ii
BX 9339 .S52 1862 v. 5
Sibbes, Richard, 1577-1635
The complete works of
Richard Sibbes, D.D
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive
in 2009 witii funding from
Princeton Tlieological Seminary Library
http://www.arcliive.org/details/completeworkso05sibb
NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES.
PUKITAN PEEJOD.
TOtlj (SciTcral f rtface
By JOHN C. MILLER, D.D.,
LINCOLN COLLEGE ; BONOBABY CANON OF WOBCLSTEB J BECTOB Ot ST MAETIU'S, BIBUINGUAM.
THE
WORKS OF EICHARD SIBBES, D.D.
VOL. V.
COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION.
W. LINDSAY ALEXANDEE, D.D., Professor of Theology, Congregational
Union, Edinburgh.
JAMES BEGG, D.D., Minister of Newington Free Church, Edinburgh.
THOMAS J. CKAWFOKD, D.D., S.T.P., Professor of Divinity, University.
Edinburgh.
D. T. K. DRUMMOND, M.A., Minister of St Thomas's Episcopal Church,
Edinburgh.
WILLIAM H. GOOLD, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature and Church
History, Eeformed Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh.
ANDREW THOMSON, D.D., Minister of Broughton Place United Presby-
terian Church, Edinburgh.
©ftwal ffiiitor.
REV. THOMAS SMITH, M.A., Edinbuegh.
THE COMPLETE WOKKS
RICHARD SIBBES, D.D.,
MASTER OP CATHERINE HALL, CAMBRIDGE ; PREACHER OF GRAy's INN,
LONDON.
BY THE REV. ALEXANDER BALLOCH GROSART,
(cor. MEMB. SOC. ANTIQ. of SCOTLAND)
KINROSS.
VOL. V.
CONTAINING
EXPOSITIONS AND TREATISES FROM PORTIONS OF
SEVERAL OF THE EPISTLES OF ST PAUL,
VIZ : —
THE CHRISTIAN WORK OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
EXPOSITION OF PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT
THE POWER OF CHRISt's RESURRECTION THE HIDDEN LIFE
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL
THE christian's END CHRISt's EXALTATION PURCHASED BY HUMILIATION
THE LIFE OF FAITH SALVATION APPLIED A FOUNTAIN SEALED
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
EDINBURGH: JAMES NICHOL.
LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO. DUBLIN: W. ROBERTSON.
M.DCCO.LXin.
EBiNBintoH :
PBINTED BT JOHN OREIQ AN1> SON,
OLD PHTSIO OABDRNS.
p^mt-
^M
l^f'u^VT^FiX/-'^^^
PREFATORY NOTE.
The present volume contains the whole of Sibbes's remaining
Expositions and Treatises based upon portions of the Epistles of
St Paul. The single sermons, from Pauline texts, not already
included, will be given in Volume VII., along with those from other
passages of Scripture, all of which it is proposed to place together
therein. A. B. G.
CONTENTS.
Page
THE CHEISTIAN WOEK. .... i-34
Epistles Dedicatory and Prefatory. . . . 3-5
Notes. ....... 34
OF THE PKOVIDENCE OF GOD. • • • 35-54
Notes. ....... 54
EXPOSITION OF PHILIPPIANS m. • • • ^5
Notes. ....... 152-154
THE EEDEMPTION OF BODIES. ... 155
Epistles Dedicatory and Prefatory. . . . 157-160
Note 173
VI
CONTENTS.
Page
THE AET OF CONTENTMENT. ... 175
1. God's children know what it is to want and to abound
by experience. ..... 178
2. God's children know how to carry themselves comfortably
in any condition. . . . . 178
A Christian can either want or abound without tainting
himself with the sins of those conditions. . 179
3. A Christian is an able man. . . . 181
Eight use of infirmities. .... 184
The case of a sin of infirmity lived in. . . 184, 185
Christianity a busy trade. .... 185
The trial of a sincere Christian's estate is universality of
obedience. ..... 185
What it is to do things evangelically. . . 187
4. The original of a Christian's estate is in Christ. . 189
5. We have in Christ, not only a general ability that we
are able, but we have the very act itself, the deed itself. 190
The skill to fetch strength from Christ. , . 192
Notes. ....... 193
THE POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
195-201
THE HIDDEN LIFE.
203-218
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. •
Epistles Dedicatory and Prefatory.
Notes. . . . .
219-247
221-224
247, 248
THE PRIVILEaES OF THE FAITHFUL.
Notes .....
249-284
285
THE CHRISTIAN'S END.
Notes. .
287-322
322
CHRIST'S EXALTATION PURCHASED BY HUMILIATION. S23
The coherence of the text. . . . . .325
CONTENTS.
The text divided.
Christ's death was voluntary. .
That Christ should die is admirable.
That Christ rose again as a public person.
What became of those that rose with him.
The Spirit in heaven will supply all wants.
Justice must be satisfied.
Why we are the Lord's.
Excellent inferences from Christ's resurrection
What a Lord Christ is.
He is a Lord both of quick and dead. .
God doth all to some good ends.
Divine ti'uths depend on one another. .
Christ's Lordship full of security and comfort.
In the Lord's Supper we have to deal with the Christ, the Lord
A Christian man's aim good.
Christ rose to be Lord of the living.
He died to be Lord of his church.
And to be Lord of his enemies.
And to make good what by death he got.
His lordship eternal both over the living and the dead
How great a happiness to be under the Lord Christ.
Comforts against the fear of death.
We must look to Christ in life and death.
When we live to Christ.
Directions for our aiming at Christ in all things
Helps to live to Christ.
Divers desire him as Jesus but not as Christ,
What it is to die to Christ.
Christ's dying implies duty in us.
Abilities to do duties part of the covenant.
A sign to know who is under Christ's government
Christ's Lordship, assurance of our perseverance.
What will make us willing to die.
There is more than an exemplary good in Christ's death
The scope of Christ's humiliation and exaltation.
The study of this scope is good.
By what title Christ is Lord. .
Divers comforts from this title of Christ's Lordship
An honour to be under Christ's Lordship.
It is great security to be under it.
Christ's Lordship a spring of duties, and that,
1. One to another. 2. To those that are not Christians
3. To Christ himself.
We must give up ourselves to this Lord.
Christ's Lordship a stop against sin.
It is also a comfort in affliction.
Whether Christ by dying merited for himself.
Christians must be always projecting for his glory.
Christ's Lordship comfortable in the hour of death.
Notes. .....
Page
326
326
327
327
327
328
329
329
330
330, seq.
331, 337
331
332
333
335
335
336
336
337
337
337
337
338
388, seq.
338, 339
340
340
341
341
342
343
343, seq.
344
345
345
345
346
346
347, seq.
348
349
349, seq.
350
351
351
352
354
354
355,356
Vlll CONTENTS.
Page
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 357
Shewing —
That there is a bettei* life than a natural life. . . 360
The life of faith in our effectual calling. . . . 862
,, 5, in justification, what it is and how known 363
,, ,, in sanctification — trials of it. . . 367—371
,, ,, in glorification — signs of it. . . 373
Evidence of a man in the state of grace, notwithstanding God
in desertion appears his enemj'. .... 374
How to live by faith — 1. In our daily afflictions. . . 375
2. In sickness of body . . 375
3. In disgraces and reproaches among
men. .... 375
4. In our particular places and calling. 376
5. For provision and protection in this
life. .... 377
6. For our children. . . 377
7. In prosperity. . . . 378
8. In God's ordinances. . . 379
9. In our combats with sin and Satan. 379
10. So as we may persevere unto the
end. . . . .380
Note. ....... 384
SAI.VATION APPLIED. 385
Doctrines : —
1. That Christ loves some with a superabundant, peculiar
love. ....... 387
2. True Faith doth answer this particular love and gift
of Christ by applying it to itself. . . . 391
3. That assurance of God's favour doth spring from this
particular faith. ..... 393
One may be in the state of grace without this assur-
ance, especially in the new-birth pangs. . . 395
Trial of sincerity herein. .... 396
Why some want feeling and sense of mercy so long. . 397
4. This particular faith in obedience to Christ, with assurance
of his particular love, is that which carries us comfortably
along, even to the day of death. . . . 397
God's love to us inflames us with love to him again. 399
A trial of true grace when the reflect act of faith is
hindered. ..... 400
Trial of Christ's love to us. . . . .402
How to know that we have this particular assurance. 404
In some cases we must be censured by others, not our-
selves, concerning our condition. . . . 406
Note. ....... 408
CONTENTS.
IX
Page
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. ' 409
Epistle Dedicatory, . . . . . .411
Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.
The Holy Ghost, why called a Spirit. .... 412
Why holy 413
From the apostle's dissuasion, these four presupposed truths —
1. That the Holy Ghost is in us. . . . 413
2. And is as a guide to us. . . . . 414
3. The best of us are apt to grieve him. . . 414
4. Therefore we should be careful of it. . . 414
§ 1. Of grieving the Spirit :
I. What it is to grieve the Spirit ; how the Spirit worketh
in us. . . . . . . 414
II. Wherein do we especially grieve the Spirit.
[1.] In ourselves, and that in these particulars.
(1.) In walking contrary to and in neglecting of its
motions and comforts, seeking comfort from the
flesh. ...... 416
(2.) By unkindness; the sins of professors, and those
that have most acquaintance with the Spirit,
grieve most. . . . . . 417
(3.) By presumptuous sins; sins against knowledge of
two sorts ; why voluntary sins are so great, and
grieve the Spirit so much ; the reason why sins of
the second table grieve most ; upon divers respects
the same sort of sins may grieve more and less. 417, 418
(4.) By worldliness, and paying tribute to the flesh. . 419
(5.) Abusing spiritual things to our own ends, and
fathering the works of the flesh upon the Spirit. 420
(6.) By sins against the gospel ; slighting ordinances. 420
(7.) By false judgment of things. . . . 421
(8.) Sins plotted and contrived. . . . 421
(9.) By not using the helps we have. . . 421
(10.) Cavilling against the truth. . . . 422
(11.) By doing duty in our own strength. . . 422
(12.) Thrusting ourselves into overmuch worldly em-
ployment; whence. .... 422
(13.) Omission or slight performance of duty. . 422
[2.J In many other ways, as —
(1.) Neglecting the grace in them. . . . 423
(2.) Sharp censures. .... 423
(3.) Superiors by unjust commands. . . ; 423
(4.) Inferiors by intractableness. . . . 423
(5.) By evil examples. .... 424
TTT. How we may know when we have grieved the Spirit,
and what is the danger of it. ... 424, seq.
How far a child of God may grieve the Spirit. . . 425
Of the sin against the Holy Ghost, and a twofold mis-
carriage about it in censuring. . . . 425, 426
IV. What course we should take to prevent grieving the
Spirit, in divers rules. .... 426
X CONTENTS.
Page
[1.] Give yourself up to the government of it. . . 426
[2.] Subject constantly to the Spirit's motions ; they are
known from other motions. . . . 426
(1.) By a special strength in them, by which they are
raised to higher ends. .... 427
(2.) By their constancy. .... 427
(3.) They proceed from a changed heart. . . 427
(4.) They are seasonable. .... 427
(5.) A self-evidence in them. . . . 427
(6.) Orderly, in respect of both tables of the law. . 427
(7.) Dependent upon God. .... 427
[3. J Join and co-operate with the Spirit.. . . 427
[4.] Turn motions into resolutions, and resolutions into
practice. ...... 428
[5.] Depend on ordinances, and get a heart suitable to
them. ...... 428
[6.] Observe the Spirit's first withdrawing, and search the
cause. ...... 429
[7.] Take heed of such sins as we term little ones, and
look upon all sin in the rise and root of it. . 429
[8.] Get spiritual wisdom, to know what is pleasing and
displeasing to the Spirit. . . . 430
[9.] Upon breaches, renew repentance. . . . 430
[10.] Avoid corrupt communication. . . . 430
Whereby you are sealed.
§ 2. Of the sealing of the Spirit :
1. Christ is sealed. ..... 433
2. So are Christians. ..... 433
I. What this sealing is, and how it is wrought. . . 433
II. The privileges of it. A seal serveth for —
1. Confirmation. ..... 434
2. Distinction. ..... 434
3. Appropriation. ..... 436
4. Estimation. ..... 436
5. Secrecy. ...... 437
6. Security. ....... 437
III. Degrees of sealing.
1. The work of faith. ..... 437
2. Sanctification, yet not without a new act of the Spirit :
the reasons. ..... 437
3. Joy, which hath its degrees also, being from the Spirit. 489
Of the three witnesses on earth, their order. . . 439
Of the witness of the Spirit immediately from itself,
which is the highest, and that which bringeth most
joy. ...... 439, 440
Of such joys and raptures of the Spirit, and how they
are known from illusions, as,
1 . By what goes before them, as —
(1.) The word embraced by faith. . . 441
(2.) Deep humiliation, . . . 441
(3.) Self-denial. . . . .442
(4.) Comfort and victory. . . . 442
CONTENTS.
XI
Page
(5.) Spiritual strength put forth in duty. . 442
2. By what accompanieth them ; as —
(1.) Prizing ordinances. . . . 442
(2.) Liberty and boldness with God. . . 442
(3.) And for the most part Satan's malice. . 443
3. By what followeth them —
(1.) More humility. .... 443
(2.) Increase of spiritual strength. . . 443
(3.) A joyful expectation of Christ. . 443
4. Other degrees of sealing, from the divers degrees
of revelation. ..... 443
Unto the day of redemption.
§ 3. Of the day of redemption. .... 444
From the consideration of what formerly hath been spoken,
some general conclusions are collected. . . 446
Conclusion I. We may attain to the knowledge that we are
in the state of grace. .... 446
All that have faith have not assurance. . . . 447
Conclusion II. Upon knowledge of our estate of grace for
the present, we may be assured of our future full
redemption. - . . . . .448
Why we pray for forgiveness of sins notwithstanding. . 449
This assurance we have, that, first, God may be glorified ;
secondly, our souls comforted. . . . 449, 450
Conclusion III. This assured knowledge is wrought by the
Spirit. ...... 450
Conclusion IV. The sealing of the Spirit unto salvation
should be a prevailing argument not to grieve the Spirit. 451
1. To those that are not as jei sealed. . . . 451
2. To those that are sealed either in a lower or higher
work of seahng, and that from —
(1.) Ingenuity. . . . . .452
(2.) Benefit received from the Spirit. . . 452
(3.) A kind of necessity. .... 453
(4.) The nature of love. .... 453
(5.) And other graces, as faith and hope, that work by
assimilation. ..... 453
The doctrine of assurance is no doctrine of liberty. . 454
But of deep and sweet engagement. . . . 454
Therefore we should preserve the work. . . 454, 455
Notes. ,....., 455
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
Godliness, what.
The gospel a mystery, why.
Religion, why persecuted.
How to carry ourselves in religion.
To bless God for mysteries.
Not to set on them with human parts.
457
460
461
464
465
466
466
xu
CONTENTS.
Mysteries of religion above reason,
Not to des^Dair of learning religion.
Not to slight divine truths.
Godliness a great mystery, why.
How to be afiected with it.
To endeavour to learn it.
Godliness a mystery without controversy
Men live not worthy these mysteries.
What truth to account catholic.
Of God manifest in the flesh. .
Christ justified in the Spirit.
Christ seen of angels. .
Christ preached to the Gentiles.
Christ believed on in the world.
Christ received up in glory.
Notes.
Page
467
468
468
472
474
474
475
477
477
479
487
496
504
514
525
539, 540
THE CHRISTIAN WORK
VOL. Y.
THE CHKISTIAN WOKK.
NOTE.
' The Christian Work' forms a portion of a considerable quarto, published in 1639.
The ^reTzera^ title-page is given below.* The 'Exposition' of chap. iii. follows this,
and the other pieces specified therein will appear in their proper places. The
'Epistles Dedicatory and Prefatory' of the entire volume are herewith prefixed,
G.
AN
EXPOSITION
OF THE
THIRD CHAPTER
OF THE EPISTLE OF
St. Paul to the Philippians :
Two Sermons of Cliristian watch-
fulnesse.
The first upon Luke 12. 37.
Also-{ The second upon Eevel. 16. 15.
An Exposition of part of the second
Chapter of the Epistle to the Philipp.
^ A Sermon upon Mai. 4. 2. 3.
By the late Reverend Divine Richard
Sibbes, D. D. Master of Katherine Hall in Cam-
bridge, and sometimes Preacher at Grayes-Inne.
1 Tim. 4. 8.
But godlinesse is profitable, having promise of the life that
now is, and of that which is to come.
LONDON,
Printed by T. Cotes for Peter Cole,* and are to be sold at the
Glove k Lyon in Corne-hill, neare the Royall Exchange, 1639.
* For curious notices of Cole, see the Bibliographical List of the editions of
Sibbes' different works in the 7th volume. — G.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
SIE MAUEICE ABBOT KNIGHT,
NOW LORD MAYOR OF THE HONOURABLE CITY OF LONDON.*
Right Honourable — My respects unto you, being your honour's engaged
many ways, have put me upon a design or project for you; the°God
of _ heaven graciously prosper it in my hand ! The tenor of it is briefly
this : to increase your honour, and to ease the burden of that laborious
government which now Heth upon your shoulder.
To mention your name before the glorious labour of so great and worthy
an agent in the factorage of heaven as the author of this piece was, and to
make you a protector of them, cannot, I conceive, in sober interpretation but
be conceived to add honour unto him that hath, and cause him to have
more abundantly. Blessed is the wing that is spread over any of the things
of Jesus Chi'ist, to shelter them.
Again, to put into your hand, and from your hand into your heart, the
remembrance of that God that will gloriously recompense your faithfulness
in that great trust committed to you, cannot but (by the blessing of him to
whom blessings belougeth) be a cordial means to strengthen your heart in
the pang of government, and cause you to travail and bring forth with
more ease. There is no labour, nor travail, nor sorrow, nor difficulty, nor
danger, nor death, that hath any evil or bitterness in it when heaven is
before us, and the truth and faithfulness of the living God embracing us.
If I have miscarried in point of good manners or otherwise in this dedi-
cation, your honour shall do but justice to charge your own courtesy and
respects always shewed unto me (at least in part) with the blame of it.
Had not there been the tempter, doubtless in this case I had not been the
transgressor. The God of peace prosper the government of this great city
in your hand, and make it a glorious rise and advantage unto you of your
greater glory in the heavens. And your Honour may assure yourself that
BO it shall come to pass, unless that God that heareth prayer shall reject
the prayer of,
Your honour to command in the Lord,
J. G.f
* Sir Maurice Abbot was the fifth son of Sir Maurice Abbot of Guildford, Surrey,
grandfather of Abbot of Farnhara. His more famous brothers were George, Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, and Robert, Master of Baliol College, Oxford, and subsequently
Bishop of Salisbur_y. Sir Maurice was Lord Mayor of London 1639, Drapers' Com-
pany ; Sheriff, 1627, Family epitaphs still remain on a plate of brass on the south
wall of the church of Guildford. Cf. Manning and Bray's History of Surrey suh
•oce ; also Guildhall MSS.—G. ■^'
t These initials here, and at close of the Epistle to the Reader, in all probabilitj
represent John Goodwin, the reno%vned champion of Arminianism, It were super-
fluous to annotate such a name. He died, it is believed, in 1665. Cf Jackson's
' Life,' one vol. 8yo, 1822.— G.
TO THE EEADEK.
Good Keadeb, to discourse the worth or commendations of the author
(especially the pens of others having done sacrifice unto him in that kind),
I judge it but an impertinency, and make no question, but that if I should
exchange thoughts or judgments with thee herein, I should have but mine
own again. The book itself, judiciously interpreted, is a volume of his
commendation ; and those, though from his own mouth, without any touch
or tincture of vanity or self- affectation. The best sight of a man is to hear
him speak — loquere, ut videam — the tongue being a voluntary and pleasant
rack to the heart, to make it confess its treasure, whether it be good or
evO. The diligence and care of those that have interposed for the preserving
of what came from him in this way from perishing, have made the Christian
world debtors unto them ; and great pity it had been, that what he spake
in public should have died in secret, and not be made seven times more
public than speaking could do. The sparks of such fires as he kindled
would have been ill quenched till the world had been further served with
the light and heat of them.
It is true, heaps of books is one of the oppressions of the world, and the
invention of the press hath been the exaltation of weakness and vanity
amongst men, as well as of learning and knowledge. Yet know I no way
better to retain the oppressed in this kind, than for men of worth and
grown judgments and learning to appear in books also among the multitude.
The time was when there were, as the apostle speaketh, ' gods many and
lords many in the world,' 1 Cor. viii. 5; when the world was pestered with
devils of all sorts, instead of gods ; but the only means of discharging the
world of them, was the setting forth and preaching of the one true God
and Lord Jesus Christ. So the furnishing the world with such books, as
are books indeed, that breathe spirit and life, and are strong of heaven,
speaking with authority and power to the consciences of men, is the only
way to afi"amish the multitude of idol* books, and to have them desolate
"without a reader. It is, questionless, with men in respect of books, as it
is in respect of men themselves (and indeed how there should be any
diflerence between men and books I know not, the book being but the
mind of a man, and the mind of a man being the man himself). Homo
homirti Deus, homo Iwmini lupus.\ There are men that are gods to men,
and there are men that are wolves to men ; and the more men-wolves there
axe in the world, the more men-gods there had need to be ; otherwise the
darkness would overcome the light, and make the earth as the shadow of
• Qu. ' idle,' = useless. — G. Kather ' idol,' in the sense of unreal, false. — Ed.
t In margin here, ' Animus cuiusquo is est quisque.' — G.
TO THE READER. 5
death. So there are books that are laden with divine and true treasure ; that
will recompense the reader, his labour and pains sevenfold into his bosom ;
that will open his mouth and enlarge his heart to bless God, that hath
given gifts unto men. Again, there are books also that will deal cruelly
and deceitfully with men, consuming their precious time and opportunities ;
taking their money for that which is not bread. Now the more dreamers
of dreams there are, there had need be the more that see visions. The
weak, hungry, loose, and empty discourses the world is overlaid and en-
cumbered withal, the more need it hath, by way of a counter recompence,
of a full provision of solid and masculine writings, that may make men
men, and not always children in understanding.
But I must remember that prefacing authors with long epistles is no
employment of any sovereign necessity. Therefore I will no longer separate
between thee and that which I desire to recommend unto thee more than
anything of mine own. The blessing of Him that giveth the increase be
upon the labour of him that planted and watered much in the courts of the
house of his God ; that though he be dead, he may yet speak to the edifi-
cation of thine and of many souls.
, Thine with a single heart and multiplied affections in the Lord,
I. G.*
DIEECTIO^^S TO THE EEADEE.
Christian reader, thou mayest please to take notice that this book is
divided into two parts : the first whereof is upon the whole third chapter
of the Epistle to the Philippians, and contains 256 pages ; and because it
is entire, and upon the whole third chapter, we have therefore put it first.
The second part is upon some certain verses only of the second chapter to
the Philippians, and some other texts of Scripture, and contains 204
pages.
Now, for the ready finding out of any principal or material things in the
whole book, we have to the book annexed this alphabetical index ; for
the understanding whereof take thou notice, that the first }) signifies the
part, and the second p the page of that part, as for example : There being
nothing observed in A, we begin with B, whex'e first thou seest. Christians
must he blameless, p. 92 ; that is, part the second, page 92 of the second
part ; then how Saint Paid ivas blameless, tcheii he ivas without the law, p. 1,
p. 67, 68 ; that is, part the fii'st, page 67, 68 of the first part.t
* See note to Dedication. — G.
t As wishing to give all the Prefaces, &c., this prefatory note by Goodwin to
The Table ' is here inserted ; but ' The Table ' itself will be incorporated with the
'general Index. — G.
PHIHCJSTOIT
THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have alivays obeyed, not as in wy presence only,
but now much m,ore in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and
trembling. — Phil. II. 12.
The first word, ' wherefore,' carries our minds back to things formerly
delivered. Before, the apostle had taught them out of the example of
Christ that they should not mind their own things : ' He went about doing
good,' and humbled himself. Now when God is humble, how shall any
man be proud ? Having therefore such an example as Christ, without all
exception, as he hath done do you, be obedient, &c. In the words con-
sider.
First, The duty, ' work.'
Secondly, Directions to the right manner of performing this duty.
Thirdly, The motives to this duty.
The manner of performance of this work : First, it must be in sincerity ;
secondly, in obedience ; thirdly, it must be earnestly and thoroughly ;
fourthly, it must be constant ; fifthly, it must be ever tending to assure
to us our salvation ; sixthly, it must be in fear, or holy jealousy. The
motives to this duty : First, Christ, he was obedient, follow him ; secondly,
' my beloved,' that is, as you shew or deserve my care of you and diligence
to do you good, obey ; thirdly, you have done it heretofore : it is no new
thing I require ; it is not impossible ; you have done it already; fourthly,
if you do, it shall not be in vain. It tends to the assurance of salvation
here, and to the accomplishment thereof hereafter, therefore ' work.'
1. * Work.' The estate of a Christian is a working estate, not idle.
Christianity is not a verbal profession, nor speculative. ' If ye know these
things, blessed are ye if ye do them,' saith Christ, John xiii. 17. Observe,
he placeth the word ' blessed ' in the midst, to unite those two which the
world so ordinarily divides. I mean knowledge and practice. If words
would go for excellent payment, many there are that would be admirable
Christians ; but we must know that a Christian's estate is accomplished by
works ; and that not only outwardly but inwardly, and by all manner of
works : works of preparation; works of propriety;* and these inward, or
outward and all, is in our general or particular calling.
Works of preparation are those that prepare men to believe ; as hear-
* That is, 'appropriation.' — Ed.
THE CHRISTIAN "WORK, /
ing, reading, meditating ; for these make not a Christian, but by these a
Christian is prepared to be wrought on by God's Spirit. In these a
Christian must be still working, and from these he ought to proceed to
works of propriety : as belief in God, hope more strongly ; love more
ardently ; pray fervently ; do works of charity cheerfully — the three first
duties being inward, the two last outward. And these concern our general
callings as we are Clmstians, and then in our particular callings, to love, to
reverence one another ; seek the good of others, and to be bountiful to
others. A Christian he must work in all these.
Use. The use of all this is, to cause in us a right conceit of religion. Many
are good talkers, use fair words, are excellent in discourse ; and these pass
for current Christians. Nay, many there are that come not to this degree
of speaking well. No ; cannot endure to hear others speak well, but
endeavour to turn their speech to other matters. Yet these go for good
Christians, and think they shall be saved as well as the best, when, alas !
they never came one step to salvation. Thus for the work. Now,
2. To the manner. He said before, ' As you have heretofore obeyed,
even so work now,' shewing the first thing :
(1.) That all our works must he clone in obedience. Whatsoever we do, it
must be done in obedience to God. Many are damned for misdoing their
good works, because they did them not in obedience to God. To this end
it is expedient.
First, That we should know what God's will is : Rom. xii. 2, ' That you
may prove what is that good, that acceptable and perfect will of God,'
saith the apostle ; and in the Ephesians v. 10, ' Proving what is acceptable
to the Lord.' And therefore an ignorant man is a rebellious man. When
he knows not God's will, how can he do his will ?
Secondly, This obedience must be to all God's laivs, for partial obedience
is no obedience. For he is a lord, and not a servant, that will cull and
pick out his obedience. ' Then shall I not be confounded,' saith David,
' when I have respect to all thy commandments,' Ps. cxix. 6. It is the
devil's sophistry to put men in heart with the consideration of some few
good duties that they have done ; when, alas ! if a fowl or bird be catched
by one wing or leg, it is as sure as if a man had her whole body in his hand.
The devil hath a man as sure in one sin unrepented as in many ; and there-
fore the apostle limits not this obedience, but lays it down indefinitely.
(2.) The second thing in the manner is, that this rcorking must he in sin-
cerity. ' Whether I am present to see you or not, obey God : he sees you.'
A Christian must do all things sincerely, as in the presence of God. The
Pharisees did many good works, but it was to be seen of men. Therefore
Christ saith, ' they have their reward already,' Mat. vi. 2. I will pay them
no wages ; they did it not to please me. Many are this way faulty. They
do nothing but for applause : pray in public for fashion sake, never in pri-
vate ; whenas Christ saith, * Enter into thy chamber, and when thou hast
shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret,' Mat. vi, 6, Many can talk
well and discourse well ; but for inward graces they never look nor regard :
and it is this that upholds many Christians. They see religion is respected
of those of whom they desire to be had in some esteem, but God sees thy
hypocrisy, and thou hast thy reward.
Joash was a good king so long as Jehoiada lived,* Many seem to be
good, so long as those in authority are good ; but if they die once, all good
goes away with them. But a good Christian is ever good ; and in all
* Cf. 2 Chrou. xxiv. 2.— Ed.
8 THE CHRISTIAN WOEK.
places, occasions, companies, he will be like himself. Thus much of the
second thing in the manner. Now for the third.
(3.) He says, * Work out.' The word signifies, with toil to labour. So
in the 6th of St John's gospel, ' Labour not for the meat that perisheth.'
It is a good saying, no perfunctory thing can please God. To this end as
Seneca says (a), of performing of duties natural ; so in religious duties
there is required, first, a right judgment of the nature of the things we do ;
secondly, an aflection to do it ; and thirdly, that affection must be propor-
tionable to the worth of the things we do, else what do we ; yea, as good
not do it at all. And therefore the Scripture to every part of God's worship
adds words of intention : ' Take heed how you hear,' Mark iv. 24 ; 'so
run,' 1 Cor. ix. 24 ; « pray fervently in spirit,' Rom. xii. 11 ; 'give cheer-
fully,' 2 Cor. ix. 7 ; ' repent throughly,' Acts xvii. 30. So that our
affection must be proportionable to the thing we are about, serious in
good. A thorough serious prayer is worth a thousand perfunctory ; and
one doctrine well digested and applied, worth all the rest, be they never so
many, if they be done slightly ; and the rather a^-e we to look to this duty,
for that the devil is busy in such duties to withdraw thy mind, and to steal
away the seed sown. The poor husbandman lost three parts of his seed.
Many feel such flashes of comfort while they hear the word, as they could
wish they might be dissolved at that present ; but being gone, pleasures,
profits, and such like, take away and choke the seed sown. Many there
are that will play or recreate themselves with all their might ; but when
they come to pray, instead of all their sinful life, think the saying of ' Lord,
have mercy upon me,' or ' I am a sinner,' or such like, make even all
accounts between God and their consciences. Those that are and will be
Christians indeed, they see what they ought to do, and how they are to
perform duties. They shall find themselves to be no losers, but gainers at
the end ; for by performing of things in this manner they shall strengthen
the assurance of their salvation to themselves more and more. For God
punisheth such sHghting of duties justly, with slight assurance, and with
many doubtings of salvation and of their secure estate. Well, the next
thing to be considered in the manner of working is ; —
(4.) Fourthly, It 7nust he constant, not like the morning dew, or Lot's
wife that looked back. For religion is a Hving and trade. It must be
maintained with continuance in labour, and working in a constant course
of goodness ' all the days of our life,' saith Zacharias' song, Luke i. 75.
' Father,' saith Christ, ' I have finished the work thou gavest me,' John
xvii. 4. He never left till all was finished. ' It is finished,' saith Christ
on the cross, John xix. 30 ; and the apostle, ' I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,' 2 Tim. iv. 7, and then he speaks of ' a crown
of righteousness,' 2 Tim. iv. 8. The want of this makes many die in
extreme grief. They wish they had done such and such things, when it is
too late. To this end we must come with a resolution not to be scared
from performance of duties, and therefore to furnish ourselves with patience.
For we must meet with many discouragements from without and within.
Brethren, saith the apostle, ' you have need of patience,' Heb. x. 36. For
' you shall reap if you faint not,' Gal. vi. 9. And then consider that all
promises of a crown are made to such as are sincere. ' To him that over-
cometh,' saith John, ' I will give,' &c., Rev. iii. 21. ' He that endures to
the end shall be saved,' saith Christ, Mat. x. 22. Many decay in their
first love, and God justly suflers them to fall into many gross sins, and he
vomits up such as are grown cold.
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 9
(5.) The fifth thing in the manner is, that it must tend to salvation. We
must go on in a constant course of goodness till we come, and that we may
come,^ to the end of our faith. Let this end, viz., salvation, make you
work in the duties of grace. For salvation is begun here ; and the state
of grace here is called salvation, even as well as the state hereafter.
The doctrine is, that all which we do here ought to tend to the assurance of
salvation.
_ We say in nature that all conclusions are to be reduced to their prin-
ciples. So is Christianity. All is to be referred to our salvation as to a
main principle ; those things that tend directly to salvation to be done in
the first place, and most especially. And then other works, they must
tend the same way, for all works that are good, do either express holiness,
or increase it in us ; and thereby they increase our own salvation, as in
our ordinary caUings, if we perform them in obedience to God constantly,
it expresses the gifts and graces of God's Spirit in us. Do we sanctify
them by prayer ? Do we refer all the good to the good of those amongst
whom we live, especially to the good of the faithful ? This strengthens
the assurance of our salvation, and tells us that God's Spirit is in us. The
poorest servant in his drudgery, he serves God if he does it as in the
presence of God, Col. iii. 24. The poor woman, in bearing and bringing
up of children, shall be saved ; that is, notwithstanding that sentence, ' that
in sorrow and pains she should conceive,' yet her salvation is no whit
hindered thereby, but rather furthered. So that it is grace that elevates
earthly wor-ks, and makes them heavenly.
But take this caution withal, that we more highly esteem our Christian
calling than our ordinary vocations and duties ; and to that end we ought
to redeem some time from our ordinary callings to meditate, and to examine
ourselves, and to pray. And this to be done daily, for Christ saith, ' Labour
not for the meat that perisheth,' in comparison of that meat which lasteth
for ever. Especially on that day which God hath chosen to his own use,
I mean the ' Lord's day.' Mingle not thine own callings with holy duties
on such days, unless it be in case of mercy, and that also of great necessity.
God made this day for his own glory, and for our good, knowing how
earthly-minded else we would be, unless some time were allotted wholly to
vindicate our minds from these earthly things. Take heed, therefore, how
we be bold * on this day especially.
' Your own.' Here is contained another direction in this Christian work.
In our works and doings we must begin with ourselves, contrary to the custom
of many, who are in their own duties negligent, but lord-like in overseeing of
other men's works. We are to know, true zeal and practice begins at home.
' Work out your own.' Whatsoever others do, look you to yourselves.
So did Joshua : ' Let the people do what they will, I and my house will
serve the Lord,' Josh. xxiv. 15. So that a Christian ought to resolve
with himself concerning his own carriage ; he that is wise is wise for him-
self. Better it is that you alone should work out your own salvation, than
go to hell with others for company.
' Your own.' Every one hath a cup that he in particular must taste of,
and every one a particular work to do. Though all go one way that are
saved, yet some go by more sufferings than others. Some hath harder
tasks set them to perform than others. Some must live in some callings,
and therein | work out their own salvation,' others in others. Eph. ii. 10,
' Every one is created to good works which God prepares for him.'
* Cf. Eph. iii. 12 ; Heb. iv. 16.— G. Qu. ' cold '?— Ed.
10 THE CHRISTIAN WOEK.
For the sixth direction, contained in 'fear,' &c., the time is too short to
speak of; and therefore I come,
3. To the motives.
(1.) The first is taken from the examjjJe of Christ, comprehended in the
■word ' Wherefore.' Christ, he did as he would have us to do ; he did all in
obedience to God ; he came to do his will ; he was sincere, cared not for
the world. What he did, he did thoroughly ; he healed all ; did all good ;
did all things well ; and he finished his course. Now we must imitate
Christ in all these ; never give over till we may say with comfort at our
deaths, ' All is finished.' This must needs move us, if we consider what an
honour it is for us to he like him and to follow him ; and then it will be
gainful to us. He got honour by it — was exalted ; so shall we therefore be
like him. And then he is a pattern without all exception. We cannot
offend so long as we propound him for our example. It is a foolish opinion
therefore that men may be too religious. Can any go beyond Christ, nay,
or come near him ?
(2.) The second motive is taken from, the ajwstJe's love, * my beloved.'
Shew that you will answer my care and love to you. Whence observe.
That it ought to be a motive to Christians to take good courses, that
they may thereby comfort those that have care of their good. The apostle,
Heb. xiii. 17, bids the Hebrews, ' that they obey them that are their guides.'
Why ? ' That they may give account with joy, and not with grief, for it is
unprofitable for them.' But to leave this personal manner of speech.
Christians ought to seek good courses, to give content to the souls of those
Christians with whom they live ; for they make it a matter of joy to see
one grow in religious behaviour, and contrarily are grieved when they see
it decay in any.
(3.) The third motive is drawn from the jwssihility of it; as if he should
have said, You have akead}' begun ; you know what it is I require ; it is no
new thing, nor is it impossible ; do but work out that which you have
begun. He that hath set one step into religion is half way. It was a
great commendation in the church of Thyatira, that their last works were
more than the first. Rev. ii. 19. We should labour to grow on still, from
one degree to another, even as the sun ' shines more and more to the per-
fect day,' Prov. iv. 18 ; and therefore it is a Christian course to compare
ourselves with ourselves daily, and if we find a decay in ourselves, rest not
contented till thou findest thyself amended. We pity men when they decay
in outward things ; but of all decays, the decay of goodness is the most
lamentable ; and therefore as you have obeyed, so obey still.
' Now much more in my absence.' These words I take not to be so
meant, as if the apostle had spoken of what they already had done, but
rather what he would have them to do, as if he should have said, ' I know
now that I am absent, you shall want no allurements nor temptations to
draw 3'ou away ; and I know now I am gone grievous wolves shall enter in,
not sparing the flock,' as it is in Acts xx. 29, ' therefore now be much more
careful, and watch.' Hence therefore observe, the want of means that for-
merly men had is no suflicient plea to excuse decay in grace in any man.
* Redeem the time.' Why? Not because goodness increases amongst all
sorts, but ' because the days are evil,' Eph. v. 16. The world would have
reasoned clean contrary. Because the days are evil, be thou also evil,
follow the fashion. Religion teaches us to reason otherwise. Because you
have not the helps you formerly enjoyed, double your diligence ; God will
graciously supply you. If you be not wanting to yourselves, he will never
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 11
depart from you though I am gone. He was a sanctuary to the Jews in
Babylon when they wanted the sanctuary ; and yet then were they in
greatest glory. And it is remarkable, men have been still most glorious
for religion in want of outward means.
(4.) The fourth motive is laid down in the end. It is to our salvation ;
which as it carries the form of a direction, so as it is an end it hath a power
to move us to it. Considering we are not yet perfect, go on till you come
to perfection. It is an encouragement to us to begin, and when we have
begun, it doth encourage us to go on forward. See this in Titus ii. 11 :
' The grace of God teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldl}^ lusts, and
to live soberly,' &c., and encourageth us on, looking for the glorious
appearing of Christ. We are sons ; shall we be rebellious ? We look for
salvation ; shall we not then work it out ? Yes. Moses chose rather to
suffer afflictions with the children of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin
for a season. Why ? ' He had respect to the recompence of reward,*
Heb. xi. 26. We have an evidence here [that] we shall be saved hereafter ;
and this makes us strive to ascertain it more and more to us. And indeed,
he that carries his salvation in his eye, needs no better encouragement.
What made them, in Heb. xi. 38, to wander about and to forsake all ?
They looked for another city, whose builder was God, Thus it is in ordi-
nary affairs. What seasons war but the hope of peace ? the troubles and
the tempests on the sea, but the hope of the haven ? the labour and cost
in sowing, but the expectation of harvest ? Shall not we much more endure
a little labour here, for endless happiness assured to us hereafter? This is
much forgotten. What makes persons so dull in good duties ? They either
know not, or forget this reward ; for he that sets his mind on it cannot be
cold or dull. But here's the pity ! Men labour, sweat, take pains and
travail, spare no cost ; and all this to go to hell, to heap up wrath against
the day of wrath. The devil has more servants in his barren and fruitless
service than God gets with all his promises and good things that he liberally
gives. Besides, I add one or two directions more.
First, Labour to get a jihitform of wholesome ivords. If we would work, we
must have an idea of the thing we work in our head. We must labour to
get a form of practice and doctrine out of the word of God, and to carry it
Btill about with us.
Then cast thyself into that mould thouhast thus framed, Rom. vi. 17. Be
moulded in that form of doctrine ; believe what he will have us to believe ;
love that which he will have us to love. And having this frame in thy
mind, in what estate soever thou art, whether single or married, governing
or governed, thou shalt have still with thee a platform of duties, fitting for
the carriage of thyself ; and there will be no duty thou hearest taught but
thou wilt be able to draw it to thine own practice. The want of this makes
most men unfruitful, heaping up thereby damnation unto themselves.
Lastl}^ Observe the good motions of God's Spirit in thee; further them to
the most advantage ; turn them to present practice ; lose nor delay them
not ; for the devil will steal thee away from them.
Now when we come to another part of the manner of a Christian's work,
it must be done ' in fear and trembling,' Not to stand on the divers kinds
of fear; in general, it is an affection planted by God in our natures, whereby
we, foreseeing dangers which may hinder our being or wellbeing, are
afraid of them. This is incident to our natures, and it was also in Christ.
And were it not for this, men would be prodigal of their lives, and would
rush into desperate dangers. There is a carnal fear, as when we fear the
12 THE CHEISTIAN WORK.
creatures of whom we are lords ; and this proceeds from a carnal distrust
in God. But in this place is meant a spiritual fear, which may be branched
into three divers kinds. First, a fear of reverence, which is a fear mixed
with love ; when we fear one or stand in awe of him for his greatness, yet
love him for his goodness to us ; and thus a Christian fears God. Secondly,
hence proceeds the second kind of fear, which is a fear of watchfulness ;
and thirdly, a fear of jealousy, lest we should ofi'end against God ; and
this arises from the consideration of our weakness and the falseness of our
hearts. So that he here saying, ' Work out your salvation with fear,' bids
them that they proceed on in their course with reverence, watchfulness,
and jealousy. As for the word ' trembling,' it is none other but an effect
or symptom of the passion of fear, arising from excess of fear in regard of
fearful objects. For then the spirits retiring in to comfort the heart, leave
the outward parts destitute, so as they tremble. And on the contrary, in
objects of delight and comfort, they come outward, to the outmost parts
as it were, to meet with such pleasing objects as are presented to the
sense. It being thus in nature, it is also in us spiritually ; for we
beholding the majesty and power of God, and considering our own base-
ness and infirmities, are drawn to a kind of fear, which, if it be some-
what more than ordinary, it produces a spiritual trembling. Having
thus opened the words, we will come to some doctrine; and first, in general
observe,
Doct. God requires all duties that are done to him to he done with affection.
The careless Christian thinks the deed done to be sufficient to please God.
No ; verily he requires work, but it must be done with affection. The affection
must first be obedient, and then the outward man. ' Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and strength, and thy neighbour as
thyself,' Lev. xix. 18. ' My son, give me thy heart,' saith Solomon, Prov.
xxiii. 26. I might infer this doctrine to shew how many are faulty this
way, but I come to this particular affection of fear. All things thai
are done must be done in the fear of God ; and this must we do before our
calling and after our calling : before our calling to work ourselves iuto our
salvation, and in our calling to work out our own salvation. Before our
conversion fear is necessary for us. God uses it to bring us to Christ.
Legal fear is always or most commonly before evangelical. It is as the
needle that draws faith after it as the thread. Such is God's goodness to
us, that lest we should fall into hell ere we are aware, he hath left us objects
of terror and threatening judgments, to keep us from hell ; and all to pro-
voke fear in us that we may be saved. There is a spirit of bondage before
the spirit of adoption : Rom. viii. 15, 'Ye have not received the spirit of
bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption,' imply-
ing that once they had received the spirit of bondage. For verily, first
men see their miserable estate by nature, and this convincing their con-
sciences, comes to stir up fear in them, which drives them to the rock of
salvation, Christ Jesus. I speak this the rather, for that it is evident many
never yet came to this spirit of fear. They live in a course of known gross
sins, between whom and damnation is but a step. They know they are
abominable sinners, yet fear not hell. How can men think well of such ?
They never yet came to the spirit of bondage to fear. Tell them of hell,
they tush at it scornfully, being herein more brutish than an ass. Lay
burdens on him, he will bear them patiently ; but press him never so much
to go into the fire, you cannot make him come near to it ; whenas wicked
men, they cannot be kept from running into hell with all violence. They
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 13
are worse than the devil, James ii. 19. They neither tremble nor believe,
but live contemptuously and pi'esumptuously in their courses. Well, let
such look to it. What they do now they shall do it hereafter, when there
will be no comfort left for them, though they seek it with tears.
Thus have I shewn that before conversion fear is necessary. I add,
moreover, that men after conversion, believers, they ought to have fear oif
reverence ; wherein we will speak somewhat of fear in general ; then of the
manner of it ; and lastly, of the motives thereto. For the fear that here is
spoken of observe that,
First, It must he f/eneral at all times, in all actions. Job said, ' I feared
all my works,' Job iii. 25, and indeed in this estate we must continually
fear till we be in heaven. And as it belongs to all works and times, so to
all Christians, nay, and to them most of all, for that the devil is set
against you. And your actions, if they be ill, are the most scandalous ;
and by them is God most of all dishonoured. And therefore the more
grace a man hath he will fear the more. Even as a rich man, the more
riches he hath the more care he taketh, lest they should be stolen from
him.
Secondly, This fear must be serious. It must work a kind of trembling,
by reason of the dangers that we meet withal, which are like to be many
and great.
Thirdly, This fear must he total, in the whole man. For that the image
of God is in the body, even as in the soul, and as in other afiections a
proud man is known by his proud eye and careless carriage, even so the
countenance will be wray whether the heart be humble, loving, careful, and
the like. It is an idle speech that many have, they will say their heart is
good. Let such know, where grace is, it works a change, and that thoroughly
in body and soul. David therefore joins prostration with calhng on the
Lord : Ps. xcv. 6, ' Let us fall down ; ' and in other places, casting up of
the eye, and extending of the hands.*
Means to this duty ; observe,
[1.] First, We must consider GocVs love to us. It is the first and main
thing in reverence. This will breed fearfulness in us ; for the more assured
we are, the more fearful will we be of ofiending.
[2. J Secondly, Set before your eyes the other attributes of God, as his
jmtice. What though it be true, he revenges not the sin of his children,
so as it were better for him that he had not offended, for he will not suffer
sin to dwell in his children.
[3.] Thirdly, Add the examples of those that have felt his justice, especially
of the best servants of God. Moses, for a few words, never entered the
land of promise. David, for a proud conceit in numbering the people,
lost seventy thousand men of the pestilence. The Corinthians, for un-
worthy receiving of the Lord's supper, many of them died. And if it be
thus with his dearest children, have not we cause to fear? Yes, assuredly.
God will be honoui-ed in all those that come near him.
Obj. It will be said that there are no examples of late of God's justice
in this kind, as to strike with sudden death.
A71S. I answer, true. But God strikes with hardness of heart, which is
far more worse. And God doth strike men with temporal judgments,
although they think not of it, even for those sins they think not of. And
if it were not thus, let such men know there is a judgment to come, and
that God is the same God now that he was ever, a powerful, just, and all-
* Cf. Ps. cxlv. 15 and Ps. xxviii. 2 ; Ixiii. 4.— G.
14 THE CHEISTIAN WORK.
seeing God. And it will make them, if they belong to God, to set them-
selves in the presence of God even in their most secret closets. This is,
notwithstanding, forgotten everywhere. And many sins are committed
which sinners would be loath that a child should see, yet are they not
afraid of God, that sees them and sets them down in a book. Well then,
a Christian after conversion ought to fear with a fear of reverence.
It follows, in the second and third place, a Christian must have a fear of
jealousy and watchfulness, and thus ' work out his salvation.' For by this
means we keep ourselves from displeasing God, it being a carefulness
wrought in us by the Spirit of God, causing us to take heed how we offend
God in any thing. For a Christian, linowing the falseness of his own heart,
is jealous thereof, there being a spiritual marriage between Christ and us,
lest it should offend. And this is the ground of this spirit of jealousy,
and therefore none deceives another, but he also deceives himself; for
his corrupt heart is as a traitor in his own bosom. Another ground is
Satan, that ever joins with our corruptions ; for so long as there is a false
heart there will be a fawning devil. Now this should make us to examine
ourselves, and to fear our hearts, and to 'try our thoughts,' Ps. cxxxix. 23,
before they come out into word or action.* For sin is like Elijah his cloud,
at the first small, but afterward covers the whole heaven. See it in David.
One eye-glance ! What a world of sins followed. And therefore we must
take heed of beginnings. And then look that thoudrawest not the guilt of
other men's sins on thyself. Take heed of ' scandal. 'f See how Jeroboam
is branded ; ever mention being made of him, ' Jeroboam that made Israel
to sin,' 1 Kings xiv. 16. Then again, labour to set thy corruptions in thine
eye continua%, and to stir up our hearts to hate them. For they trouble
us more than the devil, although most men study to gratify their enemy,
and how to satisfy the lusts of the flesh. And who are their enemies but
such as tell them and bid them beware of their enemies ? Now to the
reason.
VEKSE 13.
For it is God that uvrketh in you to icill and to do according to his good
pleasure.
It is as much as if he should say, because God works, therefore work
you, lest he should take both the power of working from you and also the
act. For he gives both 'to will and to do,' not only the power to will and
to do, but the very act of willing and doing ; and this he doth out of his
free grace and pleasure. In the opening of which words, observe with me
these things. First, that a Christian hath a power in him to will and to do
good ; secondly, that God works this in him ; thirdly, this work is a power-
ful work ; fourthly, it is an inward work ; fifthly, this work is entire ;
sixthly, observe how this work is a ground of fear and trembling.
1. For the first, that a Christian hath a will and power to do good, this
is necessary. For in all estates, whether a man be good or bad, his will
is the chief; and therefore, in conversion of any one, the will and judgment
is first wrought upon and converted. And therefore this may be noted to
* Consult Dr Faitliful Teate's searching and quaint treatise ' Eiglit Tlioughts
the Righteous Man's Evidence : a Discourse proving our estate, God-ward, to be as
our Thoughts are. Directing how to tri/ them and ourselves by them,' &c. 12mo,
1669.— G.
t That is, of being a ' stumbling-block. — G.
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 15
shew us our estates, wliether we be good or not. If we be good, we will
that which is good, and choose the better part ; for those that choose the
worst ever are opposite to the best. Their estate is naught, let them
boast what they will. The Christian thex'efore ever hath a will to do,
though many times he doth not what he will, being sometimes (for secret
causes best known to God) kept by him from performing their wills.
David would have built a temple, and Abraham would have sacrificed
Isaac, Other times hindered by corruptions. The will, or to will, saith
Paul, is present, but not the deed, Rom. vii. 18 ; and Christ saith, ' The
spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak,' Mat. xxvi. 41. If we do therefore
any good, the deed is God's. If we will it, the will is God's. And then
we please God when we will that which God wills, and not when we do
that which God wills not.
2. Secondly, This power that we have, ive have it not from ourselves, but
God gives it to us. Some things are done for us which were neither wrought
by us nor in us ; and thus Christ's death was wrought. Some things
wrought in us, not by us, as our first work of conversion. Other things are
wrought both in us and by us, and these are all good works after conver-
sion. This will whereof we speak is wrought in us by God, as we be his
temples, and the deed is wrought by us as instruments of God's working
in us. Thought is not so much as will, it being but a way to it. Yet can
we not think a good thought without the Spirit of God working in us. For
we have no life at all, but are 'dead in sins and trespasses,' much less can
we have any motion to that which is good for ourselves.
Quest. But it will be demanded, how can the work be done by God, and
yet we work the same work ?
Ans. I answer, in every work that is done, there is God's power and
man's joined together. But how ? So far as we think or will, it is from
us, but to think or will that which is good, that is from God. We work
not as horses draw together and equally. We are not co-ordinate, but
subordinate. We work as understanding creatures. But God guides our
understanding to this or that as he pleases. We hear, but God he bores
the ear first. Lydia believed, but God opened her heart, and framed it to
believe. Acts xvi. 14. We think, but God gives us to think well.
3. In the next place we are to shew, that this work of God in us is a
powerful work. It determines our will. God deals not per omnipotentiam to
constrain our wills to this or that which is contrary to the will, but he
gives us to will that which he wills. Now when God intends that man
shall do anything, he gives him a will to do it ; and in this respect his work
is powerful in us. Magnify therefore this power, that preserves us in the
midst of temptation, even as it preserved the three children in the fire from
burning, Dan. iii. 27 ; that makes earth to be in heaven ; and labour to
find experience of this power in thee, the want of the sense whereof brings
much want of inward comfort of God's Spirit.
4. In the next place, note that this work is inward within us, not without
us. He uses exhortations, monitions, allurements, but he puts power to
these to prevail: Fortiterpro te, suav iter pro me, Domine, saith the Father (h.)
For God may vioxkfortiter, strongly, and yet liberty be preserved too, as it
is evident in the angels. For freedom consists not in doing this or that
ad libitum as we say ; but then are we free and at liberty, when we do any-
thing out of a sound judgment. The angels see good reason why they
should depend on God, and man seeing that happiness only lies in the
enjoyment of the favour of God, do voluntarily depend on him. God there-
16 THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
fore enters into the heart, changes the stony heart into a heart of flesh,
takes away all rebellious dispositions of our heart, and makes them pliable
to his will.
5. Come we in the next place to consider the perfection and entireness of
this work. God, he is ' Alpha and Omega, the author and finisher of our
faith,' Heb. xii. 2, and the beginning and perfection of every good thing is
from him. Omne honum, a summo Bono ; and therefore he is the cause of
the not doing of that which is not done ; he is cmisa quiescendo, as well as
agendo. For why is a thing not, but because he gives it not a being ? So
that all the ill which we will not, is of him. We should therefore be as
thankful to him for any sin he keeps us from, as for any good that he causes
us to perform ; for there is not any sin that another hath committed, but
if God had pleased I might have committed. This is an excellent point to
teach us humility. Note therefore hence,
Doct. That perseverance is from God. He gives to will and to do. 'He
that hath begun will finish the good work,' saith the apostle in the first of
this epistle, and the sixth verse. It is not in our strength to hold out ; for
after we are once changed, God gives grace sufficient to restrain us and to
hold us up. God deals not with us as the husbandman does, sows the
ground and leaves it. No. God watches and weeds us, and continues his
labour upon us, till he brings us to the end of his promise. If he uphold
us not, we are ready to return to our first principles again.
Use. This enforces a particular and resolute dependence on God, in full
assurance that what he hath promised, he will perform. He will put his
fear into our hearts, so as we shall not depart from him.
Doct. And this is done freely of his own good })ieasiire ; and thus he doth
all things. Not of necessity ; he is not forced to this or that, either by any
foreign power, or internal ; he is not bound to this or that, as fire burns
necessarily : as the school saith, necessitate nature.. Indeed, he is good
necessarily, for it is his nature ; but in his acts he is free from all manner
of compulsion, for none can compel him, neither is he drawn to this or
that by any merit in us, for we merit nothing but destruction. It was
his own will that he made any creature at all ; that he ranked them into
angels and men ; that he passed by the angels, and redeemed man ; to give
means of salvation to some and not to others ; to make the means efiectual
to some and not to others ; that some are called sooner, some later ; some
have more strength, some less ; to some more comfort, some less; and to
those that have more, to give more at some time and less at other times,
as is his free will. What meritorious disposition can there be in a dead
person, as the apostle saith we are ? Oh, but it will be objected that one
grace deserves another; and God giving us, for example, the Spirit of
prayer, we deserve the thing we prayed for. I answer, nothing less. God
indeed uses this order, but hereby do we not deserve anything. God says,
' Ask, and it shall be given,' Mat. vii. 7. But how,? Not by desert in
praying ; but he hath established this order, that men shall ask before we
have.
Uses. (1.) Hence have ive a ground of thanlfidness to God.
(2.) Secondly, tcdce not offence thongh thou seest thou hast less grace than
others have. All are not strong ; some are babes ; and it is God's will it
should be so, even as there are divers degrees in ages. If thou beest in
any esteem with Christ, thank God for that thou art. I speak the rather,
being* many are vexed because they are not so holy and pure as such are
* = 'because.' — G.
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 17
to whom God hath given a large portion of the grace of his Spirit. No.
God gives according to his good pleasure.
(3.) Despair not therefore. If thou wantest grace, go to God for more.
He gives according to his own good pleasure. Many complain they are
sinners, dead, dull, indisposed. Go to God. He gives sharpness of wit
to the dull, but according to his good pleasure. More hurt and hindrance
comes ordinarily from the abundance of God's gifts of this sort than good.
For it may be God sees thou wilt be hereby lifted up and extolled, as Paul
was ; and therefore for thy good he withholds it from thee. Vex not thy-
self therefore for the want of that which, if thou hadst it, would turn to thine
own bane.
Take heed how thou insultest over others, that as yet are not wrought
upon. It may be their hour is not yet come ; and therefore use thou all
means to do good to ^uch as stand in need. God appoints times and seasons,
when and what means he will bless. Thou mayest be the instrument to
convert thy brother.
And above all take heed of self-conceit. God gives thee all, and if it be
not of or from thyself, wliy shouldst thou boast, or be hfted up ? Be
therefore content, and repose thyself on God. What though perchance
thou wantest outward means and worldly riches ? Pass* not for them.
Thank God that he hath wrought a spiritual change in thee. He hath
given thee the main. I am sure thou wouldst not change thy estate for all
the riches in the world, nor pomp and pride thereof. And if thou findest
a decay of the sense of God's love and favour towards thee, seek it of him,
but with submission. What if thou findest an ebb of goodness in thee ?
and that it is not with thee now as formerly it hath been, that thou art more
easily overcome with temptation, and that thou canst not wrestle as once
thou couldst against thy corruptions ? Know, God he gives his power to
work and fight, as his pleasure is. God by suffering thee thus to be
foiled, tells tliee that the work is not thine own, but his, and that he gives
and bestows increase as he pleases. Take notice therefore of these things.
Thus far have we spoken of the words simply considered.
Now, let us come to them, as they have relation one to another, and
particularly of the force of the reason. * God gives the will and deed,
according to his own good pleasure :' therefore fear, and take heed how thou
neglectest the means. Fear exaltation of spirit, and trust not on outward
means. David, that holy man, he had a touch of this : Ps. xxx. 6, ' I said
in my prosperity, I shall not be moved.' Fear how thou vowest anything
in thine own strength in time to come ; for in that St James gives a good
instruction, * You ought to say, If the Lord will,' iv. 15. Submit thyself
to him, for he gives the power ' to will and to do, according to his own
good pleasure.'
Boot. It ought therefore [to] be an encouragement to a Christian to work,
when he considers that God ivorhs the will atul the deed, according to his good
pleasure. That God is willing to give ' the will and the deed ' in obedience
to his ordinance, will make a Christian confident in every good work; and
therefore, to that end, he must learn to know God's will, as favourites in
court they learn to know what will please the prince, and accordingly they
fashion their behaviour. And when we know his will, then come boldly to
him for to desire strength in doing his will. For he hath made us gracious
promises, ' to take away our stony hearts, and to give us hearts of flesh,'
Ezek. xi. 19, and ' to lay no more on us than we arc able to bear,' 1 Cor.
* That is, ' pause.'— G.
VOL. V. B
18 THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
X. 13. Let us repair to him for the accomplishment of these promises and
others. Take heed how we distrust his promises. It made the Israelites
travel forty j^ears, till all the generation of them perished, and entered not
into that good land. God hath promised us, not an earthly inheritance,
but an heavenly, and victory over our sins. Let us then set on this con-
quest boldly and with courage, for God hath made himself our debtor by
his promise, and he is faithful that hath promised : where, by the way,
observe the difference between our estate in the ' first,' from this present
estate of ours in the ' second Adam.' The first Adam had no such promise
to continue in that estate of integrity. But we have. We are assured.
We are united to Christ more surely than he was to his estate in paradise.
Magnify, therefore, this condition of thine. And in the fourth place, labour
to know aright the nature of the covenant of grace ; for it is a part of his
covenant with us, that what he enjoins us he will enable us to perform.
' If we beheve, we shall be saved,' saith the covenant. Well, God, he gives
ns to believe, he bids us to repent, he gives us power to repent. The
commandments which are given us concerning faith and repentance, and
the like graces here, they shew the order that God uses in saving man.
* To you,' saith Christ, ' it is given to know and believe,' Mat. xiii. 11.
This ought, therefore, to comfort us, seeing this covenant of grace is, not
only a covenant which requires duties of our parts, but also it is a testa-
ment wherein these graces are given us in way of legacies. If we knew
the privileges that in this covenant do belong unto us, it should surely make
us bold. God promises the will and deed, that we may apply these things
unto ourselves ; which if we do, we may go about our works with resolu-
tion, that they shall be prosperous to us : our labour shall not be in vain
in the Lord. In reverence, therefore, use all means. Trust not on the
means, but use them in reverence and in fear ; and hereby thou shalt avoid
many corrections, which otherwise thy sins will draw on thee. For the
difference in the performance of duties makes the difference of Christians.
Some are more careless in their performances than others. Is it not just
with God to punish such, by letting them fall into many gross sins ? See
this in David and Peter. They trusted to themselves, and called not on
God for his gracious direction in temptation. Mark their sins. Observe
what comfort they lost. And surely those that are watchful Christians are
ever careful of their rules ; and God to such gives what he requires of them.
He sends us not to seek straw ourselves as Pharaoh, Exod. v. 7 ; but he
provides it to us.
Ohj. But it will be objected that, by this doctrine of trusting and relying
on God, men will grow idle. God will work his will in us though we sleep,
say they.
A7-1S. But to answer them. First, such men as these will be ashamed
to argue thus in outward and worldly businesses. For example, in hus-
bandry, God hath promised every good thing to us ; therefore, let me sit
Btill : the corn will grow, though I sow not nor till the ground. Would
not such an one be thought mad, that should reason thus ? Because we
know that as God hath appointed every end, so he hath ordained order and
means, whereby such things shall be effected. Thus is it in grace. He
gives ' the will and the deed,' but he prescribes prayer and other ordinances,
as the means attaining to this will, for we have it not of ourselves. And
therefore he bids us hear, read and meditate, watch, and such like, and
depend on God for a blessing in the use of the means he appoints us. Do
that which is required of you. God will do that [that] belongs to him. He
THE CHRISTIAN WOEK. 19
will give * the will and deed.' Christ he knew that the Father loved him and
would honour him, but yet he prays, * Father, glorify thy Son,' John xvii. 1.
So in sickness, to whom God purposes and decrees health, he shall do well.
But how ? Without means ? No. They must use advice of physicians, as
one of God's ordinances. Thus is it with our souls. We are all naturally
sick and dead. God hath predestinated some to live. But how ? ' Faith
comes by hearing,' Rom. x. 17. He must be conversant still in the use of
means appointed to that end. But the comfortless and weak soul will say,
* Alas ! I use means, yet feel I no grace ; I am not the better.' To such
I say, ' It may be thou art not so instant and urgent in the use of the
means as thou mayest and should be.' And secondlj', thou must not
measure thyself by thy will ; for a Christian's will is ever beyond his
ability, tending still to that perfection which they cannot come to in this
world. Rich men that are covetous think themselves poor, and still desire
more. ' I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich,' saith
the Spirit to the church of Smyrna, Rev. ii. 9 ; and therefore discourage
not thyself. God is faithful. Use the means, and depend not on the
means ; but depend on God in the use of the means, else thou shalt find
but little comfort. And if thou findest thy afiections any whit enlarged to
good duties, and lifted up, and cheered in the performance of them, and
art glad that thou art not so conversant in sinning as formerly thou wert,
but that thou makest a conscience of thy ways, thank God and give him
the glory, and abase and humble thyself. David was much conversant in
this. ' Blessed be the Lord, that hath kept me from shedding of blood,'
saith he to Abigail, 1 Sam. xxv. 32, 33, seq. And his psalms are full of
praises and thanksgiving. And if thou hast any good motions in thine
heart, practise them with all speed, and strengthen them.
VERSE 14.
Do all thintjs idtliout miirmurin[fs and disputinys.
This, verse contains a new precept of Christian modesty, enforced by
removing of contraries. ' Murmuring ' is well known among us, it is so
ordinarily practised of us. It arises from discontent against God or one
another, breaking into words, works, disputings ; whereby one endeavours
to defend that with reasons which in the heat of his affections passed from
him, lest he should be thought inconsiderate and rash. But to come to
the particulai's, consider with me,Jirst, the kinds of it ; secondbj, the causes
of it; and thirdhj, the cure and remedies of it. For the kinds of it, it is
either against God or against man.
First, Against God. Man since the fall quarrels with his Maker.
Whenas heaven and earth must be judged by him, man thinks this unequal,
and therefore he first vmrmureth against God-s counsels and decrees. God
he appoints some to this, others to that. This is unequal, saith the proud
man ; all of us are alike, saith he ; I am as good a man as another. ' Who
art thou that contendest with God ? ' Rom. ix. 20. Remember thou art
clay, and God is the potter ; he hath power to make one vessel to honour,
another to dishonour, Rom. ix. 21. God's decrees are divine and above
thy reach. If that men could apprehend them by reason, then they were
not divine. Lay thy hand therefore on thy heart, and cry, ' 0 the depth
of the counsels and wisdom of God,' Rom. xi. 33. Shall not we give him
leave to do what he will, whenas he is the just Judge of all the world ?
Can he do any wrong ?
20 THE CHKISTIAN WORK.
Second, It is usual with natural men to murmur against GocVs providence,
in doing better to some others than unto themselves. They think themselves
much wronged when they see some others rich and have all, whereas they
themselves are poor ; and this sin is many times found in the children of
God, in David, Job, Habakkuk, ' Why do the wicked prosper?' They found
fault withT'the wicked's prosperity, till they went into the sanctuary of the
Lord. There they found the end of such men, Ps. Ixxiii. 17. Therefore
judge not of any but by his end. Think not all things run round, because
thou seest no reason thereof, for God's wisdom is unsearchable. Observe
the sweet end, issue, and event of all things. Princes they have arcana
imperii. Shall not we suffer God to eujoy such privileges ? Can we endure
that our servant should knov/ all our counsels and minds ? Let us there-
fore yield to God liberty in that which belongs to him ; yield glory, who
disposes all things sweetly.
A third thing which men often murmur at is God's ordinance in magis-
tracy and ministry. Such men, they think God is not wise enough, but
they will teach him whom he shall advance to high place, and whom not ;
and thus they despise not only the magistracy, but God himself. * They
have not cast thee off, but me,' saith God to Samuel concerning the people,
1 Sam. viii. 7 ; and indeed what are they but lawless and wild persons,
that cannot away with order ? They will have none to overrule them ; or,
if they be content for shame to admit thei'eof, yet nolumus hunc regnare,
Chi'ist must not rule over them, nor this nor that man. But know, who-
soever thou art, that all power is from God, and he will defend his own
ordinance against all such as malign it. Ministers are not free from mur-
murers. How many have we that think it tedious to attend on God at
public service ! how many that think and are not ashamed to say they
can profit more in their private studies ! and that this observation of the
Lord's day causeth them to lose a whole year in seven !* Ay, but consider,
God justly curses thy calling whenas thou makest them a stayt to good
duties. It is also thus in families ; wife murmurs against husband, and
husband against wife, blaming themselves in that ihey matched v^ith such,
whenas they think they might have done better vv'ith others. No. Thou
couldst not have done better. God he hath decreed this, and his decrees
are not to be blamed. Servants also are troubled with this disease. They
murmur against their masters, and learn to dispute with them ; and there-
fore St Paul wills servants to count their masters worthy of all honour, that
the word of God be not blasphemed. Tit. ii. 5. And that they do not con-
tend in ' answering again,' verse 9. It is also much in children against
parents, and likewise parents against children ; so that this sin reigneth
over all estates and degrees. Take notice therefore hereof, that thou beest
not overtaken in it.
Causes of murmuring.
1. The first cause of murmuring is ignorance of God's particular providence ;
his excellency and thy baseness. Job when he came to see the glory and
power of God, then said, 'I abhor myself, I will dispute no more,' Job xlii. 6.
If we did likewise consider of his majesty, power, wisdom, and goodness,
would we contend with our Maker ? Consider this in thine own cause,
■will any of us endure a murmuring servant ? shall we think it is reason in
us, and that God must notwithstanding suffer with patience our murmur-
ings and disputations with his sacred Majesty, who is justice itself, and is
not bound to render account of his actions to any.
* In margin liere, ' Men murmur against men.' — G. t Tliat is, = ' hindrance.' — G.
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 21
2. The second cause of murmuring in us is self-love. Man thinks him-
self worthy of all honour, never considering his weakness and infirmities.
Moses was very meek ; he gave no cause to Dathan and Abiram, and the
rest, to provoke them to murmur. God yet having set them in some place
in the congregation, they were so lifted up with desire of honour as they
were too good to be governed, Numb. xvi. 3. Thus is it with every one of
us. We willingly pufi' up ourselves in our own conceits of self-sufficiency,
and hence arises discontentedness, when we think G-od is not so good to us
as our merits do deserve. We look on those good things that God hath
given us, we think not of our infirmities. Hence it is we are never thank-
ful for that we have, but desirous of that which we have not. Hence also
arises unfruitfulness, for such look for greatness, but never or seldom to
do good with that they have, whether power, or riches, or such like.
Cures for this.
The cures of this disease consists partly in meditation, and partly in
practice. First, labour to have a right understanding and knowledge of God's
justice tvithout all exception. Secondly, that he is infinitely good, disposing
all for the benefit and good of his own children. TJdrdly, labour to knoir
and observe his particular providence to these baser creatures, as that the hair
falls not without his providence, and that he regards the sparrows, Mat. x.
29. These will make us practise these things. First, in justifying God in
whatsoever is done and decreed, as David, Ps. cxix. 137, ' Just art thou,
0 Lord, and holy, and righteous are thy judgments.' This was Eli his
practice, 1 Sam. iii. 18 : 'It is the Lord,' said he. And Hezekiah, ' the
word of the Lord is good,' 2 Kings xx. 19 : and in the 39th Psalm, David
held his tongue, ver. 1.* The reason he renders, 'It is thou, Lord, who
art good, and dost all for good.' Therefore learn a holy silence as David
leads us, 62d Psalm ver. 1 : ' My soul waiteth on God with silence,' for so
is the signification of the word (c). Thus did Aaron : though his sons were
destroyed, ' yet he held his peace,' Lev. x. 3. And when thou findest any
discontented thoughts to arise in thine heart, check thyself in the beginning,
Ps. Ixxiii. 22: 'So foohsh and like a beast am I,' saith David; and ' why art
thou disquieted, 0 my soul ? and why art thou troubled within me ' ? Ps. xlii. 5.
And examine ourselves : Is it fit that God should answer me ? is he not
wiser than I ? ' What am I '? ' Am I not wicked, dead, dull ? Have not I
infinitely displeased him ? Let me judge myself, that he may not enter into
judgment with me. What though God hath not heard my prayers ! I have
not hearkened to him when he called me ; he may justly neglect me, I have
neglected him. Yet hath he been wonderfully good to me ; I have received
much good from him, and no evil ; he hath often spared and doth now spare
me ; his corrections are gentle and loving, above that we deserve. In his judg-
ments his mercies are great : ' It is his mercy that I am not consumed,' Lam.
iii. 22. Propound to thyself the example of Christ. He suifered more than
we do, when there was no ill found in him. What says he? ' Not my will,
but thine be done,' Luke xxii. 42. Indeed, we may wish afilictions to be
removed as grievances, but joining them with the will of God, then our will
must give place to his. Eesign thyself into his hands. It is God that
will have it thus with me ; and therefore take and bear with meekness.
And as Paul did, also pray that the will of the Lord may be done. Let his
wisdom be thine, his will thine. And why ? It will be so; it shall be so;
* Cf. the pungent and admirable treatise of John Brinsley ' rAfl220-XA AI'-
NHSIS ; or, a Bridle for the Tongue,' &c., 1GG4, 12mo, notio be confounded with his
' Stand-Still ; or, Bridle for the Times,' 1647.— G.
22 THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
subject thyself therefore to it. Though we behave ourselves as stubborn
horses, he will tame us and overrule us well enough ; he is too mighty for us.
Our stubbornness is the ground of all our crosses and afflictions ; for if we
will not easily be brought in, God, that out of his mercy chose us, will bring
us in to yield. For he will have his will in us, or of us. He will glorify
his justice upon us, if his mercies will not work. Lastly, consider the
greatness of this sin, to whet us on to the duty enjoined. Though we
seem to murmur only against men, we murmur against God ; for what
saith he to Moses ?* ' They have not cast off thee, but they have cast off me,'
1 Sam. viii. 7. God takes part with those in authority, as Moses was.
For there is no contempt of man, but comes from a contempt of God.
The breaches of the second table do spring from the breaches of the first.
Observe also, this sin hath ever been grievously punished, it being a sin
that pulls God out of his throne, and makes men dare to teach God how to
rule. It robs God of his worship, fear, trust, reverence ; for it proceeds
from^ the want of them ; and lastly, it brings with it great unthankfulness,
making men forget all God's goodness bestowed on them.
' Disputing or reasoning.'
It issues from murmuring. For when we are come to that pass that we
murmur, lest men should think us rash in doing it without cause, we then
endeavour to defend ourselves with reason ; and indeed there is nothing
that a carnal man does, but he will have reason for it ; and he will have
the world see that he doth not anything without reason. He will dispute
with God by questioning whether this or that duty is necessary, and against
civil authority by questioning the lawfulness or necessity of such duties as
he is enjoined. This is a great sin. In divine truths, disputing is partly
about probables, and therefore it is excellent to find out of probables the
truth ; but in divine truths, to dispute or make question, is little less than
blasphemy. And it is observable that in those times when there was most
disputing, as among the schoolmen and the like, about religion and divinity,
there was least divinity practised, and very few good men. For the heart
of man was then taken up in the consideration of this or that quiddity ;
and quite neglected the practice of those truths that were known.
Quest. But it will be asked, is all disputing evil ?
Ans. No. The Turk will have none about the Alkoran, and the pope
he will not have men dispute about anything that concerns him. The devil
and his instruments they ever run into extremes. Either men must call
in question all the grounds of divinity, or else receive upon trust whatso-
ever is dehvered to us. No. We must know in doubtful things, this is
good and required to find out certainty. The end of motion is rest, and
the end of questions and doubts tends to truth. Yet have we many spend
all their life in this or that question or doubt, and edify little or nothing.
Like those physicians are they who contend and question about the good-
ness or badness of this or that meat, when a strong labouring man eats it,
and finds as good nourishment out of it as out of any other. While men
dispute and talk about this or that doctrine, a sound downright Christian
receives it, digests it, and is nourished thereby, while the others do even
starve themselves. Let therefore God alone with his secret will. Homo
sum, said Salvian, secreta Dei non inteUigo (d). God does what is done, be
thou content. In human authority also we ought not to dispute, for the
subject hath no calhng to know the mysteries of state. It may be a sin to
command, and yet a virtue to obey. It is thy duty to obey, not to question.
* Samuel. — G.
THE CHKISTIAN WORK.
28
Bat if in thine understanding it be plainly evil which is commanded, obey-
not.* Job did thus, and Job would hear his servant speak, Job xix. 16.
But if it be uncertain to thee and doubtful, certain it is thou must obey.
Obedience must be without syllogisms. The servant ought to obey, the
master must question.
VERSE 15.
' That ice may be blameless, and harmless, the sons of God ivithout rebuke, in
the midst of a crooked and jjerverse nation, among whom you shine as ligJUs
in the world.'
This verse contains a reason, drawn from the end, why we should do all
things without murmuring or disputing. The reason is threefold.
First, that you may be blameless. Secondhj, harmless. Thirdly, that
you may be the sons of God.
' Blameless.' This word, if it be taken generally, is a thing that none
can attain to. God cannot be without blame, for wicked men will quarrel
with him, be he never so good. Christ could not live without blame,
though he went about doing good continually, Heb. xii. 3. It is said he
endured the cross and despised the shame ; nay, the best men are subject
to most shame. Stop wicked men in their lewd courses, they f are thought
presently to be enemies. And the wicked take that for a wrong,^ whenas
they receive so much good from others that they cannot requite it. But
the proper signification of the word is in effect thus much, that they should
so behave themselves, as they should not give any just occasion of offence,
either to their own consciences, or that of other men. Walk towards God
without all manner of profanation or irreligious course, and let your gesture
towards men be just, that your conscience may clear you of all fraud or
guile ; and let your carriage toward your own self be free from all abuse of
your person, by gluttony, drunkenness, and the like. In a word, be holy,
righteous, and sober.
' Harmless.' The word signifies simple, v^ithout all mixture or com-
position ; or else void of hurt, without horn, as the word imports {e).
The doctrine is, that it is the property of Christians to do no harm. The
reason is, because our nature now is changed from that it was ; for by
nature we are to one another lions and wolves, as Heb. xi. 33. Now
therefore our nature being changed, our actions also become changed. The
gospel makes us tame. The Spirit of Christ in all our members is as
Christ himself. His miracles were for good, and they were beneficial to
men. He did all things well. Those therefore that are led by this Spirit
of his do no harm, so far as they are Christ's.
Use. For use note this as a main difference between the Christian and
another man. For all other people are harmful creatures. The four
monarchies were as so many beasts, because to the poor church of God
they were as so many beasts, cruel and devouring. Nay, the civillest man
of all, to his neighbours he seems to be harmless, but towards the church
none so fierce as they.
On the contrary. Christians are meek as doves. The wicked are as
ravenous birds, like eagles' feathers ; | self-love tarns all to its own end.
* Cf. above sentiments with those referred to by Bishop Patrick, note ff, Vol. I.
page 290, seq. — G.
t Qu. ♦ you ' ?— Ed.
+ Qu. ' feathered eagles.' Cf. Ezek. xxxix. 17, and Ps. Ixxviii. 27.— G.
24
THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
Among tbe beasts, tbe Christian is as a lamb, innocent, fruitful ; a common
good. ' When be is exalted tbe land rejoices,' Prov. xi. 11. Contrarily
tbe wicked are termed lions and bears, and tbe like. Among tbe plants
wicked men are as briars : a man must be fenced tbat deals witb tbem,
2 Sam. xxiii. 7 ; tbe godly as lilies, sweet, not fenced witb pricks. Among
eartbly creatures tbe godly are as tbe worm ; tbe wicked, a generation of
vipers and serpents. Tbey will do no rigbt, take no wrong, but a word and
a blow ; a word and presently to suit, rigbt Esaus and Isbmaels. Nay, tbey
glory in it. Ob, say tbey, be is a sbrewd man. Hence comes duels,
combats, and tbe like. Men now are come to tbat pass, tbey will not put
up a word. Nay, tbose tbat are innocent, and will pass by injuries, tush !
tbey are fools. But know, thus to be foolisb is to be wise, to be Cbristian
like ; and sucb fools as tbese are sball find comfort on tbeir deathbeds,
when tbose wise men shall wish tbey had been such fools.
Sucb fools as tbese are, I mean the innocent, sball have God for tbeir help
and shelter, for want whereof tbese worldly wise men come often to ill ends,
and to be made fearful examples. The Psalms are full of encouragements
herein : Ps. xviii. 2, ' The Lord is my rock and fortress,' said David ; and
so in Ps. xxv. 8, 9, 10, &c. Wicked men have horns, but God is a hammer
to break tbe horns of tbe wicked. Tbe innocent person, and he that is
harmless, brings peace to the land, and a blessing to the place where he
lives. Here prayers and intercessions are as the claariots of Israel and tbe
horsemen thereof. Let tbose things be noted to provoke us unto this duty.
' Sons of God.'
This is the third ground whereby we are incited, to be without murmur-
ing and disputing, that you may be ' tbe sons of God ;' tbat is, that by this
you may appear to your own comfort to be tbe sons of God, or tbat herein
you may be as the sons of God, in shewing j^ourselves harmless and blame-
less, which may testify it to yourselves and others.
Doct. Therefore Christians that are harmless and blameless indeed, are the
S077S of God. The ground of this is the love of God, who freely gave bis
own Son to take our nature upon him, and to die to save us from the sting
of death ; be became the Son of man to make us the sons of God without
rebuke. And as God gave him to us, so by faith doth he give us to him ;
and by this God gives us power to be bis sons, John i. 12. Our nature is
hereby changed ; for whom be makes sons he sanctifies tbem and makes
tbem new, and thus become we bis sons. God bath adopted us, not as
natural men, for this or that respect, to an earthly inheritance, but God
freely adopts us to an heavenly inheritance that fadeth not ; neither doth
God adopt us as men do men in solamcn orhitatis* for God bath a Son in
whom be is pleased ; neither again can men's adoption make their adopted
sons to be good ; but when God adopts us, be makes us as be would have
us to be, like himself. Fourthly, other adopted sons, many of them are
not sharers together of the inheritance to one allotted ; but we are made
heirs and fellow-heirs witb Christ himself. This love of God was such as
the apostle could not express in any fit terms ; therefore be saith, ' Behold
what love bath the Father shewed us!' 1 John iii. 1. David thought it
not to be a small thing to be tbe son-in-law of an eartbly prince, 1 Sam.
xviii. 23 ; behold, we are sons of the King of kings. By nature we are sons
of the devil, and rebels. Now, that God should freely, out of bis own free
love, set bis love on us, passing over angels and other men, and not sparing
his own Son, have we not hence cause to cry, ' Behold what love ! ' and
* That is, for the solacino; of childlessness. — G.
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 25
' Oh the depth of that love !' Earthly fathers adopt sons because they die,
but God is eternal ; he never dies ; his Son is everlasting. Consider this
as a point of comfort, for this relation is everlasting ; he never leaveth us
nor forsakes us. Servants are cast out, but the Son abideth for ever ; ser-
vants know not the counsels of their masters, but sons they know the whole
will of God. Consider this as a ground of protection in all dangers, and of
provision of all good. ' I have a father,' saith the prodigal ; ' what need I
die for hunger? I will go to him,' Luke xv. 17. In a word, the word
Father is an epitome of the whole gospel. All the promises therein con-
tained are sealed up by and in this one word, God is our Father. Can we
go to our Father for pardon of sin and not obtain it ? By Christ's death
and satisfaction he is become our Father ; and therefore Christ is Christ
after his resurrection. Can we then want any good thing ? How can we
think he will deny us his Spirit, or that inheritance in heaven, which as
a Father he hath promised ! How then, or at what shall we be dismayed
and discomforted ? What can trouble us ? Mark what is promised in
Ps. ciii. 2, seq. All good that may any way concern thy soul or body.
Dost thou fear thy corruptions ? The Spirit tells thee that God is thy
Father; there can be no condemnation to thee, Kom. viii. 1. Dost thou
fear want ? Surely he that hath given thee Christ, his own Son, how shall
he not with him give thee all things, Eom. viii. 32. Thou shalt want
nothing for thy good. Thou mayest fall into sin, but God is still thy
Father. This relation is everlasting. He will not forsake thee. From
hence thou mayest have an argument against all suggestions. This brings
with it comfort ; but to whom '? It must be to such as are sons, not to the
traitorous and rebellious. It hath been treason for any man to term him-
self the son of a king, not being indeed so, yea, though the king were dead ;
and is it not high treason for a presumptuous traitor to come into the pre-
sence chamber of the great God, and with an impudent face to style God
his Father ? Verily God's answer will be to such, ' You are of your father
the devil : his works ye do,' John viii. 44.
1. Those that are God's sons"' he renews to do his icill and commandments.
1 Pet. i. 16: 'Be ye holy,' saith he, 'for I am holy.' Bat when men
hate goodness and good men, nay, and persecute them, defame them, mur-
der them, John viii. 44, they are of the devil. They are murderers and
liars ; and that religion that teacheth them is devilish.
2. Again, If God be thy Father, thou ivilt have a spirit of prayer. We
are no sooner born but we begin to cry, as Paul did at his first conversion,
Acts ix. 11. Every child of God, in respect of his measure of grace, he
will do his endeavour to sigh and sob out his grief to God : and as the
grace increases, so will this duty be more perfect, till at length he comes to
provoke f God, by his promise to urge and bind him by reasons to hear
him. Those, therefore, that pass day after day, never finding time for the
performance of this duty, they have not God's Spirit ; for by it we have
access to God, Eph. ii. 18 ; Eph. iii. 12 ; and there is no child but will
use this privilege ; and those that use it not may well suspect they are not
children.
8. Thirdly, If thou be the child of God, and hast his Holy Spirit in thee,
thou shalt have, whensoever thou* standest in need, asueet consolation ; for
that ever reveals to thee what thou art, and comforts thee in all distress.
For, Rom. v. 1, ' being justified by faith, thou hast peace with God.'
* In margin here, ' Signs of God's sons.' — G.
t That is, etymologically, to ' call forth,' = to appeal to. — G.
26 THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
What cross soever troubles the child of God, this will ever comfort him :
Well ! I am the child of God ; I am assured God is reconciled to me ; I
have my confidence in him, that when he sees fit I shall be eased ; in the
mean time I am assured I shall not be overcome. This is that which no
natural man can have ; he cannot rejoice in affliction.
4. Fourthly, If thou beest the son of God, thou art not overmuch careful
for the tJiiiu/s that concern this life. Thou usest the means that God hath
ordained, and thou trustest God with the issue and event of all. It is the
property of orphans to care much for their living, and for the things of this
world ; not for those that have such a father as God, that provides for aU
his children liberally ; and men in thus doing shew themselves orphans, or
bastards, and not sons.
Quest. But some will ask, Is it not possible to be the son of God, and
3'et ignorant thereof?
A71S. I answer, Yes. For the child at the first knows not his father ; but
by little and little he comes to know him as he grows in years. So is it
with the child of God. At the first he only cries and bewails his miserable
estate ; but as they grow up, out of the word they learn to see their estates
that is laid up for them, and to know their Father that hath been so good to
them, and to call upon him as their Father for anything that they want.
They know that the Scripture gives it as a note of one that is born of God,
that ' he sins not ' ; that is, that not with delight and continuance in sin, but
that his new nature stirs him up to repent, and to beg pardon and to strive
against it, so as at length he comes to grow so perfect as no temptation
shall overthrow him, though it may foil* him. But he always considers
his estate when any temptation comes : Shall I, that am a prince, a son and
heir to God, do thus, and offend against him ?
' Without rebuke.'
This is comprehended in the former words, and therefore I speak the
less thereof. The words are not to be taken in a strict legal sense, but in
an evangelical sense, implying that we should walk so as we may be free
from rebuke of the best, from gross sins, from common infirmities and
personal corruptions. Whether it be rashness, anger, worldliness, intract-
ableness, the child of God must labour to free himself of them. He ought
to endeavour to attain to perfection, though we cannot attain to it in this
world; and we ought to pray as the apostle, Eph. iii. 18, 'to know the
length, breadth, depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, that
passeth knowledge ;' and thus doing we shall dignify this estate of ours.
* In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.'
The word 'crooked,' or ,' perverse,' is a borrowed word from timber,f
whose excellency is to be right and straight ; and if it be not, must be
squared by the rule. Here it is applied to the disposition and nature of
men, who naturally are of a crooked condition, especially those that are in
the bosom of the church. They are so crooked as they cannot be squared
aright by means ; and so it is ^^'ith those that are right, they are very right.
Doct. The doctrine then is, that wicked men are all perverse and crooked,
Deut. xxxii. 5,
Reason. The reason hereof is, since the fall of Adam we are under sin
and Satan. Sin is nothing but crookedness. We lying in sin are there-
fore crooked inwardly and outwardly, in will and in judgment. Even in
the church, men perversely judge of a Christian's life, and of preaching. So
* That is, sometimes get the better of him. — G.
t That is, (TXO?^&j, on which of. Bishop Ellicott in loc, with his references. — G.
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 27
tliat till we be converted, our wisdom is enmity to God. But the will espe-
cially is 2^erverse. Men they will die. ' Why will ye die, 0 house of
Israel?' Jer. xxvii. 13. 'How often would I have gathered you,' saith
Christ, * and you would not ! ' Mat. xxiii. 37. Endeavour to bring men to
rules : they will not ; they will perish. Bring them to make conscience of
private prayer, good company : away with it, they will not yield. Our
affections are also i^erverse. Do not most men love their bane ? Ill com-
pany, bad courses, swearing and blaspheming. Men will die rather than
they will leave their courses. Men are also naturalhj yerverse in opiMsition
to means. God commands, promises, sends mercies and judgments, but
who regards ? They will go on in their ways ; nay, as in Deut. xxix. 19,
* they will bless themselves in them.' This is the nature of most men in
the visible church, more perverse than the Jews.
' Signs hereof.'
1. The first sign of this perverse estate is, bring thyself to the rules of
God's truth ; if thou do it unwillingly, and art brought to it by violence, if
you shun the word and the means of salvation, if you shun good company, it is
a sign you are crooked ; nay, so crooked, as you desire to be crooked still.
2. But be it so that thou canst be content to apply thyself to the rule,
then ivhether do you tremble to apply the rides to your lusts and corruptions ?
You have many are so set on their sins as they will justify sin by the word,
and w^rest the meaning thereof to their own lusts. This is a sure infallible
sign of a perverse estate.
Cure hereof.
1. Bring thyself to God's ordinance, where thou shalt know thine own
crookedness and the danger of it.
2. But especially do this u-hen thou art young ; for those that are settled
in their dregs are not to be dealt withal. It is good therefore to do as
nurses do, strengthen ourselves when we are 3'oung and pliable.
3. Thirdly, Keep good company, and such as by their life will discover to
thyself thy corruptions and j)erverse estate ; and thus when thou findest it,
4. Consider what a miserable estate thou art in. We amongst us account
it a great eyesore to see a body that should be straight to be crooked.
Oh that we had eyes to see this spiritual crooked estate we are in ! Oh
what fear and grief would possess us ! How would we labour to free
ourselves of it, and to straighten ourselves every day, lest we should be
found unfit for God's building, and good for nothing but to burn ! With
such as walk perversely God will deal perversely. Lev. xxvi. 28. It may
be he will seem to sleep for a while, but at the hour of death it will shew
that he looked for better courses at thy hands.
5. Pray with the psalmist, Ps. cxix. 5, ' Oh that my ways were so direct,
that I might keep thy statutes !' Observe again, that the godly here live
in the midst of lions and wolves ; those that are of a froward and perverse
heart. For those that live under the means of grace, and will not be
wrought upon, they are much worse for it. There is more innocence in a
Turk than in some that profess better. And those that profess most, if
they be hypocrites, of all other make the most bitter opposition against the
truth.
The reasons hereof are : First, God hereby shews his power, in that he
can and doth preserve his children among lions from the wrath of the lion.
Christ he must rule, but it is in the midst of his enemies ; and therefore
his church must be in the midst of his enemies, for he is king of his
church.
28
THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
2. Again, in regard of the wicked, it justifies their just condemnation.
Tliey cannot say but that they had the means, as well of the gospel as the
examples of those that were good. Thus did Noah justly condemn the old
world, and Lot Sodom.
3. Furthermore, those that are not desperately wicked, but of whom we
may conceive some hope, surehj theij hy living with the (jodhj may be won ;
as when they see religion in others bringing forth good works, they see
religion is no impossible thing, for they see men troubled with the like
infirmities that they are that practise it ; and they see it is sweet, because it
makes men tractable and loving.
4. Moreover, in regard of the godly, God suffers them to be amongst the
wicked, for it refines them. Envy and malice are quick-sighted. God's
children know they live in the midst of envy, therefore they are wary. Lot
lived more uprightly in Sodom than when he was out of it. Wickedness
binds in religion, and makes it more forcible, even as by an antiperistasis ;-
it unites it and strengthens it. It makes the godly to be more careful, to be
unblameable, and to watch to keep themselves from doing hurt, and from
taking hurt ; for wicked men are watchful to take advantage of any ill example
in the weak Christian, and to follow it. But, on the contrary, the weak
Christian is overcome, and carried away with the streams of vice, and
therefore are the more watchful.
' Directions for life.'
1. Eemember tJuj ccdling — that you are sons of God; and forget not your
profession, and fetch reasons from your callings. You are God's children;
you are called with a holy calling. Shall I do thus, and offend against my
Father? and shall I disgrace that holy calhng, and scandalise it ? Shall I
give cause to make the enemy to blaspheme ?
2. Again, Observe the persons with ivhoni thou conversest. Are they
malicious and envious ?
3. Beware how thou give them offence; especially watch thy natural cor-
ruptions and weaknesses. Take heed of secret ill thoughts.
4. Carnj the example of David about with thee ; see in him what his
thoughts wrought. That which thou tremblest to do, tremble to think on ;
for God justly leaves such in great sins that solace themselves in ill
thoughts.
5. Again, Look to duties of the second table. These sins are great sores in
the eyes of our enemies.
6. Use a loving, jntiful carriage towards them that are ivithout. Though
they be never so wicked, give them their due, and consider the goodness
thou hast was given thee. Therefore be not puffed up in thine own con-
ceit, but fear continually.
' Among whom you shine as lights in the world.'
These words contain another reason why the children of God ought to
be unreprovable. For, saith the apostle, ' you are lights.' All God's
children are lights, but so as there is an order of them. God is the ground
of all light ; he is the Father of lights. Christ he is the Sun of righteous-
ness. These are the grand lights. The word of God is also a light and a
lantern to light us in the dark ways of this world. From hence light is
derived to the saints, who receive it from Christ by the word and Spirit.
You being therefore thus enlightened, you are to converse amongst men as
lights, saith the apostle. For the better understanding thereof, consider
in what things God's children resemble light ; and,
* That is from avri and 'TTiPiardaig G.
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 29
1. First, We know this creature of light is an excellent creature, shewing
the excellency of all other creatures ; and it is a beautiful creature. Thus
is the word, and children of God. By it all the world is discovered to be
as Egypt, and the church to be as the land of Goshen.* And this is beauti-
ful in the eyes of God, who loves that which is like himself. He is light
indeed, and nothing but light is lovely to him. He loves those sparks
which our natural corruption hath left unto us ; and therefore much more
the light of his own Spirit which he places in us.
2. Secondly, Lif/ht is jmre, and admits of no contae/ion, though it be in
the most contagious places of all. So is the word : it is pure, and makes us
pure and sincere, and that we should not be defiled with the lusts and cor-
ruptions of this world wherein we converse.
3. Thirdly, Lir/ht makes ns to discern of differences.. It shews itself, and
discovers other things. Thus doth the word shew itself where it is, and
the man that hath it doth discern of things that differ. He judges of the
wicked, and censures their lewd courses. The child of God is above all
wicked men, and themselves are justly judged of none ; for the wicked men
cannot judge of those that are lights, no more than a blind man of colours,
for they are blind by nature. The world would indeed censure them, when
indeed they cannot discern themselves, when contraril}^ he discerns himself
and knows his infirmities and his slidings.
4. Again, Lifjht is a heavenly quality. So is the word of God, holy,
pure, transforming godly men to its own likeness, to be heavenly. His
bread is from heaven ; his afiections, desires, thoughts, endeavours are
heavenly. His way is upward. He is heavenly-minded ; while he is on
earth he is in heaven.
5. Moreover, Liyht is a most conifortahle thing in darkness, expelhng
terrors and discomforts. Thus is a Christian that is enlightened by the
word. Terrors are in the word, but the word comforts the heart of a
Christian. It makes him able to judge of his way and estate ; to know he
is the Son of God ; that all the promises are his ; that heaven is his ; that
he hath God's mark. Contrarily, the wicked have no light at all ; for
while they live here their life here is as a death, full of discomfort ; they
having no comfort in anything, save a little glimpse of false joy in the
creatures ; which when they leave them they are in the more terror,— all
their comfort bei'og in this, that they see not that miserable estate before
they fall into it and feel it.
6. Furthermore, Liyht makes a thing full of evidence. All the world
cannot persuade a man contrary to that they see. Thus the word so dis-
covers to us our estates in grace, and so surely as all the world can never
shake the foundation of our faith. ' Though he kills me,' saith Job, ' I will
trust in him,' Job xiii. 15. But for the wicked, their life is full of stag-
gering, full of doubtings ; and hence is it that the children of God are
counted by God holy, pure, comely, fair and dear, because they live with a
resolution. The papists, they will tell us that the word is obscure ; let
them tell us the light is obscure, for we may as well believe one as the
other.
7. But to proceed : Liyht is a quality of surest motion. It spreads
suddenly. Thus do the children of God. They communicate to others.
They shine, spreading forth the grace, first of all to those that are next them,
as children and friends, then to such as are further ofi'. Those that have
* Cf. Exodus X. 23.-G.
30 THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
not this nature, that do not desire to do good to others, they are not children
of the light ; for it is the nature of all good to communicate.
8. hiylit, we know, hath a secret influence wheresoever it is. Thus also is
the grace of God in his children. It is ever operative and working. What
light soever they receive from the Sun of righteousness, they diffuse it and
spread it to others, like the moon ; and therefore he adds further :
' As lights in the world.'
We that are ' lights in this world,' we are, it is true, in a dampish place,
yet must we shine, though hut dimly. Therefore ministers, let them look
both to their doctrine and life, for they are great lights, or at the least
should he so, and they will be noted. We know when the sun or moon
are eclipsed. We all observe it as a wonder. And thus will it be with
such lights as ministers should be. Men continually eye them. If they
be eclipsed, it will be wondered at and observed of all. Let therefore not
only ministers but others also look to themselves, that they take heed of
those things that will eclipse them. We know whence the eclipse in nature
of these heavenly bodies do come ; from the interposition of dark, gross,
earthly bodies. Thus it is with God's children. Their cares, griefs, and
studies in this world being ever more carnal than is meet, they eclipse us
and make us dark, keeping us from the presence of that light which should
enlighten us. But especially, and above the rest, self-love, that blinds us
and eclipses all other lights from us.
9. Again, Heavenly lights are perpetual. Even as stellce cadentes, so is
it with the wicked man. Though he seems to shine fairly, yet because the
causes of this light in him are earthly, no marvel if after the force of them
be spent they suddenly vanish. But the godly man's light is of another
substance and nature. It is heavenly, and is ever like himself. It may
indeed be obscured, but never wholly eclipsed. Either worldly sorrow or
joy doth for a time sometimes darken them, and may be so obscured as
neither the world, no, nor themselves can discern their estates for their
own comfort ; yet for all this will they at length recover their former
brightness and glory again. Saint Paul, he saith, a Christian life is con-
cealed and hid with Christ in God, Col. iii. 3 ; but yet when he shall
appear, then shall we also appear.
Use. The use of all this is to try us whether we be lights. Surely if we
be, we will have no communion with those that work the works of darkness.
So saith Saint John, 1 John i. 5-7. Again, if we be lights we shall wonder
at our glorious estate we are in ; we shall think all our life before we came
into this estate to be dark ; yea, though formerly we were civilly disposed.
And especially shall we wonder at that which we have in future expectation
and hope, reserved to us in heaven. A carnal man wonders still at worldly
matters, as stately buildings and the like ; a Christian thinks all base in
respect of the immense love of God freely set upon him.
Directions how to attain to be lights.
1. First, If we desire to be lights, communicate thyself irith the chief est
light, as the stars are ever in the presence of the sun, and from his light
they receive theirs. Be sure thou placest thyself in God's eye continually.
2. Secondly, Use the means, use the glass of God's word. Thou shalt
not only see thy estate therein, but by it thou shalt be transformed into
God's image, 2 Cor. iii. 18. Other glasses have no such power like this
mirror of the gospel. It makes us like God, because it hath the Spirit of
God ever accompanying with it, whence it is the word of light. Those
therefore that are out of the sunshine of the gospel, no marvel if they be
THE CHBISTIAN WOBK. 31
dark. The moon, so far as it is averse from the sun, is ever dark. So is a
Christian. So far as he is turned from Christ, so far he is dark. Let
thine eyes therefore be ever towards him in the use of the means, the word,
prayer, Jand the sacraments, and such Hke.
3. Again, In thy conversation have no correqwndency with the ivorld, for
what fellowship is there between light and darkness ? How foully do they
therefore deceive themselves that will be wise. They will be protestant or
papist, zealous or profane, according as their company are. God will turn
Buch worldly wisdom into mere folly, who will be ashamed of such when
he shall come in his kingdom. It is a comely thing to be Christians with
Christians. Light with light augments the light, even as the multitude of
Btars joined in the heaven make the r/alaxia.^' A company of Christians
meeting in one make a glorious light indeed, and such a lustre as will
dazzle the eyes of the wicked world. Be stirred up therefore to use good
company.
4. And follow the example of thoxe that be lir/hts, and the directions thou
findest in the word, and thou shalt shine as the sun in the kingdom of God.
It is true the wicked they will labour to cover this light wath clouds of dis-
grace and detraction, and thus they reward God for his goodness, but they
have their lesson. There is no surer sign of a wicked man than when they
endeavour to deprave these lights and to obscure them. And yet this
practice is very usual, when they see especially any new light risen up, they
deride and scoff at that man or woman ; they hate him for his light. Like
Cain are thej', that hated his brother for his goodness ; and herein are not
only imitators of Cain, but they shew themselves to be of their father the
devil, for his works they do. Well, as we desire not to be of this sort, let
■Qs see that we use the means. Go and be where the word of light is, where
it shines ; for those that live without it live in darkness. Set not thy
carnal reason against God's wisdom. He bids thee do this. And as thou
desirest the peace of Zion,
5. Pray for this light that it may grow more and more unto the jyerfect day
thereof.
6. And labour to see the contrary estate of such as are in darkness, where
the king of fear ruleth, and where is nothing but terror.
7. And entreat God that he would open thy dull eyes, that the glorio7(s lir/ht
of the gospel may shine therein. So doth the apostle, Eph. i. 18 ; and thus
shalt thou at the length come to shine here in this world, without which
thou shalt not shine in the world to come. The light of nature and reason
cannot bring thee to the light of glory.
8. And when thou art converted, ' strengthen thy brethren,'' Luke xxii. 32 ;
labour to bring others into this marvellous light. ' He that gains a soul
shall shine as the stars,' Dan. xii. 3. But will some men say, May we
converse then or live among wicked men ? Yes, verily ; for the Holy
Spirit saith that we must ' shine in the world.' Christ did not pray that
God would take his disciples out of the world, but that he would keep them
in the world from evil, John xvii. 15. But that which is forbidden is
familiar conversation and amity with them ; otherwise we may live with
them so as by example to gain them. And herein the Christian reasoneth
contrary to the world ; for the world saith. Do this. Why ? Because it
is the custom, and most men use it. Nay, saith the Christian, w^e must
live so as we ought to endeavour to make others, which are wicked, like
ourselves. We must gain others by our good example. We must ' redeem
* That is, = the milky way. — G.
32 THE CnrjSTIAN WORK.
the time, because the days are evil,' Eph. v. IG. Because others are per-
verse, be thou good. Noah was not as the old world, nor Lot as Sodom.
We as they ought to be preachers of righteousness ; and if we cannot bring
others to the light of the truth, yet to grieve and pity their estates. And
as David bewailed, ' Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell in Mesech,'
&c., Ps. cxx. 5, and yet to comfort ourselves in this, that it will not be
always thus with us. The time will come that we shall be freed from them,
and we shall have communion with the Trinity and with all the saints. In
the mean time shine here ; swear not with them ; be not dissolute with
them, but be constant in going against the stream. Call to mind thy
calling, that thou art the son of God. Thou art to be a light to those that
are in darkness. Eeason not for thy corruptions, but ever against them.
I am a Christian ; shall I hate him that I profess to follow ? I am a son
of God ; shall company make me perverse ? I am a light ; shall I cease
to shine ? No, Lord ; while I am here give me grace that I may grow
more and more fit for that light and glorious estate that thou hast in keep-
ing for me against that great day of accounts.
VERSE 16.
Holding forth the luord of life.
That which is of light is life, saith John, i. 4: ' The life was the light of
men ;' and therefore he saith we should be as lights, * holding forth the
word of life.' It is not enough for us to shine to ourselves, but we ought
to shine to others in speech and conversation. By ' the word of life ' here
especially is meant the gospel ; for the law is a killing letter. We being
in our corrupt estate, the law pronounces us dead as concerning ourselves.
Then comes the gospel, that sends us out of ourselves to Christ ; and in
him it pronounces life to such as come to him ; and it describes to us the
way that leads to life, and the degrees of life, as redemption, grace, and
glory, 2 Tim. i. 10. It again begins this life in us, and works faith in us,
whereby we lay hold on hfe ; and therefore it is also called the word of
faith. It is called the word of the kingdom ; for it ofiers the kingdom to
us. It is also called the word of reconciliation ; for that it tells us where
it is to be had, and works it in us. It is therefore the word of life ; and
those that believe it not, are dead in law, for the sentence is already passed
upon such. He is already condemned as dead men. He wants sense,
motion, and comeliness. For sense, he cannot relish any goodness, either
in hearing or seeing it. He is blinded, and he stops his ear at the voice of
the charmer ; and this makes him wonder how others are affected with any
good thing. For motion, he cannot set one step onward to salvation.
And for that comeliness, we all by nature are more loathsome than the dead
carcase. Abraham could not endure the sight of his own wife when she
was dead, though living she was so dear to him, Gen. xxiii. 4. Thus are
we by nature altogether rotten and polluted ; speech, fine discourse, favour,
and all other outward good parts, they can put no comeliness upon us.
They are but on us as flowers stuck upon a dead carcase. All men know
that it is rotten and stinking, and void of all comeliness notwithstanding
them. This then must teach us to regard more this word of life, and to
pity them that have it not ; and how to judge of such that withhold this
word of life from them that live in darkness, as the papists do. Surely
there is no cruelty like this cruelty, to starve men's souls. Observe we
therefore from hence, he that refuseth God's ordinance he refuseth life.
THE CHRISTIAN WORK. 33
What shall we then think of those private devotions, wherewith many men
put off God's ordinance, thinking that they can get as mucli good in their
warm chamber by reading of books, as in the public congregation by hear-
ing God's word taught ? These are fools, setting their foolish inventions
against God's wisdom, as though they could tell God better means to beget
and strengthen faith, than he himself can appoint. Oh, but men will say,
it hinders us from our callings ; in seven years we lose a year. But dost
thou not live by this word ? Shalt thou do well to be ashamed of that, and
lightly esteem of that word that brings with it life and glory ? But why is
this word no more esteemed ? Surely men deceive themselves with self-
conceit. They think themselves good, when they are stark naught ; and
that they are alive, whenas like to the Laodiceans they are dead in sin and
iniquity, Eev. ii. IG, seq.
(1.) The reason hereof is, tliey want the Spirit to convince them.. For the
Spirit convinces us of death. Where this Spirit is not, none will seek for
life ; for they know not that they are dead by nature ; they believe not God's
law that should convince them. No marvel then if they affect not a change.
(2.) A second reason is, for that such men as these are carried by sense.
They see they want no outward content, and for other things they think
God will be merciful ; they think God loves them, for that he gives them
worldly riches. There is another sort of men, and these are brought to
despair ; how is it that these, seeing their misery, do not esteem of this
word aright, and come to it as to the word of life ? I answer, they consider
not of this word aright ; they think their sins so many as that the word
cannot enlighten their darkness. To such I say, they are most fit for this
word of life ; for Christ bids such come to him as are * weary and heavy
laden' with their sins, and he hath promised release, Mat. xi. 28. And he
saith he came ' to bind up the broken in heart and the bruised in spirit,'
Isa. Ixi. 1 ; and therefore, let such be encouraged by these and such like
gracious invitations and promises to come to the word, and with attention
to search into the depth of these promises made to them. But thus much
of this, that the word is a word of life. Now we come to the next, that
Christians must ' hold forth this word of light or life.' And this is done
in speech and action, profession and confession, when they are called
thereto. For every Christian is a Hght that must shine. What use ia
there of light under a bushel ? Many are of contrary judgment. They
think it wisdom to be close in their profession ; in company of papists, to
be popish ; of religious, to be religiously disposed. Surely this wisdom is
carnal and devilish. What use is there of such light ? They are Hke false
lanthorns, which are commonly called thieves' lanthorns. They carry their
light to themselves ; none is benefited thereby ; they are fit "for works of
darkness. Of such, Christ hath already said, ' He will hereafter be
ashamed,' Mark viii. 38. Others there are inwardly one thing, outwardly
another, contrary to the Christian's duty, which is to hold forth the hght
that he hath. And this do they, whenas in all passages of their life they
are turned into the word, and cast into the mould thereof ; then it teaches
us to pray, to be patient, to joy, yea, in the midst of afflictions, and to do
good even to those that hate us. And if we, according as we are taught,
do these things, then do we hold forth this word of life, and it will be an
exceeding great comfort to us in life, in death, in all estates. It will assure
us that we are transformed into the image of this word, and the holding
forth of this word in our lives thus, will cause a far louder report in the
ears of God than all the verbal profession we can make.
VOL. V. c
34 THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
In temptation, if we find ourselves even at despair, by considering the
curse of the law, due to us for our sins, if in this estate we can apply the
gospel so to us, as thereby we find comfort out of it, and such as upholds
us, surelj^ this is a great sure sign that we are transformed ; and by this
we hold forth the power of the word, and thereby the light thereof. In
the hour of death, when the devil is most busy to shake our faith, we not-
withstanding are not daunted, but ground our faith on the word, and can
comfortably apply that speech of St Paul, ' There is no condemnation to
those that are in Christ.' We hereby do set forth the power, comfort, and
truth of the word. Contrarily, those that are impatient in trouble, and
puzzled with every temptation, swallowed up with fear, and shew no assur-
ance of faith in them, notwithstanding the great means they have had,
these live as though there were no word. Nay, they do in a manner
slander the word in their lives, making show as if the word had no power,
comfort, or strength at all in it. For our parts, let us not leave till we
have digested all the promises and comfortable assurances the gospel doth
everywhere lay out to us. Hereby we shall shew ourselves far above all
other men, and in all estates we shall be the same, not moved at all. Let
us be therefore thankful for this word of life, and joyful in it, and treasure
it up against the evil day, setting our minds ever upon it ; let it be as a
paradise to us, where the tree of life is placed. Christ in the word is as
the tree of life. He that tasteth of this tree shall never die. By the
* first Adam ' we come to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, by
woeful experience, by the which we all died, but by the second Adam we
come to eat of the tree of life, by which we live perpetually.
NOTES.
(a) P. 8. — ' No perfunctory thing can please God. To this end, as Seneca says,
of performing of duties natural, so in religious duties there is required : first, a riglit
judgment of the nature of the thing we do ; secondly, an affection to do it,' &c.
This is a commonplace of the Stoic philosophy ; and while I have not heen able to
trace the words, the sentiment is frequent in the Letters of Seneca, as well as in those
of Cicero.
(6) P, 15. — ' " Fortiter pro te, suaviter pro me, Domine," saith the father.' A varia-
tion or adaptation by Augustine of the apophthegm, 'Fortiter in re, suaviter in modo.'
(c) P. 21. — ' " My soul waiteth on God with silence," for so is the signification of
the word.' The literal rendering is, ' Only to God (is) my soul silent ;' one of the
standard proof -texts with the Quakers, in support of their ' silent ' meetings.
(d) P. 22. — ' Homo sum, said Salvian, secreta Dei non intelligo.' This is one of
various of the reverential sayings of this priest of Marseilles, who is usually classed
with the Fathers. It occurs in the most thoughtful of his books, his De Providentia
Dei, which, from its frequent citation by the Puritans, must have been a favourite
with them. Cf. lib. i., near beginning.
(e) P. 23. — ' Harmless.' The word signifies without all mixture or comjiosition ;
or else void of hurt, without harm, as the word imports. The word is 'a///?/xffro/,
on which cf. Bishop Ellicott, who gives valuable references on its derivation and
lexical meaning. G.
OF THE PROYIDENCE OF GOD;
But I trust in the Lord that 1 mijself also shall come shortly. — Phil. II. 24.
In the former verses the apostle Paul shews his care and love that he bore
to the Philippians, in that he would not leave them destitute of a guide and
director ; and therefore he sends Timothy, whom he commends, to shew his
love the more ; and for his greater commendations, he shews the wicked-
ness of the contrary sort, that thereby Timothy his sincerity may the bet-
ter appear ; ' others seek their own, but Timothy as a son hath served me.'
He lays down the causes of this his sincerity. He first had learned the
Scriptures of a child ; then he had a gracious grandmother and mother. It
is an excellent comfortable thing whenas children can say, * I am the son of
thy servant and thy handmaid,' Ps. Ixxxvi. 16. And a third cause or help
was his conversing with him. He drew in the sweet spirit of the blessed
apostle. God, he derivesf good to men by good society. They are there-
fore enemies to themselves that regard not good, choice company ; for it
makes of good excellent, and of those that are not yet good, if they belong
to God, it makes them good.
In this verse he shews a further degree of his care of the Philippians.
There are % divers ways to come to the knowledge of men's estate : as first
by report ; secondly, by messengers ; thirdly, by letter. St Paul had used
all these ; but his care was such as all these would not content him. He
must see them himself, which is indeed the surest means and way of all. _
In these words, therefore, consider the manner of the delivery of this
speech, ' I trust in the Lord.' Then the matter, which contains a purpose
of his coming. Then the ground, his trust in God. Here, first of all,
mark the language of Canaan ; and the heavenly dialect,
1. To express future 2nirposes icith a reservation of, and resignation to, God's
will and guidance. ' I trust in God,' saith the apostle ; for the hearts of
men, yea of kings, are in God's hand, to turn and wind them as the rivers
of waters, Prov. xxi. 1. This shews Christ to be God, for he is the object
of trust. Observe in the second place,
2. God's providence extends to every j^articidar thing. He guides our
incomings and our outgoings ; he disposes of our journeys ; nay, his pro-
vidence extends to the smallest things, to the sparrows and to the hau- of
our heads ; he governs every particular passage of our lives.
« ' Of the Providence of God ' immediately follows ' The Christian Work,' without
separate title-page, in the 4to of 1639. Cf. note, page 2.— G.
t That is, ' communicates.'— G. + Misprinted ' is.'— G.
86 OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
Use 1, This should teach tis to set upon our affairs with looking vp to
heaven for permission, poiver, and sufferance; and this St James enforces by
reproving the contrary. ' Go to,' saith he in his fourth chapter, and
ver. 13th, and adds the instruction thereupon ; ' for that ye ought to say,
if the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.' Let us therefore in all
our affairs be holy, and not bind or limit our holiness only to coming to
church ; but seeing at all times and in all places we are Christians, and
ever in the presence of God, let us place ourselves still in his eye, and do
nothing but that we would be willing God shall see ; and labour to behold him
in every good thing we have, and give him thanks in all the good we enjoy.
Use 2. And secondly, it ought to give us warning, that %ve our/ht not to
set vpon anythinrj, u-Jiercin we cannot expect God's guidance : and so conse-
quently cannot trust on him for a blessing upon what we do. For if we
do, we must look to meet the Lord standing in our way, as Balaam did, in
opposing our lewd and wicked intentions.
Use 8. And thirdly, it ought to teach us to take nothing hut that for
which we may give God the thanks and piraise ; as contrarily many do, who
may thank the devil for what they have gotten, and yet make God implicitly
the giver of their most unjust exactions.
VEKSE 25.
Yet I siqjposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditm.
Paul thought it not enough to plant the seeds of the word amongst them,
but he would be viewing it and watering. ' I purpose shortly to see you,'
Baith he ; but because I am now in prison I cannot come myself, but I pur-
pose presently to send you Epaphroditus, and afterwards Timothy ; and
this he thought necessary — for well he knew that the residence of the pastor
is necessary to the flock of the Lord, in some sort. But to stand upon
this doctrine is not my purpose. The next thing I come to is, the com-
mendations of Epaphroditus, which is divers ; out of which generally thus
much we learn, that it is our duty to give them commendations that are jn-aise-
worthy, even to this end that thereby we might raise a good opinion of them,
especially of the ministers of the gospel ; for hereby is the gospel itself
glorified by us. And indeed it is a great sign that the spirit of the devil
rests in that man, that doth detract and disparage the good children of
God. For it comes hereby that the gospel of God is also blamed, and
neglected. For the commendation of the minister is a preparative, and
makes way for the word.
, My brother.
The word in this place signifies one of the same office. As judges call
one another ' brother,' so doth St Paul call Epaphroditus ' brother,' in
regard of his office and spiritual function ; and hereby he shews his love
to him ; for ' brother' is a name of love and friendship. Secondly, it shews
his care of Epaphroditus ; for one brother will care for another, unless they
be of a Cainish nature. Thirdly, it is a name of equality, for brothers are
equal. And hereby the apostle shews his humility, who being an apostle
and pillar of the church, descended so low as to call one of inferior rank
and calHng, ' brother.' He had another spirit before his conversion ; he
persecutes the church of God. But afterward those that he formerly per-
eecutes are now his ' brethren.' Now he thinks he is a debtor to all, both
Jew and Grecian, Rom. i. 14. The proud man thinks all are debtors to
OF THE PEOVIDENCE OF GOD. 87
him, that all do owe him respect and reverence ; and indeed it is the spirit
of the devil that ' lifteth up.' Antichrist is his eldest son indeed, who
lifteth himself up against, and above all that is called God. Contrarily
Christ humbles himself to the death to call us brothers. Shall we then
disdain to live together in terms of equality and love ? Is there not infinite
dilference between Christ and us ? Was there not in him such a glory as
passcth our apprehension ? and what had we, or what have we, that we
should lift ourselves up after this fashion ? If we will strive to be above
and outgo others, let it be in humility. Go each before others, in giving
honour to others above ourselves. Observe, therefore, grace takes advan-
tage of all bonds to increase love ; bonds of office as well as of nature. Men
of the same profession emulate and envy one another. Thus it is naturally,
but let religion teach us better, and take away this natural poison from us.
Fellow-lahourer.
The apostle commends him yet further. He calls Epaphroditus his
' fellow laboui'er,' in regard of the pains he endured ; and ' fellow soldier,'
in regard of the perils and dangers he jointly did undergo with the apostle.
The doctrine that hence arises is, that ministers are fellow-labourers. They
are not, or should not be, fellow-loiterers, as many are. No. The Scrip-
tures compares them to the most painful and laborious professions ; to
husbandmen, whose labour is circular, every year renewing as the year
doth renew. Such is the ministers' labour, converting and strengthening
others. It is a great labour to break the shell of the word ; to lay open
the right interpretation thereof ; to divide it aright ; to convert a soul ; to
preserve it from the devil. It is as the peril of women in travail ; ' My
little children, of whom I travail in birth till Christ be formed in you,' saith
Paul our apostle in Gal. iv. 19. Idle people are therefore unjust esteemers
and judgers of the pains of ministers, they knowing it is out of their pro-
per element.
Use. If ministers then be labourers, you to whom we preach are God's
orchard ; you must submit yourselves to be wrought on. If we be builders,
yoa must be lively stones of this building. You must suffer yourselves to
be squared, and cut, and made fit for this building while you are here.
At the building and finishing of the material temple there was no noise of
hammers, or such instruments ; all were fitted in the mountain. Thus*
must we expect to be fitted here while we live ; for in that beautiful temple
in heaven, there is no fashioning or fitting, either by crosses to hammer
us, or by any other means. We must here be conformable to his death,
that we may also be conformed to the similitude of his resurrection here-
after. If ministers be husbandmen, you must be * ground,' and such as
may bring forth fruit to perfection, else -all our labour and pains that we
take with you will be to no other end than to make you to be near cursing,
Heb. vi. 7. And know, it is not sufficient that you bring not forth evil
fruit ; but every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, must be hewed
down and cast into the fire. Mat. iii. 10. Eemember Christ cursed the
fig-tree for unfruitfulness ; and with what curse ? Even unfruitfulness.
Thus will God do with us. If he finds us unfruitful, he will take away his
Spirit, and we shall be unfruitful still ; and thisf by woeful experience we
see daily, with many that come indeed within the sound of the word every
day, but mend not one jot ; nay, they become every day worse. May not
God complain, as he did of Judah in the parable of the vineyard, Isa. v. 5,
* Misprinted ' this.' — G. t Misprinted ' thus.' — G.
38 OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
that lie hatli hedged us and fenced us about -with government, and authority,
and good laws, and hath taken out of us the stones and thorns of popery,
and profaneness ; and yet we bring forth wild grapes. And might he not
break down the wall ; and that justly, and sufier us to be devoured. Surely
yes ; and yet must needs we acknowledge him to be just. But it follows,
the apostle calls Epaphroditus here his,
Felloic-laboKrer. It is observable here, concerning God's goodness,
that he suffers not his faithful labourers to be alone, Christ sends them
out by ' two and two,' before his face, Mark vi. 7 ; and this he doth that
they might be a mutual aid, strengthening and comforting one another.
Thus did Christ in old time, and thus he doth also in later times. He sent
Augustine and Jerome, Luther and Melancthon ; whers, by the way also,
observe God's wisdom in sending men of diversity of gifts : Jerome, severe
and powerful ; Augustine, meek and gentle ; Luther, hot and fiery ; Melanc-
thon, of a soft and mild spirit ; one to temper the other's over forwardness,
and thereby to prevail with some that liked not of the strictness of the
other. And by this means God sent teachers suitable to the natures and
fitting the several humours of men, among whom some desire to hear the
' sons of consolation,' others the ' sons of thunder.'
Felloxv-soldier.
Every man's life is a warfare, but most of all and above all, the
minister is continually in war and strife. They are soldiers, leaders ; they
carry the standard, but they of all others are in the most danger, they
stand in the brunt of the battle. The reason hereof is : the devil, having
malice against the whole church in general, 'specially aimeth at them
that pull men out of his service into the church, even as beasts do rage
against such as take their young away from them. It is the minister that
treads on the serpent's head : no marvel, then, if the devil endeavoureth
to bite them by the heel. Thus dealt he with Christ, when he first set
upon his office of mediator ; and thus did he with Moses and Paul, in the
main plots contrived against them. Such as those are great eyesores to
him, and this is it that makes them soldiers and captains. But how ? I
answer, even as Paul, 1 Cor. x. 4. So the ministers do fight against the
strongholds of corruption within us, against natural reason, corrupt aliec-
tions, proud conceits ; they fight against these imaginations, and in them,
against the devil himself, who doth* use these instruments to bring his pur-
poses to pass. In ministers, therefore, it is required principally knowledge
in the stratagems of the devil, in especial manner in those amongst whom
they should converse ; by observing the corruptions of the times, places,
and the corrupt customs, and also the general corruptions of callings. He,
therefore, that would be a good soldier, had need be continually resident
in his charge ; for the devil having gotten hold once, he seeks to sing them
asleep with ' Soul, thou hast much goods,' &c., Luke xii. 19. This is
dangerous. The minister had need look to it ; for men do soothe them-
selves up in pleasure, thinking that religion may well stand with the love
of the world. The watchman must tell them plainly, ' You cannot serve
God and mammon.' If these false conceits, this false divinity that is in
us, were once removed, we should easily resist the devil. Our enemies
are within ue, and therefore what saith Christ ? ' The prince of this world
Cometh, and hath found nothing in me,' John xiv. 30, and therefore he got
nothing. * Be not deceived,' saith St Paul ; thereby shewing that their
* Misprinted 'doe.' — G.
OF THE PROVIDENCE OP GOD.
offence did arise of a false conceit and an error in judgment. If then the
ministers be soldiers under Jesus Christ our general,
Use 1. Then all by nature are in an opposite Jdngdom. We have natural
lusts in us against every commandment, and there is no act of faith in us,
but we have false conclusions in us to fight against them. We are by
nature not only void of all goodness, but we have a nature opposite to all
goodness.
Use 2. The second use is for instruction. If we would be brought and
redeemed out of this estate, let us not hold forth ar/ainst the ministry of the
gospel. Some will have such carnal conceits, that do what we can, they
will not see ; they are wilfully blind. Such as these are by the ministry
of the gospel hastened to hell. Their course is made more swift, their fall
more desperate. Let it not be with us so ; but let us come with yielding
hearts to the word, not resisting the Spirit. Grod will not always strive
with us, but will give us up to our own courses, to live and die under the
dominion of the devil, and so will glorify himself in our confusion. For
the word is as the man on the white horse which is spoken of in the Keve-
lation, it goes forth conquering, it condemns men already. Rev. xix. 11.
It is like Jonathan's bow, it never returns empty from the blood of the
slain,* 2 Sam. i. 22. Christ he continues to preach to us here by his
Spirit, as he did to those in the time of Noah, 1 Pet. iii. 19. If we will
not hear, we shall into prison, as they are now without redemption, for
blood shall be upon our own heads.
Use 3. In the third place, if ministers be soldiers for us, let us help them
by our prayers. ' Curse Meroz,' saith the angel of the Lord. Why ?
' Because they came not to help the Lord,' Judges v. 23. If those are
cursed with a bitter curse, that came not to help them that fight for the
Lord, what curse remaineth to them that fight against them, and deprave
them that fight for the Lord ?
Use 4. Lastly, Seeing we are here in a working estate, nay, in a warring
estate, it should make us viore wllUng, nay, to desire, to he dissolved, and to
be with Christ, where all assaults and trials shall cease, all tears shall be
wiped away. And therefore, if we see afllictions, be not terrified, for God
will give thee strength here and hereafter. Thou shalt be recompensed in
the resurrection of the just.
But your messenger, and he that ministered to my tvants.
The word in the original that is translated ' messenger,' signifieth an
apostle,! and it may be taken, either for a messenger sent by them to the
apostle Paul, or for a messenger sent by the apostle Paul to them. How-
ever, it is an honourable office to be an ambassador to the church of God,
or to be a messenger from the church of God ; and therefore the PhiHppians
sent him that was most dear to them to the apostle Paul, out of the love
they bare to him ; and Paul again would not keep him long from them,
because he loved them. It is a happy contention, when men contend who
shall express most love and afi"ection toward each other. This Epaphroditus
brought refreshing to the apostle, being then in durance, from the Philip-
pians. Whence observe,
Doct. 1. That the child of God is subject to wants here whiles he lives.
Thus it is with them at all times. Thus is it with us. Sometimes we
want this thing, sometimes that ; but [he] gives them what they most want.
Thus was it with Christ. He wants water, and was constrained to beg it
* Also of Saul.— G. t Tliat is, a.ito6To\o<; and Xs/rougyog.— G.
40
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
of a poor silly woman, John iv. 7, seq. And if it was thus with Christ, we
must not look for better. And therefore, let us be comforted against it ;
for, as it followeth in the next place,
Doct. 2. The children of God shall he satisfied. Eather than Elias
shall perish for hunger, the ravens shall feed him, 1 Kings xvii. 4.* If
rich Dives will not have mercy on such, the brutish dogs shall, Luke xvi.
21. For Paul, God provides one Epaphroditus, or Onesiphorus, 2 Tim.
i. 10-18. In Acts xvi. 25, Paul's trials were many ; but see, those
places which of themselves were places of horror become f so comfort-
able as in them he sings psalms ; and those persons that were his tor-
mentors, become his great friends and comforters in his adversities. So
that assuredly, one way or other, God will provide for his children, espe-
cially for his ministers. And therefore Christ bids his apostles, that when
they went to preach, they should not carry anything with them ; for well
he knew that those that were converted would not sufler them to lack any-
thing that was necessary. It must encourage us to our work. God, he
will give us wages, even for the performance of our ordinary duties of our
callings, if we do them in obedience to his laws. And indeed, if we could
live by faith as we should, we would not care for anything, for God hath
promised liberally, and if we could believe, he would not be less than his
word, who doth suifer his children to want some few outward things, but
it is for their good. And to such God ever gives patience to suifer, and
to expect and wait the time of God's visitation.
VEESE 26.
For he longed after you all.
Epaphroditus, he longed after all the Philippians ; yea, there was none
but he had a regard of; yea, of the meanest, whom he knew to be as dear
in Christ's acceptation as the greatest. For the soul and salvation of the
meanest cost him as dear as the salvation of the greatest. Again, the
weakest are soonest discontented and most subject thereunto, who there-
fore ordinarily are soonest brought to complain. It is a ground therefore
for the ministers so to behave themselves, that they also have a respect unto
all the meanest even as the greatest.
And was full of heaviness.
It grieved Epaphroditus to think that they mourned for his sickness.
Grief returns by reflection on the party loved. Observe then the wicked
nature of men that make music in the sorrow of others. Surely they have
a poisonous heart within them ; and it ought to reprove those that regard
not to grieve those by whom they were brought into the world. Surely if
such had the principles of nature within them, such a slavish condition of
serving their own unbridled lusts could never settle on them.
Because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick, dc.
Observe here how one wave follows another. After Epaphroditus had
endured a long and dangerous voyage, he meets with a long and dangerous
sickness. It is the nature of us. Let us not dream of any immunity.
God's children are subject to sicknesses while they live. Daily experience
proves it ; for they have bodies that have the seeds of sickness in them.
* ' And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the hrook, and I have commanded
the ravens to feed thee there.'— G. . t ^lisprintcd ' becomes.'— G.
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. 41
Their heaven is not here ; for they are not clean from corruption, which
bringeth death and sickness, by which also God intends good to the body.
For if such recover, their bodies are purged from many bad humours ; "if
they do not recover it, God by little and little unties the marriage knot
between the soul and the body, and so death comes more easy. And thus
also grace is strengthened in the soul ; as the outward man is weakened, so
is the inward man renewed, 2 Cor. iv. 16. For by sickness we are put in
mind to make even our accounts with God, and by it he also makes pleasures
of the world to be bitter unto us, that we may the more willingly part with
them ; even as nurses use to anoint the pap with some bitter thing to make
the child refuse the pap. Observe in the second place, that God often
suffers his children to come to extremities, yea, even to death itself, and into
desperate estates. Thus did he suffer Hezekiah, Job, Jonas, David, Daniel,
and the ' three children ' to run into the jaws of death. Thus suffered he
also his disciples to be overwhelmed with water ere he would seem to take
notice of it.* Nay, thus suffered he his only Son Christ upon the cross while
he said,^ ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?' and by this
means it comes to pass that when all natural and ordinary means fail
them, their trust is not placed on the means, but on some more durable and
constant help, upon God's own good will and power. For else our nature
is such as soon we should idolise the means, and set them in the place of
God, if means should continually recover us. And this offence w^as Asa f
guilty of in his sickness ; he trusted not the Lord, but physicians. God is
jealous of our affections. And hence lest Paul should be lifted up, he gave
him over to some base temptation, which he calls ' the messenger of Satan.'
In the second place, God suffers his children to fall into extremities, to the
end that we having experience of God's helping hand in them, we might
come to rely more confidently on him in all adversities. He suffers us to
receive the sentence of death in us, to the end that we should not trust in our-
selves, but in God, 2 Cor. i. 9. For God is never nearer than in
extremities. His power is seen in man's weakness. In the third place,
God suffers us to fall into extremities that he might try what is in us, and
that he might exercise the graces in us. And commonly it is seen, those
that rely upon means in such extremities make themselves executioners of
themselves. Thus did Saul, Ahithophel, and Judas ; for while they trust
on the means, they falling them, what marvel if they seeing no remedy run
into despair, whenas God's children go to their own Father, exercising
their faith, hope, prayers, and all Christian graces and duties. And there-
fore afflictions are called trials, because they try our graces. For if it were
not for them, we should not know what faith, patience, hope, or grace
were. Fourthly, hence it comes that the communion between God and us
might be more sincere ; for whenas nothing is between God and us to rely
on, then do we come more sensibly and experimentally to taste, see, and
feel God more to our comfort ; for where ordinary helps fail, God's help
begins.
The use of all this is. That we should not be'dismayed, though we be in
the most forlorn estate ; for in extremity God is most near us, and then
shall our graces be strengthened, and we shall have experience of God's
favour strengthening us. And in the second place, when thou seest any in
great afflictions, pronounce not thy sentence rashly on him, for even then
he may be nearest God : Ps. xli. 1, ' Blessed,' saith the prophet, ' is he that
considereth the poor aright : the Lord will deliver him in the time of
* Cf. Mat. xiv, 25.— G. f Misprinted Ahaz. Cf. 2 Chron. svi. 12.— G.
42 OF THE PEOVIDKNCE OF GOD.
trouble.' The pajists, indeed, are mimerciful in this kind. See what he
is by his diseases find sicknesses, say they of Calvin, -who, as Beza writes
of him, was much afflicted that way (a). But see even in Epaphroditus, of
whom Paul said none was minded like to him, yet he in a good cause was
afflicted, and came to great extremities. Seeing then we cannot avoid
sickness nor death, but we must all come to it, let us consider briefly how
to fit ourselves for it beforehand, that it comes not suddenly, and takes us
before w^e are aware thereof. And herein let us consider what we are to do
before sickness, and what in sickness.
(1.) Before sichwss labour to make God thj friend, who is Lord of life
and death. Is there any hope that a prisoner which abuses the judge con-
tinually till he be on the ladder shall have pardon ? How can he imagine
that a man that all his lifetime followed his own wilful courses of sin, and
persecuted, by scandalising and slandering good men ; that continually
blasphemed God and abused him in his word ; how can this man think to
command comfort in sickness ? How can he think God will be pleased
with him ? No. All such repentance in sickness may justly be suspected
to be hypocritical, that it is made rather for fear of punishment than
loathing of sin ; and therefore God often leaves such men to despair, and
that justly. See what he saith, Prov. i. 25, ' Because I have called, and ye
refused ; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded ; I will laugh
at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh,' and so forth to the
end of the chapter. It is just with God, seeing when he called j'ou would
not answer, that when you call he should not answer. Be wise therefore
to foresee the time to come,
(2.) In the second place, if thou wilt be sick to thy comfort, disease not
thy soul beforehand. Those that will avoid sickness, they will abstain from
such meats and other things as may increase their malady. Let it be thus
in our soul sickness ; find what thou art sick of, and take heed of hunting
after such temptations and occasions as may inflame thy soul. Those that
are profane swearers and loose livers they think they shall never hear of
their wickedness ; they think it will be forgotten and borne withal, whenas,
even while they are thus wretched, they distemper both their souls and
their own bodies also. Thus do they eat their own bane. Take away the
strength and power of sickness. Take heed of sin beforehand. For it is
the sin that thou now committest that breeds sickness. And he that tempts
thee now to sin, when sickness comes will tempt thee to despair of pardon.
(3.) Thirdly, Wean, thine affections from the earth ; for else w'hen any
cross comes, we shall not be able to endure. The saying is true, qui nimis
amat, nimis dolet. In what proportion a man loves this world too much in
the enjoyment of it, in that proportion he grieves too much at his departure
from it. It is an easy matter for one to die that hath died in heart and
afiection before. And to help this, consider the uncertainty and vanity of
these things, and how unable they will be to help thee when thou shalt
stand most in need of help. Men when they are well, they consider not
what these things will do, but they consider what they cannot do. Friends
in adversity are true friends. Alas, when thou art sick, what will thy
friends or thy riches do ! Yea, what can they do for thy recovery !
(4.) In the fourth place, make iqi thy accounts daily, that when sickness
and weakness comes we have not our greatest and most laborious work to
do. It is an atheistical folly to put off all till sickness, whenas they know
not but God may call them by sudden death, or if he warns them by sick-
ness, God may suffer their understanding and senses to be so troubled as
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. 43
they shall neither he able to conceive or judge. Now, what madness is it
to put off our hardest works to our weakest estate. There is no day but
the best of us gather soil, especially those that have much dealing in the
world. We had need to wash ourselves daily, and pray to God that he
would cleanse us.
(5.) Fifthly, While thou art in health, Jaij a foundation and tjround of
comfort for sickness ; and still be doing of something that may further thine
account, and testify of the reconciliation between God and thee. It is
strange to see how many account of death ; send for a minister, be absolved,
and take the communion, and say, ' Lord, have mercy on me ;' and we
presently conclude he is assuredly saved. 'Tis true, these are good if well
used ; but if there be not a foundation laid, these are but miserable com-
forters. A good death is ever laid in a good life. Absolution to such as
these that so lightly esteem of their estate is no other than as a seal to a
blank. It is true, we ought to deny absolution to none as will say they
repent ; but know this, you may be hypocrites, notwithstanding our abso-
lution. We spend all our wits and powers to get unto us a little worldly
pelf; and shall we think to go to heaven, and to be carried thither, through
pleasures and ease ? No. He that made thee without thee will not save
thee without thee. This is one reason why we condemn popery ; and
though we in show hate it, yet are we popish in our conceits. It is the
good that in our health we do that comforts us in our sickness ; for con-
sidering how it hath pleased God not only to put into our minds but into
our wills to do this or that good — Such a good man have I raised ; such a
poor man have I relieved — we think of it as an evidence of God's Spirit in
us. Contrarily, when we think how brave our apparel hath been, how
gallant our company, what pleasing plays and spectacles we have seen,
what can this comfort us '? Nay, will it not discomfort us to consider we
have spent our means and time unprofitably ; we have delighted in worldly
delights ? How shall I account with that just Judge for my time _ and
means ill spent ? Doth not this argue want of grace, want of God's Spirit ?
Be wise therefore with Joseph against times of famine, of sickness, of death ;
prepare such cordials as may strengthen thee. Now,
2. In the next place consider we how we are to behave ourselves in
sickness.
(1.) First, therefore, know and consider that as Job saith, ' Sickness
comes not from the dust,' Job v. 6 ; but consider thy imijs, especialhj thy
antecedent course of life, u'hich of late thou hast passed over next before thy
sickness. For God corrects not for sin in general so much as for some one
sin that rules. If it appears not, pray to God to help thee in this thy
search : and when thou hast found out the Jonah, the Achan that thus
troubleth thee, ' then judge thyself and justify God,' Josh. vii. 19.
(2.) 'Judge yourselves, that ye he not judged of the Lord,' 1 Cor. xi. 31 ;
lay thyself open by confession ; renew thy repentance, and confess thyself
thoroughly, and spare not thyself. It is cruelty to be merciful to thyself
in this thing. And justify God ; say with the holy prophet, ' Just art thou,
0 Lord, and righteous are thy judgments,' Ps. cxix. 75 ; and thus by
meeting with God we do allay our sickness. For God uses it no other than
as a messenger to call us to meet with him, who else would never look after
him ; and when the messenger hath his answer, he is gone. When we
repent and amend, the sickness departs, unless it be sent for a better end,
to call us out of this miserable world, to perfect his promises to us. When
therefore God summons thee, do not as the common coui'se is, send fii'st
44 OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
for the bodily phj-aician, and when thou art past natural care,* then for the
divine ; but contrarily let the divine begin, Ps. xxxii. 3, seq. Until David
had confessed his sin, ' his bones waxed old with roaring, and his moisture
was turned to the drought of summer.' But when he confessed his sins,
*,Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin ;' for indeed the sickness of the
body begins from the iniquity of the soul. Begin with it ; look to heal it,
and comfort in thy bodily estate will follow ; and it is just with God to
suffer those that trust so to the physician to continue in hope of health, till
they be past recovery, and then to send them to their own places, as it wag
said of Judas, without thinking of their soul's good. Thus, when thou
hast found out thy disease, and laid it open to God,
(3.) In the next place, look for evidences of comfort ; desire God to witness
to tluj soul his peace with her; and upon every warning of sickness, look for
thy evidence afresh. This will strengthen thee as it did Job. Whatsoever
discomforts he saw, ' yet I know my Redeemer liveth, and that I shall see
him,' Job xix. 25. And thou thus going to God, if thou lookest on the
earth, thou wilt count all as dross and dung, as Paul did, Philip, iii. 8.
All worldly matters will be despised in thiue eyes.
(4.) In the fourth place, labour for love. Consider how the world ia
with us. We know not what will become of us. Begin with justice, in
giving every man his own, and then with bounty ; then forgive. We can-
not go to heaven with anger. Thus did Christ, ' Father, forgive them,'
Luke xxiii. 34 ; and Stephen, ' Lord, lay not this sin to their charge,' Acts
vii. 60. Be far from revenge. If thou lookest to come where Christ is,
do as he did. This is hard to fleshly minds, but it must be done. Thou
must first deny thyself before thou canst be saved.
(5.) In the next place, labour for patience ; but such as must be ruled by
reason, and not blockish. To this end consider, first, whence the sickness is.
It is from God icho is powerful. [Consider] that we shall get nothing by
striving or murmuring ; that we cannot resist him so but he will have his
will fulfilled upon us ; and therefore let us humble ourselves under the
mighty hand of God. Then also, consider it comes from God, who is thy
Father, and therefore loveth thee. What then though the cup be bitter ?
Shall I not drink of the cup which my father giveth me to drink of ? Ivnow
also, that all the circumstances of thy sickness are ordered by him, the
degree and time are limited by him, he knows what is needful and fitting,
he is Lord of life and death, resign thyself therefore to him ; and then hath
God his end he looks for, viz., that his children should cast themselves on
his mercy. In the next place, remember that thou deservest much worse, and
that he shews thee favour in this gentle correction. Remember what
Christ hath done for thee, what he hath suffered, what he hath delivered
thee from, and what these things are in comparison of those that thou
justly deservest.
Consider also what will be the fruit and end of all these thy troubles and
griefs, even the quiet fruits of righteousness ; all shall be for our good. Is
it for thy good rather to drink of a bitter potion than sickness ? what
though it be bitter ? It is for my health ; God is working my good.
Though I feel it not now, hereafter I shall in his good time. And thus
shall we justify God, as David did, and behold him as in Christ a most
loving Father who was an angry judge, and being turned, all are turned.
Corrections they are now, which were before punishments, and they are
become trials of graces.
* Qu. ' cure ' ?— Ed.
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. 45
(6.) In the last place, let us being sick he ever heavenly -minded, tliinking
on nothing but that which may administer to us spiritual comfort. If we
have not this, look not to come thither. It is not fit our minds should be on
these earthly things, whenas our souls are going or should be going to heaven.
It is God's just judgment to suffer men's minds, being ready to depart the
world, to be taken up with the world, and as they have lived, so to die.
If we would have a pattern of dying well, look on Christ ; before his death,
when he was troubled, he will have his disciples with him. So when we
are vexed with any temptation or trial, use such company as may bring
spiritual comfort to thee, and thereby to strengthen thee. As Christ left
his ' peace behind him,' John xiv. 27, let us study also how to preserve
peace after our departure. As Christ did all the good he could so long as
he lived, so should we, that our sickness may be fruitful of comfort. As
Christ studied how to do all his work, thus should we endeavour to do
what we have to do, that with a clear conscience we ma}^ say as Christ did,
' Father, I have done the work thou gavest me to do,' John xvii. 4. Christ
had care of his disciples and friends before he died : of his mother,
' Woman, behold this son,' saith he, &c., John xix. 2G. ' I go away, but
I will send you the Comforter,' John xv. 26, We also ought to be careful
for the well-leaving of them whom God hath committed to our care to pro-
vide for. Christ was not vindictive ; 'Father, forgive them,' saith he, Luke
xxiii. 34. So we, specially when we die in peace, forgive all the world,
yea, our enemies, for so also did Stephen, I^astly, Christ commends his
soul to God: 'Father, into thy hands I commend m}' spirit,' saith he, Luke
xxiii. 46 ; dying, he dies in faith and obedience. Thus also ought we to
imitate him ; die in faith, be sure of God that he is thy Father, and
obediently submit thy soul into his hands when thou diest. Thus when
we die we shall die with comfort, and we shall count it exceeding joy when
we fall into any trouble or adversity whatsoever.
But the Lord.
Doct. Observe this comfortable exception : God brings Ms children low,
but he raises them up again, if it be for their good : Ps. cxviii. 17, * I will
not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.' Nay, then espe-
cially, when they are past all worldly means of recovery ; and as it is in
sickness, thus also is it in other troubles ; and this God doth.
Eeason 1. First, To glorify his jwwer the more.
2, Secondly, That his enemies viight not triumph still in overcoming us.
3. Thirdly, That we being thus delivered, might consecrate our lives and
breath to him anew, as having received them from him, even by a new gift.
Use 1. The use hereof is. If God helps us above and against means, %ve
ought to hopie above, yea, against hoj^e, believe in the greatest extremities ;
' though he kill us, yet trust in him.' God is not tied to Galen's rules.*
He can work above physical means, as he shewed in the cure of Hezekiah,
Especially in soul troubles let not our faith fail us, for he hath absolutely
promised his helping hand in them.
Had mercy on him.
Observe the language of the Holy Ghost, shewing the recovery of
Epaphroditus, by the ground and cause of it, ' God had mercy on him.'
Doct. Observe, therefore, God's mercy is the spriufj of all God's dealing
with us. Both his benefits and his corrections of us all comes from his
* That is, to the use of ordinary means ; e. g. Galen, a physician. — G.
46 OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
mercy ; all his ways are mercy and truth. We are sick, well ; we live, we
die ; all comes from his mercy. Seeing, therefore, all comes from his
mercy, yea, our greatest extremities, because he might have dealt worse
with us.
Use 1. Let vs look that ice icilfulhj neglect not or cast aivaij mercy, in what
estate soever we are.
Doct, In the next place observe, GocVs mercy extends to this ternjyoral life.
We think his mercy is only for things that belong to life everlasting.
No. The same love and mercy that gives us heaven, it is the same that
gives us our daily bread ; and therefore the same faith we must have to
God for the things of this life that we have on him for the other Hfe in
heaven. And thus did the saints, as we may see in Heb. xi. 4, seq.
Use 2. This should direct us not to rest in deliverance, hut to look to the
ground of it, the mercy of God, and endeavour to taste the love and mercy
of God in his gifts, for all his gifts are less than his mercy. This will
cause us to have more comfort in our daily bread than the wicked have in
all their abundance.
Use 3. Thirdly, We should learn from hence, hi giving, to give thy soul
and affection ; let thy brother have thy heart with thy gifts, and thus shalt
thou imitate thy heavenly Father.
Use 4. Lastly, If the very recovery from sickness comes from God's free
love and mercy, what can ive look for by merit? If health for Epaphroditus
his body came from the free mercy of God, how can we expect for to merit
the salvation of our souls. No. It must be from God's free grace and
mercy in Jesus Christ.
And not on him only, hut on me also.
As if he had said. It may be for him it had been good to have been
taken away, and to have remained with Christ, but God had mercy on me
in sparing him.
Ohj. But it may be objected. How can it he the mercy of God that spared
him, whenas God had rather shewed his mercy in taking him away from the
evil to come, and in placing him with himself in glory ? and Paul, he desired
' to be dissolved and to be with Christ,' and said it was far better for him
so to be.
A71S. I answer, life, and especially health, is God's merc}^ for without
it life is no life. But why, and how ?
1. Because by it %ve recover our sjnritnal comfort and assurance of heaven,
Ps. xxxix. 13. To this end David prayed, ' Spare me a little, that I may
recover my strength.'
2. Secondly, In regard of others' health, life is a blessing. Thus, Heze-
kiah desired it, that he might get assurance of his salvation, and praise the
Lord, Isa. xxxviii. 22.
3. Thirdly, Life is to be desired as a blessing from God, in regard of the
church, that ice might do good; for after death we are receivers only, and not
doers. All the good we convey to others, we must do it while we live here.
Therefore it is not unlawful to desire to live to see thy children brought up
in the fear of God, and yet let that be with a resignation to God's will and
purpose. We see Christ, that had contrary desires, who came to perform
his Father's will and to die willingly, yet he said, ' Let this cup pass from
me,' Mat. xxvi. 39 ; for the soul is to be carried to desire as the objects
are offered. If thou beest well, rejoice in it, and count it as God's blessing.
If thou beest sick, patiently submit thyself to God's will, and count it as
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. 47
his merciful dealing with thee. Indeed, as we look on death being an
enemy to our nature, and a destroyer thereof, we desire it not. Yet, con-
sidering it as God's decree and will, say still, 'Thy will be done, 0 Lord,
and not mine.' Paul, he considered for himself it was better to die, but
looking to the Philippians, ' nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is better for
you,' Phil. i. 24, Learn from hence the sweet estate of God's children ;
whether he lives or dies, all is mercy ; and this they have by being assured
they have their part in the covenant of grace. Labour therefore to find an
interest therein for thyself. Observe, in the next place, God does good to
us by others, as here he conveys yood to Paid by Kpaphroditus his life. Let
us therefore praise him for parents, friends, benefactors ; for by them God
hath mercy on us. God uses man for the good of man, that he might knit
the communion of saints together more straightly.'-''= No doubt but the apostle
Paul had begged Epaphroditus his life from God, and he here acknowledges
it as a great mercy of God. Thus ought we to acknowledge God's mercy
on us, by taking mercy on others for our sakes.
VEKSE 27.
Ijest I should have sorrow on sorrow.
Our blessed apostle had sorrowed much for the sickness of Epaphroditus ;
if he had died, he had had wave on wave. Observe, God's children have
not sorrow on sorrow. We have matter of sorrow while we are here, as our
corruptions, and the troubles of the church. These minister unto us
matter of grief while we are here in this vale of tears. Let us not therefore be
delicate nor dainty. We must sow in tears here, if we would reap here-
after in joy. We must shed tears, if we would hereafter have them wiped
away. Yet is the sorrow of a Christian mingled ever with joy to support
them. The Lord he weighs and measures the distresses of his children.
The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the godly man's back, Ps. cxxv. 3.
And this mingled estate must be till we come into heaven, where all tears
shall be wiped away.
Obj. But it will be objected, David had sorrow upon sorrow : one depth
calls another, saith he, Ps. xlii. 7.
Ans. I answer. It is true there may be divers occasions of grief , but God
doth so temper them as he giveth joy 112^071 joy, grace iqwn grace, and com-
fort ujjon comfort; faith upon faith, patience upon patience; and it is much
better to have access of comfort in extremities than to want extremities and
occasions of sorrow, by reason of the good we receive by such trials. And
there is no distress but we may gather ground of comfort to ourselves in
them. Art thou sick ? Bless God that he hath left thee the use of reason
and thy wits. Hast thou lost friends, and hath not God taken all away ?
He leaves thee some, nay, he leaves his Spirit to accompany thee. Paul
■was in prison, it is true, but did he want comfort ? No. God will raise us
up with one hand as he casts us down with the other ; it is his ' aiercy w^e
are not consumed,' Lam. iii. 22. But the wicked they shall have sorrow
on sorrow. He lets them ruffle a while here, but at length their judg-
ments come suddenly and unavoidably. He hath no mercy for them if he
once begins. Thus did he add judgment to judgment on Pharaoh till he
"was consumed ; and therefore upon little griefs they run into desperate
courses, as Cain, Ahithophel. God suflers the wicked to add sin to sin,
and so doth he add sorrow to sorrow. Lay up this for our comfort against
* Qu. 'straitly'?— Ed.
48 OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
the ill time. God will not suffer us to be tempted above measure. He will
either abate our trouble or enlarge our grace, so as it shall not overwhelm
us. Note this example of God as one for us to imitate and to follow.
When we see any one afflicted, let us not vex them the more by adding sorrow
to sorrow. David he complains of a kind of men that were of the nature
of the devil, going over where the wall is lowest, like ill humours that
resort all to ill affected places. No. God's children have pitiful and com-
passionate hearts. Examine therefore thy spirit, whether thou canst weep
with them that weep ; for as the Spirit of God helps us in misery, so do
those that are led by his Spirit. It is the custom, and hath been, of God's
children, to comfort those in misery. Thus did Job's friends, although
they erred in the performance thereof.
VEKSE 28.
I sent him. therefore more carefully.
In this verse St Paul sets forth the end of sending Epaphroditus, viz., that
they might have the more joy, and he the less sorrow. But it will be said,
Paul had use of Epaphroditus himself; he was in prison ; he had none to
comfort him. But it is no wonder for him, that could set light by his own
soul for God's people, to part with a friend for the comfort of his people ;
and this ought we also to respect, namely, the comforts of God's people
above all. Thus did this apostle. He was content to forbear the joys of
heaven for the good of the Philippians, in the first chapter. The children
of God are of excellent spirits. They can overcome and deny themselves.
That when you see him again you way rejoice.
The Philippians hereby had a double cause of joy. First, sight of their
pastor whom they loved. Seeing friends is more comfortable than all ways
of hearing from them ; and the joys of heaven are commended to us by the
beatifical vision we hear of these joys here. But when we see them, then
is our joy accomplished. The second cause of joy was in this, that now
they should see Epaphroditus, as given them anew and sent from God ;
whose love, mercy, goodness, and power is more clearly seen in delivering
men from danger than in preserving of men from falling into danger. It
is more honour to God, and more comfort to men. For the Philippians
received him as a token of God's love to them, and as an effect of their
praj'ers. Let us take notice of the enlargement of God's love to us in
delivering and enlarging any of our friends to us free from afflictions.
And I may be the less sorrouful.
The apostle was, and we must be sorrowful in this world ; but some-
times more, sometimes less. For a Christian's estate is ever full of ebbs
and floods. But of this I spake formerly.
VERSE 29.
Receive hbn therefore in the Lord tiith all gladness.
Our apostle first entreats them generally ' to receive him ; ' then he
shews the manner, ' in the Lord with gladness ; ' thence he grounds a
general, ' make much of such.' But it may be urged — the apostle might
have spared this exhortation, for no doubt but the Philippians being glad
to see him would receive him. It is true ; but this is not all : they must
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. 49
receive liim in the Lord,' as a man of God ; as a man sent you from God ;
as a messenger of Christ ; and receive him with a holy affection.
Doct. A Christian must do all things in the Lord : marry in the Lord ;
love in the Lord ; salute in the Lord. All matters, both of necessity and
courtesy, must be in the Lord. A Christian must ' live in the Lord,' and
he must * die in the Lord.'
Reason. The reason is, for that a Christian in all looks to God. What-
soever befalls him he receives, whatsoever he does, he does in the Lord,
looking only to him, and depending on him. Carnal men contrarily do all
things carnally : marries, loves, salutes carnally ; he lives carnally, dies
carnally. But the Christian's life is ever to die and behold Christ in all
things ; in all estates ; in all his thoughts, words, and deeds ; in life, in
death. Let this acquaint us with the manner of a Christian's life and
estate, and with the language of the Holy Ghost.
And hold siicli in reputation.
Others read it, ' make much of such' {b). The sense is the same with
the former. * Esteem of such as they are ; ' esteem of such ministers that
are faithful as he is ; of such Christians as he is ; such excellent Christians
as he. So as the words have a double reference, as to both his general
and particular calling. For his particular calling of the ministry, see how
he is formerly commended ; that he was painful-i« and careful, and neglected
his own life. Ministers, if they be such, they must be had in repute and
esteem. If they be not of the best sort, surely they are of the worst.
Angels and good men, none better than the good ; none worse than them
if they turn. But especially ministers, if they be not good, they are un-
savoury as salt ;f neither good for the ground, nor yet for the dunghill.
Reason. The reason of this is, for by such as these are God conveys
greatest good to men. He builds by them, he plants by them. They are
watchmen, husbandmen, they are God's labourers ; nay, they are his angels,
discovering to the church the secrets of God's counsel. They are as Job
saith, but as ' one among a thousand.' Such surely as these are worthy
of all respects.
Obj. But it will be objected, theii are ever opposite to us, they cross men.
Ans. Even then when they are most opjwsite they are to be esteemed the
more, for they are ' the Hght of the world.' Their office is to discover the
works of darkness. They are husbandmen to break up the fallow grounds
of our hearts ; and it is our part to embrace them in doing their duties.
For it is a note of a wicked man to count such as these troublers. It was
Ahab's speech to Elijah, 1 Kings xviii. 17. God's children loves them
and reverences them when they are most sharp ; for they know that they
themselves do want such reproofs to check their corruptions ; they wish
their corruptions might be ripped up thoroughly. This is impossible that
carnal men should allow of this. They have beloved sins. When they
are met with they are touched to the quick, no marvel therefore if they
repine. A true Christian will acknowledge and esteem the meanest part
of them blessed and beautiful. The carnal man may esteem ministers
indeed, but such as cry ' Peace, peace, when there is no peace,' Jer. vi. 14 ;
and surely such a prophet is a fit prophet for such a people. But let the
true Christian love and reverence those that are the messengers of peace,
and esteem of them by so much the more, by how much their degi-ee in
* That ia, ' painstaking.' — G.
t Qu. ' they are as unsavoury salt '? Cf. Mat. v. 13. — G.
VOL. V. D
50 OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
grace is the greater ; for there will be an aflection suitable to the propor-
tion of grace they have.
And to this end observe with me some motives to incite us to this duty ;
and first, 1. It is the character of the child of God, and a sign we are trans-
lated from death to life, if we love and reverence the brethren. If we be
brethren as we profess ourselves, we are led with the same spirit ; and
therefore we ought to love those most especial that are means of begetting
the grace of the Spirit in us. It is a part of grace to desire grace. Now
there is no desire of grace but there must be a love of it ; and therefore if
we will prove ourselves to be marked with the mark of God in our fore-
heads, and that we are his children, let us get this character for a witness
to us.
2. The second motive in regard of God, — the former was in regard of
ourselves, — those that God esteems most ive ought to make most account of.
God spared not his own Son for their sake. The saints are precious in
the eyes of the Lord. And in the second place, Christ he esteems of them
above his own blood ; he gave himself for them freely. Thirdly, the angels
they esteem of them. Christ says, Offend them not, for the angels in
heaven behold the face of God continually. Mat. xviii. 10. Fourthly, the
ministers esteem them. ' I suffer all for the elect's sake,' says Paul. The
Spirit of God esteems them ; they are his temples to dwell in, 2 Tim.
ii. 10.
3. In regard of themselves they are to be esteemed, they are lively.
They have the ' new creature ' in them; they have God's Spirit ever in
them. All created excellency is as ' the flower of grass.' It withers sud-
denly. But they have that which continues for ever, grace and the Spirit
of God. They have the image of God seated in them. They have the
word and the promises made sure to them. They are free-born ; free from
hell, death, wrath. They are of disposition free ; they can want and they
can abound. They are rich in the best riches, strong in the greatest
strength. They overcome the devil, the world ; they overcome and conquer
death, who is the king of fears.
4. In the next place, in regard of the yood we reajy hy them, they are to
be esteemed. God blesses us by them. They are the pillars of this totter-
ing world. In regard of a few of God's elect not yet brought in, this world
continues yet ; but if the number be accomplished once, God will no longer
withhold his coming. Lot's presence in Sodom stayed God's wrath ; he
could do nothing till he was gone. So Noah in the old world, Joseph in
Egypt, Moses among the Israelites, they stopped the passage of God's
wrath ; and therefore Job, xxii. 30, saith, ' He shall deliver the island of the
innocent.' They are ' the chariots and horsemen of Israel ;' their prayers
are our protectors. And thus mayest thou try thyself and thy estate ; for
dost thou despise those that are good, thou art ranked amongst vile persons.
Look 2 Tim. iii. 3, and such as are signs of the last times, wherein cor-
ruption shall abound. Many things are much set by, but where are those
that have their delight set on the excellent of the earth ? A wicked man,
I deny not, may esteem some one that is good, but it shall not be for that
they are good, but it may be for some by-respects of profit or pleasure that
they shall reap thereby. They will commend stars that be within their
own horizon ; praise martyrs being dead, whom, if alive, likely it is they
would be the first persecutors of them ; for thirty pieces of silver, a little
gain, sell even Christ himself, and make shipwreck of their faith. Yet the
time will shortly come when these despised shall be had in greatest honour,
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. 51
and those that scorn tlaem now would bo glad to keep tliem company, and
ever be with them.
Quest. But it will be asked, Where are these men you speak of ? how is
it they are not respected ?
Ans. I answer, They are not known, * the world knows them not ; ' —
First, Because it knows not their Father ; for if it esteemed him, it would
esteem also of them ; and therefore, Secoitdh/, they are ' strangers and
pilgrims,' although excellent in themselves. Thirdh/, ' Their life is hid
with Christ,' Col. iii. 3. They are eclipsed and disgraced. Disgraces,
scandals, miseries, and their own infirmities, these make the children of
God to be unknown ; yet those that know them will even in their infir-
mities see many things worth observation and practice. Contrarily in
wicked men what is to be respected ? Shall we think of them the better
for their degree, state, comeliness, riches, or the like ? Surely these end
in death, whenas all respects are taken away ; but goodness is more accom-
plished in death, it shall never be at an end ; and therefore to be the
rather respected and esteemed, and men also as they are good. Wicked
men may be also esteemed, but not otherwise than as they are marked with
the image of God, as they are in place of magistracy and government ; and
so they are not esteemed, but their images they carry about with them of
superiority. And therefore among these of the like kind those are to be
most esteemed that are most good, and this is, as I said before, a note of a
good man ; for what saith David, Ps. xv. 4 ? ' He shall enter into the taber-
nacle of God, in whose e^'es a vile person is contemned ; but he honoureth
them that fear the Lord.' To this end begin with thyself. How dost thou
value thyself? Dost thou do it carnally ? How then canst thou esteem
aright of others ? Be therefore of Theodosius his mind, ' value thyself
according to thy measure in grace and assurance of salvation' (c). What
though the world think basely of thee ! So did it of those saints, Heb.
xi. 38. They thought them unworthy to live. But remember God is not
ashamed to be called our God and Father. Heaven is ours, Christ, grace,
and glory are all ours. Thus by esteeming thys&lf aright thou shalt begin
to reverence that in others which thou so much accountest of in thyself ;
and we all together shall find what God esteems most of, and of whom,
when we shall be together crowned with joys unspeakable, which are hidden
from the eyes of the world. It appears not to them what we shall be, the
glory being such and so great as they, judging carnally, cannot conceive
thereof.
VERSE 30.
Because for the ivork of Christ he rvas nigh to death.
This work of Christ especially aims at works of mercy to Paul while he
was in prison, and for these he is said to be nigh to death. By his long
and tedious journey he took a sickness, and thereby was nigh to death.
And these are called ' the works of Christ ;' partly because all good works
are from Christ — for he commands them, he allows them, he did them —
and partly also because in the doing of them our aim is at Christ's honour.
Su tJien the excellency of good icorks coiisists not in doing those which are good
in their own nature, but in well doing of them. All our particular actions
must be done with having an eye on and a respect to Christ. What if
therefore thou doest any good thing with an eye on credit or a good name,
nay, if of mere pity, without respect of Christ's command, example, and
52 OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
obedience thereunto ; all that thou doest in this manner cannot merit the
name of a good work, or a work of Christ. For Christ saith, that which
you do to any of his little ones you do to him. And do you think that he
will take it done to him, when he seeth in thy heart that thou regardest
by-respects, and never intendest him in the thing thou doest ? No. You
did it for commendation, to get popular kpplause, or for your own profit,
or the like. Let it not be with us in this manner. Let us do all things
commanded in the second table, as in obedience of the first, to glorify God.
Let us do good works thoroughly, though they cost us labour, cost, and
danger ; also pray zealously, give cheerfully. * Cursed is he that doth the
work of the Lord negligently,' Jer. xlviii. 10. Give freely therefore to
every one in whom Christ comes a-begging to thee. * This is pure religion
before God and undefiled, to visit the fatherless and widows,' James i. 27 ;
but see that you keep yourselves ' unspotted of the world.' And these
things done as they ought to be, will comfort us on our deathbed, and be
an assurance to our consciences of our faith, and will strengthen us when
all other works, done for any self-respect, shall be so far from comforting
us, as they shall weaken and discomfort us, and bear witness to our guilty
consciences of our hypocrisy. But to proceed. It may seem St Paul was
ill advised of his work of Epaphroditus, that he called it a work of Christ,
when it had like to have cost him his life. Yet ought it not to seem
strange, for by this very pattern we learn not to avoid or fly from the doing
of any rvork of Christ ; no, though by doing of it we incur danger of our lives.
For the best good must take the chief and first place with us ; and by how
much the soul is more excellent than the body, by so much is the good of
the soul to be preferred before the good of the body. He that hates not
father, mother, yea, his own life, in respect of God's glory, cannot be the
disciple of Christ. God would have us exercise our judgments in these
things beforehand, that we may go about all such things with a holy and
zealous resolution. Hence we may gather grounds to answer divers doubts.
1st Quest. As, first, irhether in time of jwrsecution xve ought to lose our lives
or deny the truth '!■
Ans. To this I answer, out of the example of Epaphroditus, afiirmatively,
that we ought rather to lose our lives than deny the truth ; for God's truth
is better than our lives. It was commendable in Priscilla and Aquila that
they laid down their necks for Paul's life, Ptom. xvi. 3, 4 ; much more is
the truth of God's word to be esteemed above man's life. And they are
counted wise that have that esteem ; as the martj'rs, whose estate is
accounted a blessed estate.
2d Quest. Furthermore, it will be asked, Whether a minister ought to leave
his congregation in the time of j^estilence, or not ?
Ans. I answer, upon the same ground, he ought not ; for he is not, in
regard of the work of God, to esteem his own life. But so as he is not
bound to a particular visitation of every one whom it hath pleased God to
visit with sickness, neither ought the sick party to require this at the
hands of the pastor ; but rather to reserve him to the general good of all
of them, and the rather to spare him. Thus did Beza. And in the law
the leprous person was to go about and to cry ' Unclean, unclean,' to the
end that others might not unawares be polluted by him. And therefore
every one ought to be a good husband for himself, to lay up with himself
grounds of comfort against such a time as it may please God to afflict him
in any such manner. Another question may hence be answered.
8d Quest. Whether a man may equivocate to save his own life?
OF THE PKOVIDENCE OF GOD.
53
' A71S. I answer : If a man be lawfully called ,to answer for himself, he
must know that he ought to tell the truth, and not to be ashamed thereof;
for why do men live but to live honestly, and to keep a good conscience ?
And it is more necessary that truth should flourish and be cleared than
that thou shouldst live. Those that now are ashamed to confess the truth,
the God of truth will be ashamed of them hereafter. And therefore a fourth
question may arise.
4th Quest. Whether a man may break prison to save himself?
Am. I answer: Thou oughtest not to do anything that may endanger
another man to save thine own life ; and therefore mayest not, by break-
ing of prison, endanger the jailor's life to save thyself. And the reasons
are, for that it shames the truth and equity of thy came ; and therefore when
the prison doors were open Paul would not fly. Acts xvi. 28, scq. Peter
did it indeed, he came out of prison ; but it was an extraordinaiy and
miraculous deliverance by the command of the angel, Acts xii. 11.
Secondly, it is a contempt of magistracy and laiv ; for every man is to be
governed by and to submit himself to the law.
5th Quest. Again, some have doubted ivhether a minister, beiny called to a
place of umrholesome air, ivhether he may leave it.
Ans. I answer : Let them consider before they go whether they shall be
able to endure or not ; but if they be once called, and are there, let them
look to the salvation of God's people, and provide for themselves as they
may. We see Epaphroditus neglects his own life for the service of God.
Gth Quest. A sixth question or doubt may hence be resolved, Whether,
in case of persecution, a minister may fly.
Ans. i answer: We may fly for our own safeties ; and a minister may,
if there be those left that being good shepherds will stand for the flock,
that it be not scattered. Yet if God gives thee a spirit of courage to hold
out, consult thou with God by earnest prayer for the direction of his Holy
Spirit, and he will assuredly direct thee ; for if out of thine own confidence
thou shouldst stand out, and afterward give back, it would weaken and
discourage others, who else it may be would stand out. Yet if thou beest
once taken, whether thou art a minister or not, thou art under the law,
thou must obey.
1th Quest. And in the seventh place, ice may and ought to he ready to lay
down our lives for the commonwealth, for common good is to be preferred
before private good. The hand doth endanger itself for the good of the
head, and therefore a private luan may venture himself to save a public
person ; and from hence is grounded the lawfulness of a Christian war.
Quest. But it will be asked, How shall we come to this resolution, to lay
down our lives for the truth ?
Ans. I answer : First, thou must labour to have thy judgment enlightened,
discern of the order of good things ; and this only a Christian can get to
account of his life but slightly in comparison, knowing that it is ' but a
vapour that soon vanisheth,'' James iv. 14, and that the peace _ of con-
science will never leave a man till it hath brought him to eternity ._ He
knows also the terrors of conscience are above all terrors, and that it will
never leave him. He knows the world cannot be worth a soul, that no-
thing can redeem it being once lost ; and these things being truly learned,
we shall be ready to deny father, mother, yea, our very life, if they onco
oppose Christ ; and thus shall we beforehand get a resolution by daily
considering these things, and a mind truly prepared for all trials. And to
that end put cases with thyself. Now, what thou wouldst do or suffer
54 OF THE PEOVIDENCE OF GOD.
rather than be drawn to oflfend God, if the time of trial were now to come.
If thy heart doth tell thee that thou canst forego all, and countest them as
nought in respect of Christ, surely God he accepts of this thy resolution.
If thou canst not find this in thee, know for a certainty thy faith is but
weak. And therefore consider with thyself, that if thou come to this, to
lose all for Christ, thou shalt be no loser. The peace of conscience is
above all good that can be desired ; and [consider] that thy life is not
thine own, for both it, our estate, friends, are all of God's gift to us, who
may take them when he will. But if they be lost for God's service, thou
shalt be no loser. It cannot stand with God's justice to sutler it. Let
this bring shame upon many that will do nothing for the church, lose no
credit amongst the wicked men, part with no jot of their goods, take no
pains nor labour. We see it that martyrs they will spend their blood.
Esther counted not her life dear unto her : ' If I perish, I perish,' iv. 16.
And yet these are loath to venture displeasure of some inferior, mean
person. How can such ever think to get assurance of salvation ? In this
case those that thus love their lives do hate them, and that which they
fear shall fall suddenly on them ; as it was with those that, starting aside
for fear, and denying their profession, thinking to save themselves from
the fire, they fell into a worse fire, the hell of a guilty conscience, which
cannot be quenched, nor they made insensible thereof.
NOTES.
(a) P. 42. — ' See what he is by his diseases and sicknesses, say they of Calvin,
■who, as Beza writes of him, was much afflicted that way.' Beza speaks very touch-
ingly of the last illness of the great Eeformer, who, as another has observed, seemed
to forget in his over-studiousness that he had a body as well as a soul to care for.
(6) F. 49. — '" And hold such in reputation." Others read it, "make much of such." '
The original is nai rovg roiovrovg ivrifjLovg i-^ztz = ' and such, e.g., as Epaphrodi-
tus, hold in honour.'
(c) P. 51. — ' Be therefore of Theodosius his mind, value tliyself according to thy
measure in grace and assurance of salvation.' Many similar sayings are put into
the mouth of this famous Emperor by the Puritans ; but it seems impossible to trace
their authorities. Consult Long's exhaustive Memoir, sub voce, in Dr Smith's Dic-
tionary of Greek and Eomau Biography and Mythology. G.
EXPOSITION OF PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER III.
EXPOSITION OF PHILIPPIANS CHAPTEK III.
NOTE
For title-page, &c., see Note prefixed to ' The Christian Work,' ante, page 2.
This concludes Sibbes's Expositions proper. G.
AN EXPOSITION
0?
THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE EPISTLE OE ST PAUL
TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. — Philip. III. 1.
This chapter contains a general exhortation to several duties. In this verse
you have the manner of doing them — all must he done in rejoicing. From
thence he proceeds to back other particular exhortations, with reasons and
examples of himself, which we will speak of particulai'ly when we come at
them. Now in this verse I will speak first of the compellation, ' brethren; '
then of the exhortation, * rejoice ; ' and lastly, of the limitation, ' in the
Lord.'
1. The appellation, ' brethren.' By this loving compellation he labours
to enter into their hearts and aflections ; well knowing that exhortations
are of the more force, being directed to those that are persuaded of the good
affection of the speaker. If exhortation comes from the pride of a man,
the pride of a man in the hearers will beat it back, and give entertainment
thereunto.
But why are Christians brethren ?
First, They have the same beginning of life from the same Father: as also
they have the same common brother, that is, Christ. They have the same
womb, the church ; the same food, the word of Grod. They have the same
promises ; they are all heirs, all born to an inheritance.
Furthermore, the word brother is a word of equality and of dignity : of
equality — though in personal callings one is superior to other, yet this
takes not away the common brotherhood. This should fill up the valleys
of men's hearts dejected here, in regard of their mean estates ; as also pull
down the mountains of the proud hearts of men, lifted up through these
outward things. Kings must not lift up themselves in disdain of others,
because all these personal respects end in death ; we carry them not to
heaven. And in those respects that we agree in here, as in grace and
goodness, we shall continue united for ever. And yet must we honour such
as are in eminency, and acknowledge them as men worthy of all respect,
and give them dignity according to their places.
But further, this is a name cf dignity. It argues that we are not basely
58
EXPOSITION OF
born, that wc are sons of God and heirs of heaven. Christ after his resur-
rection, the first term he gives his disciples, ' Tell my brethren,' saith he,
* I go to my Father and their Father.'
This word is also a word of love ; and therewith the apostle insinuates
the affections of the Philippians. Examine therefore thy affections towards
the sons of God. If we love and respect them as our own brethren, good
is our estate ; if we hate them, our estate cannot be good.
And in the second place. Let not this word be appropriated to some, and
not to others, which are notwithstanding of the same number. For one
brother cannot make another no brother ; for it is one and the same Father
that makes brethren. So long therefore as thou seest anything of Christ
in any, break not off thy affection, and disdain not the name of brother to
such ; for where the Spirit is, it works in us a resemblance of God ; and
where it stamps his image, it makes them brethren.
2. Exhortation, ' rejoice.' It is not only an affection, but a duty that
we are enjoined. Wherein first observe,
(1.) It is a Christian'' s duty to rejoice. It is commanded here. Ministers
are enjoined to speak comfort to such, Isa. xl. 1, ' Comfort ye, comfort ye,
my people ; ' _ and Christ came to ' bind up the broken in heart,' Isa. Ixi. 1,
and the ministers sent to shew men their unrighteousness, Job xxxiii. 23.
The spirit that is in such is the spirit of joy ; and therefore joy is reckoned
as a fruit of the spirit, Gal. v. 22.
And why should not Christians rejoice ? They are free from the spiritual
Egypt, from greatest miseries. Nay, why should not we sing as the
Israelites did after their deliverance ? Our enemies and deliverance is far
greater than theirs. And we have the greatest prerogatives. We have
here an assured hope of eternal perfect happiness hereafter; we have
'peace with God,' Kom. v. 1. We have free access in all our wants to
the throne of grace ; and we have a God ready to hear all our prayers, and
to help us. We have many gifts already received. Christ is already given
us. We are in a state of regeneration. And for the time to come, we have
promises from God, the God of truth, that nothing shall separate us from
Christ. Surely these are great causes of joy in us; and having such things
as these, we dishonour them, the giver of them, and ourselves and our pro-
fession, if we rejoice not in them.
(2.) In the second place observe, that it belongs only to Christians to
rejoice. ^ Others have neither cause of joy, nor commandment to rejoice.
The ministers and prophets are bidden to bid such howl and lament, to
shew them their miserable estate.* And indeed what ground can a con-
demned person have of joy ? For the wicked, till they have remission of
sins, they are in a damned estate ; and though they will snatch this to
themselves and say that they are sure to be saved, yet is salvation not
their portion. They joy indeed, but it is in sin ; in seeing or doing evil to
others. Or if sometimes they joy in the gospel (for a wicked man may do
so), it is but a forced joy, and much hke hot waters to a cold fit of an ague.
It brings heat and expulscs cold for the present, but it burns them after.
So this joy seems to comfort them now, but when trial comes it fails him,
and makes him more disconsolate to see himself thus beguiled. Fitter it
were for such to be first humbled and brought to the sight of their estate,
than to administer comfort to them. To speak peace where none belongs
is to undo men. It is the broken that must be healed, and the weary that
must come to Christ.
*■ Cf. Jer. XXV. 34.— G.
PHILIPPIANS OIAP. Ill, YT.'R. 1. 59
(3.) Limitation. In the third place, observe the limitation of this joy : it
must be ' in the Lord ;' that is, in Christ, who in the New Testament is
often called Lord. And he is our Lord : first, by gift ; God hath given us
all to Christ. Secondly, by conquest ; he hath gotten victory of Satan. And
thirdly, by man-iaf/e ; and therefore we may well call him Lord, and rejoice
in him, because he is our Lord ; for by him we come to conquer all our
enemies ; by him we have peace, Eom. v. 1. He makes us kings and
priests, and brings us to heaven.
Now, for the practice of this duty of rejoicing in the Lord, that we may
be encouraged, let us consider how it is a means not only of adherence to
God, but also of obedience to his laws.
[1.] Adherence to God. Joy, if it be found,* knits us firm to God, so as
we rest contented in him as our only and suflicient joy, seeking for no other
joy in any other thing. To us Christ is made ' ail in all' that we should
solace oui'selves in his fulness, which if we truly do, we will count all other
things as despised, assuring ourselves they cannot minister or add any jot
of sound comfort at all ; and therefore will not endure any thought of mix-
ture of other things with Christ, thereby to make him more sufficient and
complete for our joys to rest on.
[2. J Obedience to his laws: for joy stirs up cheerfulnsss to every duty,
and makes all duties acceptable to God and man. For the want hereof
many are dead and dull in good duties ; and where a large portion of this
joy is, it will remove all lets and delays to duty. It doth not only enable
us to, but in, duty. Cain no doubt came cheerfully to a good duty, to
sacrifice ; but for want of this cheerful and joyful spirit, what was his beha-
viour in the performance thereof? ' His countenance was cast down,' Gen.
iv. 6. This God espies suddenly, and so he doth in all our dull perform-
ances. For he looks things should be done cheerfully, and reason too, for
he hath left us a treasure of excellent promises to encourage us. We see
it in men. They love when a thing is done cheerfully ; they know it
betokens love in the party that doth it : and can we then think it strange
that God requires it ? Again, if we can fashion ourselves to this duty,
God hath promised to increase our joy more abundantly. And he per-
formed it to Hezekiah, 2 Chron. xxix. 36. He will give delight as a reward
to him that delighteth in his work. And therefore we ought to labour
to bring ourselves to this duty ; to the obtaining of which observe these
directions.
Means to get joy. First, Consider that joy comes from faith. For it is
the sense of our reconciliation with Christ that makes us rejoice, Kom. v. 2,
and 1 Pet. i. 6. Now, therefore, whatsoever strengthens faith, strengthens
also our joy ; and contrarily what weakens the one, must of necessity weaken
the other.
Furthermore, joy comes from, j^eace. Whatsoever, therefore, disturbs our
peace, must needs disturb om' joy. Therefore Satan, to despoil us of our
joy, he spoils our faith through our sins ; and by them he weakens our
hope and our comfort. What is to be done then ? Surely repair to the
fountain of health, the well of joy, the word of God, Isa. xii. 3. And from
thence must we draw all our comfort. Use, therefore, the ordinances of
God, but use them in the Lord, in obedience to his commandment, and
expect the issue with patience. Many there are that use the means, but
take no joy at all in them. Why ? They do it not as in obedience to
God's command, but they rest in the deed done, and they think God is
* Qu. ' sound ' ? — Ed.
60 EXPOSITION OF
bound to give them joy. God justly denies such that which they pre-
sume of.
In the second place : Pray that your joy may he full. See this in most of
David's psalms. At the first he complains for the want of God's presence,
of God's wrath and anger, but comes off with a large portion of comfort.
* Depart from me, ye wicked, for the Lord hath heard my prayer,' Ps. vi. 8.
In the use of all means, therefore, join prayer : pray for faith, for hope,
and such graces as may bring joy. Though at first thou findest thyself to
be cold, to have little or no comfort at all, yet give not over ; thou shalt at
length find plenty thereof. Remember the woman of Canaan : at the first
despised and called dog, but what did her constancy gain ? A gracious
answer, * 0 woman, great is thy faith : be it to thee as thou desirest,'
Mat. XV. 28.
In the third place : Remember former times, as David did, Ps. Ixxvii. 6.
He was so oppressed, his ' sore ran in the night, and ceased not,' as he
saith. But then, ' I remembered the days of old,' &c. Consider thou also
in thy deepest aflliction, times were once when thou hadst the clear and
comfortable light of God's Spirit present with thee. He will not leave thee,
his nature is unchangeable, &c.
In the Jmirth place : Have society with the saints, and keep company with
those that are good. And as the two disciples' hearts did burn when they
talked with Christ, so verily thou shalt find this heat of "comfort by little
and little to increase. For God blesses the communion of saints, and such
as are discerning Christians can tell us more, and opportunely bring things
to mind which thou thyself rememberest not, and can inform our judg-
ments when they are blinded with grief and melancholy. Use, therefore,
the company of the good, when thou findest doubts arise, and make thy
griefs known to some wise and judicious Christian. For the devil is too
strong for any one alone. He will prevail against thee. Thou wilt be too
weak to wrestle with him hand to hand. It is no wonder, therefore, that
melancholy persons are so destitute of comfort.
Quest. It will be asked, May we not rejoice in friends' society, deliverance
from dangers, and the like good things of this world ?
Ans. I answer. Yes ; and yet joy in the Lord also ; for whenas whatso-
ever we have, we receive it as a token of God's particular love to us in
Christ, who both gives us our daily bread and the word of life ; comforts
both heavenly and earthly ; these outward things then, I say, do strengthen
the faith of a Christian, and thereby our joy is strengthened. Wherefore
we may thus joy in them, nay, it is our duty to do it. The wicked they
indeed receive them, but only as from God's care of the general good of
the world, or the race of mankind ; and therefore can take no joy truly
from them as the child of God doth : who in the right use of them, first
rejoiceth that he is the child of God, and is reconciled to him in Christ :
that Christ is his ; and then that he having the field, hath also the pearl.
Mat. xiii. 45, seq. All blessings belonging to this life and a better are in
Christ made his, and he so rejoices in them, as he refers the comfort and
strength that he receiveth from them to the honour of God. God's chil-
dren receiving good things from him, are threatened for not rejoicing in
them, Deut. xxviii. 47. In the 45th verse he saith, ' The curses shall be
upon thee, for that thou servest not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and
gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things.' And it is expressly com-
manded, Deut. xxvi. 11, ' Thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the
Lord thy God hath given thee, and thine house.'
PUILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 1. 61
Quest. But it may be questioned, TFAy, if this he true, are God's chil-
dren so disconsolate ? none are so much troubled in conscience as they ?
I answer,
1. Their sorrow proceeds not from their good' estate, in that they are
Christians, but from the want of the 2:)erfections to make them absolute Christians
indeed.
2. They either do not know themselves, or if theij do, because they glorify
not God, nor adorn their 2J>'ofession, God justly suffers his joy to be hid,
by hiding the comfortable presence of his Spirit.
3. God's children's joy, though it be great, yet is not discerned of the
world. It is a hidden joy. The feast is kept in the conscience. It is not
seen of the world, which discerns all things carnally. Carnal joy is always
outward, and easy to express.
4. While God's children live here, they have ever a mixture of the two
affections of joy and griif, to temper one another ; for fulness of joy is only
in heaven. This life will not endure perfect jo}' ; but ever when there ia
cause given of joy, we have something to humble us, and to keep us from
being exalted above measure. As Paul had some base temptation, which he
calls the ' prick of the flesh,' who therefore bids us to fear and tremble, that
we lose not the sense of God's Spirit by the prevailing of our corruptions.
Obj. But it will be objected, that the Christian is fuller of sorrow than
joy. To which I answer,
Ans. It arises either from ignorance of the grounds of comfort, or from
ivant of apjilicatioyi of them. When a man is a young Christian, newly
begun, he knows not nor understands what grounds he hath of joy. They
are as children, that know not their inheritance at the first, nor their father's
love ; especially if he correct them, they think he loves them not. Even
those that are grown Christians fail too often in this, either by misapplying
the grounds, and misjudging of their estate ; or sometimes through the
distemper of their body, through melancholy. These judge of grace by the
measure, when they should judge by the truth of it, be it never so little.
For it is not the measure that is the evidence of the child of God, but truth
of grace. For there are degrees of grace : in some more, in some less, and
in one more in one time than in another. Take, therefore, a Christian in
his right estate, one that is a grown Christian, whom neither melancholy
nor temptation doth trouble ; take him, I say, as he should be, he doth
rejoice more soundly, with true joy and hearty, than any one can, being an
ungodly man, be he never so merry. However, this we may be sure of, a
Christian hath the greatest cause to rejoice, and, as I said before, he ought
to stir it up in him by all means. And therefore, however indisposed he
be thereto, he ought to search what good things God hath wrought in him.
If he doth not know his estate, he cannot praise God as he should. He
must meditate also of the vanity of all worldly things. They vanish, and
they that put their trust in them ever failed of any true joy. It never
comes to the heart of a man. They are not deep enough to comfort men
that meet with afflictions. They only touch the fancy, as the fancy of a
beast may be delighted.
Let him also comjmre all discomforts that can come, ivith this joy in the
Lord, and he shall find that it countervails a world of sorrow. This has
no end ; they are momentary, they last but for a night. This is in the
Lord, in whom is fulness of joy. This made the saints of God so resolute, .
that they set light by all afflictions whatsoever ; and therefore, in their
greatest afflictions they have the sweetest joy and greatest comforts. And
62 EXPOSITION OF
let him also consider, tliat by this he avoids the reproach of religion, and
shews the force and efficacy thereof to be such as is formerly declared.
And let him take heal of the hindrances of this joy. As first of all, of sin
committed and not repented. Let him repent betimes, else it keeps a man
dead, and dull, and backward. So long as this Achan is unfound, it will
keep him in discomfort, 1 Chron. ii. 7. Let him take heed of secret pur-
poses, either to sin or to favour himself in any one sin, how small soever,
for time to come. This will rob him utterly of comfort, for joy cannot
lodge in such a heart. ' If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will
not hear me,' saith Da.vid, Ps. Ixvi. 18.
Furthermore, Let him take heed of negligence in good duties. For it is not
enough to do them, but he ought to stir up the graces of God in him to do
them thoroughly ; and he must strive against his corruptions. For Chris-
tians have never so much joy, as when they have laboured with their
endeavours to overcome their imperfections in good actions.
Lastly, Let him take heed of casting himself into dull or dead acquaintance.
It is true we cannot avoid conversing with them, but we must have no secret
and inward acquaintance but with the best. A companion of fools shall be
beaten, and the wise with the wise will learn wisdom. We are all travellers
to heaven ; let us therefore choose such company as may, as it were, be a
chariot to carry us thither, with their good example and discourses. And
with the prophet David, think it a great grief when we have not such society
as ma}'^ do us good. ' Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell in the
tents of Meshech,' Ps. cxx. 5. And therefore, if heretofore any of us have
been faulty, let us take warning of this hereafter.
VEKSE 1.
To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, hut for you
it is safe.
Although the apostle had formerly bidden them to rejoice, in the former
chapter, 18th and 28th verses, yet notwithstanding he bids them 'rejoice'
again, saying that it is safe for them to hear the same things often, and it
is not grievous to him to write the same things twice. Besides, he doth
also bid them to beware of such as may hinder their joy, as dogs and those of
the concision, preventing* thereby secret objections which they might make
against repeating the same things. Whence we may in general observe,
Boct. 1. The udsdom of the ivord and Spirit of God, to know secret objec-
tions that might be made, and to prevent them ; turning away thereby what-
soever might hinder the force of the word.
Doct. 2. And in the second place, it teaches us that it is the duty of those
that mean to prevail by instruction, to know the secret dispositions of those
they deal ivithal. For when their minds are not quieted or cleared from
doubts and hindrances, they are not fit to entertain any good counsel at all.
Doct. 3. And thirdly (for I cannot stand on these things), it shews our
dispositions by nature, to count repetition of the same things to he tedious and
irksome. For since the fall of man, we wander in our thoughts, affections,
and intentions ; and it is a part of our loss, to lose our constancy and
settled disposition. Wherefore, we find it noted of the Israelites, that they
were weary of one kind of food, although it is called 'angels' food,' Numb.
xi. 6.
Doct. 4. In the fourth place (which I intend more to stand upon), observe
"^ That is, ' anticipating.' — G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 1. 63
witli me, that dwelling on the same things is necessary, even for the best Chris-
tians. And the reasons are,
Beason 1. First, Because truth is supernatural, and our minds are carnal;
and that which must change these our minds must he assiduous, or else our
minds will sink into their first estate. We are naturally changeable, and
therefore had need to have the truth, as at the first to change us, even so
to be continually presented to our souls, to keep us perpetually in this
spiritual change. And a
Beason 2. Second reason may be, because we often regard not the truth
at the first, second, or third time urged and taught unto us. Wherefore, Job
xxxiii. 14, it is said, ' God speaketh once or twice, yet man perceives not.'
Therefore, if the caution and point be necessary, the reception must needs
be necessary also.
Beason 3. In the third place, there is such a breadth and depth in the
points delivered out of the word of God, that although ive hear often the same
thing, yet ire never come to understand the full extent of them. Our souls are
narrow. We cannot at the first so soundly and deeply consider of them,
neither can we understand so many particulars as otherwise we should ; for
in every Christian truth there is milk for children and strong meat, which
requires digestion and likewise repetition.
Beason 4. A fourth reason may be, because our corruptions daily increase
and grow upon us, and variety of occasion and worldly business being natural
to us, and therefore more delightful, are too powerful, and do thrust out the
consideration of divine truths, ivhich are convnonly against the hair. And we
cannot have variety of two things in our minds at the same time in strength.
Whence it comes to pass that the better is ever more subject to be thrust
out, and therefore had need to be hammered in with often repetition and
insisting upon again and again.
Beason 5. A fifth reason may be, Because we work as well as understand,
weakly or strongly. When we work well, we must have things present
strongly in the understanding ; as when we tell men of God's justice,
omnipresence, of the day of judgment, of death, and the like. The lively
and present remembrance of these things keeps the mind of man so in
frame as it cannot will any evil, no more than a lewd person will offend in
the presence of the judge. And this lively remembrance of things is
wrought chiefly by repetition and often enforcing the same things, and it
makes the mind to be wholly taken up therewith. And therefore it is a good
way, when we would do any good action well, to be taken up with reading
or hearing of good, by way of preparation thereunto. And the want of
the presence of good things in our mind lays us open and makes us fit for
all companies and occasions of sin.
Beason 6. In the next and last place, our memories are very iveak to
remember and to retain anything that is good. Since the fall they are broken,
and good things sink through them as water through a sieve, and there-
fore hath great need of remembrancers. And after this manner hath God
dealt with man, as in the promise of the blessed seed. How often is it
reiterated and typified ; and' to Abraham it is renewed seven times.* So
God to David often renewed his promise concerning the kingdom, as also
the promise concerning the deliverance of the people of Israel from captivity
in Isaiah is often repeated. This also did Christ, the great doctor f of his
church, in his parables. In one chapter [he] argueth one principal matter
* Cf. Genesis xii. 1-3 ; xii. 7 ; xiii. 14-16 ; xv. 18 ; xvii. 8 ; xxiv. 7 ; xxv. 8. — G.
t That is, teacher. — G.
64 EXPOSITION OF
with four parables one after another,* although with some variety, teaching
ministers thereby to do the like to avoid tediousuess. Eepetition in
Scripture serves to divers ends ; sometimes for the stronger averring of the
certainty thereof. Wherefore it was that Pharaoh's dream was doubled.
Sometime for emphasis sake, as Christ did often, ' Amen, amen,' and ' in
dying thou shalt die,' (a) and the like phrases. But the main end is, to
stir up us and our aifections, and to keep them in life and action when they
are stirred up. Therefore, 2 Peter i. 12, because they knew they could
not be over sure of salvation, nor grow too much in grace, he says, ' So
long as he lives he will put them in mind of such things.'
Use 1. Let it not therefore be grievous to ministers to do what is for the
safety of God's children. They must do it till they see practice come to per-
fection, and they must cast and cast again. Peter he cast often and got
nothing, yet at Christ's word he cast again. So must ministers. God that
blesseth not every cast, may bless the last cast to the catching of many ;
and therefore a minister had need of a fatherlike affection to his hearers,
as St Paul had, 1 Thes. ii. 11.
Use. 2. A second use may be for ourselves : if we hear the same things
repeated, hear them as an impression which may carry force, and work upon
our hearts more strongly than before. And know that God may work on
us by one means at one time which he did not at another ; as a dart pierces
deeper being cast by one than by another. And therefore let us not be
weary of attendance on God's ordinances, for our corruptions daily increase
as our age doth. Our minding of things is but slight, and our memory
very brittle. And we must know that the word teaches doing and practising,
as well as knowing. And therefore to conceive a necessity of a continual
ministry to perfect a church as well as to begin it. The sacraments are
necessary ; receive them often. The primitive church had them every
Lord's day (b). Till we come to the holy land of that heavenly Canaan,
let us submit ourselves to this manna. It is angels' food, and they desire
to look into these mysteries, 1 Peter i. 12. And therefore take heed of
fulness or loathing ; for when we come to that pass that we must have
novum or nihil, God takes away this manna thus loathed. Thus did he
with the Greek churches, Eev. i. and ii. They gave themselves not to
the plain, sincere truth, but man's inventions, whereby God gave them over
to strange opinions. And indeed it is a rule : none absents himself from
God's word, but he is given over, and that justly, to believe toys ;t to attri-
bute all praise and delight to this or that idle author, which it may be is
heathenish or popish. The Greek churches, affecting novelties, were justly
given over to Mahomet. But to a true Christian heart there cannot be more
delight than in the experimental knowledge of Christ's death and office, of
perseverance in grace. There are standing dishes in this Christian banquet.
It is a sign God means to plague that person or nation that is delighted in
such ill sauces. He will make them come out of our nostrils. We shall
have our fill of them, and never hunger after the sincere milk of the word.
VERSE 2.
Beware of dogs.
Doct. 1. In this general exhortation, consider first the persons to whom
* Viz. in Matthew xiii. the parables of the sower, of the tares, of the mustard seed,
and of the leaven. — G.
t That is, ' trifles.'— G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 2. 65
it is directed, to all the Philippians ; not only to the pastor, but even to the
common Christians. ' They must beware of false teachers,' Is it so ?
Then surely they ought to take notice of them, and to know them ; and
therefore they ought to have rules to discern them by. Christ's sheep they
discern between a wolf and a shepherd, John x. 4, 5. His sheep discern an
heretic or false teacher from those that are true shepherds in the main
points of Christian religion. And therefore, 1 John iv. 1, he bids all in
general ' to try the spirits ;' and the apostle, 1 Thes. v. 21, bids them ' prove
all things, and hold fast the good.' If they were then all of them bound
to try and prove, they were no doubt bound to know the rules by which
they were to try, which rules are only laid down in the word of God.
Quest. But some popish heart may ask, How common people should know
the word to be the word of God ?
A»s. For answer, I would ask such an one, how they know the pope's
canons, or any book of his constitutions, to be the pope's ? They will say,
their teachers brings them in the pope's name, and they believe their
teachers. So sa}^ we : we believe our teachers and ministers, who tell us
this is the word of God.
Ohj. But they object and say, that we make every one a judge.
Ans. I answer, there is a threefold manner of judging. First, a judging
whereby we discern of anj^thing ; and this every Christian must have, so
as it cannot be any plea to him at the day of judgment, to say, my teacher
did mislead me. No. Both the leader and he that is led, if they be blind,
shall fall into the ditch. Mat. xv. 14. Then there is a second kind of
judging, which is by way of direction. This is required principally in the
pastor, to direct his flock. And there is a third kind : that is, of jurisdiction.
This belongs to the church and the magistrate ; yet every one must have
a judgment to discern the good from the bad. For he that knows not his
master's will shall be beaten.
In the second place, not only the young ordinary Christians, but
even the best settled Christians had need to beware also. The Philippians
were a church established in the truth. Eve was seduced, being in her
innocent estate. But I need not stand on this at this time. I proceed to
the duty, which is to * beware.'' Which word signifies : first, to discern of,
then to avoid. And because those that are aware of evil, by nature will
avoid it; therefore 'bew^are' here, intends both discerning and avoiding of
evil. For the church of God in this world is ever subject to danger. And
God sufiers it to be so : first, to try who be true, and who false ; and
secondly, to try them that are good, and to be as an evidence to them of
their own estates, so as where such trial and danger is, it is true, ingeniosum
est esse Christianum.
But concerning the words ' dogs, concision, evil workers,' they all signify
the same thing; and he repeats the word * beware' thrice, to shew the neces-
sity thereof. Take heed of them that urge works of the law with doctrines of
faith, especially of pastors. Nay, take heed of these, for so the word in the
original is, ' these dogs' (c). By ' concision,' he means those that urged
circumcision, when it was out of date, and when it was dangerous to be ad-
mitted of. But observe the term the Holy Ghost calls these ' dogs,' a strange
term, and such an one as I should not have dared to have given them, had
not the Holy Spirit led the way thereunto. And therefore since it is so, let
us not be more modest than he is ; but boldly afiirm that iriclrd men are
dogs. Now, wicked men are either without the church or within. Without
the church, all are dogs: Mat. xv. 20, ' It is not meet to take the children's
VOL. v. E
06 ■ EXPOSITION OF
bread and to cast it to dogs.' Of this number are all Turks and Jews, who
were filii, children, but are canes, dogs. We were canes, but now through
God's mercy are come to be JiliL All, therefore, that are without the
church are dogs. But there are also dogs within the church ; and there-
fore the Philippians were bidden beware of them, which St Paul needed
not to have done if they had not been troubled with them. And those
dogs he describes, in that they join works of the law and Christ together,
in matter of salvation. These are in St Paul's esteem dogs. And the
reason hereof may be grounded on God's esteem, on their behaviour towards
other men, and in regard of themselves. For God's esteem, we may see
it in Isa. Ixvi. 3 ; he detests them as dogs. For their behaviour towards
men, whom they go about to seduce, they fawn on them, and use all man-
ner of enticing, flattering, and false alluring words, Kom. xvi. 18. See the
picture of a Jesuited papist, a pleasing, humane, fawning nature. They
creep into houses ; and when these dogs cannot prevail by flattery, then
they snarl and bark against them, by falsa calumnies, and slanders, and rail-
ings, and bitter scoffs, and the like ; and this they do when they cannot bite.
But having gotten power in their hand, they persecute with fire and sword,
and the most exquisite torments that they can devise. In regard of them-
selves also they are dogs, rotten in nature, corrupt in life, filthy in their
own courts, devouring their own vomit ; and God justly punishing them,
by suffering of them to heap up wrath in store, 2 Peter, ii. 22, and to
return with the sow that was washed to wallow in the mire of corrupt
courses. Hence we may observe and see, what a man is now brought to
by sin. He that would be like to God is justly compared to the beasts
that perish. Now all by nature are no better than dogs, who are all for
their bellies, for present contentments, an envious and currish disposition
against any that shall endeavour to cross them in their unlawful lusts ; and
that rule of reason which should overrule him and amend him, he so
abuses it, as thereby' he is made more like a devil than a dog.* Would we
be then changed ? Let us attend on that word, that is able of lions to make
lambs. It can cleanse us throughout, John xv. 3. It sanctifies and alters
us. Moral precepts may restrain and alter outward practices. The word
that alters the condition and nature of men, it is the word of him that works
all wuth his Spirit. And therefore take heed of them, and deal not more
with them than thou must needs. They will fawn ; they will not be dogged
at the first : but till religion altereth him, assm-edly he hath a currish nature.
But to proceed. He saith not only, ' beware of dogs' in general, but beware
of these dogs of the concision. And these also ought we to beware of, for
there is a perpetual litter of them. Though those that the apostle spake of
are gone, yet the same spirit is now-a-days in many. Fawners they are
and flatterers, yet do they bark at Protestants ; and of this sort are our
Jesuited papists and seminaries. Our fathers were troubled with them.
Let these take heed ; for were these men dogs that press circumcision with
Christ ? and shall not such be also, that press merits with Christ, saints
with Christ, and equal traditions with the word of God ? The dogs in St
Paul's time had some excuse. Circumcision they urged, but it was first
founded by God. But these men out of their own brain endeavour to
establish fancies ; and where they cannot prevail by conference, they by
scattering of books seek to accomplish their intents. Magistrates therefore
in their place ought to look to them ; and every private person look to their
own salvation. We ought also to take heed of neuters, such as are or
* Qu. ' god ' ?— Ed.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 2. 67
would be mediators, and will be of every religion, or rather of none ; who
jumble religions, mixing truth and folsehood, light and darkness together.
But he that made distinction between the ' seed of the woman' and the
' seed of the serpent,' made also eternal distinction between religion and
irreligion. Though Judas thought he might keep fair quarter with the
Pharisees and his Master, yet his fawning kiss could not keep him, but
desperation overtook him. So these neuters : let them fawn never so much,
let them halt between two opinions never so long, they shall at length know
that they have betrayed their religion ; and desperation shall at length
assuredly overtake them, as it overtook Spira (d). Take heed of them.
There hath been a continual brood of them. In the emperors' time the
Jews had some liberty granted to them, because their ceremonies carried a
show of a reverend antiquity. The Christians they were huUhrlum huinani
generis ;■''• there were even then, as St Paul found, such Christians as, find-
ing they were scorned, because the}' would be scorned of neither, took part
with neither, f
Quest. But some will say, What a great matter do you make of this !
Is it not policy and wisdom for us thus to avoid reproach, and to get the
good will of all ?
Ans. Remember what Christ says, ' He that denies me before men, I will
deny him before my Father,' Mat. x. 33. True, say they, ' I yet may in-
wardly be sound in my heart ; I may honour Christ, though outwardly I may
please others.' AVhat place is left for profession ? ' With the mouth man
confesses to salvation,' Rom. x. 10 ; and such as are ashamed to confess
Christ before men, Christ may justly deny to acknowledge them in that
fearful day of judgment. For shall we try all things to be sure of our tem-
poral estate, and shall not we much more seek to assure our spiritual and
eternal estate unto us ? God forbid.
In the next place, let us not be discouraged or hindered in a good course.
Though these dogs bark never so much, yet they are but like the dogs
who bark against the moon. Though we meet with many changes, let us
keep our course still constantly, without turning aside. For thou must
look to be barked at beforehand. Thou art or shouldst be a stranger to
this world, and then assuredly the dogs will take notice of thee. And com-
fort thyself, thou slialt be admitted into thine own country, when these dogs
shall be kept out, as it is in the last of the Revelations, Rev. xxii. 15.
And though we cannot have too harsh a conceit of them in regard of their
estate, yet are we to respect the image of God they carry about with them,
and to esteem of them as of such as may become lambs. And thus did St
Paul respect and reverence Agrippa. Yet see how sharp he is, not to those
that are heathen, but to those that, making a profession of Christianity,
did add circumcision to Christ, wherein we may observe his zeal for
Christ's honour.
Beware of evil xcorkers.
Beware of such as in general were bad ; and in this particular especially
they were ' evil workers,' thereby seducing men from Christ. Seducers
therefore are evil workers, and magistrates ought to look to them. They
are the keepers of the two tables, and are to look to the souls of men as
well as to their bodies. Let also private members look to themselves, lest
they be seduced by them. Neither is it likely that these were only seducers
by false doctrine, but were also ill men and wicked livers ; for God justly
* That is, ' the derision of the liumau race.' — G. t Qu. 'either '?— Ed.
68 EXPOSITION OF
gives such up to wickedness in life tliat are seduced in judgment. And
thus dealt he with the scribes and Pharisees : ' Do not after their works,'
eaith Christ, Mat. xxiii. 3. Some think if they so live as none can lay any
gross sin to their charge, they are good enough. It is no matter what the
heart is, how ignorant, how dark ; God will bear with them. Alas ! poor
ignorant men, is not the understanding God's, as well as the outward parts ?
' Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind,' Mat. xxii. 37. The
understanding is sponsa reritatisJ' And know God looks to purit}^ of judg-
ment. He cannot endure his children should be ignorant ; for it is a dis-
honour to God for his children to conceit of things, in religion especially,
otherwise than is fitting, yea, otherwise than they are.
Beware of the concision.
That is, as I formerly said, circumcision, called here by the name of
concision, because it tended to cut and make a division and sect in the
church, with a natural and proper elegance, not affected, describing and
naming it by the effect. It is God's use to call things from the event and
effect of them. * Why will you perish ?' Jer. xxvii. 13. That is. Why will
you do those things that will lead you to destruction ? The end of them is
death ; and those that neglect wisdom hate themselves. As it was also said
to the Jews that neglected the gospel, ' They judged themselves unworthy of
salvation,' Acts xiii. 46 ; because in effect they hated themselves and deprived
themselves of salvation. Circumcision formerly had been an honourable
ceremony, serving for a partition between Jew and Gentile, and for a seal
of the covenant of grace. But the ceremony was to cease, it not having a
continual promise. It was to last till Christ came, and when he died, it
and all other died also, St Paul, and Christ, and Timothy, were circum-
cised. But after the time came that Christ had broken down the partition
wall by his suffering, they did not only die, but were also deadly to all such
as would maintain the observancy of them. The use of them was prejudicial
to Christ's honour, and therefore Paul bids us ' beware of them.' And
now-a-days this instruction by proportion is of good use. For are there not
those that teach concision, and that urge merits, as the papists do ? Take
heed of them. They say we are the concision ; we have cut ourselves from
the true mother church of Rome.
I answer, We have suffered a concision ; we have made none. And
again, we acknowledge we have separated from these Romans, not from
those that were in Paul's time. It is they that have made a concision, and
cut themselves from the mother church. But to pass from these : we have
a concision among us, and that in a contrary extreme, that think every
ceremony and thing that suits not with their opinion to be antichristian and
concision ; not considering that there be many things urged as fitting for
order, being no parts of God's worship. Yet even for these things they
make a concision, cutting themselves off from our church, and unchurching
us. It is dangerous for such ; for when the member is cut from the body,
it must necessarily die ; and how can we receive grace from Christ as our
head, but by union of ourselves to the body, whereof Christ is the head.
It must be our duty to beware of all manner of seducers ; and to this
end let us,
Hemedy 1. First, Get fundamental truths into our heart ; affect and Im^e
truth : for want hereof the eastern churches were given up to Mahomet ;
and antichrist ruled over many in these western churches, because they
* That is, ' spouse of tlie truth.' — G.
" PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 3. G9
loved not the truth, 2 Thes. ii. 10. For none are seduced that are not
cold in love.
Remedy 2. Secondly, Let us labour to practise that ive know, and God will
give us a fuller measure of knowled(/e, whereby we shall learn to find and
know seducers. John vii. 17, ' If any man will do his will, he shall know.'
Remedy 3. Thirdly, Pray to God for wisdom to discern of schisms, and
heresies, and ill-disposed jJersons. God hath promised us anything that is
necessary for our strengthening, and bringing us to heaven. God'^will not
deny us so necessary an aid as this is.
Remedy 4. Fourthly, Let us look that we keep in us an holy fear and
reverence of God : Ps. xxv. 12, ' What man is he that feareth the Lord ?
him shall he teach in the way he shall choose.' And those things are we
duly to observe, the rather because we shall ever find seducers. It will
ever be a hard matter for men to find the way to heaven. And though the
doctrine and profession of religion be not ever in all places opposed, yet
shall we ever find the practisers thereof maligned ; as it is in these days,
where none are accounted of to be protestants that are not loose libertines.
And thus instead of concision from religion, they join that with it which is
quite contrary to the power thereof. Beware also of such, for their courses
of life are as pernicious as fundamental errors ; for none shall be saved for
his knowledge.
VEKSE 3.
For we are the circumcision.
In these words, and those that follow, our apostle describes who are
truly circumcised. ' We are the true Israel, the circumcised sons of
A.braham, who are members of Christ.' The Philippiaus they were not
circumcised outwardly, yet v/ere they truly circumcised, they had the truth
of it ; even as they that were under the cloud and in the sea were said ' to
be truly baptized in the cloud and in the sea,' 1 Cor. x. 2. The sacraments
therefore, before and after Christ, were in substance all one. As the church
was one and the same, they may be said to be baptized as we, and we cir-
cumcised as they. The difference was only in the outward ceremony and
shovv, which the church being then young had need of. It is the same
religion clothed diversely. Bellarmine saith that their government was
carnal, and the promises to them were carnal, but it is carnally spoken of
him (e), Heb. xi. 2. The fathers before Christ had respect to the recom-
pence of reward ; and in ver. 35 they ' accepted not deliverance that they
might obtain a better resurrection.' Are these carnal promises ? The
anabaptists they press rebaptizing, not considering that the same covenant
was _ before Christ and after, in substance ; so as every true Christian is
spiritually^ circumcised, being once regenerate. Before, indeed, he is
uncircumcised, and a spiritual leprosy overspreads all his frame of body
and mind, which must be washed, pared, and cut off. We must part with
uncircumcised hearts, ears, and lips ; that is, such ears as do dehght them-
selves to hear corrupt lewd discourse ; such a tongue and lips as delight to
utter and let out words savouring of a rotten and uncircumcised heart ; such
eyes as do delight themselves in the beholding of lustful and sinful objects,
whereby the heart is kindled into vain desires. I say, a Christian must
circumcise himself, his heart, and those parts that are uncircumcised, before
he can ever think to go to heaven, whither nothing that is corrupt or
unclean entereth. Religion therefore is no easy thing, circumcision is
70
EXPOSITION OF
painful and bloody. Mortification is very hard. Corruption it must be
cut off though the blood follow, else it will kill thee at length. Wherefore
we are also to labour for circumcised hearts to understand God's truth, his
will, and commandments. Cut off all extravagant desires, which''-" by little
and little take away comfort and communion with God. It is no mercy
therefore to spare them. Circumcise thy eyes ; pray with David, ' Turn
away mine eyes from regarding vanity,' Ps. cxix. 37. Stop thy ears at the
charming of such objects as may infect thy soul. We can never enjoy that
beatifical vision hereafter, if we wean not ourselves from the liking of these
things. And though we cannot, while we are in this house of clay, come to
that perfection we should, yet endeavour to it earnestly, and God will
accept our very endeavours, and will further them ; yea, we shall get the
victory at length. If sin begins to fall it shall surely fall ; the house of
David in us shall grow stronger, and the house of Saul shall daily be
weakened. The means to this duty are,
1. First, Kiwiv tluj sin, and thy 'particular sin, by thy checks of conscience
and by the checks we receive from our enemies, who shall spy what they
can in us thereby to scandalise us. As also observe what thy thoughts
work most upon, what is the main thing that generally takes up your
cogitations.
2. When thou hast found out thy sin, make it as odious as thou canst.
For circumcision imphes a thing that is odious and superfluous. Now all
sins that be cherished in us may well be odious to us, for that it hinders
us from all good and clothes us with all evil, and makes all outward things
evil to us ; Avhich- otherwise are no further ill than as they strengthen our
corruptions. It hinders us from all good duties. Pride of heart and cor-
ruption do dog us. This made Paul cry, not of temporal bonds, but of the
bonds of sin and of death. ' \Vho shall deliver me, wretched man that I
am ?' saith he, Eom. vii. 23, 24.
3. Thirdly, Having found out thy sins, and the abominableness of them,
cowx>lain of them to God, as Hezekiah did of the blasphemous letter that
Sennacherib wrote, and challenge the fruit of God's promise. For he that
bids us circumcise, Deut. x. 16, promised that he himself will do it, Deut.
xxx. 6. Faith in the promises is an effectual means to attain to them.
Men come with doubtings. They see a great deal of corruption. They
think their labour is vain. They cannot be relieved against them. They
are deceived. Touch but thou the hem of Christ's garment. Fly to God
in his name, and thou shalt find this ' issue' of sin, though not wholly dried
up, yet much abated. And here is the excellency of faith that assures
us of all the promises concerning sanctification here, as concerning glory
hereafter.
Which U'orshij) God.
The apostle places circumcision before worship ; for unless there be a
cutting off, we cannot bring our corruption to perform duties of God's
worship aright.
The words contain a description of a Christian by his proper act, worship ;
and by the proper object thereof, God ; and by his most proper part, in
spirit. And the word ' worship ' is taken for the inward worship of God,
commanded in the first commandment ; also comprehending our fear, love
of God, and joy in him, issuing from the knowledge of the true God. All
our obedience issuing herefrom is worship of God, including our duties to
* Misprinted 'who.' — G. ® Here also mispriuted ' who.'— G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 3. 71
man, in obedience and relation to God's commandment. The ground of
this obedience and worship is the relation between God and the reasonable
creature, being the image of God. Now this image being lost in the fall
01 our first parents, we must worship him not only as our creator and
maker, but as ' reconciled to us in Christ,' as he hath made us anew.
Secondly, We are to worship him as the ivell-sprinfj of all grace, goodness,
excellency, and greatness.
Thirdly, As he doth comrmmicate all unto us. He is ours. Christ is
ours. All is ours. This should carry our souls to love him, be his as he
is ours ; especially to be his in spirit, by which is meant the reasonable
soul, understanding, will, and affections. And, secondly, with sanctified
understanding, sanctified will, and sanctified afiections. Thirdly, With all
our strength, spirit, life, and cheerful readiness. Wherefore God is the
proper object of spiritual worship. Trust on him, love him, joy in him,
invoke and pray to him and to him only ; not to the Virgin Mary, saints,
or images, as the papists do : Mat. iv. 10, ' Him only shalt thou serve,' as
Christ saith, because our commandment is only from him and extends only
to him. The promises are only from him. He only is present in all
places ; he only supplies our wants ; and he only knows what our wants
are and how to help. Saints are not present in all places. They cannot
hear many at once ; nay, they cannot hear our prayers unless they be
present. They are finite creatures, they have no infinite properties. Christ
he bids us, invites us, to come to him, he hath promised to hear us and to
ease us.
And further, God knows the secret wants, which the saints cannot know.
We ourselves know them not. And therefore are we to go only to God in all
our necessities, because it is most gainful for us to go to him that can help
us ; nay, we owe him this honour by going to him, to acknowledge his
omnipresence, his willingness and ability to do good.
In spirit.
The apostle in these words shews the manner of true worship, by the
most proper and fit part of a Christian ; to wit, his spirit ; that is, a soul
truly sanctified, lively, and cheerfully, with a willing and ready mind, fitly
disposed, contrary to outward, false, and hypocritical worship.
1. And the reason is, * Because God is a Spirit, and therefore must be
worshipped in spirit,' John iv. 24.
2. Secondly, It is the best part of a man ; and God who challenges all,
and that justly, looks especially that he hath the best part.
3. Thirdly, The spirit hath a being of itself, and praiseth, loveth and
rejoiceth in God when it is out of the body ; and the body is stirred up to
this duty only by the spirit, being of itself senseless as a block ; and outward
worship without inward is but the carcase of worship. The prayer of a
wicked man is abominable, because he regards inquity in his heart, Ps.
Ixvi. 18. And this spirit of ours, without the Spirit of God, cannot worship
him ; and therefore every one that is not changed makes God an idol.
Use. This may deprive all such of comfort as care not for this spiritual
worship, thinking they have done enough if they have mumbled a few idle
words over. God accepts it no more than if they had sacrificed a dog's
head, as he saith, Isa. Ixvi. 3. And verily, what other is popery, but a
body without a soul, when they worship in blind sacrifices, in a strange
language '? Is this a spiritual worship, when they neither know what they
do nor say ? Let us shew that we are not of their number. Come we
72
EXPOSITION OF
with love, and with the intension* of all our affections ; and this will sway
the whole man, body and soul ; and so shall we worship him in truth, and
not in hypocrisy, as many do, that bring their idols with them. Their
minds are on their pleasures and riches, though their body be present
before God. And it hath ever been an error in the world, this limiting
and tying God's worship to outward worship of the body, with a kind of
ceremonious gesture ; and it is very much liked for such like reasons as
the.so are.
First, Tlie outnard gesture : as holding up hands, bending the knee,
casting up the eyes, they are things that may easily be done.
Secondly, Theij make a glorious show hi the eyes of the uorld. It is a
commendable and good quality to be religious, especially if they be observed
so to be.
Thirdly, It is henejiclal to men, whenas hereby they are known to be no
atheists, and therefore not that way incapable of preferment or the like.
Fourthly, Outward uorship satisfies conscience a little. Men know they
must worship God, and go to church, that these are means to save men,
and they think that in doing so they stop the cries of their consciences.
Alas ! alas ! these sleepy, blinded consciences of theirs will at length awake,
and will accuse them, for the outward ceremonious hypocritical worship of
him that requires the Spirit to worship him with.
Ohj. But some men say. How shall we know whether we serve God in
spirit or no ?
Ans. I answer. Observe these properties.
First, Whether thou lameidest thij defects in the best actions thou dost, and
are not puffed up with conceit of the sufficiency of thy performances.
Paul found this in him ; for although he lived, being a Pharisee, as con-
cerning the law unrebukable, yet when he was converted he sav/ much
corruption which before he knew not, and laments and bewails it, Eom.
vii. 23, 2L
Secondly, Examine thyself, whether thou vialcest conscience of private
closet duties. Of prayer in thy study when none sees thee. Of thy
very thoughts. Dost thou serve God with thy afiections and thy very
soul ? Dost thou weep in secret for sins, yea, for thy secret sins ? Dost
not thou do good duties to be seen of men, as the Pharisees did ? Con-
trariwise, wilt thou omit no place nor time, but always and in all places
thou wilt worship God ? This must be done ; for God is always and for
ever God ; and he is in all places, in private as well as public ; and there-
fore a Christian's heart must be the sanctum sanctorum,]- where God must
remain present continually. And therefore he makes conscience of, and is
humbled for, the least sins, yea, those that the world esteems not of, and
counts them as niceties ; and that in as great a measure as ordinarily men
are for the greatest sins they commit.
Thirdl}^ Canst thou endure the search of thgself and thy infirmities by
all means ? By thyself, by others, by the word, by private friends ? Nay,
canst thou desire this search, that thou mayest know thy sin more and more,
for this end, that thou mayest truly hate it with a more perfect hatred ?
Canst thou truly appeal to God, as Peter did to Christ, ' Thou knowest that
I love and prefer thee above all ' ? John xxi. 15. It is a sure sign of thy
shicerity which the world cannot have ; and therefore when they see their
sins laid open, they spurn, at the ordinances, and spite the minister and
their true friends, that put them in mind of their faults, accounting them
* That is, ' stretdi,' = earneitm:as.— G. t That is, ' holy of holies.'— G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VEK. 3. 73
as their only enemies. Surely they shall never be able to endure the
search of God hereafter ; and the last day when he shall lay them open,
they shall be overcome with shame.
A fourth sign is, That at the hour of thy deatlt this spiritual uorshippimj
of God will tjive thee content, when nothinf/ else can. Thou mayest say with
comfort, as Hezekiah did, ' Lord, remember how I have walked before thee
in sincerity,' Isa. xxxviii. 2, 3. When downright affliction comes, outward
verbal profession vanisheth, with all the comforts thereof; then perisheth
the hope of the hypocrite. Two things upheld Job in comfort, in his
great extremity. He was first assured that his Redeemer lived ; and
secondly, he knew his innocency in those things that his friends charged
him with. And such times will fall on us all, either at the time of death
or before, when nothing but innocency and sincerity shall be able to
uphold us.
Labour therefore for sincerity and spiritual worship. ' Worship God in
spirit,' but let it be done outwardly also. But first, bring thy heart and
intention to what thou dost, and that will stir up the outward man to its
duty. And for the performance hereof follow these directions.
First, Learn to know God aright. For worship is answerable to know-
ledge ; for how can we reverence God aright, when we know neither his
goodness nor his greatness ? How can we trust on God when we see not
his truth in the performance of his promises, in the Scriptures, and in our
own experience ? Those that do not these know not God. For as the
heart affects according to knowledge, so also it is true in divinity ; as we
know his justice we shall fear, as we know his mercy we shall love him,
as we know his truth we shall trust on him. Ps. ix. 10, ' They that know
thy name shall trust in thee ; ' and in other places of the said psalm, the
Lord is known in the judgment he execute th, ver. 16.
Secondly, Know God to he the first mover and cause of all. Men
ordinarily fear the creature, attributing that to it which belongs to the
Creator. But God he is the giver of all, and Christians look on the
secondary means as to- the first author and ground of all' the rest. They
behold the magistrate as in God, fear them no otherwise but in the Lord.
Atheists they will not stick at any sin whatsoever, to get the love of those
that may bring them any worldly commodity. A Christian, he pleases and
seeks the love of him that can make enemies friends when he lists, and
when it is for our good. He knows ' in him we live, move, and have our
being.'
Thirdly, JSlake much of spiritual means. God he works by means, by his
word ; attend to it. It works love, fear, joy, and reverence in us ; and
therefore no marvel if those that neglect those means are not acquainted
with these graces of God's Spirit.
Fourthly, Lift up thy heart to Christ, the quickeniny Spirit, 1 Cor. xv. 86,
seq. Our hearts naturaUy are dead ; Christ is our life. When thou art
most especially called to love, to fear, to humility, pray to him to move
thee, and yield thyself to him, and then shalt thou pray in spirit ; as it is
said in Jude 20, 'Hear in spirit, do all in spirit ;( do outward works of thy
calling in spirit ; for a true worshipper will out of spiritual grounds do all
outward works of his particular calling, as well as the works of his general
Christian vocation. Let us therefore do all things from our hearts to God
and to our neighbour, else will not God accept of our works. It is the
Jew inwardly who shall have praise of God. The want of this sincerity
* Qu. 'from the secondary means to ' ? — G.
74
EXPOSITION OF
bath extinguished the light of many a glorious professor, and thereby bath
brought a great scandal upon the true worshippers of God in spirit.
And rejoice in Christ.
The word ' rejoice ' implies a boasting or glorying of the heart, manifesting
itself in outward countenance and gesture, as also in speech. It also
implies a resting on and contenting in the thing we glory in, proceeding
from an assurance that we glory in a thing worthy of glory, for they are
fools that delight in baubles. Observe hence, therefore,
Doct. 1 That those that ivill ivorship Christ aright must glory in him. For
the worship of Christ is a thing that requires encouragement, and nothing
can work this encouragement like the glorying in Christ. And therefore
Paul, in the first part of his epistle to the Romans, having shewed that
God had elected them freely, and had begun the work of sanctification in
their hearts, he comes in the 12th chapter, ver. 1, 'I beseech you,' saith
he, ' present yourselves as a holy, Hving, and acceptable sacrifice to God.'
And in Titus ii. 11, ' The grace of God teacheth,' by encouraging us 'to
deny ungodliness, and to walk unblameably, soberly, righteously, and
godly in this present world.' And therefore, whensoever we grow dull or
dead, think of the great benefits that we have by Christ, and it will quicken
us and all our performances.
JJoct. 2. In the next place observe. That Christ is the matter and subject
of trm glory and rejoicing, and only Christ, for they well go together, a
full and large affection with a full and large object. Boasting is a full
afiection, the object is every way as full.
Reason 1. First, As he is God and man. He is God full of all things ; he
is man full of all grace and void of all sin. He is Christ anointed to perform
all his offices ; he is a prophet all-sufficient in all wisdom. In him are the
treasures of wisdom. He teaches us not only how to do, but he teaches
the very deed. He is our high priest. He is the sacrifice, the altar, and
the priest, and he is our eternal priest in heaven and on earth : on earth
as suftering for us, in heaven as mediating for our peace, ' Who shall
condemn us ? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who
is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us,'
Rom, viii. 34, He is also our King, He is King of all. King of kings,
and Lord of lords; a king for ever and at all times, subduing all re-
bellions within us, and all enemies without us ; and he is all these so as
none is like him, and thei'efore is worthy of our glory.
Reason 2, Secondly, Christ is communicative in all these. He is prophet,
priest, king, for us ; he is God-man ; he is Christ for us. He sought not
his own. It was his communicative goodness that drew him from heaven to
take our nature.
Reason 3. Thirdly, He is present and ready to do all good for us ; he is
present with us to the end of the world ; nay,
Reason 4. Fourthly, We are his members. He is in us. We are his
wife ; nay, we are him, ' Saul, why persecutest thou me ? ' Acts ix, 4.
1 Cor, xii. 12, seq., ' We are all one body with Christ.'
Reason 5. Fifthly, We are even ivhiles we are here glorified with Christ.
He is our husband. If he be honoured, we his spouse also are advanced.
If he be our king, we are his queen. If the head be crowned, the body is
honoured ; and.
Reason 6. Sixthly, All this is from God, and freely comes from him.
Christ is anointed by the Spirit and sent from the Father. 1 Cor. i. oO,
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 3. 75
' He is made of God wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption
to us.' And John vi. 44, ' No man can come to me, except the Father who
hath sent me draw him ; ' and it is further said that God ' sealed him,'
John vi. 27. So that we may rejoice in Christ, because that thereby we
come to joy in God, for he reconciles us to God who called him to this
office, which was witnessed at his baptism, whenas the whole Trinity bare
witness thereof.
QucsL But it may be questioned. What ! may we not joy in any other
thing else but in Christ ?
Ans. I answer, There maybe two causes of our joy. One principal, the
other less principal. We must only rejoice in Christ as the main and
principal cause of our happiness. But we may rejoice in creatures so far
forth as they are testimonies of Christ's love, and in peace of conscience as
coming from Christ, and in the word of God as it is the gospel of the
revelation of Christ to us.
Use 1. For use. We may observe this doctrine as a ground of the
necessity of pari icular faith. For none can boast, but the boasting must
arise from a particular faith, which only is the true ground of every man's
particular assurance.
Use 2. Secondly, Let it serve as a direction to every Christian that will
rejoice ; let him go out of himself a7id rejoice in Christ, his king, his priest,
and his prophet. Let him observe what he hath done for him, and what
he will do for him, and thereby see himself perfectly happy ; and.
Use 3. In the third place. Let us first boast that ive have Christ, and then
in his benefits and blessings thatfolloiv him. First, rejoice that we have the
field, then rejoice in the pearl. And therefore the apostle says not rejoice
in faith or in obedience, but 'in Christ,' who being once mine, how shall I
not have all things with him ?
Use 4. Those that areburdencd ivith sorrow for their sin , let them consider.
Why do they grieve ? Do their sins trouble them ? Christ he came to die
for sin, he is their high priest, he came to save sinners. Doth the devil
accuse them? Let them know Christ chose them, he pleads for them.
"Who can lay anything to their charge ? Christ he is dead, risen ; nay, he
is ascended into heaven. Are they troubled with crosses ? That is the
best time to rejoice in Christ. * We joy in tribulation,' Rom. v. 3. When
nothing comforts us, then hath Christ sweetest communion with our hearts.
St Stephen, when the stones flew about him, and Paul in the dungeon, had
the most sweet consolation and comfortable presence of God's Spirit that
upheld them. Nay, in death we may glory most of all. It lets us into that
state, into that sweet society with our Saviour and the saints, the very hope
whereof doth now sustain us and cause us to glory here, as in Rom. v. 2.
And death now is but a drone,* the stuig is gone, all enemies are conquered.
Use 5. In the fifth place, See tvhereiii the glory of a man, of a nation, of
a Ungdom consists. It is in Christ, and that which exhibits Christ. What
made the Jews rejoice ? Mark the prerogatives they had, Rom. ix. 3, 4 :
adoption, covenant, promises, and Christ. What made the house of Judah
so famous ? and Mary so bless herself ? ' All generations shall call me
blessed,' Luke i. 48 : Christ, that vouchsafed to proceed out of her loins
and from that stock. ' Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day,' John viii. 56,
though he saw it afar off by the eye of faith. And what should we glory in
above the Jews, above other nations, but in this ? The veil is taken away :
Christ shines, and we have the gospel in its purity. This the apostle looks
* That is, a ' drone,' or stingless bee.— G.
76
EXPOSITION OF
for in the Corinthians, 2 Cor. ii. 3, ' HaviDg confidence that my joy is the
joy of you all.' Now, what was Paul's joy ? ' God forbid,' saith he, ' that
I should rejoice, but in the cross of Christ,' Gal. vi. 14. Let us not,
therefore, rejoice in peace or plenty, fortified places, or the like. No. If
we had not Christ to rejoice in, we were no better than Turks. ' Happy
is the people whose God is the Lord,' Ps. cxlvi. 5 ; for in him shall we have
fulness of joy and comfort. Make use of this in time of temptation. When
the devil would rob us of our joy, fly to Christ : oppose him against all ;
oppose the ' second Adam ' against the first : he came to do whatever the
other did undo. Learn to see the subtlety of the devil and thine own heart ;
and fill thy heart with the Scriptures and with meditations of the promises,
and they will cause our love to be so fervent, as all our service of God will
seem to be easy to us ; -ks the time that Jacob served seemed nothing, for
the love he bare to Rachel, Gen. xxix. 20.
But how shall we know whether we rejoice in Christ or not ?
Ans. I answer. By these signs :
1. First, When we glory, see the ground whence it arises, ivhether from God
reconciled to us or not. If otherwise, remember that of Jer. ix. 23 : ' Let
not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength ;'
all such rejoicing is evil ; ' but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he
understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord.'
2. Secondly, //' u-e ylorij in the Lord, it ivill stir us up to thanks. What
we joy in we will praise. If we joy in Christ, we shall, like the spouse in
Canticles, ever be setting forth tlie praises of our beloved. Thus did Paul,
Eph. i. 3, and Peter, 1 Pet. i. 3 ; and therefore, where deadness and dul-
ness is, it shews no true Christian joy.
3. Thirdly, Our ghnjimi will he seen in dutj. Delight ever implies the
intention to do any good work, and diligence.
4. Fourthly, If 'we glory in Christ aright, we shall not endure any
addition to Christ; and therefore, we shall abhor that popish tenent*
which puts so many additions to Christ in the meritorious work of our sal-
vation. A true rejoicer in Christ sees such all- sufficiency in Christ's merits
and work, that he abhors purgatory and such trash ; and so much the more,
by how much his glorying in Christ is the more fervent and sincere. Christ
is our husband, we are his spouse ; if we cleave to any other than to Christ,
we are adulterers. No ; let him kiss us with the kisses of his mouth, and
none but he. Cant. i. 2.
5. Fifthly, This joy, tvhere it is, it loill breed content in all estates. Paul
could want and abound, and so can a true rejoicer : in Christ he hath all.
He cares not for earthly wants, so he wants no heavenly comfort. If he be
poor, he is rich in heaven ; nay, what he most complains of, are good for
him : life or death, all is one with him. Christ is his, and in him all things.
Quest. But it may be said. There are many Christians are not in this
happy condition.
Ans. I answer. It is their own fault, to yield to the devil's policy ; and
their own weakness, that will not labour to break through these clouds, and
challenge the promises.
And have no confidence in the flesh.
These words are in truth included in the former, for he that glories in
Christ ' will have no confidence in the flesh.' But the apostle notes this
as a plain demonstration and evidence of the glorying in Christ. For by
* That is, ' tenet.'— G.
rniLIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. B. 77
the copulative enjoining of them, it is all one as if he had said, What a
man trusts to he glories in, and what he glories in he trusts to, and is con-
fident of. If in wit his glorying be, he trusts to it, though it be to his ruin,
as it fell out with Ahithophel, 2 Sam. xvii. 23. If in eloquence of speech,
be trusts to it, and it brings shame, as it did to Herod, Acts xii. 23. If
in honour, he trusts to it, and brings himself to dishonour, as Haman did,
Esther vii. 10.
By ' flesh' is meant outward things, as prerogatives, privileges, actions of
a man's own doing, and particularly, he aims at circumcision, which he calls
' outward, and that of the flesh,' Kom. ii. 28. So as the observation that
we 'may gather is, that confidence in Christ takes aivay confidence in outivard
things. The reason is, if Christ be fully all-sufficient, what need is there
of any outward thing to put confidence in ? For these are two opposite
things, and one overthrows the other.
Doct. The second instruction is, that naturally men have confidence in
ov.tward things ; for having not hearts, filled with grace, they relish not
Christ, but fly to ceremonious outward actions as their refuge. Nay, in
the church, till we be converted, we naturally fly to outward fleshly con-
fidence. We have the word taught to us ; we come to hear it twice on the
Lord's day. Alas ! what is this, if thou be not transformed, and inwardly
and outwardly conformed in obedience ! Hast thou the sacraments ? dost
thou uncover thy head, or bow the knee ? These are good, and they seem
fair ; but where is the heart ? how is that prepared ? hast thou an earnest
desire to leave ofi' thy course of sinning, and dost thou resolve hereafter to
amend thy life ? Oh, here is the hard spiritual work ! So, in outward
fasting and abstinence, it is an easy matter. The Pharisees did it often.
But this is the fast that God hath commanded, to loose the bands of
wickedness, to fast from sin, Isa. Iviii. 6. The suffering of the flesh, if it
be separated from spiritual use, and alms, they profit nothing, 1 Cor. xiii. 3.
All Paul's prerogatives, which were many, 2 Cor. 11th and 12th chapters,
yet they were in his account but 'dross and dung,' in comparison of Chiist.
Most men are like Ephraim, Hosea s. 11, as heifers, who serve to tread
out corn and to plough. Ephraim loved to tread corn, where he might eat
his bellyful ; for by the law of Moses, the mouth of the ox that treadeth
out the corn was not to be muzzled. Men they are dehghted in the per-
iormance of shght duties ; but to put their neck under the yoke, to plouah,
it is a hard work ; who can bear it ?
Ohj. But some will say, Oh, what ! do you condemn outward duties and
use of them ?
Ans. I answer. We may consider religious duties two ways. First, as
they are outward means to salvation, for so they are. Secondly, as they
ai-e expressions of inward truth ; and so out of a sincere, entire afiection
we bear to them, and out of a desire to be wrought upon by them, we do
them. Thus they are commended that use them. But let them want but
an inch of this, all is abominable, all is ' flesh.' The Jews they boasted in
the name of ' holy people,' in their law, « in the temjDle,' in the ' Holy
Land ;' yet for all these, saith God, you shall go into captivity. Against
such Christ preached : ' Woe to you. Scribes and Pharisees ! you tithe
mint, but let pass justice and judgment,' Mat. xxiii. 23. And Paul, 'Be
not high-minded, but fear,' Rom. xi. 20. And the reasons why men are
taken up with this fleshly confidence are,
Eeaxon 1. First, Outvard things are easy, and men cannot bend themsGlves
to perform the hard matters of the law.
78 EXPOSITION OF
Reason 2. Secondly, They are glorious, and men desire to be observed.
Reason 3. Thirdly, Men have a foolish conceit that God is delighted with
the outward act, when the inward sincerity is wanting.
Reason 4. Fourthly, Men want knowledge of themselves, want the inward
change, want sense of their own unworthiness and Christ's worthiness.
Reason 5. Fifthly, (701^ followelh such with j^rosperitg in this world.
Thereby they think God is well pleased with them, till the hour of death
come, and then they find all but froth.
Quest. How shall we know whether our confidence is fleshly or not ?
Ans. I answer. Where this fleshly confidence is, there is bitterness of
spirit against sincerity. The Pharisees, the doctors of the law, sat in
Moses' chair, yet who more opposed Christ than they? Mat. xxiii. 2.
Nay, they wholly and only in their whole course sought to persecute him,
and made it their trade.
2. Secondly, Where this fleshly confidence is, there is also a secret bless-
ing of ourselves in our performance of good duties, without humiliation for
our defects. Hypocrites think that God is beholden to them, and therefore
do bless themselves in the deed done.
In the fourth verse he comes to an argument, taken from himself, against
those of the concision.
^"EESE 4.
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh
that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more.
As if he had said. If any other man may glory in the flesh, then may I
much more. But I do not think that I have cause sufiicient to glory in
the flesh ; therefore have not they, or may not they, glory in the flesh.
And the reason or ground of this proposition is taken from his many pre-
rogatives he had, which he comes to in the 5th and 6th verses following.
First. Circumcision was the first prerogative before conversion ; and it was
not before the eighth day, to the end that the child might gather some
strength to bear and endure the ceremony, for it was of itself grievous,
and a bloody ceremony ; wherefore it was that Moses his wife called him a
bloody husband, Exod. iv. 25. And this ceremony was not to be respited
above eight days, that the parents might not be delayed in their comfort.
Whence we may gather, that dying before baptism is no necessary impedi-
ment to the salvation of the child, for the same covenant is annexed to
circumcision that is to baptism ; and the papists, that hold that the death
of children before baptism hindereth the salvation of the infant, may as well
hold that all the children that died before the eighth day, being the day of
circumcision, were damned. Secondly, Observe this, that children, though
infants, may, nay, must, be baptized, if it may be with conveniency ; for
children were circumcised, nay, they were enjoined circumcision, on the
eighth day. Now, seeing the covenant is the same, and given to children,
now as then, why may not the seal thereof be now given in their infancy
as then ?
VEKSE 5.
Of the stock of Israel.
Jacob had his name changed of his wrestling with the angel, and pre-
vailed. St Paul says he was of that stock of Israel that prevailed with God.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VEE. 6. 70
Of the tribe of Benjamin.
There were two tribes of especial credit, Judah and Benjamin Tliev
were kingly tribes. Benjamin was honoured with the first kin^ Saul the
son of Kish, who though he were a castaway, yet it is a matter of great
joy in the flesh to have great men, personages and learned men, of their
lineage.
An Hebrew of the Hebretos.
More ancient than an Israelite, for Abraham was an Hebrew before Jacob
was an Israelite. And he was an Hebrew born, no proselyte or converted
Jew.
As touching the law, a Pharisee.
Before Christ's time there were divers sects among the Jews, as Pharisees
Scribes, Herodians, and Essa^i.* But the Pharisees were the greatest sect
ot all; and as the word signifies, so they did separate themselves as better
than other Jews whatsoever. And St Paul lays down this as one especial
carnal thing, wherein he might glory. He was no common Jew but a
zea ous Jew _ So as thence we may observe, that there is a fire and zeal
that IS not kindled by heaven ; but, as St James saith of the tongue ' is
set on fire of hell,' iii. 6, out of ignorance. Blind zeal therefore is a
ground of destruction. We are therefore to take heed ; for unless our zeal
have an eye, nothing is more tempestuous and troublesome than that man
IS whom it possesses.
VERSE 6.
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church.
Where zeal is, if it be meant in the largest sense, it is very hot against
all opposites. It hath the name from fire, separating heterogenies, and
gathering things homogeneal. Our apostle was none of those drowsv pro
fessors that would be content to mingle religions, so as where there is no
opposition there is no zeal. And therefore those that would reconcile
religions, false and true, they have not a spark of zeal, but are key-cold
Again, Paul well joins persecution and a Pharisee together, for there was
never hypocrite but he was a persecutor. For he, making and groundin^r
his profession on pride and a desire to be counted holy, when a downriaht
person esteems him not, but by his integrity, puts the other's outward pro
lession out of countenance, presently he falleth a persecuting, especiallV if
his hypocrisy brings any profit or gain, as it was with Demetrius in the
Acts, XIX. 24, 38 ; and as it is now with the Romish Church, whose chief
end is profit, as appears by their purgatory, indulgences, pardons, dispen-
sations, and the like. You shall have as much mass as you will and as
little preaching. We may observe further, that carnal zeal is persecutina
zeal, and the persecuting church is the false church. Christ's flock neve?
persecutes wolves. It will not indeed endure to be near them but it is
not cruel agamst them. The papists indeed they speak much of their
mildness and meekness, but what is the reason ? Their hands are bound
Solve leonem et senties leonem, loose the lion and then you shall find he is a
lion.
Ihc* B^fe, 2^::::^. "'■ '^"*"'" =^='"^"' ^^ ■" ^' ^■"'■"'■=' Dictionary of
80 EXPOSITION OP
Toiichiiir/ the rhjhtcomness v:Jdch is in ihc law, blameless.
This was a great prerogative.
Ohj. But how can he be said to be blameless as concerning the law,
when he was without the law ? Kom. vii. 9.
I answer, It is true he was without the law in respect of the inward man,
in respect of sanctified knowledge, love, and fear ; but in regard of his out-
ward course of life, no man could blame him. Let this be observed by
carnal civil men ; they may be blameless as concerning outward conversa-
tion, and yet without the law.
Quest. But if he was blameless as concerning the law, how could he
blame himself so as he did ? Eom. vii. 15.
Ans. I answer, St Paul then had a new esteem and judgment ; he had
a new light which shewed him much corruption, where before he saw none.
This meets with weak Christians, that think themselves unconverted and
castaways, becanse they see a great deal of sin in them. Paul was without
blame ; now ' miserable man, who shall deliver me ? ' Rom. vii. 24. Chris-
tians therefore are to be comforted ; and to know that they are not the
worse because they see themselves sinful daily more and more, but that
they are better, as" to whom God does daily bestow the light of his Holy
Spirit, to make them see more clearly into their estates. We know that we
see only the motes where the sun shineth ; yet cannot we deny but all the
air is as full as that part which the sun enlighteneth.
; Let not such therefore be discouraged, but let them know where there is
any opposition, there is spirit as well as flesh ; and that at length the
spirit will have the victory.
VERSE 7.
But what things were gain to me, those I count loss for Christ.
1. TJiose things and privileges that formerly he counted gain, noio he counts
them loss.
2. It is good therefore to teach hy example; as St Paul does here enforce
rules by his own experience and example.
It is also expedient sometimes to speah of -prerogatives and privileges that
a man hath in himself ; and it is not universal that we must not speak of
anything that might concern our own praise. For we may do it as St Paul
does here, to beat down the pride of others that are vain-glorious ; or we
may, as Paul does, lift up ourselves to abase and beat down ourselves the
lower.
3. In the third place, when God vouchsafes his children any outivard pri-
vileges, he doth it for the good and help of others, though we see it not at
the first. Paul had these privileges, that he might beat down the pride of
the Jews more powerfully. And Solomon had all abundance of wisdom,
riches, and the like. Wliy ? But only that he might without control
judge of all, as of ' vanity and vexation of spirit ; ' and make it to be be-
lieved more firmly. For had an ordinary man said it, men would have
thought it easy for him to say so ; but if lie had tried them, he would have
been otherwise minded. In these later times, our best teachers were at
the first papists, and of the more zealous sort ; as Bucer (/) and Luther (//),
being also learned men ; as also Peter Martyr (/;) and Zanchius (/), was
brought up in Italy, and all this, that they seeing once their blindness,
might be the more able to confound them, as being not a whit inferior to
them in any outward respect whatsoever, when they were of their belief.
1 PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 7. 81
4. In the fourth place, God (having to deal with men of a desperate con-
dition) suffers great and famous men to be in ignorance, nay, to he persecu-
tors, tliat after their conversion they might comfort xoeak Christians ; and
therefore let them comfort themselves. Do they find that their sins are
many and great ? Paul was a Pharisee, a persecuting Pharisee, and con-
tinued so a long while. Nay, after his conversion, he complains of a hody
of sin, and yet found mercy ; and therefore do not despair.
But to proceed. We see what St Paul was, and what now he is, how
his judgment is quite contrary to that it was ; for where grace is, it makes
men opposite to themselves ; and therefore this re-creation is called a new
creature : Paul quite contrary to Saul, and yet both one person. Out of
which we may gather,
First, That a man before conversion hath ever that lohich is hij gain ; for
we are prone to think too highly of natural things, and our esteem shall be
grounded upon probabilities, rather than we will lose our esteem of them.
For we know this outward gain is easily gotten, the duties are easily per-
formed, fair outwardly ; and will procure praise from men, which is all we
naturally look for.
Secondly, Observe hence that that which we before conversion thought gain,
is indeed loss and improf table, nay, it is dangerous ; for things may in use be
good, but in abuse dangerous. Riches are good in use, but in abuse
' mammon ' and ' thorns,' as Christ terms them. Circumcision and
sacrifices and baptism in themselves were good, and man}' things are still
good ; yet when we trust in them, and neglect inward graces, sacrifice is
no more acceptable than a dog's head, Isa. Ixvi. 3. Good works are in
their proper nature good ; yet if we rely on them, they stop the way to
Christ. So as it is our wicked and abusing afiections that hath brought an
ill report on the good creatures of God, so as to us they are dross and
dung, nay, loss. These terms doth the Holy Spirit give to alienate our
afifections from these earthly things ; an outward, civil, and conformable life
[those things which] are, by our high esteem of them, stops,* staying
many from heaven ; for while they tell themselves they live honestly and
justly, doing no wrong, they suppose themselves to be very saints, and
look no further. But every true Christian knows his infirmity, and the
more he is enlightened, the more he sees his darkness ; he knows these
things cannot be gain to him.
For, first, he knows they are meaner than the soid. These are earthly, the
soul is from heaven ; these are outward, the soul is spiritual, and therefore
is only satisfied with spiritual and heavenly comforts.
Secondly, A Christian sees these things are fading, arising of nothing, and
tending to nothing ; contrarily, he knows his soid is eternal, and requires com-
forts that may last v/ith it for ever. For those that joy in these outward
things, when they leave him or he leave them, as of necessity he must, it
is true they vanish to nothing ; but he cannot, but must continue comfort-
less for ever, and undergo the just wrath of God. Furthermore, a Christian
doth not only know these things to be no gain, but he also knows them to
be loss. For that is loss which a man finds by experience to be loss, when
bis understanding is awakened. But all things outward, whatever they be,
whether that a man is a Christian by profession, or that he is a preacher,
who hath good utterance and is embraced of the people and approved of,
or what privilege else soever, when the conscience is awakened they
breed more horror, at the hour of death, when we are to give an account of
* That is, ' hindrances.' — G.
VOL. V. F
82 EXPOSITION OF
them, and they set us further off from Christ. A profane person is nearer
conversion than a proud Pharisee ; as Christ saith, ' The publican and
harlots go before you into the kingdom of God,' Mat xxi. 31. The reason
is, because they that are thus outwardly affected sing peace to their souls ;
whenas the profane man hath no starting-holes of excuse, his vileness being
more manifest.
Secondly, God detests such boasters more than those that are outwardly pro-
fane, and therefore Christ inveighs against such ever, ' Woe to you pharisees,
hypocrites,' Mat. xxiii. 13, and often threatens such with the punishment
that is provided for hypocrites, as if those were the men which his soul
abhorred, and for which only hell was prepared.
But how shall we be qualified, that outward things may not be hinderers
of us?
First, Look to the foundation of all conversion ; consider the nature of God
and his laxo. By them we shall see a further degree of holiness than the
best of us can attain to. The excellency of God's nature is such as God's
children have been ashamed to be in his presence. As Job when God
spake ' abhorred himself,' Job xlii. 6. Peter when he saw the power of
Christ said, ' Depart from me. Lord, for I am a sinful man,' Luke v. 8. We
are, therefore, to think often of the presence of God, before whom ere long
we must all appear.
Secondly, Bring thyself to the spiritual meaning of the laiv, as Paul did,
Kom. vii. See into thy thoughts, and behold the uncleanness of thy heart.
Thirdly, Converse with those that are better than thyself, and compare thyself
with them. Not as the Pharisees, who compared themselves with the publi-
cans ; and herein are many deceived, and by undervaluing others they
overvalue themselves. For things compared with less they seem some-
what, but with bigger seem nothing. It ought not to be so with us. Let
us compare ourselves to that rule that we live by, and to such examples as
we are to follow. Compare we ourselves with Christ, our righteousness
with his, and then shall we see our wants.
Fourthly, Practise that lohich Christ so much beats on ; that is, self-denial.
Hate father, mother, world, nay, thyself, or never think to come to Christ.
They will be loss to thee unless thou account them loss. The young rich
man's wealth made him a loser. The love of the praise of men kept the
Pharisees that they could not believe. Whosoever nourisheth any lust, it
■will rule him and his affections, that he shall make it his gain, be it never
so vile in itself. But St Paul, being guided by another spirit, casts away
all ; and so must we. If we will not lose Christ and suffer shipwreck, cast
away these commodities that load us and hinder us in our course. Neither
is it meant here of an actual casting away of our goods, thereby to establish
the foolish vow of poverty. But herein is meant a judicious discerning
of the true worth of these things in comparison of Christ, and from thence
a preparation, and a resolved mind to part with all that may hinder us from
the enjoyment of peace of conscience and the love of Christ. For a man
may have a weaned soul in the midst of abundance ; and he may live in the
world, though not to the world, which is a duty easily spoken of, yet not
easily performed ; neither was it easily wrought in our apostle, who, being
a persecutor of the church, was powerfully altered and changed from
heaven. And thus doth God deal with his children, whom he doth first
cast down and afflict, that they may find by experience that these outward
things can stand us in no stead. It may be he suffers them to fall into
some grievous scandalous sin, that they might see the ' body of sin ' that
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 8. 83
lies in them, and seeing no good nor help in themselves, their desires are
stirred up to the embracing of some better thing wherein they may find
comfort. Then doth God reveal Christ to us, to whom he will have us to
fly, and say, * Lord, vrhat wilt thou have me to do ?' So as this power of
changing ourselves is not in ourselves, but it is an almighty power.
If we think, therefore, that we are self-lovers, go to God, present thyself
in the means, and then our eyes shall be opened to see and discern good
and evil. For God hath promised to annex his Spirit to the use of the
means, if that we in obedience submit ourselves to them.
VERSE 8.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things hut loss.
The words contain a kind of correction, as if in few words he had said,
All things whatsoever I formerly boasted in, nay, my very privileges, I
count them not only ' dung,' but I do count them to be ' loss ' to me ; nay,
I have suffered the loss of them all in comparison and for Christ my Lord.
Yea, I desire to express the earnest intension * of my affections by my
desire to win him, to know him, to be found in him, and to be conformable
to his death.
In general observe,
1. The apostles resolution and zeal, his assured certainty, his large heart
being not able to express his affection, but by many words, viz., his love of
Christ and hate of all outward things whatsoever. Therefore ive also in,
main fundamental points must be resolute, carrying a full sail. As in the
truth of the thing there is a certainty, so in us there must be an assured
persuasion thereof. For even from these uncertain irresolute hearts comes
apostasy. Men being not grounded are carried about with every * wind of
doctrine,' and hence also comes different measures of grace in Christians.
Some say with Paul, ' doubtless ;' others are of doubting, hearts. But the
end of the word is ' to settle us,' Eph. iv. 13. And though it be never so
true, yet if we [do] not believe it : though the foundation be sure, yet if we
[doj not build on it, the truth and force of it is not good unto us.
2. In the second place, from the apostle's example, we are to learn in
fundamental truths to be zealous. The apostle speaking of anything that
seeks competition with Christ for value, how doth he vilify it, that he hath
not words sufficient to press his fervent hatred thereof ? For zeal is such
an affection as causes a constant hatred against anything that opposes that
which we entirely love, even such a hatred as will cause us not to endure
to hear of it. And God therefore promiseth Ephraim he shall so abhor
idols, as he shall not have to do with them, Hosea xiv. 8.f And indeed a
jealous God and a zealous heart do well agree. When we have to do with
any one that opposes God in his truth, we are not to be cold, but to be
zealously affected.
3. In the third place, we are to learn to be large hearted in expressing our
affection we bear to the truth ; and therefore we are to be ashamed of our
shortness of breath in speaking or meditating of God's honour and glory
and his truth. But particularly from our apostle's esteem we may learn
that God's children have sanctified and regenerate thoughts and esteems. For
with new souls, they have new eyes, new senses, new affections and judg-
ments ; what they saw before to be gain, they see now to be loss. Beasts
* That is, intentness, warmth. — G.
t Cf. ' The Keturning Backslider ' on the passage in Vol. II. — G.
84 EXPOSITION OP
we know conceive not of men's matters, neither do weak simple men of State
matters. That which weak silly men admire, the apostle scorns and con-
demns. Moses accounted of the afflictions with the children of God more
than of the pleasure of Egypt. We may observe this as a mark to know
our estates by, What is high in thy esteem ? Is honour, riches, pleasure,
or the like ? Thou are not yet thoroughly sanctified ; for if thou wert, thou
wouldst have a sanctified judgment.
But some may say, did Paul esteem all things to be loss, yea, his good
works ?
1. I answer. Good works in their own nature are good: hut iveighivg them
with Christ, as Paul did, they are also dross and dung.
2. Secondly, It teaches us, that ive are not righteous, or justified, hy any works
ceremonial or moral, either before or after our conversion. The papists allege
works as meritorious ; we contrarily do disclaim them. As to that purpose :
ay, say they, you mean ceremonial works ; we say no, we mean also moral.
For Paul was unblameable as concerning the works of the law, and yet
counts them dung. Oh, say they, St Paul meaned those works before his
conversion, and not those after his conversion. I answer. Yes ; all things
in respect of Christ. I do now account them dross and loss. To prove
them the fuller : If nothing after conversion he perfect, then cannot they entitle
us to heaven, but all our best works in state of regeneration are imperfect.
To prove this, see the examples of David, a man after God's own heart,
Ps. cxliii. 2 : ' None righteous in thy sight, and who can say his heart is
clean ?' and Isa. Ixiv. 6 : ' We are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousness as filthy rags.'
Oh, but Bellarmine says (j), the prophet speaks this in the person of the
wicked. I hope he will not put the prophet into that number ; for he saith,
* we,' and ' our ; ' and ' our righteousness,' not our ill deeds; and ' all our
righteousness.' Nay, of himself in particular, Isaiah saith as much in Isa.
vi. 5. And besides, the wicked do not use to pray, as the whole chapter
is to that end. And Daniel also includes himself in his confession, Dan.
ix. 20. And to prove this by reason : we know that weak and corrupt
principles must needs produce imperfect effects. Now the principles of all
our motions are evilly aflected ; our understandings, memories, affections,
all are corrupt and weak. Corruptions make combats in all parts of the
Boul and body : in whatsoever therefore we do, there is flesh and spirit ;
and their own authors agree hereunto : as Ferus [k), and Catharen, a car-
dinal of their own, says there is donata justitia, and inharens {I). When
the question is what we must lean to, it must be only on Christ and his
righteousness, wherewith from him we are endowed. And a pope of theirs,
Adrian the Fourth (m), saith that all our righteousness is as the reed of
Eg}^pt, which will not only fail us if we rest on it, but will pierce our sides.
St Cyprian saith also, that he is either superlms or stzdtus, that says or thinks
he is perfect (w). And good reason, for that which shines in the eyes of
man, in God's esteem is base. ' In thy sight shall no flesh be justified,'
Rom. iii. 20. Now there are divers degrees of judgments. In God's judg-
ment none shall be justified ; nor in judgment of law, for in many things
we offend all : and for the judgment of the world, what is it if it clear us ?
Can that acquit us, if God and the law condemns us ? and for the judgment
of our own consciences, if they be cleared they will condemn us. Yea, the
papists are not satisfied in their own consciences for this point. For if
there may be a perfect fulfilling of the law in this life, by a man's own inhe-
rent righteousness, why do they teach the doctrine of doubting as necessary
1 PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 8. 85
to salvation ? But however they may brabble* m schools to maintain this
their assertion, yet when death comes, they must fly those shifts, and lay
hold only on God's love (o).
Some will say, What are the graces of God's Spirit ? Are the sacrifices,
the sweet odours, and ornaments of the spouse, are these dung ?
I answer, Things admit of one esteem simphj considered, arid of another
comparatively. Stars in the day are not seen, yet in the night are great
lights. So works in regard of Christ's works are not visible, are nothing,
but in themselves are good.
Secondly, I say there are tivo courts : one of justification, another ofsanctifi-
cation. In the court of justification merits ai'e nothing worth, insufficient ;
but in the court of sanctification, as they are ensigns of a sanctified course,
BO they are jewels and ornaments.
Obj. But the ignorant papist objects against us, saying that we dis-
courage men fi'om good works, because we do so basely esteem of them.
Ans. I answer, A sick man cannot eat meat, but it breeds humours that
etrengthens the disease. Shall he therefore forbear all manner of meats ?
No. For meat strengthens nature, and makes it able to overcome the
power of the disease. So by reason of our corruption we have within us,
we halt in every good work we put our hand to. Shall we not therefore
work at all? Yes. For notwithstanding our weakness, though we merit
not any good, yet God, he overlooks the illness of our works, and accepts
and rewards the good that is in them, giving us comfort and assurance of
our justification, by the sanctified fruits, which, though imperfect, yet are
true. To conclude : seeing we cannot have Christ, putting any confidence
in outward things, let us labour to get an esteem of the weakness and imper-
fections that are in them, as also in our persons and actions, that we may
hunger after Christ. To this end, daily renew we our repentance and exa-
mination of our hearts ; and when we do any good, examine what weak-
ness, want of zeal, want of afiection or attention hath possessed us in our
performances (of praying, hearing, reading the word, and the like), and
want of watchfulness in our courses ; and then shall we be of St Paul's
mind, all will be naught. And take heed of spiritual pride and conceit of
any good in us ; for it hinders spiritual comfort from us. Let us meditate
of the greatness of God's love to us, and the infinite reward ; and it will
make us ashamed of our weak requittance of God's love to us. Consider
the multitude of our sins before the time we were called ; and consider of
our proneness to spiritual pride ; let us by all means abase ourselves. For
those that God loves, he will have them vile in their own esteem : for it is
his method, first, to beat down, then to raise up. And therefore John, he
comes thundering, ' Hypocrites, generation of vipers !' Mat. iii. 7. Then
comes Christ, ' Blessed are the poor, those that hunger and thirst after
righteousness,' Mat. v. 6 ; as if only they were blessed that feel their wants.
We must disdain any other titles to any good, but only in God's mercy,
and accordingly give the glory of all to him. Thus did the church mili-
tant, ' Not unto us, not unto us. Lord, but to thy name,' Ps. cxv. 1 ; and
thus do the church triumphant, Piev. vii. 12, ' Honour, glory, and power
be to the Lamb.' Those that do not thus are no members of the church.
Last of all. Let us take heed of extenuating sin. The papists tell us of
divers sins that are venial. Such are surreptitious thoughts, taking of pins,
stealing of points, f and the like ; these they call venial. But we must
* That is, = argue, quarrel. — G.
t That is, = laces or latchets, small things. — G.
86
EXPOSITION OF
know (to admit that sin, as a sin, to be venial, is a contradiction, though
God do pardon it ; for that is out of his free mercy), these surreptitious
eteahng motions, that unawares do creep into us, though the Papists do
make them of small account, God may punish with his fierce indignation.
Moses his anger kept him out of Canaan. Adam his apple cast him out of
paradise. Every sin is a breach of the law. The least sin soils us. We
must give account of idle words. And the wages of any sin, though never
so small, is death, Rom. vi. 23.
For the excellency of the knoxcledge of Christ Jesus.
That is, either all things are loss to me, that hinder me from the know-
ledge of Christ Jesus ; or, all things are loss in comparison of Christ Jesus.
Wherefore, before ice can know Christ as we ouf/ht, ice must know all other
things to he loss ; for when we learn to know Christ aright, we then cast
those things out of our affections, which would else keep Christ out of our
heart. Wherefore it is no wonder that gi-eat scholars should be erroneous
in many points of religion ; for look to their lives, and we shall see them
envious and ambitious ; they maintain idols in their hearts, they account
not those things loss which must be loss, or else they must account Christ
loss. Secondly, This knowledge of Christ is an excellent knowledge, better
than the Jews', who had all their knowledge shadowed out in ceremonies; but
this is unvailed, and therefore Christ said, ' Blessed are the eyes that see
those things that you see,' Luke x. 23. And as the estate of the church
grows more excellent now than before Christ's coming, and shall be most
excellent hereafter in heaven, even so our knowledge doth, and shall grow
in its excellent perfection. It is better also than human arts and sciences ;
not in regard of the author, for all knowledge is from God ; but,
First, In regard of the manner of revealing thereof ; for whereas we come
to the other by the light of nature and reason, this is inspired into us by
the Spirit.
Secondly, In regard of the matter of this knowledge, which is far beyond
the other, for this teaches the natures and pei'son of Christ, God and man
in one person, which may swallow up the thoughts of man. ' Great is
the mystery of godliness,' 1 Tim. iii. 16. In the next place, it teaches us
his offices, that he is a king to rule over us and deliver us ; a priest to
make us acceptable to God ; a prophet to teach and instruct us. And
thirdly, it teaches us the benefit of his offices ; exercising them in his state
of humiliation and exaltation. Fourthly, it teaches us to know our duties,
to entertain him, rest on him, glory in him only, and that all other things
are loss in comparison of him.
Thirdly, This knowledge is better than other knowledge, in the effects it
hath, it being a transforming knowledge, 2 Cor iii. 18. It makes glorious,
happy, full of comfort, carrying the Spirit with it, which changes us into
his similitude, and therefore it is called the ' word of the Spirit.'
Fourthly, In the fourth place, it is better than other knowledge, in regard
of the depth of the knowledge ; and therefore called ' The manifold wisdom of
God,' Eph. iii. 10. That a virgin is a mother ; God is become man : this is
far above natural reach ; and therefore Christ may well be called ' Wonderful,'
Isa. ix. 6, who being God should be also man, die, rise, and ascend far
above all power.
Fifthly, This knowledge is a sioeet knoivledge, and therefore excellent. It
tells us who were miserable and lost ; it tells us also of redemption, of a
kingdom, of a Saviour. ' How sweet are thy testimonies to my mouth,
PHILirPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 8. 87
Ps. cxix. 103. And if the promises here be so sweet to us, what shall then
the accomplishment of them be to us hereafter !
Sixthly, This knowledge, furthermore, is excellent in regard of the con-
tinuance thereof. The knowledge of other things dies with the things ; the
world must perish, and what use is there then of our skill in the nature
thereof? Only this knowledge abideth for ever, working grace, love, heavenly-
mindedness, and brings us to glory.
In the seventh place, This knowledge of Christ teachcth ws to know God
aright ; his justice in punishing sin, his wisdom and mercy in reconciling
us to him, and in willing that Christ should become man and die for us.
Neither could we know these things, but by knowing Christ, who is the
engraved image of his father.
Eighth, Furthermore, it teaches us to know ourselves^ our filthiness, our
ignorance, in esteeming triflingly of sins, counting them venial. But great
surely must the sore be, that necessarily requires such a salve and such
a physician as Christ, and his blood to be shed for the curing thereof.
Ninth, In the next place, this knoivledge is altogether sufficient in itself,
without all other knowledge ; and none without this to make a man wise
to salvation, both of soul and body ; and all men without this are but fools.
Use 1. For use hereof. This improves the shallotv conceit men have of
divinity ; that the knowledge is but shallow ; that every man may know it,
and that any man may soon have enough thereof. But, alas ! St Paul had
a large heart, and had more insight into the deep mysteries of this know-
ledge than such, however they boast ; and yet he desires more, and could
not pierce the depth thereof ; for none ever could do it but Christ Jesus only.
Nay, the very angels they desire to pry and look into, and to know more of
these deep mysteries, 1 Peter i. 12. It is therefore no shallow knowledge.
Use 2. In the second place. This ought to jjut us in mind to put apart
times, to meditate of the excellency of this knoivledge ; and to this end we are
to empty ourselves of whatsoever fills us. Especiall}^ we are to empty us
of sin, and of care for the world and the vanities thereof, and the knowledge
of them ; because both it and they shall all perish ; make no excuses of ven-
turing displeasure, or suffering discommodity; true love pretends no delays,
nor will endure them. ' Behold, Lord, half of my goods I do give to the
poor, and I do restore to every man his own,' said Zaccheus, Luke xix. 8.
Use 3. In the next place, We must call upon God to open our eyes, that
we may see and know his nature, his offices, his benefits, and our duties ;
to know more distinctly, effectually, and settledly ; to see the wonders of
his law ; that we may be even ravished, when we behold his fulness.
Use 4. We, in the fourth place, are to freqxient places where we shall have a
fuller knoivledge of Christ ; such places where the commerce is between
Christ and the church. In Cant. v. 1, Christ had more love to his church, ■
and wooed her by his gracious promises. She, in the second to the eighth
verse, being drowsy, pretends excuses. Hereupon Christ goes away, but
leaves a gracious scent of his quickening Spirit, enough to stir her up to seek
after her well-beloved that was gone, who, asking after her w^ell-beloved, those
whom she inquired of, inquired of her who he was ? and upon her descrip-
tion of him, are enamoured with him, and stirred up to seek him also (where
by the way mark the benefit of conference). Cant. vi. 1, and are told that he
is gone into his garden to the beds of spices ; that is, into the congregation
and assembly of his saints. If we will know Christ therefore, we must go
into these gardens, where he is ever present, and there will he teach us.*
* Cf. on the passage in Vol. II., in ' Bowels Opened.' — G.
88 EXPOSITION OF
Use 5. And then shall we be stirred np to viarjnify God's goodness and
mercy, th at hath reserved us to these times of knoivledr/e, and this marvellous
light, wherein we are more blessed than John, who was the greatest of those
born of women. We see more than he saw, Christ our Saviour, already
ascended to be our eternal high priest.
My Lord.
This is the end of all our knowledge, to know Christ to be our Lord, for
else the devils knew Christ. ' Paul I know, and Christ I know,' said he to
those conjurors, but he could not know Christ to be his Lord. ' My Lord.'
Not only for his-^title that he hath in me, but ' my Lord,' for the title I
have in him. ' My beloved is mine, and I am his,' Cant. ii. 16. Mine
he is, for he made himself mine, by redeeming me and paying the price for
me. My head, from whom I receive force and vigour ; my husband, my
head of eminency. Briefl}^, ' my Lord,' making me his and stirring up in
me a love and desire to make him mine, and to rest upon him by faith.
In the covoiant of grace therefore, there is a mutual consent between God and
vs. He is ours ; we are his by faith to trust on him, and by love to embrace
him, which stirs up the whole man to obedience. We may not think that
this proceeded from a spiritual pride in the apostle, as though he thought
himself the only darling of Christ. No. They are the words of a parti-
cular faith and love in the apostle ; not excluding others from the like ; for
every Christian must labour for this faith, that we may know Christ to be
our Jesus, our Saviour, which we shall be assured of; for if he makes us
his, he will make us to love him, and to say from our hearts, ' my Lord,'
and my head. His love of us is the cause of our love to him. We love
him because he loved us first. His knov»^ledge is the cause of ours ; he
chose us, and therefore we choose him ; and if he loved me when I hated
him, surely now I love him, he must needs love me. Again, we shall know
that we are Christ's ; for then there will be a likeness of Christ wrought in our
hearts. For that Spirit that stirs us up to own Christ, doth ever work the
image of Christ in our souls ; as a seal it imprints on our soul the image
of Christ, in all graces, of love, meekness, heavenly-mindedness, and good-
ness. If we be the spouse of Christ, we shall represent and shew forth his
glory, * for the woman is the glory of the man,' 1 Cor. xi. 7. Else what-
e'er we boast, we are therein but hypocrites. We must forsake all in regard
of Christ.
For ivhom I have suffered the Joss of all things.
Here St Paul confirms his resolution and judgment of the value of Christ
above all other things ; first, he said he accounted him gain, and all other
things loss. Lest men should think these were but brags, he infers* he
had suffered the loss of all for him, and therefore did so highly esteem of
him ; and then it was he was for Christ's sake stripped of all. He was in
want, hungry, naked, went in danger of his death often, nay, he willingly
suff'ered the loss of his privileges. He was an apostle, yet not worthy of
the name, as he says ; and for his care in his office, though he were very
diligent, yet by it did he not look to merit. He suffered the loss of all
willingly. He wrought this on his heart, to lose all for Christ ; which is
the duty that a Christian must learn, not to be only patient, but willingly
to lose, to part with all. And therefore we are bidden to examine ourselves,
to judge and condemn ourselves. And though the Lord hath not called us
* That is, ' he gives this iuference,' = shews, — G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 8. 89
to the loss of all, yet win thus much of thy mind, as to be prepared for to
lose all when we shall be called thereunto, and that in regard thereof, we
may say we have parted with all ; for in that we part with them in our
affections, God beholds it and takes notice thereof, and likes it, and looks
for it ; and therefore he bids us leave all and follow him ; and if we forsake
not all, honour, credit, yea, our lives, we cannot be his disciples.
Avd (Jo count them hut dung.
Shewing his loathing of them, and that ho could not endure the thought
of them, but did abhor it as dogs' vomit, or dogs' meat, accounting it fit
meat for none but such dogs as he spake before of. If therefore we love
Christ, there will be a detestation of those things that cross the power of
Christ's merits, in the same degree that we love Christ, and we will express
our degree of love of him, by expressing the degree of hatred we bear to
other things in comparison of him.
Quest. But why doth the apostle so often inculcate these words ?
Ans. To sheiv the expression of the largeness of his oion heart ; and thereby
to work an impression thereof in the hearts of the Philippians.
2. Secondly, To sheiv the j^ower of the Spirit, ihsit where it once leads,
it leads further and further to a higher degree of love of Christ ; that
the longer he is loved, the gi'eater will love grow and more fervent, so as
the spirit constrains the person where it rules, that he cannot but speak,
Acts iv. 20.
3. Thirdly, To sheiv the excellency of the sidr/'ect. He dwells upon it, that
we should think highly of it. Also,
4. Fourthly, To shew the necessity thereof; without which we cannot look
for salvation.
5. Fifthly, To shexv the difficulty of coming to this esteem of Christ ; and
to subdue our proud imaginations of our own selves, which, however, it
will prove a hard and difficult matter.
G. Lastly, In regard of tlie Philippians, he hneiv it toould he a difficult
matter for them, and therefore he sought ou,t fit ivords to express the nature
of the suhject and the truth of his esteem. Thus did the wise man, Eccles.
xii. 10, 11, who knew that the words of the wise man are as goads. It is
our duty to take notice hereof therefore, and to learn in what respect these
outward things are good, and to rank them in their right places.
Tliat I may tvin Christ.
To win Christ, in this place, is to get a more near communion with Christ ;
a fuller assurance of him, and a larger portion in him. For St Paul had
Christ already ; and that made him desire a fuller enjoyment of him.
Though his heart was not large enough to entertain all Christ, yet he desired
to be satisfied with his fulness.
1. First, then, it is here to be granted that Christ is gain, else why
should the apostle desire to win him ? He is gain, I say, both in himself
considered, and having respect to us. In himself considered ; for no jewel
is comparable to God-man, to a Mediator. He was enriched with all graces
that the manhood was capable of. But much more in regard of us ; for,
first, he is our ' ransom ' from the wrath of God. Now we know a ransom
must be a gainful thing, and of no small price that must satisfy God's
wrath.
2. Secondly, He is not only our ransom, but our purchase ; purchasing
God's favour and heaven to us.
90 EXPOSITION OF
8. Thirdly, He is our treasure ; for all things for this present life, as also
for a better ; in him are the treasures of heavenly wisdom ; and of his ful-
ness we all receive grace for grace. He is our comfort in trouble, and
direction in all our perplexities.
4. Fourthly, He is of that precious virtue, as he turns all to gold ; all
things are sanctified to us, death, grave, crosses, all which, though we be
not freed from, yet he turns them all to work our good.
5. Fifthly, By Mm tve are made heirs, and have title to all things. He
is our Lord ; and he that hath given Christ to us, how shall he not with
him give us all things, Kom. viii. 32, so as in all our wants we may boldly
come to the throne of grace.
6. Sixthly, We hy Christ gain such offices as he himself had. We are
kings ; we are priests ; we are over the greatest of our enemies. No more
thralls to lust, or to the world. We may freely offer sacrifice for ourselves
and others, in the name of this our high priest.
7. Seventhly, We have communion with all that are good — the angels,
the saints, the ministers. They are all ours to defend and pray for us.
Had the young rich man this spirit of St Paul, he would have thought it
the best bargain that ever he made, though he had parted^^with all, if he had
gotten Christ.
Ohj. But it may be said. True, Christ is gain ; but what hope is there
for us to attain hereunto ? It may be as paradise in itself, yet kept from
us by a flaming sworJ.
Ans. 1. I answer. No. This gain may he gotten ; which is the thing I
propound to speak of. Christ is a treasure in a field. If any one will
seek, he may find. We had a Saviour before we were born. He was
elected thereunto, and we to gain heaven through him ; and he was mani-
fested in the flesh in the fulness of time to encourage us. And Christ our
gain calls us to buy ' without money,' and invites us that are laden with sin
to come to him, Isa. Iv. 1 ; 2 Cor. v. 20. To this end he appoints men
to lay open his riches to allure us.
2. Secondly, We have the Sjnnt, hy which ive lay hold on this gain. If
we depend on God by prayer for his Spirit, and when we have gotten but
a little portion of this gain, it makes our gains increase. To this end he
gives us the word and sacraments ; and this condemns those that live in
the field where this pearl is, and have the ministry to shew them it ; and
yet they do neglect this so great a jewel. And this ought to stir us up to
magnify God's goodness to us, who hath recovered us, that were the lost
sons of a lost father, and keeps us from returning back into our former
natural estate.
3. Thirdly, This gain is not to he gotten hut at a price. It must be gotten
by parting with all outward things, so far as to make them gain to us.
Quest. Ah, but is God thus hard to us, that he will not allow us the
enjoyment of the comforts of this life, but we must for them lose Christ ?
Ans. I answer, God denies us not our worldly comforts ; for Paul had
them. But when they come in competition with Christ, for excellency
and superiority in esteem, as also when thou art called forth for the con-
fession of the truth, then be at a point to count all, yea, thy life, dross and
dung. AVe must therefore resolve and forecast the worst ; and leave not
till thou workest this mind within thee, to endure the worst rather than
lose peace of conscience.
And therefore we may well conclude from hence, that confidence in Christ
and in outward things cannot stand together. We cannot love God and
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VEK. 8. 91
mammon ; and tlierefore, if we part not •with the world, look to part with
Christ, which we may note against the politicians of our times, that think
themselves the only wise men. In their esteem Paul was but a weak man,
and knew not how to esteem things. They can trust in God, they hope,
and yet provide against the worst. The time will come when they will find
they have been made fools indeed ; when God will say he knows them not,
and their riches shall take their wings and leave them without hope of
comfort.
And therefore let us acquaint oxirselvcs with Christ's value, loith the vanity
of outiuard things, and meditate hereon ; and at length thou shalt find the
same mind in thee that was in St Paul.
In the last place, we may hence observe ivho they he that have not gained
Christ ; for are there not many that will not part with a sin, no, though it
be a sin that brings no profit or pleasure at all with it, as swearing and
blaspheming God's name ? Nay, are there not those that, Judas-like, sell
Christ for thirty pieces of money, nay, it may be for less ? A goodly price
to set heaven, happiness, and their own souls at! Let any man tell them
hereof, they will swear you do them open wrong, and be ready to cut your
throat for saying so. How far are these from true grace !
4. The fourth and last general observation is, that when we have parted
with all, we are to know that we are gainers. For Christ in Mark x. 30
saitli — whose promises are yea and amen — that he shall have a hundred-
fold in this life ; that is, so much content as shall be worth an hundredfold.
For when a man's conscience can tell him, These and these things I parted
with, only to obtain peace of conscience, that peace of conscience shall give
him more content than the whole world can bring to him. And what can
a man desire above content and comfort ? It is all we seek for here, which
if we have not, all is nothing.
5. Fifthly,* He that hath Christ can be no loser ; for in him all things are
eminently and fundamentally ; for he is Lord of all, and what I lose for his
sake, if it be good for me, he hath said I shall have it.
Hence we may see therefore the wisest man and the noblest spirit. Who
is the wisest man ? He that makes the best choice. It is judgment makes
a man ; not he that hath confused notions swimming in his brain. Now a
Christian considers things, lays them together, judges of them duly ; he
therefore is the wise man. The wicked man he is a fool. He parts with
an invaluable pearl for his present delight in a few idle, vain, childish
baubles and toys. Who is also the most truly noble-minded ? An advised
true Christian. He is able to set at nought that for which the world forget
God, heaven, soul, and all for. He can despise the pleasures of a court
and of a country. His eye is on his soul, on heaven, on the innumerable
company of angels, on that presence where is fulness of joy. A wicked
man routs f in the dirt of this world. ' See what manner of stones and
building are here,' Mark xiii. 1. That is their delight, to admire the stage
of this world. But had they known this gift of God, this peace of con-
science, and the comfort thereof, they would look after another city and
foundation, whose builder only is God.
Quest. But how shall we know whether we have made this choice or not ?
Ans. I answer, B}^ these signs :
First, If a man accounts of anything, his eye and mind will he on it. If
we account Christ as our gain, our hearts will be set on him continually ;
if he be our treasure, our hearts will be on him.
* Misprinted ' Secondly.'— G. t That is, ' digs.'— G.
92
EXPOSITION OP
Secondly, If we have made choice of liim, our hearts will joy in Mm above
all things ; as he that found the jewel went away rejoicing. ' Shew me the
light of thy countenance ; for therein do I delight,' saith David. Where
true helief is, there is joy, Zacchcus, the jailor, and the eunuch, after they
were converted, they rejoiced. This makes a covetous man not regard at
all what men say of him, for he hath that which they would be glad of. So
ought it to be with us ; let us be taunted, mocked, flouted at, if we have
chosen Christ, all is one. We have other things to comfort us, and our
eyes will be upon them.
The third note is. If loe can part tvith anything for Christ, and endure any
hard measure, for the sense and assurance we have in Christ Jesus. Many
are so far herefrom as they will not part with the least earthly pleasure for
Christ. Such as these, though they say they have peace of conscience,
they lie ; for they can have no more peace of conscience than they have
love to Christ ; nor more love than they have an esteem of him above all
things.
Fourthly, He that hath made this choice must part uith all things ivhat-
ever he loves, yea, his dearest affections and lusts ; for a bird catched, though
but by a wing, yet is she as surely the fowler's as if her whole body were
bound ; so if we favour or like and embrace but one sin, though we think
not thereof, there is a flood of sin comes in at that gate. He that is' guilty
of one sin is guilty of all.
Quest. But the weak Christian will object. Are we not, yea, the best of
us, troubled with our personal secret infirmities ? What shall then become
of us ?
Ans. I answer, * Fear not.' For it is true, though the best child of God
be thus troubled, yet he pleads against it, he hates it, he undermines it,
and strives against it ; and thus opposing it, it is not accounted to him by
God. But if he forsakes all sin in heart but one, the devil will suffer it
and endure it well enough, for he knows he is sure enough.
The fifth note is. That such an one can be content to be at some cost, yea,
loss and jxuns, for the word, for the field wherein this pearl is hid. He that
is not of this mind cares not for the word. It is not" that men can speak
well and commend it ; for many will do so, yet afterward make a mock of
it, especially being in some company. But he that esteems it once will
ever esteem it, and in all company will extol it. Herod, a veryn-eprobate,
may seem well affected where there is no temptation, or while the word is
preached. Can this be a plea to God at the last day, who searcheth and
knows thy heart ? Many dream they have this when indeed they have
nought but the shell. How few can say in truth, I have denied this or
that commodity, and refused my profit for Christ's sake ! Those that have
done this, let them know they have a most rich gain, and the best gain of
all others. They have a universal gain, that will comfort at all times.
Riches and honours cannot cure the troubled mind ; neither can they
deliver in the day of wrath.
Then, in the next place, let them know they have an everlasting gain,
that will comfort us for ever and ever. In the last place, such as have
won Christ, they have such a gain as makes them that have him truly rich,
and noble, and good. Other riches without grace do corrupt us. The
image of God is the true and intrinsecal worth. Let this encourage us to
labour to get Christ, to attend the means that lay his riches open ; and
thereby shall our love be so stirred up, and our judgment so sanctified, as
we shall be of St Paul's mind, to account all other things loss in regard of
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 9. 98
him ; and tlierefore it is no wonder that those that have not the benefit of
the means want this esteem.
VERSE 9.
And he found in him.
Some read the words actively, that I may find Christ ; but the phrase in
the original varying from the former, therefore it is better translated as
we have it, passively (p). But when is it that St Paul desireth to be found
in Christ ? Ever, no doubt, but especially at the hour of death and day of
judgment.
The phrase implies, first, that there is an estate in Christ ; secondly, an
abiding in it ; and thirdly, to be found abiding in him. For the handling
whereof, we will first explain the phrase ; secondl^y, we will shew what
doctrines it doth clear ; then we will come to some instructions arising
therefrom. The phrase, * to be in Christ,' is taken from plants which are
grafted into stocks, or from the branches, which ai-e said to be in the tree.
Thus are we in the vine. It is Christ's own comparison. And of this
union with Christ there are three degrees.
First, We are in Christ and in God, first loving us ; and so we were in
him before we were. He chose us from all eternity.
Secondly, When Christ died, then we were in him as a public person.
Thirdly, We are said most properly to be in him now when we believe
in him ; and thus principally is the sense understood in this place. And
thus we are in Christ, not as the manhood is in Christ, but mystically ; not
as friends in one another by love, but by faith we are engrafted ; as truly
as the branches are in the vine, so are we one.
Ohj. But Christ is in heaven, we are on earth ; how can we be imited to
him that is so far distant from us ?
Ans. I answer. If a tree did reach to heaven, and have its root in the
earth, doth this hinder that the branches and the root are not united ? In
nowise. So Christ he is in heaven, and we on earth, yet are we united to
him by his Spirit, and receiving influence from him of all grace and
goodness.
Now let us see what doctrines are cleared hereby : first, it clears the
point oi justification by Christ. For if the question be. How we are saved
by Christ's righteousness ? I answer, Christ and we are both one. Doth
not the eye see for the body ? Are not the riches of the husband and wife
all one ? Yes. And even also whatsoever Christ hath is ours ; he is our
husband ; he is our head. In the second place, it clears the matter of the
sacrament. The papists would have the bread transubstantiated into the
body of Christ, that it may be united to us. I answer, how is the foot in
the head ? Is it not by spiritual vigour passing to and fro through the
body, but chiefly in the head. It is not therefore necessary that there
should be any corporal union. Nay, Christ comforted his disciples more
by his Spirit when he departed from them than he did by his corporal pre-
sence. We say also, that the mystical body of Christ is invisible, because
the Spirit whereby we are made one is invisible.
TJiis should comfort us at all times and in all estates. Before we were in
Christ we were in an estate of horror, in an estate of damnation. Now to
be reduced to Christ (what comfort is it to be one of a politic body ? It is
but for life. Or to be in any man's favour ? It is but at will) ; this is a
94 EXPOSITION OF
most excellent, glorious, and eternal being; that-man's nature should be so
highly advanced as to be united to the Godhead. Yea, our persons are
mystically united to Christ. Secondly, in all crosses or losses. What
though we lose other states, here is a state cannot be shaken. Thirdly, in
the hour of death ice are in Christ ; and blessed are they that die in the
Lord. Death, that separates the soul from the body, cannot separate either
from Christ. Fom-thly, after death. Can it go hard with me that am in
Christ, that am his spouse ? I am in him in whom is fulness of comfort.
Fifthly, in all xoants here I have him to supply all. He will give what is
necessary. If we should have fulness of grace here we should not desire
to be in heaven hereafter. Sixthly, in persecution all my hurt redounds to
him: 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' Acts ix. 4. That which
thou dost to my members thou dost to me ?
In the fourth place, Let us consider liovj this being in Christ is a ground of
doing of all clidy. I say therefore it will direct us in duties to God, towards
men, and to ourselves.
First, In duties towards God, liow thanlfid ought we to he to him, for
taking us to himself, for being Immanuel, God with us, so that we are
become bone of his bone. What need we now saints or angels to intercede
for us ? Who should Christ hear above his own flesh ? For duties towards
men, this ought to stir us to duties of peace and unity. Shall we be so
unnatural as to fall out with the members of our own body ? Non est concors
cum Christo uhi est discors cum Christiana .
Secondly^ It ought to stir us up to duties of respect to each other, consider-
ing they are members of Christ as we are, and shall so be found in him
ere long.
Thirdly, This should stir us up to charity to the poor members of Christ.
They being his members are fellow-members ; and in loving them and
doing them good, we shew our love to Christ himself.
And in the last place. Towards ourselves, we are to carry ourselves tuith
more respect, and not to prostitute ourselves to every base pleasure. Con-
sider in whom am I, and to what I am redeemed, and with what price ?
Shall I make my body the member of an harlot, who am the member of
Christ ? This pride and high esteem of ourselves above base pleasures and
lusts, this is commendable ; and therefore the apostle had good reason thus
to account of these earthly things to be ' dross and dung.' In the second
place, this will teach us to see our residence in Christ, and growth in hivi ;
for if we be in Christ, we will have an especial eye to our conversation,'] that
we be not feet of iron and clay under a golden head, as many base licen-
tious drunkards and filthy persons esteem of themselves. Will Christ own
such members as these, think we? No. Those that are in Christ, Christ
will be in them, discovering himself by ruling in them. His house is holy.
If we be of his house, we will not desire, grieve, nor affect,- but by the
sway of his Spirit.
In the last place, Hoiv shall we come to be found in Christ ?
Ans. I answer, we must first come where he is. We shall find him in
the temple, teaching and strengthening our faith and love ; and so in our
judgments and affections we shall be in him. Secondly, we must separate
ourselves from the contrary to Christ, as a loyal wife will from all doubtful
acquaintance. We must depart from antichrist, our own corruptions and
lusts, and daily we must labour to get ground of them.
And from the words this we may learn : first, that a Christian is con-
* That is, ' love.'— Q.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 9. 95
tinually imder Chrisfs wing till he be in heaven, else how could the apostle
desire to be found in him at the day of judgment ?
Secondly, We learn that there is siceh a time when God will, as it were
with a candle, search men out, and lay them open as they are. This is not
thought upon. Men now shuffle it off, I shall be saved as well as any
other, and this and that good company I am acquainted withal. Trust not,
I say, to good acquaintance. There is a time of separation, when thou shalt
be found out as thou art in thine own colours.
Thirdly, Hence we learn that the foundation of future happiness must he
laid now. Before we can be with Christ in the kingdom of glory we must
be his members in the kingdom of grace. Dost thou live therefore a cor-
rupt and carnal life here ? Never think to be found in him hereafter. And
therefore let the uncertainty of this life be a spur to thee, to watch over thy
ways, so as thou be such at this and all other times as you would be willing
to be found at that day. Many boast hereof, but their lives savour nothing
hereof, but are knit altogether to their lusts or to antichrist. Woe to such.
They shall go on the left hand. But such as Christ finds in him it must
needs go well with them. Christ will not judge them for whom he died,
but shall set them on his right hand for evermore.
Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the laxv.
In these words, and those following, the apostle lays down summarily
his desire, first, negatively in these words, he desired ' not to be found in
Christ trusting to his own righteousness ;' implying a difference and dis-
tinction between his righteousness by the law and that by Christ. The
righteousness ' by the law' he disclaims as any way meritorious, and that
as well habitual, wrought by God in him, or actual righteousness, consist-
ing in the outward works that he did. And that with good reason ; for,
first, man's righteousness is but finite, and therefore unfit to work or deserve
infinitely, and impossible to deserve heaven and the joys thereof. Secondly,
This righteousness is imperfect, and stained as a ' menstruous cloth,' and
unable to quiet or satisfy our own consciences, much less God who is
greater than our own consciences. And therefore the saints prayed, ' Enter
not into judgment with thy servants. Lord, for in thy sight shall no flesh
be justified.' But the papists answer, the work of God is perfect ; but
our righteousness is the work of God, and therefore perfect. We say that
the works of God are within us or without us. The works of God without
us are perfect, but those that are within us are imperfect, still savouring of
our pollution and corruption, by reason that the old man in us perverteth
all that is good in us, and therefore jKirtus sequitur ventrem.* Secondly,
It is true that the w'orks of God within us are so far perfect as tend to the
end he works them for in us, but our righteousness was never ordained of
God to that end as to save us by them, and therefore they cannot accom-
plish that end ; but God works this righteousness in us to convince us of
our own weakness, and to be a testimony of the presence of his Spirit in
us. Paul therefore says not, I will not have mine own righteousness ; but,
' I desire not to be found in my righteousness,' so as to merit salvation
thereby.
But that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith : that I may knoio him and the power of his resurrection.
That is, that righteousness which is in Christ, but laid hold on of me
* That is, ' the birth takes of the womb.' Cf. Ps. xli. 5. — G.
96 EXPOSITION OF
and apprehended by faith ; and all that righteousness that he had, both
active and passive obedience as Mediator, but especially his passive. For
he was born, lived, and died for us ; and this is that which St Paul desired
to be * found in,' and this is that which we must trust to.
But how can this righteousness, performed wholly by him, be mine ?
I answer, By faith it is made ours ; for if Christ be ours, all his right-
eousness must consequently be made ours.
But how can this righteousness performed by Christ be sufficient for us ?
I answer, First, Because God ordained it to that purpose : 1 Cor. i. 30,
* Christ by God is made to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and
redemption ;' and to this end God the Father sealed him,' John vi. 27.
Secondly, I say, Christ is a ' second Adam,' and a public person, and
became ours, we then being in his loins ; so the righteousness of Christ is
made ours, we being born in Christ by faith and found in him. He being
our head, we have a sphitual life descending upon us ; he being our
husband, all his goods are ours also. This'point is the soul of the church,
and the golden key which opens heaven for us. If we join any other thing
to it, it opens hell to us, as God will reveal at that great day. It is true
the papists do acknowledge now that their good works are not of themselves
but from God ; but thus did the Pharisee, ' he thanked God that he was
not as other men, nor as the publican,' Luke xviii. 11. But the poor
publican, disclaiming all such goodness, went away justified rather than the
other. Let it be our wisdom therefore to rely only on Christ, whose obe-
dience and righteousness is so all-sufficient as nothing may be added
thereto, and say with the apostle, ' Not I, but the grace of God in me,'
1 Cor. XV. 10.
VEESE 10.
And the fellowship of his sufferings.
The apostle having shewed his desire of Christ's righteousness, now
comes to shew his desire also of having communion with Christ in his
sufferings ; shewing that whosoever brags of justification, he must shew it
in his sanctification. He must shew that he hath his part in the fellow-
ship of his suffiirings, if he meaneth to shew he hath his part in the power
of his resurrection. Water is not alone, but water and blood must go
together. Now Christ's sufferings are either for us as Mediator, or with
us as being our head, and we his members. As Mediator he suffered death,
which was only for our good. We can have no trust in our death as to
deserve anything thereby as he did ; for by his death he appeased God's
wrath, and got his favour to us which we lost, and by it he sanctifies our
sufferings and pulls out the sting of all our afflictions ; as it is with the
unicorn, who having put his horn into the water, discharges all poison
thereout, so as the beasts may freely diink without hurt [q). So it is with
us : we may suffer and endure afflictions without hurt, seeing Christ hath
purged them of all poisonous nature that was in them.
But there ai'e other sufferings that we and Christ suffer jointly, he as
our head suffering with us his members ; for as if the foot be grieved the
head is grieved, so the Christian's sufferings are called Christ's sufierings,
and a Christian must look to suffer if he be a lively member of the body
of Christ. Yet is not every suffering of affliction Christ's suffering, for a
man may suffer justly for his deserts. Notwithstanding even then, when a
PHILIPPIANS CHAP, III, VER. 10. 97
man suffers for his faults, after repentance Christ may be said to suffer
with him ; and therefore the fathers called the death of the repentant
thief a mart3Tdom. For in all our sufferings Christ is in us, teaching and
helping us to bear them with patience, and as a sanctifier of all of them to
a blessed end, and as one that frames us to bear all of them, even as he
himself did.
Use 1. This ought to teach us to conceive aright of the estate of a Chris-
tian, that he is not alone when he seems to be alone. Christ leaves them
not in misery. No. For in misery he is most near and present. It is
therefore a good estate, though misery in itself be not desirable, for Christ
desired to die and not to die, and so we in several respects may do. For
if we regard death as a destroyer of nature, so is it not to be desired ; but
considering it as the will of God my Father, so are we to desire it and
yield ourselves to it. And accordingly we desire not afflictions for their
proper natural good, yet in regard they are a means to prepare and fit us
for heaven, we say with David, 'It is good for us to be afflicted,' Ps.
cxix .67.
Use 2. In the second place, this will teach us that we are not to fear any-
thing that xve shall suffer, because there are more with us than against us.
Joseph in the dungeon, Israel in Egypt, Daniel among the lions, the three
children in the fire, Paul in prison, feared not danger ; for what cared they
so long as they knew God Avas with them ; and therefore they rejoiced. If
we have Christ we have all, if we want Christ we want all.
Use 3. Thirdly, This may serve to daunt Christ's enemies. They cannot
hurt the least of his Httle ones but they hurt him. ' Saul, why persecutest
thou me ? '
Use 4. Fourthly, This should teach us to take jmrt tvith GocVs children.
What though they suffer affliction. Moses chose the better part, that did
choose to be with the afflicted people of God before the court of Pharaoh.
Wicked men may bite and kick, but they can do no hurt, lingua vialorum
est lima bonorum.
Being made conformahle to his death.
This conformity here meant is not in regard of the end, that as Christ
died for sin so should we, but in the manner of suffering. As he did suffer
and die, so must we suffer and desire death. Secondly, As he died
patiently and meekly, so must wo suffer patiently and meekly. Thirdly,
As he had, so must we have, sweet comforts to sustain and support us ;
and fourthly, As he had, so must we endeavour to obtain the same issue
of our affliction ; that is, eternal glory. Briefly, We are to be conformable
to (Jhrist in grace, in suffering, and in glory. All these are inevitably
linked together, and our head having led us an example, we are to follow.
Every Christian must therefore die to sin, as Christ died for sin.
But how shall we know whether we die to sin or not ?
A dead man does no harm, hath no power ; contrarily, are we strong to
commit sin, and do we earnestly intend* it ? Surely we are not mortified.
Secondly, Dead men's senses are not delighted with fair and sinful objects.
If we be dead with Christ, let the sinful objects be never so delightful, they
will not move us or affect us one whit ; nay, they will be distasteful to us.
Most are of a contrary mind. Offer them good discoux'se and occasions,
they cannot away with them ; offer any fleshly pleasure : like tinder, they
are soon set on fire. Such as these, as they have no heart to suffer for
* That is, = follow after it, ' stretch toward it.' — G.
VOL. V. O
08 EXPOSITION OF
righteousness, so if for vain glory they would, neither would God honour
them so much as to suffer them. For grounds of this doctrine.
First, It is honourable to be like Christ our captain, our head, our husband.
Secondly, It is not proportionable for the head to be crowned icith thorns,
and the members to be clad delicatehj ; that the natural son, in whom there
is no blemish, should suffer, and the adopted sons, who are the causes of
all offence, should go free. It is equity, that we having taken Christ for
our husband, he should be accompanied by us in sickness and in health, in
dishonour as in honour.
Thirdly, It is long ago decreed of God, aud predestinated, and therefore
cannot be avoided. Rom. viii. 7, 9, ' Whom he did foreknow, them he
predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son.'
Fourthly, It is equal, that if he were conformed to us, we should be
conformable to him. Now he was conformed to us, in that he suffered that
which we should have suffered, and did that for us which we were to do
and could not. He having drunk deep of the cup prepared for us, let us
therefore, at the least, taste of it. Yea, let us suffer anything with an
undaunted courage when we are called thereto for Christ. He will come
with comforts, he is not empty, he will make us like him, he will prepare
us hereby for glory. Fear not, therefore. God will turn all thy troubles
to thy good. And thus we do fill up the measures of the afflictions of
Christ in our flesh. Col. i. 24. And are made partakers of Christ's suffer-
ings, 1 Peter, iv. 13. We have the like exhortations hereunto, 1 Peter
ii. 21 ; 1 Peter iii. 14-18. Thus did Paul, 2 Cor. iv. 10, he carried the
dying of Christ about with him. Let no Christian therefore promise to
himself immunity from crosses. He that will be a Christian must be con-
formable to Christ, and he that will be like to him in glory, he must be
like to him in drinking the cup he drank of while he was here in the flesh.
VERSE 11.
' If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead.
■ By 'resurrection of the dead,' he means the glorious estate after this
life, whereas* the resurrection is but the beginning; and the words sound as
much in effect as if the apostle had said, I know I shall be happy at length,
but between this time and that, I know I shall meet with troubles, with
many crosses ; yet let the way be never so difficult, I passf not by any
means to come to such an excellent end as the resurrection of the dead is ;
in^which words we will,
First, Consider that there is a hap^py estate reserved hereafter, which begins
with the resurrection of the body, whereby we are far more happy than the
angels that fell, and also more happy than we were in our first estate in
Adam, which we lost ; and therefore our hearts should be enlarged with
thanks to God, that respects us above the angels, whom he hath left without
hope of recovery.
2. In the next place, consider that the beginning of our blessed estate
hereafter is at the resurrection, which is called the day of restoring of all
things, and a time of refreshing, Acts iii. 19. It is a day when all good
shall be perfected, and all evil shall cease ; all grief of mind, all trouble of
body, and death itself, shall be swallowed up into victory.
Quest. But why are we not happy before our resurrection 7
Ans. I answer, because our bodies and souls are partakers of misery and
* Qu. ' whereof '?— Ed. t That is, ' value.'— G.
I PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 11. 9"
sin liere, and therefore cannot partake of fulness of happiness beforethey
be united together again. God will have us to stay while all his family of
blessed saints shall meet together, as well us that are now alive as our seed
and posterity after us.
3. In the third place observe, that the apostle makes resurrection of the
dead the last thing ; cstahJlshing thcrchij an order, that there must be nieans
to the resurrection, and then tlie resurrection itself. ' Ought not Christ to
suffer these things, and so to enter into his glory ?' Luke xxiv. 20, And
if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him, 2 Tim. ii. 12. The
second resurrection must begin with the first. We are sons and saints
hereafter, but so we must also be here ; only a difference there will be in
degree of hohness. This resurrection doth not follow every manner of life,
although men ordinarily expect a crown without crosses, and never look
for justification and sanctification, but think they shall be in heaven at an
instant without them. But we must sufier with Christ in mount Calvary,
before we come with him to the mount Olivet.
4. In the fourth place, we may likewise note, that it is hard to come to
heaven, because of this order estabhshed by God : not in comparison of the
end — for that surmounteth in excellency the hardness of the means, — but
in respect of the means ; some by fair death, with many crosses in theu-
life ; some not by many outward crosses, yet have store of inward troubles
of the mind, by reason of their inward corruption that doth trouble them ;
others by violent deaths and by martyrdom. The ways are so many, and
the means so diverse, as there is no certainty which way we shall pass.
As St Paul knew not the means, so he cared not what the means were ; for
he was content to go thither by any means. Let the cup of affliction be
never so bitter, the glory ensuing will sweeten all.
1. Away, therefore, with all idle and secure thoughts of sparing ourselves.
' Pity thyself,' said Peter to Christ ; but was answered sharply, ' Get thee
behind me, Satan,' Mat. xvi. 23.* No ; the way is very hard. We must
come to health by physic. The end is so amiable, as it will sweeten all
sour means ; and therefore it is good for us to be afflicted. Crosses bring
at length the sweetest comforts. Deny we ourselves, therefore, in Christ s
cause ; know nobody ; look upon God and Christ's promises, and promise
we om-selves no more than God promises. It is beyond our knowledge what
God will do with us. He promises no immunity from crosses.
Nay, the saints and the apostles chose crosses and afflictions, rather than
the pleasures of sin, who were wise, and had trial of both kinds ; and yet
accounts these momentary afflictions not worthy of comparison with the
glory that shall be revealed. They were but light, 2 Cor. iv. 17 ; Rom.
viii. 18. And if we would truly believe this, it would be easy for us to be
resolved, as St Paul was, to come to heaven by all assurances, and to come
to all manner of assurances, [^y any means ; for no worldly thing can bring
content like these heavenly assurances of the presence of the light of God s
love, which the children of God will by no means lose.
2. Secondly, In all crosses let us not look into the state we are in, so much
as that we are going into. We are going to a palace : let us not be dejected
in the consideration of the narrowness of the way that leadeth thereto. God
will not sufier this fiery trial to consume anything but dross ; and therefore,
let us with Christ suffer the cross, and despise the shame, Heb. xii. 2.
3. Thirdly, Labour for a right esteem of the things of this world. They
are but momentary and fading ; yea, our lives they are given to us by God.
* Cf. Note g, Vol. II. page 194.— G.
100 EXPOSITION OP
What if we part with them ? If it be for his cause, he will bring us to a
better life which shall not be taken away from us, and this life we must
part with ere long. And thus we ought to work on ourselves, by often
meditating of them, as the saints have done.
4. In the fourth place, We are to labour to strengthen three graces in us
especially : faith, to assure us that we are the children of God, and that we
have heaven, and all things belonging thereto, laid up for us ; and we are
to labour to see more and more into the value of them. And then we are
to strengthen our hope, which makes us cheerfully to undergo and do any-
thing for God's cause, through our expectation of that which faith believes.
Lastly, let us cherish our love of Christ. This m^ade St Paul desire to be
dissolved, and to be with Christ, which was best of all, Philip, i. 23.'"' And
this love comes from faith and hope ; and these together will breed a large-
ness of heart that cares for no worldly thing, and will be daunted with no
affliction or crosses whatever.
But how far are wie herefrom ? Did St Paul part with life ? It pertains
not to us. No ; not to leave a new-fangled fashion, nor an oath whereby
we tear God's name daily. Alas, where is faith ? What corruption is here
overcome ? Which of us will ever be of Paul or David's mind, to become
vile or base for God's cause ?f Where is he that will endure a scoff or scorn
for religion ? Let us beg of God this large spirit and large affections. The
children of heaven have a free spirit, basely esteeming all worldly things.
Zaccheus, when he is called, cares not for his goods, nor Paul for his privi-
leges. The Stoics commend this resolution in men, to be willing and ready
to die. Alas ! crosses and afflictions Paul esteemed not, so as he might
attain to the resurrection of the dead. These are the things that the Stoics
feared most ; and it was the fear of these made them so willing and ready to
die, together with a base servitude to pride. But a Christian heart is more
noble. It not only fears not these, but it contemns them. Yea, cares not
for life without afflictions, but with joy can undergo all manner of torments.
Let us therefore take heed how we quiet ourselves in our earthly chuellings
here, supposing our estate to be happy. Surely it is the main ground of
apostasy. We shall never come to see the price of religion, nor the excel-
lency of a peaceable conscience, nor the vanity of these things, so long as
we bless ourselves in them. And contrarily, let iis exercise our graces in the
daily trials we meet with here. Doth favour of great men, doth pleasure,
profit, or honour, cross and oppose thy conscience ? Let the peace thereof
be preferred above all evermore, else shalt thou never come to Paul's holy
resolution. And dream not of a vain, empty faith. Thou hast no more
than thou dost practise. It is not * Lord, Lord,' that will prevail at the
day of judgment ; but Christ will be ashamed of them at the day of judg-
ment, that made no more account of him while they lived, than to prefer
every vain, idle, wanton delight and pleasure before his honour.
VEESE 12.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.
It is a connection of the apostle. He formerly spake of his desire, choice,
and esteem of Christ's death and resurrection, and the force thereof he
found in him. Now, lest secret, insinuating, proud conceits might arise,
either in himself or in them, concerning his holiness, he crosses them with
• The original is, * toXAcT ya^ [laX'Kov xoiTffffov' = ' for it is very far better.' — G.
t Cf. 2 Sam. vi. 22 ; Mat. v. 11, 12 ; Acts v. 41, 42 ; Heb. xii. 2 ; 1 Pet. iv. 14.— G.
I PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 12. 101
a ' not as,' shewing that the best estate of God's children in this world is
imperfect. There is ever something to do or suffer ; some lust to conquer,
or some grace to strengthen.
There is no absolute perfection but only in God himself ; yet in Chris-
tians there is a kind of derivative spiritual perfection, which consisteth
chiefly in the parts. A Christian hath this perfection. He hath all grace
in some measure. We have no other perfection ; no, not so much as
perfectio vice., though the papists say they have it. Indeed, we are so far
from it, that never could Christian keep the rules of nature, much less can
we attain to the perfection of obedience to the law, for by it we are all
cursed. Nay, in Christ none attains to evangelical perfection of grace, so
as thereby we can be justified, as by a work of our own ; for our right-
eousness is but in part ; and this perfectio via, which they boast of so much,
differs not from their pe)fectio finis, no more than love to a man raised by
good report of him differeth from love caused by the good I find in him, by
personal communicating with him ; and this is only in degrees in nature.
They are the same love.
But why or how is it that there is no perfection of grace in this life ?
Because there is and ever shall he in us, daring this life, a perpetual combat
between the flesh and spirit, so as one weakens and hinders the other. Paul
at the best found a law in his members warring against the law of his mind,
Rom. vii. 23 ; the flesh continually lusting against the spirit. Gal. v. 24,
hindering us from doing good, or in doing good, or in doing thereof, from
doing it in a right manner.
Obj. 1. But the papists object. Love is the fulfilling of the law. We may
love ; ergo, we may fulfil the law, and consequently be perfect.
I answer. Love in the abstract being perfect, is the fulfilling of the law,
but in this or that subject it is not perfect. Paul's love, nor Peter's love,
was not the fulfilling of the law.
Obj. 2. They urge further. All God's works are perfect ; ergo, the grace that
is in us.
It is true God's works are perfect, but in their times when they are
finished ; grace at length shall be perfect in us.
Secondly, All God's works without us are perfect, as justification and
glorification they are perfect. For we are perfectly justified even now;
but his works within us, such as are his sanctifying graces, are not per-
fected till our time of glorification. For he suffers the old Adam to be
within us, for divers reasons, so long as we live in this earthly tabernacle.
For use hereof, observe this as a ground for justification by faith. Paul,
Rom. v. 9, proves that even now he was justified, and in this place he
denies and disclaims absolute perfection, and therefore could not be justi-
fied by it ; and therefore must needs be justified by faith. If it were his
case it is much more ours, who come not to that measure of the fulness of
grace that he attained to.
Secondly, This may serve to comfort Christians that find themselves bur-
dened with divers wants, with dulness and frowardness of spirit, and with
manifold corruptions, and are induced thereby to call in question their
Christian estate. Let them look upon a better pattern than themselves.
They may be grown Christians, and yet complain with Paul of corruptions.
Nay, the most strong Christians see most deeply and clearly into their
corruptions, and find most opposition. There is in all men by nature a
spring of popery. They would fain deserve heaven by a perfect and holy
life, without blot ; and God, to humble them, suffers corruptions to check
102 EXPOSITION OF
them and to keep them under, -who else would be lifted up through good
conceit and esteem ot themselves.
Thirdl}', It may serve as a caution to many who, being reproved justly
for their faults, What ! say they, ice are not angels ; you have your own
imperfections as well as I. And stir them up to any good duty, they are
presently so good, as those that are better than they arc too precise and too
nice. St Paul contrarily rests in no degree of goodness, but strives on to
perfection ; and it is the devil's sophistry' to turn that to a plea for negli-
gence, which should stir us up to be more diligent, watchful, and careful.
But IfoUoxo after, if that I may apprehend that for which I also am appre-
hended of Christ Jesus.
The word that is translated ' I follow after,' signifies properly to labour
with earnest intention of the heart and affections ; and the lesson that we
may hence learn is, that the life of a Christian is a lahorious and painful
life. For in what proportion the things we labour for are more excellent
than these worldly things, so much greater our desire and labour should
be in the obtaining of them than in the obtaining this world's goods.
And to this end the Scripture ever enforceth this duty with words suitable
to work : ' Labour for the meat that perisheth not,' John vi. 27 ; ' Strive
to enter in at the strait gate,' Luke xiii. 24 ; ' Give all diligence to make
your calling and election sure,' 2 Pet. i. 10.
Those that will take no pains, it is a sure sign they find no sweetness
in the thing ; and therefore in such there can be no true goodness. And
hence wc may observe a difference between the desires of men. Some are
efiectual, some ineffectual. Those that are ineffectual commonly desire
and delight in the thing they desire, but will none of the means : ' Let me
die the death of the righteous,' says the wicked man, Num. xxiii. 10. Glory
and happiness is excellent, but the gate is narrow, the way is tedious and
full of troubles : he will none of that. We will laugh at one that shall
wish his work and journey were done, whenas he will sit down and never
go about it. "Why should we not much more laugh at such sluggards,
that wish daily. Oh that they might be saved ! whenas they do not only
not further, but hinder their salvation. But where true desire of grace is,
there will be joined thereto an endeavour, with jealousy over our corrup-
tions, with grief and shame for them, and for our backwardness and want
of goodness ; for else bell itself is full of good wishes and desires. If we
mean to be better, we must use all means, undertake all pains, and travail
with vehemency ; even as those that pursue gains with delight, they follow
through thick and thin, especially if the gain be in the eye ; and those
that go for company, they are soon tired. And thus did Paul. He went
through fire and water, through all manner of dangers, good and ill report.
His gain is still in his eye. He looks not after the way, if by any means
he may attain his desired mark.
But how shall we come to this grace ?
I answer. Get first faith ; for by it the weak are made strong, Heb. xi. 35,
seq. Get assurance that heaven is thine ; and God hath promised thee grace
sufficient, and this is Paul's argument : * Be yc constant and unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labour shall not
be in vain.' Where hope of reward is in the use of the means, it will stir
us up to a constant use of the means, 1 Cor. xv. 58. Secondly, Get a fer-
vent love : for it is a strong affection. If lust so prevail with us, as we will
omit no means to accomplish it, then a love in itself is much more power-
1 PHILIPPIANS CnAP. Ill, VER. 12. 103
ful, nothing being too hard for it. It hath an enlarging, knitting, and com-
municating power. It makes a man bestow all, and rejoice more in doing
good by much than in receiving. It is a grace comprehends a number
under it ; and therefore Christ comprehended all the law under the love of
God and our neighbour. Thirdly, Cut off all superjiailies. Men think they
ai-e happy when they have much to do, when indeed they were happy if
they had less to do than they have. Satan he does as Cyrus did with the
waters of Babylon ; he diverts and separates our affections that he might
pass over (r). As nurses, they hurt themselves and the children too when
they keep over many ; so do men Imrt themselves with over much business.
The Lord hath not made us all for the world, but hath reserved one day
in seven for his service. For shame let us shew we have some respect of
religion and goodness ; seeing God requires but one in seven, let us not be
so unjust as to deny him his service on that day.
Use. Well, let those that profess themselves of another world, by all
means pursue it. In nature every thing tends to his centre and place ;
heavy things go downward, light things ascend upward. In handicrafts
and arts every one looks after excellency. Shall it be thus with them ?
Shall mediocrity in other arts merit dispraise, and is it only praiseworthy
in religion ? The wicked they labour for hell, venturing loss of credit,
strength, and estate ; and is there not better gain in goodness ? Have we
such rich promises, and do we esteem of them no more ? Are not the
afflictions we shall meet with many and great, and do we think to undergo
them with ordinary gi-ace, gotten without labour and watchfulness ? But
let us go on to the next words :
* That I may apprehend.' Whence we may observe, that the main scope
of a Christian is to apprehend Christ: here by revelation, that we may appre-
hend him hereafter by vision. Many there are that may follow good things
and use good means, yet wanting these apprehending graces of faith and
love (which makes us have communion with Christ), they perish notwith-
standing. Human knowledge is commendable, yet is it no other than as a
scaffold in this building. It helps, but the building once done, it is for
little use. Apprehend we, therefore, him by knowledge of his truth, rely
on him by faith, and embrace him by love ; and then if we be chased by him,
we maj, as Joab, lay hold on the horns of the altar Christ Jesus, and there
live and die, 1 Kings i. 50. And as we have daily breaches, even so get
more and more hold on him, and this will make us desire with Simeon,
* Lord, let me now depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,'
Luke ii. 29. Let us, therefore, daily learn to see our own foulness, and go
to him the rock of our refuge.
Obj. Oh, but some will say, Christ is in heaven, and we on earth, we can-
not go to him when we please.
Ans. I answer. Yes ; for the arms of faith are large. It takes hold of
things past and to come. No height is out of the reach thereof. And,
besides, Christ he is present with us. He is in his word, in the sacra-
ments, in the communion of saints. ' Where two or three are gathered
together in my name, I wall be in the midst of them,' Mat. xviii. 20. It
is his own promise.
' For which I am apprehended of Christ.' Christ he apprehends us, and
that in several degrees.
First, As he is God. In his eternal love we had a being before we had
any being here. God conceived us in his eternal afi'ection, and embraced
us. Secondly, Christ apprehends us in his effectual calling of us. Paul he
lOi EXPOSITION OP
wag posting another way wlien Christ called him, ' Saul, Saul.' Others he
calls from their mother's womb ; some by afflictions and powerful crosses,
as he did the jailor ; others by more gentle means, as Lydia. Thirdly,
There is an apprehending in all our actions, courses, and estates, directing us
continually in them, never leaving us. None can pluck us out of his hands.
He is stronger than our corruptions. He will not let us go till he hath drawn
us up to heaven, and placed us with himself. For the use of this doctrine
more shall be said in the next doctrine, which is taken from the order.
Doct. Christ he first apprehends us when loe apprehend him. He appre-
hends us that we may apprehend him, and because he hath apprehended
us, therefore is it that we apprehend him. For ' in him it is that we live,
and move, and have our being,' Acts xvii. 28 ; and therefore much more
our best being. He it is that gives us the will and the deed ; to us it is
given by him to believe and suffer with him.
Use 1. For use hereof it would teach us in all our actions to beg ahility
and strength of him, and get a persuasion that his Spirit doth apprehend
us in love ; and that he will direct us and remove all impediments, and
stand by us in all our crosses, that we are able to do nothing but by reflec-
tion from him ; that though we are naturally dead and dull, yet he will
quicken us by shining on our hearts with the sunshine of his grace.
Use 2. Secondly, Give him the praise of all the good thou doest, for the
deed is his. Those that do not, do apprehend and are apprehended of
themselves ; and therefore it may serve as a mark to discern of our estate,
whither do we run ? and what do we apprehend in our trouble ? Is it
Christ who is our present help in time of trouble ? Then there is a blessed
change in us. But do we seek to our own devices, to our own policies and
inventions ? Surely we have not apprehended Christ as we ought to do ;
and therefore we are to stir up the graces in us, and beg increase of grace
from him that is the fountain of all grace.
Use 3. In the next place, it should comfort us, hy the consideration of tlie
certainty of our estate, without falling away, if toe hold fast unto the end.
If it were ourselves that did apprehend us we could not long continue, but
it being Christ that holdeth us, our comfort is he will not forsake us. It
is the mother that holds the child. The child cannot lay hold on the
mother, but is subject to falling every hour. Christ he holding us, hath
promised to love us to the end, and to put his fear in our hearts, that we
shall not fall or depart from him. This being daily considered will greatly
comfort a weak Christian. Christ may seem to let him fall, by suffering
him to fall into some great sin, but it is only to humble him, and to teach
him not to trust to his own strength, which will soon fail him, but upon
his mercy and grace. And therefore.
Use 4. In the next place, it teacheth us to hold fast unto him, and rely
on him, and to pray to him that he would hold us fast, and then we fall not
from God, but to God. He hath delivered us, and will deliver us and keep
us to his heavenly kingdom. If we fall into sin, let us repent and go to
God. There is mercy in Israel concerning this, and with him is plenteous
redemption. His right hand is under us ever to hold us up, that we can-
not fall so deeply but he will lift us up again.
Use 5. In the next place, this may he a comfort to us in all our troubles
and afflictions of this life. Are troubles near ? God is not far off, Ps.
xxii. 11, seq., and Ps. cxviii. 5, seq., but full of comforts for such. We have
an invisible wall about us, the wall of angels ; and God fights for us. There
is more with us than against us. God will not suffer us to be tried above
PniLIPPIANS CHAP, m, VEK. 13. 105
that we are able to bear. Let us' therefore pray, Forsake me not, Lord, lest
I forsake thee. If we pray to him he will be found of us. Paul prayed
for this. Christ also, that knew he was apprehended, yet prayed all night ;
and this are we to do ; he hath promised to hear us. And therefore let us
go in faith and assurance to him, in all our troubles.
VERSE 13.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apinehended.
The holy apostle dwells upon the point, that he might press it the more ;
and it is good to press matter of weight. The apostle shewing that conceit
of perfection to be dangerous, again tells the Philippians, that he had not
that which they boasted of. This pride of ourselves, and conceit, is a sin that
climbs up to heaven, and enters on God's prerogative, and a sin that God
doth directly set himself against. Of this compellation, ' brethren,' I have
formerly spoken.
I might also touch that doctrine, that the kingdom of heaven is not per-
fected in ns here, but that it grows by degrees. It is at the first as a grain
of mustard seed. There are babes in Christianity, and old men grown
Christians. And the ground hereof may be partly in the subject, partly
in the object.
In regard of the subject, for that graces are imperfect in us, the more
the soul hath, the more it desires.
In regard of the object, for that Christ is so full, that we are not able to
receive all his fulness, so as there is imperfection in us, and superabundant
perfection in him. Paul had a large aflection, yet came far short. This
possibility of the soul to receive more will be in us, till we be in heaven,
where we shall be full ; and therefore while we are here, we pray still, ' Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven,' and ' Thy kingdom come,'
more and more. It is a strange conceit, therefore, for any to think he
may be too good ; yet do these daily, or should do, pray for more and more
perfection here on earth, although they say they know not what. And
another reason why we apprehend Christ not so fully here as we shall do
hereafter, is, because the manner of making Christ known to us is by reve-
lation, 1 Cor. xiii. 12, seq. We behold him here but as it were in a glass ;
in the glass of his word and sacraments, which cannot represent him to
our understanding so clearly, as hereafter we shall behold him in the beati-
fical vision.
Take heed therefore of a self-conceit of perfection. When we begin to be
unwilling to grow better, we begin to wax worse. There is no stay in
Christianity. It is the sight of our imperfection that makes us strive to
perfection, and the more we see into our misery, the more earnestly we
strive on to be freed fifom it.
But this one thing I do, forgetting tJwse things which are behind, and reaching
forth to those things that are before.
See what is the apostle's unum neccssarium, to grow more and more to
the fulness of the knowledge of Christ. All other things he counts as ' dung
and loss.' So as we may hence observe, that the Spirit of God in a Chris-
tian heart, subjects all things to one Christ.
' One thing have I desired of the Lord,' said David, Ps. xxvii. 4 ; make
this therefore a rule to difference our estates by. What is the thing we
intend chiefly ? Is it riches, or pleasui-es, or honours ? This one thing
106 EXPOSITION OF
will be the utter overthrow of all religion in us. Christ will be supreme,
or he will not be. * He that loves father or mother more than me, is not
worthy of me,' saith Christ of himself. Mat. x. 37. There is none so wicked
but would be religious, till religion comes to cross that one thing, their
darling sin. And thus have they base limitations, which must needs pre-
judice their growth in religion ; for where religion is, it will cross their base
affections and lusts.
Therefore, whosoever we are that intend to be true Christians indeed,
resolve first to prefer the peace of conscience and the fruit of religion above
all ; and resolve to abhor all things that will cross this one thing of St Paul.
VERSE 14.
I press towards the marJc.
Behold an excellent description of a Christian course, borrowed from the
exercise of running a race, being a manlike and commendable exercise,
fitting men and enabling them for war. The very heathen herein condemns
us, w^hose ordinarj^ chief exercises, what are they but good company, as we
call them, continual l^'ing at taverns, to the impoverishing of our estates
and weakening our bodies ? The kind I condemn not, but the excess is
such, as the heathen would be ashamed of; for which they shall even rise
up in judgment against us, and condemn us.
Bnt from the simile, we may gather thus much, that Christianity is a
race. The beginning of this race is at the beginning of our conversion. It
should begin at our baptism. The first thing we should know ought to be
God. The race is the performance of good duties, concerning our general
calling, and concerning our particular. For the length of our races, some
are longer, some shorter, but the end of every man's race is the end of his
life. Some men's ways are plainer, some rougher. The prize is fulness
of joy. The lookers on are heaven, earth, and hell. God is the instituter
of this race, and the rewarder. The helpers are Christ, good angels, and
the church, which helps by prayer. The hinderers are the devil and his
instruments, who hinder us by slanders, persecutions, and the like. For
ground of this race in us, we are to know that man is created with under-
standing, directing him to do things to a good end and scope. Other
creatures are carried to their end, as the shaft out of a bow, only man
foreseeing his end, apprehends means thereto. His end is to receive
reconciliation and union with God, to which he aims by doing some things,
suffering others, and resisting others.
And this race is also ordered by laws ; for every runner is not crowned.
There is a running ill that shall never procure the prize. The laws hereof
concern either preparation, or the action itself. For preparation,
1st Direct. First we are to know, that there is a dieting requisite. As
those that ran in a race had a care hereof, to use such diet as did
strengthen, not cloy, and such apparel as might cover them, not clog them ;
so ought it to be in our spiritual race, we must cast aside all heavy loads,
every weight and sin which doth so easily beset us, as it is Heb. xii. 1.
If God cast on us any place or riches, let us use them for a good end, but
not make them our end ; and therefore with them take up daily examina-
tion of ourselves, how w'e behave ourselves towards these worldly things.
It were a madness in a runner, in his race, to take up a burden, and not
to think it will be a sore trouble to him ; and why do we not think thus in
our spiritual race ? Cast we off therefore original corruption, and the
PELLirPIANS cnAP. Ill, VER. 14. 107
corruption of our place, time, and calling, -which in time will gi'ow unsup-
portiable to us. Let us desire no more than God gives ; and \Yhat afflictions
God sends us, let us take, assuring ourselves they are for our good.
2(? Direct. A second law is, to consider the ivays that ive are io r^m in,
what dangers we are like to meet with. Forecast and resolve against the
worst, and withal promise we ourselves God's assured protection in our
worst estate. The want of this is the seminary and ground of all apostasy ;
when men promise to themselves in Christianity such things as God never
promised. Christ therefore promiseth and shcweth the worst first. But
the devil, to deceive us, keeps the worst out of our eyes, and shews a sort
of vain delights and pleasures. But the sting of them, through his subtilty
and craft, he suffers us to feel before we see it.
3c? Direct. A third law is, that ive enter the race betimes. It is the
devil's trick to put ofi' the care of this, telling us we need not yet enter ; we
are but young, and have many years to live, as they did that hindered the
building of the temple. But consider we the inicertainty of life, that we
may die suddenly, and that it is just with God to take us away after that
manner, if we neglect ourselves and him. And we must know also we shall
lose no pleasure nor delight, but we shall find such sweet delights in those
ways as we shall with St Augustine be grieved that we enjoyed them no
sooner.* And besides, those that begin betimes get a great advantage of
others, and through continual custom come at length to a habit of religion.
In the next place, we are to take heed of hindrances of us in our pre-
paration ; as,
1st Hindrance. First of all, hope of long life, whereby we are besotted,
thinking life and death is in our command, that we shall have time enough,
and need not so soon enter upon good duties.
2d Hindrance. Secondly, A conceit that when we have once given vp our
names to Christ, that presently tve hid adieu to all delight, mirth, and plea-
sure ; when, alas ! we are far deceived. God denies not pleasure to us,
but will give us whatsoever is good for us. We shall delight and rejoice,
but with a joy spiritual ; and we shall see nothing in this world that may
any way deserve our delight therein.
3cZ Hindrance. A third hindrance is a despair of ever going through this
race. This settles upon some, strangely making them cast away all care,
and desperately trust to Christ's mercy. This made Cyprian to complain
of his corruptions, saying they were bred and brought up with him ; and
therefore feared they would hardly give place to grace, being but a stranger (s).
While men consider how great and powerful their corruption is, they with
the Israelites despair of ever entering into the land of Canaan — these sons
of Anak do so terrify them.
But consider we withal that God is above all our corruptions ; that he
can make of a lion a lamb ; and that if we will trust upon him, in his time
he will help us, and we shall overcome these giant-like corruptions. Christ
he hath conquered them already ; and though while we live we cannot
wholly overcome them, yet David's house shall grow stronger and stronger,
and Saul's house weaker, 2 Sam. iii. 1. We shall have grace sufficient for
us. God will sweeten religion to us, that we shall delight therein ; and
Christ will not lead us into temptation till he hath fitted us to it by his
grace, and then we shall rejoice, as the apostles did. Acts v. 41, that we
are accounted worthy to suffer.
* The reference is to Augustine's pathetic plaint, elsewhere quoted by Sibbes,
' Too long, Lord, have I wanted thy goodness.' — G.
108
EXPOSITION OP
Contrary to this humour, some think it so easy a matter to run this
race, as they think they cannot be out of it or tired therein, whenas indeed
they never yet set foot therein. Let such look to themselves if they be in
this race, they shall find it no easy matter.
But thus much concerning rules or laws for preparation to this race.
Now there are laws to be observed of those that are in the race ; as.
Direct. 1. First, They must resolve to hold on, without discontinuance of
their course of good duties ; for some, by omitting good duties now and
then upon slight occasions, do come, through God's just sufferance, to leave
them off and never take them up again ; and thereby, while they are not
getting ground by continuing their course, they do lose thereby. Even as
watermen rowing against the stream, if they do not row, but rest never so little,
the stream carries them back again, and they cannot recover themselves but
with great difficulty ; so it is in this Christian race. A little interruption
of duty causes thrice so much pains to recover our former estate. There-
fore we are to take up a holy resolution not to be interrupted in good duties.
2. The next law is, that ice must look to gain ground still, to grow from
grace to grace. It is the apostle's aim still to grow better than himself.
Contrary to this many forsake their first love. They think themselves wise,
but are fools, such as the Lord will spew out of his mouth, as he threatens
the Church of Laodicea, Rev. iii. 16. And indeed the most men at the
best are but civil ; and do but provide for their own ease, and can endure
any mixture of religion or company ; and the ground of this coldness is a
self-conceit, whereby men think well of themselves and their estate. Paul,
he was of another spirit, ever pressing forward.
3. A third law is, that v:e do things ivith all our might ; that we run this
race with all our earnest endeavour. There is no bodily exercise that pro-
fiteth, but it must be with putting forth of our strength. So our Christian
actions should shew even outwardly, that we do things as if we intended
thereby to honour God indeed ; and to this end we are to depend on God
by prayer, that he would give us strength and minds to put forth our
strength for gaining most honour to his Majesty, and this will bring great
assurance and comfort to us in time of need.
4. A fourth rule is, that we are to run this race with'a checrftd and speedy
course. A dead performance of duties is no part of our race. Yea, as
many go to hell by ill performance of good duties, as by committing sins
that are scandalously evil ; for this resting in the work clone is the cause of
hardness of heart, and thereby of despair ; and at the best never brings
any sound comfort at all to us. And therefore we are enjoined to do good
duties, and to do them in a good manner. * Let a man examine himself,
and so let him eat of this bread, and drink of this cup,' 1 Cor. xi. 28; and
* so run that you may obtain,' 1 Cor. ix. 24. It is no lingering. We
know not how long we shall live, how soon we shall die ; and therefore let
us make haste to do our work before God takes away time from us, by
taking us out of the world. And those especially are to look to this, that
have lived long in their own courses, and are but lately reclaimed. They are
much behind, and had need make haste. The journey is long, their time
but short. And to this end look we not what we have done, and how far
we have gone, but look what remains to be done, and know we have done
nothing till we have done all.
Quest. But it will be asked, What ! may we not think of duties that are
past ?
Jns. I answer, We may think of them by way of defence, and to give
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 14. 109
God the glory, and calso to encourage us on, but not to rest or solace our-
selves on them till we have done all.
Qttest. But men may say, What, is there no pause ? is there no Sabbath ?
Ans. I ansv?er. Yes, when we are dead. ' Blessed are the dead in the
Lord,' Rev. xiv, 13. It is they that rest from their lahours. Heaven is a
sufficient reward for all the pains we can any way take here. Besides, the
comforts that we have here are many, which none knows but them that
enjoy them. And God hath promised the continual assistance of his
blessed Spirit, that shall encourage us and lead us into all truth. Alas !
what comfort have we of all that we have done, if we continue not,
but sit down and take up our rests here ? What good got they that
came out of Egypt and di-ed in the wilderness, it may be even in the
border of the laud of promise, yet never saw it ? It will assuredly fall out
with us as it did with them, it" we harbour any infidelity in our hearts. We
shall be cast out, that we shall never see this good land, the spiritual Canaan.
In the next place, take we heed of such hindrances as may make us
either slack or intermit this race of ours.
1. As first. We must take heed of idle scruples and temptations. These
are no other than as dust cast in the eyes of the runners, and as stones
that gall their feet. Interpret them to be the subtleties of the devil,
and therefore shake them ofi", and intend-''^ thy duty thou art about, and pray
for wisdom to discern ai'ight of things. Regard not the golden apples of
the profits and pleasures of this life, that lie in thy way to divert thy steps, f
and sweep off evermore the dirt of these worldly cares, which we gather in
our race, and by little and little grow to clog us,
2. In the second place, Beware of sins against conscience. They take
away joy, and make our hearts dead. There are many that seeing divers
of their sins before them, concerning which they find no peace in them-
selves, are soon out of breath, and quite out of heart, and so by little and
little run into despair, and without hope ever to attain the prize.
3. Thirdly, Take we heed of ill and dull company, that are cold in religion,
that cannot away with good religious duties. For as it is in our ordinary
travels, good company makes time and way pass away speedily and with
comfort ; so it is in this race, good and gracious companj'- by exhortation
and example do wonderfully encourage us ; and ill company contrarily do
dishearten us, dissuade us and clog us, and draw us back from every good
duty we take in hand. But many men's conceits are, they need not all this
ado ; they are well enough, though they be not thus holy ; all cannot come
to the high pitch of mortification. Surel}'' there is hardly any beginning of
grace in such who allow themselves in a dead course ; for where the love
of God is, it will constrain men to shew their thankful and loving hearts to
him, in walking before the Lord with all their might.
4. In the fourth place, Tahe heed how xce suffer our minds to wander in
this race. Let us not look at the lookers on. The world and the devil
and wicked men, 'pass not for their censures. We may assure our-
selves before we enter this race we shall have no applause from them.
Let a slow dull] jade come by, like dogs, they let him pass, none
regards ; but if another comes by apace, every man runs barking and
slandering and backbiting after him ; and if they can they will bite
* That is, = attend, be earnest in. — G.
t The allusion is to the legend of Atalanta, who being set to run in a race with
her suitors, threw golden apples on the course, which they stopping to'pick up, were
coiicjuered. — G.
110 EXPOSITION OF
too. Sliall a man care for sucli as these ? No. We must resolve
beforehand to have the world, the devil, and all the enemies he can make
to be against us. Let us, therefore, set our eyes only on him that has our
reward in his hand, that observes us and is ready to crown us ; and let us
beg courage and strength from him, and spiritual wisdom how we should
perform every action ; with what intention or remission of heart and affec-
tion ; how to sanctify his name in the performance of the duties of our
callings ; how to make every action, yea, our recreations, a furtherance in
this our Christian race.
Secondl}^, Let us daily search and try our hearts and ivays. See how we
profit or go back, how we grow like or unlike Christ ; particularly, examine
we how the pomp of the world seems to us, whether base or contemptible ?
If so, then the further we are run in this Christian race. For as in objects
of sight, the further we are from them the less they seem to us, and the
nearer we are to them they appear the greater, so it is in the object of our
minds. Doth heaven appear full and beautiful to us ? It is a sign we are
near to it, and w^e are come a good way in our race. But contrarily, if it
be mean and of no esteem or account, it is far from us ; we arc at the most
but coming towards it.
Secondly, Examine what doth take up daily the powers of our soids and
affections. Do we delight in the best things, and with Mary choose ' the
better part,' which shall not be taken away from us ? Luke x. 42. Or
contrarily, are our delights here below, and our rest set up here ? Then
we have our reward here, and the prize is not prepared for us, but God will
spew us out for our coldness. And, therefore, if we find coldness creeping
on us, let us take heed of it. It is a dangerous estate. God cannot endure
it. For while we allow of good things, but shew not intension of spirit in
the performance of them, we do even judge them, and tell the world they
be things not worthy of our pains and endeavours. Let us, therefore, not
allow of this coldness, though it be in us, but strive against it. Meditate
of such things as may inflame us, and pray against it.
For the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
' I press forth.' It is a word of vehemency, signifying to set forth his
utmost bent and endeavour, both of the inward man and of the outward [t] ;
and all is to heaven. So as a Christian's aim is always to Jerusalem, his
looks is that way ; his tongue speaks the language thereof ; his carriage will
tell he seeks another city, Heb. xi. 14. But for these words, observe there
is first a ' prize.' Secondly, ' it is a prize of a caUing.' Thirdly, this
calling is ' high.' Fourthly, this calhug we have here in part.
Concerning this word ' prize,' it is a metaphor taken from the reward of
victory gotten in some exercise. God hereby hrings heaven doivn to us.
Because we cannot go to it, he insinuates into our aflections by pleasing
things, and teaches faith by sense.
Use 1. And therefore, we must not rest in these borrowed words, but ever
know that the thing that is described goes beyond the description by any
earthly similitude.
Doct. From the thing observe that God hath reserved a happy estate for
such Christians as are elected to run in this race, that are fitted to it, and
that are preserved to it.
Use 2. And this should teach us to magnify God's goodness ; that whereas
by nature death with his pale horse and hell should follow us, now the course
is altered. A holy life in God's commandments is given to us here, and
FHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 14. Ill
then glory shall be heaped upon us. God hath begotten us to a lively hope,
but hath passed by the angels, and left them without hope of recovery.
Dod. Secondly, observe this happy jsrzze is to he given after running.
God keeps this order to exercise his graces in us, that we might be a means
to gain others, and that we might value happiness the more. If we did not
suffer here, we could not taste heaven so sweetly ; after labour sleep and
rest is sweet. And it is fitting that we should be followers of Christ, to fill
up the measure of his sufferings. He did first run, and then was crowned.
And this order we must keep if we mean ever to be with him.
Use. And let us be comforted herein, though the race he long and painful,
yet there is an end. It will not continue for ever, and with the end there
comes a prize. The world runs in a mass here and there ; they have their
reward, and their happiness will end soon ; but a Christian's happiness will
never end.
Doct. In the next place observe, that it is expedient and usefid to have an
eye to this prize. It made Paul, and it Avill make us run cheerfully ; and
God tells us of it, to the end we may fix the eyes of our minds upon it,
Col. iii. 23. Whatsoever we do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, knowing of
the Lord we shall receive the reward of the inheritance.
Quest. But some may say, If it be an inheritance to us, how is it then
propounded as a prize to us ?
Ans. I answer, It is both a reward and an inheritance. It is an inheri-
tance because it is given to adopted sons. It is a reward after labour,
not /or labour ; so as running is the way to a crown, not the cause of it.
Quest. But the papists say, we have it by faith. Why then is it a prize
or reward ? Why or how can it be a prize or reward, and yet ours by
belief?
Ajis. I answer, Encouragement and this prize are not given to works, as
works, but as works by faith ; for by it we run and overcome all trials and
troubles. Keward is due to perseverance, but perseverance cannot be
without faith.
But for the matter'in hand, I say it is expedient to look to the prize, that
we be not carried away with temptations on the right hand or on the left ;
and therefore let us not look on them. Moses's eye was so fixed on this
prize, as he set light by all the pleasures of his life, Heb. xi. 25, 26. The
eye of faith in a Christian is stronger than that of sense, yet let us take
these cautions : First, that we know ourselves sons, and that we come to
this prize by inheritance. And secondly, that we love not God so much for
his goodness to us, as for that goodness which is in him. For a Christian
aims fu'st at God's glory, then at his own good. And so he loves God for
being goodness itself, then for being good to him. And yet a Christian in
order comes first to see God's goodness to him, and therefore loves
him ; and then he arises higher to the love of God, even for that he is good-
ness, and henceforth admires and adores his fulness, for else to love God
because God loves us is mercenary.
Use 1. We are therefore to think of this happy estate; and as children,
though at first we know not what belongs to inheritances and rewards, yet
the elder we grow in Christianity, the more let us search into these things,
and see what is laid up for us. It is an invaluable prize that will free us
from all evil, of company, of enemies, of Satan's annoyances, of hindrances,
of sin, from all occasions without us and inclinations within us, from sick-
ness of body and troubles of mind. It is a Sabbath after six days' work.
It is beyond all earthly crowns, The runners here envy not one another,
112 EXPOSITION OF
nay, they help and further one another, and are glad of one another's for-
wardness. All are heirs, all happy, all shall be crowned, and with an incor-
ruptible crown, an inheritance that fadeth not, but is undefiled ; and such
an one as is kept for us, 1 Pet. i 4. It is not like the crowns of leaves that
soon fade. No. We shall ever be in the presence of the Son* of righteous-
ness, where we shall have a continual spring.
Use 2. But to proceed in the next place : This is a prize of caJling. We
must be called to it. Who can take a calling on him, unless God calls him ?
And who can be enabled but those that he enables ? This calling of his is
the beginning of his golden chain of salvation. He calls us from a cursed
estate to a happy communion ; from death and bondage under the devil,
to be kings and princes. And this is done by outward means, and inward
work of the Spirit. This calling is a powerful calling, enabling them to
come that are called.
And hereby we may try whether we have any title to heaven or not.
Sign 1. For, first, if we be effectually called, it snpposeth v:e are chosen,
called, and singled out from others of the ivorld ; and therefore all swearers,
and those that are given to drunkenness and profaneness, they are not
called nor singled ; they remain as they were. For this singling out is the
first part of the execution of God's decree of election. And whom God
calls, he qualifies. Princes they may call men to places, but they cannot
qualify them. But God, when he calls Saul to be a king, he gives him a
king's heart ; so if we be called to this heavenly kingdom, we shall have holy
and kingly hearts and minds given us.
Sign 2. Secondly, Men's tongues tvill shew what calling they are of in
their discourse. A Christian will remember he is a Christian, and will walk
worthy of his calling ; and with Nehemiah he will reason, ' Shall such a man
as I do thus ?' Neh. vi. 11 ; speak thus? think such vile sinful thoughts ?
And those that are not of this carriage shew no great religion in them.
And just it is with God to give such over to a great measure in sin.
Sign 3. Thirdly, This calling is to glory ; and therefore he that is called,
he will think of heaven, and magnify and admire God's goodness to him.
What thing is man, Lord, that thou shouldst be mindful of him ? and there-
fore those that admire the pomp and glory of this world, it is a sign their
calling is worldly, and that they are called by the world.
Sign 4, Fourthly, If a man be called by God, he shall find a sjyiritual
ansioering within himself to God's call. If God say, ' Thou art my son,' the
heart answereth, ' Thou art my God.' ' Behold I come quickly,' saith
Christ ; ' Even so come. Lord Jesus,' saith the Christian heart. And there-
fore a rebellious disposition shews that God's Spirit is not there.
Thirdl}^ This calling of ours is a high calling. It is from heaven to
heaven. It is from a heavenly spirit, by spiritual means, to Christ in
heaven, to saints, to spiritual employments and privileges.
Use 1. Hence, therefore, we may learn who are the greatest men. Sen-
sual men think those in outward place the greatest men of all other. Alas !
they are nothing to a prince of heaven. He is a spouse to Christ ; shall
judge all the world, and triumph over Satan. All other callings end in the
dust with our bodies. Kings shall rise as peasants, and it may be in a
worse estate than many of the meanest. There is no difi'erence in death.
All other callings are by men, from men to men, to earthly purposes. Let
us make, therefore, a difference, and know whence our calling is, that we
may be thankful ; and whither it is, that we may be joyful.
* Qu. ' Sun ' ?— Ed.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP, III, VEE. 15. 113
_ Use 2. We may also, in the next place, hence gather, wlio are of the
highest spirits. It is a Christian, and only he. He overlooks all these
base things. His way, his mind, is ever upwards ; and with Paul, he
thinks all ' dross and dung' that is here. It is the disposition of the
world to mind high matters. Here in religion are the true aspiring
thoughts ; as if men will be covetous of honour, here is the right honour,
and these arc the honourable persons, ' Who honour me, I will honour,'
eaith God. Only a Christian is partaker of his desire ; other men desire
high matters. God knows to what end, but they leave them in the dust.
But when a Christian dies, he is then partaker of his desires in fulness.
Quest. But it will be questioned, Does a Christian ever know he is
caUed ?
Ans. I answer, Sometimes a Christian staggers a Httle, either being not
an experienced Christian, or through sight of corruptions and temptations.
But setting these aside, a Christian knows his calling, and will live by his
rules. ^ For it is not only a calling, but it works a disposition. And, there-
fore, if we find it not, attend we on the means of the gospel, which is
called the kingdom of heaven, and it will bring us into a good estate, and
shew us our estate also, which being once made known to us, we may
assure ourselves it will remain with us for ever ; which also may be gathered
fi-om this, that it is a high calling. For nothing can break any one link of
that chain made by God, and demonstrated in the 8th of the Eomans.
But to proceed. This is the calling of God ; for by nature we are dead,
and it can be none but God that revives the dead, God, together with the
voice of his ministers, sends his quickening Spirit ; giving ears to hear,
and understandings to understand.
Again, We are not only dead, hut in thraldom under the devil. It must
needs be one that is stronger than this strong man, that must dispossess
us of him. This calling is God's calling in Christ, and that is first as our
head. God looks on us as we are in him ; and he elects us as in Christ.
For from eternity he appointed so many to be members of Christ, as he
meant to save. We are called and justified in Christ. Ho must be ours
before his obedience be ours. We are sanctified in Christ. We must be
in him as branches in the vine, partaking in the quickening ;sap and juice
of his grace ; and when we are glorified, we must be glorified as being of
his members. Then we are called by Christ, who is the author of this holy
calling ; and, lastly, we are called through Christ as our mediator. And
thus chiefly is it meant here, not through works, as the papists will have
it. No. Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, Heb. xii, 2. In
him are we crowned, as the body is said to be crowned when the head
is. Let us therefore cherish this communion with Christ by all means,
for thereby we shall communicate with him of his fulness.
VEESE 15.
Let us therefore, as many as he 'perfect, he thus minded.
St Paul he proceeds to others. If any of you be perfect as I am, be
you also thus minded as I am. Perfection in this place is not meant of
that perfection we shall have hereafter, or should have now, or legal per-
fection ; but he is said to be perfect, that is, in his growing estate, increas-
ing more in grace, righteousness, and sincerity ; or it may be meant of
perfection in regard of degrees, comparatively, whereby one out-ftoeg
another that is but a novice in religion. Such are those that can rule
VOL. V. H
114 EXPOSITION OF
their affections, and can live in a settled course of holiness, called in Heb.
V. 14 men of * full age.' For there are children in religion, new entered
into Christ's school. Then those that are come to ' full age ' surely are
exercised to discern good and evil. And then those that are come to their
full pitch in heaven, between whom and the former there is no more com-
parison than is between the sun and a star for light. So as in regard of
the saints in heaven, the best here are imperfect ; yet in regard of the
beginners, they^may be said to be perfect. However, we may safely
gather this,
Doct. TJiat in Christianity there are degrees of holiness; divers grounds,
some bring thirty fold, some sixty.
Let this comfort those that discomfort themselves in regard of their
imperfections. Grace must be at the first as a grain of mustard seed, and
therefore let such with patience attend the means, and trust God for the
issue.
Doct. Secondly, We may observe, that there is a kind of perfection attain-
alJe in this life, which we ought to strive to. The reason is, that in all
things God hath ordained a set pitch, beyond which they cannot come,
and to which they all tend ; and as it is in nature, so in grace. Though
he hath appointed to every one his several portion and measure of grace
here, yet a pitch he also hath set to all, which we are to aim at, to grow
better still, though in this life we cannot attain to it ; and the reason is,
because we know not how God will exercise us. He doth exercise all his
children, but some with greater trials than others. Besides, we have a
perfect God and a perfect word, that is able to make the man of God
perfect to every good work. And these are not given to us for nought ; and
therefore it is a shame for a Christian to sit down at any degree upon pre-
tence of imperfection. We see plants in nature desire growth, that they
may be able to stand in and withstand storms. And where this spiritual
nature is, and this new creature, there will be endeavour to increase in
strength, to undergo and overcome all temptations and hindrances what-
soever.
And to know whether we have this perfection or not.
1st Sign. There ivill ever he a base esteem of these oidicard earthly p>'>'ivi-
leges and honours ; nay, of the good endowments of our minds, counting
them loss in comparison of Christ ; and this will work a sure settled hope
in Christ evermore.
2d Sign. Again, TJiere loill he a perfection of holiness; a neglect of things
past, and an earnest endeavour to things before, ' to press to the prize.'
od Sign. Thirdly, A perfect Christian desires the coming of Christ; but
the weak one ever cries, ' Let me, 0 Lord, recover myself before I go from
hence.' He has not that assurance of his good estate that a well-grown
Christian hath.
4ith Sign. Fourthly, A perfect Christian /mf/i sweet communion with Christ,
and can go to God vnth holdness, without fear of judgment or terror of his
presence. 'WTiereas the weakest are driven to God by fear, others by
hope, this man comes to God, being moved by a sweet disposition of love.
5ih Sign. Fifthly, A strong Christian is not moved ivith any change either
of prosperity or adversity. Weak brains are soon overturned with strong
waters, so weak Christians are soon drunken with prosperity. But a
strong Christian, in any prosperity, is pliable and fit for anything. David
in the midst of all his royalty saw a greater blessedness than honour and
riches : ' Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin, and in
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 15. 115
whose lips is no guile,' Ps. xxxii. 2. In adversity also a sound Christian
will not shrink, knowing God cannot be changed, though his estate may
alter ; and therefore he ' can want as well as abound,' growing stronger in
patience as in other Christian graces. But it is contrary with the weak
Christian, for every cross strikes at his heart, and at the foundation of his
faith, making him presently doubt of God's love and favour to him.
Gth Si;/)i. Sixthly, A (jroivii Christian he is e.rpcrienced to fi)id out Satan's
devices and plots, and can put a difference between the motions of the flesh
and the spirit, and therefore knows what corruption to weaken and what
grace to strengthen ; whenas a new beginner, for want of practice and
experience, sees not these things ; and therefore, ere he is aware, runs into
many ofiences, and looks for no remedy.
7th Sign. Seventhly, A ijcell-grounded Christian can withstand the hitter
blasts and oppositions of this world ; nothing could move Paul, nor separate
him from the love of God ; but a weak Christian either is blown away, or
at least shaken, with every blast ; as it is in young trees newly planted.
8//i- Sifin. Eighthly, A grounded Christian hears u-itJt the infirmities he
sees in others. He pities them, and helps them if he can ; but judges not
of them as those that are weak, who for the most part are captious.
' You that are spiritual must restore,' saith the apostle, ' those that are
weak, with the spirit of meekness,' Gal. vi. 1. So as it is the weak ones
that are scandalised, and as they are soon offended, so do they soon give
occasion of ofience to others by their ill example. But the grown Chris-
tian endeavours to live free from offence ; in the least things he is watchful
against Satan's wiles.
9//(- Sign. Ninthly, A perfect man doth most of cdl others see into his p)nr-
ticular wants, and looks hence after a further degi'ee of grace ; and there-
fore the apostle bids such as are perfect to forget things past, not to look
on those that are before,* but to see what is yet before to be attained unto,
and to press forward thereunto.
10th Sign. Tenthly, A strong Christian is of ability and endeavour still to
beget other Christians. It is the property of a grown creature to beget its
like. A weak Christian hath enough to do to look to himself.
There may be many more signs named, but these will suffice. Let
us come to the means whereby we may grow to this strength and per-
fection.
1. And first of all, we must hnoir there must he an order. We are to
grow in fundamental graces in the first place ; for we water not the leaves,
but the root, of our plants ; and the graces that are the foundation of all
works being gotten and diligently cherished, the works, which arc but as
leaves, will soon put forth. The main fundamental grace of all is faith,
which we are principally to look after.
First, III getting assurance of our salvation. To this end walk holily.
For many live in sins against conscience, and so can have no assurance of
the pardon of their sins ; and how dead and blockish are they ! David,
though a man after God's own heart, yet losing the comfortable assurance
(by his sinning against conscience) of the pardon of sin, thought God's
Hol}^ Spirit had quite forsaken him ; therefore he prays, ' Take not thy
Holy Spirit from me,' Ps. li. 11. Therefore labour for assurance of pardon
of sin ; for where the soul is wounded with the guilt of sin, it cannot enlarge
itself in love, but is possessed with a fearful expectation of judgment. But
when the soul is assured of the pardon of its sins, it breeds love to Christ ;
» Qu. ' behind ' ?— Ed.
116 EXPOSITION OP
and there it is said of Mary,* ' She loved much, for many sins were forgiven
her,' Luke vii. 47.
In the next place, we ai-e to labour for faith in the promises of the for-
giveness of sin, and God's goodness to us ; that ' he will give grace and
glory, and that we shall want nothing,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11. This will put courage
into us.
And as we are to labour for faith, so also for love ; which is cherished
by meditation of God's mercies and his love to us ; and this will set us on
fire in all good works. And so much of this grace as we have in us, with
so much strength and intension of spirit shall we endeavour to please God
in all things ; and this argument the apostle used to stir up the Corinthians,
1 Cor. vii. 1, * Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'
2. In the next place, whatsoever tve do, Jet us lalour to do it with the lest
advantage, labouring to practise and exercise as much grace, and as many
as we can ; as in giving, give in zeal to God's honour, in love, in mercy
towards our brother that is in need, and in regard of justice we owe it to
him. God hath commanded us to give him, and he will reward it ; for we
lend to the Lord when we give' to the poor, Prov. xix. 17. If we are to
abstain from any evil, we are to abstain from it with a perfect hatred thereof,
and consider how it will ofiend. It will break peace of conscience and dis-
honour religion, scandalise those that are weak, dishonour God, and bring
shame to ourselves ; yea, we must remember that the talents that God
gives us do increase in the use of them. The more we strive to do things
exactly, the more perfection we shall attain to, in the use of performances.
3. Thirdly, Let us not ner/Ject little thiiir/s either in good or ill. Omit no
occasion of doing good, and take heed of the least beginnings of ill ; abstain
from all occasions and appearance of evil, for though in comparison they
seem small, they are of great consequence.
4. Fourthly, We must keep our affections to holy exercises and means ; for
God works by means. Neglect none, for so much perfection thou losest
thereby, and consider what means will fit our disposition when we are in-
disposed. Are we dull in prayer ? Then read. If that will not be endured,
then use the communion of saints ; and still remember that we be not
wearied with prayer, for God sends not his away empty. And that these
things may be the more effectual, observe some motives to stir us up.
And to this end, consider,
1. The privilege of a perfect Christian. 'He is as mount Sion, which
cannot be moved,' Ps. xlvi. 5. If we tell him of death, it is his heart's
desire. Tell him of afflictions : he is resolute ; he looks for them ; he knows
he lives God's child, and so he shall die ; when a weak professor fears
afflictions, fears ill tidings, fears death, and when it comes, seeks for com-
fort and hardly finds it.
2. Secondly, A perfect Christian is a beautiful exampile, and makes others
in love ivith religion. He is thoroughly exercised and practised. The weak-
ling is scandalous, makes men offended at religion ; soon takes offence,
soon stumbles, and gets many knocks so as his life is bitter.
3. Thirdly, The perfect man honours God, and gets him much glory by
hearing, reading, praying, and such duties. Now as parents love those
children best that are most like unto them, so those whom the Lord finds
like unto him, he will make them more near to him in likeness.
* There does not seem to be sufScient reason for the belief that the woman spoken
of in this passage was Mary Magdalene. — Ed.
I PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 15. 117
4. Fourthly, The pcrfecter a man is, the more near commtmion lie hath
with Christ ; and hath the greater fruit of Christ's love, and findeth peace
of conscience and joy in the Holy Spirit ; to such as these, Christ hath
promised to come and sup, and feast and refresh with his graces. For
even to this end Christ came, to make us holy and pure, that he might
present us to himself a glorious church, Eph. v. 26, 27 ; and therefore
that Christ may attain to his end in us, let us endeavour unto perfection.
5. Fifthly, Our estate hereafter should move us hereunto. We look for ' a
new heaven and a new earth,' 2 Peter iii. 13, and we desiro to be ever
with the Lord in that heaven wherein dwelleth righteousness ; and there-
fore we ought to be diligent that we may be found in him in peace, without
spot and blameless. It is the apostle Peter's argument, 2 Peter iii. 13, 14 ;
and therefore ' as many of us as be perfect, let us be thus minded,' that we
cannot go far enough ; we must strive still on to perfection.
And if in anything ye he otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this
unto you.
St Paul aims at the comfort of those that are weak, implying that every
Christian stood not in this pitch of disposition with the apostle ; and yet
they were not to be discouraged. God will reveal the same mind to them
also in his time.
1. In which words we may observe, j^rsi, that some Christians see not so
far as others, neither at some times so tvell as at other times ; but are like the
man in the gospel ; they see at the first men walk like trees, and after see
things more plainly. ' The way of the righteous shineth more and more
unto the perfect day, as the light doth,' saith the wise man. Prov. iv. 18.
And as the church grew to knowledge by degrees, so do we ; for we first
know things in general. At the first, Peter knew not that the Gentiles
should be called. Acts x. And the disciples were at the first weak and
subject to many infirmities, and therefore we must take heed of judging and
censuring others, and also that we discourage not ourselves, by reason of our
weakness. God will in his time strengthen us, and it may be call them.
Secondly, Observe it is God reveals this unto such. It is God that must take
away the veil first, the veil of the thing, opening our understandings by
reading and hearing ; and thus the thing itself is made fit to be known.
Then he opens the veil of the heart and afi'ections, to embrace and love the
things. It is God that opened the heart of Lydia, Acts xvi. 14. , Let us
therefore bear with the ignorant. Though God's time is not yet come, it
may hereafter.
2. Secondly, Ministers, when they come to preach, must pray that God
woidd take away the veil from the peojole's ears and hearts ; and p)eople when
they come, let them pray that God ivould open their hearts, and not come in
the strength of their own wit, knowing that God openeth and shutteth :
none can open or shut till he doth it.
3. In the third place, we may observe that God in mercy loill do this for
us. He will open our hearts. He will reveal, though not every particular
truth, yet all necessary truths, according to our estates. Some stand in
need of more than others : as ministers ought to have more than people ;
and governors are to have a larger spirit than other inferiors : yet all shall
have sufiicient.
Therefore for our necessities let us go to God. He hath promised to
lead us ; and with David pray, * Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may
see the wonders of thy law,' Ps. cxix. 18. He hath promised to anoint
118 EXPOSITION OP
our ej'cs with eye- salve ; and it is his office to guide us ; he is our prophet
to instruct us.
4. In the next place, observe that if any man belong to God, he must at
one time or other be this minded as Paid was : to hate all things as vain ;
to strive on to perfection ; to make conscience of the least ofiences ; yea,
of idle thoughts and words ; of loose, wanton behaviour ; to know he is not
perfect enough, vigilant enough ; to look how far he is short of that pitch of
perfection he ought to attain unto ; not to content himself that he hath out-
gone others. These things they shall know either here, in time of trial and
temptation, or at the hour of death, when no man ever repented of his good-
ness or forwardness in religion, nor of his care or constancy in good courses.
And therefore let us be stirred up to be of the same mind now ; and if
any man shall think with himself, because God will reveal this, therefore
he will neglect means, and stay till God inspires this mind into him, let
such take heed : if they love goodness, they will set about it presently ;
but if they quench the good motions of God's Spirit, God will take his
Spirit from" such. Beg that God would now change thee, for thou art not
master of thy thoughts. If we now put off God till we die, it is just with
God to sufier us to forget ourselves. Let us be well affected for the pre-
sent ; and though we see not so clearly as we should do, let us attend the
means ; and though we cannot grow in religion, yet let us not think it a
shame, but allow and uphold such courses, else is our estate desperate.
Observe further this speech, as it is a cliscovenj of a 'moderate sjxirit in the
apostle. There are some graces that seem in show to cross one another, as
zeal and moderation, but they do not. For zeal, when it meets with a fit
subject for moderation, can be moderate. Paul condemns not, but hopes ;
and it is an example for our imitation. Love bears all and hopes all.
While God suffers, why should not we suffer ? Christ's Spirit will not
break the bruised reed, in whomsoever it is. God hath a time for such as
we condemn, even as he had a time for us, and therefore we must use all
means, waiting if at any time God will give us repentance, 2 Tim. ii. 25.
Ministers must not be harsh with weak Christians. It is God's work to
bow affections, and not man's. And secondly, when we have used all the
means we can, ?ce must depend on God's providence ; and therefore we are
to fetch grounds of toleration and patience towards others from God's love
and wisdom, who reveals the seed sometimes long after.
The papists they check us for want of means to reduce men into unity,
and to compound controversies. They brag of the pope's power this way ;
but it is but a brag. For why do they not conclude their own ?
They are far more happy than the church was in Christ's time : he says,
* Offences must come,' Mat. xviii. 7. Paul sees there ' must be errors,'
1 Cor. xi. 19. He could not compose all. God must reveal it in his time.
But how do they compose differences ? By excommunication, imprison-
ment, and death ; and this by the censure of an ignorant man perhaps,
which is brutish and unfit for the church of God. For our part we want
no means ; but the effect or success we must leave to God. We are not
to force men tyrannically to our opinions in lesser matters, but leave them
to God's time of revelation.
And lastly. As this hope of revelation is promised, so are toe to expect it
and ivaitfor it ; 'for to him that hath, more shall be given,' Mark iv. 24.
And therefore let them that have beginnings of grace be comforted to walk
on ; and for those that are not entered, let them not be discouraged. God
will reveal. But upon what condition it follows.
1 PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 16. 119
VERSE 16.
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained^ let us loalh hy the same rule.
The word * nevertheless,' some read it ' only ' (m), as if it were a con-
dition. But it implies both a precept and a condition, shewing that those
that look for revelation of further knowledge and goodness they must walk
according to that measure of knowledge they have. The word ' rule '
implies in general the Scripture, more particularly a company of sound,
truths concerning faith, love, and hope. There is a great Bible, which is
the whole word of God. The little Bible is the grounds of religion : and
these are not only to be understood in the book, but comprehended and
invested in our understanding and affections ; and according to these we
must walk. Truth is no guide to us, being only in the book, but as it is
seated in the heart.
Doct. But let us come to some observations. First, we may learn that
God out of his goodness hath left to his church a ride of faith and manners.
There is a rule whereby men must walk, otherwise should we be in a laby-
rinth of errors continually, having no other light but this torchlight of
nature to guide us in this thick darkness wherein we are by nature.
The properties of this rule are divers. First, It is a fixed and unchange-
ahle rule ; and therefore we must bring all to it, not it to all.
Secondly, This rule is a persjyicmms and clear rule. ' Thy word is a
lantern to my steps, and a light to my paths.'
Thirdly, This ride is homogeneal. All things therein are spiritual, all
holy, all pure ; and therefore, when the question is about religion, we must
have recourse thereto as the only absolute complete rule. And therefore
we must know this rule and then be led by it ; for the word ' rule ' implies
that there must be a thing to be ruled, else what needs rule, or to what use
should it serve ? An instrument is in vain without use. It is true, many
men make religion and Scripture but a mere object of discourse. But their
example ought to be no rule to us. If we look to be saved, it must be by
walking according to this rule ; and therefore a Christian life is no licentious
life. Though he be freed from the law, yet must he serve God day and
night. Therefore it is that the Christian prospers not nor thrives in this
world, because he will not lie, nor swear, nor have a broad conscience, as
the children of this world have, that take all occasion and scope to be rich.
But a Christian lives by rule. He hath little, and it is blessed to him ; for
he looks at riches and profits of another kind.
In the second place, we 7nay observe that a Christian walJceth hy this rule.
He thinks it not sufficient to take a step, but keeps a right course stedfastly
onward.
But how may this be done ? may some men say.
1. I answer: Let us use the means; as first, let us treasure up the v)ord
in our consciences. Let us get the rule within us ; get the articles of faith
and assurance of the promises, and let this be betimes Avhile we are young.
It is the ordinary cry, The Scriptures are heard,* they cannot understand
them. But what is the reason '? They are bred up in earthly businesses,
and are stuffed with them so as they find no place for the word ; and it is
a miracle to see men thus brought up to live by this rule.
2. Secondlj^ When we have once treasured up the knowledge of these
things, tve must learn to apply them iipon several occasions ; for where no
* Qu. ' hard ' ?— En.
120 EXPOSITION OF
practice is, there knowledge is idle, and makes us worthy of more stripes.
Many have general truths in their minds, but coming to apply them, they
find a great want. David knew adiUtery was a sin, and Peter knew it was
dangerous for a man to rely on himself, yet how foully did they fall.
3. Thirdly, Let us compare our expc7-ience with our rule. We shall find
there is nothing therein but is fulfilled ; that there is no suffering but for
some sin or other; and that besides heaven hereafter, God rewards par-
ticular obedience here with paricular rewards ; and particular sin with
particular corrections. We shall know that his judgments are not scare-
crows. The work of the wicked is accursed, but it shall go well with the
righteous ; and by this means we shall be encouraged to good and scared
from bad courses.
4. Fourthly, Be inquisitive and ivatchful over our particnlar steps. Take
and hear admonitions and instructions, and be inquisitive after them.
Those that are otherwise minded, no marvel if they, like libertines, spurn
against all instruction and advice, and accordingly feel the smart of their
ways before they see it.
5. Fifthly, Get a wonderful jealousy over our hearts. We often offend in
thoughts and desires, which God, the searcher of the heart, looks into ;
and we must therefore be jealous of idle thoughts and words, not only of
others, for so a hypocrite may be.
Ohj. But loose persons will say. Oh, this is an unpleasant course ; we
must bid all joy farewell when we come to this.
Ans. I answer. No. The ways of wisdom are ways of comfort and plea-
sure. God approves of them, and our consciences will tell us so, and
thereby will fit us for life or death, and will so settle us, that no estate
shall be unwelcome to us ; and, as Ps. 1. 23, ' To such as order their con-
versation aright God will shew his salvation ; ' and, as in the text fore-
going, ' God will reveal himself more and more,' so as if we be faithful and
conscionable in little, we shall have greater matters revealed to us ; and
contrarily, if we be unfaithful and careless, God will tal^e from us the
key of knowledge^ and the use thereof, and will give us up to foul vices,
even sins against nature, as he punished the Gentiles, and to believe lies,
as Paul says, 2 Thess. ii. 11. And will answer us as he did the idolaters,
even according to their multitude of idols, Ezek. xiv. 4. So as would we
have favour in our sins, and teachers that shall bolster us up in them, and
not cross our vain courses ? God will let us have our heart's desire, but
we must know that this is an inevitable way to a desperate estate ; and
therefore marvel not so much at the loose liver because of his good breed-
ing, for as they desire the ill, so they have, and are justly punished
therewith.
Let us mind the same thing.
Observe here, that we are not only to walk suitable to others, but we
must mind the same thing that others of our profession do. So as this is
a direction to concord, shewing that a Christian is a member of Christ as his
head, and of the mystical body the church. Faith ties him to Christ, love
ties him to the body, so as he must walk with Christ and also with the
body. He must look to himself first, and then to the body. The ground
of this union is laid down here to be first an union of mind and afiection, and
this must be in good, or else we are brethren in evil. It is no marvel the
•world complains of want of love, when there is no agreement in the rule of
our love, when there is no agreement in the objects of our love. It is not
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 17. 121
riotous fellowship, but fellowship in the gospel that unites us. Let ua
mind this same thing, and then we shall atlcct one another ; and because
our knowledge doth not extend to every particular alike, let us agree in the
main points, and let not less things break us off one from another. If we
did walk according to our measure of knowledge in those things wherein we
agree between us and the Lutherans, [there] would not be that bitterness of
spirit that there is ; all censures and distempers would cease. And it is a fault
in man}' Christians, though bred up well in knowledge, yet being of a harsh
spirit and nature, while he walks not according to the same rule, and minds
not the same things in the main as he should do, he grows to be bitter.
As for those that would be sincere, they must endeavour to be united in
one, as they have one God, one faith, one baptism ; for a Christian loves
not to go to heaven alone. And when he is there, he knows ho shall be
one with Christ and one with the holy saints, and therefore will endeavour
to be in perfect unity here. Considering thei-e is no good he hath but he
enjoys it as being a member of the body of Christ, he knows it is a horrible
thing that members of the same body should fall out one with another ; and
therefore what shall separate or divide us ? Shall infirmities ? Alas !
we are all sick of this disease, ivniain petimus dammque. Are they too hot?
We are too cold. Why should we not stoop and yield? Christ he stooped
from heaven to us. Shall errors ? Why, the time will come God will
reveal himself more fully. Shall sin ? We know what the apostle saith,
Gal. vi. 1 : ' Those that are spiritual must restore such with the spirit of
meekness.' We must not cut off members for every sore. Shall injuries?
It is the honour of a man to pass by such. Do we look Christ should for-
give us when vv-e will not forgive others ? Consider it is the practice of all
holy men. Paul ' became all things to all men, if by any means he might
win some,' 1 Cor. ix. 20, seq. Peter received reproof of him, yet fell not
out with him. Some there are of such a perverse spirit, as if they see in
any one any infirmity, presently they break into these or the like words,
' I will not be of that man's profession,' thus forsaking all the good in the
holy profession because of some weakness in the professors.
If they will needs be separating, let them separate from the world, from
scandalous, careless, riotous persons, else Satan rules in division. He
knows he is best able to deal with them that are alone, and therefore draws
Eve from Adam, and one Christian from another, and so quickly overcomes
them. If in company one fall, another may help him up ; if he be cold,
another may warm him by exhortation and example.
Consider, therefore, icJio are best viinded, and mind the best things with
them. If we find we have attained to a greater degree in grace than others,
endeavour to bring them to us. The communion of saints is an article of
our faith. Every one believes it, but few knows what it means ; and
therefore no marvel they desire it not.
VERSE 17.
Brethren, he/oUoiuers together of me.
These words contain another exhortation, with a friendly compellation,
which I pass over, having heretofore had often occasion to speak of it.
The exhortation is to imitation of the apostle, ' follow me.' And because
I cannot ever be with you, therefore follow those among you that walk as
I do.
Whence we learn, that together with' the rules of religion we must propound
122
EXPOSITION OF
God's graces in lis, as examples for others to imitate ; and tliis arises not
from pride, but from confidence of truth and holiness in our own hearts
and conversations ; and religion maketh this a virtue and duty, without
which it were boasting ; and so it doth many things, of themselves not
seemly, very fitting. David's dance was in worldly esteem counted but
folly, yet having respect to God's glory is commendable. And therefore we
must not be captious when we see such things in others, that men ordi-
narily count indiscretion. But mark their ground, and by it esteem of
them, and accordingly follow such. ' Be ye followers of me,' saith St
Paul ; that is, observe what my doctrine is, and what I do and acknow-
ledge, follow and imitate me. The apostle's doctrine consists chiefly of
three heads ; whereof the first, concerning our natural condition, as Kom.
1st, 2d, 3d chapters, and Eph. ii. And the second, concerning our remedy
by Christ Jesus, God and man, being king, priest, and prophet, as in the
Hebrews. And the third, the manner how Christ is become ours by im-
putation, and is laid hold on by faith, which is given to us by God, who
being unchangeable and true, we persevere in this rule and course of
obedience, by the mercies of God, though with many combatings and
strivings, even to fulness of glory. The apostle's example see in part in
this chapter, in holiness of life and death to sin, and esteem of the goods of
this world as base. In the Acts see his pains in the ministry, his calling,
his heavenly and holy mind in the next verse.
And therefore, let us read these often, and consider them. They are an
excellent glass, that will transform us into an holy form and fashion. Many
things there are in him that are extraordinary and not imitable. He
wrought in another calling for his living. He was an apostle, had extraordi-
nary gifts b}^ revelation, and indeed not so much by study as the ministers of
the gospel now, to whom God gives gifts, but in the faithful and painful*
use of the means ; and therefore are they not bound to imitate the apostle
in this thing as in other things which he did as an apostle ?
But to proceed to particulars. Imitation implies four things :
Fu'st, A doing that which another doth.
Second, A doing it in the samp, manner.
Third, A doing thereof grounded upon the same affections, not as in a
stage play, where he that acteth the person of a king is often a varlet.
But it implies such an imitation as is in a child, that endeavoureth to be
like the father in disposition as well of mind as of body.
Fourth, It implies a doing, studio imitandi, with an earnest desire to be
like him. For he that doth that which God commands, and not as express-
ing his desire of imitation, he is no follower ; and therefore in all our
actions we ought to desire to be like God, and endeavour to express in
action what we desire; and to this end we are to search for examples and
patterns in the Scripture, for those that are more excellent. For the most
excellent in all kinds are the best rules for others ; and because in many
things we offend all, let us follow the examples of men no further than they
follow Christ, 1 Cor. xi. 1. And it was one end of Christ's incarnation,
that he might be an example unto us, ' As I, your Lord and Master, have
washed your feet, so ye ought to wash one another's feet,' John xiii, 14 ;
' and learn of me, for I am meek,' Mat, xi, 29,
Hence we may gather the ground why we have not only rules in Scrip-
ture to live by, but also examples. For, first, they shew that the things
commanded are possible to be done. Then they shew us the way and means
* That is, ' painstaking.' — G,
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 17. 123
more plainly, how to do them. Thirdly, they shew hoio graceful and accept-
able they are when they are done. So as the Scriptures are not penned alto-
gether in a commanding fashion, but have mingled sweet alluring examples.
For there are four ways of teaching : rule, reason, similitudes, and examples.
The two former enjoins, but works not on the affections. Similitudes are
but slight ; only examples conforms us in a most sweet alluring manner.
Use 1. And therefore we ought to be exemplary, as to folio lo others, and
especially those that are above others. They should be burning and shining
lights, as stars giving light to passengers in the darkness of this world.
To this end observe some means. And,
Direct. 1. First, Reverence not only the eye of God but of ivealc Christians,
maxima debetur puero reverentia {v). We are to be awful of our carriage,
that we may give no ill example to them ; and to this end we are to know
that we should give account for those sins that we either cause or suffer
others to fall into if we may hinder them. Give therefore no offence or
scandal to the little ones.
Direct. 2. Labour to deny ourselves in liberties, especially when we are in
the presence of such as will take scandal; and to this end labour for the
grace of love, which will cause us to endure much, and put up many things
which we count injuries.
Direct. 3. Thirdly, In our carriage we are so to demean ourselves that
we value, esteem, and respect those with xohom we converse ; for else our
actions being visible to others, they will seem to be done out of a self-
respect, and so will not affect or work on them. Grace will teach us to
honour the meanest, as those that may be dearly beloved of God, who also
may excel us in many excellent qualities, and in some kind of grace may
also go beyond us.
Use 2. Secondly, If we be bound to give good example, then woe to the
world for o fences. What shall become of those who wound and vex con-
tinually the hearts of those with whom they converse ? Many are in hell,
propter alienum peccatum. In the eyes of God, who knows the heart and
intentions, sin is committed before it be acted, and therefore it is all one
whether thou committest it or not. But it is not thus before men ; for
when it is committed it turns to scandal, and opens the enemies' mouths,
and grieves the Spirit of God in his children. The prophets complain
hereof; and we may observe God correct his children most to keep them
from scandalising others, and that others may beware of scandal. So
David's sin was pardoned, yet because he gave scandal the child died.
Use 3. Thirdly, As we must give good example, so ive must endeavour to
tahe good from others' example ; and to this end,
1. First, We must eye them, and pry into their actions ; for this end hath
God left us a continual succession of examples.
2. Secondly, We must eye them not to observe their weaknesses, to uncover
their shame ; for this is a poisonous disposition, proceeding even from the
devil. Neither are we to observe them, thereby to take liberty to the flesh
from their ill example ; but we are to eye them as we view glasses, to deck
and adom ourselves by them, and to compose ourselves in a good course.
3. Thirdly, In imitation we are to observe the best, and the best of the best,
and not to compare ourselves with those that are inferior to us. For he
that thinks himself good by comparison, he is not good, as a runner will
not conclude he runs swiftly, because he hath outrun a lame man. And
therefore St Paul says elsewhere, ' Brethren, follow me as I follow Christ,'
1 Cor. iv. 16, propounding to himself the most excellent pattern of all,
124 EXPOSITION OF
Christ Jesus. Contrariwise he blames the Corinthians because they
measured themselves by themselves, 2 Cor. x. 12.
4. Fourthly, We must learn truths before we practise, for the best have their
blemishes. So that we must learn to know how to avoid them. The
papists urge us with the succession and universality of their church. No,
say we, it is the doctrine that must try the church, whether it be true or
false, for men are inensura mensurata. It is the doctrine is mensura men-
surans, the measure measuring, whereby our actions ought to be squared
and framed aright. The papists urge us with an implicit faith. Alas !
what example, what imitation can there be, when they know not what to
imitate ? They know not what the church believes, and yet they must
believe as the church believeth.
5. Fifthly, We must labour to have soft hearts, sanctified with grace and
mollified, for a stony hard heart will receive no impression ; and to this
end are we to use the means, to embrace the word, to receive the sacra-
ments, and to pray that God would open our eyes and soften our stony
hearts.
6. Sixthly, We are to look to every one that hath any good thing worthy of
imitation, as those that delight in gardens, where they hear of any choice
flowers, they will have a slip for their own garden. Thus it should be with
us ; where we see any flower of any grace, get that and place it in our own
gardens. In every Christian there is something imitable, and something
that may further us ; and therefore this apostle longed to see the Eomans,
that he might be comforted by their faith, Kom. i. 12. It is with the
church as with the firmament, ever some are rising and some are setting.
Let us look to the stars of our time, and walk by their light. It is not
enough that we can commend the martyrs, for that is ordinary, as it was
with the Jews in Mat. xxiii. 29. Though they builded the sepulchres of
the prophets, if they had been alive together with them, they would have
persecuted them ; and therefore Christ saith, ' They killed the prophets.'
And the ground of it is because it is a dishonour to God not to take notice
of his goodness and glorious graces in others ; and therefore if the stars do
praise him, surely these stars must much more set forth his glory, that
being of themselves sinful wretched men, by his power are made glorious
lights for others to walk by.
7. And in the seventh place. In things whereof there is no certain rule to
direct us, ive ought to imitate the example and custom of the most holy and
sober sort. As in apparel much question is, what sort, what fashion is most
to be imitated, let the most sober and moderate of thine own rank be guide
unto thee. It is singularity to difier from such, with a desire to be noted,
and it savours of pride ; and such shall be condemned by their examples,
even as Noah condemned the old \Yorld.
Use. For use of all this, learn hence what is the best succession. That
is the best and surest note of succession which is both in doctrine and
example. Local succession is nothing. They are the children of Abraham
that do the works of Abraham. They are Jews which are Jews inwardly
in the spirit. The papists they cry out against us we have no succession,
but it is they have no succession. Their doctrine everywhere crosses the
doctrine of the ancient Church of Kome. Their practice is without pre-
cedent. What precedent have they for rebellion, for their equivocation,
and the like ? They follow, indeed, but as corruption doth generation.
' PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 18. 125
VEESE 18.
For many walk, of whom I have told you often.
These words contain a reason of Paul's exhortation ; and from the con-
nection we may observe, that tvhere truth is, error is. Where wheat ia
there are tares. Walk as I do, for there are many with whom ye converse
that walk as enemies to the cross of Christ. Our enemies tell us, because
of our errors we are not the true church. They may better conclude con-
trarily, that because we have some few errors, therefore there is a true church
amongst us. Where truth is there will be opposers, and therefore we are
not to be scandalised hereat. The skill and courage of a Christian is seen
most where truth is in danger, as the goodness of a pilot is seen specially
in a tempest.
The papists will not have the word read in the vulgar tongue. Why ?
Because they say many errors will thence arise, while the common people
understand it not. They may as well argue, because there is much deceit,
therefore I will not buy nor sell. St Paul was of another mind. He would
preach at Ephesus, ' for a great door and effectual was opened,' though he
knew there were ' many adversaries,' 1 Cor. xvi. 9.
In the next place, observe he saith, ' many there were,' meaning of the
better and more eminent sort, that is, of teachers. A pitiful thing, that in
the golden times of the church the chief leaders of the church should be
misled ; and therefore we are not to wonder that we should find it thus,
and therefore we must not be scandalised by the multitude. One Micaiah
is better than four hundred false prophets ; and therefore we must not
number the followers, but weigh them aright (w).
To proceed. He saith there are ' many.' He nameth none in particular,
yet no doubt but noted scandalous persons may and ought to be particu-
larly named, that others may take notice and heed of them ; yet this must
be warily done. The apostle curses the coppersmith, but only names
Demas. Those that are weak must be gently touched ; those that are
obstinate and scandalous must be plainly made known ; and this draweth
some of our writers particularly to lay open the vices and falsehoods of those
that are obdurate, and therefore we must not take scandal thereat, it
arising from a zealous care of God's church, not of malice.
In the next place, he saith he told them ' often.' The apostle was
affectionately bent for their good, and therefore to write the same things
often to them it was not grievous to him, seeing to them it was false.* For
the nature of man is very dull in conceiving of things that belong to salva-
tion, and their memories are but brittle. If therefore we do often inculcate
and lay open the danger of that whorish religion long since condemned, it
must be well taken in these times, especially wherein men are so secure,
daring to venture on anything, yea, to go to their masses, upon pretence of
their strength, that they can come away without being defiled.
And now tell you weeping.
As if he should have said, if nothing else will make you beware, yet let
my tears move, my tears proceeding from grief and compassion of the
miserable estate of such teachers, and of such as are led by them.
Affections therefore are lawful, yea, necessary in God's children. AU
actions in God's worship are esteemed according to the affections that they
are done with. We are as we love, not as we know. What is the life of
* Qu. ' safe ' ?— Ed.
126 EXPOSITION OP
a Christian but the performance of things with courage, delight, and joy ?
And therefore the strongest Christians have strongest affections. For
rehgion doth not harden the heart, but molHfies it ; and regeneration doth
not take aflections away, but restores them sanctified and pure.
But to come particular!}" to the matter here. He is compassionate, and so
compassionate as his natural constitution will admit ; he expresseth this with
tears, which ariseth from grief for something within ourselves, or by reason
of sympathy with others for some danger that they are in, or like to fall into.
Reason 1. The reasons hereof are, because they are led hy the Sinrit of
Christ, who was all made of compassion ; for he wept for his friends, for
Lazarus, and for his enemies. ' 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would
I have gathered you, and you would not.' He was tender in bearing the
infirmities of his weak disciples and of weak women. His compassion was
such as drew him to the lowest degree of humiliation to free us from danger.
Reason 2. Secondly, The saints have clear sanctified judgments to ajipre-
hend triie causes of remorse. They know what danger is, as Paul saw here
that the sheep were in danger of wolves, and saw the danger so much the
gi'eater by how much they saw not the danger they were in.
Reason 3. Thirdly, The saints have their hearts broken with sense and
feeling of Christ's covijiassion in their hearts, and so are mollified, expressing
it outwardly towards their brethren ; contrarily, the wicked never felt any
remorse or pity of Christ in them, and therefore know not what compassion
means, so as their mercies are cruelties. Use this as a note whereby we
may discern of our Christian estate ; for surely where there is no compassion
there can be no excellent estate.
Again, From the apostle's object of compassion and weeping observe, that
spiritual evil and danger is the most 2'>'>'0per object of Christian compassion.
Paul he pities not himself because of his fetters he was in, but it was the
bonds of sin made him cry, ' 0 wretched man that I am, who shall deliver
me from the body of this death ?' Eom. vii. 24. And good reason, for
these spiritual evils of error in judgment, hardness of heart, security, seared
conscience, and the like, they lead us the assured way to damnation, as it
is said in the words following, 'whose end is damnation.' Contrarily,
outward crosses being sanctified to us, they bring us to heaven, as it is
1 Cor. xi. 32, ' We are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be con-
demned with the world.' For those crosses are occasions of good affections,
purging the heart from deadness and fleshly trust, they draw us to God ;
and therefore spiritual danger is the proper object of pity. It is otherwise
with us. We lament Christian bloodshed. But how many souls are
carried into error daily, turned to popery, and no remorse, no pity ! There
is great need thereof both in the magistrate and the minister, that they
should be moved to provide remedies against such mischiefs.
And let us be far from envying such as are in ill cozirses ; let their out-
ward pomp be never so great, rather lament their misery. Alas ! poor
souls, how are they hurried, nay, do willingly run to destruction, while they
ai'e blinded with those idle shows of vanity.
But much more miserable is their estate that draw on others to misclnef
that are brethren in evil. What other end can they look for but to be as
tares bound up and cast into the depth of hell, being guilty of as many
men's deaths as they are of ill examples in their past life ?
But for ourselves, let not our soids come into their secrets ; let us mourn
at the lewdness of some, and the danger of cdl. And to this end let us con-
sider duly the afflictions of Joseph, taking heed of sensualities, which, a3
' PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 18. 127
Hosea saith, takctli away the heart, Hosea iv. 11. Moses saw the misery
of his brethren, and pitied them ; so should we consider of the danger of
popery, of schism, and reheUion : and this will break our hearts, and cause
us, with Jeremiah, to mourn in secret for the sins of the times, Jer. xiii. 17.
Tliey are tJie enejnies of the cross of Christ.
In these and the following words is a description of these inordinate
walkers which the apostle speaketh of. They are described by their
disposition : first, outwardly, * that they are enemies to Christ's death.'
Then inwardly, * Their belly is their God, they glory in their shame, and
they mind earthly things.' Then by their end, which is ' damnation.'
They are pointed out and described to us, to the end we might take notice
of them. By the cross is not meant the sign of the cross, as the
papists fondly imagine, but Christ's death on the cross, whereby was made
satisfaction and redemption and reconciliation.
1. The enemies of this cross are, first, such as added hereto the cere-
monial obedience to the law and their own satisfactory* works.
2. Secondly, Such as ai-e carnal, denying the power of Christ's crucifying
in not crucifying their affections.
3. Thirdly, Such as could not endure or suffer for the testimony of Christ's
crucifying ; and therefore to avoid persecution, they pressed circumcision
with Christ, and so were enemies to his cross. Gal. vi. 12. Such were the
enemies thereof then, and such have we now of the papists ; let them brag
never so much of their esteem and reverence they give to the sign thereof.
While they seem to kiss it, they betray it Judas-like. For while they teach
merits, satisfoction in purgatoiy, indulgences, and the like, they make the
cross of Christ of none effect, which is only and wholly sufficient in itself.
And whei'eas they say they do add, they take nothing from the suffi-
ciency of Christ : —
I answer. Circumcision was added here by those, who are notwithstand-
ing condemned. For as to join poison with wholesome meat takes away
the nourishment of the meat, so if we be circumcised, Christ shall profit us
nothing; and grace is no grace where there is merit, Kom. xi. 6. Again,
consider the equity thereof in natural reason. Can it be thought likely
that God should become man, to do anything which lies in the power of
man to patch up and make good, or else it is insufficient ? Shall finite
corrupt man be able to make an infinite work perfect. No. God will not
give his glory to another ; and will he part with his glory in this great
work, which propounds his glory as the main end thereof? Eph. i. 6, 12.
4. Fourthly, There are another sort of enemies, such as cast not themselves
on the merits of Christ's cross, those whose consciences were never convict
of sin. Abundance there are who glory in their proud presumptuous swag-
gering courses, shewing that they are either blind or stark mad. They
wilfully run to perdition, they will not hear nor be controlled. Others that
see their forepast life how wicked it hath been, they are so far from
casting themselves on Christ's merits, as they despair and grow more and
more obstinate therein, even to their own destruction ; either by not seeing
the merits of Christ, or through want of confidence on them, though they
see his righteousness to be above their sins. And some are so detestably
wicked, as because they see no salve for them, they run desperately into a
custom of sin, and continue therein to their death. As we would desire to
avoid this fearful estate and condition, so let us take heed of custom of
* That is, ' satisfyiug.' — G.
128 EXPOSITION OP
sinning, for that will make us senseless, and will move God to give us over.
And therefore let us take heed that we receive not the grace of God in vain,
it being so freely proffered to us. And to this end, know that so far as we
suffer our lusts to overrule us, and we not crucify them, so far we are ene-
mies. Gal. V. 4. For while we know and consider Christ as crucified for
our sins, it will make us, if we have any gi-ace, think of sin as of a thing
that deserves to be crucified, and hate that that caused the death of our
dear Saviour ; for they wei'e the cruel tormentors of Christ. And if we
embrace Christ, we shall have the same affection to sin that Christ had ;
for Christ will not lodge but in a heart humbled for sin. And the estate
of those men is miserable, that are so far from crucifying lusts, as they
thrust themselves upon all occasions of temj)tatiou and sin, and esteem
them as their only enemies, that tell them of their unchristian courses.
Surely, however they may daub for a time, yet their outward profession
will never administer sound comfort to them, but they shall find bitterness
at their latter end.
5. There are yet another sort of enemies, namely, such as nill endure
nothiufj for Christ ; who notwithstanding bore his cross, and bids us take
up our cross of reproach for religion. Some will endure any pain, travail,
danger, and watchings, for riches or ambition, but dare not speak a word,
or appear in Christ's cause. Are not these enemies ? Shall Christ out of
his love come from heaven to the basest abasement for us, and shall not
we endure for a while here, seeing it is also for our own good, and we are
gainers therebj^ and considering that Christ called us to suffer. For while
we live here, and embrace true religion, there will ever be a cross and
shame in the world, accompanying the profession thereof, if it be sincere.
Preachers therefore that preach not Christ plainly and boldly, and
hearers that come to the hearing of the word rather for rhetorical flourishes,
witty sentences fit only for discourse sake, even thus far they are enemies.
For if Christ be not preached mainly and chiefly to this end, to amend the
hves of men, to win souls to Christ ; and if men, coming to hear, come
not even for this end mainly, to; be bettered in their salvation, to be
strengthened in grace ; they shall be damned as enemies for this, that the
means of salvation they profane and despise.
And therefore let^^s abase ourselves for our sins, and magnify God's good-
ness in affording means of salvation. Labour also to shew how we profit
by suffering for the gospel, and count it an honour, and ' rejoice that we
are worthy to suffer' for Christ, Acts v. 41, labour to overcome the world
and our lusts, and to honour Christ even in his meanest children. If the
love of Christ will not constrain us, no motives will draw us.
YERSE 19.
WJiose end is destruction.
The word signifies a reward, and is translated and taken often for an
end,* because reward is given at the end of the work ; and thus is salva-
tion called a reward for goodness, because it is given at the end of a holy
life. The other word signifies damnation or destruction, which implies all
things tending to or accompanying the punishment of a wicked life. And
the connection of these words with the former may be thus framed. He
that is an enemy to the cause of life is an enemy to life, but those that are
enemies to the cross of Christ are enemies to the cause of life and to that
* The original is rekog. — Q.
< PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VEE. 19. 129
which saves them ; and therefore they must needs be destroyed. This
made the apostle judge of them thus, and withal he saw they were void of
grace, and were incorrigible. And from hence we may infer,
That we may in some sort jnchje of the spiritual estate of men, even ivhile
they are alive. For as astronomers can judge of eclipses, and statesmen of
the continuance or danger of the State, and physicians of the event of dis-
eases, by the course of natural causes, so in religion there are predictions
on good grounds, what will follow of ill courses tending to damnation.
But more particularly, there is a threefold judgment.
1. First, One by faith, which concerning ourselves brings certainty ; and
so we are able to judge of ourselves.
2. Secondly, There is a judgment by fruits, comparing men's disposition
and state with their fruits ; and so we say, if men walk riotously, we can
infer. Surely he is in no good estate. 'By their fruits shall you know them,'
saith Christ,' Mat. vii. 16.
3. Thirdly, There is a particnlar revelation of God's Spirit. This the
prophets and apostles had, but now we have no such rule. Yet by the
fruits and course of men, it is an easy matter to judge what the end of those
men will be, following those courses ; for God's word is the same now that
it was then. Indeed, when we judge men in things indiiferent, this is rash,
and condemned by the apostle, Eom. xiv. 3.
For use hereof, let us learn to judge ourselves, and know if we break wil-
fully the known rules of salvation, we are in a fearful estate. And we should
also submit to the judgment of God's ministers while we are here, and
amend ; for else look assuredly for the sentence of death hereafter from
God himself, when there will be no revoking thereof. For though punish-
ment may be deferred a while, yet assuredly it shall not go well with the
wicked at the last, Eccl. viii. 13.
In the next place observe, There is an end to every way, for it is taken
for granted that they have an end ; and surely we will not, nor cannot, be
always as we are. We are labourers, and there is a time of payment of
our wages. And therefore, we should look whither our ways do tend.
There will be an end of this life, but damnation shall be without end. We
should also he inquisitive to see if toe he out of this way, that we may be
reformed ; for these worldly pleasures must end in eternal vengeance, and
this life is but a way to that end.
And in the third place, Learn to he patient. When we see the wicked
run on in a broad highway, what though they be admired here and lifted
up ! They are but condemned persons ; and therefore, envy them not,
seeing we would be loath, upon serious deUberation, to change estates with
them. Observe we further from these words, that God tv ill judge eternally,
not only for gross, scandalous sins in the course of our life, hut even for errors
in judgment. For we must judge aright, as well as affect aright, and God
hath no service from corrupt judgments. Those that join man's merits
with Christ's merits, they cannot rely on God alone, neither can they
rejoice in Christ. Chi'ist hath but half of them. Therefore, let us keep
the virginity of our judgments ; prostitute them not to lies, but reserve
them chaste and pure to Christ.
And secondly, Take ive heed hoio ive converse tuith such as are of corrupt
judgments. They are God's and Christ's enemies, and will labour to bring
us into their ways ; and then, assuredly let us look for their end. It is
reason, that those with whom we converse here, we should converse withal
hereafter.
VOL. V. I
130 EXPOSITION OF
Whose god is their belly.
These words do partly shew the inward disposition of these men. By
' belly,' in this place, he means in general all contentments and worldly
pleasures, whereof these teachers being satisfied, they lived at large and at
ease.
Quest. But how may they be said to make their belly their God ?
Ans. 1. I answer, We may be said to make anything our God, first, lohen
we count it one, as some of the papists have esteemed of the pope, as of an
essence between man and God ; and some emperors have required them-
selves to be so esteemed, and adored as a deity [x).
2. Secondly, When we give such affections to it as are only due and proper
to God, as to trust in it, to repose content in it, to joy in it ; and so is that
sentence true, amor tuus, Deus tuus (y).
3. Thirdly, When we use actions of invocation and adoration thereto; and
thus the papists make saints their god, attributing such power in working
to them, as is only proper to God.
4. Fourthly, When tve hestoio all labour to give satisfaction thereunto.
For explication, these men gave the intension of their most inward affec-
tions, to procure content to their lusts. All their labour was to this end,
and so quieted themselves in the enjoyment of them. And as they made
their ' belly their god,' so their belly acted the part of a god, in giving them
laws, bidding them to do, project, devise this or that ; undermine such,
and grounding them in this first fundamental law, ' Thou canst not live
long, neither wilt thou live well ; therefore, while thou livest, live for thy
pleasure, take thy ease ; ' and from thence, enjoins them to use all means
thereto : take all acquaintance, undermine all that cross thee ; and all to
this end, that thou mayest have thy ease.
As it was then, so now is it with the papists, their successors. All the
difierences in religion between them and us, are by them grounded on the
belly. That is the monarchy of the pope, and worldly pomp, and masses
invented for idle priests, Latin prayers, little or no preaching ; only that
the people being ignorant, they might more easily command them. If their
errors were not invested in gain, we should soon accord- theix worship,
especially the manner thereof, only to delight the sense.
And among ourselves, many are not wanting that make profession of
religion, but deny the power thereof. So long as religion and outward
content do meet, and when religion brings preferment, all will be religious,
for they live by no rules but those that their lusts prescribes : morning and
evening taking care for the flesh, how to be rich, how to live at ease ; and
for this will sell their birthright in happiness, refusing the word, refusing
good company, yea, heaven itself. And this justly comes as a judgment
for man's first rebellion. When men will not serve God as they should,
they are justly given over to the service of those that arc no gods.
Quest. But it may be asked. May we not seek to content our flesh ?
Ans. I answer, We may respect our bodies ; and there is a due honour
that belongs to the outward man, but we must so seek for them, as in the
first place and principally we seek the kingdom of heaven, and its righteous-
ness ; and then God hath promised to cast these things upon us, Mat.
vi. 33. But when we break order and measure, being first and princi-
pally careful for our lusts, the devil knowing our haunts, ofiers baits fil-
ling for; our humours, and we, like filthy swine, devour our own de-
struction.
* That is, = ' we should soon agree that their worship is only,' &c. — G.
PniLIPPIANS CHAP, ni, VER. 19. 131
And therefore, to avoid this, let us set the fear of God and damnation hefore
our eyes ; and if wo use not these things moderately and soherly, let that in
Eom. viii. 13 be as a flaming sword to keep us from the way of destruc-
tion. ' If we live according to the lusts of the flesh, we shall die ;' and
therefore, ' as strangers and pilgrims, let us abstain from fleshly lusts,
which fight against the soul ;' against our comfort here, and our happy
estate hereafter.
Secondly, Let us avoid the company of condemned persons, but look on
them with a kind of horror and detestation of them ; and pass not for their
wicked censures, ' Their end is damnation, and their belly is their god.'
But because the best are drawn away by these pleasures, let us observe
some directions.
And first, Let us see the reasons why we are thus inveigled with them.
Reason 1. First, These earthly contentments are present to our sense.
The other only are present to fixith, which the carnal man looks not after,
neither cares for.
2, Secondly, We nusle'^ up ourselves in an opinion of the necessity of these
things, seeing the present use of them ; and we see no present use of those
better things.
3. Thirdly, These things are bred up with ^is, and tve are acquainted ivith
them from our infancy, and so they plead prescription ; and when we are
thus taken up before, religion comes after, and very hard it must needs be,
to keep our minds lifted up ; and yet is it most necessary to be ; for lusts
do drown men in perdition, 1 Tim. vi. 9.
1. But for helps in this estate of ours, observe first, with due considera-
tion, the nature^ dignity, and excellency of the soul ; that it is a spirit of an
excellent beauty, adorned with understanding and judgment, not made to
cast off the crown, submitting itself to the rule of every base lust, which
indeed is the only happiness of the beasts ; nay, if happiness consists in
pleasing the senses, beasts are more happy than we, for they have neither
shame without, nor conscience within, to disquiet them in the enjoyment
of their pleasures.
And know also that this body of ours, being of that excellent temper, is
a fabric which was not made only to be a strainer for meat to pass
through. The quality of the brain in man, the structure of the eye, do
testify man was made for divine meditation, to contemplate of the works of
God, which it doth behold with the eye as through a glass.
2. Secondly, We mast knoiv, hy giving our affections to these things, ivc
are made like the things tve affect ; for the soul is placed in the midst, as it
were, between heaven and earth, and as it affects the one or the other, so
is it fashioned. If we love the flesh we are flesh ; if we follow the Spirit,
we are transformed to its likeness.
3. Thirdly, Consider that God is hetter than the worshipper, else is he
mad that will worship it. But the belly is baser than ourselves. Keason
teacheth us the pleasures of this life end in death, when our souls must
still continue after all. Now to seek such pleasures as cannot continue
with us is madness, as appears even by the light of reason ; and therefore
are of more power with natural men than pure religious truths. But for
those that are called, the Scripture puts them in mind of the last day of
judgment, and tells them that they are made for heaven ; and such are
therefore to set their minds on things which are above, where Christ sitteth
on the right hand of God, Col. iii. 1 ; and when they begin to grow
* That is, = nurse = confirm — G.
132 EXPOSITION OP
worldly, and to follow their belly, it calls them back with a * but know for
all this, God will bring thee to judgment ;' which, duly pondered, cannot
but be as a hook in our jaws to bring us back to a more diligent watch over
our ways.
And whose glory is in their shame.
A second part of the inward disposition, shewing that they glory in that
which brought shame to them ; for circumcision was a ceremony given to
the church when it was but in the infancy ; and for them that were born in
the strength of the church, being well grown, to gloiy in such beggarly
rudiments was shameful. In the words, first consider the affection ; second,
the object or end, for the word implies both. And in the first consider the
sin, then the cure.
The sin that is reproved in them is ' vain-glory ;' that is, glorying in a
thing not to be gloried in ; and it is grounded upon pride, which is a desire
of excellency in vain things ; and it is for the most part in vain injudicious
men, who ordinarily do glory in things that tend to shame. These Philip-
pians saw that Paul was now committed. The doctrine he taught they
thought was not good enough ; they would be wiser than he, and of deeper
reach.
And thus even within the pale of the church, what a scandal is it that
men should glory in a graceless grace of swearing, filling up rotten dis-
course with new devised oaths ! And others glory in their foolish con-
ceited gallant apparel ; which was for no other end but principally to cover
shame. Is not this to glory in shame ? And much more those, that
blaming, as it were, God for making them no fairer, will mend the work-
manship of God by painting. These, while they seek to keep outward
blemishes from the eyes of men, do discover to the whole world that they
have a spotted rotten heart within them.
And, indeed, it is too common for men ill bred up, to think admirably
of themselves, when all their courses are mere vanity. He is the only man
of account that cannot put up a cross word without blood. Is not this to
glory in shame, whenas it is the glory of a man to pass by an offence, and
they are the best men that can overcome themselves ? And as helpers on
of this vain boasting, we have a generation of ignorant unsettled understand-
ings, that admire at such shameless boasters, and so are causes of strength-
ening such in their vain-glory. Such are flatterers of great men. Let
them remember what is denounced against such. Woe be to them that call
evil good and good evil.
In the next place. Shame is not only the object of valn-ylory, but the end.
They that are vain-glorious shall be brought to shame at length. Thus it
is said of Babylon in Isaiah, and mystical Babylon in the Kevelations :
' Though she say, I sit as a queen, and shall see no mourning, yet shall
her plagues come in one day, death, and destruction, and mourning,' Isa.
xlvii. 9, and li. 19 ; Rev. xviii. 8.
For God hath knit vain-glor}' and shame, a punishment proportionable
and fitting to the sin, and striking the offender most near, even to the
heart. And thus did God meet with Ahithophel, Absalom, and Haman.
They sought vain-glory, and their ends were shameful; and such shall
be the end of all such as boast that they can do mischief like Doeg,
Ps. Hi., title, et seq. And the righteous shall see, and fear, and laugh at
them.
. For use to ourselves, therefore, let us take heed of sin. For by nature the
I PHILIPPIANS CHAP. HI, VER. 19. 133
best of us are subject to it. We are all inclinable either to glory in such
things as we should not, or to receive glory from such things as we ought
not ; or else to glory after an inordinate manner. And in that measure we
glory amiss, in that measure we consult shame to ourselves. Glory we
may, but it must be well grounded, and in a right manner.
And to the attaining thereto we must first labour for a sound knowledge
of God, and for a sound dependence upon him in all thin/fs, and also labour
for to see our own estate, and our many wants ; for wanting this knowledge,
men glory in merits while they live. But when they die they grow ashamed
of their courses and blind judgment. For while they live they judge of
themselves by their own conceit of themselves, which is grounded either by
comparing of themselves with those that are worse than themselves, as the
Pharisee, that thanked God he was not as the pubHcan, Luke xviii. 11; or
else upon the conceit that shallow persons have of them.
1. But these are not rules for us to follow. Look rather what says the
humbled conscience ; what says God's word and his justice ; and take
example of the apostles and holy men of God, that gloried in the Lord
reconciled to us in Christ, ' who is made to us wisdom, sanctification, and
redemption,' 1 Cor. i. 30. ' Rejoice that our names are written in
heaven,' Luke x. 20. Rejoice that we understand and know God to be
just and merciful, Jer. ix. 23, 24. Glory in the testimony of a good con-
science, that we are true Christians, though but weak, 2 Cor. i. 12.
2. Secondly, We should be content with the judgment and approbation of
God, and hearken to the admonitions of his ministers, and care not for the
censures of the world.
3. Thirdly, Take we heed of the first befiinninr/s and motions of sin ; at the
first they are ever modest. The worst man that ever was, was not shameless
in sin at the beginning, but giving way to sin by little, loses all shame, and
causes at last corruption in judgment, and justifying a man's self in wicked
courses. Pleasures, riches, and such things, they are like a vizard, only
an outside of beauty ; or like one that vaunted himself, he can act the
person of a king, but is in himself a bond slave. They act their parts
here on this worldly stage for an hour, and leave all their followers iu
eternal bondage for ever. Therefore let us not be ashamed for Christ's
cause ; but stand out, labour for sincerity now, and we shall have glory
hereafter, which as the light shall increase, whenas ' the candle of the
wicked shall be put out,' Prov. xxiv. 20.
Who mind earthly things.
To ' mind,' in this place is taken largely, to think upon, remember,
desire, joy, and to have all the soul exercised. ' Earthly things ;" that is,
lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes, pride of life, pleasures, and profits, and
honours, which are therefore called ' earthly,' because they are conversant
about earthly things, and because they make their followers ' earthly
minded ; ' and lastly, they are called earthly, in opposition to those
that are heavenly. And thus in particular, those that mind honour are
ambitious ; those that mind riches are covetous ; if pleasure, then they are
voluptuous, and all of them are earthly. For as the ocean is but one, and
yet divers parts thereof have several names, so worldliness is but one sin,
yet having many kinds it hath also divers names.
1. The observation that hence we may gather is, that the earthly disposi-
tion and mind is the temper of that man who is in the estate of damnation; for
the mind of such do shew a dead soul, estranged from the Hfe of God : ' To
134 EXPOSITION OF
be carnally-minded is dcatli,' saith the apostle, Eom. viii. 6. For a man
lives as he minds and loves.
2. Secondly, Earthly disposition is opposite to God ; so Eom. viii. 7,
* The carnal mind is enmity against God.'
Observe we further, the apostle describes not these by any notorious
gross scandalous sin, but by the inward disposition of the heart ; for out-
ward actions are only efi'ects and rivers flowing from the spring of corrup-
tion in our hearts.
Whence we may note, that God looks to the intvard frame of the soul in
men; and therefore though in the eyes of men a man may be without spot,
yet is his corruption that is within, open and manifest to the all-seeing eye
of God.
And therefore from hence we are to he stirred up to humble ourselves
before God, by examining our hearts, and laying open our most secret
corruptions.
2. And secondly, This ought to comfort us, that though in our daily
practice we often fall, yet God in his goodness looks at the inward frame of
the soul, and accepts of it.
3. Thirdly, ^hi& justly lays ojoen the folly of men's censures. If a man
break not out into open outrageous sins, they esteem and commend such
for good men, though it may be his soul is full stuffed with atheism, revenge,
and all manner of villany.
4. Fourthly, This should teach us to condemn ourselves, even for sinful
thoughts ; for know, though thou livest without danger of man's law, thou
mayest have a rebellious mind opposite to the divine law of God, by which
thou shalt be judged.
Yet seeing for this present life we stand in need of earthly things, and
are not to cast off all care of them, let us hearken to some directions in the
use of them. For riches and other necessaries, God sends them unto us
to be as means to sweeten our pilgrimage here.
Rules. 1. In using them, take heed they do not possess and take up our
whole heart, immoderately labouring after the7n, and before any sj)iritual
grace. This the apostle blames in these men. He saw they made religion
to be subordinate, and to give place to their worldly lusts, and that as he
cared not, if by any means he could attain to the resurrection of the dead ;
so they contrarily cared not, if by any means, through any cross or loss
whatsoever, they could attain to riches, honour, or the like; j^ea, if religion
stood in their way, though it were with the loss of religion and a good con-
science.
2. Secondly, We must take heed that we use these earthly things so as to
draw good out of them, and to employ them to good. Labour we to see
God in pleasure, in riches, and in our abundance, knowing and esteeming
of them as a beam of 1he bright sunshine of God's favour to us, and thus
to be lifted up to admire and praise his goodness.
3. Thirdly, Make them instruments of mercy and bounty. It is an ex-
cellent way to further our accounts. So receive the good as we avoid the
snare. The way is not to hide our talents in a napkin, to enter into a
monastery, to live idle ; but to occupy, use, and employ them in the ser-
vice of God and of our neighbours.
4. To conclude. Let us so use them as they be help)ers of us to a better life,
not hinderers ; for we are in an estate between two, in a warring and con-
flicting estate, even as a piece of iron between two loadstones, and know
not which way to lean ; and yet may ofiend in the excess of either side.
' PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 20. 135
And therefore let us observe some signs, whereby we may know whether
we be right or not.
Signs. 1. And first of all, this affection of love, being the primary and
principal part, is known by other affections. If therefore our love be set on
the world, ice shall grieve and vex ourselves for worldly losses, and fret and
he chafed tohen loe are crossed in them; and this made Ahab so lumpish, as
nothing could comfort him but Naboth's vineyard.
2. Secondl}^, Let us observe lohither our labours and endeavours are car-
ried, what we talk of most, what think we or meditate we on, first and
last, morning and evening. If we observe our carriage, it will discover
our mind.
Such are also opjoosite to any religious good course. He that is rich
bitterly opposeth goodness ; and therefore it is that Christ said, ' Ye can-
not serve God and Mammon,' Mat. vi. 24 ; and concludeth, ' It is harder
for a rich man to get into heaven, than for a camel to pass through a needle's
eye,' Mat. xix. 24.*
But to cure this sore, let us fetch arguments from the nature of the soul of
man, and the nature of these things; and consider the incongruity between
the soul, a pure heavenly spiritual essence, and base earthly corrupt things.
Dust was made meat for the serpent by a curse, and not for man.
And remember, the God of truth hath threatened vengeance against his
dearest children that do not mortify their carnal lusts. Abhor we therefore
the first thoughts of this sin, and divert our souls to higher thoughts ; and
be humbled, shaming ourselves for debasing our souls in that manner, else
will God take us in hand. For he will not suffer his children to surfeit on
the world, but will bring them back, that they shall see and know * all is
but vanity and vexation of spirit.'
VERSE 20.
For our conversation is in heaven.
The word translated here * for ' in the former translation is ' but ' (z) ;
and so it depends on the foregoing words, ' some walk as enemies to the
cross of Christ,' I.e. 'Bid our conversation is in heaven.' If it be as it
is here translated, ' for,' then doth it follow the 17th verse : ' mark them
that walk, as ye have us for an example. For our conversation is in
heaven,' shewing the reason why he was so confident in propounding his
example to be imitated. Which way it be taken, it is not much material,
only from the opposition between those examples he speaks of immediately
going before, and is propounded in this verse.
Note That in the church there are always men of divers dispositions. Some
ever go within the current into Mare Mortuum,\ and others ever against
the stream, like the stars that are carried with a secret motion of their
own, notwithstanding that in this world they seem to be carried by the
violent motion of the common course of men.
1. And this was first in God's eternal decree, that there should be perpe-
tual enmity between the seed of the woman and of the serpent.
2. Secondly, There is a difference in calling; some only outwardly,
some inwardly by his Spirit : ' Many are called, but few are chosen,'
Mat. XX. 16.
3. Thirdly, They differ in their rulers; one are governed by the devil, and
led captive to do his will, others by God.
* Cf. note in Vol. IV. p. 368.— G. t 1'l^at is, the Dead Sea.— G.
136 EXPOSITION OP
4. Fourthly, In regard of their conversation; some are heavenly minded,
others are altogether earthly.
5. Fifthly, Tlieir ends are different ; the way of the one is upwards to
heaven, the way of the other is downward, tending to the gates of death,
even to hell.
But to come to the words. The apostle saith not ' my conversation,' but
' our conversation ;' implying that those that mean not to be of the number
of those that have their end in damnation, they must be of the number of
those of a holy conversation. The word in the original signifies most pro-
perly a freedom, or a burghership.f So as from the metaphor we may gather
thus much.
Doct. That heaven is a city, and all true Christians are citizens avd in-
habitants of this city ; for as it is in the city of this world, so may it be said
comparatively of this city and the inhabitants.
First, It is under a governor, who is the Lord Christ.
Secondly, It is governed hy laiv, which is God's law.
Thirdly, It hath a storehouse of all good things, as of food, and of other
of the like sort, which is heaven, for it hath bread of life ; it hath rich and
plenteous treasure.
Fourthly, It hath liberties. They are free from Satan's tyranny, free
from the law's curse and condemning power ; and are all kings, and shall
all reign. They shall be fi'ee from all weakness, from ill company, from
temptation. The Lamb shall be all in all. ' Glorious things are spoken
of thee, thou city of God,' Ps. Ixxxvii. 3.
Fifthly, They speak one language, the language of Canaan. The language
of the beast they abhor.
And lastly, Their carriage is alike. Grave like citizens of heaven, their
faces are still as they were going to Jerusalem, their continuing and abiding
city ; for while they are in this life, they are still as it were in the suburbs.
Hence we may gather divers grounds, that while we live in this world,
a Christian is but a pilgrim and stranger. First, Heaven is his home, and
this life is but a way, and he a passenger. And thus David accounted of
himself, though a king, j-et but a stranger, both himself and his fathers ;
and therefore, as a passenger, he provides for his journey, he stands not
for ill usage, cares not to look after delights in the way, but uses them as
advantageous to his journey.
And secondly, He is inquisitive after (he way, fearing he should go
amiss ; and furnisheth himself with cordials, to cheer him and strengthen
him in his journey. He inquires after the guide of God's Spirit, to be as
the pillar of fire to guide him in the darkness of this world.
Thirdl}^ He is well provided of loeapons against such enemies as he shall
meet with in the way. He hath the shield of faith, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God.
2. The second ground that arises hence is, that a Christians endeavours
are of a high nat^ire. His look is high, his soul and mind are ever upward,
casting all burdens of earthly cares and delights from him, that he may freely
mount up in the presence of his Maker.
3. Thirdly, This carriage of a Christian is not by fits, but it is his trade,
his conversation and course of life. In all things ho looks to heaven. His
course is by rule and by law. Whatsoever he does he does as in obedience
to God chiefly, with all his power, as approving himself to God, in whose
* The original is ToXiriu/u/.. — G.
I PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 20. 137
sight he ever sets himself. Briefly, he doth ail things as a citizen of
heaven.
4. Fourthly, We may also ground hence, that a Christian may have his
conversation in heaven, even while he is here alive ; for he is born anew,
having received the hfe of grace. God requires not impossibilities, but
always gives ability to the discharge of that which he enjoins.
Quest. But in particular, how may a Christian be said to be in heaven, or
to have his conversation in heaven ?
Ans. (1.) I answer, A Christian may be said to be in heaven ; first, as in
his head Christ Jesus, who is in heaven already, being gone to prepare a
place for us.
(2.) Secondly, lie is there hy faith, which makes things absent as present ;
and so it is that ' Abraham saw Christ's day and was glad ;' and therefore
is faith called, ' The evidence of things not seen,' Heb. xi. 1.
(3.) Thirdly, A Christian is in heaven by his hojjes.
(4.) Fourthly, He is there by his desires. Animus est uhi amat (aa).
(5.) Fifthly, A Christian is in heaven, whenas his meditations are there;
when his thoughts are thereon continually busied, as St Paul was, when in
admiration of those joys he crieth out, ' 0 the depth both of the riches and
wisdom of God !' Rom. xi. 33.
(6). Sixthly, He is there, when by continual prayers to God, he hath an
inward aduiittance to the throne of grace, where he may freely open his heart
to his God ; and therefore it is that those that are Christians indeed are
often in this duty.
5. Hence we may gather, that the glorious estate in heaven is of the same
kind with this life of grace, only differing in degrees of happiness ; both
estates are free : there only a freedom of glory, here a freedom of grace.
Both are estates of redemption. There we are redeemed from sin and
death and the devil, here we are only redeemed from the power of them ;
there have we the full harvest, here we have the first fruits ; here we are
heirs by faith, there by full possession ; to all of us Christ is all in all,
only there he rules immediately, here he rules by means, by his deputies.
There they have communion with the saints, here we also have communion,
though we live amongst the wicked. There they praise God continually,
here we endeavom- it continually. There they have communion with the
beatifical vision, here we have communion with the ordinances which will
bring us to it.
And, therefore, let such as intend to be saints hereafter be saints here, and
live by the laws that are given us from heaven, and that they live by in
heaven ; for the kingdom is in such sort one and the same. The kingdom
of grace, the preaching of the word, is called * the kingdom of heaven,' as
well as the kingdom of glor}^ ; and men do think in vain ever to enter into
glor}^, without coming in at the gates of grace, as appeareth out of the
apostle's argument, 2 Peter i. 10, 11, ' Give diligence to make your calling
and election sure, for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abun-
dantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.'
And to this end, amongst many other, observe with me these following
directions.
1st Direct. First, For a preparation, hear the ^vord. of God ; for by this
we are in heaven in part already. For where the v/ord is preached, there
is the presence of the blessed Trinity, and the holy angels bringing down
heaven itself to us, teaching us in the laws of that kingdom. Use reading
also ; for even thereby we talk with the saints who wrote those things for
138
EXPOSITION OF
our instruction, and that Spirit that guided them in writing will also guide
thee in reading. Receive the sacraments often, for these ordinances are
the heavenly manna to us, and strengthen us in our way to the spiritual
Canaan.
2d Direct. Secondly, Rejoice in often communicating with the saiiHs. These
earth moles that are delighted in cceno, not in coclo* all company is
alike to them ; but a Christian will here converse with such as he shall be
with hereafter, and the saints have found much help this way. Even Saul,
in the company of prophets, became a prophet ; and the most earthly man
that is amongst good men, in good discourse, will suit himself to them ;
and indeed good discourse is of much avail this way, if it be frequent as it
should be. I enforce it not as a duty to be done at all times, but it should
be oftener than it is.
dd Direct. Thirdly, Use such means as are of force to subdue the hindrances
of this disposition. Such as are lusts of youth, which ought to be tamed by
fasts, and such watchfulness that may make us at the length wise ; for so
far as we overcome our lusts, so far we have our conversation in heaven ;
and therefore we must often in private watch, and in private pray ; as the
Scripture saith, we must watch unto prayer.
4:th Direct. Fourthly, Use much meditation. Be ever setting our minds
something to this end, that our affections may be wrought upon, to forsake
the world with detestation, and to love and embrace heaven ; and for this
duty we ought to redeem some time continually. Thus principally Enoch
walked with God ; and David, though a king, meditated in God's law day
and night.
5th Direct. And from this duty, let us he brour/ht to a holy use of soliloquies ;
checking and shaming ourselves for following these pleasures, for unthank-
fulness and want of cheerfulness, as David, ' Why art thou cast down 0
my soul, why art thou so disquieted ?' Ps. xhi. 5. By these recollections
a Christian is indeed himself, and for the present even seated in heaven.
Qth Direct. In the last place, besides ejaculations, use daily a set prayer ;
for thereby we ascend into heaven, and are fitted thereby to be more and
more heavenly. It is the trade of citizens that make them rich. This is
our ti'ade, to trade by prayer with that heavenly city, where our treasure
is, and by it we shall grow daily in riches. Thus is our soul strengthened
and our affections stirred up to converse with God, and thus come we to
set our faith in heaven, together with our love, where our Father is, where
angels and saints, our city and eternal happiness, is. Thus is our hope
strengthened, which carries us through all afflictions undauntedly, and so
is a heaven to us before heaven ; and thus are our desires in heaven, to
be at rest, to be with Christ, which is best of all.
Obj. But some will say. We cannot always intendf such things as these,
we have our callings, and are busied about earthly matters and cares.
Ans. 1. I answer : True it is, yet in the use of these things, we may be
heavenly minded ; for God in mercy appoints us callings, to busy our minds
about, which else would be delving in the idle pleasures of sin : only he
requires, that we in the first place ' seek for heaven.' We shall not con-
tinue here, but we are ti'avelling still ; and therefore it is good for us ever
to redeem some time for heaven, that we may come with more speed to our
journey's end.
2, Secondly, As a help to us, he hath left us his Sabbaths, in pity to our
* That is, with the filth of earth, uot with heaven. — G.
t That is, ' attend.' — G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. III. VER. 20. 139
souls, which else would altogether be rooting in the earth. Let us have a
care of the well spending of them ; for by this we pay homage to heaven,
and are put in mind thereof.
3. Thirdly, Every day redeem some time for meditation of the vanity of this
world. Hereby will our untunable souls be still set in tune ; and for our
callings, every day sanctify them by prayer, and then all is clean.
4. Fourthly, Go about them as in obedience to God, knowing that God hath
placed us in these callings, and he looks for service in employing those
talents bestowed on us, and in our serving one another. And let us
endeavour to shew what our religion is, in avoiding the corniptions of our
callings. Labour also to see God in everything, in crossing us, in encourag-
ing and assisting lis ; and this will stir us up accordingly to pray continually,
and in all things to give thanks ; and it will make us fear always, for the
same care and love of God that brings us to heaven, doth guide us in our
particular actions and callings. And in other matters use ourselves so as
we by these things raise our minds on high, for there is a double use of
the creatures. First, temporal, and from thence a spiritual use is raised.
Thus did Christ. By considering water he was raised to think of spiritual
regeneration and washing ; and thus we should do, labour to see God in
his creatures, and thus shall we help our souls by our bodies. God will have
it thus, and therefore setteth down heavenly things in earthly comparisons,
Ith Direct. Lastly, We must endeavour to make a spiritucd use of all things
as God doth. Doth God send crosses on us ? Then before they leave us
beg a blessing, that they may work his intended effect in bettering us.
Doth God bless us with prosperity ? Pray that God would sanctify it to
encourage us on to good duties, so as in all estates we may have our con-
versation in heaven. Let no man therefore make pretence that he is poor,
that he hath no time for this. No. Grace works matter out of everything.
Poor Paul, nay, Paul a prisoner, see how he is busied ; and the truth
is, that worldly prosperity is the greatest enemy to a heavenly mind that
can be,
Obj. But the weak Christian will complain that he cannot find this in
him, but he is still carried away with worldly matters. Though he strive
against it never so much, yet the world goes away with him.
Ans. To such I answer. Strength of grace this way is not in every
Christian, neither is it at the first. Paul had his distractions, Kom. vii. from
ver. 15 to ver; 24, yet must our labours and endeavours be that way. The sin
that is in us cannot hurt us if we strive against it. God suffers his children
to see their weakness, as he did deal with Solomon, to humble us and
make us learn his lesson, that all ' is vanity and vexation of spirit.' Let
not such therefore be discouraged, but cheerfully go on in a good course,
wherein the 7nore ive labour and strive, the more toe heaxdify religion, and
credit our city, and draw on others to be fellow-citizens with us.
And thus shall we free ourselves from terrors of conscience, and from
the snares of the devil, even as birds when they soar aloft need fear no
snares. Thus also shall we get a portion here, for it is the promise of the
God of truth, that if we first seek the kingdom of heaven, all these things
shall be cast upon us. Thus also shall we be sure of God's gracious and
faithful protection, who hath said he will keep us in our ways.
And lastly. Thus shall we end our days with comfort. Woe be to him
that dies not to the world before he goes hence. Bat to him that hath hia
soul in heaven, even while it is in his body, this life is but a pilgi-image,
and death is advantasre.
140 EXPOSITION OP
From whence we also hoh for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
These words lay down such an estate of a Christian, as is both a cause
and a sign of heavenly conversation ; and in them we may consider, first,
That Christ is in heaven. Secondly, That there is a second coming of
Christ. Thirdly, That Christians expect it. Fourthly, That this expecta-
tion is a cause of heavenly carriage.
For the first, that Christ is in heaven, we have the Scripture to warrant
it, but the text is pregnant herein. We look for him from heaven, ergo
he is in heaven.
And therefore it is a gross conceit of the papists, that dream that his
body is everywhere in the bread, or xvith the bread, as the Lutherans would
have it. The Scripture determines that the heavens must contain him ;
that he sitteth now on the right hand of God ; that he shall hereafter come
to judge, and therefore he is not now here ; nay, because he is not here he
sent us the Comforter, the Spirit, that shall lead us into all truth, as he
himself expressly saith, John xvi. 13.
Secondly, Hence we may observe, that there is another coming of Christ,
which yet is not fuJfUed. There is a twofold coming of Christ, one whereby
he comes in the flesh. This was his first coming. The second coming is
in triumph, when he shall perfect our salvation. This appeareth by the
desires of the creature, Rom. viii. 37, seq. Secondly, By the faithful
desires of his children, which cannot be in vain. Thirdly, To this end he
took our flesh to draw us after him. Fourthly, To this end he left his
Spirit with us to testify it. Lastly, He hath left us his promises and pro-
phecies thereof, witnessed by the angels : Acts i. 11, ' This Jesus shall so
come, even as you have seen him go into heaven.'
Thu'dly, That Christians do expect this coming of CJirist is evident out
of the words, ' from whence we look for the Saviour,' saith the text. The
word 'look' signifies an earnest expectation, implying faith, hope, and
patience.* Faith is a ground of hope, supposing the promises which are
grounded on an almighty God of truth. Now patience comes from hope,
so as the word implies thus much. We hope, we believe, we patiently
wait for the second coming of Christ. This is the disposition of every
sound Christian, and it begins with the beginning of our new birth ; for so,
1 Peter i. 3, it is said, ' We are begotten to a lively hope ;' and Titus ii. 13,
' The grace of God once appearing, teacheth to look for the blessed hope.'
Reason 1. For as in nature the seed desires growth, everything desires
perfection, so much more in grace. Where once it is settled it continually
desireth a more perfect estate, until the coming of Christ, when it cometh
to the top and pitch thereof.
Reason 2. Secondly, Tliere is such a relation hetivixt Christ and us, we
being contracted to him here, as there is a continual longing for the consum-
mation of this marriage ; even as the time between the contract and the
marriage is a continual longing.
Reason 3. Thirdly, Our estate here is a warring and lahorioits estate,
and a painful service, and therefore what marvel if a sabbath, a peaceable,
victorious, and triumphant estate, be sweet and to be desired ?
Use. Hence we may learn that the estate of the children of God here is
imperfect, for they are under hope of a better estate. Before Christ's time
they expected the first coming of Christ. So it is said of Abraham, that
he longed to see Christ's day. Now after Christ's first coming, we look
* The original is, s^ o5 xal eMrri^a aitixhi'^oiiiQa Kv^iov 'lyisouv X^iGrov,
on which cf. Bishop Ellicott, with his rofereuces. — G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 20, 141
after liis second coming, when we shall be perfected ; and thus the souls in
heaven are in expectation of a further happiness.
Use 2. And this is the reason of the contrarieties of estate that are in a
Christian. He rejoices because he is under hope, but he sorrows because
he hath not already obtained the thing he hopeth for. He rejoiccth because
of his assurance, but sorroweth because of the crosses he daily meets with ;
rejoiceth in the communion of saints, but * woe is me that I dwell in
Mesech,' Psa. cxx. 5, We are kings, but over rebels ; prophets, but have
much ignorance, for we see but in part ; priests, but are daily polluted with
the soil of this world, and therefore do stand in need of continual washin".
Use 3. Thirdly, lids expectation is not only a xi-ork of ours, hnt a grace
wrought in us hy Christ, by virtue of the covenant : for God fits us with
graces that have reference to our future happiness ; and it arises from love
and patience, grounded upon assurance of an end and glorious issue. Christ
knew we were to meet with enemies, and therefore gives us hope as an
helmet and an anchor to keep us from shipwreck ; for he is a saviour as
well in saving us here from despair, as hereafter from hell.
Use 4. This, lastly, may serve /or a trial of our estates : for many that
think themselves to be good Christians, think with Peter ' it is good being
here,' Mat. xvii. 4 ; it is good for them to be in this world. They fear the
coming of Christ. The very thought thereof destroys all their mirth. It
is to them like the handwriting on the wall to Belshazzar. The child of
God is of another disposition. He is begotten to this hope : his desire is
accordingly ; his endeavour and labour is by any means to attain to the
resurrection of the dead, Philip, iii. 11.
Ohj. But it will be said, that it is often seen that good Christians do not
always desire the coming of Christ.
Ans. To which I answer. It is true ; but it is caused by their careless
carriage. And yet, ever there is a spirit in them, to endeavour to do some-
thing that may prepare for his coming. But a strong Christian hath ever
this desire ; and if he be a mortified and growing Christian, he never wants
this hope, and comfort, and earnest longing : and therefore his prayer ever
is, ' Come, Lord Jesus.'
Fourthly, We may observe out of the words, where this hope is, and this
expectation, it stirs vp and quickens the soul to a holy conrersation. It
is propounded here as a ground of the apostle's holy conversation.
For it stirs us up to he pure, even as he is pure, as it is 1 John iii. 3.
For we are a holy spouse, and there will shortly come the marriage-day ;
and fitting it is that we prepare ourselves fitting for such a husband. Thus
it was with the concubines of Ahasuerus. Though a temporal and earthly
king, yet the custom was, they should be twelve months before they came
to the king, Esther ii. ; and much more should it be our duty, evermore
to be prepared to come into the presence of our eternal, heavenly King, to
meet with the bridegroom ; because we know not how soon it may be that
he will come, and send his angels for us to appear before him in glory, to
call us to the wedding.
Secondly, This hope will stir us up to do all good duties, and to right
performance of good duties ; to do all things sincerely, as in the presence
of God our judge. And therefore, not only the duty of preaching is urged
upon Timothy, but the manner, 2 Tim. iv. 2, who is charged by the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge all at his appearing, that he should ' preach
the word : be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with
all long-sufierance.' And the apostle Peter having declared the second
142 EXPOSITION OP
coming of Christ, thence infers, ' What manner of men ought we to be in
all godly conversation,' 2 Pet. iii. 11. And indeed, meditation of the prin-
ciples of religion will inform us well in the manner of our duties, as in the
nature of them ; and thus shall we be fruitful in particulars, according as
our meditations are directed, though the principal matters and objects of
our meditation are but few.
Thirdly, This hope and expectation will stir us up to pray for the con-
summation and bruK/iuff to j^ass the performance of all those promises ivhich
are to he performed before the coming of Christ, as that the gospel should be
preached in all places ; that the conversion of the Jews might be hastened,
and the downfall of antichrist might speedily come to pass. And this hope
will also encourage us and put us forward, that in our several callings and
standings, we should help on the performance of them as much as is in our
power to perform, by helping on the building of the church and the en-
largement of Christ's kingdom, and the confusion of his enemies.
Lastly, This hope will ivork in us a sweet and comfortable carriage in all
estates and conditions, carrying us through all imp)ediments with courage.
For ' yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not
tarry,' Heb. x. 37, and he will come full handed. ' My reward is with me,'
saith Christ ; and lest we should think it long before he comes, he told us
long ago that those were the latter days, and that the ends of the world
were then come upon them. Do men, then, molest us, persecute, and vex
us ? Let us be comforted. He comes that will tread all our enemies
under our feet. Do we find that we have but short spirits, that our graces
are but weak ? Let us not dishearten ourselves. He that keeps heaven
for us will give us necessary graces to bring us thither. If we want, go to
the God of faith and love. He hath promised to give us his Spirit, to make
all grace abound in us, never to leave us nor forsake us till he hath per-
fected his work, in setting us with him in glory.
But to proceed to the object of this expectation, it is Christ who is
described unto us by the Saviour, whom he calls also Jesus, which, signi-
fies a Saviour; and this he doth to impress it the deeper into his affections.
Quest. But some may say, Christ hath saved us already. What need is
there, therefore, of his second coming ?
A71S. I answer. It is to perfect our salvation. For redemption of our
bodies and glorious liberty are reserved to his second coming. We look
not that he should die any more, but appear as a Lord of glory in glory,
without humiliation for sin, having already gotten victory of it.
Doct. The observation is, that Christ is a Saviour, and the Saviour by way
of excellency. He saves all that are of his mystical body from all evil, and
preserves them to all good. He saves their bodies and their souls now
from the power of all evil, and hereafter he will free them from all evil. He
is the everlasting Saviour. While we live here his blood runs continually.
This is the 'fountain opened for the house of Judah for sin and uncleanness,'
Zech. xiii. 1. In it are we cleansed from the guilt and damnation of sin.
What would we have more ? * We are kept by faith to salvation,' 1 Peter
i. 5. Let this raise up our souls. Are we swallowed up with the sense
of any misery ? Let us know that we trust a Saviour that is every way
absolute, that invites those that are sick with sin to come unto him ; and
* how can we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ?' Heb. ii. 3. Away,
therefore, with all popish conceits of meriting by our works. All glory
must be given only to his mercy ; all that he did for us was to the glory
of his grace, Eph. i. G.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 21. 143
Lastly, This should comfort us ivhen ive think of the last day, to think
withal, that he shall be our judge that is our Saviour, and therefore should
cast away all terror from us, knowing that our head will not destroy his
members, but that he our husband being a great king, will also crown us
his spouse with a glorious crown. Therefore, when we see the foregoing
eigns come to pass, ' let us lift up our heads, knowing our redemption
draweth near,' Luke xxi. 28.
To go on, in the next place : Christ is not only our Saviour, ' but he is
our Lord,' wherein we may see the apostle's Christian wisdom. Ho useth
such titles as may most of all strengthen his faith and afiection of the pre-
sent meditation, which being a point of the resurrection, a thing seemin"
contrary to reason, to flesh and blood, he strengthens himself in this con-
sideration, that he ' is the Lord,' who hath all power and authority com-
mitted to him. Mat. xxviii. 18.
Secondly, He is Lord by title of redemption, so as we are no more our own,
but his ; for he hath bought us with a price.
Thirdly, He is Lord of the world, and of the devil by conquest, Heb. ii. 14.
Fourthly, He is Lord over his church by marriage. He is our husband,
governing his church with sweetness and love.
He is also the Lord by way of excellency above others, depending on no
creature. He is ' Lord of lords.'
Secondly, He is Lord of body raid soul and conscience, punishing with
terrors here and damnation hereafter.
Thirdly, He is Lord eternal. He endures for ever, and cannot die.
Fourthly, He is such a Lord as cannot abuse his authority. He cannot
tyrannise. His grace and virtue are of equal extent with his power.
Fifthly, He is a holy Lord. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth,
that is. Lord of hosts, Kev. iv. 8.
In all these he is far above any earthly man, yea, above all creatures.
And therefore it is a sweet estate to be under government and rule. They
then that are lords here on earth must consider, thouyh they rule and are above
others, yet they are under the Lord. Thus did Joseph. Therefoi'e they must
rule, ' but in the Lord.' It is his will that must rule their wills.
Secondly, This should comfort Christians, that they have such a Lord as
is Lord of angels, at whom the devils tremble ; whom storms, winds, seas,
sickness, death, and all creatures do obey. Yet we cannot challenge this
comfort, but upon condition of our obedience. The apostle joins Lord and
Saviour together, to shew that he is a Saviour only to those that take him
for their Lord to govern and rule them. As he is our priest, he must also
be our king. He comes by water to purge and wash us, as well as by blood
to sutler for us. The wicked 'they will not have this man rule over them,
but they shall not say nay. God will be a Lord over them, ruling by his
power ; with a rod of iron he will bruise them in pieces, none shall deliver
them. If we will avoid this miserable estate, let us make him Lord in us.
Thus shall we crown him, and then he will crown us with himself.
VERSE 21.
Who shall change our vile body.
The words are plain, and shall need no exposition ; therefore we will
briefly come to the doctrines.
Doct. 1. And first, We may observe hence that our bodies are base ; and
144 EXPOSITION OF
thus are the bodies not only of wicked profane men, but of the servants and
dearest children of God ; all are vile. And that in these respects.
First, In life our original is base. We are dust, and to dust we must
return, Gen. iii. 19 ; and our continuance is full of change, subject to
diversity of estates, sickness, health, pain, ease, hunger, fulness. And
base we are, because we are upheld by inferior creatures. We enter into
the world by one way, but go out by divers deaths ; some violent, some
more natural, and by divers sicknesses loathsome to the eyes, to the
nostrils, and especially when we are nearest our end, whenas our counte-
nance is pale, our members tremble, all our beauty is gone. But after we
are departed, so loathsome is this our carcase, it must be had out of sight ;
yea, though it be the body of the patriarch Abraham,* Gen. xxiii. 4. For
as the body of man is the best temper, so the corruption thereof is the
most vile. The best couutenauces of the greatest personages are the most
ugly, ghastly objects of all others, by so much the more, by how much they
were the more excellent ; so much the greater is their change. And yet
are we not to conceive of this body so as though there were no glory
belonging to it ; for, first, it is God's workmanship, therefore excellent, and
so excellent as the heathen man Galen, being stricken into admiration at the
admirable frame thereof, breaks out into a hymn in praise of the Maker (bb).
And David could not express it, but says, ' I am wonderfully made,' Ps.
exxxix. 14. God made this his last work, as an epitome of all the rest.
Secondly, We are told that we owe glory to our bodies ; and therefore we
are bidden that we should not wrong our bodies ; and the Scripture speaks
infamously of self-murderers, as of Judas, Saul, Ahithophel. They are
branded M-ith a note of shame and reproach. And God, to shew the respect
we owe to our bodies, hath provided to every sense pleasing recreations, as
flowers for the smell, light for the eyes, music for the ear ; to be brief, he
made all things for the bodily use of man.
Thirdly, These bodies of ours are members of Christ, redeemed and
sanctified temples of the Holy Ghost, as well as of our souls. And there-
fore we must take heed, v/hen we read of the base teims that are given to
the body, that we do not mistake. For it is true in regard it keeps the soul
from heaven, it is the grave of the soul ; but indeed it is the house, the
temple and instrument of the soul. But being misused, it proves an unto-
ward dark house, an unwieldy instrument.
We are to take heed, therefore, of the error of those who afflict it by
writing and declaiming against it, or by whipping]of it, when, alas ! it is the
sin of the soul, the unruly lusts and affections, that are the causes of all
rebellions in us ; and if the body doth rebel, as often it doth come to pass
since the fall, this proceeds from the corruption of the soul yielding to the
body aid to serve the lusts ; and God hath appointed a religious abstinence
as a means to tame such lusts and weaken them, which it were to be wished
were used oftener than it is.
Quest. But it will be said, Are the bodies of Christians base, for whom
Christ shed his most precious blood ?
Ans. I answer, While we live here, we are in no better condition than
others, as concerning our bodies. Hezekiah is sick ; Lazarus hath his
sores ; David and Job troubled with loathsome diseases ; and thus it is
fitting it should fare with us.
For, first, Christ laid us this example. He took our base, ragged nature
on him. He hungered and thirsted, was pained, and death had a little
* Qu. 'Sarah'? -Ed.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VEK. 21. 145
power over him. And shall we desire a better estate than our master, onr
head, had? or do we ever think to partake with him in happiness, that will
not partake with him in his mean estate ? The decree of God is, that to
dust we must, as all the rest of our fellow-saints and servants shall.
Secondly, Hereby God doth exercise our faith and hope ; causing us to
look and expect a better resurrection ; and by this means are our desires
edged to a better life, for else would we set up our rest here, and make this
our paradise.
Thirdly, As yet there is sin in us ; from the danger whereof, though we
be delivered, yet there is a corruption that remaineth behind in us ; and
by this he will teach us the contagion of sin, and teach us to see how the
devil hath deceived us, by the effects thereof bringing pain, torment, and
loathsomeness.
Fourthly, It shews God's ivisdom in vanquishing sin hij death, which is
the child of sin ; for by it shall we be purged from sin, from corruption
both of body and mind, and thus is our base estate made a way to our
excellent estate hereafter.
We must therefore moderate our affections to the best things of this life.
Health is changeable, and will not continue. Beauty is a flower of a stalk.
The flower quickly fades away and perisheth. The stalk that is more base
continues longest. Flesh is grass, either cut down by violent death ; or if
by age, the longer it lives the baser it is, and increases continually therein
till death, whenas it is most base.
It is therefore foolish for any to swell hecause of beauty or strengtli, which
at the best are but curious- excellencies of a base body ; and far more sottish
are they that think to resist old age and God's decree, by trimming up and
painting a withered stock. This is not the way to conquer vileness. But
if we will be rid thereof, labour for the meat that perisheth not, John vi. 27
But that which maketh us endure to everlasting life is, with Mary, to choose
the ' better part, that shall not be taken away.' ' Meat for the belly, and
the belly for meat : but God shall destroy both the one and the other,'
1 Cor. vi. 13.
And let this be as a cooler, to quench the base wildfire of love ; and con-
sider what is it we so affect.f It is but beautiful dust, a painted sepulchre,
a body that after death will be vileness itself, that while it breathes it is
full of rottenness, the matter of worms, supported it may be by a carrion
soul, that whether it willeth or nilleth+ must leave it and go into a far worse
place.
And contrarily, in the last place, it should teach us to he at a jjoiiit,^
cheerfulhj to honour God by sacrificing ourselves to him. irhen he calls for us.
Count it no shame with David to be vile in the eyes of men for God's cause.
If the worst could be imagined, which cannot be, we had as good perish
with usage as with rust. But this is the only way to be glorious, to avoid
vileness, even to sacrifice our bodies and all in a good causa. What though
the world esteem vilely of us, as good for nothing but the shambles, Rom.
viii. 3G ; shall we fear them ? No. Fear him that can destroy both body
and soul. It is better to go to heaven without a limb, than io go to hell
■with a sound healthful body. Therefore when temptations of tae world do
begin to provoke thee, say to thy flesh with Bernard, Stay thy time ; the
time is not yet to be happy (cc).
And therefore, to conclude, our soid is but a stranger here ; ive must enter-
« That is, ' nice.'— G. t That ig, = willeth not.— Ed.
t That is, 'choose,' 'love.'— G. § That is, = a resolution.— G.
VOL. V, K
146 EXPOSITION OF
tain it tcell into this house of on)- body. It is but a guest, use it not basely.
It is no ill guest. It gives us sight, taste, speech, motion. When it goes
away, our body is but a dumb, dull, base lump of earth. Nay, when it is
gone, whilst the body is in the ground, the soul having a most vehement
and earnest desire to be knit to it again, puts God continually in mind of
raising it up at the last day of the general resurrection, and of glorifying it
in a holy, eternal, and happy estate.
2. Secondly, Out of the words we may observe, that these rile bodies of
ours shall be chaiu/ed. This we receive as an article of our faith ; and yet
were it believed truly as it ought, it would work a strange alteration in the
minds and manners of men, contrary to that they are now; and howsoever
it is not embraced, yet it remains a grounded truth, that these bodies of
ours, sown in corruption, shall rise incorruptible, 1 Cor. i. 15. It was
foretold in way of consequence in paradise ; for the head of the serpent
could not be broken but by conquering death, which is the last enemy.
It was figured out unto us in Aaron's dead sear rod that budded, and
Jonah's deliverance out of the belly of the fish, where he had been three
days and three nights. It was believed of all the fathers, Heb. xii. 1, seq.
And for security before the flood Enoch, and after the flood Elias, were
taken up in their bodies.
And besides, it is not contrary to reason. I do not say that reason can
reach unto it. For Christ he is alive still. The dust whereof we are made,
and whither we go is preserved. It is not annihilated. And why cannot
Clirist raise a body out of the dust, as at the first make it out of dust.
Why should he not be as able to quicken dust now as at the first ? and
especially, seeing the soul is reserved in heaven to this end, till the day of
his second coming.
Nay, it is not contrary to the course of nature. We see every year sum-
mer comes out of winter, day out of night, youth out of infancy, man's
age out of youth. And the apostle in the Corinthians, ' Thou fool, the
corn is not quickened except it die,' 1 Cor. xv. 36. Nay, we see what
strange changes are daily wrought by art ; and shall we think God's
almighty power cannot work far more strange eflects ?
Use. The use therefore is to instruct us if we believe that Christ shall
change these vile bodies, then sure the same bodies shall rise that died ; for
chanr/e is of qualities, it abolisheth not substances. And therefore Job's
confidence herein is remarkable. Job xix. 26, ' Whom I shall see for my-
self, and mine eyes shall behold,' speaking of Christ; so is it, 1 Cor. xv.
63, ' This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put
on immortalit}^' and the ancient creeds had, credo resurrcctioncm. carnis hnjns.
Secondly, It is very unequal that one body shoidd honour or defile itself,
and another body should be honoured or damned. It is comfortable there-
fore to us that love our bodies and honour them, that they shall rise again
and we shall enjoy them for ever.
Thirdly, Christ our surety he raised the same body that was crucified ; and
therefore the same bodies here that fulfil the measure of the sufferings of
Christ here, shall partake of his fulness in glory.
Use 2. A second use is for comfort. Is this a life of changes ? Let it not
daunt us, but know they are all to end in glory, and they all tend to bring
us thither. We ever change for the better, and the last change of all is
the best of all. And therefore let us endure these changes with a light
heart.
Use 3. In the third place, Who is the author of this change in us ? The
PUILIPPIANS CHAP, in, VER. 21. 147
text saith that * Christ shall chanf^e iis.' John vi. 39 and 40, ' I will raise
them up at the last day,' saith Christ, of those that know him and believe
on him. He is furthermore our head. Now we know the body must be
conformable to the head. If it be crowned the body is crowned ; and
therefore, Rom. viii. 11, the apostle saith, that if the Spirit dwell in us
that did dwell in him, the Spirit that raised him up will raise us up also.
Tliirdl}^ Christ is a icliole Sarioio: He therefore will raise up our bodies
as well [as] our souls ; for he is the Saviour of both. He hath delivered
both from hell ; he will raise up both to heaven.
Fourthly, He is the second Adam. As we did bear the image of the first
Adam in corruption, so must we bear the image of the second Adam in
glory.
Fifthly, He is the seed of the ivoman, that must break the serpent's
head ; and therefore he must work this change.
Sixthly, Christ changed his oivn hudy, being burdened with all our sins ;
and therefore, as an exemplary cause, shall much more raise us up. For
sin being once overcome, which is the sting of death, what can keep us in
the grave ?
Use 1. Let this strengthen our faith in the consideration that we have
such a strong Saviour, that nothing shall be able to separate us from his
love, nor to take us out of his hand.
Use 2. Secondly, Malce it a ground hoio to direct us how to honour our
bodies; not making them instruments of sin against him, but so to use
them, that we may with comfort and joy expect and desire his coming to
change these vile bodies.
Use 3. Thirdly, Let us labour to assure otirselves of our parts in this
change, in this resurrection. This we shall know ii we find Christ's Spirit
in tcs. The same Spirit that raised up him, if it be in us, will raise us up
also, Rom. viii. 11. For the first resurrection is an argument of the
second ; and he that finds his understanding enlightened, his will pliable,
his affections set upon right objects, w^ill easily believe the second resur-
rection of his body. Secondl}'', If tve hope for this change, and so hope
that we are stirred up thereby to fit ourselves for it, to cleanse ourselves.
Thirdly, If we grotv in grace, 2 Pet. iii. 18, it is a sign that we have an
entrance into Christ's kingdom ; for Grod doth ever honour growth, with
assurance of a blessed estate.
Use 4. Fourthly, Tliis should comfort us in time of death, considering
we lose nothing but baseness, and our bodies are but sown in the earth ;
and this dcpositum which God committeth to the fu'e, air, earth, and the
water, they must render up again pure and changed by Christ. And,
therefore, it was a foolish conceit of the heathen to burn the martyrs'
bodies, and to cast their ashes into the water, thereby to put them out of
hope of their resurrection, not knowing God is as able to raise them out of
fire and water as out of earth.
Use 5. Fifthly, This ought 1o administer comfort to ?/s at the death and
departure of our friends out of this life, knowing that they are not lost ; that
the earth is but a house and a hiding-place for them to sleep in ; and that at
length God will not forget to raise them up with the residue of his saints.
He will change them, and make them like his glorious body ; and this was
the use made by the apostle, 1 Thes. iv. 18.
Use 6. And lastly. Pray to God to teach tis to number our days, so as we
may apply our hearts to wisdom, Deut. xxxii. 29.* But when is the time
* Qu. <P3. xc. 12'?— G.
148 EXPOSITION OF
of this blessed change ? It is not laid down, only it is implied by the word
* shall,' that the time is to come. But out of all (Question it is meant at the
last day, and not before.
First, Because all are to he r/athercd torjcthcr, even those that were buried
four thousand years agone, must stay till the number be fulfilled ; and it
will make for God's glory that we should all meet together to attend on
him, with multitudes of angels, so as they cannot be perfected without or
before us, and we shall not prevent those that are asleep, 1 Thes. iv. 15.
Secondly, It is for the comfort of Christians that are weak, that the martyrs
and constant professors of Christ should be pledges of their rising, who
continually cry, ' How long, Lord ?' Kev. vi. 9.
Thirdly, God ivills that thiufjs should now he carried as in a cloud, and that
the last day should be a day of revelation ; which could not be, if before
there should be this change.
For use. This must teach us to desire that day, and pray for the hastening
thereof; till when, the souls in heaven are not perfectlj' hfi^ppy- ^or all
must be brought in before they can be made perfect. And therefore they
desire and hope for, and pray for, to be united to those bodies again, that
they lived withal, and so dearly loved.
But who are these that shall be thus changed ? The text saith, ' our
bodies ;' that is, our bodies that have had ' our conversation in heaven.'
And, therefore, those that have had no part in the first resurrection, they
shall have no part in the second. The baker and butler of Pharaoh all
shall arise and be lifted out of prison, but some to the resurrection of
life, and others to the resurrection of condemnation. But to proceed.
That tve may he fashioned like unto his ylorious hody.
So that Christ shall be the exemplary cause, as well as the efiicient
cause of our resurrection. For he is our head and our husband ; and it is
reason we should be suitable to him, and be ruled by him. He came not
to make himself like us, but us like him. He first must be a king, blessed
and anointed, and a Son. The head makes us like to him, kings, blessed
and glorious. Enoch and Elias, though before his real incarnation, yet
they ascended by virtue of his resurrection, and so shall we. They are
glorious like to him ; so shall we in his good time and pleasure.
Quest. But how ?
Ans. I answer, In these particulars :
First, As he is immortal, never to die again, so shall we. We shall be
freed from all sin ; and so, consequently, from all mortality.
Secondly, We shall be incorrupiihle. We shall have no corruption within
us or without us, as it is, 1 Cor. xv. 53. We shall be embalmed with the
Spirit, that shall cause us to remain for ever incorruptible.
Thirdly, We shall be unchanyeahle ; always the same, without sickness
of body, or indisposeduess of mind.
Then, in the fourth place, we shall be in jjerfect strength. Here we con-
tract to ourselves weakness by every little thing, as alteration of air, study,
and the like ; there the body shall be enabled to every thing. But here
we are weak, unfit, and soon weary of any duty, soon tired in prayer,
weary in hearing, so as even Moses his arms must be supported, Exod.
xvii. 12,
Fifthly, We shall have beauty and comeliness, the most lovely com-
plexion and proportion of parts. Thei-e sball be no dregs in our body: all
shall be. spent by death ; far better than after physic, which notwithstand-
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 21. 149
ing brings the body into a quiet repose. All wants shall be supplied.
What is misplaced shall be reduced into right order. And therefore, what
though we lose limbs for Christ's sake, he will not be indebted to us; none
shall go thither maimed.
Ohj. But some will say, Christ himself retained wounds after his resur-
rection, and therefore much more shall we be imperfect.
Alls. I answer, This was a voluntary dispensation. He suffered them
to appear for the faith of Thomas, not of necessity.
SixlhJi/, These bodies of ours sJiall he spiyitaal, as it is 1 Cor. xv. 53, seq.
A natural body is upheld by natural means, as meat, drink, physic, but
then shall there be no need of such things. Christ shall be all in all to us.
And again, our body shall obey the spirit. Now the body keeps the spirit
in slavery, but then shall it readily yield to every motion of the spirit.
The vbiqaitaries^ when they speak of the spirituality of Christ's body, they
would have it in all places. But they may as well conclude, because we
shall have spiritual bodies, therefore our bodies also shall be in all places
like to Christ's body. The ground of the glory of these bodies shall be
the beatifical vision, and our union with Chx'ist. If our beholding him
here in his ordinances be of such a power as to transform us from glory to
glory, 2 Cor. iii. 18, what a change shall be wrought in us when we shall
see him as he is ! And if his first coming had that power to make all
things new, 2 Cor. v. 17, much more when he cometh the second time in
glory shall he make all things new and glorious.
I'ae 1. This therefore, in the first place, should cncourarje ns in all causes
of dismay and trouble, rather than we will offend God to^lose our bodies,
knowing that we give them to God, and shall receive them again with ad-
vantage.
Use 2, Secondh'', Labour we to make our bodies instrwnents of his honour,
that honours us ; and let us honour our bodies wherein are the seeds of
immortality, and glory in so using them as that they be carried to the grave
with honour.
Us3 3. Let us also honour the bodies of the deceased saints of God, and the
places of their sepuHnre, as cabinets wherein the precious dust of the holy
saints are laid up in keeping.
Use 4. And let us not be like them without faith, that thinh the bodies
are last for ever that are cast into the grave ; like children seeing the silver
cast into the furnace, think it utterly cast away, till they see it come out
again a pure vessel.
Us? 5. And when we die, let us not trouble our minds with the discomfort-
able thoughts of iwrms, rottenness, darkness, and the like ; but with the eye
of faith let us look beyond these, on the haven whither we are going.
This made Job, though covered all over with ulcers, to say with a cheer-
ful heart, ' My Redeemer liveth, though after my skin worms consume
this flesh,' Job xix. 26.
Use 6. If ive nrint limbs to our bodies, to comfort ourselves, the resurrec-
tion will restore all things.
Use 7. Furthermore, Let us serve here tvith our best endeavours. It is
but a while, and it shall not be in vain. Is it not better thus to do and
partake of this blessed change, than to spare this vile body, and pamper it
by sacrificing all, or to employ all our time in the serving and pleasing
others ; and to that end not to care to prostitute ourselves to all manner of
* Those. who argue for transuhstantiation, or consuhstantiation, generally main-
tain the ubiquity of Christ's body. — G.
150 EXPOSITION OF
filthiness ? Wliat shall we get by these courses ? but at the resurrection
of the just, ■when we should hft up our heads because our redemption
draweth nigh, then shall we be overcome with shame, grief, terror, and
horror of conscience. But happy are we therefore, if in a good course we
can so resign up ourselves, so as to be resolute with Esther, ' If I perish,
I perish,' Esther iv. 16 ; ' if I live, I live to Christ ; if I die, I die to him,'
Phihp. i. 21. What 1 have committed to him he will keep, I am assured
thereof ; and therefore I will not offend him for any pleasure or profit
whatsoever. These resolutions had the patriarchs and God's saints, and
these made them die with comfort.
According to the working whereby he is alle even to suhdtie all things to
himself.
The word that is translated ' working,' may and doth signify power; and
so it was translated heretofoi'e, and is to be [so] meant* {dd). But the
words being plain, we will come to some observations.
Dod. 1. And first of all observe. That Christ hath a power able to subdue
all things to himself ; and this he hath by virtue of his office of mediator-
ship, and this in respect of God to reconcile and appease him. Secondly,
In respect of opposite powers to overcome all of them. Thirdly, In respect
of the persons to be saved, that he might free them from all ill, and raise
them to all happiness ; and these things requires a power that must be
above all created powers. For God could not be appeased but by an infinite
price, the blood of one that is God. And we could not be defended from
sin and hell — whose power is the greatest of all finite power — but by a
power beyond it ; and such a power as must regenerate and renew us, not-
withstanding the opposite power of the devil, and our corruptions within us,
which is a greater work than the work of our creation. And all this he
hath done. ' He hath subdued him that had the power of death, the devil,'
Heb. ii. 14. He hath subdued diseases and winds with a word, and with
a word he smote his enemies to the ground. He hath subdued all ill of
the body and mind, forgiving sins, opening our hearts, subduing our cor-
ruptions, and death hath yielded to his power. ' 0 death, I will be thy
death.'
Doct. 2. In the next place, as Christ hath this power, so he will use this
power for the good of his saints ; and this he will do because whatever Christ
is, he is for the good of his church. He is powerful, merciful, and loving
for his church's sake. And secondly. Because our bodies do require it. For
it must be an infinite power that makes the body of dust. And therefore
though Christ was the Son of God, declared from the beghming, yet it was
said he was mightily declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection
from the dead, Rom. i. 4. For from a privation to a habitf there can be
no regression by a natural course ; and therefore for our bodies to return
from dust, must be by a supernatural infinite power of one that is God.
Let those that are enemies to Christ his members consider this. Against whom
do ye strive ? even against the Almighty, who in his humiliation was able
with a word to strike his enemies to the ground ; and now being in glory,
how fearful and terrible should his power be to such ? who should learn
betimes to kiss the Son, before they perish in the midway, Ps. ii. 12. And
for his children, let them comfort themselves that are under the government
of so powerful a majesty ; for he will bruise all their enemies under them.
Nay, they are already all conquered. And let them consider of all his
* That is, ' understood.' — G. t That is, ' a having.' — Ed.
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 21. 151
promises, and apply them to his power. It is a powerful Saviour that
said, ' Come to me, all yoa that are heavy laden, I will raise you up,'
Mat. xi. 28. It is he that is able to subdue all things to himself, that
promises, ' My grace shall be sufficient for you,' 2 Cor. xii. 9. He is a
prophet, to instruct fully; a priest, to satisfy God's wrath to the. utmost ;
a king, to subdue all their corruptions. Thirdly, Let this encourage
us to set ourselves against our corruptioiis. Some there are that having a
little strove with their lusts, and finding that they have not gotten any
sensible ground against them, they as out of hope and heart sit down with
this opinion, ' as good never a whit as not the better,'* and so yield up the
bucklers. What a distrustful incredulous estate is this ! Is not he God
that hath promised ? Is he not truth itself ? Hath he said, and shall it
not come to pass ? Fear not these Anakims nor Canaanites. Depend on
God in the use of the means, and let him alone with the performance of
his promises. Fourthly, Despair of none, though never so iveak, so long as
they use the means ; for Christ hath created all by his word, he will raise
us up by his word, and will change us by his word ; and by this word he
is able to change others though never so obstinate. For so long as they
are under the word and means, they are under the arms of an almighty
power; and therefore, if any be in our power, or if we wish well to any, we
should persuade them to prize the word and to use the means. In the
next place, this is a ground of trial of our estates. Would we know whether
we are of the number of those that shall be raised up hereafter and changed ?
Then examine whether we have found this power changing us, and bringing
us to grace here ; for, Eph. i. 19, 20, the same power worketh in us to
believe, that raised up Christ. Do we then find our understandings
enlightened, our wills conformable to his will? Do we find the strong-
holds of sin in us rased, and new spirits, new thoughts, new desires in us ?
Oh, these are blessed evidences of Christ's almighty power in us, that will
raise us up at the last day.
By this means also ive may try our 'profession. Do we come by faith
and religion, with pleasure and ease ? Alas ! this is no sign of any power-
ful strong work in us. It is easy to go to church to hear the word or read
it, to receive the sacraments. Contrarily, if we find an inward change,
that our hearts are so altered as we can overrule our members contrary to
our lusts, and contrary to occasions, then ' stronger is he that ruleth in us
than he that ruleth in the world,' 1 John iv. 4. It is easy to resist a
temptation where none is. The mighty power of Christ is seen, when,
being environed with temptations, we are enabled to resist. I pray, saith
Christ, that thou should[st ] keep them from evil in the world, and not that
thou shouldst take them out of the world, John xvii. 15. If we be under
crosses, if this Spirit and power of Christ be in us, it will enable us to bear
all patiently, it will keep us from murmuring and fretting. It will^ also
convince us of our natural estate, so as we shall see evident necessity of
God's almighty power to change us. This made the apostle Paul and the
jailor to look about them for help. ' Lord, what wouldst thou have me to
do ?' And thus it will make us never to give God rest, nor Christ respite,
till that power that shall raise up our bodies do raise up also our souls, and
he shine in us by his Spirit that did bring light out of darkness, and fashion
us as in his wisdom shall be most meet.
In the next place, the consideration of God's almighty power should
teach us not to he dejected or cast down at the reports of the afflicted state
* That is, as good have no success if we are not to have complete success. — Eu.
152
EXPOSITION OF
of the cJmrch ahroad. It should bring us rather to God, to rely upon
his goodness and power, for God is ever God almighty, and the same
merciful God that ever he was ; and therefore, we should pray for the
church the more instantly, that God would give them beauty instead of
ashes. We should urge him with his promise of building up and defending
of his church, and destroying of antichrist ; and let us make the resurrec-
tion of the body a ground to strengthen us in the belief thereof, as the
return of the children of Israel from Babylon was scaled by the resurrection
of the dry bones, Ezek. xxxvii. 1, scq. ; as also the apostle, from the resur-
rection of the dead, gathereth that God by that power hath and will deliver
him, 2 Cor. i. 9, lo!
Furthermore, irheii ice are oppressed icith any extremity, though never so
yreat, by continual meditation of his jjromises, ice shoidd strengthen ourselves,
and apply them to our present estate and condition, knowing that he that
raised us out of dust will not suffer us to be buried in misery, but will with
the trial give us a gracious issue at the last, by raising up our bodies at
the last day by his almighty power, which made also the patriarch Abraham
to hope above hope. What though our helps be few ? It is no matter
what the instrument is, so as Christ is the chief worker.
In the next place. This should encourage ns to stand out stedfast in a good
cause for the truth. Do not think with ourselves, Alas ! I am but one, and
a weak, silly man : what can I do against a multitude ? Let not such
thoughts discourage thee. Think of Luther, a poor monk, who alone set
himself against the whole world, and wrought that effect that we have all
cause at this day to honour the memory of him. It is not thou, but God
in thee, that is able to confound all thine enemies ; and therefore, with
Moses, behold him that is invisible.
Yet further. This should bo observed by a Christian, as a ground of his
perseverance to the end ; for when we know we are Christians, what can
bereave us of our blessings ? what can make our faith fail ? It is God's
power that will keep us to salvation, and he that believeth shall have life,
and shall not come into condemnation, John vi. 39, 40, 44, 47, and many
other places ; and Christ, by his almighty power, sways all our life to our
building up to salvation ; and therefore in contraries we should believe
contraries, that death will work life, misery happiness, corruption incor-
ruption, and this vileness glory ; for it is God's order to work by contraries,
that his power might the more appear.
And at the hour of death, then behold him that is thus able and all-suffi-
cient ; that shall presently glorify our soul, and at length will raise up our
body also, and unite it to our soul, to partake with it in glory and happi-
ness ; that will then quit us of all sin, corruption, death, change. All our
enemies shall be trodden under our foot, and all this by his almighty power,
whereb}^ he is able to do far above that we are able to think ; and therefore
let us, with a holy admiration thereof, say with the apostle, Eph. iii. 20, 21,
' To him be glory for evermore. Amen.'
NOTES.
{a) P. G4. — ' Doublcrl. . . . Sometime for emphasis sake, as Christ did often,
"Amen, amen," and "in dying thou shalt die."' The 'Amen, amen' {a.f/,riv,
dfMrjv) is rendered by ' Verily, verily,' throughout the Gospel of John in our English
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. III. 153
Bible. Cf. i. 51, iii. 3, 5, 11, and frequently. 'Dying Ihou slialt dio' is the more
literal translation of Gen. ii. 17.
(b) P. 04. — ' The sacraments. . . . The primitive church had them every Lord's
day.' This has been matter of controversy in all sections of the church. It
fills a largo space in ecclesiastical histories. Tlic annotated editions of the Apostolical
Fathers, in the original and translations, furnish the most satisfactory materials for
a decision. Cf. also among others. Blunts ' Plistory of the Christian Church during
the First Three Centuries' ('2d ed., 8vo., 1?57) ; and on the heretical side, Dr Lamson's
' Church of the First Three Centuries' (Boston, 18G0, 8v'j).
(c) P. G5. — ' Nay, take heed of these, for so the word in the original is, " these
dogs." ' The original is rcvg y.ijvac, -which is rather ' the dogs,' == those designated.
Cf. Bishop Ellicott in loc, and for much quaint lore and vehement denunciation of
'false teachers,' Airay's Lectures in loc. (4to,, 1G18).
{d) P. G7.— ' Spira.' Cf. note qq, Vol. III. p. 533.
(e) P. G9. — ' Bellarmine saith that their government was carnal, . . . but it is
carnally spolcen of him.' The reference is to the Mosaic ritual and service, which
Bellarmine empties of their spiritual significance.
(/) P. 80. — ' Bucer.' Martin Bucer, born 1491, died 1551, an eminent Eeformer.
{g) P. 80.—' Luther.' Born 1483, died 1546. Cf. note uu, Vol. III. p. 533.
{h) P. 80. — ' Peter Martyr.' That is, Peter Vermilius Martyr, a celebrated divine.
Ho was born at Florence 1500, died 15G2. Having been a professor of divinity at
Oxford, his works were early translated in England, and seem to have been very
pojiular. His name is prominent in English ecclesiastical history.
(«') P. 80. — ' Zanchius.' This is Jerome Zanchius, a famous Eeformer, born
1516, died 1590. He must not be confounded with Basil Zanchius, a contemporai'y.
{j) P. 84.—' Oh, but Bellarmine says, the prophet speaks this in the person of the
wicked' — i.e., in Isa. vi. 5. Cf. Bellarmine in loc.
{k) P. 84. — ' Their own aiithors agree hereunto: as Ferus.' By Ferus is intended
Vincent Fcrre, a Dominican, who died 1G82. His Commentary on the Sum of
Theology of Aqiiinas fills several huge folios.
(I) P. 84. — ' Catharen, a cardinal of their own, says there is donata justitia. and
inhcerens.' Ambrose Catharinus was born at Sienna 1487, died 1553. The distinc-
tion referred to by Sibbes is found in his ' Speculum Hffircticorum et Liber dc Peccato
Originali ct Liber de Peifecta .Justificatione a Fide et Opcribus,' 1541. This remark-
able book, as well as his less known ' Disceptationes de Certitudine de Pra;destina-
tione,' &c , contains many not merely Protestant-like, but evangelical, opinions.
(m) P. 84. — ' A pope of theirs, Adrian the Fourth, saith that all our righteousness
is as the reed of Egypt, which will not only fail us if we rest on it, but will pierce
our sides.' This renowned pontiff was an Englishman, born near St Alban's. His
own name was Nicholas Brakespeare, He was pope from 1164 to 1159. It is a
pity that Sibbes has given us no clue to his authority for the sentiment.
(n) P. 84. — ' St Cyprian saith also, that he is either superbiis or stuUus, that says
or thinks he is perfect.' Kepeatedly. Cf. Indices sub vocibits.
(o) P. 85. — ' However they may brabble in schools to maintain this their asser-
tion, yet when deatli comes, they must fly those shifts, and lay hold only on God's
love.' Cf. note iv, Vol III. p. 531.
{p.) P. 93. — * Some read the words actively.' The original is iVPiS^ h aurw,
= ' be found in him ; ' but cf. Dean Alford in loc.
{q) P. 96. — ' As it is with the unicorn, who, having put his horn into the water,
&c. This and similar singular illustrations recur over and over in the Puritan and
Church writings equally, being accepted apparently as a stock metaphor. Probably
they are to be traced to the quaint translations of Pliny"s ' Natural History,' whose
infinite wonders commended the old folio to our forefathers. On the ' Unicorn,'
consult Dr Bostock's and Riley's Pliny, ii. 279, 281, and relative notes.
(r) P. 103. — 'As Cvrus did with the waters of Babylon.' Cf. note a, Vol. XL
p. 248.
(s) P. 107. — This made Cyprian to complain of his corruptions, saying they were
bred and brought up with him ; and therefore feared they would hardly give place to
grace, being but a stranger,' A reminiscence, apparently, of a sentiment in one of
his Letters.
{t) P. 110. — ' "I press forth." It is a word of vehemency, &c.' The original is
xara (TxcVov bldf/.u, on which cf. Bishop Ellicot in loc. and on ver. 12.
(m) p. 119. — ' The word " nevertheless," some read it " only." ' TX^y is the adver-
154 EXPOSITION OF PHILIPPIANS CHAP. III.
satire preposifioii here, on wliich consult the very able Treatise of Professor Harrison
on ' Tlie Greek Prepositions' (Philadelphia, 1858, 8vo).
(v) P. 123. — 'Maxima debetur puero reverontia.' This trite quotation is from
the 14th Satyre of Juvenal. The wliolo passage reads thus : —
Nil dictu fosduni visuve h;p,c liniina tangat
Intra quas puer est. Procul hinc, procul inde puellae
Lenonum, et cantus pernoctantis parasiti.
Maxima debetur i^uero reverentia. Si quid
Turpe paras, ne tu pueri contempseris annos ;
Sed peccaturo obsistat tibi filius infans.
(tv) P. 125. — ' Therefore we must not number the followers, but weigh them
aright.' The saying, which has since been so frequently in the mouths of poli-
ticians, ' Votes are to be weighed, not numbered,' seems thus to have originated
with Sibbes.
(z) P. 130 — 'Some emperors have required themselves to be so esteemed and
adored as a deity ' — e. (/., Alexander the (ireat and the Caesars.
iy) P. 130. — ' Amor tuus Deus tuus.' Of. note aa.
(z) P. 135. — ' The word translated here "for," in the former translation is "but." '
'But' is the translation by Wickliffe (1380), Tyndale (1534), Cranmer (1539),
Geneva version (1557), Rheims (1582), and, as stated by 8ibbes, 'for' first occurs
in the authorised translation of 1611. Bishop EUicott adheres to the ' for,' laying
the emphasis on the 'our.' The conjunction is yap.
(aa) P. 136. — 'Animus est ubi amat.' Another way of expressing the sentiment
of note y. Both sentiments common to the proverbs of all languages. Probably
Sibbes's reference is to a saying of Augustine, which in full runs, Anima magis est
ubi amat quam ubi animat.
(bb) P. 144— 'As the heathen man Galen, being stricken into admiration at the
admirable frame thereof, breaks into a hymn in praise of the Maker.' Galen styles
a portion of his great work, Ui^i %g£'a; tw^ jmo^imv, a hymn to the Creator ; calling it,
'liohv Xoyov, ov gyu rov di^fj^iovpyyidavrog ii/jjCtg ufivov aXrjdivhv cuvTid'/j/M' '/.al
vo/jc/^w tout shui TTjv ovTug ivGiZiiav, ov^i u rau^uv Ixaro/MQag avrov nrap^itoKKag
xaTaH'oscctijjV, &c. (Lib. iii. cap. x.). Also, at the close of the whole work, he
describes it as an £'!TO}bog, such as the priests sing at the altars of the gods.
{cc) P. 145. — ' Say to thy flesh with Bernard, " Stay thy time." ' A very frequent
saying with this father. For many extraordinary quotations shewing how Bernard
would have the ' flesh ' denied, and how caustic he could be against the luxuries of
his age, see the recent ' Life ' by Morison (1863).
{dd) P. 150. — ' The word that is translated " working," may and doth signify
" power." ' The original is xam rriv hs^ysiav, on which cf. Calvin in loc. for admi-
rable exegesis. G.
THE EEBEMPTION OF BODIES.
THE REDEIVIPTION OF BODIES.
NOTE.
' The Redemption of Bodies ' forms one of a volume of sermons called ' Evangeli-
cal Sacrifices,' published in 1640, 4to. It is given here as being related to the
preceding ' Expositions ' of portions of Philippians. The separate title-page will be
found below ;* and as this is our first contribution from ' Evangelical Sacrifices,' the
general title-page is also given here,! and the epistles dedicatory and prefatory
of the entire volume, for after reference. G.
*TnE
EEDEMPTION
OF
BODYES.
In one Funerall Sermon upon
Phil. 3. 21.
By
The late Learned and Reverend Divine,
Rich. Sibbs:
Doctor in Divinity, M^ofKATUEKiNE Hall
in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher
to the Honourable Society of
Geayes-Inne. j.j
1 Cor. 15. 44. 4
It is sowne a naturall Body, it is. raised a spirituall
hody.
London,
Printed by E. Purslow, for JST. Bourne, at the Roy-
all Exchange, and R. Harfordiii the gilt
Bible in Queenes head Alley, in Pater-
Noster-Row. 16 39.
t EVANGELICALL
SACRIFICES.
In xix. Sermons.
1. Thanhfull commemorations for Gods mercy in our
great deliverance from the Papists poivder plot.
2. The successefull seeker.
3. Faith Triumphant.
4. Speciall preparations to fit its for our
latter end in four e Funerall Sermons.
5. The faithfull Covenanter.
6. The demand of a good Conscience,
7. The sword of the wicked.
BY
The late Learned and Reverend Divine,
RiCH.SlBBS.
Doctor in Divinity, M": of Katherine Hall in
Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher to the Honou-
rable Society of Graycs-Inne.
The 'third Tome.
Published and perused by D. Sibbs owno appointment, subscri-
bed with his hand to prevent imperfect Copies after his decease.
Romans 12. 1.
/ beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that yee present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
LONDON,
Printed by T. B. for N. Bourne, at the Royall Exchange, and
R. Harford, at the guilt Bible in Queenes-head Alley, in
Pater-noster-Row. 16 4 0.
TO THE EIGHT HONOUEABLE
EDWAED VISCOUNT MANDEVILE,
AND HIS
LADY ANNE, HIS PIOUS CONSORT,
INCEEASE OF GEACE.*
Eight Honoueable,
A pious Cliristian, whilst upon earth, takes bis time to do his
task. He is or would be all in grace and all to duty, well knowing that
* the time is short,' 1 Cor, vii. 29, the work great, the wages sure ; and
that the best impro^'ement of parts and talents will bring in the Master the
greatest advantage, and himself the present and most lasting comforts.
This is the fruit of a well-led life, to advance God in glory and a Christian
in comfort. Such as serve God in fulfilling his will, must to heaven carry
their graces with them, enter into their Master's joy, &c.; if they be
eminent in profession or public in place, leave behind them their example
or some other monument to the world of their fidelity in their places.
Happy such servants that can thus employ their times and improve their
talents. This was the endeavour of that shining and burning lamp Dr
Sibbs, the author of this work, which I now make bold to present unto
your honours. Such holy and useful truths were delivered by him in his
lifetime, that the judicious conceive may prove very profitable unto the
church being published after his death. I conceive thus of the man, what
he did in his ministry in public, or in his conference in private, it was
done aptly, pithily, and profitably ; his art was to hide his art, est celaro
artem, dx., to say much in few words. He did not desire to cloud his
matter from his hearers, or to walk so long about any one text till errors
were vented, or his auditors tired. You shall find him to be himself, and
one constant to his own principles, all along the treatise. Here you have
no new errors broached, or old truths deserted, but opened, maintained,
and honoured, the glory of teachers, expectation of hearers, and recompence
* Cf. note, Vol II. page 3.— G.
158 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
of readers. Having found this to be your honour's honour, and let it still
be, to content yourselves with humble knowledge, cordial respect, and vital
expressions of received truths ; that you are not in number with those that
change their judgments, and I fear their religion, as they do their friends and
fashions, being constant in inconstancy ; and that with you it is not truths
for persons, but persons for truth ;* I doubt not the admittance of these
sermons unto your respect and patronage. My only request is, that as the
author did honour you, so these labours of his, now made public, may be
as so many divine beams, holy breathings, and celestial droppings, to raise
up your spirits to hate the dominion of the beast, to help forward the ruin
of mystical Jericho and all other unprosperous buildings and builders ; that
3'ou may become successful seekers, gaining faith triumphant, to acquaint
you with the hidden life ; that at length you may obtain the redemption of
your bodies, knowing that Balaam's wish is not enough, unless the faithful
Covenanter take you into covenant with himself : this alone yielding to you
the demand of a good conscience, which shall be your defence against the
sword of reproach. t These I leave with you, and you with God, and rest
Your honour's at command,
John Sedgwick. J
* Non ex pprsonis probamus fidem, sed ex fide personas. — Tertullian Apolog.
t Cf. note, Vol. IV. page 492.— G.
X It will be noticed that Sedgwick ingeniously brings together here all the sub-
jects of the several sermons in the volume. Cf. title-page, ante, 156. — G.
TO THE READER
So precious the remembrance should be of God's thoughts of mercy to
US-ward, when he dehvered us from that helhsh plot of the Gunpowder
Treason, that if there were nothing else to commend this treatise to us,
the first sermons here presented to us, which were preached upon that
occasion, may justly procure it a ready and hearty welcome.
When God works such wonders for a church and people as that was,
it is not enough to praise God for the present, and to rejoice greatly in
the great salvation he hath wrought for them ; yea, the more a people
are in such a case affected for the present, the more inexcusable they
must needs be if afterward they slight and disregard it, and that because
their former joy proves they were thoroughly convinced of the greatness
of the mercy, and so discovers their following ingratitude to be the more
abominable ; whence it was that when Jonathan put his father Saul in
mind how David killed Goliah, and thereby had wrought a gi'eat deliver-
ance for them (to the end he might no longer seek his ruin, that had been
the means of so much good to God's people) ; withal he wished him to
consider that he himself stood by, an eye-witness of that noble exploit
of David's, and was then mightily affected with joy when he saw that
formidable giant fell under his hand : ' Thou sawest it,' saith he, ' and
didst rejoice,' 1 Samuel xix. 5, intimating how inexcusable it would be if
he should forget that deliverance, concerning which himself had been so
wondrously affected when it was done.
As therefore we have great cause to bewail the general decay of men's
thankfulness for this great deliverance ; at the first discovery of that cursed
plot, ' Our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing,'
Ps. cxxvi. 2, all the land over, and every man could say, * The Lord hath
done great things for us, whereof we are glad,' as Ps. cxxvi. 2, 3 ; and yet
now scarce one amongst many is afl'ected with it, as in former times ; so
have we also great cause to bless God for the hol}^ alarms of God's watch-
men, whereby they have endeavoured to stir up those that are fallen from
their first joy ; and so amongst the rest for these of Keverend Dr Sibbes, the
author of them, wherein he hath so feelingly set forth the misery of that
antichristian bondage, from which we were delivered in that deliverance,
that methinks he that reads them with due care must needs find his heart
rousing up itself, as Deborah did : ' Awake, awake, Deborah ; awake,
awake, utter a song,' Judges v. 12.
As for the other sermons, which, in this third tome, be styled Evangelical
Sacrifices, which are published together with these, 3'ou shall find them no
less profitable than these, though in divers other respects. The most of
them tend to fit Christians for their latter end, a work of greatest import-
160 TO THE HEADER.
ance, and do so sweetly set before our eyes that rccompence of reward
reserved for us in heaven, that I hope many of that brood of travellers,
' the generation of those that seek God's face' and favour here on earth,
shall find them a great help to the ' finishing of their course with joy,'
and others shall be wakened that are too ready to slumber and forget
whither they are going, * to strive to enter in at the strait gate,' Luke xiii.
24, and not to content themselves with a lazy Balaam's wish ; which, reader,
let us seek from Him who only gives the blessing, to whose grace I com-
mend thee, resting still
Thine in the hearty desire of thy spiritual welfare,
Aethuk Jackson.*
Cf. Note Vol. II. page 442.— G.
%* The other sermons of ' Evangelical Sacrifices ' will be found in their proper
places in the present and subsequent volumes. Meantime, with reference to those
commemorative of the 'Gunpowder Plot,' and Jackson's remarks thereupon, supra,
the following calm words from a recently published and very masterly ' History ' of
the period may be accejitable .— ' On their reassembling (1606), the attention of the
House was necessarily directed to the danger from whicli they had escaped. A Bill
was eagerly passed, by which the 5th of November was ordered to be kept as a day
of thanksgiving for ever. [3 Jac I. cap. 1.] Tliat Act continued in force for more
than two centuries and a half, and was only repealed when tlie service which was
originally the outpouring of tliankful hearts had long become an empty form.'
[History of England from the Accession of James I. to the Disgrace of Chief Justice
Coke, 1603-1616. By Samuel Kawson Gardiner. (2 vols. 8vo, 1863.) Vol. I.
chap. V. p. 271.] — G.
THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES.
Who shall chanfje our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his (glorious
body, accordiny to the rrorkiny whereby he is able to subdue all things to
/u»iit'//.— Philip. III. 21.
The apostle was now in iirison, yet he had a spirit of gloiy resting upon
him ; for he speaks as if he were entered into heaven, as if he were there
before his time ; and therefore in chapter i., ver. 23, saith he, ' I desire
to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, which is best of all.' And ' I
account all but dung in comparison of Christ,' as he saith in this chapter,
ver. 8. And here in the former verse, ' Our conversation is in heaven ;
from whence we look for the Saviour, Jesus Christ : who shall change our
vile bodies,' &c. God reserves abundance of comforts to the fittest times,
as we see here in St Paul in this place. Now he brings in his own example
to good purpose, as opposite to false Christians and false teachers, that he
had mentioned before. ' There are many walk, of whom I have told you
oft, &c. They are enemies to the cross of Christ : that mind earthly
things,' &c., ver. 18. But saith he, ' Our conversation is in heaven.' He
regards not which way they went. He took an opposite course to the
world, and swims against the stream. As we see the stars, they have a
motion of their own, opposite to the motion that they are carried with.
So St Paul had a motion of his own, opposite to the course of the world.
' Their end is damnation,' but ' our conversation is in heaven.' A Chris-
tian hath his conversation in heaven. While he is on earth, he rules his
life by the laws of heaven.* There are alway in the visible church some
that walk contrary ways, who make ' their belly their god, whose end is
damnation.' There were some that were Christians, nay, and teachers of
Christians many of them, yet he saith, ' Their end is damnation, their god
is their belly.' Carnal Christians say. We have all received the sacrament,
&c. Alas ! we may all partake of this common privilege, and yet our end
may be damnation. St Paul looked on them with a spirit of compassion,
* I tell you weeping.' So it may be with us in our Goshen here. There
may be a spirit of castaways in many ; and in the abundance of means
there may be many dead souls. But St Paul regards not what their coarse
was, for saith he, ' Our conversation is in heaven.'
* We have here, long anticipated, the title of the racy and suggestive hook of
Eev. "William Arnot of Glasgow, ' Laws from Heaven fur Life on^Earth' (2 vols.,
1857-58).— G.
VOL. v. L
1G2 THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES.
' From whence we look for the Saviour,' &c.
That shews why his conversation was in heaven, because his Saviour was
in heaven ; and therefore his hope was in heaven : ' Where the treasure is,
the heart will be,' Mat. vi. 21. Having entered into this blessed discourse,
he goes on still : ' Who shall change our vile bodies, and fashion them like
his glorious body.' He brings it in by way of answering an objection. If
our conversation be in heaven, why are our bodies yet subject to such
afflictions and baseness in this world ? It is true they are ; but the time
shall come that Christ shall change these vile bodies of ours, and ' fashion
them like to his glorious body.' Ay, but this requires a great deal of power
and strength, and we see not how it may be. Therefore, saith he, he shall
do it by ' that almighty power whereby he is able to subdue all things to
himself.' Therefore he shall subdue death, the last enemy. He will not
do it perhaps according to thy fancy and conceit, but ' according to the
working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.' We must not
regard our weak conceits in great matters, but God's power. ' Ye err,'
saith Christ to the Pharisees, ' not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power
of God.'
St Paul then in these words, and in the verse before, sets down three
reasons why his course is opposite to the course of wicked men in his time.
1. First, My city is in heaven, and my conversation is answerable. I take
a contrary course, for I am a citizen of another city.
' 2. And then another reason is, his liojoe and expectation of a Saviour
from heaven, the Lord Jesus. Hope, and faith, which is the ground of
hope, carry up the soul where the thing hoped for is. ' Our conversation
is in heaven : we hope for a Saviour from thence.'
3. The third reason is, from the condition of the lody. However it was
now for the present, ' he shall change our vile body, that it may be like his
glorious body.'
* Who shall change our vile body.'
You see here the apostle, having set himself upon a holy and heavenly
meditation, he could not satisfy himself, but goes from point to point,
setting down his present holy conversation, grounded upon his future hope
of a blessed state to come. ' Christ shall change our vile body.' Our
bodies are vile, and our bodies. Here is the point then, that
The best men's bodies in this world are vile.
Vile in regard of the matter whence they are taken, the earth, from the
dust. The fairest body is but well-coloured dust ; base and vile from the
beginning, from the womb ; base in the whole life, base in death ; most
base after death. They are base, I say, in the beginning.
But especially, base in our life. Our bodies are base in reyard of labour.
' Man is born to labour ' — in this world — * as the sparks fly upward,' Job
V. 7. God would humble the body of every man with labour ; or else those
that have not the labour of men here shall have the labour of devils here-
after. The best body of the best saints are condemned to labour.
Vile likewise in regard of sickness and diseases, which grow out of the
body ; so that be it kept never so warm and tenderly, yet as the worms
grow out of the very wood, and consumes the wood that breeds it, so dis-
eases grow out of and come from the body. There is a fight and conflict
between moisture and heat, till the one prey upon the other and consume
it. In regard of sickness therefore they are vile bodies.
In regard likewise of disposing the soid the worst way; for take all tempers
of the body, they incline the Boul to some sin or other, to some ill dispoai-
THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES. 103
tion or other. Choler inclines it to intemperate anger, melancholy to dis-
trust and dai'kness of spirit. The sanf/ulne incHnes it to Hberty and loose-
ness, &c., pJdef/m to deadness and dulness of spirit. So our base bodies
make the soul dull. It becomes an unfit instrument, whereby the soul
cannot work as it would ; an unfit house. The body is ofttimes a dark
house ; sometimes a house that drops in with moist diseases ; a house
that lets in water, and so consumes it to rottenness. Sometimes it is a
house fired by hot diseases. It is thus indisposed, and therefore a vile
body.
A vile body likewise, that when it is thus indisposed, there is no com-
fort in the earth that can comfort it; for all the foundation of comfort
in this world is the health of this poor body. A kingdom, nay, all the
kingdoms in the world, will not comfort a man if his body be not in tune ;
and, alas, how soon is this body out of tune ! An instrument that hath
many strings is soon subject to be out of tune,* and there are many strings
in the body. How many turnings, how many instruments, doth the soul
use ! If any be out of tune, the music is hindered. It becomes an unfit
instrument. In this regard it is a vile body.
In regard likewise of the necessities of nature, this body is vile in this
world. I speak not of what comes from the body, in which respect it is
base and vile. But how many things doth this vile body stand in need
of! Man, in that respect, is the basest creature in the world. He is
beholden to the worms ; he is beholden to nature to feed him in health,
and in sickness the body needs patching up and piecing by this creature
and by that. So it is a vile body in regard of the necessities of it, in
health, in sickness, in youth, in ago. It is vile in life. I need not stand
on this.
It is more vile in death. In the hour of death, then it is base and vile
indeed. Can we endure the sight of our dearest friends ? How noisome
is their presence after death ! And the most exquisite temper f is the
most vile and noisome of all. Those that are most delicately fed, and
most beautifully faced, are most offensive ; and this is the condition of all.
That head that wore a crown, those hands that swayed a sceptre, those
brains and that understanding that ruled many kingdoms, all are subject
to death, yea, and to baseness after death, as well as those that are poorer.
And then they are vile bodies, because they are subject to all manner of
deaths. The bodies of God's saints have been cast out to the fowls of the
air. The poor martyrs, how many ways have they tasted of death ! These
bodies are subject to all manner of deaths, to variety of deaths ; therefore
they are vile bodies.
And then they are vile after death. As we were taken out of dust at the
first, so we return to dust again ; and if these bodies be not transformed
to be like the glorious body of Christ, they are most vile of all. The spirit
of despair, the spii'it of anger, that is in reprobate persons, how doth it dis-
figure their faces ! One may see their shame, their grief, their despair in
their very looks. So their bodies are most vile and dishonourable. But
I speak of God's children. I say here in this world, in regard that they
coma of parents that are miserable and sinful, ' Man that is bom of a
woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery,' Job. xiv. 1 ;
man that is born of a woman, of a weak, miserable, sinful woman. In
* " Strange that an liarp of thousand strings
Should keep in tune bo long." — Cpu-ver. — G.
t That is, ' attempered' body. — G.
IGl THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES.
this respect it is a vile body. And in all passages of our life, iu respect of
labour, and pain, and sicknesses, and diseases, and likewise for indisposing
the soul, that it is an instrument to ill. And in death itself more vile than
in life ; and after death most of all vile. So you see they are vile bodies
every way. To make some use of this.
Use 1. If this be so, considering what the condition of our body is here,
let this abate the pride of the f/reatest. Let them consider, when they look
upon their gay apparel, what doth these garments hide ? When great
magistrates and others have their pui'ple on, let them consider, what doth
this glorious garment cover ? Nothing but dust ; a vile body. Why
should we be proud then of our bodies, or of any ornament of om* body,
seeing it is a vile body ?
Use 2. Again, If our bodies be vile and base, ivhy should ice spend the
strenffth of our soids in searching to satisfy the lusts of so rile a body, and so
make our souls nothing else almost but stewards to prowl how to content,
how to clothe, and how to feed this body ? As it is the study of many
idle vain persons, almost all the day long, to give contentment to the
craving lusts of this vile body ; they make even an idol of this poor base
piece of flesh, and sacrifice the best of their thoughts, and the best of their
studies and endeavours and labours, to the contentment of it. Certainly
this is forgotten which the apostle saith here, ' It is a vile and base body.'
Use 3. Again, Is our body a vile body, a base body, as we have it
here ? Then let us not make it more vile by intemperate courses, as ivicked
persons do. They dishonour their bodies. They are vile indeed, make the
best of them we can, and they will end in dust ; but we ought not sinfully
to make them more vile and base, as many wretched persons do by their
loose and licentious courses of life.
Use 4. Again, If our bodies be vile, base bodies, while we live here, let
us not offend God for anything to gratify our vile bodies. Let us do as Joseph
did, w^hen his mistress tempted him ; he left his garment behind him rather.
So when we are tempted to any sin, let us rather leave our garments behind
us, let us leave our bodies. They are but vile bodies, let us be stripped
of them, rather than ofiend God. It is pitiful to consider how this vile
body, as vile as it is, and shall be in death, how it tyranniseth over the
poor soul, and how men wound their souls for their bodies. How many
are there that justify errors that they condemn in their hearts, to live a lazy,
idle, a full, a plentiful life. And how many do condemn those things, those
courses, and those truths, to please others, and to live a large and idle life
— which they justify in their very souls — and all to please the flesh ? It
is but a bad counsellor, a bad solicitor I say, it tyranniseth over the poor
soul. Let us not ofl"end God or conscience, to break the peace of it for
anything, to gratify this vile flesh. This I thought good to touch concern-
ing that.
* Who shall change our vile bodies.'
' Change.' The action that Christ shall exercise about them is 'change.'
Christ will * change' our vile bodies. They are vile now. They shall not
be always so ; but Christ will ' change' our vile bodies. He will not give
us other bodies for them, but he will change them in regard of quality.
For even as the great world was the same after the flood as it was before
the flood, and shall be when it is consumed by fire, it shall be a new world
for quality, but the same for substance ; so this body of ours, it shall be
the same after the resurrection for substance that it is now. It shall be
altered for quality, it shall not be changed for sub&tance. Therefore he
THK REDE^IPTION OF DODTES. 105
shall ' change,' he shall not abolish our vile hoilies. This is the action
that onr blessed Saviour will exercise upon these vile bodies ; they shall be
changed. Man is the most changeable creature in the world, for soul and
for body too.
Take him in his soul, how many states is ho in ? There is first the state
of nature in perfection ; and then the state of corruption in original sin ;
and then the state of grace in the new creature ; and then the state of glory.
So likewise he is changeable in his body. He was first taken out of the
dust. Out of the dust God made this glorious creature of man's body. He
is a painful creature, in labour, in sickness ; and then from strength he is
changed to old age ; and from thence to death, and dust ; and from dust
then he is changed again to a more glorious estate than ever he was in.
The body is made like the glorious body of Christ. He is changeable in
soul and in body.
But this is our comfort, we shall change for the best. All the changes
of our body serve for the last change ; after which, there shall never be any
more change. When they are changed once to be glorious, they shall be
for ever glorious. A blessed change, a blessed estate of a Christian ; all
his changes tend to a state that shall never change. For after these bodies
are once changed from base to be glorious, they shall be for ever glorious.
' Who.' The person that shall change them is Christ : ' icho shall change
our vile bodies.' In the person, we may consider the object and the action.
Christ shall change our vile bodies. He that made us will make us again.
He that is the image of God will refine us. He will renew us in body and
soul to be like God, to be like himself ; and he that changeth our souls in
this world, will change our bodies in the world to come. His first coming
was to change our souls, to deliver them from the bondage of Satan. His
second coming shall be to deliver our bodies from the bondage of corruption,
that is, the day of ' the redemption of our bodies,' as the apostle calls it,
Eom. viii. 23. So it is he that shall change. But of this I shall speak
more afterward.
What is the pattern according to which this body shall be changed, by
this author of it, Christ Jesus ? His own body. ' He shall change our
vile bodies,
' That it may be made like, or fashioned like, his glorious body.'
He is both the cause and the pattern ; the efficient and the exemplary
cause. He is the pattern. Our bodies shall be like his glorious body,
even as our souls are like Christ's soul. For this is certain. We are
renewed in grace, not to the image of the first Adam, but to the image of
the second Adam. We are conformed in soul to the image of Christ in
holiness and righteousness. So likewise in the body, we shall be conform-
able to the body of Christ, « the second Adam.' As we bare the image of
the first Adam in our first creation, so we must bear the image of the
second in our restoration, at the day of the resurrection. The glorious
body of Christ is the pattern of this transmutation and change.
But we must understand this, as I said, in regard of quality, and not in
regard of equality : our body shall be like his glorious body, not equal to
his glorious body. There must be a reservation therefore of difference in
heaven, between the head and the members, the husband and the spouse.
Our bodies shall be like his glorious body, not equal to it. To our capacity
we shall have full satisfaction and contentment for body and soul too ; and
they shall have security to be in that estate for ever. Therefore, though
there be a difference of glory, yet that difference is no prejudice to the glory
1G6 THE KEDEMPTION OF BODIES.
we shall have. We shall have that that is fit for us. ' Our body shall be
made like unto his glorious body.' Christ is our pattern.
Whence ^Ye see this point of divinity clear to us, that
Whatsoever is in us, both for soul and hoihj (hut here we speak of the body ) ,
whatsoever excellency is in iis, it is at the second hand.
• It is first in our head, first in Christ, and then in us. He is fii'st the
Son of God by nature. We are the sons of God by adoption. He is the
predestinated Son of God to save us, to be our head. We are predestinate
to be his members. He is the Son of God's love ; we are beloved in him.
He is full of grace : ' Of his fulness vre receive grace for grace,' John i. 16.
He rose and we shall rise, because he rose first. He ascended into heaven ;
by virtue of his ascension we shall ascend into heaven too. He sits at the
right hand of God in glory, and by virtue of his sitting we sit there together
with him in heavenly places. Whatsoever is graciously or gloriously good
that is in us, it is first in our blessed and glorious Saviour.
Therefore let 7is look to him, and be thankful to God for him. When
we thank God for ourselves, let us thank God first for giving Christ, who is
the pattern to whom we are conformed. Let us give thanks for him, as St
Peter doth, ' Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,' 1 Peter
i. 3. If he had not been his Father, he had not been ours. We cannot
stand before God of ourselves, but in one that is perfect in himself, God-
man. Therefore when we bless God for grace and glory that belongs to
us, let us bless him for giving Christ, that in him we are happy. He con-
forms us in grace here and in glory hereafter, in body and soul, to our
glorious Saviour.
And as it is a ground of thankfulness to God for Christ, so it yields us
a rule for vieditation. When we would think of anything in ourselves, let
us go to our head, to Christ, in whom we have all we have and that we hope
to have. ' Of his fulness we receive, not only grace for grace,' but glory
for glory. Of all the glory he hath, we have answerable to him ; and surely
it is a transforming meditation to think of Christ's glory, and to see our-
selves in him ; to think of grace in Christ, and of our interest in grace in
him. We must not think of him as an abstracted head severed from us,
but think of his glory, and our glory in him and by him. He is glorious,
and we shall be glorious likewise.
Again, You see here that howsoever our bodies are vile for the present,
yet they shall not be so for ever. They shall be ' glorious bodies,' like to
Christ's body. The point then is that.
As Christ is the pattern of the glory of our body, so our body undoubtedly
shall be glorious as his body is.
This vile body shall be glorious, even like Christ's glorious body. I need
not stand to prove it. I proved it before. What should this afford us ?
Then let us use them to a glorious end ; let us not use these base bodies to
base puq)0ses. Let every member of this vile body, while we live here, be
a weapon of a sanctified soul ; a weapon of righteousness ready to do good.
Let us put honour upon these bodies that shall be thus honoured ; let us
use them for honourable purposes. Let us lift up our eyes to heaven ; let
us reach forth our hands to good works. Let our feet that have carried us
to ill heretofore, carry us to the service of God ; for these very vile bodies
shall be glorious bodies. The very same eyes that have been lift up to
God in prayer ; those very hands that now are instruments of good works ;
those very knees that are humbled to God in prayer ; and those feet that
have carried us to holy exercises ; and those spirits that are wasted and
THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES. 167
spent in holy meditation : even these, this vile body that is thus holily used,
shall be a glorious body. Therefore let us use it answerably.
And labour to lay it down with honour in the dust, to leave it with a
good report to the world, considering it shall be so glorious afterward. Do
those think of this that use their bodies for base 'purposes ? whose eyes
are full of adultery, whose hands are full of rapine, whose feet carry them
to base places where they defile themselves, whose bodies every member is
a weapon and instrument of sinning against God ? How can these dare
to think of that glorious day, wherein our vile bodies shall be made like
the glorious body of Christ ? Can they hope that those hands and those
feet of that body shall be made glorious that have been defiled, that have
been instruments to make others likewise sin ? Can such a body look for
glory ? Let us not deceive ourselves. This vile body indeed shall be a
glorious body. Ay, but it must be used accordingly, unless we have a pre-
sumptuous hope.
This body shall be glorious ; this very vile body, ' this corruptible shall
put on incorruption,' the same body, as the apostle saith, 1 Cor. xv. 54. I
believe the resurrection of this body, as we say in the creed. St Paul
pointed to his own body : this body, ' this mortal shall put on immor-
tality.'
If this body shall be glorious, how base soever it be in this world, then
again let us lionour jwor Christians, though we see them vile and base, and
honour aged Christians and deformed. Alas ! look not on them as they
are, but as they shall be ; as they are in the decree of Christ, and as they shall
be ere long by the power of Christ. He will make them like his glorious body.
Let us not despise weak or old or deformed persons. These vile bodies
shall be glorious. Those that died in martyrdom, whose bodies were cast
into the fire and cast to wild beasts, &c., they shall be glorious bodies.
The Emperor Constantino would kiss the very holes of the eyes of those
that had their ej'es pulled out, that had been martyred [a) ; so even our
vile bodies, when they are used in the service of God in sufiering, they shall
be glorious bodies. Let us honour our bodies, or theirs that sufier for
Christ. St Paul made it his plea, and a ground of his confidence, because
his body was vile for Christ. ' I Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and I
bear in my bod}^ the marks of the Lord Jesus, the dying of Christ, that
the life of Christ might be made manifest,' 2 Cor. iv. 10, and Gal. vi. 17.
He carried, Christ's marks in his body, making this an argument of re-
spect, that he was a prisoner. So when any are abased for Christ's
sake, let us think these are such as shall have glorious bodies, however
they are esteemed of the world. But to enlarge the point a little fui'ther.
These bodies shall be made like the body of Christ.
Quest. Wherein shall this glory of our bodies consist ?
Ans. Especially in these six endowments. Onr bodies be now vile and
perhaps imperfect. They want a member, a sense, or a limb. Our bodies
then shall be perfect, even as Christ's body is. Those martyrs that have
been dismembered shall then have perfect bodies. Let us not be afraid to
lose a limb or a joint for Chi'ist or a good cause. If our bodies be made
vile for Christ, they shall be made perfect afterward.
Then again, our bodies then shall be beautiful. Adam in his innocency
had such a beauty in his body that the very creatures reverenced him. He
was awful to the very creatures. So the body of our blessed Saviour, nov/
in heaven, is wondrous beautiful ; and so shall our bodies be, how deformed
soever they be now. Let us not stand, therefore, upon any present
168
THE REDEJIPTIOK OF BODIES.
deformity of our bodies now with years, or sickness, or other means.
They shall not always be so. We shall have beautiful bodies.
Nay more than so, the third endowment is, we shall haxer/lorious bodies. As
we see Christ in the mount when he was transfigured, and Moses and Eliaa
were with him, his body was glorious. They could hardly behold him.
And Christ, in Kev. i. IG, he appears ' as the sun in his full strength.'
His body is wondx'ous glorious now in heaven, and so he is represented
there. If the very representation of him while he was upon earth was so
glorious in the mount, what is it in heaven ? St Paul could not endure
the hght that shined to him. Acts ix, 3, seq. So shall our bodies be like
the glorious body of Christ.
■ What a glorious time will it be when the glorious body of Christ shall
appear, and all the saints shall appear in glory ! what a reflection of beauty
and glory will there be, one shining upon another, when Christ shall come
' to be glorious in his saints ! ' Oh, the glory of the body of God's children,
it shall put down all created glory. All the glory of the sun and moon, and
all the glory of these inferior bodies, are nothing to the glory of the body of
a Christian that doth abase h : body here for Christ and the church's sake.
You see, then, these bodies shall be perfect, and beautiful, and glorious
bodies in regard of the lustre of them.
And likewise, in the fourth place, they shall be immortal bodies — bodies
that shall never die, unchangeable bodies. There shall be no alteration,
no death, no sickness. 'All tears shall be wiped from our eyes,' Kev.
vii. 17. They shall be immortal bodies, that shall never die ; as St Peter
saith, 'We shall have an inheritance undefiled, immortal,' &c., 1 Peter
i. 4. This is clear : therefore I will not stand in the enlarging of it.
In the next place. Our bodies shall be poicerfnl and vigorous. Now they
are weak, as St Paul saith, 1 Cor. xv. 43. Our bodies are ' sown in weak-
ness,' but then they shall be able to ascend and descend. They shall be
strong, even as the body of Christ, We shall have strong bodies ; as all
imperfections, so all weakness shall be taken away.
In the sixth place, They shall be sjuritual bodies ; that is, they shall not
stand in need of meat, and drink, and sleep, and refreshings as now they
do, but Christ will be all in all to them. He will be instead of meat, and
drink, and clothes. Yea, and instead of the ordinances that we stand in
need of here, the word and sacraments, he will be all in all. And our
bodies shall be spiritual in another regard, because they shall be subject to
the spirit. Whereas now, our very spirits are flesh, because the flesh
rules and tyranniseth over them, so our souls follow our bodies. The soul
of a carnal man is flesh, but then our flesh, our bodies, shall be spiritu:il.
Not that they shall be turned into spirits, that is not the meaning, but
spiritual bodies, obedient and obsequious to the very guidance of the soul,
to a sanctified and glorious soul. These shall be the endowments of our
bodies. They shall be perfect bodies ; beautiful, glorious, shining bodies ;
immortal, unchangeable bodies ; powerful, strong, and vigorous bodies,
ready to move from place to place; and spiritual bodies. They shall
stand in need of no other help, and they shall be obedient altogether to
the spirit. You see now how these vile bodies draw away our souls.
Then all imperfections shall be taken away. We shall have purged
bodies and purged souls. Thus you see wherein the glory of the body
shall consist.
Let us therefore often seriously think of these things ; and let me renew
my former exhortation : let us be content to make our bodies here vile for
THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES. 1G9
Christ's sake, that they may be thus glorious. Let us abase them in labour
and pains in our calling ; in suffering, we do no more than he did for us
first. Was not his body first vile and then glorious ? And do we think
that our bodies must not be vile before they be glorious ? Not only vile
whether we will or no, but we must willingly make them vile. We
must be willing to be disgraced for Christ's sake, to carry his death about
us, to ' die daily ' in the resolution of our souls. How was he abased
before he was glorious ! He took on him our bodies at the worst, not in
the perfection as it was created, but he took the body of man now fallen.
Again, what pains did he take in this body ! And how was he disgraced
in this body ! That sacred face was spit upon ; those blessed hands and
feet were nailed to the cross ; that blessed head, that is reverenced of the
angels, it was crowned with thorns. How was his body every way, in all the
parts of it, abased and made vile for us ! He neglected his refreshings for
us : it was ' meat and drink ' to him to do good. If he became vile for us,
if he abased his body for us, certainly we should be ashamed if we be not
content that our bodies should be made vile for him, that afterwards they
may be made like his glorious body. Away with these nice Christians that
are afraid of the wind blowing on them or the sun shining upon them, that
are afraid to do anything or to suffer anything, and so in sparing their
bodies destroy both body and soul. Consider, whoever thou art, this is
not a life for thy body. This present life is a life for the soul. We come
now to have the image of God in our souls in this life especially, and to
have in our souls the life of grace here, but the life and happiness of our
body is for this second coming of Christ, the glory of the body. This life
is not a time for the body. Do what we can, it will be a vile body : cherish
it, set it out how thou canst, those painted sepulchres that would out-face
age and out-face death, and by colours and complexions, &c., hide those
furrows that age makes in the face, they are but vile ; and age and death
will; be too good for them ; to dust they will. Why should we regard
our bodies ? This life is not for them though we be dainty of them. Let
us use this body here so as it may be glorious in the world to come. We
should suffer our souls to rule our bodies, and to do all here, that both
body and soul may be glorious after. For indeed all that the body hath
here it is beholding to the soul for. Why, therefore, should it not be an
instrument for the soul in holy things ? Doth not the soul quicken it ?
Hath it not its beauty from the soul ? When the soul is gone out of the
body, where is the life ? Where is the beauty ? Where is anything ? The
body is a loathsome carcase. Now, therefore, while the soul is in this body,
look to the soul especially, that when the soul shall go to heaven, the soul
be mindful of, and speak a good word for, the body, as Pharaoh's butler
did for Joseph ; that the soul there may think of the body, that it may
think of the pains, of the suffering ; as the soul doth, it hath an appetite in
heaven, a desire to be joined again to the body which it useth to labour in,
to pray to God in, which it used to fast in, which it used as an instrument
to good actions. Let us use it so here that the soul may desire to meet it
again, that Christ at that day may bring body and soul together to be
glorious for ever.
' That it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.'
We see here, then, that the best is to come. The best change, after
which there shall be no change, is to come. The weakest is the first, and
the second is better. The second Adam is better than the first ; and the
second life shall be better than the first. Our bodies, as they shall bo
170
THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES.
glorious, sliall be better than they were in the first creation. They shall
be glorious bodies, like unto Christ's. Oh, the comfort of a Christian !
There is nothing that is behind, nothing to come, but it is for the better.
There shall be a change, but it shall be a change for the better. A Chi-is-
tian is a person full of hope. He is under a glorious hope, under a hope
of glory of soul and body. He is alway under hope, the ' hope of gloiy.'
Therefore ' he joys under this hope,' Kom. v. 2.
' That it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.'
Quest. But how shall any Christian know that his body shall be hke to
the glorious body of Christ ?
Ans. 1. I answer. He may know it from this : The change of a Chris-
tian begins in his soul. Christ begins the change of our souls to be Hke his :
fall of love and obedience to God ; full of pity and compassion to men ;
full of industry to do good. Our souls will be like Christ's soul. First
look to thy soul, what stamp that bears. Is there the image of Christ on
thy soul ? Certainly he that hath transformed this soul to be gracious, he
will transform the body to be glorious, like his glorious body. Look to
thy soul then. If thou art the child of God by adoption, if thou hast the
spirit of adoption and grace, and findest peace of conscience and joy in the
Holy Ghost, thou mayest know thou shalt have the adoption of thy body.
Thou hast the fii'st adoption in thy soul ; thou art the child of God : know
that thou shalt have the second adoption, spoken of Rom. viii. 23, ' We
wait for the adoption of our bodies.' If thou partake of ' the first resur-
rection,' that thy soul is raised from sin, thou shalt partake of the second
resurrection at the day of judgment.
For Christ is a perfect Saviour. He saves not only the soul, but the
body. Though he begin with the soul, he ends with the body. He took
our bodies as well as our souls ; and he will glorify our bodies as well as
our souls. And if we find the work of grace a ' spirit of glory' in our souls,
undoubtedly we may know that our bodies shall be glorious.
Ans. 2. Again, Thou mayest know that thou shalt partake of this glorious
estate, that thy body shall be like the glorious body of Christ, % the use that
this body is put to. How dost thou use this vile body for the time thou
livest now ? Dost thou use it to the base services of sin ? Dost thou beat
thy brain, and thy breast, and thy spirits ? Dost thou take up thy time
and all to provide for the flesh ? Whither doth thy feet carry thee ? What
dost thou meddle with in the world ? Are all thy members weapons of an
unsanctified soul to offend God, and to ' fight against thy soul ?' 1 Pet.
ii. 11 ; to cherish lusts that fight against thy soul and against thy Maker
and Redeemer ? Then know this, that thou hast no hope of glory : ' He
that hath this hope purge th himself, and is pure as he is pure,' 1 John
iii. 3. This hope, where it is found, it is a purging, a cleansing hope ; and
all the members of the body will be used to a sanctified purpose. A man
will not sacrilegiously use those members that are dedicated to Christ ; that
are temples of the Holy Ghost ; that are fellow-heirs, as St Peter saith,
concerning the wife and the husband, 1 Pet. iii. 7. The body is a fellow-
heir with the soul, of glory. He will not use it to the base services of sin.
He that shall have a glorious body will esteem so of it here. What ! shall
I use the temple of the Holy Ghost ? That that is a fellow-heir of heaven
with my soul ! that is the spouse of Christ, a member of Christ, as well
as my soul ! Shall I use it to these and these base services ? It cannot
be. If a man have the new nature in him, he cannot. It will not sufter
him to sin in this manner. He cannot prostitute his body to base services.
THE EEDEMPTION OF BODIES. 171
Those that do so, how can they hope that their bodies should be glorious,
like uuto Christ's ?
St Paul gives three evidences in one place, to know our interest in this
glory of our bodies, in 2 Cor. v. 1. Saith he, ' We know that when this
earthly house or tabernacle shall be dissolved, we have a building,' &c.
We know we have a glorious building, a double building, heaven and our
bodies. We have two glorious houses. Heaven and these bodies shall be
a glorious house. But how do we know this ?
Saith he, in the second verse, ' We groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed
upon.' There is a wondrous desire after this clothing, Kom. viii. 23 : ' The
creature groaneth, much more we that have the first fruits of the Spirit.'
There will be a sighing for this glory, a waiting for the blessed coming of
Christ ; for Christ to redeem soul and body perfectly. That is the fii'st
sign, a desire and groaning earnestly.
In the fourth verse there is another evidence, ' He that hath wrought us
for the same things is God.' He that hath wrought us for the blessed
estate to come is God, So, whosoever hopes for a house in heaven, when
this tabernacle is dissolved, he is 'wrought' for it, that is, he is a new
creature for it. God hath wrought his soul and body for it. God fits our
souls here to possess a glorious body after ; and he will fit the body for a
glorious soul. So both shall be glorious ; a glorious soul and a glorious
body. He hath ' wrought us ' for the same. If a man therefore find the
beginning of the new creature, that it is begun to be wrought in him, he
may know that he shall partake of this glory of the body, because he is
' wrought ' for it.
The third is, ' Who hath also given us the earnest of the Spirit.' Who-
soever finds in them the Spirit of God, sanctifying their souls and bodies,
stirring them up to holy duties, guiding, and leading, and moving them to
holy actions, they may, from the sanctifying Spirit that is au earnest to
them, know what shall become of their bodies : ' He hath given us the
earnest of the Spirit.'
To confii-m this, there is an excellent place in Kom. viii. 10, ' If any man
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.' ' If Christ be in you,
the body is dead,' &c. It is a vile body : it is as good as dead ; it hath the
sentence of death already. It is dead, in regard it is sentenced to death
for sin, as a malefactor that hath his sentence. ' But the Spirit is life in
regard of righteousness.' What then ? If the sanctifying Spirit of Christ
dwell in you, ' he that raised Jesus from the dead shall also quicken
your mortal bodies.' The same Spirit that sanctifies these souls of ours,
and quickens them to holy duties, the same Spirit shall raise our bodies.
As the same Spirit that sanctified the blessed mass of the body of Christ
that he carried, and raised his body, the same Spirit that sanctifies our
souls shall raise our bodies. The Spirit of God, when he hath begun to
sanctify us, he never leaves us. He goes along in all changes, in life, in
death, to the grave, as God said to Jacob, ' I will be with thee there,' Gen.
xxxii. 28, seq. The Spirit of God he will mould our dead bodies, and make
them Hke the glorious body of Christ. The Spirit of God never leaves our
souls or bodies. Therefore, if we find the earnest of the Spirit, if we find
the work of the Spirit, or the comfort of the Spirit, which is the term the
Scripture gives, 'joy in the Holy Ghost, and peace of conscience,' together
with the Spirit sanctifying us, especially in the time of trouble, when God
sees his children have most need, they have the earnest of the Spirit, the
beginnings of grace and joy, the beginnings of heaven upon eaith. By
172
THE EEDE5IPTI0N OF BODIES.
this they may know,_ as the first fruit is, so likewise is the harvest ; as the
earnest is, even so is the bargain ; as we have it now in our souls, so we
shall also have it in our bodies and souls hereafter. These three grounds
St Paul hath, why his hope of heaven was a good hope. We groan for it,
and we are wrought for it, we are fitted for it. There is no man can hope
to be glorious in his body, but his soul must bo fitted for it. It must be
a fit jewel for so glorious a casket, a fit inhabitant for so glorious a
temple as the body shall be. The body shall be fitted for the soul, and
the soul for the body : they are ' wrought' for it. And then he hath given
us '_ the earnest of the Spirit.' What need I quote further evidences, the
Scripture being thus pregnant ?
I beseech you, often consider your desires, whether you be content to
live here alway or no, to satisfy the vile lusts of your body ; or whether
you desire ' to be dissolved and to be with Christ,' when you have done
the work that God sent you for into the world. If we be content to abase
ourselves for God here, who hath provided so much glory for us hereafter,
and when_ the time comes, we can desire to be dissolved and to be with
Christ, it is a good sign, — if we have the beginnings of the new creature,
' ye are wrought for it'— that our souls are fitted for a glorious body. We
have ' the earnest of the Spirit,' the same Spirit that sanctifieth our souls,
and that quickens our souls with joy and peace, the same Spirit shall raise
our bodies. Comfort yourselves, you that are Christians, though you be
weak, with this, that if you have but the earnest of the Spirit, undoubtedly
you shall have a glorious house, instead of this tabernacle of dust.
Christ ' will change these vile bodies, that they shall be fashioned like
his glorious body.' I beseech you, therefore, oft think of this ; think of
the time to come, comfort yourselves with things to come. In 1 Thep.
IV. 18, St Paul would have us talk one to another often of this. This
should be the matter of our conference : not only the state of the church,
and our own estate here, but how it shall be with us when we are gone
hence ; how it shall be with us world without end hereafter. We should
confer and speak, and oft meditate and think of these things.
What can be grievous, — what can be over-burdensome to that soul that
knpws it hath the pledge and earnest of glory hereafter ? How doth it
quicken the soul to any endeavour, when once we know that howsoever we
abase ourselves here, yet we shall have glorious bodies hereafter ! It will
quicken us to any endeavour, to anything for Christ. Therefore let us oft
think of our estate to come : let us set our thoughts forward to the time
to come ; let faith make the times to come present, and that will make us
heavenly-minded. What made St Paul converse as if he were in heaven ?
Faith made the estate to come present ; and hope, which is grounded on
faith, it looks to Christ's' coming to change our vile bodies. So faith and
hope they make the soul look upward, they make it heavenly-minded.
Our souls are dull, and our bodies are dull in this world, but as iron, if
it be touched with a loadstone, up it will ; so if we get faith and hope to
look forward, what shall be done to us for the time to come ! The Spirit
of faith and hope, if it touch the soul, will carry our dull bodies and our
dead souls upward.
Therefore let us cherish our faith and hope by often meditation of the
blessed estate to come, and think of these two things, of the excellent
estate of our bodies and souls then. For if our bodies shall then be glo-
rious like the body of Christ, our souls much more ; the inhabitant, which
IS the special part, the soul shall be much more glorious. Let us think oft
THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES. 173
of tliis glory as it is described in the word. It transcends our thouglits.
We cannot think high enough of it, and our interest and assurance of it.
And daily search ourselves, whether our hope be good or no, that we have
found evidence that our title is good to glory. Let us examine ourselves
by those signs I named before. Where are our desires ? What work hath
the Spirit of God in us ? How do we use these bodies of ours ? As we use
them now, we must look they shall be used hereafter. Let our tongues be
our glory now, and they shall be glorious tongues afterward to praise God
in heaven. Their bodies that have been glorious here shall be glorious in
heaven. We may read our estate to come by what we are here. Those
that carry themselves basel_y, and filthily, and dishonourably here, we may
know what will become of them hereafter. Let us oft think of the estate
to come, and of our interest in it ; and both these together, the excellency
of the estate, and our interest in it, without deceiving of our souls, what life
will it put into all our carriage ! What will be grievous to us in this world
when our souls are thus settled ? Oh, let us spend a few days fruitfully
and painfully here amongst men, and do all the good we can ; and use these
bodies of ours to all the happy and blessed services we can ! Why ? We
shall have glory more than we can imagine.
Let it comfort us in the hour of death, what death soever we die, or are
designed to. Now you know the sickness is abroad ; and alas ! those
bodies especially are vile bodies that are under the visitation : so that their
dearest friends dare not come near them. Yet let this comfort us. They
are vile bodies for a time. Put case we die the death that may hinder
the comforts of this life. Those that die in much honour and pomp, and
have their bodies embalmed, do all what the^^ can with the body, it will
come to dust and rottenness. It will be vile in death, or after death, at
one time or other ; and those that die never so vile and violent a death
for God's sake, those that die of this base death, that they are deprived
of much comfort, yet let it comfort them, Christ will transform their
vile bodies to be glorious.
They talk much of the philosopher's stone, that it will change metals
into gold. PIcre is the true stone that will change our vile bodies to be
glorious. Let us die never so base or violent a death. Let us comfort
oui'selves in our own death, if it be thus with us, and in the death of our
friends ; these vile bodies, when they are most vile in death, they shall be
made like the glorious body of Christ. Let us oft think of these things.
NOTE.
(a) P. 167. ' The Emperor Constantine would kiss the very holes of the eyes of
those that had their eyes pulled out, that had been martyred.' Cf. Memoir of Con-
stantine, witli valuable references, in Dr Smith's Dictionary of Biography and
Mythology, sub voce. G.
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
NOTE.
' The Art of Contentment ' forms the last of the sermons of the ' Saint's Cordials,
published in 1637 and 1658. It had previously been No. 1 of the first edition, 1629.
The text of 1637 is followed in our reprint. In Vol. IV. pp 75-111 will be found
a specimen of the ' various readings ' of the editions of 1637 and 1658 on a com-
parison with that of 1629. These may suffice. The result of a minute collation
shews that the edition of 1637 presents a careful revision and enlargement of ttie
anonymous, and, I suspect, surreptitious edition of 1629. Instead therefore of encum-
bering our margins, and distracting the reader with these corrections and improve-
ments of the first edition, it has been deemed better to make the edition of 1637
our text in the remainder, leaving it to those curious in such matters to compare
the other two therewith, in tbe way ' Judgment's Reason ' in Vol. IV. is exhibited.
The edition of 1637, let it be understood, represents Sibbes's cum version of his sermons,
either from fuller ' Notes,' or from a revision of that of 1629.
' For the general title-page of the three editions of ' The Saint's Cordials,' see Vol. IV.
p. 60. The separate title-page of ' The Art of Contentment ' will be found below.*
It may be proper to state, that the text of 'The Art of Contentment' now given is
less full than in the first edition, the explanation being that the suppressed passages
had been appropriated in other sermons in the intervah G.
* THE ART OF
CONTENTMENT.
In one Sermon.
_f That this Art of Contentment is a Mysterie.
That Gods Children are carried, and know how to behave
themselves in variety of Conditions.
How this hard Lesson is learned.
What Infirmities are.
The right use of them.
■{ That Christianity is a biisie trade.
The way how one is said to doe all things.
What it is to doe things Evangelically.
When a Christian can doe all things.
Why he failes when he failes.
Where his strength is.
! Lastly, The skill to fetch strength from Christ.
2 Sam. 15. 25, 26.
Then the King said unto Zadok, Carry the Arke q/ God back againe into the
Citie : If I shall find favour in the eyes of (he Lord, he will briny me again,
and shew me both it and the Taber7iacle thereof.
But if he thus say, I have no dcliyht in thee, Behold, here am I, let him doe to
me as seemeth good in his eyes.
LONDON,
Printed for R. Dawlman, at the brazen Serpent in
Pauls Churchyard. 1687.t
t The imprint of the first edition, 1629, is, ' London, Printed for Robert Dolman
in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Brazen Serpent. 1629,' and of the third,
1658, ' London, Printed for Henry Cripps at his Shop in Pope's-head Alley. 1658.'
The former has the woodcut described in note, Vol. IV. p. 60. — G.
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
I have learned, in what estate soever I am, to he content. I know Jww to le
abased, and how to abound : everywhere, in all things, I am instructed both
to he full and to he hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do
all things through Christ tluit strengtheneth me. — Philip. IV. 11, 12, 13.
The words are the blessed apostle's concerning himself, expressing the
glorious power of the Spirit of God in a strong and grown Christian, and
are to wipe away the imputation of worldliness in the apostle, serving
herein also for a pattern to all God's children, that they may learn by his
example that as they must be careful to avoid all blemishes and imputations,
so especially that of worldliness, as being most contrary to the profession
of a Christian, who hath an ' high calling,' and whose ' hope is in heaven,'
Philip, iii. 14,
The Philippians had sent Paul some relief ; and lest they should think
that he expected great matters, he tells them that he had ' learned to be con-
tent in what estate soever he was.'
It is not amiss sometimes for God's children to speak of themselves, as
Paul here as to other good ends so also to avoid false imputations in the way
of just apology,* and likewise to be exemplary to weaker Christians. Is
not the doctrine of contentment and the power of grace in all estates better
learned by this blessed example of Paul, when he speaks thus of himself,
' I have learned, in what estate soever I am, to be content : to want, and to
abound,' &c., than if he had weakly said, Be content with your present
condition ? The Scriptures be intended for practice ; and therefore it is
that there are so many examples in them, to shew the power of God's
Spirit. This is the end of Paul's speaking so of himself, ' I have
learned,' &c.
To come to the words. First, In general he sets down the poiver of God's
Spirit in him in regard of that blessed grace of contentment. 'I have
learned, in what estate I am, therewith to be content.'
And then he doih. parcel out this general into j^articidar conditions in this
same state, ' I know how to be abased, and how to abound.'
And then he ivraj^s up all in general again, ' I can do aU things,' &c.
But lest this should seem to be somewhat vain-glorious, ' I can do all
* That is, 'defence.— G.
VOL. v. M
178 THE AET OF CONTENTMENT.
tilings,' as if lie were omnipotent (in some sense, indeed, a Christian is
omnipotent), therefore he adds, ' I can do all things,' but with a blessed
correction, ' through Christ that strengthoneth me.'
' I have learned,' saith he, ' I am instructed.' It is very significant in
the original, viz., I am consecrated to this knowledge of contentment in
all estates (a). It is a learning not of great persons, or of learned persons,
but of holy persons. It is a mystical knowledge. There is a mystery in
it. For as all religion is a mystery, — ' great is the mystery of godliness,' —
not only the speculative part, but likewise the practical part of it, so
every part of rehgion is a mystery, repentance a mystery, faith a mystery,
and this practical part of contentment in all conditions is a great mystery.
And therefore St Paul saith he is instructed in it, as a consecrated person,
having in him the Spirit of God. All the degrees in this world cannot
teach this lesson that Paul had learned, ' to be contented.' He learned
it in no school of the world, not at the feet of Gamaliel ; he learned it
of Christ, and by blessed experiences in afilictions. Some graces are
reserved for some estates. He had learned patience and contentment in
variety of estates. He had it not by nature, for he saith, * I have learned.'
It is a mystical thing, not so easily attained unto as the world is fondly *
persuaded. Your ordinary Christian thinks that religion is nothing, that
it is easily learned ; whereas there is no point in religion but is a mysteiy.
There is no Christian but he finds it to be so when he sets himself heartily
to go through any religious work ; as to humble himself, to repent, to
go out of himself, and to cast himself upon the mercy of God in Christ.
Oh, will he then say, it is a mystery. There is a difficulty in this work
that I never thought of till I came to it. And so to be content with our
condition, whatsoever the case be, to bring our hearts low, it is a mysteiy.
Nature never teacheth this. It is learned in the school of Christ, and
not without many stripes. We must be proficients a good while before we
can learn to any purpose this one lesson of contentment in any condition.
But the last verse is that which I will now dwell on, wherein we may see
three things observable.
First, I'ltat God carries his cliildren in this urjrhl through varictu of con-
ditions. They sometimes want, and sometimes abound. Their condition
is sometimes more comfortable than at others. That is the first point.
2. The second is. That in this variety of conditions, as they know what it
is to iirint and to abound, so in all variety of conditions they know how to
carry themselves .
Thirdly, They know in all variety of conditions how to avoid the sins in-
cident to that condition. As there are graces belonging to every state, so there
are sins incident to every condition. And the child of God hath learned
to practise the one, and to avoid the other.
1. First, God's children know what it is to want, and to alonnd by e.rperievce.
God leads them through variety of conditions. Their estate is not always
one and the same.
Quest. Wliat is the reason of this dispensation in God thus to rule his
children, to bring them to heaven by variety of conditions ?
Sol. Among many other reasons this is one, that their yraces may be tried.
Every grace that brings a Christian to heaven must be a tried grace. He
must try his patience, his contentment, his humility. How shall these
graces be tried but in variety of estates and conditions ? And secondly. How
should we have experience of the goodness of God but in variety of estates "?
* That is, ' foolislily.— G.
THE ART OF CONTENTirENT. 170
When we find the stable, certain, constant love of God in variety of con-
ditions, that howsoever our conditions ebb and flow, be up and down, like
the spring weather, sometimes fliir and sometimes foul, yet notwithstand-
ing the love of God is constant always, and we have never so sure experience
of it as in the variety of conditions that befall us ; then we know that in
God there is 'no shadow of changing,' howsoever the changes of our life
be. Is it not a point worth our learning, to know the truth of our grace,
and to know the constancy of God's love, with whom we are in a gracious
covenant '? And then again, we learn much wisdom how to manage our
life hereby, even in the intercourse of our changes, to be now rich, now
poor, now high, now low in estate. Wisdom is gotten by experience in
variety of estates. He that 'is carried on in one condition, he hath no
wisdom to judge of another's estate, or to carry himself to a Christian in
another condition, because he was never abased himself. He looks very
big at him. He knows not how to tender* another, that hath not been in
another's condition. And therefore to furnish us, that we may carry our-
selves as Christians, meekly, lovingly, and tenderly to others, God will
have us go to heaven in variety, not in one uniform condition in regard of
outward things.
Use. Learn hence not to quarel iiiih GocVs government; for though he
alters our conditions, yet he never alters his love. A Christian is un-
moveable in regard of the favour of God to him, and in regard of sanctify-
ing grace. In all moveable conditions he hath a fixed condition. Therefore
let us not find fault with God's dispensation, but let him do as he pleases.
So he bring us to heaven, it is no matter what wav, how rugged it be, so
he bring us thither.
2. The second general thing is this. That in this variety of conditions,
God's children know how to carry themselves. As they know what it is to
want and to abound, so they know how to abound and be abased as they
should do. For there is no condition but a Christian may pick good
matter out of it. As a good artsman will make a good piece of work of
an ill piece of matter sometimes, to shew his skill, so a Christian can frame
matter that is good out of any condition ; ho knows how to want, and how
to abound, and that with the expression of graces too. He can practise
the graces that ought and may be practised in all conditions. For instance,
he can abound ; that is, with expressing the gi'aces that should be in
abundance, which is, thankfulness to God; he hath, in abundance, a spirit
of thankfulness ; he hath a spirit to be a faithful steward in abundance ; a
spirit to honour God with his abundance. He hath a spirit to be humble
in abundance, knowing all is as ' grass and the flower of the field.' He
can be humble, he can stoop under the mighty hand of God, he can have
experience in the abasement of the vanity of worldly favour, and worldly
greatness. He learns what it is, and so he can learn patience, and all
other graces that are to be practised in a mean estate. It were too long to
name particulars ; a Christian can do this. Grace is above all conditions.
It can manage and rule all estates of life. It makes them serviceable to its
own ends. A gracious man is not dejected over much with abasement ; he
is not lifted up over much with abundance, but he carries himself in a uni-
form manner, becoming a Christian in all conditions.
3. The third general thing is. He can want and he can abound, vithont
tainting himself over much with the sins of those conditions. For instance, he
* That is, ' touch,' = make tender, move, or qu. ' care for ' ? = regard. Cf.
Richardson, sub voce. — G.
180 THE AET OF CONTENTMENT.
can abound without pride, though it be a hard matter. Abundance works
upon the soul of a man. He had need to have a strong brain that digests
abundance ; it is a wild untamed thing. And we see by experience in
God's children how hard a matter it is for them to manage abundance.
We see how it wrought upon Solomon and David. They were better in
adversity, 1 Kings, xi. 1, 2 Sam. xi. 2 ; and yet notwitstanding the child
of God hath grace even to overcome the sins that are incident to abundance.
He hath grace to be lowly-minded in a great estate ; not to trust to un-
certain riches ; he knows by the Spirit of God what they are, and that he
hath an inheritance of better things in another world, which teacheth him
to set a light esteem upon all things below.
And so for dejection ; the sin that we are subject to fall into in want, is
putting forth onr hands to evil means, to shift.* God's child can learn to
want without tainting his conscience with ill courses, and then he can want
without impatience, without too much dejection of spirit ; as if all were
lost ; whenas, indeed, a Christian in a manner is rich all alike. For God
is his portion, and howsoever a beam may be took awa}^ the sun is his ;
take away a stream, the spring is his ; in the poorest estate, God all-suffi-
cient is his still ; and so in a manner a Christian is rich all alike. God
never takes away himself. Gen. xvii. 1. He knows this, and therefore he
can want, he can be abased as long as he hath the spring of all. Though
a cistern be took away, he cares not, he can want and abound without
murmuring, without dejection of spirit. Whereas those that have not been
brought np in Christ's school, nor trained up in variety of conditions, are
able to do nothing. If they abound, they are proud; if they be cast down,
they murmur and fret, and are dejected, as if there were no Providence to
rule the world, as if they were fatherless children. This is the excellency
of a Christian, that as he knows what it is to abound by experience, so he
knows how to abound with the practice of the graces, and how to want with
the avoiding of the snares that usually are in that condition.
Obj. _ But hath a Christian learned this at the first ?
Ans. No ; he learns it not very easily, nor very soon. Self-denial is the
first lesson in Christ'' s school : to have no wit of our own further than Christ's
wisdom ; to have no will of our own further than his commandment guides
us ; and he that hath learned self-denial, he is in a great way to learn this
blessed lesson of contentment in any condition whatsoever. So that every
Christian hath some degree of that, as he can deny himself. But there
are many things to be learned before we can come to carry ourselves wisely
in any condition.
For besides self-denial, we must learn the doctrine of the covenant of grace,
that God in Christ is become a Father to us, and carries a fatherly mind
to us. In what condition soever we are, he is a father still, and intends us
well, and will provide for us in the hardest condition. Having took the
relation of a father upon him, do you think that he will fail in the carriage
of a father towards us '? He is pitiful to us, he respects us in the basest
condition. He that knows God to be his father, cast him into what con-
dition you will, knows he hath a good portion.
And then we must know the doctrine of the jyrovidence of this Father, that
all shall work together for the best to those that love him, Kom. viii. 28,
want and abundance, prosperity and afflictions, whatsoever. God by his
overruling power will bring all things to this blessed issue, to help forward
the eternal good of his child. A man must know this, and divers the like
* That is, = to resort to expedients. — G.
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
181
things that are to be known, before he can learn this blessed lesson of con-
tentment. There is a venom and a vanity in everything without grace,
wherewith we are tainted ; but when grace comes, it takes out the sting of
all ill, and then we find a good in the worst. There is a vanity in the best
things, and there is a good in the worst. Grace picks out the good out of
the worst ; as God turns all to good, so grace finds good in every condition.
The Spirit of God sanctifies a Christian to all conditions, and sanctifies
every condition to him. Now, I beseech you, think of this that I have
said, which I wish without further enlargement may add to your care, and
desire to be in the happy condition of Christians. What a blessed thing
is it to be in the covenant of grace, to have God to be our father, to be in
Christ, that let our condition outwardly be what it will be, we shall have
grace to carry ourselves in it, God will go along with us by his Holy Spu-it !
What a blessed thing is it, in all the uncertainties of the world, to have a
certain rule to go by, as a Christian hath, which carries him along in all
the uncertainties in this world ! None but a Christian hath this. ' I have
learned,' saith Paul. When did he learn it? Not before he was a
Christian. This I could desire to press, but that I have other things to
speak of, to make us in love with religion, with the state of Christians, that
is thus above all conditions whatsoever, and can rule all other conditions.
A Christian is not at the mercy of the world ; his contentment is not a
dependent contentment. You may cast him into prison, you may impo-
verish him, you may labour to debase and disgrace him ; but can you take
away his comfort ? Can you take away his grace ? Can you take away
the love of God ? No ; God will rather increase all upon him. For the
best things of a Christian are not at the mercy of the world, nor at the
mercy of his several conditions. Prosperity and adversity, these are out
of him. He hath a state depending upon the good will and pleasure of
his Father, that loves him better than he loves himself, and out of lovo
will work good out of the worst condition that can befall him. So I hasten
to that which follows.
4. Having spoken in particular, then he comes to the general, wherein
he wraps up all : 'I can do all things, but in Christ that strengthens me.'
Here is,
1. First of all. The llessed apostles ahiJily, ' I can do all things.'
2. And then here is, secondly, the spring of his ahilify, ivhence he hath
it: ' I can do all things, but in Christ that strengthens me.'
In the apostle's ability you have,
1. His strength itself. 2. The enlargement of it.
' I am able.' And what to do ? A few things ? No ; ' all things.'
The point of doctrine offered is this, that a Christian man is an able man.
Whosoever hath the Spirit of Christ is an able man, and his ability is a
large ability ; he is able to do all things. Take doing in a transcendent
sense, not only to do, but take it to resist ill, to resist temptation, to sufier
aflliction, to enjoy prosperity, to break off sinful courses, and to take a new
course, to practise all duties ; for so the apostle means ' I can do,' that is,
I can carry myself in all conditions, I can express all graces, I can resist
all temptations, I can sufier all afflictions, I can do all this. What is the
reason a Christian is so able ?
1. Because, first of all, he hath a stronger and abler spirit than his aim.
The Spirit of God is a spirit of strength, 2 Tim. i. 8. It is_ the Spirit of
power, which is the soul of his soul, and the life of his life. Now the
strength of a man is in his spirit. The stronger spirit makes the abler man,
182 THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
and the Spirit of God being the strongest of spirits, indeed the strength
of spirits, it makes a Christian in whom it dwells the ablest man.
2. And then again, A Christian is a new creature ; therefore he is furnished
with abilities fit for the new creature. "When Adam was created he was
endued with all graces fit for an entire state. As when God made heaven
he made stars to beautify heaven ; when he made the earth, he made trees
and flowers ; so, when he made man, he furnished him with graces, and
fitted him for that estate. Now after the fall, when God brings a man in
Christ to be a new creatui-e, he hath abilities to furnish him for that new
condition.
3. And then again. Even/ particular fjrace of the new creature is a grace
of strength. As the Spirit is a strong Spirit, so the spirit of love is as
strong as death, it hath a ' constraining power,' 2 Cor. v. 14. The Spirit
of God is so strong in his children, that are truly his, that it makes them
even with willingness to lay down their lives, that is dearest to them in
this world. Here is a sweet kind of tyranny in the affection of love, that
will carry a man through thick and thin, through all, and that with pleasure,
willingly and comfortably too ; as the apostles were glad to suffer anything
for Christ's sake, their hearts were so enlarged with a spirit of love. The
spirit of faith it is a strong and mighty spirit, an able spirit. It conquers
God himself, as Jacob wrestled with the wrestlings of God, and by the
strength of God overcame God, Hosea xii. 3, 4. And the woman of Canaan
overcame Christ by the strength she had from Christ, Mat. xv. 28. In the
sense of God's displeasure it will believe God's favour in Christ, and is able
to break through the thickest clouds of discomfort whatsoever, and to see the
loving face of God. In a base condition it can struggle with God, saying
with Job, ' Though he kill me, yet will I trust in him,' Job xiii. 15. It is
a strong grace. Faith prevails with almighty Gocl. It prevails in all
inferior conditions whatsoever. You see the fruit and strength of all graces
is attributed to faith, Heb. xi. 33. By faith they overcame, by faith they
were strong, and did this and that ; insinuating that faith is not only a
strong grace in itself, but it gives vigour and strength to all graces. And
so we see love, 1 Cor. xiii. 4, it is not only a strong grace, but the office
of other graces is attributed unto it. It suffers long, which is the office of
patience. What should I speak of other graces, these radical and funda-
mental graces being of such force ? Now every Christian in some measure
hath a spirit of faith and a spirit of love, and these are very strong, to
carry him through all estates and conditions ; and that with such glory and
lustre that every one may wonder at the condition of a Christian. Even
in the worst estate he hath a spirit not of the world but above the world.
This faith overcomes the world ; and he that is in them, the Spirit of God,
is stronger than he that is in the world, 1 John iv. 4.
To proceed to a further demonstration of a Christian man's ability, which
is intimated unto us in his very name. What is the name of a Christian ?
' Anointed.' The Spirit of God is compared to oil. What is the virtue of
oil ? It is to make nimble, for the Spirit of God makes Christians nimble ;
and oil it makes strong. The wrestlers were wont to be anointed before-
hand with oil ; so the Spirit of God makes Christians strong. The virtue
of oil anointing is to be above. Jumble it together with other liquors, it
is a regal liquor, it will have the pre-eminence, and be above. So grace,
although it be mingled with corruption, the Spirit of grace and faith at last
■will apear, the Spirit of God will be above all, at length it will work itself
clear. In all temptations, a Christian as a Christian is an able man. If
' THE AET OF CONTENTMENT. 183
he be answerable to his own name, if he be not an hypocrite, he hath an
ability in him, he can do more than the world.
Use 1. First of all then, learn here, that religion is not a matter of word,
nor stands upon words, as wood consists of trees. To speak thus and thus,
it may come from parts, from memory, and wit ; but religion is a matter of
power, it makes a man able. It made Paul, what ! To speak only ? No ;
his learning made him able to do all things. It is a matter of practice,
and there is nothing so speculative in religion but it tends to practice.
Religion is an art, not of great men, not of mighty men, but of holy men.
It is an art and trade. A trade is not learned by words, but by experience ;
and a man hath learned a trade, not when he can talk of it, but when he
can work according to his trade. So we see Paul shews his learning he
speaks of before, by his ability. The point of the Trinity it is a speculative
point, and it tends to practice. First, to be a foundation of our worship,
that we worship one God in three persons. And then it tends to shew the
unity among Christians, that God will work among Christians at length,
that they shall be all one in some sort, as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
are one : which, though it be a point of high and deep speculation, yet it
tends to practice. Now if the sublime and high points do, what point is
there in religion but it tends to practice ? And therefore let us not please
ourselves that we have deep understandings, but let us shew our under-
standings by our practice. As the sheep shews how he thrives in his
pasture by his wool and fleece, so shew how thou profitest in religion, by
being enabled with the power of grace, that carries thee through all con-
ditions, to avoid the sins and to express the graces in such conditions. So
much grace as thou hast to carry thyself thus, so much ability thou hast,
and so much religion.
Use 2. If a Christian be an able man, I beseech you, let it serve to try
ourselves hij this scaiitliinf- that I have spoken of. Is Christianity a point of
strength and abihty ? Let us try the truth of our estate then. Thou wouldst
be a Christian ; what canst thou do then ? What sin canst thou resist ?
What canst thou bear ? What holy duty canst thou do ? How canst thou
enjoy the good blessings that God sends thee, without defiling of thyself
with those blessings, that thou art not proud of the riches nor of the honour
thou hast ? Grace manageth all conditions. Thus, if thou be a Christian,
answer thy name ; if not, thou art a hypocrite yet. For a Christian in
some measure is able ' to do all things, through Christ that strengtheneth
him. I beseech you, let us not deceive ourselves. The best of us all
may mourn for our want in this kind. Our consciences tell us that we
might have done a great deal more than we have ; that God would have
enabled us if we had not been false-hearted, and betrayed ourselves, and
been negligent in the use of the means, to have done a great deal more
than we do. What a shame is it for Christians, that indeed have some
truth of grace in them, that they cannot be a little abased in the world, but
they are a la mort.f Why, where is the power of grace ? They cannot be
lift up in their condition a little, but they will scant know their brother of
low degi'ee. Where is religion now ? What hast thou better in thee than
a worldling hath ? Nay, a heathen man, out of principles of morality, would
learn to conform his carriage, outwardly at the least, better than thou. Let
us learn therefore to shame ourselves when we find any murmuring and
rising of corrupt nature in any condition whatsoever, and know that this
* Cf. note a, Vol. I. page 117.— G.
t That is, ' deadened ' = dead-afraid. — G.
184 THE AKT OF CONTENTMENT.
becomes not a Cliristian. This is it which the apostle presscth so oft, that
we should carry ourselves as becometh Christians. Oh, doth this become
a Christian ? A Christian should be able to do all things through Christ
that strengtheneth him. What a shame is it for a professor of religion to
be as worldly, as distracted with cares, as passionate, if he be a little
touched, as a man that professeth no religion at all ? Where is the power,
where is the glory and credit of religion here ? I beseech you, let us be
ashamed, and know that our profession requireth that we should be able.
Use 3. Again, Tins answers the common ohjcction of carnal men. They
ward oif all reproofs with this. Tell them of their faults, why it is my
infirmity, it is my weakness. Is it so ? Ai't thou a Christian or no ? If
thou be a Christian, thou labourest for strength against thy weakness ;
thou dost not make a plea for it. There is weakness indeed in the best ;
but that is the matter of their humiliation, and the object of their mortifi-
cation. It is not their plea for idleness, to give themselves to sinful courses.
Men therefore make a false plea of infirmities and weaknesses. There is
no infirmity in a carnal man that hath not the Spirit of Christ. He is
dead. There is no weakness in a dead person. In regard of civil car-
riages there may be weakness in such a man. He may be passionate, he
may be froward, unbeseeming a man that is civil ; but that is not in the
rank we speak of. None can have infirmities but a Christian that hath the
life of grace in him in sincerity and truth. And therefore if thou discover
that thou hast not the truth of grace, never say it is thy infirmity. To
shew what infirmities be, I rank them to three heads.
1. In the first rank of infirmities are the imperfection of good actions, which
are either distractions and deadness in prayer and hearing ; or invincible
infirmities, of which as an ancient father saith well, ' Lord, deliver me from
my miserable necessities' (h). A man may be in such a state sometimes
in regard of the temper of the body, it being out of tune, that he cannot
pray as he would do. ' The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,' saith
our Saviour, Mat. xsvi. 41. It was almost an invincible necessity in the
apostles then. Again, we might resist, and we might be more cheerful than
we are ofttimes. But sometimes there may be such distemper in the body,
that may almost of necessity unfit us for the duty. This we call the infir-
mity of a Christian, because he is ashamed of it, and grieved for it.
2. Again, Infirmities are those indeliberate passions that carry us sometimes
to actions that we shonld not do, being carried with a tempest of passion,
when we understand not ourselves well.
3. And lastly, It is an infirmity when ice are hindered from doi)tf/that ivhich
tee shoidd do, upon passion, upon surprisal of some great fear and terror, that
we are not so bold as we should be to stand out in a cause on the sudden, as
Peter was surprised with a spirit of fear that he should lose his life. Mat.
xxvi. 70. It was no presumption in him, it was an infirmity in the blessed
apostle for that time. These then be the signs of infirmities : to have
invincible imperfections, or distraction and deadness, accompanying our
good actions ; to be carried in the heat and tempest of passion to that
which afterwards we are ashamed of and repent for ; or to be hindered from
that we should do by some prevailing passion.
But otherwise infirmities are not, when we live in them, when we make
a custom of them. Customary sins are not sins of infirmity, but the sins that
we fall into, that we are overtaken with, on the sudden. Only in some cases
a man may live in a sin of infirmity, when the ground of the infirmity is
rooted within him, and he hath not yet purged out the root. As for instance,
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT. 18^
a man by temper prone to anger may live long in that infirmity, being
many times inordinately pettish and peevish, because he carries about him
the root, temper of the body, and inclination that way. Now he that lives
in such an infirmity repents daily, and gets ground of it ; he is still hewing
at the root, and at length, at the last stroke it falls, and he gets the victory
over it.
Again, A sin of infirmity is not a sin that u-e plead for. A man is ashamed
of his infirmities ; he is grieved for them. Now when a man pleads for them,
and makes them a shelter and cover-shade to go on in sinful courses, they
are not infirmities. Therefore whosoever pleads for sins discovers a false
heart ; his sins are enormities, not infirmities. A Christian gets the better
of infirmities. After he falls, he riseth stronger and stronger still. But
when a man grows worse and worse, and is habituated in an evil course, it
is not an infirmity, because he grows not out of it. Let us not deceive
ourselves with this plea, to say, It is my weakness, A Christian should
be ashamed to plead this ; he should be able to do all things. AVell, you
see then this point is clear, that a Christian is an able man, he hath a
strength above nature in him, notwithstanding all his infirmities. This
will appear more in the second branch, in the generality, he is able to do
' all things.'
To come to that, therefore, there are many things required of a Christian,
Christianity is a busy trade. If we look up to God, what a world of things
are required in a Christian to carry himself as he should do ! A spirit of
faith, a spirit of love, a spirit of joy, and delight in him above all. And if
we look to men, there are duties for a Christian to his superiors, a spirit
of subjection. And duties to equals, to carry a spirit of love ; and to
inferiors a spirit of pity and bounty. If we look to Satan, we have many
duties, to resist him and to watch against the tempter. If we look to the
world, it is full of snares. There must be a great deal of spiritual watch-
fulness, that we be not surprised. If we look to ourselves, there are
required many duties, to carry our vessels in honour, and to walk within
the compass of the Holy Ghost, to preserve the peace of our consciences,
to walk answerable to our worth, as being the sons of God and co-heirs
with Christ. The state of a Christian is no idle condition. Sometimes a
Christian is in this state, sometimes in that ; and then he must have these
graces, and anon use other graces ; he must have a suit of all graces, fit for
all conditions. Now answerable to the variety of all the duties that are
required of him, he must have ability ; and therefore the apostle saith, ' I
can do all things through Christ.'
5. So then the point of doctrine is this, that the trial of a sincere Chris-
tian's estate is universality of obedience. Universality of carriage in all con-
ditions is the trial of Christian sincerity. He must dispense with himself
in no sin, and he must be a vessel prepared for every good work, ' a vessel
of glory,' as the apostle speaks, 2 Tim. ii. 21. He must baulk no service
that God calls him to. What is the reason of this ?
The reason is, because a Christian hath the sanctifying Spirit, and the
sanctifying Spirit hath the seeds of all graces in it; so that where it is, thei'e
is the subduing of all sin in the root. And then all graces are answerable
to the commandments of God in all duties, and to the avoiding of all sins.
And therefore James saith pregnantly to this purpose, he that ' ofiends in
one is guilty of all,' ii, 10.
Use 1. Let us take heed ice plead not immunity and freedom from some
things, and think that the good we do in some kind may excuse the bad
ISG THE ART OF COXTENTJIENT,
we do in others. You have some that will take liberty in an unclean con-
versation, because they are bountiful and liberal ; and they will take Hberty
to be oppressive in their callings, because they attend upon the means of
salvation. Oh no ! take heed of that carriage that is against the profes-
sion of religion. There must be an universal disposition to all graces and
to all duties, though they be never so contrary and cross to corrupt nature.
The devil knows well where to have some men, for he sees they mind some
sin, and are careless in the practice of other duties ; and therefore, in the
horn- of temptation, the devil will surprise such men, and it will be a ground
of despau- if they take not heed. Put the case a man will say this, I can
part with all things else. Oh, but I cannot die : I can be content to be
imprisoned, but I cannot endure to be disgraced. Let a man dispense and
favour himself but in one thing, and when the time comes he will be dis-
covered to be but an hypocrite. Then Satan will work upon that, and
there he will be shaken in his condition. By reason that he did not learn
self-denial perfectly, he hath not grace disposing him to the practice of all
Christian duties. He hath not learned to know God in covenant, to sup-
ply his wants of honour, credit, wife and children, and all that he is to
part withal for Christ's sake. Now he that hath not learned this in reso-
lution, though God do not yet call him to it, by entering into his own
soul, and asking himself what he can part with, and what he can resist
for Christ's sake, ' What can I endure ? what can I suffer ?' If his heart
do not tell him, I can part with all, I will rather endure death itself,
rather endure shame, or any thing, than break the peace of a good con-
science, and grieve the Spirit of God. If he cannot answer his soul thus,
surely I can speak little comfort to that man. For we see a Christian must
be able to do all things ; that is, to resist all ill, to practise all duty, to
break oft' all sinful courses.
Quest. But some will object, May not a Christian be subject to some
especial sin ?
Ans. Yes, he may. God, for especial purposes sometimes, will have
men of eminent graces to be subject to notable infirmities. But what, do
they plead for them ? No ; but as by temper, or by former custom, or as
they find themselves more inclined one way than another, so they gather
strength especially against their especial sin. And in the beginning of con-
version, there is a blow given to the reigning sin that was before ; and as
when Goliah was slain, and all the rest fled, 1 Sam. xvii. 51, so grace
strikes at the Goliah. In conversion, there is a main stroke given unto
sin. Perhaps somewhat remains still, that grace will be hewing at, and
therefore grace may stand with an especial sin that a man is inclined to.
But this he labours to get all strength against, as other, so strength of direc-
tion. You shall find a Christian when he is subject to any infirmitj^, he
will speak more learnedly, and more judiciously, with greater detestation
against that sin that he is most prone unto than against any other. He
labours to make up the breach where the wall is weakest. So a man may
be a good man, and be subject to an infirmity, but then he gathers more
strength against it.
Use 2. Well, you see then a Christian is able to do all things through
Christ that strengthens him. I beseech you, let us often enter into our-
selves, and make an me of trial, also of that which hath been spoken, what
we can do, what we can part with, what we can resist. Let us never think
ourselves to be in such an estate as is fit to be, to comfort ourselves, till
we can in truth and sincerity of heart renounce all whatsoever. Yet not-
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
187
witlistanding, this must be understood evangelically, ' I can do all things.'
What ! legally, without a flaw ? No ; * I can do all things' so far forth, as
shall shew that I am a true Christian, and not an hypocrite ; so far as shall
bo beautiful in the eye of others, to allure them to the embracing of reli-
gion ; so far as shall make base spirits to envy to sec my even carriage,
and to see the power of religion ; so far as shall put the world to silence
for reproaching ; so far as I shall enjoy assurance of the truth of grace ; so
far as Satan shall not get his will in every sin. Our obedience is evange-
lical, and not legal.
Quest. Now, what is it to do all things evangelically ? To clear that
point.
A)ts. To do all things evangelically is, first of all, for a man to know that
he is in the same state of grace, and that he hath his sins pardoned, and
that he is accepted in Christ to life and salvation. That is the ground of
all evangelical obedience. He must know that he is in the covenant of
grace ; that he hath the forgiveness of sins, and a right to life everlasting
in Christ. And then comes obedience answerable to that condition ; that
is, a desire to obey God in all things : a grief that he cannot do it so well
as he would ; a prayer that he might do it so ; and an endeavour together
with prayer that he may do so, and some strength likewise with endeavour.
For a Christian, as I said before, he hath the Spirit of God, not only to
set him to an endeavour, but to give him some strength. So there is a
desire, and purpose, and prayer, and grief of heart, and endeavour, and
likewise some strength in evangelical obedience.
A Christian then in the gospel can do all things when he hath his sins
forgiven, and is accepted in Christ, when he can endeavour to do all, and
desire to do all, and in some measure practise all duties in truth. For the
gospel requires truth and not perfection. That is the perfection that brings
us to heaven in Christ our Saviour. "We have title to heaven ; in him is
the ground, because forgiveness of sins is in him. Now a Christian's life
is but to walk worthy of this, and to fit himself for that glorious condition
that he hath title unto by Christ, to walk sincerely before God. Sincerity
is the perfection of Christians. Let not Satan therefore abuse us. We do
all things, when we endeavour to do all things, and purpose to do all things,
and are grieved when we cannot do better. For mark, this goes with
evangelical obedience always. God pardons that which is ill, for he is a
Father. He hath bound himself to pardon, ' I will pity you as a father
pitieth his child,' Ps. ciii. 13. From the very relation he hath took upon
him, we may be assured he will pity and pardon us, and then he will accept
of that which is good, because it is the work of his own Spirit, and will
reward it. This in the covenant of grace he will do. A Christian can do
all then ; and wherein he fails, God will pardon him. What is good, God
■will accept and reward ; and what is sick and weak in him, God will heal,
till he have made him up in Christ.
Thus we see in what sense this is to be understood, a Christian can do
all things through Christ. For as it is said of gold, the best gold you have
hath allowance of such gi-ains, so take the best Christian, you must have
some allowance. Some imperfection cleaves to him. He cannot do all
perfectly. For then what need the covenant of grace ? He can do all
things so as he flies to the mercy of God in Christ for Hfe everlasting. He
can do all things required of a Christian in the covenant of grace in regard
of sincerity. These things must be well and soundly understood, and then
we can take no offence at the doctrine.
188
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
Qmst. What is the cause that a Christian fails then when ho doth fail ?
Ans. 1. A Christian fails, u-hcn he doth not ^indcrstancl the promhes of the
new covenant of rirace, that God hath given not only promises of the pardon
of sin, but of all kind of gi-aces, a promise of the Spirit in general. He will
give his Spirit to those that ask it, and a promise of every other particular
grace : that he will write his law in our hearts, and he will teach us to love
one another, and he will put his fear into our hearts. We have not a grace
but either there is a promise of it generally, or specially. Now when a
Christian forgets this, he fails for want of understanding the privileges and
promises.
Ans. 2. Again, he fails /or want of wisdom to ])lant himself in such helps,
whereby he might be able to do all things; for it is the folly sometimes of
Christians to be rash in venturing upon occasions ; and then he hath no
more strength than Samson had when he adventured. He loseth his
strength when he ventureth rashly. But if a Christian be wise to keep out
of temptation, and to keep himself in good company and acquaintance,
using holy means and helps to godliness, wherein the Spirit works, a wise
Christian may perform all.
Ans. 3. Again, /o/- icant of resolution. A Christian goes not out always
with his spiritual armour, as he should. He goes not out with a purpose
to please God in all things, and to avoid all sins ; but his armour is loose
about him. If a Christian would resolve, in the power of God, to break
through all difficulties, and to do all duties, God would second him.
' Arise, and be doing, and the Lord will be with thee,' 1 Chron. xxii. 16.
Let a Christian go on constantly in a good way, and he shall find expe-
rience of God's helping of him. Without manly resolutions, a Christian
fails.
Quest. What is the reason that a Christian many times stands in strong
and great duties, and is foiled in little duties ?
Ans. Because he is watchful in the one, and careless in the other. Indeed,
it is want of will. If we would have strength, and would carry ourselves
manfully, we might have grace to carry ourselves even to the glory of our
profession and to the credit of it. But we willingly favour corruption, and
are not willing to put it out of ourselves to the utmost ; whereupon we
want much comfort that Christians should enjoy ; and hereupon come
many breaches in our life. In a word, if a Christian were careful, there is
no duty, but he might perform it in some measure. He may go wondrous
high upwards, always with this exception, that he never look to be justified
by it. For God hath not established the covenant so. That is done by
Christ. Again, if he be careless, he may sink wondrous low. There is
no sin but the sin against the Holy Ghost, but he may fall into it in some
manner.
I hasten to the last point. ' I can do all things,' but how ? with what
strength ? ' Through Christ that strengtheneth me.'
This is to salve up an objection which might be made against the blessed
apostle, ' I can do all things.' Here is a proud word. Oh no ; ' it is in
Christ that strengthens me.' St Paul was wondrous cautious and careful
to avoid spiritual pride, or the least touch of it, as it is 1 Cor. xv. 10.
'Not I,' saith he. He checks himself presently: 'I laboured more than
they all ; not I, but grace within me.' Of all other sins, take heed of
spiritual pride, check it presently. ' I can do all.' Oh but, lest proud
tlaoughts should arise, ' it is in Christ that strengtheneth me.' My strength
is out of myself. As the heads of those rivers, that ran through paradise,
' THE ART OF CONTENTMENT. 189
and tliat •watered tlie city of God, they were out of paradise, so the head
and spring of those streams that water the church of God, and particular
Christians, they are out of themselves, they are in Christ. It is otherwise
with us than it was in the ' first Adam.' He had strength, and had no pro-
mise to stand. He had power to stand, if he would. But a Christian's
strength is out of himself, in the * second Adam,' Christ. And it is well
that it is in the keeping of so strong a Saviour, for we should forfeit it as
Adam did, if it were in our own hands. It is derived to us, as much as he
thinks good ; but the spring is in him. And we have not only a will, but
the promise and ability to do good ; we do all through Christ.
G. Bo the point of doctrine is this, that the original of a Christian's
strength is in Christ. God is the original of all strength. But God him-
self hath no intercourse of the new covenant with man out of the second
person. All our comfort, and all our grace, it comes through Christ, who
having taken our nature upon him, and having satisfied God, is fit to
derive all grace and comfort to us. For he is near us, he is of our nature,
and God in him is well pleased so as we may now go boldly to Christ ;
we are bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. God himself out of Christ
is ' a consuming fire.' Now, in Christ God favours man ; he is gracious
and lovely to us, and we to him ; because Christ his beloved Son hath
took our nature upon him, and now in our nature he is in heaven. So
Christ the mediator is the fountain of all strength ; he is the spiritual
Joseph that had laid up store for all Egypt, and all that came. He is the
high steward of his church, the second in the kingdom of heaven ; he is
the Joseph, he dispenseth all riches and treasures ; all are in him for the
church's sake. In him we do all things. As we can do all things for him
as a mediator that died for us and procured favour for us, so we can do
all things in him as an head to whom we are united. For there must be
union before there can be communion. As in marriage there must be a
uniting before there be a communion of estates and conditions, so before
we can do anything for Christ we must be in Christ. We have all as
through Christ, as in Christ. Thence comes communion with Christ's
Spirit. So then it is Christ by his Spirit, for he doth all by his Spirit :
' The Lord is that Spirit,' 2 Cor. iii. 17. Christ doth all in the church
by his Spirit. Now, the Spirit is the union of Christ, he strengthens all ;
all our strength is by Christ's Spirit. Now, this Spirit of God first sanc-
tifies Christ, the human nature of Christ, before he sanctifieth us. We
have all grace and power and strength at the second hand. It comes not
from Christ as God immediately. And grace comes not from the Holy
Ghost immediately to us ; but the Holy Ghost first sanctifies Christ his
human nature and then he sanctifies us, and we out of Christ's fulness
receive grace for grace. The same Spirit that sanctified his nature in the
womb of the virgin, and that sanctified his holy nature that now he hath
in heaven with him, the same Spirit is sent from him to sanctify every
member of the church. All is in the head, John i. 16. As first the
ointment was poured on Aaron's head, and from thence it ran down to
the skirts of his garments, Ps. csxxiii. 2, so all grace is poured upon the
head of Christ first, and then from him upon the skirts, even upon the
meanest Christian, as answ^erable to their portion ; and to those things
that God means to call them to, they have grace to carry them. You see
then how to conceive of this, how we have all in Chi-ist, that is, by the
Spirit of Christ, and how it comes by the Spirit.
Use 1. First of all, then, you see here how these two agree : a Christian,
190 THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
-when lie is a Cliristian, hath freedom of will and power. He hath power and
free will. As far as he is freed by the Spirit of Christ, so far he is free.
For, 2 Cor. iii. 17, ' where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.' So,
John viii. 36, Christ says, * If the Son shall make you free, then you shall
be free indeed.' ' He can do all things,' therefore he is free. But it is in
Christ ; therefore his freedom is from him. We speak, but it is Christ's
Spirit that openeth our mouth. We believe, but it is Christ by his Spirit
that opens our hearts to believe. We are mighty, but it is in God. We
are able to do gi-eat matters, but it is in Christ that strengtheneth us. We
are strong, but it is in the Lord ; as it is written, ' Be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might,' Eph. vi. 10. The understanding is ours,
the affections are ours, the will is ours ; but the sanctifying of all this, and
the carriage of all these supernaturally above themselves, to do them spiri-
tually, that is not ours, but it is Christ's. So we see what is ours, and
what is not ours. We are able to do ; but the strength, and the grace,
and ability is from Christ. A wind instrument sounds, but the man makes
it sound by his breath. We are like wind instruments. Indeed, we sound,
but no further than w^e are blown upon ; and we yield music, but no fur-
ther than we are touched by the Spirit of God. We are light, but as the
air is, as it is enlightened by the sun ; and therefore we must understand
these points, that God may have glory, and that we may know what is ours.
And then again we see here, Ihat we have in Christ not only a general
ahility, that ice are able, hut we have the very act itself, the deed itself.
He strengtheneth us. There is a spiritual life and a spiritual power and
will, and then the act and deed itself. Now, we have not only from Christ
the life of grace at the first, and then a spiritual power answerable to that
again, whereby our powers are renewed, so as we are able to do something
in our will, but we have the deed itself. The doing is from Christ ; he
strengtheneth us for the present. Now, you have some that teach loosely
this point, that we have general universal grace, whereby we are enabled,
if we will, to believe, and to do this thing, if we will. But I say that is
not all ; but we have the will and the deed itself from Christ by his Spirit,
and in every holy action Christ helps us to do these things in very deed.
First, He moves the soul to the action, and applies the soul to the thing.
By the Spirit he doth this. For though we have power, we could not
exercise it but by the Spirit, in this or that particular act.
Second, Again, he works a prescrvi)ig of the grace in that act. God pre-
serves his own work against temptation, and against impediments ; for
there is no act but it is opposed. The devil is in every good work, either
at the beginning to hinder it, or at the end to defile it, one way or other.
Now, God preserves his own work by his Spirit, First, He moves us to
do, and then he preserves us in doing, and arms us against the impedi-
ments of good works. Then he determines the good work, and limits it,
how far we shall do well, thus far, and thus far ; the degrees come from
Christ, For sometimes he doth it by his glorious power, as Paul saith,
Eph, i. 19. Sometimes we are strengthened to do more, and sometimes
less, as he will. Not only the act itself, and the application of the soul,
and the preserving of grace in every act, we sink else, but the degree that
we do sometimes better, it comes from Christ now strengthening of us
more, and now less, as he sees good.
Know, by the way, that he is a voluntary head. Though he be an head
of influence that flows into every member, yet he is a voluntary head,
according to his own good pleasure, and the exigents of his members.
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT. 191
Sometimes wo liavo need of more grace, and then it flows into us from him
according]5\ Sometimes we have need to know our weakness, and then he
leaves us to ourselves, that we may know that without him we cannot
stand ; that we may know the necessity of his guidance to heaven, in the
sense of our imperfections ; that we might see our weakness and corrup-
tions, that we had thought we had not had in us : as Moses was tempted
to murmur, a meek man, Num. xi. 21, seq., and David to cruelty, a mild
man, 2 Sam. xi. 15, that thought they had not had those corruptions in
them, God leaves Christians sometimes to themselves, that they may
know that they are not strong by their own spirit. So the degrees are
from Christ, sometimes more and sometimes less. Sometimes we are in
desertion, that we may know the manner of Christ's governing us till we
come to heaven.
Use 1. Well, I beseech you, let us know that out of Christ there is no
grace. A civil man doth nothing in religion well. There cannot be a
beam without the sun ; there cannot be a river without a spring ; there
cannot be a good work without the spring of good works, Christ. There-
fore, we should fetch all" from him, since there is no grace out of him at all.
Use 2. Again, let us be sure, in all particular actions, to be poor in spirit.
When we have any temptation to resist, any trouble to bear, or any duty
to do, let us empty ourselves. No grace is stronger than humility. No
man is weaker than a proud man. For a proud man rests on nothing, and
an humble man that empties himself, he stands upon the Eock. We should
therefore make use of the strength of Christ, that hath not only abundance
for himself, but an abundance for us, an overflowing for every Christian for
his good. Let us empty ourselves, as the prophet saith to the widow,
Bring ' empty vessels' now, and we shall have oil enough, 2 Kings iv. 3.
There is enough in Christ ; but first we must empty ourselves by humility,
and then there is fulness in him. ' Of his fulness we receive grace for
grace,' John i. 16. His fulness is like the fulness of the clouds that is
ready to drop, and like the fulness of breasts, that are ready to yield what
they have. He is willing. It is our fault, and baseness, and pride, that
hinders us. Let us as much as we can empty ourselves of ourselves, and
stir up the spirit of faith. Go to Christ. So much faith as we carry, so
much grace we bring from him. If we do but touch him by faith, the issue
of our corruptions will be dried up in some measure, and we shall have a
spring of graces in us answerable to the graces in him. Mat. ix. 20.
I beseech you, therefore, let us labour for these two graces, especially
since all is out of us in the covenant of grace ; not only salvation is out of
us, but grace that brings us to heaven is out of us, to empty ourselves in
humility, and by faith to go to Christ. The one grace makes us go out of
ourselves, the other carries us to Christ and to the promises of Christ.
Learn to do this in every action, for we may be foiled in every particular
action for want of humility and faith. We must not trust to any grace
or any ability in us, but trust to our spring, go to Christ when we have
anything to do.
Quest. What is the reason that Christians fail ?
Ans. They think, I had grace yesterday, and before, and hereupon they
go not for supply of new strength to Christ. Ivnow that in every act, in
every temptation, in every particular suffering, we need a particular new
strength, and a greater strength than we had before, if the temptation be
greater, if the work be greater. As it is with a porter, he cannot carry a
new burden that is heavier than he did before, without a new strength,
192 THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
■without more strengtli than he had before, so a Christian cannot bear a
new affliction without new strength, without more strength. Therefore
consider what the nature of the business is that we are to do, and the
strength of the temptation that wc are to encounter with, and answerably
go to Christ for a measure greater than we had before. He never upbraids
us nor casts us in the teeth, as James saith, chap. i. 5 (c). There is an
art, a skill of fetching strength from Christ to do all things, if we would
learn it. As there is a skill to be a Christian, it is a trade, so there is a
skill to fetch the strength that he hath from his spring, from Christ. Now,
that skill in a word is this :
1. First, To know our own urnit, mid to know the necessity of grace, and
the excellency of the state of holiness, that of all conditions it is the best,
and of all conditions a sinful estate is the worst. This will make us go
out of ourselves to Christ. Well, how shall we fetch strength from Christ
then?
2. Consider ivhenf ore Christ hath the treasures of all in him, and go to
him for particular graces we want whatsoever. When we know the excel-
lenej' and necessity of it before, then make use of -the virtue of his death
and resurrection. Thus, are we tempted to any sin ? Make use of the
death of Christ, of his great love in giving himself, and then of the holiness
of God in giving Christ to die for sin, he hates sin so ; and then,
3. Consider of the fruit of his death that was to free and deliver us from
sin. When we think of these things. Did God and Christ so love me? Is
it the holiness of God, and the holiness of Christ, that God became man to
die for me, and shall I go and trifle, and be tempted to sin, and offend so
holy and so gracious a God, that hates sin so infinitely ?
These be strong reasons fetched from Christ. We have from him both
the reasons why we should do good and why we should not do evil, and we
have the strength. There are two things requisite for a man to do a thing
as a man. The reason why he should do it, and strength to perform it,
both these are from Christ.
As from ill we are stopped by the consideration of Christ's death, so
when we are moved to grace, consider the virtue of Christ's resurrection.
Why is Christ now in heaven in our nature ? Is it not to fill his church
with his Spirit ? Why doth he make intercession in heaven ? Is it not
that we should not be discouraged notwithstanding our daily infirmities ?
Shall we not make use of it ? He is glorious for us, not lor himself, but
for his mystical body. As he hath made his natural body glorious, so he
will make his mystical body glorious by little and little. He being, there-
fore, in heaven making intercession, go to him in the want of grace. And
so for infirmities. The Spirit of God raised him at the lowest, and shall
not the Spirit of God raise me from this and that. Yes, the Spirit of God
will raise me from the baseness and misery of sin to be better and better.
The same Spirit will enable me that raised his body. And so fetch virtue
and strength from Christ, make use of Christ for every turn. Oh that we
could learn these things ! Then we should be able to go through all con-
ditions : we should be able to live, able to die. I beseech you, therefore,
consider what hath been spoken. Let us study Christ every day more and
more, not for redemption and reconciliation only, though that in the first
place, but study Christ to be all in all to us, to be our sanctification to fit
us for ^heaven. Study the promises in Christ, lose no privilege. God
would not have left them in his word but for our good. Take heed of base
despair; Oh, I shall never overcome this siu and that. What! shut the
THE ART OF CONTENTMENT. 193
people out of Canaan ? Base despair lost them earthly Cunaati, Numb,
xiv. 22, scq. So take heed it shut not you out of heavenly Canaan. I
shall not be able to get the victory over sin, and I shall not be able to
suffer. No. Why are the promises ? and why is Christ in heaven ?
Shall we, by despair and by base infidelity, lose Christ, and the promises,
and all that is put into our hands, and betray our souls basely to Satan ?
I beseech you, consider of the necessity of these things. We know not
what times God maj' call us to ere long. Despair not beforehand. Lot
fall what will, get into Christ, to be in him in an happy and eternal condi
tion. We shall have strength from him to carry ourselves in all estates.
Come what will, he will stand by us ; he will not fail us nor forsake us.
When did Paul speak these glorious words ? In prison. ' I can do all
things through Christ,' &c. Did the Spirit of God leave Paul in prison ?
Was it not better for Paul to have grace than to be freed from the thing ?
Wicked men may be freed from trouble, only a Christian hath grace to
carry himself well in trouble. Come what will, if we be in Christ, either we
shall be freed from troubles, or we shall have grace to bear them. Either
we shall have that we want, or we shall have contentment without it. Is
it not better to have grace without the thing ? Is it not better to have a
glorious Spirit of glory resting on us ? Did not the Spirit of glory rest on
Paul ? Could not God have freed Paul from prison ? Yes. But where
had been then the demonstration of a contented spirit, of an heavenly mind ?
Where had been this example of a Christian bearing the cross comfortably ?
Paul lost nothing. Here you see how many sLars shine in the night of his
affliction, what a lustre he had in the dark state of imprisonment. Shall
we then be afraid of any condition ? No. Get the Spirit of God ; get
understanding of Christ, and the promises and privileges by him, and then
let God cast us into what condition he will, we shall be safe and well.
NOTES.
(a) P. 178. — ' I have learned It is very significant in the original.' The
original is ^as/xujj/joa/, = I have been fully taught, I have been initiated. The Vul-
gate is closer than our version, ' institutus sum.' The Bishop of Gloucester (EUicott)
has an interesting note on this aV. Xsyo/x. of the New Testament in loc. (ver. 12j.
(b) P. 18-4. — ' Lord, deliver me from my miserable necessities.' The saying is
that well known one of Augustine, ' A necessitatibus meis libera me Domine.' Cf.
note a. Vol. IV. p. 304.
(c) P. 192. — '"He never casts in the teeth," as James saith.' The verb is
ovsidi'/^o), which the authorised version in Mat. xxvii. 44, renders precisely as Sibbes
does here. G.
VOL. V.
THE POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
I
THE POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
NOTE.
' The Power of Christ's Resurrection ' forms the second of two sermons issued in
a tiny volume in 1638 (18mo). The former has already appeared. See Vol. II.
pp, 200-208. The general title-page will be found at page 198 ; the separate one
is given below.* In footnote at page 198, read Cotes, not Coates. The present
sermon takes its jilace naturally here along with the others from the Epistle to the
Colossians. G-
* THE SECOND
S E E M 0 N.
THE POWER
OF CHRIST'S
RESURRECTION :
0 K,
A SERMON UPON
Colo s. 3. 1.
Preached by that Faithfull and
Reverend Divine, Richard Sibhes,
D. D. and sometimes Preacher to
the Honorable Societie.
of Grayes-Inne ;
And Master of Katherine Hall in
Cambridge.
E p H E s. 2. 4, 5, 6.
Accordirig as he hath chosen us in him, .
before the foundation of the world,
that wee should be holy, Sfc.
THE POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
If ye he risen ivith Christ, seek those thinr/s which are above, where Christ
sitteth at the right hand of God. — Col. III. 1.
This verse hath dependence on the second chapter, and the twelfth and
thirteenth verses of that chapter, where the apostle tells the Colossians that
' they were risen with Christ from the dead by faith, and quickened by his
Spirit ;' and thereupon follows this inference : ' If therefore ye be risen with
Christ,' shew it by seeking after those things which are in heaven, and are
heavenly.
The apostle hath much ado to root out those dangerous conceits, which
false teachers had settled in the hearts of the Colossians, touching some
legal ceremonies, as ' touch not, taste not, handle not.' These dead things
he tells them have no more use now ; and therefore, * if you be risen with
Christ, seek those things that are above.' These ceremonies were indeed
appointed by God at the first, but now they are ended and brought to their
grave ; and therefore no more to be revived, because they were not only
dead, but deadly. Nan solum vwrtum sed mortifera.
Now the apostle finding their hearts tainted with this false doctrine,
having first sought to purge it out of their hearts, he then begins to season
them with heavenly doctrine ; and he begins with general instructions, and
so proceeds to particular callings, as of husbands and wives, and children
and servants. Now because the well managing of the particular duties of
these particular callings depends on a good general ; therefore he begins
first to season their hearts with grace, knowing that it is so much the easier
to be good in their particular callings, when they are first good in their
general. But if not good in general, then never good in the particular. If
a good man, then a good husband, a good father, a good master, fit for any
good service ; but if not a good man, then good for nothing. So a woman,
if a good woman, then a good wife, or good in any calling. So for children
and servants, if good in the general, then good in every particular.
These words contain a ground, and an inference upon the ground : ' If
you be risen with Christ.' There is the ground. ' Then seek the things that
are above.' There is the inference. From the ground observe two things :
first, that Christ is risen himself; secondly, that we shall rise.
Doct. 1. For iYie first, It is an article of our faith ;* and the Holy Ghost
* In margin here, Fiducia Christiana. — G.
198
THE POWER OF CHEISt's RESURRECTION.
hath taken a great deal of pains to prove it. It is the confidence of
Christians.* It is the main freehold that we have, for we hold all by the
resm-rection of Christ. Therefore we had sixteen apparitions of Clu'ist to
make it firm and evident. It was impossible that he should be held of the
bonds of death, Acts ii. 24. Impossible, first, as he was invested with
these three ofiices, a king, a priest, and a prophet. Impossible, first, as he
was a king ; for how then could he have triumphed over his enemies ?
Secondly, impossible as he was a priest; for if he had not risen, how could
he have made daily intercession for his people ? Thirdly, impossible as he
was a prophet ; for else how could he have instructed his people '?
r- Use. Now as Christ rose the third day — manifesting thereby that he was
dead — to his greater glory, so is it with his members. Never nearer help
than when they are at the worst. Then that it may appear to be God's
work, he will raise them apparently, f that he may be glorified. So like-
wise when we are in any distress in the world, void of the help of man,
then comes God in and raiseth us up, whether in our credit, estate, &c.,
as he will do our bodies at the last day. Let us therefore have patience
for a while.
Doct. 2. Secondly, As Christ is risen, so shall we rise. He is the meri-
torious cause of our resurrection, he hath deserved that we should rise ; he
IS the worker of it. By that same power whereby he rose again, by the
same will he raise us up at the last day. He is every way the cause ;
and which is something more, we are risen with him. He was a public
person. Upon the cross he stood in the place of all the world, and all their
sins committed, or foreseen to be committed, lay upon him. ' He bare the
iniquity of us all,' Isa. liii. 6 ; and then he freed himself, and so us, by his
resurrection. First, freeing himself of his suretyship ; and we are freed in
him ; and he rising, we also rise with him. This resurrection is twofold,
spiritual and corporal : spiritual, when we take Hfe from Christ ; and being
quickened by him, then we begin to rise with him when we believe that
Christ is dead for our sins. Christ is then crucified to thee, when thou
beginnest to believe in him.
Use 1. And every true Christian may draw from hence water of life to
comfort him in all distresses ; for Christ hath conquered all our spiritual
enemies ; and his resurrection is an evidence of his conquest. For if he
had not conquered he could not have risen ; and therefore when he rose
again he bade his disciples not to fear, Mat. xxviii. 10. Fear not death,
for I have overcome death ; and witnessed the same by my resurrection.
Fear not sin, for I have satisfied for it. Fear not the devil : I by my resur-
rection have bruised his head ; nor the world, for I have overcome it.
He hath trode upon the necks of all our spiritual enemies, and conquered
them all. Fear not, for if once you be risen with Christ, you are begotten
to a hvely hope. Where spiritual resurrection is, there is hope of life, as
the apostle doth soundly reason, 1 Peter i. 3. A ground of precious com-
fort to every true Christian.
Use 2. Now in that we are raised by the same power to a spiritual life,
whereby Christ rose from the grave, it teacheth us how to conceive of the
u-ork of the new birth, of the image of God, of the new creature. The work
of ^ grace in a Christian is not a slight work, a word and away, as many
think; but it is a powerful work, as appears in that there are more hin-
drances to keep a man dead in sin from rising out of it, than there was to
* In margin here, Tertullian, de resurrect., cap. i, — G.
t That is, 'openly,' ' visibly.' — G.
THE POWEB OF CHKISt's RESURRECTION. 199
keep Christ from rising out of the grave. Yet in his resurrection did the
power of God mightily appear, as Eph. i. 19, 20. As Christ was killed
and had a stone rolled on his tomb, so he that is dead in sin hath the stone
of custom rolled upon him, which is as great a work of God's power to
remove as it was to raise Christ. Wherefore let those that find a change
in their hearts break forth into hearty thanksgiving unto God for his in-
estimable favour, especially for this powerful work, more powerful than the
making of the whole world, because there are many oppositions.
Use 3. Consider this aright, partly for thanksijiving, if you have been
wrought upon, and partly /or prayer if you are not, seeking unto God in the
use of the means, who only is able to work this change in you.
To cut ofi' many things, we shall now speak of the inference : ' If you
be risen,' and risen ' with Christ' by his power, 'then seek those things
which are above.' The reason depends thus. They that are risen have a
new life, for every resurrection notes a new Hfe; if spiritual, then a spiritual
life ; if bodily, then a glorious life, Rom. vi. 5, seq. Life is suitable to our
resurrection. You are risen with Christ from the death of sin. Therefore
manifest your resurrection by actions proportionable and suitable to your
estate. From hence we note this doctrine,
Doct. 3. That every life and state reqidretk ansiverahle actions. ' If you
be risen with Christ,' and so have a spiritual life as you profess yourselves,
then carry yourselves answerably, and ' seek those things that are above,'
that may maintain that life of yours. This is the apostle's reasoning in
this place. This is so in nature. It is so in corrupt nature. It is so in
grace, and shall be so in glory.
For the frst, Those creatures that are in the water, they delight in it,
because it is their proper element, and they cannot live out of it ; secondly,
it is so in corrupt nature. He that is covetous, the very conceit that he
hath of his riches doth as it were feed him ; and he cannot live without
them. For he that lives a carnal, brutish Hfe, he dieth if he be taken from
it. He is like a fish upon dry ground. Tanquani 2)iscis in arido. Take
him out of his element and he cannot live. It is so in grace, and shall be
BO in glory. When the body is risen unto glory, there is a forsaking of
all communion with sinful men here, and we have communion with God
and Christ. Christ shall be all in all unto us. Col. iii. 11. Then that
which all creatures supply to us here, Christ supplieth to us there. Then
our songs are holy and our actions holy, fitting such a glorious estate.
Now heaven is begun here, or else never iDegun. Grace is therefore called
heaven, because heaven is begun here. Glory must begin in grace.
Use 1. So then a Christian that is risen with Christ, must have nothing
to do with carnal men, no further than he is thrust u'pon them, or that he may
convert them. They must not accompany with men of a contrary spirit ;
seeking by all means to express the love of piety. Thus should the life of
a Christian be suitable to his state that he is in and called unto.
Use 2. If we should try all by this rule, how few then would he found to
he risen with Christ. How few delight in heavenly company, in heavenly
actions ! as to praise God, or to commune or partake with God in prayer.
This is a death to most men to have such company, or to exercise them-
selves in such actions.
Explan. 1. The apostle saith here, 'we must seek those things which
are above with Christ.' Seeking implieth, first, ivant ; for a man will never
seek for that which he hath ; secondly, it implieth a valuation and esteem
of the excellency of the thing that is sought for ; thirdly, it implieth hope to
200
THE POWER OP CHRIST S RESURRECTION.
get it, else none would seek it, but leave it as a thing desperate ; fourthly,
it doth imply means and me of means to attain to that we want, esteem of,
and hope to attain ; lastly, he that wants a thing which he doth highly
esteem and hopes to attain in the use of the means, will by all means avoid
all contraries that may hinder him from, attaining thereunto.
2. Now consider what this thing is that we must seek for. Briefly this
is here meant, viz., Christ Jesus the joy of our hearts, in whom are hid all
the treasures of knowledge and wisdom. Col. ii. 3, together with all those
things which are above, or whatsoever tends thereunto. And indeed all
the excellency which we have or can hope for, is from above. Our full
happiness and glorious inheritance is kept for us in the heavens. All our
privileges are from above. Our kingdom is in heaven ; qualification for
this happy estate is from above. Our holiness and heavenly-mindedness
is from above, fulness of grace is from above, and all graces to lead us to
that perfection are from above. Power to enable us to any holy duty is
from above ; yea, the means, as the ordinances, the word and the sacra-
ments, are from above. Here then is the sense of the words, seek for a
nearer communion with Christ, for a further assurance of heaven, for a
further qualification for heaven, that you may be more and more in heaven
while you are here, by enjoying through faith your heavenly privileges,
prerogatives, and excellencies. Seek for further actions of holiness ; for
fulness of grace ; for grace to bring you to the fruition of all from above.
Therefore attend upon the word of God, upon the sacraments, upon holy
conference, where Christ will be present in a special manner ; and by holy
actions seek for glory in the use of the means. Eeach not for things above
your reach. That is arrogaucy. But seek for heavenly things, such as
before named.
We see from hence this further to be observed :
Doct, 4. That heavenly duties have their spring from the articles and grounds
of religion. ' Seek those things which are above.' Why? Because you
are risen with Christ.
The ground of our faith is the cause of holy duties. Whosoever is cor-
rupt in faith, is corrupt in obedience in that degree. Evil opinions breed
an evil life, and a sound understanding breeds an holy life.
Use. Understand therefore the main grounds of religion ; and labour to
digest them, to see the truth of them ; and labour with God by prayer that
he would write them in your hearts by his Holy Spirit.
Again, in that the apostle willeth them to seek heavenly graces : and
that because they are risen with Christ, note further this inference.
Doct. 5. That as a Christian ought to he heavenly-minded, to seek heavenly
graces, so he must do it for this reason, viz., because he is in an estate fitting
for it.
Use. Therefore let none say, he cannot for outivard tronhles or business,
unless thou wilt deny thyself to be a Christian at the same time. He that
will be a Christian must pretend no impossibilities herein. Ai-t thou risen
with Christ ? Then thou hast power to seek those things that are above,
to be heavenly minded. A Christian or no Christian ! God doth not as
Pharaoh, bid us do our work, and we must gather straw ourselves ; but he
bids us do, and quickens us by his Spirit, and enables us to do. He fits
us for such actions ; he gives us power to do them.
Doct. 6. Again, So far as a Christian is raised by Christ, so far he cannot
but seek those things that are above. We need not teach a bird to fly, for it
will learn it of itself; it is natural to her. So a Christian cannot but do
THE POWER OF CHRIST' S RESURRECTION. 201
the things answerable to his nature. He is of a new nature, and therefore
cannot but be Ijeavenly minded. He cannot profane the Lord's day ; he
cannot swear ; he cannot lie ; he cannot blaspheme ; he cannot delight in
carnal courses. He cannot do these things, so far as he is a Christian. In
the hour of temptation he is not himself. It is in this sense that the apostle
saith, * He that is born of God sinneth not,' 1 John iii. 9. So far as he is
born again he cannot sin ; he can do no evil.
Again, as a Christian may do it, and ovight to do it, and cannot but
do it ; —
Doct. 7. So I add further, he glories in it. To be heavenly-minded, and
exercised in spiritual duties, is his happiness and his joy. He is never so
well, never so much himself, as when he is most possessed with heavenly-
mindedness, and most frequent or exercised in spiritual duties. So far
forth as he is a Christian, and enlarged with the Spirit of Christ, so far
forth he glories in holy actions, in heavenly-mindedness.
Use. Is this in all true Chi'istians ? What then mmj ire think of the most
part in the world, that profess religion but from the teeth oxitimrd? They are
not risen with Christ, as the ambitious man, the covetous man, the volup-
tuous man. They savour not the things that are above. They have no new
nature ; for if they had, it would lead them higher than these things. Those
that live in defilements of the flesh, shew that they have no new natures ;
for if they had, they should get strength against them, at least they would
have a continual conflict and wrestling in themselves to overcome them.
For trial of thy estate, see what power is there of the Spirit of God in
thee to make thee heavenly- minded : to joy in things that are above, more
than in all the world besides. If thou find this power in thee, then thou
art a Christian indeed. Thou canst then speak by experience what is the
work of the Spirit ; and thou knowest well what is the virtue of the resur-
rection of Christ. Then thou canst say with St Paul that thou art still
striving to find the virtue of Christ more and more in thee, to make thee
more fully assured of thy part in Christ, and to find the power of his Spirit
subduing corruption in thee more and more, Phil. iii. 9 and 10. Let us
therefore labom- for this power. This is to ' seek the things that are above.'
Labour to find a want of them, that we have not so much of them as we
have need of. Labour then to know the excellency of them : esteeming
of them to be more excellent than all other things. When all other things
leave us, then they will comfort us. Labour also to see an hope to grow
in them. Thou hast hope to attain unto them, because the same Spirit is
promised thee that raised up Christ from the dead. Use then all sanctified
means for the attaining of these spiritual good things. Use heavenly means
for heavenly things. Attend upon the ordinances of God, labour with him
in prayer, that he would make us such as he may delight in, fit us for that
estate that he hath provided for us. Labour to increase in all holy actions ;
take heed of all contrary courses, of worldly- mindedness, of the pleasures
of the world, that they draw not away thy heart from an earnest seeking of
heavenly things as we should be. We are all seekers. We are a genera-
tion of seekers. As the psalmist saith, we are seeking while we are here ;
our possessing is hereafter, Ps. xxiv. 6.
Labour, therefore, to see the want of heavenly graces, and to esteem of
them aright ; and to see hope to attain them, and hope to increase them ;
and use the means, and avoid all contrary courses. So shall you find the
virtue of Christ's resurrection raising you up more and more to seek after
heaven and heavenly things, ' those things that are above.'
THE HIDDEN LIFE.
THE HIDDEN LIFE.
NOTE.
' The Hidden Life' is another selection of Two Sermons from ' Evangelical Sacri-
fices' (4to, 1640). Its separate title-page is given below.* — G.
* T HE
HIDDEN
LIFE,
In two Funerall Sermons upon
Col. 3. 3, 4.
By
The late Learned and Reverend Divine,
Rich. Sibbs:
Doctor in Divinity, M'- of Katherine Hall
in Camhridge, and sometimes Preacher
to the Honourable Society of
g k a y e s-i n n e.
1 John 3. 2,
Beloved, now yee are the Sonnes of God, and it doth not
appeare what wee shall he.
London,
Printed by E. Purslow, for N. Bourne, at the Roy-
all Exchange, and R. Harford at tlie gilt
Bible in Queenes head Alloy, in Pater-
Noster-Row. 16 3 9.
THE HIDDEN LIFE.
For ye are dead, your life is hid ivith Chiist in God. When Christ, who is
our life, shall ajypear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. — Col.
III. 3, 4.
The dependence of these words, in a word, is this. The apostle, after he
had laid the grounds of some doctrines, he doth frame the building of a
holy life and conversation. It is in vain to believe well unless a man work
accordingly. He that lives against his faith shall be damned, as he that
believes against it. Thereupon in this chapter he comes to raise their
affections to be heavenly-minded, and stirs them up to subdue whatsoever
is contrary to heavenly-mindeduess. And because it is a duty of great
moment to be heavenly-minded, and to subdue base affections, he inserts
weighty reasons between. ' If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things
that are above.' And among other reasons there is this, ' Ye are dead,
and your life is hid with Christ in God.' And thereupon he forceth seek-
ing of the things that are above, and the mortifying of earthly members.
For the duties of Christianity are to be applied two ways ; to be heavenly
affected, and to subdue that which is contrary ; to be heavenly-minded,
and to mortif}'' our earthly members. Now how shall we do both ? ' For
ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God,' &c.
You see the fii'st proposition, 'Ye are dead.' With whom ? 'With
Christ, in God.'
A Christian is dead many ways. He is dead to the laiv, to the moral law.
He looks not to have comfort and salvation by it, by the law ; he is dead
to the law, and so flies to Christ.
A Christian is dead also to the ceremonial law. Now, in the glorious
lustre of the gospel, what have we to do with those poor elements that
were for children ? A ceremonious disposition is opposite to the glory and
lustre of the gospel, as the apostle speaks in the former chapter.
He is dead likewise to sin. Having communion with Christ, when he
died for sin, he is dead to sin. He that hath communion in the death of
Christ, hath the same affection to sin that Christ had. Christ hated it
infinitely when he suffered for it ; so every Christian thinks that Christ
died for my sins, and by union with Christ he hath the same affection to
it, he is ' dead' to it.
And because this is but an inchoation and beginning, a Christian is not
perfectly dead to sin. He stands in need of afflictions, and in regai'd of
200 THE HIDDEN LIFE.
afflictions he is dead. They must help the work of mortification. And
because no atiiiction can sufficiently work mortification but death itself,
which is the accomplishment of mortification, we are dead in respect of
death itself, which is the accomplishment of all. Though we live here for
a time, we are dead in regard of the sentence that is passed on us, as we
say a man is dead when the sentence is passed on him. In that respect
we are dead men, for our life is but a dead life. Besides the sentence that
is passed upon us, death seizeth upon us in the time of our life, in sick-
nesses, &c. And so they prepare us to death. Thus, and many other
ways, we are dead.
The second proposition is, ' Our life is hid with Christ in God.'
We are dead, and yet we have a life. A Christian is a strange person.
He is both dead and alive, he is miserable and glorious. He consists of
contraries. He is dead in regard of corruption and miseries, and such like,
but he is alive in regard of his better part, and he grows two ways at once.
It is a strange thing that a Christian doth. He grows downwards and
upwards at the same time ; for as he dies in sin and misery, and natural
death approaching, so he lives the life of grace, and grows more and more
till he end in glory.
This life is said to be a hidden life, ' It is hid with Christ in God.'
The life of a Christian, which is his glorious spiritual life, it is hid.
Among other respects,
1. It is hid to the world, to icorldhj men, because a Christian is an
unknown man to them. Because they know not the Father that begets,
therefore they know not them that are begotten, as St John saith, 1 John
iii. 1. They know not the advancement of a Christian : he is raised into a
higher rank than they. Therefore, as a beast knows not the things of a
man, no more doth a carnal man, in any excellency, know the things of
the Spirit, ' for they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. ii. 14. Therefore it
is a hidden life in the eyes of the world. A worldly man sees not this life
in regard of the excellency. He passeth scorns and contempts of it, of
folly and the like. A Christian, in respect of his happy life, is a stranger
here, and therefore he is willing to pass through the world, and to be used
as a stranger.
2. It is a hidden life likewise ofttimes, not only to worldlings, but in
regard of the children of God themselves ; because hy reason of some infir-
mities that are in the best of God's children, they are apt to judge amiss,
harshly and rashly one of another. Likewise by reason of those calamities
that are common to all men alike. They are afflicted as others, and have
sicknesses, and are contemned more than others ; and by reason of this
the childi'en of God often censure those that have the beginnings of spiritual
life in them. It is hid from them.
It is hid likewise from themselves, for often God's children know not
themselves, in temptation, in their nonage, in the beginning of their con-
version, in the time of desertion, and spiritual slumber and sleep, grace
seems to be dead in them, and then they know not that they have this
spiritual life. Especially if this desertion be joined with outward abase-
ment, they call their estate into question, as in Ps. Ixxiii. 2, se(]., and in
divers places of Scripture. God's children ofttimes, by reason of their
inquisition and search, they raise clouds, whereby they conceal from their
own eyes their own life. Partly through distemper of body, and partly by
distemper of spirit, there are clouds raised between them and their hap-
piness, that they cannot see their spiritual Ufe.
TUE HIDDEN LIFE. 207
But especially it is hid in regard of cvmmon infirmities, wanting gifts that
others have, that have not a dram of grace sometimes, that live to please
men, and look altogether to the outside. They do that many times to
please men hctter than a Christian.
Soiiietijiicn God himself hides himself out of wisdom and mercy to us, when
he sees that wo carry not ourselves so reverently as we should. And this
reason may be sullicient of God's dispensation. God will have it so, partly
for the further hardening of wicked persons, and for trial. For if all were
laid open in this excellent estate of a Christian, who should try their
patience ? "Who would not be a Christian for the comfort, and for the
sense and feeling ? Oh, but this is not so. A Christian hath a life, but
it is a hidden life. Therefore God will try whether men will live by ftxith
or sense, whether they will have their ways now or no, or whether they
will depend upon that glorious life that God will reveal in time to come,
and to exercise and strengthen faith. God will have it so that this life
shall be now hid, that we may live by the promises, though we have no
feeling at all ; that we may persuade ourselves in the greatest desertions
and extremities, yet I have a hidden life in Christ. Though I have little
influence and manifestation of it in me, yet I have a glorious life in my head ;
and I live now by faith till I come to live by sight. This is one reason.
We should not therefore take ofience. We must not judge of Christians
by outward show and appearance, as Christ saith, ' We should not judge
of ourselves by outward appearance,' John vii. 24, nor of the church. The
whore of Babylon hath more painting and setting out, in all glorious shows
— it being an outside religion — than the true spouse of Christ, whose glory
and beaut}' is within. Doth it follow therefore that she is the true church '?
Oh no ; for the beauty of the wife of Chi-ist it is a hidden beauty, ' She
is glorious within,' Ps. xlv. 13. A stranger doth not meddle with the joy
of the church. Christians have a name indeed, and ' a stone that none
know but them that have it,' Rev. ii. 17. It is ' hidden manna.' We
must not judge of the church, or of Christians, by outward appearance ; we
shall be deceived in that. Our life is hid with Christ, the spring of all
spiritual life. The life of a Christian is a secret life. It is a peculiar
life. It is a safe life. It is secret because it is hid. As I said, God's
children are secret ones. They are not known to the world, nor to them-
selves ofttimes.
But ordinarily faith in them breaks through the cloud, and unmasks God
himself; and sees God's fatherl}' face, though he hide himself. They
have a promise to lay hold upon ; and they acknowledge him to be their
Father, and wrestle with him. It is a secret life, but it is not so secret,
but that faith sees into it. It pierceth the veil and sees a glorious life
there. Faith will see God's glorious countenance. Faith makes it a
glorious life though it be secret. Therefore let us not judge ourselves nor
others by appearance.
And it is also a sure life. ' It is hid with Christ in God.' Mark on what
gi'ounds it is sure.
First, it is hid in heaven. No encmj' can come there. The devil comes
not there since he fii'st lost it and was cast out. It is safe in regard of the
place. It is hid in heaven.
And it is safe, because it is hid in Christ, who purchased it with his
blood ; who hath trampled upon all opposite powers, over death, and hell
itself. It is hid in heaven and in^ him who hath overcome all opposite
power. Therefore it is a safe life.
208 THE HIDDEN LIFE.
And it is hid with Christ in God. Christ is in the bosom of God,
Christ mediator. * It is hid with Christ in God.' He is the storehouse
of this hfe. It is hid with him. If any can rob God, then they may
rob our hfe from us ; for it is hid with Christ in God. It is a sure hfe
therefore.
Obj. Oh, but we may lose it, though it be sure in respect of God.
Ans. Nay, saith St Peter, ' We are begotten again to an inheritance,
immortal, and reserved for us in heaven, and we are kept by the power of
God to salvation,' 1 Peter i. 4. It is kept for us, and we are kept to it. God
hath prepared it for us, and prepared us for it. So it is a most sure life, espe-
cially because Christ lives for ever, with whom it is. ' It is hid with Christ
in God.'
It is likewise a peculiar life ; only to God's people. For they only have
union and communion with Christ ; and therefore he saith here, ' yom' life
is hid with Christ in God.'
It is likewise a glorious life ; for it is hid with Christ, who is the glory
of God ; and he saith in the next verse, ' When Christ, who is our life, shall
appear, we shall appear with him in glory.' It is a glorious life. But of
that I shall speak in the next verse.
We sec then that our life is hid in Christ ; and what kind of life this is.
It is a secret, sure, peculiar, glorious hfe. Alas ! we are ready to judge
of ourselves by the present, and not to think it a glorious life. But he
saith, it is hidden for us. ' Light is sown for the righteous,' Ps. xcvii. 11.
It doth not appear for the present. A garden hath seeds sown and herbs,
but in the winter there is no difference between it and a common field ; but
when the sun shines and appears, then the herbs appear in their lustre.
So it is with a Christian. There is light and immortality and happiness
sown for him. When Christ, the ' Sun of righteousness' shall appear, ' then
we shall appear with him in glory,' 1 John iii. 2.
As we may say of all things below, they have a hidden life : the plants
and the flowers in the winter, they live by the root ; and when the sun
appears, then they also appear with the sun in glory. So it is with the
righteous : they have a hidden life. It is hid now in the root, in their
head, in this life. When Christ the Sun of righteousness shall appear ;
when the spring comes ; when the resurrection comes : then we shall ap-
pear with him in glory. And so I come to speak of that verse.
' When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye appear also
with him in glory.'
Our life is now hid. Our happiness is veiled over. There are many
things between us and our hfe. But shall it always be so ? Oh no !
' When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we shall appear also with him
in glory.' He meets with a secret objection. The parts here to be stood
on are these.
1. First, Christ he is our life. He shall appear in glory as our hfe.
This is taken for granted, it is a supposed truth, ' when Christ, who is
our life, shall ajjpear.' It is taken for granted that he shall appear in
glory.
2. The next thing is, that ive shall aiq^ear likewise ivith Christ. Christ
shall appear, and we.
3. And then the consequence : how these depend upon one another.
Because Christ appears in glory, therefore we, ' when Christ, who is our
life, shall appear.'
"The apostle cannot mention Christ, without an addition of comfort ; and
THE HIDDEN LIFE. 209
the Christian soul loves Christ. It sees such matter of comfort, and such
righteousness in him, that it cannot think of Christ without a comfortable
addition of Lord, Saviour, life, hope, glory, &c. Christ carries with him
all comforts. He is food, the bread of hfe, the water of life, all that is
good to the soul. Therefore the apostle gives this sweet addition ' Christ
our life.'
How is Christ our life?
He is every way the cause of the life of grace and of glorj'. And not
only so, the cause, but the root and spring in whom it is. We have it
from Christ and in Christ. We have it in Christ as a root, and from Christ
as a working cause, and by Christ as a mediator. For Christ procured life
at God's hands, by his sacrifice and death. We have it in Christ as a head,
from him as a cause, together with both the other persons ; and through
him as mediator, who by his death made way to life, appeasing the wrath
of God. So we are reconciled and pardoned by the death of Christ.
Christ is not only our life so, but as the matter of our life that we feed
on. When he hath wrought spiritual life in us, then the soul lives by faith
in Christ still, and feeds upon him. He is our life because we feed on him.
For as food nourisheth the body, so the soul, being every day set on by
fi-esh temptations, and afflictions, and troubles, and fresh discomforts, the
soul of necessity is forced to look to Christ every day ; and to feed upon
Christ ; to feed upon his blood afresh, which runs continually. For he is
a mediator for ever ; and he is in heaven to make good that he hath done
by his death ; and we look upon him every day and feed on him ; and so
he maintains the life he hath begun. Christ is our life thus.
More particularly — for memory's sake — -Christ, when by faith we have
union with him once — as we can have no communion without union with
him — when we are one with him once by faith, we have life from Christ,
the life of reconciliation in Imc, opposite to our death in law and in sentence.
For by nature we are all dead and damned as soon as we are born, for our
own sins and the sins of our first parents. We are dead in sentence. Now
by Christ there is a reversion* of this sentence. Christ by his obedience and
sufiering hath satisfied his Father. So by our union with Christ we are
alive in sentence. We are absolved in God's court of justice ; for he will
not punish sin twice.
And then after the life of justification, being justified by faith, we have
the life of sanctification and holiness. For God out of his love, when he
hath pardoned our sin, he gives his Spirit as the best fruit of his love ; and
we having our consciences absolved and acquitted by the Spirit of God,
through the obedience of Christ, we love God. God so loveth us when he
is appeased by Christ, that the bar being taken away, our sins being par-
doned, and the sluice of mercy open, there is way made for another life, the
life of sanctification by the Spirit. Upon pardon of our sins he gives the
Spirit ; and we feeling that love, have love wrought in us to him again, and
that love stirs up every Christian to obedience.
In the next place, After he hath acquitted us by his all-sufficient satisfac-
tion, being God and man, and hath given us his Spirit, there is another
life, the life of comfort, which is the life of our life, in peace of conscience
and joij unspeakable and glorious. This life issues from the former. For
when we find our conscience appeased, that God saith to om- souls he is
' their salvation,' Ps. xxxv. 3, and find a newness wrought in our nature by the
Spii-it of God, and some strength to obey him, then we begin to have a sweet
* That is, 'reversal.' — G.
VOL. V. 0
210 THE HIDDEN LIFE.
peace, as the children of God find in themselves, and joy unspeakable and
glorious.
This is the life of this life. Having union with Christ and his righteous-
ness and Spirit, wo have this peace, which is the way to glory and the
beginning of it. For besides that Christ is our life in glory afterwards,
in this life he is our hfe. Answerable to our servile fear, as we are dead in
law, we have a hfe in justification. As we are dead in nature, so we have
a life in sanctification. We are dead in despair, and run into terrors of
conscience ; so we have a life in joy and peace.
But all those in this life ax'e imperfect, because there is only an union
of grace here, till we come to the union of glory in heaven ; and then at the
day of judgment there will be a perfect justift/uiff of us. We shall not only
be acquitted in our conscience, as w-e are now, but we shall be acquitted
before angels and devils and men, and Christ will acknowledge us. These
are they for whom I died. These are they for whom I made intercession
in heaven. We shall be acquitted there, and there we shall be acknow-
ledged.
And then the life of sanctification, that is now in part, shall then be
perfect, and likewise the peace that now ' passeth understanding ' shall
then be full ; and our joy shall be full by Christ who is our life.
So then we see we have in Christ, ' the second Adam,' whatsoever we
lost in the first root. Whence did we draw sin and misery ? By union
with the first Adam we have damnation, we have the wrath of God, we have
corruption opposite to sanctification, we have terrors and hori'or of conscience.
By the second Adam, and union with him, we have a spring of life and
peuce, and all that we lost in Adam ; and more than all we lost, he being
God-man. The sin of the first Adam was the sin of a man ; the obedience
of the second Adam was the obedience of God-man, which raiseth us to
life everlasting, Rom. v. 16, seq. So that there is more comfort in the
life we have by Christ than there is discomfort in our death by Adam.
We see then hence that in all our deadness and dulness and want of
grace, there is a spring in our nature. God hath given Christ, God-man,
that there should be a treasure in him for all the church, that we may
fetch supply out of our nature. He is fit to be our life, for our nature in
him is united to the Godhead ; therefore Christ is a fit fountain to derive *
grace to believers, because man's nature in him is advanced ; by being
united to the second person he is God-man, able to derive all grace and
comfort and righteousness whatsoever. Shall the first Adam derive unrighte-
ousness, discomfort, and misery, that was a man ? and shall not Clirist,
■ God-man, derive righteousness and comfort and joy and peace, and what-
soever is good ? Undoubtedly he shall. Therefore in all want of grace,
in all temptations and assaults, let us go to the fountain, to the fulness of
grace, to the fulness of God's love in Christ. Christ, God-man, is our life.
As when we are cold we come to the fire, so when we are dull-hearted let
us come to this quickening Spirit.
And to this end let us be stirred up to use those means wherein Christ
will be effectual, whereby, as by veins, the blood of this spiritual life is con-
veyed, as the word and sacraments, the communion of saints and all
sanctified means, whereby the life of grace and comfort may be conveyed
to us. Let us never be out of such ways and courses as whereby Christ
derives this life of grace ; and let us take heed of those that are contrary.
Q7xcst. But how shall I know, saith a weak soul, — that finds Httle comfort
* That is, 'communicate.' — G.
THE HIDDEN LIFE.
211
and peace, and little sanctification ; and is besieged with troubles and is
doubtful, and knows not wlicther his sins be forgiven or no, how shall I
know, — whether Christ be my life or no ?
Aii.'i. I answer that the life of Christ is but now her/un in us, and it is
very little at the first. There is nothing less than grace at the beginning.
The life of Christ is conveyed to us from Christ voluntarily, not by necessity.
' He gives the will and the deed according to his pleasure,' Philip, ii. 13.
Therefore we must know that we have more or less comfort, and more or
less grace as he pleaseth. He brings all to heaven in all ages that have
the true life of grace, though he make a difterence, and give to some
more and to some less ; because ho is a head that flows into his members,
not out of nature, but out of his own pleasure.
2. And a Christian soul that hath union with Christ, that hath a being
and station in him, inaj/ know it. There are always some pulses from this
heart. As we know there is some life by the beating of the pulses, so
Christ's dwelling in the heart is known by these pulses. There will be
striving against corruption, and complaining of it. Nature and corruption
will not complain against corruption ; corruption will not strive against
corruption. There will be sighing and groaning, which is seconded with
a constant endeavour to grow better. It is not a flash. These pulses
beating in the soul of a true Christian shew that there is the life of grace
in him, that Christ dwells in his heart. And this ofttimes doth more
appear in the greatest temptations. Take a Christian at the worst, his heart
sighs to God to recover him ; he is sick, and yet he hopes in Christ. Christ
in the greatest desertion is his life, who was also our pattern when he was
at the lowest : ' My God, my God.' So a Christian at the lowest, he hath
a spirit of prayer. Though it may be he cannot pray distinctly, yet he can
sigh and groan ; and God hears the sighs of his own Spirit always. There-
fore when these pulses beat in him, in the greatest temptations he may
know that Christ lives in him.
Sometimes Christ, in respect of this life, in this world reserves himself
to the chief occasion, as some great affliction of the outward man. In
2 Cor. iv. 10, we see there when the body of Saint Paul was afiiicted, when
it was abased by many afflictions, ' the hfe of Christ was most manifest in
him.' God reserves to poor Chi-istians, that now live in peace and quiet,
the greatest feelings and manifestations of Christ's living in them, till some
great cross, till the hour of death, till a time of need. The life of Christ
is most manifest in the time of abasement.
By the way, therefore, let us not avoid crosses for Christ's sake. Avoid
not any abasement, though it be imprisonment or death. The more our
outward man is abased, if it be for Christ's sake, the more this life of
Christ, this blessed life, this peace that ' passeth understanding,' and this
' joy in the Holy Ghost ' is increased. We shall feel our absolution and
justification the more. This life of Christ is most manifested when we honour
him most by sufi'ering for him. Therefore let us avoid no cross for him.
' Christ, who is our Hfe, shall appear.'' There are two appearings, we
know, of Christ ; his first appearing and his second appearing. His first
appearing was to work our salvation ; his second shall be to accomplish and
fiiiish what he hath begun to work. His first appearing was to redeem our
souls from death, and his second shall redeem our bodies from the coiTup-
tion of the grave. So his second appearing shall be to accomplish all the
good that he came to do and to work by his fu'st. As verily, therefore, as
Christ is come in his first appearing, so verily and certainly he shall appear
212 THE HIDDEN LIFE.
the second time. And as it was the description of holy men before his first
coming to wait for him, ' to wait for the consolation of Israel,' Luke ii. 25,
so Christians now. Those blessed souls that have the report of this, they
wait for the coming of Christ.
There were all kind of witnesses then of his first coming : angels, men,
women, shepherds, the devils themselves. The Trinity from heaven wit-
nessed of him. So for his second coming there are witnesses. Christ
himself saith he will come. The angels say, ' This Jesus that ye see go
up shall come again,' Acts i. 11. It is an article of our faith that he shall
come. The Spirit of God in every Christian saith ' Come,' and that is not
in vain. The desires of the Spirit of God must be fulfilled. Therefore he
shall come. And the Spirit of God stirs up our spirits to say * Come.' There
are all kind of proofs and arguments for it. It is an article of our faith.
It is laid here for a ground, and therefore I will not enlarge myself in it,
but come to the next point. Christ will appear, and
' We shall also appear with him in glory.'
We shall appear, and appear with him, and appear in glory with him.
Christ himself his glory is in some sort hid now. For though he be king
of the church, j^et we see what enemies are in the church ; and Satan
ruflles* in the church a great while, and the nearer he is to his end the
more he rageth. So that Chi'ist's glory seems to be hid. But Christ then
shall appear, and his church shall appear with him in glory.
Quest. Why shall we appear with Christ and be glorious with him ?
Ans. I answer, This is clear, partly because it is Christ's ivill ; in John
xvii., ' Father, I will that where I am they may be also.' It is Christ's last
testament that we should be where he is and be glorious with him, and
Christ's will must be fulfilled.
Again, Consider ichat u-e are to Christ, how near we are brought to him,
and then this will be clear, that when Christ shall appear in glory, we
must appear with him. For Christ is our husband, and we are his spouse.
When Christ comes to be glorious, therefore, his spouse must be glorious.
Now is but the time of contract, the time of the marriage solemnity shall
be at the appearing of Christ. Therefore, ' when he shall appear, we shall
appear with him in glory.' Christ, in his own person, distinct fi-om his
church, is now glorious as a head ; but Christ mystical is not glorious,
Christ mystical sufi'ers. There are many members that are not yet called.
Some are abased, and some are not brought to the fold. And Christ hath
a care of his mystical body, as of his natural body ; and as that is glorious
in heaven, so he will bring all his members to be one glorious body. He
gave his natural body to redeem his mystical body. Therefore, as he is
glorious in that in heaven, so he will be glorious in his mystical body in
every believing soul at the last, when he ' shall come to be glorified in his
saints,' as the apostle saith, 2 Thess. i. 10. He is glorious in himself
now, then he will be glorious in his spouse.
And then from the ground of predestination: Rom. viii. 29, 30, ' We are
predestinate to be conformed to Christ, that he might be the fixst-born
of many brethren.' Now, Christ being glorious, and we being predestinate
before the world was to be like unto Christ ; first, in abasement, to be
abased for him that was abased for us, to sufi"cr for him that suffered for
us, and to be conformed to him in grace, there must be a time to be con-
formed to him in glory. From the ground of election there must be a state
of glory. Our glory must be revealed when Christ shall come and appear.
* This is, = makes a stir, or puts on state.— G.
THE HIDDEN LIFE. 213
I -will press no more reasons that we must be glorious at the second coming
of Clirist as well as himself.
Quest. Wherein stands this glory ?
Am. To clear this point a little — I will not be long in it, — because, indeed,
this glory is such as ' eye hath not seen, nor car heard, nor hath it entered
into the heart of man,' 1 Cor. ii. 9. The apostles speak not much of it.
They speak of it in negative terms, by denying imperfections. ' It is an
inheritance incorruptible, immortal,' Sec, 1 Peter i. 4. And when it is
resembled to earthly things, it is compared to a banquet, to a marriage, &c.
But this glory it shall be in body, in soul, in the whole man.
Ill soul there shall be the knowledge of those mysteries of salvation that
now we are ignorant of. Now we are in the grammar-school, but that shall
be as the university. Then we shall know things more clearly. We shall
see God face to face, and then our souls shall be raised to be capable of
more knowledge and grace. Now the vessel of our soul is not capable, to
know that that we shall then; they are not capable, as they shall be' in
heaven. St Paul himself was not capable ; therefore when he was taken
up into the third heavens, lest he should be proud of his revelations, he
was fain to be abased. We are not capable, we cannot know the glory
of heaven in a full measure now; but then, God shall enlarge the heart
and sanctify it, that we shall have strong spirits, and holy understandings
and affections to understand holy things ; we shall know God face to face.
There shall be a proportion between the glorious things in heaven and our
soul ; there shall be a heavenly soul for a heavenly place, whereas yet it is
not so.
I forbear to shew the particulars of the glory of the body. The apostle
Paul sets it down : 1 Cor. xv. 44, ' It shall be a spiritual body.' It shall
be guided by the Spirit ; and the body, it shall not then need meats and
drinks, but God ' shall be all in all.' Now, our life at the best is fed and
clothed by the creatures ; then, all shall be taken out of God himself. God
himself shall be all in all. The presence of God, and of Christ our Saviour,
shall supply all that we have now other ways. Now comfort is conveyed
from this creature and from that ; but whatsoever comfort we have now
dropped by the creatures we shall then have all in him, and in fulness,
and for evermore. So we shall be glorious in soul and body.
And in our whole man the image of God and Christ shall be perfectly
restored. We shall be like Christ, reserving the difference between the
head and the members ; reserving the difference of a natural Son and of
sons adopted. He shall be more glorious than we. We shall be glorious
as much as we are capable of. In all fulness of joy, and grace, and
dominion over the creature, in freedom from ill and readiness to good,
we shall^ be glorious sons of God. I need not to be long in unfolding
these things.
Quest. When shall this be ?
Aus.^ 'When ho shall appear,' saith the apostle, 'we shall also appear
with him in glory.' It is carried indefinitely, to stop curiosity. There is
no time set down ; but ' icheii he shall appear,' &c. In a word, when all
the elect shall be gathered together. It is not meet that our bodies and
souls should be glorified till all God's people be gathered together. As in
a fomily they do not sit down till all the servants be come in, and then
they sit down together, so in this great family of God, the saints in heaven
and earth, there shall not be perfect glory till all be gathered and saved.
And then what a blessed time will that be, when every one shall be glorious
214 THE HIDDEN LIFE.
himself, and shall put down the sun in glory in his body and soul, and
■when there shall be such a world of them so glorious.
If every star be beautiful, how beautiful are all in their lustre ! When
so many saints shall be gathered together, they shall be far more glorious
than the/sun in his majesty ; and this glory is reserved till all be gathered
together. God said of the creatures severally they were good, but when
he looked on them together they were exceeding good. So the several
souls of Christians are glorious, but at the day of judgment, when all shall
be gathered together, there shall be an exceeding glory. It is reserved, I
say, for the gathering together of the saints ; when Christ, who is the head,
shall have gathered all by his word and ministry out of this sinful world —
which are scattered here and there — then they shall come to perfect glory.
Then there shall be perfect union between the body and soul ; then there
shall be a perfect union between us and all that are dead together ; then
there shall be a perfect union between us and Christ ; then we shall have
the perfect fruition of God, of angels, of all the blessed company in heaven.
Oh what a blessed time will this be ! and this shall be at the glorious
appearing of Christ.
Christ shall appear in glory himself, as verily as he appeared in his first
coming ; and we shall appear with him in glory.
Why should we doubt of it ? Is not that which is greater done aheady ?
Hath not God himself become man ? Hath not God died, and God been
abased in his first coming ? Is not that more wonder than that a man should
become like God in his second coming ? Whether is greater, for God
to become man, or for men to be raised out of their graves and become
glorious ? Certainly this is the lesser. Why should we doubt of it ? Let
us raise our hearts with this, that as verily as he came in abasement to work
our salvation, so verily he shall come and raise us to glory ; and this is a
lesser work than the former.
But to come nearer, to make some further use of this, surely these are
main points, and should be oft thought on. Oh that the hearts of Chris-
tians were exercised with them ! Could we be dead either for grace or
comfort, if we did oft think of this with application ? Let us oft warm our-
selves with these things ; let us bring ourselves to the light ; let us think
of the blessed times to come : could we be unfruitful ? This made Saint
Paul adjure Timothy and the Thessalonians : * I beseech you, by the com-
ing of our Lord Jesus Christ,' &c., 2 Tim. iv. 1, 2 Thes. ii. 1. I shall
need no greater argument to press you, than as verily as Christ shall come in
glory, and as you shall be gathered to him, so hear what I saj. So Saint
Paul chargeth Timothy : 1 Tim. vi. 13, ' I charge thee before Christ, who
at his coming, &c., keep this commandment.' This will move a man's
conscience, and carry him to duty, if nothing else will. Let us think
seriously, Christ will come with thousands of his angels in glory and ma-
jesty, and all shall be glory then, there shall be nothing but glory :
glorious in his company, glorious in himself, glorious in his enemies ; he
shall trample them under his feet by a glorious confusion ; there shall be
nothing but glory in heaven and earth then. And we shall come to the
same glory. The spouse shall partake of the glory of her husband. Let
us think of this, it will quicken and inspire all our courses with a spiritual
kind of light to all actions ; it will enliven and quicken them.
And it will put a kind of manner upon all our actions that they shall be
acceptable to God. For how should we perform all that comes from us ?
All should be done in sincerity, and constantly, and abundantly, and cheer-
THE HIDDEN LIFE.
215
fully, readily, and willingly ; for God requires these qualifications in what
we do. Now, what stirs us up to do all in this manner, acceptably to God,
but this consideration ?
What stirs us up to do things sincerely to Christ ? He will appear in
glory ; therefore let us do things that may stand with his judgment. It is
no matter what the reprobates of the world judge ; let us do things so as
we may stand before Christ at that day. A Christian studie*^. to arraign
himself before Christ, that he may do that that may approve him to him
that shall be his judge ere long.
And so let US hold out ; we shall receive a reward. What will malje us
constant but this ? What makes a man sow his seed, that he scarcely can
spare, but the hope of a harvest ? What makes a man run, but the victory
and the crown ? So Avhat makes a man work, but the hope of reward '?
Be constant, ' for in him ye shall receive the reward if ye faint not,'
Gal. vi. 9.
And so for abowiding in good works, ' your labour is not in vain in the
Lord,' 1 Cor. xv. 58. What made Saint Paul press the abounding in good
works ? ' Finally, my brethren, be stedfast and unmoveable, alway
abounding in the work of the Lord.' Why ? ' for your labour is not in vain
in the Lord.' Your bodies shall rise again ere long in glory; when Christ
shall appear you shall appear, and be glorious with him. ' Therefore
abound in the\vork of the Lord,' 1 Cor. xv. 58; ' sow to the Spirit,' Gal.
vi. 8, and you shall reap glory. ' They that sow sparingly shall reap
sparingly,' 2 Cor. ix. 6. What makes men abound in works of mercy and
love, but this appearing of Christ ? If their love be perfect, they have
comfort in this appearing, and if they abound in mercy, Christ will appear
in mercy to them.
And so /or cheerfulness. That God also requires in every action. What
enlargeth the heart of a man in God's work ? What puts fire into his
affections but this, that Christ will come and appear in glory ere long ?
That he will come and crown every good work ; that we shall not lose a
good word that hath been spoken in a good cause ; not the least good
action ; not a cup of cold water ; but all shall stand on our reckoning ' at
that day when Christ shall come to be glorious in his saints.' This makes
us do things sincerely, constantly, abundantly, and cheerfully.
I beseech you, consider from what ground these things come ; for these
are principles that should be grounds of faith. They are pregnant, and
spread themselves through the whole course of a Christian's life, and there-
fore are worthy to be thought often on.
Again, Why doth God reveal these things beforehands, that we shall
appear in glory in our body and soul, in our whole man ? As it shews us
our duty and the manner of it, so it is a ground of comfort in all estates.
A Christian may think, Now my life is a hidden, secret life. I pass under
censures. It is thus in the world, and thus with me. Well, there will _a
time come, the time of resurrection, that will make amends for all — for this
sickness of body and disquiet of mind, and all annoyance and adversity ;
and it is revealed beforehand for our comfort that there shall be such a
time, that we may make use of it, that w-e may ground our patience upon
it. When Saint Paul exhorts to patience, saith he, ' The Lord is at hand,'
Phil. iv. 5 ; and Saint James saith, ' The Judge standeth at the door,' chap.
V. 9. Let us be patient in mfamies and sufierings ; it will be otherwise ere
long, Christ is at hand.
Again, That ice might continuallij he breathing out thankfulncs-i to God.
216
THE HIDDEN LIFE.
Our whole life slioulcl be spent in thankfulness to God. Even as the angels
in heaven that stand in the presence of God, and the blessed spirits in heaven,
they spend that vigour that is in them, they spend all that is in them in prais-
ing God, in thanks and laud to God, and sing, ' Glory, glory ; ' so beforehand
knowing that ere long we shall appear with Christ, and appear in glory, let us
thank him beforehand. As Saint Peter saith, ' Blessed be God, that hath
begotten us again to an inheritance, immortal, undefiled, &c., reserved in
heaven for us,' 1 Peter i. 3. Let us bless God beforehand, as if we were in
heaven already. Certainly if we hope to be with those that shall sit in heavenly
places in heaven to praise God, we will begin it on earth ; for the life of
heaven is begun on earth. We are kings now; we are priests now ; we
are conquerors now ; we are new creatures now. We must praise God,
and begin the employment of heaven now ; for what they do perfectly, that
we begin to do. In heaven we know there is no ill company ; we will
abstain from it now. There is no defilement of sin ; we will conform our-
selves to that estate we hope for. There is nothing but praising of God ;
as much as may be we will warm our hearts with the meditation of what
God hath done, what he doth, and what he hath reserved for the time to
come, with that we have in hope. The best things of a Christian especially,
are in hope ; for that which we have by Christ principally is not in this
world ; therefore considering that the best things that Christ died for are
in hope, ' let us rejoice in hope,' and in rejoicing have our hearts enlarged
with praising of God for that we hope for.
And be comforted in all the changes of this life, all the changes for the
time to come, and in death itself, which is the last change. Are not all
degrees to make way for that glorious appearing with Christ ? for the soul
at death goes to heaven, and the body shall come after. Why should we
be loath to die, when death is nothing but a change from misery to happi-
ness ? a change from the danger of sinning, to an impossibility of sinning ;
from a vale of misery to a place of happiness ; from men to God ; from
sinful persons that trouble our peace and quiet to better company in heaven ;
from actions that are sinful to actions altogether free from sin. It is a
glorious and blessed change every way. We shall have better company,
better place, better employment, all glorious then, till the time come that
all the elect be gathered together, and then body and soul shall be ' for ever
with the Lord,' 1 Thess. iv. 17. Why then should we fear changes, when
all changes shall end in that that is better ? Is a labouring man loath to
have his hire, or a weary man loath to have rest ? Is a king loath to be
crowned ? Is a party contracted loath to have the marriage consummate ?
Why should we be loath to die ? We should be ashamed of ourselves, that
we have been so long in the school of Christ, and yet have not learned to
unloose our affections from earth to better things ; that we stand in fear of
death, that makes way to the glory of the soul now, and the eternal glory of
body and soul after.
In a word, we are exhorted, in the beginning of the chapter, to have our
minds in heaven, where Christ is; and we are exhorted, after the text, to
mortify our earthly members ; two necessary duties, to have our conversa-
tion in heaven, before we be there, and to mortify our earthly members ;
to die in our affections to earthly things, before we die indeed. Would we
have strength put into our souls to perform both these ? Let us oft medi-
tate of the things that are between these verses. Let us consider that we
are dead, so we should be more lively to God. Consider that our life is
bid with Christ ; that Christ shall appear ere long and we with him in glory.
THE HIDDEN LIFE.
217
We should raise our thoughts to bo with Christ, and draw our souls up to
heavenly things ; for the more our aflections are upwards, the less they will
be below. Our affections are finite. The more we spend them on heavenly
things, the less they will run on earthly. As a man in a trance, his thoughts
are taken up with one matter, that he is dead to other things, so the soul
which is taken up with the glory to come, and with Christ, it is dead to
earthly things ; only it takes them for necessary use, as having use of them
in our travail ; but it useth the world as if it used it not. And this issues
from this principle, that we shall ere long appear with Christ in glory.
There is no man but will drown himself too much with the things of the
world, that hath not this to raise up his soul, ' I shall appear ere long with
Christ in glory,' and then these things will be consumed.
The last point is, how these depend one vpon another, that because Christ
shall appear in glory, therefore we.
I will touch it a little, because it is a point of faith that helps our judg-
ment a little. It is a ground of divinity, that whatsoever is in us that are
members, it is in our head first ; for God is first, and then Christ mediator,
and then we. Whatsoever is good in us, or shall be to us, it is in
Christ first. He is justified from our sins, for he was our surety from sin.
He was abased for them first ; therefore he shall appear then without sin
to glory. Our sin was but imputed to Christ ; be became our surety for
sin and he must be abased ; therefore we cannot be glorious here, because
of our corruptions. Christ was surety for our sins in his first coming.
Now his resurrection shewed that he had satisfied for our sins. The second
time he shall appear in glory. Why are we justified from our sins ? Because
Christ, our surety, was acquitted.
We ascend gloriously to heaven. Where is the ground of it ? He
ascended first, and we ascend for him and in him.
We sit in heavenly places. ^Vlly ? Because he is in heaven beforehand ;
as the husband takes up a place for his wife. Why doth she^ go into the
country and take it up after ? Because her husband hath gone before and
taken it. Our ascension riseth from his, and our sitting at the right hand
of God from his.
And so at the day of judgment, our being glorious, it comes from his.
He then shall appear in glory, as the head and husband of his church, and
shall shine upon all his members. He, as the sun, shall cast a lustre and
beauty and glory upon all that are his ; and then they shall reflect that
glory they have from him upon him again, and he upon them again. So
he shall be glorious in them and they in him ; but the ground of all is, he
is first in glory. He shall appear in glory, and then we in him.
I speak this the rather, because I would have humble consciences to
make use of it in times of desertion, when God seems to be a God that
hides himself, when they find no life nor comfort. Yet if they have but
grace to believe, they may comfort themselves in this. Well, I have it
but from Christ, and he is perfect in glory. He is ascended, and I shall
ascend and rise, and be glorious, because he is so. Put case now I feel no
such matter. It is no matter. I live by faith in Christ, that hath all in
fulness; and what he hath done for me, he will do in me, if I believe in him.
Let a troubled soul comfort itself with this. It is as impossible that he
should be damned that believes in Christ, as that Christ should be damned,
because he, believing in Christ, is one with him, and as verily as Christ is
in heaven, he shall be there ; for Christ rose for all his. The little finger
lives the same hfe as the hand or the foot doth. So a weak Christian that
218
THE HIDDEN LIFE.
hath little grace, he lives by the same faith in Christ that is in glory, as
well as they that are stronger. Let us strive and fight, with this encourage-
ment, as St Paul saith, ' fight the good fight of faith,' 1 Tim. vi. 12. Oh,
but shall we be alwa3-s fighting and striving? No, saith he; lay hold of
eternal life, and then we may well fight against doubts and despair. Let
us therefore labour to fight, so that we may lay hold on eternal life, which
Christ keeps for us, and keeps us for it ; and ere long we shall partake of
that we hope for.
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
NOTE.
' The Spiritual Jubilee ' is designated in the title-page ' two sermons.' Probably
only the substance of them is given. There is no division between them. They
form No. 6 of the 'Beams of Divine Light' (4to, 1639). The separate title-page
will be found below,* and also the general title-page of the volume from wliicli the
' Spiritual Jubilee ' is taken. f The Epistles Dedicatory and To the Reader of ' The
Beams of Light ' are herewitli prefixed. G.
* THE
SPIRITVALL
I U B I L E.
In two Sermons.
By
The late learned and reverend Divine,
EiCH. SiBBs:
Doctor in Divinitie, M' of Katherine Ilall
in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher
at G R A Y E S-I N N E.
John 8. 3G.
If the Sonne therefore shall make you free, yee shall
be free indeed.
Gal. 5. 1.
Standfast therefore in the liberty, wherewith Clirist
hath made us free.
London,
Printed by E. P. for Nicholas Bourne, and
Rapha Harford, and are to be sold at the South
entrance of the Royall Exchange, and in
Queens head Alley, in Pater-Noster-Row,
at the gilt Bible. 16 3 8.
t BEAMES
OF DIVINE
LIGHT,
Breaking forth from severall places
of holy Scripture, as they were
learnedly opened,
In XXI. Sermons.
The III. first being the fore-going Sermons
to that Treatise called The Bruiscd-Reed,X
Preached on the precedent words.
By the late Reverend and ludicious Divine,
Richard Sibs,
D.D.Mr, of Katharine Hall in Camb : and sometimes
Preacher at Graves Inne.
Published according to the Doctor his owne
appointment subscribed with his hand ;
to prevent imperfect Coppies.
EsAV. CO. 3.
The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the
hrightnesse of thy rising.
Psalm. 84. 11.
For the Lord God is a Sun and shield, the Lord will give
grace and glory ; and no good thing will he withhold from them
that walke uprightly.
LONDON
Printed ])y G. M. for N. Bourne, at the Royal Exchange, and R Harford,
at the guilt Bible in Queenes-head Alley in Fater-Noster-Row.
MDCXXXIX.
X See Vol. I. page 42.— G.
i
I
)
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOHN LOED EOBEETS, BAEON OF TEUEO;*
AND TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE LADY LUCIE,* HIS PIOUS CONSOET,
grace and peace from jesus christ.
Right Honourable and truly Noble,
It was not so much the nobility of your blood, as that of
grace given unto you from the divine hand, which did so much interest you
in the love and esteem of that worthy servant of Christ the author of this
work ; in whom ' Urim and Thummim ' met, v/hose whole course being a
real and vital sermon, sweetly consonant to the tenor of his teaching, made
him amiable living, and honourable dead, in the opinion of as many as well
knew him. This was the thing, I suppose, which wrought unto him from
you, as well as from many others of your noble stock and rank, more than
an ordinary esteem ; and this is that which maketh me in nothing to doubt
but that his labours made public under your names shall be very welcome
unto you. The work is answering unto the man, and therefore worthy you
and your acceptance ; only this is the disadvantage, that though these
sermons had his own tongue to preach them, yet they want his own pen to
commend them unto your honours. I well know that the expressions of
holy truths from a gracious heart, by lively voice, do breed deeper impres-
sions in thirsting and reverent hearers, than any publishing of them in dead
letters can do ; yet this we find in experience, that holy and necessary
truths, this way coming abroad into the churches of God, do get the advan-
tage to continue longer, and to become a more general good. They may
stir up,the affections, and set onwards in the course of holiness where the
comforts are sure, and the honours honouring everlasting.
In these ensuing sermons you have variety, the mother of delight ; and
such notable descriptions of the person, offices, love, and life of Christ, that
by them you may not only be settled in divine assurances to your further
• For notices of these well-known patrons of the Puritan clergy, consult any of
the Peerages. — G.
222 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
comforts, but also directed and encouraged, both in your inward and out-
ward conversation, to follow the example of Christ, the most blessed and
unerring example unto all Christians. This champion I beseech you both
to follow unto your lives' end. Make it your work to set up Christ, and
his religion, both in your hearts and in your houses. Acknowledge none
but Christ in matter of salvation ; and none to Christ in point of aflfection.
Let Christ be Christ with you, and then if Christ, — and if not Christ nothing
can be worth anything — ho will make you worthy indeed, he will prove unto
you in life and death a sun, a shield, even a full and an answerable good.
With this Christ I leave you, and with you these ensuing sermons, to be
read and observed for your spiritual furtherances in the enjoyment of
eternal life by Jesus Christ, desiring the great God of heaven and earth to
look upon both you and yours in much grace and mercy ; giving unto you
all the comfort and crown of religion here on earth, and hereafter in
heaven. I rest.
Your honours' to be commanded,
John Sedgwick.*
* Of. Vol. IV. p. 432.-0.
TO THE EEADER.
Christian Reader — The word of God is given ns as a most precious treasure,
and that not for ourselves only, but for our children after us, and therefore
is called Israel's inheritance : Deut. xxxiii. 4, ' Moses commanded us a
law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.' All the wealth in
the world is but as dirt and trash in comparison of the word to the people
of God. ' Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever : for they
are the rejoicing of mine heart,' saith David, Ps. cxix. 111. And therefore
as they rejoice in their own enjoying of it, so they do what they may to
assure it to their children when they are dead, that it may be entailed upon
them and their posterity after them ; yea, so they do also with the know-
ledge of divine truths which they have found in the word ; which is not
indeed found out by men all at one time, but by degrees, as gold is found
in mines, as men come to search farther and farther, and dig deeper and
deeper for it. It was not, they know, imparted to them for their own use
only, but for the benefit of others. ' The manifestation of the Spirit is
given to profit withal,' 1 Cor. xii. 7 ; and therefore as it comes to them from
heaven they hand it to others, that so it may be continued in the church,
' the ground and pillar of truth,' 1 Tim. iii. 15, for the good of those that
shall live in future times.
This was, I hope, the chief aim of those that have published these
sermons of that worth}' light of our church, Dr Sibs. And surely we have
great cause in this regard thankfully to acknowledge their care and pains,
who both took them so exactly from his mouth as he delivered them, and
then kept them so charily as rriv xaXriv ':rapa-/.aTal)yjy.r,v, ' a precious thing
committed to their trust,' 2 Tim. i. 14, and have now published them for the
common good of all that will make use of them. For by this means what was
delivered to a few may now build up many to farther degrees of knowledge
and grace, even all the land over, and they that never saw his face maybe
made sharers in those his labours, which only a few were so happy as to
hear.
Being myself one amongst others that have found the advantage hereof, I
was not so hardly won as otherwise I should have been, to commend these
' Beams of Divine Light ' to the respect of others. Divers truths of
greatest consequence are exactly handled in the several sermons here pre-
sented to you, as concerning the misery of our natural estate, and the bliss
and happiness of those that are quickened by Christ ; concerning the
necessity of the word, our spiritual food, and the zealous violence of the
faithful in pressing after it ; concerning the divers both joys and sorrows,
complaints and triumphs of God's children here, when they are black
224
TO THE READER.
though comely, Cant. i. 5 ; and concerning their happiness in death, and
glory after it, and many other, whereof these few are only a taste.
The study of the Scriptures made the author a man of God, ' perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works ;' and as became a faithful steward
of the manifold grace of God, he endeavoured ' to teach the whole counsel
of God,' and to store men with the knowledge of God's will, ' in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding.' I desire that both thou and I, and all God's
people, may so read these his labours, that it may further our growing in
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whose grace I
commend thee, being
Thine in him.
Arthur Jackson.*
Wood Street, November 6. 1638.
* For notice of Jackson, see Vol. II. p. 442.— G.
I
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from, the
law of sin and of death. — Rom. VIII. 2.
There be four things especially that trouble the peace of a Christian, and
indeed of any man, in this world.
The first is, sin, with the r/itilt of it, binding them over to the wrath of
God, and the expectation of misery, a heavy bondage.
The second is, besides the guilt of sin, the remainders of corruption, with
the conflict that accompanies them while we live in this world ; and that
conflict must needs be tedious.
The third is, the miseries of this life that accompany alway both the guilt
and remainders of sin in this world. We are condemned to a great deal of
trouble here, and this doth much exercise and perplex God's children.
And then the shutting up of all, death and damnation.
The thought of these things doth much disquiet and disturb the peace of
a Christian's soul.
Now, in this Epistle we have comfort against all these. First, for the
guilt of sin, that binds us over to eternal judgment and the wrath of God;
we are freed by the obedience of Christ, the second Adam, as is excellently
shewed in the fifth chapter.
And for the remainders of corruption that we conflict with in this world,
we are assisted against that by the Spirit of Christ. For r s by the obe-
dience of Christ we are freed from the guilt, so by the Spirit of Christ we
are helped and assisted against the remainders of our corruptions.
For the third, the miseries of this life, we have victory in Chiist : ' In him
we are more than conquerors,' as you have it in this chapter, Rom. viii. 37.
They can do us no harm. ' Nothing can separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus.' We have many singular comforts in this chnpter against
all the troubles that can befall us, and this is one that triumphs over all :
' All things shall work for the best to them that love God.' What should
I speak of hurt from anything that befalls us, when all shall work for the
best, by the over-ruling of him that commands all ? ver. 28.
And'^for death itself: ' Neither life nor death shall be able to separate us
from the love of God.' And for damnation which accompanies death: ' It
is God that justifieth, who shall condemn ?' There is opposite comforts
VOL. V. P
226 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
in God's book, nay, in tliis epistle and in tliis chapter, against all that
may any v^ay trouble our peace. ' There is no condemnation to them that
are in Christ Jesus,' saith the apostle ; and then he goes on after to shew
how, by the help of the Spirit, ' all things work for the best,' &c. In this
very verse likewise, you have this comfort set down, of our freedom by
Christ from any thing that may hurt us. ' For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and of death.'
The words are dependent, as we see in the particle ' for ;' 'for the law
of the Spirit of Hfe,' &c. They depend upon the first verse thus; as a
reason why, however there be sin in God's children, yet there is no dam-
nation to them. ' There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ
Jesus.' He proves it thus. Those that are free from the law of sin and
of death, which brings in condemnation, those undoubtedly are free from
damnation. But those that are in Christ Jesus, they are freed from the
law of sin and of death ; therefore there is no condemnation to such. But
how shall we know that we are in Christ Jesus ? Those that have the
Spirit, and are led by the Spirit of Christ, they are in Christ. ' The law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the law of sin and
of death.' So I say, the words are especially a reason of the former,
* There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus ;' because by
the ' Spirit of Christ they are freed from the law of sin, and of death ;' and
by consequent, they are freed from damnation ; for what brings in damna-
tion but sin ?
In the words, then, there is an opposition. There is law against law.
' Tlie law of the Spirit of life in Christ,' and ' the law of sin and of death.'
Now, where there are contrary laws, if there be contrary lords, as there
must le, new lords will have new laws ; especially if they be lords by con-
quest, they will alter the very fundamental laws that were before ; as you
know the old conquerors have done in this kingdom. Here is law against
law, and lord against lord ; Christ against sin and death. Here is a Lord
by conquest over all other lords and laws. Therefore, here must needs be
an alteration of laws upon it ; the very fundamental laws must be altered.
But to come more particularly to the words,
' For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the
law of sin and of death.'
The words are much vexed by expositors (a). I will rather speak my
own judgment of them, and reconcile them, than dash one man's judgment
against another ; for that tends not to edification. ' The law of the Spirit
of life,' &c. The meaning of the words is plain, if we compare it with
other Scriptures.
' The law.' It is nothing but a commanding power ; for so the word
written the law, in the apostle's meaning, is but a power forcing and com-
manding. So the ' law of the Spirit of life' is the commanding and forcing
power of the ' Spirit of hfe in Christ Jesus ;' and so the ' law of sin,' it is
either the tyrannical command and forcing power of sin, or else the con-
demning for sin afterwards, as we shall see hereafter. For we shall unfold
the words better in the particulars.
First, then, here we have set down what estate we are in by nature : ' "We
are under the law of sin and of death.'
And then, here is our freedom and deliverance from that : ' We are made
free from the law of sin and of death.'
And then the author of it, Christ Jesus : ' The law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the law of sin and of death.'
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. 227
In the words, and those that go a little before, there are these three main
fundamental points of religion :
The viiscri/ (oni hondcKje of man.
The deliverance of man.
And his dttti/.
Here 3-011 have his misery. He is under ' sin and death.'
Here is his deliverance. He is ' free from this by Christ.'
And for his duty ; you have it in the last verse of the former chapter,
speaking of his deliverance. * Oh wretched man that I am, who shall
deliver me from the body of this death ?' Then it follows, ' Thanks be to
God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Thankfulness is due, not verbal
thankfulness only. Indeed, the whole life of a Christian, after his deliver-
ance, is a real thanksgiving. But that is not in my text.
To speak, therefore, of our estate b}- nature, and of our deliverance ; our
estate is, that we are under the law of sin and death.
^ * We are under the law of sin.'
Ols. 'We ave nnder sin. What sin ? We are under a threefold sin.
1. We are under the ^first sin of our first father ; for as Levi paid tithes
in Abraham to Melchisedec, so we all sinned in the loins of Adam om* first
parent ; and the guilt of that first sin lies upon us.
2. Secondly, There is another sin that is derived and springs from that
first sin ; which is the deprivation of the image of God, the pravation of our
nature. We call it original sin, whereby we are stripped of that good we
had in our first creation, and have the contrary image, the image of Satan
stamped upon us. So we are under the'fu'st sin, the guilt of it; and we
are under the sin of nature, which we call original sin, because it is derived
to us even from our birth and first original we had in Adam.
3. And then we are under actual sins, which are so many bonds to tie
us fast under sin. We are dead by nature ; but we are dead and rotten by
actual sins. We superadd to the guilt of our sin by our daily conversation.
We are blind by nature ; but we are blinded indeed much more by our cus-
tom of life. Every sin doth, as it were, tie us faster to damnation, and
keeps us faster under the bondage of sin. Every new sin takes away some
part of the light of the understanding, and takes away some freedom of the
will. It darkens the judgment more and more, and enthralls the will and
afiections ; and binds a man more and more to the just sentence of God,
that, as it is Prov. v. 22, ' the sinner is tied with the bonds of his own
sins.' He is under the chains of an habituated wicked course of life, as
well as of the sin of nature, which is the spring of all.
This is the miserable state of man ; and these chains of his sins reserve
him to fm-thcr chains. Even as the devil is reserved in chains ; that is, in
terrors of his conscience, which as chains bind him till he be in hell, the
place he is destinated to ; so we being in the chains and bondage, vexed
with our sins, we are at the same time in the chains of terrors of conscience,
the beginnings of hell, and reserved to chains of damnation and death
world without end. It is another manner of matter, our estate by nature,
than it is usually taken for. If men had but a little supernatural light, to
see what condition they are in, till they get out into Christ Jesus, they
would not continue a minute in that cursed estate.
And we have deserved to be cast into this estate by reason that we left
our subordination and dependence upon God, which, being creatures, we
should have had. Therefore we turning from God to the creature, God
punisheth our rebellion to him with rebellion in ourselves ; because we
228 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
witbdi'ew our subjection from him, that therefore there should be in us a
withdrawing of the subjection of sin and of the whole soul to God. So
this captivity to and giving up to sin in us, it is penal and sinful ; but as it
comes from God, it is merely* judicial. Therefore we have it oft in the
New Testament, in Kom. i. 21 and 2 Thes. ii. 10. The Gentiles, because
they would not entertain the truth that they might have had by the light of
nature, • God gave them up to their sins.' And then the Christians after
the apostles' times, they set slight by the good word of God, the gospel.
Therefore * God gave them up to believe lies.' It was sin in them ; but
as God gave them up, it was justice. So this captivity and giving men up
to their own lusts, it is justice ; as it comes from God, it is a horrible judg-
ment. It is worse than to be given up to the devil himself; for by being
given up to our lusts we increase our damnation. To be given up to be
tormented of the devil, it is not such a mischief as this spiritual captivity
under sin. We are guilty ourselves of our own thraldom. And this will
increase both the shame and the punishment. The shame, that a man
shall say in hell afterward, ' I have brought myself hither, I had means
enough, prohibitions enough ; I had sometimes chastisements of God,
sometimes motions of his Spirit, sometimes one help from God, sometimes
another ; yet notwithstanding I brake through all oppositions that God set
between me and the execution of my lusts, and to hell-ward I would, and
hither I have brought myself.' So that indeed the greatest part of hell-
torments, the shame of them especially, it will be that men have brought
themselves by their own wits and carnal lusts thither. And indeed all the
wit a carnal man hath, that is not sanctified by God's' Spirit, it is to work
himself to misery, to be a drudge to his lusts ; that sets all the parts he
hath on work, not how he may serve God and be happy in another world,
but how he may prowl and provide for his own carnal lusts. This is the
estate of all men by nature. They are under sin, under the power of sin.
The blind judgment leads the blind affections, and both ' fall into the ditch,'
into hell, Luke vi. 39.
1. The fearfulness and odiousness of this condition, to be in prison and
thraldom and bondage to all kind of sin, natural and actual, it will appear
further by this, that being in subjection to our base lusts, by consequence
we are binder the boudaije of Satan; for he hath power over death by sin,
because he draws us to sin, and then accuseth us and torments us for sin.
By sin we come to bo under his bondage. So that we are under the fearful
captivity of the devil while we are under the captivity of sin ; for all the
power that he hath over us it is by sin. He is but God's executioner for
sin. First, God gives him power to draw us to sin, to punish one sin with
another ; and then he sutlers him to accuse and to torment us afterward.
What a fearful bondage is this, that being under sin we are under Satan !
We are servants to our enemy, as God threatened his people that they
should serve their enemies. But this is a greater judgment, to be slaves
to this enemy. This is the condition of every sinner. To be a slave to a
man's enemy, it is a judgment of judgments ; yet notwithstanding this is
the case of every man by nature ; he is a servant to his enemy, to Satan
and his own lusts. He is a right Ham, a ' servant of servants ;' for Satan
useth him as the Philistines did Samson : he puts out his eyes ; he puts
out his judgment, his wits ; he besots him ; and so he goes blind in Satan's
blind work and business : he is in a maze all his life long, till at length he
sink into hell. So this is the aggravation of a man's estate by nature, he
* That is, ' altogether.'— G.
THE SPIBITUAL JUBILEE. 229
is a slave to his enemy. You know blessed Zacliarias saith, Luke i. 74, 75,
' That, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve
him without fear, in righteousness and holiness, all the days of our life.'
There is no wicked man, but he is acted by the devil. Oh that we would
consider of it ! We think we are led only by our own lusts and sins, as
men ; but until a man be in Christ, ' he is ruled by the command of the
prince of the air,' Eph. ii. 2, and in 2 Tim. ii. 26, ' he is ruled by Satan,
according to his will.' Even as a bird in a snare, it may move up and
down, but it is still in the snare, and he that hath it there cares not : he
knows he hath it safe, and he goes about to catch other birds ; so when
we are in our lusts and follow them, the devil hath us in his snare : he is
secure of us, and goes about getting more and more still. The devil acts,
and moves, and leads all carnal men.
But how chanceth it that they do not know and perceive it ?
It is because he goeth with the stream of their own corruptions. Indeed,
we must make some limitation of this. In some cases the devil doth not
move carnal men. They are better than the devil would have them be for
the good of the commonwealth and state ; but yet take them as they stand
in relation to religion, they may be devilish, secret, bitter, dark enemies to
that. Though they may have strong heads for the good of the state, yet it
is not from any intrinsecal good in themselves ; but God useth them and
makes them do that. For the devil would have all naught ;■•'.= he is an
enemy to the very swine ;■ therefore much more to the good of a state.
Therefore there are many politic civilt virtues, as we see in Ahithophel and
Judas, which no question is more than the devil would have. He vv-ould
not have civil men so good ; he would not have them do that they do for
the common good ofttimes. Yet the devil will be sure to be at one end of
the good they do, to taint them, that their aim shall not be good. It shall
not be to the glory of God ; it shall not be in reference to salvation.
And so, as the good is temporal, they have a reward suitable to their
desire ; they care for no more. For they beheve not heaven but in a
general notion. It may be there is such things, it may be not. Therefore
the good they do is some little petty obedience. And what do they desire ?
To be well esteemed and respected ; to be venerable, and to have honour-
able opinions in the hearts of men, that men may stoop in their conceits to
them as men of respect. This they deserve indeed, and this they have ;
God gives them that they would have. But as Christ tells the Pharisees,
who did excellent good things, but it was to be ' seen of men,' he tells them
' they had their reward,' Mat. vi. 2. They had all they looked for, for
they were atheists ; they looked not for heaven. So a man may say of all
that are out of the state of grace : though they do more than the devil
would have them, and for divers degrees of what they do they are not sub-
ject to the devil, yet he taints their actions one way or other in the end ;
he joins himself in the action first or last ; he hath a hand in all their
actions. So that, notwithstanding there be many good things, yet this
hinders not a whit but that they may be under the power of the devil ', for
it is but in reference to civil government and state, which is but for a time.
« The fashion of this world passeth away,' 1 Cor. vii. 31. Here will be no
magistrates to govern nor no people to be governed ere long.
I speak it, because many men are ready to propound such and such, to
imitate them in their courses ; and to say, I will be no more religious than
he ; when, perhaps, all may be but formality and common graces for this
* That is, 'nauglitj',' = wicked.— G. t That is, ' moral.'— G.
230 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
world. God will honour some so mnch, to bo instruments for common
good here ; but what is that to eternal salvation ? He may be a slave to
his lusts, and an enem}' to the power of grace, for all that. Therefore,
unless we see men wrought upon thoroughly, to be of the mind of Christ,
to have the Spirit of Christ, to judge of things as Christ judgeth, to judge
the service of God and doing his will to be the best things, and to ' go
about doing good, 'Acts x. 38, and that with reference and obedience to God,
all is notbing else. A man may be under the bondage of his corruptions,
and so by them to Satan.
Again, When we are under our lusts and sins, it is about earthly things ;
tre are in slavery to that n-hicli is worse than onrsdves. Sin is the vilest thing
in the world, and the things whereabout sin is occupied are the profits and
pleasures and trifles of this world — mean petty things. It is a base slavery
to consider whom we serve,
3. And to consider what it is that is in bondage, the immortal soul of man,
that had the image of God stamped upon it ; and in the soul of man, the
most excellent part, the will, that is most free, yet being under sin, it is
most bound. Our will was given us to cleave to God and the best
things ; to make choice of the best things, and to cleave to them un-
divided in life and death, and for ever ; and so by cleaving to things better
than ourselves, to advance ourselves to a higher condition. For when the
soul of man that is under better things, that is under God and Christ, and
doth cleave to God and Christ in his affections, and to the things of a
better life, these be things bettering a man's condition, even raising the
soul from its own present estate to a glorious condition ; for we are as we
aiiect.* Our wills and our affections do transform us. Therefore wicked
men are called the world, because they love it ; and holy men are called
heavenly, because they are carried in their affections and wills to heavenly
things. Our affections and wills do denomiitate us, they give us the
name ; nay, that is too little, they do give us the reality, the state. When
God so alters and changes our dispositions, that out of a sanctified judg-
ment we make a right choice of things, and then cleave to them in our
wills and affections constantly, this raiseth our nature to be higher than
itself: 'He that cleaveth to the Lord is one spirit,' as the apostle saith,
Acts X. 38. f Indeed, our affections transform us anew. As it isVith the fire,
it transforms cold and gross bodies to be all fiery ; so God and heavenly
things work upon our hearts, they transform us to be like themselves.
Now, for this inward soul of man, which is so excellent a thing, fitted
by God to cleave to better things, for communion with himself and ever-
lasting happiness, for this to be a drudge to base pleasures and profits, to
the windy empty things of this world, to vain titles and such like empty
things, and to place its happiness in these things, it is a pitiful degenera-
tion that so excellent a thing as the immortal soul of man, that shall never
die, should join with those things that shall make him miserable, that it
sliall be better for a man that he had never been ; as it is said of Judas,
' It had been better for that man that he had never been born,' Mat.
xxvi. 24.
4. In the next place, consider that that foUon-s this thraldom and baseness
to our lusts. There is a double fruit of it. (1.) The one is uncertain. I
mean, for our yielding to our base afiections, what get we ? ' The plea-
sures of sin for a season,' Heb. xi. 25 ; a little pleasure or profit, perhaps
not that neither ; but if we have it, it is a fading commodity, that goes
* That is, ' choose,' 'love.'— G. t Qu- 1 Cor. vi. 17?— Ed.
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. 231
away quickly. When tliey are gotten, what are they ? Vanity. They
promise more before we get them than they perform when we have them.
But then (2.) There is another wages, that God injustice hath appointed for
it, that is, ihaniiatiun: ' The wages of sin is death,' liom. vi. 23. It cries
for wages. When we are under sin we can look for nothing but death,
and therefore he joins them together here : * the law of sin and of death,'
an expectation of eternal misery. This a man hath that is wedded to him-
self, that hath not learned the first lesson in the gospel, to deny himself.
He is a wretched slave to the devil in his best part and power ; his lusts
imprison his will and affections ; his wit, that should devise how ho should
be happy for eternity, it is only a drudge to his base lusts. There are a
company of men that are the shame and blemish of the gospel, that set
their wits a-work only how to devise to satisfy their base lusts ; and then
the issue and conclusion of all this is eternal misery ; and in the mean-
time, the expectation of misery in terrors of conscience. This is the
estate of every man till he be translated by the Spirit of God to a better
condition in Christ, that he spends out his time in a base and miserable
thraldom, worse than the thraldom of the Israelites in Egypt or in Babylon.
5. And it is so much the more fearful, because men are insensible of it,
like bedlams, that make nothing of their chains, that laugh in their chains.
A frantic man, when he is bound in chains, he laughs, when they that are
about him weep at his misery. So you have men frolicking in sin. They
will swear at liberty, and besot themselves at liberty, and corrupt their
consciences, even for base trifles. They think they are in no bondage, and
they do all wondrous cheerfully and well ; whenas indeed the more cheer-
fully and readily any man performs the base service of sin, the more he
is in bondage. Freedom is opposite to bondage. Notwithstanding, such
is the nature of sin, that the more freely we do it the more we are bound ;
because the more freedom we have, the more we are entangled. We run
into guilt upon guilt, till after guilt comes execution, an eternal separation
from the presence of God, and an adjudging to eternal torments for ever.
. So that it is a false judgment tliat the world hath. They think great
men happy men. Why ? They do as they list. Ay, they may do so,
and ofttimes they take the liberty to do so. They will be under no laws.
They are so far from obeying the law of God, that they are loath to be
hampered with the laws of the state, or with any laws, but they will be
above all. A miserable condition ! Why ? The more will a man hath
in evil, the more miserable ; for the more freely and with less opposition
he tangleth himself. Let his place be never so great, the deeper he sinks
in rebellion, and the deeper he sinks into guilt upon guilt ; which will all
come to a reckoning at the hour of death and day of judgment. So the
men that we admire and envy most — out of simpleness and want of judg-
ment— they are the most miserable creatures in the world, if they be out
of Christ and have not grace. For they have nature let loose in them with-
out restraint ; and nature being under the captivity of sin, becomes out of
measure sinful in such. The less a man is curbed either from laws above
him or the law within him to check him, the more wretched man he is.
For the deeper he goes in rebellion and sin, the deeper his torment shall
be afterward.
Great persons have a great privilege. What is that '? They shall be
greatly tormented. That is all the privilege that I know if they be
naught.* Those that shake off all bonds, any earthly privilege and pre-
* That is, ' naughty,' = wicked. — G.
232
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
rogative is so far from exempting them from misery, that it makes them
more miserable ; for unless they have grace to use those things that might
be an advantage to better things, they sink deeper and deeper into sin,
and so into terrors of conscience first or last ; and, by consequence, to
damnation. Oh it is a fearful condition to be the greatest monarch in the
world and not to be in Christ, and under the law of ' the Spirit of life in
Christ' ! They are the objects of pity above all kind of men to truly
judicious souls, that know out of God's truth, and by the light of the
Spirit, W'hat is to be judged of the state of men. You see then what kind
of misery it is that natural men are under, being under the law of sin.
G. To declare it a little further, for men will hardly think it is such a
bondage to be under sin. Therefore, I beseech you, do but consider Iwvi
sin tTjranniscth ichere it gets streur/th. See it in some instances. The
covetous worldly man that is under the law of that lust, he hath the law
of other lusts, but that is predominant — see how it tyranniseth. It takes
away his rest ; the use of God's blessings ; the good things he hath given
him to enjoy. It makes him in thrall to the creature. We see it in carnal
pleasure. Amnon, when he lusted after his sister Tamar, it took away
his rest, 2 Sam. siii. 2, seq. And how doth this base aifection tyrannise in
some men ? It makes them forget their bodies so, that they overthrow
their health and hasten death temporal. It hurts the natural man. It
makes them forget their credit ; it makes them forget their souls ; it makes
them stink, by living in that carnal noisome sin. The judicious heathen
were sensible of it, by the strength of natural judgment ; yet sin where it
is in any strength uncurbed, it so tA^anniseth, that it makes men forget
both health and life and credit and estate in this world, that they come to
nothing. What should I speak of forgetting life eternal and damnation ?
They have no faith to believe that. But such is the tyranny of sin, that
it makes them forget things sensible ; that by experience, after they see
how dearly they have bought their base pleasures, with the loss of credit,
and health, and comfort ; with the loss of the estate that God hath trusted
them withal in this world.
Take a man that is under the base law of ambition, a proud person. See
how it tyranniseth over^him. It makes him forget blood and kindred, all the
bonds of nature. He will kill his brethren to make his way ; as you know
in our own stories, such tyrants. If there were not stories enow in this
kind, daily experience shews it. Where the law of ambition and pride
reigns, it makes the heart wherein this tyrant sets up his throne, to forget
all bonds whatsoever, of nature and justice. You know whose speech it
was, ' If the law must be violated, it must be for a kingdom' [b). But
men will do it for far less. We see what men will do for a base place to
command others in this world, when they are conscious of their own ill
courses, and commanding corruptions ; and all to give way to the base
affection of ambition. A touch is enough of these things, for experience
witnesseth and goes along with me. All men that are not in Christ, they
have some predominant sin ; either some base sin, or some more refined
sin and lust, that keeps them from Christ and salvation ; and this tyran-
niseth over them.
And this is the nature of this tyrant sin. It hath such possession of a
man till he be got out of it and be in Christ, that it takes away the sight of
itself. It hinders the knowledge of itself ; it puts out a man's eyes. For
that whereby a man should judge of corruption, it is corrupt itself. ' The
wisdom of a man is death, it is enmity to God,' Rom. viii. 7. The wit that
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. 233
he bath that should discern of his base courses, it tangles him more and
more to his own lusts ; so that wit and wisdom, the highest part of the soul,
it is imprisoned by base affections ; and that power that should discern cor-
ruption, it is set on work to satisfy corruption. What is the wit of a man
that is not in Christ occupied about all his lifetime ? It is nothing but a
drudge and a slave, to devise means to satisfy his base lusts. Take a
worldly man : he is exceeding witty to contrive worldly plots and business,
though he be a dunce and a sot in matters that are spiritual. In his own
tract and course, he hath a shrewd wit. Why ? Because his lusts to the
world, they whet his wit. So we see the best thing in man now is en-
thralled to sin, his very wisdom itself; therefore it is enmity to God.
Every man hath some Herodias,* some sin or other that he is in bond-
age to, till he be in Christ. He cannot in a like measm'e be given and
enthralled to all sins. It is unnecessary ; because one sin serveth another.
Many sins serve one great one. Corruption doth not run in all streams in
one equality : but it runs amain one way unchecked and uncontrolled and
unraortified, in all men that are not in Christ, and subdues the soul to
itself, that it can devise and plot for nothing, but to satisfy that base lust.
This is the state of man by nature.
Ohj. But some will say, it is not our state and condition. We are bap-
tized, and receive the sacrament, and hear sermons, and read good books ;
and therefore we are not under sin.
Ans. But saith the apostle, * His servants ye are to whom ye obey,' Kom.
vi. 16. You may know the state of your service and subjection, by the
course of your life. And as Christ saith to the Jews, John viii. 33, they
bragged that they were free. Alas ! proud people ! They were neither
free for soul nor state ; for they were under the Romans. They thought
they were free because they were ' Abraham's children.' Were they not in
captivity to the Egyptians, and under the Babylonians, and in present
captivity under the Romans ? Yet they forget themselves out of pride.
' If the Son make you free, ye are free indeed,' John viii. 36 ; but because
they were in a sinful course, they were slaves of sin. So it is no matter
what privileges men are under, that they receive the sacrament, and are
baptized, and live in the church, &c. ' His servants ye are, whom^ ye obey.'
If there be prevailing lusts that set up their throne and tyrannise in our
hearts, and set our wits on work, to devise how to satisfy them more than
to please God, it is no matter what privileges we have. It is no matter
whose livery we wear, but whom we serve. We may wear God's livery,
that shall be pulled over our heads afterward and we be uncased ; that it
shall appear that we are the devil's servants under the profession of
Christ.
There is no man that is not in Christ, that denies his corrupt nature
anything. If revenge bid him take revenge, he will if he can ; if he do
not, it is no thanks to him, but to the laws. If any sin rise in the heart,
all the parts of the body, and powers of the soul, are ready weapons to
this tyrant to keep a man in slavery. As if anger and wrath keep a man
in bondage, you shall have it in his countenance ; his hand will be ready
to execute it"; his feet will be ready to carry him to revenge. If it be a
proud heart that a man is kept under, you shall have it in his looks and
expressions outward. If it be the base affection of lust, you shall have
adultery in the eye ; an unchaste and uncircumcised ear and filthy rotten
language. Men you see upon all occasions are ready to execute the com-
* Of. Mat. xiv. 3.— ti.
234 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
mands of these tyrannical lusts, in some kind or other. Therefore never
talk of thy freedom, when lusts are raised up within thee, either ascending
from thine own corruption, or cast in by Satan, and so joining with thy
heart. Presently thy tongue will speak wickedly, and thine eyes, and looks,
and countenance, shew that there is a naughty heart within ; and the whole
man is ready to execute it, further than a man is curbed by law, or respect
to his reputation or the like, which is no thanks to him. Yet a man can-
not act the part of a civil man so well, but the corruption of his vile heart
will betray itself in his looks or language. One time or other this tyrant
will break forth. Therefore let us look to our hearts and courses ; for if
we be not in Christ, we ai'e under the * law of sin.'
' And of death.'
We are not only under the law of sin, but also ' of death.' Now, 1,
there is a death in this world, the separation of the soul from the body.
But that is not so much meant here. For when we are in Christ we are
not free from this death. But there is, 2, a worse death, which is a separa-
tion of the soul from the favour and love of God, and from the sanctifying
and comforting Spirit of God. When the Spirit of God doth not comfort
and sanctify the soul, it is a death. For as the soul is the life of the body,
the body hath but a communicated life from the union it hath with the
soul. The soul hath a life of its own, when it is out of the body, but the
body hath its life from the soul. So it is with the soul.*
1 . When there is an estranyement of the soul from the Spirit of God and Christ,
sanctifying, and comforting and cheering it, then there is a death of the soul.
The soul can no more act anything that is savingly and holily good, than
the body can be without the soul. And as the body without the soul is a
noisome odious carcase, oflensive in the eyes of its dearest friends, so the
soul without the Spirit of Christ quickening and seasoning it, and putting
a comeliness and beauty upon it, it is odious. All the clothes and ilowers
you put upon a dead body cannot make it but a stinking carcase ; so all
the moral vhtues, and all the honours in this world put upon a man out of
Christ, it makes him not a spiritual living soul ; he is but a loathsome
carrion, a dead carcase, in the sight of God, and of all that have the Spirit
of God. For he is under death. He is stark and stiff, unable to stir or
move to any duty whatsoever. He hath no sense nor motion. Though
such men live a common natural civil life, and walk up and down, yet they
are dead men to God and to a better life. The world is full of dead men,
that are dead while they are alive, as St Paul speaks of the ' widow that
lives in pleasures,' 1 Tim. v. 6. A fearful estate, if we had spiritual eyes
to see it and think of it.
2. But then after the death of the soul in this world, there is another
degree of spiritual death ; which is, when the soid leaves the hodij. Then the
soul dies. For then it goes to hell. It is severed for ever from the com-
fortable and gracious presence of God, and likewise it wants the comforts
it had in this world.
3. And the third degree of it is, when body and soul shall bo joined
together ; then there is an eternal separation of both from the presence of
God, and an adjudr/iuf/ of them to eternal torments in hell. This is the state
of all men that are not in Christ. They are dead in soul while they live ;
dead after the separation of the soul and body, and after to be adjudged to
eternal damnation, world without end. Life is a sweet thing, and we know
death it is terrible. When we would set out our hatefulness to anything,
* lu margin here, ' In this world,' — G.
, THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. 236
vre use to say, ' I hate it as death.' Do we love life, and do we hate death ?
We should lahour then to be out of that condition that we are all in by-
nature, wherein we are under sin and death, in regard of spiritual life, I
mean ; for, for civil life, and government, and policy, men may have life
and vigour enough, that are hypocrites. But I speak of a better life, an
eternal life, that is not subject to death.
Now, mark the joining of both these together. We are under sin and
death by nature. Where a man is under sin he is under death ; for as .
the apostle saith, Kom. v. 12, ' Sin entered into the world, and by sin
death.' They were neither of both God's creatures, neither sin nor death.
But sin entered into the world by Satan, and death by sin. ' Oh, ye shall
not die,' saith Satan. He was a har alway from the beginning. So now
he saith to men, you shall not die ; you maj' do this and do well enough.
But he is a liar and a murderer. When he solicits to sin he is a murderer.
Let us take heed of solicitations to sin, from our own nature or from Satan.
Mark how God hath linked sin and death, ' The wages of sin is death,'
Rom. vi. 23. When we are tempted to sin, we think, I shall have this
credit, or profit, or contentment, or preferment, and advancement in the
world. Ay, but that that you get by sin, it is not so great as you look for,
when you have it, if you get it at all. But afterwards comes death, the
beginnings of eternal death, terrors of conscience, universally follow, if a
man be himself, if he be not besotted. The more a man is a man, and
enjoys the liberty of his judgment to judge of things, the more he sees the
misery that is due after sin, with a fearful expectation of worse things to
come. Sin and death are an adamantine chain and link that none can
sever. Who shall separate that which God in his justice hath put together ?
If sin go before, death will follow. If the conception go before, the birth
will follow after ; if the smoke go before, the fire will follow. There is not
a more constant order in nature than this in God's appointment : first sin,
and then death and damnation after.
Use. Therefore when we are tempted to sin let us reason with ourselves,
' There is death in the pot,' 2 Kings iv. 40. Let us discern death in it.
It will follow. And if a man after repent of it, it will be more sharp
repentance and grievous than the sin was pleasant ; that a man shall have
little joy of his sin, if he do repent. If he do not repent, what a fearful
estate is a man in, after he hath sinned ! Sin and death go together. No
human power can sever them ; for take the greatest monarch in the world,
when he hath sinned, conscience is above him as great as he is, for con-
science is next under God. It awes and terrifies him, and keeps his sleep
from him ; as we see of late in our bloody neighbour country, after that
gi'eat massacre, he could not sleep without music and the like.* All that
they have and enjoy in the world, all their greatness, it will not satisfy and
stop the mouth of conscience ; but when they sin, they feel the wrath of
God arresting, and they are as it were shut up in prison, under the terrors
of an accusing conscience, till they come to eternal imprisonment in the
chains of hell and damnation. This is the estate of the greatest man in
the world that is not in Christ. They are not so happy as we think they
are. They are imprisoned in their own hearts, though they walk at never
so much liberty abroad, and do what they list ; for sin and death goes
together, and before eternal death comes, the expectation and terrors of it
seize on them for the present. So that whatsoever our first birth be,
though it be noble and great, yet by it we are bond- slaves under sin and
* Cf. Vol. I. p. 149. -G.
236 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
death, unless our second birth, our new birth, make amends for sin, for
the baseness of our first birth. This prerogative, our spiritual nobleness,
is such an estate ■wherein we are not born, but are born again to it, ' to an
inheritance immortal,' &c., 1 Peter i. 4. But by nature w-e are all bond-
men, though we'be born never so nobi}'. Therefore let us never brag of
our birth, as the Jews did, that they were the children of Abraham. No,
saith Christ, you are of your father the devil, John viii. 44. Let none
stand upon the gentry and nobility of their birth, unless they be taken out
of the condition they are in by nature, to be in a bettej condition in Christ;
for we see all men naturally are under the law of sin and death.
These things are slighted, because we enjoy ' the pleasures of sin for a
season,' Heb. xi. 25. Men think to be enthralled to sin, it is pleasant
thraldom, they are golden fetters ; for I shall have the pleasures of sin all
my lifetime, &c. ; and for death, I will set a Roman spirit against death.
Saith a Roman, What ! is it such a matter to die ? It is nothing to die (c).
They set a good face on the matter. And this is the conceit of many men
till they come to it. But, alas ! to be enthralled iib death, it is another
matter, for behind death there is a gulf. A man may break the hedge
well enough with a strong resolution to die ; it is nothing to die if there
were an end. But there is a gulf, there is damnation and destruction
behind ; there is eternal torment behind ; to be adjudged from the presence
of God for ever : to be separated from all good and all comfort, and to have
society with the devil and his angels in hell, and that for ever and for ever.
Thou mayest, perhaps, make slight of the service of sin, because thou hast
the present baits to delight thee, but thou shouldst regard death. Thou
mayest neglect death, but then regard eternal death. "This word ' eternal'
it is a heavy word, ' eternal ' separation from all good ; and eternal com-
munion with the devil and his angels ; and for the wrath of God to seize
on thy soul eternally, world without end. Methinks men should not set
light by that. Therefore considering that this is our estate by nature, — we
are all slaves to sin and death, — let us labour to get out of this cursed
estate by all means, which is by
' The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.'
Now, I come to speak of our freedom : ' The law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath, freed me from the law of sin and death.' This is good
news indeed, to hear of freedom : good news to the Israelites to hear of
freedom out of Egypt, and for the Jews to hear of Cyrus's proclamation for
their freedom out of Babylon. Freedom out of bondage is a sweet message.
Here we have such a message of spiritual freedom, from other manner of
enemies than those were. The year of jubilee, it was a comfortable year
to servants that were kept in and were much vexed with their bondage.
When the year of jubilee came they were all freed. Therefore there was
great expectation of the year of jubilee. Here we have a spiritual jubilee :
a manumission and freedom from the bondage we are in by nature. ' The
Spirit of life in Christ makes us free from the law of sin and death.' There
is life in Christ, opposite to death in us. There is a Spirit of life in Christ
and a law of the Spirit of life in Christ, opposite to the law of sin and
of death in us. So that this is our happiness while we live here (Oh, it
is the blessedness of men to make use of it while they have time and space
and grace to repent, and to cleave to Christ), that whatsoever ill we are
under by nature, we may have full supply in Christ for all the breaches
that came by the first Adam. There came the wrath of God, the corrup-
tion of our nature, terrors of conscience, death and damnation. All these
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. 237
followed tlie sin and breach of the first Adam. All these are made up in
the second. He hath freed us from all the ill we received from the first
Adam, and that we have added ourselves ; for we make ourselves worse than
we come from Adam by our voluntary and daily transgressions. But we
are freed from all by the ' law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.'
How comes this freedom ?
1. There can no freedom be without satisfaction to divine justice. For
why are we under sin ? God gives us up to sin. Why are we under death ?
God gives us up to death. Why are we under Satan's government ? Ho
is God's executioner, God's Serjeant. He gives us up to him here because
we offend him. Why are we under damnation and wrath ? Because God
is offended. All our slavery comes originally from God. However it be
sinful in regard of Satan that keeps us, yet the power whereby he keeps us
is good, for he doth it from God. His will is always naught, but his power
is always lawful. Therefore the power whereby the devil keeps us, if we
look up to God under whom the power is, it is a lawful power ; for God
hath a hand in giving us up to sin : it is a judicial giving up, and then by
lusts and sin, to Satan and death and damnation. So if we speak of free-
dom, we must not begin with the executioner : the wrath of God must be
satisfied. God must be one with us, so as his justice must have content-
ment. Satisfaction must be with the glory of his justice, as well as of his
mercy. His attributes must have full content. One must not be destroyed
to satisfy another. He must so be merciful in freeing us as that content
must be given to his justice, that it complain not of any loss. Now, recon-
ciliation alway supposeth satisfaction. It is founded upon it.
2. And satisfaction for sin, it must be in that nature that hath sinned. Now
man of himself could not satisfy divine justice, being a finite person ; there-
fore God the second person became man, that in our nature he might
satisfy God's wrath for us, and so free us by giving payment to his divine
justice. The death of Christ, God-man, is the price of our liberty and
freedom.
But why doth the apostle speak here of ' a law of the Spirit of life in
Christ ' which frees us ? But here is no mention of satisfaction bj^ death.
Oh, but death is the foundation of all, as we shall see afterwards. To
unfold the point, therefore, because it is a special point, and the words need
unfolding.
Here it is said there is life in Christ.
* A Spirit of life,' and a law of the Spirit of life in Christ.
1. There is life hi Christ, not only as God, for so indeed he is life.
God his life is himself ; for life is the being of a thing, and the actions and
moving and vigour and operations of a thing answerable to that being. So
the life of God is his being : ' As I live, saith the Lord ;' that is, ' As I am
God, I will not the death of a sinner,' Ezek. xviii. 32. Now, Christ hath
life in him as God, as the Father hath. But that is not especially here
meant.
2. There is life in Christ as God-man, as mediator. Now, this life is
that life which is originally from the Godhead. Indeed, it is but the God-
head's quickening and giving life to the manhood in Christ ; the Spirit
quickening and sanctifying the manhood. And we have no comfort by the
life of God, as it is in God's life alone severed ; for, alas ! what communion
have we with God without a mediator '? But our comfort is this, that God,
who is the fountain of life, he became man, and having satisfied God's
justice, he conveys life to us. He is our head ; he hath life in himself as
238 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
God, to impart spiritual life to all his members ; so there is life in Christ as
mediator.
And there is a Spirit of life. That life it is a working life, for spirit is
an emphatical word. Spirit added to a thing increased the thing. Again,
he saith, ' The law of the Spirit of life.' Law is a commanding thing. To
shew that the life in Christ is a commanding life, it countermands all
opposite lives whatsoever, of sin and death ; and this law is a countermand
to all other laws. ' The law of the Spirit of life ' frees us from all other
laws. So here is life, the Spirit of life, and the law of the Spirit of life — all
words of strong signification.
But for the clear understanding of this sweet and comfortable point, first,
consider how the law of the Spirit of life is in Christ, what it doth in him,
and then how it is derivatively in us.
First of all. We must know this for a ground, whatsoever is done to us
IS done to Christ first ; and whatsoever we have, Christ hath it first. There-
fore life is first in Christ, and then in us ; resurrection fii'st in Christ, and
then in us ; sonship first in Christ, and then in us ; justification from
our sins first in Christ — he is freed from our sins — and then in us ;
ascension first in Christ, and then in us ; glory in heaven first in Christ,
and then in us. We have nothing in us, but it is derived from Christ.
Therefore, this being laid as a ground, we must consider how the Spirit of
life works in Christ, what it doth in Christ, and then what it doth as it is
in us ; for whatsoever Christ hath, it is not only for himself, but for us.
What doth it in Christ ?
1. The Spirit of life in Christ, first of all, it did quicken and sancfifij
his human nature. That nature that Christ pleased to take upon him
it stopped sin, it made a stop of original sin, in sanctifying that blessed
mass out of which his body was made. For the foundation of his obedience
actual, that it was so holy, it was hence that his nature was purified by the
Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin. The foundation that his death and
sufi'erings was satisfactory and acceptable, it was that his holy nature was
sanctified by the Spirit of God. So the first work of the Spirit of life in the
Son of God, it was to sanctify and quicken that blessed mass that he took
upon him.
2. And the Spirit of life that quickened and sanctified our nature in
Christ did likewise ennoble our nature ; for even as a base woman is en-
nobled when she is taken in marriage with a great man, — she hath his dignity
accounted hers — so our nature, by the Spirit being sanctified, is knit into
the union of person with Christ, that our nature and the second person
make one Christ. So our nature by the Spirit is ennobled by this union.
And
3. Also enriched it irith all ffrace that our nature is capable of ; for the
nature of Christ bad this double prerogative above ours : first of all, that
blessed mass of flesh, it was knit to be one person with God ; and then,
that nature was enriched and ennobled with all graces above ours. And
this the Spirit of life did to Christ himself, to his human nature that he
took upon him, that he might be a public person. For God, the second
person, took not upon him any man's particular person, of Peter, or Paul,
or John, for then there should have been distinct persons, one person
should have died, and another rise ; but he took our nature into his person.
So that the same person that did die was God, though he died in our nature,
that he might be a public person. So we must consider Christ sanctifying
our nature, that he might fit and sanctify all our persons.
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. 239
But did the Spirit of life do nothing else but sanctify and enrich the
human nature of Christ with grace ?
4. Yes. For the Spirit of life in Christ did sanctify him /or his sacrifice,
as he saith, John xvii. 19, in that blessed prayer, ' I sanctify myself for
them.' It prepared him for his death, and made him a fit sacrifice. When
he entered upon his calling, he had more of the Spirit : the Spirit of life,
as it were, was increased. For it is no heresy to think, that the gifts of
Christ, for the manifestation of them, were increased. For in every state
he was in, he was perfect ; and when he set upon his office, and was bap-
tized, he was fuller of the Holy Ghost : as it were, there was a fuller mani-
festation than before, when he did not set upon his office openly.
5. In his death, what did the Spirit of life then ? It supported him in his
ven/ death ; for there was an union of the Spirit. When there was a sepa-
ration of his soul and body, there was not a separation of the union. That
which gave dignity, and strength, and value, and worth to his death, it was
the Spirit. Though there was a suspending of the comfort a while, yet
there w'as no separation of the union. But I speak no more of that, being
not especially meant here.
6. But especially in his resurrection (which we are now to think of by
reason of the day, and it is not amiss to take all occasions), especially then,
the Spirit of life that had sanctified Christ, and quickened him, and enriched
his nature, and supported him, and done all, that Spirit of life quickened
the dead body of Christ. ' And he was mightily declared to be the Son of
God by the Spirit of sanctification, by his resurrection from the dead,' Rom.
i. 4. The Spirit of life raised him from the dead, and put an end to all
that misery that he had undergone before for our sakes. For until his
resurrection, there was, as it were, some conflict with some enemies of
Christ, either with Satan, or the world, or with death itself. He lay under
death three days. Until Christ's body was raised, our enemies were not
overcome. God's wrath was not fully satisfied. It was not declared to be
satisfied at least. For he being our surety, till he came out of the grave,
we could not know that our sins were satisfied for. But now, when the
Spirit of life in Christ comes, and quickens that body of his in the grave,
and so doth justify us, as it is, Eom. iv. 25, ' He died for our sins, and
rose again for our justification : ' that is, by the Spirit of life in Christ
quickening his dead body, he declared that we are fully discharged from
our sins, because he was fully discharged from our sins ; being our surety,
he shewed by his resurrection that he was fully discharged from all that he
took upon him. When a man comes out of prison that is a surety, his
very coming out of prison shews that he hath a full discharge of all the
debt he undertook to pay. So the Spirit of life, raising Christ's body the
third day, manifestly declared that the debt he took on him was fully dis-
charged. And so as he died for sin, to satisfy God's justice for them, so he
rose again for our justification, to shew that he had a full discharge for all.
Now, since the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath quickened his body,
the soul may make a bold demand to God, as it is in 1 Pet. iii. 16. It
may make that demand, Rom. viii. 33, ' Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect ? It is Christ that died, nay rather, that is risen
again,' and ascended into heaven, and makes intercession for us. ' Who
shall lay anything to the charge of God's people ? it is God that justifieth,
who shall condemn ? ' Our sins ? Christ hath taken our sins upon him,
and satisfied divine justice for them ; and by the Spirit of life hath quick-
ened that dead body of his, that was surety for us himself. We may well
2 10 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
say, ' "Who sliall lay anything to our charge ? ' He that is our surety is
dead. Dead ? Nay, risen again ; nay, ascended, and sits at the right
hand of God. Therefore now the conscience of any Christian may make
that interrogation and bold demand there. It may stand out any that dares
to oppose the peace of his conscience, now that he may say, Who is it ?
It is God-man that died. It is Christ that died in our nature, and hath
raised that nature of ours again, and is at the right hand of God. Who
shall lay anything to our charge ? The Spirit of life in Christ, quickening
him, hath quickened us together with him ; so that now we may boldly
demand we are freed from our sins, because our Surety is freed from all.
All this was for our good. What Christ did, it was not for himself, but
for us. And in his birth, and life, and death, and resurrection, we must
consider him as a public person, and so go along with all that he did as a
public person. Whatsoever may be terrible to us, we must look upon it
first in Christ. If we look upon the corruption and defilement in our nature,
look upon the pure nature of Christ, His nature was sanctified in his birth,
and he is a public person : therefore this is for me ; and though I be defiled
in my own nature, and carry the remainders of corruption about me, yet
the Spirit of life in Christ sanctified his nature, and there is more sanctity
in him than there can be sin in me. When we look upon our sins, let us
not so much look upon them in our consciences, as in our surety, Christ.
When we look upon death, look not upon it in ourselves, in its own visage,
but as it is in Christ, undergone and conquered : for the power of the Spirit
of life in Christ overcame death, in himself first, and for us, and will over-
come in us in time. When the wrath of God is on our consciences, look
not upon it as it is in ourselves, but as undergone by Christ, and as Christ,
by the Spirit of life now in him, is raised up, not from death alone, but
from all terrors. ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' See
Christ, by the Spirit of life, quickened from all ; not[only bare natural death,
but from all enemies thou needest to fear. From the law : it is nailed to
his cross ; he now triumphs over it ; and from sin : he was a sacrifice for
it ; and from the wrath of God : he hath satisfied it, or else he had not
come out of his grave. So whatsoever is terrible, look on it in Christ first,
and see a full discharge of all that may affright thy conscience, and trouble
thy peace any way. See him in his death, dying for every man that will
believe. Consider him in his resurrection as a public person, not rising
himself alone, but for all us. Therefore in 1 Pet. i. 3, there is an exeellent
place, ' Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to an
inheritance immortal, undefiled,' &c. ; and so go along with him to his
ascension, and see ourselves ' sitting with him in heavenly places,' as St
Paul speaks, Eph. ii. 6. Oh this is a sweet meditation of Christ ! to see
ourselves in him, in all the passages of his birth, and life, and death, and
resurrection, and ascension to glory in heaven ; for all that he did was as
a public person, as the second Adam. But now, before the Spirit of life in
Christ come to free me, I and Christ must be one ; there must be a union
between me and Christ ; I must be a member of Christ mystical. For as
Christ quickened his own body, every joint when it was dead, because it was
his body, so he quickens his mystical body, every member of it. But I
must be a member first ; I must not be myself severed from Christ. There-
fore, the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ, the first thing it doth
(next to impetration* and obtaining of happiness), it works application :
* That is, = procuring by prayer, entreaty, or request. — G.
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. 241
for these two go together, impetration and application. Christ by his death
obtained all good, and by his resurrection he declared it ; but there must
be an application to me. Now this Spirit of life which is in Christ, which
quickened him and raised him up, and all for my good, must apply this
to me.
The grace of application it is faith. Therefore this must be wrought in
the next place. How doth the law of the Spirit of life free me ? Because
first it freed Christ, therefore me. But that is not enough, except there
be application. Therefore the law of the Spirit of life works faith in me,
to knit me to Christ, to make me believe, that all that he hath done is
mine ; and the same power that raised Christ from the dead, works the
power of faith and application. For we must not think that it is an easy
thing for a carnal man to believe, to go out of himself, that it is salvation
enough to have salvation, by the obedience of another man. No. Both
in the Ephesians and Colossians, in divers places, it is St Paul's phrase,
that the same power ' that raised Christ from the dead,' must raise our
hearts, and work faith in them.* For as the good things that faith lays
hold on are wondrous good things, even above admiration almost ; that
poor flesh and blood, a piece of earth, should be an heir of heaven, a mem-
ber of Christ; that it should be above angels in dignity : as the things are
super- excellent things, even above admiration in a manner, so the grace that
believes these things, it is a strange and excellent, and admirable grace,
that is faith. Therefore faith must be wrought by the law of the Spirit of
Christ ; by the ministry of the gospel. This is the grace of application,
when a man goes out of himself ; when he sees himself first in bondage to
his corruptions, to Satan, and to death ; and then sees the excellent way
that God hath wrought in Christ to bring him out of that cursed estate ;
then he hath by the Spirit faith wrought in him. And indeed the same
power and Spirit that quickened Christ from the dead, must quicken our
hearts to believe in Christ. It is a miracle to bring the heart of man to
believe. We think it an easy matter to believe. Indeed, it is an easy
matter to presume, to have a conceit, but for the soul in the time of temp-
tation, and in the hour of death, for the guilty soul to go out of itself,
and cast itself upon the mercy of God, who is justly offended, and to believe
that the obedience of Christ is mine, as verily as if I had obeyed myself,
here must be a strong sanctified judgment and a might}' power to raise the
soul, to cast itself so upon God's mercy in Christ. So that besides the
obtaining salvation by Christ, there must be a grace to apply it ; and this
faith doth.
Faith is said to do that that Christ doth, because faith lays hold upon
Christ. "What faith doth, Christ doth ; and what Christ doth, faith doth.
Therefore it hath the same actions applied and given to it that Christ
hath. Faith is said to save us. You know it is Christ that saves us. But
faith lays hold on Christ that saves us. Faith purgeth the heart, and
overcomes the world. Christ by his Spirit doth all this. Because faith
wrought by the Spirit is such a grace as lays hold on the power of Christ,
it goes out of itself to Christ, therefore what Christ doth, faith is said to do.
So then the law of the Spirit of life in Christ not only freed Christ himself
by his resm-rection, but likewise by the same power whereby he raised him-
self, he raiseth our hearts to believe what he hath done, both in his state
of humiliation and exaltation, and makes all that Christ did ours.
The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, working faith in us, and by faith other
* Cf. Ephesians ii. 6, and Colossians ii. 12. — G.
VOL. V. Q
242 THE SPIUITUAL JUBILEE.
graces, doth free us from the hiw of sin and death. Christ doth it, and
faith doth it, and grace, which issues from faith, doth it suhordinately.
Christ doth it hy way of merit ; and by his Spirit working faith in us, to
lay hold upon whatsoever Christ hath done or sufiered, as if we had done
it ourselves. So it frees us from the law of sin and death, because it
lays hold of the freedom w-rought by Christ for us. But besides, and
next to faith, there is a Spirit of sanctification, by which we are free
from the commanding law of sin and death. But to clear all this, con-
sider there is a freedom in this life, and in the life to come from sin and
from death.
1. A freedom in this life, in calling, in justification, in sanctification ; and
in the life to come a freedom of glory.
1. There is a freedom in effectual calling, by the ministr^'^ of the gospel.
The gospel being preached and unfolded, faith is wrought, whereby we
know what Christ hath done for us ; and we see a better condition in
Christ than we are in by nature. Seeing by the Spirit of God the cursed
estate we are in, we are convinced of sin in ourselves, and of the good that
is in Christ ; and hereupon we are called out of the thraldom we are in by
nature, by the Spirit of Christ and the word of God, unfolding what our
condition is ; for man by nature having self-love in him, and that self-love
being turned the right way, he begins to think, Ay, doth the word of God
say I am a slave to sin and damnation ? The word of God can judge
better than myself ; and then the Spirit of God sets it on with conviction,
that undoubtedly this is true. And together with the cursed kingdom and
slavery that I am under, there is discovered a better estate in Christ ; for
the gospel tells us what we are in Christ ; freed from hell and death, and
heirs of heaven. Oh the happy estate of a Christian to be in Christ !
The gospel, M'ith the Spirit discovering this, a man is called out of the
cursed estate he is in by nature to the fellowship of Christ by faith, which
is wrought in this calling. So that now he comes to be a member of
Christ b}^ faith. So that whatsoever Christ hath, or is, or hath done or
sufiered, it is mine by reason of this union with him by faith, which is the
grace of union that knits us to Christ, and the first grace of application.
Ho there is the first degree of liberty and freedom wrought by the Spirit of
God, together with the gospel in efi'ectual calling.
2. The second is in justification. That faith and belief in Christ that
was wrought in efi'ectual calling, it frees me from the guilt of my sins.
For when the gospel, in efiectual calling, discovers that Christ is such a one,
and that there is such an estate in Christ, and there is fiiith wrought in
me, then that faith lays hold upon the obedience of Christ to be mine.
For Christ in the gospel offers his obedience to be mine, as if I had done
it in mine own person. Whatsoever Christ did or sufiered is mine ; for
he is made of God to be ' wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemp-
tion,' 1 Cor. i. 30, to be all in all. The gospel sets him forth to be so.
Now faith laying hold of Christ, to be made of God all in all, obedience,
righteousness, &c., whatsoever is needful, hereupon this faith justifies me;
hereupon I come to be free from the guilt of my sins, because my sins
were laid upon Christ. Christ's death was the death of a surety. It was
as if I had died myself, and more firm. Thus I come to be free in justifi-
cation ; for what my surety hath done I have done.
' 3. Again, There is a freedom in sanctification ; that is, when a man believes
that Christ is his, and that his sufferings are his, then the same Spirit that
discovers this to be mine, it works a change and alteration in my nature,
I
TUE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. 213
and frees me from the dominion of sin. The ohedicnco of Christ frees me
from the condemnation of sin, and the Spirit of sanctification frees me from
the dominion of sin. Tliis is the freedom of sanctiiication, which faith hiys
hold on. ' Whosoever hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his,' Rom.
viii. 9. Christ as a head derives* to me the Holy Spirit to sanctify my
nature ; and ' of his fulness we receive grace for grace,' John i. IG. So
the Spirit of sauctihcation in Christ frees me from the dominion of sin and
death.
It is said here, that by Christ we have spiritual liberty and freedom, not
from sin and death, but from the law of sin and of death. It is one thing
to be freed from sin and death, and another thing to be freed from the law
of them ; for we are not indeed freed from sin and death, but from the law
of sin and death, that is, from the coudemniug power of sin ; that though
sin be in us yet it doth not condemn us ; and though we die, yet the sting
is pulled out. Death is but a passage to a bettor life. So I say in justi-
lication, we are freed from the condemning power of sin ; and in sanctifi-
cation, from the commanding power of sin. When we are knit once to
Christ, we have the obedience of Christ, ours in justification ; and the
holiness of Christ is derived to us, as from the head to the members in
sanctification ; and so we are freed from the law of sin. To understand
this a little better, the same Spirit that sanctified the natural body, the
human nature of Christ, whereby he ' became bone of our bone, and flesh
of our flesh,' Eph. v. 30 : the same Spirit doth sauctify the mystical body
of Christ, that it may be * bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh.' For
before we come to heaven, Christ must not only ' be bone of our bone,'
&c., that is, in his incarnation, but we mast be ' bone of his bone,' &c. ;
that is, we must have natures like Christ, not only flesh and blood — for
so a reprobate hath flesh and blood, as Christ hath — but we must have his
Spirit altering and changing our nature : that instead of a proud, disobe-
dient, rebellious nature, now it must be a holy and humble and meek
nature, together with human frailty, for that we carry about with us.
Then the Spirit of life derived from Christ makes us ' bone of his bone.'
For indeed, in his human nature being ' bone of our bone and flesh of
our flesh,' he made us ' bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.' He
became man that we might partake of the divine nature, being partakers of
the divine Spirit. So that now the Spirit of life in Christ, when we are
knit to him, is a Spirit of sanctification, altering our natures and working
in our hearts a disposition like Christ's : that we judge as Christ judgeth,
and choose as Christ chooseth, and aim at God's glory as Christ did ; for
there is ' the same mind in us that was in Christ,' Philip, ii. 5 — in our
proportion, growing still more and more to conformity with Christ, till we
be in heaven, till ' Christ be all in all,' 1 Cor. xv. 28, when he will change
our nature to be holy as his own.
II. Besides this liberty from sin and death in this life, there is a glorious
liberty and freedom that we have by the Spirit of Christ when we are dead ;
for then the Spirit of life that raised Christ's dead body will raise our
bodies ; and that Spirit of Christ that raiseth his body and raiseth our
souls in this world from sin to believe in him, will raise our dead bodies.
The same virtue and power that works in Christ works in his members.
This is called * the glorious liberty of the sous of God.' Then we shall be
freed indeed, not only from the law of sin, but from sin itself; and not only
from the law of death, but death itself; and we ' shall live for ever with
* That is, ' communicates.' — G.
244 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
the Lord,' 1 Thess. iv. 17. Christ then ' shall be all in all by his Spirit.'
Christ will never leave us till he have brought us to that glorious freedom.
We are freed already from sin and death. He hath * set us in heavenly
places together with himself now, Eph. i. 3. In faith we are there already :
but then we shall be indeed. Thus you see how we come to have the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ, to free us from the law of sin and death, and
all the passages of it.
Use. You see here that there is law against law — the law of the Spirit
of life in Christ against the law of sin and death. I beseech you, consider
that God hath appointed law to countermand law ; the Spirit of Christ to
overcome sin in us, not only in justification but in sanctification. Oh let
us therefore comfortably think there is a law above this law. I have now
cold, dead, base afiections ; but if I have the Spirit of iChrist, he can
quicken and enliven me. He will not only pardon my sin, but by the law
of his Spirit direct, guide, and command me a contrary way to mj' lusts.
And this is an art of spiritual prudence in heavenly things, whensoever we
are beset with dangers, to set greater than that against it. The devil is an
angel ; but we have a guard of angels about us. The devil is a serpent ;
but we have a brazen serpent that cures all the stings of that serpent. We
have principalities and powers against, but we have greater principalities
and powers for us : the law of life against the law of sin and death. We
have a law of our lusts tyrannizing over us and enthralling us. It is true.
But then there is a law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, to overcome
and subdue that law of our lusts, if so be that we use the prerogatives we
have, if we use faith and go to God and Christ, in whom are all the trea-
sures of gi'ace. He is the treasury of the church : ' Of his fulness we
receive grace for grace,' John i. 16. Ai'e we troubled with any corruptions ?
Go to the Spirit of liberty in Christ, and desire him to set us at liberty from
the bondage and thraldom of our corruptions. And remember what Christ
hath done for us, and where he is now, in heaven. Let us raise our
tlioughts that we may see ourselves in heaven already ; that we may be
ashamed to defile our bodies and souls with the base drudger}' of sin and
Satan, that are sanctified in part in this world, and shall be glorified in
heaven. Certainly faith would raise our souls so. We betray ourselves,
when, being once in the state of grace, we are enthralled basely to any sin.
' For sin shall not have dominion over you, because you are under grace,'
saith the apostle, Rom. vi. 14. Being under grace, if we do but use our
reasoning and use faith and exercise the gi-ace we have given us, we cannot
be in thrall to corruptions. We shall have remainders to trouble us, but
not to rule, and reign, and domineer. For sin never bears sway, but when
we betray ourselves, and either believe not what Christ hath done for us,
or else exercise not our faith. A Christian is never overtaken basel}^, but
when he neglects his privileges and prerogatives, and doth not stii" up the
grace of God in him.
Learn this then, when we are troubled with anything, set law against
law : set the law of the Spirit of life in Christ against all oppositions what-
soever ; and let the temptation lie where it will.
1. Let it lie in justification, os uJien tve are tempted by Satan to despair
for sins, for great sins. Oh, but then consider, the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ hath ' freed me from the law of sin and of death.' Christ was
made sin, to free me from sin. Consider that Christ was God-man. He
satisfied divine justice. * The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin,*
1 John i. 7, ' though they be as red as crimson,' Isa. i. 18. Thus set
I
THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE. 245
Christ against our sins in justification, when the guilt of them troubles our
souls.
2. And so likewise, when ice are set on by base lusts, set against them the
power of Christ in sanctification. What am I now ? A member of Christ ;
one that professeth myself to be an heir of heaven. There is a Spirit of life
in Christ my head. There is a law of the Spirit of life in Christ; that is,
there is a commanding power in his Spirit ; and that Spirit of his is not
only in the head, but in the members. If I go to him for grace, I may
have grace, answerable to the grace that is in him, grace that will strengthen
me with his power. ' Be strong in the Loi-d, and in the power of his might,'
Eph. vi. 10, and in * Christ I can do all things,' Philip, iv. 13, by his
Spirit, though in myself I can do nothing.
3. And so in deadness and desolation of spirit, when the soul is cast down
with discomfort, let us think with ourselves, the Spirit of life in Christ is
a quickening Spirit. If I can believe in Christ, he hath freed me from the
guilt of sin ; and he hath by his Spirit given me some little enlargement
from the dominion of my corruptions : why should I be cast down ? I am
an heir of heaven. Ere long Satan shall ' be trodden under my feet,' Luke
X. 19. Ere long I shall be free from the spiritual combat and conflict with
sin, that I am now encountered with. Therefore I "will comfort myself; I
will not be cast down overmuch.
4. In the hour of death, let us make use of this freedom of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. When the time comes
that there must be a separation of soul and body, Oh let us think with our
ourselves : Now I must die, yet Christ hath died ; and I must die in con-
formity to my head ; and here is my comfort — ' The law of the Spirit of
life hath freed me from the law of death.' It hath freed me from spiritual
and eternal death. So that now through Christ death is become friendly to
me. Death now is not the death of me, but death will be the death of my
misery, the death of my sins ; it will be the death of my corruptions. Death
now will be the death of all that before troubled me. But death will be
my birthday in regard of happiness. ' Better is the day of death than the
day of birth,' Eccles. vii. 1. When a man comes into this life he comes
into misery ; but when he dies, he goes out of misery and comes to hap-
piness. So that, indeed, we never live till we die ; we never live eternally
and happily till then. For then we are freed from all misery and sin.
' Blessed are they that die in the Lord ; they rest from their labours,' Rev.
xiv. 13. ', They rest from their labours of toil and misery; they rest from
the labours of sin, from all labours whatsoever. ' Blessed are they that
die in the Lord,' and of all times then blessed, more blessed than before.
They rest from their labours, and then begins their happiness that shall
never end. So you see what comfort a Christian's soul sprinkled with the
blood of Christ may have, if it go to God in Christ, and beg of Christ to
be set at liberty from all enemies, to serve God in holiness and right-
eousness.
I speak too meanly when I say, the law of the Spirit of life hath freed us
from sin and death. This is not all. The Spirit of life not only frees us
from ill, but advanceth us to the contrary good in every thing wherein this
freedom is. For we are not only called out of misery, but to a kingdom.
We are not only freed from sin, but entitled to heaven in justification ; and
in sanctification we are not only freed from corruption, but enabled by the
Holy Spirit of liberty to run the ^Yays of God's commandments, and make
them voluntary ; to serve God cheerfully, ' zealous of good works,' Titus
2iC) THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
ii. 14. We are not only freed from the command and condemnation of
sin, and the rigour of the hxw, but we have contrary dispositions, ready and
willing, and voluntary dispositions, wrought by the Spirit of Christ, to every
thing that is good. And so we arc not only free from death and misery
(for so things without life are, they suffer no misery), but we are partakers
of everlasting life and glorv, the liberty of glory. God's benefits arc com-
plete ; that is, not only privative, freeing us from ill, but positive, implying
all good ; because God will shew himself a God : he will do good things as
a God, fully. For the law of the Spirit of life not only frees us from the
law of sin and of death, but ' writes the law of God in our hearts.' He not
only frees us from the law of death, but advanceth us to everlasting life,
to the glorious life w^c have in heaven, ' to live for ever w-ith the Lord,'
1 Thes. iv. 17. Oh happy condition of a Christian, if we could know our
happiness !
Let us often meditate deeply of Christ, and of ourselves in him ; let us
see all our ill in him, and all our good in him : see death overcome, and
sin overcome by his death, he being ' made a curse for us,' Gal. iii. 13 :
see the law overcome, he being ' made under the law for us,' Gal. iv. 4, 5.
When the wrath of God vexeth and terrifieth us, see it upon him. ' He
sweat water and blood in the garden,' Luke xxii. 44. It made him cry
out, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?' Mark xv. 34. See
all that may trouble us in him, as our surety. And all the good we hope
for, see it in Christ first. Whatsoever he hath in his natural body, it is
for his mystical body ; for he gave his natural body for his mystical. God
in the world, to humble us, exerciseth us with troubles and calamities, as
he did Christ. We must be conformable to our head. But consider, the
poison and sting of all ills we need to fear is swallowed up and taken away
by Christ. And, as I said, let us see all our good in him. We are sons
in him, raised in him, blessed in him, * set in heavenly places with him,'
Eph. i. 3, and shall be fellow-heirs and kings with him; for we are his
members, his spouse. The wife shall enjoy the same condition as the
husband ; whatsoever he hath she shall have. What a comfortable estate
is this ! We can fear no ill, nor want no good. Whatsoever he hath, it
is for us. He was born for us. He died for us. He is gone to heaven
for us ; for us and our good. He did and suffered all these things. We
cannot exercise our thoughts too much in these meditations.
The Lord's supper is a sacrament of union and communion. Hence it
hath its name ; and by receiving the sacrament, our communion and union
with Christ is strengthened. What a comfort then is it to think, if I have
fellowship with Christ it is sealed by the sacrament ! When I take the
bread and wine, at the same time I have communion with the body and
blood of Christ shed for my sins ; and as Christ himself was freed from my
sins imputed to him, and by his resurrection declared that he was freed, so
surely shall I be freed from my sins. So that this communion, taking the
bread and wine, it seals to us our communion and fellowship with Christ,
and thereupon our freedom from sin and from the law, and sets us in a
blessed and happy estate. We should labour therefore by all means to
strengthen our union and communion with Christ ; and amongst the rest,
reverently and carefully attend upon this blessed ordinance of God, for the
body of Christ broken doth quicken us, because it is the body of the Son
of God. ' My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed,' John
vi. 55. And he calls his body broken 'the bread of life.' Why? Because
it was the body of the Son of God, 'who is life,' John vi. 35. All life
THE SPiniTUAl, JUBTI.EE. 247
comes from God. Now, Christ taking our nature upon him, his death is a
quickening death, and by reason of the union with the divine nature, now
it is the body of God broken and the blood of God shed for us. There is
our comfort ; and he was declared to be so by his resurrection, that de-
clared that he' was God, and that he was freed from our sins. Powerful
must that Saviour needs bo that was so strong in his very death, when his
very body was broken and his blood let out. Then he did work the foun-
dation of all comfort, for then he satisfied the wrath of God. Christ was
strongest when ho was weakest. The resurrection was but a declaration of
the worth of that he had done. Now, in the sacrament we have com-
munion with Christ dying, especially as his body is broken and his blood
shed, for that is the foundiition of all comfort by his resurrection. And
because the Spirit of life was in Christ, and did quicken his body while he
was alive, and was a Spirit of life even when he died, and gave worth and
excellency to his death, therefore, when we take the communion, we ought
not to meditate merely of the death of Christ, as his blood was shed and
his body broken, but of the death of such a person as had the Spirit of life in
him, as was God and man. And so set the excellency of his person against
all temptations whatsoever. Set the excellency of Christ so abased, his
body broken and his blood shed, against all temptations. If it be the
greatest, the wrath of God upon the conscience, yet when conscience thinks
this, God, the party offended, gave his own Son to be incarnate, and the
Spirit of life in him did quicken man's nature, and in that nature did die for
satisfiictiou, now God will be satisfied by the death of such a surety as his own
Son. So that the excellency of the person having the seal of God upon him,
'For him hath God the Father sealed,' John vi. 27, doth wondrously satisfy
conscience in all temptations whatsoever. AVhat need a man fear death,
and damnation, and the miseries of this life, and Satan ? What are all ?
If God be appeased and reconciled in Christ, then a man hath comfort, and
may think of all other enemies as conquered enemies. Now, we cannot
think of the death of Christ, who was a ' quickening Spirit,' but we must
think of the death of an excellent person, that gave worth to his death, to
be a satisfactory death for us. Therefore let us receive the communion
with comfort, that as verily as Christ is mine, so his quickening Spirit is
communicated to me, and whatsoever he hath is mine. If I have the field,
I have the pearl in it ; his obedience, his victory over death, his sonship,
is mine ; his sitting in heaven is for me ; he sits there to rule me while I
am on earth, and to take me up to himself when I am dead. All is for
me. When we have communion with Christ we have communion with all.
Therefore ' the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,' when I am one with him, it
quickens me, and ' frees me from the law of sin and death.'
NOTES.
(a) P. 226. — ' The worJs arc much vexed by expositors.' For a full exhibition of the
' vexing' of previous expositors, consult Willet's Hexapla, that is, ' A Sixfold Com-
mentarie upon the most Divine Epistle of the holy Apostle St Paul to the Romans,'
(folio, 1611); also Elton and Thomas Wilson of Canterbury, in loc. Of modern
commentators, Hodge, and practicalli/, Haldane.
(6) P. 232. — ' You know whoso speech it was, " If the land must be violated, it
must be for a kingdom." ' This is another of Sibbes's tacit allusions to Shakspeare,
248 THE SPIRITUAL JUBILEE.
•who puts into tho month of Edward, in ThirdPartof King Henry VI. (Act i., Scene 2)
the sentiment here noticed : —
' For a kingdom, any oath may be broken ;
I'd break a thousand oaths to reign one year.'
(c) P. 236. — ' Saith a Roman, What ! is it such a matter to die ? It is nothing to
die,' &c. A sentiment of Stoicism. What follows reminds us of the immortal soli-
loquy in Hamlet, of Sibbes's greatest contemporary, ' To be, or not to be,' &c.
G.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
NOTE.
' The Privileges of the Faithful' forms the second half of the little volume entitled
Yea and Amen. For the title-page and relative note, see Vol. IV. page 114.
G.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
Also ice know that all tilings work together for the best to them, that love God,
even to them that are called of his jJJirjjose. — Rom. VIII. 28.
There are three things especially that trouble the life of a Christian, or
at least should trouble the same.
1. The first whereof is sin, with the guilt and punishment thereof.
2. The second is the corruption of nature, which still abides in him, even
after his vocation and conversion to Christ.
3. The third is, the miseries and. crosses of this life, which do follow and
ensue both upon sin and the evil thereof, as also by reason of that corrup-
tion of nature still remaining in him, after his recovered estate in grace.
For the first, the guilt of sin, which doth bind men over to death and
damnation, that is forgiven to all believers in Christ Jesus, the ' second
Adnm.'
The second, which is the corruption of nature, which cleaves so fast to
ns, that is dailv mortified and crucified in the saints by the word and Spirit
of God.
For the third, which is the grievous crosses and afflictions, which do
accompany and follow the guilt of sin and the corruption of nature still re-
maining In God's children ; however they are not taken away, yet they are
made to have an excellent issue, ' for all things work together for the best
unto them that love God.' So that these words of the apostle do aflbrd us,
1. A ground of patience.
2. A ground of comfort.
In the former part of this chapter, the apostle had told us, ' that we
know not how to pray as we ought, but that the Spirit itself doth teach
us how to pray, and makes requests for us with sighs that cannot be ex-
pressed.' And therefore however our corruptions and miseries in this life
are not quite taken away, yet the evil of those evils is removed, God
teaching and directing us by his Spirit to seek, by prayer unto him,
for gi-ace to profit by them. And this is the coherence of these words with
the former.
The parts here to be handled may be these.
1. An excellent prerogative : 'All things work together for the best.' ''
2. Secondly, The 2^ersons to whom this jirerogative belongs : ' To them that
love God,' and * whom he doth call.'
252 THE PRIVILEGES OF TUE FAITHFUL.
3. Thirdly, The main cauae of this hlnscd jirerofjative.
Those that ' love God ' have this privilege belonging to them, because
they are * effectually called ' by his word, ' according to his purpose.' We
know, saith the apostle, * that all things work together for the best to
these.' He doth not say, * we hope,' or ' we conjecture,' but ' we know it
assuredly.'
We have the Scriptures of God for it. David saith, that ' it was good
for him that he was afflicted,' Ps. cxix. 67, for thereby he had learned to
reform his ways ; he knew by observation that all things w^ould tend to his
future happiness. For he had seen in the example of Job, that notwith-
standing his sore afflictions, yet he had a blessed issue out of all. He knew
this many ways. He knew it by faith, as also by experience, that every
thing should further the saints' well-being.
We know, that is, we only know it, who are ' led and taught of God,'
and none but we can be assured hereof, which excludes the wicked, who
shall never know any such thing. But what is it that Paul is confident of
here ? Namely, ' that all things work together for the best to them that
love God.'
And this may serve to be a prevention of a question, which weak Christians
might move in their troubles, and say, ' Never was any more afflicted than
I am.' Why, saith the apostle, be it so. Yet, nevertheless, all things
u-hatsoeirr, all thy crosses, vexations, and trials, ' shall work together' and
join issue. Though they be averse one to the other, and opposite to the
good of God's children, as Herod and Pilate were, yet all things thus con-
trary notwithstanding shall work for the best unto them. There is,
1. A good of quality,
2. A good of estate.
Quest. Now therefore what kind of good is this the apostle meaneth ?
Ans. He doth not here mean the natural or civil good estate of them
that love God, but their spiritual condition in grace, and their glorious
estate for the life to come ; for the furthering whereof, whatsoever befalls
them in this life shall help forward still.
And thus much for the words themselves.
Doct. The first point to be spoken of is, the excellent privilege of God's
children, ' that all things shall work together for the best ;' both good and
evil shall turn to their happiness. The reason stands thus : ' All things
shall work together for the best to them that love God.' Therefore all
afflictions, crosses, and vexations whatsoever, that betide such persons, shall
work together for their good ; and for this cause all God's servants must
learn patiently to bear, and cheerfully to undergo poverty or riches, honour
or dishonour, in this world.
That all good things do work for the best to God's servants, is most
apparent by daily proof and experience.
1. To begin with the first chief good of all, which is God the Father,
who is goodness itself, and unspeakably coinfortahle to all his. Do not all
God's attributes conduce to our eternal welfare ? Is he not set forth in
Scripture under the sweet name of a ' Father,' of a ' Shield and Buckler,'
of a ' Tower of defence,' of an ' all-sufficient and almighty God,' 'just, wise,
provident, merciful,' full of boundless compassion, and all to support his
poor creatures from failing before him ?
As he is our ' Father,' he is careful of us above the care of earthly parents
to their children ; as he is a ' Shield,' so he shelters us from all wrongs ;
as he is ' God almighty and all-sufficient,' so his power and bounty serve to
TUIi PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITUFUL. 253
sustain us in this world, and reserve us for ever safe in the world to come.
His ' wisdom' makes us wise to prevent the politic plots of the devil or
wicked men ; his justice and providence, they servo to defend us in our
right, to provide for us in all our wants, and prevent the evils of the un-
godly intended against us ; his power is ours, to keep us ; his providence,
to dispose all things for our advantage. Everything in God shall co-work
to provide and foresee all good for us, and mercifully to impart and bestow
whatsoever is behoveful upon us. So that God being our Father, we have
right and title to his love, mercy, power, justice, truth, faithfulness, pro-
vidence, wisdom, and all-sufScicncy : all which ' shall ever work together
for the best to them that love his appearing.'
2. So for Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. All his glorious titles and
attributes serve likewise for the everlasting comfort of his poor saints on
earth. He is called the ' husband of his church,' to cherish and maintain
the same. His love unto his church is far above the love of any husband
to his wife. He is called the ' Saviour of the world,' because he ' so loved
the world, that he gave his life for it,' Gal. ii. 20, and hath promised, ' that
whosoever believeth on him shall not perish,' 2 Peter iii. 9. He is called
the ' Fountain of life,' the ' Well of life,' the ' Water of life,' the ' Bread of
life,' the ' Way, the Truth and the Life,' because that in him is our life,
and by him we are fed and nourished to eternal life. Here in him we
obtain the life of grace, and in the world to come shall for ever enjoy the
life of glory.
3. So likewise for the Hah/ Ghost. What heavenly attributes are ascribed
to him in the Scriptures ! He is called ' the Comforter' of God's servants ;
the ■ Sealer of the redemption of God's children in their hearts. He
teacheth the elect to call God Father ; he ' beareth witness with their
spirits that they are the sons and daughters of God ;' he teacheth them ' to
pray as they ought ;' ' he fills them with peace that passeth all under-
standing,' and refreshes their spirits with such unspeakable joy as eye hath
not seen, nor ear heard the like.* He that is instructed by the Spirit
knoweth the things of God, which a natural man is ignorant of. The Holy
Ghost doth call to remembrance the doctrine of God taught unto his ser-
vants, and writes the same in their hearts ;f so that the operations of the
blessed Spirit are all appropriated to them that ' love God,' and they alone
have their right in them. The direction, comfort, teaching, and guiding of
the Spirit of God do serve entii-ely and peculiarly to order and work all
things together for the best to the godly.
4. Yea, the angels themselves are called * messengers and ministering
spirits,' appointed by God to attend and wait upon his servants. ' He
gives his angels charge over these, to serve them in all their ways, and to
pitch their tents round about them,' Ps. xxxiv. 7. Whensoever God pleaseth
to call any of his out of this world, the angels are a safe conduct, to carry
their souls into ' Abraham's bosom.' And at the ' last judgment,' the Lord
shall send forth his angels ' to gather his elect,' Mat. xxiv. 31, from one
end of the world to the other, that they may fully enjoy that which they
have long waited for, even eternal bliss and glory.
5. Under the angels (Mother creatures are likewise made serviceable for his
people's good. Princes in authority are called in Scripture ' nursing fathers
* It has not been thouglit necessary to encumber and confuse the text with specific
references to tliese and like fragmentary citations of familiar titles and designations
from Holy Scripture. — G.
t Cf. John xiv. 26, Jer. xssi. 33.— G
254 THE I'RIVILEGES OF THE F.UTHFUL.
and nursing mothers' unto the church of Christ, Isa. xlix. 23, the end of
all magistracy being that we might live religiously and peaceably in all the
ways of God.
6. Ministers also are styled in the word h>j the names of * watchmen and
seedsmen,' and ' spiritual fathers,' to beget men again to the kingdom of
heaven. They are called ' God's husbandmen,' to manure and till his
ground. They are called ' God's lights,' and ' the salt of the earth,' both
to enlighten the church with the light of the glorious gospel whereof they
are ministers, and to season them with such savoury and sweet instructions
as may make them wise to salvation : this being the ver}- end of all God's
giving gifts to men, that they might build up the church of Christ here
below.
7. So also the ivord of God is called the ' savour of life, and * the power
of God unto salvation.' It is ' the seed of God,' which being sown in the
hearts of God's children, spriugeth up in them to everlasting happiness.
God's word is a ' light and a lantern' to guide and direct us in all his ways.*
It is the sword of the Spirit, to arm us against sin and to maintain us in
gi'ace.
8. The sacraments likeicise are the seals of life and jiJcdijcs of our salvation
in Christ ; and excommunication, though it be rough, and the cxtremest
censure of the church (and therefore ought to be undertaken upon weighty
grounds), yet the end of it is, to save the souls of God's people, and to make
them by repentance turn unto him.
9. So all outicard gifts, as beauty, strength, riches, and honours, these
are given by God to serve for the good of his children. As the beauty of
Esther was an instrument of her preferment, whereby she became a preser-
vation to God's children, and an overthrow of her and their enemies :
[and as] Joseph's outward honours and wealth were made by God's disposing
hand a means of the preservation and nourishment of the Israelites, in the
time of their great extremity and famine ; the like may be said of learning
and other natural acquirements, all which do often tend to general and
public advantages.
10. Yea, the outward gifts of God, which are bestowed upon rejjrobates, are
still for the f/ood of his; for they who had skill and knowledge to build
Noah's ark, though they themselves were not saved therein, yet were they
the means of Noah's preservation ;f and so it many times falleth out, that
men of excellent parts and great abilities without grace, though themselves
are not profited thereb}^ yet God so useth them as their gifts much con-
duce to further and build up the church of Christ.
11. 'EiYcn outward favour of j)rinces oft tend to God's servants' good.
'A just man,' as the heathens could say, ' is a common benefit.' And so
a true Christian, whatsoever good he hath, it is communicable to all the
faithful ; and therefore St Paul saith of himself that ' he w^as a debtor to
all men, both Jews and Gentiles,' Kom. i. 14 ; and that he ' became all
things to all men, that he might win some,' 1 Cor. ix. 22.
But here the main question will be, and the difficulty arises, how all ill
things can work together for the best to God's children. I shall therefore
demonstrate,
1. The truth of this, hoiv it can be so.
2. The reasons why it is so.
* Cf. 2 Cor, ii. IG, Horn. i. 16, Luke viii. 11, Pa. cxix. 105.— G.
t This thouf^lit lias been enlarged upon very effectively, in a popular American
tract entitled ' Noah's Carpenters.' — G.
THE PRIVILEGES OF TUE F.UTHFUL. 255
3. Observe a caution, that it be not abused.
4. Let us see the siceet and comfortable use of this doctrine.
That this may the better appear, we must kuow that all evil thinrrs are
either —
1. Spiritual evil thi)iris.
2. Outward evil thinffs.
And for spiritual evil things, they are either, first, sin ; secondly, that
which hath a reference to sin, as being evils following after sin.
1. The first sin of all, which hath gone over whole mankind, and is spread
abroad in every one of us, this by God's mercy and our repentance proves
to all believers a transcendent good ; for the fall and sin of the first Adam
caused the birth and death of the ' second Adam,' Christ Jesus ; who, not-
withstanding he was God, took upon him the nature of man, and hath made
us by his coming far more happy than if we had never fallen. Neither
would God have suflei-ed Adam to have fallen but for his own further glory,
in the manifestation of his justice and mercy, and for the greater felicity of
his servants in Christ their mediator.
2. The next spiritual evil is the corruption of nature remaining in all
mankind ; howsoever broken and subdued in the Lord's dear ones. This
worketh for the best to them after this manner.
(1.) First, It serveth to make lis see and know we are kept bij God; how
that we are not the keepers of our own selves, * but are kept by his power
through faith unto salvation,' 1 Pet. i. 5. For were it not that God
upholds and sustains us, our corruptions would soon overturn us ; but
the sight of corruption being sanctified to the soul, causeth us to ground
our comfort out of ourselves in Christ, and no whit to rely on anything
that is in us.
(2.) Our corruptions are also good to abase the pride of our natures, and
let us see the naughtiness of our spirits, that ve may be humbled before God.
(3.) And it is good we should have something within us to make us weary
of the world; else, when we have run out our race, we be unwilling to
depart hence. Now our bondage to this natural corruption serves exceed-
ingly to make us mourn for our sinful disposition, and hunger after our God,
to be joined with him ; as we see in St Paul's example, Rom. vii. 24, where,
finding the rebellion of his nature and the strife that was in him, the flesh
lusting against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, he cries out,
saying, * 0 wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from this body
of death ?' and seeketh to God in Christ for mercy straight.
(4.) Sometimes God sufiers corruption to break out of us, that we may
know ourselves the better: and because corruption is weakened, not only by
smothering, but many times by having a vent, whereupon grace stirs up in
the soul a fresh hatred and revenge against it, and lets us see a necessity
of having whole Christ, not only to pardon sin, but to purge and cleanse
our defiled natures. But yet that which is ill itself must not be done for
the good that comes by it by accident ; this must be a comfort after our
surprisals, not an encouragement before.
(5.) It is our great consolation that our nature is perfect in Christ, who
bath taken our nature upon him, and satisfied divine justice, not only for
the sin of our lives, but for the sin of our natures, who will finish his own
work in us, and never give over till by his Spirit he hath made our natures
holy and pure as his own ; till he hath taken away, not only the reign, but
the very life and being of sin out of our hearts. To which end he leaves
his Spirit and truth in the church to the end of the world, that the seed of
256 THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
the Spirit may subdue the seed of the serpent in us, and that th? Spirit
may be a never-failing spring of all holy thoughts, desires, and endeavours
in us, and dry up the contrary issue and spring of corrupt nature.
(6.) Lastly, It is good that corruption should still remain in us, tJiat the
<jlory of God may the more appear, wheuas Satan, that great and strong enemy
of mankind, shall he foiled and overturned by a weak and j)oor Christian, who
isfidl of corruptions ; and that through the strength of faith, though mixed
with much distrust. For a Christian in the state of sin and corruption to
overcome the great adversary of mankind, what a wonderment is it ! It
tendeth much to the shame and dishonour of that * fiery dragon,' that weak
and sinful man should be his conqueror. Oh how it confounds him, to
think that ' a grain of mustard seed,' Mat. xiii. 31, should be stronger than
the gates of hell ; that it should be able to ' remove mountains of opposi-
tions and temptations cast up by Satan and our rebellious hearts between
God and us. Abimelech could not endure that it should be said ' a woman
had slain him,' Judges ix. 53 ; and it must needs be a torment to Satan
that a weak child, a decrepit old man, should by a spirit of faith put him
to Hight.
3. A third kind of spiritual ill of sin are the things that issue out of this
cursed stock ; and those are either inward or outward. For inward sins,
they are either errors or doubtings, or pride or wrath, or such like.
1. And first, for doubtings of the truth. This makes God's servants often
more resolute to seek and search out the same, and to stand afterwards
more firm and courageous for it. For if we doubted not of things, we
should not afterwards be put out of doubt, nor seek to be better grounded
and instructed in them. The Corinthians doubted once of the resurrection, but
were ever after better resolved in that doctrine, the benefit whereof hath much
redounded to the church's good ever since. Thomas had the like wavering
disposition, but this doubting more manifested the truth. Luther being a
monk at the first, and not fully grounded in the doctrine of The gospel, did
therefore suspect himself the more, and wished all men after him to read
his writings warily (a). The doctrine of the Trinity hath formerly been much
doubted of, and therefore hath been with the greater pains and study of
worthy men then living in the church more evidently proved. And when
the Pelagians grew into heresies, they were by St Augustine gainsaid, and
very strongly withstood. So the doctrine of the Church of Kome, being
branched into divers erroneous opinions, and broached to the great hurt and
prejudice of Christians, hath occasioned the truth of God against them to
be the more excellently cleared and made known. For when religion is
oppugned, it is time then ' to hold fast,' as the apostle St Jude saith, ' with
both hands the word, and to fight for the faith ' (b), that so we may know
both what to ^lold, and upon what ground we oppose heresy.
2. Now for inward sins, as anger, covetousness, distrust, and such like,
these often prove advantageous to the saints. Their corruptions are a
means of their humiliation. Paul and Barnabas having a breach between
them, were so exasperated that they forsook each other's company, by which
means it came to pass that the church was more instructed than before.*
And hence we may see what the best men are in themselves. If Luther
had had no infirmities, how would men have attributed to him above
measure ? As we see, they were read}^ to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas ;
which shews us that even the distempers and weaknesses of God's servants
are disposed by divine providence to their eternal welfare.
* Cf. Acts XV. 39 with 2 Tim. iv. 11.— G.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 257
3. Yea, God often sufferetli his children to fall into some otihvard r/ross
sins, that by means thereof they might be humbled and abased, and in the
end be cured of that provoking sin of being proud in spirit.
4. The fallliirf of (Joel's children doth much deject them, and hrbuj them iipon
their knees with shame. It makes them gentle and meek in the reprehen-
sion of their brethren ; for having slipped out of the way themselves, and
being by repentance recovered, they learn to ' restore others with the spirit
of meekness,' as the apostle speaks. Gal. vi. 1. A man humbled by
experience of sin in himself will soon relent at the fall of others. Those often-
times prove the most excellent instruments in the church who have formerly
been overtaken with some gross sin, by means whereof they have ever after
been much abased in their own eyes.
We see David, Paul, and Peter fell grievously, but being afterwards
raised again and finding comfort themselves, they were a great means of
strengthening others ; for he which teacheth out of his own experience and
feeling, is the fittest and best teacher of all. So it was with Jonah : when
by casting him into the sea God had humbled him, he was fit to preach
repentance to Nineveh. This is a most certain truth, that never any of
God's elect fell grievously, but he was the better all the days of his life for
his fall. David having been thoroughly humbled for sin, w'hen Shimei his
subject cursed him to his face, how patiently did he bear the same, 2 Sam.
xvi. 13, seq. So Peter having denied his Master, and afterwards recovering
himself again, we see how zealous he was for his Lord Christ, and sufiered
death for him.
5. Furthermore, not only the sins of God's children, which they them-
selves commit, do work for their best, hut also the sins of others of the
saints ivith whom they converse and Jive, do much tend to their good and
welfare. Do not the falls of David, Peter, Manasseh, and Paul comfort the
distressed and despairing souls of such as languish and are ready to faint
under the burden of their sins ? And do not the registry of their sins in
Scripture give hope to us that God will be merciful to our sins also ? We
may not think it is God's will to set upon perpetual record the sins of his
servants for their shame, disgrace, and punishment, but for our comfort,
who live and remain to the end of the world. And the faults of the saints
have two excellent uses, whereof the one is for comfort, the other for
instruction.
Use 1. The use in regard of comfort is this. God hath shewed viercy to
David, Paul, Peter, and others, sinninff grievously against him, and repenting
of the same. Therefore if I also shall sin and truly repent as they did,
surely God is where he was, as full of mercy and readiness to forgive now
as ever.
Use 2. The second use for instruction is this : If such excellent and eminent
saints by sin have fallen grievously, hoiv then much more are we poor weak
souls subject to fall if we neglect watchfulness over ourselves! If a weak
Christian, oft assaulted with temptations, should not see the falls and slips
of God's worthier servants, he would be in a wonderful desperation, and
cry out of himself, saying, Alas ! what shall I do ; never was any so assaulted
and tempted, so cast down and overcome in temptations as I am ; and
therefore my case is more fearful and worse than ever was any. But when
he considereth the grievous falls of God's special servants, how they have
stepped aside foully and yet obtained mercy, by their examples he beginneth
to be revived and receive inward comfort, whereby it is evident that all
sins whatsoever of God's elect, as vile and as loathsome as they are, do by
VOL. V. B
258 THE PRIVILEGES OF TEE FAITHFUL.
God's proviclcnce and our o^vn serious repentance turn to their good, and
the good of those with whom they Hve.
4. The next spiritual evil is that which followeth after sin committed,
viz., God's desertion or forsaking of us, when he seems to hide his favour from
men after the}' have sinned against him. When God manifests himself as
an enemy to his people, this grieves them more than anything else in tho
world heside. We see David, how he calls upon God not to ' rehuke him
in his wrath, nor forsake him in his displeasure,' Ps. vi. 1, where he sheweth
how grievously he was afHicted with the anger of the Almighty.
But alheit that God doth seem sometimes to forsake his servants, it is
not for their confusion, but for their consolation ; for by this means they
come to be poor in spirit, and wonderfully emptied of themselves. And it
is very observable that when such as are thoroughly wounded and afflicted
inwardly come to recover strength and peace again, they often prove the
most comfortable Christians of all others, walking with more care to avoid
offence all their lives after.
Christ Jesus himself, though he never sinned, but only stood as a surety
in our room to pay the ransom of our debts, seemed to be forsaken of
God his Father ; and because he was thus humbled, therefore he was after
most highly exalted above all, both in heaven and in earth. So Job seemed
to be forsaken, and doth grievously bemoan his miseries ; but this was not
because he had sinned against God more grievously than others had done,
but for the trial of his faith and patience, to give him experience of God's
love to him in the cross, that he might cleave the closer to his Maker all
his time after.
5. Another evil arising from the guiltiness of sin is cniffuish of mind and
a lamnded spirit, ' which,' saith Solomon, * who can bear ?' Prov. xviii. 14.
But for all this, grief for sin is an happy grief, yea, a gi-ief never to be grieved
for. This wound in spirit breedeth afterwards a sound spirit. Repentance is
good, and faith in Christ is good. But what doth prepare us to these happy
graces ? Is it not a wounded spirit ? Who would ever repent of his
sins, and lay hold on Christ for remission of the same, if he were not
pricked and pierced in the sense thereof. Christ professeth himself to be
a physician, but to whom ? * To the lost sheep of Israel,' Mat. xv. 24. He
promisctb ease and refreshment, but to whom ? ' To them that are weary,
and laden with the burden of their sins.' ' The Spirit of the Lord was
upon him, that he mirfht preach the gospel to the poor,' Isa. Ixi. 2, and ' he
was sent to heal the broken hearted, that he might preach deliverance to
the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, and set at liberty them
that are bruised,' Luke iv. 18.
6. Again, Divers Christians do walk very heavily and uncomfortably, by
reason of imrard tcntations, and blasplinnous ima(iinatio}is, which oft are
suggested and enter into their minds ; but these sins which so vex the
souls of poor Christians, are a means of their humiliation, causing them to
sue more earnestly to God for pardon. And these sinful corruptions do
further seiTC for a testimony to themselves, that they are not under tho
power of Satan, but live in the kingdom of grace ; for if they were captivcd
to the devil, and under his government, then would he never molest and
vex them, but suffer them quietly to live and die in their sins ; but because
they are from under his rule and jurisdiction, therefore he perplexeth and
troubleth them all he can. By which it is evident, that all sins, by God's
mercy and our repentance, ' do work together for the best unto us.'
7. Yea, the circumstances of sin, as continuance therein, which much
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 259
aggravates the sin ; when such a one truly repents and is restored to Christ,
it maketh him more zealous and watchful ever after ; as we see in Paul,
and the thief on the cross, who finding favour, acknowledge th his worthi-
ness of punishment, rcprehendeth his fellow on the cross, and justifieth
Christ to have done all things well ; and so giving glory unto God, and
crying for mercy, receiveth a comfortable promise of an heavenly kingdom,
Luke xxiii. 43. All things are possible to God. Wo can never be so ill
as he is powerful and good ; God can bring contrary out of contrary. Ho
hath promised to pour clean water upon us, Ezek. xxxvi. 25, which faith
sues out, and remembers that Christ hath taken upon him to purge his
spouse, and make her fit for himself.
8. Further, the very relapses and haclislidings of God's servants into sin
do not argue no repentance, but a weak repentance ; and therefore when
they are again rebuked and turned from sin, their relapses do make
them set upon the service of God more strongly, and run more constantly
in his ways. Where true grace is, sin loses strength by every new fall ;
for hence issues deeper humility, stronger hatred of evil, fresh indignation
against ourselves, more experience of the deceitfulness of our hearts, and
renewed resolutions till sin be brought under. Adam lost all by once sin-
ning, but we are under a better covenant, a covenant of mercy, and are
encouraged to go to God every day for the sins of that day.
For it is not with God as it is with men, who being offended will scarce
be reconciled, but God offended still oftereth mercy. Ho is not only ready
to receive us when we return, but persuades and entreats us to come unto
him ; yea, after backsliding and false dealing with him, wherein he allows
no mercy to be shewed by man, yet he will take liberty to shew mercy him-
self, as in Jeremiah, ' If a man have an adulterous wife, and shall put her
away, and she become another man's, he will not receive her any more to
him.' But saith the Lord, ' Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers,
yet turn again unto me,' Jer. iii. 1 ; ' for I am merciful, and my wrath
shall not fall upon you : I will not always keep mine anger,' ver. 12.
' Though your sins be as crimson, they shall be white as snow, and though
they be red like scarlet, they shall be as white as wool,' Isa. i. 18 ; ' if
ye will turn to me, and wash ye, and make ye clean, and cease to do evil,
and learn to do well,' ver. 16, 17. So Rev. ii. 4, Christ speaking to the
church of Ephesus, saith, ' She hath fallen from her first love ;' but saith
he, ' Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first
works, and I will receive thee to favour ;' by which we see that the relapses
of God's elect, as they do not finally hinder mercy from their souls, so not-
withstanding the same, they are still encouraged to return to God, to
renew their covenant by faith and repentance, and cleave more strongly
to him.
8. As for outward evils, they are, first, evils of estate, as want and
poverty, which oft falls out to be the portion of God's chikken, yet are
they not any whit the worse hereby, but rather the better in their inner
man ; for the less they have in this world, the greater and larger happi-
ness shall they partake of in another world. What they lose one way is
supplied another. Whatsoever comfort we have in goods or friends below,
it is all conveyed from God above, who still remains, though these be taken
away. The saints see, that if to preserve the dearest thing in the world,
they break with God, he can make it a dead contentment and a torment to
them ; whereas, if we care to preserve communion with God, we shall be
sure to find in him, whatsoever we deny for him, honour, riches, pleasures.
260 THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
friends, all ; so much the sweeter, bj^ how much we have them more imme-
diately from the spring-head. Our riches, and friends, and life itself, may
soon depart. But God never loseth his right in us, nor we our inte-
rest in him. Every thing beneath teaches us, by the vanity and vexation
we find in them, that our happiness is not there ; they send us to God ;
they may make us worse, but better they cannot. Our nature is above
them, and ordained for a greater good. They can but go along with us for
a while, and their end swallows up all the comfort of their beginning.
Besides, none have that experience of God's goodness and faithfulness,
as those that are in want and miseiy. God in his wisdom foreseeing what
is best for his sei"\'ants, knows that the more worldly wealth they do abound
in, the less their estimation would be of heavenly things. He sees how
apt the poor creature is to be carried away with present comfort, and to
have his love drawn to the world from better contentments. The poorer
they are in worldly riches, the more they seek to be rich in grace, in know-
ledge, faith, and repentance, which heavenly treasures incomparably sur-
mount the most transcendent excellency which the creature can yield.
9. As for the evil of losing a r/ood name, a thing oft befalling the children
of God, to be slandered and evil spoken of, they upon every small dis-
grace take occasion to enter into themselves and try whether they be guilty
of such hard imputations as are flung upon them.
And if upon a serious consideration he find himself disgraced for good
things, he wears it as a crown and as a garland upon his head, * rejoicing
that he is accounted worthy to suffer for the Lord Jesus,' Acts v. 41,
esteeming ' the rebukes of Christ greater treasure than the riches of Egypt,'
Heb. xi. 26. A true believer resigns his good name, and all that he hath,
to God. He is assured that no man can take away that from him which
God will give him and keep for him. It is not in man's power to make
others conceive what they please of us.
10. For the evils of body, such as sickness and diseases of all sorts,
which daily attend our houses of clay, God by means hereof acquaints his
children with their frail condition, and shews them what a little time they
have to provide for eternity, thereby driving them to search their evidences,
and to make all straight betwixt him and them. Outward weaknesses are
oft a means to restrain men from inward evils. God usually sanctifies the
pains and griefs of his servants to make them better. The time of sick-
ness is a time of purging from that defilement we gathered in our health.
We should not be cast down so much for any bodily distemper, as for sin,
that procures and envenoms the same. That is a good sickness which
tends to the health of the soul. N.iaman, the Assyrian, if he had not had
a leprosy in his body, had continued a leper, both in body and soul, all his
days : his outward grievances made him inwardly sound. The very heathen
could say, that we are then best in soul when we are weakest in body (c),
for then we are most in heavenly resolutions and seeking after God. Yea,
then it appears what good proficients we have been in time of health. Oh
how happy were our conditions, if we were as good when we are well and
in health, as we usually are when we are sick and ill.
11. Kvcn death itself, which is the end of all, though it be fearful and
irksome to nature, yet it is to God's servants a bed of down, easing them
of all their miseries, and putting them in possession of an heavenly king-
dom ; therefore saith Solomon, * The day of death is better than the day of
birth,' Eccles. vii. 1. God will be the God of his, not only unto death, but
in death. Death is the death of itself, and not of us. It is a disarmed
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
261
and conquered enemy to all tlio faithful ; for wliicli cause St Paul desired
to be dissolved and to bo with Christ, which is best of all, Phihp. i. 23.
Death, albeit it seems terrible and dreadful, yet the sting thereof being
taken away by the death of Christ, it brings everlasting joy along with it,
and is only as a groom* porter to let us in to a stately palace. Whither
tend all the troubles we meet with in this world, but only to fit us for a
better condition hereafter, and to assure the soul that when earth can bold
it no longer, heaven shall.
12. Yea, when friends forsake us, and are false unto us, ' God is a sure
help in time of need,' Ps.xxxvii. 39. He is our refuge from one generation
to another. Do we not see that in the decay of worldly comforts, God then
manifests himself most comfortably to his people ? Doth he not style him-
self ' the comforter of the comfortless, and the help of them that are in dis-
tress ;' and do not ' with him the fatherless find mercy?' Ps. x. 14. If men
were more fatherless, they would find more mercy at God's hands. As
Christ makes us all to him, so should we make him ' all in all' to ourselves.
If all comforts in the world were dead, we have them still in the living Lord.
How many friends have we in him alone, who, rather than we shall want
friends, can make our enemies our friends ? Thus it appears that all
miseries are a trial of us to God and to the w^orld, what we are. They are
a cure of sin past, and a preparation to endure further crosses. They have
many excellent uses and ends, and all for the best to God's servants.
It is good we should be exercised with present crosses, to put us in mind
of the evils we have done long ago, that so we may repent of them. Joseph's
brethren, being afliicted and imprisoned, called to mind how hardly they
had dealt with their brothea' long before. Gen. xlii. 21. It should be our
wisdom, while we remain here, to consider our warfaringf condition ; how
we are daily environed with enemies, and therefore ought to stand con-
tinually upon our guard against Satan and the powers of darkness, and as
pilgrims and strangers go on in our journey to heaven : not starting at the
barking of every dog, nor entangling ourselves in worldly things, whereby
we should be stopped in our way.
It is for our best, not to be condemned with the world. Afflictions serve
for this very end, to make us more prize God, and deny the creature with
all its excellencies. Are our crosses great here ? Let us not be daunted,
but bear them patiently : our comfort shall be the greater afterwards. It
is not only good for us that we should have crosses, but that they should
be continued upon us, that we may the better know ourselves. If all were
well with a man wounded, and the sore clean healed, the plaster would fall
off itself. So, were we thoroughly cured of our spiritual wants, and in a
continual resistance of every evil way, these afflictions, which are the plasters
of our souls, would soon cease and leave us.
13. Furthermore, Satan himself and all his instruments, ichen they most
tet themselves affainst God's people, and seek their overthrow, then are they
working their chief good. The devil, when he thought to make an end
of Christ by putting him to death, even then, by that very thing, was
vanquished himself, and the church of God fully ransomed from hell and
damnation. God sufiers many heretics to be in the world ; but why ? Not
that the truth should bo held in darkness ; but that it might thereby be
more manifested and known. It is Satan's continual trade, to seek his rest
in our disquiet. When he sees men will to heaven, and that they have
good title to it, then he follows them with all temptations and discomforts
* Qu. ' grim ' ?— G. t Q^- ' wayfaring' ?— Ed.
2G2 THE PRIVLLEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
that he can. He cannot endure that a creature of meaner rank than him-
self should enjoy a happiness beyond him ; but our comfort is, that Christ
was tempted, that he might succour all poor souls in the like case. We
are kept by * his power, through faith unto salvation,' 1 Pet. i. 5.
Now, the causes why all things do work together for the best to them
that love God are these, viz. : —
1. It is God's decree.
2. It is God's manner of working.
3. It is God's blessed covenant.
4. It is the foundation of the covenant of Christ Jesus.
1. God's decree and purpose is, of bringing all his elect unto eternal sal-
vation ; and therefore all things in heaven and earth must conduce to bring
his servants unto glory. The reason is this, God is infinitely wise and
infinitely strong, provident, and good ; therefore by his infinite wisdom,
power, providence, and mercy he turneth all things to the best for his.
Whatsoever is in heaven, earth, or hell, is ordered by God, neither is there
anything without him ; therefore nothing can hinder his decree. Satan
himself, with all his instruments, yea, the worst of creatures, all must
serve God's purpose, contrary to their natures, for the good of his chil-
dren. The prophet saith, 'God hath commanded salvation, and he hath
commanded deliverance to Jacob,' Ps. xliv. 4. When God hath deter-
mined to save any man, all things must needs serve him that overrules all
things. As it was said of Christ when he stilled the seas, ' Who is this,
that the very wind and seas obey him ?' Mat. viii. 27. God commanded
the whale to serve at his beck to save Jonah, and it obeyed. All creatures
in the earth are at his disposing, and serve to accomplish his pleasure.
2. The second cause why all works together for the best to believers, is
the manner of God n'orkimj in ihinr/s, which is by contraries. He bringeth
light out of darkness, glory out of shame, and life out of death. We fell
by pride to hell and destruction, and must be restored by humiliation to
life and salvation. Christ humbled himself, being God, to become man for
us, and by his death restored us to life. When our sins had brought ua
to greatest extremities, even then were we nearest to eternal happiness.
Therefore saith the apostle, ' When we are weak, then are we strong in
the Lord,' 2 Cor. xii. 10. When we are abased, then are we readiest to
be exalted ; when we are poor, then are we most rich ; and when we are
dead, then do we live. For God worketh all by contraries. He lets men
see his greatness and his goodness, that so they may admire his works and
give more glory to him. He worketh without means, and above means,
and against means. Out of misery he bringeth happiness, and by hell
bringeth men to heaven ; which, as it manifesteth God's glory to his crea-
tures, so it serveth for the confusion of man's pride, that he may discern
he is nothing in himself, but is all that he is in the Lord.
3. The third cause why all things work for the best to them that fear
God is, God's covenant vith his church : when once this gracious covenant
is made, that * he will be their God, and they shall be his people,' Lev.
xxvi. 12 ; that he will ' be their Father and protector,' must not all things
then needs serve for their good ? Whenas God tells Abraham, ' I am thy
God, all-sufficient ; only walk before me, and be thou perfect,' Gen. xvii. 1,
doth not this engage him to set his power and mercy, his wisdom and
providence, all on work for the happy estate of Abraham ? When once
God by his promise is become our God, there is a covenant betwixt us and
the creatures ; yea, and the stones in the street, that nothing shall wrong
I
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 26S
US, but all conduce to our good. The angels are ours ; their service is for
our protection, safety, and welfare. Heaven and earth is ours, and all
things in them for our behoof. Christ himself, and together with him, all
things else are become ours ; in him we are heirs of all. What a wondrous
comfort is this, that God hath put himself over to be ours ; whom to enjoy
is to possess all things, and to want is miseiy inexpressible. Had we all
the world without God, it would prove a curse and no blessing to us ;
whereas if we have nothing and enjoy God, we have happiness itself for
our portion. If we have no better portion here than these things, we are
like to have hell for our portion hereafter. Let God be in any condition,
though never so ill, yet it is comfortable. He is goodness itself. And,
indeed, nothing is so much a Christian's as God is his ; because by his being
ours in covenant, all other things become ours, and therefore they cannot
but co-operate for our good.
* When thou art in the fire and water, I am with thee,' saith God, Isa.
xliii. 2. And ' Thou art my buckler, my glory, and shield ; therefore I
will not be afraid though ten thousand of people shall beset me round
about,' saith David, Ps. xci. 7 ; for ' salvation belongeth unto the Lord.'
And if God be on our side, who can be against us ? ' If God justify us,
who shall condemn us?' Kom. viii. 34. Can anything hurt us when he
is become our loving Father ? Neither ' death, nor life, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor principalities, nor powers, nor anything whatsoever,
can separate us from his love toward us,' ver. 35.
4. A fourth ground why all things fall out for the best to the saints is,
the foundation of this covenant ofGodicith his church, which is Christ Jesus,
who by his blood hath purchased our peace. He being God became man,
and is the sole author of all our comfort. Without Christ God is ' a con-
suming fire,' Heb. xii. 29 ; but in him, a most ' loving Father,' and * ever
well pleased.' God promiseth in Christ his Son * to marry his people unto
himself for ever; yea,' saith he, ' I will marry thee unto me in righteous-
Bess, and in judgment, and in mercy, and everlasting compassion,' Isa.
Ixii. 5, and liv. 8. Now upon this blessed contract made in Christ to his
church, what followeth ? ' In that day,' saith the Lord, ' I will hear the
heavens, and they shall hear the earth : and the earth shall hear the com,
and the wine, and the oil ; and they shall hear Israel : and I will have
mercy upon her that was not pitied ; and I will say unto them which were
not my people. Thou art my people ; and they shall say, Thou art my
God,' Hosea ii. 22, 23. "\^^lere we see what is the reason of all their
happiness ; even this, that God will marry them to himself. So that
this marriage worketh all our bliss ; our conjunction with Christ, and
reconciliation through his death, is the cause of all our comfort ; in him
we have the adoption of sons. Hence it is that we are at peace with
God, and have freedom from all harms. Christ in his greatest reproach
and deepest humiliation had his greatest triumph and exaltation. In his
death on the cross he vanquished death, and entered into eternal life.
When Christ came into the world, and took upon him our nature, even
then the gi-eatest monarch in the world, Augustus Caesar, was at his
command ; whom he so ordered as that by his causing all the world to
be taxed, Christ was manifested to be born at ' Bethlehem in Jewry,'
Luke ii. 1.
How Cometh it to pass that death, which is fearful in itself, cannot hurt us ?
The reason is, ' Death is swallowed up in victory ' by his death, 1 Cor. xv. 54.
It is Christ that sanctifieth all crosses, afllictions, and disgraces to the
264 THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
saints' advantage. The evil of them all is taken away by him, and turned
to his people's good. How cometh it to pass that the law cannot hurt us,
which pronounceth a curse against every one that abideth not in all things
written therein, to do them ? The reason is, ' Christ was made a curse
for us ; he was made under the law, that he might redeem us who were
under the law,' Gal. iii. 13 ; and thus is Christ a meritorious and deserv-
ing cause of procuring all good to us, and removing all ill from us.
He doth not only overcome evil for us, but also overcometh evil in us,
and gives us his Spirit, which unites us to himself; whereby we have
ground to expect good out of every ill, as knowing that whatsoever Christ
wrought for the good of mankind, he did it for us in particular.
In outward favours grace makes us acknowledge all the blessings we have
to be the free gifts of God, and invites us to return the glory to him.
God's servants take all occasions and opportunities of doing good, by
those gifts and abilities wherewith they are endowed. When Esther was
advanced to great honour, Mordecai told her that God had conferred that
dignity upon her for his people's welfare, that she might be a means of their
safety. AVhereas, on the contrary, a proud heart, destitute of the Spirit of
Christ, ascribes all to itself, waxeth more haughty, and grows worse and
worse the more good'he enjoys.
A gracious soul, upon the sight of the evil of sin in itself, is more deeply
humbled before God, and with St Paul crieth out of his wretchedness,
Kom. vii. 24. A heavenly-minded man being smitten for his wickedness,
laboureth for subjection under the hand of the Almighty, and saith, ' I will
patiently abide and endure thy correction, because thou, Lord, hast done
it,' Ps. Hi. 9. When the gracious man is held under the cross, and
sufiereth bitter things, he saith, ' It is good for me that I am afflicted, for
thereby I am taught to know thee,' Ps. cxix. 67. In all troubles that
befall him, he professeth that * it is good for him to cleave unto God.' And
the less outward wealth he hath, the more he seeks for inward grace,
making a holy use of all things.
Upon these instructions hence delivered, let us take a view of ourselves,
and try whether we in our afflictions are such as cleave to God, and are
drawn nearer to him thereby. Call to mind the crosses wherewith God
hath exercised thee, and the blessings which at any time he hath bestowed
upon thee, and see how in both thou hast been bettered ; see what profit-
able use thou hast made thereof for thy soul's comfort.
Let us see how we have followed the providence of God in his dealing
with us ; for if we have an interest in his goodness, then will we be careful,
as God turns all things for our good, so to follow the same, together with
him, for the good of our souls.
0})j. Now, because things do not ahrcn/s conduce to the good of God's
children, as outward peace and prosperity oftentimes make them worse,
therefore some may object, how can this be true which here the apostle
saith, ' that all things do work together for the best to them that love God? '
Ans. 1. The answer hereunto is. That for the most part the children of God
do take the fjood of the blessings tvhich God bestows on them, and avoid the
snares of evil which accompany the same. Job saith, ' The things I feared
are come upon me.' Piy which we see, that Job in the midst of all his
prosperity did fear and was jealous over himself, Job iii. 25.
2. But a more plainer answer of the objection is, That if the r/ood things
of God, as peace, plenty, and prosjyerity, do fall out at the first to their ill, yet,
nevertheless, they shall prove in the end a great gain unto them; for whereas
THE PRIVILEGES OF TUE FAITHFUL. 2G5
by occasion of these they formerly fell (having too high an estimation of
the creature, and overpi-izing the same), they see now more into their
nature, and learn to contemn them.
3. Again, The outward fjood things of this life shew the weakness of God's
servants, and serve to try ivhat is in them; and therefore we read of Hezekiah,
that God left him ' to try what was in him,' 2 Chron. xxxii. "61. The out-
ward treasure which he had was a means to make known to himself and
others the pride and vanity of his mind ; the plenty and prosperity of the
saints are greater triers of them than adversities and wants. For many
that have comfortably gone through a low condition have yet foully failed
in a full estate, their corruptions breaking forth to the view of others.
Prosperity teaches men themselves. It tries their spirits, and lays them
open to the world. Therefore it seemeth good to God to strip his servants
of these outward things. They can acknowledge with patience his righteous
dealing, knowing that man's happiness consists not in abundance of these
things, but that the blessing of God is riches enough.
Ohj. But some may object, and say, I have been long afflicted, and
have had many crosses upon me, and little good do I find by them ; I am
never the better, but rather the worse for all.
Ans. This may be true thou sayest, but stay a Httle and consider the
event. Howsoever, by reason of the bitterness and continuance of the
cross, hitherto thou findest little good thereby, yet know that God is all
this while but in hammering and working of thy unruly heart, thy good
will follow afterwards. We see by experience, that sick persons, while they
are in physic, are made sicker and sicker, but after that hath done working,
then the party- is far better than before. It is a folly to think that we
should have physic and health both at once. It is impossible that a man
should sow and reap both together. AVe must of necessity endure the
working of God's physic. If trouble be lengthened, lengthen thy patience.
When the sick humour is carried away and purged, then we shall enjoy
desired health. God promiseth forgiveness of sin, but thou findest the
burden of it daily on thee. Cheer up thyself; when the morning is darkest
then comes day ; after a fight victory will appear. God's time is best ;
therefore wait cheerfully.
Ofttimes God's servants under his cross are so sore wrought upon that
they have hardly leisure of making a good use of the same, being distracted
and dejected for the present, so as that they burst out rather into further
evil than before. But afterwards, when their afflictions are thoroughly
digested, then they begin to find the fruit of patience, humiliation, and
obedience, and are better for the same ever after ; therefore wait contentedly
God's leisure ; thou shalt surely find a sweet calm after the storm is
over. Though we find little benefit by afflictions for the present, yet let us
not conclude all is naught with us ; for temptations being bitter, will not
suffer men in them to lift up their hearts straight. After the extremity and
vexation thereof is laid, then ensueth the ' quiet fruit of righteousness,'
Heb. xii. 11.
Ohj. 1. But if all things, yea, sin itself, shall turn to the best to those
that love God, what need we then care for the committing of sin ?
Ans. The apostle St Paul was in his days troubled with the like question.
Therefore, observe with what detestation he answers, saying, ' God forbid,
the damnation of such men is just,' Rom. iii. 8. But to answer more fully
and plainly for the satisfaction of weak Christians.
* Cf. Note, Vol. III. page 9 — G.
2G6 THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
2. True it is, that all things, even the sins of God's servants, shall by
God's mercy turn to their good ; yet, nevertheless, the rule of God's word
must ever be regarded, which is this, ' we may not do evil that good may
come thereof.' That which is evil in itself must not be done, no, though
for the doing thereof we might gain the greatest good, or avoid the greatest
evil whatsoever ; as if it were to win a world, we might not tell a lie,
because it is a breach of God's law; Christ saith to the devil, 'It is written.
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,' Mat. iv. 7. We may not there-
fore by sin tempt God, so to set his goodness in working good out of our
wickedness.
If, therefore, upon this ground of doctrine (that all things shall turn to
the good of God's children, yea, even their sins themselves), any of us
shall commit wickedness, and displease his Majesty, to try what mercy and
wisdom is in him, to draw good out of our evil ; this is a provoking of
God's goodness, and those who thus do, turn the truth of God's word into
poison, and make even that their destruction which should build them up
in grace and holiness.
If we sin through weakness and frailty of our flesh, and through strength
of temptation, upon repentance we may find grace ; but if presuming that
God will turn all things to our good, we break his law, what else do we but
first of all make God the cause of our evil ; and secondly, vex and scandal*
the saints on earth ; thirdly, we sadf the blessed angels in heaven ; and,
fourthly, rejoice the devils and damned spirits in hell, putting darts and
deadly weapons into their hands to work our ruin and overthrow ; nay,
fifthly, we grieve the good Spirit of God, who continually putteth us in
mind of better things, if we would hearken to him, and by whom we are
sealed up unto the day of redemption ; sixthly, we slacken grace in our
hearts, and whereas we should grow forward in virtue and holiness, we
weaken the power of godliness exceedingly in us ; seventhly, all wiUing
sins do abate our afliance in God, and the feeling of his favour towards us ;
yea, oftentimes by so sinning, many of his dear children have walked
heavily without spiritual joy all the days of their lives ; for howsoever in
regard the Lord hath elected us, we shall never finally fall away and perish,
yet we may want the sweet sense of his favour, and remain afllicted in spirit
all our life long. And then we shall know that the grief and trouble which
we here undergo to avoid sin and subdue it, will be nothing so much as the
mischief and sorrow that sin once committed and yielded ^to will bring on
the soul.
Yea, there is no child of God but by expei'icnce shall one day feel that
howsoever God by his wisdom and mercy can turn every sin to our good,
yet it will prove bitter as wormwood in the end ; the pleasure will never
answer the smart and vexation that attends it. The contrition and break-
ing of thy heart for thy sins committed, if thou be God's, will more dis-
quiet and trouble thee than possibly it can be a trouble to lesist and for-
sake sin.
Nay, oftentimes God doth punish the very want of reverence in his
servants to him, as also their slackness and unfitnesss in good duties, so as
they may easily discern he is offended with them for the same. As wo
may see by the example of the Corinthians, who coming unpreparedly to
the Lord's supper, for this very cause were so punished, ' that some of them
were sick, and some weak, and some were struck by death,' 1 Cor. xi. 30.
, David's numbering of the people, and Hezekiah's shewing of his treasures
That is, scandalise. — G. t That is, sadden.— G.
THE PEIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
201
to the princes of Biibel, howsoever by some they may be thought small
sins, yet God scourged them for the same very sharply. And it is good
that God's servants" should a little know what it is to oflend their Maker,
for if they will be so negligent and careless in walking with him, it is fit
they should reap the fruit of their own devices. It causeth much relapsing
and backsliding from God, when men have never truly smarted for their
sin. Having had knocks in our own ways, it cstablisheth us in God's
ways. For we love to wander from ourselves, and bite* strangers at home,
till God by one cross or other brings us to himself, and then we think of
returning to him. Nay, it is better for them a thousand-fold, that God
should so school them, than that they should be let alone, and so go on
without controlment from sin to sin till they come to desperation.
Howsoever therefore that God can and will turn the sins of his servants
to the best advantage, yet better it were for them they had never sinned
at all. Do we not think that David wished he had never fallen into that
sin of adultery ? And would not Peter have been glad that he had never
denied his Master ? The sin of David cost him many a cry for pardon :
' Mercy, Lord, mercy ; ' ' against thee have I sinned, forgive me this heinous
crime ;' and it cost Peter many a bitter salt tear, too, howsoever both
David and Peter, after their recovery by repentance, were the better for it
to their dying day.
As for all such as persist in sin, that God may turn all things to their
best, let them know that all things shall work together for their bane and
utter desti-uction for ever, which I now come to shew.
1. First of all, God himselj and his blessed awjels are at enmity with
them. And therefore,
2. AU the creatures, both in heaven and earth, are aijainst them. In
Pharaoh's ten plagues we see the creatures were all ready to execute the
pleasure of the Almighty against him. And the * bears out of the forest'
were armed by God to devour those scoffing children, 2 Kings ii. 24. This
is one part of the burden under which the creatures of God do groan, that
they serve God against wicked men, and are his armies to punish the
rebellious world.
3. Even the (food gifts of God are turned to the banc of the icicJced. Ab-
salom's glory, his goodly long locks, were his halter to hang him up by.
Ahithophel's witf and policy brought him to that fearful end of being his
own hangman. Haman's honour, what good did it to him, but only
brought him to greater shame ? His greatness made him swell in pride,
and his pride had a sudden fall. What became of Herod's high mind in
taking to himself the glory of God ? which when foolish people ascribed it
to him, was he not presently smitten, so as the ♦ worms consumed him,'
Acts xii. 23, and he died a loathsome death ? What became of Dives his
riches ? Did not his abuse thereof plunge him deeper into hell ? Wicked
men, though they abound in this world, yet not being in covenant with
God, they have nothing with a blessing. The wicked are but as traitors
before God; and oft it is seen that great traitoi-s, who are by the prince kept
m prison, are nourished very liberally until their time of execution come.
So it is with all graceless persons. However for the present they have
great allowances, yet as traitors, in the conclusion, they shall have an hard
account to make unto God for all those things they have sinfully enjoyed.
And not only so, but they abuse the very truth of God, as shall appear in
divers particulars.
* Qu. ' bide ' ?— Ed. t That is, ' wisdom.'— G.
268 THE PKIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
(1.) First, For the comfortable doctrine of justification by faith alone: they
pervert the same to their own destruction, saying, We are justified by faith
only, what need we then care for doing of good works ? Alas ! they profit
us nothing to our salvation. Therefore it is to no end to strive to do good.
(2.) Again, For the doctrine of Christian liberty. God having given U3
lawful recreations and plentiful use of his creatures, they turn all into
licentiousness ; and instead of moderate refreshment, they make a daily
occupation of sports and games ; instead of a lawful use of the creatures,
they run into all excess of riot, in meat, drink, apparel, buildings, and
delights.
(3.) And for the doctrine of morality, how do wicked men abuse it, say-
ing, ' Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we shall die,' Luke
XV. 23. That which should put them in mind of spending of their time
well, increaseth their sin.
(4.) Whereas the lomjsuffering of God shordd lead men to repentance, the
wicked by means of God's patience run more securely on in sin, ' treasuring up
to themselves wrath against the day of wrath, and the declaration of God's
just judgment,' Rom. ii. 5, which one day shall cease* upon them. ' Because
he doth not speedily execute his displeasure,' Eccles. viii. 11, therefore
they grow worse and worse, those never considering the lamentable con-
dition that sin brings them into ; which did they thoroughly weigh, they
would give the whole world if they were possessors of it, to have their
spirits at freedom from this bondage and fear. God will take a course that
his grace shall not be turned into wantonness. First or last, thou shalt
find, whoever thou art, at what rate thou buyest the pleasure of sin. Those
that have enjoyed long the sweet of sin may expect the bitterest sorrow
and heart-breaking for it.
Nay, the greater good things they have, the greater evil they receive
thereby by abuse of the same.
5. llie more they are illuminated by the ii-ord, their hearts become more
rebellious against it ; and the greater authority, wealth, and health they
enjoy, the more mischief they do with them. Those heavenly doctrines
which should build up a good heart unto holiness, do they abuse to bring
their souls deeper into wickedness ; shewing themselves like to their father
the devil, whose children they indeed are. God hath said, ' He would give
his angels charge over thee,' Ps. xci. 11, which is a most comfortable place
to a good heart. But how doth Satan abuse this to Christ ? That he
should fling himself headlong from the pinnacle of the temple ; and as the
devil, so every wicked man, by all his instructions of the word, takes occa-
sion to tempt God the more ; turning both grace itself, and the doctrine of
grace, into wantonness.
Are there not many that hear the word and know God's mind, who yet
profit nothing to amendment of life ? Were it not better for these never
to enjoy such means of heavenly wisdom, than now having the light still
to live in darkness. Their knowledge only makes their damnation the
greater if they continue in sin. What a lamentable condition is that man
in, whose knowledge is only sufiicicnt to damn his own soul ! But let us see
further how all evil things work together for the worst to ungodly persons.
(1.) And to begin with spiritual ill things, as heresies and errors. They
serve but to ensnare the wicked ; for instead of making them cautelousf
and diligent to search out the truth, they are carried away ' with every wind
of doctrine.'
* Qu. ' come ' ? — Ed. t That is, ' cautious.'— O.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 269
So for the ill of f/ood vien, their falls and sins. The wicked of the world
reap no benefit thereby, but encourage and hearten themselves the more in
a sinful way, rejoicing thereat and making it their daily talk ; neither do
their own daily sinnings any whit better them, but are as so many punish-
ments of their former transgressions : God in his justice sufiering them still
to run on to the fulfilling of the measure of their iniquities.
(2.) And for outward evils in this life, those that do turn to a good man's
happiness fall out continually to their destruction. Pharaoh's ten plagues,
which might have humbled his soul, made him but worse and worse.
Therefore saith God, ' Why should I smite you any more ?' for even since
I punished you 'ye revolted still,' Isa. i. 5. The wicked are like to the
smith's anvil, which by often beating is made harder and harder. So the
more they are corrected, the stubborner and stifi'er in sin they grow. Their
crosses are laid upon them from an angry God, and are forerunners of his
eternal wrath, which shall seize upon their souls in hell, where the more
they are tormented the more they shall blaspheme, and the more they shall
blaspheme the more they shall be tormented without cessation.
Causes. The cause of all this evil upon the wicked is,. /?rs^, God's infinite
justice, which will not be unsatisfied ; secondly, their oini rile hearts, which,
like a sick man having an ill stomach, digests nothing, but turns all to
poison. Therefore saith the apostle, ' To the unclean all things are
unclean,' Titus i. 15. As poisonsome plants put into a fertile place do
envenom the ground whereinto the}'' are removed ; so the same crosses that
turn unto a good man's welfare prove a bad man's ruin, by reason of the
corruption within him. Another cause is, the devil's malicious working by
it. He makes wicked men abuse all their parts, both inward and outward,
to God's dishonour and their own confusion, endeavouring to conform them
to himself. None hath greater knowledge and understanding in the word
of God than the devil. Yet he turns all his knowledge unto the sin against
the Holy Ghost. But yet the devil cannot force men to wickedness. It
is their own sinful hearts which betray them into his hands.
Use 1. Whence we learn that cdl wicked men, in the midst of their happi-
ness, are most nnhappy, because Ihey turn the sweetest blessings into bitter
poison ; for all the gifts of God, without his special gift of using them well,
are turned into a curse ; as Balaam had good parts, but they not being
sanctified proved his bane.
Use 2. AVe see further, that outward prosperity is no mark of the true
church. Abundance of temporal blessings is no sign that we are in God's
favour ; neither are learning and knowledge evidences of spiritual grace.
For the devil hath greater understanding and parts than any man. How-
beit, sight of sin preserves us from falling into it ; and such as shut their
eyes against the light, plunge themselves into the deeper misery.
Ohs. 1. Now to proceed to further instructions. Do all things work
together for the best to God's servants ? Then hence we may learn the cer-
tainty of the salvation of God's elect. I take my reason from the text itself
after this manner. That w'hich nothing can hinder, that is certain ; but the
Balvation of God's children cannot be hindered ; therefore the salvation of
God's children is most certain. If anything do or can hinder the saints'
recovery or perseverance, it is sin ; but to such as are united unto Christ
by faith, sin is so far from hindering their happiness, that by God's ^over-
ruling providence it turns to their best good.
Obs. 2. The second thing which we may gi'ound here for the information
of our judgment is this : That as we know the providence of God is the cause
270 THE PRmLEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
why all tJiinfjs work ior/cther for the best to his children, so we should eye this
very particular jtrovidcnce in all that ive enjoy, turning the same to our good.
There is a working hand of God in everything towards us, as we may see
in the examples of Joh, Joseph, and David, with other of his servants, whose
present sorrow and hnmiUation was but a means of their future glory and
exaltation. There is nothing so bad, but he can draw good out of it when
any evil is intended. God either puts bars and lets- to the execution of it
against us ; or else limitelh and boundeth the same, both in regard of time
and measure. The God of spirits hath an influence into the spirits of all
men, and knows how to take them ofi' from doing us harm. All the strength
of the creature rests in the great Creator of all things, who if he denies
concourse,! the arm of their power soon withereth. It cannot but bring
strong consolation to the soul, to know that in all variety of changes, and
intercourse of good and bad things, our loving God hath a disposing hand.
So as all blessings and crosses, all ordinances and graces, nay, our veiy
falls, 5'ea, Satan himself, with all his instruments, being over-mastered and
ruled by God, have this injunction upon them, to further God's good intend-
ment to us, and in no wise hurt us, which should move us to see his dis-
posing hand in all that befalls us. We owe God this respect, to observe
his providence in the particular passages of our lives ; considering he is
our Sovereign, and his will is the rule, and we are to be accountable to
him as our Judge. We should question our hearts for questioning his care
in the least kind. So long as God sits at the stern and rules all, we may
be sure no evil shall betide us that he can hinder [d).
Obs. '6. Thirdly, Hence we may learn, that there is not two, but one sove-
reign Head over the whole world, which is plainly proved by this text of Scrip-
ture. For * all things work together for the best to them that love God ;'
and things which in themselves are contraries agree together to procure
their good. Therefore all things whatsoever are overruled by the solo
power of the Almighty. The devil himself, although he be called ' the god
of this world,' yet he is at Christ's beck, and could not enter into a few
Bwine without leave first obtained. He raiseth up hideous storms and
tempests against the saints, but perisheth himself in the waves at last.
Persecutions and perils may follow us, but they are all limited in the doing
of hurt, which plainly demonstrates that there is but one main worker and
wise disposer of all things.
Obs. 4. Further, Hence observe, that there is nothing in the ivorld that to
God's servants is absolutely evil ; because nothing is so ill but some good may
he raised out of it ; not as it is an evil, but as it is governed and mastered
by a supreme cause. Sin is of all evils the greatest ; and yet sinful actions
may produce gracious efi'ects, through God's ordering and guiding the same.
Obs. 5. Again observe, that a child of God is truly happy in the viidst of
all misery. To prove this, I reason thus. In what estate soever the child
of God is, it shall turn to his good ; therefore no affliction can make him
truly miserable. The proof of this the apostle sets down in his own example :
' He was poor, yet made many rich ; he sorrowed, yet always rejoiced ; he
had nothing, yet possessed all things ; he was chastened, and yet not
killed,' 2 Cor. vi. 10. God's children, although to the world they may
seem to be miserable, yet having communion and fellowship with him, they
are always happy. The very worst day of God's child is better than the
very best day of the wicked. The worst day of St Paul was better to him
than the best day of Nero was to him ; for the wicked, in the midst of
* That is, ' hindrances.'— G. t That is, ' concurrence.'— G.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 271
their happiness, are accursed ; whereas the godly, in the midst of their
miseries, are blessed.
This doctrine is a ground of understanding divers other places of Scrip-
ture, as Ps. xci. 3, the Lord promiseth that he will ' deliver his from the
snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pestilence ;' and yet ofttimes his
dear servants are in the hands of the wicked, and taken away by the stroke
of his judgments, this truth nevertheless remaining firm, that ' all worketh
together for their best.' So God teacheth us in his word that ho doth make
a league between his servants and the creatures. But all such expressions
of his love we must bring to this text, and then they are true, else they
may seem to be false. ' The plague shall not come near thy dwelling-placej'
Ps. xci. 10, but only so far forth as it is for thy benefit. The good
prophet was torn in pieces by a Hon, 1 Kings xiii. 24 ; and sundry holy
men have received hurt by wild beasts, whose eternal welfare were furthered
thereby. Therefore this phrase of Scripture, that ' the creatures are in
league,' is to be understood, not that they have put off their hostile nature,
but that they have the same issue as those that are at peace with us.
Here likewise is a direction for us how to pray for eurtlihj bkssitu/s, and
the removal of temporal judgments. Oftentimes worldly honours and riches
are snares unto God's children, and temporal chastisements, which we so
earnestly pray against, work much good unto us. And therefore it falletli
out that when we pray against temporal calamities, we pray against our
own good.
Being therefore afB.ieted, we should desire not absolutely that God would
remove our troubles, but that he would work his own good pleasure upon
us thereby. Our prayers for temporal blessings and removal of temporal
crosses must always be conditional ; for what good will it be for us to come
out of the fire worse than we were when we went into it ? If, therefore,
God in his wisdom see it good for us to have affliction, we should not
desire him absolutely to remove the same till it have done us good. And
then, ' Lord, deal with us as seems best in thine own eyes.'
As for such as afiect- neither God nor goodness, let them know that if
all things work for the best to the saints, then they may forbear their
successless endeavours which they daily enterprise against them. In going
about to hurt the godly they do them most good, for God will benefit them
by their malice. Their wicked practices shall not only be made frustrate,
but dangerous to themselves. After the chastisement of his servants for
their good, God will cast the rod into the fire. Men may know whether
they are ' vessels of mercy ' or no by the use they are put to. The basest
of people are fit enough to be executioners. It is a miserable wisdom when
men are wise to work their own ruiu. Do not many spin a fine thread and
weave a fair web, when by their turnings and devices they turn themselves
into hell ? WTiatever we get by sin for the present, it will one day prove
the heaviest business that ever we undertook.
God is the only monarch of the world, and makes all things and persons
whatsoever serviceable to his own end and his church's good. He is higher
than the highest. Satan with all his instruments arc but slaves to the
Almighty, executioners of his will. Can we think that God's children, who
are so near and dear to him, shall always be trampled upon by the powers
of darkness. No, certainly. He is interessedf in all their quarrels, and takes
their injuries as done to himself. When we can be more subtile than the
devil, or more strong than God, we may think to thrive against them. He
* That is, ' choose,' ' love.' — G. f That is, ' interested." — G.
272 THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
is a ' wall of fire ' round about his cliuvch, not only to defend and preserve
it, but to consume all the adversaries thereof. God doth great matters for
his servants ; he rebukes kings and princes, and ruinates empires for their
sakes. For the bringing home back again of the Jews, he translated the
Babylonish empire to the Persians ; and therefore the wicked must take
heed of attempting anything against God's church : because the harm
thereof will redound upon their own heads. God delights to take the
oppressed party's'* part, and serves himself of all his enemies for his people's
good. They practise against the righteous, and he ' laughs them to scorn.'
Wicked men cannot do God's children a greater jjleasure than to oppose
them ; for by this means they help exceedingly to advance them.
Satan and all his instruments, what get they by their cruelty to the
saints ? They do but increase their own torment, and do them the more
good. But this is both against their knowledge and wills. Therefore if
they be loath to do them any good, let them take heed how they attempt
any evil against them.
Use 1. And here let all such be admonished how they provoke God's
children to cry in their prayers ayainst them. For it is better for the wicked
that they had all the creatures in heaven and earth against them than the
poor saints ; for a few of these will more prejudice them than all the world
besides.
Come we now to the grounds of practice hence to be observed.
TJse 2. Again, Doth God order all ' for the best' to them that love him ?
Let us not then except ayainst any evil that shall befall us ; for this our
present cross shall turn to our future comfort. It is the saints' happiness,
that their best is in working still, till they be complete in heaven. But
the wicked and men of the world, their worst is always in contriving. Their
life is bad, their death is worse ; and after death it is worst of all with
them. God himself, and all under him, work continually for the good of
his children. Their best is last. Their light groweth on clearer and clearer
' as the light, until the noonday,' Prov. iv. 18. But the worldly grow
worser and worser every moment. To them that fear God, sin and sorrow,
their very worst, is by God's mercies best for them ; ^Yhereas all the best
of the wicked by abuse turns to their worst.
Use 3. Observe here the excellency of the saints' comfort, above all other
comforts whatsoever. The nature of it is this : it must be stronger than
the grievance of which it is a cordial. And the reason of spiritual comfort
must be more forcible than any carnal reason can be to undermine it. Now
what stronger consolation can a man have than to be assured that all
things, without exception, shall work together for his goodj? But this is
not all. What a sweet refreshment is it when the soul can say, God will
either stop me from falling into sin, outwardly by afflictions ; or else subdue
my corruptions inwardly by his Spirit, that I shall not be overthrown by
them. He will never suffer me to rot in my sins, but when I do fall,
will raise me up again. It bears up a Christian's heart, that rather than
we shall continue in an evil way, God will send some Nathan or other to
rouse us out of our security.
Therefore to all thy comforts add this, that God will not only save thee
at last, but turn all things to the best whilst thou art here. This is the
highest strain of consolation. It is far stronger to refresh and quicken us
^han any grievance can be to afflict us. It maketh evil things, in com-
parison, to seem good ; as, * Moses counted the rebukes of Christ greater
* Cf. Note, Vol. III. page 9.-0.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 273
riches than the treasures of Egypt,' Heb. ix. 26. Ho matle more choice
of ' affliction' than he did of the world's glory. If God bo with us, who
can be against us. If he be our shepherd, we are sure to lack nothing.
There is such a force of comfort in salvation, that we will rather choose
outward evils than to enjoy outward good things. Moses, by faith, seeing
that outward affliction and shame were knit to salvation, chose these, and
refused dignity and ease.
How ought this to stay the soul under all its heavy pressures I Why
should not'l be patient in sickness, in poverty, in disgraces ; or why should
I despair at the hour of death ? Am I not under the hand of my God,
working my good out of every evil ? It is the subtilty of our arch-enemy
to drive us to a stand, that we may doubt of our conditions, and say with
Gideon, ' If the Lord be with me, and that I am his child, why is it thus
with me ?' Judges vi. 13. How is it that all this sorrow and misery hath
befallen me, and heth so heavy upon my soul ? But our comfort here is,
that God who turneth all things to our best is stronger than Satan.
Use 4. Again, Considering all things conduce unto our goods, though in
appearcDice never so opposite, this comfort ariscth, that if God do so work
this or that, then I must believe against belief; I must stand firm against
contraries, my faith must answer his manner of working, and believe that
God can bring me to honour by shame, and to heaven by hell-gates. For
if it be his course of deahng, first to cast down and then to lift up, by dis-
grace to bring his servants to glory, then in all my extremities I must rest
upon God, who is never nearer unto his, to succour them, than when ho
seems to be furthest off. When he means to give victory he sufiers us to
be foiled first, and when he intends to justify a poor sinner he will con-
demn him first. Let us therefore hope against hope, and desire God in
our distresses to open our eyes that w^e may see our consolations. _
Hagar had a well by her when she was ready to perish for thirst, and
yet she saw it not ; and Elisha's man had angels to defend him when the
Aramites* compassed him about, but perceived not the same. So 'the
angel of the Lord continually pitchcth his tent about the godly,' though
they are not aware of it ; yea, God is then nearest to us when^we are in
most straits. Cordials are kept for faintings. When Christ went to cast
the devil out of a child, he then most raged and tare him. So likewise
Satan and wicked men most rage when they are nearest to their end and
destruction. In thy greatest danger, never rest on thy friends, but on
the Lord, who never standeth nearer and fii'mer to us than when we are
most perplexed and know not what to do. A distressed soul secth oft no
comfort in outward things, and therefore retireth unto God, in whom it
finds whatsoever may make it happy. ' Our strength may fail, and our
heart may fail,' Ps. xxiv., but God is our portion for ever. When we are
weak, then we are strong ; and when we are most cast down in ourselves,
we are nearest to God's helping hand. This carriage of the Almighty
ought to establish our faith.
In all cases of extremity we should have a double eye : one to look
upon our grievances and troubles, and another to look upon the issue and
event of them. Why do men in time of dangerous sickness take bitter
physic, which is almost death unto them ? Why do they then undergo
Buch things as they loathe at other times ? Is it not because they rest upon
the skill of the physician ? And shall we then in our distresses distrust
God for our souls, when we will trust a weak and mortal man with our
♦ That is, tlie Syrians. Cf. 2 Kings vi. 17.-G.
VOL. V. S
274 THE PRR'-ILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
bodies? If conceit be so strong in earthly things, as indeed it is, then
faith is much stronger, when it grounds itself upon the truth of the word.
When God exercises us with poverty or other afflictions, this should teach
us submission to his providence in any condition, saying, Lord, do with
me what thou wilt, only let this poor soul be precious in thine eyes ! Thou
hast promised that howsoever these afflictions lie heavy upon me, yet in
the end, all shall turn out to my good ; therefore dispose of thy servant at
thine own pleasure ; I resign all to thee !
Here is the rejoicing of a Christian, which makes him cheerfully pass
through any affliction ; he knows that good is intended in all that befalls
him. With what alacrity did Joseph say unto his brethren, ' Ye sold me
hither, but God hath turned it to the best, that I should preserve and
nourish you all, and save much people alive, who otherwise were like to
have perished with famine,' Gen. xlv. 5. This made Job so patiently to
say, ' The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh ; blessed be the name of the
Lord,' Job i. 21.
This is the ground of all true contentation,* I have learned, saith St
Paul, ' in all estates to be content : to be rich and to be poor, to abound and
to be in want,' Philip, iv. 11 ; and why so ? Whatsoever his estate and
condition was, God turned it to the best. Shall any man dare to mislike
of God's allowance ? Doth not he know better what is good for us than
we can possibly imagine what is good for ourselves ?
This likewise should teach us not to take offence at the reproach and
disgrace which is cast upon God's children ; for ' mark the righteous,'
saith David, ' and behold the upright : the end of that man is peace,' Ps.
xxxvii. 37. The issue of their trouble is ever quietness. Take not one
piece of a Christian man's life by itself, but take it altogether, and then
thou shalt see the truth of this doctrine. To see Joseph in the dungeon
and in his irons, we haply may be offended, and call God's providence in
question ; but beholding him in his honour and advancement, we cannot
but conclude him a happy man. So if we look on Job sitting with sores
on the dunghill, thei'e is matter of offence ; but to see him restored again,
and blessed with a greater estate than he had before, this is matter of
praising God. If we consider of Christ abased, and hanging upon a cross,
80 there will be scandal ; f but look on him exalted to glory, far above aU
dignities and powers, and then the scandal is soon taken away. Let us
therefore lay one thing to another when we eye God's people, and we shall
see a blessing under their greatest curse. Those things which are contrived
by man's wdtt may argue great folly if one part be not annexed to the other.
Therefore look to the whole work towards his servants, and then thou shalt
never be offended at their condition.
Use 5. This also is a ground of Chrhtian boldness in Iwhj courses, when a
man is fully resolved, that come what will come, God will turn all to his
good. It encourages him cheerfully to go through any difficulty. What is
the reason of the fearfulness and dastardness of most men, but only this,
that if we do this or that duty, or abstain not from this or that good action,
then this cross and this dipleasure by such and such a person will be brought
upon me. The wise man saith, that ' the fear of man bringeth a snare,
but he that trusteth in the Lord shall be exalted,' Prov. xxix. 25. Let ua
not, regarding the fear of man, neglect our duty to God, for he can turn the
hearts of the kings on the earth to seek the welfare of his poorest creature,
* That is, 'contentment.' — G. J That is, 'wisdom.' — G.
t That is ' offence.'— G.
I
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 275
and make thy very enemies to be thy friends. He that for sinister ends
will offend his Maker, may well be excluded to the ' gods whom they have
served,' Judges x. 14. Go to the great men, whose persons you have
obeyed for advantage, to your riches, to your pleasures, which you have
loved more than God or goodness : you would not lose a base custom, a
superfluity for me ; therefore I will not own you now. Such men are more
impudent than the devil himself, that will claim acquaintance with God at
last, when they have carried themselves as his enemies all their days. God
wants not means to maintain his, without being beholden to the devil. He
hath all help hid in himself, and will then shew it when it shall make most
for his own glory. He deserves not to live under the protection of a king,
that will displease him for fear of a subject. The three children in Daniel
said, ' Know, 0 king, that our God can deliver us out of thy hands ; but if
he will not, yet, nevertheless, we will not fall down and worship thine
image,' Dan. iii. 5, scq. ' The righteous are bold as a lion,' saith the wise
man, Prov. xxviii. 1 ; ' the Lord is his strong tower,' Ps. Ixi. 3. What
need we fear any creature, when we have him on our side who hath both
men and devils at his back ? *
Use 6. And if God turn all things whatsoever to our good, should not ice
throufjli the ivhole carriage of our lives chiefly aim, at his honour? God
writes our names in his book, he numbers our hairs, and bottles up our
tears. f He hath a special care of us. Every good deed we do he writeth
down to eternity ; yea, if we give but ' a cup of cold water in his name,'
Mat. X. 42, he taketh notice of it ; and shall not we then take special
occasion to magnify him in all things ? We pray daily, ' Hallowed be thy
name,' therefore ought accordingly to observe God's dealing with us. How
is it possible that we should give him the glory of his mercies, if we never
observe them ?
A wicked man considers. This makes for my advantage and this for my
profit, this tends to my ease and wealth, &c. ; studying how to make
friends, and please persons in place above him, not respecting God's
honour and glory in the least kind ; whereas the sincere Christian looks
on all things as they tend to his best happiness, and therefore forecast
thus. If I do this or that good, then I shall grow in grace and wisdom and
knowledge ; but if I neglect it, and be careless of well doing, I shall hurt
and wound my soul, and break the peace of my conscience. By this com-
pany and good acquaintance I shall be furthered in holiness, become wiser
and better in heavenly understanding ; if I fall, they may raise me up, and
help maintain a gracious frame within me. Where true holiness is, the
soul is sensible of all advantages and disadvantages of good. An indiffer-
ency for any compan}' or employment shews a dead heart.
This is a main difference to distinguish a child of God from a profane
wretch that only lives to himself. His heart is taken up wholly with the
world and matters below, whereas the godly are all for thriving in grace
and increase of godliness. The wicked man considers of things as they
serve to satisfy his lust ; and if we have better thoughts at any time, it is
but for a start. But a godly man's aims are always holy, and the strength
of his soul is put forth that way. He values himself as he stands in rela-
tion to God and a better life ; and esteems all other things more or less
as they further or hinder his spiritual growth, and bring peace and | sorrow
at the last unto him.
2. But I hasten to the second part of the text, the persons to uhom this
* Qu. ' beck ' ?— Ed. f Cf. Ps. Ivi. 8.— G. J Qu. ' or' ?— Ed.
276 THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
privilcffe helonffs ; that is, ' to them that love God.' And why to them that
love God ? Because the apostle speaketh of afflictions ; and we know that
the grace which is most conversant in the saints' sufi'erings is patience, which
floweth from love.
Also, for that of all other graces is the first and sweetest. It is the first ;
for whom we love we are sorry to offend ; and hate whatsoever is contraiy
to that we alfect.* We rejoice in that we love, and grieve in the absence
thereof.
It is the commanding affection of all others, and'setteth the whole man
sweetly a-work to attain its desire. Love makes us forward and zealous
Christians. All the inward worship of God is in the affections ; as, Thou
shalt rejoice in no God but me, and fear no God but me. All the com-
mandments of God are brought by Christ to this duty.
Again, Love hath a special part in this privilege of bringing all things to
work for our good. For when we love God, we will make the best use of
everything which we suffer or do, if we love God and eye his glory therein.
Love makes any burden easy. It makes us studious of pleasing the party
loved ; as we say in the proverb, ' Love me, and do with me what you will.'
Love is full of inventions. It studies complacency, and sets the soul a-work
to honour God in all things.
In that the apostle saith, ' to them that love God,' and not to the chil-
dren or servants of God, we may observe, that Christianity is not a bare
title, but it requireth some qualification. Therefore the Scriptures, when
they describe a saint on earth, do not usually say, ' the child of God,' but
they set him forth by some holy affections or actions wrought in him ; as
such as love God, or fear God, and ' walk in his ways ;' hereby shewing
that religion is not a matter of compliment, but a real and holy endeavour
to please the Lord ; and although the Scriptures do name but some one
particular affection, yet it is all one as if they had named all ; for where
one is in truth, there all follows.
Again, In that the apostle here ascribes privileges to those only that are
thus qualified, we must take heed in applying the promises of God and
these sweet consolations, that we be such persons to whom of right they
do belong ; ' for all things work for the best,' not to every one, but to such
as * love God.' We must not therefore preach comfort to all, but must first
labour to make men capable of it. To this end,
1. First, We will shew the nature of this love.
2. Secondly, The exercises of it, and directions unto it.
3. Thirdly, Some incitements to this holy affection.
1. The ground of love is a considering of God as our own God in the
covenant of grace, and an acknowledging of ourselves to be his peculiar
children in Christ Jesus ; when we can say as the spouse in the Canticles,
' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine,' ii. 16. This is a loving of
God, not as the God of nature only, but as ours peculiar by grace. This
union of love, which knits us to Christ, implieth another union by faith
first, which is a cleaving to God as my God, and to Christ as my Christ ;
whence issues a second conjunction or cleaving to him in love, as my
Saviour, my husband, and my head.
To come to the nature of this grace, and then to the working of it. The
nature of love is seen in four things :
1. In admiring of some secret good in the thing beloved, which stirs up
the soul to make out for it.
* That is, 'love,' 'choose.' — Q.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
277
2. In a studionsncss of the contentation* of the person beloved.
3. In a desire of union and fellowship with the person we affect.f
4. In a resting and solacing of ourselves in the thing we love.
By these let us examine ourselves whether we have the true love of God
or no. For it concerns us much to have this grace. It will distinguish
us from all others, who fear him not.
1. First, Our love to Christ cometh
(1.) From the hif/h esteem of the good things we see in him. But how
shall we know whether that we have this admiring of the good things we
Bee in God and in his word and children ? We shall know it by our
choice ; and our choice follows our judgment. Would we know whether
our judgment be good ? See what do we choose, especially when things of
the world and God come together. And here we want not examples to
guide us. The question was, Whether that Moses should still choose to
live in Pharaoh's court and be accounted his son-in-law, or else depart and
sutler adversity with God's children. Now Moses, by sound judgment, had
an high esteem of the excellency and privileges of the saints ; and therefore
chose rather to endure afflictions ' than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
season,' Heb. xi. 25. Let us then see whether we can be contented to part
with our preferment or pleasure for God or no. And whether we do
esteem the rebukes of Christ greater riches than the treasures of the world :
whether we can lay down our lives and liberties at Christ's feet, and
gladly want all, so we may enjoy him. If it be so with us, our estate is
good.
(2.) Again, Let us see whether We have a right prizing of the good things
in God. Do we delight to speak much and often of Christ and the benefitg
we receive by him ? How was St Paul's heart enlarged, and his tongue full
of heavenly eloquence, in setting forth the ' unspeakable mercies of God,'
which we have by Christ Jesus our Lord. If ' God be on our side, who
can be against us ?' saith he ; ' What shall separate us from the love of
Christ ;' ' shall tribulation, shall anguish and affliction ? I am persuaded
that neither death, nor life, nor any other thing can do it,' Rom. viii. 38.
(3.) Another sign to know whether we have a secret admiration of the
good things we see in God is this, if u-e do undervahte all things else for
Christ. Worldly men are ever admiring of the things below, accounting
such men happy and blessed that abound most therein. Therefore there is
nothing that doth more truly try a man than this. The soul that sees a
vanity in the things beneath, and can rejoice in God only as his true riches,
is in a good condition. Where there is a true judgment of God and reli-
gion, the soul of that man will never stoop to the creature ; the soul so
rejoiceth in God, as that it will not yield itself to any other. Adam and
Eve, in their innoeency, were both naked and were not ashamed. One
reason might be, because their thoughts were taken up with higher matters.
In heaven we shall not be ashamed of things we now are ashamed of. A
Christian soul is so ravished with the enjoying of God, that it mindeth
almost nothing but him.
2. The second branch in love is a desire to do all things, (1.) to the con-
tent of the partgl beloved. Our love to God will frame us to the obedience
of his will. Obedience is the proof of love : * If ye love me,' saith Christ,
' keep my commandments,' John xv. 10. If we love God, we will pray for
the enlarging of his kingdom. Where love is kindled in any heart, there
* That is, ' contentment.'— G. % Cf. foot note in Vol. III. page 9.— G.
t That is, ' love.' — G.
278 THE PKIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
is a care to be approved of him whom we so love. This makes our obe-
dience general to all God's commandments, in all places and all things what-
soever. It makes us give our inwards to God, serving him with the soul
and spirit.
Those therefore that nourish unclean hearts within them, and think it
enough to abstain from the outward act of evil, love not the Lord sincerely.
The devil himself will do outward things as readily as you ; he will confess
Christ to be the Sou of God, and say, ' Why art thou come to torment me
before my time ? ' Matt. viii. 29. So that if thou dost outwardly only con-
fess God, what dost thou more than the devil ? In outward duties, without
sincerity, there is no love. You will pray ; the devil will do as much. The
devil hath a bad end in good actions. So there are many that come to
church, and make show of religion, to cloak their evil courses. But such
poor wretches, however they are pleased with shadows, are little better
than Satan himself.
(2.) Again, If we be desirous to content him whom we love, then tvill we
suffer anything for his sake. Therefore the apostles went away ' rejoicing,
and accounted it their glory that they were esteemed worthy to sutler hard-
ship for Christ,' Acts v. 41. And David, for ' dancing l3efore the ark,'
being by Michal mocked, saith, ' I will yet be more vile for my God,'
2 Sam. vi. 22. He cared not for any reproach that could happen to him
in a good way. Yea, this will make us ' zealous in his truth.' He that
hath no zeal hath no love. If our heai'ts rise not when God is dishonoured,
what love have we to him ? Is God's glory and the church's welfare dear
to us ? It is a sign we love him. But can we see those things go back-
ward and have no zeal, nor be anything affected therewith, surely then we
have no love.
3. Again, if we have a true love to God, then
(1.) Have ive a desire of union and communion uith him. We will be
much in meditating of him, in speaking to him and conferring with him.
Those therefore that go on from day to day, without private speeches with
God, or solacing of their souls in him, what aifection have they to him ?
Love is communicative ; and what desire of communion can that soul have
that lives a stranger to his Maker ? Can we say we love one with whom
we never confer or speak to any purpose ?
(2.) Again, If we love a man, iveiciU advise with him, especially in matters
of moment. So if we love God we will take counsel of him in his word, for
the guidance of our lives and stablishing our consciences. If we advise not
with God, it is a sign that we either think he doth not regard us, or else
that we count him not worthy to be counselled by.
(3.) Another sign is, to examine what desire ice have to he dissolved, and
to be u-ith Christ. Do we love his appearing to judgment ? and are we now
fit for his coming ? Surely then it is a plain sign that our love is fixed and
set upon him ; so much as we do fail of this desire, so much we fail in love
to Christ. What was the reason that the people under the law were so
much afraid at the appearing of an angel unto them ? Was it not this, that
they were not fitted and prepared for God ? A man may be a good Chris-
tian, and yet not at all times willing to die ; for as eyes that are sore cannot
always endure the light, so a soul galled with sin desires not to hear of the
day of judgment: yet ought w^e to thirst after it.
(4.) Another sign of this grace is our eager and hungry desire after God,
when with David we can say, ' 0 God, my heai't panteth after thee, as the
hart panteth after the brooks of waters,' Ps. xlii. 1, when a soul is never
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
279
at rest till he enjoys his Maker, but cries out still, ' 0 when shall I appear
in his pi'csence !' it is a good sign, ver. 2.
4. The last branch or property is, resting and quieting ourselves in the love
of God above all things irhatsoever, saying with David, ' AVhom have I in
heaven or in earth besides thee ? or what do I esteem in comparison of thee ?'
Ps. Ixxiii. 25 ; let me enjoy but ' the light of thy countenance, and it suffices
me,' Ps. iv. 6. Demand therefore of thine own heart, what the things are
that trouble thee most ? and what is the cause of thy sorrow and disquiet-
ments ? whether it be for losses or crosses outwardly, or for want of God's
love and the sense and feeling of his favour inwardly ? They which grieve
chiefly for outward evils are most carried in their atiections that ways ; but
if in the coufluence of all worldly blessings, we can grieve for our spiritual
wants, it is a comfortable evidence. When a man reckons not his happi-
ness to stand in the possession of the creature, but in the fruition of the
Creator, and desires his favour above anything, it is a gracious sign.
David had an abundance, yea, he had a kingdom, yet nothing would
satisfy him but the mercies of God. And when he was in want, what
course did he take, but ' still comforted himself in the Lord his God,'
Ps. li. 1, seq. That which a man sorroweth most for when he wauteth it, that
he rejoiceth most in when he hath it. Can we in our crosses rejoice that
God is ours ? This is an excellent sign, and plainly discovers, that we
place our coutentation* more in him than in anything else. Can we delight
more in the solace of his favour than in outward prosperity ? It is a
heavenly testimony of a renewed condition. When David was in his great-
est distresses, what desires had he then most in him ? Why, he longed
after the house of God. When the people were ready to stone him, wherein
did he trust, but in ' the Lord his strong tower' ? Ps. Ixi. 3.
In the last place, Would we know whether we can rest in God or no ?
Let us
(1.) Examine ourselves then what endeavours we make every day to cleanst
our souls from sin, that so God may take pleasure in us, and we again may
delight in him.
(2.) Let us see how we restrain our affections from running riot after the
world and sinful pleasures. And
(3.) Hoiv we set our joy upon God, and frame ourselves to do his will. 1
beseech you, let us deal faithfully with our own souls in this particular.
And if we find
(4.) That our hearts tell us, as Peter's told him, ' Lord, thou knowest
that I love thee,' John xvi. 80 ; I desire, 0 Lord, to please thee above all
things ; I have set mine heart upon thee, and I joy in thee and in thy love
more than in all things else in the world ; if thus, I say, we can in the
integrity of our spirits appeal to God, who only knows and searches our
ways, and say, ' Truly, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee,' it is a certain
and infallible sign unto us that we are his, and all things shall work for
the best unto us.
But take we heed how w^e deceive ourselves in these things. By love
we are Christians ; therefore labour for sincerity of aflection. A reprobate
or a castaway may go far in these four signs of love. He may admire
and wonder at the good things of God ; but he doth it not from anything
within him, but from the outward beholding of them. He can admire and
talk of them, but yet such men are without any relish or sweet taste of the
thing they speak of. So likewise an hypocrite may desire to please God
* That is, ' contentineut.' — G.
280 THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
in many tilings, but not in all things ; as we see in Herod, he heard John
Baptist willingly, and obeyed in some things, but not in all. He could not
be crossed in his beloved sin which abode in him ; that must not be touched.
Then farewell God, and farewell Christ and all.
So a castaway may desire to be in heaven, as being a place good for
him ; and he may have some little ' taste of those joys above,' as is men-
tioned in the Hebrews, vi. 4, 5 ; but he hath no relish of them from the
love of God, but only from the love of himself. And his desire is not such
as will draw him on to the use of means for spiritual growth and progress
thereunto, as we see in Balaam ; he had a desire ' to die the death of the
righteous,' Num. xxiii. 10, but this could not make him leave his covetous
disposition, and find a contentment in God alone.
A reprobate may be content with religion and with God's ways, so long
as peace doth accompany the same (as now in this our country, Christ
Cometh amongst us with plenty and prosperity, therefore Christ is a good
Christ), but if the gospel and religion should be professed with persecution
and danger and disgrace, it would soon appear where men's contentments
were. There is a resting not in the truth, because it is truth, but in regard
of the good things which follow it. If we desire to approve ourselves to
God, let us examine ourselves about this affection, and every branch of it.
The deceit is both common and deadly ; and the profession of religion in
many Christians is not for religion itself, but for by-ends and sinister
respects. To which end consider further these particulars.
Where there is true love, there xdll he a desire of union to the beloved
object ; so where the love of God is, there will be a desire of the accom-
plishment of the marriage between God and the soul. ' He that loves a
harlot,' saith the wise man, * is one with her,' 1 Cor. vi. IG. So he that
affects-'.= the Lord, desires to be one with him ; therefore men have their
names from what they love. If they lovo the world, they are called ' world-
lings ;' if they love Christ, they are called Christians. How canst thou say
that thou lovest the Lord, and dost not desire his presence in his ordi-
nances ? Can we say we love such a man, when we care not for his com-
pany ? God observes not so much what we do, as from what affection our
duties proceed.
Again, If we love, there icill be a desire to r/ire content to the party beloved.
This appears even in carnal self-love ; for take a man that loves himself,
he makes himself his utmost aim and end in all his actions. But when
once God hath plucked this fleshly love out of our souls, then our affections
will be carried to Christ only. This made the prophet David say, ' I love
the Lord dearly,' Ps. xviii. 1. ' He is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer,'
Ps. Ixxi. 3. A Christian hath his contentment in God alone ; he finds an
all-sufficiency in the Almighty, and therefore makes him his resting-place.
In all his troubles he will make God his deliverer, and find more true com-
fort in him than in all the things of the world besides. Therefore, if God
should take all other things from us, yet if he leave us himself, a Christian
is well contented, because he knows his best being is in God.
Quest. But how shall I know whether I do esteem rightly of God or no ?
Ans. If we highly esteem any thing, whether it be of this or a better
life, we will be often speaking of them. It is a sign men undervalue
heavenly truths when they discourse little about them. They much set
light by God that have him not in all their thoughts.
Again, What we esteem of, ice tvill choose above other thimjs. It appears
f That is, ' loves.'— G.
THE PBIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
281
we have a precious esteem of God when we choose him, and him alone, for
our portion ; as David, when he said, ' One thing have I desired of the
Lord, that I may dwell in his courts for ever,' Ps. xxvii. 4. Where God
is truly loved, there will be a fall of all earthly things in that man's estima-
tion. So he may gain Christ, he counts all else but dross and dung.
Lastly, If thou lovest God, thou wilt he afraid to njj'ciid Jiiiii, and careful
to please hi)a in all thiii;js. God delights not in a proud and haughty spirit,
but in an humble and meek soul. These then should be thy delight. God
is wonderful well pleased with faith ; for it is that which binds him to per-
form his promise ; therefore seek it earnestly. Whatsoever God approves,
a Christian should take pleasure in. Every grace is an ornament to a
Christian ; and God delights to see his own graces in us. Isaac, before ho
took llebekah to wife, sent her jewels to adorn her ; so Christ sends rich
jewels to his children, even the graces of his Holy Spirit, to make us love
him, and fit us the more for him. Those that live in sins against con-
science, think we that these love God ? No, certainly. If they did, they
would love that which he loves, and hate that which ho hates. What a
pitiful thing is it to see men glorying in that which is their shame ; in
swearing and profaneness, and yet for all this say they love God ! Is
it possible that the love of God and the love of sin should ever stand
together ?
Proceed we now to some reasons and directions for the attaining of this
grace.
1. And first. Let us not rest in an inferior der/ree of this affection, but rise
up therein, and labour that it may have full assent. There are degrees of
assent, as when we love God because we love ourselves. A natural man may
do so, but this is not enough ; for if we love God for ourselves, we make
ourselves our god. Where the heart is truly set upon God, it delights in
him only for himself, and takes comfort in no condition further than he
sees God in it. He never affected Christ in truth that is more taken with
the benefits and privileges that come by him than with the excellency of
his person. What friend will be content that a man should only love him
because he doth him good ? We must love ourselves and all other things
in and for God. Moses and Paul rejoiced to honour the Lord, though
themselves were accursed and deprived of happiness ; and if we could so
love Christ as not to desire heaven itself if Christ were not there, this were
truly to affect* him ; for indeed if Christ were not there, heaven should not
be heaven unto us. We must love our happiness no further than we can
have with it God's leave and liking.
2. Again, We shall know our love to God, whether it be sincere or no, by
our ahstaininy from sin. If we avoid evil for fear of punishment or hope of
reward only, our love is unsound ; but when we so love God that we will
not do anything contrary to his Spirit, it is a special sign. Such a man,
if there were no hell to punish him, nor place of bliss to receive him, yet
would not break with God i;pon any terms.
For the means to attain this love, we must, in the first place,_ labour for
an humble and empty soid. ' Blessed are the poor in spirit,' saith Christ,
for such only apprehend their misery without Christ and their need of him,
which occasions an holy rejoicing in the Lord, and unfeigned love to him.
What is the reason that some are so ravished with the fiivours of the
Almighty ? Is it not for that they were so formerly stung with the sight
and feeling of their sins ? The more loving Christian ever the more humble
* That is, ' choose," ' love.' — G,
282 THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
Christian. Mark it when you will, and you shall find this disposition mani-
fest in every true convert. They are daily humbling themselves for the
least ofience.
A second direction is, to taste of the love of God in Christ. When the
beams of his favour once shine into om' hearts, we cannot but reflect upon
him again. ' "We love him,' saith the apostle, ' because he loved us fu'st,'
1 John iv. 10. Mary therefore ' loved much,' because she had the experi-
ence of God's love ' in forgiving her many sins,' Luke vii. 47. When a
broken humble soul truly savoureth the goodness of the Lord, it cannot but
be inflamed with desire after him. A Christian, after he hath had a taste
of the love of God, hath another manner of judgment of justification than
before. ' Taste and see,' saith David, ' how good and gracious the Lord is,'
Ps. sssiv. 8. A man that I'elishes the sweetness of a thing can better judge
of it than he which never tasted it.
A third direction is, to see what motives and reasons loe have from the love
of God in Christ to exercise our understandings this way. We know heat
Cometh from light, and there is a sympathy between the brain and the
heart. The brain must make a report to the heart before that can be
inflamed with aff'ection ; therefore seriousl}- search into the grounds of thy
aflection.
(1.) The first ground is, goodness in God. God is goodness itself, in whom
all goodness is involved. If, therefore, we love other things for the good-
ness which we see in them, why do we not love God, in whom is all good-
ness ? All other things are but sparks of that fire, and drops of that sea.
Seest thou any good in the creature ; remember there is much more in the
Creator. Leave, therefore, the streams, and go to the well-head of comfort.
(2) Another reason of love is our affinity with God our Father and
friend, who is unto us in all degrees of nearness, both our head and our
husband. Were not the Son ours, what fellowship could we have with the
Father? Having such a Mediator with God, that is 'bene of our bone,
and flesh of our flesh,' why should we fear to go unto him? He hath taken
upon him these comfortable relations of shepherd and brother, to possess
us of his acquaintance with our infirmities and readiness to relieve us. For
shall others by his grace fulfil what he calls them unto, and not he that
out of his love, hath taken upon him these relations, so thoroughly founded
upon his Father's assignment and his own voluntary undertaking ? How
doth the tender mother sympathise in the anguish of her child, notwith-
standing all its froward averseness ? And shall we think there is more
bowels in ourselves than in God ? Can there be more sweetness in the
stream than in the spring ? If the well of consolation be always open, and
the fountain of living water be never shut up, let us teach our hearts to
suck and draw comfort from these rivers of refreshing. What a shame is it
that men should hunger at such a feast !
Consider, likewise, the benefits which we have bestowed upon us, and
the end why God vouchsafes us so much favour.
Benefits win love even from brute creatures. Therefore we are worse
than beasts, if we love not God for his benefits. ' The ox knows his owner,
and the ass his master's crib,' Isa. i. 3. What are we indeed but an heap
of God's benefits ? All our faculties of soul and body are the blessings of
God. Whatsoever we have or hope to have is from him. Our breath, life,
and being subsists in God, who hath promised that 'heaven and earth, men
and devils, crosses and blessings, sin and death,' all shall be turned by his
over-ruling power to our good.
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 283
(3) Consider what now we are, and what a happy condition God hath made
us capable of hereafter. Is it a small matter that we should be regarded
above the angels that fell ? and that he who knew no sin should be made
sin for us, nay, become a curse to free us from the curse ? It was strange
that the ' three children,' being cast into the hot fiery furnace, should not
burn. So hkewise it is a wonder that Christians, being in the midst of the
flame of God's love, should be so cold and dead-hearted. It is not only
the guilt of sin that we are freed from, but the unsupportable vengeance of
the Almighty due for the same. And is this a small matter ?
(4.) If we regard the manner of bestowing his benefits, it will much advance
God's goodness towards us, and raise up our spirits to love him again. Doth
not he love us first of all, and prevent* us with his favours ? Is not his love
full and overflowing, so as he never leaves us until he make an end ? Where
he freeth a man from danger, he settleth him in a good estate, never ceas-
ing till he possess him of glory ; as it is 2 Tim. iv. 17, ' The Lord hath
freed me out of the mouth of the lion, and he will preserve me to his ever-
lasting kingdom.' He delivers us from spiritual evil, and gives us spiritual
good. The meditation of these things will warm our hearts.
(5.) The next means is, to join fear with our lore to God. Whom we
love thoroughly, we will do nothing that shall displease. The fear of God,
whom we love, will cause us to make conscience of the least sin against
him ; for there is no sin, be it never so little, but it will weaken our afiec-
tion to goodness. When we venture upon anything against conscience, is
there not a decay of our love to God and of our sense of his favour towards
us ? Surely sin is the only make-bait in our souls, and weakener of all our
comforts. Those, therefore, are the lovingest souls towards God that are
most conscientious in their ways. Careless Christians have not that feeling
of God's love which humble fruitful Christians have, neither do they live
or die with that comfort as these do.
We are the spouse of Christ, and he is jealous of our love. Our betrothed
husband cannot abide that we should set our affections upon strangers.
Take heed, therefore, of adulterous and false affections. The more we love
earthly things, the less we shall esteem of heavenly ; and as our afiection
towards the creature increaseth, so our heat towards Christ abateth.
(6.) The next direction to stir up our love to God is, to exercise the same
daily. For true love is not an abstractive f afiection, but an afiection in
practice ; and we know everything doth increase by exercise. Exercise it,
therefore, in fighting against the love of the world and all self-love ; for as
there are contrary commands, so there are contrary desires in a Christian.
As there is the old man and the new man, the flesh and the spirit, so there
are contrary afiections, one setting itself against another in him.
When we see a poor Christian, the love of God will say unto us, Now
shew thy love unto Christ in succouring one of his members. No, saith flesh
,and blood, charity begins at home ; thou mayest want, thyself, another day.
In doing good likewise we should say. Here is now an occasion offered
me of honouring God, and I will embrace it. Oh but, saith self-love, there
is time enough hereafter ; hereby you may run into poverty and disgrace ;
be not too forward. Therefore there must be a perpetual denial of ourselves
against our whole thwart % nature. Those that are Christians know experi-
mentally what belongs to these things. But take a carnal man or woman,
and they are led altogether by their sensual lusts as brute beasts. What-
* That is, ' anticipate.'— G. J That is, ' abstract ' = theoretic ?— G.
t That is, ' thwarted' or ' twisted' = evil.— G.
284
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL.
soever ease and self-love wills, that sways their hearts any ways. And
indeed the most sincere Christian hath the motions of these carnal and
wordly respects ; but his love unto God constrains him to deny all, and
listen to what Christ whispereth in his heart.
Consider we a little what may stir us up to exercise ourselves herein.
Love, it is the light of our life ; love we must, something ; and he lives not
that loves not. Seeing then we cannot but love, and that the misplacing
of our afiection is the cause of all sin and misery, what can we do better
than attend to directions how to love as we should ?
To come therefore to the four things before mentioned, being the branches
of love. First, We must admire God above all thiiu/s. And can we admire
anything with wisdom but God alone '? It is commonly said that we cannot
be wise and love together, for that this affection is blind, except it be in
God. Again, Is there anything more comfortable than that we give content
to God ? Is any service comparable to the service of a prince ? We must
serve the Lord only, and others in and for him, or else all we do is naught.
All other services are bondage ; this a perfect freedom. Again, Is there
anything more worthy our souls than to be united to God ? Can we have
a greater happiness than to be made one with Christ ? By loving a thing
we come to be like to it. Is there anything that may or ought to challenge
our love but Christ ? Is it not a base thing to unite our souls, which are
the best things under heaven, to earthly contentments, than which we shall
one day find nothing to be worse ? The love of God planted in our hearts
maketh Christ and us one. As a pearl in a ring makes the ring more pre-
cious and valuable, so the soul united unto Christ cometh to be more gracious
and heavenly. The more excellent the soul is, the more loving it will be
to God. The holiest saints have ever burned with most affection to Christ,
as Moses and Paul. Can anything satisfy us more than God ? Know we
not that all things here shall perish ? Therefore when we place our love
and joy in the world, do we not lose them too ? AVe shall leave behind us
the things of this life ; our sins only we carry away, which cleave fast unto
us and stain our consciences world without end. What might more con-
tent us than the love of God, which will endure for ever and accompany us
to heaven, when all other loves perish ?
Consider that every thing thou dost without love is dead and empty.
Love is the life of all actions ; as we say of a gift, the love of the giver is
better than the gift itself ; not only our performance is nothing without
love, but we ourselves are nothing without it. Every acceptable service
we do must proceed from this heavenly flame : ' Though we speak with the
tongues of men and angels, and have not love, we are like to a sounding
brass and tinkling cymbal,' 1 Cor. xiii. 1. Have we not much to do and
suffer in this life ? And what is it that makes us constant in duty, and
carries us through so many oppositions as we meet withal — is it not love ?
Doth not love sweeten our hearts, and take away every difficulty in our way
to heaven ? Whilst we live here, we must of necessity sufier ill things and
go on in well-doing ; neither of which can be pei'formed without love. This
rules our whole lives. Beg therefore of God to quicken thee in all cheerful
and willing obedience : pray that the Sun of righteousness would enlighten
thy heart. We cannot serve God without God, nor have any holy affec-
tion, except by his Spirit he work the same in us.
IHB PRIVILEGES OF THE FAITHFUL. 285
NOTES.
(a)T. 256.— -Luther . . . -wished all men after him to read his writin-s warilv '
(b) p. 256.-' As the apostle St Jude saith, " with both hands the word " ' Tha
verb IS jcra7.,.;(o/xa/, upon whicli Bengel says, ' Officium duplex pugnare strenue vro
fide contra hastes ; et cd^ficare se ipsum. in fide,' ver. 20. Curiously enougli hlZiZ
a reference, Neh IV. 17 (by a misprint handed down through all the e lufons of
itferirit i?'th;':;l!"^^°'^^^ ^^^^-'^ ^^'°"^'^^' "-'^h it is ^^^i
Jliol-f ?~7?'' !:''y /^«^^'^^" ^°^ld say. «^at we are then best in soul when we
are weakes m body for then we are most m heavenly resolutions and seeking affer
tunliy? ' ^»°'^^^^f«™^of the apophthegm. 'Mans extremity is God's oppor-
^f\^"iM ^;m' ^'' n"? r God sits at the stern and rules all, we may be sure no
evil shall betKle us that he can hinder.' Cf. John Newton's beautifuUetter to Mr
G.
THE CHEISTIAN'S END.
THE CHRISTIAN'S END.
NOTE.
' The Christian's End' was published in 1639, in a thin volume, with a finely
engraved portait of Sibbcs preiixed. The impression must have been very limited,
as it is among the least frequently occurring of his books, and brings a high price.
The title-page is given below.* Q-
* THE
CHRISTIANS
END.
Or,
The sweet Soveraignty of Christ,
over his members in life and death.
"Wherein is contained the whole scope of the
godly Mans life, with divers Rules, Mo-
tives and Incouragements, to live and
die to Iesus Christ.
Being the substance of five Sermons preached
to the Honorable Society of Grayes Inne, by
that Learned and faithfull Minister of Goda
Word, Richard Sibbes, D.D. ■
and sometimes Preacher to that
Honorable Societie.
1. CoR. 6. 20.
Yee are bought with a price, ^c.
Heb, 11. 4.
He being dead, yet speaketh.
LONDON,
Printed by Thomas Harper, for Lawrence Chapman, and
aro to be sold at his shop at Chancery lane end
next Holborne, 16 3 9.
THE CHRISTIAN'S END.
THE FIRST SERMON.
None of us tlveth to himself, and none of us dieth to himself. For whether we
live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether tve die, we die %mto the Lord :
whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. — Rom. XIV. 7, 8.
The scope of tho chapter in the former part of it, is to discoTer to the
Romans, and in them to us all, how to carry ourselves to others in matters
of indiflferenc3\ As there is difference of things in the world — some good,
some ill, and some of a middle nature — so there are different affections in
men. About these things of a middle nature some are strong, and they are
prone to despise the weaker, for they know their liberty ; some more
weak, and they are prone to censure and complain of them that be strong,
as all weakness is full of impatience. Thus it was with the Romans. The
strong despised the weaker, as ignorant ; the weaker censured, acid in their
hearts condemned, the sti'ong, as too adventurous.
The apostle sheweth here an excellent peaceable spirit, hating contention
as an evil thing in a church. In a family, when children fall together by
the ears, the father taketh up the quarrel, by beating them both. So in a
church, while people fall a-contending and breaking the bonds of love, God
taketh them in hand. And therefore the apostle taketh them off from this
danger by* despising one another, and presseth it by a reason in the fourth
verse, drawn,
First, From their relations. * Who art thou that judgest another man's
servant ? '
Secondly, From their aims. They do it both out of religious respects.
* He that eateth, eateth to the Lord ; he that eateth not, eateth not to the
Lord ; he that regardeth not a day, regardeth it not to the Lord ; he that
doth it, doth it to the Lord.' And therefore if both have a religious respect,
censure may be forborne.
There is that force in a good aim, that in some actions of aa indifferent
nature they may be done, or not be done ; and God may bear with both,
though he allow not of cither's carelessness in searching out the truth.
Till the time of growth, God beareth with them, so their aims be gracious,
their fault being simple ignorance, not malicious pertinancy.f When St Paul
saw the hypocritical aims of the Galatians in things of indifferent natures, he
* Qu. 'of? — En. t That is, ' pertinaciousness.' — G.
VOL. V. T
290 THE christian's end.
would not yield a wliit to them. But the defect of the Romans was in their
knowledge, not in their wills ; they did it with respect to the Lord. And
therefore as in Acts xiii. 18, God is said Jr^ocrop&es/v (an excellent word), to
bear with their manners in the wilderness, dispensing with many things, as
putting away of wives, &c. ; not that he liked that course, but he would set
up a meek kind of government, not taking advantage to cast them off. So
he dealt with the Romans. Now, shall God be merciful and indulgent, and
man severe ?
1. In the text you have a general reason why they that did it, or did it
not, did or did it not ' to the Lord.' ' For none liveth to himself, or dieth
to himself; but whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.'
2. In this reason here is, first, a general negative : ' None of us liveth to
himself, none of us dieth to himself — a figurative speech and rhetorical
expression, beginning and ending alike. Secondly, There is a general affir-
mative ; when he hath taken them oft' from themselves, he assigneth them
to a true Lord : ' Whether we live, we hve to the Lord ; whether we die,
we die to the Lord.' And this is set down with a disjunction : we neither
live to ourselves, nor die to ourselves.
3. And, thirdly, a general ground that wrappeth up all : * Whether we
live or die, we are the Lord's.' And therefore in reason we should live to
him and die to him.
4. Fourthly, There is the ground of all, in that that followeth : ' For to this
end Christ died and rose again, that he might be Lord of life and death.'
So here is reason upon reason, and ground upon ground.
Conclusion. The sum of all is, we cannot certainly conclude of life or
death. For we live but for a while ; and when we have acted our part upon
the stage we die, and go to another world. Of Hfe and death we can make
no reckoning. As soon as we begin to live, we begin to die. For some
part of our life is taken away daily ; as it is with a sum, the more you take
away, the less remaineth. But certain it is, hving and dying, ' we are the
Lord's.' We ought therefore to have a conjunctive consideration. I now
live, yet that is not my comfort ; but sure I am, ' whether I live or die, I
am the Lord's.'
He riseth from a general to a particular, which may teach us this point
of wisdom.
First, That to have good general truths is an excellent point of ivisdom, for
they hare affluence* into all particidars. A comprehension of principles is
the ground of prudence for direction in particular cases. There is no art
but hath some general maxims, as in law, in physic, and in the mathematics,
there be canons or principles, call them what you will, that have influence
into all particulars. So religion hath general rules, which should be de-
posited in memory at all times ; that on all occasions we may see how
particulars spring from and agree to the generals. Therefore we should
labour to treasure up in our memory good principles, for men work in all
things according to their principles. If they have good principles, or gene-
ral truths, they work answerably. And the reason of any error in a Chris-
tian's life is from false principles.
Men of a bad conscience, 'whose synieresis (being the part of the soul that
preserveth principles) is corrupt, they think they do God good service in
killing of men, from an abominable principle, John xvi. 2. As in popery,
which is grounded upon false principles, making men's traditions a rule of
faith.
* That is, ' flowing to' = adaptation or application.— G.
i
THE CHBISTIAN's END. 291
Therefore it is good to have general true grounds. Mark how the Scrip-
ture is frequent this way. What an excellent general rule is that of Christ.
' Seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall
be cast upon you,'' Mat. vi. 33. Carry that along, and what a light doth it
give into all our actions. What need wc by indirect courses seek to be
great in the world, if we take Christ's method ?
Again, Our Saviour Christ in his ordinary speech delivered it as a gene-
ral rule, ' It is better to give than to receive,' Acts xx. 35, which containeth
a direction to men to be public and liberal. St Paul's ordinary course was
so : ' Ivnowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,' &c.,
2 Cor. V. 11. What an influence hath this into our conversations, ' That
I must do, as I must give account at the day of judgment.' And so what
use made he of the glorious state to come, in that house ' and building of
God not made with hands, not seen, but apprehended only by feith,' 2 Cor.
v. 1. It enabled him to do and suffer all things that became a Christian
to do and suffer. If a man have that principle and mindeth it, ' that aU
things work together for the best to them that love God,' Kom. viii. 28,
what can discourage him ? He knoweth in the issue all shall be for the
best, and God will not fail him nor forsake him in his way, ' but giveth hia
angels charge over him,' Ps. xci. 11. So Christ's direction. One thing is
necessary, how may it rectify* us when we trouble ourselves about many
impertinences ? If these generahstsf were always present upon solicita-
tions to sin or discomfort, ' It shall go well with the righteous, and it shaU
not go well with the wicked ; if we take good courses it shall be well, if ill
courses sin will be bitter :' it would be a marvellous help and advantage in
all particulars of our lives.
"The second general observation is this, that as tve must get good jorin-
ciples laid up in store upon all occasion, so tve 7nust specially have gracious
aims. Men are as their aims are. Noble spirits have noble aims (o).
Christians are of an higher rank than ordinary men, and therefore they have
higher aims. Religion giveth command to all other particulars, and pre-
Bcribeth to them a general end. It taketh a man off from a false end, and
pitcheth him upon a true end. It taketh him from himself, the great idol
that man naturally setteth up above God and above Christ, and above heaven
and happiness, and telleth him that the true end of all is to live to Christ ;
and that on good grounds, ' for we are his,' and his by good title : ' he died
for us, that he might be Lord both of quick and dead,' Acts x. 42. As
in state policy, those that are governors in a state they prescribe ends of
trades, and reduce them to a serviceableness of state — if they find anything
hurtful, they look to it as it stands in reference to the common good — so
religion considereth of all particulars as they have reference to Christ and
the main end, taking us off from false ends, and prescribing the last and
best end, and directing all particulars to that end. But we shall see this
better in the unfolding of the words.
The first thing he begins in the general is, to take us off from false ends :
' None of us liveth to himself.'
(1.) First, To live to ourselves is not altogether to be taken in a civil
sense. A man liveth to himself when he liveth privately or retiredly : Benh
vixit, qui bene latuit [h). So a man may do in some things, especially in
times of persecution ; but this ordinarily is not good. A man is a creature
for communion ; and God hath fitted him for communion by speech and
* That is, = ' put us right.'— G.
t Qu. 'generals,' or 'generalities'?— G.
292 THE christian's end.
other endowments, that there may be preserved a communion of saints.
But because a retired life is sometimes good, it is not here mainly aimed at.
(2.) Again, secondly, we live to ourselves when we mind ourselves
altogether, and not one another ; when we have more respect to ourselves,
than to God or to our Christian brother. And this is even contrary to
natui'e. We see in nature, that a particular nature will in some cases yield
to a general, and thwart itself. The fire is a light body, and in the natural
motion of it mounteth upward ; yet this body will go downwards to pre-
serve whole the universal nature from a vacuum, from emptiness, that the
fulness and solidity in nature may not be disturbed. And we see heavy
bodies go upward for the same end. As a man will venture the hand to
save his head, and to save his body, so it should be in society and govern-
ment ; particular men should venture themselves for the prince or state, for
the head or for the bod3\
(3.) But in a more large and religious sense. To live to a man's self is
to make himself his last end, his terminus reductivus, to reduce all to him-
self, and make religion and everything serviceable to himself. When a
man will serve himself of God for base ends, because his service will advance
him ; as the Shechemites were circumcised for Dinah, Gen xxxiv. 1, seq.
And to die to ourselves is much like it.
(1.) A man dieth to himself, ivhen he regardeth himself in death, and is
regarded onuch of nobody else. Persons that have an absolute being of
themselves, that have no kindred, not much acquaintance, or have been
little fruitful in their lives, die to themselves in a civil sense ; that is, no
man mourneth for them, saying, ' Ah, my brother,' 1 Kings xiii. 30. They
were of little use in their lives, and so little missed in their deaths.
And usually they that live thus to themselves, they die to themselves,
little regarded, little lamented. Only this oftentimes, they do most good
■when they die ; as we say of swine, ' They are never good till dead.'
(2.) But this is meant in a theological higher sense. No Christian ' dieth
to himself;' that is, dieth unregarded of God and of good men. As he liveth
not to himself but to Christ, so he dieth not to himself : ' Precious to the
Lord is the death of all his saints,' Ps. cxvi. 15. He is not desjjotos,^ with-
out lord and master ; but ' whether he liveth or dieth, he is the Lord's.'
So much for the negative part, which we see may be taken both actively
and passively.
But this clause will be better understood by adding the other. ' "VMiether
we live, we live to the Lord ; or whether we die, we die to the Lord.'
Quest. What is it to live to the Lord ?
Ans. First, 2o acknowledge the Lord in all our ways to he our Lord, to
whom we oice ourselves.
And secondly. Thereupon to resign ourselves to the Lord in our whole
carriage, so as to obey him, to give up ourselves to be disposed of him, and
directed by him as he pleaseth.
And then, thirdly, to refer all thhigs to his glory as our last end, and to
endeavour that God and Christ may be known and magyiified in the world.
When we labour to practise what we pray for, according to that first peti-
tion, Hallowed be thy name, his religion and truth, and whatsoever else is
God's, may be advanced, set high, published, and enlarged ; that he may
be known and worshipped ; that he may be to us what he is in himself, the
great God, ' Lord of quick and dead.' So by our giving respect to him
suitable to our knowledge of him.
* Qu. ' adespoios ' ? — En.
THE christian's END. 293
Fourthly and lastly, He that liveth to the Lord comforteth himself in this,
that the Lord taketh notice of him in everijthinr/. For it is a phrase import-
ing a direction to a duty ; and likewise to confirm and comfort us in this,
that we do our duty. We do not serve a dead master, but one that taketh
notice of us * living and dying.'
(1.) So ' to die to the Lord' is to achiowledr/e Christ ' to be the Lord of
life' and the ' Lord of death,' of death as well as of life. ' Ho hath the
keys of hell and of death,' Rev. i. 18, and the disposing of both. There-
fore we must resign up ourselves to him in death.
(2.) And then study to honour him by death in any kind, yea, by martyr-
dom, if he shall call us to seal the truth of religion with blood.
(3.) And then to acknowledge him to he owner of ns, and one that will
receive us dying, as he took notice of us living. And so the words are a
privilege as well as a duty. As it is sealed up in the last words, ' whether
we live or die, we are the Lord's.' Thus I have unfolded the text.
He first premiseth the general negative : ' No man liveth to himself, no
man dieth to himself.' You must apply this to Christians only, that are
true professors and members of Christ. For other men, that are not in
Christ, and have not the Spirit of Christ, * they live to themselves, and die
to themselves,' and aim at themselves in all things ; and therefore they
are not the Lord's. Therefore it is a fearful condition to live and die to
ourselves.
Yet you have some kind of men, not only in their particular persons, but
in their callings, are all for themselves. But why should I call it calling ;
for there is no calling but it is for public good. As an usurer, for whose
good is he ? Let all sink or swim, what careth he ? So times hold, and
months and years continue, he will have his returns. And such are they
that live in a course of oppression, that live by the ruin and spoil of others.
But there is a more subtle living to a man's self, as all men do that have
not the Spirit of Christ ; they live within that circle, self. The devil keepeth
them that they go not out of it ; so that self doth run through all their
actions, their civil actions, yea, their religious actions, which are all tainted
with self-respects.
Ever since the fall it is so. Man withdraweth himself from God's
government, and setteth up himself instead of God, and thought to have a
secured happiness from God, in eating the forbidden fruit, and therefore
would not depend upon God to be happy. Ho saw another way to be like
God. God hath highest place in our heart by order of creation, and
according to the degrees of excellency in things should our esteem of them
be, ' everything being beautiful in his place,' Eccles. iii. 11. But where
God is put down, — as he is in all men till they be in Christ, — something
self-love sets up in the heart above God. Hence cometh the necessity of this
method of taking us off from ourselves before we can live to Christ ; because
self-love is an impediment and block in the way between us and Christ,
heaven and happiness. And therefore Christ begins the gospel with self-
denial : ' Whosoever will be my disciple, let him take up his cross and
follow me,' Mat. xvi. 24.
Now there be four degrees of self.
There is, 1. Natural self. 2. Civil self. 3. Sinful self. 4. Rehgious
self.
(1.) First, Natural self is the state we are in as men.
(2.) Secondly, Civil, as we are poor, or rich, or honourable, according
to our several places in the commonwealth.
294 THE christian's end.
(3.) Thirdly, Sinful self is, as we are carried to s inful lusts and the
creature.
(4.) Fourthly, Religious self is our condition in Christ, when we are
engrafted into him and made new creatures.
' Now we must not live to ourselves.'
1. First, Not to our natural self. We must not live only to live. For
as all other creatures are to serve us, so we are to serve something else
that is better. For that that is not of itself, cannot be for itself. Now
we have not beings from ourselves, but from God. He giveth us beings,
and a being in that rank of creatures wherein we are. Therefore our
natural self must be to a higher end. A man is not the end of things.
There is another end than he, and that is God, who is of himself, and hath
made all other things for himself, and therefore riches, and honours, and
the like.
2. We should not live to our cii-il self. Nature teacheth us that, having
spirits, we are not for anything meaner than ourselves. We do not live
here to be rich, to be great, to command others ; for these things do not
answer the soul of man.
[l.J First, Nothing that hath an end can be a chief end. That that hath
fineyn conswnmatum cannot be finis consummans. That that hath an end
consuming itself, cannot be an end perfecting* itself. We have a journey
beyond all things, and that cannot be our end that leaveth us in the way.
Riches and honour are determined f in death. Let our preferments be
never so great, though to the monarchy of the whole world, yet we have a
being beyond them. They have consumptions in themselves.
[2.] And then they be inferior. No truth in them can fill up the under-
standing ; no good in them can fill up the will. But the understanding
can pierce through them. And the will, in relishing and tasting the good
of them, can look on them as cast commodities. It can quickly suck out
all the sweet that is in them. Therefore they cannot be a man's end,
because he hath larger parts than they can fill.
[3.] That that must be a man's end must be larger than the soul; and
that wherein he can rest, it must be some universal good, fit for all turns
and purposes. Now there is nothing in the world that hath more than a
particular service, for men's particular service, for men's particular ends.
Honour can do something, but not all things. Riches cannot command
health, they cannot cure a fit of an ague ; they be for a particular good
only. They can command many things, but not all things. Men consider
what they can do, and therefore desire them. But they consider not what
they cannot do, and therefore they rest in them. That which is a man's
last end must be a satisfying, general, universal good, an immortal good, of
equal continuance with him, as nothing in the world is.
[4.] It must be such a good as he cannot offend or he defiled withal, such
as he cannot misuse. And what is there in the world, but Christ and the
best things, but a man is prone to defile himself in ? Knowledge is the
best thing, but that worketh like leaven, it swells : as the apostle saith,
' Knowledge puflfeth up,' 1 Cor. viii. 1. Therefore we must live to no
worldly thing.
3. And much less must we live to sinful self. Some things are to be
denied in way of competition and in opposition, but some things are to be
denied absolutely. Absolutely a man must not own, or live to a base lust,
pride, or sensuality. He oweth nothing to these but mortification. ' We
» Qu. ' perfect in ' ?— Ed. t That is, ' ended.'— G.
THE christian's END. 295
are not debtors to the flesh,' saith the apostle, Kom. viii. 12. Therefore
when a proud vindictive motion ariseth, say, I owe no suit or service to the
flesh. What should these do in a heart dedicated to God, consecrated to
Christ ? I am not mine own, much less Satan's, or lusts ' ; which be objects
of mortification, but no way worthy of my service. Absolute denial is
required here.
_ Of other things, a denial is required only as they stand in competition
with Christ. In that case a man must sacrifice Isaac, not only his sinful
self, but natural self also, his life and bodily liberty, the dearest thing in
the world, and whatsoever is sweet, for Christ.
He having taken us off from ourselves, assigneth us to a true Lord.
' We live to the Lord, and die to the Lord.' It had not been enough to
say, ' We ought not to live to ourselves, or die to ourselves,' if he had not
told whom we must live to, and die to. For naturally man will never leave
anything, though but an apparent good, till he knoweth something better.
A man will not part with a bad master till he hath a better service. There-
fore he sheweth where to bestow ourselves ; namely, upon Christ, who hath
care of us both in life and death.
4. This is to be laid down for a ground ; had we not a letter heing in
Christ than in ourselves, he would never take us from ourselves, for God
never hiddeth us to our loss. We have a better condition in Christ than we
can have in the world. It is our gain and advantage to live and die to
Christ ; though it be to the loss of natural self, of civil self, and whatsoever
else, yet it is our advantage. It is mercatovium, not a loss, but a trading.
We have a better for worse. No man ever parted with anything for religion,
or a public good, but God made it up in a better kind. Though God
should not make it up in this world, in the same kind, yet in religion there
be all things better than in the world. If we lose honour here, we have
honour from God. If we lose riches, we have them made up in grace here,
in glory hereafter. If we lose liberty, we have it in the enlargement of a
good conscience. If we lose friends, we get a God for a friend, who can
make our enemies friends. If we lose Ufe, we are put into possession of
eternal life, and therefore we need not stand at the bargain. We have
a better being in Christ than in ourselves. Water is not lost when it
emptieth itself into the sea, for there it is in its proper element. A
Christian is not lost when he loseth himself in his God, in his Saviour;
for in him he hath a better being than in himself. He is brought nearer
the fountain : ' I desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is the best
of all,' saith the apostle, Philip, i. 23. Keligion is a most excellent condi-
tion ; for as he ' that saveth his hfe shall lose it, so he that loseth his life
shall save it,' Mat. x. 39.
All our comforts have a better being in Christ than in ourselves ; and
therefore we should labour to have communion with him, and to strengthen
our faith in Christ, and be in love with our happy condition in him, which
yieldeth comfort in hfe and death. And all by virtue of the death of Christ,
and the resurrection of Christ. As he saith afterward, ' Christ both died
and rose again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the hving.'
The resm-rection of Christ is the consummation of all. ' If Christ had
not risen again,' where had our comfort been ? But the veiy thought of
it, that we are engrafted in one who hath not only purchased us by his
death — ' for we are the price of his blood ; ' but to make it clear that it is
so, is now in heaven as our head, having overcome death, and intending to
bring all his body where he is, as it was his will ' that where he is, we
296 THE cheistian's end.
should be also,' John xvii. 24 — is a glorious thought. The glory of Christian
religion is in the resurrection of Christ ; and to consider that we that are
creeping here on earth shall be members of him that is glorious in heaven,
* Lord of heaven and earth,' who not only ' died for us, but is risen again,'
and will make us all, both in body and soul, conformable to his glorious
self, as the apostle saith to the Philippians, Philip, iii. 10, cannot but
infuse life and vigour into all our actions, estates, and conditions, be they
never so mean, and have a wonderful influence into the whole life of a
Christian.
THE SECOND SERMON.
None of us liveth to himself, and none of us dieth to himself. For whether
we live, ue live unto the Lord ; and whether we die, ive die unto the Lord :
whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. — Rom. XIV. 7, 8.
1. First, The general scope of the apostle is, to take us off from our false
ends: ' None of us liveth to himself,' &c.
2. Secondly, To assign us to the true object, to whom we ought to dedicate
ourselves, that is, ' to the Lord.'
3. Thirdly, The ground of all, * Whether we live or die, we are the
Lord's.'
4. And then, fourthly, the spring of all : ' Christ both died and rose
again, that he might be Lord both of quick and dead.'
There is a concatenation and knitting together of divine truths, they fol-
lowing one another by a necessity of consequence. As from the body of
the sun, there is a natural issue of beams ; and as in plants derivation*
from the root into the branch ; so there is from Christ into all truths.
Grant him to be the second Adam, and grant him Lord of the living and of
the dead, and it will follow, we ought to live to him. If we grant we ought
to live to Christ, then we must grant we ought not to live to ourselves.
For we ought to live to Christ. Why to Christ ? Because he is Lord
both of life and death. Why is he Lord ? Because he hath purchased it
by his blood. How do we know he hath purchased it by his death satis-
factorily ? Because he is risen again, and sitteth at the right hand of God
to make all good for us. Things are best to us when they are digested
and made our own by the presence of good principles. But here is the
mischief : Sin is ready, and good principles are not engraffed into us ; but if
divine truths vv^ere as near as corruption is, then we could withstand and
repel all temptations.
As travellers have the end of their journey in their thoughts habitually,
though not actually — for every step they take is in virtue of their end — so
we should consider that we are all travellers in the way to heaven, and
every step of our life should be to that end.
The ignorance of this maketh the life of most men to be but a digression
from the main, as if they were brought into the world only to satisfy
base lusts, and to seek themselves, to serve Satan and sin, tlae professed
enemies of God, which are not only digressions, but motivesf to hell and
eternal destruction. What a pitiful thing is it, that creatures should come
* That is, 'communication.' — G. t That is, ' motions. '~G.
THE christian's END. 297
into the world and live, some twenty, some forty, some more* years, and
go out of the world again, not knowing wherefore they lived.
Good reason it is wo should live to Christ, acknowledge him in all our
ways, live answerable to our knowledge, resign up ourselves to his govern-
ment, and seek his glory in all things ; that we may make Christ known in
the world ; that all that see us may see Christ in us, and perceive our
love to him ' that hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous licht.'
1 Peter ii. 9.
And also to acknowledge him to be Lord of our life ; and in death to
resign ourselves to him ' as a faithful Creator ;' knowing that he taketh
care of us in life and death.
1. For we are not our own : ' We are bought with a price,' as the apostle
saith, 1 Cor. vi. 20. t> f . f
2. Again, Ourselves are our greatest enemies. There is no such flatterer
as the bosom flatterer. That enemy self, that we have in our bosoms,
betrayeth us to Satan, else all the devils in hell could not hurt us. Self
IS our own enemy and God's enemy. Nay, enemy is too easy, too good a
word : the best thing in us is enmity itself against God.
3. By woful experiment! we find that which hath brought all the misery
that the world ever felt hath been self-will. Men will be turned upside
down, rather than their wills shall be crossed. But doth not this provoke
God ? Shall a piece of earth strive against him ? and will not he break it
to powder ? Surely God will set us a mark to shoot at, and will triumph
and get himself victory and glory over those creatures that will have their
wills. Hell is fit for such. God will be sure to have his will of them.
When the creature shall set his will against God's will, when an earthen
pot shall set itself against a mace of brass, which will have the worst,
think you ?
4. If we live to_ ourselves, we lie open to Satan. But, on the contrary
part, a man that liveth to God is fit for any gracious motions, whatsoever
they be. He is fit for God and a blessed communion of saints.
_ 5. Man is a reasonable creature, made for God, And if you grant there
is a God, you must grant that man is to do service to that God. God is
the creditor and man the debtor, and of necessity there must be an obli-
gation.
Now, to shew the nature of this living to Christ.
yM'^ First, It imports a vital operation, an exercise that proceeds from
hfe. Now, as natural life springeth from union of the body with the soul,
so the union of the soul with Christ bringeth into the soul true principles
of an holy and spiritual life. For Christ and the soul cannot touch one
another, but presently he infuseth a Hving principle. All artificial motions
proceed from something without. And such are the self-seeking Christians
that do only act a part in religion ; but those that truly live to God and
Christ, they have an inward instinct that inclines them to holiness.
(2.) Secondly, There is entireness in a Christian course, so that he liveth
to none but Christ. Life is not only taken for the space of his being in
the world, but for the improving of all the furtherances of our Hfe to Christ.
As to bestow ourselves upon him, in all the civil relations we have in the
world, by being obedient to him and to others in him and for him ; and
in whatsoever callings we are, not only in our natural life, but also in our
civil hfe, to go on in a constant tenor all the whole course of our Hves
aiming at Christ ; not to set ourselves in our callings to get riches — for
* Spelled ' moe,' as in Spenser.— G. t That is, ' experience.'— G.
298 THE cheistian's end.
those shall be cast in by the way — God alloweth us riches, but not to be
our ends, but that we may serve him and honour him. There is no time
to sin, but a time for everj^thing else.
(3.) Thirdly, In our living to Christ there must be evenness and unifor-
mittj. We must not live to Christ for a fit, but constantly ; not to do now
and then a good action, but to make it our course, our trade, to live to Christ
entirely, constantly, uniformly.
(4.) Fourthly, And then living to the Lord implieth, ihnt all Christians'
counsel and advice is how to live to Christ. Heaven is always before him,
because his way is to God and to Christ. Other men will rage and swell,
though they know well enough they are out of the way, when they be put
in mind of it. But a gracious man is glad to have any Scripture opened
that may give him more light, either by a discovery of a sin or duty, because
he now knoweth an enemy and friend, which before he knew not, and
hath learned a duty which before he was ignorant of ; for it is his scope
and endeavour to set himself in the way of living to Christ.
(5.) Fifthly, He that liveth to Christ hath likewise this quality, he is not
carried on his course by false icinds ; he doth not sail b}' a false compass.
Though the world encourageth or discourageth him, all is one, he regardeth
it not. His care is wholly taken up in the service of his God. And with
Joshua, think the world what it will, ' he and his house will serve the
Lord,' Josh. xxiv. 15; and with holy David will resolve to be yet ' more vile
for God's glory,' 2 Sam. vi. 22. And though he getteth disgrace in the
world, he regardeth it not, but is willing to sufler it, so that his God may
be honoured, knowing he shall not be a loser by the bargain.
Other men, if so be they are disgraced, they are so shallow in religion,
that they are quickly taken off, because the truth hath no root in them,
like the bad and naughty* ground. And not only so, but they will speak
contrary to the truths in their consciences ; but, alas ! one day they shall
know that God accounteth them as his enemies.
(G.) Sixthly, Again, a true Christian ivill live to the church of Christ.
For we are members of Christ. We ought to labour for the advancement
of the truth of his religion, the kingdom of Christ ; and to be of the same
spirit with good Nehemiah, ' that all may be well with us, when the church
of God prospereth,' ii. 20, and groweth up in the world, getting victory
over all her enemies.
Now carnal men live not at all to Christ ; they care not whether religion
sinketh or swimmeth. Tell them of heavenly matters, Tush, they are not
for them. But God doth hate such persons ; for as they regard not to
serve God, or to own Christ in their lives, so he will not own them at
their deaths. As in prosperity they are not on his side, neither will own
his part, which one day will prove the best, so in times of trouble they
cannot expect or look for any favour or mercy from him.
And to add one thing more, though it must be our chief aim to look to
Christ, yet God allows us to look also to our own salvation, how to be
saved and happy in another world. God hath joined these two together,
as one chief end and good. The one, that he might be glorified ; the other,
that we might be happy : and both these are attained by honouring and
serving him. And this is no self-love ; for we cannot seek our salvation
but in honouring God and yielding f the means that he hath sanctified for
us, which is to cast ourselves on him for our salvation in his way. Thus
* Cf. Mtat. xiii. 3, seq., ' Naughty' = worthlesss. — G.
t Qu. ' yielding to ' ?— Ed.
THE CURISTIAN's END. 299
our happiness and God's chief end agree together. As when there be two
lines about a centre, one drawn within the other, a third Hne cannot be
drawn from the utmost Hne to the centre without cutting the line within,
because it is included within the other, so our salvation and happiness
is within the glory of God, and we live to Christ, not only in serving him,
but in seeking our own souls ; and what a sweetness is this in God, that
in seeking our own good we should glorify him.
This likewise teacheth us to live to Christ in a way of humility and self-
denial. God wall not deny to teach the humble and lowly soul his ways.
And thus a gracious man is fit for all the counsels of God, as a carnal heart
is fit for all the services of the devil. Therefore let us dedicate ourselves
and services to God, for happy are they that can lose themselves in God,
and be swallowed up in the love of Christ. Certainly, there is never better
finding of ourselves, than when we are thus lost. And therefore I beseech
you, whatsoever our corruptions have been heretofore ; let us now know
it is heavenly wisdom to seek Christ's glory in the use of the blessed means
sanctified for that end.
Surely we have all been baptized ; and what is our baptism, but the
renouncing of the world, the flesh, and the devil ? Our life is for nothing
but to live unto God. And having entered into covenant in baptism in the
name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that we intend seriously to lead
a new life, we must not trifle with God ; he will not be dallied with. It
is not only sufiicient that we have spent our precious time amiss, but more
than suflicient. For time will come, if we belong to Christ, in which we
shall lament for spending our time in the pursuit of our own vanities.
For if we live according to our own lusts, we are but rebels under God's
livery ; we are but traitors fighting under his banner. And how can we
give account at the day of judgment of our lives, that have been nothing
else but a constant service for Christ's enemies under the colour of religion?
This would* seriously be thought upon.
Therefore, as we know a great deal, and are beholding to God for Hving
in times and places where there is abundance of the truth revealed, so we
ought to make it our Hfe and course to honour him, to be vigorous in his
service, and to stir up the grace of God in us ; to awaken ourselves and to
live to Christ, and to put this qiiare to om- souls. Whom do I serve ? myself
or Christ ? him or his enemies ?
Out of the text you may see that a Christian will learn how to carry him-
self, not only to himself, but to Christ. His carriage to himself is to live
as a Christian exercised in his duty and calling. His carriage to Christ is
to hve to him and die to him. And for this end he taketh this course, to
search out himself what is unsound and corrupt in him ; and when he hath
found himself, then he abhorreth himself, and judgeth himself. And
having found out corruption in his heart, he not only loatheth it, but cruci-
fieth it ; and this is the course that a Christian taketh with himself in the
searching and discovery of his sins.
And this being done, he setteth up Christ in the place of self, which
ruleth m all men till they be Chiistians indeed, either by way of admission
or covenant. But when grace hath once taken place in the heart, then
the soul begins to live to Christ, and that conscionably,t entirely, and
uniformly ; consulting with all things how to help and further that life.
Other men consult how they may keep their honours and reputations in
the world. But a Christian having other aims, deviseth not only ways to
* Qu. ' should ' ?—G. t That is, 'conscientiously.'— (J.
oOO THE christian's END.
live to Christ, but liow to be better more and more, bow to get into Christ,
and how to grow up in him, knowing that by living to Christ here he shall
live with him for ever hereafter. This is the course of a true Christian,
that looketh to have benefit by Christ.
THE THIRD SERMON.
None of us liveth to JiimseJf, and none of us dieth to himself. For ivhether
we live, ive live unto the Lord ; and whether we die, u'e die unto the Lord :
whether tee live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. — Rom. XIV. 7, 8.
We have heard from the apostle's general negative, that self must be
removed out of the way, before we can live or die to Christ. Self, indeed,
will come in everything till the Spirit of Christ be all in all in us. It is
like Esau, that came first out of the womb. It will appear first in all con-
sultations. And therefore it is the method of our blessed Saviour ;
Whosoever will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up my
cross,' Mat. xvi. 24. And it will be easy so to do when we have denied
ourselves.
From the apostle's general affirmative, we have shewed that to live to
the Lord is to acknowledge ourselves to be his, and him to be ours ; and
answerably to do him service, to resign up ourselves to him, to seek his
glory, and honour, and credit in all things, and to be well persuaded that
he will stick to us. So that it is a comfort as well as a duty.
To die to the Lord is to be willing to give up ourselves to him when
the time cometh, and to submit to him for the manner of our death, whether
he will call us home to himself by a quiet or troublesome death, by a
bloody or dry death, with confidence that he will receive our souls.
That we may be directed to pitch upon a right end, we may know by the
principles of nature a man is not for himself; and from the order that
God hath placed him in, all things below are for him, but he is for some-
thing above himself. He is not of himself, and therefore not to himself.
God only is of himself, by himself, and to himself. Everything under God
is of God, and by God, and therefore to God. As Saint Augustine saith,
' Thou hast made us for thee, and our hearts rest not till we come to
thee ;' * as the rivers never rest till they discbarge themselves into the ocean.
And being not his own end, it is his wisdom and understanding to look
principally to that which is his last and best and main end, which is God,
and union and communion with God in Christ, who is God in our nature,
God-man, the best of all, and therefore it is fit he should be the last. He
communicateth all good to them that be his, and preserveth all the good
he communicateth. He is for ever with them, and cannot fail to do them
good, as long as he fails not to be good. He is the original cause, and the
communicating cause, and the maintaining cause of all good.
Now it is the nature of the utmost and furthest end to stir up to every
action leading to that end ; for every deliberate rational action that is done
with advertisement and observation, and is not an action of fancy or common
nature, must fall under the consideration of an end, or else we cannot give
account for it, as we must for every word, desire, and thought.
* Cf. note h, Vol. I. p. 294.— G.
THE christian's END. 801
Now the end stirreth us up to all means leading to tliat end, either
immediately as they are the services of God properly, or else remotely.
As things that help reason and furtherances thereunto, as the apostle
willeth ' that whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do,' 1 Cor. x. 31,
all should be done to the glory of God, because these maintain us in health
and strength, and that health and strength enable us to God's service.
And in this sense every action a Christian doth is a service of God ; for
the end doth advance it and raise it above itself, and make it spiritual': as
recreation to cheer him to diligence in his calling, the serving of his brother,
and the like. Some actions are holy in the stuff and matter of them, others
are such for the end to which they are directed. For the meanest action
becomes holy, if an holy end be put upon it.
And therefore the actions of the second table are the service of God as
well as the first, as they do all agree in the end. No man violateth a
magistrate in the second table, but he wrongeth God in the first. No man
stealeth, or committeth adultery, or disgraceth his neighbour by false wit-
ness, which is prohibited in the second, but it is for want of fear of God
commanded in the first.
Duties of the second rightly performed are in virtue of the command-
ments of the first, when they are done not only from human and lower
grounds, as things good in themselves, but also 'because God and Christ
have commanded them ; and that is included in the general words of ' living
to the Lord ;' for to hve is comprehensive, and includeth all our actions,
from the beginning to the end and closing up of our days. Whatsoever
actions fall within the term of hfe ought to be referred to God as the last
end.
1. The reason is, Christ hath redeemed our persons, and our times, and
all that ive are, or have, or can do ; all our ability, our whole j^o^se, is
Christ's, and not our own. I must be filled up with actions suitable to
Christ, therefore if I could do a thousand times more than I do, it were
all due to him. Myself, my time, my advantages, my calling, and all, are
his.
2. Again, As the end stirs up to actions of all kinds, so it i^rescriheth a
measure to those actions, to do them, so far as shall be advantageous to that end.
As he that hath a race to run will measure his diet suitable to that end,
so he that hath an aim ' to live to Christ ' will use all things here as may
serve that turn. He will use the world as if he used it not, will buy as
if _ he possessed not, will marry as if he married not. Not that he will be
slight or superficial in these things ; but he will do them no further than
may be advantageous to the enjoying of Christ here, as comfortably as he
can, and for ever hereafter.
Indeed, no man can set measures to his desire of happiness, that being
a vast ocean ; his main end cannot be desired too much. For as it is his
good and happiness, it is larger than himself, yea, his thoughts and desires
are too short to reach it. But though a man desires not health too much,
yet he may desire too much physic. The measure must be in our pursuit
of inferior things, because therein we are apt to exceed. And that advan-
tage a Chi-istian hath in setting a right end. He will not be drowned in
the world, nor live to recreations, but to a farther aim, and which prescribes
a measure and duration to all things else.
3. The end hkewise viaketh everything that tendeth to the end lovely. It
maketh the cross lovely, for by it we grow better, and get more in large
communion with Christ. Welcome is poveiiy, or disgrace, or whatsoever
302 THE chbistian's end.
that maketli a man live more to Clirist, and die to himself. Men call for
physic, though in itself distasteful, as it is in order to health ; an end which
we desire without end. So it is the disposition of a gracious soul, if Christ
bestow himself on him, communicate his gracious Spirit, peace of con-
science, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of the image of God. Let God
lay upon us what he will, yet it will appear lovely.
4. It prescribeth likewise a right order to every dut)/. For as the end
sets one thing above another, so a wise man that looketh to his best end
will do the main work first, and other things in the second place, accord-
ing to our Saviour's counsel, ' Seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all other things shall be cast upon you,' Mat. vi. 33.
Some indeed love to be all in by-works, and in the mean time neglect and
slight the main. But our care should be so to use the world that we may
not lose Christ, or communion with him in better things ; so to look to
things temporal, as that we lose not things eternal. For as things are in
themselves, so they should be to us. Now as some thing is better than
another, so we should conceive of them, and afiect them as better than
another, and labour to do them before another, as deserving the fii'st place.
And that is the reason the saints have so prized and entertained communion
with God and Christ. ' One thing I desire,' saith the prophet ; that is, ' to
dwell in the house of the Lord for ever,' Ps. xxvii. 4. And ' one thing is
necessary,' saith Christ, Luke x. 41. Other things be necessary in their
order, but to have communion with God is the main thing necessary.
Use. Let us therefore often consider of the end of our life in this world,
and take shame to ourselves that we have let so much water run besides *
the mill, that we have let so much precious time, and strength, and dear
advantages be lost. Too much strength hath been spent in the service of
sin and our base lusts, which we can give no account of. How many
scandalous blasphemous words are many guilty of, which help only to
advantage their destruction, if God be not merciful.
Now a little to shew the guise of the world, and the difi'erence of it from
the actions of God's children, for these words employ f a restraint to God's
people as well as an extension.
Obj. The Christian's whole life is only to Christ ; but what is the life of
a man out of Christ ?
Ans. His first aims being corrupt, ' God is not in all his thoughts,' as
the psalmist speaks, Ps. x. 4, neither to have communion with him here
in grace, nor in glory hereafter. Therefore whatsoever good he doth, a
false end poisoneth it. If a man, misunderstanding of a thing, be from a
false principle, he misunderstands it grossly. As, if an house be built upon
a weak foundation, such is all the fabric, though otherwise never so
costly ; if the principles be naught, the conclusions drawn from thence
must needs be naught also. As in physic, if the first concoction be naught,
the second can never be good. So if a man's ends are naught, if he seek
himself, or doth things only from foreign motives, out of terror of conscience,
or for vain glory, or to be seen of men, his corrupt aim spoileth all his
actions ; yea, he reduceth religion to himself, because he will enjoy his
pleasures the better. He will act some part of religion, lest conscience
should bark and clamour against him. This self will moderate religion,
and restrain it to such a measure as may stand with his lusts and sinful
customs.
If he loveth others, it is in order to himself, because he hath use of them,
• That iB, ' beside' = past.— G. t Qu. ' imply ' ?— Ed.
THE christian's END. 803
as tliey comply witli him in wicked courses, and so help to bear him out
the better.
And if any man stands in the ways of his ends of honour or riches, he
removcth them by disgrace, though it amounteth to slandering ; as under-
mining and rising by others' ruins, because self, his idol and main end,
must not be crossed. He desireth to be somebody in the flesh. All thintrg
must be measured by that, yea, religion, and acquaintance, and all ; and
whatsoever stands in the way, it crieth down with them, jjut however it
killeth them in the esteem of others, that they themselves might be thought
something ; and thus all is turned clean contrary upside down.
But a gracious man's end and aim is to get out of himself and his cor-
rupt nature, and to order all his actions in reference to that, and all his
acquaintance and communion with others as may help his communion
with God. And whatsoever is an impediment to that he laboureth to
remove.
But to give you some directions how to Hve, not to ourselves, but to live
and die to the Lord.
First, We must have a spiritual life from him, for life is but the issue of
life.
We must live by faith, from union with Christ by faith, and then live to
Christ.
And again, we must do it constantly and uniformly. No part of our lives
must be alienated from Christ ; all must be done in order to him ; even
our recreations must have some good aims in them.
Motives. Now do but consider we are his. We are not our own, but his,
and therefore we ought to live to him, bringing in all our strength, all our
advantages, our callings. That we may do service to him in our places,
we are redeemed even from ourselves. A world of people think they be
redeemed to live as they list. But because God is merciful, and Christ a
Saviour, may you therefore live like libertines ? No. You are redeemed
from yourselves, not to yourselves.
And to former rules delivered let me add, that this living to Christ
(though naturally we count it bondage, because it is the acknowledging of
a superior) is the most perfect liberty, Deo servire, est regnare (c). For he
that serveth that which is better and larger than himself, that hath more
good and ability than himself, he doth advance himself by his service, and
freeth himself from the service of all inferiors. For the more dependent
any man is on Christ in his service and in expectation of reward from him,
the more independent is he upon the world. And indeed who is free in
his thoughts and desii'es from base engagements to the creature, but he
that sets up Christ highest in his soul, and suffers him to prescribe rules to
him in his life ? Which is freer in the world than they that have hearts
freed from overmuch love of earthly things, overmuch fear of earthly things,
overmuch delight in earthly things ? He useth them as helps to the main,
but is not engaged or enthralled to any. Quanto siibjcdior, tanto liherior.
The more subject the more free, is St Augustine's rule (rf). And it is un-
doubtedly so. You shall find by experience that the soul is never at a
more gracious liberty, than when Christ is all in all. We see it in the
example of Zaccheus. When once he believed in Christ, presently, ' Half
my goods I give to the poor,' Luke xix. 8. St Paul, that was all for the
world and vain-gloiy, can say now, ' My life is not dear to me, so I may
finish my course with joy,' Acts xx. 24. * Li comparison of Christ, all is
dung,' Philip, iii. 8. When Moses had seen God that was invisible, he
304 THE christian's end.
was freed from all base dependence on the favour of Pharaoh ; nay, he
esteemed the reproaches of Christ better than all the riches of Egypt,' Heb.
xi. 28. And that makes men's stomachs inwardly to rise against Chris-
tians, because they be not men to serve times and turns. They will not
prostitute their consciences and religion for any man's pleasure ; whereas
other men, though naturally never so stout and strong in parts, yet having
base aims, and hearts fastened to the world, will debase their very natures,
and when their end cometh in competition with honesty, they love it more
than goodness. As Christ telleth the Pharisees, ' You cannot believe, that
seek honour one of another,' John v. 44.
This is it that maketh a Christian better than his neighbour, because
he hath a better aim. All other men have narrow spirits, whose hearts
are not filled with the enlarging spirit of grace and of Christ. But the
course of the children of God is a course contrary to the stream of the
world. Let others take what course they will, it matters not ; they will
look to themselves. It is good for them to draw near to God, and to be
guided by his Spirit. A Christian seeks communion with him that is all
in all, with an infinite good, with God in Christ, and Christ God-man, and
happiness. Another man is straitened in his afiections to some particular
good, that is meaner than himself, which maketh him a base-spirited man.
He that enlargeth his heart to seek out a condition that is larger and better
than himself, is both wise and happy. One would require no more to
Christianity, but to have sanctified judgments, that God is God, and Christ
is Christ, and the word is the word, and rules that cannot be denied are
true, unless he will be an atheistical beast below himself. And therefore
Lactantius saith well, ' Religion is the true wisdom ' (e). Let a man be
judicious, and he must needs be a Christian ; the necessity and excellency
of it standing upon such undeniable grounds.
Obj. Oh but I shall lose my reputation, saith the doubtful heart of man,
and be counted a fool. I shall lose my friends and contentment, if I come
to be religious^and serious indeed.
Ans. These be idle objections, as if they were not in this kind better in
religion than in the world : as if God did bid us to our loss, as if Christ
bid us follow him to our disadvantage. Surely no ! He is Lord of heaven
and earth, and can recompense us in this world. But what is all pleasure
here to the pleasure of a good conscience ? What is friendship here to
communion with God, and friendship with Christ, and the protection of
angels ? What are riches to him that is the fountain of all riches ? Did
not Moses know what he did, when he forsook Pharaoh's court ? or Paul,
when he said, ' to be with Christ is best of all ?' Philip, i. 23. Did not
Abraham know what he did, when he left his father's house and followed
God, though to the giving up of Isaac, whom he knew God could raise up
a^ain, he being all-sufficient ? Heb. xi. 19. Perhaps I lose a friend, or
petty pleasure, or contentment, but that was but a particular good, serving
for a particular turn only. But instead thereof I have God, that is all-
sufficient for all turns, that is near to me, and never nearer than when I
deny anything for his sake. A man hath never more of God than when he
denieth himself most for God ; for in what measure we empty ourselves of
love to any creature, in that measure God fills the soul with contentments
of an higher kind. We have within that particular good, which we parted
■with ; and we have peace and grace, which is incomparably above it. Think
of that, and it will be an infinite encouragement to live to Christ.
And therefore take these rules. Seek the end in the means ? I can
THE christian's END. 805
have Christ my end, my riches, pleasures, friends. It is well. But if I can-
not have my end with these things, away with them ! When they be gone,
the end will remain. Christ will continue, though they leave us. We
may enjoy anything here, if the main end can be enjoyed with them. If
not, let us be willingly stripped of all, for we shall be stripped of them by
death. God hath enough. He hath all things at command ; and hath
wisdom enough a thousand ways to provide, that we shall not be losers by
him, no, not in this life.
Consider then what it is to give ourselves to the Lord. When we give
ourselves, we give all things else with ourselves. ' They gave themselves
to the Lord,' 2 Cor. viii. 5, and then they would easily part with their goods,
as the apostle saith.
But we will never give ourselves to the Lord, till we consider what he
hath done for us. He hath given himself wholly for us ; left heaven for
us ; denied himself for us ; made himself of no reputation for us ; became
a worm and no man, a curse for us. And in way of requital we should
answer him, with giving ourselves and all we have to him. This is to bo
a Christian to purpose. Christ hath given himself to me, and therefore I
will give my goods, myself, my life to Christ, that is, in affection and pre-
paration of spirit, though not in action. And in action too, when he calleth
for them. I am not mine own ; he hath myself. And fructus sequitur
fundum. He shall have whatsoever is mine. If he call me to suffer losses,
crosses, disgrace, or death itself, welcome all. I am his : and therefore
whatsoever is mine is his. And it is no more than he hath done for me.
He went so low, that he could not be lower, and be God. He hath
advanced my nature as high as my nature could be advanced, by union with
his person ; and he will advance my person to heaven. And therefore the
martyrs were willing to part with their lives. They ' loved not their lives
to death,' as Christ's phrase is. ' He that loveth his life shall lose his
life,' Mat. x. 39. ' My life is not dear to me,' saith St Paul, Acts xx. 24,
so ready was he to resign all for Christ.
Reason. The reason is, which I desire may not be forgotten, we have a
better being in God than in ourselves. If we lose our natural life, we have
in him a better life. If we lose our riches, we have them in heavenly
treasures. The water is not lost that runneth into the sea ; it is in the
ocean still, its better receptacle.
It was St Paul's desire ' to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which is
best of all,' PhiHp. i. 23. But if he will have me to serve the church here
and enjoy my life longer, his will be done. So he liveth to the Lord, and
dieth to the Lord ; and whatsoever cometh, he is in utnimque paratus (/) :
whether he liveth or dieth, he is the Lord's.
THE FOURTH SERMON.
For none of xis liveth to JuinseJf, and no man dieth to himself. For ivhether
tve live, xve live unto the Lord; and ivhether ire die, ice die unto the Lord:
whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. — Ron. XIV, 7, 8.
In these words the apostle taketh us off from ourselves, and assigneth us
to a true end. As the first thing that grace doth, is to set God and Christ
in his own place, the heart ; so, in the second place, it begets a regard of
VOL. V. U
306
THE CHRISTIAN S END.
ourselves, sucli as may stand with the love of Christ. For till Christ hath
a place in the heart, by our coming to some degrees of self-denial, self
hindereth us in all our whole course, both of believing and doing. For we
have naturally contrary principles to all articles of faith, and contrary
motions to all the commands of God. It hinders us in our duties to God,
to others, to ourselves. And therefore to what I formerly said, I may add
this consideration,
I)oct. That it is no easy thinrj to he a Christian. If we were required to
renounce anything else, we might obtain it of ourselves, sooner than deny
ourselves ; for what is nearer to ourselves than ourselves ? ' Thousand
rivers of oil, the first fruits of the body, would be given for the sin of the
soul,' Micah vi. 7. That outward mortification, so much magnified in
popery, is nothing to the renouncing of a lust. But if we would be Chris-
tians to purpose, we must be stripped of ourselves ; as they say of the
serpent, he must part with the old slough. We must have an higher prin-
ciple than ourselves before we can do it. A Christian is above himself, and
better than himself, and stronger than himself, because he hath a better
self than himself. And by virtue of that better self, which is grace in his
heart, he is able to bring under all his other self, not only his sinful self,
but his natural self ; neither his life nor anything is dear unto him, in com-
parison of Christ.
Therefore we must not have conceits of religion as easy. Indeed, if we
had sanctified judgments, and hearts set at liberty, it were an easy thing.
If we had judgments to see, that we are never more ourselves, than when
we are not ourselves ; that we have a better being in Christ than in our-
selves ; that ourselves are our worst enemies — if the judgment were thus
possessed, and the will and affections made answerable to this judgment,
it were easy to deny ourselves. But self hinders the knowledge of itself all
it can. Peccattim inipcdit sui cor/nitionem : sin naturally hinders the know-
l(;dge of its own foulness. That which should discern sin is clouded,
and that which should hate sin is engaged to sin. So that under the use
of means we must labour to know our condition, and the foulness and
danger of that condition. And that is the excellency of God's ordinances
and divine truths, that by them we come to know ourselves. But I will
not enlarge myself in that.
What it is to live and die to the Lord we have declared. That it is to
make Christ his chief aim and end, and do all in virtue of that end. Then
is a Christian in his right temper, when God's end, Christ's end, and his
end have the same centre — a qualification very excellent.
That that makes God delight in his children so much is, that they have
the same end, the same God, the same Spirit with Christ. It is so excel-
lent to prefix a right end to all our actions, that it spiritualiseth common
actions. As St Paul saith of servants, ' They serve the Lord in serving
their masters,' Eph. vi. 5. ^\^latsoeA•er the stufi" of our actions be, yet
in that aim and spirit in which they be done, they may be services of the
Lord.
Now life implieth the whole course of our actions. All our actions should
be to the Lord immediately and directly, or mediately and reductively, as
they are quickened by the Spirit of God. And that is- the excellency of a
Christian. He considers of ever3'thing as it helpeth his last end ; as on
the other side, a base worldling considers religion, and all things else, as
they suit to his worldly aims. But to speak of the next point.
' Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.'
THE christian's END. 307
Inference. This is the inference drawn from the former two generals,
negative and affirmative. ' None of us liveth to ourselves, or dieth to our-
selves.' And from thence it is inferred, ' whether we live or die, we are
the Lord's.'
And as it is an inference raised from the former, so we may consider it
as a cause why we must ' live to the Lord, and die to the Lord : for whether
we live or die, we arc the Lord's.'
The words are a certain bottom and foundation for a Christian's comfort
in the uncertainty of his condition here, being between life and death.
Sure he is of death, as of life ; but when to die, and how long to live, he
is uncertain. But be that as it will be, this is certain, ' living and dying,
he is the Lord's.'
So that, take the whole condition of a Christian, take him in all estate of life
or death, which two divide the whole condition of man, for all men may
be ranked into these two orders of ' quick and dead ;' I say, consider a
Christian in either of them, Christ is Lord of both. Take him in a condi-
tion of life, while he liveth 'he is the Lord's.' When he giveth up his
breath, ' he is the Lord's.' So that, come of him what will in this uncertain
condition, this is certain and sure, ' he is the Lord's.'
Now a Lord is he that hath domhnnn''' in rem et j^ersoncun ((/), right to
persons and things, and the disposing of them pro arbitrio, as it pleaseth
himself; and so Christ ' is Lord both of life and death.'
1. First, In general, as he is Lord of all creatures by creation, God having
given ' all power into his hands, both in heaven and earth,' Mat. xxviii. 18.
2. Secondly, In a more particular manner and rif/ht. He is Lord of all
those that be his b}' a peculiar gift from all eternity. God hath given us
to Christ in his eternal electing love. ' Thine they were, and thou gavest
them me,' saith Christ, John xvii. C.
3. Thirdly, And then we are Christ's bij his own purchase. We are the
price of his blood. ' We are bought with a price,' 1 Cor. vi. 20, ' not of
gold or silver, but with his precious blood,' 1 Peter i. 18 ; by that price
God's justice is satisfied. God so gave us to Christ, that he gave him to
redeem and shed his blood for us, that his justice might be no loser.
4. Fourthly, We are his by conquest. For he being so excellent a per-
son as God-man, hath rescued us from all our enemies, sin, Satan, death,
hell, and whatsoever else. What have they to do with us, when God's
justice is once satisfied ?
5. Fifthly, Those that are true believers are his in regard of a jiecidiar
interest between him. and them. They give themselves over to him by a con-
tract of marriage and covenant, and therefore he is Lord of them, by their
yielding of themselves to him as a Lord. They take him for a Lord, as
well as for a Saviour, and that is the foundation of the spiritual marriage
and the covenant of grace on both sides. Christ giveth himself to us, and
we by the Spirit of Christ have grace to give ourselves back again to him.
By our own voluntary contract, we have given up ourselves to him in our
effectual calling, which is our answer to God's call, when he calleth on us
to beheve, to take him ; and the soul answers, ' Lord, I bcheve, and accept
thee.' This by St Peter is termed the answer of a good conscience,
1 Peter iii. 16, and is, when we can say, I am thine, thou art mine,
and I yield myself to thee, to be disposed of by thee. No Christian can
claim Christ his Lord, but this contract hath passed between his soul and
Christ.
* Qu. ' dominixnn ' ? — Ed.
808 THE christian's end.
So that if you look to God tlie Father, we are Christ's by donation ; if
you regard Christ himself, we are his by purchase ; if we regard the enemies
we have, we are Christ's by conquest ; if we regard ourselves, we are his by
voluntanj acceptance of the covenant of grace, and by contract passed between
him and us ; yea, and Christ is so our Lord, as that he is our hmhand ; our
Lord, as our kin;/ ; our Lord, as our head. We owe to him a subjection,
as subjects ; a subjection, as his spouse ; a subjection, as his disciples, to be
taught by him our Lord and Master.
Now the term of Lord is usually given to Christ, rather than to God the
Father, both in the New Testament and the Old too.
And if there were no other reason for it, it is enough that God so styleth
him.
But, secondly, God in the second person hath done those things that
make him our Lord, more than the Father or Holy Ghost. For he in the
second person hath taken our nature, and died and rose again for us ; and
hath conquered all our enemies. He hath in the second person made us
his spouse, his members, and in all degrees of nearness to him. And
because God in the second person hath done all, therefore in the second
person he is more termed Lord than God the Father or the Holy Ghost.
And therefore, Acts ii. 36, God the Father ' hath made him Lord and
Christ.'
This is a point of wonderful comfort, and not only a comfort, but a
direction how to carry ourselves. It is not only a point of dignity and
prerogative, but a duty.
1. First, It is a grand comfort ' we are the Lord's,' and the Lord's in a
peculiar manner, as before. The devil is the Lord's, the earth is the
Lord's ; all is the Lord's. But we are the Lord's by eternal donation, by
purchase, by conquest, by voluntary yielding to him. And therefore it is
a most excellent condition.
Quest. What is the Lord ?
Ans. If we be Christ's, we have him for Lord ; that is. Lord of life, Lord
of glory, Lord of grace ; that is. Lord of lords, King of kings. He is
an independent Lord. None is above him, the Father and he agreeing
together ; if you know one, j'ou know both. He is an absolute Lord, a free
Lord ; he hath no dependence at all upon any creature whatsoever. An
eternal Lord ; we have an eternal being in him ; for we are when we are
dead. And therefore the apostle divideth it : ' Whether we live or die, we
are the Lord's.' We have a substance* when we be dead, and a Lord of
equal continuance with ourselves, a king for ever. Therefore it is a point
of wonderful comfort.
Ohj. But you will say, Freedom is a sweet thing, especially freedom from
government, so as to have no lord to control us ; therefore how can this
be so excellent estate, to have Christ our Lord ?
Ans. 1. Beloved, we are creatures. We are neither of ourselves, nor by
ourselves, nor for ourselves.
2. Besides, ice have enemies greater than ourselves, the powers of hell; and
therefore, if we had not a better above us, what would become of us, but
to be totally subjected under the power of enemies ? It is the happiness
of the inferior, to be in full subjection to the superior. It is the happiness
of beasts to be under man, that they may keep from destruction. It is the
happiness of the weak, to have tutors and governors. It is the perfection of
inferiors, to yield a gracious subjection to that that is better than themselves. ■
* Qu. ' subsistence ' = being ? But cf. page 320, last line. — G.
THE CHRISTIAN S END.
809
For everything is perfected by being subject to that which is better ; and
therefore we, especially in our lapsed condition, seeing we are our own
greatest enemies.
2. God ill love uill not tnist us inth ourselves since the fall, hit will have
our happiness to be dependent aiul subject to another — to a God in our nature,
an excellent Lord ; and therefore an excellent Lord, because, what I spake
before, Christ hath all the authority in heaven and earth committed to him,
not only over us, but over our enemies, that they shall not do us harm.
And, indeed, he cannot be Lord of the church, but he must be Lord of
all creatures in heaven and earth, that no creature may prejudice his
church. He hath universal authority over all things, and all for the church's
cause.
4. And then he hath all the good (juaUties of a Lord ; not only authority,
but wisdom and strength and power and bounty and goodness, and what-
soever may make him a gracious Lord. And therefore it is our perfection
to be in subjection to this Lord.
To set forth a little the excellency of this Lord.
He hath the sweetness of all superiors whatsoever ; as he hath taken the
name of all superiority that is sweet and lovely, so he hath the affections ol
all, and eminently more than all. He is a Lord, as a husband ; he loveth
more than any husband can do. He is a Lord, as a king ; he can do moro
for us than any king. ' He hath all power in heaven, and earth, and hell,
over the devils themselves.' ' All knees bow to him, of things in
heaven and in earth, and under the earth,' Philip, ii. 10. And he is
Lord as an head. Whatsoever superiority is near and dear, that he is to
his church.
He requires service. Ay, but he is such a Lord as enableth us to serve
him, ' helpeth our infirmities by his Spirit,' Rom. viii. 29. Without him
we can do nothing, but in him we can do all.
And as he enableth us to perform service, so doth he reward every
service, every good thought ; nothing is lost that is done for Christ's sake,
not a cup of cold water. He giveth strength to perform, accepteth it as a
work of his Spirit, and then rewardeth it. He is so a Lord, as he standeth
for his ; so a Lord, as he appearethfor us now in heaven, against all accusa-
tions of Satan. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's people ?
For Christ maketh intercession for them. He stood for his disciples here
on earth, and upon any occasion was ready to defend them ; and he is as
ready in heaven to stand for his subjects and servants, and will answer all
accusations of a malicious world against his church and children, ' and will
bring forth their righteousness to light, as the noonday,' Ps. xxxvii. G. He
standeth for their credit, and engageth himself for the defence and protec-
tion of his Mount Zion, his church.
And to add one thing more out of the text concerning the excellency of
this Lord : he is an unchangeable Lord. His love is as himself, and his
care as himself, eternal : ' for Avhether we live or die, we are his.' What
other people that are under a government can say so ? For all their
governors' love and care endeth in death. In the mean time their minds
are variable, their affections may die before themselves ; as how many have
been cast ofi" in their old days ! But God will not do so. ' Forsake me
not in my grey heirs,' saith David, Ps. Ixxi. 18. He is our Lord while we
live, and" he leaveth us not when we leave to live, but is our God to death,
in death, and after death, and for ever. It is a relation that holds for
eternity, as our Saviour Christ saith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He
210 THE christian's END.
is the God of Abraham. Abraham is dead ; Isaac and Jacob rotten in
their graves. Ay, but their souls are in heaven ; and because he is their
whole God, their bodies shall be raised again and united with their souls,
and be for ever with the Lord.
In all the vicissitude and intercourse of things in this world, we need
something to stick to ; and this the Christian hath to stick to, that never
faileth. He is the Lord's, and the Lord is his ; he is Christ's, and Christ
is his. Christ hath a love that is as himself, unchangeable. * Whom the
Lord loveth, he loveth to the end,' John xiii. 1. The promises made in
Christ are as Christ — the promises of grace here, and glory hereafter cer-
tain. As his nature and love is unchangeable, so the fruit of his love in
his gracious promises is always certain. They are the everlasting portion
of the church.
The good things promised are everlasting likewise. We may build
upon them. We cannot build on riches here, or Hfo here, but we may build
on eternal life, eternal glory and happiness.
So that, cast a Christian into what condition you will, he hath God and
Christ in covenant with him, and the love of Christ, and all the gracious
promises and the things promised. And these do not vary. Life varieth : we
may live now, die to-morrow ; but whether we live or die, these four things
mentioned are certainly ours.
A Christian cannot say of anything here, that it will be his long. His
estate is his now, and many ways there are to take it away ; his friends are
his now, but their friendship may decline ; anything in the world may be so
ours to-day, as not ours to-morrow. And therefore, were it not that in this
variety of conditions we had something that is afterward, where were our
comfort ? We may outhve all comfort here, but we cannot outlive our
happiness in Christ : ' for whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.'^
To speak of this a little, as it yieldeth comfort in death. ' We are the
Lord's,' not only while we live, but when we die. Why? Because we
have a being in Christ when we die. Christ is a living root; because I
live, you shall live also.' This Lord is the ' Lord of life ;' and therefore
whosoever is one with the Lord of life, he can indeed never die. Death is
only a change of a natural gracious life here, to a glorious life in another
world ; from the church warfariug here, to the church triumphant in
heaven.
It is not properly death, for misery dieth, death itself dieth ; we do not
die. Death overthroweth itself, but a Christian's life is hid with Christ ;
and when he dieth he dieth to live, and is found in Christ at the day of
judgment, and shall be for ever with Christ. Therefore it is no great
matter what kind of death a Christian dieth, because he dieth in the Lord.
' Blessed are they that die in the Lord,' Rev. xiv. 13. He saith not,
them that die a fair death. A wretch, an opposcr, an hypocrite may do
so, and go to hell. But blessed are they that die in the Lord, because
Christ is their Lord in death ; and so saith the apostle, Heb. xi. 13, ' All
these died in faith.' He saith not, they all died a fair death, for they did
not, but many of them died a bloody death ; yet they ' all died m faith,''
and so they died in the Lord.
And therefore when we read in the histories of the church that some
were torn in pieces with wild beasts, that ' they gave the bodies of the
saints to the fowls of heaven,' as David hath it, Ps. Ixxix. 2, which may
discourage some to be Christians, let us not think that any matter ; ' they
died in faith.' And as the psalmist saith, ' precious to the Lord is the
THE CHEISTIAN's END. 311
death of all his saints,' Ps. cxvi. 15 ; for he takelh notice of them in their
lives, not only in their lives, but the hairs of their head, they being
all numbered. He taketh notice of the tears that fall from their eyes,
and will not he take notice of their blood ? He taketh notice of their
persons, their hairs, their tears, and will he part with their lives for
nothing ? No. He will be paid for the lives of his children. When he
parts with them, his enemies shall be sure to pay for it. He will be
avenged on them for it, as the blood of Naboth was on Ahab. So he will
be revenged on all the persecutors of his church, and take a strict account
of every drop of blood that hath been shed, for their persons are precious.
God taketh special notice of them. They are his members, his spouse, and
near unto him.
And then he will not have them die till they have done their work. He
taketh special notice of them all their hfe. And when they have done what
they came for, as Christ saith of himself, ' I have done the work thou
gavest me to do,' John xvii. 4, then he sendeth for them home. They die
not at adventure, but under the care of one that knoweth them well "both
in life aud death.
And therefore it is that God so revenged the persecutors of his church,
for the blood of his saints, from the blood of Abel unto this day.
And as the ' death of his saints are precious,' so are all things that the
saints have. Their credit is precious, their goods are precious. God
taketh notice of everything they part with for his sake. As he and all his
is ours — himself, his happiness, his Spirit, his privileges — so when we are
his, all ours are his. He taketh care of our lives, of our deaths, of our
credits, of our riches, of our estates. We part with nothing for him but
he considers it, and will reward it abundantly.
^ ' He that dieth in the Lord is a blessed man ;' so saith the Spirit, Rev.
xiv. 13. The flesh will not say so, but rather will infer who would be so
religious, for such venture their lives, aud are counted as the offscouring of
the world. The devil will teach this lesson, and the world. As they have
lived in the flesh, and will sell all to be somebody in the world, though they
go to hell when they have done. But, saith the Spirit, blessed are they
who not only die for the Lord as martyrs, but that die in the Lord ; whether
to seal the truth of God with their blood, or otherwise, they die happily ;
and so this is a ground of special comfort.
And as it is a ground of special comfort, so it is a ground of direction.
' Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.' Therefore it may be a foun-
dation of hving to the Lord. If we be the Lord's, surely we ought to hve
to him. If we be his, all our endeavours, whatsoever is ours, are his. Fructus
undftnidiis, go together, the fruit aud the soil ; and therefore if we be the
Lord's in hfe and death, we must not live to ourselves as our own, but give
ourselves to him, and not to anything else ; we are not our own, nor man's,
but the Lord's. And therefore we ought not to yield up om-selves to our
eelf-wiUs, self-wit, self-love, to be at our own disposing, and to live as
we list. We are redeemed from ourselves, yea, from all our vain conver-
sations.
Some think Christ died, and therefore they may be vain, especially at
the solemn time of Christ's nativity. The devil hath so prevailed with the
world, and will till there be a new face of the church ; they never honour
the devil more than when they seem to honour Christ. For, say they,
Christ came to set us at liberty. Did he so ? But it was to deliver us
from wickedness ; yea, from^vain conversations, and not to purchase us
312 THE christian's end.
liberty to live as we list.* ' Oui' tongues are our own,' say they in the
psalms, Ps. xii. 4. A}', but Christ saith, they are not your own, they are
his. And if they be not Christ's, they are the devil's. Our thoughts are
not our own, but all should be dedicated to Christ. Therefore we should be
content that Christ should set up a regiment f in our souls, that he may
rule our thoughts, desires, our language, and members, that they may be
all 'weapons of righteousness,' Rom. vi. 13.
We have nothing our own, much less sin, from which we are redeemed.
And not only from gross sins, but from such conversations as are vain in
themselves, and will be vain to thee.
And when we are redeemed from sin, and from vain conversations, we
are redeemed from ourselves, from the world, from the devil ; whom now
hath a man to serve ? None but this Lord. "We have renounced all other
in baptism, and we are revolters and rebels, and renounce our covenant in
baptism, if we renounce not the world and the lusts of it in our lives.
Ourselves we must not serve. For we are redeemed from ourselves, and
not only from our carnal selves, but natural selves. Christ is Lord of our
natures. And a Christian ought to say, Lord, of thee I had this body ; of
thee I had this life of mine, these goods of mine, this credit of mine, this
reputation and place in the world. As I had all from thee, so I return aU
to thee again.
And as we are not our own, we must not be other men's. ' We are not
servants of men, ''as the apostle saith, Rom. viii. 12, seq.^ We must not take
upon trust the opinions that others would put upon us, or what we list our-
selves in religion. We must not have men's persons in admiration, for
advantage. We must not idolise any creature, for as we are not our own,
so we are not any other's, but we are the Lord's.
The happiness of a Christian is to be independent on the creatures. He
may use them as subordinate helps, but he is to depend only on this Lord,
what to believe, what to speak ; and not to take up this or that opinion to
please this or that man, thereby to rise to greatness.
It is a base thing to say, I believe as my parents believe. Are you your
parents' ? Your parents are the servants of this great Lord, whose you are,
and to whom it is your duty to yield yourselves.
Use 1. And therefore, in solicitation to any sin, make that use of it, that
the holy apostle doth in that gross sin that reigns so much in the world,
and brings many to hell, defilement of body. Saith he, ' Our bodies are
bought with a price,' 1 Cor, vi. 20. ' And shall I take the members of
Christ, and make them members of an harlot ?' 1 Cor. vi. 15. So
when we are tempted by corruption, and Satan joining with it, reason thus :
Shall I defile this body of mine ? My body is not mine, it is the Lord's ;
my members are not mine, they be dedicated and consecrated to him. What
should such base abominable thoughts do in a heart consecrated to Christ ?
I am his, my thoughts his ; my desires should be his.
Let those that be given to swearing, and blaspheming, and idle talk, consider
that their tongues are not their own ; and yet for whom do they employ
their tongues as an instrument, but for Satan ?
Use 2. So when we come to die, make use of it, not only for comfort, but
for duty. ' We are Christ's,' and therefore if he doth call us by any kind
of death, if he sends for us by a bloody death, go to Christ that way,
because he is Lord, and disposeth of whatsoever befalleth us, and detcrmineth
* That is, ' clioose.'— G. t Qu. ' Gal. i. 10 ' ?— En.
t Tliat is, ' government.' — G.
THE CHRISTIAN S END.
313
by what death we shall glorify him. Bo of Saint Paul's resolution, to
' glorify God both living and dying,' Phil. iii. 18, seq. He knew God should
be glorified by his death as well as by his Hfe. So we may glorify Christ
by any death, be content to yield ourselves any kind of way to him.
There be two virtues we ought specially to exercise in the hour of death :
assurance of faith that we are Christ's, and a resignation to his will, that
in faith and in obedience we may commit ourselves to him, as to a faithful
Creator and Redeemer. This is our dnij.
And it is no easy matter to do this. Many bequeath themselves to God,
but, alas ! they have alienated themselves before to the world. They have
given their bodies to wine, to women, as the Scripture phrase is. Rev. xiv. 4.
Or they have given their spirits to the world. As we use to say in our
common speech of some men, they are given to the world. But when they
have given their strength to the flesh before, and do at time of death
bequeath their spirits to the Lord, will he own them ? Alas ! they are
alienated before, and so put out of their own disposing. And therefore
ordinarily, unless the Lord work a miracle, it is impossible to die in the
Lord, if a man have not lived to the Lord before ; which may teach us to
give ourselves really to him in our lifetime, that our lives being a service
to Christ, we may comfortably die to him, and have our souls to dis-
pose of.
The like subjection must be shewed in all conditions whatsoever. If God
will have me to honour him in a mean calling, I am not mine own, I am
his ; my life, and all my condition of life, are only to him. My calling, my
estate, it may be, is low, that my pride may be humbled. But God hath set
me in my calling ; he will have me to honour him in it. In the meanest
calling, a man shall have enough to give an account of;* and therefore there
is no reason to be ashamed of our calling. I am the Lord's, in my life, in
all the passages of it ; in my calling, in all the troubles of it, I am to look
for support and protection and provision and direction from God. I am
here by his appointment. And therefore he that hath set me in this place
will provide for me, protect me, guide me by his Spirit what to do in my
place. And so it is a ground for contentation in all conditions.
You see, then, there is great reason why we should not live to ourselves,
but to the Lord ; that we should not die to ourselves, but to the Lord. For
it is a great comfort, and a special duty ; and therefore, in a word, we cannot
have a more comfortable experiment in all divine truths than this, that God
in Christ hath passed over himself to be ours, and we have passed over
ourselves to him, if we have grace to do it. And then to plead and improve
it when it is done, there is not a comfort of greater comprehension ; and
therefore the apostle dwelleth on the point, ' No man liveth to himself,
no man dieth to himself ; but we live to the Lord, and die to the Lord.' To
what end is all this, but that we should settle it as a bottom and ground
of comfort and contentment and happiness, that we are not our own, but the
Lord's ?
Think, therefore, of this one thing, that we are his, that hath a command
in heaven and earth, to whom all knees bow with subjection ; his that ia
Lord of lords, and King of kings, that is Lord parainoKnt ; who will not
sufler anything to befall his church, or any particular Christian, that shall not
be for their good, for he hath all power in heaven and earth for that purpose,
and for ever. What a comfort is it in life and death, in the midst of opposi-
tions here, or from the powers of hell, that we have a Lord that is commander
* Cf. note i, Vol. I. page 204.— G.
314 THE christian's end.
of all, ' Lord of life or death.' He ' Lath the keys of hell and death.' Him-
self hath conquered all, and he -will conquer all in us by little and little.
What happiness is it, I say, to be under such a Lord !
THE FIFTH SERMON.
For none of iis liveth to himself, and no man dietli to himself. For whether
tee live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord :
whether we live therefore, or die, ire are the Lord's. — Rom. XIV. 7, 8.
There is nothing more available to the living of a Christian's life than to
have the eye of the soul on his main end and scope. And then to be furnished
with some maxims and principles to direct our lives to that scope. Where
the parts are most noble and large, there the aim and scope is most excel-
lent. Now a true Christian, being raised above others, hath an end and
scope above other men ; and that indeed maketh him a Christian in good
earnest, when God by his Spirit discovers an higher excellency than the
world can aiford, and setteth our hearts towards it.
Now the apostle setteth down the scope of our whole condition, both of
life and death. First, negatively, ' No man liveth to himself ; ' ' no man
dieth to himself.'
Then, affirmatively, ' We live to the Lord, and die to the Lord.'
And he giveth the ground of both : ' Whether we live or die, we are the
Lord's.'
If we live to the Lord, we shall have a being after life. A Christian is,
when he is not ; when he is not here, he hath a being in heaven ; and
suitably to his several conditions he hath a Lord to own him in all. Now
he liveth, yet cannot build on life, nor anything below, because life is short
and uncertain. But this he may build on : ' Whether he liveth or dieth,
he is the Lord's.'
Now Christ is said in Scripture to be Lord oftener than God, because
God in the second person hath appeared in our nature, overcome all our
enemies, hath triumphed, and is now in heaven in our nature ; and
because Lord is a word of authority and sovereignty. And God hath made
him governor of quick and dead.
He is a Lord in regard of God the Father, by donation. God hath
given the elect to him before all worlds.
He is Lord in regard of himself, by conquest over the enemies of our
salvation.
And then by ransom. He hath paid a price to divine justice for us.
For though God gave Christ to us from all etei'nity, and us to Christ, yet
on these terms, that he should ransom us. God will not have his justice a
loser ; therefore Christ must pay a price to divine justice. Such was his
mercy, and the glory of his mercy, to find out such a way to satisfy justice,
that God should die.
No attribute of God must be a loser ; he must have the honour of all
his attributes ; and therefore of his justice. And here is the glory of his
wisdom, in contriving a way that mercy may triumph and justice may be
satisfied.
And then he is Lord by our voluntary submission to him ; for we set a
crown upon his head when we subject ourselves to him.
THE CHRISTIAN S END.
315
He is our Lord in all estates, ' living or dying ; ' at all times, without
limitation; in all conditions, whether it be a life of prosperity or adversity,
let us die by what manner of death soever.
And so I shewed we are the Lord's in a double sense : in regard of our
carriage to him, and in regard of his care over us ; both must be included.
We are not the Lord's only for that he taketh care of us, and without our
service ; nor that we do -him service without his care of us ; but he is so
our Lord, that we have grace to aclmowledge him, and he hath grace, and
love, and mercy to protect and acknowledge us both in life and death.
It is no prejudice to a Christian's estate that he is another's. It is the
happiness of the weak to be under a stronger; of those that be deficient,
to be under fulness. Now there is all-sufficiency in Christ. Therefore to
be under him is our happiness.
Give me leave to illustrate this. Everything is beautiful in its own
place. Things that are highest, it is fit they should be highest ; things
that are lowest, it is fit they should be lowest. If the head were not in its
own place, there would be deformity in the body. And so it is fit Christ
should be our Lord, being God-man and the glory of our nature. And it is
our happiness, our beauty and comeliness, our safety and perfection, to be
under Christ, and to be only under him. He is only* larger than the soul ;
he is of equal continuance with the soul ; he is only suitable to the soul,
being a Spirit, he only is eternal ; and therefore being every way so abun-
dantly satisfactory to the soul, it is the happiness of the soul to have him
for its Lord, especially considering what a Lord he is — a Lord independent ;
Lord of lords, that hath all other lords at command ; a bountiful and gracious
Lord.
And we are not only the Lord's while we live, but when we come to die.
Therefore we should be willing to die when our time cometh, yea, to die
any kind of death, because he is Lord of ' quick and dead.' We should
be like David and Moses, who were very fruitful towards their ends. And
as we are not ashamed to live to so good a Lord, so we should not be afraid
to die to him, as one said of himself (h).
This word Lord implieth, there be some duties oiviug by us. We are the
Lord's in our souls, in our bodies, in our conditions ; and therefore we
should wholly give up ourselves to him, and entertain no thoughts to dis-
honour him ; give way to no risings, no desires which become not the sub-
jects and servants of the Lord; believe nothing that we take up of our-
selves, keep the chastity of our faith and understanding, not to believe lies
and untruths ; but submit our very understandings and faith to God. We
must not be servants of men, in our judgments or souls, no mancljninn alie-
nie Ubidinis, as the philosopher saith (;'). But consider what Christ hath
revealed, and let us submit to that.
And therefore it is a grand error in the Church of Eome, who would have
people to believe as the church believeth, which is, 'i-^urov -^siidog, primitm
me)id(iclum, the first He, that Icadeth them into all those errors ; to beheve
Christ and Scripture no further than the church discovers them. And so
they overturn all. For they believe God because men say so. It is a
dangerous error that runneth into practice. If the church say treason
must be done, we must be traitors. It is no matter what the Scripture
saith. The pope he is the head of the church, and he can dispense with
what he pleaseth. But ' my sheep,' saith Christ, ' hear my voice,' John
X. 4. And it is our duty to hear what the Lord of our faith saith, which
* That is, ' he only is." — G.
316 THE christian's end.
is only Christ, If he be our Lord, then let our wills be brought into sub-
jection to his will ; nothing is more out of order than this will of ours. If
that were once subject to Christ, all controversy between God and us were
taken away. All the strife is, whether we shall have our walls or he his
will. The spouse hath no will of her own, but it is resigned to her husband.
So must we submit our wills to Christ's desire.
And then again, ice ought not in ani/tlLiiif/ to regard the humours of men.
Christ is Lord of our affections. We must hate what he will have us hate,
and love what he loveth ; our whole souls must be conformable to Christ.
And our bodies are xihoUy his too, and therefore we must be content that
our bodies should be used as they used his body. He gave his body for
us ; he took our nature ; and in that nature went about doing good, suffer-
ing hardship. He was hungry and thirsty; he was crucified in our nature,
suffered in our nature ; and so should we be content our natures should be
used as he would have them, to take much pains in doing good; to suffer
hunger, thirst, restraint, 3'ea, death itself for Christ, because we are Christ's !
It is no more than he did for us. He being our Lord, was abased for us
in his blessed body and flesh; and therefore shall not we suffer for him ?
So our conditions are his. Suffer him therefore to cut us out a portion,
to allot us any condition.
The word implieth more particularly an ajipUcation to ourselves. ' We
are the Lord's, and the Lord is ours.'
And likewise a renunciation and severing from all others. ' We are the
Lord's, and none else ; ' the Lord's, and none but the Lord's ; if we are
anybody's else, it is in the Lord and for the Lord.
Here is likewise resignation. * We are the Lord's,' and therefore we will
give up ourselves to him, with a resting iu him, and high estimation of him,
and glorying in our condition through him.
And then here is an improvement of this implied : We are the Lord's ;
therefore we ought to improve it on our part, by serving him ; and on his
part by believing that he will have care of us.
We are the Lord's, first, by particular application, which is wrought by
degrees.
First, God by his Spirit revealeth himself to be ours, not fully, but by letting
in so much light into the soul as may carry the sold to him, and make us
yield to him, trust in him, and cast ourselves upon him ; and by doing so
we grow into further acquaintance with him, and he honours our faith with
a further sense and assurance that he is ours, and we are his.
There is a great deal of distance and breadth between the first act of
faith, by which we cast ourselves on Christ, and a confident persuasion that
Christ is ours and we are his. That is a fruit of faith ; and there needeth a
great deal of gi'owth before we come to that.
And therefore if you ask. What doth the soul first to make Christ his
own ? It is this. In the use of means, wherewith God pleaseth to be effectual,
a light is by the Spirit let into the soul, whereby the heart is persuaded that
he hath a good meaning towards it, that he is a gracious Lord, and will
forgive the sins of all that rely upon him. And with the acknowledging of
these truths, together with the offer of mercy in Christ, there is so much
sweetness let into the soul as carrieth the soul back again to Christ to rest
upon him. For unless Christ begin in some degree to make love to the
soul, and giveth a taste of his sweetness, we cannot rely upon him nor
love him, not only because we are creatures, and he is first and must begin
to us, but because it is the nature of a guilty soul, when it is under terror
THE CHEISTIAn's END. 317
and awakened, to forecast such doubts, that till Christ Icttcth in some
glimpse of his love, the soul dare not look Christ in the face.
Now in the unfolding of these divine truths of the gospel, some intima-
tions are given ' that Christ is mine, and I am Christ's,' which afterward
becometh the claim of an experienced Christian. This therefore dirccteth
what course they shall take to get Christ that want him. They must
attend upon the blessed means of salvation, and then consider how far forth
they may lay claim to Christ.
For, first, all that live in the church are Christ's in some degree. God
hath prevented* men with his love in admitting them to the visible church,
and there is an obligation on them to think well of Christ for that, because
he had cai'o of them before they had care of themselves, by vouchsafing them
the seal of baptism, and making them members of the visible church.
Secondly, Unless they labour, being come to years of discretion, to feel
a further assurance that Christ is theirs, they disannul and deny their
baptism ; and therefore it is good for such souls as are touched with sight
of sin to gather upon Christ, and to wind about all helps they can to work
on Christ, as the vine gathereth on the tree it wiudeth about. I am born
in the church, I have been baptized, lived in times of the gospel, have
opportunities to hear the blessed truths, and therefore I will have good
conceits of Christ that he meaneth well to my soul.
Indeed, a company ot wretches that rest in their baptism, being profane
swearers, vile persons, abusers of their calling or anything, can say. Are
not we baptized ? and do not we come to church ? But they forget that
this is an obligation on them to be good, and no excuse for them to be evil.
It ticth thee to renounce that thou livest in, else thou deniest thy baptism.
We must know^, beloved, that Christ loved us, not as we love a goodly
pillar or other curious piece of art that cannot love us again, but the inter-
course between God and man is mutual. If he say he is ours, w-e say again,
I am thine, Lord, and give myself to thee ; and the claim is mutual. He
claimeth us for his, and w-e claim him for ours ; for he deals with reasonable
creatures, that can enter into covenant with him as friends. We must
therefore give up all to God. If God be God, let us own him. And as
we cannot sei-ve Christ and sin, we cannot serve Christ and antichrist ; we
cannot comply with Christ and his enemies. Those that have the mark of
the beast absolutely cannot be Christ's, nor have communion with him, but
are enemies to Christ, though under pretence of religion. But where a
man is truly Christ's, he is none but Christ's ; Satan is content with any
part, but Christ must have the whole heart.
God's children have something in them that usurpcth, some corruption
in them which is not absolutely removed, but it is Imt a rebel, and they
have an enemy's mind to it ; all that is contrary to Christ is renounced ;
whereas in them that be carnal sin is as a lord, but in God's children it
is as a thief. He is there, yet they own him not, but get strength against
him. He ruleth not^there but as a tyrant. There is a renunciation of
lordship and dominion of sin. Though they have inclinations to this and
that sin, yet they have no liking to that liking, no inclinations as spiritual
to that inclination as carnal, but make it an object of mortification. They
renounce all other lords ; when all other men, that have net the Spmt of
Christ, are under the dominion of some reigning lusts.
And as it implielh a possession, so likewise an estimation; as God
esteemeth us, so we esteem him above all. And therefore God calleth his
* That is, 'gone before' = 'anticipated,' — G.
318 THE christian's end.
church his portion, his jewel ; and wc call Christ our portion, our treasure,
our pearl, our all. St Paul counts ' all dung and dross in comparison of
the excellent knowledge of Christ,' Phil. iii. 8. And all that helongeth to
Christ he esteemcth. And therefore the church glorieth that God is their
God, and makes claim to him as St Paul, ' I live hy the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me,' Gal. ii. 20. And as
Thomas, ' My Lord, and my God,' John xx. 28. This is the best evidence
of a true Christian, whose estate is no way known better than by his esti-
mation. ' Whom have I in heaven but thee, or in earth in comparison of
thee ?' saith David, Ps. Ixxiii. 25.
It implieth likewise a dntij of resignation to Christ in life and death,
because we are not our own, and therefore are in all things to be at his
disposing, to be led what way he pleaseth, and to pursue his directions,
though to the crossing of our corrupt nature, to be content to go to heaven
as he will lead us> by fair ways or foul ways, by fair death or bloody death,
' if by any means we may attain to the resurrection of the dead,' as St
Paul saith it, Philip, iii. 11.
Besides this, we must have a care to implead this and to improve it, as
the apostle doth here, ' Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.' He
will have care of us, and therefore we ought to serve him.
It is a special after-part to be able to make it good to God in all troubles
and conditions whatsoever : ' I am thine, Lord, save me ; I am thine. Lord,
teach me ; I am thine, Lord, protect me.'
Avouch and make it good against the temptations of Satan, urging thee
to distrust, I am not mine own, I am God's and Christ's ; and there-
fore if thou hast anything to say to me, go to him that hath paid my debt.
Thus plead the goodness and graciousness of God.
Plead it against temptation to sin. I am not mine own, ' I am bought
with a price,' 1 Cor. vi. 28. My body is not for uncleauness, but for the Lord.
Plead it against our own consciences in times of desertion ; search
narrowly what we have of Christ's in us, and do not cavil against ourselves
too much in times of temptation. If we have but desires of the soul to
God, lose not anything that is good ; if I renounce my interest in Christ,
I am where the devil would have me ; then he can do anything with us.
, And therefore plead it against our own distasteful* hearts in times of dark-
ness. I give myself to him, and my desires are to him ; my faith is little,
but yet something ; my love is little, but yet I love the Lord. ' I believe,
help my unbelief,' Mark ix. 24. We must take notice of anything Christ
hath wrought in our spirits, that we may implead our interest on all occasions ;
for if we yield to despairing hearts in times of temptations, we are gone.
Therefore say with Job, ' If thou kill me, I will trust thee,' Job xiii. 15.
Lie at Christ's feet ; if thou wilt damn me, so it is, I will lie here, and wait
here. For if I have not present audience, I shall have it. God waiteth
to do them good that wait for him. He will try our spirits, whether we will
take a seeming repulse ; therefore we must, as the woman of Samaria, f grow
on Christ, and catch at his words. Mat. xv. ; and as the servants of Bcnhadad,
who retorted on Ahab presently, ' Thy servant Bcnhadad,' 1 Kings xx. 33.
And as we must implead our interest, so we must improve it in the whole
course of our life, and in all conditions whatsoever. If we have any loss
or crosses, yet the soul can say, Christ is mine, and I am Christ's.
Though a man taking a journey lose things of less value, yet if he hath a
pearl left him, he is content, for he hath that that will make him a man.
* Qu. ' distrustful ' V— G. t Qu. ' Canaan ' ?— Ed.
THE CHBISTIAN's END. 319
And thcrefoi'e be not. much disconsolate for anj' crosses. They cannot
take away my Christ, my promises, the comforts of the Spirit. I have a
Christ, and in him all that shall be for my good.
Improve it in all opposition of flesh and blood, hell and the instruments
of hell, Satan and wicked men. They are mine enemies ; but if Christ be
my friend, it matters not. Christ can make our enemies our friends.
And all things are ours if we be Christ's. We have a general charter.
Things to come are ours, life ours, death ours ; and therefore if we be
Christ's, make use of him.
As it is baseness of spirit to rest in anything in the world but Christ, so
it is baseness of spirit for us that are Christ's to be dejected for anything in
the world. We have the treasure, we have the mine. We have the sun;
what if we lose a beam ? We have a spring ; what if the stream be dried
up ? If Christ giveth us himself, it is no matter what we lose. But we
are sure of him, ' for in life and death we are the Lord's.'
And therefore let us hence answer all objections. Oh that we should
have such grounds of comfort and stability, and yet make no more use of
them ! If these things were fresh in our thoughts, nothing would dis-
courage us.
Quest. If you ask. How shall we know in particular that it is so indeed
that we are Christ's ?
Ans. 1. I answer, If wo have given ourselves to him by a contract of our
own, if we be married to him. You know marriage must have consent of
both parties. Those that give not themselves up to Christ to be his, they
are not his. They that live under the power of any sin against con-
science, as their Lord, that love anything better than Christ, and will not
part with it for Christ's sake, Christ is not theirs, for they be engaged
another wa}'.
Ans. 2. Again, If we live to Christ, we are sure we are his ; if we do not
live to Christ we are not his. If Christ be ours, as the life which we live
is his, so our course of living will be to him. We shall direct all our courses
to him, making him our last end ; and therefore, if we will know whether
we be Christ's, what is the scope of our lives ? what is our aim ? If so be
that Christ may be glorified by me, I am content to part with anything,
with life itself, I may know that I am Christ's. ' He that will not deny
all, that hateth not lather and mother for my sake, is not worthy of me,'
Mat. X. 37. Self-denial, and hatred of all things in comparison of Christ,
argueth an interest in him. Therefore it is a great deal of grace, and the
soul is much subdued before it can say, ' I am Christ's, and Christ is mine.'
For when sin and other withdrawings from Christ are to be deserted,
first, there is much ado in the understanding.
Have I reason to do this ? Well, if my judgment say it is good, yet my
will saith it is better to have my will than to yield to God, though I hazard
the ruin of myself. Oh this is a fatal, naughty disposition, and a sign of
ruin ; yet the reputed happiness of many men consisteth in their chief
misery.
Again, Good things first coming to the judgment are there repulsed. But
if they come to the will, there they be more opposed. And then the afi'ec-
tions make a stir and bustle, love and hatred, and engagements to worldly
things, and all to hinder our claim and interest to Christ. But he must be
set up in place of self-love, before he can say, ' Christ is mine, and I am
Christ's,' and that is an hard matter. Therefore let us consider what our
aim and scope is.
320 THE ceristian's end.
In a ^vorcl, if we be Clirist's, undoubtedly we will side with Christ. * "^Tio
is on my side ? who ?' saith Jehu, 2 Kings ix. 32. In ill and doubtful
times Christ's calls are for a party, and callcth out, ^Vhere is my party ? who
standeth for me ? who owncth Christ and his truth and doctrine and good
ways, honesty, and reUgion ? Who is on my side? saith Christ. Why,
I am for the Lord, as in the prophet Isaiah, saith the soul that can own
Christ. Ay, Christ will own us, we shall own him ; if we be ashamed of
him, be will be ashamed of us at the day of judgment.
They that for hope of preferment and to be somebody in the world can
cross their own consciences, and Christ in their consciences, by doing that
which by his Spirit he tellcth them is naught ;* are they Christ's when they
set up self as an idol above Christ, and side with the world and the flesh
against Christ ?
V Again, He that can say in truth of heart Christ is his, and he is Christ's,
be will solace himself, delight himself, and live upon this comfort. It is a
rich claim, and there will be spiritual wisdom where there is this interest
to implead and improve it. It is not given to lie dormant, but grace is
given with it to improve it, and live upon it. All that is Christ's will please
him that hath Christ. His truth is sweet to him ; the Lord's day, the
Lord's work, the Lord's servants, the Lord's ordinances, whatsoever hath
the stamp of the Lord, it is sweet to him, because he is the Lord's, and
the Lord is his.
This is contrary to the disposition of that generation that can cunningly
despise persons and causes, if they see anything in them opposite to their
own base courses and lusts.
But above all, where Christ is any man's in truth, the Spirit of Christ
is in that man's heart, a witnessing Spirit and a sanctifying Spirit. The
Spirit will witness an interest, and fit and sanctify the soul, as a gracious
vessel for Christ's service here, and for glory hereafter. And though the
Spirit witness not so loud that he is Christ's, yet he may know by the work
of the Spirit that Christ is his ; for the Spirit frameth him to a connatural
disposition to Christ, and all that is Christ's. They love his ways and
government. A gracious man would not be under another government
than Christ's, if he were to choose. He hath made his choice indeed ; but
if he were to choose he would have Christ's government, because he findeth
a sweetness in it, and a suitableness to the dignity of it. A man never
findeth himself more himself than when he is most gracious.
Carnal men, though they submit to outward means, yet they cast away
the bond of Christ, they cannot endure the yoke ; but they that are Christ's
have a connatural disposition to the government of Christ. And they
complain to Christ of other lords, 'Other lords rule me,' Isa. xxvi. 13.
This lust reigns in me: Lord, subdue it; claim thine own interest; let
nothing rule in me but thy Spirit. I am weary of my inclinations to
this and that lust. And so there is a conflict ever maintained.
To stir us up, in a word, to labour to be more under the government of
Christ, and to get assurance of it, let us consider, if we be not Christ's,
whose are we ? There is but two kingdoms. If Christ rules us not, the
devil and the world must rule us.
And what kind of subjection is it to be subject to our own lusts ? to a
damned world and to Satan ? Is it not to be ruled by our enemies, and
base enemies ? Our lusts are baser than the devil himself. For the devil
is a substance, and ruleth by them. Now who would be willing to serve
* That is, ' naughty ' =wicked. — G.
THE christian's END. 321
an enemy ? nay, to be a servant of servants, to bo under these tyrannical
enemies, restless enemies, that do encroach upon us more and more ? and
all the fruits we have by their service is shame and grief at the best ; and
shall we serve those that will pay no better wages ? Yet this is the con-
dition of all that have not Christ for their Lord, They serve some base
lust, and Satan, a tyrannical lord, that instead of better rewards, punisheth
them with eternal destruction ; so that they serve him with the price of
their own souls.
I beseech you, seriously consider of it, and put this qwcro to your souls ;
I have lived in such and such a sin, but what is the fruit of it? The best is
shame. If I am not ashamed here, it will end in eternal shame. So that
it is a sweet thing to be under the government of Christ. It is utile domi-
nium, a dominion for oiu- good.
And lest we should be discouraged, take heed of all temptations that
withdraw us from the love of Christ's government, because our nature is
opposite to this yolce. If they seize upon us, we shall be great losers by
them in our reputation, and in much of that comfort which otherwise we
might have gotten.
Beloved, you should lose nothing by Christ, What we lose for his sake,
we shall gain in peace of conscience, in grace, and in this world too, if he
seeth it good. No man ever lost by the service of Christ. Let a man lay
beginning and end together, and tell me if he hath gotten anything by
serving his lusts ; for God payeth him home here, in much terror of con-
science, and crosses, and losses at the end, besides hell hereafter, though
at first he enjoy some seeming comfort.
And therefore lay it as a principle, that God's service is the best and
and most profitable service.
Ohj. Ay, but it appeareth to the view of the world that they that stick
close to Christ, and will disclaim all for a good conscience, fall into this
and that misery.
Ans. 1, First, The reason is, because they he not good enough. It may
be they be negligent in the service of Christ ; and therefore God will purge
them, and make them better, and will try their graces, that they may know
themselves the better.
2. Secondly, One main end is, indeed, Christ will suffer his to be
exercised with this and that affliction, that he mag have glorg in his servants ;
that the world may see he hath some that are content to lose something for
his sake ; that will part with anything, and break with any man that they
may please the Lord.
3. Thirdly, If we serve Christ, he will speak to our consciences that it is not
in vain to serve him, howsoever things fall out in the world. I confess
there is a mysteiy in Christ's government, which we must take notice of.
We can give no reason why his enemies should so reign, and his church be
put under hatches. OnW in general we know, that all this, in conclusion,
shall serve for the church's good. * And all shall work for the best to
them that love God,' Rom. viii. 28. God is all this while a- working the
church's good and the enemies' ruin, though we see not the mj-stery of
Christ's kingdom.
I beseech you, labour to make a good use of this ; get under Christ's
government, and when flesh and blood shall put up a petition, or suggest
anything, give it a non placet, deny the petition ; say, I am Christ's, and I
owe nothing to any but to Christ ; therefore not to sin or myself. All my
debt is to the Spirit, and to Christ. Therefore I will * sow to the Spirit,
VOL. V. X
822 THE christian's end.
cot to the flesh,' Gal vi. 8. ' I am bought with a price,' 1 Cor. vi. 20 ;
my Hberty cost Christ dear, therefore I will die honourably, rather than
prostitute myself to any base courses. Thus we should have high thoughts
of ourselves. And upon all temptations suggested to us, make use of this
consideration, that we are not our own, but Christ's.
NOTES.
{a) P. 291. — ' Men are as their aims are. Noble spirits have noble aims.' Again
we are reminded that Sibbes was a contemporary of Shakespeare. This instantly
recalls Vincentis's exquisite words : —
. . , . ' Sjiirits are not finely tonch'd
But to fine issues.' — {Measure for Measure, I. 1),
Cf. note b, page 247, and note c, Vol. IV. page 58. With reference to the former, it
may here be added that the ' little Latin ' of Shakespeare probably sufficed to make
him acquainted with Cicero, de Offic. lib. iii. c. 21, where the same sentiment occurs.
Perhaps this is Sibbes's reminiscence.
(6) P. 291. — ' Bene vixit, qui bene latuit.' A proverbial memorial of the Lord's
frequent ' hiding ' and retiring of himself. Cf. John viii. 59, from which and
parallel passages the Fathers and Puritans are never weary in inculcating the above
lesson. This apophthegm was used very touchingly by the saintly Philip Henry under
the shadows of his ' Ejection ' from Worthenbury. In his straits some of his friends
urged him to revive his acquaintance and interest at Court, which it was thought
he might easily do. It was even reported that the Duke of York, a playmate of his
boyhood, had inquired after him. I3ut he heeded not the rumour, nor could he be
induced in any way to ask for royal favours, remarking, ' My friends do not know
so well as I the strength of temptation, and my own inability to deal with it. Qui
bene latuit, bene vixit. Lord, lead me not into temptation. Cf. the well-known
' Life,' and an interesting paper entitled ' The Family of the Henrys,' in Evangelical
Magazine, April and May 1863.
(c) P. 303. — ' Deo servire, est regnare.' This is one of the watchwords of the
Schoolmen.
(d) P. 803. — ' Quanto subjectior, tanto liberior.' This is only the saying of note
c in another form.
(e) P.304 . — 'Therefore Lactantius saith well, " Keligion is the true wisdom.'"
Cf. his De Vera Sapientia, throughout ; and is also found incidentally in his De
Falsa Sapientia.
(/) P. 305. — ' Whatsoever cometh, he is m utrumque paratus.' The legend of the
Johnstone arms (Scotland). ' Nunquam non paratus ' is another form of this saying.
(g) P. 315. — ' Not afraid to die to him, as one said of himself.' One of tlie blessed
commonplaces of the Martyrs, e.g., Polycarp, Ignatius.
{h} P. 315. — ' We must not be servants of men . . . no mancipium alienee libidinis.'
The philosopher is Aristotle. G.
CHRIST'S EXALTATION PUECHASED BY
HUMILIATION.
CHRIST'S EXALTATION PURCHASED BY HUMILIATION.
NOTE.
The title-pago of the original and only edition of ' Christ's Exaltation purchased
by Humiliation' is given below.* The T. G. and P. N. represent, as in his other
volumes, Dr Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nye, both whose names have been already
annotated (of. Vol. II. p. 3). The volume is a thin 18mo. It is among the
rarer of Sibbes's lesser pieces. G.
* CHRISTS
EXALTATION
PVKCHAST BY
HUMILIATION.
Wherein you may see
Mercy and Misery meete
together.
Very Usefidl
I. For Instructing the Ignorant.
II. For Comforting tlie AVcake.
III. For Confirming the Strong.
By R. Sihbs D.D. and Preaclier of
Grayes-Inne, London.
Published by T. G. and P. N.
1 Cor. 15. 45.
The first man Adam uas viade. a Living
Soule, the last Adam was made a
Quickning Spirit.
LONDON
Printed by Tho. Coles, and arc to be sold by
John Bartlet at liis shop, at Ihc Signe of the guilt
Cup, neere S. Austins gate. 1639.
CHRIST'S EXALTATION PURCHASED BY
HUMILIATION.
For, for tJiis end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might he
Lord both of the dead and of the living. — Rom. XIY. 9.
The depeiideuce of these words upon the former I take to be this : The
Bcope of the apostle in this chapter is to sta}^ the rigid censures of others
concerning weaker Christians, especially about matters of iudifferency, or
at the least of a less nature. In the 6th verse, saith he, ' He that regards
not a day, regards it not, to the Lord he that eats, eats to the Lord ; and
he that eats not to the Lord, he eats not, and gives God thanks,' &c. His
reason is this : they that in eating or in not eating do it with a religious
respect to the Lord ; if they eat, it is to the Lord ; if they eat not, it is to
the Lord ; that is, in obedience to the Lord. They are to be borne withal,
because they do it with religious respects. Though perhaps there may be
a little error in the matter, yet there be some things of such indifferency
that they [do] not give denomination to the action, if it be to the Lord. How-
soever the action be not altogether to be excused, yet the person is to be
excused, and is not to be hardly censured. Therefore considering that they*
do it, and they that do it not, do it to the Lord, be not hasty in your
censures.
Quest. How doth he prove that these holy Christians did eat or not eat to
the Lord ?
Ans. From this, because they were the Lord's. They that are the
Lord's, they live to him, and die to him ; and therefore they do particular
actions to him. ' No man,' ver. 7, ' lives to himself, nor no man dieth
to himself,' which includes all particular actions. * Whether we live,
we live to the Lord ; or whether we die, we die to the Lord ; whether we
live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.' He proves therefore that they
do eat or not eat to the Lord, if they be good Christians, because they are
the Lord's.
Those that are the Lord's live to the Lord, and do all particular actions
to the Lord. Such must not be harshly censured, because they are the
servants of the Lord.
Quest. In the third place, How doth he prove that they are the Lord's
that hve and die to him ?
• Qu. ' they that ' ?— Ed.
326 Christ's ex.vltation
yins. He proves it from the main ground in the text : * For, for this end
Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the
dead and of the Hving.' So you see the dependence of the reason, they
eat or eat not to the Lord. Why ? ' Because they are the Lord's.'
But how is it they are the Lord's ? It is the end of the three actions of
Christ here. ' Christ died, and rose again, and revived, for this end, that he
might be the Lord of the dead and of the living.' So you see the connec-
tion of these words with the former.
In the words you have airnoiientnm et arrjumenti ratio, the argument, and
the reasoning from the argument ; the gi'ound, and tlie inference from the
ground. The ground is : ' Christ died, and rose again, and revived.'
What is the inference from that ? ' That he might be Lord of the dead
and of the living.'
In the words therefore we will consider the argument itself, and the
ground itself,, and then the inference.
' For, for this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived.'
There are three branches of the ground.
Christ died, rose, revived.
Of the inference we will speak afterwards, and shew how these gi'ounds
enforce that inference, that he should be ' Lord both of the dead and of the
living.'
' Christ died.'
1. First of all, you must know that Christ died here as a public person, or
else the inference were not good. Christ took upon him the person of no
man, but the nature ; for this end, that he might be a public person. If
Christ had taken the person of any body, there had been two persons of
Christ. He had died in one person and not in another. Now having the
nature that is common to all men, and not the person of Peter or James,
&c., when he died the person died in that nature wherein he might die ;
so when it is said, ' Christ died,' we must consider Christ as a public per-
son, not taking the particular person of any man, but the general nature of
man into union with the second person. Christ died as a public person.
2. Secondly, Christ died as the ' second Adavi.' The spring of all
misery and death was from the ' first Adam,' but the ' second Adam' was
a quickening Spirit, 1 Cor. xv. 45. He died as a public person, and the
' second Adam.'
We must know, moreover, that he died as the great High Priest of the
church, offering to God the Father a sacrifice that made him Lord over all,
as we shall see after. He died as a priest, as indeed he that was forcsignified
by all the sacrifices and priests. He was both priest and sacrifice : Heb. ix.
14, ' By the eternal Spirit, the Godhead, he offered himself to his Father.'
3. Again, He died a voluntary death, for else he had not died in obedience.
His death was violent in regard of them that forced it, but it was voluntary
in regard of them that he offered himself for, as a sweet sacrifice to his
Father. That voluntariness made his death a sweet sacrifice ; for what-
soever the Father did to him, he joined with the Father in it. The Father
gave him ; he gave himself. The Father appointed him to be so and so ; and
he joined with the Father in all things. ' No man takes away my life from
me,' saith he himself, John x. 18. It was a voluntary death in regard of
his freedom ; nay, he thirsted after it, as you have it in the Gospel. He
longed after it, upon high considerations, howsoever in a lower considera-
tion, as it was a tormenting thing and a bitter cup, he had a desire that it
might pass ; but it was upon lower respects. Upon higher respects, the
PURCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION.
827
will of his Father and the salvation of mankind, he thirsted to drink of
that cup.*
A man may will and nill the same thing upon presenting different objects
and respects, and reasons. That which a man may decline, as we say, in
this respect, looking to a particular end, that a man may desire, looking to
a higher end ; because man is framed so to yield to the stronger reason
alway. Thereupon that is no objection, ' he seemed sometime a httle un-
willing.' It was looking upon something presented to him that made him
in that respect unwilling ; but looking upon other respects he gave himself
willingly ; the Father and he joined together.
And therefore by the way, when they talk of the active and passive obedi-
ence, there was action in all his passion'; chiefly in his passion there was
action; for if it had been mere suffering without voluntary obedience, what
obedience had that been ? A beast may so suffer, but against his will ;
but his voluntary obedience was the chief in all his passion. ' He humbled
himself to the death of the cross,' as it is Phil. ii. 8.
4. Yet further, as he died voluntary, so he died as our surety. Therefore
he died a ' cursed death' due to us. * He was made a curse for us,' Gal.
iii. 13, that he might remove the curse from us. These and such like con-
clusions must be observed in this, that the apostle saith, ' To this end
Christ died,' because we shall have use of them afterwards.
Here we might stay and admire, f that life should die! that glory
should become shame for us ! and that he that is the author of all blessing
should become a curse ! Indeed, it is a great mystery that Christ, being
God, should stoop so low that he could join together the infinite majesty of
God, and that low degree of abasement, that he might condescend unto.
Do)itine quo dcscendis, &c. : Lord, how far goest thou ? {a) He could not go
lower and be God. God, to shew his love to us, shewed himself God in
this, that he could be God and go so low as to die ; and not only to
die, but to die a shameful and cursed death for us. But I pass to the
particulars.
' For this end Chi'ist both died and rose,' &c.
1. He rose ar/ain; and indeed it was impossible but he should rise agam,
because he is the Lord of Hfe. Now the Lord of life, and life itself, could
not long die. It was but by dispensation that he died, viz., to work our
salvation. But he could not be detained any longer by the sorrows of
death. He died therefore, and rose. He rose, even as he died._ He rose
a public person, and as a ' second Adam,' to give and infuse spiritual life
into all his branches. He rose as our surety in our room. He rose in
spite of the Jews, that laboured to keep him down all they could. By the
way, this shews that he will rise in his church, and in his children, m his
religion, and in his cause. Let the world and all the devils in hell lay a stone
upon Christ, upon his cause, and church, and children ; they will rise
again, even as his blessed body did, in spite of all the watchfuhiess of the
Jews.
2. Again, As he rose, so he rose with man}/ ; not alone, to shew, as I
said before, that he rose as a public person. Another man riseth as him-
self; the rest rise not with him as caused by his rising. But Christ rose
as a public person. Therefore many rose with him. Mat. xxvii. 53. The
graves were opened to shew that he rose as a public person, as our surety,
as a spiritual head, and as the ' second Adam,' who could infuse life into
others (b). What became of those bodies that rose with him after ? The
* Cf. Luke xxii. 15 with Mat. xxiii. 39, scq.—G. t That is, ' wouder.'— G.
828
CHRIST S EXALTATION
Scripture saitb nothing of it ; nor what became of Moses's body. They
rose to do God a service and Christ an honour, which when they had done
they were content to be disposed of by God again, and, it is likely, to return
from whence they came. For if the head of the church himself was con-
tent to come from heaven into the virgin's womb, and from thence to the
cross, and from thence to the grave, and to be abased for us, those that
have the Spirit of Christ, those blessed souls in heaven, might well be con-
tent for a time to be abaced, to take bodies, to do a service for their Lord
and Master, who was content to forego heaven thirty-four years, and the
glory due to him.
Therefore by the way, if God will use us, though wo be never so great,
for a particular service to the church, shall we stand upon it, when the
blessed saints in heaven, those blessed souls, were content to come and
take bodies for a time, to do God service, and then to sleep again ?
3. Again, He rose on that day which was ever after, and well may still
he, called the Lord's day ; for a new world began with his rising,' therefore
a new Sabbath. Saint John saith, ' I was in the Spirit upon the Lord's
day,' Key. i. 10. If a man be ever in the Spirit, it is upon the Lord's day,
when the Lord of the day doth honour his people, giving them to enjoy his
ordinances, and joining effectually with them, maketh them full of the Spirit,
and raiseth up our dead hearts after him.
' And revived.'
Why is this added to rising again ? ' He revived.'
1. To shew that he rose never to die af/ain, and that indeed he never
meant to lay aside that body again, as once he had, to die for us. Con-
sonant hereunto is that Kev. i. 18, 'Behold, I was dead and am alive, and
I live for evermore ; I have the keys of death and of hell.' He lives for
evermore, as Heb. vii. 25, ' He sits for evermore at the right hand of God,
there making intercession for us.' He dies no more.
2. Again, This ' revived ' is added to sJiar the kind of his life, differing
from that life he lived before. That life he lived before he died, was
supported with meat and drink and refreshings, even as our poor lives arc.
It was a life subject to death that he died in, but after his resurrection,
except it were for a particular disj)ensation, to confirm the faith of his
disciples, he needed no more to eat or drink or sleep, or any natural
supports and helps ; for he was enlivened immediately by the Spirit of God
which flowed into him. He was full of the Spirit, and that did supply
all other things whatsoever. Even as in heaven, ' God shall be all in all,'
1 Cor. XV. 28 ; that is, he shall be so immediately to us, to supply all, as
we shall neither eat nor drink nor sleep, nor have magistrates nor ministers ;
but the Spirit of God will be all in all ; so it was with this life of our
blessed Saviour when he revived. The Spirit supplied the absence of all
other supports whatsoever that he used before he died. And indeed our
Saviour Christ came to bestow that life upon us that he lived after his
resurrection ; not this natural life of ours, that needs meat and drink and
refreshings. This is not that life that Christ specially aimed at when he
came to die, but that spiritual and eternal life that he lived after the resur-
rection ; a life not subject to death ; a spiritual life, not needing any created
support whatsoever.
You see the grounds ; the inference from these grounds follow in these
words, ' that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.' The
ground hath three branches : death, resurrection, and reviving. How all
these do flow and give strength to this inference, I will touch in the parti-
PURCHASED BY HIS UUMILIATION.
829
culars. First, then, Christ died ' that he mijht he Lord of the dead and of
the Ucing,'
Christ died, 1 Peter i. 18, to oflfer himself a sacrifice, to redeem us by
his precious blood. * We are not redeemed with gold or silver, but with
the blood of Christ.' He could not be our Lord till he had bought us.
Now his death was the price of our redemption ; I say ' redemption,' not
' emption.' A thing may be bought that was never sold away before. Now
we were sold to Satan, and under a contrary government. Now Christ
satisfying divine justice redeems us. He buys us again. We had subjected
ourselves to the devil, and put ourselves under his regiment,* till we were
ransomed by Christ. Now Christ shall have no right to us till the price bo
paid to divine justice ; for mercy must have justice satisfied ; the attributes
of God must not fight one against another. Christ, therefore, is Lord of
us, because by death he gave full content to divine justice. So that now,
notwithstanding justice, yet we are Christ's, and are saved. Nay, now the
justice of God helps us. The most terrible attribute, justice, is a ground of
comfort, for it stands not with justice to have the same debt paid twice.
For God is just and faithful, saith the apostle, 1 John i. 9. So then you
see there is a ground from death why we are the Lord's. We are Christ's
because we cost him dear. He hath paid a price for us that is worth more
than the whole world. Now God shewed his love in nothing more than in
this, that he parted with that that is next himself, the greatest, his Son, who
being God, yet died, in that nature that could die, to redeem us, and here-
upon becometh Lord.
2. Secondly, He rose again, therefore ' he is Lord of the quick and the
dead.'
(1.) First, Because his rising again n-as a manifestation that his death ivas
a full satisfaction to divine justice, or else our sins should have kept him in
the grave still, he being our surety. But our surety being out of prison,
it is a sign he hath fully discharged all our debt, and the price is paid. If
the surety and the creditor be agreed, we know the debt is paid.
(2.) Secondly, In that he rose again, he is Lord, because in rising again
he entered into the j^ossession and exercise of that Lordship that he had pur-
chased. The right is one thing, and the use and possession of the right is
another. Christ was Lord of us before he died. He w^as Lord of us when
he died. But he did not enter into possession of his Lordship till he rose
again. Therefore he saith, ' All power is given to me, both in heaven and
earth,' Mat. xxviii. 18, when he was ready to go up to heaven, to shew that
by his resurrection the right he had by death was manifest.
(3.) Lastly, Because his rising again shewed that the Father icas fully
pacified. He obtained the gift of the Spirit, which next Christ himself is
the greatest gift. God gave his Son first, and then the Spirit that comes
from the Father and the Son. The Spirit was not given till his resurrection
and ascension, as it is John vi. ; vii. 39. Why ? Because till all enemies
were fully subdued by his death, and witnessed to be subdued by his
resurrection, the Spirit could not be so fully given, the Spirit being a
declaration of the good will of God that sent it. Now when the enemies of
Christ were triumphed over, and God had shewed by the raising of his Son
again, that he was fully satisfied, then the Spirit comes as the Sonf of God's
favour, which Spirit doth enable us to be subject to Christ, and makes us
come under Christ's kmgdom, which is a spiritual government. Where-
fore because he obtained the Spirit for his members upon his resurrection,
» That is, ' goverument.'— G. t Qu. ' sun ' ?— Ed.
330
CnRIST S EX.VLTATION
thereupon is the inference good. He rose again, therefore he is Lord ' of
the quick and of the dead.'
3. Thirdly, He revived ; therefore he is Lord of the quick and of the
dead. Reviving and taking such a life as is not subject to death anj' more,
he is now in heaven to make good that he purchased on eai'th. He revived,
I say, to be a king, priest, and prophet at the right hand of God for ever :
there to rule his church, and to overrule all the enemies of it till he hath
subdued all ; till he hath ' gathered all the elect,' Mat. xxiv. 31, and
brought his church out of the world, and made ' his enemies his footstool,'
Ps. ex. 1. You see then the ground is good, and the inference is good.
* Christ died, and rose, and revived,' that he might be Lord of the quick
and dead.' I come now to the thing proved.
' That he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.'
Christ is Lord both of the dead and of the living. For the better
clearing of the point, let us see what is lordship.
' Lordship ' properly is jus in rem et personas. It is a right, and where
it is full, it is a right with possession either in things or persons.
But what manner of ' lordship ' is this ?
1. Christ is an wiiversal Lord of and over all, over all the world ; both
over all the dead, and all the living ; but more especially, and in a peculiar
manner, he is Lord of his church, even as a husband is lord over his wife,
which is a lordship with sweetness. So Christ's government is with
unspeakable, with unconceivable sweetness. He is Lord as the Elder
Brother, as the first begotten is over the rest ; for he is the * first begotten
among the dead,' Rev. i. 5. This likewise is a sweet government. It is
indeed a lordship of a king over his subjects, as his lordship is a branch of
his kingly office ; but it is such a lordship as is for the good of his sub-
jects. It is not a derived* happiness. They enjoy the head and the
subjects. Christ accounts himself happy in his church, which is his fulness.
The church is ' the fulness of him that fiUeth all things,' Eph. i. 23. And
more especially is the church most happy in this government. It is such
a lordship as is, indeed, altogether for the good of the subjects. ' To us
a child is born, to us a Son is given,' Isa. ix. 6. He died, and rose, and
revived, and all is for us. A Christian may say of Christ that he is totus
in meos nsm e.vpeiisus, as one well said (c). He is all mine ; he is all
expended for my use and profit. It is such a lordship as makes all his sub-
jects kings. Therefore it is said. Rev. i. 5, ' He loved us, and gave himself
for us ;' to purge his church, as it is Eph. v. 20, and likewise to ' make us
kings and priests.' Where note, Christ hath a notable attendance upon
him. He is served with none but kings. All God's children are kings.
Even the meanest servant that is anywhere in the world, in spiritual respects
is a king. What a Lord and King is this, that makes all his servants kings !
You see, therefore, as Christ is an universal Lord, so also he is a
peculiar Lord over his church.
2. Again, He is an independent Lord ; only his Father joins with him in
all. He is subordinate to his Father as Mediator, but he is independent
in respect of all human authority whatsoever. All human authority is
derived from him. * By me princes reign,' &c., Prov. viii. 15. His
government in regard of all those governments is altogether independent.
Therefore he is called ' the Lord of lords,' and ' King of kings.' He is
Lord Paramount, as we say, over all ; and they all are or should bo
dependent upon him.
* Tliat is, = ' communicated.' — Q.
PURCHASKD BY HIS IITIMILIATION. 331
3. And likewise lie is a Lord of the u-hoJe matt, body and soul ; he is a
spiritual Lord. He commands not the body only, but the soul. He sits
in the throne of conscience especially, and there he subdues the conscience
and the soul to him. There he prescribes laws to the conscience and pacifies
the conscience, and stablisheth conscience and settles it against all fears and
terrors whatsoever. He is Lord of body and soul, especially of the soul.
He bows the neck of the inward man, and brings it wholly to be subject to
him. He lays his command upon the very soul itself.
4. And he is an eternal Lord. You see here he is Lord of the * quick and
of the dead ;' all other lords have nothing to do with men when they are
dead. They can do them no more harm. They have some power, indeed,
over their dead bodies, but, alas ! •;- that is senseless [d). Their govern-
ment ends in death, because they are lords over the outward man only.
But Christ's lordship is when we are gone hence, and then more especially.
For then we are more immediately with him. We are nearer the fountain
when our souls are gone to him that gave them. ' I desire,' saith St Paul,
' to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, which is best of all,' Philip, i. 23 ;
especially then he is Lord, when we are gone hence,
5. In a word, he is an excellent Lord, for he hath all things that a lord
should have. A lord should have three things : authority, suitable virtues
and abilities, power and strength answerable to all. Now the Lord Christ
hath all these. And, first, he hath authority, for God the Father gave him
power over all. He purchased it, and his Father gave it him. ' He gave
him the heathen for his possession,' Ps. ii. 8 ; and ' All power is given to
me in heaven and earth,' Mat. xxviii. 18 ; and he hath full authority, as it
is John xvii. 2, ' Thou hast given me power over all flesh.' He hath then
authority. Secondly, he hath all graces and virtues fit for a lord and
governor. He hath righteousness, wisdom, bounty, affections, &c. We
need not make doubt of it ; for he is the spring of all these in others. ' His
sceptre is a sceptre of righteousness,' Ps. xlv. 6. Thirdly, he hath strength
answerable to his authority ; for he is a Lord that is God. Sometimes
among men authority wants power or other qualifications ; but in Christ is
all, the utmost and greatest fulness of all. These things premised, let us
make some use of all.
But, first, let us see why it is said, * He is Lord both of the dead and of
the living,' prefixing the dead before the living ? To shew, I conceive, that
Christ is Lord of those that were dead before, as well as of those that are
alive now. Christ is the Lord of all from the beginning of the world, from
Adam to the last man that shall stand upon the face of the earth ; there-
fore he is Lord of those that were dead before, as well as of those that are
alive now, and that shall die after. ' He is Lord of the dead, and of the
living.' Now for use, first, where he saith,
' For this end.'
Use 1. It is a point wondrous pregnant, and full of very comfortable use :
first, shewing that the (fronnds of a Christian s faith and comfort are very
strong, as you see how the Holy Ghost dwells upon the argument. ' For
this end,' saith he, Christ died and rose again and revived, that he might
be Lord of the quick and of the dead.'
God doth all to ends, it being a point of wisdom to prefix an end, and
work to it. If God hath an end and providence in the hairs that fall from
our heads, hath he not a far greater in disposing of things for the good of
* One of tho many examples of Sibbcs's peculiar use of this interjection. Cf.
page 334, line 5 from top. — G.
332
CHRIST S EXALTATION
the church ? His Son is given to death, and raised agian. It is for the
greatest end in the world, being the greatest work. The greatest work
hath the greatest end. Such was this end, the lordship of the church :
' For this end,' saith he, ' Christ died, and rose again, that ho might be
Lord of the dead, and of the living,' which is his church.
And is this Christ's end, to be Lord of the living and of the dead ? We
must have it then our end too, to serve Christ, to live and die to Aiw ; for being
under him, our ends must be answerable to his, as we shall see after.
'For this end.'
Use 2. Again, where it is said he died, and rose, and revived, ' that he
might be Lord of the dead and of the living ' — It is a profitable course — I
speak it only in general — when we think of the abasement of Christ, to think
of the end ivhy. So of his exaltation: it is good to keep these together to
avoid scandal'^' that might arise in our minds from either, thought of by itself,
that God should stoop feo low. Lest the thoughts of Christ dying and
stooping so low should offend us, it is good also to think of the end, that
' he might be Lord of quick and dead ;' and if that dazzle thee again, to
think of our Saviour now in glory, full of majesty in heaven, and how shalt
thou have access to so glorious majest3\ Oh come down again, and think
of God incarnate, God going up and down in our flesh, of God dying,
dying a cursed death, and rising again. Thus in your meditations inter-
weave these thoughts, to avoid scandal. Think of his glory ; and that you
may not be amazed at the glory, so as to be deterred from going boldly
to him, think of bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, God dying in your
nature. Join these two together. ' For this end the Son of God died, and
rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.'
TJse 3. Again, You see here in general that the grand j^rincipal jooints of
religion have an influence into all the particulars ; and there is a homogeneal
deduction, as we call it, of divine truths one from another. All depend one
upon another, and all divinity ; for howsoever divine truth be contrary to car-
nal reason sometimes, yet there is strong reason in all divine truth. For
one is the cause of another, and one depends upon another, as here, ' Christ
died, and rose, and revived.' One follows another. What from all this ?
' To be Lord of quick and dead.' How then proves he that he is Lord of
all ? Because he died, and rose, and revived. One riseth from another.
So that, though carnal reason be one thing and all divinity be another, yet
there is reason and deduction issuing of one thing from another in divinity,
most wisely and holily ; and it is a part of wisdom to observe how conclu-
sions rise from principles, as branches and buds do from roots. Indeed,
if we would enter into serious considerations of the grounds of religion, how
they give life, and rise unto their particulars, they would have an influence
into the whole course of our life, as perhaps we shall see in the particulars
more clearl}'.
' For this end,' &c.
Use 4. Again, in general, when he saith Christ is * Lord of the quick and
of the dead,' we see hence the truth of the catholic church, from the first
man living to the end of the church, under one head Christ. Christ is the
Saviour of those that were before the law, under the law, under the gospel.
Christ was the Saviour of all. He is the Saviour of the dead as well as of
the living. All come under one head, which hath no further use than to
inform us in that one point of doctrine, to shew that Christ is ' yesterday '
as well as * to-day,' to-morrow, * and for ever,' Heb. siii. 8. All that were
* That is, ' offence.' — G.
PURCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 833
saved before, that are saved now, and shall be for ever, are saved by Christ.
* There is no other name under heaven "whereby wo can be saved,' Acts
iv. 12. * He is Lord of the dead and of the living.' Now, therefore, to
come more particularly, ' Christ is Lord both of the dead and of the living.'
What a Lord [is] we heard before.
This is a point of wondrous comfort, and likewise a point informing us of
our duty ; and withal shewing us that Christ will work that duty in us,
because he is a Lord not only that should rule over us, that we should be
subject to him, but to make us subject to him. It is a point of wondrous
comfort and of duty, and of this issue, that we under the covenant of grace
shall be enabled to perform that duty to our Lord.
And then it is a point of wondrous security in life, in death, as, alas !
sometime one thing amazeth us, sometime another ; sometime we are
willing to die — Elias was afraid to live ; sometimes we are afraid of death,
as we are all naturally. Why, come life or death, come what will come,
we are under a Lord that is Lord of * the dead and of the living.' So it is
a point of wondrous security and quiet to a Christian in all passages. He
sometimes lives and sometimes dies, but his salvation is not at that hazard
to be off and on, but ' whether he live or die,' he is sure to be saved, for
he is under the Lord of the living and the dead.
But to speak a little of the first. It is intended for comfort, as well as
direction to dut}^ and to be subject, to submit to the Lord. It is a comfort
that we have a Lord that rules us for our good while we are living, and
when we are dead, and for ever ; and indeed we cannot have a greater com-
fort, beloved, than this, that * we are not our own, but that we are
bought with a price,' 1 Cor. vi. 20, that we are under Christ. Why, what
a comfort is this, will you say. Homo non est natus, &c. (<?), as the natural
man said, a man is not born to subjection but to honour and government.
What comf()rt is this to be under Christ, to be under a governor !
Ans. Oh beloved, know that it is the greatest comfort ; as the rule is,
everything is perfect if it be weak, by that whereby it is subject to a higher.
The vine is perfect by leaning to the elm. It would lie on the ground else,
and be spoiled. The perfection of the weak creature the sheep is to have
a shepherd. The perfection of a weak nature is to have a rule for their
good. The perfection of the ship is the pilot. It would dash on every
rock, and be tossed with every wave else. And so it is our perfection, that
we are under a Lord, such a Lord as this is, cni serrire rerjnare est, &c. (f),
to whom to serve is to reign ; for all his servants are so many kings. It
is our perfection to be subject to him, therefore it is a wondrous comfoii
that Christ is become ' Lord of the living and of the dead.' I beseech
you, therefore, think of it in your meditations. All the Scripture aims at
this end to comfort. Whatsoever is written, is written for our comfort ;
and this is a principle of divinity among the rest, that a Christian is not
his own man now, but he is under Christ. And this is a comfort both in life
and death at all times. As the psalmist saith, ' My times are in thy hands.
Lord,' Ps. xxxi. 15. He saith not, * my time,' but * my times are in thy
hand ; ' so we may say our times are in Christ's hands ; our time of being
born, our time of living and dying; and when we are dead, our time of
rising again. Our time, the whole current of our time, is in thy hands, not
in the devil's hands, not in our enemies' hands, beloved, for they would
make short work with us then ; but our times are in our Lord's hands.
Christ is the Lord of our times, the Lord of our life and death ; and when
we are dead, he is a Lord for ever; for he lives for ever, and therefore he is
334 Christ's exaxtation
or ever a Lord. Beloved, we do not die at the devotion* and good pleasure
of any man whatsoever. They cannot stir so much as a hair from our
head, without the will of this Lord. All the devils in hell cannot stir a hair
of our head, I say, nor all men that are acted by the spirit of the devil. They
may threaten punishment, but, alas ! they can do no more than this Lord
of lords will give them leave. Therefore it is a point of wondrous comfort.
Obj. Oh but will a poor soul say, Christ indeed is Lord of the living
and of the dead, but I find a great deal of corruption in me, &c., and I
am a sinner.
Ans. Why, he is Lord over thee. He hath a sweet lordship over thee,
as well as a commanding lordship. He is not only a king, but a husband,
as it is Eph. v. 26, 27, ' He gave himself to purge his church,' and to
make his church fit by little and little. Thou hast sin and corruption, but
thou hast a merciful husband that will bear with the weaker vessel. Doth
he command others to do that ; and will he not practise that that he
enjoins others ? Undoubtedly he will ; and therefore it is a comfort, it is
a sweet government and subjection, as of the husband over the wife.
Christ purgeth and clcanseth liis church ; he doth not cast it away.
For I beseech you, consider, he that died for his church and children,
when they were enemies, will he cast them away now they are poor friends,
and desire to please him ? as Saint Paul divinely reasoneth, Kom. v. 10,
' Much more shall we be saved by his life.' If he saved us by death, much
more now by his life, being in heaven. Consider he rose and lives for
ever ; therefore will he cast us away for some imperfections, that died for
us when we were enemies ? He that will not ' quench the smoking flax,
nor break the bruised reed,' Mat. xii. 20, will he cast away his poor
children that strive against their corruptions ? He will not, nay, he hath
promised where he hath begun a good work, he will finish it to the day of
the Lord, Phil. i. 6, Though it go but slowly forward, yet that beginning
is a pledge of proceeding. God will never remove his hand from his own
work till he have brought it to perfection. Therefore let any soul comfort
itself that will come under this Lord. In a word, what greater comfort
can we have than this, that he is such a Lord over us, as is Lord over all
other things in the world besides ? For he could not be Lord of his church,
except he were Lord over hell, and all power were subject to him. Now
being so he is such a Lord of the church as can restrain the power of all
creatures whatsoever; because else they might annoy the church and afii'ont
him in his government by opposition, if he were not Lord of all things else,
as well as of the Church. But this is the comfort of a Christian ; he is
under a Lord that is Lord of all the enemies of the church ; and he is so
Lord over them till by little and little he make them his footstool. That
that is begun in this world shall be consummate hereafter by that lordship ;
nay, he will make all the enterprises of the very enemies of his church
whatsoever serviceable to his poor church ; for as the apostle saith, ' All
things are yours, because ye are Christ's,' 1 Cor. iii. 23. He is such a
Lord as that besides himself being ours, he makes all the world ours, yea,
the devil is ours; for in spite of him, whatsoever he doth, it is ordained to
the salvation of the church. The church's enemies are the servants of the
church, the involuntary servants ; for they weakenf the church and scour
it. God raiseth them up for the exercise of the church ; and when he hath
done, you know what course he takes with them. So then he is Lord, not
only over all, but he overrules their actions for the good of the church,
* That is, ' option.'— G. t Qu- ' waken ' ?— En.
PURCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 335
whatsoever they are ; and he makes all the endeavours and plots of the
enemy for the church's good ; all is j^ours, life and death. Though it be
death by tyrants, all kind of death whatsoever, it is yours. What a com-
fort is this, that we are under such a Lord as this.
Especially, what a comfort is this at the hour of death, when Christ, that
ruled us all our lifetime before, will take then the government and possession
of that jewel that he hath bought with such a price, our precious souls ;
that when we must part with friends, and part with this sweet body, that
the soul so much loved, and with the world and all things in the world,
then Christ will own [usj for his when the world will own us no longer. There-
fore methinks Christians should be at a foint, for life or death. He never
goes out of the dominion of Christ ; nay, he is nearer Christ ; he is more
Christ's. If there be any comparison to be made when he is dead than
•when he is alive, ' Blessed are those that died in the Lord.'
To apply this a little to the present occasion.- Here in this sacrament we
are to'have communion with the Lord, of his death and resurrection. For
what is the sacrament but a representation of his body broken, and of his
blood poured out for us, that he might be Lord over us ? The more com-
munion and fellowship you have with Christ, the more assurance you shall
have that you are his, which is indeed the grand comfort of all, that we are
Christ's, that Christ is ours; for then heaven and earth is ours, all is ours.
Now God hath ordained these sacraments for this end. The word is the
sceptre of his kingdom whereby he rules. The sacrament is the seal of the
word. Therefore all good subjects, that submit themselves to the kingdom
of Christ, must submit themselves to this sweet ordinance of Christ, that;he
hath ordained for our good, the word and the sacraments. Thereby we
shall find the effectual working of his Spirit in us, subjecting the whole
inward man to his gracious government. But having spoken of this subject
at large heretofore, I only desire you to raise up your thoughts to consider
whom you have to deal with ; with him that is Lord of the quick and of
the dead. We have to deal with the mighty Monarch of heaven and earth,
Christ. Therefore come, as with faith, because he hath ordained these
things to strengthen faith ; so come with reverence, knowing with whom
we are to feast and to deal. Consider of these things ; and then I hope
that God will vouchsafe a blessing answerable to the intendment f of his
ordinance.
THE SECOND SEEMON.
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be the
Lord both of the dead and of the living. — Rom. XIV. 9.
I shewed the dependence in the forenoon ; a Christian, by the Spirit of
God in him, he hath a blessed aim at all times. Howsoever he may fail in
particulars, yet his aim is right.
This doubt rose from diflerence of aims, whether he should please God
or man. His doubt rose in pleasing of God, what might please him most ;
and because he sees not always what might please him, therefore he carries
this honesty, that whatsoever he doth he will do it to the Lord, and what-
soever he doth not he will not do it to the Lord. His aim is for good at
all times.
* That is, celebration of the sacrament. — G. t That is, ' intention' = ' design.' — G.
336 Christ's exaltation
Now this is proved from the general disposition of Christians. They
live and die to the Lord. Therefore their particular actions must be to the
Lord. If their whole life and death be to the Lord, their actions must be
to him.
Now he proves their whole life and death are to the Lord, because they
are the Lord's. How doth he prove that they are the Lord's — that is, Jesus
Christ's ? Because the text saith here, ' For this end Christ both died,
and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.'
And surely he is Lord. He will not miss of his end. God never
misseth of his end, because he can remove all impediments between him
and his end. Now it being Christ's end to be Lord of the quick and of
the dead, he is Lord. If he be Lord, then those that are under him, and
led by his Spirit, aim both in life and death to glorify him in all things.
This in a word be spoken, for the inference of the words.
' To this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived.'
Here you have a ground and an inference ; an argument and a reasoning
from it.
The argument or ground is, * Christ died, and rose, and revived.'
That that riseth thence is, ' That he might be Lord both of the dead and
of the living.'
In the ground itself I told you how Christ died as a pubhc person, as
the ' second Adam,' &c. ; and now here you are to take notice hkewise
that he rose again as a public person, as the ' second Adam,' &c.
And likewise he revived, not to die again, as in his first life. When he
began to live, he began to die ; but when he revived he did not die again.
He lives for ever to make intercession for us in heaven. Christ never dies
again, Rom. vi. 8, seq. He rose to a life that shall never end ; for the
divine nature doth flow into his human nature, and doth immediately
inspire such a spiritual life into it, as it lives for ever, by virtue of the
Spirit of Christ actuating, and stirring, and moving him, as his natural life
did here, when he was upon the earth.
' Christ died, and rose, and revived.'
To what end is all this"? What is grounded hence ? That Christ therefore
is Lord of quick and dead ? This is inferred from all three.
' Christ died,' that he might reconcile us to God by his death, satisfying
justice ; and so justice being fully satisfied, he might have his end in being
Lord of his church. He had a mind to marry us, but he could not till he
had rescued us. Therefore to rescue us out of divine justice, and from the
tyranny of Satan, God's jailor, he made satisfaction to divine justice. As
for Satan he brought us out of his kingdom by strong hand ; and so doth
continually by the power of his Spirit. Now hereupon it must needs be
that he must be Lord of that he paid so dear a price for.
And then he rose again for this end, that he ' might be Lord,' because,
howsoever he had a title to be Lord of the church,— by the union of the
human nature with the divine, he was Lord alway, — yet in regard of the
exercise of his lordship, it was deferred till his glorious resurrection and
ascension. Then that that lay hid before, Christ's divine power, majesty,
and lordship, that appeared and manifested itself, as it is Rom. i. 4, ' He
was mightily declared to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the
dead.' He was the Son of God before ; but then it was a kind of begetting,
because it was then manifest. Things are said in Scripture and divinity to
be when they are apparent to be. So this day of the resurrection Christ
■was begotten ; because it was apparent then by raising himself from the
PUKCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 337
dead, that he was the only-begotten Son of God. Now that made way for
his lordship ; for after his resurrection God gave him power over all things
in heaven and earth ; and then upon the resurrection he had the Spirit in
more abundance, having conquered all enemies between God and us.
Therefore he was fit to bo Lord by that, because he could give the Spirit
to them over whom be meant to rule.
But then in his own person, he rising, triumphed over all opposite ene-
mies whatsoever ; over death the last enemy, and over Satan, sin, and the
law, having cancelled all. Surely [since] he hath overruled all for himself,
he will overrule all for his church and people ; and therefore he rose again
to be ' Lord of quick and dead ;' and he may well be, because he is Lord
of ' quick and dead' in his own person. He is Lord over all in his own
person, and therefore he is Lord over the church, and all the enemies of
the church. So far as the enemies seized upon his person, so far he over-
came them all. He hath as much care of his mystical person the church,
as he had on* his own body ; and more too, for he gave that for the other.
And then he revived to be Lord over all ; that is, he lives for ever to
make good what he hath gotten by his death. He will not lose the price
of his own blood. He is in heaven to appear before God, and sits at the
right hand of God, and rules there till he have made his enemies his foot-
stool, till he draw his church home to heaven, to himself. ' He lives for
ever,' as the apostle saith, 'to make intercession,' Heb. vii. 25. Hereupon
it must needs be that by living for ever he is fitly qualified to be Lord over
all the ' quick.' Now I proceed.
' That he might be Lord both of quick and dead.'
Christ is Lord both of the dead and of the living. You see upon what
ground he is Lord of all, as well as of his church. He is an eternal Lord
over the dead and the living. He is a transcendent Lord, above all other
lords whatsoever ; and he is independent. He is not obnoxious f to any.
All have power from him ; and in some sort indeed Christ hath redeemed
even all other creatures. They are Christ's. And in some sort even proud
wicked men, that live in the church, that have perhaps some parts (which
are the occasion of their damnation, because of and by them, they are
proud and insolent), they are redeemed by Christ, thus far to be serviceable
to his church, to use their parts to his own ends. They go a great way in
salvation, that so by their parts they ma}^ be fit to do service to the church.
So he is Lord not only over the church, but of others for the service of the
church.
Now this point, that Christ is Lord of the dead and of the living, it
yields many comfortable uses. I spake of some things in general, and then
we came to some particulars, as,
1. First, Seeing Christ is Lord of the quick and of the dead, ice may
comfort ourselves under the sovereignty of Christ. To be Solomon's servant
was accounted a great happiness. Those that did observe the government
of Solomon did think so, as the Queen of Sheba, 1 Kings x. 8. Alas !
what shall we think of those that are under Christ, who ' is greater than
Solomon,' Mat. xii. 42, a most great, a most wise, a most loving, a most
gracious and powerful Lord over all. Therefore it is a most comfortable
condition, here in this life, to add a little to that point, however it be
service. It is against the nature of man to serve a man, yet not to serve
a more noble ; to serve God is to reign.
Besides, while we live here, such is our disposition, such is the weakness
* Qu. ' of ' ?— G. t That is, ' subject to '— G.
VOL. V. Y
338 Christ's exaltation
of base sinners, that they must be ruled by another; and indeed our happi-
ness and security consists in being ruled by another higher than ourselves.
We are not fit to be our own governors. St Paul saith to the Galatians,
* an heir in his non-age diflfereth little from a servant,' Gal. iv. 1. So it
is with Christians. Till they be in heaven they differ little from servants ;
and therefore they must be under tutors and government.
And as it is a comfortable, so it is an honourable condition ; for Christ's
servants are so many kings. Christ is served of none but kings, and such
kings as do not rule over slaves, but such kings as in Christ rule over the
greatest and terriblest enemies of all. A Christian can think with comfort
and encouragement upon those enemies that make the greatest tyrants of
the world to quake ; he can think of death, of sin, of damnation, of judg-
ment, of the law : of all these things Christ's kingdom is another manner of
kingdom than the kingdom of the world. They are poor kingdoms ; their
monarch's head must lie as low as the basest subject they have. They
know not how soon, and perhaps have a more terrible account to give than
any other under them. It is not so in Christ's kingdom.
Therefore those Christians that are afraid of death, they forget their
dignity ; they forget him on whom they depend, for Christ is Lord ' both of
the quick and oj the dead.'' If so be Christ be their Lord when they die,
what need they fear to die ? And therefore let us comfort ourselves when
God calls for us. He is our Lord as well when we die as while we live, and
more too ; for then our souls have more immediate communion with him.
Can there be more comfort than this, that we have a Lord ever that died
for us, that rose for us, and lives for ever, and doth immortalise his subjects
too ? Join these together, an ever-living Lord and ever-living subjects,
co-existent, I mean, for the time to come. We indeed have a beginning —
Christ hath none as God — but we have an eternal state to be for ever, and
an eternal Lord to rule us for ever, and to make us happy for ever. What
comfort is more than this, that howsoever there be variety of conditions in
this world, we live, we die, we are in prosperity, we are in misery ; yet
here is no variety in the state of salvation. Christ is not a Lord to-day and
none to-morrow ; but ' yesterday, to-day, and the same for ever,' Heb. xiii. 8.
2. Again, As it is a point of comfort, so it is also of dutij. If Christ be our
Lord in life and death, our duty is to look to him in life and death, to live and
die to him. For our aim must answer his aim, if we ever intend to come
to heaven ; for we are understanding creatures, and have a communion with
him in a poor measure. Therefore what he will make his end must be our
end. His end was that whether we live or die he might rule over us. Our
end should be, in life and death to be ruled by him.
How shall we live to Christ?
We live to Christ — this is a gi'ound of all other duties that follow — when
we know and acknowledge Christ hath a full interest in us, by being our
head, by being our husband, by being our king, our elder brother. He
hath all the sweet interest to us that any relation can inright-;= (r/) him to ; for
all other relations among men are but shadows of that grand relation.
There only is the reahty of things. He is a true head, a true king, a true
elder brother, a true husband to his church. All ours are but poor repre-
sentations of those glorious things. Then know and acknowledge so much.
That is the ground of all living to him.
Upon knowing and acknowledging issues all other obedience in our life
to Christ. Those that thus acknowledge Christ, they must be directed by
* That is, = entitle by right, Leigliton uses ' inrigbted.' Cf. Note g. — G.
PURCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 339
his will, and not their own. As a servant as far as he is a servant, and a
wife so far as she is a wife, they have no will of their own, so he that lives
to Christ and acknowledgeth him to be a Lord, he must have no will of his
own, but he must live according to the will of Christ, as you have it
excellently set down, 1 Peter iv. 1,2,' Christ suffered for us in the flesh.
Let us arm ourselves therefore with the same mind ; for he that suffered in
the flesh hath ceased from sin, that he should no longer live the rest of his
time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.' It is a
comment upon this place, ' Christ died, and rose, and revived, that he might
be Lord of the quick and of the dead ;' that is, that we might live accox'ding
to his will, and not after our own. Do you think our Saviour Christ would
so far deny himself to leave heaven, to take upon himself our base nature,
and be so far abased in it, to let us live as we list ? Oh no ; we must live
the rest of our days, not according to the lusts of men, or our own lusts,
but according to the will of God ; and therefore as the apostle admonisheth,
Rom. xii. 2, we must search ' what is the acceptable will of God in all
things.' What is the end of our hearing sermons, of our reading, and all
the pains we take in the means of salvation ? Not only to know what God
will do to us, but what he will have of us. He will have the directing of our
lives ; and therefore if we live to Christ, we must labour to know his good
pleasure to us ; what he means to do for us and so his good pleasure with
us ; what he will have us do again by way of thankfulness. Christ squared
his life immediately according to his Father's will. ' It is written in the
volume of thy book, that I should do thy will, 0 God,' Ps. xl. 7. So all
that are Christ's must have the same spirit, to direct all their lives
according to his will. Now the most grand things of his will — for his M'ill
is in the Scriptures — are that we repent. He commands all to repent.
His will is that we believe in him. His will is our sanctification, as it is
1 Thes. iv. 23. His will is that we suffer, and in suffering submit our-
selves to him ; and the Scriptures is express in many other particulars, but
these especially are named, to shew something wherein we must direct our-
selves according to his will. But, not to insist upon particulars, in all
things we must labour to direct our lives accordiuf/ to his ivill.
Secondly, That we may live to God, we must aim at the glory of Christ
in all things, and at the credit of religion, not at our own credit. If Christ
be Lord of the quick and dead, while we live we must not seek our own
glory but his. The contrary to this the apostle complains of : ' All seek
their own,' saith he, ' and not the things that are of the Lord Jesus Christ,'
Phil. ii. 21. We must consider what is for the credit of religion and the
honour of Christ ; and not what is for our own advantage. Is it not good
reason that we should seek the glory of him that is Lord over us '? Natm-ally
proud man is led with a spirit of self-love ; and he seeks himself in all
things, even in his religion. So far as it stands with his own lusts he will
be religious, and no further. So long as God's will is not contrary to his,
he will do God service ; but if it cross his will once, then he will give God
leave to seek him a servant.
Thus man makes himself an idol ; he sets up himself in the room of
God ; he doth all things, as from himself, so for himself ; nor indeed can
he do otherwise, till he put ofi" himself wholly, and deny himself — a man
cannot go beyond himself but by grace, that raiseth a man above himself.
It makes him have an eye to some excellency, out of himself, conformity
■whereto and interest whereinto will make him happy.
Now that we may aim at Christ in all things, it is good to call ourselves
840 chkist's exaltation
to account for our aims. "Wherefore we live and wherefore we have, are,
or do anything, either in gi'ace or nature, it is or should be, not only that
we may be saved ourselves, but that Christ in all may be glorified. We
need not sever these ; for Christ joins them both together; and he that seeks
his own salvation seeks the glory of God, because God will be glorified in
saving us. The end hath a main influence into all actions ; and as it dif-
ferenceth man from other creatures, that though he do the same action as
a beast, he eats and drinks and sleeps, all for another end, for an end
beyond himself, because he is a reasonable creature, whereas other
creatures rest in themselves. So it diflerenceth between natural men and
Christians ; they difter in their aims, not in their actions. Both do the
same thing. One doth it for base ends of his own ; keeps within the circle
of those ends. The other having a light discovering excellencies better
than the world can afford, and having another spiritual life above, he is
thereby directed to further aims in all ; yea, even in his civil actions.
Saint Paul gives a rule, that ' whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever
we do, we should do all to the glory of God,' 1 Cor. x. 31. Though the
action be common and civil, not tending directly to the glory of God, as
eating, &c., yet our aim should be in it, at Christ and at God, that the
body thereby being refreshed may be fit to serve God.
And indeed there is not the commonest action of this life, but we may
shew that we have a good end in it, and therein glorify God. Therefore
in Scripture it is put as a kind of limitation : ' Obey in the Lord,' ' many
in the Lord,' do all things in the Lord ; that is, in Christ. He shews that
we should do all such things, intimating that as we must go about such
entei-prises with invocation of the name of the Lord, &c., so chiefly we
should do them so far, and no farther, as they may stand with the favour
and glory of Christ. In subordinate things, the rule of subordinate things
is to do them so far as they may help to the main end. Now the service
of all other is subordinate to the service of Christ, and all other bonds are
serviceable to the main bond in marriage, or whatsoever may not pre-
judice the bond of marriage in the Lord ; marry not rich, nor honour-
able, but in the Lord. All things must have their limitation to be done in
the Lord ; that is, so far as they may stand with pleasing the Lord. Thus
we see what it is to live to the Lord with his good pleasure and likening.*
Now an assistant help — of living to the Lord — is a perpetual self-denial
of our own wisdom, will, and afiections in all things, else we shall live to
ourselves, and to the Lord we shall never attain.
But you will say this is a hard saying. True. But consider this one
thing, that we are the greatest enemies to ourselves of all ; and we carry
in ourselves a cursed enmity to all that is divine and supernatural. Natu-
rally we are trained up to our own will, therefore we cannot endure the
yoke of Christ without supernatural strength.
Again, Divine things ■perpetualhj cross the lUdnfi of the soul ; whereupon
there is an antipathy between us and Christ, and divine things. There-
fore there must be self-denial of necessity. Now the knowledge of this will
be a good means to enable us to the duty.
Another help to this, of living to Christ, is to complain of ourselves to
Christ, as Saint Paul, Rom. vii. 24, ' 0 wretched man that I am, who
shall deliver me ?' &c. ; to inform against our rebellions, that we live too
much to the flesh and too little to the Spirit, too much to ourselves and
too little to Christ, by reason of that principle of flesh and blood, and to
* Qu. ' liking ' ?— Ed.
PUECHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION.
841
desire him to captivate all,* and bring all in subjection by his Spirit. This
is alway a sign of a man led by the Spirit, that it directs him to Christ.
The Spirit, as it comes from Christ, and the Father, so it directs to Christ,
to the pleasing of the Father, and of Christ in all things.
Here I might take just occasion to reprove a company of men that live
under the gospel, that will be saved by Christ forsooth, but will not have
Christ a Lord to rule over them. They will be ruled by rules of state, or
rules of flesh and blood, and their own lusts, by the rules of hell some-
time, so that they may have their own aims, their own ambition satis-
fied, and raise themselves to their own pitch ; a disposition cursed, and
opposite to that religion which they profess. For our life should be a living
to Christ, and under Christ a living to the church and state. But say they,
' Let us break their bonds, and cast their cords from us,' Ps. ii. 3. What!
do they think we will be awed with a company of poor preachers ? Away
with them ! We will have our own wills ; let us break their bonds in
sunder. Christ sits in heaven, and laughs them all to scorn, Ps. ii. 4.
They shall know at length he will be no Saviour where he is no Lord. If
he may not rule them by his Spirit and holy directions while they live, he
will not own them when they die. For you see the text joins both here,
' he died,' and ' he is Lord.' When he died there came water and blood
out of his side, to shew that he came not only to shed his blood, to die,
and to satisfy divine justice, but by water to cleanse us, and to fit us to be
subject to his government. Therefore those that take him as a priest to
die, and will not have him as a Lord, they rentf his offices. I do but
touch these now.
We see what it is to live to Christ. Let us see what it is to die to the
Lord ?
(1.) * To die to the Lord' is to hnoiv and acJ:nowled//e that Christ hath
power over vs when we die ; thereupon to suhmit ourselves to him, and not to
murmur and fret, when he comes to call for our life and soul, as if we were
unwilling to part with them.
(2.) Then again, to die to Christ, is when upon any good occasion he calls
for our lives in standing for a good cause — for the chirch or state — to he ready
to lay it down. There is not the least tittle of truth, but that it is better
than a man's life. A man may not only die, in case of martyrdom, but in
case of justice and truth, and so he must be willing to die if he will die to
Christ.
(3.) Again, We die to the Lord tvhen we carry ourselves so ichen death
comes, as ice may e,rpress some graces to glorify God, even in our very death ;
when we study to do all the good we can, that we may die fruitfully ; out
of this consideration, my time is short, I will labour to be sowing to the
Spirit as much as I can, not to die like fools, but wisely, knowing that
there is no further opportunity. Here is the time of seed ; hereafter will
be the time of reaping. Therefore there is no Christian that is master of
himself at the hour of death, if some disease disable him not, but he studies
how to shew himself as fruitful as he can at that time ; as you see our
Saviour when he was to die, what long chapters there are, three together,
of his demeanour, how he strengthened his disciples, what an excellent
prayer he made to God. See Moses, how he carried himself at his death,
what excellent admonitions he gives ; and good Jacob, what an excellent
will he made ; and St Peter, knowing he must put ofi' his earthly taber-
* That is, = ' subdue.' — G.
t That is, ' rend/ = divide. — G.
842 Christ's exaltation
nacle, 2 Peter i. 14, he labours to put them in mind ' to glorify Gocl,' as
Saint Paul saith, 1 Cor. vi. 20.
A Christian ought to end his days in faith and obedience ; in faith
that God will take his soul, when he commits it to him, and he shall
reign for ever in heaven. In obedience thereupon, because he believes, he
dies in faith, he will die in obedience. I even offer myself to thee, because
I believe thou wilt care for me when I am gone hence ; for thou art the
Lord of life and death, and thou art the Lord of me when I live, and when
I am dead.
Well, as it implies duty, so it implies a gracious effect, that we shall be
enabled to this duty. He indeed in himself is a Lord. We ought to
acknowledge him so, nay, we shall have the Spirit if we be his, to cause us
to acknowledge him. You have a notable place, 2 Cor. v. 15, to this pur-
pose, ' The love of Christ constrains us, because we thus judge, if one died
for all, then we are all dead.' If he died to redeem us from death, to what
end did he die ? He died for all, that ' they might not live to themselves,
but to him that died, and rose again,' 2 Cor. v. 15. It is nothing but this
in the text, ' we should live to him.' Now this, that we should live to him,
it is not an aim of ours only, but an effect that he works in us. He died
'that we might live to him.' For he died and rose that he might obtain
the Spirit. By this Spirit he enableth us to live and die to'^God : as you
have it, Kom. viii. 8, at large proved. Those that are Christ's have the Spirit
of Christ, and are led with it.
Beloved, it is a part of the new covenant, that whatsoever our duty is,
we shall have ability to perform it by the Spirit of Christ ; for all the
gracious promises of the gospel are not only promises upon condition, and
80 a covenant, but likewise the covenant of grace is a testament and a
will (a will is made without conditions ; a covenant with conditions),
that as he hath made a covenant what he would have us to do, so his testa-
ment is, that we shall have grace to do so ; he will put his Spirit into us, and
circumcise our hearts, or else, beloved, there would be no more strength of
the covenant of grace than there was of that of nature in Adam. Why did
Adam fall ? He had not the Spirit to uphold him, nor had he the promise
of it to keep him that he should not fall. Therefore the covenant of works
was frustrate. But now the covenant of grace is this, that whatsoever God
requires he will give his Spirit to enable us to do it, that the covenant may
not be frustrate. If God should not make good our part as well as his, we
should not be saved. Therefore, now in the covenant of grace we may
boldly go to God and Christ; and allege unto him, when any duty is pressed
upon us, and when we are about to perform any duty, and find want of
strength, ' Lord, thou kuowcst I have no strength of myself, I am a barren
wilderness ; but thou hast entei'ed into a covenant of grace with me, which
covenant now is a testament, a free will, that thou wilt give what thou
requirest. Lord, in the use of means that thou hast ordained ; in attending
upon thee, and looking up to thee, I desire that thou wouldst give me
strength to submit to thee, to live and die to thee, to direct my course as
I should.' This should be the course of a Christian, and not to set upon
things in his own strength ; but when duty is discovered, look to the
promise of grace and of the Spirit, and put them into suit, and allege
them to Christ in the use of sanctified means, as reading, hearing, holy
conference, and the like ; and he will enable us to do that that is our
duty.
Therefore a man may know who is indeed under Christ's government by
PUECHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 343
this, for lie that is actually under Christ's government and acknowledgeth
him to be his Lord, he hath ability to live and die to him in some com-
fortable measure ; to deny himself, to go out of himself, to live and to die
to the glory of God. The Spirit of God hath given him this victory and
triumph over his own heart.
Last of all, if this be so, here see the u-ondrons secure state of a Christian.
Beloved, that as Christ is his Lord both in life and death, and it is his duty
to subject himself, so Christ will give him grace so to direct his life.
Therefore let us do our duty, attend upon the means, and lift up our hearts
to God ; let God and Christ alone with all the rest, let Christ alone with
ruling us and with enabling us to be ruled by him. He is Lord not
only over us, but in us by his Spirit. But the Spirit ' breatheth where it
listeth,' John iii. 8. There must be waiting upon God in his ordinances,
till we find ability to holy duties ; and those that have so much patience to
honour God and Christ so far as to attend in the use of good means till
the good hour come, till the Spirit come to subject their spirits to duty,
no doubt but God intends well to them. But those that are so short-
spirited that if they find not ability to deny themselves and to live to God,
and to break off" their course of sin, but give over in a kind of base despair,
it is just with God to leave them to themselves, that they shall even live
and die to themselves ; that is, they shall live without respect to Christ,
and die without respect to Christ at all, as if there were no Christ to take
care for them.
Now out of this branch of holy security, upon the care and power and
lordship that Christ hath over us for the time to come, it riseth that a
Christian may be assured of his salvation, of his perseverance, because Christ
is Lord of all. He is Lord of his heart. He is Lord not only of the
things without us, but of our spirits within us, and he will enable us to
subject ourselves to him, ' that neither things present, nor things to come,
or anything, shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God in
Christ,' Rom. viii. 39 ; not only from God's love to us, but from our love
to God.
Beloved, let this encourage us to come under the government of Christ.
There is no security or safety but in his government. We are sure of
nothing in this world, but we are sure of this, that Christ, if he be our Lord, is
our Lord for ever, and that nothing in the world shall ever be able to separate
us from him.
I will close with this. You see Christ is ours, whether ' we live or die.'
He is ' Lord of quick and dead.' Let us labour to live to him, that he may
rule over us while we live, else when we come to die, though we never so
much — perhaps out of principles of self-love — desire him to be ours, it is to
no purpose. While we live, therefore, let us submit to his government,
and if we live to him we shall easily die to him. If we do not inure our-
selves by daily self-denying and practising of the duties of obedience to live
to him, how shall we come to die to him ? Our life may be snatched from
us against our wills ; we may die with a kind of fretting and indignation
that we can live no longer, that we can enjoy our pleasures no longer. But
to die meekly and quietly, as to a Lord, submitting ourselves to him that
is the Lord of life and death, a man can never do it that hath not lived to
the Lord. Therefore I beseech you every day be acquainted with the
actions of living to the Lord. Whatsoever you do to men, do it as to the
Lord, in the Lord's strength to please him, and as it may stand with his
favour and no further. And especially take the advantage of your younger
844 Christ's exaltation
years to root out lusts that will grow to that head else, that God in his
judgment, giving you up to yourselves — after long rebellion — you shall
never be able to deny yourselves to live to Christ, and, when death comes, to
die to Christ ; therefore let us inure ourselves to deny ourselves in the
practice of every holy duty, as to the Lord betimes, that so we may get the
upper hand of our flesh in these holy performances, that they may be easy
and sweet to us, as indeed the yoke of Christ is after it is worn a while.
The subjection of Christ is the sweetest subjection in the world. It breeds
the greatest peace and joy and love and contentment to the soul, and which
is more than all, a blessed hope for the time to come. He that is* life is
inured to holy duties, and hath overcome the rebellions of his base flesh ;
when he comes to die he can say with Simeon, ' Lord, now let thy servant
depart in peace,' Luke ii. 29 ; that is. Thou Lord of life, now thou wilt have
me die, I am even content to die, to resign myself to thee. Who can say
so but he that makes Christ his Lord all his lifetime ? Then when death
comes he is content to yield unto him as a Lord, else it will be just in the
hour of death for Christ to say, as it is Judges x. 14, ' Do you come to me
and commend yourselves to me ? go to the lords you have served.' You have
served the humours of such a one, you have alienated your souls to such a
one, 5^ou have given your souls to sin and to such men as are instruments
of the devil, you have denied your honest}^, j'our faith, your religion ; go
to him, go to the gods you have served, they are your lords ; I am not your
Lord, I was not all your lifetime. Though these speeches be not uttered,
the eff'ect of them will ; the soul will conclude I have served mine own lusts
and the humours of others all my lifetime, how can I look that the Lord
should take my soul ? Therefore let it be our daily practice to live to the
Lord, to have the chief aim of our life in our eye to direct our actions so
as they may be serviceable to the main, else not to perform them.
Herein consists the main happiness of a Christian, that whether he lives
or dies he is not his own, but he is his, that can dispose of him better than
ever he could of himself; for if we had the disposing of ourselves, as Adam
had, what would become of his ?t What became of Adam when he was
master of himself ? He lost himself and all. The * second Adam ' hath
bought us with his blood and life, to rule us for ever. Will he then sufier
us to be disposed of by ourselves ? No. Whether ' we live or die, we are
his,' if we yield ourselves sweetly to his government, in life and death.
THE THIED SERMON.
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might he the
Lord both of the dead and of the living. — Eom. XIV. 9.
In these words, as you heard heretofore at large, the apostle labours to
stay the thoughts and aflections of men concerning the things of indiflbrency,
that they should not be hasty to censure another's servant, who stands or
falls to his own master, as you have it in verse 4.
The reason is, because whatsoever they do they do it to the Lord. ' He
that regards a day, regards it to the Lord ; he that regards not a day,
regards it not to the Lord.' Some things are of that nature that the right
aim puts a qualification upon the actions. A good end cannot qualify many
actions, but some actions are of that nature that a good end doth not altogether
* Qu. ' in '?— Ed. t Qu. ' us ' ?— Ed.
PURCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 345
justify it, but it frees the person from some censure ; he doth it to God.
Some upon some conceit may abstain from a thing for religious ends, and
are not to be censured ; some again perform it, and ai'e not to be censured,
because they do it to the Lord ; that is, out of rehgious respects.
How doth he prove that they do it to the Lord ? Ho proves it more
generally, ver. 7, ' None of us live to ourselves, nor none of us die to our-
selves,' which I spake of before.
Then he proves that we are the Lord's, because it was the end of Christ's
dying and rising and reviving, ' that he might be the Lord both of the dead
and of the living ; and if he be the Lord, then we ought to live to this ' Lord
of the quick and dead.'
We see Saint Paul here makes use of a general truth, of a grand principle,
that we are the Lord's, and therefore live to him and die to him, and do
particular actions to him, or not do them to him, to shew that we should
have in mind information on sound general truths, that are the ground of
all particular practice, as we shall see after.
' For to this end Christ both died, rose, and revived,' &c.
The words they are Christ's universal government of the dead and of the
living, inferred from the end of his death, reviving and rising again, a com-
fortable inference from a strong ground.
We considered the particulars, Christ's death, rising and reviving.
Christ died as a ' second Adam,' as a public person, in whom dying all
died. When other men die particular men die ; when Paul was dead,
Paul died and there was an end, only there was an exemplary good in his
death. But there is more than an exemplary good in the death of Christ.
Christ died alone and singular in this respect ; because in him dying all
died that were his, that the Father gave him to die for. For they go
parallel, God's gift and Christ's death. He did all by commission, and
he would not transgress his commission, and he died a violent and cursed
death, because otherwise he could not have saved us that were under a
curse. So as a ' second Adam ' he rose, and as a public person. There-
fore we see in the resurrection of Christ many rose. It is like enough they
died again. It was for a particular dispensation, to shew that Christ rose
as a public person ; and it is not strange to think so that to honour God
they should be content to live a while, when Christ himself that was God
was content to be man, and to be abased to death. That grand mystery
makes all other things credible. He rose, therefore, as a public person, to
give life to all that he died for.
So he revived. That is more than to rise again, never again to lay down
his life, as you have it excellently set down among other places. Rev. i. 18,
' I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold I live for evermore. Amen ;'
and he seals it too, ' I have the keys of hell and of death ;' that is, the
dominion of hell and death ; for indeed Christ is life itself, and life cannot
die. As God he could not die, and therefore he took upon him that nature,
wherein he might die for us ; and now having done that dispensation, that
office, there is a perpetual influence of life from the fountain of life, his
Godhead, to his humanity. So he never dies any more. Then here
follows the scope and end of all,
' That he might be Lord of the dead and of the living.'
The three offices of Christ, they have this order in regard of manifesta-
tion. First, he was a prophet to instruct and teach his in himself, and
likewise by his ministry. And then a priest to die for those that are his,
to make intercession now for ever in heaven. And then a king. Fii'st, a
34G Christ's exaltation
propliet, tlien a priest, and then a king. He was all at once. The very
union invested him in all these, but in regard of manifestation he was first
a prophet to instruct us of the end of his coming into the world ; and then
a priest to do that grand office that we have most comfort by ; and then a
king to rule us. He could not be otherwise, for if he had manifested him-
self a King and a Lord in his glory, where had been his abasement ? If
they had known him to be the Lord of glory, they would never have cruci-
fied him. Only some sparkles of his Godhead and lordship and kingdom
and I'oyalty over all flesh break out in his miracles ; yea, in his greatest
abasement there were some sparkles, I say. Even when he lay in the
manger, kings came to adore him. When he paid tribute, he had it out of
a fish by a command, by majesty. When he was on the cross he converted
the good thief. So somewhat brake out of him that he was a person more
than ordinary, but that was for special ends. Ordinarily he went on in a
course of abasement, and all that he might perform the great work of
redemption. Therefore he made a stop of his glory and kingly office, that
he might not manifest himself in that relation and office ; that he might do
the office of a priest to die for us. Therefore you have it here in the due
order. Christ died and rose again, as the high priest of his church, ' that
he might be Lord of the dead and of the living.' He was so before, but
he was not manifest before. Therefore he is said to be manifest to God
by the resurrection, Kom. i. 4. He was God from eternity, but he was
born then : ' This day have I begotten thee,' Ps. ii. 7. It is spoken of the
resurrection. So jon see here Christ's offices, the state and condition of
his humiliation and of his exaltation, and the use and end of all, ' that
he might be Lord of the dead and of the living.'
And if we be anything offended with that abasement, that God should
die, look to his rising and reviving and lordship over all, both quick and
dead ; and if we be dazzled with his glory, look back again to God in our
flesh, and God in our flesh abased, even to the death of the cross. Oh,
it is a sweet meditation, beloved, to think that our flesh is now in heaven,
at the right hand of God ; and that flesh that was born of the virgin, that
was laid in the manger, that went up and down doing good, that was made
a curse for us and humbled to death, and lay under the bondage of death
three days ; that this flesh is now glorious in heaven, that this person is
Lord over the living and the dead. It is an excellent book to study this.
Beloved, study Christ in the state of humiliation and exaltation.
' That he might be Lord of the dead,' &c.
How is Christ Lord ? He is Lord of the dead, those that died before he
was born, and of the living, those that are since. He is ' yesterday,' that is,
to those that were before he was ; and ' to-day,' that is, when he was ; and
' to-morrow ' and ' for ever the same.' Therefore he saith of the dead and
of the living ; of the dead, that is, in reference to former times Christ; is the
' Lamb of God slain from the beginning of the world,' Rev. xiii. 8.
By what title is he Lord ?
By a title, beloved, not as God, but by a title of conquest as a redeemer,
for he died that he might be Lord. We are a * bloody spouse ' to Christ.
We are the price of his blood. He died that he might be Lord. He must
win us before he could have us. Thereupon dying and purchasing us, now
he is Lord of his church and children by marriage. Before he could marry us
he must be born in our nature, for the husband and wife must be of one
nature ; and being in bondage to a contrary king, to Satan, he must
redeem and purchase us out of Satan's hands. So he is a Lord by con-
PURCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 347
quest ; and then he is a Lord in a nearer relation, he is a Lord as a husband,
• He is Lord both of the dead and of the Uving.'
But the point is sweetest in the use of it ; only know for a ground that
' Christ is Lord of the dead and of the living,' as mediator, God -man, not
as God, but as God-man, God in our nature ; and hereupon we have divers
sweet comforts, as for example,
Fu-st of all, it shews what ice may expect from Christ, what Christ will do
to us, and what we ought to return to him again. For relations are bonds,
especially when they are so founded as this of Christ's is, to be Lord over
us both in life and death. It is founded upon redemption and upon our
spiritual marriage. Kelations are bonds, and therefore they tie on his
part to shew what we may expect from him. He is ' Lord of the living
and of the dead.' We may expect on his part all that a gracious Lord
should do to provide for his church and children. We may expect that
from him that we can from none else, that he should not only be Lord
over us, but that he should make t(s subject, that he should flow into us by
his Holy Spirit. For here is the prerogative of Christ, that he is such a
head as quickeneth dead members. He is such a husband as makes his
spouse beautiful. He puts glory upon her ; no other husband can do it.
Moses married a black woman, but he could not alter her hue, much less
her disposition. It is not in the power of any man. A king cannot alter
his subjects ; but he is such a King as alters the nature of his subjects. He
makes them subject, he takes them out of a contrary kingdom, as being not
born his subjects, but ' born anew by the Spirit.' He doth all provision,
protection, the changing of our natures, the beginning of a good work ; and
where this Lord begins a good work he finisheth it to his own daj'. For,
beloved, know this for a ground, that now in the second covenant we are
not left, as Adam was, in the hands of our own free will to stand or fall,
but now in the second covenant that is founded upon Christ's death and
satisfaction for us, Christ gives grace. He gives his Holy Spirit to bring
us within the compass, and performs both our part and his too. He makes
good his own to be a gracious Saviour to us ; and he performs our part
too, or else the second covenant, the covenant of grace, should be frustrate
as the first was, if it were left to our freedom. Therefore that is that that
we may expect from this loi'dship of Christ, the performance of the cove-
nant of grace in ' writing his law in our hearts,' Jer. xxxi. 33. Other kings
give laws and write them in tables, but they cannot write them in the
hearts of their subjects. But he is such a lawgiver as writes his own will
in the heart ; he teacheth the very heart obedience. We are taught of God
' to love one another.' ' I will write my law in their bowels, and in their
inward parts ;' that is, they shall not only know what they should do, but
they shall know the doing, the aflccting,--''- and performing of the things.
They shall be able to do the things. So Christ is a Lord over us, not only
teaching us what we should do, and enjoining us in a kind of superiority,
this is your duty, and not this ; but enabling us to do that that he com-
mands. He gives us the very doing, the afiections and loving. He teacheth
our hearts to love. I say this we may expect from him in the use of means,
and subjecting to his ordinances ; which is a wondrous prerogative to those
who will submit to his law.
We may expect again from this Lord advancement. He is such a Lord
as makes all his subjects kings. The meanest man that is a subject to
Christ, that hath the Spirit of Christ, is a king. Now he is a king over
* That is, loving, choosing. — G.
848 Christ's exaltation
that that all others are slaves to, that are not Christians. They rule over
others, but they are in thraldom to their own lusts. But he is a spiritual
king, a king over hell and death, and those things that the very greatest
of men are afraid of, as who fears death most and hell most? Those
that deserve it most, by reason of their great place, sink most in sin and
rebellion against God, and contract more guilt than other men. That that
they are afraid of, a true Christian as a Christian is most triumphant over.
He is a king over those things, for every subject of this Prince is a king.
Christ's manner of government is hid now. There is more reality in
this than can be expressed ; therefore wonder not. In a word, Christ as
our Lord binds himself to bring us to glory, never to leave us till he hath
brought us to that place that he is in himself. ' Father, I will that where
I am they be also,' John xvii. 24 ; and he purgeth his church, Eph.
V. 27, ' that he may make it a glorious church.' He takes upon him not
only to die, to redeem us from hell and damnation, and to set us in a state
of favour with his Father, but to go on in a course of fitting us till he
have brought us to the glorious condition that he is in. It lies upon him
to do it. Therefore let us do our duty, as we shall see after ; and let him
alone with that that belongs to him.
For ourselves, beloved, this is our honour, that we are under such a
King, such a Lord, both living and dying. It was the honour of those who
lived in Solomon's time, that they were under such a wise king and prince.
The queen of Sheba judged it so, 1 Kings x. 8. But what an honour is
it to a Christian now, that he is under such a blessed prince as Christ is.
It is a gi'eat honour to be the spouse of such a husband, to be the subject
of such a King, to be members of such a head. And therefore we should
oft think of it, to put honourable thoughts into us ; and I know no greater
way to keep us from sin, from base courses, than to have our thoughts
strained to this high point, to think of the dignity of a Christian, what a
condition he is now brought into in Christ, and what he shall be brought
unto ere long. This should make him honom'able to himself, to make
him in a holy state, to think himself too good to defile his soul or body,
that is so dearly bought and so highly advanced : ' Shall such a man as
I flee ?' saith Nehemiah, Neh. vi. 11. Oh look to that. Shall such a
man as I flee ? It is the honour, beloved, of a Christian, that he is Christ's,
living and djdng.
Obj. But you will say an honour. It is an honour to be free ; the sub-
ject is bound, non sumus natl, &c., as the heathen man said ; we are not
born to slavery, but to honour and liberty,* and it is au appetite ingrafted
in man, to desire freedom above all things.
A)is. It is true, in regno natl sumus Deo, &c., we ai'e born in a kingdom,
and to serve Christ is to reign (A) ; for where there is a subordination it is a
prerogative to be under a better ; as for the body, being baser than the
soul, it is for the good of it to be under the soul, because it is more ex-
cellent. It hath life and wisdom. The body is a loathsome dead thing of
itself. The sheep being a weak, simple creature, shiftless,! to be guided
by a shepherd, who is of a superior nature, and wise to defend it. It is
its security and safety for the vine, that is a weak plant of itself, to have
support. It is for the good of it. For man that is in a subordination to
a higher nature, to God, for him to be under the government of Christ,
God-man, of God in our nature, it is a great honour ; as they could say in
the schools, everything hath its perfection, by being subject to a superior,
* Cf. note e. — G. f That is, = ' without expedients.' — G.
PURCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 349
except the highest of all, which is not subordinate, but independent (i).
Whatsoever is dependent hath its perfection by dependence ; therefore it
is an honour that we be under Christ, the greatest honour in the world ;
especially if we consider what manner of government Christ's is. It is a
rational government, agreeable to our principles; for ho guides us as a
prophet. He is not only a king, but a prophet to teach us. Ho saith,
not, you shall do this ; he stands not upon terms of will ; no. He is a
prophet to teach us what we should obey. He convinceth us, and then
useth us, that we would not be but under such a government ; and then
when he rules our will he doth it sweetly. He draws it with the cords of
a man, as the prophet speaks, Hosea xi. 4 ; that is, by allurements, he
brings us to heaven by way of love and enticements. What greater rewards
can there be thought of than those that Christ leads us by, and draws us
to subjection by ? And therefore he works upon our will sweetly, by per-
suading us by allurements in that kind.
In a word, he is such a king as is a husband. Would you have a milder
government than that of a husband, which though it be not a parity, yet it
comes as near as can be. Such a government is Christ's. As he is a
king, so he is a husband. He knows how to bear the infirmities of his
church. He that bids the husband to favour the wife as the ' weaker
vessel,' doth not he practise his own principles ? Will not he favour his
own spouse as the ' weaker vessel,' think you, that hath promised not
* to quench the smoking flax, and break the bruised reed ' ? Undoubtedly
he will. Therefore it is an honour to be under the government of Christ,
so rationally and sweetly he draws us with the cords of a man. It is the
government of a husband, and of a wise husband. I do but give a taste.
You may enlarge them in your own meditations.
And as it is our honour, so it is our security and safety to be under him.
Why? Because when we come sweetly under Christ's government, we
need fear nothing. He that fears Christ, all things fear him. Since
Christ hath taken our nature upon him, the devil himself is afraid of man's
nature. He trembles to think God hath appeared in our nature. Now he
is afraid of a Christian [since] God hath taken this nature. Then he is
such a king as we may be secure under him, as a universal King over all
things, that he may be King over his church ; for he hath all power in
heaven and earth : Mat. xxviii. 18, 'All power is given to me in heaven
and earth,' and all for the government of his church. It is our security to
be under him that governs all things for the good of the church. He saith,
John xvii. 2, ' Thou hast'^given me power over all flesh.' Christ hath all
power given to him in relation to his church ; therefore he hatt power
over the devil, over hell, and over all wicked men ; and all monarchs and
opposite power is subject to him, that they shall serve the church. When
they do scourge the church, they are but Christ's rod; they are but instru-
mental to Christ ; they do but his work ; therefore it is a great security,
and we need to fear none if we be under Christ.
3. Again, To go on : as it is our honour and security, so it is a spring of
our duty. Christ is our Lord. He is Lord of all. Therefore it teacheth
us our duty every way.
Our duty one to another — to those that are not Christians — to Christ
himself.
It teacheth us in all standings how to carry ourselves. To give a taste
of this, the apostle presseth it oft, that Chi-ist is our Lord, and will be our
judge.
850 Christ's exaltation
Therefore /or others we ought not to be hastij in jmhjlnq or censiirlnrj. We
ought to love them, because we have all one Lord. This must force love.
' We have all one Lord, one baptism,' &c., Eph. iv. 5. We are many in
our severals ; but we are all one under this bond, being all under one Lord.
2. Then again, it teacheth us how to carry ourselves to men otherwise
affected ; not to be servants to the humours of men. Christ rules over us,
both living and dying ; therefore be not the servants of men, but according
to the Scripture's limitation, ' marry in the Lord,' ' obey in the Lord,'
* walk in the Lord,' do all in the Lord ; that is, so far as it may stand in
the will and pleasure of him that is the Lord of lords. For when the
authority of any superior doth countermand against the will of this Lord,
it ceaseth to bind. When they command anything in subordination that
may stand with the pleasure of the Lord, then the authority is divine. We
obey Christ in obeying them. As Christ said to his own mother, when
she commanded things that she had no authority to do, he calls her mother no
longer, but ' woman,' she stretching then beyond her compass, John ii. 4.
3. Again, To go on : this should teach us, in that Christ is the Lord of
the living and of the dead, to account ourselves not our own. It should
teach us perfect self-denial in matters of religion, especially not to be over-
whelmed of our own conceits in the great mysteries that Saint Paul cries
out of, ' Oh the depth,' Kom. xi. 33. You have many that quarrel
with those things, and would bring them to reason. They will go no further
in religion than they can see reason ; whereas one saith, I believe, because
it is impossible, and too far above reason ; therefore I the rather believe
it (j). It is ofttimes good to stand at a stay in God, as if we were at a
nonplus, to admire* at him in the mysteries of Christ's governing the
church, why he suffers some part of the church, that perhaps is better than
other parts, that are quiet and exempt from the cross, to be exercised with
afflictions, and others not, not to scandalf at this, and to be over-busy in
searching out the reason of this. Christ is our Lord, and he is infinite in
wisdom ; and it is his prerogative to do such things, as he is not liable to
give a reason of to us. So God * will have mercy upon whom he will have
mercy,' Rom. ix. 18. In great mysteries remember the sovereignty of this
our Lord. He is ' Lord of quick and dead.' Let this stop our judgments,
and teach us to deny ourselves when we cannot give a reason of them ; in
a holy admiration, say with Saint Paul, ' Oh the depth.'
I And so for our will. He is Lord of the quick and dead. We say of
a wife she hath no will ; and a servant is not a distinct person, as it were,
in law, he is another's. We are Christ's servants, his subjects, and his
spouse ;. and when we begin to be Christ's we have lost our own wills, we
resign them up to Christ. Thy will shall be mine in all things. If thou
wilt have me do this, I will do it ; if thou wilt have me suffer, I will suffer ;
if thou wilt honour thyself with my goods and with my life, thou shalt have
them. Of thee I had this body, this soul, this state, this reputation ; I
have whatsoever I have from thee ; it is maintained by thee. Thou art
mine, and I am thine ; therefore I give up all to thee back again. It is a
ground of perfect resignation, that Christ is Lord of the quick and of the
dead. Therefore stand not upon terms with Christ. When he calls for
anything, in case of suffering and sealing the truth, let him have it. It is
not lost. We have a better foundation in him than we have in ourselves.
When we give anything to him, life, or state, or credit, or whatsoever, we have
a better life, a better state and condition in him ; because all is more emi-
* That is, ' wonder.'— G. t That is, ' stumble.'— G.
PURCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 351
nently in him, the primitive fountain, than in the derivation and beams
from him. When we lose anything it is but a beam from the sun, and
whatsoever we lose in particulars we have in the whole, in the fountain
again, in Christ. Therefore faith would help all this. In case of suffer-
ing and trial, what ! is the cause good or no ? Then I will resign myself
and all that I have and am to Christ. He is Lord both of the quick and
of the dead.
We must know, beloved, that we are redeemed from ourselves ; and
therefore make this use of it when we are tempted by any sin : Christ is
my Lord ; I am redeemed from my base lusts. What have I to do with
this anger ? what have I to do with this ambition ? I am no debtor to the
flesh. I am under Christ. I am under grace. He hath redeemed me from
my vain conversation. I owe it nothing but mortification and denial.
Therefore, in all solicitations of corruption, learn this lesson, fetch argu-
ments hence. Christ hath done great matters for me. He lived and died,
and lives for ever, that is Ijord of me living and dying. There is no greater
slave than he that is a slave to his own flesh and to his own lusts. There-
fore when we are stirred to anything by our base nature, which must die,
or else we shall never live eternally, we must kill it more and more daily ;
and death is the sum and accomplishment of mortification. When we are
stirred to anything, go to Christ and complain to him. Blessed Saviour,
thou didst die, and rise, and revive, that thou mightst be Lord of the living
and of the dead. I beseech thee, claim thine own interest in me. Bring
all into captivity to thine own Spirit. What hath this base afiection to do
with me ? What have I to do with it ? I am freed from it ; I am
redeemed from myself. What have I to do with myself but deny all ? I
am thine altogether ; therefore take thine own interest in me, possess me,
fill me with thy Spirit, be all in all in me ; let pride and ambition and such
things have no footing in me. It is good pouring out the soul to God to
that purpose : to complain to Christ when it is thus with us, because it is
his oflice to rule us. Now, Lord Jesus, do thine office. Thy oflice is to
be king ; to rule in me. Other lords would fain rule in me. Pride, and
lust, and base covetousness would fain rule, as the prophet saith, Isa.
xxvi. 13 ; but what hath other lords to do with me ? Thou art my Lord,
and hast right to me living and dying.
It is a point of wondrous comfort likewise to us in all afflictions whatso-
ever, especially such as concern the state of the church. We are now in
ill times, if we look about us. However, God continues better to us than
we deserve. We are as the thi-ee young men in the fiery furnace, un-
touched, when all is in a combustion round about us. Where is Christ's
ruling now, when his poor church is thus used and trampled upon in
France, in the Palatinate, in Bohemia, and the Princes of Germany (k).
Beloved, it is our faults. Perhaps we waken not Christ as the disciples;
they awaked Christ when there was a mighty storm, and moved him to
rebuke the winds and the waves, and there followed a calm ; so should we.
Christ loves to be awaked by our prayers ; and if the church would join in
forces, one church with another, altogether they might work wonders. Let
us ofier a holy violence to Christ by prayer and the use of holy means. He
is Lord still of the church ; and take things at the worst as they are, he is
but carrying things to his own ends. Beloved, if we consider things aright,
it can hardly be otherwise with the church than it is. If we consider the
former security, and dulness, and want of prizing the great things of Christ,
the ministry of the word, and the sacraments, we live under the gospel in
352 CHRIST S EXALTATION
such deadness and such sius as a Turk would scarce commit. We are
no more atfected with it than a Jew or a Turk that hath not the means.
Will Christ endure this, that we should come to be careless whether we have
the gospel, the blessed truth of God, or no, and grow sinful, and have less
conscience than a Turk or a Jew ? Will Christ continue his blessed pre-
rogatives and privileges to such ? Therefore, if we do but look to the
ordinary dispositions of most men, a man would think it impossible but
that judgment should come. Will there be a reformation of these men
without a spirit of fire, without some purging flame ?
Then af^ain, Christ is humbling his church for the advancement of it, and
suffers the enemies to triumph for their further abasement. He is com-
passing a blessed work. There is a great wheel a-going, but we do not see
the issue of things. All this great wheel the Lord rules, and governs, and
moves. You shall see at length what it will drive to. We see in a clock
there are many wheels, one contrary to another, but all helps the clock to
strike, all join in that ; so there is a stroke, there is somewhat that will
come out of all these troubles that seem contrary one to another, some up
and some down ; but all these wheels will help to bring out some stroke,
some glorious thing, that posterity pei'haps may see that is now a- working.
Therefore let none take scandal.* Christ ' rules now in the midst of his
enemies,' Ps. ex. 2. We must not catch at pieces of Christ's workmanship;
as in a poem, we judge not by a piece, but look to the catastrophe, we look
to the upshot and closure of all. Though all was in a combustion, there
we see all things brought to an excellent and wise issue. Therefore, I
beseech you, suspend your judgments a while, and then you shall see with
a spirit of faith all the enemies overthrown, even as if we did see it with our
eyes of sense ; and in the mean time, persuade ourselves that Christ is about
a blessed work, as he is king of our church.
One question the papists move upon such texts as this, that I will
assoylef briefly, because it may trouble some, though it be of no great
moment. It "is said here that Christ died, and rose again, and revived,
that he might be Lord of the dead and of the living. Hence, not only
papists, but some others move this question, which I will give a little light
unto.
Whether Christ by his dying and abasement did merit anything for
himself, because it is said here he did this that he might be Lord of the
dead, &c.
He abased himself to the death of the cross. * Therefore God gave him
a name above ail names,' Phil. ii. 9.
The papists they fall upon Calvin that saith he did not, and that makes
me the rather to touch it. Calvin, as he was a very holy man, so out of
his holiness he avoided curious questions as much as he might, therefore
gives an excellent answer. Saith he, whether he did or no, ' It is curious J
to search, it is rash to define ' (/). For satisfaction, take these grounds,
and all is well.
1. First of all, that Christ is perfectly glorious now in heaven, both
body and soul. There is no question of that ; and that he came to this
glory, both of body and soul, and the manifestation of it, after his abase-
ment by his humihation ; first, he must die and suffer, and then enter into
glory.
2. A^ain, remember this for a ground that Christ as man merited not
» That is, = make it a stumbling-block. — G. J That is, == uselessly curious.
t That is, = clear up. — G.
PURCHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 353
the grace of union or unction, for how could he merit before he was ?
Could Christ merit to be united to the second person, that was the greatest
grace that ever was ? No ; nor the grace of unction, habitual grace in
Christ, whereby the human nature was filled with all grace. It was upon
unction. Presently they follow one another. There was no meriting of that
thing, because from the beginning of his incarnation it was by union of his
nature. These things being thought upon, for other things they are not
material ; only it is best and safest to think that he did not for himself
merit anything. For if so be all glory was due to him by virtue of union,
which he had by grace and by virtue of unction, if he had died presently ;
he might have gone to heaven presently indeed, without dying, if there had
not been a dispensation laid upon him to die for us ; and therefore by
virtue of union and unction that was free, heaven was due to him presently,
and all that glory that he had afterward.
AVliy was there a stop of that glory ? that his body being united to the
divine nature, was not presently glorified, as now it is in heaven, so that
he lived in abasement, and died a most cursed death ?
Beloved, all this was for us ; and then after the dispensation was finished
for us, after God's justice was satisfied for us, there was no more stop or
stay of his glory. But then his divine nature did flow into his human
nature ; and then his human nature became glorious, so glorious as it was
capable of what he did for us. Therefore it is good to think of the love of
Christ, that he considered us and not himself in that his abasement, as the
Scripture runs in that strain : ' To us a Son is given, for us a child is
born,' Isa. ix. 6. He died for us. He gave himself for us. He rose for
us. He ascended for us. He sits at the right hand of God for us. Him-
self indeed hath glory, but together with us. And therefore when we think
of the glory of Christ, think of us in him. When we see him born, think
he was born for me ; when we see him die, think we die with him ;
when we see him buried, think ourselves buried with him. So in the
state of exaltation, when we see him rise, and sit at the right hand
of God, think he is there to prepare a place for me. Whatsoever he
hath, or whatsoever he did, he regards us in all; therefore it some-
what obscures the glory and the love of Christ to us, to conceive that he
had a self-respect in these things, when he saith in the text, ' For this end
Christ died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord of quick and
dead.' I beseech you, consider whose goods he respects in this lordship.
Is it not a profitable lordship for us ? Is it not for our good [that he is
our Lord in life and in death ? and not only our Lord, but the Lord of
Satan, of death, and of all our enemies. He is Lord over all, saith the
apostle, ' God over all, blessed for ever,' Kom. ix. 5. Therefore he is
Lord over sin, over death, over hell, over all that we need to fear. It is
for us. Therefore our good is intended. Though there be a redundance
of gloiy in Christ, in all these things, yet think he respects our good. The
best meditation of Christ is to think all is for us.
Beloved, is it not a great mercy that he should stop the issue and the
beams of glory, that should otherwise have come upon his human nature,
that he should be content to be in the shape of a servant, and be eclipsed
in regard of manifestation, and abase himself to the death of the cross,
and all for our redemption, when he might have gone to glory another way ?
But as one of the ancients saith well, ' If he had gone to heaven another
way, he might have come thither himself, but he could not have helped us
that way ; therefore he would go to heaven by way of abasement and con-
VOL. V. z
854 Christ's exaltation
cealment, and stopping that of his gloiy that he might help ns and pay the
price to God for us and reconcile us ' [in). I beseech you, let us see his love
to us in all this. Enough for that question, which I would not have men-
tioned, but that it hath a special use and comfort, and may be an incentive
to kindle love to Christ regarding us in his birth and life and death, in his
resurrection, in his ascension, in his gloiy, in all.
To draw to a conclusion therefore ; Christ is our Lord both in life and
death. It is for ever. Oh beloved, therefore I beseech thee, let us pro-
ject for his glory for ever as much as we can. He is our Lord. When wg
are dead, he is Lord of our souls, of our happiness. We are nearer him
then than we are now. He that is my Lord both living and dying and for
ever, shall I not labour that when I am dead there may be a church here ?
that when I am dead posterity may serve him, and be subject to him ?
Shall he for ever be Lord for my good, and shall not I as much as lieth
in me, lay a foundation for ever in his service, that when I can serve him
no longer myself, then posterity may serve him ?
It was a cursed wish of a pagan emperor. When I am dead, let heaven
and earth be mingled if they will (»). But a Christian thinks, Christ is
mine, and for my good both living and dying ; nay, I have more good by
him when I am dead than alive ; therefore I will labour that he may have
glory in his church by me and mine, and all my counsels and projects shall
be that it may be for ever and ever, world without end. Therefore they
desire that God may be served and glorified in the church for ever, as he
is their Lord living and dying.
And let it be our comfort in the hour of death — that may be nearer us
than we are aware of — that he is not only Lord of the living, but of those
that are dead. He hath the keys both ' of hell and death ;' that is, he
hath the government of death ; and therefore shall I be afraid to commit
my soul to Christ ? What a ground is this comfortably to yield our souls
to Christ ! Lord, take the soul that thou diedst to purchase, that thou didst
rise again to justify, that thou dost live now in heaven to make intercession
for, that thou hast given thy Holy Spirit in some measure to sanctify ; take
this soul to thee ! It is thy soul as much and more than mine ; I am not
mine own, nor my soul is not my own. ' Into thy hands I commend even
thy spirit ; for thou hast redeemed me, 0 Lord of truth,' Acts vii. 59.
Thou hast redeemed this soul of mine, therefore now take this soul, that
thou by thy Spirit hast wrought in some poor measure to desire to please
thee : that soul that thou hast sprinkled with thy own blood ; take that soul,
for thou art Lord both living and dying. And what a comfort is it, when
death shall close up our eyes, that we can look forward and see then our-
selves nearer Christ ; for then we go to Christ our husband, as Paul saith,
' I desire to be dissolved, and to bo with Christ, which is best of all,'
Philip, i. 23. When a Christian thinks at death. Now I am changing for
the better ; Christ will not leave me at the hour of death, neither dying nor
living, but will watch over my dust. My dead body is a member of Christ.
Death may separate body and soul, but it cannot separate soul or body
from him ; therefore take no thought for body or soul. For my soul I
know he will receive it ; and my body, as a good dejwsiUim, is laid up in the
dust. He watches over all the dust and ashes and everything, and will
make the earth faithful in giving up that dcpoaitwn. He is Lord of me
dying as well as living. Shall I be afraid to die, when in death I commend
my soul to such a sweet Lord, and go to my husband and to my king ?
And that is the end of the sacrament, for the word and sacrament are
PUECHASED BY HIS HUMILIATION. 855
parts of the regiment * of Christ whereby he rules his church. Ho rules
his church outwardly by the word and sacraments, and inwardly by his
Spirit. His Holy Spirit makes good his own good means ; and therefore
as the subjects of Christ, I beseech you let us come to the ordinance of Christ.
He is such a Lord as doth great things by despised means, bread and wine,
poor means. But consider what a mighty Lord useth them for our soul's
good ; apd it is his glory to magnify himself by base and weak means.
He goes contrary to the course of the world, that stands all upon outward
excellency ; therefore let no man stumble at the meanness of the means,
but consider what great things he works by the foolishness of preaching,
and the meanness of his ordinance, the sacraments. He beats down strong-
holds. He builds us up in Christ to salvation. He communicates him-
self and all his benefits to us. Therefore, I beseech you, come with faith ;
come with this persuasion, Christ will bless his own ordinance ; and come
with comfort. Christ communicates himself to us. The nearer we come
to the fountain, the moi'e we draw. And come with preparation; know
with whom we have to deal, with him that is ' Lord of quick and dead.'
Come with reverence. But these things I have oft upon this occason stood
upon. So much for this text.
NOTES.
(a) P. 327. — 'Domine quo descendis, &c. Lord, how far goest thou? He could
not go lower and be God.' Qu. One of the many adoring sayings of Bernard ?
(b) P. 327. — ' Christ rose. . . . Therefore many rose with him. . . . And as the
"second Adam,'' who could infuse life into others.' The Fathers and Schoolmen
supply many singular disquisitions upon the topic here enunciated by Sibbes, more
subtle than profitable. Mrs Olive has finely described the uniqueness of the Lord's
resurrection : —
' One place alone had ceased to hold its prey ;
A form had pressed it and was there no more ;
The garments of the grave beside it lay,
Where once they wrapped Him on the rocky floor.
He only with returning footsteps broke
Th' eternal calm wherewith tlie tomb was bound ;
Among the sleeping dead, alone he woke,
And blessed with outstretched hands the hosts around.'
IX. Poems by V.
(c) P. 330. — ' A Christian may say of Christ, that he is totus in meos usus expensvs,
as one well said. He is all mine ; he is all expended for my use and profit.' This
Baying I have failed to trace.
(d) P. S31. — ' They have some power indeed over their bodies, but, alas! that is
senseless.' Two generations were scarcely gone after Sibbes's death until the mise-
rable vengeance on the ' bodies ' of Cromwell and Bradshaw, and other of the illus-
trious Commonwealth heroes and worthies, furnished a memorable example of such
impotent ' power ' as he here describes. Cf. also note m. Vol. H. p. 434.
(e) P. 333. — ' Homo non est natus, &c., as the natural man said, " A man is not
born to subjection, but to honour and government," ' Seneca has the sentiinent, and
likewise Juvenal, and later Philo.
(/) P. 333. — ' Such a Lord as this is cui servire regnare est, <5'c., to whom to serve
is to reign.' Cf. notes c and d, p. 322.
(g) P. 338. — ' Inright.' See footnote on page 338. The following is Leighton's
use of the word : — ' If he be righteousness in himself and holy, and victor over his
enemies, and set free from wrath and death ; then are we too in him, for ho is ours,
and so ours that we become what he is, are inrighted to all he hath, and endowed
with all his gooda.' (Ten Sermons. Ser. 5.)
* That is, 'government.' — G.
856 cheist's exaltation purchased by his humiliation.
(h) p. 348. — ' It is true, in regno nati sumns Deo, ^c. We are born in a kingdom, &c.
Cf. note e.
(i) P. 849. — ' As they could say in the Schools, every thing hath its perfection
by being subject to a superior, except the Highest of all, which is not subordinate,
but independent.' One of the commonplaces of the Schoolmen.
(y) P. 350. — 'Whereas one saith, "I believe because it is impossible."' The
famous paradox of Descartes, ' I believe because it is impossible,' is here anticipated.
The philosopher was a contemporary of Sibbes, but his philosophical treatises were
not published until years after his death. From whom had he got it?
(k) P. 351. — ' Now . . . when his poor church is thus used and trampled upon in
France, in the Palatinate, in Bohemia, and the princes of Germany.' Our Memoir
of Sibbes shews the deep interest Sibbes took in the ' Troubles ' of the Protestant
Continental Churches.
(Z) P. 352. — ' Calvin. . . . Saith he, whether he did or no, it is curious to search,
it is rash to define.' Cf. Calvin in loc, who invariably shews the same reticence and
reverence in dealing with the 'secret things' of God.
(m) P. 354. — ' But as one of the ancients saith well, " If he had gone to heaven
another way, ho might have come thither himself, but he could not have helped us
t]iat way,'' ' &c. Qu. Bernard?
(n) P. 354. — ' It was a cursed wish of a Pagan emperor " When I am dead, let
heaven and earth be mingled if they will.'' ' One of many wild sayings ascribed to
Nero. G.
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
NOTE.
' The Life of Faifh forms Nos. 27 and 28 and (with ' Salvation Applied' as its
sequel) 2Q in the edition of ' The Saint's Cordials' published in 1629. In the editions
of 1G37 and 1658, the three Sermons form Nos. 17, 18, and 19. The text followed
in that of 1637, on which see note page 176 ante. The separate title-page of ' The
Life of Faith' will be found below,* and that of ' Salvation Applied,' the third of
the Sermons composing it, in its place. G.
* T H E LIFE
OF FAITH.
In three Sermons.
WHEREIN IS SHEWED,
What this Life of Faith is : Why
Faith has so much attributed unto it : And
how to live this glorious Life in all the severall
passages of our Pilgrimage.
By R. S. D. D.
[AA'oodcut here as before. Cf. Vol. IV. page 60.]
LONDON,
Printed for R. Davvlman, at the brazen Serpent in
Pauls Churchyard. 16 3 7.
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
SEEMON I.
And the life which I now live in the flesh I live bij the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. — Gax,. II. 20.
They are the words of a man pursued by the law unto Christ, proceeding
from the Spirit of Christ ; the nature whereof is, to apply generals to par-
ticulars. So St Paul here, ' The life which I now live in the flesh, I live
by the faith of the Son of God.' He sees he is dead by the law ; therefore
he seeks for a better husband. The law finds him dead, and leaves him
dead. Thus pursued by the tenor of the law, he flies to Christ, and says,
' I am crucified with Christ,' nevertheless I live. How ? ' Yet not I, but
Christ livcth in me.'
There be three ranks of men in the world, under which all men may be
comprehended.
1. The estate of nature,
2. The estate of men under the spirit of bondage.
3. The estate of grace under the gospel.
This is the speech of one of the third rank, of a man awaked by the
spirit of bondage, who hath attained to a clear and evident sight of his
misery, and of the excellent remedies, of a man who hath attained to a
new frame and temper of soul. It is the speech of a person in the state of
grace, who now aspires to a more noble and excellent life. In the words
we may consider divers things.
1. That there is another manner of life than the ordinary life of nature.
2. That it is a better and more excellent life than that he formerly
lived ; as if he had said, Now, since I have seen the misery of my former
natural estate, and the excellency of a spiritual life by faith in the Son of
God, I esteem my former life to have been wretched, not worthy of the
name of life, compared with that which I live now, as being founded in a
better root than the ' first Adam.'
3. The spring of this Hfe is the Son of God. God is life naturally, and
we have life no otherwise than from him who quickeneth all things.
4. The conveyance of this spiritual life is by faith. Water springs not
without a conduit to carry and spread it. The sun warms not without
beams, and the liver conveys not blood without veins. So faith is that
vessel which conveys this spiritual Hfe, that conduit wherein all spiritual
860
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
graces run, for the framing and working of spiritual life, conveying all, to
pitch upon those excellencies of the Son of God.
5. The object and root of this spiritual life is, faith in the Son of God,
loving him, and giving himself for him.
So there is a life besides the natural life, and the root of it is Christ,
who is our life. Life is the best thing in the world, most esteemed of us ;
as the devil said concerning Job, ' Skin for skin, and all that a man hath
will he give for his life,' Job. ii. 4. Life is the foundation of all com-
forts ; life is the vigour proceeding from soul and body. So the spiritual
life is nothing else but that excellent vigour, and strong connected strength
of the soul and body renewed, grounded on supernatural reasons, which
makes it follow the directions of the word, over-master the flesh, and so
by degrees bo transformed into the image of Christ, consisting in holiness
and righteousness.
Doct. The first point then is, that there is a better life than a natural
life, because there is somewhat in a man which aspires and looks to a bet-
ter estate. A child in the mother's womb hath life and senses in that dark
place, but it is not contented therewith, but is restless as in a prison,
tumbles and turns up and down ; for this life that it hath is not to dwell
there, but a beginning-life to fit it to live in the more open and spacious
■world, whither it must shortly be sent forth. So in this dark life of ours
there is a divine instinct, power, and faculty in men, that nothing here can
sufiice ; which shews, that there is a place to satiate the will and the under-
standing, and fill the afi'ections ; that there is a condition which shall make
a man fully happy. That there must be a better life, which is this
spiritual life ; for this life which we Hve in the flesh is a thing of nothing.
Our little life we live here, wherefore is it ? To live a while, to eat and
drink and enjoy our pleasures, and then fall down and die like a beast ?
Oh no, but to make a beginning for a better life. If this life be such a
blessing, what is then that most excellent spiritual hfe we speak of? It
holds out beyond all. By this spiritual life, when one is most sick, you
shall see him most lively and spiritual. When sense, and spirit, and sight,
and all fail, yet by reasons drawn from spiritual life he comforts himself
in Christ, the glory to come, and what he hath done for him. So the
apostle shews the aim of a Christian is to be in sufferings of this life for
the increase of a better, 2 Cor. iv. 10, saith he, ' Always bearing about in
our body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be
made manifest in our body.' When the body is weakest, the spirit is
strongest. Take a man who hath not this spirit and hope, he is d la mort*
at the apprehension of death, because he hath no faith, no knowledge, no
quickening hfe, no sense or taste of more excellent things ; he knows not
whether there be a Holy Ghost or not : or if he be convinced in conscience,
yet he is taken up with horrors, and fears condemnation at hand for ever-
more. Oh what are we without this life ? Otherwise an heathen or an
infidel were as happy as we.
A Christian furnished with this spiritual life can see Christ and glory,
beyond all the things of this life ; he can look backwards, make use of all
things past, see the vanity of things so admired of others ; he can taste
things nature doth not relish ; he hath strength of reasons beyond all the
apprehensions of reason ; he is a man of a strong working. This should
stir us up above all things to get this spiritual life in us, lest, hke St Paul's
living dead widow, we be dead whilst we be alive, 1 Tim. v. 6. Therefore,
* That is, ' deadly afraid,' — G.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 861
unless we will be dead creatures, labour we must for a spiritual life, for
there is another death which follows the first death. We not only lose God
and Christ, life and glory, eternal life, communion with saints and angels,
but also we come to eternal torments with the devil and his angels. There-
fore above all things go we to Christ, that we may live in his sight.
What is the reason we seek not more for this spiritual life ? Because,
when the conscience is not awakened, we think there is no such thing : like
Judas, walking on in the state of nature, in drunkenness, voluptuousness,
covetousness, and the like, until we perish suddenly. If the conscience be
awakened, oh then it is easy to work upon such a one who sees his misery
and desires the remedy. It was easy to persuade Jacob to send for corn .
into Egypt, when a famine was in the land of Canaan. It is easy to per-
suade men hungry and thirsty to eat and drink ; easy to persuade a laden,
weary man to lay down his burden and rest. So it is with us. If the
conscience be awakened to have a sense of sin, and that intolerable wrath
and eternal punishment due thereunto, we should and would long for this
spiritual life.
I beseech you, let us believe there is such a life. Look 1 Pet. i. 3.
There he blesses God, ' who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.' None can go to heaven
but they who are begotten again here. The main help is the use of the
means. This is that pool of Bethesda, at which if we lie the angel of the
covenant will put us in to be healed. Never rest then till this life be gotten
in us. When we find such an antipathy betwixt our spirits and sin as is
between poison and them, then there is a beginning of the work. So we
should hate sinful persons, whose conversations hinder the progress and
increase of our spiritual life. Those who venture on all occasions, no
wonder they do fall in sinful courses. What is all their care and endeavour
but to draw one into sin ? They care for their lusts, and never think of any
more. A Christian will care most for the nourishing of his best life, know-
ing that good and bad company do, the one quicken, the other dead him.
Christ is called life, the bread of life, tree of life, and he gives us living
water to refresh our souls, not that he is so essentially bread, or a tree, but
by the efficacy of his working in us. For God is life in himself. There-
fore he swears by it : * As I Hve, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of
a sinner,' Ezek. xxxiii. 11. We consider not here of life so high, though
this life must be derived from him principally. It is so natm-ally. The
Son is the fountain of hfe, because he is God, who is radically, fundamen-
tally, and essentially life.
But before Christ be fitted to be life for us, he must be man first, as John
vi, 55, * For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.' And
the reason why he so quickens is, because he is also God, being that bread
which came down fi'om heaven, of which * whoso eateth shall live for ever.'
Now this great work of our salvation being of necessity to be performed by
an infinite person as God, who could not die, he therefore took upon him
a mortal nature, to open a current to mercy and justice. Therefore his
flesh is meat indeed ; but the flesh profiteth nothing without the Spirit
which quickens ; for there must be a Spirit to seal up all this unto us.
As without shedding of blood no forgiveness of sins, so without the Spirit
sealing these things unto our souls, we can have no comfort of them.
When we speak of spiritual hfe, he it is that we live for ; by him, and in
him, and through him we live. Therefore, 1 Cor. xv. 45, ' the last Adam
is called a quickening Spirit,' because by that Spirit he quickened himself,
3G2 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
and quickens ns now to live the life of grace, and shall hereafter quicken
our dead bodies at the resurrection. So he is called ' the Sun of righteous-
ness,' for light and heat, because, as the sun lightens and warms, so he is
the light of the world, as John speaks, * lighting everything which cometh
into the world,' John i. 9, warming also and cherishing the mass of things,
and therefore is called light and life.
Thus have we seen briefly there is another life than the life of nature ;
that this is a most excellent life ; and that the root and spring of it is the
Son of God. Now the way of conveyance of this life is ' by faith.' A
fountain is not sufficient to send forth water abroad ; there must be pipes
to convey it for use. So from the heart and liver there must be arteries
and veins for the maintenance of life and conveyance of blood through all
the body. Christ is the heart and liver of all spiritual life ; but there must
be a conveyance to bring it to us, and this is faith. But why is faith the
grace to convey life to us ?
(1.) Because ire are saved now out of ourselves hj another. Therefore that
grace which brings us to this great good must lead us out of ourselves.
This faith doth, which is the hand of the soul, to lay hold of all the graces,
excellencies, and high perfections of Christ.
(2.) Because faith gives all the glory to the party* on ichom it relies on and
trusts, as Rom. iii. 2G. Paul shews why works were excluded ; and such
a righteousness was brought in, saith he, that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth ; and then he adds, ' Wliere is boasting
then ? It is excluded. By what law ? Of works ? Nay, but by the
law of faith.' If by love it had come, or humility, patience, or anything
in us, some boasting might have been ; but this looks another way, lays
hold upon another's riches. Faith acknowledgeth nothing to be at home ;
therefore it goes to another to fetch it, which else it would not do.
(3.) Because ice must he brought back again to God by a contrary way than
that we ivere lost by ; for the same way we could never have recovered. The
serpent, we know, shaked Eve's faith in believing the threatening. Whilst
they kept the word and feared the commandment, they kept their life ; but,
losing this awful respect, they lost communion with the fountain of love.
So we fell by infidelity, and must return again by faith in the righteousness
of another.
By this time we are come to the main thing intended, how ive live by the
faith of the Son of God. We shall not haply reach the depth of so profound
a mystery ; only I will endeavour to give you some few heads, wherein faith
principally exerciseth her powers and functions.
1. The life of faith is exercised in our eflectual calling.
2. In the state of justification, whence comes reconciliation.
3. In a vigorous life, arising on the comfort of our justification.
4. In our sanctification ; in those supplies faith finds out to make up
the imperfection thereof.
5. The life of faith in glorification.
6. We live by faith in all the several passages of this life, as we shall
see when we come to them.
Thus we live continually by the faith of the Son of God, and so we must
live till we come to heaven.
1. We live the life of faith in our effectual calling. The Spirit works it,
the Spirit is God's hand. This makes, that our eyes are bent upwards to
* Cf. footnote Vol. III. p. 9.— G.
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
363
see a bcttcv life, to see a calling, to live liolily and rigliteously in all things,
to see what a rich means is provided to reconcile God and man, to satisfy
justice, and so to draw us in a new way and course of life, to rely on God,
and look unto him in all our actions. Then the grace of union is given.
God's Spirit works our hearts by this faith, to have first union, and then
communion with God. Thus the soul being seasoned, and seeing the
excellency and necessity of another new life, touches Christ, and begins to
live the life of faith in effectual calling ; for at first we are dead and unlovely
creatures, estranged from grace and gracious actions, until, in this estate,
Christ is discovered by the Spirit, and faith to unite us to him.
2. Secondly, We live the life of faith in justification. This is a life of
sentence that the soul lives by, peace being spoken unto it by the pardon
of sin ; for God by his Spirit doth report so much to the soul, giving us
assurance that Christ our surety and peace-maker is raised up again. So
Eph. ii. 5, it is said, ' Even wlien we were dead in sins, he hath quickened
us together with Christ, and raised us together, and made us sit in heavenly
places with him.' And why ? Because our Surety hath paid our debt.
We say of a man condemned, he is a dead man till he have a pardon, which
when he hath obtained, we turn our speech, and say, he lives. So in jus-
tification : being united unto Christ, and believing our pardon, we are said
to live. Our sins lie on him as our surety ; for then, as our husband in
charge, he doth pay all our debts. Thus by virtue of our marriage to
Christ, he discharges all our debts, and goeth away v/ith them ; even as the
scapegoat in the wilderness went quite away with all the sins and iniquities
of the people, never to return again. Look we therefore to our sins, the
curse and wrath due unto them, and all as laid on him. Look at whatso-
ever is good in him, that is for us ; whatsoever is evil in us, look in him
for it, to have it taken away, pardoned, and not imputed.
As we sin daily, so Zech. xiii. 1, ' There is a fountain daily running, to
wash away sin and uncleanness.' Therefore for our daily sinning, we
must continually run and bathe our souls in this blood, apply the comforts
of his sufferings, intercession, and obedience unto us. St John teaches
us thus much ; saith he, ' If any man sin, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righti^ous, and he is the propitiation for our sins ;
and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world,' 1 John
ii. 1. If we sin daily, he justifies the sinner daily : he came to save sin-
ners : therefore, when sin stirs us up to run from God, we should run to him.
Faith says, ' There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus,'
Kom. viii. 1. Why ? My sin was condemned in Christ, and a condemned
person hath no voice. Christ came to destroy sin, and condemned sin in
the flesh. Our sins were crucified with him, and are now all condemned
sins, if we will go unto Christ, who hath borne all our iniquities, as the
prophet Isaiah excellently shews.* Therefore St Paul triumphantly demands
the question, ' Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ? It
is God that justifieth, who is"^he that condemneth ? ' Why ? ' It is Christ
that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall then separate us
from the love of Christ ?' Rom. viii. 83, 34. So in our daily sins you see
we have use of these things, to have, upon our confession, a daily pardon
of course taken out every day. Thus God would not have us sink. So
long as there is matter of guilt in us, God will have a way to cleanse our
Bouls, and renew our comforts. Every day we run into new debts, and
* Isa. liii. 5. — G.
864 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
every day in the Lord's Prayer we are taught to ask pardon, and to run
unto God, to have the book crossed out with his blood. Every day a
Christian must eye the brazen serpent, I mean the Lord Jesus, signified
thereby ; he must sprinkle his heart with the blood of Christ, that the
destroying angel may pass by him in the day of wrath, as the Israelites
then did. This is it to live by faith ; every day to sue out our pardon ; to
look unto our advocate and surety, who hath paid our debts, and cancelled
that obligation against us, contrary to us, as the apostle speaks, daily to
wash in that ever-running fountain. ' Christ is a priest for ever, after the
order of Melchisedec,' Ps. ex. 4. Though the act be past, he remains the
same still. What puts down our courage, strikes us with terror and fear,
but our sins ? Oh, but why is this brazen serpent hfted, but thus to wash
away our daily frailties and failings, so as whosoever beheveth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting Hfe ? John iii. 14, 15.
So justification is not only a sentence of pardon, but it is also, as Kom.
V. 15, a title to life everlasting: Tor if by one man's offence death reigned
by one, much more they which receive the abundance of grace, and of the
gift of righteousness, shall reign in Ufe by Jesus Christ.' Where God
pardons, he advances. So if Satan shall come to shake my title, to shake
this faith, assure him that Christ came to save sinners. If he object, thy
title is naught and stained, being thou hast so many sins and corruptions
about thy mortal body, answer him, What serves my faith for but for
my comfort, to shew me that my title is in Christ ? my strength and
ground of comfort is in him, not in myself. See one parallel example, how
David lived this life of faith in justification : ' If thou, 0 Lord, shouldst
mark iniquities, who shall stand? ' Ps. cxxx. 3. There he pronounces death
on himself ere he be acquitted, and so must we in the like case. But then
comes the appeal : * But mercy is with thee, that thou mayest be feared.'
Enlarge it yourself. If a man be not sound in this point, all he does is
nothing. This is all in all. Our sanctificalion without this is nothing.
This is the ground of all. Be careful of this, to look to Christ's obedience,
life, death, and sufferings, and those comforts flowing from our interest
therein.
But to direct you a little further ere we leave this sweet point.
First, hook hack every day unto the 2)assayes thereof. See how we have
passed along, see what sins have escaped thee ; then come at night to God,
confess and be sorry for all, resolve against all, crave strength against all.
Oh it is a fearful state to sleep in sin ; better sleep in a house full of adders
and venomous beasts. See also and watch every morning; coi'ruption
doth cleave to all our best actions ; we pass no day so, but we have cause
to say. Lord forgive us our sins. By this course we shall keep our souls
free, being ready for death. We shall by our particular reckoning, every
day clearing the score, be ready for our great general pardon, and when
trouble comes, have only that to encounter with.-i I beseech you, therefore,
put this in practice. Be sure with the day to clear the sins of that day ;
so shall ye live a comfortable life, and be fit for all estates, for life, for
death, for sickness, trouble, or whatsoever, all our business lying in
heaven then.
Obj. If it be thus, we need not care how we sin : it is but every day to
sue out a new pardon.
A71S. Oh beware ; ere our pardon be sealed, there must be confession,
sorrow for sin, resolution with full purpose to do so no more ; there must
be arraigning, condemning, and judging of ourselves for it, because what-
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 865
soever we would not have God to do, we must do it ourselves. Our
time in getting this quietus est sealed, is for tlae most part according to our
sin. He that hath such a resolution to sin every day, because sin is every
day pardoned, he may go long enough without pardon, at least comfort of
his pardon. For though pardon of sins be pronounced, yet God hath the
keeping of joy in his own hand. As David liad his sin pardoned, — by the
judgment of faith he knew thus much — yet Ps. li. 8, how doth he pray for
joy, and that God would heal the bones which he had broken ! He roared
all the day, and still felt a pain like the breaking of bones. The joy of the
Spirit had left him. This he cries to have restored. Thus though sin
may be pardoned, yet the more we sin, the more hardly we shall repenfi,
the longer we shall want joy ; or, it may be, go all our lifetime mourning
without comfort in such a case. Now let us see how it maij he knouii that
we live the life of faith in justification.
Trial 1. First, By trying how it comes in the soul: as Eom. vii. 4, saith
the apostle, ' Wherefore, my brethren, we also are become dead to the law
by the body of Christ ; that ye should be married to another, even to him
who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.'
After a man is dead by the law, and apprehends himself slain, then he
comes to live this life of faith. Christ quickens none but the dead. Why
do not the papists attain to this grace of justification ? They never see
themselves wholly dead, but join some life to the natural estate of man.
Therefore Christ quickens them not. Such only are quickened by him who
find themselves dead in the law. Then they come to have a holy despair,
and to see that life and comfort is out of themselves in another. Justifica-
tion springs from a holy despau', and receiving life, after we have seen our-
eelves dead.
Trial 2. Secondly, Where this life of faith is, tJiere is a iconderful high
valuing and jmzing of Christ, his righteousness, merits, obedience, and wis-
dom of God in that way of forgiveness of our sins by this God-man, the
wonderful mediator ; as Philip, iii. 8. Paul accounts all things ' but loss
and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord,'
being contented to suffer the loss of all things to win Christ. It is the pre-
cious pearl to sell all for. Paul accounts all our own righteousness as nothing
in regard of this. There must be a high estimation of the riches of Christ's
obedience and sufferings : for where there is not this high estimation of it,
they are rotten in the point of justification. But you see how Paul sets at
nought and vilifies all things in regard thereof ; so Eom. iv. 16. Abraham
is brought in to be justified by grace, to the end the promise might be sure
to all the seed. And Ps. xxxii. 2, he is pronounced to be the blessed
man, ' unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and whose sin is
covered.'
Trial 3. Thirdly, When u-e have a zeal against all contrary doctrine, as
St Paul shews to the Galatians, who would have joined works to faith :
* Christ is become of none effect unto you ; whosoever of you are justified
by the law, you are fallen from grace,' Gal. v. 4. And in the third chap-
ter he says, * 0 foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that yon should
not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently
Bet forth crucified among you ?' * This only would I learn of you,
received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith ?'
Gal. iii. 1, 2. A man sound in the point of justification hath a hatred to
popery, and all such doctrine which impairs the riches of the grace of
Christ. Death is in the Romish religion. Why are some of them then
366 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
saved ? Not because tliey die in that religion, but because they reverse
their judgment in this point of justification.'" So jon see there is a hatred,
a zeal in such, as St Paul had against contrary doctrines.
Trial 4. Fourthly, TJicre is peace and jnij settled in the heart: as Rom.
V. 1, 2, ' Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ : by whom also we have access by faith
into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of
God.'
Quest. To add one thing more ere I leave this point, In the case of
relapse, what shall we do then? Are we not cut off? Must we not have
a new incision ?
Ans. I answer. Every man who fixUs does not fall on all-four, fall away
quite. There be degrees of falling ; as in a sick man, though ill, he is not
by and by dead. Some life and strength remains, which works out towards
health again. There is so much grace and life in justification left, as to
recover him again. But as in other cases, so in relapses also, a man must
live by faith. We see, 2 Cor. v. 20, even such as were in the state of
grace, are entreated to be reconciled. Though we fall, we must not there-
fore fall off, but stir up grace, and recover ourselves again. So Isa. Iv. 7,
there it is said, ' Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous his
thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon
him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.' And then he adds
the reason, ' For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my^ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts.' So Jer. iii. 1, ' They say. If a man put away his wife, and she
go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again ?
Shall not the land be greatly polluted ? But thou hast played the harlot
with many lovers ; yet return again to me, saith the Lord.' Thus we must
live by faith, for all our slips and falls, yet not to let go our hold, but still
run to the horns of this altar, still fly to this city of refuge, and so we
shall be safe.
Quest. But what is the reason that many who are justified yet find not
daily comfort ?
Ans. Perhaps they daub upt themselves, and do not search the bottom
of their corruption : as Ps. xxxii. 3, David, when he kept close his sin, his
bones waxed old through his roaring all the day long, and God's hand
was heavy upon him day and night. Then he shews how he found com-
fort : ' I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not
hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto thee ; and thou for-
gavest the iniquity of my sin.' So it may be in this case. We come not
off with God freely, we do not ransack our sins, we search not all the cor-
ners. Sin is a marvellous subtle thing. Again, thereby many times God
will humble us for a former sin, and keep off comfort, until we be more
humbled, and stand in awe of sin.
3. Thirdly, Hence sprinfis a vi(/nrons life. A life of cheerfulness, when a
man hath his pardon sued out, then comes life and joy, strength of holy
actions well rooted and grounded. Who should joy, if a triumphant
righteous person should not ? Who have cause to rejoice more than kings ?
By justification we are made kings and priests, are lifted above all sins
and lusts, world and devil ; have a right and title to heaven. Shall a car-
nal man joy in his titles and privileges, and shall not we much more, being
* Cf. Note w, Vol. III. p. 531.— G. t Cf. Ezek. xiii. 11, 12, and xxii. 28.— G.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 3G7
sons of God by adoption, tand heirs of all things ? So Kom. v. 1 : * Being
justified by faith, we have peace with God, and joy in tribulation.' Being
once justified, the sting of all troubles is taken away. God is ours. We
jo}' in God. This is all in all. The blood of Abel, that cries for ven-
geance ; but the Spirit of God in this estate tells me, that the blood of
Christ speaks better things, mercy, mercy ; in his blood is always comfort,
though we be weak and unskilful to apply it. The washing in this blood
should make a Christian walk on cheerfully in the comforts of the Holy
Ghost. But I hasten to the next, which is,
4. Fourthly, The life of faith in sauctiJlccUion. This springs from these
grounds :
(1.) First, Faith lays hold on Christ, as God offers him. How is this ?
See 1 Cor. i. 30 : ' But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption,'
God gives Christ, not for justification only, but sanctification also : and
thus faith must apprehend him.
(2.) Faith receives him as whole Christ in all his offices ; not as a priest
to save only, but as a king to rule ; as a wife receives her husband, to be
governed and ruled by him.
(3.) Again, Christ came not only to take away the guilt of sin, but the
dominion of sin. He came, as John speaks, to destroy the whole work of
the devil ; as it is said, Eph. v. 25, 26, ' He gave himself for his church, that
he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or
wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without
blemish.' Christ doth purge his church, not only from the guilt of sin,
but also from the meddling and polluting of itself in the world with filthy
things. So Rom. viii. 3, the apostle shews, that ' God sending his own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh :
that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' He catne as well by water as by
blood. Therefore faith puts him on, not only by justification, but also in
sanctification. To clear this.
[1.] Upon justification of necessity comes sanctification. For what is
the stop of God's mercy ? His anger for sin committed ; in which case he
denies his Spirit. But with reconciliation there comes also the Spirit : as
Ephes. i. 13, saith the apostle, ' In whom also, after that ye believed, ye
were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.' Now the Spirit once given,
is the seed of all graces. Whosoever is justified, hath the Spirit of Christ :
Rom. viii. 9, ' And if any man hath not the Spirit of Chi-ist, he is none
of his.'
[2.] Again, having the Spirit of Christ, faith fetches all strength from
Christ. Samson's strength was in his locks ; a Christian's strength is in
Christ. This the devil knows well, and therefore labours especially to
weaken faith, and draw us from our strength. Christ says, ' Without me
ye can do nothing,' John xv. 5 ; and St Paul affirms, that he ' can do all
things through Chxist who strengthened him,' Philip, iv. 13. The Spirit
gives strength.
[3.] Again, as by Christ and his Spirit we have strength, so by his
Spirit we have strong convincing reasons to work with strength from rea-
son. Why doth a Christian carry himself in a holy just carriage answering
his profession ? Oh, saith he, I have great reason ; Christ hath loved me,
and given himself for me ; and should not I give myself to him, deny my
368 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
lusts, and live to him ? For, indeed, the foundation of all Christian obe-
dience is laid by faith in Christ. So when a man looks to heaven, he hath
a reason to abstain from all lets and hindrances of his safe and comfortable
passage ; to magnify the riches of Christ's love, which hath provided for
him such an inheritance, and to live accordingly. So when he looks to the
pardon of sins past, he sees reason to hate them more and more, to strive
against them in time to come, and to love Christ the more, who hath
pardoned them. And when he looks to God's free love in Christ, he''sees
reason to be inflamed with divine love, to admire the riches of that grace,
and to be thankful.
[4.] Again, Christian affections are as the wind, to carry us on in a holy
life. Thus strength, and reason, and affections, these make a man work.
First, love sets us awork : ' we love him,' saith the apostle, ' because he
loved us first,' 1 John iv. 19. We have his love first shed abroad in our
hearts, inflaming the affections, and kindling the heat of divine love ; and
then we send back a reflex of love unto him. God cares for nothing
but faith which works by love. This love is a most operative affection
stirred up by faith. Indeed, all our Christian graces are set a-work by faith
in Christ.
Thus you see faith apprehending Christ, as God offers him ; and these
things which I have mentioned following, we come to live the life of faith
in sanctification : an example whereof see in that woman, who because many
sins were forgiven her, loved much. Love is bountiful. All obedience
comes from love. Love is the keeping of the law. This afiection is
stirred up by faith, yea, by Christ, for by him we have the promise of the
Spirit, whence all graces come, and promises of the new covenant, to have
fleshly hearts given, and his Spirit put in us. All promises of justification
and sanctification are derived from Christ. They are in him, made for
him, and effected for his sake ; for he is ' yea and amen,' the centre and
ground of all the promises. Now being brought by faith to live in justifi-
cation, we must of necessity also live by faith in sanctification. There be
two parts of a holy life: 1. In mortification , dying to sin; 2. In vilifica-
tion, living to righteousness.
For the first, What does it to a man in this case ? Why, he looks what
brought Christ to suffer so much ; my sin. So this affection stirs up the
same passion in him, in a sort, which was in Christ, and makes him hate
sin with a perfect hatred, as in Zechariah it is said, * They should look
upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn for him as one mourneth
for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitter-
ness for his first born,' Zech. xii. 10. Secondly, It looks on the love of
Christ, that made him give himself for us. This makes us to hate sin,
and provokes us to live unto him who hath done so much for us. These two
things in the death of Christ stir up hatred to sin.
Then again, in vivification, the same Spirit which quickened him doth
also quicken us: as Col. iii. 1, 'If 3'e then be risen with Christ, seek
those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of
God : set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.' So
that the same Spirit which is in Christ, being sent into us, quickens us
also to have mounting and heavenly thoughts. As the foot and little
finger, though distant, live and stir by the same life and spirits diffused
through the whole body, so the same Spirit quickens every Christian this
way. As also by imparting strength, he imparts reasons from the resur-
rection of Christ to make us heavenly-minded, so when the soul dies one
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 369
way, it lives another way. For Christ having by the Spirit discovered a
better state, and Hfe to come, of eternity, immortahty, tranquiUity, and
glory ; then a Christian dies to all worldly things, and hath the affections
taken up that way.
Thus we see every day so to lead our lives, as we not only live the life
of faith in justification, but also of sanctification ; how out of Christ's ful-
ness to fetch grace for grace. Therefore in all our wants go to him still.
He is not only a sacrifice satisfactory for our sins, but he is a storehouse
also and treasure of all good things. He is made unto us sanctification,
therefore beg we favour from him, and endowments of grace conformable to
his grace. And again, when we lack fulness, let us not despair, but fetch
the large vessel of faith, and we shall have a share of the large graces which
are in Christ, according to the lai'geness of our faith.
Quest. What is the reason that so few find strength and comfort in
Christianity ?
Ans. They set upon getting of grace, and killing corruptions by their
own strength, and so are ever wanting ; but if a man depend upon God, he
shall have fulness out of Christ. God hath sanctified his nature for this
purpose, that out of his fulness we might have grace for grace. And so
again, every day go to God, and plead for strength against sin, power to
lead a holy life, and imputation of Christ's righteousness, to supply the
defects of our sanctification. St Puul says, ' I can do all things through
Christ that strengthens me,' Philip, iv. 13. It is a magnificent speech,
and a great matter to have a man ready to suffer all things, and overcome
all things. This will make us work wonderfully, if we have this strength
supplied. See an instance, Luke xvii. 3, 4. Our Saviour tells his dis-
ciples, that they must forgive their brother seven times, and seven times,
as often as he confesses his fault. They thought this a wonderful hard
duty, for nothing is so sweet to a man as revenge, for he would willingly
be his own carver in all things, and do things in his own strength. The
disciples upon this fall a-praying, ' Lord, increase our faith ;' as though
they had said. We had need of faith to believe the pardon of so many
sins, and to enable us to forgive so often. And so I say of the subduing
of sin, we had need of faith to have so many sins subdued ; yet faith will
do it.
Now in this great work, 1. Go to God, and beg his Spirit, and repent
of all manner of sin ; 2. Then beg faith. This will set all other graces
a-work. It is like the blood and spirits which run all the body over. So
in our spiritual life, this faith must run along in all graces, and set them
a-working, yea, it sets God and all his attributes a-work. It runs to Christ,
and prays, Lord, increase my faith, that can bear nothing as I should,
resist nothing, believe nothing, and trust nothing. This indeed must be
all our strength, to see nothing in ourselves, but all in Christ.
Since Adam's fall, it was appointed that Christ must keep all our joy,
our strength, and ability, yea, to be our life. God will not since that time
trust us with it, for we would quickly lose all again. It is Christ's office.
He hath these endowments, as man, given him, to furnish us with all
things fitting to a spiritual life. Faith will fetch all from God in Christ,
who is made the mediator of the New Testament, to convey all these things
unto us. Yet further, let us see some trials to discern u-hetJier ice live tJiis
life of faith in sanctification.
Trial 1. If it be thus with us, There will he a piittinr/ of ourselves iqwn
Christ's government in all duties. Faith will do all that Christ commands,
VOL. V. A a
370 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
depending upon him for strength ; and who so depends upon Christ for
strength in one duty, will depend upon him for strength in another. There
is a harmony betwixt the soul of a Christian and the command of obe-
dience. He hearkens to the precepts of duty, as well as to the promises
of forgiveness of sins. Where this universal obedience is not, here is not
the life of faith in sanctification ; for faith here takes not exception at one
duty more than another, but looks for all the strength of performance from
Christ, who for this cause is stored with all fulness, that it may drop down
upon all his members.
Trial 2. Again, There trill he a wonderful care not to grieve the Spirit,
in such a one. As if he should say, I must depend upon the Spirit for
help and assistance to do all, to guide me in my whole course, and shall I
grieve and leave off the Spirit ? Shall I carry myself so as to make him
leave me ? He must lead, instruct, comfort me, and assure me of my hap-
piness ; shall I then quench the Spirit ? Therefore, I say, there will be a
giving way to it, and a resolution settled, that this guiding in sanctification
is the best guidance of all. A believing heart does tremble at any thing
which hinders the Spirit's working. It sets not a step forward in anything
without direction of the word and Spirit.
Trial 3. There u'ill he courage to set vpon any duty, to encounter and resist
any sin ; upon this ground, as he should say, have not I a storehouse of
strength to go to ? Is not he full of grace and goodness ? Are not all
his works wrought for us ? Have not I exceeding many, great, rich and
precious promises of help ? Is not he the truth itself? Is there not then
supply enough in Christ to helpfme out in all things ? It were Pharaoh-
like to set us to work without strength and ability to go through with our
work. There is light and heat in the sun to direct and cherish, much more
in Christ their Maker. It is grace that leads us through all. We are jus-
tified freely through his grace, and by his grace we have continual strength
supplied to enable us in all things. It is grace, grace ! A sanctified liver
by faith will therefore cheerfully set upon every duty.
Trial 4. Again, in this case, all is lively in a man. As we see a lively
fountain, the water whereof will sparkle and leap, so there will be living
joys, speeches, delights, exhortations, sensible of good and evil. He will
trust God, rely on his word and promise, because Christ cannot touch the
soul, but we must be lively. As the man who no sooner touched Elisha's
bones, but he stood up and revived, 2 Kings xiii. 21, so a touch of Christ
quickens and makes vigorous. As Christ's promise is, John iv. 14, * Who-
soever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst ; but
the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up
unto everlasting life.'
Let IIlo use of all be this, Upon this discorery remember to go to Christ f(rr
succour, andlahourto live 2ilcntif nil y and abundantly in him this life of faith.
Ohj. But, may some say, how should I go on to finish this great work of
grace ? It is a mighty thing to attain to, so many sins to overcome, so
many temptations to buckle with, so many right hands and eyes to cut o3
and pull out.
Ans. I answer. Faith teaches us to fetch all from Christ,' to beg his
Spirit to help us in the course of sanctification, that by his might we may
prevail ; and so in all mastering sins beg strength of Christ, and then set
upon the walls of Jericho, and they shall fall before you.
How shall this be done ?
As they did ; they believed the promise, that compassing it seven timea
I
THE LIFE OF FAITH,
371
it sliould fall to the ground. So we, having so much and so many-promises
for the subduing of sin in us, let us set upon them, look up unto Christ,
believe the promise ; and our walls of sin shall fall so far before us, as they
shall neither hinder our comfort nor our salvation. Eclipse it they may
for a little while, but the sun will shine again, break through and dispel all
those clouds and mists.
Let us set upon all Goliahs, therefore, by the word and Spirit, and
withal set our will against them, that we heartily desire and endeavour to
be rid of such lets and incumbrances, and we shall in the end find a notable
victory over them ; and so in all troubles and vexations, as Luke xvii.
3, 4, seq., with the disciples beg of God the increase of faith. This will
help us out in all storms and tempests ; help faith and help all. This will
set heaven and earth a-working for our good. We see, Heb. xi., that all
is attributed to faith. Why? Many other things concurred in those
excellent actions for doing of them ; but all is attributed to faith, because
faith is that great wheel which set all the rest a-working, and stirs up all,
as, 1 Cor. siii. 4, seq., it is said of love, that it does all : for the same reason,
because in those things there mentioned it stirs up all the rest. So in any
grace which is wanting in us, go to Christ and say. Lord, I lack wisdom,
counsel, strength, understanding, prudence in thy holy fear. The fulness
of these are in thee ; Lord, it is for thy glory to help thy poor servant,
and bestow some measure of these upon me to do thy own work with. Lo I
Lord, I lay myself down to thee to work by me. I have an angry spirit,
full of tossings and turmoilings, but thou art the Prince of peace, abound-
ing in meekness. Oh bestow on me such a meek and peaceable spirit, as,
learning of thee, I may be meek and lowly in heart. I instance but in a
few things ; enlarge them yourselves. In all things let us, with confession
of our wants, have an eye unto his fulness, and then we shall find the
more of his abundance, when we set not upon these duties in our own
strength only.
Two things are opposite to this life of faith.
(1.) Despair. This cuts the pillars of hope. Against this divers, as
Luther for one, have been tempted to despair, but yet setting on the work,
have overcome.* So the Israelites were afraid, upon the evil report of the
spies of Canaan ; but when they went on, they overcame and beat down all
their enemies. So we say. Oh, I shall never overcome such a sin, or such
a corruption, or do such a duty. This is not true, go on, look to Christ,
join his strength with thy endeavour, be out of love with it, resolve
thoroughly, set upon it strongly, and down it shall before thee.
(2.) The second is presionption ; for this know, that in his own strength
shall no man be strong. In St Paul's speech, ' By grace I am that I am,'
1 Cor. XV. 10. So again, saith he, ' In him' — to wit, in Christ — ' we live,
and move, and have our being,' Acts xvii. 28. If we do presume, it is just
with Christ to forsake us, as he did Peter. Take heed also of spiritual
self-sufficiency, lest we rest on ourselves, and go not to Christ. Our
moving to all good duty is by him. It is but a word for him to help us,
either in things tending to a spiritual or a natural life. Therefore, for con-
clusion of all, leave him not. In thy emptiness go to his fulness. If thy
cistern be dry, turn the cock of thy faith, and his fountain will fill it again.
Take him still along with thee, and thou canst not choose but live this life
of faith in sanctification.
* Cf. footnote, Vol. I. page 126.— G.
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
SERMON II.
And the life irhich I vow live in the flesh I live hy the faith of the Son of
God, ivho loved vie, and gave himself for me. — Gal. II. 20.
We see here our blessed apostle doth exemplify himself a man living another
life than the life of nature, from higher reasons, grounds, and principles :
* I live,' saith he, 'by the faith of the Son of God.' First, he considers of
another life than that v?hich is rational, correcting the error of the same ;
for as reason corrects sense, so faith doth reason. This makes a man a
new creature. The spring of this life is Christ. The means of convey-
ance is faith. It is meet now we should fetch all out of* ourselves ; for
since Adam lost what he had, it is dangerous to trust ourselves with it any
more. Therefore Christ keeps it for us, and makes it ours by conveyance
of his Spirit, making us all children of grace. Faith is wrought in us by
the Spirit of God, and then it works, as Augustine says, acti agimiis.
Thus by effectual calling being once knit unto Christ, it is consecrated, as
that by which we live. Christ is conceived in our souls by faith. As he
was conceived in the Virgin's womb by her yielding to the promise, so we,
closing with the promise, faith is wrought, and then Christ comes to live
in the heart, as, believing the promise, he came thereafter to live in her
womb. In the last sermon we propounded many things touching the life
of faith, how it lives in efiectual calling, in justification and sanctification,
in glorification, and in the several grand passages of this life, one of which
remains yet to be unfolded, as, tlte life of faith in fjlorification.
Quest. 1. But how ? Vision is for glory; what hath faith to do with this,
which is of things unseen ?
Ans. 1. I answer, we live by faith in glorification thus, because faith
lays hold on the promise, and we have the promises of glory set down in
the word, and with the promise we have the first-fruits of the Spirit, and
having the earnest and first-fruits, God will surely give the harvest. We
have the Spirit, and thence faith reasons, God will make good his promise,
he will not take back his earnest. Thus faith gathers great matters, be-
lieves all, and so lives comfortably in expectation of fruition.
Ans. 2. Again, faith lives by the life of glorification in Christ the head.
There is but one life of Christ and his members, and one Spirit, one with
* That is, ' from without.'— Ed.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 373
him in nnion in the first degree of life. His glory is our glory. As in
justitication our debts are made his, so his glory is made ours, as it is John
xvii. 1, scq., and he is gone to prepare a place for us, to bring us where he
is. * The glory which thou gavest me,' saith Christ, ' I have given unto
them ;' yea, ' and in him also we sit in heavenly places,' Eph. i. 3. So
in regard of Christ to whom we are knit, we live the life of glory.
Ans. 3. Thirdly, by reason of the nature of faith, as Heb. xi. 1, which
is to make things absent have a certain being. Now faith being wrought
by an almighty power, raising us above ourselves to fasten and lay hold on
so many mj'steries, so it makes an almighty working in the soul, makes
things afar oil' to come evident. Thus it presents glory to us, as though it
were present, and we in some sort live by it.
How to blow whether or not ice (ire the life of faith in f/Iori/ication.
1. This, where it is in faith, makes a Christian f/Iorious, pats him in a
spirit that is glorious in all estates. There is no grace in him, but it is set
a-fire by this faith of glory to come. When faith looks back on things,
it hath strength, but when it looks on glory, all graces and virtues are set
a- work.
1. Hope is set on work hj faith, and keeps the soul, as an anchor, sted-
fast against all assaults.
2. Hope (loth stir up patience ; for, saith the apostle, * what we hope for,
we wait patiently for it.' Thus patience is exercised in two ways. (1.) In
suffering of grievances. (2.) In the expectation of time.* So faith doth
thus put life in patience, reasoning; — Why ? What ! it will not be long ;
these afflictions will not endure ever ; I myself shall away ere long ; glory
will come at last for ever and ever ; therefore I will bear all patiently.
3. Again, it sets courage and magnanimity a-work, as Heb. xi. What
made all the patriarchs so stout to hold out and endure so many miseries,
but that they had an eye to the glory to come ? What made Abraham
forget his father's house, going he knew not whither, but that he looked for
a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, and there-
fore he was a stranger at home ? The like we have of Moses, who forsook
Pharaoh's court, because he saw him who is invisible. Yea, and of Christ
himself it is said, that for the glory which was set before him, he despised
the shame, endured the cross, being now set at the right hand of the Father
in glory and majesty, Heb. xii. 2. So 2 Cor. iv. 16, saith Paul, ' For this
cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man
is renewed day by day ;' and the reason is, * For our light afflictions, which
are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen,' &c. He who thus hopes, does not want a comfortable
life. And therefore upon this ground it is the apostle's concluding exhor-
tation, 1 Cor. XV. 58, ' Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you
know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.' This makes a man
zealous and fruitful, so it makes a man sincere, as 2 Cor. v. 9, ' Wherefore
we labour (saith he), that whether absent or present we may be accepted
of him.' The ground whereof is, ' For we must all appear before the judg-
ment-seat of Christ, that every man may receive the things done in his
body.' In this case our comfort is in all things to be sincere in working.
Now there is an order of things. Whosoever lives the life of faith in
these grand passages, that soul lives the life of faith also in all other pas-
* Qu. ' them.'— G.
874 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
sages of our life ; and these grand passages will run in the lesser coui'ses
of our life. To touch one : ^Yhen a man is in extremity of both outward
and inward affliction, then faith lays hold on this general, that God is won-
derful in working, and that his ways and thoughts are not like our thoughts
and ways. In all several cases faith makes use of all things God hath done
or promised ; as,
1. Of a man in the state of f/ race, God in desertion appearing his enemy.
(1.) In this case faith at first conquered God, and obtained a blessing
hy xcrestliny, as Jacob did. Faith therefore knows the same way again, to
go to those precious promises God hath made, of returning again, not to
forsake and be angry for ever, not to plough all the day to sow, as Isa.
xx\'iii. 24, speaks. Faith knows that God works by contraries. It knows
God takes away the sense of his love, not in anger, but to stir up the con-
science and sense of sin, that we may lament and mourn for it the more,
and so receive a surer report of the forgiveness of it. Faith does know
that his name is wonderful. He raises things past hope. When a man
is in despair touching himself, and all things in himself, and of all comforts,
then he is nearest home, as Paul said excellently : ' But we had the sentence
of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which
raiseth the dead,' 2 Cor. i. 9. So faith looks at God working with Christ
the Son of his love, how roughly he dealt, yet lovingly, with him ; for
Christ is a pattern as well as a cause of good unto us. Christ in the case
of his forsaking went unto God, saying, ' My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me ?' Mark xv. 34. Faith sets God's promise against his present
working ; as though it should say, ' Though thou killest me, yet will I
trust in thee,' Job. xiii. 15 ; for all this thy love is the same ; thou art
merciful and gracious, and wilt not be angry for ever. Faith, as I may
say, pulls off God's mask, sees through the dark cloud, that God appears
an enemy for a time, that he may return again with the more abundance
of comfort afterwards. Faith knows, as Paul speaks, that it is God tliat
comforts the abject, raises the dead, will be seen in the mount, making our
extremity his opportunity.
So faith reasons. Is it so, indeed ? and is he wonderful in working ?
Doth he thus and thus work by contraries ? Then I will answer his
working the same way ; I will believe one contrary in another, I will expect
the sun will shine again, though now it be under a cloud. The like I may
say of any other extremity, as in the raising of our dead bodies. Faith,
as it is in Ezekiel, sees a spir-it quickening and putting life in dry bones,
assuring us thereby that ho can as easily raise up the dead as deliver us
out of any extremity. Saint Paul's argument is to trust in God, who raiseth
the dead, [that he] can do all things, work wonderful changes in our
greatest miseries. As for the church now in misery, there is a promise
that Babylon shall be cast into the sea as a millstone. Rev. xviii. 21. Now
faith believes the promises of glory, how that God will outwork all human
policy, and catch the crafty in their own nets ; that as certainly as day
comes after night, so assuredly all God's promises shall be made good, as
David resolves, Ps. cxxx. 6, ' My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they
that watch for the morning : I say, more than they that watch for the
morning. Let Israel hope in the Lord : for with the Lord there is mercy,
and with him is plenteous redemption.'
So in any cloud get faith, and it will break through all impediments.
Beheve the former grand passages of calling, justification, and sanctifica-
tion, and then we will trust God for the rest. Then is faith most glorious.
THE LIFE OF FMTH. 375
When it works alone, then it works most strongly. Then also God delights
to shew himself most efiectually ; for when all other means fail, and faith
works it out alone in wrestling, then he hath all the glory, and then all is
well ; and therefore we must do in this case as the prophet advises, ' Let
him who sits in darkness and hath no light, trust in his name,' Isa. 1. 10.
Faith docs raise men up, and set them upon a rock, so sure as nothing
can take away their comfort and joy in God ; because Christ's name is
wonderful, who then works in desperate cases when it is seasonable. A
mighty God delights to work mightily, in mighty plunges. Then faith
plies the suit hard : Help, Lord, or none can. Our Saviour, you see, slept
in the ship until a mighty tempest rose, andjthen he rebuked the winds and
the seas ; so he seems to sleep now in the church. Why ? That we may
wake and stir him up by our prayers. When the Israelites' tale of brick
was doubled, and the people greatly perplexed, then Moses came fitly to
promise deliverance. So when the afflictions of Christians arc doubled,
then they are commonly most humbled. They pray hard, search, believe,
and apply the promises, and then deliverance comes. Therefore in all
exigents set we faith a-work, for this stirs up prayer, and prayer stirs up
God, and God stirs up all the creatures. Blame we not, therefore, any
trouble so much as to cry out. Oh I am undone ! what shall become of me
now ! No, find fault with an unbelieving heart. It is not the trouble,
but our weak faith which makes us to sink in these waves. Beg then of
God, in great trouble, great faith to go through. Cry, Lord, increase my
faith, for then the trouble is small when the faith is great.
(2.) Secondly, In daihj afflictions. Whatsoever we suffer by them, labour
to take away the sting of sin by living the life of faith in justification, as
David Did, Ps. xxxii. 5 ; confess we our sins to God, beg to have the
sting of them taken away, and hereupon we shall find him to forgive our
iniquity, as in David. So in all our weaknesses and imperfections of
sanctification, go to Christ for more grace, and say. Lord, though I be
poor and empty of goodness, and of that which thy exact holiness requires,
yet Christ hath abundance of fulness to supply my wants. Oh let me
receive some grace for grace out of his fulness, and accept what he hath
done for me in his pure and perfect obedience ; good Lord, impute it to me,
for thou hast made him to be for us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption. And so for glorification ; in all afflictions set we glory
before our eyes, as Paul did, remembering that ' our light and short afflic-
tions, which are but for a moment, cause unto us a far more excellent and
eternal weight of glory, not being worthy of that glory which shall be
revealed,' 2 Cor. iv 17. So in any affliction, we have still use of the life
of faith in glorification. All these must be used in our afflictions, living
the life of faith in all.
(3.) Thirdly, In sickness of body. Trust to Jesus, he is as powerful and
as willing to help us now as he was to help others in the days of his flesh.
All things are possible to us if we believe. It is but a word for him to
rebuke all storms and tempests whatsoever. Let us not do like Asa, trust
only in the physician or in subordinate means, but know that all physic is
but dead means without him, 2 Chron. xvi. 12 Therefore with the means
run to Christ, that he may work with them, and know that virtue and
strength comes from him to bless or curse all sort of means.
(4.) Fourthly, So for disgraces. Commit we our credits to him as our
lives — he cares for both — remembering what Peter speaks, ' If ye be
reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the Spirit of glory
376 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
and of God restetli upon you : on their part he is evil spoken of, hut on
your part he is glorified,' 1 Peter iv. 14. He means such a Spirit shall
rest on us, which shall make us glorious. So Heh. xii. 2, ' We are there-
fore in sufierings pointed unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the glory which was set before him, endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.' This
Bufieriug hinders our happiness ; look to him, he is now set in glory, so
shall we be. It is not in man's power to alter men's conceits. God hath
this in his power, when he will heap honour, or pour disgrace upon any
man. Therefore let us look up and desire no more good name than God
will afford us. If dogs bark, no matter ; at length God will clear our name,
and our righteousness shall break forth as the noonday. Thus much the
church assures herself of, Micah vii. 8, ' Rejoice not against me, 0 mine
enemy : though I fall, I shall rise again.' As though she should say, God's
servants are never finally forsaken. A time will come when God will do
me good for all this, when I am humbled and have made a right use of it.
That we may do this, think God in Christ hath given me the pardon of
sin ; what matter then of all other things which cannot hurt me, and shall
all work together for my good ? David, we know, Ps. vi. 8, began to com-
plain grievously in this kind ; but afterwards, ver. 8, when the Lord had
spoken peace to his soul in the life of faith in justification and sanctifica-
tion, then he says, ' Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity, for the Lord
hath heard the voice of my weeping.' Then he despises the shame.
(5.) Fifthly, In our jiarticidar places and graces. Thus must we here
live by faith also ; for a Christian knows that he stands as in a circle set
there by Christ to work. Therefore faith concludes, Hers look I for under-
standing, wisdom, success, blessing, and abiHty to go through- stitch [a) with
the business I am set about. He that set me here will enable me, and if I
have ill sucess, then I will go to Christ, and I shall speed well with his
assistance, as Peter did, who, though he had toiled all night and catched
nothing, yet at length, at Christ's command, casting forth his net, catched
abundantly, Luke v. 5. So there may be many who take much care and
toil for heaven, to subdue and overcome corruptions, and yet catch nothing ;
find no answerable success. Oh let them go to Christ, and trust him as
Peter did, and they shall overcome so at length, as all shall be well. So
if magistrates, ministers, and people would trust God for strength more
than they do, things would be better than they are with them, as we see
the instance in ]\Ioses, who being commanded to go to Pharaoh, complained
for want of utterance. But what saith God to him ? ' Who hath made
man's mouth ? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the
blind? have not I the Lord?' Exod. iv. 11. Therefore in all such wants,
faith goes unto him for it. The like, we read, was Christ's encouragement
to his disciples, Luke xxi. 15, ' Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to
meditate before what you sliall answer, for I will give thee a mouth and
wisdom, which all yoxxr adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.'
This was made good also in the bypast troubles of the church, when poor
Billy women put to silence with their answers great learned men.
Now fiiith sees what Moses did, Heb. xi. 21. It looks up to Christ, to
him who is invisible. It is with faith in this case, as it was with Micaiah,
1 Kings xxii. 19, when he had seen the Lord sitting on his throne, and
all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand. Then Ahab, a
king on earth, was nothing unto him when he had seen the King of heaven
in his glory. So we by faith seeing Christ, heaven and glory over our head,
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
377
caring for his church, standing at the right hand of God, by assistance of
his Spirit, this will put invincible courage in us.
(G.) sixthly, For pwvisiuii and j^rotectioii. Faith goes to Christ, hangs
and depends upon him for all these things. Faith knows that it hath
encouragements, promises, and examples enough to strengthen our de-
pendence on him, as to name one : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little Hock,
for it is your Father's will to give you a kingdom.' Hence the believing
soul argues from the lesser to the greater. What ! will God deny me
daily bread, that will give me heaven, and raise me up to life everlasting ?
and so it cites and revolves the promises often, that a little which the
righteous hath is better than the abundance of the wicked ; for he adds no
sorrow with it ; that a httle with love is better than a stalled ox with con-
tention, Prov. XV. 17. Yea, and in this case by faith we know that the
saints, in extremity, shall be extraordinarily provided for. Sometimes he
will bless a little, as the seven loaves and five fishes multiplied suddenly to
feed five thousand people. They were in great want before, and were
suddenly supplied. So it shall be with us. Sometimes wo know the
woman's oil increased ; the ravens also in distress shall feed Elias ; Lazarus
shaU have the dogs to lick his sores. In the use of the means we need not
fear, and wanting means God will create means when all doth fail ; for then
faith lives best, knowing that God commands all means, and can suddenly
do what he will.
And so for protection and preservation, faith knows that Christ will be
our shield and protector, therefore it relics upon him. ' Fear not,' saith
God to Abraham, ' for I am God, all-sufficient, thy buckler and thy ex-
ceeding rich reward,' Gen. xv. 1. Hence the saints have so esteemed him
in all ages their rock, fortress, strong tower, salvation, helper, deliverer,
refuge, and the like ; and Christ tells his disciples, that he is with them
even unto the end of the world. Mat. xxviii. 20. He rules his by his kingly
office for the good of his church. Thus much we know he made good, both
in Egypt -and in the wilderness, bringing his people safely into Canaan,
through all those dangers they were in ; providing also for the women, per-
secuted by the dragon, a place of refuge in the wilderness, where she was
safely kept. Rev. xii. 6.
(7.) Seventhly, And/or our children.
Olij. Oh, say some, I could be content with a little, but I have many
children.
Sol. Here faith sets in, and answers. But are they not also Christ's chil-
dren, and must not he provide for his own ? Do therefore what thou canst,
and for the rest despair not, but cast this burden upon him, who hath com-
manded thee in nothing to be careful, but in all things to make thy suits
and supplications known with prayer and thanksgiving. In this case faith
in a dying parent follows Christ's example, John xvii. G, 11 : ' Thine they
were, and thou gavest them me ; and they have kept thy word. Holy
Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me : that
they may be one, as we are.' So a dying father may say. Lord, thine they
were, thou gavest them me ; I have done what I can for them. Thou, Lord,
art the first, best, and last Father, the world ■'• and the fulness thereof. Now,
therefore, holy Father, keep them in thy name, for thou art the refuge
of the poor and needy, and thy time is to help when all other help is at
a stand. Why, consider, is not he the Father of the fatherless ? Then
let us leave them to him with that resolution and confidence of the prophet
"-••" Qu. ' tliine are the world ' ? — Ed.
378 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
David, ' "When my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take mo
up,' Ps. xxvii. 10. Not that he means fathers and mothers use to do so,
but though they should, or even when they forsake us by death, yet God
doth wonderfully save and protect their posterity. Then learn to exercise
thy faith. Though thou leave them little, yet trust in God, and know that
he who rests under the shadow of the Almighty, as the psalmist speaks,
shall be safe, Ps. xci. 1. He who provided for them in the womb, and pre-
pared breasts for them ere they came into the world ; he who put so tender
affection in women : know that he will also have care, and be more compas-
sionate over thy children after thee. Let faith then settle thy heart on these
grounds. In the womb they were nourished and bred thou knowest not
how. Oh, saith David, ' I am fearfully and wonderfully made,' Ps.
cxxxix. 14. And after thy death they shall be nourished, thou knowest not
how. For this cause many are punished in their generations, because they
would not trust to God, but did use ill means to perpetuate their houses, as
covetousness, worldly policy, and the like.
(8.) Eighthly, In pwsjmritij.
What use is there in this, of the life of faith ? Oh yes, very much ; for,
[1.] First, What makes prosperity sweet, but because by faith one
knows that his sins are pardoned ? What comfort, I pray you, hath a
prisoner in the Tower of his life, though he abound in all outward plenty of
gold and silver, so long as his pardon is not sealed ? This sweetens pros-
perity, the life of faith in justification, that all my sins are nailed with Christ
upon the cross, that the handwriting against me is cancelled and done
away. Thus one comes to be of the first-born, ' whose names are written
in heaven,' Heb. xii. 23, and to joy that he hath a double portion, being
exempt from many fears, crosses, and miseries others are vexed with.
Who are better Christians than they that know they enjoy all good things
with God's favour and blessing ? Here faith hath a continual work, to see
God's love in all, and so to be abundantly thankful, according unto that we
have received.
[2.] Secondly, The life of faith orders our prosperity. How ? Not to
abuse those good blessings bestowed on us, not to be puffed up by them,
not to disdain, but to relieve others by them. Faith causes us to think
of them as they are set forth in the word. It causes that we delight not
too much in them, shews us better and more lasting riches, friends, and
the like. It makes us take Saint Paul's counsel, 1 Cor. vii. 29, to rejoice
and do all things as though we did them not, and to use the world as
though we used it not, because the fashion of this world passeth away ;
and therefore it makes men, as Paul speaks in another place, not trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God who can do all things. In sum,
it causeth us manage all the things of this world, so as thereby not to have
our hearts drawn away from the chief good.
So again, in all the comforts of this life, it makes a man eat and drink
and sleep, and do all in Christ, looking up into him in all his actions,
living by faith, and joying that now he hath a title and a right to all the
creatures. He being clean, now to him all things are clean, because he
is now in Christ, who is pure, without spot, and Lord of all ; for to the
unclean all things are unclean. It cost Christ dear to purchase our liberty
to the creatures. Therefore finding and joining in this freedom, we live
the life of faith in prosperity ; whilst it eyes God in all the passages of this
estate, sets him in the first place, receives all, and joys in all as coming
from the love and graciousness of so good a God ; returning in humility
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
379
the strength and glory of all unto him ; supplying also the necessities of his
members.
(9.) Ninthly, hi God's ordinances. In the preaching of the word and in
the sacraments, faith makes us live this life of faith, not to be captious how
this comes that God hath appointed this means, especially, unto the end
of the world to teach men by. It makes us lay aside by-conceits to think,
why it is enough for me, his will shall be the rule and square of all my
thoughts and actions. He hath sanctified and made efi'ectual this ordinance
to this purpose ; therefore I believe he will bless his own means, which
though to the world it seems to be the foolishness of preaching, yet it
shalfbe effectual to my salvation and the rest of his church. He made
the world by his mighty word, he repaired the decayed world thereby, and
by it he will also call for and raise up all the dead at the last day. There-
fore I will rest upon his ordinance without further dispute.
And so for the sacraments. What is a little water to the washing away
of sin ? Oh, but the blood of Christ, this is the cleanser, this washes away
our sins. His ordinances make it powerful and effectual to that end he
hath appointed it, for the believing soul. So the bread and wine yo. the
Lord's' Supper seem weak and feeble things ; ay, but they are ordained to
strengthen and increase faith. Here the Christian soul believes God can
so strengthen faith by his Spirit, working in us a nearer communion with
Christ and hatred of sin thereby, blessing his own ordinances, so that, as
meat and drink refreshes, sustains and feeds this mortal body, go shall his
ordinances by his blessing be effectual for the refreshing, fortifying, and
nourishing of our souls to life and endless immortality. Again,
(10.) Tenthly, So in our combats. Of necessity we must fight the
good fight of faith many ways. First, if any trouble assault a believer, he
hath recourse to the life of faith in justification and sanctification. _ As he
conquered God at first, in repenting, praying, and wrestling for forgiveness
of sins, and applying the promises, so now he knows how to conquer any
evil that befalls him. As it was said to Jacob, ' Thou hast, as prince, had
power with God and with men, and hast prevailed ; ' so a Christian, having
in his first new-birth-pangs conquered God, and prevailed, now by the
same assistance and skill he can conquer all things also. Secondly, A
Christian fights this good fight by living the life of faith in glorification.
Saint Paul says, ' Fight the good "fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life,'
1 Tim. vi. 12 ; insinuating that the way to live this life of faith is to lay
hold of eternal hfe, having serious and constant meditations of the glory
to come. Canaan, we know, was given to the Israelites, divided and given
by Jacob, ere his death, long before they came there. Who would not fight
then for such an inheritance ? Now there were serpents, giants, strong
and many enemies by the way ; so they fought against all, and overcame
all. Even so betwixt us and heaven there be many enemies to overcome :
the flesh, the world, the devil, and all those numberless number of events
which by their malice and our frailty we are tempted unto. But here faith
must lay hold of eternal life, answer all objections with this. All these shall
not make me lose eternity, there is no comparison betwixt heaven and
earth ; false pleasm-es here, and true substantial joys to come. This, saith
the Scripture, is our victory which overcometh the world, even our faith,
1 John V. 4. Why ? Because faith makes Christ's victory ours. Christ
overcame sin, hell, death, the world, and all ; and Christ himself being
ours, we have all made effectual for us, which we have done and sufiered.
So Christ overcomes in us by his Spirit, as the apostle hath it, 1 John iv. 4,
380
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
' Stronger Is lie that is in you than lie that is in tlie world.' So that a
weak Christian hath a strong Spirit in him, which no power can prevail
against, though he hath some foils.
Queat. But how doth faith fight against the world by the life of glory ?
Sol. The world offers and presents petty base things before us. Faith
keeps off, and opposes the glory to come, preferring that before all ; as
Moses did, who because he saw him who is invisible, refused to be called
the son of Pharaoh's daughter, esteeming the rebukes of Christ before all
the treasures of Egypt ; because this glory presented better things unto
him than this world hath, Heb. xi. 24, seq. And if, on the left hand, the
world threaten troubles, afflictions, persecutions and the like, for well
doing, and not running into sinful courses with others, then faith remem-
bers, as it is Rom. viii. 18, that ' all the sufferings of this present world are
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'
We see then that the life of faith of that glory to come, helps us in all
temptations to fight the good fight against all enemies whatsoever. He who
hath a crown before him, it will make him run through the pikes or anything
to attain it ; so faith, having glory, immortality, and the joys of heaven
before it, overlooks and despises all oppositions, and sees all things sub-
dued to Christ, as though all were past ; whereupon it gathers assurance
that it shall triumph over all in him.
(11.) Eleventhly, So ive persevere unto the end,
Fighting and living this life of faith ; that is, a Christian makes it his
daily and continual life. This is a ground of perseverance, A Christian
then lives in a sort the hfe of Christ, as it is said, Rom. vi. 9, ' Christ
being raised from the dead dieth no more, death hath no more dominion
over him.' So such a one once living by faith, dies no more. There is a
perpetual supply of spiritual strength imparted unto him from Christ the
head, whereby he lives by faith in all the passages of this life. Rom.
viii. 35, ' What shall separate us from the love of God in Christ ?' Nothing
can. It is a never-failing river, entertained unto death, that whosoever
drinks thereof shall never thirst again ; for Christ's promise is, ' Whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die,' for after faith ends, then comes
the life of vision, so that all our life the life is the same, we continue so
living even until death, and then faith leaves us to the fruition of the thing
believed. But doth faith leave us when we come to die ? Oh no !
^ (12.) Twelfthly, We die hy faith also.
For a Christian knows that he is in heaven already. As he lives by faith,
so he dies in faith also. Faith makes him, like Stephen, resign his soul
to God with comfort. He knows that Christ will receive that soul, which
he hath purchased b_y his blood. He dies by faith, because he sees death
conquered in Christ before him, and because he looks beyond death, and
over-eyes all things that are betwixt him and glory, having the Spirit of Christ
in him, which makes him bold and fearless, as David says, ' I will not fear
though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, because thou art with
me,' Ps. xxiii. 4. This blessed faith in the Son of God makes us do all
things, suffer all things cheerfully and comfortably. Faith makes absent
comforts present to us. It eyes such sweet contentment in God's presence,
that all difficulties below seem as nothing. It knows whom it hath trusted,
and what is laid up for it. A believer sees invisible things. Oh the
glorious things that the faithful soul beholds ! He sees the angels ready
to carry him from a house of clay to a heavenly paradise ; from the com-
pany of sinful men here in misery, to the sweet society of saints in perfect
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 381
bliss, wliicli he himself now enjoys the first-fruits and earnest of, and longs
to be fully possessed with.
Ohj. But how can this be, when neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard
what God hath prepared for his ?
Ans. Indeed, to carnal sense these things are undiscernible ; but to a
renewed soul, the Spirit that God hath given them discovers the eminency
thereof above all earthly contentments whatsoever. We see they ai'e com-
pared to a kingdom, to a feast, to a crown, familiar resemblances, that so
the meanest capacity might conceive and be taken with them. What more
desirous'"' than a kingdom for honour ! what glory is there in a rich diadem !
and what sweet refreshings are there in a feast ! Yet, alas ! these are all
but shadows ; the reality is heaven itself. Talk not then of riches, but of
thriving in grace, which will make you rich indeed. What good will the
riches of the world do us at the last day ? They take them wings and fly
away. If we have not the true riches, we may die in want for all these, as
Dives did. Know this, that if there be anything good in earthly kingdoms,
there is much more in this spiritual kingdom.
Again, the children of God know these heavenly things by their taste.
They have the first-fruits of them even in this life ; and if the communion
of saints here be so delectable, how much more will it be in heaven ! God's
children have a taste of that eternal Sabbath in heaven, by keeping a holy
Sabbath to God here on earth ; they have a taste of that eternal rest and
peace which they shall enjoy hereafter, by the peace of conscience which
they have here ; and that heavenly joy which doth flow into the soul now,
is but a taste of that eternal joy which we shall have our fill of one day.
God is so far in love with his children that he keeps not all their com-
forts for another world, but gives them a taste of the sweetness here. But
what are all refreshments below to that which we shall have above in God's
presence ? As John saith, ' We are the sons of God, but we know not
what we shall be,' 1 John iii. 2. Only this we know, that when Christ
our head appears, all his members shall be like to him. Our life may well
be said to be hid with Christ in God, because flesh and blood discerns not
the things prepared for those that love him. We lead a hidden life. We
cannot see God face to face, or know him so perfectly here as one day we
shall do. All that we have now is a taste of the good things to come, and
but a taste.
The fife which we now live is a life of faith, and we are to walk by faith,
not by sight. Therefore, if God did give us all here, what need have we
of faith ? It were no commendation for a Christian to abstain from the
sinful courses of the world, if he did see the glory that he shall have pre-
sent before him. But God will manifest to the world that he hath a people
whose comforts are higher and greater than the world aflbrds, who live by
faith and not by sight.
God doth not reveal to us now all that we shall have hereafter, because
we are not capable of such delicates, we cannot digest them ; as Peter and
John, they could not see Christ's glory in his transfiguration, but they must
be spiritually drunk with it : ' Master, it is good being here : let us build
tabernacles.' Oh but saith the Holy Ghost, ' They knew not what they
said,' Mark ix. 5. So likewise St Paul, when he was caught up into the
third heaven, and heard unspeakable words, he could not digest them, they
did so ravish him; therefore God gave him ' a prick in the flesh,' that he
might not be exalted above measure, 2 Cor. xii. 7. Are we sti'onger than
* That is, ' desirable.' — Ed.
382 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
Peter and Paul, to bear these revelations from above ? Is it not goodness
in God to reserve them till such time as we are able better to relish them ?
Moses, desiring to see the face of God, had this answer, ' No man can see
my face and live,' Exodus xxiii. 20. So he that would conceive aright of
the joys of heaven must die first.
Though we cannot see or understand these spiritual excellencies, yet let
us often think of them. The life of a true Christian is taken up with the
consideration of those things which he shall hereafter have in heaven.
There is no grace in a Christian, but it is set a- work this way. What is
faith without this ? The chief work of faith is about things not seen. It
makes absent comforts to be in a manner present ; and so overcomes the
world by seeing these things above the world. How is patience strengthened,
but by the consideration of future relief? If there were not better times
hereafter for the godly, they were of all creatures most miserable ; but
the thought of that makes them wait with patience. What makes men so
tender in conscience, and so fearful to sin, but the eyeing of him who is
invisible ?
And have we such glorious comforts in another world ? Let this cheer
up our hearts with joy against all contempts and slighting here below. The
world knows not God, nor us, neither doth it not know what things are
prepared for us ; and shall we care for their abuse and scorn ? What
though we walk up and down here unknown, our condition shall one day
be manifested with glory in the sight of all, and then we shall esteem of
things below as they are. The consideration of this should raise up the
spirit of every Christian. "What makes us do things that are excellent, but
our believing an excellency in such ways and courses ? He that sees an
excellency in God, you may turn that man loose to any temptation ; for if
Satan tempts him to any sin, he thus considers with himself, Shall I lose
the sweet contentments of heaven for a base lust ? Shall I lose my
peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost, for the satisfying of my
unruly corruptions ? Consider what we lose in the committing of any
sin. The profit and pleasure that a man gets in following the world, alas !
what is it to the precious comforts which we lose ? Who would be beholden
to Satan for anything ? Is it not a disparagement to go from God, as if
there were not sufiicient in him to quiet the soul ? Hath not God enough,
but we must be beholden to the devil our enemy ?
Oh, then, let us admire the love of God to his poor creature, in pre-
paring such great things for him. Let us say with David, * Lord, what is
man, that thou art so mindful of him ? or the son of man, that thou so
regardest him ?' Ps. viii. 4. How wonderful is thy mercy in having such
high thoughts towards lost sinners ? ' Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that hath thought us meet to be partakers of an
inheritance, immortal and invisible, reserved in the heavens for us,' 1 Pet.
i. 4. A sound Christian begins his life in heaven here upon earth : he
praises and glorifies God by a holy and fruitful conversation. This is our best
way of blessing God. Praise in the heart will soon break forth in the tongue.
The apostle, when he speaks of the state of God's children, calls it a
' heavenly kingdom,' a ' glorious inheritance,' a ' wonderful hght,' a never-
fading condition. He is not able to express their happiness, it is every
way so full. ' So God loved the world.' So, as I cannot utter it. ' Behold
what manner of love the Father hath shewed, that we should be called the
sons of God,' 1 John iii. 1. It is so free and so rich love, that I am not
able to declare it. Envy not, then, the wicked in their pleasure and
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 883
bravery. Alas ! they are but for a term of life ; pity thou rather to see
them delight in such sinful vanities. Shall a Christian envy any in their
pleasures here, when he himself is in such a state of admiration ? He
should be so far from grudging and repining at the prosperity of others,
that he should solace himself cheerfully with his future hopes. The thoughts
of his good to come should revive him more than any want or discourage-
ment should deject him. What though we have not our comforts in pos-
session ? We are sure of them ; God reserves us for them, and them for us.
We are like little children, that think not of the portions that their parents
have left them till they come to age. Many weak Christians think not of
their Father's portion, they mind not those unspeakable joys In.id up for
them in their minority ; but as they grow in grace, so they will have more
knowledge of it, and longings after it.
If it be a great matter to come out of a dark prison, to see the light
of the sun, what will it be to come out of this dark world, into the glo-
rious light of heaven ? A natural man knows not this, but when once we
come to see that light that we shall have in glory, then we will admire it,
and cry out with the apostle, ' Oh the exceeding love of God in Jesus
Christ !' Indeed, those things that came by the gospel cause wonderment,
that God should love flesh and blood so as to prepare such excellent things
for them.
But we must know, God doth qualify all those here that he prepares hap-
piness for hereafter. The reason is, because no unclean thing shall enter
into heaven. We must not think to come out of the mire and diit, and enter
into heaven presently. No. There must be a suitableness wrought in us
for such a condition. Those that will not live holily here, have no dwelling
in that holy place. If thy heart can tell thee that thou hadst rather have
this honour, and that pleasure, than grace in thy soul, the word of God doth
as plainly tell thee, that the excellencies of heaven are none of thy portion.
A swine loves the puddles rather than the sweet fountain ; so wicked men
delight in the world more than in heaven, which plainly shews they shall
never come thither. Nothing will comfort us at last but a true change
of heart. If thou beest not a new creature, thou shalt have no part in the
New Jerusalem : therefore let us not feed ourselves with vain hopes. There
is none of us but desires heaven ; but why dost thou desire it ? Is it
because it is set forth to be a kingdom, an excellent place of joy and rest?
Is^it for this only ? Assure thyself, then, thou wilt never come there. Thou
must desire to have heaven, because of the divine nature, because it is a
holy place, and near to God, if thou wouldst possess it indeed ; and ' if
thou hast this hope in thee, thou wilt purge thyself, as he is pure,' 1 John
iii. 3.
If we would have faith ready to die by, we must exercise it well in living
by it, and then it will no more fail us than the good things we lay hold on
by it, until it hath brought us into heaven, where that office of it is laid aside.
Here is the prerogative of a true Chi-istian above an hypocrite, and a
worldling ; whenas they trust, and things they trust in fails them, then a
true believer's trust stands him in greatest stead.
For use of all. See then how faith is the life of our life, and the soul of
our lives, because by this we are knit to Christ Jesus, the life and food of
our souls. Let us then make use of it ; house and entrench om'selves in
him, as it is Ps. xc. 1, 'Make him our dwelhng-place in all generations.'
He is our buckler ; our enemies must break through Christ ere they come
at us ; all is ours in him, and in his strength and might we shall overcome
884 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
all adverse powers whatsoever. You see then that this is no'idle, but a
mighty working grace. It works in heaven, and earth, and hell. It works
against Satan, it works by love to God, makes us love him and work to
him, and makes us industrious to work for others. Faith is the root of
the tree, love the branches. Thus faith works mightily and strongly; it is
a quickening and an active grace. Those therefore who find it not active,
no marvel they want the comfort of it ; they must strive to stir it up, and
set it a-work to live by it. Those who find they have it, let them improve
it to a better use than many do, to swear by it. This shames us in troubles
to be unarmed. Where is our shield of faith, when every little poor dart
strikes our armour through ? This shews we have but a paper shield.
We ought therefore to bewail our unbelief, and labour for this grace, which
is so active and useful, so much the rather, because it is most miserable
to be in a storm without a shelter. This will help us in all miseries whatso-
ever, and make us conquerors over all in him who hath loved us. Oh the
excellent use of the life of faith ! It looks back, and makes use of all God's
works, promises, wonders, threatenings, and judgments ; and gathers strength,
wisdom, courage, instruction from all. It looks and sees all things past, as it
were a-working, doing, promising, threatening in present, and is answerably
aflected ; when by strength of fancy it presents the ideas of things past, to
work upon us the more, as present, and so is overawed from sinning against
God. Sometimes it sees all this world a-fii-e, and therefore for worldly
things and enticements it puts them over so much the more lightly, as
perishing things condemned to be burnt. So it is the best prospective in
the world ; it presents to itself things afar off, as present and at hand, and
makes them excellent, great and glorious to the sight afar oif. Therefore
above all things study we to live this life of faith — Oh it is worth all our
j)ains — and shun infidelity as that which only makes us miserable, causing
the guilt of sin to lie on us, and shutting us up under the wrath of God ;
yea, it seals us up to the day of wrath, turns all our actions to be sinful in
God's sight, and is cause of that great condemnation John speaks of;
whereas by the contrary, the believing soul lives a comfortable life, is ad-
mitted into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, hath a shelter to keep
off all storms and tempests whatsoever, and comes by this life of faith to
be assured of his part and portion in the love, merits, obedience, sufierings,
death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of the Son of God ; in
sum, to be assured of its salvation in particular, as Saint Paul was, ' who
loved me, and gave himself for me.' But thus much shall suffice for this
time. I shall prosecute things more fully in the next.
NOTE.
(a) P. 876. — ' Through-stitcli.' To go throngh-stitch is = to go through or ac-
complish completely. ' Now wee are in, wee must goe through- stitch.' — Tragedy of
Hoffman, 1631, sig. F. iii. ' Passe-par-tout, a resolute fellow, one who goes through-
stitch with every thing he undertakes, one whose courses no danger can stop, no
difficulty stay.' — Cotgrave. ' To go through-stitch with the work, opus peragera.' —
Coles. Sibbes adds another example to these illustrations from Halliwell's Dic-
tionary of Archaisms and Froviucialisms (2 vols, 4to, 1852). G.
SALTATION APPLIED.
Vol. v.
s b
SALVATION APPLIED.
' Salvation Applied ' forms the third of the ' three Sermons ' which compose ' The
life of Faith.' See page 358. The separate title-page is given helow.* G.
* SALVATION
APPLYED.
In one Sermon.
WHEREIN IS SHEWED,
The more speciall and peculiar worke of Faith, in appre-
hending Christ as our owne ; the grounds thereof are shewed,
with meanes to attaine it, and most of all the knotty
objections against particular assurance of
Gods love answered.
[Woodcut as before. Cf. Vol. IV. page 60.]
Heb. 10. 22.
Let t/s draw neurc with a true hearty in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water.
LONDON,
Printed fcr It. D a vv l m a n, at the brazen Serpent in
I'auls Churchyard. 1 G 3 7.
SALVATION APPLIED.
And the life ichich I now live in the fiesh I live hrj the faith of the Son of God,
uho hath loved me, and gave himself for me. — Gal. II. 20.
We have already, out of the words immediately going before, spoken of
spiritual life, and of the excellency of it ; and, in the third place, of the
manner of conveyance, which is by faith ; and, fourthly, the spring and
fountain of this spiritual life, which is the Son of God, described here by
his love and the fruit of it : ' He loved me ;' and, as a fruit of that love,
' he gave himself for me.' Now, to come in the last place to the apostle's
particular application, which he expresseth in this word ' me :' ' Who loved
vie, and gave himself for me ;' wherein these points offer themselves to our
consideration :
First, That God loves some with a peculiar and with a special love :
* Who loved me, and gave himself for me.'
Secondly, That faith answers God and Christ's particular love by a par-
ticular application : ' Who loved me.''
Thirdly, That this particular faith in God's particular love is the ground
of assurance, which springs from this particular faith.
Fourthly, That this assurance which proceeds from our particular faith
in God's particular love, is the spring of all spiritual life, which sets the
whole soul a-working. For what is the ground of my living by faith in
all the passages of my life, but the apprehension of his love, who loved
me, and gave himself for me ; and can I then do less than give myself to
him ? Now to unfold these in order.
1. That Christ loves some with a special, superahnndant, and j^ecidiar love;
for Christ, when he suffered upon the cross, looked with a particular eye
of his love upon all that should beheve in him ; as now in heaven he hath
carried our names upon his breast. As the high priest had on his breast-
plate written the names of the twelve tribes in precious stones, Exodus
xxviii. 21, 30 ; so Christ, our high priest, hath the names of all his children
in his heart, to present them always to God by his intercession, so as when
he now appears before God, the church with him appears before God in his
heart. The Father sees the church in the heart and breast of Christ. Now
as this, I say, is true in heaven, so upon the cross the church was in the
breast of Christ. There was but a certain number for whom Christ savingly
laid down his life, John xvii. 9. Paul was in the breast of Christ when he
888 SALVATION APPLIED.
Bhed his blood : * Who loved me, and gave himself for mo.* So that then
Christ loves some with a peculiar, special, and superabundant love. Here
then the question is concerning,
1. General love. 2. General gift.
Quest. Whether Christ loved all, and gave himself for all, because here
the apostle saith, ' He loved me, and gave himself for me' ?
Ans. 1. I answer briefly, first, that Christ's loving and giving himself
was parallel in even lines v.-ith God's love and gift, John vi. 37, 39 ; for
Christ gives himself for none but those which God hath first given him.
Christ had his commission, and he came to do his Father's will, not his
own, John vi. 38, and will save all whom his Father hath given unto him ;
as it is John xvii. 6, * Thine they were, thou gavest them me.' Those
that the Father gives in election, Christ redeems, and by redemption saves ;
for redemption, in regard of efficacy, is no larger than God's election.
Therefore he joins, * Christ loved me, and gave himself for me.' His love
is only to those whom God gave him, for he looks upon all he died for as
they were in bis Father's love. There are a company in the world whom
God hates: 'Esau have I hated,' Kom. ix. 18. Here love and gift go both
together. He gives himself for no more than he loves, and he loves no
more than God loves.
Ans. 2. Again, whomsoever Christ did love and give himself for to death,
there be other fruits which accompany this. They who have interest in
Christ's redemption, they have the spirit of application. Where there is
obtaining by Christ anything of God, there, I say, is grace to apply it by
his Spirit ; and many things go with it. For them that he died for, as the
apostle shews, Kom. viii. 11, 'for them he rose again, and for them he sits
at the right hand of God.' These go together : ' For if he spared not his
own Son, but gave him to death for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things ? ' Rom. viii. 32. Where God gives Christ, he
gives the spirit of application with him, Mat. xvii. 13, 2 Thess. iii. 2.
But we see that the greatest part of the world have not faith ; for it is the
faith of the elect, which worldlings not having, nor the grace of application,
therefore they have not the favour of God obtained by Christ. So it is
written, Rom. v. 10, ' For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be
saved by his life.' These go together. Now the greatest part are not
saved by bis life, therefore they are not reconciled by bis death.
Other places do clear this truth, as Heb. ix. 14, where is shewed, that
where Christ hath offered up himself for any, there is also a purging of the
conscience from dead works to serve the living God. But the most are not
purged, therefore they have no interest in Christ's death.
A strong reason is further shewed hereof by Christ, John xvii. 9, where
he avouches plainly, and makes a main difference between two sorts of
people, saying, ' I pray for them : I pray not for the world, but for them
which thou hast given me, for they are thine.'
Obj. But here some may object, Christ's death is of larger extent than
his intercession.
Ans. To cut off" this objection, Christ says after in the same chapter,
ver. 17, ' And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be
sanctified through the truth.' That is, I prepare and sanctify myself to be
a sacrifice as a priest ; I prepare myself to be a holy sacrifice for such ;
therefore Christ sanctified himself for them, not for the world. Under thp
law tliere was a brasen altar for sacrifice, md the golden altar for incense.
SALVATION APPLIED. 889
which golden altar for incense was effectual for no more than the hrazen
altar was for sacrifice. And Christ offered himself a sacrifice for all those
that he makes intercession for. The point is clear. I will not answer all
the objections might be brought, only encounter with some of the main
ones, which are brought by the papists against this truth. Saint Paul's
meaning, therefore, is not that he loved me with that love wherewith he
loved all mankind. The apostle means a more special love, ' He loved
me so as he gave himself for me ;' that is, with a more special love than he
bears to all mankind. This is a point that tends to God's honour and
man's comfort ; for God hath the more praise and thanks from his elect,
and those that are I'edeenied by the peculiarness of it, which the more it is,
the more they acknowledge themselves bound unto God and Christ. These
are they that are elected, these are they for whom the Scriptures are, for
whom the world stands and Christ came, Ps. cxvi. 1. They love God
and single him out, and the more they do so, God doth single them out to
delight in. Peculiarity enhanceth and raiseth favours to higher degrees
than otherwise. The fewer that are taken out of the world from the refuse
of mankind, the more their hearts are inflamed to love God again. God,
as the psalmist says, hath not dealt so with every nation, Ps. cxlvii. 20.
When will a man be most thankful to God and give him glory, but when he
can say. Thou hast not dealt so with the rest of the world ; what is in me
more than in the rest of mankind ? I difl'er nothing from them but in thy
peculiar love. Hereupon comes the heart to be knit in love unto Christ
again. But against this it will be objected,
Ohj. Why doth Christ by the ministry persuade all in the church for to
believe in Christ, and for to believe forgiveness of sins, if Christ did not die
for them all ?
Ans. I answer, that in the church he calls all, that he may cull out hia
own. The minister speaks promiscuously both to the elect and those that
are not, because God will not rob his own children of the benefit, though
they are mingled with others to whom the blessed things do not belong ; as
it is with the rain, it rains as well upon the rocks of the sea, and upon the
barren heath as upon the good ground. Why, for any good to the rocks ?
No, but because, together with it, it rains upon the fruitful ground, which
hath the benefit of the rain. So God rains the showers of his ordinances
upon all, but the benefit thereof is only to his ground, not to the repro-
bates. The sun shines upon all, but who hath the comfort of that shining?
Those who have eyes to see it only and use it, not the blind. But to them
that believe not, they have another use. They have this benefit by Christ's
death, that there is mercy offered them, and some gifts of the Spirit. God
offers and stirs up good motions in them, but they rebel against them.
There be many degrees and means of faith. They use not all the means
they ought, neither take all the degrees, therefore they are without all
excuse, because he gives more grace, not only the means, but he is ready
to give more grace than they are willing to entertain. So it is their
rebellion, which is the cause of their damnation. They are said to resist the
Holy Ghost, such reprobates in the church, to quench the Spirit, Acts
vii. 51, which implies the Holy Ghost is ready to work more in them than
they are willing to entertain. Is it not so by experience ? There is a com-
pany of profane persons, that, out of the abundance of their wicked hearts,
and the poison of their breeding, will not vouchsafe to hear at all ; others
that do come, though for some bye and carnal ends. Happily the Holy
Ghost, in hearing, beats upon their consciences and awakes them. But
390 SALVATION APPLIED.
■what say their rebellions hearts ? Shall I stoop to leave such and such
courses that are pleasurable and gainful ? Hereupon they resist the work
of the Holy Ghost in the ministry, when their hearts tell them there
is a readiness in the Holy Ghost, and that he is sent from Christ and the
Father to work more effectually in them than they are willing to be wrought
upon, and therefore it is they are damned. ' Thy perdition,' saith the
prophet, 'is of thyself, 0 Israel !' Hosea xiii. 9. Their own consciences
will tell them thus much. So it is no matter what cavils they raise of
Christ's intention and God's election. Look thou, man, to thine own heart.
Doth not thy own heart tell thee thou art a rebel, and livest in profane
wicked courses, in neglect of holy duties ? Thou carriest thine own
sentence and cause of damnation in thy breast. I appeal to the worst, who
live in sins against conscience. Here is the ground of thy damnation.
There be many ascents and degrees to saving faith. Thou withstandest
the beginnings and the motions of the Spirit. If they come in and work
upon thy heart any estrangement from sin, thy proud heart begins to rebel,
and will not yield. It is the only true obedience which lays itself at the
foot of Christ, and is willing to be led and persuaded in anything so far as
frailty will permit, and allows itself in no evil course. This is that which
brings sound comfort, which they not doing, therefore are without all
excuse.
Obj. If this were not so, they might object another day, Christ did not
die for me, therefore why should I be damned for not believing ?
Ans. Their consciences therefore will tell them, that they used not all
means to believe, neither took the degrees of faith ; for God's Spirit doth
work after a kind in wicked men, as in the three bad grounds, the word
was effectual in divers degrees ; but when it comes to the upshot, they
hated not their sins, were worldly minded ; or, the plough had not made
furrows deep enough to humble them, to value mercy and Christ above all
things, and to hate sin above all. This is enough to justify their condem-
nation. Howsoever Christ is offered, and there is a command to believe,
yet their hearts tell them they do not all they might. They must know
that God's secret purpose in electing some, and redeeming some, and leaving
othei's, it is hid from the world, as his secret will, that is not the rule of
our obedience, but God's revealed will and commandment. Therefore men
must look unto what God commands. If their conscience tell them that
they yield not that obedience which they ought and might, but rather
resist the motions of God's Spirit, hereupon comes their damnation to be
just. They are commanded to believe. What ! Not to believe remission
of their sins ; for know,
1. There is the act of faith ; and 2. The fruit of faith.
Now a wicked man is not first commanded to believe the forgiveness of
his sin, but in this order, in obedience to subordinate duty before. He is
commanded to believe that he shall have benefit by Christ, by yielding obe-
dience of faith to Christ. The act is one thing, and the fruit is another.
Every one is bound to believe and cast himself upon Christ for salvation,
but not bound to believe the fruit, unless they have the act.
Obj. But it will be objected, we are not bound to have the first act of
faith to believe ; if we should, it were in vain, we should believe a lie.
Ans. 1 say no. The gospel runs, whosoever believes in Christ shall
have the fruits of the death of Christ, shall have everlasting life. Thus
whosoever believes and casts himself upon Christ, doth the act, shall have
the fruit. Away with idle questions ; What ? Doth the fruit of Christ's death
SALVATION APPLIED. 391
belong to me? Did he die for mo? Go thou to the act; if thou hnst
grace to cast thyself upon Christ, and to assent when he offers and invites
thee, it is well. Yield the act of faith, and leave questioning of that,
which is then put out of question. Reason not this, whether God hath
elected, or Christ hath died for thee. This is the secret will of God.
But the commandment is, to believe in Christ. This binds. Therefore,
yield to Christ when thou art called and bidden to cast thyself upon him ;
then thou shalt find, to thy soul's comfort, the fruit of his death.
Caution. Let no man excuse himself by quarrelling against Christ, for
not giving himself for all. There is no man condemned, but for not yield-
ing obedience in the act of faith, and doing all that his heart tells him he
might, but is unwilling to do. It is for rebellion he perishes : as when a
malefactor is condemned, who hath a book given him to read, which he
refuses to do. His not reading is the cause of his execution and death, as
well as his ill deeds which he hath done : his refusing pardon, that he will
not read, with the other. Both are causes of his death, because he doth
not read, and because he is a malefactor [a). So in this case, when a man
will not yield the act of faith, though his other sins will damn him, yet, if
he would believe and take the mercy offered, his other sins would not damn
him. If men would or could believe, no other sins would hurt them ; but
because they do not, their other sins shall be laid to their charge, and their
rebellion, that they will not believe, and take the benefit of God's offer.
They refuse mercy, because mercy cannot be had without conditions of
obedience ; as Christ reproves the Jews, John iii. 19, ' And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil.' This is the condemnation,
with a witness, the great and main cause of condemnation : they would have
heaven, if they might have it with their lusts ; but they will not yield to
the act of faith, to take Christ as he is offered unto them, upon his own
terms, to be ruled by him, for better and for worse. This they will none
of, which is that which damns them. They would single out of Christ what
they list.
When Christ sent the seventy disciples forth to preach and heal the sick,
notwithstanding they were to be refused of many, as it is Luke x. 11, yet
they were taught by our Saviour, as to wipe off the dust of their feet against
them, so also to convince them in this, that the kingdom of heaven was
come near unto them. In vain, therefore, do wicked men and our adver-
saries cavil against God's justice in this, which every man's conscience
shall accuse himself at last to be guilty of, and clear God of ; in that they
would none of wisdom's counsel, shutting their eyes against all instructions,
refusing to be reformed. This I thought good to add, to avoid the snarling
of wicked, carnal, profane persons.
2. The second point is, that true faith doth ansrver this jmrticular love and
fjift of Christ, by applying it to itself. True faith is an applying faith. There
is a spirit of apphcation in true faith ; for God in the Scriptures offers
Christ, and Christ offers himself in the ministry to all that believe. Here-
upon comes faith to make Christ our own. It doth appropriate Christ to
itself in particular. Christ is a garment, faith puts him on ; Christ is a
foundation, faith builds upon him ; Christ is a root, foith plants us in him ;
Christ is our husband, faith yields consent, and consent makes the match.
So then there is a particular truth that strikes the stroke betwixt Christ
and us : 'He loved me, and gave himself for me.' The nature of faith is
to make generals become particulars, to restrain generals into particulars ;
892 SALVATION APPLIED.
for there is a particular cause, which must have a particular restraint.
Christ's love is propounded to all in general. Before it do me good I must
have a particular restraining faith for to make it my own. Now the papists
jire enemies to this particular faith, it being opposite to their opinions and
authors, save some of the honester that incline to us. They say, that we
ought to believe with a catholic general faith, that there is remission of
sins for the church, but not ' for me ;' for where, say they, is your name set
down in Scripture ? They are against this special faith, because they know
it is the ground of assurance, unto which they are enemies ; this assurance
also being an enemy to all their fooleries, forgeries, and courses they take
to have assurance.
We must know more clearly, that there is a particular faith required of
us. A Christian ought to say, ' Christ loved me.' Neither is this by any
special revelation ; for God's Spirit doth witness ordinarily, first or last, so
much to all that are his, except in some cases. Now that you may know
this particular faith is aimed at by God in the Scripture, look what is the
end of the ministry and of the sacraments. Ai'e not we ambassadors from
God to men, to unfold Christ's love in particular unto them : if they
believe, then to tell them, that they may be assured of salvation ? Doth
not the apostle, Eom. x. 9, speak in paiticular, that, ' if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God
hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.' This is spoken to
every man in particular.
And for the sacraments, what kind of faith doth baptism seal, when
water is sprinkled upon the child ? Doth it seal a general washing away of
guilt ? No ; but a particular washing away of the guilt and filth of the sins
of the party* baptized. Wherefore are the sacraments added to the word,
but to strengthen faith in particular ? Therefore every one in particular is
sprinkled, to shew the particular washing of our souls by the blood of
Christ. What is the reason that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is
added to the word, but that every one may be persuaded that it is his
duty to cast' himself upon Christ, and to eat Christ, and to believe his own
particular salvation ? It overthroweth the main end of the sacraments, to
hold a confused faith in general. Therefore seeing it is the main end of
the word and ministry, let us labour for this particular faith, that we may
Hay in special, ' Christ loved me, and gave himself for me.' Nay, ' for me,'
if there had been no other men in the world but I. And the rather labour
for this, because it is that which distinguisheth us from counterfeit Chris-
tians and believers. For wherein is the main difference ? It is in appro-
priation. True faith doth appropi-iate Christ unto itself, makes Christ a
man's own, it being the nature of saving faith to draw the general into par-
ticulars, which is meant by eating Christ, drinking his blood, and putting
on Christ ; all which enforce particular acts of faith. But against this it
will be said,
Obj. St Paul had a special revelation, without which no man ought to
believe thus much.
Ans. I answer, he had no special revelation, for, Rom. viii. 38, he en-
largeth the comfort unto all : ' For I am persuaded that neither death, nor
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.' It is idle to speak of a special revelation, unless we call
it so, as it is hid from the world ; so every Christian hath a special reveia-
* Cf. footnote, Vol. III. p. 9. — G.
SALVATION APPLIED. 393
tion from the Spirit. For the Spirit, which knows the * secret things ' of
God, and which knows his heart, testifies to him that he is a child of God,
and so he hath a special revelation ; but not if we distinguish one Christian
from another. Every true Christian hath this revelation, because they
have the spirit of revelation, for which the apostle prays, Eph. i. 17. * For
if we have not the Spirit of Christ, we are none of his,' Rom. viii. 9. Thus
we have seen that God loves some with a peculiar and a special love ; and
secondly, that they have a special faith to make this love their own.
3. The third point is, that assurance doth sprbuj from this jjarticular
faith ; so that a Christian man may be assured of the love of Christ. But
here divers questions and cases must be answered and explained to clear
the point, else our speech shall not be answerable to the experience of
God's people, or the truth itself. First, we must know that there is a double
act of faith in the believing soul,
1. An act of faith, trusting and relying ; and 2. An act of assurance upon
that act of relying.
For it is one thing to believe and cast myself upon Christ for pardon of
Bins, and another thing upon that act to feel assurance and pardon. The
one looks to the word more principally ; the other is founded upon experi-
ence, together with the word. We ought to labour for both, for affiance
and consent in the will, to cast ourselves upon Christ for salvation ; and
then upon believing we ought to find and feel this assurance. But these
many times are severed, and sometimes the first is without the second.
The first brings us into the state of grace. A man may be in the state of
grace, by giving consent to Christ and relying on him for mercy, and yet
want assurance of pardon and reconciliation in the second place.
This falls out ofttimes, especially in the new birth, that in those strag-
glings when little grace strives with corruption, there the Spirit of God is
exercised in the act, in yielding the obedience of faith, to cast itself upon
the arm of Christ, into the bosom of Christ, and upon God's mercy. Aa
for any feeling, it doth not so much stand upon it at first, as it doth regard
the act ; after which assurance it comes for a reward, as God sees it good.
Then again, it often falls out in the time of temptation, that the first act
of affiance, it is without the act of persuasion or feeling, which requires
more experience, when a Christian, in the,time of temptation, hath rather
experience of corruption and the wrath of God, having no experience of the
contrary ; yet he yields the first act of affiance with a particular faith, cast-
ing himself upon the mercy of Christ and upon his death, for the comfort
of redemption.
Quest. But here a question must be asked, What is the reason that, where
the first act of faith is, to cast itself upon the mercy of Christ in the pro-
mises, that yet thei'e is not the sense of pardon and reconcihation, nor that
full persuasion : why is this many times suspended ?
Ans. 1. I answer, many causes there be of it. To name some :
(1.) First, 1)1 some the distemper of the body helps the diste))iper of the soul ;
I mean a melancholy temper, which is a constitution subject to distrust,
fears, and temptations. As some tempers, that are of a bold spirit, are
subject to presumption, the devil suiting himself to their temper ; so where
there is this melancholy abounding, which is prone to fear and distrust, the
devil mingling his suggestions with their constitution, causes that those
tempers are inclined to fear, where there is no cause of fear. They are
careful enough to do their duties abundantly, as God doth discover his will
unto them ; they cast themselves upon God's mercy, and renounce them-
301
SALVATION APPLIED.
selves ; humble soul?, only, out of distrust, helped by Satan applying him-
self to their distemper, they are kept in darkness.
(2.) And also it is, many times, from a judrpnent not rightly persuaded :
as when they think they have no foith, because they have it not in so great
a measure. And when they are not rightly conceited of the covenant of
grace, which requires truth for perfection, and not measure. For Christ
will not quench the smoking flax. He despiseth not the day of small things,
but cherisheth it. * Thou hast a little strength,' saith he to the church of
Philadelphia, ' and hast kept my word,' Rev. iii. 8 ; yet they think, out of
a spiritual covetousness, that they have none, because they have not so
much as they would, and as stronger Christians have. They misconceit
the covenant of grace, where truth goes for perfection. Sincerity is our
perfection, which is known by a strife against the contrary, and by a desire of
growth in the use of all means. There is not so much as truth where there
is not this ; where the least is, there is this strife against the contrary, and
a desire of growth in a further measure by the use of means.
(3.) Also, they are held perhaps without this persuasion and assurance
of the pardon of their sin, because perhaps tlunj arc taken np xv'dh other
cares. They do not value this so much as they should do ; whereas this
is another manner of gift than the most take it for. God vouchsafes not
this sweet heaven upon earth, the sense of his love in Christ to any, but
it is sought for long, and valued highly, that afterwards we may be thank-
ful for it.
(4.) Again, Perhaps theij are ver/litjent in holy communion with those that
are better than themselves ; casting themselves into dead and dark company
that want life, who bring them into the same temper with themselves.
Many other causes may be reckoned why these acts are severed, that men,
casting themselves in the spirit of obedience upon Christ, have not that
assurance of the pardon and forgiveness of their sins. Hence we may give
an answer to another question.
Quest. Why do some Christians feel more comfort than others do, who
have the same means of grace ?
Ans. 1. I answer. Because God stirs up in some an higher esteem of it
than others ; they have more spiritual poverty.
2. Again, There is difference in the ages of Christians ; some have had
longer experience in the ways of God than others.
3. Again, Men differ in their temper. Some are of a more cheerful
temper. Therefore there is a clearer manifestation which helps the work
a little, the disposition of the outward man,
4. Again, Men differ in their worldly temper. Men, for want of Christian
prudence, cast themselves too much upon the employments of the world,
that they suffer the strength of their soul to be carried so one way, that
they have no time to gather assurance of salvation. Howsoever, for the
main they are conscionable,- j^et many such are so worn out with the world,
as they differ in heavenly-mindedness and want of care of this, so they
differ in assurance and want of God's love-
5. Again, As God hath a purpose to employ men, as he hath great and
many things for some men to do, so he suffers them to have a greater
measure of assurance and pardon of sin, because he intends they shall go
through a great deal of business. Those who he intends shall not go
through such employments, he vouchsafes not unto them them that portion of
assurance ; for these are distinct gifts of the Spirit, to give the spirit of
* That is, ' conscientious.' — G.
SALVATION APPLIED.
395
faith, to cast onrsclvcs npon Christ, and to give the spiri* of assurance.
Howsoever the Spirit cloth hoth, as 2 Cor. ii. 14, scq., it teacheth us those
good things that we have of God ; yet sometimes the Spirit doth not so
teach us the good things of God, as it enahles to do the works of the Spirit,
because God hath divers employments for Christians.
Quest. Another question which some may move is, Why oftentimes it
comes to pass that Christians of greater parts want assurance, and some-
times die without it. when many times a weaker Christian of meaner parts
has it ? Men of ordinary rank do many times die with more assurance
than their great teachers. What is the reason it falls out that poor Chris-
tians of mean knowledge and gifts have a heaven upon earth, and enjoy a
great deal of comfort when they end their days, men of greater parts dying
more concealed ?
Ann. I answer, Many reasons may be given. Christians are prone too
much to value gifts ; and those that have are much prone to be proud of
them, and to think that grace and gifts go together, when these are often
severed. Men of excellent gifts have many times no grace at all ; and are
given them for the good of others, not for themselves, being proud and
barren all their days, not having any feeling of that they can largely talk
of with glory to others ; because they value these things, and neglect grace,
humility, faith, and broken spirits, which things God values more than all
gifts. Therefore you have men far above other[s] in gifts and glory of the
world, which want this assurance.
Quest. But put the case they be good Christians, yet often they grow
proud, and puffed up with great gifts, for the apostle says, ' Knowledge
puffs up,' 1 Cor. viii. 1,
Ans. Again, When there is a great deal of good parts in knowledge, there
is oftentimes great inquisition made after things which should not be looked
after, and many impertinences, wanting knowledge and experience in that
which they should more look after.
Then a^ain, men of greater gifts may out of some error look for comfort
too much in sanctification, and in the covenant of works, more than m
faith. A poor Christian, perhaps out of right judgment, when he stands
in need of comfort, may seek it in faith, in justification, casting himself
upon Christ, when another man, thinking to find his comfort more in graces
and gifts than in casting himself upon Christ in justification, he may justly
be deprived of that comfort ; whereas we honour God most, whatsoever
our gi-aces are, in casting ourselves upon Christ, and ending our days in
mercy, making our appeal to mercy ; whereas the graces of sanctification
and excellent parts are excellent for the good of others, but if we place too
much affiance in them, it is just with God we should oftentimes go mourn-
ing to our graves. Therefore we must set them in a right place, take them
as signs and evidences of our comfort, but not forget to rely rightly on
our free justification, and the fruits thereof, as the foundation of comfort,
which made Saint Paul, Phil. iii. 8, count all things ' but dung and dross
in comparison of the righteousness of Christ.'
Then again, God doth it to shew his freedom, that to whom he pleaseth
he will give more assurance, to shew that he is a free giver. Our salvation
is according to his good pleasure, so is the feeling of it ; some shall have
more, some less. God will sometimes manifest his comforts and feeling
more to weak Christians than others, as a father or mother shews the
greatest love to the weakest child. God knows that strong Christians have
other things to support them with than feelings ; they can go back, as holy
896 SALVATION APPLIED.
David doth, to former experiences, and rely upon the word and promise
strong!}'- ; so he sufiers them to support themselves with stronger things
than present feelings. Those who are weakest, he vouchsafeth unto them
the sweet feeling of his love, as parents dandle and study most to please
the sickest and weak children. But we should leave this to God, who
gives us what measure he will, and at what time he will. Some he thinks
good to keep a long time from feeling this assurance, to humble them for
being too bold with sin ; and some, likewise, he will keep longer from this
assurance, perhaps all the days of their life, because they have been too
confident heretofore in touching and meddling with petty sins, which, as
pitch and fire, hath burned and defiled them too much ; in the mean time
supporting them with sufiicieut grounds of a happy estate, notwithstanding
their infirmities ; they may be as good Christians after a fall as ever, though
perhaps never attain unto that feeling and sense which formerly they en-
joyed ; for though they have not feeling, yet they may have strong faith,
as Christ upon the cross had strong assurance without feeling, when he
said, * My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' Thus we see that
assurance may be obtained.
Quest. Now we come to a more principal question. How we may know
whether we have the act or no, the first act to yield the obedience of faith,
for that is the main. Perhaps a Christian may die in the rage of a fever,
or in child-birth, and never have strong assurance. Many go to heaven
that never have it.
Ans. 1. But for the first, a man may know in his right temper that he
performs the act of faith in affiance, by the reflect act of his soul, if it be
not hindered, let him return upon himself; as, how do I know I under-
stand a thing when I do conceive it ? Why, by a faculty the soul hath to
know it understands. So, how doth a soul know that it believes, but by a
reflect act of the soul, whereby it knows it believes when it doth believe,
especially when the soul is in a right temper ? If a natural soul knows it
understands when it understands, and loves when it loves, so doth the soul
by the Spirit know that it believes when it doth believe. If, as I said, the
soul be not distempered, it is the nature of the conscience to bear witness
of the act of itself; and usually God's Spirit, together with the conscience,
doth discover it, Kom. viii. 16.
2. But the safest course is to go to the fruit. Know thou hast the act
of faith by the fruit. To name one now, because in the next point I shall
have occasion to speak more of it. The fruit of this act is seen especially
in the greatest temptation ; for if a man have a spirit of prayer, then to go
to God, and have boldness in extremity, certainly he believes ; for faith is
the cause of prayer, prayer is the breath and flame of faith. Where there
is the spirit of prayer, there is always the spirit of faith ; where there is
boldness to go to God, there certainly is the Spirit, whereby we may be
assured that we have the spirit of adoption, howsoever we find not so
evident witness that we are the sons of God. Yet if we have liberty and
boldness to go to God in extremity, it is a sign there is the spirit of faith ;
as we may see in David, Ps. xxxi. 22, ' For I said in my haste, I am cut
off from before thine eyes : nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my
Bupplication when I cried unto thee.' He said he was cut off*, yet he cried
unto God when he was in temptation. Though his flesh yielded, and said
he was cut ofl' from God, and that he was not the child of God, yet there
was a better principle within him to pray, ' nevertheless I cried unto thee.'
Bo saith Job, ' Though he kill me, yet will I trust in him,' Job xiii. 15.
SALVATION APPLIED. 397
Job wanted this assurance and feeling, yet notwithstanding, see the act of
Lis faith, ' Though he kill me, I will trust in him.' When in extremity
we can trust God, and go boldly to the throne of grace, and not sink in
despair, it is a sign that we are in the state of grace, and yield the act of
faith. Though we find not that sweet feeling, at length God will be merci-
ful to us ; so that after we have yielded the obedience of faith, we shall
find the assurance.
Quest. But at what time specially ?
Alls. 1. First, Especially when a man hath yielded the act of faith, and
cast himself upon God, and a long time lived by faith, then God will seal
this believing with the spirit of adoption. When we believe specially
against a temptation of distrust, then we usually have the sealing of the
Spirit.
Then again, when we have striven with any corruption a long time,
God, as a reward of our holding out, will crown our feith and our obedience
with a sweet sense of his love. After that Job had strove a long time, at
length concluding, ' Though he kill me, yet will I trust in him,' God mani-
fested himself in mercy unto him. The woman of Canaan, after she had
striven and wrestled with Christ, at last gets a gracious answer ; so when
we can subdue our corruptions, and perform holy duties in some strength
of grace, in reward of our diligence and care, we have some comfortable
revelation of the Spirit, and taste of the life to come more than ordinary,
God crowning our diligence with the sweet sense of his love.
And also, when he hath some great employment for us, to encourage us
the more, he will give us the more evidence and manifestation of his love,
more ravishment ; as the disciples which were with Christ in the mount,
they did see his glory there, because they were to sec him abased after-
wards. Those that God means to honour and use in any great employment,
oftentimes before he gives them the full assurance of his love.
Again, sometimes in the midst of sufferings, to reward our faithfulness,
as Paul in the dungeon was so filled with joy as to sing at midnicrht ; to
encourage us, that whatsoever our threatenings and torments shall be in
our sufleriugs for the name of Christ, yet if we yield obedience to God, our
comfort shall be more than our discomfort, as St Paul had the spirit of
glory, which raised him above his abasement. Thus we see when they are
severed, and when God pleases for to vouchsafe the manifestation together
with the act.
Now I come to the fourth and last point, indeed the chief of all, that
this 2^(i>'ticular faith in obedience to Christ, with assurance of his particular
love, is that which carries us aloncj all our life of faith unto the day of death.
' I Uve,' saith he, ' this life of faith in the Son of God.' Why, what makes
him to do so ? Oh I have good cause to love Christ and to depend upon
him. Why ? ' He hath loved me, and given himself for me ;' and I feel
so much to my soul's comfort, therefore I will wholly depend upon him, in
life, in death, and for ever. And indeed particular special faith, if it be
joined with some assurance, it is the ground of living by faith. No man
can live a holy life by faith, but first he must know that God loves him
and Christ loves him. Holy actions spring from love, and arc directed by
love to the right end, which only love moveth us to intend. How can any
spirit aim at his glory whom he loves not first ? Can any soul, not knowing
whether Christ loves it or not, intend Christ's glory as it should do ?
Quest. I beseech you, if we speak of doing or sufiering, thankfulnegs or
fihserfulness, especially at the hour of death, whence come all these ?
898 SALVATION APPLIED.
Ans. Come they not from some taste of God's love ? WJaen do we love,
but when mauj' sins are forgiven ? And when are we willing to suffer any-
thing for Christ's sake, but when we know that he hath suflered so great
things for us ? We count it a glory to suffer anything for Christ, when wo
know he hath loved us and given himself for us.
Quest, Again, for thankfulness, how can a man be thankful for that he
hath no knowledge of ? What makes a man thankful for the great work of
redemption in Christ, but a particular faith ?
Ans. This made St Paul and the rest of the apostles so often to break
out, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.' He
breaks out into thanksgiving that ho, together with other Christians, had
the Spirit, which doth persuade them of God and Christ's particular love.
Then again, for thankfulness for ordinary blessings, how can a man thank
God for any ordinary blessing, if he be not assured that it comes from the
love of God in Christ ? When he is persuaded of this, then he can give
thanks, both for the principal and other lesser favours,
Ohj. He may think else, What is all this to me ? I am but fatted against
the day of slaughter. It is good for me to take my pleasure whilst I may
enjoy these things, to think I am but as a traitor, who hath the liberty of
the prison. This smothers our thankfulness.
Ans. It is the believing soul that is thankful for mercies, and also cheer-
ful in duties. Whence come Christians to be a voluntary people, zealous
of good works ? as Tit. ii. 11, the apostle sets zeal betwixt faith and works,
looking both ways, saying, ' The grace of God, which bringeth salvation
unto all men, hath appeared,' by the first coming of Christ, and giving him
to death, ' teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.' Here faith
looks backwards. Then, looking forward, says he, ' Looking for, and
waiting for the appearance of the blessed God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who hath redeemed us, that we might be a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.'
Quest. Whence comes a zeal to good works, but when we look to the
grace that hath brought salvation and redemption from our sins, and to the
glorious coming of Christ ?
Ans. When faith looks both these ways, it is set a-fire, it makes us
zealous, as Heb. ix. 14. When the heart is sprinkled with the blood of
Christ in the forgiveness of sins, then we serve the living God, and are a
voluntary and a cheerful people when our hearts are enlarged with assurance.
Quest. Further, what makes a man ashamed of his evil life ? What
breeds those affections of repentance, grief, and shame mentioned Ezek.
xxxvi. 31, 32, ' Then shall ye be ashamed,' &c. ?
Ans. When God had once pardoned their sins, and given them many
favours, then shall ye be ashamed that ye have served me thus and thus,
and grieve that ye have departed from me. So that then do Christians
come to have those two penal affections of shame and grief, the two ingre-
dients to true repentance. Why ? ' Christ hath loved me, and given
himself for me.' As if one should say. Hath he done so ? Was my sins
the cause of his death, and did his love move him ? I am ashamed that I
have offended so gracious and so sweet a Saviour. It makes a man weep
over Christ. It was my sins which caused his death and torments. This
particular faith fills the soul with all divine graces, and it follows Christ,
and sees that he did all for us. Then a man sees that Christ was born
for him: * To us a child is born, and to us a son is given,' Isa. ix. G. It
follows Christ in his whole life, and so all that he did was for me. His
SALVATION APPLIED. 399
death, * He died for me ;' his sweating in the garden was for me, my sins
caused it. So I see his love, and the fouhiess of my sins. He was thrust
through the side for me, and cried upon the cross, ' My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me ? ' My sins had an active power there. He
rose again for me, he is now in heaven for me, as carrying me in his
breast. The sight and consideration of this draws the soul again unto
Christ in repentance for sins, and in all holy duties whatsoever. This is
the reason why those Christians that have been pulled out of the fire, and
converted oftentimes by a violent conversion, are the most fruitful and
loving Christians, as St Paul and others ; because they know Christ hath
forgiven them a mighty debt, a thousand talents ; the more which debt
appears to be, the more they know they are bound to God, and to sacrifice
and give up themselves to Jesus Christ, that hath discharged so great a
debt for them.
When they consider his wonderful love to such as they are, they aro
iuflamed with love again ; as in the gospel, the woman who had many sins
forgiven her, therefore she loved much. The prodigal young unthrift in
the gospel, for whom the fat calf was provided, no question he could not
satisfy himself in expressions. God sometimes provides fat calves, great
measures of comfort, even for prodigals, and they of all shew most love,
they cannot tell how to satisfy him by any painstaking. ' The love of
Christ,' saith Paul, ' constrains me, a holy violence moves me, who was a
persecutor and a blasphemer,' 2 Cor. v. 14. So the sense of the love of
Christ in pardoning of sins will constrain one to a holy violence in the per-
forming of all duties. Why, if any base ends come into a man's mind, in
that, is a Christian to regard himself, to seek his own ease, honour, pleasure ?
No ; this consideration, if he have any assurance of the pardon of his sins,
will move him to the contrary. Clarist died for me ; shall I not hve to
Christ, live to him that gave himself for me ? Seek his honour that
abased himself for me ? So that it quells all base ends, the consideration
of Christ's particular love.
So it stirs us up to be at cost for Christ and for his church, at any cost,
to sacrifice our Isaacs. He loved me, and gave himself for me; is anything
then I can give satisfactory ? He gave himself for me, therefore I will
give myself for him. This will make a man prodigal, even of his blood,
for Christ's sake. When a man is moved to be discontented with his
estate, and to doubt of God'S providence in particular things, this will help,
Christ hath loved me, and given himself for me. Will he not give me all
necessaries who hath given himself? So that this stirs up to all duties,
cuts the sinews of all spiritual sins, of distrust in God's providence, and
all base ends. It stirs me up in particular practice of holy life to go to
him for all graces. I have himself, therefore he will give me his Spirit
and grace. I have the field, therefore I shall have the pearl.'" He hath
given me himself, he will give me therefore all that he hath ; his Spirit,
graces, and privileges, all shall be mine.
Thereupon it is used in all Paul's epistles as a compelling argument, as
elect, and by the mercies of God do this ; moving them to all spiritual
duties from the love of God in Christ. And, dearly beloved, you are dearly
beloved ; the love that Christ bears you cost him dear indeed ; it is a strong
enforcement. Saint Peter's argument to this effect is very strong : ' You
are not bought with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus
Clu'ist ai-e we redeemed from our vain conversation,' 1 Peter i. 18. You
* • Treasure,' not ' pearl,' a repeated slip of Sibbes's. — G.
400 SALVATION APrLTKD.
Beo, then, I give you but a taste of it, what strong motives here are to live
a holy life, and all fetched from particular assurance ; because Christ loved
me, and gave himself for me. Hereupon, by the way, we may have a
strong argument against the papists, who hold we cannot have particular
assurance, for that which is brought as an argument to stir up to holy
duties must be known of us. The arguments in this case which serve to
persuade must be known. We do not persuade another to a duty by those
arguments he is ignorant of. Here he speaks to Christians, as taking it
for granted that they knew they were elected of God, and dearly beloved
in Christ. That which is an argument stirring up to duty must be known
better than the duty, because therefore this is an argument that stirs us
up to ail kind of duties whatsoever ; therefore we may be assured. But
here a question may be asked,
Quest. Doth not a holy life and holy actions sometimes proceed from a
soul not fully assured ? Then what shall we think of those good works
that proceed from a Christian w^ithout strong assurance ? If all obedience
in doing and suffering, that is pleasing, comes from faith and assurance,
then what shall we think of such works as proceed not from it ? If you
ask many a good Christian, what assurance have you that Christ hath given
himself for you ? they will perhaps stagger at it ; for a humble broken-
hearted Christian is subject to speak worse of himself than there is cause,
though he be diligent in good works. "What shall we think of such works
then, when therewith they are not assured of Christ's love in particular ?
Ans. I answer, There can no holy life proceed but from faith ; from the
first act of it. There must be that ; but sometimes we know not our faith,
because the retiect act is hindered ; we know not w-e believe when we
believe. There may holy duties proceed from a man when he knows not
his grace and estate : in which time let him but examine himself, why doth
he duties, whether out of love to God or no ? Yes. Can he endure God
to be evil spoken of? No. Will he allow himself in any known sin ? No.
In this case, though he dares not say he is assured, yet the things he doth
are from some love and desire of glorifying God. Christians do not know
their estates often in such cases. They do work from a secret persuasion
of God's love, though they know it not. He hath that he thinks he hath
not, he works from that he thinks he doth not work from. He works from
love to God, when he thinks he doth not, because he thinks he hath not
60 much as he would have : he works from grace, when he thinks he hath
none. A child lives when it knows not that it doth live ; a child when it
draws nourishment from the mother's breast, doth not know it lives itself,
but the lookers on do, because they see the actions of life : so a Christian
doth not know that he lives the live of grace, when the lookers on do,
because they see spiritual hunger in him, and attending upon the means.
Now he himself doth not see it, because of some spiritual covetousness,
temptation, or desertion which is upon him. Yet that is a true and gracious
action, which issues from a soul that discovers faith, however itself cannot
be assured of its estate, there being for the time a suspension of it, through
ignorance or other causes ; but certainly in such there is faith in the first
act of obedience, and some assurance, where there are actions of spiritual
life, though they have not that they covet to have.
The best way is to labour for both, for assurance and for the act itself;
for howsoever those who have the act only perform good obedience, yet
it is not so large, so thorough, so cheerful as it would otherwise be. We
Ought to desire both that God would give us a spirit of faith, and discover
SALVATION APPLIED. 401
himself unto us, that our sins are pardoned, and that we are accepted to
life, to give us strong assurance, that so we may be more plentiful in the
work of the Lord. There is no Christian who hath a good heart but he
will labour for the second as well as the first ; he will labour to make his
calling and election sure by all means, that God may have more glory, and
smell a more sweet sacrifice from him, and that he may have more com-
fort in this world. Howsoever without assurance much good may be done,
yet not so much as when there is full assurance, for then the soul is carried
amain* in obedience to God ; doing and sufiering is nothing then.
Use 1. Now for the uses of this, seeing that the persuasion of Christ's
love to us in special is the spring of all holy life, this serves, in the first
place, to free this doctrine of assurance from scandal. Assurance then
is not the ground of presumption or security. These spring not from a
particular faith, for a holy life, the clean contrary, springs from it. None
can live a holy life but by a particular faith; and whosoever in par-
ticular doth believe the forgiveness of his own sins, will live a holy life,
and not put himself into former bondage. It is a sign he is not that per-
son for whom Christ gave himself, that doth enthrall himself into his
former courses, unless he repent. We see those of the Israelites who had
a mind to go back again into Egypt, did all perish in the wilderness ; and
those in Babylon's captivity who would not come out when they were
called, did perish. It is pity they should ever be delivered that are in love
with bondage. Those that will serve and be slaves still, it is pity but their
ears should be bored to perpetual servitude. Some will live in their sins,
and yet think that Christ died for them. No ; whom Christ loves in parti-
cular, he gives them grace to lead a holy life, and to be freed from the
bondage of their former corruptions. Those that are not redeemed from
their vain conversation, are not redeemed from hell and damnation, unless
God give repentance. Those both go together. Therefore let it be also a
rule of trying and discerning, whether we truly believe that Christ loved
us, and gave himself for us, by our care to live to him, and to give ourselves
to him back again by a holy life. Wheresoever the one is, there is the
other. This is that which may stop the mouths of many, and will shame
them at the day of judgment, notwithstanding all their boasting that God
is merciful, and Christ died for them. Oh ! — their hearts will tell them, — but
I have not cared to have the fruit of Christ's death in the governing of his
Spirit ; I would not have him my king ; my conscience tells me I would not
have Christ upon those terms : he offered himself to rule me ; the minister
told me of the danger, but I have preferred some base lust or other, such and
such a course, before Christ ; I hated to be reformed, I flattered myself with
hope of mercy on no ground at all ; therefore I never had any benefit by him.
Use 2. To make another use : if 2^articular faith and assurance he the
ground of a holy life, let us labour for it hij all means ; and let those that
are in the state of grace, let them come to this fire if the}^ will be kindled :
if they find themselves dull to holy duties, let them come to this fire. Are
we dead spiritually ? Are we not so enlarged as wo should be ? Why,
come and consider of the infinite love of God in giving his Son for thee, and
the sweet love of Christ in giving himself for thee ; and dwell in the medi-
tation of this love. Do not let thy heart go ofi" the consideration of Christ's
sweet love, in stooping so low, not only in becoming man, but so low as
hardly ever creature was, and all in love. Should not this kindle love in
us again ? So much the more dearer he should be unto us, the more base
* That is, ' all at once,' — a sea term. Cf. Halliwell, sub voce. — G.
VOL. Y. 0 C
402 SALVATION APPLIED.
he was for ns. When we have wai'mcd our frozen hearts with the conside-
ration of his particular love towards us, then we add lire to holy duties.
Iron, when it is warm, is fit for any impression ; so our cold hearts, though
stifi" of themselves, being warmed and fired by the love of Christ, are fit to
receive any impression, and to do and to suffer any thing.
When we find ourselves backward to suffer anything for Christ, consider
that Christ gave himself; or, if we be not thankful and fruitful enough,
consider what was the end of Christ's giving himself, that we should serve
him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives without fear ;
and being freed from the fear of death, damnation, and slavish fear, that
we should serve him cheerfully in the spirit of adoption and love. I
beseech you, in all indispositions of soul, let us make use of this, to come
unto Jesus Christ. Experience teacheth any one when they are fittest for
Buffering, doing of any duty, to resist a sinful temptation to discontent or
murmuring, even when they enjoy the assurance of Christ's love, and
can read their own evidence that they are God's children, and the members
of Christ. Then they are fit for anything. Therefore we should, as the
apostle Peter exhorts us, ' give all diligence to make our calling and elec-
tion sure,' 2 Pet. i. 10. It is a thing which requires all dihgence. And
the reason why we have it no more, is because we do not give all diligence
to attain it. It requires our utmost endeavour, being of the greatest con-
sequence, by which God hath most honour, and we most comfort, because
it makes us most fruitful in our conversation.
Obj. But you will say, what then shall we say unto those who cannot
say in particular that Christ loved them and gave himself for them ? What
course shall they take who have not this particular assurance and faith ?
What grounds have they to come to Christ if they be willing ?
Ans. I answer. Those that have it not should labour to have it by all
means whatsoever.
Obj. But what ground have I, who have been a wretched sinner, an
unworthy wretch, what ground have I for to meddle with Christ, and to
believe that he loved me, and gave himself for me ?
Sol. 1. Consider, even the vilest that can hear me have the gospel
offered unto them. Again, consider that Christ took thy nature, and how
many inducements are there in this, for thee to take degrees of this parti-
cular faith, to come to it, that thou mayest be in this estate, to glorify God
and to enjoy comfort.
Sol. 2, Hath not Christ taken thy nature, not the nature of angels ?
Oughtest not thou to think that he loves mankind, and why not thee, if
thou wilt come in and cast thyself upon him ? He is Jesus, a Saviour ; and
Christ, anointed of God ; and Immanuel, to reconcile God and man together.
Sol. 3. Besides, thou saj^est thou art a sinner. Why, but alas ! * what
are thy sins ? Is not his righteousness above them ? His righteousness
is the righteousness of God-man, of a mediator that is God, therefore far
above thy sins. Considering then the excellency of his person, believe that
the blood of Christ is able to purge thee from all.
Sol. 4. For a further ground for this particular faith, we may think of
this inviting of all those who are unworthy : ' Whosoever will, let him come
and drink of this water of life freely,' Kev. xxi. 17 ; yea, those that think
themselves farthest off' he bids them come : ' Come, all that are weary and
heavy laden,' &c., Mat. xi. 28. If thou findest sin a burden, then Christ
invites thee, and sends his minister to beseech thee to be reconciled.
* Another example of Sibbes's peculiar use of ' alas ! ' — G.
SALVATION APPLIED. 403
Those that stand at the staff's end, he desires them to lay aside their
weapons and come in.
Sol. 5. If that will not do, he lays his charge and command upon you
to beHeve. If you will not believe, you add this sin unto all the rest. This
is his commandment, that you should beHeve, or else you are rebels to his
commandment. Nay, he counts it a sin worse than the sin of Sodom and
Gomorrah, a crying sin, not to come in when the gospel is proclaimed.
Therefore never pretend your sins are great and many, but because of his
offer, invitation, and command, it being without all restraint of person, sin,
and time ; even now, whatsoever thou hast been and art, seeing at what-
soever time a sinner repenteth there is no restraint of any sin but the sin
against the Holy Ghost ; if thou therefore come not in and cast thyself upon
Christ, to be ruled by him hereafter, thou hast nothing at all to pretend.
It IS not the greatness of thy sins, but thy willingness to be still in thy sins,
which hinders thee, for the greater thy sins have been, the greater will his
glory be in forgiving: 'Where sin abounded, there,' saith the apostle,
' grace superabounded so much the more,' Rom. v. 20. Is it not for the
honourof the physician or surgeon, to cure great diseases and sore wounds?
A mighty God and Saviour loves to do mighty things : ' He loved me, and
gave himself for me.' Did Paul find mercy ? Who then should despair
when such find mercy ? He had sinned against the first table by blasphe-,
mies, and against the second by oppression and persecution. Who shall
despair then when such as he and Manasseh shall find mercy ? Therefore
in any case come in, and the greater glory Christ shall have by thy coming.
Do not flatter thyself with this, as if thy sins and uaworthiness were such
as God cannot shew mercy to such a wretch as thou art, or at least will
not. No, no ; deceive not thyself. Examine thine own false heart, and
thou shalt find thou art in love with thy sins and wilt not leave them ; and
this will be alleged at the day of judgment against thee by thine own con-
science, that thou wast more in love with thy sins than with the mercies of
God in Christ, and therefore didst willingly remain in thy infidelity. This
is the true cause, indeed, of thy backwardness, and not the greatness of
thy sins. You see then that there is ground sufiicient for any sinner to
come in and labour for this particular assurance.
Obj. But put the case, I be not one that Chria^ redeemed, and God elected.
Sol. Away with disputing, and fall to obey. Put this question out of
question, by believing and obeying. Come in and stoop unto Christ, and
then it will appear that thou art one that Christ died for ; for he gives him-
self for all that believe in him. Do thou thy duty, bring thou thy heart to
rest upon Christ, and to be ruled by him, and then thou wilt put this ques-
tion out of question, that thou art one of God's elect. The devil holds
many in a state of darkness by this delusion.
Obj. If I knew that I were elected, or that Christ died for me, then I
could believe.
* Secret things belong unto God, revealed things to us,' saith Moses.
Thy duty is, when thou art sought for, invited, entreated, and commanded
to be reconciled, then to come in and yield obedience, and in yielding
thereof, thou shalt find the fruit of Christ's redemption, that thou art one
for whom he gave himself. Thus much is for those who want this parti
cular assurance.
^ Well then, to draw to an end, for those that pretend they have a par-
ticular faith and assurance of salvation, by this they shall know it. These
things will follow.
404
SALVATION APPLIED,
1. Then thou hast a care to live by faith in the Son of God daily, and in
all estates and conditions ; and -where this faith and assurance is, it is with
care and conscience of duty always. Herein it is distinguished from a
false conceit. Where there is no conscience of duty, there is no assurance
of particular faith. This particular hath its ground from the general, from
the word of God. The word saith that Christ gave himself for all believers ;
now I know I do believe : he loves all those that love him ; and I know I
love him, therefore I am beloved of him. Thus true faith goes to the con-
ditions of the word. Those that live in courses contrary to the word have
not this faith. ' Be not deceived,' saith the Scripture : ' neither whore-
monger, adulterer, nor unclean person, shall inherit the kingdom of God,'
1 Cor. vi. 9. But I am such a one, saith a wicked man, and yet I think
to enter into heaven, and that God will be merciful. No ; in this case he
will not be merciful, because one thus concludes wrongly, by a diabolical
persuasion, contrary to the word.
2. Again, litis is tcith conflict. You may know particular application
where it is, to be good, because it is with conflict against temptations. A
man never enjoys his own assurance of Christ's particular love, but with a
great deal of conflict. There are two grounds that faith lays :
(1.) That general truth, that whosoever casts himself upon Christ shall
be saved.
(2.) The particular application hereof — but I cast myself upon Christ,
therefore I shall be saved.
This particular application, which is the work of faith, is mightily
assaulted, more than the general. The devil is content that a man should
believe the foniier, but he troubles us in the application, ' but I believe.'
He hinders, what he may, the reflect act, that we may not say, I know I
believe. Thus, wheresoever the sense of Christ's love is, there is a mighty
conflict before it comes. The devil labours by all means to hinder appli-
cation, for he knows that particular faith brings Christ home, which is all
in all. But false Christians go on in a smooth course, are not thus assaulted
from day to day. They hope well, not considering that whilst the strong
man keeps the hold, all things are in peace ; whereas there is no Christian
but he finds his particular faith strongly assaulted, more than his general :
which is the reason why these two equal truths are not equally believed,
because Satan doth hinder the application, the minor part assuming more
than the general. Those who have no conflict may fear they have no faith
at all, God in wrath and justice sufiering them to go on in a smooth unin-
terrupted state. But all who have experience know what this spiritual con-
flict with an unbelieving heart means, when it comes to application.
3. Again, a man may know his faith to be true by his willingness to search
himself, and to he searched by others. He that hath a true sound faith, and
particular assurance from thence, is willing oftentimes to search his heart.
He would be better and better, labouring to examine himself and to be
examined of others. Those who are wilhng to go on in a still smooth
course, because they will not break the peace of their own deluding false
hearts, rather thinking all well than to put themselves to the trial, we may
know this is but presumption. Where there is true apphcation there is
always willingness to search our own evidence ; nay, a Christian will be
willing, when he cannot find his own evidence, to have the help of other
Christians to read his evidence for him, and to tell him of his estate, and is
inquisitive, especially when he meets with the skilful in those things.
4. Again, This particular faith it is with a high 2)rizing and admiration of
SALVATION APPLIED. 405
the love of God in Christ, * who loved me, and gave himself for me.' It ia
a sign that he hath no interest in this love, that prizes and values other
things above it. If one had any assurance of this, he would value it above
all other things in the world. He knows that howsoever Christ gives other
things, riches, kingdoms, and honours to castaways, that yet Christ gives
himself to none but his dear children. Therefore when he knows that he
hath interest in Christ, he values him above all things in the world ; will
part with all rather than with his interest in him, when others go on
with a general conceit that Christ died for them and loves them, or howso-
ever, that yet come what will, they will go on in their pleasures and profits,
though their hearts tell them there is something higher in their souls than
Christ and his love. You see then that we may all come in who will.
There is ground enough to draw them on, if they be not false to their own
comfort, and how we may try whether we be assured or not.
Exhortation. I beseech you, therefore, as we desire to do anything that
may please God, labour for particular faith and assurance. Would we have
our whole course of life to stink before God ? I tell you, without this faith
it is not possible to please God. Would we have all our life to pass fruit-
fully, and nothing to run upon our account when we are to die ? Oh pray
that the Lord would increase our faith ; above all, labour for particular faith
and assurance, for there is nothing Satan opposes us more in. It is a
happy estate, a heaven upon earth. If Satan doth oppose it most, and it
be the greatest happiness we can enjoy, it is worth the labouring after.
Let especially those that have ground and cause to be assured, humble
broken-hearted Christians, let them by all means not yield to Satan, so
much as to obscure the beauty of a Christian life, and to weaken the good
things in others ; who see them so mopish and cast down as though Christi-
anity were a life of perpetual sorrow, and not rather of perpetual rejoicing,
Ps. xxxii. 10, 11. Our blessed Saviour indeed shews that mourners are
blessed, but it is chiefly because it tends and ends in joy. There is a com-
mand to 'rejoice evermore,' but nowhere is it written, 'mourn continually.'
Every one, therefore, ought to express by all means this assurance in the
beauty of a holy life. Therefore those who make conscience of holy duties
and of their ways, let them not yield to temptations of this kind. If we be in
such darkness, let us not trust unto our own judgment, but let us trust the
judgment of others. Oftentimes others know more by us than we by our-
selves. We ought to yield much to the discerning of Christians in this
kind. It is an easy matter when all things go well with us, in a light
current, having some feeling, then to have comfort and to be fruitful ; but
when we are in our dumps, and in the hour of temptation, then it is not
so easy. When a tree bears a great deal of fruit, and abounds with leaves,
it is an easy matter to say. This is a fruitful tree ; but when in winter the
sap falls to the root, is covered with snow and frost, the leaves shaken off,
and the root that is unseen lies hid, then it requires some judgment and
former experience to say. This tree hath life, and is fruitful, though now
thei*e appears none. So a Christian may be in such an estate, that he re-
quires the judgment of some others to look upon him. When in such a
case, he must go to former times, for God's love is constant, always like
himself.
And go to the secret working of grace ; when outwardly there appears
little, go to the pulses. As, if we would know whether a man who is in a
swound hath life and breath, we go to feel the pulses, to see if there be
any breath i-emaining ; so in a case of desertion, or seeming deadness of
406 SALVATION APPLIED.
spirit, try which way goes the soul in the desires of it. Is there not a
desire to please God ? Ai-e there not groans and endeavours with those
desires ? Are not those desires restless, and thy soul unsatisfied ? Thou
dost not content thyself with a little faith, but thou desirest more and more,
and thou art ashamed, because thou hast so little. This is the pulses
beating, and the breathings of a living soul. Yield not to Satan, who tells
thee there is no ground for thee to be assured of thy estate. Where we
find these evidences of a living soul, we ought to believe there is true life
there ; which I speak to those, who, without cause, are carried to doubt of
their! estates.
Obj. And do not tie Christ to thy conditions : If I had feeling and joy,
I could believe, and be cheerful ; if God would send a messenger from
heaven, an interpreter, one of a thousand unto me, or if I had those super-
natural suavities that some others have found, and those joys ; or were
not corruption so busy with me, and I so prone to be overtaken by them.
Sol. But I say unto thee, know this for thy comfort, that whilst thou
art clothed with flesh, two fountains will have two streams ; that which is
born of the flesh will be flesh, and which is born of the Spirit will be
spirit still. Inform thy judgment, mistake not, neither say thou wilt not
be comforted unless thou find such a thorough mortification of thy corruption,
as admits no strong combustion.
Quest. Shall St Paul, that chosen vessel, have cause to cry out, ' 0
wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?'
Eom. vii. 24, and canst thou think to be freed from them ?
Ans. No ; deceive not thyself. Thy comfort stands in this, with St Paul,
not to allow the evil that thou doest ; that sin shall not have dominion over
thes, as the apostle speaks, thou not being under the law, but under grace ;
for saith he in another place, * The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the
Spirit against the flesh : and these two are contrary, so that ye cannot do
the things which ye would,' Gal. v. 17. Comfort thyself rather from this
self-combat, and thence even gather thy assurance, that now sin and thou
are not one lump ; that a heavenly light hath discovered this thy darkness
unto thee ; only be sure, sin hath no quiet possession in thee. Complain
of thyself, and of thy corruptions, unto thy Christ as fast as they come ;
lay the burden upon the strongest, and then fear not the issue : that which
thou allowest not of, complainest of, and repentest of, shall not, cannot
undo thee, but the Spirit at last shall have a final victory. So much for
thy corruptions.
And for thy joy and feeling : tie not thy Saviour to thy conditions and
qualifications ; look to thy desires, thy constant walk, not thy straying fits
and thine infirmities ; remember that this is Christian perfection, not to live
in any gross sin, nor allow of any smaller sin ; and for thy imperfections,
look up unto that infinite fulness of thy Saviour, and storehouse of all
grace, whence we receive grace for grace : ' who is made unto us of God
the Father, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,' 1 Cor.
i. 30. And then, whatsoever thy emptiness be, a part of his riches being
fetched and applied by the hand of faith, will make thee up complete with
the best. And know, that as in the state of innocency under the first
Adam, his comfort came from within himself upon his obedience or dis-
obedience, so now under the second Adam, the true and substantial ground
of thy comfort is without thyself, in thy justification, and application of his
all-sufiicient merits and righteousness to thy trembling soul.
Walk on therefore in the obedience of faith, having a respect unto all
SALVATION APPLIED.
407
God's commandments, and then assure thyself the promise is so, thou shalt
not be ashamed. Labour as much as thou canst for an higher measure of
eanctification and mortification, for this will assure and confirm thy justifi-
cation the more it is ; but with these cautions.
Caution 1. Be not discouratjed at thy small measure whatsoever, if in truth,
so as to fill off from apphfimj the riches of thy Saviour and sweet husband unto
thee ; in whom, whatsoever thy poverty be, if married to him, thou art com-
plete and rich with the best ; for the weaker thou art, thou hast so much
the more need of a stronger helper to uphold and sustain thee : it being
the law of marriage for the wife to be endowed with all the husband's
riches, who is to pay her debts, whatsoever she be, being once married
unto him.
Caution 2. Again, Whatsoever pitch of sanctifi cation or mortification thou
ohtainest, rest not in that, hut on the all-sufficiency of thy blessed Lord Jesus,
who is thine, and so with him all his obedience, righteousness, and merits
of his life, death, and resurrection ; for there is nothing so exact in thee,
but in the time of tentation the devil will find a hole in it, and so make
his advantage thereof for thy discouragement ; whereas it is clear, ' the
prince of this world being come,' as our Saviour says, ' found nothing in
him,' John xiv. 30.
Caution 3. And for the remainder, in those eclipses which damp thy spirit
in this thypih/rimaye, by desertion, afflictions, or howsoever, know that jnecious
faith, that it may shine the more, must be tried. Make then a virtue of
necessity, buckle thyself to this business of most importance ; strive to
obey whatsoever thou feelest ; in sense of thy misery believe thy happiness
in Christ; in sense of God's anger believe his love, and that he will not
be angry for ever. Faith, where it is, is of a victorious nature. There-
fore, as in contraries thou wouldst have an evidence of any goodness _ in
thee, in contraries strive against contraries. When thou feelest nothing
but matter of discouragement, know the commandment is to believe, and
thy duty is to obey. No service can be performed comfortably without
some persuasion. Strive then to get all the arguments thou canst of a
good estate ; and when thou thyself art not able get others to read thy
evidences for thee, believe the judgments of others who can tell thee,
that these things found in thee come not from a corrupt and false heart.
And withal, 2Jray for the sjoirit of revelation, as St Paul doth, Eph. ii. 17.
Pray that God would vouchsafe thee his Spirit, to discover unto thee that
love he bears thee, and the riches thou hast in Christ ; to shew thee the
height, and breadth, and depth, and length, with all the dimensions of his
love in Christ more and more ; that so the more we grow in the sense and
feeling of his love to us, the more we may be inflamed to love him again ;
for we cannot lovo him unless we find him loving us first. So beg of him
to give us the spirit of revelation. And attend upon the means that doth
beget faith, which is especially the word, which is called the word of faith,
and look to the examples of others, how God hath brought them from a
wicked course of life into a sweet state of grace. Take benefit Ukewise by
the example of those we live with. Use all means to take notice of Christ's
particular love. It is the main thing we should labour after in this world.
Can we know how long we have to live in this world ? What will make
us die willingly, but when we know that Christ will have a care of our
souls ? What made David to commend his soul into God's hands, but
this, ' Thou hast redeemed me, 0 Lord God of truth? ' Ps. xxxi. 5. What
will make us die in the faith cheerfully ? AVhy, Lord, thou hast redeemed
408 SALVATION APPLIED.
my soul ; wlien at the hour of death we can commend our soul to Christ,
Take my soul, blessed Saviour: thou hast redeemed me, thou hast loved
me, and given thyself for me ; look upon that soul in mercy that thou
hast sprinkled with thine own blood. Strive we then for this particular
faith, without which we cannot resign up our souls comfortably unto Christ
at the last.
NOTE.
(a) P. 891. — ' It is for rebellion he perishes : as when a malefactor is condemned,
who hath a book,' &c. The allusion here, which is a not unfrequent one in Sibbes
and his contemporaries, is to what used to be called ' the benefit of clergy,' by which
a convicted felon saved himself from capital punishment on being able to read a
verse or two from the Psalms on being found guilty. It was restricted originally to
the clergy — hence the designation — but was afterwards extended to any person who
could read. There was a certain rough justice in its original limitation, in so far as
pardon was disallowed to a ' clergyman ' unable to read. But altogether it was a
strange statute, and more strange than even its original enactment was its vitality
— having only been abolished in the year 1827. A reference is made to it by Sir
Walter Scott, in his ' Lay of the Last Minstrel,' canto i. v. 2-1 : —
' Letter nor line know I never a one,
Were't my neck-verse at Hairibee.' G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED,
NOTE.
' A Fountain Sealed ' was originally published in a small volume (12mo) in 1637.
Its title-page is given below.* A second edition was issued in the same year, and a
third in 1638. The last has a beautiful miniature portrait of Sibbes introduced into
an engraved title by Marshall. G.
*A
Fountain Sealed:
OR,
The duty of the sealed to the
Spirit, and the worke of the Spirit
in Sealing.
Wherein
Many things are handled about the
Holy Spirit, and grieving of it :
As also
Of assurance and sealing what it is, the
priviledges and degrees of it, with the
signes to discerne, and meanes to preserve it.
Being
The substance of divers Sermons prea-
ched at Grayes Inne.
By that Reverend Divine,
RicHAED Sibbes,
D.D. and sometimes Preacher to that
Honourable Society.
LONDON,
Printed by Thomas Harper, for Law-
rence Chapman, and are to be sold at
his shoj) at Chancery lane end, in
Holborne, 1637.
TO THE TRULY NOBLE AND MUCH HONOURED LADY,
THE LADY ELIZABETH BEOOKE,
WIFE TO SIR ROBERT BROOKE.*
Madam, — Besides that deserved interest your ladyship held in the aifec-
tions and esteem of this worthy man, more than any friend alive, which
might entitle you to all that may call him author, this small piece of his
acknowledgeth a more special proprietyf unto your ladyship. For though
his tongue was as the ' pen of a ready writer ' in the hand of Christ who
guided him, yet your ladyship's hand and pen was in this his scribe and
amanuensis whilst he dictated a first draft of it in private, with intention
for the public. In which labour both of humility and love your ladyship
did that honour unto him which Baruch — though great and noble — did
but receive in the like, transcribing the words of Jeremiah from his mouth,
Jer. xxxvi. 4. Wherein yet your ladyship did indeed but write the story
of your own life, which hath been long exactly framed to the rules herein
prescribed. We therefore that are entrusted in the publishing of it, deem
it but an act of justice in us to return it thus to your ladyship, unto whom
it owes even its first birth ; that so wherever this little treatise shall come,
there also this that you have done may be told and recorded for a memorial
of you. And we could not but esteem it also an addition of honour to the
work, that no less than a lady's hand, so pious and so much honoured,
brought it forth into the world ; although in itself it deserveth as much as
any other this blessed womb did bear. The Lord, in way of recompence,
write all the holy contents of it yet more fully and abundantly in your
ladyship's heart, and all the lineaments of the image of Jesus Christ, and
seal up all unto you by his blessed Spirit, with joy and peace, to the day
of redemption !
Madam, we are, your ladyship's devoted,
Tho. Goodwin.J
Philip Nye. J
* Cf. Vol. I. p. cxix ; also, besides the Baronetages, Hanbury, and nearly every
History of Puritanism. — G.
t That is, ' proprietorship.'— G. X Cf. Vol. II. p. 3.— G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
Aiul grieve not the Holy Sjnrit of God, u-herehj we are sealed unto the day of
redemption. — Eph. IV. 30.
Whether the words be a command ensuing from authority, or counsel from
wisdom, or a caveat from God's care of our souls, it is not material, con-
sidering both counsel and caveats of the great God have both force of a
command, with some mixture of the sweetness of love. The apostle, as his
manner is, from the largeness of his spirit, riseth from a particular dissuasive
from corrupt communication in the verse before, to this general advice of
not grieving God's Spirit by sin, especially against conscience enlightened.
And this dissuasive from evil is enforced from a dangerous effect of grieving
the Spirit of God ; and the danger of grieving ariseth from this, that it is
the Spirit of God, and God himself, whom we grieve, and a holy Spirit : holy
in himself, and holy as the cause of all holiness in us ; and he that, after
he hath wrought holiness in us, sealeth and confirmeth us in that act of
grace, until the day of our glorious redemption. So that the grounds of
not grieving are from the greatness and goodness of the person whom we
grieve, and from the greatness and constancy of the benefits we have by
him. To speak something of the person : the Holy Spirit is called a Spirit,
not only by nature, as being a spiritual essence, but in regard of his person
and office ; he is both breathed from the Father and the Son, as proceeding
from them both ; and by office, breatheth into all that God hath given Christ
to redeem and him to sanctify. He is so the Spirit of God in proceeding
from God, as that he is God, which whoso dcnieth deny their own
baptism ; being as well baptized into the name of the Holy Ghost as into
the Father and the Son. And no less a person than God is needful to
assure our souls of God's love, and to change our nature, being in an opposite
frame. Who can reveal to us the mind of God but the Spirit of God ?
And herein we may see the joint forwardness both of the Father and Son
and Holy Ghost : when both Father and Son join in willingness to send so
great a person to apply unto us, and to assure us of that great good the
Father hath decreed, and the Son performed for us.
That attribute the Spirit delights in is that of holiness, which our cor-
rupt nature least delights in and most opposeth.* Holiness is the glory
* In margin here, ' Holiness not only an attribute in God, but the excellency of
all his attributes. He is holy in mercy, injustice, in goodness, &c.' — G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 413
and crown of all otlicr excellency, without which they arc neither good in
themselves, nor comfortahle to us. It implies a freedom from all impurity,
and a perfect hatred of it ; an absolute perfection of all that is excellent.
What is it then to grieve such an Holy Spirit, before whom the heavens
themselves are impure, and not only the devils tremble, but the angels cover
their faces ? What shall we think then of them which do not only neglect,
but despise, yea, oppose this holiness, and endure anything else ? What
is hated in the world with keen and perfect hatred but holiness, ' without
which yet we shall never see God,' Heb. xii. 14, nor enter into that pure
place into which we all profess a desire to enter ? There was planted in
man by natui'e a desire of holiness, and a desire of happiness. The
desire of happiness is left still in us, but for holiness, which is the
perfection of the image of God in us, is both lost, and the desire of
it extinguished ; and that men might the better drive it out of the world
under a form and show of it, they oppose the truth of it, and that with
the greater success, because under that great colour the devil and his
vicar carry all their devilish policies under a show of holiness. We see
in popery, everything is holy with them but that which should be holy,
the truth of God and the expression of it. The Man of Sin himself
must have no worse title than ' His Holiness.' A show of devised holiness
plcaseth man's nature well enough, as being glorious for appearance, and
useful for ends. But the truth of it being cross to the whole corrupt nature
of man, will never be entertained until nature be new moulded by his Holy
Spirit in the use of holy means, sanctified by himself for that end. It is
this that makes a man a saint, and civil virtues to be graces ; which raiseth
things that are otherwise common to an higher degree of excellency. This
is that to a Christian which reason is to a man. It gives him a being and
a beauty diflerent from all other. It makes every action we do in obedience
to God a service, and puts a religious respect upon all our actions, directing
them to the highest end.
Now that which the apostle dissuades from is from grieving so holy a
Spirit. These truths are presupposed.
First, That the Holy Ghost is not in us personally as the second person is
in Christ man, for then the Holy Ghost and we should make one person ;
nor is the Holy Ghost in us essentially only, for so he is in all creatures ;
nor yet is in us only by stirring up holy motions, but he is in us mystically,
and as temples dedicated to himself. Christ's human nature is the first
temple wherein the Spirit dwells, and then we become temples by union
with him. The diflerence betwixt his being in Christ and us, is, that the
Spirit dwells in Christ in a fuller measure, by reason that as a head he is to
convey spirit into all his members. Secondly, the Spirit is in Christ
entirely without anything to oppose. The Spirit always finds something
in us that is not his own, but ready to cross him. Thirdly, the Spirit is in
us derivatively from Christ. As a fountain we receive grace at second hand,
answerable to grace in him. The Holy Ghost was in Adam before his fall
immediately, but now he is in Christ first, and then for Christ in us, as
members of that body whereof Christ is the head. And it is well for us
that he dwells first in Christ, and then in us. For from this it is that his
communion with us is inseparable, as it is from Christ himself, with whom
the Spirit makes us one. The Holy Spirit dwells in those that are Christ's
after another manner than in others in whom he is in, in some sort by
common gifts, but in his own he is in them as holy, and as making them
holy ; as the soul is in the whole body in regard of divers operations, but in
414 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
the head only as it understandeth, and from thence ruleth the whole body.
So the Holy Ghost is in his in regard of more noble operations, and his
person is together with his working, though not personally. And though the
whole man be the temple of the Holy Ghost, yet the soul especially ; and iu
the soul the very spirit of our minds, as most suitable to him, being a Spirit.
Whence the apostle wishes ' the grace of Christ to be with our spirits,' 2 Tim.
iv. 22. The best of spirits dehght most in the best of us, which is our
spirits. In the temple the further the}' went all was more holy, till they
came to the holy of holies. So in a Christian the most inward part,
the spirit, is, as it were, the 'holy of holies,' where incense is offered to
God continually.* What a mercy is this, that he that hath the heaven of
heavens to dwell in will make a dungeon to be a temple, a prison to be a
paradise, yea, an hell to be an heaven. Next to the love of Christ in taking
our nature and dwelling in it, we may wonder at the love of the Holy Ghost,
that will take up his residence in such defiled souls.
2. The second thing presupposed is, that the Holy Spirit being in us, after
he hath jjrepared us for an house for himself to dwell in, and to take 2ip his
rest and deVujht in, he doth also become unto us a counsellor in allow doubts ;
a comforter in all our distresses; a solicitor to all duty; a guide in the whole
course of our life, until ive dwell icith him for ever in heaven, unto which his
dwelling here in us doth tend. He goeth before us as Christ did in the
' pillar of the cloud and fire ' before the Israelites into Canaan, being a
defence by day, and a direction by night. When we sin, what do we else
but grieve this guide ?
3. The third ground is, that we, the best of us, are prone to grieve this
Holy Spirit. What use were there else of this caveat ? We carry too
good a proof of this in our own hearts. We have that which is enmity to
the Spirit within us, sin ; and an adversary to the Spirit and us, Satan.
These joining together and having intelligence, and having correspondency
one with another, stir us up to that which grieves this good Spirit.
4. The fourth thing presupposed is, that we may and ought, by Christian
care and circumspection, so to ivalk in an even and j^leasing course, that ice
shall not grievously offend the Spirit, or grieve our own spirits. We may
avoid many lashes and blows, and many an heavy day which we may thank
ourselves for. And God delighteth in the prosperity of his children, and
would have us walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost ; and is grieved
when we grieve him : that then he must grieve us to prevent worse grief.
The due and proper act of a Christian in this life is to please Christ, and
to be comfortable in himself, and so to be fitted for all services.
These things premised, it is easy to conceive the equity of the apostle's
dissuasive from grieving the Holy Spirit. For the better unfolding of
which, we will unfold these four points. First, What it is to grieve the
Spirit ? Seco)ully, is Wherein we specially grieve the Spirit ? Thirdly,
How we may know when we have grieved the Spirit ? Fourthly, What
course we should take to prevent this grief ?
1. For the first : The Holy Ghost cannot projjerly be grieved in his own
person, because grief implies a defect of happiness in suffering that ive wish re-
moved. It implies a defect in foresight, to prevent that which may grieve.
It implies passion, which is soon raised up and soon laid down. God is
not subject to change, It implies some want of power to remove that which
we feel to be a grievance. And therefore it is not beseeming the majesty
* In margin here. ' The Holy Ghost dwells not in ns as in ordinary bouses, but
as temples. The Holy Spirit makes all boly, wherever be comes.' — G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 415
of the Spirit thus to be grieved. We must therefore conceive of it as be-
fitting the majesty of God, removing in our thoughts all imperfections.
First, then, we are said to grieve God ichen ?te do that, xvliich is apt of itself
to (jrieve ; as wo are said to destroy our weak brother when we do that
which he taking offence at, is apt to mislead him and so to destroy him.
Secondhj, We grieve the Spirit ivlien ice do that ivhereupon the Sj/irit doth
that xchich grieved jjersojis do; that is, retireth and sheweth dislike and
returns grief again. Third!)/, Though the passion of grief be not in the
Holy Ghost, yet there is in his holy nature a pure displeasance and hatred of
sin,xdth such a degree of abomination, as though it tend not to the drdruction
of the offender, yet to sharp correction ; so that grief is eminently in the hatred
of God in such a manner as becomes him. Fourthly, We may conceive of
the Spirit as he is in hi)nself in hcacen, and as he du-eUs and icorks in us ; as
we may conceive of God the Father, as hidden in himself and as revealed
in his Son and in his word ; and as we may conceive of Christ as the second
person and as incarnate. So likewise of the Holy Ghost as in himself and
as in us. God, in the person of his Son, and his Son as man and as
minister of circumcision, was grieved at the rebeUion and destruction of his
own people. The Holy Spirit as in us grieveth with us, witnesseth with
us, rejoiceth in us and with us ; and the Spirit in himself and as he work-
eth in us hath the same name ; as the gifts and graces and the comforts of
the Spirit are called the Spirit ; even as the beams of the sun shining on
the earth are called the sun, and when we let them in or shut them out,
we are said to let in or shut out the sun. We may grieve the Spirit, when
we grieve him as working grace and offering comfort to us. The graces
of the Spirit have the name of the Spirit whence they come, as the Spirit
of love and wisdom. Again, our own spirits, so far as sanctified, are said
to be the Spirit of God. So the Spirit of God, not in itself, but in Noah,
did strive with the old world, 1 Pet. iii. 19. And so we grieve the Spirit,
when we grieve our own or other men's spirits, so far as they are sanctified
by the Spirit.
■ Now the Spirit, as in us, worketh in us according to the principles of
man's nature, as understanding and free creatures, and preserveth the free
manner of working proper to man ; and doth not always put forth an abso-
lute prerogative power, but dealeth with us by way of gentle and sweet
motions and persuasions, and leaveth it in our freedom to embrace or
refuse these inferior works of the Spirit. And our hearts tell us it is in
our power to entertain or reject the motions, which, when we do in our
own apprehension, we churlishly offend the Spirit, as willing to draw us to
better ways ; and we cannot otherwise judge of this but as grieving. God
in his dealing with men puts his cause into our hands, that by our prayers
and otherwise we may help or hinder him against the mighty. And Christ
puts himself into our hands in his ministers and in the poor, counts him-
self regarded or neglected in them. So the Holy Spirit puts, as it were,
his delight and contentment in our power, and counts when we entertain
his motions of grace or comfort we entertain him, and when we refuse
them we gi-ieve him. And the Holy Ghost will have us interpret our
refusing of his motion to be a refusing of him ; and not only a refusing of
him, but of the Son, and of the Father, whose Spirit he is. Oh, if we did
but consider how high the slighting of a gracious motion reaches, even to
the sHghting of God himself, it would move us to give more regard unto
them. As we use these motions, so would we use the Spirit himself if he
were in our power. They are not only the ambassadors, but the royal
416 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
offspring of the Spirit in us ; and when we offer violence to them, we kill
as much as in us lieth the royal seed of the Spirit.
Obj. It may be objected, when we do anything amiss, wc intend not the
grieving of the Spirit.
A71S. It is true, unless we were devils incarnate, we will not purposely
and directly grieve the Spirit; but when we sin, we will the grieving of him
in the cause. No man hates his own soul, or is in love with death ; yet
men will willingly do that which, if they hated their own souls, and loved
death, they could not do worse. ' Why will you perish, you house of
Israel ?' Jer. xxvii. 13, saith God. They intend no such matter as perish-
ing. God's meaning is, wh}'^ will you go on in such destructive courses as
will end in perishing. If we could hate hell in the cause of it and way to
it, as we hate it in itself, we would never come there.
2. For the second point, wherein, ive especially grieve the Sjnrit; grief
ariseth either from antipathy and contrariety, or from disunion of things
naturally joined together. In greater persons especially, grief ariseth from
any indignity offered from neglect or disrespect, and most of all from
unkindness after favour shewed. Thus the Holy Ghost is grieved by us.
What more contrary to holiness than sin, which is the thing, and the only
thing that God abominates, yea, in the devil himself. But, then, add to
the contrariety in sin the aggravations from unkindness, and this makes it
more sinful. What greater indignity can we offer to the Holy Spirit than
to prefer base dust before his motions leading us to holiness and happiness ?
What greater unkindness, yea, treachery, to leave directions of a friend to
follow the counsel of an enemy ; such as when they know God's will, yet
will consent with flesh and blood, like Balaam, who was swayed by his
profit against a clear discovery of God's will. We cannot but make the
Spirit of God in us in some sort ashamed to think of our folly in ' leaving
the fountain, and digging cisterns, Jer. ii. 13 ; in leaving a true guide, and
following the pirate. Men are grieved especially when they are disrespected
in their place and office. It is the office of the Spirit to enlighten, to soften,
to quicken, and to sanctify. When we give content to Satan, it puts the
Holy Ghost out of office. The office of the Holy Ghost is likewise to be
a comforter. It cannot therefore but grieve the Holy Spirit, when ' the
consolations of the Almighty' are either forgotten, or ' seem nothing' unto
us in the pettishness of our spirits ; W'hen, with Rachel, ' we will not be
comforted,' who, instead of wrestling with God by prayer, wrangle with
him by cavilling objections. The}" take pleasure to move objections,
instead of a holy submission to higher reasons that might raise them to
comfort, and take Satan's part against the Holy Spirit and their own spirit,
and against arguments that are ministered by those that are more skilful
in the ways of salvation than themselves. How little beholding is the Holy
Spirit to such, who please themselves in a spirit of opposition ; and yet so
sweet is this Holy Spirit that after long patience, he overcomes many of
these with his goodness, and makes them at length with shame lay their
hands upon their mouths and be silent. Yet that is one reason they stick
so long in temptations, and are kept so long under ' the spirit of bondage.'
Those likewise cannot but grieve the Comforter, that leave his comforts and
seek for other comforters ; that think there is not comfort enough in re-
ligion, but will bow down to the world ; such as linger after the liberties of
the flesh, after ' stolen waters,' as if God kept house not good enough for
them. It is a great disparagement to prefer husks before the provision of our
Father's [house], and to die — hke fish out of their proper element — if we want
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417
carnal comforts. But above all, they grieve the Spirit most that have had
deepest acquaintance with the Spirit, and have received greatest favours
from the Spirit. When the Holy Ghost comes in love, and we have given way
to him to enlighten our understandings ; and when in our affections we have
tasted of the good things of God, that the promises are sweet, and the
gospel is good ; when we have given such way to the Spirit, then to use
him unkindly, this grieves the Spirit. Where the Holy Ghost hath not
only set up a light, but given a taste of heavenly things, and yet we, upon
false allurements, will grow to a distaste, it cannot but grieve the Spirit.
And this makes the sin ' against the Holy Ghost ' so desperate, because
there hath been a strong conviction and illumination. Therefore, of all
sins, the sins of professors of religion grieve the Spii'it most ; and of all
professors, those that have most means of knowledge, because their obliga-
tions are deeper, and their engagements greater. The deeper the affection
hath entered, the greater the grief must needs be in unloosing. The
offence of friends grieves more than the injuries of enemies. And there-
fore the sins that offend God most are committed within the church.
Where is the greatest sin of all, the sin against the Holy Ghost, committed,
but within the church, and where there is the greatest light and the greatest
means ? Sins against knowledge grieve most, especially if there be a
malicious opposing, for there can be nothing to excuse it. The malice of
the will maketh the sin of the deeper die, and it is contrary to the Spirit,
as it is a Spirit of goodness ; and hence is it that presumptuous sins so
much grieve the Spirit ; for by such sins we abuse the sweetest attribute
of God's Spirit, his goodness, and be therefore evil because he is good,
and turn his gi-ace into wantonness, the sin of this age. Sins against
knowledge are either such as are
(1.) Directly against lawidcdge, as when we will not understand what we
should do, because we will not do what we understand. Such put out the
candle that they may sin with the more freedom. This kind of ignorance
doth not free from sin, but increaseth it. Some men will not hear the
word, nor read good books, lest their consciences should be awaked {a).
This affected* ignorance increaseth the voluntariness. Again, u-lien ice main-
tain untruths for any advantage, laioidng them to he untruths, as many
learned papists cannot but do. What a great indignity is it to the
Spirit of God to ' sell the truth,' which we should * buy,' yea, with the loss
of our lives, and to prefer the pleasing of a base man, or some gain to our-
selves, before a glorious beam of God !
(2.) Other sins, if we know them to be sins, are sins against knowledge,
not so directly, hut collaterally. Yet this will be the chief aggravation,
when our consciences are once awaked, not so much that we have sinned,
as that we have sinned against the light ; when the will hath nothing to
plead for itself. It would, because it would, though it knew the contrary.
Involuntariness takes away something of the heinousness of sin. When
there is ignorance, perturbation, or passion, there is less sin and less
grieving of the Spirit. But when there are none of these, but a man will
sin because he will, accounting it a kind of sovereignty to have his will,
this will prove the most miserable condition. For not to have the will
regulated by him that is the chiefest good, is the greatest perverseness, and
will end in desperation.
Quest. Why are voluntary sins so great, and so much grieve the Spirit
of God ?
* That is, = ' cliosen.' — G.
VOL. V. I> d
418 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
Ans. TMien there is passion there is some colour for sin, as profit, plea-
sure, fear to displease, &c. When there is ignorance, there is a want of
that that might help the understanding ; hut when there are none of these,
and a man willingly sins, he is more directly carried against the command
and will of God. There is nothing puts him on. Yet he accounts it so
small a matter that he will do it without any provocation, out of a slight
esteem of the good pleasure and will of God.
As common swearers, can they plead ignorance ? They know the com-
mandment, ' God will not hold them guiltless that take his name in vain,'
Exod. XX. 7. Can they plead perturbation ? They do it oft in a bravery,
when they are not urged. There is no engagement in that sin of profit or
pleasure, but a voluntary superfluity of pride. They would have you to
know that they are men that care not for God himself; let God and his
ministers take it as they will. Though I have no pleasure or profit by it,
yet I will have my liberty. The heart that hath been thus wicked will
hardly admit of comfort when it stands in need of it.
"We are not said to be ill, because we know ill, but because we will and
consent to ill. It is the will that makes up the bargain ; sin were not sin
else. God hath given us the custody of our own souls, and as long as wo
keep the keys faithfully, and betray not our souls to Satan, so long we
possess our own souls and our comforts. But when he suggests. Do this,
or speak this, and we consent, he takes full and free possession of us, as
much as in us lies; and God in judgment saith ' amen' to it. God saith.
Take him, Satan. Since he will not have my Spirit to rule him, it is fit he
should have a worse. The more willingness, the more sinfulness, and the
less defence ; and God's justice cannot better be satisfied than by punishing
them most against their wills, who sinned most with their will. Tlie clearer
the light is, and the more advantages it hath, the more we sin.
In this respect it is that sins against the second table grieve more than
sins against the first, because here the conscience is more awakened. These
be sins against a multiplied light, against the light of nature, light of the
word and Spirit ; and such sins are contrary to human society. They dis-
solve those bonds that nature, even by the common relics it hath left,
studies to maintain. Though corrupt nature hath no good in it, for we
deserved to be like devils, yet God intending to have civil society, out of
which he usually gathers his church, preserveth in man's nature an hatred
of sins that overthrow society. Such sins, therefore, being committed
against more light, wound more ; as in case of murder, notorious perjury,
theft, &c.
Therefore God oft gives up men, upon breach of the first table, to
.breaches of the second, that so they may come to more grief and shame,
as being the breakers of both tables. Men never fall into the breach of the
second table, but upon breach of the first. No man despiseth man's law,
but he despiseth God's law first. No man breaks the law of nature, but he
despiseth the God of nature. Profane atheistical persons, that glory in the
breach of the third commandment by swearing, God meets with them by
giving them over to gross abominable sins of the second table ; which
vexeth them more, though they should not, than sins against the first
table ; exposing them, besides inward grief, to open shame. Then God
opens conscience to tell them, not only that they are to blame for their
gross sins, but for the root of them, atheism, profaneness, looseness,
which are sins against the first table. This is an aggravation of sins
against knowledge, when our knowledge hath been holpen and strengthened
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419
by education, by example of others running into our eyes, which is a
more familiar teaching than that of rule, and strengthened also by observa-
tion and experience of ourselves, and the former strength we have had,
against the sin we now commit ; and sweetness we have found in the resist-
ing of it. None are worse than those that have been good and are naught,*
and might be good, and will be naught, when there is more deliberation
and foreknowledge of the dangerous issue, and this also joined with tho
warning of others. As Reuben said unto the rest of his brethren, ' Spake
I not unto you,' &c.,t so may God's Spirit and conscience say to men,
Did not I acquaint you with the danger of sin ? You are now in misery
and terrors of conscience, but did you not slight fomier admonitions, and
helps, and means ? Conscience is an inferior light of the Spirit : to do
things against conscience is to do them against the Spirit. God spake to
me, and I heeded him not. How doth God speak ? When conscience
speaks, and saith, This is good, this is bad, then God speaks. Conscience
hath somewhat divine in it. It is a petty god. It speaks from God.
Especially when the Spirit joins with conscience, then God speaks indeed ;
then there is light upon light.
Upon divers respects some sin may grieve more or less than another.
As the Holy Ghost is a Spirit, so spiritual sins grieve most — as pride,
envy — imprinting upon the soul as it were a character of the contrary ill
spirit. Carnal sins, whereby the soul is drowned in delight of the body,
may more grieve the Spirit in another respect ; as defiling his temple, and
as taking away so much of the soul. Love and delight carry the soul with
them ; and the more deeply such sins enter into the creature, besides the
defilement, the less strength it hath to spiritual duties. Grace is seated
in the powers of nature. Now carnal sins disable nature, and so sets us
in a greater distance from grace, as taking away the heart, Hos. iv. 11.
Hereupon the apostle sets being ' filled with wine,' contrary to being ' filled
with the Spirit,' Eph. v. 18. And hence it is the apostle forbids, in the
former words, ' unclean communication.' The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of
truth, hates hypocrites, heing jmiuted sepulchres; but as a spirit of purity
hates foul livers, and foul-mouthed speakers, as ' ojien' sepulchres. They
cannot therefore but much grieve the Spirit, that feed corrupt lusts, and study
to give contentment, and pay tribute to the flesh, to which they owe no service
and are no debtors, and by sowing to the flesh, from which we can reap
nothing but corruption, Gal, vi, 8, When our thoughts are exercised to
content the outward man, to contrive for the things of the world only, this
is to pay tribute of the strength and vigour of our afiections to the utter
enemy of God's Spirit, and our own souls. When our thoughts run deeply
into earthly things, we become one with them.
Who will think himself well entertained into an house, when there shall
be entertainment given to his greatest enemy with him, and shall see
more regard had, and better countenance shewed, to his enemy than to him ?
When the motions of corrupt nature are more regarded than the motions
of the Spirit ? The ' wisdom' of the Spirit, ' which is from above, is first
pure,' James iii. 17, and maketh us so, and raiseth the soul upward to
things above. Christians indeed have their failings ; but if a true Chris-
tian examine himself, his heart will say, that every day he intends the
glory of God, and the good of the state he lives in. He hath a larger heart
than a base worldling, that keeps within the sphere of himself, spending
all his thoughts there, and consults only with flesh and blood, with profit
* That is, ' naughty* = wicked.— G. f Cf. Gen. ixxvii. 22, and xlii. 22.— G.
420 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
and pleasure, to hear what they say. Such baseness cannot but grieve
the Spirit, as contrary to our hopes and heavenly calling, which are
glorious.
It is a dangerous grieving of the Spirit, when, instead of drawing our-
selves to the Spirit, 7ce nill labour to draw the Spirit to tis, and study the
Scriptures to countenance us in some corrupt course, and labour to make
God of our mind, that we may go on with the greater liberty ; when men
get to themselves teachers after their own lusts, as many do, especially if
they be in place — Ahab shall not want his four hundred false prophets ; —
when men cut the rule and standard to fit themselves, and not tit them-
selves to it (b). You have some that are resolved what to do, and yet will
be asking counsel ; and if they have an answer to their minds then they
rest ; if not, then their answer is. This is 3'our judgment, but othei's are of
a contrary opinion. And thus they labour to make the Spirit of God in
his ministers to serve their turn. So did the Jews in Jeremiah's time,
Jer. xlii. 2, seq.
Some will father those sinful affections that arise from the flesh, and are
strengthened by Satan, iqmn the Hohj Spirit, counting wrath that is kindled
from hell to be fire of holy zeal coming from heaven. Thus the enemies
of religion think they do God service in their massacres.* Such are those
that wickedly oppose the ways of God, and yet are ready to say, ' Glory
be to the Lord.' Such men study holiness in the show, that they may
overthrow it in the power, and will countenance an ill course by re-
ligion.
Such also are faulty who lay the blame of an uncomfortable life upon
religion ; when men are therefore uncomfortable, because they are not
religious enough. * The ways of wisdom are the ways of pleasure,'
Prov. iii. 17.
In these times, being the second spring of the gospel, we must take heed
oi sins against the gosjyel. Benefits, the greater they are, being neglected
or abused, bring the greater judgment. The ofiice of the Holy Spirit is,
by the ministry, to lay open the riches of Christ, and the glory of God's
grace in him. By neglecting so great salvation, and by thinking this
favour of God to be a common favour, we sin against both Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost ; and in that they desire most to be glorified. Such
therefore as say to the clouds, ' Drop not,' and to the winds, ' Blow not,'
and to the prophets, ' Prophesy not;' that study to keep out the light and
sin against it, as discovering them, and awakening them, and hindering
them from taking that solace in carnal courses of the world ; as opening
the eyes of others to know them further than they would be known, and
so to lose that respect they would have in the hearts of men : this cannot
but grieve the Spirit of God, and move him to take away that truth that
we are so far from thinking a blessing, that we are weary of it, and fret
against it.
The office of the Spirit is to set out Christ, and the favour and mercy of
God in Christ. When ice slight Christ in the gospel, the ordinance and
organ of irorking good in ns, the Holy Ghost is slighted and grieved. Bad
is our condition by nature ; and what a deal of misery do we add to this
bad condition ! Are we not all the children of wrath ? And have we not
since we were born added sin unto sin ? Do we not grow in sin as we do
in years ? Is not God just ? and hell terrible ? Now God out of infinite
mercy having provided a way to free us from the danger of sin ; and not
* E.g. of Bartholomew, of the Waldenses, of the Huguenots. — G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
421
only so, but to advance us to life everlasting ; and that we should not be
ignorant of that he hath done for us, he hath set up an ordinance wherein
the Holy Ghost discovers his love. When we slight this, and account it
but an ordinary favour, nay, rather a burden, and think the opening of
divine mysteries things that may be spared, that there is too much preach-
ing ; and what needs all this ado ? — this grieves the Spirit, whose office
is to lay open ' the unsearchable riches of Christ,' Eph. iii. 8, the infinite
and glorious mercy and goodness of God in Christ, wherein God hath set
himself in all his attributes to triumph and be glorified. We grieve all
the sacred Trinity. God the Father is grieved to see his mercy slighted ;
God the Son to see his blood accounted common ; and God the Holy
Ghost, whose office it is to discover these things. This is the common sin
of the times and kingdom, which threateneth judgment more than anything
else. When the gospel, the blessed truth of salvation, is published, ' the
axe is laid to the root of the tree,' Mat. iii. 10, the instrument of destruc-
tion ; if men slight the mercies of God, entertain not Christ, walk not
worthy of the gospel, they shall feel the stroke of his sharp anger. The
blood-red horse followeth the white horse, Kev. vi. 4. The v/hite horse is
the publishing of the gospel. When God sets himself to glorify himself, in
mercy, in the greatest benefits, and we account them nothing, or but
common favours, God removes the candlestick; the red horse of blood and
destruction follows. And indeed what man will endure his greatest favours
and kindnesses to be slighted ?
Now a degree in grieving the Spirit this way is, when men will not be
thoroughly convinced of their own sinful condition, and of the infinite love
and mercy of God in Christ, in the pardoning of them. If God by his
Spirit in the ministry, or in a particular reproof, come to men and discover
their natural condition, and tell them they are worse than they take them-
selves to be, they will oppose it and study revenge, as St Paul saith :
' Am I become your enemy, because I tell you the truth ? ' Gal. iv. 16.
This must needs grieve the Spirit.
Again, The Holy Spirit is grieved tvheii ye have a corrupt judgment of
things, not weighing them in the right balance, nor value them according to
their worth. When we esteem any knowledge rather than divine know-
ledge, any truths but truths that concern Christ, when men look upon.grac9
as contemptible, and prefer other things above it ; make a tush at holiness —
Give us, say they, gifts and parts — alas, what are all gifts and parts with-
out a gracious heart ? Have not the devils greater parts than any man ?
Are they not called damones,i\-om. the largeness of their understanding ? (c)
If parts and gifts were best, the devils were better than we. — What an
indignity is this to the Holy Spirit, to think it better to be accounted witty
and politic, than to be holy and gracious !
Again, Those sins icherein there is plotting and contriving exceedingly grieve
the Spirit, because they are done in cold blood. David deeply wounded
his conscience, and grieved the Spirit, in plotting the death of Uriah, which
was the diminution of the credit of David, that the Scripture saith, he was
good in all things, except in the matter of Uriah, 1 Kings xv. 5. Why?
Because therein he grieved the Spirit most, in plotting and contriving the
cruel murder of so good a man. How can they think they have the Spirit
of God, that plot and undermine men's estates, to have their wills in unjust
courses ? or if they have the Spirit, can this be without grieving it ? for the
Spirit will perpetuallj' suggest the contrary.
Again, We grieve the Holy Spirit ichen we commit such sins as we might
422
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
avoid, such sins as we have some helps against and least provocation nnto.
It is a general rule, Qnanto major faciUtas, &c. (c/). The more the facility
of not sinning, the greater the sin. Therefore, -when we are tempted to
sin, consider what conscience saith : I have been an hearer of the word ;
what hath the Spirit of God revealed and discovered unto me '? He hath
shewed that this is a sin. Whom do I grieve by the commission of it ?
The Spirit of God, and wound my own conscience. Aud then consider,
will that that I sin for countervail this ? Do I not buy my sin too dear ?
Sins are dearly bought with the grieving of the Spirit of God. Therefore,
wisely think beforehand what sin will cost.
Men grieve the Spirit hj cavilling against the truth. The heathen man
could say, It is an ill custom to be cavilling against religion, whether in
good earnest or in jest [e). Yet we have a sect, a generation of men, that
ai'e of all religions, of no religion ; men of a contradictory spirit, that always
take the opposite part, that cavil at the truth to shew their parts. This
is too ordinary among the wits of the world.
This grieves the Holy Spirit also, ivhen vien take the office of the Spirit
from, Jiim ; that is, uJieii ice xvill do tilings in our own strength cuul hg our own
light, as if we were gods to ourselves. Man naturally affects a kind of
divinity. It was the fault of Adam. And till God drive him out of him-
self by his Spirit, and by afflictions, he sets much by his own parts and
wit, and thereupon neglects prayer and dependence on God, as if the Spirit
had nothing to do with his regiment.* When men set upon actions in the
strength of natural parts, perhaps they may go on in their course as civil f
men, but never as Christians, to have comfort of their actions, because they
will be guides anfl gods to themselves. If a man belong to God, God will
cross him in such ways wherein he refuseth to honour God and to give him
his due place. He shall miscarry, when, perhaps, other men shall have
success, though it be to harden them to destruction. This is a subtle way
by which Satan abuseth men. The life of a Christian is dependent on an
higher principle than himself, to rule and guide him.
Another way whereby we commonly grieve the Spirit of God is, ivhen
the mind is troubled icith a multitude of business ; when the soul is like a
mill, where one cannot hear another, the noise is such as takes away all
intercourse. It diminisheth of our respect to the Holy Spirit when we
give way to a multitude of business ; for multitude of business begets mul-
titudes of passions and distractions ; that when God's Spirit dictates the
best things that tend to our comfort and peace, we have no time to heed
what the Spirit adviseth. Therefore we should so moderate our occasions
and afl'airs, that we may be always ready for good suggestions. If a man
will be lost, let him lose himself in Christ and in the things of heaven ; for
if we be drowned in the world, it will bi'eed discomfort.
Lastly, Omission or slight jwrformunce of duties grieve the Spirit. The
Spirit, as he comes from the Father and the Son, from God, so he is great
in himself, being God: ' Offer this to thy king,' saith Malachi, i. 8, when he
saw them come negligently and carelessly to the worship of God. When
l^eople hear drowsily, and receive the sacrament unpreparedly, this grieves
the Spirit, because it comes from irreverence and disrespect. And the
reason why so many are dead-hearted, is because they make no conscience
of omissions, of drowsiness, of negligent cold performances. Such Chris-
tians, what do they differ from carnal men in duties, for they will hear,
pray, receive sacraments. He is the best Christian that is the most reve-
• That is, ' government.'- — G. t That is, ' moral.' — G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 423
rent Christian, tlio most careful Christian, most jealous over his own heart.
Usually those are the richest in grace. Even amongst good men, those
that are most careful and watchful over themselves, they go away enriched
with the greatest hlessing. Therefore let us hear, and so hear ; let us
receive, and receive ' thus:' ' So let us eat of this bread,' &c., 1 Cor. xi. 28.
The Scripture fixeth a reverent respect before duty, suitable to the majesty
of the great God whose business we are about.
Besides grieving God's Spirit in ourselves, there ii^ an lieacij guilt lies
upon us for gricring the Spirit In others, which is done many ways.
First, Ihj nerilcctlwj the grace of God In tJiem, or despising them for some
infirmities which love should cover. Contempt is a thing which the nature
of man is more impatient of than of any injury. Those that are given this
way to w^'ong others are punished with the common hatred of all.
\Vc likewise grieve the spirit of others hg sharp censures, and the greater
our authority is, the deeper is the grief a censure inflicteth. Many weak
spirits cannot enjoy quiet, while they are exercised with such sharpness.
They think themselves excommunicated out of the hearts of those in whose
good liking they desire to dwell.
Again, Those that are above others grieve the spirits of those under them
bg unjust commands ; as when masters press their servants to that which
their conscience cannot digest, and so make them sin, and offer violence to
that tender part.
Again, We grieve the spirit of others, when those that are inferior shew
themselves untractable to those above them in magistracy or ministry,
when they make them spend their strength in vain. Thus the Spirit of
God in Noah strove with the old world, 1 Pet. iii. 19. Our duty is, there-
fore, to walk wisely in regard of others ; and if it be a duty to please men
in all things lawful in the way of humanity, much more ought we to please
Christians in those things wherein we do not displease God, as being joined
in communion with them in the same spirit. Yet here we must remember
that it is one thing to cross the humour and offend the pride of another ;
and another to grieve the Spirit in him. No cures can be wrought without
grief in that kind ; and if we grieve not their spirits when such humours
prevail in them, we shall grieve our own for neglect of duty.
And in the last place, this causeth another grief, when those that are good
watch not over their ivays. The Spirit is grieved for the reproaches of
religion that come from the wicked ; for what say they ? Doth religion
and the Spirit teach you this ? Thus Christians make the name of God to
be ill spoken of; and this grieves the Spirit, and will gi-ieve them if they
belong to God. Oh, wretch that I am, that I should open the mouths of
others, and grieve the Spirit of God, not only in myself, but in others,
because he is grieved by me !
Scandalous courses ; either by unreasonable use of our liberty, without
respect to the weakness of others, or by actions that are in themselves evil
or of ill report. By such actions we gi'ieve the spirit of others. An ill
example always either grieveth or infecteth. The spirit of Lot was grieved
for the unclean conversation of the Sodomites, which no question hastened
their ruin, 2 Peter ii. 7.
How shall we know when we grieve the Spirit ? We may know that by
the sins before mentioned as the cause of grief. Again, the Spirit will
bring report of its own grief. We may know when we have offended a
friend, when he leaves our company; so we may know we have discontented
the Spii'it by spiritual desertions, both in respect of assistance in the per-
424 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
formance of duties, and resisting temptations, and bearing afflictions ; as
also in respect of comfort, as when wo find a strangeness and dulness of
disposition, unless it be from some natural distemper of body, we may-
fear all is not well.
When we find a proneness to divert* to other comforts, and to hold
correspondency with carnal persons, and delight not as formerly in the
communion of saints, but find an indiflerency for any acquaintance ; when
we drive hardly, and our wheels fall ofl';t when conscience will not let us
omit good duties, and yet we want the oil of the Spirit to make us strong
and nimble in the performance of them, whereupon they come not off with
that acceptance to God or our own spirits : these indispositions shew we
have not used the Spirit well, whom otherwise we should find a Spirit of
strength, a Spirit of comfort, a quickening Spirit.
The issues of grieving the Spirit will prove very dangerous, for the Spirit
may justly leave us to our oini sjnrits and deceitful hearts, which, as they are
arch-flatterers, so will prove arch-traitors to us, and so let in a worse guest
into our souls. The ill spirit is always ready presently to take possession,
who, by joining with the stream of our corruptions, may please us for a
time, but will destroy us for ever.
When we grieve the good Spirit of God, and cause him to leave us, our
soul is left as a hell ; for what is hell but the absence of God in his favour
and mercy ?
Again, We cannot grieve the Spirit of God in doing anything against it
but it will grieve ns again, and, being a Spirit, may fill our spirits with that
grief that may make our conditions a kind of hell upon earth. Few repro-
bates feel those terrors here that the godly oft do by their bold adventures ;
for besides the terrors of the natural conscience, they have the Spirit to set
them on, and that Spirit which had so well deserved of them before, which
cannot but increase the horror and shame. In hell itself this will be the
bitterest torment, to think of refusing mercy, mercy pressed and ofiered
with all love. A careless spirit oft proves ' a wounded spirit,' and that,
' who can bear ? ' Prov. xviii. 14, until he that woundeth healeth again, by
giving grace to afflict ourselves, and wait his good time to take pity of us.
That which we say of conscience is true. It is our best friend, and our
worst enemy. If a man's conscience be his friend, it will make all friendly
to him (/). It will make God his friend, affliction his friend; nothing can
sit at the heart to grieve him. But if a man's conscience turn his enemy,
there need no other enemies be sought out. He hath enow in his own
heart, his own tormenting conscience tearing itself. This may be as truly
said of the Spirit of God, who is above conscience. If we make him not
our best friend, we are sure to have him our worst enemy, that sets all
other enemies upon us. Displeasure is as the person is. 'It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God,' Heb. x. 31. ' Who knows
the power of his wrath ? ' Ps. xc. 11. It is a powerful wrath. No crea-
ture hath power over the spirit immediately, but this Spirit of spirits, who
can fill the soul, the whole soul, and every corner of it. Being adequate
to the soul, as large as the soul and larger, he can fill it with wrath that
shall burn to hell ; and who shall take off the wrath of God when the Spirit
of God sets it on once ?
Quest. WTience is it that we grieve the Spirit ?
Ans. Because there is a cursed principle in us, always active, which is
not perfectly subdued in this life. Death is the accomplishment of morti-
* That is, ' turn aside.'— G t Cf. Exodus xiv. 25.— G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 425
fication; but while we are here, this corruption in us will alway be working,
' The flesh lusteth against the Spirit,' Gal. v. 17. The flesh is an active
busy thing. It bestirs itself. Now, when contraries are so near as the
flesh and Spirit, in the same soul, they must needs thwart and grieve one
another continually.
Quest. It may be demanded how far forth a child of God may grieve the
Spirit, and yet remain the child of God ?
Ans. In answer to this know, that ice must not judge of sin hij the matter
in which, but by the spirit from icliich, sin is committed. There is no sin so
gross but the saints of God may fall into it ; but yet the child of God is
hindered by a contrary law of the Spirit from yielding full consent before,
or taking full delight in a sin, or allowing or persisting after. And though,
in regard of ingratitude, the sin of a godly man admits of a greater aggra-
vation than the sin of others, yet setting that aside, the sin itself of a godly
man is less, for his temptations be stronger, and Satan's malice more eager
against him, and his resistance of sin greater, all which doth abate the
heinousness of the guilt. The more resistance from within argues a
stronger party from within in the godly ; the force of sin is broken from
within. Take a godly man at the worst, there is some work of the Spirit
in him, that in some measure is answerable to the counsels and motions of
the Spirit without him. The Holy Spirit hath some hold in him, by which
he doth recover him. A wicked man proceeds from grieving to quenching,
and from quenching to resisting. The Spirit hath no party, no side iu
him ; and therefore, when the Spirit is gone, farewell. They are glad that
then they can follow their pleasures and sins without check.
Sometimes God leads his children to heaven through some foul way, by
which he lets them see what need they have of washing by the blood and
Spirit of Christ, which otherwise perhaps they would not so much value,
when they grieve the Spirit, and the Spirit thereupon grieves them, and that
grief proves medicinal. The grief which sin breeds, consumes the sin that
bred it. We are in covenant with so wise and powerful a God, that over-
rules even sin itself to serve his purpose in bringing his to heaven. They
have that in them whereby they hate the sin they do, and love the good-
ness they do not ; whereas others hate the good in some respects they do,
and love the ill which they dare not commit. Howsoever they are drawn
into sin, yet they will never break the conjugal bond betwixt Christ and
their souls, so far as that sin should reign in them as a commanding lord,
they will not forsake their oath of allegiance to serve willingly a contrary
king. They may presume sometimes upon Christ, thinking they have a
balm ready to cure the wound again, — as some, to shew the virtue of their
oils, do make wounds in themselves, — the deceitfulness of sin seducing
them. But God ever chastiseth this boldness, and taketh such a course
v/ith them, that it ends in taking the greater shame to themselves, and by
so much as they have been more presumptuous. The loss of comfort, and
the sense of sorrow they feel, makes them ^^j from experience, that there
is nothing gotten by sin, and that it proves bitterness in the end.
Again, Though they are kept from sins, in some sense, presumptuous,
yet they are always Irpt from, tliat 'great offence.'' Though they may com-
mit a sin against the Holy Ghost, yet they can never commit the sin against
the Holy Spirit, because this is a sin of malice after strong conviction ;
expressed in words dipped in mahce by /a tongue set on fire by hell,' James
iii. 6, and in actions coming from an opposite spirit, and tending to oppo-
sition, and to bitter persecution, if their malice be not greater than their
426
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
power. And it ends always in impeuitency, by reason they despise that
grace, and cast away that potion whereby they should recover. Their pride
will not stoop to God's way.
Thirdly, After such fear/id relapses, darlmess in the iDulerstanding and
rebellion in the tvill increaseth, sin grows stronger, and they weaker and
weaker to resist.
Fourthly, Satan being once cast out by some degree of illumination and
reformation, brings ' seven devils after, worse than himself,' Mat. xii. 45.
When they see their former courses stand not with their lusts and hopes,
they take a contrary course, and so fall to bitterness in the end.
There is a double miscarriage about this sin.
(1.) Some are too headlong in their censures of others; whereas the greater
the sin is, the greater caution should be in fastening it upon any, especially
whose spirits we are not thoroughly acquainted withal, considering so
many things must meet in this sin.
(2.) The second miscarriage is, in an ungrounded censure of ourselves.
There be three things that fear frees us from the danger of. First, Fear
lest the time of our conversion be past, because we have so often grieved
the Spirit ; whereas if their time were past they would be given up to a
careless security. A second is, fear of some judgment, which God stirs up
in the heart to prevent the judgment that we may not feel that we fear ;
because fear stirs up care, and care stirs up diligence to avoid what we
fear. A third is, fear lest we have committed the sin against the Holy
Ghost, which shews we have not committed that sin. It is never com-
mitted but without fear and with delight. In these cases we need fear them
least that fear themselves most.
The fourth point is, What course we should take to prevent this grieving
of the Spirit.
1. Let us give up the government of our souls to the Spirit of God. It is
for our safety so to do, as being wiser than ourselves, who are unable to
direct our own way. It is our liberty to be under a wisdom and goodness
larger than our own. Let the Spirit think in us, desire in us, pray in us,
live in us, do all in us ; labour ever to be in such a frame as we may be
fit for the Spirit to work upon ; as Nazianzen saith of himself, ' Lord, I
am an instrument for thee to touch' (//). A musical instrument, though in
tune, soundeth nothing unless it be touched. Let us lay ourselves open
to the Spirit's touch. Thus Saint Paul lived not, but Christ Hved in him,
Gal. ii. 20. This requires a great deal of self-denial, to put ourselves thus
upon the guidance of the Spirit. But if we knew what enemies we are to
ourselves, it would be no such hard matter.
2. Secondly, Study to ^ralk perfectly in obeying the Spirit in all things ;
which requires much circumspection in knowing and regarding our ways ;
and then we shall find the Spirit ready to close with us, and tell us, ' This
is the way, walk in it,' Isa. xxx. 21. And upon obedience we shall find
the Spirit encouraging us by a secret intimation, that this or that is well
done. Thus Paul was said to be ' bound in Spirit,' Acts xx. 22. The
Spirit so put him on, that he could not withstand the motions, until the
execution of it. We must take especial heed of slighting any motion, as
being the Spirit's messenger. They are God's ambassadors, sent to make
way for God into our hearts ; therefore give them entertainment. Many
men, rather than they will be troubled with holy motions, stifle them in the
birth, as harlots, that to avoid the pain of child-birth, kill their fruit in the
womb. Let us take heed of murdering these births of the Spirit. But
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
427
seeing Satan will oft interrupt good motions Ly good motions, that lie may
hinder both,
Quest. How shall we know from whence the motions come ?
Ans. 1. M'hen tivu (jood inotioiis arise, seem'uuj diccrse, the Spiiit of God
carries strong to one — cuid tJiat is from God — viore than to the other. Good
motions are either raised up in us, or sent unto us by the Spirit. Both
these, if they be raised by the Spirit, will carry us to God. They will rise
as high as the spring is whence they come. What ariseth from ourselves
endeth in ourselves.
2. Those motions that the Spirit stirs up from within come from sancti-
fied judgment and estimation of irhat they are moved to. Other motions are
hasty, and gone before they have their errand. Holy motions are constant
(as strengthened from constant grace within), till they seethe issue of what
they are moved to. Other motions are like lightning, and sudden flashes,
that leave the soul more dark and amazed than before. Holy motions are
answerable to the duties of our calling. Other motions oft lead us out of
the compass of our calling.
3. The ■ Spirit moveth in the godly : first, hij a dwelling in them, and
working in them gracious abilities; and then drairs forth those abilities to good
actions. But the Spirit dwelleth not in others, nor produceth any sanctified
abilities in them, but only moveth them sometimes to good actions, with-
out changing of them.
4. The Holy Spirit's motions are seasonable. Other motions oft press
upon us to disturb an holy duty. The breath of the Spirit in us is suitable
to the Spirit's breathing in the Scriptures; the same Spirit doth not breathe
contrary motions.
6. Motions of the Spirit, when they come in favour, carry their own
evidence ivilh them, as light doth. The motions of the Spirit are sweet and
mild, and lead us gentl}' on. They are not ordinarily violent raptures,
removing the soul from itself, but leave in the soul a judgment of them,
and of other things.
G. Again, The Spirit moveth us so to duties of religion as agree uith
civil honesty and charity to our neighbours.* Those therefore know not
what spirit they are of, who, under a pretence of zeal, will be uncivil and
cruel, shewing they are not led by that Spirit that appeared in the
shape of a dove. Both tables in this are one, that they come from one
Spirit; and ' the second is like the first,' and requires love. And because
all graces and duties come from the same Spirit, therefore one dut}' never
crosses another ; but the wisdom of the Spirit moves to all holy duties in
their several and suitable places.
7. Motions, for the matter good, yet may be carnal in regard of self-
confidence from ivhence they come.] That which Peter resolved upon was
good, but confidence in himself marred it. Those motions which the
Spirit stirs up are carried along in relying upon assisting grace. So much
for that question.
3. Again, If we would not grieve the Spirit, let ^is take heed of being
u-anting to the Spirit' s direction. The flesh here will make a forward objec-
tion, ' We can do no more than we can.'
Ans. The Spirit is always beforehand with us, preventing^ us with some
knowledge and some ability, which if we join with the Spirit in putting
forth, the Spirit is ready to concur with us, and lead us further. And our
♦ In margin here, ' Orderly.' — G. J That is, ' anticipating.' — G.
t In margin here, ' Dependent on God." — G.
428
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
conscience will tell us so mucli, that if we do otherwise it is not for want
of present assistance or privity, that the Spirit will deny us strength if we
put ourselves upon it. Our own hearts, though deceitful, will tell us that
we do what we do out of willingness, preferring some seeming good before
the motion of the Spirit. Herein we carry in our conscience that which
will quit God and condemn ourselves. There is not the worst man, whose
heart runs away from God, but God follows him a great while with sweet
motions, though such be the invincible stubbornness of the heart, that it will
not yield. This will take away all excuse, as Saint Austin argues well (/i).
If I had known, saith a wicked man, I would not have done thus. Saith
he, the pride of thy heart suggests that. Hadst thou not motions and
admonitions that told thee the danger of it ? If the Spirit, even in the worst
actions, concur so far as they are actions and motions, may we not think
that he is much more ready to concur with holy motions stirred up first
by himself ? If the Spirit be willing to concur in natural actions, much
more in spiritual, whereunto itself is the first mover. The Spirit leaves
not us till we leave the Spirit.
4. When the Spirit suggests good motions, turn them jn-esenthj into holy
resolutions * Is this my duty, and that which tends to my comfort ? Cer-
tainly I will do it. Let not these motions die in us. How many holy
motions are kindled in hearing the word, and receiving the sacraments, &c.,
which die as soon as they are kindled for want of resolution ! Therefore
let us not give over till these motions be turned into purposes, and those
good purposes ripened to holy actions, that they be not nipped in the blos-
som, but may bring forth perfect fruit. Let us labour to improve these
talents to the end for which they are sent. Are they motions of comfort ?
Let us use them for comfort. Are they motions tending to duty ? Let
us make conscience to do our duty : let not our despairing hearts cross the
Spirit in his comforts, nor stand out stubbornly as enemies against our
duty, for that is to cross God, and to nip his motions in the bud.
5. Let the Spirit have full scope, both in the ordinances, and in the motions
stirred up by the ordinances. This is the way to make the ordinances and
the times glorious, but the liberties of the gospel are contrary to the
liberties of the flesh. It turneth all things upside down, and men out of
themselves. Hence is it that there is nothing so much opposed by the
spirit of the world, as the purity and power of the gospel, which is a sufii-
cient prejudice of an ill condition that all such men are in. But there is
another spirit in gracious men. They are the children of light, and love
it. If we would not grieve the Spirit, we must be willing to bring our-
selves under all advantages of the Spirit's working ; as conversing with
those that are spiritual, and especially attending on those ordinances
wherein the Spirit breatheth ; whex-ein we may meet the Spirit. The walks
of God's Spirit are, in the means of salvation, hearing the word preached,
and holy communion one with another. The word and Spirit go together.
Therefore if we will have the comforts of the Spirit, we must attend upon
the word. Men grieve the Spirit b}^ neglecting the word, and holy con-
ference, &c. It is with the word and Spirit as with the veins and arteries.
The veins have arteries, that as the veins carry the blood, the arteries carry
the spirits to quicken the blood. The word is dead without the Spirit, and
therefore attend on the word. And then wait on the Spirit to quicken
the word, that both word and Spirit may guide us to life everlasting.
Motions of this kind come from the Spirit ; as it is said of old Simeon, that
* In margin here, ' Cherish holy motions.' — G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 429
ho came bj^ the motion of the Spirit into the temple, Luke ii. 27. John
was ' in the Spirit on the Lord's day,' Rev. i. 10. Our manna falls most
then. Christ's Spirit and word dwell together in the heart, Tlterefore the
apostle useth the dwelling of Christ in us and the word indefinitely.* Faith
wrought by the word lays hold upon Christ, and brings him into the soul,
and keeps him there. It is a blessed thing when the Spirit in the ordi-
nance and the Spirit in our hearts meet together. This is the way to feed
and cherish the Spirit in us, and to put oil as it were into our lamp ;
because the Spirit, as it is in us, is thus nourished, even as the fire, thouf^h
in its own element, feedeth upon nothing ; yet with us here below it is
maintained with fuel, otherwise dieth and goeth out. Take heed of slic'ht-
ing any help of faith that God affords us, as wicked Ahaz, Isa. vii. 3, seq.
God ottered him, for the strengthening of his faith, a sign from heaven, or
from earth, or any other creature. Oh no ! he would not tempt God. He
seemed a pious man ; he would not tempt God ; but what saith the prophet ?
' Is it little for you to despise me ? but you will grieve God ;' insinuating,
that when we despise those helps God hath given, we grieve the Spirit of
God. Those that neglect the word and sacrament, what do they despise ?
A poor minister ? and neglect bread and wine ? No. They despise God
himself, who knows better than ourselves what need we have of these
helps.
6. Again, When, we fnd the Spirit not assisting and comfortlnp as in
former times, it is fit to search the cause, which we shall find some slightinT
of holy motions, or the means of breeding of them ; or yielding to some
corruption which we are more especially addicted unto, or some sin unre-
pented of, which we take no notice of. It is good, therefore, to search our
souls to the bottom. There may be some hidden corruption lying in the
soul, which may undermine our grace and comfort; there may be a privy
thief that robs us of all. And besides beloved and secret sins, it is good
to bethink ourselves of old sins, which perhaps hitherto we have but out-
wardly thought of; and God is willing by some deadness and trouble of
spirit, to mind us of renewing of sorrow for them. For want of strict
accounting with ourselves, God calls us to these arrearages and back-
reckonings, as we see in Joseph's brethren, Gen. 1. 15. If we find not that
sweetness of communion with the Spirit that formerly we enjoyed, bethink
ourselves when and wherein we lost it, that we may meet the Spirit attain
in these ways wherein we found him before we lost him, and take heed
of those com-ses, in the entrance of which we found the Spirit leaving us. ;
7. Again, Take heed of little sins, which we count lesser sins jierhaps
than God doth. We weigh sin in our own balance, and not in his, whereas
no sin is to be accounted little ; for if it were once set upon the conscience,
and the wrath opened due unto it, it would take all comfort from us. And
therefore we must judge of sin as the Spirit doth, if we would not grieve the
Spirit. As the communion of the Spirit is of all the sweetest, so the pre-
serving of it requires most exact watchfulness and thorough understanding
of ourselves. Take heed of the beginning of sin. When any lust ariseth°
pray it down presently ; say nay to it ; let it have no consent ; be pre-
sently humbled ; otherwise we are endangered by yielding to grieve, by
grieving to resist, by resisting to quench, by quenching, maliciously to
oppose the Spirit. Sin hath no bounds but those which the Spirit puts,
whom therefore we should not grieve. And let us look to the head and
spring of sins, whereby we grieve the Spirit of God ; not to the sin so
* Qu. ' indifferently ' ?— Ed.
430 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
mnch as to the root. We are angry T\-ith ourselves for being passionate,
but what is the cause of passion ? It comes from pride. Jonah was a
passionate man ; in that measure that he was passionate he was proud.
He was loath to be shamed when he had said, ' Nineveh shall be destroyed,'
Jonah iv. 11. He thought upon the sparing of them he should be dis-
credited ; and he preferred his credit before the destruction of a populous
city. So there is much depraving and detraction in the world ; and there-
upon brawls and breaches. What is the cause ? A spirit of envy, and
ofttimes a spirit of pride. So men run into the danger of others by wrong-
ing them. What is the cause ? Worldliness, base earthly-mindedness.
Men think not of the root of sin, but dwell upon the act done. We should
,be led from the remote streams to the spring and source of all, and bewail
that especially.
This care will be helped by spiritual wisdom, whereby we may discern
both wherein we have gi-ieved the Spirit, and wherein for the time to come
we may. We cannot maintain friendship in perfect and sweet terms with
any whose dispositions v.'e know not; what will please or displease them.
Therefore we should study the nature and delight of the Spirit, and wherein
we are prone both to forget ourselves and the Spirit. We esteem not much
the friendship of those who are so much friends to themselves, as they
pass* not much whether friends be contented or discontented. The Spirit
dwells most largely in that heart that hath emptied itself of itself. The
Israelites felt not the sweetness of the manna till they had spent their flesh-
pots and other provision of Egypt. The nature of God's Spirit is holy ; as
it is holy, so [it] delighteth only in holy temples. Those, therefore, that set
up any ' idol of jealousy' in their souls against God, that do not ' preserve
their vessels in holiness,' cannot think of any communion with the Spirit.
The Spirit is jealous of our affections, and will have nothing set up in the
heart above God. Though the Spirit stoops to dwell in us, yet we must
not forget the respect due to so great a superior, but reverently entertain
whatever comes from him. Reverence and obedience is the carriage due
to a superior, and where the distance is not kept a breach will follow. We
should reverence ourselves for the Spirit's sake, and think ourselves too
good for any base lust to lodge in. The heart that the Spirit hath taken
for itself should turn off all the contrary motions with abomination. What
should pride and envy and passion do in an heart consecrated to the Spirit
of meekness and holiness ?
Upon any breach we must look by renewing repentance and faith in
Christ, to renew our peace with God, before we can expect the grace and
comfort of the Spirit. For as the Spirit cometh from the Father and the
Son, and is procured by the death and satisfaction of the Son to the Father,
without which we could never have expected the gift of the Spirit, so st'll
we must have an eye to this satisfaction by Christ, and reconciliation
through it, before we can recover communion with the Spirit, as being the
best fruit of the love of God reconciled through Christ. We see David in
the 51st Psalm first importunes God for mercy again and again, and then
' for the Spirit,' and for ' the joy of salvation.'
And take heed that nothing come in nor go out of our souls that may
grieve the Spirit of God. Some things come in to us that grieve the Spirit,
the corruptions we receive from others. Some things come out of our
hearts that grieves God's Spirit, as corrupt thoughts and speeches. That
indeed is the scope of this place, ' Let no corrupt communication come out
* That is, = consider. — G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 431
of jour mouths,' &c., and then follows, ' And grieve not the Holy Sph-it of
God.' And after again he saith, ' Let all bitterness, and wrath, and
clamour be laid aside,' insinuating that one way of grieving the Spirit is by
ill and corrupt language. We can never talk with company that is not
spiritual, but they will either vex and grieve us, or taint and defile us, unless
it be in such exigencies of our calling as requires our converse with them.
But I speak of a voluntary choice of such as favour not good things.
Many men, to please their own carnal spirits, and the carnal spirits of others,
they vent that that is against conscience, and against that that is hif^her
than conscience, a more divine principle, the Holy Spirit of God ; looso
carnal speakers are people void of the power of religion.
Obj. Let no man say. Here is ado, indeed ! duty upon duty. This will
make our life troublesome.
Ans. The life of a Christian is an honourable, a comfortable, sweet life.
Indeed, it requires the most care and watchfulness of any life in the world,
being the best life. It is begun here, and accomplished in an everlasting
life in heaven. Nothing in this world, neither our estates nor our fovour
with great persons, can be preserved without watchfulness ; and shall we
think to preserve the chief happiness of our souls without it, having so
many enemies without and within, that labour to draw us into a cursed
condition ?
Therefore, to stir us up to the practice of these duties, that we may give
contentment to so sweet a guest, consider what reason we have to regard
the Spirit and his motions, from the good we have by them.
The Holy Spirit of God is our guide. Who will displease his guide,
a sweet comfortable guide, that leads us through the wilderness of this
world ? As the cloud before the Israelites by day, and the pillar of fire by
night, so he conducts us to the heavenly Canaan. If we grieve our guide,
we cause him to leave us to ourselves. The Israelites would not go a step
further than God by his angel went before them. It is in vain for us to
make toward heaven without our blessed guide. We cannot do, nor speak,
nor think anything that is holy and good without him. Whatsoever is
holy and pious, it grows not in our garden, in our nature, but it is planted
by the Spirit.
There is nothing in the world so great and sweet a friend that will do us
so much good as the Spirit, if we give him entertainment. Indeed, he must
rule. He will have the keys delivered to him ; we must submit to his
government. And when he is in the heart, he will subdue by little and
little all high thoughts, rebelhous risings, and despairing fears. This shall
be our happiness in heaven, when we shall be wholly spiritual, that ' God
shall be all in all.' We shall be perfectly obedient to the Spirit in our
understandings, wills, and affections. The Spirit will then dwell largely in
us, and will make the room where he dwelleth sweet and lightsome and free,
subduing whatsoever is contrary, and bring fulness of peace and joy and
comfort. And in the mean time, in what condition soever we are, we shall
have suitable help from the Spirit. We are partly flesh and partly spirit.
God is not all in all ; the flesh hath a part in us. We are often in afliic-
tions and under clouds. Let us therefore prize our fellowship with the
Spirit. For are we in darkness ? He is a Spirit of light. Are we in
deadness of spirit ? He is a Spirit of life. Are we in a disconsolate
estate ? He is a Spirit of consolation. Are we in perplexity, and know
not what to do ? He is a Spirit of wisdom. Are we troubled with cor-
ruptions ?_He is a sanctifying, a subduing, a mortifying Spirit. In what con-
432 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
dition soever we are, lie will never leave ustill he hatli raised us from the gi-ave,
and taken full possession of body and soul in heaven. He will prove a com-
forter when neither friends, nor riches, nor any thing in the world can comfort
us. How careful should we be to give contentment to this sweet Spirit
of God !
No Christian is so happy as the watchful Christian that is careful of his
duty, and to preserve his communion with the Holy Spirit of God ; for by
entertaining him, he is sure to have communion with the Father and the Son.
It is the happiest condition in the world, when the soul is the temple of the
Holy Spirit ; when the heart is as the ' holy of holies,' where there be
prayers and praises offered to God. The soul is as it were an holy ark ;
the memory like the pot of manna preserving heavenly truths. It is an
heavenly condition. A man prospers to heavenward when the Spirit of God
is with him. You know Obed-Edom, when the ark was in his house, all
thrived with him, 2 Sam. vi. 12 ; so while the Spirit and his motions are
entertained by us we shall be happy in life, happy in death, happy to
eternity. For it it is he
' By which you are sealed to the day of redemption.'
The apostle sealeth this grave admonition by an argument taken from
the Spirit's sealing of them ' to the day of redemption.'
We are all by nature in bondage to sin and corruption. "We are all
redeemed from sin by the first coming of Christ, and are to be redeemed
from corruption by the second.
There is a day appointed for this glorious work. In the mean time,
God would have us assured of it aforehand. This assurance is by 'seal-
ing.' And this sealing is ' by the Spirit.' None else need do it, no
meaner person can do it.
And what respect is due to the Spirit for doing so gracious a work ? That
we grieve him not ; and not only so, but that we endeavour so to please
him, as he may with delight go on with this blessed work that it hath pleased
him to take upon him.
As the duty is spiritual, so the arguments that enforce it are spiritual ;
and the argument here is fetched from that which hath a most constraining
force ; love expressed in the sweetest fruit of it, and the stability of it,
' sealing,' and ' sealing to the day of redemption,' as if the apostle should
reason thus : God the Father hath ordained you to salvation by the
redemption of Christ his Son ; and that you might have the comfort of it
in the way to it against all discouragements you may meet with, the Holy
Ghost hath assured you of it, and set his seal upon you as those that are
set apart for so great salvation ; that the sense of this love might breed love
in you again, and love breed a care out of ingenuity,* not to offend so
gracious a Spirit.
The Holy Spirit hj wJiich you are scaled.
The Holy Ghost delighteth to speak in our own language. We cannot
rise to him, therefore he stoopeth to us.
This ' sealing' is either sealing of persons, or of good things intended to
the persons. Sealing is not only a witnessing to us, but a work upon us
and in us, carrying the image of him that sealeth us ; whereby we are not
only assured of the good promised to us, but fitted for the receiving of it.
God prepareth no good for any but whom he prepares and fits for that
good. There is not only an outward authorising of the great grants we
* That is, ' ingenuousness.' — G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 433
have by promise, oath, and sacrament, but an inward by the Spirit per-
suading of our interest in them, and working that which doth authorise ug
to lay claim unto them, after the use of a seal, both in confirmation and
representation, and resemblance of him that sealed.
The persons sealed are, first, Christ, and then those that are given to Christ.
I. Christ is sealed,*
1. By the Father. Christ was ordained by him to be a saviour in our
nature, predestinate to be the head of the church. Wherefore he often
saith he came to do his Father's will : ' Him hath the Father sealed,' John
VI. 27,_ anointing him, caUing him, setting him forth, sanctifying him by
the Spirit, and every way fitting him with all grace to be a saviour.
2. He was sealed hj the fulness of the Godhead dweUiiifj injh'sh, abased
and exalted for us ; so as his flesh is the flesh of the Son of God, and his
blood the ' blood of God,' Acts xx. 28.
3.^ Sealed hi/ a testimony from heaven of all three persons : by the Father,
* This is my well-beloved Son ;' by the Holy Spirit descending like a dove ;
by himself to his human nature dwelling "in all fulness in it. Christ is'
eealed by miracles done upon him and by him ; by his baptizing and
installing into his ofiice, and by giving himself up to shed his blood for
sin, by which blood the covenant is estabhshed and sealed.
4. In hciny justified in the Spirit, being raised from the dead, and
* declared thereby to be the Son of God mightily with power,' Rom. i. 4 ;
and then advanced to the right hand of God, that through him our
faith and trust might be in God, 2 Peter iii. 14 ; and appearing there for
ever for us, sheweth not only his ability and willingness to save us, but
that it is dona already. We may see all whatever we can look for to our-
selves performed in our head to our comfort. ■•i
II. As Christ was sealed and fitted for us, so ive are sealed and fitted for
Christ.\ There is a privy seal in predestination. This is known only to
God himself: ' The Lord knoweth who are his,' 2 Tim. ii. 19. And this
knowledge of God of us is carried secret, as a river under ground, until
his calling of and separating us from the rest of men, when first by his
Spirit he convinceth us of what we are in ourselves, and of our cursed con-
dition, and thereby layeth us low by sorrow and humiliation for sin as the
gi-eatest evil. And then a pardon is more to us than a crown ; then we
will wait for merc.y and continue so, and beg for mercy, and that upon
Christ's own condition, by denying and renouncing anything of our own ;
then Christ is Christ unto us. "indeed, after this, it pleaseth Christ by
his Spirit to open ' a door of hope,' and give some hints of mercy ; and to
let in some beams of love, and withal to raise np the soul by a spirit of
faith, to close with particular mercy opened and ofi"ered by the Spirit,
whereby the soul sealeth to the truth of the promise : John iii. 33, ' He
that beheveth hath set to his seal that God is true.' It is strange that
God should stoop so low as to receive, as it were, confirmation by our
belief, but thus God condescends in the phrase of Scripture, as we are
said to help God : ' Curse ye Meroz, because they came not to help the
Lord,' &c.. Judges v. 23. God stoops to be helped by us, and to have
his truth, and power, and goodness ratified and confirmed by us. When
we_ believe the promise of God in Christ— though it be by the help of the
Spirit— we seal God's truth. And then God honoureth that sealing of
ours by the sealing of his Spirit : ' After you believed you were sealed,'
* In margin here, ' The sealing of Christ.' — G.
t In margin here, ' Christians are sealed.' — G.
VOL. V. E e
434 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
saitli the apostle, Epli. i. 13 ; that is, the gracious love of Christ was
further confirmed to them. God honours no grace so much as faith.
Why ? Because it honours God most of all others. It gives God the
honour of his mercy, and goodness, and wisdom, and power, and of his
ti'uth, especially he that helieve sin God by believing, seals that God is true ;
and God honours that soul again by sealing it to the day of redemption.
God hath promised, ' Those that honour me, I will honour,' John xii. 26 ;
therefore, ' He that believeth hath the witness in himself,' 1 John v. 10.
That grace promised belongeth to him, for he carries in his heart the
countei-pane* of the promises, he that confesseth and believeth shall have
mercy. I believe, saith the soul, therefore the promise belongs to me.
My faith, answering God's love in the promise, witnesseth so much to me.
The Spirit not only revealeth Christ and the promises in general, but in
attending upon the ordinances, by an heavenly light, the Spirit discovers to
us our interest in particular, and saith to the soul, God is thy salvation,
and enableth the soul to say, I am God's. ' I am my beloved's, and my
beloved is mine,' Cant. ii. IG. ' Christ loved me, and gave himself for
me,' Gal. ii. 20. Whence came this voice of Saint Paul ? It was the still
voice of the Spirit of God, that, together with the general truth in the
gospel, discovered in particular Christ's love to him. It is not a general
faith that will bring to heaven, but there is a special work of the Spirit, in
the use of means, discovering and sealing the good will of God to us, that
he intends good unto us ; and thereupon our hearts are persuaded to believe
in God, and to love God as our God, and Christ as our Christ.
This is excellently set down in the sweet communion of marriage. The
Spirit is the ■paramjinphos,-\ the procurer of the marriage, between Christ
and the soul. Now it is not sufficient to know that God and Christ bear
good will to all believers (though that be the ground and general foundation
of all, and a great preparative to the special sealing of the Spirit) ; but
then the Spirit comes and saith, Christ hath a special good will to me, and
stirs up in me a liking to him again, to take him upon his own conditions,
with conflict of corruptions, with the scorns of the world, &c. Whereupon
the mutual marriage is made up between Christ and us. This work is the
' sealing of the Spirit.'
Many are the privileges of a Christian from this his sealing, as the use
of a seal in man's afiairs is manifold.
1. Seals serve for confirmation and allon-ance. To that purpose measures
are sealed. God is said to seal instruction. Job sxxiii, IG. Confirmation
is either by giving strength, or by the authority of such as are able to
make good what they promise, and also willing ; which they shew by
putting to their seal, which hath as much strength to confirm him to whom
the promise is made, as he hath will and power to make it good that hath
engaged himself. Amongst men there is the writing, and the seal to the
writing. When the seal is added to the writing there is a perfect ratifica-
tion. So there are abundance of gracious promises in the Scriptures.
Now when the Spirit comes and seals them to the soul, then they are sure
to us ; the Spirit puts the seal to the promises.
2. The use of it likewise \&Jor distinction from others that carry not that
mark. So the sealing of the Spirit distinguisheth a Christian from all
other men. There is a distinction between men, in God's eternal purpose,
but that concerns not us to meddle with, further than to know it in general.
* That is, 'counterpart,' = pattern or copy. — G.
t That is, tho Greek 'z-aPavu/j.(piog = brideman.— G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 435
God ' knoweth who are bis,' 2 Tim. ii. 19, and who are not his; but in
time the Holy Spirit distinguisheth and ranks men as they were distin-
guished before all worlds, and as they shall be at the day of judgment.
The beginning of that distinction that shall be afterward is in this life.
A seal makcth the impression of an image ; the prince's image useth to
be in his seal. So is God's image in his, which destroyeth the old image
and print that was in us before. Holy and good men by this work of the
Spirit are distinguished,
(1.) From c/V/7* men hj the uvrk of holiness, which mere civil men have
not at all, but despise.
(2.) And, secondly, from seebui ] (jood men hj the depth of that work.
The Spirit of God works a new nature in them, whereby they are distin-
guished. Now nature in every creature is carried to one thing more than
to another. Thei'e is a distinct propension^ in a good man to God, to grace
and goodness ; his aims and bent are distinct ; and thereupon he hath a greater
enlargement of heart suitable to his great aims. He looks above the world
and worldly men. They are narrow, low, base-spirited men, the best of them.
(3.) Again, Things by nature work from xdlhin. Herein painted hypo-
crites are distinguished from a true substantial Christian. He works from
a principle within. Another man is moved as the cuitomata, things, of
motion, clocks, and the Hke engines of wat,§ that move from a weight
without that poiseth them. If they do any good it is from somewhat with-
out that swayeth their aims and ends, and not from an inward principle.
Nature works from an inward principle ; light things go upward and heavy
things downward, naturally ; artificial things are forced. Thus good men
are distinguished from those that are seemingly holy ; there is a new nature
wrought in them.
(4.) Again, Nature is constant. What is done naturally is done con-
stantly. Heavy bodies go always downward, and light bodies upward.
Every creature works according to his nature. An holy man is exercised
in holiness constantly, because he doth it fi-om an inward principle, from
a work and stamp within. Different things may seem the same ; as wild
herbs may have the colour and form of those that are planted in the garden,
but there is difference in the virtue of them. The seeming graces and
actions of an hj^pocrite, they have no virtue in them ; as there are some
drugs without virtue, dead things. But there is a distinguishing virtue in
the faith of a Christian, whereby he overcomes the world and his lusts ;
whereby he doth all duties, prays and hears, and is fruitful in his conver-
sation. In all his graces there is a comforting, strengthening virtue.
True gold hath the virtue to comfort and strengthen the heatjj that alchymy
gold hath not (/). True grace hath a working, comforting virtue. Another
man's formal artificial actions have no virtue in them ; neither is it intended,
they being only put on to serve a tm-n. Two men may do the same things,
and yet there be a grand difference : the one doing them from the seal of
the Spirit, from a deeper die and stamp of the Spirit ; the other if from
the Spirit, yet it is but from a common work at the best. Some dyes cannot
bear the weather, but alter colour presently ; but there are others that,
having something that give a deeper tincture, will hold. The graces of a
true Christian hold out in all kinds of weathers, in winter and summer,
prosperity and adversity, when superficial counterfeit hoUness will give out.
Thus we see the seal of the Spirit serves for distinction.
* That is, ' moral.'— G. J That is, ' tendency toward.' — G. | Qu. ' heart "^— Ed
t Qu. ' seeming ' ?— Ed. § That is, ' skill.'— G.
436 A FOUNTAIN SEALED,
3. The use of a seal is likewise for appropriation. Merchants use to
seal their wares they would not have others have any right unto.
A Christian is God's in a more peculiar manner than others. There is
not only a witness of the Spirit that God is his ; hut the Spirit works in
him an assent to take God again. There is a mutual appropriation : ' I am
my beloved's, and my beloved is mine,' Cant. ii. IG. When the soul can
say, ' Thou art my God,' it is not frustrate, because God saith before, ' I
am thy salvation,' Ps. xxxv. 3. Where the Spirit seals, God appropriates.
' God chooseth the righteous man to himself,' Ps. iv. 3. And we may
know this appropriation by appropriating God again : ' Whom have I in
heaven but thee ? and what have I in earth in comparison of thee ? ' Ps.
Ixxiii. 25. There is no action that God works upon the soul, but there is
a reflect action by the Spirit to God again. If God choose and love us, we
choose and love him again. God appropriates us first. We are his and
■we are Christ's. We are God's, because he hath given Christ for us. We
are Christ's, because he hath given himself for us. We are, as the apostle
saith, a people of acquisition, ' a people purchased,' Acts xx. 28 — pur-
chased at a dear rate by the blood of Christ. Those that are Christ's, the
Spu"it appropriates them. This appropriation is by sealing.
4. Again, We use to set our seal only upon that we have some estimation
of. ' Set me as a seal,' saith the church in the Canticles, ' upon thy right
hand,' viii. 6 ; have me in thy eye and mind as a special thing thou vainest.
The witness and work of the Spirit shews God's estimation of us. The
Scripture is abundant in setting forth the great price that God sets on his
children. They are his children, his spouse, his friends, his portion, his
treasure, his coin. He sets his mark, his likeness on them. They are
things hallowed and consecrated. They are first fruits. ' Israel is a holy
thing,' Jer. ii. 3. Their titles shew the esteem that God hath of them.
He values them more than all the world besides, which are as chafi" and
dross : ' The righteous man is more excellent than his neighbour,' Prov.
xii. 26. As there is a diflerence of excellency between precious stones and
other common stones, between fruitful and barren trees, so there is amongst
men. And in this regard, God sets a higher esteem upon some ; and thence
it is that they have those honourable and glorious titles in Scripture, of
* sons,' ' heirs,' ' kings,' and ' co-heirs with Christ ;' when others are termed
* dross and dung,' and thorns,' and have all the base terms that may be.
Now this estimation, by ' sealing,' is known to us by the grace God
works in us. Common gifts and privileges and favours of the world are
no seal of God's estimation. If God should give a man kingdoms and
great monarchies, it seals not God's love to him at all ; but when God
makes a man a spiritual king to rule over his base lusts, this is a seal of
God's valuing him above other men. Therefore we should learn how to
value others and ourselves, not b}' common things that castaways may
have, but by the stamp of God set on us by the Spirit, which is an argu-
ment that God intends to lay us up as coin for another treasury, for heaven.
It is the common grand error of the times to be led with false evidences.
Many think God loves them, because he spares them and follows them with
long patience, and makes them thrive in the world. Alas ! are these fruits
of God's special love ? What grace hath he wrought in thy heart by his
Spirit ? ' He gives his Spirit to them that pray,' Luke xi. 13 ; insinuating
that next the gift of his Son, the greatest gift is the Spirit, to fashion and
fit us to be members of his Son. This is an argument of God's love and
esteem.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 437
5 Seals likewise are used for secrecy, as in letters, &c. So this seal of
the bpint IS a secret work. God knoweth who arc his. They are only
known to him and to their own hearts : ' The white stone is only known
to him that hath it, and the hidden manna,' Rev. ii. 17. None so infallibly
can know the state in grace, as those that have the gracious work them-
selves. Holy men in some degree are known one to another, to make the
communionof saints the sweeter. There is a great deal of spiritual like-
ness m Christians; ' face answereth to face,' Prov. xxvii. 19, that one hath
strong conhdence of the salvation of another. But the undoubted certainty
ot a man s estate is known only to God and his own soul ; nay, sometimes
It IS hidden from a man's self. There are so many infirmities and abase-
ments and troubles in the world, that this life is called a ' hidden life' in
Scripture : ' Our life is hid with Christ in God,' Col. iii. 3. It is unknown
to tJie saints themselves sometimes, and the world alway : ' They neither
know him that begets, nor them that are begotten,' 1 John v. 1.
6. Hence, likewise, the use of a seal is to shew that things should be
kept inviolable. Hereupon the church is as a ' sealed fountain,' Cant. iv. 12
bealmg shews a care of preservation from common annoyance. Hereupon
likewise It is that sealing is the securing of persons or things sealed from
mirt. No man will violate a letter, because it is sealed. The tomb where
CJirist was buried was sealed, and the prison doors upon Daniel, that none
might meddle with them. So the Spirit of God, by this work of sealing,
secures God s children; as the blood sprinkled upon the posts of the doors
ot tHe Israelites secured them from the destroying angel. In Ezek ix 4
there was a mark set upon those that were to be preserved that secured
them ; and in Rev. vii. 3, the ' sealed ones ' must not be hurt. So where
tins seal of the Spirit is, it is an argument that God means to preserve
such a one from eternal destruction, and from prevailing dangers in this
world. Ihey are God's sealed ones. No man can hurt them without
wrong to God himself. ' Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets
no barm, Ps. cv. 15. And likewise from devouring sins and dangerous
apostasy. A man that is truly sealed by the Spirit of God he never be-
comes a member of antichrist, a stigmatised papist— for antichrist hath his
seal too— he is kept from soul-murdering errors ; he hath this security
upon him by the work and witness of God's Spirit. Whatsoever the use
IS, or can be, of a seal in man's affairs, that God will have us make use of
m Ins heavenly intercourse betwixt him and us.
Whereh)/ you are sealed.
Now^ there are divers degrees of the Spirit's sealing.
1. Faitk-, 'He that beheves hath the witness in himself,' 1 John v. 10.
He carries m his heart the counterpane* of all the promises. This grace is
brst planted m the heart, and answereth to God's love and purpose towards
us ot giving eternal hfe. The seal and first discovery of election is mani-
tested to us in our believing. Acts siii. 48, ' As many as were ordained to
eternal life believed.' This believing is also a seal to us, in that it is of
those gilts that 'accompany salvation,' Heb. vi. 9, of which God never
repents him by calling back again. It is a ' seed that abideth for ever.'
^. IhQ \s^OYk of sanctifybuj grace upon the heart is a seal. Whom the
Spirit sanctifieth he saveth. ' The Lord knoweth who are his,' 2 Tim.
11. IJ. hut how shall we know it ? By this seal: < Let every one that
nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity,' not only in heart and
* Cf. footnote, page 434.— G.
438 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
affection, but in conversation, and that shall be a seal of his sonship to
him. None are children of God by adoption, but those that are children
also by regeneration ; none are heirs of heaven but they are new born to
it. ' Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath be-
gotten us anew to an inheritance immortal,' &c,, 1 Peter i. 4. This seal
of sanctification leaves upon the soul the likeness of Jesus Christ, even
grace for grace.
But because in time of desertion and temptation we are in a mist, and
cannot read our own faith and our own graces, it pleaseth Christ after
some trial and exercise to shine upon his own graces in the heart, whereby
we may know we believe and know we love ; until which time, the heart
sees nothing that is good, and seems to be nothing but all objections and
doubtings. We may be sometimes iu such a state as Paul and his com-
pany was in the ship, Acts xxvii. 20, when ' they saw neither sun nor
stars many days together ; ' almost past all hope. So a Christian may
for many days together see neither sun nor star ; neither light in God's
countenance nor light in his own heart ; no grace issuing from God ; no
grace carrying the soul to God ; though even at that time God darts some
beam through those clouds upon the soul. The soul again, by a spirit
of faith, sees some light through those thickest clouds, enough to keep the
soul from utter despair, though not to settle it in peace.
In this dark condition, if they do as St Paul and his company did, cast
anchor even in the dark night of temptation, and pray still for day, God
will appear, and all shall clear up ; we shall see light without and light
within ; the day-star will arise in their hearts.
Though by reflecting upon our souls we are able to discern a spirit of
faith, God may hide himself from the soul in regard of comfort. Nay,
a Christian may know himself to be in the state of grace, and yet be in
an afflicted condition. As in Job's case, he knew his Kedeemer lived,
and he resolved to trust in him, ' even though he killed him,' Job xiii. 15;
he knew he was no hypocrite ; he knew his graces were true ; and for
all the imputations of his friends, they could not dispute him out of his
sincerity : ' You shall not take my uprightness from me,' Job xxvii. 6.
Yet for the present he saw no light from heaven till it pleased God to
reveal himself in special favour to him. There is always peace and joy
in believing ; yet not in that degree which gives the soul content, until
by honouring God in believing, and waiting still his good time, he hon-
oureth us with further sense of his favour, and poureth forth his Spirit to
us, manifesting his special love towards us ; and this is a further degree of
sealing of us, confirming us more strongly than before.
The reason why we can neither have grace to believe, nor know we
believe, nor when we know we believe enjoy comfort without a fresh new
act of the Spirit, is because the whole carriage of a soul to heaven is above
nature. Where the Spirit makes a stand, we stand and can go no further.
We cannot conclude from right grounds without some help of the Spirit ;
some doubts, some fears will hinder the application to ourselves, even as
those that live in some damnable sin cannot but grant that those that live
in such a sin shall never inherit heaven ; and their conscience tells them
they live in such a sin, yet self-love blinds them so, that they will not con-
clude against themselves that they shall be damned ; so true believers
cannot conclude for themselves without divine light and help.
It pleaseth God thus to keep every degree and act of sealing in his own
hand, to keep us in a perpetual dependence upon him, and to awe us that
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
439
we should not grieve the Spirit of grace, and cause him to suspend either
act of grace or comfort. . .
Joy and strong comfort come from a superadded seal of the Spirit. The
works of the Spirit are of a double kind : either in us, by imprinting sanc-
tifying grace ; or rqmn us, by shining upon our souls in sweet feelmgs of
joy. What the Spirit worketh in us is more constant, as a new nature
which is always like itself and worketh uniformly ; but comfort and joy
are of the nature of such privileges as God vouchsafeth at one time and not
at another, to some and not to others.
This degree of sealing in regard of joy hath its degrees Hkewise ; some-
times it is so clear and strong, that the soul questioneth not its state m
gi-ace ever after, but passeth on in a triumphant manner to that glory it
looks for. Sometimes after this sealing there may be interruptnig of com-
fortable communion so far as to question our condition ; yet this calling
into question comes not from the Spirit, which, where it once witnesseth
for us, never witnesseth against us, but it is a fruit of the flesh not fully
subdued, it is a sin itself, and usually a fruit of some former sin. For how-
soever we should not doubt after a former witness of the Spirit, yet there
will be so much weakening of sense of our assurance, as there is yielding
to any lust. The knowledge of our estate in grace and comfort thereupon,
though it may be weakened by neglect of our watchfulness, yet still it hath
the force of an argument to assure us when the Spirit pleaseth to direct us
to make use of it, because God's love varies not as our feelings doth ; and
a fit doth not alter a state. The child in the womb stirs not always, yet
it lives ; and that may be gathered from the former stirrings.
This degree of sealing by way of witness and comfort, is appropriated to
the Holy Spirit. Every person in the blessed Trinity hath their several
work. The Father chooseth us and passeth a decree upon the whole
groundwork of our salvation. The Son executeth it to the full. The
Spirit applieth it, and witnesseth our interest in it by leading our souls to
lay hold upon him, and by raising up our souls in the assurance of it, and
by breeding and cherishing sweet communion with Father and Son, who
both of them seal us likewise by the Spirit. This joy and comfort is so
appropriated to the Spirit, as it carrieth the very name of the Spirit, and i3
one of the three witnesses on earth, that witnesseth not only Christ to be
a Saviour, but our Saviour, 1 John v. 7. The three witnesses on earth
are, the ' Spirit, water, and blood.'* For the better conceiving of which
place, we must know that the great work of Christ's redemption and justi-
fication was typified in the Old Testament by blood ; and the great work
of our sanetification typified by their washing. To answer which types,
when Christ's side was pierced, there came forth both blood and water,
shewing that Christ came not only by blood to justify us, but by water to
sanctify us. Hereupon blood and water have the power to be witnesses.
The blood of Christ being sprinkled on the heart by the Spirit, doth pacify
the conscience in assuring it that God is pacified by blood, as ' being oftered
by the eternal Spirit,' Heb. ix. 14. This quieting power sheweth that it
was the blood of God, and shed for me in particular.
The witness of water is from the power the Spirit hath to cleanse our
nature, which no creature can do, but the Spirit of God. Change of nature
is peculiar to the Author of nature. If we feel, therefore, our natures
altered, and of unclean become holv, in some measure we may know we are
the children of God, as being begotten by the Spirit of Christ, conforming
* Cf note dddd, Vol. IV. page 536.— G.
440 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
US to his own holiness. Our spirit as sanctified can witness to us that we
are Christ's,
But oft it falls out, that our own spirits, though sanctified, cannot stand
against a subtle temptation strongly enforced. God superadds his owi)
Spirit. Guilt often prevails over the testimony of blood ; that of water, by
reason of stirring corruptions, runneth troubled. Therefore the third, the
immediate testimony of the Spirit, is necessary to witness the Father's love
to us, to us in particular, saying, ' I am thy salvation,' Ps. xxxv. 3, ' thy
Bins are pardoned,' Mat. ix. 2. And this testimony the word echoeth unto,
and the heart is stirred up and comforted with joy inexpressible. So that
both our spirits and consciences, and the Spirit of Christ joining in one,
strongly witness our condition in grace, that we are the sons of God.
In this threefold testimony, the order is this : blood begets water ; satis-
faction by blood procures the Spirit from God, as a witness of God's love ;
and by feeling the power of blood and water, we come to have the Spirit
witnessing and sealing our adoption unto us, to estabHsh us in the state of
grace against storms of temptation to the contrary. The Spirit persuadeth
to look unto blood, convinceth the heart of the efiicacy of it, and then
quieteth the soul, which giveth itself up to Christ wholly and to whole
Christ ; and thence feels his heart established against carnal reason, so as
he can and doth oppose Christ's blood to all the guilt that doth arise. And
this witness of the Spirit comforting the soul is the most familiar, and affects
most.
If we feel it not, as oft we do not, then rise upward from want of this
joy of spirit to water, and see what work we find of the Spirit in cleansing
our souls ; and if we find these waters not to run so clearly as to discern
our condition in them, then go to the witness of blood, and let us bathe
our souls in it, and then we shall find peace in free grace procured by
blood ; for ofttimes a Christian is driven to that pass, that nothing can
comfort him, within or without him, in heaven or earth, but the free and
infinite mercy of God in the blood of Christ, whereon the soul relieth
when it feels no comfort, nor joy of the Spirit, nor sees no work of sancti-
fication. Then it must rest on the satisfaction wrought by the blood of
Christ, when the soul can go to God and say, ' If we confess our sins, thou
art just to forgive them ; and the blood of Christ shall cleanse us from all
sin,' 1 John i. 9. Therefore, though I feel not inward peace, nor the work
of the Spirit, yet I will cast myself upon thy mercy in Christ. Hereupon
we shall in God's time come to have the witness of water and the Spirit
more evidently made clear unto us.
The Spirit it is that witnesses with blood, and witnesses with water, and
by water, whatsoever of Christ's is applied unto us by the Spirit. But,
besides witnessing with these witnesses, the Spirit hath a distinct witness
by way of enlarging the soul ; which [is] joy in the apprehension of God's
fatherly love and Christ's setting the soul at liberty. The Spirit doth not
always witness unto us our condition by force of argument from sanctifica-
tion, but sometimes immediately by way of presence ; as the sight of a
friend comforts without help of discourse. The very joy from sight pre-
vents the use of discourse.
This testimony of the Spirit containeth in it the force of all, word, pro-
mise, oath, seal, &c. This is greater than the promise, as a seal is more
than our hand, and as an oath is more than a man's bare word. The same
that is said of God's oath in comparison with his bare promise, may be
said of this seahng in comparison of other testimonies. That as God was
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 441
willing more abundantly to clear to the heirs of promise their salvation, he
added an oath, Heb. vi. 18 ; so for the same end he added this his Spirit
as a seal to the promise, and to the other testimonies. Our own graces
indeed, if we were watchful enough, would satisfy us. The fountain is
open as to Hagar, but she seeth it not, Sec, Gen. ss.i. 17, seq. Howsoever
the Spirit, if that cometh, it subdueth all doubts.
As God in his oath and swearing joineth none to himself, but sweareth
by himself, so in this witness ho taketh in no other testimony to confirm
it, but witnesseth by himself. And hence ariseth ' joy unspeakable and
glorious,' 1 Pet. i. 8, and ' peace which passeth all understanding,' Philip,
iv. 7 ; for it is an extract of heaven when we see our being in the state of
grace, not in the effect only, but as in the breast and bosom of God.
Qi(est. But how shall we know this witness from an euthusiastical fancy
and illusion ?
Ans. This witness of the Spirit is known from the strong conviction it
bringeth with it, which weigheth and overpowers the soul to give credit unto
it. But there be, you will say, strong illusions. True. Bring them
therefore to some rules of discerning. Bring all your joy, and peace, and
confidence to the word. They go both together. As a pair of indentures,
one answers another. In Christ's transfiguration upon the mount, Moses
and Elias appeared together with Christ. In whatsoever transfiguration
and ravishment we cannot find Moses and Elias and Christ^to meet — that
is, if what we find in us be not agreeable to the Scriptures — we may well
suspect it as an illusion.
That you may know the voice of the Spirit of God from the carnal con-
fidence of our own spirits, inquire,
1. "V^Tiat went before.
2. What accompanieth it.
3. What followeth after this ravishing joy.
1. The word must go before it, in being assented unto by faith, and sub-
mitted unto by answerable obedience : ' In whom, after you believed ' the
word of promise, * you were sealed.' So that if there be not,
(1.) First, A helievinff of the ivord of promise, there is no sealing : ' The
God of peace give you joy in believing,' 1 Thes. v. 23. There must be a
believing, a ' walking according to rule,' Gal. vi. 16, or else no joy nor
peace will be unto us. If we cannot bring the word and our hearts together,
it is not God's, but Satan's sealing, a groundless presumption, and it will
end in despair. As Christ came by water and blood, so doth this testimony ;
it cometh after the other two. First, the heart is carried to blood, and from
thence hath quiet ; then followeth water, and our nature is washed and
changed ; and then cometh this of the Spirit. Though it be not grounded
on their testimony, but is above theirs, yet they go before. Where we
thus find the work, we may know it to be right by the order of it.
(2.) It cometh after deep humiliation and abasement. Though we know
ourselves to be the children of God in some such measure, as we would not
change our condition for all the world, yet we would have more evidence ;
we would have further manifestation of God's countenance towards us ; we
are not satisfied, but wait. After we have long fasted, and our hearts
melted and softened, then God pourcth water upon the dry wilderness, and
then it comes to pass, through his goodness and mercy, that he comforts
and satisfies the desires of the hungry soul. God will not suffer the spii'it
of his children to fail.
(3.) Likewise, after self-denial in that ichich is pleasing to us. It is made
442
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
up with inward comfort. If this self-denial be from a desire of nearer
communion with God, God will not fail them in that they desire. There
are wretches in the world that will deny their sinful nature nothing. If
they have a disposition to pride, they will be proud ; if they have a lust to
be rich, to live in pleasures, to follow the vanities of the times, they will
do so ; they will not say nay to corrupt nature in any thing. Will God
vouchsafe to give any true joy or comfort of spirit to such ones ? No.
Those that let loose their natures without a check shall never taste of this
hidden manna. But when we deny ourselves, deny to hear or see that
which may feed corruption, when we deny to take delight in that, that we
might if we would go the course of the world, there is a proportionable
measure of joy and peace and comfort in a higher kind made good to the soul.
God is so good, we shall lose nothing for parting with anything for his sake.
(4.) It is usually found, after conflict and victory, as a reward. ' To him that
overcemeth, will I give to eat of the hidden manna,' Kev. ii. 17. God's children,
after strong conflict with some temptation or inward corruption, especially
that which accompanieth their disposition and temper, when they have so
conflicted as that at last they get the better, they find by experience sweet
enlargement of spirit. To strive against them is a sign of grace, but to get
victory over them, even to subdue our enemies under us that rise up against
us, this bringeth true peace and joy.
(5.) After ice have init forth our spiritual strength in holy duties, God
crowns our endeavours with increase of comfort. A Christian that takes
pains with his heart, and will not serve God with that which cost him
nothing, enjoys that which the spiritual sluggard wishes for, and goes with-
out. God is so just that those men which have striven to live according
to the principles of nature, have found a contentment proportionable to
their endeavours ; some degree of pleasure attends every good action, as a
reward before a reward.
2. Besides these things that go before this joy and testimony, there are,
secondly, some things that do accompany it, if it be right, as,
(1.) This spiritual comfort enlargeth our hearts to a desire after an high
prizing the ordinances, so far is it from taking usofi'from a dependence upon
them. In the word and other means it found comfort from God, therefore
it delights to be meeting God still in his own ways. The eye of the soul
is strengthened to see further into truths, and is enabled more spiritually
to understand the things it knew before, as in many of the same truths that
wise men understand, they understood them when they were young as when
they were old, but then more clearly. So all truths are more clearly known
by this. The Spirit by which we are sealed is the Spirit of illumination,
not that it reveals any thing difierent from the word, but giveth a more
large understanding and inward knowledge of the same truths as were known
before.
_■ (2.) A liberty and boldness with God, for ' where the Spirit is, there is
a gracious liberty ;' that is, further enlargements from the law, guilt of sin,
and the fear of the wrath of God, that we can come with some boldness to
his throne and to him as our Father ; a freedom to open our souls in prayer
before him. This stands not so much in multitude of words, or forms of
expressions, but a son-like boldness in our approaches in prayer. The
hypocrite, especially in extremity, cannot pray ; his conscience stops his
mouth. But where the Spirit sealeth, it giveth this liberty, freely to open
and spread our case before him and call upon him, yea, under the evidence
of some displeasure.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 44.3
(3.) There doth Hkewige ordinarily accompany this sealing of the Spirit,
Sataiis malice and opposition ; who, being cast from heaven himself, envies
this heaven upon earth in a creature of meaner rank by creation than him-
self. "We must not think to enjoy pure joy here without molestation. If
there be danger of exalting above measure, we must look for some messenger
of Satan.
3. After this witness it leaves the soul more humhle ; none more abased in
themselves than those that have nearest communion with God, as we see
in the angels that stand before God and cover their faces, so Isa. vi. 2, seq.
Job, after God had manifested himself unto him, abhorred himself in dust
and ashes. Job xlii. G. It brings with it a greater desire of sanctification
and heavenly-mindedness. As Elias ascended up into heaven, his cloak
fell by degrees from him ; the higher our spirits are raised, the more we
put off affections to earthly things.
(2.) Again, The end of this further manifestation of the Spirit being
encouragement to duty, or suffering in a good cause, the soul hij this xcit-
.ness of the Spirit Jinds increase of spiritual mettle. It finds itself steeled
against opposition. "N^liilst this wind filleth their sails, they are carried on
amain,* and are frighted with nothing that stands in their way. See how
the believers triumph upon the Spirit's witnessing to their spirits that they
are the sons of God, Eom. viii. 10-33, &c.
God usually reserveth such comforts for the worst times : ' Give wine
to those that be of heavy heart,' Prov. xxsi. 6. The sense of this love of
Christ is better than wine. This refreshing Paul had in the dungeon, and
he sung at midnight. After this witnessing, therefore, look for some piece
of service to do, or trial to undergo.
Much must be left to God's fatherly wisdom in this, who knows whom
to cheer up, and when and in what degree, and to what purpose and ser-
vice ; and remember always that these enlargements of spirit are as occa-
sional refreshings in the way, not daily food to live upon. We maintain
our life by faith, not by sight or feehng. Feasting is not for every day,
except that feast of a good conscience, which is continual ; but I speak of
grand days and high feasts. These are disposed as God seeth cause.
(3.) Where this sealing of the Spirit is, there foUoweth also upon it a
lifting up of the head in thinking of our latter end. It makes one think of
the times to come with joy, as the Holy Ghost here mentioneth the day of
redemption, as a motive to them to take heed that they did not grieve the
Spirit; intimating they should think of the day of redemption with a
great deal of joy and comfort. The saints are described in Scripture to be
those that ' look for the appearing of Christ,' 2 Pet. iii. 12. They are
Christ's, and in him their reckonings and accounts are even. And there-
fore with delight they can often think and meditate upon the blessed times
that are to come.
There be divers degrees of sealing, arising from divers degrees of revela-
tion. God first reveals his good will in his promises to all believers. This
is the privilege of the church, especially in these latter times. Then by his
Spirit reveals those saving truths to those that are his, by a divine light.
So that by argument drawn from the power they feci from truths, in search-
ing secrets, in casting down, in raising up, in staying the soul, they can
seal to them that they are divine.
The same Spirit that reveals the power of the word to me, reveals in
particular mine own interest in all those truths upon hearing them.
* Cf. footnote on page 401.— G.
444
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
Whereupon they are written in my heart, as if they had been made in par-
ticular to me : the comfortable truths in the word are transcribed into my
heart answerable to the word ; as that God in Christ is mine, forgiveness
mine, grace mine : whereupon adoption in Christ is sealed ; which God
still sealeth farther to my soul by increase of comfort, as he seeth cause for
encouragement. The same Spirit that manifesteth in me the word I hear
and read to be the truth of God, from the power and efficacy of it : the
same Spirit teacheth to apply it, and in applying of it sealeth me.
Therefore we ought to desire to be sealed by the Spirit, in regard of an
holy impression ; and then that the Holy Spirit would shine upon his own
graces, so as we may clearly see what is wrought in us above nature ; and
because this is furthered by revealing his love in Christ in adoption to us,
we must desire of God to vouchsafe the Spirit of revelation, to reveal the
mysteries of his truth unto us, and our portion in them in particular, and
so our adoption ; and in the mean time to wait and attend his good plea-
sure in the use of all good means. Thus we waiting, God will so far
reveal himself in love to us, as shall assure us of his love, and stir up love
again ; and the same Spirit that is a Spirit of revelation will be a Spirit of
sanctification, and so adoption. Dignity, and fitting qualities suitable to
dignity, go both together.
In that grand inquiry about our condition, there is a great miscarriage
when men will begin with the first work of the Father in election, then pass
to redemption by Christ: I am God's, and Christ hath redeemed me;
and never think of the action of the third person in sanctification, which
is the nearest action upon the soul, as the third person himself is nearest
unto us ; and so fetch their first rise where they should set up their last
rest. Whereas we should begin our inquiry in the work of the third per-
son, which is next unto us ; and then upon good grounds we may know
our redemption and election.
The Holy Spirit is both a Spirit of revelation and of sanctification
together, as hath been said ; for together with opening the love of the
Father and the Son, he fitteth us by grace for communication with them.
People out of self-love will have conceits of the Father's and Son's love
severed from the work of the Spirit upon their hearts, which will prove a
dangerous illusion. Although the whole work of grace by the Spirit arise
from the Father's and Son's love, witnessed by the Spirit, yet the proof of
the Father's love to us in particular, ariseth from some knowledge of the
work of the Spirit ; the error is not in thinking of the Father's and Son's
love, but in a strengthening themselves by a pleasing powerless thought of
it against the work of grace by the Spirit, which their corruption withstands.
So they will carve out of the work of the Trinity what they think agreeable
to their lusts, whereas otherwise, if their heart were upright, they would for
this very end think of God's love and Christ's, to quicken them to duty
and to arm them against corruption.
To the day of redemption.
1. There is a double redemption : redemption of the soul by the first
coming of Christ to shed his blood for us ; redemption of our bodies from
corruption by his second coming. We have not the perfect consummation
and accomplishment of that which Christ wrought in his first coming till
his second coming. Then there shall be a total redemption of our souls,
and bodies, and conditions. There is a double redemption, as there is a
double coming of Christ, the first and the second ; the one to redeem our
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 445
Bouls from sin and Satan, and to give us title to heaven ; the other to
redeem our bodies from corruption, when Christ shall come ' to be glorious
in his saints,' 2 Thes. i. 10. As likewise there is a double resurrection,
the first and the second, and a double regeneration, of soul and body.
In sickness and weakness of body, or when age hath overtaken us that
we cannot hve long here, and the horror of the grave, the house of dark-
ness, is_ presented to us ; Oh let us think there will be a redemption of
our bodies as well as of our souls ! Christ will redeem our bodies from
corruption, as he came to work the redemption of our souls from sin and
death ; and he that will redeem our bodies out of the grave, he will redeem
his church out of misery. He will call the Jews ; he that will do the
greater will do the inferior. When we hear of this, let us think with com-
fort of all the promises that are yet unperformed.
2. Secondly, Full redemption is not yet. What need I bring Scripture
to prove it. It is a point that every man's experience teacheth. Alas !
let our bodies speak : we are not free from sickness and diseases ; nay,
what is our life but a going to corruption ? The sentence is passed upon
us, ' earth returneth to earth,' Gen. iii. 19. Till death we are going to
death; so besides sickness and weakness here, we must die, and after
death be subject to corruption. The apostle in this respect calleth our
body ' a vile body,'* Philip, iii. 21. As for our souls, though they be freed
from the guilt and damnation of sin, yet there are remainders of corruption
that breed fear and terror ; and though they be freed from the rule of
Satan, yet not from his molestation and vexations by temptations. In a
word, our whole state and condition in this world is a state and condition
of misery ; we are followed with many afflictions, so that there is not yet
perfect redemption, whether we look to body, soul, or state ; the body
being subject to diseases, the soul to infirmities, the state to misery.
But there is a ' day ' appointed for it.
By a ' day' we are not to understand the time measured by the course
of the sun in twenty-four hours, but in the Scripture meaning, a day is a
set time of mercy or judgment. As there was a solemn day, ' the fulness
of time,'^ Gal. iv. 4, for the working of the first redemption, so there is a
solemn time set for the second redemption, when all the children of God
shall be gathered; those that lie in the dust shall be raised and for ever
glorified. It is the day of all days ; that day that by way of excellency is
called 'that day,'t in the Scriptures, and '' the day of the Lord,' Mat.
xii. 8 — the day that we should think of every day, especially in sick-
ness,^ and trouble, and crosses, and molestations, from the wicked world,
and in sense of the remainders of corruption. There is a day of re-
demption to come that will make amends for all. The frequent thoughts
of that day would comfort us, and keep us from shrinking in any afiiiction
and trouble ; it would move us to a carriage and conversation answerable
to our hopes, and also it would help to fit us, it would infuse a desire of
quahfication to be prepared for that great day.
But how little of our time is spent in thoughts this way ! If we could
oft think of the day of redemption, our lives would be otherwise, both in
regard of gracious as also of comfortable carriage. Should we be discon-
solate at every loss and cross, at sicknesses and the thought of death, when
we shall be turned into our first principle, the earth, if we did think of the
day of redemption, when all shall be restored again, all the decays of nature,
* Cf. ante, pp. 61, seq., on the phrase. — G.
t Cf. Mat. vii. 22 ; xxiy. 36 ; 1 Thes. v. 4, ei alibi.— G.
446 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
and the imago of God bo perfectly stamped ? Tlio thought of this would
make us go wilUngly to our graves, knowing that all this is but a prepara-
tion for the great ' day of redemption.' The first day of redemption, when
Christ came to redeem our souls, and to give us title to heaven, it was in
the expectation of all good people before Christ. They are said ' to wait
for the consolation of Israel,' Luke ii. 25. That was the character to know
those blessed people by. And what should be the distinguishing character
of gracious souls now, but to be such as wait for the coming of Christ ?
How oft in the epistles of St Paul is it ? ' There is a crown of righteous-
ness for me, and for all that wait for the appearing of Christ,' 2 Tim. iv. 8.
There was a year of jubilee among the Jews every fifty years. Then all
that were in bondage were set at liberty. So at this blessed jubilee, this
glorious day of redemption, all that are in bondage of death and under
corruption shall be set at everlasting libert3\ No question but the poor
servants that were vexed with hard masters, they thought of the jubilee ;
and those that had their possessions took away, they thought of the jubilee,
the day of recovering all. So let us oft think of this everlasting jubilee,
when we shall recover all that we lost, for ever to keep it, and never to
lose it again as we did in the first creation. Let us oft think of this day.
It will infuse vigour and strength into all our conversation. Indeed, to the
ungodly, it is not a day of redemption, but a ' day of judgment,' and the
* revelation of the just wa-ath of God,' when their sins shall be laid open,
and receive a sentence answerable.
Alas ! there is such a deal of atheism in the world — and the seeds of it
in the best, unless it be wrought out daily — that we forget the God of ven-
geance and the day of vengeance. Would men go on in sins against con-
science if they thought of this last day ? It is impossible. Such courses
come from this abominable root of atheism and unbelief; for had they but
a slight faith, it would be effectual to alter their course in some measure.
Therefore the Scripture gives them the name of fools, though they would
be thought to be the only wise men. ' The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God,' Ps. xiv. 1. And what follows ? * Corrupt are they, and
abominable.' The cause of all is, the fool hath said in his heart. He will
needs force it upon his heart that there is no God, hell, nor heaven, nor
judgment. Thence come abominable courses.
Grieve not the Holy Sjnrit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemi)tion.
From the consideration of all that hath been formerly spoken of, the
sealing of the Spirit to the day of redemption, there ariseth these four
conclusions :
First, That we may attain unto a knowledge that we are in that state of
grace.
Secondly, That upon knowledge of our state in grace for the present, we
may bo assured of our future full redemption.
Thirdly, That this assured knowledge is wrought by the Spirit.
Fourthly, That the consideration of this assurance wrought by the Spirit
is an effectual argument to dissuade from grieving the Spirit.
1. For the first, xce may knoiv we are in the state of y race, first, because
the apostle would not have used an argument moving not to grieve the Spirit
from a thing unknown or guessed at. It is an ill manner of reasoning to
argue from a thing unknown.
2. Again, Sealing of us by the Spirit is not in regard of God, but our-
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 447
selves. God knoweth who are liis, but we know not tliat wc arc liis but by
sealing.
3. The scope of the Scriptures indited hj the Spirit is for comfort. The
apostle saith so directly ; and what comfort is in an uncertain condition,
wherein a man knows not but he may be a reprobate ? Wherefore came
our Saviour into the world and took our nature upon him ? Why became
ho a curse for us ? Why hath he carried our nature into heaven, and
there appears for us till he hath brought us home to himself, but that he
would have us out of all doubt of his love after once by faith we have
received him ? Whence proceeded those commandments to believe, those
checks of unbelievers, the commendation of them that did believe, those
upbraidings of doubting, as springing from imbelief ? To what use are the
sacraments, but to seal unto us the benefits of Christ, if upon all this we
should still doubt of God's love, especially when, besides the sealing of the
promises to us, we are sealed ourselves by the Spirit of promise ?
Obj. This is true if we know we do believe.
A)is. It is the office of the Spirit, as to work faith and other graces, so
to reveal them to us. Every grace of God is a light of itself coming from
the Father of lights ; and it is the property of hght not only to discover
other things, but itself too ; and it is the office of the Spirit to give further
light to this light, by shining upon his own grace in us. An excellent place
for this is 1 Cor. ii. 12, ' We have received the Spirit that is of God,
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.' 'In
the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every thing be confirmed.' One
witness is, 'the spirit of man,' which knows 'the things that are in man,'
1 Cor. ii. 11 ; the other witness is ' the Spirit of God, witnessing to our
spirits that we are the children of God,' Kom. viii. 14. Here is light added
to light, witness added to witness, the greater witness of the Spirit to the
less of our spirits. The apostle joins them both together : ' My conscience
bears me witness through the Holy Ghost,' Rom. ix. 1.
Obj. Man's heart is deceitful.
Ans. But the Spirit of God in man's heart is not deceitful. It is too
holy to deceive, and too wise to be deceived in this point of assurance.
We plough with the Spirit's heifer, or else we could not find out this
riddle, Judges xiv. 18. AVhere there is an object to be seen, and an eye
to see, and light to discover the object to the eye, sight must needs follow.
In a true believer, after he is enlightened, as there is grace to be seen, and
an eye of faith to see, so there is a light of the Spirit discovering that grace
to that inward sight. In the bottom of a clear river, a clear eyesight may
see anything. Where nothing is, nothing can be seen. It is an evidence
that the patrons of doubtings have little grace, in them, and much boldness
in making themselves a measure for others. Those that are base-born know
their mothers better than their fathers. The Church of Rome is all for the
mother, but the babes of Christ know their father. The remainder of cor-
ruption will indeed be still breeding doubts, but it is the office of the Spirit
of faith to quell them as they arise. We are too ready in time of tempta-
tion to doubt. We need not help the tempter by holding it a duty to
doubt. This is to light a candle before the devil, as we use to speak.
Quest. May not there be doubtings where there is true faith ? May not
a true believer be without assurance ?
Ans. There be three ranks of Christians : First, Some that are yet
under the spirit of bondage, that like little children do all for fear.
Secondly, Those that are under the spirit of adoption, and do many things
448 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
well, but yet are not altogether free from fear. These are like those
children that are moved with reverence to obey their parents, and yet find
their commands somewhat irksome unto them. The third are such as, by
the love of God shed into their hearts by the Spirit of adoption, are carried
with large spirits to obey their Father ; and herein like unto those children
that not only obey, but take a delight in it, upon a judgment that both
obedience and the thing wherein they obey is good. This we ought to
labour for. But we find mau}'^ Christians in the second rank. Many
truly believe in Christ by some light let into their hearts by the Spirit
of adoption, who are not yet fully assured of the love of Christ. There is
the act of faith and the fruit of faith. The act of faith is to cast ourselves
upon God's mercy in Christ ; the fruit of faith is in believing to be assui*ed
of this. We must know that faith is one thing, assurance another. They
may have faith, and yet want a double assurance : first, assurance of their
faith, being not able to judge at all times of their own act ; likewise,
secondly, assurance of their state in grace, as in time of desertion and
temptation. A soul at such a time casts itself upon Christ, as knowing
comfort is there to be had, though he be not sure of it for himself ; and
this the soul doth out of obedience, though not out of feeling, as the poor
man in the gospel, ' Lord, I believe: help my unbelief,' Mark ix. 24. The
soul oftentimes out of the deep, cries, and in the dark, trusts in God ; and
this is the bold adventure of faith, the first object whereof is Christ held
out in a promise ; and not assurance, which springe th from the first act
when it pleaseth God to shine upon the soul ; and is a reward of glorifying
God's mercy in Christ by casting the soul upon his truth and goodness.
Assurance is God's seal, faith is our seal. When we set to our seal by
believing, he sets to his seal, assuring us of our condition. We yield first
the consent and the assent of faith ; and then God puts his seal to the con-
tract. There must be a good title before a confirmation, a planting before
a rooting and establishing, the bargain before the earnest. Some would have
faith to be an overpowering light of the soul, whereby undoubtedly they believe
themselves to be Christ,-'- and Christ to be theirs ; which stumbleth many a
weak yet true Christian ; for this is rather the fruit of a strong faith than
the act of a weak, which struggleth with doubting until it hath gotten the
upper hand. True it is, there must be so much light let into the soul as
the soul may rely upon Christ ; and this light must be discovered by the
Spirit ; and such a light as shews a special love of Christ to the soul.
And again, it is true that we are not to take up our rest in the light until
the heart be further subdued ; as many are too hasty to conclude of a good
condition upon uncertain signs, before they have attained unto fuller assur-
ance ; but yet we must not deny faith where this strong assurance is
wanting, so far as to conclude against ourselves, if there be desires putting
on, to endeavour with conflict against the rising of unbelief, with a high
prizing of the favour of God in Christ, so as to value it above all things.
Degi-ees do not vary the kind ; weakness may stand with truth, but where
truth is there will be an incessant desire of future sealing.
2. The second conclusion : We may, upon the knowledge of our present
estate in grace, he assured for the time to come, for this sealing is to the ' day
of redemption ; ' that is, till we be put into full possession of what we now
believe ; and besides, sealing is for securing for the time to come ; and
our Saviour's promise is, that though he departed from them, yet the
Comforter should abide with them for ever, John xiv. 16. And why are
* Qu. ' Christ's ' ?— Ed.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 449
we certain of the favour of God to our comfort for the present, but that we
doubt not of it for the time to come ?
Faith and love, and these graces, they never fail finally ; therefore when
the Scripture speaks of faith, it speaks of salvation by it for the present ;
as if a man should be in heaven presently so soon as he believed. * We
are saved by faith,' say the Scriptures, Eph. ii. 8. We are not yet saved,
but the meaning is, we are set by faith into a state of salvation. Being
put into Christ by faith, we ' are risen with Christ, and sit in heavenly
places with him,' Eph. i. 3. Faith makes the things to come present ;
and faith believes that ' neither things present, nor things to come, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God in Christ,' Eom. viii. 39. So
that our assurance is not only for the present, but for the time to come.
We are sealed ' to the day of redemption,' and who can reverse God's
seal, or God's act or deed ? Grace is the earnest-penny of glory. -!- God
hath made a covenant, and given earnest. He will not lose it. The
earnest is never taken away, but filled up. If we be assured of grace for
the present, we may be sure it shall be made up full in glory hereafter. If
the Spirit of Christ be in us, the same Spirit that raised Christ from
the dead will raise us up likewise, and not leave us until we be in full re-
demption : ' We shall awake filled with his image,' Kom. viii. 11, seq., and
Ps. xvii. 15.
No opposition shall prevail. God hath set us a seal on his right hand
to keep us ; ay, and on his breast (as the high priest had the twelve tribes)
to love us, and on his shoulder to support us. The marked and sealed
ones in Ezek. ix. 4, and Rev. vii. 2, were secured from all destruction. If
we be in Christ our rock, temptations and oppositions are but as waves ;
the}' may dash upon us, but they break themselves.
Quest. Why then do we pray for the forgiveness of sins ?
A71S. We pray for a clear evidence of what we have ; secondly, as the
end is ordained, so the means must be used. God doth and will pardon
sin ; and therefore we must pray for pardon, as a means ordained. Thirdly,
Prayer doth not prejudice the certainty of a thing. Christ prayeth for that
he was most sure of : John xvii. 24, ' I pray for them which thou hast
given me, for they are thine.'
Pregnant for the proof of this point is that of Peter : ' We are begotten
again to a lively hope,' a hope of that life which maketh lively, 1 Peter
i. 3-5. Oh but we are weak ! True, but ' we are kept by the power of
God.' An inheritance is not only kept for us, but we are kept for it.
Ohj. But Satan is strong, and his malice is more than his strength.
Ans. True. But we are kept as by a garrison. We have a guard
about us.
Obj. All this is true while faith holdeth out, but that may fail.
Ans. No. We are kept by the power of God ' through faith.' God
keepeth our faith, and us by faith.
Obj. But the time is long between us and salvation, and many dangers
may fall out.
Ans. Be it so that the time is long, yet we are ' kept unto salvation,' even
until the * day of redemption ; ' for the Spirit, by virtue of the covenant, puts
the fear of God into our hearts, that we shall never depart from him. God
doth not promise what we shall do of ourselves, but what he will do in us
and by us. Thus the Holy Ghost putteth a shield into our hands to ward
off all objections ; and helps us to subdue the reasonings that are apt to
* Cf. footnote, Vol. III. page 476.— G.
VOL. V. F f
450 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
rise within ns against this blessed hope. So that this happy condition is
not onl}' sure to ns, but God hath assured us of it. God's gracious in-
dulgence is such, he sees here we go through a wilderness and are molested
every way ; therefore he would have us assured of a blessed condition to
come. So good is God, he doth not only find out a glorious way of
redemption by the blood of his Son God-man, but he acquaints us with it
in the days of our pilgrimage, parth' that we may glorify him, that he
may have the praise beforehand of W'hat good he intends us ; for assurance
of that blessed condition will stir up our spirits to bless God. What the
thing itself would work, faith works the same in some measure. Therefore
Saint Peter, 1 Pet. i. 3, 4, 'Blessed be God,' saithhe, 'who hath begotten
us again to a lively hope of an inheritance immortal, undefiled, that fadeth
not away, reserved in the heavens.' Why doth he bless God before we
have it ? Because we are as sure of it as if we had it. What is revealed
beforehand is praised for beforehand. God would have us assured, that he
may have glory.
Partly to comfort us : for faith is effectual to work that comfort that the
thing present would do in some measure. What comfort would the soul
have if it should see heaven open and itself entering into it, if redemption
were at hand ? The same faith works in some measure. What is more
Bure than the thing itself ? What more comfortable than faith in it ?
When the Israelites were in the wilderness, going to Canaan, they had
many promises that they should come to Canaan, and many extraordinary
helps to lead them thither — the pillar, and cloud, and angel ; and God, out
of indulgence condescending to their weakness, gave them some grapes of
Cr.naan. He put it into the mind of the spies to bring of the fruits. So
God gives its some work of his blessed Spirit, whereby he would have us
assured and sealed to the day of redemption.
3. The third conclusion is this, that the Spirit doth seal iis. This cannot
be otherwise ; for who can establish us in the love of God, but he that
knows the mind of God towards us ? and who knows the mind of God but
the Spirit of God ?
Then am I sealed, when I do not only believe, but hj a reflecting act of
the soul know I do believe ; and this reflection, though it be by reason,
yet it is by reason enabled by the Spirit. Our spirits by the Spirit only,
can discern of spiritual acts. It is not for us to know things above nature ;
without a cause, above nature. None can know the meaning of our broken
desires, so as to help us in our infirmities, but that Spirit that stirred up
those desires. Again, none knows the grievances of our spirits, but our
own spirits and the Spirit of God, who knows all the turnings and corners
of the soul.
Who can mortify those strong corruptions that would hinder us in the
way to heaven, but the Spirit clothing our spirit with power from above ?
Who purifieth the conscience, but he that is above conscience ? Who can
raise our spirits above all temptations and troubles, but that Spirit of power
that is above all ?
The strength and vigour of any creature is from the spirits ; and the
strength of tiie spirits of all flesh is from this Spirit, whose office is to put
spirit into our spirit.
As God redeemed us with his blood, so God must apply this blood, that
conscience may be quieted. He only can subdue the rebellion of our
spirits, and soften our hearts, and make them fit for sealing. The Spirit
only can so report the mercy of God to our souls, as to persuade and work
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 451
our hearts to this assurance, otherwise we would never yield. For partly
the greatness of the state is such that none but God can assure ; and partly
the misgiving and unbelief of our heart is such that none but God can
subdue it. The thing being so great, and our deservings so little, being
unworthy of the things of this life, much more of that eternal happiness,
this cannot be done without the high and glorious Spirit of God.
How earnest and desirous then is both the Father and the Son to save
us, that pleased to send such an orator and ambassador as is equal with
themselves to persuade us, to assure us, to fit us for salvation ! And
how gracious is the Spirit that will vouchsafe to have such communion with
such poor sinful spirits as ours ! And should not this work upon our
hearts a care not to grieve the Holy Spirit ? And so we come to the fourth
conclusion.
4. The fourth conclusion is, that the sealiiu/ of the ,Spirit unto salvation
should be a stron// prevalllnr/ arf/iuneiit not to rjrleve the Spirit ; that is, not to
sin, for sin only grieves the Spirit. ' The grace of God,' saith Paul to
Titus, 'that bringeth salvation,' Tit. ii. 11, 12. Christ appeared; and
what is Christ but grace ? Christ appeared, and the free favour of God in
Christ, whereby we are assured of salvation, ' which teacheth us' — what to
do ? — ' to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, right-
eously, and godly in this present world.' Even the consideration of the
benefits of Christ that ai'e past, such as came with Christ's first coming ; but
that is not all : ver. 13, ' Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.' The second
coming of Christ enforceth likewise the same care of holiness : ' Our con-
versation is in heaven,' Philip, iii. 20, and not as theirs, spoken of in the
former verse, whose end is damnation, whose belly is their god, who mind
earthly things. No. We mind heavenly things. And these heavenly
desires, from whence sprung they but from the certain ' expectation of our
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile bodies?' &c.,
Philip, iii. 21 ; that is, shall redeem us fully, even our bodies as well as
our souls.
1. It is an argument of force \i-hether ice he not yet sealed, or he sealed.
If not sealed, then grieve not him whose only office is to seal, entertain his
motions, give way to him, that he may have scope and liberty of working.
Set no reasons against his reasons. Hearken to no counsel against his
counsel. Stand not out his persuasions any longer, but yield up your
spirits to him, lest he put a period to his patience. He is long-suffering,
but not always-suffering. If he give us up to our own spirits, we shall
only be witty* to work out our own damnation. We are not given up to
our own spirits but after many repulses of this Holy Spirit ; and at length,
what now will not serve for an argument to persuade us shall be used
hereafter as an argument to torment us. The Spirit will help our spirits
to repeat and recall all the motions to om' own good that we formerly put
back. We should think, when conscience speaks in us, God speaks ; and
when the Spirit moves us, it is God that moves us ; and that all excuse
will be cut off: answer will be. Did not I tell you of this by conscience, my
deputy ? Did not I move you to this good by mine own Spirit ? Take
heed of keeping out any light ; for light, where it doth not come in and
soften, hardens ; none so hard-hearted as those upon whom the light hath
shined. There is more to be hoped from a man that hath only a natural
conscience, than from him whose heart and spirit hath been long beaten
* That is, ' skilful or ingenious.' — G,
452
A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
on ; there is more to be hoped from a heathen Pilate than a proud Pharisee.
Those that will not be sealed to their salvation, it is just with God that
they should be sealed up to their destruction. The soul without the Spirit
is darkness and confusion, full of self- accusing and self-tormenting thoughts.
If we let the Spirit come in, it wdll scatter all and settle the soul in a sweet
quiet.
2. For those that have been sealed by the Spirit, and yet not so f idly as to
silence all doubts about their estate: those should, out of that beginning
of comfort which they feel, study to be pliable to the Spirit for further
increase. The Spirit sealeth by degrees. As our care of pleasing the
Spirit increaseth, so our comfort increaseth : our light will increase as the
morning light unto the perfect day. Yielding to the Spirit in one holy
motion will cause him to lead us to another, and so on forwards until we
be more deej^ly acquainted with the whole counsel of God concerning our
salvation. Otherwise, if we give way to any contrary lust, dai'lmess will
grow upon om- spirits unawares, and we shall be left in an unsettled condi-
tion, as those that travel in the twilight, that cannot perfectly find out their
way. We shall be on and off, not daring to yield wholly to our lusts,
because of a work of grace begun ; nor yield wholly to the Spirit, because
we have let some unruly affection get too much strength in us ; and so our
spirits are without comfort, and our profession without glory.
We shall lie open to Satan if he be let loose to winnow our faith ; for if
our state come to be questioned we have nothing to allege but the truth of
our graces, and if we have not used the Spirit well we shall not have power
to allege them, nor to look upon any grace wrought in us, but upon those
lusts and sins whereby we have grieved the Spirit ; they will be set in order
before us, and so stare us in the face, that w^e cannot but fix our thoughts
upon them. And Satan will not lose such an advantage, but will tempt us
to call the work of grace in question, which though it be a true work, yet,
for want of light of the Spirit to discern it, we cannot see it to our com-
fort ; whereas, if the Spirit would witness unto us the truth of our state
and the sincerity of our graces, we should be able to hold our own, and
those temptations will vanish.
3. For those that the Holy Spirit hath set a clearer and stronger stamp
upon, that do not question their condition, they of all others should not
grieve the Spirit.
(1.) A Spirit of ingenuity -f will hinder them, and stir up a shame in them
to requite so ill such a friend. Nothing so ingenuous as grace. What is
commendable in nature is in greater perfection in grace. How doth the
conscience of unkindness to a friend that hath deserved well of us trouble
our spirits, that we know not with what face to look upon him ? And will
not unkindness to the Spirit make us ashamed to lift up our face to
heaven ?
(2.) Benefits are bonds, and the greater favour the stronger obligation.
Now what greater favour is there than for the Spirit to renew us according
to the image of God our glorious Saviour, who carried the image of Satan
before ? And by this to appropriate us unto God, to be laid up in his
treasure, as carrying his stamp ; and by this to be separated from the vile
condition of the world, although we carry in us the seeds of the same
corruption that the worst doth, differing nothing from them but in God's free
grace and the fruits of it ; for God to esteem so of us, that have no worthi-
ness of our own, but altogether persons not worthy to be loved, as to make
* That is, ' iDgenuousness.' — G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 453
our unwortliiness a foil to set out the freencss of liis love in making ug
worthy, whom he found not so ; for the Spirit by sealing of us to secure
us in the midst of all spiritual dangers, and to hide us as his secret ones,
that that evil one should not touch us to hurt us : these, as they are
favours of an high nature, the more care they require to walk worthy of
them. We cannot but forget ourselves, before we yield to anything against
that dignity the Spirit hath sealed us to.
(3.) Nature, helped icith ordinary education, moveth even/ man to carry
himself answerable to his condition: a magistrate as a magistrate, a subject
as a subject, a child as a child ; and we think it disgraceful to do otherwise.
And shall that which is disgraceful to nature not be much more disgraceful
to nature renewed and advanced by the Spirit ? And indeed, as we should
not, so we cannot grieve the Spirit so far forth as we are renewed, 1 John
iii. 9. Our new nature will not suffer us to dissemble, to be worldly, to
be carnal, as the world is. We cannot but study holiness, we cannot but be
for God and his truth, we cannot but express what we are and whose we are.
It is impossible a man should care for heaven, that doth not care for the
beginnings of heaven. He cannot be said to care for full redemption and
glory, that doth not care for the Spirit of grace. Fulness of grace is the
best thing in glory. Other things, as peace and joy and the like, they are
but the shinings forth of this fulness of grace in glory.
Again, When the Spirit assureth us of God's love in the greatest fruits
of it, as it doth when it assureth this redemption, that love kindles love
again, and love constrains us by a sweet necessity to yield cheerful and
willing obedience in all things. There is nothing more active and fnllerof
invention than love, and there is nothing that love studies more than how
to please. There is nothing that it fears more than to discontent. It is a
neat* affection, and will endure nothing offensive, either to itself or the
spirit of such as we love ; and this love the Spirit teaches the heart, and
love teaches us not only our duty, but to do it in a loving and acceptable
manner. It carries out the whole stream of the soul with it, and rules all
whilst it rules, and will not suffer the soul to divert toby-things, much less
to contrary.
Again, These graces that are conversant about that condition which the
Spirit assureth us of, as faith and hope, are purging and purifying graces,
working a suitableness in the soul to the things believed and hoped for ;
and the excellency of the things believed and hoped for have such a working
upon the soul that it will not suffer the soul to defile itself. Our hopes on
high will lead us to ways on high. Thei'efore whilst these graces are
exercised about these objects, the soul cannot but be in a pleasing frame.
It hath been an old cavil, that certainty of salvation breeds security and
looseness of life. And what is there that an ill-disposed soul cannot suck
poison out of ? A man may as truly say the sea burns, or the fii'e cools.
There is nothing quickens a soul more to cheerful obedience than assurance
of God's love, and that our ' labour should not be in vain in the Lord,'
1 Cor. XV. 58. This is the Scripture's logic and rhetoric, to enforce and
persuade [to] a holy life, from knowledge of our present estate in grace.
' I beseech you by the mercies of God,' saith St Paul, Kom. xii. 1. What
mercies ? Such as he had spoken of before, — justification, sanctification,
assurance, that all shall work together for good, that nothing shall be able
to separate us from the love of God in Christ. All duties tend to assurance,
or spring from assurance.
* That is, = piire. Cf. Vol. II. page 80, et alibi.— G.
454 A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
God's intendment* is to bring ug to heaven by a way of love and cheer-
fulness, as all his ways towards us in our salvation are in love. And this
is the scope of the covenant of grace, and for this end he sends the Spirit
of adoption into our hearts, that we may have a child-like liberty with God
in all our addresses to him. When he oflfer^- himself to us as a Father, it
is fit we should ofi'er ourselves to him as children ; nature teaches a child,
the more he desires his father's love, the more he fears to displease him.
And he is judged to be graceless that will therefore venture to offend his
father, because he knows he neither can or will disinherit him. Certain it
is, the more surely we know God hath begotten us to so glorious an inherit-
ance, the more it wiU work upon our bowels, to take all to heart that may
any way touch him. This wrought upon David. When the prophet told
him God hath done this and this for thee, and ' would have done more if
that had been too little,' 2 Sam. xii. 8, it melted him presently into an
humble confession. Those that have felt the power of the Spirit of
adoption on their hearts, will both by a divine instinct, as also by strength
of reason, be carried to all those courses wherein they shall approve them-
selves to their Father. Instinct of nature strengthened with grounds will
move strongly.
To conclude this discourse, let Christians therefore be careful to preserve
and cherish the work of assurance and sealing in them.
Means. 1. What God doth for \is,*he doth hi/ grace in us. He will pre-
serve us that we shall not fall from him by putting the grace of fear into us,
Jer. xxxii. 40. He will keep us, but by what means '? ' The peace of God,
which passeth all understanding, shall guard our hearts,' Phil. iv. 7. God
maketh our calling and election sure in us, by stirring our hearts up to be
diligently exercised in adding one grace unto another, and in growing in every
grace, as 2 Pet. i. 5. Therefore we must attend upon all spiritual means of
growth and quickening : so shall you have a further ' entrance into the king-
dom of Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. i. 11 ; that is, you shall have more evident know-
ledge of your entrance into the kingdom of grace here, and likewise into
the kingdom of glory hereafter. Those that do not so shall have no com-
fort either from the time past, for they shall forget that they were purged
from their sins ; or from thoughts of the time to come, for they shall ' not
be able to see things far off.'
2. If assurance be in a lesser degree, yet yield not to temptations and carnal
reasonings. If our evidences be not so fair, yet we will not part with our
inheritance. Coins, as old as groats, that have little of the stamp left, yet
are current. We lose our comfort many times, because we yield so easily,
because we have not such a strong and clear seal of salvation as we would.
To be borne down that we have none at all, is a great weakness. Exer-
cise, therefore, the little faith thou hast, in striving against such objections,
and it will be a means to preserve the seal of the Spirit.
3. Because this sealing is gradual, u-e should, pray, as Paul, Eph. i. 17, for
a spirit of revelation , that we may be more sealed. The Ephesians were sealed,
for whom Paul prays, and so the Colossians ; yet [he prays] that God would
reveal to their spirits more their excellent condition. There are ' riches of
assurance,' Col. ii. 2. The apostle would have them to labour not only
for assurance, but for the riches of it. That will bring rich comfort, and
joy and peace. Times of temptations and trial may come, and such as, if
we have not strong assurance, we may be sorely troubled and call all in
question. This may be the sad condition of God's own children ; and
* That is, 'intention.' — G.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED. 456
from this, that in times of peace they contented themselves with a lesser
degree of this assurance and sealing.
4. Lastly, Be ivatcJi/ul over your own hearts and ways, that according to
what you have now learned you grieve not the Spirit, ' for by it you are
sealed ;' intimating, that if [in] anything we withstand and grieve the Spirit,
we shall in so doing prejudice ourselves, and sulier in the comfort and evi-
dence of our sealing.
NOTES.
(a) P. 417. — ' Some men will not hear the word, nor read good books, lest their
consciences should be awaked.' We have an example of this in relation to Sibbes
himself, in Giles Firmin's ' Real Christian' (4to, 1670). He is illustrating the
enmity of the carnal heart to holiness, and goes on to say, ' For others, I know they
hke it not. And what is the matter ? Alas ! this would spoil all the sport. Should
we once have sin, guilt, and our misery discovered, we must never see merry day
after ; and that which we fear must follow, our lovers and we must part ; and that
we find a hard thing, yea, impossible, to bid farewell to those lusts, companions, and
ways, which have brought us in so much pleasure and profit in our days." Then
he adds, ' These or such like were the thoughts of him who would 7iot hear Dr Sibbes,
for fear he should convert him, he said," (page 5G). Many neglected anecdotes of this
sort will be found scattered up and down in Firmin's quaint treatise, which is a
medley of vividly-put truth, odd yet vigorous thinking, and chatty memorabilia, each
turning up in the most unexpected corners.
(b) P. 420. — ' When men cut the rule and standard to fit themselves, and not fit
themselves to it.' We have herein a far-back anticipation of Archbishop Whateley'a
well-known apophthegm, ' It is one thing to wish Scripture to be on our side, and
another to wish to be on the side of Scripture ;' which indeed is met with under
various forms elsewliere.
(c) P. 421—' Have not the devils greater parts than any men ? Are they not called
dcemones, from the largeness of their understanding ?' The Greek is 6a//xwi/, and the
well-known passage in the Cradjlus of Plato (xxiii) illustrates the text : ' On this
account, therefore, it appears to me (Socrates), more than other, he calls them dcemons,
because they were prudent and learned {dari,u,ovss).' Cf. Eichardson sub voce, to
whom I am indebted for above reference.
(d) P. 421.—' Quanta major facilitas, &c. : the more the facility of not sinning, the
greater the sin.' One of the familiar distinctions found in nearly all the Fathers —
e. g., Augustine and Bernard.
(e) P. 422. — ' Tlie heathen man could say, It is an ill custom to be cavilling
against religion, whether in good earnest or in jest.' Seneca, often.
(/) P. 424. — ' If a man's conscience be his friend, it will make all friendly to
him.' On conscience, cf. notes gg, hh, ii, Vol. III. page 532. Henry Stubbes has
enlarged the thought of the present reference in his searching and precious little
volume entitled, ' Conscience the best Friend upon Earth ; or, the Happy Effects of
Keeping a good Conscience ' (1677) ; not to be confounded with his namesake and
contemporary, the mendacious opponent of the Puritans.
{g) P. 426.—' As Nazianzen saith of himself, " Lord, I am an instrument for thee
to touch." ' The passage is, at the commencement of Orat. viii. Ad palrem suum, as
follows: — "Os^yavov hfii SsTbi', os^yavov XoyiKov oByocvov xaXw ts^vitji, tu) CTSu.aar/,
aon,a^oiJ,iv(jv -/mi -/.^ovofMivov John de la Mark lias beautifully expanded this idea
in his vindication of the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.
(A) P. 428.—' This will take away the excuse, as St Austin argues well. _ If I had
known, saith a wicked man, I would not have done this. Saith he, the pride of thy
heart suggests that. Hadst thou not motions and admonitions ?" &c. Augustine has
this idea in his ' Confessions,' with reference to himself and his long delays in turn-
ing to the Lord.
(i) P. 435. — ' True gold hath the virtue to comfort and strengthen the heat that
45G A FOUNTAIN SEALED.
alchymy gold hath not,' Cf, note r* Vol. III. p. 530. The allusion above is to the
extraordinary ' pill of gold,' which was a regular prescription in the days of Sibbes
and long after. Richard Baxter in his ' Life ' gives a description — grotesque in its
seriousness— of the terrible ordeal he passed through after having swallowed a very
large one. G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
NOTE.
' The Fountain Opened ' forms one of the four treatises which compose the volume
entitled ' Light from Heaven.' (Of. Vol. IV. p. 490.) Its separate title-page is given
below.* It naturally follows ' A Fountain Sealed.' G.
* THE
FOVNTAINE
OPENED:
OR,
THE MY8TERIE
OF GODLINESSE
Eevealed.
BY
The late learned ^~ reverend Divine
E I c H. S I B s,
Doctor in Divinitie, Master of Katherine
Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher
at G K A Y E S-I N N E.
Joel 3. 18.
A7id a Fountaine shall come forth of the House of the
Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
Ephes, 3. 3.
He hath made knowne the Mysterie unto me, which in
other ages was not made known unto the sonnes of men.
LONDON,
Printed by E. Furslow for N. Bourne, at the Eoyall
Exchange, and li Harford, at tlie gilt Bible in
Queenes-head Alley, in Faler-noster-Row.
16 38.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED;
OK,
THE MYSTEEY OF GODLINESS EEVEALED.
And, without controversy, great is the mystery of yodliness : God manifested in
the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached nnto the Gentiles,
believed on in the ivorld, received up to glory. — 1 Tim. III. 16.
There are two things that God values more than all the world besides — the
church and the truth. The church, that is the ' pillar and ground of truth,'
as it is in the former verse. The truth of religion, that is the seed of the
church. Now the blessed apostle St Paul being to furnish his scholar
Timothy to the ministerial office, he doth it from two grounds especially :
from the dignity of the church, which he was to instruct and converse in ;
and from the excellency of the mysteries of the gospel, that excellent soul-
saving truth. Hereupon he doth seriously exhort Timothy to take heed
how he conversed in the church of God, in teaching the truth of God.
The church of God, it is ' the house of God,' a company of people that
God cares for more than for all mankind besides, for whom the world
stands, for whom all things are. ' It is the church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of truth.' And for the truth of God, that must be taught
in this church, that is so excellent a thing, that we see the blessed apostle
here useth great words, high styles, lofty expressions concerning it. As
the matter is high and great, so the holy apostle hath expressions suitable;
a full heart breeds full expressions. As no man went beyond St Paul, in
the deep conceit of his own unworthiness and of his state by nature, so
there was no man reached higher in large and rich thoughts and expres-
sions of the excellency of Christ, and the good things we haveby hira ; as
we see here, setting forth the excellency of the ministerial calling, being to
deal with God's truth towards God's people, he sets forth evangelical truth
gloriously here. ' Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness :
God manifested in the flesh,' &c.
In these words, then, there is a preface ; and then, a particular explica-
tion. There is a fountain or spring, and the streams issuing from it, the
root and the branches. There is, as it were, a porch to this great house.
Great buildings have fair entrances ; so this glorious description of the
mysteries of the gospel, it hath a fair porch and entry to it. ' Without
controversy, great is the mystery of godliness.'
Then the fabric itself is parcelled out in six particulars : —
4G0
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
God manifested in the flesh.
Justified in the Spirit.
Seen of angels.
Preached unto the Gentiles.
Believed on in the world.
Received up to glory.
First, For the preface, whereby he makes way to raise up the spirit of
Timothy, and in him us, unto a reverent and holy attending to the blessed
mysteries that follow.
' Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness.'
In this preface, there is first the thing itself, ' godliness.'
Then the description of it, it is a ' mystery.'
And the adjunct, it is a ' great mystery.'
And then the seal of it, it is a great mystery ' without all controversy ; '
by the confession of all, as the word o/xoXoyou/isi'ws signifies. There are
none that ever felt the power of godliness, but they have confessed it to be
a ' great mystery.'
Godliness is a ' mystery,' and a ' great mystery ;' and it is so under the
seal of pubHc confession. To observe somewhat from each of these.
* Godliness.'
1. Godliness is either the principles of Christian religion, or the inward
disposition of the soul towards them, the inward holy affection of the soul.
The word implieth both : for godliness is not only the naked principles of
religion, but Hkewise the Christian affection, the inward bent of the soul,
suitable to divine principles. There must be a godly disposition, carrying
us to godly truths. That godliness includes the truths themselves, I need
go no further than the connection. In the last words of the former verse,
the church is ' the pillar and ground of truth ;' and then it follows, ' with-
out controversy, great is the mystery' — he doth not say of truth, but — ' of
godliness ;' instead of truth he saith godliness.
The same word imphes the truths themselves, and the affection and dis-
position of the soul toward them. ' Truths,' to shew them that both must
alway go together. Wheresoever Christian truth is known as it should be,
there is a supernatural light. It is not only a godly truth in itself, but it
is embi'aced with godly afiections. These blessed truths of the gospel, they
require and bi'eed a godly disposition ; the end of them is godliness ; they
frame the soul to godliness. Thus we see the truths themselves are godli-
ness, carrying us to God and holiness. That I need not much stand on.
But that there must be an affection answerable, and that this truth breeds
this, is a Httle to be considered. Why is religion itself called faith, and the
grace in the soul also called faith ? To shew that faith, that is, the truth
revealed (as we say the * apostles' faith'), it bi-eeds faith, and must be appre-
hended by faith. Therefore one word includes both the object, the thing
believed, and likewise the disposition of the soul to that object. So here
' godliness' is the thing itself, the principles of religion ; and likewise the
disposition of the soul that those truths woi'k, where they are entertained
as they should be. Hence follows these other truths briefly.
1. First of all. That no truth breeds godliness and pietg of life but diriuo
truths ; for that is called ' godliness,' because it breeds godliness. All the
devices of men in the world cannot breed godliness. All is superstition,
and not godliness, that is not bred by a divine truth.
2. Again, hence, in that divine truth is called godliness, it shews us, if
ive ivould he godlij we must be so from reasons of Christianity ; not, as I said,
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 461
by framing devices of our own, as graceless foolish men do ; as we see in
popery, it is full of ceremonies of their own devising. But if we will be
godly, it must be by reasons and motives from divine truth. That breeds
godhness. It is but a bastard godliness, a bastard religion, that is from a
good intention, without a good ground. Therefore the word implies both
the tenet, the doctrine, and the frame of soul answerable to that doctrine.
Good principles, without an impression of it on the soul, is nothing. It will
but help us to be damned ; and godliness, without a frame of doctrine, is
nothing but superstition. Godliness in doctrine frames the soul to godli-
ness in conversation. There are many that, out of a natural superstition
(which is alway accompanied with a poisonful malicious disposition against
the truth of God), they will have devices of their own ; and those they will
force with all their power. But if we will be godly, it must be from reasons
fetched from divine truth.
3. Again, hence we may fetch a rule of discerning u-hea we are godli/.
What makes a true Christian ? When he nakedly believes the grounds of
divine truth, the articles of the faith, w^hen he can patter* them over doth
that make a true Christian ? No. But when these truths breed and work
' godhness.' For religion is a truth ' according to godliness,' not according
to speculation only, and notion. Wheresoever these fundamental truths are
embraced, there is godliness with them ; a man cannot embrace religion
in truth, but he must be godly. A man knows no more of Christ °and
divine things, than he values and esteems and affects, f and brings the
whole inward man into a frame, to be like the things. If these things
work not godhness, a man hath but a human knowledge of divine things';
if they carry not the soul to trust in God, to hope in God, to fear God^to
embrace him, to obey him, that man is not yet a true Christian ; for Chris-
tianity is not a naked knowledge of the truth, but godliness.
Religious evangehcal truth is 'wisdom ;' and wisdom is a knowledge of
things directing to practice. A man is a wise man, when he knows so as
to practise what he knows. The gospel is a divine wisdom, teaching
practice as well as knowledge. It works godliness, or else a man hath but
a human knowledge of divine things. Therefore, he that is godly, he
believes aright and practiseth aright. He that believes ill can never live
well, for he hath no foundation. He makes an idol of some conceit he
hath, besides the word ; and he that lives ill, though he believe well, shall
be damned too. Therefore a Christian hath godly principles out of the gospel,
and a godly carriage suitable to those principles. And indeed, there is a
force in the principles of godliness, from God's love in Christ, to stir up
to godhness. The soul that apprehends God's truth aright cannot but be
godly. Can a man know God's love in Christ incarnate, and Christ's suf-
fering for us, and his sitting at the right hand of God for us, the infinite
love of God in Christ, and not be carried in affection back to God again,
in love and joy and true affiance, and whatsoever makes up the respect of
godhness ?_ It cannot be. Therefore it is not a cold, naked apprehension,
but a spiritual knowledge, when the soul is stirred up to a suitable dis-
position and carriage, that makes godliness. Now this godliness is
* A mystery.'
What is a mystery ?
The word signifies a hidden thing. It comes of muein,l which is, to shut
* That is, ' mutter,' from the formal ' muttering ' of their Latin prayers by tlie
papists, eg., the patcmo&iQx. — G.
t That is, 'loves.'— G. J The verb ia fiv'iM G.
4G2 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
or stop the mouth from divulging. As they had their mysteries among the
heathen, in their temples, which they must not discover, therefore there
was an image before the temple with his finger before his mouth, shewing
that they must be silent in the discovery of hidden mysteries. Indeed, the
mysteries of the heathens were so shameful, that they did well to forbid
the discovery of them. But I speak only to unfold the nature of the word,
which is to shut, or keep secret.
1. A mystery is a secret, not only for the present, but that it was a
secret, though it be now revealed ; for the gospel is now discovered. It is
called a mystery, not so much that it is secret, but that it was so before it
was revealed.
2. In the second place, that is called a mystery in the Scripture which,
howsoever it be clear for the manifestation of it, yet the reasons of it are hid.
As the conversion of the Gentiles, that there should be such a thing, why
God should be so merciful to them, it is called a mystery. So the calling
of the Jews, it is called a mystery, though the thing be revealed. Yet
that God should be so wondrous merciful to them, that is a mystery.
When there is any great reason that we cannot search into the depth of
the thing, though the thing itself be discovered, that is a mystery ; as the
conversion both of Jews and Gentiles.
3. In the third place, a mystery in Scripture is taken for that that is a
truth hid, and is conveyed hy some outward thing. Marriage is a mystery,
because it conveys the hidden spiritual marriage between Christ and his
church. The sacraments are mysteries, because in the one, under bread
and wine, there is conveyed to us the benefits of Christ's body broken and
his blood shed ; and in the other, under water, a visible outward thing,
there is signified the blood of Christ.
In a word — to cut off that which is not pertinent — mystery in Scripture
is either the general body of religion, or the particular branches of it. The
general body of religion is called a mystery in this place. The whole
Christian religion is nothing but a continued mystery, a continuation of
mysteries, a chaining together of mystery upon mystery.
And then the particular branches are called mysteries, as I said before.
The conversion of the Jews, and likewise of the Gentiles, before it was
accomplished, it was a mystery. So the union between Christ and the
church is a great mystery, Eph. v. 25 ; but the whole gospel is here meant,
as Christ saith, Mark iv. 11, ' The mysteries of the kingdom of God,' that
is, the description of the gospel. What is the gospel ? The mystery of
God's kingdom, of Christ's kingdom — a mystery discovering how Christ
reigns in his church, and a mystery of bringing us to that heavenly king-
dom. So, then, the whole evangelical truth is a mystery.
For these reasons :
1. First of all. Because it was hid and concealed from all men, till God
brought it out of his own bosom : first to Adam in paradise, after the fall ;
and still more clearly afterwards to the Jews ; and in Christ's time more
fully to Jews and Gentiles. It was hid in the breast of God. It was not
a thing framed by angels or men. After man was fallen to that cursed
state, this plot, of saving man by Christ, came not into the head of any
creature, to satisfy justice by infinite mercy ; to send Christ to die, that
justice might be no loser. It could come from no other breast but
God's. It must be a divine heavenly wisdom. Therefore it was a plot
devised by the blessed Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. It was
hid in the secret closet of God's breast. Christ brought it out of the bosom
TEffi FOUNTAIN OPENED. 463
of his Father. * No man hath seen God at 'any time ; Christ the only-
begotten Son, in the bosom of the Father,' John i. 18, he discovers the
Father, and his meaning to mankind. Who ever could have thought of
such a depth of mercy unto fallen man, when God promised the blessed
seed, Gen. iii. 15, if God himself had not discovered it ? Therefore this
reconciling of justice and mercy, it is a mystery of heavenly wisdom that
the creature could never think of, as it is excellently set down, 1 Cor. ii.,
through the whole chapter.
2. Again, It is a mystery ; because when it was revealed, it wan revealed
but to few. It was revealed at the first but to the Jews : * God is known in
Jewry,' &c., Ps. xlviii. 3. It was wrapped in ceremonies and types, and in
general promises, to them. It was quite hid from most part of the world.*
3. Again, When Christ came, and was discovered to the Gentiles, yet it
is a mystery even in the church, to carnal men, that hear the gospel, and yet
do not understand it, that have the veil over their hearts. It is ' hid to
them that perish,' 2 Cor. iv. 3, though it be never so open of itself to those
that believe.
4. In the fourth place. It is a mystery, because though we see some part
and parcel of it, yet ive see not the whole gospel. We see not all, nor wholly.
' We see but in part, and know but in part,' 1 Cor. xiii. 9. So it is a
mystery in regard of the full accomplishment.
5. Yea, and in the next place, it is a mystery, in regard of what we do
not know, hut shall hereafter know. How do we know divine truths now ?
In the mirror of the word and sacraments. We know not Christ by sicht.
That manner of knowledge is reserved for heaven. So here we know as
it were in a kind of mystery. We see divine things wrapped up in the
mirror of the word, and the mysteries of the sacraments. Indeed, this
comparatively to the Jewish church is to * see the face of God in Christ,'
2 Cor. iv. 6 — a clear sight, but compai-ed to that we shall have, it is to see
in a glass, or mirror. If we look back, it is a clear sight ; if we look for-
ward, it is a sight as it were in a mystery. Even that little that we do
know, we do not know it as we shall know it in heaven.
Quest. But is the doctrine of the gospel itself only a mystery ?
Ans. No. All the graces are mysteries, every grace. Let a man once
know it, and he shall find that there is a mystery in faith ; that the earthly
soul of man should be carried above itself, to believe supernatural truths,
and to depend upon that he sees not, to sway the life by reasons spiritual ;
that the heart of man should believe ; that a man in trouble should carry
himself quietly and patiently, from supernatural supports and grounds, it is
a mystery. That a man should be as a rock in the midst of a storm, to
stand unmoveable, it is a mystery. That the carriage of the soul should
be turned universally another way ; that the judgment and affections should
be turned backward, as it were ; that he that was proud before should now
be humble ; that he that was ambitious before should now despise the
vain world ; that he that was given to his lusts and vanities before should
now, on the contrary, be serious and heavenly-minded : here is a mystery
indeed when all is turned backward. Therefore we see how Nicodemus, as
wise as he was, it was a riddle to him when our blessed Saviour spake to
him of the new birth, that a man should be wholly changed and new-
moulded ; that a man should be the same and not the same ; the same man
for soul and body, yet not the same in regard of a supernatural life and
being put into him, carrying him another way, leading him in another man-
ner, by other rules and respects, as much different from other men as a man
464 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
diflers from a beast. A strange mystery, that ralseth a man above other
men, as much as another man is above other creatures. For a man to be
content with his condition, in all changes and varieties, when he is cast
and tossed up and down in the world, to have a mind unmoveable, it is a
mystery. Therefore St Paul saith, Philip, iv. 11, 12, ' I have entered into
religion,' as it were, ' I have consecrated myself.' The word is wondrous
significant. ' I have learned this mystery, to be content.' It is a mys-
tery for a man to be tossed up and down, and'^yet to have a contented
mind. ' I can want, and I can abound ; I can do all through Christ that
strengtheueth me.' Why ? I have consecrated myself to Christ and reli-
gion, and from them I have learned this point, to be content. Therefore
in the text here, — as we shall see afterwards, — not only divine truths are a
mystery — ' great is the mystery of godliness' — but he insists on particular
graces, 'preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world:' these are
mysteries.
In Christ, all is mysteries : two natures, God and man, in one person ;
mortal and immortal ; greatness and baseness ; infiniteness and finiteness,
in one person.
The church itself is a mystical thing. For under baseness, under the
scorn of the world, what is hid ? A glorious people. The state of the
church in this world, it is like a tree that is weather-beaten. The leaves
and fruit are gone, but there is life in the root. So, what is the church ?
A company of men that are in the world without glory, without comeliness
and beauty ; yet notwithstanding, the}' have life in the root, a hidden life :
' Our life is hid with Christ, in God,' Col. iii. 3. The church hath a life,
but it is a hidden mystical life, a life under death. They seem to die to the
world, but they are alive. This is excellentl}' and theoretically followed by
St Paul : ' As dying, and j'et we live ; as poor, yet making many rich,'
2 Cor. vi. 9. A strange kind of people ; poor and rich, living and dying,
glorious and base. Yet this is the state of the church here in this world.
They are an excellent people, but they are veiled under infirmities of their
own, and the disgraces and persecutions of the world. So we see both the
doctrine itself, and the graces, and the head of the church, and the church
itself, are nothing but mysteries.
Use 1. Is it so that religion is a mystery? Then, first of all, do not
wonder that it is not known in tJie world : and that it is not only not known,
but persecuted and hated. Alas ! it is a hidden thing. Men know not the
excellency of it. As great men's sons in a foreign country, they find not
entertainment answerable to their worth, but as they are apprehended to
be by strangers : so these divine truths they find little acceptance in the
world, because they are mysteries ; not only mysteries in the tenet, but in
the practice. Therefore the practice finds such opposition in the world :
' Father, forgive them,' saith our blessed Saviour, ' they know not what
they do,' Luke xxiii. 34. The world knows not what they do, when they
hate and persecute religion and religious persons. The church is a mystical
thing, and religion is a mystery. It is hid from them. Shall we be moved
with the disgraceful speeches of carnal men ? They speak they know not
what. The thing they speak against is a mystery. Therefore what should
we regard the speeches of the world, or follow the example of the world,
in embracing religion ? Keligion is a mystery. Let the world be never
so great, it is not the knowledge of great men, or of rich men, it is the
knovvledge of godly men ; it is a ' mystery of godliness.' Shall we follow
the example of the world in religion when it is a mystery, and a mystery
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 465
* of godliness,' that only godly men know and embrace ? Look not, there-
fore, to the greatness of place, or parts, &c. It is a mystery.
Use 2. Again, If it be a mystery, then it should teach m to carry ourselves
suitable to it. Nature taught even the heathens to carry themselves reve-
rently in their mysteries ; Procul este profani, Away, begone all profane (a).
Let us carry ourselves therefore reverently toward the truth of God,
towards all truths, though they be never so contrary to our reason. They
are mysteries altogether above nature. There are some seeds of the law
in nature, but there are no seeds in nature of the gospel. Therefore we
should come to it with a great deal of reverence. St Paul teacheth us an
excellent lesson, Rom. xi. 33. When he entered into a depth that he
could not fathom, doth he cavil at it ? No. ' Oh the depth ! Oh the
depth ! ' So in all the truths of God, when we cannot comprehend them,
let us with silence reverence them, and say; with him, 'Oh the depth!'
Divine things are mysteries ; the sacraments are mysteries. Let us carry
ourselves towards them with reverence. What is the reason that there is
one word in the Greek (b) and in other languages to signify both common
and profane ? Because those that come with common affections and
common carriage to holy things, they profane them ; because as the things
are great, so they require a suitable carriage, not a common carriage. We
profane the sacrament if we take the bread and wine as a common feast,;
as St Paul saith, ' You discern not the Lord's body,' 1 Cor. xi. 29. We
profane mysteries when we discern not. Beasts and beast-like men discern
not the relation of things ; that these outward elements have reference to
great matters, to the body and blood of Christ. They do not discern them
from common bread and wine, though they be used to raise up our souls
io the bread of life.
So likewise when we come to the word of God, and ' look not to our
feet,' Eccles. v. 1, but come to the church as if we went to a play or some
common place, without prayer, without preparation ; when we come with
common affections, this is to come profanely. Here we come to mysteries,
to high things, to great matters. Therefore when we come to converse
with God we must not come with common affections ; we must carry our-
selves hohly, in holy business, or else we offer to God * strange tire,' Num.
xxvi. 6L ' God was in this place,' saith Jacob, ' and I was not aware of
it,' Gen. xxviii. 17. So when we come to hear the word, when we go to
pray, when we receive the sacrament, God is here, and mysteries are here,
and we are not aware of it. It is a shame for us not to labour to bring
suitable dispositions. It is a matter of that consequent, hfe or death
depends upon it. You know what St Paul saith, 1 Cor. xi. 30, ' For this
very cause some are sick, and some weak, and some sleep,' some die.
Why ? For coming with common affection, for ' not discerning the Lord's
body,' for not examining ourselves, for not having answerable dispositions
to the greatness of the mysteries we go about. Let us not think it enough
to come to the sacrament, and then let the reins loose to all kind of vanity.
The very heathens would be ashamed of that. It is the bane and blemish
of religion, and such a thing for which we may fear that God will give
whole Christendom a purge, I mean, for our excess.
There is a lawful use of feasting* and comely recreations ; but to come
with unjustifiable vanities, that are not fit at any time, when we should
honour God for the greatest gift that ever was, for the incarnation of his
Son ; to be more profanely disposed then, and to give ourselves to more
* In margin here, ' Application to the Feast of Christ's Nativity.'— G.
VOL. V. G g
4G6
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
loose courses than at other times, how can it but provoke the justice of God,
especially it being common ? Amongst other things we may justly look
for the vengeance of God for this, not only upon this or that place, for it
is the fault of Christendom. Shall we carry ourselves thus profanely at
these times, when we should walk in a holy disposition ? Is this the way
to he thankful to God ? Let us labour to entertain and embrace these
mysteries of the gospel as we should, with a suitable carriage to them ; for
the gospel will no longer tarry than it hath suitable love and affections to
the greatness of the thing. The gospel may leave us, we know not how
soon, and go to people that are as barbarous as we were before the gospel
came to us. The Romans thought they had victor}^ tied to them, but we
have not these mysteries of the gospel tied to us. If we labour not for an
answerable carriage, as God hath removed the gospel from the Eastern
churches of Asia, that are under the tyranny of the Turks now, so he may,
and we know not how soon, take away these blessed and glorious mysteries.
Let us reverence these mysteries and bless God for them, and labour to
express our thankfulness in our lives and conversations, that God may
delight to continue with us, and continue his blessed truth among us. Do
but conceive in your own selves what equity is it^ that truths should be
obtruded to men that care not for them ; that live under the mysteries
of the gospel with as much liberty to the flesh as if they had never heard
of it ; that their lives are not better than pagans, perhaps worse. When
these things grow general, will God continue these mysteries to us, when
there is such a disproportion of affection and carriage ? Judge of these
things. God should deal justly with us if he should leave us to the dark-
ness of Gentilism, and popery, and confusion, and carry the gospel further
west still, to a people that never heai'd of it, where it should have better
entertainment than it hath had of us. I beseech you, let us labour to carry
ourselves answerable to this blessed and great mysterj^, if we would have
it continued longer among us.
Use 3. Again, Are these things mysteries, great mysteries ? Let us hJcss
God, that hath revealed them to us, for the glorious gospel. Oh, how doth
St Paul, in every epistle, stir up people to be thankful for revealing these
mysteries ? What cause have the Gentiles, that were ' in the shadow of
death' before, to be thankful to God ? What kind of nation were we in
Julius Caesar's time ? As barbarous as the West Indians. The cannibals
were as good as we (c). We that were so before, not only to be civilized by
the gospel, but to have the means of salvation discovered, what cause have
we to be enlarged to thankfulness ? And shall we shew our thankfulness
in provoking his majesty ? There is nothing in the world that is a ground
of that thankfulness, as the glorious gospel, that brings such glorious things
as it doth. Men are thankful to men for teaching and discovering the
mysteries of their trades, and shall God discover the great mysteries of the
gospel of Christ, and shall not we be thankful ? Are there not thousands
that ' sit in darkness ?' Is. xlii. 7. The Romish Church, is it not under
the ' mystery of iniquity ?' 2 Thes. ii. 7. And that we should have the
glorious mysteries of the gospel revealed to us ; that the veil should be
taken off, and we should see ' the face of God in Christ,' 2 Cor. iv. 6 ; what
a matter of thankfulness is it to all gracious hearts that ever felt comfort
by it!
Use 4. Again, It is a mystery. Therefore it should teach us likewise fiot
to set upon the knouiedge of it with any wits or parts of our own, to think to
search into it merely by strength of wit and study of books, and all human
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 467
helps that can be. It is a mystery, and it must be unveiled by God him-
self, by his Spirit. If we set upon this mystery only with wits and parts
of our own, then what our wits cannot pierce into, we will judge it not to be
true, as if our wits were the measure of divine truth ; so much as wo con-
ceive is true, and so much as we cannot conceive is not true. What a
pride is this in flesh, in worms of the earth, that will make their own
apprehensions and conceits of things the measure of divine truth, as
heretics heretofore have done ? It was the fault of the schoolmen in later
times. They would come with their logic only and strong wits, and such
learning as those dark times afforded, to speak of grace, of the gospel, of
justification. They spake of it, and distinguished in a mere metaphysical
and carnal manner. Therefore they brought only human learning. They
were furnished with Plato and other natural learning, and with these they
thought to break through all the mysteries in religion. We must not
struggle with the difiiculties of religion with natural parts.
It is a mystery. Now therefore it must have a double veil took off : a
veil from the thing, and the veil from our eyes. It is a mystery in regard
of the things themselves, and in regard of us. It is not sufficient that the
things be lightsome that are now revealed by the gospel, but there must
be that taken from our hearts that hinders our sight. The sun is a most
glorious creature, the most visible object of the world. What is that to a
blind man that hath scales on his eyes ? So divine truth is glorious. It
is light in itself, but there are scales on the eyes of the soiil. There is a
film that must be taken off, there is a veil over the heart, as St Paul saith
of the Jews ; therefore they could not see the scope of Moses directing all
to Christ. Naturally there is a veil over men's hearts, and that is the reason,
that though they have never so many parts, and the things be light in them-
selves, yet they cannot see. Therefore I say the veil must be taken both
from the things and from our hearts ; that light being shed into lightsome
hearts, both may close together.
Use 5. Again, Being a mystery, it cannot be raised out of the lyrinciples of
nature, it cannot be raised from, reasons.
Quest. But hath reason no use, then, in the gospel ?
Ans. Yes. Sanctified reason hath, to draw sanctified conclusions from
sanctified principles. Thus far reason is of use in these mysteries, to shew
that they are not opposite to reason. They are above reason, but they are
not contrary to it, even as the light of the sun it is above the light of a candle,
but it is not contrary to it. The same thing may be both the object of
faith and of reason. The immortality of the soul, it is a matter of
faith, and it is well proved by the heathen by the light of reason. And it
is a delightful thing to the soul in things that reason can conceive of to
have a double light, for the more light the more comfort ; to have both the
light of nature, and the light of grace and of God's Spirit.
That which reason should do here is to stoop to faith in things that are
altogether above reason, as to conceive Christ in the womb of a virgin, the
joining of two natures in one, the trinity of persons in one divine nature,
and such like. Here it is the greatest reason to yield reason to faith.
Faith is the reason of reasons in these things, and the greatest reason is
to yield to God that hath revealed them. Is not here the greatest reason
in the world, to believe him that is truth itself? He hath said it, there-
fore reason itself saith, it is the greatest reason to yield to God, who is
truth itself. Therefore faith stands with the greatest reason that can be.
For things have a greater being in God's word than in themselves, and
468 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
faith is above reason. Therefore it is the reason of reasons to believe
when we have things revealed in the word. That is one use of reason in
mysteries, to stop the mouths of gainsayers by reason, to shew that it is no
unreasonable thing to believe.
Use 6. Again, Seeing it is a mystery, let no man despair. It is not the
pregnancy of the scholar here that carries it away. It is the excellency of
the teacher. If God's Spirit be the teacher, it is no matter how dull the
scholar is. It is a mystery. Pride in great parts is a greater hindrance
than simplicity in meaner parts. Therefore Christ, in Mat. xi. 25, he
glorifies God that he had revealed ' these things to the simple,' and con-
cealed them from the proud. Let no man despair, for the statutes of God
' give understanding to the simple,' Ps. xix. 7, as the psalmist saith. God
is such an excellent mighty teacher, that where he finds no wit he can cause
wit.* He hath a privilege above other teachers. He doth not only teach
the thing, but he gives wit and understanding. It is a mystery. There-
fore as none should be so proud as to think to break thorough it with wit
and parts, so let none despair, considering that God can raise shallow and
weak wits to apprehend this great mystery.
Use 7. It is a mystery, therefore take heed of slighting of divine truths.
The empty shallow heads of the world make great matters of trifles, and
stand amazed at baubles and vanities, and think it a grace to slight divine
things. This great mystery of godliness they despise. That which the
angels themselves stand in wonderment at and are students in, that the wits
of the world they slight and despise, or dally withal, as if it were a matter
not worth reckoning. But I leave such to reformation, or to God's just
judgment, that hath given them up to such extremity of madness and folly.
Let us labour to set a high price on the mysteries of godliness.
Quest. How shall we come to know this mystery as we should, and to
carry ourselves answerable ?
Ans. We must desire God to open our eyes, that as the light hath shined,
as the apostle saith, Titus ii. 11, ' the grace of God hath shined ;' as there
is a lightsomeness in the mysteries, so there may be in our eye. There is
a double light required to all things in nature, — the lightsomeness in the
medium, and in the sight ; so here, though the mysteries be now revealed
by preaching and books and other helps, yet to see this mystery and make
a right use of it, there is required a spiritual light to join with this outward
light. And hence comes a necessity of depending upon God's Spirit in con-
versing in this mystery. There must be an using of all helps and means,
or else we tempt God. We must read and hear, and, above all, we must
pray, as you see David in Ps. cxix. 18, * Open mine eyes, Lord, that I
may see wonders in thy law.' There are wonders in thy law, but my eyes
must be opened to see them. He had sight before, but he desires still
a further and clearer sight ; and as the poor man in the gospel that cried
after Christ, when he was asked, * What wouldst thou have ? Lord, that
mine eyes might be opened,' Mat. xx. 33, so should every one of us, — con-
sidering it is such a ravishing mystery, — cry after God and Christ, ' Lord,
that my eyes might be opened, that I may see wonders in thy law ;' that I
may see the wonders in thy gospel, ' the unsearchable riches of Christ,'
Eph. iii. 8. Therefore it is that St Paul, in Eph. i. 17 and Eph. iii. 3, he
prays for * the Spirit of revelation,' that God would vouchsafe that Spirit
to take away the veil of ignorance and unbelief from our souls that we may
see ; and as it is Eph. iii. 18, ' that we may comprehend the height, and
* That is, ' wisdom.' — G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 469
breadth, and length, and depth,' and all the dimensions of God's love
in Christ. This must be done by the Spirit of God, for as St Paul divinely
reasons in 1 Cor. ii. 11, * Who knows the things of God, but the Spirit of
God ?' Therefore we must plough with God's heifer. If we would know
the things of the Spirit, we must have the same Spirit.
Now the Spirit doth not only teach the truths of the gospel, but the
application of those truths, that they are ours. This truth of the gospel is
mine, the sacrament seals it to me. The preaching of the word takes away
the veil from the things, and the Spirit takes away the veil from our souls.
It is the office of the Spirit to take the veil ofi' the heart, and to lighten our
understandings ; and likewise to be a Spirit of application to us in parti-
cular. It is to no purpose to know that these things are mysteries, unless
they be for us and for our good, that we know Christ is ours, and that
God is reconciled to us. Therefore, saith the apostle, ' he hath given us
the Spirit, to know the things that are given us of God ' in particular,
Rom. V. 5. So the Spirit doth not only bring a blessed light to the Scrip-
tures and shew us the meaning in general, but it is a Spirit of application,
to bring home those gracious promises to every one in particular, to tell
us the things that are given us of God ; not only the things that are given
to the church, but to us in particular. For the Spirit of God will tell us
what is in the breast of God, his secret good-will to the church ; he loves
the church and he loves thee, saith the Spirit : therefore he is called an
'earnest' and a 'seal' in our hearts, because he discovers not only the
truth at large, but he discovers the truth of God's aflection in all the pri-
vileges of the gospel, — that they belong to us. What a blessed discovery
is this, that not only reveals divine truths to us, but reveals them so to us,
that we have our share and interest in them !
1. Therefore, whensoever we take the Book of God into our hands, when
we come to hear the word, befi of God the Spirit : ' My house,' saith God,
' shall be called the house of prayer,' Isa. Ivi. 7; not only the house of
hearing of divine truths, but the house of prayer. In the use of means,
we must look up to God and Christ. It is impudency and presumption to
come to these things without lifting up our souls to God. Therefore there
is so little profit under these glorious mj-steries, because there is so little
prayer and lifting up the heart to God. We should go to Christ, that
' opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens,' Rev. iii. 7.
He hath the key of David. Go to him, therefore, that he would both open
the mysteries and open our hearts, that they may close with them.
In Rev. V. 4, St John wept when the book with ' seven seals ' could not
be opened. He wept that the prophecy was so obscure, that it could not
be understood ; but then Chi'ist takes the book and opens it. So when we
cannot understand divine mysteries, let us groan and sigh to Christ. He
can open the book with seven seals, and he lays open all the mysteries as
far forth as it concerns us to know. God's children grieve when things are
not discovered to them.
There is a contraiy disposition in God's people to carnal papists. They
vex, that mysteries should be discovered. God's people grieve that they
are not discovered enough. They make a perverse use of this. Divine
truths are mysteries; therefore they may not be pubhshed to people.
Nay, divine truths are mysteries ; therefore they must be unfolded. Hence
comes the necessity of the ministry ; for if the gospel be a mystery, that
is, a hidden kind of knowledge, then there must be some to reveal it. God
hath therefore stablished an office in the church, with which he joins his
470 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
own sacred Spirit, that both ordinance and Spirit joining together, the veil
may be taken off: ' How can they understand without a teacher?' Rom.
X. 14. And ' to us is committed the dispensation to preach the unsearch-
able riches of Christ,' saith St Paul, Eph. iii. 6-8. Therefore there is
this ordinance to unfold these depths as much as may serve for us. Pro-
fane people, they think they know enough, they need not be taught ; as if
this were a shallow mystery, or none at all. It argues a profane and
naughty heart, not to attend upon all sanctified means ; all is little enough.
And sometimes God will not grant his Spirit in one means, because he
will make us go to another, and from that to another, and run thorough all.
He denies his Spirit of purpose in hearing, because he will have us to read ;
and denies it in that, because he will have us confer and practise the com-
munion of saints; and all little enough to apprehend this glorious, excel-
lent mystery. A man may know a profane heart, therefore, by despising
the improvement of any means of knowledge. It is a mystery. Therefore
God's people desire to have it taught.
2. Again, If we would understand these mysteries. Jet us labour for Jumihio
spirits ; for the Spirit works that disposition in the first place : ' The humble,
God will teach,' Ps. xxv. 9; the humble, that will depend upon his teaching.
Now this kind of humility here required, it is a denial of our own wits,*
though they be never so capacious for the things of the world. We must
be content ' to become fools, that we may be wise,' 1 Cor. iv. 10. We
must deny our own understandings, and be content to have no more under-
standing in divine things than we can carry out of God's book, than we
can be taught by God's word and ordinances. This humility we must
bring if we will understand this mystery.
3. And bring withal a serious desire to know, 7cith a imrpose to he moulded
to uhat we know ; to he delivered to the obedience of icJiat we know ; for then
God will discover it to us. Wisdom is easy to him that will. Together
with prayer and humility, let us but bring a purpose and desire to be
taught, and we shall find divine wisdom easy to him that will. None ever
miscarry in the church but those that have false hearts. They have not
humble and sincere hearts, willing to be taught. For if they have that,
then God, that hath given this sincerity and will, this resolution, that they
will use the means and they will be taught, he will suit it with teachers.
God usually suits men with teachers fit for their dispositions. Let a man
have a naughty f heart, and he shall find flatterers to build him up in all
violent and naughty courses. God in judgment will give him teachers that
shall suit his disposition. But if he be a child of God, and have a sincere
heart to know the truth, he shall meet with some that shall be as sincere
again to tell him the truth. Therefore we should less pity men when we
see them run into errors. God sees that they have naughty dispositions ;
indeed, if they be silly fools, God will have mercy on them, if they be sin-
cere, though they be in error; but if we see men that may know the truth,
and yet run into errors, know that such a man hath a poisonous heart, a
malicious bent of heart against the truth, or else God would not give him
up to such and such things as he is carried with. There is much in that
man's disposition that is carried away with false teachers ; I mean, where
light is discovered. But where God gives a willing mind, there he opens
his meaning. Wisdom is easy to him that will understand.
4. And take heed of pyassion and prejudice, of carnal affections that stir up
passion ; for they will make the soul that it cannot see mysteries that are
* That is, ' understaudiny.'— G. t That is, ' wicked.' — G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 471
plain in themselves. As we are strong in any passion, so we judge ; and
the heart, when it is given up to passion, it transforms the truth to its own
self, as it were. Even as where there is a suflusion of the eye, as in the
jaundice, or the like, it apprehends colours like itself; so when the taste is
vitiated, it tastes things, not as they are in themselves, but as itself is. So
the corrupt heart transforms this sacred mystery to its own self, and oft-
times forceth Scripture to defend its own sin, and the corrupt state it is in.
It will believe what it list. What it loves, it will force itself to believe, —
although it be contrary to divine mysteries, — when the heart is deeply
engaged in any passion or affection. Let us labour therefore to come with
purged hearts (it is the exhortation of the apostles James and Peter*) to
receive these mysteries : they will lodge only in clean hearts. Let us
labour to see God and Christ with a clear eye, free from passion, and
covetousness, and vainglory. We see a notable example of this in the
scribes. When they were not led with passion, and covetousness, and
envy against Christ, how right they could judge of the gospel, and the
unfolding of the prophecies to the wise men. They could tell aright that
he should be born in'Bethlehem. But when Christ came among them, and
opposed their lazy, proud kind of life, that kept people in awe with their
ceremonies, &c., then they sinned against the Holy Ghost, and against
their own light, and malicedf Christ, and brought him to his end. So it
is with men. When their minds be clear, before they be overcast with
passion, and strong affections to the world, they judge clearly of divine
things ; but when those passions prevail with them, they are opposite to
that truth that before they saw, in God's just judgment, such is the anti-
pathy and emulation of the heart against this sacred mystery. The heart
of itself is an unfit vessel for these holy mysteries ; let us desire God to
purge and to cleanse them. It is said of the Pharisees in the gospel, that
when Christ spake great matters they scoffed at him. But what saith the
text ? Luke xvi. 14, ' They were covetous.' Let a covetous proud man
come to hear the word : he cares not to hear these mysteries. His heart is
80 engaged to the world, he scorns and laughs at all. And men are un-
settled. Sometimes they will grant truths, sometimes they will not, as
their passions lead them. As we see in them towards St Paul, Acts xxii. 11,
before he discovered himself to be a Pharisee, ' This man is not worthy to
live.' But when he discovered himself on their side, ' I am a Pharisee,
and the son of a Pharisee,' Acts xxiii. 6. Oh how finely do they mince
the matter ! ' Perhaps an angel hath revealed it to him,' &c., ver. 9. He
was an honest man then. So men either judge or not judge, as their,
passions and affections carry them. Therefore it is of great consequence
to come with clean hearts and minds to the mysteries of God.
There is besides this mystery, a mystery of iniquity, that St Paul speaks
of, 2 Thes. ii. 7. There is the mystery of antichrist, as well as the
mystery of Christ.
Quest. And why is that called a mystery ?
Ans. Because there is mischief, and error, and wickedness conveyed
under seeming truth, and goodness, and virtue ; even as in this, grace and
goodness is conveyed to the world under a show of baseness and mean-
ness. Therefore in Rev. xvii. 5, it is said, the beast hath ' mystery' in her
forehead. Indeed, there is the ' mystery of iniquity' in popery. It was
literally performed in Julius the Second ; for in his papal crown there was
written ' Mijsterium,' &c., till at last it was blotted out, and instead thereof
* Of. 2 Peter iii. 1, and James iii. 17. — G. t That is, =^ ' maligned.' — G.
472 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
was wi'itten, * JuUm secundus papa' [d). They began to smell it might he
found out. This is recorded by those that saw it. It is a mystery indeed,
but a ' mystery of iniquity.' But more particularly ; —
Qu€st. How a mj'stery of iniquity ?
Ans. Because, under the name of Christ and of Christian religion, he is
antichrist, opposite to Christ. He is both opposite — the word signifieth
antichrist- — and emnhis, one that would be like Christ, a vice- Christ. He
is such an opposite as yet he would be his vicar. Under colour of religion
he overthrows all religion ; and while he would be head of the catholic
church, he is head of the catholic apostasy.
These God will have in the church together — the mystery of godliness
and ungodliness, of Christ and antichrist. Why ? That the one may be
a foil to the other. And how shall men magnify, and relish, and highly
esteem this mystery I speak of, except they look by way of opposition to
the mystery of antichrist, and see how contrary those courses are ? Alas !
the reason why they so oppose as they do the gospel, and the purity of it, is,
because they are contrary mysteries. That must be maintained by ignor-
ance. The gospel, that is a mystery, that must be revealed ; and God
hath ordained that it should be revealed more and more. Therefore those
that would second popery, that are friends of that, they are enemies to the
gospel, and to the publishers of it ; they cannot carry their conveyance
handsomely.* All popish spirits are enemies to the mystery of godliness,
because where this is, it blows upon the ' mystery of iniquity;' as indeed
the overthrowing of error is the discovering of it ; for none would willingly
be cozened. Popery must be discovered with the breath of Christ ; that
is, with a mystery which is too sharp a breath for his mystery to feel.
Therefore blame them not, that they are so bitter opposites to the publish-
ing of divine truths ; the one mystery consumes the other. As Moses'
rod devoured all the other rods, so truth eats up all opposite errors what-
soever. See but in experience. Wheresoever truth is planted — the gospel
and ordinances, and religion of God — how Satan ' falls down like lightning,'
and antichrist falls, Luke x. 18. But this by the way, to give a lustre to
the other. There are many other mysteries besides the mystery of iniquity
in popery. Every trade hath its mystery ; and there are mysteries and
secrets of state. But this is the mystery of all mysteries, that we should
give ourselves most of all to understand. Therefore it is said to be a
' Great mystery.'
1. That is the adjunct. It is a ' great mystery.' And here I might be
endless ; for it is not only great as a mystery — that is, there is much of it
concealed — but it is a great and excellent mystery, if we regard whence it
came, from the bosom of God, from the wisdom of God. If we regard all
that had any hand in it — God the Father, Son, 'and Holy Ghost, the
angels attending upon the church ; the apostles, the penmen ; preachers
and ministers, the publishers of it — it is a 'great mystery.'
2. If we regard the end of it, to bring together God and man — man that
was fallen, to bring him back again to God, to bring him from the depth
of misery to the height of all happiness ; a ' great mystery ' in this
respect.
3. Again, It is ' great,' /or if/ie manifold wisdom that God discovered in
the pahlishi)iri of it, hij certain decrees : first, in types, then after he came
to truths ; first, in promises, and then performances. First, the Jews were
the church of God ; and then comes in the Gentiles : a sweet, manifold,
* That is, = becomingly, suitably. — G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 473
and deep wisdom. It was a great mystery in the manner of conveying of
it from time to time, from the beginning of the world.
4. Again, It is a great mystery, for that it ivorks. For it is such a
mystery as is not only a discovery of secrets, but it transforms those that
know it and believe it. We are transformed by it to the likeness of Christ,
of whom it is a mystci-y ; to be as he is, full of grace. It hath a transforming,
changing power. It gives spiritual sight to tiie blind, and spiritual ears to
the deaf, and spiritual life to the dead. Whatsoever Christ did in the days
of his flesh to the outward man, that he doth by his Spirit to the inward
man, even by the pubhcation of this mystery ; wonders are wrought by it
daily.
5. If we consider any part of it : Christ, or his church, or anything, it
is a mystery, and a ' great mystery.' It must needs be great, that the very
angels desire to pry into, 1 Pet. i. 12.
6. If we regard those that could not j^ry into it ; as it is 1 Cor. li. 6, 8,
that the wise men of the world understood nothing of it : ' Where is the
philosopher ? ' &c. There are no parts in the world that could ever enter
into this. It is above the sharpest wit, the deepest judgment, the reach-
ingest head. They are all nothing here. It is a ' great mystery.' It is a
depth above all depths of natm-al parts whatsoever. It is a wondrous
depth. It hath all dimensions, ' the depth and height of the love of God
in Christ,' and the ' unsearchable riches of Christ,' saith the apostle Paul.*
7. Again, it is a great mystery, because it makes its great. It makes
times great, and the persons great that live in those times. ^Vhat made
John Baptist greater than all the prophets and others in those times ?
Because he saw Christ come in the flesh. What made those after John
Baptist greater than he ? They saw Christ ascend gloriously ; that John
Baptist did not. So persons and times are more or less glorious, as they
have greater or less manifestation of this mystery. Great is that mysteiy
itself that makes all things great ; that makes times and persons great.
What made the times of Christ so great ? ' Happy are the eyes that see
that that your eyes see, and the ears that hear that that your ears hear,'
Mat. siii. 16. Why? Because the Messiah was come. W^hat made the
second temple greater than the first ? The first, which was Solomon's
temple, was more magnificent than the other. Oh it was because Christ
came in the time of the second temple and taught there. So it is the
manifestation of Christ's truth that makes times and places glorious. Will
he not make the soul glorious then where he is ? Certainly he doth.
What makes these times glorious ? But that we have unthankful, dark
hearts, or else we would acknowledge they are blessed times that all of us
have lived in under the gospel. "What makes them so glorious ? The
glorious gospel that shines in these times out of Egyptian darkness of
popery. Little thankful are we for it, and that threateneth a removal of
the gospel ; for, being great things, and disesteemed, and undervalued —
men living under the gospel as bad as under paganism — will God continue
these great things among us, to be thus vilified and disesteemed ?
Let us take heed therefore that we set a higher price on religion. It is a
mystery, and a great mystery ; therefore it must have great esteem. It
brings great comfort and great privileges. It is the ' word of the kingdom.'
It is a ' glorious gospel ;' not only because it promiseth glory, but it makes
the soul glorious, more excellent than other persons. Let us raise a greater
esteem in om- hearts of this excellent truth. It is a ' great mystery.'
* Cf. Eph. iii. 18, and iii. 8.--G.
474 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
8. Again, It is a great mystery, ("/' compared to all other mysteries.
Creation was a gi-eat mystery, for all things to be made out of nothing,
order out of confusion ; for God to make man a glorious creature of the
dust of the earth, it was a great matter. But what is this in comparison
for God to be made man ? It was a great and wondrous thing for Israel
to be delivered out of Egypt and Babylon; but what are those to the
deliverance out of hell and damnation by the gospel ? What are the mys-
teries of nature, the miracles of nature, the loadstone, &c., to these super-
natural mysteries ? There are mysteries in the providence of God, in
governing the world, mysteries of Satan, mysteries of iniquity, that deceive
the world. ' The wise men of the world all wonder at the beast,' Kev.
xiii. 3, a great mystery. But what are all mysteries, either of nature or
hell, to this ' great mystery ' ? I might be endless in the point.
Use 1. First of all, learn hence from blessed St Paul how to he affected
tvhen ice speak and think of the glorious truth of God ; that we should work
upon our hearts, to have large thoughts and large expressions of it. St
Paul thought it not sufficient to call it a mystery, but a great mystery. He
doth not only call it ' riches,' but unsearchable riches.' So when he speaks
of the fruits of the gospel, what strange words the Scripture hath : ' Peace
of conscience that passeth understanding,' Philip, iv. 7; and, 'joy unspeak-
able and glorious,' 1 Peter i. 8 ; 'we are brought out of darkness into
marvellous light,' 1 Peter ii. 9 ; as if all things were full of wonder in the
gospel, both the thing and the fruits of it. Surely all that have the same
spirit, and have their eyes open to see in any measure these excellent
mysteries, they are in some measure so disposed as the blessed apostle was ;
that is, they have full hearts, and answerable to that, they have full
expressions. Out of the riches and treasure of the heart the mouth will
speak. Therefore let us be ashamed of the deadness, and duluess, and
narrowness of our hearts, when we are to conceive or speak of these things,
and labour to have full expressions of them.
(1.) And that we may the better do this, let us labour to have as deep
conceits in our understandings as we can of that mystery of sinfulness that is
in us, and that mystery of misery. It is not to be conceived the cursed
state we are in by nature. It is not to be conceived what a depth of cor-
ruption is in this heart of ours, and how it issues out in sinful thoughts,
and speeches, and actions .every day. Indeed, there is a height, and
breadth, and depth of corruption in man's heart ; and there is a height,
and breadth, and depth of the misery of man. For as it is said of this
blessed estate, 'neither eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, nor hath entered
into the heart of man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for
those that love him,' Isa. Ixiv. 4. So indeed, neither eye hath seen, nor
ear hath heard, nor hath entered into the heart of man to conceive the
misery that men ai'e in by nature ; only there are some flashes of con-
science, to give a little taste in this world, of that misery that men in the
state of nature fall into, when they go hence. Therefore the more clear
knowledge we have of the mystery of corruption — how prone our hearts are
to deceive us — and of the great misery we are in by nature, the more we
shall wonder at the boundless and bottomless goodness of God in the
mystery of our salvation. The one will sharpen the appetite of the other.
And, indeed, we ought to have views of these two every day, to look to the
state we are brought out of if we believe. If we be not yet in the state of
grace, consider but what we are, how little there is between us and eternal
destruction, that we are ready to drop into hell irrecoverably ; and withal,
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 475
consider again the infinite love of God in Jesus. These be things fit to
take up our thoughts.
(2.) Again, If we would have large and sensible thoughts and apprehen-
sions of these things, such as the blessed apostle, let us set some time apart
to meditate of these tkiiujs, till the heart he irarmed ; let us labour to fasten
our thoughts, as much as we can, on them every day ; to consider the
excellency of this mystery of religion in itself, and the fruit of it in this
world and in the world to come. It is a good employment ; for from
thence we shall wonder at nothing in the world besides. What is the
reason that men ai'e taken up with admiration of petty mysteries, of poor
things ? Because their thoughts were never raised up to higher considera-
tions. A wise man will wonder at nothing, because he knows greater things
than those objects presented to him, he hath seen greater measures than
those ; so it is with a wise Christian. Do you think he will stand wonder-
ing at great and rich men, at great places and honours, and such things ?
Indeed, he knows how to give that respect that is due. Alas ! * he hath
had greater matters in the eye of his soul, and hath what is great in this
world to him, to whom the world itself is not great. What is great in this
world to him to whom Christ is great ; to whom heaven and the mysteries
of religion are great ? All things else are little to him to whom these
things are great. Christ took up his disciples, when they said, ' 0,
Master, what kind of stones are here ? ' Here are ' goodly stones and
buildings ' indeed. ' Oh,' saith Christ, ' are these the things you wonder
at? I tell you, that not one stone shall be left upon another,' Mat.
xxiv. 2. So it is the nature of shallow men to wonder at the things
of this world, to be taken with empty vain things. Ai'e these the things
we wonder at ? If we would wonder, let us come to religion. There we
have him ' whose name is Wonderful,' Isa. ix. 6. Christ's name is Won-
derful, because all is wonderful in Christ. He is wonderful in his person,
in his ofiices, in the managing of them ; to bring us to life by death, to
glory by shame. He is wonderful in his government of his church, to
govern by afflictions, by conforming us to himself, to bring us to glory ;
to perfect his work in abasement ; to bring it low that he may raise it
after. There are wonders every way in Christ, not only in himself, but in
all his courses. There is ' peace that passeth understanding,' joy unspeak-
able and glorious. Keligion will teach us what to admiref at. _We see
those that are under antichrist, under the mystery of miquity, it is said,
Rev. xvii. 8, ' They wonder at the beast.' Oh what a goodly order they
have among them, one under another ! What a wise fabric it is ! What
a linking together of things ! All is wonderful. Indeed, it is fit for them
to wonder at, that have not seen these wondrous mysteries of the gospel ;
but those that have spiritual eye-salve to enlighten the eye of their souls,
to see these blessed mysteries how great they are, they will be far from
wondering at any earthly thing, much less at the mystery of antichrist.
It is a ' great mystery,' therefore.
Use 2. Let us bring great endeavours to learn it, and great respect
towards it, and great love to God for it. Let every thing in us be answer-
able to this ' great mystery,' which is a ' great mystery.'
' Without controversy.'
? It is so under the broad seal of public confession, as the word 6,ao}.oyou-
fihui in the general signifies ; by the confession of all, it is ' great.' It is
* Another example of Sibbes's peculiar use of ' Alas ! '— G.
I That is, ' wouder at.' — G.
47G
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
a confessed truth, tliat the 'mystery of godliness is great.' As if the
apostle had said, I need not give you greater confirmation ; it is, without
question or controversy, a great mystery.
Obj. What is more opposed than the mystery of godhness?
Aits. We must therefore take St Paul's meaning in a right sense. It is
therefore ' a great mystery,' because it is controverted by so many great
wits.* Were it altogether obvious and open, they would never controvert
it. Upon these two reasons it is without controversy.
(1.) First, In itself, it is not to be doubted of. It is a great grounded
truth, as lightsome and clear as if the gospel were written with a sunbeam,
as one saith (e). There is nothing clearer and more out of controversy
than sacred evangelical truths.
(2.) And as they are clear and lightsome in themselves, so they are
apprehended of all God's i^eople. However it bo controverted by others, yet
they are not considerable. All that are the children of the church, that
have their eyes open, they confess it to be so, and wonder at it as a ' great
mystery.' They without all doubt and controversy embrace it. Things
are not so clear in the gospel that all that are sinful and rebellious may
see whether they will or no. For then it were no great matter to have
faith ; it were no great matter to be a Christian ; and then men could not
be rebellious, because things would be so clear. Things are not so clear
in the gospel that they take away all rebellion ; and that it is not a grace
to see that they are clear ; to those that are disposed and have sanctified
souls, they are ' without controversy ; ' and things are said to be in Scrip-
ture as they are to those that are holily disposed. The immortality of the
soul, it is clear by reason from nature, yet notwithstanding, ill-disposed
souls will not be convinced of the soul's immortality, but live and die
like atheists in that particular. The reason is clear ; but it is not clear to
a lumpish, ill-disposed, perverse soul. Therefore God doth carry the
manifestation of evangelical truths especially, that they may be clear to
those whose eyes are open, and not to others : not because they are not
clear to them if their eyes were open, but because they oppose them,
and raise up rebellion and stubbornness of heart against them. It is an
undeniable argument to prove the Scripture to be the word of God, to a
well-disposed soul, but come to another, and he will never leave cavilling.
Yet a man may say, ' without controversy,' it is the word of God, because
it is so to a sanctified soul. Other persons are not considerable in divine
things. Therefore the apostle speaks of them, as they are to God's people,
' without controversy.' Hence then, we may know who is a true Christian ;
he that brings a firm assent to evangelical truths, that they are ' great
without controversy.'
Quest. But is there no staggering, is there v.o formido contmrii ? \ Is
there no fear that it may be otherwise ?
Ans. Yes. But in faith, as far as it is faith, there is no doubting, no
contrariety ; for staggering and wavering is contrary to the nature of faith
and believing. But because there are two contrary principles always in a
believer, therefore there is doubting in a believer, and wavering. There-
fore we are exhorted to grow more and more ; and the end of the ministry
is not only to lay the foundation of a believer at the first, but to build them
up, that they be not carried away with every vain doctrine. It is a truth,
confessed to be true ; for divine truths are conveyed in an history, in the
* That is, ' wise men,' i.e., in self-estimate. — G.
t That is, ' no fear of the contrary.' — G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 477
history of the gospel ; and what ground have we to call them in question,
more than the story of Thucydides, or the story of Livy, or such like ? We
take them, because they are the histories of such times. So the mystery
of the gospel is ' without controversy,' because it is a mystery in a history.
In this respect a man is more unreasonable that denies it, than he that
denies Livy's book to be Livy's, or Tacitus to be Tacitus. No man calls
these into question. Why should we question this that is the ' mystery of
godliness,' set down in the history of Christ, of his birth, his life, and
death ? &c. But not to press that further.
Use 1. I will only make that use of it that a great scholar in his time
once did upon the point, a noble earl of Mirandula (f). If there be no
calling these things into question, if they have been confirmed by so many
miracles, as they have been in a strict sense, why then. How is it that men
live as if they viade no question of the falsehood of them ? What kind of men
are those that live as if it were ' without controversy,' that Christian truths
had no truth at all in them ? Men live so carelessly and profanely, and
slight and scorn these great mysteries, as if they made no question but
they are false (//). The lives of men shew that they believe not this. That
it is out of the question true : to give an instance or two. If a man were
to go through a storm for some great matter, if he did believe he should
have some great preferment, would he not adventure ? Certainly he would.
Those, therefore, that will not venture anything for this excellent treasure,
this unsearchable treasure, for his interest in the gospel, do they believe it ?
He that will not part with a penny for the gaining of a thousand pounds,
doth he believe that he shall have so much ? Certainly he doth not.
There is such a disproportion between that that he parts with, and that
that is promised, that if he did believe it, his heart would yield and assent
to it, he w^ould redeem it with the loss of such a petty thing ; much more
in this case, having such an excellent treasure propounded. Those, there-
fore, that will deny themselves no lust, that will part with nothing for
Christ's sake, do they believe these things that the apostle saith are
' without controversy' ? Certainly they do not ; for there is a less dispro-
portion in the things I named before, than between any earthly thing
and the great good things we have discovered here in the mysteries of
salvation. Therefore, we may see by this, there is Utile faith in the ivorld.
Use 2. Again, in that he saith, ' Without controversy,' or confessedly,
* great is the mystery of godliness :' here we may know then, u-hat truths
are to he entertained as catholic universal truths, those that without question
are received. Then, if the question be, which is the catholic truth —
popery, or our religion — I say, not popery, but our religion. I prove it
from hence. That which ' without controversy,' all churches have held
■from the apostles' time (yea, and the adversaries and opposites of the
church), that is catholic. But it hath been in all times, and in all churches,
even among the adversaries held, the positive points of our religion, that
the Scripture is the word of God ; that it is to be read ; that Chi-ist is the
mediator; that Christ hath reconciled God and man, &c., — all the positive
parts of our religion have been confessed, * without controversy,' ever since
the apostles' times, of all writers ; and are still, even among the papists
themselves, for they hold all the positive points that we do : they hold the
reading of the Scripture, but not in the mother tongue ; they hold that the
Scripture is the word of God, but not alone, but traditions also ; that
Christ is mediator, but not alone. So they add their part, but they hold
the positive parts that we hold. Therefore I ground that from the test :
478 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
that wliicli * witliout controversy' bath been held in all times and ages of
the church, and ' without controversy' held by ourselves and the adver-
saries, it is more catholic and general than those things wherein they dis-
sent from us, that were neither held from the apostles' times (for they were
the inventions of popes, one after another ; their fooleries, wherein they
differ from us, they are late inventions, and we bold them not), they are
less catholic than that that they and we and all Christians hold ever since
the apostles' times. But to come to a use of practice.
Use 3. Therefore when we have the truths of religion discovered to us
by the ministry, or by reading, &c., when they are conveyed to our know-
ledge by any sanctified means, let iis projxmnd these queries to our own souls,
Are these things so or no ? Yes. Do I believe them to be so or no ?
Yes. If I do believe them, then consider what the affection and inward
disposition is ; whether it be suitable to such things, and so work upon our
hearts that our knowledge may be affective knowledge, a knowledge with a
taste, that sinks even to the very affections, that pierceth through the whole
soul ; that the affections may j'ield, as well as the understanding ; and let
us never cease till there be a correspondence between the affection and the
truth. Are they true ? Believe them. Are they good ? Embrace them.
Let us never rest till our hearts embrace them, as our understanding con-
ceives them. And let us think there is a defect in our apprehensions, that
we call them into question, if the affections embrace them not ; for alway,
answerable to the weight and the depth of the apprehension of the truth,
is the affection stirred up, and the will stirred up to embrace it. A man
knows no more in religion than he loves and embraceth with the affections
of his soul.
The affections are planted for this end upon the report of that which is
good to them, to embrace it, to join with it. Therefore let us never think
our state good, till we find our hearts warmed with the goodness of divine
supernatural truths. ' Oh ! how do I love thy law ! ' saith DaAdd, Ps.
cxix. 97. He wonders at his own affections. Let us labour to have great
affections, answerable to the things ; and never leave till we can love them
and joy and delight in them, as the greatest things ; and with blessed St
Paul, account ' all as dung and dross, in comparison of them,' Philip, iii. 8.
That knowledge is only saving knowledge that works the heart to a [love,
to a joy and delight, that works the whole man to practice and obedience ;
that is only spiritual knowledge. All other knowledge serves for nothing
but to minister God matter of justifying our damnation ; that our damna-
tion will be just ; that knowing these things, we do not work our hearts to
love them, but we rest in the naked barren knowledge of them. It is a
pitiful thing, to know things no further and no deeper, than to minister
matter of our just damnation. Now all that have not a transforming know-
ledge, that have not a spiritual knowledge, they are in this state. There-
fore we should labour to see spiritual things, in a spiritual light ; for where
spiritual light is, there is alway spiritual heat ; where spiritual evidence is
in the understanding, there is spiritual embracing in the affections. Evi-
dence brings quickness. Supernatural light and supernatural life, they go
together. Let us labour, therefore, that our apprehension of these great
mysteries may be supernatural and spiritual ; and then as the judgment
apprehends them ' without controversy' to be true, the affections will be
present, to close with them. So much for the preface, ' without contro-
versy, great is the mystery of godliness.' Now we come to the particulars
of this great mystery,
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 479
' God manifested in the flesh.'
This, and the other branches that follow, they are all spoken of Christ.
Indeed, the ' mystery of godliness' is nothing but Christ, and that whicli
Christ did. Christ was ' manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received
up m glory.' So that from the general we may observe this, that
Christ is the scope of the Scripture.
Christ is the pearl of that ring ; Christ is the main, the centre wherein
all those lines end. Take away Christ, what remains ? Therefore in the
whole Scriptures, let us see that we have an eye to Christ ; all is nothing
but Christ. The mystery of religion is Christ ' manifested in the flesh"
justified m the Spirit,' &c., all is but Christ.
And that is the reason the Jews understand not the Scriptures better
because they seek not Christ there. Take away Christ, take away all out
of the Scriptures, they are but empty things. Therefore, when we read
them, think of somewhat that they may lead us to Christ, as all the Scrip-
tures lead, one way or other, to Christ, as I might shew in particular, but
I only name it in general.
He begins here with this, ' God manifested in the flesh ;' not God taken
essentially, but taken personally. God, in the second person, was mani-
fested. All actions are of persons. The second person was incarnate
The three persons are all God ; yet they were not all incarnate, because
it was a personal action of the second person.
Quest. And why in that person ?
Ans. 1. Because he was the image of God. And none but the imacre
of God could restore us to that image. He was the Son of God, and none
but the natural Son could make us sons. He is the ' wisdom' of the Father
to make us wise, and he is the ' first beloved' to make us beloved. Such
reasons are given by the school-men, and not disagreeable to Scripture.
For, indeed, it is appropriate to the second Person, the great work of the
incarnation, ' God in the flesh.' Therefore they usually compare the
incarnation of Christ to a garment made by three virgins, sisters; and one
of them wears it. So all the three persons had a hand in the garment of
Christ's flesh. The Father had a work in it, and the Holy Ghost sanctified
it, yet he only wore it. Therefore the second person is ' God manifest in
the flesh.'
By ' flesh,' here, is meant human nature ; the property of human nature
both body and soul. And by ' flesh' also, is usually understood the infir-
mities and weakness of man, the miserable condition of man. So ' God
manifest in the flesh; that is, in our nature and the properties of it, he put
that on_; and not only so, but our infirmities, and weaknesses, our miseries,
and which is more, he took our flesh when it was tainted with treason'
our base nature after it was fallen, which was a wondrous fruit of love!
As if one should wear a man's colours or livery after he is proclaimed
traitor ; it is a gi-eat grace to such a man. For Christ to wear our garment
when we were proclaimed traitors, after we were fallen, it was a wondrous
dignation.* And he took not only our nature, but our flesh. He was
* God manifest in the flesh; that is, in the infirmities of our nature. He
took our whole nature, a human body and human soul. And he took our
nature upon him when it was at the worst ; not in innocency, but with all
the mfii-mities that are natural infirmities, not personal. Therefore he
came to be so that he might be pitiful.
* That is, ' doing honour.' — G.
480 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
Quest. You will say, How can he be pitiful ? There are many infinnities
that he took not upon him ; he took not upon him all infirmities.
Ans. I answer, by proportion to those that he took, he knew how to be
pitiful to those he took not. He is infinitely wise. He knows how to
make the proportion. It is often set down, in Heb. ii. 18 and Heb. iv. 15,
as one end of his taking our nature upon him, that he might be a pitiful
and merciful redeemer,
Ohj. But some will say, Indeed, he took my nature and the general infir-
mities, as weariness, and hunger, and the like ; but I am sick and troubled
in mind and conscience.
Ans. Though he felt not all particular grievances, yet notwithstanding,
having taken our nature upon him, that he might be pitiful and merciful,
according to the proportion that he felt himself, he knows how to pity us
in our sicknesses, and losses, and crosses, every way. And for the chief,
the trouble of mind, alas ! he knew it in that great desertion, when he
cried out, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ! ' So we may
comfort ourselves that we have a merciful, and pitiful, and gracious Saviour,
' God in the flesh.' He hath taken our flesh upon him for that purpose,
that he might have experimental knowledge of our infirmities and weak-
nesses, and from that he might be the more sweet, and kind, and gentle
to us. He was not sick himself; but by experience of labom-, and thirst,
and the like, he knew what it was to be sick by that he felt. He knew
not what it was to sin and to be troubled for sin, because he felt it not in
himself ; but being our surety for sin, and feeling the wrath of God for it,
he had experience to be compassionate from this. He was weary, to pity
those that are weary ; he was hungry, to pity them that are hungry ; he
was poor, to pity those that are so ; he was misused and reproached, to
pity those that are in the like condition. You can name nothing, but he
can out of his own experience be merciful and pitiful unto.
In that God, the second person, appeared in our nature, in our weak
and tainted disgraced nature after the fall ; from hence comes,
1. First of all, tJie enriching of our nature ivith all graces in Christ, as it
is in Col. ii. 3, ' All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in him,' in
our nature. In Christ there is abundance of riches. Our nature in him
is highly enriched. Hence comes again,
2. Ihe ennobling of our nature. In that God appeared in our nature
it is much ennobled. "When our nature is engrafi'ed into a higher stock, a
mean graff or syens,* into so glorious a stock as Christ, it is a high dignity.
That now our flesh is married to the second person, it is a wondrous
advancement of our nature, even above the angel call, ' He took not the
nature of angels,' Heb. ii. IG. It was a great exaltation to our nature,
that God should take it into the unity of his person, for the human nature
of Christ had no subsistence but m the second person. And this doth not
any way debase the human nature of Christ, that it had no subsistence but
in the Godhead. Peter, and James, and John, &c., had a subsistence of
their own, but Christ had no subsistence but in the second person. And
yet, I say, it did no way demean the human nature of Christ, because it
was advanced to a higher stock, where it hath a glorious subsistence and
being.
3. In the third place, hence comes the enabling of our nature to the ivorh
of salvation that was urought in our nature. It came from hence, * God
was in the flesh.' From whence was the human nature enabled to suffer ?
* That is, ' scion ' = graft. — G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 481
Whence was it upheld in suffering, that it did not sink under the wrath of
God ? ' God was in the flesh.' God upheld our nature. So that both
the riches, and dignity, and the ableness of our nature to be saving and
meritorious, all came from this, that God was in our nature.
4. And hence comes this likewise, that tvhatsocrcr Christ did in our
nature, God did it, for God appeared in our nature. He took not upon him
the person of any man, but the nature. And therefore our flesh and the
second person being but one person, all that was done was done by the
person that was God, though not as God. Therefore when he died, God
died ; when he was crucified, God was crucified. If he had been two
persons, he had died in one person, and the other had not died. Now,
being but one person, though two natures, whatsoever was done in the [one]
nature, the person did it according to the other nature. He could not die
as God. Therefore, because in love he would die, and be a sacrifice, he
would take upon him such a nature wherein he might be a sacrifice. This
is' a great dignity, that our nature is taken into the unity of the person of
the Son of God. Therefore hence it comes, I say, that whatsoever was
done in our nature God did it.
5. Hence comes also the union between Christ and us. Whence is it
that we are ' sons of God ?' Because he was the ' Son of man,' ' God in
our flesh.' There are three unions : the union of natures, God to become
man ; the union of grace, that we are one with Christ ; and the union of
glorj'. The first is for the second, and the second for the third ; God
became man, that man might be one with God ; God was ' manifested in
the flesh,' that we might be united to him ; and being brought again to
God the Father, Ave might come again to a glorious union. By this, that
God was * manifest in the flesh,' it is that he was married first to our
nature, that we by union might be married to him. We had never had
union with God unless God had united our flesh to him, and in that flesh
had satisfied God. All that Christ did, saith Peter, it was to ' bring us
back again to God,' 1 Peter iii. 18.
6. Hence likewise comes the sympathy betiveen Christ and vs ; for Christ
is said to suffer with us. * Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ? ' Acts ix. 4.
He is said to be imprisoned in us ; and we are said to ascend gloriously
with him, because he took upon him our nature. So if he be honoured,
we are honoured ; if we be despised, he is despised. There is a mutual
affection and sympathy between Christ and us.
7. Hence likewise comes the efficacy of what Chnst did, that the dying
of one man should be sufficient for the whole world. It was, that ' God
was in the flesh.'
The apostle may well call this, ' God manifest in the flesh,' a ' mystery,'
and place it in the first rank For God to be included in the womb of a
virgin ; for happiness itself to become a curse ; for him that hath the riches
of all men to become poor for our sake ; for him that ever enjoyed his
Father's presence, to want the beams of it for a time, that he might satisfy
his Father's justice, and undergo his wrath for our sins — here is a matter
of wonderment indeed !
Use 1. And shall ice think that so great a mystery as this teas for small
purpose ? that the great God should take upon him a piece of earth ?
that he should become a poor and weak man ? the immortal God to take
upon him our flesh and to die ? that he whom heaven and earth cannot
comprehend should be enclosed in the womb of a virgin ? for him to be so
abased as there was never any abasement like unto Christ's, because of the
VOL. V. H h
482 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
greatness of lils person ? If angels had done so ; alas ! * tliey were inferior
creatures ; they were servants to God ; but for the Son of God to take our
nature when it was so low, for so excellent a person to be abased so low !
There was none ever sufiered that, that ' God in our flesh ' suffered. For
as communion with his Father was sweeter to him than to all men besides,
so for him to want communion with his Father upon the cross, when he
cried, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' it was the
greatest abasement to him, being the most sensible of it.f Therefore there
was no suffering like that of Christ's. And shall we think so great a matter
was for small purpose, for little sins or for few sins only ? Oh no. It
was to give a foundation to our faith in all extremity of temptations ; to
stay our conscience in the guilt of great and crying sins. Oh despair not,
despair not ! This great mystery the apostle speaks of, for the great God to
become man, it was for great sins ; that where ' sin hath abounded, grace might
Buperabound,' Kom. v. 20. God intended in this to set down the accusing
conscience, to quiet and still it. God is offended, it is true ; but ' God
manifest in the flesh ' hath made reconciliation and satisfaction. He was a
sacrifice for sin, and God will answer God. God the Son will answer the
displeasure of God the Father, because he is appointed to this office by
him. He is ' set forth,' as it is Eom. iii. 25, ' to be the propitiation.'
Therefore in all risings of conscience in the time of trouble, in the hour of
death, let us remember this great mystery, ' God manifest in the flesh.'
God's purpose in this was to triumph, as it were, over all the clamours of
conscience whatsoever, over all things that Satan and the power of hell
can object. Let Satan object what he will, here is a shield put into the
hand of faith to beat back all his fiery darts.
God in the covenant of grace, which is founded in Christ, in God in our
nature, doth intend to be gracious to sinners. It is a greater mystery
than that of the creation. For God there did good to a good man ; he made
Adam good, and continued him good while he stood; but after the fall,
God intended to raise up the doubting, unbelieving soul against the greatest
ills of sin and despair, and against all objections for sin whatsoever ; from
the greatness of sin either natural or actual. It is the glory of God in the
gospel to glorify his mercy and goodness in prevailing and triumphing over
the greatest ills that can be. Now he is good to sinners, and to great
sinners ; so that if there be faith wrought by the Spirit of God, raising up
our souls to lay hold of this ' God manifest in the flesh,' let us not be dis-
couraged with any sin. Our sins are but the sins of men; but 'God
manifest in the flesh ' was made a sacrifice for our sins, and hath given a
price answerable. What temptation will not vanish as a cloud before the
wind when we see God's love in sending his Son, and Christ's love in taking
our nature on him, to reconcile us by the sacrifice of his blood ? There-
fore let us treasure up this comfort. It is a spring of comfort, a well of
consolation, as the Scripture speaks ; therefore let us suck comfort out of
this breast of consolation.
We may turn over things now, in the time of peace, with ease ; but in
time of temptation, when the soul is touched with guilt, and Satan plies us
with temptations, the soul will have no rest but in an infinite ground of
comfort. The soul is prone naturally to misgive, and to forecast the worst,
and to conceive hardly of God in the time of temptation, as an enemy, and
Satan is then busy about nothing so much as that we should have hard
conceits of God, and to make us forget the main end of the great work of
* Cf. page 475, hue 16.— G, t Cf. note u, Vol. III. page 531.— G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 483
our redemption ; -wliicli is, to undermine our unbelief by all means, by-
setting before tbe soul such grounds as the most unbelieving heart in the
world, if it did consider of, would fasten and lay itself upon. Therefore
let us labour to cherish, at such times especially, large thoughts of the
infinite goodness and mercy of God, and of the love of Christ condescending
so low as to be manifest in the flesh for our sakes.
It is a point of wondrous comfort, that now in Christ Jesus, God becom-
ing man, we can in him break through the justice of God. For, as I said,
when conscience is awaked, there are other manner of conceits of God than
when it is sleepy and drowsy. A sleepy Christian hath a slight conceit of
God, as if he as little thought of his sins as he doth himself. Oh but when
conscience is awaked, and when we are drawn from the pleasures of sin,
and they from us, and conscience hath nothing to do but to look upon God
and upon the time to come, which is eternity, then if there be not some-
what for conscience to oppose that is equal to the justice of God, if there
be not somewhat about us to clothe us and arm us, to pass through the
justice, what will become of us ? Therefore it is a fruitful consideration,
that God was ' manifest in our flesh,' and that, to give satisfaction to God,
that so conscience might have full satisfaction.
This teacheth us what we should do when we find any trouble rise in
our conscience for sins and unworthiness. Cast ourselves upon ' God in
our flesh,' God that became ' flesh ' for us and died for us : let us stay our-
selves there. I am unworthy ! a lump of sin ! There is nothing in me
that is good. Oh but I have all in Christ. He is righteousness for me.
He hath abundance for me. His fulness is for me. Therefore you have
it, Col. ii. 9, ' The fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily.' To what
purpose is this fulness in him ? He shews in the words following, * In
him we are complete,' ver. 10. Suppose in ourselves we be sinners and
weak, that we are as ill as sin or the devil can make us in the time of
temptation, yet ' in him we are complete.' And for this end ' the fulness
of the Godhead dwells in him bodily.' Therefore, in all doubts in regard
of sin and unworthiness, let us labour for faith (for faith is a grace that
carries us out of ourselves, and plants and fixeth us in Christ), let us con-
sider of ourselves in him, and consider of whatsoever is in him, it is for us.
It is no matter what we are ourselves ; in him we are in a glorious
condition.
And oppose him to the wrath of God and the temptations of Satan ; for
all will fall before this ' God manifest in the flesh.' He is God, therefore
he can subdue all ; he is man, and therefore he will love us. ' I know
whom I have believed,' 2 Tim. i. 12 — him that is merciful, because he is
man, and he hath taken my nature ; and him that can subdue all enemies,
because he is God, God in the flesh : a fit bottom and foundation for
faith to rely upon. Let us have recourse to this therefore in all temptations
whatsoever. We cannot glorify God and Christ more than to go out of
ourselves and fix our comfort here.
By this we have communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
This incarnation of Christ, it brings us into fellowship with the blessed
Trinity ; and it teacheth us what conceits we should have of God, to have
loving thoughts of him. Whence is that that we can call God Father ?
From this, * God manifest in the flesh.' The second person, to take away
enmity, was ' manifest in the flesh.' Hence it is that I can call God
Father, that I can boldly go to God, that I can conceive of God as gracious
and lovely. And whence is it that our persons are become lovely to God ?
484 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
From this, that God hath taken our nature upon him. Our nature is
become lovely to him, and his is sweet and fatherly to us.
This should help us against Satan's transforming of God and Christ to
ns in the time of trouble. He presents him as a terrible judge. Indeed,
so he is to sinners that will go on in sin. His wrath shall ' smoke against
such,' Deut. xxix. 20. There is no comfort to them in Scripture. But to
repentant sinners all is comfort : ' Come unto me, ye that are weary and
heavy laden,' Mat. xi. 28 ; and, ' Christ came to seek and to save that
which was lost,' Mat. xviii. 11 ; and, he came * to save sinners,' as St Paul
saith, 1 Tim. i. 15. Let us conceive of God now as lovely, as a father;
and of Christ as a sweet saviour, made ' flesh ' for this purpose. He is
God and man, because he came to be a mediator between God and man ;
a friend to both, being to deal with both. Therefore we should thus con-
ceive of Christ : as a great and mighty God, the ruler of the world, as
Isaiah describes him, Isa. ix. 6, and conceive of him likewise as a meek,
humble man — the one, to stablish our faith, that we be not shaken, having
such a great God to relj' upon ; and the other, to stablish our faith in his
good will, ' God in our flesh.' God, a name of power ; ' God in onr flesh '
implieth mercy and love, pity and compassion.
Therefore, let not Satan abuse our imaginations, if we have a mind to
turn to God ; for, as I said, there is no comfort to them that go on in their
sins. God will wound the ' hairy scalp of them that go on in iniquity,'
Ps. Ixviii. 21 ; and, ' they treasure up wrath against the day of wrath,'
Eom. ii. 5. There is nothing but discomfort to such : ' The wrath of God
abides upon them,' John iii. 36. They are in danger of damnation every
minute of their lives. There is but a step between them and hell. But
for such as intend to turn to God, God meets them half-way. We see the
prodigal did but entertain a purpose to come to his father, and his father
meets him. ' God in our flesh ' hath made God peaceable to us. If we
go to Christ, and lay hold on him for the forgiveness of our sins, God in
him is become a loving, gracious, sweet Father to us. Let us frame our
conceits of God as the Scripture doth. When sorrow for sin possesseth
our souls, take heed of going away from God, that took our nature for this
very purpose, that we may boldly go to him.
Oh what boldness have we now to go to ' God in our flesh.' To think
of God absolutely, without God in the flesh, he is ' a consuming fire,' Heb.
xii. 29, every way terrible ; but to think of God in our nature, we may
securely go to him : ' He is bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh,' Gen.
ii. 23. We may securely go to God our brother, to him that is of one
nature with us, and now having our nature in heaven. Think of God born
of a virgin, of God Ij'ing in the cradle, sucking the breast ! Think of God
going up and down teaching and doing all good ! Think of God sweating
for thee, hanging on the cross, shedding his blood, lying in the grave,
raising himself again, and now in heaven ' sitting at the right hand of God,'
our intercessor ! Eph. i. 20. Conceive of God in this ' flesh ' of ours,
lovely to us ; and|now our nature must needs be lovely to him. The nature
of God must needs be lovely to us, since he hath joined our poor beggarly
flesh to the unity of the second person. Let us thus think of ' God mani-
fest in the flesh.' To think of God alone, it swallows up our thoughts;,
but to think of God in Christ, of God ' manifest in the flesh,' it is a com-
fortable consideration. To see the sun alone in itself, in the glory and
lustre of it, it is impossible, without hurting of the eye ; but to see the sun
in water, as we do in an eclipse, &c., we may do it. So we cannot conceive
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 485
of God alone absolutely ; but to conceive of ' God in our flesh ' is to look
upon the sun as it were in the water, or upon the ground. God in himself
is so glorious that we could never see him, as he tells Moses, Exodus
xxxiii. 20, 'None can ever see God and live;' that is, God nakedly or
absolutely. Oh but * God manifest in our flesh ' we may see ; and it shall
be our happiness in heaven to see him there, to see ' God in our flesh face
to ftxce,' Exodus xxxiii. 11.
We cannot too often meditate of these things. It is the life and soul of
a Christian. It is the marrow of the gospel. It is the wonder of wonders.
We need not wonder at anything after this. It is no wonder that our
bodies shall rise again ; that mortal man should become afterwards immortal
in heaven, since the immortal God hath taken man's nature and died in it.
All the articles of our faith and all miracles yield to this grand thing, 'God
manifest in the flesh.' Believe this, and believe all other. Therefore, let
us often have these sweet cherishing conceits of God in our flesh, that it
may strengthen, and feed, and nourish our faith, especially in the time of
temptation.
Use 2. Again, From this, that God was 'manifest in our flesh,' let^us take
heed that ice defile not tkisfle&h of ours, this nature of ours. What ! Is this
' flesh ' of mine taken into unity with the second person ? Is this ' flesh '
of mine now in heaven, ' sitting at the right hand of God ? ' And shall I
defile this flesh of mine that I profess to be a member of Christ ? ' Shall
I make it the member of an harlot?' 1 Cor. vi. 15. Shall I abuse it, as
intemperate persons do ? Let us honour our nature, which Christ hath so
honoured ; and let us take a holy kind of state upon us, to think ourselves
too good, since God hath so advanced our nature, to abase it to the service
of sin.
Use 3. Likewise, it should teach us to stoop to any service of Christ or our
brethren. What ! Did the love of God draw him into the womb of the
virgin ? Did it draw him to take my nature and flesh on him ? And
shall I think much to be serviceable to my poor brethren, for whom God
was made flesh, and not only so, but was crucified ? Such thoughts will
take down such proud conceits as enter into our hearts when we are about
any work of charity for the members of Christ. Shall I have base conceits
of any man, whose flesh Christ hath taken ? Especially, when I see any
goodness in him, let me abase myself to any work of charity.
Take heed of pride. God himself emptied himself, and wilt thou be full
of pride ? He became of ' no reputation,' Philip, ii. 7, and wilt thou stand
upon terms of credit? He 'took upon him the form of a servant,' and
wilt thou be altogether a lord and king in thy afiections, and not serve thy
brethren ? Did Christ do this that thou shouldst be a proud person ? He
came to expiate thy pride. Away with thy proud conceits ! If thou be
too proud to follow and imitate humble men, yet think not thyself too good
to imitate an humble God. There is no spirit more opposite to the spirit
of a Christian than a spirit swelling and lift up, that thinks itself too good
to be abased in the service of others, that carries itself loftily. A proud
spirit is most opposite to the spirit of God, that became man to expiate
this pride of ours, and to work out salvation in this flesh of ours. Of all
sins let us take heed of this diabolical satanical sin ; let us be abased for
Christ that was abased for us ; and as he left his heaven — to do us good
he left heaven itself — so let us. If we have a conceited heaven and happi-
ness in ourselves, leave it, and become base and low, to do any good we
can. Shall he stoop and bend to us from heaven to earth, and conceal his
486
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
majesty, not to be known to be as be was ; and sball not we stoop one to
auotber to do good, and come down from our conceited excellency ?
Use 4. Here we have a good ground likewise not to envy the blessed angels
their greatness ; nay, bere we bave tbat wberein we are above tbe angels
tbemselves ; for ' be took not upon bim tbe nature of angels,' Heb. ii. 16,
but be was ' God manifest in our flesb.' Cbrist married our nature to
bimself out of bis love, tbat be migbt marry us to bimself by bis Spirit ;
and now, by our union wdtb Cbrist, we be nearer bim tban tbe very angels
are. Tbe angels are not tbe spouse of Cbrist, but now, by reason of bis
taking our nature, we are kin to Cbrist : * He is bone of our bone, and
flesb of our flesb,' Epb. v. 30, and we are * bone of bis bone, and flesb of
bis flesb.' We are tbe bod}', Cbrist is tbe bead. We are nearer to Cbrist
tban tbe very angels. No wonder, tben, if tbose blessed spirits daily pry
into tbis great mystery, 1 Peter i. 12.
5. Lastly, Let us labour that Christ may be manifested in our jicirticular
flesh, in our jjersons. As be was God manifest in tbe flesb in regard of
tbat blessed mass be took upon bim, so we would every one labour to
bave God ' manifest in our flesb.'
Quest. How is tbat ?
Ans. We must bave Cbrist as it were born in us, ' formed in us,' as tbe
apostle speaks. Col. i. 27. Certainly tbe same Spirit tbat sanctified Cbrist
dotb sanctify every member of Cbrist; and Cbrist is in some sort begotten,
and conceived, and ' manifested ' in every one tbat is a Cbristian. We
must labour tbat Cbrist may be ' manifest ' in our understandings, in our
aflections, tbat be may be manifest to us, and conceived, as it were, in us ;
as St Paul's pbrase is, ' Tbat tbe life of Cbrist may be made manifest in
our mortal flesb,' 2 Cor. iv. 11. Tbe Hfe and spirit of Cbrist must be
* manifest ' in every true Cbristian, and tbeir ' flesb ' must be sanctified
by tbe same Spirit tbat Christ's flesb was sanctified witbal. As Christ's
flesb was first sanctified, and then abased, and tben glorious, so tbe flesb
of every Cbristian must be content to be abased, as tbe flesh of Cbrist was,
to serve Cbrist, to be conformable to Cbrist in our abased flesb. And let
us not make too much of this flesb of ours, tbat sball turn to rottenness
ere long. It must be gracious sanctified flesb, as Christ's was, and tben
glorious flesb. Cbrist must be manifest in our flesh, as he was in bis own,
tbat when a man sees a Christian, he may see Christ manifest in bim.
Obj. But bow sball I come to have Christ manifest in my flesh ? My
heart is not fit to conceive Christ in. There is nothing in it but deadness,
and darkness, and dulness, and rebellion ?
Ans. Even as tbe virgin Mary, she conceived Cbrist when she yielded
ber assent. When tbe angel spake to her, what saith she presently ? ' Be
it as thou bast said,' Luke i. 38 ; let it even be so. She yielded her
assent to tbe promise, that she should conceive a son. So when the pro-
mises are uttered to us of the forgiveness of sins, of salvation by Christ,
as soon as ever we bave a spirit of faith to yield our assent, let it be so.
Lord, as thou bast promised ; thou hast promised forgiveness of sins : let
it be so ; thou hast promised favour in Christ : let it be so. As soon as
tbe heart is brought to yield to tbe gracious promise, tben Cbrist is con-
ceived in tbe heart. Even as Christ was conceived in the womb of tbe
virgin when she yielded ber assent to believe tbe promise, so Cbrist is in
every man's heart, to sanctify it, to rule it, to comfort it, as soon as this
consent is wrought. We should labour, therefore, to bring our hearts to
tbis. So much for tbis. Because it is of great consequence, and tbe lead-
THE FOUNT.UN OPENED. 487
ing mystery to all that follows, I have been somewhat the longer in un-
folding these words, 'God manifest in the flesh.'
' Justified in the Spirit.'
These words are added, to answer an objection that may rise from the
former. He was * God manifest in the flesh.' He veiled himself. He
could not have suffered else. When he took upon him to be the mediator,
he must do it in abased flesh. If Christ, being God, had not abased him-
self, he should never have been put to death. Satan and his instruments
would never have meddled with him. Therefore God being veiled in the
flesh, being clouded with our flesh and infirmities, thereupon the world
had a misconceit of him. He was not generally ^thought to be what he
was indeed. He appeared to be nothing but a poor man, a debased,
dejected man ; a persecuted, slandered, disgraced man in the world. He
was thought to be a trespasser.
It is no matter what he appeared, when he was veiled with our flesh ;
he was 'justified in the Spirit,' to be the true Messiah ; to be God as well
as man.
♦ Justified.'
It implies two things in the phrase of Scripture : a freedom and clearing
fi'orii false conceits and imputations, and declared to be truly what he was;
to be otherwise than he was thought to be of the wicked world. When a
man is cleared from that that is laid to his charge, he is 'justified.' When
a man is declared to be that he is, then he is said to be justified in the
sense of the Scriptures. ' Wisdom is justified of her children,' Mat. xi. 19,
that is, cleared from the imputations that are laid upon rehgion, to be
mopish and foolish. ' Wisdom is justified ;' that is, cleared and declared
to be an excellent thing of all her children. So Christ was 'justified.' He
was cleared, not to be as they took him ; and declared himself to be as he
' manifested' himself, a more excellent person, the Son of God, the true
Messiah and Saviour of the world.
' In the Spirit.'
That is, in his Godhead : that did shew itself in his life and death, in
his resurrection and ascension. The beams of his Godhead did sparkle
out. Though he were ' God in the flesh,' yet he remained God still, and
was 'justified' to be so ' in the Spirit,' that is, in his divine power, which
is called the Spirit ; because the spirit of anything is the quintessence and
strength of it. God hath the name of Spirit, from his purity and power
and vigour. So God is a Spirit ; that is, God is pure, opposite to gross
things, earth, and flesh ; and God is powerful and strong. ' The horses
of the Egyptians are flesh, and not spirit,' Isa. xxxi. 3, that is, they are
weak. A spirit is strong; so much spirit, so much strength. So, by the
purity and strength of the divine nature, Christ discovered himself to be
true God as well as true man.
The word Spirit is taken in three senses especially in the gospel.
1. It is taken for the whole nature of God. ' God is a Spirit,' saith
Christ to the woman of Samaria, John iv. 23. The very nature of God is
a Spirit ; that is, active and subtile, opposite to meanness and weakness.
2. Then again. Spirit is taken more particularly for the divine nature of
Christ, as it is Rom. i. 4 : 'Of the seed of David, according to the flesh,'
but ' declared mightily to be the Son of God with power, according to the
Spirit of sanctification,' or holiness, ' by the resurrection from the dead.'
The opposition shews that Spirit is taken there for the divine nature of
Christ. He had spoken in the verse before concerning his human nature.
488 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
He was made ' of the seed of David, according to tlie flesh ; ' and it follows,
' declared to be the Sou of God, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead.' And so likewise in 1 Pet. iii. 18 : 'He was
put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the Spirit.' He was put to
death in his human nature, but quickened and raised as he was God.
3. The Spirit is taken likewise for the third person in the Tri)iiti/, the
Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit. And indeed, whatsoever God the Father or
God the Son doth graciously to man, it is done by the Spirit. For, as the
Holy Spirit is in the order of the persons, so he is in the order of working.
The Father works^ from himself ; the Son works from the Father ; the
Holy Spirit from them both. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father
and the Son, as a common principle. Therefore, sometimes the Father is
said to raise Christ's body by his Spirit. Christ is said to do things by the
Spirit. Here, in this place, it is especially to be understood of Christ's
divine nature, not excluding the Holy Ghost. For as the Holy Ghost, in
the incarnation, sanctified his ' flesh,' the second person took flesh, but
the third person sanctified it. So in the resurrection of Christ, [it was]
the second person that raised itself up, but yet it was by the Holy Ghost
too. So when there is mention here of Christ 'justified by the Spirit,'
that is, by his Godhead and by the Holy Ghost, which he alway used, not
as an instrument — for the Holy Ghost is a common principle with himself,
one with himself, of equal dignity, only diftering in the order of persons ;
whatsoever Christ did, he did with the Spirit. That must not be excluded.
Christ was as well ' justified in the Spirit,' as God, as ' manifest ' in our
nature to be man.
And this was in the time of his abasement. In the greatest extremity
of abasement, there was somewhat that came from Christ, to ' justify ' him
that he was the Son of God, the true Messiah. There is no part of his
abasement but some beams of his Godhead did break forth in it.
He was made flesh, but he took upon him the ' flesh' of a virgin. Could
that be otherwise than by the Spirit, to be born of a virgin, she remaining
a virgin ? When he was born, he was laid in a manger. Indeed, there
was God in the low estate of the flesh. Ay, but the ' wise men worshipped
him,' and the ' star' directed them. Mat. ii. 11. There he was 'justified
in the Spirit.' He was tossed when he was asleep in the ship, but he com-
manded the winds and the waves, Mat. xiv. 24, seq. He wanted money to
pay tribute, as he was abased ; but to fetch it out of a fish, there he was
justified, Mat. xvii. 27. The one was- an argument of his poverty and
meanness, but the other was an argument that he was another manner of
person than the world took him for, that he had all the creatures at his
command. He was apprehended as a malefactor, but he struck them all
down with his word, ' Whom seek ye ? ' John xviii. 4.
Come to the greatest abasement of all ; when he was on the cross, he
hung between two thieves. Ay, but he converted the one of them. When
the thief had so much discouragement to see his Saviour hang on the cross,
yet he shewed such power in that abasement, that the very thief could see
him to be a king, and was converted by his Spirit. He did hang upon the
cross ; but, at the same time, theriB was an eclipse. The whole world was
darkened (/t), the earth trembled, the rocks brake, the centurion 'justified'
him, 'Doubtless, this was the Son of God,' Mat. xxiii. 47. He was sold
for thirty pence (i), but he that was sold for thirty pieces did redeem the
whole world by his blood.
Nay, at the lowest degree of abasement of all, when he struggled with
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 489
the wrath of God, and was beset with devils, then he triumphed. When
he was visibly overcome, then invisibly he overcame. He was an invisible
conqueror when he was visibly subdued. For, did he not on the cross
satisfy the wrath of God, and by enduring the wrath of God free us from
it and from Satan, God's jailor, and reconcile us by his blood ? The chief
works of all were wrought in his chief abasement. At length he died and
was buried ; ay, but he that died rose again gloriously. Therefore he was
' mightily declared to be the Son of God by raising himself from the dead.'
That was the greatest abasement when he lay in the grave ; and especially
then he was 'justified' by his resurrection from the dead and his ascension,
in his state of glorification especially. So, if we go from Christ's birth to
his lowest degree of abasement, there was alway some manifestation of his
justification by the Spirit.
He was ' justified' in a double regard.
1. Ill rer/ard of God, he was justified and cleared from our sins that he
took upon him. ".^,He ' bore our sins upon the tree,' and bore them away,
that the}^ should never appear again to our discomfort. He was made ' a
curse for us.' How came Christ to be cleared of our sins that lay upon
him ? When by the Spirit, by his divine nature, he raised himself from
the dead. So he was 'justified' from that that God laid upon him, for he
was our suret}'. Now the Spirit raising him from the dead, shewed that
the debt was fully discharged, because our surety was out of prison. All
things are first in Christ and then in us. He was acquitted and justified
from our sins, and then we.
2. And then he was justified by the Spirit fiv)n all imputations of vien,
from the mtscoiicelts that the world had of him. They thought him to be a
mere man, or a sinful man. No. He was more than a mere man ; nay,
more than a holy man ; he was God-man. Whence were his miracles ?
Were they not from his divine power? He overcame the devil in his
temptations. Who can overcome the devil, but he that is the Son of God ?
He cast out devils, and dispossessed them with his word. All the enemies
of Christ that ever were, at length he conquered them, and so ' declared
himself mightily to be,' as he was, ' the Son of God.' He healed the out-
ward man and the inward man by his divine power ; he caused the spiritual
as well as the bodily eyes to see, the dead to live, and the lame to go, &c.
Whatsoever he did in the body he did in the soul likewise. In those excel-
lent miracles he was 'justified,' and declared to be the Son of God,' espe-
cially in his resurrection and ascension, and daily converting of souls by
his ministry ; all being done by his Spirit, which is his vicar in the world,
ruling his church and subduing his enemies. So that he was every way
•justified in the Spirit' to be God, to be the true Messiah prophesied of
and promised to the church. Therefore he was 'justified' in his truth,
that all the promises were true of him ; and in his faithfulness, that he
was faithful in performing the promises he made. He was ' justified ' in his
goodness and mercy, and all those attributes ; he was 'justified in the Spirit.*
Obj. But you will sa}', it seems he was not ' justified in the Spirit.' There
are many heretics that think not Christ to be God ; that take not Christ to
be so glorious as he is.
Ans. I answer : When we speak of the justifying of Christ, it is meant
to those that have eyes to see him, to those that shut not their eyes. He
was 'justified' to be so great as he was to those ' whose eyes the god of
the world had not blinded,' 2 Cor. iv. 4; to all that were his; as it is excel-
lently set down, John i. 14, ' The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among
490 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
US ; and we beheld his glory, as the gloiy of the only begotten Son of the
Father, full of grace and truth.' We ' beheld his glory.' We did ; others
did not take notice : but they were those ' whose eyes the god of the world
hath blinded,' the malicious Scribes and Pharisees, that sinned against the
Holy Ghost, and would never acknowledge Christ ; and ignorant people,
that had not faith nor the Spirit of God. He was justified by the Spirit
of God, to all that had spiritual eyes to see and take notice of his course ;
as St John saith in one of his epistles, * What we have seen and heard,
and our hands have handled, the Word of life, that we declare to you,'
1 John i. 1. So that he was ' God manifest in the flesh,' and he shewed
himself to be the ' Word of life' to those that were his apostles and disciples,
and those that were converted by him. As we see St Peter, when he had
felt his divine power upon his heart by his preaching, ' Lord,' saith he,
' thou hast the words of eternal life ; whither shall we go ?' John vi. 68.
He felt the Spirit in his preaching. And so another time, St Peter, in
Matt. xvi. 16, he confessed him to be ' the Son of the living God.' You
see to whom he was 'justified' and declared to be the true Messiah, to be
God as well as man by his Spirit.
The reason why he justified himself to be so, 1. It was the more to
strengthen our faith. All his miracles were but so many sparkles of his
divine nature, so many expressions of his divine power. And after he was
raised from the dead, at his ascension and sending of the Holy Ghost, he
shewed his divine power more gloriously ; and all to strengthen the faith
of the elect ; and, 2. To stop the mouths of all inrpudent rebellious j^^rsons.
For, considering that he wrought such miracles, that he raised men from
the dead, and raised himself; considering that he called the Gentiles, and
converted the world, by the ministry of weak men, he shewed that he was
more than a man. Well ! to make some use of this, that Christ was
' Justified in the Spirit.' Then first of all,
Use 1. Christ will at length' justify himself. This is a ground of
faith. However he be now as a sign set up that many speak against
and contradict, yet the time will come when he will gloriously justify
himself to all the world. Now some shut their eyes willingly, and the
opposites of Christ seem to flourish ; yet Christ will be ' justified by his
Spirit ' to all his elect in every age, especially in the resurrection. For
' when he shall come and appear to be glorious in his saints,' 2 Thes. i. 10,
it will appear who he is indeed. Now he sufiers many to tread upon his
church, and he suffers many heretics to deny him, sometimes in one nature,
sometimes in another, and so to offend against him. But the time will
come that he will trample all his enemies under his feet ; he will be ' justi-
fied by his Spirit.' That is our comfort. There are many schismatics
and heretics and persecutors, but Christ will be 'justified' at length.
' The kingdoms of the earth will be the Lord Jesus Christ's,' Eev. xi. 15.
Are they not now so ? They are. But truly they appear not to be so.
But at length they will appear to be so. At the conversion of the Jews
and the confusion of antichrist, then it will appear more and more that he
is King of the world indeed. Now, as it were, his offices are darkened :
bis kingly office is darkened and his prophetical office is darkened ; but at
length it will appear that he is King of the church, and all kingdoms will be
Christ's. There are glorious times coming, especially the glorious day of
the resurrection. Christ at length will be cleared, he will be justified.
The sun at length will scatter all the clouds. In the morning they gather
about the sun, as if they would cover it. Oh, but the sun breaks through
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
491
all, and gloriously appears at length. So Christ will scatter all clouds,
and gloriously appear to be that which the word sets him forth to be.
Again, As Chi'ist will justify himself, so he will justify his church and
children , first or last, by his Spirit. His children are now accounted the offscour-
ing of the world. They are trampled and trod upon, they are the objects of
scorn and hatred, and who accounted so base ? Will Christ endure this ?
No, He that 'justified' himself; that is, that declared himself, and will
more and more declare himself to be as he is ; will he not ' justify ' his
church, his mystical body, to be as they are indeed ? Certainly it shall
appear to the world that he will justify them, to be kings and priests, to be
heirs, to be glorious, to be so near and dear to him as the Scripture sets
them forth to be. Wliatsoever the Scripture hath spoken of the saints and
children of God, the time will come that all this shall be ' justified ' and
made good by that Spirit of Christ, whereby he made good whatsoever he
hath said of himself.
Therefore in our eclipses and disgraces let us all comfort ourselves in
this. Let the world esteem us for the present as the refuse of the world,
as persons not worthy to be acquainted wath, not worthy to be regarded ;
we shall be ' justified ' and cleared and glorified, especially at that day
' when Christ shall come to be glorious in his saints.' There is a hidden
life of the church and every Christian ; they have a life in Christ, but that
' life is hid in Christ,' in heaven. Col. iii. 3. As the flowers in winter they
have a life, but it is hidden in the root. ' When Christ shall appear,' as
blessed St Paul and St John say, then it ' shall appear who we are.' Then
our ' glorious life,' that now is in our Head, * shall appear ;' then we shall
be 'justified to be so glorious,' as the Scripture sets us forth to be. The
church shall be glorious within and without, too, at that day. Therefore let
us comfort ourselves. This hidden life, though it appear not now, yet we
shall be justified. And hence we may answer some objections likewise.
Ohj. Some may say. How doth it appear that Christ is King of the church ?
We see how the church is trampled on at this day. Where is the life and
glory of the church ? What ! his spouse, and thus used ! What ! his
turtle, and thus polluted and plucked by the birds of prey !
Ans. I answer, Look with other spectacles, with the eye of faith, and
then you shall see a spring in the winter of the church. However she be
now abased and eclipsed, yet she shall be 'justified ;' and it will appear
that Christ regards his church and people and children more than all the
world besides, only there must be a conformity.
' It was fit there should be a time of Christ's abasement ; how should he
have suffered else ? The world would never have crucified God. They
could not have done it. Therefore he was abased ; he veiled his Godhead
under his manhood, under a base condition, so he passed through ' suffering
to glory.' So it must be in the body of Christ. It must pass through the
veil of infirmities, of weakness, affliction, and disgrace. How else should
it be conformable to Christ ? If Christ had ' justified ' himself at all times
in his humiliation, he could not have suflered ; if we should be justified
now and appear to all the world who we are, who would persecute us ?
how could we be conformable to Christ ? Therefore let us quietly and
meekly a-while endure these things, that are nothing but to conform us to
our Head, knowing this, that as he was 'justified ' by little and little, till he
was perfectly 'justified ' when he was raised from the dead, so we shall be
perfectly 'justified ' and freed from all imputations at the last day, when by
the same Spirit that raised him we shall be raised up too.
492
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
Nay, in this world, when it is for his glory and for our good, he will
bring our righteousness to light as the noonday, Ps. xxxvii. 6 ; he will free
us from the imputations that the world lays on us ; he will have a care of
our credit. For as Christ was ' mightily declared to be the Son of God '
in a fit time, so shall we when we are fit. Then the world shall see that
we are not the men that profane, bitter, malicious persons, led with the
spirit of the devil, charged us to be.
Let us take no scandal at the present afflictions of the church. Christ
will justify his mystical body by his glorious power in good time. Anti-
christ shall not alway ruffle* in the world. Christ will be justified to be the
King and Kuler of the world. ' All power is committed to him,' Mat.
xxviii. 18. But we see it now. Antichrist rages in the world, and the church
seems to be under hatches. f So it is with particular Christians. Those
that belong to God, and indeed are truly such as they profess themselves
to be — though with much weakness — we see in what respect and esteem
they are had. 'Let us comfort ourselves, beloved.' Christ justified him-
self by his Spirit, and will he not justify his poor church, and free it from
the tyranny of antichrist ? Will he not advance those that are trodden on
now and made as the dirt in the street, that ' they shall shine as the sun ?'
Daniel xii. 3. Therefore when you hear of the dejected state of the
churches abroad, be not dismayed. Consider there is a glorious King that
rules the world, and he will make it appear ere long. He will justify him-
self and his church, for he suflers in his church. He is wise. He seea
cause to do this. He is working his own work. He corrects and rules
and purgeth his church in the furnace of affliction. But be sure the time
will come that he will bring the cause of religion to light, and he will shew
what side he owns ; he will justify his truth, and tread Satan and all his
members under feet. This frame of things will not hold long. As verily
as Christ is in heaven, as verily as he is 'justified ' in his own person by
his Spirit, by his divine power, so he will justify his mystical body. And
as he hath conquered in his own person, so he will by his Spirit conquer
for his church.
Use 2. And as he will overcome for his church, so he will overcome in
his church ; ' stronger is he that is' in the church, ' in you, than he that
is in the world,' 1 John iv. 4 ; and God's children will be triumphant.
Though they may be discouraged in respect of the present carriage of
things, yet the Spirit that is in them, above the world, will gather strength
by little and little, and it will appear at length, notwithstanding present
discouragements. Undoubtedly the best things will have a true lustre and
glory at length, however they seem to be carried for the present. You see
as Christ hath ' justified' himself to be the true Messiah, and as he hath
justified himself, so he will justify all his. There is the same reason for
both.
For our further instruction and comfort, let us consider, that in regard
of God likewise, we shall be * justified' from our sins in our consciences
here and at the day of judgment, before angels and devils and men. Aa
Christ was ' justified' from our sins himself, and he will justify every one
of us by his Spirit, his Spirit shall witness to our souls that we are justi-
fied ; and likewise his Spirit shall declare it at the day of judgment ; it
shall be openly declared that we are so indeed. There is a double degree
of justification : one in our conscience now, another at the day of judgment.
Then it shall appear that we have believed in Christ, and are cleansed from
* That is, ' swagger or bully.' — G. f That is, = restraint or concealment. — G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 493
our sins. When \^•e shall stand on the right hand of Christ, as all that
cleave to Christ by faith [will do], then it shall appear that by him we are
' justified ' from all our sins whatsoever.
Use 3. Again, Christ was 'justified in the Spirit.' Then hence we may
learn our duty ; we owjht all of us to justifi/ Christ. To whom is Christ
justified by the Spirit ? Only to his own church and children ; not to the
reprobate world. We may know, that we are members of Christ, if we be
of the number of those that justify Christ.
Quest. How do we justify Christ ?
Ans. (1.) We justify Christ when, from an inward work of the Spirit, we
feel and acknowledge him to be such an one as he is : Christ is God. Now,
when we rely upon him as our rock, in all temptations, we justify Christ to
be so ; when we ' kiss the Son' with the kisses of faith, of subjection, of
obedience, of reverence and love ; this is to justify Christ to be the Son of
God, as it is Ps. ii. 12, ' Kiss the Son, lest he be angry.' Those thafc in
temptation are to seek for their comfort, they do not justify Christ ; they
do not live as if he were a Saviour, not as if he were a God. In tempta-
tions to despair, they justify not Christ.
(2.) Those that have Christ iUuminatiiuf their widerstandiiujs, to cojieeive
the mysteries of religion, they justify Christ to he the prophet of his church ;
because they feel him enlightening their understandings.
(3.) Those that find their consciences pacified, by the obedience and
sacrifice of Christ, they justify him to he their jmest ; for they can oppose
the blood of Christ sprinkled on their hearts, to all the temptations of
Satan, and to the risings of their own doubting conscience. Their hearts
being sprinkled with the blood of Christ, they can go to God, and the
blood of Christ speaks for them ' peace ;' it pleads ' mercy, mei'cy.' Thus
we justify Christ as a priest, when we rest in his sacrifice, and do not, with
papists, run to other sacrifices. This is not to justify Christ. To justify
Christ, God-man, is to make him a perfect mediator of intercession and
redemption, to make him all in all. They do not justify Christ, that think
God was made man to patch up a salvation ; that he must do a part and
we must merit the rest. Oh no ! Take heed of that ; account all our
obedience, and all that is from us, as ' menstruous cloths,' Isa. xxx. 22, not
able to stand with the justice of God.
(4.) In a word, we justify and declare and make good that he is our Jcinr/,
and put a kingly crown upon his head, when we sufi'er him to rule us and
to subdue our spirits and our rebellions ; when we cherish no contrary
motions to his Spirit ; when we rest in his word and not traditions, but
stoop to the sceptre of Christ's word. This is to justify him as a king.
Thus we should labour to justify and declare to the world the excellency
and power of Christ in our hearts, that we may make religion lovely, and
make it be entertained in the world ; because we shew it to be an excellent
powerful thing. Let us examine our hearts, whether we thus justify Christ
or no ; that by our carriage towards him, we make it good that he is such
an one as the Scripture sets him forth to be.
In particular, we justify him, that ' he rose from the dead,' when we
believe that we are freed from our sins, our surety being out of prison.
We justify him as 'ascended into heaven,' when we have heavenly afiections,
and when we consider him as a public person gone to heaven in our name.
We justify him as ' sitting at the right bond of God,' when we ' mind the
things that are above,' Col. iii. 1, and not that are here below ; or else we
deny these things, we believe them not, we justify them not, when our
494 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
conversations are not answerable to the things we believe. If we be the
children of wisdom, undoubtedly we shall justify wisdom. If we be the
members of Christ, we shall justify our head. If we be his spouse, we
shall justify our husband. Let us examine ourselves that we do in this
kind, and never think our state good till we can justify Christ.
In the next place, for our direction ; as Christ justified himself by his
Spirit, by his divine power, so let us know that it is our duty to justify
ourselves, to justify our profession, justify all divine truth. Let us make
it good that we are the sons of God, that we are Christians indeed ; not
only to have the name, but the anointing of Christ ; that we may clear our
religion from false imputations ; or else, instead of justifying our profession,
we justify the slanders that are against it. The world is ready to say none
are worse than Christians ; and their religion is all but words and shews
and forms. Shall we justify these slanders ? No. Let us, by the Spirit
of God, justify our religion ; let us shew that religion is a powerful thing ;
and so indeed it is. For divine truth, when it is embraced and known, it
alters and changeth the manners and dispositions ; it makes of lions lambs ;
it makes our natures mild and tractable and sweet : it raiseth a man from
earth to heaven. Let us justify this our religion and profession against
all gainsayers whatsoever. ' Wisdom is justified of all her children.' Let
us justify our religion and profession, by maintaining it and standing for
it, and express in our lives and conversations the power of it.
Quest. How shall this be ?
Ans. The text saith, ' by the Spirit.' For as Christ 'justified' himself,
that is, declared himself to be as he was ' by his Spirit,' so every Christian
hath the ' Spirit of Christ, or else he is none of his,' Rom. viii. 9 ; and by
this Spirit of Christ he is able to justify his profession ; not only to justify
Christ to be the true head, &c., but all things he doth must be done by
the Spirit, or not at all. For as Christ, when he became man and was in
the world, he did all by the direction of the Spirit. * He was led into the
wilderness by the Spirit,' he ' taught by the Spirit.' The Spirit that
sanctified him in the womb guided him in all his life. So a Christian is
guided by the Spirit. God doth all to him by the Spirit. He is comforted,
and directed, and strengthened by the Spirit ; and he again doth all to God
by the Spirit. He prays in the Spirit, and sighs and groans to God in
the Spirit. He walks in the Spirit. He doth all by the Spirit. There-
fore by the Spirit let us justify and declare ourselves what we are ; that
there is somewhat in us above nature ; that we have love above carnal
men, and patience and meekness above the ability and capacity of other
men. We justify our profession when we do somewhat more than nature,
or when we do common ordinary things in a spiritual holy manner.
Eeligion is not a matter of form, but of spirit. Let us not shew our religion
only by word, but by the fruits of the Spirit ; by love, and mercy, and
meekness, and zeal, when occasion serves. The whole life of a Christian,
as far as he is a Christian, it gives evidence that he is a Chiistian. The
whole life of a carnal formal man evidences that he is not a Christian,
because he hath nothing in him above other men ; as our Saviour Christ
saith, ' What peculiar thing do ye,' to distinguish yourselves from other
men ? Mat. v. 47. So let us ask ourselves. We profess ourselves to be
the children of God, the heirs of heaven, ' What peculiar thing do we ? '
How do we justify ourselves ? A true Christian can answer, I can justify
it by the Spirit ; I find I do things from other principles, and motives, and
inducements, than the world doth, who only respect terms of civility and
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 495
aims of the world, or to content the chimour of conscience. But, I find,
I do_ things out of assurance that I am the child of God, and in obedience
to him. Let us see what peculiar thing we do.
Alas ! I cannot but lament the poor profession of manj'. How do they
'justify' their profession ? How do they make good that they have the
Spirit of God raising them above other men, when they hve no better than
pagans, nay, not so well, under the profession of the gospel and religion ?
Would pagans live as many men do ? Did they not keep their words
better ? Were they so loose in their lives and conversations, and so Hcen-
tious ? Would they swear by their gods idly ? Most of our ordinary
people are worse than pagans. Where is the 'justifying' of relioion ? If
Turks and heathens should see them they would say. You talk of religion, ■•
but where is the power of it ? If you had the power of it you would ,
express it more in your fidelity, and honesty, and mercy, and love, and
sobriety. The kingdom of God, that is, the manifestation of the govern-
ment of Christ, ' it is not in word but in power.' Therefore let us labour
to 'justify' that we are subjects of that kingdom, by the power of it.
Mere civil* persons, the apostle saith of them, 2 Tim. iii. 5, they are such
as ' have a form of godliness, but deny the power of it.' All that rabble-
ment that he names there, they have ' a form.' A form is easy, but the
power of it is not so easy. Therefore, let us justify our religion by our
conversation. Let us justify the ordinances of God, the preaching and
hearing of the word of God, by reverence in hearing it as the word of God,
and labour to express it in our lives and conversations, or else we think it
nothing but the speech of man. Let us 'justify' the sacrament to be the
seal of God, by coming reverently to it, and by finding our faith strengthened
by it. So labour to 'justify' every ordinance of God, from some sweet
comforts that we feel by them ; and then we shew that we are true mem-
bers of Christ, that we are hke Christ, who 'justified himself in the Spirit.'
Beloved, it is a great power that must make a true Christian, no less
than the ' power of the Spirit, that raised Christ from the dead ; ' as it is
Eph. i. 20, St Paul prays that they might ' feel the power that raised Christ
from the dead.' _ It is no less power for Christ to shine in our dark hearts,
than to ' make light to shine out of darkness.'
Now, what power is in the lives of most men ? The ' power that raised
Christ from the dead' ? Certainly no. What power is there in hearing
the word, when many are so full of profaneness that they altogether neglect
it ? What power is there now and then to speak a good word, or now°and
then to do a slight action ? Is this the ' power that raised Christ from the
dead,' when by the strength of nature men can do it ? There must be
somewhat above nature, to justify a sound, spiritual Christian. We must
have something to shew that we have our spirits raised up by the Spirit of
Christ, to justify our profession in all estates. In prosperity, to shew that
we have a spirit above prosperity, that we are not proud of it. Then in
adversity, then we justify that we are Christians, by a spirit that is above
adversity ; that we do not sink under it, as a mere natural man would do,
when we have learned St Paul's lesson, ' in all estates to be content,'
Philip, iv. 11. In temptation we justify our Christian profession by arm-
ing ourselves with a spirit of faith, to beat back the ' fiery darts of Satan,'
Eph. vi. 16. When all things seem contrary, let us cast ourselves, by a
spirit of faith,_ upon Christ. That argues a powerful work of the Spirit,
when we can, in contraries, believe contraries.
* That is, 'moral.'— G.
496 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
Thus let us shew that we are Christians ; that we have somewhat in us
ahove nature ; that when the course of nature seems to be contrary, yet we
can look with the eye of faith through all discouragements and clouds, and
can see God reconciled in Christ. That will justify us to be sound Chris-
tians. Therefore let us labour, not only for slight outward performances,
that are easy for any to do, but by an inward frame of soul, and b}^ a car-
riage and conversation becoming our profession, that we may ' walk worthy
of our profession,' fruitfully and watchfully, carefully and soberly, as be-
cometh Christians every way. So much for that : I proceed to the next
words,
' Seen of angels.'
The w^ord is not altogether so fitly translated, for it is more pregnant
than it is here rendered, ' He was seen.' It is true. But he was seen
with admiration and wonderment of angels. He was seen, as such an
object presented to them should be seen, and seen with wonderment. It
implies the consequence of sight. Sight stirs up affection. It stirs up the
whole soul. Therefore it is put for all the rest (j).
1. They saw him with wonderment. For was it not a wonder that God
should stoop so low, as to be shut up in the straits of a virgin's womb ?
that Christ should humble himself so low, to be ' God in our flesh ? Was
not here exceeding wondrous love and mercy to mankind, to wretched man,
having passed by the glorious angels that were fallen ? And exceeding wis-
dom in God, in satisfying his justice, that he might shew mercy ? It was
matter of admiration to the angels, to see the great God stoop so low, to
be clothed in such a poor nature as man's, that is meaner than their own.
This doubtless is the meaning of the Holy Ghost : they saw it with
admiration.
(2.) And because he was their head, as the second person, and they
were creatures to attend iqwn Christ, their sight and wonderment must tend
to some practice suitable to their condition. Therefore they so see and
wondered at him, as that they attended upon Christ in all the passages of
his humiliation and exaltation — in his life, in his death, in his resurrection
and ascension.
(3.) They saw him so as they were xvitnesscs of him, to men. They gave
testimony and witness of him. So that it is a full word, in the intention
of the Holy Ghost. Indeed, not only the angels, but all gave witness of
him, from the highest heavens to hell itself; all witnessed Christ to be the
ti'ue Messiah.
In his baptism there was the Trinity ; the Father in a '' voice from
heaven,' the Holy Ghost in the shape ' of a dove.' He had the witness of
angels, of men of all ranks, Jews and Gentiles, men and women ; yea, the
devils themselves ofttimes confessed him in the gospel. He was witnessed
of all ranks. They saw him, and gave evidence and testimony of him that
he was the true Messiah.
He was seen of angels. To declare this a little more particularly.
The angels knew of Christ's coming in the flesh before it was, for what
the church knew the angels knew in some measure. When God made the
promise of the promised seed, the angels knew of it. And in Daniel the
angel speaks of the seventy weeks ; therefore before his incarnation they
knew of him. But now they saw him with wonderment in our flesh, now
they had an experimental knowledge of him ; for the angels, besides their
natural and supernatural knowledge, they have an experimental know-
ledge, that is daily increased in them, in the church. They see somewhat
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 497
to admiration continually in the church, in the head, and in the members.
They knew of the incarnation of Christ before. You know the angel
brought the news of it beforehand to the virgin Mary. The angels
attended upon Christ from his very infancy. The angels ministered to
him in his temptation. Mat. iv. 11. Before his death they comforted him
in the garden, Luke xxii. 43. He was made Mower than the angels,' in
some sort, as it is in Ps. viii. 5 ; for they came to ' comfort him.' He
was so low that he had the comforting of angels. Then they saw when he
was buried ; they ' rolled away the stone,' Mat. xxviii. 2.
By the way in general, it is the angels' office to remove impediments
that hinder us from Christ. A Christian shall have angels to remove the
stones, the hindrances that are between heaven and him, rather than they
shall be any iiri pediment to his salvation.
Then when he rose there were angels, one at the head and another at
the feet ; and they told Mary that he was risen. And then at his ascen-
sion the angels told the disciples that Christ should come again. You
have the story of it at large in the Gospel, how from the annunciation of
his conception to his ascension they saw him, and attended on him, and
witnessed of him.
As soon as ever he was born, when they appeared to the shepherds,
what a glorious hymn they sang ! ' Glory to God on high, peace on earth,
good will to men,' Luke ii. 14. How joyful were they of the incarnation
of Christ, and the great work of redemption wrought thereby !
And, as I said, they did not only see these things, but they wondered
at the love and merc}^ and wisdom of God in the Head and members of
the church ; as we see in divers places, in 1 Pet. i. 12, ' We preach the
gospel, which things the angels desire to look into.' The very angels
desire to pry and look with admiration into the wondrous things of the
gospel. So in Eph. iii. 10, ' To the intent that unto principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be made known by the church the mani-
fold wisdom of God.' There is somewhat done by Christ, by his incarna-
tion and resurrection and government of his church, that the very angels
look into, and wonder at the 'manifold wisdom of God' in governing his
church ; his wisdom in electing them, and after in restoring mankind.
And in his manner of dispensation to the Jews, first by ceremonies, and
then after by the body itself, Christ ' in the flesh.' There is such a world
of wonders in the government of the church, such ' manifold wisdom,' that
the very angels themselves look upon this with admiration and wonder, and
with great delight.
Use 1. Shall angels see and wonder at these things ? at the love and
mercy and wisdom of God in governing his church, in joining together
things irreconcilable to man's comprehension, infinite justice with infinite
mercy in Christ, that God's wrath and justice should be satisfied in Christ,
and thereby infinite mercy shewed to us ? Here are things for angels to
wonder at. Shall they wonder at it, and joy and delight in it, and shall
we slight those things that are the wonderment of angels ? There are a
company of profane spirits — I would there were not too many among us —
that will scarce vouchsafe to look into these things, that have scarcely the
book of God in theii' houses. They can wonder at a stoiy, or a poem, or
some frothy device ; at base things, not worthy to be reckoned of. But
as for the great mysteries of salvation, that great work of the Trinity,
about the salvation of mankind, they tush at them, they slight them ;
they never talk seriously of these things, except it be as it were with a
VOL. V. I i
498 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
graceless grace of sliglitiiig and scorn. They account it a disparagement
to be serious in these things. They make no mysteries of that which the
glorious creatures the angels themselves look upon and pry into, even with
admiration. But it is not to be conceived of, the profaneness and poison
that is in man's nature against divine truths, as I shall shew afterwards,
how it slights the means of its own salvation, and stands wondering at
baubles and trifles ; and so men waste away their precious time in admira-
tion of that which is nothing but ' vanity of vanities,' whereas we should
take up our time in studying these transcendent things that go beyond the
capacity of the very angels. Yet these things we dally and trifle withal.
Use 2. Again, from hence, that Christ was seen and attended on and
admired by angels, there is a great deal of conifort issueth to us. It is the
ground of all the attendance and comfort that we have from the angels.
For this is a rule in divinity, that there is the same reason of the head
and of the members ; both head and members are one. Therefore what
comfort and attendance Christ had, who is the head, the church, which is
the body, hath the same, only with some diflerence. They attended upon
him as the head, they attend upon us as the members. They attended
upon him immediately for himself, they attend upon us for his sake ; for
whatsoever we have of God, we have it at the second hand. We receive
'grace for grace' of Christ. We receive attendance of angels, for the
attendance they yielded to Christ first ; they attend upon us, by his
direction and commission and charge from him. So we have a derivative
comfort from the attendance of angels upon Christ. But surely, whatsoever
they did to him they do to us, because there is the same respect to head
and members. Therefore the devil did not mistake, he was right in that,
when he alleged out of the Psalm : ' He shall give his angels charge over
thee, that thou dash not thy foot against a stone,' Ps. xci. 11. He was
right in that, applying it to Christ. For however it be true to Christians,
yet it is true to Christ too ; it is true to the members, as well as the head ;
and to the head, as to the members. For ' he that sanctifieth, and they
that are sanctified, are all one ; ' as the apostle saith, ' one Christ,' Heb.
ii. 11.
Now the care of angels concerning Christ and his church, it was shadowed
out in Exod. xxv. 17, scq., and xxvi. 31. There the mercy-seat, which
covered the ark wherein the law was, upon the mercy-seat there were two
cherubins counter-viewing one another, and both pried* to the mercy-seat.
They shadowed out the angels that look on the mercy-seat, Christ ; for he
is the mercy-seat that covers the law and the curse, in whom God was
merciful to us. There they look upon that with a kind of wonderment and
attendance,! which St Peter alludes unto in that place, ' into which mysteries
the very angels pry,' 1 Pet. i. 12. And so in the veil of the tabernacle,
the veil had round about it pictures of cherubins, Exod. xxvi. 31. What
did that shadow out unto us ? The multitude of cherubins and seraphins
and angels that attend upon Christ and his church. So he was * seen' and
attended on by ' angels ; ' and it belongs to all that are his, as you have it,
Heb. i. 7, ' They are ministering spirits, for the good of the heirs of salva-
tion.' They that serve the king serve the queen too. Christ is the King
of his church, and the church is the greatest queen in the world. They
attend upon her ; nay, Christ hath made us, with himself, kings. Now,
what a king is that that hath a guard of angels ! As they guarded and
attended upon Christ, so they guard and attend all that are his ; as you
* That is, 'looked into.'— G. t Qu. ' attention ' ?— G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 499
have it excellently in Dan. vii. 10, ' There are thousand thousands of angels
about the throne continually.' All this is for our comfort, because wo are
one mystical body with him.
You have in Jacob's ladder a notable representation of this. Jacob's
ladder, it reached from earth to heaven ; and that pointed to Christ him-
self, who is ' Immanuel,' God and man, who brought God and man to-
gether. He was a mediator between both, and a friend to both. He was
that ladder that touched heaven and earth, and joined both together. Now
it is said, the angels ascended and descended upon that ladder ; so the
angels descending upon us, is, because they ascend and descend upon
Jacob's ladder first ; that is, upon Christ. ' All things are yours,' saith
the apostle. What be those ? God is ours, the Spirit is ours, heaven is
ours, the earth is ours ; afflictions, life, death, Paul, Apollos, the angels
themselves, all is ours. Why ? ' Ye are Christ's.' That is the ground.
So it is a spring of comfort to consider that Christ was ' seen ' and admired
and attended by angels. They are ours, because we are Christ's. Let us
consider what a comfort it is, to have the attendance of these blessed
spirits for Christ's sake.
And hence tee have the ground of the x>si'P^tuity of it, that they will for
ever be attendants to us ; because their love and respect to us is founded
upon their love and respect to Christ. When favour to another is grounded
upon a sound foundation ; when the favour that a king or a great person
bears to.^one is founded on the love of his own son ; he loves the other
because he loves his son whom the other loves ; so it is perpetual and
sound, because he will ever love his son. The angels will for ever love and
honour and attend us. Why ? For what ground have they respect to us
at all ? It is in Christ, whose members and spouse we are. So long as
the church hath any relation to Christ, so long the angels shall respect the
church ; but the church hath relation to Christ for ever. Therefore, the
respect that the blessed angels have to Christ and to the church, it is for
ever and for ever.
Well, let us think of this, so as to make use of it ; that now in Christ
we have the attendance of angels. We do not see them, as in former time,
before Christ's incarnation. It is true ; because now, since Christ is come
' in the flesh,' the government of Christ is spiritual ; and we are not sup-
ported with those glorious manifestations, but they are about us in an invi-
sible manner. We have Elisha's guard about us continually, but we see
them not.* There were more apparitions f in the infancy of the church,
because the dispensation of Christ to the church was according to the weak
state of the church. But now Christ is come ' in the flesh,' and * received
up in glory,' and there is more abundance of spirit. We should be more
spiritual and heavenly-minded, and not look for outward apparitions of
angels ; but be content that we have a guard of them about us, as every
Christian doth. ' Despise not,' saith Christ, ' these little ones.' They are
about Christians, and about little ones, little in years, and little in esteem ;
♦ for their angels,' &c., Matt, xviii. 10. It is a strange thing. They are
God's angels, but they are theirs for their service. * Their angels behold
the face of your heavenly Father.' So that Christ's angels are our angels ;
they nre angels even of children, of little ones. Nay, let a man be never
BO poor, even as Lazarus, he shall have the attendance of angels, in life
and death. There is no Christian of low degree, of the lowest degree, that
shall think himself neglected of God ; for the very angels attend him, as
* Cf. 2 Kings vi. 17.— G. t That is, ' appearances.'— G.
500 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
we see in Lazarus. There is a general commission for the least, the little
ones.
Likewise, it viaij comfort us in all our extremities whatsoever, in all our
desertions. The time may come, beloved, that we may be deserted of the
world, and deserted of our friends ; we may be in such straits as we may have
nobody in the world near us. Oh ! but if a man be a true Christian, he
bath God and angels about him alway. A Christian is a king ; he is never
without his guard, that invisible guard of angels. What ! if a man have
nobody by him when he dies, but God and his good angels, to carry his
soul to heaven, is he neglected ? Every Christian, if he hath none else
with him, he hath God, the whole Trinity, and the guard of angels, to help
and comfort him, and to convey his soul to the place of happiness. There-
fore, let us never despair, let us never be disconsolate ; whatsoever our
condition be, we shall have God and good angels with us in all our straits
and extremities. Go through all the passages of our life, we see how ready
we are to fall into dangers. In our infancy, in our tender years, we are
committed to their custody : after, in our dangers, they pitch their tents
about us ; as it is, Ps. xxxiv. 7, ' The angels of the Lord pitch their tents
about those that fear the Lord.' In our conversion they rejoice. ' There
is joy in heaven at the conversion of a sinner,' Luke xv. 10. At the hour
of death, as we see in Lazarus, they are ready to convey our souls to the
place of happiness. Lazarus's soul ' was carried by angels into Abraham's
bosom,' Luke xvi. 22. At the resurrection they shall gather our dead
bodies together. It is the office of the angels. In heaven they shall
* praise and glorify God,' together with us for ever ; for ' Christ shall come
with a multitude of heavenly angels,' at the day of judgment : ' when he
shall come to be glorified in his saints,' 2 Thess. i. 10. Then we shall for
ever ' glorify God,' saints and angels together, in heaven. Therefore, in
Heb. xii. 22, it is said, * We are come to the innumerable multitude of
angels.' What is the meaning of that ? That is, now in the New Testa-
ment, by our communion with Christ, we have association with the ' blessed
angels, innumerable company of angels,' saith the Holy Ghost there. We
have association with them even from our infancy, till we be in glory.
Indeed, they are as nurses : ' They shall carry thee, that thou dash not
thy foot against a stone,' as it is in Ps. xci. 11. They keep us from many
inconveniences.
Ohj. But you will say, God's children fall into inconveniences ; how then
are they attended by angels ?
Ans. I answer : First of all, God's angels preserve those that are his,
from many inconveniences that they know not of. And certainly we have
devils about us continually, and there is a conflict betwixt good angels and
devils about us continually. And when we do fall into any inconvenience,
it is because we are not in our way. If we go out of our way, they
have not the ' charge over us ;' they are to keep us ' in our ways.' And
if they keep us not from ' dashing our foot against a stone,' if they keep
us not from ill, yet they keep us in ill, and dehver us out of ill at length ;
for they deliver us not only from evil, that we fall not into it, but they keep
us in ill, and deliver us out of ill, nay, and by ill. If we suffer in the cus-
tody of angels any inconvenience, it is that we may be tried by it, that we
may be exercised and bettered by it. There is nothing that falls out to
God's children in the world, but they gain by it, whatsoever it is. This,
therefore, doth not prejudice the attendance of angels.
Therefore let us comfort ourselves in all conditions for ourselves and for
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501
the state. Put case it be brought to a very small number, that the enemies
were thousands more than we, many thousands and millions ; yet, if we be
in the covenant of grace, and in good terms with God, we have ' more for
us than against us,' we shall have angels fight for us. You know Elisha's
servant, when he saw a multitude of enemies, his eyes were opened to see
a company of angels ; and saith the prophet, * There are more for us than
against us,' 2 Kings vi. 17, seq. So let us be to the eye of the world never
so few and never so weak ; let us but have Elisha's eye, the eye of faith,
and we shall have his guard about us alway and about the commonwealth.
This should comfort us.
But then we must learn this duty, not to grieve these good spirits. As it
is wondrous humility, that they will stoop to be servants to us, that are of
a weaker, baser nature than they, so it is wondrous patience, that they
will continue still to guard us, notwithstanding we do that that grieves
those good spirits : one motive to keep us in the way of obedience, that we
do not grieve those blessed spirits that are our guard and attendance. Let
us consider when we are alone — it would keep us from many sins — no eye
of man seeth ; ay, but God seeth, and conscience within seeth, and angels
without are witnesses : they grieve at it, and the devils about us rejoice at
it. These meditations, when we are solicited to sin, would withdraw our
minds and take up our hearts, if we had a spirit of faith to believe these
things.
Let us learn to make this use likewise, to magnify God, that hath thus
honoured lis ; not only to take our nature upon him, to be ' manifest in the
flesh,' but also to give us his own attendance, his own guard, aguard of angels.
Indeed, we are in Christ above angels, advanced higher than angels. What
cause have we to praise God ! How are we advanced above them ? We
are the spouse of Christ, and so are not angels. They are under Christ as
a head of government and a head of influence. They have strength and
confirmation from Christ. He is not a head of redemption, but of confir-
mation to them. St Paul calls them ' elect angels ' that stand. They
stand by Christ, they have good by him. But they are not the spouse of
Christ. We are the spouse and members of Christ, He hath honoured
our nature more than the angelical : he did not take upon him the nature
of angels, but of men ; and as he hath advanced us above angels, so his
dispensation is, that those glorious creatures should be our attendants for
our good ; and they distaste not this attendance.
And this is that we should know, what care God hath over us, and what
love he bears us ; that he hath honoured us so much that creatures of a
more excellent rank than we are, even the angels, should be serviceable to
us in Christ. And all is, that we should be full of thankfulness.
Ohj. But you will say. What need the guard or attendance of angels to
Christ or to us, to head or members, considering that God is able to guard
us with his almighty power ?
Ans. It is true. The creatures that God hath ordained in their several
ranks, they are not for any defect in God, to supply his want of power, but
further to enlarge and demonstrate his goodness. He is the ' Lord of
hosts,' therefore he will have hosts of creatures, one under another, and
all serviceable to his end. His end is, to bring a company to salvation, to
a supernatural end, to happiness in the world to come ; and he being Lord
of all, he makes all to serve for that end. He could do it of himself; but,
having ordained such ranks of creatures, he makes all to serve for that end,
for the manifestation of his power and of his goodness, not for any defect
502 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
of strength in himself. He could do all by himself. He could have been
content with his own happiness, and never have made a world ; but he made
the world to shew his goodness and love and respect to mankind. So he
will have angels attend us, though he watch over us by his own providence.
This takes not away any care of his, but he shews his care in the attendance
of angels and other creatures. He useth them to convey his care and love
to us.
Obj. But you will say, How can the angels help our souls any kind of
way ? They may help our outward man, or the state where we live ; but
what good do they to the inward man ?
Ans. I answer, The inward man is especially subject to the Spirit of
Christ. It is God that bows the neck of the inward man. But yet not-
withstanding, if the devils can suggest sin, angels are as strong as devils,
and stronger and wiser too. They are wiser than the devil is malicious,
and stronger than the devil is powerful. Whatsoever they can do in evil,
the good angels can in good. Therefore no question, but they suggest
many thoughts that are good They are not only a guard about us, but
they are tutors to teach and instruct us ; they minister good thoughts,
and stir up good motions and suggestions. They work not upon the heart
of man immediately, to alter and change it — that is proper to God — but by
stirring up motions, and by way of suggestion ; as the devils do in ill, so
they in good. Therefore it is said, they ' comforted ' our blessed Saviour ;
which I suppose was more than by their presence. So they comfort God's
children, by presenting to their thoughts (we know not how, the manner is
mystical ; it is not for us to search into that) good motions, by stirring up
to good. Only the altering and changing of our dispositions, that is proper
to the Holy Spirit of God.
Let us often think of this, what a glorious head we have, for whose sake
the angels attend upon us in all estates whatsoever, even till we come to
heaven.
And this should stir us up to labour to be made one with Christ. All
the good we have any way is by the interest we have in Christ first. He
holds it in ccqnte. If we have not a being in our head Christ, we can
challenge nothing in the world, no attendance of angels ; for the angels are
at variance with us out of Christ. We see presently after the fall, the
cherubin was set with his sword drawn to keep the entrance of paradise,
from whence Adam was shut, to shew that presently upon the fall there
was a variance, and a mighty distance between the angels and us. But
now the angels no longer shut paradise ; no, they accompany us in the
wilderness of this world, to the heavenly Canaan, to paradise. They go
up and down Jacob's ladder. They attend upon Christ ; and for his sake
they are ministering spirits for the comfort of the elect. So that all things
are reconciled now in Christ, both in heaven and earth, angels and men.
It should stir us up to get interest in Christ, so that we may have interest
in all these excellent things that first belong to Christ, and then to us.
Whatsoever is excellent in heaven or earth belongs to the king of all, which
is Christ, and to the queen of all, the church ; and the time will come that
there will be no excellency but Christ and his church. All whatsoever is
in the world is nothing. It will end in hell and desperation ; all other ex-
cellencies whatsoever.
This should teach us likewise to carry ovrsches misiverahle to our condition,
to tale a holy state upon its. We should think ourselves too good to abase
ourselves to sin, to be slaves to men, to flesh and blood — be they what they
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 503
will be — to the corruptions and humours of any man, since we have angels
to attend upon us. We are kings, and have a kingly guard. It should
move us to take a holy state upon us. It should force a carriage suitable to
kings, that have so glorious attendance. Undoubtedly, if we had a spiritual
eye of faith to believe and to know this, answerable to the things them-
selves and their excellency, it would work a more glorious disposition in
Christians than there is, to carry ourselves as if we were in heaven before
our time. Oh that we had clear eyes, answerable to the excellency of the
privileges that belong to us.
Again, It should teach us not to despise the meanest Christians, seeing
angels despise not to attend on them. Shall we disdain to relieve them,
that the angels do not disdain to comfort ? To comfort and relieve one
another, it is the work of an angel. Shall any man think himself too
good to help any poor Christian ? Oh the pride of man's nature ! when
the more glorious nature of the angels disdain not to be our servants, and
not only to great and noble men, but to little ones, even to Lazarus. What
a de^dlish quality is en^^ and pride, that stirs us up to disdain to be useful
one to another, especially to those that are inferiors ! We know it was the
speech of wicked Cain, ' Am I my brother's keeper ? ' Gen. iv. 9. Shall I
stoop to him ? Flesh and blood begins to take state upon it, Alas ! if
angels had taken state upon them, where had this attendance been ? The
devils that kept not their first standing, being proud spirits, they disdained
the calling they had ; the good angels humble themselves. God himself,
as it is Ps. cxiii. 6, disdains not to look on things below. When the great
God became man, shall we wonder that angels should attend upon the
nature that God hath so honoured ? What a devilish sin, then, is envy,
and pride, and disdain ! Let these considerations move us to be out of
love with this disposition. The angels J03' at the conversion of others.
Shall that be our heart-smart and grief that is the joy of angels ? Shall
we despise the work of regeneration and the image of God in another ?
Shall it be the joy of angels, and shall it be our sorrow, the welfare and
thriving of others spiritually or outwardly ? Shall we, out of disdain and
env}% think ourselves too good to do anything when it is the delight of
angels ?
The angels are described with wings to fly, in Isa. vi. 2, seq, to shew
their delight in their attendance ; and wings to cover their faces and their
feet, to shew their adoration and reverence of God. The nearer they come
to God, the more reverence. So there is no Christian, but like the angels,
the nearer he comes to God, the more he .abaseth himself and adores God ;
as Job, when he came nearer to God than he was before, 'I abhor myself,'
saith he, ' in dust and ashes,' when God came to talk with him, Job xlii. 6.
The angels, the nearer they come to God, the more reverence they shew ;
the more they cover their faces in his presence. And with the other wings
they fly and do their duty, to shew their expedition in their service to
Christ and his church. They do readily what they do. Let us imitate
the angels in this.
, The angels have a double office : a superior office and an inferior. The
superior office they have is to attend upon God, to serve God and Christ,
to minister to our head. The inferior office is, to attend his church, and to
conflict with the evil angels that are about us continually.
It is good for us to know our prerogatives, our privilege, and our
strength ; not to make us proud, but to stir us up to thankfulness, and to
a holy carriage answerable. It is a point not much thought on by the best
504
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
of US all. We forget it, and beti*ay our own comfort. Satan abusetli us
to make us forget the dignity and strength that we have. Hereby we dis-
honour God and wrong ourselves, and wrong the holy angels, for want of
faith and consideration of these things. A Christian is a more excellent
creature than he thinks of. It is necessary ofttimes to think what a great
degree God hath raised us to in Jesus Christ, that we have this glorious
attendance about us wherever we are. Oh it would move us, as I said, to
comfort and to a reverent carriage ! and, indeed, when we carry ourselves
otherwise, it is for want of minding and behoving these things. I have
spoken something the more of it, because we are subject to neglect this
blessed truth. Therefore, for the time to come, let us take occasion to
meditate oftcner of this spring of comfort than formerly we have done.
' Preached to the Gentiles.'
Christ, our blessed Saviour, being the king of his church, it was not
sufficient that he was ' manifested in the flesh,' and 'justified in the Spirit ;'
that is, declared by his divine power to be God ; but he must have his
nobles to acknowledge this too. Kings in their inaugurations not only
make good their own title what they can themselves, but they would have
others to acknowledge it. Therefore it is said Christ was seen of angels,
those noble and glorious creatures.
But not only the greatest of the kingdom, but likewise the meaner subjects,
must know their king. There must be a proclamation to them to know
who is to rule over them. Therefore, Christ being a general catholic king,
there must be a publication and proclamation of Christ all the world over.
He must be ' preached to the Gentiles.' But yet that is not enough.
Upon proclamation, there must be homage of all those he is proclaimed a
king to. Therefore it follows, ' Beheved on in the world;' that is, the
world must stoop, and submit, and give homage to Christ as the Saviour
of the world, as the Mediator of mankind. Thus we see how these things
follow one upon another. To come to the words,
' Preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world.'
These follow one another by a necessary order, for ' preaching ' goes
before faith. Faith is the issue and fruit of preaching. Christ is first
' preached to the Gentiles,' and then * believed on in the world.' The
points considerable are these :
First, That there must be a dispensation of salvation nrouf/ht hi/ Christ unto
others. It is not sufficient that salvation was wrought by Christ ' manifest
in the flesh, justified in the Spii'it,' but this salvation and redemption
wrought, it must be published and dispensed to others. Therefore he saith
* preached to the Gentiles.'
And then this publication and '^^j'^rtc/ii??^/,' it must be of Christ. Christ
must be published to the Gentiles. All is in Christ that is necessary to be
published.
Then the persons to whom. ' To the Gentiles,' that is, to all. The
church is enlarged since the coming of Christ ; the pales and bounds of
the church are enlarged.
And then the fruit of this. Christ being thus dispensed to the Gentiles,
the world ' believes.' All preaching is for ' the obedience of faith,' as St
Paul saith,' Rom. i. 5, and Rom. xvi. 19, 'That the obedience of the faith
may be yielded to Christ ;' ' preaching to the Gentiles' is, that he may be
believed on in the world.'
First of all. There mxtst he a dispeiisation of Christ.
See the equity of this, even from things among men. It is not sufficient
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
505
that physic be provided ; but there must be an application of it. It is not
sufficient that there is a treasure ; but there must be a digging of it out. ^ It
is not sufficient that there be a candle or light ; but there must be a holding
out of the light for the good and use of others. It was not sufficient that
there was a ' brazen serpent,' but the brazen serpent must be ' lifted up,'
that the people might see it. It is not sufficient that there is a standard,
but the standard must be set up. It is not sufficient that there be a founda-
tion, but there must be a building upon the foundation. It is not suffi-
cient that there be a garment, but there must be a putting of it on. It is
not sufficient that there be a box of ointment, but the box must be opened,
that the whole house may be filled with the smell. It is not sufficient that
there be tapestry, and glorious hangings, but there must be an unfolding
of them. Therefore there must be a dispensation of the mysteries of Christ ;
for, though Christ be physic, he must be applied ; though Christ be a gar-
ment, he must be put on ; though he be a foundation, we must build on
him, or else we have no good by him|; though he in his truth be a treasure,
yet he must be digged up in the ministry ; though he be a light, he must
be held forth ; though he be food, there must be an application. Of neces-
sity therefore there must be a dispensation of the gospel, as well as redemp-
tion wrought by Christ ; * preached to the Gentiles.'
To unfold the point a little, seeing the necessity of it, to shew
What it is to preach.
What it is to j)yeach Christ. And,
What it is to preach Christ to the Gentiles.
1. To preach is to open the mystery of Christ, to open whatsoever is in
Christ ; to break open the box that the savour may be perceived of all. To
open Christ's natures and person what it is ; to open the offices of Christ :
first, he was a prophet to teach, wherefore he came into the world ; then he
was a priest, offering the sacrifice of himself ; and then after he had offered
his sacrifice as a priest, then he was a king. He was more publicly and
gloriously known to be a king, to rule. After he had gained a people by his
priesthood and offering, then he was to be a king to govern them. But
his prophetical office is before the rest. He was all at the same time, but
I speak in regard of manifestation. Now ' to preach Christ ' is to lay open
these things.
Aud likewise the states wherein he executed his office. First, the state
of humihation. Christ was first abased, and then glorified. The flesh he
took upon him was first sanctified and then abased, and then he made it
glorious flesh. He could not work our salvation but in a state of abase-
ment ; he could not apply it to us but in a state of exaltation and glory.
To open the merits of Christ, what he hath wrought to his Father for us ;
to open his efficacy, as the spiritual Head of his church ; what wonders he
works in his children, by altering and raising of them, by fitting and pre-
paring them for heaven: likewise to open all the promises in Christ,
they are but Christ dished and parcelled out. ' All the promises in Christ
are yea and amen,' 2 Cor. i. 20. They are made for Christ's sake, and
performed for Christ's sake ; they are all but Christ severed into so many
particular gracious blessings. ' To preach Christ ' is to lay open all this,
which is the inheritance of God's people.
But it is not sufficient to preach Christ, to lay open all this in the view
of others ; but in the opening of them, there must be application of them
to the use of God's people, that they may see their interest in them ; and
there must be an alluring of them, for to preach is to woo. The preachers
506 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
are ^)flra«!/»?j)/u',* the friends of the bridegroom, that are to procure the
marriage between Christ and his church ; therefore, they are not only to
lay open the riches of the husband, Christ, but likewise to entreat for a
marriage, and to use all the gifts and parts that God hath given them, to
bring Christ and his church together.
And because people are in a contrary state to Christ, ' to preach Christ,*
is even to begin with the law, to discover to people their estate by nature.
A man can never preach the gospel that makes not way for the gospel, by
shewing and convincing people what they are out of Christ, Who will
marry with Christ, but those that know their own beggary and misery out
of Christ ? That he must be had of necessity, or else they die in debts
eternally ; he must be had, or else they are eternally miserable. Now,
when people are convinced of this, then they make out of themselves to
Christ. This therefore must be done, because it is in order, that which
makes way to the preaching of Christ ; for ' the full stomach despiseth an
honeycomb,' Prov. xxvii. 7. Who cares for balm that is not sick ? Who
cares for Christ, that sees not the necessity of Christ ? Therefore we see
John Baptist came before Christ, to make way for Christ, to level the moun-
tains, to cast down whatsoever exalts itself in man. He that is to preach
must discern what mountains there be between men's hearts and Christ ;
and he must labour to discover themselves to themselves, and lay flat all
the pride of men in the dust ; for ' the word of God is forcible to pull down
strongholds and imaginations and to bring all into subjection to Christ,'
2 Cor. X. 4. And indeed, though a man should not preach the law, yet by
way of implication, all these things are wrapped in the gospel. What need
a Saviour, unless we were lost ? What need Christ to be wisdom to us,
if we were not fools in ourselves ? What need Christ be sanctification to
us, if we were not defiled in ourselves ? What need he be redemption, if
we were not lost and sold in ourselves to Satan, and under his bondage ?
Therefore all is to make way for Christ, not only to open the mysteries of
Christ, but in the opening and application to let us see the necessity of
Christ. In a word, being to bring Christ and the church together, our aim
must be, to persuade people to come out of their estate they are in, to come
and take Christ. Whatsoever makes for this, that course we must use,
though it be with never so much abasing of ourselves. Therefore the gospel
is promulgated in a sweet manner. ' I beseech you, brethren, by the
mercies of God,' &c. The law comes with ' Cursed, cursed ;' but now in
the gospel Christ is preached with sweet alluring. ' I beseech you,
brethren,' and ' We as ambassadors beseech you, as if Christ by us did
beseech you,' &c., 2 Cor. v. 20. This is the manner of the dispensation in
the gospel, even to beg of people that they would be good to their own
souls. Christ, as it were, became a beggar himself, and the great God of
heaven and earth begs our love, that we would so care for our own souls
that we would be reconciled unto him. It was fitter, indeed, that we should
beg of him. It was fit we should seek to be reconciled to him, but God so
stoops in the dispensation and ministry of the gospel, that he becomes a
beggar and suitor to us to be good to our souls. As if he had offended
us, he desires us to be reconciled. The wrong is done on our part, yet he
so far transcends the doubtings of man's nature, that he would have nothing
to cause man's heart to misgive, no doubts or scruples to arise. He him-
self becomes a beseecher of reconciliation, as if he were the party that had
* That is, 'Tra^avv/j^fioi = Bridemen. — G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 507
offended. This is tlae manner of the publication of the gospel. I do but
touch things, to shew what it is to preach Christ.
Use. Seeing then of necessity there must be a dispensation together with
the gospel, let ks labour to mognifij this dispensation of 2^^'eachinci, that,
together with redemption and the good things we have by Christ, we have
also the standard set up and the brazen serpent lifted up by preaching ' the
unsearchable riches of Christ ' unfolded to us. It is a blessed condition.
Let us magnify this ordinance, without disparaging other means, of reading,
&c. This preaching is that whereby God dispenseth salvation and grace
ordinarily.
And God in wisdom sees it the fittest way to dispense his grace to men
by men. Why ?
(1.) To try our obedience to the truth itself. He would have men regard
the things spoken, not for the person that speaks them, but for the excel-
lency of the things. If some glorious creatures, as the angels, should
preach to us, we should regard the excellency of the preachers more than
the truth itself ; we should believe the truth for the messengers' sake.
(2.) And then God would knit man to man by bonds of lore. Now there
is a relation between pastor and people by this ordinance of God.
(3.) And then it is more suitable to our condition. We could not hear
God speak, or any more excellent creatures. God magnifies his power the
more in blessing these weak means.
(4.) And it is more ])roj)ortionable to our weakness to have men that speak
out of experience from themselves that preach the gospel, that they have
felt the comfort of themselves. It works the more upon us. Therefore,
those that first preached the gospel, they were such as had felt the sweet-
ness of it themselves first. St Paul, a great sinner out of the church, and
St Peter in the church, he fell, after he was in the state of grace ; that these
great apostles might shew to all people that there is no ground of despair, if
we humble ourselves. If they be sins out of the church, if they be sins
against the first table, as Paul he was ' a blasphemer ;' or against the
second, he was * a persecutor ;' yet he found mercy notwithstanding, and
for this end he found mercy, he saith, that he * might teach the mercy of God
to others, that he might be an example of the mercy of God to others, 1 Tim.
i. 16. And so, if we relapse and fall, let none despair. Peter, a great teacher in
the church, an apostle, see how foully he fell ! Now, when men subject to
the ' same infirmities ' shall discover the mercy of God out of the book of
God, it works the more upon us.
It is good for us to have a right esteem of the ordinances of God, because
the profane heart of man doth think it a needless matter.
Quest. Some are ready to say. Cannot I as well read privately at home ?
Ans. Yes. But the use of private exercises, with contempt of the public,
they have a curse upon them instead of a blessing. It is with such men
as with those that gathered manna when they should not ; it stank. Hath
God set up an ordinance for nothing, for us to despise ? Is not he wiser
to know what is good for us better than we do for ourselves ? God accom-
panies his ordinance with the presence of his blessed Spirit. The truth read
at home hath an efficacy, but the truth unfolded hath more efficacy. As we
say of milk warmed, it is fitter for nourishment, and the rain from heaven
hath a fatness with it, and a special influence more than other standing
waters ; so there is not that life and operation and blessing that accom-
panies other means that doth preaching, being the ordinary means where it
may be had.
508 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
Obj. Ay, but this ordinance of God, ' preaching,' it is only for the laying
the foundation of a church ; it is not for a church when it is built. Then
other helps, as prayer and the like, without this, may suffice.
Ans. Those that have such conceits, they make themselves wiser than
the Spirit of God ; in St Paul, we see in Eph. iv. 8, seq. Christ, ' when
he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, he gave gifts to men, some
apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, for the edifying and building up
of the church.' So that this ordinance it is necessary for building up still,
and for the knitting of the members of Christ together still. Therefore,
that is a vain excuse.
Obj. Oh, but what need much, less would serve the turn.
Ans. Thus people grow to contemn and despise this heavenly manna.
But those that are acquainted with their own infirmities, they think it a
happiness to have plenty ; for naturally we are dull, we are forgetful, we
are unmindful. Though we know, we do not remember ; and though we
remember, yet we do not mind things. We are naturally weak, and there-
fore we need all spiritual supports and helps that may be, to keep the
vessel of our souls in perpetual good case. The more we hear and know,
the fitter we are for doing and suifering ; our souls are fitter for communion
with God for all passages, both of life and death. Therefore we cannot
have too much care this way.
Oh let us therefore choose Mary's part, ' the better part,' that will never
depart from us ; and take heed of profane conceits in this kind. It is to
the prejudice of our souls. We must know, that whensoever God sets up
an ordinance, he accompanies it with a special blessing. And we are not
so much to consider men in it, but consider the ordinance, which is his ;
and being his, there is a special blessing goes with the dispensation of the
word, by the ministry.
Obj. Others object, they know it well enough ; and therefore they need
not to be taught,
Ans. The word of God preached, it is not altogether to teach us, but,
the Spirit going with it, to work grace, necessary to ' strengthen us in the
inward man,' 2 Cor. iv. 16. And those that say they know it enough,
deceive themselves. They know it not. Religion is a mystery, and can
it be learned at the first ? There is no mystery but it requires many years
to learn. If it be but a handicraft, men are six or seven years learning
it. And is religion, and the mysteries and depths of it, learned so soon,
think we ? There is a mystery in every grace, in repentance, in faith, in
patience, that no man knows, but those that have the graces [and] what
belongs to those graces. Religion consists not in some parts and abilities
to speak and conceive of these things ; and yet that is hardly learned, be-
ing contrary to our nature, having no seeds of these things. Even the
outside of religion, that is the preparative to the inward ; there is somewhat
to do to bring our hearts to these things. But, then, religion itself is a
deep mystery ; it requires a great deal of learning.
Let us therefore set a price upon God's ordinance. There must be this
dispensation. Christ must be ' preached.' Preaching is the chariot that
carries Christ up and down the world. Christ doth not profit but as he
is preached. For supernatural benefits, if they be not discovered, they
are lost ; as we say of jewels, if they be not discovered, what is the glory
of them ? Therefore there must be a discovery by preaching, which is the
ordinance of God for that end. Whereupon God stirred up the apostles
before, that were the main converters of the world. They had some pre-
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 509
rogatives above all other preacliers. They had an immediate calling, ex-
traordinary gifts, and a general commission. In them was established a
ministry to the end of the world. ' Christ, when he ascended on high and
led captivity captive' — he would give no mean gift then, when he was to
ascend triumphantly to heaven — the greatest '"gift he could give was, ' some
to be prophets, some apostles, some teachers, for the building up of the
body of Christ, till we all meet a perfect man in Christ.' ' I will send
them pastors according to my own heart,' saith God, Jer. iii. 15. It is a
gift of all gifts, the ordinance of preaching. God esteems it so, Christ
esteems it so, and so should we esteem it.
And to add this further, to clear it from whatsoever may rise up in any
man's mind, do hut consider in experience, where God sets up his ordinance,
how many souls are converted. Some are savingly cast down and then raised
up again. Their lives are reformed. They walk in the light, they know
whither they go. They can give an account of what they hold. The state
of those that live under the ordinance of God is incomparably more hght-
some, and comfortable, and glorious, than those that are in the dark, that
want it. If we had no other argument, experience is a good argument.
Where doth popery and profaneness reign most ? In those places where
this ordinance of God is not set up ; for popery cannot endure the breath
of the gospel. Thus we see the necessity and benefit of preaching.
But then, in the next place, this preaching it must be of Christ ; Christ
must be 'preached.'
Quest. But must nothing be preached but Christ ?
Ans. I answer. Nothing but Christ, or that that tends to Christ. If we
preach threatenings, it is to cast men down, that we may build them up.
If a physician purge, it is that he may give cordials. Whatsoever is done
in preaching to humble men, it is to raise them up again in Christ; all makes
way for Christ. When men are dejected by the law, we must not leave
them there, but raise them up again. Whatever we preach, it is reductive
to Christ, that men may walk worthy of Christ. When men have been
taught Christ, they must be taught to ' walk worthy of Christ, and of their
calling,' Col. i. 10, that they may carry themselves fruitfully, and hohly,
and constantly, every way suitable for so glorious a profession as the pro-
fession of Christian religion is. The foundation of all these duties must
be from Christ. The graces for these duties must be fetched from Christ ;
and the reasons and motives of a Christian's conversation must be from
Christ, and from the state that Christ hath advanced us unto. The pre-
vailing reasons of an holy life are fetched from Christ. ' The grace of
God hath appeared' — saith St Paul, ' it hath shined gloriously' — ' teaching
us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, and
righteously, and holily, in this present evil world,' Titus ii. 12. So that
Christ is the main object of preaching. This made St Paul, when he was
among the Corinthians, to profess no knowledge of anything but of ' Christ,
and him crucified ;' to esteem and value nothing else. He had arts and
tongues and parts. He was a man excellently qualified, but he made show
of nothing in his preaching, and in his value and esteem, but of Christ, and
the good things we have by Christ.
Now Christ must be preached wholly and only. We must not take any-
thing from Christ, nor join anything to Christ. The Galatians did but
believe the necessity of ceremonies with Christ ; and the apostle tells them,
' Ye are fallen from Christ,' Gal. v. 4. It is a destructive addition, to add
anything to Christ. Away with other satisfaction. The satisfaction of
510 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
Christ is enough. Away with merits. The merits of Christ are all-suffi-
cient. Away with merit of works in matter of salvation. Christ's right-
eousness is that that we must labour to be found in, and ' not in our own,'
Philip, iii. 9. All is but ' dung and dross,' Philip, iii. 8, in comparison of
the excellent righteousness we have in Jesus Christ. You must hear, and
we must preach all Christ and only Christ. St Paul saith, he was 'jealous
with a holy jealousy' over those he ' taught.' Why ? ' Lest Satan should
beguile them, and draw them from Christ,' to any other thing, 2 Cor. xi. 2.
Why is the Church of Kome so erroneous, but because she leaves Christ
and cleaves to other things ? Therefore we must labour to keep chaste
souls to Christ, and those that are true preachers, and ambassadors, and
messengers, they must be ' jealous with a holy jealousy' over the people of
God, that they look to nothing but Christ.
Christ must be preached ; but to whom ? ' To the Gentiles.'
Here lies the mystery, that Christ, who was ' manifest in the flesh, justi-
fied in the Spirit,' &c., should be ' preached to the Gentiles.' What were
the Gentiles ? Before Christ's time they were ' dogs,' in our Saviour
Christ's censure. ' Shall I give the children's bread to dogs ?' Mat. xv. 27.
Before Christ's time they ' sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death,'
Ps. cvii. 10. Before Christ's time they were ' the halt and the lame,' that
he, the great feast-maker, sent to bid come in, Luke xiv. 21. They were
* aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,' without Christ, * without God
in the world,' Eph. ii. 12 ; without God because they were without Christ.
It is not to be imagined in what misery the poor Gentiles were before the
coming of Christ, except some few proselytes that joined themselves to the
Jewish Church, for the Gentiles worshipped devils. What were all their
gods but devils ? They were under the kingdom of Satan when the gospel
came to be preached among them. They were ' translated ' out of the
kingdom of Satan, into the blessed and glorious kingdom of Christ, Col.
i. 13. Yet we see here, notwithstanding, they were such kind of people ;
the mystery of the gospel is preached to these, * to the Gentiles.'
It was such a mystery as St Peter himself, although he were acquainted
with it ofttimes by Christ, and he might read of it in the prophets, yet,
notwithstanding, he was to be put in mind of it. Acts x. 13. When he
was to go to Cornelius he saw a vision full of beasts, and a voice saying,
' Kill and eat,' and indeed, the ' Gentiles' were little better than beasts.
They were esteemed so before they had the gospel, and the preaching of it
to them. You see it was a mystery to St Peter himself.
Ohj. But why did God suffer the Gentiles to ' walk in their own ways ?'
as the apostle saith. Acts xiv. IG. Why did he neglect and overlook the
Gentiles, and suffer them to go on ' in their own ways,' so many thousand
years before Christ came ? Were they not God's creatures as well as the Jews ?
I answer. This is a mystery, that God should suffer those witty* people,
that were of excellent parts, to go on ' in their own ways.' But there was
matter enough in themselves. We need not call God to our bar to answer
for himself. They were malicious against the light they knew. They
imprisoned the light of nature that they had, as it is Eom. i. 21. They
were unfaithful in that they had. Therefore, besides that it is a mystery,
God may well be excused. Do but look to the judgment that some of the
heathens had of divine things, what reprobate and malicious judgments
they had, how basely they esteemed of the Jews. The Jewish nation,
saith TuUy, shew how God regards them, in that she hath been overcome
* That is, ' wise.' — G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 511
SO oft, by Nebuchadnezzar and Pompey, &c.* What a reasoning was this.
And that proud historian Tacitus, how scornfully doth he speak of
Christians (k). It is not to be imagined the pride that was in the heathens
against the Jewish religion, especially the Christian religion, how they
scorned and persecuted it, in the beginning of it. So you see, in the best
of the heathen men there was matter and ground of God's just condemning
of them ; therefore we need not quarrel with God against that.
Ohj. But here is another mystery, "Why the Gentiles, being all alike
naught,! Crod should leave the better of the Gentiles, and reveal Christ to
the worst. Were not Socrates, and Plato, and such like, more goodly
moralists than the Corinths and Ephesians ? What kind of people were
the Corinthians ? A proud people, ' fornicators, idolaters ;' as the apostle
eaith, ' such were some of you,' Eph. v, 8, and 1 Cor. vi. 11. Here is a
mystery.
Ans. It is God's sovereignty. We must let God do what he will. ' He
will be merciful to whom he will be merciful,' and ' he will neglect whom
he will.' Saith Austin, ' We must be very reverent in these matters ;' it
is most safe to commit all to God, and usurp no judgment here (IJ. It' is
a mystery ; yet there is some satisfying reason may be given why the
Gentiles were called, when Christ came in the flesh, and not before ;
besides many prophecies foretold that it should be so, and some reason may
be given why it was so.
Because they were to be incorporate to the Jews, to be ' fellow-citizens '
with the church of the Jews. They were to be of God's household, as it
is excellently and largely set down in Eph. ii. 19. Now Christ coming
took down the ' partition-wall.' Christ is the centre in whom they meet,
in whom they are one. Therefore they met one with another when Christ
came, because he is the Saviour of both. He is the ' corner-stone' whereupon
both are built. So that now they are ' fellow- citizens' since Christ came.
And you see in the genealogy of Christ, he came both of Jews and Gen-
tiles, as we see in Euth. Divers of our Saviour's ancestors, they were
Gentiles as well as Jews, to shew that he that came of both, he came to be
the Saviour of both. But it is the safest, as I said before, in these queries,
to rest in the wise, unsearchable dispensation of God, and rather be thank-
ful that God hath reserved us to these times and places of knowledge, than
to ask why our forefathers did not know Christ. We enjoy a double spring
of the gospel, and the benefits of it. First, we were delivered from heathen-
ism. What kind of people were we in Julius Cfesar's time ? Barbarous
people.]: And after, when popery came in, God delivered us from that'; there
was a second spring. Yet how few give God praise, that hath had mercy
on us Gentiles, that hath delivered us from Gentilism, and from the dark-
ness of popery. But we grow weary of religion, as they did of manna.
Numb. xi. 6.
Let us therefore make good use of it, that God hath been merciful to us
Gentiles in these later times. And let us that are born in the precincts of
the church help our faith in the time of temptation this way. Certainly
God means well to my soul. I might have been born before, in times of
ignorance and places of ignorance, and never have heard of Christ ; but I
have been baptized and admitted into the church : and by that there is an
obligation. Before I understood myself, I was bound to believe in Christ.
God was so careful of my soul when I understood nothing, that there should
* Cf. Note in Vol. I. page 303.— G. % Cf. note c, page 539.— G.
t That is, 'wicked.'— G.
512 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
be a bond for me to believe in Christ. If God bad not meant well to my
soul, I should not have lived so much as to hear of the gospel. Thus we
should gather upon God, as the woman of Canaan did upon our Saviour
Christ, and fight against all distrust and unbelief, and all temptations of
Satan, that present God as though he cared not for us. There cannot be
too much art and skill to help our faith this way.
Again, the Gentiles have now interest in Christ since the coming of Christ,
and not before. It is a mystery. It were not a mystery, if the Gentiles
had had an interest in Christ, and been within the pale of the church
before.
There are several degrees of the dispensation of salvation. There is,
first, the ordaining of salvation. That was before all worlds. And then
the promise of salvation. That was when Adam fell. Then there is the
procuring of salvation promised. That was by Christ, when he came in
the flesh. Then there is the promulgation and enlarging of salvation to all
people. This was after Christ was come in the flesh. Then there is the
perfect consummation of salvation in heaven. Now the execution of the
promise, and the performance of all good concerning salvation, it was re-
served to Christ's coming in the flesh ; and the enlargement of the promise
to all nations was not till then. I do but touch this, to shew that God
hath had a special care of this latter age of the world. Some account the
first age of the world to be a golden age, the next silver, and then an iron
age. But indeed we may invert the order. We live in the golden age, the
last ages, when Christ was * manifested.' What is the glorj' of times and
places ? The ' manifestation of Christ.' The more Christ is laid open
with his ' unsearchable riches,' the more God glorifies those times and
places ; and that is the golden age where the gospel is preached.
Therefore, we cannot be too much thankful for that wondrous favour
which we have enjoyed so long time together, under the glorious sunshine
of the gospel.
Hence we have a ground likewise of enlarging the gospel to all people,
because the Gentiles now have interest in Christ ; that merchants, and
those that give themselves to navigation, they may with good success carry
the gospel to all people. There are none shut out now, since Christ, in this
last age of the world ; and certainly there is great hope of those Western
people. We see the gospel hath imitated the course of the sun. The Sun
of righteousness hath shincd like the sun in the firmament. The sun
begins east, and goes to the west ; so the gospel. It began in the eastern
parts. It hath left them ; they are under the Turkish barbarous tyranny
at this time. The gospel is now come to the western parts of the world.*
For Christ will take an holy state upon him, and will not abide long where
he is disesteemed, where the gospel is under- valued, and blended with that
which is prejudicial to the sincerity! of it; when there is little care had what
men believe. The state of the gospel and truth is such, that if it be mingled
overmuch with heterogeneal stufi", it overthrows it ; and Christ will not
endure this indignity. Therefore, let us take heed that we keep Christ
and his truth with us exactly ; and let us take heed of sinning against the
gospel, if we would have it stay with us, especially of sins immediately
against the gospel, as for instance,
1. Take heed of joining siiperstitioii and popish trash icith it, or the like,
that will eat out the very heart of the gospel, and sets up man in the place
of Christ.
* Cf. note i, Vol. I. p. 101.— G. t That is, ' purity.'— G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 613
2. Again, Take lieed of decaying in our first love. We see God tlireateneth
the cliurcli of Ephesus, for not cherisliing and maintaining her first love ;
that he would remove not only the gospel, but the * candlestick,' the church
itself. For security in abundance and plenty, and decay in her first love,
God threateneth that he will scatter the candlestick, the church itself, into
foreign places.
3. Again, A sin against the gospel is iinfruitfulness under it. When men
shall have the blessed influence of the gospel, the soul- saving truth, the
good word to be long among them, and to be as barren under it as if they
were pagans ; for the gospel to have no more power over our souls than
if we had no gospel at all ; that there is no difi'erence between us and
heathens in regard of our conversations ; to go no further then they,
nay, not so far in honesty, and justice, and sobriety : let us take heed of
these and the like sins against the gospel. And I say, it should be a
ground of labouring the conversion of those that be savages, be they never
so barbarous, to labour to gain them to Christ. There are indeed some
hindrances. There be Jannes and Jambres among them, instruments of
the devil, to keep them in blindness and ignorance, and then custom that
they are bred in, — which prevails most with the sorriest people, — for ignorant
people that have their wits determined to one way they are so strong in it,
as they are not to be untaught ; as it is hard to teach a beast, because he
is taught to go one way, for want of variety of conceptions, being void of
reason. Now, people by nature are little better than beasts. Therefore
they are so fixed and determined in that way they are brought up in, and
are so settled by the devil and those priests among them, and by the tyranny
of those that have come among them, the Spaniards, &c., that hath hin-
dered their conversion much, yet, take them as bad as they can be, God
hath a time for them. What were we of this nation sixteen hundred years
agone ? There is a fulness of the Gentiles to come in ; and certainly it is
not yet come fully. For it is probable, nay, more than probable, that there
are some people that never had the gospel ; and the fulness of the Gentiles
must come in before the other mystery of the calling of the Jews. I speak
it to encourage those that have interest that way, not to take violent courses
with them. There is nothing so voluntary as faith. It must be wi'ought
by persuasions, not by violence ; and there is a ground of encouragement
hence, that since the coming of Christ there is a liberty for all nations to
come in. Christ must be ' preached to the Gentiles.'
To conclude this point. Let us consider that we are those Gentiles that
have enjoyed this preaching of Christ; and it is the glory of our nation.
It is not our strength, or riches, or any ornament above others, that sets
us forth, so much as this, that we have the gospel * preached ' among us,
that these blessed streams run so plentifully everywhere among us. Let
us labour to value this inestimable benefit. Where the gospel is not
' preached,' there the places are salt-pits, despicable places, whatsoever
they are else, as it is in Ezekiel.* They are under the kingdom of Satan.
It is the glory of a nation to have the truth among them. ' The glory of
Israel' was gone when the ark was taken, 1 Sam. iv. 21. The religion
and truth we enjoy it is our ark ; our glory is gone if we part with that.
Therefore, whatsoever God takes from us, let us desire that he would still
continue the gospel of truth, that he would still vouchsafe to dwell among
us, and not leave us. What were all things in the world besides, if we had
not the blessed truth of God ? We must leave all ere long. Therefore let
* Query, Zeph. ii. 9 ? But cf. alao Ezek. xlvii. 11.— G.
VOL. V. K k
514 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
US labour to have the eyes of our understanding enhghtened, to conceive
aright of the difference of things, and to value ourselves by this, that Christ
is ' manifested 'to us ; and thereby we have interest in Christ, more than
by any interest and part and portion in the world besides. For then
Christ will delight to be with us still, when we make much of him, and
esteem, and prize, and value him.
' Believed on in the world.'
After ' preached to the Gentiles,' he joins * believed on in the world,' to
shew that faith ' comes by hearing.' Indeed, ' preaching ' is the ordinance
of God, sanctified for the begetting of faith, for the opening of the under-
standing, for the drawing of the will and afiections to Christ. Faith is the
marriage of the soul to Christ. Now in marriage there must not be a mis-
take and error in the person, for then it is a kind of nullity. Now that
the person to whom we are to be married by faith may be known to us,
there is an ordinance of preaching set up, to lay open our ow^n beggary and
necessity, what we are without him ; and to open the riches of our husband,
the nobility, and privileges, and whatsoever is glorious in Christ, that the
church may know what a kind of husband she is like to have. In Rom.
X. 14, seq., you have the scala coeli, the ladder of heaven, as a good old
martyr called it ; and we must not presume to alter the staves of that
ladder [m). ' How can they call upon him in whom they have not believed ?
and how shall they believe without a preacher ? and how shall they preach
unless they be sent ?' Here is preaching, and believing, and then prayer.
There are some that are bitter against this ordinance of preaching, and
advance'^another excellent ordinance of prayer, to the disparagement of this :
if they would join them both together, it were well. You see what the
apostle saith : ' How shall they call upon him in whom they have not
believed? and how shall they beheve without a preacher?' without this
oi"dinance of preaching ? shewing that we cannot have the spirit of prayer
without faith, nor faith without preaching. And the wise man saith, ' He
that turns his ear from hearing the law ' (under what pretence soever), ' his
prayer shall be abominable,' Prov. xxviii. 9. The prayers of such men
that would cry down this ordinance, how are they like to be accepted ?
They are abominable. We see here the apostle sets them down in this
degree, hearing, and believing, and prayer ; and here in this place preaching
goes before believing.
Therefore the gospel unfolded is called ' the word of faith,' because it
begets faith. God by it works faith ; and it is called the ' ministry of
reconciliation,' 2 Cor. v. 18, because God by it publisheth reconciliation.
As preaching goes before believing, so it is the blessed instrument, by
reason of the Spirit accompanying of it, to work faith. In the ministry of
the gospel there is not only an unfolding of the excellent things of Christ,
but there is grace given by the Spirit to believe. And herein this publi-
cation and proclamation differs from all other publications in the world.
Men may publish and proclaim what they would have, but they cannot
give hearts to believe it. But in the blessed promulgation and publishing
of divine truths, there is the Spirit of God accompanying it, to work what
it publisheth. It opens the riches of Christ, and oflers Christ ; and Christ
is given to the heart with it. It publisheth what is to be believed and
known, and it alters our courses. Together with it there goes a power —
the Spirit clothing the ordinance of preaching — to do all. Therefore it is
called 'the ministry of the Spirit,' 2 Cor. iii. 8. Why? Because what
is pubhshed in the preaching of the word, to those that belong to God, it
THE FOUXTMN OPENED. 515
hath the Spirit to convey it to the souls of God's people. Therefore he
saith here, first preached and then believed.
Therefore, those that are enemies to this ordinance of God, they arc
enemies of the faith of God's people, and by consequent, enemies of the
salvation of God's people. But the more the proud and haughty atheistical
heart of man riseth against it, the more we should think there is some
divine thing in it. It must needs be excellent, because the proud heart of
man stomachs* it so much. We see here it is the means to work faith.
Therefore, as we esteem faith and all the good we have by it, let us be
stirred up highly to prize and esteem of this ordinance of God. So much
for the coherence or connection, 'preached to the Gentiles,' and then
* Believed on in the world.'
For the words themselves, we see here, first, that Christ, as he must be
unfolded in preaching, so he must be ' believed on.'
Because the dispensation ministerial is not enough, unless there be an
applying grace in the heart ; and that is a spirit of faith, whose property
is, to make peculiar that that is offered. There is a virtue of application
in this grace of faith. Where there is a giving there must be a receiving,
or else the gift is inefiectual. Christ is the garment of the soul. He is
the foundation and food, &c. As I said before, he is our husband. We
must give our consent. ' Believing ' is a spiritual marriage. In marriage
there must be a consent. This consent is faith. That makes up the bond
between Christ and the believing soul. Therefore of necessity there must
be faith ; all else, without believing in Christ, is nothing. Faith is the
means of making Christ our own, and no other thing whatsoever.
The papists have ridiculous means, that they understand not themselves,
nor anybody else. They make the sacrifice of the Mass a means to apply
Christ, and other courses ; but the ministerial means to apply to Christ is
the preaching of the gospel, and faith that is wrought by the ministry of
the gospel ; and there is no other way of application, by the Mass, or any
such thing. Christ without faith doth us no good ; in Heb. iv. 2, ' The
word that they heard did not profit them, because it was not mingled with
faith.' The word of God, the gospel, it is the ' power of God to salvation ;'
but it is to all that 'believe,' 1 Peter i. 5. Whatsoever good Christ doth
to us, he doth it by faith. It is a rule in divinity, and it is to purpose in
the deciding some controversies, that a spiritual benefit, not known and
applied, is a nullity ; because God intends all, whatsoever we have, to be
opened to us and applied, that he might have the glory, and we the com-
fort. We see the excellency and necessary use of this grace of faith.
How is Christ to be believed on ?
1. We must rest iqion no other thinrf, either in ourselves or out of ourselves,
hut Christ only. In popery they have many other things to rest on, and
their faith being corrupt, all their obedience likewise is corrupt that springs
from it. They dishonour Christ to join anything in the world with him.
The apostle is wondrous zealous in this, to have nothing joined with Christ ;
as in Gal. v. 2, ' If ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing ;'
only Christ must be believed on in matter of salvation.
2. And whole Christ must be received. ' Believing ' is nothing but a taking
or receiving of Christ as a Lord and as a Saviour ; as a priest, to redeem
us by his blood ; and Christ as a king, to govern us. We must take whole
Christ.
We see what manner of faith is in most men, that snatch out of Christ
* That is, = resents, dislikes. — G.
516 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
-what they list, to serve their cwn turn. As he died for their sins, so they
are glad of him ; but as he is a lord and king to rule and govern them, so
they will have none of him, but * turn the grace of God into wantonness,'
Jude 4. But Christ, as we must rest and rely on him only, so we must
receive him and believe on him wholly.
Now faith looks upon Christ as the main object of it, as it justifieth.
The same faith it looks upon the whole word of God as a divine truth
revealed ; but for the main work of it, it looks upon Christ. Christ is the
jewel that this ring of faith doth enclose ; and as the ring hath the value
from the jewel, so hath faith from Christ. In the main point of justifica-
tion and comfort, faith lays hold upon Christ for mercy ; for the distressed
afflicted soul it looks first of all to comfort, and peace, and reconciliation ;
therefore it looks first to him that wrought it — that is, Christ. Now, tbe
same faith that doth this, it believes all divine truths, the threatenings,
and precepts, &c. Faith chooseth not its object to believe what it lists,
but it carries the soul to all divine truths revealed. But when we speak of
justifying faith, then Christ, and the promises, and the mercy of God in
Christ, is the first thing that the soul looks unto.
Christ is the first object of faith, before any benefit or gift that we have
from him ; first, we must receive Christ before we have any grace, or
favour, or strength, from him. And a sanctified soul looks first to Christ,
to the love of Christ, to the person of Christ, and then to his goods and
riches. As one that is married, she regards first the person of her hus-
band, and then looks to the enjoyment of his goods, and inheritance, and
nobilities, or else it is no better than a harlot's love. So faith looks to the
person first. It knits us to Christ, to be in love with, and to embrace
Christ, and then it looks to all the good things we have by him. For he
never comes alone. There is a woiM of good things in him : all that tends
to grace and glory. Yet it is the person of Christ that the soul of a Chris-
tian principally looks to. Other divine truths are the object of faith to
direct and sway our lives ; yet, notwithstanding, they are not the object of
faith ; when we look for comfort, for forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation
with God, then it looks to Christ especially.
Therefore we that are ministers of the gospel of Christ should especially
look to unfold the riches of Christ ; and those that are God's people
should especially desire to have Christ unfolded, and the riches of God's
love in Christ. The soul that ever found the sting of sin, the conscience
that ever was awakened to feel the wrath of God, it accounts nothing so
sweet as evangehcal truths, those things that concern his Husband and
Saviour. A carnal man loves to hear moral points wittily spoken of, as
delightful to his ear ; but the soul that understands itself, what it is by
nature, that ever felt in any degree the wrath of God for sin, of all points,
it desires most to hear of Christ and him crucified. Therefore we may
judge ourselves by our ears, of what tempers our souls are ; for ' the ear
tastes of speeches as the mouth doth meat,' as Job saith, Job xii. 11.
* Believed on in the world.'
By * world,' especially here in this place, is meant the world taken out
of the world, the world of elect. There is a world in the world, as one
saith well in unfolding this point ; as we see, man is called a little world in
the great world (ji). Christ was preached to the world of wicked men,
that by preaching, a world might be taken out of the world, which is the
world of believers. Hence we may clear our judgments in that point, that
when Christ is said to redeem the world, it must not be understood gene-
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
517
rally of all mankind. We see here, the world is said to believe in
Christ. Did all mankind believe in Christ ? was there not a world of un-
believers ?
We see here Christ ' believed on in the world ' — the world that was
opposite, that were enemies, that were under Satan. Who shall despair,
then ? Therefore, let us conceive well of Christ. Why was he ' manifest
in the flesh ? ' and why is there an ordinance of preaching ? Wherefore is
all this, but that he would have us believe, be our sins what they will ?
Put the case that there were a world of sin in one man, that one man were
a world of naughtiness; as in some sense, St James saith, 'there is a world
of wickedness in the tongue,' James iii. 6. If in the tongue, much more
in the heart, which is the sink of wickedness. But put the case, there were
a world of wickedness in one man, what is this to the satisfaction of ' God
manifest in the flesh,' and to the infinite love of God, now pacified in
Christ, looking upon us in the face of his beloved Son ? You see here
Christ is * believed on in the world.' Do but consider what is meant by
the world in Scripture, how it is set down to be in an opposite state to
Christ, and look to the particular state of the Gentiles, that are said to be
the world. What wretched people were the Corinthians before they be-
lieved, and the Ephesians, and the rest !
Let no man therefore despair ; nor, as I said before, let us not despair
of the conversion of those that are savages in other parts. How bad soever
they be, they are of the world, and if the gospel be preached to them,
Christ will be ' believed on in the world.' Christ's almighty power goeth
with his own ordinance to make it eflectual. Since the coming of Christ,
the world lies before Christ, as beloved of him, some in all nations. The
gospel is like the sea : what it loseth in one place it gaineth in another. So
the truth of God, if it lose in one part — if it be not respected — it gets in
another, till it have gone over the whole world.
And when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in, then comes the conver-
sion of the Jews. Why may we not expect it ? They were the people of
God. We see Christ ' believed on in the world.' We may therefore expect
that they shall also be called, there being many of them, and keeping their
nation distinct from others.
Now, I shall shew how this is a mystery. ' Great is the mystery of
godliness, Christ believed on in the world.' This is a great mystery to join
these together : 'the world ' and ' believing.' It is almost as great a mys-
tery as to join God and man together ; a virgin and a mother;^ to bring an
unbelieving rebellious heart, such as is in the world, and believing together.
It is a great mystery in divers considerations.
1. First, If we consider what the world ivas, an opposite and enemy to
Christ ; and under his enemy, being slaves to Satan, being idolaters, in
love with their own inventions, which men naturally doat on ; ^ here was
the wonder of God's love and mercy, that he should vouchsafe it to such
wretches. We may see by St Paul's epistles what kind of people they were
before they embraced the gospel. Here was God's wondrous dignation,*
that God should shine upon them that ' sat in darkness, and in the shadow
of death,' that were abused by Satan at his will. That the world, that
is, aU sorts of the world, from the highest to the lowest, should at length
stoop to the cross of Christ ; that the emperors should lay their crowns
at Christ's feet, as Constantine and others— Christ at length subdued the
Roman empire itself to the faith ; that the philosophers of the world, that
* That is, ' deigning, or condescension.' — G.
518 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
were witty* and learned, should at length come to embrace the gospel — for
divers of the fathers were philosophers before (o) ; that men of great place,
of great parts, and learning, and education, and breeding, should deny all,
and cast all prostrate at the feet of Christ ; for these to be overcome by
plain preaching ; for meanness to overcome mightiness ; for ignorance to
overcome knowledge ; yet, notwithstanding, these great and wise men of
the world were overcome by the gospel.
It was a mystery that the world should believe. If we consider, besides
their greatness and wisdom, the inward malicious disposition of the world,
being in the strong man's possession, for these men to believe the gospel,
surely it must needs be a great mystery.
2. Again, if we consider the parties f that carried the go&pel, whereby the
world was subdued — a company of weak men, unlearned men, none of the
deepest for knowledge, only they had the Holy Ghost to teach and instruct,
to strengthen and fortify them, — which the world took no notice of, — men of
mean condition, of mean esteem, and few in number : and these men they
came not with weapons, or outward defence, but merely with the word, and
with sufferings. Their weapons were nothing but patience, and preaching,
offering the word of Christ to them, and suffering indignities ; as St Austin
saith, ' The world was not overcome by fighting, but by suffering' {j)). So
the lambs overcame the lions, the doves overcame the birds of prey, the .
sheep overcame the wolves. ' I send you,' saith Christ, ' as sheep among
wolves ; ' and how ? By nothing but by carr3dng a message, and suffering
constantly and undauntedly for going with their message ; for they had
cruel bloody laws made against them, that were executed to the utmost ;
yet by these means they overcame by preaching, and sealing the truth that
they taught by suffering — a strange kind of conquest. The Turks conquer
to their religion, but it is by violent means ; it is a religion of blood. But
here, as I said, meanness overcame greatness, ignorance overcame learning,
simplicity overcame pride, baseness overcame glory ; a mystery in this
respect.
3. Again, If we consider the truth that they taught, being contrary to the
nature of man, contrary to his affections ; to enforce self-denial to men
that naturally are full of self-love, that make an idol of their wit and will ;
for them to come to be taught to be fools, in respect of wit, and to resign
up their wills to the will of another — for these men to believe things that
are above belief to carnal men, as St Austin observes, it was the wonder of
the world {(]). What a kind of doctrine was this, to win such entertainment
in the world as it did ! Yet it did make men deny themselves, deny their
wits, their wills, their goods, their lives. Therefore in this respect it was
a great mystery that Christ should be ' believed on in the world.'
4. Again, If we consider another circumstance, it adds to the mystery ;
that is, the suddenness of the conquest. The world was conquered to the
faith and obedience of Christ. In a short time after Christ, one man, St
Paul, spread the gospel almost all the world over; he conquered almost all
the world ; he spread the savour of the gospel like lightning, suddenly and
strongly, because there was an almighty power and Spirit accompanying the
glorious gospel; and thereupon it came to be thus effectual with the world.
5. Again, It is a wonder in respect of Christ, whom the world ' believed
on.' What was Christ ? Indeed, he was the Son of God, but he appeared
in abased flesh, in the form of a ' servant.' He was crucified. And for
the proud world to believe in a crucified Saviour, it was a mystery.
* That is, 'wise.'— G. t Cf. Vol. III. page 9, footuote.— G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 519
6. Lastly, It is a great mystery, especially in rcftpeet of faith itself, faitli
being so contrary to the nature of man. For the heart of man, where faith
is wrought, to go out of itself, and to embrace a beginning, and principle,
and rising of life from another ; to seek justification and salvation by the
righteousness and obedience of another ; for the proud heart of man to
stoop to this, to acknowledge no righteousness of its own to stand before
the tribunal of God, but to have all derived from Jesus Christ ; to fetch
forgiveness of sins out of the death of another ; to wrap itself in the
righteousness and obedience of Christ, given of Grod for it : the heart of
man, without a supernatural work of the Spirit to subdue it, will never
yield to this, because proud flesh and blood will alway have somewhat in
itself to doat upon, and to set it out before God; and when it finds nothing
in itself, then it despairs. For the heart of man thus to go out of itself,
and rely only upon the righteousness of Christ, not having its own righteous-
ness, this is the greatest mystery. Especially for a guilty soul, that hath
its eyes opened to discern of its own estate ; for a conscience awakened to
trust in God, being a holy God, a just God : for these two to meet to-
gether, God, and a doubting, galled, misgiving conscience, forecasting the
worst ; for such a conscience to find peace by this act of faith casting
itself upon Christ, this is more than can be done by any power of nature.
There is somewhat in nature for all legal obedience. Man naturally hath
some seeds, to love his parents, to hate murder, and the like ; but to go
out of himself, and cast himself upon God's love and mercy in Christ, there
is no seeds of this in nature, but all against foith in Christ. Ofttimes when
a man is cast down, all in the world seems to make against him ; and then
for a man to have his heart raised up by an almighty power to ' believe,'
certainly this must be a mystery. I say, when all makes against him ; his
conscience makes against him, and the judgment of God against him, and
Satan's temptations against him — all the frame of things present seems to
be against him — God himself ofttimes seems to be against him, to be an
offended God, justly offended with his sins. For the soul in this case to
east itself upon God in Christ, there must needs be a hidden and excellent
deep work on the soul. This is the greatest mystery. The greatest difficulty
is in this branch, considering how contrary to the heart of man faith is.
Let us take heed of shallow conceits of faith, as if it were an easy common
universal grace to ' believe.' No, beloved! It is a supernatural powerful
work. Saint Paul sets it out divinely and largely in Eph. i. 18. He calls
it the ' mighty power of God.' It requires not only a power, but an
almighty power, to raise the heart of man to believe. For even as the work
of redemption by Christ is a greater work in itself than the work of creation,
so also the work of conversion.
1. Though they be all one to an infinite power, yet the thing itself is
more difiicult, to make the heart of man to believe, than to make a ivorld of
nothing ; for when God made the world there was nothing to oppose.
There he had to do with simply nothing. But when God comes to make
the heart believe, he finds opposition and rebellion. He finds man against
himself. He finds the heart and conscience against itself. He finds
opposition from Satan, that helps man's distrustful heart. Then all meet
together, afflictions, the sense of God's anger and man's guilty conscience.
Now to make such a man believe, is more than to create a world.
2. And as God shewed more power, so he shewed more mercy in the work
of redemjjtion than in the creation. In the creation there he did good to a
good man ; Adam was created good, and he should, had he stood, have
520
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
continued in a good condition. But in the work of redemption God doth
good to evil men. God transcends in his love, because the glory of his
mercy reigns in the work of redemption ; so that the power, and wisdom,
and mercy being greater in the work of redemption, it requires a more
supernatural power in the soul to apprehend this than any other truth.
As the work in redemption is more glorious, so the divine grace and
virtue in the soul, that makes use of this, which is faith, it must be more
excellent than all other graces whatsoever. And as it must be God that
must save and redeem us, so it must be God that must persuade the heart
of this. As Christ, who is God, must perform the work of redemption, so
it must be God the Holy Ghost that must persuade the heart, that God
loves it so much, and raise the heart to apprehend it, and make use of it;
no less power will do it. Let us, I say, have great conceits of this excellent
grace of faith. ' All men have not faith,' 2 Thes. iii. 2. It is a rare
grace, a rare jewel. When Christ comes, * shall he find faith in the
world ? ' Luke xviii. 8. Certainly it is a mystery for a man to believe in
Christ, for a natural man to be brought to rely upon Christ. ' To you
it is given to believe,' saith the apostle, Mat. xiii. 11.- He might well
say, it is ' given.' It is no ordinary gift neither. Therefore let us
pray with the disciples, ' Lord, increase our faith,' Luke xvii. 5 ; and
with the poor man in the gospel, ' Lord, I beheve, help my unbelief,'
Mat. ix. 24.
The next thing I shall touch shall be this, that faith is put here for all
graces. Here, in these six clauses of this ' great mystery of godliness,' there
is only this one that is within us. ' God manifest in the flesh, justified in
the Spirit, seen of angels, preached to the Gentiles, received up in glory' —
these are all without us. But this one, ' believed on in the world,' that
is only within us, and it is set down instead of all, and indeed so it is ; for
it draws all other graces after it. It enlivens and quickens the soul. It
is the spring of spiritual life in us. It is the first grace of all. There are
some degrees of the Spirit perhaps before it ; but all graces have their
quickening from faith. It infuseth supernatural vigour into all the parts
and powers of the soul, and into all graces whatsoever. Where Christ is
' believed on in the world,' all follows, love and patience, and courage and
fortitude whatsoever ; as we see in Heb. xi. 2, ' By faith they had a good
report.' They had a good report for patience and for courage, and other
good works ; but all these came from faith. Therefore, ' by faith they had
a good report.' Therefore the acting of all other graces, it comes from
faith. By faith, ' Enoch walked with God ;' by faith, Noah and Moses
did so and so, signifying that faith is the ground of all. Faith it fetcheth
spiritual life from Christ for all, whatsoever is good ; it knits us to the
spring of life, Christ ; it is the gi-ace of union. Even as Satan, by unbe-
lief, did infuse all his poison at the first ; for by maldng our first parents
stagger in the word of God came sin ; so by faith all obedience comes ; all
have their rising and beginning from faith.
As it draws spiritual life from Christ, so the encouragements are by
faith, to all other graces whatsoever, for patience and love, &c. Faith must
set before them the object and the reasons from the glory to come, from
the love of God in Christ. When faith propounds all this, then it sths
and quickens all graces. Faith yields strong reasons and discourse, to stir
us up to whatsoever is necessary. Why do I hope for the glory to come ?
I believe it first. Why do I love God ? I beheve he is my Father, in
* Eather Phil. i. 29.— Ed.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 521
Christ. All have strength from love, and that from faith : unless I believe
that God loves me in Christ, I cannot love him ; unless I love him, I can
express no virtue for him, no patience, no good work. So it puts life into
all ; therefore it is here put for all, ' believed on in the world.' It should
stir us up to make much of this faith ; above all graces to desire it.
And being a mystery, and so excellent a grace, we have need to discern
whether we have it or no. Therefore I will touch a few evidences, some of
them out of the text.
1. First, If you believe, it comes usually after preaching. We see here,
* preached to the Gentiles,' and then * believed on in the world.' Whence
came thy faith ? If not by the ordinance of God, thou mayest expect it to
be a bastard faith ; it hath not a right beginning ; especially if it be joined
with contempt of God's ordinance, it is no faith, buf, a presumptuous con-
ceit. Preaching and believing here go one after another. Therefore
examine how thy faith was wrought in thy heart.
2. Again, as I said, faith being a mystery in regard of such a world of
opposition between the heart of man and Christ, Satan helping the unbe-
lieving heart, here must needs be a strife and conflict icith J'aith. There-
fore those men that never had conflict with their own unbelieving heart,
tliat never had conflict with Satan's temptations, they never had faith ; for
it is a mystery to have faith. It is with opposition and conflict. No grace
hath the like conflict and opposition from Satan ; for Satan aims, in all
sins, to shake our faith and affiance in God's love. As God aims at the
strengthening of faith above all, so the devil hates it above all, and in all
temptations whatsoever he aims to shake our faith at the last. Therefore
there must needs be opposition to ourselves and our own doubting nature,
and to Satan's temptations, and to the course of things, that sometimes
are clean opposite to a man. For a sinner to believe the forgiveness of sins ;
for a miserable man to believe glory in the world to come ; for a dying man
to believe life eternal ; for a man tumbled into the grave to believe that he
shall rise from the dead : if there be no conflict with these things, so oppo-
site to faith, there is no faith.
8. Then again, in the third place, it is the spring of all obedience. The
apostle calls it the obedience of faith, Eom. i. 5. All preaching is for the
obedience of faith. Obedience of faith brings obedience of life and con-
versation. Examine thyself, therefore, by the course of thy obedience,
by that that comes from faith. See what it works in thy soul, in thy life
and conversation. And here I might be very large ; for where faith is,
(1.) First of all, after it hath been a means to justify, to lay hold upon
the all-sufficient righteousness of Christ, to stand between God and us, to
clothe and cover our souls, then it jmcifleth the conscience. ' Being justi-
fied by faith, we have peace with God, through Jesus Christ our Lord,'
Rom. V. 1. Faith hath a quieting power. It quiets the soul, because it
propounds to the soul a sufficient satisfaction in God-man. It propounds
to the soul Christ sealed by God the Father. Having done all that is
necessary to salvation, it sets down the soul : for he was God, and there-
fore able ; and man, and therefore willing to save. Faith sets Christ as
wooing us first ; in his ministers inviting us, alluring us, commanding us,
removing objections from our unworthiness. * Come unto me, all ye that
are weary and heavy laden,' Mat. xi. 28 ; and objections from our want of
any goodness : ' Come and buy without money,' Isa. Iv. 1, the all-suffi-
ciency of Christ. Hereupon faith comes to quiet the soul, in the sweet
course that Christ takes to bring the soul to him, being so able and will-
522 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
ing, and shewing his wilHngness by all means that may procure love, that
the soul may rest without doubting. Saith the soul, Surely Christ intends
well to me, being so able, ' God in the flesh,' and setting up an ordinance,
a ministry, whereby he invites me, and allures me, and commands me ;
and then also I have examples before me, of wicked men that have been
converted : hereupon the soul comes to be at rest. Faith hath a quieting
power.
(2.) And then again, there is presently an alteration of the course : Jor-
dan goes backward ; there is a turning of a man wholly ; for faith is a
turning of the soul clean another way. It turns the soul from the world
to Grod and Christ, from the present evil world to a better world. We see
as soon as Zaccheus believed, his thoughts were altered, his esteem of the
things of this life was altered ; ' half my goods I give to the poor,' Luke
xix. 8. We see in the Acts of the Apostles, as soon as they believed,
they burned their books, Acts xix. 19. As soon as a man believes in
Christ, down goes the esteem of the world, and all worldly things whatso-
ever, because he sees a higher excellency in Christ. The poor jailer, when
he had misused the apostles, as soon as he believed, we see how he neglects
all, and makes a feast for them presently.
(3.) As soon as faith enters into the soul, there is a mean and base
esteem of all thinf/s, and a high esteem of Christ. ' All is dung, in compa-
rison of Christ,' Philip, iii. 8. There is a change of the soul, and an
esteem that goes before that change. We work as we esteem. As soon
as we believe, we esteem Christ, and the things of a better life, above all
other things ; and thereupon goes the whole soul, and the bent of it, that
way, though with some conflict. We see in the epistles of St Paul, before
those men believed in Christ, the Ephesians, the Colossians, the Romans,
&c., what wicked people the}^ were before, and how they were changed, as
soon as they believed ; then they were saints.
(4.) Again, Where this faith is, it is a triumphing, a conquering grace, a
prevailing grace. It overcomes the world and whatsoever is opposite, for
it sets before the soul greater things than the world can. The world pre-
sents terrors. What are these ' to the glory that shall be revealed ? ' The
world sets out pleasures to allure us, and profits, and favours, and this and
that ; but what are all these to the favour of God in Christ ? what are they
to heaven ? What can the world set before the soul of a believer that is
not beneath ? Faith can raise the soul above all worldly things. It sub-
dues the natural doubts and loves, the fears of troubles and cares for the
world, and all the affections that were before ruling in the soul. Faith
coming into the soul subdues all to itself, and makes them all serviceable.
Thus it prevails, if not at the first, yet in the continuance of time. It
prevails by little and little in the hearts of all believers. It is a victorious
grace, as we see in Moses and Abraham, &c., how it prevailed against all
obstacles whatsoever. How many discouragements had blessed Abraham
to leave his father's house, and to go he knew not where, and after to
sacrifice his son ! Yet faith overcame all. So Moses to leave the court,
and to cleave to a despised people, what a wox'k of faith was there ! Faith
is victorious. Therefore when people are drawn away with anything, that
the looks of any man scares them, that the very noise of danger afii'ights
them ; when the hope of any rising will make them warp to do anything,
when the hope of any gain will make them crack their conscience ; where
is the triumph of faith ? As I said before, there is a prevailing power in
faith, because faith sets before the soul that which is incomparably better
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 523
and incomparably worse. What is all that man can do in comparison of
hell and damnation ? Conscience saith, If you do this, ye shall die. And
on the other side, what is all the world can give, in comparison of heaven,
which faith presents to the eye of the believer ?
(5.) Again, AVhere this believing is, it is a working grace ; it ivories by
love. By the love to God it desires the communion and fellowship of that
it desires, and it works by love to other believers. It works towards
Satan hatred, toward wicked men strangeness in conversation. It is a
working grace. It works by love, to all good, to God and God's people,
and to ourselves. It makes us have too high esteem of ourselves to be
stained with the base services of sin. It works every way ; and indeed it
must needs be so, when faith sets before the soul the love of God in
Christ : Hath God loved me so, to redeem me from such misery by such
a course as this, ' God manifest in the flesh,' to advance me to such hap-
piness, being, such as I was before, a sinner ? Oh the thought of this
will constrain us, as the phrase of the apostle is, ' The love of Christ con-
straineth me,' 2 Cor. v. 14; and then the soul will be active and earnest
in anything that may be for the honour of Christ. Hath Christ thought
nothing too dear for me, not his own blood, for the salvation of my soul is
the price of his blood ? He came down from heaven, he was ' God mani-
fest in the flesh,' on purpose, in love to my soul ; and shall I think any-
thing too dear for him ? And hereupon faith works and stirs up love,
and when it is stii'red up by it, it is acted by it ; it useth the love of God
in all the performance of worship to God, and in doing all good to our
brethren and to ourselves, to carry ourselves as we should every way.
We see the woman in the Gospel, Luke vii. 47, when she had much for-
given her, ' she loved much.' All duties come from love. What need I
speak of particular branches ? Christ brings all to love. He includes all
duties in that one, in love, because they come from love, and have love to
carry them, and to mingle itself with them ; and love comes from faith.
' Faith working by love ' evidenceth that we believe. Gal. v. 6. Where
there is no love there is no faith. Therefore let us labour to have this
afiection of love kindled. If we would have love kindled, we must stir it
up by faith. You see then that this believing is the leading grace.
Let us labour by all means therefore to water this root. When we
would have trees flourish and thrive, we pour water to the roots of them.
Now, the radical grace in a Christian's soul is this believing, this trusting
in God reconciled in Christ, this relying upon Christ ; a convincing persua-
sion that God and Christ are mine. This is the radical grace of all other.
Let us water and cherish this by all means whatsoever.
And to this end, let us labour to increase in knowledge. ' I know whom
I have believed,' saith the apostle, 2 Tim. i. 12, for all grace comes into
the soul by the light of knowledge. Whatsoever is good is conveyed by
light into the heart. Faith especially is the bent of the will to Christ,
receiving him ; but this comes by a supernatural light, discovering Christ.
Therefore let us desire to hear much of Christ, of his privileges and pro-
mises. The more of Christ we know, the more we shall believe, and say
with the apostle, ' I know whom I have believed,' 2 Tim. i. 12.
It is a fond* and wicked tenetf of the papists, to say that ignorance is
the mother of devotion {r) ; and Bellarmine's tenet is, that ' faith is better
defined by ignorance than by anything else' (s) — a fond and unlearned
conceit. For howsoever the reason and depth of the things of faith cannot
* That is, ' foolish.'— (t. t Spelled ' tenent.'— G.
524 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
be searched, yet we may know the things that are revealed in the Scriptures.
The more I know the things that are revealed concerning Christ, and know
that they are God's truths, the more I know, the more I shall believe.
Faith of necessity requires knowledge ; therefore knowledge is put for all
other graces. * This is eternal life, to know thee, and whom thou hast
sent,' John xvii. 3, because it is an ingredient in all graces. It is a main
ingredient in faith. The more we know, the more we shall believe. ' They
that know thy name will trust in thee,' Ps. ix. 10. Is it not so in men's
matters ? The more we know a man to be able and loving and faithful of
his word, the more we shall trust him. Is it not so in divine things ? The
more we know of Christ and of his riches and truth, the more experimental
knowledge we have of him, that we find him to be so, the more we shall
trust him. Therefore, by the knowledge that is gotten by the means, let
us labour for an experimental knowledge, that so we may trust and be-
lieve in him more and more. Let us look to the passages of our lives in
former times, how gracious God hath been towards us, and take in trust
the time to come, that he will be so to the end. * He is the author and
finisher of our faith,' Heb. xii. 2. And let us search into the depth of our
own wants and weaknesses ; and this will force us to grow in faith more
and more. This will be a means to increase our faith. The more we see
of our own nothingness and inability, without Christ, that we are nothing,
nay, that we are miserable without him, the more we shall cleave to him
and cast oui'selves upon him. Those that have the deepest apprehensions
of their own wants and weakness, usually they have the deepest apprehen-
sions of Christ, and grow more and more rooted in him. The searching of
our own corruptions every day is a notable means to grow in faith, to
consider what we are, if it were not for God's mercy in Christ ; and this
will make us to make out of ourselves to Christ, it will make us fly to the
city of refuge. Joab, when he was pursued, he fled to the horns of the
altar, 1 Kings ii. 28. When conscience pursues us, it will make us fly to
the horns of the altar, to the city of refuge. A search into our own con-
science and ways will force us to live by faith and to exercise faith every
day in Christ Jesus.
And this is to feed on Christ daily, to fly to Christ, when we are stung
with sin, and hunger, in the want of grace and strength, to fl}' to him for
supply ; and so to keep and increase faith by this excellent means. Christ
is all in all to those that hope to be saved by him. Christ is the ground
of our life and comfort, and our happiness. Thei'efore we should make out
to him upon all occasions, to cleave to him in life and death. We cannot
press this point of faith too much. Why are Christians called believers ?
Because believing is all. If we can prove the truth of our faith and belief,
we prove all. If we be faulty in that, all is rotten. ' Whatsoever is with-
out faith is sin,' Kom. xiv. 23. All men's natural morality and civility, it
is, as it were, but copper graces ; but counterfeits. They are but for the
outward appearance, and not in truth. They are not enlivened and quickened
by faith in Christ. But I leave this, and come to the last clause,
' Received up in glory.'
This is the last branch of this divine ' mystery of godliness,' but it is
none of the least. Christ * ascended,' if we respect himself; he was * re-
ceived,' if we look to his Father ;' himself ' ascended,' his Father 'received'
him. The Scripture hath both words : aveSri, he * ascended up,' that is,
for himself; dviXr](p&yi, he was 'received up,' that is, he was assumpted.*
* ' Assumpt' means to 'lift or take up>' Cf. Richardson sub voce. — Q.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 525
There is no difficulty in the words. He ' ascended up' as well as he was
' received up,' positively as well as passively. In his death, he was not
only crucified by others, and delivered by his Father, but he gave himself
to death ; so he was not only ' received up in glory,' but he ' ascended up
into glory.' This shews the exaltation of Christ. The apostle begins
with ' God manifest in the flesh.' There is the descent ; a great mystery,
for the great God to descend into the womb of a virgin, to descend to the
' lowest part of the earth,' Ps. Ixxxvi. 13 ; and then he ends with this,
received up in glory.' The ascent is from whence the descent was. Christ
ascended, and was ' received' as high as the place was whence he camo
down. * God manifest in the flesh,' that is the beginning of all ; * received
up in glory,' that is the consummation and shutting up of all. It implies
all — his exaltation, his resurrection, his ascension, his ' sitting at the right
hand of God,' and his coming to 'judge the quick and the dead ;' especially
is meant his glory after his resurrection, his ascension and ' sitting at the
right hand of God ;' yet supposing his resurrection,
' Keceived up to glory.'
' Glory' implies three things. It is an exemption from that which is
opposite, and a conquering over the contrary base condition. It implies
some great eminency and excellency as the foundation of it, and then a
manifestation of that excellency ; and it implies victory over all opposition.
Though there be excellency, if there be not a manifestation of that excel-
lency, it is not ' glory.' Christ was inwardly glorious, while he was on
earth in the state of abasement. He had true glory, as he was God and
man ; but there was not a manifestation of it, and therefore it is not pro-
perly called ' glory.' There was not a victory, and subduing of all that
was contrary to his glory ; for he was abased, and sufi'ered in the garden,
and died. But where these three are, — an exemption and freedom from all
baseness, and all that may diminish reckoning and estimation, and when
there is a foundation of true excellency, and likewise a shining, a declaring
and breaking forth of that excellency, — there is glory. But Christ, after he
was ' manifest in the flesh,' and had done the work here that he had to do,
he was ' received up to glory ;' that is, all baseness was laid aside. His
glory appearing, all abasement did vanish ; he was victorious over that ;
for, in his resurrection, that was the first degree of his glory. You know,
the cloths that he was bound with were left in the grave, the stone was
removed. All things that might hinder his glory, that might abase him in
body, in soul, or condition, they were removed. There was an excellency
in all that was not before, in regard of manifestation. For his body, it
was now impassible, an immortal, spiritual body. It could sufler no longer.
It was not fed with meat and drink, as in the time of his abasement. It
was a body so agile and so nimble, that he could move even as he would
himself. So there was a glory put upon his body above the sun. There
was a glory upon the soul. All that might hinder that, was subdued ; for
there was no sorrow, no fear, nor grief, as there was in his soul before he
was glorified. So both in body and soul, he was more glorious.
And then for his whole condition, that was glorious. He was abased no
longer, for now he was taken into the highest place of all, above the
heavens ; and as his place is most eminent, so his government is most
eminent. For he is taken up there ' above all principalities and powers,'
as it is Eph. i. 20, and ' is gloriously set down at the right hand of God''
1 Peter iii. 22. All being subject to him, he hath the domination and
government of all. So that whatsoever might shadow and cloud him, all
526 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
ills, either in body, in soul, or condition, all Avas removed, and be was
glorious in all.
For excellency, tbe foundation of glory, tbat was always with bim in bis
very abasement, but now it was ' manifested.' He was ' migbtily declared
to be tbe Son of God, by raising himself from the dead,' Eom. i. 4. He
was declared to be glorious in all those things wherein he could be glorious.
As no person can be glorious but either it must be in body or soul or con-
dition, he was glorious in all ; for he was ' received up ' into the place of
' glory,' to heaven, to the assembly of glory, to the presence of his Father
and the blessed saints and angels, and no question but there was a glorious
welcome. If the angels came so cheerfully to proclaim his incarnation
when he was born, and sang, ' Glory be to God on high, on earth peace, and
good will towards men,' Luke ii. 14, what hind of triumph do you think was
made by all the blessed company in heaven when he was entertained
thither after his abasement ? It is beyond our conceits to imagine.
It will not be altogether unuseful to speak of the circumstances of Christ's
being ' taken up to glory.'
1. ]Vhence was he taken ? He was taken ' up to glory,' from mount
Olivet, "where he used to pray, and where he sweat water and blood, where
he was humbled. From the place of humiliation was his ascension to
glory, shewing unto us that the place ofttimes where v/e pray, where we
are afflicted, our sick-beds, nay, the places of our abasement, the very
prisons, they may be as mount Olivet to us, from whence God will take us
to glory. Let no man, therefore, fear any abasement ; it may prove as
mount Olivet to him in this respect.
2. And whoi was he taken ' up to glory ?' Not before he had finished
his work, as he saith, John xvii. 4, * I have finished the work thou gavest
me to do.' Then he was taken up, when he had done all, when he had
accomplished our salvation ; and after his abasement, not before. So our
taking ' up to glory,' it must be when we have done our ' work,' when we
have finished our ' course,' when we have run our * race,' when we have
' fought the good fight.' And also after our abasement. We must first
' sufl'er ' with Christ, before we can be ' glorified ' with him. Again, if we
speak of the first degree of Christ's glory, his resurrection : he was taken
' up to glory ' when he was at the lowest that could be, when he was in the
grave. So God's church and children, at the lowest they are nearest to
glory. We use to say, Things when they are at the worst are nearest
mending. So is the state and condition of the church of God, and every
particular Christian. When he is lowest he is nearest rising, as we shall
see afterwards.
3. The witnesses of this were the angels. They proclaimed his incarna-
tion with joy ; and without doubt they were much more joyful at his
ascending up to glory. It was in the presence of the angels. So likewise,
when he shall come to manifest his glory at the day of judgment, there will
be ' innumerable thousands of angels.' Those glorious creatures were
witnesses of his glory, and no question but they yielded their joyful attend-
ance and service, that were so willing to attend him at his birth and coming
into the world.
4. He was carried up in the clouds, in which also he shall come again
at the last day.
But before he was taken up * to glory ' he was forty days on earth, to
give evidence to his apostles and disciples of his resurrection, and to instruct
and furnish them in things concerning their callings ; afterwards he was
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 527
taken ' up to glory.' And in all that time of his abode on earth, after hia
first degree of glorj^ his resurrection, he was never seen of sinful eye for
anything we see in Scripture — I mean of those that were scorners of him,
that despised him. The Scribes and Pharisees and carnal people did not
see him. They had no commerce ot all with him after his resurrection.
They that despised him in his abasement had no comfort by his exaltation.
But that which I will chiefly press in this clause shall be to shew, that,
as this is a mystery, so how it is a ' mystery of godliness ' to stir us up to
godliness ; for, as I said before, divine truths and principles they are called
' godliness,' because, where they are embraced, they work godliness, the soul
is transformed into them. Where these truths are ' engrafted in the soul,'
as St Peter saith, they turn the soul into their own nature. Therefore I
will shew how this mystery, Christ ' received up to glory,' breeds a frame
of godliness in the heart.
That it is a mystery it will easily appear. For was it a * great mystery '
that God should take our nature upon him, to be abased in it ? Surely it
must needs be a mystery that God will be glorified in our nature. Was our
nature advanced in his incarnation ? Much more was it glorified in his
exaltation, when he carried it to heaven with him. Here was the mystery
of the exaltation of our nature. God was as much abased as he could be,
being born and dying for us. Our human nature was as much advanced as
it could be, when God raised it up to heaven. God could be no more
abased, remaining God; and man's nature can be no more advanced, remain-
ing the true nature of man. This is a 'great mystery,' the advancement
of our nature in Christ, that was made ' lower than the angels ;' he was ' a
worm, and no man.' Now our nature in Christ is advanced above the
angels. Now this nature of ours in Christ, it is next to the nature of God
in dignity ; here is a mystery.
Among many other respects it is a mystery for the greatness of it. We
see after his ascension, when he appeared to Paul in glory, a glimpse of it
struck Paul down ; he could not endure it. Nay, before he suflered, a very
shadow of his glory, it amazed Peter and James and John ; they could not
bear it ; they forgot themselves : ' Let us build,' say they, ' three taber-
nacles,' &c. If a little discovery of his glory on earth wrought these eifects,
what great glory is it then that he hath in heaven ! Certainly it is beyond
all expression.
In this glorious condition that Christ is received into, he fulfils all his
ofiices in a most comfortable manner. He is a glorious prophet, to send
his Spirit now to teach and open the heart. He is a glorious priest, to
appear before God in the holy of holies, in heaven for us, for ever ; and
he is a king there for ever. From thence he rules his church and subdues
his enemies. So that though he accomplished and fulfilled those blessed
otfices that were appointed him in the state of humiliation on earth, as it
became that state to suffer for us, yet it was necessary that he should
enter into glory, to manifest that he was a king, priest, and prophet ; for
he was not manifested who he w^as, indeed, to our comfort, till he was
* received up in glory.' We had not the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, sent from
above till he ascended ; as it is in John vii. 39, ' The Holy Ghost was not
given, because Christ was not ascended,' to apply and to help us make use
of Christ and all his benefits and riches. So that in regard of the mani-
festation of Christ's offices, and of application of all the good we have bv
it, it is by Christ ' received up in glory.' To come to some application.
1. First of all, we must lay this for a ground and foundation of what
528 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
follows, that Christ ascended as a public person. He must not be considered
as a particular person, alone by himself, but as the * second Adam.' As
he took the nature of man in his incarnation, so he ascended into heaven
in it, as a public person. As the first Adam was, in whom we all sinned,
and all came to misery and baseness, and died, so Christ must be considered
as the * second Adam,' as in other things, so in his ascension to glory.
2. In the second place, we must know that there is a wondrous near-
ness between Christ and lis noiv ; for before we can think of any comfort
by the ' glory of Christ,' we must be one with him by faith, for he is the
saviour of his body. Therefore we must be in him, we must be his
members, we must be his spouse ; and being so once, we are one with
Christ. There is no relation in the world that is able to express the near-
ness between Christ and us sufficiently ; and therefore, when we speak of
Christ ascending into glory, we must needs think of ourselves, and of our
glory and advancement. He was taken up to glory in onr nature, not only
for himself but for all his. As the husband of the church, he is gone before,
to take up heaven for his wife. As a husband takes up land in another
country for his spouse, though she be not there, Christ hath taken up
heaven for us : ' I go before to prepare a place for you,' John xiv. 3. So
likewise he is in heaven as a glorious head, ministering virtue, and comfort,
and strength to all his. All our power and strength, it comes from Christ
now, as our head in heaven.
3. Again, There is a causality, the force of a cause in this ; because Christ,
therefore we. Here is not only a priority of order, but a cause likewise ;
and there is great reason. Was there the force of a cause in Adam, that
was but mere man, to convey sin and misery, and the displeasure of God
to all that are born and descend of him ? and is there not the force of a
cause in the ' second Adam,' to convey grace and glory to his, he being
God and man ? Therefore, whatsoever is good, it is first in Christ and
then in us. Christ first rose, therefore we shall rise ; he ascended into
glory, therefore we shall be afterward in glory.
4. And then we must consider Christ not only as an efficient cause, but
as a pattern and example how we shall be ' glorified.' He is not only the
efficient of all glory within and without, but he is the exemplary cause ;
for all is first in him and then in us. He was first abased, and so must
we ; and then he was glorified, and so shall we. We must be conformable
to his abasement, and then to his glory. « He is the first-fruits of them
that sleep,' 1 Cor. xv. 20; he being the first-fruits, we succeed. These
things being premised as grounds, I come to make some use of this com-
fortable point.
Use 1. Christ is received up in glory ; therefore, first of all, for our
information, we must not seek him in a xmfer-cake, we must not look for him
in the sacrament bodily ; how can he be there when he is ' received up in
glory' ? Therefore when we come to the sacrament, let us consider we
have now to deal with Christ who is in heaven. Cannot Christ shew his
virtue to comfort and strengthen us, but we must have his body in the
communion to touch our bodies ? The foot hath influence from the head,
yet the head is distant from it in place. The utmost branches have life
and sap from the root, yet they are remote in respect of place. A king
spreads his influence over his whole kingdom, though it be never so large,
yet he is but in one place, in respect of his person. Doth the sun in the
heavens come down to the earth to make the spring, and to make all
fruitful ? Cannot he send beams and influence from thence to cherish the
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 529
earth ? Must Christ come clown in his body to us, or else he can do us
no good ? Must there be a corporeal descent, or else we can receive no
influence from him ? There may be a derivation of virtue from Christ
though his person be in heaven ; where he shall remain till the last day,
when he shall come to be ' glorious in his saints.' The sun doth more
good being in heaven, than he could do if he were on the earth. If the
sun were lower, what would become of the earth ? But being so remote,
and so far above, he hath opportunity to shine over the greatest part of the
earth at once ; being gi-eater than the earth, he shineth over more than half
the earth at once. Christ being in heaven, as the ' Sun of righteousness,'
he shines more gloriously over all ; and we have more comfort, and benefit,
and influence from Christ, now in heaven, than we could if he were on
earth. Must we needs make him bodily present everywhere, as the papists
do, and other heterodox strange conceited men in Germany ?* What need
we do thus when there may be influence from Christ, now in heaven, to us
on earth, — as we see in other things, — without confusion of his divine pro-
perties to his body, or making his body as his Godhead is ? Therefore
seek him not bodily anywhere but in heaven. Those opinions overthrow
three articles of our faith at once : ' He ascended into heaven ;' 'He
sitteth at the right hand of God ;' and, ' He shall come to judge the quick
and the dead.' And where is his body in the mean time ? in the sacrament ?
No. He is ' received up in glory.' Therefore we must have our thoughts
in heaven when we are about that business. We must ' lift up our hearts,'
as it is in our liturgy, which is taken out of the ancient liturgy, ' We Hft
them up unto the Lord.' We must have holy thoughts raised up to Christ
in heaven.
Use 2. Again, Is Christ ' received up to glory' ? Here is sinffular comfort,
considering what I said before, that he is ascended as a public person, in
our behalf, in our nature, for our good. Therefore, when we think of Christ
in heaven, think of our husband in heaven, think of ourselves in heaven :
' We are set together in heavenly places with Christ,' as the apostle saith,
Eph. i. 20. We have a glorious life, but it is hid with Christ, in heaven.
When Christ himself shall be revealed, our life shall be revealed. Though
we creep upon the earth as worms, yet notwithstanding we have communion
and fellowship with Christ, who is joined with us in the same mystical
body ; who is now ' at the right hand of God ' in heaven ; and he that hath
glorified his natural body in heaven, that he took upon him, he will glorify
his mystical body ; for he took flesh and blood, his natural body, for the
glory of his mystical body, that he might bring his church to glory. There-
fore, we ought as verily to believe that he will take his mystical body, and
every particular member of it, to heaven, as he hath taken his natural body,
and hath set it there in glory.
It is a comfort, in the hour of death, that we yield up our souls to Christ,
who is gone before to provide a place for us. This was one end of his
taking up to heaven, to provide a place for us. Therefore, when we die,
we have not a place to seek. Our house is provided beforehand. Christ
was taken up to glory to provide glory for us. Even as paradise was pro-
vided for Adam before he was made, so we have a heavenly paradise
provided for us. We had a place in heaven before we were born. What
a comfort is this at the hour of death, and at the death of our friends, that
they are gone to Christ and to glory ! We were shut out of the first para-
dise by tlie first Adam. Our comfort is, that now the heavenly paradise
* The reference is evidently to the Lutheran doctrine of consubstantiation. —Ed.
VOL. V. L 1
530 THE FOrNTAIN OPENED.
in Christ is open : * This day shalt thou he with me in paradise,' saith
Christ to the good thief, Luke xxiii. 43. There was an angel to keep
paradise when Adam was shut out ; but there is none to keep us out of
heaven ; nay, the angels are ready to convey our souls to heaven, as they
did Lazarus, and as they accompanied Christ in his ascension to heaven,
so they do the souls of his children.
Likewise, Li our sins and infirmities. When we have to deal with God
the Father, whom we have oflended with our sins, let us fetch comfort from
hence. Christ is ascended into heaven, to appear before his Father as a
mediator for us ; and, therefore, God turns away his wrath from us. We
have a friend, a favourite in the court of heaven, the Son of God himself,
at his Father's ' right hand :' he makes intercession for us. As Jonathan
appeared in Saul's court to speak a good word and to plead for David, so
our Jonathan, Jesus Christ, but with far better success, appears in the court
of heaven for us, continuing our peace with God in our dailybreaches,
perfuming our prayers. And there is no danger of his death, for 'he is a
priest for ever at the right hand of God,' to make intercession for us ; his
very presenting himself in heaven speaks for us. As if he should say,
These persons that ask in my name, they are such persons as I was born
for ; such as I obeyed for ; such as I died for ; such as I was sent into the
world to work the great work of redemption for ; for he wrought our
redemption in his abased estate ; but he applies it as he is exalted. Appli-
cation is as necessary as merit. We have no good by the work of redemp-
tion, without application : and for that end he appears in heaven for us and
pleads for us. For even as there is speech attributed to Abel's blood — it
cried, ' Vengeance, vengeance !' — so Christ appearing now in heaven for us,
his blood cries, ' Mercy, mercy ! These are those I shed my blood for ;
Mercy, Lord ! ' The very appearing of him that shed his blood, it cries for
mercy at the throne of mercy, which is therefore a throne of mercy because
he is there. He shed his blood to satisfy justice, to make way for mercy.
In the law, the high priest, after he had offered a sacrifice of blood, he
was to go into the ' holy of holies ;' so Christ, after he had offered himself
for a sacrifice, he went into the * holy of holies,' into heaven, to appear
before God. And as the high priest, when he went into the holy of holies,
he had the names of the twelve tribes on his breast, to shew that he ap-
peared before God for them all, so Christ being gone into the ' holy of
holies,' into heaven, he hath all our names upon his breast ; that is, in his
heart the name of every particular believer, to the end of the world ; to
present them before God. Therefore, when we have to deal with God,
think of Christ, now glorious in heaven, appearing for us ; God can deny
him nothing, nor deny us anything that we ask in his name ; we have his
promise for it.
It is a ground likewise of contentment in all conditions, lohatsoever our
wants he. What if we want comfort, houses, &c., on earth, when we have
heaven provided for us, and glory provided for us ; when we are already
so glorious in our Head ? Shall not any condition content a man in this
world, that hath such a glorious condition in the eye of faith to enter into ?
We should not so much as look up to heaven without comfort : Yonder is
my Saviour, yonder is a house provided for me. We should think and
look upon heaven as our own place, whither Christ is gone before, and
keeps a room for us. Here we may want comforts, we may be thrust out
of house and home, out of our habitation and country and all ; but all the
world, and all the devils in hell, they cannot thrust us out of heaven, nor
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
531
dissolve and break the communion that is between Christ and us. They
cannot take away either grace or glory from us. Therefore we should be
content with any condition in this world. Christ is ascended into heaven,
to keep a blessed condition for us.
Likewise, when we think oj the troubles of this irodd, of the enemies we
have hero, think of Christ taken ' up to glory,' and think of Christ's order.
First, he suffered, and then he entered into glory. So we must be content
to suffer first, and then be glorious. We are predestinate to be conform-
able to Christ. Wherein stands our conformity '? It is in abasement first,
and then in glory. Christ entered into glory in this order, and shall we
think to come to heaven in another order than Christ did ? Shall we
wish foi a severed condition from him ? If we be in Christ, all that we
sufier in this world, they are sufferings of conformity to make us suitable
to our Head, and to fit us for glory. And our greatest abasements, what
are they to the abasement of Christ ? None was ever so low, and there is
none so high. As he was the lowest in abasement, so he is the highest in
glory. When he was at the lowest, in the grave, not only dead, but under
the kingdom and command of death, then he rose gloriously and ascended.
Our lowest abasements are forerunners of our advancement and glorj. This
assumption of Christ to glory should help us in this respect.
In all disconsolations there is a world of comfort hence. We must not
think of Christ, as if his honours had changed his manners, as it isamong
men ; that now he is become stately, that he doth not regard his poor
church. No such matter ; he regards his poor church now he is in heaven
as much as he ever did. The members here cannot suffer anything but
the Head in heaven is sensible of it ; as it is Acts ix. 4, ' Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me ? ' The foot is trod upon, and the tongue complains.
Our blessed Saviour is not like Pharaoh's unkind butler, that forgat Joseph
when himself was out of prison. Christ being advanced to honour now,
forgets us not here. No ; he is as good Joseph, that was sent into Egypt
to provide for all his family beforehand. So this our Joseph, the great
steward of heaven and earth, he is gone to provide for us all, against we
come to heaven. He forgets us not : ' He disdains not to look on things
below,' Ps. cxiii. 6 ; he considers every poor Christian. He is as merciful
now as he was when he was upon earth ; as you have it largely proved
Heb. iv. 7, ' He was man for this end, that he might be a merciful_ high
priest;' and he is so in heaven, and pities all our infirmities. It is not
here ' Out of sight, out of mind,' for, as I said, he hath us in his breast ;
ay, and he is with us, by his Spirit, to the end of the world. He is taken
up to heaven by his body ; but his Spirit, which is his general vicar, is
here with us to the end of the world : ' I will sei;d you the Comforter, and
he shall abide alway with you,' John xiv. 26. And it is better for us to
have the Comforter here, without his bodily presence, than to have his
bodily presence without the abundance of his Spirit ; as it was better with
the disciples when he was taken up to heaven, and was present by his
Spirit, than it was before. We lose nothing therefore by the ascension of
Christ. It was for us. He was given for us, born for us. He Hved for
us, he died for us, he rose and ascended to heaven for our good : ' It is
good for you that I go,' John xiv. 28. It was to provide a place for us,
and to send the Comforter. All was for our good, whatsoever he did, in
his abasement and exaltation.
Again, This administereth comfort in regard of the afflictions of the church.
When the church is under any abasement, at the lowest, it hath a glorious
532 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
head in heaven ; and what ! doth he sit there and do nothing ? No. He sits
' at the right hand of God,' and rules his church, even in the midst of his
enemies. If he do give the chain to them, it is for special ends. His people
stand in need of all that they endure, and he measures it even to a drachm,
whatsoever his church sufiers ; for the}^ are his members, and he is sen-
sible of their suflerings. He is 'a high priest that is touched with our
infii-mities,' Heb. iv. 15. Therefore nothing can befall his church without
his government. He lets loose the enemies thus far, and then he restrains
them, and subdues and conquers them, making them his ' footstool.' The
enemies seem to domineer now, and trample on the church ; but ere long
they shall become the church's ' footstool.' Christ will govern his church
till all his enemies ' be under his feet.' He is ascended into heaven for
this purpose ; and he is fitting his church by these afflictions, for greater
grace in this world, and for eternal glory in the world to come.
Therefore, let us not take scandal* at the present sight of things. We stand
amazed to see the state of Europe at this time ; but for our comfort let us
consider that Christ is taken ' up to glory,' and he sits in heaven and rules
his church, and will guide all these wars to a good and gracious end. He
sits at the stern. The ship may be tossed where Christ sleeps, but it can-
not be drowned. The house that is built upon a rock, it may be blown
upon, it shall never be overthrown. The bush wherein the fire is, it may
burn, but it shall never be consumed. The church, wherein Christ rules
and governs, it may be tossed, it shall never be overcome and subdued.
Nay, by all these things that the church sufiers, Christ rules, and exerciseth
his church's graces, and mortifies his church's corruptions. It is neces-
sary there should be some change. Standing waters breed frogs, and other
base creatures ; so it is with Christians. If there be not some exercise by
afflictions, what kind of vices grow ? As we see in these times of peace,
what kind of lives most men live, that we may take up an admirationf that
God should be so merciful to continue his truth to a company of proud base
carnal persons, that lead lives, under the gospel, no better than if they
were in paganism. Therefore we cannot look for any good, without further
abasement. And certainly, if troubles come, we should many of us be
better than we are now : afflictions would be so far from doing us harm,
that they would refine us. We shall lose nothing, but that that doth us
hurt ; that, that we may well spare ; that, that hinders our joy and
comfort.
But, I say, let us comfort ourselves in respect of the present state of the
church. Christ rules in the midst of his enemies, in the midst of crosses
and persecutions, not to free us alway from them ; but he rules in turning
them to good, in strengthening and exercising our graces ; and he rules in
the midst of his church at this time by turning his enemies' cruelty to the
good of the elect. As he ruled in the Israelites when he sufiered Pharaoh
to go on in the hardness of his heart, but he had a time for Pharaoh's ruin ;
so Christ hath a time for the persecutions of the church, as he had for all
the ten persecuting emperors, that came to base and fearful ends. ' Was there
ever any man fierce against God and prospered?' saith Job, chap. ix. 4.
Was there ever any that set themselves against the church of God and
prospered? No, no. It is with the church as it was with Christ ; to have
looked on Christ hanging and bleeding on the cross, to have seen him
grovelling on the ground in the garden, men would be ready to take offence.
What ! he the Saviour of the world ? But stay and see him in the text,
* That is, ' be offended.'— G. f That is, ' wonder.'— G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 583
assumed to glory, and then there would be no offence taken at Christ.
So it is in the church. You see the church suffers persecutions, but lay
one thing with another. See the church in heaven with the Head of the
church. See the church advanced. See it in glory ere long. See it
refined and fitted by sufferings, to come better out of afflictions than it went
in, and then none will take scandal at the afflictions of the church, as they
ought not at the abasement of Christ. For though he was ' God manifest '
in weak ' flesh,' yet we see he ' ascended up in glory.'
There is a comfortable speech, Jer. xxs. 7, 'It is even the time of Jacob's
trouble ; but he shall be delivered out of it.' So we may say, this is the
time of the church's trouble, but the church shall be delivered outi'jof it.
The enemies have their time to afflict and trample upon the church ; but
Christ hath his time to trample on them. Let us wait and expect with
comfort better times. The kingdoms of the world will be known to be the
Lord Jesus Christ's. There will be a further subjection to Christ's kingdom
than ever there was since the fh-st times, when the fulness of the Gentiles
and the conversion of the Jews shall be. Let us comfort ourselves with
the times to come. Christ is in glory, and he will bring his church to
further glory even in this world, besides eternal glory at the latter day.
* Rejoice not over me, 0 mine enemy : for though I be fallen, yet shall I
rise,' Micah vii. 8. Let not the enemies of the church insult* over much ;
though the church be fallen, yet she shall rise again * after three days,' saith
the prophet, Mat. xxvii. 6d.f Christ, though he were abased as low as
possible he could be, yet after three days he arose ; so the church shall rise
out of her troubles after three days ; that is, after a certain time that we
know not ; but the exact time is only in the hands of Christ. But cer-
tainly there are glorious times of the church coming.
Consider the wonderful love of Christ, that would suspend Ids glory so
hng. The glory of heaven was due to him upon his incarnation, by virtue
of the union of his human nature with the divine ; for that nature that was
united to the Godhead, it must needs have right to glory by that very
union. What should hinder, when it was so near to God as to be one
person, to be taken into the union of the person ? Oh but where had our
salvation been then, if Christ had entered into glory upon his incarnation,
if he had not shed his blood, if he had not been abased to the death of the
cross ? Therefore the schoolmen speak well {t), he enjoyed the presence
of God affectione justltm, with the affection of justice and all virtues; that
is, he was as gracious from the beginning, from his incarnation, for matter
of grace and love of all that is good ; yet not affectione accommoda. There
was a nearness to God in pleasure, and joy, and comfort. This he denied
himself till he was assumpted to glory after his resurrection ; and this he
did in love to us, that he might suffer and be abased, to work out our sal-
vation. That redundance of glory that should have been upon his person
presently upon the union, it was stayed till his resurrection, that he might
accomplish and fulfil our salvation. What a mercy and love was this !
So it is with the church. It is glorious as it hath union with Christ. Is
not the church a glorious thing, that is joined to Christ, that is ' Lord of
lords, and King of kings,' the ruler of heaven and earth ? What is the
reason the church is so abased then ?
If the church were not abased, it could not be conformed to Christ.
Christ, that he might work our salvation, he must be abased, and have
suspension and stopping of the glory due to him, till the resurrection. Of
* That is, ' triumph, boast.'— G. t Q.^- ' Kev. xi. 11 ' ?— Ed.
534
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
necessity, we must be conformed to Christ as far as we may ; and, that we
may be conformed to him in abasement and suffering, there must be a stop
of our glory, till we be dead and turned to dust, until we rise again, until
Christ come to be 'glorious in his saints,' 2 Thes. i. 10. If Christ, as I
formerly said, had shewed all his glory in his abasement, he could never
have suffered. The devil himself would have done him no harm. There
had been no pretence. The Pharisees would never have persecuted him
and hated him, if they had seen him to have been such a person as he was ;
but he veiled his glory that he might suffer. If the world did but see the
thousandth part of the glory that of due belongs to Christians, would they
revile them, and disgrace, and malign, and trample on them ? Certainly
they would not. This is discovered in Scripture ; but the world, to dis-
cover their atheism, that they believe not the word of God, take no notice
of it. And that the children of God may be conformed to their head, and
that way may be made to the malice of wicked men, to trample upon them,
they go in the shape of miserable men.
Therefore let us not be discouraged for any abasement. We have a
glorious life hid with Christ, which shall be revealed one day ; in the mean
time, in the midst of abasement, let us believe glory. And let me add this
to the rest :
As the same body wherein Christ was spit upon, and mangled, and
crucified, in the same body he rose again, and in the same body ascended
into heaven, so it shall be with us. The same body that suffers anything
for Christ, the same body that dies, the same body shall rise, and be
assumed to glory.
Hence likewise we have a ground of patience in all our sufferings from
another reason, not from the order hat from the certainty of r/Iory. Shall
we not patiently suffer, considering the glory that we shall certainly have ?
* If we suffer with him we shall be glorified with him,' Rom. viii. 17. Who
will not be patient awhile, that hath such glory in his eye ? Therefore let
us look upon the glory of Christ in all our sufferings whatsoever. What
made Moses and all the saints in all times to be so patient ? They had an
eye this way. What made Stephen not only patient but glorious ? ' His
face shone as tho face of an angel,' Acts vi. 15. He looked on Jesus
Christ, and saw him ' sitting at the right hand of God.' What made the
martyrs not only patient but triumphant in all their sufferings ? They had
an eye of faith to see Christ sitting in glory, and to see themselves in heaven
' glorious in Christ ;' and not only to see themselves ' glorious in Christ,'
but in themselves afterwards. We are not only glorious in our Head, but
we shall be ourselves where he is, 'taken up in glory.'
And let it stir us up likewise not to be ashamed of religion, and to stand
out in good canses for Christ and the church. ' He is not ashamed to be
called our brother,' Heb. ii. 11. No ; not after his resurrection. * Go
tell my brethren, I ascend to my Father and your Father,' John xx. 17.
He was not ashamed of it when he began to be in the state of glory. He
is not ashamed of our nature now, to take it vip into heaven. He is not
ashamed to own us here, and at the day of judgment to set us at his right
hand. And shall we now, for fear of men, for fear of shame, for any base
earthly respect, be ashamed of our glorious Head ? Do we believe that we
have a Head that is glorious in heaven, * sitting at the right hand of God,'
that ere long will come to 'judge the quick and the dead;' and shall we
be ashamed to hold out the profession of religion for a scorn, for a word,
for a frown ? Where is the * Spirit of glory,' the spirit that should be in
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
535
Christians that hope to be glorious ? ' Ho that is ashamed of me here,'
saith Christ, ' I will be ashamed of him at that great day.' How can we
think that Christ will own us, when we will not own religion here ? When
we are ashamed to stand for him, shall we think to stand at his right hand ?
All base carnal atheistical spirits, that are afraid of disgrace, of displeasure,
of loss, of anything but of him they should be afraid of; let them know
there is no comfort for them in Christ's exaltation ; for if they had any
communion with Christ, he would infuse another manner of spirit into them.
Let us therefore stand for Christ. We have a glorious head, a glorious
hope, a glorious inheritance.
And let us go on with encouragement in r/ood duties, with a spirit of faith ;
for wherefore is Christ in heaven but to rule his church by his Spirit ; ' to
lead captivity captive, and to give gifts to men,' Eph. iv. 8. Let us there-
fore go on with confidence, that Christ from heaven will giv6 us his Spirit
to subdue our corruptions. He is in heaven to rule his church ; and what
is his kingdom but the subduing of our spirits by his Spirit, to be more
humble, and more holy and gracious every way ? Let us not think that
our corruptions will be too hard for us, but go on in a spirit of faith ; that
Christ that died for us as a priest, he will rule us as a king ; and if we be
true to our own souls, we shall have strength to sustain us. He sits in
heaven to rule us by his gracious Spirit. Let us not despair. Though
we carry this and that corruption about us, we shall by little and little
overcome all. He will ' lead captivity captive,' and overcome all in us, as
he did in his own person. He that overcame for us will overcome in us,
if there be a spirit of faith to depend upon him.
Again, This mystery is a ' mystery of godliness.' It tendeth to and en-
forceth godliness and holiness of life. Christ ' received up to glory.' You
see then our flesh is in heaven. Christ hath taken into heaven the pledge
of our flesh, and given us the pledge of his Spirit. It was a dignifying of
our nature that God should be manifest in our flesh. That that was an
abasing to him, as God, was an honour to our nature. The incarnation of
Christ it was the beginning of his abasement in regard of his Godhead, for
the Godhead to be clouded under flesh ; but it was a dignifying of the
human nature that it should be grafted into the second person. And is it
not a greater honour to our nature that now in Christ it is gone to heaven,
and is there above angels ? Our nature in Christ rules over all the world.
And wherefore is all this ? As it is for wondrous comfort, so for instruc-
tion, to cany ourselves answerable to our dignity. What ! hath God taken
our nature upon him to the unity of the second person, and exalted and
honoured and enriched it ? Is he likewise gone to heaven in our nature,
and is there above all principalities and powers ? All the angels in heaven
attend upon him. And shall we debase and dishonour our nature that is
so exalted ? Let it work upon us, to carry ourselves in a holy kind of state.
Shall we defile ourselves with sinful courses, and make ourselves baser than
the earth we tread on, worse than any creature ? for a man without grace
is next to the devil in misery, if God be not merciful to him. If God have
thus honoured our nature above all created excellency whatsoever, shall not
this stir us up to a correspondent carriage ? It is oft pressed by the apostle
that we ' walk worthy of our calling,' Eph. iv. 1. And, indeed, let us oft
consider to what great matters we are called ; for the life of heaven it must be
begun upon earth. ' Whosoever hath this hope,' to be glorious with Christ in
heaven, ' it purgeth him,' 1 John iii. 3. It frames him to be like the state he
hopes for, and he that hath not a care to suit and fit his carriage and dis-
536
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
position to the state he believes, it is an empty hope ; he deludes himself.
Whosoever shall be glorious with Christ in heaven, is also glorious now.
There is a Spirit of glory resting upon them, that is, grace ; grace makes
them glorious. Those that have not a Spirit of glory, that is, a Spirit of
grace, to fashion and conform them, in some measure to be like Christ, by
little and little, they have no right nor interest in the state of glory that
shall be revealed after.
Is Christ taken up to glory, and for us as well as for himself ? ' What
manner of men ought we to be in holy conversation,' 2 Peter iii. 11. We
should ' keep ourselves unspotted of the wicked world,' James i. 27. Shall
we think to have communion and fellowship v/ith Christ in glory, when we
make ' the members of Christ the members of an harlot ?' 1 Cor. vi. 15 ; when
we make our tongues instruments of blaspheming God and Christ ; as a
company of vile wretches, that will come to the ordinances of God, and yet
have not overcome their atheistical nature so much, as to leave their swear-
ing and filthy courses ? Do we think to have communion with Christ in
glory, and not get the victory over these base courses ? Do we profess
ourselves to be Christians, and hve like pagans ? Hath God such need of
people to fill heaven with, that he will have such unclean persons ? Shall
we have such base thoughts of heaven ? No, beloved. These things must
be left, if ever, upon good ground, we will entertain thoughts of fellowship
in this glory. There is ' a new heaven and a new earth,' 2 Peter iii. 13,
for the new creature, and only for such. Let us not delude ourselves.
There must be a correspondence between the head and the members, not
only in glory, but in grace ; and the conformity in grace is before the con-
formity in glory. Will God overturn his method and order for our sakes ?
No, no ; all that come to heaven, he ' guides them by his Spirit ' here, in
grace, and then he brings them to glory.' He gives ' grace and glory, and
no good thing shall be wanting to them that lead a godly life,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11 ;
but first grace and then glory.
Therefore let not the devil abuse us, nor our own false hearts, to pre-
tend a share in this glory, when we find no change in ourselves, when we
find not so much strength as to get the victory over the base and vile cor-
ruptions of the world. The apostle from this ground infers mortification
of our ' earthly members :' ' You are risen with Christ,' ' Your life is hid
with Christ in God,' and ' we are dead with Christ.' * Therefore we ought
to mortify our sinful lusts. For the soul being finite, it cannot be carried
up to these things that are of a spiritual, holy, and divine consideration ;
but it must die in its love, and affection, and care to earthly things and
sinful courses. Therefore let us never think that we believe these things
indeed, unless we find a disposition, by grace, to kill and subdue all things
that are contrary to this condition. Though somewhat there will be in us
to humble us, or else why are the precepts of mortification given to them
that were saints already, but that there is somewhat will draw us down to
abase us ? But this is no comfort to him that is not the child of God,
that lives in filthy courses, that he might easily command himself in. Let
him abandon the name of a Christian. He hath no interest to the comfort
of this, that Christ is ' received up to glory.'
Again, The mystery of Christ's glory it tends to godliness in this respect,
to stir us up to heavenhj-mindedness. The apostle doth divinely force
this in the fore-named place. Col. iii. 1, * If ye be risen with Christ, seek
the things that are above.' From our communion with Christ, rising and
* Cf. Col. ii. 12, iii. 3, and ii. 20.— G.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
537
ascending into heaven, and sitting there in glory, he forceth heavenly-
mindedness, that our thoughts should be where his glory is, where our
Head and husband is ; and certainly there is nothing in the world more
strong to enforce an heavenly mind than this, to consider where we are, in
our Head. Christ, our head and husband, is taken up into glory. There
is our inheritance ; there are a great many of our fellow-brethren ; there
is our country ; there is our happiness. We are for heaven, and not for
this world. This is but a passage to that glory that Christ hath taken up
for us ; and therefore why should we have our minds grovelling here upon
the earth ? Certainly if we have interest in Christ, who is in glory ' at the
right hand of God,' it is impossible but our souls will be raised to heaven
in our aflections before we be there in our bodies. All that are Chris-
tians, they are in heaven in their spirit and conversation beforehand. Our
heavy, dull, earthly souls being touched by his Spirit, they will ascend up.
The iron when it is touched with the loadstone, though it be an heavy body,
it ascends up to the loadstone, it follows it. The sun it draws up vapours,
that are heavy bodies of themselves. Christ as the loadstone being in
heaven, he hath an attractive force to draw us up. There is not the
earthliest disposition in the world, if our hearts were as heavy as iron, if
we have communion with Christ, and have our hearts once touched by his
Spirit, he will draw us up, though of ourselves we be heavy and lumpish.
This meditation, that Christ our head is in glory, and that we are in
heaven in him, and that our happiness is there, it will purge and refine us
from our earthliness, and draw up our iron, heavy, cold hearts.
It is an argument of a great deal of atheism and infidelity in our hearts,
as indeed our base nature is prone to sink down, and to be carried away
with present things, that professing to believe that Christ is risen and
ascended into heaven, and that he is there for us, yet that we should be
plodding and plotting altogether for the earth, as if there were no other
heaven, as if there were no other happiness but that which is to be found
below. There is nothing here that can satisfy the capacious nature of man.
Therefore we should not rest in anything here, considering the great things
that are reserved for us, where Christ is in glory. Therefore when we find
our souls falling down of themselves, or drawn downward to base cares and
earthly contentments, by anything here below, let us labour to raise up
ourselves with such meditations. I know not any more fruitful, than to
consider the glory to come, and the certainty of it. Christ is taken into
glory, not for himself only, but for all his ; for ' where I am,' saith he, ' it
is my will that they be there also,' John xvii. 24. Christ should lose his
prayer if we should not follow him to heaven. It is not only his prayer
but his will, and he is in heaven to make good his will. The wills of men
may be frustrate, because they are dead ; but he lives to make good his
own will, and his will is, that we be where he is. Now, if a man believe
this, can he be base and earthly-minded ? Certainly no. ' Where our
treasure is, our hearts will be there also,' Mat. vi. 21, by the rule of Christ;
' Where the body is, the eagles will resort,' Mat. sxiv. 28. If we did make
these things om- treasure, we would mount above earthly things. There is
nothing in the world would be sufficient for us, if we had that esteem of
Christ, and the glory where Christ is, as we should and might have.
And it is not only meditation of these things that will cause us to be
heavenly-minded ; but Christ, as a head of influence in heaven, conveys spiri-
tual life to draw us up. ' When I am ascended, I will draw all men after
me,' John xii. 32. There is a virtue from Christ that doth it. There is a
538
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
necessity of the cause and consequence, as well as strength of reason and
equit}'. There is an influence issuing from Christ our head, to make us
so indeed. Therefore, those that are otherwise, they may thank themselves.
The best of us, indeed, have cause to be abased, that we betray our com-
fort, and the means that we have of raising up our dead and dull hearts,
for want of meditation. Let us but keep this faith in exercise, that Christ
is in heaven in glory, and we in him are in heaven, as verily as if we were
there in our persons, as we shall be ere long, and then let us be uncomfor-
table, and base, and earthly-minded, if we can.
To conclude all. As the soul of man is first sinful and then sanctified ;
first humble and then raised ; so our meditations of Christ must be in this
order : first, think of Christ as abased and crucified, for the first comfort
that the soul hath is in Christ ' manifested in the flesh,' before it come to
' received up into glory.' Therefore, if we would have comfortable thoughts
of this, ' Christ received up in glory,' think of him first 'manifest in the
flesh.' Let us have recourse in our thoughts to Christ in the womb of the
virgin ; to Christ born and lying in the manger ; going up and down doing
good ; hungering and thirsting ; sufiering in the garden ; sweating water
and blood ; nailed on the cross ; crying to his Father, ' My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me ? ' finishing all upon the cross ; lying three
days in the grave ; have recourse to Christ thus abased, and all for us, to
expiate our sin ; he obeyed God to satisfy for our disobedience. Oh ! here
will be comfortable thoughts for a wounded soul, pierced with the sense of
sin, assaulted by Satan ; to think thus of Christ abased for our sins, and
then to think of him ' taken up into glory.'
In the sacrament, our thoughts must especially have recourse, in the first
place, to Christ's body broken, and his blood shed, as the bread is broken
and the wine poured out ; that we have benefit by Christ's abasement and
sufiering, by satisfying his Father's wrath, and reconciling us to God.
Then think of Christ in heaven, appearing there for us, keeping that happi-
ness that he hath purchased by his death for us, and applying the benefit
of his death to our souls by his Spirit, which he is able to shed more abun-
dantly, being in that high and holy place, heaven ; for the Spirit was not
given in that abundance, befoi'e Christ was ascended to glory, as it hath
been since. In this manner and order, we shall have comfortable thoughts
of Christ. To think of his glory, in the first place, it would dazzle our eyes,
it would terrify us, being sinners, to think of his glory, being now ascencled;
but when we think of him as descended first, as he saith, ' Who is he that
ascended, but he that descended first into the lower parts of the earth ?'
Eph. iv. 9. So, who is this that is taken ' up in glory ? ' Is it not he that
was ' manifest in our flesh ' before? This will be comfortable. Therefore
let us first begin with Christ's abasement, and then we shall have comfor-
table thoughts of his exaltation.
These points are very useful, being the main grounds of religion ; having
an influence into our lives and conversation above all others. Other points
have their life and vigour and quickening from these grand mysteries,
which ai-e the food of the soul. Therefore let us oft feed our thoughts
with these things, of Chi'ist's abasement and glory, considering him in both
as a public person, ' the second Adam,' and our surety ; and then see our-
selves in him, and labour to have virtue from him, fitting us in body and
soul for such a condition. The very serious meditation of these things,
will put a glory upon our souls ; and the believing of them will transform
us ' from glory to glory,' 2 Cor. ix. 18.
THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. 539
NOTES.
(a) P. 465. — ' Procul este profani,'' &c. The reference is probably to the famous
'Procul 0, procul este, profani ' of Virgil [Mn. vi. 258). Of course the thought is
contained in the word ' profanus ' itself, pro-fauum = before or outside of the temple
— not sacred or dedicated to a divinity.
(6) P. 465. — ' "What is the reason that there is one word in the Greek and in other
languages to signify both common and profane ? ' Query f3i(3rjXog ? = accessible,
open to all, and hence commoii. But while what is profane is common, it is not true
that what is common must be profane.
(c) P. 466. — ' What kind of nation were we in Julius Csesar's time ? ' &c. Caesar's
famous description contained in lib. v. De Bell. Gall, is too long for insertion here.
{d) P. 472.— 'It was literally performed in Julius the Second; for in his papal
crown there was written " Alysterium,'^ &c,, till at last it was blotted out, and in-
stead thereof was written, " Julius secundus Papa." ' Scaliger on the authority of
an informant of the Duke of Montmorency, whilst at Eome, affirms this. So again,
I'rancis Le Moyne and Brocardus, on ocular evidence, saying that Julius III. re^
moved it. Consult Daubuz, Vitringa, Bishop Newton, earlier, and Elliott's IIotor
Apocalypticce on Kev. xvii. 5.
(e) P. 476. — ' As lightsome and clear as if the gospel were written with a sun-
beam, as one saith.' A common saying since Sibbes's day ; but it seems to be im-
possible to trace it to its original author.
(f) P. 477. — ' I will only make that use of it that a great scholar in his time once
did upon the point, a noble earl of Mirandula.' This is John Picus of Mirandula,
a pre-eminent scholar in his age. Died 1494. His Works have been repeatedly
published in collective editions.
{g) P. 477. — ' Men live ... as if they made no question but they are false.' It
is striking to find Bishop Butler, a century later, taking up the same lamentation
in nearly the same words ; e.g., ' It is come, I know not how, to be taken for granted
by many persons, that Christianity is not so much as a subject of inquiry, but that
it is now at length discovered to be fictitious, and, accordingly, they treat it as if, in
the present age, this were an agreed point among all people of discernment,' (Pre-
face to ' The Analogy ').
{h) P. 488. — ' The whole world was darkened.' This remains matter of debate.
The original in Mat. xsvii. 45, is rriv yriv the Land, = The Holy Land ?
(«■) P. 488. — ' He was sold for thirty pence.' Query ? The ' price ' can hardly be
thus definitely fixed. Cf. Mat. xxvii. 9, and Jer. xviii. 1, 2 ; xxxii. 6, 12.
(y) P. 496. — ' The word is not altogether so fitly translated.' The original is
Ui^&ri = viewed with wonder. Cf. 1 Pet. i. 12.
[k) P. 511. — ' That proud historian Tacitus, how scornfuUy doth he speak of Chris-
tians.' The famous ' quatuor millia libertini generis ea superstilione infectd' (Annals,
ii. 85), and the like phrases, warrant Sibbes's reference. Cf. also Annals xii. 23 •
XV. 44 ; Hist. i. 10 ; ii. 4 ; ii. 79 ; v. 1, 2, et alibi.
(l) P. 511. — ,' Saith Austin, " We must be very reverent in these matters [election,
&c.] ; it is most safe to commit all to God, and usurp no judgment here." ' This
Father, like Calvin, abounds in modest statements concerning the becoming attitude
toward the ' secret things ' of God.
{m) P. 514. — ' In Eom. x. 14, seq., you have the Scala Coeli, as a good old martyr
called it,' I have failed to trace this saying, but Scala Coeli is a trite designation of
this and other portions of Scripture. The sermons on the Lord's Prayer by Bishop
Andrewes were originally published (1611, 12mo), under the title of ' Scala Cceli.'
(n) P. 516 . — ■' There is a world in the world, as one saith well in unfolding this
point,' [' believed on in the world ']. Cf. Pearson and John Smith in loc.
(o) P. 518. — ' Divers of the Fathers were philosophers before.' It will be remem-
bered how Augustine in his ' Confessions ' self- accusingly expatiates upon this.
The observation holds equally of Athanasius, Bernard, and other Fathers, Greek and
Latin ; but most particularly of Justin Martyr, — a providential arrangement, as it
enabled them the more effectively to combat ' the philosophers ' with their own
weapons.
(p) P. 518. — ' St Austin saith, " The world was not overcome by fighting, but by
sufiering." ' One of many of Augustine's plaints in his ' worry ' under his numer-
ous controversies with the Donatists.
540 THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.
(q) P. 518. — ' St Austin observes, " It was the wonder of the world." ' A common
saying in the De Civitate Dei.
(r) P. 523. — ' Ignorance is the mother of devotion.' It would be difBcult to award
this apophthegm to its original author.
(s) P. 523. — ' Bellarmine's tenet, " that faith is better defined by ignorance than
by anything else." ' See the sentiment under Fides, in any of the editions of the
"Works of this eminent cardinal.
(t) P. 533. — ' Therefore the schoolmen speak well, he enjoyed the presence of
God affectione j'ustitice, . . . yet not affectione accommoda. The distinction has the
ring of Aquinas. G.
END OF VOL. V.
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