V. Ecclus xxiii. 4, ble Words of the Son of Syrach, and SER M. fay; O Lord, Father and God of my Life, give me not a proud Look; but turn away from thy Servant always an haughty 5, 6. Mind! Turn away from me vain Hopes and Concupifcence, and thou shalt bold bim up that is defirous always to ferve thee! Let not the Greediness of the Belly, nor Luft of the Flesh take bold of me ; and give not over Me thy Servant to an Impudent Mind! 16,17,18. And as for those who contemn Us, and our Narrow Principles, and who make us their Derifion daily, let us (in the Words of the Apostle) not ceafe Eph.i. to make mention of them in our Prayers, that the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Father of Glory, may give unto them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to the Acknowledgment of him: The Eyes of their Understanding being enlightned, that they may know, what is the Hope of his Calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints, 201 A DISCOURSE Occafion'd by the DEATH Of the Right Honourable The Lady CUTTS, A. D. MDCXCVIII. ECCLES. vii. 2. It is better to go to the Houfe of Mourning, than to go to the House of Feafting: for that is the End of all Men; and the Living will lay it to Heart. T VI. HE first Step towards Happi- SERM, ning to esteem every thing, not according to that Rate and Value, which the World, or our own mistaken Imagi nations SER M. nations may have plac'd upon it, but ac VI. cording to that which in it self, and in the accounts of right Reason and Religion, it really bears. The Preacher therefore hath, in this Chapter, laid together a Set of Religious Paradoxes; which, however they may startle and fhock us a little, upon the first hearing, yet, when clofely examin'd, will appear to be clear unquesti onable Truths, by which the whole course of our Lives ought to be fteer'd and govern'd. In the first Verse of this Chapter (the Verse before the Text) he tells us, that a Good Name is better than precious Ointment, and the Day of one's Death than the Day of one's Birth. A Good Name is bet· ter than precious Ointment; i. e. rich Oils, and sweet Odors, (in the use of which the People of the Eaft much delighted) are not half fo grateful, or valuable, as a good Reputation, well founded: This is more truly fragrant, more diffufive of its influence, more durable: it gives a Man VI. a Man greater comfort and refreshment, S ER M. while he is Living; and preferves him, when Dead, better than the most precious Embalmings, And agen, The day of one's Death is better than the day of one's Birth; i. e. the day of the Death of fuch an one, as poffeffes and deserves a Good Name ; of such an one, as hath liv'd well, and dy'd well, is preferable by far to the day of bis Birth: for it gives him admittance into a State of perfect rest and tranquillity, of undisturb'd joy and happiness ; whereas the Day of his Birth was only an Inlet into a troublefome World, and the beginning of forrows. And then it follows, very naturally, in the words of the Text, that It is better alfo to go to the House of Mourning, than to go to the House of Feafting. As Death to a good Man is more advantageous than Life; fo to a wife Man the Contemplation of the First is more defirable than all the Enjoyments of the Latter: He had much rather be pre fent |
