BEhold what manner of Love the Father hath bestow'd upon us, that we should be call'd the Sons of God! says St. John, (1 Ep. III. 1.) but as if even that Love, wonderful as it is, were yet too little, behold another and great­er Privilege asserted to us by St. Paul! For, where­as among Men, tho' Parents may extend their Af­fection to all their Off-spring equally, yet Custom and Convenience give Advantage to some Chil­dren above others in Point of Interest and For­tune, Our Heavenly Father's Bounty is as diffusive as his Family, and the Prerogative of this Spiritual Race set much above that of Common Sons. For it is the unparallell'd Privilege of Christians, to be like so many First-born; We are not only ad­mitted to the Title of Children, but are joyn'd with God's Only-begotten in his Royalties and Possessions too, and have a Right of Inheritance convey'd to every one of us: Insomuch that the Apostle here makes This to be a necessary Con­sequence of the former; The Spirit it self (says he) beareth witness with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God, (Ver. 16.) from whence he infers in the Words of my Text, And if Children, then Heirs, Heirs of God, and Joynt-heirs with Christ.

My Intention from these Words at present is,

• I. First, To give some Reasons, why the Title of Good Men to the Happiness and Rewards of the next World, shou'd be represented to us under the Notion of an Inheritance.
• II. Secondly, To shew what Influence this Con­sideration ought, and may reasonably be ex­pected, to have upon us: and then,
• III. Lastly, To apply my self, from the forego­ing Particulars, to the Occasion of our assem­bling here together at this time. Of These as fully, and yet as briefly too, as the Dig­nity of the Subject, and the Shortness of my Warning will permit.

I. First, I will lay before you some Reasons, why, among other Representations of our Hap­piness and Rewards in the next World, This in particular of an Inheritance should be made choice of for the Comfort and Encouragement of Good Men: And They (among others which perhaps might properly enough be insisted upon) seem to be more especially these Four that follow.

First, This might be done out of a gracious Design, to confirm our Hope, and establish even an assur'd Expectation of our future Happiness. We are told elsewhere in this Epistle, that Ch. VI. 23. Eter­nal Life is the Gift of God; And so it most eertain­ly is, and we are bound to believe, and thank­fully to receive it as such; But in the mean while had This been propounded only as a Gift, that Term could never be a just Foundation, [Page 5]for so firm and great a Degree of Confidence, as frail and wretched Mortals stand in need of, to carry them through all the Hardships and Tempta­tions of a dangerous and troublesome World. For a Gift naturally implies something so free and ar­bitrary in the Giver, as that it shou'd depend en­tirely upon his own mere Motion and Grace, whe­ther it ever be bestow'd or not. But now by term­ing it an Inheritance, we are referred to the Me­thod of Father's setling Estates upon their Sons, for a true Understanding of Our Case. We can make out our Title, and produce the Deeds of Conveyance, even the sure, the glorious Promises of Him who cannot lye, and whose Gifts are without repentance. The Antients, we know, never adopt­ed any, but with a design of conferring all the Ad­vantages of Natural-born Children upon them; and for that reason they took this Remedy, as a Supply for issue of their own. Our Heavenly Fa­ther hath adopted Us with the same kind In­tentions, though he cou'd not be driven to it by the same Necessity: And in thus doing he hath wonderfully interwoven His Bounty and Our Right. To that Bounty alone it is, that we owe our having any Title at all to everlasting Blessed­ness. But since he hath thought fit to admit us in­to the quality of Children, we are thenceforth allow'd to put in our Claim. And, provided we be guilty of no Offence, which may evacuate this Right, and provoke him to cut off the Entail; he is so far from condemning our Claim of Arro­gance and Presumption, that he requires us to depend upon him for the making it good, and com­mends our Faith and filial Trust when we do so.

Secondly, As this manner of Expression might be intended to beget in Good Men a more sted­fast Expectation of their future Happiness, so might it likewise be chosen to check all unreasonable o­pinion of their own Performances. When the the Scriptures, in some other Passages, declare That Happiness to be the Reward of Men's Obe­dience, Partiality, and the dear Love of our Selves, are apt to step in, and blow us up with lofty Ima­ginations of I know not what mighty Desert in us. How apt Humane Nature is to indulge these Swellings of the Mind, and to persuade it self, that even the Word of God hath countenanc'd such Vanity, we need not go far to learn. The wicked, and but too successful Pains will teach us, which have been taken in some other Communi­ons Si quis dix­erit Hominis justificati bo­na opera ita esse dona Dei, ut non sint etiam bona ipsius justifi­cati merita, aut ipsum ju­stificatum bo­nis operibus —non verè mereri aug­mentum gra­tiae, vitam ae­ternam, & ipsius vitae aeternae-con­secutionem atque etiam gloriae aug­mentum, ana­thema sit. Conc. Trident. Sess. VI. Can. XXXII., to bring Men off from the too mean and mortifying thoughts of their own Unworthiness, and to exalt them with a Belief that they are able even to Merit at the Hands of their Great Ma­ster and Maker. Thus far is true indeed, That God requires Sincerity and Good-works, and hath appointed These as the Condition of our Happi­ness: But alas! there is a very wide difference between bestowing that Happiness, for the sake, and strictly upon the account of our Services, and declaring, that he will not bestow it without them. And, if we rightly consider the Matter, it will be found, I think, that the Promising Hea­ven under the Notion of an Inheritance, does effectually overthrow all such insolent Pretensi­ons. God hath not hereby engaged to admit the Disobedient and Refractory: 'Tis true. Stubborn­ness or Apostacy may alter the Case still, and [Page 7]blast our most promising Hopes: but it will not follow from thence, that those hopes of Inheriting have our own Works, (even as done in obedience to, and by the Grace of Christ) for their pro­per, and adequate, and only Foundation. Sup­pose a Servant of the greatest Diligence imagina­ble, His Behaviour may possibly deserve better of the Family, than That of any Child in it: But yet the greatest Diligence will not procure that Servant an equal Share of Affection with those Children, nor any Title to the Estate among them. This Instance makes it plain, that the standing in such a Capacity, and bearing such a particular Relation to the Master and Disposer of those Possessions, is the true and fundamental Ground of Inheritance; and accordingly we find the Stress of St. Paul's Argument in my Text laid here, If Children then Heirs.

The Doctrine then of meriting by Works, pro­perly so call'd; and the Notion of inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven, can never stand together; Because our Pretensions to inherit commence with our Son-ship, and depend upon our Second and Spiritual Birth. Now it is acknowledg'd on all hands, and affirmed by this Apostle (Ver. 15.) that we are the Sons of God by Adoption, and that this is a Privilege owing wholly to Christ, and peculiar to Faith in Him. It is also confest, that we become Sons, and consequently Heirs in our Baptism. So that (by the Practice of even Those who stand up for the merit of Good Works) the Generality of Christians are now admitted to a Right of Inheritance, at a time when they can­not have any Works of their own at all. And [Page 8]tho' it shou'd be granted, that what is promised then, be, in the Eye of God, look't upon as per­form'd, with regard to the Intention of the En­gagers, and the present Incapacity of the Party promised for, yet even those Works which fol­low after, are not so much the Cause, as the Proof of our being Children. They demonstrate us to be faithful indeed; They convince the World that we answer our Character; and They support the Conscience with unreprovable Assurances, that provided we persevere in doing so, we shall not fail hereafter to be in actual Possession, those happy glorious Heirs, which at present we can but be in Expectation and Re­version only.

Thirdly, By being styled Heirs of God, we are inform'd, how stable and lasting a Good this Happiness will prove. The Certainty of it with respect to Us I have already spoken to in my First Particular; That which I regard at present is the Continuance and Certainty of the Thing in it self. All other Tenures are subject to Limitati­ons, and determine at a certain Period of Time; but Estates of Inheritance know no term of Years; These descend on in the same Line, and are as sure as any thing, in the changeable State of Affairs we now live in, can possibly be made. When therefore the Holy Spirit makes choice of this Comparison, he justifies those Comforts Good Men take, that a small Matter will not shake their Title to Heaven at this distance; And that, when once those Joys are in our Hands, nothing can ever deprive us of them more. I know ve­ry well, they have enough to command our Esteem, [Page 9]and engage our very vehement Pursu [...], with­out respecting then Continuance; and that a lon­ger or a shorter Term does not change the na­ture of Things, but is a foreign and additio [...] Perfection only. But yet methinks we may al­low this Consideration to have more weight with regard to Another World, than it can pos­sibly carry in any temporal Enjoyment whatso­ever: And it may be said with great [...] that the Life to come could never make us [...]ap­py, if it were not Eternal. [...] it could no [...] but be a terrible Disturbance and Damp to those Pleasures, to think that they must one Day be parted with. And, though that Day were set at never so great a distance, yet the Mind of [...] is perpetually looking for ward and [...]ally d [...]po­sed to anticipate [...] own Lo [...]es [...] Miseries. I need not [...]rge with Argaments [...] what all of [...] feel at this very Moment, and [...] M [...]tality now before us, [...] have what we highly value, and [...] love, torn from us. And the more [...] Con­cern this present Affliction gives us, the mo [...] easily may we convince [...] the Loss, and how [...] losing That Bliss must needs be, to which no Good on Earth can bear any Proportion.

So then, The more re [...]in'd and worthy [...] ceptions we have of Heaven in other Respect [...], the more absolute necessity we find, for the co [...] pleating our Happiness there, to conceive off [...] a Continuing City, and a Mansion of Ev [...]lasting Glory. For it could n [...]t be Heaven, [...] [Page 10]for our Contemplations and Hopes to dwell upon it, with a perfect Acquiescence, and untroubl'd Satisfaction, were we not well assured, that the Joys of it out-live the utmost stretch of Time, and are such as no Man taketh from us.

Fourthly, By this Similitude of an Inheritance the Scripture might design to intimate, the suf­ficient, the plentiful, the exceeding abundant Pro­vision, made for every Heir of this Bount [...] Heavenly Father. Younger Branches of a [...] ­ly, we know, must be content with such Pro­portions, as their Parent's Wisdom thinks fit to set out for them: And this is most commio [...] done with great Tenderness and Caution; rese­ving the Honour and Estate of the House to be supported by the Heir himself. But We, [...] seems) are All of us Heirs of God, and Joy [...] Heirs with Christ; not put off with the too [...] ­ring Distributions of a partial Father, but admit­ted into a full and equal Enjoyment of the Whol [...]. For, though the Inheritances upon Earth are con­sin'd to One, or a very Few, and must be for because they are short and narrow, yet the Heaven­ly one is much otherwise, by reason of its infinite. Nature and Extent; A Nature and Extent for large and vast, that not no one Person hath a wh [...] the less for any other Persons great Abundance. It is an Excellency peculiar to this Heritage, that (according to Haereditus, in quâ Christi coheredes sumus, non mirtuitur copiâ Possessorum; nec fit angustior numerositate cohaeredum; sed tanta est multis quanta paucis; tanta singulis, quanta omnibus Comm. in Psalm. XLIX. St. Austine's description of it) The [Page 11]Plenty which the Possessors find and use there, never diminishes the Thing possessed: Nor does the in­numerable Multitude of Partakers cramp up any Man's Enjoymant, or incroach upon his Parti­on. It is as large to Many as to Few; [...] each single Possessor enjoys it as fully as all put toge­ther.

Indeed the Proportions of our Bliss are so [...] from being scanty there, that all considering [...] sons have believ'd one part of it to consist in [...] Enlarging and Exalting our Faculties, and putting us into a Condition of receiving more then, than now we are capable so much as of imagining. Should those Joys be imparted to us in this mor­tal imperfect State, a small measure of [...] in comparison, would overwhelm [...] let in Pleasures, Torrents of Pl [...]ces too many and too exquisite for frail Nature [...]. What vast Idea's then should we [...] to forth; what a thankful Sense should we alway [...], preserve of our Gracious Father's Love, whose [...] all we can receive; and, rather than we [...] be stinted in our Happiness, prepares and qual [...] ­fies our Minds to receive yet more and [...] What Care can be too [...] an Inheritance as This? What Esteem, what De­sire, what Eagerness too great? What noble and excellent Effects should the very hope and [...] ­spect of it, even at this distance, [...] upon [...] More indeed and greater tha [...] [...]e possible for me worthily to describe, or convenient at this time to attempt; let it suffice therefore [...] touch upon Four, in proportion to [...] ­siderations [Page 12] already treated of, and more immedi­ately resulting from them. And the representing these to you was what I propounded in the be­ginning of this Discourse, for my Second General Head.

II. First then, From the Confirmation of our Hope and Assurance of Everlasting Blessedness a­rising from its being represented as an Inheritance, 'tis plain there ought to proceed a just Value and Veneration for those Divine Writings, which a­scertain this Title to us. For, besides the Ad­vantage which the Scriptures have above all other Books, consider'd barely as a Rule of Manners there is this unquestionable Preference due to them, that they discover to us the Nature of [...] Souls, and their Condition in another World, much more clearly, than Mankind ever did or could have found without them. Life and Im­mortality are most truly said to be brought to light through the Gospel, since here alone we meet with a distinct Account of all God's Dispensations con­cerning us, and can trace the several dark myste­rious Steps both of our Misery and Salvation: What we were originally by Nature, What after­wards by Corruption, and What since by Grace; How full of Death and Despair our Condition was formerly; and to what a lively hope this Hea­venly Father hath now begotten us again. So that from hence we derive all our Dependencies; and in this Great Charter of Mercies and Privileges are contain'd both our Conveyances of Right, and the Conditions of our obtaining it.

And now, If These be the Contents of this most Holy Book, O! with what Reverence should we embrace, O! with what Diligence should we peruse it? Observe the pardon'd Malefactor, what respect he pays to that Act of Grace, which gives his forfeit Life; see the longing Heir, how ten­derly he values his Deeds of Settlement and En­tail; or imagine, if that be possible, what delight the greedy Worlding takes in his Bills, and his Bonds, and his Mortgages, with what gle [...] he spends Hours and Days in considering the Advan­tages to be made from them, and providing a­gainst any Forfeiture, which might be incurr'd by neglecting the Terms of his Covenants; And then give me leave to acquaint you, that all these [...] of Esteem, and Gratitude, and prudent Car [...] are much more due to the Blessed Wh [...]ings of God. For These are the Instruments [...] Release from a Misery worse than ten thousand; Deaths; and Settlements of an Inheritance incoruptible, undefiled; and that fadeth not away for ever in the Hea­vens.

Is it not then a most intolerable Reproach [...] Christians shall suffer this Divine Volume [...] neglected? That They, whose best Hopes are [...] ­ly here, shall so far forget the consequence of it to them, as even to [...] it a [...]ull [...] a Weariness to lay out any part of [...] Pains upon a right understanding of it? [...]ay (which is most absurd [...] monstrous) that Any who call themselves by [...] Name, should [...] their impotent Malice and wicked, [...] Flaws in their own [...]; and [...] to [Page 14]make the World believe, that these Instruments are no better than Frauds and Forgeries, and that the only Mark of Men of Sense, is to reason them­selves out of Heaven and Immortality? But I have neither Time nor Inclination to pursue that just Indignation any further, which no good Man can be insensible of at these daring Profanations of God and his Reveal'd Will; such as ought not even to be nam'd but with detestation, and cannot be en­dured, without exposing not only Men's Sould but even their Civil Rights and Temporal Sa [...] to manifest hazard and inconvenience. For Cor­ruption of Principles naturally slides into Di [...] ­luteness of Manners; and some of the Groun [...] upon which Reveal'd Religion is rejected, if [...] ­su'd through all their just Consequnnces, will ce [...] ­tainly destroy the Natural too; and over thro [...] not only the Communications, but even the [...] Being of God Himself. But to return from this most unwilling Digression, (which Wo to this wicked Generation among whom we live; th [...] there is any occasion for:) I proceed to put you [...] Mind,

Secondly, That, As the representing our Title to Heaven by an Inheritance might be intended to abate all unreasonable Opinion of our [...] Merits, So the result of it is An Obedience recom­mended by true Thankfulness and profound H [...] ­mility. Almighty God hath taken the Course of all prudent Fathers, who, tho' they deny their Children no Testimony of their Affection that can in reason be thought fit for them; yet al [...]s, keep it in their own Power to punish their Ob [...] ­nacy [Page 15]and undutiful Behaviour. And thus We Christians want no Ground for Hope, but we have not the least foundation for Security and Presumption. Our Condition is that of Children indeed, and This implies much Tenderness and great Compassion; that our Weaknesses shall be pity'd, our Heats of Youth pardon'd, our Spots overlook'd, provided still they be Spots of God's, Children; such only as proceed from Inadvertence, or Infirmity, and not from any settl'd purpose to of­fend. The right use therefore of this. Title is to improve such Kindness into the strictest and most effectual Engagements of Love and Duty to so good a Father; To remember, that we are still upon our good Behaviour, and though Heirs [...] Heirs expectant only; That even our being such is meerely from Another; that our Sonship, not our Desert, conferr'd the Title; and that it is wholly and solely through the Only Begotten and Belo­ved, that We have this access to, or are at all accepted of the Father. That so glonours a Re­ward then is appointed for our poor and partial, our imperfect and unworthy Labours, we owe to the Grace and Munificence of the Almighty Di­sposer Si gratia vo­catur, gratis datur: si gra­tis datur, nul­i [...] praecesse­runt merita tua, ut detur. Nam si praecesserunt merita tua, me [...]ces non imputatus secundum Gratiam, sed secundum Debitum. Si ergo dicis praceffisse merita tua, te vis laudari, non Deum: —Conve [...] ergo te ad merita [...], vid [...] illa mala fuif­se; ut non tibi deberetur nisi supplicum, non praemiu [...]. [...] videris quid tibi per meritum debeatur, agnoscis [...]id per gratiam [...] sacrificio laudis glorificas Deum. Augustin. in Psal. [...]. in fine., and the inexpressible Love of the Mari­torious Purchaser: But still God's hands are not ty'd up by this exuberant Goodness, so as that no Contumacy shou'd cancel our Title; nor is He [Page 16]that is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven above acknowledging himself less than the least of all the Mercies, and of all the Truth, which he condescends to shew his obedient Children, and faithful Ser­vants.

Thirdly, Look upon this Notion of an Inheri­tance as denoting the Continuance of our Happi­ness in the next World; and thus it may reaso­nably be expected to reconcile the Thoughts of Death to our Minds. So, I mean, as both to [...] ­tigate our own Fears of it, and to abate our Con­cern for the Friends who are taken away from us. And This would be a very considerable Ad­vantage indeed; For it is certain, that no Case stands more in need of Consolation and Supp [...] than when we either come to die our selves [...] to part with Those who are very useful and dear to us.

Now the natural Aversion to Soul and Body separating, may well be allow'd to cost us some Disorder, when we find there is no Remedy but these two kind Companions must be torn asun­der, and that the great Encounter with our last dreadful Enemy approaches. And yet [...] Miseries of the present Life are so many, the [...] ­joyments and Advantages of it so difficult to [...] attained, and so defective if ever they be attain­ed, that Many considering Heathens have thought leaving the World no such mighty matters; A World, which, to all who make a true estimate of it, is so vain at best, and withal so uncertain, that it could never appear worth a considering [...] while to take up his rest, and abide for ever [...]t.

But, I confess, Christianity hath discover'd ano­ther very just ground of Fear, which the Heathen World could not be so sensible of. For if Death be consider'd as that which consigns us over to Judgment, and if upon that Judgment depend [...] Doom irreversible to all Eternity; No wonder if this cast some Men into a mighty Consternation and Dread. Such whose Lives have been what they cannot think of rendring any tolerable ac­count for; but are sentenc'd by their own guilty Consciences before-hand, and sadly sensible, that to die will be so far from finishing, that it is like to prove to Them the beginning of Sorrows. Now I desire it may be consider'd; that my pre­sent Argument is of no force to abate of [...] Fear; nor hath either my Text nor any Passage in the whole Gospel, one Syll [...]ge of Comfort, for Men that die in the Terrors of obstinate and unrepented Wickedness. The only help for wick­ed Men is this, not to spend their time in vai [...] Lamentations and idle Amazements, begin in good earnest to amend their Lives. And then as they grow more fit for Death and Judgment, by the very same Proportions they will feel their fear of these things grow less.

My Business therefore is with Christians, not barely in Word and Profession, but also in Deed and in Truth. And whatever Loathness to leave the World these Men may find in themselves, may be very much brought [...]er by serious and frequent Reflections upon [...] heritance [...] now under Consideration and by [...] Scriptures, which descri [...] and recommend and [Page 18]promise, and assure it to us. Their Heart by this means will be where their Chief Treasure is Their Souls will loosen by degrees, and their Affections be wean'd from this World, and all it can pre­tend to, upon a thorough Conviction, how false and floating, how empty and trifling all is here below; and how pure and exalted, how fixt and durable, how solid and satisfactory those Pleasures are, which God hath prepared for Good Men; How ample a Recompence they make even his the most difficult Services; and how far they one weigh all that we can possibly undergo for the obtaining them. Outweigh, did I say? pardon me for putting them into the Balance together: To name them at the same time is in some [...] to disparage them; for so St. Paul hath told us in the very next Verse; I reckon that the Sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be [...] ­red with that Glory which shall be revealed [...] us.

And now, What should hinder the Mind of [...] good and a considering Man from meeting Death with Courage and Comfort, and looking upon the Sickness which ushers it in, as the Messenger of Good News to him? For, Is it not so, to [...] translated, not only to the End, but to the Fruit and exceeding great Reward of all his Care and Toil? Is it not so, to exchange a decaying and troublesome State, for One, whose most ex [...]site Joys are without any Interruption, without any Conclusion? And, though Flesh and Bloo [...] will start and give back, and even This so [...] change cannot yet be made without the [...]ing [Page 19]Ceremonies of Agonies and Convulsions, yet the Comforts of a Devout Mind must needs he much enlarged upon the nearer approaches to Bliss; as that new Scene of Things opens upon it by de­grees, and gives a more distinct View of that glo­rious and beautiful Place into which the Man is entring. And We; whose Office calls us to wait about Death-beds, can sometimes observe such Peace of Conscience, such Calmness and Content, such Lightnings of a Soul upon its Flight, such overflowing Comforts, and ravishing Transports, as, notwithstanding all the fallacy of that disor­der and painful struggle in the visible and out­ward Man, do fully persuade us, that no Men stay behind in the World, half so happy, or so well satisfy'd, as These Men go out of it.

The Blessings of our Future [...]e, even in this distant Prospect, might reasonably [...]e expected to put us upon the Wing, and tempt us almost to run into the Arms of Death, out of meer Impa­tience to get at them. But our wise Crout or hath put the Bar of Flesh and Blood, and senfual. Ap­petite betwixt; and commands, that we should at least be contented to wait his good Leisure of calling us to himself. But, although to hasten our own Passage by violent Means, be in effect to shut our selves out from Heaven for ever; yet since we have these Hopes and Promises to support us in the Conflict, we ought methinks at least not tamely to bewail and deprecate that very thing, which must put us into the actual possession of our Hopes. For is it nostrange Ins [...]uation to be in love with Labour and Hazard to be sorry [Page 20]that the Evening, the time of receiving our Wa­ges is come? and all this upon that idle and vul­gar Pretence, that Death is the gastly Destroyer of Mankind, and the King of Terrors; whereas in truth he is so only to the Guilty and the Unpre­pared. But serious Piety, and Peace with God, and a quiet Conscience, These have the power to make him tame and gentle, They overcome and bind that grim strong Man, and take from him all his Armour wherein he trusted.

Again. The same Consideration which ought to have such Efficacy in removing these Fears for our selves, does likewise extend it self to ou [...] Griefs for Others. Our immoderate Griefs I mean; For Christianity places no Excellence in the s [...] ­fling all natural Affection, and rendring Men [...] sensible of any tender Impressions. It only r [...] ­quires that the Rein should be kept always in o [...] own hands, and, when that Debt of Tears is paid, which Nature and Decency require, that we should then suffer our Minds to be composed by Reason, and hearken to the Corrections and Comforts of Religion. And what can administer more substan­tial, more successful Comfort, than to consider the Joys of Eternity, and, that the Friends who [...] absence we deplore, are removed to the Compa­ny of Saints and Angels, to the blessed Presence of the Almighty, to the same happy Mansions of pe [...] ­fect Knowledge, and Love, and Joy, with the So [...] and Lamb of God himself? That they are no [...] above the Hazards of Fortune, the Troubles, and Cares, and Perplexities of the World, and (which is best of all) freed from all danger of o [...]ending [Page 21]God, and wounding their own Consciences by Sin any more. If we have a serious Belief, that such is the Condition of our deceased Brethren, and yet all This will not appease our Sorrows, how just is that reproach of Absalom to Hushai upon a­nother occasion, 2 Sam. xvi. 17. Is this thy kindness for thy Friend? a Does it become the Tenderness of a Relation, to lament without ceasing, not like her in the Pro­phet, for those that are not, but for those who now have begun to be in Perfection, Who after the Waves and Tossings of a tempestuous World, are now themselves rejoycing, because they are at rest, and God hath brought them to that Haven, where They and every good Christian would be. Let us then in such case suppose, that we hear the released Soul admonishing us, in our Saviour's Terms to the Daughters of Jerusalem, Luke xxiii. 28 Weep not for me, but weep for your selves: For our Selves in­deed, who are still floating upon the Billows, dri­ven to and fro by the violent Gusts of Passions and Lusts, of Cares and Temptations, and in con­tinual danger of making shipwrack of faith and a good Conscience. In a word, 'Tis easie to con­vince our selves, how absurd all Excesses of this kind must needs be, by this single Reflection; That the End of all God's Promises, and our own most painful Endeavours, is to put Us hereafter into That which we believe to be Their Condition now. And, (O monstrous Inconsistence of extravagant Passion!) we refuse to be comforted, because They are what We, when in our right Mind, would give ten thousand Worlds to be: Blessed for evermore far above all our Imaginations, far above all their own Hopes.

In the mean while, till God's own good time come of making Us so too, let us remember in the Fourth and last place, that this Inheritance, as im­porting the Sufficiency of that Provision made for us by our Heavenly Father, ought to inspire us with Meekness and Contentment under any Di­sposals of Providence in this present Life. What St. Paul tells the Galatians, Gal. iv. 1, 2. that the Heir, so long as he is a Child, differeth nothing from a Servant, though he be Lord of all, but is under Tutors and Governors, until the time appointed of the Father, is equally applyable to our Case. We are here in a State of Nonage and Education, under the wise discipline of One, who nicely understands our se­veral Tempers, and sutes his Methods according­ly. Some are of ingenuous and easie Dispositions and Them he wins by soft indulgent means, O­thers are rugged and tough, and to Those a firm­er hand is necessary: And if a Third sort, not to be wrought upon either way, do not yet feel the Rod so often as their Fellows, this is not because they deserve it less, but because they are given o­ver as incorrigible. By this easie and familiar Al­lusion, we are taught what Interpretations to [...] of God's Providence, and how to justifie the dif­ferent Proceedings of it toward us. Imagine w [...] your selves, what an accomplish'd Generation we shou'd have, if the Fondness of Mothers, and the Humours of Children were to prescribe Rules of Education; and then you cannot but discover a­bundant reason for submitting to the Disposals of a Father, who tempers his tenderest Affection with unerring Prudence.

Almighty God weighs our Case and our Wants; He aims not so much at our Ease as our Improve­ment, and distributes such things, and in such Measures, as he sees most proper and profitable; without troubling himself to consider what would be most acceptable. He admits of no such Heirs, as are a Scandal to their Estates, and a Reproach to their Families; but trains all his true Sons up in the School of Piety and Virtue, teaches them to understand the value of their Portion, and brings them to a resemblance of their Father. When they are ripen'd th [...] for Heaven, and made fit Company for Saints and Angels, he then re­ceives them to himself, and abundantly compen­sates the short Hardships of their Education, by putting into their hands the Fruit and End of all their Patience, even their glorious and eternal Inheritance.

I have now finished what I designed from the Text, and shall not fear that you'll think I detai [...] you too long upon my Third General Head, which relates to the Occasion of our present Meeting.

III. The proper End of Discourses of th [...] [...], I never took to be that of framing nauseou [...] [...] nygyricks upon our departed Friends: If any thing can add to the inde [...]ency of [...]ttery from a Pul­pit, it is the employing it, [...], Persons of a [...] fession, which of all others ought [...] most above it. But, al [...] this Consi [...] [Page 24]and ought to temper what I have to say; yet, when God hath given us the Advantage of excellent Ex­amples, it may justly seem Ingratitude to Him, and Injustice to our selves, not to mention some part at least of those Commendable Qualities, which Good Men have left behind them, as a Pattern worthy our diligent Imitation.

The Audience and Place in which I stand may seem more particularly to require This at my hands; which yet I shall endeavour so to manage, that You, who have had the Happiness of a longer and more intimate Acquaintance with our decea­sed Brother, than my self, shall not only bear wi [...] ­ness to the truth of it, but confess at the same time, that I bear a due regard to the Modesty so pec [...] ­ar in Him, whose Virtues I am about to give a ve­ry brief and imperfect Representation of. And to make the short remainder of my Discourse the more methodical and of a Piece with what hath gone before; it shall be my care to consine my self to those particular Effects, which I told you this Consideration of Eternal Happiness being proposed in the quality of an Inheritance ought in all reason to have upon every one of us.

The First of These, you well remember, was just Value, and profound Veneration for the Holy Scriptures. And how agreeable This was to [...]s Character, not You alone, who liv'd under [...] more immediate Care, and enjoy'd the Benefit of a long and painful Ministry from him, but the Na­tion in general have been convinc'd by those [...] ­thy Labours, which appear in Publick W [...]tings, so much the more valuable, as the Subject and [Page 25]Design of them is of greater and more general Im­portance, That of establishing the most concerning Truths of the Christian Religion; and illustrating those common Principles, which our Excellent Church hath thought necessary for forming the Lives and Judgments of all her Members. And this he hath done, if not by all the artful and enticing Words of Man's Wisdom, yet with solid and substantial Arguments from Reason, with pro­per Authorities from Scripture and Antiquity, and with such happy Force and full Conviction, as to deserve a Recommendation from one of our Lord Bishop of Sarum in his Pastoral Care. Re­verend Prelates, for the Study and Instruction of those, whose business it is to instruct others. To render his indefatigable Pains of yet more diffu­sive Influence, he hath likewise composed a Tractat. in Epist. ad Philipp. Tract in a Language more generally understood, which not only our own, but other Countries may I hope shortly reap the benefit of. In a Word, His Time was employ'd, and his Delight seem'd wholly to be placed in Divine Studies; These were his Busi­ness, his Entertainment, his Company, his Diver­sion; So careful was he to employ the Hours of a most retir'd Life, in the best and most beneficial manner; These were his Comfort in Afflictions, his Support under Hardships and Cares; These preserv'd his Mind from all criminal degrees of Anxiety, and, (as himself hath professed with great Satisfaction) softned those Troubles which a Man more addicted to the World must even have been swallow'd up in; But by Their means his Soul was disengag'd, and raised above the World, and his Conversation in Heaven: Happily indeed [Page 26]for himself, tho' in the common Judgment of Flesh and Blood less so for those he left behind, since those unwearied Labours, which manifestly contributed to his more speedy removal thither, hath deprived Them of his longer Direction and Assistance upon Earth.

The Second good Effect I mentioned, as natural­ly flowing from my Text, was That of an Obe­dience full of Thankfulness and Humility. And this appear'd so eminently in Him, that notwithstand­ing all the Goodness so conspicuous in his Conver­sation, no sign of Censoriousness or Spiritual Pride was to be found in him. But, though this Particular relate more immediately to Men's deportment to­wards God, yet I must beg leave in the Applicati­on to extend it something farther.

Gratitude to God is due, not only for Spiritual, but Temporal Mercies; for He is our Great Bene­factor, and the sole Author of all our Blessings of every kind. And, Since those Blessings are of­ten convey'd to us by the ministry and mediation of Men, no Man can be truly thankful, who is wanting in his Acknowledgments to those Persons, whose Hearts God hath disposed to become the Instruments of handing down his Kindness to us. Here also our deceased Brother performed the part of a truly good Christian, and took due Care to let no good Offices of any sort be buried in Ob­livion. He cou'd not content himself with a si­lent and private Sense of them, but had in parti­cular prepared Epist. Dedi­cator. to his Tract on the Philipp. to Archbishop Tillotson. a lasting and publick Expression of his Thanks, to our late Excellent Primate; Who, among other Marks of his Care to prefer worthy [Page 27]and useful Men, procur'd his promotion to another Benefice, and endeavour'd to make his Worth more visible, by placing him in our Capital City. Nor did he think it any Indecency, in an Address to so Great a Man, to make grateful and honourable mention of that seasonable Addition to his For­tunes, made by a Dr. Tudor, late Rector of Tewing in Hertfordshire Reverend Person in this Neigh­bourhood. So sollicitous was he upon all Occasi­ons, that no Man's Friendship, who had remem­ber'd him, should leave behind it the Reproach of not being as respectfully transmitted to Posteri­ty, as it had been worthily placed at the first Di­sposal.

Thus again; His Humility gave a peculiar lustre to the rest of his. Accomplishments: For in the midst of all those Endowments both Natural and Acquir'd, he seem'd the only Person insensible of his own Worth. His Temper was Easie and Gen­tle, so engaging and inoffensive, as to win over even Strangers, and Men of different Opinions, to a sensible Concern and Kindness for him: His Conversation Affable and Courteous, full of De­ference and modest Reserve: And, which of all other Qualities best proves a true Greatness of Soul, so Free and Communicative, and Improving withal, so perfectly void of Envy, and engrossing any sort of Knowledge or Commendation to him­self, that he seem'd to have copy'd after that great Pattern of Meekness, Moses, who Numb. xi. rebuked the Narrowness of those Spirits, who grudged the Ad­vantages of others for his sake, and wish'd with all his Soul, that all the Lord's People were Prophets.

Thirdly. Another Virtue resulting from the Text, was abating the Fears of our own Death, and moderating our Concern for That of Others. Of the former, that general Resignation of Tem­per, very observable in him upon all Occasions, was an abundant Proof; and that Indifference for Life, which I have often heard him chearfully express, excepting only for the sake of Those, whom yet he committed to God, with a becoming Dependence upon his Providence over them. And more bright no doubt this Virtue wou'd have shone in his last Hours, had not the Disease of which he dy'd, so violently attack'd his Understanding, and left him only some few, and those very short In­tervals for the exercise of it: So few, and so short, as allow'd no time sufficient for the Performance of those Duties most necessary and usual in his Condition. But we ought in all Reason and Cha­rity to presume, that, as his Life was the Life of the Righteous, so had the Faculties of his Mind been free, his Death wou'd, in a very exemplary manner, have manifestly appeared to be the Death of the Righteous too.

For the other Branch of this Argument, Many here present, I suppose, can recollect, with what a Mix­ture of tender Affection and Christian Constancy he supported the loss of his nearest and dearest Relation; And this too, though it found him then smarting under the fresh deep Wound of a sad and A Son drown­ed in the Mote of his House. surprizing Disaster; and happen'd at a time, when upon all other Considerations the Circumstances of his Family could not but render that Blow very sensible and heavy upon him. One Instance where­of [Page 29]relating to my self, I must beg your leave to mention: 'Tis, that presently upon that occasion, proffering him my Assistance in the supply of his Cure, he made me this (to me then) surprizing Answer, That Blessed be God for his Grace, he had soon con­quer'd the disorderly part of his Grief, and found no Relief so great as employing himself in his Study, and the attendance upon his Duty. This I confess to One who thought it always common and easie for Men to talk like Philosophers, but rare and difficult to be so in good earnest, gave me that Idea of his Piety, and Patience, and Firm­ness of Mind, which made me then begin to know the Man, and raised my Honour for him ever after.

Lastly, The only remaining Inference, That of Contentedness with the Disposals of Almighty God in this World, was likewise very visible and exem­plary in him. That equality of Mind, with which he struggled under a narrow Fortune, and a nu­merous Family, many now present must needs be well acquainted with; and a Temper, so far from Greedy, that even in things of right his own, he rather chose to depart from what he could ill be without, than have recourse to Rigour and extreme Justice. He hath frequently declared, that he want­ed no increase of Honour or Preferment for him­self, but purely for the sake of his Children; nor did he upon Their Account desire more than might preserve them from Contempt, and set them above the Temptations of Want and hard Ne­cessity. And This was so modest and so remarka­ble in a Person of such Learning and Labour in his Profession, that it engag'd Mens Wishes at least, [Page 30]and Affections, in his Favour: Insomuch that He, I believe, was one of those few, whose any Addi­tions of Good Fortune gave a general Satisfaction, and instead of envying, every body who knew him, wou'd have rejoyced to have seen them more and greater.

What now remains, but that Each of us from hence gather such Inferences, as may make this Ex­ample of Benefit to us, by applying it to our own respective Circumstances: More particularly,

1. That You, first, the Orphans of this Decea­sed, imitate his Patience and Meekness, and Holy Resignation to the Will of God: His Charity, and Justice, and great Industry. The Generation of the Righteous shall be blessed, and a good Man leaveth an Inheritance for his Children, says the Scripture. Even the best of all Inheritances, the Love and tender Regard of him, who is the Father of the Fatherless. Think not then his Virtues are lost and buried with him; no, They will live, and, as He, We ought not to doubt, now reaps the unspeakable Advantage of them in Heaven, so will they shed a happy Influence upon You on Earth too; Provi­ded always, that they live in your Practice and careful Imitation also; and keep you effectually from all things, which would be a Reproach to the Children of such a Father.

2. That You next of this Parish seriously consi­der, how far you are accountable for the long and laborious Ministry of such a Pastor; that a faith­ful and painful Guide of Souls, is One very con­siderable, among those Talents, which God will reckon with Men for at the last Day. And there­fore [Page 31]it highly concerns you to recollect and pra­ctice those Doctrines, with a Diligence proportio­nable to His that inculcated them: For, if so much good Seed through your neglect produce not much good Fruit, the Ground, assure your selves, will be cursed and condemned for its Bar­renness: And the more you might have learned and done; by the Influence of such Instruction and such an Example, the heavier shall Your Account be, and the more deservedly dreadful Your Con­demnation.

3. That We, Thirdly, who have the Honour of the same Profession, do, like him, dedicate our Lives and Labours entirely to the Service of God, and the Promotion of his Glory, by setting for­ward the love and practice of Virtue, and the Sal­vation of Mankind. Especially, that we make it our chief Care to establish and secure the essential and most necessary parts of Religion; which the shameless Insolence and Impiety of the profligate Age we live in, seems now, as much as ever, to require from us. And, though all of us cannot do this with His Learning and Abilities, yet it will be our own Fault, if we do not all attempt it with a Diligence and Zeal equal to His. Which if we do, our faithful Endeavours will be accept­ed and approved, even of Men; but if this Expe­ctation should fail us too, and we find our selves unable to effect the Good we intend, yet it is In­couragement sufficient for us, to abound in the Work of the Lord, that we are sure our Labour shall not, cannot be in vain in the Lord.

With these Reflections and Holy Resolutions, let us commit the mortal Remains of this Reverend, Worthy, Good Man, to the Dust, In sure and cer­tain hope of a Resurrection to Life Eternal; and that, if we be careful, thus as you have heard, to ap­prove our selves God's Children, we shall not fa [...]l in his due time, to be made in the best, the most beneficial, and most perfect and glorious Sense of the Text, Heirs of God, and Joynt-Heirs of Child. Which he of his infinite Mercy grant for the sake of the Same Jesus Christ his Dear Son and our P [...] Saviour: To whom with the Father and Holy Spirit, Three Persons and One God, be all Honour and Glory, Thanksgiving and Praise now and for evermore.