N00683:170
A good man making a good end. The life and death, of the Reverend…
A good man making a good end. The life and death, of the Reverend Mr. John Baily [i.e., Bailey], comprised and expressed in a sermon, on the day of his funeral. Thursday. 16.d. 10.m. 1697. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Two line epigram in Latin]
printed by B. Green for Michael Perry, 1698
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Particularly; First, unto a Christian, our Blessed Jesus, is a Priest for ever. 'Tis said, in Heb. 3.1. Consider the High Priest of our Profession, Christ Jesus: Christ Jesus is the High-Priest of the Christian Profession; A Christian makes Profession of being Reconciled unto God, by no High-Priest, but Jesus Christ. A Christian is one who sees himself utterly unable to make that Reparation unto God for the wrongs done by our Sin• •nto Him, which His Just Law requires. He therefore flies unto the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only High-Priest, that can Repair those wrongs, and make Atonement for him. What is a Priest? We have the Definition of one, in Heb. 5.1. He is one ordained for men, in Things pertaining to God, that he may offer both Gifts and Sacrifices for Sins. Now says the Christian, ⟨p. 75⟩I know no such Priest, but my Blessed Jesus. The Christian apprehends the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Priest Sacrificing for him. He Assents to that in Heb. 9.26. He hath appeared to put away Sin, by the Sacrifice of Himself. He sees the Lord Jesus Christ, yielding both Active and Passive Obedience unto God, on the behalf of His Elect: He sees this Obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ, as his Ransom from Eternal Miseries. All the Relief, that a Christian has against the Fears of the Wrath of God is This; Christ hath Loved us, and given Himself for us, an Offering and a Sacrifice to God, of a sweet smelling Savour. Ask a Christian, How do you think to find Acceptance with God? He'll tell you, If he be a Christian, he'll tell you, 'Tis through' the Merits of the Obedience of my Lord Jesus Christ alone. The Christian also apprehends the Lord Jesus Christ as a Priest Interceding for him. He assents to, That, in Heb. 7.25. He is able to Save to the uttermost, seeing He ever Lives to make Intercession. He sees the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Legal Surety, and as a Public Person, gone into the Holy of Holies for us; He sees the Lord Jesus Christ, with our Names on His Breast, there powerfully pleading for our purchased Salvation. A Christian has nothing to support him under all his Daily Corruptions, and his Daily Temptations, but this, My Jesus is my Advocate! The Soul of the Christian even Lives upon this Cordial, My