A summons to the grave, or, The necessity of a timely preparation for death…

Name: A summons to the grave, or, The necessity of a timely preparation for death…
Author: Benjamin Keach

A summons to the grave, or, The necessity of a timely preparation for death demonstrated in a sermon preached at the funeral of that most eminent and faithful servant of Jesus Christ Mr. John Norcot who departed this life March 24, 1675/6 / by Benjamin Keach.

Benjamin Keach 1640–1704London: printed for Ben Harris, 1676

[19], 79, [1] p. · 16k words · Wing K95 · ESTC R29890

Title page typeset from the transcription.

To the reader: To the READER.

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.

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'Tis a pretty Passage that I remember of a certain King of Hungary, who being on a time very sad, his Brother (a Jolly Courtier) would needs know what ailed him, O Brother (said he) I have bin a great sinner against God and I know not how to die, nor appear before God in Judgment; These are (said his Brother) melancholy thoug••, and withal made a Jest at them; the King replied nothing for the present but the custom of the Country was, that if the Executioner ⟨image 5⟩came and sounded his Trumpet before any mans door, he was presently to be led out to the Place of Execution; the King in the dead time of the Night, sends the Headsman to sound his Trumpet before his Brothers door, who hearing it, and seeing the Messenger of death, springs in pale and trembling into the Kings Presence, beseeching him to tell him wherein he had offended; O Brother (replied the King) you have never offended me, and is this Executioner so dreadful, and shall not I that have greatly and grievously offended God, fear to be brought before the Judgement Seat of Christ; Death amazes none more when it comes, as it doth them who think not of it; the Egyptians used to carry about the Table a Deaths Head at their Feasts; 'tis good in the midst of all our delights and enjoyments, to be put in mind of the Grave; And if this Sermon spake no more power fully to thee then a Deaths-Head to awaken thee, it may be worth thy Pains to read it, God may bless weak endeavours to great advantage; Jesus Christ could make five Barley leaves and two Fishes to feed five thousand men, and yet the fragments that were left might satisfy many a poor hungry soul: what though thou art afterly served, God can heat it by his Spirit, God can make it wholesome food for thy soul: if thou hast but an appetite I do not much fear thy relishing of it, for though the full stomach loathes the Honey-comb, yet to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

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The book

Title as printed

Author

Benjamin Keach 1640–1704

Place

London

Bookseller

Ben Harris

Year

1676

Size

[19], 79, [1] p.

Words

16,259

Catalogue

Wing K95 · ESTC R29890

Text

EEBO-TCP A47613

Passages

361

Sections

Title page

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

An ELEGY on the Death of that most Laborious and Painful Minister of the Gospel Mr. JOHN NORCOT, who fell asleep in the Lord the 24th of this instant March 1675-76.