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22X

7
%

. S E R M O N,

Occafioned by the D E A T H of

Mrs. MARGARET GREENj

• Confort of the late Honourable

BENJAMIN GREEN, Efqj

^ Delivered at Halifax, ^

; In the Province of Nova-Scotia^

February ift, 177S.

By John Seccombe,"

of Chester, A. M.

The Saints are the excellent in the Earth. Pf 1 6 ?

A Woman that fear eth the Lokd fie J7:ali be 'pralfed,
rrov. 31. 30. r J .

The ftighteom hath Hope hi his Death. Prov. 14. v
Theyjhallbe in everlajiing .Remembrance. Pf. 112. 6

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<WJL ^1 ' 13

(3)

I. Corinthians 15. 56. 57,

The fting of Death is Sift, and the Strength of Sin is the
Law. But thanks he to God who giveth us the Victory
through our Lord Jcfus Chrift.

v-~ •

As fome among the Corinthians doubted, and otheri
denied the Refnrre(5lion of the Body, the Aportlc en-
larges in this Chapter on the Certainty and Importiince
of that fundamental DocSlrine of the Chriftian Religion. And
proves it by divers Arguments.

At the 35th Verfe he brings in the Phllofophic Infidel pro*
polling his Queftion, with Defign, it may be, to ridicule this
Dodlrine. But fome Men will yet fay, how arc the Dead
ralfed up again? And with what kind of Body do they come?
Some pretend *tls impoflible, and a thing incredible that God
fhould raife the Dead. This was the cry of the amient Fhilo-
fophers; and is taken by the Delfts of our own Age. They
tell us that *tis not confiftent with the known Rules of Philo-
fophy for the Body to rife. But the Apoftle anfweri the
Scoffer with a Severity due to his Temper, Thou Fool, that
which thou foweft is not quickened, except it die, and lie
hurried in the Earth. Which fhows that the Diffolution and
Corruption of the Body by Death is fo far from being an Ob-
jc6lionto its Refurredlion, that it isneceflary to it, even as the
a^'ing^ AHu ^uinryiiii^ ui lut uucu, Oi \jiAn\. ui vviiuai, IS ne-

ffa

,^^'

V Jx

(4)

ceiriry to its C|u.cknin- and rifing up again; and that if God
IS able k:, quicken a Seed or Grain that is Rotten and entirely
cFcao, and caufe it to rife up in Verdure and with much Fruir.
as he does every Year in Millions of Inftances, why fhould
It be thought incredible that God HioulJ quicken dead Bodies,
when^ the One is a'; muclj an Infiance of his Po^ver as the
otherr Ho adds, Verfe 43, where he begins to ai)ply his
Simile to his prefent I'urpofe; fo is the Refurreaion of the
iJcad, that is, That Cafe refembles this: As the Seed fown is
not exaaiy the iarne xvhieh fprings up ; for a Grain of Wheat
is not the fame with a Stalk and Ear of Wheat, and yet it is
partly the fame; tor every Seed has its own and proper Body
given to It; thus it is in the Cafe of the Rcfurredion of the
Dead W'hare there feems implied, that our prefent Body is a
bort of a 6W of the Refurredion Body. And alfo that it is
in lome Kefpea the fame with the Body that is fown, even the
Body which we now live in, and at death lay in the Grave •
^^rthus, (in the Simile) God gives, fays the Aponie, to every
Oiva Its own Boaj, "^

Here is alfo implied that it fliall undergo a confTdcrable
Uiangc, and confequcntly, not be abfolutcly the fame: It is
lo the fame as yet to admit of a difference; that which thou
loweft, thou foweft not that Body that fhall be. It i^ fowa
bare Gram, but when it fprings up it is varioufly changed; and
thus It fhall be with our Body: It fliall be changed. It is fowa
in Corruption, it is raifed in Incorruption— It is fown a natural
Body, It IS raifed a fpiritual Body. v. 42. 43. 44.

Now what id^-ntifics, or gors to conilitute ihcfame Body we

can t pretend to be certain, {{ncQ the Scripture has not told us-

therefore with Refpeft thereto, we can have no determinate

d^aith. But as every Seed has its own Body, fo wilJ every

Soul

(5)

Soul have its own Body, tho» greatly dilTcrent a. to Its QiiaK-
ties. t is abundantly fufficicnt, th^it God ^heth it a Bod^, as
pleajeth htm. \ J* ^

The Apoflle harlng this proved the Doc^rfne of the Rcfnr-
region, fa,th Then iliall be brought to pafs the SayiW thai
IS written, Death is fwallovvcd up ,n ViL%jy: that is, 'is over-
come lor cTer lo as never to have any Strength or Power oyer
our hodies any more. So that Chriilians may ling triumph-
andy m the Words (;f the Prophet Hofea, O Death whcrj is
tny bting 1 O Grave where is now thy Vidory ?

The Sting of Death is Sin, and the Strength of Sin is the
Law. But thanks be to God who giveth us the Viaorv
through our Lord Jcfus Chrift. ^

From the Words of my Tex» I Hiall note thefe three Things •
and then improve the Subjed.

I ft. That God hath given to the Saints Vidory over Death.

2d. This Viaory Is through the Death and Refurreaio- -four
LordJefusChrill.

3d. This

thatis PiTnr? H »!^°'L'P5'" "c of Opinion, fmce the microfcop.cal Difcover.c,.
mooer An?l? , ""'^^'J^/'^V*'''"^^''" ^^""^ ^eeds. (o Animals proceed fS
Animllr^I ''= ""^ they fuppofe .he humane Bo.iy particularly oneofTe

VeS The^^r. "l^ """'"^'^ bytheExpanfion of ics numer^ous minute
the Si^e ^hev .°f ''^'' -^[e folded up in fo fmall a Compafs are fuelled to
Fluid, rh?^ afterwards arrive at, by the Addition made to the Quan.i.y of

y>t^, aod alwavsthe (amejallthe Change is in the Fluids, which are indeed
in a perpetual Flux, fome conllan.ly perfpiripg or pa/fing off by the fecretary
iT?hll\ hV ' T" ''nTP'"' '•^^ VclTdscfrhe B^ are\nch nge . J
LlluA^T''^''' " '^^ P"iods of humane Lif.. and the Bodies of Men
are fo d.lhnd that one can't become a Part of another, nor fuifer anv confuhnn^

(6)

3c3. This Viaory of the Saints affords them fome Joy and Con-
folation in this Life, and in the Morning of the Kefurrcaion
will fill them with Joy, Th:inkfgiving and Triumph.

ifV. God hath given to the Saints Vi^ory over Death.

the ApoAle tells us, Verfe 26. The laft enemy that fhall
be def^royed is Death. And 'tis «n Enemy being the Fruit
Effea, and Wages of Sin ; the Penalty and Curfc of the Law-
as 'tis Gontrary to human Nature, and deilruaivc of the Work
of God's Hands ; it is indeed, through the Blood, Rightcouf-
nefs and Sacrifice of Chiift become the Friend of his People •
yet in itfclfh formidable to Nature and difagrecable to it.

But that which makes Death avenging Punifhment is dyinff
under the guih of Sin. The Sting of Death is Sin : it is the
Caufe of Death ; it is what has given Rife and Being to it and
entered into the World by it. 'Tis Sin that gives Death all its
Bitternefs, Agonies and Miferies. And the strength of Sin is
the Law. The evil nature, and all the dreadful -Aggravations
of Sm, and fad Confequences upon it are difcovcred and made
Joiown by the Law, and may be called the Strength of Sin
Tis the Law which binds Sin upon a Man's Confcience, ac
cufes him of It, pronounces him guilty, curfes, condemns and
adjudges him to Death eternal for it. Thus the Law gives
Sin Its Strength, and Death its Warrant to arrefl and execute us.

But God hath given his People the Vidlory over Sin Death
and fhe Law. Thanks be to God who givcth us Viaorv
through our Lord Jefus Ch rift. Wherefore
^ 2d. This Vicflory of the Saints over Sin, Death and the Law
is through the Death and Refurredion of our Lord Jefus Chrifl.

He has got the Vidory over Sin ; he has put it away by the

Sacrifice

(7)

Sacrifice of himfclf; he has finilTied and made an End of it;
for though it icigns over his People before Convcrfion, and
dwells in thcni after it, yet in confcquence ot his Attoncrnent
for it, it l()fcs its governing Power thro* the Spirit and Grace
of God in Regeneration; and entirely its damning Power over
them in the Rcfiirrcdlion Morning, when their vile Bodies fhall
be changed and fafhioned like unto ChriA's glorious Body.
Sin will then have no Being in them. Again, Chrift has ob-
tained a Vidory over the Law : He ftopped its mouth, and
anfwered all its Demands ; he has bc.'n made under, and fub-
jea to it ; he has obeyed its Precepts, and bore its Penalty,
and has delivered his from the curfe and Condemnation of it,
fo that they have nothing to fear from it, it is dead to them and
they to that ; and he has abolifhed it as a penal Evi/ to his
Saints ; and tho' they die, they fhall not always remain under
^ the Power of Death, they fhall live again, and with him for ever.

He has alfo conquered the Grave by rifing out of it himfelf,
and living for ever more ; having the Keys of the Grave in
his Hands; and will at the laft Day oblige it to give up its Dead.

Now this Vidory in all its Branches is given by God to
Believers ; they are made to fhare in all ihe Vidories of Clirift
their Head, and are more tVin Conquerors thro' him; but
this is not by Merit, but by U* ft, the Gift of God the Father,
who gives his Son and all Things with him that are his ; and
this Gift is a diAinguifhing one ; it is given to us, and not to
others; and which therefore calls aloud for their Praife, Ad-
miration and Thankfgiving, even in this Life, in the Language
of the Apoflle, Rom. 8. ^2- 34- V- Who fhall lay any
Thing to the Charge of God's Eled ? It is God that juf^ified :
VV ho IS he that condemneth ? It is Chrift that died, yea, ra-
ther that is rifen agam, who is even at the righ Hand of God,
who makcth alfo IntercefTion for us. We are more than Con-
q,uerors, thro' him that loved us. Wherefore ' 3d.

(S)

3d. This yiaory of the Safnts yields them fomc Confoljtion
in this Life; and will fill them with |oy, Thankfgivin"- and
Tiii]mj)h in the Morning of the Rcfurrcaion. ^

Believers thro' Faith, rejoice many Times before hand in
the lively Hope and Profpca of this Vidory. iJut when they
nfe glorious from the Grave, will glory over Death as a van-
giilflicd Enemy, and infiilt this great and terrible DeOroyer,
O Deadi where is thy Siing? O' Grave where is thy Vidlory ?
How glorious will the Refiirreaion Day be to good 'Men; and
\vhat an Addition may then be cxpcded to their former Vlap-
l)inefs! There are many Circumflances that will :idd to the
Solemnity and Glory of it; as the Defcent of Chrirt from Hea-
ven in flaming Fire ; the Voice of the Arch-Angel; the Tri-
umph of God, 6:c. The Ref^oration of the Body, fo changed
and exalted, will, no doubt, be a mighty Imi)rovement of the
Hajjpinefs of the Saints ; being railed in Glory.

Some fuppofe that our Bodies in the Rcfurrcdlion (as to their
Purity, Conflitution and Livelinefs) will be the fame with that
of Adam, when it firA came out of the Hand of God, with
the Stamps of divine Wifdom and Goodnefs frefli upon it.

Others fuppofe that our firi\ Parents were as to their Bodf-s,
formed after the Image of the ^hcchinah, ' ight organized in
human Shape, as their Ornament and Glory. Hence when
after the Fall, 'tis faid, they were naked^ the meaning \^^ they
had loft this Clothing of Light and Glory. Be that as it may,
we are afTured that the Refurredion Body fliall be exceeding
glorious, even in Fafhion like Chrift's glorious Body.

And, oh, what a Day of Gbry will it be when all the
Saints fhall appear thus arrayed; with their Bodies oiufhining
the Sun in the Firmament, with Crowns on their Heads, and

Palms

(9)

with

Palms In their Hands I " How many Springs of Joy to the
*' Saints and Thankf^iving to God, arc opened by the Refur-
" redlion, the Sufferings andConqiKjfts of our Redeemer?

*< With what Acclamations will Saints rifmg from the dead
applaud him ? How will the Heaven of Heavens refound
** his Praifcs for ever ? Thanks be it to God, will he the
" Burden of their Song, and Ana;cls will join in the Chorus
" and declare their Conlent with a loud Amen, Hallelujah.

It now remains that we make fome Rcfledions on the fub-
jed, by way of Application. And,

I. We may hence infer ths happy and bleiTed Condition of
the Righteous.

Their Happinefs may be faid to commence on the Day oF
ihcir new Birt/j, when they pafs from Death to Life; and arc
made Partakers of the divine Nature. Our Salvation begins
in Converfion : and we arc faved by the wafhing ot Regener-
ation, and renewing of the Holy Gholl. They are waflied,
fandlified and juftified in the Name of our Lord Jefus, and by
the fpirit of cur God- They are now interefted in all the ex-
ceeding great and preciour. Promifes, which are comprchen-
five of all the ElefTings of Time and Eternity. Therefore arc
tnily blefTed. And hVingor dying they are the Lord,<J. And
tho' the wicked is driven away in his Wickednefs, the Righ
teous hath Hope in his Death. Tho' all believers have not full
Affurance upon aDeath-bed,yet they have theGracc of//i./" in
them; tho' they have Pain and fome dread of Death, yet they
have Hope which is always attended with Fait/j: Thcfe two
C-racesgo together, being wroughtby the fameHand and at the
fame Time in Regeneration; and are more or lefs excrcifc\l
together ; tho' the one may be at fomctin^es more vilible in it;
Escrcife than the other; and thcicjiiay be H^pj when Fait^i

B I

.';'■

( 10)
Icaivcly diTccrnablc; yet Faith h at the Eoi

SuhO

torn, and is the

imc of Things hoped for. And this Hope is founded

upon the alifolutc Mercy of God, not

not

upon the iXferit of the

caturc; not ..pon any outward Ads of Ri.yhteou(nefs; or on
external Irofcihonot Reliolon ; but upon the Pcrfon, Blood
Ki^htcoufnefs and Saeriliee of Chrifl. This is died the Hope
ot Salvation tlie Hope of Glory, and the Hope of eternal
Life heeaule u a^ires thefe Things. This is the good Hope
thro Grace, peculiar to Believers ; and is the Achchor of the
boul, lure and lledlal>.

Thcfc are fafe in l\^ath : for being abfem from the Bodv
arc prefcnt with the Lord. ^''

The intcn-al between Death and the R.^furrcdion is a Scate

of Abfenc^ from the Body, during which Time the Soul is in a

State of Happinels and Glory, believing and waiting for the.

Kclurrecflionotthe Body, when Both will be united toiret her
again. °

And being raifed up to Glory they fliall be openly acknow-
ledged and a< quitted; and owned by the King of Saints rs
tlie redeemed and blcfTed of the Lord, wheA he fliall fay
unto them, Come ye BlefTed of my Father, inherit the King-
dom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World.
Matt. 25. 34.

The Hai.i)Inefs of the Saints in the other World is here ex-
j)reircd hy a Kingchm, becaufe of the Glory, Riches, Gran-

tieur and Magniluence of it.

And whntfoever conilitutes the Felicity of that State, all that
Maty IS chrrjl: At God's right Hand are Plcafure cver-

nioic.

But

( " )

But how widely different i. the S.atc and Condition „f the
U tcked, wl„c-h ,« tndccd the very Kevcfc ,;t the CodK- jl .^'
have no l-ut,nd»t,on fur I'cace or Cotulbrt, Ji^ln,, o, 'dyi, g. '^

They flt-ive to (liffle the Conviaion. of Conf.lencc and try
Peace wlien yet there's no I'eaee. There is a h.rkin," Felr
ha often hattntsand purfuesthe Sinner like a tnurdered^C hoft
m all Cotrtpantes, and amidft all Delights. And we have ,;l ,
rcc^n the departing S,nner in great DirtreCs from a Senfe of hi"
finhtl Condttton And he has heen forced to ft,I,f rH e t , e
Truth of that AfllTUonr^ i,i.g of Death is Sin, Jul 2

.tlrf 5^ f ""'*'• ^"'i'- T^ •■ <hM comefoth o ,t f
ihetr Graves to Shame and cverlalting Contempt, to the Ke
flrreflton of Damnation; as Vel^-ls of Wrath ' fitted to De-"
flruflion ; to whom therefore Chrift the Judge tvill fav detnrr
rotn tjje ye eurfed into everlafling Tire prc?.a ed f r^ihe C
V.1 and h,s Angels. Thefe fhall go a'vay into cverLin.
Pumlhment, but the Righteous into Life eternal '""''''''"•f

Then ITiall we difccrn between the Righteous and the

Kth'and'.t's"'' H^''^"?Tl"f '"'''''■' '"^^ --'■'-- n
inc tarth; and the Seed which the Lord hath blcflld.

n.^'i H^u'^ g;.''? ^ '='"^<='' 'o o""- inordinate Grief for the
Death of holy ^r.ends and Relatives. Grace doth a tlJaft
teach us to moderate our Grief on fuch Oecafiorand for^
bids us to forrow as thofc that are without Hope.

For Death fixes them in a State of unchangeable HaooInrR
and everlafttng Joy. We Ihould therefore cafry s &"^
thetrjoy, and beheving Admirers of their Felicity And 's

l2 V^rVK"" '"•''^' l-etter Country, if we be Fo|
overs of thofc who thro' Faith and Patience fn'herit he P -

And

An^ ibis juft Ground of Confolatlon I am pcrfwaded we
have in Reference to that deceafed Servant of Chrift whofe
Death gave Occafion to this Difcourfe.

Her Character we had epltomiz'd in. our weekly Paper.
And yet I conceive a further public Honour due to a Perfon
of fuch diftinguiflied Worth, I prefumc not to attempt her
full Charader ; But having had the Honour and Plcafure of
a perfonal Acquaintance with her for feveral Years, I am the
better able to relate fome Things that were commendable and
praife worthy in her, and moft worthy of our Imitation.

It pleafed God to call her by his Grace, while flie was yet
young ; fo that ihe fear'd the Lord from her youth.

She had the higheft Efteem and Rellfli for the DoHrines cf
Grace, as having, in her Efteem, the mofl aj)politc Tendency
to humble the Pride of human Nature; to exalt the Riches of
divine Grace, and the Glory of God in the Salvation of
Sinners. %

Books of meer Amufement (Plays, Romances, Novels, &-c^
Hie feldom looked into : Efleeming Time too precious to be

trifled

t By the Doarir.e of Grace, we mean that Syftem of Evangelical truths which
!S commonly called Calvinillical ; as, that God has from all Eternity loved fome
of the human Race, and has chofen them unto everlafting Salvation, by Jefus
Chriil ; (hat he has mide a Covenant of Grace with his Son on the Behalf of the
chof n Ones, which is ahfolute and unconditional ; that Chriil in the Fulnefs of
Time affumecl human Natu .;, fuf^cred and died to redeem a fpccial and peculiar
People to himfelf ; that by bearing their Sins, and all Punifhment due to them
he has made full S.uisfad\ion to the Juftice of God ; that p Sinner's Jollification
letoreG.d is only by the RigSteoufnefs of Chrilr, imputed to him, without any
Couiuieration of Works done by him; that Pardon cf Sin is only through the
lUo'i of Chtift, and for his Sake, according to the Riches of his Grace; that
Co(i fees no Sin in hisjullihcd and pardoned Ones, fo as to condemn them for
n ; th?.t Regeneration and Convcrfion are by the Powerfull and efficacious Grace
of God ; and thst thrie who are tf!caaal!y called by Grace, Tnall perfeyere to the
Lr.U, ami be eternally faved.

( '3 )

trifl.?d away in Vanity. She was fo mortified to the Vanities
of the World as to have little or no Relifhof thofe idle Amufc-
ments, and enfnaring Paftimes, and iifclefs frothy Entertain-
ments in Converfation which arc the common Guize and
Fafhion of the Age wherein we live.

She paid a folemn Regard to the holy Sabbath, as a Day of
facrcd rert to the Lord.

She efteemed it a great Privilege to wait upon God in his
San6liiary, where her Deportment was remarkable ^r^2t;f and
ferious^ becoming the Solemnity of the Place, and Worfliip
of God who is in Spirit.

She was a Lover Osgood Men, efpecially of good Minifters
of Jefus Chrif^, of every Denomination ; thefe fhc honoured
as his Ambafladors who bring good Tidings of Peace and pub-
lifh Salvation. She was meek and humble, and fo clothed
with Humility, as to entertain low and mean Thoughts of
herfelf, freely acknowleding that all fhe had or hoped to have,
was owing to the free Grace of God. She was faithfull in all
her relative Capacities, therein ferving the Lord as well as
Men.

And the clofe of her religious Life was every way fuitable
to the general Tenor of it.

In her laft Sicknefs God did not leave her comfbrtlefs ; he
was with her to the End of her Life; and gave her that good
Hope through Grace by which fhe was fupported, and carried
above the fears of Death ; earnefWy defiring if it were the Will
of God foon to depart and be with Chrift. Still looking unto
Jefus the Author and Finifher of her Faith ; and firmly per-
fuaded that God was able to keep that Soul in Safety which
flie had committed unto him againft the day of Recompenfe.

How happy and bkfled are fuch as die in the Lord ; and

what

( 14 )
what Ground of Confolation have we on their Account '

twfe ."f^' f^' '\^'''T' ^«"^-^« of thofewho
w' 1, fP u""^ ?'''"i'^ ^^ ^"^^'^^^ ^^^e Promifcs: for th.
Work of R,ghtco.^nefs fliall be peace, and the effcd of R,Vh

n th^ 1 orS^"^"''^^- ^"^.^^"-"^^ f- --■ And our Labot-
n the Lord ,s not m vam, for we arc Concjuerors, yea, more

than^Conquerours thro' him that loved us ^nd gave hin.fclf

" Now let my Soul arife,

" And tread the Tempter down ;

My Captain leads me forth
" To Conqueft and a Crown.
" A feeble ^aint
" Shall win the D^y
*' Tho* Death and Hell
„ Obflrua the Way.

Many may with Balaam, wifli to dye the Death of the
Righteous, and that their latter End might be like h s Let
iuch know, that the only Way to this is by living the Life of
he Rtghteous. ^A;hich holy living depends t^pon^he implan-
tatton of a holy Principle ; without^vhich we einnot ferle God
acceptably wuh Reverence and godly Fear. AndTsanecef-
fary Preparation for Glory. Grl^ce and G/ory wHl he give.

The Grace of God given at Converfion is an immortal

oTnatVth'i'r' '-^S-^'/y-'-h'tis ml'.r'
to partake of the Inhentaace of the Saints in Light. John 3.

( 15 )

5- Col. 12. 13. Some indeed flip pofc that Ri'^etterafron and
the new Crc:iturc includes no more than what is done for us
in Baptifm ; as a learned Do6lor intimated to his Auditory,
when in a Difcourfe on that fubjeft, he jiointed to the Font]
and told them, T/jerc they were all regenerated.

But let no Man deceive you with vain Words ; nor let any
Aian deceive himfelf; for unlefs a Man be born of Water and
of the spirit ; he cannot fee the Kingdom of God.

" Thefe Words Water and Spirit cxprcfs the fame Thini^,
" and %nify the Grace of the Spirit of God Nor has
" Haptifmany regenerating Intlucnce in it. 'Therefore a Per-
" fon may be baptifed, and yet not born again."

Kut if we be not regenerated and quickened by the Spirit
of God, and don't become new Crea ures inChrifl, we have
no well grounded hope of eternal Life : nor can we die in
Peace with God ; for we are yet in our Sins. If we have not
the Spirit of Chrift we arc none of his: yea, nothing in
God's Efteem ; nothing as Chriftians. True Godlinefs there-
fore is the principal Things

" It is fo, as it is that which recommends us to God, which
" beautifies the Soul, which enables us to anfwer the end of
" our Creation, to live to fome good Purpofe in the World,
" and to get to Heaven at laft ."

Many adorn their Bodies with cof^ly Ornaments and Ap-
parel to attrad the Eyes of vain Spedators, and gratify their
own Pride ; but negleft their finful Souls, that ftand in need
of more care and adorning than thefe vile Bodies.

Therefore the Apoftle exhorts the Female Sex, to beautify

and

(16)

and adorn their Souls with the Graces and Virtues of God«
holy Spirit, rather than their Bodies with gaiidy and rich
Attire.

Whofe adorning, fays he, let it not be that outward
adorning of plaiting the Hair, and of wearing ot Gold ; but
the hidden Man of the Heart, in that which is incorruptible,
viz. a meek and quiet Spirit, which is highly precious in the
Sight of God. For thus alfo the holy Women of old adorn'd
themfelves. In like manner alfo, I will that Women adorn
themfelves with decent Apparel, with Modefly and J^obriety,
not with coflly drefs, but with what becomcth Women pro-
fefling Godlinefr, with good Work. i. Pet. 3. 3. 4. 5.
I. Tim. 2. 9. 10. It is hence evident that the Endowments
of the inner Man arc the chief Ornaments of a Chriftian.
And Plainncfs among Chriftians is a greater Honor than fine
Clothing.

" The outward adorning of the Body is very often finful
and cxccflTive." For Inftance, when it is immoderate and
above your Degree and Station in the World ; when you are
proud of it, and puffed up with it; when you drefs deiigning
to allure and tempt others ; when your Apparel is too rich,
curious, or fuperlluous ; when the Fafhions are Fantaftical,
imitating the Levity and Vanity of the worfl: People ; and
when they are immodeft and wanton. But there is no Reli-
gion or Irrcligion inDrcfs provided Pride andLuxury are guard-
ed againfl", and Modefly and Moderation preferved.

Though, ordinarily, you may read the Vanity of a Perfon's
Mind by the Gaiely and Gaudinefs of their Habit."

Internal Grace ^^called the hidden Man of the Heart) gives
a Beauty and Ornament to the Soul far preferable to that
which any coi^ly Apparel or outward Adornings can give to

the

4
I

the

.he Body. But this is hidden from ilieMc, of ilv " n
they don't know what it is, nor wlia, m ""'''•

or can be. And hence the^ feek n af cr l^h'u 't/' ''"" ," '"u
.' more precious than Rubies and 111 ,h ™,^^^''''""'. "''"^h
defired an not to be compared .Zo'. ^1"%]^ "" ^''
thine Head an Ornament of erT-e Tr ' f'r' ^"''' ' '

fte deliver to thee. ^ ' ^ *^'°'™ '^'^ '^'''T 1>;il!

Grace is, in Scriptura compar'd to a ^sA. AnHnll /

c^c^fcthThfR^obe 1t^] ""-rr^ ^^^' -^
nefs both ofS^f^^t:;;;^^:'' ''' '^^'-'^'

clt^!fT:ft l^'s^^t^ "^ -commended to
God-staage 'ren"etcdVo„ .hel^"""°" "' """ 'i'"' '--

The Church triumphs In this inefllmihN Pi rr ir ^

of SaivatL;ttd^ttdte1.i,rt,;e'Ro^- ^>rf
tecH,fnefs. The Righteoufnefs of Chrift ^^e a Rob. ^'"'"
Believers, bu» not ,» ih-m . 't- , ■ , , ^ '^°"'^ 'S til)on
covers th;ir Perfons and rlu V ,'"? ''? I"")'"''''™; ^nd it
nnd all theirln , fo'a not S. '''"f'.'''^^ "^''^^ ^'^'■''
■•ng Ju«ice. To* clot"a"n°d' cov r' wrth";: VcolrAa "fT*^"
puta,,on, and Chrift-s Application of if by hi?si;r "'''"■

cy iMcai. ivc;/.', /y^.t" Rciimcnt of

( >8)

ivr'Atght Gold, ihc ivecUi?7p; Gcirmnit, the I^cfi Ro/)i\ and Gar-
ment oi Salvation', imd t/j/s is callctl a Change of Ra'mient,
for Sin and Guilt which l^y Nature and BackllidinL^s coYcr the
Soul arc called lis. filthy Rags.

Uj)on the Return of the penitent Prodigal, the Father or-
dered the bcfi Robe to be jnit upon him, ^'c.

*' Take off his Cloaths of Shame and Sin,

*' (The I'ather gives Command)

*' l^refs him in Garments white and clean,

With Rings adorn his Hand.

Now Chrlft hath clothed his Church with the RighteoMfnefs
both of Juflili:atioa and Sandtification ; for belides this Robe
cf Righteoufnefs and Garment of Salvation, there is the Gar-
ment of inter )2al Holiriefs^ the new Man, or new Nature con-
lilling of the fevcral Graces of the Spirit, which is put on as a
Garment, and makes Believers all glorious lintbiii. For he
hath clothed them with Salvation as a Garment, and witl
Righteoufncfs, as with a Robe.

" 'Tis God adorn'd m}' naked Soul,
" And made Salvation mine;
" Upon a poor polluted \\''orm
'' He makes his Graces Ihine.

And left the Shadow of a Spot
Should on my Soul be found.
He took the Robe the Saviour wrought,
" And eaft it all around.

«<

How far the heavenly Robe exceeds
What earthly Princes wear !
The Ornaments, how bright they ftiinc !
'' How white ihe Garments are !

The

( 19)

The Bride (Rev. 19.) Is defcrlhed as makinir her Anp-ar
ince, nut in the gay and gaudy Drcfs of the Motlicr of Harl.ts
'nn mjinc Li?ifien, clean and iL'hite, which is the Ri^htcouf-
iicfs of Saints.

Becaufc Sin is Jikc to/% Garments Riglnoiirncfs h like ic
Garments beautiful and 'wbiic.

And nnlefs vvc are thus clothed and adorned with Rightouf-
nefs, there is no Safety of appearing at the Day of Judgment
For fuch being arraigned, fliall be coriviacd and condemnecl
by their own Confcience. And the King fhall fay to the Ser-
vants bind him Hand and Foot, and take him awav, a/:d
caft him into outer Darknefs; there fhall be wcci)in"- and
gnafhing of Teeth. Matt. 22. 11. 12. 13.

Many are exceffively fond of being in the Fadiion tho'
ever fo indecent and ridiculous : And will fpare no Coft or
Pains for that Purpofe ; tho' God has threatened to [mn\i^^
all fuch as are clothed with Jirange Apparel, j^robahly iox
their Pride and Vanity in affeaiing to appear in the Fafliion
or other Nations. Zech. i • 8.

And the Prophet Ifaiah expofes the Sin and Folly of the
Daughters of Zion, for that Pride and vain Curiofity tliat
appeared in their Drefs, and great Variety of fine Cioaths-
And fliews the Punifhinents threatened for the fame. Ifa. ^.
1 6.-26. whichldclire may be read out of your own Bible.'

It were to be wiflied that more would follow the -Ex-
ample of thofe good Women who adorned ihemfcives with
decent Apparel, being clothed with Humilit)-. hrA hearken
to the Counfel which Chrift gives to fuch as are not clothed
with the Garments of Salvation, nor covered with tlic R(;I e

c 2 y of

( w)

of Ryncc,r„cf. I Coimf.I .h.e ,o Iniv of ,»c Gold tried ia

of'ib -"N.k '/ r'" '"-'''^ "' ^'"""^' ••■"'' ■''« '''>-• «'>-""

otth) ^Jl^cJncfsmay. notapjiear, iScc. Rev. 3. iS.

In ihefo Words uv are dlrcflod to come to hhn for Grace
Lre and b.dvat,on ; for Pardon, Peace and R.Vhtoufn^f !
\v]i:d) are to be ioui^it of liini. S»="uin,,is,

New to buy, hero fignifics to receive l-y fi.ch USv^ inrl
Mean.s. as God has dlreeled, ,I,of. f,,iritu.^l bldli 4^ Uich

I?. uJ fr^ '" "'u' ^Y^"'' ^^'^^ thrift and aifhisBene .
ht, Allthefo are to be ioug/,r of Chrift, ,0 be had of him
>v//, w,.hot,t Money and withom Price for Chrift and iTs
Grace are g'v- Av./j.. He doth not. in a proper S nfe, ^./
thefe Benehr.c bi„ he gtves them to thole that come to Wm

■hey ":t r bTi^d-fr^j^i''^ °"'^- "°"'^'"°- - ^^'-'^

Who then that is wife, wot.Id reft contented withom thi,

%/...,i/;./f for the Sotd. f„ abfoh,tely^'nee:k:;',o''f „e
Peace and Comfort lierc, and e^•er]af1ing Happ nefs in h^.
Ktngdom of Heaven ! O taife and fee thaf the Lord is good!.

" Ve perlfhing and naked Poor*
" Who work with mighty Pain,
;• To ^vcave a Garment of your own,
That will not hide your Sin ;

((

Coinc

( " )

*• Come naked, and adorn your Souls
"In Robes prepared by God,
" Wrought by the Labours of his Son,
** And dy'd in his own Blood. §

To conclude, let us (cck Jrji the Kingdom of God, and
his Righteoufnefs ; without which there wil' be no Adniiflion
into it. And fear Icll a I'romife being left us of entering into
his rcfi, any of us fliould evenyi'tv/z to come fliort of it.

Therefore, endeavour to make your Calling and Eledion
fure, that when your great Change by Death Ihall come, you
may fear no Evil; but kn(jwing your Election of God, you
may be able thro' Grace to triumj^h over Death as a van-
quiflied Enemy, faying, Tiianks be to God who givcth us
the Vidory thro' our Lord Jefus Chrirt,

A M E N..

■MWi^

§ While Women profefling Godlinefs are adorning their Bodies, they might
thence take Occafion, naiuraily enough to refiedt thus with themfelves ; I am
adorning this vile Body at great Expence, which murt fnon return to the Grave
and Corruption; but is my Soul clothed with the Garments of Salvation, and
covered with the Robe of Righteoufnefs ? Have I i-^iught of Chrilt ivinte Raiment •
to hide the Shame of my Nakednefs ? What then (hall I do when Gud riCeth
up? And when hevifiteth, and ("hall fay, How comeft thou hither not having »
wedding Garment, what fliall I anfwer him ? Surely I (hall be expofed to Shame
and everlafting Conteoif t i and be baniihed the Kingdom of Glory forever, &c.