Chron xxxv 24, 25 His fervants therefore took him
[ 434 ] A E R M
N S Preached for the FUNERAL of that Excellent and Religious
GENTLEMAN,
JOHN UPTON
OF LUPTON, Eſq;
2 CHRON.XXXV. 24, 25.
Hisfervants therefore took him out of that chariot, andput him in thefecond chariot that he had ; and they brought him toJerufalem, and he died, andwas buried in one of the fepulchres of his fathers : and all Judah and Jerusalem mournedfor
Jofiah. And Jeremiah lamentedfor Fofiah, andallthefing. ing-men, andthesinging-women spake of fofiah in their la mentations to this day, andmade them an ordinance in Ifrael: and beholdthey are written in the lamentations.
INN this context we have the hiſtoryofthepious life, and tra gical death, of goodking Jofiah.
The history of his life gives us an account of both what he was, and what he did.
As to his perſonal endowments and qualifications, they were fingular and eximious, as appears by the fourfold character by which he is deſcribed in the context : For,
First, He eſpouſed the intereſt of religion betimes, even in hisyouth ; chap. xxxiv. ver. 3. " For in the eighth year of his
" reign, while he was yet young, he began to ſeek after the " God of David his father:" Andthatunder the great difadvantage of an ill education, ſuch amorning promifeda glorious day.
Secondly, He hated all corrupt mixtures in the worship of God, andwas anſwerably zealous for reformation ; "Andin
" the twelfth yearhebegan topurge Judah and Jerufalem from " the high places, and the groves," &c. as knowing well he and his people might expectno more ofGod'sbleſſing on the ordinances, thantherewasof his preſence inthem ; andno more of his prefence can rationallybe expected, than there is of his ownorder and inſtitution.
ASermon preached, &c.
Thirdly, Hewasofa very tender andimpreſſive heart, mourningforpublicfins anddangers ; chap. xxxiv. 26, 27. "Becauſe
" thyheartwas tender, andthoudidſthumblethyſelfbeforeGod, " when thou heardeft his words against this place, and against " the inhabitants thereof; and humbledſt thyself before me, and " didſt rend thy cloaths and weep before me," &c. Hewas not ſointentuponhisown pleaſures, (though in the ſprightly vigour of youth) nor on the weighty concerns of the kingdom, as to forget the intereſt ofGod,andthe greater concerns of his glory.
Fourthly, He was exceeding careful to propagate the intereſt of religion, and ſpread it far and wide among his people.
Though he could not infuſe the inward principle, (that was the work of God) yet he did enjoin the external practice of it upon all his ſubjects ; which was his part andduty: chap.xxxiv. ver. 33. " He made all that were preſent in Ifrael to ſerve, even not from the Lord theirGod. And all his days theydeparted
" to ſerve following theGod of their fathers."
But yet good Joſiah had his mistakes and failings.
The beſt ofmenarebut men at beſt: Hewas tooraſh and haſtyin refolving, and too ſtiff and obſtinate when reſolved ; and this was the occaſion of his ruin.
The cafe was thus :
Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, was at thattime makingwar upon Charchemiſh, a place that belonged to him, but was taken from him by the king of Affyria , ſo the war of Necho was a juſt war ; and Judah lying between him and Charchemiſh, and being at peace with Judah, he requests leave of Jofiah tomarch his army peaceably through his country to the feat of war :
Joſiah takes an alarm fromthis meſſage, and arms againsthim.
- Hereupon Necho fent ambaſſadors to Joſiah, chap. xxxv. ver.
21. ſaying, " What have I todo with thee, thou king of Ju- " dah? I come not against thee thisday, but against the houſe
" wherewith I have war : For God commanded me to make " haſte; forbear thee from meddling withGod, who is with " me, that he destroy thee not."
Expoſitors conceive Necho had this diſcoveryof the mind of God, from the prophet Jeremiah, Per oraculum non fcriptum, fedviva voce editum * : even byword of mouth.
If ſo, no doubtJeremiah alſodiffuadedJoſiahfrom going out against him : however, this is clear, Jofiah did not confult the mind ofGod aboutthat expedition, as he ought, and was too haſtyand refolute therein; chap. xxxv. 22. " Nevertheleſs Joſiah would notturn
* Jerom. a Lapide, Juſt. Mart. liiz
A.Sermon preached at the "his facefrom him," &c. By this means this excellentmancame to a tragical end, and that inthe very flower of his days. He diesinthatunhappy expedition, from which he would not be diverted; is brought home toJerufalem in the fecond chariot; dies, and is buried in the fepulchre of his fathers, totheuni vertal forrow of allgoodmen in Ifrael, as you read inthe text; wherein we have theſe two parts toconfider;
1. The nature and quality of the lamentation.
II. The cauſe andground of it.
1. For the lamentation here made, it was extraordinary; ne ver tuchcries heardbefore in Ifraelat anyfuneral, whether we conſider it either, 1. Extenſively, 2. Intenſively, or, 3. Protenſively.
1. Extensively, All Judah and Jerufalem, that is, cityand country mourned that day ; not every individual, but all that had any fenfeof the worth of the man, the good that hedid, or the evils that followed upon his removal.
No doubtthe priests of Baal, their abettors and aſſociates, ſecretly rejoiced at his fall ; but allgood men mourned. But among all the mourners, one is only ſpecifiedbyname, and that is Jeremiahthe prophet, inwhom allthe faithful ministers of God were includ ed. To them he was a true and faithful friend; and in him they loſt a father, and a famous inſtrument of reformation.
2. Confider it Intensively, as tothedegree ofthe forrow, itwas a bitter lamentation; ſo pungent, intenſe, anddeep, that the mourning of the Jews for Chriſt, at the time of their conver ſiontohim, is compared to this mourning for Jofiah, Zech. xii. 11. " In thatday there ſhall be a greatmourning inJeru
"falem, as the mourning ofHadadrimmon in the valley of " Megiddon." This Hadadrimmon was a little town in theval leyof Megiddon near the place of this fatal battle, whoſe inha bitants receiving the firſt tidings of the fallof Jofiah, made the town ring with doleful cries and lamentations.
3. Lastly, Confider it Protenfively, in its continuance and duration, it was " made an ordinance in Iſrael;" and accord ingly " the finging-menand finging-women ſpake of Jofiahin their lamentations tothis day: " i. e. Whenever anyfolema funeral or publiccalamity was ſolemnized in Iſrael, thoſe perfons that were skilful in lamentations, brought in the ſtory ofJo fiah's death, as the burden of that doleful fong or fuperal elegy.
Funeral of John Upton, Efq;
1. Letus confider the cauſe and ground ofthislamentation, which certainly was great and weighty enough to juflify that forrow, as great and bitter as it was : for in him they loſt a faithful, public, uſeful, zealous, and tender-hearted instrument, whoſe life had been eminently useful to the church ofGod, and whoſe death opened the gap to allthe following calamities upon Judah.
Now, confidering Joſiah here, eſpecially in his religious capacity, as fo faithful, industrious, and useful an inftrument for the church ofGod, ratherthan inhis political capacityas aking, thenote from it will be this, Doct. That faithful, active, and public-spirited men in the church of God, should not be laid in theirgraves without great lamentations.
When Jacob was buried, aman famous for religion, a great and fore lamentation was made for him, Gen. 1. 10. Andwhen
Aaron died, all the houſe of Ifrael mourned for him thirty days, Numb. xx. 29.
When Stephenthe proto-martyr died, devout mencarriedhim to his grave with great lamentations, Acts viii.
2. and indeed for any good man to be laid in his grave without lamentation, is lamentable.
The living faints have ever paid this reſpect and honour todead ſaints, as men ſenſible of their worth, and how great a loſs the world ſuſtains bytheir removal.
I know the departed fouls of faints have no concernment in theſe things, yet reſpect is due to their verybodies, as the temples whereinGod hathbeen ſerved and honoured, as they are related to Chrift, who will one day put great glory and honour upon them.
In the explication and confirmation of this point, I will ſhew you, 1. Negatively, On what account thedeath ofgoodmen is not to be lamented.
2. Positively, On what account tears and lamentations are due tothem, with the grounds and reaſons thereof.
1. Negatively, There is not a tear or figh due to thedeath of any good man, upon the account of any real loſs or detriment that he ſuſtains thereby. No, no, in this caſe all tears are reftrained, all forrow prohibited, by the principles and rules of Chriftianity, I Theff. iv. 13, 14.
Religion differences the forrows, as well as the joys of its profeffors, from the common joysand forrows of the world.
Dead ſaints are better where they are, than where they were ; to be with Chrift is far better; death to them is gain and infinite advantage, Phil. i. 21 ,
23. Thisworld is the worst place thateverGod defigned h
ASermon preached at the peopleto live in; for if a ſtate of perfect holiness andpurity, bebetter thana ſtate of temptation and corruption ; if a ſtate of reſt and peace,be betterthan a ſtateof labour and forrow; if itbe better tobe triumphingabove, than fighing andgroaning beneath ; then it is better for departed Chriſtians to be where they are, than where they were. Andcould they now communicate their minds to us by words, as they lately did, theywould ſay to us as Chriſt ſaid, Luke xxiii. 28. " Daughters
" of Jerufalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourſelves, and " for your children."
Or, as he ſpake to his diſciples under their ſad reſentments of his departure, John xiv. 28. " If ye
" loved me, ye would rejoice, becauſe I go to the Father."
So then no tears or forrows aredue to them, orbecoming us, uponthe account of any real loſs or detriment they receive by death.
2. Poſitively.
But the true grounds and cauſes of our lamentation, are upondivers other weighty accounts : as,
First, Becauſe ſo much ofthe SpiritofGodas dwelt inthem, when amongſt us, isnow recalled and gatheredup
1. Reason. from this lower world.
Thoſe precious graces which they exerciſed among us, in prayer, conference, andother beneficial duties, are nowgone with themto heaven.
The churchhad the benefitofthemduring their abodewith men, butnownomore, except onlywhatthe remembranceof their holywords and inſtructive examples (whereby they ſtill ſpeak to us, though dead) may afford untous.
There arechoice effuſionsof the Spirit, at the time of our fanctification, ofwhich the church reapeth the benefit whilft we live ; but all theſe are recalledatour diſſolution,andthenceforthwe canbe no farther useful in this lower world : for as the foul is the ſubject in which theſe precious graces inhere, fo theyaccompanyandgo along with the foul intoglory.
Now, as it is a real lofstoacompany, whenany merchant withdraws a great ſtock he had running in trade, out ofthe bank; fo certainly it is a great loſs to the church ofGod, whenthe preciousgifts and gracesof the Spirit, dwellinginthe faints, aredrawn out by death; ſoas the churchcanhave no farther benefit by them, their prayers for us, andwith us, are now ended; Abraham,knoweth us not, and Iſrael is ignorant of us.
Secondly, The death of the faints deſerves a bitter lamentation, becauſe thereby abreach is made, agap open2. Reason. ed,toletinthejudgmentsofGodupontheremnant
Funeral of John Upton, Efq;
that is left.
It is said of Mofes, Pfal. ovi. 23. " Therefore " he said, that he woulddeſtroythem, had notMoſes his cho- " ſen ſtood before him in the breach, leſt he ſhould destroy
" them." Ametaphor from a beſieged city, whena breach is made in the walls, and an enemy ready to enter; but fome champion ſtands in the breach to defend the city.
Such a championwas Moſes, who by his conſtant and fervent prayers, put a ſtop tothe inundation of God's judgments againſt Ifrael.
And ſuch another was Lot, Gen. xix. 22. whoſe prayers for thatwicked place he lived in, bound up the hand ofjudgment, infomuch as the Lord told him, I can do nothing till thou art gone. But when the Lord by death removes fuch men, he therebymakesa way to his anger, as the expreſſion is, Pfal.
Ixxviii.
50.
Hence the death of eminent faints, eſpecially when many are taken away at or near the fame time, hath been ever looked upon as a direful omen, and dreadful preſage of enfuing judgments, and that notwithout good fcripture-authority, Iſa. lvii. 1. " The righteous periſh, and no man layeth it
" to heart ; and merciful men are taken away, none conſider- " ing that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come."
Thus Methuselah, whoſe very name ſignified aflood cometh, died the year before the flood:
Auguſtine, a little before the ſacking of Hyppo : Paraeus, a littlebefore the taking ofHydelberg: And Luther, before the wars broke out in Germany.
Death, as a pioneer, clears the way to atroop of miſeries fol- : lowing after.
This, therefore, isa juſt and weighty groundof our lamentations for the death of useful and godly men.
Thirdly, The beauty and ornaments of the places they lived in, are defaced and removed by their death ; they look not like themselves, whenthegodlyare removed out of them : for as wicked men are the ſpots and blemishes, ſogood men are the beauty and ornaments of their country. A good man was wont to ſay of Mr. Barrington of Barrington-hall, in Effex, Methinks the town is not at home, when Mr. Barrington is out of town. How defolate and diſmal doth a family look (whatever other ornaments be about 3. Reafon. it) when the religious governor of it is gone !
Take away good men from their families and country; and what are they but like a vineyard when the vintage is paſt ? as the prophet ſpeaks , Micah vii . 1.
Fourthly, The death of good men deſerves a bitter lamentation, becauſe thereby the paſſage of the gospel, and propagationof religion, is obftructed in the places 4. Reason. fromwhencetheyareremoved. Of howgreat ufe
ASermon preached at the ina countrymay one zealous public-ſpirited man be ? Hud dredsmay have cauſe to bleſsGodfor ſuch aman.
Itwasthe apoſtle's defire to the Theffalonians, " to praythat the word of " the Lord may have its freecourſe, that it might run and be
" glorified," 2 Theff. iii. 1.
The removal of fuch a perfon as naturally took care for the fouls of thoſe thatwere about him, toprovide food for them, is no ſmall lofs, nor lightlytobepaſsedover.
Fifthly, The confiderationof the time inwhich good men die, aggravates the loſs, and juſtly incenfes the for5.Reafon. rowof them that remain, and that upon a threefold account. ( 1.) That it falls out inthedeclining ſtate of religion, when the ſpirit andpower of godliness is ſo much weakened and impoverished.
This is like the lofs of good blood in a confumptive body, which muft bring itverylow.
(2.) That it falls outalfo in a time whenthe numbers of the godlyare ſomuchthinned and leſſened, notwhen the church's children ſay in her ears, the place is too ſtrait, give place thatwemaydwell : but when they are every where lamenting the paucity of goodmen, as the pfalmiſt did, Pfal. xii.
Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaſeth, for the righ-
teous fail from amongthe children of men." At a time when they are bewailing themselves in the languageof the prophet,
Micah vii. 1. " Woe is me, for I am as when they have ga.
" thered the ſummer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluſter to eat: my foul defired the first ripe fruit. "
Alluding to ahungry manthat goesintoavine yard to refreſh his fpirits with the fruit thereof; but, alas! there is not one pleasant bunch tobe found, none but four grapes, to increaſe his hunger, and ſet his teeth on edge.
(3.) And that which more aggravates the lofs, is this ; when it falls ina timewherein the ſpring and fucceſſion of good men is obſtructed.
In this caſe death, like aſtorm of wind, overturns the faireſt, pleaſanteſt, andmoſt fruitful trees in the orchard, whenthere is no nursery, from whence others maybe takento plant in their rooms.
Lastly, There is justcaufe to lament the removalof public and pious men, when we conſider what incuence
6.Reafon. our finsandprovocations havehaduponthoſejudgments and calamities ; our unworthiness of them, unthankfulneſs for them, and non-improvements of ſuch mercies, have bereavedus of them.
I lookupon every goodman, as a goodbook, lentby its owner to another to read, andtran. ſcribetheexcellentnotionsandgoldenpaffages that are in نو
Funeral of John Upton, Efq;
forhis own benefit, that they mayremain with him, whenthe owner hall call for the book again : But in cafe this excellent book ſhallbethrown intoacorner,andno uſe madeofit, itjuſtly provokes the owner to take itaway indiſpleaſure.
Thus you see uponwhat account our forrows forthedeath of goodmen are reſtrained, and upon what accounts and reaſons they are a due debt to the death of eminent and useful inſtruments for God. What remains, is the application of this point.
And, 1. Ufe. First, The point before us juſtlyreproves three forts of men.
1. The worſt of men, ſuch as ſecretly rejoice, and are inwardly glad at the removal of ſuch men ; they took nodelight in them while they lived, and are glad they are rid of them when they aredead.
Thoſe that perfecuted and hated them when alive, maybe preſumed to be pleaſed and gratifiedwith their death.
But, alas ! poor creatures, theyknow notwhat theydo!
The innocent preſerve the iſland.
Except the " Lordofhosts (faith the prophet) had left us aſmall remnant, R
wehad been as Sodom, we had been like unto Gomorrah,"
Ifa. i. 3.
It is aproverb among the very Jews, Sine fupplicationibus non Aaret mundus : The world ſtandsby the prayers of thegodly Let the worldthinkwhat they willof them, I tell you theſe men are a ſcreen, a partition wall, betwixt them and deſtruction .
2. It reproves the inſenſibleness of good men, who art apt too flightly to paſs over ſuch tremendous ſtrokesof God : For this itwas that God reproved his own people, Ifa. Ivii. 1. No man layeth it toheart.
Where the want of affection is charged upon the want of confideration, none conſidering their worth, their uſe, or the confequencesof their fall.
Such rebukes of God do certainly call for adeeper ſenſe and forrow, than is found in moſt men.
3. It reproves theverybest of men, who though they do bewail and lament the loss of ſuch men, yet theydonot lament it inthe dite manner. They lament it one to another, ſaying,
Alas! alas, fuch a worthy is fallen, ſuch an eminent inftrumentin the church or ſtate is dead; but theydo not lament it in prayer to the Lord, they mourn not over the matter to him, as Daviddid, Pfal. xii. 1. "Crying, Help, Lord, for the god- " ly man ceaſeth."
Help, Lord, the remnant that is left; help, Lord, to repair the breach made by their death; let theGodof the ſpirits ofall fleſh raiſe up aman to fill the room,
VOL . VII.
Kkk
A Sermon preached at the and fupply the want. Alas, how inſignificant are the lamentations of moſt men upon this account.
Ufe 2. Secondly, This point invites us all this day to bewail the ſtroke of God that is upon us.
I could with that he that looks upon this text, and then upon the countenance of this aſſembly, might be able todiſcern the agreeableness of the one to the other, on ſuch a fad and folemn occaſion.
O let all that love Zion lament, thisday, the fall of one of her true friends and lovers.
I know funeral panegyrics are apt to be ſuſpected of flattery; but as Iwant a rhetorical tongue for ſuch a work, ſo if I had it, it should never be faleable for fobaſe auſe and purpoſe. I am fure, by ſending the generality thatdie toheaven, many are confirmed in the way to hell : Nor can I but think of that ferious line in Chryfoftom, • Whata poor comfortis ittobe praiſed, where aman is not; andtobe
• tormented, where he is :' " Butyet the righteous ſhall behad " in everlasting remembrance," Píal. cii. 6.
Expect nothing from me on this occafion, but what may be ſpoken with the greatest aſſuranceoftruth, andthatintendedfor the benefitand imitation of all that hear it.
Some may think it a ſtrain too high, tocompare a private perfon with ſuch aglorious king as Jofiah was ; but if Chriſt compared and preferredthevery grafs of the field to Solomon in all his glory, I knowno reason why wemaynot compare and parallelthe precious graces of a private perſonwith a royal faint; eſpeciallyfincethecompariſon ismade in the religious, not in the civil capacity.
I am ſure the graces, and gracious performances of David, Hezekiah, and Joſiah, with all the other dignified faints, were intended and propounded as patterns for our imitation ; and no doubt, but private Chriſtians may meaſure by their pattera.
Beſide, it is abundantly more ſafe torelate the virtues of the faints whenthey are dead, than whilst theywere alive ; for now there is nodanger of provoking pride and vain-glory in them thatare praiſed, but much hope of provoking aholy emulation and imitation in them that hear them.
Well then, Abfit invidia verbis : Suffer me thisday to erect a pillar, to perpetuate the memoryof this deceased worthy ; to paythe tribute of my tearsdue tothat mournful hearse ; and toengage you to imitate thoſe excellencies of his, which I ſhall, with equal truth and modeſty, diſplay this day; that we alſo may be duly affected with the rebuke of God upon us, and mourn over it before him.
If, whenan eminent commanderin anyarmy falls, the whole army is affected with, and concerned at his death
Funeral of John Upton, Esq;
Themourningdrum, the lance andenſigns trail'd, Therobes of honour allinfables vail'd.
Letitnotbe thoughtmuch, Chriſtians ſhould expreſstheirſenſe and forrow in ſighs and tears, for ſo uſeful and worthya man as God hath this day removed from among us ; whoſe character I ſhall give you in the following imitable particulars.
1. That worthy man, whoſe fall we lament this day, was ſeaſoned with religion in his youth, by God's bleſſingupon his pious education: In thishe had the advantage of Joſiah .
His progenitors were men of piety, and himself a child of many prayers : and, as Monica ſaid of her fon Auſtin, it was not likely that a child of ſo many prayers ſhould perish. How importunatelydid they requeſt the fervent prayers of their pious
- friends for him, in the time of his education ?
Nor was it in vain, for they were manifeſtly answered inhim : He toon difcoveredthat probity and piety in his youth, which, juſtly raiſed great expectations from him inhis riper years.
2. Nor did he fruſtrate thoſe hopes; for as soon aseverGod had fixed him in a properſphere of activity (I mean, afamily of his own) thoſe graces that were in him ſhone forth to the comfort and benefit of all that were abouthim: Joſaua's pious reſolution was his; " As for me, and myhouſe, we will ſerve
" the Lord."
Hekept up the worship ofGod in his cloſet, as well as in his family : Andtruly, if religionlanguiſh inthe cloſet, itwill quickly die in the family.
His houſe was a temple confecrated = toGod ; there the morning and evening ſacrifices of prayers and praiſes were offered up : Hecalled hischildren and ſervants to thoſe duties, not reckoning that time loſt to him which was ſpent forGod.
The Lord had endowed him with an excellent ſpirit of prayer himſelf.
I have fometimes accidentallyheard him praying in his family, with ſuch ſolidity of judgment, pertinency of expreſſions, and holywarmth of affection, that hath at once edified, refreſhed, and reprovedme in hearing him.
He conſtantly read the ſcriptures in courſe before prayer, and oft-times with a commentary uponthem, for his own and his
'family's edification.
The Lord's day he ſanctified, not only in more public attendance on the ordinances, but in the duties of reading, repeating, finging, and catechiſing all his children and ſervants about him: And all this before he allowed himself or them any bodilyrefreshments, left the edgeoftheir affections ſhould bebluntKkk2
A Sermon preached at the ed in duty, by the clogging of nature with creature-repafis.
And thus did he, as Job, continually: to this courſe he was fevereandconſtant; no incident occaſions, how great ormany foever, coulddiverthim from it.
3. Neither was his holy zeal and Chriſtian care limited and circumfcribed within his own family, but was extended to the fouls of all in his neighbourhood, who defiredhelps and means in theway of falvation.
His houſe was ſeldom without a godly miniſter in it; and loth hewas toeat his pleaſant morſels alone.
Itwas the joy ofhisheart tofee his houſe filled on this account : How many witneſſs to the truth of this are here this day! Like another
Jofeph, he provided food for your fouls ; he loved, honoured, received, and encouraged the ministers of the gospel in their deepest sufferings; gave them opportunities of ſervice, when fomedurſt not own them, and others violentlyperfecutedthem.
4. WhenGod calledhim topublic employments inthecom mon-wealth, he neither purchased, nor abuſed that truſt ; but with atrue Engliſh, rather a Chriſtian, zeal and courage, he dedicatedhimself to the ſervice ofGod and his country ; chearfullyquitting alldomeſtic concerns, ſpenthis eftate, time, and pains, toheal the breaches of England.
I knownot a man, whoſe zeal for the commongoodwouldhave carried him nearertothe example of that noble Roman, who, when a chasm wasmadebyan earthquake, andthe oracle had declared, that itcouldneverbe cloſed, except ſomething of valuewas thrown into it, caſt inhimself tocloſe it.
I could truly have faid, had therebeen conveniency and opportunity for it, whenhewas laid in his grave, 'Here liesa man, that never betrayed nordeſerted the public, for anyprivate intereſt of his own."
5. Hewas aman that came as near Joſjah in tenderness of heart, as ever I hadthe happiness tobeacquainted with.
The church's troubles were his troubles ; they all met in him as lines in a centre; hè even lived and died with the intereſt of religion : And of him I will say, as the apostle ſaid of Timothy, Phil. ii. 20, 21. " I have no man like-minded, who will
" naturally care for your ſtate, for all ſeek their own, not the " things which are Jeſus Chriſt's."
Naturally, in this place, is not oppoſed to ſpiritually, but to artificially. Many can artificially act the part of a zealot, when their own intereſt lies in it ; but he naturally, and therefore, freely, chearfully, and conftantly.
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6. But though theſe excellencies were in him, hehad his noevi, blemishes, and imperfections.
Elias was a man of like paſſions and weakneſſes of ſpirit.
All theſe, I doubtnot, butGodhath covered,andhe is now perfectlyfreedfromthem し all.
There is now no paffion left within him to be ſtirred by temptation ; nodeſpondencies and ſinkings of ſpirit underdifmal afpects of providence.
His graces are perfected, and his corruptions finally eradicated.
7. To conclude; He was a man of great offlictions, as well as tender affections. And asthe Lordgreatly honoured him in the course of active obedience, ſo he greatly proved and tried him inacourſe of paffive obedience. He not only gave the croſs in his coat, but bare it upon his shoulders :
For beſides thoſe troubles, which were properly Jympathetical, hehad his idiopathetical fufferings alſo, and that both fromthe handsof men, and from the hand of God.
His piety made and marked him for an object of perſecution; the archers ſhotat him, and forely grieved him; he and his familywere hunted with anet:The Lord lay it not totheir charge ; Et hinc illae lachrymae.
The fad effects thereof, I choſe rather at this time to paſsover with a figh, than in this place tocommemorate.
And as the hand of man was upon him, ſo the hand of his Godalſo: firſt lopping off allthepleaſantbranches thatſprang from him, and that one after another, when come to the endearingage, opening and diſclofing the bud; and, as the complement and iſſue of all, breaking his conftitutional ſtrength with along languiſhing diſeaſe, which at laſt extinguiſhed this bright lamp. and hath left his family and neighbourhood in darkness and forrow.
His poor heart was the anvil on which many hammers of affliction hadbeena long time beating; and no wonder it appeared relaxed and tumified, when it was inſpected, having endured ſo many fucceſſive ſtrokes of forrow.
Andnow what the Lord ſpake of Ifrael, in Jer. xi. 16. is fulfilled upon thisworthy perfon : " The Lord called thy name
" agreen olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit : with the noiſe " of agreat tumult he hath kindled a fire upon it, and the " branches of it arebroken."
Ufe 3. Thirdly, I thall wind up thewhole in ſeveral ſeaſonable and neceſſary counſels ; fome more general, others more particular, and ſome moſt particularly and eſpecially.
First, Counſel to all in general, to awaken themselves, and recover a due ſenſe of fuch fore rebukes ofGod as this is.
A Sermon preached at the When Saul fell, " David lamented it, ſaying, The beauty of " Ifrael was flain on thy high places."
God hath this'day ſtript off an ornament from this country.
Suchdiſpenſationsof Providence ſpeak indignations coming on:
It requires almoſt an age tobreed and furnish a man with due qualifications for the ſervice of the churchandcommon-wealth.
Englanddoth not ſo abound with pious, zealous, and faithful gentlemenat this time, but that itmayſenſibly feel the loſs of fuch aman.
Secondly, More particularly, let the ministers of Chriſt lament his fall, as Jeremiah did the fall of Joſiah in the text.
He was a true friend to Chriſt's faithful miniſters, andhad them in honour for their work's fake.
It is true, hehath no more need of us, he is now wiſer than his teachers; but we greatly needhim, and men of hisſpirit, in ſuch adull degenerate age aswe live in.
Thirdly, And moſt particularly, I hall apply and cloſe all with a few words of counſel to the dear and now defolate relict of this worthy perſon, whoſe ſad lot it is this day, to over-live the mercies and comforts the once enjoyed in him.
Madam, God hath thisday covered you with ſables, written bitter things against you, broken you with breach upon breach.
Your forrows need not be excited, but regulated.
It is my trouble, that I cannot diſcharge myduty tothe memory ofyour dear husband, without exasperating your griefs, which, alas, were too acute before ; but rods have their voices ; "Bleſſedis
" the man whomGod correcteth, and teacheth him out of his *" law."
Hear you the rod, and who hath appointed it; and, oh! that your ſoul maythis day takein theſe neceſſary counſels andcautions, withoutwhichyour afflictions cannot be ſanctified tothe advantage of your foul ! And, 1. Learn from hence the vanity of the creature, the emptineſs, and nothingness of the best things here below. How hath
Godmade yourbest comfortson earth to ſhrink up and vaniſh into nothing ? How do our fancies varnish and gild over theſe emptybubbles ?
What great expectations are we apt to raiſe from them ? How apt to fall aſleep intheboſoms or laps of earthly enjoyments, and ſay, with Job, " I shall die in my neſt,
" and multiply mydays as the ſand ?" When lo, in a moment, the projects and expectations of many years are overturned.
Owhat a difference will you find betwixt hope founded in Chrift, comforts drawn out of the promises, and the flattering comforts andvain hopes founded inthe creature, whole breath is in its noftrils ?
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It is time for you, and for us all, towean off from this vain world; mortify our fancies and affections toit, and place them where they ſhall not be capable of diſappointment.
2. Guard carefully, I beſeech you, against thoſe temptations which probably may accomplish this affliction.
Itmay be Satanwill ſuggeſt toyour heart, whathe once putintotheir lips ; Mal. iii. 14. " What profit is itthatwe have kept his ordinan66 ces, and walked mournfully before him ?"
Where is the fruit of prayer ?
What good haveIſeen of fafting ?
What hath religion availed ? Do not prayerleſs andungodly families thrive and profper ?
Beware of this. Madam, Idoubt notbut you will acknowledge, there have been fins and provocations withinyour walls, yea, within your heart, for which Godmay as juſtly and ſeverely judge your houſe as he did Eli's.
Remember the rewards of religion are not in this world ; and ſhould we ſpeak thus, we ſhall offend against the generation of his children.
Allwe must expect from religion, is to ſave our foulsby it.
3. Call not the love ofGod into queſtion to yourſelf, or yours, becauſe of theſe ſevere ſtrokes ofGod upon you and them : You know Joſiah was dear to God, yet he died in the prime of his days, by a violent hand, remote from his own home, and was brought home inthe secondchariot to Jerufalem; a ſpectacle of far greater forrow than your dear husband was; and yet, notwithstanding all theſe ſad circumstances of hisdeath, the promiſe of hisGod was punctually performed to him, that he ſhoulddie in peace, and notbehold the evil that was to come.
" There is a vanity (faith Solomon) which is " done upon the earth, that there be juſt menuntowhom it
61 happeneth according to the work of the wicked : Again, " there be wicked men, towhom it happenethaccording tothe
" work of the righteous," Eccl. viii. 14.
Butthenremember, that it isbut in the earth ; here, or no where, God muſt chaſtiſe his children.
4. See that you maintain thatholy courſeof religious exerciſes inyour family, and in your clotet, wherein he walked fo exemplarily before you.
Let religion live, though hebedead; andconvince the world, I prayyou,that itwasGod's influence, and not your husband's only,whichwasthe ſpringand principle of this holy courſe.
-5. Strive not with your Maker, nor fret against the Lord, under this irkſome and painfuldiſpenſation: Remember, there is awoe hanging over this fin; Jia. xlv. 9, 10. Woe to him that Arivethwith his Maker. There is a twofold ſtriving of men
A Sermon preached at the withGod, one lawful and commendable; whenwestrive with himupon the knee of importunity in prayer; thusJacob wreſtledwithGod, and prevailed, Hof. xii. 4.
The other is highly finful and dangerous, whenwe prefume to cenfure, or accuſe any of his works, as defective in wisdom or goodness.
He that reproveth God, let him auſwer it, i. e. At his peril be it.
This finful ſtriving withGod is two-fold; either vocal or men tal.
1. Vocal, When men, inbold blafphemous language, arraign the wisdom, power, goodness, or faithfulneſs of the Lord, at the bar of their own reaſon ; and there condemnthem, ſetting their mouths against theheavens, Pfalm Ixxiii. 8, 9.
Thisis the fin of the wicked, yea, of the firſt-born ſons of wickednefs.
2. Mental, In inward frets, murmurs, repinings againſtGod; Prov. xix. 3. " The foolishness of manperverts his way, and " his heart fretteth against the Lord."
The heart may cryout impatiently against God, when the tongue isſilent : And if the frets and murmurs of the heart be (as indeed they are) interpretativelynobetter than a ſtriving with our Maker ; then this fin wouldbe found more common among good men in the paroxysms of affliction, than we imagine.
It will be neceffary therefore, foryour fake, and for the fakes of many more ina like ſtate of affliction with you, to ſtay a while on this head, and confider theſe following queries.
Query I. How farmaywe enquire ofGod, expoſtulate, and complain intimes of affliction, without fin ?
Query II . Wherein lies the ſinfulness anddanger of exceeding theſe bounds ?
Query III. What confiderations are moſt proper and powerful to reſtrain the afflicted foul from this finful exceſs ?
Query 1. How far we mayenquire ofGod, expoſtulate with him, and complaintohim intimes of affliction, without fin?
Sol. 1. We may humbly enquire intothecauſesand reaſons of God'sdiſpleaſure againſt us, not to ſeek matter for ourjuftification, but direction inthe work of our humiliation : ſoDavid enquired about the three years famine, and the Lord informed him, for whoſe ſake , and for what ſin itwas, 2 Sam. xxi. 1.
And thus Job addreſſedto him in the day of his affliction, Job x . 2. Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me; i. e. convince me, what ſpecial ſin it is, for which I am thus afflicted.
This is ſo far from being our fin, that it is both our duty, and the excellency of our ſpirits : it is a child-like tem-
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per, willing toknow, thatwe may be particularlyhumbledfor that fin, and for ever the more careful to ſhun it.
" That " which I see not, teach thou me ; if I have done iniquity, I " will do ſo no more," Job xxxiv. 32.
Thus far we are ſafe.
2. We may plead by prayer, and puthim inmind of his mercies, relations,andpromiſes, inorder to the change ofhis providentialdiſpenſations towards us : We may ſayto him under the ſmartest rod, as the church did, " Doubtless thou art
" our Father," Pfalm lxxiv. 20. Have reſpect to the covenant; or as Jacob, Gen. xxxii. 9, 12.
Thou ſaidſt, Iwill " ſurelydo thee good."
3.WemaycomplaintoGod under ourfufferings,andſpread them beforehim in all theircircumſtances and aggravations, as Job, Heman, ſaph, Hezekiah andDavid did. He allows his children tocomplain to him,but not ofhim: " I poured out τσ my complaint before him ; I ſhewed before him my trou- " ble," Pfal. cxlii. 2.
To whom ſhould a child make his complaint, but to his father ? So far we are ſafe.
4. We may ſubmiſſively pray for the removalof his hand from us, and entreat, that his anger may ceaſe, and that he will turn again and heal us and our families, and not draw forth his anger for ever.
So did David, Pfalm xxxix. 10.
" Remove thy ſtroke away from me ; I am confumedbythe "blow ofthine hand ;" q. d Ah, Lord, I am not able to endure another ſtroke.
All this while, we are ſafe, within the bounds ofourduty. But then, Query 2. Wherein lies our finand danger, inexceeding theſebounds ? I anſwer, Sol. When forgetting God's fovereignty, and thedefert of our iniquities, we arrogantly cenſure his effecting, or permittingprovidences,as iftheyhad noconducency tohis own glory, or our good.
This is both finful anddangerous : For, 1. This is a proud exalting of our own reaſon andunderſtanding above the infinite wisdom ofGod. God hath made ourreaſonajudge and arbiter in matters within its ownsphere and province ; but when it comes to ſummonGod to its bar, and article againstheaven, it is an inſufferable arrogancy ; and wedo itatour own peril. Godwill have all menknow, that he is an unaccountable being, Job xxxiii. 13. Yea, he will have us to know, that the " foolishness ofGod is wiſer than
" men," 1 Cor. i. 25. That is, that thoſe very works ofGod, whichman's proud reaſon adventures to cenſure as not ſowife a method as their own would be, hath more wisdom inthem,
VOL. VII.
LIF
A Sermon preached at the than allthe deep-laid deſigns ofthe greatest politicians in the world.
And it is ſtrange that men ſhould dare to attempt fuch a wickedness as this, afterGod hath ſoſeverely punished it inthe fallen angels.
2. It is no less than a ſpurning atthe fovereignty ofGod, from whoſe pleaſure we derive ourbeings, and allour mercies,
Rev. iv. 11.
Intheſe quarrellings at providence, and frets at divine appointments, we invade his throne, and controul his fovereign pleaſure. How monstrous were it to hear a child quarrelling with his father, that he was not ſo and ſo figured; or the clayto chide thepotter for moulding it as it is ?
3. It is deſtructive to our inward peace and tranquillity of mind,which is partofthe punishment ofthis fin ; and a ſmart ſtripe, a fore rebuke it is from thehandofGod upon us.
Contention is uncomfortable,though but with a neighbour, worſe with a near relation ; buta quarrel withGod is deftructive to all comfort in the world.
Afflictions may disturb a good man's peace ; but amutinous ſpirit againstGod, deſtroys and ſtabs itatthe very heart.
What is the fin and tormentof thedevils, but their rage against the Lord, and ſwelling against the methods of his grace ?" "He ſeeketh reſt, but findeth
" none," Matth. xii. 43.
The peace of our ſpirit is a choice mercy, and mightbe maintained amidst all our afflictions, were but our intereſt inhis promiſes, and the true level ofhisprovidences cleared to us .
4. It is irrational, and highly unjuſt, to give the cauſe, and quarrel at the effects. God hath righteoufly and inſeparably linked penal with moral evils ; fin and forrow,bythe laws ofheaven are tacked and linkedtogether; he that doth evil, ſhall feel evil, Gen. iv. 7.
We adventure upon fin, and then fret at affliction, Prov. xix. 3. "The foolishness of man
" perverts his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord."
Is this becoming a reaſonable creature ? Doth notevery man reap as he foweth ? Can the feed of finbring forth a crop of peace and comfort ? " Why doth the living man complain, a " manfor thepunishment of his fins ?" Lam. iii. 39.
Search your hearts, and ſearch your houſes, and you will quickly find that all your afflictions in this world, were theytenthousand times more, and heavier than they are, do not come near to the defert of one fin.
All forrows, loſſes, afflictions on this ſide hell, are quite below the value of fin, the meritorious and provoking cauſe ofthem all.
5. It is foolish and vain, to ſtrive againstGod, and contest
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perverſely with him.
Can our difcontents relieve us *? Or ourmurmurs eaſe us ? Will they turn God out of hisway?
No, no, He is in one mind, and who canturn him afide ? Job xxiiis 13. The wheels of providence go straight forward, and turnnotwhen they go, Ezek. i. 17. We may bring them over us to cruſh us, by ſtanding thus in their way; but cannot turn them out of their way.
" Ifthey ſtill walk contrary to me, then will I walk contrary " to you, and punish you yet ſeven times for your fins," Lev. xxiii. 14.
Or I will walk in the raſhneſs of mine anget t, ſmiting you without moderation, as men do in their rageand fury. This is all we shallget by fretting against God.
Never expect reliefunder, or releaſe from the yoke God hath laid on your necks, till you be brought to accept the punishment of your iniquities, Lev. xxvi. 41 .
6. It is a fin fullof odious ingratitude towards your God:
Which appears (1.) Inmurmuring becauſe it is fo bad, when we should be admiring that it is no worse. Are there not millions in hellthat never finned at higher rates thanyou have done ? Is this affliction as bad as hell ? Hath God pardoned you andſavedyou, and yet doth he deferve to be thus requited by you ? (2.) In murmuring that our condition is ſobad, whenwe may every dayſee others in a far worſe cafe, who - are equal with us by nature, and we are equal with them in guilt and provocation.
If we speak of outward afflictions, certainly others would be glad to exchange conditions with us, andaccount themſelves happy in our circumſtances,
Confider the deſcription given of thoſe perfons, Job xxx. 3, 4, 5.
And how little they differ in the manner of life from brute beafts: And if we speakof inward troubles, compare your own with thoſe of Heman, andAfaph, in Pfalm lxxvii. and Ixxxviii. and if both together, and that in an intenſe de gree, confider Job vi. 4. and you will foon find your conditionfull of ſparing mercy : Thoſe excellent perſons thatwere ſomuch aboveyou in grace, wereyetplunged ſo much deeperthanyou intoafflictions. And isit not then vile ingratitude in you, thus to mutiny and charge your God foolishly ? (3.)
But eſpecially here lies our ingratitude, in quarrelling and cenfuring thoſe providences, whoſe very end and errand is
L112 * When a parient ſtrugglesunderthe phyſician'shandhe receives aſmartertouch.
+ ורקב temere ambulabo, i.e. I willwalk raſhly.
A Sermon preached at the our eternalgood; Heb. xii. 10. " Buthe for our profit, that " we might be partakers ofhis holineſs ."
7. It isa fin that deprives us of the fruits and benefits of our afflictions : Atumultuous raging ſpirit reaps no goodby therod.
The fruits of affliction arecalled thepeaceablefruits, Heb. xii. 11. becauſe they are always gathered and reaped down by the afflicted foul in a quiet and peaceful temper:
Animafedendo, & quiescendofit fapiens.
Blofioms and flowers opennot inthe boisterous ſtorms of winter, butin the mild andgentleſpring.
Wellthen, be convincedofthe ſin anddangerofa diſcontented ſpirit under the hand of God, and instead of mourning over loft relations, now mourn for the loss of patience, the want of fubmiffion, and for the pride and arrogancy of yourown reaſon, thatprefumes to correct the works oftheAlmighty ; and ſay toGod, as Joſeph didto his father, when hewittingly croſſed his hands in bleſſfing Ephrain and Manaffeh, Notfo, myfather.
This isnot fit, Query 3. But how may theſe evils be prevented or cured, and the tempestuous foul calmed under the rod ? How ſhall all ftrifes betwixt God and his people be ended, andthe foul made quiet at his feet?
Reply. This bleſſed frame of ſpirit, may in a great degree and meaſure be attained in the use ofthe following directions :
I ſay, in their uſe and application, notbythe preſcription or ſimple knowledge ofthem.
And, Rule 1. The firſt rule, or direction is this : Study well the gloriousfovereignty of God overyou, andaweyourhearts with the confideration of it.
From his mere pleaſure, you, and all that is yours, proceeded ; on his pleaſure you depend, and into that goodpleaſure ofhis will, your wills therefore ought to be refolved : " Whatever the Lord pleaſed, that be
"did, in heaven and inearth, in the fea and in all deep " places," Pſalm cxxxv. 6. Man and man ftand on equal ground ; and ifourreaſon be not ſatisfied about the equity of mens dealings with us, we may ask who did it, anddemand thereaſons whyhe did it ; but when we have todo with God, we mustnot difpute his pleaſure.
Let the potſherd ſtrive with the potſherds of the earth; but let not the claydiſpute with thepotter. Now the ſovereignty ofGod is glorioufly diſplayed in his decrees, laws, and providences.
(1.) In his decrees, appointing the creatures to their ends,whether to be veffels ofmercy, or of wrath, Rom. ix. 18, 19, 20.
In this cafe there must be no difputing with God.
(2.) In
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hislaws, appointing the work andduty ofthe creature,asalſo the rewards andpunishments ; James iv. 12. " There is one
" Law-giver, that is able toſave and to deſtroy."
Inthis caſe his ſovereignty immediately and indiſpenſablybinds the conſcience of man, and no human authority can diffolve that obligation : Nor muſtwe ſnuffatthe ſeverestcommand.
(3.) The glorious fovereignty ofGod is diſplayed inhis providential adminiſtrations, appointing everyman tothat ſtation and condition in which he is in this world ; whether it be high or low, profperous or afflicted : Pfalm lxxv. 6. " I said to the " fools, deal not foolishly, &c. for promotion cometh not from..
" the east, or the west, but God is Judge ; he putteth down " one, and ſetteth up another."
Let not them that are at the top of the world be liftedup; nor thoſe that are at thebottom bedejected ; for God cafts every man's lot, and changeth their conditionat his pleaſure ; aword of his mouth plucks down the lofty, and exalts the lowly; he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
Hence it becomes the afflicted to be ſtill, and know that he is God, Pfalm. xlvi. 10. to put his mouth in the duſt, andquietly to wait for his ſalvation : All our fretting and struggling cannot shake off the yoke which he hathput upon us; but ameek and quiet fubmiffion to his will,andcompliancewith his deſigns, is the beſt expedient to procure our freedom.
There is not one circumſtance of trouble befals you, without his order ; nor can you expect deliverance, but by order from him.
Rule 2. Study the transcendent evil offin, and what the demerit of the least fin that ever you committed is. 'This will becalm your tempestuous ſpirits, and at once work them into contentation with your preſent ſtate, and admiration that it is no worſe, Lam. iii. 22, 39, 40.
Confider, thou querulous and diſcontented foul, that the wages of fin isdeath, Rom. vi. ult. that tribulation, anguiſh, andwrath, are due, by law, to every foul of man that doth evil; that ſo often as we have finned, fo. often have we deſerved hell : and ſhall we then chargeGod with ſeverity, for ſcourging us with the rods of gentle, fatherly, chaſtiſements ?
Is this hell ? Dare you ſaythe ſevereſt afflictionthat ever was uponyou, is above the demerit ofyour fin ?
It is true, indeed, the Lord tells Jerufalem, that she had " received of his hand double for allher ſins," Iſa. xl. 2. But that is not the language of ſtrict justice, but of compaſſions rolled together.
There is nota gracious ſoul in allthe world, butwill readily ſubſcribe Ezra's confeſſion, thatGod hath af-
A Sermon preachedat the flicted it leſs than its iniquities deſerve, Ezra ix. 13. Oh! if once we meaſure our afflictions by our ſins, we shall admire they are ſo few, ſo mild and gentle as they are!
Rule 3.
Confider, what a difference there is betwixt the faints meeting with afflictions, and their parting with them.
Youmeetthemwith trembling and astonishment,butyou ſhall part with them with praiſe and thanksgiving ; bleffing God for the manifold bleſſings they have inſtrumentally conveyed to your fouls.
It isgoodfor me, faithDavid, that I havebeen afflicted.
By theſe things ſin is prevented, diſcovered, and mortified ; the infnaring world imbittered, and the reft to come ſweetened.
Manyother excellent rules maybe added : try theſe, andthe bleſſing ofthe Spirit accompanythem.
To conclude ; be not ſwallowed up offorrows forwhat you have loft, but balance all the troubles of this life with the hopes ofthe next. Your dearchildren are gone, your ſweet husband is gone; but conſider who took them, and whither.
It is faid ofEnoch, Gen. v. 24. "He walked with God, and " was not, forGod took him."
Mr. Upton is not, andyet he is he is not with men, he is withGod: he ceaſes notto be, though he ceases to breathe he is taken away, but God tookhim: he is better where he is, than where he was : though he be not in your boſom, he is in Chrift's.
Imitate his zeal,plain-heartedneſs, diligence induties, and you ſhall ſhortly meet him again, and never part any more;
ITheff. iv. 15, 16, 17, 18. " For this we ſay by the word of " the Lord, that we which are alive, and remainto the com
" ing ofthe Lord, ſhall not prevent them which are afleep.
" For the Lord himself ſhall defcend from heaven with a fhout, " andwith the voice ofthe archangel, andthe trump ofGod:
" and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt: Then we which are " alive, and remain, ſhall be caught up together with them
" in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: And ſo ſhall we " ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another "with theſe words."
Did you but know the deep emphasis oftheſewords, ever with the Lord; Idoubtnot, butyouwould find comfort enough in them for yourself, and a great over. plus for the comforting of others .