sweetning of your mutuall conversation commerce and communication a great strengthning and a powerfull prevention of much evill 4. Constancy in all the waies of God having begunne in the spirit end not in the flesh be not weary of well doing having put your hand to Gods plow looke not back but come forth as the Psal 19.5 Sunne like a Bridegroome out of his Chamber adorned with all spirituall splendor and brightnesse and rejoyce yee like a mighty man to runne the race of Gods Commandements Isa 40.31 mount up like the Eagle walke on and faint not so shall you at the last embrace death as a friend rest in your grave as on a Bed of Downe have your soules carried in a fiery Chariot into Heaven be entertained with most sweete embracements by the LORD IESVS and have with IEHOVAH blessed for ever the full fruition of endlesse joyes in his most glorious Kingdome This He unfainedly desireth who ever resteth Yours in all holy services Alexander Grosse DEATHS DELIVERANCE Isai 57.1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and mercifull men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evill to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightnesse THe heaviest afflictions are sweet mercies to Gods Servants their greatest losse doth prove their chiefest gaine as the red Sea to Israel proved a a Exod. 14.28 29. grave to their enemies a passage to them from their Egyptian bondage as Sampson had b Judg. 14.14 honey in the Lion sweet out of the sowre meate out of the eater so the Lords people have light out of darknesse joy out of heavinesse peace out of trouble life out of death the wounding arrow the piercing sword that sticks in their sides doth prove a launcing knife the deadliest poyson a sweet purgation the most mortall enemy doth the labour of a kinde and loving friend as Pharaohs burdens fury violence and high hand drove Israel from working in an iron fornace from living under a miserable and slavish bondage so enemies afflictions sorrowes troubles sicknesse violent diseases and death it selfe turne to the singular good of all that love the Lord for if they perish if they dye if they lay downe their life oh it is for their advantage though others it may be doe not consider it for thus the Prophet here hath it The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and mercifull men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken from the evill to come This Text is to a good man like the Travellers Inne bed and place of repose after his long and wearisome journey like the Mariners haven after many violent and stormy Tempests like the c Ex. 9.20 houses wherein the Egyptian Cattle were preserved from the grievous haile one day threatned and the next day inflicted for so the Prophet saith The righteous is taken from the evill to come he shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightnesse In the words we may consider 1. Quis. Of whom the Prophet here speaketh of the righteous and mercifull man 2. Quid. What he saith of him he perisheth is taken away the latter word doth well explaine the former 3. Quare Wherefore hee is taken away from the evill to come 4. Quomodo How in what manner he is taken away in peace he layeth downe his life in the feare of God resteth in his grave as on a bed till the morning of the Resurrection 5. Qualiter How the surviving men are affected with it they lay it not to heart they consider it not These be the streames flowing from this fountaine because time will not give us leave with Gideons many thousands to bow downe upon our knees and drink a full draught of these waters we shall be constrained with his 300. souldiers to d Judg. 7.6 lap a little and so away To begin therefore with the two first of these jointly Quis and Quid who perisheth who is taken away The righteous Gods people are righteous e Jo. 13.10 inchoativè as the morning the dawning of the day is light but hath darknesse mingled with it as Lazarus came forth of his grave he was risen but his f Jo. 11.44 grave-cloth bound him So Gods people are risen to a new conversation out of the grave of sinne but their corruptions are yet in some degree remaining in them a great hindrance to their holy walking 2. They are righteous g Mat. 5.6 Psa 119.5 affectivè they desire it hunger and thirst after it 3. They are righteous h Is 32.15 effective righteousnesse is their worke their fruit their walke 4. They are righteous i 1 Cor. 5.21 Rom. 4.6 imputativè and so they be perfectly righteous not a part but the whole righteousnesse of Christ is imputed to them They are as k Gen. 27.15 Iacob in Esaus their elder brothers garment and so they win the blessing from God as Iacob obtained the blessing at the hands of his Father Isaak The righteous man here is most properly the man which doth holy and righteous workes that walketh constantly and conscionably in the way of righteousnesse whose exercise is with l Act. 24.16 Paul to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man this man perisheth is smitten with the arrow of temporall death falleth in this warre c. Mercifull men or men of kindnesse or godlinesse as the word also signifieth men easily m Luk. 6.36 moved to grieve at the miseries of others and to succour them men mercifull even as God is mercifull for in mercy there is the affection of pitie and the effect of helpe and succour the men thus righteous thus mercifull thus qualified are taken away by death whence observe Doct. That such as be most holy and gracious are subject to a bodily dissolution as well as others The sithe cutteth the beautifull and sweet smelling flower as soon as the fearne the Axe heweth downe the good tree as well as the barren being once laid to the root of it so is death impartiall as the Deluge n Gen. 7.19 over-flowed the meadowes orchards gardens as well as the wildernesse the most fruitfull as well as the more barren parts of the earth so death spares none God hath o Heb. 9.27 appointed it the sentence is irrecoverable and how p Eccles 2.16 dyeth the wiseman saith Salomon as the foole What is become of all the Saints that lived before us Have they not all drunk of this cup Have they not all runne this race Heare what the wise man saith q Eccle. 8.8 There is no man whether rich or poore high or low young or old holy or unholy that hath power over the spirit to retaine the spirit neither hath he power in the day of death and there is no discharge in that warre neither
followers of the Lord Jesus and as the Virgins at the cry of the Bridegroomes comming arose x Prov. 6.10 11. and trimmed their lampes So we Beloved hearing now the cry of the comming of death O let us break off our sleep cast away our security prepare our lamps get the oyle of saving grace into our soules Let us not like the sluggard cry yet y Prov. 6.10 11. a little more sleep a little more slumber a little more folding of the hands upon the bed of sinne lest as poverty came on him as an armed man so death come on us as an armed man and take us unprepared and then we be undone for ever O therefore seeke not peace seeke not fulnesse seeke not felicity here as the Angel said of our Saviour z Luk 24.5 6. he is risen he is not here why seeke ye the living among the dead so may I say of these things why seeke yee them here below they are not here they are above our God our Christ our Heaven our home it is above and there O there let our hearts for ever be Are the righteous subject to a bodily dissolution Are the mercifull men taken away Then comfort your selves all ye that feare the Lord there is a Physitian comming will heale all your diseases a Deliverer at hand which will open all prisons a Conquerour which will overcome all enemies Therefore let mee charge you in this case as Moses charged Israel at the waters of the Red Sea a Exod. 14.13 Exodus 14.13 Feare not stand still waite a while the day of death will come and when that day commeth the enemies which you see the miseries and troubles which you undergoe you shall see them feele them undergoe them no more for ever It was Plutarchs comfort given to his Souldiers entring into a dangerous and bloudy battell that they should suppe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a place invisible the word signifieth in heaven in a place of peace and rest no doubt hemeant So let us encourage our selves whatsoever be our miseries troubles disasters in the dayes of our life yet in the Sunne-set in the evening of our age when death commeth we shall sup with the Lambe of God Christ Iesus and there will be great joy indeed for that is the b Rev. 19.7 8 9. marriage feast of the Lambe and our soules Be therefore patient c Heb. 10.37 Hee that shall come will come and will not tarrie The Lord will remove us when it shall be most for his glorie and our good the righteous shall die the mercifull men shall be taken away from the evil to come And thus are we come to the third thing Quare why the righteous die why mercifull men are taken away there is evill to come The Lord seeth there be many miseries many plagues and great troubles as warres famines pestilences strange and fearfull alterations comming and to the end holy righteous and good men may not see these evils feele these miseries God doth take them away Whence two things present themselves to our consideration 1. That death is a sweete mercie a great kindnesse to Gods holy servants 2. That the death and taking away of holy persons is a fearefull prediction of ensuing evils First a word or two of the former of these Doct. That death is a sweete mercie a great kindnesse to Gods holy servants It is Salomons Aphorisme d Eccle. 7 1 the day of a mans death is better then the day of a mans birth It is our Saviours proposition e Reve. 14.13 blessed are they that die in the Lord It is Saint Paules conclusion f Phil 1.23 to depart and to be with Christ is farre better For Reas 1 By death they are delivered from many incumbent evils inward and outward arising from the flesh from Satan from the world as the Husbandman at the harvest removeth the tares from the wheate as Abraham turned scoffing and persecuting g Gen. 21.14 Ismael out of the house from Isaac so God at the day of a good mans death takes away turnes out whatsoever might annoy him By death they are delivered from all ensusing miseries thus before the Lord Reas 2 brought evill upon the house of Ieroboam he tooke away his yong sonne because in h 1 King 14 10 11 12 13. him was found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel therefore the Lord would take him away he should not see the evill ensuing By death they are brought to the fruition Reas 3 of all good i Reve. 1.4 5. all teares are wiped away and in Gods k Psal 16.11 presence there is fulnesse of joy and at his right hand pleasures for evermore This Vse if time would giue leaue to insist upon it would therefore teach us and worke in us 1. Carefull preparation for death 2. Vehement longings after it 3. Chearefulnesse in entertaining it 4. Moderation in our sorrow for them that be departed mourning for our owne losse but rejoycing in their gaine but to passe by this let us come to the second point Doct. The death and taking away of holy persons is a fearefull prediction of ensuing evils When Noah was entred into the Arke then the l Gen. 7.12 13. Deluge came When Lot was gon out of Sodome then m Gen. 19.24 fire and brimstone fell upon it and burned it When the Lord had determined the destruction of Ieroboams house as you heard before first he tooke away his child in whom there was some good thing found Thus when the Lord intended to bring evill upon n 2 Kings 22.16 17 18 19 20. Ierusalem and upon the people he would first gather good Iosiah the King whose heart was tender and humbled himselfe at the hearing of the Law to his Fathers and into his grave with peace and then the evill should come When o 2 Chro. 24.18 24 Iehoiada was dead Ioash left the House of the Lord God of his Fathers then the Syrians came with a small Companie and God delivered a very great Host into their hands they executed judgement against Ioash The truth of this is moreover manifest by five benefits arising to the place where good men are Their presence doth draw the love Reason 1 and favour of God to the place where they are they are deare to God as the p Zach. 2.5 8 apple of his eye and he will bee a wall of fire about the place where they bee and many times doth God spare the wicked as the Husbandman spareth the q Mar. 13.30 tares for the wheate growing with them Thus the Family was spared for Noahs sake and God would have spared Sodome and Gomorrah if there had beene r Gen. 18.32 ten righteous there the Lord gave ſ Acts. 27.24 Paul all them that failed with him they were delivered from the storme for his sake And surely as Paul said to the t Vers 31. Centurion
be you upright be yee constant as Eliah was and you shall at last have a fiery Charet as Eliah had Walke with God without wavering as q Gen. 6.9 Noah did as he ceased not froÌ„ building the Arke whatsoever discouragement was ministred no more doe you cease to ad grace to grace as the builders doe stone to stone till you attaine perfection and then as Noah had his Arke was preserved in it when others perished so shall you have safety peace joy comfort and everlasting tryumph when others shall perish in the deluge of Gods judgements Be constant as r 1 Sam. 17 33.34 David was and then as he overcame the Beare the Lyon the great Goliah and enjoyed the Crowne at length so shall we the Crowne of glory at the last if we Å¿ Rev. 2.10 be faithfull unto the death therefore with Moses seeing him that is t Heb. 11.26 27. invisible and having an eye to the recompence let us chuse rather to endure affliction with the children of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season and knowing that we have an u Heb. 10.34 abiding substance in Heaven let us with the primitive Christians take the spoyling of our goods joyfully This is the property of true grace this is peculiar to the man that is truely pious w Prov. 4.18 to shine more and more like the light unto the perfect day the Trees of Gods planting be known from all other trees by bearing x Ps 92.13 much fruit in their old age this is that which hath the promise who shall reape but hee that y Gal. 6.9 fainteth not And who shall bee saved but he that z 1 Mat. 13.13 continueth to the end That corne alone which holdeth out unto the harvest is gathered into the garner Vse 3 Is the future estate of Gods servants so pleasant so eminent so transcendently glorious Then this must cause the children of God to entertaine death with all cheerefulnesse how terrible so ever in it selfe though it be as the Philosopher saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of all fearefuls the most fearefull or as Iob stiles it the Å¿ Job 18.14 King of terror though looked upon in it selfe it be to the people of God as once the face of Esau a terror to Iacob yet looking upon the glory dignity and fulnesse of all blisse which doth attend it it should be to the people of God as the face of Esau was at last to Iacob even as the t Gen. 33.10 11. face of God in the thought of this we should rejoyce as the hireling in his thoughts of the Evening as the traveller in the thoughts of his bed as the warriour in the thought of the day of his triumph For I may say to you of death as Hugh Laverock said to his fellow Martyr Iohn a Price of the Lord of LondoÌ„ Be of good comfort my brother for my Lord of London is our good Physitian he will cure thee of all thy blindnesse and me of my lamenâ—sse this day so beloved all yee that truly feare God all that put away all filthinesse of the flesh and perfect holinesse before him in feare be of good comfort Death will be your very good Physitian it will cure all your diseases end all your miseries set you free from all troubles And therefore as the people came readily to u John 5.4 5. Bethesda to be healed of their infirmities as we come cheerefully to the Physitian so should wee to the grave for what is death to the people of God what is it to them to die but as the Inhabitants leaving of an old and ruinous house the Musitians laying downe of a Lute whose strings are broken the Carpenters putting aside of a worne Instrument unfit for any longer service or imployment what is Death to Gods children but as a guest making hast out of his Inne to his long his lovely and desired home as the putting off of a worne rotten and ragged suite of apparell to put on rich and comly rayment for while we live we are like w Zach. 3.3 4 5. Josua the high Priest clothed with filthy garments but when we die then we are like Iosua with a fair Mitre upon his head and comely rayment about his back And therefore we should earnestly desire to be x 2 Cor. 5.8 absent from the body that wee might bee present with the Lord. For the day of Death to the body is as one saith the birthday of eternity to the soule Seneca who saw the immortality of the soule the future felicity of it but as through a Cloud by ifs and ands yet professeth that when hee thought but a little of it and had some pleasant dreames thereof hee loathed himselfe and all his trifling greatnesse Socrates also sweetned his cup of poyson with his discourse of the soules Immortality to the amazement of the beholders how much more should christian and sanctified soules be ravished affected enflamed with the meditation of it O how should this cause us to thirst after death as y 2 Sam. 23 15 16. David after the waters in the wells of Bethlem and to breake thorough all difficulties to attaine that immortall and ever-blessed estate which to the people of God attendeth this life as Davids Worthies brake thorough the hoast of the Philistins to fetch them waters and as Laurence Saunders kissed the stake and said wilcome be the crosse of Christ well-come be everlasting life my Saviour began to me in a bitter cup and shall I not pledge him so should wee entertaine death as a very well-come guest as a very deare friend our soules should say within us welcome bee death welcome bee everlasting life my Saviour is gone before me and shall I not goe after him As the Lyon desires to goe out of the grate the Eagle out of the cage and the prisoner out of the prison-house so should we with Paul desire to be z Phil. 3.23 dissolved and to bee with Christ Vse 4 This should moderate our griefe and sorrow conceived at the departure of our godly friends For 1 Freedome 1. This is the day of their Freedome who is not comforted to see his friend come forth of prison to see him set free from all persecution and trouble After Eliah went up in his fiery Charet Iezabel could no more make him flie she had no more power to molest and persecute him 2 Honour 2. This is the day of their Honour now with Eliah they ride in their fiery Charet into heaven now as Salomon said of the a Eccles 4.12 poore wise child may I say of all that are b 2 Tiâ—â— 12 wise unto salvation though poore though afflicted during their abode on earth yet now they shall come out of prison out of a troublesome and low estate to c 2 Tim. 2.11 12. reigne with Christ in his kingdom And I may wel say to all that
shall wickednesse deliver those that are given to it The proofe of this is as needlesse as to prove the going downe of the Sunne from our Horizon which every eye may daily behold and see neither is it strange for There is some sinne some corruption in the best there is that seed Reasons 1 which bringeth forth death as the moth eates the garment the worme in the tree makes him moulder the leak in the ship letteth in the water untill at length it sinke so sinne where it once entreth once taketh up his abode death doth ensue and follow after as the threed followeth the needle as r Ruth 1.16 Ruth followed Naomi as Ionathans Armour-bearer said to him Å¿ 1 Sam. 14.7 turn thee behold I am with thee according to thy heart so may death say to sinne for which way soever that turnes or goeth before it death doth without faile ensue and follow t Rom. 5.12 after it This is the u Rom. 6.23 wages belonging to it the payment never faileth as Salomon saith of other buildings w Eccl. 10.18 by much slothfulnesse the building decayeth and through idlenesse of the hands the house droppeth through So may I say of these our earthly Tabernacles through our corruptions these weake buildings of our bodies doe decay and through the sinne which is within us this house droppeth through till at length it falleth to the ground commeth to the grave sinne is the mother and death the daughter x Lam. 3.42 43. Lam. 3.42 43. Reasons 2 This sutes with the present condition of Gods people they are y 1 Pet. 2.11 Pilgrims this is not their z Heb. 11.9 14. Country now they are a 1 Cor. 9.24 Travellers and tend every day to their journies end and as Israel could not come to Canaan but through the b 1 Cor. 10.1 Red Sea no more can Gods people attaine their journies end but by death when the prison walls are beaten downe then they who are kept in fetters there may goe forth c 2 Cor. 5.1 2. We know saith the Apostle that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved wee have a building of God a house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens This maketh them also in some sort Reasons 3 conformable to Christ their head Our Lord and Master hath drunke of this cup trodden this path before us and the d Mat. 10.24 Disciple must not looke to bee above his Master but as in other things so in this we must be made like him to this we are e Ro. 8.29 ordained wee must first be like him in his sufferings and then we shall be like him in his raigning f 2 Tim. 2.11 It is a faithfull saying if we be dead with him we shall also live with him if we suffer we shall also raigne with him Therefore as Gideon said unto his Souldiers g Judg. 7.17 Looke on me as yee see mee doe so doe yee so must we looke on our Gideon our Christ our Captaine and doe as wee have seene him doe before us This workes the utter destruction Reasons 4 of sinne in them as Sampson by his h Judg. 16.30 death destroyed the Philistines his enemies so the righteous by their death destroy their corruptions sinne is like a subtile Fox that cannot bee taken till his holds be destroyed like ivie in the wall which cannot be totally taken away till the stones be pulled asunder Israel could not be freed from the i Exo. 14. Morte peccati praecisionem homo lucratur ne malum immortale esset ita poena ipsi in misericordiam cessit Nazian Orat. 38. Egyptians till they came to the red sea no more can Gods people of their sinnes till they come to the grave by death doe the righteous gaine the cutting off of sinne and death which was a punishment is turned to a mercy to all that walke uprightly But Christ hath dyed for them and their sinne is forgiven Gods Justice is fully satisfied how then can God bee just in bringing death on them Quest Shall the principall be arrested and cast into prison when the surety hath formerly paid the debt for him Resp Christ who hath paid the debt for us was freely k Joh. 3.16 given of God to us given not instantly to conferre upon us an actuall freedome from all evills but in due time after we have beene exercised with variety of tryalls God doth not onely give Christ but also apply him unto us and when there is a full application of Christ to beleevers then there shall be a compleat l Ephes 1.14 redemption from all evils and thus though Christ have paid the ransome yet God doth us no wrong in suffering us to be exercised with many troubles because there is not yet a full application of this ransome and because God gave him in such a way and manner to bring his chosen to salvation as seemed best to his own wisdome God promised Canaan to Israel but yet he led them through the red sea before he brought them thither and in so doing did them no wrong Death to the people of God is not evill the curse is taken away Death is like Moses m Exod. 4.3 4. serpent it may at first sight make the people of God afraid as that did him but as Moses afterwards tooke the Serpent in his hand and it did him no harme so is death to the righteous like a Serpent without a sting like a Souldier overcome and his weapons taken from him n 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. O death saith Saint Paul where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory the sting of death is sinne the strength of sinne is the Law but thankes be unto God which giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Death is ordained of God to be the destruction of sinne in his children as David cut off o 1 Sam. 17 50 51. Goliahs head with his owne sword so will God destroy sin by death which is held as a sword in sinnes hand Death is to Gods people as the red sea to Israel the destruction of the enemies of their salvation an end of all miseries a passage to everlasting life so that Gods people have freedome from the evill but not from the necessity of dying and herein is the wonderfull power wisdome and goodnesse of God very clearely seene even in changing the nature of death and making it to his people so usefull which in it selfe is so hurtfull Vse Doe the godly the dye are not the righteous exempted must they taste of this cup It is then in vaine for the wicked unrighteous unmercifull to dreame of escapall As the Apostle said in another case p 1 Pet. 4.17 if judgment begin at the house of God what shall bee the end of them which obey not the Gospel of God and as our Saviour also said in another case q Luk. 23.31
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
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
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