A44693:33
A sermon on the much lamented death of that reverend and worthy Servant of…
A sermon on the much lamented death of that reverend and worthy Servant of Christ Mr. Richard Adams, M.A. sometime fellow of Brazen-Nose College in Oxford, afterwards, minister of St. Mildred Bread Street, London, more lately, pastor of a congregation in Southwark, who deceased Febr. 7th, 1697/8 preached, February the 20th, 1698 / by John Howe.A sermon on the much lamented death of that reverend and worthy Servant of Christ Mr. Richard Adams, M.A. sometime fellow of Brazen-Nose Colledge in Oxford, afterwards, minister of St. Mildred Breadstreet, London, more lately, pastor of a congregation in SOuthwark, who deceased Febr. 7th, 1697/8 preached, February the 20th, 1698 / by John Howe.
London: printed by S. Bridge for Tho. Parkhurst, 1698
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.
2. The Judgment that is made of the case, unto which this desire is conformable. That is, that to be with Christ is far better, far better! It is a strange Emphasis, that is used in the Greek Text, to express this: For there are Two Comparatives, [Greek or Hebrew]; more better, with a mighty Surplusage besides in the word conjoined [Greek or Hebrew]. I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ; which is better better, by much; or incomparably better; better above and beyond all comparison. One Comparative would not serve the turn, but he adds another, and then superadds a vast surplusage over & above. This is the Judgment of the case, according to which this desire is directed and measured.
2. The Judgment that is made of the case, unto which this desire is conformable. That is, that to be with Christ is far better, far better! It is a strange Emphasis, that is used in the Greek Text, to express this: For there are Two Comparatives, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; more better, with a mighty Surplusage besides in the word conjoyn'd 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ; which is better better, by much; or incomparably better; better above and beyond all comparison. One Comparative would not serve the turn, but he adds another, and then superadds a vast surplusage over & above. This is the Judgment of the case, according to which this desire is directed and measured.
And now for the reasons of this temper and posture of Soul, in reference to this State of the Case. There are divers very obvious.
1. That this is most agreeable to the Law of our Creation, to desire and covet the most perfect State whereof we are capable. It is an Unnatural Thing, not to do so, not to covet the Perfection of that State, that we can finally attain to. Nature, in all Creatures, tends to Perfection; it is a monstrous disorder in Nature, for any Creature, if it be capable of choice, to choose a State beneath the highest Perfection whereof it is capable. And