Christ, who was the heir of all, yet he lived poor and died poor, Mat. viii. 20. As he was born in another man's house, so he was buried in another man's tomb. When Christ died he made no will ; he had no crown lands; only his coat was left, and that the soldiers parted among them. If thy outward condition be conformable to his, there is no reason why thou shouldst be discouraged, for thou hast a rich and royal revenue that will shortly come into thy hand, and then thou shalt never know what poverty and penury means more : and for thy comfort, know, that though men may for thy poverty despise thee, yet the Lord doth highly prize thee. It was a good saying of Basil, Placet sibi Deus abstrusam in despecto corpore margavitam conspicatus.1 God pleaseth himself, beholding a hidden pearl in a despised and disrespected body. The truth is, Christians, if there were any real happiness in the things of this life, you should have them, but it is not in all the wealth and glory of this world to make up a happiness to you ; and therefore, as the enjoyment of them should not swell the rich, so the want of them should not trouble the poor. The angels and saints departed in heaven are happy, and yet they have neither silver nor gold; they are blessed and yet they have none of the gay things of this life, they have none of the gallantry and glory of this world. You have now your worst, your best days are to come; it will not be long before you shall have your portion in hand; therefore live sweetly and walk comfortably up and down this world. But,
(2.) Secondly, If the best things are reserved for believers till they come to heaven, then this may serve to comfort them against all outward abasements from the malignant world? What though you are counted as the scum, the dirt, the filth, the scraping, the offscouring of the world, by men that know not, that see not, that believe not what great and glorious things are reserved in heaven for you ? Yet at last you
1 Basil, Selu oratione 16.
2 No man is able to bear so mucb contempt as Cbriat bears daily, saith Luther.
1 Peter I. 4.] a string of pearls. 467
shall be advanced to that dignity, and be made partakers of that felicity and glory, which shall work amazement and astonishment in those that now despise you and vilify you. Those that now count you the troublers of their Israel, shall be troubled with a witness, when they shall see you with crowns upon your heads and the royal robes of glory upon your backs, and two-edged swords in your hands, to execute the vengeance written, Ps. cxlix. 4-9. Men that know their future greatness, are not troubled at reproaches ; they think themselves above reproaches ; they can divinely scorn scorns and contemn contempts. Ah, Christians ! how can you seriously consider of your future greatness, happiness, and glory, and not bear up sweetly and comfortably against all the contempt that you may meet with in this world ?
And thus I have done with this subject, which of one sermon is multiplied into several, by a good hand of heaven upon me. I shall follow this poor piece with my weak prayers, that it may be a mercy to hearers, readers, and writer.
Upon the Death of Mrs Mary Blake, the Wife of Mr Nicholas Blake, of London, Merchant.
Wheke virtue, seated in the heart, Shining forth in suiting acts of life, Oh ! what delight doth it impart To pious minds ! Experience rife
Of thee we have, as otherwise,
So in this godly woman's guise.
Her sweet endowments, pregnant wit, And holy graces from above, How made they her an object fit No less for wonder than for love !
Such precious fruit, so ripe, though green
In so few years, is seldom seen.
They who enjoyed the sight and sense Of her dear converse, to her close, Oh ! what contentment did from thence To them arise ! chiefly to those
Who nearest to her did relate,
In blood, in grace, or married state.
Parents' dear comfort, husband's glory, Kindred's honour, friendship's praise. To after-times a fair writ story For a pattern to their ways :
All these in her did meet, as one
That suited all and failed none.
Thus, while we her enjoyed, she was A precious cordial to us all ; Rut now, being taken hence, alas ! From joys unto laments we fall.
Thus sith her loss to all extends,
Sorrow doth seize on all her friends.
468 A STRING OF PEARLS. [1 PETER I. 4.
It doth indeed ; nor do we find That God Almighty doth dislike Good nature's working in this kind. When us in ours he thus doth strike. Their deathbeds, while in this sad trim, We may besprink, but not make swim.
Tears from our eyes like precious dew,
As from a lymbeck may drop out,
Not flow, as usually we view,
Like common water from a spout. Why should they ? sith to our relief We have cause no less of joy than grief?
This friend of ours for whom we weep
Is safely come unto the shore ;
She is not dead, but fall'n asleep,
And only gone to bed before. And we, when ended is our pain, Shall sleep with her, and wake again.
Mean season, as for her, we know Where, aud with whom, and how she dwells, In heaven with Christ, and myriads mo,; Whose presence all delight excels ;
And there she sings with high desire
Her hallelujahs in full choir.
All this she studied here, but never
Could fully tell what it should be,
Till God did soul from body sever,
And took it up these joys to see : There let her rest, until we meet Each other in that place to greet.