A34165:957
A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…
A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.
London : s.n., 1663
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
First, The Title that belongs to him in his Church: in this regard, called, The Great Shepherd of his sheep; The Shepherd of the sheep, yea, the great Shepherd of the sheep. Whatsoever glory was to be communicated to any Member of the Church, it was first put into the head, before they were to be made partakers of it. Some were to be made inferior ranks, Ephe. 4.11. but it was not fit any should have such glory, to be called Shepherds, before he had that honour of him. Therefore 'tis the Great Shepherd, he that is Shepherd not of a particular Congregation, but of the whole Church of God, he is the Saviour of all his body, he hath the full number of all the Elect, both among the Jews and Gentiles, committed to his charge to save.
2. What betides this great Shepherd, through Gods grace towards him, that is, that he is brought again from the dead, i. e. that he doth attain to a state of Resurrection, and here take notice of this by the way, for consolation; The great Shepherd of the Sheep doth dye, but the great Shepherd of the Sheep rises again. Herein argues Gods love, that though he would suffer him to dye, yet not to see corruption, Psal. 16.10. because he is the great Shepherd, therefore he must dye; but because he is the great Shepherd, therefore he cannot continue in the state of the Dead; Death must not triumph over the great Shepherd of the sheep, no, not by any means. As it was necessary that he should dye, much more that he should rise again. We read Rev. 11. concerning two Prophets: when they had finished their course they dye, and their dead bodies are cast into the streets, &c. but we read also of their resurrection. There is a twofold state incident to those persons, one state of dying, another state of rising; and so it is not peculiar to Christ only, but to others with him. The great Shepherd of the Sheep dies; no wonder if the little Shepherds dye too. But the great Shepherd is raised, so shall the little ones in their order, and in their time,