Job's assurance of the resurrection a sermon at Winwick in the county palatine of Lancaster, June 25, 1689 at the funeral of the Reverend Richard Sherlock D.D., late rector there / by Tho. Crane.

Iob's Assurance OF THE RESURRECTION , &c. JOB XIX . Vers . 25 , 26 , 27. Vers . 25.

For I know that my Redeemer liveth , and that he shall stand at the later day upon the Earth .

Vers . 26.

And tho' after my Skin , Worms destroy this Body , yet in my Flesh shall I see God :

Vers . 27.

Whom I shall see for my self , and mine Eyes shall behold , and not another .

REvolving , and for some time deliberating , with my self , what Subject to make use of upon this sad and solemn Occasion , I could not but thereupon conclude , That the Office of our Church should prevail in recommendation of one : And for this the more especially , in that the Reverend , the Deceased , was so intirely devoted to the Liturgy and Offices of Holy Church ; insomuch , that an Instance thence must needs revive his Memory , and the more endear us to it .

The Text , you know , is out of the preliminary Sentences made use of at the Burial of the Dead : The Words , as we may imagine , were spoken by Job , when he did conclude himself to be a dying Person ; no less is intimated to us from the words that go before , Vers . 20. where he saith , Ad tantam ariditatem Caro ejus devenerat , ut nihil humoris in eo remans●rit , &c. Beda . My Bones cleaveth to my Skin , and to my Flesh , &c. whence he is said to have been seized with , and labour'd then under an Hectick Feaver , which had already scorch't and burnt up all the Moisture of his Body . Since then that he was thus sore visited , and supposed to be at the point of Death , he would not that all should dye with him , but was extreamly desirous to leave something upon Record for others to meditate upon , when he was dead and gone : And being that the words of a dying Man are apt to make the most deep and lasting Impressions , there being good and great reason for it , for that then is the time , if ever , to be serious : wherefore for the good of all that must and should succeed , he prays , and that devoutly , with repeated Instances , that his words might be imprinted for ever , that they might become an everlasting Monument : for such are his most passionate Breathings , and vehement Desires , in the words that Preface and Introduce the Subject : Vers . 23 , 24. O that my words were now written , O that they were printed in a Book ! O that they had yet a more durable and indelible Character ! that they were graven with an Iron Pen ( aere perrennius ) in Brass or Stone for ever ! O that these things were so ! to the end that men might know , and the Children which are yet unborn might worthily contemplate their Redeemer ! O that they might be as fully assured hereof , as I my self am . For , for this , I know enough , I know for certain that my Redeemer liveth , and that he shall stand at the later day upon the Earth : And tho' after my Skin , Worms destroy this Body , yet in my Flesh shall I see God , &c.

By this we find , as you may well perceive , in the Apostles phrase , Hebr . 13. vers . 8. that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday , to day , and for ever ; that he was to them of old , to all the holy Patriarchs , righteous Judges , pious Men and Prophets , what he is to us at this very day ; that they , even they of old believed as we now do , that he alone is our Saviour and mighty Redeemer . This Job knew full well , as well as we now do , that his Redeemer liv'd ; that he that was dead , is now alive , and shall live for evermore , that Death hath no more Dominion over him ; that he that was debas'd to Hell , was now exalted to Heaven ; that he that was made a Worm , and no Man , the Out-cast of the People , was now esteem'd , and advanc'd above all , was now made Lord and Christ : that he that was judg'd and condemn'd of the World , should stand at the later day upon the Earth , should come to judge both Quick and Dead : All this Job knew right-well , the Text is a Monument of , and bears Witness to it . We may well presume that he saw , and knew all this , just as our Father Abraham did , who rejoyced greatly to see his day , his Advent into this World ; to behold God incarnate , to see God in his Flesh .

But hereupon some , methinks with wonder , are ready to reply , and make demand , How did our Father Abraham , or Job himself see and know these things , who were so long before him ? as many hundred years , for ought we learn , before the Son of God was born of a Woman , as we are since ? Job ad miraculum usque sanctus & doctus ante Mosem vixit , &c. Bellarm . de Scr. Eccl. How then can this thing be ? Yes , see him for certain they did , yea and salute him too , tho 't was remote and at a distance ; howbeit , by Faith they made him present with them . They saw and knew these things , but how ? not by the help of any corporeal Organ , or bodily Eye ; No , but by virtue of the Inner Man , the Eyes of their Understanding being enlighten'd : ( Eph. 1. v. 18. ) They saw and knew full well , that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself , and that too from the beginning ; that he was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World , according to the eternal purpose and determination of the Father : Wherefore they saw and knew what would be , as if it had been a thing done , and transacted in their time ; for even so doth Job express it in this very place .

Who knows , says one , ( Eccles . 3. 21. ) whether men dye as beasts , or no ? Ecce verba argumentantis ad vertendum in dubium immortalitatem animae ! Loquitur secundum opinionem Epicureorum ut quidam interpretantur . Cajet . in Eccles . who knoweth that the Spirit of the one goeth upward , and the Spirit of the other goeth downward , or no ? who knows whether their Souls vanish like those of Brutes into the soft Air ? or whether their Bodies shall for ever ingloriously remain in their dust and rubbish ? whether they shall lodge everlastingly in the Grave without any Resuscitation or Resurrection ? who knows whether these things shall be so or no ? Why , both I and you , Job and all the Faithful , know far better things , for , for this we rest assur'd , we know in very deed , that our Redeemer liveth , that God did not leave his Soul in Hell , nor suffer his holy One to see Corruption in the Grave ; no more must we for ever lodge in our silent Dormitories : No , no , that must not , that can't be ; for tho' Worms , says Job , destroy this Body , tho' they feed and prey upon it , till both it and they be converted into insipid Dust and Ashes , yet for all this , I in my Flesh shall see God , and mine Eyes shall be blessed therewith : for that I shall see him , who is now invisible , I shall see him in my self , i.e. in my Flesh , and for my self ; when and whereupon my sight will put me into admiration , and that into perpetual Adoration of him .

Can you think , or imagine , saith Job ( 14. v. 14. ) That one that is dead shall rise again ? There he puts the Question ; but in the Text he fully solves it ; for he puts it ( {αβγδ} ) beyond all contradiction , and will admit of no Exception to the contrary , for , for this , saith he , I am very confident , I know full well that my Redeemer liveth , that he that was dead is now alive , now lives and can dye no more , but lives , and that for evermore .

Doubtless Job had the same prospect , and lookt through the same Perspective with our Father Abraham , that saw his Person and his Day . Howbeit , ye know , that the Jews storm'd , and were outragious at our blessed Saviour , when he said unto them , Your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day , hereupon they were ready to pelt and overwhelm him with Stones . In all likelyhood they had had no more patience with Job himself , had he come before them thus peremptorily , had he confidently maintain'd and affirm'd it to their faces , saying , I know that my Redeemer liveth ; that he , whom you sacrificed to death , is now restored to life ; that he , whom you debased to Hell , maugre all your Spleen and Malice , is now exalted unto Heaven ; that that Person , whom you so barbarously treated , whom you pinn'd and nayled to the Tree , is now settled and established on his Throne ; that he , whom you Crucified , is the Resurrection and the Life . All this administers no little satisfaction to us , to meet thus plainly with Christ's Resurrection in the Old , as well as in the New Testament : To find that Job's Creed and ours should be the very same , and our Redeemer one and the same ; that the Holy Patriarchs , and Job , should have it so many hundred years before at least , as we are after Christ : which is , and ought to be the more welcom to us that are Gentiles , for that the words were spoken by one that was a Gentile , as Job was , and not of Jacob's Line Job enim non fuit de filiis Israel , sed Idumaeus , vel Arabs . Bellar . de Script. Eccl. , to the end that Jew and Gentile might have , and embrace the same Object of Faith : for he was a Light to lighten the Gentiles , as well as the Glory of his People Israel .

I find that St. Hierom saith of Job in this very place , Quod nullus tam apertè post Christum , quam iste antè Christum , de Resurrectione loquitur . Ad Damach . Epist. Tom 2. That no one ever since Christ's time , did speak more fully and clearly of Christ's Resurrection ; as Job himself did in this same Text , and that so long before Christ's time .

I shall therefore proceed directly to the words , altho' the most of what hath been already said relates unto the same . There is in them a direct Prophesie , or , if you will , a plain Creed of our Saviour's Resurrection , the first fruits of them that slept , and of our own by him .

First , There 's his Redeemer's Rising — I know that my Redeemer liveth , which is positive .

Secondly , His own Resurrection , by way of Inference thence ; which is illative : And this set down in words as full , and express , as may be ; as clear , and full , as in the Epistle to the Corinthians , or in any other place of the New Testament whatsoever , in that his Redeemer liveth ; he thence infers and concludes , saying , ( & in novissimo die de terrâ surrecturus sum ) And that I shall stand at the later day upon the Earth ; for thus some Translations render it : The Consequence whereof is good , in that he infallibly deduces his own from his Redeemer's Resurrection . The words following do illustrate and confirm us in this Construction ; wherein he saith , And tho' after my Skin Worms destroy this Body , yet in my Flesh shall I see God : I shall notwithstanding rise again , and in this very Flesh , with which I am now cloathed , come to contemplate my Redeemer .

Thirdly , Here 's the happy Result of the Resurrection , and the Benefits that redound to Job hereby : ( yet not only to Job , but to all the Faithful with him ; ) such he assures himself will be the Event thereof — saying hereupon , I in my Flesh shall see God , whom I shall see for my self , and mine Eyes shall behold , and not another .

According to this Method , the first is his Redeemer's Rising , which is illative ; for this he absolutely asserts , in that he saith , I know Scio enim , &c. plena sunt asseverationis singula sententiae verba : in eodem sensu , certè scio , certò novi , tam certè quam si oculis haurirem aut ipso experimento dedeciss●m . Pineda . . Which implies the certainty of the thing known , or the Object of his Knowledge . Hence St. Hierom's Remark is , ( Tom . 2. Epist. ad Pam . ) Nec-dum mortuus erat Dominus , & Athleta Ecclesiae Redemptorem suum videbat ab inferis Resurgentem . That Job , the Church's Champion ( who underwent his Cross with so great Patience , as if he felt it not ) saw his Redeemer rising from the dead , and this before the Son of God was crucified ; nay , before he was born , or became incarnate of the Virgin . He did not conceive , or imagine , that such a thing might happen , or come to pass ; as a thing possible , or probable ; but he knew it most infallibly for many Ages before it came to pass : which redounds exceeding much to the honour and praise of Job's Faith Fidei quidem cognitio , sola visione beatâ inferior est claritate , aequalis certitudine ; reliquis omnibus aliis scientiis longè superior . atque certior . Pineda . . Insomuch , that he might justly Challenge the Preheminence , and we adventure to say on his behalf — That so great Faith was not to be found , no not in Israel . We need not be solicitous , nor after all this , give our selves any further trouble , to know how he knew it ; what hath been already deliver'd , may suffice for that . Thus much of the Act , for his knowing of it .

Now of the Object thereof , What it was that he knew thus well , and that is , That his Redeemer liveth . Job , for ought I learn , is the first man in the Old Testament that stiled him so , so that we owe the Title of Redeemer to him ; for tho' there might be Promises before , that might import the same , yet he it was that first bestow'd that Term and Title upon him .

We shall therefore consider the Sum and Importance of it , to the end that we may more fully and better Contemplate our Redeemer , that we may gain a more intimate and presential Knowledge of him . Being that Redemption is taken in several sences , 't will do well to deliberate diversly upon the same , in order to fix upon a right Notion , that we may be better able to apprehend the great benefit thereof .

First , Redemption may be by Manumission , as when the Lord , or Master doth voluntarily dismiss , or willingly set at Liberty his Bondslave or Captive : which Enfranchizing , or voluntary Discharge , seldom or very rarely happens .

Secondly , A second way of Redemption may be by way of Permutation ; as when one Prisoner , or Captive , is exchang'd for another .

Thirdly , A third way may be , and often happens by force ; as when by their Friends or Allies they are rescued , or forcibly deliver'd out of the Hands of their Enemies , and by that means set at Liberty .

Fourthly , The fourth and last way is , by Ransom ; when a Price of equal estimate , or of more worth , at least in the Judgment of him that detains the Captive , is paid for his Deliverance , whereby the Prisoner is deliver'd from Chains , and obtains his Freedom : And in this last Sense Christ is said to have Redeem'd us .

Now Captivity happens , either by being sold , or by being taken ; by both which men are carried away into Slavery : Both which implies that we were miserable Captives , and so stood in need of a Redeemer . That we were taken away by force , that I dare not adventure to say , but that we had sold our selves , or rather given our selves away ; for that we did it for a thing of no moment , not for any thing of that Value that could justly merit the name of a Sale ; which discovers our wilfulness , and consequently our wickedness to have been the greater . We were sold under sin , Rom. 7. v. 14. whereby we became Satan's Bondslaves . Redimere , as one observes , est quasi iterum emere ; To Redeem , is to buy back that which before was sold and alien'd ; insomuch that Captivity must be presuppos'd , before there can be any need of a Redemption .

We had therefore alien'd our Nature in Adam , sold our selves to Satan for a thing of no worth ; as we are daily apt to do , for worldly Profits , sinful Delights , and trifling Pleasures : but tho' the Devil gain Souls so cheaply , he will not manumit them so freely ; he knows they are better worth than so : insomuch that if Christ will Redeem us , he must dearly pay for us . Our state was most forlorn and destitute , we having neither Force nor Friends to redeem us out of Slavery , or to restore us to our pristine Liberty : but in that we were thus helpless , for that we became the more pitiable , and the Object of God's mercy . Sold we were , and bought we must be again , or else undergo Eternal Bondage . 't was not a Matter of Intreaty , nor Supplication that could , or did deliver us from the Power of Satan , or the Wrath of God . Nor was the Price of our Ransom Gold or Silver , or any such corruptible thing , 1 Pet . 1. 18. 't was not the Spoil of rich Provinces , nor the Booty of Kingdoms , nor the vast Treasures of the Indies ; 't was not the Blood of Bulls , nor Goats , but the precious Blood of that Immaculate Lamb , that was slain from the beginning of the World , according to the Eternal purpose and foreknowledge of God the Father ; so that he was a true and perfect Redeemer to all those that went before , as well as to those that succeeded him in the Flesh : Therefore doth Job with great Courage and Comfort thus express it , — I know that my Redeemer liveth , and Death I matter not , for tho' Worms destroy this Body , yet for all this , I shall revive , and in my Flesh I shall see God ; insomuch that he doth with no less Exultation insult over Death and the Grave , than the very Apostle himself , who thus triumphantly sings his {αβγδ} , ( 1 Corinth . 15. v. 55. ) O Death ! where is thy sting ? O Grave ! where is thy victory ? O thanks be to God! who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ ; who did not give something to save himself , but gave his Life a Ransom for us , Body for Body , and Soul for Soul .

I know that my Redeemer liveth , that he is not a dead , but a living thing ; that he is Life it self , and therefore must needs be God . The Psalmist deduceth this at large , and in effect affirms no less , Psal . 49. vers . 7 , 8. That man cannot redeem his Brother , nor give to God a Ransom for him ; no , it cost more to redeem man's Soul , Money was no ( {αβγδ} ) Price for the Soul , so that Man must let its Ransom alone for ever : ( vers . 15. ) 't is God shall redeem our Souls from Hell not from the Grave , for dye we must ; but from the power and dominion of Death . On the other hand , this Redeemer must also be Man , for so the flat Law of Redemption requir'd , ( Lev . 25. 25. ) he must be near of Kin , Flesh of our Flesh , and bone of our Bone : Man alone can't become a Redeemer , and God alone may not , but God and Man both may and can . This may suffice as to his Office , that of a Redeemer . And this would also put us upon the Meditation of his two Natures , Humane and Divine , in one and the same Person ; for which we need not strain , nor make any forc'd Construction , seeing that the words immediately followlowing are exegetical hereunto , and declare no less , — I shall see God in my Flesh , i . e . Salvatorem meum advenientem in formâ humanitatis . Hugo Card . that is , my Lord and Saviour at last coming to Judgment in Humane form , or likeness , as he is the Son of Man : All this shall I behold with these mine Eyes of Flesh . I confess the words may be rendred otherwise , and so I find by some that they are , yet both ways seem to be proper enough , it being not much material , whether I say , That I in my Flesh shall see God , or that I shall see God incarnate , God invested in my Nature , in the habit of my Flesh : This is like two-faced Janus , for that it points and looks directly either way : Both these Interpretations are given of the words , and both I conceive are good . Hitherto of the first general Head , that of a Redeemer , and his Person , Humane and Divine .

The second thing in General to be insisted on , is what is illative , what Job hence infers for his and our unspeakable Consolation : He hereupon concludes , saying , And that I shall stand at the later day upon the Earth , or that he shall rise again , and stand at the last upon the Earth ; It may be either in the first or second Person , either I or He , whether you please , for so 't is render'd ; and the Consequence is good without perverting the words , or doing violence to the Sense of them . If you take it as it is in our Office , or in the English Translation , then 't is , that he shall stand at the later day , that he shall rise again from the Earth : Whence observe , That altho' there were many antecedent Works , and concurring Acts to compleat the Mystery of Man's Redemption , however , Job makes choice of one among them all , that was even chief and principal of all , of one that crown'd and consummated all the rest ; for hereby he manifested himself to be a perfect Redeemer , thereof he gave us full Assurance , in that he rose again from the Dead ; wherefore the Septuagint hath it , not {αβγδ} , he shall stand , but {αβγδ} , he shall stand , or rise again ; which presumes his death or fall , in that no one can be said to rise , or get up , that was not down before : which is no other but what was said before , That Job , the Church's warlike Combatant , and victorious Champion , saw Christ rising from the dead , before he was Crucified on the Cross , nay before he was born of his Mother . He then having conquer'd Death and Hell , Job hereby assures himself and us , that we shall have the benefit thereof : for what by his own Example he hath exhibited to us , he will undoubtedly make good by reward unto us Exemplo hîc monstravit quod promisit in praemio . Greg . ca. 27. as Lira notes . ; for that the Members must needs follow their Head , and be made partakers of its Glory .

Redeemer is but a Relative Term , which will be nothing without its Correllative or Correspondent . A Redeemer therefore is altogether upon the account of others , for whom he undertakes ; for he lives not , dyes not , rises not , to or for himself , but for the sake of his Redeemed ; they indeed reap the benefit , but he it is that pays the Ransom . Insomuch that every faithful and truly penitent Christian , may , and ought with holy Job , to appropriate the Business unto himself , to stile him , as he here doth , and call him his Redeemer , or my Redeemer ; for he is not only Job's Redeemer , but the Redeemer of all Mankind Non Jobi tantùm , sed & universitatis hominum redemptor est : vo●●s autem ill● , meus , tuus suus , amatoriae sunt , & ad singularem dilectionem referuntur . Pineda . , howbeit , the more endearing Term is , to style my Redeemer , and thy Redeemer ; these Possessives entitles us to him , and denote in a more peculiar manner our surpassing love , and singular affection towards him : wherefore Job assures himself and us , That as he rose from the Dead , so his Redeemed shall rise again at the last day ; arguing , as well he might , from his Redeemer to himself , for that the Head and its Members cannot be compleat without each other . When and whilst we behold the Head above the Waters , 't would be absurd to think that the Body could be lost , or drown'd ; a live Head and a dead Body , you know , are ( {αβγδ} ) inconsistent one with the other : Therefore if the Head live , the Body cannot perish ; if the Head rise , the Body and all its Members must , and shall in due time follow after . Answerable hereunto is that of the Father ( St. Hierom ad Pam . Tom . 2. Ep. ) He , the first-born from the Dead , having exalted to Heaven in his own Person , the first-fruits of the Mass of our Bodies , hath thereby given us sure and certain hopes of the Resurrection , by that of his own Body : whence he thus concludes , — That all we in like manner expect to rise again , even as he rose from the dead . In this sort then is Job's reasoning in this place ; he doth in effect say ; If he rise I rise , if he live , I live ; and that he lives , of that I make no doubt , for that he is the Resurrection and the Life , insomuch that whosoever liveth and believeth in him , shall never dye , but live for evermore . Hitherto of the different reading of the words , but more especially of the Inference that Job draws from the Premisses , deducing from his Redeemer's Resurrection his own infallibly . This , as to what is Illative .

Thirdly , Having shew'd the Coherence hereof , how one follows from another , I shall now pass on to treat of the Result hereof , of the Benefits that accrue to Job hereby , and yet not only to him , but also to all the Faithful with him : These are summ'd up in the 26th and the 27th verses , and are the third and last General Head ; but for this I shall contract my Discourse . It follows , vers 26 , 27. And tho' after my Skin Worms destroy this Body , yet in my Flesh shall I see God , vers . 27. Whom I shall see for my self , and mine Eyes shall behold , and not another . This is so fully express'd , and so often repeated with one and the same Breath ; as that we may very well assure our selves that he was extreamly affected herewith ; as one observes upon the like Occasion , saying , Quod extraordinarie dilexit , superfluè nominavit . That , that which he was so much and so surpassingly in love with , he could not but mention super-abundantly . It would not suffice to say , I shall see him , except he further added , — I shall see him in my Flesh ; nay moreover , I shall see him with mine Eyes , with the same Eyes , and in the same Flesh : And after all this , I shall see him for my self , and not another ; which frequent reiteration can denote no less than his vehement desires , and hearty longings for the Beatifick Vision ; than the infinite Complacency he should find in the Contemplating his Redeemer . I in my Flesh shall see God , — Resurrectionem quidem carnis sine dubio prophetavit . S. Aug. de Civit . Dei , Lib . 22. ca. 29. No doubt , saith the Father , Job hereby foretold the Resurrection of the Flesh , in that he saith , Tho' after my Skin Worms destroy this Body , yet in my Flesh shall I see God : which is the very same , as if he should have said , as indeed he doth , I shall be re-invested in my human Nature , and cloathed with this my Flesh anew , when I shall come to behold my dear Redeemer . Altho' Worms destroy this Body of mine , altho' they feed and prey upon it till they have devour'd it , and can live no longer ; altho' both it and they at the last be converted into Dust ; altho' part of this Dust be intermingled with my Forefathers ; altho' it be scatter'd to and fro upon the face of the Earth ; altho' part thereof be carried , or driven into the Seas , where 't is tossed with perpetual Revolutions ; in what lap or fould of the Earth my Dust shall lodge ; or how it may be intermingled , or dispersed , 't is hard for me to tell , that I know not ; however , this I know , notwithstanding this dispersion , this confusion and intermixture of it , altho' all this should happen , however I am fully perswaded , that all of it shall be recollected , and recompacted , and my Body and Soul re-united , in a moment , in the twinkling of an Eye , and that I in my Flesh shall see God , with the same Eyes and no other ; in the same Body , and not in another ; tho' otherwise then qualified .

This fully evinceth the Verity and Reality of the Resurrection , and the Identity of the Body in the same Caro eadem erit , & diversa post resurrectionem , eadem per naturam , diversa per gloriam . Pineda . . Hence I might proceed to let you understand ,

First , That all Happiness will consist in seeing God .

Secondly , That we shall see him in the very same Bodies , with which our Souls are now invested , tho' otherwise then qualified .

Thirdly , That every Individual amongst us , who continues truly faithful and penitent , shall enjoy the benefit hereof ; shall , with holy Job , see God for himself , to his own endless Bliss and Eternal Comfort .

These severally discuss'd and dilated upon , together with what hath been already deliver'd , would exceed the Measures of an Hours Discourse ; so that I shall be inforc'd , that I be not tedious , to abridge what remains . In fine , 't is well known that all our Misery commenced when we were driven out of Paradise , and banisht God's Presence ; well then , by the Rule of Contraries it must needs follow , that all our Happiness must needs consist in being restor'd to the light of his Countenance . This must needs be so , for that the Vision of God is throughout the Holy Scriptures made our ( ultimum bonum ) chiefest Felicity . And the Schools have plac'd all that Bliss that must and shall ensue in the next World , in all those surpassing Qualifications and Endowments that the Body and Soul shall for ever enjoy : yet one as well as the other , will have it to be principally by seeing God in his Glory , in beholding him face to face . Answerable hereunto is that of the Psalmist ( Psal . 16. 12. ) In thy Presence is the fulness of joy , and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore . Wherefore as Philip said unto our blessed Saviour ; ( St. John 14. v. 8. ) Lord ! shew us the Father and it sufficeth us ; so may we say , ( Psalm 4. ) Lord ! lift up the light of thy Countenance upon us , and we shall be whole . Shew us but him who is the Fountain of Light and Life , who is the express Image of the Father , who is Beauty , Glory , and Immortality it self , and that sufficeth : that 's enough , for more than that , as we need not , so we shall never covet , nor desire to know : so that we may come to behold him in the beauty of revealed Heaven , at the right Hand of his and our heavenly Father ; in his Throne of Majesty , where he will appear more glorious than ten thousand Suns in their Summer Solstice and Meridional Splendor ; when and whereupon we shall become not only living Souls , but living Luminaries also ; for then every Member of our Bodies shall be transform'd into Lustre , and shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father ; ( St. Matth . 13. 43. ) Where we shall have a continued and uninterrupted sight of an infinite , glorious and everlasting Object ; where nothing shall ever invidiously interpose to rob us of it , for there we shall enjoy him in his long and everlasting day ; in that with him are no Tropicks , no variableness , nor shadow of turning ; his Glory can never be obscur'd . O how strong and quick ! how bright and piercing must our Eyes needs be ! how strongly and strangely qualified , says one in precontemplation hereof , that shall be able to behold and dwell upon such transcendent brightness ? in respect whereof all the glittering Eminences of this inferiour World are but as dark shades , as dull and gloomy Substances , for the Heavens are not pure in his sight .

2. If St. Augustine , as 't is affirm'd , made it one of his most passionate Wishes to have seen Christ Jesus in the Flesh , that he might have been his Contemporary and Disciple , when and whilst in his chosen Manhood he was conversant here on Earth : And if divers of our pious and religious Forefathers dispens'd with tedious Pilgrimages , resorting from very remote Parts to behold the Holy City , to visit their Redeemers Sepulcher , albeit they could not see their Jesus , yet that they might see , and worship , where his Feet had stood ; where he had shed for them both Blood , and Sweat , and Tears ; where he prayed , and cried , and gave up the Ghost : If simply out of Devotion they travel'd to behold these things , that the same might influence and make impressions on them : How much more grateful will it be to see our Redeemer out of his Terrestrial Weeds ? to see him in his proper Orb and Sphear ? in his glorified State with all his blessed Angels and redeemed Ones about him ? Who would not in serious consideration hereof , with good old Simeon , court a Dissolution ? Who would not beg a change , that Immortality might be swallowed up of Life , and live , and that for ever ? How doth the Apostle's heart pant , and implicitly breath after all this ? It seems to beat as restlesly after it , as the Needle after the Loadstone : For thus he saith ( 2 Corinth . 5. 4. ) we that are in this Tabernacle do groan , being burden'd , not for that we would finally part with our Bodies , or for ever be divorced from them , ( tho' indeed in this Life they often may and do subject us to many pressures , incline us to many sinful Lusts and Temptations ) however we would not be deprived of them for ever , but be cloathed upon , that Mortality might be swallow'd up of Life . We would that this same Mortal should become Immortal , that this Corruption should put on Incorruption , that that which is sown a Natural should become a Spiritual Body : We would , and that most earnestly , that he would change our vile Bodies , that they may become like unto his glorious Body , eternal in the Heavens .

Now if we be thus extreamly desirous , and would see Jesus in our flesh ; if so , then , as one observes , the Life of Jesus must also be seen , and made manifest in our flesh : We must of necessity imitate him in our Lives , tread in his steps , walk in his ways , and keep his Commandments : We must faithfully transcribe his Copy , be pure as he is pure , just as he is just , and merciful as he is merciful : not rendring evil for evil , but endeavour to overcome it by doing good : We must crucifie the Old Man , dye daily to sin , since he died for our sins , and arise to newness of Life , studying to serve him in righteousness and holiness all the days of our lives : And if his Resurrection , and Power of it , be thus exemplarily seen in our flesh ; the end of this will be to see him in our flesh , and that not against , but for our selves ; not to our dismal horrour and confusion , but to our endless joy and comfort ; which God of his infinite goodness and mercy grant through Jesus Christ our Lord . Amen .

I have yet a large Province behind , were I but able to manage it : I must , and do ingenuously confess , that some undeserved Favours to me , when and whilst I was a Student in the Colledge , did always incline me to do him Service , whose Exaequies we now celebrate ; however , being conscious to my self of my own Insufficiency to discharge this Task as it ought to be , that he was pleas'd to lay upon me , made we wish , and unfeignedly desire that one more fit , and better accomplish'd , had been employ'd upon this solemn Occasion .

One main Advantage that I have herein , before a Stranger , is , that I need not be inquisitive , nor much solicitous after the Memorable Passages of his Life ; for those I presume are much-what known to me already , having enjoy'd his Company , and obtain'd his Converse for many years together . Notwithstanding at this present , I can't , without a more mature deliberation , and less disturbance and distraction of my thoughts , present you with any other than a rude , immethodical , and imperfect Draught of his Life : And wherein you find the Representative to fall short , as it needs must , of that Idea , that may worthily be conceived of this venerable Person , I hope you 'l have so much Christian Candour as to connive at the Defects of your Brother , and so much Charity for me , and Respect for the Deceased , as to pity rather than deride my Weakness ; and wish , as I my self have done , that one more Judicious and Rhetorical had been the present Undertaker .

I know the very naming of him is enough to all that knew him : And to read , and seriously to meditate upon his devout and practical Pieces , will be sufficient for them that knew him not . Albeit Vertue hath no more than Merit when 't is commended , yet Justice will that it should have its due ; for tho' it cannot be better'd thereby , yet in so doing it is righted .

He was early Matriculated in the University , too early I have heard him say with some regret He was admitted into the Colledge when he was about 14years of Age ; for which , as he intimated , he was constrain'd to become the more studious and industrious . And how well he improved his time , and what Progress he made in Learning , will sufficiently appear by what he writ , without any further Observation . That which I find recorded of S. Remigious , may well be attributed unto him ; — Ut primum Disciplinarum c●pax factus est , non modò natu majores , &c. That from the time of his first capacity of Learning , he outstrip'd those that were superiour to him in Age , as well in excellency of Parts , as proficiency in Study , and maturity in Moral Vertues . I was enforc'd to make this Remark , for that it was reported ; that I had derogated from his Worth and Parts by my late Expressions , rendering him thereby as mean and despicable . How deserving such Censures are , let the Reader be judge , and tell , whether the same be not temerarious , if not captious and perverse . ; for to send raw and green youth thither , before the Tongues be learn'd and understood , is a great diskindness to it , proves often such a defect , that will hardly after be made good without double diligence and industry : in that such will be obliged to study , before they can understand an Author ; which falls out otherwise when well School'd before-hand , for that then they read with much ease and delight , as well as profit .

After , as I conceive , he had commenc'd Master of Arts in the University of Dublin , he entred into Holy Orders , and was presented to a Cure , and undertook first the Pastoral Charge in that now distracted Kingdom of Ireland : when instantly the Rebellion there breaking forth , he was forced thence , leaving and loosing his Books , and what he had . Nor was England after that , for any long time more kind , or auspicious to him , for that the Torrent of Wars did quickly overflow the Nations : However , he was always stedfast to his Principles , steddy in Allegiance , and faithful to his Soveraign ; promoting his Interest with great Zeal and Courage , as much as lay within his Sphear . For his Loyalty he sustain'd and suffer'd very much , Deprivation , and for sometime Imprisonment , as many Worthies did besides him . At the last , when driven out of Oxford , ( where for some space he was resident , and one of the Chaplains in New Colledge , Officiating also at one of the Churches in the Town ) by good Providence he found shelter in a small Village near adjoyning , where he lived obscurely , yet he said very happily , for that he was at rest , and not envied there , because the Place was of no great value ; save that the People were very kind and respective to him , and had a difference for him ; which made his Ministry more effectual , as well as Life more comfortable ; for truly so it is , that wherever the People are prejudiced , or disaffected , ( tho' a Man had the Tongue of Men and Angels ) he shall , as one expresseth it , sooner preach out his heart amongst them , than preach what is good into their hearts .

But what Corner of the Nations was then left long unransackt ? here also they found him , and drove him out ; insomuch that he was sore hurried and posted to and fro , being not able to fix his Station long in any one place ; except in one Loyal Family in the North Berwick-Hall . .

Till at last , by a most strange and propitious Revolution , the King and Royal Issue returning , and the Kingdoms setling after so much War and Bloodshed , his Noble , and Right Honourable Patron , Charles Earl of Derby , whose Chaplain he was , as he had been long before to his Grandfather , the Right Honourable William Earl of Derby , presented him to this Place : So that his Lot at the last fell unto him in a goodly Heritage Wenwick . , which might , as no doubt it did , in some measure compensate for his former Losses and great Sufferings . And for this I have heard him say , with much gladness of heart , for he thankt God when he spake it , that never any Benefice was more frankly and freely bestow'd than his was ; which was much , very much to the honour of his Noble Patron ; whose Necessities , notwithstanding , might be very great and urgent , because of his , and the Earl his Father's late Troubles and Sufferings for Loyalties sake , which are not here to be recounted .

As for his Painfulness in his Cure , let his own words be heard , for he being dead yet speaketh , and preacheth to us : Thus you may read him in his Dedicatory Epistle to his Parishioners in his Practical Christian . — As for the Discharge of my Duty , tho' I cannot say I have been so prudent , and diligent , as the high and holy Nature of my Function requires , yet you know I have not omitted frequently to put you in mind of the whole Will of God , in the careful Observance whereof the Health of your Souls consisteth . And lest any should be at a loss for the Contents of God's holy Will , he there further informs us , that the same is collected out of the whole Body of Holy Scriptures , and sum'd up into General Heads by the Church of Christ in her Catechism — The which , saith he , tho' by a strange Fanatick Humour it be sleighted , and by self conceited Persons derided , yet contains all things , both of Faith and Fact , necessary to Salvation , being rightly , clearly , and fully understood . For this end he hath Paraphras'd the same ; which how much in vogue and esteem throughout the Nation , the many Editions thereof do fully demonstrate .

He would often tell his Hearers of such that have itching Ears , who through the desire of much hearing , upon the pretence of going on to Perfection , were apt to run off the very Foundation . Alike to this , is that of a late Reverend Prelate ( Bishop Nicolson ) who thus expresseth himself — Ever since Sermonizing hath justled out the necessary Instruction of Catechizing , the People have been possess'd with strange Errours in Religion , and hurried on by the Spirit of Giddiness , of Faction , and of Rebellion .

He was evermore for what was Practical , much more for that , than what was Controversial in Divinity : He seem'd rather to decline than encourage and countenance Disputes ; as if thereby he dreaded greater Differences : which often falls out , that more Strifes , are engendred and multiplied by hotly and stifly arguing it , than are quelled thereby .

He was very strict and regular in his Life and Conversation , no less observant of the Churches Orders and Constitutions : He would not admit of Private Prayer in Publick , of no other there than what the Church enjoyn'd to be used , as prescribed and establish't by Authority For this I may , and do refer all such that Require further satisfaction , and more particular Information herein , to a brief Discourse of his , Entituled , The Irregularity of a Private Prayer in a Publick Congregation . In a Letter to a Friend Anno Dom . 1674. And since then Reprinted and Enlarged . However , he thought it prudence to conceal his Name , for that Custom had so much prevail'd to the contrary . See also Pulpit Conceptions , Popular Deceptions . There 's more of this in the Preacher's Guard and Guide , aliàs Rex Theologus : wherein is rankt the use of long Prayers of our own conceiving before Sermon , among the Innovations these later times have made . . And pray ! with what face can men pretend to be of the Church , and Guides to the People , when they will not be ruled nor regulated thereby , acting as she enjoyns ?

As for his Hospitality , and Acts of Charity , they have been deservedly much fam'd : He gave much Alms , and daily administred to the Necessitous , to such that were in Prison and Distress : He cloathed the Naked , and provided Bread for the Hungry , contributed much towards the setling of a stock of Bread and Cloath , for the Poor for ever . His Charity was diffusive , for not only his own , but other Parishes were warm'd by its bountiful influence . He hath made such Provision for the Indigent , that the Children which are yet unborn may gratefully Commemorate him . He was much conversant in Watching , Fasting , and Praying , as well as Alms-deeds , with him they inseparably accompanied each other . He shew'd himself in all things a Patern of Good Works , the Mirrour of Holiness , the Samplar of Christian Piety . His Zeal was such in providing for the Sick and Needy , as to deny himself those things that were convenient for him , that he might be better able to supply the Wants of the Necessitous . He had learn'd , that the Glory of One of his high and holy Function consisted much in making Provision for the Poor , as his shame did in studying to enrich himself Ignominia Sacerdotis est , propriis studere , &c. . Wherefore his principal Care for this was , to lay up his Treasure in Heaven by a faithful dispensation ( as a careful Steward ) of that which God had given him upon Earth .

He was very spare and slender of Body ; and 't was thought he impair'd its strength very much by his frequent Fasting and Abstinence . However , he would not endure to be told thereof ; for upon any such a Suggestion , he was ready to reply , That he did eat and drink too much ; and that many , if not most , of men ( using the Proverb ) did dig their Graves with their Teeth . Upon this account , for that he was so much devoted to Austerity of Life , and was so strict an Observer of the holy time of Lent , and other stated Fasts of the Church ; for this and the like , the ignorance of some , and that , and ill-will in others , would needs have been tainted with Popery .

He often forsook his warm Bed in the cold season of the Night , that he might betake himself to his Devotions ; so that he spent the time in watching , weeping , and praying , when others were at their Repose , and Sleeping . He esteem'd Time most precious , reckoning of that as lost , more than what was necessary for Rest and Refreshment to the Body , that was not imploy'd in Prayer , Study , Christian Visits , and such like ; insomuch , that that very Character , which was given to St. Hierom by the Author of his Life , may very well be bestow'd on this Reverend Person Somnus non ad de●icias , sed ad naturae capitur necessitatem : Canis jam totus aspersus , nihil ex studiorum aljiduitate remittit . — Mirum erat in corpore jejuniis & aetate consumpto , tantum spiritûs , tantum vigere fortitudinis . : — That he would indulge Sleep no more ( scarce that ) than only to satisfie the Necessity of Nature ; that he remitted nothing of Pains and Industry for Reading or Study ; nor of his Alacrity in Prayer : so that 't was a wonder to see a Body , that had sustained so much by Labour , Vigilance , and Fasting , to continue so full of Vigour and Activeness . Moreover , as if he had ( what can we imagine less ? ) some secret and invisible Monitour still at hand to instigate him thereunto , he would frequently , and that instantly , depart the Company , retire into secret , to pour forth his Soul in pious and fervent Ejaculations Saepe accidit , ut dum inter alios versaretur , & cum illis Sermonem misceret , intus Deum se alloquentem sentiens , discederet in cubientum , ibi cor suum coram Domino effundens , &c. In vit . Th. a Kempis . ; when and where his Zeal and Transports have been such , that he hath been often over-heard ; which in Charity we must conclude was not designedly , and out of vain affectation to be over-heard , that he might be taken notice of ; no , but we must impute the same to the meer Raptures of Devotion . That of venerable Bede which he ascribed to his Predecessor S. Cuthbert , is very applicable to this Reverend Pastor Commissam namque sibi plebem & orationibus protegebat assiduis , & admonissionibus , &c. Bed . Eccl. Hist . lib . 4. cap 28. , — That he fulfilled his Duty in daily Prayers in behalf of the People committed to his Charge , and he taught them nothing by his words , whereof he did not give them a good Example by his Deeds .

He had David's Psalms ad unguem , making Responses all by heart ; Evening and Morning as , the Church prescribes , he attended Publick Prayers : And upon the more solemn Days of Fasting and Humiliation , as upon Ashwednesday , Good-friday , &c. after Divine Service had been celebrated in the Church ; he would in his private Chappel read Prayers again , making then use of the Psalms and Lessons , as appointed by the Calendar in ordinary Course for the day ; when those that were proper and peculiar to that day had been read before .

When ever the Absolution was pronounced , or the Benediction given , being upon his bended Knees , he bar'd his venerable gray Hairs , and lowly bowed his Head , as if he would have kissed the Ground .

Very often in private he hath been seen and heard to weep , and pray , and beat his Breast ; not only kneeling , but sometimes throwing himself flat upon the Earth ; lying prostrate on the Ground , as if he had been licking up the dust ; thus profoundly humbling himself , even to the lowest . Since he has already paid the last Debt to Nature , we may safely speak ; for that 't is impossible to humour the Dead into danger , or in this case to melt our selves away into Flattery .

A good old man , like to this pious one , who is now become our present Subject , being much importun'd to declare , what his Studies and Contemplations for the most part were : — At last , breaking the Bounds of Modesty , he made this Answer St quotidie ●ersari , &c. , — That he , for his part , was daily conversant in , and much meditating upon the four last things , Death and Judgment , Heaven and Hell . These we may well presume possess'd much the thoughts of the Deceased , for that in Writing he hath expatiated hereupon , and recommended the same to our serious Meditations .

It were easie to multiply Instances of this Nature , for we have a very virtuous and copious Subject ; The whole Narrative of his Life would take up much , and justly Challenges a far better and more able Pen ; but Brevity necessitates me , that I be not tedious , to pass by many memorable Passages . There 's nothing of untruth , as I conceive , that can deservedly be charg'd upon me for what I have already said ; I fear there 's more of Virtue and Piety , than hundreds will ever imitate or practice . However , let a man live or act never so well , there will be some Momus or other to carp , some prejudic'd and disaffected to traduce and censure him , and never understand the worth , till they find the want of him ; which great Numbers will be sure to do , I mean the Poor that he fed and cloathed , who can be no feigning nor personating , but real Mourners for his Death .

Having led his Life in an Holy and Chast Celebacy , being never wedded to any save God , and the People that were committed to his Care and Trust , of whose Spiritual welfare he was very tender ; and having spun out his days to the 76th Year of his Age , he seem'd to be weary of the World , and to wait for his Dissolution ; wherein his God hath gratified him , having brought him to his Fathers , and in a good old Age deliver'd him from the Miseries of this sinful World , it may be from much Evil to come . Which God in Mercy prevent , and of his infinite Goodness grant , that among the sundry and manifold Changes and chances of this Mortal Life , our Hearts may surely there be fixed , where true Joys are to be found , through Jesus Christ our Lord .

AMEN .