The Faith of Dying Jacob, Part 2
Behold, I Die.
This word Behold, standeth limited in its own bounds, to enjoyn a stop, stay and pause of consideration, a stand still of observation, the matter is remarkable. When Amasa was slain, the Host of Israel stands still, 2 Sam. 20. 12. When an Israel, a wrestler, a prevailer with God departs, the Clock of the mind should stand still, its weights be taken off: 'Tis time to consider what times are past, and what evil may lie at the door. Consider of it, take advice and speak your minds, Judg. 19. 30. 'Tis an Higgajon Selah, a matter worthy of most serious thoughts of heart.
Observ. When Israel dieth, it challengeth, it commandeth a great remark.
David, as a Woman in travel, as a Man nigh murdered, as besieged men in hazard to lose all, crys out, Help Lord, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men, Psal. 12. 1. And again, Isa. 57. v. 1. The righteous man perisheth. If a Stud fail, or a Tile fall off the house, there is loss; more if the Pillars fail. If Shrubs and under wood be fel'd, 'tis observed, but more if the stately Oaks, the Cedars, and fruit-bearing Trees be cut down. Of eminent Christians we may say as of David, Thou art worth ten thousand of us. The death of the meanest Christian is loss, but more of one honourable, useful and excelling. Israel was Pater patriae, Pater-familias, a Father of God's Family and his own; a Patriot to the World, a Prince with God, a bright Star of the greatest light and magnitude; a Foundation and Root to the Church, no wonder, he saith, Behold, the loss of the small hairs of the head, of one joynt, of the little finger is much, more of a right eye, or right hand, that are directive and executive for the whole, whose abscission or obstruction endangers all: Hence David of Abner, Know ye not that there is a great Man, and a Prince this day faln in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed King, and these men the Sons of Zerviah are too hard for me, 2 Sam. 3. 38. The plucking out of a single bush weakens the hedge, more if a strong stake be pull'd up. If a single flower be cropt, it diminisheth the Gardens glory, but devastation ensues if the walls be demolished.
1. The death of the godly is observable from their excellency, worth and dignity: They are the Excellent of the earth, more excellent than their neighbours; God's earthly Pearls: The Pearl is its own beauty, and the beauty of the Ring where 'tis set, and of the hand that wears it. What are a thousand Pebbles to one Pearl? What are a thousand glittering Gloworms, or twinkling Candles to one bright gilding Star? Saints are called godly of God; Christians of Christ; spiritual of Spirit; wholly of heavenly extraction, Blood Royal: In relation to God, they are his Children, as Abraham his friends, as Zabud the King's friend; as Naaman great with their Master, his Throne, his Crown, and Diadem of Glory; Apples to his eye; a Crown to his head; Signets on his hand; Seals on his heart, his Lot, Portion, Inheritance and Care, his dwelling-place, his Palace, his Court. Cum boni, cum casti congregantur, non factio dicenda est, sed curia. What is God the better or richer for the prophane world? He dwells between his Benjamin's shoulders; they are his houses, his buildings, where his honour dwelleth; his Gardens for pleasure to walk in; his precious honourable Elect ones mundo rejectanei, deo electi, the worlds reprobates, but Gods chosen; Doves to him, though Ravens in the worlds eye, his beauties, though the worlds blacks, not only gracious, but glorious: His excellency is over Israel, Psal. 68. 34. Quo Michal offenditur deus delectatur. His incarnate Roses, lovely Lillies, Plants of renown, polished shafts, a people of whom the world was not worthy, though in Sheep Skins and Caves. The seventy Souls that went down to Egypt, were of more worth then the seventy nations.
In relation to Christ, they are his Members, his Bride, and Spouse, quia amor illis semper est recens, his Joy, his Fulness, his Fellows, his Joynt Heirs, his Purchase that cost him more then all the world, the Messengers of the Churches, the Glory of Christ, his Lifeguard.
In respect of the world, they are as Jabez, more honourable than their Brethren; like Davids worthies, wearing the garland of honour from all the rest; a kind of first fruits, the prime, top, and sanctification of all, dedicate unto God; the Cream of the World: The gay Flowers and Corn gone, the rude Soil only remains; the Hangings, and Windscot gone, the Rough Clay Walls, Venemous Spiders and Rotten Posts appear; the clear water gone the mud and toads remain.
However Religion may be a brand of infamy, vel nomen pium reatus, the mark of malice; O the honour of Christ among a Christian People, ubi religio ignobilem facit, where Religion renders men uncapable of preferment, and to be advanced must do something brevibus gyaris & carcere dignum.
However men immerst in sensualities and debaucheries, the Spawns of Bacchus, transported with passions, overdriven with flatteries and malicious instigations, have set themselves to destroy the honour of God in his people, giving liberty to all things but to piety, Omnia cum liceant non licet esse pium; Yet it hath not been alway in their Power to frame Opinions of things, and Persons as they listed: But in certain seasons and exigences have cryed a breach before Joseph, and with Haman in doing them publick Reverence, to put the Royal Apparel on hated Mordecai's Back, owning them to be the blessed of the Lord, and with Saul confessing; David is more righteous than I. Fas est & ab hoste doceri; even Balaam desires the death of the righteous, and bloody Persecutors have built the Sepulchres of the Prophets, as Caesar did Pompeys; Colebant mortuos, quos nollent superstites. Eandem virtutem & oderunt & mirabantur. Those Princes that consign'd Daniel with his Fellows to the Lions Den, and the flaming Furnace, at length declare for them, and their God, consigning others that would not serve that God to be cut in pieces, so beneficial was the patient fidelity of those men to those great Kings, so long deceived by their idolatrous Sorcerers and Nobles. Pertinax veritas praevalebit. The Sun at length rends the Veils and Masks of the Foggy Clouds.
Tho Religion hath sometimes been a bar, and caveat to honour, and men have fawned, slavered, made themselves fools, yea beasts to get into the stirrup and saddle of dignity; yet by the suffrage of wise men, by the vogue and experience of men in general, piety and vertue have been the surest Foundations, and Step-stones to secular Dignities: With Kings are they on the throne, Job 36. 7. Witness Joseph Moses, Obadiah, Nehemiah, and Daniel with his fellows. So dear Saints are to the Lord, that he ransacks all the wombs, treasuries, and ward-robes of Nature, as once he did Egypt of his Jewels, to embroider their glory: So Constantine undressed his Empire to enrich his Constantinople.
The God of Nature gathers from all things natural and artificial, to illustrate his Angelick Candidates, that shall be his companions in glory to all eternity. Among Inanimates they are Pearls, Springs, Jewels; among Vegetatives they are Roses, Lillies, Olive and Cedar Trees; among Sensitives they are Sheep, Doves, while the wicked are called Dogs, Swine, Foxes, Thorns, Dung and Dross, a Sea casting out Mire and Dirt: Among Artificials they are Gardens, Buildings; a People preserved and nourished in a different way from all the world: For these God divided the Seas, and made them stand up like Walls of Brass: For these he made the Stars to Fight in their courses, and the Sun to stand still as in the valley of Gibeon, and the Moon in the Valley of Ajalon, and made the fiery Furnace and enraged Lions to suspend their fierceness; these he feeds with the Body and Blood of his dearest Son. No wonder now, that at Israels Death, 'tis said, behold, the Beauty and Crown of the World is faln, the Inscription is Ichabod; and what shall be said, when the glory of God is departed?
2. Israels death is observable from its ominousness, Isai. 57. 1. Psal. 12. 1. Mich. 7. 1. Wo is me, for I am as when they have gathered the Summer Fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage, there is no cluster to eat: My Soul desired the first ripe fruits, Methuselah dies, Noah is Arked, and the Flood comes, Gen. 15. 13. 15. Abraham goes to his Fathers in peace in a good old age, but his successive seed is afflicted four hundred years. Lot gone, fire is rained down from Heaven. The Great Eclipses of the Heavenly Luminaries are Prognosticks of evil to the Earth. Israel got over the Red-Sea, the reflowing waters drown the Egyptians: The Garden is laid waste, if the Fragrant Flowers and Fruitful Trees be transplanted: The Corn Inned the Beasts are let in: The Wheat Thresh'd the Straw is cast to the Dunghil, and Chaff to the Fire. If the Banks be down the Waters overflow: The vertuous liquor squeezed out, the dregs are rejected: The King gone with his Furniture, the Court breaks up: The inhabitant and houshold-stuff gone, the house and ground run to ruin: The peg or nail falling, all that hung thereon falleth: The Root perishing the Branches wither: Foundations destroyed the house hastens to ruin: Springs fading the Channels are laid dry: The official parts of the Body decaying the Members waste: The Shepherds smitten the Sheep are scattered: The Centinels dropping down dead, who shall give warning? The Wolves, saith Paul, will break in when I am gone, and of your selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw Disciples after them. Scipio dead Metellus ran to the Forum, crying, Concurrite cives, moenia vestra corruerunt: Assemble, strengthen your selves, your Walls are faln. Zisca dead his Soldiers call'd themselves Orphans, Isai. 3. 2, 3. desolating calamities at hand, the honourable man, the Counsellour, the Eloquent Oratour the man of War, and the Prophet with the prudent are taken away: Austin dead the Vandals beseige Hippo, who prayed it might be spared, or he removed; Pareus dead Heidelburg is taken. Evil intended to the World, the godly are taken away from the evil to come. Josiah, Hezekiah in Heavens tenderness are taken away before the storm came: The Child is put to Bed night coming on; and is snatched out of the way when the wild Bull is let loose: The Mothers Brest to be launched or cut off, the tender Child is put into another Room. Felix Nepotianus qui haec non videt: Abraham, say the Jews, died the earlier, that he might not see the wickedness of his Grandchild Esau.
3. Israels death is observable from the perverse mischievous use sinners make of it. Esau reckoned on a bloody Sacrifice after his Fathers Funeral. The Sun set, the evening Wolves and Bears, Thieves and Murderers are abroad, Job 24. 13, 14. Psal. 104. 34. Psal. 59. 6. They return at even, they make a noise like a Dog. The Sons of Jacob fall on the Shechemites when sore, Gen. 34. 25. Amalek falls on the Hind-most of Israel when Feeble, Faint, and Weary; Ahitophel purposed to fall on David when weary and weak-handed, 2 Sam. 17. 2. The witnesses slain, Antichrist makes merry, and danceth about the Grave: The Sun setting crescunt umbrae, 'tis the time for Idolatrous shadows to encrease. The Saints night is the Sinners day: Their Fasting days the wicked's Feasting days; their Mournings the ungodlies Triumphs: Pharaoh joys seeing Israel entangled; Let us pursue and overtake, the day is ours. The Deer wounded all push at him, Psal. 41. 7, 8. All that hate me, whisper together against me.—An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast to him; and now that he lyeth, he shall rise no more. Christ dying, in the prospect of dangers, committeth his Mother to Faithful Custody; and knowing the advantage the World would make of his absence, lodgeth his dear Disciples in the Fathers Bosom, John 17. 11, 15. The Lords People gone sin breaks out: The Horse unreined of its Bridle runs Wild: The Pilot gone, the Ship, wanting Steerage, runs a Drift; when the Ranks and Files are broken, the Enemy pours in. The Hem torn off the Garment unravels, Deut. 31. 27. I know thy Rebellion and stiff-neck, saith Moses, behold while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been Rebellious against the Lord, and how much more after my Death? Tiberius was of untainted reputation in the days of Augustus, and in the days of Drusus and Germanicus▪ feigning the vertues he had not, till got ou… … …e reach of contradiction, and then became accessary to Notorious Villanies. Hopeful Children got from under their Tutors, Governours and Parents Eyes, grow Profligate Prodigals, and fall greedily to the Dishes and Liquors they dearly loved and longed for, that they durst not sip or taste of; like the Dog, that forbears what his Teeth water at, seeing the Cudgel in the Masters hand. What a bad use did Joash make of the Death of Jehojada, growing Vile and Obstinate?
4. Israels Death is observable because of the harder burden and encreased tasks, that lye on the Hands, Hearts, and Shoulders of Survivors. The fewer labourers the more work. Thence Elijah departing, Elisha prays a double Portion of the Spirit, not in pride to excel, but from the sense of hard service and greater dangers. Paul joys at the recovery of Epaphroditus his fellow workman, Phil. 2. 27. The Lord had mercy on him, and not on him onelyonly, but on me also. Elijah mourned that he was left alone. Let not him boast that puts on his harness, but he that puts it off. Moses to encamp in the Wilderness would by no means part with Hobab, for that he might be to them instead of eyes, Num. 10. 31. If the stays of the Tribes be gone inevitable ruin followe…▪ Moses was a strong man, yet needed Aaron and Hur to uphold his hands. The fewer Props and Pillars the greater is the Stress: When a great Harvest was to be Inned the prayer was, Lord send forth more Labourers. Martha crys that her Sister might help her. If one stone after another falls out of the building, the ruin of all is threatned. 'Tis dangerous being left alone: Eve alone is tempted: Dinah alone is ravished: Christ knew the benefit of good encouraging company, sending out his Disciples two and two: One sleeping the other canjog him: One falling the other can raise him up: One cold or dull, the other quicken and warm him: Houses standing alone are easily rob'd: One Coal alone quickly dies: Suitors set on Maidens Parents abroad: Iron sharpneth Iron; So a man sharpneth the Countenance of his Friend: the Cherubims looked one another in the Face: Our Almighty Saviour carryed two into the Garden with him: How sad is it to see Davids seat empty?
5. Israels Death is remarkable from the blessing and usefulness he is designed unto.
All good is communicative. Bonum est sui diffusivum. The Celestial Bodies, the Sun, Moon and Stars, transmit their Light and Influence to Inferior Bodies: The Earth restrains not its Seminal vertues; the Sea that Womb of Waters disperseth its Streams to refresh the Earth: The Official parts of the Body fitted in Nature, for the great Functions of Life, are for Common good; as the Head the Seat of sense, the Liver that Red-Sea of Blood, the Heart the Forge and Source of Spirits, the Stomach that Kitchin, where sustenance is prepared for the whole Body. Even the Glorious Angels are Ministring Spirits. Besides the private inclinations in all Creatures in their several Spheres to mind the gratification, preservation and advancement of their own Nature; as they are sociable parts of the universe, the wise all-governing Creator, hath stamped on them in their mutual connexions a readiness to relieve one another; and in case a Rupture in the Harmony and Union of Nature be threatned, they forget their own Native determinate inclinations, and acquaint themselves with contrary motions to prevent a Vacuity or Schism in the whole Body; so the Air descends, and Water ascends from their proper places and Motions: One being blamed for neglecting himself replyed, foreign my care is of my Countrey: And the more noble created Beings are in their enriched endowments, still they the more propend to usefulness, bonum quò melius eò communius: In this reason man the Superiour part of the Creation, and Christians the Superiour part of men, as Stewards are Debtors of the Talents of Nature or Grace, that in their different kinds and measures they are furnished withal: Some men are Ignorant and empty, and have not wherewith to be useful to themselves or others; some are Hypocritical, Heavenly mouthed, not Heavenly minded, like the Apothecaries Gilded empty Gally-pots: Others are Idle or Sullen, and like Beasts restrain their Milk: Others are Subtle and Selfish, their own centre foreign: But as in all Believers the Lord hath lodged a measure of profiting Gifts and Graces, Christ having no dead Members or empty Vessels, the God of Grace and Nature hath impressed this Law, Go and multiply; Occupy till I come; And superaddeth his gracious promise, for all auxiliary strength and necessary supplies to render them Blessings in their Generations, Gen. 12. 2. I will make of thee a Great Nation, saith the Lord to Abraham, and I will bless thee;—and make thee a blessing: Every Clod of Earth is the better for that Saint who treadeth on it, Prov. 12. 12. The wicked desireth the net of evil, to entrap and ensnare; but the root of the righteous yieldeth Fruit: The sap runs to distant Branches, that yield Fruit, Zech. 8. 13. As ye were a curse among the heathen, so will I save you, and make you a blessing; fear ye not, Saints are Store-houses, Treasuries, Monopolies, Magazines, Fountains, a Common-wealth of Blessings and good things: The precious Ointment runs from Aarons Head to his Beard and Skirts. In thee, that is, in Sion, saith David, are all my fresh Springs, Psal. 87. 7. Upon, and from Zion, the Lord commandeth his Blessings for evermore, Psal. 20. 2. 118. and 26. 128. and 5. 133. and 3.
They are Family Blessings. Laban found by experience, that the Lord had Blessed him for Jacobs sake, Gen. 30. 27. Potiphar for Josephs sake, Gen. 39. 3. The Posterity of Noah, Lot, David fare the better for their Parents sake. David having finished his Religious publick Solemnities, returned home to bless his houshold, 2 Sam. 6. 20.
They are Blessings to Nations, Prov. 11. 11. By the Blessing of the upright the City is exalted; but it is overthrown by the Mouth of the wicked: The wicked have a Pestilent Stinking Poysonous Breath: Righteousness exalteth a Nation, Prov. 28. 12. 28. When Righteous men do rejoyce there is great glory, but when the wicked rise a man is hidden. The Sun by its dis-shevel'd Rays conveys a Blessing near and far of, with its perpendicular and oblique Beams: Israel shall be a Blessing in the midst of the Land, Isai. 19. 24. Civitatibus longe è throno remotis. The World without them would be as Meat without Salt, as an Hospital without Physicians, as the Earth without the Sun.