A

SERMON

PREACHED AT THE FUNERAL

OF

THE REV. HENRY SCOUGAL, A. M.

BY GEORGE GAIRDEN, D.D.

PHILIPPIANS, i. 21.

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. IT hath been the usual practice of all nations in the world, of whatsoever religion, sect, or persuasion, to leave upon record to after ages, the lives and memorable actions of those who have been eminent among them for great or good actions. And however this practice may have been abused, sometimes to serve the interest of a sect or party, or other undue ends; yet, that the memory of good men ought thus to be transmitted to posterity, may be deduced both from Scripture and common reason; it being fit thus to manifest the grace and goodness of God in men, and thereby to advance his glory and kingdom; and to make their light so shine before others, that they may be useful instructions to the world, and incentives to follow their examples. To this we owe the remembrance of all those good and great men, recorded in the Old Testament: nay, on this is grounded the

establishment and purity of our most holy religion. We have left us the memorials of the life and doctrine of our most blessed Lord and Master in the holy gospels, and the acts of the Apostles, whom he sent to convert the world. And the pious Christians of succeeding ages, according to this pattern, were careful, both by public discourses and writings, to awaken their own and after times, with the remembrance of the zeal and piety of holy and devout persons.

And now, if, by the general practice and consent of all men, records of exemplary piety and goodness be thus useful to posterity, even though they be strangers to the persons of those whose lives and actions are transmitted to them; I am sure we have much reason to think, that some seasonable and useful meditations, at such a time and in such a place as this is, may have some influence on our minds, when we have here before us the remains of our departed friend, who hath so lately left this world; whose presence and conversation was so comfortable to us; whose innocence and goodness were so exemplary ; whose good-will, affection, and beneficence were so sincere and universal; whose remembrance is so dear to us; who was so much the stay and honour of our church, and so universally beloved and esteemed by all. Sure the sense of all these, and the sight of all this funeral-attendance, cannot but cast our souls into some deep thoughts. And to this I doubt not but your hearts bear witness. Would I could say something useful for your meditations, and suitable to your present temper and this subject! God assist and direct our thoughts.

When I reflect upon the life and spirit of our friend, (of the which I have had the honour and happiness to have been so frequent an observer,) and when I consider the constant temper and disposition of his soul, as to this and the other world, the great

resignation of his mind, his willingness to stay here, that he might do some service to his ever-blessed Maker and Redeemer; and yet his cheerful thoughts and apprehensions of that happiness that is above, and his ardent breathings after it: methinks I hear always from him the words of St. Paul, To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I shall not trouble you with any large explanation, nor with the various readings of these words; we shall only consider them in their most obvious sense and meaning. The blessed Apostle being in bonds at Rome, writes this letter to the Philippians, to exhort them to a perseverance in the faith of Christ, and to have their conversation suitable to it. And, that they might not be discouraged by his bonds, he tells them the happy fruits of them, how much they had conduced for the furtherance of the gospel; that the knowledge of his suffering with such constancy for that religion which he had formerly so zealously opposed, was spread throughout that city, and manifest in the palace itself: so that many thereby were converted to the faith of Christ, and others strengthened in it, and made more bold to preach the gospel; so that Christ was preached every where by some, out of envy at the glory and fame he acquired in planting the gospel there, and by others, in sincerity, and out of love and good-will. So that he hoped, whether by life or death, Christ should be magnified in him; if he lived, by his constant preaching his gospel, and living his life; if he died, by sign ing the truth of it with his blood: For me to live is Christ. "The whole of my life in this world, "the end of my living here, the great aim of all my thoughts, and designs, and actions, is Christ; "to be endued with his spirit, and lead his life; to spread his gospel, and enlarge his kingdom. I have no other design than this. God knows, and the

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"world sees, whether I mind riches, or pleasures › "or glory among men. No: I have consecrated my "life and spirit to my blessed Lord and master; and they shall be employed in his service. Christ is my life: so that I live; yet not so much I, as Christ "that liveth in me."

Few words but full of sense and truth. They are not like those airy expressions which, when searched into, have nothing but fancy and imagination at the bottom of them; but they contain the very marrow of Christianity, and the whole of a Christian spirit; the complete character of his life, and a perfect instruction for our's. And this will appear if we consider a little more distinctly their importance. For one to live to another, may be said in two respects: 1. When he is endued with the same spirit, and has the same temper of mind, and leads the same kind of life; and, 2. When his heart and his life is wholly devoted to his love and service; when he loves him above all, and minds nothing more than his interest, and employs his life in serving his designs, and doing his will. And, in both these respects, (which, indeed, cannot be separated), we may consider the Apostle's words, To me to live is Christ; or, Christ is my life.

1. First, As he was endued with the spirit, and led the life of his blessed master: Be ye followers of me, saith he, even as 1, also, am of Christ. And indeed, this is the great design of Christianity, and the truest Character of a Christian. All our duty and all our happiness consists in the being like unto God, and the living in that dependance upon, and subjection to him, that reasonable creatures owe their Almighty Creator. Now, seeing God dwelleth in that light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see; therefore the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath

declared him. He hath clothed himself with our flesh, and become man, and conversed amongst us, like one of ourselves, and shewn us what the Father is, and how we must be like him. Would we know how God would live amongst us, were he clothed with our nature and infirmities, if he dwelt in our flesh, and were visible to our eyes? Behold the Son of God, consider his life and spirit, and this is the life of God; for he is the brightness of his Father's glory and the express image of his person. Would we learn how far our nature is capable of being like unto God, how we must be partakers of the divine nature, and be renewed in the spirit of our minds, putting on the new man, which, after God is created in righteousness and true holiness? Consider Jesus Christ, subject to the infirmities of our nature, and living the life of God. Behold he hath given us an example, that we should follow his steps. He is the light of the world; and they that follow him, shall not walk in darkness. In him was life, and his life was the light of men, though darkness comprehended it not. Consider the profound humility of his soul; the great meekness of his spirit: the entire resignation of his will to his heavenly Father; the unspotted purity of his desires and affections, wholly mortified as to this lower world; the ardency of his love to God, and his zeal and delight to do his will; his wonderful patience under the greatest sufferings; his uninterested, sincere, and boundless charity towards men, doing good even to those who hated and persecuted him, and dying for those who crucified him. In these, and in all other graces, he hath gone before us, and called upon us to learn of him, and follow him. For this end did he live and die, to endue us with his Spirit, and change our nature into his. He humbled himself to our nature, that he might make us partake of his: he hath revealed unto us the nature of God, and his undeserved