A66101:65
The high esteem which God hath of the death of his saints as it…
The high esteem which God hath of the death of his saints as it was delivered in a sermon preached October 7, 1683, occasioned by the death of the worshipful John Hull, Esq. who deceased October 1, 1683 / by Samuel Willard.
Boston: printed by Samuel Green for Samuel Sewall, 1683
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.
2. When the Saints die beware of irregular Mourning: though we are to lament their Death, yet we must beware ⟨p. 15⟩that it be after the right manner: a dying Saint may say to his weeping Friends that stand round about, wringing their hands, after the same Language that Christ did to those weeping Women, Luk. 23. 27, 28, 29. Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for your selves, and your Children, &c. It is we and not they that are endangered and endamaged by it: we may therefore weep for our selves, and there is good reason for it, but to mourn for them is superfluous. Is their Death precious in Gods? let it not be miserable in our esteem: and tell me you whose hearts throb, and eyes run over with sorrow, is it not a precious thing to be asleep in Jesus? to lie in the lap of his providence, and rest from the labours and sorrows of a troublesome World? to be laid out of the noise of the whistling Winds, and feel none of the impetuosity of those Storms and Tempests that are blowing abroad? to be out of the sight and hearing of the rolling and dashing waves of the roaring Sea? to sleep out the rest of the tempestuous night of this World, standing in the inner Chamber of Gods Providence, in answer to that sweet invitation? Isai. 26. 22. Come my People, enter into thy Chambers, and shut thy doors about thee, &c. To lie in Christ's Bosom, and be ravished with his dearest love, and most intimate Embraces? to see none of those sorrowful changes that are coming on the places which they once lived in, nor any more to be within the reach of the calumny and rage of their spiteful Enemies? surely these Notes do not suit with an Elegiac strain; and yet this is the comfort which is given them to feed upon, whose dead Relations and Friends were Saints upon the earth.
2. When the Saints die beware of irregular Mourning: though we are to lament their Death, yet we must beware ⟨p. 15⟩that it be after the right manner: a dying Saint may say to his weeping Friends that stand round about, wringing their hands, after the same Language that Christ did to those weeping Women, Luk. 23. 27, 28, 29. Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for your selves, and your Children, &c. It is we and not they that are indangered and endamaged by it: we may therefore weep for our selves, and there is good reason for it, but to mourn for them is superfluous. Is their Death precious in Gods? let it not be miserable in our esteem: and tell me you whose hearts throb, and eyes run over with sorrow, is it not a precious thing to be asleep in Jesus? to ly in the lap of his providence, and rest from the labours and sorrows of a troublesome World? to be laid out of the noise of the whistling Winds, and feel none of the impetuosity of those Storms and Tempests that are blowing abroad? to be out of the sight and hearing of the rolling and dashing waves of the roaring Sea? to sleep out the rest of the tempestuous night of this World, standing in the inner Chamber of Gods Providence, in answer to that sweet invitation? Isai. 26. 22. Come my People, enter into thy Chambers, and shut thy doors about thee, &c. To ly in Christ's Bosom, and be ravished with his dearest love, and most intimate Embraces? to see none of those sorrowful changes that are coming on the places which they once lived in, nor any more to be within the reach of the calumny and rage of their spiteful Enemies? surely these Notes do not suit with an Elegiack strain; and yet this is the comfort which is given them to feed upon, whose dead Relations and Friends were Saints upon the earth.