way to discouragements to cause him cease from the work so our Baruch in the Transcript did not only continue notwithstanding of all discouragements to take him off from it but his last works were his best works sowing in the Morning and at Evening not with-holding his hand not knowing whether this or that should prosper And if to all this in the 4th place you will consider and compare the manner of their repairing you will find a sweet semblance between the one and the other And 1. As he in my Text earnestly repaired that is naturally so our Baruch naturally did that which he did in repairing his piece his mind was so bent upon his work and delighted in it that he naturally cared for the things of your soul I may say in a great measure it was his meat and drink to do his Fathers will 2. He repaired earnestly that is with great fervency and affection great intentness of mind still looking and longing to have all finished which in part may excuse his engaging himself in so much work 3. He repaired earnestly that is he conscientiously used all appointed means conducing to his expected and longed for end he imployed himself both about foundation and superstructuary-work plowing and planting watching and watering old and young looking up to Heaven for the increase 4. He repaired earnestly that is he narrowly observed how things prospered and grace did grow and endeavoured neither to break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax neither to over-drive what was with young nor refused the Lambs a place in his bosome 5. He repaired earnestly that is he zealously contended for the truth when it was invaded on his piece of the Wall according to his ability and humbly call'd in the help of others when Foxes greater and smaller were too many for him and daily laboured to have that taken out of the way that hindered the progress grouth and inlargment of his building And in fine if you will consider that the subject matter was Zion or work about Zion either Church-work directly or that which tended thereunto as his educating of the youth for he was either in his Church as a Pastor feeding them or in his School as a Master hewing them that they might be fit stones for the repairing of breaches leading on his people as a flock in a storm to a place where they may rest at Noon and leading them into the banquet of Wine for repast I say if you will put all these together and consider them you will sind a Transcript very like the Copy in my Text and so one worthy to be commended for our imitation and remembred with joy And now as by this comparison I have given you a just and charitable account of him who is gone so I would also give you the particular improvement of all And First Seeing a Minister and a blessed Minister who repaired his part of the Wall earnestly is fallen asleep can we behold this or hear of it who are Ministers and not hear this speaking aloud to us at least for my self who am the least of all Saints to whom this Grace is given to Preach the insearchable riches of Christ I cannot but hear both the Copy and Transcript pressing me to follow the Copy in the Text and to de cautious lest these weaknesses be found in me that were found in others We have been at much pains to attain the name of able Ministers but that which is better is to be a blessed Minister blessed our selves and a blessing to others It may be feared that many in our day are sent to make ears heavy and hearts fat till all be destroyed we must obey Gods call it 's true but is it not more comfortable to be imployed in healing of the Nations and blessed with good success in our work Doth not this call us to look to our frame and see whether we be zealous for the Lord of Hosts whether we be fire or dow in our upperside in our acting for God and whether we be of a tender heart mourning for all our own and the sins of others we reprove many sins that we never mourn over may not some of us say My moister is turned to the drouth of summer Are our conversations like the Copy do we converse with the Father and the Son and that for the obtaining grace for grace to the end that our Lord may be glorified and souls saved in the day of the Lord should we not study to receive more and to be more liberal in our devisings for God and in communicating whatever we recieve to them he sends it without respect of persons Ought not we courageously oppose the defections of the time especially when we see whether all this tends namely the depriving of us and our posterity of the Gospel will it be comfortable to some called Ministers to know at last that they were made the scourge for vexing of the true Martyrs that earnestly have and would repair their piece or that they have given way to a Sanballat and a Tobya to inhance the whole work of the repairers who yet put not forth their hand to the Work except it be to build hay and stubble on the precious foundation that out of this there may a fire break out to make desolate Zion's Palaces O where is the man that rules with God and is faithful with the Saints in our day Let neither their full cup nor the work of them that turn aside cleave unto us Can we read the Copy and not see that it calls upon us to be more active for God stirring up that gift that is in us provoking others to love and good works It 's true the enemy sows his tares casts down what we built up but should not we rebuild all again that breaches may be repaired Let us not think it enough to get our people brought in to a safe state but to a shining conversation that beauty and strength may be the two pillars in our little sanctuary in our burning bush yet not consumed Our Enemy is swift as the Eagle such as turn aside as the swift Dromedary Let us neither be slow in heart to believe nor in hand to work Let us use a holy violence and chuse rather to endure hardness to please our Master than to indulge our flesh Let us go on till we finish with that same fervency and burning zeal against all opposers and ardent love towards all the lovers of our Lord Jesus Christ keeping close to our piece of the Wall doing what we can to strengthen the hands of one another so shall we be Baruch's recorded and remunerat when our Lord comes to make up his Jewels as these who have repaired our part of the Wall earnestly and find that the Spirit of our Elias rests upon us And does not this likewise speak words of caution to us We have fallen in a tempting place of the wilderness we are in perils every where let
BARVCH 's Work finished A SERMON PREACHED At the FUNERAL of that painful Labourer in the Lords Vineyard Mr. JAMES SHARP And now Published at the earnest request of his Friends By Nicholas Blake Preacher of the Gospel There the wearied are at rest Job 3.17 LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings Arms in the Poultrey 1681. BARVCH 's Work finished c. Nehem. III. 20. After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece c. OUR blessed Repairer as he permits the making of breaches on the Walls of his own Jerusalem and greater and smaller Foxes to enter into his Vineyard so he creates repairers and sends whom and when he pleaseth allotting to every one of them their particular season work and talents for repairing of the breaches or taking the Foxes that spoil the Vines with tender Grapes and particularly observes the frame of every one he imploys what heart they have to work as Neh. 4.6 the people had a mind to work and how they begin and finish their piece of the work for as he hath several pieces of work and several workmen so he allots to each their several piece and indowments sutable thereunto and accordingly records and remunerates what they do and as they do it This Chapter is a short and yet a long history giving us an account of the persons imployed in repairing work Wherein the Lord doth greatly commend all of them but more especially the repairer in my Text whom you find described and elegantly set forth to you by the Spirit of God in these Five Particulars 1. His name Baruch which is Benedictus genuflexus i.e. a blessed and devout man and indeed as his name so is he for he was a blessed and prosperous repairer and finished his work and was most obsequious and compliant in his copartner-ship with the rest of the repairers 2. By his relation he is the son of Zabbai fluxus vel fluens pointing out how communicative he was one constantly imparting what he received for the good of others and this his son answered in his practice for as we shall hear he was one that put forth what he had for the good of that work he was called to or as it is in the Margent the son of Zaccai which signifieth pure and clear such as indeed our Baruch in the Text was being a man of a pure heart and of a shining conversation 3. He is described to us from his work he repaired he vehemently repaired left not off repairing till all was finished 4. From the manner of his work he not only repaired but did it earnestly with burning Zeal and an inflamed heart 5. From the nature of the work it was Zions Wall Church-work and more particularly it was such a piece as was allotted him which he earnestly repaired his own part of the Vineyard his own Watch-Tower and that to the advantage of all the rest of the work that other repairers were taken up with he did not advance his own upon the ruines of others but with joint harmony and common advantage finished his work The only Doctrine I lay before you from the words shall be this That it 's of singular commendation and that which the Lord takes special notice of and greatly values when a Christian or Minister does their allotted part of Zions work earnestly Baruch not only repaired but did it earnestly how earnest was that other Baruch who was imployed by Jeremiah to carry the black Rolls that were sent from God by Jeremiah unto the King and Princes of Judah whereof you may read Jer. 36. at large as a most obedient son of the Prophet he run and faithfully discharged his part in that Ministry In the explication of this I shall take into consideration these Five Particulars 1. The Agent Baruch 2. The Act repaired 3. The manner of this Act earnestly 4. The matter about which this Agent was so earnestly imployed 5. What is in all this that makes it so highly commendable and why the Lord does notice the same The First thing is the Agent called out and imployed in repairing his piece of the wall of Jerusalem he run not before he was sent he consulted not with flesh and blood being called out to this work In every inferior Agent there be two things we must take into our consideration 1. Their excellencies as qualified by the Master-builder for their work 2. Their weakness as they are men subject to many Passions and infirmities by reason of the tryals and oppositions they meet with in their work For the Excellencies of this Agent I shall lay before you these Six 1st He had an excellent name a man of a rare fame Baruch in name and thing And that 1. In his being blessed to others Benedictus as his name signifies a man a good man a Minister an able Minister is much but a blessed Minister is above all so a repairer an earnest repairer is good but a blessed repairer is better one blessed of God with success and made a blessing to others and called by them Baruch the blessed 2. In that he was Baruch the genuflexus kneeling devout and reverent in all his addresses to the Master of the work of a sweet yielding and complying spirit with the rest of his fellow-repairers in all things submitting to the will and complying with the directions of his Master and condescending to them of low degree 2dly He was a man of an excellent frame he had a spirit suitable to his work hot and moist hot with a fire of Zeal to have his work finished and yet moist sweetly bowing and yielding to the various methods of God about him and his work 3dly He was a man of an excellent conversation For 1. He conversed with the Master-builder to understand his will and pleasure that he might conform all to it 2. He conversed with fellow-repairers that he might keep a correspondence in repairing with the rest of the repairers 3. He eyed the end of both which was to do his work according to the Master-builders directions and for the good and advantage of all the rest of the repairers 4thly He was a man excellent in regard of his communicativeness in that both he had enough to impart for the good of others and in that he most freely and readily did communicate what he had for upstirring of them in way of duty that repairing-work might not be retarded 5thly He was a man of a publick spirit not only concerned in what was the publick cause but was faithful with the Saints taking part of their cross and despised work of repairing and in opposing the publick defections of the time he was neither a Sanballat nor a Tobyah discouraging and drawing off others from the work but a zealous opposer of all such and earnest repairer of his piece of the Wall 6thly He was excellent in regard of his activity he was a very active man he repaired and repaired earnestly he was not in
this inferiour to that other Baruch Jer. 36.8 who was so active for God that the Princes said to Jeremiah that he was stirred up by Baruch against them Jer. 43.3 But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us c. And seeing we have hinted a little at this Baruch the son of Neriah Jeremiahs Scribe I shall guess a little at the common weakness of Eminent persons eminently imployed from what I find observed and recorded by the spirit of God concerning the forementioned Baruch and that upon occasion of the many various tryals that he did meet with in his part of the work As 1st We find he was distempered in his expression a usual weakness in repairers in all ages you know Moses in his restoring and repairing fell under this and spake unadvisedly David upon the account of his tryals spake unbelievingly Jonah passionately and Baruch Jer. 45.3 spake not like a valiant man either of God or his dispensations but frettingly and as one discouraged Wo is me now I am left alone Jeremiah is imprisoned and King and Court is against me 2dly We find he was distempered in his heart and affections with immoderate fear and perplexity like Jonah I do well to be angry even unto death when he thought too much of his own cross and cryed out as Lam. 1.12 Is there any sorrow like unto my sorrow looking on difficulties that were in his way as insuperable this made him faint in his sighing and remiss in his zeal and activity for God 3dly In that it reached his mind and did so vexand perplex him that he found no rest nor never would if God had not observed his distemper and sent him a Cure by the hand of Jeremiah even so Eminent Instruments imployed in repairing work notwithstanding all their Excellencies they may be much distempered in their minds so that for some time they can find no rest 4thly Such may be the distemper that it may reach their Prayer and put them upon seeking great things for themselves as Baruch was charged with this so others may be guilty of the same And that 1. As Baruch had a great desire to be excused from the publick noise of the Court and that for his own greater quiet and self-ease so other repairers may be guilty of the same weakness especially when they seek more of this for themselves than comes to their lot this was a branch of Baruchs seeking of great things to himself and may be also found in others not inferior unto him 2. As he so may other repairers seek too great things for themselves when they peremptorily seek to be faithful to God in the trust he hath put them in and yet to have the favour and countenance of great men who are no great friends to repairing-work it 's never good when Eminent Instruments seek to please both parties and cannot bear up against the frowns of great men 3. It is a weakness when persons imployed in repairing-workseek to be exempted from any cross or tentation that is common to men especially when they see better than themselves not excused from it Jeremiah was Imprisoned Baruch had no will to come under the like lot though he knew that suffering was the Masters lot and to desire to be freed from this was very inconsisent with the general calamities of the day wherein God threatned to pluck up that he had planted and to pull down that he had built up The Second thing to be taken into consideration is the Action what this Agent did wherein he was imployed the Text tells us in repairing his piece he had a particular piece of the work allotted for his share he had his appointed time wherein he was sent out to do it and suitable furniture which he spends in repairing which that you may know I shall consider the original word which is very Emphatick and seems to branch out his work in these Eight Particulars 1st In that he so repaired as one that was naturally concerned in the work it was easie and pleasant to him his rest and refuge was in his work Paul could not commend Timothy more by any thing than by this Phil. 2.20 For I have no man like minded who will naturally care for the things of your soul 2dly He not only repaired but did it affectionately he stirred up himself and others to the work he did what he could to raise his own spirit and to provoke others to the highest pitch of activity in and about so good a work The word fignifies to kindle or inflame he inflamed all he could reach and was still more and more rouzing up himself he stirred up his own gift and did what he could to provoke others to zeal and good works 3dly He so repaired as to re-edifie and re-build what had been formerly built but thrown down by the Foxes and Wild-Boars that came up upon his part of the Wall he built and re-built without wearying he did the same work over again and repaired upon occasion of breaches in his Wall 4thly He so repaired that he reformed and did mend what was amiss he was not only careful to repair breaches to prevent ruine but to remove deformities that would marr the Beauty of his piece of the Wall that so there might not only be a Sanctuary for strength and safety but an Ornament for Beauty and Majesty 5thly He so repaired as to strengthen he fortified his piece he made strong work as he himself was strong for labour so he in repairing his piece of the Wall not only made strong and firm work but did thereby strengthen all the rest of repairing-work done by others he did not build upon other mens ruins nor did he weaken their piece of the Wall to strengthen his own but in repairing his piece was singularly beneficial and strengthning to all the distinct parts of repairing works and to persons repairing 6thly The word implies that he was no Lingerer or Loiterer about his work he hastned his piece of the Wall Zeal to the house made him quicken his motions he knew his work he considered his wages and how pleasant quick dispatch was to the Master and how commendable wherever it is and therefore he made haste and delayed not to have his piece of the Wall repaired 7thly He was such a repairer as used and put forth a holy violence in repairing he bursted forth and this he did either against himself in case he fell heavy and dull at work by which means this work was not finished a grievous thing to him or else against others who either had left off the work or advanced slowly in it who were repairers but not so earnest as the work called for 8thly He repaired and continued his work till he had finished as zealously he began so zealously he did finish his piece his last works were as good as his first his strength was not abated in the way his fervency and diligence laid the last stone in
us beware that none of these things move us either to speak unadvisedly with Moses unbelievingly with David passionately with Jonah or discouragedly with Baruch Wo is me now We should beware that we abate not our courage we shall reap if we faint not to sigh for the abominations of the time is our duty and to go between the porch and the altar weeping and praying Spare thy people but to faint in our sighing neither suits our Cause nor our Leader and Commander who is for us be where he will and while he hides and will return to us again Ezek. 36.10 We should beware that our minds be not disturbed it 's a part of Zion her song after the Lord hath opened her gates Isa 26.34 That he will keep them in perfect peace c. Who can be still knowing that he is God If we cannot rest in our minds in the day of trouble let us beware of self-seeking in such a day or seeking great exemptions and priviledges for our selves Let us be content with our allotted Cross for he hath said it I will never leave you nor forsake you In the next place I address my self unto you who were the flock of his pasture and the sheep of his hand Certainly this matter belongs to you in a special manner What the young prophets said to Elisha that would I say unto you 2 King 2.5 Know ye not that the Lord hath taken away your Minister from your head to day both in the midst of his work in midst of his days and in the greatness of his strength I have but three words to speak unto as the voice of this rod and of him who hath appointed it The first is a word of Lamentation and that 1. in remembrance of this that when he wept over you considering the misery many of you was under and the hazard you were in of losing your immortal souls you then rejoyced What was said of Judah may be said of many this day When thou didst evil then thou rejoycest Jer. 11.15 As our Lord Jesus wept over Jerusalem when the people did all rejoyce so it is with his servants that they are left by their people to mourn alone and to pray alone while they with Israel are dancing about their golden calves You laught but your Minister wept considering how little you knew of these things that belongs to your peace And therefore be afflicted and mourn and weep now let your laughter be turned unto mourning and your joy to heaviness if you would have the Lord lift you up in due time Let it not be said of you That the Lord hath smitten your Pastor but you have not grieved 2. Lament your loss Do you as yet understand what it is or have you laid it to heart and yet not pour out tears unto God I have told you what really I judg him to be a Repairer and an earnest Repairer and if you have found him such an one O what a loss do you sustain this day ye have lost the company of a Saint the labours of a painful Minister a lighter of your Candle a Champion for your Master the blessing of a blessed Minister who hath been blessed to you whatever he hath been to others 3. Lament and be humbled for the sins among you that thus have provoked the Lord against you such a breach as this may draw tears from the purest heart and the most chast eye and ordinarily it 's such as are least guilty in this case that mourn most But if thy hand has been against this Repairer while at work and if thy hand hath been upon him to cut him off from the Land of the living if thy hard heart hath broken his if thy refusing to walk in the light hath provoked God to put out this Candle and remove this Candlestick if thy refusing to be reconciled hath made the King call home this Ambassador of peace What great reason have you then to lament 4. Lament that God hath taken him away before the Word took hold on thy heart and conscience before thou awaked out of thy sinful security before Christ was formed within thee by his Ministry before thou was altogether persuaded to be a Christian and that now thou art left halting between two and knows not which to take to and so much the rather that this is not the first Minister that hath gone to heaven and whose Funerals you have attended in a Christless graceless hopeless and miserable condition which till now thou hast not laid to heart 5. Lament and be humbled that he hath taken him away at such a time when he is threatning many as Zech. 11.9 Then said I I will not feed you Do you not know how many seek to destroy you this day Have you not heard that all of us look for a storm and a scattering one such as that Joh. 6. end To smite a Shepherd at any time is sad but to take him off when a storm is coming on is dreadful as if the same Lord had said concerning you That which dieth let it dye and that that is to be cut off let it be cut off 6. Lament over this and the like dispensation as it prognosticates evil to come Isa 57.1 The righteous are taken away from the evil to come Who knows but by this he may make way to his anger for the Repairer is took off his work before breaches be made up and while there are but few or none to stand in the gap to turn away wrath that he may not destroy the Land A second word is of Exhortation and that in these particulars briefly As 1. Trust not in man nor in the sons of men for wherein are they to be trusted every one walks in a vain shew and promise to stay with you a much longer time than they can We appoint bounds to one another that we can never come to for it 's not one with his who is the Soveraign determiner of times and seasons here you see one gone to bed at noon-tide of his days and in the fulness of his strength cease therefore from man 2. Let us never give place to security but watch and pray always for we know not in what hour the Son of man will come Let us so walk that we may be found of him in peace 3. Let this stir all of us up to imitate this Copy in my Text work while it is to day for the night cometh repair and earnestly repair that you may be able to stand in the evil day and finish your course with joy Stir up your selves provoke one another to zeal and good works make straight paths for your feet lest that which is lame be turned out of the way but let it rather be healed 4. As God hath made you one piece about which he employed the Repairer who is gone I pray you so continue and suffer none to divide one of you from another Let none of you seek your own