A44693:47
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.
And this being so, it is of the greatest Consequence to us imaginable, all of us to endeavour to get this Temper of Spirit made habitual to our selves: For it is a Thing of Dreadful Importance, to find the Temper of my Mind and Soul differ from that of all good Christians that ever were, or ever shall be. It is one thing indeed, to be willing to have the height of our Happiness deferred for common Good; but it is quite another thing, to desire to ⟨p. 28⟩stay here because I love this World better, and when the Practical Judgment of our Souls is, I had rather be here; When not any concern for the interest of Christ, or design of doing him Service here, does Reconcile me to an Earthly State; but my own Temper and Spirit is such, that I cannot endure the thoughts of a remove. And let me insist here a little.
When the Best are continually going; and though the Worst do not go the same way, they are going hence too, departing from hence, not to be willing to follow! To have a desire running counter to the stream and course of Nature, in All, and the current of Grace in the Best, is very unaccountable; and wherein we should by no means Tolerate our selves. An irrational Desire of what we see to be impossible: A Desire that Fights against Necessity, which will be too hard for us, and will overcome at last, as to the term from which, an abode here. And an Unholy Desire, ⟨p. 29⟩in respect of the term To which, viz. Not to be with Christ; such a Desire we should no more endure in our selves, than Fire in our bosoms.
To have such an Excellent Person gone from amongst us, as is lately gone; but to have no Disposition to follow! You loved him well, and you loved to hear him Preach of Heaven, but you cannot endure the thoughts of going where he is gone! Is this well? The World is Dying, and you would live! Miser. est qui cumque non vult mundo secummoriente mori.