Section 1137
I. I shall consider what that is, which of all things does mostly affect and afflict a people at parting with a gospel-minister
Which is, that they shall see his face no more. And let it be observed
1. That there are many cases which affect, but not so much affect, as this as for instance, to part with a minister for awhile, for a few weeks or months, when his urgent affairs call him elsewhere, or his presence is necessary in another branch of Christ’s interest, for the service of it; this is not grateful to a people by whom he is beloved; it is with some reluctance he departs from them for a season; but then they hope for his return, and, with as much patience as they can, wait for it: had this been the case here, it would have been bearable. The saints at Ephesus had an experience of this before. When the apostle was first with them, his stay was short; they would fain have had him continued longer with them, but he refused, which no doubt was grieving to them; but he returned again, and abode with them for the space of two years, and then was obliged to leave them through an uproar, but not without expressions of their tender regard to him; they embraced him in their arms, and no doubt wept over him: and now a third time he visits them, by sending for them at Miletus, and tells them, that they shall see his face no more; had he given some hopes of visiting them again, though he should for the present depart, or signified his intentions to do so, if it was the will of God, this would have been tolerable; but to assure them they should never see him again, this cut them to the heart.
Again, To part with a gospel-minister wholly, to have him removed from one part of a country to another, from one church to another, there to abide, and not return again; this is more affecting and afflicting than the other case, but not like this in the text. This may be, and sometimes is the case, that a minister does, and lawfully may remove from one people to another; as when errors and heretics obtain, and they cannot be rooted out; or immorality prevails, and no reformation can be made, the discipline of Christ’s house is neglected, and the people will not suffer his laws to be put in execution; or when a due maintenance is not, or cannot be provided for him, but both he and religion are exposed to the reproach of the world; or disaffection between him and the people rises so high, on one account or another, that peace and fellowship cannot be maintained, nor the ends of the ministration of the word, and administration of ordinances be answered: but then in such a case as this, as there may be some persons to whom he has been a spiritual father, or who have received comfort and edification by his ministry, and consequently must be greatly troubled and distressed at his removal from them; so they may, if convenience will permit, go along with him; or however they may hope to see his face, and hear his voice again one time or other.
Moreover, to have a gospel-minister drove away by the force of persecution, and removed into a corner, so that a people cannot behold their teacher in the place where they were wont to see him; this must be very grieving and distressing, but not like this, seeing his face no more; because in such times of persecution, they may both see and hear him in private houses, in cellars, and solitary places, in fields and woods, as our forefathers did. The witnesses prophesy, though in sackcloth; and the church is fed and nourished with the word and ordinances, though in the wilderness: besides, hope may be entertained, that such a state of persecution will not last always; God will not suffer the rod of the wicked always to continue on the lot of the righteous; he gives his churches rest from adversity, and they walk in his fear, and in the comforts of his spirit, and are edified and multiplied.
For a gospel-minister to be ill treated, reviled, and persecuted, to be haled to prison, and laid in fetters and bonds, must be very grievous to such to whom he has been useful; but this is not like to that, of being in such a case as never to see his face more; because such, as they have compassion on him in his bonds, and sympathize with him, so they may visit him in prison, see his face, hear his voice, and be the more strengthened in their faith in Christ, and in the good ways of God, by his bonds. The care of the apostle Paul is a most affecting one, when he was stoned by his furious persecutors, and dragged out of the city, and left for dead, round about whose bruised and mangled body, and as supposed, dead, the disciples stood, no doubt sorrowing and weeping; and yet on a sudden he rose up alive and well, and they saw his face with pleasure. (Acts 14:19, 20)
When a minister of the gospel is indisposed, and through sickness cannot attend his charge and work, it greatly affects a people that love him, and to whom he has been serviceable; as the sickness of Epaphroditus was distressing to the Philippians, when they heard of it, which caused heaviness in him, who knew it would be so to them, though it was not unto death: (Philippians 2:26, 27) whilst there is life there is hope of seeing him again; but when death has done its work, there is no more hope of seeing him again, in his ministerial work; and this is the cutting thought. Wherefore,
2. What is the affecting case of all, is parting with a minister by death, when the eye that has seen him shall see him no more, in the place it formerly did; and that place in which he has been seen shall know him no more; death changes his countenance, alters his face, and the lineaments of it, so that it is not to be seen as it was before; and he is sent away, his body returns to the dust, and the spirit to God that gave it; so that his προσθπον, “his person, ” as the word also signifies, is not to be beheld anymore. The phrase here used supposes, that they had seen his face, and that with pleasure; for it is used of beholding persons and things with rapture and joy; [5366] so a people may, and often do see the face of their minister in the time of life and health with pleasure; and especially when in his master’s work, personating his Lord, and speaking in his name: they have sometimes seen his face as the Jews did Stephen’s, as if it had been the face of an angel; and have received and embraced him as an angel of God, even as Jesus Christ; (Acts 6:15, Galatians 4:19) how beautiful are the feet, and much more the mouth and lips, of a messenger of peace, and publisher of the glad-tidings of salvation by Christ! But when a minister is dead, though his face may be seen before his interment, yet not without an alteration, and not with joy and pleasure.
But let it be observed, that when the apostle told the persons spoken of in the text, that they should see his face no more; and they believed him and therefore sorrowed, it is not to be understood as a contradiction to, or a denial of the resurrection of the dead: the apostle knew, and so did they, that though he would die, and never pay them another visit; yet he would rise again in power, in glory, in incorruption, and with a spiritual body; and so would they, and have the same eyes they had, and with them behold, as the God-man and mediator-Christ, or Christ in human nature, and that for themselves, and not another, so they should see each other, and that face to face; but the meaning is, that he would die, and should not rise again till the heavens be no more, till the Lord shall descend from heaven with the voice of an archangel, when the dead in Christ will rise first; till the last trumpet sounds, and the dead rise incorruptible, and immortal.
3. It may be very well thought, that there is in these words a figure which Rhetoricians call a meiosis, by which less is said than is understood, and more is designed than is expressed; and besides, the word here used not only signifies face or countenance, and also person, but all exterior, attending and surrounding circumstances; and so we may consider it as expressing the person of a gospel-minister in every view of him, and in every part of his office, who ceases to be viewed in it when death has done its own. And then,
His people see his face no more in his own house, to which they have at times resorted, to have their cases of conscience answered, their doubts resolved, or advice given them in matters of moment and difficulty. They see his face no more in their own houses; that is, they have no more of his friendly visits; no more his fervent prayers with them, and for them; no more his hearty counsel to them, and feel no more his sympathizing heart with them in their troubles, whether of a spiritual or temporal nature; the weak are no more supported, nor the feeble-minded comforted by his private instructions. They see his face no more at their church-meetings, there presiding over them, showing the house to the house, the form and fashion of it, the goings-out and comings-in, and all the laws and ordinances of it; pointing who are to be admitted, and who to be rejected from the communion of the church; directing to every part of discipline, and to the rule of God’s word for it; exhorting and reproving with all long-suffering and doctrine, such sharply, who have erred, that they be found in the faith, and such publicly who have sinned before all; laying on, and taking off censures, by the suffrage of the church; all which is no more to be seen as done by him. They see his face no more in the pulpit: they hear no more the silver trumpet blown by him, nor the joyful sound pronounced with delightful accents, nor the messages of peace, life, and salvation by Christ brought by him: they now remember how his mouth spoke wisdom, and his tongue talked of judgment; how their hearts have burned within them, while he has been opening the scriptures to them; how he has stirred up their minds by way of remembrance of gospel-truths, and endeavored to establish them in them; in what a clear light he has placed them, and with what strength of argument he has defended them; and with what fervency, and in what a pressing manner he has exhorted them to love and good-works, and to adorn the doctrine of God their Savior. But the cutting thought is, he is gone, and is no more seen, nor no more to be seen and heard. They see his face no more at the table of the Lord, there delivering out the memorials of his sufferings and death; setting forth so evidently before their eyes a crucified Christ, as if he was just then crucified and slain among them; pointing to his bleeding side and wounds, and directing to his pierced hands, and feet; explaining the divine emblems, as representing the body of Christ bruised and broken for their sins, and his precious blood shed for the remission of them; insensibly, and at an unawares, leading them at once into the height, and depth, and length, and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge; engaging and encouraging their faith and hope in his blood and sacrifice; stirring up their love, and exciting them to thankfulness to him, and not forget his benefits; such as healing their diseases, and “forgiving their iniquities, redeeming their lives from destruction, and crowning them with loving kindness and tender mercies.” And the thought of this, that they shall see his face no more, or him concerned in such delightful services, makes their hearts to bleed within them. But,