quite out of our sight. We see Christ's administrations now, as they regard this earth alone; but then we shall see them, as they regard heaven. We may then perhaps see, that there was a certain post of service to be filled above, which required just such a one as divine grace had made this or that young person, who might indeed have been very fit to have served the church below, but for whom God meant much higher and better things. Our companions in glory may also very probably assist us by their wise and good observations, when we come to make the providence of God here upon earth, under the guidance and direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, the subject of our mutual converse. And it is impossible for us to say, how immediately the Lord Jesus Christ may himself interpose in giving us plainer lessons, and clearing up his conduct to us. By direct and immediate revelation he may communicate to us what his schemes were, and shew us how they were going on in a direct harmonious manner, as the planets in the visible heavens, when they seem to us to stand still, or to go backwards. In the mean time, let me observe, III. That it is highly fit we should acquiesce in what Christ does, how unknown soever the reasons of it may be to us. And that, upon these two plain and certain principles,--that we know, that in all he does his ends are graciously directed, and that his means are wisely chosen. 1. We know, that his ends are graciously directed. We know, that he intends in all he does, the honour of God, and the good of all his people. Can we make any doubt of this? One would think, we really did: And yet we know, that he has given them the most gracious promises, even of a glorious resurrection, and of a blessed immortality; and that he has loved them so well, that he has died for them, has shed his own precious and invaluable blood for their redemption and salvation. And can we, after this, allow ourselves to suspect him? Can we doubt, that he intends to make his people for ever happy? And intending this, can he fail to effect it in the properest manner?Surely I may add, 2. We know, that his means are wisely chosen. Can we have any room to question this? Is he not the incarnate wisdom of God? And can you entertain any suspicion of him? If you trust not faith alone, trust sense. Look up to the heavens; look down to the earth: Behold, how wisely all is ordered, in the growth of such a variety of plants, in the provision that is made for such a multitude of animals of various kinds, in the subserviency of all to the subsistence and delight of human life; and then say, Does this look like any deficiency in wisdom? And are not these things the work of Christ? Did he not lay the plan, and execute it? Were not All things created by him, whether visible or invisible? And will you still doubt, whether he who made, and who governs and preserves all things, is wise enough to conduct your affairs, or not? Methinks our Lord may justly expostulate with the suspicious, with the complaining christian, "Oh thou of little faith, wherefore dost thou doubt +? Whom wilt thou trust, if thou trustest not me? Wilt thou trust thine own wisdom? alas! how often has it deceived thee! Wilt thou trust thy self love? alas! how utterly has it undone thee! Can my Father trust me with all the infinite concerns of his glory and kingdom; and canst thou not trust me with thy little all? Did I die for thee! did I pour out my blood for the redemption of thy immortal soul! and canst thou imagine, I will not take care of it? And if I do, will it not be safe? Or if thou canst confide in me, that I will take care of thy soul, and make it both safe and happy, canst thou not trust thine estate with me, thy health, thy reputation, thy usefulness, thy children, thy friends? Are these things more than that soul, which I have so dearly purchased, which I have so tenderly received, which I have so constantly watched over, and in which I have already made such a change for the better, that if thou wouldst be just to thyself and me, thou needest but to look upon it, and mightest find an argument from what it is, in comparison of what it once was, to trust me for every thing else?" “Lord,” should each of us by this time, say, "It is enough! It is more than enough! I am ashamed of my weakness and folly. Behold, here I am, do with me as thou wilt! Dispose of me, and my concerns, just according to thine own pleasure! I will not object one word, I will not indulge one thought of suspicion I will say, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. I will keep mine eye upon thine hand; I will sometimes look back to thy cross, and sometimes look up to thy throne; and I will not only be contented, but thankful. Yea, Lord, I will see what I can do, towards obeying in the midst of all my troubles that great command of thine, which, great as it is, was a command fit for such a Redeemer to give, Rejoice evermore §: Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice ||.”—And now, after what has been said, I would conclude, *Col. i. 16. Mat. xiv. 31. 1 Sam. iii. 18. § 1 Thess. v. 16. || Phil. iv. 4. IV. With applying all this to the present occasion, by hinting at some ends, which we may suppose our Lord to have had in view in this solemn transaction of his providence, which occasioned the discourse I have now been delivering. Let us lay down this as the foundation, that it is the hand of Christ; that he has turned the key; that he has taken away his young servant, whom he raised up here, whom he called so early by his grace, whom he taught to pray when he was but a child; and to pray in such a manner, that I will take the liberty publicly to tell you, "that the account I had of a prayer of his, overheard when he little thought it by a dear friend, almost seventeen years ago, that is, when he was but about five years old, had its influence in engaging me to come and settle in this place." It was from Christ that he received that steadiness, that tenderness, that ripe experience in the things of God, which made his private and his public labours so remarkably agreeable to the most judicious christians of this society, and of other societies. It was the grace of Christ, which bore him unhurt through so many temptations, by which others have been ensnared and dishonoured, their characters sunk, and their usefulness diminished, if not destroyed. And let us not imagine, that the messenger of death came to him without a commission from the great Lord of life. Let us not imagine, that his spirit was called out of time into eternity without the voice of a Redeemer, or that the important doors of the invisible world were opened without his hand. Christ has taken him away: And he had no doubt his reasons for it: Reasons, many of them perhaps unsearchable to us, yet we may conjecture as to some of them : And it may be profitable for a few remaining minutes to dwell upon the view; the rather, as so many breaches have been made, so many of this kind too, which have fallen under the notice of many of us. Particularly, 1. Our Lord by such a providence might intend to teach us, how little he needs any of our services. Our dear departed friend seemed indeed a Vessel of honour fitted for his master's use*; but he is broken in pieces, and we are ready to say with the afflicted church of old, The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as .earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter + ! But herein our great Lord displays his royalty: He can form the most promising instruments of service; and can lay them aside, and carry on his cause without them. Let not then any * 2 Tim. ii. 21, + Lam. iv. 2. of us imagine ourselves, or each other, to be necessary to him. He will, if he pleases, do us the honour to use us: If not, he will immediately lay us by in the grave. We, and those who esteem us most, and who love us best, should submit, and say, Behold, as the clay is in the hand of the potter, so are we in the hand of the Lord our God*. And it is fit it should be so; for we are weak as clay, and at the same time also are of as little value, and even less than the dust of the earth when compared with him. Again, 2. It may be the design of our Lord by such a providence as this, to teach us to cease from man. We are instructed by it, not to depend too much upon any of our surviving brethren and friends: For it is the language of this providence, Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of +? God changes our countenance, and sends us away. But a few months ago, who was more likely to have continued than dear Mr. Shepherd! But God sent a mortal distemper upon him in the night, and his friends in the morning found him senseless; and he spoke no more, and hardly moved any more, till he died. Such is every man in his best estate! Thus may we fall, and those on whom we most depend. Lord, what do we then wait for? with regard to ourselves, with regard to thy church, our hope is in thee §. Further, 3. Our Lord might thus intend in a peculiar manner to exercise our submission and resignation to his wise and gracious will. We should look upon the death of every friend in this view, as a call to us to acknowledge his sovereignty over life and death. Behold, he taketh away, and who can hinder him? Or who shall say unto him, What doest thou ? And the more touching the case is, the deeper ought our submission to be; because the greater is that natural tendency which we are ready to feel in our minds, to rise against and to dispute his determinations. Particularly, when God takes away from aged christians a young friend who has been the delight of their eyes, whom they have tenderly nursed up from his infancy, just when they most needed his assistance, and he was most capable of giv ing it, as well as strongly inclined and determined to do it: When God takes away, not only a young minister, of eminent and distinguished abilities, but one who even from his childhood had been bred up amongst us; one, who had constantly attended Jer. xviii. 6. + Isa. ii. 22. Job xiv. 20. Psal. xxxix. 7. with us every sabbath-day on public worship, with that endearment of mutual respect and affection on his part and ours, which must be the result of so intimate a relation; one, of whom we have so particularly thought when we have been acknowledging the divine goodness in Raising up of our sons for prophets, and of our young men for Nazarites*; it is then particularly seasonable, that we should struggle with our own hearts to say, Thy will be done! Once more, 4. It may be the design of such a providence as this, to quicken us all in our work, and especially his surviving brethren. Had it been the death of a stranger in such circumstances, it might have quickened us: To see a young person taken thus away; going to bed at night tolerably well, for that was the case, though with some complaint, yet in no such immediate danger as should give any peculiar alarm, and then found in his bed the next morning speechless and senseless, and continuing without perception, and in a great measure without motion, till he expired. I repeat these circumstances again, that young inattentive minds may be struck with them.- -But it is particularly striking, when we consider it is one, whom we so intimately knew; one, with whom so many of us have been conversing and praying almost every day for many years, as well as worshipping every sabbath, and communicating every sacrament-day. May we all hear that voice, which cries, Be ye also ready! Especially, may we attend to it, who are forming for, or engaged in the ministerial work! My dear brethren, and much beloved charge, suffer the word of exhortation. You knew this amiable and excellent youth in a most intimate manner: Let me briefly recommend to you the many things, which you saw exemplary in him :His constancy and reverence in attending divine worship, both in public and private;-His diligence in business; His steadiness and regularity in conduct;His prudent and honourable care to avoid silly and extravagant expences ;--His solicitude to take every opportunity of improving in every branch of learning, that was taught where he attended; especially what related most directly to his sacred profession;His unwearied application to the study of the scripture, and continued watchfulness for every opportunity of improving it; —And above all, his zeal for the glory of God, and for the gospel of Christ, and its glorious and peculiarly distinguishing truths. I heartily wish each of you, who are to appear under + Mat. xxiv. 44. * Amos ii. 11. |