The Faith of Dying Jacob, Part 6
But God shall be with you.
Obs. Though Israel, and useful eminent Instruments die, his Church still liveth, it lives to preserve the revenues of his Worship, and communicate the Testimonies of his grace and mercy.
Candles are put out, not the Sun: Streams may dry up, not the Spring: Men may be beat off the Scaffold, not God. Abraham was grieved to die childless without an Heir: But hath Israel no Sons? Hath he no Heir? Jer. 49. 1, 2. Then shall Israel be Heir unto them that were his Heirs, saith the Lord; that is, when Rabbah should be a desolate heap, and her Daughters burnt with fire. Israel hath surviving Inheritours, Isa. 65. 9. I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah, an Inheritour of my Mountains, and mine Elect shall inherit it, and my Servants shall dwell there. The Church amidst all its losses can say, Doubtless, thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer, thy name is everlasting, Isa. 63. 16. Though the afflicted Church had no Abraham or Israel that could know their misery, or whom they might pray unto, it had a knowing God to pray unto. The loss of Israel is great, yet not so great but that the Church may live, Job 18. 4. Shall the Earth be removed out of its place for thee? Job seemed to speak of his life, as if he dying, the Earth should be emptied; as if he were such an Atlas, that all must fall with him, but arrogated too much: Quid enim si tu mortuus fueris, inhabitabilis erit terra? Sept. Thou dead, shall the Earth be no more inhabited? Immo, nec monticulus, nec calculus à loco dimovebitur. Pinaeda, not so much as a Mole-hill or Pebble shall be removed, Job 15. 7. Art thou the first Man that was born? or wast thou made before the Hills? Those protuberancies of the Earth. Hast thou heard the secret of God? And dost thou restrain wisdom to thy self? Hast thou been alone in the Coelestial Conclave? Art thou only skill'd in the mysteries of Providence? Constitutionem mundi audivisti? consiliario te usus est Deus? Hast thou been the Lord's Counsellor? Though Israel be mown down, Micah 5. 7. yet God will be a dew unto Israel; he shall grow up as the Lillys, lovely, white, and spread forth his roots as Lebanon for depth and height, his branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon: He shall revive as the Corn, and grow or blossom as the Vine; the scent or memorial thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon, Hos. 14. 5, 7. Psalm 72. 6.
There are many sad debates and arguings at Israel's death, Job 6. 21. Ye see my casting down and are afraid. Jacob is small, by whom shall he arise? Joseph gone, Reuben cries, and I, whither shall I go? Jacob cries, Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and must Benjamin go also? Mal. 3. 16. With doleful notes in calamitous days, They that feared the Lord spake often one to another, like the Disciples, Luke 24. 17. reasoning about their dead Jesus: Or as the Apostle, What shall we say to these things? The Church beholding none to guide her among all the Sons she hath brought forth, nor any to take her by the hand of all the Sons she hath brought up. Cedars falling, the cry is as theirs to David, The Enemies care not for us; Enemies mock, Will they sacrifice? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish? reckoning that a Fox may break down all that is built.
Israel dying, Hands are upon the Loins, Paleness in Faces, Graves making, Knells ringing out. Zion saith, The Lord hath forsaken us: Rachel sits mourning for her dead Children; Hearts are racking and rending themselves; the collisions of thoughts rolling and breaking as waves one upon the back of another, confused like a routed Army, or a skain of snarled Silk, or the twisten'd boughs of a Tree in a stormy wind: Sad Hearts hatch sad Thoughts, that like the poysonous Spider hatch'd eat out the Bowels of the Dam that sate upon it. Martha can't hear of the restored Life of her dead Brother, but as smelling his stench conceits a sudden Resurrection impossible. Job cannot think of a life-gaudy day, thinking his Glass quite run out, and the clods of the Valley ready for him: Christ is laughed to scorn, medling with the reviving of the Rulers dead Daughter. The Church saith, My hope is perished, yet the Lord knows how to enliven dead Bones. His thoughts are not our thoughts, but intends to give an expected end: Sunt ipsis quoque fata fatis.
1. Though Saints die, all do not die. Judg. 9. 5. Jotham escapes from Abimelechs slaughter of Jerubbaals seventy Sons. Abiathar escaped Doeg slaying eighty and five Priests. 1 Sam. 22. 18. 20. Joash escapes Athaliah slaying the Royal Seed: Elijah thought he was left alone; but there remained thousands that bowed not the knee to Baal. Though much Corn goes to the Mill, some seed is left to sow the Earth with. In the Bohemian Persecution by Ferdinand, the Ministers taken that fled to Moravia, one escaped that planted about twenty Churches in Poland. Christ escaped Herods bloody Baptism; Moses from Pharaohs slaughter of the Infants. The Man-child from the Dragons Flood: Herod liked the fulsome Liquor of James Blood, thought to have another draught of Peters, but an Angel stole away the Vessel before he broached it, and soon after he becomes a Lousie dead God. Men have chaffed that they lopt the Boughs, but could not come at the root. Great havock was made of Gods people, but the substance of the holy Seed remained, Isaiah 6. 13. Nebuchadnezzars stump was not stubb'd up: A tenth, a remnant ever remains, a few Berries in the uttermost Branches: Here is great odds, yet the remain takes root downward, and bears fruit upward, and fills the Earth. The Philistines cry, The Hebrews creep out of their holes, 1 Sam. 14. 11. When the Locusts, whose shape was as Horses prepared unto Battel, who had on their heads Crowns like Gold, the Faces of men, and the Hair of women, made such Havock, they were forbid to hurt any green thing; Souls verdant in grace are sub divina tutela, under Heavens protection, Rev. 9. 3, 10. There is a time when righteous men are hidden, Prov. 28. 28. Bees, Birds, Fishes, keep their holes in stormy weather, the Devil shall cast some into Prison, not all. This so vexed the Heathen Persecutors, that they excommunicated themselves from their Thrones, and some became Felo's de se, ended that vexation with their own bloody hands, or hid themselves in some cunning holes of the River Tyber never to be seen more. The Dragons tail swept not away all the Stars.
2. Though particular Saints die, there is a Succession. Old stocks die, new sprouts appear: A young Phaenix from the old ones ashes. Elisha comes on after Elijah; Joshua after Moses, Christ after John, the Spirit after Christ, one Ambassador call'd home another is sent out: One Candle extinct another is lighted: Some Ships come in with one Tide richly laden, with the next others set out: One file of Soldiers carried off, another is drawn on. Naomi said, Have I any more Sons in my Womb? God hath many. As Israel had new troubles, they had new Saviours; Gideon, Jephthah, Sampson: Upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance.—And Saviours shall come upon Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau, Obad. 17. 21. When Jacobs glory was made thin, and the fatness of his flesh made lean, some Grapes were left, as after the shakings of an Olive-tree: Isaiah 17. Some escaped the Sword that found grace in the Wilderness, Jer. 31. 2. the Lord returned not a second time, as some Bloody Conquerors to the redoubled slaughter of Ephraim, Hos. 11. 9. When some setting Stars dip. their flaming rays in the western Ocean, others arise in the East. New Soldiers are listed, trained up, old ones going off: The Sun Beams cut off, the Sun remains to renew more; so the Spring to send forth fresh streams. Some Branches cut off, the Sap runs to the rest, the root remaineth to send out a new multiplying encrease: One member cut off, the Blood runs to the rest. Psal. 45. 16. Instead of thy Fathers shall be thy Children whom thou mayest make Princes in all the Earth. Christ prayeth for this succession, John 17. 15. I pray not that thou take them out of the World, He was not so injurious as to have them live always, he knew the course of Nature would end, but he prayeth for Survivors, and promiseth, Lo I am with you to the end of the World And commonly the Saints die to the advantage of them that over live: Elijah dropping his Mantle, plus gratiae dimisit in terras, quam in caelos portavit, that he left more grace on Earth than he carried to Heaven: When by Zedekiahs Rebellion no strong Rod was left, Ezek. 19. 14. Those Governors Salathiel and Zorobabel sprouted up, who gave conduct in their deliverance: Isa. 14. 28. The Philistines are for bid rejoicing at the diminishing of the Jews power, because a greater was springing up in Hezekiah from Ahaz; out of the Serpents root shall come forth a Cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying Serpent.
3. Though eminent Instruments die, yet the Spirit of God lives, that will envigorate with life, lustre and glory successive generations. This will make dry Rods to blossom; like the Sun after a benumming Winter, exsuscitate the dormant drowsie seeds of Nature, and like Bellows, blow up the latent sparks, This Divine Spirit may be quenched, imprisoned, nigh smothered, and lie as in a swoun or trance, be kept under hatches, yet 'twill work out its own liberty. The Spirit of invincible grace and patience could not be conquered in Christ's Martyrs, but went from one to another, as Elijah's to Elisha, not in the least shew of abhorred Rebellions, but in the just asserting of the Truth of God, that is more precious than life, yea than all the world. Paul tells us, though he were in bonds, the word was not bound. Paul and Silas sing in Prison. The Apostles at liberty, boldly Preached Christ in the Temple. After three days and an half, the Spirit of life from God entred into the slain Witnesses, Rev. 11. 11. Belonging to the exercise of Providence are the Wheels, the living creatures, and the Spirit: The old Wheels may be worn, tired, or broken, but the Eternal Divine Spirit remains, that can yoke new living creatures, and put on fresh Wheels. This Spirit shall drive away the Fowls that would eat up Abraham's Sacrifice; the black Crows, the white and black Pies that thought to make Carrion of it. The Standard of the Spirit, the Lord promiseth to oppose or obstruct the Enemy pouring in like a flood, Isa. 59. 19. by mingling a perverse entangled Spirit in the Churches Enemies, or otherwise counterpoising them, Hag. 2. 5. According to the word, that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth among you; Fear ye not. Be that word the Lord's inviolable promise, or Christ the essential word, the word [according] not being in the Original, and may be rendred in quo vobiscum pepigi, I am with you together with that word, in whom I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt: 'Tis an assurance of the Divine Spirit, and indeed the whole Trinity, Jehovah, the Word and the Spirit the next Operator, stand engaged for the Churches deliverance, and 'twas not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord, that Zorobabel shall prosper. This Spirit the Father put upon Christ for the dispatch of his work, Isa. 42. 1. And the pourings out of it are the great pledges of the Church's rest and glory, Ezek. 39. 29. Neither will I hide my face any more from them; for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel. This was that Spirit that gave favour to the captived Jews in the sight of the Kings of Persia, to encourage them to set up the house of God, and to repair the desolations thereof. This Spirit enlivens the ten Horns upon the Beast to hate the Whore, to make her desolate, and naked, and to burn her with fire. This Spirit makes Kings Nursing Fathers, and Queens Nursing Mothers, and to bring in their glory to the City of God. When the Lord breathed into Adam's earthly Mass the breath of life, he became a living Soul, vigorous and active, who was before but a dead lump. When the Sun returns with its enlivening Spring force, the Earth is turned as Clay to the Seal, receiving the imprintings of its glory: And they stand up as a garment, that is, the hid plants and flowers stand up with a thousand gay beauties, like an embroidered garment. What admirable variegated beauties hath the Rainbow by the strike of the Sun? Such like glories shall the Spirit impress on the hearts and lives of men, who shall be changed from glory to glory as by the Spirit. This Spirit raised up the peoples spirit at Cyrus order to go forth to build the Lord's house, Ezra 1. 5. and with the Lord is the Residue of Spirits.
4. Though Israel dies 'tis not a total final or Everlasting Death. 'Tis but a deliquium, a short swoun: Some are dead seeming alive and shall never live, Isai. 26. 14. 1 Tim. 5. 6. They are dead they shall not live, they are deceased they shall not rise. Others are alive seeming dead, as dying saith Paul, yet we live, as chastned, yet not killed: They are not dead, but sleep, and if he sleepeth, say the Disciples of Lazarus, he shall do well, as awakings are with more vigour: The Church cannot die, Hab. 1. 12. Art not thou from Everlasting, O Lord my God, mine holy one? We shall not die: O Lord thou hast ordained them for Judgment; and, O mighty God thou hast established them for correction; not for destruction. Joseph was thought to be slain by his bloodied Coat, yet had a flourishing Life in Egypt; though 'twas no likely Soil for the Plants of Paradise to thrive in: The Billows and the Waves pass over Jonah, the depths close him about, the weeds wrap about his head, down he goes to the Bottom of the Mountains, the Earth with her Bars was about him for ever, yet the Lord brought up his Life from corruption: Being hard of digestion the Whale vomits him up: The retreated sap and tide return. If the Sun sets, or goes back ten Degrees it shineth again. Creatures that lye benummed, cramped all Winter, having only a little blood to keep Life, in the Spring recover vigour.
Some die but go not under so many Degrees of Death. Lazarus was far gone, By this time he stinketh, and the Captives in Babylon become dry Bones, the vital Succus spent: The Churches Death is but foreign, for a short time and in a little degree: The witnesses are slain, but not buried, Psal. 16. 10. Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell, nor suffer thine holy one to see corruption. The Grave and dust of the Church smells of immortality: The Earth lies Bed-rid in Winter with its Night-Caps of hoary Frost, bound down with its Irons, yet 'tis loosen-in the Spring. The Spark under ashes gets into a flame, Isai. 26. 19. Thy dead men shall live, with my dead body shall they arise: Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is as the dew of Herbs, and the Earth shall cast out her dead. It could not detain Christ, but gave him up. Divinity is strong, though flesh be consumed, no Breath or Pulse to be observed, yet Israels dry Bones live, Ezek. 37. Rabbi Juda would have it meant that literally Ezekiel raised the dead, and that they went to Jerusalem and bore Children saying, Ego sum oriundus ex posteritate illorum quos Ezekiel in vitam revocavit, that he was one of that posterity. A like fancy the Jews have that the scattered of Israel shall come per meatus terrae, through the pores of the Earth to their own Land. This is certain, the Lord will do things seeming impossible in restoring his Church to Life.
And this way of delivering from sentences of death, à morte ad vitam, is most honourable for God, and for his People, in that resurrections will be glorious, 1 Cor. 15. 42. The Jews have had a long stumble, so the Apostle calls it, but shall recover, and their return shall be the riches of the Gentiles, for they will bring forth many treasures of Divine Truth that are not yet unlocked, Rom. 11. 11, 15. Isai. 60. 1, 2. At Christs Death there was a miserable scattering, his Disciples parted from him, and his Soul from his Body, Jews and Gentiles at distance, but there was an foreign, the recapitulation of all, and himself having untied the Bands of Death ascended in his Triumphant Chariot to Heaven, Hos. 13. 14. I will ransom them from the power of the Grave, I will redeem them from death: O Death, I will be thy Plague; O Grave, I will be thy Victory: Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes, that is, without any repentings I am resolved to die, to deliver my Israel from all deadly hands. And did not the grain of Wheat die, it would a bide alone, but dying it lives with a numerous encrease.
Israel concluded a succession and resurrection, why else was he and Joseph so exact about their bones, as also was Abraham, to be buried in Canaan? Jeremy buys Lands in the face of the Captivity: God hath living intentions in killing actions. Martha pleads he whom thou lovest is sick, but 'twas admitted for Faiths sake, and the manifestation of the Glory of God: There are grave visits, Psal. 102. 14. Thy Servants take pleasure in the stones, and favour the dust thereof: And if the Child sneese seven times, 1 Kin. 4. 37. If Israel by strong repentance groans and cries, Remove obstructions, who knows, but that the Arch-angels Trump of Zions resurrection may soon sound. Sure 'tis the Great God will have a way by himself: Our way is direct from Life to Life: But the Lords is an indirect, a way winding about from Death to Life: So was Isaacs from a dead womb; Josephs from a Pit and Prison. Jobs from being emptied of all to an huge enriched fulness. Hope and pray for the dead Israel of God. Abraham and Sarah grow young again and fruitful.
5. Though Eminent particular Saints die, their Testimony doth not die. Witnesses come into Court, and having deponed, they are gone, but their Witness is upon Record. John bare witness of Christ and stept aside: He began to Witness, as Thilogus observes in the years of Jubile, that was in every fiftieth year, when the Trumpet sounded for the returning of every man to his Possessions, Numb. 25. 9, 10. To shew a Sinners restorement to the Possessions he lost in Adam. And he witnessed to him not only when he came to his Baptism, when the Father declared, This is my beloved Son, but continues it when Christ was led aside into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil? as Chemnitius proves, so he was crying up and honouring Christ, when the Devil, tempting, was pouring dishonour upon him. This Testimony remains upon the file, John 1. 15. After this Christ bears witness of himself by Oracles and Miracles; and then stept aside to the glory of Heaven; but the Testimony remains. Timothy made a good confession before many Witnesses, 1 Tim. 6. 12. and is charged by Paul to commit the same to faithful men, 2 Tim. 2. 2. The Martyrs, whose Souls lie under the Altar, made a good confession, and overcame, though dying, by the blood of the Testimony, not loving their lives unto the death; they overcame in that their Testimony, yet lives, is registred and committed to faithful men. Abel being dead yet speaketh.