Part 1

Transcribed from the 1697 Walter Kettilby edition by David Price, email [email protected]. Many thanks to Kensington and Chelsea local studies for finding this in their archive and allowing it to be transcribed.

[Picture: Front page of pamphlet]

A Funeral Sermon

PREACH’D ON THE

Decease of the Right Honourable

The LADY _Elizabeth Cutts_,

Late Wife of the Right Honourable

The LORD _Cutts_,

On the 5th of _December_, 1697. at _Kensington_ Church.

* * * * *

By _William Wigan_, Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty, and Vicar of _Kensington_.

* * * * *

_LONDON_,

Printed for _Walter Kettilby_, at the _Bishop’s-_ _Head in_ S. _Paul_s Church-yard, 1697.

* * * * *

A Funeral Sermon

Preached on the Decease of the Right Honourable

The Lady _Elizabeth Cutts_.

* * * * *

Numb. xxiii. _v._ 10. latter part.

_Let me die the death of the Righteous_, _and let my latter end be like his_.

THIS Lord’s Day being one of the Sundays in _Advent_, wherein, by Order of the Church, we are put in mind of Christ’s second coming to Judgment: And it being also a day on which we are to partake of the Holy Sacrament, shewing forth Christ’s Death till He come again; it might not be unseasonable on it to meditate also on our latter ends, if so be we had not this special Mournful occasion from the Death of the Honourable, the Vertuous, and the Religious Lady _Cutts_.

There is not indeed before your Eyes one part of the outward doleful appearance usual at such Solemn Services: To the Monuments of her Lord’s Ancestors, to the place of their Burial, are removed the last earthly remains of that Excellent Person. But tho that spectacle of Mortality that object of True Sorrow, be not here present; the want of it, in order to create attention, or the want of Expressions suitable to her Worth, will (it is hoped) be supplied by your Remembrance, or rather View (as it were) of her so late presence in this Congregation: And by your knowledge of her Religious Deportment, her Exemplary Devotion, and Holy Life, truly imitable by any who prepare for a better World. And therefore, as none, who have the hope of Christians, but may wish they may pass their appointed Time in the same regular, modest, and pious Manner: So, tho Her days were few (in regard of what might have been expected, and was by all who knew Her, earnestly pray’d for) yet no Christians but may wish that they may _die the death of the Righteous_, and that their _latter end_, tho so sudden, _may be like Hers_.

Therefore, since these Discourses are intended for the Edification of the Living, and not for comfort, or any advantage to the Deceased, vouchsafe seriously to consider, how just an Occasion, and how lively an Admonition all here have, in this deplorable instance of the frailty of all Humane Satisfactions, to mind their own _latter end_, and to Pray, and provide that, at any warning, or without any, they may be ready to obey God’s summons, and depart hence.

For, Who is there in this Assembly, of what Condition, or Age soever, that, not Weeks since, might have expected survivance to this Honourable Person: To whom, as none but would have wisht, so none but would have been ready to promise, very many, and very happy days. But, (so vain and brittle are all our confidences!) Behold! How soon is all the expectation of Honourable Families defeated? How soon by a sudden stroke, is Health chang’d into Sickness, Sickness into Death, and the hopes and joy for an Heir, into a double Funeral? How little have availed the respects of Friends, the Honours and Titles of the Great, the Skill of the Learned, and the most unfeigned Prayers of the nearest, and most dear Relations? In the midst of all the contents of a High and Noble Condition, the near Promises of Posterity, the Vigour of Youth, with the Lustre of Beauty, and the esteem of all that honour’d such Vertue, Goodness and Piety. How without any warning by an immediate command, _dust is return’d to dust_, _and the Spirit return’d to God who gave it_. Since then we are all made of the same Clay, and know not how near our appointed change may be, may we all prepare to give an account for what we have done in the Flesh. What is it then that will afford us True Consolation, while we look on the frail estate of our Bodies, or the guilt of our Souls? What will support us when we behold the Pit which may soon gape for us? and when our selves shall stand on the brink of Eternity? What is it will enable us to endure the thoughts of having our Bones crumbl’d to dust, and of our Souls appearing before the Judgment Seat of the Great, the Living God?

We see how far all that is valued in this World, can go, The Wealth, the Pomp, the splendor of Attendance, the kind offices of Friends, and the Tears of dearest Relations, accompany what is Mortal but to the mouth of the Grave; and then, the Body once so cherisht, adorn’d, and honour’d is committed to the Earth, to silence and putrefaction. But yet, (blessed be God,) by whose just sentence all this comes to pass, there have been in other Ages, and are in this, very many Christians, who sensible of the weakness of their Bodies, and the stain of their Natures, of the terrors of Death, and the greater terrors of Judgment after Death; have yet not only with Patience waited for it; but thro Faith in the Blessed Jesus, have earnestly long’d for their dissolution.

Since then we cannot be so vain as to hope to live here for ever, since we know, that as Generations have past: so this Generation shall pass away: Of all them who have gone before us, whom would we chuse to be with? with whole Souls, of all such whom we have read of, or heard, or knew, would we venture to be in an Eternal State? We know that all the Sons of Men, or all that profess the Christian Faith, have not liv’d after the same manner: As their Faces, their Statures and Conditions have differ’d; so have their deeds been more unlike. There have been such as have been, and are yet, Children of disobedience, have liv’d without God in the World, as if they were sure to die as the Beasts: and there have been such, who perswaded that their Souls were Immortal, and that their Bodies shall be raised again, have serv’d and lov’d and prais’d God, and persever’d faithful unto Death.

Into these two sorts all the sons of Men are divided. Here they are not always to be distinguisht by us, by what they act, or by what they enjoy: But wondrous will the difference be of their future conditions. To all who are living, and hear the Word of Truth, God gives their choice which of these two sorts of Men they will follow, and hereafter be with them for ever. Which of these do we seriously think it wisdom to be in the number of? whose Lot would we covet? would we be with them, who have minded only temporal and sensual things: or would we, as this godly, deceased Person, mind above all things a future Eternal Concern: And wish each of us: _Let me die the death of the Righteous_, _and let my latter end be like his_.

These are the words of _Balaam_, a Prophet, hired by _Balak_ King of _Moab_, and brought up into the high places of _Baal_, that from thence he might curse the People of _Israel_. But God put different words into his mouth; and by him pronounceth a Blessing on them: He foresees and foretels, _v._ 9. That _Israel shall not dwell alone_, _nor be reckoned among the Nations_: That he shall increase in this World, as the Sand of the Sea, or the Stars in Heaven, _v._ 10. _Who can count the dust of_ Jacob, _and the number of the fourth part of_ Israel? But, However he is amazed at the prosperity of God’s chosen People; however he admires their multitudes, or their strength, beyond all that, he sees somewhat that is far more desireable; and wishes for himself a different Blessing, and such as is beyond all earthly advantages: He prays not so much for the Life, as the Death of a True _Israelite_: That is, not only the easie and timely departure in a good old Age, which God promised to the Sons of _Jacob_, if they kept his Commandments; but in a more mystical sence (as some even ancient _Jewish_ Interpreters explain it) _Let me be as the Righteous_, _and where they are after Life_: An Heir of Paradise, and with them who shall not see the face of Hell.

A very wise wish; if that had been enough to make _Balaam_ happy: But he loving the wages of Unrighteousness, forsook the right way, and fell by the Sword of the _Israelites_, _Numb._ 31. 8. And may we not infer from S. _Peter’s_ warning us, not to follow his way, That he died not the death of the Righteous.

The dumb beast rebuked the Prophet: And the Prophet, who possibly receiv’d no benefit from his inspired knowledge, may yet by this wish, instruct us: we may therefore inquire why we may desire _to die the death of the Righteous_, _and to have our latter end like his_.

For death it self is far from being desirable: And tho the rich will, with the Son of _Sirach_, cry out: _O death_, _how bitter is the remembrance of thee_, _to a man that liveth at ease_, _and rest in his possessions_; _to a man that hath nothing to vex him_? Yet even the Poor and the distressed, and the most Valiant cannot, without some trembling in secret, view it approaching; even Christ himself cryed out, _O my father_, _if it be possible_, _let this Cup pass form me_.

This dread is implanted in us (among other reasons) That we who groan under many Evils and Miseries, (which make Life often burdensom) may indure to live, till we are ordered to depart, by him, to whom alone belong the issues of Life and Death. Accordingly, He who made, hath past sentence on us. _It is appointed for all men to die_: No one hath been able to save himself, or those whom he love; tho he may have liv’d many years he shall see the Grave, and be gather’d to his Fathers. And yet tho this be most certainly known, together with the uncertainty of the Last Hour: yet few but are surpriz’d by it: and if it give long warning, it is fuller of Terror, the pains, and the ruins of the Body, with the decay of the Faculties of the Mind, together with the Agonies that are long strugled with, are more terrible than Death it self. And when the last moment is past, how amazing is the change? those Persons who were so much courted, or dreaded, how must they say to _Corruption_, _thou art my Father_, _and to the Worm_, _thou art my Sister and Mother_, _when they go down to the bars of the pit_, _when they rest together in the Grave_? For our days are appointed, beyond which we shall not go. The Light, and whatever is joyous in it, must be forsaken. Of all our Furniture we shall take with us but a Shrowd; in all the World only for a while we shall have a few feet of ground: Our Memory be forgotten, and our Place know us no more. The Righteous have no privilege or exemption. Original Sin hath tainted all Constitutions: To it the best of Men have added their own Offences to make them more Mortal: Their days are few, and evil: and they go to the house appointed for all the Living. For, _Abraham_ is dead, tho stiled the Righteous Man by God himself: and the Prophets where are they? They are long since fallen asleep: nay, the Son of God himself gave up the Ghost: _He humbled himself to death_, _even the death of the Cross_. All his Disciples have _drunk of the same Cup_: even the most beloved one, the Evangelist who lay in his bosom, before his Lords coming, saw Death. And they of whom the World was not worthy, were afflicted, tormented, slain with the Sword.

Since then the Righteous die as the Wicked: since their days are few, and often fewer: since they even now suffer for righteousness sake: and are, many of them, in the eye of the World, most miserable: since the same event happens _to him that sacrificeth_, _and to him that sacrificeth not_, why should we desire _to die the death of the Righteous_, _and have our latter end like his_?

The Reasons for this Wish are very weighty. For,

I. _The Righteous are best prepaid for death_:

and,

II. _For what is to follow after Death_.

For, However terrible the apprehensions of it may be to Man, as naturally as to other Creatures: Yet, He hath cause to be afraid of it for afarther reason. For He dieth not as the Beast. Death is not only a Law of Nature, but _it is the wages of sin_. And what we suffer is a part of that vengeance which is due to transgression, and therefore it is a passage to a Judgment that cannot be avoided, and to a Life that shall never end.

Of this Truth there are mighty presumptions: from the great consent of Nations (who have been far from communicating their first notions to each other) from the strength of Evidence, which in Courts of Justice relies on this Belief, from the appeals of oppress’d and injur’d Persons to a future Tribunal, from the stings and remorse of Conscience which they have felt and confest, who have been guilty of heinous Crimes, and been above common Justice: and from the exceeding unwillingness to die, which notorious sinners have exprest, tho in pain and misery to others intolerable. But since God hath in his holy Word revealed the cause of our Mortality: and that there is another Life, and a second Death, as sure as there is _a God that judgeth righteously_; so surely is the _death of the Righteous to be wisht_, _and a latter end like his_. We know, That _the grace of God which bringeth Salvation unto all men_, _hath appeared in the world teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts_, _we should live soberly_, _righteously_, _and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearance __of the great God_, _and our Saviour Jesus Christ_. Therefore, since all must appear before his Judgment Seat, to give an account for what they have done in the flesh: _What is the hope of the hypocrite_, and the unrighteous person, _tho he hath gained much_, _when God taketh away his Soul_? How is he prepared to meet his God? _The sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed_: Tho he may have sung rest often to his Soul, tho he may have eat, and drunk and been exceeding merry, yet when sadness, usual in old age, and the days _draw on in which he finds no pleasure_, what comfort can he have, if he look back on the time he hath past without God in the World, or if he look forward on an incomprehensible Eternity? All his delights are vanisht away: All for which he denyed God, in his deeds, hath forsaken him: and then to mind him of his former joys, is like to _Abraham’s_ telling the Rich Man in Hell, across the Gulf, _Son_, _Remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things_. This Admonition nearly resembles one of the Torments of the fallen Spirits, the memory of whose former Blessed Estate inflames their anguish in the place of endless Misery.

But if there be no comfort in looking back, there is none for such a person, when he shall hear the summons, _Thou fool_, _this night shall thy Soul be required of thee_? Then whose are all those things for which thou didst hazard thy Eternal Salvation? Then all that the impenitent Soul can wish for, is, That, (contrary to the misgivings of his Heart, and the Word of God) he may be blotted out of the Book of Life, and he may sink into an Abyss of Oblivion.

Who can express the astonishment of a Soul, which being on the confines of this and another World, hovering on its trembling lips, not able to stay, and not daring to depart, is yet sure to perish for ever, if there be a Register in Heaven, if there be a Resurrection from the Dead, if there be a Heaven and a Hell? Surely when all the fruits and profits of Sin are weigh’d against this extreme danger, no Christian will pray, Let me die the death of the wicked.

For, (blessed be God) tho he in the height of Pride, or during his eager pursuit of Power and Wealth, may never think of his latter end, or what is to follow it; yet when by God’s Judgments on the Earth, or by his immediate Visitation, he sees he must die, then without any Hypocrisie, he prays that _he may be numbed with the children of God_, _and that his lot may be among the Saints_. Some indeed of the Heathens incourag’d themselves in their wicked ways, by hearing that at their death a few worthy Men among them question’d Providence, and counted Vertue an empty name, because they were overcome when they fought for a reputed good Cause. What would the insultings of sensual Men over Religion be, if so many pious Persons on their death-beds renounc’d as heartily their good Works, and Faith in God, as there have been, and are wicked Christians, who abhor the remembrance of their past deeds of darkness? of their rioting and drunkenness, their chambering and wantonness, their blasphemies, and their enmity to the Cross of Christ? How would the credulity of godly Men be laugh’d at, if as weighty and unsuspected Witnesses, deposed at their last gasp against the Belief of the Life to come, and the Joys of Heaven; as there are undeniable Witnesses who depose against the Lusts of the Flesh, the Lusts of the Eye, and the Pride of Life? assuring us that this world’s Pomp, which so soon passeth away is not worth our utmost endeavours: and that they are truly Wise, who mind the One thing that is necessary, that which shall never be taken from them? How often do we hear ungodly Parents, and others, warn in their last Sicknesses, such as they love, to avoid the reigning sins of the Age, as the road way to Perdition; and exhort them to follow Holiness, as they hope ever to see God: For That will only bring Peace at the last? But they who are Righteous before God, when the time of their laying aside their Tabernacles draws near, they repent not of their past Repentance, nor adjure their Children to abstain from like Faith; neither do they counsel them, not to forego things present and temporal, for those that are not seen, for those that are Eternal: But on the contrary, abounding in hope full of Immortality, they know it is best for them to be dissolved, and to be with Christ: In those last moments (so full of horror to others) to the Righteous their Light increaseth: They have Peace which passeth all Understanding, and such Joys, as are foretasts of the bliss of Eternity. For, Who in that extremity can be animated with so well grounded a Courage, as he who is taught, That being called by the Grace of God to the Knowledge of his Will; being confirmed in it by the operations of the Spirit, he is united by Faith, and participation in his Holy Sacrament, to Christ our Head, and knows therefore, that through Death his Saviour _hath destroyed him who had the power of death_, _and deliver’d them_, _who through fear of death_, _were subject to bondage_?

What other reasonings of seriousest minds have ever suggested such consolation as the Scripture hath afforded to thousands, in all Ages, whose Love stronger than Death, relying on these precious Promises, hath made them more than Conquerors, through him that loved them? Are the Arguments drawn from Philosophy of equal force? or have they had a like blessed effect? Such as these; That what we suffer is the lot of all Mankind: That it is a Decree that must be obeyed; it is a debt, a tribute due to Nature; an Eternal Sleep. That therefore it is to no purpose to afflict our selves for what cannot be avoided: That since all things must come to an end, as the greatest Persons, so the noblest Cities, the best founded Empires, and even the World it self; therefore Men ought not to wonder that they are so frail, nor murmur because they are so Mortal? How weak are these Arguments in respect of such as we have from Revelation, which sheweth us, That tho for our sins, and our Forefathers, we are subject to Pain, Misery and dissolution, yet we are still under the Eye of God, who by sending his Son _to die for our sins_, _and rise again for our justification_, hath declared, That _to them who are in Christ Jesus_, _who walk not after the flesh_, _but after the spirit_, _there is no condemnation_, _and that nothing shall be able to separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus_.

What also are the duties wherein a Righteous Man is to exercise himself, and in doing of which he desires to end his days? Are they, that are enjoyned by our Holy Faith, such as he needs to be ashamed of, whoever believeth his Soul is Immortal, and that he must appear before a God infinitely Just, Holy and Almighty? Would any Rational Man wish that he may die, denying the Existence, or the Providence of a Supreme Being: Blaspheming his Name, or scoffing at his Worship, dishonouring his own Parents, or murdering his Brethren, defiling their Bed, or injuring their good Name, or their substance; or will any one blush, and have his Heart reproach him in his last Sickness, for not having walkt in Lasciviousness, Lusts, excess of Wine, Revellings, Banquetings and abominable Idolatries? Will his Conscience then upbraid him for not having devour’d the Fatherless, and Widows Houses, which then are to be left behind, to an ungrateful Heir or a stranger? or will he then Pray, May my Soul be with them who have despised the Preachers of Righteousness, and who are undone for ever, if there be a Judge of the Living and the Dead? or rather will any one who is Wise, when his Eyes are to be closed, when his Breath is departing, and he must never more see this Light; then be exceeding glad, if through God’s Grace, his past Life hath been a constant course of Honest dealings towards all Men, (possessing his Vessel in Sanctification, and his Portion with content) and of acts of Humanity and Charity to his Brethren, of Reverence to his Superiors, and unfeigned Devotion to his God? And will he not then Pray, That he may be found not having his own Righteousness which is of the Law, but that which is through Faith of Christ: Having the Saviour of the World to intercede for him, and to offer up the Merit of his infinitely satisfactory Death; and so give up the Ghost, crying, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly? Is not such a Christian best prepar’d to leave this World? Who would not with _Balaam_ wish this end? _Who would not die the death of the Righteous_?

II. _For the Righteous are best prepar’d for what is to follow after death_.