Comfort in death a funeral sermon preach'd upon the death of Mr. Timothy Cruso, late pastor of a church in London, who died Novemb. 26. 1697 / by Matthew Mead.

AND so I come to the Application of this Truth.

IS it so, that the Bodies of all the Saints shall at the Last Day be Quickened and Raised again by the Spirit of God which dwells in them?

THEN the First USE that I would make of it, shall be for Caution, and that is, That you would take heed of slighting this Truth, or any other Truth of the Gospel, be∣cause it may seem New or Strange. This was the Spirit of the Learned Men of Athens, when Paul Preached up Jesus and the Resurrection: What New Doctrine is this? say they, for thou bringest certain strange things to our Ears, Acts 17.19, 20.

Many are very apt to slight Things, though of the Greatest Weight, because they do not understand them, the Line of their Reason is too short to Fathom them.

Do you think to Ketch the Sea into your Nut-shell? Or to take a full Prospect of the Mysteries of God by the Dim-light of Pur-blind Reason? Alas! it can never be, for these are Things, the evidence whereof lies in Reve∣lation, and therefore we ought to believe them because God says them; and to take comfort in the Truth of them, tho we are not able to see the reason of them.

As we should not undervalue any Truth, because it is common; so we ought not to disown any Truth because it is to us new; but if the Scripture doth confirm it, it is our Duty to believe it. This is a Truth of great Concern; so great, that the not believing of it takes away all the comfort of the Grave. For what difference is there be∣tween the Death of a Saint and a Sinner? The one hath no more Priviledge in the Grave than the other; but only in this. Solomon says, The righteous hath hope in his death. This is a hope that springs from Christ's hope,* 1.1 for he had

hope in his Death, my flesh shall rest in hope* 1.2, shall dwell confidently, i.e. confident of its Union, confident of its Resurrection. This was the confident hope of Christ in his Death; and from hence it is that the righteous hath hope in his Death: It is the same hope Christ had. Now take away this Truth, and what hope hath the Righteous in his Death then? He hath hope after Death; but what hope hath he in Death? The Union of the Spirit with the Dust of a Believer gives hope in Death. Tho I walk through the Valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Who then would slight so useful, and so com∣fortable a Truth as this is, that doth so sweeten Death, and make the Grave so easie?

2. This Truth shews us the great disterence between the Resurrection of Man and Man, of Saint and Sinner; tho all shall rise, yet they shall not rise alike. Some shall have a better Resurrection than others shall; there is a Re∣surrection both of the Just and the Ʋnjust, Acts 24.15.* 1.3 There is a Resurrection that ends in Misery, and a Resurrection that runs into Glory. Daniel calls the one an awaking to everlasting life; and the other, a waking to shame and con∣tempt.* 1.4 And Christ calls the one, the Resurrection of Life; and the other,* 1.5 the Resurrection of Damnation. There∣fore there is a great difference between the one and the other: And it will appear in Four Things.

I. THE Resurrection of the Believer is Founded in the Covenant of Grace; And what is the Tenour of that Covenant? It is, That God will be our God for ever. Now this Covenant is not made with the Soul of a Be∣liever only, but with the Person, Soul and Body; and therefore from this Covenant our Lord proves the Resur∣rection against those Sadducees, Matth. 22.32. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. The Ar∣gument, like a Two-edged Sword, cuts both ways, it proves the Immortality of the Soul, in that God is said

to be the God of the living: And it proves the Resurre∣ction of the Body, in that God is said to be the God of Abraham. And therefore not the God of his Soul on∣ly, but of his Person, Soul and Body; therefore whole Abraham must live for ever, because of the everlasting Co∣venant of God. He is thy God as much when thou art dead in the Grave, as when thou art asleep in thy Bed, because of the Covenant which cannot be dissolved; and if he dies in Covenant, he shall rise in Covenant.

NOW it is not thus with Unbelievers; they arise too, but not by virtue of any New Covenant Interest. They lived out of this Covenant while they lived, and died out of this Covenant when they died; and they shall rise out of this. Covenant when they rise again. And that is a sad difference; as much as is between Heaven and Hell.

II. THE Body of the Saints rise by Virtue of their Union to Christ. He is the Head, and they the Mem∣bers. This Oneness is the great Foundation upon which the Saints Resurrection stands; if the Head be risen, the Members cannot always lie rotting in the Grave. As the Effect is bound up in the Cause, so is the Resurrec∣tion of the Believer in the Resurrection of Christ. Be∣cause I live,* 1.6 ye shall live also.

BUT the Wicked don't rise by virtue of Union to Christ, and therefore the Life and Power of his Resur∣rection doth not animate and quicken them. No, they rise by the Power of Christ, as Lord of the Dead, but not by virtue of Union to Christ. They rise by the Power of Christ as Judge, but not by the advantage of his Mediation.

III. THE Bodys of the Saints arise as a part of the Harvest belonging to Christ, as he was a First-Fruits in his Resurrection. So he is called, 1 Cor. 15.20. Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that sleep. But to whom is Christ a First-Fruits? to all? No, but only to Believers. Under the Law the

First-Fruits were offer'd to God for the sanctifying and blessing the whole Harvest; and as the First-Fruits are, so is all the rest, if the first-fruits be holy, the lump is holy.* 1.7 If the First-Fruits be safe, not a Shock, nor a Sheaf, nor an Ear, nay, not a Grain shall be lost. So our Lord Christ testifies, This is the Fathers will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose no∣thing, but should raise it up again at the last day.* 1.8 Belie∣vers arise then as a part of that Harvest of which Christ is a First-Fruits. But Sinners do not arise thus. Christ is no First-Fruits to them. Tho the First-Fruits bless the Corn, yet it don't bless the Tares, and Cockle, and Weeds that grow among the Corn. You know what their Sentence is, Matt. 13.30. Gather together the Tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them. And this is a sad Difference.

IV. BELIEVERS arise by a Power within them; the Wicked arise by a Power upon them. The Spirit of Christ dwells in every Believer as a Principle of Re∣surrection Power, and by virtue of this Power they rise again. But the Wicked rise not by virtue of the Spirit of Christ in them, but by the Power of Christ upon them, as he is the Lord of Death, and the Judge of the World.

O! HOW great is the difference between the Re∣surrection of Saints and Sinners! Believers shall rise perfect from all Sin. The Wicked shall rise loaded with all their Sins and Lusts. Believers will rise, like Pha∣raoh's Butler, to great Exaltation, and the Wicked, like the Baker, to be Sentenced to Execution. Believers rise to be gathered as Wheat into the Garner, the Wicked as Chaff for the unquenchable Fire.

3. Let us labour to make a due Improvement of this Truth, especially in Four Things.

I. Admire the condescending Love of the Spirit of God in this Work, for it is truly admirable. To take our Bodies for his Temple while they are living; to

dwell in them, and that personally, this is great conde∣scention: But that he should own them when dead, and continue his Union to our Flesh, when our own Soul hath forsaken it, and abide with it in Dust and Rotten∣ness. O, What amazing Love is this!

Don't let us slight this Truth therefore, but admire it. For it is the greatest condescention of the Spirit that we read of in all the Scriptures. O! How much doth it make for the Honour and Dignity of Believers, that he whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain, should vouchsafe to take up his Residence in our flesh. Had it been in our Souls only, that had been great condescention, but not like this; for the Soul is of a more excellent Na∣ture than the Flesh. But he dwells in our Flesh, and not only so long as we live, but in Death too, and holds his Union with it through the whole course of the Grave, from the first Moment of Dissolution, to the blessed Day of our Resurrection. O what condescention is this!

II. Improve this Truth by getting an Interest in Jesus Christ. Here is a double Motive to inforce it, in this and the foregoing Truth. The Interest both of Soul and Body is concerned in it. Here is a Motive from the Soul, it se∣cures the life of that, tho the Body dies, v. 10. If Christ be in you, the body dies, because of sin, but the Spirit lives be∣cause of Righteousness; And then here is a Motive from the Body too, tho it dies, yet it dies in Union to the Spi∣rit, who will quicken it again, He shall quicken your mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwells in you. Therefore, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.

III. Improve this Truth with respect to the Spirit of God, (1.) By begging and praying for the Spirit to dwell in you now as a Principle of Sanctification, or else he will neve 'dwell in you as a Principle of the Resurrection. If your Bodies be not his Temples now; if he doth not dwell in them, and purge them from filthiness, and pre∣pare them for Glory here, he'll never raise them at the last day, and then better never rise again.

I tell you, meerly to Rise from the Dead is no Priviledge, no, Judas, and Herod, and Pilate, shall rise again, and Cain that slew his Brother; and so shall Gardner, and bloody Bonner, all the Wicked that dyed in their Sins shall rise again; but alas! it will be a Dreadful Rising, Daniel says,* 1.9 some shall rise to shame and everlasting Contempt.* 1.10 And Christ speaks of a Resurrection to Damnation. And were it not better that the body should lye and Rot in the Dust for ever, then to rise from the Grave to be thrown into Hell, and made Fuel to feed the Fire that never goes out? yet this shall be the lot of all the Wicked; they rise by the Power of Christ, that they may be Damned by the Wrath of Christ.

I say therefore, to Rise again may be no Priviledge, but a Judgment and a Curse; the Priviledge lies in Rising again by the Spirits power quickening your dead bodies. This is a Pri∣viledge indeed, for here begins the Glory and Salvation of your bodies, therefore it is called a Resurrection to Life Ever∣lasting,* 1.11 and hereby your Blessedness comes to be made perfect, for though your Souls are Glorified with God at Death, yet they are not compleat in Glory till the Resurrection.

II. CARRY your selves Worthily to the Spirit of God, for he dwells in you, he dwells in the soul, he dwells in the body, and he dwells in both for ever. Therefore carry it be∣comingly to him.

• 1. BY following his Leadings, living and walking in the Spirit. If we believe in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit.* 1.12
• 2. BY fetching our Comforts from the upper Springs, we are too sensual in our Respects and Aims; we consult the ani∣mal Life more than is meet, while we fetch our Refreshment and Satisfaction from any of these Nether Springs. Are not Spiritual Pleasures more Noble and Sweet than Bodily? Sure they are, or else we must say, that Sensual Men have more Pleasure and Joy in their Life, then God hath in his.
• 3. BY Avoiding every Thing that may Grieve the Spirit.

WHEN you neglect Duty you Grieve the Spirit.

WHEN you don't keep your Gifts and Graces in Conti∣nual Exercise, you Grieve the Spirit.

WHEN you suffer Spiritual Slumber to seize upon you, you Grieve the Spirit.

WHEN you Indulge Fleshly Lusts, and yield your Members to be Instruments of Sin, you Grieve the Spirit; for you defile the Temple which the Holy Ghost hath taken up to dwell in, and will hold in a Union to himself when it lies in Dust and Rottenness, and will raise it to Glory at the last.

IV. LET us improve this Truth for Comfort, it hath in it that which is matter of Great Comfort.

• 1. AGAINST all present Sufferings & Afflictions. What can Sweeten the Bitterness of any Cup, and lighten heavy Bur∣thens, and make present Distresses easie, and support in all Ca∣lamities, like Faith in a Resurrection? There is a Resurrection State will Free us from All,* 1.13 and in the mean time, Our light Afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for us a far more Exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory.
• 2. IT is a great Comfort under the loss of the Faithful Mi∣nisters of Christ, & of Godly Relations & Friends, for they are not lost for ever; the Spirit of God hath the care of them, and he'll quicken them again, and therefore we may say with Mar∣tha when her Brother was dead,* 1.14 I know that he shall Rise again at the Resurrection. You shall see them again, and know them again, and enjoy them again, and that in a better manner than ever, And is not this Comfort?
• 3. IT is a great Comfort against our own Dissolution, the thing which Nature so much abhors; the Horrour of a Grave is very Affrighting and Dreadful to many. That this Flesh of mine, this tender Flesh, this delicate Flesh, that now the Wind must scarce blow on, that I spend so much precious time to feed, and pamper, and dress, and adorn, that this very Flesh must be turned to Stench and Corruption, and become loathsome to my Dearests Friends, and be Prostituted to Worms and Rottenness, this makes the very thoughts of Death a Disease.

NOW how would the Belief of this Truth relieve & Com∣fort against such Thoughts as these.* 1.15 If I Dye, I Dye in the Lord; Death is but a Sleep, and I Sleep in Jesus too, when my

my Body is laid in the Grave, it is laid into the arms of the Spirit; if it doth rot in the Dust, its Union to the Spirit can't rot. And therefore, farewel my Flesh; While I go into the immediate blessful Presence of God, go thou to Bed in the Dust, I commit thee into the Arms of the Spirit, and do wil∣lingly leave thee in that Union, till he sees good to raise thee, and bring us together again; For this he will do in the Last Day: And therefore, Go my Flesh, and rest and hope,* 1.16 and wait the appointed time till thy change comes, for then this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality,* 1.17 and Death shall be swallowed up of Life.

IN this Faith you may triumph over the Grave, you may resign your Bodies to the Earth chearfully, and to the Guardi∣anship of the Spirit of God there, for he who hath it in an in∣dissoluble Union, will preserve it to a glorious Resurrection, as he did the dead Body of Christ;* 1.18 for he did not leave it in the Grave, but shewed it the path of life.

HOW willing to die should this make every Believer, and to say with the Apostle, I desire to be dissolved. And yet Alas!* 1.19 what Cowards are we! How fearful are we of dying? You may as well be afraid of going to Bed. Let them be afraid to die, that never knew how to live; that are dead whilst they live, and that have no hope after this life. He that hears of the Glory of a Resurrection-State, and yet is afraid to die, either he hath but a little Faith, or he hath an ill Conscience.

WHAT was it that revived and supported Job's Spirit amidst all his Griefs, but this very thing? I know that my Re∣deemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth, and tho after my Skin Worms destroy this body,* 1.20 yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for my self. This was such a reviving to his Soul, that you never find him in his impati∣ent, despairing Fits after it.* 1.21

I beg of God therefore, that when-ever I die, I may die in this Faith, That my Soul shall immediately enter into the full frui∣tion of God, And, That my Body shall lie down in the Dust, in an everlasting Ʋnion to the Sprit of God, who will at last quicken-it, because he dwells in it. For if the Spirit of him that raised Je∣sus

from the dead, dwell in us, he that raised up Christ from the dead,* 1.22 shall also quicken our mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwell∣eth in us. Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words.

I KNOW you expect that I should say something of the Person Deceased, and not pass him by in silence. But I ac∣knowledge my self to be very unfit for this Province; it being a Work I rarely engage in; as having no Authority to take the Commission out of the hand of his own Works;* 1.23 They are to praise him in the Gates, and not I.

And yet it is not fit, When every mean Virtue in others hath its Funeral Trumpet, that so much Excelling Worth as was in him should be forgotten, and the Memory of it buried with him. Should I speak of his Carriage and Behaviour in the various Relations he stood in,

As a Son to his surviving Mother.

As a Husband to his Wife.

As a Father, while he had Children.

As a Master to Servants.

As a Friend to his Friend.

I might herein propound him as a Pattern to many, for he excelled most. And that is a Good Man indeed, who is good in all Relations.

BUT his Great and Chief Care was to fill up his Relation to God in Christ, and that not only as a Christian and a Belie∣ver, but as a Minister of Christ, and a Pastor to that Flock which the Holy Ghost had committed to his Charge. I must say, God had fitted him for this Work & Service above many of his Brethren, in betrusting him with such Gifts and Ta∣lents as but very few have received.

AND how Diligent and Faithful was he in laying them out, and so improving them in his Master's Service? How Zealous was he for Christ! How Laborious in his Work! how sound in the Faith! How great in Prayer! How apt to Teach! And how All was Crowned with Success, is Evident in the many Comfortable Seals which God gave to his Ministry a∣mong you.

AND tho' his Natural Parts were great, and made much greater by the Blessing of God upon his Unwearied Industry; yet that he neither Leaned upon them, nor Trusted to them, appeared by his constant Labour and Study for every Sermon.

THEY that were Discerning Christians, and did Wisely Ob∣serve the suitable Matter he prepared, the exact Method in which it was ordered, the taking Dress with which it was clothed; the Charming Manner in which it was uttered, could not but say, That he did not offer to God that which cost him nothing.

His great Delight was in his Work, for he knew how well it becomes a Disciple to be as his Lord, whose Delight was to do the Will of God. And therefore he was fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord. And this made him willing to spend,* 1.24 and to be spent, till by degrees he wasted and consumed himself.

I would have said no more of him, were it not to Obviate some False and Malicious Whispers; as if he Dyed in great Darkness, and under much Trouble of Conscience.

I was with him the day before he Dyed, and among other things, I asked him, How it was with him concerning his Spiritual State. He told me, That he had a Firm Confidence of Hope in the Infinite Righteousness of Jesus Christ.

I then asked him (and desired that he would be as Plain with me, as I desired to be Faithful to him) If there was any particular Thing that lay as a burden upon his Conscience.

HE replied, No, he blessed God, there was not. But that which Troubled him in general was, That in the Course of his Mi∣nistry he had not Honoured God as he ought to have done; nor had he been so Faithful to the Souls of Men as he should have been: But yet in this he could appeal to God, that whatever By-Ends might come in, and mingle themselves, which he Renounced, yet the Glory of God in the Conversion and Salvation of Souls was the great End he Aimed at in the whole Course of his Ministry. And Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he comes shall find so doing.

What I have else to say, is to you that were his Flock, over which the Holy Ghost made him Overseer, but are now as Sheep without a Shepherd.

1. Labour to be Truly Sensible of your LOSS, and let it be deeply laid to heart, for it is a Great, a very Great Loss; it is so to the whole Church of God, but it is so more parti∣cularly to you, especially if the Circumstances of it be consi∣dered, for the Lord hath taken him from you in the midst of his Days, and in the Prime of his Ministry. And God hath not done this without a Cause, and therefore you should eve∣ry one reflect upon himself, What have I done? Wherein have I offended God? Have not my Sins, my Barrenness, my Ʋnpro∣fitableness under his Ministry provoked God to take him away? as that good Woman said, when she heard that the Minister of the Place had broke his Leg, Oh! said she, My Sins have broken my Ministers Leg.

2. Remember, and keep in mind the Seasonable Counsel he gave you, not only from the Pulpit, but from the Press too, by which, though he it Dead, he yet Speaketh; Lay them up in your hearts, and Practice them in your Lives. Let me tell you, that God expects much Fruit from you after such a Sower, and such a Seeds-time as you have had. Tho' you shall never hear him Preach more, yet what he hath Preached you shall hear of again. Not one Sermon that ever he delive∣red from this Pulpit, but you must Account for it in the Day of Judgment, and it will be a Dreadful Account now that The Bellows are burnt, and the Lead is consumed of the Fire, if the Founder hath Melted in vain.* 1.25

AND therefore,

3. IMPROVE this Providence, this Sad and Severe Providence. If you have hitherto turned a Deaf-Ear to the Word of God, yet now Hear the Rod of God, what that speaks; for it speaks aloud. When so many Faithful Ministers, Emi∣nent Servants of Christ, are taken away in a few Months,

* 1.26 This is a Crying Voice, it crys to this City, it crys to this Place. And what doth it say?

IT says, That the Prophets don't Live for ever: That they have their Heavenly Treasure but in Earthen Vessels. That the Lamps are within the Pitchers, and when the Pitchers break, the Lamps go out, and therefore Walk while ye have the Light, lest Darkness come upon you.

IT says that, When the Means of Grace are Undervalued.

WHEN the Loud Calls of God are Slighted.

WHEN the Great Truths of the Gospel are Corruped

WHEN Deism in Contempt of the Son of God is Coun∣tenanced.

WHEN all Revealed Religion is Disowned, and there∣by the Gospel of Christ, and the Ordinances of Christ, and the Ministry of Christ rendered Vain and Useless, Then God will soon Remove them. This is what the Rod says.

NAY, It says, That unless we are Awakened and Refor∣med by these Judgments, God will yet bring greater. If there be not a speedy Repentance and Returning to God from all these Abominations, he who hath put out so many of our Lights, will put out all; and and not only put out the Lights, but remove the Candlesticks, nay,* 1.27 Write a Lo-ammi against us, and say, Ye are not my People, and will not be your God.

THE Lord Teach us therefore, now His Voice crys so loud to the City, to Hear the Rod, and who hath appoint∣ed it.

4. BE Earnest in Prayer to God to make up to you this Great LOSS; for He only can do it,* 1.28 Faithful Pastours are a peculiar Gift of the Lord Christ, and they are a Gift that comes under a Promise,* 1.29 I will give you Pastours according to mine own heart, which shall feed you with Knowledge and Ʋnder∣standing.

Go away and plead this Promise with God, Pray in Secret, in Private, in Publick, let each one make it his Duty, let the whole Church make it their Duty.

Set some time a-part to meet together and Pray, that he that hath in Judgment made this Breach, would in Mercy make it up, That He who hath took away Elijah to Heaven, would send an Elisha to succed him.

This is the Mercy and Blessing which you now Want, and none can Supply this Want but that God who hath the Resi∣due of the Spirit; Therefore cry to Him in the Words of Dy∣ing Moses, Numb. 27.16, 17. Let the Lord, the God of the Spirits of all Flesh, set a Man over the Congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and bring them in, that the Congregation of the Lord be not as Sheep which have no Shepherd. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pro. 14.22
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Psal. 16.9. & 23.4.
• * 1.3

  He. 11.35.
• * 1.4

  Dan. 12.2.
• * 1.5

  Joh. 5.29.
• * 1.6

  Joh. 14.19
• * 1.7

  Ro. 11.16.
• * 1.8

  Joh. 6.39.
• * 1.9

  Dan. 12.2.
• * 1.10

  John 5.29.
• * 1.11

  Dan. 12.2.
• * 1.12

  Gal. 6.25
• * 1.13

  2 Cor. 4.17.
• * 1.14

  Matt. 11.14.
• * 1.15

  Revel. 14.13. 1 Thes. 4.14.
• * 1.16

  Joh. 6.4••
• * 1.17

  1 Cor. 1 53.
• * 1.18

  Psal. 1 10.11.
• * 1.19

  Philip. 23.
• * 1.20

  Job 19.2 26, 27.
• * 1.21

  Pool Loc.
• * 1.22

  •• Thes. 4.18.
• * 1.23

  Grov. 31. ••lt.
• * 1.24

  Rom. 12 11.
• * 1.25

  ••er. 6.29.
• * 1.26

  Dr. An∣nesly, Mr. Oldfield, Mr. Vin∣cent, Mr. Mather, Mr. Cole, and now your Pa∣stour, and since him Mr. Day.
• * 1.27

  Hof. 1.9
• * 1.28

  Eph. 9.11
• * 1.29

  Jer. 3.1••