The Regards Due to Such as Have Been Eminent and Useful

p. 1The Regards due to such as have been Eminent & Useful.

And they buried him in the City of David among the Kings, because he had done good in Israel.—

ALtho' the Person, to whose Departure, our Text hath Reference, sustain'd a Sacred, & the Person, whose Removal we this day lament, sustain'd a Civil Character, yet the ground and reason of that Respect which was paid to his Remains, will afford proper Meditations on this mournful Occasion; which was, that he had done good in Israel. The man of God so honourably distinguished in his Sepulchre, was Jehoiada the High Priest; Venerable on the account of his Office: Prince and Primate in the Sacred Order; who bore in his Breast-plate the Urim and the Thummim, Emblematical of light and perfection; who annually entred into p. 2the Holy of Holies, with blood, and made atonement for the Sins of the People; and was a Type of Christ; and venerable on the account of the wisdom and excellent Spirit, which was in him; his eminency in his Office, and the great Service, which he did among his People: and our Text signifies the honour done him in his burial, and the reason of it.

1. The honour done him in his burial: They buried him in the City of David among the Kings: A singular honour this, that he should make his grave with the Princes and supream Rulers of his People. David, when he was settled in his Kingdom, took from the Jebusites, the strong hold of Zion, and call'd it after his own name; made it the place of his Residence, and the Seat of his Kingdom; in some part of which he was interr'd at his decease, ◊ King. 2.10. So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David; which afterward became the burying place of the Kings: for this is the account generally given concerning the Kings of Judah, that they slept with their fathers, and were buried in the City of David: And this was the honour done to Jehoiada when he died; they buried him in this City, and laid him among the Kings: an honour denied to some of the Kings, who had by their mismanagements, forfeited the Regards due to their Character: It is Reported of Jehoram, that he departed without being desired: howbeit they buried him in the City of David, but not in the Sepulchres of the Kings, p. 32 Chron. 21.20. and of that ungrateful and barbarous King Joash, that his Servants conspired against him, for the blood of the Sons of Jehoiada, and slew him on his bed, and he died, and they buried him in the City of David: but they buried him not in the Sepulchres of the Kings, 2 Chron. 24.25. which imports that they accounted it a great honour to any one to have his Corpse lodg'd in them.

p. 32. The reason of it, because he had done good in Israel? By Israel here, is meant the Kingdom of Judah, as in 2 Chron. 21.2. All these were the Sons of Jehoshaphat King of Israel; who was King of Judah, and not of Israel, when we speak of them in contradistinction: Had done good in Israel: This is a Meiosis, more is implied than express'd; for if he had only done some small Service, and in as small a degree, it might have been said, that he had done good in Israel; but this is far beneath' the lofty Intention of the expression, which is, that he had been Eminently Serviceable, and had done very much good.

That honour and respect is due, and ought to be paid, to the Remains and Memory of such as have been eminently Serviceable, and done much good among their People.

Such are rich blessings while they live, and those whom God is pleased to honour, by furnishing of them, making them Eminent, and p. 4great and good Instruments, in his Providence, all men should honour and acknowledge; which is a clear dictate of natural reason, and strictly just; because exactly agreeable to the reasons and proportion of things. Such ought also to be honoured after their Decease, in such ways as the state of the matter gives room for.

Honour is due to all men on account of the Dignity of human nature, because man was made in the Image of God, 1 Pet. 2.17. Honour all men. A greater degree of honour is due unto rèligious, holy and vertous men; and by how much the more they excel in piety, and shine in vertue, by so much the greater Regard is due unto them, Psal. 15.4. He honoureth them that fear the Lord. But more especial honour still is due to them, who are placed on high, and bear Offices of distinction among Mankind, according to the degree of improvement and exaltation which they are advanced to, 1 Pet. 2.17. Honour the King.; and the greatest honour is due to them who are eminently Serviceable, 1 Tim. 5.17. Let the Elders which rule well, be accounted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour (more abundantly, and exert themselves) in the word and doctrine; neither doth the obligation hereunto cease, when their breath goeth forth; but honour is due to their remains and memory, 2 Chron. 16.13, 14. And Asa slept with his fathers, and they made a very great burning for him. This Doctrine may be considered in two Propositions.

p. 5PROP. I. Some men are eminently Serviceable, and do much good among their People.

There is not a greater diversity and contrariety in the World of things, than there is in the World of men. Some things are very hurtful and destructive to the nature of man, as the poison of Asps; some things are of the middle kind, and do neither good nor hurt; some are salubrious and very serviceable, nourishing, strengthening, restorative, and comfortable.

p. 5So among men, some are very hurtful and pernicious, tyrannical and oppressive, deceitful and unrighteous, turbulent and unpeaceable, vicious and debauch'd; they are of little benefit to mankind, while they live; nor is it any loss to the world, when they die. They seem to be sent in Judgment, and are taken away in mercy; not to themselves, but to mankind. Others are as the Twilight, in the middle between good and evil, useful, and pernicious; they have a being upon the earth; but none are much oblig'd to them, neither have we any great complaint to advance against them, they serve to swell the number of mankind, and this is well nigh all; that they are harmless & inoffensive finisheth their Character.