A39658:256
The balm of the covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted saints First…
The balm of the covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted saints First composed for the relief of a pious and worthy family, mourning over the deaths of their hopeful children; and now made public for the support of all Christians, sorrowing on the same or any other account. To which is added, A sermon preached for the funeral of that excellent and religious gentleman John Upton of Lupton esq; by John Flavell, preacher of the gospel at Dartmouth in Devon.The balm of the covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted saints First composed for the relief of a pious and worthy family, mourning over the deaths of their hopeful children; and now made publick for the support of all Christians, sorrowing on the same or any other account. To which is added, A sermon preached for the funeral of that excellent and religious gentleman John Upton of Lupton esq; by John Flavell, preacher of the gospel at Dartmouth in Devon.
London: printed for J. Harris, 1688
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.
Well then, Absit invidia verbis: Suffer me this day to erect a Pillar to perpetuate the Memory of this deceased Worthy, to pay the tribute of my Tears due to that mournful Hearse, and to engage you to imitate those Excellencies of his, which I shall with equal truth and modesty display this day, that we also may be duly affected with the Rebuke of God upon us, and mourn over it before him.
If when an eminent Commander in any Army falls, the whole Army is affected and concerned with his death; The mourning Drum, the Lance and Ensigns trailed; The Robes of Honour all in Sables vailed. Let it not be thought much, Christians should express their sense and sorrow in sighs and tears, for so useful and worthy a man as God hath this day removed from among us, whose Character I shall give you in the following imitable particulars.
If when an eminent Commander in any Army falls, the whole Army is affected and concerned with his death; The mourning Drum, the Lance and Ensignes trail'd; The Robes of Honour all in Sables vail'd. Let it not be thought much, Christians should express their sense and sorrow in sighs and tears, for so useful and worthy a man as God hath this day removed from among us, whose Character I shall give you in the following immitable particulars.
1. That worthy man whose fall we lament this day, was seasoned with Religion in his Youth, by God's blessing upon his pious Education; in this he had the advantage of Josiah. His Progenitors were men of Piety, and himself a Child of many Prayers: and, as Monica said of her Son Austin, it was not likely that a Child of so many Prayers should perish. ⟨p. 142⟩How importunately did they request the fervent Prayers of their pious Friends for him, in the time of his Education? nor was it in vain, for they were manifestly answered in him. He soon discovered that Probity and Piety in his Youth, which justly raised great expectations from him in his riper years.