A64984:14
The death of ministers improved. Or, an exhortation to the inhabitants of Horsley on…
The death of ministers improved. Or, an exhortation to the inhabitants of Horsley on Gloucester-shire, and others, on the much lamented death of that reverend and faithful minister of the Gospel, Mr. Henry Stubs By Tho. Vincent, John Turner, Rob. Perrott, M. Pemberton. To which is added a sermon upon that occasion, by Richard Baxter.The death of ministers improved. Or, an exhortation to the inhabitants of Horsley on Glocester-shire, and others, on the much lamented death of that reverend and faithful minister of the Gospel, Mr. Henry Stubbs By Tho. Vincent, John Turner, Rob. Perrott, M. Pemberton. To which is added a sermon upon that occasion, by Richard Baxter.
London : s.n., Printed in the year 1678
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.
We remember his humble Petitions, his fervent supplications a• the throne of grace for us, how he would wrestle with God like Jacob; and when we thought he ha• ⟨p. 7⟩been quite spent, how he hath recovered his strength, and renewed his hold, as one resolved to take no denial, and not to let the Lord go, without his blessing for us as well as for himself. And did we think that these extraordinary motions and affections in one so ancient did presage his near approaching death? that he was come now very nigh to the end of his race? That being so ripe for Heaven, he would not be long out of Heaven, in the Suburbs of which he seemed to be, when he was in his Devotions? Did we think that the Lord would so soon gather him and receive him to himself, and say to him, pray no more for this people? We remember his introductions to his work when he first entered his Pulpit, beyond the ordinary custom of other Ministers (and indeed there were many things extraordinary in him) how before his Sermon and Prayer too, he used to be speak our attention, and endeavoured to incite and stir up our affection with various arguments; sometimes minding us of Gods Omnipresence and his all-seeing eye; sometimes of the Divine Authority of the word which he was to Preach, that it was indeed the word of God by which we should be judged at the last day; sometimes minding us of the worth of time, especially of such seasons of grace; sometimes of the worth of our Souls, which the gain of all the world could not compensate the loss of; sometimes of the worth of grace beyond ⟨p. 8⟩all the treasures of the Earth, which we were capable of gaining by our diligent hearing; sometimes minding us of our death and the eternity which we should enter upon immediately after the separation of our Soul from our Body; but did we think his own death was so near, and that he would enter into eternity so soon himself? We remember with what gravity, seriousness and sincerity he used to Preach unto us, with what plainness he did accommodate the word to our capacity, with what zeal and fervency he did make application to us of the great truths of Religion; how he pressed sins upon our consciences by a clear, close and powerful conviction, adding the most moving considerations to awaken us unto a sense of them, a hearty grief and repentance for them.