A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FVNERALL OF M^r THOMAS WILSON, in his owne Parish Church at S. Georges, in the Citie of Canterbury, the 25. day of Ianuary. 1621.

THis Chapter, the 8. to the Romanes, may fitly be termed, a store-house, or treasury of spirituall and heauen­ly comforts, wherein the Apostle S. Paul vseth sundry arguments, to prepare, & arme a Christian against the stormes and miseries of this pre­sent life. My Text that I haue read, hath a dependance vpon the former Verse, wherein the Apostle comfor­teth the afflicted in this maner; Si cum eo patimur, vna cum illo glorificemur. If we suffer, sayth he, with him, we shall also be glorified with him. His meaning is this; That if we now participate with Christ in his sufferings, the time will come that we shall participate with Christ in glory.

Obiect. Ob: But here flesh and bloud will obiect, that heauen indeed may be glorious, but the way to heauen is long, grieuous, vnpleasant, full of troubles, feare, discontent, and the like, so that wkile we here remaine, in the par­ticipation of these sorrowes, our hearts faint within vs.Answered by the Apostle. The Apostle returneth answere to this Obiection in the words of my Text read vnto you, not denying the bitternesse of the potion, but sweetneth it with the hope of health, that will insue vpon it; he gain-sayeth not the troubles of the righteous to be great troubles, but yet not so great, as is the glory in the life to come, which is the portion and inheritance of the Saints. This is that which the Apostle resolveth and determi­neth in the words I haue read vnto you. I count, sayth he, that the afflictions of this present life, are not worthie of that glory that shall be reuealed vnto vs.

Out of this answere of the Apostle, wee may gather these two seuerall Aphorismes, being the two parts of my Text.

The two parts of the Text.First, that Christians are subiect and lyable to the af­flictions of this present life.

Secondly, that all the afflictions of this life, although they may be many and great, yet are not to be compa­red to the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. And thus much for the method, order, and disposition of my Text.

That which the Apostle here termeth afflictions, in the former Verse he calleth by the name of sufferings.What is meant by afflictions. By afflictions and sufferings he meaneth all such crosses as happen vnto vs in this transitory life, and whatsoeuer is grieuous to our nature to beare.

As the sinnes of man are many, and of divers kinds, even so the wise and iust God hath his many, and mani­fold differing corrections, according as by their sinnes he shall be prouoked thereunto.

The afflictions of this present time, as the Apostle here termeth them, they are two fold Outward, or Inward.Afflictions two-fold, Outward or Inward.

Outward afflictions, when as God doth smite a man in his outward estate, in his goods, in his good name, in his credit, in the losse of his libertie by imprison­ment; As also with sicknesses of his body, which are many and grieuous:Outward af­flictions. And sometimes with the vnto­wardnesse and evill disposition of his children, so that after a carefull and chargeable education, when the Fa­ther looketh for pleasant grapes, as the Prophet sayth,Isa. 5.2. he findeth nothing but wild and soure grapes, this is no small crosse & corrosiue vnto Parents that feare God. Sometimes also God chastneth man by the death of his friends, and a people by the death of a carefull Shep­heard, as we see at this present time.

There be inward afflictions also,Inward af­flictions. when as man is chastned with the vnquietnesse of his owne heart, trou­ble of his Conscience by reason of his sinnes, with a continuall feare and expectation of Gods wrath to take hold on him, yea, with a restlesse vexation of his owne soule; These inward chastisements, are called by some, soule-afflictions, the which of all crosses are the greatest, and of all burdens most vnsupportable.

For those outward afflictions before named, the Saints of God haue borne them with excellent pati­ence, but these inward conflicts haue prooued too weightie for them, and they haue groaned exceedingly vnder them.

How patiently holy Iob did beare all outward afflicti­ons, his History will informe you, but when he felt the heauie hand of God vpon him, in the troubles of his soule, then he cryed out amaine, as being wounded to the heart;Iob 6.4. The arrowes (sayth he) of the Almightie are in me, the venome whereof doth drinke vp my spirit, and the [Page 4]terrours of God, fight against me.

Surely, these inward afflictions, haue carried so great a weight in the Conscience of some men, that labou­ring by all meanes to be rid of this yoke and trouble­some burden,Nulla poenae gravior quam poena Conscien­tiae. Isidorus. & not knowing how, they haue laid vio­lent hands vpon their owne life; many such fearefull Tragedies haue beene acted vpon the stage of this world.

Beloved,The Saints on earth, subiect to outward and invvard afflictions. Confirmed by example of Patriarkes, Prophets, and Apostles. to these afflictions, both outward and in­ward, the Children of God are subiect in this present life. Iacob the Patriarke, you shall finde complaining of a wearisome Pilgrimage, for when as Pharaoh de­manded what was his age, he answer'd, an hundred and thirtie yeares, and withall informeth him of his sorrows,Gen. 47.9. Few and evill haue beene the dayes of my Pilgrimages.

Elias also a famous Prophet of God, with a bitter complaint to heauen, intreateth the Lord to end his Pilgrimage, as being no longer able to indure the af­flictions of Iezebel, 1 King. 19.4. It is enough, O Lord, take my life, for I am no better then my Fathers.

Saint Paul also, after his conversion to the Christian faith, passed along in a-like wearisome Pilgrimage, and although the statutes of Christ were his songs in the house of his Pilgrimage, Preaching the Gospell to Iewes and Gentils, 1 Cor. 9.20. and to all men, that by all meanes he might saue some; Yet in complaints he commeth not be­hind Iacob, nor Elias, neither Patriarkes nor Prophets, If in this life onely we haue hope in Christ, 1 Cor. 15.19. then (sayth he) we are of all men most miserable. I referre you to his reason in the 36. verse of this Chapter,Rom. 8.36. For thy sake we are killed all the day long, &c.

Now concerning inward afflictiōs of the mind, trou­ble of conscience, feare of Gods wrath before mentio­ned, it is apparant that Gods children are not exempted nor priviledged from them, besides the example of Iob before named, I will instance onely in the Prophet Da­uid, [Page 5]whose complaints are as Symtoms of the sicknesse of his mind, which are these;Psal. 130.1. Out of the deepe haue I called vnto thee O Lord. Againe,Psal. 25.7. O remember not the sinnes of my youth. Againe,Psal. 88.15. I am afflicted, and at the point of death. From my youth I suffer thy terrours, despairing of my life. Last of all, in another Psalme demanding of himselfe a reason of this agony.Psal. 42.5.11. O my soule why art thou so disquieted within me, &c.

Now seeing that such are the afflictions of this pre­sent life, and that such maner of persons are subiect vn­to them, to which might be added many moe examples of the Scripture, yea, and Ecclesiasticall stories will af­ford many Presidents of like nature, of Gods people suffering vnder many Heathenish Emperours, in the Primatiue Church, and since also vnder Turkes and Savages, and vnder the persecution of Antichrist, that man of sinne, of whom it is written,Reu. 17.6. I saw the Strumpet drunken with the bloud of Saints.

Seeing then that the afflictions of this present life, doe fall into the lot of the righteous, whereof wee haue a cloud of witnesses. Heb. 12.1. This may serue, to shew some men their errour,Vſe. and withall to reproue them for the same, that if at any time they come vnder any bitter afflicti­ons of this life, they sinke in despaire,Yea plunged into the gulfe of despaire. and spare not to say, that God hath forsaken them, they are dam'd, and cast away, giuing hereby very great advantage vnto Sa­tan, the common Adversary,Satan playeth vpon advan­tage. who laboureth by his suggestions to barre them of all comforts.

O foolish and ignorant man,A causelesse despaire re­proued. as thou art a man, Ni­hil humania te alienum puta, thinke not that to be strange in thee which is common to all men: as thou art a Chri­stian, and a regenerate man, Christ Iesus hath invested thee into the sorrowes of this life; you (sayth Christ) to his owne, shall weepe and lament, and the world shall re­ioyce. Ioh. 16.20.

The Armes of the Church militant, is the Crosse. The Armes of the militant Church. [Page 6]The motto of the Church,The Motto of the militant Church. 2 Cor. 5.4. as one sayth is this. I doe well and suffer.

Indeed (sayth the Apostle) we that are in this Taberna­cle, sigh, and are burdened. If thou wilt consult with the Scriptures, they will informe thee, thatPsal. 34.19. great are the troubles of the righteous; yea, and that2 Tim. 3.12. all that will liue godly in Iesus Christ, shall suffer persecutions. And1 Pet. 4.17. that Gods iudgements begin at his owne house.

Prov. 3.11. My sonne (sayth Salomon) despise not thou the chasti­zinges of the Lord, for the Lord will correct such as he loueth. This is a sentence of great note and vse in the Scrip­ture. I find it recommended by Christ to the Church of theRev. 3.17. Laodiceans, and also by the Apostle it is pressed home to the Hebrewes with this amplification,Heb. 12.5. seeing that God chastneth whom he loueth, and scourgeth euery son that he receiueth, if a man be without all corrections, whereof (sayth he) all are partakers; this immunitie and freedome causeth suspition in deed,Heb. 12.8. that the same man cannot be the true child of God.

I deny not but that afflictions, and the crosses of this life, may be counted tentations, and they that with pa­tience beare them, of such it will be sayd in the last day.Luk. 22.28. These are they that haue continued with me in tentations, and I appoint vnto them a kingdome.

And out of question,Afflictions are great tentati­ons, but not the greatest. great afflictions are great tenta­tions, but not the greatest of all. The greatest of all tentations (sayth a learned Father) is never at all to be tempted, which he groundeth vpon that saying to the Hebrewes, that he which is without all corrections is aHeb. 12.8. Bastard and no sonne.

The holy Disciples of Christ, through the midst of these afflictions found a passage to Gods kingdome. We must,Act. 14.22. say they, through many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God.

If any man should inquire the way to that Citie, to­wards which he travelleth, if it be truly answered him [Page 7]thus, That the onely way to the same, is through many Deserts, steepie Mountaines, after that he must passe by dangerous waters, and then by rough wayes, and the like.

This passenger going on in his travell, hee findeth most pleasing, delightful, and smooth wayes, and there­in no cause of feare, or discontent. Will he reioyce in this? Nay, hath he not cause by these pleasant passages to suspect that he hath vtterly lost his right way. Even so fareth it with a Christian that is bound for the king­dome of God, Christ Iesus hath giuen vs the markes of the way, not ease, pleasure, profit, or the like,The false way. that man who aboundeth in all these may iustly feare, that he is cleane out of the way.

The true markes of the way to the Citie of God the new Ierusalem, Markes of the way to the Citie of God. by the report of Christ are these;Ioh. 16.20. Wee­ping, lamentations, sorrowes, Luk. 21.16. trechery of friends, Luk. 21.17. hatred of the world, Math. 23.34. persecutions, Rev. 2.10. the Prison, Ioh. 16.2. Excommunicati­ons, Ioh. 16.3. death, martyrdome, and the like.

If in these thou haue thy portion in this life, comfort thy selfe, for therein thou hast the markes of the true way before thee.

When as the Wise-men came from the East, and sought after Christ, they had the starre for their guide, of whom it is thus written,Math. 2.10. When they saw the starre, (the marke of their way) they reioyced with an exceeding great ioy. Even so the Saints, and holy Martyres, being well taught and grounded in the truth, and bound for the kingdome of God; when as in their passage they met with those markes, whereof Christ before speaketh, they were full of ioy in all their tribulations, singing of Psalmes, clapping of their hands, kissing the stake; for by these tokens and markes, they were well assured, that they were in the very high way, leading to the kingdome of God.

But let me in the next place minister some instructi­ons [Page 8]to such as are vnder the afflictions of this present life.Necessary in­structiōs given to such as are afflicted.

It is very necessary that the afflicted doe vnderstand who it is that hath smitten them,1 The Lord smiteth. Hos. 6.1. Come (sayth the Pro­phet) let vs returne to the Lord, He hath spoiled vs, He hath wounded vs, &c.

Iob 33.16. Elihu did truely answere Iob, That all corrections are sealed of God. Ascribing the same to God, as being his owne absolute proper act and deed.

Amos 3.6. Shall there be evill in a Citie (sayth the Prophet Amos) and the Lord hath not done it.

If theMath. 10.30. hayres of mans head be numbred, as Christ him­selfe testifieth, yea, and these shall not perish without the will of God, then certainely greater evils cannot fall vpon man without Gods permission.

Ascribe not then thy mishaps to Fortune:Vſe. So doe the Heathen that know not God; nor wrangle too much about secondary causes. When as the complaints came to Iob against theIob 1.15.16.19. Shabeans, and the Chaldeans, who had taken by violence all his Cattell away from him; And of a great wind that came from beyond the Wildernesse, that smote the foure corners of the house, which fell vpon his Children, and killed them, IOB knew all these to be but Gods agents, and vsed not so much as any murmuring speeches against them, but be­ing assured that God hath a stroke in all the afflictions of this present life, very wisely and truely answered in these words;Iob 1.21. The Lord hath giuen, and the Lord hath ta­ken away, and blessed, sayth he, be the name of the Lord.

It is also very necessary that man vnder these cha­stizements,2 doe vnderstand that his sinnes haue prouo­ked God to these evils.Sinne, the cause of Mans troubles. For when asIudg. 13.1. Israel continued to commit wickednesse in the sight of the Lord, the Lord deliue­red them into the handes of the Philistimes fortie yeares.

Had it not beene for sinne, Man had never tasted of sorrow. God may truely say as much to all such as [Page 9]groane vnder the burden of afflictions, as Paul did to those that were in the ship with him;Act. 27.21. You should, sayth Paul, haue harkned to me, and not haue losed from Candie, so should you haue gayned this hurt and losse. So if man in the state of Innocency, had harkned to the voyce of God, and not transgressed his law,Gen. 3.6. by eating of the for­bidden fruit, If he had remained in obedience to the great God of heauen, these afflictions, and crosses, and sorrowes of this life, had beene altogether prevented.

Here is a necessary caveat also to be given to all af­flicted,3 that they accuse not God of iniustice,God in afflic­ting men not vniust. for con­cerning thine afflictions, be they what they are, thy sinnes haue deserued much more. And yet take this with all for thy comfort,4 that the afflictions of this pre­sent life are not alwayes iudgements,Afflictions sometimes but tryalls. but sometimes are tryalls of thy faith, loue, obedience, patience, and constancie in the true service of God.

If therefore thou find the hand of God to be heauie vpon thee, inquire by a strict examination of thy selfe,Referred to examination. what the cause thereof should be. If thy owne Consci­ence shall informe thee of thy loue to God,How this may be done. and his true worship, and of thy holy desires to please Cod, and that thou strivest daily against the corruptions of thine owne heart, and the like, then out of question, thy af­flictions are but tryalls.

But if vpon examination, thy Conscience shall inti­mate vnto thee, a great neglect of many holy duties, and that thou liuest in some sinnes not as yet repented of then doe thou wisely suspect the worst, that by these afflictions layd vpon thee, haven doth chalenge thee for the same.

Therefore my counsell vnto thee is this,Counsell, not to be reiected, or refused of any. If vpon in­quirie thus made, as thou findest thy selfe to stand with thy God, if thou takest these afflictions to be tryalls, exercise all Christian patience vnder them, but if for thy sinnes, then hasten forward an vnfained reformation, [Page 10]and let me answere thee with CHRISTS wordes in the Gospell,Ioh. 5.14. Sinne no more lest a worse thing come vnto thee.

To shut vp this poynt,The finall cause of the affliction of the Saints. the finall cause of afflictions of Gods elect, is this, namely, Gods purpose by them to bend, not to breake, yea, where he bendeth, he ne­ver breaketh. Elihu answered Iob truely, that the marke that God aymeth at by those afflictions that he sendeth vpon his owne, isIob 33.16.17.18. to open the eare of man, to cause him to harken vnto his word. And that thereby he may cause man to turne from his owne enterprise, and that he might hide the pride of man.

And by these corrections he intendeth to keepe backe his soule from the pit, and that his life should not passe by the sword.

To this well agreeth that saying of Paul, 1 Cor. 11.32 We are chast­ned of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

And thus much of the first part of my Text.

The second Aphorisme followeth, which is this;The second Aphorisme.

The Rhemes Testament readeth it thus, I doe thinke that the afflictions of this present time, but to thinke, leaueth it to vncertaintie.

The originall word [...], [...]. Statuo. Beza Repeto Zuinglius Arbitror Trimelius. Existimo vulg. latin. is better by learned Interpreters, translated thus; I count, &c. As if the Apostle should haue thus sayd, I haue summed vp to­gether all the sorrowes and afflictions of this life, ha­ving first examined every particular, I count what I finde, for by experience I know what they are, name­ly, that they will not hold weight with that glory that shall be revealed to the Saints in the life to come.

Non sunt paria, sayth Beza, Non sunt paria. Beza. Pares passiones. Trimelius. If you put them all into the Balance, they will proue too light, much like to that of Iob, Iob 6.2. Oh that sayth he, my griefe were weighed, and my miseries were layd together in the Balance, for it would be heavier then the sand of the Sea, &c. Even so, if all the troubles of this life were balanced with heavenly ioyes, they would proue much lighter then the same. Which Metaphor the Apostle also vseth in his Epistle to the Corinthians,2 Cor. 4.17. Our light afflictions (sayth he) which are but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent, and an eternall waight of glory.

When as Paul was taken vp into Paradise, he speak­eth of himselfe, that he there heard (2 Cor. 12.4. Beza. [...]) Ineffabilia verba, sayth the Latin translation, Words not possible for man to vtter. No doubt but it was a [Page 12]more harder taske to expresse what was then seene, I meane the glory of God, then to vtter those words that were spoken vnto him.

Saint Peter calleth the ioy of Heaven begun here on earth,1 Pet. 1.8. Gaudium ineffabile, You doe beleeue, and reioyce sayth he, with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious. If heavenly ioy, in the heart of the Saints, when as it is but begunne, while it is but in the bud, when man hath but a little taste of the same, by the worke and operation of the Spirit of God, be Gandium ineffabile, that is, vnspeaka­ble ioy, how vnable is man to expresse the perfection of it, even that glory, sayth my Text, that shall be revealed vnto vs.

Saint Paul also to the Corinthians doth much magnifie this glory, but he explaneth it not;1 Cor. 2.9. The things (sayth he) which eye hath not seene, neither eare hath heard, nei­ther came into mans heart, are which God hath prepared for them that loue him. Yea, he proueth the truth hereof by Scripture,Isa. 64.4. according, sayth he, as it is written, but not ex­plaining the excellencie of this glory, by reason, or de­monstration.

The Prophet Dauid also,Psal. 45.1. whose tongue was the pen of a readie writer, yet neither by pen, not by his tongue was he able to expresse this glory, but in generall termes,Psal. 16.11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. And againe,Psal. 36.9. With thee O Lord is the well of life, and in thy light we shall see light, &c.

But beloued, I marvell the lesse that the Prophets of God, and Apostles of our Saviour Christ, haue passed by the description of this glory which we hope for in the life to come, and without any particular illustration of the emminencie thereof, when as the Lord Christ himselfe, praying to God his Father for this glory to be given vnto his Church, calleth it onelyIoh. 17.5. that glory, which himselfe had with his Father before the world was, [Page 13]but he explaineth it not. We shall all then know, and not before, what this glory is, when as in the life to come, it shall be revealed vnto vs, that is, when we are in the actuall possession of it.

For as he that sate vpon the white Horse (spoken of in the Revelation)Rev. 19.12. On whose head were many Crownes, Simile. had a name that no man knew but himselfe: So, no man know­eth the excellencie of this heavenly ioy, or the glory thereof, but he himselfe onely that is crowned with it.

Brethren, for my part I haue had but little time to meditate vpon this Scripture, but had I had much lon­ger time, I should not haue beene able to haue satisfied you in this poynt, as by any description, or demon­strations, to present vnto you the perfection of this glory, for1 Cor. 2.9. if mans heart cannot conceiue it, then much lesse is mans tongue able to expresse it.

Neither doth my Text put this taske vpon me, for the Apostle speaketh onely of this glory comparatiue­ly; comparing it with the crosses and miseries of mans life.

I count (sayth he) that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the glory that shall be revealed vnto vs.

Neither doe I see how the comparison can well hold betwixt the one and the other, things finite, with that which is infinite.

Psal. 30.5. The heauinesse of the Saints, is but for a night, the ioy that commeth in the morning will be everlasting.Psal. 16.11. At the right hand of God, there are pleasures for evermore, as the Prophet testifieth.

Saint Paul also himselfe seemeth not so well to ap­proue of this very comparison, even in this very re­spect;2 Cor. 4.17. For (sayth he) our light affliction, which is but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent, and an e­ternall waight of glorie.

And albeit, mans life be full of sorrowes, as Iob speak­eth, yet, sayth he, withallIob 14.1. it is of short continuance; his afflictions then be but momentary afflictions, and the glory of heaven eternall.

Vpon this hope of eternall glory, Gods children haue gone thorough (with singular patience) the wearisome Pilgrimage of this life. And although they haue not a little beene perplexed with the violent stormes of this world, yet herein was their comfort, an expectation that they had of this haven, where they should enioy eternall rest.

Saint Paul giueth this for a reason, why he faynted not in his sorrowes;2 Cor. 5.1. For we know (sayth he) that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle be destroyed, we haue a buil­ding giuen of God, that is, a house not made with hands, but eternall in the heavens. For therefore we sigh, desiring to be clothed with our house, which is from heauen, &c.

And againe, there is another difference betweene the afflictions of this life, and the glory which shall be revealed vnto vs, which doth not a little detract from the fitnesse of this comparison, namely, that these af­flictions are often times mixed with comfort, but hea­venly ioyes haue no tutch at all of any sorrowes in them.

Saint Peter writing to such as were vnder great af­flictions, yet in his Epistle mentioneth their great ioy;1 Pet. 1.8. You (sayth he) doe beleeue, and reioyce with ioy vnspeake­able and glorious. And S. Paul confirmeth this truth by good experience in himselfe;2 Cor. 1.5. As the sufferings of Christ abound in vs, so our consolation aboundeth through Christ.

Now on the other side, in the fruition of the glorie to be revealed, we shall enioy it, without any mixture of sorrow. This glory will suffer no maner of eclipse at all.Rev. 7.17. Isa. 25.8. God will wipe away all teares from the eyes of his people. All which confirmeth the truth of this Text, that the afflictions of this present time are not worthie of the [Page 15]glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. This glory which in a due time shall be revealed, it is no worldly glory, no vaine-glory; these will passe away as shadowes with­out substance, which are lighter then the wind, they haue no weight at all in them,Luk. 16.25. there is no remembrance at all of earthly pleasures when as man leaueth them, they vanish away, as it were, in a smoake, but the glory of God is ever lasting. And this is the portion and in­heritance of the Saints, wherefore (as the Apostle sayth else where)1 Thes. 4.18. Comfort your selues one another with these words.

But principally I commend these words of comfort to all that are afflicted, that groane vnder persecutions,Vſe. and are distressed by reason of many crosses and mise­ries that haue taken hold on them.

To all such our Saviour ministreth the like words of comfort;Math. 5.12. Great (sayth he) is your reward in the kingdome of heaven.

This was Moses comfort in his afflictions, as the A­postle sayth,Heb. 11.26. He had an eye to the recompence of the re­ward.

Saint Stephen also the Martyr, in his afflictions, was supported by the meditation of this glory;Act. 7.55. Behold (sayth he) I see the Heavens open, and the sonne of Man standing at the right hand of God, &c. And this is it which Paul presseth to the Colossians, Col. 1.5. for the hopes sake which is layd vp for you in heaven, &c. So then all the afflictions of this present time, are not worthie of the glory that shall be revealed vnto vs.

Finally, if all the afflictions of Pauls time, which haue beene the greatest that ever were, I meane the persecu­tions in the primatiue Church, as Ecclesiasticall Stories at large will informe you. If all those troubles, yea, sufferings for Christ, and Martyrdome it selfe be not worthy of heavens ioy,Good vvorkes cannot iustifie. then no other workes certainly can of themselues merit eternall life, or procure for man [Page 16]the salvation of God: And so much for the Interpreta­tion of this Scripture.

Now touching the occasion of this present meeting, somewhat is to be spoken.

TO speake much of little, sayth one, needeth the helpe of Art; And certainely no lesse Art is requi­red in him, that intendeth to speake little of much, fully and yet in few words. In which poynt, I suspect I may fayle, having but little time left, and so plentifull a sub­iect of my speech.

At my comming into this Church, when I beheld the people here assembled, I remembred that report which the Evangelist giueth of our Saviour Christ,Math. 9.36. When he saw the multitude, he had compassion vpon them, because they were dispersed and scattered abroad, as sheepe ha­ving no Shepheard. It cannot be but a pittifull spectacle indeed, to behold a people distressed in this kinde.

This being your owne case (my beloved) I may fit­ly compare your sorrowes, to the sorrowes of Ierusa­lem, lamented by the Prophet Ieremy, Lam. 1.1. How doth that Citie, sayth he, remaine solitary, that was full of people; she is as a widow that was great among the Nations, &c. The like say I to this present people, How commeth it to passe, that this Congregation lyeth desolate, as a la­menting widow, without a Teacher, or Comforter, who of late, for the plentie and puritie of the Word, reioyced aboue all other Parishes and Villages round about her? Alas, the reason is soone rendred. You haue lost a most painfull Pastor, and a carefull Shepheard that attended you,Vt Zancheus de Caelvine. Fuit optimus inter­pres Scriptura­rum. A man called forth to the worke of the Lord, and plentifully inabled of God to the worke wherevnto he was called. He was a judicious Divine, [Page 17]and Orthodox, sound in the truth, excellent for inter­pretation of Scripture; a professed enemy to Idolatry, superstition, and all false worship: for which he reaped the malice of some, but especially of one who oppo­sed him to the vttermost of his power.

But God soone vnmasked this Adversary,M^r Wilson troubled by a false brother. whose vizard being puld off, it instantly appeared to the world that he had the marke of the Beast in his forehead, and then gaue over the pursute of him, when as his owne Conscience pursued himselfe, so that forth with he for­sooke his friends, living, countrey, and all,D. C. and depar­ted from vs.

And as this true Shepheard of Christ was furnished with excellent gifts, both of Nature and Arts, whereby he was well fitted to the worke of the Ministery,M^r Wilson very laborious and industrious in his calling. so was he most laborious, industrious, and diligent at all seasons to Preach Christ. As he had receiued ten Ta­lents, so he put them all out to the vse of his Master. O­therwise, people find small comfort in the great read­ings, knowledge of the tongues, skilfulnesse in the Arts, eloquence, or in any other emminent gifts of such as are placed over them, if they reape not the fruits of that learning in the publique Ministery of the Word.

And as he was painfull and industrious,He vvas also constant in his paynes. so also was he constant in his labours, as God still increased his gifts, so he still inlarged his paynes, to the farther good of his Church, even from the time of his first comming to his charge, to the time of his death,He vvas resi­dent 36. yeares vpon his charge. Genesis. Isaiah. The Gospel of S^t Iohn. having remained among you the space of 36. yeares, preaching vsually in this place three times every weeke, lecturing vpon three severall Bookes of Scripture; A taske of such la­bour, especially the same being so exquisitely perfor­med, that the best learned haue most admired him. And in all his Sermons, he gaue good content to such as were most judicious, yet still spake to the capacitie of [Page 18]the meanest; It is well knowne to all that knew him, that he was both an eloquent,Like Apollos. Act. 18.24. and a powerfull dispen­ser of the Word.

In which constancie of his labours, he fulfilled that saying of one, who would haue Imperatorem stantem mo­ri concionatorem concionantem mori, where should the Em­perour die, sayth he, but in the field, and where should a Preacher die, but in the Pulpit? meaning in the faith­full execution of his Ministery. His Sermons you see, were more then quarter Sermons.

To his continued paynes of Preaching,He was a very profitable writer. I may adde these excellent Bookes which he hath penned, whereof Divines may make good vse, and all such as desire a progresse in godlinesse.

Obiect. But what need I rehearse these things to you that al­readie know them, will not some reply to this Apolo­gie, as one that answered the Orator, who earnestly pleading for attention, was interrupred by one of his Auditors, demanding vpon what argument he would Discourse. He answered, that it should be in the prayse of Hercules, then sayd he, Num quis Herculem vituperat, Is there any here that dispray seth Hercules, holding it a vaine labour to prayse where none disprayseth.

Or happily to my testimony of this worthy Pastor, some will answere me much like as the Samaritans an­swered the woman of Samaria concerning Christ, We beleeue all this, not because of your report, but for that we haue heard him our selues.

I answere thus,Answered. What is now spoken of him, at this present, is not so much for information, as for confir­mation of what ye know and beleeue, when ye vnder­stand that others are of the same mind with you, but principally it is now spoken of him, that God may haue the glory of his workes and graces in him.

If you of this parish doe not ingenuously confesse,Ingratefull hearers repro­ved. to the glory of God, the manifold benefits you haue recei­ved [Page 19]by his watchfull labours; I say to you as Christ sayd in defence of his Disciples, If those, sayth he, hold their peace, the stones will cry out; even so, the very stones of this Church, let them witnesse against you.

And if any malignant spirits,Depraving spi­rits censured. shall after his death de­praue him, or detract from his Preaching, or those his Bookes which he hath penned, all godly Christians haue cause to suspect them to be rotten at the coare, vn­sound I meane in Religion; or else for their owne in­sufficiencie (the ground of malice) vnworthie to carrie his Bookes after him.

When my selfe did visite him in his sicknesse, and perceiued the great weaknesse of his body, I counselled him, vpon returne of strength (if God so pleased) to be moderate in his paynes for a time; He answered me in these very words, Were I in health of body,His resolution to be constant in his labours. 1 Cor. 9.16. I say alwayes with the Apostle, Vae mihi si non evangelizavero, Woe vnto me if I preach not the Gospell, but in my sicknes I know the Lord will not require it of me.

But alas I see teares falling from many eyes,A generall la­mentation in the Auditory observed. Deut. 34.8. and o­ther signes of mourning in this Auditory; to you that lament the losse of your Shepheard, as the Israelites did for their Moses, so you for this Prophet of God, were your Shepheard to returne his answere from Heaven, it would be much like to Christs words, to the lamen­ting Women that followed after him.Luk. 23.28. Daughters of Ierusalem, weepe not for me, sayth he, but for your selues, and for your children, for your selues, I say, and for your children, because you know not what evils may befall you, for these latter dayes grow evill apace.Isa. 57.1. And the righteous are taken away, sayth the Prophet, because he shall not see them.

But in respect of himselfe,For himselfe no cause of la­mentation. there is no cause of la­mentation, for he and all his labours are with God; He [Page 20]hath fed the flocke of Christ, and is gone to receiue the promised Crowne. He hath met with that comforta­ble greeting of the Lord,Math. 25.23. Euge bone serve & fidelis, it is well done good servant and faithfull, thou hast beene faithfull in little, I will make thee ruler over much: enter into thy ma­sters ioy.

And as he was carefull for you in his life, so not care­lesse of you at the instant time of his death.

Even as the Heathen Orator sayd of himselfe,Tully. that he had no lesse regard, that the Common-wealth should flourish after his death, then in the time of his life, or rather like vnto S. Pauls care,Act. 20.29. that when he departed from the Church of Ephesus, he would haue grievous Wolues kept out, that otherwise would make a havock of the flocke the which he very earnestly committed to the care and trust of the Elders of that Church, and was the more earnest,Act. 20.38. for that they should see his face no more. Even so this trustie and provident Shepheard, was so mindfull and carefull of you all,M^r Wilson very carefull of his flocke at the point of death. that with his last dying breath, he prayed, and wished all good to the Church of Christ in generall, but to you his flocke in speciall, namely, his heartie desire was this, that the Patrons of his Church would place such a one in his roome, as should be able to teach his poore flocke.

And I hope that his worthieWho vvere present at this Sermon. Patrons will haue a re­gard of you, even as they respect the glory of God, and for their owne honour and credit, and the rather at the request of their brother deceased, who in the name of Christ craved it at their hands.

Now to you his grieued flocke,His grieued flocke com­forted. let me minister a few words of comfort, I say to you as Abraham did to Isaak his sonne, My sonne, sayth he, God will provide a sacri­fice; So,1. That God will provide for them. GOD no doubt will provide a Teacher for you.

And comfort your selues in this, you the inhabitants of this Parish are not alone, but haue many abroad that doe share with you in your sorrowes,2. They not a­lone in their sorrowes. that sometimes were partners with you in the comforts of your Mini­ster.

Neither be you too much discouraged,3. Truth re­maineth though true Teachers be taken away. though a true Teacher be taken from you, yet God hath left his Truth still with you, and hath given you the spirit of Truth, that shall never be taken from you: You haue on every side such as are both able and willing to instruct you;4. The spirit of Truth abi­deth for ever. you are well neighboured also by the cathedrall Church adioyning to you, whether you doe often resort, and receiue instructions from divers very learned Divines,5. They haue many instruc­ters neere vnto them. Christs Church at Canterbury. Eccle. 3.1. from whence, as from a continued springing fountaine you may fetch the water of life; no small benefit to this Citie, if they respect the welfare of their soules.

Finally, Salomon sayth, Every thing hath an appoynted time: And a time to every purpose vnder Heaven. Why then there is a time to heare, and a time to practise. You haue had a long time to heare, in the name of God, make it now a time to practise. Be not alwayes hearers, Iam. 1.22. but doers of the Word. And what ye haue heard by your learned Teacher in his Doctrine (as Mary did the words of Christ) so lay the same vp in your hearts.Luk. 2.51.

You haue beene often, yea,His hearers called vpon, to put in practise what they haue heard. early and late called vp­on, by your louing and beloved Pastor, God calleth you now to practise what you haue learned. Let the crop and harvest be answerable to that seed that hath beene here sowne, certainly a plentifull seed, let the ef­fect thereof be seene by a plentifull harvest.When to meet againe with their Shep­heard. 2 Tim 4.7. That in the end, you may meet againe with your Shepheard, who by the hand of God is now pulled away from you, of whom this remaineth onely to be spoken; He hath fought a good fight, He hath finished his course, He hath kept the Faith, from hence forth is laid vp for him the Crowne of [Page 22]righteousnesse, which the Lord shall giue vnto him at that day; And all this through the merits of IESVS CHRIST, to whom with GOD the Father, and the blessed Spirit, be all honour, glory, prayse, and dominion, now and for ever. Amen.

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