too short whereupon he cannot stretch himself a covering too scaâ—… wherein he cannot wrap himself Isa 28.20 Thus the Jews sought after righteousness bâ—… obtained it not because they sought not bâ—… faith in believing Gods testimony but 〈◊〉 it were by the works of the Law and submitteâ—… not to the righteousness of God even to Christ who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes Rom. 9.31 32. and 10.3 4. with 3.20 Gal. 3.10 Psa 143.2 and so some not believing Jesus Christ the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world and to have died and given himself a ransome for all and to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world though fully and plainly attested of God in the testimony of the holy Scriptures but through their ignorance how to make those sayings according to their plain import agree with other sayings of Scripture which they rightly understand not or having an high esteem some of them of such holy and precious men as they believe them to be and possibly in the main some such may be or have been God not imputing their ignorances and mistakes that have found out some uncouth ways of interpreting those plain sayings to elude the evident voice of them as that by All is meant only some of all sorts by Every one every one that believes and by the world and whole world only all the Elect whereas the Scriptures speak of the Elect as a party taken and chosen out of the world and so no part of it but distinct from it as in Joh. 15.16.19 they hinder themselves and others from the right and clear understanding and perception of that love and pity of God to man that as reacâ—…ing and including them would be powerful to reconcile them to God and save them being believed and perceived by them Titus 2.11 12 13. and 3.4 5. 1 Joh. 4.14.19 and put themselves and others upon other by-courses to find out that Christ dieâ—… for them and that they have good ground to believe on and hope in him and so theâ—… run to the Law or Works or endeavour to lay a row of frames and good qualitieâ—… below him to lay him upon not having him for the bottome foundation for while they think Christ died only for the Elect they also necessarily think they must know their Election before they can know that He died for them and so that they have any right to come to or believe on him and so oftentimes it happens that some conceiting themselves to be better framed that others think with the Pharisees they are more beholden to God than they despiâ—…sing them and trusting in themselves that they be righteous and his Elect ones and others not able to find any such goodness or betterness in themselves as may persuade them that God loves them better oâ—… hath elected them are ready to distract themselves or run to desperation and indeed how should any works or frames not proceeding from and begotten by the first appearance of Gods love in Christ to men but preceding the perception thereof be good evidences of their Election which is in Christ Jesus and not before or out of him Surely whereas the Apostles say they were after the appearance of the love and pity of God to mankind saved by his mercy those may rather say they were so far saved before as to know their Election or else for their believing on Christ as a Saviour appointed of God for them they have no foundation and what a pudder they put themselves and others into about knowing the rightness of their frames too is wonderful so that as the Wise man saith * Though I do not judge so rashly as to conclude either all of the one apprehension wise nor all of the other in these points to be fools or wicked The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them because be knoweth not how to go to the City Eccl. 10.15 While he who is the way to it and the gate for admission and the openness of it for all men as sinners and enemies and lost ones in themselves though in respect of the parting with all in entring it and the persecutions or trials thereupon attending it is strait and that Grace of God towards all mankind displayed in him which being believed and minded engages moves and strengthens to enter it is rejected of them But they that are truly in Christ and wisâ—… in Him so far as in Him understand all things in a measure though not all as yet to perfection But from this right judgment proceeds also and is found in these wisâ—… men 2. A renewing of the mind Ephes 4.23 Rom. 12.2 Naturally and according to the course of this world while mens understandings are dark and void of judgment and discretion the mind is full of vanity air and emptiness exercised about things that cannot profit save or do good because vain Loving vanity and following after leasings Psal 4.2 Ephes 4.17 18. Yea noâ—… only Vanity but wicked works possess it Col. 1.21 The minding of the flesh Rom. 8.7 and of earthly things Phil. 3.19 setting the mind on things below savouring and nursing on them are mentioned as things that men ignorant of the truth are guilty of Coâ—… los 3.2 Men of corrupt minds are they that are destitute of the truth 1 Tim. 6.5 even as Children Fools mind Bables Toys Butterflies Trifles and the like while understanding men are exercised in considering weightieâ—… and more useful matters even so the foolish unrenewed mind being destitute of the â—…rinciples of truth for want of understanding and credit given to them is taken up with sensual earthy and worldly vanities â—…eglecting and not taking good heed to â—…hat is of greatest worth and concernment â—…o the Souls happiness like to that foolish â—…mperour that busied himself with catching â—…lies while others were busie to catch away is Empire so fares it with fools or evil â—…ersons which are all one in Scripture language they are busie in minding the riches â—…onours or pleasures of this life Sciences falsly so called or notions of truths crotâ—…hets and conceits elegancy of phrase and â—…peech and such things while remaining â—…gnorant of the truth and not setting their minds to the things of eternal life Sathan â—…atches away their Souls and eternal life from them even while they set not their â—…earts to seek and get the knowledg of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ to obey his heavenly calls and counsels and walk in the exercise and practise of these things that are well-pleasing in his sight But they that are truly wise persons are renewed in some measure in the spirit of their minds so as their hearts and affections are taken with and their minds are exercised about the things which they see in the light of the Gospel of God to be excellent and glorious they are minding the Spirit and thâ—… things thereof which is life and peace
the Church History of a woman that was very instrumental in converting a Nation Every man as he hath received the gift of God may minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 4.10 though every one may not be an Elder or Officer in or over a Church but such as are chosen orderl thereto doing all things orderly decently and so as in charity and for edification 1 Cor. 14.26 40. and 16.14 He that had but one Talent should have traded with it and put it to use for his Lords advantage and ought not to have wrapt it up in a Napkin or hid it in the earth and for his not doing so he met with that terrible Sentence Thou wicked and slothful servant thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not and gather where I strowed not Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the Exchangers Take therefore the Talent from him and cast ye the unprofitable Servant into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Matt. 25.26 27 28 30. 5. That where men are faithful in holding forth the word and truth of God and walk thereafter and so to their abilities and capacities are seeking the glory of God and the good of Souls there God is and will be with them and bless them Matâ—… 28.18 19 20. the Difciples going forth and doing and observing what Christ commanded them he promiseth Lo I am with you alwaies to the end of the world So the Lord by the Prophet Jeremy saith If they had stood in my counsel and caused my people to hear my words then they should have turned them from their evil ways and from the evil of their doings Jer. 23.22 The diligent hand here too makes rich Prov. 10.4 while Paul plants and Apollo waters God gives increase 1 Cor. 3.6 7. If men refuse to come to Christ to be converted and gathered to him and to God in and by him whom his servants would gather to him their labour in that case shall not be in vain they shall be accepted of God and reckoned as gatherers of many or turners of them to God because they did faithfully endeavour it even as Abraham in the Scripture is reputed to have offered up his Son Isaac though he was not actually sacrificed or slain God by his Angel interposing because he was really willing and ready to have offered him up and intended it Genes 22. with Heb. 11.17 18. And our Lord Jesus when he complained that He had laboured in vain and spent his strength in vain and for naught because when he would have gathered Israel Israel would not be or were not gathered comforts himself in this that his judgment was with the Lord and his work or reward with his God Isa 49.4 That is God would judge him and reward him according to his faithfulness and heartie endeavour after others good as fully as if they had received the good he desired Thence he adds that though Israel be not gathered yet should he be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and his God would be his strength Yea and make him successful to others not only to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved or desolations of Israel but also to be a light to the Gentiles and to be his Salvation to the ends of the earth verse 5 6. And truly that we may also note that often times when the labor of his servants prove unsuccessful with some he directs them to others with whom they find success as in the Parables of the marriage Dinner and of the great Supper when the labor of the servants in calling the forebidden Guests proved unsuccessful they setting light by the Feast and making excuses why they would not or could not come they were ordered to others to call and bring them in with whom their endeavours took such place that the Feast house was filled with Guests Mat. 22.1 2-9 10. Luke 14.16 17-23 And when the Apostle Paul labouring with the Jews to convince and turn them in to God found them unbelieving and obstinate God sent him to the Gentiles that would hear and many of them were converted by him Acts 13.46 47 48 and 28 25-28 Yea many in many places were brought in by his and his fellow lobourors Ministry as appears in many chapters of the book of the Acts. God often going forth with his Servants so as to prevaile upon peoples hearts So he went forth with Peter and the Apostles at Jerusalem so as many thousands were converted by them Acts 2.41 47. 4.4 5.14 21.20 Yea and with those that were not Apostles and for ought we find mentioned of them no ordained persons by any humane ordination Those that were scattered abroad by reason of the persecution that arose about Stephen went and Preached the word every where and the hand of the Lord was with them so as a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Acts 8.1 4. 11.19 20 21. So doth God own and accompany the faithful diligent endeavours of his Servants He that received five Talents and traded diligently with them and he that received but two did likewise both of them were so blessed of God in their trading as to double their stock that so no man might be discouraged from diligence by the less measure of his received furniture or gifts Yea and doubtless had he that had but one Talent traded with it and been faithful and diligent to improve it he should have been so blessed therein as to have brought in an acceptable increase perhaps two or three more Mat. 25.16 17. 6. That where men in their faithful and diligent improvement of their Talents are made instruments of converting men Ministers by whom they believe as God gives to any or every one 1 Cor. 3.5 there he attributes the event and the effect to them though but instruments as if they were the Authors and Producers thereof So here they that instruct many and are succeeded with their conversion are said to turn many to righteousness or to make many righteous though the power was of God and not of them and the praise to be given to him without whose power and blessing they had done nothing much less effected any good by their doing So the effect is sometimes attributed to the Instrumental cause sometimes to the Principal As the Axe is said to hew or cut down a Tree though of it self it can perform no action but the man that useth it may more properly be said to hew or cut down with or by it Thus our Saviour oftimes ascribed his cures to the faith of the persons cured because therethrough they received the benefit which they that believed not could not receive not coming to him for it or being judged unworthy of it Mat. 9.22 Mark 5.34 10.52 Luke 7.50 8.48 17.19 18.42 with Mat. 13.58 Mark 6.5 6. And so the Apostle saith to Timothy
bending to them and all they that despised them and looked upon them as poor piteous sorry people shall bow down themselves at the soles of their feet and call them the City of the Lord the Zion of the holy one of Israel and whereas they were forsaken and hated God will make them an eternal excellency a joy of many generations Isai 60.14 15. and that leads to the next thing They shall be as the brightness of the Firmament and as the Stars 4. Perpetually and everlastingly glorious The Firmament and Stars are not subject to those decays and expirings and extinguishments as to their lustre and glory as our inferiour lights Candles Torches and the like which may either be blown out and so loose their shine or will of themselves in short time expire and go out as suffering a consumption and defect of the matter that feeds their light and shine but though by reason of the Clouds intervening or the earth in their daily revolutions in their turning about it or by reason of the brighter glory of the Sun their brightness or shining lustre is not alwaies seen by us yet they are alwaies alike bright and glorious in themselves And yet because of that intermission of their shining unto us by reason of those things above mentioned the Holy Ghost might to supply that defect adde here that expression which may be understood to appertain to both clauses viz. That they shall shine for ever and ever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a hidden unknown time and still beyond that even for ever and ever their glory shall be like the glory of God that shall shine upon them everlasting Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Isai 35.10 and 51.11 They shall be an eternal excellency for the Lord shall be their everlasting light and the days of their mourning shall be ended Isaiah 60.15 19 20. The glory of this world passeth away and mens shining lustre like the lamp of the wicked goeth out their honour shall not descend to the grave after them Psal 59.17 1 John 2.17 but God will give these an everlasting name honour and renown so as they shall be had in everlasting remembrance Isa 56.5 Psal 112.6 For the mercy and kindness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousness unto childrens children to such as keep his Covenant and think upon his Commandments to do them Psal 103.17 18. 5. Indeed both the brightness of the Firmament and the shining of the Stars are inferiour to that of the Sun and so the Holy Ghost may signifie in his use of those Similitudes that their glory spoken of shall be inferiour to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ the Sun of righteousness and indeed its meet that He in all things and for ever should have the preheminence be glorified in â—…ll their glory as they also are made glorious by partaking of his as the Philosophers tell us that the Firmament and Stars derive their shining lustre and splendour from the Sun and from its light and lustre So to be sure all the Saints and holy ones shall do so from Christ not shining in any splendor in such sense their own as not to have or derive it from him And yet inasmuch as our Saviour useth the Metaphor of the Sun to set forth the greatness of the then shining glory of the righteous Matth. 13.43 it may signifie to us also that the Mystery of God and the great and glorious thoughts and purposes of his heart towards his servants and people was not made out so sully and clearly in former times to and by the holy Prophets as they are now in these last days by the coming and appearing and in the Doctrine and Discoveries of the Lord Jesus by himself and his Apostles Ephs 3.5 We have the things of God more fully made known in these last days than in those former times God reserving this honour to the appearance and ministry of his bleffed Son As the way into the Holiest was not yâ—… made manifest while the first Tabernacle waâ—… standing So neither was the glory of it or that was to be thence revealed so fully signified and declared Heb 9.8 2. As to what is peculiar of difference in these two Metaphors or Similitudes the brightness of the firmament and the Stars I shall only observe that the Stars are the more glorious ornaments of the Firmament and exceed the brightness of the Firmament barely or where there is no Star And so to that in saying that they are wise or instruct shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars We may note that he doth signifie both 1. That there shall be different degrees of glory given as rewards to the fearers and servant of God as is also signified by the Apostle in saying He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth liberally shall reap liberally 2 Cor. 9.6 And our Saviour implies the like in his answer to the two Sons of Zebedee and their Mother desiring that they might sit one at his right hand and the other at his left hand in his Kingdome for He tells them among other things that â—…o sit at his right hand and at his left in his Kingdome that is to be near to Him is not his to give but to them for whom it is prepared â—…f his Father as implying that it is so prepared for some but not for all his Disciples Matth. 20 21-23 Mark 10.40 as also it is implyed in that of Zechary 12.8 â—…s the words may be construed and understood where he saith He that is feeble among them shall in that day be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of God before him and in that of the Apostle that as one Star differeth from another Star in glory So also shall be the Resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15.41 42. 2. That the greatest Glory shall be given to them that are most abundant in doing good for they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament but that is less than the Stars like to which they shall shine that turn many to righteousness which is more than simply the being wise yea or instructing or making others wise for so they may do that turn not many to righteousness this also is confirmed by the former proofs particularly that of 2 Cor. 9.6 and is evidenced in the Parables of the talents and pounds where he that by trading with his pound got ten pounds is rewarded got with rule over ten Cities when he that had got but five is rewarded with ruling but over five Luke 19 17-19 for God shall render in the judgment to every man according as his works shall be to them that do work good shall he reward glory honour and peace but yet so as to the
frame of thoughts about Gods Electing and Rejecting yea and asserted and urged the sufficiency in that Grace of God towards all men in the hearty belief knowledg and obedience of it for producing in men all that is necessary to their Salvation laying that as the bottom doctrine from whence all others rightly flow and receive light for the right understanding and improvement of them yea both Promises Threatnings Instructions Reproofs the Doctrines of Repentance from Dead Works Faith towards God Baptismes and laying on of Hands the Resurrection and eternal Judgmentâ—… Election and Reprobation and what not This this as to the Jews Christ himself was the great stumbling block to those zealous ones who took up uncoutâ—… notions of the world of the Elect and bring as sorry proofs for it as one I see lately that grounds his conceit upon Romans 4.13 as if the world that Abraham was the heir of must needs be the Elect not minding that the same Promise the Apostle there implies was made to his Seed also and if his seed be the Elect as doubtless they are being Christ and all that are his Galat. 3.16 29. then the Apostle should say that God promised Abraham and the Elect that hâ—… and so they shall be Heirs of the Elect or that the Father should be heir of hiâ—… Children whereas Children use to be rather the heirs of their Fathers Surely 1 Cor. 3.22 Revel 21.6 7. mighâ—… suggest a better interpretation thereof Others accused his want of Human Learning and of Ordination by the Biâ—…s But wisdome is justified of her â—…ildren Matt. 11.19 What he â—…ned and understood or apprehended from the Scriptures he soberly and â—…ceably propounded both in word and â—…ting to the great helpfulness of maâ—…n understanding and furtherance in â—…y He seperated not from the Natiâ—…l Church though he could not subâ—…be to all enjoyned in it nor was able said to read and pray together and â—…refore being a publick Preacher in â—…ittlesey in which the Right Hoâ—…able Earl of Portland offered to have â—…ured his continuance if he had pleased â—…g well persuaded of his uprightness 〈◊〉 abilities he chose rather to lay it â—…n and afterward demeaned himself â—…h all peaceableness hearing weekly â—…established Minister and being preâ—… at their service for he was not for â—…ing up the tares until the Harvest â—…rary to the Lords command Matâ—…w 13.30 out of zeal to have his field now perfectly pure In his youâ—… times being acquainted with Revereâ—… Mr. Cotton of Boston and Mr. Peâ—… of Hingham he suckt in some Notiâ—… from the former about Sons and Servaâ—… of God which he held fast a long tiâ—… as may be seen by his Book stiled Tâ—… Universality of Gods Love to Mâ—… kind which yet after further light 〈◊〉 sight he let go as his after writâ—… especially that large and excellent Tâ—…tise entituled An express Declaratâ—… of the Testimony of Christ and 〈◊〉 short Tract of Election at the cloâ—… his Treatise about the Person of Câ—… do evidence For neither did he recâ—… in light all at once The path ofâ—… just is as the shining light that shiâ—… more and more unto the perfect Prov. 4.18 St. Augustine haâ—… retractions and He his second and thoughts Sometimes the reverenâ—… have of persons proves a snare therefore its good even towards hiâ—… and all others to observe the Apâ—… counsel To try all things and hold â—…t that that is good 1 Thes 5.21 â—…e Spouse found not her beloved till 〈◊〉 was a little past the Watchmen â—…nt 3.4 And if the holy Apostles â—…ew in part and prophecied in part â—…an scarcely be expected that they who â—…ow them should perfectly comprehend that that they so knew and prophecy 〈◊〉 without mistaking them in any thing 〈◊〉 a Proverb Bernardus non videt â—…nia the best men have also their â—…lings and imperfections the acutest â—…t may mistake in something It s good â—…accept of all helps by good men but means that we may see with our own â—…s not only with theirs as resolving 〈◊〉 Faith into their persuasions or sayâ—…s because of our esteem of them with 〈◊〉 a Berean examination of them by the â—…ly Scriptures He had a good clear â—…inguishing faculty between things â—…t differ through their confounding â—…ereof men often mistake yet where 〈◊〉 conjectured he had his mistakes too as well as others as in somethings of thâ—… Scripture Chronology and about thâ—… time of the Jews Return and Conversion which he greatly longed to have seen I know not where we may find infallibâ—…lity but in Christ and his holy Spirit aâ—… the Prophets and Apostles guided aâ—… acted thereby in the Holy Scriptures Maâ—… useful Treatises he wrote published bâ—… sides these above mentioned as about tâ—… precious Blood of Christ about the specâ—… Love of Christ to Believers about 〈◊〉 Liberty and Bondage of mans Will abâ—… Prayer about the spiritual Salt an excellent Soliloquy and Meditation besides divers Manuscripts left some which as that pretty large 〈◊〉 abâ—… Antichrist I hope may after some tiâ—… be made publick And as he was haâ—… in the Ofspring of his heart and braâ—… so very happy too he was in the Ofspring of his body with reference to his Son 〈◊〉 only Son that I ever knew he had a 〈◊〉 of his own name who ran so swifâ—… that he gat the start of him for be 〈…〉 Spirit and labouring migh 〈…〉 he spent his weak body 〈…〉 viee and went to Heaven â—…ur years and almost five months before â—…m 〈…〉 mightily set to propogate â—…e Derâ—…onstrations of Gods love to manâ—…nd and therein mens Salvation â—…hose works also praised him and still â—…aise him in the gates indeed his Sons 〈◊〉 early setting had more of judgment in 〈◊〉 to the surviving because his years â—…ight have been more hopefully contiâ—…ed and had he lived to his Fathers â—…ars he might have been of far greater sefulness especially when his Father â—…as gone who came to his Grave in a â—…od old Age being entered upon his â—…ghtieth year when being spent with â—…uch Meditation Writing and other â—…xercise in the studies of Wisdome and â—…eeting with some matters of grief and â—…ouble he fell into some distempers in â—…s Head somewhat of a Lethargick â—…ture of which he had had some symâ—…omes and shorter fits once or twice some years before which now after some tâ—… or three Months continuance put an eâ—… to his life But what shall we say Gâ—… himself for mine iniquities and the iâ—… iquities of my Brethren hath done it 〈◊〉 deprive us both of the Son and Fatheâ—… and against Him there lies no just coâ—…plaint for any thing done by him Tâ—… Lord is righteous in all his ways aâ—… holy in all his works Psal 145.1 Their judgment is with the Lord aâ—… their work and reward with thâ—… God what remaines but that we humble our selves and put our mouths 〈◊〉 the dust if so be there may be hope thâ—… God though he hath sore broken us
of his Ministery but many 〈◊〉 in the Countryes where he lived and whâ—… he was more conversant as in Cambridge shire Norfolk the Isle of Ely Linceâ—… shire and thereabouts Many that hâ—… blessed God that ever they knew him a who yet do so that we may with comfort aâ—… confidence leave him here in the earth an assured hope and expectation of his â—…ing raised up again to everlasting life a that then he shall among them that be 〈◊〉 shine as the brightness of the Firmament a among those that turn many to righteousâ—… as the Stars for ever and ever For indâ—… he did not only hold forth good Doctrâ—… the Doctrine of the Grace of God to men but did also walk humbly and holily among and toward men Preaching in his practice as well as in his doctrine Though we do not make him more than a man a good and an useful man having learned with St. Augustine to give that honour only to the holy Scriptures called Canonical to be the absolute rule of our faith and life We look upon his Life as that which had its failings and passions as other good mens and read his Writings and heard his Discourses as we would other holy mens with our senses exercised to compare them with the Holy Scriptures and as was his frequent expression prefixed before divers of his Treatises in their Epistles to bring things to the Testimony and receive what agrees therewith and if any thing swarve therefrom or want confirmation thereby to let it alone or reject it for we have learned of our Lord to call no man Master of our faith but himself the only absolutely perfect Pattern of Life and Teacher of Truth though we have also learned of his Apostle to have all in honour for their works sake that faithfully and skilfully instruct us into and provoke us to hold fast that which our Lord hath taught us 1 Thes 5.12 13. I know many and those that account themselves and were accounted the strictest Religionists censured him for his Doctrine and Practices and was not our Lord himself so and by such manner of persons For his Doctrine because he held the Death of Christ to have been for all men and the Grace in Him to be treasured up in Him for all men as what is free for them and dissented from those of Mr. Calvins mind in his apprehensions of Election and Reprobation but they that censured him upon that score bewray their own ignorance or unbelief of Gods testimony in the Scriptures and unaquaintedness with the manner of its speaking and are of those that call some bodies else their Rabbies than Jesus Christ and follow other Guides rather than his holy Apostles crying up this or that supposed holy man more than them and their plain sayings For his practise some as accounting him a Sect-Master or a maker of a Schism but they that so did did not well know him For his work it was not to divide men from the Church of England in which he walked and worshipped though not in all things approving yet not for lesser dissatisfactions renting from it Upon which account many others of the zealous parties more censured his practise But I think he followed therein the way and practise of the holy Prophets and Apostles who though reproving the Errors and Faults in the Jewish Church or those that called themselves of it yea and approving and practising the Assemblings and Speakings together of such as feared God besides the publick Assemblings of the professed Church Mal. 3.16 Psal 111.1 119.63 Mark 1.21 39 2.1 2. Luke 10.38 39. Acts 3.1 4.23 12.5 12. yet made not a seperation therefrom till or otherwise than they might be thrust out by them Isa 66.5 Well we shall leave him to his righteous Judge who seeth not as men see nor judgeth after their Judgment With whom his work we trust is accepted and of whom we hope he shal be rewarded with this great happiness To shine as the brightness of the Firmament and as the Stars for ever and ever In which comfort concerning him we here leave him Though yet notwithstanding this cause of Gladness concerning him 2. In respect of our selves we have great cause of sadness for that God hath deprived us of him of his farther helpfulness and usefulness among us and that too in the midst of his farther endeavours of it Both as we may reflect upon our unthankfulness for and want of making due improvement of so good an Instrument of good to us and so great a gift of Gods grace and mercy as he was as what might provoke God to take him from us and to take him away too so as he did both at such a distance where few of his Acquaintance could have the opportunity of visiting him and especially in such a manner as by suffering such a feebleness to befal him as took away the benefit of his speaking audibly to us during the continuance of his sickness if I may call it a sickness which though long He being weak many weeks yet in all that time he spake little so as to be well-understood a whole Sentence together only now and then a Sentence But those about him perceived that he spake oftentimes about Christ or the Resurrection and the hope of the glory to come and was much in Prayer to God even to his end Surely God might take him away in such a manner for correction and reproof to the living as if he should signifie therein that because we made not sufficient account and use of what he had so much and oft spoke in his life-time we should have little from him audibly in his dying Which though it might be imputed partly to his age and spentness being just entred upon his eightieth year and having spent his natural strength much in his continual writing meditation and exercise and partly to the distemper that fell upon his head and nerves and rendred him listless drowsy and in a measure Lethargick or Appoplectick as I conceive Yet seeing God doth often order that they that serve him much in their life time express much of him too in their death in an edifyable manner to others And he could had he pleased have ordered such strength and livelyness to him also therein Therefore it is better for us taking it out of Gods hand as a reproof of our unprofitableness to make that use of it for the future to improve the mercies God gives us while we have them as our Saviour admonished the the Jews when he said Yet a little while I am with you and then I go to him that sent me Ye shall seek me and shall not find me and where I am thither ye cannot come John 7.33 34. 8.21 to the end they might attend to him and make good use of him and his presence while yet with them and where they might find and come to him and so might walk in the light while yet the
Jew first and also to the Gentile for there is no respect of persons but there is of works with God Rom. 2.6 10.11 which renders it a thing not in vain to be more diligent and industrious in the way and work of the Lord but good to abound therein which would be bootless and in vain if men being believers on Christ in the main should be equally rewarded for doing little good as if they or others that did more Indeed when there is a heart to do more and the reason of not doing more is merely want of matter or capacity for doing more there the reward of them that do less as to the matter done or administred by them may be as much or more than of them that have done more as to the matter done having ability to have done still more or better than they did as in the case of the poor woman casting in her two mites which was all that she had into the Treasury accepted by our Saviour as doing more than all they that out of their superfluity had cast into it though much more in quantity than she had Mark 12.41 42 43 44. as also in the Parable of the Labourers where they that wrought but one hour not being called in sooner and as it may seem more referring themselves to the good pleasure of their Lord for their wages and reward and less capitulating with him than those that came sooner had equal reward with them Matthew 20 1-9 15. But where men have capacities and abillities proportionable and do not equally proportionably to them the more faithful diligent and bountiful shall have the greater reward And so it s a good encouragement to greater diligence and abundance in the service of God and Christ knowing it shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 and yet so as puts no discouragement upon any that have hearts set to do more but have less talents or abililities But that belongs to the use of these points to which having been so large in Explication we now come at length even to Application Applicat 1. And first what hath been said on the first point may serve Vse 1. To commend to us the study of Wisedome or a diligent endeavour after it as that which will be of greatest advantage to us for seeing they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament in and after the Resurrection well may we say with Solomon How much better is it to get wisdome than gold and to get understanding rather to be chosen than Silver Pro. 16.16 It is true that much Silver and Gold will make men glitter here but it is in things without them their gay cloaths and gawdy garnishings of them their houses houshold stuff horses and suchlike matter but alas the glory and shine they give them is as much below that of the wise man here promised and predicted as the glory or shine of the Glow worm is below that of the brightness of the Firmament Gold and Silver Riches profit not in the day of wrath from which wisdome will make us wise to Salvation giving us that righteousness which delivers from Death Prov. 11.4 A good Name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving kindness rather than Silver and Gold Prov. 22.1 But it is not Silver and Gold that will without wisedome give us a good name much less loving favour with the Lord but wisdome will give us them for Riches and Honour are with her yea durable riches and righteousness and whoso sinds her finds life and shall obtain favour of the Lord Prov. 8.18 34 35. Wisdome is that that will make a mans face to shine and change the boldness or strongth of his countenance Eccles 8.1 truly it puts a lustre upon faces or appearances now Stephen who was a man indued with the Holy Spirit and therethrough with such wisdome as all his learned Adversaries were not able to resist even when he came to answer his adversaries accusations for his life in the presence of the Greatest Council in Jerusalem All that sat in Council looking stedfastly on him saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel Acts 6 8-10-15 with 7.1 Oh what will it do when he shall appear with Christ in glory Men may be rich and have riches and yet leave little fame or glory behind them when they are gone no nor have any great matter of lustre while in possession of them How pittifully did Croesus or Crassus look to a judicious eye and so Nabal and Haman but much more in the eye of God and his holy ones in comparison of Saint Paul or Peter or Stephen yea or any the least in Gods Kingdome Yea men may be rich and infamous do so unworthily as to foile all their heights and enjoyments in the world by their foolish and sordid actions as that rich man Nabal did Whose name was Nabal and folly was with him truly many have gotten greater fame and shone more among men both in their life time and after death by their wisdome though but poor and mean persons than those that have been very wealthy being void of wisdome as not only many Prophets and Apostles but even many Heathens that are yet famous for their wisdome and learning though but a worldly and perishing wisdome as far below the heavenly wisdome as a rush light is below the brightness of the Firmament and therefore that that will give them no lustre in the Resurrection Surely Solomons wisdome made him shine more than all the riches and honour of his Kingdome others have been as rich as he but none so wise nor did his Riches so much as his great Wisdom draw the Queen of Sheba to come so far to see him and yet his folly in loving strange women how much did it take off the lustre of his wisdome How much more gloriously would he have shone had he been so wise as to have shunned that folly and he prefers even a poor and wise child before an old and foolish King that will no more be admonished for this out of prison may come to reign when he other though born in his Kingdome may become poor Eccles 4.13 14. especially being wise with the wisdome of God which is the wisdome here commended as endring them that are wise therewith so â—…orious hereafter even Christ the wisdome â—…f God as known of us and believed on by â—…s in knowing him we shall know all things â—…ghtly and have our hearts and minds â—…ghtly framed so as to fear God and keep â—…s commandments and the fear of the Lord at is wisdome even the beginning or prinpal matter of it the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and to deâ—…rt from evil that is understanding Job 28.28 Prov. 1.7 and 9.10 Psal 111.10 that 's the wisdome the praise whereof is so set forth in the Scriptures that makes them happy that gets her and that find the understanding and knowledg of her The