Death unstung a sermon preached at the funeral of Thomas Mowsley, an apothecary, who…

say, am I acquainted with such things or no? are these things Riddles to me, or do I know what they mean? well now, have you done as I bid you, and what saith conscience? is it altogether silent, or doth it put you off till another time? why, then speak again, and again, and ask it whether this be not a serious question, and a business of some importance: but because People for the most part trifle in this great business, I shall speak something by way of Lamentation and conviction.

USE III It is so, that they are blessed that dye ⟨p. 58⟩in the Lord, then what a case are they in, which live and dye out of Christ? if none but the friends and Children of God be thus happy, what will become of them which are aliens from the Common wealth of Israel, that live without God in the World? Where shall the wicked and ungodly appear? O what a lamentable condition are most of the World in! if we could see all the dead Souls in this Congregation, what a ghastly sight would it be, should God strike all them dead, which lye in their sins, and know not Christ; it is to be feared, that the Assembly would be far thinner than it is? should the Graves open, and the Souls and Bones say to us, make hast, make hast, up get your Souls dressed, for within three Days you must lye in this black and cold Chamber with us? How would this make most of our Faces to gather paleness, and our joints ready to knock one against another? but what if another Voice should second it, and one should come roaring out of Hell, wrapped about with Flames, and should say, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, they that dye in sin must be buried in Hell, ⟨p. 59⟩and if this very moment, you do not turn, you must take a place with us in those torments, from which there is no redemption; Would this move you? why sirs, is there not as much reason that you should believe God, as the damned? O what wonders are stupid sinners! how unconcerned do they go up and down, as if it were a very easy thing to prepare for Death, and a needless thing to think of Eternity. O you that know a little, what the life and death of a Soul is, come help us to mourn over our dead, Doth not the very Air smell of the dead? Are not their numbers scarce to be computed? whole Families, Towns, Cities, and scarce one living Soul amongst them! O where, where is our pity? how can we bear to see so many millions go to the Pit, and not bestow one tear upon them? what's the matter, O my Soul, that thou art no more compassionate? would Esther, Jeremiah, Paul; nay, would the King and Princes of Nineveh have been no more troubled, if Souls had been in the same danger in their Days, as they are in ours. But that I may a little move my self and others; let me commune a