The Fathers Tears over his Daughters Remains, Sermon 1

The Fathers Tears over his Daughters Remains · Sermon 1

Aaron's Silence On the Death of his SONS.

LEVITICUS X. 3.

And Aaron held his Peace.

VERY gracious and exemplary was this Silence of Aaron, and very awful was the Providence and Trial which made it ſo excellent and admirable in him. He and his Sons having been called of God unto the Prieſthood, and ſolemnly conſecrated to the ſervice of the Sanctuary; upon the firſt Execution of their Office the Glory of the Lord appeared unto all the People, and a Fire came from before the Lord and conſumed the Burnt-Offering upon the Altar. This was a moſt open and glorious Teſtimony of the Lord's accepting of his Sanctuary and Altar, his Prieſts alſo and the worſhipping People. Well might it fill them all with tranſports of Joy, and make them ſhout and fall on their Faces. So they ador'd and gave Thanks to the King Eternal and Inviſible, who vouchſaf'd thus to manifeſt Himſelf to them, and ſhow 'em His Glory.

p. 2But the Sin and Sudden Death of Nadab and Abihu (the two Sons of Aaron who had been dignified among the Elders of Iſrael, and by Name called up into the Mount, to ſee the God of Iſrael, and He laid not his Hand on them; Exod. xxiv. 1, 11.) gave a dreadful Damp to the Joys of that glorious Day.

Theſe young Prieſts, proud it may be of their Office, and half intoxicated with the Joy of the ſacred Feſtival, took either of them his Cenſer, probably without the Divine Order to burn Incenſe at that Time; and whereas they ſhould have taken of the Fire that was newly kindled on the Altar from before the Lord, they offer'd ſtrange Fire, us'd common Fire, which He commanded them not.

This was a great piece of Raſhneſs, Irreverence and Preſumption in them; and being the firſt Profanation of God's Houſe and Worſhip by the Prieſthood, it pleas'd the Holy and Dreadful Majeſty to ſtrike 'em dead upon the ſpot. There went out Fire from the Lord and devoured 'em, and they died before the Lord.

This was ſuch a kind of Bereavement as never but once hapned, enough to ſwallow up all Words! and no doubt but Moſes and Aaron and all the worſhipping Aſſembly were ſtruck with Aſtoniſhment at the terrible Execution. But Moſes inſpir'd of God, with a Preſence of Mind as ſurpriſing as the preſent Event, immediately ſhewed them that ſo it became the Holineſs of God to ſanctify Himſelf on them that came nigh Him, if they did not take care to ſanctify his Name in their Approaches to Him and Miniſtrations before him: ver. 3. Then Moſes ſaid unto p. 3Aaron, This is it that the Lord ſpake, ſaying, I will be ſanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the People I will be glorified: And Aaron held his Peace.

So Aaron hearkned to the Word of God, from the Mouth of his Brother Moſes, and was dumb becauſe God had done it in his wiſe and righteous Severity: So he ſanctified the Lord, and glorified Him before all the People, in adoring Silence and profound Submiſſion.

This was as indeed became the High Prieſt of the Lord. What an Example did he give to the frighted gazing Congregation! But he did no more than was his Duty, nor all that neither. It was of God's great Grace and Mercy to him that he bare as he did. Let God have all the Glory, and Aaron his praiſe alſo; for God put Honour on him, glorified his Grace in him.

It is the Duty of all Men, more eſpecially of Miniſters, to be Silent under Divine Corrections. Not only to bear, but to accept of the Puniſhment of Sin. And the moſt effectual Arguments, for ſilencing and quieting a gracious Heart under Affliction, are thoſe that are fetch'd from God's Glory. The Holy One had ſanctified his own Name, & vindicated the Glory of it: This ſilenc'd Aaron. God was glorified and Aaron is ſatisfied.

The Doctrines I would briefly ſpeak to are, 1. That there is a gracious Silence which may highly become us in our ſorrowful Bereavements; more eſpecially when they are ſudden & awful, and carry much of God's holy Anger and Diſpleaſure in them. 2. That Miniſters eſpecially p. 4ſhould be Inſtances and Examples hereof under ſuch Bereavements.

I. There is a gracious Silence which may highly become us in our ſorrowful Bereavements, more eſpecially when they are ſudden and awful, and carry much of God's Holy Anger & Diſpleaſure in them.

Such was this of Aaron's in the Text: To have two Sons, juſt conſecrated to the Service of God, ſuddenly ſtruck Dead, as it were by Lightning, and that becauſe the Holy God was not ſerv'd by 'em in that reverend Manner which he requir'd,—What could be more ſurprizing, more awful and expreſſive of Divine Diſpleaſure?

The firſt Death, the firſt Bereavement of the firſt Parents of Mankind, was a very ſudden and awful Breach upon them! And no doubt but Adam and Eve tho't God very angry with them, when they ſaw one Son, and him a godly one, Murder'd by his ungodly Brother; becauſe his Works were righteous and He accepted by God.

Job's Bereavement was the moſt ſudden and tragical that we ever read of: His ten Children feaſting together, and rejoycing in one anothers Love; and on a ſudden comes a fierce Wind from the Wilderneſs, & blows down the Houſe, and buries 'em all together in a moment of Time; cruſh'd to pieces in the mighty Ruines of ſome princely Fabrick.

Jacob's Bereavement in the Sudden Death of Rachel was very awful to him; as indeed all Deaths in Child-birth are, becauſe of the joyful p. 5Hope therein fruſtrated of a new & double Life. We have not the like ſcarce, but in the dying of the Wife of Phineas. Read the moving, killing Stories: Gen. xxxv. 16,—20. Rachel travailed and ſhe had hard Labour, and the Midwife ſaid to her, Fear not, thou ſhalt have this Son alſo: And as her Soul was in departing She called his Name Benoni: The Son of my ſorrow! And Jacob ſet a Pillar upon her Grave; it is the Pillar of Rachel's Grave unto this Day. But never was the holy and terrible Anger of God more teſtified againſt a Family of Religion, than in the united Deaths of Eli, his Sons, and his pious Daughter-in-law: 1 Sam. iv. 19,—22. And when ſhe heard that the Ark of God was taken, and that her Father-in-law & her Husband were dead, She bowed her ſelf and travailed: And about the Time of her Death, the Women ſaid to her, Fear not, for thou haſt born a Son! but ſhe anſwered not, nor regarded it; only named the Child Ichabod, ſaying, The Glory is departed from Iſrael, for the Ark of God is taken.

The fair Naomi had a very awful ſenſe of the Divine Anger, when ſhe return'd from the Land of Moab deſolate and empty; having buried her two Sons and her Husband: Ruth i. 20. Call me not Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me, and teſtified againſt me.

David's Bereavement in the Death of his Child, was an expreſs Teſtimony of the high Diſpleaſure of God againſt him for his Sin. Nathan told him in way of Threatning and Puniſhment, The Child ſhall die. He faſted and wept therefore before the Lord. But the Death of Amnon for his Folly & Inceſt, and the Death p. 6of Abſalem in his Rebellion, were much mor… ſudden and awful Bereavements, and greate… Teſtimonies of the Divine Anger.

The Widow of Zarephath, who was honour'… to nouriſh Elijah, (that is to ſay, he fed her b… the Power of God) had a moſt awful ſenſe of th… bereaving Hand of God in the Death of her Son▪ She was even broken under the fearful Apprehenſion of it. 1 Kin. xvii. 18. Ah, thou Man of God ▪ ſaid ſhe, art thou come to call my Sins to remembrance? and to ſlay my Son?

And yet theſe awful, ſudden and grievous B… reavements were no always from the Divin… Diſpleaſure, however well the Bereaved did … apprehend it, and fear & mourn & fall at God… foot. We cannot ſay that Rachel's Death w… from God's Diſpleaſure with Jacob, who was … his way to Bethel, to pay his Vow. And we ce… tainly know that Job's Bereavements were … for his Sin, nor from any Diſpleaſure of God t… ward him; but the Lord in the Sovereignty … his Grace gave Satan a Permiſſion to try & pro… thoſe excelling Meaſures of Grace with which … had dignified him, and whereof He had ſpok… with the higheſt Pleaſure and Eſteem.

And ſo it ſeems to have been in the Death▪ the Prophet's Wife, when the Deſire of his … was taken away with a Stroke, and behold I do … ſaid the Lord to him, and forbad him to mo… or weep, Ezek. xxiv. 16. Nor was there; … Anger of God in the Death of Lazarus or D… cas; but only Glory to Himſelf with Love … Favour both to the Dead and to the Livin… however bitterly the Survivors took both the … and the other.

p. 7Nevertheleſs … becomes us to appre…nd and fear the …oly Anger of God in his be…aving Providences; and the more ſuddenly …ey come upon …, the more awful they ſhould … to us; and frequently the Diſpleaſure of God … great in them, and we cannot certainly judge …en it is not ſo. Wherefore in all ſuch Caſes a …acious Silence may exceedingly become us. We …ay well be ſtruck dumb, and like Aaron hold …r Peace, when the Hand of God ſuddenly …uches us.

So the excellent Servants of God have be…v'd, both before and ſince the days of Aaron, …der a like eminent Government of the Spirit of …ace. Job when he heard of the diſtaſtrous …d of his ſeven, his ten, his all, fell down and …orſhipped, in a few Words. But when the fu…us Devil had covered him with dolorous and …hy Ulcers, then he ſeems to have ſat down …e ſilent and aſtonied, laying his Hand upon his …uth, and keeping it with a Bridle. His Friends …nd him in this Silence, and accompanied him …. Job ii. 13. So they ſat down with him upon … Ground, ſeven Days and ſeven Nights, and none …e a Word unto Him; for they ſaw that his …f was very great. The Wife of Phineas died … Grief, and died ſilent. The wiſe and pious …amite told not her Husband of the Child's …th, and lay ſilent for a time at the Prophet's … When David's Sorrow was ſtirred, you read … Practice, his Victory over himſelf, Pſal. xxxix. … was dumb with Silence, I held my Peace. Such … his gracious Silence at his Infant's Death, …ot ſo at Abſalom's.

p. 8Such Mourners were … …ſters of Lazarus; they thought much and ſaid little: Lord, ſaid they when Jeſus came, if thou hadſt been here, my Brother had not died. Jeſus himſelf mourn'd with them in like Silence: He wept, he ſigh'd, he groan'd within himſelf as he came to the Grave.

He bare our Sins and Sorrows ſilent, and went to his Croſs as a Lamb to the Slaughter; ſo he opened not his Mouth, Iſai. liii.7. At the Bar of Pilate, loaded with falſe Accuſations, he anſwered nothing, inſomuch that the Governour marvelled greatly ††Not that our Lord Jeſus in all his Sufferings, and more particularly in ſome of Thoſe that attended his Crucifixion, meant to give us an obliging Example, for our Imitation. Some of them it may be were Inimitable by the beſt of his poor Members in this mortal Fleſh, and ſome that were in themſelves imitable, were however peculiarly proper to Himſelf, and only to Him; who was made Sin for us, and had Power over his own Life, to lay it down as a Sacrifice and Price of Redemption We muſt therefore diſtinguiſh if we can, and wiſely conſider, what in the Sufferings and Dying of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt was meant as an Example to us and for our Imitation, and what not? or how far the ſame Things may be imitable by us, and in what Reſpects above our Imitation? For Inſtance, Our Lord ſtood ſilent before the High Prieſt and before Pilate, and would not anſwer the malicious & falſe Accuſations againſt him; He went alſo whither he knew the Traitor would follow him, nor would he go away when the Guards fell before him. It does not follow that we are bound to imitate Chriſt in one or other of theſe Things; nay it might be Preſumption in us, and a Treſpaſs on the Glory peculiar to Him, the Lord of Life in our Nature. We are to imitate the Meekneſs, Patience and Submiſſion to the Will of God, conſpicuous in Sufferings of our Lord; but His Caſe was ſingular, his Station in the World proper to Himſelf alone, and there was to be None after him, no ſecond Jeſus, a Redeemer and Saviour. For there is One God, and one Mediator between God and Man; the Man Chriſt Jeſus. For this End was I born, ſaid He to Pilate, and to this End came I into the World! Could any of his Saints ſay This, they might act like Him, in all the Circumſtances of his Dying. Wherefore in Honour to our Lord we may not preſume to do as He did, in things peculiar to Him as Lord and Chriſt. I do not deny but that under the Influence of the Spirit of Chriſt, his Martyrs, and other ſuffering Saints, may know and feel themſelves called to extraordinary Things, in Conformity to their Suffering Head; in which Caſes we muſt beware of judging them: But then neither are They to be drawn into an Example to our Selves or Others; that we ſhould judge our ſelves or one another for not being able to imitate, to which we may rather think we are not called; and if not, it would be to tempt the Lord our God, and to expoſe Religion with our ſelves.. Mat. xxvii. 14. The Son of God, the p. 9Man of Sorrows has thus ſanctified a gracious Silence under the ſtand of His Father. He agoniz'd in the Garden, in fervent Prayer, but in a very few Words. And thoſe Words were full of adoring Silence; Father, if this Cup may not paſs away from me, thy Will be done. He ſaid little on the Croſs, but there was very much in that little.

God has ſometimes enjoyn'd his ſorrowful People Silence. Pſal. xlvi. 10. Be ſtill and know that I am God. My Context gives us the moſt ſingular Inſtance of it; Moſes forbad Aaron and his Sons to bewail the Breach which the Lord had made on them, leſt they died. So Ezekiel was commanded not to weep, when God took away his Wife, This was one Time and Way, when his Tongue was made to cleave to the Roof of his Mouth.

p. 10Now ſuch gracious Silence may exceedingly become us under our awful and ſudden Bereavements, becauſe

1. To be ſure then there is nothing ſaid againſt the will of God, and his Doing: Nothing in way of Complaint againſt God, as if he were a hard Maſter: Nothing in way of Anger and Diſpleaſure, as Job's Wife would have provoked his Spirit: Nothing in way of Murmur as the Iſraelites of old ſpake againſt God. Far, far be from us, any Look or Appearance of Diſplicency at what God orders out to us or ours, and much leſs any Word from our Lips of that nature.— Yet David was diſpleaſed when God ſtruck Uzza, and Jonah was angry when his Gourd was blaſted. But Job ſinned not, nor charged God fooliſhly.

2. This gracious Silence ſpeaks much and aloud for God. It has its Voice and Language, and is eaſily heard and underſtood. There is no Speech nor Language where its Voice is not known.

It ſpeaks Submiſſion to the Sovereign Will of God: As a Son or Servant is ſilent under the Rebuke or Correction of a good Father or Maſter: Or as a Criminal is ſilent before his Judge; or as a Subject before his Prince when he has diſpleaſed Him.

We juſtify God in his Judgment when we hold our Peace. We own Him juſt and righteous, not having a Word to ſay. We humble our ſelves in his Sight, and accept of the Puniſhment of our Sin.

Silence in a Sinner is expreſſive of Penitence, Sorrow and Shame and Fear. We take Shame p. 11to our ſelves, and are afraid before God, and lay our Hand upon our Mouth. As Job did, Chap. xl. 3, 4. Behold I am vile, what ſhall I anſwer Thee? Ones have I ſpoken, but I will proceed no further. xlii. 6. Wherefore I abhor my ſelf, and repent in Duſt and Aſhes.

Silence before God under his afflicting Hand aſcribes to Him all the Glories of his Sovereignty, Wiſdom and Juſtice. It is mental Worſhip. The Mind thinks, conſiders and adores, while the Tongue is ſilent and the Lips move not. So devout Souls mean it, and ſo God hears and accepts it. So Aaron glorified the Holy One of Iſrael in the Preſence of many Worſhippers. There had not been, it may be, on that Solemn Day, a like Act of Worſhip, as this Silence of Aaron. O what a Sacrifice did he make to God, while he held his Peace! A ſacred Reverence ſtopt his Mouth! Mark me, and be aſtonied, and lay your Hand upon your Mouth. The whole Aſſembly of Worſhippers ſtood ſilent and adoring with him.

3. This gracious Silence under ſudden & awful Bereavements highly becomes us in point of Prudence and Care; Caution & Guard upon our ſelves. Now keep the Door of thy Lips, fear to ſpeak in a ſurprize, leſt it be unadviſedly; which even the meek Moſes himſelf did, and ſmarted for it; and was enjoyn'd Silence in his Suffering on that Account; "Speak no more to me (ſaid God) of that matter.

Be not raſh with thy Mouth, is not only a piece of wiſe Advice in the caſe of Worſhip and Vowing to God, but alſo in that of Suffering under p. 12his Holy Hand. Why ſhouldeſt thou ſpeak ſuddenly, and then have cauſe to ſay, "It was an Error? Why ſhould God be angry at thy Voice? Eccl. v. 2, 6.

Keep your Silence, ſaid Moſes to Aaron and Eleazer in my Context, leſt ye die. Gracious Silence ſpeaks a wiſe and reverend Fear of God, and a conſcious Jealouſy of our Selves. It ſhows a due Senſe of our own Imperfection, Corruption and Sinfulneſs, that we dare not truſt ſuch a fooliſh Heart and Tongue. Our Affections are irregular, our Paſſions unruly; apt to break out at our Lips, when our Hearts are hot within us. We no ſooner take fire within, but we blow up and burſt to pieces. Out of the Abundance of the Affections the Mouth ſpeaks; but Silence keeps them down from making Work for Repentance. It was therefore wiſely reſolved by David, Pſal. xxxix 1, 2. I will take heed to my Heart, that I ſin not with my Tongue; I will keep my Mouth with a Bridle while the Wicked is before me: I was dumb with Silence, I held my Peace. The Rein in the Mouth holds in the head-ſtrong Paſſions, that would elſe run away with us. The Horſe that has a hard Mouth, & too much Spirit, needs a hard Kirb, and a ſtrong Hand. Moreover. Silence in a Surpriſe gives Time and Room for Thought, while he that ſpeaks ſuddenly ſpeaks without thinking; and when he thinks over what he has ſaid is ready to bite his Tongue, & wiſhes he could eat his Words. And well may he be ready to gnaw his Tongue, who ſpeaks haſtily and fooliſhly of God or to Him. Therefore get alone, and keep Silence, and put thy Mouth in the Duſt, when God rebukes and afflicts. The p. 13Prudence of the thing, as well as the Religion of it, ſo directs. And indeed Religion is evermore the higheſt Wiſdom. But after all that has been ſaid in Praiſe of gracious Silence before God, it muſt be added,

4. That wiſe and gracious Speaking, to God and of Him, in the Day of our Affliction, may be ſometimes better than Silence; more to the Glory of God, the Edification of Men, and our own Eaſe and Comfort. Let but Grace govern the Heart and the Tongue, and whether we ſpeak or hold our Peace, there will be the ſame Adoration of God, Humiliation before Him, Submiſſion to Him, and Prudence with reſpect to our Selves.

The Tongue was made to ſpeak, as well in the Day of Grief as in the Day of Gladneſs; and in both to the Glory of God. Moſes ſpake admirably to the Honour of God, while Aaron ſtood ſilent. Aaron's Silence kept Time and Concert with Moſes Words. There was perfect Harmony in both together.

Job in his Bereavement ſpake, — O how well at firſt! but afterward there was much amiſs. It had been better to have kept Silent ſtill, than to open his Mouth and curſe his Day as he did. Yet in his after Speeches he ſhowed a better Judgment, and as good Affections, as his pious Friends. God ſaw him right in his Principle, Aim and End. He and they meant fervently to honour Providence, but Satan tempted and at times irritated them all: ſo poor are we at our beſt Eſtate, and in our beſt Exerciſes compaſſed with Infirmity.

p. 14We muſt make the beſt of what is ſpoken, and piouſly meant in the Day of Sorrow. If the good Woman ſpake too paſſionately to Elijah on the Death of her Son, yet ſhe ſpake penitently, and the Paſſion was overlooked. Did Elijah remember againſt her her Sins? or did he ſlay her Son? No; but ſhe remembred her own Sins before God, and all was well. God conſidered that ſhe was a Mother.

I might give ſome Directions here, and ſay

1. Under the ſurpriſing & awful Providences of God let our Words be few. God is in Heaven and we on Earth. We are duſt and aſhes before the moſt High God.

2. Let our Words be deliberate & well weighed, Think awfully and ſpeak ſlowly, for it is before the Lord; to Him and of Him. Teach me what I ſhall ſpeak, and how!

3. Speak humbly, abaſing our ſelves in the Sight of God. As Job anſwered the Lord and ſaid, Behold I am vile, what ſhall I anſwer thee? I will lay my Hand upon my Mouth. The holy Son of God himſelf fell upon his Face and prayed, in the Hour of his Sorrows.

4. Speak adoring: fall down and worſhip: make Supplication, to thy Judge. What ſhall I ſay, He hath both ſpoken to me, and Himſelf hath done it.

5. Speak as a guilty & repenting Sinner. Confeſs Sin and juſtify God. Aſcribe Righteouſneſs p. 15and Mercy to thy Maker, and take Shame to thy ſelf. Job's laſt Words were the very beſt that he ſpake, Chap. xlii. 5. N…w mine Eye ſeeth Thee, wherefore I abhor my ſelf, and repent in duſt and aſhes. The Lamentations of Jeremiah are the higheſt ſtrains of penitential Humiliation under amazing Afflictions. The Yoke of my Tranſgreſſions is bound by his Hand; they are wreathed and come up upon my Neck: Remembring my Affliction and my Miſery, the Wormwood and the Gall, my Soul hath them ſtill in Remembrance & is humbled in me: —He ſitteth alone and keepeth ſilence, he putteth his Mouth in the duſt, he giveth his Cheek to him that ſmiteth him, he is filled full with Reproach.

6. We muſt ſpeak our Truſt in the Grace and Mercy of God thro' the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. No Words of Deſpondency ſhould fall from our Lips. We muſt ſpeak unto God and of Him, as he ſpeaks of Himſelf: Neh. ix. 17. But Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, ſlow to Anger and of great Kindneſs.

7. We muſt ſpeak with profound and abſolute Submiſſoin. Has not the Potter power over the Clay? Shall not God do what He will with his own? Who has given Him the Charge over the Earth? Or who has diſpoſed the whole World? If He ſet his Heart upon Man, if he gather to Himſelf the Spirit and Breath, all Fleſh ſhall periſh together, and Man ſhall turn again to his Duſt.

To cloſe on this Head, — We muſt hold our Peace from Murmuring, or any Words of Diſcontent, p. 16Diſpleaſure & Complaint at what God does; but we muſt open our Mouth to adore, confeſs, ſupplicate, bleſs and praiſe the wiſe, the holy, ſovereign, good and faithful God. Our Sins may well ſtop our Mouth from complaining, but the Grace of God opens 'em in humble Confeſſions and Supplications to him: And to ſpeak alſo unto others for their Inſtruction, Admonition, Direction, Excitation, Conſolation, ſpiritual Edification and Eſtabliſhment in Faith and Holineſs. Such ſpeaking is at any Time, and in every Caſe, better than Silence. And Silence, like Aaron's in the Text, is then only great and good, when it ſpeaks thus to the Eyes and Hearts of all about us.

But this for the firſt Doctrine, That there is a gracious Silence which may highly become us in our ſorrowful Bereavements. I paſs to the other Obſervation.

II. That the Miniſters of Chriſt are more eſpecially obliged to be Inſtances and Examples of a wiſe, gracious and reverend Deportment under the bereaving Hand of God.

Aaron was in my Text ſingled out for an Example to the whole Congregation of Iſrael. We read how well he behav'd, and gave Glory to God. It highly became him to do ſo. God had ſet him over his Houſe, and before his Worſhippers. He was to go before 'em in bearing as well as doing. And we are bid to take him, among the Saints and Prophets, who have ſpoken in the Name of the Lord, for an Example of ſuffering Affliction, and Patience Jam. v. 10.

p. 17Aaron was both a Prophet and a Prieſt, the Mouth of God to Iſrael and their Mouth to God; and he could ſpeak well, yet was now Silent. He was now in Waiting, miniſtring in his Place, in the Sanctuary, when he gave this Illuſtrious Example of profound Submiſſion: And ſo he ſtands a teaching and commanding Pattern to the Miniſters of God for ever, and to them eſpecially. Every worſhipping Iſraelite were to learn of him that awful Day, but the Prieſthood and Levites, his own Family and Tribe, more than others.

I ſpeak therefore more eſpecially to my ſelf, and to my dear Son, your honoured and beloved Paſtor, this Day; to charge my ſelf and him, in the Name and Preſence of the Great and Holy God, who is pleas'd to lay his bereaving Hand upon us; that we fall down before Him and implore his Grace to help us to carry Our ſelves before You with that Silence and Humiliation that ſhall honour his Holy Name before You, and exemplify in ſome manner thoſe Doctrines and Commandments of God our Saviour, which we have been ſo often preaching to you in the Days of Death and Mourning that have paſſed over us.

Miniſters have their Trials, and very awful ones as well as others. They are Sinners as well as others, and their Sins are greater, more aggravated and heinous then other Mens. And if they are like Aaron among the Saints of God, as by their ſpecial Conſecration to Him they are peculiarly bound to be, they are the more likely to be exerciſed with Afflictions, for many are the p. 18Afflictions of the Righteous; and they are the more meet to be ſo exerciſed, becauſe they have Graces to exerciſe in this Way; according to what we read, Heb. x. 32. After ye were illuminated ye endured a great Fight of Afflictions Unto ſuch it is given on the behalf of Chriſt, not only to believe in Him but to ſuffer for his Name. Phil. i. 29. It is given to them to do ſo! Grace is given to them for this End, and it is a Favour done 'em, an honour put upon 'em, when by the help of Grace they bear and endure in an exemplary manner the Afflictions and Sufferings which it pleaſes their Holy Saviour to call them to.

Miniſters are under the common Bonds of all Chriſtians, together with the ſuperadded Charge of God. 2 Tim. iv. 5. Watch thou in all things, endure Afflictions, make full proof of thy Miniſtry. ii. 9. Thou therefore endure Hardneſs, as a good Soldier of Jeſus Chriſt. We cannot fulfil the Miniſtry that we have received of the Lord Jeſus, if we be not conformed to Him in ſuffering Affliction and Patience, as he calls us to it. This Commandment we have received from the Captain of our Salvation, who was made perfect thro' Sufferings.

Miniſters bear Teſtimony and Witneſs to the Doctrine of the Croſs, by bearing it themſelves, after Chriſt and before the Flock. They honour Him and edify the Church while they do ſo. They follow Him and lead the Flock in his ſteps. Rev. i. 9 I John who am your Brother and Companion in Tribulation, and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jeſus Chriſt. 1 Theſ. i. 6. And became p. 19Followers of us and of the Lord, in much Affliction, and Joy of the Holy Ghoſt.

Brethren, pray for us, who tho' we are called to miniſter to You in Holy Things, yet are compaſſed with Infirmity, and are not ſufficient of our Selves to think a good Tho't, or to bear the leaſt Burden in a becoming manner; ſo as to adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour, or bear about his Afflictions and Dying in our mortal Fleſh Pray for us, that whether we be afflicted it may be for your Conſolation and Salvation! that by the Bleſſing of the Holy Spirit it may be effectual in your enduring the ſame Sufferings! and that we may be comforted of God in all our Tribulation, ſo as to be able to comfort others in every Trouble, by the Comfort wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God. 2 Cor. i. 4, 6.

Yea, We have ſometimes gladly learned, and been edified by ſome of you in your Sorrows, while we have been miniſtring unto you; and ſhall always rejoice to be taught by your humble and gracious Example.

Let Miniſters and People be together looking unto Jeſus, the Author and Finiſher of our Faith, who for the Joy before Him endured the Croſs. Of his Fulneſs, in whom it hath pleaſed the Father that all Fulneſs ſhould dwell, we all may receive and Grace for Grace: Grace for the doing, and Grace for bearing and ſuffering, his holy Will. And He has ſaid to his ſuffering Saints and Miniſters, "My Grace is ſufficient for you, for my Strength is made perfect in Weakneſs.

p. 20O ſeek that alſufficient Grace for your Selves in all your Trials, and ſeek it for Me and mine now in the Sudden and awful Stroke of God upon us! that his Hand may be ſanctified to us, and that His Name may be glorified in your Sight by our Silent Submiſſion and Fear before Him.

God has been very gracious to me and mine in his ſparing Mercy. For about Six and twenty Years there had been no Death in my Family, when God ſuddenly called for the M…ther from my Arms, and now at the End of three Years and a half the Daughter follows. When Death has ſtaid long from a Houſe, yet come it muſt, and then it often ſtrikes double. This is the neceſſary Fruit (as Judge Hale ſaid on the Death of a Son) of living long in a dying World. Bereavements multiply upon them that have numerous Relatives, and live to be old. And he that has but an only Child, muſt ſilently yield to the good Pleaſure of God, if he be tried like Abraham with an Order from Heaven, "Take now thy only One and offer him up to Me.

The Lord is calling us this Morning to his Holy Table, in our Mourning over our Dead. It is meet for us to remember Chriſt's Sorrows, and ſhow forth his Death, bearing our own before Him, and preparing for our own Dying. We may not excuſe our Selves from eating of the Sin-…ffering in the Holy Place, becauſe of our Mourning; as Aaron made excuſe for his ſurviving Sons; C…ntext, ver. 19. Behold ſuch things have befallen me, and would it have been accepted in the ſight of the Lord? To be ſure if we are going in holy Mourning p. 21and godly Sorrowing to the Table of Chriſt, we ſhall be accepted. The Ordinance calls for it, and is given to aſſiſt us in it. There let us be mourning for Sin, mourning after Chriſt, Pardon, Peace, and Communion with Chriſt in the Benefits of his Sufferings; and we ſhall find that the Lord hath anointed Him to give unto them that mourn in Zion, Beauty for Aſhes, the Oyl of Joy for Mourning, and the Garments of Praiſe for the Spirit of Heavineſs.

We muſt be bearing about in our Bodies the Dying of our Lord Jeſus, that the Life of Jeſus may be manifeſted in our mortal Fleſh. He is the Example to us of holy Dying, and alſo the quickning Spirit for this bleſſed End. Let us learn of Him how to keep Death and Eternity always on our Hearts, in a lively Remembrance, and in the moſt awful effectual Conſideration of it.

Is not the Lord's Table a Bond upon us to live as dying Men and Women? and alſo a Means appointed for this End unto Believers? And a well adapted Means this Repreſentation and Memorial of the Dying of our Lord, to excite us greatly to be getting ready for our own, and to reſign up ours to Death when He calls for them.

Our Conſolation in the Death of our godly Relatives is founded on the Dying and Reſurrection of our Lord Jeſus. For if we believe that Jeſus died and roſe again, even ſo them that ſleep in Jeſus God will bring with Him. Therefore we cannot Sorrow as th…ſe that have p. 22no Hope. No but we have even Communion with the Dead in Chriſt at his Table, in the bleſſed Hope of being ſhortly with them at a better Table, in an Everlaſting Sabbath, where the Days of Mourning ſhall be ended: According to thoſe Soul-reviving Words, enough to quiet, ſilence and comfort us in all our Tribulations: Luk. xxii. 24, 29, 30. Ye are they which have continued with me in my Temptations, and I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto Me; that ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom.