CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹Now let us consider, Why Gods love doth not immediately take the godly out of this world; for seeing God loveth them, and they love God, we should think, that love would not rest, till it had the nearest conjunction that could be.

1. 1Quest. Why God doth not presently take his beloved ones to himself out of this world of sin and sorrow

In this matter, we may give several Reasons:

First, Because there is a necessity of the presence of godly men in the world, that they may promote the Kingdom of God, and bring others to the knowledge of God. This is especially true of the Apostles,¹ as Apostles, and so of all those that have any Office and Ministry in the Church of God. These are as necessary as the Sun to the world, as the Stars in a dark night, as salt to season and preserve from putrefaction, and even all believers in a private way are to use their gifts for the reducing of others; and by their examples to give such a glorious light, that others may glorify God in the day of their visitation, but this doth principally relate to them, as Apostles, had they been immediately carried up to Heaven, where would have been the leaven put into the three pecks of meal? Where the mustard-seed sown, that would grow up into a great Tree? If the Apostles were the Planters and Founders of the Church, it was necessary that they should continue for some time in the world; The world was a wilderness, that could not immediately be made a garden; It was the Devils habitation, he could not suddenly be disposest: So that God having service for his people to do, no wonder if they must continue in this valley of misery. Paul speaks fully to this