A51833:165
Advice to mourners under the loss of dear relations in a funeral sermon long…
Advice to mourners under the loss of dear relations in a funeral sermon long since preached / by the late Reverend Dr. Thomas Manton ... And now occasionally published on the much lamented death of Mrs. Ann Terry, who died the 9th of November, 1693. With a short account of some passages of her life, and papers left under her own hand.Advice to mourners under the loss of dear relations in a funeral sermon long since preach'd / by the late Reverand Dr. Thomas Manton ... And now occasionally published on the much lamented death of Mrs. Ann Terry, who died the 9th of November, 1693. With a short account of some passages of her life, and papers left under her own hand.
London: printed by J.D. for Jonathon Robinson, 1694
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.
PAPER XI.
WORK while it is Day, the Night is coming in which none can work. Now is the Day of God's Patience and Forbearance; this is the only time that God hath allotted for Work and Service: He that doth the Work for which he came into the World faithfully and carefully, shall in the Evening of the Day receive a bountiful Reward; but if he neglects his Opportunity, and squanders away his Time in Idleness and Sloth, the Night will surprise him, and then it will be too late to begin that Work which before he would not be persuaded to set about. This Counsel is serious and grave, every one hath Work to do; (O that all would be convinced of this great Truth!) we have Souls to save, Heaven to secure, an Interest in Christ to get, and yet we are stupid and negligent, as if this were a Matter of no great moment. O my God, give me Wisdom that I may see the Necessity of looking after my Soul, that it may go well with that, however ⟨p. 83⟩it fare with the Body and worldly Concerns. Now is the Day, now is the Time to provide for a happy Eternity: to Day if you will hear his Voice; to Morrow may be too late, therefore now set about this Work in good earnest; see how it stands with thy poor Soul, Is God and thy Soul Friends? or are they still at a distance? Is God dearer to thee than all the World? Dost thou think thy self happier in being a Child of God, an Heir of Heaven, than if thou wert possessed of all the things of this lower World? Dost thou not prize and value God as thy Chief Friend, and rather have his Favour and Friendship, than to have the greatest Monarchs on thy side? Dost thou humbly resolve to be the Lord's, and his only; and that thy Time, thy Heart and Strength, thy Memory, Understanding, shall be all exercised in thy Maker's Service? Study his Mind and Will, and then readily comply with his Commands: fear his Threatenings, believe his Promises, obey his Precepts, and resolve with Job, that though he slay thee, yet thou wilt trust in him. Resolve to follow God through all Difficulties; beg of him to own thee for his, to avouch thee to be one of his peculiar People. Secure a Title to Heaven: this World is passing away apace; the Day is spending, and