The mourners cordial against excessive sorrow discovering what grounds of hope Gods people have…

1. There are some who have been Religious from their very Childhood, and held on so until their death. They began early to seek after God, and have led a pious and exemplary life ever since, faithfully serving of God in a careful and conscientious observing of his commands; they have not only ⟨p. 95⟩been blameless, but patterns for others imitation: they have made a good Profession, and brought a great deal of Honour to God in their place and generation, their light hath so shined that men have seen their good works and glorified God for them: They have cheerfully both done and suffered for Christ: have been exceeding watchful over themselves, & taken a great deal of h••d in the discharging of a• relative and personal Duties incumbent on them, in obedience to God: and mean while have solemnly professed to renounce utterly all reliance upon themselves or their own righteousness, depending upon Christ alone for the acceptance of the•r persons and services: and they have lived very humbly as well as Conscientiously, When such as these are come to die there is abundant Hope, concerning them, for they have all the discoveries upon them, by which we are advantaged to Judge of mens being truly pious, and in a good estate: these are the visible Characters which the Scripture gives us to look upon as the notes of good and Holy men, yea of such as are eminently so: they do therefore command this Hope from us, they leave a precious name behind them, their very memory is blessed, and we have a good confidence concerning them; & tho it is not impossible but that men may dissemble Holiness so artificially as to impose upon ⟨p. 96⟩the credit of the Godly, and the dissimulation never be discovered in this life, yet we have no reason to suspect such as these, or to entertain doubts and jealousies in our minds about them, since there is nothing else to be seen by us in them, but what calls for our good opinion of them. Our Saviour Christ ••rects us to Judge of them by their fruits Math. 7.16. they keep faith and a good conscience to our observation; and such as these are declared to be happy in their Death, Psal. 7.37. Take notice of the perfect man, mark the upright for the end of that man is peace.