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and successes, and returns of prayers, that we have received; that we give up ourselves to the Lord in all manner of holiness; this is that which the Lord's voice calls us unto: let not now him that is filthy be filthy still; let not him that is worldly be worldly still; let not him that is loose, and hath cast off the yoke of Christ, be so still; let not him that hath sought himself, do so still; let not him who hath contemned the institutions of Christ, do so still; let not him that hath been lifted up above his brethren, be so still; but let every one forsake his evil way, and the iniquity that is in his hand, that we who were not a people at all, may be a people to the praise of the God of all: that you who rule over men may be just, ruling in the fear of the Lord, that you may be as the light of the morning when the sun is risen, even as a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain: that we who are under rule, may sit under our vines and fig-trees, speaking well of the name of God, and labouring to carry on the kingdom of the Prince of peace, even every one as we are called, and abiding therein with God; that as when you sought this mercy of God which we rejoice in, in solemn humbling of yourselves before the Lord, I made it appear unto you, that it was the remnant of Jacob, God's secret and holy ones, lying in the bowels of the nation, that must be the rise of all our deliverances, so we would now every one strive to be of that number, for they alone enjoy the sweetness of this and

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SERMON X.*

THE

LABOURING SAINT'S DISMISSION TO REST.

A SERMON PREACHED AT THE FUNERAL

OF

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY IRETON,

LORD DEPUTY OF IRELAND.

* This sermon was preached in the abbey church at Westminster, Feb. 6, 1651.

ΤΟ

THE HONOURABLE AND MY VERY WORTHY FRIEND

COLONEL HENRY CROMWELL.

SIR,

THE ensuing sermon was preached upon as sad an occasion, as on any particular account hath been given to this nation in this our generation. It is now published, as at the desire of very many who love the savour of that perfume, which is diffused with the memory of the noble person peculiarly mentioned therein; so also upon the requests of such others, as enables me justly to entitle the doing of it obedience. Being come abroad, it was in my thoughts to have directed it immediately in the first place to her, who of any individual person was most nearly concerned in him. But having observed how near she hath been to be swallowed up of sorrow, and what slow progress he, who took care to seal up instruction to her soul by all dispensations, hath given her hitherto towards a conquest thereof; I was not willing to offer directly a new occasion unto the multitude of her perplexed thoughts about this thing. No doubt, her loss being as great as it could be, upon the account of one subject to the law of mortality, as many grains of grief and sorrow are to be allowed her in the balance of the sanctuary, as God doth permit to be laid out and dispended about any of the sons of men. He who is able to make sweet the bitterest waters, and to give a gracious issue to the most grievous trial, will certainly, in due time, eminently bring forth that good upon her spirit, which

he is causing all these things to work together fcr. In the mean time, sir, these lines are to you: your near relation to that rare example of righteousness, faith, holiness, zeal, courage, self-denial, love to his country, wisdom, and industry, mentioned in the ensuing sermon; the mutual tender affection between you, whilst he was living; your presence with him in his last trial and conflict; the deserved regard you bear to his worth and memory; your design of looking into, and following after his steps and purpose in the work of God in his generation, as such an accomplished pattern as few ages have produced the like; with many other reasons of the like nature, did easily induce me hereunto. That which is here printed is but the notes I first took, not having had leisure since to give them a serious perusal, and upon that account must beg a candid interpretation, unto any thing that may appear not so well digested therein, as might be expected. I have not any thing to express concerning yourself, but only my desire that your heart may be fixed to the Lord God of your fathers, and that in the midst of all your temptations and oppositions, wherewith your pilgrimage will be attended, you may be carried on and established in your inward subjection unto, and outward contending for, the kingdom of the dearly beloved of our souls, not fainting, or waxing weary, until you receive your dismission to rest, for your lot in the end of the days.

Sir,

Your most humble and affectionate servant,

Oxon, Ch. Ch. April 2.

J. OWEN.

But

go

SERMON X.

thou thy way till the end be, for thou shalt rest, and stand in the lot at the end of the days.—Dan. xii. 13.

THE words of my text having no dependance (as to their sense and meaning, but only as to the occasion of them) on the verses foregoing; I shall not at all look backward into the chapter, but fall immediately upon them, that I be not hindered from my principal intendment: being unwilling to detain you long, though willing to speak a word from the Lord to such a congregation gathered together by such an eminent act of the providence of God.

The words are the Lord's dismission given to a most eminent servant, from a most eminent employment, wherein these four things are observable:

First, The dismission itself in the first words: 'Go thou thy ways.'

Secondly, The term allotted for his continuance under that dismission: Until the end be.'

Thirdly, His state and condition under that dismission: · For thou shalt rest.'

Fourthly, The utmost issue of all this dispensation, both as to his foregoing labour, his dismission, and rest following: 'Stand in thy lot at the end of the days.'

First, In the first, I shall consider two things.

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1. The person dismissed; Thou.'

2. The dismission itself; 'Go thou thy ways.'

1. The person dismissed is Daniel, the writer of this prophecy, who received all the great visions of God mentioned therein, and I desire to observe concerning him as to our purpose in hand, two things.

(1.) His qualifications; (2.) His employment.

(1.) For the first, I shall only name some of them that were most eminent in him, and they are three.

[1.] Wisdom; [2.] Love to his people; [3.] Uprightness and righteousness in the discharge of that high place, whereunto he was advanced.

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