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
the Lord maketh darkenesse it is night wherein all the beasts of the forrest doe creepe forth and the Lyons roare after their prey so here when the Lord taketh away the light of the Gospell bringeth darknesse a spirituall night upon us then sinne and satan the x 1 Pet. 5.8 roaring Lyon creepe forth then they make a prey of the soules of men then they fill them full of all uncleannesse then the faithfull City becommeth an harlot a denne of darknesse a lodge of all uncleannesse behold this in the Churches once eminent famous for their knowledge faith and holinesse but now very sinkes of sinne and all abominations Then they are without their defence Reasons 5 as a child when the father is dead when the parents are gone is in a sort without a Protectour as a flocke without a shepheard lyeth open to the mouth of every Dog Fox Beare Lyon Theefe therefore are the Ministers stiled the Horsemen and Charets of Israel because they are the strength and safegard of the place where they are where the word of God is purely and sincerely taught there God is after a peculiar manner present shewing his power in the defence of the place and people to the Minister of God hath made a very gracious promise y Ier. 1.18 19. Behold saith the Lord to Jeremy I have made thee this day a defenced City and an iron Pillar and brasen wall against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah against the Princes thereof against the Priests thereof and against the people of the Land And they shall fight against thee but they shal not prevaile against thee for I am with thee to deliver thee And the Lord is not onely a defence to the Ministers themselves but also to the place and people where they are thus when the Syrians compassed the City Dothan where Elisha was then were the mountaines full of Charets and Horses the Angels of the Lord like an Army standing in the defence of Elisha x 2 Kings 6 16 17. so that the Syrians could hurt neither Elisha nor the place where he was thus also when the a 2 Chro. 11.13 14 16 17. Priests the Levites and such of the Tribes of Israel as set their hearts to seeke the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem then they strengthned the Kingdome of Iudah and made Rehoboam strong even so many yeares as he walked in the waies of David and Salomon It is not so much the number of the people the great abundance of riches and other munition and furniture as holy and faithfull Ministers pious and religious people that are the strength stay instruments of safety to a Kingdome place or people therefore when Iehosaphat sent forth them that taught in Iudah and had the booke of the Law of the Lord with them and went about throughout all the Cities of Judah and taught the people then it is said b 2 Chro. 17.9 the feare of the Lord fell upon all the Kingdoms of the Lands that were round about Iudah so that they made no war against Iehosaphat yea they did not onely forbeare to annoy and hurt him but then also the Philistines brought Iehosaphat presents and tribute silver and the Arabians brought him flockes seven thousand and seven hundred Rammes and seven thousand and seven hundred He-goats behold here the blessed safety the great defence ministred to the place people where the Lord giveth faithfull and teaching Ministers to instruct them see and consider in this the singular good attendant upon and derived unto the places which the Lord endowes with sanctified and able Pastors they by their labours convert many to true holinesse fill the soules of many with much goodnesse make them very fruitfull in the good workes of all righteousnesse bring them to be Gods deare favourites they by their prayers also previle with God for the removall of much evill hanging over and for the procuring of much good to the place and people where the Lord doth set them and thus they are instrumentally a singular defence unto them but these being removed the people become like a City having neither wall nor watchman Reasons 6 Then they are without their honour for as the Parents be in some sort the honour of the children as well as the children be the crowne of the parents so are the Ministers and ordinances of God the crowne and glory of the people which enjoy them therefore Moses tels Israel that there was no Nation so c Deut. 4.6 great as they because there was no Nation had God so nigh unto them that had such statutes as they and this was their wisdome and understanding to keepe them and therefore also when the Ark which was to Israel a testimony of Gods presence as the Ordinances of God are now to us when this Arke I say was taken from them the wife of Phineas refused to be comforted saying the d 1 Sam. 4.21 22. glory was departed from Israel for as the stars be the glory and ornament of the heavens so are the Ministers of God the e Rev. 1.19 starres in the right hand of Christ the ornaments and glory of the Church a great priviledge a rare favour are Gods ordinances where he doth vouchsafe them f Psal 147 19 20. He sheweth his word saith the Psalmist unto Iacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his judgements they have not known them Then they are in great danger of Apostacy when Moses was but a few daies Reasons 7 absent from the people they erected a g Exod. 32 1 2. golden calfe to goe before them when Iehoaida dyed h 2 Chr. 24.2 17 18. Iehoash soon turned aside from the way of God to Idols the souldiers will soone go backe if their Leader be once gone the ship will quickly miscarry make shipwracke if there be no Pilot in it Reasons 8 Lastly then they are in a manner without religion without piety yea without God and Christ in the world when the people were without the Law and a teaching Priest they were said to be i 2 Chro 15.2 3. without God The taking away then of the faithfull Ministers being no lesse then a depriving of the people of their guides food comforters meanes of spirituall freedome instruments of defence this robbing them of their glory exposing them to the danger of Apostacy and making them like men without God in the World we cannot but confesse that the death and departure of Gods faithfull Ministers ought to be deepely and affectionately bewailed by Gods holy servants Vse This therefore serveth for the just and sharpe reproofe of all such as doe not heartily feelingly and affectionately bewaile the departure death and want of Gods faithful ministers the removing of these cādlesticks the going out of these bright and shining lights many of us now are like Israel of old weary of our heavenly
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
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
souldier fighting Gods battell an Apothecaries shoppe that hath a healing medicine for every wounded soule here is a Counsellor for every circumcised eare a guide for every traveller a comforter for every sorrowfull and dejected spirit This is the instrumentall staffe and stay of Gods children the Crowne and glory of the Lords people But as our Saviour tooke occasion from the quality of the persons receiving the Gospel to say Mat. 11.5 6. the poore receive the Gospel and blessed is hee that is not offended in me So may I take occasion from the conditiō of the persons preaching and from their manner of teaching to say Esay 11.6 Psal 8.2 2 Cor. 10 1◠mortal men weake men men of low estate and condition men whose bodily presence is weake and speech contemptible preach the Gospel and that in a plaine manner without ostentation and blessed is he that is not offended because this Treasure is brought in a wooden Vessell because men preach not themselves but Christ that so the excellency of the power may appeare to be of God and not of men Jt is with us indeede as we are carnall as it was with Antiochus Livi lib. 37. Plut. in Comp. Scipio Annib. and his people in another case History makes mention how Antiochus prepared against the Romans an Army very great and huge of men of many Nations but white livered Souldiers not so strong with armour as glistering with gold and silver Antiochus himselfe was amazed at the sight of it and thought it invincible and so did the simple fooles of his Countrey but the Romans contemned it and Annibal jested at it So naturall men being to wage warre against their spirituall adversaries will 2 Tim. 4.3 heape up many teachers and if their Sermons glister with the gold and silver or rather with the gilded brasse and copper of humane eloquence supercilious speeches curious and quaint conceipts and devices though there be little or no spirituall power in it yet they stand amazed at it think that the battle is wonne that the day and crowne is theirs when it is too apparent that Satan and sinne like Annibal and his Romans doe scorne and are no more moved no more affrighted with it then with the admiration used by the Acts 19.15 sonnes of Sheva where Satan prevailed they ran away wounded for as Satan sayd to them Paul I know Iesus I know but what are ye So in this case the evill spirit wil at least may say them that preach Christ sincerely faithfully powerfully I know but what are the feeble sayings of Heathenish Philosophers or the rythmes and fictions of fond Poets who sanctified these as a meanes to conquer sinne and Sathan Two things have I found which J propose to the view and censure of all the Lords people the one by internall sense and feeling the other by externall observation the first is this The more or lesse the Minister of God hath of the Spirit in his preaching so much the more or lesse powerfull is his Sermon either for conviction conversion or consolation The second is this That holy humble and faithfull Pastors though for humane Eloquence like Cicero for their abilities in Philosophy like Aristotle for their versifying faculty like Ovid yet in Gods Sanctuarie have they laid aside these weapons and studied to preach God Christ Jesus not out of Homer Virgil Cicero Aristotle but of out the Sacred Scriptures with all 1 Cor. 14.18 19. possible plainnesse fit for mens capacities And for mine owne part I thinke Gods Ministers should use humane helpes as Abraham did his Gen. 22.5 Asse and his Servant they may goe with them to the foot of the Hill there stay but not ascend into the Sanctuary where they preach Christ Iesus and offer their spiritual sacrifice except in some Act. 17.28 Tit. 1.12 extraordinary cases For thus S. Augustine In doctrina sacrae Scripturae authoritatem debet Episcopus praeferre non saecularium literarū peritiam ostentare non enim Episcopi est officium Grammaticam exponere nec laudes Iovis personet os pontificis that is the Minister must preferre the authority of sacred Scripture in his teaching and not shew forth his skill in secular or humane learning it is not the dutie of a Minister to expound Grammer or sound forth the prayses of Jupiter this have I made hold to tell you that you may not sticke in cortice in the naked world of a Sermon like men that behold onely the outside of the house but open the doore goe in and see what good cheere the Spirit of God doth make there for your soules Origen in Levit. Hom. 39. for as Origen saith Spiritus divinis verbis convalescit nutrimenta spiritus sunt divina lectio orationes assiduae sermo doctrinae his alitur cibis his convalescit his actor efficitur It is not an humane but a divine word which nourisheth and maketh the soule holily operative it is Gods word which doth enlighten the understanding awaken the conscience purifie the affection reconcile to God worke peace in the heart and fill the inward man with all goodnesse thinke of these things and of many poore soules that amongst you come within the walles of the Lords house and there stand and see but heare not that you may accordingly provide for your owne and their everlasting good And as the holy and soule-refreshing Ministerie of the Gospell so also the serious meditation of our owne slippery standing fleeting condition is a spur very forcible to quicken us in the way of righteousnesse were that of the Prophet to Ezekiah 2 King 20. thou mayest not live but die ever sounding in our eares and fresh in our memories it would cause us to set both house and soule in order it would cause us with the Merchant to buy while the Mart lasteth with the Traveller to walke while the light shineth with the Mariner to row while the tide serveth And that the word of God may now be pleasant and profitable your death at the last comfortable and gainfull let the presence power and increase of these foure insuing graces like foure precious jewels adorne you 1. Humilitie which is in Gods eye a 1 Pet. 3.3 Pearle of great price a fruit an evidence of the Prov. 11.2 wisedome which is from above the first Mat. 11.29 lesson learned in the Schoole of Christ Jesus and that which maketh us capeable Iam. 4.6 of all graces 2. Sinceritie let your inward disposition your outward conversation be like our Saviours Coate without seame it is your Psal 32.1 2. blessednesse your prayse before God and all good men now and will be your joy and your 2 Cor. 1.12 glory at the last to bee true Israelites right Nathaniels in whom is no guile 3. Vnitie a holy concord a sweete agreement in every good way betwixt your selves this is a fruit of the highest Ioh. 1. Iam. 3.17 wisedome like a Psal 13 3.1.2 precious oyntment in Gods nostrils a singular
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
if they doe thus to the greene tree what will they doe to the dry So in this case if death seize upon and spare not Gods family the house-hold of faith the holy and righteous r Isa 61.3 trees of righteousnesse Trees of Gods owne planting as the Prophet calleth them where then be the hopes of the prophane mans deliverance If holinesse if being in Christ in covenant with God preserve not the righteous the mercifull man from death Oh thinke not then O profane man that riches honour worldly abilities will preserve thy life these be shields of no strength to defend us from the darts of death foundations of sand unable to beare us up like that whereon the foolish man built his house Å¿ Mat. 7.27 Mat. 7. Whereon when the Windes blew and the waves beat it fell and great was the fall thereof such will be the end of all that build upon the sand of earthly powers whose very strength is weaknesse It was neither the strength nor height of the tree nor fairenesse of the leaves nor abundance of the fruit nor extent of the shadow could preserve it from the sentence of the t Dan. 4.12 13 14. woe the which Nebuchadnezar beheld comming downe from Heaven in his vision so death when it once commeth when the God of Heaven sends it will shake off the leaves break downe the branches take away the beauty of the fairest the might of the strongest not regard the wealth of the richest but new downe the Tree and cast the body into the grave v Ps 82.6 I have said saith the Lord of them that be most rich most potent most mighty on earth yee are Gods and all of you are children of the most High but yee shall dye like men and perish like one of the Princes As the fire burnes both the shrub and Cedar so death spares neither poore nor rich The Lords wrath will seaze upon all the wicked alike as the w Is 5.24 the fire devoureth the stubble the flame consumeth the chaffe so their root shall be rottennesse and their blossome shall goe up as dust because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hoasts and woefull miserable and wretched will their death be For It shall end all their joyes then their x Job 18.5 6. Candle will be put out as the y Dan. 5.5 hand writing in the wall marred Belshazzars feast so will death marre the wicked mans mirth It will rob him of all his pompe as z Dan. 4.30 Nebuchadnezar was turned from his glorious Palace to eate grasse like an Oxe so will death turne the profane man out of all his dignities bring his a Isa 14.11 pompe to the grave and make him a b Mat. 25.41 companion with the Devill and his angels It will leave him as an abomination upon the earth his memory shall c Prov. 10.7 rot as a dead beast casteth an ill savour when he dyeth so the man that is in d Psal 49.23 honour and knoweth not is ignorant of God destitute of his feare void of his grace shall be like the beast which perisheth It shall be the beginning of those miseries which never shall have end it shall intangle them in that snare whence there is no escaping and bring them to those burnings where is no e Luk. 16.24 quenching to that f Jude v. 7. fire which is everlasting it shall cast them into that g Rev. 21.8 lake from whence there is no out-going To this slaughter-house must thou come O riotous O covetous O uncleane and carnall man and though thou doest escape a little while yet it will not be long thou mayest cheere h Eccles 11.9 thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes but for all these things God at length will bring thee to judgement Gellius saith of Sejanus horse no man ever sped well that was owner of him Such a horse is sinne no man ever speeds well at last but takes a fall that rides this horse and is carried head-long to destruction over-whelmed with everlasting torments before he is aware of it over-taken as a woman by her i 1 Thess 5.3 travaile it will come as a theefe in the night season As Absaloms servants fell on Amnon and murdered him when his heart was k 2 Sam. 13.28 merry with wine so when the hearts of men are merry with the pleasures of sinne when they be satiated and glutted with worldly and fleshly delights then sorrow shame death everlasting woes the servants of sinne shall fall upon them as Absaloms servants upon Amnon The pleasures of sinne are but for a l Heb. 11.25 season they be but a m Ps 39.5 spanne long as the afflictions of the righteous be but for a n Rom. 8.18 moment so the o Job 20.5 pleasures and triumph of the wicked and one houres torment in Hell will swallow up the pleasures of a thousand yeeres on earth Are the righteous subject to a bodily dissolution Are they taken away as well as others Then let the Saints and holy servants of God learne not to set their hearts on things here below but to be as p 1 Pet. 2.11 strangers upon the earth to live as Tenants at will in a continuall preparednesse to depart The Lord pressed the Prophet to this by presenting before him the changes which hee would worke Behold saith the Lord q Jer. 45.4 5. that which I have built I will breake downe and that which J have planted I will pluck up even this whole land and seekest thou great things for thy selfe seeke them not to this the Apostle perswadeth the people of God by the consideration of their new conditions r Col. 3.1 2. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things which are above To this hee urgeth the Hebrewes by setting the inconstancie of their outward estate before them Wee have no Å¿ Heb 13.12 13. continuing Citie here but seeke one to come therefore let us goe forth without the Campe bearing our reproach let us forsake the Earth deny our selves be willing to be dissolved that wee may enjoy our desired home And this was of old the exhortation of the Prophet t Mica 2.10 Arise you and depart for this is not your rest And therefore as our Saviour said unto the Disciples concerning Judas v Mat. 26.46 rise let us be going behold he is at hand that doth betray mee So let me say to you of death arise let us goe hence let us take our hearts from things here below for death which will take our life from us is at hand And as Matthew w Mat. 9.9 arose from the receipt of custome and followed Christ So let us arise every man from his sinne from his prophane way from his evill custome and become sincere humble diligent and constant
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
them prescribed by Iethro k Exo. 12.21 to Moses an able man a man fearing God a man of truth hating covetousnesse a man in whom there was a sweet and powerfull concurrence of all requisite vertues for his calling and office and accordingly he proved a carefull Watch-man over this Towne and people he did not like the evill servant hide his l Mat. 25.30 talent in a napkin but his care study labour travell was I am perswaded for the publike common and true good of this place and people 3. He was in his domesticke Government like m Gen. 18.19 Abraham a man commanding and teaching his children and household after him to walke in the wayes of the Lord a man like David walking in the middest of his n Psal 101.3 house with a perfect heart 4. Hee was towards Gods people kinde loving amiable shewing that his o Psal 16.3 delight was in them that excell in vertue 5. Hee was in his conference cōmunication wise grave holy full of heavenly discourse p Pro. 1◠7 his lippes did disperse knowledge I speake these things not to disparage any living but to encourage such as knew him to a carefull imitation of what was found praise-worthy in him The richer his endowments the greater your losse the more should bee your griefe the greater your care to labour the reparation and to stop the breach which God hath made by his fall and whatsoever you have lost in him labour to repaire and increase in your selves 1. By growing in all grace by being filled with all goodnesse drawing nearer to God in all things make his counsell your q Psal 73.24 guide now that he may receive you to his glory at the last 2. By being diligent faithfull careful conscionable in the imployment you have received that so when you shall be as he is now you may heare that sweete and comfortable saying of our Saviour r Mat. 25.23 Well done thou good and faithfull servant thou hast beene Ruler over few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy LORD FINIS ELIAHS FIERY CHARIOT OR THE HOLY MANS TRIVMPH after Death A SERMON PREACHED at Plimouth the nineteenth of August 1631. At the Funerall of the late faithfull and worthy Minister of Jesus Christ MATTHIAS NICOLS Bachelour in Divinity and late Preacher to the Towne of Plimouth By A. G. 1 Sam. 25.1 And SAMVEL dyed and all the Israelites were gathered together and lamented him and buried him in his house at Ramah Printed at LONDON 1640. ELIAHS FIERY CHARET OR The holy mans Tryumph after DEATH 2 Kings 2.11.12 Behold there appeared a Charet of fire and horses of fire and parted them both asunder and Eliah went up by a whirle-wind into Heaven And Elisha saw it and he cryed my Father my Father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof And hee saw him no more and hee tooke hold of his own cloathes and rent them in two pieces THE sorrowes of Gods people are often like the waves of the Sea one rowling upon the backe of another like stones in a building when one is fallen another tumbles after Wee multiply our transgressions and God doth multiply our miseries we are sometimes like men cast into a deepe and dead slumber and God must strike not once but twice before we will awaken our hearts are often very senselesse stony stupid and therefore as Moses stroke the rock a Num. 20.11 twice that waters might come forth so doth God often strike us sometimes in the feete in our Inferiours sometimes in the sides in them that are most deare unto us sometimes in the armes in them that be our chiefe Assistants sometimes in the head in them that are our Governours sometimes in the face in the eye the tenderest part in our Pastor and all this the Lord doth to draw from us the teares of true repentance I have beene to you of this place of late a Messenger like b 2 Sam. 18 Cushi to David bringing nothing but sad and sorrowfull tydings of the fall of your friends and acquaintance like the Messengers comming to Iob one after another with c Iob. 1. tydings of taking away the sheepe oxen asses the death and slaughter of his servants sonnes and daughters It was but on Tuesday last I brought you heavy tydings of the death of a pious and eminent Magistrate and now am come again with the like sad and dolefull message of the death and departure of your holy faithfull and painfull Pastor Of whom whiles they lived I may say as David did of Saul and Ionathan d 2 Sam. 1.22 from the blood of the slain and the fat of the mighty the bow of Ionathan turned not backe and the sword of Saul returned not empty so these The sword of the one in the Magistracie and the Bow of the other in the Ministery prospered and prevailed mightily of that sweet communion which was betweene them of the unparallel'd integrity of their conversations agility industry un-weariedns in their callings I may speak againe in the lāguage of David touching Saul Ionathan 2 Sam. 1.23 They were lovely pleasant in their lives and in their death they were not divided they were swifter thē Eagles they were stronger thē Lyons And as to you who lately enjoyed the benefit the comfort of their presence labours abilities I may say once againe with David there Ver. 24. Yee daughters of Israel weepe over Saul who clothed you in scarlet with other delights who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparell how are the mighty fallen in the midst of battel So in this case O Town O People O Congregation weepe over these men who lately sought your welfare studyed your good were instruments of your peace of your honour of your enrichment whose endevours whose desires whose labours were to adorne you with the choisest ornaments and to fill you with the sweetest delights O how are these mighty men fallen in the middest of this Battell And touching him whose corps lyeth now before us we may all say as David of Ionathan Verse 26. Wee are distressed for thee O holy and godly Pastor O zealous and and painfull Minister very pleasant hast thou beene to us thy love to us was wonderfull passing the love of Women O how is this mighty man fallen and the weapons of his war perished And as Elisha in the Text upon the sight of Eliahs translation so may we beholding the dissolution of this our Eliah cry out my Father my Father the Charet of Israel and the Horsemen thereof The words declare and set before us Eliahs translation ascension into Heaven signifying in all probability the Ascension of our Saviour for as Elisha waited to see the translation of Eliah so the Disciples waited and beheld the f Acts 1.10 11. Ascension of Christ It shadowed also our Resurrection Enoch was translated before the Law
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
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
Prophet neither is there any among us that knoweth how long and when Paul departed from the people of God at Ephesus this was their great griefe that they should see him no more for at his departure from them it is recorded * Acts 20.37 38. that he kneeled downe and prayed with them all and they all wept sore and fell on Pauls necke and kissed him sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake that they should see his face no more and that the people of God should thus deepely thus affectionately bewaile the death and departure of Gods Ministers there is great cause for Then they are without a Guide as Reasons 1 children without a father to instruct governe them as a Ship without a Pilot to conduct them as an Army without a Captaine to order them as Sheepe without a Shepheard to lead them so that as in the day of the King of Israels fall the Prophet in vision saw the people scattered like sheep without a x 1 King 22 17. shepheard and as men having no master So when the faithfull Minister of God the spirituall Pastor is taken away then are the people scattered abroad as y Mat. 9 36 sheep having no shepheard then they are as travellers without a guid then they are as the Syrians z 2 Kings 6 18 19. that had their eyes put out went they knew not whither into their enemies City when they thought they had beene travelling to their owne Countrey so people when the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell are taken from them they be as men without eyes they thinke they are in a good when they are in a very evill estate in the way to life when they be in the very gates of death for the Ministers are the eyes of the people therefore called a Isa 30.10 Seers and as Moses said to Hobab Numbers Leave us not I pray thee for as much as we are to encamp in the wildernesse and thou mayest be instead of eyes to us so may the people say to the Minister of God Leave us not we beseech thee for as much as we are to travell thorow the Wildernesse of this World and thou maist be to us instead of eyes in stead of eyes to teach us to discerne the things which differ to foresee evils to come to shew us the mysteries of salvation to guide us into the wayes of peace therefore as it would grieve a man to have his eyes put out so it should much grieve us to have the Ministers of God our spirituall eyes taken from us Then they are without spirituall food as children that have lost their Father their Mother their nurse are often without bodily food for the Ministers of God are their spirituall b 1 Cor. 4.16 Fathers the c 1 Thes 2.7 Nurses which must draw forth the breasts of spirituall consolations to nourish them the shepheards which must d Jer. 3.15 Joh. 21.16.17 feede them with knowledge and understanding the e Mat. 13.52 stewards which must bring forth old and new out of their treasury which must open and apply both the Law and the Gospell to their conscience f 1 Cor. 4.1 faithfull stewards g 2 Tim. 2.15 dividing the word aright giving every one his portion and that in due season Without these there is a spirituall famine a famine not of bread and water but which is farre worse a h Amos 8.11 famine of hearing the word of the Lord. Without these the people at the best are but like the sheepe brought by Labans daughters to the well but could not drinke till Iacob rolled away the i Gen. 29 8 10. stone for what else doth an un-teaching Minister but gather the people to the well call them to the word to heare the Scriptures but are unable to roll away the stone to give the k Neh. 8.8 sence as Ezra did to divide the word and give them waters out of the wells of life and therefore as it would much trouble us to bee in a bodily so should it much more disquiet us to bee under a spirituall famine Reasons 3 Then they be without their spirituall comforter as children when their parents are gone then their Comforter is gone the faithfull Ministers are the Comforters of Sion these have the charge given to minister consolation to the people l Isa 40.1 2. comfort yee comfort yee my people saith our God speake yee comfortably to Ierusalem c. These are the sonnes of m Act. 4.36 Consolation these are the Doves which bring the Olive branch of peace to the soule in the deluge of trouble their voyce through Gods blessing doth appease the troubled conscience as the n Mat. 8.25 26. voyce of our Saviour appeased the stormy tempest these under God are the Physitians which heale our wounded soules when all the World cannot cure us nor minister any peace or comfort to us as our Saviour cured the o Mark 5.39 woman of her bloudy issue after that shee had spent all that she had upon the Physitians and yet was not healed for these are the men to whom God hath given the p Isa 5.40 tongue of the learned to minister a word in due season when these therefore are gone the Instruments of our comfort are gone our starre is set we are left in darkenesse and are as the Church when she had no Comforter Lament 1.9 q Lam. 1.19 Then they are without the meanes Reasons 4 of their spirituall freedom easily taken and kept in the bondage of Satan when the Parents are gone strangers use to make a pray of the children so when the Ministers of God are taken away when the spirituall Parents are removed then sin Satan and the world easily make a pray of the people for the faithfull Ministry of the Gospell is the thunder by which the divell must be cast down to the ground like r Luke 10.18 lightning this is the warlike weapon which is mighty thorough God to cast downe the strong Å¿ 2 Cor. 10 4.5 holds of sinne as the walles of t Jos 6.20 Ierico were throwne downe by the sounding of the Rammes hornes so the walles of sinne the strong holds of Satan are overturned by sounding forth the trumpet of the Gospell Before Philip came to Samaria Satan had the possession there but when he came and preached the Gospell then the u Acts 8.8 9. uncleane spirits went out of many that were possessed with them thus is the Ministry of the word an instrument of victory to Gods people over the enemies of their salvation but when the Ministry faileth then Satans Kingdome is erected then his throne flourisheth when the gardener is taken away then the garden becommeth a wildernesse when the shepheard is gone the flocke is scatered the wild beast maketh a pray of it as the Psalmist saith in another case w Psal 104 20 21.
Manna as they of k Num. 11.56 theirs and as they fell a lusting after the onions and flesh pots of Egypt ' so doe many of us after the old Egyptian doctrine though the Gospel was never taught amongst us opened to us with such clearenesse power evidence and demonstration of the spirit as now yet because it hath been long continued many begin to loath it to grow very weary of it to take at least no pleasure in it It was Seneca his observation of old Sol spectatorem non habet nisi cum deficit nemo observat Lunam nisi laborantem adeò naturale est magis nova quà m magna mirari the Sunne hath no beholder except eclipsed no man observeth the Moone unlesse when she is in travell so naturall it is unto us to admire new things rather then great things The doctrine which is stiled Popish we reject because it hath an old name but let the same doctrine come under a new name a doctrine as like the Popish as one egge is like another as the Sunne that shines now is like that which shined many yeeres agoe or rather if yee will as the bramble which groweth now is like the bramble which grew a hundred yeeres since though a man might say to the teachers and embracers of it as the Prophet to Jeroboams wife disguising her selfe l 1 King 14. come in come in thou wife of Jeroboam why fainest thou thy selfe to be another then thou art So we in this case for as she was the same woman onely her apparell and gesture was changed so let this be the same doctrine with that which we call Popish yet because under a new name a little disguised somewhat arrayed in another apparell it will be by some highly esteemed strongly imbraced the fall of truth and faithfull Ministers of God not at all bewailed and what doe men by this declare but that 1. They were never of m Ioh. 18.37 Ioh. 2.19 the truth 2. That they never unfainedly n 1 Thes 2.10 loved the truth 3. That they never o 1 Pet. 2.2 3 felt the saving power nor heavenly comforts of it if they had tasted the sweetnesse of it been acquainted with the joy and peace which this ministreth had they seene the beauties the glory and excellency of God in it then as Peter beholding the glorious transfiguration of our Saviour said p Mat. 17.4 It is good being here let us build three Tabernacles c. so would they say it is good being under the Gospel it is pleasant it is comfortable being here let us build our Tabernacle here O let us dwell under this forever This must therefore move us to bewaile the losse of Gods faithfull Ministers the removing of these comfortable and shining Candlesticks as the childe bewaileth the losse of his parent the Traveller the losse of his Guide the Patient the death of his Physitian the Army the fall of their Generall and as all Israel was gathered together and p 1 Sam. 25.1 lamented the death of their Samuel so have you great cause to lament the death of your Samuel the departure of your faithfull Pastor As Ionah was much grieved at the q Ionah 4.6 7 8. withering of the Gourd which was a shadow over his head a comfortable protection and refreshment to him so have you great occasion to be grieved much at his withering at his dissolution who was a shadow an instrument of much of sweet refreshment whiles he lived to your soules And as Hagar sate downe and r Gen. 21.16 wept because her bottle was empty so have you great cause now to sit downe and weepe because the well which was wont to send forth waters of consolation is now dryed up for now you may behold how your Eliah like him of old though not in body yet in soule is gone in his Fiery Charet into Heaven he who shined like the Sun to you of this place for some yeeres is now gone downe from your Horizon whom your eyes shall see no more till the morning of the Resurrection the ſ Mat. 13.22 Tree whose fruit lately fed you whose branches lately shadowed and refreshed you is now withered dead and dry no more fruit to bee gathered from him he that was in some respect the Father the Charets and Horsemen of this place is now like Eliah parted asunder from you he that stood like t Ge. 29.8 10. Jacob to roll away the stone from the Well to open and give you the sence of the Scriptures can now no more doe that office for you He that lately stood like a u Isa 60.6 Watchman upon your walles to awaken you to warne you is now by death put to silence and can no more call upon you hee who of late like a good Steward brought out of his store-house old and new brake the bread of life amongst you hath now given account of his stewardship and shall no more bee steward over you God gave you a great blessing in him the Lord grant there be no curse attend his removall Sure I am as the people said of David w 2 Sam. 18.3 thou art worth ten thousand of us so may we say of him he was worth a great number of them that doe survive him the greater was his worth the more should be your griefe yet as our Saviour said to the daughters of Jerusalem x Luk. 23.28 Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your children so may I say to you weep not for him that is now departed frō you but weep for your selves for your children for the great losse you have taken as for the gaine which hee hath gotten the crowne which he hath won there is cause of rejoycing for hee you well know was a man in whom there was a rare confluence of all vertues as of lines meeting in one Center streames running into one Ocean there was indeed a singular compleatnesse in him his soule was a rich store-house a glorious garden having jewels and flowers of all sorts a Tree laden with all kind of fruits I may say of him as Horace in another case Micat inter omnes Iulium sydus velut inter ignes Luna minores and as the people said of y 1 Sam. 10.22 Saul in regard of his endowments He was the head and shoulders above many others For 1. The Lord enriched him with much knowledge according to the prophesie hee was filled with this as the Sea with z Isa 11.6 waters his Lampe was full of this oyle hee was as our Saviour said of the Baptist a bright and shining a Iohn 5.35 light the Lord gave him the tongue of the learned to minister a word in b Isa 50.4 due season 2. The Lord replenished him with such a rare dexterity singular wisdome to discerne advise and give counsell fit for every estate and undertaking of whom I may say in
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