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.

Dedication: To all Sincere Christians that were the Hearers of this Sermon, but more especially to…

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.

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To all Sincere Christians that were the Hearers of this Sermon, but more especially to that poor, afflicted, and sorrowful Congregation, which is in God the Father, and in our Lord Jesus Christ, meeting in Old Gravel-Lane, near Wapping, London.

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WHEN I think of that Separation Death hath made between you and your beloved Pastor (my dear Brother) it causes sadness to seize my spirit; Sure, such Strokes of the Almighty should bring us upon our Knees; I wish you are not hereafter made more sensible of the Nature of these sore Rebukes, then at present you can be; however let us learn this Lesson by it, not to overprize or value any thing or Person short of Jesus Christ; 'Tis good in all things to labour against inordinateness of affection; We can't, 'tis true, love God too much; nor Christ too much, but we may love Ministers too much, nay, idolize them, esteem them above what is meet, as many in former times have done, or we may esteem them not enough; whether any of you have bin guilty herein or no, will now I am persuaded be discovered; if duty to God, ⟨image 3⟩our solemn Vow and Covenant with God and the Church, and our Love to Jesus Christ, will not make us to know and keep our Places, what may we judge of our selves, or others judge of us: I am not without fears I speak of some in respect of temptations of this kind, I pray God deliver them from it, lest they bring up a reproach upon the good ways of God; You had or would be looked upon all of you, to have a real and cordial love for him that is now taken from you, O then do nothing after his death that would have grieved his soul were he alive; Labour to live in love, and strive to keep the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace; I having this opportunity, thought it not amiss to give a hint or two of this Nature

WHEN I think of that Separation Death hath made between you and your beloved Pastor (my dear Brother) it causes sadness to seiz my spirit; Sure, such Stroaks of the Almighty should bring us upon our Knees; I wish you are not hereafter made more sensible of the Nature of these sore Rebukes, then at present you can be; however let us learn this Lesson by it, not to overprize or value any thing or Person short of Jesus Christ; 'Tis good in all things to labour against inordinateness of affection; We can't, 'tis true, love God too much; nor Christ too much, but we may love Ministers too much, nay, idolize them, esteem them above what is meet, as many in former times have done, or we may esteem them not enough; whether any of you have bin guilty herein or no, will now I am perswaded be discovered; if duty to God,

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The book

Title as printed

Author

Benjamin Keach 1640–1704

Place

London

Bookseller

Ben Harris

Year

1676

Size

[19], 79, [1] p.

Words

16,259

Catalogue

Wing K95 · ESTC R29890

Text

EEBO-TCP A47613

Passages

361

Sections

Title page

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

To all Sincere Christians that were the Hearers of this Sermon, but more especially to that poor, afflicted, and sorrowful Congregation, which is in God the Father, and in our Lord Jesus Christ, meeting in Old Gravel-Lane, near Wapping, London.

To the READER.