A44693:55
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
A Funeral Sermon ON THE DEATH OF Mr. Richard Adams. › Section 1: 1. Of Lamentation.
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.
It is a much to be Lamented Thing, when such go, as that Reverend and Worthy Person that is lately gone from amongst you: For this Temper of Spirit being supposed, by how much the more there was of the conjunct Disposition to have been content to have staid longer for Public Good; This speaks so much the more of an Excellent Spirit. When Desires are so Fervent after the Purity ⟨p. 33⟩and Perfection of the Heavenly State, that nothing but sincere Devotedness to the Interest of God in Christ, could make them patient of longer Abode on Earth. 'Tis a Respect to God that either draws, or detains them, nothing but what is Divine inclines them either way. Either the Enjoyment of God above, or his farther service here below. That is an Excellent Spirit that lies under such influences. And the higher was the Excellency of such a Man, the greater is the Loss of him. The more he desired Heaven, within such Limits, the greater was his Value, and with so much the brighter lustre he shone on Earth.
It is a much to be Lamented Thing, when such go, as that Reverend and Worthy Person that is lately gone from amongst you: For this Temper of Spirit being supposed, by how much the more there was of the conjunct Disposition to have been content to have staid longer for Publick Good; This speaks so much the more of an Excellent Spirit. When Desires are so Fervent after the Purity ⟨p. 33⟩and Perfection of the Heavenly State, that nothing but sincere Devotedness to the Interest of God in Christ, could make them patient of longer Abode on Earth. 'Tis a Respect to God that either draws, or detains them, nothing but what is Divine inclines them either way. Either the Enjoyment of God above, or his farther service here below. That is an Excellent Spirit that lies under such influences. And the higher was the Excellency of such a Man, the greater is the Loss of him. The more he desired Heaven, within such Limits, the greater was his Value, and with so much the brighter lustre he shone on Earth.
There is much of God conspicuous in such a Man. And it was not a little of him that was observable in this Worthy Person. Such a Course as his was, that Even Course, that Peaceful Course, wherein was so eminent Devotedness to God, and Benignity towards Man, showed his Spirit was touched by the one, for the other. It could not be, but by influence from Heaven, that he so steadily tended thitherward himself, and was only willing to stay so long out of it, that he might invite and draw on as many as he could with him thither.