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:337–352 of 361

:337p. 64

7. Nay and Death will free thee of all that trouble that riseth from those inward becloudings and hidings of God's face. It will never be night with the soul any more; thou wilt then be with Christ and behold his face with joy for ever.

7. Nay and Death will free thee of all that trouble that riseth from those inward becloudings and hideings of God's face. It will never be night with the soul any more; thou wilt then be with Christ and behold his face with joy for ever.

:338p. 64–65

8. And lastly, Thou wilt also be freed of all thy toilsome pains and labour, of what nature soever it be. ⟨p. 65⟩O how good is rest to a weary soul? Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them, Rev. 14. 13.

:339p. 65–66

But then once again, Consider what a blessed state thy soul will be in at death. If thou art a true Believer, thou shalt not only have hereby a negative good, it will not simply a freedom from all those sorrows and troubles thou hast heard, but thy soul shall immediately receive transcendent joy with Jesus Christ. For me to live, saith Paul, is Christ, and to die is gain. The advantage the soul receives upon this account, made Paul so much desire to depart and be with Christ; which he says is far better, Phil. 1. 21. Pray observe his words, he doth not say it will be gain to him when he rises again, no, but to die ⟨p. 66⟩

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And now to conclude one word to dear Relations, and to comfort us all under the present dispensation.