The fight of faith crowned, or, A sermon preached at the funeral of that…

4. Branch. If the Saints are installed, and have the Crown-royal set upon them at death, then what little cause have we to mourn immoderately at the death of godly friends? God allows us tears; Jacob wept over his dead Father^*; tears give vent to grief—strangulat inclusus dolour—but there is no reason we should grieve excessively for our pious friends, they receive a Crown, and shall we mourn when they have preferment? Suppose you had a dear relation beyond the Sea, and you should hear he were Crowned King, would you grieve to hear of his advancement? Thy friend who dies in the Lord, receives immediately a Crown of Righteousness, and will you be cast down with sorrow? Why should you shed tears immoderately for them who have all tears wiped from their eyes? Why should you be swallowed up of grief for them who are swallowed up of joy? They are removed hence for ⟨p. 19⟩their advantage, as if one should be removed out of a smoky Cottage to a Palace? The Prophet Elijah was removed in a fiery chariot to Heaven; Shall Elisha weep inordinately, because he enjoys not the company of Elijah? Is it not better to have sparkling Crowns and white Robes, than to sojourn in the tents of Kedar? Is it not better to live among Angels than fiery serpents? Is it not best to have Christs banner of love displayed over us? Are there any sweeter smiles or softer embraces than his? Why then should any macerate, and even entomb themselves in sorrow for their relations? Theocritus saith, it was a custom among the Ancients to have their [Greek or Hebrew], or funeral banquet, because of the felicity they supposed the parties deceased did enter into; O thou who hangest thy harp upon the willows, and with Rachel refusest to be comforted; remember there is no wiping away tears from the eye, but with the winding-sheet; thy friend could not be in the Region of the blessed, till he dyed; his dying-day was his ascension-day: O then keep thy tears for thy sins, but do not torment thy self with grief for him, whose soul is as holy as it would be, and as happy as it can be.

4. Branch. If the Saints are installed, and have the Crown-royal set upon them at death, then what little cause have we to mourn immoderately at the death of godly friends? God allows us tears; Jacob wept over his dead Father^*