IN these words we may take notice of these two generall parts:

First, Elisha's sicknesse, wherin we may consider,

1. Who this Elisha was, he was not only a holy man, but a holy Prophet.

2. The event of his sicknesse, sick he was, and that unto death, and died of this his sicknesse.

Secondly, Joash's visiting of him in this his sicknesse.

1. Who this Joash was who came to visit him, no mean person, no plaine country man, no poore neighbour, but a [Page 2]man of eminent place and dignity, he was no lesse than a King, and King of Israel.

2. The paines he took to visit him; he did not take a step or two to see the Prophet. Elisha was now no neere neighbour, he was either at Jericho, or at Bethel, or in some other place remote from Samaria, the usuall seat of the Kings of Israel, and from whence Joash came down to visit him. It had been no small favour for so great a Prince to have sent one of his choice favourites upon this errand, and to have staied at home himselfe, but he thought it not suffi­cient to dispatch his servant with a How do you: but waits upon the poore Prophet in his own person; he questions it not whether it would not be too great a condescension for his excellent Majesty to see how so meane a subject did; he made no scruple whether his disease might not be noy­some, or infectious, he waved these things, stood not upon his magnificency, but makes a journey himselfe.

3. The motive that prevailed with him to visit this man of God, which makes the action more commendable, it was no­thing else but that respect which he did beare unto him. Eli­sha had been a great friend to the State, secured it againe and againe against the incursions of the Syrians, procured wa­ter for the Armies of Israel when they were in danger to perish for want of it; assured them of the great victory that they should obtaine against the Ammonites; helpt them al­so when they were at a dead lift by his prayers; these wor­thy acts were remembred by this King, who honoured the Prophet for them, and exprest what high thoughts he had of him by giving of him such a friendly and honourable vi­sit. Ahab, the Predecessor of Joash, though not immediately, would never have shewed such kindnesse to Elijah the pre­decessor of Elisha; he would rather have been glad of, then visited him in his sicknesse. David complaines of some who came to him in the day of his calamity, when he was under some grievous disease, not to comfort him, but to see whether there was any hope of his death; but Jo­ash, though a wicked man, visited not the Prophet upon such an account, he desired his life, and feared his death; [Page 3]he came not out of hatred, but out of love; not to entrap him, but to comfort him; not to observe whether there were any hopes of his death, but whether there were any hopes of his life; not as a malicious spy, to watch whether any words dropt from his lips which he might spread abroad to his reproach, but as a friend to condole and sympathize with him, and to bemoane so great a losse; for when he percei­ved that he was drawing nigh unto his end, and ere long would bid that Kingdome and the world farewell, he wept over his face.

4. The honourable titles which he gave unto the Pro­phet not in a false and flattering complement (the common sin of this Age, wherein men professe that with their lips which is far from their hearts,) but from a just and a reall sense and apprehension that he had of the Prophets me­rits and deserts, to be honoured with the title of Father, and to be accounted and esteemed the Chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof: And he said, O my father, my fa­ther, &c. The parts thus opened, we come to the Doctrines which arise out of the words. The person that was sick and died, we told you was both a good man, and a holy Prophet, from whence we may observe in the first place:

Doctrine That the best of men must dye, neither great nor good can escape deaths dart. Psal. 89.48. What man is he that li­veth and shall not see death? The wise as well as the foolish, the pious as well as the impious, the strict as well as the loose must lye down in the grave. Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas regumque turres. Abraham, eminent for faith; Moses, for meeknesse; David, for zeale; Jeho­saphat, for livelinesse and holy fervour in the waies of God; Nehemiah, for spirituall valour and courage: yet they all shut their eyes upon the world, and bad it farewell. Look upon those worthies made mention of, Heb. 11. men of whom the world was not worthy, what became of them? The Text tels us, ver. 13. All these died in the faith.

Reason. First, The bodies of the best are composed of the same materials with the bodies of the worst; the gracious soule hath no stronger a Cabinet than the gracelesse soule; good [Page 4]men many times have weaker bodies than bad men. Gaius who had a thriving soule, had a weake and sickly body; the best are but earthen vessels at the best, 2 Cor. 4.7. which will not last alwaies, but lye open to a thousand casualties, and a little knock breakes them in peeces.

Secondly, Ioh. 16.2, 3. Christ hath prepared a better place for them, to which they must passe through the gates of death; this the Apostle Paul knew full well, Phil. 1.23. and therefore he desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ. He tels us, 2 Cor. 5.4. that he was willing that mortality might be swallowed up of life; loath he was to be uncloathed, but yet he chose to be stript by death of his old rags, rather than not to be cloa­thed with those robes which he expected from heaven.

Thirdly, Ioh. 17.24. Christ hath prayed that they might be where he is, therefore they must not live here alwaies. We read, Acts 3.2. that the heavens must receive Christ till the times of restitution of all things. Though Christ, as God, is every where, yet as he is Mediator he sits at the right hand of his Father. Now there is no being where Christ is without ta­sting of the cup of death, whereof Christ himselfe tasted be­fore he was taken up into glory. Christs members must be conformable unto him in suffering death here, before they can be made conformable unto him in glory hereafter.

Fourthly, God loves them so well, that he will have them come home unto him; here gracious soules are said to be absent from the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.6. as children long to see their beloved Parents, so loving Parents long to have the full enjoyment of their Children. Christ can no more en­dure that his Children should be alwaies from him, than his Children can endure to be alwaies from Christ. Now the ordinary messenger which Christ imploies to bring home his Children unto him is death. Uses.

1 Must the righteous dye? what then shall become of the unrighteous? Will God make his own to drinke of this bit­ter cup? Then let not those, who are none of Gods, thinke to escape it; no, no, dye, dye you must, though full sore a­gainst your wills; But shall your deaths be like unto the deaths of Gods holy ones? No: there shall be as great a [Page 5]difference between your deaths and theirs, as there hath been between your lives and theirs; they are taken away from the evill to come, but your evill is to come when you are taken away; they are taken away from their enemies, but go to their friends; you are taken away from your friends, but must go to your enemies; they are taken away in mercy, you shall be taken away in judgement; when they dye, they go to heaven; when you dye, you must go to hell; when they dye, they go to enjoy sweet and uninter­rupted communion with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; when you dye, you must go to converse with devils & damned spi­rits; when they dye, their worst is past, their best is to come, when you dye, your best is past, your worst is to come; when they dye, they shall suffer no more, you never suffer to any purpose till you come to dye: Now, now you shall be snatch'd from your cups of pleasure to drinke of cups of gall and wormwood; Psal. 75. [...]. from your stately houses to a loath­some dungeon; from your carnall ease and contentments to endlesse and extreme tortures and howlings. Woe, woe unto you wicked ones, weep and howle for the miseries which are likely to come upon you, you are not so high now but you will be as low then, you are not so honourable now but you will be as contemptible then, you are not so joviall and merry now but you will be as sad and heavy then; would you dye as the righteous dye, then live as the righte­ous live; if you would have your latter end like unto his, let your conversation for the present be like unto his.

2 Must good men, very good men, the best of men, such who have received a double portion of the spirit more than others, who are full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, dye? Then let this teach us to make sure of God, who lives for ever, and cannot dye; great is the comfort, much is the be­nefit which is conveighed from persons eminent for grace and heavenly wisdome unto those who depend upon them, and converse with them; they are lights to guide, they are fires to warme, they are cordials to comfort, they are Coun­sellours to instruct such as are round about them; what a choice mercy is a pious husband to his wife, a godly father [Page 6]to his children, a religious master to his servant, and a graci­ous neighbour to his neighbours, much spirituall advantage may be, and is, reaped by their prayers, counsels, experien­ces, and examples; how often have our dead hearts been quickned, our doubts resolved, our feares scattered, our sor­rows mitigated, and our graces excited by conversing and discoursing with pious and holy men; they carry about them very choice and precious liquor, but it is contained in ear­then vessels which must and will break; the time will come when the godly Husband, when the pious Master, when the gracious Parent must tarry with us no longer, when we shall have no more of their counsell to instruct us, no more of their encouragements to provoke us, no more of their prayers to help us, those cisternes must be broken, and let this consideration put us upon the securing of the fountaine, that when those earthen vessels are snapt in peeces, when those pipes, through which God conveyed much sweetness and benefit to thy soule, are taken away, thou maiest have this to comfort thee, that the fountaine, that can never be drawn dry, is still with thee; if God be thine thou art well, though others can no more be enjoyed in the land of the living; God is a husband that cannot dye, a father that cannot dye, a shepheard that cannot dye, a friend that can­not dye; all other can do nothing without him, he can do any thing without others; he can comfort, he can quicken, he can support, he can strengthen, he can uphold us though we had not one friend in the world left us; he is God al­sufficient, and can make up the losse of a husband to the wife, of a father to the child, of a pastor to his people: Oh then make sure of God for your God, you cannot so make sure of any creature, friends, or comforters, as to keep and enjoy them alwaies, they will be gone from you, but you may make sure of God; get God, and you want no­thing, want God, and you have nothing.

3. Must the best dye? then let us prepare for their death; we seldome thinke of crosses till they come, and then we are to seek for patience for to beare them: what heare we? little did I think that I should have seen this day, that I should [Page 7]have been bereaved of my husband, saith the wife; little did I thinke that I should have lost so precious a father, saith the child; and why did you not think so? Job lookt for ad­versity in the midst of prosperity, for losses in the midst of enjoyments; he lookt upon his children as mortall, Iob 3.25. his goods as uncertaine, he feared, and fore-thought of those troubles which he met withall; and hence it was he bore them with so much patience; God hath not given us a lease of his childrens lives, it is a mercy, and a great one, that he will trust us with the sight or presence of those his jewels, Mal. 3.17. though but for a season; wives look upon your precious husbands, children look upon your gracious parents as bub­bles that swim up and down in the water for a while, but ere long will vanish.

4. Must godly men dye? let us improve them whilest we have them: if we have but a book lent us, which we account very profitable, and know it may be call'd for at an houres warning, we will make the best use we can of it whilest we have it; our christian friends are but lent us, how soon our heavenly Father may send for them we know not, let us therefore make the best advantage that may be of their graces and vertues during their abode with us; Chap. 3.16 the Pro­phet Malachy tels us, they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; God betrusts us with his deare servants that we might promote our spirituall warfare by their socie­ty, and will call us to an account one day how we have thrived by such helps; Let a Lawyer come to our houses, we will aske him question after question about our tempo­rall estate, what, have we no questions to propound in re­ference to our spirituall estate? Surely then we are ignorant or insensible. Hast thou a gracious husband? Let no day passe over thy head without reaping some spirituall good by him. Hast thou a gracious neighbour? Improve his com­pany for thy soules benefit. How rich might Christians be in grace, had they but skill and will to improve one another? Now you may have the benefit of their prayers, counsels, gifts, experiences, but they can do nothing for you in the grave. Our wofull negligence to improve our Christian [Page 8]friends makes God many times to deprive us of them, we might have enjoyed them longer had we been carefull to make better use of them; when servants rather play with, then worke by the light, it is time to put it out. Let us there­fore take the counsell of our Saviour, Joh. 12.35.

5. Let all holy and gracious persons be active for God whilest they live, let slip no opportunity of doing God ser­vice, we have received much from, and shall we not do much for God? God thinkes nothing too great for us, let not us think any thing too great for God; work we as hard as we can, our wages will infinitely surpasse our worke. Let no man be idle in his Masters Vineyard, for our labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58. when we cast our eyes upon our Wives, Children, Neighbours, Servants, or Friends, thinke we may be taken from them ere long, and let this provoke us to do our best to leave their soules full of grace, though we may have little else to leave them.

6. Must our best friends dye? Will God gather up his Jewels, and deck his own glorious palace with them? Take we heed of murmuring or repining, possesse vve our soules in patience, blesse God that he hath trust us vvith them so long, complaine not that he hath taken them avvay so soon; they are deare to God as vvell as unto us, and ought vve not to be content that God should enjoy them as vvell as vve? When vve see Gods vvill fulfilled, it is not for us sin­fully to quarrell, but quietly and patiently to submit. Thus did Aaron, Lev. 10.3. Thus did Eli, 1 Sam 3.18. Thus did Job, Chap. 1. Thus did David, Psal. 39.9. True, vve are lo­sers, 14.28. but our godly friends are gainers, love to our selves may make us mourne, but love to them should make us re­joyce: Ought vve not to be, and are vve not glad vvhen our friends vvho have been full of paine enjoy svveet ease? vvho have been in prison are set at liberty? vvho have been en­compassed and oppressed by cruell, potent, and malicious enemies, are delivered from them? And is not this the con­dition of all our gracious friends vvhen they dye? Are they not novv at ease vvho vvere once in paine? Are they not novv at liberty vvho vvere once in prison? For this vvorld [Page 9]is a prison to a pious soule. Are they not novv freed from all their enemies, vvho could have no rest night or day from one enemy or other? Rejoice therefore that their vvarfare is accomplished, and blesse God that he hath not taken a­vvay himselfe from us, though he hath deprived us of such vvho vvere our deare friends, vve have no cause to grudge at the losse of these Cisternes so long as vve have the foun­taine. What though these bottles be dry, vve cannot vvant the refreshing vvaters of comfort so long as the spring is vvith us; vvhen God takes avvay our outvvard helps, he takes avvay such as may better be spared than himselfe; let our losses be what they vvill, they may very vvell be borne so long as vve enjoy God, vvho is alsufficient. Hast thou lost a loving husband, yet blesse God that Christ vvho loves thee, and will live vvith thee, is not lost; thy naturall Father is dead, but thou hast a Father in heaven vvho vvants no vvis­dome to counsell thee, no love to comfort thee, no povver to help thee, no supplies to relieve thee, vvho is not igno­rant or unsensible of thy condition, and vvill be vvith thee continually. Thou hast lost a precious Pastor, yet thou hast a better shepheard to take care of thee, the Lord Jesus bles­sed for ever.

But vvhy say I, vve have lost our friends vvhen they dye? We rather part vvith them for a season than lose them: they are gone a little before us to that place vvhere vve shall be ere long, and enjoy them more refined, more pure, more lovely and amiable, never to part vvith them more. Besides, vve have cause to rejoyce, though not in the death of our Christian friends, yet in the spirituall benefits that vve shall reap by their deaths; God hath said, Rom. 8.28. All things shall vvorke together for good to those vvho love him, and are the called according to his purpose. True, vve cannot see hovv the losse of gracious friends shall turn to our advantage, but vve must shut the eyes of sense, and live by faith in the pro­mise, it is ground sufficient for us to beleeve that vve shall be gainers by our losses, because God hath said so, vvho can­not lye.

7. Must godly men dye? Then let godly men take heed [Page 10]of setting their hearts inordinately upon these outward blessings and comforts, from which they must part; the more the world is in our affections, the lesse pleasing and welcome will the thoughts of death be unto us. Why are we loath to dye? Because we are not prepared; and why are we not prepared? But because we have minded earth too much, and heaven too little. Oh the world, the world! how hath it got too much hold of the hearts of too many good Christians; never was there more need to preach upon that Text, Take heed and beware of covetousnesse; Or upon those words of Paul, Set your affections upon things a­bove, not on things below. What heare we from the men of the world? For ought we see, these who pretend so much to heaven are as greedy after the earth as others, and it were well if their tongues were no flander in this particular; if the world be our treasure, why make we a profession of Christ? And if Christ be our treasure, why do we embrace the world? It is no wonder to see earnall men, who have not God for their Father, who have no promise for a ne­cessary supply of those outward things, who have no spiri­tuall stock to comfort their hearts, no heaven but what may be found in the confluence of temporall enjoyments, to be violent in their desires and endeavours after the world; but you that are Christians indeed, and not in name only, have no cause to be over-carefull, or to cumber your selves with too many things. Gods power and faithfulnesse are engaged that you shall want no good thing, Psal. 84.11. Mat. 6.33. Rom. 8.32. Grant you have wife and children to provide for, yet take heed of wounding your own soules and consciences by excessive thoughtfulnesse for their bodies; the Apostles rule must be obeyed, or else we shall be found guilty; but what is that you will say? read 1 Cor. 7.29.30, 31. the best way we can take to provide for wife and chil­dren is, to do what God commands, and not to practice what God forbids, Psal. 112.1, 2, 3. As I would not have you to neglect your particular callings, so I would not have you to forget your generall callings: thinke not only that you are men, and stand in need of earthly supplies, but [Page 11]remember also you are Christians, and are call'd to have your conversation in heaven, be you thoughtfull to honour God, and God will be thoughtfull to maintaine and provide for you and yours. Walke therefore closely with God, keep up and maintaine the power of Godlinesse, improve all opportunities put into your hands to do, or to get good, balke no duty commanded. Be more mindfull to make thy friends and children good than great, and to leave them in the armes of Christ, than to leave them millions of gold and silver. An estate raised by sinfull neglects or commissions will do thy children more hurt than good, and it is more than an even lay, that that will be spent loosely by them, which hath been gotten covetously by thee.

8. Must the godly dye? Then let those who are godly prepare for death; do nothing now which may move God to conceale his love in that last houre. True it is, no sooner shall your breath be stopt here, but your soules shall be carri­ed into heaven; yet you may so order the matter, that your departure may be clouded. Ah! how sweet will it be for God to smile upon us when we come to dye, to say unto us, Well done thou good and faithfull servant, enter now into thy Masters joy. Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure; keep your evidences cleare, blot them not by any loose or scandalous practice, take heed of grieving that spirit which hath at any time sealed you to the day of redemption.

9. Must the godly dye? Let this be matter of support and consolation unto all godly ones in the midst of those troubles and temptations which they meet withall in the world; Art thou buffeted by sathans temptations, wearied with that body of death which thou carriest about thee? Dost thou groane under the burden of a vile and cursed heart? Art thou followed with variety of afflictions? Do thy enemies scorne and persecute thee? Be of good com­fort, death will come, death will come ere long, and set thee free from all thine enemies. Job, speaking of the grave, tels us, There the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. Job 3.17. Thus we have done with the first [Page 12]Doctrine; in the next place we shall look upon Elisha as a holy Prophet, and from hence give you this observation,

Doct. 2 That such Ministers who are very usefull and holy must dye. Elisha a most gracious Prophet, furnished with a double portion of that spirit which acted in his Master Eli­jah, a most usefull man; the Chariot and the horsemen of Israel must not live alwaies, but give up the Ghost. For proofe of the Doctrine consult with these Scriptures though we have had many sad experiences, and that of late to con­firme it, Zach. 1.5. 1 Sam. 25 1. What is become of all the Apostles who served God in their generation, were spiritu­all Fathers to beget soules unto God, who both planted and builded up the Church of God, who were choice and pre­cious men, one was crucified, another headed, another boiled in a Cauldron, and all died? Where is our Preston, our Taylor, our Sibs, our Hill, our Whitaker, and many more? The grave hath swallowed them up. The reasons which we gave you to prove the precedent Doctrine might serve for the confirmation of this, but we will adde one or two more.

First, Because people will not make that use of their Mi­nistry as they should; God sends them to negotiate a peace between his glorious Majesty and peoples precious soules: Now when they have made many overtures from their great Lord and Master, and all are slighted, none will be ac­cepted, God thinkes it fit to send for them home; when Princes see that Embassadours cannot obtaine with For­reign States what they expected, they call them home again; there are not more usefull instruments in a State, or Church, than faithfull and holy Ministers, God sets them up as lights to enlighten the minds of men, as guides to direct men, as watchmen to warne them, as saviours to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, Sin, Sathan, and the World: Now, if no body will make use of their light, follow their directions, regard their warnings, or be willing to be res­ened out of the hands of their spirituall enemies, it is but just with God to take them away: Who hath beleeved our report, saith the Prophet, and to whom is the arme of the Lord re­vealed?

[Page 13] 2. God will not suffer his Ministers alwaies to live in the world, because the world is not worthy of them, they are so far from improving their doctrine and life, that they are rather filled with rage against them both; the Scripture speakes much of the worlds unkind and perverse carriage towards the Messengers of God; read these places, 2 Chron. 36.16. Ier. 15.16. Chap. 20.7, 8. Micah 2.6. Mat. 23.37. by abusing mercies we justly forfeit them. The world is weary of Gods Ministers, and Gods Ministers are weary of the world; now God will ease the world of his Mini­sters, and when he doth this, it is in wrath to the world; and he will ease his Ministers of the world, but when he doth this, it is in mercy to his Ministers; God is very tender of his Messengers, takes the scornes and affronts cast upon them as offered unto himself, he cannot endure to see them wrong'd, and hence it is that he will remove them.

3. Should the Ministers of God live here alwaies, none would be so miserable as they are, did not their future hopes support them their present condition would be very sad; though all that live godly in Christ suffer persecution, yet none so persecuted as the godly Ministers, 1 Cor. 15.19 other Christians may drinke of bitter cups, but the dregs usually are poured on the Lords Embassadours, if others endure a storm, yet the fiercest part lights upon them.

4. Die they must, that they may receive that Crown of righteousnesse which God hath laid up for them in heaven; the Crown of life will not be set upon their heads, till they have passed through the straights of death, Rev. 2.10. 1 Pet. 5.2, 3. Uses.

First, It should teach us that are Gods Ministers, to do what we can for God whilest we have time and strength; How active was the Apostle Paul, when he perceived a doore was opened to promote the interest of the Lord Je­sus? He knew not how long that doore might stand open, nor how soone he might be taken away, and this made him to bestirre himselfe the more; when he perceived that his departure drew nigh, he sends for the Elders of Ephesus, Act. 20. and bestows his counsels and prayers upon them. The [Page 14]Apostle Peter also, understanding that he had not long to live, was the more carefull to stir up the minds of the dispersed Jews to keep the faith that had been delivered unto them, and to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, and to take heed that they were not carried away with the er­rour of the wicked, and so fall from their own stedfastnesse, 2 Pet. 1.13, 14. Chap. 3.17, 18. Take we therefore the coun­sell of Solomon, Eccl. 9.10. Let our thoughts and our stu­dies, our prayers, and our counsels, our time and our strength be laid out for our Lord and Master. Let that which a godly Minister wrote upon his Study doore be deeply engraven in our memories, and thought upon every day by us, Minister verbi es, hoc age. Let us be more mindfull of our work than of our wages, how to encrease Christs Kingdome, than to advance our own secular interests, how to make our people good, than how to render our selves great, how to enrich the soules of others, rather than to be enriched by others; we have a good Master that will pay us well, 1 Pet. 52, 3.4. and though we should have little encouragement from the ungratefull world, yet we shall want no encouragement from our gra­cious God. Oh that the same mind were in us which was in Jesus Christ, who sought not his own honour, but the honour of him that sent him. We know not how soone we may be laid aside, let us worke, the harder whilest we have time.

Secondly, Must Gods faithfull Ministers die, yet do you take heed of having any hand in their deaths; precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints, but the death of no Saints is more precious in Gods sight than the death of his Ministers; Were you not afraid, saith God to Aaron and Miriam, to speake against my servant Moses? one who was so neere unto God; much more cause have we to feare to act against them; if God was so angry vvith those vvho did strike them vvith their tongues, hovv angry vvill he be vvith those vvho strike them vvith their hands? That counsell vvhich Pilates Wife gave him, in reference to the Lord Jesus, will not be amisse for any to take in refe­rence to his Ministers and servants, you may read it, [Page 15] Mat. 27.19. Have no physicall hand in their death, have no morall hand in their death, provoke not God by your sins to deprive you of their labours, the lengthning out of their lives may be the lengthning out of yours, and their deaths may make way for yours, you will be the greatest losers, they undoubtedly will be gainers, Phil. 1.23, 24. They are your watchmen, if they be removed, spoylers may quickly breake in upon you; they are your guides, if they die, you may soon step into by-paths; they stand between God and you that judgement might be kept off, that mercies might be conti­nued; if they fall to the earth, it will not be long ere wrath will fall upon you. Be so kind and loving to your selves, as not to be unkind or cruell towards them, lest you hasten their deaths whose prayers and teares preserve your lives. Slight not that counsell which they deliver you from God; oppose not those truths which they bring stampt with di­vine authority, turne not your backs upon their Ministry, or that Ministry which they have received from the Lord; set not up, nor abet, nor countenance any factions against them; let there be no divisions, no separations, which have not Gods allowance and approbation; let not your lives be loose and scandalous, give them not cause to say, we have laboured in vaine, we have spent our strength in vaine, these things will pierce the hearts of gracious Ministers, and bring them with sorrow to their graves, Phil. 3.18. Jer 9.1. as your close walking will be their joy, so your carnall wal­king will be their grief; what faithful servant will not mourn to see his Masters errant slighted and contemned? As it is a dreadfull thing for Ministers to be guilty of the bloud of their peoples soules by any cursed neglect, so it is a dreadfull thing for people to be guilty of the bloud of their Ministers by their ungodly and unwarrantable practices.

Thirdly, Must godly Ministers dye? make use then of them whilest you have them; let a physician come to your house, but for an houre or two, and you will aske him all that you can thinke of which may be conducible to your bodily health; Do the Prophets live for ever? Here they have no abiding place, they are every day upon removing, suffer [Page 16]them not to go to heaven without receiving some spirituall good from them, get some benefit by that precious li­quor which is in them, before the earthen vessels that carry it be broken in peeces; they are given you to make you bet­ter, all their gifts, all their graces, all their abilities are yours, 1 Cor. 3.23. when Elisha understood that his master Elijah would ere long be taken from his head, he would not leave him one moment, but was carefull to improve him to the utmost; how gladly would we be instruments of your con­version, helpers of your faith, furtherers of your joy, every way promoters of your spirituall welfare? How willingly would we spend our selves, and be spent for you? Oh that you were but as desirous to receive good from us, as we are desi­rous to do good to you; God knows how earnest we are that Christ may be formed in you before we go hence and be no more seene; take the counsell which our Saviour Christ gave his hearers, Ioh. 12.35. improve Gods Ministers in publike, be constant and diligent hearers of them, receive the Law at their mouths; let not their counsels be as water spilt up­on the ground which cannot be gathered up; let them not have cause to complaine as Simon Peter did, Luke 5.4. that they have cast the net Sabbath after Sabbath but have caught nothing: Improve them in private, conferre often with them, how glad would we be of your company, we are willing to give you our counsell without the expectation of a fee, improve their experiences; our temptations, our con­solations, 2 Cor. 1.4. our buffetings, our trials, in a word, all our expe­riences are for your advantage: we are exercised with doubts, feares, desertions, assaults, that we may be the bet­ter able to speake a word in season unto you: God hath lent you a pious and a painfull Minister for 27 yeares, he hath preached the word amongst you, in season and out of season; oh turne your eyes inward, and examine your selves how you have improved him, for God will examine you one day; if any of you after so much plowing, dres­sing, dunging, still remaine barren, let me tell you you are neere unto cursing; if those multiplied shoures of divine truths, which have fallen amongst you, have not bettered [Page 17]you, Mat. 10.14, 15. your condemnation at that great day will be greater than the condemnation of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Fourthly, Must usefull and godly Ministers die? Yet let us keep them as long as we can; we will do what we can to preserve the lives of those who are instruments of much good unto us, we have more cause to seek the safety and continuance of our soule-friends than of the friends of our bodies; spirituall welfare is better than corporall, and a thriving soule than a prosperous estate; God hath lessened the number of able and gracious Ministers very much of late; many burning and shining Lights have been extinguished: call we upon God to stay his hand, lest we be overspread with darknesse, let them not dye for want of our prayers and teares to keep them alive. Peter was nigh unto death, the Church praies for him, and God gave her Peters life as an answer to her prayers, Act. 12.12, 13. Take heed also of slighting, scorning, and abusing of the Ministers of God, nothing provokes God more to deprive us of his blessings, than our wretched undervaluing and abusing of them, Mat. 23.37. Jesuiticall designes are on foot, to lay aside and root out Gods faithfull Messengers; never was there grea­ter cause of feare, that what hath often been attempted shall now be put into execution; those revilings and contempts which have been, and still are cast upon the Ministry with too much countenance from some, and without any check from others, may incense God to put out those lights that are as yet shining, and to give way to the cursed enterprizes and machinations of men of corrupt minds and malicious and prophane hearts. Againe, would we have God to con­tinue our Teachers unto us? would we see their faces still? and not have them driven into corners? let us be fruit­full under their Ministry, answer the paines and cost they are at with us; God will not grudge any kindnesse to a soule­thriving people, the barrennesse of hearers will cause a dearth and scarcity of Preachers, Isa. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. You will not suffer your servants to spend their time alwaies in ploughing, dressing, and sowing that ground, which not­withstanding all your labour brings forth nothing but briars [Page 18]and thornes; God will call away his Ministers from those places where they have bestowed much paines, but cannot prevaile with their people to be a jot better. Againe, would you see the faces of your Teachers still? Blesse God for them; unthankfulnesse deprives us of many choice favours; we live in sad times, Gods Messengers are lookt upon as the burdens of the Nation, but had the Nation no worse burdens, they would have no cause to groane or complaine; some there are who once thought themselves happy in the enjoyment of a faithfull Pastor, who now would thinke themselves happy in the want and losse of him; God may let such men have their supposed happinesse, take away such a Minister from them, but it will prove a reall misery; who would not exclaime against that child who should be weary of a most gracious and loving Father? and yet how many, who look upon themselves as converted, who are weary of their spirituall Fathers, are so far from blessing God for them, that they would rather blesse God should they be rid of them? Well, God may ease you of them soone enough, though you care not for their company, he doth, though you slight them, yet God highly esteems of them: Are there not those who are ready to say of the Ministers of Christ as they did, Psal. 83.4. of the Jews, Let us cut them off from the Nation, that the name of Ministers may be had no more in remembrance; God may grant such men what they would have, not in mercy, but in wrath, as he gave the Israelites quailes, and a King, Psal. 78.31. Hos. 13 11. Would we enjoy Gods Messengers amongst us: let us be thankfull for them, not fretfull against them; let us esteeme them very highly in love, and not prosecute and persecute them with extreame malice and hatred.

Fifthly, Must godly and painefull Ministers die? Then let us prepare for their death; make sure of that Prophet who cannot die but lives for ever, the Lord Jesus Christ; should all the Ministers in a Country be taken away from thee, or you shut up in some prison from them, Christ can abundantly supply their absence and losse. John told the people, he baptized them with water, but Christ would [Page 19]baptize them with the Holy Ghost; Alas we can but speake to your eares, it is Christ who must speake to your hearts: It were a dreadfull sin for any man to turne his back upon the Ministry of the word when he hath liberty to attend upon it; but if God shall be pleased to remove his Candle­stick, and to take away his Ministers, we may hope (Christ being ours) that he will supply the absence of his servants. Christ doth not make use of Ministers out of an absolute necessity, as if he could not teach or comfort without them, but out of choice. Againe, get the spirit of the Lord Jesus: Other lights may and must be put out, but this will be la­sting and permanent, when other guides are gone, this will continue and abide with us, Joh. 14.16, 17, 18. Chap. 16.7, 13. he who hath the fountaine of all light and comfort may be the better able to want the streames; thus we have done with the first part of the Text, Elisha's sicknesse and death, we now come to the second part, concerning Joash his visi­ting of him, and lamenting over him. Here we have a King visiting a Prophet; a great King, a meane Prophet; a wicked King, a religious Prophet; and we have the Ho­ly Ghost justifying and commending this action; from whence we may observe:

Doct. 3 That no person is too great to visit a faithfull Minister of God in his sicknesse; The Psalmist tels us, Psal. 41. that God will make the bed of a gracious and mercifull man: Now if the glorious God thinkes it not too much to be a good mans bed-maker, the highest of men should not thinke it too much to visit a good man. Reasons.

First, it is a duty which Christ requires to be performed to all his members, and therefore ought not to be neglected towards his Messengers; Is any man too great to do what God commands? Though there is no reason why Gods will should stoop to ours: yet there is all reason why our wills should stoop to Gods; he is our Creator, we his Crea­tures; he our Lord, we his Servants; he our King, we his Subjects. Now that visiting the sick is a duty enjoyned by Christ, and incumbent upon us, is cleare from that Text, Mat. 25.42. Men usually find fault where there is none, [Page 20]but there is ever a fault where Christ finds one.

Secondly, The faithfull Messengers of Christ are no despi­cable persons, low they are indeed in the opinions of car­nall men, but the holy God hath high thoughts of them; they are his Embassadours, his Stewards, his Treasurers, his Friends, yea, he cals them co-workers with himself; to them hath Christ committed the power of the keyes; they are called guides, rulers, the lights of the world, saviours? Why did Joash visit Elisha? He lookt upon him as one who had been an instrument once and againe to save them out of the hands of the Syrians; Ministers are Instruments appointed by God to save, not the bodies only, but the soules of people out of the hands, not of flesh and bloud, but of principalities, and powers, and spirituall wickednesses.

Thirdly, Much advantage may be gotten by visiting Gods faithfull Ministers in the time of their sicknesse; as they have taught us by their Doctrine and example to do what God commands, so they may teach us to beare what God inflicts, as to live well, so to dye well: We may get more from them when they are upon their death-beds, than we could get from them when they were in the Pulpit; as the words of dying men come from the heart, so they go to the heart; we may remember their dying speeches, though we have been ready to forget what formerly hath been spoken; we may be instructed by their counsels, warmed by their prayers, quickned by their exhortations, freed from the feares of death by seeing their boldnesse, and courage, and learne faith, and patience from their practice. King Joash lost nothing by visiting the Prophet Elisha, as you may read ver. 15, 16. and Elisha lost nothing by attending upon Eli­jahs removall from earth to heaven, as you may read 2 Kin. 2.10. A Prince may be a great gainer by vifiting of a Pro­phet.

Fourthly, It is a very great and soule-ruining sin for any man, let him be never so great, in case he hath liberty and opportunity not to visit the members of Christ, and there­fore they cannot wash themselves from guilt who neglect (wanting neither time, nor strength, nor health) to visit his [Page 21]Ministers; What think we, was Christ in jest or in earnest when he spake those words, Mat. 25.41, 42, 43.

Fifthly, Christ takes what is done unto his Messengers as done unto himselfe, He that receiveth you (saith our Savi­our) receiveth me; were it possible for the Lord Jesus to be sick, we would professe our willingnesse to visit him in such an afflicted condition, and would exclaime against them as most notorious wretches, and unworthy to live, who should not take a step or two to wait upon Christ. Now read Mat. 25.40. was no man too great to attend up­on Christ personall in the day of his distresse, neither is any too great to visit Christ mysticall.

Sixthly, We may do much good to the messengers of Christ by visiting of them in their distresse; as we may re­ceive good from them, so they may receive good from us. Onesimus was no small comfort and support to Paul, when he was in trouble. Junius reaped much spirituall advantage from the discourse of a plaine country man; thus inferiour members of the body may be serviceable to the superiour. Uses.

First, This may reprove those, who as they never cared for any converse with godly Ministers in their health, but always kept at a distance from them, so they care not for comming neare them in their sicknesse, not for feare of any bodily infection, but for want of sincere and spirituall affection; let such men know, they who love not the servants of Christ are without love to Christ himselfe, and Christ will one day flight those who have slighted him in his servants. It is to be feared, that they never got any good by the Ministers of God vvho are disrespectfull unto them; novv a sad doome hangs over the heads of all barren Christians, vvho have en­joyed the choice mercy of a painfull and faithfull Ministry; they are neere unto cursing, and may expect to heare that sentence, Cut them down, why cumber they the ground?

Secondly, This may reprove those, vvho though they are not altogether so profane as to neglect the giving of a visit to Gods messengers lying upon their sick-beds, yet come to see them, not out of obedience to Gods command, nor [Page 22]out of love to their persons or office, nor out of any affe­ction they beare to their doctrine, nor out of any desire they have to comfort them, or to receive counsell or comfort from them, but meerly out of custome, or in complement, or to stop the mouths of some who would cry shame upon those who should neglect so necessary, so charitable an Of­fice.

Thirdly, Let us be humbled for the neglect of this duty; should God be extreame to marke our failings in this one particular, what would become of us? Jobs friends tooke a long and a tedious journey to see him when they heard how the hand of God was upon him, but how often are we backward to take a journey of two or three houres riding, nay, to step a bows-shoot out of doores to visit an afflicted member of Christ, to communicate with him in his sor­rows, to comfort him in his griefes, to refresh and revive him with our presence, and spiritual and pertinent discourse? How should we shame our selves for this our want of love to the command of Christ to the members of Christ, yea, to Christ himselfe? Well, let us cry peccavi, beg our par­don, and looke upon it as a matter of duty, to visit those with our personall presence, whom Christ will vouchsafe to visit with his gracious presence. The Apostle James ex­cludes all those from being truly religious, who make no conscience of the performance of this worke of love, Jam. 1.27. Are there any of Gods friends and our acquaintance, any of Gods Messengers and our Pastors, any of Christs Members and our Brethren, cast upon the bed of sicknesse? Let us imitate Christ, who when he heard Lazarus was sick, went down to see him. Let not this example of Joash rise up in judgement against us and condemne us; would we not have others to expresse such a kindnesse to us? Let us not deny that to others which we expect from others, Mat. 7.12. But let us not give complementall visits only, the sin of the times we live in; but so discharge what God cals for in this businesse, that God may have Glory, the per­son visited comfort, and we our selves benefit and advan­tage.

First, Visit, whether Pastor, or Neighbour, out of obe­dience to Gods command; let Gods command, not base, and by respects, carry thee on to this worke; no action of ours, though enjoyned by God, will be accepted of, unlesse it be done out of obedience to that God who enjoynes it, Zach. 7.5, 6, 7.

Secondly, Do this that Christ cals for out of love to Christ, then will Christ take it as done unto himselfe.

Thirdly, Do this duty with an honest heart, and sincere­ly; the Prophet David tels us of some that came to see him in his sicknesse, but not out of any cordiall affection they did beare unto him, but for base ends, to see whether there were any hopes that he would dye, or to gather some­thing or other from him that might prejudice him in his credit and esteeme, and render him odious.

Fourthly, Since God must make every office performed unto others comfortable unto them, and profitable unto us, let us, upon such occasions, and at such times, lift up a secret prayer unto God, that such a meeting or visitation might be blessed with the fruits of mutuall joy, quickning, and edifi­cation. Having dispatched this Doctrine, we now come to the effects that Jo [...]sh his visiting of our Prophet did pro­duce, and they are two: First, He wept over his face. Se­condly, He gave him honourable titles. 1. He cass him his Father. 2. He stiles him the Chariot of Israel, and the horse­men thereof; from his weeping over the Prophet now ready to expire, we may observe,

Doctrine. That the death of godly and painful Ministers is matter of great lamentation; all forts of people, good and bad, righ­teous and unrighteous, have cause to mourne, and bitterly to bewaile the death of such Ministers who have been pious and faithfull.

First, The Church in generall, the whole company of be­leevers, who know and heare of it, have cause to mourne; Ministers are given to the Church for her gaine, and cannot be taken away without her losse, Eph. 4.12. They are not only members of her body, but such members which are very usefull and necessary; they are called the lights, guides, [Page 24]watchmen of the Church; yea, they are called her rulers; let a man lose any one member it would trouble him, but the more usefull any member is, the greater will be his trou­ble.

Secondly, The wicked have cause to mourne when God takes away his faithfull Ministers; Joash was of this mind, otherwise he would not have done what he did; good rea­son there is why graceless men should lay to heart the death of gracious Ministers.

1. God is never more angry with wicked men, than when he removes his Messengers from them; true, bad men are never more merry than when good Ministers are laid in the dust, but they have more cause to sigh than to sing, to cry than to laugh. If to be let alone in sin without check or re­proofe be a judgement, then certainly it is a judgement to wicked men when godly Ministers are taken away, who by their reproofes and counsels did what they could to keep them from sin.

2. They have lost one who did both earnestly desire, and constantly endeavour their spirituall and eternall good, and therefore they have cause to mourne; if the losse of a bo­dily friend be matter of griefe, what matter of griefe is the loss of a soule friend?

3. They have lost one that stood in the gap to keep off judgements from breaking in upon them: had it not been for the prayers and teares of their faithfull Pastor, divine vengeance might have ceased upon them long before now; how many times hath God been ready to draw his sword to cut them off, to lay his axe to the root of them, and to chop them down, when their watchfull and compassionate over­seer hath interceded for them, and held Gods hands from destroying them. Jeremies prayers for the Jews did pre­vaile with God for a season to spare them, and when God was fully determined to ruine them, he bids Jeremy not to pray for them, Chap. 14.11. Psal. 106.23. Ezek. 22.30, 31. Luke 13.5, 6, 7.

Thirdly, The godly where such a Minister did live have cause to mourne when he is taken away; for,

[Page 25] 1. As God is angry with the wicked, so he is angry with his own people when he deprives them of their Pastor; it is promised as a singular testimony of Gods love to his chil­dren, to let them have the liberty of seeing the faces, and en­joying the labours of their Teachers, Isa. 30.20.

2. They have lost one who was watchfull over them, care­full to prevent their falling into sin, and ready to raise them up with all possible speed when fallen.

3. Some of them have lost a spirituall father, and ought not the child to lament the losse of his father? Besides, all of them have lost a diligent instructer.

4. They have lost one who through Gods blessing hath kept them out of many a snare, carried on the work of grace in their hearts, awakened their drouzy soules, quickened their dead hearts, strengthened their feeble hands and knees, revived their almost expiring graces, reduced them when they have been wandring, encouraged them in the waies of God when they met with strong opposition, comforted them when they have been sad, answered their doubts, scat­tered their feares, and filled them with joy and peace through beleeving, Eph. 4.12.

5. They have lost one who was acquainted with their condition, knew in some measure the state of their soules, and so was the better able to speake seasonably to them, and to their necessities. A stranger may preach wholsome truths to a people, but he knows not so well to apply his doctrine to them as their own Pastor. Another may give a child meat to eate, but he cannot tell what that food is which is most convenient for it so well as the mother; that Physitian who hath been longest acquainted with our bo­dies knows what Physick is most proper for us; thus you see all sorts have cause to lament the fall of a faithfull Mini­ster; the reasons are these:

First, God commands us to mourne when he afflicts us with the losse of godly and painefull Ministers; when God was pleased to take away Nadab and Abihu, none of the best Priests, and such who died in their sin, yet even then did God call upon the people to bewaile the burning which [Page 26]he had made, Lev. 10.8▪ Must the death of wicked ones be lamented? then certainly we must lament the death of the righteous. Must not Nadab and Abihu go to their graves without teares? What teares should we poure out when a Samuel, and Elisha, or a Stephen go to their graves?

Secondly, It hath been the practice of the godly bitterly to bewaile the losse of pious and faithfull Ministers; what is written in this particular is written for our learning; we must be followers of those who are good, so far as they are followers of that which is good, 1 Sam. 25.1. Micah 7.1. Acts 20.37, 38. it went to their very hearts to thinke that they should lose one who had been such a notable instru­ment to promote Gods glory and his Churches good. Pau­linus writing of the life of Ambrose, reports thus much of him, Quod flebat amarissimè quotiescunque fortè annuncia­tum illi fuerat de cujuscunque sancti obitu Sacerdotis; that he wept most bitterly whenever any one told him of the death of any godly Minister. It is also reported of Philo, that when he heard where he came of the death of any ho­ly, man he would weep very bitterly, because the Town and the Church had no small prejudice by such a losse.

Thirdly, Such as have had no grace have lamented the death of the Prophets and Messengers of God; we have Joash for an example, who will rise up in judgment against, and condemne those who can let godly Ministers go to their graves without sighs in their hearts, or teares in their eyes; when the old Prophet, who seduced the Prophet sent to Je­roboam, saw that he was slaine by the Lion, he brought his carkasse into the City, laid it in his own grave, and they mourned over him with the Text, saying, Alas my brother, 1 Kings 13.30.

Fourthly, God complaines of those who neglected to lay to heart the death of the righteous, Isa. 57.1. God never finds fault where there is none, were it not a duty to lament the losse of Gods servants none should have met with a check for the neglect of it.

Fifthly, Peoples sins are the cause of Gods taking away their faithfull Pastors; the unthankfulnesse and unfruitful­nesse [Page 27]of heares provoke God to remove their preachers, and ought we not to lay to heart those sins which deprive us of very choice mercies?

Sixthly, The death of Gods faithfull Ministers is the fore­runner of some approaching judgement: what but dark­nesse can be expected when the Sun is set? Have we not cause to feare an inundation of waters when the banks that kept them from overflowing are cut down? If the pillars of a house be taken away, can the house stand? If the watch­men be killed, the City is in danger to be surprized, Isa. 57.1. History tels us, that so soon as Saint Austin was dead and gone, the Goths and Vandals broke into Hippo, the City where he lived, and spoyled it. The Smakaldicke war be­gan in Germany not long after Luther was laid in the grave. Spinola took Heilderberg not long after God had taken a­way that precious servant of his Pareus. You see then there is no small cause of mourning, when God takes away his faithfull Messengers and Ministers. Uses.

First, This serves to reprove those who are not affected with the losse of Gods faithfull Ministers, those righteous men perish, and how few lay it to heart? They go to their long home, but where are the mourners about the streets? God hath been pleased of late to put out many shining and burning lights, as Dr Hill, Mr Whitaker, Mr Gataker, Do­ctor Bolton, and many others, men famous in their gene­rations, usefull and precious, men of whom the world was not worthy; we heare of the fall of those Cedars, but trem­ble not, of the removall of those pillars, but are not afraid; we regard the losse of those blessed instruments no more than the losse of a horse or hog; no more say I? nay, not so much; Gadaren-like, we can better part with the Messen­gers of Christ than with our swine, spend more sighs and complaints upon the deaths of brute creatures, than upon the deaths of Gods Embassadours, and our instructors. Oh the wonderfull stupidity and hardness of heart that are too com­mon in all places; God was very angry with the Jews be­cause they regarded not the operation of his hands, Isa. 5.12. Insensibility under present judgements makes way for fu­ture; [Page 28]How can we think God should betrust us any more with his Messengers and Ministers, when we can part with them without any considerable griefe and sorrow? Too ma­ny care not what become either of State, or Church, or their own precious soules, so they may enjoy their estates, their liberties, their carnall profits and pleasures; let God take away one pious Minister after another, or godly man af­ter another, they are ready to say as the Pharisees to Judas, What is that to us? What is this to you? Do you thinke it is nothing to you that godly Ministers are taken away? Is it nothing to you that God is angry? Is it nothing to you that you lye naked to the indignation of the Almighty? Is it nothing to you that your soules are in danger to miscar­ry? Is it nothing to you that you are exposed to temptations, snares, and sin, and that you have lost one that was wont to watch over you, pitty and pray for you? Is it nothing to you that the wall or fence is taken away that kept the little Foxes and Wolves from breaking in upon you to devoure your precious foules? Is it nothing to you that you have lost one that stood in the gap to keep off Gods wrath and ven­geance from falling upon you that live in these times wher­in knowledge abounds? read you the Scriptures; have you any acquaintance with the mind and will of God? And is it nothing to you Elishas, Stevens, Samuels, Pauls are taken away? You will find it something one day.

Secondly, It serves to reproove those who are so far from laying to heart the death of Gods faithfull Ministers, that they rather are glad of it, and rejoyce in it, some se­cretly, some openly; the Prophet David speakes of some who came to visit him in his sickness, and seemed to be troubled at it in outward appearance, but were glad at the very heart that there was some likelihood of his [...]ath; some there are who would not have the world think them so prophane as to rejoyce at the fall of precious and godly Mi­nisters, who are secretly glad of it, and say with their hearts, though not with their tongues, as they did, Aha, Aha, so would we have it; but shall not God find such out? Is not he who searcheth the heart, and trieth the reines privy to [Page 29]this their diabolicall joy? How can, how dare such call God father, or thinke themselves Gods children, who are glad to behold the funerals of their brethren? Naturall bre­thren may rejoyce at the death one of another, hoping to reape some disadvantage thereby: But certainly spirituall brethren, who cannot be rent one from another without disadvantage to the survivers, will be otherwise affected; they are false brethren, as the Apostle speakes, and cursed hypocrites, who make the death of any godly Minister the matter of their rejoycing. Againe, others there are who proclaime their sin as Sodom, and stick not to professe that they are glad at the very heart that such and such godly Mi­nisters are taken away, like those spoken of, Rev. 10.10. who made merry, and sent gifts one to another when the two witnesses were slaine. Now they thinke they may en­joy their sins more freely, and shall not meet with such sharp reproofes for them, that their consciences will not trouble them so much as they were wont to do; but can any solid ground of joy be drawn from hence? It is all one as if a man should rejoyce that such a Physitian is dead, who whilst he lived did what he could to keep him from feeding upon such meats as would hasten death. It is as if a man should rejoyce that he is taken away who did what he could to preserve him from destroying himselfe. I tell thee whoever thou art who pleasest thy selfe with the losse of Gods faith­full Ministers thou hast no cause to rejoyce at this; their deaths will be so far from bettering thy condition, that thy condition is likely to be worse for their deaths. Satan will now take fuller possession of thee, thy sins will now have more power over thee, thy iniquities will the sooner be ripe, and thou wilt the sooner be cut down; and is this any matter of joy? Gods hands were ever and anon ready to destroy thee whilest they lived, their prayers and teares kept his sword from being sheathed in thee: and dost thou think thou art ever awhit the safer from danger and ruine? Is the house and those who are in it ever a jot the safer because the pillars that kept it up are removed? Thy conscience when thou satest under a godly Ministry did ever and anon check [Page 30]thee, grant it now proves speechlesse and saies nothing; can there be a more dreadfull judgement than a silent and dumb conscience? Before there was some strugling in thee a­gainst temptations to sin, and now thou canst commit sin without any reluctancy, with all greedinesse, this is matter of lamentation, not of joy: Are Gods Ministers gone? They are gone to give an account how thou hast carried thy selfe towards God and them, and God upon their com­plaint may hasten the execution of his judgements upon thee and thine; thou hast more cause to tremble at their deaths than to hug thy selfe, to sigh than to sing. Do not dreame that God hath taken them away to shew thee any kindnesse, that they are removed out of favour to thee, who hast been a bitter enemy, as to them, so unto God. No, no, it is in wrath, not in mercy towards thee that God hath sent for them home; their lives were not more burdensome un­to thee, than their deaths will prove prejudiciall and bane­full; now will the devill triumph more over thee, and carry thee captive at his will and pleasure.

Thirdly, Let us mourne when God takes away any of his faithfull Messengers from us; Let not God complaine of us as he did of those, Isa. 57.1. Let not Joash rise up in judge­ment against us and condemne us; make we a difference between an Elisha and a Jehojachin, Jer. 22 18. Do we love the Lord? let us mourne that one who was zealous for his glory is gone from amongst us; do we love Christ? let us mourne that one of the friends of the Bridegroome is ta­ken away; do we love the Church? let us mourne that she is deprived of one of her choice members; do we love the State? let us mourne that one of her pillars are removed; do we love the truth? let us mourne that one who was vali­ant for it is departed; do we love our soules? let us mourne that one who was carefull for them, watchfull over them, mercifull to them, is gone; gone, gone, never to be seen in this place, nor in any of your houses or families againe; do we love our neighbours and brethren? let us mourne that they as well as we have lost at one clap a faithfull friend, a faithfull counsellour, a faithfull instructer, a faithfull repro­ver, [Page 31]a faithfull comforter, in a word, a faithfull Preacher; Let every one of us mourne together, and yet mourne apart; let the wife mourn that she hath lost so pious a yoke-fellow; let his children mourn that they have lost so carefull a father; let the servants mourn that they have lost so religious a ma­ster; let the people mourne that they have lost so painfull a Pastor; and let us Ministers mourne that we have lost such a fellow-labourer, one that did joyne with us, and help us to oppose those grand enemies, Sin, Satan, and the World. True it is, none have cause to mourne, in reference to his present condition, but rather to rejoyce; he hath fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith, and now is wearing that crown of righteousness which hath been prepared for him. Could he speake unto us, he would say as Christ to the women who be wailed and lamented him, Luk. 23.28. Weepe not for me, but weepe for your selves. Let us search our hearts and lives, and find out the causes of this our losse, why God hath given us such a cup of gall and wormwood for to drinke: And is there not a cause? Yes certainly. Our unthankfulnesse, our unfruitfulnesse, our pride, our worldliness, our deadness, our coldness, our luke­warmness, our hypocrisie, our contempt and undervaluing of such a blessing have provoked God to deprive us of him. The losse of our first love hath made God to scourge us with this loss, a loss with a witness, a loss to many at once, a loss to the State, a loss to the Church, a loss to the Country, a loss to his Parish, a loss to his Neighbours, a loss to his Yoke­fellow, a loss to his Children, a loss to his Brethren, we have lost we know not what; this loss may be more felt hereafter than it is for the present. I wish you may never have cause to say, where is the spirit of Elijah? Where is he now whose zeale was wont to inflame our hearts, whose forwardness for God was wont to put us forward, whose teares were wont to set us on mourning, whose spirituall fervour was wont to heate and warme us, whose elevated heart in the waies of God hath helped to lift up our hearts in Gods waies, the prevalency of whose prayers we were wont to feele in the encreasing and quickning of our graces, [Page 32]whose powerfull Sermons were wont to leave most sweet and refreshing influences upon our soules? Where is he? Where is he? God grant that the spirit of Elijah may be doubled upon his successour, that you may not pine and lan­guish away in such sad complaints. I make no question, were it in the power of prayers and teares, of fasting and mourning to fetch him back againe, you would not be long without him. But now it is too late; thankfulness, fruit­fulness, and a close walking with God might have kept him still amongst you, who cannot be recalled by any teares or supplications. Thus having finished the first thing that Jo­ash did after he came to see Elisha, we come now to speake of the second effect or fruit of his visitation, expressed in the honourable titles which he gave unto him; First, he cals him his Father; from whence we may observe:

That honour and respect ought to be shewed from all sorts of men to the faithfull Messengers and Ministers of God. Joash did no more than his duty; the spirit of God would not have left it upon record for his commendation had it not been a thing that God liked and approved. All Sexes, whether men or women, all relations, whether Prince or people, husband or wife, or all degrees, whether high or low, rich or poore, all conditions, whether good or bad, righteous, or unrighteous, learned or unlearned, are bound to honour and respect the Messengers and Ministers of Christ; there is an inward honour belongs unto them, we are highly to esteeme of them, to love them; there is an outward honour belongs to them, we are to honour them in our words, by speaking well of them, and respect­fully to them, we are to honour them in our gestures and carriages towards them; the Babylonians were charged with this fault, that they respected not the persons of the Priests, Lam. 4.16. Mat. 13.57. It seemes then nothing was more common and ordinary than to shew respect and ho­nour to the Prophets of God, 1 Thes 5.11. 1 Tim. 5.17. Reasons.

First, God honours them, and therefore men should not neglect to honour them; it is ground enough for us to love [Page 33]a man because God loves him, and to respect men because God respects them; Christ would have us to be mercifull that we might be like unto our heavenly Father who is mer­cifull, Mat. 5. So we must honour those whom God ho­nours, that we might expresse our conformity unto God; What shall be done unto the man whom the King will honour? saith Ahasuerus to Haman, Est. 6.6. Haman thought no ho­nour too great for, and none too great to honour such a man; what shall then be done unto the men whom the King of Kings will honour? Surely, mortall men should not thinke much to honour those whom the immortall God thinkes not much to honour. Now there is no faithfull Mi­nister whom God doth not, hath not, will not highly ho­nour, 1 Sam. 2.30. they honour God, and God will honour them.

Secondly, Their Office is an honourable office, their cal­ling an honourable calling, Heb. 5.4. to be a Steward to ano­ther man is a place of honour; Yearely Stewards, if I mi­stake not, are Esquires by their places, as Knights eldest Sons are by their birth. To be Lord High Steward to a Prince is a place of greater honour: Now all Gods Mini­sters are Stewards to that God who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, 1 Cor. 4.1. Againe, the Office of an Embas­sadour, who represents the person of the King, is a place of great honour: Ministers are Gods Embassadours, they ne­gotiate for God, and they are employed to treat about a peace between God and man, about a marriage between Christ and the soules of people, 2 Cor. 5.20. Again, they are said to be co-workers, and fellow labourers with God him­selfe in the salvation of sinners, 1 Cor. 3 9.

Thirdly, Good men have been ready and carefull to ho­nour the Messengers and Ministers of God; such who have slighted them before their Conversion have much respect and reverence unto them after conversion. Those, who mockt at Peter and the Apostles when they were in the state of nature, did very much honour them after they were wrought upon by Peters Sermon, Acts 2.37. Cornelius a good man was ready to go beyond his bounds in shewing [Page 34]honour to Peter, he was ready to give him too much re­spect rather than too little. Acts. 10.25. How much favour and kindness did the Shunamite and her husband manifest to the Prophet Elisha? 2 King. 4.8. the Galatians esteemed Paul as an Angel of God, and received him as Christ Jesus, Gal. 4.14.

Fourthly, Wicked men have been ready to reverence and to respect the faithfull Messengers and Ministers of God; How highly did Nebuchadnezzar honour the Prophet Da­niel? Chap. 2.46, 47. Darius also did not a little respect and prize him. Naaman the Syrian shewed much reverence to the Prophet Elisha; Herod reverenced John Baptist, Mar. 6.20. and the Barbarians bestowed upon Paul and his com­pany many honours; we see then that both by the confessi­on of God and man there is an honour due from all sorts of people to Gods faithfull Messengers and Ministers. Uses.

First, It serves to reprove those who make it their work and trade to revile and reproach the faithfull Messengers and Ministers of God, looke upon them with scorne and contempt, count them as the off-scouring of all things, and rakehell it selfe for base termes and names to cast upon them; persons truly religious in former times were known by their love to, and esteeme of godly and consciencious Mi­nisters: but now scorne and contempt of godly and con­sciencious Ministers is the practice of those who would be thought, and stile themselves to be the Saints and religious ones; what the Apostle spake concerning that wisdome which was attended with envy, and strife, that it was earth­ly, sensuall, and devillish, so we may say of that Religion which puts men upon rayling against, and reproving the Messengers and servants of the Lord, that it is earthly, sen­suall, and devillish; a Religion of the devills setting up, and not of Gods appointing. Michael disputing with the devill about the body of Moses, dared not to bring a rayling accusation against him; you know men full of fierceness and bitterness against dignities, whether in State or Church, whatever formes they may have are called clouds without water, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own [Page 35]shame, wandring stars, to whom is reserved the black­nesse of darknesse for ever. Never were Gods Embassadors more slighted and despised than in these daies, but let such despisers know, that God takes the scornes and contempts cast upon them as cast upon himselfe; and though he is pa­tient and long-suffering, yet will find a time to be avenged of all such Rabshekahs, Luk. 10.16. No sin hastens the exe­cution of Gods judgements upon a State sooner than this sin, 2 Cron. 36.16. we read of some who never prospered after they set themselves to oppose Gods Messengers and Ministers, 2 Chron. 16.12. Chap. 24.25. Chap. 25.16. Chap. 26.18.

Secondly, Is there an honour due from all sorts of peo­ple to Gods faithfull Messengers and Ministers? let us not rob Gods Messengers and Ministers of that honour which is their due; they are worthy of double honour saith the Apo­stle, the honour of reverence, and the honour of mainte­nance, let us not be so unworthy as to deny it them; in honouring of them we honour God, as in despising of them we despise God; though Israel play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; though the vile ones of the world slight and scorne faithfull Preachers and Pastors, yet let not those who professe the Gospell tread in their steps, but walke according to what the Gospell injoynes in this particular, 1 Thes. 5.11. by slighting of us you hurt your selves more than you wrong us; our salvation is furthered, not hinde­red by your scornes, these light afflictions worke for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory, but your sal­vation is much hindered by slighting and contemning of us, that doctrine and message will be the lesse regarded by you which we bring from our Lord & Master to you: call we up­on you to render us that honour which is our due, and your duty in reference to our selves, only or for our own comfort and encouragement? No certainly, but for your benefit and advantage also; you will get but little good by your Mini­sters labours, so long as you have low and despicable con­ceits of their persons; take heed therefore of this sin of the times, slight not those whom God commands you to honour, hate not those whom God would have you love. Be not [Page 36]worse than Joash. If any shall say, Joash had good reason to observe and honour Elisha, for he was a Prophet; were our Ministers Prophets and able to do as Elisha did, we were to blame should we not expresse all warrantable reverence un­to them: As for those who make this objection, let them heare what our Saviour spake, Mat. 11.11.

Fourthly, Let me speake a word or two to you my bre­thren and my selfe; Let us do nothing that may deprive us of that honour which belongs unto us; so let us walke, so humbly, so inoffensively, so holily, so exemplarily in every good word and worke, that we may keep up the tottering honour both of our Office and Persons; Let us make it our businesse to honour God, by laying out our selves to encrease his Kingdome by a faithfull performance of those duties which God calls for at our hands in our places, by being patterns of faith and patience, meeknesse and selfe deniall, contempt of the world, and heavenly mindednesse, and God will honour us, good men will honour us, yea God can make our worst enemies to honour us. We now come to the last doctrine which may be gathered from the second ti­tle of honour which this King gave unto Elisha, he calls him the Chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof; he acknow­ledged that all Israel were as much (if not more) beholden to the Prophet for their defence and safety as to their Chari­ots and horsemen; from hence we may observe thus much:

Doctrine That Gods faithfull Ministers are a great defence to the nation and people where they live; what Joash said con­cerning Elisha, the same did Elisha speak concerning Elijah, so that we have not this testimony only from the mouth or a wicked Prince, but also from the mouth of a holy Prophet. 2 Kings 2.12. 2 Chron. 11.13, 17. Chap. 13.9, 10. Chap. 31.21. Reasons.

First, Because they make it their worke to suppresse and beat down sin which makes a nation naked and weake, and exposeth it to all manner of judgements. God is the defence of every nation, whilest he is with a people, they need not feare, but sin will drive God away, it will deprive a people of their defence, Numb. 14.9. Now Ministers by preaching against, and opposing of sin take a course to keep God pre­sent still amongst a people.

Secondly. The prayers of Gods faithfull Ministers are very prevalent with God, both for the continuance of mer­cies, and the keeping off of judgments. Moses his prayer did as much good as Joshuahs sword when the people of Israel encountred with Amaleck. The house of Abimelech was in great danger of ruine, but upon Abrahams prayer God spared it, Gen. 20.7. How often was God ready to cut off the people of Israel, but Moses by his earnest cries and sup­plications stayed Gods hand. If Jeremy will pray for the people of the Jews, Gods knows not how to deny his re­quest, and therefore when God was resolved to destroy them, he commands Jeremy to pray no more for them, Jer. 14.10.

Thirdly, Because Gods faithfull Ministers do what they can to advance the true Religion, to set up the sincere wor­ship and service of God in the places where they live; their study is to draw people unto Christ, and to promote and in­crease the kingdome of the Lord Jesus. Now God hath been very favourable to a people and nation where his wor­ship and service hath been set up and maintained, 2 Chron. 11.17. How did they strengthen the kingdome of Judah by offering sacrifices to the Lord according to the manner God had prescribed? See also, Chap. 15.11, 12, 13, 14.

Fourthly, God many times for his Ministers sake is plea­sed to spare a nation, and will not destroy it till he hath se­cured them; the old world fared the better for Noah that preacher of righteousnes; had he been housed sooner, they might have been ruined sooner. The Angel told Lot that he could nothing against Sodom till he was gone out of it, and therefore he bids him make haste. That fearefull rout which the Philistines gave Saul, when he and his Sons were slaine, fell not upon him till after Samuels death. Uses.

First, Let God and the world judge whether they are a Nations friends, who are bitter enemies to the Ministers of God, who say of them as those did, Come, let us cut them off from being in the nation, that their name may be had no more in remembrance; were the Philistines the Israelites friends when they took away all their military weapons, and would not allow them either swords or speares to de­fend [Page 38]themselves: no better friends are they to a State who endeavour to deprive it of Gods faithfull Messengers, who are no lesse necessary for the defence and safety of a State than Chariots and horsemen; if such be lovers of Christ or Christians, I do not know who may be accounted ha­ters.

Secondly, Then the way to secure a nation against all adverse power, and to make it happy and glorious, is to plant, set up, and maintaine a godly and painfull Ministry in every place, 2 Chron. 11.17. Hezekiah was of this mind, and therefore he took care that the Levites might be encou­raged in their worke, and surely they are far from the ho­liness and zeale of Hezekiah who do what they can to dis­courage the Messengers of the Lord in the worke of the Ministry, 2 Chron. 31.4.

Thirdly, Have nothing to do with those men whose de­signe it is to pull down the publike Ministry, to burne up those Chariots, to unhorse those horsemen, to demolish those bulwarkes, and to break down those fences, that so foxes, and wolves, and ravenous beasts may breake in upon us; say not a confederacy to whom this people shall say a confederacy, Isa. 8.12. but rather say as good Jacob said, Gen. 49.6. Oh my soule come not thou into their secret, unto their Assembly mine honour be not thou united.

Fourthly, Have we not then great cause to mourne and be humbled, when God takes away those Chariots and horsemen, his faithfull Messengers and Ministers, from our heads? Would not England be in a sad condition, were she deprived of her weapons of defence, when the Nations round about would be glad if they were able to make an in­rode upon us; when a people lose their Ministers, when those chariots and horsemen are removed, the place and na­tion where they once lived lie more naked and open to all manner of judgements. I cannot blame you that I see so many sad faces, some weeping eyes amongst you. Rachel wept because she had lost her children, and you have cause to weep because you have lost a spirituall father; and we have all cause to mourne if we consider what a one he was whom we have lost: He was a painfull Preacher, laid out [Page 39]himselfe in the Lords vineyard, and was carefull to fulfill the Ministry which he had received in the Lord. He was no lesse faithfull than painfull, he was one who would not keep back any of Gods counsels, but was ready to reveale unto his people the whole truth, Acts 20. He studied to divide the word of truth aright, and to give every one that portion which did of right belong unto him: as he would tell the righteous it should be well with them, so he would tell the wicked it should be ill with them. He was one who would not daube with untempered morter, neither was he afraid to reprove the greatest of sinners to their faces, he wrought in the worke of the Ministry very willingly, and not out of constraint; it was not filthy lucre, nor popular applause, nor any such corrupt end that drew him forth to preach the Gos­pell love to Christ, an earnest desire to encrease his kingdom, pitty and compassion towards poore soules, a violent thirst after their salvation, and a burning zeale for the honour and glory of God were the motives that put him upon this worke, nothing grieved him more than when God denied him the liberty of preaching, and he was never better than when in the Pulpit. I have heard him often say, that he had rather be sick two daies of the six than upon the Sabbath day. In the time of this his last sickness he would often say, When shall I be able to preach againe? And when he felt but a little reviving and strength he was very glad, upon this account, because he hoped ere long he should declare Gods will again to his people in the publike Congregation; what was the longing of Davids soul, was also the longing of his, sighing out those words, When shall I come and appeare before God? Psal. 42.2. No burden lay heavier upon his spirit than his present inability to be serviceable unto God in his Mini­steriall Office; he was none of those, who are glad of any excuse to justifie their sitting still and not preaching to their Flock. He pre [...] no doctrine upon his people but what he would venture his own salvation upon, and upon his death-bed desired his people to cleave fast to those truths which he had taught them, for he durst pawn his soule upon them. He was most carefull of, and loving to his people; when he was called to be a Member of the Assembly, he was forced [Page 40]to leave them, but it was cum animo revertendi, with a pur­pose to returne againe unto them. He had a very great li­ving in London, but this could not keep him from comming back to his old place so soone as he had liberty and opportu­nity. I have heard him often say, he would not exchange Wilby for the greatest Living in the Land Great Livings have severall times been laid down at hi feet, but he would not accept of them. When he thought he should dye, he called his people together, blessed them in the name of the Lord, prayed earnestly with them, and for them, and entrea­ted them to keep close to God, to wait upon the publike Or­dinances, not to forsake (as the manner of some is) the pub­like Ministry, to take heed of being carried away with the errours of the wicked, and that they fell not from their stedfastnesse. Oh let those and such like counsels of his be precious to you who heard them, thinke much of them, walke according to them, let these words of your dying Pa­stor never be forgotten: Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. He was a successefull Preacher, God went along with his Ministry; he did not labour in vaine, neither did he spend his strength in vaine; he was a spirituall father to many children. I must confess (admiring and adoring God for the freenesse of his grace, and the riches of his mer­cy) that the first breathings of spirituall life which ever I felt were under his Ministry. Others no question have been no lesse laborious in their Masters vineyard than this blessed servant of God, but all, nay, few in these parts of late have been so fruitfull in begetting of children unto God. It may be said of him as it was said of Octavius, that when he came to Rome he found the walls made of common and ordinary stone, but left them walls of marble: When he came to Wilby he found a company of Atheists, but hath left a com­pany of Beleevers, he found a company of Blasphemers, but hath left a company blessing and glorifying of God, he found a company of drunkards, but hath left a company of sober men, he found a company of prophane ones, but hath let a company of holy ones, he found them enemies unto God, but hath left them Gods friends, so that he could say to [Page]his people as once the Apostle to the Romans, Chap. 6.16, 17. But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that forme of doctrine which was delivered unto you; Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Now give me leave to press the subsequent words upon you his people by way of exhortati­on. As you have yielded your members servants to unclean­ness, and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now yeeld your members servants to righteousnesse unto holinesse: Againe, as God used this blessed servant of his to be an instrument to encrease his kingdome, and to bring soules home unto him, so he made him an instrument to keep those whom he had converted from being drawn a way with the errour of the wicked. How many Ministers may say of some of their most hopefull people as Paul of the Galatians, that they are removed from those truths and ordinances which they once seemed to embrace, that they are enemies to that Ministry which they once seemed to respect and honour, some being turned Seekers, some Quakers, some Arminians, some An­tinomians, some Antisabbatarians, some Anabaptists, and what not? But God hath been pleased to keep his people from falling into the snares of seducing spirits; the foxes and the wolves have not made a prey of them they turned not their backs upon his Ministry, they forsooke not the pub­like ordinances; and let it not O ye people of Wilby be said, ye did run well, who did drive you back that you should not obey the truth? Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be not entangled with any of those soule-ruining snares wherein many are caught.

Lastly, He was a zealous Preacher, full of spirituall heat, filled with a holy indignation against sin, stirring and active for his God; he did not the worke of his Master negligent­ly, but was willing to spend himselfe, and to be spent in his Lords service. Now as his life was holy, so his death was sweet and comfortable. He told me, that he blessed God he was not afraid to dye. God did not let loose that accuser of the brethren upon him, but filled his heart with joy and peace unspeakable and glorious; what cause, faith he, have we to triumph? God is our glory, God is our joy. Being at [Page 42]one time full of paine, and in his own apprehension too im­patient, he asked his neighbours whether they were not grieved at his impatience? who saying nothing, he spake thus unto them: Truly I am not impatient for want of inward comfort, for as I have not so little as to conceale it, so I have so much that I am not able fully to expresse it. He did ear­nestly long to be dissolved, that he might be with Christ, of­ten crying out, when will that houre come? It is but one knock more, and then this earthen pitcher shall be broken, and I shall be with my God, and see such glory which is un­utterable; When his neighbours standing by, seeing him so willing and desirous to dye, told him that God had no need of him in heaven, but they had need of him on earth; he re­plied, True, saith he, God nath no need of me, but I have need of him, and he will glorifie me. He would often speak with much admiration and affection of Gods goodness to him in dealing so graciously and favourably with him in the time of his sickness, and professed that he thought that God laid him as softly in the grave as ever he laid any man. Oh said he to the standers by, Walke close with God, he can do you a good turne when you come to dye. Well, gone he is, God looks for improvement of losses as well as of enjoy­ments; search out those sins which have made God to take him away from your heads, be humbled for them, cast them away, that God may look down graciously upon you, visit you in mercy, send you a Pastor after his own heart, and that a double portion of that spirit which was upon your never to be forgotten Father and instructer may rest upon his Suc­cessour.