Elisha's Lamentation, Upon the Sudden Translation of Elijah

by Obadiah Sedgwick

"And Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more, and he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces."2 Kings 2:12.

In the previous verse, Elijah and Elisha were passing on and talking together, although it is not clear what they were discussing. Some presume to know the details of their conversation, but it is likely that their discourse was fitting for such a great and holy prophet as Elijah. It was probably very beneficial and spiritual since he was about to be taken up into heaven.

While they were talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, along with horses of fire, and separated the two prophets. Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. Peter Martyr believes that the fiery apparition was the angels of God, who appeared as fire. God was pleased to honour Elijah at his departure with this fiery apparition because he had honoured God so much during his life with his zeal for the truth and worship.

The text clearly states that Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. The opinion of the Papists is therefore foolish, who claim that Elijah was taken into Paradise to stay with Enoch until the end of the world, and then both of them will come forth to preach against Antichrist. Elijah went up into heaven, and although it is somewhat debated, the Papists refuse to believe that this zealous enemy of idolatry could have been taken into the blessed heaven. There are three heavens: the airy heaven (where birds fly), the starry heaven (where the stars are), and the heaven of the blessed, where God appears in eminence, Jesus Christ is in glory, and the souls of just men are made perfect. Elijah was carried up to this heaven after all his hard work, suffering, trouble, and faithfulness to receive his reward. Elisha was left behind to continue serving his master.

But how did Elisha react to the sudden departure and loss of Elijah? The text tells us that "Elisha saw it, and he cried, 'My father! My father!'" These words can be considered the Lamentations of Elisha upon the sudden translation of the eminent prophet Elijah. From this, we can discern:

1. His overwhelming grief and sorrow: He cried out until he saw Elijah no more (as Junius and Tremellius read it), and he tore his clothes into two pieces, which was the customary practice in ancient times upon the loss and at the funerals of dear friends and eminent persons.

2. The reasons for his great grief and sorrow: First, his personal loss. The loss of Elijah was to Elisha as the loss of a loving and dear father to a loving and dear child ("My father! My father!"). Just as David once lamented about Absalom, "My son! My son!" so Elisha here mourns for Elijah, "My father! My father! Ah, my father! My father! Oh, I have lost a father, my father, such a father..." The Chaldee interpreter renders it as "Rabbi, Rabbi" (my master, my master), but in Hebrew, it is "Abba, Abba" (my father, my father).

3. The public loss ("The chariot of Israel and its horsemen") As if to say, one of the best instrumental helps and safeties that all Israel enjoyed has now been taken away. The staff and support is broken! What the chariot and horsemen are to an army or state, and what the loss of them means to a state, was the life and loss of this prophet Elijah to all Israel.

There are only two propositions that I will briefly discuss from this text at this time and in relation to this sad occasion.

1. That even the most eminently faithful and zealous prophets of God may be, and will be, taken away from a people. The prophets or ministers of God are of different parts and gifts, spirits, and use and service. They cannot be compared with one another. Some are like stars of the first magnitude, while others are of a lesser magnitude. Some are like cedars, while others are just ordinary trees. Some are more richly and abundantly endowed and equipped, while others are not so, and they are less prominent. Some are vigorously active, and are raised up and laid out for the general advantages and management of religion, yet others are not so. Although all are builders, not all are master builders. They differ greatly in their gifts, graces, services, and usefulness. Nevertheless, they must all agree on one thing: they must all die, and they must all be taken away. Here, in the text, Elijah was taken away. What was he? He was a prophet, and in some sense more than a prophet. He was a prophet of the highest rank, most eminent for his faithfulness and zeal. Noah was known for his uprightness, Moses for his meekness, Job for his patience, Solomon for his wisdom, Joshua for his prowess, Josiah for his tenderness, Elisha for his miracles, and Elijah for his zeal, courage, and faithfulness. All the false prophets were nothing compared to him, nor were Queen Jezebel or King Ahab. Although he felt alone in sustaining the cause of God, he alone remained faithful and zealous. Nevertheless, this holy and excellent man of God was taken away suddenly, and at a very critical time.

2. That the loss of any one eminently faithful and zealous prophet of God should affect the hearts of people with exceeding grief and lamentation. The loss of an eminently faithful and zealous prophet of God should deeply affect the hearts of people, causing them to grieve and lament. Elijah's sudden departure had a great impact on Elisha and the people of Israel. This shows us that the loss of a prophet is a great loss to the people of God. They are valuable instruments in advancing the cause of God on earth, and their sudden departure leaves a void that cannot be easily filled. Their absence is keenly felt, and their memory lingers long after they are gone. The loss of Elijah was a great loss to Israel, and it should serve as a warning to us all to cherish the faithful and zealous servants of God while they are with us.

Zechariah 1:5 reads, "Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?"

No, they do not live forever, and oftentimes not for very long. You may find them in the study for a while, and then in the pulpit, but after a little while, you may find them in their graves. The reasons for this divine dispensation, among many others, are:

1. Even the most faithful prophets of God are stewards for only a time. It must be said of them, as well as others, "You shall be no longer stewards." They have their determined work and their allotted time for that work. Their reward shall be measured by eternity, but their work and life are measured by time. So much work for so much time, and then their Master calls them home. In Scripture, they are sometimes called ambassadors, choice persons sent abroad by a special commission. When they have finished their legation or treaty, they must return back to their prince. The prophets or ministers of God are the ambassadors of God in a special manner, authorised to treat with sinners to be reconciled. Perhaps sinners will hearken unto them and conclude upon terms of saving agreement, perhaps they will not. They have but their time to hearken, and they have but their time to offer and persuade. When that time is expired, the Lord calls them home.

2. They are sometimes called labourers and workmen. The labourer goes forth in the morning and does his day's work. When he has finished, he comes home and takes his rest. Thus it is, and thus it shall be with the best of God's prophets and ministers, who are also called the messengers of God and must return to Him an answer of what they have done and how they have fared.

2. There is a day of recompense for them. Their reward is with the Lord. They are employed by a good master, and as faithful servants have work to do and a reward to receive. There is a prophet's work here and a prophet's reward hereafter. Christ calls it our master's joy, and Paul calls it a crown of righteousness. The faithful and laborious ministers of God, though despised and injured by people on earth, are loved and encouraged by Christ. As they are a means to save others, so they themselves shall be saved and shall shine as the stars forever and ever. They shall be with the Lord forever and shall be blessed eternally.

Therefore, they must die and be taken away, else they cannot take possession of the inheritance reserved for them or the crown laid up for them. In this life, they have the assured hope of eternal blessedness and the first fruits and some tastes of it. However, the full and perfect possession and fruition come only after death. This is why Paul desires to be dissolved and be with Christ.

3. The Lord does this to punish the ingratitude of people who despise, disgrace, and despisefully use His servants, the prophets, and handle them injuriously, with no one to plead for them or right them. Of all the people in the world, the faithful prophets of God do the most good to others and find the worst reception from them.

Jesus Christ charges this unworthy dealing upon Jerusalem, saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee!" Stephen charges it upon them as well, saying, "Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?" Paul complains in 1 Corinthians 4:13, "We are made as the filth of the world and are the off-scouring of all things to this very day." People revile, reproach, oppose, contradict, threaten, and persecute the faithful prophets of God, and those who are most faithful and zealous are the most hated and persecuted.

Now the Lord will not tolerate this ungrateful behavior and injurious treatment towards his faithful servants. He is extremely sensitive to all the evil done to them, all the evil words spoken against them, all the evil counsel and devices taken against them, and all the evil deeds done against them. "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm," says God. "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" says Christ. Therefore, in judgment, he takes away his choice prophets and servants from such an ungracious and ungrateful people, effectively saying to them, "You will not be taught, and you shall not be taught any more, and you will not hearken unto my messengers but mock and despise them. Therefore, they shall speak no more unto you in my name, your house shall be left unto you desolate." "You shall not see me henceforth," said Christ, "till ye shall say, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."

The fourth and last reason why the Lord takes away his most eminently faithful and zealous prophets from a people is to show the people the uncertainty and instability of spiritual opportunities. They are only for a season, which is precious but unsure. They are a short day and a sun that may set at noon. Four things admit much uncertainty: earthly possessions and comforts, gracious motions of the Spirit of God working upon our spirits, the day of grace, our Gospel day wherein Christ reveals himself and offers himself, mercy, peace, and salvation, and our life itself.

4. The fourth reason is that the lives, efforts, and labours of the Prophets and Ministers of God are all fleeting and uncertain. Today the Minister may live and preach, but tomorrow he may be sick and die. You cannot say that even the best Minister on earth will be with us forever, or for a long time, or even for a week or a day. Such instability exists not only in our outward comforts but also in our spiritual supports. There is much wisdom in God's contingency, as it serves to awaken people from carnal security and presumption, carelessness and neglect, and to stir and quicken them to heavenly seriousness and wise carefulness, both to know the day of their visitation and to improve the light while they enjoy it.

There are two works upon which all spiritual uncertainties (in friends or ministers) should prompt us.

1. One is to value what is present, for there is no certainty except in what is present, which is ours, and nothing else. The present sermon and the present offer of Christ are ours, so we should value what is present because the future is uncertain.
2. Another is to act with all our power, to do as much in a little time as others do in a long time. We should strive and treasure up in a short time as fervently and diligently as if we had no more time.

Because there is an uncertainty in the lives of God's Prophets, people should listen to their teachings and guidance with all their strength. Hear them as if you will never hear them again, and learn from them as if you will never speak with them again. More on this is included in the following uses:

Does God translate even an Elijah? Does he take away the most eminently faithful and zealous Prophets? This brings a double message: one to Ministers and one to the People.

Firstly, to Ministers: do not waste time, do not stand idle, but get up and do the work of your Master. Do not complain about your pain, weaknesses or illness, but spend your energy preaching and teaching, offering guidance and comfort, and building up the work of the Lord. As the religious and wise Calvin said, who had spent himself to the bone with prayer, study, preaching and writing, "I desire that when my Master comes, He should find me working." Likewise, Reynolds, learned and pious, refused to waste time and focused on the end of his life, valuing it more than anything else.

Brethren! You also have only your lifetime to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, to save your own souls, and to save the souls of those who hear you. Your work is more unpredictable than that of other men. If you are impartially faithful and zealous, you will undoubtedly encounter discouragement and opposition from all kinds of ungodly people. If they cannot stop your words, they will still try to break your hearts. Moreover, your constant studies, diligent work, public preaching, private discussions and other tasks will weaken your spirits, exhaust your lungs, sap your strength, and hasten your death.

However, the Lord will eventually take you away, and perhaps without warning. Therefore, remain diligent, remain hard-working, remain faithful, remain zealous, and remain wise in giving each servant his proper portion. Blessed is the servant who, when his Master arrives, finds him doing the work of the Lord. Such a servant will hear the welcome, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

Secondly, to the People: knowing that their faithful Prophets and Ministers will eventually leave them, let them remember two things for their own part.

1. Let them encourage faithful and zealous Prophets, who do enjoy them: Oh, do not kill them, break their hearts, and thrust them into their graves by ignoring them, insulting them, quarrelling with them, troubling them, remaining ignorant, unproductive, and unfruitful, or by being obstinate, disobedient, hardened, and unbelieving. No, by no means, but honour them, love them, treat them kindly, pray for them, and encourage them as much as possible. Sirs, they pity your souls, watch over them, pray for them, study and weep, and preach to save them. Therefore, show them love for love, care for care, and respect for respect. They give you bread, do not give them stones. They bring you mercies, do not curse them. They attend to your salvation, peace, and comfort, do not repay their good with evil, but give them good in return.

2. Improve their current survival, and your own current freedom. Oh, it is a bad attitude to praise the dead but not value the living, to speak highly of the many virtues and sayings of dead Ministers but not value or use the efforts and contributions of those who are living and preaching to us. But let us be wiser. Here, Elisha is found traveling and conversing with Elijah before he is taken away. Now you may hear your Ministers instructing and persuading you, but soon you will never see or hear them again. Now you can go to them, share your doubts, reveal your soul's needs and ailments, seek their counsel, follow their directions, receive their instructions, and take comfort from them. But soon they are changing, weakening, dying, and passing away, and can never again be instrumental to your souls!

Do not miss your opportunity, and do not miss your spiritual opportunity: Every faithful and godly minister is like a garden in the springtime, and the people should be like bees, flying every day to the flowers in that garden, to suck out the honey, and carry it home to the hive.

You can now receive counsel, direction, and satisfaction about the condition of your souls, which may stick with you all the days of your life.
Remember, it will be a heavy judgement if you make no use of your faithful ministers, and it will cut you to the heart when your ministers are dead (and can no longer be of use to you) that you made so little use of them while they were living, that you traded so lightly, that you have been such strangers to them, that you did not enrich your souls by them. O that people who enjoy able and faithful ministers were (then) possessed of two graces: one is of humility, to see their own wants; the other is of wisdom, to see their season for the supply of them. Why is there a price put into the hand of a fool seeing he has no heart to make use of it?

Thus, I have finished the first proposition; namely, that even the most eminently faithful and zealous prophets of God may be, and will be taken away from a people. I now proceed to the second proposition, which is this:
That the loss of any one eminently faithful and zealous prophet of God should affect the hearts of the people of God with much grief and lamentation. (My father, my father; the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!)

When Moses, that eminent prophet, died (There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses), the children of Israel wept for him in the plains of Moab for thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. When Samuel, that faithful and eminent prophet, died, what mourning and lamentation were made for him? Samuel died, and all the Israelites were gathered together and lamented him.

Similarly, you read of Stephen. Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentations over him.

There are three things that concern us when God takes away any faithful servants of His.

1. One is a serious consideration of the hand of God in this: For though their death be a mercy unto them, (Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord:* And precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints.)* yet their death may be a Judgement to us. As a Godly Minister's Life and Doctrine is either in Remedy, or in Judgement; either they are the Savour of life unto life, or they are the Savour of death unto death: So the loss of them is certainly an advantage to themselves, and ordinarily it is a Judgement and punishment unto a people: And therefore we should not lightly pass over their death, but consider, and lay such strokes of God to our hearts,* The living will lay it to his heart: Surely he should, surely he will.
    
2. The second is a prudent reflection upon ourselves; what there is in ourselves which has contributed to so great a loss: For not only diseases in a Minister, but also sins in a people may have a great hand to take away the life of their Minister: and therefore there is reason for us to reflect and search. In every ordinary loss that befalls us, we should search our hearts, and try our ways, and say, Why is this evil come upon us? much more should this be done when a Spiritual loss befalls us:* When the Lord takes away from us the staff and the stay, the Judge and the Prophet. When he smites the Shepherd, and the Sheep are likely to be scattered; when he removes his Angels from his Churches. Now is it a time to stand still, and to gather ourselves together, and to say, what have we been? and what have we done? how have we walked? what has been our deportment under the Gospel? what our answerableness thereto? has not our unthankfulness, has not our barrenness, has not our disregard, has not our disobedience caused the Lord to make this breach? to take away the light from us?
    
3. The third is a mournful Lamentation; we should be very sensible of such a loss: yea, in some proportion to the kind and greatness of it: For as the enjoyment of an eminently faithful Prophet (or Pastor) is an exceeding blessing (it is promised amongst the chiefest of mercies,* I will give them Pastors after mine own heart, and thine eyes shall see thy Teacher.) So the death of such a one is an exceeding loss, and consequently requires exceeding Grief and Lamentation.

There are six great losses, and do you judge whether they are not so.

1. The first is the loss of a soul, how great is that loss? All is lost if that is lost.
2. The second is the loss of true religion, and the glory is departed from Israel when that is gone.
3. The third is the loss of God's smiling favour and presence. When that withdraws, then the sun is set, and it is night, and darkness, and fear, and trouble with the soul.
4. The fourth is the loss of peace in conscience. Now begins the wars and tumults, and the bones are broken.
5. The fifth is the loss of the Gospel. Now the gates of heaven are shut up, and the worst of famines seizes our souls.
6. The sixth is the loss of faithful Prophets and Ministers of God. Now the stones are fallen, and the shields of the earth are fallen, and the interpreters, the men of thousands, and the watchmen set upon the towers and bulwarks are cut off. And the ambassadors of Christ and of peace are called home, and the servants and furtherers of our salvation are discharged.

Now the more that any loss borders upon souls and upon salvation, the more heavy and sharp is that loss, and we should be much afflicted and troubled with that loss.

Q. But some may ask, why all this fuss? Why are we crying out and mourning so much over the loss and death of faithful and zealous Prophets? What makes them so special compared to other people, that we must make such a commotion over them? They are just a group of busy and troublesome individuals, the troublemakers of society.

Sol. That is exactly what Ahab said about the gracious and zealous Elijah, a man who had sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord. Ahab said to Elijah, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" But let us not listen to the words of slanderers. There are two reasons in the text why we should mournfully lament the death of faithful Ministers or Prophets of God; one reason concerns the people of God, who were in a relationship with them as children are to a father, and the Prophets were in a relationship with them as fathers are to children; and the other reason concerns the public civil state.

1. In relation to the relationship between Faithful Ministers and a People.

Their relationship is that of a father and children (as Elisha cries out, "My father, my father" here), and truly, this relationship involves more love and grief than any other relationship. When Joseph buried his father Jacob, they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation. Now, every faithful Prophet or Minister of God is a Father to the saints or people of God.

1. For Spiritual Generation: Under God, he is a Spiritual Father and begets them again by the Gospel. The Apostle expresses this in several places, such as 1 Corinthians 4:15, "Though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." The Minister is an instrument or means used by God for their new birth. So also in Philemon verse 10, speaking of Onesimus, whom Paul had begotten in his bonds.
    
2. For loving and tender affection: A father does not love his natural child more than the faithful Minister loves those whom he has begotten unto Christ. God said to Abraham, "Take thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest" (Genesis 22:2). The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth (2 John 1). So also Paul to the Corinthians, apologizing for himself in not being burdensome unto them, "Wherefore? Because I love you not?" (2 Corinthians 11:11). Paul asks, "Do you think that the reason for my forbearance is the lack of love in me toward you? God knows that I love you." In fact, the love of benevolence in a faithful Minister toward his people is so great that he is contented for a while to delay his own eternal salvation and happiness so that he may be a little more helpful and useful unto his people. You can read about this prevalent affection explicitly in the Apostle Paul.

Philippians 1:23. I am in a dilemma, torn between the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better for me, and the need to remain in the flesh for your sake. Verse 24. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.

The Apostle's dilemma was about his own personal interest and their common spiritual good. If I die, I will gain by being with Christ. But then you will lose, and I will no longer be with you to serve and further your faith and joy. Well, he says, I am willing to live a little longer for the beneficial service of your souls rather than depart immediately and enjoy my happiness with Christ. What a love this was!

3. For care and watchfulness; How careful is the father for his children? Children are the uncertain comforts and the certain cares of their parents. And how watchful is the father for the good of his children and against any evil that they may fall into? They counsel them, they look after them, they follow them with their tears and with their many prayers. This likewise applies to the faithful ministers of God. They naturally care for the welfare of their people. Philippians 2:20. As if they were led thereunto by inward bowels and by a natural instinct. And they are watchful for them and over them. Hebrews 13:17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls. Ah, brethren! When you are sleeping, they are watching. When you are minding your trades, then are they studying your salvation. When you are following your delights, then are they mourning and praying for your souls. They are caring and watching how to get your hearts changed, how to bring in your souls to Christ, how to get your sins mortified, your temptations answered, your doubts resolved, your consciences settled and comforted. They fear in your fears and are troubled in your troubles. They mourn in your sorrows, they rejoice in your peace, etc.

4. For all the roles and responsibilities of a Father: You read in Scripture of the various duties of a Father. Firstly, instruction and guidance. Secondly, rebuke and correction. Thirdly, compassion and comfort. Fourthly, provision and expenses. In all of these, every faithful and zealous Minister of God abundantly appears and puts forth himself: He instructs the ignorant, guides the doubtful, warns and rebukes the unruly, pities the weak, comforts those that are downcast, provides food of all kinds for his people, milk for the babies and solid food for the mature: He pours himself out, spends and is spent; he spends all his received treasure and stock of spiritual goods among them; he is grieved if his children walk unworthily of the Gospel, and nothing brings him more joy than seeing them walking in the truth and prospering in Christ. As his first great desire is to match each one of them with Christ, so his next great endeavor is that they may abound in all the fruits of righteousness that come through Jesus Christ.

Now consider what the loss of such a person is: It is sad to lose such a faithful friend as Jonathan and such a loving and tender Father as Jacob was; much more sad and heavy is it to lose such a Father whom God has made an instrument to regenerate our souls, to rescue us from the power of darkness, to bring us to Jesus Christ and to salvation through him. When a person can say of a Minister, "had not the Lord sent such a one, I might have been damned, I might have continued in my sinful cursed ways and perished forever," but by his ministry, the Lord opened my eyes, awakened my conscience, showed me my sins and all my spiritual misery, humbled and broke my heart, and directed me in the way of salvation through Christ, and since then, my soul has been refreshed with the joys and comforts of the Holy Spirit. Besides all this, I have received special guidance for my walk, singular help against doubts, fears, and temptations, and more. Truly, the loss of such a Minister, such a Father, will distress us, melt us, and make our hearts mourn and lament.

2. In respect of the Public Civil State.

To the Public Civil State, faithful and zealous Prophets of God are like the chariots and horsemen of Israel. Some translate the words as "the chariots of Israel and its horsemen." Faithful and zealous Prophets of God are not only useful and serviceable for the spiritual state of people's souls, but also for the temporal interest of a Civil State. Micah said, "Now I know that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my Priest." I dare confidently affirm that faithful Ministers of God are not a curse and detriment to a Nation, but rather a blessing and a strength and safety to it. In fact, let me speak the truth: they are of more strength and safety than all chariots and horsemen.

There is some strength to a nation by wise counsellors, unity and concord at home, and confederations abroad. However, the greatest strength of a state (under God) lies in faithful and zealous Prophets, and in faithful and godly persons.

You may ask, how can this be? What are they but a company of weak and commonly despised men? What good can they do for a Civil State?

It is true that they are weak and despised men in the world, yet it was the poor man (whom no man remembered) who, by his wisdom, delivered the City. And you read that by a Prophet, the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a Prophet, he preserved them. I can demonstrate, with a few arguments, that faithful and zealous Ministers of God are the greatest strength and safety to a Nation.

1. There is no greater strength and safety for a people than this, that God owns them and God is present with them. The greatest people on earth are nothing if the Lord leaves them and departs from them. Therefore, Moses said to the Lord, "If your presence goes not with us, carry us not hence." In other words, Lord, we are nothing without your presence. We cannot be self-sufficient, nor can we be a safety to ourselves at all. Your presence is all in all to us and for us.

But the faithful and zealous Prophets (or Ministers) of God are a special means of God's presence with a people, which may appear in the following ways:

1. They are a means to engage a people to God, to bring their hearts to Him and to acknowledge and worship Him only. We see this in Elijah, who brought back the hearts of the people of Israel to the Lord, and they cried out, "The Lord is God, the Lord is God!"

2. They are a means to keep the worship of God and His ordinances pure. As long as a people own God and preserve His worship and ordinances pure among them, God is present with them, who is their only rock and safety.

3. They are the special instruments that God uses to keep a people from sin and to bring them to repentance in case of sinning. They warn and threaten them from the Lord, and testify and cry aloud against their transgressions. They do not allow them to go on in wickedness but strive with them, exhort them daily, and press upon them all sorts of arguments from judgments and mercies to cease to do evil, to learn to do well, to forsake their evil ways, and to turn to the Lord. This we find in Scripture and in experience, and therefore they are the most eminent means of safety for a people.

Beloved, it is our sins, and they only, that are the fountains of all our miseries. Our sinful evils bring upon us all our miserable evils. "Thy ways and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness," i.e., the fruit and effect thereof. And if sins are removed, then miseries are removed, and all danger is over. God is again well pleased and returns with loving kindness and much prosperity to a people, as we can read in the times of the Judges and of the Kings.

4. They are the choicest instruments that God uses to teach a people His will and ways. By them, God makes known His laws, statutes, and ways. "This is the way, walk ye in it; in these paths, you shall find rest unto your souls." By them, God keeps a people in His ways. They are the instruments used by God to keep a people upright and steadfast in walking before Him.

And this is the strength and safety of a nation: Only God's ways are ways of safety, and as long as a people walks in his ways, he will be their protection, their shield, their rock, their strength, their God, and their savior.

4. Faithful and zealous prophets of God are of great use and benefit to the leaders of a nation, if they are willing to accept them. They have been known to convert wicked governors and keep others on the right path, as you can read about Jehoash, who did what was right in the sight of the Lord all his days, with instruction from Jehoiada the priest. These prophets deal with governors plainly, conscientiously, seriously, and earnestly. They tell them about their sins, just as they do with others. They make known to them all of God's intentions and will regarding them, and encourage godliness in them. They urge them to be zealous for God, his truth, and his ways, and not to provoke God in the land.

This is of great strength and safety for a nation. A people's misery often stems from the iniquity of its rulers, and its happiness is linked to the godliness of its rulers. If rulers have right judgments in the things of God, if they love God in their hearts, if they make a conscious effort to follow in the ways of God, if they become tender to the honor of God, and if they acknowledge and encourage the power and practice of godliness, then such rulers are a singular blessing and a means of manifold blessings for the people. Faithful and zealous prophets are therefore a significant strength and safety for a nation, who are special helpers for all those gracious qualities in those who govern a nation.

5. I can add one more thing to support this claim. Faithful prophets pray fervently for a civil state, and their prayers are powerful. Samuel, for instance, said, "Gather all Israel together to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to the Lord," and the Lord heard his prayer, which helped discomfit the host of the Philistines. Similarly, when there was a severe drought in the land of Israel, Elijah prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its fruits. His prayer helped preserve the land. Many more examples can be given, but I must hurry to apply all this to ourselves.

Is it justifiable to grieve and lament over the death and loss of any faithful and zealous Prophet of God? Then how much more should we mourn and feel sorrowful for the death and loss of many eminently faithful and zealous Prophets of God? Recently, we have lost many precious servants of Christ, many faithful labourers in his vineyard. I fear that we have not taken these losses to heart, as it is said in Isaiah 57:1, "The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and merciful men are taken away, and no man considereth that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come." To me, there are four sad signs of some future evil, and they are:

1. The great indifference about the great truths of Christ.
2. The great lack of the power of godliness in the land, with superstition and profanity still prevailing.
3. The great disrespect towards the Ministers of the Gospel.
4. The great disregard for the death of many choice Prophets and Servants of God, with some considering their life as a burden and their death as a reason for rejoicing.

When Metullus heard of the death of Scipio Africanus, he ran out into the public forum and cried, "O citizens, come ye forth, and consult what is to be done, for the walls of your city are fallen down." Surely, there is a matter of deep thought and sorrow in these solemn dispensations of God of late. It is one thing for a husbandman to pull out the weeds in the garden, but it is another to pluck up the flowers and the choice plants. It is one thing for him to take away the rotten hedge, but it is another to break down the walls about the vineyard. To take off a tile from the top of the house is nothing, but to take away the pillars is a significant change indeed. We read that when Noah, that preacher of righteousness, was taken into the ark, then the flood followed. Seldom does God gather his prophets in clusters without some great evil near to a people. Nevertheless, people are generally secure, stupid, and foolish, even though God strikes them in one of the choicest blessings he bestows on the sons of men. They see loss upon loss and death upon death. Here, a minister is dead, and there, a minister is carried to his grave. Usually, this is all the fruits of it. "Is such a one dead?" people ask. "How long was he sick? Whereof did he die? What has he left his poor wife and children?" "It is great pity," they say. "The man was an honest man and preached well." And here is all.

Now, to those who are careless, cold, and dull, especially if they had any connection with faithful and hardworking Ministers, I have four things to say.

1. It shows that you never truly loved them as individuals. Despite your compliments and claims, you never truly loved them. Among all emotions, love is the most perceptive and sensitive. It takes great delight when it enjoys something, and it feels great sorrow when it loses it. Love is very aware of what it has and what it loses.

2. It shows that you never valued their Ministry. If you make so little of their death, then you must have made very little of their life. Emotions are most visible and evident upon death. Absence, challenges, oppositions, and death are tests and proofs of true love. Therefore, if you can bear the loss of your faithful Ministers so lightly, then you never knew their worth and the role they played as Ministers of Christ.

3. It shows that you never received any spiritual benefits from them. If you had, your hearts would have been attached to them in life, and at the very least, you would have shed a tear for them in death. Their death would have immediately reminded you of all the heavenly counsels, timely guidance, spiritual satisfaction, and sweet comfort of God that you received from them. At such times, you would remember what they said at certain sermons, meetings, or conferences and how you would never see them or consult with them again. Such thoughts would melt your heart.

4. It shows that God has taken away your faithful Ministers in Judgment due to your lack of love for the Truth and your disregard and neglect of the means of Grace. For this, you must give a severe account to God. Let me tell you that for every faithful Minister you have heard and every heavenly sermon you have heard or should have heard, the more severe your account will be to God, and the more dreadful God's Judgments will be upon you for your ingratitude and unprofitability. I agree that Prophets die, but remember that a people's account for the pains and efforts of those Prophets never die but remain on record as evidence against you.

The next point is for all of us here today, and especially for those who are personally affected by our great loss. We must deeply feel and mourn this huge gap that God has made and this significant loss that has suddenly and unexpectedly befallen us. Who among us, when we saw and heard that precious Minister of Christ at the beginning of last week, would have thought we would hear of his death towards the end of the same week? Who could have imagined that such a treasure as he, who preached about laying up treasure in heaven, would be taken away from earth and himself be laid up in heaven so suddenly?

It is not easy for me to speak about this Prophet and the many losses within this one loss, as I knew him well, respected him highly, and loved him deeply. I will only say this of him: I have not known anyone who was so sincere in heart, so wise in judgment, so diligent in studies, so frequent and powerful in preaching, so hardworking with and useful to his congregation, so able to convince those who opposed him, so zealous in defending the truths of Christ, so suitable for all ministerial services (in addition to his personal and domestic godliness) in his time.

He was truly another Elijah. Let me compare them a little: How zealous was Elijah against the false prophets of Baal? How hardworking was Elijah in bringing the people of Israel back to the true God and worship? How brave and resolute was Elijah in delivering God's message even to King Ahab's face? How sharp was he with Ahaziah for sending messengers to Baalzebub, the god of Ekron? How fervent and powerful in prayer? How diligently he worked until his dying day? How sudden was his removal and departure? All of Elijah's spirit, and much more of it, was found in him.

If you consider the prominent gifts and graces that appeared in him and how seriously, humbly, and skillfully he used them for the glory of Christ and the service and benefit of the Church of Christ, we have reason to lament the loss of such a Prophet and cry out, "My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen!"

But I will not speak of him any further, nor to you about him. His death has clearly made a deep and widespread impression on your hearts. All that remains to be said is addressed to you, his listeners, and especially to you, his former congregation. There are four things that I would briefly offer to you:

1. Grieve in a spiritual way, and on spiritual grounds, that God has deprived you of such a spiritual pastor, helper, and comforter.

2. Remember and keep those soul-saving truths which you have so often heard from him, and wisely apply them in all your occasions. When Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha took up the cloak that fell from him and made use of it. So take up all those gracious instructions which fell from him in his life, and make use of them now after his death. Keep them alive, and you will find him still living.

3. Hold fast to the sound words which he delivered to you from Christ, and as you have received them, walk in them. Do not let your steadfastness die now that he is gone.

4. Most humbly and earnestly strive with the Lord, through fasting and prayer, that since it is His will to take Elijah away from you, He would be pleased in His love and mercy to give you an Elisha in his place.

FINIS.