A01379:51
Five sermons preached upon sundry especial occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habitFiue sermons preached vpon sundry especiall occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit
Five sermons preached upon sundry especial occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit: in Whitehall, March 29. being the first Tuesday after the departure of King James into blessedness. 2 A visitation sermon: in Christs Church, at the triennial visitation of the right reverend father in God the lord bishop of London. 3 The holy choice: in the chapel by Guildhall, at the solemn election of the right honourable the lord major of London. 4 The barren tree: at Pauls-Cross, Octob. 26. 5 The temple: at Pauls-Cross. August 5. By Tho: Adams.Fiue sermons preached vpon sundry especiall occasions Viz. 1 The sinners mourning habit: in Whitehall, March 29. being the first Tuesday after the departure of King Iames into blessednesse. 2 A visitation sermon: in Christs Church, at the trienniall visitation of the right reuerend father in God the lord bishop of London. 3 The holy choice: in the chappell by Guildhall, at the solemne election of the right honorable the lord maior of London. 4 The barren tree: at Pauls-Crosse, Octob. 26. 5 The temple: at Pauls-Crosse. August 5. By Tho: Adams.
London: printed by Aug. Matthewes and John Norton for John Grismand, 1626London: printed by Aug. Matthewes and John Norton for Iohn Grismand, 1626
THE SINNERS MOURNING HABIT. › In dust and ashes.THE SINNERS MOVRNING HABITE. › In dust and ashes.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For this cause, the Ancients used to repent in Ashes; remonstrating to themselves, that they deserved burning in endless fire, more then those Ashes wherein they wallowed. Yea, if Abraham compared himself to dust and ashes, I may compare my soul to a spark hid in the Ashes: which, when sickness and death shall stir up; like fire, she takes her flight upwards, and leaves the heavy fruitless ashes of my body behind her.
For this cause, the Ancients vsed to repent in Ashes; remonstrating to themselues, that they deserued burning in endlesse fire, more then those Ashes wherein they wallowed. Yea, if Abraham compared himselfe to dust and ashes, I may compare my soule to a sparke hid in the Ashes: which, when sickenesse and death shall stirre vp; like fire, shee takes her flight vpwards, and leaues the heauy fruitlesse ashes of my bodie behind her.
In both, we have a Lesson of our own mortality. The finger of GOD hath written the Epitaph of man; the condition of his body, like Characters printed in the Dust. Mans body, so well as the ice, expounds that Riddle; the gignit filia matrem: the daughter begets the mother; Dust begot a body, and a body begets Dust. Our bodies were a• first strong Cities; but then we made them ⟨p. 26⟩the Forts of Rebels: our offended Liege sent his Serjeant Death to arrest us of high Treason. And though for his mercies sake in Christ, he pardoned our sins, yet he suffers us no more to have such strong houses; but lets us dwell in paper Cottages, mud walls, mortal bodies. Methusalem lived nine hundred sixty nine years; yet he was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Malaleel, who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of Dust. Ask the woman that hath conceived a child in her womb; Will it be a Son? Peradventure so: Will it be well formed and featured? Peradventure so: Will it be wise? Peradventure so: Will it be rich? Peradventure so: Will it be long-lived? Peradventure so: Will it be mortal? Yes, this is without peradventure; it will die. Even a Heathen, when he heard that his son was dead, could say without changing countenance, Scio me genuisse mortalem; I know that I begot a mortal man.