A47613:351
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.
1. Consider death shall not separate us long, we shall see one another again over a short time, he is gone but a little before; let us think upon that glorious Meeting we shall have ere long in the Air, read 1 Thes. 4. 13, &c. I would not have you to be ignorant, Brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope; for if we believe that Jesus died, and ⟨p. 75⟩rose again; even so them which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him: for this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep: for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Arch-angel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord: wherefore comfort one another with ⟨p. 76⟩these words. What can I speak that may be more seasonable for comfort, then that which the holy Spirit hath left upon record, upon that very account it will be but a little while and we shall see him again, we shall have a joyful meeting and never part more.
1. Consider death shall not seperate us long, we shall see one another again over a short time, he is gone but a little before; let us think upon that glorious Meeting we shall have ere long in the Air, read 1 Thes. 4. 13, &c. I would not have you to be ignorant, Brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope; for if we believe that Jesus died, and ⟨p. 75⟩rose again; even so them which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him: for this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep: for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Arch-angel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord: wherefore comfort one another with ⟨p. 76⟩these words. What can I speak that may be more seasonable for comfort, then that which the holy Spirit hath left upon record, upon that very account it will be but a little while and we shall see him again, we shall have a joyful meeting and never part more.
O therefore be quieted, consider what you have heard what death is to a Believer.
Shall not our Friend go to rest? Alas he hath laboured hard, and O how sweet is this rest to him. When a ⟨p. 77⟩man hath worked hard all day and wearied himself, how willing is he to go to bed at night? Alas he is but gone to sleep, to take sweet and quiet rest until the Morning.
2. Shall not we be willing he should have enlargement to be freed out of Prison. Alas our Souls are as it were but in Prison whilst we dwell here below in these Houses of Clay; Death as a Porter opens a door into that Glorious Palace above He is but gone home to his Fathers House, and how earnest was he to depart, that ⟨p. 78⟩he might be present with the Lord.
2. Shall not we be willing he should have inlargement to be freed out of Prison. Alas our Souls are as it were but in Prison whilst we dwell here below in these Houses of Clay; Death as a Porter opens a door into that Glorious Palace above He is but gone home to his Fathers House, and how earnest was he to depart, that ⟨p. 78⟩he might be present with the Lord.
3. Shall not he eat the fruit of his labour, he that soweth in tears shall reap in joy, those that go forth weeping bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing and bring their Sheaves with them.
3. Shall not he eat the fruit of his labour, he that soweth in tears shall reap in joy, those that go forth weeping bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoycing and bring their Sheaves with them.
4. He having overcome, shall not he receive the Crown? Paul having fought the good fight of faith, knew there was laid up for him a Crown of Righteousness: To him that overcometh, saith our Saviour, will I grant to ⟨p. 79⟩sit with me in my throne. even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father an his throne, Rev. 3. 21.
5. And now in the last place and to shut up all, consider, uncertain is thy life, and mind; you know not but that in a very few days you may go after, it will not be long be sure, and thither we all must go: For, What man is he, that liveth and shall not see death? Shall be deliver his Soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
5. And now in the last place and to shut up all, consider, uncertain is thy life, and mind; you know not but that in a very few dayes you may go after, it will not be long be sure, and thither we all must go: For, What man is he, that liveth and shall not see death? Shall be deliver his Soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
FINIS
Pag. 4. l. 9. blot forth cut, p. 4. l 10. also blot forth out, p 9. l. 25 for is read it, p. 11. l. 14. blot out word, p. 15. for Augustus Caesar r. Julius Caesar, p 17. l. 2. for if r. of, p. 18. for question r. query, p. 32. l. 8. blot out And, p. 32. l. 9. for And r. For, p. 58. l. 8. blot out and Consolation, which escaped in s•me Copies.
PAg. 4. l. 9. blot forth cut, p. 4. l 10. also blot forth out, p 9. l. 25 for is read it, p. 11. l. 14. blot out word, p. 15. for Augustus Caesar r. Julius Caesar, p 17. l. 2. for if r. of, p. 18. for question r. query, p. 32. l. 8. blot out And, p. 32. l. 9. for And r. For, p. 58. l. 8. blot out and Consolation, which escaped in s•me Copies.
