A sermon on the much lamented death of that reverend and worthy Servant of…

And it was a most noble piece of Self-denial that was exercised herein, if you consider what the Apostles Privileges had been. He had been caught up into the Third Heaven, he had there seen unutterable Things; nor could he doubt his Interest in the Felicity and Glory of the Heavenly State. On the other hand consider, his Life here on Earth, was no voluptuous Life, it was not a Life of Ease and Pleasure, See the Account that he gives of it in 1 Cor. 4. and in 2 Cor. 6. and in Chap. 11. of the same Epistle. And to find, amongst how many Deaths he conversed as it were every Day of his Life, how familiar Labours, and Fastings, and Watchings were to him; yea Stripes and Imprisonments; and that he was now at this Time a Prisoner, as we see in some foregoing Verses of this very Chapter, viz. ver. 13, 14, 16. even in the very Lions Paw, in the continual Expectation of being devoured, and not long after to be offered up, as he elsewhere speaks. Yet he seems to take great Complacency in the Thoughts of, having some ⟨p. 7⟩Addition made to his Time in this World, on the common Christian Account; and that his own Blessedness and Glory should be, for this Reason, a little while deferred; he was Patient of this, he could endure it, out of his Love to Christ and the Souls of Men. But as to himself, for what he esteemed, and desired accordingly, as his best and most valuable Good, he was in no Hesitation or Doubt concerning that, but Pronounces without any more ado, That he did desire to be dissolved, or Depart, (the Words may be read either way) and to be with Christ, which is far better; only he distinguishes what was his own most valuable good, and what was the most valuable good of the Christian Church. And though he give this latter the Preference, as in it self the more considerable Thing: Yet as to himself, and his own concerns, to Depart, and be with Christ, he reckons far better: And accordingly he did desire it as such, as better for him; as having nothing to detain him, or nothing, which, on his own Private Account, he could so much Mind or Covet, as that.

And it was a most noble piece of Self-denial that was exercised herein, if you consider what the Apostles Priviledges had been. He had been caught up into the Third Heaven, he had there seen unutterable Things; nor could he doubt his Interest in the Felicity and Glory of the Heavenly State. On the other hand consider, his Life here on Earth, was no voluptuous Life, it was not a Life of Ease and Pleasure, See the Account that he gives of it in