concerning Men nor concerning Beasts Plants or Trees these Creatures have a Sensitive or Vegetative Life but when they die they are not said to sleep because their Life is utterly extinguished and totally abolished but when Men Die they do but Sleep the Senses of the Body are indeed seal'd up it becomes a Carcase without Sense or Motion but the Soul is alive the Light is snatched out of the Lanthorn of the Body but is not exringuished Life is still preserved in the Soul as the root and tho men sleep yet there is one that will a wake them Christ the first born of Gods new Family is up fiâ—st he is raised out of the Grave and will call out and rouse up all his Spiritual Brethren and Sisters out of the long sleep of Death 3. Peters saying He must put off his Tabernacle doth further mind us of and instruct us in a great Duty that Saints ought to Die in obedience and willingly to lay down the body tho Christians are snatched by a violent death and cut off by cruel hands tho their fleshly Garment be plucked off and their Earthly Tabernacle by barbarous Enemies be plucked down yet God expects and Christ looks for submission to the fatal Stroke and that we should choose Sufferings and Death rather than sin this is to put off our Tabernacle when God takes away the Souls of Hypocrites Job 27.8 we must commit them into his Hands Psal 31.5 when others are driven away out of the World Prov. 32. we must desire to depart and to be with Christ Phil. 23. We must die to the Lord Rom. 14.8 that is we must breath out our Souls and give them up when he calls for them and requires them we must die in compliance with his will to be more subject to him to 〈◊〉 more possessed by him to enjoy a Peace and fuller Communication with him not so much to be freed of Sufferings as to be rid of Sin To be perfected in the Image and Life of Christ 3. Why must Christs Ministers as well as others put off their Tabarnacles Ans 1. They have contracted and are involved in guilt all have sinned Rom. 3.23 As they are not free from the Contagion of Iniquity so they are not exempted from the Sentence of Death Gen. 3.19 Sin dwells in them and this opens the door and lets in Death upon them they as well as other Christians do want the Soader the Glew the Cement of a perfect inherent Righteousness and therefore their Building doth moulder and the Stones of it sall one from another Death is compar'd to a Flood Psal 90.5 Thou carriest them away as with a Flood this Flood is very general it carrie away High and Low Rich and Poor Saints and Sinners we read but of two little Islands Enoch and Elias that have not hitherto been over whelm'd with this Flood all the rest of Mankind shall be carried away with this Plood except those that shall be found a live at the last day It is appointed for all men once to die Heb. 9.27 This is a Law not to be Repealed a Seâ—â—… not to be Reversed the Body is Dead by Reason of Sin Rom. 8.10 Death passeth over all men because all have sinned Rom. 5.12 2. Ministers must die that sometimes by their Death they may Eminently Glorify God Christ foretold Peters Martyrdom and by his being girded and led whither he would not did signify that violent death whereby he should Glorify God and John 1.18 19. that he durst not lay down his Lise that is most sweet and submit to Death that is most bitter to Nature in obedience to an invisible God and in hope of an unseen World this signally Glorifies God and benefits his People Paul speaks of his being offered on the Service and Sacrifice of the Philippians Faith 2 Phil. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word signifies a Drink-offering the Drink-offering used to be annexed to the Sacrifices and these were of Wines On this account the Vine in the Parable saith That by its Wine it cheared the Heart of God Judg. 9. as well as of men the Apostle with allusion to the Sacrifices of the Law was willing that his Blood should be poured out by cruel hands that God might dispose his true Offerings to this Holy and Gracious end to promote and advance the Faith of the Philippians the sufferings of the Pastors for the true Religion do so greatly tend to Edify their Flocks and to strengthen their Belief of the Gospel Paul would not have Died for an uncertain Doctrine or for a Fable invented by men he was fully perswaded of the truth of the Gospel of Christ that he durst to venture his Life his Soul his all for Eternity on the credit of this Doctrine so Christ was Magnified by him and Saints were confirmed and established by his sufferings Phil. 1.12 13 20. 3 Christs Ministers do put off their Tabernacle to shew that God is not stinted or confined to particular Ministers he can bare up his Name support his Kingdom carry on his Interest tho he cut off eminent Embassadors and gives a quiet rest to painful Labourers God hath absolute need of no person if he cut off some he can raise up others if the day and work of some be done he hath a residue of the Spirit and can furnish fit and thrust out other Labourers into his Harvest if Pillars be pulled away yet the Church that is the Temple of the Living God shall not fall God hath others to substitute in the room of those that are snatched away as God reneweth the Face of the Earth by sending forth his Spirit Psal 104.30 tho Plants and Trees decay Birds die Beasts perish Men give up the Ghost yet Gods great Farm is not unstocked his House unfurnished or destitute of Inhabitants so tho Saints die and Ministers are snatch'd away yet God sends forth his Spirit and begets a new Generation of Saints and raises up a new Stock and suptly of Ministers and so renews the Face of the Church God will not want Friends to wooe for that Bridegroom Ambassadours of Christ for Peace Heralds to Proclaim Christ the King of Glory 4. God calls his Ministers home to receive the Reward of their Labours to reap the fruits of all their pains 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Paul saith That after Death there remnined for him a Crown of Righteousness God design'd it towards him God laid it up for him Ministers go hence to set on the Throne to wear the Crown to possess the Eternal Inheritance to partake of the everlasting Feast promised to them when God saith to the Body Return to thy dust Gen. 3.19 then he speaks to the Soul as God did to Jacob Gen. 31.3 Return to the Land of thy Fathers and to thy Kindred and I will be with thee when the Soul is turned out of an Earthly Tabernacle it is taken into an Heavenly House when the Flesh is Sown in the dust the
down this Lamp of Life will quickly go out if no violent strong breath doth blow it out we shall of our own accord within a little time drop from the Tree of Life if no violent Wind doth shake us down or cruel hand doth a little sooner pluck us from it 4. Peter tells us his especial ground why he did know that shortly he must put off his Earthly Tabernacle because the Lord Jesus Christ had told him so Jesus Christ could not be mistaken about a future Event He knew what Cruel Men would endeavour to commit and what he himself would permit and therefore certainly warned Peter of that violent Death that did abide him Peter in these words seems to relate to and reflect on what is Recorded in the 21 John 18 19. That when he was old another should Gird him that is with Bonds of Chains and carry him whither he would not that is he should be led to such Hard Sufferings and cruel Death as Nature was averse to and did recoil from Peter had lived several years since this Prediction and therefore the fulfilling and accomplishing of it could not now be far off The Doctrine that the words offer and offer'd to us is this Doctr. Christ's Ministers must shortly put off their Earthly Tabernacles Peter an Eminent Apostle was to submit to and fall under the Fatal Stroke of Death To Die indeed is common to all Men but to be put to Death for the Gospel this is peculiar to Christians and Saints Death makes War against the Ambassadours of Peace blows out the Sacred Lamps of the Sanctuary silences the very Friends of the Bridegroom so that they can no more Sollicit a Marriage between the Lord of Life and poor Perishing Sinners This King of Terrors not only Executes Saints but also cuts off even Christs Seâ—â—es-men and sows them in the Dust Reapes the Lords Harvest-men and Removes them into the Barn of Heaven and gathers them into the Garners of Glory that sad Providence that is the occasion of this Solemnity is an evident Proof and clear demonstration of the Truth of the Doctrine one of the Lords Messengers in the Flower and Prime of his Days hath quickly put off his Tabernacle In the handling of the Doctrine I shall 1. Take notice of the Name given to the Body 2. Insist upon the Name given to Death 3. I shall shew you why even Ministers must put off this Tabernacle 4. I shall evidence what ground they have to conclude that shortly they must put off their Tabernacle 1. Let us consider the Name put on the Body It is called a Tabernacle as I hinted before 1. To express its weakness on this account it is Styled an Earthen Vessel 2 Cor. 4.7 By a little knock this Earthly Vessel may easily be dash'd to Pieces a little Sickness looses the Cords pulls up the Stakes and overthrows this Tabernacle A Disease of a few days pulls it down to the dust as grass we spring up and wither as bubble we rise and fall as vapours we appear and vanish away 4. James 14.14 Job 1. We act a short part on the Stage of Time and retire within the Curtains of Eternity 2. It is called a Tabernacle to Note the short continuance of the Soul in it it must soon dislodg and remove to another Habitation The Traveller had his Tent so Jacob when he journied towards Canaan he pitch'd his Tent in Mount Gilead Gen. 31.25 And Soldiers when they Camped in the open Field they had their Tents 2 Sam 11.11 When Israel and Judah did Besiege Rabbah they did abide in Tents The word Tent and Tabernacle are used promiscuously for the same thing 1 Chron. 16.1 David is said to pitch a Tent for the Ark of God but in 2 Sam. 6.17 it is said they brought the Ark of God and set it in its place in the midst of the Tabernacle that David had pitched for it For this Reason the Patriarchs are said to dwell in Tabernacles or to sojourn in Tents Heb. 11.9 to shew that they had no long time to stay in this World that they accounted themselves to be but Pilgrims and Strangers on Earth Heb. 11.13 that they look for an abiding City that they desired a Country above Heb. 11. and were Travelling towards an invisible and glorious World our welfare will soon be accomplished and then the Soldiers Tent is taken down our Pilgrimage will quickly be at an end and then the Travellers Tent ceases and is gone Saints not only have no abiding City in this World but they would have none they desire none below 2. Death is here called the putting off this Tabernacle this Phrase may instruct us and teach us three considerable Lessons and weighty truths 1. The Nobility and Excellency of the Soul the Body is but a Tabernacle the Soul is the Tenant and Inhabitant in it how much better is the Tenant than the Tabernacle therefore Souls should be most highly valued chiefly thought of cared for and attended to the Soul doth not follow the state of the Body but the Body follows the state of the Soul either for a blessed or a miserable Eternity Will a man lay out all his Time and waste his Estate to beautify flourish and fine out his House and will he neglect famish and Starve himself And that we feed heal cloath our Bodies but for get all the concerns wants and necessities of our Souls and that we doat on our baser despise forget and famish our better part 2. This expression of putting off our Tabernatle may teach us the immortality of our Souls the Body is but the Tent of the Soul a Traveller or Soldier hath no such dependance on his Tent but he can go out of it and yet live there is no such necessary connexion between the Tent and the Traveller but he can exist and subsist tho his Tent be taken down Aristotle de anima tho a Heathen did acknowledg that the Soul came 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from without by this expression he seems to intimate that the Soul is of a higher Original of a more Noble Extraction than to derive its Pedigree from Progenitors below Man is so great and noble a Creature that he came from two Worlds and therefore must needs be for two Worlds our Flesh was propagared from Parents below but our Spirits descend and derive our Original from a Father above Heb. 12.9 This lower world is but a passage for Travelling Souls to journey through but the upper world is the home and rest for Holy and Blessed Souls to dwell in the Body is but the Garment of the Soul as a man can live tho he put off his Cloaths so the Soul can continue its being tho it be stript of the Garment of the Flesh a naked divested Spirit can live in the World of Spirits tho it leave the World of Bodies Death in Scripture is often called a Sleep 1 Kings 2.10 Job 7.21 this Phrase is used only
over your Neighbours to have on Eye towards to instruct exhort warn reprove as opportunity is offered or Necessity requires The work that God calls you to is great you must prune weed water improve your Vineyard The work is Noble and Honourable to render your own Souls and the Souls of others fruitful Vineyards to God to yeild such Wine as he delights in as will cheer the heart of Christ and of Saints The work is profitable you will record in Heaven what you do on Earth for his glory by your diligence and faithfulness Fruit will be brought forth that will abound to your account in the great day of the Lord Phil. 4.17 Suffer not therefore your Vineyards to be over-run with Nettles Briars or Thorns or to lie open and unfenced 6. I would mind you of your Race Heb. 12.1 2. as there is Hope set before you Heb. 6.18 so there is a Race set before you Heb. 12.1 Keep your eye stedy on the Mark and bend your course directly towards it The Apostle saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I follow on I press forward in a strait line towards the mark 1 Cor. 9.26 I do not sometimes move one way sometimes another this would be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to run as if we were uncertain what course to steer what mark to aim at what Prize to run for He that is a double-minded man and pursues Two Objects doth run so obscurely sometimes inclining to one Object sometime following another as if he were uncertain which is the best Master which is the chief Good Again persons may be said to run as uncertain or not to run with any Evidence when they make no visible progress when they do not get ground and advance in the way everlasting Persons run 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 darkly when they do not manifest any proficiency in the Knowledge and Grace of Christ when they neither root deeply in him or manifestly grow up into him 2 Col. 6.7 Ephes 4.15 look to it that you not only hold out as Travellers but also that you may hast as Racers as you are to beware of wrong steps out of the way so also of slow steps in it the mark is perfect Holiness the prize is glorious Happiness there is an excellency in the Mark as well as in the Prize yea the very Mark here may be accounted a Prize we profit and advantage our selves when we have our fruit to Holiness Rom. 6.22 O! therefore forget what is behind and reach forth to what is before Phil. 3.13 14. let not any attainments in Grace slacken your pace cool your Zeal abate your diligence or fervency but be as earnest as if you had but just now started or were taking your first steps in the Spiritual Race this is properly to forget what is behind tho the Eternal Inheritance be properly a Legacy bequeathed in Christs Testament Heb. 9.15 yet the Lord to encourage and honour our diligence and to reward our obedience proposeth it as a Prize to be won by us Phil. 3.14 tho we live move and act by the strength and influence of Grace continually 8. Let me put you in remembrance of your Account we must all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ and every one of us must give an account of himself to God Rom. 14.10 12. the account is long and large there are innumerable thoughts words actions to be accounted for there are Registers and Records of all kept above Isa 65.6 behold it is written before me God would not have been a Lawgiver if he design'd also to be a Judg The Divine Records must be 〈◊〉 viewed the Books must be opened the Accounts of Sinners stated and the Sentence pass on them Rev. 20.12 2 Cor. 5.10 Our Lord will come and reckon with his Servants and summon Stewards to give an account of their Stewardships Luke 16.1 2. O! therefore let not your Lords Stock Talents or Pounds lye idle and dead in your hands as one Candle will tind or light a thousand Candles so let that knowledg you have received be improved to enlighten many others let the Love of Christ so burn in your Hearts so flame out in your words and Actions that all those may be heated that come near to you or Converse with you let your Loins be girt work strenuously and diligently let your Lamps be burning act wisely and skilfully Luke 12.35 yet when you have done all confess your selves to be unprofitable Servants that you have not merited that any reward or profit should redound to you from such sick Service from such defective and imperfect Obedience Lay all your Offerings on Christ as an Altar let all your sins be drowned and your Service washed in Christ's Blood how else can you account with God for Years Months or one Day the Lord Jesus will certainly return to take an account Luke 19.12 He is the Nobleman that is gone into a far Country 〈◊〉 receive a Kingdom and return and shortly your Spirits must return to God to give an account Eccl. 12.7 All you have done will follow overtake meet you in another world Think on prepart for your account set this Sentence on the Head of your account The Blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God cleanseth from all sin 1 John 1.7 then this passage may be put at the Foot of it There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 I have done with the Text of Scripture that I pitched on and I shall now proceed to speak something on that Text of Providence that the Lord hath chosen to be the Occasion of this mournful solemnity Two things I would propose to you on this Occasion 1. O consider of reflect upon and be duly affected with this sad sudden and unexpected stroke of Providence should not this make deep impressions on your hearts that a faithful and skillful Labourer is in the midst of his days discharged from his work when a great Door is open for Service and the Fields are white to the Harvest when the Necessities of Souls are so great and the Labourers are so few to attend them Pause and stay your thoughts on this sad dispensation a Star is taken down from the Orb and Firmament of the Church a Lamp of the Sanâ—â—uary is put out a Shepherd is removed from his Flock an Ambaâ—â—…dor of Peace is recalled by 〈◊〉 King of Glory It is true the hand of the Lord hath done 〈◊〉 but may not your sins have been the meritorious and procuring cause of it have not many of you heard the Word from him with drousie Ears cold Hearts unconcerned Spirits have you not made light of the Travel of Christ's soul of the purchase of his blood of the Legacies of his Testament have not your hearts been frozen within you tho with respect to the warm dispensation of the Gospel among you you have liv'd in the Torrid Zone of Love have not some of you drawn out the Fatal Web of your iniquity even under his Ministry and so provoked God to cut short the precious thread of his Life and have not the looseness of some and the barrenness and unthankfulness of others snatch'd your Pastor away out of the World silenc'd and laid him in the dust have not your Ears and Hearts been stopt from hearing the word and so you have provoked God to shut his mouth from Preaching it any more among you do not sooth or flatter your selves this is a loud speaking reproving rebuking Providence to you 2. O! cry earnestly and fervently to God to supply your wants and to fill up this breach plead with the great Shepherd to raise you up a Pastor according to his own heart to feed the flock of God among you with knowledg and understanding Jer. 3.15 it is a great work skilfully to feed the Flock of God rightly to divide the word of truth and to give every one his Portion terror to sinners comfort to saints instructions and exhortations to both pray to the Lord of the Harvest to provide you a Labourer Matt. 9. last so great are the discouragements to this sacred Function from an ungrateful World that the Lord of the Harvest must thrust forth Labourers Matt. 9. last And so great is the Carnality and averseness of People from the Feast of Jesus Christ that Ministers must compel guests to come in it is the Lord of the Harvest that must fit and furnish men to be Labourers it is he that must enrich them with Grace and fill them with the Spirit It is such Pastoâ—◠〈…〉 that become an Exalted Glorified 〈…〉 bestow on the Church Eph. 4.10 11. Christ 〈…〉 take them in his own Net as Fish and then fit them to be Fishermen he must first gather them into 〈◊〉 own Fold as Sheep and then render them meet to 〈◊〉 Shepherds he must first espouse them to himself 〈◊〉 then Enlighten their Minds and inflame their 〈◊〉 to Wooe others for himself he that hath not 〈◊〉 Embraced Christ's Offers and consented to match 〈◊〉 him will but coldly Prosecute Christs Suit to gain others to the Lord of Glory In the judgment of a learned man * Dr. Stilâ—â—â—â—leet in 〈◊〉 Irenicum Ministers Pastors and Teachers are called Saints Ephes 4.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he thus renders For the perfecting or fitting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry that is for the perâ—â—â—â—ing or fitting of Ministers that are or should be Saints for the work of the Ministry As the Priests Court 〈◊〉 in the Temple by some steps higher than the Peoâ—â—â—… Court so Christ's Ministers should be higher and 〈◊〉 above the People both in Knowledge and in 〈◊〉 Be earnest Solicitors to the Father of Merâ—â—… that he would not leave you desolate as sheep withâ—â—… shepherd as in some Games among the Grecians 〈◊〉 did run carrying a burning Lamp and then deliâ—â—â—'d it to another to run also with it so this Servant of the Lord how deceased did in his Life-time run aâ—â—â—â— you carrying the sacred Lamp of the Gospel O 〈◊〉 to God to raise up another to take his Lamp and 〈◊〉 it further before you to direct your hearts into the 〈◊〉 of God and to guide your Feet in the way of Peace FINIS