Doctrine 6.

*That it is an unvaluable blessing when husband and wife, Father and child, and childs child live and die in the true faith. These all died in faith. Not only some of them, but all. Abraham the husband, and Sarah his wife. Abraham the Father, and Isaac his Son, and Jacob his Grand-child. All these died in the faith. Behold a true noble blood, a holy kindred, a blessed generation. Worthy is Abra∣ham of all honour who was the roote of such a noble and blessed brood. And worthy are Isaac and Jacob of so good a Father, who stained not their blood by forsaking their faith, but held it as they received it, and lived and died in the true faith handed to them by their Fa∣ther.

Behold here you that are great in place and birth; behold, I say, wherein true Nobility and Gentry doth con∣sist; and what is the fountaine of all true honour. It is to live and die in the true faith. In this faith Abraham died: Page  31 and Isaac his son and heire did not only inherit his fathers estate, but his fathers Religion also. And Jacob the Grand-child follows both his father and grand-father, and dieth in the same faith with them. Behold here Jacob a true Gentleman in blood. His holinesse and Re∣ligion is in the third descent. Let great men learn to adorne their Gentility and Nobility with these ensignes of true honour.

It is a rare blessing when there is a succession of godlinesse in a family; when godlinesse is entailed upon children, and childrens children. When a man can say to God as Moses: O God thou art my God, and my Fathers God, and*my Grand-Fathers God. There are many families in which there is a succession of drunkards, swearers, and adulterers, &c. in which sin and iniquity is entailed, of whom it may be said, my father was an adulterer, a drun∣kard, a scoffer at Religion, so was my grand-father and so am I. This is a sad pedegree. O labour for a holy suc∣cession. Let Parents write a faire copy to their children, let them live and dye in the true faith, and let children learne to follow such a copy. Let husbands be patternes and examples of godlinesse to their wives; and let wives follow their good examples. Let wives imitate Sarah, Parents Abraham, and children Isaac and Jacob. Let us and ours so live, that when we come to die, it may be said of us, not that we died in our sins, but as it is in the text that we died in the faith. These all died in faith.

I have done with the text. But there is another text of which I must of necessity speak something. And that is concerning the sad occasion of our meeting here this day. Give me leave to speak to you in the language of *David concerning Abner: Know you not that there is a Prince, a great man fallen this day in Israel? and in the Page  32 language of the children of Seth concerning Abraham,*A Lord and a mighty Prince is this day to be buried: One who had so much worth and excellency in him, that who∣soever will undertake to speak of him needs not feare (as Nazianzen saith of his sister Gorgonia) least he should spea• too much, but rather least he should speak too little, and *by coming so farre beneath his due deserts, should dispraise him, even whil'st he is praising of him.

For without all controversie he was a person who had not only noble and honourable titles, but was truly noble and honourable. It is an observable speech of Gregory the great, A King may cause a man to be called a Nobleman, but he cannot make a man truly noble. He may command such a man to be called an Earle, or a Lord; But it is the noble minde which makes the man truly noble. Such a Noble-man was the Earle of Warwick. He was not only a Noble-man by Parchment, but he had a noble mind, a large heart, an intrinsecal worth and excellency in him. His Nobility was inameled with humility. He was great in place, but humble in carriage, as all who knew him will testifie.

There was in him a blessed constellation, and consociation of Nobility, humilitie, pietie, and charitie. He was not only a great man, but that which is above all, he was (I hope) a godly and religious man.

I should be loth to give flattering titles to any man whether alive or dead; for in so doing my Maker would soon*take me away as Job saith. It was well spoken by that *learned Minister who preached at the funeral of the Earle of Essex (a kinsman of this Earles) That funeral encomi∣astickes of the dead do often prove confections of poyson to thePage  33living; for many whose lives speak nothing for them, will draw the example into consequence, and be thereby led into hope, that they may presse a hackny Funeral Sermon to carry them to heaven. And St. Austin if I be not much mistaken, doth somewhere bitterly enveigh against those Ministers who were overlavish in the commendation of the dead, telling us, That there are many who are*commended where they are not, and in the mean time torment∣ed with fire unquenchable where they are. Sure I am that a learned Bishop doth quote a sharpe censure (though in ano∣ther case) of a Popish Casuist concerning Noblemens Chaplianes, saying, that few confessors of great men went to heaven, because by their base flattery they became guilty of soul-murder, and for want of telling them of their faults, destroyed both their own, and their Patrons souls. And therefore God forbid that I should say any thing this day for the hurt and disadvantage of the living, whil'st I am speaking in the praise and commendation of the dead. And yet notwithstanding all this I should be loth to offend in the contrary extreme. For I am not so strait∣laced *or superstitious, as when any mans life hath been eminently remarkable and exemplary, lest I should be guilty of Idolatry in adoring him, to commit sacriledge in robbing both the dead of his just praise, and the living of an useful patterne for their imitation. And besides, (as the forementioned author saith) Though common*graves have no inscription, yet Marble Tombes are not with∣out some Epitaph. Heroical examples should not go with a common passe, but with a Trumpet. And therefore I doubt not, but I may safely say without the lest suspicion of flattery or falshood concerning this honourable person,

That I have just ground in charity to beleeve, that this Noble Earle was not only under the awe of Religion, but Page  34 that he had the substance, and power of it in his heart. And therefore his death is the more to be lamented by us, be∣cause that goodnesse and greatnesse do so seldome center in one and the same person. In the God of heaven they both meet. He is optimus, maximus; infinite in goodness, as well as in greatnesse. But in the Gods upon earth they rarely meet: They are many of them pessimi maximi, greater in vices than in riches. It was a bold speech of Buchanan to King James, who sent a messenger to him when he was dying to visite him, and to know how he did; Buchanan desired the messenger to tell the King, *That he was going to a place where few Kings come. Indeed the Scripture saith, Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But yet some are, though not many. Such a one was Job, the greatest, and the best man in the East. Such were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Such was Joseph of Arimathea. And such a one was (I hope) Robert Earle of Warwick: And therefore the losse of him is the greater. For great men are like looking glasses according to which all the country dresse themselves, and if they be good they do a world of good. *When Crispus the chiefe Ruler of the Synagogue beleeved, many of the Corinthians hearing of it beleeved also. When Schechem and Hamor were circumcised they quickly per∣swaded their people to be circumcised.

Let me tell you, That we have lost this day one of the best natur'd Noble-men in England, & one who had not only a good nature, but (as I verily beleeve) gracious prin∣ciples, and religious inclinations, and dispositions.

He was religious,

1. In his own person: For he was very exact in closet duties. I have been often with him at private prayer in his closet in which he was very zealous and devout. And he hath left behinde him reall manifestations of his personalPage  35piety, by many religious collections written with his own hand for the good of his soul.

2. In reference to his deare and neare relations, both by giving them a good example, and good instructions. And my prayer to God is; that though the instructor be de∣ceased, yet the instructions may live, and never die.

3. In his family-government. For he was very con∣stant in his morning and evening publick service of God, and herein a rare patterne to the Gentry of the Country: He would not suffer any sports or pastimes to divert him from his dayly publique devotions. It is a great honour to God, and credit to Religion when there is a forme and outside (though but a forme and outside) of godliness in great families. This is like a candle set upon a hill to illighten all inferlour families. It is reported of Theodosius the Emperour, that by his religious carriage in his family, he made all his Court a nursery of religion. And it is said of the house of George Prince of Anhalt, that for the good *orders therein observed it was a Church, an Academy, and a Court.

4. In his conscientious observation of the Lords day, and in causing the Sermons preached to be repeated in his presence to the whole family. In his frequent attendance when he was at London upon weekly Lectures, and by his example and encouragement, drawing many persons of quality to our congregations. And (which is very re∣markable) in the Moneth in which he died, he went con∣stantly to the Morning-exercise at St. Martins in the fields, thereby (as by a secret instinct) fitting and preparing him∣selfe for his death, which hapned towards the end of it.

5. In his extraordinary care and diligence in preparing himselfe for the receiving of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. Herein he was very exact in setting apart Page  36 a sufficient space of time for selfe-examination. And besides this, give me leave (without offence) to relate a passage which in my opinion conduceth much to his honour, and may through Gods blessing become an exam∣ple to his relations, and to the Noble-men and Gentlemen of the Nation. When he first came to the Sacrament at Aldermanbury, he freely presented himselfe to the Minister and Elders to be examined: and although he gave ample satisfaction, yet being at that time indisposed in body by reason of a sudden distemper, he afterwards wrote me a letter in which he signified, that if we were not satisfied, he would rather come againe, than come without giving full satisfaction; here was humility in a high degree; here is a patterne to be admired, and imitated.

6. In his faithfulness to the trust committed to him as in other things, so more especially in disposing of his Church-livings. Herein he was very eminent, and very exempla∣ry, being alwayes exactly careful to preferre able, godly, and painful Ministers to them. And I doubt not, but there are thousands blessing God in heaven for the good they have got by the Ministers put in by this Noble Earle. The truth is, he was a great Patron and Mecaenas to the pious and religious Ministry. We Ministers may say of him as they did of the Centurion, he loved our Nation; we have great cause to weep over his herse, and to bemoane his death: For we have this day lost one of the greatest friends that the godly and painful Ministers had in Eng∣land.

7. I might adde (if need were) as a further, and a most signal testimony of his godlinesse, his singular care, that not only while he was living, but that after his death also his Church-livings might be rightly disposed, but I for∣beare.

8. There are three things yet behind which I must not omit.

Page  37 1. He was bountiful and Prince-like in his hospitality and house-keeping.

2. He was very merciful and charitable to the poor mem∣bers of Jesus Christ. I have often and often been his Almoner to distribute considerable summes of money to necessitous and pious Christians.

3. He was a liberal and most loving Master to his hous∣hold-servants, and hath given competent pensions to all his old servants during life.

9. In a word: He was one who did not make use of religion for his own private gaine and interest; he had no politick designe in professing godlinesse: his whole aime both by sea and land, both in Parliament and in private was, to be serviceable to Church and State, and in this parti∣cular he was a true Nathaneel in whom there was no guile: he was a countenancer of religion in the worst times,: he ap∣peared for God and for his cause and servants, when it was both dangerous and disgraceful in the eyes of the leading men of the Nation; he received Mr. Burroughs (that eminent Minister of Christ) into his family, and protected him for a long while, till at last he was forced to fly out of the land. He was a very special friend unto that man of God of famous memory Dr. Sibbs. To summe up all in a few lines, As it is said of Socrates (as I remember) that he was so good a man that all that knew him loved him; and if any man did not love him, it was because they did not know him. So it may be said of the Earle of Warwick: All who knew him loved him, and if any man did not love him, it was because he did not know him.

As for the manner of his death, it was somewhat sudden: but you must know, that a child of God never dies suddenly, though he die never so suddenly; though he may dye suddenly in regard of time, yet he never dyes suddenly in regard of preparation. A wicked man dies suddenlyPage  38 though he dyes never so lingringly, because he dyes un∣preparedly; but he that dyes with grace in his heart, cannot be said to die suddenly though he die never so suddenly. And yet this sad stroak of death was not altogether unexpect∣ed. For when the funeral of his Grand-child was delayed longer than he desired or expected, he was heard to say, That if they tarried a little longer, they should carry him down also to he buried with him. My hope is, That he dyed as these Noble Patriarkes in the text, he died in the faith in which he lived. He dyed professing the true doctrine of faith, and (I hope) having his heart adorned with the grace of faith.

And let me assure you; that as he lived much desired, so he now dyeth much lamented, especially by men pro∣fessing godlinesse. I have heard a memorable story of an ancient and religious Gentleman Mr. Knightly of North∣amptonshire (well known to some here) who coming to Leeze, and beholding the brave Parkes, and goodly gardens, and other such-like accommodations there to be enjoyed, was heard to say to this our Earle, My Lord, you had need be very good, it is ill going to hell from such a Paradise: it will be a doleful and dismal exchange. Or as others relate it; My Lord, you had need make sure of heaven, or else when you dye you will be a great loser. A rare speech worthy to be laid to heart by all Noble persons. Now I verily per∣swade my selfe, that this our dear and honourable Christi∣an brother is no loser, but a great gainer by his death. He is gone (I hope) from earth to heaven, from an earthly Paradise to a heavenly Pallace, from a house made with hands to a house made without hands eternal in the heavens.

It is true (and it must be confessed least I should be ac∣counted a flatterer) he had his failings, and his many in∣firmities; which I trust Jesus Christ hath covered with the roabe of his righteousnesse. My prayer to God is, That Page  39 all his infirmities may be buried in the grave of oblivion, and that all his virtues and graces may supervive, and live in his son and heire; that as he inherits the estate, so he may also inherit the vertues of his Father. And that religion, piety, and godlinesse may be entailed upon the Noble family of the Riches, from one generation to another till the com∣ing of the Lord Jesus Christ unto judgement; That while they live they may be professors of the true faith, and indued with the heart-purifying grace of faith: And when they come to dye, they may make that gallant, noble, and blessed closure and conclusion of their dayes which these godly Patriarkes in my text did, of whom it is said, These all dyed in faith.