WHO FELL ASLEEP IN THE LORD, MAY 25, 1707, IN THE 79TH YEAR OF HER AGE.

BY HER SON,

[THE REV. MATTHEW HENRY.]

A

SERMON,

&c.

PROVERBS, XXXI. 28.

Her children shall arise up, and call her blessed.

THIS is part of the just debt owing to the virtuous woman, that answers the characters laid down in the foregoing verses; and part of the reward promised and secured to her by him, who, in both worlds, is, and will be, the Rewarder of them that diligently seek and serve him.

It is indeed, enough to make them truly and eternally happy, that virtuous people are blessed of God; that the Lord Jesus is raised up in his gospel to bless them, will arise up at the great day to call them blessed,-come ye blessed of my Father; of him they are sure to be blessed. He that sows righteousness, has that sure reward; and those whom he blesseth they are blessed indeed; his pronouncing them happy makes them so. This is enough to engage us all to, and encourage us all in the study and practice of virtue and piety, that the praise of it, whether it be of men or no, is of God. If men should be unrighteous, yet God will not, to forget the work and labour of love, though men should put slights, God will put honours upon those that fear his

name.

Yet, ex abundanti, over and above, this is thrown in as the reward of virtue, that among men also ordinarily it hath its praise; all that are wise and good, to be sure are of God's mind, and will say as he saith, and praise those whom he praiseth; and even in the consciences of others too, it is many times powerfully made manifest. If there be any virtue, saith the apostle, if there be any praise, which intimates that virtue is a praise, not Philippians, iv. 8.