7. How unreasonable is it, either to quit the service of, our blessed Lord, or to serve him dejectedly! Quit it! Who hath more right in us? or where will we mend ourselves? O the treacherous folly of apostacy! and how severely is it wont to be animadverted on! 2 Chron. xii. 1. 'Tis said Rehoboam forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him; and what followed? Shishak, the king of Egypt, comes against them with a great power, and God sends them this message, by Shemaiah the prophet; that because they had forsaken him, (ver. 5.) therefore he also had left them in the hands of Shishak. And afterwards, that though, upon their humbling themselves, he would not quite destroy them, but grant them some deliverance; yet he adds, Nevertheless ye shall be his (i. e. Shishak's) servants, that ye may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries, ver. 8. Since they would abandon God, and the true religion, he would, by a very sensible instruction and costly experience, teach them to distinguish, and understand the difference, and make them know when they had a good master. And if we serve him despondingly and with dejected spirits, how causeless a reproach do we cast upon him, and his service! 'tis a greater miquity than is commonly considered, implies dislike of his work, and the rules and orders of the family, impatiency of the restraints of it, distrust of his power to protect or bounty to reward us; and we may expect it to be resented accordingly. So we sometimes find it hath been, Deut. xxviii. 47, 48. Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God, with joyfulness and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies, which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things, and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

things; as if truth were more akin and connatural to him than to most others, sooner digested, made his own, and inwrought into the temper and habit of his mind. Which afterwards, he liked not to muddy and discompose by busy agitations with others, about that truth which he found himself in a pleasant secure possession of; nor to contend concerning that which he had not found it necessary to contend for. He declined controversy, not from inability, but dislike; for as he less needed it for a further good end, so he was most remote from loving it for itself; he was satisfied to have attained his end, and was better pleased to know, than to seem to others that he knew. He was of curious sublime fancy, and a lofty style both in speaking and writing even in his most familiar letters; though he industriously depressed it, in his popular sermons, and other negociations with those of meaner capacity. But his moral and holy excellencies were his chief lus tre, being in themselves of a more excellent kind, and shining in him in a very eminent degree. The bent of his soul was towards God. I never knew any man under the more constant governing power of religion, which made it be his business both to exercise and diffuse it to his uttermost He was a mighty lover of God and men, and being of a lively active spirit, that love was his facile, potent mover to the doing even of all the good that could be thought ( an ordinary way) possible to him, and more than was pos sible to most other men. To give a true succinct account of the complexion of his soul, he was even made up of life and love. Such was the clearness and sincerity of his sp rit, his constant uprightness and integrity, so little dark ened by an evil conscience, (and indeed, little overclouded with melancholy fumes,) that he seemed to live in the constant sense of God's favour and acceptance, and bad nothing to do but to serve him with his might; whence his 8. How are we concerned to follow the example, and spirit was formed to an habitual cheerfulness, and seemed expect the acceptance and reward, of any such faithful ser- to feel within itself a continual calm. So undisturbed a vant of Christ! And that we may imitate such a good and serenity hath, to my observation, rarely been discernible in faithful servant, let me briefly set the example of such a any man; nor was his a dull, sluggish peace, but vital and one before you, in this excellent person lately taken from joyous; seldom hath that been more exemplified in any among us; which, were it possible to represent entirely, man, (Rom. viii. 6.) To be spiritually minded is life and were one of the fairest copies to write after, that this, or peace. Seldom have any lived more under the govern perhaps many former ages could afford us. That indeed, ment of that kingdom, which stands in righteousness, peace, which it is fit should first be noted of him, is least of all and joy in the Holy Ghost, Rom. xiv. 17. His reverence imitable; I mean his natural temper, (with its more imme- of the Divine Majesty was most profound, his thoughts of diate dependencies,) which no man can have the privilege God high and great, that seemed totally to have composed to choose. His indeed was one of the happiest that I ever him to adoration, and even made him live a worshipping knew, and did so set off all that was superadded and in-life: he was not wont to speak to God, or of him, at a vul serted into it, by human culture or divine grace, as an ad- gar rate, he was most absolutely resigned and given up to vantageous setting doth the lustre of a diamond. He had him; devotedness to his interest, acquiescence in his wis all the advantages of education from his childhood, which dom and will, were not mere precepts with him, but habits. the pious care of an affectionate, prudent, learned father No man could be more deeply concerned about the affairs could give him, that were proper and preparatory to the of religion, and God's interest in the world; yet his soli function he was intended for; viz. that of the sacred mi- citude was tempered with that steadfast trust, that it might nistry. An office whereof his excellent father (the eminent, be seen the acknowledged verities of God's governing the holy, heavenly, reverend, ancient, Mr. Fairclough, of Suf- world, superintending and ordering all human affairs, h folk, whose name in that country hath still a grateful sa- wise and steady counsel, and almighty power, which in vour with all good men, of whatsoever persuasion) showed most others are but faint notions, were with him turned his high esteem and love, not only by the most diligent dis- into living sense, and vital principles, which governed his charge of it himself, but by dedicating all his sons (which soul! Whereupon his great reverence of the majesty of were four in number) to it; and giving his two daughters God, falling into a conjunction with an assured trust, and in marriage to such also. So that he was the father of a sense of his love and goodness, made that rare and happy sacred tribe, an offspring and race of ministers, or that temperament with him, which I cannot better express than (even naturally) united with such. This was the eldest of by a pleasant seriousness. What friend of his did ever. his children, and of whose education the first care was to at the first congress, see his face but with a grave smile! be taken. Scarce any mind could be more receptive of the When unexpectedly and by surprise he came in among his proper impressions, from an ingenuous institution. About familiar friends, it seemed as if he had blest the room, as twelve years he continued a student (whereof divers, a fel- if a new soul, or some good genius, were come among low) and great ornament of Emanuel-College, in Cambridge, them. as he was also much adorned by it. He went from it furnished with such a stock of rational, substantial, as well as polite literature, that showed him to have been no loiterer there. He was a man of a clear, distinct understanding, of a very quick, discerning, and penetrating judgment, that would on a sudden (as I have sometimes observed in discourse with him) strike through knotty difficulties, into the inward centre of truth, with such a felicity that things seemed to offer themselves to him, which are wont to cost others a troublesome search. Nor were his notions merely book-learned, borrowed from systems, and taken on trust, but formed by a due (but more speedy) comparing of

I need not tell them that survive, who were nearest to him, how pleasant a relative he was, nor doth any man need to tell me how pleasant a friend! No man ever more understood, than he, the ingenuities and delights of friendship, especially the high pleasure of gratifying and obliging another; the relishes whereof were so delicious to him, that no festival could be so grateful to any man as the op portunity was to him of making another taste and feel his kindness. Nor did I ever observe any thing so like a fre quent fault in him, as an aptness to overvalue his friend. He was a man of most punctual scrupulous fidelity, word was ever with him so strictly sacred, that, in the

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smallest matters, his appointments, though numerous, were | have sometimes had the opportunity to observe in such a through his great prudence so sure, that one might, without place, that did usually attend his most fruitful ministry. the intervenience of extraordinary providence, as certainly And O how hath that congregation been wont to melt expect them, as the returns of day and night. So that they under his holy fervours! His prayers, sermons, and other that knew him, though most delighted with his society, ministerial performances, had that strange pungency, quickwere never wont to urge for his stay with them, beyond ness, and authority with them, at some times; that softness, his prefixed time, (which he commonly mentioned at his gentleness, sweetness, alluringness, at others; that one first entrance,) knowing it would be in vain. would think it scarce possible to resist the spirit and power He was of a large and great soul, comprehensive of the wherewith he spake. And the effect did in a blessed interests of God, the world, the church, his country, his measure correspond; they became a much enlightened, friends, and (with a peculiar concernedness) of the souls knowing, judicious, convinced, reformed, even somewhat of men, ready to his uttermost to serve them all: made up generally, and in good part a seriously, religious people. of compassion towards the distressed, of delight in the His labours here were almost incredible. Beside his usual good, and of general benignity towards all men. He had exercises on the Lord's day, of praying, reading the Scripa soul, a life, a name, darkened with no cloud but that of tures, preaching, catechising, administering the sacraments, his own great humility, which clouded him only to himself, (as the occasions or stated seasons occurred,) he usually but beautified and brightened him in the eyes of all others: five days in the week, betimes in the morning, appeared in an humility that allowed no place with him to any aspiring public, prayed, and preached an expository lecture upon design, or high thought, that could ever be perceived by some portion of the Holy Scriptures, in course, to such as word, look, or gesture; except the high thoughts and de- could then assemble, which so many did, that he always signs which neither ought to be excluded, nor repressed. had a considerable congregation; nor did he ever produce His greatest ambition was to do good, and partake it in the in public any thing, which did not smell of the lamp. highest and the best kind of it; to make the nearest ap- And I know that the most eminent for quality and judgproaches he could to the pattern and fountain of all good-ment, among his hearers, valued those his morning exerness. And now looking upon so qualified a person, as cises for elaborateness, accuracy, instructiveness, equally engaged by office in a peculiar sort of service to Christ, with his Lord's-days sermons. Yet also he found time, to gather and draw in souls to him, and prepare them for a not only to visit the sick, (which opportunities he caught blessed eternity; how great things may we expect! What at with great eagerness,) but also, in a continual course, all do we not find? Mells in Somersetshire was his first and the families within his charge; and personally and seveonly (public) station. Thither he was brought, by so pe- rally to converse with every one that was capable, labouring culiar a conduct and direction of Providence, as seemed to to understand the present state of their souls, and applying carry with it some signification what great use he was himself to them in instructions, reproofs, admonitions, exafterwards to be of, in that place. The very reverend Dr. hortations, and encouragements, suitably thereto: and he Whichcot, being also at that time fellow of the same went through all with the greatest facility and pleasure college in Cambridge, and presented to a living in that imaginable; his whole heart was in his work. Every day, country, that was in the disposition of that college; ob- for many years together, he used to be up by three in the tained of him to accompany him in a journey to visit, and morning, or sooner, and to be with God (which was his make some trial of the people, he had been designed to dear delight) when others slept. Few men had ever less take the charge of. Where that so accomplished person hinderance from the body, or more dominion over it; a betexpressed a resolution fit to be exemplary to others, of ter habited mind and body have rarely dwelt together. No profoundest learning, (and which was strictly afterwards controversies arose among his neighbours, within his nofollowed by this his chosen companion,) preaching his first tice, which he made it not his business to get presently comsermon (as himself was pleased to tell me) upon those posed; and his help and advice was wont to be sought by words, I determined to know nothing among you, but persons of eminent rank, and in matters of very great diffiJesus Christ, and him crucified. After some time spent culty, and importance, for that purpose. His own love of together here, the Doctor's affairs recalling him for the peace always inclining him, and his great prudence well present to Cambridge; he prevailed with our worthy friend enabling him, to be exceedingly useful, in any such case. to stay behind, and supply his absence among his people. Nor were his labours confined within that narrower verge, What follows, I was informed of by another hand, but his name and worth were too well known abroad, to let one so nearly related to this our deceased friend, and him be engrossed by one single parish; in how many places so well acquainted with the more desirable occurrences of did he scatter light, and diffuse the knowledge of God, his life, as not to leave me in doubt concerning so moment-wheresoever, within his reach, the opportunity of a lecture, ous a thing, as how he came to be settled in a country so occasional or fixed, did invite! remote from his own, and where he was so mere a stranger. And it fell out thus. During his abode upon this occasion, in those parts, a noted gentleman, the patron of the rectory of Mells, being at that time high sheriff of the county, sent to Mr. Fairclough, (of whose worth, fame had not let him long be ignorant,) desiring him to preach the assize sermon; some circumstances having also brought the matter within so narrow a compass, that the straits of time made it necessary to press the request with more importunity than could admit of a denial. That performance was so highly acceptable, and so newly over, when the patron was surprised by the tidings of the former rector of Mell's death; that he immediately told our worthy friend, he could not otherwise so fitly gratify him for his sermon, as by conferring upon him such a living, which, if he pleased to accept it, was his.

The opportunity of stated service, in a calling to which he had most seriously devoted himself, more than the emolument, (as did afterwards sufficiently appear,) soon determined his thoughts, and fixed him in this station. There he shone many years a bright and a lively light, a burning as well as a shining one; it was soon observed what a star was risen in that horizon, and a confluence was quickly gathered of such as rejoiced in the light of it, which made an obscure country village soon became a most noted place; from sundry miles about, thither was the great resort, so that I have wondered to see so thronged an auditory as I

The state of things, in those days, making it necessary (and not hindering) that what was to be done for the preservation of common order, must be by the spontaneous associating of the pastors of many congregations; how did he inspirit those assemblies! The deference that was given to him, even by very reverend persons of great value, and much exceeding him in years, with the effectual influence he had upon all their affairs, (manifestly aiming at nothing but the promoting of religion, and the common good,) were only arguments of the commanding power of true worth. And the good effects upon the people, showed how much could be done by a naked, undisguised recommendation of oneself to men's consciences, in the sight of God. Nor would his brethren, of greatest value, (and divers there were, in those parts, of very great,) think it any detraction from themselves to acknowledge much more to the wise, modest, humble activity of his spirit, in their common concernments, than I shall be willing to arrogate to him. He was, upon the whole, a very public blessing in that country, while he kept his public station in it; and when the time approached of his quitting it, he eminently showed his constant, great moderation in reference to the controverted things, that occasioned his doing so, in all his reasonings with his brethren about them. And it further appeared, in the earnest bent of his endeavours to form the minds of his people, as much as was possible, unto future union, under the conduct of whoso should succeed

A SERMON

ON THE MUCH LAMENTED DEATH OF THAT REVEREND AND WORTHY SERVANT OF CHRIST,

MR. RICHARD ADAMS, M. A.

SOMETIME FELLOW OF BRAZEN-NOSE COLLEGE IN OXFORD, AFTERWARDS MINISTER OF SAINT MILDRED, BREADSTREET, LONDON, MORE LATELY PASTOR of a conGREGATION IN SOUTHWARK,

WHO DECEASED FEBRUARY 7TH, 1697-8.

TO MRS. ANNA ADAMS, WIDOW, AND COLONEL JOHN ADAMS, BROTHER, TO THE DECEASED MR. RICHARD ADAMS.

MY HONOURED FRIENDS,

DEATH is too common a theme, and too obvious to our sense, to be thought strange, any more than that we live. But that the course of our life, as to the rise, progress, and period of it, is at the dispose of one common Lord of all, because it belongs to a sphere above sense, is little considered by the most. To you, I doubt not, it's far from being a new or unfamiliar thought. And thereupon, that the precious life you have lately seen finished, was measured by him who could not therein be unkind to him who is gone; or to you who stay behind.

We do, indeed, tempt ourselves, if we expect from his kindness unreasonable things. As that he should, to gratify us, alter the course of nature, or recall the universal commission of death, or only let it stand in force with an exception, as to ourselves, our relatives, and friends, or that he should tear his own most inviolable constitutions; by which the present state is to be but transitory, and the future the only fixed state; which were to subvert the whole frame of religion, to nullify the design of redemption, to take down his tribunal, to abolish and lay aside all thoughts of a judgment to come, and finally to make the kingdom of his dear Son to terminate in a dunghill. While no such wish hath place with you, your reconciliation is easy to the providence that hath for the present bereaved you of so delectable a relation. And the love of God, which, prevailing in you, will prompt you to compliance with his will, must be the evidence of your title to the best blessings of both worlds. For both the things in the other state, the eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, &c. And the concurrent operation of all things for good in this present state, do all belong to persons of the same character, the lovers of God, 1 Cor. ii. 9. Rom. viii. 28. Which that you may constantly and fully experience to the end, and in the end, is the serious prayer, for you, of,

Your very respectful

and affectionate servant in Christ,

JOHN HOWE.

PHILIPPIANS I, 23.

HAVING A DESIRE TO DEPART, AND TO BE WITH CHRIST; WHICH IS FAR BETTER.

IF you should have no other subject for your present consideration, than only, that one in your neighbourhood is lately dead; even that itself would deserve your very serious thoughts. The translation of human souls from world to world, and out of this present into their eternal state, is no light matter; and does claim and challenge more serious thoughts, than it is commonly wont to find and meet with. Nor does the commonness of such an occasion at all excuse the slightness of men's thoughts upon it; but rather aggravate it unspeakably more. That which we find to be so common and universal a case, we may be sure will shortly be our own: and as it is now matter of discourse with us, that such a one is dead, we shall, ere it be long, according as we have been more or less regarded in the world, be a like subject of discourse to others. But it is a greater thing, when it can be said, a good man is gone; there is a more special remark to be put upon the decease of such a one, Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, the end of that man is peace, Psal. xxxvii. 37. There is that agreement between his

way and his end, they are so much of a piece, and do so exactly correspond; a course transacted in a constant serenity and peace, meeting at length with peace as the end of it; an even course, still, uniform, self-agreeable, ever equal to and like itself, ending at last in peace: Mark this! how he goes off, mark such a life so ending! But it yet challenges more intense consideration, when such a one is taken away from amongst us, and the progress and period of his course come to be viewed together, whose life was a continued series of labours in the Lord's vineyard, from the earlier to the later hours of his day; when such a one has finished his course, and fought out the good fight of faith, and is entered into his rest; by the vouchsafement of his indulgent Lord and Master is made to rest from his labours, and receive the reward of them, the reward of grace, with a Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord!

And sure it cannot be ungrateful to you, to be desired here to stay a little, to make a stand, and pause, and entertain yourselves awhile with the consideration of such a