Afer Elijah's God. 17 intent upon the neceffary things. Rational Learning hé mofl valued,and was an ex- traordinary Mailer of. And as to his Expreflìve Faculty,he .fpake properly, plainly, pertinently, and pathetically: He could fpeak fintably, both to Mens Capacities and to thethings infìfted on. He was a Perfon wonderful at Extemporate Preach- ing ; for having once left his Notes behind him, hewas furpri'i'd into Extempo- rate thoughts upon ( as I remember ) Heb. iv. 15. For me have not en f:ig(;.- Priejt--- Whereon he Preach'd to vety great fatisfaf4ion unto all that heard him : And when he came down from the Pulpit, he asked me I was not ti- red? I laid, With what ? He faid, With hio ExtemporateDífeourfe. I told him That had he not declar'd it, Ibelieve nonecould hia ye difcóver'd it : His reply to me Was That he thought it veryneedful for a Min f er to have a Body of Divinity in his head. (a.) As to God's Providence, in removing him, Gods Voice is Loud from Heaven to us. And what theVoice is, and what it fpeaks in the General, you may partly difcern from thefe following pafC.ges of Scripture, Zack. i. e. 7. -9. Rev. hi. 3. i Thef iv. i. .7am. v.8. ----i r. ACF, xx. 18. zi, and 32. Such thoughts as thefe are very pertinent unto the Vifìtation of our day. Have we been mindful of him? Have webeen thankful for him ? Have we been faithful to, and fruitful under, the Advantages of his Minifleriat -Day? t Tbefo.i 3. --- o. Should yon not bemoan vour ignorance, heedlefsnefs, and. barrennefs? Should you not take up new refolutions to improve the Mantle which he bath left behind him; and to prepare your felves to meet Elijah and. his God; Mr. Baxter, and his returning Lord in Peace, z Pet. iii. i t.- -- -i You have known the genuine, conftant tendencies of his Labours, Prayers and Spirit; all looked towards, and much refembied What 'ye find recorded in i Theft.. iii. t 2, t 3. You have had in him, whilit with you ( who was longer a Preacher unto you, than Chrífl was to the 'faros) oneof the bell of Cafüiffs, Preachers, Pat- terns, Supplicants, and Companions in theWorld. And have we Sinn'd him from us ! hisDeath tells us, we muff not be ordinary in our AcknoWledgments, Im- provements, and Attainments : nor always think that it will be day with us. ( 3.) Our great Concern and Cry this day fhould be about, andafter the Lord Godof Elijah: The God whom Mr. Baxter. own d, lov'd, fear'd, ferv'd, and preach'd. Nor mull Elijah's Mantle be forgotten. As to me ; the Prophet's .Mantle is far more valu'd, and defir'd, than Expelled. I never look to Tithe his Excellent Gifts, and Graces. And as toThu andMe; theSpecial Pretence ofElijah's God is greatly needful with, and for us. Elifha in fever-al things out-went his Matter; ( fo mull not I ) but he was not Tranflated as Elijah was For heafter- ward fell fick and Dy'd, z Kings. xiii. 14. But vet withvery ample teftimony of God's peculiar refpe&s to him. But I am not Elifha. And may I iland amongit the meaneft of God's Faithful Prophets, I fhall account it great. And though I cannot look to be Elijah, Elba, or like to him that's latelygore : Yet all that Unt}ion, Countenance, and Special Pretence which my Soul-Work, and Miniftry 'doth require, let it this day ( and ever, whilil we live) beeo:ne your joynt Con- cern and Cry with me, to God, that I may have it, and that you may reap great benefit thereby. As to us all: O how defirable is the Pretence of theLord God ofElijah with us ! That fo the Prophet's Prayers and Labours be not loft upon us, nor his God fet againft us, nor his Heaven be deny'd us, norhimfeif at laft call'd out to teftify againft us when Chrift Sits in Solemn Judgment upon us. And for mySelf; ifany of the Prophet's Friends forfake me, may I but have the Powerfnll and Gracious Pretence ofhis Elijah's Cod, it will Suffice ine. Myprefent Çircumitances as to Employments, Infirmities, Exercices, and Concerns, moil needextort tuch Cryes and thoughts asthefe.from my Solicitous and anxious Soul (i) Wherewas our Elijah once? Was he not in his Mother's Womb, retire from human View and knowledge? Was he not after in his State of ignorant Infancy and Childhood ? Washe not ina mortalbody, anduncomfortableWorld? Was he not once as little furnifh'd with knoseledg, Godlyne(, and utterance, Uncîionand ufefulnefs as my felf? (z.) Whence had our Elijab all his Gifts and Graces, Affifances,Encouragemnts and Succeftes? Were theynotall derived from the fame God with whom I have todo ? (3.) Where is our Elijah now ? Ishe not with God in Heaven, to whom the Spirits of Good men have been gathered G TO
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=