They devised devices against me saying Let us destroy the Tree with the Fruit thereof It is in the Margent Let us destroy the staff with the bread the Prophets the Ministers of God bring the Bread of Life to you Let us destroy the staff with the bread Hebr. Pane Perdamus culmum cum grano ejus as Junius renders it We render it Let us destroy the Tree with the Fruit. The meaning is this Let us kill the Prophet and there 's an end of his Prophecy But they were mistaken when they had done that God will make his Word to take place There are two things I would open to you 1. That the Prophets of God do not live for ever we are all sensible of it The Lord teacheth us it this day The Prophets do not live for ever But 2. Though they do not live yet the Word of God lives and will have its effect upon men for good or for evil 1. The Prophets do they live for ever Consider two or three things 1. The Prophets of God are subject to the same Law that others are There is a Stature-Law that is not reversed and there are so few I think is never transgressed There have been some few exceptions but it will not be repealed till Christ hath swallowed up Death in Victory The Prophets of God and Righteous men are obnoxious to it as well as others Heb. 9.27 And as it is appointed to men 〈◊〉 to die and after this the judgment It is appointed Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is decreed It is decreed to all it is enacted and the Prophets have no exemption Yea that Man Christ Jesus the Mediator and great High Priest He was under this Law He was made under the Law He was to die And by one offering for ever perfected them that are dedicated to God It is appointed to all men once to die and to die penally by the force of that threatning Gen. 2 17. In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Christ died Penally He was made a curse and his dying so hath delivered some that they shall not die Penally But to die Naturally that continues to all to the Prophets and them that fear him as well as others Rom. 8.10 If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is life because of righteousness If Christ be in you though there be that happy union yet he lets the Body be arrested by Death the Body is dead Believers Bodies the Bodies of his Ministers of his Prophets are dead that is Obnoxious to Death I think it hath reference to the second verse The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death How from the law of sin he had shewed before here he come to shew how from the law of Death The Body is dead and that is by sin Sin brought in death Adam had not died if he had not sinned and there being the reliques of sin Sin that dwells in Believers themselves the vitiosity and corruption of nature something of sin found in them they must die there 's no help we must die The spirit I think 't is the soul is life and capable of living with God in a separate state and shall be in the fruition of God and the Body shall at length be joyned with it And as a pledge of it this is added The spirit is life because of righteousness What God doth in sanctifying of his own here is a pledge to them that their whole man shall live with him hereafter 2. The Prophets do they live for ever They are Stewards Ambassadors Labourers and so Christ will not have them live for ever They shall have their Reward They shall come and tell what is the issue of their performing their Embassy in the world What reception they had How they were used 1. We are Stewards of the Mystery and manifold Grace of God 1 Cor. 4.1 2. and Wisdom and Faithfulness are required in a Steward A Steward should be Wise and Faithful the Lord make us so who have a Stewardship from him We must give an account of our Stewardship and you to whom we give a portion of meat in due season should take some care that we give up our accounts with joy and not with grief Christ will call his Stewards to account they must tell what they have done with their Talents how they have improved and gained 2. They are Ambassadors also 2 Cor. 5.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 placed or deposited in us they have the word of Reconciliation committed to them they have it in them and they treat with you about the highest concerns We pray you be ye reconciled to God We pray you in Christ's stead if he had not other work to do in Heaven he would come and Preach to you himself but we do it in his stead Now is it not your advantage to be friends with God But we must go back and give an account what reception we have had in the world Ambassadors will be called home they will not always lye Lieger here below 3. I might shew you this also for Labourers the day declines 1 Cor. 3.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Co-workers God makes use of their labour and a man that hath wrought hard all the heat of the day is willing to go to rest A servant earnestly desires the shadow Job 7.2 And the sleep of the labouring man is sweet to him 3. The Prophets do they live for ever Jesus Christ hath Rewards for them small and great Rev. 11. The time is come that thou shouldest give reward to thy servants the Prophets and to the Saints and them that fear thy name small and great c. which is sometimes the only relief and support we have when we cry out We have laboured in vain Isa 49 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 humidum radicale and spent our strength for nought The radical moisture is dried up the Bellows are burnt we have no lungs to speak more to you Well Christ hath rewards for his Prophets and Servants in Heaven Great is your reward in Heaven There 's no getting to Heaven without dying It may be you would be willing to be fetched in Chariots of fire but that is not every man's lot We have our work to do Jesus Christ was his Father's servant an extraordinary one to do extraordinary work he finished it and glorified God on earth and then God glorified him with himself Thus it is with Christ's servants they have their work to do they are to finish it and to glorifie God here below and then God gathers them up and rewards them they have their reward their works follow them They die in the Lord and cease from their labour and their works follow them Rev. 14. in the Reward of them 4. The Prophets die and God will thereby chastise an ungrateful world and punish the barrenness
some able Ministers of the New Testament And truely they are only of Christ's making We have no sufficiency of our selves for this Work He gives Pastors and Teachers for the Work of the Ministry He is ascended for it And I would all that meddle with that Work were of his giving Amos 2.11 I raised up of your sons for Prophets I raised them up He is alive He can raise up Prophets for you he can raise up your Sons to be Prophets I have now but a little more to say As for our Honoured and Beloved Brother fallen asleep in Jesus A great man is fallen in our Israel a Prophet yea more than a Prophet an able Minister of the New Testament 2 Cor. 4.4 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consider him as to his knowledg in the Mystery of Christ and it was rich and great God had so divinely irradiated his Mind and Heart by giving him the knowledg of his Glory in the Face of Christ that he was well able to Preach the unsearchable Riches of Christ to the Gentiles and to make all Men see what is the Fellowship of this Mystery You that knew him understood his knowledg in that Mystery As to his way of Preaching though it seemed less methodical yet truely when I have sometimes considered it it hath appeared to me at least Apostolical Primitive and Divine He knew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So to speak as Acts 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That a great multitude believed and his words being mostly those of the Holy Ghost they had a quick and penetrating Power and Efficacy with them So that in his Ministry he was wont to commend himself to the conscience of every one before God His Bow abode in strength 2 Cor. 4.2 and his Hands were made strong by the Hands of the Mighty God of Jacob. His Arrows sharp in the hearts of the Kings Enemies whereby the People fell under Christ As to the discharge of his Ministry he was much in Labours and Indefatigable If it might not be an Offence I think I might almost say He laboured more than us all He was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 5.17 and therefore hath Honour double honour and that from above He did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 labour much and in many things and not in vain He did not labour in vain nor spend his strength for nought for he had great success Christ had chosen him to be a Vessel to bear his Name and he brought forth Fruit that remained which shall be his Joy and Crown of rejoycing in the day of Christ In the House of God he knew how to behave himself and was faithful to him that appointed him and therefore had Honour And though sometimes he might seem to have too much of the Spirit and Power of Elias with him yet it was tempered with the sweetness and gentleness of the Gospel His Affection to the House of God was such that the Zeal of it eat him up And there was no greater rejoycing to him than to see Persons walk according to the Constitution Frame and Order of Christ in the New Testament Nothing more afflicting than to see any turn aside to crooked Paths As for his Conversation it was holy it was heavenly His 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Citizenship was in Heaven Phil. 3.20 from whence he looked for a Saviour So that the Character that is proper to a Bishop of the New Testament was found with him 1 Tim. 3. He was blameless vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach His Conversation was a continual teaching Pray do you observe the end of it And as for his Sufferings they did nothing move him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Apostle Acts 20.24 I make not a word of these things Bonds and afflictions abide me in every place but none of these things move me I do not make a word of them He was set for the Apology and Defence of the Gospel And as in the Course of his Ministry I speak as one intimately acquainted with him as in the Course of his Ministry he had the spirit of Power Love and a sound Mind so in his Afflictions and Persecutions the spirit of God and Glory did rest upon him To sum up all You that were inwardly acquainted with him you fully knew his Doctrine a Tim. 3.10 11. You have fully known his Doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering charity patience persecution afflictions But out of them all the Lord hath delivered him But you will say What was the reason of God's dark and severe dispensation towards him in his latter days Truly I am not in God's stead to give you an account of his matters the Lord doth save men upon the point of Soveraign Grace and God doth exercise the same dominion in his Providence and sometimes will laugh at the very trial of the Innocent His ways and judgments even towards his own are unsearchable and past finding out Let us sanctifie the Lord God of Hosts in our hearts and fear before him Phil. 3.10 That I may know the fellowship of his sufferings The Apostle discerned that the sufferings of Christ were attended with desertion and darkness My God my God why hast thou forsaken me And for a time that Man so dear to his Father being his Eternal Son yet he had lost that joy and delectation which the fruition of God and the fulness of Grace was wont to afford him It may be thus with his Ministers and if it be they have but a fellowship with him in his sufferings But now blessed be God that the Sun brake out of the Cloud God did not let him die in the dark but brought his soul to peace and rest and to a rejoycing in God's Eternal love to him The Sun of Righteousness did arise before he gave up the Ghost The Sun of Righteousness did arise upon him with healing under his wings that gave him an abundant entrance into the Heavenly Kingdom Christ hath shewed all his dealings with him for several years not all springing from a Divine hand but natural causes as Hypocondria c. yet he hath shewed that they were such as were consistent with the Eternal Love of God to make him partaker of his Holiness and Christ having loved him as his own and loved him to the end to Perfection has loved him into Glory There we leave him till the Blessed Glorious Resurrection VERSES upon the Death of the Reverend Brother Mr. FRANCIS HOLCROFT Pastor of the Church in Cambridgeshire Who Died at Triplow in Cambridgeshire on January 1691 2. HE none of the Minor Prophets was he 's dead This Age saw not a better hearted-head Prophet die must Zech. 1.5 his Preaching that takes hold Of thousand hearts the fruit's a hundred fold Round all the Coasts of Cambridge where ye come Rom. 15.19 You 'l hear of'sTrophies to Illyricum Satan in 's seat sang with his Antick Chore
Rev. 2.13 To see the Funerals of the Conqueror Yet Cambridge know as he said in his days Zech. 1.6 God will deal with you according to your ways E'er lives this Prophet Immortal spirit If ever any I would say there 's merit So richly holy and Angelick Saint Babies and Dwarfs we 're all to this Giant Alas a Prince a King great General Highly Anointed's fallen in Israel He wore out 's body in these holy Wars 'T was bruised wounded full of mortal sears O blessed Soldier hardship did endure Behov'd thy Brethren all not Sine Cure And wholly spent thou was and still did spend Until thy Humour-radical did end We saw's dead Body perfect Skelliton Like that which's tackt up by Chyrurgeon His house of Clay did crumble into mould His Heav'n-born soul no longer dwell in 't could A Glorious House made without hands on high Possess'd he 's of unto eternity 2 Cor. 5.1 His Dying words Deut. 34.1 2 3 4. In this like Moses had Mount Pisgah's Ken A clear and perfect Landskip of Canaan Unlike to Moses he soon went to it When as to Moses the Lord would only show it What Rabbies said of Moses's verifi'd God kissed Francis Holcroft Deut. 34.5 and he di'd As Mother th' Child dandles upon her lap Her Cheek by'ts Cheek until it takes a nap He 's but a sleep i' th morning you 'l him see Heb. 12.23 Phil. 2.20 2 Cor. 3.7 I' th Church of th' first born where he lov'd to be O for such Preachers Lord send thou an host Trebly anointed with the Holy Ghost That Satan lightning he from Heaven be cast Luk. 10.18 Zech 4.11 12. That Cambridge Candlestick in glory last With Golden Oyl through Golden Pipes suppli'd With two anointed ones o' th' left right side From the Olive-tree the most Anointed one And let the Man the Branch build Temple on And let him bear the Glory Zech. 6.12 worthy he God's spotless Lamb slain for Iniquity Father why did thy noble Child of Light In darkness walk Isa 50.10 why cry'd so in the night So long so oft why stood'st behind the wall Thou knewest he would importunately call Cant. 2.9 And give no rest but cry Father Abba More instantly did never any pray How was his Note chang'd he had midnight Song A Philomele tho pricking Thorns among Jayl-birds with Silas in Cambridge Castle sings But in God's Prison his Lark-like warblings Do cease O Jehovah righteous Soveraign To all thy Matters answers not again Why Job why Jeremiah Job 33.13 curse their Birth-day shine Highest Reason's Soveraign Will Divine O deepest Depths of wisest Providence Jonah i' th Whales Belly Jonah 2.1 and prays from thence And was preserved cast alive o' th' Shore O blest be Christ O blest for evermore O blest Martyr beautiful to see Conformed to 'th Pattern in thy Agony Before thy Death in strong Cries and in Tears And thou was heard in thy believing Fears Cease now O Lord a while let ' lone the rest We are sure of Ministers Heb. 5.7 thou hast the best Some Verses made upon the Death of the Eminent and Reverend Servant of Christ in the Ministry of the Gospel Mr. Francis Holcraft ALas the Chariots and the Horsemen's gone How can the War be longer carried on ' Gainst Antichrist Jesus let 's Mantle fall Of Power of Zeal of Gifts of Graces all Which cloathed him upon the Infantry O let Paul's Spirit rest on Timothy We saw him long ascending far above His Brethren thought still that he would remove Out of our sight to Heaven there to view Jerusalem Celestial City new Where he was free born when he Preaches next How sweetly will he Comment on that Text Holcraft and Oddy they neither could The Evangelick Mysteries unfold Until commenc'd they had took a Degree In the Celestial University Both Learning Piety had been withstood But for a Commendamus in Christ's Blood Lord stay thine hand and let alone the rest Thou hast him now I 'm sure which lov'd thee best Luther ne're di'd till now glorious free Grace Engraven was in 's heart in 's head in 's face In broader fairer deeper Characters than can Be found in any preaching praying Man Pope sings Te Deum Oxford and Cambridge Friends Blind Quakers Gifts unto each other sends Atheists make merry Arminians Wills are free Holcraft no Tomb should have but Calumny Darkness that can be felt who can but fear While such a sparkling Star doth disappear As Holcroft was dazling the envious Eye Of spurious Christian Grace's enemy Did we not know 't of Rising Sun a sign When all the Stars i' th' Sky no longer shine O gracious Saint how did thy Count'nance shine Behold Mount Sinai's Preachers great Divine Thy Feet were beautiful I could have kist The Soles thereof O sweet Evangelist How Glorious is that Sun of Righteousness Whose Rays reflected makes a Saint no less Than an Illustrious Conquering Princely King Such Holcraft was Israel in wrastling Who ever did the Spirit of Faith more bold In Prayer with God than in this Man behold Such Liberty such Life such Light he had Weak ones offended wicked says he 's mad Lament you Ministers of Christ he was For Doctrine Paul for Comfort Barnabas He was Apollos so mighty in the Word He was a John for Love unto his Lord A Timothy he naturally did care For Truth while others minded their Affair Boanarges in the Law by dreadful Thunder Struck down his hearers rent their hearts asunder He was a Moses in the Mount did stay I never heard one at that rate to pray Some single Gifts in others may have been But Constellations were in Holcroft seen Perfections take from one then from another They all did Center in this blessed Brother With what great Scripture plainness did he Preach With what Majestick boldness did he Teach He Giant-like came forth to run his Race Being firmly girt with Apostolick Grace He was made of God a fenced Brazen Wall Strong to recieve the Gun-shot great and small His Doctrines Christ his Natures Offices Faith in his Blood and then right Holiness Cambridge Christ lent him for a time to thee A Pattern for thy Preachers he should be Look on this Copy fairly writ and mend Your hands then Christ your Lord will you commend O quit your selves like Men be cloath'd with Zeal Concern your selves with Israel's Commonweal Be strong in power in Love in Gospel-word Cut every Man with that two-edged Sword Be bold as Lyons like this Man of God Dash them in pieces with that powerful Rod. O! let his People know that joyful sound And in their heart and lives let it abound Which like to Aaron's Bells did's feet surround In every place where he did tread the ground This noise of Peace did to the Saints redound Holcroft of Preachers for Faith for Zeal the best I 'll only say he 's Dead and weep the rest FINIS