The Last Sermon and Say Of that most Pious and Reverend Divine, Mr. John Oakes, Minister of the Gospel in the City of London, who was struck with Death in his Pulpit, in the Afternoon after he had preached this Sermon; to the admiration of all his Hearers. A Subject of great Account, worthy to be Written in Letters of Gold. Being a Thanksgiving Sermon, for God's great Goodness in delivering this Nation from Popery, Slavery, and Destruction, by that Eminent Instrument of God's Glory, King William King of England. Discoursed of from these words, Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the Spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your Names are written in Heaven. Luk. 10. 20. And having preached upon the first part of the Text in the Forenoon, of God's great deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery, etc. and coming to treat more fully in the Afternoon, What it is to have our Names written in Heaven, God took him to himself, and gave him a full Enjoyment thereof. With a brief sum of his Funeral Sermon preached the next Sunday after, by the Reverend Divine Mr. Williams. To which is added two Godly prayers. Printed for J. Conyers in Holbourn. 1689. M R. Oakes His Last Sermon, etc. Luk. 10. 20. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather Rejoice because your Names are written in Heaven. THis Text read unto you, may at the first view seem to be like Rain in the Harvest, or Snow in Summer, very unseasonable, and may seem to contradict the loud Calls of the present Providence, which God's Providence at this day seems to call on us for, when we are called to Rejoice, for that signal Mercy and unparallelled Deliverance which God hath wrought for us and this poor Nation at this time when God hath in so short a time, and by such unlooked for means and by such an unexpected way so suddenly altered the Scene of our Affairs; when God hath broken the Snare the Wicked had prepared for us, and suffered them to be taken by the works of their own hands, and found out a way for the accomplishing of such a Deliurance as this is, which you will every day be more and more convinced of. Surely the Lord calls for People at this day to rejoice, and yet my Text seems to put a check on this rejoicing. Rejoice not in this, that the Lord hath thus delivered us; Why? The various Circumstances as attends this marvellous Deliverance calls for Joy a●d Singing of Praises unto the Lord: Psal. 126. 1, 2. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. So suddenly, and by such unexpected means, God turned about the Captivity of England, and turned away from us that bondage we were like to be in; we were like them that dream. And what were the Consequences of Ziors great Deliverance? Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the Heather, the Lord hath done great things for them. The very wicked Atheists may take notice of this, and may say, the Lord is God, and he hath done great things for us, and shall not we say so? the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad, and have reason to be so This is that God calls for, But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yea, let them exceedingly rejoice: s●ng unto God, sing praises to his Name, Psal. 68 3, 4 And this is that which the generality of Protestants are disposed for; now you cannot but expect every one you meet withal will have a smile in his or her face, except it be in the face of a Papist, who have cause for sorrow: But whence is it God's People have cause to rejoice? It is a necessary duty to rejoice; praise is comely for the Saints; when God delivers Zion, we should rejoice and be glad; yet says my Text, Rejoice not. Now how shall we reconcile these seeming contradictions, to put our hearts into a right frame? we must look into the Context, and see how these words are brought in, and what is the drift of them. In the foregoing Chapter, you find our Saviour giveth commission unto his Apostles, to go forth and work Miracles, and to preach the Gospel; and to encourage them, he promises to protect them and to give them success in it: And in this Chapter ●e sends forth other seventy, and they go forth, and afterwards they return to their Master, to give him an account of their success, ay in the 17th. verse, And the seventy returned again with joy, and said, Lord, even the Devils are subject unto us through thy name. They returned to their Master with joy. By the way let me tell you, We are Ambassadors sent forth by our Lord and Master Christ, and in a little time we know not how soon we must return unto our Master, and give an account unto our Lord and Master, of our success, what it hath been. And Sirs, by the Call of God, I have been among you nigh Ten years; What success shall I give account of unto my Master, as to you? what account shall I give of you to my Lord and Master at my return? shall my return be with joy? or shall I say to my Lord and Master, Lord, I went and stretched forth my hand to a gainsaying people, they would not be prevailed with, they would not hear, they would not hearken: This would be a sad account as to you. Well, but these Apostles return with joy, and had good success, and amongst the rest, they tell their Master, that the very Devils were subject unto them: wherever Gospel-Ministers are sent forth, the Devil raises all the force he can; if possible, he will raise all the power of Hell, that if he can help it, one Sinner shall not be gained to Christ. The Devils are subject unto us. This was the power the Devils than had; it was to torment the members of the body, but now it is very rare the Devil's power is lengthened out so far; if he had power to torment our bodies, he would make sad havoc of men's bodies, but blessed be God, all the power of Devils is limited, they are chained up now, they cannot go no further than God permits them: But then, it was a common trade for Devils to possess men's bodies, and to to: meant them. The Proverb is, he will play at any Game; Now for wise ends God permitted the Devil to have such encursions upon men's bodies, so he had upon Job's body, he filled it with Diseases, noisome Diseases, to try Job, but his aim is to possess the heart mostly, there he doth the greatest mischief: but now God lets not lose the Devil on men's bodies; O dreadful and sad would it be if God should let go the Devil to possess people's bodies, he then would make them mad; and it would be a sad judgement of God, but sadder it is for the Devil to possess the heart, as he doth of thousands, even of all who are in an unregenerate estate, the devils dwells in their hearts, there he rules and reigns, yet people, through their folly, are not sensible of it. I do not quote this Text as an instance to quench or put a stop unto those joys or rejoices in God, on the account of that most astonishing Deliverance which God lately hath begun to work upon us; no, but to rectify our joys and rejoices, We are not to rest in Rejoicing in our Deliverance from our dangers, without we are now delivered from dangers within; but alas, Sirs, let me tell you, for us to be preserved from our dangers without, and not to be preserved from our dangers within, it all signifies nothing, all our temporal deliverances will signify nothing. From this prohibition I note, Doct. That the best of God's people are liable unto Irregularity in their Actings of their Affections. These Disciples were so, our Saviour checks them here for it, and so are we too much prone to be irregular in the acting of our Affections: The Affections are the wings of the Soul, by which they do carry a kind of vehemency and readiness to the Objects set before them, as they are distinct, Lode, Delight, joy, on one hand; Hatred, Fear, Sorrow on the other hand; These God has planted in the Understanding enlightened, and in the Will rectified; so that these considered aright, are of great use to us. These were rectified but when Man became depraved in his Affections, and risen up in Rebellion against God himself: These Affections became rustic and rude, and in rebellion against God, until God brought the faculties of the Soul into due order again. Man in his imperfection, those Affections, as unsanctified, doth a World of mischief, but when rightly considered, they are of great use whilst unfanctified, they are set on wrong Objects; as for instance: Man's Love being corrupted and depraved, his Love is liable to be set on such things as he should rather loathe than desire: Christ is lovely, yea, altogether lovely; yet such is the corruption of man's Nature, that see not any form or comeliness in Christ. Those Objects that are set before us and offered to us, as most desirable and delightful in themselves. the corruption of man's Nature is such, that that which it should love it loathes; it calls Evil Good, and Good Evil: Thus is man's Nature, till it is renewed, and when it is renewed, we have not such Affections for Christ as we should have. Alas, that disease of man's Affections is not fully cured. So, for worldly desires, they are in many so immoderate, their Affections for the World are so immoderate, that they set their hearts on the world, they make a God of it; many will not have Idols in their Houses, oh! but they will set up an Idol in their Hearts, they do not think of spiritual Idolatry, Covetousness is Idolatry, which is set up in their Hearts Solomon directs us in the day of prosperity to be joyful, etc. Eccl. 7. 14. 'Tis true, the very dawning of the day of our temporal prosperity, is great ground for our Rejoicing, if our joy be managed aright: In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider, God also hath set the one against the other, to the end that man should and nothing after him; but there is a Generation who are not concerned either the one way or the other for adversity or prosperity. God in a way of judgement hath threatened to ruin us of this Nation, and that deservedly enough, God knows, but now God in a stupendious way hath turned the Scene of his Providence, and smiled on this Nation, He now smiles on England, that hath not deserved it, God knoweth. But whether God smiles or frowns, it is all one with some, they are not concerned, they care not so they may thrive in their Erterprises, they care not how it goeth with the Church of God. But this is a sinful life indeed to live thus. Now, Sirs, how is it with you? you are not it may be concerned at this great turn of Providence in Gods so wonderful Delivering us, notwithstanding our provocations of him. How is it with you? Did you take notice what God did this last week past, we were in fear we should have been destroyed, and our Enemy's design The Prince of Orange's Arrival at St. Jame's. was, that we should be cut off, but God sent a Deliverer to this Nation, though unexpected. Notwithstanding what God now hath done for England, for London just sinking, and for the Protestant Interest, that was even gasping for life, bleeding, yet some do not Rejoice in God for these temporal Deliverances, and on the account of these temporal Immunities, which are again restored, and in respect of those Cockatrice-Eggs, which shall all be removed. Certainly now the Heathen will say there is a God; I must tell you, there hath been a great deal of Atheism amongst us, but now sure the Atheist will own there is a God, for none but God could bring about such a miraculous work. Use. If these outward Deliverances be sanctified, then have we cause to rejoice. These are great Blessings and Deliverances; but let me tell you, if they be not sanctified, they will be great Plagues to us, therefore rejoice in them that God would sanctify them to you, as to lengthen out the Gospel-Liberty, that Sinners who are strangers to God, may be brought home to God, that God may smile upon us, that God may pardon our Sins; if this be, than you may joy and rejoice, and that abundantly, excess of joy is forbid, but herein we cannot be excess in our rejoicing. If your names are written in heaven, you have cause to rejoice in God that you are freed from those snares and temptations that might hinder you in the joy of your Salvation; and if you are as yet strangers unto God, you have cause to rejoice in God for this temporal Deliverance for the hopes you have of God's continuing the Gospel, for the hopes you have of the means that you may be brought home to God, otherwise you are not to meddle with this joy; for it is true, you are delivered from Papists and their bloody designs, but let me tell you, if you are not brought home to God, you are yet brought into Slavery, the slavery of the Devil, and are dropping into Hell. Let all rejoice primarily, not in this merely, as it is an outward means of deliverance, but as it may be a means of Repentance, and of bringing the Sinner home unto God, as this outward means may be sanctified, otherwise I know not what cause you have to rejoice. Let us labour to get our Hearts into such a frame as to joy and rejoice on account of this temporal deliverance. Now I shall show you in four considerations the foundation of your joy, on the account of this our begun deliverance. 1. Consider what Evils this Providence hath delivered us from; it hath delivered this Nation from Popery and Slavery; if God had not delivered us from Popery and Slavery, (both which coming in upon us like a Corent) if God had not prevented it, we could not have escaped. 1. God hath hereby delivered us from Popery. Oh what a dreadful dangerous thing is Popery! It is that Religion which doth teach men to keep no Faith; it is a Religion which teacheth men to worship Stocks and Stones, and that on penalties too: Oh what a dreadful damning thing is Popery! that they may be Converts, they will cut your throats, so that it is not your Estates will serve them, but they would have your Lives too. 2. God hath hereby delivered us from Slavery too, even from serving an Idol: If God had not delivered us thus; then what would have become of us and our Children? Can you be content to have your Children brought up to fall down to a Crucifix, and to worship a Breaden God, to the ruin of their own souls; certainly, if any persons were ever under such a Character as in 2 Thess. 2. 11, 12. it must be Papists, And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a Lie; That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Oh the tyranny we are in part delivered from! we are delivered from their infringing upon those Immunities and Privileges of our Forefathers, which was from our Forefathers care, and to their great Cost, that we might not be brought up into Popish Slavery. 2. Another foundation of joy and rejoicing for this begun Deliverance, is the time when God thus interposed between us and our danger, it was at the time when we were even ripe for our destruction Indeed we do not know yet what our danger was: Oh had not God just at that very time interposed so seasonably, when the Knife was just at our Throats, in what a sad condition had we been in at this day, but the Lord was seen in the Mount. 3. Consider the means God did make use of; this is a Foundation of our joy and rejoicing, that God should put it into the Heart of a stranger, even of a Foreign Prince, and that God should Spirit him for such a Work, and put resolutions and courage into him to run the hazard of his life, and should make him of such a public spirit, which many Englishmen have lost; that he should come from that plenty, that splendour he was in, to bring about this our begun Deliverance. 4. This should raise our hearts to rejoice from the manner of this begun Deliverance, that it was so suddenly, speedily, & in so short a time: Indeed God hath said, As the Birds flying, so will I save Jerusalem. That such a work should be done without the Effusion of blood, whereas he might have answered the Prayers of his People in terrible things, as might make our hearts to quake; our streets might been running with blood; our garments might been rolling in blood; & when the Sword was drawn▪ it might have eaten up much flesh, and drank up much blood, but it pleased God to interpose all this. This might cause us to rejoice. I might suggest one thing more, to raise our hearts up to this frame: For whom was this wrought? what were we Protestants? Ay; But are we a reformed People? if not, we are for all this an undone People. 2. I now come to the second part of the Text; But rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. This is a precept or direction what we should chief rejoice in. [But rather] Rather is a Note, sometimes signifies the difference or inequality of the thing by a Figure. But rather rejoice; that is, rejoice more, let your joy be raised higher, let your hearts be enlarged wider, unto an higher acknowledgement of such a thing: It should be taken uppermost in all our thoughts; rejoice in nothing else absolutely. If thou be'st one who art assured thy name is written in Heaven, whether this temporal Salvation came or no, you have grounds of rejoicing. Here are two things before us, 1. The Object. 1. What is that we are obliged so much to have in our thoughts and to have so much on our hearts? It is expressed, to have our names written in heaven. 2. The act or duty, with respect or relation unto the Object, it is in that one word Rejoice. Doct. That a Christian having evidence of his Name being written in the book of God in heaven, this affords him sufficient matter for his continued joy, and rejoicing here on Earth. I say, if a Christian have good satisfaction in this point, it abundantly affords him just and sufficient matter for his constant joy and rejoicing on Earth, let matters go how they will. Sirs, whatever circumstances you may live to be under here in this world, if you have a satisfactory Evidence of your Names being written above, you may not only be reconciled unto, but may smile on every dispensation of Providence. There are three things lieth before me to be considered. 1. What it is to have our Names written in Heaven; that is one great thing wants to be explained. 2. What those Evidences are which a Christian may have, that he is in that blessed number of such whose Names are written in Heaven. 3. On what account this affords such matter of joy as continually to rejoice. 1. What it is to have our Names written in Heaven. It is a Metaphorical Expression, which alludes unto the custom of City or Corporation Communities, where persons who are Members of that City or Corporation, are invested with some peculiar privilege or immunity▪ that are not common to all persons, but only unto those peculiar Corporations where they are related; unto these Corporations particular Laws are proper unto them, and Free persons thereof have a propriety unto those privileges. Now these privileges are recorded and registered where these persons may find out their Names: Thus Names are written. 1. There is God's opened Look, which is the revealed Will of God in the written word of God, wherein God reveals and discovers unto us his will, in order unto our Salvation. Oh! this is a Book God hath put into our hands to be our daily study, and blessed be God, who hath delivered us from a Generation of men, who would have taken this book out of our hands, such who will not enter into the Kingdom themselves, and would shut you out, and hinder you also from coming there. Let me tell you Sirs, that a Bible would been a precious thing in your hands, (however now you slight it) if God had suffered them to go on; but seeing God hath so privileged us, as yet to continue this Book among us, let us study this Book often: There you have a discovery of the sinful and miserable condition we exposed ourselves to, which we have plunged ourselves into by our causeless Apostasy; and there we have a discovery, blessed be God, of that Estate we were restored to, of Life and Salvation, which God of infinite wisdom found out, and proposed unto fallen Man; and you know how you may be delivered from that woeful and miserable condition you were exposed unto. FINIS. The Substance of a SERMON preached the next Lord's Day after the death of the Reverend Mr. John Oakes, by Mr. W. Williams, Minister of the Gospel. Psal. 39 4. Lord, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am. THe meaning of the words of David is this, Tho' I am convinced I'm a dying man, and am persuaded that I shall not abide long here, here is no abiding place, yet do I not feel this on my heart and mind, do not answer and comply with these convictions, I do not understand this truth aright, therefore Lord teach me; let it come with such light and power on my mind, to influence light into my mind, heart, and life; make me to know my end▪ clear up this truth to me, that I may know how frail I am. Doct. That Man is frail, and that every Man ought to entreat GOD to make him to know how frail he is. Man is frail, as appears by the shortness of his days; Man's days are short, though he should live to his full Age; Man lives by Divine support, he lives not by his own strength. 2ly, It is evident Man is a poor frail Creature, subject to be cut off in his full strength; so says Job ch. 23. one dieth in his full strength, being at ease and quiet, very many do so without saying, I am sick, they suddenly drop away, as many of you were spectators of an instance in this very Pulpit: Our breath is soon stopped, and we drop, the Thread is very short that holds every man, he steps into his grave in the midst of his walk, therefore man's life is compared to a vapour which soon empties, and is gone: Lord, teach me, as a dying man, that I may be earnest and diligent after the things by which I may honour and glorify thee; therefore he that would obtain the honouring and glorifying of God and enjoying of him, must d● these things by which he will be glorified: First, we must believe in God, and we must repent of our sins; we must be examining ourselves, know ourselves, we must live above the world, we must converse with God, and be sanctified and made pure before we can glorify or enjoy God; therefore we should pray, Lord help me as a poor dying Creature, to see my need of believing ●o●k of repenting and sanctifying work; Lord, teach me so to number my days, as to apply them to true wisdom; Lord, help me so to live, that I may be always ready for death: Watch ye therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning, lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping; for men are very backward to know their frailty; there is no season plainer, and yet how backward are men to learn it! Use of Reproof to those that are ignorant of their Frailty. Hast thou a thorough Conviction of this? but oh how little do we live in the consideration of this! Death is far off the thoughts of young ones; they have made a Covenant with Death and Hell, but their Covenant shall not stand: It young ones, how many are dead younger than you, and some of the same age! and might not that have been you? doth not every distemper tell you how frail you are, and may be soon snatched away? How many distempers might have been your death, had not God sealed your Deliverance? and yet you know not how soon you may be called away, to give an account of your stewardship. O how attentive would carry one of us be unto this Sermon, did we believe it would be our last Sermon! The next sort of persons this reproves, is Worldlings, who lay out their strength and time only in present things, which are not worth the looking after. Oh, let me urge this upon you: First, Consider how soon your breath is gone, and you come to nothing; you who please yourselves in vain fancy's▪ and think, if you may be rich, your Riches may last, oh consider, all you have or desire can do no good wh●n Death comes: Consider, Heaven will be worth all you can do for it in so little a time as this Life is; none can say their labour is lost that they laid out for Heaven's Glory. Again, You who were careless Christians, even you will repent that you were no wiser when you come to die; you careless negligent Christians, when you come to die, you will cry out, Oh that I had been more circumspect in my ways and walking! Oh that I had made Religion my business! oh that such and such a day had been better spent! oh that such and such a season had been better improved! Such wishes you will have at death: And, Why will you not be as wise now as at death? Consider that the estate of your Souls will afflict you when you come to die under your neglect. 2. Use, by way of Exhortation. And I beseech every one of you to beg of God to make you know how frail you are; be earnest with God, that he would make you know it; let every one go home under a through Conviction of it; I am a poor fading Flower, perishing Dust, yea, a Bubble. And reason thus with thyself; Have I employed my time to its proper sense, for to learn this Lesson, and to live it? I may die soon, therefore live always on your watch, do, and do what you would be contented to do and be when you come to die, if Death should seize on you suddenly: Now think how few your days may be, and how soon they may be gone, and that I may never have time to receive or do good: Oh labour to know your own frailty. Sirs, I am willing to take the advantage of the awful Providence which was on this Congregation, very lately, on the sudden departure of your Minister Mr. John Oakes. Certainly this I may say of him, That few were fit to die suddenly than he was, and no man could desire to die in a better Work; no Minister who died suddenly, could die in a better Employment than he did; no Minister could die fit than he; all who was seeing him so suddenly stricken by death, in the Pulpit, could not but perceive him in the view of Eternity, and that very Text he was at his departure upon, tells you of the great Rejoicing he was under, the words are these, rejoice rather because your Names are written in Heaven: This aught to have refreshed your minds, he was pressing you to labour after this subject of joy: He was of an acute temper, not of a moross spirit, but of an even meek spirit: He could not, I say, desire to die▪ a better pasture, he in his Work with his God; and indeed many Divines desire to die in such a pasture to be found in their Lord's Work when he calls for them: He was struck with death in his work in this place, in this very Pulpit; and you who often and usually heard him calling on you to close with Christ, to leave your sins, and to turn unto God, and be converted; but as to this day, all of you have not harkened to your Ministers calls and entreaties, in the Name of his Lord, but you are still in an unconverted estate; Will you believe now these words to be his last and dying words unto you? You cannot hear me any more; you will hear me to declare the Truths of God no more; you can hear me no more to urge you to do your duty; you are as like to die, and may die suddenly as I, you may provoke God to cut you off as suddenly as I am; you may provoke God by your Sins to cut you off as I am, by your provocations of and rebellions against God. Sirs, your Minister is gone, have you gotten all the good you should have gotten? God hath cut him off without his taking his leave of you. Oh therefore labour to reflect on what ye have done; ye were often under his Ministry, and yet are unconverted, and were spectacles of this sad and sudden stroke; consider with yourselves what ye have done: Oh, what have I done to contribute to my Minister's death? was he not thus stricken speechless for your Rebellion against his calls; O Lord, what have I done? Hast thou no hand in thy Minister's death, by your unfruitfulness under his Ministry? the thoughts of your Minister's death is matter of bewailing, sspeciasly to you that do know the estate of your Souls are concerned in it: Howe●er, I beg this of you, who stood and beheld this sad spectacle, of the sudden departure of your Pastor, never to let the sight go out of your minds. Oh, how ought I to die, and be in a readiness to be dissolved! and, how ought I to pray, and never to set the thoughts of death out of my mind! how ought I to pray, and to be earnest with God, that I may die in my Work, as this Minister did! The Dying Ministers last Prayer. O Most Gracious and everlasting Lord God, whose mercy endures for ever, whose blessings have cherished me even from my cradle to this very moment of death, that now am lauching forth into the ocean of eternity; be pleased to assist me in my dark passage through which I must go, before I can come to enjoy the blessedness of thy presence. Into thy hands O Lord, I recommend my dear and immortal Soul, ransomed by the blood of thy Son, from the lake of bitterness; in and through whom I expect to be made eternally happy, & a coheir with the Saints and Angels: For his sake I humbly beg the pardon of all my transgressions, hoping to live with thee for ever in thine everlasting Kingdom of Glory. Lord hear my Prayers. and grant my Petition for his sake in whom thou art well pleased; to whom with thee and thine ever blessed Spirit. Be all honour, glory and praise, Amen. A Prayer for his Most excellent Majesty King WILLIAM. ALmighty God, who in times of Trouble, and Danger, dost raise up Deliverers of thy people, and sillest their hearts with zeal for thy Service, We beseech Thee to bless His Majesty King William, whom thou hast sent to be the Defender of our Laws, and Religion; Protect his Person, strengthen his Hands, let thy holy Fear evermore Rule in his Heart; that, having Thee only before his Eyes, he may in all things seek thy Honour and Glory, and study to Unite this divided Nation, and establish it upon the sure Foundations of Mercy and Truth, Righteousness and Peace. This we beg for Jesus Christ his sake, our only Lord and Saviour, Amen. minister preaching from pulpit to a group of people With Allowance. FINIS.