No. [blank] Westborough January 22, 1775, a.m. on the Death of Rev. John Gardner.

June 10, 1781, p.m. Occasioned by the Death of Rev. Nathan Stone of Southborough.

Rev. II.1 those words—These things Saith He that holdeth the Seven Stars in His Right Hand, who walketh in the Middst of the seven golden Candlesticks.

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I have been lately called by the Sorrowful Providence of God to the important but necessary work of interring and embalming a very aged and worthy minister of Jesus Christ and it causes many very serious Reflections, assistance in which can’t but be very useful and profitable to those who are truely pious; nor know I of any time wherein the words read may be more seasonably discoursed on than now.

May God grant us His gracious Help!

St. John, who by divine Direction wrote these Things had a wonderful Vision of Christ, the particulars of which he relates in the first Chapter of this mysterious Book. In the 12^th verse he tells us he saw 7 golden Candlesticks: which no doubt has allusion to what was in the Tabernacle

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and afterwards in the Temple. In verse 16 it is said that He had in his right Hand 7 starrs. The Number 7 is reckoned a Number of Perfection and the Holy Spirit has made frequent use of it in this Book. Seven starrs, Spirits, Seals, Trumpets, Vials, Thunders; or if it be a definite for an indefinite Number and Signifying many. The Explanation of the meaning and Intention of these must be learnt from the glorious person God himself who says the mystery is thus to be unravelled. “The 7 starrs (which thou sawest in my Right Hand) are the Angels of the 7 Churches; and the 7 Candlesticks which thou sawest, are the 7 Churches.” Christs walking among the Golden Candlesticks is His Presence among the Churches, who are favoured in this regard Spiritually, as the Church of old was visibly; and it intends His Inspection and oversight of them. His holding the Starrs, the Angels, in His Right Hand must certainly betoken no other than His Esteem and His Care, His great Support of them, His Protecting, guarding and defending them and this in some peculiar Manner. It may be worth while to take these Things into our serious Consideration lest we, through unacquaintedness with the matter, thro Carelessness and wickedness, should not think or conduct, as God would have us do. Now then Let us First observe a little more distinctly the Several Things about Churches and Ministers represented by these Emblems;

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and how properly they are called after this manner: Then how Christ walks in the midst of the Candlesticks; and to these I hope to add hereafter, how He holds the starrs in His Right Hand. Upon which we may also have practicall Reflections and Improvements.

I.

First, Concerning the Candlesticks. God appointed the making that glorious one of pure Gold, for the Benefit of the Tabernacle, to be made by Moses in Exod. 25.31. with its 7 Lamps, v. 37, which were to be lit, to give Light. And in imitation hereof Solomon made a Number for the Temple in 1 K. 7.49. The Design of the Candlesticks was to hold up the Light; This is the End and Office of the Churches, to hold forth the Word of God. For this is the true and divine Light. As David sung in Ps. 119.105. “Thy word is a Lamp to my feet, and a Light to my Path.” And Solomon wrote in Prov. 6.23, “For the Commandment is a Lamp, and the Law is Light.” “To this who shall do well if we take heed as to a Light that shineth in a dark place.” 1 Pet. 1.19. The Word is a Depositum or Precious Trust, committed to the Church, and to be solemnly read and preached in it: to be Maintained, Continued and held forth by the ministry therein; and by the holy Lives of the Members thereof, who, by knowledge, Truth and Holiness, are to “shine as Lights in the World, and in their Conversations holding forth the word of Life.” Phil. 2.15.16. This is agreeable to what our Blessed Lord taught in Mat. 5.14. “Ye are the Light of the

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world.” I have something further to observe concerning the Epithet here used, and the Number. As to the Epithet, Golden, this betokens the Preciousness, the Purity, the Admirableness, Agreeableness, and the durableness or Continuance thereof. And with regard to the Number There was but one in the antient Tabernacle, for the Jewish Church was the only Church God then had in the world, but in the Temple which Solomon built there were ten. Prefiguring the great Increase there would be of Churches of the Gentiles in after times; when under the Gospel Dispensation they would be multiplyd greatly. Their [sic] being here said to be seven is with reference probably to the 7 Churches of Asia not that there were certainly no more than 7, but these were the Chief; and there was Something very presagious in them that would point out (as some learned men think) the Complexion of the Times, the Tempers and Dispensations of Providence towards them that should be in after Ages, tho the application to which of the Ages, the Judgement of Divines is different.

We are next to consider how the glorious Christ walked among them which denotes this gracious ondescension to them tho He dwells in Heaven. He is continually mindful of them and vouchsafes His presence with them, inspects them with tender Care and Faithfulness towards them not as an idle or indifferent Spectator of their Frames, their Walk, their Transactions but to approve and rewards, when they de-

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serve it; or reprove, rebuke and punish when their Conduct calls for it.

All which is for the Instruction, Certification and Admonition of the Churches according to all the various Circumstances and Conditions thereof in one Age or Place or another.

1.

First, They should see that they be what they ought to be. Pure, bright, golden—free from the Dust and Rust of Errors, or ill Frames, Scandalls, mis-behaviours to the Dishonor of Christ and to their own Disparagement and Detriment And They may perhaps contract some Spots, be terrifyed or dull—they must brush these off, they must be scoured and burnished that Christ may see them with Pleasure, Shining with the Exercise of divine Graces and Vertues. Every particular member ought to endeavor thus, both for his own part, and for the whole.

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Secondly, They must see that they do well Answer the End and Design of their glorious Author in their Constitution. In Special that they hold forth Light. A Church ought to see to it that it have the bright Light of the Word of God in it. The Scripture itself says it Should be read. Col. 4.16. “Cause that it be read in the Church of the Laodiceans.” The Man of God Moses did. Exod. 24.7, and he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the Audience of the People etc. Saints practiced it. Neh. 8.2.3. “And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the Congregation both of Men and women, and all that could hear with understanding—and he read therein.” It was the constant Custom of the people of God as part of their solemn public worship. Luk. 4.16. and Act. 13.15. “After the Reading the Law and the prophets”—meaning thereby that was the continual Practice to do it.

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But besides the Example of the Apostles, who if they were in a wrong way, would have been Set to rights by the unerring Spirit that directed them. We have the Perfect Pattern of Jesus Christ of whom we read in the holy Gospel of St. Luke, Ch. 4.16, just now referred to, that “as his Custom was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and Stood up for to read.” If we are required to imitate Him, we need not fear being blam’d for doing as He did. But if the Church should unhappily have one that had little of Christ or divine Truth besides in his performances yet if the Scriptures are statedly read, a people may then be sure of having some part of the divine Worship pure and the real mind of God and acceptable to Him. This being certainly divine Inspiration and the Great Standard of all Doctrines and Practices of Religion. Again,

The Candlestick must have in it the Light of the Preaching of the Word of God. Thus ministers are solemnly charged, 2 Tim. 4.1.2, “preach the Word”—and this is the way to convey Light to a benighted, bewildered world. Of John the Baptist Christ said “He was a burning and Shining Light,” for he was a renowned Preacher. Joh. 5.35. Our Lord (who was Himself the Fountain of Light) not only said it to the multitude of His Disciplines, but especially to those whom He intended, and was just about to send forth, to preach; Mat. 5.14. “Ye are the Light of the World.” And this was to convey the Light of divine Knowledge to them. St. Paul was thus Commissioned—“to open mens Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light.” This must be the Concern of Every Church to have in it a bright Light, and that may burn clear. Every thing Should be avoided and prevented that may diminish, cloud or Obstruct

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its shining. But then we must See that the Benefit of the Light be obtained, in the clear Discovery of divine and heavenly Things—the glorious Revelations which the Great Eternal JEHOVAH has made of Himself and His Eternal son, the Ruin, the Misery of Man, and our Recovery and Redemption by Christ, the Means and Methods of Grace, and the Terms of Salvation with what that implys. And accordingly it must be the great Care and Concern of the Church as a pure golden Candlestick, to shine brightly in Holiness and Godliness: in the Exercise of all the Christian Graces and Vertues. Viz. Sincerity, Faith, Love, Meekness, Humility, Patience, Rightness, Spiritual mindedness, Benignity, Benevolence, brotherly kindness, etc.

3.

And to these we shall be excited, if we Consider Thirdly, that Christ, that most adorable Being, Walks in the Middst of us, inspecting, and taking a critical Notice of His Churches, and all their situation, Circumstances, and whatever is among them So that we had need be very Carefull that we do not provoke Him, our Glorious Lord to eclipse, or put out our Light; or as He threatned one of the Church of Asia, Rev. 2.5, to “remove our Candlesticks out of its Place.” Let us then ourselves who are of this Church and Congregation with due Care, impartially view ourselves and See whether we answer the Great Design of God in Constituting and continuing us as a golden Candlestick—that is, to maintain and hold up the Light of true Religion, the true Light of the Gospel pure and Clear according to the divine Revelation without

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fatal Errors and Heresies, without evil, unbecoming Tempers and practices; We must do this in the Sacred Dispensation of the Word; in the Administration of Ordinances of the various kinds, and adhering to the Order of the Gospel according to our Profession. But if we have the external and visible Form agreeable to the Word of God and the first Principles of our Fathers (who by the help of God planted these Churches in this then howling Wilderness) yet how apparent the Defection and Degeneracy now, from those purer and happier times! Surely “the Gold is become dim, the most fine Gold Changed.” Lam.4.1. We may with aking Hearts behold the gloomy Aspects of the present Day; cloudy and terrible by Gods awful impending Judgments and heavier still threatning! At the same time What makes it yet darker and more sorrowful is the Removal of Eminent Persons who have been burning and shining Lights in the Golden Candlesticks, the Churches; but are Extinguished by Death.

The Aged, venerable Mr. John Gardner, late Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of the Church of Christ in Stow, was an excellent Gift of our ascended Lord to that people and continued a great while illuminating them and others round about; but that Light is put out! Laid in the Grave the House appointed for all living; his immortal part is (as we hope) conducted to join the Spirits of the just, made perfect, and to be ever with the Lord!

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He was in his 80^th year, (having been born July 24, 1696, O.S.), was ordained at Stow, Nov. 26, 1718, which makes it to be in the 57^th year of his ministry, when he dyed. When Such Pillars fall, the Fabrick trembles. But the glorious Head of the Church had provided the Bereaved Church there, a successor, in whose Light they and the Neighbourhood Seem to rejoice, and we earnestly wish they may for a great While, and be very happy under his Influence. May the Lord graciously remember His Handmaid, the mournful Relict of the Deceased, under the weight of old Age and Infirmitys, as well as Sorrow! May She be Sustained—and prepared, in Gods time to follow! And may the Children, all of them tho somewhat numerous, yet respectible in Life, be yet greater Blessings, and inherit everlasting Glory. May the Generation of the Just be had in perpetual Remembrance!

As for Us, Let us receive the Admonition and let us be ready for the will of the Lord concerning us. We must do our utmost to approve ourselves according to our Character and Obligations as a pure golden Candlestick, maintaining and holding forth a clear and bright Light of Gospel Doctrine, Spiritual Worship, regular Order, and holy practice; Let us reallize the Presence of Christ, His Walking among us, His Watch and Care over us, and His critical Inspection: Let us always look to Him and depend on Him. Let each of us in Particular, See that in respective stations and Characters we shine with Gifts, Graces, and holy Conduct; and

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II.

Secondly, Christ holds the Starrs in His right Hand. This bespeaks Three Things.

1.

First, that He puts no Small Honour upon them. The Right Hand is the Place of Dignity.

He advances them to Honour in His Church. He committs to them more specially the Care of the Church And vests them with Authority and they are from hence termed Elders, Rulers and overseers—Stewards—Bishops.

The faithful Ministers will be at last placed at Christs Right Hand, in Glory.

2.

Secondly, He shews them Special Favour as they are taken from among Men.

Some Special Promises are made them.

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Thirdly, His Holding them in His Right Hand means that He Protects, Guards and Defends them and will concern Himself peculiarly for them.