VOL. XV. 2 o
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SERMON X*
THE
LABOURING SAINT'S DISMISSION TO REST.
A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FUNERAL
OF
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY IRETON,
LORD DEPUTY OF IRELAND.
* This sermon was preached in the abbey church at Westminster, Feb. 6, 1651.
THE HONOURABLE AND MY VERY WORTHY FRIEND
COLONEL HENRY CROMWELL.
Sir, The ensuing sermon was preached upon as sad an oc- casion, as on any particular account hath been given to this nation in this our generation. It is now pub- lished, as at the desire of very many who love the savour of that perfume, which is diffused with the memory of the noble person peculiarly mentioned therein ; so also upon the requests of such others, as enables me justly to entitle the doing of it obedience. Being come abroad, it was in my thoughts to have directed it im- mediately in the first place to her, who of any indi- vidual person was most nearly concerned in him. But having observed how near she hath been to be swal- lowed up of sorrow, and what slow progress he, who took care to seal up instruction to her soul by all dis- pensations, hath given her hitherto towards a conquest thereof; I was not willing to offer directly a new oc- casion unto the multitude of her perplexed thoughts about this thing. No doubt, her loss being as great as it' could be, upon the account of one subject to the law of mortality, as many grains of grief and sorrow are to be allowed her in the balance of the sanctuary, as God doth permit to be laid out and dispended about any of the sons of men. He who is able to make sweet the bitterest waters, and to t>:ive a oracious issue to the most grievous trial, will certainly, in due time, eminently bring forth that good upon her spirit, which
2 (i 2
CCCclii THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
he is causing all these things to work together for. In the mean time, sir, these lines are to you : your near rela- tion to that rare example of righteousness, faith, holiness, zeal, courage, self-denial, love to his country, wisdom, and industry, mentioned in the ensuing sermon ; the mutual tender affection between you, whilst he was living ; your presence with him in his last trial and conflict ; the deserved regard you bear to his worth and memory; your design of looking into, and follow- ing after his steps and purpose in the work of God in his generation, as such an accomplished pattern as few ages have produced the like ; with many other reasons of the like nature, did easily induce me hereunto. That which is here printed is but the notes I first took, not having had leisure since to give them a serious pe- rusal, and upon that account must beg a candid inter- pretation, unto any thing that may appear not so well digested therein, as might be expected. I have not any thing to express concerning yourself, but only my desire that your heart may be fixed to the Lord God of your fathers, and that in the midst of all your tempta- tions and oppositions, wherewith your pilgrimage will be attended, you may be carried on and established in your inward subjection unto, and outward contending for, the kingdom of the dearly beloved of our souls, not fainting, or waxing weary, until you receive your dis- mission to rest, for your lot in the end of the days.
Sir, Your most humble and affectionate servant,
J. Owen.
Oxon, Ch. Ch. April 2.
THE LABOURING SAINt's, &C. 453
SERMON X.
Hut go thou thy way till the end he, for thou shalt rest, and stand in the lot at the end of the days. — Dan. xii. 13.
The words of my text having no dependance (as to their sense and meaning, but only as to the occasion of them) on the verses foregoing; I shall not at all look backward into the chapter, but fall immediately upon them, that I be not hindered from my principal intendment : being unwilling to detain you long, though willing to speak a word from the Lord to such a congregation gathered together by such an eminent act of the providence of God.
The words are the Lord's dismission given to a most emi- nent servant, from a most eminent employment, wherein these four things are observable :
First, The dismission itself in the first words : * Go thou thy ways.'
Secondly, The term allotted for his continuance under that dismission : ' Until the end be.'
Thirdly, His state and condition under that dismission : ' For thou shalt rest.'
Fourthly, The utmost issue of all this dispensation, both as to his foregoing labour, his dismission, and rest following : * Stand in thy lot at the end of the days.'
First, In the first, I shall consider two things.
1. The person dismissed; *Thou.'
2. The dismission itself; 'Go thou thy ways.'
1. The person dismissed is Daniel, the writer of this pro- phecy, who received all the great visions of God mentioned therein, and I desire to observe concerning him as to our purpose in hand, two things.
(1.) His qualifications ; (2.) His employment.
(1 .) For the first, I shall only name some of them that were most eminent in him, and they are three.