A47613:313
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.
2. But if any should say we have many yet left behind, I must say not many such, who make it their main work and business to bring souls to Jesus Christ. There are but few who naturally care for the Flock: Few preach Christ for Christs sake, that are willing to spend and be spent for his Name sake; like our dear Brother, now with the Lord. May I not say with Paul, some preach Christ out of envy, and some of strife; only with this variation, Are there not many who preach Jesus Christ not sincerely, but have self and sinister ends at the bottom. But to leave ⟨p. 49⟩that, however, if God proceed and go on after this rate to take our Preachers away, there will be few enough ere long.
2. But if any should say we have many yet left behind, I must say not many such, who make it their main work and business to bring souls to Jesus Christ. There are but few who naturally care for the Flock: Few preach Christ for Christs sake, that are willing to spend and be spent for his Name sake; like our dear Brother, now with the Lord. May I not say with Paul, some preach Christ out of envy, and some of strife; onely with this variation, Are there not many who preach Jesus Christ not sincerely, but have self and sinister ends at the bottom. But to leave ⟨p. 49⟩that, however, if God proceed and go on after this rate to take our Preachers away, there will be few enough ere long.
3. You have not only lost a Pastor, a Shepherd, a tender one, but you have lost a Father. Many of you must follow your Father this day to the grave. You have many Instructors in Christ, yet not many Fathers. He hath been an Instrument through the Word and the operation of the Spirit in his Ministry, to beget many of you to Jesus Christ. May you not cry out with Elisha when Elijah was taken up from him, My father, my father, the horsemen of Israel and the chariots thereof; and he saw him no more, 2 Kings 2. 12. He is now gone, you will hear him no more, see him no more. This golden Trumpet is now stopped, you will hear it sound no more.