Words in Season, Title page – Elegy 3
Words in Seaſon: From that late Worthy Sufferer, and Servant of the Lord Jeſus, an able Miniſter of the New-Teſtament, according to that Character, 2 Cor. 6.4, 5, &c. Mr. Abraham Cheare. VIZ.
I. Faith's Conqueſt, over the Tortures and Tenders of an Hour of Temptation, on Heb. 11.35.
II. The Embalming of a Dead Cauſe, on Mark 14.8.
III. Remarkable Diſcourſes on his Dying-Bed, with Copies and Extracts of Letters, on ſeveral occaſions.
Uſeful for thoſe, whoſe Hearts are engaged to ſerve the Will of God, in this Generation.
London, Printed for Nathan Brookes, in Bartholomew-Cloſe, 1668.
The Publiſher to the READER.
I Doubt not but the following Diſcourſes carry ſo much evidence of Truth and Holineſs, as will ſufficiently commend them to the Hearts and Conſciences of the upright, as proceeding from one, who believed, and therefore ſpake; delivered what he received, as a Scribe inſtructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, the Fear of the Lord being evidently his treaſure, wherein he walked all the day long, and by which he was enabled to bear thoſe hard things, which a conſtant Spirit, in keeping the Commandments of God and Faith of Jeſus, holding faſt the Word and Works of God, drew upon him▪ bringing him into fellowſhip with tryals and ſufferings, upon the Wayes, Truths, Intereſt, and People of the Lord in this Generation.
It may highly concern the living, to lay to heart the removal of Prophets and holy Ones, true mourners, that ſought to ſtand in the Gap, to turn away wrath, that it might not come to the utmost.
I am ſure it hath a ſad aſpect, when even a Profeſſing (but too much complying) People, ſtand as on the other ſide, or at a diſtance from thoſe who earneſtly contend for the Faith, holding faſt what they have received, and are far from right laying to heart, That through the hatred of the world, righteous men periſh, and merciful men are taken away.
I doubt not, but there remains a remnant, whoſe minds by ſuch providences are deeply impreſſed, well-nigh to over-whelming, further than help is given, and the hand ſtretched forth, to lead to the Rock that is higher than we, when in all parts and corners the beauty and glory is cutting off as a fading-flower; and how hard is it to ſpeak and do as becometh, under ſuch aſtoniſhing ſtroaks, and with him, Ezek. 24.18. to hold on, doing as the Lord Commands, I am perſwaded that ſigh often goes up, Ezek. 11.13. with Amos 7.5. O Lord, ceaſe I beſeech thee, by whom ſhall Jacob ariſe, for he is ſmall. The reviving and deſired iſſues of that work falling under great diſtruſts, even with thoſe that are the Friends thereof, when (if I may allude to it, Luke 24.19, &c) thoſe, who are as Prophets, mighty in deed and word before God and all the People, Inſtruments poliſhed to carry it on to an expected end, are cut off and laying aſide daily, ſo hard is it for us to underſtand that thus it ought to be, that ſo the excellency of the power, may be acknowledged to be of God and not of men, that all may ſee his Work is perfect, his Word is tryed, with whom is no reſtraint, for he ſendeth by whom he will, the reſidue of the Spirit being with him, who will in due time raiſe up and furniſh Inſtruments for every ſervice; and if at this time men think that by cutting off, and wearing out Saints and faithful Ones, their neſt is ſet on high, they ſhall be delivered from the power of evil, none remaining to cry out of their violence and ſpoyl, to detect the unrighteouſneſs of their wayes and doings, the very ſtone ſhall cry out of the Wall, and the beam out of the Timber ſhall witneſs againſt them.
I humbly pray, and wiſh that the caſt-out, ſcattered, peeled people, in whoſe heart is the Fear of the Lord, under all amuſing diſpenſations, may yet increaſe in the Faith that ſtands in the Power of God, and is of the operation of his Spirit, in the exerciſe thereof, which judgeth not after appearances, they may underſtand all theſe deaths, paſſing over perſons and things, but needful and preparatory for the Glory that is to follow, when their filth and defilements by the Spirit of Judgment, and by the Spirit of Burning ſhall be put away; the ſlow progreſs of which work, with the diſcovery made of ſo great a defection from profeſſed Light and Principles, ought greatly to be laid to heart, how many by reaſon thereof, turn from the Truth, and are confirmed in Athieſm, even by the deceitful working of thoſe, who in the failure of outward advantages, and expoſal to neceſſities, bonds, and death, ſet themſelves at ſuch a diſtance from the works of God, our eyes have ſeen (the begining of fulfilling Propheſies, Threatnings, and Promiſes to the last dayes) as if either there was no Holineſs or Righteouſneſs in them, or that they were unacquainted with the inward Life and Spirit of them, ſo deeply hath corruption & the ſpirit of the world mingled it ſelf, with thoſe, who not long ſince, in greateſt ſeeming Light and Zeal, profeſſed, to ſeek after a better ſtate of things, Even looking for, and haſtning to the new Heavens, and new Earth, wherein dwells Righteouſneſs; but the Works of God being forgotten, no wonder his Word is ſo little believed, or his counſel waited for.
It was a worthy Expoſtulation, but a few years ſince, (before ſome then in the exerciſe of Authority) of one, who I fear hath out-lived the force of it, which though large, hoping it may be of uſe, I take leave here to tranſcribe; If you will be able to ſteer your Courſe a-right, if you would take one ſtreight ſtep, have in a readineſs an acquaintance with the work of God, what it is that he aims at, by which you may be guided in all your undertakings. Suppoſe now a man or men ſhould come and ask of you, What God hath done in theſe Nations? What he hath wrought and effected? What is brought forth? Have you an anſwer in readineſs? Certainly God hath done ſo much, as that he expects you ſhould be able to give an account of it; take heed that every one of you be not ready to ſpeak the diſquietments of your own Spirits, and ſo caſt contempt on the Work of God; ſomething elſe is required of you, I have ſometimes in darkneſs and under temptations my ſelf, begun to think, that what hath been, is the thing that is, and there is no new thing under the Sun; as it hath been among the Heathen of old, ſo it hath been amongst us; or as it was with Iſrael, 1 King. 16.21, 22. Then were the people of Iſrael divided into two parts, half of the people followed Tibni, the ſon of Ginath, to make him King; and half followed Omri: but the people that followed Omri, prevailed againſt the people that followed Tibni, the ſon of Ginath; ſo Tibni died, and Omri reigned. That a common thing and frequent in the World, had befaln us, wherein God had no hand, but that of common Providence, in daſhing one ſort of men againſt another; ſo fooliſh have I been, and as a Beaſt, ſo ready to condemn the Generation of the Righteous; ſo unbelieving, and ready to caſt away the Faith and Prayer of ten thouſand Saints, one of whoſe ſighs ſhall not be loſt; but ſuch fearful effects ſometimes, trouble, diſquietment, diſappointment, and carnal fear will produce. But certain it is, none of the many cryes of the people of God ſhall be loſt, nor their Faith diſappointed; God hath a peculiar deſign in hand, and we are to find it out, that we may be able to anſwer them that make enquiries. If you lay not this foundation of your procedures, I ſhall not wonder, if you err in your wayes; it is your Pole-Star, and will be ſo, by which your whole courſe is to be ſteered; your Shield, which whilſt it is ſafe, though you die, ye… your Glory abides. And the ſame Author further diſcuſſing what this Work and Deſign of the Lord was, reſults it mainly in this, That Godlineſs and the love of the Lord Jeſus be preſerved, protected, and ſecured from a return of the hand of violence upon it.
What then may we now expect, but after a little further fluctuating upon the deep, to ſuffer ſhipwrack upon ſome Shelves or Rocks, ſeeing we have ceaſed our ſteerage by this Pole-Star? what may we expect, but ſlaughter and extirpation, ſince that Mighty Shield is vilely caſt away, as though it had not been anointed with Oyl? conſidering alſo, that if the hand of violence be returned, its confederated with, under the ſacred ties of Oaths & Covenants, even whilst it manifeſtly oppoſes Godlineſs, and bends the edge of all its power againſt ſuch as love the Lord Jeſus in ſincerity; I am ſure it calls for deep lamentation, that a People, who had the Name of the Lord upon them, are left to that wonderful and horrible thing; (Jer. 5. laſt.) Prophets propheſying falſely, and Princes bearing rule by their means, and both Prophets and People (through a little preſent fleſhly eaſe and proſperity, waxing fat and ſhining) love to have it ſo; the holy Spirit, then aſſures, the end will be bitter, and that enquiry, What will ye do, in the end thereof? though ſlightly paſſed over now, will have its reſolve, by their cry to the Mountains and Rocks, to fall on, and hide them from the face of him that ſitteth on the Throne, when in the faileur of juſtice on Earth, he will cauſe judgement to be heard from Heaven, When he ariſeth, as certainly he will, to judge the Cauſe of the Fatherleſs and Needy, and to ſave all the meek of the Earth.
But I may not further thus proceed, leſt I exceed bounds, nor is it needful that more be ſaid of the Author, only I am perſwaded it greatly furthered him in the ſearch after, & knowledge of divine mysteries, that he never was entangled, and diſadvantaged by Academical Education, which hath been over-fruitful, in furniſhing perſons (as worthy Mr. Rutherford on another occaſion in his Letters expreſſes it) with ill waſhen and foul diſtinctions to ſhift Chriſt, this age hath over-plentiful teſtimony thereof; this Servant of the Lord, as by the account left of himſelf, in the laſt two Pages of this Book, was by his believing Parents, otherwiſe nurtured, who waiting at the foot of Christ, keeping his precepts diligently, became wiſer than his Teachers, giving occaſion to many to renew that ſaying, Whence hath this man letters? for he was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures; adding much to ſuch as converſed with him, whether by word or Epiſtle.
If what is here preſented, prove of uſe to ſtrengthen weak hands, or to uphold them that are ready to fall, by keeping in view the Reſurrection and Bleſſedneſs prepared for thoſe whom God guides by his Counſel, they will know where to give the glory.
I earneſtly wiſh and pray, That thoſe to whom in a peculiar manner he was ſent, amongst whom more eſpecially he laboured, who muſt give an account of ſo great a Talent and Price, long truſted with them, may do it with joy, diſcovering by an obedience of Faith, to the Lord Jeſus under all tryals, that he laboured not in vain; and I hope, however it may be to others, what is here preſented, may be uſeful to them, keeping in remembrance how holily, juſtly, and unblameably he behaved himſelf amongst them, that following his Faith, they may be ſaved from this Generation, and be found amongst thoſe, who receive the End of their Faith, the Salvation of their Soul, Amen.
To the MEMORY of Mr. Abraham Cheare. Anagram. Ramah Baca here.
WAs there a voice in Ramah heard!Jer. 31.15.
Was bitter weeping there?
'Cauſe Rachels children were not ſpar'd,Mat. 2.18.
Why ſhould there not be Here?
Was Baca in time paſt a Well?Pſal. 84.6.
Although a place of drought,
Was it made ſo by Iſrael?
When journ'ing in the South.
Did th' one for Children thus lament?
The other for their Water,
Oh! how ſhould Sion it reſent,Lam. 2.1, to 12. Pſal. 46.4. Amos 1.2. Lam▪ 2.1. Mala. 3.17. Jonah 3.8. Pſ. 119.126 Mat. 9.38. Zech. 11.4, 7
When God her Sons doth ſlaughter?
When he cuts off her pleaſant ſtreams,
Her beautious Branches wither;
When he ſhuts up her brighteſt Beams,
Doth home his Jewels gather.
Yea, how ſhould this increaſe her cry,
When in a time of need;
That Shepherds, they ſhould multiply,
The ſlaughter'd Flocks to feed;
That even then, God ſhould not ſpare,
To take hence in great numbers;Iſa. 57.1. Ezek. 3.26. Job 37.23.
The moſt laborious in their Spheare:
Place this among his Wonders.
Pſal. 36▪6. Job 11.7. 1 Cor. 2.9. Pſal. 32.8. Pſal. 73 24. Job 36.9, 10They wayes, O God, are in the deep,
To ſearch them to perfection;
'Tis not for Mortals pace to keep
With thee, give thou direction.
Let's ponder well thy wayes, O Lord,
Give us thy hearing Ear;
Some teachings to us do afford,
Deut. 13.11 Ezek. 12.3. Mal. 3.17. Ezek. 14.16 Mala. 3.1. Jer. 12.1. Ezra 9.13. Lam▪ 3.29. 2 Sam. 24.17 Joel 2.17. Ezek. 9.4. Pſal. 85.10. Jer. 14.7. Job 19.21. Gen. 19.19. Jonah 3.10. Pſal. 11.17. Zech. 13.7. Lam. 1.15. Iſa. 40.11. 1 Sam. 1.8. 2 Cor. 12.9.By what we ſee; let's fear,
What this portends, thou mak'ſt ſuch haſte,
To treaſure up each Jewel;
Art minded, Lord, our Land to waſte,
Muſt we for wrath, be fewel!
If ſo 't ſhould be, thou wouldſt be juſt,
'Twere but Sin's recompence:
We muſt our mouths put in the duſt,
We have giv'n great offence.
Yet ſpare, O Lord, ſpare thou our Land,
At leaſt in it thy Mourners;
Thy Mercy will with Juſtice ſtand,
In pard'ning great offenders.
Make us the objects of thy pitty,
Thy Mercy magnifie;
Spare as of old, an Heathen City,
Spare, O ſpare, let's not die.
But if more Shepherds thou wilt ſmite,
And Mighty men muſt fall;
Feed Sheep thy ſelf, thy Battels fight,
Be thou in ſtead of all.
Amen. Amen.
Another. To the Memory of Mr. ABRAHAM CHEARE. Anagram. Ah me! Rear Bacha.
WHo can but Mourn, when men do ſcorn!
To Note the Righteous Death;Iſa. 57.1. Pſal. 84.6.
Who can but Rear a Bacha here,
When ſuch drop off the Earth?
When Circumſtance, ſhall Evidence,
In Judgement it may be:
Slight it who can, make me the man,
O Lord, may cry, Ah me!
Amen.
To the Memory of Mr. ABRAHAM CHEARE. An Acroſtick.
Art gone Dear Soul! Art fled? Haſt left the Earth?
Below thee 'twas: it anſwered not thy Birth.
Rare was thy Life; choice was thy latter end,
At laſt for God, and Truth, thou didſt contend.
Haſt Overcome? Haſt got the Victory?
Ah! then, let others ſay, Why may not I?
Mercy Begate him, Led him, Fed him, Kept,
Chear'd him, did all, until the time he ſlept.
Hath now enthron'd him, enter'd him in Reſt,
Each Soul that walks with God, ſhall thus be bleſt.
Awake, then, Rouze faint hearts, ſhake off diſtruſt,
Rampant be Faith, greateſt of men are duſt;
E'relaſting's God, and Worſhip him we muſt.