WHat frequent Conquests doth the King of Ter­rours gain over the Children of Men! Man goes continually to his long home, and the Mourners walk about the streets. Men of all ages, ranks and degrees are [Page 6] led away into Deaths gloomy Territories. One would think that if any could plead an ex­emption therefrom, it should be they who are in the highest place and office in the Church of Christ; That if any could be discharged in this warfare, it should be they whose work it is to subdue Rebellious sinners unto Christ: That if any could be delivered from going down to the dark grave, it should be they who are the lights of the World; That they, if any, should escape the house of silence; who are to convey the Joyful sound of the ever blessed Gospel to the ears of men. But yet they must dye as well as others; for the Prophets, do they live for ever? Before I come to the words of my Text, I shall give you a brief account of the occa­sion [Page 7] of them. When God had wrought out an unexpected and Miraculous deliverance, for the Jews from their Babylonian Captivity, and brought them again into their own Land, from whence they had been ex­iled seventy years; He was pleased to send the Prophet Zechariah (having not long be­fore sent Haggai) to them, to excite and stir them up to those duties which were at that time Incumbent on them; In v. 3. of this Ch. the Prophet gives a summary account of that message which he was Commanded to deliver from the Lord of the Prophets to them; Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, return unto me; which Command is enforc't with a gracious Promise, that if they did so, God would return unto them. Our return to God in [Page 8] a way of duty, is the most likely means to obtain his return to us in a way of grace and mercy.

And for as much as this Peo­ple were very prone to Imitate the evil examples of their Pro­genitours, and to follow them, in those crooked ways which they walked in; he verse 4. Cautions them against an Imita­tion of their Forefathers in their Impenitency and Contu­macy. And this he enforceth by an Argument taken from the dreadful event thereof, in the former part of this 5th ver. Your fathers, where are they? q. d. they are not, for they are said not to be, who are departed out of the Land of the Living; and made free among the dead, Jer. 31.15. v. q. d. Your fa­thers have been Consumed and destroyed by fire, sword and [Page 9] Pestilence; they have been made dreadful examples of God's displeasure against stubborn and impenitent sinners; and their ruine should be a warning to you, least treading in their steps, ye should undergo the same punishment with them. And says he in the words of my Text, the Prophets, do they live for ever? The scope and design of these words is (and according to the Judgment of expositors) to di­stinguish between the Persons of the Prophets, and those things which were in the name of God delivered by them. He here speaks by way of Concession, for this Interrogation carries a negation in it, and amounts to a Negative Proposition q. d. the Prophets do not live for ever; But tho they dye, it may be, before their Predictions are [Page 10] fulfilled, yet they shall certainly be Accomplished; as you may see, if you compare these words with the following verse. But I shall no farther consider the words relatively, with respect to the Context, but absolutely in themselves, as they are a nega­tive Proposition, wherein we may consider, First, the subject, the Prophets. Secondly, the Pre­dicate, do not live for ever.

1. The subject, The Prophets, with respect unto which expo­sitors are divided in their opi­nions.

1. Some hereby understand the false Prophets, who came when God did not send them, and delivered those things in his name, which they never re­ceived from him. Who endea­voured to please, rather than to profit the People; sowing [Page 11] Pillows under their Elbows, and crying Peace, Peace, when destruction was hastily march­ing towards them. But,

Secondly, With others I con­ceive we are hereby to under­stand the true Prophets, who received their mission from God, and acted according to that Commission which he had giv­en them. God at sundry times and in Divers manners spake by the Old Testament Church by the Prophets, Heb. 1.1. v. He made great Revelations and discoveries of his mind and will unto them; which they, by vir­tue of their office, were oblig­ed to declare unto the Peo­ple. But under this title are comprehended, not only the extraordinary, but the ordina­ry Ministers, both of the old and new Testament. Thus Mat. 10. [Page 12] 41. He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, shall re­ceive a Prophets reward, Luk. 11.49. v. Though the or­dinary Ministers of the new Testament [...], are not now to exercise that part of the Pro­phetical office, which consisted in the Prediction of Future events; yet there are other parts of this office, viz. More clearly to unfold and explain the mind and will of God con­tain'd in his word, to Reprove for sin, and excite to duty; which appertain to them.

Secondly the Predicate, do not live for ever. There is a threefold life whereof we read in the holy Scripture, viz. A Temporal life, or a life of na­ture; a Spiritual life, or a life of Grace; and an Eternal life, or a [Page 13] life of Glory.

In the two latter sences, the faithful Prophets of God, shall live for ever.

The life of grace which they are partakers of here, shall never be destroyed, but will terminate in a Life of Glory, and that Life of Glory which the Saints shall live above, will be of an everlasting duration. But the Spirit of God in the words of my text speaks of a Temporal Life, or a Life of nature, to which a Period must be put.

In this sence, the Prophets do not live for ever. From the words thus explained, I shall present you with the following obser­vation.

Doct. That they who mini­ster about holy things, are not exempted from a Temporal Death.

Or, That ministers are liable to, and must undergo a Temporal Death. The Prophets, do they live for ever? If they do not live for ever, they must certainly die.

I need not Insist long upon the Proof of such an undeniable Proposition. Have not all God's Ministers, who lived in Pre­ceeding ages, fallen by the stroke of Death? Is not Moses gone to the House appointed for all liv­ing, who is stiled the Prophet, by way of eminence. Hosea 12.13. Who was the Prince of the old Testament Prophets; an emi­nent type of the Great Apostle of our Profession, with Respect to his [Page 15] Prophetical Office, as appears from, Deut. 18.18. Compared with Act. 3.22. What is become of that famous Prophet who came in the spirit and Power of Elias, who was the Morning Star that usher­ed the Sun of Righteousness into this World; did not he set in a Gloomy night of Death? Where are the Apostles of our Lord, those He­raulds that first Proclaimed the glad tidings of Peace, to the Rebellious world; are not they gone down to the dark and si­lent grave? Do not we frequent­ly see the King of terrours hew­ing down those who are Pillars in Jehovah's Temple, with his fatal Ax. In the farther Pro­secution of this Point, I shall proceed in the ensuing method.

1. To shew you more parti­cularly what that Death is, which they who Minister about [Page 16] holy things are liable to, and must certainly undergo.

2. To assign some general Reasons, why they must die as well as other men.

3. To assign some particular and special Reasons of their death.

4. To give you some Account of the time when God usually calls them out of this world.

5. To make some Improve­ment and Application of the whole.

1. I shall shew you more particularly, what that Death is, which they who Minister about holy things are liable to, and must undergo. 1. Negatively. Nei­ther they nor any of the Chil­dren of men are liable to, or shall undergo a natural death of the Soul. Though the Souls of wicked men are subject to a [Page 17] Moral Death, which Consists in a Privation of felicity and bles­sedness, yet they are not subject to a Physical Death, which Con­sists in a Privation of Existence, or Life; when men die, their Souls depart from their Bodies, they do not die, or sleep with their Bodies. When their Bo­dies return to the Earth from whence they came, Their Souls return to that God as a Judge, from whom they came forth as a Creatour. Otherwise it would be in the Power of man to kill the soul as well as the Body, which our Saviour denies, Math. 10.28. Fear not them which can kill the Body, but cannot kill the Soul. Death's fatal dart cannot pierce this Immortal Being. Death may break the Cabinets, but can­not touch that rich Jewel, which is Inclosed therein: It [Page 18] dissolves that earthly Taberna­cle wherein the Soul resides, but cannot destroy it's noble Inha­bitant. The Soul is a spiritual Immaterial, and therefore an Im­mortal Everliving substance. If the Soul sleeps with the Body, I know not how our Lord's Promise to the Penitent theif, This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, Luk. 23.43. could be accomplish't; nor what Rea­son can be assign'd for the Apo­stle Paul's desire speedily to de­part out of the world, Phil. 1.23.

I might produce many Argu­ments to establish this assertion; But I cannot enter upon a large discussion of this controversy at this time.

2. Affirmatively, There is a two fold death which they who Minister about holy things are [Page 19] liable to, and must undergo as well as other men, viz. A death of the man, and a death of the Body.

1. A death of the man: Which Consists in a separation of the Soul from the Body. As the union of the Soul with the Body is the Life of the man: So the separation of the Soul from the Body is the death of the man. When the Soul is Joyned to the Body we begin to live; when it is divorced from the Body, then, we die. Death's fatal stroke breaks in sunder the Ligament where­with the Soul and Body are ty­ed together, and Rends these Intimate Companions from each others Embraces.

2. A death of the Body. This is inseparable from a death of the man; The Soul is the [Page 20] Principle of the Bodies Life and Motion while it continues in it; and therefore when it takes it's flight from it, it ceases to be a living Creature, and becomes a lifeless lump of clay. This death of the Body consists in a Cessa­tion of the Circulation of the Blood and Spirits, which are the Animal Soul of man. Thereby the Body is deprived of it's strength and vigour, of it's Mo­tion and Activity, and of it's comeliness and Beauty. Death makes a great alteration in this Curious structure. It tyes the most voluble tongue, fetters the most active and nimble hands and feet; It introduces paleness into the most ruddy face, and dimness into the most sparkling eyes.

2dly, I Proceed, to assign some general Reasons why Ministers [Page 21] must die as well as other men.

In general, because it is ap­pointed for all men once to die, Heb. 9.27. This is a statute Law of Heaven, which never was, never will be repealed, but shall be fully executed. The Law is universal, and therefore none can plead an exemption from the ex­ecution of it. They who give Laws to men are subject to this Appointment of God.

No Priveledges either Tem­poral or spiritual, can give the Children of men a Protection from death's arrest. If it be objected, that some have past by, not through the Gates of death, for Enoch was Translated, and Elias mounted up to Heaven in a fiery Chariot; and they who remain alive upon Earth, at the coming of the Lord from Hea­ven, shall not sleep but be chang­ed. [Page 22] It may be replyed, that, some Particular exceptions do not destroy a general Rule; be­sides, the foremention'd Persons either did or shall undergo a change equivalent to a Death. But more Particularly, Ministers must die as well as others.

1. Because, they as well as others descended from the first Adam, by whose transgression death was entailed upon all his natural off-spring and Posterity. In this one man, all sinned, and therefore death passed upon all men, Rom. 5.12. That apple which our first Parents ate in Paradise, hath brought a fatal sur­feit upon all their Posterity. Tho the Godly are delivered from a spiritual and eternal death, yet they are liable to a Temporal death: Tho they are delivered from Temporal death, as a Penal [Page 23] evil; yet they are liable to it as a natural evil. Death is not the effect of nature, but the fruit of sin. Had man Persevered in his holiness; he should have continu­ed in a state of Immortality. Sin opened the door to let death into the world; for death en­ter'd by sin, Rom. 5.12. Yea, it is observable that the sentence of Temporal death pass't upon man, Immediately after a deli­verance from spiritual and eter­nal death, by the seed of the Wo­man, was promised to him. And this sentence began Immediate­ly to be executed, with respect to that necessity of Dying which man was brought under, and those Bodily distempers, the seeds of which were then Introduced to him.

2. That they may appear be­fore the Judge of all the Earth [Page 24] to give an account of the Actions of their Lives to him. That Judgment which will ensue upon death, is one Reason of our Dying. We must depart out of Life, that we may appear before the Divine tribunal in the next Life. Ministers are the subjects of the heavenly King, and therefore they must give an account to him as well as their hearers. We who declare and expound the Divine Law to you, press you to yeild obedience to it, must be Judged by this Law our selves, and come under a strict exami­nation, with respect to our obser­vation of, and obedience to it. We who perswade you have, or ought to have, some knowledge of this part of the Lords terrours, even the future Judgment, as that which we are liable to our selves, Cor. 2.5, 10, and 11.

[Page 25]3. I proceed to assign some special and particular Reasons why Ministers must die. And they will be such as have a pe­culiar reference to their station and employment.

1. They must die that they may give an account how they have discharged that office which they are called to and that trust that is Reposed in them. Mini­sters are stewards of the mani­fold grace of God, and there­fore must give an account of their stewardships. They have peculiar gifts bestowed upon them to fit and qualifie them for their work; therefore they must give an account how they have Improved and laid them out in the service of that Lord from whom they received them. Mi­nisters are Christ's Embassadours, whom he sends to deliver the [Page 26] message of Life and salvation un­to Rebellious sinners, and to treat with them about a Recon­ciliation to their offended Sove­raign. They must therefore Re­turn unto their Lord, to give an account how they, and their mes­sage, were received and enter­tained in and by the world; how they have managed and behav­ed themselves in the execution of their office, and what success their Embassy hath had. They are Labourers sent to work in the Church which is God's vine­yard, and Husbandry, and therefore they must return to the master of the vineyard and the Lord of the harvest; that they may give an account what work they have done therein. They are the shepherds wherewith Christ the great shepherd of the sheep hath intrusted his little [Page 27] flock; therefore they must give an account what care they have taken of them. They are Gods Watchmen, whom he appoints to watch over Souls, and therefore they must be accountable for 'em, Heb. 13.17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as those that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unpro­fitable for you. Tho all men have a great account to give, yet Mini­sters have the greatest.

2. They must die, that they may be eased of those burthens that lie upon them, and delivered from those Troubles and Afflictions which they are frequently exerci­sed with in this life. Indeed they are so many and great, that well might the Apostle say, 1 Cor. 15.19. If in this life only we have hope [Page 28] in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. We Christians, of all men; we Ministers, of all Chri­stians. I shall mention some of them, that you may see what cause you have to pity and pray for your Ministers.

1. The laboriousness of their Work. Know them who labour a­mong you, and admonish you. 1 Thes. 5.12. they who labour in the Word and Doctrine, 1 Tim. 5.17. [...], who labour to wea­riness. It is a work that is atten­ded with much inward pleasure and delight, to those whose hearts are duly engaged in it; but yet much study and much preaching too, is a weariness to the Flesh. It is a labour that spends the Vitals, and consumes the Oil which should preserve the Lamp of Nature. It is such a labour as makes Old Age and Youth often meet to­gether. [Page 29] The Jews took Christ to be about 50 years Old, when he was little above 30, Joh. 8.57. and some assign this reason for it, that he had so enfeebled his body with his laborious exercises that he seem­ed older than he really was. Other Callings are but Exercises to Na­ture; but the Ministers work de­bilitates Nature. The Minister, like the Candle, wastes while he shines. But at death he rests from his labours.

2. The discouragements which they meet with in their work.

1. From themselves. How often have they aking hearts, and weep­ing eyes, when they consider the weight, importance and difficulty of their work, and their own insuf­ficiency for it? Says the Apostle, Who is sufficient for these things? 2 Cor. 2.16. It is true, God hath promised to assist them; but [Page 30] their faith is sometimes at a low ebb, as well as the faith of others. When their faith is so unactive, that they cannot with this spiri­tual Eye behold an Omnipotent Arm stretcht forth for their support, they are ready to sink under their pressure.

2. From others; Even those who are professed Friends to that work which they are enga­ged in.

How often are they reflected upon for their fidelity in the dis­charge of their duty?

How often are Professors rea­dy to account Ministers their E­nemies, because they tell them the Truth? How apt are they to fly in their Faces, if they do but touch any of their Lusts with the Sword of the Spirit? How often are they deserted by men for de­claring the whole Counsel of God! [Page 31] We have an instance of this in the great Apostle of our profession, because he preached a Doctrine which did not lie level with the carnal Reason of his Auditors Joh. 6. Many of his Disciples from that time went back, and walked no more with him, 66. v. It is a great discouragement to labour hard, and not to have our labour accepted. It is true, we should look above the dispraise of men, to the praise of God; but Ministers are imperfect men, and therefore cannot always do so.

3. Their unsuccessfulness in their work. They have many times oc­casion to say with the Prophet, Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord re­vealed, Isa. 53.1. We have spread out our hands all the day long un­to a rebellious people, which walk­eth in a way that was not good, af­ter [Page 32] their own thoughts, Isa. 65.2. The Ministers work is set forth by the pangs of a woman in tra­vail, Gal. 4.19. And who can tell the Throws that their souls feel, who all the time of their Mini­stry, or a great part of it, go in travail, and bring forth dead chil­dren at last? It is a trouble to any man to take a great deal of pains, and not to have his En­deavours crowned with success. It must needs grieve these Fishers of men, to stand all the day long, and catch nothing. It cannot but trouble these Husbandmen to be continually sowing, and yet see no Harvest, or gathering in of Fruits: To preach themselves in­to their Graves, and yet not preach others to Christ, must needs be a great affliction. They seek not yours, but you, 2 Cor. 12.14. They think not themselves [Page 35] successful, if you give them a lit­tle wool from your backs, unless ye become Christ's Sheep.

4. The great opposition and per­secution which they meet with from the world. To be a Minister (said Luther) is nothing else but to de­rive the world's wrath and fury upon himself. The He-Goats of the Flock are most furiously assaulted by those Ravenous VVoolves who seek its destruction. The Leaders of the Christian Army usually bear the greatest shock of the Enemies Rage. As the Syrians gave charge to fight neither with great nor small, but with the King of Israel only; so sometimes wick­ed men only bend their Forces against Christ's Ministers.

T [...]e children of darkness take the greatest pains to extinguish the Lights of the world. Persecu­tors usually thirst most eagerly [...] [Page 32] [...] [Page 35] [Page 34] after the blood of Prophets. The Persecution in Acts 12. begins with the murther of James. 7000 men could lie hid in Jezabel's time better than one Prophet. These are the burthensom stones which al­most every one is lifting at; in almost every National Storm they are taken up to be thrown over board, for those that raised it. They are treated as those who turn the world upside down. Wic­ked men think, that if once the Shepherd be removed, the Sheep will soon be scattered; That if once the Leaders of the Christian Army be taken off, the Christian Army will quickly be dispersed. God will not suffer his Servants to be always labouring, toiling, and mourning in Affliction and Distress; and therefore by Death he delivers them therefrom.

3. Ministers must die, that they [Page 35] may receive the reward of their la­bours. It is true, Nothing that is done by us for God, deserves a­ny thing at his hands. Could we perfectly answer the Requirements of the Divine Law, we must, when we have done all those things which are commanded us, say, we are unprofitable servants; for we have done no more than it was our Duty to do, Luk. 17.10. But alas! how many flaws and defects are there in the best of our ser­vices? and what a vast dispropor­tion is there between Gods Law and our Obedience, in their Lati­tude and Extent? But God is pleased, in a way of condescen­tion, to give the Title of a Reward to that glory and felicity which he hath prepared and promised to his faithful servants, for their Encouragement in their Work. It is not a Reward of Debt, but [Page 34] of Grace, according to that ex­cellent distinction of the Apostle, Rom 4.4. Tho conscientious Mi­nisters find a great Reward in their Work, yet their greatest re­ward is to be reciev'd when they have finisht it. There is a Prophets reward, which is greater than that of a righteous man, as appears from Mat. 10.41. Tho we shall not be rewarded for, yet we shall be rewarded according to our works. VVhat we sow that shall we also reap, not only as to kind, but also with respect to degree. The more service any of us have done for God in this life, the greater will that recompence of Reward be which we shall receive from him in the next life. They that be wise, or they who by their in­structions do instrumentally make others wise, (as the word properly signifies) shall shine as [Page 37] the brightness of the Firmament; and they that turn many to righ­teousness, as the Stars for ever and ever, Dan. 12.3. These Husband-men who have laboured in God's Husbandry all the day long must go to their Master at night, that they may receive their Penny.

The Apostle Paul, when the time of his Departure was at hand, exprest his assurance, that he was going to receive his Crown, 2 Tim 4, 6, 7, 8. I proceed now to [...] 4th General. To give you some account of the Time when God u­sually calls his Ministers out of this world. In General, VVhen the time appointed for their continuance in this world is at an end, and he time appointed for their departure into another world is come. There is an appointed time to man upon earth; for such an Affirmation is implied in that Interrogation, Job [Page 38] 7.1. We may well say of Ministers in particular what Job affirms of Men in general, Their days are determined, the number of their months are with God, he hath ap­pointed their bounds, that they can­not pass, Job 14.5. But more par­ticularly,

1. VVhen their work is done. God hath allotted to every one of his servants some work to be done by him in this World, and till that is accomplished, he shall continue therein. Some Ministers live lon­ger than others, because God hath appointed them more work than others. It is true, many Ministers have been called off from preach­ing work long before their disso­lution, but they have had other, it may be, suffering work cut out for them: God sends them to a Prison, or confines them to their Chambers or Beds, by the strokes [Page 39] of his hand, that they may glorifie him, and convince, instruct and strengthen others, by their Christi­an fortitude and exemplary pati­ence. That Reverend Minister, whose Decease occasion'd this Discourse, had a great deal of work to do for God in his decli­ning Age, which is evident from the many Seals which God gave to his Ministry, even towards the close of it. When he had, as it were, one foot in the Grave, he was Instrumental to the Resur­rection of many Dead Souls to a Spiritual Life. God put an end to his Ministerial Work but a ve­ry little time before he call'd him to receive his Crown, which was a singular favour granted to this Venerable Old Man.

2. When their Message is ge­nerally slighted and rejected. If they to whom an Embassadour [Page 40] is sent, by an earthly Prince, will not give him Audience, or re­fuse to comply with those Pro­posals which he makes in his Master's Name; it is time for his Lord to recal him. God will not always suffer Minister [...], who are his Embassadours, to make Offers and Tenders of Sal­vation to poor sinners, and intreat them to be reconciled to him in vain and to no purpose. When Men rebelliously stopt their Ears against his Gospel Calls, and slights those compasionate Invita­ons which he gives them by his Prophets; he calls them home un­to himself.

3. When desolating Judgments are hastily advancing towards and make a near approach unto the places wherein they live Noah, that famous Preacher of righteous­ness, enter'd into the Ark but a [Page 41] few days before the old World was destroyed by the Deluge. God fre­quently calls his Servants into the Chambers of Death, when an overflowing scourge is coming. The setting of these Lights in the World portends a gloomy night. These Righteous Men are often taken away from the Evil to come, tho few observe and lay it to heart.

4. I shall now make some im­provement and Application of the whole. And that,

• 1. By way of Information.
• 2. By way of Exhortation.
• 3. By way of Consolation.

1. By way of Information. 1. Are the Ministers of Christ mortal men? then this may inform us, what cause we have to admire the goodness of God intreating with us by them. Should the great Jehovah treat with us im­mediately, [Page 42] we should be forc'd to say with the Israelites, Let not God speak with us, least we die, Exod. 20.19. Nor could we in our mortal state bear to con­verse with those glorious Angels, who continually behold his face, and stand before his August Throne; but God, in compassion to our weakness, treats with us by men like our selves; such, who tho they are in God's stead, are also form'd out of the Clay, whose terrour shall not make us afraid, neither shall their hand be heavy upon us, as Elihu says to Job, 33.6.7. who can, from the acquain­tance they have, will their own hearts tell us the baseness of ours, and with whom we may converse with the greatest familiarity.

2. Are Ministers mortal men? This may inform us that we ought not to Idolize them; hon­our [Page 43] and respect them we must, but Idolize them we must not, tho they are men highly digni­fied by God, yet they are mor­tal men still, tho they are sent to proclaim the Promise of Everlast­ing Life, yet they are liable to a temporal Death. Tho the rich treasures of Spiritual Gifts and Graces are pouer'd into these Ves­sels, yet they are but earthen ones, and will soon be broken by the blow of God's hand, tho these goards are very delightful to us, and we find great refreshment in sitting under their shadow, yet the worm of Death will soon make them to wither.

3. Must Ministers Die, and give an Account of their Ministry unto God? Then how di­ligent and laborious should they be therein. Surely they should endeavour to bring as much Glo­ry [Page 44] to the reverend and holy Name of God, and to do as much good to the precious Souls of Men, as they can, while they Live, for when they Die, they can do no more, when Death hath seised upon them, they can no more proclaim the glad Tidings of Peace to the rebellious World; they can no more inform the Ig­norant, quicken the Slothful, con­vince Gain-sayers, perswade the Disobedient, strengthen the Weak, or comfort the Disconsolate. More­over, they should be excited to Diligence in their Work, by that awful Account which they must give e're long to their Lord. Will a prudent Servant loyter in the day time, who knows that his Master will take an account of his Work at night? Oh! how little do some who enter on the work of the Ministry consider that [Page 45] dreadful Account that they have to give unto the Judg of all the Earth, when they depart out of this World. Ministers must be accountable for those Souls which are lost by their unfaithfulness and negligence, as appears from Ezek. 33.6. And therefore the Apostle Paul charges Timothy to be dili­gent in his Work as he would an­swer it unto the Judg both of quick and dead, at his appearance and his Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4.1, 2.

4. Must the Ministers of the Gospel die, and give an Account of their Ministry? Then how un­reasonable is it for the People to be offended with them for their faithfulness and Eagerness in the discharge of it. It may be you are ready to think them too sharp in reproving Sin, too earnest in pressing duty, and too severe in urging the threatnings of the [Page 46] Divine Law, but consider, they do it for their own sakes, as well as for yours, that if they cannot deliver your Souls, yet they may deliver their own.

5. Must the Minister of the Gospel Dye, that they may rest from their labours, be eased of their Troubles, and receive their re­ward? Then it is a great peice of self-denial in a Minister that is satisfied in his fitness for Death to be willing to Live. We have an instance of this in the Apostle Paul, who, tho upon his own Account, he desired to de­part, and to be with Christ, yet for the sake of the Church, he was willing to abide longer in the flesh, 1 Phil. 23.24.

2. By way of Exhortation, Have a care that you do not hasten the Death of your Mini­sters. It is true their days are de­termined [Page 47] by that God, in whose hand all our Times are; but you may be instrumental to shorten their Lives, and that not only by putting them to death, as wicked persecutours have [...]ften done, but by other means.

1. By over valuing of them. If you give that honour to them, which belongs only to the Lord of the Prophets, you will pro­voke him to take them away from you; if ye fall down and Worship these bright and glittering Stars, no wonder, if the Father of lights remove them from your sight. If you advance them to God's Throne, he will quickly lay them in the dust.

2. By undervaluing them, by slighting and contemning their Persons, their Gifts, or their Mes­sage. If you do not prize your Mercies when you Enjoy them, [Page 48] God will make you to know the worth of them in the want of them, if you despise God's Ambassadors, it is time for him to recal them. Moreover, here­by you will wound their Souls and break their Hearts; and why will you bring their heads with sorrow to the grave, who have so great a regard to your welfare.

2. Look upon your Living Ministers as dying men: and that to these two ends and pur­poses.

1. That you may moderate your Affections towards them. The consideration of the vanity and frailty of all created objects should wean our Hearts and Af­fections from them, and this con­sideration should have the same influence upon us with respect to Gospel Ministers. Why should [Page 49] we set our eyes, our hearts up­on those who are not? for they will soon take to themselves wings and fly away from us into an invisible world.

Secondly, that you may make the utmost improvement of them while they continue with you, endeavour to get as much good as you can from them while they live; for when they are once entered into the gloomy shades of Death, they can be no farther beneficial to you; they shall no more entreat you, Caution, or warn you, Counsel and admon­ish you, comfort and encourage you, then they shall no more pray for or with you; as death stops the ear of the hearer, so it tyes the tongue of the preacher. Oh sinners! Speedily accept of [Page 50] those offers of salvation which they make to you in their ma­sters name, for you know not how soon their feet who bring these glad tidings may go down to the grave; it may be, when they are taken away from you; you will lament and bewail your misimprovement of 'em; 'tis rare that we prize what we have, till we have it not; and we seldom know the worth of a mercy, till we experience the want of it.

Furthermore, consider that as your Ministers must appear be­fore the Divine Bar, to give an account of their Ministry; so you must appear there to give an account of your attendance on it; if you reject their Mes­sages, they will come in as evi­dences [Page 51] against you in the Day of Judgment; says the Apostle, Do ye not know that the Saints shall judg the World? 1 Cor. 6.2. and Ministers shall, with other Saints, judg the World, not only Com­municatively and Participatively in Christ their mystical Head, and approbatively with respect unto that Assent which they shall give unto Christ's Sentence, but also testificatively, by becom­ing Witnesses against them. How dreadful a thing will it be for those very Ministers who now plead with God for you; and with you for your own Souls, to be­come Advocates for the Law and Justice of God against you? what horror will seise upon you? how inexcusable will you be left, when they shall say, Lord, these are the Men upon [Page 52] whom we spent our time and our strength, whom we taught and ad­monished in season and out of sea­son; for the Salvation of whose Souls we destroyed our own Bo­dies; we Preached to them with the greatest seriousness, and per­swaded them with the greatest im­portunity, as if our own Salvati­on had depended upon the work­ing out of theirs; we were as Bo­anerges, sons of Thunder, pro­claiming to them the Terrors of a Fiery Law; and like Barnabas, sons of Consolation, declareing to them the blessings of the everlast­ing Gospel; we set before them Life and Death, Blessing and Cursing, but they were like the deaf Adder, which stops her Ears at the Voice of the Charmer, charm he never so wisely. There­fore, O Lord! we acknowledg they [Page 53] deserve the heaviest strokes of Vindictive Justice.

Thirdly, When God hath ta­ken away any of his Faithful Ministers, be not insensible of the stroke; tho we must not murmur at it, yet we ought to Mourn for it. Shall not we lie in the dust, when the Crown is fallen from our heads? shall the Lights of the World be remov­ed, and we put no Sack cloath on our Loyns? Let us consider whether our sins have not oc­casion'd the removal of Gods Prophets; and if they have, let us speedily repent of them, and turn from them, least we pro­voke God farther to stretch out his hand, and take more Labour­ers out of his vineyard.

If one Affliction do's not re­form us, we must expect ano­ther will quickly tread upon its heels.

Fourthly, When God hath ta­ken away any of your Mini­sters, endeavour to recollect and retain those excellent truths which were delivered by them, while they went in and out be­fore you. Let me perswade you who attend upon this Lecture, to call to mind those blessed Truths which that faithful Servant of God, who once spake to you in the Name of the Lord (but is now enter'd into the place of si­lence) delivered to you therein; and endeavour to reduce them unto practise. Tho he is Dead, the word of the Lord Lives and abides for ever. Those Counsels [Page 55] which he gave you from the word of God, do oblige you, tho he is bound with the chains of Death.

Fifthly. When your Mini­sters are taken away by Death, consider what things were com­mendable in them, and endeav­our an Imitation of them there­in. It is true, the best of them had their failings and imperfecti­ons: Moses and Elias were men subject to the like passions as we are; the most Eminent Saints are to be followed by us, no farther than they followed Christ; but when they are gone, all their failings should be buried with them, and their Excellen­cies should be kept alive in our Memory, in order to our imitati­on of them; and indeed there [Page 56] were several things of this na­ture observable in this Reverend Old Man.

1. His accurate and circum­spect walking. I do not say, that he was wholly free from sin (sin­less perfection is unattainable in a mortal state) but yet he was one who carefully endeavour'd to avoid it. He, with the Apostle Paul did herein exercise himself to have always a conscience void of Offence, towards God and to­wards men.

He walked with that caution, that his greatest Enemies had no­thing against him, save only in the matters of his God; That ho­ly Life which he lived, did com­mand Reverence even from those who were Enemies to the holy [Page 57] Doctrine which he preached. He was a Preacher out of the Pulpit as well as in it. Not like those who press the Form of godliness on a Lord's Day, and openly deny the power of it the remainder of the week; who pluck down that in their Conversations which they build up in their Pulpits.

2. His universal love to Christi­ans. He had a great respect to Christ's New Commandment which he gave to his Disciples, to love one another. He loved the I­mage of God wheresoever he saw it. He was not a man of a narrow and private, but of a large and publick spirit. The difference of his fellow Christians Opinions from his did not alienate his affections from them. He lov'd all his fellow Travellers, tho they did not walk [Page 58] in the same particular path with himself. He embrac'd those in the Arms of his Love upon Earth, with whom he thought he should joyn in singing the Song of the Lamb in Heaven. It would be well if not only private Chri­stians, but also Ministers did imi­tate him therein; there would not then be that sourness of spirit which is too often (with grief be it spoken) found among them.

3. His meekness and humility. He was not of a proud and lofty Temper, but like that Master whom he profess'd to serve, meek and low­ly. He was willing to bear with and forbear others. To stoop and condescend to others, and to pass by those injuries which he re­ceived from them.

[Page 59]4. His laboriousness in that work which he was engaged in. He was not a loyterer, but a labourer. He was willing to spend and t [...] be spent in the service of his Lord, and for the good of poor souls. It is true, Old Age and Youth did as it were meet in him: God had bless'd him with an extraordi­nary measure of bodily strength; and he was not an unfaithful Steward of this Talent wherewith God had entrusted him; yea, when his flesh and his heart seemed to fail; when his flesh was so weak that he could hardly bear to stand in a Pulpit, and his Voice so low that he could scarcely be heard, his affestions were so much engaged in his work that he was very unwil­ling to leave it.

5. His couragious and chearful [Page 60] suffering for his Masters and the Gospels sake. He chearfully went about suffering as well as prea­ching work: He was not unwil­ling to take up his cross and fol­low his Lord and Master in the Thorny Road of Tribulation.

In these things let us imitate and follow the Example of this holy man, who I question not is gone to the Assembly of the first born; to that glorious Company of Prophets, who having finished their work on Earth, are wearing their Crowns in Heaven.

6. When Ministers are taken away, beg of God to raise up o­thers in their stead. When God calls any Labourers out of his Vineyard, earnestly cry to the Lord of the Harvest, that he [Page 61] would thrust out more Labour­ers into it.

That there may be a suc­cession of Ministers, who may rightly divide the Word, and faithfully break the Bread of Life to you, and to your Po­sterity, when your places shall know you no more.

Thirdly, By way of Consola­tion to the Saints.

First, With respect to their own Death. It may be you are ready to go all your life­time in Bondage for fear of Death, the thoughts of your Dissolution are troublesome to you; but consider that you go the same way that the most Eminent Servants of God, [Page 62] who have been, and are in the highest Place and Office in the Church, either have gone, or must go: You are going to the Glorious Society of God's Prophets, who are made Perfect in Holiness and in Happiness. Death will Translate you from the Mi­litant Church upon Earth, to the Church Triumphant in Heaven.

Secondly, With respect to the Death of your Ministers. It is an Affliction, but yet it ad­mits of Consolation; and that upon these three following Accounts.

First, Tho it be your Loss, yet it is their gain. For me to live is Christ, and to die is [Page 63] gain, says great Minister of the Uncircumcision, 1 Phil. 21. They are only gone to exchange mortality, for a glo­rious Immortality, a heavy Cross, for a ponderous and ne­ver fading Crown, a Pulpit wherein they Laboured for Christ; for a Triumphant Throne whereon they shall Eternally Reign with him Could they who are Re­joycing above, speak to you who are Mourning below, they would say to you, as our Lord did unto the Wo­men who followed him to the Cross, Luke 23.28. Weep not for me, but for your selves. Weep not for us, who are come to our Journeys end, but weep for your selves, who are still Travelling thro' [Page 64] a waft and howling Wilder­ness. Weep not for us who rest from our Labours; but weep for your selves, who are still Labouring and Toyl­ing. Weep not for us who are safely Arrived at the Ha­ven of Rest, and the Port of Blessedness; but weep for your selves, who are tost to and fro upon a Tempestuous Sea. Weep not for us, who stand upon a Mount of Tri­umph, and have obtained a Compleat Victory over All Our Enemies; but weep for your selves, who are still in a Field of War, Wrestling not only with Flesh and Blood, but with Principalities and Powers.

Secondly, God can supply their Places, and make up your Loss, by Raising up o­thers.

When Moses Dyed, the Lord sent Joshuah to Lead Israel into the Land of Canaan. Is Elijah gone to Heaven? The Residue of the Spirit is with God; and he can cause a Double Portion of it to rest upon Elisha.

When God hath Work to do, he will never want In­struments: He can perfect Praise out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings; and make even a persecuting Saul to become a preaching Paul.

Thirdly, E're long you shall meet them never more to be separated from them. 'Twill be but a few Days e're you shall enjoy their So­ciety, in a more Glorious Place than this.

Oh! What Greetings will there be between you and your Faithful Ministers, when you are entered into the Joy of your Lord! Then shall you who Worshipped God together with them, upon Earth, Joyn with them in a Triumphant Song of Praise, to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for e­vermore, in Heaven. Ye shall then see the Great Pro­phet, our Lord Jesus Christ, [Page 67] sitting upon a Majestick Throne, and all the other Prophets, like so many bright Stars, compassing about this Son of Righteousness for ever and ever.