The waves did but lift Noah's ark nearer to heaven ; and the higher the waters rose, the nearer the ark was lifted up to heaven : sometimes such an operation afflictions have upon Noahs, upon preachers of righteousness ; and if they have not had the same operation upon the author of the ensuing discourse, I am much mistaken. Afflictions to some are like the prick at the nightin- gale's breast, that awakes her, and puts her upon her sweet and delightful notes ; and whether they have not had such an operation upon the worthy author, I will leave the reader to judge. The more precious odours and the purest spices are beaten and bruised, the sweeter scent and savour they send abroad. Had not God bruised to death one of the choicest and sweetest flowers in the author's garden, he had not sent abroad this sweet and savoury sermon.
We try metal by knocking it ; if it sound well, then we like it well. That is a tried Christian, a thorough Christian indeed, that gives a pleasant sound when under the knocking hand of God. If thou layest thine ear, thy heart, close to the following tract, thou wilt hear such a sound as will be sweeter to thee than the honey or the honey-comb.
lxx APPENDIX TO MEMOIR.
That Christian is worth a world who, under the sorest and sharpest afflictions, is like the stone in Thracia, that neither burnetii in the fire nor sinketh in the water ; whose silence and patience is invincible and impregnable. None are such an honour to God, such a glory to the gospel, such a shame to Satan, and such a wonder to the world as those ; who can lay their hands upon their mouths when God's rod lays heavy upon their backs. That this is every Christian's duty and glory is fully and sweetly evinced in the following dis- course.
Happy are we when God's corrections are our instructions, his lashes our lessons, his scourges our schoolmasters, his chastisements our advertisements. And to note this, the Hebrews and Greeks both express chastening and teach- ing by one and the same word, (">D10, <zaihiia), [margin, Isa. xxxvi. 9 ; Ps. xciv. 12 ; Prov. iii. 12, 13 ; chap. vi. 23], because the latter is the true end of the former, according to that in the proverb, Smart makes wit, and vexa- tion gives understanding. That this happiness the reader may attain to, is the thing endeavoured by the author.
Reader, thou hast much wrapped up in a little ; it is more to be admired than to have Homer's Iliads compressed in a nutshell ; it is a mourning sermon, and mourning should be plain. The reverend author knew right well, that it was better to present truth in her native plainness than to hang her ears with counterfeit pearls. He knew that the king of Nineveh was a king as well in his sackcloth, as in his royal robes. The author is known to be a master-workman, and one that could easily shoot his arrows over his hearers' heads [margin, See his precious works in print, and then judge], but he had rather shoot them into his hearers' hearts. He dares not affect sublime notions, obscure expressions, which are but mysterious nothings. He dares not do as many, who make plain truths difficult, and easy truths hard ; and so darken counsel by words without knowledge, Job xxxviii. 2. If thou will but taste and try, thou wilt find this little treatise to be a heavenly honey-hive to thy soul.
If thou shalt say, Oh ! it is sweet, it is seasonable, it is suitable to my con- dition, and to God's dispensations abroad in the world ; but why have we no more of this sweet wine, no more of this water of life, no more of these clusters of Canaan ? I must tell thee, that the honoured author buried his dear and hopeful daughter on the Friday, and preached this sermon on the Sabbath day following ; and therefore there has been more cause to bless the Lord, and admire the Lord for his goodness, assistance, and presence with the author, that has enabled him to bring forth a truth of so great weight and concernment to us, even then, when he was under such sore and sharp rebukes of God. It is not every one's happiness to have such a presence of God with them, when the rod of God is heavy upon them.
Reader, the point insisted on is a point of special use to Christians ; espe- cially to such as are under the afflicting hand of God, whether in spirituals or temporals ; and if storms should fall upon us from abroad or at home, it will be found (in the use of it) more worth than gold. I have read of the stone Garamantides, that had drops of gold in it : many a golden drop wilt thou find in the following lines. As Moses laid up the manna in the golden pot, and as Alexander kept Homer's Iliad in a cabinet embroidered with gold, so do thou lay up this sermon in the golden cabinet of thy heart. If troubles at present are not upon thee, yet thou must remember that thou art born to them, as the sparks fly upwards [margin, Job v. 7; John xvi. ult. 14; Acts xxi. 22]. God had but one Son without sin, he hath no son without sorrow; he had but one without corruption, he bath none without correction ; he scourges every son whom he receives ; he can quickly turn thy summer day into wrinter night, and then this sermon may be to thee a suitable and invaluable mercy. I shall only take leave to hint a few things to the author, my reverend brother, and
APPENDIX TO MEMOIR. lxxi
to my dear sister, his virtuous yoke-fellow, who are above all others concerned in this sharp and sweet dispensation, and so conclude.
First, That well-grounded hope, confidence, and assurance, that you and others had of the buddings and blossomings of grace in her, in her tender age, and of her being now at rest in the bosom of the Father, should not only quiet and silence you, but also joy and rejoice you [margin, Heb. xi. 4]. Why may you not think that you hear her, though dead, yet speaking thus unto you ?
Where God has stamp'd his image upon a mite,
'Tis meet that God should have his right :
After a few years past, a wearied hreath
I have exchanged for a happy death.
Short was my life, the longer is my rest ;
God takes them soonest whom he loveth best.
She that is born to-day, and dies to-morrow,
Loses some hours of joy, but years of sorrow ;
Other diseases often come to grieve us,
Death strikes but once, and that stroke relieves us :
Therefore (my parents dear), take heed of weeping cross,
And mind my happiness more than your own great loss.
This is all I'll say to make the reckoning even,
Your dearest mercy is not too good for heaven.
Hasten to me, where now I am possess'd
With joys eternal, in Christ my only rest.