Section 1144
III. The reason assigned why such should be marked and observed
And which is expressive of their future happiness; for the end of that man is peace; or there is an end to the man of peace: and many versions render it, the man of peace, or peaceable man; [5380] particularly the Syriac version, there is a good end to men of peace; and so it carries on the description of the good man as a peaceable man. He is a man of peace, who enjoys much peace; the kingdom of God within him is peace and joy in the holy Ghost; he is filled with peace through believing in Christ; he has much peace with God through him, arising from a view of justification by his righteousness, pardon by his blood, and atonement by his sacrifice; yea, he is kept in perfect peace, having his mind stayed on the Lord, and his heart trusting in him; he enjoys a peace which passeth all understanding, which he has in Christ, and from him, and amidst all the tribulations that attend him in this world; and which the world neither gives, nor takes away. He finds much peace of mind in waiting upon God, and worshipping him in the several duties of religion, both in private and public; in all the ways of Christ, which are ways of pleasantness, and paths of peace: he partakes of those joys and pleasures which a carnal man is a stranger to, and intermeddles not with. And he likewise follows after peace with all men, and after those things which make for it; he endeavors to cultivate it everywhere, in the church, and in the world; and as much as in him lies, and if possible, would live peaceably with all mankind; peace rules in his heart, and is the temper and disposition of his mind.
But the better reading of the words, and what gives the best sense of them, is, that the good man’s end is peace; his latter end, as the word is sometimes rendered; the latter part of his life, as Job’s was. Bildad told him, that were he pure and upright, his latter end should greatly increase; and as he was, so it did, the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning; in both which places the same word [5381] is used, as here: and sometimes the last days of a good man are more peaceable, prosperous, and happy than the first part of his life is: but however, if this is not the case, if his tribulations continue to the end of his days, and through many he enters into the kingdom of heaven, peace is the issue of all; he goes away in peace, as old Simeon desired he might; and if not in a transport of joy, in a triumph over death and the grave, saying, O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, the strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, which hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ; (57) yet he goes off in serenity and tranquillity of mind, trusting in the Redeemer, and desirous of being with him. And as soon as he is departed, he enters into peace, into the joy of his Lord; into his presence, in whose presence is fullness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore. There will be nothing then to disturb his peace; no pricking briar, nor grieving thorn, (Ezekiel 28:24) in all the heavenly country he is gone into; no more sin and corruption in his own heart to distress him; no more any of Satan’s temptations to annoy him; no more of the reproach, rage, and persecutions of wicked men to molest him; there the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest: (Job 3:17) there is everything that contributes to peace; there is the God of peace, that will be with him forever; there is the Prince of peace, that has made peace for him by his blood; there is the holy Spirit, whose fruit is peace; there are the angels of peace, who at Christ’s incarnation sung glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good-will unto men; (Luke 2:14) and there are the saints, the sons of peace, with whom he shall live forever: and there will be everything that can come under the notion of peace and happiness; there will be perfect health of body and soul, and length of days, forever and ever; no more pain, sickness, sorrow, and death; there will be riches and honor; riches of glory, an eternal weight of glory, a crown and throne of glory, an everlasting kingdom, prepared from the foundation of the world; a paradise of pleasure, bliss, and joy, inconceivable and inexpressible. This is the end of the perfect and upright man.
Now if any man may be said to be perfect and upright, in the sense in which I have explained these characters, as I doubt not there are many, the person whose death has occasioned this discourse may be said to be the man; and who was an ornament to the Dissenting interest in general, and to the Baptist denomination in particular, of which denomination he was.
I fear I shall not be able to do justice to the character of this worthy gentleman, for want of sufficient knowledge of him; for though I have had the honor to be acquainted with him for some years past; yet by reason of distance of habitation, and having but seldom an opportunity of conversation with him, I am not so well qualified to give you his true portrait, as a gentleman and a christian; however, what from my own observation, and the information of others, I will give you the best account of him I can.
Mr. SEWARD was a gentleman of fine natural parts and good sense; he had a peculiar sweetness of temper, scarce ever known to be ruffled, discomposed, fretful and impatient, upon any occasion; which singular good nature, as it is commonly called, adorned with the grace of God, set him in a most amiable light, and caused him to shine in a most pleasing manner to all that knew him. He had the advantage of a liberal education, first begun in Westminster s chool, and then carried on in the University of Cambridge; where, as I am informed, he took a degree, and was designed for service in the Established Church, in which he was brought up; but this was frustrated by a call in Providence from thence to another employment in life.
When it pleased God effectually to call him by his grace, through consulting the sacred scriptures, and his own experience, as well as the writings of learned and godly men, he embraced and professed a set of principles, glorious in themselves, calculated to secure and increase spiritual peace and comfort, and to promote true and undefiled religion, and powerful godliness; and upon the same plan he received the doctrine of adult baptism, and submitted to the ordinance of it, an ordinance greatly despised by men; in which he acted the self-denying part, as well as in joining himself in the communion of a small society of christians, of the Baptist denomination, mean and despicable in the eyes of men; and this he publicly did before the whole world, as not being ashamed of Christ, his gospel, ordinances and people; esteeming reproach for Christ’s sake greater riches than all the treasures in Egypt.
Humility, that truly Christian grace, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which so much adorns the believer, was eminently conspicuous in him; he was affable and courteous to the meanest person; would condescend to men of low estate, and submit to those that were inferior to him, esteeming others better than himself; not elated either with the affluence of life he was possessed of, or with his natural or acquired abilities, or his spiritual gifts; knowing from whom he received them; and therefore would not glory as though he had received them not.
As he was blessed, with plenty of this world’s good things, and so capable of relieving the distressed; his ears were open to the cries and requests of the poor; his heart sympathized with them in their troubles; his hand was ready to distribute to their necessities; he was a cheerful giver; and took delight in every opportunity to do good; which he did to all, without respect to parties, having an heart benevolent to all mankind; which gained him the universal esteem of all that had knowledge of him.
In his last illness he was calm and sedate, still and quiet, patient, and perfectly submissive and resigned to the will of God; not at all reluctant to death, or in any fear of it; entirely dependent on Christ as his Savior, and wholly looking to him for eternal life and salvation. In a visit I paid him, upon asking him how his faith stood, he replied, “his only view was to JESUS, and his trust was in him, knowing there was no other way to life and happiness; but added, that believing in Christ was a thing sometimes not so clear and manifest; ” to which I replied, “it might be known, for to them that believe, Christ is precious; and as he is precious to every one that believes, so to whomsoever he is precious, that man does believe, or has true faith in Christ.” He observed, that this was an argument which he himself had made use of, to persuade some fearful christians that they did believe; and seemed greatly affected with it. I added, I hoped he would make use of the argument in his own favor. To a Reverend Minister [5382] that afterwards visited him, he declared, “that could he enjoy health and honor, and all the grandeur and good things of this world, they would be all nothing to him in comparison of a well-grounded hope of eternal glory and happiness.” As he had no immediate apprehensions of death, till he was at once seized by it, nothing dropped from him concerning that—the last words he was heard to utter in a broken and almost inarticulate manner, were, “Dear Jesus—Come—Come. ” Thus, without any violent struggle of nature, or any show of concern and uneasiness at death, this precious servant of Christ fell asleep in Jesus.
The loss of him is great indeed! A loss to his surviving relative, to whom he was a most indulgent husband, a most delightful companion, and a sympathizing partner in her afflictions; may the Lord sanctify it to her, and support her under it! A loss to his dear children, to whom he was a tender and affectionate parent; who, by his bright example, hearty counsel, and wise directions and instructions, might have been of still greater advantage to them, had it pleased God to have continued him longer with them: May they tread in his steps and copy after him! A loss to his poor neighbors and others, both in the church and in the world, to whom he was a cheerful benefactor. A loss to the whole interest of Christ, of which he was an ornament and support! He himself indeed is the gainer, and so is the church triumphant; which hereby has one more added to its shining number, which make that general assembly and church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven.
To conclude: Let it be inquired whether these characters of perfect and upright belong to you, that have been hearing this discourse: are you partakers of the true grace of God? Have you a genuine faith in Jesus Christ, a good hope through grace of salvation by him, and a sincere love unto him? Have you reason to believe that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to you, and you have interest in it, and are acceptable to God through it? Have you had clean hearts created, and right spirits renewed in you? And have you been enabled in any good measure to walk uprightly? And is it the desire of your souls, and the business of your lives to exercise a conscience void of offense towards God and men? Then, notwithstanding the imperfection that otherwise attends you, you are in a gospel-sense perfect and upright; and which you should ascribe to the grace of God, and be thankful for it.
Have you considered the men that bear these characters, as you should? When you behold them, do you find an affection for them, and does it create in you an esteem of them? Are you desirous of, and in some measure helped to imitate them, in whatsoever is praise-worthy in them? Have you observed the end of their conversation, and the issue of their holy lives, which is peace? Then may you hope that this also will be your end; which cannot but be a desirable one. Even Balaam desired to die the death of the righteous, and wished his last end might be like his: (Numbers 23:10) Such who truly believe in Christ, and look to him for righteousness and life, shall receive the end of their faith, even she salvation of their souls. (1 Peter 1:9)