THE Churches Patience AND FAITH in AFFLICTIONS. Delivered in a Sermon at the funeral of the Right worshipful, and virtuous CECILIA Lady PEYTON, October, 30. In the Parish Church of Southfleet in KENT. By George Eves, Rector of Hartley, near adjoining thereunto. Many daughters have done virtuously, but Thou excellest them all, Prov. 31.29. LONDON, Printed for G. Bedell, and T. Collins, at the Middle-Temple Gate in Fleet-street; 1661. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL and much honoured, Sir Thomas Peyton Baronet, the dear Husband of the ever memorable Cecilia Lady Peyton; Grace and Peace, &c. SIR, THAT near Relation which you had by a conjugal tie to this most excellent Person: and that exceeding great kindness which shee had for you in that respect; as also upon the account of your own worth: and that service( by me never to be forgotten) which I owe to her sacred memory, prompted me to some selves, but by setting the world a better pattern. In the mean time, may the love and faithfulness of such a Wife, and her Exemplary goodness towards others, but especially her piety towards GOD, make such deep impressions in yourself, as that you may really endeavour again to see and enjoy her in that place of bliss, where they neither mary, nor are given in marriage, but are like the Angels of God in heaven. Which shall always be the prayer of Sir Your most humble and faithfully obliged Servant in the things of God, G. EVES. The Churches Patience, AND Faith in Afflictions. MICAH 7.9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he pled my cause, and execute judgement for me; he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. THe words of dying persons, especially if they be wise and good, have always been esteemed of that force & efficacy, that they have sometimes been looked upon as sacred; and have often amounted to the obligation of a Law to those to whom they have been delivered. My Father, or my Mother, or my loving Husband, or such a dear friend gave me this in charge upon their Death-bed, and therefore I will not violate it upon any terms: this is usual language among ingenuous and affectionate natures. And such I presume the greatest part of this Assembly to be, being the surviving friends and Relations of this Wise and virtuous Lady, whose love hath constrained you to this uneasy task of committing her body to the dust, that the eye which hath seen her may see her no more. Now then harken ye to these memorable words which she recommended to you all upon her death-bed, and desired they might be imprinted in your hearts by this Exercise. That by the Churches example in general, and her own example in particular, you might learn patiently to submit to the hand of God in all your troubles, and wait upon him, and believe in his mercy, that in due time he will deliver you and comfort you, as to her abundant satisfaction he had done her. The impressions which this Text had wrought upon her own soul, made her desirous it should be the subject of your Meditations at her funeral. In the words, there are contained these two general Parts.( 1) The Churches Patience under Gods Chastisements. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned, &c.( 2) The Churches faith in Gods deliverance. Untill he pled my cause, and execute judgement for me, &c. In the Churches patience there are two things considerable. ( 1.) Her meek endurance of her afflictions, I will bear the indignation. I will not winch and stover at it, and strive by all means possible to throw off my burden: But I will bear it. ( 2.) There are the grounds of this her Patience, and they are two. The first relates to God, because it was Gods hand that laid this load upon her, it was His indignation, and therefore she would bear it, I will bear the indignation of the Lord. The second relates to her own sin. Her affliction was but the due desert of her transgression: She was conscious to her self that she had offended, and therefore she thus quietly exposeth her back to the correction. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him. In the Churches faith there are three things observable. First, she did believe that God would take her part against her Oppressors, and that two ways. The one by asserting her innocency: That though she were faulty as to him, yet she had not deserved that they should deal so barbarously with her as they did: and therefore she believes that God will pled her cause. The other by executing vengeance upon her enemies, and repaying them their mischiefs into their own bosoms. until he pled my cause and execute judgement for me. Secondly, she did believe that God would remove her burden from off her shoulders. That he would turn her sorrow into joy, and make her darkness to be light. He will bring me forth to the light. Thirdly, she did believe that God would enlighten her mind, that she might understand the equity of his proceedings, and own the truth of his promises; That he is a just and a righteous Judge punishing the wicked, and rewarding his Saints. I shall behold his righteousness. These are the several parts of the Text; and they are many, and my time but short: and I shall add something also in the close by way of application, in reference to this present sad occasion. And therefore I must crave your pardon, if I rather hint at things then fully handle any thing. But before I enter upon the particulars, it will be requisite that I note to you, that the words of the Text will admit of a two-fold sense. The one literal, as referring to the Babylonians or other enemies of the Church, oppressing and afflicting her. The other mystical, as referring to the corruption of sin, and to the malice and subtlety of the devil, tyrannizing and infesting the mindes of men, and interrupting their peace▪ and breeding their great disquiet. In both which sorts of affliction, the children of God do look beyond the instruments, and discover God correcting them, and therefore bear it patiently, as the issue of his indignation, & so depend upon him for assistance and deliverance in both, whether outward or inward, temporal or spiritual. And therefore we shall indifferently make use of both senses, as occasion shall require. First then we shall begin with the patience of the Church, and her meek endurance of her afflictions. And here I shall note to you; That it is the duty and the practise of Gods people to bear the evils which he lays upon them with meekness and patience, in humility and silence to put their mouths in the dust, and not to murmur the least at Gods dealing with them: but aequo animo perferre, Junius in loc. to bear and work through them with an even and undisordered mind. It is the proper badge of a gracious child not to reply and turn again when his Father corrects him. So there is no better argument of the election of grace, and our adoption of sons, then our humble submission to the chastisements of our heavenly father, of what kind soever they be. There are indeed a sort of men who serve God upon that account that Satan falsely accused Job to serve him, ( viz.) for the good wages which he usually pays them: But if he stretch forth his hand against them, and touch any thing that they have; if he shorten their blessings, if he blemish them in their honour, if he cross them in their humours, if he pinch them in any thing wherein they most please themselves, then their leanness makes them do that which Jeshurun did when she was waxed fat, Deut. 32.15. kick against God. Presently they grow full of wrath, impatience and grief: and if they could tell which way possible to help themselves, they would never endure it. Now this is an argument of great weakness and petulancy of spirit, and serves no way to assuage, but tendeth rather to the increasing of the evil. Away therefore with such mercenary hirelings, such Capernaitical disciples, that follow Christ more for the loaves than for the gospel, and become of his family rather for the meate that perisheth, John 6.27. than for that meate which endureth unto everlasting life. But if provisions fail, and inconveniences arise, and they be like to suffer something for Christs sake, as censure of the world, loss or imprisonment, or it may be death itself, then farewell Christ; they like not to serve him at that rate. Certainly these men cannot possibly be of this society here in the Text. The true members of the Church of Christ equally accept of his stripts and his embraces. For what they are, they are in him; and therefore they are content to follow him whither-soever he goes: they are willing to abide with him in every Condition, in poverty and plenty, in honour and disgrace, in sickness and health, in life and in death. His will is their law, his pleasure is their joy; and so they dispute nothing that he imposeth upon them. And if to try them and refine them, it be his good pleasure to cast them into the furnace, they glory in their tribulations; and take it as an argument of their proficiency in the doctrine of Christ, that he is pleased to put them to so hard a Lesson. And they do not grow sullen and dogged, and sit pouting and lowering, and refuse to learn it; but they con it over with patience and humility, till they have got it perfect; and can willingly bear the indignation of the Lord. In the next place consider we the Grounds of the Churches patience: the first whereof relates to God, it was his hand, it was the Lords indignation, and therefore she would bear it. And truly this is a convincing argument to stop our mouths, and put a check to all our murmurings; That the Lord bath done it. He who made all things for himself, and therefore may mostreasonably dispose of every thing according as he sees good. Which of you will not say with that householder in the Gospel, Mat. 20.15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? And shall the great Creator, and the High possessor both of Heaven and Earth, be abridged the liberty which his creatures think but equity to assume to themselves? If God should lay upon me all the miseries that my nature is capable of, yet my soul should justify him that he can do me no wrong. This is that which struck David dumb, Psal. 39.9. when he was basely abused by wicked men, and reproached by fools: he looked beyond them, at the hand of God. And therefore as when Shimei railed upon him; Let him alone( says he) let him curse, 2 Sam. 11.16. for the Lord hath bidden him: So in that Psal. 39.9. I was dumb and opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. So that as it was else-where the aggravation of his grief, Psal. 55.12, 13, 14. that his friends had afflicted him; It was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have born it; neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hide myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. And therefore he lays a curse upon them in the next verse; Let death feise upon them, and let them go down quick into hell, &c Yet now here in this case, between God and his Church, a quiter contrary course is to be taken; and we are rather to invert the words, and the manner of them thus. If it had been a man, mine equal, whether enemy or friend, I could hardly have born it: but it is Thou, my God, my Creator, my Redeemer, my continual Preserver, who hast given me myself, and all that I have; who when thou tookest away but a part, mightest have taken all; when thou tookest but a limb, mightest have taken away my life; and when thou mightest have taken away my soul, and cast it into eternal flames, thou tookest only my temporal life, and that but to give me eternity in exchange: and therefore blessed, oh for ever blessed be thy holy name! I will thank thee O Lord for giving me warning. Me thinks this consideration alone, that it is the Lords hand which filleth our cup; that it is he which appointeth us our measure, what we shall drink, were enough to make us quietly to swallow down the bitterest potion; and to turn our madness into meekness, our perverseness into patience, and all our pride and swelling into humility; and with all due submission and obedience to bear the indignation of the Lord, because His. And to say with good old Eli; 1 Sam. 3.18. It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. Yea, with Christ himself, when we see the cup may not pass away from us, but that we must drink it down: Oh holy father! not my will, Luke 22.42. but thine be done. The second ground of the Churches Patience relates to her sin. She knew herself to be guilty of manifold transgressions, and therefore she resolves to bear her punishment patiently. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him. Yea, yea, that is the great make-bate between God and us; it is that which raiseth his indignation against us, and may justly keep us from replying, or venting one syllable of complaint, when his chastening is upon us. This is the argument wherewith the holy Ghost so convincingly stops the mouths of the murmuring Jews. Lam. 3.39. Wherefore doth aliving man complain? a man for the punishment of his sins? There is a double force in the argument( 1.) Wherefore doth a living man complain? One whom God hath spared in the thing that he most valueth ( i.e.) his life. Skin for skin, Job 2.4. and all that a man hath will he give for his life.( 2) Where fore doth he complain when he is punished for his sin, whereby he hath forfeited his life? for the wages of sin is death. Rom. 6.2. And therefore for a living man to complain, when God is punishing him for his sin, is most unreasonable ingratitude. Indeed if I could meet with one who were a sufferer but no sinner, I could be contented to listen a while, & have the patience to hear what such a one could say for himself. But where is? where is he? There is not that man living that sinneth not. 1 King. 8.46. But to hear a sinner open his lips in this argument, a daily sinner, a grievous sinner, who would not pled for God against him? and answer him as Michael did the devil, when they were disputing about the body of Moses; I he Lord rebuk thee. judas. 9. Shall I that have a mass of original corruption, a vast lo●d of actual transgressions, desperate and wilful commissions of evil, ignorant and careless Omissions of good, vile actions, vain words, abominable thoughts lodging within me, and am not yet( it may be) willing to be cleansed from my filthiness, and part with my beloved darling lusts; shall I think any thing on this side death and hell hard measure? Rather let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, then that I should murmur at the just proceedings of my God against me. No, I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him. Well, but do you think this such a great matter? Truly in the judgement of St. Peter there is nothing glorious in it. What glory is it, Pet. 2.10. if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if when ye do well, & suffer for it ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. Certainly if that only be acceptable with God, to take it patiently when we suffer for well doing; Oh! how unacceptable must it needs be, not to take it patiently when we are buffeted for our faults, not to bear the indignation of the Lord, when we have sinned against him? In a word therefore to conclude this point: Whatsoever cross any amongst us lie under, whether it be loss in our Estate, or dishonour in our Reputation, miscarriages in our Children, unkindness of Friends, maliciousness of Enemies, infirmities and diseases in our Bodies, trouble and disquiet of mind, death of our nearest and dearly beloved Relations, or whatsoever other evil we groan under, let us pacify our grief, and silence all our murmurings, with this humble resolution of the Church here in the Text. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him. Come we now to the second genearll part of the Text; the Churches Faith. And here I told you she doth believe 3. things. The first whereof is, That God would take her part against her Oppressors, and that two ways.( 1) That God will assert her innocency, &c. and pled her cause for her. Until he pled my cause. The truth is, though God be Judge of all the Earth, and will call his own children to an account for all their misdemcanours as well as others; yet still he hath that great tenderness for them, that he will not endure either men or Devils to be too busy and bold with them. But as he is their Judge, so he also becomes their Advocate, and pleads their cause for them. This is but the fulfilling of that promise, Ps. 109. v. ult. He shal stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul. Although he himself have many things against them,( all which shall also in due time be taken up through his free grace and mercy in Christ;) yet as to men, he will bring forth their righteousness as the light, Psal. 37.6. & their judge ment as the noon-day. That the wicked World, and he who goeth for the God of it( I mean the Devil) shall be ashamed of those vile injuries and unjust reproaches, wherewith they have loaded them: and alter their opinion of them, as the Islanders of Melita did of Paul. Acts 28 3, 4, 5, 6. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat and fastened on his hand. And when the Barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves; No doubt this man is a murderer, whom though he hath escaped the sea; yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and had no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a God. Now this is usual with God, thus to pled the cause, 〈◇〉 to justify the plea of those that trust in him, Sept●●g. & depend upon him, and commit themselves to him that judgeth righteously: So that though at the first, lewd fellows, sons of Belial, shall abuse them & slander them, as they did their Mr. Christ before them, and accuse them for gluttonous & wine-bibbers, for seducers and hypocrites, that they are beside themselves, & the Devil is in them, and such like stuff: yet at length they shall confess as the Centurion did of Christ hanging upon the across; Doubtless these men are the sons of God, and the servants of the most high. And therefore according to Gamaliels counsel, they shall refrain from those men, Acts 5.38, 39 and let them alone, least haply they be found to fight against God. Thus God pleaded Davids cause against Saul: after all his envy, and in jury, & ill words that he had wronged him with, see his last recantation and ingenuous acknowledgement in the last words that ever we red he spake to David. Then said Saul, I have sinned, 1 Sam. 26.21 return my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. And thus he pleaded Daniels cause with the Babylonish Princes, My God hath sent his Angel, Dan. 6.22. and hath shut tht Lions mouths, that they have not hurt me, forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me, and also before thee O King have I done no hurt. Yea thus did God pled Jobs cause with the devil himself. Job 2.3. The Lord said unto Satan; hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in all the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me to destroy him without cause. Yea, thus indeed he pleads the cause of all his against all the spiritual assaults of Satan, and sin, and sorrow, and doubting, and despair. See that Soul-reviving passage, Rom. 8.33, 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? it is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that dyed, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us, &c. And this is that which maketh true believers so willing to bear the indignation of the Lord; because they know, that in time convenient he will pled their cause. The other way wherein the Church believeth that God will take her part against her Adversaries, is by taking vengeance of them; That he will execute judgement for her. So the Chaldee Paraphrast understands the words; Donec injuriam meam ulciseatur, until he revenge my wrong. And truly this is usual with God also, to plague those that hate his people, and cast them into the pit that they have digged for others, and bring about their mischievous intentions upon their own heads. Beside the frequent Examples hereof in holy Scripture, the public passages but of a sew dayes past will abundantly convince us, that it is dangerous meddling with those that are Gods: for in due time he will revenge their quarrel, and execute judgement for them, though it may seem long first, Hor. Rarò an tecedentem scelestum descruit pede poena claudo. seldom or never but vengeance overtakes the persecutors of the Church, though they be swifter then the eagles of the heaven, Lam. 4.9. as Jerusalem complains hers were. And therefore though God be said sometimes to have leaden feet ( i.e.) to follow heavily and slowly after them, yet in the end they shall find him to have hands of steel, which wound deeply and deadly. Oh consider this as many as have evil will at Sion, and that deal untruly with the Israel of God. Zech. 2.8. Who so toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye. Who so troubleth them shall bear his judgement whosoever he be. Esay 10. Neither will he less distress our spiritual adversaries, than he doth our temporal. Rom 16.20. He will bruise Satan under our feet shortly. Yea, our Lord Jesus Christ hath already spoiled principalities and powers, Col. 2.15. and made a show of them, Heb. 2.14. openly triumphing over them in his across, & by his death destroyed him who had the power of death, that is the Devil. He is that Michael who fought with the great dragon, that old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, and prevailed over him, and cast him down out of heaven, Apoc 12.7.10 from accusing his brethren before God day and night. Yea even we ourselves also shal be mighty through him, to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And this is that which further encourageth the Church to bear the indignation of the Lord, and to wait his leisure for redress, because she is assured that judgement shall be executed upon all her adversaries, she shall see her enemies covered with shane, and trodden down as the mire of the streets, as it sollows in the next verse. Well, but yet this is not enough to make the Church happy. For though it may be some satisfaction to us, to see the Lord own our cause, and execute judgement for us, and make our enemies suffer the evil which they intended to bring upon us: yet if we shall abide in darkness and the shadow of death; if we shall still like joseph continue in prison, until our feet be hurt with fetters, and the iron enter into our souls, and obtain no release of our own miseries: alas it will be but a poor comfort to us Socios habuisse doloris, to have companions in our sufferings. Behold then in the next place, the Lord will sand redemption to his people, And this is the second thing that the Church doth here believe; That God will bring her forth to the light. And this is true and solid comfort indeed. When we are under a black cloud of afflictions, and the soul is benighted( as it were) with darkness, and dimness, and anguish of spirit; then to have the comfortable light of Gods countenance break forth upon us, it is no leste then life from the dead. Lo, this is the assurance of the Church here. There is nothing more frequently promised and performed th●oughout the whole Scripture. His anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Psal. 30 5. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psal. 97.10, 11. The Lord preserveth the souls of his Saints: he delivereth them from the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. That of the Prophet Malachi is also full to this purpose. All that do wickedly shall be as stubble, Malac. 4.1, 2. & the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings. Let me add but one Text more out of the Prophet Esay In a little wrath I hide my face from thee for a moment, Esay 54.8. but with everlasting loving kindness will I have mercy upon thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer. Proofs to this purpose might be abundantly multiplied. What should I instance in the Jews deliverance from that dismal destruction whereto wicked Haman had designed them? Esther 8. What should I instance in Iosephs unexpected freedom out of prison? Gen. 41. Jer. 30. Or in jeremiah his eduction out of the dungeon, as out of the bowels of hell into the light of life again? The time will not permit me to insist upon these things, as the nature and concernment of this truth requires. Let this then suffice; that there is no soul alive that truly trusteth in God, and waiteth for his salvation, but some time or other they have had some experimental feeling of this com●ort. How graciously God hath scattered and removed the storms of their afflictions, the clouds of their sins, the mists of their ignorance, the damp of their manifold fears & doubtings, the streams of grief and lamentation that have run plentifully down their cheeks; God hath removed them all, and turned their darkness into light. And therefore they can with a holy confidence take up that of the Apostle St. Paul: We had the sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves, 2 Cor. 1.9, 10. but in God which raiseth the dead. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. Yea, though he bring thē down to the dust of death, and translate them into the land of darkness where all things are forgotten: yet they know that they shall not always be forgotten, nor lie hide in the chambers of death for ever: but that there shall a day of glorious and eternal light down upon them, wherein they shall see him whom their soul loveth; and dwell with him in that inaccessible light, which all the powers of darkness shall not be able to obscure. There is but one thing more; and that is, the Church doth here further believe, that God will enlighten her mind to understand the equity of his proceedings, and the righteousness of his judgements, &c. Indeed the dealings of God with men in this life, are many times very obscure, and hard to be understood. Thy way is in the dark, and thy footsteps are not known. The Apostle St. Paul breaks out into much admiration of them. Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom & knowledge of God! R●m 11.33. how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! The Prophet David for his part did not know what to make of them: no more did the Prophet jeremy for his, to see the wicked prosper, and the righteous oppressed. I thought to understand this, Psal. 11.33. but it was too hard for me, says the one. Righteous art thou o Lord when I pled with thee, Jer. 1.1. yet let me talk with thee of thy judgements: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal treacherously? says the other. Indeed the righteousness of God is like the great mountaines, Psal. 36 7. and his judgements are as a great deep, as the Psalmist speaks. The one too high for the low capacities of men, to be reached and measured by them: the other too deep for silly shallow flesh and blood to fathom the bottom thereof. And therefore till we plough with Gods heifer, there is no finding out his riddles; till he open our wits, there is no beholding and discerning his righteousness. What reason can there be given in nature, why sometimes wicked men, and sometimes weak men should bear rule, and exercise dominion over multitudes both better and wiser then themselves? Who can tell, why some very hopeful persons should die young; and others vile and useless in their generation should live and be old; and a third sort, both g●od and bad in differently, should be taken away in the midst of their age? Onely the glass of Gods word & his will revealed, is that which gives us to see and understand his righteousness in a world of such like things as these are. Nay, in many things we are so dim-sighted, that even with a glass to help us, we see but darkly, & know but in part; and in the midst of all our deepest disquifitions are at a stand, and know not which way to go, either backward or forward. But when the day of the revelation of the righteous judgement of God shall appear, which the S ts be lief and look for: then all these knots shall be untied, and all these riddles shall be unfolded and explained. And we shall with open face behold the glory of the Lord, and see abundant cause to justify those proceedings, which here we were too ready to censure and think hardly of. Yea we shall so see him, as thereby to become like him, and be transformed into his image, and be made partakers of his glory. And this is to behold his righteousness in a transcendent sense, so as to be made ours. And this is that which the Church especially believeth, and waiteth for: to see the final manifestation of the righteousness of God, in the salvation of his Elect, and the condemnation of Reprobates. That as God is righteous in judging those who would not believe in him, nor obey the Gospel of his Son Christ Jesus: so he is righteous also, in saving those that did believe in his promises, and trust in his mercy, and lay hold of that satisfaction which Christ by his death had made for their sin. He being made sin for them who in himself knew no sin, 2 Cor. 5.21. that they might be made the righteousness of God in him. And this is that righteousness which they do ultimately believe they shall behold, and enjoy the comfort of it to all eternity. And so I have dispatched the business of the Text, as briefly as conveniently I could. And now that my work should seem to be in a manner over and done, I have my hardest task yet to peform. Namely, to give you a funeral Relation of the life and death of this our dear deceased friend here before us. To whom next to my Mother that bare me, I do( under God) owe the greatest part of that little which I am, and have in the world. Of whom I confess there is much to be said: but I shall say but little in comparison, because I am afraid my passion will render me uncomely in the delivery of it: but I will prevent it what I can. First then, if I had time, I might show you all along from point to point, how her health and her sickness,( with both which I have good reason to be well acquainted) were but a practicrl Comment upon this Text, which out of the abundance of her heart she desired might be the Subject of this her funeral Sermon. With what great humility, and invincible patience she bare the indignation of the Lord, both in the toubles of her health, & in the puines of her so long and tedious sickness, taking all as from his hand; she hath here many witnesses. And that she thus bare it, upon the account of her having sinned against him; I am a secret witness of the many deep humiliations, and self-abhorrencies, and self-condemnations that I have several times heard fall from her tongue, and the rivers of tears that I have seen run down her eyes. Desiring like Daniel in his confession, Dan. 9.7. to justify God, and take to her self shane and confusion of face. And truly in that high degree: That shee told me, forasmuch as concerned herself, she did not care though the whole world were privy to all that ever she had done amiss, so little did she value the bubble of human popularity. This was her patience, and this was her humility: thus to humble herself under the mighty hand of God, 1 Pet. 5.6. that he might exalt her in due time. And now for her Faith, it was no whit inferior. As she wanted not enemies, some temporal, but more spiritual; and with whom chiefly she contested: So she committed herself to God, to pled her cause, and execute judgement for her. And through his mercy, she lived to see him vindicating her, and preserving her and hers, from those mischiefs which malicious men had been long contriving, and at last to see them catched in their own trap. But that wherein God especially answered her faith, & wherein she chiefly joyed, was her conquest over her Ghostly enemies, Sin and Death, the Devil and Hell, over whom I heard her triumph( but a few days before her end) in those words of St. Paul. 1 Cor. 15 55, 56, 57. O death where is thy sting! Oh grave! where is thy victory. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be unto God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And that she had overcome the world, take but this evidence: She told us that while her dear Husband was in trouble, God was pleased to let her live, according to her desire and prayer, that she might be in some measure serviceable and assistant to him. But now that all was like to be settled in peace, and he was returned again to a quiet enjoyment of his honour and estate, She thanked God that he was taking her away from the vanities of it. What could have been spoken more emphatically, to show that the world was crucified unto her, and she unto the world. Gal 6.14. But notwithstanding all this, it is not to be denied, but that she had some clouds of fear and doubting, which did not a little darken her comfort for a while: and therefore she would be often complaining of the dryness and barrenness of her heart, and the coldness of her affections, and of the weakness and want and deadness of her faith. Much lamenting that she could find no more assurance of Gods favour, and of her own salvation and interest in Christ; a thing which she much harped upon all along her sickness. But God who is never wanting to those that seek him, and delight themselves in him, and hunger and thirst after his righteousness, at length gave her her hearts desire: and her own tongue confessed and uttered what her soul had so earnestly longed for: I am assured( faith she) I am assured. Another time breathing out that pious ejaculation( as she did many others) Come Lord Iesus, Come quickly: She immediately return'd her self answer; He is come, He is come. And at the same time praying to God to hear her and help her, she answered her self as before; It is done, It is done. Oh! what is the comfortable light of Gods loving kindness, and the blessed hope of salvation, and the unspeakable joy of believing if this be not? Take one testimony more of Gods discovering the light of his acceptance of her; as also of her zeal and humility in her exercises of Devotion. Being to receive the holy Communion:( and that at a time of such great weakness, that the night before her Friends and Physitians thought her nigh unto death) she would needs take it upon her knees. And she hath since confessed, that how she got up upon her knees she knew not: but this she knew, that it was a very comfortable Communion to her I have yet another passage to acquaint you withal, worthy all your imitations. Of her own accord she told me; That she had lived in the faith of Christ, and did desire and resolve to die in it, and that if by reason of any weakness or distemper of sickness, or any suggestion of the devil, she should either speak or think any thing contrary thereunto: She did desire me( twice) to take notice, that she did there before hand, utterly renounce & disclaim it. Here was true Christian wisdom indeed, thus to provide and fortify her self against a siege, in case her weakness might have been over-born: But Satan saw so little hopes, that he assaulted her not much, though somewhat he did. And having now fought such a good fight, and thus finished her course, and so kept the Faith, what need we doubt, but that she now beholdeth the righteousness of God, having received that Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge gave her( as he did St. Paul) at the day of her departure. 2 Tim. 4.8. But I have yet something more to add which falleth not within the compass of the Text. Touching her Extraction, Birth and Parentage, I shall need to say nothing; being so well known by divers of you to be Ancient and Worthy. Onely this is not to be omitted; That she was the Daughter of a religious both Father & Mother, whose life she desired to imitate, & whose death I have often heard her desire to die. And truly I am persuaded, she came short of neither of them in either. And that she might have the better opportunity to attain the end, she had an especial kindness for the Ministers of the Gospel, and delighted much to converse with them; and was several times at the charges of maintaining one in her own family: Of whom I shall ever account it my great happiness that I was one. And truly she told me( but this sickness) That if it pleased God to recover her again, she would never be without one as long as she lived; she had found the presence of a Minister to be such a monitor and spur to the performance of good duties, and such a restraint to sin and vanity. But though they had an especial place in her affection: yet generally she had a great respect for all good Christians of what rank or degree soever, being full of civility to her Equals, and full of courtesy and bounty towards her inferiors, and a hearty lover of all whom she did believe to be the Children of God. Which hath made me sometime upon occasion,( when she would be doubting of her salvation and interest in Christ) to use St. Johns argument to her; that she was passed from death to life, 1 John 3.14. because she loved the brethren. And indeed God had completely fitted her for an Exemplary instrument of doing good, having made her partner of a plentiful estate, and given her a willing miud; and compassionate affections, & a very good understanding, to know where, and when, and what was to be done. Insomuch that to many sick people, especially those of the poorer sort, she was not onely a friend to visit and relieve them, but a physician and an Apothecary also, giving them counsel and physic both, and all gratis. The truth is, her Charity was a Grace, wherein she was superlatively eminent: Shee was eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, bread to the hungry, clothing to the naked, a refuge and sanctuary to those that were harbourless. And as she was very charitable to her poor neighbors whom she knew, so she would often cast her bread upon the waters, Eccles. 11.1. not so much as looking after it which way it swom, because she knew that she should find it again after many days. This hand of mine hath been a secret Messenger of many an alms which she hath sent to poor prisoners and persons in distress, whose faces she never saw. And truly sometimes it was in that abundant measure, that I have desired her to reserve some of it for another occasion: but the largeness of her heart would not permit her. So that though the sentence of salvation which Christ shall pronounce at the last day, can be due to none as of desert, yet I am persuaded it will be proper and suitable to her and her works, as to any she among ten thousand. Come ye blessed of my Father, Mat. 15.34, 35, 36. inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and ye gave me meate: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. And now she who was such a Foster-mother to the poor members of Christ in general, must needs be a tender and affectionate Mother towards the issue of her own bowels, though her care and desire indeed was more for their spiritual welfare then their temporal. It was a delight to hear what pithy and pertinent admonitions and Counsels she left to every one of them, agreeable to their several conditions. The Lord give them all grace and wisdom to observe them. How also did she scatter her blessings among her friends about her! And when she could not by reason of weakness, utter herself so freely as she desired; Oh( saith she) my heart is full of blessings for you all, more then my tongue is able to express. And to show upon what peaceable & friendly terms she was willing to take her leave of the World, and to agree with her adversary while she was yet in the way. Matth. 5.25. She said she was a woman, and had her failings, but she did hearty desire all people to forgive her what ever injuries she had done them in any kind; and did freely forgive the whole world whatsoever wrongs they had done her. What then can be the reward of such a peaceful soul, but peace eternal with the God of peace, in that world where strife and envy have no place? Oh what pity was it( to speak after the manner of men) that she did not live to double those years of her pilgrimage here on earth! And yet if God had not graciously reserved her for the many good deeds which she hath since done, she had in all probability been taken away by much such another sickness as this was, about 15. years ago: but God saw he had a Hezekiah's spirit in hand, and therefore he then gave her a lease of her life for 15. yeares more: which is now expired, to the universal grief of all that knew her. I am verily persuaded, if all those who have any way tasted of her goodness, rich and poor, and those of the middle rank, were all here assembled together at her funeral: It would be a very grievous mourning, Gen. 50.10. a sore lamentation, like that of the Israelites for their Father Jacob, or that of Judah and Jerusalem for good King Josiah, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo. Zech. 12.11. On the one side you might behold those eyes which she had cured, weeping themselves sore again. On the other side, you might hear those mouths which she had fed, and those bowels which she had refreshed, yearning and lamenting that the staff of their bread was broken. Behind, you might discover a long train as it were of Dorca's Widows following the bier, those whose backs she had clothed, and covered their nakedness, rending their garments in excess of grief; or with their sad tears, dying them into mourning for her. Indeed, who would seem so unconcerned in the good and comfort of so many poor Christians, as not to lament the loss of One so exceeding helpful in her generation? If I should stand to relate all the several passages which were worth the observing, in her life, and her death, in her health, and in her sickness, I should hold you longer then St. Paul did the Disciples at Troas, even till past midnight. Let me therefore leave this short Character of her with you, Acts 10.7. in a few words: That( only abating some grains of infirmity incident to our human nature which must be allowed the best of men, and which love may easily cover) She was indeed and in truth, A most excellent, Noble-minded, Intelligent, Charitable, Highly-obliging, Religious Person. I delight to commend her. But I must put an end to this discourse; partly in obedience to her commands, who did indeed desire me not to do this for her: but I could not herein altogether harken to her; partly out of compassion to myself, who otherwise could spend my spirits even to fainting in commending her: and partly in respect to you her friends, who, as you loved her, do now think it high time( as Abraham said of Sarah) to bury your dead out of your sight. What then remains, but that we now address ourselves to that last, but very uneasy office of committing her body to the grave? and therein as in a Cabinet to lay her up as one of Gods jewels for a time, till he be pleased to bring her forth again in incomparable lustre and brightness, to help to adorn the Bride, at that great and solemn Matriage-Supper of the Lamb in the end of the World: when she and all others like her, who have lived in the fear of God, Mat. 13.43. and dyed in the faith of Christ, shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father, and feast themselves with unspeakable joy and fullness, blessedness and glory, for ever and ever. To which blessed and glorious estate He of his mercy bring us, &c. Amen. FINIS.