A sermon preach'd at the funeral of Capt. John Briggs at Dunstable, March 23, 1694/5 by Thomas Harrison.

A sermon preach'd at the funeral of Capt. John Briggs at Dunstable, March 23, 1694/5 by Thomas Harrison.

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Title page

The Epistle Dedicatory, To Mrs. ELIZABETH BRIGGS, Widow of the Deceased Capt. JOHN BRIGGS.

A SERMON preach'd at the Funeral of Capt. JOHN BRIGGS.

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A SERMON preach'd at the Funeral of Capt. JOHN BRIGGS.

2 COR. v. 1.

For we know, that if our Earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a Building of God, an House not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens.

MAN is born to Trouble as the Sparks fly upward. Various are the Miseries and Calamities which attend the Human Race during their Continuance in, and Pilgrimage through the waste and howling Wilderness of this World. And sincere Christians are so far from obtaining an Immunity and Freedom from Temporal Evils while in a Mortal State, that they generally have the greatest share of them: But they have those Cordials to support and revive their Spirits under the Pressure of Afflictive Providences, whereof others are wholly destitute. We need look no further for an Instance of this, than the Chapter preceding that which my Text begins; wherein the Apostle having mentioned those Sufferings [Page] which himself and his Brethren underwent, for their stedfast Adherence to, and Endeavours to propagate the ever-blessed Gospel, he gives an Account of those things which afforded them Comfort and Support under such deplorable Circumstances, whereof the hope of future Glory was not the least, which he proposes in the close of that Chapter, and farther prosecutes in the words of my Text, For we know, that if our, &c.

The Method that I shall take in speaking to these Words shall be,

I. To explain them.

II. To apply them.

I. I shall explain them: And in order to a regular and distinct Explication of them, I shall take notice of these four following things contain'd in them.

First; A Description of the State and Condition of the Human Body in this Life; Our Earthly House of this Tabernacle.

Secondly; An implicit Assertion of its Dissolution; If it were dissolved.

Thirdly; A Description of the blessed State and Habitation of the Saints after the Dissolution of their Bodies: We have a Building of God, an House not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens.

Fourthly; The comfortable Knowledg and Assurance which the Apostle and other Christians had concerning their present Right to, and future Fruition of this Blessedness, We know.

[Page] First; A Description of the State and Condition of the Human Body in this Life; Our Earthly House of this Tabernacle.

That this is a Description of the Body in its Mortal State, is evident both from the Text and Context. Tho the Apostle here speaks particularly of Believers, yet what is said concerning the present Frame and Condition of their Bodies, is applicable to the Corporeal Part of all Mankind. The Earthly House of this Tabernacle, or, this Earthly House or Tabernacle: For when two synonymous Words are made use of in the Description of the same thing, the latter is sometimes put in the Genitive Case, instead of their being joined together by the Conjunction or; thus Numb. 19.2. This is the Ordinance of the Law, i. e. this is the Ordinance or Law, and in several other places. More particularly, there are two things observable in this part of the Text.

1st. The things to which he compares Man's Body, viz. an House and a Tabernacle.

2dly. The Epithet which he gives it, Earthly.

1st. The things to which he compares Man's Body, viz. an House or a Tabernacle; for these words must not be taken in a Proper and Literal, but in a Figurative and Metaphorical Sense.

First; He compares it to an House. This Denomination is given to Human Bodies, Job 4.19. they are called Houses of Clay. The Body may be compared to an House for two Reasons.

1. Because of the Curiosity of its Structure. Some Art and Skill must be exercised in building an House, that [Page] all its Parts may be commodious, and bear a due and comely Proportion to each other. The Divine Architect hath displayed his Wisdom as well as his Power in the Formation of the Human Body: We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and our Substance was curiously wrought, Psal. 139.14, 15. Tho it is made of a vile Material, yet it hath a noble and excellent Form, yea the Matter it self is sublimated and refined: There is nothing wanting that is necessary for use, and there is nothing superfluous or un-useful. But I shall not now anatomize the Human Body, lead you into all the Rooms of this stately and compact Fabrick, or shew you the Curiosity of every Part.

2. Because it is an Habitation for the Soul. Man is said to dwell in this House of Clay, Job 4.19. I conceive Man is here by a Synecdoche put for the Soul, which is the superiour Part of Man. The Soul dwells in the Body as an Inhabitant in an House, only with this difference, there is a formal Union between the Soul and Body, which there is not between a Man and the House wherein he dwells. And the Body in this respect bears a Resemblance to an House in three things.

(1.) In its Inferiority to the Soul in Worth and Excellence. As a Man is of more Worth than the most stately and costly Palace that can be inhabited by him; so is the Soul of more Value than the Body wherein it resides, and which is inform'd by it. In the Body there are visible Footsteps of God, but the Divine Image is stampt and pourtray'd upon the Soul. The Image of God in Man consists not in what is seen, but in what is not seen: God expresly saith, that none saw a Similitude of him, Deut. 4.15. which had not been true, if Man in regard of his Body had been the Image and Similitude of God; for then a Figure of God had been seen every day, as often as we saw a [Page] Man, or beheld our selves. Tho many of the Children of Men are destitute of God's Moral Image, consisting in Knowledg, Righteousness and true Holiness, yet every Human Soul bears his Natural Image in its spiritual Nature and Properties. Surely the more remote from Matter, and the more like to the supream Spirit any Being is, the greater is its Excellency.

(2.) In its Usefulness and Subserviency to the Soul. As the House is erected for the use of the Inhabitant, and the several Rooms thereof are prepared for his Service, and all the Affairs therein are managed and conducted by him; so the Body was framed for the Service of the Soul, tho Sin often renders it injurious to its noble Inhabitant. The Motions of the Bodily Members are all directed and guided by that Intelligent Spirit which is seated in it.

(3.) In the Independence of the Soul upon the Body, as to its Operations and Existence. An Inhabitant can act without, and may exist separate from his Habitation. There are many Operations of the Soul while it lodges in the Body, which it puts forth independently from the Body, and whereto the Corporeal Part doth not at all concur. And when the Soul shall be dislodged from this Dwelling-place, it will still have an Existence. This noble Inhabitant shall not be buried in the Ruines of that Earthly Tabernacle. Tho the Life of the Man is destroy'd by the Separation of the Soul from the Body, because it consists in their Union; yet the Life of the Soul, which hath no Dependence on such an Union, is not destroy'd thereby. The Soul animates the Body, but the Body conveys no Life to the Soul.

Secondly; The Body is compared to a Tabernacle.

The Apostle Peter gives the same Denomination to his Body, 2 Pet. 1.13, 14. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I [Page]am in this Tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in Remembrance: Knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle.

And the Body may be compared to a Tabernacle for two Reasons.

1. Because of the short continuance of the Soul in it. A Tabernacle is opposed to a fix'd Habitation, Heb. 11.9. They who only sojourned in a place, and were speedily to remove from it, did in former times erect Tabernacles for themselves. Indeed our Bodies are rather Tabernacles wherein we sojourn for a little time, than Houses wherein we have a fix'd Habitation: We are Pilgrims and Strangers in the Earth; our immortal Souls will soon take their flight from our Bodies. We often read of the Brevity of Man's Life in the Holy Scriptures. Man that is born of a Woman, is of few Days, and full of Trouble. He cometh forth like a Flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a Shadow, and continueth not; Job 14.1, 2. Man's Life is compared to a Vapour, which soon vanisheth, James 4.14. to Smoke which quickly disappears, Psal. 102.3. to the Grass which is withered by the Summer Sun, or cut down by the sharp Scythe, Isa. 40.6, 7. it is said to be swifter than a Weaver's Shuttle, which quickly runneth from one side of the Web to the other; its Motion is represented by the telling of a Tale, the sailing of a Ship in the mighty Ocean, and the flight of an Eagle towards its Prey: It is compared to an Hand's breadth, yea to nothing, Psal. 39.5. How short is the Life of Man in this World if compared with the eternal Duration of God, or with the Life which we shall live in the other World! Yea, the life of Man in our days is exceeding short, if compared with the Lives of the Antediluvian Fathers. There are but a few steps between our Cradles and our Graves: They who live longest in the [Page] Body live but a little time; but how short is the Continuance of some in this World, who are cut off in their flourishing Age, in the Morning of their Days! We are all hastily marching to Eternity, and shall shortly come to our Journey's end.

2. Because of its Weakness and Frailty. Tabernacles were but slightly built, very weak and infirm Structures; they were not made of durable Matter, nor fix'd upon strong Foundations. Our Bodies, those Houses of Clay wherein our Souls reside, are said to have their Foundation in the Dust, Job 4.19. The Strength of a Building lies very much in its Foundation; and that Edifice which hath but weak Walls, being strongly founded, may last long; but when the Building is weak, and the Foundation weak also, in how tottering a Condition is such a Fabrick? The Foundation of Man's Body is Sand or Dust, and the word signifies unstable moveable Dust, such as lies upon the Surface of the Earth, and is carried away with every puff of Wind. Man in his best Estate is altogether Vanity on the account of his Corporal Frailty and Weakness; his Strength is not as the Strength of Brass or of Stones, but he is like a Reed shaken with the Wind. How small a matter will make a Change and Alteration in the Body! How soon will the Gust of a violent Distemper, like a furious Wind, blow it down to the Ground! So weak is the Body, that we have more cause to wonder at its standing so long, than at its falling so soon.

2dly. We may observe the Epithet which the Apostle gives to the Body, Earthly; it is an Earthly House or Tabernacle. This Epithet may be given it upon a fourfold Account.

[Page]1. Upon the account of the Matter whereof it is formed. It is made of Earth, Clay or Dust. The sacred Historian tells us, That the Lord God formed Man of the Dust of the Ground, Gen. 2.7. and that the Woman was formed of a Rib taken out of the Man's Body, ver. 22. When the great Jehovah came to pass Sentence upon Man for the Breach of his Law, he put him in mind of his Original and Frame, as to his Corporeal Part; Dust thou art, out of it wast thou taken; Gen. 3.19. And if our first Parents were formed of the Dust, we who are their Off-spring were formed of their Substance, and proceeded from their Loins, must be also formed of the same Matter. Elihu acknowledges that he was formed out of the Clay, Job 33.6. The Psalmist tells us, That God knoweth our Frame, he remembreth that we are Dust, Psal. 103.14. our Bodies are breathing Clay, animated Earth.

2. Upon the account of its Situation, or the Place wherein it is pitched: It dwells in, it is erected upon the Earth. Tho Angelick Spirits were originally placed in the superiour World, Heaven was their first Habitation; yet the Human Body was lodged in the Earth at its first Formation, this is the place of its Residence, and must be while in its present State and Condition. Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; 1 Cor. 15.50. Heaven is too pure an Air for our Animal Bodies to breath in, till they shall be purified and refined, and endued with those excellent Qualities which will fit them for such a noble Region. Therefore so long as our Souls continue in our Bodies, they have but an Earthly Lodging; tho their Motions and Operations may reach to Heaven, yet their Essential Residence is in the Earth: on this account while we are present in the Body, we are absent from the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.16. While we dwell in this Tabernacle, we sojourn in a polluted and [Page] troublesome World, a place to which Sin hath introduced the greatest Disorder and Confusion, where Iniquity abounds, and where many Occasions of Grief are continually ministred to us; a Vale of Tears, a Field of War, a Stage of Contention, and a waste and howling Wilderness.

3. Upon the account of those Means whereby it is supported and refreshed. Our Bodies in their present State would immediately fall if they were not propp'd up and repair'd by Earthly Comforts, viz. Meat, Drink, Physick and Raiment. All the Conveniences of Life which we value and prize, which we industriously labour for, and after which our Affections do often run in an immoderate degree, are nothing better than Earth. An Earthly Body is only capable of Earthly Enjoyments.

4. Upon the account of its Disposure and Resolution. When Death rends the Soul from the Embraces of the Body, then the Dust returns to the Earth as it was, Eccles. 12.7. it is turned into common Earth, and laid in a Bed of Dust. Thus much for the Description of the State and Condition of the Human Body in this Life. I proceed,

Secondly; To the second thing contain'd in the words, viz. An implicite Assertion of its Dissolution; If it were dissolved.

Tho the conditional Conjunction [...] if, is here made use of, yet it doth not import any Hesitation or Doubt in the Apostle's Mind concerning the Dissolution of his Body, as if it were uncertain, whether it should be dissolved or not; but that Conjunction hath the same Signification here with the Adverb [...] when, and so the words may be render'd thus, When our Earthly House of this Tabernacle shall be dissolved. We find that this Particle hath the same Signification, [Page] Joh. 16.7. 1 Joh. 3.2. so that these words do amount to an Assertion of the Body's Dissolution: For what Comfort could arise to the Apostle and his Fellow-Sufferers from the Thoughts of their Entrance into an Heavenly Habitation after the Dissolution of their Bodies, if they were not assured that some time or other they should be dissolved? We read of a twofold Dissolution made by Death in Sacred Writ, viz. a Dissolution of the Person or the Man, Phil. 1.23. I desire to depart, or, as the original word may properly be render'd, to be dissolved; this consists in the Separation of the Soul from the Body: and a Dissolution of the Body, in my Text. This is a Metaphor taken from the Destruction of Buildings, the Overthrow of Earthly Fabricks: When a Structure is demolished, it is said to be dissolved; for so the Original Word whereby the Ruine of the Temple is exprest, Mat. 24.2. Mark 13.2. most properly signifies. In Allusion hereunto the Death of the Body is called its Dissolution. Now pursuant to the Metaphor several things are imply'd in the Body's Dissolution.

1. The Continuance of its Matter after Death. When an House is demolished, tho it loseth its Form, yet the Matter still remains, it is not annihilated. The Matter of the Human Body passeth through various Changes after Death, yet it is not reduced to nothing; for if it were, at the great Day there could not be a Resurrection, but a new Creation of Human Bodies: Whereas the Scripture assures us that the same Body which dies shall live and rise again: Tho it may be accidentally and with respect to its Qualities another Body, yet it will be essentially, and with respect to its Substance, the same.

2. The Destruction of its Form. When a Building falls, its Form is lost, tho its Matter remains; the same [Page] Effect doth Death produce in the Body. Herein these two things may be comprehended.

(1.) The loss of its Beauty and Comeliness. What Beauty is there in the Rubbish of the most splendid and stately Palace? Surely there is nothing in it that can attract the Admiration and Esteem of those who behold it. They who delighted to view and walk in a House while standing, will turn their Eyes from its Ruines. The Beauty of the most amiable Body becomes a Prey to Death, when it is seized by this mighty Conqueror. Death draws a dismal Vail over all its Glory, and makes very unlovely and deforming Impressions on it. The Bodies of our deceased Relatives which we formerly beheld with great Delight, would be now very unpleasant Spectacles to us; we cannot without Regret turn our Eyes towards the Corps of our dearest Friend, but are willing soon to bury it out of our Sight.

(2.) The loss of its Excellency and Usefulness. What Value is there in the Rubbish of a fallen Sructure, which while standing was worth many thousands, or what use can it serve for? Tho a living Body is exceeding valuable, yet a dead Body is of no more Worth than common Earth, and it is as useless and unprofitable. The Eyes, Tongue, Hands and Feet, which were all active Members, and perform'd many Operations, when seized by Death become wholly unactive, they lose their Motion and Activity when bound with its Adamantine Chains and Fetters. Those Bodies of our Relations which were very serviceable to us while in the Land of the living, can do us no good when numbred among the Dead.

3. In the Dissolution of the Body may be imply'd its entrance into the Grave, and corrupting there. A standing House is raised above the Ground, but a fallen House [Page] lies level with it, and the Materials thereof are separated and divided. When Mens Bodies die, they are laid in the Grave, which is the House appointed for all living: They enter into the place of Silence and of Darkness, and there they moulder away, and crumble to Dust.

4. Herein may be implied the various ways whereby the Structure of the Human Body decays, and is destroyed. Some Buildings fall down of themselves, Time, the Consumer of all material Things upon the Earth, destroys them; other Fabricks are blown down by violent Winds, others fall by the force of devouring Flames, and others are demolish'd by Men. In like manner some Mens Bodies may be said even to fall of themselves, because no internal Distemper, nor external Violence is the Cause of their Dissolution; old Age hath dried up their natural Moisture, exhausted their Strength, and brought them down to the Dust; their Life was like a Lamp that goes out when there is no more Oil to feed it. The Bodies of others are destroyed by the immediate Stroke of God's Hand, some Bodies are burnt up by the Heat, or blown down by the Blast of violent Distempers, others fall by Human Force and Violence.

That our Bodies must be dissolved we have a sacred Assurance from the God that made them: He hath told us that the Body must return to the Earth from whence it came, that he will bring us to Death and to the Grave, which is appointed for all living. It is appointed for all Men once to die, Heb. 9.27. This Appointment is accomplished upon our Fellow-Creatures every day; Man goes to his long Home, and the Mourners continually walk about the Streets: Yea many of our dear Relatives have been rent from our Embraces, and hurried into the gloomy Territories of the King of Terrors; some whose Bodies were stronger than [Page] ours, and seem'd more able to hold out against a besieging Enemy. Do not the continual totterings and shakings of our Earthly Tabernacles, and the frequent Repairs which they stand in need of, portend their Downfal? So that the living may many ways know that they must die.

Thirdly; I proceed to that Description which the Apostle gives of the blessed State and Habitation of the Saints after Death. We have a Building of God, an House not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens.

The Apostle carries on the same Metaphor in the latter part, which he made use of in the former part of the Verse. As he compares the Soul's Residence in the Body to that of an Inhabitant in an House, so he represents the Glory and Felicity of the Soul, after the Dissolution of the Body, by its Entrance into and Abode in a more glorious Habitation. But what this House is whereof the Apostle speaks, is not yet agreed among Expositors: Some do thereby understand the same Body, which the Soul now dwells in, and must be dislodged from; when raised again at the last day. Others think the Apostle intends that Glory and Blessedness into which the Souls of Believers enter immediately after their Separation from their Bodies. It is certainly true that the Earthly Tabernacles of the Saints shall not always lie in the Dust, that the Divorce between their Souls and them will not be perpetual, but they shall be raised from their Graves, and reassumed by their antient Possessors; and then the Soul will have a more noble Habitation than now it hath, the Body will be much more excellent and glorious than it is in its Mortal State: And it is as certain that the Soul will not be without an Habitation when it is by its great Landlord turned out of its Earthly House, but will enter into the blissful Regions above. I conceive the latter [Page] to be principally intended: for the Apostle comforts himself with the well-grounded Hopes of that Glory to which Death would introduce him; When our Earthly House of this Tabernacle is dissolved, we have a Building of God, an House, &c. i. e. we shall enter into it and become Possessors of it: And in the following Verses he expresseth a vehement Desire to be discharged from his Body, that he might enter into this House; now he would partake of the Glory of the Resurrection never the sooner for his speedy Dissolution, the Bodies of all the Saints will be raised and glorified at the same time. However I shall not exclude but include the former Sense in my farther Discourse of these words, wherein we have a twofold Account of this Building or House, viz. Negative and Affirmative.

1. Negative: It is a Building, an House not made with Hands. This Character agrees to the glorious Habitation of the Saints above, in opposition to all Terrene Structures. The splendid Palaces wherein Earthly Monarchs dwell, were contrived by Human Skill, and fram'd by the Hands of Men, and consequently all their Excellency and Glory is of a carnal and sensible Nature. The Tabernacle in the Wilderness was contriv'd by God himself, and yet because Man had an Hand in the Erection thereof, it is said to be made with Hands, Heb. 9.11, 24. But that glorious House in which the Saints shall dwell when they leave their Bodies, was neither contriv'd by Human Art, nor fram'd by Human Strength; no Creatute was instrumental to the Erection of that stately Fabrick, and the Glory thereof is not of a carnal and sensible Nature: And the Saints Bodies at the Resurrection may in some sense be said to be made without Hands, in opposition to those Bodies which they now carry about with them; because, tho these Structures [Page] will be materially the same that now they are, yet there will be an accidental Alteration in them; and whereas Man was instrumental to their first Production, (tho God only was their principal Efficient) yet they shall be raised again by the immediate Operation of God. It is observable, that the Human Body of our blessed Lord is called a Tabernacle not made with Hands, Heb. 9.11. not only in contra-distinction from the Jewish Tabernacle, but also from all other Human Bodies, because no active Principle but Divine Power produced it.

2. This Building or House is described Affirmatively, and that from three things: Its Efficient, its Situation, and its Duration.

(1.) It is described from its Efficient, God; it is a Building of God: The Preposition [...] to which God is subjoined, denotes the Efficient Cause. The Excellency of any Building is sutable to its Contriver and Builder. Seeing Divine Wisdom and Power infinitely surpass Human, surely the Works of God's Hands must transcend the Works of Mens Hands. The glorious Place above is called a City whose Builder and Maker is God; Heb. 11.10. Now this World which is the Saints present Habitation, being made by God, surely something more must be intended by his Erection of this House, than the immediate Creation thereof by him. It can import nothing less, than that the Divine Being hath exerted more of his Power, Wisdom and Goodness, in this than in any other Fabrick which he hath erected; and that the Blessedness of the Triumphant Saints is more immediately derived from God, than any thing that is enjoyed in a Mortal State. And there will be a more admirable display of the Divine Glory in the Resurrection of the Saints Bodies, than there was in their Creation, they will become as glorious and perfect as Human Bodies can be.

[Page](2.) From its Situation, in the Heavens. It is observable, that some words are in the New Testament put in the Plural instead of the Singular Number, particularly [...] Heavens, for [...] Heaven, Mat. 12.25. in my Text, and several other places, with a Design (as I conceive) emphatically to denote the Excellency and Glory of that lofty Region. Not the Aerial or Aetherial, but the Imperial Heaven is here intended. This is a place far superior to the Earth, and therefore an Entrance into and Abode in it, is sometimes mentioned as comprehensive of all that Felicity which is possest by those that inhabit it. When the Soul of a Believer quits its Earthly Tabernacle, it mounts up as on Eagle's Wings to the Heavenly Temple. This is the Habitation of God's Holiness, there the great Jehovah in a special manner dwells, there are the brightest Discoveries of the Divine Splendor, and the highest Adorations given to his most Excellent Majesty: There the glorified Courtiers do not behold him through a Glass darkly, but see him face to face. In that Building dwells and reigns the Lord Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant: When we shall be absent from the Body, we shall be present with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.8. The Heaven must receive him until the times of restitution of all things. There dwell an innumerable company of glorious Angels, far more glorious than any of the Princes of this World; and all the Spirits of Just Men that are made perfect. This is not an Habitation of Violence and Oppression, for no unclean thing can enter there. The Inhabitants of this House are out of the reach of Satan and his malicious Off-spring; they are not expos'd to the Hostile Attempts of the roaring Lion of Hell, or his Whelps upon Earth: They are liable to no troublesome Changes, Heart-breaking Exercises, perplexing Disappointments, corroding Cares, or sinful Infirmities. This [Page] is a delectable and secure Habitation, here is fulness of Joy, here are Rivers of Pleasures which constantly refresh the glorified Soul. In this House is Light without Darkness, Day without Night, Joy without Sorrow, and Singing without Weeping. The Soul that enters into this House hath the most intimate Fellowship with God the Master of it, and a refreshing Communion with the blessed Angels and Saints who cohabit with it therein: All things in this House are sutable to the Grandure and Magnificence of the Structure. And when the Saints Bodies shall come forth from their Houses of Silence and Darkness, and be reunited to their Souls, they shall be received together with them into the Heavenly Jerusalem, and shall share with them in the Felicity of that blessed Seat.

(3.) It is described from its Duration, Eternal.

This I conceive is predicated of this Heavenly Habitation in opposition to the Frailty of our Earthly Tabernacles, which must be dissolved, and then all our Temporal Comforts and Delights will vanish, we shall no longer enjoy them.

The Celestial City hath immoveable Foundations, it is subject to no Decay or Dissolution, its Duration will run parallel with the Ages of Eternity: And the Glory of that Place will last as long as the Place it self; it is called a never-fading Crown, an Incorruptible Inheritance, and an Everlasting Kingdom. The Divine Being, in the Vision and Fruition of whom the Happiness of glorified Saints principally consists, is to everlasting. Moreover, their Abode in this House will be as lasting as the Building, they shall never be dispossest of, or expell'd from it. Tho the first Adam was driven out of an Earthly Paradise, yet the spiritual Seed and Off-spring of the second Adam shall never be expell'd the Heavenly One: And when their Bodies [Page] shall rise from their Beds of Dust, they will live to die no more; Death will have no Power to demolish these curious Fabricks, for it shall be swallowed up in Victory, 1 Cor. 15.54. This Mortal shall then put on Immortality. Tho a little time wastes and consumes our Bodies in their present State, yet there shall be no Diminution of their Excellency and Beauty in an endless Eternity, when we become the Children of the Resurrection: These Buildings will be always kept in their Vigor and Glory, by the immediate Power of the supream Architect. I proceed,

Fourthly; To the comfortable Knowledg and Assurance which the Apostle and other Christians had concerning their present Right to, and future Fruition of this Blessedness; We know.

Herein we may consider the Subject We, and the Predicate know.

1. The Subject, We. The Apostle here speaks only of those that were real Christians, who had sincerely closed with, and were united to the blessed Jesus, they only have a Right and Title to, and therefore they only have ground to expect and hope for, this glorious Habitation. They who come not under such a Character, have reason to fear that when their Earthly Tabernacles shall be dissolved, their Souls will enter into a different Habitation. An House indeed contrived by infinite Wisdom, and framed by Almighty Power, and an eternal House, but not in Heaven, but in Hell; an House where there is Blackness of Darkness, inconceiveable Grief, and intolerable Torment; an House prepared for the Devil and his Angels, wherein the Wicked must cohabit with and be tormented by those Apostate Spirits who left their Primitive Habitation, for evermore: An House wherein they shall be Exiles from God's [Page] comfortable Presence, and every thing that is either really good, or esteemed so by them. But I conceive the Apostle speaks not here of all Saints; for tho they may know and have ground to hope that when their Souls are dislodged from their Bodies, they shall enter into this blissful Habitation, yet all Believers have not attained to this Knowledg and Assurance thereof; Clouds and Darkness do overspread some gracious Souls, and they are filled with many Doubts and Fears concerning their spiritual and eternal State. But he speaks concerning himself and some other Christians, who had attained to, and were in the Exercise of this Knowledg. This leads me to the second thing, viz.

2. The Predicate, know. This Knowledg here spoken of, is a certain Knowledg, a firm and full Perswasion that when their Bodies should be dissolved, their Souls should be received into Heaven. There are several things included in this Knowledg, viz. a firm Belief of a future State of Blessedness provided for the Saints, and into which they shall enter after Death. This might be known from the Holy Scriptures, wherein we have a sufficient Confirmation of this sacred Truth. Moreover, a firm Perswasion that they were interested in Christ, and made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. This they might know by comparing themselves with those Marks and Characters of the Heirs of Salvation which were laid down in sacred Writ, by the lively exercise of their Faith upon Christ, and by the Testimony of the holy Spirit, bearing witness with their Spirits that they were the Children of God. Lastly, an Assurance of their Preservation in a State of Grace to a State of Glory. This they might fairly collect from the Word of God, wherein there is a full account of the Everlastingness of the Covenant of Grace, the Immutability of Divine Love, [Page] the Efficacy of Christ's Death, together with the Constancy and Prevalence of his Intercession, and the perpetual Residence of the holy Spirit (the Earnest of the Heavenly Inheritance) in his Royal Palaces, and holy Temples. Our Apostle expresseth the like Assurance, 2 Tim. 4.8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judg shall give me at that day. Holy Job also exprest his Assurance of future Glory in his adverse State, Job. 19.25, 26, 27. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth. And tho after my Skin, Worms destroy this Body, yet in my Flesh shall I see God, &c. Tho all who have a Faith of Affiance do not attain to a Faith of Assurance, yet it is attainable in a Mortal State. Thus much by way of Explication.

II. I shall present you with some Inferences from the Words.

First; I infer, The prodigious Folly of those who give their Bodies the Preference to their Souls. It is the part of a wise Man, to value things in proportion to their Worth and Excellency. But the generality of Mankind show that their Corporeal Part hath a greater share of their Esteem than their Spiritual Part: They carefully provide Food and Raiment for the former, but never seek after the Bread of life to feed, and the Robe of Christ's Righteousness to array the latter. They will labour hard to erect or purchase a comfortable Habitation for their Bodies, but do not at all endeavour to secure an happy Dwelling-place for their Souls when they enter into an invisible World: They will hazard the loss of their Souls to secure their Bodies from Temporal Evils, or to procure those things [Page] which will gratify the sensitive Appetite. What Madness is it to prefer a Clod of Earth to a Spirit? Is not that a foolish Soul that values its sojourning-place more than it self, and will expose it self to eternal Ruine for the Preservation of its Earthly Tabernacle? What stupid Fools are they who esteem their Bodies, which are continually advancing towards, and must speedily return to the Dust, more than their Souls which shall survive them, and live for evermore? Surely such Persons are as the Horse, or as the Mule, which have no Understanding.

Secondly, I infer, The Folly of those who are proud of, or glory in their Corporeal Strength or Beauty. As Men are apt to boast of the exact Form and Strength of those Houses wherein their Bodies dwell, so likewise of the Excellency of those Bodies wherein their Souls tabernacle. But this will appear very foolish to us, if we consider our Frame, and remember that we are Dust. Our Bodies were formed of the same Matter for kind that we trample under our Feet, and disdain to touch with our Fingers. Tho our Bodies are very robust, yet they are but Earthen Vessels, and will soon be broken to pieces. In a very short time our Bodies must be dissolved, and then all their Beauty and Strength will vanish and become a Prey to the King of Terrors.

Thirdly, I infer, The Vanity of placing our Happiness in our living Comforts, our near and dear Relations.

We are exceeding prone to let out our Affections immoderately towards them, to give them too high a Place, too large a Room in our Hearts, to think our selves happy in an Husband, Wife, or Children, not considering they are frail mortal Creatures. They can be no longer enjoy'd by us than while their Souls continue in their Bodies, and [Page] those curious Fabricks, which we behold with Pleasure and Delight, keep their Station. Did we seriously consider what frail brittle Houses their Souls inhabit, how soon they may be demolished, and in how short a time they shall be dislodged from them, we should see it highly reasonable to moderate our Affections towards them! O let the everliving, everlasting God be the Darling of our Souls, and the Soveraign of our Affections.

Fourthly, I infer, How necessary it is for us all speedily to endeavour after a Right and Title to an Heavenly Habitation. To confirm this Assertion, and to press you to this Duty, I shall offer these things that follow to your Consideration.

1. Your Souls are designed to a perpetual Residence in some Habitation. The Father of Spirits hath resolved to preserve the Being and Life of your Souls for evermore, no Period shall ever be put to their Existence; and therefore when they leave their present Habitation, they must enter into another. There are but two Receptacles of departed Souls, viz. an Heavenly Paradise, and an Infernal Lake: when your immortal Spirits are divorced from your Bodies, they must either ascend to the former, or descend to the latter. And how can you bear to think of dwelling with consuming Fire, and abiding with everlasting Burnings?

2. Your Bodies shall enter into the same Habitation, when re-assumed by your Souls, into which your Souls enter when divested of your Bodies. Where-ever your Souls go after Death, there will your Bodies be disposed after the Resurrection. If the noble Inhabitant dwells in Heaven, the House that it dwelt in upon Earth when rebuilt shall be fixt in that glorious Region, this Earthly [Page] Tabernacle shall become a Celestial Structure; but if it be cast into Hell, the raised Body must stand in that direful Prison as an everlasting Monument of Divine Wrath. By making Provision for your Souls, you will also secure the Felicity of your Bodies; their true Interest is inseparable.

3. How terrible will the Agonies of Death be to us, if we see our selves destitute of a Title to Eternal Life? They who have disregarded their future State, when the evil day of Death seem'd to be at a distance from them, have had very aweful and terrible Thoughts about it, when it hath made sensible Approaches to them. With what Horror will your Souls be seised, when Death sits upon your quivering Lips, if you apprehend that they shall be speedily expelled your Bodies, and eternally excluded the Heavenly Building!

4. This Life is the only time for securing an Interest in this glorious Habitation. As the Tree falls, so it must eternally lie: Death will fix us in an unalterable and unchangeable State. Those Spirits that are now in Prison will find no place for Repentance, tho they should seek it with Tears.

5. The time of our Souls Residence in our Bodies is very uncertain. Persons are very apt to defer this weighty and important Business; some put it off to old Age, others to a Sick-bed; some think it will be time enough to seek after another Habitation when the Strength of their Earthly Tabernacles decays, and they feel them shake and totter: Our Lives will be but short at longest, and how short they will be we know not. Some are cut off in the Morning of their Days, others in their full Strength: we are not sure that Age will snow upon our Heads before they are laid in the Dust, or that the Structure of our Bodies will by any loud Crack give us notice of its Downfal. Some Bodies [Page] are demolished by a speedy and sudden Stroke, their Souls are turn'd out of them without any warning. Let us therefore speedily seek that City which is above.

Would you, O Sinners, get a Title to this Habitation? then come to Christ, and sincerely close with him: It is not to be purchased with your Money, nor procured by your Labour; if you accept of Jesus, you shall freely receive it; if you persist in your stubborn Rejection of him, you shall never obtain it. Heaven is a purchased Possession, Christ hath bought it with the invaluable Price of his precious Blood; and if he become yours, that shall be yours also: You will have a sure Title to it which can never be lost, but will issue in an actual Possession of it. If you lay hold of Christ with the Hand of Faith while you live, you may securely commit your Souls into his Hands when you come to die, and say with expiring Stephen, Acts 7.59. Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit.

Fifthly, I infer, That Saints should diligently endeavour to get an Assurance of the happy Disposure of their Souls after their Separation from their Bodies. This is not unattainable by them, this will not be unprofitable to them. It is their Duty to labour after it, and an Attainment to it will be very beneficial and advantagious to them. This will comfort them under all the Frailties and Infirmities, the Perishings and Decays of their outward Man, and mightily sweeten all the Troubles and Afflictions wherewith they are exercised during their continuance in it. This will familiarize Death, and render its Approach welcome to them. Death is terrible to Nature; the Soul is naturally unwilling to leave its old dwelling-place, Nature cannot but abhor a Dissolution, besides violent Pains do ordinarily attend the taking down of this Earthly Structure. But [Page] they can embrace the King of Terrors with Joy and holy Triumph, who are able to say with the Apostle, 2 Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have believed, and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that Day. We ought to give Diligence to make our Calling and Election sure; for so an Entrance shall be ministred unto us abundantly, into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; 2 Pet. 1.10, 11. But if we want this Assurance, we cannot comfortably walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

But what Trouble will possess our Spirits, if when our Souls are going to be unclothed of their Earthly House, we know not whether ever they shall be clothed upon with an House which is from Heaven! If when they are launching into Eternity, we know not whether they are entring into a bright or a black Eternity! In order to our obtaining this Assurance, let us seriously and diligently search our Hearts and try our Ways, put forth direct Acts of Faith upon Christ, and beg of God to shed abroad his Love in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost.

Sixthly, I infer, What vast Obligations Believers are under to their Blessed Lord! How highly are they obliged to him, who descended from his Imperial Throne, tabernacled among us, dwelt in an House of Clay, and submitted to a Dissolution, that he might procure for them an eternal Habitation with himself in the highest Heavens! By dying he conquered Death, so as to render it a blessed Gain and Advantage to them, and to give them cause to triumph over it in their sharpest Encounter with it. How should we love and live to that blessed Jesus, through whom we are more than Conquerors over our last Enemy, who is gone to Heaven to prepare a Place [Page] for us, and will receive us into it, that where he is there we may be also!

Seventhly, I infer, That a Believer's Conversation ought to be in Heaven. Shall we not be frequently conversant in that glorious Place, where we hope eternally to dwell? Seeing we are Strangers in the Earth, we should live like those who know they have no continuing City here. Let us endeavour frequently to mount up on the Wings of our Thoughts and Affections to the excellent Glory.

Lastly, I infer, That the Saints have a solid Ground of Comfort under the Death of their godly Relatives. We cannot but mourn to see those Structures wherein we took Pleasure laid in the Dust, and going to be a Feast for Worms; to think that we shall see the Desire of our Eyes no more in this World. But shall we not be comforted when we consider, that their Souls are gone into a far better Habitation than they dwelt in while they cohabited with us, that they have exchanged our Embraces for Christ's, that they are now triumphing and rejoicing in the Heavenly Mansions; that the Loss is only ours; they are Gainers by their Departure, and e're long we shall go to them and dwell with them for evermore? I shall conclude with an Address to the near Relations of our Deceased Friend.

I must acknowledg your Loss to be very great; it is no small Affliction, to be depriv'd of such a loving Husband and indulgent Father, yet you ought not to mourn as those who have no Hope. They who observ'd his Conversation, might from thence take knowledg that he had been with Jesus: He adorn'd the Doctrin of God his Saviour; He was a burning and shining Light in the Place where Divine [Page] Providence fixt him: Therefore you have no Ground to question his Exchange of an Earthly for an Heavenly Habitation, and the Church Militant for the Triumphant Assembly of the First-born. Were it put to his Choice, whether he would stay where he is, or return to you, he would prefer the former to the latter. You ought humbly and silently to acquiesce in God's Sovereign Will, who is righteous in all his Ways, and holy in all his Works, and to depend upon him who hath promised to be an Husband to the Widow, and a Father to the Fatherless. Let me exhort his Children to an Imitation of that excellent Example which he hath set them, and to a Remembrance of and Compliance with those wholsome Instructions which he hath given them. These Advantages you are now deprived of, but a serious Reflection upon them may be beneficial to you; if not, they will aggravate your Guilt. It had been better for you to have descended from a Turk or Pagan, than from such an Eminent Christian as your deceased Father was, if you prove degenerate Children. How sad will it be, if he who put up so many Prayers for your Salvation before the Throne of Grace, should testify against you to the Aggravation of your Condemnation before the Tribunal of Justice? He is gone before, you must follow after, how soon you know not: Death hath made three Breaches in your Family within the compass of a few Years, and shall not these frequent Warnings put you in mind of your own Change? O get an Interest in Christ! that will be more valuable than the Estate which your deceased Father hath bequeathed to you; so you may be able to say when you come to die, We know, that if our Earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a Building of God, an House not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens.

FINIS.

[Page]

§

§

[Page]

A SERMON Preach'd at the FUNERAL OF Capt. John Briggs, At Dunstable, March 23, 1694/5.

By THOMAS HARRISON.

ISAIAH LVII. 1.

The Righteous perisheth, and no Man layeth it to Heart; and merciful Men are taken away, none considering that the Righteous is taken away from the Evil to come.

London, Printed by J. D. for the Author. MDCXCV.

The Epistle Dedicatory, To Mrs. ELIZABETH BRIGGS, Widow of the Deceased Capt. JOHN BRIGGS.

[Page]

[Page]

MADAM,

THE Meanness of the following Discourse would have been an effectual Bar to its Publication, had not your Desire usher'd it into the World. The first thing of mine that came forth from the Press was a Sermon, occasioned by the Decease of your beloved Daughter; and I concluded you would not take it well, if I denied you the liberty of reading that Discourse which was preached at your Husband's Funeral, in a fairer Character than mine own Hand-writing. Besides, that Divine Blessing which I hope attended the Publication of the former, gave me the greater Encouragement to expose the latter to publick View. I [Page] am not so vain as to think printing this Sermon will advance my Reputation among Learned and Judicious Readers, it is more likely to produce a contrary Effect; but if God should bless it to the Conversion of one Sinner, or the building up of one Saint, I hope I shall rejoice more than if I gained the greatest Applause thereby. Tho it be not Meat for strong Men, yet I hope it may be Milk for Babes. To conclude, That he who hath promised to be an Husband to the Widow, and a Father to the Fatherless, would put his Everlasting Arms under you, and sanctify all the Dispensations of his Providence to you; that he would shower down the choicest of his Blessings upon you and the Fruit of your Womb; that your Children may tread in the steps of their deceased Father, and their living Mother, is the sincere Desire of your Friend and Servant,

THO. HARRISON.

Information about this book

Title statement

A sermon preach'd at the funeral of Capt. John Briggs at Dunstable, March 23, 1694/5 by Thomas Harrison.

Harrison, Thomas.

Edition statement

1695

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

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Date

2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A45688

ID [STC]

Wing H912

ID [STC]

ESTC R40945

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

19537571

ID [OCLC]

ocm 19537571

ID [VID]

109055

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A45688)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 109055)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1689:9)

Source

— A sermon preach'd at the funeral of Capt. John Briggs at Dunstable, March 23, 1694/5 by Thomas Harrison., Harrison, Thomas..

Extent

iv, 27 p.

Printed by J.D. for the author,. London :: MDCXCV [1695]. (Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library.)

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