A SERMON on the DEATH of the Honourable Daniel Oliver Esq

IT is the happy Sentence CHRIST pronounces on his Faithful Servants, at the End of their present State of Service and Probation.

In the preceeding Context, He represents Him­self as a MASTER of an Houshold travelling into a far Country. He distributes to his several Servants various Talents, according to his sovereign Plea­sure, to manage and improve till He comes and reckons with them. At length He appears and calls them to a strict account: He condemns and orders the Slothful into outer Darkness; but the Good and Faithful He commends and takes into the Joys of his House and Presence.

This Parable, methinks, is one of the most im­portant and sublime in the inspired Writings, tho' deliver'd in the plainest Language. For nothing sure can give us a more noble, just and extensive [Page 2] View of the great Design and Business of our present Scituation in this lower World. Representing us as in a state of Service to the SON OF GOD, who is also LORD, of the whole Creation; as receiving all our Powers and Interests from Him; as being betrusted with them as so many Talents to be im­proved for Him; as being accountable to Him, who in his Humane Nature is gone to Heaven, but will one Day come and call us to a strict Account, and assign our Recompence; condemn & send the unprofitable to the infernal Prison, but approve and bid the Faithful welcome to the Joys of Paradise.

What more grand Idea can be form'd of the main Design of the present State? being to serve the LORD of the World, in our Pursuits and Views, and to contrive and act with a superior and extended Prospect into Eternity. Such exalted Sentiments as these are inspir'd in this plain Parable. How inconceivably mean are all the Passages of the wi­sest Philosophers in comparison with it? And I have often tho't it a Property peculiar to that Hu­mane nature inhabited by the SON OF GOD, to represent the Greatest things in the most familiar Language.

Our Text is the joyful Sentence pronounced on the Faithful only. And the Illustration of it I shall now by Divine Assistance, endeavour under these Three General Heads.

1. Consider the Property, Life and CHARACTER of the Person here described, — a Good and Faithful Servant.

2. The glorious APPROBATION CHRIST here expresses of and to Him, at the Period of his present Service —Well Done! Good and Faithful Servant!

[Page 3]3. and Lastly, Take a distant, but as clear a Prospect as we are able now to form, of THE JOY OF HIS LORD, which this Faithful Servant is now welcomed into.

I. Consider the Property, Life and CHARACTER of the Person here described — a Good and Faith­ful Servant.

And here are these two things,

1. The singular RELATION He stands in to his Lord — a Servant.

2. His happy DISCHARGE of the comprehensive Duty of this Relation — a Good and Faithful Servant.

1. The singular RELATION He stands in to his Lord, — a Servant.

i. e. a Servant to CHRIST is his primary and essential Character. He is in a state of Service to this LORD of Men and Angels, by a vast variety of Obligations.

He was created by the SON OF GOD and for Him, and so produced in a state of Service and Subjection to Him. He was form'd at first with Powers to know his Lord, to discern his Autho­rity, to understand his Will, and to yield a volun­tary Obedience to Him. He was born in the Do­minion and under the Law of this supream LORD of Heaven and Earth. He depends intirely upon Him, receives all the Means of his Subsistence from Him, and is supported by his continual Influence. By Him appointed and stated in his Place & Work, and by Him endow'd and intrusted with all his Talents. From Him he receives Commands, which are Holy, Just and Good: and is on the one hand allur'd to obey them by most gracious Promises; [Page 4] and on the other, deterr'd from Disobedience by most terrible Threatnings. He has indeed rebell'd, has rebellious Principles subsisting in Him, and is by nature subject to the Execution of those dread­ful Threatnings: But this LORD of Life and Glory has first amazingly stoop'd to Dye for his Redemp­tion, and then to invite and urge Him to re-submit and again enjoy the Privilege of his House and Family. In short, He is constantly receiving a vast variety and number of undeserved Favours from Him, and is offer'd innumerable others both for Time and for Eternity. And He is abundant­ly convinc'd of all these things.

Nor is this the Half of his peculiar Character. — There is a new Creation accomplish'd on Him, a new Formation wro't within Him: a Day of mighty Power has come upon his Soul, inform'd his Judg­ment, remov'd his Prejudice, chang'd his Inclina­tion, overcome his Will: In short, has bro't Him to an affecting Sight & Sense of his sinful and mi­serable State, to a bitter Sorrow for all his Sins and Follies, and to an hearty Willingness and Resolu­tion to Forsake them, and to Return and Re-sub­mit Himself to this KING of Glory.

Now he hears the inviting Voice of CHRIST, He melts, He abhors Himself, He mourns, He is encouraged, He rises, He makes haste: And now the Language of his Heart is this — ‘O most Glorious LORD! Other Lords have had Dominion over me, and they have rul'd like cruel and ma­licious Tyrants: They shall never rule me more: I renounce them all for ever, and I return to Thee! I see the Happiness of serving Thee: I gladly embrace thy Offer: I freely and wholly yield my self to Thee. O most merciful & mighty [Page 5] REDEEMER! I cast myself upon Thee! Accept, Forgive, Possess, Rule and Save me! Write thy Law in this Heart of mine, and put thy SPIRIT in me! Inspire me with Love and Zeal: and by thy Grace assisting, I will improve all my Talents for Thee, I will obey all thy Laws, and I will serve Thee faithfully for ever.’

This is the happy Change and Byass, wherewith He enters the Service of this great LORD, and Be­gins to serve Him with Freedom and Sincerity.

But of such a one we have it represented further, that He proves a Good and Faithful Servant. We therefore now proceed to the other Part of his Character, viz.

2. His happy DISCHARGE of the comprehensive Duty of this Relation,—a Good and Faithful Ser­vant. ^*

Whether these two Qualities are of a different Species I do not determine. A learned Writer thinks; ‘He is called Good, because He does the Good Will of his LORD; and Faithful, because He applies Himself to promote his MASTER'S Interest and none of his own separate from it.’ ^‡ But as the Good and Faithful Servant is mainly op­pos'd to the Wicked and Slothful one immediately described; Good may be especially oppos'd to Wicked, and Faithful in the one to Slothful in the other. Goodness may therefore seem to signify his pious and prevailing Affection to the Service of CHRIST: and Faithfulness may point to his cons­ciencious, [Page 6] careful and diligent Observance of his Engagements to HIM. Or Goodness may look to that Good Principle or Inclination from whence his Service flows; and Faithfulness to his continual Action and Perseverance in it.

Or if CHRIST intends the same individual Cha­racter by these two different Terms; they are then made use of, to express more strongly, how hear­tily He approves this Servant of his, and how sa­tisfied in Him.

I shall therefore consider the Good and Faithful as united in One, and displaying themselves in the following manner.

This GOOD and FAITHFUL Servant then, carries always in Him a cordial Inclination to the Service of his LORD. This lies the uppermost of all other things and cares in his new-form'd Heart. All o­ther things He justly accounts inferiour to it, and allows of nothing in competition with it. He has the like Conception with the highest Angels about the Throne — He esteems it the greatest Honour and Happiness, first to be advanc'd to his Likeness in every possible Excellency, and then to be always employ'd and accepted in the Service of their com­mon LORD. He desires nothing more than this, either in Earth or Heaven: He delights in nothing more: He daily groans, and is deeply humbled for his present great Inabilities thereto, and Deficien­cies therein: He longs for a compleat Deliverance from them in the future State: He rejoyces in the Prospect of it: and in the mean while He labours to have his Heart more strong and fixed in his pre­sent Work & Duty.

[Page 7]His first Concern is with his own HEART: That this may be always Good and Upright; that no Ini­quity may be reigning here; that every sinful In­clination may be subdu'd, kept under, and also mortified more and more: that every gracious Dis­position may be kept alive and flourish in Him; and especially that vital Faith in CHRIST and THINGS INVISIBLE, and that active Love to GOD and Man, which are the moving Principles of all Fidelity and Goodness.

When he looks ABROAD, He is griev'd to see how little this Great LORD, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, is served in the World. How small the num­ber of them that even Profess to serve him: How many of these do in their Works deny him: and what great occasion there is to make the same Com­plaint with the Apostle of old, Phil. II.21. For all seek their own, not the things that are JESUS CHRIST's.

He is greatly concern'd to see the Ignorance and Pride of some, the presumptuous Sins of others, the Uncharitableness and Contentions among his Neigh­bours, the Scandals of Professors, the Declensions of the Times, the Afflictions any meet with, the Calamities that threaten the Town or Land: and by how much more extensive the Evil is, or the In­terest or Honour of CHRIST or his Religion suffer or are like to suffer; the more sad his mind and the more deeply troubled.

He considers every kind of OBLIGATION lying upon him to lay out himself in serving this Greatest and Best of Masters: The infinite Excellence and Loveliness of his Divine Person; the great things he has already done, in Creation, Providence, Re­demption, Grace; the low State he condescended [Page 8] to; the bitter Sufferings he underwent; the Glori­ous things he has dearly purchas'd, offer'd, urged; the gracious Operations of his HOLY SPIRIT; and the undeserved and boundless Love in all: the Re­velation of Him, and of the Way to serve him, the various Powers & Opportunities therefor, the so­lemn Consecration of them all to promote his Glo­ry, and therein our own Eternal Interest: In short, his Eyes for ever on us now, and the strict Account he will surely call us to when our uncertain Life expires.

The Good and Faithful Servant lives in the REA­LIZING VIEWS of these things: and from them all he is conscienciously concerned to discharge the va­rious Trusts reposed in him, with Fidelity; to improve his Talents, Powers, Riches, Honours, Time and Op­portunities, in the Service of his Great LORD; to answer the Ends of the present Life, and of the special Circumstances wherein his Lord has plac'd him, to the constant Approbation of his all-seeing Eye, and therein his own present great Satisfacti­on and everlasting Interest.

He first maintains the POWER of these lively Mo­tives in him: by a frequent Thinking of them; by constant secret and mental Prayer; reading, hear­ing, and pondering on the WORD of GOD and then he applies himself to the clear Discovery of every Duty.

He receives the INSPIRED ORACLES as his only per­fect & unerring Rule: He labours to understand the Meaning of 'em: He delights to converse with them: He receives all the Doctrines, Histories & Precepts in them, with Faith & Love: He applies them to himself: He lays them up in his Heart; i. e. in his Affection, [Page 9] Memory and Conscience, ready to be call'd to mind and us'd on all Occasions. He sets the GLORY of this Supreme LORD, as his highest End: He subordi­nates all his Aims, Inclinations and Pursuits of o­ther things to this. And having found out the Means or Rules of promoting it, he carefully and constantly observes them. He wou'd not allow him­self in the Commission of the smallest Sin, nor in the Neglect of the smallest Duty: but he labours to stand compleat in the Will of his LORD.

First, He endeavours to pay to the Most High GOD all that more immediate WORSHIP and Adora­tion which He requires. And this not only in the constant Frame of his Mind, but in the frequent ri­sing up of his admiring Thoughts to the Perfecti­ons of this GLORIOUS BEING, appearing both in his Word and Works; and especially in the various Operations of Providence, which offer themselves to his Senses and Observation.

At the Beginning and Ending of every Day, he likewise RETIRES from the rest of the World; that he may with a more fixed Intention look upon GOD in CHRIST, and in the Presence of Angels give Him his Glory: Loving & Praising Him for all his Per­fections & Benefits: Confessing and Mourning for his own Offences and increas'd Unworthiness: Pre­senting himself a new through the Mediation of CHRIST, as a living and holy Sacrifice to his Honour and Service: Imploring for Pardon, Grace and e­very Blessing both for himself and others; and Trusting in Him for the Bestowment of them. And O! what raised Views of Faith does he There some­times gain! engaging his Heart to this most AMIABLE BEING, transporting his Mind with the most grateful Sight of his Interest in Him, and kindling up in his Soul an holy Flame of Zeal to promote his Glory.

[Page 10]With his Well-ordered FAMILY, he also offers the Evening and the Morning Sacrifice: and by his Oversight and Cares, Example and Instructions, Admonitions and Reproofs, Corrections and En­couragements, Prayers and Tears; He labours to promote Religion in every one of his Houshold, to make those under his Care as good as himself, to keep alive the Power and Practice of Piety in them, and to transmit it to his Offspring after him. If he derives of a pious Family, he dreads nothing more than that he should be the last therein for Piety; least the Religion of the Family expire with him, and his Children forsake the GOD of their Fathers. However, he is deeply concern'd for their Souls, their everlasting Interest: He is afraid of their Temptations: He can scarce have any Rest or Ease in his own Mind, till he sees their Faces turned towards the heavenly Zion: Nothing gives him greater Glad­ness: He weeps for Joy, to see the Bloomings of Piety in them: And when he sees it — O! how Thankful is he to the GOD of all Grace! With what Comfort can he lay down himself to sleep in the Grave! and with what Satisfaction cry,— ‘LORD thy Servant now is freely willing to De­part in Peace! This Day thou hast sent Salvation into my House, and mine Eyes have seen it!’

From the Family, he gravely walks to the HOUSE of GOD: He apprehends it as the Gate of Heaven, He enters it with holy Joy and Reverence. He seriously attends on every Divine Institution there: He looks through them to the Glorious GOD: He worships Him in Spirit and Sincerity: He receives into a good and honest Heart, the Truths & Pre­cepts there displayed and urged agreable to the INSPIRED WORD: He submits himself to their Di­vine Authority: In the very hearing he is resolved [Page 11] to obey them. He keeps the Sabbath holy from the Beginning to the End: and throughout the Week, He labours to live up to his sacred Light & Resolutions.

For HIMSELF, he Denies all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, both in the sight of MEN and in the Eyes of GOD. He has a constant Guard upon him­self: He is temperate in his Diversions and Enjoy­ments; sober, chaste, modest and moderately cheerful in Society: He is afraid of going beyond the Bounds of Decency and Moderation: and he wou'd observe the Rules of Wisdom in all his Conduct.

In obedience to the Will of his LORD, he is careful and industrious in his SECULAR CALLING. He endeavours to provide for his own House-hold; and to get yet more for charitable and pious Uses: and herein he labours to do every thing in the most proper Time and Order. He resigns the Conduct of his Affairs to GOD: He leaves the Success with Him: He is submissive under Crosses; Contented with the Lot of Providence; Patient in Afflicti­ons; Mild and Humble in Prosperity: when Riches grow or Honours rise, he sets not his Heart upon them: He despises the Pomp and Glory of this lower World: He lives above it, and has his mind in Heaven.

In his DEALINGS with his Neighbours, he is cons­cienciously Just and Fair: True to perform his Word; careful to discharge his Debts: Meek in bearing Injuries; easy to be reconciled: Faithful to all his Friends: a special Lover of all that fear the LORD: Gentle towards all: an Enemy to no­thing but Profaness and Immorality: and is on all occasions ready to promote the Good of all. He [Page 12] rejoyces with them who rejoyce; He mourns with them that mourn: He pities the Widow and the Orphan, the Poor and those that have none to help them: And he constantly abounds, but as secretly as may be, in acts of Charity and Kindness.

In short, He is not only careful to discharge the Trusts reposed in him with Integrity; But he is for doing more: His PUBLICK SPIRIT and BENEFICENCE are Unconfined. He is concerned for the Peace and Welfare of the Church, the Town, the Land where­in he dwells: He is ready to his Power to serve them: His Heart enlarges to promote the General Interest; to uphold and carry on the Kingdom of CHRIST in the Place of his abode; and to advance it in others, that others may be happy in it, and his Lord receive a greater Glory. He would do Good for the Unknown and them that know him not. He looks down into late Posterity: He wou'd have the Unborn the better for him: And beyond the reach of his immediate Influence, he extends his Wishes, and makes his Prayers for all Nations.

Thus he lives, and thus he serves his Divine Master to the Death. But in the midst and at the end of all, he bewails his great Deficiency: He humbly owns himself an unworthy Servant: He looks to the Mercy of GOD in CHRIST alone, for Eternal Life: and Blessed is that Servant, whom His LORD, when He comes, shall find so Doing.

We now proceed to consider

II. The glorious APPROBATION CHRIST here expresses of and to Him, at the Period of his faith­ful Services, — Well Done! Good and Faithful Servant!

[Page 13]The ultimate View of this Expression may perhaps extend to that great and illustrious Day which our LORD describes at the End of the present Para­ble. ver. 31. When the SON OF MAN shall come in his Glory, and all the Holy Angels with Him; then shall He set upon the Throne of his Glory, and before Him shall be gathered all Nations. Then may this happy Sentence be pronounced to all the Faithful, subsisting both in Soul and Body, collected into one vast Company, and in the Publick View and Hearing both of Men & Angels in that great Day.

But yet, it seems to me, that this 31st ver. of the Chapter Begins the Description of the General Judgment, at the Winding up of the present State of things in this lower World: and that the Parable fore­going and including our Text, has a special Eye to the Particular Period of our several Lives; when our Times of Service and Probation end, and one Part of us, viz. the principal, the incorruptible and im­mortal Spirit, must needs be as ready as ever to give up its account, to receive its Sentence, and in Part its Recompence.

For in the Parable before us, the several Ser­vants are examined apart, according to their vari­ous Talents: And even the Sentences approving the Faithful are pronounced singly, first to Him that had improv'd his five Talents, ver. 21. Well Done THOU Good and Faithful Servant; and then the like to Him that had improv'd his two Talents, as in our Text: And so the Sentence on the other, ver. 26. THOU Wicked and Slothful Servant &c. Whereas in the following Description of the General Judgment, all Nations are represented as appearing before the SON OF GOD; who divides them into two vast Assemblies, setting the Righteous at his Right Hand, [Page 14] the Wicked at his Left; and then pronounces first to them at his Right Hand, collectively— Come YE Blessed of my Father &c: And then to them at his Left, in the like Plural number— Depart from Me YE cursed into Everlasting Fire, &c.

The 30th. ver. seems therefore both to conclude our Parable with the present Life, as also to lead us on to the Description following. And the Meaning of this ver. may be — ‘My Holy Angels who are here ready to execute my Orders on the se­parate Spirit now before me— Cast ye the unpro­fitable Servant into outer Darkness; where he shall remain with Devils as in Chains and in a Dun­geon, without any Light of Hope or Comfort, re­served to the Judgment of the Great Day; when his Body shall be rais'd, and then in this Place of Darkness there SHALL BE weeping and gnashing of Teeth: [But ^*] when the Son of Man shall come in his Glory &c.’

However, this Outer Darkness is no doubt the State to which the UUPROFITABLE Servant is adjudged at the Period of his Probation, and for that Interval which lies between his Dying now and his Body's Rising to the General Judgment. And for the GOOD AND FAITHFUL — can any Proceedure be more agreeable to Reason, Justice, Wisdom, Good­ness, or the Nature of things; than that when he has passed thro' the State assign'd him for his Proba­tion, and behav'd himself with persevering Faith­fulness; He should then be call'd before his Judge, receive his approving Sentence, and without Delay, and as much as capable, his promised Recompence?

[Page 15]Agreable to this, the Scriptures tell us; that when the DUST of the Body returns to the Earth, the SPI­RIT returns to GOD who gave it: that after DEATH, comes on the JUDGMENT: that CHRIST is ordained of GOD to be JUDGE both of Quick and Dead: that the FATHER judgeth no man, in an immediate man­ner, but hath committed all Judgment to the SON, that all may honour the SON as they honour the FATHER: that for this End CHRIST both died and rose and revived, that HE might be LORD both of the Dead and Living; and that we shall all stand before the JUDG­MENT SEAT of CHRIST. Rom. XIV.9, 10. And therefore the Apostle argues, 2 Cor. V.9, 10. Where­fore we labour, that whether PRESENT in the Body, or ABSENT from it, we may be ACCEPTED of Him; For we must all appear before the JUDGMENT SEAT of CHRIST &c.

We are therefore now to view this Good and Faithful Servant as arriving to this Great Period: as having finished the Services appointed for Him, as having put off his earthly Garment, and in his Spirit appearing before this Lord and Judge of Quick and Dead.

With his vile and sinful Body, he has quite put off his sinful Nature: He is cleansed perfectly from all Pollution of Soul. And now the inward Consci­ousness of his sanctified Mind, his sincere Designs and his pious Bent, extends it self and fills his Pure Spirit with perfect Satisfaction. What a Joy pos­sesses him, to feel himself intirely releas'd from Sin, to perceive the Likeness of the Holy GOD arising in him, to find himself a Being suitable for Con­verse with Him, and in the mighty Hands of blessed Angels as his Friends, and Comforters! The Vision of the Face of CHRIST, appearing as a Glorious [Page 16] Judge, will strike indeed with Reverence, as it does the Seraphims above, but not with Terror.

But O! the Voice! the surprizing Voice pro­ceeding from his Divine Lips — Well Done! Good and Faithful Servant! — With what a Look of overcoming Grace and Pleasure are these Words pronounced! and how full are they of Joy and Transport!

It is as if He should say— ‘O my dear Servant! I have seen your Faith, your Love, your Pati­ence, your Integrity, your sincere Desires, your pious Purposes, your Perseverance! I have seen your Labours, your Charities, your Sufferings, your Godly Sorrows, your Strivings with Temp­tations, your Self-Denials, and all your Services for my Name and Interest! Mine Eye has been always on you: not the least has escap'd my notice: not one of all their number is forgotten by me: and I have seen them all with Plea­sure. I accept them all, and I approve you for them! I overlook, I pardon, I will never men­tion your Deficiencies: I only look at your Fi­delity: and I bid you welcome to the Eternal End of all your Trials!’

O most Lovely SAVIOUR! is this the Manner of thy Receiving the Spirits of thy Faithful Servants in their Returning to Thee! when of thy free and mighty Power and Grace, Thou at first hast made them thy willing Servants, who had been, before, thine inveterate Enemies! Thou didst allure them to Love Thee: Thou didst preserve them from reverting to their former Enmity: Thou didst reco­ver them from all their Falls: Thou didst excite them to all their Services: Thou didst support them un­der [Page 17] all their Sufferings: Thou didst inspire their Strength in all their Conflicts: Thou hast crowned them with Eternal Victory — And now Thou speakest of nothing but their Goodness, Faithful­ness and Well-Doing! Thou hast made them Good; and now Thou commendest them for their Good­ness! Thou hast made them Faithful; and now Thou praisest their Fidelity! Thou hast helped them to Do all the Good they have Done; and now in the Presence of Angels Thou applaudest their Well-Doing! — But They shall give the GLORY of all to THEE, for ever!

Nor is all this any other than a Preparation for that unspeakable, endless and ever-growing Hap­piness He has designed for them. They are now but just arriv'd at the Border of it. And their Glo­rious Judge proceeds to bid them Enter into the JOY of their LORD.

We are therefore come in the

III. and last place, To take a distant, but as clear a Prospect as we are able, at present, to form, of the JOY of his LORD, which this Faithful Servant is now welcomed into.

We are not Here to extend our Views to that State of Bliss which lies beyond the first Resurrecti­on: But to the Present State of the Spirits of the Just made Perfect in the Invisible World, and which rea­ches no farther than the Descent of CHRIST from Heaven in flaming Fire to Destroy the Wicked.

And here the inspired Scriptures give such Hints as these —

[Page 18]There were several APPEARANCES of the LORD Himself, both to our first Parents before they sinned and after; as also to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Daniel and others. There were also many Appea­rances of the Holy ANGELS in those ancient Times. And in those Appearances there were Humane Colours, Shapes and Voices; by means of which they conversed with Men cloathed with Flesh, and therefore doubtless could in like manner appear and converse with one another. They appeared to see and hear us; as well as to be seen, and heard by us: i. e. they produced those Impressions in the Medium between Their Spirits and Ours, which we distinguish by the names of several Sounds and Co­lours; and they perceived the like Impressions made by us. No doubt they appeared with a Beauty suitable to their excelling Natures, and with such a Distinction as to carry an Evidence with it, that one was the Lord JEHOVAH, and the other his created Angels. Each Angel had also doubtless a Personal and distinct Appearance, whereby they might be known from one another. Some appear­ed as youthful Men; some in long and shining Gar­ments; in some their Countenance appeared like Lightning, and their Raiment white as Snow. And it seems to be only because we are in a different Part of the Scheme of PROVIDENCE, wherein our sensible Intercourse with the Invisible World is Barr'd, for various weighty Reasons I have no place now to mention; that they do not appear and converse with us, with the Faithful especially every Day.

It is as easy then to conceive, how the Spirit divested of the dull, unweildy Body, may ap­pear and converse with other Spirits and Angels, i. e. both appear and see and speak and hear each other; as it is for them to appear and converse with [Page 19] us while we are cloath'd with the Body. Appea­rances, Sounds and Visions, among the SPIRITS and ANGELS, are therefore no such difficult things to ap­prehend as we are apt to imagine. And indeed, 'tis only our Ignorance or want of Contemplation, that renders it more difficult for us to conceive of the Appearance and Converse of Angels and un­embodied Spirits; than of our present Appearing and Conversing with the Souls of each other while we may remain embodied, and so thro' double and different Mediums between us.

You may scarce allow me to consider the Nature of these things nicely upon such a grave Occasion. But from 2 Cor. V.1,—7. it seems to me, That upon the Apostle's SPIRIT being uncloathed of his BODY, which he calls his Earthly House or Dwelling; he expected to have his Spirit cloath'd upon with a CELESTIAL SUBSTANCE, which he calls his House from Heaven: ^* So that when he came to be Ab­sent from the Body and Present with the Lord; his pure Spirit wou'd not appear naked or uncloathed, but cloathed with a Celestial Substance, made by the supernatural Power of GOD and annexed to the Soul for its various Uses and Perceptions of the wondrous Objects in that upper World of Light and Glory.

Such Celestial Substances the HOLY ANGELS may be also cloathed with, as their proper Seats & In­struments. And by these, both Spirits and Angels may as easily make and receive Impressions, but in­conceivably more Perfect than our Spirits can, by their Earthy, gross and dull Bodies. By such Celestial Substances, the Holy Angels may have ap­pear'd [Page 20] and spoke and shined in this lower World. And by such a one, it may be, Moses, if his Body was not Raised, appear'd and Spoke at the Trans­figuration.

I might easily explain this matter further: But I must forbare—

In the Scriptures we also read of a GLORIOUS PLACE whither the HUMANE NATURE of CHRIST triumphantly ascended, and therein illustriously re­sides with the Spirits of the Just made Perfect and Ten thousand times ten thousands of Holy Angels round about Him, till the Restitution of this disor­der'd World. To this both CHRIST Himself and the Apostle Paul give the name of PARADICE; the Martyr Stephen, the Evangelist Luke, with the A­postles Paul and John — the name of HEAVEN; and the Apostle Paul — the THIRD HEAVEN, 2 Cor. XII.2—4. Thither the ancient Elijah is said to ascend both in Soul and Body long before. Thi­ther no doubt ascended Enoch at his Translation, and all those Saints that rose out of their Graves at our SAVIOUR'S Resurrection. And there the se­parate Soul of CHRIST Himself, with the separate Soul of the Believing Penitent expiring by his side on the Cross, were to be together on the very Day of their Crucifixion.

Of this happy Place our Blessed Saviour seems to speak a little before He left the Earth. Joh. XII.23. The Hour is come that the Son of man should be GLORIFIED: v. 26. If any man serve Me, Let him follow Me: and WHERE I am, THERE shall also my Servant be. Some Glympses of the same he also gives us in the Final Prayer he made the Evening before he suffered. He lift up his Eyes to Heaven, [Page 21] and said, FATHER! the Hour is come! Glorify thy SON, that thy SON also may Glorify THEE! —I have Glorified Thee on the Earth: I have FINISHED the Work which Thou gavest me to Do: and NOW, O FATHER! Glorify Thou Me with Thine own self, with the Glory which I had with Thee before the World was— FATHER! I will that They also whom Thou hast given Me, be WITH ME WHERE I AM; that They may behold my Glory which Thou hast given Me— And the Glory which Thou gavest Me, I have given Them; that They may be One, even as We are One!

This upper World is represented therefore as a Place of perfect LIGHT and GLORY. It is the Glory into which CHRIST entered upon his passing thro' his Sufferings: Luk. XXIV.26. And the Apostle calls it the Inheritance of the Saints in LIGHT, Col. I.12.

Thither the same Apostle was once caught up, whether in the Body or out of the Body, he could not tell; and there he had such Visions and Reve­lations, and heard unspeakable Words which it was not lawful or allow'd for man to utter. 2 Cor. XII.1—7. These were some of those Unseen and E­ternal Things which this Apostle look'd to: Here is the Building of GOD Himself, an House not made with Hands, Eternal in the Heavens; which he knew he should be cloathed with upon his put­ting off the Garment of the Body: Here was the immediate Presence of his LORD: and for this the Apostle was confident and willing rather to be absent from the Body, that he might be Present with that Great Object of his perpetual Admiration and Desire. 2 Cor. IV.17—V.8.

Of this same Heavenly State he seems to give us some faint Resemblance in Heb. XII.22—24. But [Page 22] ye are come i. e. in your more immediate, believing and delighful Views, unto mount ZION, and to the City of the Living GOD, the Heavenly JERUSALEM, and to an innumerable Company of ANGELS; to the General Assembly & Church of the FIRST BORN which are enroll'd ^* in Heaven, and to GOD the Judge of all, and to the SPIRITS of Just men made Perfect, and to JESUS the Mediator of the New Covenant &c.

In the immediate Presence of the SON OF GOD must needs be a Fulness of Joy and Pleasure for his People▪ And this must needs be the Place of Joy into which the separate Spirit of the Faithful Ser­vant is bid to enter upon its leaving the Earthly Tabernacle and appearing before Him.

Enter Thou into the JOY of thy LORD! — ‘Thou hast been Tried, and Thou art found Faith­ful—Thou shalt be Tried no more! Thou hast lived in a World of Sorrow— But now thy Sorrows shall end for ever, and Thou shalt enter into a World of Joy! Thou hast passed thro' a State of Self-Denial and Humiliation, as thy LORD had done before Thee — Thou now shalt enter after Him into a State of Glory.’

‘It is the Joy of thy LORD— the Joyful Place and State which was set before Him, to enliven Him to endure the Cross and despise the Shame, till He ascended and sat down at the Right Hand of the Throne of GOD. The Joy which He now possesses, which is worthy of all his Suffer­ings, and which will fill You with perfect Satis­faction! You shall enter in to be with Him: You shall partake with Him in his Joy and Blessed­ness! [Page 23] You shall for ever live in his happy Pre­sence, and in the joyous Company of these innu­merable Holy Angels and Shining Spirits round about Him! You shall with them see the Ful­ness of his Glory: You shall be filled with the Vision: You shall be filled with the Likeness: the Glory shall never fade, the Company shall never brake, and the Joy shall never end!’

‘O! Happy Servant! —We now by Faith look after Thee! We congratulate thine Entrance There! and we long to rise and enter with Thee!’

And thus we have seen some faint Description of the Good and Faithful Servant passing thro' his State of Trial in this lower World, the Glorious Approbation given Him by his Divine Master at the Period of it, and the Joy of his LORD which there­on He enters immediately into.

And now — To IMPROVE these Things — Our

1. Concern of all, must be to get a Great, a Strong, a Lively FAITH in these invisible Realities, and to keep the same in a constant Exercise.

If this Heavenly State of Bliss and Joy be Real, it is of the utmost Moment that we make sure of it: and it is of the utmost Moment that we Believe it to be Real, or we are sure to loose it. If we Believe it not to be a certain Thing now subsisting in the Heavenly World; we cannot possibly be so con­cern'd about it, as to labour after it in earnest and persevere therein till we come to enjoy it. For if we don't Believe there are such Joys and Glories There; we don't Believe that CHRIST Himself [Page 24] is There: and then I'm sure we cannot be Good and Faithful Servants to Him.

Nor will a bare or faint Perswasion of these Great Truths suffice: There must be such a mighty Faith as is wro't alone by the Power of GOD: Such a Faith as makes them Evident, and not obscure; and such a Faith as gives them a Subsistence ^* in us, as if they were actually present with us.

And this lively Faith in these Heavenly Things had need be constantly kept in Exercise: or we shall never be able to subdue our Lusts, or resist Temp­tations; we shall never be able to rise above this World, or act for ETERNITY. It is this lively Faith that inflames our Love to CHRIST, and that en­livens and excites our Souls to his active Service: It is this that destroys Hypocrisy and makes us Upright: It is the powerful Principle of all Fidelity.

Let us therefore earnestly and incessantly Pray for this Great Operation and Gift of GOD. In the use of every Means, Let us look for his effectual In­fluence. And when we obtain it, Let us also labour, in the use of every Means, to keep it alive in its Power and Vigour: Such as frequent Prayer; Reading and Hearing the Word; attending on the Holy Sacraments; Retirement from Earthly Things; and Contemplation upon CHRIST, the Great, immediate and moving Object of our Faith & Piety.

And being possess'd of this most essential & vital Principle; Let us then

2. Improve it to Quicken us to a Life of Faith­ful and abounding SERVICES to this Glorious LORD.

[Page 25]Let us now Devote Our selves, and all we have, to Him for ever. Let us constantly consider the various Talents, i. e. the Powers and Opportunities with which He at any time trusteth us; his Holy Eyes continually on us, offended with our allow­ed Omissions, but greatly pleas'd with all our up­right Labours and even Desires to serve Him in the midst of our unallowed Deficiencies; and the strict Account we are every moment liable to be called to, and must unavoidably and quickly give upon our Expiration.

Let us live as those that are now upon a Trial for a certain ETERNITY; that are hastening greatly to it, and are even just upon the Borders of it—the Door of that amazing World opening — the Tribunal of CHRIST appearing — and let the Prospect of his saying to us— Well Done! Good and Faithful Ser­vant! Excite us to the utmost so to serve Him, as becomes this Blessed Character.

In fine, Let us constantly reflect and ask our selves — ‘Am I now a Good and Faithful Ser­vant to this all-seeing Eye? Is this to be so? or were I now to appear before Him, could He Pronounce this of me? —’

Surely such Reflections made in the Power of Faith, wou'd awaken our drowsy Souls, and put us upon vigorous Action and Fidelity.

3. For our further Excitement; Let us wisely va­lue and improve those Remarkable Instances of Good and Faithful SERVANTS to this Blessed LORD, as have Liv'd and Died among us.

[Page 26]I say—that have Liv'd and Died—Because their Perseverance to Death in a steady Course of Faith and Services,— is the Crown, the Perfection, and the conclusive Evidence of their Fidelity.

Upon this Occasion, Let us now therefore Im­prove that most sorrowful Providence, which has this Week bereav'd us of ONE that, we all acknow­ledge, has been no small Part of the Glory and Delight of this Town for Forty Years.

Were I to endeavour to set forth all his Vertues, I should scarce know where to Begin nor when to End. And I am easy in this, that my Lot is fallen to draw so unexceptionable and so unenvied a Character, that I need not fear exceeding to the offence of any that knew Him.

The very Name of Mr. DANIEL OLIVER —How many grateful Ideas did it use to raise in every Mind? To the Name there seem'd to be annex'd, the Beauty of pure Religion, a plain and unaffect­ed Mein, a serious and humble Countenance, a sin­cere and tender Heart, a cautious & prudent Speech, a consciencious Justice and Integrity, a peaceable and Publick Spirit, an abounding Charity, a perpe­tual Diligence, an exact Oeconomy, a Mind above Earthly Pomps and Pleasures: In short, all the Vir­tues that form an eminent Christian, and that make Him lovely and admired in our Eyes. None cou'd see Him till now without some Pleasure — and none can name Him now without some Sorrow.

But my Design is not to launch into a Sea of Praise. I shall only mind you of some of the many Graces in Him, for which we us'd to esteem and [Page 27] love Him; that may serve to make us sensible of our great Loss, and excite our lively Imitation.

It was happy for him indeed to have been Born of Religious Parents, and in the Pious Times of this Town and Land. Religion then was the prevail­ing Spirit here without a Rival. And wherever he turned his Eyes, he saw many bright Examples of the Power and Practice of it, to convince him 'twas a Real and a Serious thing, and to raise his Esteem and Reverence.

This was no doubt a special means: But it was the SPIRIT of Grace that wrought and bent his Heart for GOD in His Early Days. He then de­voted Himself to serve his LORD: He made Re­ligion an affair in earnest; tho' Careful & Diligent also in his Temporal Business. He had then the Wisdom to Redeem his Time: and He so contriv'd it, that they should not interfere with each other.

His Custom was to Rise up very Early; to Read the Scriptures and other Books of Piety alone, and Pray and Converse with GOD, while the Rest of the World were Sleeping: and these he us'd to account his most precious Hours. By this means his Heart was fix'd a new with a Religious Frame and fresh Designs of Good for the following Day: and as the Day came on, He was forward also in his Secular Business. He went forth of his House with a clear Conscience, and under the Favour and Conduct of Heaven.

From the Days of his Youth He lov'd and chose the Religious for his dear Companions. He avoided the Taverns as Places of great Temptation and Ex­pence of Time. When others resorted to them, [Page 28] He chose rather to go wherever He heard of any Exercise of Piety. When Recreation was needed towards the Evening; He either rode out for Health, either alone or with some chosen Companion; or made his agreable and useful Visits to his parti­cular Friends, or else to his poor or afflicted Neigh­bours, to help or comfort them. He indeed often diverted Himself by changing his Business only: By leaving his own Affairs, and contriving and doing Good unto others; for which he had a sin­gular Spirit, and in which He delighted.

Thus he took the Right & Best way of Living. He first and early Begins with Religion: He then with Forecast, Care, and Diligence applies Himself to his secular Business: and when he had got thro' this; he mostly diverted himself with doing Good, or visiting those that wanted him or were glad to see him.

He was a strict Observer of the Holy SABBATH. He tho't there was no Occasion of Differing about the Beginning or Ending of it: They who Begin in the Morning, He would say, ‘might improve the Evening before as a suitable Time of Prepa­ration; those who Begin in the Evening before, may improve the Evening after as an agreable Season of Looking back on the preceeding Duties, or Reading Books of Piety &c.’ and He accord­ingly kept his Family within his Gates both on the Evening before and after. His Walk to the Place of Worship was Grave and Early: and when seat­ed There, he always appear'd as one that minded nothing but the Holy Duties There transacting. — No noise, nor lifting up of Eyes or Hands — only a decent Gesture, with a serious and attentive Countenance. He indeed kept up the ancient [Page 29] Practice of Writing from the mouth of the Preacher; that he might not quickly forget, but repeat some useful Truths and Precepts in his Family at the End of the Day. And THIS with the happy Assistance of his worthy Consort, he always kept in excellent Order. Here he not only daily read the Scripture and Prayed; But he charged his House-hold to walk in the Paths of Piety; as he allur'd and led them the way by his lively Example.

He lov'd the Conversation of Ministers and sober Scholars. His Table was always free, and often surrounded with them, especially at our Weekly Lectures. When the Lecture was over, he wou'd look out for them: when he miss'd them, They knew they should be welcome to him: He was troubled when he happen'd to Dine without them: And was often doing them Services; which some Deceas'd have testified, and others alive can tell.

He was always remarkable also for attending the Lectures in the Neighbouring Towns. By which he at once reliev'd himself of the weight of Business, promoted the Health both of Body and Soul, in­form'd himself of the State of Religion & Pro­vidence, and met with fresh Occasions of doing some Good. And he had so careful and exact a Fore­sight, and so happy a Faculty in ordering matters; that as he went out in Season, he return'd in Season, and let not his Business suffer or run behind hand by his going abroad. There was no moving him from his exact and regular manner of Living.

He was always noted among us for being strictly Just and Punctual in all his Dealings. Some tho't him rather too nice in this to a Penny. Conside­rate in making a Promise: Consciencious to re­member [Page 30] and keep his Word; and to discharge the Trusts both of a Publick and Private nature, which either the Town or Government, or his Friends, by Wills or otherwise, had reposed in him.

He was remarkably careful for Paying his La­bourers when they first came for their Dues. And he wou'd often rebuke his Friends for putting them off; and tell them— ‘The Poor's Time was their Money and their necessary Subsistence; and 'twas a great Injustice and Hardship therefore, to make them spend their Time in coming for what was their own, for what they had earned, and 'twas likely very much wanted.’

He was as Good and Faithful a Friend as ever I knew. He was concerned for his Friend as for a na­tural Brother, not only ready to advise & help them in any Emergency; but was even Watchful over them, least there should any thing happen amiss in their Conduct that might be in Danger to hurt them: not to observe it to others, but in private to them. When he saw or heard of any such thing, he wou'd quickly come and impart his Sorrow; and where there was need, give a friendly Reproof or Caution. When he smote them, it was a Kindness to them: when he reprov'd them, it was an excellent Oyl that broke not the Head, but healed the Wound. He was one of the most suitable Persons for this— he had so few Faults of his own, and yet was so humble and ready to censure himself. When he had rebuked them faithfully; they almost always expected some other Kindness soon after to follow. And he would do more Kindnesses for them than ever he told them: They would often find it only by Accidence.

[Page 31]He had nothing of an overbaring or assuming Spirit. His Words in Conversation were not many, but wise. And there was such an unusual Mixture of Strictness and Gentleness in Him as I have scarce ever beheld. The latter so temper'd the former as took off all its disagreable View: And we were rather asham'd than afraid of his Reprehensions.

He was of a very Sympathizing Heart. He us'd to finish his Secular Business by Saturday Noon; and spend the Rest of the Day in visiting the Sick in the neighbourhood. He constantly attended the Fune­rals of his Acquaintance, tho' of low Degree. He much rather chose to go to the House of Mourn­ing than to the House of Feasting. He us'd to say, ‘He found it a needful means to keep his own Mortality in View, to show him afresh the Vanity of Earthly Things, call off his Mind from being taken up too much with them, and restrain it from growing too light and volatile.’ When any of his distant Friends met with any Grievous Providence; he would carefully mind them, and redeem so much time, either early in the Morning, or even in his Warehouse in the little Intervals of Business, as to write them Letters of Condolence, Advice and Comfort. And when they met with signal Mercies; he wou'd also send them his friend­ly Lines; not of Complement or Form, but of religious Joy and Counsel. And indeed, Ceremo­ny, Form and Complement, were very averse to his Genius.

But there was no Employment in which he took more Pleasure, than in being Overseer of the Poor of the Town. He wou'd often visit them and in­quire into their Cases; especially in Times of Sick­ness and Sorrow. The meanest was not beneath [Page 32] his Notice. He has doubtless bestowed numberless Charities of his own upon them, which GOD and his Angels have only seen. He was concerned especially for the Training up of their Offspring, both to Reading, Religion and Business. He has sometimes himself, maintain'd a School of Thirty of their Children: and he excited others to follow him in the same kind of extensive Charity. He built a considerable House for the Purpose Here at his own Expence; and in his Will has given it for the Schooling of the Children of the Poor to all Generations. The first Instance of the Kind, I think, on this side the Water.

He was known to be of a very Publick Spirit. He was one of the most deeply concern'd for our grow­ing Declensions, Sins and Dangers. When any Calamity threatned the Publick, he had but little Ease: when any came upon us, he had but little Comfort. He accounted Contention as one of the sorest Calamities: He was exceeding sollicitous for Peace and Concord. He was anxiously concern'd and troubled at the Flood of Intemperance and Profaness rising up in the Town and spreading into the Land. And how often has he spoke with great Grief of the Taverns, as the mischievous Fountains of Profaness, Disorder and Publick Poverty, and as Threatning the Ruin of all Religion.

When he saw Trangressors, he was greatly griev­ed. When Professors miscarried, he sadly mourned. When the Righteous and Useful were taken away, he deeply laid it to Heart: When such were in Danger by Sickness in any part of the Town, he was much concern'd, and would take care to visit them. He was concern'd for the Revival of Piety in the Town and Land. And he was remarkably [Page 33] Forward to contribute largely for the Propagation of it to the Neighbouring Countries.

In Fine, He was for pure, silent, unaffected and plain Christianity: not for the gaudy Pomp or noisy Sound: nor was he asham'd of serious and strict Religion in the Face of any.

And after all this eminent Life and Virtue — who appear'd more modest and humble than He? The least Lisp of Commendation was sure to raise his Frown, and move him instantly to check and stop us.—Lowly in his own Eyes: Preferring others above himself: Backward to appear and speak in Publick: Scarce perswaded to continue in His Majesty's Council, least he should hinder the Choice of others whom he tho't more able to serve his Country There — His Face, like Moses, came down the Mountain shining in the Eyes of others; and He wist it not.

This is Part of the Man we are bereaved of!— And how great the Loss! — His Example very much help'd to keep up the Reputation of Religion among us. In such Men we see both its Reality, Power and Excellence; It appears with Comeli­ness and Majesty, to charm our Love, as well as raise our Reverence; it bares a convincing Wit­ness against the Apostacies & Vices of the Times. And if it has not now an happy Influence to draw us to be Religious too; it will surely rise up against us and condemn us in the Future Judgment.

Can the Children of such a Father as this — be any other than eminent like Him? They have had greater Advantages than others: their Ob­ligations [Page 34] are therefore greater: and upon You his Rising Sons, are the Eyes of all Good People fixed, thro' this Town and Land; that You will stand up in his Room, and make Good his Ground. And with your Sorrowful Mother, You doubtless have the Confluence of their universal Prayers and Blessings!

And can any of Us who knew Him, ever forget the Dear Example? How often have we applied those Words to Him which the Angel once spoke to another — O DANIEL! a Man greatly Beloved! or a Man of Desires, as it is in the Hebrew? And shall not Religion be always the more Lovely to us, for the Beauty thereof which has appeared in Him?

And now, If it had not been my Lot to improve this Providence at the General Lecture of this Great Town; I shou'd have applied these things to that respectful CONGREGATION, ^* of which our FRIEND has been a shining Ornament from his Youthful Age; and in whose withdraw They bare a spe­cial Share of Loss and Sorrow.

I shall therefore only observe, that as He used constantly to beautify this Publick Lecture, and we are Here to see his Face no more; He was one of the last who is bringing up the Rear of the Second Generation of the Founders of this Colony: and in Him we have seen the lively Image of their Piety and Spirit. There is but Here and There a Son remaining; and our Glory seems to be passing away with them!

[Page 35]O! Let us therefore bow our Knees to the FA­THER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, of whom the whole Family both in Heaven & Earth are na­med; and earnestly implore, that He would pour out His SPIRIT from on High upon Us & our Offspring. That We and They after us may rise up in our Times, to follow their bright Examples, to answer their strong Desires, and to keep alive the Work of Pure Religion in the Power and Practice of it; for which our Fathers have made so many Prayers and taken so much Pains, and for which their Fa­thers before them chose to come and Live & Dye in these then hideous Ends of the Earth.

Let us then chuse their GOD for ours, His WORD for the only Rule of our Religion, His Institutions only for our Observance, and not content our selves with the Form of Godliness without the Life and Power. And let us bring up our Children also, as They bro't up Us — That His Spiritual Presence may continue with us, and We may have the Joy to see our Posterity like to follow into that happy World which our Pious Fa­thers are gone into — that They, I say, may fol­low in their Times, and continually bring Accessions thither to our Joy and Blessedness. To come into the Presence of our FATHERS There; To have our Children come in after us; and for them to tell us, that their Children are serving CHRIST & their Generation, and are coming too— It will increase the Joy of Heaven it self, and both multiply and raise our continual Satisfactions.

A SERMON Occasion'd by the Death of Young Mr. Daniel Oliver.

A Short, surprizing, but instructive Sen­tence! — And in Discoursing on it, I shall First consider it in It self alone; and Then raise those Observations from it which it most fairly offers.

I. Consider it in ITSELF alone. — And here are three things,

• 1. The Person mentioned.
• 2. His Death.
• 3. and lastly, His Speaking after it.

1. The PERSON mentioned. — And this is ABEL, one of the hopeful Sons of our Father Adam.

Even in his Bloom of Youth He appears to have resisted the strong Temptations round about him. He liv'd a blameless, regular and righteous Life. Both his Person and Services were very grateful [Page 2] to the Holy GOD. And his Conduct was a lovely Pattern to the Age wherein he lived.

By the IV of Genesis and the 25th, He seems to have been very much his Parents Hope & Comfort in his Day; and to have been particularly dear to his tender Mother. It there appears, he had a large Place in her Affection, as he well deserved; that her Heart and Expectations were much set upon him; and she remember'd him with lasting Sorrow. Tho' indeed she after comforted her self with her other hopeful Offspring, which GOD was pleas'd to raise up for Her in the stead of her beloved and deceased ABEL. For,

2. He is said to be DEAD. — And by the same Verse it seems, He deceased in his Youthful Age, without Posterity, and while unmarried.

Whither his Name was given him by his Parents at his Birth or Death, is utterly uncertain. If it were the former it seems to have been Prophetick: or at least his Dying in the Flower of Life was ex­actly answerable to the Meaning of it.

For ABEL is an Hebrew Word that in the Noun sig­nifieth Vain or Vanity; and in the Verb—He is Vain or Vanity, or vanisheth away. ABEL, says a Learn­ed Man, is as much as to say, a vain thing; i. e. ei­ther what has scarce any Being, or as a Puff of Breath out of the mouth of an Infant, quickly ceases and disappears ^*. It is the same Word which is so often used in Eccl. I.2. Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. For in the Hebrew it is — Abel Abelim, Abel Abelim, all is Abel.

[Page 3]And as this is both here and elsewhere ascribed to All things under the Sun in General; so to the Children of Men in Particular, in diverse other Pla­ces. So Psal. CXLIV.4. Man is like to ABEL, which we render Vanity: His Days are as a Shadow that passeth away. So Psal. XXXIX.5. Behold! Thou hast made my Days as an Hand-Breadth, and mine Age is as nothing before Thee: Verily every Man at his best State is altogether ABEL; i. e. Vanity. And so at the end of the 11th v. Surely every Man is ABEL; or Vanity.

The Word also signifies a Vanishing, and this very quickly; ^† as also a Breath or Vapour: ^‡ And so I find the Syriack renders it in the three last men­tion'd Places. ^‖ And perhaps the Apostle may allude to this when he says — Jam. IV.14. For what is your Life? It is even a Vapour, that appeareth for a little Time, and then vanisheth away.

Just so did the promising Life of ABEL. He ap­peared as a Vapour; as visible and fair to the Eye as the rest of Men: But his Appearance here below was but for a little Season, especially compar'd with others: He quickly vanished: And his surprized and affected Parents had soon a sad Oc­casion to cry out Vanity on his Appearance with them, and on all the Prospects and Hopes he gave them of Comfort in him. They were vain & empty things that were very gay and pleasant in their View, but quick expired and came to nothing.

His early Death was a very great and publick as well as private Loss, attended with many pungent [Page 4] aggravations, an heavy Stroke to his pious Parents, and bitterly lamented by them. And the De­cease of this their hopeful Son was no doubt the more affecting, as it was very sudden and sur­prizing to them. He went out Well: But he came not home at the time expected: But alass! instead of Him, came the amazing Tydings, that he was Dead, and vanish'd from their sight for ever.

And now as DAVID, at the Surprizing News of Absalom's Excision, with an Anguish inexpressible, cried out — O! My Son Absalom! my Son! my Son Absalom! wou'd to God, I had died for Thee! O Absalom! my Son, my Son! So methinks we may hear our first Parents, at the amazing Tydings of the Death of Abel, with an equal Agony, cry out, in the forementioned words of SOLOMON — O! Abel Abelim! Abel Abelim! all things on Earth are vain and dead as Abel!

And thus did our First Parents very early taste of one of the most bitter Fruits of their Sin and Fall. They must indeed die themselves in a little time: But before they come to this, they must find how evil a thing it is to forsake the LORD: They must meet with a great Variety of Griefs and Miseries: They must see the Triumph of Death over one of their dearest and most hopeful Offspring: They must needs First know what a grievous thing it is to be bereav'd of [...] Children; and what an exceeding bitter [...] they had in this respect pro­vided for their Posterity in all their future Gene­rations.

[Page 5]ABEL then was Dead even before his Parents, and in his Youthful Days. He quickly left them to be­wail their heavy Loss and Disappointment in Him, and to show the World the Lamentable Fruit of their Apostacy from the Blessed GOD.

But still

3. 'Tis said, that He being Dead, yet SPEAKETH.

He was not only speaking after his Decease in the Days of his Surviving Parents, or in that Age that knew Him; but even also in the very Age wherein our Apostle writes concerning Him: He yet speaketh; ^* or he being Dead, is yet a Speaking. And so he may be said to be, even to this very Day.

But how is ABEL said to Speak, when he is Dead and vanished?

To this I answer—

(1.) He speaks by the lovely Example of his pre­ceeding Life. ^†

This is neither yet forgotten nor unrecorded. Tho' Abel be deceased; His living Example still survives him: It still subsists in the Minds of Men. And lovely Examples are the most speaking things that can be. They reprove our Vices; they charm us with their Virtues; and they very powerfully invite and urge our Imitation: and this not only while they live before our Eyes; but even as long as they are remembred by us.

[Page 6](2.) He also speaks by the Mouths of Others who tell of his Virtues with Esteem and Honour.

He speaks as He is yet spoken of to his Commen­dation. ^‡ And so the Word is often used, both in the New Testament and other Writings. He not only lives in the grateful Memories of Men; But he is also conversant in every Mouth: they still speak of his living Virtues, and mention him with Praise. ^‖

(3.) and lastly, He significantly speaks even by his Death it self, and especially by the Earliness thereof.

He thereby plainly tells us, that neither Righte­ousness nor Youth, nor the Love, Desires or Pray­ers of the most tender Parents, can preserve us from it. That there is no Dependence on the Lives of the most desireable and hopeful Children: That even these may dye in Youth as well as others: But then 'tis wise and happy for them, that by a sober, righteous and pious Life they prepared for it, as ABEL did. In fine, that our Expectations from things below are vain; and when we expect most from them, we may be at once surprizingly disap­pointed: they may in a moment vanish, and all our fond and pleasing Hopes cut off for ever.

Such things as these, and many more, does ABEL speak, and is even yet a speaking by his early Death. He not only spoke them to the contemporary Gene­ration that surviv'd him, but even to Us who read and hear of his early Death and Virtues.

[Page 7]And hence we may by the way observe, of what advantage 'tis to put on record such affecting Histo­ries. The Speech of ABEL wou'd have been lost for ever as to Us, and we had never heard Him utter these profitable Lessons, if his virtuous Life and early Death had not been recorded.

But are there not Other Young & hopeful Persons, who being Dead, yet speak as well as ABEL?

Yes alass! there are many such in every Gene­ration. There is a Cloud, a great Host, a Multitude of such affecting Speakers. They are continually going off and adding to ABEL'S Company: they unite in speaking the same things with him even to us: and as their Number still increases, their united Voice grows louder: and so we shou'd perceive it, if our Ears were not miserably deafened with the perpetual Noise of earthly Businesses and Clamours.

We therefore now proceed in the

II. Place, to Those INSTRUCTIONS which our Text, in consort with like Instances in every Age, conspire to give us.

And here are these three Things?

1. It pleases the Sovereign GOD to favour and distinguish some of the Race of Men with Hopeful Children.

2. He yet sometimes takes them away by Death in their Early Days.

3. and lastly, When they are Dead and vanish'd, yet they Loudly speak to their Survivours.

[Page 8]1. It pleases the Sovereign GOD to favour & distin­guish some with HOPEFUL CHILDREN.

It would take up all our Time to run thro' all the Instances of this in Scripture. Nor is there any need in order to confirm our Observation. There have been Multitudes of Instances in every suc­cessive Age and Nation where the Gospel has been preached, even down to this very Day: and thro' the abounding Grace of GOD among us, our Eyes have often seen this particular Favour given either to Our selves or Others.

With the most humble Admiration, Let us briefly contemplate the Grace of GOD in this Affair: And while we do it — not to us, not in the least to us, but to Him alone ascribe the Glory.

That the Children of Wicked Parents shou'd be like themselves, is so exceeding natural, that we can expect no other. For here there is both Inclination inwardly to move them, and Example outwardly to concur and draw them. And how can they help aspiring to copy after Those who appear to love and take care of them above all others; when they also find it to be their Interest to imitate & please them, and this agreable to their own Propensities?

But alass! How many Parents eminent for Piety, have had the most pungent Sorrow of very wicked Children; notwithstanding all their Care and Pains, their Examples, Admonitions, Prayers, Tears, and every Method taken to induce them to be Religi­ous! — a most mysterious and afflictive Dispen­sation! — and there's scarcely any thing on Earth that can affect the Heart of Man with such Distress and Agony! And O! that the Children of pious [Page 9] Parents might be sensible of this — that if they have any Affection or Value for them, they wou'd not grieve and pierce the Hearts of those who love them as their own Souls, but rather do all they can to comfort them in this great matter.

I might easily inlarge on this ungrateful Subject. But I must hasten to consider, that thro' the Sove­reign Grace of GOD, some other Parents have been distinguished with Hopeful Children. And even in­deed some wicked Parents have had this surprizing Lot; but to their own confusion Here, if not their dreadful condemnation another Day. And this no doubt to show, that GOD is absolutely free & so­vereign; that He is not confined to the Line of pious Parents, tho' He usually prefers it; but may choose and favour whom He pleases. He will be Gracious to whom He will be Gracious, and shew Mercy to whom He will shew Mercy.

However, to honour his pure Religion, and to encourage his People and their earnest Prayers, Hopes and Labours for their Children; He more frequently favours them than others with an hopeful Offspring. And if we heartily desire to have our Children Good; the most likely way is to be Good Our selves. By becoming Religious we happily bring them into the Covenant, which is the usual way of Grace: And by bringing them up in the Nurture of the LORD, and accompanying our earnest Prayers with our lovely Lives; we are most like to draw them both to admire and imitate our Vir­tues. The Blessed GOD is herein greatly pleased with us: and we therefore take the fairest Course to obtain his special Blessing for those pleasant Crea­tures whom we are training up to love & serve Him.

[Page 10]Such pious Parents are therefore often favoured with an hopeful Offspring. GOD is pleas'd to en­courage them with a gracious Motive, Prov. XXII.6. And He usually grants his Blessing to their wise Endeavours. He commonly first inspires into the tender Children an high Esteem and dear Affection for their pious Parents: and this is the fruitful Source of every other Virtue. For this inclines them to admire their excellent Examples, to see the Goodness of their discreet Instructions, and in their Turns endeavour to be like them. The con­trary Speech and Carriage of the Vicious will from hence become disgustful: their Temptations will therefore loose their Influence: and the Youth will choose to imitate their more lovely Parents, to ob­serve their Counsels, and to grow more dear and delightful to them.

In short, the Language of their Parents is that in Prov. XXIII.15. My Son! If thine Heart be Wise; my Heart shall rejoyce, even mine: yea my Reins shall rejoyce, when thy Lips shall speak right Things! Hear thou my Son, and be Wise; and guide thine Heart in the Way! The Father of the Righteous shall greatly re­joyce; and he that has a wise Child shall have Joy of him: thy Father and thy Mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoyce. And as this is the moving Language of their pious Parents; the grate­ful Children are equally affected & impressed with it. Inspir'd with a Desire to please them, they think they can never do too much to return their Love and to increase their Joy.

O delightful and hopeful Offspring! O happy Parents! Blessed are they that bare such Children! They are your Joy and Crown already: and they attract the Eyes and Love of others. They raise [Page 11] our lively Expectations: They are the pleasing Hopes of the rising Age— To support Religion, and to serve their Country, when their Parents Heads are laid in the silent & unactive Grave.

But O alass! How forward are our Expectati­ons! and how vain our Hopes — when in the

II. Place, GOD sometimes takes away even such as these by Death in their Early Days.

They are some of the most Desireable that we cou'd wish to Live, both for the Glory of GOD, and for the Good of the World. They are endow'd with excellent Accomplishments to serve their Gene­ration: and they have given a pleasing Specimen of what a useful Life they wou'd have liv'd, if they had continued longer. They have gain'd the Love of all about them: and we can't tell how to Think, but that all this Preparation is for a long Train of Service in Times to come.

But alass! when they have employ'd and spent their Younger Age to qualify themselves, are com­pleatly form'd for Business, and just are entering on the Publick Stage of Action;— They must Pro­ceed no further, They are taken away, and all their fine Accomplishments are lost to us for ever! They must only just appear, to show their Virtues, and raise our Hopes; and then must vanish! Their Days must be as Grass: Like the Flowers of the Field they must but open to our Eye and Flourish; and then the Wind blows over them, and they're gone, and the Place thereof shall know 'em no more.

The Places where they liv'd cou'd no more spare them than their Parents: The most ardent Desires [Page 12] and Prayers of their Friends & Relatives for their precious Lives must be denyed: their earnest Ex­pectations must be disappointed: their Cares, Pains, Expences and Projections for them, must come to nothing: their pleasing Apprehensions of future Comfort and Delight on Earth, must vanish: and their most desir'd Enjoyments must, against the strongest Passions and Affections, be ravish'd from them. And even [...] this — while Multitudes of worthless and wicked Children, the Shame & Sor­row of their Parents, and the Corrupters of their Age, are still continued. — O! the Depth of the Riches, both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of GOD! How unsearchable are his Judgments! and his Ways past finding out!

Unbelief and Ignorance are upon this Occasion, ready to cry out — ‘LORD wherefore hast Thou made these hopeful Youths in vain? in vain a­dorn'd them for that Delight & Love on Earth, which they are never to enjoy? in vain accom­plish'd them for that special Service Here, which they are never to Perform?’ — Or may we hum­ly search into the deep and awful Mystery of this Di­vine Dispensation?

What if this be only to give a Glympse of the ado­rable Sovereignty & Perfections of that absolutely Bles­sed GOD; who can as easily & in a moment make a World as not, to show his Glory, & then in ano­ther moment make it vanish? So He causes the blaz­ing Meteors of the Heavens to brake out & glare with an admired Brightness, to show his Power and raise our Wonder; and then in a moment vanish, and not leave the least Track of their Subsistence after them. So He bringeth the Princes to Nothing: He maketh the Judges of the Earth as Vanity— He blow­eth [Page 13] upon them, and they wither: and the Whirlwind taketh them away as the Stuble. Isai. XL.23, 24.

Or, what if this be to show his boundless Fulness and Magnificence? That He has not any need or want of any Creatures, or their most excellent Powers to serve Him. So He every Day, in a most curious and amazing manner, Forms even Millions both of Brutal and Humane Creatures; whom again He crushes before the Birth, and never suffers to see the Light: that so with awful Reverence Others may clearly see that The Inhabitants of the Earth are but as Grashoppers to Him; that the Nations are as a Drop of the Bucket, and are counted as the small Dust of the Balance; yea that all Nations are be­fore Him as Nothing, and are counted to Him even less than Nothing and Vanity. Isai. XL.15—23.

Or what if all this be rather to give his People, both the Children and their Parents, a special Op­portunity for the glorious Triumph of their Resigna­tion to Him?

How hard a thing is it, for the lively Youth, that has just begun to taste of Earthly Delights, has his Relish strong, and his Prospects gay & promising; in his very Entrance into These — to Resign his Life! — And this especially, if he be one of a reputable Birth, of raised Figure, that has a Store of Riches either in Hand or in Reversion, has the Respect and Love of all who know him, and all the pleasing Views that can be of Earthly Happi­ness. I might mention several other aggravations —such as having travelled abroad, and finish'd his Accomplishments, in a foreign Land, and about Returning to his dear & longing Parents;— And Then to come into the Views of Death, and give up [Page 14] all at once! — O! how hard! — how diffi­cult!—

But if by the Grace of GOD, the Youth can do it, if he can offer up so dear a Sacrifice; O! how exceeding acceptable is this to the Sovereign GOD! How Glorious the Victory over Nature! What a wonderful and delightful Spectacle to the Holy Angels! With what Speed & Pleasure will they transport the resigned Spirit to the Seats of Bliss a­bove! and with what abounding Joys & Welcomes will it be received There! — Such a Sacrifice and such a Triumph is highly worthy of all that we can have to offer. It is most highly worth the while to have every Accomplishment & Prospect, if it were for nothing else, that we might Dye in Youth, and have such a precious Offering to make to the Glorious GOD.

And for the same Reason, it is fully worthy of all the Affections, Cares, Pains, Expences, Labours, Desires and Hopes of the most tender Parents; that They may also have Occasion to Resign the dear and blooming Youth to HIM. It is worth the while to have such lovely Children, if it were for nothing else, that we might have such precious Things to yield up to Him: and the lovelier they are, and the dearer to us; the greater is our Tri­umph over our own Affection for them, the more Precious will He esteem our Present, and the more delightful is our Offering to Him.

Or lastly, what if all this be, To take us off from too much admiring and loving the nearest and pleasantest of Creatures; to remove our Depen­dance from them; and to raise our Minds up more to that Unchangeable, All-sufficient and most Glorious [Page 15] BEING! Whom we can never love or admire e­nough, never enough depend upon: who can never fail or disappoint us; but will infinitely more than answer our most raised Expectations.

However, when the Clouds and Darkness that are round about the Throne of GOD, have come down and cover'd us, and cast an impenetrable Mist on these Transactions; we must yet fall down, admire, adore Him, for the surpassing Reach of his Intentions in them. We must yet Believe, that He orders all in perfect Wisdom: that in all the Myste­ries of Providence, He is ever wisely carrying on his Good and Great Designs in the most proper Ways: that His Covenant is well ordered in all things, and sure and everlasting: that He is ever mindful of it: and that He is all the while advanc­ing both His own highest Glory and His People's highest Interest, as the united View & End of all.

But when our Hopeful Children Dye; Do they intirely vanish? Are they gone away into perfect Silence? Have they quite left off speaking to us, and this for ever?—O! no! — They are Dead indeed to all things here below, and are disappeared from the Sight of our Bodily Eyes: But

III. and lastly, When they are thus Deceas'd and vanished, they yet SPEAK, and this aloud to their Survivors.

Their imaginary Pictures live and dwell as dear and precious in our lasting Memories. In our live­ly Minds they constantly appear. And O! how vainly do we raise up and view those shadowy Ima­ginations in us; that we may painfully remember what we Lost, and renew our Sorrows!

[Page 16]But instead of this vain Amusement, which is only like to hurt us; we should rather apply our selves to Hear their Voice, which is like to comfort us, and turn to our greatest Benefit. And here

• 1. They yet speak by their Lovely Lives. And
• 2. By their Early Death.

1. They yet Speak by their LOVELY LIVES.

Did they resist Temptations, refrain the Company of the Vain and Wicked, and honour and esteem the Good; They thereby instruct & quicken us to Do so likewise. Or were they full of Love and Duty to their Parents, chaste and sober in their Words and Actions, Fair and honest in their Deal­ings, Diligent in Business, Faithful in their Promi­ses, Kind and courteous to all about them; their Examples, teach us to Be so likewise. Or lastly, were they Fearful to displease the Blessed GOD, did they constantly attend religious Duties, and did they mostly square their Lives according to his Holy Word; their Examples are our loud Instructors: They now reprove our loose, irregular & careless Lives: and unless reformed, will hereafter rise up in Judgment to condemn us. But then

2. They yet more awfully and loudly speak by their EARLY DEATH.

What a dreaful and surprizing Sound did This first make in our astonish'd Ears! What more piercing and awakening noise to strike the Soul than that,—'The Hopeful Youth is Dead!' — And 'tis all one to us, whether he tells the Shocking News Himself, or speaks by others. What is then the Language in which he speaks by such a great and [Page 17] awful Change, but This — ‘O my Friends! I am on Earth no more! my Body is utterly bereav'd of Life and Sense, and my immortal Soul is now Launch'd out into Eternity! My Eyes are clos'd, my Ears are shut to Earthly things for ever! Mine Eye shall see Good no more among you: and the Eyes of them that have seen me, shall see me no more! Yea my Flesh is cloath'd with Worms and Clods of Dust: my Skin is broken and become loathsome! And as the Cloud is consumed and vanished away; so I am gone down to the Grave, and shall come up no more: I shall return no more to my Father's House: nor shall the Place which has known me, know me any more!’

This is what he tells us of his awful Change — But O! Go on Thou Unembodied Spirit, and Pro­ceed to let us know What a kind of World it is, Thou art transported to, and What Thou hast gotten by all thy Prayers, thy Fear of GOD, thy Honour­ing thy Parents, and thy lovely Life in thy Youth­ful Days! — And don't we hear Him speak such things as these — ‘O! I find that in Fearing GOD there is a great Reward, a glorious Recom­pence, inexpressibly transcending all that I could on Earth imagine! My Prayers are infinitely more than answered, and so are all the earnest Cries of my Parents for me! And tho' my Days are cut short among you; yet I am enter'd into an endless, happy Life, a Length of Days for ever in This Blessed Place, which is the truest Re­gion of the Living, and which the LORD my GOD according to His Word has given me! a Region full of perfect Purity, Light and Love: where Mortality is swallowed up of Life: and where are Glorious Mansions and Inhabitants, and Joys for ever!’

[Page 18]Thus may we well perceive our Dutiful & Hope­ful Youth a speaking, even when Dead & vanish'd: And thus may we hear Him speaking of His own Condition. But O! has He nothing to say to us concerning Ours? Yes! — He speaks to All that knew Him, He speaks especially to Young Ones, and to his Surviving Parents, and other Kindred also.

1. He yet speaks to US ALL, and tells us —

‘O! 'tis a sinful, mean and wretched World you dwell in. It is full of Snares & Dangers: It is unworthy of your Portion: It is good for no­thing, but to improve for GOD the little time you have it, and to Resign to Him when He calls you to it. You live in Dying Bodies: But you have immortal Souls like mine, that are hastening on to the Eternal World. Your Lives like mine on Earth, are as a thin, uncertain Vapour, that for a little while appears, and will quickly va­nish. You have now your precious Time of Trial: But it will soon be over; and you must Dye as well as I, and come to Judgment. Your Lives are so extreamly frail, that a single Day or Hour may bring you to it: and if then you be not Prepar'd; you must inevitably go down to Hell, to Hell for ever. I have had an amazing View of that dreadful Place, while I was carry'd up to Heaven. O! it is a fearful and tremendous Brink you live on! and what shall it Profit you, if you shou'd Gain the whole World and loose your Soul? or what will you give in Exchange for your Soul? O! there's Nothing, not Ten Million Worlds can make Amends for the Loss of This!’

‘O then, Do not run the most desperate Venture a Moment longer of Loosing it, and this for Ever! [Page 19] But whatever you Do, make haste to secure this dearest & most precious Thing! O Let not this vain World deceive you: Pursue it not with the greatest Earnestness, as your chiefest Portion: While you are in the eager Chase, you may in a moment drop down into the Gulph below; and then what Good will all your Earthly Treasures do you! O then, Take off your inordinate Af­fections from them, and lift up your Eyes and see and chuse this Glorious Portion I Possess, and which never shall be taken from me. O! now Re­nounce your Lusts, and give your selves intirely to GOD thro' CHRIST for ever. Receive this Blessed Person in all His Offices, and Rely upon Him as your All-sufficient Saviour; as a Person worthy of your highest Love, that will ever raise your growing Wonder, and give you satis­fying Delight for ever. O! Redeem your pre­cious Time; improve your Talents; and make it your continual Business to Please and Honour Him: To Promote His Kingdom, to Do His Will, to endure Chastisements, and have Com­munion with Him.—So shall you come at length to Behold his admired Glories; to view his Love and Smiles with continual Transport; and to be satisfied, ravish'd and even amazed in your being Filled with his Divine Likeness.’

With such Words as these He speaks to All in General. — But,

2. He speaks yet more especially, to the YOUTH a­mong us.

He being a Youth when He departed from us; He was especially acquainted with the Inclinations, Prospects and Pursuits of Youth, their peculiar Snares and Dangers; and from his own Experience, [Page 20] He therefore knows especially how to speak to Them. And O! Young Ones! I beseech you now attend, and Hear Him speaking loudly to You — ‘To You O Young Ones do I call, and my Voice is to the Sons of Men! —’

‘By my self you see that you may Dye in Youth, notwithstanding all your airy Hopes & Expecta­tions. Your Childhood and Youth are Vanity. Your Youthful Hearts are Evil, full of Evil, and this continually. You have many Youthful Plea­sures to Pursue, and many Youthful Lusts to Gra­tify. Alass! You are exceeding Prone to set the Evil Day of Death at a great Distance from you; and then to please your selves with the vain Presumption, that it is as far from you as you would have it: and then you freely give a Loose to Earthly Joys and Pleasures. But O Young Man! Rejoyce Thou in thy Youth as much as thou wilt, and Let thy Heart cheer Thee in the Days of thy Youth; and walk in the ways of thy Heart, and in the sight of thine Eyes!— But know Thou, that for all these Things GOD will bring Thee into Judgment!’

‘It is but a little while since, I was as well as You; as full of Life, of Health, of Cheerfulness; as full of pleasant Prospects and Expectations: I had as much of Earthly Things in View as almost Heart cou'd wish: and I had as little Reason as any among you, to suspect that all these pleasing Scenes of Hope wou'd so soon be vanish'd & come to nothing. Alass! You can't be more assur'd of a longer Life than I: and while you fondly please your selves with groundless Expectations; you may be, before you are aware, surpriz'd with the Snares of Death, and disappointed for ever.’

[Page 21] ‘It is true indeed, Tho' GOD has pleas'd to shorten my Life on Earth; yet because I fear'd Him in my Youthful Age, I have lost nothing by it; but made an happy Exchange of Earthly Prospects for Heavenly Joys, and of uncertain Hopes for Satisfying Pleasures at the Right Hand of GOD for ever. And this is the wise & only Course I wou'd now earnestly desire and counsel you to take for your Eternal Safety. O! Re­member now your Great and Kind CREATOR and REDEEMER, in your Youthful Days, before the Evil Days of Sickness or of Death come on you, or those distressing Times draw nigh when you shall say you have no Pleasure in them. O! now Chuse the Blessed GOD in CHRIST, for your Everlasting Father, and for the Guide of your Youth. You will surely find it is the Best and Wisest way to Take and Bare his Yoke in your Early Days. O! Forsake the Foolish; and Fly Youthful Lusts; and Live for ever.’

‘You may thereby loose some meaner Pleasures, and expose your selves to some Reproach from the Vain and Wicked; But they are to be but little minded: The Glorious GOD beholds them with Contempt; and their Triumphing will be short, their Mirth but for a Moment. For every Jeer of theirs, you have the Applause of Angels: while the Great and Blessed GOD looks on and sees your Patience with Approbation and Delight. He'l quickly give you the Dominion over them: and the more Reproach you suffer here, the Brighter will He make your Crown hereafter.’

3. and lastly, To be sure He likewise speaks to his Surviving PARENTS and OTHER RELATIVES.

[Page 22]His Voice is that which our Blessed SAVIOUR ut­tered when He was Parting from His own Below, — ‘My dearest Earthly Parents! weep not now for Me; but for your Selves, and for your re­maining Children! I have no Occasion now for Tears or Sorrows; and I am now above the need of Cries. I enjoy the Fruit of all your Cares, Ex­pences, Pains, your Faith and Prayers for me: I now reap their Harvest with a great abundance: They are infinitely more than answered. And as you offer'd them all to GOD, while you were bestowing them on Me; you have lost nothing by them; But as they all are turned to My Eter­nal Gain, They are likewise working out for You a vast Increase of Joy when we meet together.’

‘O! Do not therefore mourn for Me, as if you had no Hope! But be exceeding Thankful for the Grounds of Hope GOD has been Pleas'd to give You. And now repair to the Everlasting Covenant; cease your flowing Tears; and Drink and be Refreshed with its abundant Consolations! O Take off your strong Affection from me, which I have now no need of; and lift up your Eyes and see That DIVINE PERSON cloath'd with Our Humane Nature: who is infinitely Fairer and more Lovely than any of the Sons of Men, and who Lives and Reigns for ever. See how He shines in this World of Light and Glory! and how all the Saints and Angels Here are ravish'd in Him! And Do You by Faith behold Him, till you forget your Sor­rows and loose the Sight of Things below!’

‘And O! Let all my Relatives Prepare to Follow. Let them continually Remember that there is an inconceivably Happier World than That they Live in; And let it be their Great and constant [Page 23] Care to make sure of it. Let them keep unspot­ted from that lower World in which they sojourn. Wherein I have failed in my Duty, either with respect to GOD or Man; Let them supply my Failings. Let them make Religion their chief Concern and Business. Let them serve their Ge­neration according to the Will of GOD. Let them Do all the Good they can. Let them study to be Blessings to all about them. Let their Light so shine; that Others There may Glorify & Praise GOD for them; and that We may have continual Joy in Heaven among the Saints and Angels Here, from what They are Doing on Earth. Let them never be weary of Well-Doing. And let them continue Faithful to the Death; that they may obtain the Crown of Eternal Life, and We all may come to meet with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Here; never to Part again, and never to Sorrow more.’

This is some of the awakening Language of our deceased Abel! Thus He speaks aloud to Us! He speaks from the Eternal World! Such things as These He pronounces by me, and wou'd with his own Voice Proclaim, were He now to appear a­mong us. And as He speaks by me — wou'd the SPIRIT of CHRIST accompany them with His own impressive Power; They wou'd become the Voice of CHRIST Himself; with a mighty Effi­cacy they wou'd Pierce into your Souls and make You Hear and Live.

O that we might give our continued Attention to them, and not Forget them as the airy Sound is now about to cease: But let us always hear it; i. e. Habitually Remember, that these Great and important things concern us every Moment of our [Page 24] Lives, as much as we now think they Do, while we are Hearing of them in the House of GOD. And let us so Think of them, as by the concurring Help of the SPIRIT of Grace, we may be effectu­ally excited, To give all Diligence to make our Cal­ling and Election sure; that so an Entrance may be ministred to us abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our LORD & SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.

There GOD Himself appears in this WONDEROUS PERSON, and unveils His Glories, and converses with His People in the most immediate manner. There He fully shows Himself their GOD and Por­tion; and clears up every Mystery to their perfect Satisfaction. There no Impurity or Sin shall en­ter; and there is no more Death, nor Sorrow, nor Pain, nor Crying: But all this vast and gloomy Train of things are pass'd away; and in their Room succeeds, a perfect Life of Immortality & unde­caying Vigour, an Eternal Stream of pure Delights, a Fulness of unmingled Joys, an absolute Assurance of their Perpetuity: And there all the Heavenly Hosts congratulate and triumph in their mutual Happiness, and unite in their Acclamations of Praise to GOD, the Free Original of all, for Ever.