The holy walk and glorious translation of blessed Enoch. A sermon preached at the lecture in Boston, two days after the death of the Reverend and learned Cotton Mather, D.D. & F.R.S. Who departed this life, Febr. 13. 1728. aetat. 65. / By Benjamin Colman.

The Holy Walk AND Glorious Translation OF Blessed Enoch.

GENESIS V. 24.

And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

SINGULAR in the Old World was the Per|son and the Thing here spoken of; the holy Life and the happy End of blessed Enoch. He was the most remarkable and distinguished among the Patriarchs before the Flood; for his eminent Godliness & excelling Piety; for his short and fervent Life, and God's taking him to Heaven without seeing Death. He was a Man of God, a zealous Prophet of the Lord, and preach'd earnestly to the sinners in his day of the Coming of Christ to Judg|ment † 1.1. And God rewarded his excelling saith, sanctity & labours, with a distinguishing Exit, or departure hence.

MY Text speaks three things of him, That he walked with GOD, that he was not, that God took him. It is a short Record of three very great and copious things; of his heavenly life on earth and of his glorious removal to a bet|ter World.

THAT he was not means not that he died; but the contrary, that he died not. The Apostle to the Hebrews tells us how God took him, Heb. 11.5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God. Walking with God is the thing that pleases him. This is the fruit and evidence of the Faith of God's Elect. They that walk with God in this world, he will in a little while take to himself in a better life.

BUT Enochs walk with God was in such a singular manner, and was so singularly pleasing to Him, that God distinguished him from the rest of Mortals, and the Angels of God took him up in the body, as they did Elias afterward, and as they do the Souls of other Believers now, and carried him to the Presence and Pa|radise of God.

THIS must be resolved into the Good plea|sure of God, his wise and Sovereign will; and to be sure it was not for any Merit or desert in Enochs holy walking with God. Enoch de|serv'd to have died for his Sins, as well as any before or after him. He was born in sin as well as other Sons of Adam, and cou'd never say I am pure from sin till his glorious Change

pass'd on him, as he was caught up. Elias was a Man of like passions with others, and ask'd to die; yet he was translated as well as Enoch. It was not due to the Righteousness of either that they were taken without seeing Death. Before that God formed them in the belly, he design'd them their Translation.

Never the less God doubtless meant hereby to put eminent honour on singular Piety, and to excite others to labour after Eminence there|in. So God crowns his own Work, his own Gift. The Lord is well pleased in his own Righte|ousness in his Saints, and for his own Names sake magnifies and honours it. Singular Zeal, Diligence and Devotion in degenerate times shall receive a distinguishing Reward. As Elias was alone in the cause of God in a most corrupt time, so in Enochs day the flood of In|fidelity & Impiety begun to break in upon the old World.

THEN God saw it a fit time to give Mankind an Ocular Testimony of that Eternal Life which he has prepared for them that love and please him. Adam was but just dead, as it were, be|fore the Translation of Enoch; and some think that Adam himself was the first Instance of a natural death; (for as to Abel he died a violent one) and the World by reason of the rarity of Death and the long life of Mankind might grow into a strange degree of unbelief, profaness, sensuality & injustice before the death of Adam. Now I take Enochs translation to have been meant and order'd by God as a Testimony to the very Senses and common Understanding of

the Men of the Old World, First, that there is a blessed Immortality for pious and holy Persons in an unseen and eternal World; Secondly, that they shall live and be blessed there both in body and soul united; and consequently Thirdly, that there shall certainly be a Resur|rection of the Bodies of Saints to a blessed Life and glorious Immortality.

NOT that I think the Patriarchs before Enoch were without the Doctrine and Hope of the Resurrection of the body: I believe much the contrary, namely, that God revealed this to Adam, and that Enoch had walked in this Faith, Others before him, But the World, now a thousand year old in sin, began to languish un|der a miserable decay of Faith, and needed some remarkable Testimony from Heaven to the Doctrine of a future Life and the Resurrection of the Body.

AND as to Enoch's being taken so soon from his holy walk on earth to the heavenly World; for he lived not half the days of Adam, or his other gracious Progenitors, I might suggest,

THAT God hereby testified his delight in early Piety, diligence and proficiency; That he poured contempt upon long life on earth, in comparison of the Eternal Glory; That he let the other Patriarchs and holy Men see that eight or nine hundred years here was not the right, the privilege not reward of their emi|nent Piety; and that they should by no means depend on it or take up with it. In a word, Enochs translation was the more like to be taken notice of in the Age that then was, by

his being translated young. If he had liv'd his nine hundred years it is likely the thing had been less observed and talked of and laid to heart.

SOME ‖ 1.2 have observed that as Enoch was the seventh from Adam, so Adam and five more were subjected to natural death, but He the seventh was translated, to point out to us the Time when the blessed Resurrection of the Just might be expected: Soil. That as Death should reign over the race of Adam for six thou|sand years, so the seventh would restore all the spiritual seed of the second Adam to a state of glorious Immortality.

Mr. Henry observes, That Enoch liv'd just a Year of years, which as Men liv'd then was to go in the midst of his days; for the Patriarchs before the Flood did more than double that Age; and God took them so soon because the World was grown corrupt and was unworthy of him; or because he was so much above the World and weary of it, and desirous of a speedy removal out of it: Or because his Work was done, and done the sooner for his minding it so closely. God often takes them soonest whom he loves best, and the time they lose on earth is gained in heaven, to their unspeakable advantage.

I have held you too long it may be on the Person and Thing in the Text, the Patriarch Enoch and his glorious Translation. The plain Doctrinal Observation I shall now speak to is this,

DOCT. THAT God will undoubtedly take those to Himself in another and better World, that walk with Him in this World. As he did by Enoch who prophesied of the Coming of CHRIST in the great Day, so he will by all others that look and wait for his Appearing. In Enochs character and reward, all Men may learn their duty, and Saints their property & priviledge.

HE walked with God: He set God always be|fore him; kept his eye continually upon God, and consider'd himself always under the eye of God; observ'd by him and accountable to him. He was a follower and imitator of the blessed God, studied his glorious Nature & Perfecti|ons and his holy Will, and conform'd his heart and life to both, as far as he could attain. He made it his constant care and business to please God, for can two walk together except they are agreed? He was wholly devoted to the Service of God, and the Felicity he proposed to himself was Communion with God here and the Enjoyment of him for ever. He did not walk after the course of this world, with the men of that wicked age; No, but contrary to them; his fellowship was with the Sons of God, in whom was all his delight, and among whom he shone a burning light. He preach'd against the wickedness that then began to prevail over the earth with great zeal and courage, and warn'd them of the Day when God wou'd judge 'em for their ungodly deeds. Thus he walked with God, exercising himself unto Godliness, and making Religion the business and joy of

his life, God's glory his ruling End, and his own Salvation his great and chief care.

IN all this we must take him for our Exam|ple, to walk even as he walked; in the same Spirit and in the same Stops. — We must walk by Faith as Enoch did, by which the Just do live, and without which it is impossible to please God. So Abraham walked before God and was perfect, and so Moses walked as see|ing him that is Invisible, and having respect to the Recompence of Reward. —

BY Repentance we must return to God, and walk humbly with him, the wicked and impe|nitent are walking contrary to God, and he walks contrary to them. But how did the Son of God on earth seek out humble Penitents, walk and converse with them, and joy in them?—To walk as Christ walked is indeed to walk with God. He always did those things that pleased the Father, whose Soul was ever highly pleased in him. He has given us an Example that we should follow his steps. —We must walk with God in the daily and continual du|ties of Prayer and Praise, in all stated and oc|casional Exercises of religious Worship, solitary and social, private and publick. We must walk with God in our Closets, with our Fami|lies, and in God's house, in all his Ordi|nances, blameless. — To walk with God means, in all the parts and instances of a sober, righteous and godly Life; and constancy therein all our days. We walk with God in a sincere, universal and persevering Obedi|ence to the written Word and revealed Law of

God: And blessed are the undefiled in the way that walk in the Law of the Lord. We walk with God in a reverential Submission to him in all his Providences. Then God is with us and says to us, When thou passest thro c 1.3 the Waters I am with thee. It is good having God with us when our way is cloudy and dark, and in the night of afflictions, going before us, holding us up, leading us on, and keeping us safe. When the three Worthies were thrown into the flam|ing furnace the Son of God came down and walked there with them. — Indeed to walk with God is a Phrase that speaks Eminence in Religion; but it especially & strongly implies Progress, proficiency and perseverance in every thing that is holy just and good. To walk is not to take a step or too, nor is it for a day or a year, but for the whole life, all our days. We must walk and work while the day lasts; the light is given for this. The way is but short, a few steps up-hill, in a strait & narrow path, that leads to eternal life. We read of Walking in the Spirit, Gal. 5.25. That is to walk with God:

A Spiritual life; the most excellent and noble kind of life, under the continual vital Influence of the Holy Spirit?

This walking (says the Rev. Mr. How on that Text) doth more directly and formally denote a self-motion, a voluntary motion, an orderly mo|tion, a pleasurable motion, a continued and pro|gressive motion. This can only be in the light of the Spirit, and in his power. Hence in the progress in Spirituality Thus How.

AND now let us consider, What an honnara|ble thing this is, to walk with God! What an honour should we account it, if our earthly Prince would allow us to walk after him in his Garden? Only a few select and favourite Nobles have the honour done them. What the is Man, that God magnifies him in speak|ing of his walking with the King Eternal, Immor|tal, Invisible! Will God in very deed walk with us on earth? Behold Heaven, and the Heaven of heavens cannot contain him?

How peasant must this be, to walk with GOD? Such was Eden, the Garden of God, in man's first stare; and such is the Paradise of God above. Such are all the ways of Wis|dom and Holiness, ways of pleasantness & paths of peace.

How safe and secure must they be that walk with God? guarded by his Power, cover'd with his Wing, protected by his Providence, and desended by his Angels: As Jacob on his way when God's Hosts met him. O the Secu|rity and Serenity of this way! living & dying such are safe.

YEA everlastingly happy and blessed are all such in the World to come. They are going to God, to be with him, and blessed in him, for ever and ever: Going where Enoch is, and to be as be is: Not indeed as he went, without dying, but it is all one in the end, at the Re|surrection: Gohriel, and Enoch and Abraham and Moses & Elias there walk together. In the presence of CHRIST; and are one in Line, Glory and Blessedness.

BUT this leads me into the Proof of the Doctrine, That if we do walk with God here in this life, he will take as to himself for ever. As truly as he took Enoch, so will he all them that walk in Enoch's faith and piety. It will be shortly said of every one of them, He is not, for God took him. Took him! whither? why where he took Enoch, up to himself in heaven. As truly as Enoch is there, you shall be shortly there also if you walk with God.

To state this easy Truth it must be said,

1. NOT bodily and alive to heaven, without seeing and tasting death, as Enoch was taken. No such matter; and it matters not much. The Godly die as well as others. Two only of the Saints have been translated, one before the Flood, and one under the Law; and for Gospel days the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus may abundantly suffice, to strengthen and uphold the faith of Saints. That glorious Son of man became obe|dient to death for the sake of his Elect, to teach them to expect a dissolution, and how to pass comfortably as well as holily thro' it, hav|ing the sting of it taken away by his dying. He died not to purchase for them a Translation; no, but a Resurrection. Every Saint may take up Jobs words, and say to God with holy Sub|mission; Job. 30 23. For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, the house appointed for all the living. But altho' no Saint looks to be taken bodily to heaven, as Enoch was without seeing death, yet

2. GOD takes the Souls of them to himself at death, who have walked with him in this life. The Soul is the Person; if that be taken up to God it matters not tho' the body be laid for a time in the earth, Eccl. 12.7. The body returns to the earth as it was, but the spirit returns to God that gave it. The Spirits of the just made perfect are in the same Heaven, the same Para|dise, where Enoch and Elias are in their Spiri|tual bodies. Thither the Angels carried the Soul of the gracious beggar, Lazarus, when he died at the rich man's gate: And thither they carried the happy Spirit of the penitent thief, when it left the body upon a cross; And thither the holy Soul of Christ went for the three days that he left his body in the grave: To his Fa|ther he said, Intothy hand I commit my Spirit.— So God took Moses & Aaron from the Mount in the day they were uncloath'd and buried; and so Jesus took the Soul of Stephen while the bruised flesh fell under the cruel stones. De|vour men took up the precious remains & bu|ried them, with great lamentation.

GOD as truly takes the Soul by dying and at death, as he took Enoch without seeing death. If the Soul be but taken to the Regions of the Blessed all is well, wherever the body be dropt, in the sea, or on the dry land. God shews the Soul the path of life, and the flesh rests in hope. The soul is absent from the body to be present with the Lord: it departs and is with Christ: To whom else should it go? whither else would it be taken? When the Lord himself was going, he thus comfort|ed

his sorrowing Disciples, Joh. 14. init. I go to prepare a place for you and I will take you thither, that where I am there you may be also.

3. THE Godly that are found alive at the coming of Christ shall be changed as Enoch was, and raised Saints shall be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air. So we are ex|presly taught, and a special attention to the thing is required of us; 1 Cor. 15.51, &c. Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trump; for the trumpet shall sound & the dead shall be raised, and we shall be changed: For this Corruptible must put on Incor|ruption, and this Mortal must put on Immortality. This mystery relates to the Godly that shall be found alive at Christ's coming; They will not undergo the pains or change of death, a disso|lution of Soul and body; No, but the easie and happy Change of Enoch. Their bodies by the power of Christ will be render'd spiritual and incorruptible in a moment of time in or|der to their ascending up into the air, to meet their descending Lord. And because of the Certainty and Importance of this Truth it is repeated to us, 1 Thes. 4.15, 17. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Arch-angel and of the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, &c.

Compare here the state and privilege of re|deemed Saints in the Resurrection day: Some will have the singular privilege of not dying, not sleeping: The rest have all fallen asleep in Christ, and have undergone the change of death. Now one would be ready to think the advantage much on their side who do not die at all. But that it may not seem too much so, those that are to sleep in Jesus are informed and made to know, "That the Redeemers first care will be about his dead Saints". They that are found alive at the coming of Christ shall not prevent them that sleep; No, the dead in Christ shall rise first: Christ will raise his dead Servants before the great Change passes on them whom he shall find alive. So that if these last seem in one respect to have the advantage, the other will have it in ano|ther respect, that there may be at last an equa|lity; For the one being changed into spititual and glorious Bodies in the instant after that the Dead in Christ are so raised, they will both together be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. As blessed and joyful a moment to them all, as the Change and Translation of Enoch was to him! and as true and real a Translation.

4. WHEN the Judgment is over Christ will return to the Third Heaven, the eternal Seat of the Blessed, with all his Elect and Redeemed, glorified in soul and body, to walk with him in white for ever more. So we read in the place last cited, 1 Thes. 4.18. And so shall we be ever with the Lord. Now where will He be after the Judgment day? He will return to

his Throne at the right hand of God in the highest Heaven, and his Redeemed will be there with him about his Throne for ever and ever, 1 Cor. 15.23, 24. Every man in his own order; Christ the first-fruits, afterward they that are Christ's at his coming: Then cometh the End, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; having destroyed the last Enemy death. He will therefore carry up his redeemed with Him, and will present them unto God his Fa|ther, to be blessed by Him and in Him to all Eternity.

So he has prayed for them, and his Prayer is granted, Joh. 17.23. Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me. And this he has also promised to 'em. Joh. 12.26. If any man serve me let him follow me, and where I am there shall my servant be.

To this end our Lord both died and rose a|gain, even to purchase and to receive this power, to take up all Believers into Glory with him: Joh. 17.3. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life unto as many as thou hast given to him.

THIS Eternal blessedness is described by the Holy Ghost in those words, Rev. 2.4. And they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The walk is begun on earth in the life and ex|ercise of Grace, but it continues and is perfect|ed in the light of Life and Glory for ever. Holiness and Joy is that glorious White where|in the Saints walk with Christ in Heaven. They are conform'd to Him, both as to Soul

and Body, in purity and splendour; fashion'd according to his glorious Body and Soul. This white is the righteousness of the Saints; their priestly and kingly Attire before the Throne of God; for they are made Kings & Priests unto God. Such a garment of Glory was put upon Christ in the day of his Transfiguration, when his raiment became white and shining as the light, and such a Robe he will put upon his Saints at their Resurrection, and they shall walk with him therein for ever more. — In this white Enoch has been walking before the Throne of God from the Day wherein he was translated; and in the same will all Believers walk and shine to all Eternity.

BUT this for the Proof & Illustration of the Doctrine. That God will take all such to Himself in another and better World, that walk with him in this World.

USE.

I come now to apply what has been said, and I might go into a very copious Application, but I must limit and restrain my self.

WILL God indeed take those to himself in ano|ther and better World that walk with Him here?

1. THEN first, Let us all be exhorted and ex|cited to begin, and go on and persevere in a holy and blessed walk with God. Has there not eno' been said, tho' little on so glorious a Subject, to perswade and prevail on us to enter on a

walk with God? View only the blessed End of it, to be taken up by God unto himself for ever and ever. O unknown happiness and im|mense felicity! which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath enter'd into the heart of man to conceive of! Or if Paul after his rapture into the third heavens were to speak of to us, he could only say, that the things were nei|ther lawful nor possible to be told us.

How much does it concern us then to ask our selves, Whether we have indeed begun this walk with God and to him? Whither are we going? what are we doing? how do we live and act? and what will become of us a few days hence? Will God take us? take us on the wings of Angels and in their Arms to his own Presence and Glory? or will death drag us out of the body, and devils take us away to their abodes of darkness and of fire unquenchable!

O let it be a loud call to Sinners, to walk no more in the counsel of the ungodly, nor go any further astray from God; but to return speedily to God with sincere and deep repen|tance, and go in the way of good men and the blessed paths of the righteous; for the way of the ungodly shall perish, and their stops take hold of hall; They are going down to the pit, the pit of devils, and God will cast them from his face for ever, unless they repent. But if you have made a Covenant with death, and are at agreement with bell; if you would renounce God and Heaven, and are content not to be taken up to him when you go hence and are

here no more; then walk on, walk on in the ways of Sin and fy down in sorrow.

O how would the late Servant of Christ and of Souls (who now lies by the Wall (as we speak) and his Mouth is stop by Death from speaking to us any more, and whom we hop'd when he last spake in this place to have heard again the next Week) how would he if he now stood in my place, have play'd the Artillery of Heaven, upon careless and insensible Sinners; and set all the Terrors of God in array before them; and told them how far they are from the bles|sedness of Enoch in his end, being strangers to his walk with God? alienated from such a life, they must never be where he is; but on them his Prophesy is to take place for ever, Behold the Lord comes with ten thousand of his Saints to execuls Judgment on them for their un|godly deeds, Jude v.15.

O you that are walking in the road to hell, after the prince of the power of the air, and whose fellowship is with devils; hear your doom from the mouth of Christ in the last Day, Depart from Me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.— Go on now if you dare: God will take you away in his wrath.— So when Enoch had been long taken up, the Sinners whom he warn'd, but they would not believe or repent, sunk down together as a stone in the Flood. Even so at the end of the World when the Godly shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, the world of the ungodly (left below) will fly to the rocks and mountains to cover and hide them.—O awful

and amazing difference between Man and man at the coming of Christ! Luk. 17.34, 35. In that night two men shall be in one bed, the one shall be taken and the other left; two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken & the other left; two men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left.

BUT we are perswaded better things of many who are here present before God, even the Things that do accompany Salvation. Let those that (thro' Grace) are walking humbly with God, ask themselves how they go on in it? how far they are got in that blessed way? and let them ever keep their eye upon their End, the end of their faith, the Salvation of their Souls; which is nearer than when they first believed. —O let them humble and chide themselves that they have walked no more closely with God; that they have so often sadly wander'd and stray'd from the path of God's Command|ments; that they have made so many stops, yea so often lain down and slumber'd & slept: that they have been so slow & dull at times in this heavenly walk, so sorrowful and heavy in it, yea so often weary and faint; too uncertain and unsteady at the best. We need to stir up our selves, take hold of God and follow hard after him. Let your loins be girt and your lamps burn|ing, and be you as Men that wait for their Lord. — Be we followers of them who thro' Faith and Patience do inherit the Premises. And having so great a cloud of Witnesses before us, to lead us on, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth most easily beset us, and let us run with pa|tience

the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith, and our great Example.

BUT this for the first Use, which was to ex|hort, to perswade and excite all of us to begin, go on & persevere in a holy Walk with God. The other Use is,

2. OF Comfort, Support and great Consolation to all them that have begun and are going on in a holy Walk with God. The Chariots of God are before them, even those that took Enoch up, to carry them to the Mansions in their Fa|thers House. This should carry them above the fears of Death, and comfort them in the death of their godly Friends.

1. WALK on with God, and be carried above the fears of death. It is the Wisdom of mortal Man to fear and prepare for his dying hour; and it is the true Happiness of Man here in the body to be ready for death and live above the fear of it. A walk with God is the way to both these. And tho' many of those that walk humbly with him, are all their life time subject to bondage thro' fear of death, yet it is their weakness and infirmity; and the Angel of the Lord would say to such, as he once did to the Women, Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus that is risen from the dead.—Why was Enoch taken up, and why is Christ riser and ascended, but to rebuke such fears? You may face Death, while you are walking with God, and see in it the face of on Angel, coming to take you to God for ever. You may walk on with

God down into the valley of the shadow of Death, and say, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. While you walk with God you may say with Christ, I walk to day and to morrow, and on the third day I shall be perfected. — Do you think that God will leave him at the hour of death, that has been walking with him thro' this life? No, the Angel of God, whose thou art, and whom thou servest, will stand by thee in that hour of darkness; the Angels of Jesus will gather about thee and bear thee up in their Arms. — Or if thy Friend & Father should withdraw from thee for a moment, as he did from Christ, thy Faith has him still to look and cry to, My God, my God. — Allowance must be made for timerous Saints, yea the strongest Saints, both while they live and when they come to die. What a mighty Prince be|fore God was Hezekiah? and how did his Faith and prayer prevail? yet when he came to die he remember'd how he had walk'd with God and wept sore, Isai. 38.3. Well, let the holy Tears run, they will be soon wip'd away for ever. Some are thus taken up weeping to the pleasures for ever more. — Let the fearing Saint consider, that Dying after a holy walk with God is in a manner as good as Enoch's be|ing taken up. Where is the difference between the Chariots and horses of light that took up Elijah, and the Angels that carried the beggars Soul to the bosom of Abraham? Should God leave it to a Saints own choice, which way he would be taken, me thinks he would resign the matter back again into the pleasure and will

of God; "Lord, as thou pleasest, and mayst be most glorified, one way or the other: they come to one and the same End.

2. It should yield us the highest Consolation in the death of our Godly friends, that they have walked with God, and are not, for God has taken them. Had Enoch any mourners? think you: Or how could they weep for him? or for themselves? Surely only for themselves As when the Disciples saw Jesus ascend up into Heaven, they returned home with great joy. Or as the Sons of the Prophets that foresaw the Ascension of Elijah, spake of it with admiration and delight as to his part in it, and not with grief. Truly so there's abundant Comfort to affectionate Survivors in the way and in the end of every godly Person: They have walked with God and He has taken them to his Glory. Thus to live is Christ and to die is Gain. Whether to chuse we know not; let God do it. Enochs honour have all the Saints; praise ye the Lord. The Apostle rebukes immoderate sorrow over a Saints grave, 1 Thes. 4.13. I would not have you ignorant, Brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that ye sorrow not as those that have no hope: For if we believe that Jesus died, & rose again even so also them that sleep in Jesus God will bring with him.

WE must remember the holy walk of our de|parted Friends and comfort our selves. We must remember where they now are: They are gone from us; God has taken 'em; they are with Christ which is far better; and when Christ

shall appear they shall appear with him in glory,— What would any Believer have or wish more concerning those he loves, while they live or when they are dead? As our Lord said to his sorrowing Disciples, Joh. 14.28. If ye loved me ye would rejoyce, because I go to the Father.

Go not to the grave to weep there: Why should you seek the Living among the dead? Lift up your head and eyes, look up to Heaven & re|joyce: Thither the precious Soul is taken, and there it is for ever comforted.

WHEN Elijah was taken up, there were some of his Friends and Sons that would go seek his body; It may be (said they) the Spirit of the Lord has dropt it here or there: No, said Elisha; Indulge no such fear or care about One whom God hath taken. Yet they went and sought in vain. So you may mourn and afflict your selves needlesly about such as God has taken up by Death, after a holy life and walk; But you ought rather to realize their Translation, by a Faith which is the Substance of things hoped for, and the Evidence of things unseen.

THIS is one way of following our Godly Friends to Heaven; which should be our mournful care; that we may walk with God as they did, and that when we have finished our Course God may take us up to be with them; where they are beholding his Face for ever.

AND now all that are here present very well apprehend the Reason and Occasion of this Discourse. God has this Week taken up from us ONE whom he enabled by his Grace in a singular manner to walk with him. We mourn the Decease from us (not his Ascension to God) of the first Minister in the Town, the first in Age, in Gifts and in Grace; as all his Bre|thren very readily own. I might add (it may be without offence to any) the first in the whole Province and Provinces of New England, for uni|versal Literature; and extensive Services. Yea it may be among all the Fathers in these Chur|ches, from the beginning of the Country to this day, of whom many have done worthily and greatly; yet none of them amass'd together so vast a Treasure of Learning, and made so much use of it, to a variety of pious Intentions, as this our Rev. Brother and Father, Dr. COTTON MATHER.

HIS Name is like to live a great while among us in his printed Works; but yet these will not convey to Posterity, nor give to Strangers, a just Idea of the real Worth and great Learning of the Man. His Works will indeed inform all that read them of his great Knowledge, and singular Piety, his Zeal for God, and Holiness and Truth; and his desire of the Salvation of precious Souls; but it was Conversation and Acquaintance with him, in his familiar and occasional Discourses and private Communica|tions, that discovered the vast compass of his Knowledge and the Projections of his Piety;

more I have sometimes thought than all his Pulpit Exercises. Here he excell'd, here he shone; being exceeding communicative, and bringing out of his Treasury things new & old, without measure. Here it was seen how his Wit, and Fancy, his Invention, his Quickness of thought, and ready Apprehension were all consecrated to God, as well as his Heart Will and Affections; and out of his Abundance with|in his ups overflow'd, dropt as the honey-comb, f;ed all that came near him, and were as the choice silver, for richness and brightness, plea|sure and profit.

BUT here Love to Christ and his Servant commands me to draw a Veil over every Fail|ing: For who is without them? Not Ascend|ing Elijah Himself; who was a man of like Passions with his Brethren the Prophets; and we have his Mantle left us wherewith to cover the Defects and Infirmities of Others after their Translation in Spirit. These God remembers no more, and why should we? and He blots out none of their good Deeds, and no more should we.

I trust therefore we may go on freely to say, That my Text was happily Exemplified in Him, even in his Walk with God from his Youth up: In his Closet the witness of his Prayers and Vigils and Tears; in his hard and constant Studies and preparations for the Pulpit and for the Press: in his Family, where the daily Sacrifices of Praise and Prayer were fol|lowed

with much of God and Christ & Heaven, in an edifying and pleasant Conversation. His Visits to his Friends, and theirs to him, bear witness for him how much the Love of Christ was in his Heart and on his Tongue. Much more his more religious Visits to the Sick and Afflicted, to the Bereaved and to Mourners, to the Tempted and wounded in Spirit, or theirs to Him, may be suppos'd to bear witness for him. Not to omit his many charitable Visits to Prisoners under the Sentence of death, and his Labours with them, to save their Souls from the second Death.

IF we follow him to his public Labours, stated and occasional, on Lord's Days & Lectures; how servent was he and unwearied, in Prayer and Preaching, in Intercessions and Exhortations? Here he show'd a flaming Love to Christ and Souls, and a vehement zeal against Sin and for Truth and Holiness. Among the Ministers in all their Meetings, he was very much the Mouth of God to them as well as theirs to God. The whole Israel of God, his Cause and Interest in a wicked World, lay always much upon his heart, and so did the Protestant Succession, the Civil and Religious Liberties of Great Bri|tain, and those of his own Country. He truly lov'd his People, and had just notions of their true Interests. He was in the Gap for them on all Occasions, and wrestled in Prayer. He was a zealous Adorer and Assertor of the God-head of Christ; all his hope of Salvation standing on it, and the whole Mystery of Godliness.—

His Resignations to the Will of God were won|derful under great Trials; and it seem'd one of the chief Aspirations of his Soul to honour God by Sacrifices, and to have his own Will swallowed up entirely in the Will of God. This he press'd vehemently on others in an evil and dying World, and this he practic'd himself. One of the last Words I heard him speak was in Admiration of the Grace of God in some of his near Relatives, in their exemplary Patience, Resignation and Devotion, under a great and sore Bereavement: He lift up his feeble Hand, and rais'd his sunk Voice, and earnestly said with a faultring Tongue, "O they do gloriously, they do gloriously, to honour God as they do with such a sacrificing Spirit". He sought not this World, but was very liberal of his lit|tle, in uses of Piety and Charity. His heart was too good and big for earthly things, and too spiritual not to be set on higher and better; namely a more enduring Substance, a Treasure in Heaven that faileth not.

NOTHING was more familiar and frequent with him than Death and Eternity. These he was ever speaking of with pleasure and desire, as one always ready and willing to be offer'd. And agreably he entertain'd all his Sicknesses with Constancy and Serenity, Tranquility and Peace; not shaken in mind nor afraid to die. He told me on the last Lord's-Day in the Even|ing, with what a singular Satisfaction he had received the notice of Deaths approach that Morning, hoping to have been with Christ that Sacrament-day.

I shall only add, That according to the best Judgment I am able to make from mary years Observation and Conversation with him, he has seem'd to enjoy a fixed Peace and full Assu|rance of Faith, as to his Interest in Christ and a better Life; And this continu'd with him to his last breath.

I leave it to Others to relate the holy Breath|ings, and abundant gracious Words that flow'd from Him to every one that came about him, all the time of his Sickness and in his last Day and Hours; which whenever we see or hear they will be (it may be) one of the brightest Accounts we yet ever had of Grace and Peace, and living Comforts in dying Moments.

THUS he walked with God, and now he is not, as my Text says of Enoch. That is to say, He is no longer with us. Your eyes that have so often seen him in this Desk shall see him here no more, and this Place that has known him, and shown so much of him, shall know him no more. No more shall he be heard again in this Lecture, where he has ran so long and shining a Course: No more will he here weep over perishing Souls in Prayer; no more scatter the thunders & lightnings of God in flaming Ser|mons; no more like another Enoch warn the ungodly of the Lord's coming and judgment: No more is he to weary and spend himself, as we have often seen him wearied and spent for your Souls; "never weary of his work, but often wearied in it.

WHEN he stood last in this Place he was in weakness made strong; feeble in body but fer|vent in Spirit; he spar'd not himself nor us; profuse of his own life for the lives of our Souls.

WE have no reason to doubt but God has taken him to Himself, where he long'd to be; taken him to the Tree of Life, his last desire. He would not be bere again, unless for your Souls; And so Angels come down gladly, and for ought I know so may a Seperate Soul too.

HE is reaping (we believe) a glorious Harvest of all that he here sow'd: He sowed bounti|fully and we believe reaps bountifully; appear|ing to have had an abundant Entrance into the Joy of his Lord.

AND if so, then He is as much taken up as Elias was, tho' not in the body. He freely went at God's Call, was not taken away by force, was willing to go, went placid and serene; E|noch himself could scarce do more. And to me it seems a greater thing to die gladly and ascend only in Spirit, than to step joyfully, without dying, into Enochs Car. For who could do other than willingly mount the Chariot of light if he saw it come down for him with his bodily eyes? but to meet gastly Death, when he comes to take us out of the Body, and wil|lingly go with him, leaving the body behind us to dust and worms; is something greater. To be able to walk down chearfully to a Grave,

is a greater thing than to go up joyfully in the Body. — The Saints that shall never die may seem to come short of some of their Brethren in this; that while they are only caught up in|to the Air to their Lord, their Brethren have pass'd thro' Death to go to him. Verily holy dying is a great and blessed thing.

THE bereaved Family and Flock I leave to the Directions and Comforts, which their sur|viving Pastor † 1.4 may bring them by the help of Grace. May He be strong in the Lord and in the power of his Might. May his bow abide in strength, and his Arms be made strong by the Hands of the mighty God of Jacob: From thence is the Shepherd, the stone of Israel. May the God of Israel say to him, as he did to Joshua after the death of Moses: My Servant is dead, now therefore Arise Thou.

HIS Brethren in the Ministry here are be|reaved and weak with him. God has taken their Father as well as his, from their heads this day. He was a Pastor in the Town when the Eldest of the present Pastors were but Children, and long before most of them were born. They are weak indeed when he that is now speaking to them is the first in years among them, in all respects else the least. What a matter of humiliation this, both to me and them! — But thanks be to God

my Younger Brethren have by his Grace, most of them come old into the Ministry; Young Men and strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. The Deceased saw this & was glad: He joy'd in them, and in his prospects thro' Grace from them; and could with comfort leave the Churches in such hands, and them in the hands of Christ.

THE Call to us, both Ministers and Peo|ple, is to walk more with God, looking for the Grace and Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life. The Deaths of your Ministers should be the loudest Ser|mons to you; and the death of this Mi|nister the most affecting Lecture you ever heard in this place. God make it so to us all; that for the few days to come, if indeed a few more may yet remain to us, we may more than ever pray and preach and hear and communicate as dying Persons.

AND this word comes nearest to my self, under manifest decays, and next in order of time to the Deceased, and therefore ought to expect next to die: Pray for me, and for my Brethren your dear Pastors, that we may so walk with God as the De|ceased has done before us, and that in God's time we may be taken as he has been; that after some like Usefulness we also may depart in the like blessed Peace, by the

free Grace of God. — Our God is able to supply all our Needs, according to his riches in Glory by Jesus Christ. Now unto God and our Father be Glory, for Ever. Amen.

Notes

• † 1.1

  See Jude v. 14, 15.
• ‖ 1.2

  The Rev. Mr. Boys of Dublin.
• c 1.3

  The Office & Work of the Holy Spirit from p. 237.
• † 1.4

  The Rev. Mr. Ges.