Presvyteros diplēs timēs axios, or, The true dignity of St. Paul's elder exemplified in the life of ... Mr. Owen Stockton ... with a collection of his observations, experiences and evidences recorded by his own hand : to which is added his funeral sermon / by John Fairfax ...

May. 8. At eleven of the Clock at night my daughter Elianor died after a long Sick∣ness. God gave me several opportunities of recommending her Soul to him in prayer, at some whereof my heart was much affected and my faith, and hope acted on God, for the eternal welfare of her Soul, which made her departure easie to me. My grounds were, Gen. 17. I will establish my Covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee for an everlasting Covenant, to be a God to thee, and thy seed after thee. I considered that this Co∣venant is to give life, Mal. 2. 5. And where∣as the thoughts of the Childs Original, and actual Sins, as frowardness, &c. might make me fearful of its estate. It was brought to my mind, that the Covenant is to give par∣don of sin, Heb. 8. 10, 12. And whereas faith and regeneration are necessary to Salva∣tion, I considered further that the Covenant is to give all things necessary, to Salvation, 2 Sam. 23. 5. this is all my Salvation. Be∣sides the Consideration of the Covenant, God gave me other encouragements, to hope in reference to my Child, as from Math. 19. 14. Suffer little Children to come unto me, and from observing how prevalent, faith and Prayer is with God for the remission of sins, and salvation of others as well as our own souls,

Math. 9. 2. Jesus seeing their faith, said Son be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. So 1 Joh. 5. 16. If a man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask of God, and he shall give him life. Now I Con∣sidered that though my child had sins incident to Childhood, yet it had not sinned the sin unto death, and therefore I concluded that if I asked of God he would give it life, Jam. 5. 15. The Prayer of faith shall save the sick, and if he hath commited sins they shall be for∣given him. Math. 15. 22, 28. The wo∣man of Canaan's faith and Prayer availed with Christ for the Casting the Devil out of her daughter: Now God helping me to act faith, for my child upon the account of his covenant, and stiring me by his Spirit often to pray for my Child, I was thereby encourag∣ed to hope for its Salvation.

When my Child died, the same day the small Pox began to appear upon my Sister, I knew not what breaches God might be about to make in my family; but as I was hearing the word, the Ministers, treating on Gods in∣tention to glorifie himself by all afflictions that he laid upon his people, from that Scrip∣ture, Isa. 5. 15, 16. this word Satisfied me, that whatever judgments, God should bring upon me or my family, he would exalt and glorifie his own Name by them; hereup∣on I submitted and resigned up my self to God, to do with me and mine what he pleased.

Yet I was then under the sense of sin, which weakned my faith and made me fearful, I should not bear up chearfully if I should be visited, while under the sense of guilt. But I was much encouraged in meditation from Mic. 7. 8, 9. When I sit in darkness the Lord will be a light unto me. This faith they held, when their affliction was attended with the sense of sin, for it followeth. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned a∣gainst him. I was also much encouraged by viewing the promises that I had collected to comfort my self with, when I was in danger of contagious diseases. Especially those two▪ viz, Ps. 41. 12. As for me, thou settest me before thy face for ever, and this was when under an evil disease, v. 8, which was the fruit of his sin. ver. 4. and Ps. 38. 5, 7. My wounds stink and are corrupt—my loyns are filled with a loathsome disease, &c. though in this visitation he was afflicted with the sense of sin, and of Gods displeasure, v. 1, 2, 3, 4▪ and was deprived of the Comfortable Society of his relations, and friends, v. 11. yet he kept up his hope in God, v. 15. In a little time af∣ter I had the sense of guilt taken off, while I was studying my Sermon, to remove the fears of Death.