Mary Magdalenes Love to Christ

IN the whole context from the first to the 18. verse, we have a description of the great love of Mary Magdalene, which she expressed unto Christ after his burial, and of the great honor which Christ was pleased to confer upon her, as a testimony of his high esteem, & gracious acceptance of that her Love.

Her Love unto Christ she shows, 1. In her early seeking him when it was yet dark. 2. In her hasty calling of Peter and John to the Sepulcher. 3. In her staying behind after they were gone away to their own home. They rested satisfied with the evidence of the thing, their senses saw he was not there, and their Reason told them it would be in vain there to seek longer for him. But she followed the Impetus of a strong affection, did not dispute nor consult with ordinary Reason, but where she had last seen him laid, there she hankers and lingers after him. His Honor to her appears in this that he hath more respect to the Love of Mary, then to the judgment and Reason of Peter and John; they gave over seeking him out of a dictate of reason; she continued seeking him out of the impulsion of Love, though against reason. And Christ is much better pleased with the performance of duty out of Love then with the neglect of it out of pretence of Reason, and therefore as she first sought him, so she first finds him, and as before she called the Disciples to the Sepulcher, so she employed to call them again, and to acquaint them with her finding of him.

In the whole context we may consider these two general parts,

1. Her continued attendance, affection and diligence in seeking and inquiring after Christ, when his Disciples had given it over.

2. Her success in so doing, for first she meets with witnesses of her Lord's Resurrection, and then with her Lord himself.

For witnesses of the Resurrection, here are, 1. The linen clothes which were left in the grave, for who would take away a dead man naked? who would in such a theft as this, when there were soldiers and a watch at the grave purposely to prevent it, trouble themselves to undo clothes which were strongly fastened with balm and Odors to his Body? who would stay to wrap them up, and put them in order one from another? his friends could not for they were watched: his enemies would not for they had sealed up the monument. And this might have fomented the opinion of a resurrection, which they endeavored to suppress.

2. Here is a Vision of Angels filling the place where Christ had lien, and a conference between her and them.

After these witnesses Christ is pleased himself to appear unto her, and to confer with her. 1. Under a disguise and unknown compassionating her tears, and enquiring after her desires, verse 14, 15. 2. Discovering himself to her as sometimes Joseph did to his brethren, verse 16. and presently employing her in a Message to his Disciples, verse 17. which she, notwithstanding her geat desire to have stayed with Christ and to have enjoyed his presence, doth immediately obey, verse 18.

In the words of the Text observe, 1. The carriage and behavior of Mary, and therein these three things. 1. Her Patience and unwearied attendance, She stood without at the Sepulcher. 2. Her Passion, she stood weeping. 3: Her diligence, she stooped down and looked into the Sepulcher.

2. The Consequent thereupon, wherein we may observe, 1. Who they were whom she saw, Angels. 2. The description of them, by their number, two Angels; by their habit, in white; by their posture, sitting one at the head, the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lien.

In the carriage and behavior of Mary comes first to be considered her patience, her continued, unwearied, undaunted attendance in seeking Christ, though the case seemed to wiser persons then she was desperate, But Mary stood without at the Spulchre. There had been set a watch of enemies, of Soldiers to secure the Sepulcher, she might have been deterred from coming thither by them; when she was come and had called Peter and John, they out of the evidence of the matter, and haply for fear of being observed go away again to their own home: But neither their example, nor the Reverence she had of their persons doth alter her; nor the fear of being observed by the enemy, afright her. Nor the dictate of her own sense, showing the improbability of speeding, doth dishearten her, but when they are gone she stands to it still. There she was sure her Master had been laid, and from that place no Reason, no fear, no prejudice, no example could draw her, but there she stood still. Here was great love indeed to outstrip and go beyond the very greatest Apostles. I do not know that Love of Christ is by name spoken of so particularly of any of the Apostles, as of Peter and John: Peter in the next chapter makes three solemn declarations of his love to Christ, Thou knowest that I love thee, chap. 21.15, 16, 17. John was not only the beloved Disciple, but the loving Disciple, when all forsook Christ at his Cross, he staid there with him; none of them wrote so much of Love as he. It is storied of him, that when he was by old age unable to make long Sermons, he would sit amongst his Auditors, and ingeminate over and over the duty of love: Yet there is a woman who even in that grace for which Peter and John were more famous then the rest of the Disciples, doth outstrip them. Though she knew their Honor, and Graces, and Dignity above hers in the Church, yet in matter of love and duty to Christ, she is as ambitious to go beyond them, as they were to outrun one another towards the Sepulcher.

Here then are three admirable Characters of a strong Love to Christ. 1. It suffers not itself to be stinted or limited, no not by the greatest Examples, It hath an holy emulation and ambition, it knows no bounds, no measure. The weakest woman, the meanest Christian, that truly loves Christ, may piously strive with the greatest Apostle in this point. Though he be learneder, wiser, more eminent, more useful, more able then I, yet I will not be exceeded, if possible, by him or any in my love to Christ. Every Christian may strive to excel any one in grace to get first into the Kingdom. So our Savior bids us strive to enter in at the strait gate, Luke 13.24. and the Apostle to Covet earnestly the best gifts, 1 Cor. 12.31. to seek that we may excel, 1 Cor. 14.12. to run fastest in the race of salvation, 1 Cor. 9.24. as John and Peter here strove to out run one another. God loves spiritual emulation to see any of his servants vie with others who shall be most full of love, meekness, patience, perseverance in his service. In David's Worthies this made Shammah one of the first three, The people fled from the Philistines, and he stood, 2 Sam. 23.11. he was not dismayed, nor led away by the example of the rest, nor Mary here by the Examples of the Apostles.

This is great wisdom and constancy, as well as Love, when we will not suffer the Reverence of persons, the example or Names of any, though far beyond us in graces, to mislead us in matter of duty to Christ, to make us weary or slack in his service; of all scandal and temptations this is one of the strongest: Peters example is a snare to Barnabas himself, Gal. 2.13. when a great stone falls out in a building, thousands of little ones follow that miscarriage. It is strange for common Soldiers to stand when their Leaders fly; yet this we see is the nature of true Love to Christ, non continetur terminis alienis. It suffers not any example to stint it; though Peter go, and John go, Mary stays still. Love is like fire when the great wood refuseth it, and is not suddenly taken with it; The smallest will blaze and help kindle the greater.

There is great need of this Ballast and Constancy of our love to Christ in these inconstant times, when many measure duties by persons, by interests, one for Paul, another for Apollo, one looks for Christ in this way today, and tomorrow in another; many with Peter and John come and then go, few with Mary stand still when they are in the Right. Now Love is a Root, a ground, a foundation, a remedy against being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, Ephes. 3.17. Ephes. 4.14, 15.

2. Strong love is Valiant and undaunted, will grapple and encounter with the strongest opposition; Mary fears neither soldiers, nor Jews, nor any enemy in her seeking of her Lord; a Hen will fight with a dog in defense of her chicken. Love is strong as death, and the flames thereof are vehement, Cant. 8.6. Death encounters the greatest Giant, it fears neither Majesty nor might. Pauperum tabernas, Regumque turres, fire fears no materials if they be combustible, it will feed upon them; nay, Love is in this sense stronger then death, death could not hold Christ, Acts 2.24. Love can, and will not let him go, Cant. 3.4. Gen. 32.26. strange was the love of weak women in the time of the Primitive Persecutions, when they would run with their children in their arms unto the places where Martyrs were to be burnt, fearing least the action should be over before they came, as we read in the Histories of those times. There was an Error, I confess, in this Love, for we should not rush upon sufferings, but stay God's call. Yet in nothing is error less erroneous then in love, Prov. 5.19. The service we owe to God is to be done with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength, and love is the compendium of all this, Rom. 13.10.

3. Love is not overborn with sense and Reason to give over seeking, what it desires to enjoy, though the eyes and the judgment dictate it to be sought, hic & nunc, in vain. This satisfied Peter and John, their Reason, being prevalent in them more then their affection, caused them to give over seeking Christ where they saw plainly he was not. But no improbabilities, no arguments can make this woman give over seeking where she saw no likelihood at all of finding. Love is in this also like Death. It will take no denial, it will not be put off with any Arguments. This is great faith, great love, great patience, in holy duties, when we can ply them against Reason, and can break through temptations that work not upon passions, but upon very judgment itself. As the poor woman of Canaan did. She cried unto Christ, and he did not answer her. She cried on, and he seemed to refuse her: She persists-still, comes to him, worships him, Implores his help, and she seems to be not only rejected but reproached; yet she breaks through all difficulties, digesteth all discouragements, Turnes repulses into Arguments, and by an holy Antiperistasis, the colder her hopes, the hotter are her prayers, till at last she prevaileth for a gracious answer, Matth 15.21-28. for there is a kind of omnipotency in prayer, vincit invincibilem, Ligat omnipotentem. This I say is great love, great faith to keep close to God, and lean upon his Name, when we walk in darkness, and have no light, Isa 50.10. to believe with Abraham in hope against hope, Rom. 4.18. when we are crippled with Jacob to wrestle still, Gen. 32. 25.26. and when sense and reason bid us despair, not only to believe, but to triumph, as the Prophet expresseth it although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the Vines: The labor of the Olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no heard in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation, Hab 3.17, 18.

It is never good for any man to dispute himself out of duty; to subject the great things of the Law unto carnal and sensitive disquisitions: to say I cannot see Christ here or there, near me in this temptation, in this distress, my Reason doubts whether he be in this Ordinance, or in that Ministry, therefore I will give over the Assemblies of Saints, the study of Scripture, the waiting upon him where I am sure I have seen him formerly. This is a destructive temptation to let our reason overcome our love to Christ.

The second thing considered in her behavior was, her Passion, she stood weeping, supposing that she had lost him both living and dead; that the grave had lost him as well as she, that the malice of his enemies had not only put him to a shameful death, but had envied him the honor of such a Sepulcher, and proceeded to rage upon his dead body; here are two things considerable, 1. The Piety. 2. The Error of her tears.

1. The Piety, she weeps for the miss and loss of Christ, and for the fear of that further scorn and dishonor which the Enemy might do to his dead body. The duties we learn from thence are two.

1. The Love and Honor which is due to the Bodies of Saints, though they have the seed of dishonor in themselves, they must not receive any dishonor from us. The Piety of the children of Israel is commended, that they embalmed Joseph, and put him in a Coffin, Gen. 50.26. Christ in his dead body was pleased to receive the usual honor from those that loved him, of linen clothes and spices, John 19.40. when Dorcas was dead they washed her, Acts 9.37. when Stephen was dead, devout men took care for his burial, and made great lamentation, Act. 8.2. and Christ esteemed it a good work in her that poured out a box of ointment on him because it was against his burying, Mar. 14.6. Those that honor God he doth honor, not only in their souls with glory, but his favor and care extendeth to their Names, to their graves, to their ashes, much more should our love extend to the comforting and refreshing of their bowels while they live amongst us, Philem 6.7.

2. The deepest and truest ground of sorrow unto any Christian soul that loves Christ, is to miss him, and lose him, to seek him and not be able to find him. The presence of Christ is that which makes heaven; then shall we ever be with the Lord, 1 Thes. 4.17, 18. John. 17.24. and this is the Hell of hells; Depart from me, Mat. 7.23, 25, 41. and when ever Christ is to seek to a poor soul in his communion, in the comforts of his presence, the light of his countenance, the taste of his promises, the efficacy of his grace, this is the saddest eclipse that the soul of a Christian can lie under. O therefore, when thou hast Christ hold him fast, let him not go, straggle not by wantonness, by presumption, by any neglect, from him: It will cost thee many tears to recover him again, and when he hath withdrawn himself, never give over suspiring towards him, enquiring after him, endeavoring to recover him; an eclipse would be perpetual if the Luminaries should not move, and continue their orderly courses: move on, do not stand still when thou art in darkness, but carry thy heart on with obedience, though without present comfort, in the course of duty, and thou shalt in due time recover light and joy again.

2. The Error of her tears, all this disquietness was a wrong furmize. In the most holy and ardent affections of God's children, there may be a mixture of error and infirmity, when they follow their own conceits, and are not guided by the word and will of God; a sad example whereof we have in Uzzah, which made David stumble as well as the Kine, 2 Sam. 6.6, 7. It was love in the Midwives to the Church, when they preserved the male children alive, but there was sin mingled, Exod. 1.19, 20. It was love in Joshua to Moses, when he would have Eldad and Medad forbidden to Prophecy, but there was error in that love, Numb. 11.28, 29. It was love in the other Tribes when they gathered against Reuben and Gad, because of the Altar which they had built, but there was error in that love, Josh, 22. It was love of holiness made Timothy drink water so much, but when it impaired his health, there was error in that love, 1 Tim. 5.23.

Therefore we should learn in our greatest zeal and endeavors of expressing love to Christ to see that our rule and grounds be right: That God's will, and not our own prejudice or error, be the principles whence our duties arise, that we be careful to have our zeal tempered with knowledge, and our love regulated by Truth, else we may create much unnecessary sorrow to ourselves by duties which are very pious, when they be misplaced.

2. We may here further take notice of the goodness of Christ, that when the hearts of his servants are right and aim only at him, he passeth by the errors and weaknesses of their holy things, and rewardeth them according to the love and integrity of their hearts in his eye-sight.

The third thing was her diligence, as she wept she stooped down, and looked into the Sepulcher; Her sorrow and love is not lazy, but tries that a second time, which before she had done in vain: She would not trust her own eyes, nor Peters, nor Johns, but from weeping she returns unto seeking again. Hence we learn two things:

1. True godly sorrow for the loss of Christ will beget uncessant diligence for finding him again. Faith is not right without Love, Love is not enough without Labor, Hope is not enough without patience, 1 Thes. 1.3. tears are not enough, Christ will have our sweat as well as our tears, our working as well as our weeping. Esau cried for the blessing, but did not recover it, Gen. 27.38. Orpah wept after Naomi, but did not follow her, Ruth 1.14. the young man was sorrowful, but he went away, Mark 10.22. Hannah's was right weeping, 1 Sam. 1.10. weeping and supplication, Jer. 3.21. Hosea 12.3. Peters right weeping, he went out and wept, weeping and returning, Mat. 26.75. Jerem. 31.8, 9. Mary's here was right weeping, she wept and looked; weeping and seeking, Jer. 50.4. Never let us esteem our sorrow godly sorrow, till it set us on work; and stir up in us practical affections, 2 Cor. 7.11. A wicked man may weep out of the fear of wrath, out of a pang of sudden devotion, may hang down his head as a Bullrush, as Pharaoh, Judas, Esau, Ahab, and others have done: But no man can ever weep out of Love, and sincerely bewail his want of Christ, who doth not as earnestly set himself to find, and to recover him again.

2. Love will make a man do those things over and over again, wherein yet he hath found no comfort nor success before: as faith made Israel compass the Walls of Jericho seven days together, Josh. 6.13, 15. and obedience, the Prophets servants go out six times together, though he saw nothing, 1 Reg. 18.43, 44. So love makes Mary to look and look again, to see what issue God would send. It is a waiting grace, it will not give over without a blessing. Hopes beyond experience. So Paul, 2 Cor. 12.8. thrice besought the Lord. So the woman of Canaan ventured on, and at last she had as much mercy as she would, Matth. 15.22, 28.

Let us learn this wisdom to try once and again, not to faint, or give over if we be not answered presently, Gal. 6 9. Hab. 2.2. Hold the beginning steadfast to the end, Heb. 3.14. Ply duty, though success follow not. Sow in the morning, withhold not thine hand in the evening, Eccles. •• .6. Light is seed, Psalm 97.11. we must wait as the Husbandman doth for its coming out, I am. 5.7. So Jonah, I said I am cast out of thy sight, yet I will look again toward thine holy Temple, Chap. 2.4. So David, he remembered God, even when he was afraid to do it, Psal. 77.3. they who thus wait shall not fail to meet with comfort at last.

Thus we have seen the singular and uncessant love of this woman to Christ, outvying the love of those Disciples, whose love is more specially taken notice of then any other of the Disciples. The Reason of which we may gather out of what we read, Mark 16.9. where it is said, that Jesus, when he was risen, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven Devils: Whereof likewise we read, Luke 8.2. The more sins any man hath had remitted, of the more devils he hath been possessed, the more admirable power and mercy he hath found in Christ towards his soul, the more will his heart be enlarged in love unto Christ again; for we love him because he loved us, 1 John 4.19. Paul, who had sinned more then all the rest of the Apostles, did labor more abundantly then all, 1 Cor. 15.10. The more service we would do unto God, the more sensible we must be of our own wickedness, and of his mercy. They to whom much is forgiven will love much, Luke 7.41, 42, 47.

We now proceed to the second general part observed in the words, viz. the success of this her great love, and unwearied attendance, she finds not the dead body of Christ, more reason had she had to weep, if she had found it; for if death could have held him, it would not have let us go, we should be still in our sins, 1 Cor. 15.17. The mercies of David were not sure, if he should not rise from the dead, Acts 13.34. but though she found not the Lord, she found more then they did who went away before her, they saw only the grave clothes, but she seeth two of her Lord's servants, and she may hope the Master is not far off, when he sends two servants before him as his use was, Luke 10.1. Comfort usually waits on the performance of duty: Peter and John look after Christ, and they see the linen clothes as evidences of his resurrection; more and more comfort waits on perseverance in duty. Mary continues, and she sees two Angels as witnesses of his Resurrection, and she continues still there, and at last is her self become an eye and an ear witness that he was risen indeed: the promise is made to patient continuance in well-doing. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory, Honor and Immortality, he will render eternal life, Rom. 2.6, 7. Let us not be weary of well-doing, in due season we shall reap if we faint not, Gal. 6.9. Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58. ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye may receive the promise, Heb. 10.36. If ye continue in my word, then are ye my Disciples indeed, John 8.31. Doubtless this good woman was well acquainted with that sweet promise of Christ, and built upon it, John 14.21. He that loveth me, I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Christ is much delighted to see his people outstand difficulties, to see his servants not discouraged with delays. Of all affections there is none more patient of Labor, and withal none less patient of delay then love is, Prov. 13.12. we do not creep, but run to the thing we love, because we love not to be long without it. As the Eagle hasteneth to the prey, Job 9.26. So doth the poor soul hasten to Christ: As soon as ever Mary heard that Christ was come, John 11.31. She rose up hastily to go unto him; the prodigal sons necessity did not move so fast as his fathers love, he came, his father ran, Luke 15.20. by how much the more impatient love is of delay, by so much the more is God pleased to see his servants wait till he will manifest himself.

Well she looked not in vain, she saw Angels.

Of all things in the world one would least have expected to find an Angel in a grave, Spirits in the place of bodies, Glory in the place of dishonor, Immortality in the place of corruption; but as the Apostle says of Hospitality, Heb. 13.2. So may I say of waiting upon Christ, and constancy in duty, be not weary of it, let not sorrow nor despondency of mind discourage, for some have met with Angels unawares, where they least of all looked for them.

There are two things I would note from hence. Mary finds not the thing she looks after, the dead body of Christ (as she supposed it was) But she finds that which was more safe for her to find, Angels to witness that he was alive.

All sincere and unwearied seeking of the Lord, hath a certain promise that it shall find, though not ever the thing which it seeks, yet that which is much fitter and better for us. God deals with his servants as the Country man in the fable did with his sons, he bid them dignity under the roots of his Vines and there they sho • ld find treasure; they did so but found none, yet the next year that opening of the roots did produce a plentiful Vintage, they dignity for treasure at the roots, and by that means found it on the branches. So God tells us that in keeping his Commandments there is great reward, we try, and haply at first feel as much affliction as before. But yet at last we do receive the promises, and are able to say by experience God is good to Israel, to those that are of an upright heart, Psal. 73.1. The Lord deals with men in spirituals as with Saul in temporals; he sought Cattle and God gave him a Kingdom, 1 Sam. 9.20. Mary sought here a dead comfort, and God sent her a living comfort, Paul sought for ease from temptation, and God gave him grace to sanctify it unto him, 2 Cor. 12.9. This is a sweet comfort unto God's children, God doth not always answer them in their will, but he doth always answer them in their wants. Mary's will was to find Christ in the grave, her want did require that he should be alive and out of his grave. We know not always what to pray, God knows always what to give.

This then is the ground of our comfort, the Lord is nigh to all that call on him in truth, Psalm 145.18. Jer. 29.13. he doth ever answer such men either ad votum, or ad profectum, either ad voluntatem, or ad utilitatem; if not to the mind of the man which prays, yet always to the mind of the Spirit whereby he prays. If in sickness I pray for health, and God give patience to bear, and grace to sanctify his visitation to me: if in temptation, for comfort, and he give fear to offend h •• , and faith to lean upon • im this seeking finds that which is better for my want, though • not that which is consonant to my Will. This should mightily encourage us to seek the Lord, we shall never do it in vain, Isaiah 45.19. we shall ever find either our wishes answered, or our wants supplied.

And it should teach us always to adore the disposition and ways of God towards us, and submit our Reason to his Providence; If we seek this or that and be crossed in it, to conclude God hath some better thing in store for us. It is against a man's will that he misseth his way, yet Saint Austin by missing his way once escaped the lying in wait of the Donatists who intended to kill him. God crossed his will that he might save his life. Sometimes God can make the breaking of the ship to be the saving of the Passengers, Acts 27.44. that a man may say as Themistocles did, periissem nisi periissem; as Jonah had been drowned, if he had not been devoured; Manasseh in probability had perished if he had not been afflicted, 2 Chron. 33.11, 12, 13.

II. We may hence observe, when the soul of a poor believer weeps, and sinks, and desponds, and is at the brink of a grave, ready to drop in and be swallowed up, there usually at the last as it were in Acie Novaculae, it meets with comfort, and in monte Videbitur, God is seen in the mount, when Isaac is in the very point of being offered up. Mary is here weeping, and sadly conversing with nothing but a grave, and in the house of darkness she meets with light. David was even at the graves mouth, and then he received a message of mercy, Psalm 6.5, 8, 9. Hezekiah under the sentence of death, and then received news of comfort, Isa. 28.10, 11, 20. Jonah in a double grave, in the sea and in the Whale, and then brought to shore, Jonah 2.6. Israel in Babylon as in a grave, and thence delivered, Ezek. 37.11. the earth is never nearer fruitfulness then when torn and harrowed. A man is never nearer pity in God's eye, then when he is most desperate and desolate in his own.

It should teach us amidst our greatest discomforts to trust in God under this relation, as a God that raiseth the dead, that calleth things which are not as if they were, that can sow light in a grave, and cause those which are in the dust to awake and sing, 2 Cor. 1.9. Psal. 97 11. Isa. 26 19. Moses had not been son to a Princesse, if he had not been cast out on the waters, nor Josph the second in the Kingdom, if he had not been cast into a Prison; God can make afflictions the harbingers of joy, as the sorrow of a woman in travel is the preparation to her comfort, Joh. 16.21.

3. In that Mary meeteth with Angels at Christ's grave, we might observe how the glorious Angels of heaven did Minister unto Christ when he was at lowest, at his Birth, in his temptation, in his Agony, in his grave, they rolled away the stone, and as it were held back the hangings while their Lord came out of his bed-chamber.

Which is matter of great comfort unto all his Members. The Angels are Ministring spirits sent forth by him for the good of such as shall be saved, Heb. 1.14.

1. To bear them in all their ways, Psal. 91.11. and to pitch their tents about them, 34.7. as the Camp was round about the Tabernacle, Numb. 2. or the Cherubims about the Walls of the Temple, 2 Chron. 3.7. so Jacob called them God's Host, Gen. 32.1, 2.

2. To protect them in any special distress, as, 1. In dangers, to guard them from the rage of enemies, as they did the Prophet Elisha, as Horses and Charets of fire against the Hoste of the King of Syria, 2 Reg. 6.17, &c. Daniel by stopping the mouths of the lions that they could not touch him, Dan. 6.22. 2. In death to attend upon them, and to convey their souls into heaven, Luke 16.22. 3. In their graves to gather them together at the last from the four winds, Mat. 24.31. It is ill despising any of the least of Christ's little ones; though they be little in themselves, yet they have great Angels in the presence of God to take care of them, Mat. 18.10.

4. It was no strange sight to see thieves at a Cross, but a wonderful sight to see Angels in a Grave: Certainly we may learn by this, that. Christ by his Resurrection hath made great changes and alterations in the grave: It is not now the thing it was before; he hath the Keys of hell and death, Rev. 1.18. The grave hath two doors, a fore-door to let out of the world, and a trapdoor to let down into hell; he hath the Keys of both for his servants; he hath opened the fore-door, and rolled away the stone to give them a resurrection, and shut the trap-door, the mouth of the pit, that it shall not swallow them up. So that to the godly it is now become Domus viventium, as the Jews were wont to call it, Mat. 22.32. John. 11.25. he bore our curse on the cross, and left his blessing in the grave. Blessed are they that die in the Lord, they rest, &c. Rev. 14.13.

But before these changes in this grave, there must be changes in another grave within us first. Wicked men are nothing else but living Sepulchers; their conscience a pit for dead works, Heb. 9.14. their mouth full of rotten communication, Ephes. 4.29. their throat an open Sepulcher, Psalm 5.9. their heart deep and profound, Psalm. 64.6. the father calls it Abyssus humanae conscientiae. We are naturally altogether become abominable, Psal. 14.3. Thi • grave must be first changed before that other. Mary Magdalene never saw two Angels in a grave, till her own seven devils had been cast out; so long as the heart holds fast sin, death holds fast her sting, and the horror and darkness of the grave remains in it still: None can stoop and look boldly into a grave, but they that love Christ. If ever thou wilt have thy death comfortable, thou must have thy life fruitful. Live by faith, labor in love, and thou shalt rest in hope. If thou be a true member of Christ, though but a foot, the meanest and lowest in his body, the Angels have a charge over thee both in life and death, in thy ways, and in thy grave.

Now next these Angels are described, 1. By their number, they are two to make up a legal competent number of witnesses, Deut. 19.15. So they testify his second coming, Act 1.10. the Jews got two false witnesses to accuse him, Matth. 26.60, 61. and between two base malelefactors crucified him, Mat. 27.38. Now God to glorify his Son, provided at his Funeral two Honorable persons, Joseph and Nicodemus, John. 19.38, 40. to take off the shame of his Cross, and here two blessed Angels to testify that the curse of the grave was abolished.

Hence we learn, that Christ and the truth of his Gospel, how low soever by the persecution of men it may be brought, never did, never shall want a sufficient number of Honorable witnesses to maintain it. Christ sent the seventy two by two before him, Luke 10.1. and we read of two witnesses; a sufficient number of Professors, Rev. 11.3. and when Satan raiseth the most malicious opposition, God affordeth the most glorious confirmation, Act. 17.12. where there is an Elymas to resist, there is a Paulus Sergius to embrace the Gospel, Acts 13.7. when Saul persecutes the Gospel, the Honorable Eunuch is converted unto it, Act. 8.37. when there are four horns to push the Church there are four Carpenters to fray them away, Zach. 1.19, 21. when there are bulls against it, he makes Kings bring Presents unto it, Psalm. 68.29, 30. when men and Nations abhor Christ, Kings and Princes arise and worship him, Isa. 49.7. God never leaves his Gospel either without evidence or without honor, we have Catalogum Testium in the worst ages, of good men, who by their pens and their blood justified oppressed truth against prevailing error, and owned Christ under the tyranny of Antichrist

Blessed therefore is he who is not offended in Christ, who doth not stumble at the scandal of the Cross, nor fear the malice and opposition of wicked men. The Jews think thieves companions good enough for him on either side of his Cross, and God sends blessed Angels to be servants unto him at either end of his grave. Let us follow Christ in a holy conversation, no matter though the wicked of the world abhor and disdain us. God will always provide an ointment for our Name, and make it precious in the eyes of the truly honorable; and he will provide an Angel for our graves, to lay us down there in rest and ease. And it is much more comfortable to carry a Cross in our lifetime, and find an Angel in our grave, then to glister in the applause of the evil world, and to find our grave, just as Adam left it to us, without life, or rest, or hope in it.

2. By their Habit, they were in white, men use to attend Sepulchers in black and mourning habits. Nigros efferre Maritos; they called such as were to be buried nigri; and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Poets call it, black death.

Tombes were dwellings for devils and unclean spirits, Mark 5.2, 3 but now in Christ's Tomb here are Angels of light in white garments. Garments of praise, Isaiah 61.3. tokens of joy, Eccl. 9.8. Emblems of victory and triumph, Rev. 3.5. great reason of joy at this harvest, when the earth gave up her first fruits from the dead, Isaiah 26.19. Hence haply it was that they who were anciently baptized, were baptized in white garments, as we read in Lactantius, Ambrose, and others. Candius egreditur nitidis exercitus undis; to note that they were Candidati Resurrectionis & aeternitatis. This is certain there were no ground of joy, no assurance to us of victory against hell and death, but by the resurrection of Christ. Fiducia Christianorum resurrectio mortuorum, as Tertullian speaks. The Resurrection from the dead is the confidence and comfort of Christians.

3. By their posture, one at the head, another at the feet, sure no circumstance is observed in vain in this strange sight. I shall not wander into various conjectures, but rest in this, that it seems to be an allusion to the Cherubims at either end of the mercy-seat, Exod. 37.7, 8, 9. Gazing on this great Mystery, this riddle of Sampson, out of the eater meat, out of the strong sweetness, out of the grave salvation. This is one great part of the Mystery of godliness, seen of Angels, 1 Tim. 3.16. 1 Pet. 1.12.

Three Uses we draw from it, and conclude, 1. It comforts us, that being in Christ and dying in the Lord, we sleep in our graves as it were between the Angels who have a special inspection over us there. 2. is It comfort for the meanest sincere believer in the body of Christ. That Angels do not only wait upon the Head, but upon the feet. They do not only ascend, but descend on the Son of Man, John 1.51. The top of the ladder reacheth to the glorious head; and the foot to the grave the meanest parts of his members. 3. If I might use an Allegory (wherein I confess is fit to be sparing) I would note one thing more for our instruction, That we should herein imitate Christ to have an Angel not at our head only, but at our feet too, many can be content to have an Angel at their head, nothing but light there, but they Care not for an Angel at their feet, to walk answerably to their Light and Knowledge. David carried his Light to his feet, Psal. 119.105. and the charge which God gives his Angels towards us is in order to our feet and our ways, Psalm 91.11. It is a sad thing for a man to have all his Religion in his Brain and Tongue, nothing in his Heart and Conversation. Devils can transform themselves into Angels of Light, not so easily into Angels of holiness. In some diseases the head swells when the body wastes: It is, though too usual, yet a monstrous thing to have the head only of a man, and the dispositions of a Beast, to have an Angelical understanding, and a Diabolical conversation. The greater our knowledge, the deeper our disobedience, Joh. 15.22. because light doth both forbid it, and aggravate it, and discover it; much better the heart of David with the head of Rehoboam, then the head of Solomon with the heart of Nabal: better have a rich Diamond in a ring of brass then a Bristow -stone in a ring of gold. And so I have done with the words.

And now though I have laid on myself a Law of wariness and caution in the business of Funeral Elogies, as no way beneficial to the dead, and sometimes by accident or misapplication hurtful to the living: yet give me leave to say this little of our dear friend and sister departed. She was both in bodily resemblance, and in moral imitation the transcript of a gracious mother. One in so tender years of as solemn, grave, composed, and even matron-like a carriage, as did give testimony that her heart was ballassed and poised with serious and weighty cares.

She was of a lowly mind, and in special beautified with that grace which the Apostle calleth the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price. She lived for the space of an year in my family, with so much sweetness and innocence of conversation, that I believe never any could observe in all that time the least appearance of any passion in her.

She was very watchful over those of her domestical Relations which were younger then her self, and would with much love and tenderness, instruct, counsel, reprove, and mind them of what she observed to be any way amiss or defective in them, and seriously call upon them to make conscience of their duty to God and men.

She was exceeding faithful and prudent in discharge of the family trust which was committed unto her. And certainly would have made as good a wife, and true an helper (had the Lord not purposed a better condition for her) as most young women that I have had acquaintance with.

She was a great lover of privacy and retirement, not at all given to idleness or tattling, or wandering about from house to house, but very much conversant in her closet, reading and praying. It was mixed matter of sorrow & comfort to her in her sickness, that when she was well, God enabled her unto some weak performance of duty (the weakness whereof she much complained of) to pray earnestly and largely for her own soul, and the souls of her relations: and that then when she most desired it she was least able to perform it, the acuteness of her disease something discomposing her from fixedness of mind.

She had very little regard of anything relating to her health, or recovery in the time of her sickness: but her whole thoughts were taken up with this one care to clear the evidence of her being the child of God. Those thoughts heavenward had the chief possession of her, till the height of her disease disturbed her reason, and then hastened her end: Which I am verily persuaded was unto her an happy dissolution.

The Lord make us all wise unto salvation, and teach us so to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto that Wisdom; that whether we live, we may live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we may die unto the Lord, that unto us to live may be Christ, and to die may be gain.

Upon the happy (though early) Death of his dear Sister M ^s Elizabeth Thomason Dying of a Feavor.

An Epitaph on the Same.

On the death of the most virtuous young Gentlewoman M ^rs : ELIZABETH THOMASON, who died of a Feavor

Epitap • ium Eliz Thomason Vista abeuntis die —

To the Worthy Faster of a very virtuous Virgin deceased: who •• si •• l an •• seu •• Pe • son to make an Elegy &c.

In memory o • M ^rs Eliza Thomason who • ich April y ^e 1659

An Epitaph