untowardly does he go about any thing that is enjoyn'd him he is habitually disobedient and to every good work reprobate Tit. 1.14 Secondly And for that part of the Character which being a good and faithful servant includes 1. He is one that endeavours to extend his obedience to the whole compas of his duty hath an universal respect to all Gods commandments Is not partial in the Law 2. He peculiarly minds the work most of his own station Thinks it not enough or possible to be a good Christian and at the same time an ill Magistrate Minister Parent Master of a Family or Servant in it if it be his lot to be in any of these capacities 3. He is diligent in all the Service that belongs to him any way not slothful in business fervent in Spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 4. He is with most delight exercised in the most spiritual part of his work In the great vital acts of faith love self-devoting and those most immediately proceeding from them meditation prayer and praise 5. He balks not the most hazardous or more costly part Thinks it mean to serve God at no expence or with what costs him nothing Measures not his duty by the advantage or safety of his own secular Interest So as to decline it when nothing is to be got by it or if any thing be in danger to be lost 6. He grudges not that others are less expos'd to danger in their work than he And have that liberty of serving God which he hath not Let me seriously recommend this Property and Disposition of a faithful Servant to my Brethren in the Ministry While some have Opportunity of serving our great and common Lord without fear of the interruption and suffering to which we are liable and when we have reason to judge they do it with sincerity thô we may think they gained their greater liberty by their mistake there can be no more genuine expression of our fidelity and sincere devotedness to our Masters Interest than to behold with complacency all the good which we observe done by them If the great Apostle rejoyced and declared he would rejoyce that Christ was preached thô not sincerely and whether in pretence or truth much more should we when we ought to judge that he is sincerely preached And if he envy'd not those that preached Christ even of envy How horrid would it be should we behold with envy what we are to suppose done out of love and good will They are great admirers of themselves and lovers of some Interest of their own more than his that cannot endure to see his work done by other hands than theirs Or that have nothing of that disposition in them which those words expresse Let him increase and me decrease 7. He is much less apt to smite his fellow-servants or hinder them in their work unles they will work by his rule and measure unprescribed by their Lord himself He takes no pleasure to see the hands ty'd up of useful Labourers in the harvest wishes not their number diminisht but because the harvest is really plenteous but the labourers are few rather prayes the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest Mat. 9.37 38. If any of their own private Inclination would have the necessary work of their Lord hindered and take Pleasure in the exclusion of industrious Labourers for their conscientious disuse of things by their own Confession not necessary Good Lord What Spirit are they are of I understand it not nor Let my Soul enter into their secret I had rather a thousandfold bear their Anger than be of their Spirit Would any faithful Servant rather wish his Masters work should be in any part undone than done by those he dislikes upon no more important reason than that their Cloaths perhaps are not of the same colour with his But thanks be to God that among those that differ from each other in the lesser things there are so many that rejoyce being under restraints themselves for the Liberty of others and that mourn while they enjoy themselves an ample Liberty for others restraints and among whom there is no other contention but who shall think and speak and act with most kindness towards one another And that not whole parties but an ill mind and Spirit only in some Persons can be charg'd with what so much unbecomes faithful Fellow-servants 8. He is less at leasure to mind what others do or do not than what he is to do himself Is above all things solicitous to prove his own work that he may have rejoycing in himself and not in another Gal. 6.4 9. He esteems the utmost he can do but little and counts when he hath done his best he is an unprofitable Servant 10. He approves himself in all that he doth to the eye of his great Master Here we cannot serve too much with Eye-service or be too apprehensive of the constant Inspection of our heavenly Lord. One may be too much a pleaser of Men but no man can too much Study to please and approve himself to the eye of God 11. He laments lost time and labours to redeem it 12. He greatly rejoyces in the success of his Work If for instance it be his business to bring home Souls to God nothing is more grateful to him than to prosper in it My Beloved my Joy and my Crown Philip. 4.1 So he counts such as he can make Proselytes to Christ I have no greater Joy than to hear that my Children walk in truth Joh. 3.4 'T is said of Barnabas a great number believing and turning to the Lord Acts 11.22 23. that When he saw the Grace of God he was glad For 't is added he was a good Man and full of the Holy Ghost 13. He loves his work and his Master is willing to have his Ear bored and serve him for ever If any thought arises of changing he presently represses it by some seasonable check and counter-thought and confirms his Resolution of cleaving to him unto the end 14. He puts the highest value upon such present encouragements from his Lord as are most expressive of peculiar favour The blessed God knows what is most suitable to the Genius and Spirit of his own New Creature They who are his sincere Servants are his Sons too born of him and to the divine and heavenly Nature in them those things are most agreeable that are most Spiritual and whereof others of terrene minds no more know the value than that Dunghil-creature did of the Gem it found there They must have great Stores of Corn Wine and Oyl His better born servants are of a more excellent Spirit and better pleased with the light of his Countenance he differently treats them accordingly As that victorious Persian Monarch entertaining at a Feast the principal Men of his Army gave among them costly Gifts but for Chrysantas a more peculiar Favourite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he only drew
The Life which he hath liv'd on Earth and the Life which we have reason not to doubt he doth live in Heaven Nor could my thoughts reflect upon any portion of Scripture more fit for our purpose or that was more sutable to him and us i. e. that could more aptly serve to describe him and Instruct our selves nor have I known any person to have left the World within my time to whom this Text of Scripture might more fitly be apply'd I shall only observe and Insist upon these two Heads of Discourse from it The Character of such a Servant And The Treatment which he finds at last from his Heavenly Master First His Character He is said to have done well or 't is said to him ◠well no more is there in the Greek Text. And then he is further bespoken as a good and faithful Servant more generally and particularly his fidelity is commended in reference to the special trust and Charge which is imply'd to have been committed to him Thou hast been faithful in a few things I have not over-charg'd thee and thou hast acceptably discharg'd thy self Some think this and the whole Parable to belong only to the Ministers of the Gospel the Servants of Christ in that special sence I do not see a reason for that restriction The words are of themselves capable of being extended further to the faithful Servants of Christ in whatsoever capacity thô being spoken to the Disciples as from the continuation of the Discourse with this Evangelist from the beginning of the foregoing Chapter may be Collected it seems not unfit to allow them a more particular reference to their special Office and trust And here we must note that these words of Commendation Well done good and faithful Servant do speak both the Truth of the thing and the Judgment and estimate which his Lord makes thereof accordingly We are now to consider them under the former notion as they express the truth of the thing the matter of Fact whereof we cannot have a more certain account than as here we have it from his Mouth who imploy'd him was his constant Supervisor must be his final Judge and will be his bountiful Rewarder at length We shall here in opening his Character Note First Some things leading and Introductive or that belong to his entrance into this Service And Secondly Some things that belong to his performance afterward First For the Introductive supposed part of his Character He is 1. One that hath Disclaimed all former and other Masters All in Coordination for of such no man can serve two Other Lords had Dominion over him but by their Vsurpation and his unjust Consent who was not his own and had no right to dispose of himself The faithful Servant Repents and retracts those former engagements as Bonds of Iniquity by which he will be no longer held renounces any former inconsistent Master or Service A truly subordinate Master he must own for the same reason upon which he acknowledges the Supream and do all that such derived Authority challenges by his direction who gave it Otherwise he hath learned to call no man Master on Earth 2. He is one that hath by Covenant surrender'd and resign'd himself to this great Lord and his Service Some Relations have their foundation in Nature this of Servants to a Master we except Slaves in their Consent or in mutual contract and thô this general Relation between God and Man have the most deeply natural foundation imaginable whereupon all are his Servants yet the special Relation must have the other ground viz. That of Consent or Contract superadded not to give God a right to our Service but more expresly and effectually to oblige our selves to it and that we may have a right to his Rewards 'T is but acknowledging and recognizing his former Right in us which is part and the initial part of our Duty to him He requires and justly insists upon it to be acknowledged as our only rightful Lord which till we do we are in Rebellion against him and in the Condition of Servants broke away from their Masters Run-aways Fugitives and who keep our selves out of the Family and thô that cannot however destroy his Right yet it is inconsistent with our Duty for our Service must be throughout voluntary and with our Reward for nothing that is not voluntary is Rewardable Therefore the good and faithful Servant in the Text is one that affects and chooses the State first and sayes with the Psalmist Psal. 119.38 Thy Servant who is devoted to thy Fear And Psal. 116.16 Oh Lord truly I am thy Servant I am thy Servant the Son of thy Hand-maid thou hast loosed my Bonds He doth as is required Rom. 6.13 19. Yields himself to God and all his parts and Powers Servants of Righteousness unto Holiness He reckons it neither Dutiful towards God nor Comfortable to himself to do him only occasional Service but ad libitum and as an unrelated Person He thinks it not Honourable to the great Lord of Heaven and Earth but to Borrow as it were anothers Servant nor can he satisfie himself not to be of the Family therefore he consents first to the Relation and enters himself his Covenant-servant Faithfulness supposes having Covenanted and hath the same reference to our part of the Covenant that Gods faithfulness hath to his 3. He is one that hath thereupon made it his earnest Study to know his Lords will His first enquiry is What wilt thou have me to do Lord he is solicitous to understand the Duty of his Station Psal. 119.125 I am thy Servant give me Vnderstanding that I may know thy Testimonies To enter one's self the Servant of another without any concern to know the business of his place shews an insincere mind and argues he hath more a design to serve himself upon his Master than to serve him 4. He is one that hath an inclination to the work he is to do when he knows it a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an inclining bent of mind to it That which the Scripture means by having the Law of God written in the heart Spoken of our Lord himself in reference to that peculiar Service he was to perform Lo I come to do thy will O God thy Law is in my heart Psal. 40.8 Who thô he were a Son yet taking the form of a servant apply'd himself to that severe part assign'd him with a most willing mind and had hereupon the highest approbation imaginable Isa. 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth And it is spoken of all the inferiour true servants of God besides Jer. 31.33 I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts 'T is the same thing with being Gods workmanship Ephes. 2.10 created unto good works and with that readines to every good work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 3.1 If a mans heart be not so framed to Gods Service how awkwardly and
A Funeral Sermon FOR That FAITHFUL AND LABORIOUS Servant of CHRIST M r Richard Fairclough Who Deceased July 4. 1682. in the Sixty first year of his Age. BY JOHN HOWE Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed for John Dunton at the Black Raven in the Poultrey 1682. To the Reverend Mr. SAMUEL FAIRCLOUGH Mr. JOHN FAIRCLOUGH Mr. GEORGE JONES Mr. RICHARD SHUTE With their Pious Consorts The Brethren and Sisters of the Deceased Mr. RICHARD FAIRCLOUGH My worthy Friends IT is I apprehend a grievous thing to you to be destitute of the wonted solace you have taken in those your most delectable Relatives the Father and the elder Brother of a Family whereof you were the genuine or the ingrafted Branches Whether Nature or Choice gave you your Interest you had a common concern and Comfort in it And indeed from a Love too little common to the rest of the World The Love that hath so observably flourished among you and been your Collective Unitive Bond as it hath shewn it self to be of an higher than the Common kind demonstrated its own Divine Original and that it had its root in Heaven so have its effects been a Demonstration what such a Love can do for the Cherishing of Union not only in a private Family but in the Church and Family of the Living God also And how little necessary it is unto an Union even there that there be a sameness of sentiments and Practices in every little punctilio for a disagreement wherein too many have thought themselves licensed to hate and even destroy one another As God himself was the Fountain so he was tbe first object of that Love with you And as your Love to him caused your entire devotedness to his Interest so your mutual Love united your Hearts according to your several Capacities in serving it without grudging or hard thoughts that each one serv'd it not exactly in the same way By that Love you have been undivided in your Joyes and Sorrows in reference to one another While your very eminent Father Survived how gladly did you pay a joint Reverence and Duty to him what a glory was his hoary Head unto you This your worthy Brother was the next resort and center of your united respect and delight I doubt not you feel your loss as to both which thô God had made a former breach upon you the longer continuance as well as the pleasantness of the enjoyment cannot but have made the more sensible unto you We are somewhat apt to Plead a Prescription for our more continued Comforts But you know how little that avails against a Statute as that for instance by which it is appointed that all must dye Nor is it to be regretted that the absolute Lord of all should pluck in pieces our earthly Families for the Building and Compleating his own in Heaven What I have said of this your excellent Brother in the close of the following Discourse is but a small part of what you know The saying it serves for the Solace of the Survivors not the advantage of the Dead And the Solace is real and great when imitation makes all that is commendable our own and most intimate to our selves It is otherwise but a faint Comfort to have been Related to an excellent Person When a Limb is cut off the Soul retires to the remaining parts May a double Portion of the Spirit and Life which were so copious and vigorous in the Deceased abound unto you And I should be very faulty if I put not in for some share with you who must profess my self a great sharer in your Affliction and Loss and Your very Affectionate Brother and Servant in our Lord John Howe A Funeral SERMON MAT. XXV 21. His Lord said unto him Well done good and faithful Servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. IT may seem somewhat Incongruous and an indecency that this Memorial of our worthy Friend should be now Solemniz'd so long after his very remains are gone from off the face of the Earth But two things concurr'd to make the delay necessary and unavoidable viz. That his own desire exprest in his Will limited the Performance of this Office to the Person upon whom it now falls And that my own great Infirmities before the time of his Sickness and Death which made it more likely he should have done this part for me than I for him had obliged me to begin a course for the repairing of languishing Health which required some Weeks attendance abroad and which could not be sooner over But if our business were only to Mourn and lament our own and the more common Loss it were not yet too late The mention of his Name The worthy Mr. Richard Fairclough is enough to Open fresh Springs calling to remembrance such a Brother such a Friend such a Preacher of the Word of Life as he was And it should do it most of all upon the most common account whom would it not induce to Mourn over this forlorn World to see that every thing that is more excellent more pure more desirable more capable of being useful in it God is gathering up out of it O how much of Spirit and Life is gone from it when one such man dies how are we to mourn over the World as dying gradually the worst sort of Death when the Holy Divine life is thus exhal'd out of it and is expiring by degrees But come we have somewhat else to do than Mourn all this tends to make a glorious Heaven one bright Star the more is now added to it there is nothing of this holy Life lost whatsoever of Excellency Purity Goodness Life Loveliness and Love of that Divine kind vanishes from among us is but transferr'd to its own native place returns to its proper Element as the forsaken Dust hath to its own Heaven hath its part out of every such Person the seat of all Life Purity and Goodness as the Earth draws into its Bosom it s own terrene part not without a Sacredness and a rich Perfume adhering to that also And as it is not our only or more principal business to Mourn so nor is it to relieve and fortifie our selves against Mourning We have somewhat to do divers from them both and that is more considerable than either of them We are chiefly so to consider his Death as may best serve the purposes of our own yet-continuing Life which was the scope of that desire of his signified by his Will that an Instructive Sermon might be upon that occasion Preacht to the People We are to set our selves to learn from it what doth most concern our own daily practice and hope So to acquit our selves as not to neglect the duty of good and faithful Servants to our common Lord nor to come shott of their Reward And to this purpose we are more to consider his life than his death