A funeral sermon for Mrs. Esther Sampson the late wife of Henry Sampson, Dr.…

And we must further know our Lord Christ is now the universal Regent of all Nature, even as he is the Christ, the world being devolved into his hands, and all power being given to him both in Heaven and Earth. He is Lord of all. When therefore any of you are sick, it is by his disposal, if you are recovered out of that sickness. Nor is his Agency less or lower, whether it be by blessing a Medicine, or working a Miracle. His power and love are the same either way. And know, there is an honour, and acknowledgement due from Christians to their great crucified Lord, who hath founded a dominion over this world in his blood, who died, and revived, and rose again, that he might be Lord of living and dead. Therefore you are to reckon you are beholden to Christ for all your recoveries, and all your refreshings that you meet with amidst the many infirmities and frailties of this your present mortal state.

And we must further know our Lord Christ is now the universal Regent of all Nature, even as he is the Christ, the world being devolv'd into his hands, and all power being given to him both in Heaven and Earth. He is Lord of all. When therefore any of you are sick, it is by his disposal, if you are recovered out of that sickness. Nor is his Agency less or lower, whether it be by blessing a Medicine, or working a Miracle. His power and love are the same either way. And know, there is an honour, and acknowledgment due from Christians to their great crucifi'd Lord, who hath founded a dominion over this world in his blood, who died, and revived, and rose again, that he might be Lord of living and dead. Therefore you are to reckon you are beholden to Christ for all your recoveries, and all your refreshings that you meet with amidst the many infirmities and frailties of this your present mortal state.

And if the release be by death, as the case is, which we now have specially to do with, that universal power of his over all lives, must be understood immediately to reach to that case too. It is he that measures lives, that lengthens them out, and cuts them shorter at his own pleasure. And, as to those that are more peculiarly his own, it is a more peculiar, and favourable superintendency that he has over that affair, even of their very dying. Their death is precious in his sight. He with a most gentle tender hand unties the knot of Man, releases and receives the dislodging Soul. Lord Jesus receive my Spirit, as dying Stephen speaks. But,