1. Partly because of the length of the race, and the distance be- tween us and the promised reward. Our race cannot be ended but after some degree of time ; long waiting is troublesome to the flesh, and therefore we have need of patience.
2, Because we meet with many impediments, troubles, and tempt- ations by the way ; there are s])iritual adversaries with whom we
HeB. XIL 1.] FAREWELL SERMON. 421
must fight ; for we go on, we not only run, but fight ; therefore * run with patience.'
3. Because the spectators will be ready to discourage us. We aro set forth not only as a spectacle to God and angels, but to the world ; and they will be 'ready to deride, scorn, and oppose us for our zeal to God, and our forwardness in the ways of God, to discourage us by bitter mockings, &c. ; therefore ' Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.'
A FUNERAL SERMON,
EDITORIAL NOTE.
The following sermon appears to have been preached by Dr Manton on occasion of the death of a Christian lady. It was reprinted in 1694, in the following circumstances : — Dr Manton's daughter was Mrs Terry. She died in 1689. Her husband afterwards married a daughter of Mr Thomas Burroughs. This second wife died in 1693. On occasion of her death a small volume was published, containing a brief account of the two ladies, this sermon, and a number of papers from the pen of the second Mrs Terry. It is from this volume that the sermon is now reprinted. We have not seen a copy of the original edition.
A FUNERAL SERMON.
And they that iveep as though tliey loept not. — 1 Cor. VII. 30.
I SHALL insist upon that clause at this time. In it I shall observe : —
1. A concession. He grants them some kind of sorrow and grief.
2. A correction. He moderateth it.
1. He grants them some kind of sorrow, in that he puts weeping for adversity, the affection for the condition, the effect for the cause, as allowing them a holy sensibleness of their misery : ' they that weep.'
2. Then he correcteth and moderateth this sorrow: 'as if they wept not ;' because he will not trust such a dangerous weapon in their own hands, and leave the Corinthians to the vileness and waywardness of their own affections : though I allow you to weep, yet it is as if you wept not.
The points are two : —
I. That God alloweth, yea, requireth of his people some sorrow and sensibleness of their condition.
II. That the heart must be so managed under this sorrow, that we may be said not to weep, rather than to weep, at the same time ; it must be with such moderation. Or thus : Christians should so sor- row, under the sense of their condition, as if they did not sorrow. I shall speak briefly of both these.
Doct. 1. God requireth and alloweth some sorrow : ' They that weep.'
I shall — (1.) Show you that God doth so ; (2.) Show you what this sorrow is.
1. To prove that so it is, I will not stand to instance places of scrip- ture in a point so familiar.
The reasons are : —
First, This is the end why we have affections, that they may be exercised in their season. God hath planted in every man affections suitable to ev^ry condition in which he placeth him. It is said, ' The stars in their order fought against Sisera ;' so affections. We have joy for prosperity, sorrow for adversity. What did God mean to give us such contrary affections, if not that they should be acted in their order and time ? that these affections should, like the spokes, turn with the wheel of Providence ? And therefore God complaineth much, as if he were frustrated of his end, when we do not answer Pro-
426 A FUNERAL SERMON. [1 CoR. VII. 30.
vidence by an exercise of those affections that are suitable to it ; as Jer. V. 3, ' I liave smitten them, and they have not <;rieved.' God wonder- eth they shoukl be so unnatural as not to jj;iieve ^vhen stricken by liim. ISo for mercy : Hosea xi. 3, ' I taught Ephraim to go, taking them by their arms ; but they knew not that I healed them :' that is, they were not sensible of it, did not take notice, and were not suitably affected with the love of God. They are ranked among the rest of men that are under their natural condition, who are aaTopyoi, without natural affection. To be flinted, horny-hearted, such as have no smart- ness, no quickness of affection, especially when the misery is of such a nature that near friends are taken from us, is very displeasing to God.
Secondly, Because that due exercise of sorrow under affliction is very serviceable and beneficial to the soul. (1.) To help spiritual duties. Anima moiquam melius agit, quam ex impetu insignis ali- cvjus affectus — the soul works best when it hath the advantage of an aliection. When the soul is made better by the bitterness of grief we feel, and the soul maketh the affection of sorrow to be veJiicuIum, a kind of chariot to carry on the work of repentance : Jer. ii. 19, ' Know and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.' When the iron is hot, if you strike in you may get good ; take the advantage of your hearts under your sorrows.