The Souls Possession of Christ, Sermon 2
Spirituall MUNITION.
2 KINGS 2.12.
And Eliſha ſaw it, and he cryed, My Father, my Father, the Chariots of Iſrael, and the Horſemen thereof.
WHen the Lord had revealed that hee would take away Eliah in a whirlewinde, (as appeares in the firſt verſe of this Chapter) you ſhall obſerve that Eliſha, one that lived with him, and was trained up by him, did two things: 1. He followed him marvellous cloſely while he lived: And 2. he mourned for him at his death. The Lord ſent poſt-haſte for Eliah to heaven, and in a fiery Chariot ſuddenly tranſports him thither: Now when Eliſha could ſee him no more, nor enjoy him any longer, then he cryeth out, O my Father, my father. As though he had ſaid, Eliah is now gone, he is paſt all recovery, yet though he be a gainer, we are all loſers, having loſt a maine prop and ſupport unto us, therefore I cannot but breath and pant after him, O my Father, my Father.
In the verſe I have read, you may obſerve two things: 1. The affection of Eliſha to his Maſter. 2. The commendation or deſcription of Elijah. The words repeated imply his paſſion, as that of David, O Abſolom, 2 Sam. 18.33.my ſonne, my ſonne, would God I had dyed for thee, O Abſolom, my ſonne, my ſonne.
1. The affection of this holy man appeareth in three things.1. 1. His honourable eſteeme of him, Father. 2. His humble ſubjection to him, My Father. 3. His lamentation and mourning for him, O my Father: wherein the great griefe and paſſion of his ſoule appeares, by rending and tearing his clothes apieces, as you may ſee in the Chapter. I beginne with the firſt.
The word [Father] is ſometimes taken for a word of nature, as a naturall father: ſometimes it ſignifies a terme of time, diſcovering Antiquity; as Fathers in Iſrael, (that is) ſuch as are aged, of long continuance, and ſtanding in the Church.
The point hence is this:Doct. 2 King. 6.21.
The Miniſters of God, ſhould be as Fathers to the people.
And this appeares in three things.
11 They ſhould have a ſtayedneſſe, and gravity both of ſpirit and life. 1 Tim. 4.12.Let no man deſpiſe thy youth, (ſaith Paul to Timothy) but be an example in life and doctrine. If thou liveſt holily, without exception, and yet men will ſpeake againſt thee, thine heart tells them they lie, let them raile their fill.
22 In regard of the power, and authority committed unto them by God. Paul had a rod, as well as meeke words. Miniſters muſt bee Fathers, not cockerers, nor flatterers of men.
3.3 In regard of the inſtruction that they give unto the people, which muſt bee according as their neceſſity and ability requireth. They muſt be eyes to the blind, eares to the deafe, Iſa. 40.11.and feete to the lame.
Firſt, Vſe. 1.this ſhould teach the Lords watchmen, to ſhine as burning lamps, to be examples of piety, and ſtrict obedience in their ſeverall places. Alas, what is it to have the higheſt place, and the baſeſt practiſe, the beſt calling, and the worſt kinde of living.
Secondly, Vſe. 2.it ſhould inſtruct you that are hearers, to deale with the Miniſters of Gods word, as with Fathers; you muſt not deſpiſe them, in a captious, cenſorious manner, undervaluing the Lords Worthies, 1 Tim. 5.1.as many doe. Rebuke not an Elder, ſaith S. Paul, but intreat him as a Father. It is not for a childe to call the father to his tribunall. Doe wee ſee any thing in the Miniſter that is faulty? wee ſhould mourne for it, and wiſely ſuggeſt it to him. Say to Archippus, ſaith S. Paul, he doth not bid you controule Archippus. But here miſtake me not. It is a point of Popery to beleeve and doe in all things as the Miniſter ſaith or doth; but wee muſt ſearch the Scriptures, and try mens doctrines, whether they bee according to God or not. This is one paſſage.
My father.
Here is further ſet down the deare and reſpectfull carriage of Eliſha unto Eliah: whence obſerve,2
That loving ſubjection is that which all people ought to give unto thoſe that are in the place of the Miniſtery.Doct. 2. Heb. 13.17Submit yourſelves.
What Eliſha himſelfe did, all the ſonnes of Eliſha will likewiſe doe. Now this appeares in three things.
11 They muſt have a reverend eſteem of them and the places unto which God hath called them; they muſt entertaine them as Ambaſſadors, Gal. 4.14.as Co-workers with the Sonne for their ſalvation, 1 Theſ. 5.13.to bring the poore creature, and his Creator together, that they may be one. Men are apt to ſay, Miniſters are weak, and paſſionate, and full of failings. Why (brethren) who is not ſo? It is our happineſſe that we have this heavenly treaſure in earthen veſſels. Should God ſpeake to us face to face, who were able to abide him?
Secondly, 2.ſubmitting & ſubjecting, of our ſelves to the truths delivered. Tell not me of intertaining a Miniſter, or bidding him to your Table. Thou muſt ſubject thy ſoule to the word, and labour to bee under the power of divine truths revealed. Otherwiſe thou doſt but deſpiſe the Miniſter, all the while thou ſlighteſt, and diſobeyeſt his Miniſtery; you ſhould ſay, as Samuel did, Speak Lord, thy ſervant heareth: and as S. Paul, Lord what wilt thou have mee to doe? If a Command come, the ſoule ſhould readily performe it; If a Reproofe, the ſoule ſhould willingly beare it, and not repine, in a fretting maner, ſaying, he aymed at me, and I care not if I never heare him more. Brethren this is not ſubjection, but pride and rebellion, againſt God and his truth. This ought not to bee amongſt Chriſtians. If any man ſeem to quarrell, and take up Armes againſt the word of the Almighty, let that man know, that his doome ſleeps not, for God will certainly ſlay all ſuch ſtubborne and ſtiffe-necked rebels, that refuſe to have him rule over them. Strive therefore for a yeelding ſubmiſſive ſpirit, get a frame of ſoule, willing to bee taught of God, to bee diſpoſed of by him in everything, to receive any impreſſion which hee ſhall ſtampe upon thee. When thou art to heare the Word, beg a teachable minde, and ſay; Good Lord, let thy ſervant now heare a ſeaſonable word, quicken theſe dead bones here before thee: Speake home to my conſcience, wound my corruptions, ſlay theſe ſinnes that are too hard for mee, let no iniquity prevaile over thy poore ſervant, but let Jeſus Chriſt bee all in all to and in mee; take this heart of mine, and frame it, and alter it, and mould it, and melt it. Worke thine owne will in mee, faſhion me to thy kingdome of grace here, that I may partake of thy kingdome of glory hereafter.
A good heart will not fume, and vexe to ſee his pollutions ript open, but lay things cloſe to his conſcience, and bleſſe God for this light, and ſay; Bleſſed be his good word, and his poore ſervant that met this day with my ſinnes. I never obſerved that pride, I never diſcovered that fraud and guile of ſpirit, I never tooke notice of ſuch ſwarmes of luſts lurking in my ſoule as now I finde. What became of Chriſt, I cared not; what became of his Miniſters, I valued not; what became of the Name, and honour, and Goſpel of the Lord Jeſus, I regarded not; but now I ſee the evill of my wayes: and bleſſed bee God for that good worke which hath beene communicated to my ſoule by his ſervant.
It is a fearefull thing, when men deale with their ſinnes, 2 Sā. 18.5.as David did with Abſalon, Doe not kill him, but deale kindly with the young man for my ſake. Such mens ſpirits are as yet very little in ſubjection to God, and they may wel be ranked amongſt the oppoſers of him and his Miniſters.
Thirdly, 3.this further appeares, by a free, willing ſerviceableneſſe unto thoſe that are faithfull in the worke of the Lord for our good. Gal. 4.15.The Galathians would have pulled out their eyes to have done S. Paul good, and would have parted with their deareſt friends, and beſt commodities, to bee partakers of his Miniſtery.
Thus you ſee, 1 that Chriſtians ought to have a due reſpect of Gods Meſſengers. 2 They ought to ſubmit themſelves, to the Ambaſſage they deliver. 3 They ought to bee ſerviceable unto them in all things.
The uſe of this is for inſtruction, Vſe. 1.to teach us to depend and wait upon God, in the uſe of the Miniſtery. Theſe are the Conduit-pipes of grace. Children they go ſtill to their fathers houſe to bee fed or clothed. So it ſhould be with us.
This likewiſe may reprove two ſorts of people: Vſe. 2.Firſt, thoſe that in ſtead of doing good unto a faithfull Miniſter, labour what they can to root him out, and in ſtead of ſubjection to the word by him delivered, they ſet up and maintaine rebellion againſt it. If your wounds once be launced, your corruptions diſcovered, and the puniſhment due unto them flung upon your faces, ſo as you can have no quiet in a ſinfull courſe, then preſently all the Towne is in an uproare, and cry, Away with this fellow, hee ſhall not tarry here long. Brethren, Is he a dutifull ſonne, that would caſt his father out of doores? A ſonne; no, a ſlave to the Devill, and a rebell againſt the Lord Almighty, fitter for a priſon to tormēt him, then a houſe to harbour him. It is a certaine ſigne that the ſoule never had grace, which oppoſeth the Miniſters of grace. This is a fearefull ſymptome of an unſound heart, and where ever it is, cleerely evidences that GOD hath forſaken that ſoule. For alas, it is not a poore weake man, which they oppoſe, but the Great God himſelf, who ſhines forth in them, as they ſhall one day wofully finde and feele with ſorrow.
This falls heavy upon all cloſe hearted hypocrites, 2.thoſe whited walls, that run with the Hare, & hold with the Hound; who though they give way unto the Miniſter ſometimes, yet it is but to ſerve their owne turns, to effect their owne ends. They make the Miniſter their ſtalking horſe, to procure their owne profit, or credit by. And if their aimes fall not out, but their expectation is croſſed, and their deſires fruſtrated, then (for ſhame of the world they dare not perſecute a good Miniſter openly, yet) they ſecretly revile, and ſpeak againſt him, ſaying; Would I had never knowne ſuch a man, Mat. 10.11he is able to make one runne madde.
If any man now have ſuch a ſtubborne heart, and diſtempered ſoule, that he will not ſubject to the word of God, he cannot have any true peace; happily hee may have peace in the world, but he ſhall have gall enough in his conſcience.
Some will ſay, Object.I like ſuch a man very well, and I could love and reſpect one Miniſter dearely, but not another.
Hold thy tongue for ſhame; Anſw.Is not the truth alike in all? why then doſt thou diſcover ſuch groſſe hypocriſie, as to be a reſpecter of perſons? If he be a faithfull Miniſter, and thou canſt not finde in thy heart to receive him, and highly eſteeme of him, it is a ſigne that thou haſt no grace.
O but hee hath wronged mee in this or that matter.Object.
But the word of God did never wrong you. Anſw.This argueth a deſperate diſpoſition, that thou art rotten, and unſound at heart, when thou reſpecteſt thine owne private ends of profit, pleaſure, credit, or the like, above the word of God, this plainly demonſtrates that thy eye is not ſingle, and that thou loveſt not God for himſelfe.
This therefore ſhould minde the meſſengers of God, Vſe. 3chiefly to reſpect and tender thoſe that yeeld ſubjection to the meſſage which they deliver. O brethren, let us that are of the Miniſtery, moſt eſteeme of them, moſt prize them, that love God and his word. The rich man it may be, ſitteth higheſt at the Table: but they that love the Lord ſhould be moſt reſpected by us, loved of us. It is true, happily they have weakneſſes and frailties, yet if you delight in God, affect and cleave to theſe; Let the rout of drunkards and all graceleſſe miſcreants, incourage one another in their baſe courſes, and extoll thoſe that worke moſt miſchiefe among them; Never let thy ſoul enter into theſe mens ſecrets, but beg of GOD, that the Saints which excell, may bee the onelyonly excellent ones in thy thoughts, and eſteeme: As this bleſſed man here did, O my father my father. Wherein we might further obſerve, That the loſſe of a faithfull Miniſter, is a matter of great mourning and lamentation: But I leave that, and come now to the commendation of Elijah.
The Charrets of Iſrael and the horſemen thereof.
Theſe words, Charrets and horſemen, are ſpoken by way of ſimilitude, and doe figuratively demonſtrate the defence and protection of Iſrael. For in ancient times, they went to warre with iron Charrets, and thoſe were counted moſt ſtrong, that had moſt of theſe; therefore the hearts of the children of Iſrael were daunted, when they perceived that the Canaanits had iron Charrets. Horſes are warlike creatures, of great ſtrength, as both our owne and former times have experienced. Some truſt in Charrets, and ſome in horſe-men, ſaith David. The like we may reade, Iudg. 4.3.
The point that I would commend from hence is, Doct. 3.That faithfull Miniſters are the defenders of States, Churches, and Common-wealths.
God biddeth Elijah, 2 Kings 19. 2 King. 19.16.to anoint Iehu King over Iſrael, and Eliſha to bee Prophet in his roome; and it is obſervable, that when the ſword of Iehu and his Army did not hit, then the ſword of Eliſha prevailed, his prayers wrought a greater ſlaughter among the enemies, then all their weapons of warre could doe.
The Reaſons hereof are foure.
Faithfull Miniſters, Reaſ. 1.by their fervent prayers, and ſupplications, ſtop the wrath and indignation of the Lord, and ſo keepe back judgement from us, Numb. 16.48.as Moſes ſtood in the gappe. Nay they doe not onelyonly turne away Gods anger, and diſpleaſure from a land, or people; but are a meanes oftentimes of bringing it upon the adverſaries of goodneſſe. 2 King. 1.10.Take heed therefore of wronging a praying Miniſter. You know David beſought the Lord that hee would confound the policy of Achitophel, 2 Sam. 15.31.and his requeſt was granted. Prayer is of great force; It will bring puniſhment upon a man, and hee ſhall not know who hurt him.
Againe, 2.Faithfull Miniſters reveale the ſinnes of the people with whom they live, and labour to worke them to humiliation, and godly repentance, that they may turn unto the Lord, which is the ready courſe to turne away judgements. O brethren, wee feare the ſword, we may juſtly doe ſo; But let mee tell you, It is not the weakneſſe of our Land, nor the power of the enemy, that can ſo much hurt us, as our treacherous hearts at home: Theſe ſwarmes of unruly luſts and corruptions, which wee carry about in our breaſts, and harbour in our boſomes daily, doe us more hurt then all the world beſides. Our ſins are they which lay us open to Gods judgements more than any thing elſe. duplicate page duplicate page Now a faithfull Miniſter indeavours to turne away ſinne, and ſo by conſequence the wrath of God incenſed thereby, from a place. It is a great deale of good that a Samuel may doe.1 Sam. 7.3
By this the hearts of men are made willing to yeeld obedience to the Governours that are ſet over them;3. it makes men ſtudious of Gods honour, faithfull to their Religion and Countrey, induſtrious in doing good in their places, and ſtrict with their GOD in all conditions and relations whatſoever. This brings men to be bleſſings in the Stations wherein GOD hath ſet them, to live deſired, and die lamented. 2 Chron. 20.20.Whileſt Iehoiada lived, wee reade how all things proſpered, the Goſpell that flouriſhed, and piety was advanced thorowout the Kingdome, but when hee died, his ſonne fell quickly to abominable and wicked courſes; and the Lord ſoone overthrew him, his Kingdome, and all. So that, that which makes men loyall and true hearted, and hinders the overflowing ſcourge from ſeazing upon a Nation, that muſt needs bee the defence of that Nation; for it is a certaine truth, hee that is diſloyall to the King of heaven, can never bee loyall to the king of earth.
This putteth courage into the hearts of people:4. ſinfull and baſe courſes fill a man with continuall feares and diſcouragements. 2 Chron. 15.2.The Lord is with us whileſt wee cleave to him; but if we forſake him, hee will for ſake us. It is wonderful to ſee what a good Miniſter can do in a good warre, how he can fight againſt Principalities, and powers, and ſpirituall wickedneſſes in high places, not fearing the face of man. The clear knowledge of this, that the battell hee fights is the Lords, aſſures him that the Lord will fight for him. Any coward will fight when hee is aſſured of victory beforehand. A good cauſe will make men ſpend their deareſt blood. When a man hath God to goe before him, and the word to warrant him in what he doth, he goes through thicke and thin: we ſee with what joy and cheerefulneſſe the Martyrs ſacrificed their lives to the flames.
This ſhews, Vſe. 1.that thoſe which are enemies to Gods faithfull Miniſters, are the greateſt adverſaries that the Church or State hath; for they ſpoile the Munition of the Land. If a man ſhould take away all the Munition of England, and tranſport it into Spaine, every man will ſay he is a Traitour. So if thou haſt ſet thy ſelfe to oppoſe, and ſecretly undermine any that is a true faithfull Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt, know thou art a Traitour to thy King and Countrey, becauſe thou perſecuteſt him, who labours in his place, to keepe back wrath from ſeazing upon the Land. Bee humbled therefore, take notice of this crying ſinne, and let it not bee once named amongſt you, as becommeth Chriſtians. So much for the Text, now a word or two Of the Occaſion.
If I ſhould ſay no more, nay if I had ſaid nothing at all, the Example here preſent, would bee a viſible interpretation of this Text, the very Carcaſe ſtanding before you, makes good the truth that I have now delivered. Hee is dead, we ſhall be ſo; let us live as he did, that we may enjoy the end of our hope, as no doubt hee fully doth. Brethren, while he lived here, hee was a Father in our Iſrael, not for yeares, but for grace. It is not continuance of time, but ripenes of parts, that makes a man Ancient. And though hee be departed, yet that dead trunck ſpeaketh unto us, and the dead body ſaith, Though the inhabitant bee gone, it once caried about it a holy life, a ſincere heart, an unſpotted converſation.
Nay, I may adde further, hee was a Charret and Horſe-man of Iſrael. Hee was in the forefront of the battell, a maine defender of the faith of Chriſt: Witneſſe brethren, the heart-breaking ſighes, and earneſt prayers that hee put up to the Lord in the dayes of his humiliation. If any ſins were ſtirring, or any iniquity abounding, hee laboured by faſting, and prayer to oppoſe the ſame. I knew him ſometimes in Cambridge in his younger dayes, at which time the Lord had wonderfully inriched him with ſpirituall gifts; In the exerciſe whereof, he was ſo induſtrious, that hee did weary himſelfe, and even conſume his ſpirits, by reaſon of his conſtancy in holy duties. Hee was ſo taken with love of the Lord Jeſus, and his bleſſed truths, that hee was faine to bee checked, and by many good friends to bee hindered in his pious ſervice and indeavours. How oft hath hee ſtood in the gap, and laboured by fervent prayers to avert Gods wrath, and remove his heavy judgements? Witnes his ſtrong cries and interceſſions to the Almighty, in the time of common calamitie, when the peſtilence raged ſo violently amongſt us. Witneſſe alſo thoſe painefull imployments, that hee tooke up in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon; exhorting, rebuking with all long-ſuffring and patience. Some times alluring the heart with ſweet promiſes, otherwhile denouncing vengeance, & threatning judgement againſt obſtinate ſinners. Preaching ordinarily every Lords day, and extraordinarily upon the weeke (as occaſion was offered) for the good of his people. Witneſſe alſo (and I pray brethren, thinke of that) the many ſweet comforts, and heavenly conſolations, wherewith hee refreſhed, and ſupported many a fainting ſoule.
Thus this bleſſed Saint, weakned his body, and waſted his ſpirits, out of love to Chriſts little flock, which now he enjoyes the fruit and comfort of. For though our griefe cannot bee expreſſed, having ſuſtained ſo great a loſſe, yet it cheereth my heart me thinks, how now he reſteth from all his labours. Oh the ſweet repoſe that hee enjoyes. Now his eyes that were full of teares, and his tongue that did almoſt cleave to the roofe of his mouth, for the good of the Church, doe all ceaſe and lie ſtill. We leave his pretious ſoule in the hands of his Maker, and his body to bee laid in the duſt, there to ſleep in a bed of downe, untill the Trump ſhall awake both him and us all, at the great day of appearing.
Againe, Vſe. 2.Are faithfull Miniſters, the helpe and fortreſſe of a Nation? then the loſſe of an able, true hearted Miniſter is to bee greatly mourned for. O my Father, my Father, ſaith good Eliſha: So though we muſt leave this our deare brother, yet let us look after him, as hee did: Hee looked wiſhly on him, had his eye fixed conſtantly towards him; and when he could ſee him no more, hee cryeth out, O my father, my father.
Why ſhould not wee bewaile this great loſſe of ours in like manner? Me thinks every one of us ſhould take up this ſorrowfull complaint; mee thinks your ſpirits ſhould relent, and mourne at ſuch an object. Yea I am perſwaded, many here preſent doe ſo. Mee thinks I heare one ſay, O my father, by whom I was converted; and another, O my father, by whom I was directed; a third, O my father, by whom my ſoule was comforted: and the little children that are left fatherleſſe, they cry, O my father, by whom I was begotten, maintained, and nouriſhed in ſpirituall things.
Brethren, let us looke after him, though wee muſt now part with him, yet let us call to minde all his prayers, and humiliation, and faſting, and ſupplications to the throne of Grace. All his teares are now dried up; all his complaints are now finiſhed; all his paines and labours, are now accompliſhed, and hee to receive a plentifull reward of them. Let us mourne for our neglect of the means of ſalvation whiles he lived amongſt us. O his labour, and teares, and painfull ſtudying, are now all gone, they are now in heaven, whither he himſelf is gone before us. The Lord give us to follow his ſteps, that we finiſhing our courſe as he did, our latter end may be like unto his.
To conclude briefly; Vſe. 3Is one of the Horſemen of Iſrael gone? Are the Charrets of Iſrael taken away? What muſt wee then do? Certainly we ſhould double our forces now, and make a new preſſe, becauſe a Generall is ſlain. The Lord hath brought us hither at this time; O let us lay this dolefull ſpectacle to heart, and be affected therewith as we ought. I ſhould ſpeak, as if I were never to ſpeake more; You ſhould heare, as if you were never to heare more.
Men, Fathers, and Brethren, what hath befallen this Saint before you, may be any of our portions ere long, wee know not how ſoone Death may knock at our doores. Our times are in Gods hand, who can take us to himſelfe when hee pleaſeth. Happily this day may be thy laſt day, and this very ſeaſon, the laſt opportunity that ever thou maieſt have to meet GOD in his Ordinances. Oh therefore bee encouraged to adde one prayer more.
Goe home, I beſeech you, and conſider, with the departure of this our deare Friend, how many prayers and teares are departed with him. How did hee importune the Lord for the good of the whole Land in generall, and for the Country and place wherein he lived in particular? Thinke you, all his earneſt ſtriving with God was in vaine? Or ſeemeth it a ſmall thing in your eyes to loſe ſo many fervent effectuall ſupplications? I beſeech you lay it to heart, and every man in his place, put to his helping hand for repairing of ſo great a loſſe. Now make a preſſe of prayers, raiſe up armies of petitions. Goe your wayes home, bee humbled, pray one praier more, that the Army may be increaſed ſtill.
You that were of his Pariſh, and enjoyed the worke of his Miniſtery; Oh you have loſt a good Paſtor, a faithfull Labourer in Gods harveſt, one that had a longing deſire after your ſalvation. But know this, how ever your provocations are increaſed, yet the Lord (who for your ſins hath made this breach among you) hath further bleſſings in ſtore, if you ſeeke to him. He can ſupply your place againe with a faithfull able Miniſter, and with a couragious Generall.
Therefore brethren, if ever you pray, pray now, if ever you faſt, now faſt; if ever you humble your ſelves, now bee humbled in duſt and aſhes before the Lord, never more need, never greater want. By this meanes the Land will be ſtrengthened, and our peace and ſafety continued. What though our enemies are many, and our ſinnes great, fervent prayer hath to doe with a God, ſtronger and mightier then they all; This will undermine the moſt ſubtill underminers of Gods truth, and children, therefore ſet your ſelves ſeriouſly upon the work, however the fleſh is awkward, yet ſtirre up and provoke your ſpirits hereunto. It will never repent you upon your death beds, of your prayers and teares, put up unto God. It will bee a great refreſhment to your drooping ſoule at that day, if you can ſay in truth as Hezekiah did; Good Lord remember how I have walked uprightly before thee. This is that which will continue a mans comfort, and ſupport his ſoule in the greateſt extremity. An unpraying heart is a diſmall thing. Therefore be incouraged to the duty: Pray, pray, pray.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Hooker, The Souls Possession of Christ (1638)