A SERMON Preached Decemb. 16. 1654. AT THE FUNERAL OF Mr ANDREW PERN, Preacher of the Word of God at Wilby in Northamptonshire.  
BY SAMVEL AINSWORTH Rector of Kelmarsh.  
LONDON, Printed for William Gilbertson, and are to be sold by Thomas Collins near Alhallows Church in Northampton. 1655.   

To the Religious, and my much honoured Aunt, Mrs Mary Pern, Grace and peace be multiplied.  
Dear Aunt,  
WE read in the first Chapter of Ruth, how Naomi, a very gracious Matron, lost first her Husband, and not long after her two Sons: Your condition is not much, though somewhat, unlike hers. Your loss, in respect of your Husband, is not a jot inferior to hers; her loss, in respect of her children was greater than yours; she lost two Sons, you a Daughter only; what difference soever there hath been between your losses, I suppose, there is none between your griefs. When you enjoyed both Husband and Child you might well be called Naomi, pleasant, but since the wise God hath deprived you of them both, the name Marah, bitter, hath been more suitable to your condition, for it hath been sad and bitter.  
To tell you what a Husband you have lost were but to increase your sorrow, which I fear needs stopping rather than venting; I shall therefore observe that course which was used by the jews, who when their dear friends, or neighbours, had lost either Husband or Wife, Father or Child, they brought them a cup of consolation for to comfort them, Jer. 16.7. The Prophet David tells us, Psal. 119.50. That the word of God was his comfort in his affliction; and the Apostle Paul labours to support the Thessalonians for the loss of their Christian friends by setting the word of God before them, 1 Thes. 4.18. These following Scriptures therefore are the cup of consolation with which I shall present you to mitigate your too much abounding sorrow, Prov. 3.12. Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Rom. 8.28. We know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Isa. 27.9. By this therefore shall the iniquity of jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin, Heb. 12.10, 11. For they verily for a few day's chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous but grievous: nevertheless afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby, Isa. 54.5. Thy maker is thy husband, Psal. 146.9. The Lord preserveth the strangers, he releeveth the fatherless and widow. Now if God hath taken away your dear husband and child out of love to your soul; if their natural deaths shall promote your spiritual life; if their taking up to heaven shall prepare and make you fit for heaven; if their loss shall be your gain, the purging away of your dross, and the making of you a more refined vessel for your Master's use, the weakening of your corruptions, and the strengthening of your graces; if God will be a husband to you, whose love is more pure, strong, ravishing, satisfying, and durable than the love of the best husband that ever breathed upon earth; if God will be present with you, in whose presence is fullness of joy, and take care of you, to protect and counsel, to help and relieve you, be your enemies and dangers what they will; Have you not more cause to rejoice in these spiritual privileges than to mourn for your temporal losses? Take therefore the counsel of the Apostle, 1 Thes. 4.18. Comfort yourself in the meditation of these Scriptures. Do as David did when he had lost all at Ziglag, encourage yourself in the Lord your God, 1 Sam. 30.6. Although Cisterns fail, yet God is a fountain that cannot be drawn dry; when the Creature neither is nor can be the same to us, yet God is the same, yesterday, and to day, and for ever, Heb. 13.8. Now that the God of all grace and consolation would make up your losses by the abundant supplies of his blessed Spirit, sanctify his correcting hand unto you, support you under your heavy burden, and fit you with all joy and peace in believing, is the prayer of  
Your sympathising and much obliged kinsman, SAMUEL AINSWORTH.   

A SERMON.  2 Kings 13.14. 
Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died, and Joash the King of Israel came down unto him and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the Chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.  
IN these words we may take notice of these two general parts:  
First, Elisha's sickness, wherein we may consider,  
1. Who this Elisha was, he was not only a holy man, but a holy Prophet.  
2. The event of his sickness, sick he was, and that unto death, and died of this his sickness.  
Secondly, Joash's visiting of him in this his sickness.  
1. Who this Joash was who came to visit him, no mean person, no plain country man, no poor neighbour, but a man of eminent place and dignity, he was no less than a King, and King of Israel.  
2. The pains he took to visit him; he did not take a step or two to see the Prophet. Elisha was now no near neighbour, he was either at Jericho, or at Bethel, or in some other place remote from Samaria, the usual 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 stayed at home himself, but he thought it not sufficient to dispatch his servant with a How do you: but waits upon the poor 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 mean a subject did; he made no scruple whether his disease might not be noisome, or infectious, he waved these things, stood not upon his magnificency, but makes a journey himself.  
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 bear unto him. Elisha had been a great friend to the State, secured it again and again 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 obtain against the Ammonites; helped them also when they were at a dead lift by his prayers; these worthy acts were remembered by this King, who honoured the Prophet for them, and expressed 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 showed such kindness to Elijah the predecessor of Elisha; he would rather have been glad of, then visited him in his sickness. David complains 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; 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 dropped from his lips which he might spread abroad to his reproach, but as a friend to condole and sympathise with him, and to bemoan so great a loss; for when he perceived that he was drawing nigh unto his end, and ere long would bid that Kingdom 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 compliment (the common sin of this Age, wherein men profess that with their lips which is far from their hearts,) but from a just and a real sense and apprehension that he had of the Prophet's 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, etc. 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 die, neither great nor good can escape death's 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 lose must lie down in the grave. Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas regumque turres. Abraham, eminent for faith; Moses, for meekness; David, for zeal; Jehosaphat, for liveliness and holy fervour in the ways of God; Nehemiah, for spiritual valour and courage: yet they all shut their eyes upon the world, and bade 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 tells 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 soul hath no stronger a Cabinet than the graceless soul; good men many times have weaker bodies than bad men. Gaius who had a thriving soul, had a weak and sickly body; the best are but earthen vessels at the best, 
2 Cor. 4.7.  which will not last always, but lie open to a thousand casualties, and a little knock breaks them in pieces.  
Secondly, 
joh. 16.2, 3.  Christ hath prepared a better place for them, to which they must pass 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 tells us, 2 Cor. 5.4. that he was willing that mortality might be swallowed up of life; loath he was to be unclothed, but yet he chose to be stripped by death of his old rags, rather than not to be clothed with those robes which he expected from heaven.  
Thirdly, 
joh. 17.24.  Christ hath prayed that they might be where he is, therefore they must not live here always. 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 himself tasted before he was taken up into glory. Christ's 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 souls 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 always from him, than his Children can endure to be always from Christ. Now the ordinary messenger which Christ imploies to bring home his Children unto him is death. Uses.  
Must the righteous dye? what then shall become of the unrighteous? Will God make his own to drink of this bitter cup? Then let not those, who are none of Gods, think to escape it; no, no, die, die 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 difference between your deaths and theirs, as there hath been between your lives and theirs; they are taken away from the evil to come, but your evil 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 die, they go to heaven; when you die, you must go to hell; when they die, they go to enjoy sweet and uninterrupted communion with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; when you die, you must go to converse with devils & damned spirits; when they die, their worst is past, their best is to come, when you die, your best is past, your worst is to come; when they die, they shall suffer no more, you never suffer to any purpose till you come to die: Now, now you shall be snatched from your cups of pleasure to drink of cups of gall and wormwood; 
Psal. 75. ●.  from your stately houses to a loathsome dungeon; from your carnal ease and contentments to endless and extreme tortures and howl. Woe, woe unto you wicked ones, weep and howl 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 jovial and merry now but you will be as sad and heavy then; would you die 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.  
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 die; great is the comfort, much is the benefit which is conveyed from persons eminent for grace and heavenly wisdom unto those who depend upon them, and converse with them; they are lights to guide, they are fires to warm, they are cordials to comfort, they are Counselors to instruct such as are round about them; what a choice mercy is a pious husband to his wife, a godly father to his children, a religious master to his servant, and a gracious neighbour to his neighbours, much spiritual advantage may be, and is, reaped by their prayers, counsels, experiences, and examples; how often have our dead hearts been quickened, our doubts resolved, our fears 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 counsel to instruct us, no more of their encouragements to provoke us, no more of their prayers to help us, those cisterns must be broken, and let this consideration put us upon the securing of the fountain, that when those earthen vessels are snapped in pieces, when those pipes, through which God conveyed much sweetness and benefit to thy soul, are taken away, thou mayest have this to comfort thee, that the fountain, 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 die, a father that cannot die, a shepherd that cannot die, a friend that cannot die; 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 loss 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 always, 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 seldom think of crosses till they come, and then we are to seek for patience for to bear them: what hear we? little did I think that I should have seen this day, that I should have been bereft of my husband, saith the wife; little did I think that I should have lost so precious a father, saith the child; and why did you not think so? Job looked for adversity in the midst of prosperity, for losses in the midst of enjoyments; he looked upon his children as mortal, 
job 3.25.  his goods as uncertain, he feared, and forethought of those troubles which he met withal; and hence it was he bore them with so much patience; God hath not given us a lease of his children's 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 die? let us improve them whilst we have them: if we have but a book lent us, which we account very profitable, and know it may be called for at an hour's warning, we will make the best use we can of it whilst 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 virtues during their abode with us; 
Chap. 3.16  the Prophet Malachy tells us, they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another; God betrusts us with his dear servants that we might promote our spiritual 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 ask him question after question about our temporal estate, what, have we no questions to propound in reference to our spiritual estate? Surely then we are ignorant or insensible. Hast thou a gracious husband? Let no day pass over thy head without reaping some spiritual good by him. Hast thou a gracious neighbour? Improve his company for thy soul's 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 woeful negligence to improve our Christian friends makes God many times to deprive us of them, we might have enjoyed them longer had we been careful to make better use of them; when servants rather play with, then work by the light, it is time to put it out. Let us therefore take the counsel of our Saviour, Joh. 12.35.  
5. Let all holy and gracious persons be active for God whilst they live, let slip no opportunity of doing God service, we have received much from, and shall we not do much for God? God thinks 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 surpass our work. Let no man be idle in his Master's Vineyard, for our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58. when we cast our eyes upon our Wives, Children, Neighbours, Servants, or Friends, think we may be taken from them ere long, and let this provoke us to do our best to leave their souls full of grace, though we may have little else to leave them.  
6. Must our best friends die? Will God gather up his Jewels, and deck his own glorious palace with them? Take we heed of murmuring or repining, possess we our souls in patience, bless God that he hath trust us with them so long, complain not that he hath taken them away so soon; they are dear to God as well as unto us, and ought we not to be content that God should enjoy them as well as we? When we see Gods will fulfilled, it is not for us sinfully to quarrel, but quietly and patiently to submit. Thus did Aaron, Leu. 10.3. Thus did Eli, 1 Sam 3.18. Thus did Job, Chap. 1. Thus did David, Psal. 39.9. True, we are losers, 
14.28.  but our godly friends are gainers, love to ourselves may make us mourn, but love to them should make us rejoice: Ought we not to be, and are we not glad when our friends who have been full of pain enjoy sweet ease? who have been in prison are set at liberty? who have been encompassed and oppressed by cruel, potent, and malicious enemies, are delivered from them? And is not this the condition of all our gracious friends when they die? Are they not now at ease who were once in pain? Are they not now at liberty who were once in prison? For this world is a prison to a pious soul. Are they not now freed from all their enemies, who could have no rest night or day from one enemy or other? Rejoice therefore that their warfare is accomplished, and bless God that he hath not taken away himself from us, though he hath deprived us of such who were our dear friends, we have no cause to grudge at the loss of these Cisterns so long as we have the fountain. What though these bottles be dry, we cannot want the refreshing waters of comfort so long as the spring is with us; when God takes away our outward helps, he takes away such as may better be spared than himself; let our losses be what they will, they may very well be borne so long as we enjoy God, who is alsufficient. Hast thou lost a loving husband, yet bless God that Christ who loves thee, and will live with thee, is not lost; thy natural Father is dead, but thou hast a Father in heaven who wants no wisdom to counsel thee, no love to comfort thee, no power to help thee, no supplies to relieve thee, who is not ignorant or unsensible of thy condition, and will be with thee continually. Thou hast lost a precious Pastor, yet thou hast a better shepherd to take care of thee, the Lord Jesus blessed for ever.  
But why say I, we have lost our friends when they die? We rather part with them for a season than lose them: they are gone a little before us to that place where we shall be ere long, and enjoy them more refined, more pure, more lovely and amiable, never to part with them more. Besides, we have cause to rejoice, though not in the death of our Christian friends, yet in the spiritual benefits that we shall reap by their deaths; God hath said, 
Rom. 8.28.  All things shall work together for good to those who love him, and are the called according to his purpose. True, we cannot see how the loss of gracious friends shall turn to our advantage, but we must shut the eyes of sense, and live by faith in the promise, it is ground sufficient for us to believe that we shall be gainers by our losses, because God hath said so, who cannot lie.  
7. Must godly men die? Then let godly men take heed 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 less pleasing and welcome will the thoughts of death be unto us. Why are we loathe to die? 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 covetousness; Or upon those words of Paul, Set your affections upon things above, not on things below. What hear we from the men of the world? For aught 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 spiritual stock to comfort their hearts, no heaven but what may be found in the confluence of temporal 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-careful, or to cumber yourselves with too many things. God's power and faithfulness 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 souls and consciences by excessive thoughtfulness 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 practise 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 general callings: think not only that you are men, and stand in need of earthly supplies, but remember also you are Christians, and are called to have your conversation in heaven, be you thoughtful to honour God, and God will be thoughtful to maintain and provide for you and yours. Walk therefore closely with God, keep up and maintain the power of Godliness, improve all opportunities put into your hands to do, or to get good, balk no duty commanded. Be more mindful to make thy friends and children good than great, and to leave them in the arms of Christ, than to leave them millions of gold and silver. An estate raised by sinful 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 conceal his love in that last hour. True it is, no sooner shall your breath be stopped here, but your souls 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 die, to say unto us, Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter now into thy Master's joy. Give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure; keep your evidences clear, blot them not by any lose 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 withal in the world; Art thou buffeted by satans temptations, wearied with that body of death which thou carriest about thee? Dost thou groan under the burden of a vile and cursed heart? Art thou followed with variety of afflictions? Do thy enemy's scorn 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, tells us, There the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. Job 3.17. Thus we have done with the first 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 useful and holy must die. Elisha a most gracious Prophet, furnished with a double portion of that spirit which acted in his Master Elijah, a most useful man; the Chariot and the horsemen of Israel must not live always, but give up the Ghost. For proof of the Doctrine consult with these Scriptures though we have had many sad experiences, and that of late to confirm it, Zach. 1.5. 1 Sam. 25 1. What is become of all the Apostles who served God in their generation, were spiritual Fathers to beget souls 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 Tailor, 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 add 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 people's precious souls: Now when they have made many overtures from their great Lord and Master, and all are slighted, none will be accepted, God thinks it fit to send for them home; when Princes see that Ambassadors cannot obtain with Foreign States what they expected, they call them home again; there are not more useful instruments in a State, or Church, than faithful and holy Ministers, God sets them up as lights to enlighten the minds of men, as guides to direct men, as watchmans to warn them, as saviours to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, Sin, Satan, 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 spiritual enemies, it is but just with God to take them away: Who hath believed our report, saith the Prophet, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?  
2. God will not suffer his Ministers always 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 speaks much of the world's unkind and perverse carriage towards the Messengers of God; read these places, 2 Chron. 36.16. jer. 15.16. Chap. 20.7, 8. Micah 2.6. Mat. 23.37. by abusing mercies we justly forfeit them. The world is weary of God's 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 scorns and affronts cast upon them as offered unto himself, he cannot endure to see them wronged, and hence it is that he will remove them.  
3. Should the Ministers of God live here always, 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 drink of bitter cups, but the dregs usually are poured on the Lords Ambassadors, if others endure a storm, yet the fiercest part lights upon them.  
4. Die they must, that they may receive that Crown of righteousness 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 straits 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 whilst we have time and strength; How active was the Apostle Paul, when he perceived a door was opened to promote the interest of the Lord Jesus? He knew not how long that door might stand open, nor how soon he might be taken away, and this made him to bestir himself 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 Apostle Peter also, understanding that he had not long to live, was the more careful 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 error of the wicked, and so fall from their own steadfastness, 2 Pet. 1.13, 14. Chap. 3.17, 18. Take we therefore the counsel 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 door be deeply engraven in our memories, and thought upon every day by us, Minister verbi es, hoc age. Let us be more mindful of our work than of our wages, how to increase Christ's Kingdom, than to advance our own secular interests, how to make our people good, than how to render ourselves great, how to enrich the souls 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 ungrateful 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 soon we may be laid aside, let us work, the harder whilst we have time.  
Secondly, Must Gods faithful 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 God's sight than the death of his Ministers; Were you not afraid, saith God to Aaron and Miriam, to speak against my servant Moses? one who was so near unto God; much more cause have we to fear to act against them; if God was so angry with those who did strike them with their tongues, how angry will he be with those who strike them with their hands? That counsel which pilate's Wife gave him, in reference to the Lord Jesus, will not be amiss for any to take in reference to his Ministers and servants, you may read it, Mat. 27.19. Have no physical hand in their death, have no moral hand in their death, provoke not God by your sins to deprive you of their labours, the lengthening out of their lives may be the lengthening 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, spoilers may quickly break 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 yourselves, as not to be unkind or cruel towards them, lest you hasten their deaths whose prayers and tears preserve your lives. 'Slight not that counsel which they deliver you from God; oppose not those truths which they bring stamped with divine authority, turn 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 God's allowance and approbation; let not your lives be lose and scandalous, give them not cause to say, we have laboured in vain, we have spent our strength in vain, 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 carnal walking will be their grief; what faithful servant will not mourn to see his Masters errand slighted and contemned? As it is a dreadful thing for Ministers to be guilty of the blood of their people's souls by any cursed neglect, so it is a dreadful thing for people to be guilty of the blood of their Ministers by their ungodly and unwarrantable practices.  
Thirdly, Must godly Ministers die? make use then of them whilst you have them; let a physician come to your house, but for an hour or two, and you will ask him all that you can think 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 them not to go to heaven without receiving some spiritual good from them, get some benefit by that precious liquor which is in them, before the earthen vessels that carry it be broken in pieces; 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 careful 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 spiritual welfare? How willingly would we spend ourselves, 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 form in you before we go hence and be no more seen; take the counsel which our Saviour Christ gave his hearers, joh. 12.35. improve God's Ministers in public, 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 complain as Simon Peter did, Luke 5.4. that they have cast the net Sabbath after Sabbath but have caught nothing: Improve them in private, confer often with them, how glad would we be of your company, we are willing to give you our counsel without the expectation of a fee, improve their experiences; our temptations, our consolations, 
2 Cor. 1.4.  our buffet, our trials, in a word, all our experiences are for your advantage: we are exercised with doubts, fears, desertions, assaults, that we may be the better able to speak a word in season unto you: God hath lent you a pious and a painful Minister for 27 years, he hath preached the word amongst you, in season and out of season; oh turn your eyes inward, and examine yourselves how you have improved him, for God will examine you one day; if any of you after so much ploughing, dressing, dunging, still remain barren, let me tell you you are near unto cursing; if those multiplied showers of divine truths, which have fallen amongst you, have not bettered you, 
Mat. 10.14, 15.  your condemnation at that great day will be greater than the condemnation of Sodom and Gomorrah.  
Fourthly, Must useful 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; spiritual welfare is better than corporal, and a thriving soul 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 darkness, let them not die for want of our prayers and tears to keep them alive. Peter was nigh unto death, the Church prays for him, and God gave her Peter's 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. Jesuitical designs are on foot, to lay aside and root out God's faithful Messengers; never was there greater cause of fear, that what hath often been attempted shall now be put into execution; those revile 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 erterprises and machinations of men of corrupt minds and malicious and profane hearts. Again, 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 fruitful under their Ministry, answer the pains and cost they are at with us; God will not grudge any kindness to a soulethriving people, the barrenness 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 always in ploughing, dressing, and sowing that ground, which notwithstanding all your labour brings forth nothing but briers and thorns; God will call away his Ministers from those places where they have bestowed much pains, but cannot prevail with their people to be a jot better. Again, would you see the faces of your Teachers still? Bless God for them; unthankfulness deprives us of many choice favours; we live in sad times, Gods Messengers are looked upon as the burdens of the Nation, but had the Nation no worse burdens, they would have no cause to groan or complain; some there are who once thought themselves happy in the enjoyment of a faithful Pastor, who now would think themselves happy in the want and loss of him; God may let such men have their supposed happiness, take away such a Minister from them, but it will prove a real misery; who would not exclaim 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 spiritual Fathers, are so far from blessing God for them, that they would rather bless God should they be rid of them? Well, God may ease you of them soon 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 quails, and a King, Psal. 78.31. Hos. 13 11. Would we enjoy God's Messengers amongst us: let us be thankful for them, not fretful against them; let us esteem them very highly in love, and not prosecute and persecute them with extreme malice and hatred.  
Fifthly, Must godly and painful 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 loss. John told the people, he baptised them with water, but Christ would baptise them with the Holy Ghost; Alas we can but speak to your ears, it is Christ who must speak to your hearts: It were a dreadful sin for any man to turn 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. Again, 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 fountain of all light and comfort may be the better able to want the streams; thus we have done with the first part of the Text, Elisha's sickness 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 mean 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 faithful Minister of God in his sickness; The Psalmist tells us, Psal. 41. that God will make the bed of a gracious and merciful man: Now if the glorious God thinks it not too much to be a good man's bed-maker, the highest of men should not think 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 enjoined by Christ, and incumbent upon us, is clear from that Text, Mat. 25.42. Men usually find fault where there is none, but there is ever a fault where Christ finds one.  
Secondly, The faithful Messengers of Christ are no despicable persons, low they are indeed in the opinions of carnal men, but the holy God hath high thoughts of them; they are his Ambassadors, his Stewards, his Treasurers, his Friends, yea, he calls them co-workers with himself; to them hath Christ committed the power of the keys; they are called guides, rulers, the lights of the world, saviours? Why did Joash visit Elisha? He looked upon him as one who had been an instrument once and again to save them out of the hands of the Syrians; Ministers are Instruments appointed by God to save, not the bodies only, but the souls of people out of the hands, not of flesh and blood, but of principalities, and powers, and spiritual wickednesses.  
Thirdly, Much advantage may be gotten by visiting Gods faithful Ministers in the time of their sickness; as they have taught us by their Doctrine and example to do what God commands, so they may teach us to bear what God inflicts, as to live well, so to die well: We may get more from them when they are upon their deathbeds, 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, quickened by their exhortations, freed from the fears of death by seeing their boldness, and courage, and learn 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 removal 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 Ministers; What think we, was Christ in jest or in earnest when he spoke those words, Mat. 25.41, 42, 43.  
Fifthly, Christ takes what is done unto his Messengers as done unto himself, He that receiveth you (saith our Saviour) receiveth me; were it possible for the Lord Jesus to be sick, we would profess our willingness to visit him in such an afflicted condition, and would exclaim 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 personal in the day of his distress, neither is any too great to visit Christ mystical.  
Sixthly, We may do much good to the messengers of Christ by visiting of them in their distress; 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 spiritual advantage from the discourse of a plain country man; thus inferior members of the body may be serviceable to the superior. 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 coming near them in their sickness, not for fear of any bodily infection, but for want of sincere and spiritual affection; let such men know, they who love not the servants of Christ are without love to Christ himself, 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 who are disrespectful unto them; now a sad doom hangs over the heads of all barren Christians, who have enjoyed the choice mercy of a painful and faithful Ministry; they are near unto cursing, and may expect to hear that sentence, Cut them down, why cumber they the ground?  
Secondly, This may reprove those, who though they are not altogether so profane as to neglect the giving of a visit to God's messengers lying upon their sick-beds, yet come to see them, not out of obedience to God's command, nor out of love to their persons or office, nor out of any affection they bear to their doctrine, nor out of any desire they have to comfort them, or to receive counsel or comfort from them, but merely out of custom, or in compliment, 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 extreme to mark our failings in this one particular, what would become of us? Jobs friends took 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 hours riding, nay, to step a bows-shoot out of doors to visit an afflicted member of Christ, to communicate with him in his sorrows, to comfort him in his griefs, to refresh and revive him with our presence, and spiritual and pertinent discourse? How should we shame ourselves for this our want of love to the command of Christ to the members of Christ, yea, to Christ himself? Well, let us cry peccavi, beg our pardon, and look upon it as a matter of duty, to visit those with our personal 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 work of love, Jam. 1.27. Are there any of God's friends and our acquaintance, any of God's Messengers and our Pastors, any of Christ's Members and our Brethren, cast upon the bed of sickness? 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 condemn us; would we not have others to express such a kindness to us? Let us not deny that to others which we expect from others, Mat. 7.12. But let us not give complemental visits only, the sin of the times we live in; but so discharge what God calls for in this business, that God may have Glory, the person visited comfort, and we ourselves benefit and advantage.  
First, Visit, whether Pastor, or Neighbour, out of obedience to God's command; let Gods command, not base, and by respects, carry thee on to this work; no action of ours, though enjoined by God, will be accepted of, unless it be done out of obedience to that God who enjoins it, Zach. 7.5, 6, 7.  
Secondly, Do this that Christ calls for out of love to Christ, then will Christ take it as done unto himself.  
Thirdly, Do this duty with an honest heart, and sincerely; the Prophet David tells us of some that came to see him in his sickness, but not out of any cordial affection they did bear unto him, but for base ends, to see whether there were any hopes that he would die, or to gather something or other from him that might prejudice him in his credit and esteem, 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 mutual joy, quickening, 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 styles 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 mourn, and bitterly to bewail the death of such Ministers who have been pious and faithful.  
First, The Church in general, the whole company of believers, who know and hear of it, have cause to mourn; Ministers are given to the Church for her gain, and cannot be taken away without her loss, Eph. 4.12. They are not only members of her body, but such members which are very useful and necessary; they are called the lights, guide's, watchmen of the Church; yea, they are called her rulers; let a man lose any one member it would trouble him, but the more useful any member is, the greater will be his trouble.  
Secondly, The wicked have cause to mourn when God takes away his faithful 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 reproof be a judgement, then certainly it is a judgement to wicked men when godly Ministers are taken away, who by their reproofs 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 spiritual and eternal good, and therefore they have cause to mourn; if the loss of a bodily friend be matter of grief, what matter of grief is the loss of a soul 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 tears of their faithful 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 watchful and compassionate overseer hath interceded for them, and held God's hands from destroying them. Jeremy's prayers for the Jews did prevail with God for a season to spare them, and when God was fully determined to ruin 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 mourn when he is taken away; for,  
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 God's 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 watchful over them, careful 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 spiritual father, and ought not the child to lament the loss of his father? Besides, all of them have lost a diligent instructor.  
4. They have lost one who through God's blessing hath kept them out of many a snare, carried on the work of grace in their hearts, awakened their drowsy souls, quickened their dead hearts, strengthened their feeble hands and knees, revived their almost expiring graces, reduced them when they have been wand'ring, encouraged them in the ways of God when they met with strong opposition, comforted them when they have been sad, answered their doubts, scattered their fears, and filled them with joy and peace through believing, Eph. 4.12.  
5. They have lost one who was acquainted with their condition, knew in some measure the state of their souls, and so was the better able to speak seasonably to them, and to their necessities. A stranger may preach wholesome 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 eat, but he cannot tell what that food is which is most convenient for it so well as the mother; that Physician who hath been longest acquainted with our bodies knows what Physic is most proper for us; thus you see all sorts have cause to lament the fall of a faithful Minister; the reasons are these:  
First, God commands us to mourn when he afflicts us with the loss of godly and painful 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 bewail the burning which he had made, Leu. 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 tears? What tears should we pour out when a Samuel, and Elisha, or a Stephen go to their graves?  
Secondly, It hath been the practice of the godly bitterly to bewail the loss of pious and faithful 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 think that they should lose one who had been such a notable instrument to promote God's 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 loss.  
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 judgement against, and condemn those who can let godly Ministers go to their graves without sighs in their hearts, or tears in their eyes; when the old Prophet, who seduced the Prophet sent to Jeroboam, saw that he was slain by the Lion, he brought his carcase 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 complains 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 loss of God's servants none should have met with a check for the neglect of it.  
Fifthly, Peoples sins are the cause of Gods taking away their faithful Pastors; the unthankfulness and unfruitfulness of hairs 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 God's faithful Ministers is the forerunner of some approaching judgement: what but darkness can be expected when the Sun is set? Have we not cause to fear 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 surprised, Isa. 57.1. History tells us, that so soon as Saint Austin was dead and gone, the Goths and Vandals broke into Hippo, the City where he lived, and spoiled 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 faithful Messengers and Ministers. Uses.  
First, This serves to reprove those who are not affected with the loss of God's faithful 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, useful and precious, men of whom the world was not worthy; we hear of the fall of those Cedars, but tremble not, of the removal of those pillars, but are not afraid; we regard the loss of those blessed instruments no more than the loss 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 God's Ambassadors, and our instructors. Oh the wonderful 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; How can we think God should betrust us any more with his Messengers and Ministers, when we can part with them without any considerable grief and sorrow? Too many care not what become either of State, or Church, or their own precious souls, so they may enjoy their estates, their liberties, their carnal 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 think 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 lie naked to the indignation of the Almighty? Is it nothing to you that your souls 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, pity 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 devour your precious fowls? Is it nothing to you that you have lost one that stood in the gap to keep off God's wrath and vengeance from falling upon you that live in these times wherein 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, samuel's, Paul's 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 God's faithful Ministers, that they rather are glad of it, and rejoice in it, some secretly, some openly; the Prophet David speaks 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 profane as to rejoice 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 reins privy to this their diabolical joy? How can, how dare such call God father, or think themselves Gods children, who are glad to behold the funerals of their brethren? Natural brethren may rejoice at the death one of another, hoping to reap some disadvantage thereby: But certainly spiritual brethren, who cannot be rend one from another without disadvantage to the survivers, will be otherwise affected; they are false brethren, as the Apostle speaks, and cursed hypocrites, who make the death of any godly Minister the matter of their rejoicing. Again, others there are who proclaim their sin as Sodom, and stick not to profess 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 slain. Now they think they may enjoy their sins more freely, and shall not meet with such sharp reproofs 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 rejoice that such a Physician 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 rejoice that he is taken away who did what he could to preserve him from destroying himself. I tell thee whoever thou art who pleasest thyself with the loss of God's faithful Ministers thou hast no cause to rejoice 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? God's hands were ever and anon ready to destroy thee whilst they lived, their prayers and tears kept his sword from being sheathed in thee: and dost thou think thou art ever awhit the safer from danger and ruin? 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 sattest under a godly Ministry did ever and anon check thee, grant it now proves speechless and says nothing; can there be a more dreadful judgement than a silent and dumb conscience? Before there was some struggling in thee against temptations to sin, and now thou canst commit sin without any reluctancy, with all greediness, this is matter of lamentation, not of joy: Are Gods Ministers gone? They are gone to give an account how thou hast carried thyself 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 thyself, to sigh than to sing. Do not dream that God hath taken them away to show thee any kindness, 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 prejudicial and baneful; now will the devil triumph more over thee, and carry thee captive at his will and pleasure.  
Thirdly, Let us mourn when God takes away any of his faithful Messengers from us; Let not God complain of us as he did of those, Isa. 57.1. Let not Joash rise up in judgement against us and condemn us; make we a difference between an Elisha and a Jehojachin, Jer. 22 18. Do we love the Lord? let us mourn that one who was zealous for his glory is gone from amongst us; do we love Christ? let us mourn that one of the friends of the Bridegroom is taken away; do we love the Church? let us mourn that she is deprived of one of her choice members; do we love the State? let us mourn that one of her pillars are removed; do we love the truth? let us mourn that one who was valiant for it is departed; do we love our souls? let us mourn that one who was careful for them, watchful over them, merciful to them, is gone; gone, gone, never to be seen in this place, nor in any of your houses or families again; do we love our neighbours and brethren? let us mourn that they as well as we have lost at one clap a faithful friend, a faithful counsellor, a faithful instructor, a faithful reprover, a faithful comforter, in a word, a faithful Preacher; Let every one of us mourn together, and yet mourn apart; let the wife mourn that she hath lost so pious a yoke-fellow; let his children mourn that they have lost so careful a father; let the servants mourn that they have lost so religious a master; let the people mourn that they have lost so painful a Pastor; and let us Ministers mourn that we have lost such a fellow-labourer, one that did join with us, and help us to oppose those grand enemies, Sin, Satan, and the World. True it is, none have cause to mourn, in reference to his present condition, but rather to rejoice; 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. Can he speak unto us, he would say as Christ to the women who be wailed and lamented him, Luk. 23.28. Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves. Let us search our hearts and lives, and find out the causes of this our loss, why God hath given us such a cup of gall and wormwood for to drink: And is there not a cause? Yes certainly. Our unthankfulness, our unfruitfulness, our pride, our worldliness, our deadness, our coldness, our lukewarmness, our hypocrisy, our contempt and undervaluing of such a blessing have provoked God to deprive us of him. The loss 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 Yoke-fellow, 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 zeal was wont to inflame our hearts, whose forwardness for God was wont to put us forward, whose tears were wont to set us on mourning, whose spiritual fervour was wont to heat and warm us, whose elevated heart in the ways of God hath helped to lift up our hearts in God's ways, the prevalency of whose prayers we were wont to feel in the increasing and quickening of our graces, whose powerful Sermons were wont to leave most sweet and refreshing influences upon our souls? Where is he? Where is he? God grant that the spirit of Elijah may be doubled upon his successor, that you may not pine and languish away in such sad complaints. I make no question, were it in the power of prayers and tears, of fasting and mourning to fetch him back again, 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 tears or supplications. Thus having finished the first thing that Joash did after he came to see Elisha, we come now to speak of the second effect or fruit of his visitation, expressed in the honourable titles which he gave unto him; First, he calls him his Father; from whence we may observe:  
That honour and respect ought to be showed from all sorts of men to the faithful 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 poor, 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 esteem 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 seems then nothing was more common and ordinary than to show 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 a man because God loves him, and to respect men because God respects them; Christ would have us to be merciful that we might be like unto our heavenly Father who is merciful, Mat. 5. So we must honour those whom God honours, that we might express 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, mortal men should not think much to honour those whom the immortal God thinks not much to honour. Now there is no faithful 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; Yearly 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 God's Ministers are Stewards to that God who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, 1 Cor. 4.1. Again, the Office of an Ambassador, who represents the person of the King, is a place of great honour: Ministers are Gods Ambassadors, they negotiate for God, and they are employed to treat about a peace between God and man, about a marriage between Christ and the souls of people, 2 Cor. 5.20. Again, they are said to be co-workers, and fellow labourers with God himself in the salvation of sinners, 1 Cor. 3 9  
Thirdly, Good men have been ready and careful 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 mocked at Peter and the Apostles when they were in the state of nature, did very much honour them after they were wrought upon by Peter's Sermon, Acts 2.37. Cornelius a good man was ready to go beyond his bounds in showing 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 faithful Messengers and Ministers of God; How highly did Nabuchadnezzar honour the Prophet Daniel? Chap. 2.46, 47. Darius also did not a little respect and prise him. Naaman the Syrian shown 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 God's faithful Messengers and Ministers. Uses.  
First, It serves to reprove those who make it their work and trade to revile and reproach the faithful Messengers and Ministers of God, look upon them with scorn and contempt, count them as the offscouring of all things, and rakehell itself for base terms and names to cast upon them; persons truly religious in former times were known by their love to, and esteem of godly and conscientious Ministers: but now scorn and contempt of godly and conscientious Ministers is the practice of those who would be thought, and style themselves to be the Saints and religious ones; what the Apostle spoke concerning that wisdom which was attended with envy, and strife, that it was earthly, sensual, and devilish, so we may say of that Religion which puts men upon railing against, and reproving the Messengers and servants of the Lord, that it is earthly, sensual, and devilish; a Religion of the devils setting up, and not of Gods appointing. Michael disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, dared not to bring a railing accusation against him; you know men full of fierceness and bitterness against dignities, whether in State or Church, whatever forms they may have are called clouds without water, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wand'ring stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. Never were God's Ambassadors more slighted and despised than in these days, but let such despisers know, that God takes the scorns and contempts cast upon them as cast upon himself; and though he is patiented and long-suffering, yet will find a time to be avenged of all such Rabshekahs, Luk. 10.16. No sin hastens the execution of God's 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 God's 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 God's faithful Messengers and Ministers? let us not rob God's 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 scorn faithful Preachers and Pastors, yet let not those who profess the Gospel tread in their steps, but walk according to what the Gospel enjoins in this particular, 1 Thes. 5.11. by slighting of us you hurt yourselves more than you wrong us; our salvation is furthered, not hindered by your scorns, these light afflictions work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, but your salvation is much hindered by slighting and contemning of us, that doctrine and message will be the less 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 ourselves, 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 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 express all warrantable reverence unto them: As for those who make this objection, let them hear what our Saviour spoke, Mat. 11.11.  
Fourthly, Let me speak a word or two to you my brethren and myself; Let us do nothing that may deprive us of that honour which belongs unto us; so let us walk, so humbly, so inoffensively, so holily, so exemplarily in every good word and work, that we may keep up the tottering honour both of our Office and Persons; Let us make it our business to honour God, by laying out ourselves to increase his Kingdom by a faithful performance of those duties which God calls for at our hands in our places, by being patterns of faith and patience, meekness and self denial, contempt of the world, and heavenly mindedness, 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 faithful 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 work to suppress and beat down sin which makes a nation naked and weak, and exposeth it to all manner of judgements. God is the defence of every nation, whilst he is with a people, they need not fear, 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 faithful Ministers are very prevalent with God, both for the continuance of mercies, and the keeping off of judgements. Moses his prayer did as much good as Joshuahs' sword when the people of Israel encountered with Amaleck. The house of Abimelech was in great danger of ruin, but upon Abraham's 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 God's 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 faithful 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 kingdom 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 kingdom 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 Minister's 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 righteousness; 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 fearful rout which the Philistines gave Saul, when he and his Sons were slain, fell not upon him till after samuel's 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 spears to defend themselves: no better friends are they to a State who endeavour to deprive it of God's faithful Messengers, who are no less 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 maintain a godly and painful 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 work, and surely they are far from the holiness and zeal of Hezekiah who do what they can to discourage the Messengers of the Lord in the work of the Ministry, 2 Chron. 31.4.  
Thirdly, Have nothing to do with those men whose design it is to pull down the public Ministry, to burn up those Chariots, to unhorsed those horsemen, to demolish those bulwarks, and to break down those fences, that so foxes, and wolves, and ravenous beasts may break 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 soul come not thou into their secret, unto their Assembly mine honour be not thou united.  
Fourthly, Have we not then great cause to mourn and be humbled, when God takes away those Chariots and horsemen, his faithful 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 inroad 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 spiritual father; and we have all cause to mourn if we consider what a one he was whom we have lost: He was a painful Preacher, laid out himself in the Lord's vineyard, and was careful to fulfil the Ministry which he had received in the Lord. He was no less faithful than painful, he was one who would not keep back any of God's counsels, but was ready to reveal 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 daub with untempered mortar, neither was he afraid to reprove the greatest of sinners to their faces, he wrought in the work 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 Gospel's love to Christ, an earnest desire to increase his kingdom, pity and compassion towards poor souls, a violent thirst after their salvation, and a burning zeal for the honour and glory of God were the motives that put him upon this work, 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 days 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 again? 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 public Congregation; what was the longing of David's soul, was also the longing of his, sighing out those words, When shall I come and appear before God? Psal. 42.2. No burden lay heavier upon his spirit than his present inability to be serviceable unto God in his Ministerial Office; he was none of those, who are glad of any excuse to justify 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 deathbed desired his people to cleave fast to those truths which he had taught them, for he durst pawn his soul upon them. He was most careful of, and loving to his people; when he was called to be a Member of the Assembly, he was forced to leave them, but it was cum animo revertendi, with a purpose to return again unto them. He had a very great living in London, but this could not keep him from coming back to his old place so soon 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 Live have several times been laid down at high feet, but he would not accept of them. When he thought he should die, 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 public Ordinances, not to forsake (as the manner of some is) the public Ministry, to take heed of being carried away with the errors of the wicked, and that they fell not from their steadfastness. Oh let those and such like counsels of his be precious to you who heard them, think much of them, walk 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 successful Preacher, God went along with his Ministry; he did not labour in vain, neither did he spend his strength in vain; he was a spiritual father to many children. I must confess (admiring and adoring God for the freeness of his grace, and the riches of his mercy) that the first breathe of spiritual life which ever I felt were under his Ministry. Others no question have been no less laborious in their Master's vineyard than this blessed servant of God, but all, nay, few in these parts of late have been so fruitful 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 Believers, 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 profane 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 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 form 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 yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness: Again, as God used this blessed servant of his to be an instrument to increase his kingdom, and to bring souls home unto him, so he made him an instrument to keep those whom he had converted from being drawn a way with the error of the wicked. How many Ministers may say of some of their most hopeful 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 forsook not the public 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 spiritual heat, filled with a holy indignation against sin, stirring and active for his God; he did not the work of his Master negligently, but was willing to spend himself, and to be spent in his Lord's 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 die. God did not let lose 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 one time full of pain, and in his own apprehension too impatient, he asked his neighbours whether they were not grieved at his impatience? who saying nothing, he spoke thus unto them: Truly I am not impatient for want of inward comfort, for as I have not so little as to conceal it, so I have so much that I am not able fully to express it. He did earnestly long to be dissolved, that he might be with Christ, often crying out, when will that hour 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 die, 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 glorify me. He would often speak with much admiration and affection of God's 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, Walk close with God, he can do you a good turn when you come to die. 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 instructor may rest upon his Successor.  
FINIS