IN MEMORY OF That Faithful DISCIPLE OF THE LORD WILLIAM MECHO, OR, the substance of his Legacy to his Friends the Lord's Day before he sickened Who fell asleep in the Lord the 13 of the 8th Month 1676. Printed, Anno Domini 1677. In memory of that faithful Disciple of the Lord, WILLIAM MECHO, Or, the substance of his Legacy to his Friends, etc. ALL Zions Members should be friends in trust Ps. 30.4. To keep up some remembrance of the Just, The Lord so order, and direct my heart, That in his Wisdom I may have a part. This gracious Soul that now attends upon the King of Kings in his Imperial Throne: Jam. 1.17. As if he knew his Travels here to be Near their full period, left this Legacy, To his surviving friends, which here I do Impart (though weakly) Reader, unto you. Upon the Lord's day ere he sickened, 2 Pet. 3.18. he Pressed that our graces should enlivened be; Rev. 3.2. And those things strengthened, Num. 25.4 that are like to die, That God's just anger might be turned away. To Watchfulness he strongly did exhort, Mat. 24.44. Lest by surprise the Lord should cut us short; And then to such as have Backsliders been, Rev. 16.15 Showed their damned state, Pro. 14.4. if grace steps not between To work Repentance, Hos. 14.4. that sin-healing Grace That in the Gospel has so high a place 2 Cor. 7.9.10. Then as that one thing needful, Luke 10.42. did descry A Walk well pleasing to th' All seeing eye, Hab. 2.4. In Faith, Sincerity and Holiness, Rom. 3.28. The threefold Path that leads to happiness: Rom. 14.23. Without the first, no man can please the Lord As he hath told us in his Holy Word; Josh. 24.14. And holiness bespeaks a real Saint, Whose high profession's substance, and not paint; 1 Cor. 1.12 Sincerity, a pleasing lustre casts, Psal. 93.5. It's sweet unblemished beauty never wastes; Heb. 12.14 It seasons duty, and supplies the wants Heb. 11.6. Of many taking outward Ornaments: Mat. 6.30. Then on the other side he did express, The dread of being contrary to these, As, Faithless, Formal, Hypocritical, Which from the Lord for heavy Vengeance call; For Vnbelief's the great condemning Sin Heb. 3.19. That bars a soul from Heaven, and tumbles in Millions of Spirits to a Hell of horror To feel the Wrath of God in endless terror: Therefore he that in Christ will have a share, Must of that dreadful sin have special care, Hypocrisy, though of a specious hue, Yet 'tis as plain, and naked to the view, Pro. 15.3 And notice of the highest Majesty As are the Sunbeams to a seeing eye, Therefore though some dissemble to their cost, Yet all their labour to deceive is lost: How then are we concerned to try our hearts, Lest this sad plague infect our better parts! Formality's the Alamode in fashion; The Lord assist us to make preparation To 'scape the Judgements that the Lord will reach To such prosaners of his name; that teach Men empty forms of Godliness, but want The power of Faith, the blessedest Ornament. 2 Tim. 3.15. About an hour before he yielded up His breath, and longing with his Christ to sup; He with great Courage strived to enter at The narrow Portals of the straighter Gate; Courting th' attention of his Auditory To sing forth Praises to their Maker's glory; Psal. 10.4. That when Rebellious, 1 Cor. 15.22. Sinful Man had lost His Maker's Image, and no other Cost Can re-instamp it, but the blood o' th' Lamb; He in the form of a poor Sinner came, Phil. 2.7. To clear Believers from that horrid guilt, And cleanse his Creatures from a Sink of filth; The glorious working of Regeneration, Tit. 3.5. He told us must be th' only preparation To fit us Mortals for Divine Communion, With God in Christ through the blessed Spirits Union, He told us that for blessed ends our God Isa. 48.10. Makes us acquainted with afflictions Rod; The Staff of his support he found always Psal. 23.4. Afforded matter for his Saviour's praise. For his Relations both in flesh and spirit, He prayed that they those graces should inherit, Which Christ bestows upon the faithful soul That leaves himself, and will on Mercy role. He saw his Sins before him largely spread, Isai 55.7. Yet all in Christ blood freely pardoned. Micah 7.18. He with great fervour did beholders call, To be joined to the Body mystical; For though some bones seem to be out of Joint, Christ has a saving virtue to anoint, 1 John 2.27. Till they are sound. He said none could endure Unto the end, Jer. 8.22. unless their standing's sure Upon the Rock of Ages, Mat. 7.24, 25, 26, 27. Winds will toss All other bottoms with a dismal loss. Nothing but that, (and that) will surely save, If we an Interest int's Atonement have; He did exhort us to amend our pace, And not to loiter in our Christian race; Heb. 12.1. For times a sliding Talon, Eph. 5.16. and grim Death, We know not when will take away this breath That's now so lavished. 1 Cor. 15.55, 56. O the sting of horror! That doth attend this mighty King of terror But if it once be took away, the same Is only sleeping by another name. Now you that hear these weighty dying words And savour what this Legacy affords, That shape your Journey through the path of grace, Till you converse with Jesus face to face. In real hearty sense with me lament The mis-improvement of a talon lent; O that our hearts were seasoned, that we may Do all our work whilst it is called to day. His love was universal, could he find The smallest symptons of an honest mind; He truly follows in his steps, that hath His love in special for the house of faith; And makes Relation unto Christ the rule Of his affection unto every soul; And not the sameness of Opinion, He was for healing, not division: A powerful Wrestler Jacob-like in prayer, Gen. 32.26 For Zions breaches, and its quick repair: A divine savour did adorn his speech, Eph. 4.29. Ministering grace unto the persons, which Took council with him. Oh how few are found Like him! But Christ is healing for the wound: He is the great repairer of our breaches, And Soul-Physitian, that can healing teach us. EPITAPH. Here lies a holy man entombed in dust, Until the Resurrection of the Just. His love was dear to Christ, and's Interest; His soul's gone hence, but to be further blest. A DIALOGUEVpon this Occasion BETWIXT SENSE and FAITH. Sense. O That my head were waters, and mine eyes Jer. 9.1. A Well of tears to weep his Obsequies; Pao. 10.7. His dear remembrance calls for some arrears, 2 Sam. 6.26. Which must be paid him in a flood of tears; Where love is mutual and of equal force, 'Tis cutting grief to ' feel a quick Divorce. Faith. Forbear mistaken Sense, Mat. 10.28. thy fruitless cries Bespeak impatience; 'tis but Flesh that dies His active Spirit is advanced, you know He is but gone where you must quickly go. 2 Sam. 12.23. Pale death's the portal, that lets into Glory, Our Writ of Ease from all things transitory. Sense. He is but gone; that soul dividing word Begets more terror than the sharpest sword, I die by halves, why did not deaths arrest As well as his, reach my tormented breast? 'Tis but the rage of unappeased Hosts, To tear insunder our expiring Ghosts. Faith. These exclamations, this thy fond desire, Is passion dressed in passionate attire! His work was done; thou art not ripe for Heaven, Thy longer space is for Repentance given, Rev. 2.21. Thou may'st be quickly lifeless, 'tis God's grace To take the fit, and leave th' unfit a space. Sense. If gasping Zion must endure such rubs, When Cedars fall, what will become of Shrubs? Or if successive blows our strength must break, How shall our walls be manned by the weak? If men of prayers must thus cut off be, Zion will lose its best Artillery, Faith. Can Zion fear, or overthrow, or harm, Psal. 136.12. When great Jehovahs' strong out-streched Arm Becomes its Bulwark? can we fear a want Deut. 4.34 Of leaders, when Gods so by Covenant? Deut. 11.2 Although our Lord doth home some servants call, Exod. 6.7. He still supplies us, and is All in All. Ex. 19.5. Sense. Ah! but how often do our sins provoke The Lord in judgement to repeat his stroke! Who can but shake in storms? can it be hoped The Church can stand, when it is thus unpropped? Ah how my troubled Soul's amazed to think That fainting Zion will like Peter, sink. Mat. 14.30. Faith. All must once die, the Prophets have you see Heb. 9.27. No patent for their immortality; Zach. 1.5. When 've done that for which they hither came, Mat. 3.9. God can of stones raise sons for Abraham; Mat. 14.31. When Peter sinks, Christ is at hand to heave him And by his promise he will never leave him. Luke 22.32. Sense. God's hand is heavy, and his Anger's sore. His frowns are deadly, and his strokes much more, Such mortal visitations have a voice, To make friends mourn, and enemies rejoice, What temper's so well set, but will be soon (As broken strings make music) out of tune? Faith. As tender parents exercise the rod, Heb. 12.6. Not to destroy, but to reform, so God 1 John 3.1. Is pleased to manage his rebukes, he hath 1 John 4.8. Full showers of love, as well as drops of wrathâ–ª Rev. 3.9. Gracious effects he gives of seeming crosses, Mat. 10.39. A future purchase by our present losses, Sense. Mine eyes must vent my grief upon his Hearse, He weeps in earnest, that does weep in verse: When Jonathan was slain, 2 Sam. 6.26. a Royal eye In doleful accents wept his Elegy. So must I take like privilege to mourn In Ink, as well as Tears, upon his Urn. Faith. The time consumed in fruitless cries was lent Not for such waist, but to be better spent. If thou wilt murmur' when the Lord does strike, The Rod provoked may treat thee with the like. In Faith and Patience wait, times almost come T' Exchange this frail, for an eternal home. What needs this grief? if God will take his due, I will not murmur, as some mourners do. Lord he was thine, and to the earth but lent, Let none repine, if for your own you sent; If't be severe t'extinguish such a light, Ah! 'twas our sin procured it, for we might Make more of mercies which are sent for gain. Men when full fed have little sense of pain: Eternal Parent, mollify our doom, Correct thy Children, but do not consume: How blacks the cloud that menaces a shower! O shelter Zion by thy mighty power. That so protected we may sing always David- like Hallelujahs to thy praise. FINIS.