A funeral sermon on the death of that pious gentlewoman Mrs. Judith Hamond Late…

4thly, This saying ought to be Instructive to us, in reference especially to this one thing, i. e. That we abstain from rash Censures of Providence, That God ⟨p. 27⟩lets death be regnant in so great a part of his creation, so long a time. It shall be swallowed up in victory, let that solve with us the Phenomenon. It seems indeed, an untoward one; and might at first be an amazing spectacle, even to the Blessed Angels themselves, to behold so great a revolt in Heaven: and afterwards, to take notice of an intelligent world, of Creatures beneath them, successively, thorough one first, delinquent, drawn in, as Complices, into a like defection; and Death hereby spreading its horrid shadow, and extending its power, over so great and so noble a part of the Universe! Committing such Wastes, making such desolations, from Age to Age, in so great a part of the Creation of God! But there are many alleviating Considerations, that should compose our Spirits to a rational quietude, and be satisfying and pacifying to our minds with reference to this thing. Let me but name some few to you, which I shall leave with you, for this purpose.

4thly, This saying ought to be Instructive to us, in reference especially to this one thing, i. e. That we abstain from rash Censures of Providence, That God ⟨p. 27⟩lets death be regnant in so great a part of his creation, so long a time. It shall be swallowed up in victory, let that solve with us the Phaenomenon. It seems indeed, an untoward one; and might at first be an amazing spectacle, even to the Blessed Angels themselves, to behold so great a revolt in Heaven: and afterwards, to take notice of an intelligent world, of Creatures beneath them, successively, thorough one first, delinquent, drawn in, as Complices, into a like defection; and Death hereby spreading its horrid shadow, and extending its power, over so great and so noble a part of the Universe! Committing such Wasts, making such desolations, from Age to Age, in so great a part of the Creation of God! But there are many alleviating Considerations, that should compose our Spirits to a rational quietude, and be satisfying and pacifying to our minds with reference to this thing. Let me but name some few to you, which I shall leave with you, for this purpose.