sweetning of your mutuall conversation commerce and communication a great strengthning and a powerfull prevention of much evill 4. Constancy in all the waies of God having begunne in the spirit end not in the flesh be not weary of well doing having put your hand to Gods plow looke not back but come forth as the Psal 19.5 Sunne like a Bridegroome out of his Chamber adorned with all spirituall splendor and brightnesse and rejoyce yee like a mighty man to runne the race of Gods Commandements Isa 40.31 mount up like the Eagle walke on and faint not so shall you at the last embrace death as a friend rest in your grave as on a Bed of Downe have your soules carried in a fiery Chariot into Heaven be entertained with most sweete embracements by the LORD IESVS and have with IEHOVAH blessed for ever the full fruition of endlesse joyes in his most glorious Kingdome This He unfainedly desireth who ever resteth Yours in all holy services Alexander Grosse DEATHS DELIVERANCE Isai 57.1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and mercifull men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evill to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightnesse THe heaviest afflictions are sweet mercies to Gods Servants their greatest losse doth prove their chiefest gaine as the red Sea to Israel proved a a Exod. 14.28 29. grave to their enemies a passage to them from their Egyptian bondage as Sampson had b Judg. 14.14 honey in the Lion sweet out of the sowre meate out of the eater so the Lords people have light out of darknesse joy out of heavinesse peace out of trouble life out of death the wounding arrow the piercing sword that sticks in their sides doth prove a launcing knife the deadliest poyson a sweet purgation the most mortall enemy doth the labour of a kinde and loving friend as Pharaohs burdens fury violence and high hand drove Israel from working in an iron fornace from living under a miserable and slavish bondage so enemies afflictions sorrowes troubles sicknesse violent diseases and death it selfe turne to the singular good of all that love the Lord for if they perish if they dye if they lay downe their life oh it is for their advantage though others it may be doe not consider it for thus the Prophet here hath it The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and mercifull men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken from the evill to come This Text is to a good man like the Travellers Inne bed and place of repose after his long and wearisome journey like the Mariners haven after many violent and stormy Tempests like the c Ex. 9.20 houses wherein the Egyptian Cattle were preserved from the grievous haile one day threatned and the next day inflicted for so the Prophet saith The righteous is taken from the evill to come he shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightnesse In the words we may consider 1. Quis. Of whom the Prophet here speaketh of the righteous and mercifull man 2. Quid. What he saith of him he perisheth is taken away the latter word doth well explaine the former 3. Quare Wherefore hee is taken away from the evill to come 4. Quomodo How in what manner he is taken away in peace he layeth downe his life in the feare of God resteth in his grave as on a bed till the morning of the Resurrection 5. Qualiter How the surviving men are affected with it they lay it not to heart they consider it not These be the streames flowing from this fountaine because time will not give us leave with Gideons many thousands to bow downe upon our knees and drink a full draught of these waters we shall be constrained with his 300. souldiers to d Judg. 7.6 lap a little and so away To begin therefore with the two first of these jointly Quis and Quid who perisheth who is taken away The righteous Gods people are righteous e Jo. 13.10 inchoativè as the morning the dawning of the day is light but hath darknesse mingled with it as Lazarus came forth of his grave he was risen but his f Jo. 11.44 grave-cloth bound him So Gods people are risen to a new conversation out of the grave of sinne but their corruptions are yet in some degree remaining in them a great hindrance to their holy walking 2. They are righteous g Mat. 5.6 Psa 119.5 affectivè they desire it hunger and thirst after it 3. They are righteous h Is 32.15 effective righteousnesse is their worke their fruit their walke 4. They are righteous i 1 Cor. 5.21 Rom. 4.6 imputativè and so they be perfectly righteous not a part but the whole righteousnesse of Christ is imputed to them They are as k Gen. 27.15 Iacob in Esaus their elder brothers garment and so they win the blessing from God as Iacob obtained the blessing at the hands of his Father Isaak The righteous man here is most properly the man which doth holy and righteous workes that walketh constantly and conscionably in the way of righteousnesse whose exercise is with l Act. 24.16 Paul to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man this man perisheth is smitten with the arrow of temporall death falleth in this warre c. Mercifull men or men of kindnesse or godlinesse as the word also signifieth men easily m Luk. 6.36 moved to grieve at the miseries of others and to succour them men mercifull even as God is mercifull for in mercy there is the affection of pitie and the effect of helpe and succour the men thus righteous thus mercifull thus qualified are taken away by death whence observe Doct. That such as be most holy and gracious are subject to a bodily dissolution as well as others The sithe cutteth the beautifull and sweet smelling flower as soon as the fearne the Axe heweth downe the good tree as well as the barren being once laid to the root of it so is death impartiall as the Deluge n Gen. 7.19 over-flowed the meadowes orchards gardens as well as the wildernesse the most fruitfull as well as the more barren parts of the earth so death spares none God hath o Heb. 9.27 appointed it the sentence is irrecoverable and how p Eccles 2.16 dyeth the wiseman saith Salomon as the foole What is become of all the Saints that lived before us Have they not all drunk of this cup Have they not all runne this race Heare what the wise man saith q Eccle. 8.8 There is no man whether rich or poore high or low young or old holy or unholy that hath power over the spirit to retaine the spirit neither hath he power in the day of death and there is no discharge in that warre neither
followers of the Lord Jesus and as the Virgins at the cry of the Bridegroomes comming arose x Prov. 6.10 11. and trimmed their lampes So we Beloved hearing now the cry of the comming of death O let us break off our sleep cast away our security prepare our lamps get the oyle of saving grace into our soules Let us not like the sluggard cry yet y Prov. 6.10 11. a little more sleep a little more slumber a little more folding of the hands upon the bed of sinne lest as poverty came on him as an armed man so death come on us as an armed man and take us unprepared and then we be undone for ever O therefore seeke not peace seeke not fulnesse seeke not felicity here as the Angel said of our Saviour z Luk 24.5 6. he is risen he is not here why seeke ye the living among the dead so may I say of these things why seeke yee them here below they are not here they are above our God our Christ our Heaven our home it is above and there O there let our hearts for ever be Are the righteous subject to a bodily dissolution Are the mercifull men taken away Then comfort your selves all ye that feare the Lord there is a Physitian comming will heale all your diseases a Deliverer at hand which will open all prisons a Conquerour which will overcome all enemies Therefore let mee charge you in this case as Moses charged Israel at the waters of the Red Sea a Exod. 14.13 Exodus 14.13 Feare not stand still waite a while the day of death will come and when that day commeth the enemies which you see the miseries and troubles which you undergoe you shall see them feele them undergoe them no more for ever It was Plutarchs comfort given to his Souldiers entring into a dangerous and bloudy battell that they should suppe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a place invisible the word signifieth in heaven in a place of peace and rest no doubt hemeant So let us encourage our selves whatsoever be our miseries troubles disasters in the dayes of our life yet in the Sunne-set in the evening of our age when death commeth we shall sup with the Lambe of God Christ Iesus and there will be great joy indeed for that is the b Rev. 19.7 8 9. marriage feast of the Lambe and our soules Be therefore patient c Heb. 10.37 Hee that shall come will come and will not tarrie The Lord will remove us when it shall be most for his glorie and our good the righteous shall die the mercifull men shall be taken away from the evil to come And thus are we come to the third thing Quare why the righteous die why mercifull men are taken away there is evill to come The Lord seeth there be many miseries many plagues and great troubles as warres famines pestilences strange and fearfull alterations comming and to the end holy righteous and good men may not see these evils feele these miseries God doth take them away Whence two things present themselves to our consideration 1. That death is a sweete mercie a great kindnesse to Gods holy servants 2. That the death and taking away of holy persons is a fearefull prediction of ensuing evils First a word or two of the former of these Doct. That death is a sweete mercie a great kindnesse to Gods holy servants It is Salomons Aphorisme d Eccle. 7 1 the day of a mans death is better then the day of a mans birth It is our Saviours proposition e Reve. 14.13 blessed are they that die in the Lord It is Saint Paules conclusion f Phil 1.23 to depart and to be with Christ is farre better For Reas 1 By death they are delivered from many incumbent evils inward and outward arising from the flesh from Satan from the world as the Husbandman at the harvest removeth the tares from the wheate as Abraham turned scoffing and persecuting g Gen. 21.14 Ismael out of the house from Isaac so God at the day of a good mans death takes away turnes out whatsoever might annoy him By death they are delivered from all ensusing miseries thus before the Lord Reas 2 brought evill upon the house of Ieroboam he tooke away his yong sonne because in h 1 King 14 10 11 12 13. him was found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel therefore the Lord would take him away he should not see the evill ensuing By death they are brought to the fruition Reas 3 of all good i Reve. 1.4 5. all teares are wiped away and in Gods k Psal 16.11 presence there is fulnesse of joy and at his right hand pleasures for evermore This Vse if time would giue leaue to insist upon it would therefore teach us and worke in us 1. Carefull preparation for death 2. Vehement longings after it 3. Chearefulnesse in entertaining it 4. Moderation in our sorrow for them that be departed mourning for our owne losse but rejoycing in their gaine but to passe by this let us come to the second point Doct. The death and taking away of holy persons is a fearefull prediction of ensuing evils When Noah was entred into the Arke then the l Gen. 7.12 13. Deluge came When Lot was gon out of Sodome then m Gen. 19.24 fire and brimstone fell upon it and burned it When the Lord had determined the destruction of Ieroboams house as you heard before first he tooke away his child in whom there was some good thing found Thus when the Lord intended to bring evill upon n 2 Kings 22.16 17 18 19 20. Ierusalem and upon the people he would first gather good Iosiah the King whose heart was tender and humbled himselfe at the hearing of the Law to his Fathers and into his grave with peace and then the evill should come When o 2 Chro. 24.18 24 Iehoiada was dead Ioash left the House of the Lord God of his Fathers then the Syrians came with a small Companie and God delivered a very great Host into their hands they executed judgement against Ioash The truth of this is moreover manifest by five benefits arising to the place where good men are Their presence doth draw the love Reason 1 and favour of God to the place where they are they are deare to God as the p Zach. 2.5 8 apple of his eye and he will bee a wall of fire about the place where they bee and many times doth God spare the wicked as the Husbandman spareth the q Mar. 13.30 tares for the wheate growing with them Thus the Family was spared for Noahs sake and God would have spared Sodome and Gomorrah if there had beene r Gen. 18.32 ten righteous there the Lord gave ſ Acts. 27.24 Paul all them that failed with him they were delivered from the storme for his sake And surely as Paul said to the t Vers 31. Centurion
be you upright be yee constant as Eliah was and you shall at last have a fiery Charet as Eliah had Walke with God without wavering as q Gen. 6.9 Noah did as he ceased not froÌ„ building the Arke whatsoever discouragement was ministred no more doe you cease to ad grace to grace as the builders doe stone to stone till you attaine perfection and then as Noah had his Arke was preserved in it when others perished so shall you have safety peace joy comfort and everlasting tryumph when others shall perish in the deluge of Gods judgements Be constant as r 1 Sam. 17 33.34 David was and then as he overcame the Beare the Lyon the great Goliah and enjoyed the Crowne at length so shall we the Crowne of glory at the last if we Å¿ Rev. 2.10 be faithfull unto the death therefore with Moses seeing him that is t Heb. 11.26 27. invisible and having an eye to the recompence let us chuse rather to endure affliction with the children of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season and knowing that we have an u Heb. 10.34 abiding substance in Heaven let us with the primitive Christians take the spoyling of our goods joyfully This is the property of true grace this is peculiar to the man that is truely pious w Prov. 4.18 to shine more and more like the light unto the perfect day the Trees of Gods planting be known from all other trees by bearing x Ps 92.13 much fruit in their old age this is that which hath the promise who shall reape but hee that y Gal. 6.9 fainteth not And who shall bee saved but he that z 1 Mat. 13.13 continueth to the end That corne alone which holdeth out unto the harvest is gathered into the garner Vse 3 Is the future estate of Gods servants so pleasant so eminent so transcendently glorious Then this must cause the children of God to entertaine death with all cheerefulnesse how terrible so ever in it selfe though it be as the Philosopher saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of all fearefuls the most fearefull or as Iob stiles it the Å¿ Job 18.14 King of terror though looked upon in it selfe it be to the people of God as once the face of Esau a terror to Iacob yet looking upon the glory dignity and fulnesse of all blisse which doth attend it it should be to the people of God as the face of Esau was at last to Iacob even as the t Gen. 33.10 11. face of God in the thought of this we should rejoyce as the hireling in his thoughts of the Evening as the traveller in the thoughts of his bed as the warriour in the thought of the day of his triumph For I may say to you of death as Hugh Laverock said to his fellow Martyr Iohn a Price of the Lord of LondoÌ„ Be of good comfort my brother for my Lord of London is our good Physitian he will cure thee of all thy blindnesse and me of my lamenâ—sse this day so beloved all yee that truly feare God all that put away all filthinesse of the flesh and perfect holinesse before him in feare be of good comfort Death will be your very good Physitian it will cure all your diseases end all your miseries set you free from all troubles And therefore as the people came readily to u John 5.4 5. Bethesda to be healed of their infirmities as we come cheerefully to the Physitian so should wee to the grave for what is death to the people of God what is it to them to die but as the Inhabitants leaving of an old and ruinous house the Musitians laying downe of a Lute whose strings are broken the Carpenters putting aside of a worne Instrument unfit for any longer service or imployment what is Death to Gods children but as a guest making hast out of his Inne to his long his lovely and desired home as the putting off of a worne rotten and ragged suite of apparell to put on rich and comly rayment for while we live we are like w Zach. 3.3 4 5. Josua the high Priest clothed with filthy garments but when we die then we are like Iosua with a fair Mitre upon his head and comely rayment about his back And therefore we should earnestly desire to be x 2 Cor. 5.8 absent from the body that wee might bee present with the Lord. For the day of Death to the body is as one saith the birthday of eternity to the soule Seneca who saw the immortality of the soule the future felicity of it but as through a Cloud by ifs and ands yet professeth that when hee thought but a little of it and had some pleasant dreames thereof hee loathed himselfe and all his trifling greatnesse Socrates also sweetned his cup of poyson with his discourse of the soules Immortality to the amazement of the beholders how much more should christian and sanctified soules be ravished affected enflamed with the meditation of it O how should this cause us to thirst after death as y 2 Sam. 23 15 16. David after the waters in the wells of Bethlem and to breake thorough all difficulties to attaine that immortall and ever-blessed estate which to the people of God attendeth this life as Davids Worthies brake thorough the hoast of the Philistins to fetch them waters and as Laurence Saunders kissed the stake and said wilcome be the crosse of Christ well-come be everlasting life my Saviour began to me in a bitter cup and shall I not pledge him so should wee entertaine death as a very well-come guest as a very deare friend our soules should say within us welcome bee death welcome bee everlasting life my Saviour is gone before me and shall I not goe after him As the Lyon desires to goe out of the grate the Eagle out of the cage and the prisoner out of the prison-house so should we with Paul desire to be z Phil. 3.23 dissolved and to bee with Christ Vse 4 This should moderate our griefe and sorrow conceived at the departure of our godly friends For 1 Freedome 1. This is the day of their Freedome who is not comforted to see his friend come forth of prison to see him set free from all persecution and trouble After Eliah went up in his fiery Charet Iezabel could no more make him flie she had no more power to molest and persecute him 2 Honour 2. This is the day of their Honour now with Eliah they ride in their fiery Charet into heaven now as Salomon said of the a Eccles 4.12 poore wise child may I say of all that are b 2 Tiâ—â— 12 wise unto salvation though poore though afflicted during their abode on earth yet now they shall come out of prison out of a troublesome and low estate to c 2 Tim. 2.11 12. reigne with Christ in his kingdom And I may wel say to all that
and the Souldiers of the Shipmen except these abide in the shippe yee cannot be saved so may I say to you of the holy righteous and faithfull servants of God unlesse these abide amongst us we cannot be in safetie we shall certainly bee exposed to many miseries for as the Prophet said to Iehoram were it not for good u 2 Kin. 3.13 Iehosaphat I would not looke towards thee so certainely were it not for the presence of the holy the mercifull the righteous the Lord would not looke towards us at least with any fauourable and shining countenance Reason 2 Gods blessing doth attend the place where they are for their sakes as the house of w 2 Sam. 11.6 Obed-Edom was blessed for the presence of the Arke so doth God prosper the Kingdome Towne Family where the righteous are for their sakes thus Laban x Gen. 30.30 prospered through the presence and service of Iacob and God blessed y Gen. 29.3 23 Potipheas house for Iosephs sake Reason 3 Their performance of religious and holy duties doth cause God to be graciously present in the place where they are if the Father have a child in a Towne or Family he will often visit that place he will not be strange but loving and kind to the people dwelling there So God where his Children are there will he be graciously present those places will he visit and there will shew much kindnesse and bestow many favours for where two or three be gathered together in his z Mat. 18.20 Name in his feare according to his word to invocate and worship him there will he be for it is among the a Rev. 1.13 Candlesticks in the Church among the beleevers where the light of the truth shineth where duties of godlinesse are exercised that Christ walked and shewed himselfe graciously present They are a safegard to the place and Reason 4 people where they are better then all walles and Castles then all Armour and Munition able to doe more by their prayers then the Souldiers with all their weapons as Origen saith one holy man praying can doe more then innumerable sinners can doe with fighting Thus Moses b Exod. 17 11. prevailed more by his prayers then Ioshua with all his Souldiers against the Amalekites and when the Emperour Marcus Aurelius was like to lose his Army through want of water the Christians in his Army prevaled with God and obtained raine As they procure many favours so they also prevent many evils which would otherwise fall upon the place wher they live c Psal 106 23. He would saith the Psalmist destroy them had not Moses his servant stood before him in the breach to turne away his wrath lest he should destroy them So that as Nabals servants said of David and his men d 1 Sam 25.15 16 The men were very good unto us and we were not hurt neither missed wee any thing as long as wee were conversant with them when wee were in the field they were a wall unto us both by night and by day so may every Kingdome Towne and Family say of the holy and righteous servants of God They have beene very good unto us and wee have had no hurt while wee have been conversant with them they have beene a wall unto us both by night and by day Reason 5 Their example their counsell their instruction their wisedome their blamelesse walking is of great force to restraine others from much evill to allure and draw them at least to the outward performance of many good duties as Husbands are wonne by the conversation of the wives while they behold their chaste conversatiō coupled with feare e 1 Pet. 3.1 2. wonne to approue of and attend upon that word of God which teacheth their wives to live so chastly to walke so circumspectly and to order themselves every way so holily so meekely so blamelesly so that men that are strangers to the power of a godly life are strongly wrought upon and very much affected with and wonne by the religious and gracious conversation of the Lords faithfull people Even Saul will f 1 Sam. 10.10 prophesie when he is among the Prophets the coldest stone will grow hot and full of burning being among the stickes in the fire and Iustin Martyr cōfessed he was first turned to Christ by Christian Religion through the admiration he had to behold the innocent and godly life of a Christian hearing them pray for their good and preservation who to the utmost endevoured and wrought their ruine thus forcible thus effectuall thus prevalent is the example of a godly conversation Now by the death of Gods people there is a removall of these priviledges and so the place of their former abode is exposed to many miseries for when the godly are removed when the righteous are taken away Then Religion and piety faileth and they become like a people without g Ephes 2.12 the Covenant without God and Christ in the world Then good Government and even Civility falleth to the ground like a House without a foundation then all runneth to ruine like a Shippe without a Pilot Therefore when the Lord would bring confusion upon Jerusalem for her sinne what doth hee He taketh from Jerusalem and h Isa 3.1 2 3 Judah the stay and staffe the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water the mighty man and the man of warre the Iudge and the Prophet and the Prudent man and the Ancient the Captaine of fifty and the Honorable man and the Counsellor and the cunning Artificer and the eloquent Orator and I will give Children to bee their Princes and Babes shall rule over them Then there is none to stand up in the gappe to turne away the wrath of the Lord from them but as Souldiers rush in at the breaches made in the walles when none are standing there to keepe them out so will all manner of plagues and miseries rush in upon the people when the righteous who should stand in the gap are taken away from them therefore when the Prophets saw vanitie and a lying divination when they forsooke the word of the Lord and flattered the people in their sinne then the Lord said O Israel thy Prophets are like i Ezek. 13.4 5. foxes in the De sarts yee have not gone up into the gaps neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battell in the day of the Lord. And againe in another place the Lord by the same Prophet saith k Ezek. 22 30 31 I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the Land that I should not destroy it but I found none therefore have I powred out mine indignation upon them I have consumed them all with the fire of my wrath their owne way have I recompenced upon their heads Vse This then discovereth the folly and impiety of such as love not desire
not delight not in the presence of Gods holy and righteous people whose delight is not in then that l Psal 16.3 excell in vertue as Christs is whose eyes are not upon the m Psa 101.6 faithfull in the Land as Davids was but rather wish and labour their removall Many there bee to whom the presence of the righteous is like the n 1 Sam. 6 1 5. Arke to the Philistines as that was a burden to their Land and their God therefore they sent it away so are the people of God a burden a trouble to many profane persons a crosse a contradiction to their doings and therefore desire and labour their absence and what doe they hereby but in the strength of their impiety and multitude of their folly involve themselves in remediles and irrecoverable miseries The Sodomites tooke offence at Lots presence but what became of them when Lot was gone Did not the o Gen. 19.24 fire and brimstone instantly consume them The presence of Moses was irkesome to Pharaoh he was charged no more to looke him in the p Exod. 10.2 8. face but what ensued what was the issue of it were not all the q Exod. 11 5. first borne in Aegypt thereupon destroyed Pharaohs servants conceived Israel to be a r Ezod 10 7. snare to be instruments of much evill endevoured their removall but when Israel was gone what became of them Did not the Å¿ Exod. 14 Red Sea swallow them the very day of Israels out-going Thus you see how usually it fares with profane persons upon the removall of the righteous and is it not strange that notwithstanding all this they should still distaste their presence still wish and worke their absence Doe they not hereby plainely declare and publikely proclaime 1. That there is no t 1 Ioh. 5.1 love of God in their soules for how can a man love the father and hate the presence of the child 2. That they have no union with Christ doe the living members in a body naturall hate and wish each others removall was it ever heard saith the Apostle that a man did u Ephes 5 29 hate his owne flesh 3. That there is no saving grace no presence no powers of the spirit in such doth not every thing agree with and rejoyce in its like Doe not waters agree and flow together in one Chanell And had these men the spirit of holinesse in them could they grieve at the presence of Gods people Surely it is impossible for the Spirit of God is a Spirit of w Phil. 2.1 2 fellowship love peace joy making men of one accord and of one minde and when the righteous are gone when the mercifull men are taken away who shall stand in the gap then Shall the profane shall the worker of iniquity What can he doe In what account are his prayers The blind man could see and say this God heareth not x Ioh. 9 31. sinners their prayers are an y Prov. 28.9 abomination in his presence as Salomon doth assure us This must therefore teach us deepely to bewaile and much to lament the losse of godly men when they are taken from us and to feare the evils like to ensue upon their departure O Beloved let us not I beseech you be like them of whom the Propht here speaketh that did not consider that did not lay to heart the taking away of the righteous from ensuing evils Let us not be like Ephraim whose strength was devoured by z Hos 7.9 strangers and he knew it not that had gray haires here and there and much weakenesse comming upon him and yet he knew it not O let us not be unsensible of the declining and decay of our strength and stay and of the miseries which are comming on us let us not be like a man in a Lethargy that hath no feeling of the cutting off and taking away of a member from him but rather as David upon the fall of Abner refused to eate till the Sunne was gone downe saying to his servants a 2 Sam. 3.35 38 39. know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel and I am this day weake and these men the sonnes of Zerviah be too hard for me may not wee say the like in this behalfe is not the Church of God weake are not the enemies thereof too strong Was not the man now fallen amongst us a Ruler an eminent man in this place And is there not in this regard great cause of mourning Doubtlesse there is For whensoever a good man doth fall 1. The Church of God on earth doth lose one member 2. The place where they lived doth lose one Pillar and so like a house whose pillars faile is much weakned 3. Hereby we loose his presence which was a whetstone to set b Pro. 27.17 edge upon us whose face was as Iacob said of Esaus as the c Gen. 33.10 face of God unto us 4. Hereby we lose his prayers which were as buckets to bring much water out of the wells of Salvation to us 5. Wee lose his instructions and counsels which were as a shining Lampe as a comfortable Guide to us in the way 6 Wee lose his comforts which were wont to be as the Apothecaries oyntments as the sweete flowers of the Garden to our nostrils as the Dove with her Olive d Gen. 8.11 branch to Noah as the Wagons which Ioseph sent to old Iacob the reviving of ours as they were the e Gen. 45.27 28. reviving of his heart 7. We lose his helpe and assistance which was wont like a strong arme to make our heavy burthen light as a fountaine of living water to refresh us as a firme sure anker to stay us therfore as Israel f Deu. 34.8 wept 30. dayes for Moses so have you great cause of sorrow and lamentation now for the taking away of this Moses this servant of the Lord here before us and also at other times whensoever the righteous doe thus perish are thus taken away from the evils ensuing And now to say no more here you see a shining starre in your Horizon set a maine Pillar of your house fallen a choice flower of your Garden taken away a man eminent for his endowments well known sufficiently tryed for his abilities a man of whom 1. For his Religion for his uprightnesse towards God I thinke I may say of him as the Lord himself of Iob g Iob 1.1 He was a perfect and upright man one that feared God and eschewed evill a man that held fast his h Iob. 2.3 integrity though there wanted not occasions and meanes to move and shake him as Satan moved God against Iob without cause to destroy him a man he was like the tree growing within the Courts of the Lords house i Psal 92.12 bearing much fruit in his old age 2. For his publike Government hee was like
Eliah under the Law Christ under the Gospell to shew that the Believers of alages before the Law under the Law under the Gospell shall in the appointed time ascend into heaven and it likewise is a divine evident and assured testimony that all Gods holy people after the passage of this earthly pilgrimage shall enjoy life everlasting in the Kingdome of Heaven In the words some things require a little explication By the Charets of fire and Horses of fire is meant the Angels of God likened to Charets and Horses 1. For their strength 2. For their valour 3. For their fighting for the Church of God and against the enemies thereof 4. For their readinesse speed and quicknesse in the execution of Gods counsels 5. For their order submission and subjection unto God they are not like horses in an open field running whither they list but like horses in a Charet going when whither and which way the Lord will have them They are said to bee Horses of fire Charets of fire to shew that they are zealous fervent earnest and full of life and power as the burning fire in the execution of their office Thus by the Prophet Zacharie they are likened to g Zach. 6.1 2. horses and Charets comming out between the mountaines to shew that they come forth with resolution courage preparednes in a speedy manner to execute Gods Will and Counsell which is firme like the Mountaines and by the Apostle they are stiled a h Heb. 1.7 flaming fire and by the Prophet Isajah they are called i Isa 6.6 Seraphin ab urendo to shew their fervor in the way and worke wherein the Lord doth set them and for this also they are resembled to the wind because as the wind is a strong and speedy messenger so are the Angels of the Lord and herein we may clearely see that the more strong couragious speedy obedient and fervent we are in our callings the more doe we resemble the holy Angels The words thus explained fall asunder into two generall parts 1. Eliahs Translation Behold there appeared a Charet of fire and horses of fire and parted them asunder and Eliah went up by a whirle wind into Heaven 2. Elisha's Lamentation And Elisha saw it and he cryed my Father my Father the Charets of Israel and the Horsemen thereof And he saw him no more and hee tooke hold of his own cloths and rent them in two pieces In the first of these Eliahs Translation we may consider 1. Motus he went up 2. Terminus a quo from whence hee went up from the Earth 3. Terminus ad quem to what place he went into Heaven 4. Instrumenta motus a Charet of fire Horses of fire and a whirle winde In the second Elisha's Lamentation There is 1. Motivum an Inducement to this lamentation and this is threefold the 1. externall hee saw it the 2. internall his affection my Father my Father the 3. mixt or experimentall drawne from the defence ministred to Israel by Eliah whereof Elisha was very sensible and therefore called him the Horsemen and Charet of Israel 2. Here is Gradus the degree of his griefe nor a little but much hee cryed 3. Incrementum doloris the increase of his sorrow that hee should see him no more 4. Signum the signe of his griefe and sorrow hee tooke hold of his owne Cloths and rent them in two pieces Thus you see the words are like a Tree of many branches each bearing his particular fruit of some of which we will take a more slender of others a fuller taste and first to begin with the first thing noted in Eliahs Translation The terminus à quo from whence he ascended from the earth when Eliah and Elisha were walking together the Charet of fire and Horses of fire parted them asunder and Eliah went up to heaven he was carried up from the earth thereby shewing That the earth is not the abiding place of Gods people Doct. k Heb. 13.14 We have no continuing City here saith the Apostle but seeke one to come 1. This is an enemies countrey Satan is stiled the l 2 Cor. 4.4 God of this world here we are m Iohn 15.19 hated and therefore as Jacob when he beheld that Laban's countenance was not towards him n Gen. 31.2 as before that he had ten times changed his wages tooke his wives children ca … and returned to his owne Countrey so we beholding how the world doth frowne upon us how it doth exercise us with many changes we should willingly forsake it and gladly go to our heavenly home 2. Our Christ our Jesus is o Luk. 24.6 risen ascended he is not here and therefore as the Bee resteth not till he returne to his Hive as the p Gen. 8.9 Dove found no resting place till she came againe unto the Arke no more should we till we returne to our God and our Jesus and have the full fruition of their blessed presence in the heavens 3. Our portion is not in this life the men of the world have their q Ps 17.14 portion here our r 1 Pet. 1.4 Inheritance is reserved for us in the heavens O therefore let us not labour for the bread which doth ſ Ioh. 6.27 perish let us not lay up for our selves treasure upon t Mat. 6.19 20. earth where the rust and the moath corrupt and where theeves break thorough and steale but let us lay up for our selves treasure in heaven For this is the terminus ad quem the place whereunto we must move as Eliah here did It is not long since Eliah ranne u 1 Kin. 18.45 46. on foote and Ahab rode in his Charet but now Eliah he hath a Charet a Charet of fire and Horses of fire a bright a glorious and shining Charet a company of blessed Angels to carry him into the holy and highest heavens Let Ahab ride now Eliah shall ride at the last Gods people shall have their Charets one day as well as others And here note Doct. That the future estate of Gods servants shall be very glorious though for the present it be contemptible and ignominious in externall appearance the greatest honour of Gods servants is reserved till after their departure out of this earthly pilgrimage Now indeed like Eliah they walke on foote but 〈◊〉 last they shall be like Eliah in his fiery Charet how they be like Ioseph in prison then they shall be like Ioseph ruling in the sec … place in the Kingdome for 〈◊〉 they shall be next to God and Christ in the Kingdome of Heaven 〈◊〉 Salomon had seene of old * Eccl. 10 7 servants upon horses and Princes walking as servants upon the earth so now men that are slaves to their owne lusts bondmen to Satan servants yea drudges to the world these are on horse-backe exalted preferred endowed with earthly riches worldly honours but they who are Kings and Priests to God these walke like servants on
foote these are in a low and despised estate for the most part but there is a day comming wherein the Lord will dispell all the clouds of ignominy now covering them and cause a glorious Sunne to shine upon them they shall then have a very glorious dwelling x 2 Cor. 5.1 a dwelling in the heavens a dwelling made without hands a City whose y Heb. 11.10 builder and maker is God a dwelling so rich so beautifull so sumptuous that in comparison hereof the z Dan. 4.30 Palace whereof Nebuchadnezzar so boasted is but a base Cottage Then they shall have a a Luke 25.43 Paradise in respect whereof the most delightfull places the pleasantest garden upon earth are but a barren wildernesse then they shall have treasure in resp … whereof the choisest jewels are 〈◊〉 dung and drosse such a tree to gather fruit from as in regard thereof the chiefe Vines are but brambles and thornes and briars such a well-spring to drinke of as in comparison thereof the sweetest Wine is but slimy water as it is very fully expressed by our b Rev. 22.1 2. Saviour Rev. 22.1 2. for then as Cyprian saith Nihil deerit nihil oberit omne desiderium eorum Christus praesens implebit non senescent non tabescent non putrescent ampliùs perpetua san … foelix aeteruitat beatitudinis illis sufficientiam confirmabuntâ—e then nothing shall be wanting there shall be nothing which shall hurt the blessed face and presence of Jesus Christ shall fully satisfie all their desires c. For Then there shall be deliverance from all sin then there shal be gardens without Reasons 1 weeds trees without either superfluous branch or withered leafe then there shall be garments c Eph. 5.26 without either spot or wrinkle as d 2 Sam. 14 25. Absolon was said to be without bodily blemish from the crowne of the head to the sole of his feete so shall Gods people at last be without all blemish both in their soules and also in their bodies now they are as the Moone bright and glorious yet as the Moone so they have their spots and are subject to spirituall waxings and wanings but at last they shall be as the Sun wholly unchangeably pure glorious in an estate more excellent then the estate of Adam in his innocency in him there was a posse cadere a possibility to fall but Gods people shall be confirmed as the Angels of God so that they shall be free from a possibility to be drawne to sinne Then there shall be a discharge from all weaknesses maladies distempers disorders of nature evils and inconveniences whatsoever then there shall be a cessation from all e Rev. 21.4 labour a removall of all sorrowes the f Rev. 21.4 first things shall passe away the miseries troubles and changes attending this life shall be gone like a Land floud that passeth by like a cloud driven away by the wind they shall be wasted away in death done away in the grave as the g 2 King 5.14 Leprosie of Naaman in Iordan they shall have an absolute and blessed freedome from all evils both inward and outward of the body and of the soule for they h Rev. 7.16 17. shall hunger no more neither shall thirst any more neither shall the Sunne light on them nor any heat for the Lambe which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall leade them unto living fountaines of water and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Reasons 3 Then they shall have victory over all enemies then all adversarie powers shall vanish like smoake before the Sunne and flie like the i 1 Sam. 17 Philistin before Israel now as Israel had the k Iude 2.2 Canaanites so have we them that be thornes in our sides and prickes in our eyes now we are l 2 Cor. 12 7. buffeted by Satan now we are troubled with the pricke in the flesh but then m Rom. 16 20. Satan shall be troden under our feete then our enemies shall be made our n Math. 22 44. foot-stoole then we shall have a perpetuall tryumph we shall not feare an enemy nor loose a friend Then they shall have the fruition of Reasons 4 all good a glorious dwelling a City of pure gold the foundation of the walles garnished with precious stones and the gates thereof of pearles as our Saviour at large describeth it o Revel 21 17 18 19. Revel 21. to shew that nothing is so precious so bright so glorious so rich so deare to us as can sufficiently set out the transcendent and unconceiveable excellency of that heavenly City then also shall we have the sweete communion of the Saints were the dwelling never so glorious should a man be constrained to dwell alone it would prove a great abatement of his contentment delight and comfort therefore for the filling up of the joy of his servants God hath provided for them not onely glorious mansions but also the comfortable communion of his Saints and Angels they shall p Mat 8.11 Heb. 12.22 23. sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Iacob they shall come to an innumerable company of Angels to the generall Assembly and Church of the first borne c. And which is most of all more then all the rest they shall have the blessed vision of God a glorious house the company of the children there is little without the presence of the Master of the house the Father of the Family so heaven so the communion of the Saints were little should we not also behold the face of God for as the fruition of the husbands presence the sence of the husbands love doth more solace satisfie rejoyce and delight the wife then the statelinesse of the dwelling the presence of all her companions so the fruition of Gods face and favour the Lord filling the soule with his celestiall brightnesse and glory we seeing him face to face and he becomming all in all unto us this is much more then all the rest and herein standeth the perfection the consummatition of our happinesse therefore our Saviour saith q Rev. 22 3 4. there shall bee no more curse but the Throne of God and of the Lambe shall bee in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face But if the future estate of Gods servants be so honourable Quest so full of all satisfaction so glorious why are they so willing to continue upon the face of the Earth Will any man desire to continue in a wildernesse when hee may live in a glorious Paradise to abide in an enemies Country when he may enjoy all fulnesse in his fathers house to live in a prison when he may partake of the sweetest freedome The people of God desire long life Resp 1. Sometimes for the making of their r Psal 39.13 peace with God more fully before they finish this earthly pilgrimage 2. Sometimes they may
also glorifie God with their bodies which by death are Å¿ Psal 6.4 5. disabled to doe God any service 3. Sometimes that they may among men t Psal 30.10 Psal 84.10 11 12. celebrate and praise God for his blessings and favours bestowed upon them that they may be an encouragement to Gods people anornament to Gods truth a terror to the adversaries of it here upon earth 4. Sometimes that they may perfect some good Worke which they have begun do good to others in their places and callings thus u Phil. 1.23 Paul though he knew it was better for him to be dissolved and to be with Christ yet he was willing to live longer because it was good for them that hee should continue with them so that though the people of God sometimes for such causes doe desire continuance here yet it no way denieth this truth that their future estate in the Heavens is very glorious And if so be their future estate be so glorious so pleasant so comfortable as we have clearely seene it is Then first Vse 1 This must teach the people of God patience under their present burthens troubles tryals miseries the joy is behind the glory the Crowne is 2 Tim. 4.7 8. layd up for hereafter here like Israel we have but a little taste a few x Num. 13.13 Grapes in the way the full Vintage is reserved till at last here we are like Sampson the Honey we have is in the y Judg. 14.14 belly of a Lyon but hereafter we shall have sweet without sowre light without darkenesse rivers of joy without a tempest therefore as the servant patiently endureth the heate of the day in expectation of his wages in the evening the Souldier the dangerous and deadly wounds of the battell in expectation of a Crowne the husband-man the heate of the Summer the cold of the Winter comforting himselfe with the comming of a full and liberall harvest let us doe the like in this case here is a wages a crowne a harvest which will abundantly answer all losses labours hardnesse reproaches and whatsoever doth for the present annoy us As our Saviour said in another case a z John 16.21 Woman when shee is in travell hath sorrow because her houre is come but as soone as she is delivered of the child shee remembreth no more the anguish for joy that a man is borne into the World so in this case the people of God are now often in great anguish like a woman in travell but when this life is ended when our regeneration and new birth shall be fully accomplished we shall meete with that which will swallow up all our former griefe and trouble and make it as if it had never beene and as Salomons mother said in that case a Pro. 31.6 7. Prov. 31. give strong drinke to him that is ready to perish and wine to those that bee of a heavy heart let him drinke and forget his poverty remember his misery no more so here is a cup of consolations here is sweet wine here is a more pure river whereof when wee once come to drinke our full draught we shall forget our poverty we shall remember our misery no more therefore let us according to the charge of the Psalmist b Ps 37.5 6. commit our way to God trust in him and the Lord shall bring it to passe hee shall bring forth our righteousnesse as the light and our judgement as the noone day and in all our troubles tryals and against all adversary powers let us say as the Prophet Micah c Mica 7.8 9. doth rejoyce not against mee O mine enemy when I fall I shall rise when I sit in darkenesse the Lord shall bee a light unto mee I will beare the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him untill he plead my cause and execute judgment for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse And reckon also with the d Rom. 8.18 Apostle that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us evermore to remember that of S. Paul to the Corinthians that e 2 Cor. 4.17 18. our light afflictions which are but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding eternall waight of glory while we look not at the things which are but at the things which are not seene for the things which are seen are temporall but the things which are not seene are eternall thinke I beseech you of these things and let patience have her f Jam. 1.4 perfect work in all tryals troubles changes where with the Lord shall be pleased to exercise you This must teach the children of Vse 2 God constancy in the way and worke of God there is a blessed Price at the end of this race there is joy peace glory fulnes unutterable g Isa 64.4 inconceiveable O therefore bee not like Gideons many thousands which h Judg. 7.5 6 7. fainted which bowed downe upon their knees and drunke of the waters and so were discarded as unfit for the battell be not afraid of any losse of any trouble of any inconvenience having given your names to God O bow not downe againe to the World be no more as servants to your lusts or drudges to the earth I beseech you say not with the sluggard i Prov. 26.13 there is a Lyon in the way a Lyon in the streete feare not the Lyon of opposition of reproach of earthly losse or transitory trouble but goe on in the way of God be faithfull in the Covenant of the Lord be couragious in the service of our God and then as the spirit of the Lord came k Judg. 14.5 6 8. mightily upon Sampson so mightily that he rent the Lyon in pieces which roared against him and found at length a Honey combe in the belly of him so shall the Lord inable you to vanquish all oppositions and draw very sweete comforts from your present disquietments Let not the proverbe take hold of you l 2 Pet. 2.22 the Dog is returned againe to his vomit and the Sow to her wallowing in the mire be not like m 1 Tim. 1.19.20 Hymeneus and Philetus like unskilfull and cowardly marriners that flie back or make shipwracke with every tempest doe not with n 2 Tim. 4.10 Demas forsake Paul leave the Ministery become a stranger to the word and forsake God and goe back againe to this present World be not like the disciples which followed Christ for the o John 6.66 loaves but afterwards went backe and came no more to him but like Gideons 300. Souldiers goe yee on without fainting without bowing down to the World resolve in this as Hester did in that case p Hester 4.16 Hester 4. If I perish I perish whatsoever you loose whatsoever you endure here is an ample recompence be you faithfull
sorrow for their religious deceased friends as William Hunter said to his Mother when hee was to suffer Martyrdome For a momentany paine I shall have a crowne of life and may you not be glad of that So they for a slender troublesome contemptible condition have a full a peaceable a glorious estate in heaven and have in that respect great cause of rejoycing 3. This is the day of their Ioy 3 Ioy. now they are d Hos 2.19 2 Cor. 11.1 2 3. betrothed but then the Marriage between e Rev. 19.7 Christ and their soules shall be consummate as the Marshals wife of France said to her husband at the stake Be of good cheere your wedding was but a shadow an earnest of the blessed marriage which the Lambe will now consummate This then is the Marriage day of the godly and who will not rejoyce at least a little with his friend on his Marriage day 4. Recompence 4. This is the day of their Recompence now their f Rev. 14.13 workes follow them now is their harvest though heretofore they have g Ps 126.5 6. sowne in teares yet now they reape in joy 5. God gave our godly friends to us but for a season we are tenents at will the Lord may put us out at his pleasure of all our possessions and therefore we should learne with Iob to submit our wills to Gods will and say h Job 1.21 the Lord gave and the Lord taketh blessed be the name of the Lord. 6. We shall shortly i 2 Sam. 12 23. goe to them they cannot returne to us it is but a little while and we shall for ever have k 1 Thes 4 13.14.17 their fellowship in the Heavens 7. God will be instead of all God will be to the widow to the woman that hath no husband instead of a husband to the fatherles child instead of a father c. As Elkāa said to Hannah grieving at the barrennes of her wombe because she had no children l 1 Sam. 1.8 Why weepest thou and why eatest thou not and why is thy heart grieved am not I to thee better then ten sonnes So may I say in this behalfe to every woman every child every parent every friend why weepe ye why eate ye not why are your hearts grieved Is not God to you in stead of ten husbands ten children ten friends surely in God is all fulnesse and as the Sun is instead of all Candles so should the Lord be to us instead of all others and infinitly more then all helpers guides staies friends and comforters Let then the thought of their advantage who are gone the way of all flesh before us and the meditation of Gods constant and never failing goodnesse mitigate the sorrow and sadnesse which doth usually attend our losse in this behalfe let their gaine asswage the griefe of our losse and also quicken us to a carefull preparation that whensoever the day of our dissolution shall come we may also have a fiery Charet with Eliah to carry us into the heavens Thus are we come to the last thing noted in Eliahs translation and ascension the instrumenta motus the Angels of the Lord whence observe Doct. That the holy Angels carry the soules of the righteous at the day of their death into the heavens they now m Psa 34.7 encampe about them they now n Heb. 1.13 minister for their good and at last will carry their soules to heaven as they carried o Luke 16 22. Lazarus into Abrahams bosome The ground of this their attendance upon the righteous floweth from the Communion and conjunction of Gods faithfull people with the Lord Jesus a woman joyned in wedlocke with the Prince is honoured reverenced attended not onely by the common subjects but also by the greatest Nobles in that Princes Court so the Spouse of Christ true believers being married to Christ are served attended waited on not onely by the common creatures but also by the glorious Angels O the dignity whereunto man through Christ Jesus is advanced O that the Name of God might be magnified by us according to the honour he hath bestowed upon us Thus from Eliahs Ascension let us descend unto and looke upon Elishas Lamentation wherein you may remember was presented to us a threefold motive The first externall he saw Eliah ascending and thereupon cryed Wherein you may see That the sight of dying or departing is very forcible to move the affections of the surviving Note p Lam. 3.51 mine eye affecteth my heart was the saying of the Church in her Lamentations but this I must now passe by The second motive was his internall affection My Father my Father Note Where also learne That Gods holy Ministers are spirituall Fathers and therefore they must be to Gods people as fathers to the children and must be loved reverenced honoured by the people as children love reverence honour them that be fathers over them The third motive was next Note drawne from the experience Elisha had of the safety and defence ministred to Israel by the presence of Eliah among them therefore calling him the Horsemen of Israel and the Charets thereof because as the horsemen and charets are the strength of the people and the instruments of their defence so may we hereby learn That Gods faithfull Ministers are a singular stay and defence to the people where God hath set them but because time will not give leave to speak of these particulars I will from the degree increase and signe of Elishas sorrow and from his affection crying renting his cloths mourning as for a father propose unto you this observation Doct. That the death and departure of Gods faithfull Ministers ought to be deeply affectionately bewailed by Gods holy servants as q 2 Sam. 3.22 David lamented and all the people wept over Abner when he was slaine being a great man in Israel a man that went forth to gather all Israel unto David so have we great cause to mourne for and bewaile the death of the spirituall Captaines and Leaders which are sent forth to gather the people unto God and to r 2 Cor. 5.18.19 reconcile them and bring them into Covenant with the Lord thus Elisha here bewailed the translation of Eliah and King Ioash afterwards in the same words lamenteth ſ 2 Kings 13 14. Elisha Now Elisha was fallen sicke of his sicknesse whereof he died and Ioash King of Israel came down unto him and wept over his face and said O my father my father the Charets of Israel and Horsmen thereof And this is a part of the Churches lamentation t Lam. 1.19 20. My Priests and mine Elders gave up the ghost in the Cty behold O Lord for I am in distresse and this was a principall part of the peoples complaint a great aggravation of their affliction u Psa 74.9 We say they see not our signes there is no more any