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Gods frown in the death of useful men. Showed in a sermon preached at…Gods frown in the death of useful men. Shewed in a sermon preached at…
Gods frown in the death of useful men. Showed in a sermon preached at the funeral of the Honourable Col John Pynchon Esq. Who deceased January 17th. 1702[/]3. / By Solomon Stoddard, Pastor of Northampton.Gods frown in the death of useful men. Shewed in a sermon preached at the funeral of the Honourable Col John Pynchon Esq. Who deceased January 17th. 1702[/]3. / By Solomon Stoddard, Pastor of Northampton.
printed by B Green, 1703
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.
USE IV. Of EXHORTATION
To such of You as are in Power, or may upon this occasion be put in Power. Carry so that we may not have so much cause to lament this Dispensation. The more Serviceable you are in your Places, the less there will be of a Frown in the Removal of this Honourable Person. If you answer the expectation of God and man from you, that will wonderfully moderate our grief. You commend him for being Serviceable, be you so too; you say he was a Father to the Country, be you so too; you are capable to do a great deal of Service, do so, and that will be like clear shining after rain.
Particularly I entreat you,
Particularly I intreat you,
1. That in all Causes that come before you, you would act in the fear of God. You must not act either with a preposterous zeal, or with a spirit of sinful indulgence. You must have a great care that you do not condemn the Righteous, or justify the Wicked; ⟨p. 25⟩such proceedings are both of them alike abominable unto God: in all Controversies between man and man, you must act impartially: you may not out of love, or pity, or anger be influenced in giving Judgment: if you have a mind to befriend men, befriend them in other ways; but in Judgment have no respect of persons; it is proverbial, That a Friend in the Court is better than a penny in the Purse; but you must be friends to no man, any further than his Cause requireth; you must have a care that you do not countenance any malicious prosecutions, but act in the fear of God.