sad occasion two sable subjects to treat on, one in the Text, the other out of the Text, the first is of slain josiah, a godly Prince, the second is of this slain Colonel a ●odly subject: which two valiant worthies as they agreed in most things in the manner of their life, so did they also in the manner of their untimely timely death * Mutato nomine de illo fabula. . For josiah was shot in the field by an enemy, and so was he: josiah was thereby sorely wounded, and God knows so was he; josiah was then carried of in a Chariot by his servants, so was he by his servants, and sad Officers; josiah died of the stroke, and so did he; josiah had the blessing to be buried in jerusalem, and so hath he in this City; in a word josiah was much lamented both in jerusalem, and judah, and so will he be of all God's servants, and Loyal Subjects, in the several Kingdoms of his Majesty's Dominion. Give me leave to speak of the latter Subject first, if it be but to ease my own present sad thoughts for him. Omitting to say any thing of his worthy descent, of his goodly education, his matching into an honourable family, of his high Command, and how famously he hath behaved himself in foreign services. To begin with him at home. 1. He was one who had an honourable repute in his and our Nation, with the most honourable there of a prudent faithful and choice Warrior, which may appear by His Majesties and the Honourable Parliaments joint Election of him for this our great service. 2. He was one who from a Child was employed in the Military service of our faith and not affected as some with glorious wears, yet which is honourable indeed one that bore in his body Martyr-like, the marks of Christ jesus, having been before this his last two several times sore wounded in two several services at Mastrichte and Kinsconce. 3. And in a word which is the best of his renown, the diamond in his gold, he was godly, honest, temperate and faithful as well to God and his Conscience, as to His King and Country. Durst I presume to enlarge myself further than my limited time, I could tell you rare things of his devotion, of his frequency in private prayer, of his godly exercise with his Family, of his diligence in reading the Scripture and other holy books: Seldom, as I received, from divers of those best acquainted with him did he come alone to his Chamber, but immediately, for the most part he addressed himself to the Bible or some other good book; a sure argument, that he had his delight in the Law of the Lord, and therefore in a blessed condition. In the time of my short acquaintance with him I had in private a bundle of such sweet holy divine expressions from him, which with out trespassing on my Conscience, I may say, then filled my soul with ravishment of joy, as it is now with sorrow, that God should be so gracious unto this distressed land, to send us in this needful time a leader of his people, one as well virtuous as valorous, one that was both a joshuah and a josiah, and indeed such a worthy of whom we in this sinful kingdom were not worthy. It is worth recording that immediately before his fore struck he was reproving a Soldier for swearing, demanding what if God had taken him away with that oath in his mouth. After being himself stricken, and deeming his wound to be mortal, he with great willingness and patiented mildness submitted himself to the LORDS will, and to my knowledge so continued unto the end. It is true he lay the after night and many hours the next day in a constant torture of unutterable griefs which could not but trouble each beholder, and yet in all the time of my being with him, I never heard one impatient passage from him, but comforting himself that it was in God's cause he suffered, saying to me, had it not been his cause, he would never have come over hither on the service; and in a word, passing by many devout passages, as long as his weary spirits had any vigour he scarce ever ceased sending forth with great comfort and confidence most strong cries & prayers; and as one supposing every breath to be his last, would frequently end his requests with that sweet dying saying of Saint Steven, Lord into thy hands I give my spirit, and in the end with the breathing out of our prayers for his salvation he gave up the Ghost; So that howsoever his sore wounded, dead, and bloud-died body is here with us to be interred in the dust, yet am I confident that his pure bathed soul is with the soul of josiah, with the souls of the blessed Martyrs, and of the just men made perfect in the presence of jesus Christ, Heb. 12.23. Isa. 53.5. who was sore wounded for his transgressions, bruised and slain for his sins, where he is triumphantly rejoicing like a great Conqueror, where he is made of a godly subject and valiant Soldier on earth, a most glorious happy and immortal King in Heaven. For blessed and holy is he who hath part in the first Resurrection, On him the second death shall have no power, but they shall be Priests of God and of CHRIST and shall Reign with him a thousand years, Rev. 20.6. And thus much of the first thing proposed in this Treatise, the subject out of the Text; to wit the tragicallstory of this slain Christian Colonel. I proceed to speak of the second thing, of the subject in the Text, which is a like tragical, to wit, of the fatal death of that godly valiant King josiah. And the Archers shot at King Josiah, and the King said, have me away for I am sore wounded, etc. Lest I should trespass my commands, which is to be brief, I have hence culled out two particulars only to treat of: The first is of josiahs' death. The second is of the people's lamentation for him. Certain it is that there was not a King after David over judah and Israel like unto josiah; who so reads the Bible History shall find most glorious things recorded of him. It is said of Goliath, 1 Sam. 17.33. That he was a man of War from his youth, but of this Josiah that from his youth he did seek after the God of David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, etc. 2 Chron. 34 4.5, 6. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left, 2 King. 22.2. In a word such was his zeal against Idolatry and to the service of the Lord, that he remains on sacred record without parallel; and yet for all this, you see that josiah was shot, josiah was sore wounded and taken away with a stroke of an enemy in the Field as well as others. Whence we may observe this conclusion, that The events, occurrencies and strokes of War, they may betid the good as well as the bad, the best as well as the worst of the Lords people. 1 Sam. 17. In the great battle betwixt the Philistines, and Israel God by David's hand with a sling, stone stroke nocent Goliath, and 2 Sam. 7. Thus in a hot b●ttaile was innocent Vriah smitten also, 1 Sam. 31.3. Disobedient Saul was shot, and says the Text, sore wounded: ●nd so was godly and obedient jonathan in the same field on the same day, again 2 Chron. 18. ●● A certain man drew a Bow at a venture, and smote wicked Ahab between the joints of the arms, so that he called to his Chariot man, hast me away for I am sore wounded. And you see here that the like occurrence betides this most godly Prince josiah. So that as it is said concerning the Duke of Alua's sword, that it knew no difference betwixt the Protestant or Papist, so may I say of the adventurous shots and strokes of War, it makes no difference twixt the godly man and the sinner. Justly therefore are those to be judged, who will take upon them to judge men by these events; for certainly there is no rule more uncertain, See Eccles. 9.2. All things come alike to all (viz. all outward things) there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and clean and unto the unclean, to him that swears, and to him that fears an oath, in Luke 13.1, 2, 3. Our Saviour reasons this case with certain who conceived that they were more righteous than others, because that they escaped the hands of blood shedding Pilate; Others because they escaped the fall of the Tower of Siloe which slew eighteen persons, but our Saviour tells them Nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish; It is true sometimes God in judgement to destroy wicked men, sends outward evils, sometimes in the field, sometimes in their families, sometimes in their beds, sometime in battle as he did Abner, and Ahab, and Absolom, and Shebah, with many of the rebellious and provoking among the people of Israel of old, and in Histories as he did Olympus the Arrian Heretic Anno 510. and as he did julian the Apostate, who was slain with an Arrow having intended upon his return from Persia to have slain all the Christians, to root out the name of the Galileans: and as he did the wicked Emperor Dioclesian of whom it is reported, that he was strooke with madness, and as he did that wicked late persecuting Gardener, who was suddenly taken and destroyed by a strange strong burning Fever. Notwithstanding to conclude, that all who have suffered these or the like outward evils, are greater sinners than others, because they suffered such things, is no divinity. The grounds of the points are two. 1. Ground. The first is taken from the cruel disposition of the wicked, it is certain the wicked hate the just and their mercies towards them are cruel as we may see in Ahab and Amaziah, and jezabel and Pashur and Saul, and in the Primitive and later perfecutors, as Domitian, Dioclesian, Valentinian, Le●, Garnet, Gardiner and others * Heb. 11. and that which we now know by woeful experience of this bitter and hasty Nation, who Caldean like * Hab. 1.6. have not only marched through the breadth of our Land, and possessed the dwelling places which are theirs, but have most despitefully reproached our Nation, and most holy profession, branding both with as foul opprobrious obloquys as could be devised, either against jews or Mahometans, neither have the rested herein, but like so many evening Wolves, have torn in pieces poor innocent babes, stripped as well Aged as others in the coldest season both men and women stark naked, and now (we hear) as in the Parsian massacre under that cruel Duke of Guise, he cut off all, yea as in the Sicilian slaughter of the French, rip up the bellies of our Protestant women. Besides the more holy (from the beginning of the rebellion, when their minds were best difposed) the more holy any man, any Minister had b●en, the worse it fared with him, such have been sure to be stigmatised, to be sore wounded, to be slain or hanged; So that if in an Army they could discover such a one, a Puritan as they term such, surely they would give charge as the King of Syria in another case, neither fight with small or great, but against him. The second ground is taken from God's permission. Ground 2. God is able to guide the instruments of War as he pleases, either with Jonathan to shoot beyond, or on either side his gifts: 1 Kings. 19 Dan. 6.22. Dan. 3 25. as he was able to keep Elijah from the fury of Ahab and his wicked Wife; Daniel from the fury of the Lions, the three Children from the fury of the fire, as he did Jehosaphat and David who were frequent in hot services, yet were kept from the strokes: and yet the Lord in wsdome finds cause sometimes to permit the righteous to be smitten, sore wounded, and fall in the battle as well as the unrighteous sinner. Neither yet may we conceive that this is for evil, Causes. 1. but first sometimes to prevent evil, Isa. 57.1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come, and for this cause it is plain that God took away this godly Prince in the Text thus suddenly, 2 King. 22 20. When God hath had a purpose to bring a lingering heavy calamity upon a Land, it hath been usual with him to call and cull out to himself such as are his dear beloved, as Lot to Zoar, these with himself, Gen. 1●. safe and free from the discomfort thereof. Even as a careful mother who seeing her Children in the way, when she beholds a company of wild Horses or beasts coming, she presently whips up the Child into her arms and t●kes him home, or as the Hen seeing the ravenous Kite hover in the air over her, she clocks & gathers her chickings under her wing, even so when as the Lord sees a hover judgement over a Land like a flying fiery Scroll, he gathers some of his choice servants unto himself, that he may preserve them from the evil thereof. It was a passage which this worthy Colonel fastened for his own stay and comfort in the day of his departure in my hearing, that he did conceive that this might be a cause of this Gods dealing with him, expressing his fears of some approaching evil to the Church of God: I pray God that according to his fears it fall not out unto us. Secondly, God may have a mind in his so doing to bring them the more suddenly to Heaven, one reports it for a saying of Bradford the most blessed Martyr, if there being any going on Horse bacl to Heaven it is by Martyrdom, for this sends them away in an instant, as fast as a raging fit or the like can haste them, had the Gunpowder plot taken, had Faux once given fire, how soon had his then Majesty with thousands more of Gods most holy servants before the glance of an eye or motion of a thought been in Paradise, and certainly with the like celerity, are all those of his Saints hasted unto the Lord, who with josiah and this sweet holy Worthy are taken away with a stroke of an Arrow, or any other instruments of War before they can return to their Chambers their souls are in heaven. Thirdly, because that God hath a mind to honour such his Saints in their death before men. * Dying in the Field we style a dying in the bed of honour. For indeed next to martyrdom no wounds so honourable, no death so glorious, nay no health or life so honourable, when as they are wounded in the Lord's battle, when as they die in God's cause, have they not in this that surpassing glory to be made like unto Christ jesus, Isa. 63.1.2. who went hence according to the prophecy, with his garments and sacred body died in his own precious warm hearts blood. We read of a sweet Primitive Martyr, that whereas the persecutors had cut orifices divers wounds in his sides, he even smiled saying, now have I so many more mouths, meaning his wounds, to praise the Lord for whom I suffer these things: Nay it is reported of an holy Empress, who with her hands dressed the wounds of the persecuted Saints: Of Constantine who kissed the eye of Paphnutus put out by the Arrians, some Soldiers affect glorious dies in apparel, but give me a Soldier whose garments have been died in blood, for therein is the best of outward glory, excellent is that brave resolution of Paul, God forbidden that I should glory in any thing, save in the Cross of Christ jesus, Gala. 6.14. where by Cross is not meant Constantine's or the Papists fond material Cross, one of their dumb Idols, but the sufferings, the stripes, which he underwent for the profession of his faith towards the Cross: jesus, See an example of this, in Acts 5.40.41. of Peter and the other Apostles, who when they were imprisoned and beaten, they went from the Council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ's name. Paul's chain was Paul's glory, and Peter's Cross, was Peter's Crown. This uncertainty of the occurrences of War doth certainly affright multitudes of way ward spirits among us, who think it death to go into the field to put their heads out at a Castle, but to such I say, sigh God hath made you men, quit yourselves like men, for shame fear not to be made honourable: besides consider how Christ was smitten wounded and slain for thy sake, why then will you fear to suffer the hazard of wound or of life for his sake. Lastly, this should work every Colonel, Officer and Soldier of an Army to a holy care to prepare themselves for every event beforehand, and to make their peace with God on their knees in their Chambers b●fore they go into the field. Thus did those two renowned Emperors, Constantine and Theodosius; for this end consider what you have heard, godly josiah was shot and fell in the field, as well as unrighteous Ahab, and if this happen to a josiah, to the green Tree what cause have the wicked especially to fear, and as they are making ready the weapons of War, so to make ready their souls and spirits for the Lord that made them. It is a fond conceit, that every one that dies in the field shall go to Heaven, than Goliath had gone to Heaven, than Shebah and Absalon, those two great Rebels had gone to Heaven, than Richard the third that usurping murderous Tyrant had gone to Heaven, than these impious rebels, some whereof are already fallen, and the rest whom I doubt not but God will give us for a prey) according to the tenure of their base romish Bulls should go to Heaven: surely for those that die in the Lord's quarrel, God forbidden that I should not be charitable in my secret thoughts of such, yet let me tell you, that he that goes to Heaven, he must die in the Lord, as well as for the Lord, Rev. 14.13. Rom. 8.1. Man says Solomon knows not his own time though he be in his parlour, though in his bed, though at his table feeding, though in the fields walking, though in Tavern revelling; how many precedents might I name you in sacred stories, in humane histories, and some in our experience who have suddenly been taken away in all places and conditions? So that in all places, in all conditions, in all actions, at all times, it is a good and meet thing that all persons make ready, with their loins girt, Luk. 12.35.36. with their lights burning, to be like men who wait for their Lord; Watch ye therefore, says CHRIST, for ye know not when the Master of thehouse cometh, at even, at midnight, or at the Cock crowing, or in the morning, Mark. 13.35 36. least coming suddenly, he find you sleeping, and what I say unto you meaning his Disciples, I say unto all watch. But especially give me leave to apply myself to you who are in the service of War, a service honourable, and honoured, yet perilous above all ways of service, because for you our enemies daily lay ambushments, watch night and day in every opportune place, who are often whole days and nights, or may be charged with instruments ready prepared to take away your lives, you I say of all men should speedily make ready, so that though you be with josiah sore wounded in body, in the day of battle, you may have the sweet comforts, the sweet comforts of a good Conscience in your souls, Eccles. 12. in a word though killed, you may gloriously live in your spirits with that God, who made you, and his Son Christ Jesus, who gave his own blood aransome for you. And this of this first point. I proceed now from josiahs' death to the people's lamentation for him. And all judah and jerusalem mourned for I●siah. This mourning for this godly Saint is further enlarged, in Zach. 12.11. In that day there shall be a great mourning in jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimon in the Valley of Megiddon, and the land shall mourn, etc. The point arising thence is, That when God takes away an eminent Saint, set in place of extraordinary service, that then is surely great cause of great lamentation. When Abner that great General of the field was slain by joab, 2 Sam. 3.32.33 it is storied that David cursed joab, and he and his people mourned greatly for Abner, and says the Text, the King lift up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept, and the King lamented over Abner, etc. Again behold what excessive mourning was by him, and his people at the tidings of the death of Saul and jonathan, but especially for righteous jonathan, Then David took hold of his , and rend them, and likewise all the men that were with him, they mourned and wept and fasted until even for Saul, 2 Sam. 1.7.12. 2 Sam. 1.24, 15 and Jonathan and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword, after he applies himself to the women most pathetically, and elegantly: Ye daughters of Israel weep over Saul who clothed you in Scarlet with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle, O Jonathan thou wast slain in thy high places, I am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan, etc. Moreover I dare adventure to go further, that to be insensible of an affliction, that besides a joseph a Saint, a Land of God's people, is a provoking sin as is plain, Amos 6.1, 2, 4, 5. Much more when the Lord doth not only wound but take away a joseph a josiah a religious Statesman, a godly Officer, as he hath done from us this day. 1. Because as you have heard it is a presage of some near approaching evil to the land from whence they are taken. 2. Because this begets courage and gives cause of triumph to the adversaries, a thing to be lamented, oh how did the Papists joy, and rejoice at the death of that sweet josiah Edward the sixth, and of his unparallelled godly Sister Queen Elizabeth, and without question which pierces my heart to think on the like rejoicing is now in the hearts of our base and cruel enemits in this Kingdom upon the unhappy tidings of the fall of this renowned valiant. This was one main cause of David's great mournings for the loss of the forenamed Saul and jonatham, 2 Sam. 1.19, 20, 21. The beauty of Israel is fallen slain how are the mighty fallen? Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askalon, Why? Lest the daughters of the Philistims rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph, and for this cause says oe o●● our Text it was that Iosiah's servants after he was wounded took him out of his own Chariot where he was, and put him into another Chariot, to cover and conceal his death from the enemy lest they should have then trtumphed in the Campe. Thirdly, consider that howsoever it is in many respects a blessing to the Saints thus taken from us, yet is it in itself a grievous judgement to the people left where they had abode see the Prophets bewailings of this evil and how he ranks it with one of God's sore judgements, Isa. 3.1, 2, 3. For behold the Lord, the Lord of Hests will take from jerusalem the stay and staff, the whole stay of bread, & the whole stay of water, the mighty man (mark) the man of War, the judge and the Prophet, and the prudent, and the Ancient, and the Captain of fifty, and the honour able man, and the Councillor; So that not improperly may the souls of such cry, and apply to the relict land, that of our blessed Saviour; Weep not for me but weep for yourselves, for as their gain is unutterable so in their death, the Kingdom's loss unconceivable. I remember what a most solid holy Divine * M. Bolton in his Funeral notes on judge Nicols. said of the death of a worthy Judge of England, that the redemption of the life of such a one in such times as we live in, for the good of such a Country had been worth a King's ransom, neither in my opinion do I conceive, that the life of this deceased Gentleman in such a time and place as this is to be prized at a lower rate, all the blood in the bodies of a province of Rebels is not worth the blood that ran in his Veins. The ground of this conclusion is in that the loss of such men do greatly weaken the State of a Realm, especially when a Realm is in such a broken condition, and stands in such need of mighty men, of men of War and prudent Captains and honourable Councillors, and most of all of godly servitors, as ours doth this day. It is a great loss to lose an Abner, a joab, a valiant Captain, such as were our old English Warwick, Talbot, and Bedford, who were the terror of the French, such as Mountjoy, Essex, and Chichester in Ireland, but there is no loss like the loss of such as these, being godly religious. As for a swearing deboyst Soldier, Ios. 7. he may bring a curse upon the Camp, he may lose the day in the field though he fight courageously; we have an example of this in Achan, it is like he neither wanted skill nor will, nor courage enough to help the Lords noast, but by the wickedness he committed in taking the unlawful pillage, the wedge of Gold, and the Babilonish garments, he so provoked God, that he permitted the men of Ai to smite Israel's great Host, them under brave joshuah, that before prosperous General. In Tertullia's time the Christian Saints were counted of the wicked as now with us, hosts publici, the enemies of the commonwealth, so Ahab accounted of Elijah the troubler of Israel, but the truth is, it is Ahab and such as he, wicked men who cause trouble, and all evil that betides a State, being indeed as so many secret hornets and Caterpillars to a Commonwealth, or as so many vipers who eat into the bowels of their mother the Church. As for the godly howsoever deemed by the wicked they are the best friends that they have in the world, they are the strength of a Land, 2 King. 2. as it is said of Elijah, they are the Chariots and horsemen of Israel, that is their very strength of War, who prevail more, though at home precando, than the Soldiers can pugnando. Take away says famous Jewel the bonds the hoops of the vessel and all will fall asunder, so if God take away these who are our bonds, our hoops, our Church, our Commonweal cannot hold together, See Isa. 1. Except Lord had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, That is except the Lord had continued some seed of righteous men, we had been destroyed before this day. An example of this we have in Genesis 19 Whenas the Lord was about to destroy Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Zegor, had there been in those five Cities but 50, 45, 40, 30, 20. Yea ten righteous persons the Lord would not have destroyed them: for why says the Text, for ten sake; moreover whenas the Lord was bringing fire on them because there was not ten righteous persons found there, only Let his Wife and his two daughters, though a family abased, and abused by the ungodly Citizens, yet the Lord out of his precious esteem and care of them, he provides a Zoar a safe place for Lot and them, and commands them to make hast thither, Why? because says the Lord, I cannot do any thing, mark, I cannot do any thing, until you be come thither, Gen. 20.22. These things being considered, Use. let any reasonable man tell me when as a godly josiah or any other godly and Religious Commander or any righteous person whatsoever is taken away, especially I say where there is such breaches and perils, whether that the people of that Land, nay all the people thereof with judah and jerusalem have not cause to mourn and lament greatly. It was Zedekiahs' blessing of honour to be lamented of the people, jer. 34.5. And contrary it is a judgement for an eminent person to die, and the people not to lament, as Jer. 16.4, 5, 6. Wherefore it is an evil done to the party deceased, but indeed the greatest evil is done unto God and to ourselves. For our particulars, Sir Laurence Carij, and Captain Rorchford. I pray God it be not a present sin in this our present evil time, we had two religious valorous brave Officers sore wounded to death of late before this Honourable Colonel. I might say they were were too slightly lamented, howsoever consider what you have heard this day among other things that the neglect thereof is a most grievous sin, as a sign of a most wicked sensual obdurate heart. My bell: we have other sins as yet reigning and very raging among us want of humiliation on fast days, excessive drunkenness abundance of oaths, notwithstanding all the desires that God hath brought upon us, God of heaven withstand that we persist no further therein, but that we may forsake our wicked ways, and return unto the Lord who though he hath stricken us, then will he surely heal us, and make the light of his countenance again to break forth upon us in this land of darkness. But passing many other things which the very short time of my meditation constrains me unto Let me beseech you right Honourable and the rest of God's people here present to apply your hearts to a sable sensibleness of this great evil which the Lord hath done unto us, let it never be said that such a religious affable honourable worthy, who came over and offered himself willingly to help us, and by God's blessing did, having by God's permission in our cause fallen; I say, let it never be said that such a great man should fall in this our Israel, and the people did not lament, lest the Lord, great jehovah be angry and in his displeasure take away yet more of those brave valiants which he raised up for us, to the weakening of our armies, and the ruin of our hopes. And thus have I ended a few hour's meditation of that which may well be many year's Lamentation. FINIS.