A SERMON Preached Feb. 19 1692. Upon the FUNERAL Of that late excellent Servant of Our LORD JESUS, Mr. Richard Fincher, Who Finished his Course, Feb. 10. 1692.  
By SAMUEL SLATER, M. A. Minister of the Gospel.  
LONDON, Printed by J. Astwood for John Laurence at the Angel in the Poultry. 1693.   

To that Flock of CHRIST, of which Holy Mr. FINCHER was the Faithful Pastor.  
DEAR FRIENDS,  
GOD having made a sore Breach upon you by taking home his Servant to himself, you made it your joint Request that I would Preach to you upon that sad and solemn Occasion. The entire Love between him and me, together with the Kindness I have for you, forbade my Denial. I did the thing, through Divine Assistance: You than came upon me for the Publishing of what had been delivered, and therein prevailed too. Here it is, the Lord accompany this Sermon with a Blessing, that it may be profitable to you all, and many more. Having given you so much Counsel already, I shall desire your following it, and will here add no more, but beg for you the Divine Conduct, Grace and Influence.  
And you, MADAM, whose Conjugal Relation to this Worthy Person hath been dissolved; I have rejoiced to see patiently bearing it, as one Taught of God; and Oh that you may have fuller refresh flowing into you from the Fountain of all good, now that pleasant stream is cut off. And though your Communion here was but short, may you have in Heaven an Eternal Communion with one another, and both with God. You all I commend to him and the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an Inheritance among them that are sanctified. In short, be you all upright with God, study Godliness in its Power, live the Truths you Hear and Profess, adorn the Gospel by an Exemplary Conversation, do not divide, but walk in Peace and Love; though the Shepherd be smitten, let not the Sheep scatter, but the Lord give you another after his own Heart. I am  
Yours in our Dear Lord Jesus, Samuel Slater. From my Study, March 10. 1692/ 3.   

Lately Printed for John Laurence at the Angel in the Poultry.  
MR. Slater's Thanksgiving-Sermon, Octob. the 27th. 1692. Quarto. Mr. Slater's Sermon at the Funeral of that Faithful Servant of Christ, Mr. John Reynolds, Minister of the Gospel; who Died December 25. 1692. Quarto.  
The true Interest of a Nation, or the Duty of Magistrates, Ministers and People, in an Assize-Sermon at Bucks, July 5. 1692. By John Howard, M.A. Rector of Marston-Trussel. Quarto.  
Mr. Addy's excellent Book of Shorthand, by whom the Bible is done in the same Shorthand. Octavo.  
The Collections of Letters for the Improvement of Husbandry and Trade are continued Weekly, at 1 d. each. By John Houghton, Fellow of the Royal Society.   
PSAL. CXIX. 75. 
I know, O Lord, that thy Judgements are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.  
WHether we reckon this Psalm to David, the sweet Singer of Israel, or to some other holy Man of God as the Penman thereof; it is passed all question that the Divine Spirit was the Inditer of it, and we have reason to judge it worthy of so great an Author, because full of most rich and excellent matter. You may observe in it the Description of a godly man, whose Picture is curiously drawn, and to the Life, in his Graces, and holy duties, and sore afflictions, and manifold Experiences, and sweet Consolations. But passing by the Consideration of the whole, I shall confine my Discourse, and for the present engage your Meditations to these words which I have been directed to, as a Subject very proper upon this sad and solemn Occasion. In which we plainly see the Friendly happy agreement between a most wise and holy God, and an humbled afflicted Saint, under and about those dark Providences and smarting Dispensations, which are ordered out unto him; when there is not only a Rod but a Scorpion in the hand of the former, and multiplied yea deep wounds on the back of the latter. The holy Prophet doth here speak as a man lying under the Judgements of God, and exercised with Afflictions, a Child dear to his Father, and over him, yet under his frown; but in this very case far from quarrelling the Rod, and contending with his Father about it, he humbly submits, and sweetly quiets himself, freely making this ingenuous and thankful Acknowledgement: I know O Lord, that thy Judgements are right, and that thou in Faithfulness hast afflicted me. The terms in the Text are so obvious and very easy, not needing that much time should be spent in their Explication. Therefore all that I shall say to that purpose, will be no more than this.  
The word Judgement is variously used in the sacred Scripture, and particularly in this Psalm; frequently we are to understand by it the Law of God, his Statutes and Commandments; these are the Judgements of his mouth, which in and concerning all things are right, there is nothing perverse in them, but as Silver tried in a Furnace of Earth seven times, free from all dross. Rom. 7.12. The Law is holy, and the Commandment holy, just and good. Now if any Person be inclined thus to understand the word in this place, he shall have my leave so to do, I will not contend with him about it. Yet in my apprehension, it seems much more suitable to the Mind and Scope of the Prophet in this Place, to understand by Judgements those troubles and calamities which the Lord is pleased to order out to the Children of Men, while they tabernacle in Flesh, and are passing through this vale of tears. Those Providences of God, which have an angry aspect and frowning Countenance, whether they be penal and acts of revenge, and so inflicted upon wicked men his Enemies, or only castigatory and corrective, and so laid upon good Men and Women his Children, are Judgements. Thus 1 Pet. 4.17. The time is come that judgement must begin at the House of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God? If there be such sufferings for God's Subjects and Favourites, how will he handle Rebels? So again observe that place in the 1 Corinth. 11.32. If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged; but when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the World. And such Dispensations may very fitly be called Judgements on a twofold Account.  
First, Because they are rectoral and judicial acts, they are acts of Government, put forth by God as holding the Reins in his hand, as sitting in the Throne judging right and rendering unto men according to their Works. Even when they are ordered out to the Saints themselves, not only for probation, or the Exercise of their Graces, but likewise for their sins; there is not only a design of Love in the Bowels of them, and merciful Purposes carrying on, but there are Characters and Marks of displeasure engraven upon them; for though God is so gracious that he will not cast off his Children for sin, yet he is so holy that he will not bear with sin in his Children, but they shall feel he is offended; if they transgress, they shall suffer; if they will break the Hedge, some of the Thorns shall stick in their sides, Psal. 89.30, etc. If his Children forsake my Law, and walk not in my judgements: if they break my Statutes, and keep not my Commandments, then will I visit their transgressions with the Rod, and their Iniquity with Stripes. This he threatened, notwithstanding he promiseth in the very next words, that his loving kindness he will not utterly take from him, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail: He will not break his Covenant, nor alter the thing that is gone out of his lips.  
Secondly, They may well be called Judgements, upon the Account of Gods ordering them out in infinite Wisdom. In wrath he remembers Mercy, and doth all as becomes him to do it. He knows what is best to be done, and how much his Children bear, and what the Providence will issue in, and how the Physic will work. Isa. 30.18. The Lord is a God of Judgement, blessed are all they that wait for him. His Judgements are with judgement: This good man readily subscribed to it; O Lord, thy judgements are right, such as they should be, there is not any such thing in them that can be mended, and therefore nothing that should be quarrelled.  
And he doth not stop here, though it is good for one in trouble to come to this, but he goeth on, thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me: These Dispensations do speak thee both a righteous Judge, and a cordial Friend; in what thou hast done, thou hast been true to thy gracious Word, and to my chief Interest; though Flesh grumbles, and saith there is severity in this stroke, yet my Faith speaks better of my God, and tells me there is his Love in it. He hath done nothing but what he might do to me, and what He hath done doth really make for me. Though my Spirit be not right, nor my Duties right, nor my Carriage right, yet his Judgements are right.  
And He doth not speak this at random, as one that had a mind to be talking, though it be he did not know what; nor doth he speak it with any hesitancy or misgiving of Mind lest it should afterward be found otherwise, but with the greatest assurance, confidence and alacrity imaginable, that he might work a belief in others who should hear of it. I know, saith he, I know very well what I say: I know the thoughts that I have of my God and his deal with me, they are not vain and mistaken thoughts, but highly rational and well grounded: But you may ask, How did he come to know this? I answer, two ways.  
First, By the Word of Truth: Which speaks plainly, Deut. 32. He is the rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are judgement, a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is Herald  
Secondly, He knew it by other Saints Experiences and his own. Both my Predecessors and my Contemporaries have been able to make an honourable Report of God, and so am I, Psal. 119.67. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy Word. And again in the 71 Verse. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn thy Statutes. These words do afford us several Truths worthy of our consideration and repeated Thoughts. I will only name them.  
First, Many of those Afflictions which come upon the Saints, are the Judgements of God upon them. I do not say all are so, but many. Probably the stroke of God upon you of this Congregation, is a Judgement. I do not take upon me positively to determine it, but it will be no prejudice to you to look upon it under that Notion, and carry accordingly, humbling yourselves under the hand of God, and learning Righteousness. Is there not a Cause? Find it out if you can, and beg that God would lead you into the knowledge of it, Job 10.2. I will say unto God, Do not condemn me, show me wherefore thou contendest with me.  
Secondly, The dearest of God's Saints are within the reach of his Judgements, and may be exercised by them. As he will to their comfort gloriously manifest the love, so when occasion requires he will use the Authority of a Father. If his Children will be sinfully deaf to Doctrine, he will open their Ears to Discipline, and by it. Those that will not be pliant to the Word, shall feel the Rod. He hath such a Love to them, and Care of them, that he will be sure to whip them (though he doth not willingly) rather than lose them.  
Thirdly, The administrations of God to his People, in his judging and afflicting them, are ever managed with unspotted Righteousness and Faithfulness. Reproach shall never cleave to his Majesty. He will neither give his Glory to another, nor in the least stain and blemish it himself. He can do nothing but what is right, and he will do nothing to his People but what is good. It is impossible for him to do any thing which shall violate the Law of Equity, and no less impossible is it for him to do any thing which is inconsistent with his own everlasting Covenant, or their Interest and good.  
Fourthly, God doth and will satisfy his People about this: They shall be able to say, I know it; they shall both see and feel it. Justice and Faithfulness shall be so plainly impressed upon his Dispensations, and in such legible Characters that they shall run and read them. In order hereunto God hath been pleased to do much in his Word, and he will do more by his holy and almighty Spirit, who dwelleth with them, and will be in them, and make all effectual upon them. But none of these things shall be the Subjects of the following Discourse, any further than as they will fall in under the handling of that Doctrine which I intended for, and which with the Blessing of God will prove to your advantage, and that is this:  
Doct. Under the most afflictive Providences, the Children of God ought to press on to, and be expressive of a full satisfaction of Soul concerning the Righteousness and Faithfulness of God in them.  
We ought to be satisfied, and have reason so to be, of that I shall speak in the doctrinal part: We ought to express that satisfaction, of this in the Application. The Text we have before us doth afford a very sufficient and solid Foundation for us to build such a Conclusion upon. We find this holy man had been met with by God in the way of his Judgements, and exercised with Afflictions, but we do also find that the Lord and his Servant were Friends notwithstanding that, and perfectly agreed; this clearly appears by the honourable Testimony he gives concerning God, and his smart dealing with him. He did not only put his mouth in the dust, as one that had not a word to say against God, but he opened it with wisdom, as one that had enough to say for God, and to his praise: I know that thy judgements are right; in the Original it is (as the Margin of our Bibles tells you) Righteousness, Righteousness itself; they can be no more charged with being wrong or unjust, than light can with being dark, or sweetness itself with being bitter: And though thou hast afflicted me, and dost still, I own it was and is in Faithfulfulness. So that here was no such thing as a quarrel, no such thing as an Objection, no finding of any fault, but justifying of God, and an humble acquiescence in his Will and the Product thereof. Now here I would have this in the first place in a special manner taken notice of: That it is God's Purpose and fixed Resolution, that which his Heart is very much set upon, to have all things cleared up and set to right between him and his People whom he dearly loves, and hath set apart for himself, and for an intimate and everlasting communion with Him in the other and better World. It is his unalterable Will, that there shall be a mutual satisfaction; He will have a full satisfaction concerning them, and they again shall have a full satisfaction concerning him.  
First, God will have a full satisfaction concerning his People. I say, God is immovably resolved upon that, He will have satisfaction: But, alas! a poor Soul will say, I cannot give it him. Job 9.2, 3. How should man be just with God, if he should contend with him? he cannot answer him one of a thousand. Not one mercy of a thousand, they have been so ill improved, not one sin of a thousand, they are so foul, heinous and crying. But be not discouraged at that, for since the Best of men are not able to make satisfaction, He himself hath been graciously pleased to make Provision, and to find out a way for the doing of it, and hath to that end and purpose laid help upon one that is mighty, that so his righteous and holy Law may not quarrel, but be answered in all its demands; and that none of his glorious Attributes may have cause to complain, but whatever Objections may be raised and brought in against them upon account of the Corruption and viciousness of their Natures, or the sinfulness and Irregularities of their Hearts and Carriages, may receive a full answer, and so all Obstructions and rubs which lay in the way of their Happiness may be removed. And so he hath found a full, and will take an eternal satisfaction in that which his only begotten and most dearly beloved Son, and our most gracious and blessed Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ, did freely undertake, and fully perform in a way of active and passive Obedience; from that Sacrifice of himself which our Highpriest did once for all offer up, God hath smelled a sweet savour of rest, so that in Him he is now and for ever well-pleased with them. He can now close with them, and with delight embrace them with his Arms, and lay them in the Bosom of his Love. Mark the Language of his Grace, which is poured out of his Lips, and how sweetly he calls to them: Isa. 1.18. Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as Scarlet, they shall be as white as Snow, though they be red like Crimson, they shall be as Wool. And now the Devil is cast down, who is the great Accuser of the Brethren, that would make it his business to accuse them day and night before God in his Temple, God will not give an Ear to him. He had as good sit still, only his Hatred and Malice against you is so great that he cannot. Well, Christians, look to it that you do not listen to Satan's Temptations, and you may be sure, your Father will not listen to his Accusations. He is satisfied concerning you by his Son, and in him you are accepted. You are not satisfied with yourselves, not with the Frame of your Hearts, but would have them more spiritual, holy and heavenly; nor with your Duties, but would have them more according to Gospel rule: You would serve God better, and be more with him, yet in, thorough and by the Lord Jesus Christ, God is satisfied concerning you, and with you, so that he reckons you his Jewels, his Portion and Inheritance; and in this you have reason to rejoice: And then further  
Secondly, It is the Will of God concerning his People, that they should likewise have a full satisfaction concerning him, and all his Dispensations, as they have had: Psal. 22.2, 3. O my God, I cry in the Daytime and thou hearest not, and in the Night-season, and am not silent, but thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the Praises of Israel: And so Asaph acknowledged in the 77th. Psalms, That God's way was in the Sanctuary, a most holy way, though at that time it was a mysterious and abstruse way: His way was in the sea, and his path in the great waters, and his footsteps were not known: And God takes this well at their Hands, he hath his Book of Remembrance for such, Malachy 3.16. and it is that he doth expect from all his People, and will bring them to.  
That he expects it from them, is clear from his expostulating with them, as in Ezek. 18.25. Hear, O House of Israel, is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? and so in Isa. 40.27, 28. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel? my way is hid from the Lord, and my judgement passed over from my God: Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the Earth, fainteth not, neither is weary, there is no searching of his understanding: And thus he dealt with the tachy Prophet Jonah, who was so much off the Hooks upon the sparing of Nineveh, and the Withering of the Gourd, in the shadow whereof he had so exceedingly rejoiced; the Lord was pleased to speak to him more than once, Jonah 4.4. Dost thou well to be angry? And again, Ver. 9 Dost thou well to be angry for the Gourd? Have I been so merciful to Nineveh, and to thyself too, Jonah, and wilt thou be froward with me? Dost thou well to be Angry? Have I done amiss? Have I given thee any Cause? God would have all his People pleased with what he doth, and in Order to that, satisfied; and they have reason to be so, because it is he that doth it: Were there no more, that should in our Esteem be enough alone. David counted it so in Psal. 39.9, 10. though he was almost consumed with the blow of God's Hand, yet he was dumb and opened not his mouth, because He did it.  
And as God would have this in his People, and doth expect it from them, so he is able to effect it and bring it to pass: He that hath found out a way to satisfy himself concerning his People's bad Actions, so that there shall be no abiding breach between him and them upon that score, what is it that he cannot do? He that hath done that in which lay the greatest difficulty, cannot be posed and non-plused by the less, viz. the satisfying of his People concerning his Dispensations of Providence and carriages towards them; as in blasting their Estates, and making them melt as snow before the Sun; in breaking to pieces their Relations, and making them to sit solitary and alone; in taking away their Comforts, and rendering their Lives bitter, and a burden to them; in putting out that Light in which they had rejoiced for a season, smiting their faithful Shepherd who had fed them with sound Knowledge and Understanding. These things and all others, God hath made Provision for, and will satisfy his People about; though he condescends therein to them, not being responsible to his Creatures, Dan. 4.35. He doth according to his Will, both in the Army of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth, and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What dost thou? Yet thus he lays by Majesty (as it were) and stoops to dust and ashes: thus he will deal with them, after he hath dipped his Pen in Gall, and written bitter things against them, at which they are troubled, yea startled.  
The next thing I shall do, is to show you, how necessary this is for us, though it be altogether Mercy, Grace throughout in God: For there are apt to be in good men under dark and afflictive dispensations very undue and unbecoming Thoughts and Motions, a filthy scum arising. Possibly you have found in yourselves something of that nature under the late Providence, which at present you may think proper and right, what you are very well able to justify; just as it was with Jonah in his extravagant Heat, his Passion had so blinded his Eyes, and conquered his Reason, that he told God to his Face, (Jonah 4.9.) I do well to be angry, even unto death: But when these very Persons are returned to themselves, their furious heat is abated, and they afterward become more composed and sedate, and enjoy a due calmness of spirit, and thereupon come to reflect on themselves, they will see cause to blush before God, to condemn themselves, and to be ashamed of their words and actions. I will give you an Instance or two.  
First, In such Cases they are very forward to enter the Lists, and Dispute with God: When his ways are out of their sight, his Providences so many Riddles and Mysteries that they cannot Interpret; when the Hand of God comes near to a Man, and toucheth him to the quick, bleeding him in a Master-Vein, and taking away from him that which was the desire of his Soul, and the Delight of his Eyes. There are irregular and unchild-like Workings in him, though at another time you would not have thought there had been any such thing in the Man, but let God have used him at his Pleasure, let God have tumbled and tossed him up and down as he would, he would still have fallen upon a square, and when this and that and the other was gone, he would have possessed his Soul in Patience; but alas we find it with him as with Water that hath for some time been in a Glass, while it stands still it looks pure and clear, but if one stir and shake it, than that filth riseth which lay before at the bottom undiscerned, and now 'tis all over disturbed and roiled: So here, the Christian hath had some Disappointment or Loss, something or other by which his Spirit is wounded, and that puts him quite out of Humour, and now he thinks himself able to deal with God, and, as I said, would argue the Case with him. Thus it was with the Weeping Prophet, Jerem. 13.10. Indeed he laid down this as an Eternal Truth, that would not admit of any question; Righteous art thou, O Lord: Yet he thought there were some things that he might Animadvert upon, and be bold to discourse with God about: Let me talk with thee of thy Judgements; Yes, do so, Jeremy, but when thou dost, set a Watch before the door of thy Lips, and have a Care thou dost not transgress. Well, he turns Questionist; Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? And Afflicted Job went beyond him, and rose too high, Job. 23.3, 4, 5. O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat; I would order my Cause before him, and fill my Mouth with Arguments: I would know the Words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me: But know it is far more becoming of Man, and profitable for him to deal with God in a way of humble Submission and fervent Supplication than in a way of Dispute, for in this way God will certainly be too hard for Man, and teach him better Manners, as he did Job, whom he brought upon his Knees, and made throw down his Weapons, and cry Peccavi, Job. 40.4. Behold I am Vile; both really so, and in mine own Eyes, What shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth, and so for the future Seal up my Lips, as one that do not know what to say, and have already offended in saying I did not know what. Let all the Earth keep silence before him, but vain Man would be Wise. And so  
Secondly, There is apt to be even in good Men themselves something of a Tumultuous and Discontented Spirit, rising up against God because of his Providences, forming in their Minds very unworthy and unbeseeming Thoughts of him: Exceeding dishonourable Thoughts, which do wretchedly reflect upon God and Religion; this we see too too plainly in Holy Asaph, Psal. 73. He first looked abroad round about him, and there saw the Ungodly of the World free from those Troubles with which many better than themselves were exercised, and filled with all manner of Delights, Prospering and Flourishing, increased in Riches, and having more than Heart could Wish; then he turned home, and considered how Matters stood there, and he found himself roughly handled, Being plagued all the day long, and chastened every morning; and upon this he was almost ready to run with the Herd, to throw up all, and cast Dirt in the Face of Godliness, by laying down this Vile Assertion, Ver. 13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency: Only God was graciously pleased seasonably to step in with his preventing Kindness, and to Recover him again, and bring him to his right Mind, by making him to see and consider the tendency of such a speech, Ver. 15. If I say I will speak thus, behold I should offend against the generation of thy Children. By this you see what need good Men have of a Corrector.  
Now in the next place my Business will be to show, That before God hath done with his People, He will so Answer all their Objections, so clear up Matters to them, so open and explain the abstruse Riddles of his Providence, that they shall be well settled in their Minds, and both able and ready to profess themselves very well satisfied about that which God hath done; for the Proof whereof there is no need of carrying you any further than the Text, where the Psalmist doth with all his Heart justify God; I know O Lord that thy Judgements are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me: And when these two things are once set before the Christian in a just light, namely the Justice or Righteousness of the Dispensation, and the Faithfulness of God in it, the sweet Satisfaction of his Soul must necessarily result from it: And there is enough plainly laid down in the Sacred Scripture to satisfy as to both these, any one that is acquainted with it, and would be satisfied, and hath not a mind to quarrel: As I shall, through the Divine Assistance and Blessing make to appear, beginning first with the Righteousness of God's Judgements, or smarting Dispensations, which, if I be not greatly mistaken, will be evident to him that will give himself time and leave to Consider these few things.  
First, The Absolute Sovereignty and Power of God: This doth carry a great deal of Strength along with it, and is alone sufficient to silence Disputes, and to make a Man put his Mouth in the Dust, let the thing which God hath done be what it will. It must be granted that all Men are accountable, both those that are under the Law, and those that made it. The Actions of Men are to be weighed in a just Balance, and judged of by Reason and according to Law: To affirm any Man to be altogether above a Law, is to make him more than a Man: But who shall say, What dost thou, to him who hath unquestionable right to do whatsoever he pleaseth both in Heaven and in Earth? All Persons and Things are in his Hand, and as much at his dispose as Clay is in the Hand of a Potter, of which he can make a Vessel of Honour or of Dishonour. As God at his own time called the World out of Nothing, and established the Earth upon the Floods, so He can at his own time (as He hath of late up and down) cause tremendous and depopulating Earthquakes, and at last burn it up and all the Works therein. As when He pleased He did raise Man out of Dust, so when He pleaseth He can say Unto Dust thou shalt return. At his own Pleasure he sends Labourers to work in the Vineyard, some at the sixth Hour of the Day, some at the ninth, and some at the eleventh: So, at his own Pleasure he saith to this Man, and to that, and to the other, I have no more Work for you to do: When He sees good, He Calls such an one to his Service, he hath a Job for him, and when he sees fit, he saith, Now you shall take your rest, thou hast been faithful in thy little, now enter into the joy of thy Lord: All things are and shall be as God will have them; and Rom. 9.20. Who art thou, O Man, that repliest against God? or Answerest again, and Disputest with him? It was in this that the strength of that Argument lay, which Elihu brought for the quieting of Job's disturbed Spirit, and the putting a desirable end to that over hot Controversy which had been between him and his three Friends, when he Interposed, endeavouring to bring things to a good and amicable Issue, he laid all the weight upon this bottom. Job was at a perfect loss, his Heart did not reproach him, but all along he had the Testimony of his Conscience that He was not wicked, but had sincerely and industriously endeavoured to walk in his Integrity, and thereupon he wondered that such severe Strokes should be Orde'rd out to him: On the other side his three Friends were Nonplused too, and could not tell how to look upon Job as a godly Man, but an Hypocrite, Unmasked since he was so exercised, humbled and emptied; Elihu then comes to untie the Knot which had been too hard for them, and resolved all into the Sovereignty of God, Job 33.12, 13. I will answer thee, that God is greater than Man, why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth no account of any of his Matters: He is too great for that, infinitely too high to be brought to the Creatures Bar: And when Elihu had prosecuted the Argument, and with much holy Wisdom managed the part of a Moderator, God himself seconded him, and went on after the same manner that his Servant had done, instructed by his Spirit, Job 40.2. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproved God, let him answer it: And Ver. 8, 9, Wilt thou disannul my Judgement? wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be righteous? hast thou an Arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a Voice like him? and you may see that when this Holy Man Job had heard and been better informed than before concerning this great Truth, he made haste and delayed not to resolve upon an humble silence: I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear; i. e. I have formerly had some Notices given me of God, I have had Teachings from my Parents and Instructors, but now mine Eyes have seen thee; I have had from thee farther and much clearer Discoveries of thyself, and Power and Glory, than ever I had from Man, and now instead of Contending with thee, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes, Job 42.5, 6. and before that in the 40 Chap. 4, 5. Ver. Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee; I will lay my hand upon my mouth: Once have I spoken, but I will not answer; yea twice, but I will proceed no further; Or, as it is in the Original, I will not add, not a Word more, not a Syllable more: There hath been too much already absurdly spoken by me against thy Wise and Holy Providences, who hast such a Sovereign Authority, and unlimited universal Right to do whatsoever thou wilt, for that the good Man did acknowledge and subscribe to, Job 42.2. I know that thou canst do every thing; nothing that is evil, every thing that is good; every thing that is not a contradiction in itself nor to him, nothing that is unworthy of him; every thing that doth become him: He can do every thing for us, and every thing with us that he pleaseth. God will not do all that he can, but He can do all that he will: He hath Power to do it, yea and he hath Authority too, and therefore every thing that he doth must needs be right, because he hath a right to do what he pleaseth. There is none that can give Law to God, only He is a Law to himself.  
Secondly, Consider God in all those lighter or heavier Afflictions, with which he doth exercise the Children of Men, yea his own Children; he must of necessity be justified and acknowledged right, because he doth not in any of them exceed the demerit of their sins: He cannot but do right in all things, that doth wrong in nothing. We do indeed meet with this Pathetical Expression in Job 23.2. Even to day is my Complaint bitter; It is bitter to me; for though it gives me Ease, yet it is not what I like; I do not love to be always Complaining, and I find it is bitter to you, you do not relish it, you do not love to have your delicate tender Ears thus grated, yet, saith he, My stroke is heavier than my groaning: If these Groans pierce your Ears, there are Sorrows that wound my Heart; if my Groans be great, my Burden is much greater; if my Complaint be very bitter, I am sure the blow which God hath given me is very smart: You think my Patience is very small, but you are not sensible of my Pain, you do not feel that which I feel: But mark this, though Job did say, his Stroke was greater than his Groans, yet he doth not say that it was greater than his Sins; No, No, the Sins of an Hour deserve all the Afflictions of a Life, and more too: There is more evil in the least sin than there is in the greatest Affliction: There is good in Affliction, but none at all in Sin. See what Zophar said to Job, Job 11.6. Know that God exacts of thee less than thy Iniquities deserve; God hath taken away thy Servants, and thy Cattle, and thy Children, and suffered Satan to smite thee with Boils from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot, and hither thou art come from great Honour and Estate to a Dunghill, but as good a Man as thou art and thinkest thyself to be, thine Iniquities deserve worse than all this. Iniquity for certain deserves Affliction, but in this Life God never Order out to any so many and so great Afflictions as their Iniquities do deserve. The least Mercy is more than all our Earnings amount to, and the greatest Affliction less than our least Sin deserves. David complained in Psal. 38. That God's Arrows stuck fast in him, and his Hand pressed him sore: But his sins made deeper Wounds in his Conscience than those Arrows did in his Flesh, and accordingly he cried out in the 4th. Verse, that his Iniquities were gone over his Head, and as an heavy burden they were too heavy for him: The Hand of God did sorely press him, but his Iniquities did press him a great deal worse. The Condition into which sinning and God provoking Jerusalem had been brought, and in which it lay for the space of seventy Years, was exceeding deplorable: You must needs account it so if you ever took Notice how it is set out by the Prophet Jeremiah in his Lamentations: Yet Holy Ezra humbly and ingenuously acknowledged to the Glory of God, Ezra 9.13. That he had punished them less than their Iniquities. My Friends, it is a very proper Course for you, and for others under Affliction, first to take a serious View of your Sins, looking upon them through the Glass of Christ's Blood, for so you will see them to be out of measure finful, and after that turn your Eyes upon your Afflictions, and behold their Face in the Glass of your sins, and then you will see them to be very moderate, and that the Divine Contending with you are in measure. Whosoever he be that doth really see into the Demerit of sin, cannot but presently discover much of the Mercy which is in the Affliction; and it must be granted that those Afflictions can be no other than right which are Merciful Afflictions.  
Thirdly, Consider God in his depriving his People of their Comforts, and taking away from them their pleasant things, and how grievous soever this Dispensation is to them, God cannot but therein be right, because He takes from them nothing but that which was his own. Job was stripped to his very Skin, and that too was not left whole; he than looked to what would be at last, that as he came Naked into the World, so he should go Naked out, but still he did not quarrel: How came that about? See Job 1.21. The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken, blessed be the Name of the Lord. God hath taken away your Estates, how came you to have them? were they not of his bestowing? Remember then the same Hand that hath now cast you down, did before lift you up. God hath now Written you Childless, but consider that he made you Parents; it was His Wool and his Flax, his Gold and his Silver, and your Children were more his than your own: God hath now taken away your Husband, and your Father, and your Pastor, but He gave him first, and when He gave him you knew He did not give him to you for ever. You knew when you came together, and while you lived together, it would be only for a season, and you must part again. When God gave him to you, it was with the Reservation of his own Interest, which must always be kept entire. God did not part with, nor in the least diminish his own Right when he put him into your Hands: He gave him to you, but it was for a time. The truth is he did only lend him to you, in his Pity and Love he sent him to you, that he might be an Helper to your Faith and Joy, and promote your Progress in that way of Truth and Holiness which leads to Heaven and Glory. You knew that it was God's Intention, his fixed and unalterable Resolution to send for him home as soon as he had finished that which was given him to do: And what Reason can be assigned why He or any other Faithful Minister or Godly Christian should stay here after his Work is done? It would be an irksome and tedious thing for an holy Soul to live in the World and be Idle, to live and have nothing to do: Shall I not do with my own as I please? said the Master to that Labourer who quarrelled with him about his Pay: And may not the great God much more say so? What, shall I ask your leave? Is it fit that I should advise with you what I shall do with, and how I shall dispose of that which is mine own? Ministers are Stars, with which I have beautisied the Firmament of the Church, which is a lower Heaven; these I have made and appointed to give Light unto the World, and I will set them in what Orb I please, and when they have shined there, and scattered their benign Influences as long as I see good, I will place them in another; and when they have done all that which it is my Pleasure should be done by them, I will take them up to an higher Sphere, even that of Heaven, where they shall see my Face in Righteousness, Contemplate my Glory, and be Satisfied with my Love and Likeness. But once more  
Fourthly, Let us View those Judgements or Afflictions which God Orders out to his People in all the Circumstances of them, and we shall find they are right throughout. Here I might be very large, but will Contract.  
His Judgements are right as to the Principle from which God acts in the Ordering them out, and as to the End at which he aims, and as to the Means of which he makes Use, and as to the Measure of their Sufferings, how much they shall bear, and as to the Time how long they shall continue. God is so exact in these and all other things that can possibly be named, that there is not the smallest Failure: That which they said of our dear Lord Jesus while he was here on Earth, we may most truly affirm of God, He hath done all things well. Were the World to begin again, all his Providences should be as they have been, because nothing in them can be mended. I will give some light touches and short hints upon those things which I have named, and so pass on.  
There are Judgements and dark Providences which God Orders out to Churches and particular Saints, but the Principle from which in them God acts, is a Principle of Love, and that is not only right but sweet: He Loves them while he afflicts them, and he afflicts them because he Loves them, Revel. 3.19. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Possibly his Love is not plainly impressed upon the Rod, so that thou canst run and read it, at present it is concealed, but it will break out and show it seif in due time. Ephraim was as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke, impatient and unruly, and as such he was Chastised, the Whip smarted, and the Goad pricked him, yet he was God's dear Son and pleasant Child, and his Father resolved to have Mercy upon him. God hath taken this and that from you, Moderate your Grief, for He will not take his loving kindness from you. The Rod may smart and put you to Pain, but it is the Hand of Divine Love which lays it on.  
As God is right in the Principle from which he acts, so He is in the End at which he aims, for that is exceeding gracious, Heb. 12.10. He chastens us not for his own pleasure but for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness: He aims not at the Weakening of our Bodies and Estates, but the Mending of our Souls; not that we might be made the poorer by it, but the better: And as this is his End, so it shall be attained, Rom. 8.28. We know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God: They have done it hitherto, and so they shall for the future: It is clear from constant Experience: We know it: Good is in the Heart and Purpose of God, and all things shall be subservient to it, all shall make their Contributions. This late Providence, the Death of your Worthy Pastor was for good, for certain it was good for him; to him to live was Christ, and therefore to him to die must needs be gain, unless Paul were mistaken, Philip. 1.21. That you will easily grant, viz. He is no loser by leaving of the World, and of You, because he is gone to Heaven, He is where He would be, where He knows more, and enjoys more, and is better than he could here, had he lived Methuselah's Age; and this shall work for good to you also: But you do not see how that should be. It is very likely you are dim-sighted, and see but a little way; and let this be enough for you, (as indeed it is at present) that though you do not see, God doth, who is Wiser than you. And then  
God is right as to the Means which he useth: Those that he makes Choice of and employs, are the best that could be in the Case: Or, if they be not so in themselves, he both can and will make them so; if they be too Weak, he will Empower them; and if they have no Virtue of their own, he will Infuse some into them, as in the Sound of Rams-Horns, before which the Walls of Jericho fell; or if they be contrary, he will reconcile them. One would think Clay and Spittle are enough to put out seeing Eyes, but when he pleaseth he can temper them into so Sovereign a Remedy as shall give Sight to one that was born Blind.  
Further, God is right as to the Degree and Height of the Suffering: When angry with his Children, He stirs not up all his Wrath; No, No, He Contends with them in measure: He never maketh too great a Rod, nor gives his Patient too large a Dose, but weighs out every thing, so that there shall not be one Drop of Gall too much in the Cup: He is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able: Full out as much, but no more. If need be you are in heaviness, no more than need, no longer than need. And so  
God is right as to the Time; when Trouble shall come, and when it shall go, when it shall begin, and when cease. He doth every thing in Season. In the Fullness of Time He sent his Son into the World, and so He sends Affliction. Death comes to reap his Corn when it is White to the Harvest, and He puts every one of his Children to Bed at their Hour. When his Faithful Servants have Finished their Work, than he takes them to their Rest, and lays them at perfect Ease in the Bosom of Abraham, or rather his own. They shall not outlive it, nor shall they die before it is done. I hope I have said enough to satisfy you about the Perfect Righteousness of God in his Judgements, and that may well silence you.  
There is another thing in the Text which this Holy Man saith He did know, and that is, the Faithfulness of God in afflicting him. And if the other doth silence, this may well quiet and delight the Afflicted Saint: And truly we have all of us reason to be satisfied about this, that though God often is an Afflicting God, yet He always is a Faithful God, and it is in his Faithfulness that he doth Order out Afflictions to them. Now this will appear if you Consider these two things, God is Faithful to his Covenant, and to his People's Interest.  
First, In afflictive Providences God is Faithful to his own Covenant: Instead of running Cross to it, he acts in a Wise Pursuance of it. He never runs Cross to it, for while the Saints are here, the Covenant doth not put any of them out of the reach of Afflictions, Galat. 4.1. The Heir as long as he is a Child differs nothing from a Servant, though he be Lord of all; but may have as course Far and as hard Usage; so may one of those that are Heirs of God and Glory. Indeed we are assured, there is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus: And that Security is matter of great Joy; but tho' by laying hold upon Christ and the Covenant they are free from Condemnation, yet they may expect Probations whensoever God please, and Correction when they deserve and need it. As we before intimated, God hath reserved unto himself a Liberty and Power of Visiting his Child's Iniquities with the Rod, and their Transgressions with Stripes.  
But not running Cross to the Covenant is not all, it is too little, for in afflictive Providences upon good Men, God acts in pursuance of his Covenant, for by that he stands Obliged to be not only a Sun to them for refreshing, and a Shield for defence; not only to give them Grace in the way, and Glory in the Country, but also to withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly: Now Reason and Experience tell us that Physic is good, wholesome and necessary, sometimes as well as Food; and Purges, tho' strong, and make Heartsick, are good as well as Cordials, and bitter things are good as well as sweet, Psal. 119.71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted: Many an holy and gracious Person cannot say, It is good for me that I am afflicted. Poor Creature, his Spirit is so disordered by the bitterness of the Affliction, that he cannot at present taste the sweetness of that good it doth him, but sooner or later every such an one shall say, It is good for me that I have been afflicted. While God is Ploughing upon their Backs, and making long his Furrows, they conclude it is very strange Work, but when they once come to reap the Harvest, they shall most freely, and with thankfulness acknowledge to his Glory, that it was very good Work.  
Secondly, In afflictive Providences God is most true and faithful to his People's Interest: Though they be and often are Sufferers, yet it is to be Charged upon themselves, and not upon God, if they be losers: It is his gracious Will that they should not lose but gain by their Sufferings, and that their Gains should not only compensate and equal their Losses, but likewise much exceed them: From the Thorns that prick and wound them, and let out some of their Blood, they shall gather the peaceable Fruit of Righteousness, Heb. 12.11. When the Lord leads his People into a Waste and howling Wilderness, he makes for them a right way, though there was none before; possibly it is steep, rugged and troublesome, however it is right; and walking in it undefiled, they shall be brought to a pleasaut Place, a good Land, a City of Habitations. When God is stripping you of this and that, and the other Delight, He is thereby fitting you for a more Noble Enjoyment, a more Valuable Good, yea, for those Blessings which run parallel with the Line of Eternity. This is all the Fruit to take away your sin, and to prepare you for a more intimate Communion with him here, and a plenary endless Fruition of him in the other World, 1 Cor. 3.22. All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollo's, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours: O the Riches of a Believer! all his, Ministers, Ordinances, Providences, those that look pleasantly upon you, and those too that have a terrible Aspect, all are yours, your Friends, your Servants, all employed for the promoting of your Holiness, and thereby your Happiness; the good Man in the 73d. Psalms, was pained, grieved, and pricked in his reins, but upon his going into the Sanctuary, and Consulting with the Divine Oracles, his Pains abated and went off, so that He quickly sound all well; 23, 24. Nevertheless I am continnally with thee; and though evil be with me, I will not fear it so long as I am with thee; thou holdest me by my right hand, whereby I am safe from sinking into utter ruin; thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel, and so whatever I may lose by the way, I shall not be quite lost myself; and afterward receive me unto glory, and if thou receive me, it's no matter who rejects me, and however things go with me at the present, I am sure they will be perfectly well at last; For the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed, Rom. 8.18. No, not to be mentioned the same day, because these are but light Afflictions, and short, but for a moment, and yet they work for real Saints a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Thus you have seen that all God's Judgements are right, wherefore he deserves to be justified, and that he is Faithful in Afflicting his Children, therefore it becomes them to be satisfied: He will Correct them, that he may not Lose them; He will Judge them, that he may not Condemn them with the World. We have finished the Doctrinal part, and shall now proceed to the Use, which will be by way of Exhortation, dividing itself into two Branches.  

USE.  
Exhortation first: I do Counsel and beseech you all to rest satisfied with and subscribe to the Righteousness of God in his Judgements that are upon you, and his Faithfulness in those Afflictions which which he hath been pleased to exercise you: Let him be justified when he Chides and Frowns, let him be Cleared when he Judgeth. Do this now with reference to that smarting Stroke which was lately given you, and proved the sad Occasion of the present Discourse, and do the same too with reference to any other Rebuke and Blast of Providence which is upon you: And it is according to the Will of God and the Practice of his People, for you to make your satisfaction known. Let it appear, and that by such things as these:  
First, By Ceasing and putting an end to all Disputes: Stop the Mouth of Contradiction, and let your Souls keep Silence unto God, let there be no rising of Heart against God, no Objecting against any thing that He hath done, no finding of Fault. Know, O Man, who and whatsoever thou art, however distinguished from thy Neighbours, and dignified above them, the great God is above thy Match, and by no means to be Contended with; He gives no Account of his Matters, and therefore not to be summoned to the Creatures-Bar: He himself is the Supreme Judge, by whom all are to be Sentenced as to their Eternal State, and from whom there lieth no Appeal, and therefore be not you so bold as to sit Judges upon him or any of his Providences. Remember David's Carriage when almost Consumed by the Blow of God's Hand, Psal. 39.9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. And look upon the Man bearing the Yoke in his Youth, and Consider how he is described in the 3 Lament. 28, 29. He sits alone and keeps silence, and puts his Mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope, and giveth his Cheek to him that smites him. Certainly, An humble Submission and patiented Silence do best become the greatest and most Holy Persons under the most severe Chastening. Think with yourselves what Colour of Reason you can possibly have for Objecting against that which is every way right. Why should you go about to find a Fault where there is none, especially when every one of you have above a thousand.  
Secondly, Quarrel yourselves for former Quarrelings of God, and unreasonable dislikes of his Dispensations; thus it was with Holy Job, tho' for a time he would maintain his own ways before God, and thought he had enough to say, Job 23.3, 4. O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his Seat, I would order my Cause before him, and fill my Mouth with Arguments; but he was of another mind when he was brought forth into a clearer light, than he took God's part against himself, and that in the same words which God had used with a very little Variation, Job 42.3. Who is he that hideth Counsel without Knowledge, therefore have I uttered that I understood not, things too wonderful for me, which I knew not, which was an humble acknowledgement both of his Ignorance, and of his Folly in meddling with what was above him. The like we find in Asaph, he being in anguish of Spirit, burdened with a continued Series of Affliction, and heated with Temptations, spoke unadvisedly with his Lips, he threw dirt in the Face of Religion and Godliness, by saying, He had cleansed his Heart in vain, and washed his Hands in Innocency: But when that Violent Paroxysm was over, and being at leisure from his Passion, he came to make a due reflection upon what he had said, he fell upon himself with a just and holy Indignation, and of his own accord cried out, Psal. 73.22. So foolish was I and ignorant, I was as a beast before thee: He did not only eat up his own words, which he found exceeding bitter to him, but by spitting in his own Face he gave Glory to God.  
Thirdly, Submit and yield to God for the future, and do it cheerfully, lie at his Foot, put yourselves and your all into his Hand, and leave it to him to take his own way with you, and to use his own Method. Some of the Jewish Writers say that David did utter these Words in the Text, when he was forced to leave his Palace, and to flee before the Face of his unnatural and rebellious Son Absalon, in danger of losing both his Kingdom and Life. And if so, then being so sweetly and fully satisfied about the Righteousness and Faithfulness of God in his deal with him, you may see how readily he resigns himself to the disposal of God, 2 Sam. 15.25, 26. The King said unto Zadok, carry back the Ark of God into the City, if I shall find Favour in the Eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. If my God have no Pleasure in me, I will take Pleasure in nothing; if he will lay me aside, I will be content; if he will cut me off, I will lay my Head upon the Block: God shall Order, and I will accept; His Will shall be the Ruling Will, and mine the Complying Will. Let him as he pleaseth Carve out my Condition, and I will take it as it comes: If I must no longer wear a Crown, than I will take up a Cross. And the Church was much in the same frame when fallen and sitting in darkness, Micah 7.9. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord, take all patiently, and accept the Punishment of mine Iniquity, for I have sinned against him, therefore though the Rod smart I will Kiss it.  
Lastly, Be sure to justify God; always give the Cause on his side, and speak honourably of him and all that he doth. God is always just, and in every thing; just in his Acts of Mercy and richest Grace, Rom. 3.26. He is just when he is the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus: Just in all the Afflictions of this Life, and so he is in the Miseries of the Damned in the next, Rom. 2.5. The very day of Wrath (though dark and gloomy) will carry along with it sufficient light to reveal and manifest the righteous Judgement of God; therefore in the forenamed instance of Job we observed that after Elihu had performed his part, and God had seconded him, that good Man submitted, and spoke God's own Language, thereby showing his being Convinced that what he had said before was according to the dictates of his own foolish and corrupt Heart, now he would speak as God speaks, whom he knew to be Wisdom itself, and Truth itself, and Goodness itself. It is not enough for us not to speak against God, we must be speaking for him, though he needs it not. None shall ever have Cause to repent of Commending God, because we can never rise too high in his Commendations, we can never speak too much of him, nor too well. Our Tongues are never so much our Glory as when employed in showing forth his Glory. He doth deserve more than our dearest Love, and our highest Praises. The day will come in which the Veil shall be taken off from the Face of Providence, and when we come to see things as indeed they are, we shall be perfectly reconciled to them, finding them to have been at Peace with us; and what we are now too apt to quarrel, we shall then admire. But I pass on to the  
Second Exhortation, And I desire you to account it your Duty not only to be satisfied about God's deal with you, that all his Judgements are right, and that there is his Truth and Faithfulness in those Afflictions with which he exerciseth you, but also to see carefully to it, that your Spirits and Carriages, your Hearts and Affections be right too: That was a severe Rebuke which God gave to Eliphaz, and spoke his just resentment and high displeasure, Job 42.7. The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, my Wrath is kindled against thee and thy two Friends, for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Know and Consider this, it will be to you when under dark Dispensations, both an Honour and Comfort, that your Thoughts of God are right, the Frame and Temper of your Hearts right, and your Deportment and Behaviour right. When all is as it should be, abating for Humane Infirmities, which you cannot avoid, and which God will graciously bear with, remembering your Frame, and considering you are but Dust: To this Purpose I shall give you the following Counsels, desiring you to put them in Practice.  
First, Be sensible of that which God hath done to you: He loves to be taken Notice of, and would not have his People careless or stupid, but hear the Rod, and who hath appointed it: And his Anger comes up into his Face, when Men do not Observe his Works, nor regard the Operation of his Hands. Withal it is a sad Omen, and certain Presage of some impending and approaching Judgement, when Godly Ministers and Christians are taken away, but there is a senselesness upon the Spirits of those which are left behind, Isaiah 57.1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and merciful Men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come: They neither mind who is gone, nor what is to come. Here is an excellent Person gone, a Man of whom the World was not worthy, and there are doubtless many to be found among us that do not lay such a Providence to Heart. He is dead; but what of that; no body shall live always: He is gone; even farewell He, we could spare more of them. They did never Value the Life and Labours of such a Man, nor are they Concerned at his Death. But I do advise every one of you, and others also, to beware of such a Spirit as this. We find in the Scriptures that ordinarily when the Saints died, there was great Lamentation because thereof. When good old Jacob died, the very Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days, Gen. 50.3. When Moses died, the Children of Israel wept for him in the Plains of Moab thirty days, Deut. 34.8. When Stephen had been Stoned to Death, Devout Men carried him to his Burial, and made great Lamentation, Acts 8.2. But though Joshua had been an excellent Man, true to his trust, and resolved for God, and his Service and Honour, though he had gone before them as their Prince and Leader, and given them the Possession of the Land of Canaan, yet when he died, we do not read of one Tear that was shed over him, nor of one Groan nor Sigh that was poured out upon him: And if you do but Consult the History, you will see that not long after the Wrath of God broke in upon that People.  
We are not Ignorant that there are those among us, that are glad at Heart when such Men as He are taken away. He was a Dissenter, say they, and a Schismatic, (which is more than they can prove) and such as he they look upon as the troublers of Israel, and disturbers of the Peace, the Burdens and Pests of the places in which they live. These are the Men that stand in their light, and would stop them in their full career of Profaneness, and they hate them because they cannot away with that Reformation which these men preach up, and would fain promote and perfect; and upon this account these wretches, when such men die, will ring a Peal instead of a Knell, and when they are buried, could sinned in their Hearts to leap and dance upon their Graves. Well, since it is so, God will take these men away, and give unto those Enemies their desire; they shall be troubled with them no longer: He knows of another place, and better, where these his Servants will be welcome: There are myriads of Angels and Saints in Heaven that will rejoice in their Company; but what will follow hereupon? These men's departure from hence is no other than a making of way for some tremendous Judgement to come in their room. The Inhabitants of Sodom were as much vexed with Righteous Lot for his preciseness, as he was with them for their profaneness and detestable abominations, and they had a great mind to be rid of him. Well, saith God, you shall see two Angels come from Heaven to send him out of Sodom. He lingered a while, but at length he goes, and now they hoped a good Wind would blow after him, and they should have fair Wether too, and they had it, but it did not last long; the Sun risen gloriously upon them, but it soon sat in a dark Cloud, in a Bed of Sorrow, Gen. 19.24, 25. When Lot entered into Zoar, the Lord reigned upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of Heaven: And he overthrew those Cities, and all the plain, and all the Inhabitants of those Cities, and that which grew upon the ground. I will add but one Instance more, which single and alone will be sufficient evidence: Our Lord and Saviour came to his own, but his own received him not, seeing in him no jorm nor comeliness for which he should be desired. They looked on him as the only Person that stood between them and their prosperity, and would, if tolerated, bring a storm upon them, if they should suffer him to live and go on, the Romans would come and destroy their City, whereupon they would have Barrabas a Thief released, and Jesus crucified; well, what followed, their fear did not indeed enter at that door, but it came in at another, when the Messiah was cut off, the Romans came, their Temple was burnt, their City turned into a ruinous heap, and the Inhabitants were destroyed with a most dreadful destruction.  
Know, my Friends, the Saints and Servants of God are the Pillars of the Earth, the Bail to the World, that shall continue no longer than till God hath finished his Number, called his Elect, and prepared his called Ones for Glory, The World is no more than a Stage upon which he acts his great and gracious design concerning those whom he hath chosen from among the rest of Mankind, and set apart for himself, and when that is throughly accomplished, the stage shall be taken down. A Criminal Woman for some Villainy committed by her is condemned to die, but being found with Child, she is reprieved till she hath brought forth, and then sent to the Gallows, and Executed. So this World which lies in Wickedness is condemned to the Fire, once it was drowned by a Deluge, but not washed from its filth; therefore its end is to be burned, only it is continued till all the Children of God be brought forth: Hereupon my Counsel is, that all who have a Kindness for England, or a love for themselves, would take notice of such dispensations, and lay them to their Hearts.  
And in particular, as to this Providence which hath been ordered out to you who are the Members of this Congregation, I do hearty commend to you a serious reflection upon it, together with a deep and afflicting sense of the hand of God therein. God hath been pleased to take away from you your Excellent Pastor, that Good Shepherd who led you into green Pastures, and by the Waters of stillness, and who (as it is said of David in the 78 Psalm 72.) fed you according to the integrity of his heart, and guided you by the skilfulness of his hands. I need not perfume his Name, which is a precious Ointment, nor spend any of the little time (which is left) in commending to you him who was so well known, and so exceeding dear, therefore I will only say this in short: He was a very gracious and holy Man, I doubt not to say, an Israelite indeed, greatly set for the Interest and Honour of God, and much in Communion with him. He had received a plentiful Unction from the Holy One, and was rich in Spirituals; and indeed in all my Converses with him, I found him to be of a sweet, affable and loving Temper, by means whereof his Grace was the more taking, being like a Diamond set in Gold. He had good Natural parts, which were cultivated and improved by acquired Learning. He had found mercy to be faithful, having been so all along to his great Lord and Master, his Cause and Interest, standing his ground like a Rock unshaken in the days of soarest and most violent Temptation; nor would he touch (though he saw others swallow down) those things which his Conscience told him would prove defiling to himself, or snares and stumbling-blocks unto others; yet was he a Man of peace, he would study it, advise it, and pray for it, and follow it with all men, so far as ever he could go without forsaking of Truth and Holiness, that he was bound to be dear over; while he was true to his Principles, and held on his way, he was no Incendiary. He was a very modest Person, clothed with Humility, as his upper Garment in which he walked up and down, I never saw him without it. You know full well, and are ready to testify, that he was an industrious painful Labourerer in God's Vineyard; and as he laboured, so he longed for the Life, Salvation and Spiritual Progress of his Hearers, travelling in birth to see Christ form in them. He was a Workman that needed not to be ashamed, his Pulpit was a witness to his pains with you, and his Chamber to his Prayers for you, in the former he wrestled with you, and in the latter with God on you behalf: And as he preached so he walked, commending his Doctrine by his practice; was he an Angel to and in the Church? he was a Saint in the street, being in his Conversation a singular Ornament to the Gospel, and an Excellent Pattern to them that knew him: But he is gone, here you shall see his Face no more, and hear his Voice no more. Having finished that Work which his great Lord and Master had given him to do, he was by that grim Messenger Death sent for, and carried to his last and everlasting Home, the Presence-chamber of God, the habitation of his Holiness and Glory, where he hath received that Crown of Righteousness which was laid up for him. It is well with him, very well, Eternally well, so well that he would not have it better, for he hath fullness of Joy, and Pleasures for evermore at the right hand of God; he is at rest in the Bosom of his Lord, being satisfied with his likeness, and taking his fill of Love: Only his Body lies sleeping in its Bed of dust, but rests in hope of a comfortable awaking, and blessed Resurrection, when it shall stand up from the dead, shake off its dust, arise and shine, being made like unto Christ's most glorious Body, no longer a clog and impediment to the Soul, but an Helpmeet, fit to accompany it in all its great and blessed Employments and Operations. The loss is yours, and indeed it is a great one, it becomes you to be intimately sensible of it, and to bewail it. Weep not for him, but for yourselves, and for your Children.  
Secondly, Learn from hence one singular piece of Wisdom and good Husbandry, in Improving your faithful Ministers, and others, the precious Saints of God, while you have them among you. Blessed be God, though many are called up to a better State, yet there are many left behind, but they are only sojourners here for a short season, the time will come when they must be gone too, the Number of their days is with God, who hath appointed and fixed those bounds which they cannot pass. As for the Fathers where are they, and do the Prophets live for ever? No, no, Experience tells you that they do not; and they themselves are ready to tell you that they would not: And indeed it is a thousand pities that they should, as matters do now stand. It is pity they should always carry about them a Body of death, which is worse than Death itself, that they should be always groaning under Corruptions, and conflicting with Temptations. What! always upon hot and hard service, and never have the Victory and Triumph? It is pity they should always live in a dirty stinking World, in an ungrateful and malicious World. It shall not be, no, it shall not be; God hath graciously provided a better Place for them, and better Company, and incomparably better Things than ever they could have met with here. Well, do you think of this feriously, frequently, and manage yourselves accordingly. Your late Pastor was snatched away from you on a fudden, as if Heaven had been longing for him, and in a kind of Haste to have him there; and it may be quickly so with reference to others as well as to him, none hath a Lease of his Life.  
And be not offended, if I propound one Question to you, which is this: Doth it not this day wound some of your spirits to think, your Minister is gone, and you have not Improved him as you might and ought to have done? If a Friend lend you an excellent Book for a Week or Month, will you let it lie by on a Shelf, or throw it into a Corner, and not read it. God lends you Faithful Ministers, gracious Friends and Relations, that you may get good by them, and be the better for them; if you will not make use of them, their very remembrance will be a terrible sting in your Consciences. Let me commend to you the Wisdom and Practice of Elisha, he had an inkling of his Masters leaving him, and that more than once, 2 Kings 2. The Sons of the Prophets that were at Bethel said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy Master from thy head to day? And so again said the Sons of the Prophets that were at Jericho. Well, his Master carried as if he had a Mind to shake him off; three times he would have had him stayed behind, Tarry here, I pray thee, for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel, v. 2. and so again v. 4. and yet again v. 6. but all would not prevail, still Elisha answered, As the Lord liveth, and as thy Soul liveth, I will not leave thee: But he kept with him, and his Eye fixed upon him, and by that means obtained a double portion of his Spirit. We need not a Spirit of Prophecy to let us understand that we shall be taken from one another. The Scripture assures us, that it is appointed for all Men once to to die, and there is never a poor in our Body but what may serve as a door, little indeed, but wide enough to let Life out, and Death in; therefore while you have those with you by whom you may get good for your Souls, make all the advantage of them that you can. Do thus with your Fellow-Christians, your Godly Neighbours and Acquaintance, those with whom you walk in an holy Communion, and in breaking of Bread, and in Prayers. You are all of a Calling, dealing with and for Heaven, now when Tradesmen meet together, what do they discourse of but their Calling, Merchants of their Ships, Shop keepers of the price of their Commodities? Oh that you would do the same as to your excellent and holy Calling! Oh that Discourses that tend to edification may be more frequent and familiar at your Tables and all your meetings! this would not hinder and obstruct your worldly Affairs, but sanctify and sweeten them: Our great and gracious Lord hath set us a Pattern. After his Resurrection he continued with his Apostles forty days, of which he spent none in idleness and froth, but all in speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, Acts 1.3. and so likewise do the same with your faithful Ministers, attend their Ministry, harken to their Doctrine, follow their holy Counsels, walk in their light, and do not grieve their Hearts by your slights, neglects and divisions, but obey them that have the Rule over you, knowing they watch for your Souls, and show your Respect and Kindness to them now if ever you would do it, yet a little while and you shall not have the Privilege of doing it. In Heaven they will not need your Countenance and your Prayers, and they will be above your Purses. Do what you can now, knowing it is the best and most fruitful Soil you can find to sow upon. Puul turned over to God that debt which he owed to Onesiphorus, 2 Tim. 1.16. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my Chain: And Ver. 18. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: And without peradventure God did most readily accept the Bill, and will be sure to pay it with a very great increase.  
Thirdly, Instead of murmuring that God hath taken him from you, be you thankful, and with your Hearts bless his Name that ever he brought him to you: For certain God had some Work for him to do in the City, and therefore he fetched him hither: Till than he lived at a distance, and this place was quite out of his Road: And Oh! what a singular Mercy was it, that God should raise a Storm in the Country, and thereby drive him to this place, that so he might find thee out, and deliver a Message from the great God to thee, and from the Prince and Fountain of Life speak a Word of Life to thy Soul, who to that very day waste a poor, ignorant, lost, filthy, vile Creature, altogether dead in trespasses and sins! Prithee, go thy way admiring rich and free Grace, and show the tender Bowels of a Christian in pitying and bewailing those poor Creatures, thy ignorant and graceless Neighbours, who came to the same Congregation with thee, sat in the same feat with thee, and had the same Means with thee, but got no good at all, remaining in the same Condition in which they were before, Vassals of Sin and Satan, in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity: Thou hast been savingly enlightened, when others are still unacquainted with God and the things of God; thou hast turned thy back upon thy wicked Associates and Courses of Debauchery, but others are the Companions of Fools still, and march on to Hell as if they were in Post-haste, Swearing and Cursing, being Drunk and Unclean still. Do thou, I say, Bless God for it, and be exceeding thankful, that his Servant lived till he had wrought savingly upon thy Soul, and must not himself go to Heaven before he had brought thee to God.  
Fourthly, Remember the precious Truths which be Preached to you, and often call to mind those holy Counsels that He gave you: This is a great Duty bound upon you by Scripture-precept, Heb. 13.7. Remember them which have the Rule over you, who have Preached to you the word of God, whose Faith follow, considering the end of their Conversation: Where the Apostle did not speak only of those that were present, but also of them that were gone. Now, pray, do so; Remember him, and the gracious Speeches you have heard from him, and the wholesome Advice you have received from him, and the blessed Truths that have been delivered by him, and hold them fast; and if any shall now come, and bring with him another Gospel than that ye have received, entertain him not, listen not to him, let him be accursed, Galat. 1. There are many fall Prophets gone forth into the World, and into this Nation and City, yea, there are many Antichrists, whereby we know this is the last time, and it is like there will be some plucking and tugging at your Faith. When an Orthodox, Gracious and Peaceable Minister is dead, then is the Devil busy, thinking it a fit Opportunity for him and his Servants to sow his Seed and put off his Wares; that is a time for Men of dividing Principles to infuse and spread their wretched Notions, and disturb the Peace of Churches. If you love yourselves, and as you will Answer it another day, do you avoid them, and take heed you do not drink in any unsound Opinions, any rotten and exploded Errors, an Old Falsehood under the Notion of a New Light, and to this end bear upon your thoughts the Text last mentioned, which in my Judgement furnisheth us with a Reason why so many are Flyblown in their Heads, and led into Error in these seducing times, viz. They do not remember them that have the Rule over them, they do not Observe their Faith, nor the End of their Conversation: For many tho' Convinced of the Truth of those Doctrines which they Preached, and Eye-witnesses of their Conversations, that they were Holy, Exemplary, and according to the Rule of the Gospel, yet they will most absurdly question what such Pastors did deliver, and believe a Stranger and follow him: Whereas, whom should you Credit? whom have you Reason and Encouragement to follow but him who made it his Business to get to Heaven himself, and to show you the right way, that He might meet you there, and have you for his Crown and Joy? You have found him faithful to God and to You, why then should you not continue steadfast in, and immovable from those holy Truths which he hath delivered to you, rather than give an Ear to them whom you know not from whence they came, nor what Spirit they are of?  
Fifthly, Stand in the gap, doing what in you lies that this Breach, this great Breach which hath been made upon you, may be made up again, and that with all convenient speed: You that have a sincere Love to the Interest of Christ and the Everlasting Gospel, and a real Kindness to the Church of which you are Members, lay out yourselves to such a purpose, and that to the utmost. You that have the Spirit of Grace and Supplication poured out upon you, and dwelling in you, that have Acquaintance with God, and an Interest at the Throne of Grace, now do you improve that Interest, try what you can do, and beg of God, beg earnestly that he would be graciously pleased to set up a burning and shineing Light in this Candlestick, and to provide for you such a Workman as is both-skilfull and faithful, that needeth not to be ashamed, and that will build proper Materials, not Wood, and Hay, and Stubble, but Gold and Silver, and precious Stones, upon that good Foundation, which this holy Man of God, now with God, hath laid among you.  
And let special Care be taken that there be not unbrotherly and unbecoming Divisions among you, but avoid them, delight not in Breaches, lest the Devil enter in by them, but keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, and be of one mind, of one accord, that so the precious Gospel may not suffer by your means, for if it doth, verily you shall pay for it. Advise together, and manage all your Meetings and Consultations calmly, with Wisdom and Meekness, and Brotherly Love: And if you shall see Occasion of doing so, Advise also with others, who will be cheerfully willing to afford you all the Assistance that they can. But above all, be sure to Advise with God, and Wrestle mightily with him, who is the best Counsellor, and holds all the Stars in his right hand. Go, go to Heaven for a Pastor, and beg of the Lord who knoweth the Abilities and the Hearts of all Men, that He would Choose for you, and send One that will be indeed a Blessing. Let me tell you this, when a godly able Minister dyeth, the People who have lost him, have very little Reason to expect that God will send them another, till they have been earnest and importunate in seeking One, that is, till they have Prayed him in, and Sighed him in, and Wept him in. And I beseech you, look to it that you be not misguided by any bad Counsellor, and that no fordid sinister End, no petty private particular Interest do betray you into the Hands of an unfit Person, one that is Corrupt in Judgement, tainted with Erroneous Principles, who will endeavour to Poison you; or one that is of a Factious Spirit, who will foment and keep up, and help to increase those differences, the laying and composing of which doth deserve and call for the utmost Endeavours of those that fear God and bear good Will to Zion. That which was the Prayer of Moses for Israel, is and shall be mine for you, Numbers 22.16, 17. Let the Lord, the God of the Spirits of all Flesh, set a Man over this Congregation, that may go out before you, and that may go in before you, that may lead you out, and that may bring you in, that this Congregation of the Lord may not be as Sheep without a Shepherd. The good Lord give you a Man after his own Heart!  
You will think it now high time for me to shut up this Discourse, and I think so too You, I suppose, will not; sure I am, you have no reason to judge me uncharitable, if I look upon this Congregation as being no better than mine own and others. Surely there are some here, in whom to this day Satan hath his Seat, while in others of you Christ hath Erected his Throne. Surely this is not a Floor in which there is nothing but Wheat. For mine own part, I do desire to be a Pastor to such a Church, as all the Members of it are Saints; for as I greatly love pure Ordinances, so an Holy Communion, but I would not desire to be a Preacher to such a Congregation in which there are none but Saints, because, though Edifying Work be very good, and great, and excellent, and accordingly to be attended to, yet Converting Work is the main and principal Work of the Gospel Ministry: Thus our Lord Jesus spoke to Paul, Acts 26.17, 18. I send thee to the Gentiles, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God: Therefore, before we part, I would leave something among you, and with those of you who are as yet in an unregenerate state, that through the Blessing of God accompanying it, it may do them good.  
You that have sat under the Ministry of this Holy Man, and have not had your Hearts pierced with it, nor your Consciences awakened, but have all this while been in a profound, yea dead Sleep: Or, it may be, you have been awakened, and sometimes scared and frighted, (as I doubt not but you will own him to have been a spiritual and lively Preacher) and for a while you have been greatly concerned, and started up, but the Pang went over, and you even laid your Head down again upon the Pillow of Carnal Security, and at this day are as fast asleep in your Sins as He is in his Grave. I know you not, but if you know yourselves I will say this to you; Fall down upon your Knees, and humble yourselves greatly before God, and admire his Patience and Goodness, giving to him the Glory of it. O what a Mercy is it, that your Minister is gone, who was fit for Heaven, and that you are yet here who have been all your days industriously fitting yourselves for Hell! Do you Bless God with your Souls, and all that is within you, that you are yet alive in that very place where you have squandered away so many precious Seasons, golden Opportunities, withstood so many loud and earnest Calls, where you have despised and slighted so many free Offers of Grace, and been altogether barren and unfruitful under such Beams of Gospel-light, and Dews of Heavenly Doctrine. And when you are at home, retire into your Chamber or some private place, and beg of God, yea most hearty beg, that the Death of this holy Man may go near to you, and that it may make that deep impression upon you, and prosper to the doing of that good Work in your Souls which was not done by all the Sermons which you heard from him. Oh that he might prove another Samson, triumphing over the Enemies of God and Souls, killing more Sins among you and in you by his Death, than he did by his Preaching all his Life.  
Know it will be a most blessed Day, I mean the last and great Day, that of the Resurrection, and it will be at that Day a most Comfortable Meeting that He and you will have, if then he shall find those Gracious whom he left Wicked and Profane; if he shall find them in Christ, and alive unto God, whom he left dead in Trespasses and Sins; if at the Resurrection He shall find them to have been renewed in the spirits of their minds, whom, when he went out of the World, he left Carnal, and sold under sin.  
But if at that Day he shall find you the very same that at his Death he left you, in a Christless and Graceless State, know and tremble at the Thoughts of it, that Prophet, that Man of God will stand forth as a Witness against you. Truly, it would prove some piece of Happiness to lost and ruined Sinners in Hell, some alleviation of their Sorrow, and abatement of their Torment there, if they could but quite forget there had ever been a Prophet among them, upon that account they would lie at more ease than they are like now to do: Every reflection you make, every time that you shall think what a Minister you had, what Preaching you sat under, what Means you enjoyed, it will be as a Sword in your Bones, and as Oil to your Flames.  
Let me but add this one thing more, and with that I will put a Period to this Discourse. If you will not be reclaimed and reform, but go on in the frowardness of your Hearts, and in crooked ways with the Workers of Iniquity, He that Prayed for your Conversion and Salvation, and Preached to you the great things of the Law, and the precious things of the Gospel; in a word, He that Mourned for you, and Wept over you, because you had sinned and had not repent, must at the last day, and will look cheerfully, and be perfectly pleased when he shall with Christ the Judge Vote your Damnation. Be persuaded to read over, and seriously think upon that place, 2 Corinth. 2.14, etc. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ; for we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish; to the one we are the savour of death unto death, to the other the savour of life unto life: For Ministers to be unto their Hearers the savour of Life unto Life, is very sweet, and highly desirable, but it is exceeding dreadful for them to be unto any of them the savour of Death unto Death, however they must be both; and the Apostle saith, in this we triumph: But how, O holy Paul, canst thou find in thy Heart to do this? Where are the Soundings of thy Bowels? What! triumph at the sight of poor Creatures going down to Hell! Any one will conclude that Parent hath no Natural Affection, doth not love his Child, who goeth leaping and dancing while he follows it to the Grave or to the Gallows: But if you do observe that which followeth in the 17th. Verse, you will be easily reconciled to the Apostle; For we are not as many, which corrupt or deal deceitfully with the Word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. When Paul and other godly Ministers triumph over their lost and damned Hearers, they do it not so much because they see them miserable, as because they have the Testimony of their own Consciences; these poor Creatures are lost, but not through any Fault of mine, they go to Hell, but God knoweth I did not send them thither; I Preached to them, and, God is my Witness, I did it in Sincerity.  
FINIS.