which did use to feed our Souls this must needs be ground of mourning the Jews had their signs of sorrow upon the death of friends they Rent their Cloaths Deut. 14. â— they cut and prickt and made themselves bald by plucking shaving they went bare-footed and bare-headed and cast dust upon their heads also covered their Lip by casting the Lap of their Cloke over it Micah 3.7 they used Ministrils who with sad tunes inclin'd the people to mourn they had also mourning women who were skilful for Lamentation now it 's no matter for those outward signs Mat. 9.23 if we are but truly affected with the hand of God our loss is a Spiritual Soul-loss our mourning should be suitable to our loss God complains that his dispensation of this nature was not considered Isa 57.1 The Righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart it seems God would have such things laid to heart by those which are alive and there is reason for it if we consider the latter part of the words none considering the Righteous are taken from the Evil to come or from that which is Evil the death of good men seems to be a forerunner of some Judgment therefore God would have us to lay such things to heart Shall a Moses and a Joseph die and shall we not mourn but give God cause to say of us as of old The Righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart God forbid A Word of Consolation The time is a coming when the Prisoners of Christ shall have true Rest and no more hear the Voice of the Oppressor though now it may be said of the Lords Interest as the Prophet Isaiah once said of Gods Heritage Isaiah 42.22 This is a People Robbed and Spoiled they are all of them snared in Holes and they are hid in Prison-Houses they are for a Prey and none delivereth for a spoil and none saith Restore But this shall cease and be over 1 Sam. 28.14 the Prisoners shall in Gods time rest together and then Men or Devils cannot disturb them when once in the Grave From hence we may learn that could not be the Real body of Samuel which the Witch of Endor brought up before Saul for first it s very Improbable that God who had denyed to Answer Saul by Ordinary meanes should now Answer by Extraordinary Secondly Rev. 14.13 no Witch or Devil can disturb their Bodies or Souls which Dye in the Lord Because they Rest from their Labours as saith the Spirit Thirdly had this been Samuel which had been Raised no doubt but he would have Reproved Saul for Consulting with a Witch This Rest in the grave is a Fore-runner of Eternal Rest in the Saints union of Soul and Body with God It s with a godly Man in this Troublesome and uneasie VVorld as it was with the Dove who could find no Rest for the Soul of her foot because of the swelling Waters of affliction what from Sin and hot burning Persecuters in dwelling Lusts and Corruptions Rom. 7.24 which made Holy Paul Cry out O Wretched Man that I am and elsewhere saith We that are in this Tabernacle do Groan bâ—ing Burdened Add unto all those the accusations of an accusing tempting Devil 2 Cor. 5.2 and it s no wonder a believer hath little Rest in this VVorld if Satan will accuse God to Man as he did God to Adam Gen. 3. in telling him God forbids him Eating of the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil for his hurt to keep him in Ignorance for if he would but Eat he would be as a God knowing Good and Evil so also he accuseth Man to God so he did Job in representing him as an Hypocrite Hence he is called Satan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth an Adversary an accusing Adversary as Psal 109.20 when this Name is Applied as an Adversary to Gods People it usually meaneth the Devil as Job 1.6 Mat. 4. but being spoken of an Adversary to the Wicked and defender of the Church it s Applyed to a gâ—od Angel as Numb 22.22 The LXX usually Render it Diabolos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth an accuser so Job 1.6 the Septuagint there Render it so Satan is the great Accuser and Callumniator of the People of God and all that use this Diabolical work are called by this Diabolical Name 1 Tim. 3.11 Women saith the Apostle must not be Slanderous Diabolos not false Accusers this great Adversary doth not a little break the Peace of Gods People but the time is hastening they shall all rest in their Beds Isaiah 57.2 each man which hath walked in his uprightness and after the Resurrection comes the day of Jubile in the Jubile of old upon the sound of the Trumpet they were every man to return to their Possessions so when the great Trumpet shall sound and the Dead in Christ Rise first we shall take Possession of our Eternal Inheritance which Christ is gone to prepare and secure for us this Jubile was to return of old but once in fifty years but in Heaven in glory it 's all Jubile in this year of Jubile the Jews were not to Sow nor Reap but it was to be a year of Rest unto them O! when we enter upon our spiritual one all our labouring under Sin Suffering Satanical Temptations will have an end and we shall Rest from our Labours This Temporary Jubile continued but a year and then to their Toyl and labour again Oh but the Spiritual Jubile will be an Everlasting Eternal one Heb. 4.9 that Rest which remains for the people of God will know no end God promised Israel of old when they were got over Jordan he would give them Rest from all their Enemies so when we are got well through the Wilderness and safely carried through Jordans Swellings we shall come to the good Land and be at Rest where the Inhabitants shall no more say Isai 33.24 I am Sick for all Tears shall be wiped away from our Eyâ—s and we shall sorrow no more because Sin no more Israel of Old thought it a great Mercy to be quiet and at Rest from their Enemies forty Years Rev. 7.17 but what is that to Eternity To Conclude let us all take the Counsel of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians after he had been telling them of the Resurrection of the Saints and that they should Rise first 1 Thess 4.16 17.18 also informing them of the coming of our Lord Christ and that when he comes we shall all be caught up in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so be ever with the Lord now what is his Exhortation and Conclusion Comfort one another with these Words While Sin Satan and an Unkind World is Discomforting you do you in a lively Hope of the Resurrection of the Body the coming of Christ your Meeting of him and continuing with him cheer up and Comfort one another with these
of Christs Prisoners have spent the seventh part of their time some the sixth in Prison the word Iashan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated Rest here in the Text properly signifieth Sleep in many places the word is so used as Psal 3.5 In Ezek. 34.25 we find it metaphorically taken and used to set forth the Rest the Church should have from their Oppressors it 's translated Rest in the Text signifying that as we have Rest in Sleep being then out of all sence of care trouble pain and all manner of distraction so in like manner shall we be in the Grave There are several sorts of Prisoners there are some justly so 1 Tim. 1 9 10. Knowing this that the Law is not made for a Righteous man but for the Lawless and disobedient for the ungodly and sinners for unholy and prophane for Murderers of Fathers and Murtherers of Mothers for Man-Slayers for Whoremongers for them which defile themselves with Mankind for Men-stealers for Lyars for perjured persons and if there be any other thing contrary to Sound Dâ—ctrine Secondly there are Spiritual Prisoners such as are in the Bonds Fetters Iron-Chains and Prison of Sin which Christ hath promised to set free by the Preaching of the Gospel Thirdly there are Prisoners for Christs sake Isa 61.1 hence saith the Apostle Eph. 3.1 For this cause I Paul the Prisoner of the Lord for you Gentiles chap. 4.1 I therefore the Prisoner of the Lord or in the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith you are called Therefore we are not to think strange of a Prison we are not the first depriv'd of Liberty air mercies purchased by the Blood of Christ and no doubt but an account must be given for depriving the Lords Interest of these mercies without just cause should we be hindred of what is our Right by purchase we should think it hard unjust yea unmerciful but we are not alone Joseph was in Prison for as little cause and his feet was hurt with Fetters and his Soul Psal 105.18 as the Hebrew is came into Irons Sampson was made to grind in a Prison Judg. 16.21 and saith Ahab of the good Prophet Micaiah Put this Fellow in Prison 1 Kings 22.27 and feed him with the Bread of Affliction and water of affliction until I come in Peace which indeed never was for a certain man drew a bow at a venture the Original is Jer. 37.16 in his Simplicity and God directed the Arrow for it smote Ahab between the Joynts and Harness or Brest-plate chap. 38.6 which was what the Prophet Prophesied of Good Jeremiah is not without his share for he was put into the Cells or Cabines and let down with Cords into a dark dungeon where was no water but mire wherein the Prophet sunk So John Baptist because he Reproved Herod for Incest Mark 6.22 in Marrying his Brother Philiphs Wife was Beheaded in Prison without any cause assign'd any Witness Judge or Juries Acts 16.23 24. and all for to satisfie the Lust of a vain woman or two So Paul and Silas was put into the Inner Prison and their feet made fast in the stocks Peter was bound in Prison bound with two Chains but Prayer was made by the Church for him chap. 12.6.5 18. which proved his deliverance and the Apostles were put in the Common Prison among the Abjects yea many of the Saints were shut up in Prison probably very close Prisoners they were chap. 26.10 and could not see their nearest Relations shall we think a Prison much when our Lord and Saviour was taken from Prison and from Judgment in whom was no guile found 'T is necessary that we treat a little of Prison-Comforts as well as Prison Confinement Isa 53. how much of the Presence of Christ have they had to inable them to bear the Cross quietly patiently contentedly Jer. 31.18 not like a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke and though some cannot boast of Raptures and Extasies yet they have cause to bless God for making good that promise to them John 16. ult That as in the world they have Tribulation so in Christ Peace as that good man the last that died in Prison upon a question I asked him on his Death-bed what experience he had of Gospel Peace made this answer My way is plain and Evidences clear but the former on his Death-bed had a sentence which savoured something of a Rapture or Extasie saith he Habak 3.16 The Prophet Habakkuks belly trembled and his lips quivered in the thoughts and hearing of the Approaching Judgments which were coming on the Church of the Jews but saith he my belly trembles and my lips quiver in the thoughts of the Approaching Glory that will be upon the Church of God Though others dare not pretend so much to a being in the Mount of Raptures yet they may bless God for Contentedness in their Condition though limited to one Room which was our Kitchin our Cellar our Lodging-Room our Parlour yet through Grace had as much peace and satisfaction as when we could walk in our houses from one Room to another from thence into the Garden Deut. 33.25 from thence into more open air and go from house to house to visit friends Blessed be God we have bread for the day as the day so our strength hath been God is as good in Prison as out we are content to be where our Father will have us be for that place is best If God will by his Providence open a door for Liberty that is best Phil. 4.11 if God will shut the door that 's best I have learned saith the Apostle Paul in every State to be Contented Beloved it is one thing to Read the Promises another thing to trust upon God by them and experience the truth of them some can say As we have heard so have we seen in the City of our God The Promises God hath made to Prisoners Psal 69.13 the consideration of them are Comfortable God will not despise his Prisoners though men may and do yet God will honour them which honour him the Sighs of the Prisoners shall be heard John 12.26 and God will arise to set him at liberty from him which puffeth at him let men and Devils do their worst Psal 12.5 God will in his own time loose the Prisoners Gods Church of old was in Egypt four hundred and thirty years 't is said they came out the very same day Exod. 12.12 yea the very night according to Gods Determination a night to be observed unto the Lord saith the word We shall none of us stay a night beyond Gods Determination rather than we shall stay longer God will work a Miracle for his Acts 12.5 chap. 16. as of old for Paul and Silas and Peter who made all the Prison doors fly open and every mans Bands were loosed yea God can make our very Prison-Keepers to come to
COUNSEL For the Living Occasioned from the DEAD OR A Discourse on Job III. 17 18. Arising from the Deaths of Mr. Fran. Bampfield AND Mr Zach Ralphson By Hercules Collins their Fellow Prisoner in Newgate The Lord looseth the Prisoners Psal 146.7 Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the Death of his Saints Psal 116.15 And hath brought Life and Immoâ—â—ality to light through the Gospel whereunto I am appointed a Preacher and an Apostle and a Teacher of the Gentiles for the which Cause I also Sâ—ffer these things nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1 10 11. LONDON Printed by George Larkin for the Author 1684. Job III. 17 19. There the Wicked cease from Troubling and there the Weary be at Rest There the Prisoners Rest together they hear not the Voice of the Oppressour HOly Job who according to Chronology liv'd Two Thousand Four Hundred Years from the Creation was the Non-such for Affliction and Patience none exceeding him in the former or latter under the Old or New Testament except our Saviour Under his Agonie and Anguish the product of his depressing Trials from God from Satan his Grand Accuser Dear Relations Friends and Enemies for he was the Song and By-word of the Children of fools and base men he interrogates verse 11 12. Why he did not die from the Womb and why the Knees did not prevent him and the Breasts which he did suck which implieth his desire it had been so For then I should have lain still and been quiet with Kings and Counsellers of the Earth who build desolate places for themselves There the Wicked Cease from troubling there the Weary be at Rest there the Prisoners Rest together they hear not the Voice of the Oppressour In these words we consider first the Subjects which are Oppressors and Oppressed Secondly The Predicate They shall Rest Thirdly the Receptacle or place of Rest that 's the Grave I shall note a few things by way of Observation The first is Wicked men are troublesome men The Original Rashagnim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated Wicked imports as much and signifieth a great degree of Sin there are other words which signifie a lower degree as Chata 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lowest Expression which imports a missing the Mark 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods Glory is that we should aim at in all our Undertakings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now Sin is a misdoing and erring from the Rule There 's another word Pashang signifying Transgression Leigh Critica Sacra Ainsworth on Deut. 4.8 prevarication Prov. 18.19 there taken for an Offence by Transgression in Isa 1.2 Translated Rebellion much like Marah which is generally rendered Rebellion provoking irritating imbittering and Deut 1.26.43 Psal 5.10 Neh. 9.17 It hath properly the signification of changing and bitterness but is applyed to Apostacy and Disobedience Deut. 1.26 and 43. The word Rashagnim Wicked Ones signifyeth Wickedness in the highest it 's used to set forth an Ungodly Man Psal 1.1 For one which departs wickedly from God Psal 18.21 and also signifyeth Restless Turbulent and is oppos'd to quietness Job 34.29 such are without true peace themselves and seek to break the peace of others the Prophet Isaiah 57. ult compares them to the Restless Troubled Sea which cannot Rest and because such men for their evil deeds are often brought to Judgment and Condemn'd therefore is this name given unto Condemned Persons Psal 109.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And when he is Judged let him be Condemned or as the Original is go out Rashang Wicked or guilty Let us inquire who they are Wicked Men trouble 1. Themselves their Consciences gripe them galls them and pincheth them for their oppressive acts as Davids did when he Numbred the People 2 Sam. 24.10 and albeit they labour to muzle its mouth and deafen their own ear and seek to stifle its Checks and stop its motions yet God will have a witness for himself in all men and if our hearts condemn us 1 John 3.20 God is greater than our hearts and knoweth all things We know more by our selves then all the world knows by us Prov. 18.14 but God knows more by us then we know by our selves Mat. 27.3 4. now if a Wounded Spirit be intollerable what will the scalding hot wrath of a Sin-revenging God be If a Persecuting Betraying Judas cannot stand before the Judgment Seat of his own Conscience but runs to hang himself under the horrour of it who then can dwell with Everlasting Burnings 2. Wicked men are Troublers of Nations There would be little work for Magistrates were it not for them King Ahab was much out when by his interrogation he supposed Elijah the Prophet to be the troubler of Israel no saith he I am not the man 1 King 18.17 18. but it is thou and thy Fathers House 1 Kings 21.20 21. Chap. 22.8 in that you have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and followed Balaam because Elijah denounced the Judgments of God on him and his house for his Sin he calls him his Enemy and declares he hates him he would have had him Prophesied Peace when Elijah's Commission was War he was all for tidings of Peace 2 Kings 9.22 but the Prophet might say to Ahab as Jehu to Joram What Peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her Witchchrafts are so many 3. Wicked Men are Troublers of the Church of God and of those we have two sorts First such as are under little or no Profession of this sort was Sanballat Nehemiah 6.1 2. Tobiah Jeshem the Arabian in Nehemiahs time who perplexed the Saints while the Temple was a building Secondly there are others under a Profession of Reliligion of those are two sorts First such as are among the Saints in the true Church of God Joshua 7.25 1 Cor. 5. Mat. 26. Wicked Ones are a great trouble to them Achan was so to the Church of the Jews the incestuous person also to Paul and the Church of Corinth and Christ and his Apostles could not be without their trouble when they knew they had a Traytor among them Corah Dathan and Abiram greatly disturbed the Church of old by their Pride Numb 16. supposing the people were all holy and in their undervaluing Gods Ministers Moses and Aaron but God troubled them as he did Achan for his Wickedness one disorderly Church Member causeth more trouble in a Church then one hundred pious Souls for such are a Comfort and Blessing where they are Phil. 3.5 6. 2. As those before mentioned were Professors and Church-disturbers yet none of them except Judas did it in the way of Persecution but there are another sort of strict Professors in some things who do and have much molested the Church by Persecution Who was a greater Professor then Paul when he was a Pharisee And who a greater Persecutor So the Devout and
us trembling and fall down and cry out Sirs what must I do to be saved our God whom we serve is able to do this and much more and he can as of old make his people grow so much the more as their afflictions abound thinking people will conclude they must needs be the Lords that suffer patiently under such apparent wrong Again let us bless God though we are in the Prison of man yet that we are delivered from the Spiritual Prison of Sin and Satan into the glorious liberty of the Children of God and out of the Kingdom of darkness into the glorious light of the Gospel Colos 1.13 there is no such Prison as for a man to be bound and fettered by his Lusts and Corruptions that stirs not a foot further then his Corrupt Affections suffer him a man in liberty in honour Zach. 9.11 may be in worse Bonds then a Bodily Confinement le ts bless God for bringing us out of this Pit by the Blood of the Covenant this was the great end of Christs coming into the world and of his Divine Unction to Preach good tidings unto the meek to bind up the broken-hearted Isa 61.1 to proclaim Liberty to the Captives chap. 49.24 25. and the opening of the Prison to them which are bound the Prey shall be taken from the mighty and the lawful Captive delivered or as the Original the Captivity of the Just the Captives of the Mighty shall be taken away and the Prey of the Terrible shall be delivered those that were under the power of Satan that Roaring Lyon that great Red Dragon shall be Rescued Eph. 4.8 for Christ hath led Captivity Captive Col. 2.15 Satan and all Evil Angels Principalities and Powers the Rulers of the darkness of this world and made a shew of it openly in his his glorious Resurrection and Ascension so that now he having obtained the Conquest over Satan Sin the Grave he will say to the Prisoners Isa 49.9 Go forth and to them which are in darkness Psal 1.7 Shew your selves he hath broken the Gates of brass and cut the Bars of Iron in sunder the darkness of a Material Prison is nothing to the darkness of a Spiritual one Material Chains to Spiritual Chains deprivation of the Bodies Liberty is not to be compared to the Souls being shut up from God Psal 16.11 this is far worse then to be shut up from friends being delivered from Spiritual Bonds We may have Liberty in Bonds light in Darkness Peace in Trouble Communion with God by the Spirit is a good Cordial to keep up the heart from fainting in this valley of tears until we come to our Mount of Joy where there is no limits of Joy and Blessedness as the greatest Comforts and Estates of the greatest Monarchs here are there 's no mixture as in this world Gods Providential Dealings with his people in this world is like Chequer-work there is the dark as well as the light side of Providence the most Refin'd and best State and Condition of the best Saints are mixed here if we have some peace we have some trouble if we have large Comforts one day we may expect a great degree of trouble another least we should be exalted above measure we must have a thorn in the flesh now and then but in Heaven there is no mixture 2 Cor. 12.7 for there is all light without darkness all life without death all Riches without Poverty all Content without the least Dissatisfaction because we shall then praise and love God in so perfect a manner Psal 17.15 as God will not demand more perfect Obedience then they will give nor themselves desire to bless God better then they shall for that were to suppose a kind of dissatisfaction in Heaven which is contrary to Holy Davids word Then shall I be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness are we sensible of Gods free grace to our Souls here in delivering us from Spiritual Bonds that is an infallible sign we shall admire free grace hereafter in the glorious Liberty of the Children of God and shall be among that Multitude in Revelations 7.9 10. which none could number of all Kindreds Nations People and Tongues that stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white Robes and Palms in their hands and cried with a loud voice Salvation to our God which sitteth on the Throne and to the Lamb. Again This may be a Ground of Lamentation for the Church of God that his Ambassadors which did use to bring us glad tidings of Salvation 2 Cor. 5.20 are not only shut up in Material Prisons for a time the Prisons of men but some of them are lodged in the Grave and their mouths totally stopt so as we shall not hear them sound the Gospel Trumpet any more It 's sometimes a sign of anger when the King calls home his Ambassadors the Apostle saith in 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as the Ministers of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vperetes Ministers the word imports labour painful labour and signifieth an Under-Rower Gods Ministers are thus called 1 Cor. 4.15 because under Christ the chief Master they do help forward the Ship of the Church toward the Haven of Heaven through the many Rocks and Sands Storms and Tempests Temptations and Persecutions which they meet withal they are called Fathers which signifieth instrumentally their begetting Souls to God they are called Bishops or Overseers this charge hath its name Pakad in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 1.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 13.17 from visiting and in the Greek EPISKOPVS from Over-seeing Applied to any which hath a charge Civil or Ecclesiastical and they are so called of their watchfulness care and labour for the good of his people for they watch for their Souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with Joy and not with grief Again they are called Pastors POIMVN this is taken from Shepherds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and applied to Teachers Mat. 9.36 to Christ the good Shepherd John 10.11 14 the great Shepherd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ARCHIPOIMVN 1 Pet. 5.4 these are some of his honourable Titles this same word is applied to Kings as in Mat. 2.6 Rev. 27.7 19.15 but a word of a double signification is to be understood according to the subject matter spoken of taken in Mat. 2.6 for Ruling as a King but in Acts 20.28 for feeding as a Shepherd Feed the Flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Over-seers Is not there cause of mourning when God taketh away our Fathers which begat us our Ambassadors which brings glad tidings and good news of Reconciliation and Salvation by the death of the Son of God yea our Ministers which conducts guides and Rowes the Ship of the Church as it were under Christ to Heaven Yea to lose our Pastors and Shepherds