Howsoeuer [...] neuer erring wisedome [...], no­thing [...] Iohn the Bap­tist Matth 11. [...]., the Centurion, Matth. 8. 10. and others Iohn 1. 4 [...]; yet is it freest from [...] errour for [...] who are but of yesterday, and know not what shall be tomorrow, in [...] the dead; the periode and compl [...]n [...] of whose dayes, wee have seene expired, and the [...] as well discharged as [...] neither the praiser, can be moued with flattery, nor the praised, with vaine­glory Quando, nee [...] mo­ [...]t adulatio; [...] August. being perpetually seperate, from [Page 2] sight, hearing, and report: praise the Marri­ner when he ariueth; the Souldier when he triumpheth: and Man when hee is dead Dici (que); beatus, ante obitum ne­mo.. Whom, generally to fauour, (if for no other cause, yet for that they haue led the way vnto vs, Tantum quia pre [...]sserunt. Calcanda semel via lethi, &c. Ho [...].1 Carm. 28 and obtained prioritie in eter­nitie;) is the rule of Nature [...]. But to en­tombe them with amplest praises. whose liues haue beene vertuous and honourable; and to set vp the lampe of vertue, that it may shine in the house of God, when Death hath put out the light of life; is the rule of Religion; and warranted both by best Examples in holy Scripture, (thus did Dauid commend Abner, 2 Sam. 3. 34 and Ionathan: 2 Sam 1. vlt. Elishah, Eliah 2 Kings 2. 12.? and the Apostle those worthie Saints, whom the world was vnworthie of Heb. 11. [...]8.:) and by the practise of the Church in all ages.

How am I bound then, by a three-fold du­tie, viz. 1 to God. 2. to him; 3. to you, to speake somewhat of the sanctified life, and blessed death of this Religious Gentleman, [...]ow to be [...]erred? To God for all his gifts we [...] thankfulnesse Psal. 216. 16. and what greater thankefulnesse, then to be telling of his good­nesse to vs or others? so that in speaking of Gods gifts vnto him, wee doe in our soules blesse God for him [...] Hier.

Secondly, as it ought to be the greatest care of the liuing to doe well; so is it the dutie of the [...] to speake well, that, so farre [Page 3] as lieth in vs) the dead, may pertake in the blessing promised, the righteous shall be had in euerlasting remembrance Pro 10 7. Psal. 112. 6.; for which purpose, our blessed Sauiour said, Wheresoeuer the Gospell should be prea­ched, throughout all the world, the good worke of the woman, bestowing the boxe of costly oyntment vpon his head, should be spoken of, for a memo­riall of her Matth. 26. 1 [...]. Yea, I wish that my congue were as the Pen of a readie Scribe to en [...]re his vertues Psal. 45. 1. that both he might pertake in that blessing which Alexander pronounced at the toombe of Achilles; Happie Achil­les, that being dead, hast such a Trum­peter of thy praise, as Homer was O [...], cui mertuo [...] Praeco, &c.: and I, in that blessing, which Naomi pronoun­ced of Boaz, blessed be hee of the Lord, for he ceaseth not to doe good, to the li­uing, and to the dead Ruth 2. 20..

Thirdly to you, that ye may know what to imitate, which is the maine vse of the Commemoration of the vertuous liues of the godly; that they may be patternes to them that liue, their very toombes, in their kinde, speaking as Abels blood, Gen. 4. 10. Walke, as ye haue had vs for Examples.

A Gentleman worshipfully borne; and accordingly he liued, and well added, to the worth, and wealth, of his house and family. Matched, to a vertuous Gentlewoman, a [Page 4] right branch of a worshipfull, religious, and fruitfull tree The daugh­ter of M. Robert Honnywood E­squire, some­ [...] of [...] in Kent▪ [...] Essex [...]; Graund-child of a most god­ly Matrone, who (yet liuing) hath seene of her children, and childrens children, to the number of two hundred and threescore at least, which doe yeerely encrease, with the encreasings of God. A Mary by name Mary Honny­ [...]., a Mary by choyse, and a Mary by condition, for the Lord hath dealt very bitterly with her [...]. By whom hee hath had, an houshold like a flocke of sheepe [...]; his Table beset with mary sweet children, like Oliue bran­ches round about [...].

Of whom I may truly say, (after these twenty yeeres inward familiarity with him;) so sweet and peaceable a natured man [...], so sound and zealous a Christian; so sure and faithfull a friend, amongst many thousands, is not to be found. A diligent frequenter of the publicke Exercises of Religion, a carefull worshipper of God, and sanctifier of his [...], it was but one se [...]enth night before he died, when [...] with vs in Gods wor­ship. hee did b [...]re his part in the Psalme [...], which we sung, with an extraordinarie cou­rage and [...] as if with the Swanne hee would end his dayes with a Song [...], which mi­nistred no small comfort to mee (and others that noted it) that for one whole yeere and an halfe, hauing beene visited in himselfe and his family, with such exceeding sicknesse, yet [Page 5] he could so sweetly comfort himselfe in God: whereunto wee may adde his daily exercises of reading and prayer with his family. And as was his profession, so was his practise, though hee liued not without sinne, yet with­out reproofe Luke 1. 6. Sine. quarels, non sine, peccato. August., hee kept himselfe vnspotted of the world Iam. 1. [...].: a Father, more like then a friend to the poore; a setled good house-keeper, and euer open-handed in any good cause, as free in Charitie, as euer in Dutie: humble in prosperitie, patient in aduersitie; sober in his health, comfortable in his sicknesse, and most blessed in his death; though but a young man for yeeres, yet long hath he wayted for his change, and daily exercised himselfe in the meditation of mortalitie; hauing his Ie­stament alwayes readie, and, as occasion ser­ued, renewed; so that though sicknesse came sodainly, he was prepared, his house set in or­der, and himselfe free to prepare for God, to whom with much peace and meekenesse, hee resigned his spirit. And as hee liued with much loue, so is he dead with as great lamen­tation; the Church of God, the Common­wealth, the Parish, his family, and specially the poore, sustayning great losse; but what doe I speake of losse, seeing his gaine doth counteruaile the same an hundred fold? wee haue lost but a man, he hath sound God; we haue lost a friend, he hath found his Sauiour; wee haue lost his Neighbourhood, hee hath [Page 6] found the fellowship of innumerable Angels and Saints: we haue lost the help of his pray­ers and purse, Counsell and countenance; but hee hath found the blessednesse of heauen, which all Gods people loue and long for, in the fruition whereof wee leaue him for euer and euer. Amen.

And to speake a word or twaine of this his good Seruant Iohn Cooke., who in Ruths resolution, hath liued, is dead, and shall be buried with his Master Ruth. 1. 16.. Aman in his place worthie of great commendation, and a rare patterne for men of his ranke to looke vpon; an honest, harmelesse, carefull, willing, diligent and faithfull seruant: I cannot but note vnto you, the good prouidence of God, that no seruice performed by any other, being comparably acceptable to his good Master, in his sick­nesse and weakenesse; God was pleased euen extraordinarily to raise him from the gate of death, to attend his Master. To the closing of his eyes, which seruice ended, that he should haue a relapse, and in two dayes also end his life. I may say of them both, as Dauid did of Saul and Ionathan, they were louely and pleasant in their liues, and in their death they were not diuided 2 Sam. 1. 23.; onely this difference, he that in life time often rode be­fore, is now carried after: but now no more as Master and man, for in this path there is no difference Hac, par d [...] ­uitibus, pauper egenus erit. Maximinianus.; in Golgotha no difference, [Page 7] betwixt that skull which wore the Crowne, and that which bore the Tankard: all fellow-heires of the same inheritance; but one king­dome, yet all raigne; though degrees of glory, yet all haue more then enough, none enuie them that haue more, none disdaine them that haue lesse. In which blessed fellowship, wee leaue them for euer. Now let vs come to the Text.

FOr three principall respects, haue I chosen this Text, before others▪ with Gods assistance, and your wonted Chri­stian patience, at this time to speake of. First, because vnto profitable hearing, 1 the remembrance of the Text is speci­ally required; the remembrance where­of, doth necessarily draw on the re­membrance of such things, as naturally arising, haue thence beene deliuered. Now I dare entrust the weakest memo­rie of all, in this congregation, with this Text, being so short, yea the shortest verse in all the Bible; so that here needeth no adding of line to line, or precept to pre­cept Esay. 28. 11.; one bare reading will cause so sufficient an impression in the memo­rie, that I hope if many yeeres hence [Page 8] any one should be demanded, what was our Text this day, he or she will readily answere. [ Iesus.]

2 Secondly, as it is short, so it is fet; mourning in feasting, and mirth in fa­sting agree not; it is sfit that Occasion and Matter, Theame and Time, should accord; as Christ at Iacobs Well [...] Iohn 4. 13. did speake of the heauenly water; and from feeding the body with loaues and fishes, [...] of the heauenly Manna & bread of [...]. Now, Iohn 6. 26. if houses of sicknesse, be houses of mourning Eccles. 7. 4.; times of dying, times of [...] Eccles. [...] 5.; and places of bury­ing, places of weeping Gen. [...]. [...]., how fit is it for me to entreate of mourning and wee­ping, seeing we come from an house of great and long continued sicknesse? Our friend Lazarus is dead and we are come to the place of [...] ▪ [ Iesus wept.]

Thirdly; as it is short and fit, so it containeth very profitable matter, for if it be the greatest perfection of a Chri­stian, to gouerne his affections and passions aright; and the best haue been soyled, and bewrayed their weakenesse herein: either weeping or reioycing; on such [...] or in such manner, or to such ends, as they should not; how profitable will it be, to direct this great mourning, to a true meane? which I [Page 9] can not possibly better doe▪ then by pro­posing the sinlesse Sorrow of our blessed Sauiour, vpon a like occasion, Lazarus is dead, and Iesus wept. Wouldest thou then▪ not sinne in weeping, looke vpon Christ, who wept and sinned not: yet if any in passion breake their bounds, let the words of my Text procure a charitable excuse; for euen [ Iesus wept.] When Christ was borne, there was much singing and mirth, olde father Si­meon, he sung; Luk. [...]. 28. Zach [...]rishe sung Luk 1. [...]8., Ma­rie shee sung; Luk. 1. 46. and the Babe in Eliza­beths wombe, did spring for ioy Luk. 1. 41.; yea, the Angels of heauen sung Luk. 2. 13. but Christ his ministrie, and specially his death were mournfull times, and of much weeping, some in passion; others in compassion. Christ he wept I Heb. [...]. 7. and the Disciples they wept M [...]. [...].; the daughters of Ierusalem they wept Luk. 23. 27. yea time Sunne put on Sackcloth and that wept Luk. 23. 15.; the Temple rent in [...]ayle, and that wept Luk. 23 15.; yea the crie of the Creatures was heard so farre▪ that the Hea­then Philosopher said, either the [...] nature [...] or the world would [...] [...] Deus [...] dissolu [...]r. ▪ but I am to speak onely of Iesus his sorrow; [ Iesus wept.]

Christ and Lazarus, Mary and Martha two men, and two women; two sisters; and a brother; three sinners, and [Page 10] their Sauiour: these that had so long lo­ued, & liued together; and many a time and often feasted & godlily reioyced to­gether, haue now their mirth turned in­to mourning; and singing into sighing. Lazarus is dead, and Christ is absent, his sisters weepe; the Iewes come to com­fort them, and they weepe; when they vnderstand that Iesus is comming, Mar­tha she runneth to meete him, & saluteth him with words of bitter complaint, Lord, if thou hadst beene heere, my brother had not beene dead: No sooner had hee with words of consolation, shut the slu­ces and flood-gates of her teares, but Mary shee commeth and breaketh out into the same words of dolefull com­plaint, Lord, if thou hadst beene here, my brother had not beene dead: the Iewes, they weepe. and Christ he wept; the sluces are broken vp againe, as if all should be drowned with a deluge of teares: or at least here were another Hadra-drimmon for Lazarus▪ as was for Iosuth. Zach. 12. 11. Wee see then, though wee be neuer so neere or deere vnto Christ, yet we may not looke to be exempt from mournfull occasi­ons: nay, Iudgement beginneth at Gods owne house 1 Pet 4 1 [...].; it is enough that Christ weepeth with us. who in the end shall wipe all teares from our eyes Reu. 7. 17. ▪ where as the wie­ked [Page 11] being forsaken of God, shall weepe and gnash their teeth for euer Matth. 22. 13. Diuision..

In these three Verses, vers. the 34. 35. and 36. we haue foure speakers; Christ asketh a question, ( Where haue yee laid him?) Mary and Martha giue answere, as with one mouth, ( Lord, come and see.) The Euangelist reporteth his passion, [ Iesus wept,] And the Iewes passe their censure thereon, ( loe how he loued him!)

[ Iesus wept.] As the Souldiers that marched after Ioab, stood still and won­dred at that they saw, so may wee well stand still and wonder at that we heare. What? Doth the sonne of God, who was from all eternitie with his Father, as his delight, continually reioycing before him Pro. 8 30.; he that was annoynted with the oyle of glad­nesse aboue his fellowes Psal. 45. 7.; hee, who when he went to his passion, would not suffer the daughters of Ierusalem to weepe for him Lu. 23. 28.; he that was sent, by his Ministerie, to comfort them that mourned in Zyon, and to giue them oyle of ioy for mourning Esay. 61. 3.; hee that in the end, shall wipe away all teares from the eyes of his children Esay. 25. 8.; doth hee weepe? yes indeede, and fit that now he should so doe, that being [...], and his workes, theandricall, diuinely humane Doct. Field. Of the Church, lib. 5. cap. 13. pag. 38.; in this great miracle of the raising of Lazarus, both this Diuinitie, [Page 12] and humanitie, by infallible demonstra­tions, might be seene Commode, fu­turo miraculo praemissae sunt lachrymae, vt in­firmitas carnis, diuinae virtuti coniungeretur. Mald.: he commanded Lazarus, being foure dayes dead, to come forth; this was the voyce of diuine Maiestie; but he wept for Lazarus, and this was a passion of true humanitie Propriae sunt hominis lachry­mae; vita verò, verae vitae est. Greg. Nys.; that so, if diuine Maiestie feare vs, humane infirmitie may encourage vs: if humane infirmitie doe offend vs; diuine Maie­stie may comfort vs: and wee both loue and reuerence our blessed Emmanuell Esay 7. 14., God with vs. The like we may obserue in other his miracles: as man, he spat on the ground; as God, with clay, hee made him that was borne blinde to see Iohn 9. 6.; as man, hee fell on sleepe in the ship; as God, he rebuked the winde and seas, and they obeyed him Matth. 8. 25.. but first, Manhood, and then Godhead; first weakenesse, and then power; first Humilitie, and then Maiestie doe ap­peare; he first spitteth, and then annoin­teth, first sleepeth, and then rebuketh; first weepeth, and commandeth.

Amongst all the blessings which God gaue vnto man by Creation; there were principally two which were as the per­fection of his happinesse, Viz. Ioy and Life; or a ioyfull life Three-fold state of man, cap. 7. sect. 1. pag. 339.. The one ad esse, the other ad bene esse; without life no ioy, for it is an affection of the liuing; and [Page 13] without ioy, no life, but a neuer-dying death. But man by sinne pulling vp the flood-gate, hath let in a Sea of miserie, and specially those two maine euils, viz. Sorrow, and death: or, a sorrowing death. The childe is borne with teares, and ma­ny times dyeth before it be borne to liue. But as the Garment breedeth the Moath which eateth it; and the Tree the Worme that consumeth it Vt Tinea ex ligno nata ipsum consumet Lact. de ira Dei. cap. 13.: so, Sinne bred Sor­row and Death, and Sorrow and Death destroy Sinne. To her that in godly sorrow washed Christs feete with teares, was pronounced, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee Luke 7. 48.; and hee that is dead, is freed from sinne Rom 6. 7.. It was said to Adam, Sinne and dye Gen. 2. 17.: but to all his Children in Christ, Dye, and cease to sinne. Christ came to take away sinne Iohn 1. 29., and that hee might vtterly destroy it: first, hee weepeth; and then, hee dyeth, and pronounceth, It is finished. God reconciled, Heauen opened, Sinne abolished, and Death for euer destroyed.

It is written of Heraclitus, a Philoso­pher of Ephesus, that hee continually wept, but Democritus of Athens, conti­nually laughed, at the fading ioyes and follies of their times Sen. lib. de tranquil. vitae. Lact. lib. 2. cap. 2.. Our blessed Sa­uiour, the Prince of all diuine Philoso­phers, is said to haue often wept, but we reade not in all his Story, that hee once [Page 14] laughed Obseruandum autem, quod fle­uisse quidem legi­tur aliquoties, nunquam autem visisse, Ferus in locum.. And truely no maruell, for if the Wise-man haue giuen his iudge­ment aright, I haue said of laughter it is madde Eccles. 2. 2.: and the sage Ethnicke, Laugh­ter is an argument of great leuitie Risus leuitatis argumentum. Sebast in 3. plat. de rep.. and another makes it the badge of a foole [...], Ridet fatuus.: if by conference of Scriptures with Ex­perience, wee shall seldome or neuer reade or obserue, that any laugh, but it is eyther in folly, or at folly: if the Prouerbe hence grew, to call that which is foolish ridiculous Dij boni, qu [...]m ridiculosum ha­bemus Consulem▪ Cato Vticens. ex Plut.: if a man cannot endure to be laughed at, and the Scriptures haue branded it for a kinde of cruell persecu­tion Gen. 21. 9. Gal. 4. 29.: if the Scriptures so often com­maund weeping, but neuer laughing: if lastly, to laughter be threatned a woe, and to weeping be promised a reward Luk. 6. 21. 25; how should hee laugh that is Wisedome it selfe, Prou. 8. 12., and in whom, the treasures of Wisedome and Knowledge are hid Col. 2. 3.? By whose ex­ample wee are taught, in this world (which (as Dauid calleth it) is a vale of teares Psal. 84. 6. in Me [...]re.) to looke for no sound or endu­ring ioy, but continuall occasions of sorrow and mourning.

Wee doe specially reade, that our Sa­uiour did thrice weepe. First, when he came to Ieee lorusalem, and fore-saw the misery thereof, hee wept, and said, O Ie­rusalem, if thou hadst knowne, at the least, [Page 15] in this thy day, those things which belong to thy peace, but now are they hid from thine eyes Luke 19. 42.! Secondly, now when Lazarus was dead, as my Text saith, [ Iesus wept.] Thirdly, when he prayed, for the Apo­stle saith, Hee put vp his Prayers and Sup­plications, with strong crying and teares Heb. 5. 7. Doct.. Whose example teacheth vs when to weepe, viz.

First, when eyther with our eyes wee see, or with our mindes fore-see, the mi­serie, ruine, or desolation, of any King­dome, Country, Citie, Towne, or Fami­lie; and specially, of such Places and Persons, where, and by whom the great Name of GOD is called vpon, we ought to take it to heart, and, in token of in­ward griefe, to breake out into teares is no effeminatenesse (as the Ethnicke hath censured it Nihil vìro tur­pius muliebri fle­tu. Natta de im­mortal. animae. lib. 1.,) but an argument of a milde and melting heart 2. Chron. 34. 27., and warranted by best Examples. Thus did Ieremy la­ment the desolation of Ierusalem, Oh that mine head were full of water, and mine eyes a fountaine of teares, that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the Daughters of my people Ier. 9. 1.!

Secondly, for the deaths of our friends, and specially, if they were righteous ones, by whose death the church of God hath sustained losse: wherof more anone.

[Page 16] Thirdly, in our prayers: the Prayer of a righteous man auayleth much if it be fer­uent Iames 5. 16.. What greater feruencie then that which is testified by vnfaigned teares? Teares (as an auncient Father saith,) are the blood of the soule, and wine of Angels Lachrymae poe­nitentium, sunt vinum Angelo­rum. Bern. sup. Cantic., which flowing from the Wine-presse of an oppressed and bruized spirit, are more forcible with God then all the Eloquence and Rethoricke in the world [...]. Cypr. Annah, when shee prayed, wept sore, and God gaue her a Sonne 1 Sam. 1. 10.. And when God sent a Message to King Ezekiah, by the hands of the Prophet Esay, that hee should set his house in an order, for hee should dye, and should not liue, hee turned his face to the wall, and presently dispatched Embassadours to Heauen (euen his teares Mittit legatos, lachrymas Cyp. lib. 2. epist. 7.) to pray for life▪ which no sooner appeared, but were graciously heard, the Lord sent him word, that hee had seene his teares, and would adde to his dayes, fifteene yeeres Esay. 38. 5., Dauid saith, God hath heard the voyce of my weeping Psal. 6. 8.. The obseruation of which phrase, made a Learned man D. Plaif. Serm. at Spittle Meane in mour­ning. pag. 19. demaund this question; What, haue teare, tongues, trow we? and answereth, that the cloud-cleauing Thunder of the Almightie, doth not make so roaring a noyse in the eares of man, as our teares doe in the eares of the God of mercy Oratio Deum lenit; sed lachy­ma cogit. Ier. in Esaiam.. And truely [Page 17] no maruell, for euen with man, whose mercies are cruell, the Poet said true, that sometimes teares are waightie words Interdum la­chrymae pondera v [...]i [...] habent. Ouid. de Pont. lib. 3. Eleg. 1..

There were principally three things, which concurred to make Christ weep, and so much to increase his sorrow, that if he had beene but meere man, as he was true man Si meras homo, vt verus homo., hee had doubtlesse beene foy­led of his passion, as many holy men of God haue beene: viz. 1. the death of La­zarus; 2. the sorrow of his Sisters. 3. the miserie of the Iewes. Somesay that Christ wept not for Lazarus at all; for he knew that hee would by and by raise him againe Quomodo fleret cum, quem conti­nuò suscitare vellet. Theod. Herac., as he told his Disciples before, Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, that yee may be­leeue Iohn 11. 15.. 2. Others hold that he wept for Lazarus, not because hee was dead, but that for the glory of God, hee was to raise him againe; and so bring him, from rest and happinesse, to labour and misery A loco requetis, ad locum laboris & miseriae. Isid. in Graec. Cat.. And indeed, whereas there are but three places of residence for Gods Elect: 1. the Wombe: 2. the Earth: 3. Heauen. The second doth not so farre exceede the first, in libertie and comfort; as the third exceedeth the second, in all true hap­pinesse; as then, it were a miserable thing (if it could possibly be put in execution) for a man to leaue the comfort of this [Page 18] life, and be imprisoned in his mothers wombe; so, a thousand times more mise­rable were it for a soule to leaue the vn­conceiueable ioyes of heauen, and to be imprisoned in the loathsome dungeon of the body againe: and therefore little did the Rich-man know what hee beg­ged, when hee would haue had Lazarus to haue left Abrahams bosome, and to haue gone to his Fathers house Luke 16. 27.. But I hold it more probable, that as the godly weepe for the death of others, absolute­ly considering it; whereas Circumstan­ces considered they should rather re­ioyce, as Christ said to his Disciples, being full of sorrow to heare of his death, If yee loued mee yee would rather reioyce, because I goe to the Father. So, Christ, absolutely, and without circum­stances considering his death Mortem amìcì & sibi chari, ab­solutè considera­uit, & lachryma­tos est. Toll. in locum. annot. 10. col. 944., ( wept for him) which thing both the Context, and the construction thereof doe proue Iudaei in hac re non pessum au­ctores. Mald. Doct..

And this Circumstance teacheth vs, that it is lawfull to take to heart, and euen to sorrow and weepe for the death of deare friends, and godly persons; so did the Israelires bewayle the death of that good Patriarke Iacob Gen. 50. 11.. And after­wards for thirtie dayes together did they weepe for that singular Prophet Moses Deut. vul. 8.: and all Iudah and Ierusalem so lamen­ted [Page 19] the death of their zealous King Io­siah 2 Chron. 35.: that euer after it became a Pro­uerbe, The mourning of Hada-drimmon in the valley of Megiddo Zach. 12. 11.: great lamen­tation was made for the death of Steuen Acts 8. 2.: and when Paul tolde the Chri­stians they should see his face no more, they sell on his necke and wept sore Acts 20. 37..

Which Examples of the best, doe con­demne both (as an extreame on the one side) that Stoicall [...], with all the degrees of it, as first, 1 Vse. not to be moued with their death: which thing God long since reproued by his Prophet, The righteous perish, and mercifull men are ta­ken away, and no man considereth it in heart Esay 57. 1., but more, all shamelesse reioycing, at the fall of good men, as those that sent gifts one to another, when the holy witnesses of Christ were slaine Reu. 11. 10.. Secondly, and also that faithlesse [...], 2 vse. and excessiue mourning, as an extreame on the other side: and directeth all Christians to the true [...] Aret prob. loc. 155. de lu­ctu pro defun­ctis. pag. 495., mourning for the dead, but not as the Heathen which haue no hope 1 Thes. 4. 13. 2..

A second concurring occasion, was the sorrow of Mary and Martha, whom hee so dearely loued: so saith the Text, when Iesus saw Mary weepe, and the Iewes also weepe that came with her, [Page 20] he groaned in the spirit Iohn 11. 33 Propter lachry­mas Mariae Amb. lib 2 de poenit cap 7. Chris Hom. 26: and truly, Na­ture hath so prouided, that teares beget teares; and the sight of those that weepe in passion, prouoketh others to weepe in compassion Natura ita com [...]aralum est, vt ex conspectu [...]..

And this Circumstance teacheth vs, the practise of that Christian vertue, which the Apostle prescribeth. viz. Be ye of like affection one to another: reioyce with them that reioyce and weepe with them that Rom. 12. 10. weepe ▪ Is there that Simpathie and fel­low-feeling in the members of the natu­rall body, that if one member be honoured, all the rest reioyce with it: if it be hurt all doe suffer with it; that if the elbow receiue a rappe euen the fingers ends will tingle? and is there not much more such fellow-feeling in the misticall members of Christ? assuredly, such as are either sense­lesse of the miseries and afflictions of Gods people, as those that the Prophet complayned of, Did drinke their wine in [...] and annoint them [...]elues with the best [...], but were not sory for the afflictions of Ioseph Amos 6. 6. and as it is noted of Aha [...] ­erash and Haman, They sit drinking, when the Citie of Sushan [...] in great perplexity: H [...]s [...]. 3 vlt. or that (more wickedly) reioyce therein, as the children of Edom, who in the day of Ierusalem, cryed, Downe with it, Downe with it, euen to the ground; Psal. 137. 7. doe fearefully [Page 21] shew themselues to be rotten and dead members, and are neere to a heauy iudg­ment: As God threatned Ashur the rod of his wrath; I will visit the fruit of the proud heart of the King of Ashur, and his glo­rious & proud lookes Esay 10. 12. For as God is a God of mercie, and neuer but with griefe cor­recteth his Children. Esay 1. 4. 5. so cannot hee en­dure that [...]ay should adde affliction to affliction, by [...] ouer his Children, being vnder his rodde, but rather con­dole and compassionate them, as Christ did here; Mary and Martha wept, the Iewes wept, and when Christ saw it ( hee wept.)

Thirdly, Christ fore-saw the miserie of the Iewes, Fleuit propter Iudaeorū infide­litatem. Hill. in Psal. 68. Epiph. in Anchorato. that they would be so farre from belieuing this Miracle, and glorify­ing God, that (as hereby more hardned) they would seeke to kill him & Lazarus, Iohn 12. 10. and therefore as at another time, hee mourned for the hardnesse of their hearts, Mat. 3. 5. so now hee weepeth for it. ( Iesus wept.) And this Circumstance teacheth vs to take to heart, Doct. and to mourne for the sinnes of others, as Dauid, whose eyes yeelded riuers of water when hee saw men transgresse the Commaundements of God. Psal. 119. 136 Oh shall wee weepe to see a friend at the point of death, or to heare that his soule is departed for a season, and his bodie [Page 22] dead? and shall wee not much more mourne that men should bee strangers to the life of God, through the ignorance which is in them? Eph. 4. 18. Oh yee melting and tender-hearted ones of God, mourne for them that continue in sinne, the Symptome of a neuer-dying death

Now, Applic. forasmuch as it hath pleased God (euen of late) to take away by death many good and mercifull men, excel­lent members in the Church and Com­mon-wealth; and bring great affliction and miserie vpon diuers persons, fami­lies, and Countries; by death of friends, famine, fire, invndations of Waters and Seas: and yet sinne and wicked­nesse raigne and abound euery where; it is high time for all Gods people to imitate the Example of their head; and to put in practise the Counsell of the Apostle, Sorrow and weepe, let your laugh­ter be turned into mourning, and your ioy into heauinesse Iam. [...] [...].; least continuing in that reproued sinne, the Lord of Hoasts did call vnto mourning and weeping, baldnesse and girding with sackcloth, but behold ioy and gladnesse Esay 22. 1 [...]., &c. Wee pull on our selues, the execution of that fearefull doome threatned, I will turne your Feasts into mourning, and all your Songs into lamenta­tion, and I will bring sackeloth on all loynes, [Page 23] and baldnesse vpon euery head, and I will make it as the mourning of an onely Sonne, and the end thereof as a bitter day Amos 8. 10..

Now the ends of Christ his weeping come to be considered (wherewith I wil conclude) and they are principally these two. viz. First, 1. Doct. to shew vs the truth of his humane nature, in that hee had not onely the substance of soule and bodie, with flesh and bones, which a spirit hath not Luk. 24. 39.; but also the infirmities of both, (so farre as they were generall and blame­lesse M▪ Perk. on the Creed.) as in the body, hanger Matth 4. 2., thirst Iohn 19. 28., wearisomnesse Iohn 4. 6., &c. and in the soule, sor­row Matth 26. 38., and ignorance Mark 13. 32. of somethings Merae priuatio­nis, non prauae dispositionis..

Well did Simeon prophesie by the ho­ly Ghost, that Christ should be for a signe that should be spoken against Luk. 2. 34., for euen in the infancie of the Church, there did a­rise foure maine heretickes, VIZ. Arrius denying his Deitie; Apollinarius, mai­ming his humanitie; Nestorius, renting his Vnion; and E [...]yches confounding his essentiall proprieties: which foure Heretickes and Heresies, were condem­ned by foure Auncient generall Coun­cils, in soure significant Aduerbs. The Councill of Nice, August. de Hae­res. cap. 49. 55. 91. 92. Zanch. de In­carnat. lib. 2. cap. 1. defined against Arius, that Christ is [...], truly God: the Councill of Constantinople, against Apol­linarius, that hee was [...], perfectly [Page 24] man; the Councill of Ephesus against Nestorius, that he is [...], Doct. Hook. Eccles polit. lib. 5. sect. 54. pag. 116 last im­presi. indiui­sibly one person; and the Councill of Calcedon against Eutyches; [...], vnconfoundedly, retaining the proprie­ties of both natures: and as euill man­ners, cause good lawes: so these & such like heresies, haue both caused most re­nowmed Councils, and procured most excellent Confessions of the Christian faith; and specially (as an Antidote a­gainst the poyson of the former here­sies,) that short, but most pithie confessi­on of the Emperour Iustinian: The word was not changed into flesh, nor flesh into the word, but one in both; and both in one: not one of his Father, and another of his Mo­ther; but one way of his Father before the beginning: and another way of his Mother, in the end of the world Nec verbum in carnem nec caro in verbum, mutata est; sed vtrum (que) in vno, et vnus in vtr [...] (que) est; non alter ex patre, alter ex matre; sed ali­ter ex patre. &c. Iustin Imperat. ad Ioannem 2 Papam, tempore. Concil. Tolet..

The learned Auncients also skir­mishing with the said Apollinarists, and Marcionites, Manichies, and such as haue denied the truth both of Christ his hu­manitie and actions; haue (amongst o­thers) discharged this Arrow against the faces of them, alledging his teares, as an Argument of true humanitie Lachrymae, sunt reri corpores humores. Gu [...]l [...]. hem. l. 109., and not of distrust Natur [...], [...] diffidenti [...] testes Barn. Serm. 26. in Cantie..

Secondly, this sheweth the sweetnesse of Christ, 2. Doct. his Mediation and Redemp­tion: [Page 25] in that our Redeemer is not a stranger to our Nature, but (as GOD promised,) the womans seede Gen. 3. 15., and seede of Abraham Gen. 22. 18.; so hath hee performed it, in sending his Sonne made of a Woman Gal. 4. 4., a true man, like vnto vs in all things, ( ex­cept sinne Heb. 4. 15.. Oh, this was Iacobs comfort on his death-bed, that one wrapped in the Tunicle should come Gen. 49. 10. Shil. Shiliah. Secundae eius Tremell.: and Iobs comfort, that though hee should dye, and all his life wayted when his change should come; yet his redeeming Kinsman (for so the word signifieth) liued Iob. 19. 25. Goel. Ruth. 4. 14. Sic Pet. Galat. de occultis. lib. 4. cap. 4. ▪ Who is a mercifull and faithfull high Priest in things concerning God, who hath felt in his owne soule and body, the manifold straitning passions and perplexities that we feele in our seuerall afflictions, hath (as it were) his bowels yearning towards vs; and though now exalted into glory, yet his compassion towards his poore members on earth is no whit dimini­shed, as M. Perk, on Creed, Treat. of Incarnat. himselfe witnessed from Hea­uen, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me Acts 9. 4. Vse? Let vs then embrace this sweet Sauiour, whom GOD hath sent into the world, compassed with a cloud of witnesses, that all men may beleeue: and special­ly with the fore-going of that Excellent Herauld, and Trumpeter Iubilie, of Iobel, a Trum­pet; [...]eron, de interpret. nom. Kerch. Heb. Concord. 1673 Buxt. Heb. Epit. 334. Bab on Leuit. pag 202 of the blessed Iubilie, the Baptist; who went before [Page 26] his face to prepare his wayes, and to alter the state of Faith Fides in aduen­tu ipsius non erat destruenda, sed solum status eius mutandus, vt quem venturum credebant venisse crederent. Toll, in Iohan. annot. 46. by preaching the do­ctrine of Repentance, that is, they should not beleeue in one to come, but in him that was already come Acts 19. 4.; whom hee pointed out with the finger vnto them Iohn 1. 29..

Oh goe wee euer with boldnesse, to his sweet throne of Grace Heb. 4. vlt.: seeke wee to that Physitian, who hath beene sicke of the same disease himselfe: loe we him, that hath shed teares for vs; loue how he loued vs: yea, that shed his blood, and gaue himselfe for vs Gal. 2. 20.! Oh how he lo­ued vs indeede! To him that so loued vs, and washed vs from our sinnes in his bloud, and made vs Kings and Priests vnto God, euen his Father, to him I say be glory and dominion for euermore Reu. 1. 5.. Amen.