University of Virginia Library

1 St PETER I. 4.

To an Inheritance—reserved in Heaven for you.

THE Desire of Happiness is common to all
intelligent Beings: It is so interwoven in
the Constitution of human Nature, that it can
never be separated from it: It animates the Prince
upon the Throne, and the Peasant in his humble
Cottage: It springs up in our Breasts in the early
Dawn of Life, it attends us in our maturer Age,
it does not desert us at the Gates of Death, but
accompanies us through every Period of our Existence.

We all desire to be happy — But the greatest
part of Mankind know not where this Blessing is
to be obtained. They erect their Altars to imaginary
Idols, and seek Satisfaction in sensual Indulgencies,
which inevitably disappoint their Expectations.

The Complaints of all Ages are sufficient to
convince us, that this Earth is not the Place where
Happiness is to be found. Its brightest Days are
shaded with melancholly Clouds: Its sweetest enjoyments
are infected with many bitter Ingredients:
Its highest Pleasures afford only a transient
Flash of Delight, and frequently end in Satiety
and Disgust.

We find by constant Experience, that the Scenes
of the present Life are perpetually varying: A
Succession of Hopes and Fears, of Joys and Sorrows,
attends us from the Cradle to the Grave.

Must we then renounce all Hopes of Happiness
for ever, and resign ourselves up to a dark and
inconsolable Despair? No! The Creator and
Father of the Universe has not consigned Man,
his favourite Offspring, to unavoidable Misery:
He is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
He has provided an Happiness for them beyond
the Dominion of Death. The present Life is the
Infancy of our Being; if we improve it aright,
we shall shortly attain to the Stature of perfect Men
in Christ Jesus, and enter upon a nobler State
of Existence. While upon Earth, we inhabit a
Valley of Tears; but Heaven is the Seat of unmingled
Felicity and Joy.

This Hope, the Apostle sets before the primitive
Christians, to support them under their distinguishing
Trials, to animate them to the zealous
Discharge of the various Duties of the Christian
Life; Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant Mercy,
hath begotten us again to a lively Hope, by the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the Dead: To an Inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away; reserved in Heaven for you.

In speaking to the Words of my Text, I shall
show,—That Heaven is the appointed Residence

of the People of God in a future World: And
then take a View of some of the magnificent Descriptions
which are given of Heaven in the Word
of God.

First, I am to show, that Heaven is the appointed
Residence of the People of God in a future
World.

They have here no continuing City. Heaven is
the Place designed for their eternal Abode: Into
this Place the penitent Thief was translated immediately
after he expired upon the Cross: Our
blessed Lord, amidst the Agonies of dissolving
Nature, addresses him in Language becoming the
Prince of Life; This Day thou shalt be with me
in Paradise. Into this delightful Abode, the
Spirit of departed Lazarus was conveyed by ministring
Angels. No sooner was he delivered from
the Sorrows of this mortal State, but he was admitted
to the Refreshments of Abraham's Bosom.

The Spirits of just Men, while upon Earth, reside
in Tabernacles of Clay, which must shortly
be resolved into their original Dust. But they have
a Building not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens.
Even while they dwell in this the Land of
their Pilgrimage, they seek a better, even an heavenly
Country. God, who condescends to stile
himself their Father and their Friend, will not
disappoint those Hopes, which are founded on
the Promises of his Word, but will exceed their
largest Expectations.

The enlivening Prospect of an Entrance into
this happy Place, reconciled Saint Paul to the
Thoughts of his approaching Dissolution: He
desired to be absent from the Body, that he might be
present with the Lord.

When our divine Master took an affectionate
Farewel of his favourite Apostles, He comforted
them with this kind and condescending Promise;
I go to prepare a Place for you; I will come again
and receive you to myself; that where I am, ye may
be also.

We know, that when our blessed Lord had
finished his Work upon Earth, He was received
into the highest Heavens; in the View of his
astonished Disciples, attended with a radiant
Guard of Angels, He entred into the Courts
above, to appear for us in the Presence of God.
Him must the Heaven of Heavens receive until
the Times of the Restitution of all Things[1] . If
then the Souls of departed Saints are to be with
Christ, as we are assured by the unerring Oracles
of Truth, they must be received into Heaven:
For this is the Place where our blessed Redeemer
resides; from thence he issues out his authoritative
Orders, and governs the Worlds of Nature
and Grace, for the Advantage of his Church.

Secondly, We now proceed to take a View
of some of the magnificent Descriptions that are
given us of Heaven in the Word of God.

We are indeed, at present, too distant from this
superior World to form an adequate Idea of its
Excellency and Glory. It is in a great measure
an unknown Country: Its Glories are covered
with a Veil; they are only discovered by an Eye
of Faith. Let us extend our View to the utmost
Limits of our present Capacity, we shall form as
defective Conceptions of these exalted Regions,
as a Man confined all his Days to a solitary Dungeon,
could of the Pomp and Grandeur of the
most magnificent Palace. But, blessed be God,
though we are not capable of a full View, we may
take a distant Prospect of the heavenly World.
We are not left intirely in the Dark; we may
form some faint Conception of the Happiness of
those who are admitted into it.

The Son of God descended from Heaven to
bring Life and Immortality to Light. He has given
us such an Account of this unseen State, as is
adapted to our present Situation and Circumstances.
Enough is discovered to inspire us with
ardent Desires after it, and engage us to the most
active and earnest Endeavours to prepare for it.
Though we must pass through the Shades of
Death before we enter into this Land of Life and
Light; yet we may view it as described in the sacred
Scriptures. While travelling through this dark
and uncomfortable Desert, we are permitted to
behold, as in a Landscape, the promised Canaan.

The strongest Images are employed to shadow
out its invisible Glories. The Charms of Nature

and Art are described in Strains of the sublimest
Eloquence, to give us the most lively Prospect of
the Happiness of its glorified Inhabitants.

It is represented as a City,—not like those erected
by human Hands, which are often disturbed by
intestine Divisions, and destroyed by hostile Neighbours:
But a City founded upon an immoveable
Basis, whose Maker and Builder is God. Its Citizens
are for ever exempted from the Assaults of Pain,
the Ravages of War, and the Fury of the Elements.
It is free from those melancholly Accidents
which have often depopulated the most
flourishing Communities, and transformed the
superb Palaces of Princes into Heaps of Ruin.
Into this City entreth nothing that defileth or distresseth
its Inhabitants. There is no Night, for
the Presence of the Lord God Almighty enlightneth it.
The Beams of his blessed Countenance form a
perpetual and unclouded Day.

But further, to give us the most exalted Idea
of the Dignity and Privileges to which the Righteous
are advanced, they are represented as possessing
a Kingdom; a Kingdom is the utmost Wish of
ambitious and aspiring Mortals. To enjoy this,
they form the most artful Intrigues, encounter
the most formidable Dangers, wade through Fields
of Blood, and often sacrifice the Lives of their
dearest Friends. If they succeed to the Extent of
their Wishes, how often are earthly Kingdoms
undermined by secret Treachery, or overthrown
by open Violence? The Crowns of Princes are

lined with Thorns; their distinguished Heads
become the Marks against which the Shafts of
Envy and Malice are perpetually discharged:
Their Administration is rendred uneasy by popular
Discontents, and the public Tranquillity destroyed
by Schemes of Ambition and Avarice.

But the Kingdom of the Just is at all Times
free from these disagreeable Circumstances. There
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth: The most
consummate Wisdom, impartial Justice, condescending
Goodness, are displayed in every Part
of the divine Government. Universal Love reigns
in every Breast. The Laws of Peace, Order and
Harmony, are invariably observed through all the
heavenly Mansions.

Heaven is called the Kingdom of God; because
it is the chosen Residence of the supreme Monarch
of the Universe. Here he has erected his
Throne, and fixed the Seat of his eternal Empire.
Here he appears in the Grandeur and Majesty
of a God, and displays the awful and amiable
Perfections of his Nature. His Smiles perpetually
irradiate these Regions. A Sense of his Love
diffuses unutterable Joy to all the Subjects of his
extensive Dominion. Myriads of adoring Scraphs
surround his Throne, and with the Voice of Triumph
celebrate the Honours of their King.
Clothed with the Charms of unfading Beauty,
possessed of angelic Strength and Vigour, they
stand before Him in shining Ranks, and with
quick Obedience perform his sovereign Orders.

The Spirits of departed Saints immediately become
Members of this pure and perfect Society,
are admitted to the same Dignity, partake of the
same Joys, and with unutterable Transport join
in the same Hallelujahs. The Rays which continually
proceed from the Sun of Righteousness,
spread Life and Joy through every Part of this
holy Community. All that die in the Faith of
God's Elect, are appointed to dwell in this Kingdom,
and are the Favourites of the King of
Kings. They all share in its Honours, Riches
and Delights. They are adorned with the Title
of Kings and Priests unto God. In this Character
they stand before the Throne of God, and serve him
Day and Night. Clothed with the unspotted
Robes of the Mediator's Righteousness, they
shine with transcendent Glory. Each wears a
Crown upon his Head, to intimate the Honour
to which he is advanced: All have Palms in their
Hands, as Ensigns of Victory and Triumph.
What is the Splendor of an earthly Court, when
compared with the dazzling Lustre in which the
Sons of God appear in the Kingdom of their
Father?

I add, the Habitation of the Righteous is not
only described as a Place of Dignity, but Pleasure.
To guard against the imaginary Dream of
a Mahometan Paradise, its Pleasures are represented
as pure and spiritual; such as exalt our
Natures, and form us to a Resemblance of the
Great Father of our Spirits.

In this celestial Paradise, ample Provision is
made to supply the Wants, satisfy the Desires,
complete the Happiness of the illustrious Residents.
They are freed from those Disorders of
Body, those distresses of Mind, which attend us
through every Stage of our Pilgrimage upon
Earth. None of the Inhabitants say they are sick:
They flourish in immortal Youth and Vigour.
The reviving Presence of God banisheth all Sorrow
from their Breasts, and his own kind Hand
wipes all Tears from their Eyes. The Lamb, which
is in the midst of the Throne, feeds them with the
heavenly Manna, and leads them to Fountains of
living Waters. Then shall be fulfilled in the sublimest
Sense that consolatory Promise, Behold,
the Tabernacle of God is with Men; He will dwell
with them, and they shall be his People; and God
himself shall be their God[2] . This contains every
thing which is requisite to complete and perpetuate
our Happiness; an Happiness superior to
our largest Desires; an Happiness which surpasses
our highest Imaginations.

APPLICATION.

This Discourse will naturally lead us to many
profitable Reflections: The Time will permit
me to mention only two.

First, Hence we see the astonishing Folly of
those who attach their Affection to the Vanities

of the present Life, and neglect the Glories of a
future World.

Who can behold, without a Mixture of Compassion
and Grief, inconsiderate Mortals seeking
Happiness where it is not to be found, and after
a thousand Disappointments, pursuing a deluding
Phantom? Captivated with pleasing Dreams,
they despise the only Felicity of a rational and
immortal Mind: With unceasing Toil, they ransack
the whole Creation in search of something
which will satisfy their Desires, and in every Place
they meet with Vanity and Vexation. To use the
Language of Inspiration, they spend their Money
for that which is not Bread; and their Labour for
that which satisfieth not[3] . To increase their
Unhappiness, they often mistake a fatal Poison
for an agreeable Enjoyment: With eager Haste
they take down the intoxicating Draught, which
consigns them over to Death and Misery. They
vainly expect to be happy, in a World that lies
under the Curse of the Almighty, and stupidly
neglect that World, where Blessedness flows in
an uninterrupted Stream, and makes glad the City
of God. Happiness is purchased for us by the
Son of God, and the Gospel invites us to secure
this inestimable Gift. But alas! Men are so infatuated,
that they choose to walk in the prohibited
Paths of Vice, though they lead to Hell;
and are unwilling to observe the appointed road
of Duty, though it conducts us safely to the Glories

of Heaven. They remain the voluntary
Slaves of Satan, when they might appear in the
Character of the Sons of God. They wallow in
those fordid Lusts which they enjoy in common
with the Beasts that perish, and despise the Dignity
and Blessedness of the Angels of Light.

How awfully is human Nature degraded from
its primitive Rectitude! How astonishing is the
Madness of Mankind! The Service of God is
neglected, that we may follow the Dictates of
Appetite and Passion: Heaven is undervalued
for the transitory Delights of Earth. The Man
who loses a Kingdom, that he may spend his
Time in trifling Amusements; the Man who forfeits
an immense Estate for a momentary Pleasure,
is not guilty of that Extremity of Folly, as the
Wretch who forfeits the Favour of God that he
may enjoy the smiles of the World, and excludes
himself the Joys of Paradise, that he may live
without restraint in the Pomps and Delicacies of
the present Life. What is the Grandeur of a
Monarch! What the Wealth of the Indies!
What the Pleasures of the most prosperous Sensualist!
when compared with the unfading Honours,
the incorruptible Treasures, the transporting
Delights, which are reserved for the
People of God? What Darkness vails the Understanding!
What Stupidity possesses the Minds
of Men! that they prefer the Things which are
seen and temporal, to the Things which though unseen
are eternal?

Consider, O Sinner! though the Objects of
Sense may now captivate your Heart, and render
you inattentive to the most important Interests;
in a little Time your Folly will be manifest
before the assembled Worlds of Angels and
Men. Covered with unutterable Confusion, you
will be obliged to confess the Absurdity and Extravagance
of your Conduct. With what Amazement
will you view this Earth, the Seat of all
your Joys, become a Sacrifice to the Wrath of
an avenging God! What Agonies must you feel,
when those brutal Satisfactions, for which you
have forfeited the Joys of the divine Presence,
shall escape from your Embraces for ever? With
what Terror must you behold a despised and insulted
Saviour descend from Heaven, in the
Majesty and Glory of an Almighty Judge?
With what Regret, will you see the Patriarchs
and Prophets, and all the Saints and Servants of
God, rejoicing in the Kingdom of their Father;
while you are condemned to Blackness of Darkness
for ever?

Let the Consideration of these Things awaken
you out of your Security, and excite you to flee
from the Wrath to come. Give all Diligence to
be found of your Judge in Peace; that when
this lower World shall be enwrapt in Flames, and
all its admired Glories vanish into Smoke, you
may possess an Inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled,
that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven
for you.

Secondly, How unbecoming is it for the Heirs
of Heaven to imitate the manners of this corrupted
Earth?

Shall the Sons and Daughters of the most High
God act and live like the Children of this World?
Shall they who are appointed to inherit all Things,
incessantly toil for those Enjoyments which perish
in the using? Is it not below the Dignity of a
Christian, to indulge the least Attachment to the
criminal Pleasures of Sin and Sense? Is it not a
Disgrace to our Character, to pursue the Honours
and Advantages of this Life, by the low and unmanly
Arts of Fraud and Falshood? Shall not
the Candidates for an unfading Crown, look
down with a generous Contempt upon the infamous
Practices of Insincerity and Ingratitude?
Shall they who are destined to enjoy a Kingdom,
be solicitous to obtain the Favour and Applause
of mistaken and misguided Mortals? Shall they
who have an unperishing Treasure in Heaven,
meanly stoop to grovel in the Dust of the Earth,
to obtain those Riches which are destroyed by a
thousand Accidents? Shall they who expect
shortly to be admitted into the pure and perfect
Society of Saints and Angels, be fond of those
glittering Trifles, those defiling Amusements,
which form the Happiness of Men who live without
God, without Christ, and without Hope in the
World? No: if we are fellow-Citizens with the
Saints, and belong to the Houshold of God; it becomes
us to have our Conversation in Heaven, from

whence we look for the great God, our Saviour.
We should imitate his instructive Example, who
for the Joy set before him endured the Cross, despising
the Shame: With unreluctant Chearfulness,
we should trace the most thorny Road, which
leads to the Seats of Bliss: With undaunted Fortitude,
we should disdain the Frowns and Flatteries
of the World, when they divert us from
the Path of Duty: With unfainting Patience,
we should pass through the Trials and Tribulations
of the present State; Knowing that our light
Afflictions, which are but for a Moment, work for
us a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory
[4] . If by the sovereign Appointment of Heaven
we are called to suffer the Loss of all Things
in the Cause of our adorable Master, we may
chearfully make the Sacrifice: What is the
Wrath of Man, in Comparison with the Wrath
of an omnipotent God? Men may persecute us
to Death, but the Grave places us beyond the
Reach of their Cruelty and Malice: They may
dismiss us from an uneasy World, but they cannot
exclude us the Delights of Paradise: They
may remove us from this Valley of Tears; but
this will introduce us into the Joy of our Lord.
Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord, from
benceforth; Yea, faith the Spirit, that they may
rest from their Labours, and their Works do follow
them[5] .

This naturally leads me to speak of my deceased
Friend and Dear Brother, the Rev. Mr
George Whitefield, whose sudden and lamented
Death occasioned the present Discourse. I
am not fond of funeral Panegyrics, which are
oftener adapted to flatter the Dead than instruct
the Living. But where Persons have been distinguishingly
honoured by Heaven, and employed
to do uncommon Service for God's Church
upon Earth, it would be criminal Ingratitude to
suffer them to drop into the Dust without the
most respectful Notice: The Memory of the Just
is blessed! Posterity will view Mr Whitefield,
in many Respects, as one of the most extraordinary
Characters of the present Age. His zealous,
incessant and successful Labours, in Europe
and America, are without a Parallel.

Devoted early to God, he took Orders as soon
as the Constitution of the Established Church in
England allowed. His first Appearance in the
Work of the Ministry was attended with surprising
Success. The largest Churches in London
were not able to contain the Numbers that
perpetually flocked to hear his awakening Discourses.
The Crouds daily encreased. He was
soon forced into the Fields, followed by Multitudes,
who hung with silent Attention upon his
Lips, and with Avidity received the Word of
Life. The Spirit of God, in uncommon Measure,
descended upon the Hearers. The Secure
were awakened to a salutary Fear of Divine

Wrath; and inquiring Minds were directed to
Jesus the only Saviour of a revolted World.
The Vicious were visibly reclaimed, and those
who had hitherto rested in a Form of Godliness,
were made acquainted with the Power of a Divine
Life. The People of God were refreshed
with the Consolations of the blessed Spirit, and
rejoiced to see their exalted Master going on
from Conquering to conquer; and Sinners of all Orders
and Characters bowing to the Scepter of a
crucified Saviour.

His Zeal could not be confined within the
British Islands: His ardent Desire for the Welfare
of immortal Souls conveyed Him to the
distant Shores of America. We beheld, a new
Star arise in the Hemisphere of these Western
Churches, and its salutary Influences were diffused,
through a great Part of the British Settlements
in these remote Regions. We heard
with Pleasure from a Divine of the Episcopal
Communion, those great Doctrines of the Gospel
which our venerable Ancestors brought with
them from their native Country. With a Soul
elevated above a fond Attachment to instituted
Forms and Ceremonies, he inculcated that pure
and unadulterated Religion, for the Preservation
of which our Fathers banished themselves into
an uncultivated Desert. In his repeated Progresses
through the Colonies, he was favoured
with the same Success which attended him on the
other side of the Atlantic. He preached from

Day to Day in thronged Assemblies; yet his
Hearers never discovered the least Weariness,
but always followed Him with increasing Ardour.
When in the Pulpit, every Eye was fixed on his
expressive Countenance; every Ear was charmed
with his melodious Voice; all sorts of Persons
were captivated with the Propriety and Beauty
of his Address.

But it is not the fine Speaker—the accomplished
Orator—that we are to celebrate from the sacred
Desk: These engaging Qualities, if not
sanctified by Divine Grace, and consecrated to
the Service of Heaven, are as the sounding Brass
and the tinkling Cymbal. When misimproved,
instead of conveying Happiness to Mankind,
they render us more illustriously miserable.

The Gifts of Nature, the Acquisitions of Art,
which adorned the Character of Mr Whitefield,
were devoted to the Honour of God, and the
Enlargement of the Kingdom of our divine Redeemer.—While
He preached the Gospel the
Holy Ghost was sent down to apply it to the
Consciences of the Hearers; the Eyes of the
Blind were opened, to behold the Glories of a
compassionate Saviour; the Ears of the Deaf
were unstopped, to attend to the Invitations of
incarnate Love; the Dead were animated with
a divine Principle of Life; many in all Parts of
the Land were turned from Darkness to Light, and
from the Power of Satan unto God. Those Doctrines
which we had been instructed in from our

Infancy by our Faithful Pastors, seemed to acquire
new Force, and were attended with uncommon
Success when delivered by Him. His
Discourses were not trifling Speculations, but
contained the most interesting Truths: They were
not an empty Play of Wit, but solemn Addresses
to the Hearts of Men.

To convince Sinners that they were by Nature
Children of Wrath; by Practice Transgressors of
the Divine Law; and in Consequence of this,
exposed to the Vengeance of offended Heaven;
to display the transcendent Excellency of a Saviour,
and persuade awakened Minds to confide
in his Merits and Righteousness, as the only
Hope of a guilty World; to Impress upon the
Professors of the Gospel the Necessity, not only
of an outward Reformation, but an internal
Change, by the powerful Influences of the Spirit;
to lead the Faithful to a zealous Practice of the
various Duties of the Christian Life, that they
may evidence the Sincerity of their Faith, and
adorn the Doctrine of God their Saviour; these
were the reigning Subjects of his Pulpit Discourses.

If Sinners were converted, if Saints were
built up in Faith, Holiness and Comfort, He
attained his utmost Aim.

He was no contracted Bigot, but embraced
Christians of every Denomination in the Arms of
his Charity, and acknowledged them to be the
Children of the same Father, Servants of the

same Master, Heirs of the same undefiled Inheritance.

That I am not complimenting the Dead, but
speak the Words of Truth and Soberness, I am persuaded
I have many Witnesses in this Assembly.

He was always received by Multitudes with
Pleasure, when He favoured these Parts with his
Labours; but he never had a more obliging Reception
than in his last Visit. Men of the first
Distinction in the Province, not only attended
his Ministry, but gave him the highest Marks of
their Respect. With what Faithfulness did he
declare unto us the whole Counsel of God? With
what Solemnity did he reprove us for our increasing
Degeneracy? With what Zeal did He
exhorts us, To remember from whence we were
fallen, and repent and do our first Works, lest God
should come and remove our Candlestick out of its
Place?

Upon every Occasion He expressed an uncommon
Concern for our Civil as well as Religious
Privileges, the dear-bought Purchase of our
Heroic Ancestors. With what Fervency did
He pray that they might be transmitted entire to
the most distant Posterity? He embraced every
Opportunity, in public and private, to persuade
us to lay aside our party Prejudices and Passions,
that with undivided Hearts we might unite in
every proper Method to secure our future Prosperity.

Animated with a Godlike Design of promoting
the temporal and spiritual Happiness of Mankind,
after the Example of his Divine Master,
He went about doing Good. In this he persevered
with unremitting Ardour and Assiduity till Death
removed him to that Rest which remains for the
People of God. Perhaps no Man, since the Apostolic
Age, preached oftener, or with greater Success[6] .

If we view his private Character, he will appear
in a most amiable point of Light. The polite
Gentleman; the faithful Friend; the engaging
Companion; above all, the sincere Christian,
were visible in the whole of his Deportment.

With large Opportunities of accumulting
Wealth, he never discovered the least Tincture
of Avarice. What he received from the Kindness
of his Friends, he generously employed in
Offices of Piety and Charity. His benevolent
Mind was perpetually forming Plans of extensive
Usefulness. The Orphan-House, which many

Years ago he erected in Georgia, and the College
he was founding in that Province at the
Time of his Death, will be lasting Monuments
of his Care, that Religion and Learning
might be propagated to future Generations.

In the midst of these generous Projections of
public Utility, the commissioned Angel was
dispatched to dissolve the vital Tie which detained
him upon Earth, and permit the enlarged
Mind to ascend its native Skies, his Death was
sudden, but not by him undesired. He often
uttered an ardent Wish, to be absent from the Body,
that he might be present with the Lord. He
has finished his Work, and we doubt not has received
the Approbation of his Master and
Judge: Well done, thou good and faithful Servant;
enter Thou into the Joy of thy Lord!

He had a quick Transition from the Labours
of the Church upon Earth, to the sublimer Services
of the heavenly Sanctuary; he is separated
from the Society of his Friends below, but united
to the nobler Society of Angels, Arch-angels, and
the Spirits of just Men made perfect. View him
then, not as perishing in the Dust of Death, but
entered into a World of Glory. Behold him
worshipping before the Throne of God, not
with a Company of frail and imperfect Mortals,
but with the general Assembly and Church of the
First-born; shining in the unspotted Robes of

Holiness; uniting in their Hosannahs, and partaking
of their Triumphs.

If you ask, What is this illustrious Company,
and from whence do they come? I answer, in the
Words of the Angel in the Vision of St John,
These are they which come out of great Tribulation,
and have washed their Robes, and made them white
in the Blood of the Lamb.

I have not, my Brethren, drawn an imaginary
Portrait, but described a Character exhibited in
real Life. I have not mentioned his natural
Abilities, which were vastly above the common
Standard: I have not spoken of the Improvements
he made in human Learning, in one of
the most celebrated Universities in the World:
I consider him principally in the Light of a Christian,
and a Minister of Jesus Christ, in which
he shone with a superior Lustre, as a Star of the
first Magnitude.

After all, I am not representing a perfect
Man; there are Spots in the most shining Characters
upon Earth. But this may be said of Mr
Whitefield with Justice, that after the most
public Appearances for above thirty Years, and
the most critical Examination of his Conduct,
no other Blemish could be fixed upon him, than
what arose from the common Frailties of human
Nature, and the peculiar Circumstances which
attended his first Entrance into public Life.

The Imprudencies of unexperienced Youth, he
frequently acknowledged from the Pulpit with
a Frankness which will for ever do Honour to
his Memory. He took care to prevent any bad
Consequences that might flow from his unguarded
Censures in the early Days of his Ministry.
The longer he lived, the more he evidently increased
in Purity of Doctrine, in Humility, Meckness,
Prudence, Patience; and the other amiable
Virtues of the Christian Life.

We are now called to remember, not only his
pathetic Discourses, but his excellent Example;
we are to follow him, as far as he followed Christ,
the only unspotted Pattern of Perfection.

His sudden Death calls aloud upon All to prepare
for that great Event, which must decide
our Destiny for ever. From the silent Grave,
he seems to address us in the awakening Language
of our Lord to his own Disciples: Watch
ye, therefore, for ye know not when the Master of
the House cometh; at Even, or at Midnight, or
at the Cock-crowing, or in the Morning; left coming
suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say unto
you, I say unto all, Watch[7] .

The solemn Calls, the faithful Reproofs, the
compassionate Invitations, you have heard from
this deceased Servant of Christ, will aggravate
your Condemnation, if you die in Impenitence,
or Infidelity.

Be persuaded then to trifle no longer with
your immortal Welfare: Be awakened by the
Word and Providence of God, without Delay,
to prostrate yourselves at the Feet of our Almighty
Saviour; and accept of the Offers of
reconciling Grace: Then, when delivered from
the Burden of the Flesh, you will be united, with
all who are departed, in the Faith of God's Elect;
and with them inherit a Kingdom, prepared for
you from the Foundation of the World. Amen.