A47613:310
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.
I now must come to the third Use, which must be an Use of Lamentation; and indeed I know not well how to enter upon it, my heart is full. Is it so? Must all die? Can ⟨p. 47⟩none deliver their own souls from the power of the grave? Must Husbands die, dear Husbands? Must Fathers die, yea tender Fathers? Must Friends, our dearest Friends die? Ministers, nay, our choice and godly Pastors, must they die too? Oh greedy Death! oh cruel Tyrant! Oh that ever we sinned! This may well be for a Lamentation. Samuel died, and Israel made great Lamentations for him. Your Samuel is gone, but no asking for him again, he cannot come. In Acts 8. 2. it is said Devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
I now must come to the third Use, which must be an Use of Lamentation; and indeed I know not well how to enter upon it, my heart is full. Is it so? Must all die? Can ⟨p. 47⟩none deliver their own souls from the power of the grave? Must Husbands die, dear Husbands? Must Fathers die, yea tender Fathers? Must Friends, our dearest Friends die? Ministers, nay, our choice and godly Pastors, must they die too? Oh greedy Death! oh cruel Tirant! Oh that ever we sinned! This may well be for a Lamentation. Samuel died, and Israel made great Lamentations for him. Your Samuel is gone, but no asking for him again, he cannot come. In Acts 8. 2. it is said Devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
O spare me a little, you have lost one who laboured to do the work of his generations in faithfulness. Let me lay down some grounds that we have for a Lamentation.