Winthropi justa. A sermon at the funeral of the Honourable John Winthrop Esq. late…
Winthropi justa. A sermon at the funeral of the Honourable John Winthrop Esq. late governor of the colony of Connecticut, in New-England; who died, at Boston, Nov. 27. 1707 and was honourably there interred on Decemb. 4. ensuing; in the 69th year of his age. : [Three lines of quotation in Latin]Winthropi justa. A sermon at the funeral of the Honourable John Winthrop Esq. late governour of the colony of Connecticut, in New-England; who died, at Boston, Nov. 27. 1707 and was honourably there interr'd on Decemb. 4. ensuing; in the 69th year of his age. : [Three lines of quotation in Latin]
Cotton Mather 1663–1728printed by Timothy Green, 1708
[8], 3-40 p. ; 13 cm. (12mo) · 7.6k words · Evans 1365
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.
Must we so? Then let us Discharge our Duty to our Friends, before it comes to this. Let us do them all the Good that ever we can, while we have, an Opportunity to Do them Good. Let our Carriage to our Friends, be such, that if they Dye before us, we may be able with inexpressible Consolation, to look back upon our Faithfulness.
Let Me therefore deal Faithfully in this very Thing, with You, my Friends. I must Faithfully tell you; If a Soul Related unto you be snatched out of this world by Death, and you must own, you never did any thing for the Salvation of that Soul, Suppose it one of your Children, or one of your Servants, or a Relative nearer than either of them: Oh! the astonishing Anguish, which your Souls, must on such a deplorable Occasion be filled withal! Sirs; We are to Dye. We should first make Ready for our own Death; and then for the Death of our FRIENDS. We don't know, which may get the start in the Race to the Goal of Death.
Let Me therefore deal Faithfully in this very Thing, with You, my Friends. I must Faithfully tell you; If a Soul Related unto you be snatch'd out of this world by Death, and you must own, you never did any thing for the Salvation of that Soul, Suppose it one of your Children, or one of your Servants, or a Relative nearer than either of them: Oh! the astonishing Anguish, which your Souls, must on such a deplorable Occasion be fill'd withal! Sirs; We are to Dye. We should first make Ready for our own Death; and then for the Death of our FRIENDS. We don't know, which may get the start in the Race to the Goal of Death.
. I know that my Redeemer Lives; and that He shall stand at the Latter day over the Earth; And He shall Raise me out of the Earth. O Joyful Tidings! The Resurrection was of old called, The Consolation. Tho' the Pagans were Strangers to the Mystery, and Scoffers at it, [Witness Plinies flouts, Quae malum, ista dementia est, itorari Vitam Mort!] Yet, The Children of God, even in the Secular Times [Called so,
. because measured by Jubilees:] of the Old Testament, believed a Resurrection. God promised them a share in the Blessings of, The Kingdom of the Messiah. They Died, before these Promises were accomplished. Hence they inferred, That they must be Raised from death, to Enjoy these Promises. It was a Right Inference! Their Faith was God will Redeem my Soul from the Power of the Grave. But then, the Gospel of the New Testament, has more Conspicuously, more Abundantly, brought Life and Immortality to Light; a Resurrection, that is, to a Life of Immortality. For now we have seen our Lord JESUS CHRIST Himself Risen to such a
⟨p. 32⟩
Life; and so Risen, as to leave no Room for doubt, that He will also Raise His Followers, to such a Life. He has told us, [For so it should be rendered:] He that Believeth on me, shall not die for ever: Tho' he Dye, he shall not lie dead for ever. And we have, in His Resurrection, an Irrefragable Proof, That He has not therein Deceived us. This, This then shall be the Triumph of our Souls: LORD, When wilt Thou come, and make the Graves yield up their Dead, and deliver the Lawful Captive, and the Prey of the Terrible! Rejoice not against us, O our Enemy, Death; For, tho' we Fall, we shall Rise again; when we sit in Darkness, the Lord shall be a Light unto us! Wherefore, Comfort one another with these Words. Among the Primitive Christians, they would often have the Portraits of Enoch, of Lazarus, of Jonah, and of Ezekiels Vision, on their Caemeterial Cells, to Proclaim their Comfortable Faith of the Resurrection, to sweeten their Habitation in the Dry Pit in the Land where the Sun shines not. But on the Sepulchral Monuments, it was usual for others of them to inscribe the First Letters in the Name of our Saviour.
⟨p. 33⟩
I ask not for those Actions, but for our Following of the Faith which produced them!
V. Must we Dye? Yet let us Rejoyce in a Redeemer, that will one Day save us ⟨p. 31⟩from Death Dying Saint; Let that be thy dying Song; Job 19.25. I know that my Redeemer Lives; and that He shall stand at the Latter day over the Earth; And He shall Raise me out of the Earth. O Joyful Tidings! The Resurrection was of old called, The Consolation. Tho' the Pagans were Strangers to the Mystery, and Scossers at it, [Witness Plinies flouts, Quae malum, ista dementia est, itorari Vitam Morte!] Yet, The Children of God, even in the Secular Times [Called so, Rom. 16.25. because measured by Jubilees:] of the Old Testament, believed a Resurrection. God promised them a share in the Blessings of, The Kingdom of the Messiah. They Died, before these Promises were accomplished. Hence they inferred, That they must be Raised from death, to Enjoy these Promises. It was a Right Inference! Their Faith was God will Redeem my Soul from the Power of the Grave. But then, the Gospel of the New Testament, has more Conspiciously, more Abundantly, brought Life and Immortality to Light; a Resurrection, that is, to a Life of Immortality. For now we have seen our Lord JESUS CHRIST Himself Risen to such a ⟨p. 32⟩Life; and so Risen, as to leave no Room for doubt, that He will also Raise His Followers, to such a Life. He has told us, [For so it should be rendred:] He that Believeth on me, shall not die for ever: Tho' he Dye, he shall not lie dead for ever. And we have, in His Resurrection, an Irrefragable Proof, That He has not therein Deceived us. This, This then shall be the Triumph of our Souls: LORD, When wilt Thou come, and make the Graves yield up their Dead, and deliver the Lawful Captive, and the Prey of the Terrible! Rejoyce not against us, O our Enemy, Death; For, tho' we Fall, we shall Rise again; when we sit in Darkness, the Lord shall be a Light unto us! Wherefore, Comfort one another with these Words. Among the Primitive Christians, they would often have the Pourtraicts of Enoch, of Lazarus, of Jonas, and of Ezekiels Vision, on their Caemeterial Cells, to Proclaim their Comfortable Faith of the Resurrection, to sweeten their Habitation in the Dry Pit in the Land where the Sun shines not. But on the Sepulchral Monuments, it was usual for others of them to inscribe the First Letters in the Name of our Saviour. ⟨p. 33⟩I ask not for those Actions, but for our Following of the Faith which produced them!
¶ Finally; Must we all Die? Then Persons in a Public Station are to Dye; Their Public Station will not Secure them. Even those Men, who because of their Vicegerency are called, Gods, yet have this Premonition from Him, that is Infinitely Higher than the Highest of them all; You shall Dye like Men. Hence the Indian Kings of Mexico, would have their Coronation-Robes Painted with Skulls and Bones of Dead Men, to mind them of their Mortality, with their Sovereignty.
¶ Finally; Must we all Die? Then Persons in a Publick Station are to Dye; Their Publick Station will not Secure them. Even those Men, who because of their Vicegerency are called, Gods, yet have this Praemonition from Him, that is Infinitely Higher than the Highest of them all; You shall Dye like Men. Hence the Indian Kings of Mexico, would have their Coronation-Robes Painted with Skulls and Bones of Dead Men, to mind them of their Mortality, with their Sovereignty.
OFFICERS of all sorts; You are to Dye. But then certainly your Behaviour in your several Offices ought to be such, that you may give up a Good Account, unto GOD the Judge of All. It was a Voice that once came from the Imperial Purple; the Speech of Alexander the Son of Mammaea; That he had an Hand always ⟨p. 34⟩in readiness, to tear out the E•es of Corrupt and Partial Officers. Tis very sure, The Great GOD, hath such and Hand; He has Threatened, He will tear such in Pieces, there shall be none to deliver them:
OFFICERS of all sorts; You are to Dye. But then certainly your Behaviour in your several Offices ought to be such, that you may give up a Good Account, unto GOD the Judge of All. It was a Voice that once came from the Imperial Purple; the Speech of Alexander the Son of Mammaea; That he had an Hand alwayes ⟨p. 34⟩in readiness, to tear out the E•es of Corrupt and Pareial Officers. Tis very sure, The Great GOD, hath such and Hand; He has Threatned, He will tear such in Pieces, there shall be none to deliver them:
MINISTERS, They are to Dye. Then, My Fathers and Brethren, You should not be Men of this World. You must Live like men on the Edge of the Eternal World. It was a stroke in the Charge given to Ministers at their Ordination of old; Habeatis Eternitatem in omnibus Cogitationibus vestris. How Painful, how Watchful, how Faithful ought you to be, in the Discharge of your Ministry! In what a continual• Flame, to Do Good, and Serve Christ, and Win Souls? That no part of your Work be found Undone, when your Working Time is done! Excellent the Pattern for us, in One of the Ancients, who could say, Wherever I come, and whatever I do, methinks, I hear the Trumpet of the Arch-angel, Arise ye Dead, and come to Judgment!
MINISTERS, They are to Dye. Then, My Fathers and Brethren, You should not be Men of this World. You must Live like men on the Edge of the Eternal World. It was a stroke in the Charge given to Ministers at their Ordination of old; Habeatis Eternitatem in omnibus Cogitationibus vestris. How Painful, how Watchful, how Faithful ought you to be, in the Discharge of your Ministry! In what a continual• Flame, to Do Good, and Serve Christ, and Win Souls? That no part of your Work be found Undone, when your Working Time is done! Excellent the Pattern for us, in One of the Ancients, who could say, Wherever I come, and whatever I do, methinks, I hear the Trumpet of the Arch-angel, Arise ye Dead, and come to Iudgment!
MAGISTRATES, They are to Dye. Then, with what Fidelity, with what Integrity ⟨p. 35⟩should they acquit themselves! With what Concern for the Welfare of the People, to whom they are Shields, by the Oath of God upon them! That when they Dye, it may be Testified for them, They did Good in Israel; and had the Seven things, which Maimonides tells us, the Jews required of every one that sat in a Court of Judicature; Wisdom, Humility, The Fear of God, Contempt of Riches, The Love of Truth, A Good Fame, and, To be Beloved of Others. Magistrates must not be Insensible, that they are to appear before the Judgment-seat of GOD. Nuper eram Index; Jam Judicor. —
GOVERNORS must also Dye; Emperors are Dead. What Obligations does their Mortality lay upon them? Even among the Pagans, there were GOVERNORS, that were Charming Examples of Truth, of Justice, of Goodness, and of a Zeal for the Public. Of such a Conduct, that like Nerva, they could Profess, Were I to return to a Private Life, I have never done any One thing, that should make me Afraid of any One Man in the World. ⟨p. 36⟩Strangely Beloved among the People; styled, like Titus, The Darlings of Mankind. The People have been ready to Adore them, as they did the Antonines, and stigmatize the Houses that had not their Statues or Pictures in them. Certainly, among us Christians, there should be a Greater Excellency; I say, A Greater Excellency. So saith our Saviour, What do you more than Others?
GOVERNOURS must also Dye; Emperors are Dead. What Obligations does their Mortality lay upon them? Even among the Pagans, there were GOVERNOURS, that were Charming Exemples of Truth, of Justice, of Goodness, and of a Zeal for the Publick. Of such a Conduct, that like Nerva, they could Profess, Were I to return to a Private Life, I have never done any One thing, that should make me Afraid of any One Man in the World. ⟨p. 36⟩Strangely Beloved among the People; styled, like Titus, The Darlings of Mankind. The People have been ready to Adore them, as they did the Antonines, and stigmatize the Houses that had not their Statues or Pictures in them. Certainly, among us Christians, there should be a Greater Excellency; I say, A Greater Excellency. So saith our Saviour, What do you more than Others?
A GOVERNOR greatly and justly Beloved among his People, [Tis no Flattery to Affirm, what Envy it self can't Deny!] was Lately seen at the Head of One of our Colonies. He is this Day to be Interred among us; tis with wondrous Lamentations; with such as I may describe in the words of Suetonius upon the Death of the Illustrious Roman; They are, Non secus atque in domestico Luctu Maerentibus publice Cunctis; Or, such as men have at the Loss of their own most Intimate Relations.
A GOVERNOUR greatly and justly Beloved among his People, [Tis no Flattery to Affirm, what Envy it self can't Deny!] was Lately seen at the Head of One of our Colonies. He is this Day to be Interr'd among us; tis with wondrous Lamentations; with such as I may describe in the words of Suetonius upon the Death of the Illustrious Roman; They are, Non secus atque in domestico Luctu Maerentibus publice Cunctis; Or, such as men have at the Loss of their own most Intimate Relations.
The GENTLEMAN, by whose Death One of our Colonies, as Beheaded, lies a Bleeding, and One who in the Confession ⟨p. 37⟩of all men, had the, True spirit of a Gentleman, will always be Remembered with Esteem among his People. I Confess, we are sometimes affronted with False Praises in Funeral Sermons; which deserve as much to be derided, as those Passages of Nero's Oration were by the Senate, wherein he Cried up the Discretion of Claudius. I shall not be guilty of them, when I say of this our WINTHROP; He will be ever Mentioned, as he was highly Esteemed, very Particularly, for his Courteous way of Treating all men, but especially Good Men, and Old Men, on all occasions; and for his Paternal, and Patient, and Generous Administration of the Public Affairs.
The GENTLEMAN, by whose Death One of our Colonies, as Beheaded, lies a Bleeding, and One who in the Confession ⟨p. 37⟩of all men, had the, True spirit of a Gentleman, will alwayes be Remembred with Esteem among his People. I Confess, we are sometimes affronted with False Praises in Funeral Sermons; which deserve as much to be derided, as those Passages of Nero's Oration were by the Senate, wherein he Cried up the Discretion of Claudius. I shall not be guilty of them, when I say of this our WINTHROP; He will be ever Mentioned, as he was highly Esteemed, very Particularly, for his Courteous way of Treating all men, but especially Good Men, and Old Men, on all occasions; and for his Paternal, and Patient, and Generous Administration of the Publick Affairs.
His Excellent FATHER, One of the Best of Men, [Of whom we may also say, what has been said of another, He was Son to an Excellent Father, and Father to an Excellent Son:] HE laid that Charge upon him; That if ever he had an Opportunity, to do any Service for his People, he should be sure to do it, with all the Alacrity imaginable. He would speak of this Charge, and of the Vast Impression it made upon him. He performed it, He fulfilled it. Our ⟨p. 38⟩Enosh, never Forgot it. He went over the Atlantic on purpose to procure a Confirmation of their Invaded Liberties. GOD Prospered him: Returned him. He flew back with an Olive-branch which proved a Garland unto him: The Obliged People (instead of an Obsidional Crown for him) Chose him for their GOVERNOR. They said unto him, as the General Assembly of old said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, for thou hast Delivered us. They found him a GOVERNOR, that fully answered their Expectation. I am sure, I shall not fall under the Character, of a Simeon Metaphrastes, for bearing such a Testimony.
His Excellent FATHER, One of the Best of Men, [Of whom we may also say, what has been said of another, He was Son to an Excellent Father, and Father to an Excellent Son:] HE laid that Charge upon him; That if ever he had an Opportunity, to do any Service for his People, he should be sure to do it, with all the Alacrity imaginable. He would speak of this Charge, and of the Vast Impression it made upon him. He perform'd it, He fulfill'd it. Our ⟨p. 38⟩Enosh, never Forgat it. He went over the Atlantic on purpose to procure a Confirmation of their Invaded Liberties. GOD Prospered him: Returned him. He flew back with an Olive-branch which prov'd a Garland unto him: The Obliged People (instead of an Obsidional Crown for him) Chose him for their GOVERNOUR. They said unto him, as the General Assembly of old said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, for thou hast Delivered us. They found him a GOVERNOUR, that fully answered their Expectation. I am sure, I shall not fall under the Character, of a Simeon Metaphrastes, for bearing such a Testimony.
And where, O Bereaved Colony, where will you now find a Strong Rod, by which your Government may be Carried on? The Circumstances of the Day require an Extraordinary Man; A Man, which none but a Glorious CHRIST can make for you. Certainly, You will Present your most ardent Supplications unto Him for such a Man. Your Brethren here, that Love you, will also Pray for you. We will Pray for you, That there may be a Perpetual Reign of all Godliness and Honesty ⟨p. 39⟩among you, and Every thing that a People favoured Above all the Families of the Earth should have shining among them. We will Pray for you, That you may be a People, who for Unity as well as Equity, and for Gratitude and Obedience unto Good Rulers, and Thankfulness & Fruitfulness under your Evangelical Privileges, may Adorn your Profession wonderfully.
And where, O Bereaved Colony, where will you now find a Strong Rod, by which your Government may be Carried on? The Circumstances of the Day require an Extraordinary Man; A Man, which none but a Glorious CHRIST can make for you. Certainly, You will Present your most ardent Supplications unto Him for such a Man. Your Brethren here, that Love you, will also Pray for you. We will Pray for you, That there may be a Perpetual Reign of all Godliness and Honesty ⟨p. 39⟩among you, and Every thing that a People favoured Above all the Families of the Earth should have shining among them. We will Pray for you, That you may be a People, who for Ʋnity as well as Equity, and for Gratitude and Obedience unto Good Rulers, and Thankfulness & Fruitfulness under your Evangelical Priviledges, may Adorn your Profession wonderfully.
When you Lost the GOVERNOR, who was the Father of him that is now taken from you, I heard Funeral Sermons, Preached on those Words; 2 Chron. 34.28. Th•• shalt be Gathered unto thy Grave in Peace, neither shall thine Eyes see all the Evil, that I will bring upon this Place. We will Pray, we will Pray, That Unknown Evil may not now, be coming upon you
When you Lost the GOVERNOUR, who was the Father of him that is now taken from you, I heard Funeral Sermons, Preached on those Words; 2 Chron. 34.28. Th•• shalt be Gathered unto thy Grave in Peace, neither shall thine Eyes see all the Evil, that I will bring upon this Place. We will Pray, we will Pray, That Unknown Evil may not now, be coming upon you
Since we have Lived here, and since we are to Die, and yet we Live after Death, and others will succeed us, when we are Dead, we are greatly Concerned, To send Before us a very Good TREASURE; To carry With us a very Good CONSCIENCE; And to leave Behind us a very Good EXAMPLE.
Since we have Lived here, and since we are to Die, and yet we Live after Death, and others will succed us, when we are Dead, we are greatly Concerned, To send Before us a very Good TREASURE; To carry With us a very Good CONSCIENCE; And to leave Behind us a very Good EXAMPLE.
