A47613:293
A summons to the grave, or, The necessity of a timely preparation for death…
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.
London: printed for Ben Harris, 1676
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
5. Consider for Christs sake of those advantages you have had and still have: If some had the like, we may conclude they would have made better use and improvement of them then some of you have done. Hath not God afforded you the Gospel beyond what he hath to divers parts of the world? Nay, what a gracious and powerful ministration of it hath there been continued for some time in this place? You have had helps above thousands, God hath taken much pains with you that have attended upon the word here. Where God gives many talents, he requires the improvement of them; what will become of Jerusalem and Capernaum in the day of Judgement? And hath not Gods spirit striven with you also? Nay, and hath not Conscience endeavoured to awaken you? Have you not had Summons and Calls from thence? Hath not that often reproved ⟨p. 29⟩you for neglect of Seasons, flighting of Sermons, and indulging your selves in iniquity and secret lusts and omissions of duty? Oh! how many sharp checks and rebukes have you had from within? Nay, and besides all this, what awakening Judgements to prepare for the grave, have you and I had; dreadful Plague, Fire and Sword: and what further means could God make use of in an ordinary way for alarming and stirring of us up to prepare for our change, and turning of our souls to himself, and fitting of us for Eternity? And shall none of these work upon you? Shall all means fail? Shall the Gospel be preached in vain? Shall Ministers spend their study, their breath, nay their strength, to no purpose: what will you do then in the end?
5. Consider for Christs sake of those advantages you have had and still have: If some had the like, we may conclude they would have made better use and improvement of them then some of you have done. Hath not God afforded you the Gospel beyond what he hath to divers parts of the world? Nay, what a gracious and powerful ministration of it hath there been continued for some time in this place? You have had helps above thousands, God hath taken much pains with you that have attended upon the word here. Where God gives many talents, he requires the improvement of them; what will become of Jerusalem and Capernaum in the day of Judgement? And hath not Gods spirit striven with you also? Nay, and hath not Conscience endeavoured to awaken you? Have you not had Summons and Calls from thence? Hath not that often reproved ⟨p. 29⟩you for neglect of Seasons, flighting of Sermons, and indulging your selves in iniquity and secret lusts and omissions of duty? Oh! how many sharp checks and rebukes have you had from within? Nay, and besides all this, what awakening Judgements to prepare for the grave, have you and I had; dreadful Plague, Fire and Sword: and what further means could God make use of in an ordinary way for allarming and stirring of us up to prepare for our change, aud turning of our souls to himself, and fitting of us for Eternity? And shall none of these work upon you? Shall all means fail? Shall the Gospel be preached in vain? Shall Ministers spend their study, their breath, nay their strength, to no purpose: what will you do then in the end?