A69538:32
The last work of a believer his passing prayer recommending his departing spirit to…
The last work of a believer his passing prayer recommending his departing spirit to Christ to be received by Him / prepared for the funerals of Mary the widow first of Francis Charlton Esq. and after of Thomas Hanmer, Esq., and partly preached at St. Mary Magdalens Church in Milk-Street, London, and now, at the desire of her daughter, reprinted by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by B. Griffin for B. Simmons, 1682
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.
THE Birth of Nature, and the New Birth of Grace, in their measure resemble the Death of Saints, which is the Birth of Glory. It is a bitter-sweet day, a day that is mixed of sorrow and joy, when Nature must quit its familiar Guest, and yield to any of these Changes. Our Natural Birth is not without the throws and pain, and groanings of the Mother, though it transmit the Child into a more large, and lightsome, and desirable Habitation: Our Spiritual Birth is not without its humbling and heart-piercing sorrows: and when we are brought out of darkness into the marvellous light, we leave our old Companions, in displeasure, whom we forsake, and our Flesh repining ⟨p. 2⟩at the loss of its sensual delights: And our passage into Glory is not without those pangs and fears which must needs be the attendants of a pained Body, ready to be dissolved, and a Soul that is going through so strait a door, into a strange though a most blessed place; And it leaveth our lamenting Friends behind, that feel their loss, and would longer have enjoyed our Company, and see not(though they believe) the Glory of the departed Soul. And this is our case, that are brought hither this day, by an act of Providence sad to us, though joyous to our departed Friend; by a Voice that hath called her into Glory, and called us into this Mourning plight: Even us that rejoice in the thoughts of her Felicity, and are not so cruel as to wish her again into this corruptible Flesh and calamitous World, from the glorious presence of the Lord; and yet should have kept her longer from it, for our own and others sakes, if our Wisdom had been fit to rule, or our Wills to be fulfilled, or if our Prayers must have been answered, according to the measure of our sailing Apprehensions, or precipitant Desires. But Folly must submit to the Incomprehensible Wisdom; and the Desire of the Creature must stoop to the Will of the Creator The Interest of Christ must be preferred, when he calleth for his own; and our temporary Interest must give place: Flesh must be silent, and not contend; and Dust must not dare to question God: He knoweth best when his Fruit is ripe; and though he will allow our moderate Sorrows, he will not so much damnify his Saints, as to detain ⟨p. 3⟩them with us from their Joyful Rest, till we are content to let them go.
THE Birth of Nature, and the New Birth of Grace, in their measure resemble the Death of Saints, which is the Birth of Glory. It is a bitter-sweet day, a day that is mixt of sorrow and joy, when Nature must quit its familiar Guest, and yield to any of these Changes. Our Natural Birth is not without the throws and pain, and groanings of the Mother, though it transmit the Child into a more large, and lightsom, and desirable Habitation: Our Spiritual Birth is not without its humbling and heart-piercing sorrows: and when we are brought out of darkness into the marvellous light, we leave our old Companions, in displeasure, whom we forsake, and our Flesh repining