performance thereof A thing which is neither prescribed in the Rules nor followed in the practise of men wise only with that cursed politie which God abhors to have a minde suited unto all seasons and tempers so as to compasse their own selfish ends is the utmost of their aime Now in both these did this gift of God shine in this deceased Saint 1 He ever counted it his wisdom to look after the name of God and the testification of his will in every dispensation of providence wherein he was called to serve for this were his wakings watchings enquiries when that was made out he counted not his businesse half done but even accomplished and that the issue was ready at the doore not what saith this man or what saith that man but what saith the Lord that being evident he consulted not with flesh and bloud and the wisdom of it whereof perhaps would he have leaned to it he was as little destitute as any in his Generation I mean the whole wisdom of a man The Name of God was as land in every storm in the discovery whereof he had as happy an eye at the greatest seeming distance when the clouds were blackest and the waves highest as any 2 Neither did he rest here what Israel ought to do in every season was also his enquiry some men have a wisdome to know things but not seasons in any measure surely a thing in season is no lesse beautifull then a word in season as apples of gold in pictures of silver there are few things which belong to civill affairs but are alterable upon the incomprehensible variety of circumstances These alter and change the very nature of them and make them good or bad that is useful or destructive He that will have the garment that was made for him one yeer serve him and fit him the next must be sure that he neither increase nor vvane Importune insisting on the most usefull things without respect to alterations of seasons is a sad signe of a narrovv heart He of vvhom vve speak vvas vvise to discern the seasons and performed things vvhen both themselves and the vvayes of carrying them on vvere excellently suited unto all coincidences of their season And indeed vvhat is most wisely proposed in one season may be most foolishly pursued in another It had been vvisdom in Joshua not to have made any compact but to have slain all the Gibeonites but it vvas a folly sorely revenged in Saul vvho attempted to do the same He vvho thinks the most righteous and sutable proposals or principles that ever vvere in the vvorld setting aside generall rules of unchangeable Righteousnesse and Equity compassing all times places wayes and forms of Government must be perform'd as desirable because once they were so is certainly a stranger to the Affairs of humane kinde Some things are universally unchangeable and indispensable amongst mem supposing them to live answerable to the generall principles of their kinde as that a Government must be without which every one is the enemy of every one and all tend to mutuall destruction which are appointed of God for mutuall preservation that in Government some do rule and some be in subjection that all rule be for the good of them that are ruled and the like principles that flow necessarily from the very nature of political society Some things again are alterable dispensable meerly upon the account of preserving the former principles or the like if any of them are out of course it is a vacuum in nature politick for which all particular elements instantly dislodge and transpose themselves to supply and such are all forms of Government amongst men which if either they so degenerate of themselves that they become directly opposite or are so shattered by providential Revolutions as to become uselesse to their proper end may and ought to be changed and not upon other accounts but now for other things in Government as the particular way whereby persons shall be designed unto it the continuance of the same persons in it for a lesse or a greater proportion of time the exercise of more or lesse power by some sorts or the whole body of them that are ruled the uniting of men for some particular ends by bonds engagements and the like occasional emergencies the universal disposal of them is roll'd on prudence to act according to present circumstances 2 Love to his people This was the second qualification wherein Daniel was so eminent And our deceased friend not to enter into comparison with them that went before had cleerly such a proportion as we may heartily desire that those who follow after may drink but equall draughts of the same cup that as his pains labour travel Jeopards of his life and all that was dear to him Relinquishment of Relations and contentments had sweetnesse and life from this motive even intensenesse of Affection to his people the people of whom he was and whose prosperity he did desire needs no further demonstration then the great neglect of self and all self-concernments which dwelt upon him in all his tremendous undertakings vicit amor patriae or certainly he who had upon his brest and all his undertakings self-contempt so eminently engraven could not have persisted wrestling with so many difficulties to the end of his dayes It was Jerusalem and the prosperity thereof which was preferr'd to his chief joy Neither 3 Did he come short in Righteousnesse in the administration of that high place whereto he was called nay then this there was not a more eminent stone in that Diademe which he had in the earth If he lay not at the bottom yet at least he had a signall concurrence in such Acts of Justice as Antiquity hath not known and Posterity will admire Neither was it this or that particular act that did in this bespeak his praise but a constant will and purpose of rendring to every one his due I shall not insist upon particulars in these and sundry other personall Qualifications between the persons mentioned a Parallel may lie 2 As to Employment that of Daniel was mentioned before it was the receiving and holding out from God Visions of signal providentiall Alterations disposing and transposing of States Nations Kingdoms and Dominions what he had in Speculation was this mans part to follow in Action he was an eminent instrument in the hand of God in as tremendous Providentiall Alteration as such a spot of the World hath at any time received since Daniel foresaw in generall them all and this not as many have been carried along with the stream or led by outward motives and considerations far above their own principles and desires but seeingly and knowingly he closed with the minde of God with full purpose of heart to serve the will of the Lord in his Generation And on this account did he see every mountain made a plain before-hand by the Spirit of the Lord and staggered not at the greatest difficulties through unbelief
but being stedfast in faith he gave glory to God And to compleat the Parallel as Daniel's Visions were still terminated in the Kingdom of Christ so all his actions had the same aime and intendment This was that which gave life and sweetnesse to all the most dismall and black engagements that at anytime he was called out unto All made way to the comming in of the promised glory It was all the vengeance of the Lord and his Temple A Davidicall preparation of his paths in bloud that he might for ever reign in Righteousnesse and Peace but be he so or so the truth of our Proposition is confirmed towards him There is an appointed season when the Saints of the most eminent abilities in the most usefull Employments shall receive their dismission c. I shall briefly open the rest of the words and so take up the proposition again which vvas first laid dovvn 2 Then there is the term allotted to him in this state of his dismission untill the end be Three things may be here intended in this vvord end untill the end be 1 The end of his life Go thou thy wayes to the end of thy life and dayes but this we before disallowed not consenting that Daniel received a dismission from his Employment before the end of his life and pilgrimage 2 The end of the World Go thy wayes to the end of the World till then thou shalt rest in thy grave but neither yet doth this seem to be peculiarly intended in these vvords The vvords in the close of the text do expresly mention that calling it the end of the dayes and in so fevv vvords the same thing is not needlesly repeated besides had this expression held out the vvhole time of his abode in the state of rest here signified it must have been Go thou thy wayes for thou shalt rest untill the end be So that Thirdly the end here is to be accommodated unto the things whereof the Holy Ghost is peculiarly dealing with Daniel and that is the Accomplishment of the great Visions which he had received in breaking the Kingdomes of the World and setting up the Kingdome of the holy One of God Daniel is dismissed from further attendance in this service he shall not see the actuall Accomplishment of the things mentioned but is dismissed and laid aside unto the end of them The vvord untill in the Scripture is not such a limitation of time as to assert the contrary to vvhat is excepted upon its accomplishment untill the end doth not signifie that he should not rest after the end of the things intimated no more then it is affirmed that Michal had children after her death because it is said that untill her death she had none 2 Sam. 6. 23. this then is that end that he is dismissed unto the appointed season for the accomplishment of those glorious things which he had foreshovvn Obs. God oftentimes suffers not his choicest servants to see the issue and accomplishment of these glorious things wherein themselves have been most eminently engaged 3 The third thing that vve may make haste is his state and condition during the time vvhich he lies under this dismission in these vvords for thou shalt rest There is nothing of difficulty in these vvords but vvhat vvill naturally fall under consideration in the opening of the proposition which they hold out which is Obs. 3. The condition of a dismissed Saint is a condition of Rest Thou shalt rest untill the end be What this rest is and from what with wherein it consists shall be afterwards explained 4 The last thing in the Text is the utmost issue of all these dispensations both as to his fore-going labour and his present dismission and following Rest Thou shalt stand in thy lot c. Here are two things considerable in these words The season of the accomplishment of what is here foretold and promised unto Daniel and that is in the end of the dayes that is when time shall be no no more when a period shall be put to the dayes of the World called the last day the great day the day of Judgement that is the season of the accomplishment of this promise the day wherein God will judge the world by the man whom he hath ordained Obs. There is an appointed determinate season wherein all things and persons according to the will of God will run into their utmost issue and everlasting condition 2 The thing foretold and promised that is that he should stand in his lot Obs. There is an appointed lot for every one to stand in and measured portion which in the end they shall receive 2 There is an eminent lot hereafter for men of eminent employment for God here I shal not be able to handle all these several Truths which lie in the words those only which are of most Importance and most suitable may briefly be handled unto you and the first is There is an appointed season wherein the Saints of the most eminent abilities in the most usefull Employments must receive their dismission Zach. 1. 5. Your Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever Fathers and Prophets have but their season and they are not They have their dismission so old Simeon professeth Nunc Dimittis Luke 2. 29. Now thou givest me a dismission they are placed of God in their station as a Centinel in his Watch-tower and they have their appointed season and are then dismissed from their Watch The great Captain of their salvation comes and saith Go thou thy wayes thou hast faithfully discharged thy duty go now unto thy rest Some have harder service some have harderduty then others some keep guard in the Winter a time of storms and temptations trials and great pressures others in the sun-shine the Summer of a more flourishing estate and condition yet duty they all do all attend in the service all endure some hardship and have their appointed season for their dismission And be they never so excellent at the discharging of their duty they shall not abide one moment beyond the bounds which He hath set them who saith to all his creatures thus far shall you go and no further Oftentimes this dismission is in the midst of their work for which they seem to be most eminently qualified The three most eminent works of God in and about his children in dayes of old were 1 His giving his people the Law and setling them in the land of Canaan 2 His recovering them from the Babylonish Captivity and 3 His promulgation of the Gospel unto them In these three works he employed three most eminent persons Moses in the first Daniel in the second and John Baptist in the third and neither of them saw the work accomplished wherein they were so eminently employed Moses died the yeer before the people entred Canaan Daniel some few yeers before the foundation of the Temple and John Baptist in the first yeer of the Baptisme of our Saviour
the discharge of this high Trust and great Employment he was faithfull to the utmost Verse 4. Then the Presidents and Princes sought to finde occasion against Daniel concerning the Kingdome but they could finde none occasion nor fault forasmuch as he was faithfull neither was there any errour or fault found in him Which also his enemies confest Verse 3. Then said these men we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except we finde it against him concerning the Law of his God These qualifications I say amongst others were most eminent in this person who here received his dismission from his employment Secondly there is his Employment it self from which he is dismissed and herein I shall only observe these two things 1 The nature of the Employment it self 2 Some considerable Circumstances of it For the first it consisted in receiving from God and holding out to others cleer and expresse Visions concerning Gods wonderfull providentiall Alterations in Kingdoms and Nations which were to be accomplished from the dayes wherein he lived to the end of the World All the Prophets together had not so many cleer discoveries as this one Daniel concerning these things 2 For the latter this is observable that all his Visions still close with some eminent Exaltation of the Kingdome of Christ that is the centre where all the lines of his Visions do meet as is to be seen in the close almost of every Chapter and this was the great intendment of the Spirit in all those glorious revelations unto Daniel to manifest the subserviency of all civill revolutions unto the interest of the Kingdom of the Lord Christ This then is the person concerning whom these words were used and this was his Employment 2 There is his dismission it self Go thou thy wayes Now this may be considered two wayes 1 Singly relating to his Employment only 2 In reference to his Life also In the first sence the Lord dischargeth Daniel from his further attendance on him in this way of receiving visions and Revelations concerning things that were shortly to come to passe although happily his portion might yet be continued in the Land of the living As if the Lord should say Thou art an inquiring man thou art still seeking for further aquaintance with my minde in these things but content thy selfe thou shalt receive no more Visions I will now imploy Haggai Zechariah and others thou shalt receive no more but I cannot close with this sense for 1 This is not the manner of God to lay aside those whom he hath found faithfull in his service men indeed do so but God chaneth nat whom he hath begun to honour with any employment he continueth them in it whilest they are faithfull to him 2 Daniel was now above an 100 yeares old as may be easily demonstrated by comparing the time of his captivity which was in the third yeare of the Reigne of Jehojakim Chap. 1. 1. with the time of his writing this prophecy which is expresly said to be in the reigne of Cyrus the King of Persia Chap. 10. 1. and therefore probably his end was very nigh and after this you heare of him no more who had he lived many dayes it had been his sin not to have gone up to Jerusalem the decree of Cyrus giving liberty for a returne being passed It is not then Gods laying him aside from his Office simply but also his intimation that he must shortly lay down his mortality and so come into the condition wherein he was to rest untill the end This then is his dismission he died in his work life and employment go together Go thou thy wayes Obs. 1. There is an appointed season wherein the Saints of the most eminent Abilities in the most usefull employment must receive their dismission be their work of never so great importance be their Abilities never so choice and eminent they must in their season receive their dismission Before I handle this Proposition or proceed to open the following words I shall crave leave to bring the work of God and the vvord of God a little close together and lay the parallel betvveen the persons dismissed the one in our Text the other in a present providence vvhich is very neare only that the one lived not out halfe the dayes of the other Three personall qualifications we observed in Daniel all which were very eminent in the person of our desires 1 Wisdome There is a manifold wisdome which God imparteth to the sons of men there is spirituall wisdome that by the way of eminency is said to be from above Jam. 3. 17. which is nothing but the gracious Acquaintance of the soule with the hidden wisdome of God in Christ 1 Cor. 2. 7. and there is a civill wisdome or a sound ability of minde for the management of the affairs of men in subordination to the Providence and Righteousnesse of God Though both these were in Daniel yet it is in respect of the latter that his wisdome is so peculiarly extolled And though I am very farre from assuming to my self the skill of judging of the Abilities of men and would be farre from holding forth things of meere common report yet upon assured grounds I suppose this gift of God Ability of minde and dextrous industry for the management of humane Affairs may be ascribed to our departed friend There are sundry things that distinguish this wisdom from that policie which God abhors which is carnall sensuall and devillish Jam. 3. 15. though it be the great darling of the men of the world I shall name one or two of them 1 A gracious discerning of the minde of God according to his appearance in the Affairs wherein men are employed Micah 6. 9. the Lords voice cryeth unto the City the man of wisdom shall see thy name heare the rod and who hath appointed it It is the wisdom of a man to see the name of God to be acquainted with his will his minde his aime in things when his providentiall voice crieth to the City All the works of God have their voice have their instruction those of signal providences speak aloud they cry to the City Here is the wisdome of a man he is a man of substance a substantiall man that can see his name in such dispensations This carnall policie enquires not into but is wholly swallowed up in the concatenation of things among themselves applying secondary causes unto events without once looking to the Name of God like Swine following Acorns under the tree not at all looking up to the tree from whence they fall 2 Such acquaintance with the seasons of Providence as to know the duty of the people of God in them 1 Chron. 12. 32. the children of Issachar men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do this it is indeed to be a man of understanding to know in any season the duty of Israel that they may walke up to Acceptation with God in the
performance Make then this your aime that in sincerity of heart you do the work of God in your generation finde his presence with you his Spirit guiding you his Love accepting you in the Lord Christ and when ever you receive your dismission it will be Rest and peace in the meane time you will not make haste 2 See a bottome and ground of Consolation when such eminent Instruments as this departed worthy are called off from their station when ready to enter upon the harvest of all their labours watchings toylings and expence of bloud God hath better things for them in store abiding things that they shall not injoy for a day or two which is the best of what they could hope for here had they lived to see al their desires accōplished but such as in the fulnesse whereof they may lie downe in peace to eternity Why do we complaine for our ovvne losse is not the residue and fulnesse of the Spirit vvith him vvho gave him his dismission for his losse he lived not to see Ireland in peace but enjoyes the glory of that eternall Kingdome that vvas prepared for him before the foundation of the World vvhich is the condition held out in the third observation Obs. The condition of a dismissed Saint is a condition of Rest Go thy way untill the end be for thou shalt rest The Apostle gives it in as the issue of a discourse from a passage in the Psalmes there remaineth Therefore a rest unto the people of God Heb. 4. 9. it remains and is reserved for them this the Lord hath solemnly proclaimed from Heaven Revel. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them they go into a blessed condition of rest There is not any notion under which the State of a dismissed Saint is so frequently described as this of Rest which indeed is the proper end and tendency of all things their happinesse is their rest their rest is all the happinesse they can be partakers of Fecisti nos ad te Domine inquietum est cor nostrum donec veniat ad te Now Rest holds out two things unto us 1 A freedom from what is opposite thereunto wherein those that are at rest have been exercised in reference whereunto they are said to be at rest 2 Some thing which suites them and satisfies their nature in the condition wherein they are and therefore they are at rest which they could not be were it not so with them for nothing can rest but in the full fruition and enjoyment of that which satiates the whole nature of it in all its extent and capacity We must then briefly inquire 1 what it is that the Saints are at rest from and secondly what it is that they are at rest in which I shall do very speedily 1 The many particulars which they are at rest from may be referred unto two general heads 1 Sin 2 Labour and travel 1 Sin this on all consideration whatever is the main disquietnesse of the soule Temptations to it Actings in it troubles for it they are the very Egypt of the soule it's house and place of bondage and vexation either the power of it indwelling or the guilt of it pressing are here still disquieting the soule For the first how doth Paul complain lament yea cry out concerning it Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am and what a sad restlesse and tumultuating condition upon this account doth he describe in the Verses foregoing The best the wisest the holiest of the Saints on this account are in a restlesse condition Suppose a man a conquerour in every battel in every combate that he is engaged in yet vvhilest he hath any fighting though he be never foiled yet he hath not peace Though the Saints should have successe in every engagement against sin yet because it vvill still be rebelling still be fighting it vvill disturbe their peace 2 So also doth the guilt of it our Saviour testifieth that a sense of it wil make a man to be weary and heavy-laden Mat. 11. 28. This oftentimes makes the Inhabitants of Sion say they are sick for though an end be made of sin as to the guilt of it in the bloud of Christ yet by reason of our darknesse folly and unbeliefe and the hiding of the countenance of God the conscience is oftentimes pressed with it no lesse then if it lay indeed under the whole vveight and burthen of it I shall not instance in more particulars concerning this cause of want of rest and disquietnesse the perplexity of Temptations buffettings winnowings of Satan Allurements and Affrightments of the World darknesse and sorrows of unbeliefe and the like do all set in against us upon this account This in general is the first thing that the dismissed Saints are at rest from They sin no more they wound the Lord Jesus no more they trouble their own souls no more they grieve the Spirit no more they dishonour the Gospel no more they are troubled no more with Satans Temptations without no more with their own corruption within but lie down in a constant enjoyment of one everlasting victory over sin with all its Attendants saith the Spirit They rest from their labours Revel. 14. those labours which make them faint and vveary their contending with sin to the uttermost they are no more cold in communion they have not one thought that wanders off from God to Eternity they lose him no more but alwayes lie down in his bosome vvithout the least possibility of disturbance Even the very Remembrance of sin is svveet unto them when they see God infinitely exalted and admired in the pardon thereof They are free from trouble and that both as to doing and suffering fevv of the Saints but are called out in one kinde or another to both these Every one is either doing for God or suffering for God some both do and suffer great things for him in either of them there is pain vvearinesse travel labour trouble sorrovv-and anxiety of spirit neither is there any eminent doing or vvorking for God but is carried on vvith much suffering to the outvvard man What a life of labour and trouble did our deceased friend lead for many yeers in the flesh hovv vvere his dayes consumed in travel God calling him to his foot and exercising him to understand the svveetnesse of that promise that they that die in him shall have rest many spend their dayes deliciously vvith so much contentment to the flesh that it is impossible they should have any foretaste and svveet rellish of their Rest that is to come The Apostle tels us that there remains a Rest for the people of God and yet vvithall that they vvho believe are entred into that Rest those vvho in their labours in their Travels do take in the svveetnesse of that promise of Rest do even in their labour