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.

A SERMON •••ached at the Funeral of Mr. JOHN NORCOT, March the 28th…: A SERMON •••ached at the Funeral of Mr. JOHN NORCOT, March the 28th. 1676.

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.

[ Earlier:297–312 of 361

:297p. 39

The next is an use of Direction to poor sinners and all others that would be prepared for the grave, if this be so.

:298p. 39–40

First, Doth not some poor soul hear say, Oh what shall I do that I may be prepared for the grave? Have you a heart, a mind, a desire indeed to be fitted for that hour? Then in the first place labour to get a full sight and sense of your sins, and of your lost and undone condition by nature. Oh what a miserable creature hath sin made man, or rather man by sin made himself? That must needs be the greatest evil, that deprives man of the greatest good. God is mans chief good, sin deprives man of this good; sin makes man hated or God, and causeth man to resemble Satan; who is the opposite of God. The carnal mind is enmity against God, this enmity must be removed, Unless ⟨p. 40⟩a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God, John 3. 3.

:299p. 40–41

Secondly, Labour to get Brokenness of heart, oh strive to melt in the sight and sense of your iniquity. Sinner what hast thou done, wilt thou sin away thy mercies, sin away thy Ministers? Gods hand is lifted up, we are under sore rebukes of the Almighty, though I fear few are sensible that it is the fruit of their transgressions. May we not say with the Prophet, No man repenteth him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? Jer. 8. 6. God expects and looks for tears of Repentance, A broken and a contrite heart is a sacrifice that he will not despise. If you are not broken in the sense of the odious and abominable nature of sin, broken into pieces now, you are like to be broken with horror under the weight of the punishment hereafter. Oh! Is it not better to be smitten and broken in a

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