N01270:39
A discourse concerning the death of the righteous. Occasioned by the deaths of the…
A discourse concerning the death of the righteous. Occasioned by the deaths of the Honourable, John Foster Esqr. who dyed at Boston in New-England Feb. 9th. 1710,11. And his pious consort, Mrs. Abigail Foster. Who departed soon after him, viz. on the 5th. of March. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines from Revelation]
Boston: printed by B. Green, 1711
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.
All that I shall say by way of APPLICATION, is only this Word, Let us lay to heart the Deaths which have occasioned our being here this day. The Righteous and the Merciful are lately taken from us. A Merciful Hand-maid of the Lord is removed by Death, unto Peace and Rest with the Lord. One that was Exemplary as for her Piety towards GOD, so for her Mercy and Charity towards His Poor. Thus She was both Living and Dying. In her last Will and Testament She has considered the Poor: As indeed God expects that They who have considerable Estates (especially if they have no Children) should devote Part of them to His Poor, and to Promote the Interest of ⟨p. 25⟩true Religion in the World. Alas! that there have been some among us, unto whom God gave Riches, but they have not Willed so much as one Penny to the Poor, or to any Pious use. It would have been more for their Honour, and for the Honour of Religion, if they had done as this Hand-maid of the Lord has done; and as another among our selves some years ago did, *for which his Name deserveth to be had in Everlasting Remembrance with us. But of this Mother in Israel whose Death we Lament, I shall not say more. My work is not to Praise the Dead, but to Instruct the Living. Tis said, Prov. 12.21. He that has Mercy on the Poor, happy is he. She had Mercy on the Poor, and now happy is She.
All that I shall say by way of APPLICATION, is only this Word, Let us lay to heart the Deaths which have occasioned our being here this day. The Righteous and the Merciful are lately taken from us. A Merciful Hand-maid of the Lord is removed by Death, unto Peace and Rest with the Lord. One that was Exemplary as for her Piety towards GOD, so for her Mercy and Charity towards His Poor. Thus She was both Living and Dying. In her last Will and Testament She has considered the Poor: As indeed God expects that They who have considerable Estates (especially if they have no Children) should devote Part of them to His Poor, and to Promote the Interest of ⟨p. 25⟩true Religion in the World. Alas! that there have been some among us, unto whom God gave Riches, but they have not Willed so much as one Peny to the Poor, or to any Pious use. It would have been more for their Honour, and for the Honour of Religion, if they had done as this Hand-maid of the Lord has done; and as another among our selves some years ago did,