THE WORKS
REV. WILLIAM BRIDGE, M.A.
FORMERLY FELLOW OF EMANUEL COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AND PASTOR Of
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK.
NOW FIRST COLLECTED.
IN FIVE VOLUMES.
VOL. II
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR THOMAS TEGG
73, CHEAPSIDE.
1845.
CONTENTS OF VOL. II.
A LIFTING UP
MONS, ON PSALM
Sermon 1.
Sermon 2.
Sermon 3.
Sermon 4.
Sermon 5.
Sermon 6.
Sermon 7.
Sermon 8.
Sermon 9.
Sermon 10.
Sermon 11.
Sermon 12.
Sermon 13.
FOR THE DOWNCAST: IN THIRTEEN SER-
XL1I. 11.
The Good Man s Peace. . .
True Peace may be Interrupted. . . . . 25
Saints should not be Discouraged whatever their
Condition be. . . . . . . . . 43
A Lifting up in Case of Great Sins. . . 63
A Lifting up in Case of Weak Grace. . . 83
A Lifting up in Case of Miscarriage of Duties.
101
A Lifting up in the Want of Assurance.. . 125
A Lifting up in Case of Temptation. . . 148
A Lifting up in Case of Desertion. . . 168
A Lifting up in Case of Affliction. .. 187
A Lifting up in Case of Unserviceableness. 206
A Lifting up in Case of Discouragements drawn
from the Condition itself. . . . . 229
The Cure of Discouragements by Faith in Jesus
Christ . 255
FIVE SERMONS ON FAITH.
Sermon 1 . The Spiritual Actings of Faith through Natural
Impossibilities. Rom. iv. 19. .
Ibid 302
Ibid 318
The Great Things Faith can Do. Heb. xi. 32.
338
The Great Things Faith can Suffer. Heb. xi. 35.
357
Sermon 2.
Sermon 3.
Sermon 4.
Sermon 5.
THE FREENESS OF THE GRACE AND LOVE OF GOD TO BE-
LIEVERS DISCOVERED : IN SEVEN SERMONS.
Sermon 1. Matt. xx. 15, 16. .. ..381
2Thess. ii. 16, 17 393
Eph. ii. 8 409
Neh. v. 15 422
Psalm cxxxiii. 1...
Micah vi. 9. .. ..445
Amosiv. 12 457
Sermon 2.
Sermon 3.
Sermon 4.
Sermon 5.
Sermon 6.
Sermon 7.
LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST,
IN CASE OF
l.-GREAT SINS. 2.-WEAKNESS OF GRACE Z -~
npmTTIFS 4 WANT OF ASSURANCE. 5. AFFL1L
TEMPTATION 7-DESERTION. 8.-UNSERVICE
fBLENESS 9.-DISCOURAGEMENTS FROM
THE CONDITION ITSELF.
IN THIRTEEN SERMONS,
PREACHED AT STEPNEY, A.D. 1648.
VOL. IT.
TO THE READER.
GOOD READER,
THE following Sermons on Psalm xlii. I have perused, and find that they are
the same which I preached divers years since, being then taken by a good pen
as they fell in preaching. They have been long buried in silence, and should
have rested in their grave, had not the importunity of some, who heard them
preached, raised them from that death. Mine own notes were not legible
enough for the press : in answer therefore to their desires, I have corrected
these : some things I have altered, some things added, and some repetitions
(fit enough for the pulpit) I ha^e filed off; what is wanting let thy goodness
supply. I have also joined with them, some other Sermons, of more doctrinal
concernment, these being mostly practical, that so thy mind and heart may be
at once exercised : wherein I have rather applied myself to the instructive part
of preaching, than to scholastical disputation. For I know the Universities have
able and faithful men, more fit for that work. Neither have I undertaken any
English adversary; and if I have trodden upon any man s toes, I hope he will
excuse me, for I can say truly, Sir, I saw you not. And if any man shall say
to me, as David s brother Eliab spake to him, 1 Sam. xvii. 29, " I know thy
pride, and malice of thine heart, that thou art come down to see the battle " I
might answer, as David did, Is there not a cause ? " When strange opinions
and errors are daily published, is there not a cause, that every man, who loves
the truth, should bear his testimony for it ? In performance therefore of mine
own duty, and for thine establishment, I have spoken something to many truths,
which are now questioned. Hold fast what thou hast, lest another iake thy
crown. And the Lord Jesus Christ and our God, even the Falher, which
hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through
grace, comfort thine heart, and stablish thee in every word, and good work."
Thine in the service of the gospel,
WILLIAM BRIDGE.
LIFTING UP FOE, THE DOWNCAST.
SERMON I.
THE GOOD MAN S PEACE.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul, and why art thou disquieted
within me ? hope thou in God, for I will yet praise him who is the
health of my countenance and my God." PSALM xm. 11.
IN these words ye read of the sad discouragements of a
gracious spirit, with those remedies that be applied and used
against them. The discouragements are expressed in two
words, under two similitudes : cast-down, disquieted. As a
man is bowed or cast down under the weight of some heavy
burden, so art thou cast down, O my soul, says David : and
as the sea in the time of a storm is much disquieted, so art
thou also disquieted within me, O my soul. The remedies
that he useth against these discouragements are two : self-
reprehension and self-admonition. First, He doth chide him
self for his diffidence and distrust in God : " Why art thou
cast down, O my soul ; and why art thou disquieted within
me ?" He chides and rebukes himself for it. Secondly, He
doth admonish and call upon himself for to wait upon and
hope in God : " Hope thou in God." Why ? I. Because
I shall yet be delivered : " For I shall yet praise him."
Because salvation belongs unto him alone : " He is the health
of my countenance," or, " the salvation of my countenance."
III. Because he is in covenant with me, and I with him;
he is my God : " The health of my countenance, and my
God."
I begin with the former part of this verse, wherein you
may observe these three things :
First, That there is an inward peace and quietude of soul,
which the saints and people of God ordinarily are endued
with. This is implied.
Secondly, It is possible that this peace may be interrupted,
B 2
A LIFTING UP [S ER . J.
so far as God s people may be much discouraged, cast down
and disquieted.
Thirdly, That the saints and people of God have no reason
for their discouragements whatever their condition be. Why
art thou cast down, and why art thou thus disquieted within
me ? Thou hast no reason for it.
The latter of these being the main, is that indeed which I
specially aim at; but because the. two former will give the
better rise unto this last, and they are also profitable for us to
consider, I shall take them in their order, and speak only unto
the first at this time, which is this :
There is an inward peace and quietude of soul which the
saints and people of God ordinarily are endued with.
Therefore David says here, Why art thou cast down
and why art thou disquieted within me?" It seems, then
that this was not his ordinary temper, his pulse did not al
ways beat thus high in this way of discouragement; but or
dinarily he had peace and quiet within. So that I say there
is an inward peace and quietness of soul, which the saints
and people of God ordinarily are endued withal. Ordinarily
they are arrayed in white, so they are brought in Rev. vii. 13,
14. What are these which are arrayed in white robes ? At
the 13th verse, They are such as have washed their robes,
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb," verse 14.
This book of the Revelation doth attend much unto the
Jewish customs, and among the Jews they had their mourn
ing and their rejoicing garment. The mourning garment was
a black garment ; and therefore when a man is brought in in
a mourning way he is brought in in a black garment, as ye
find in the next Psalm, the xliiird, and the 2nd verse, Why
go ye m mourning? The word , np signifies black. Why
Sn 7rf 1\ ^ f the PP ressi n of the enemy ?
So that the mourning garment was a black garment; the
black garment was the mourning garment. And the white
th
h* y gSrmentS be alwa ? S white > and let thy
head lack no ointment." Upon which account the nobles
amongst the Hebrews were called ^ because they were
clothed with white raiment.* Eccles. x. 17, Blessed art
thou, O land, when thy king is the son of J^ ~~
de Roa 8i "S- S. Script. Lib. ii. cap. 1.
SER. 1.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 5
nnin-p the son of princes, or of those that are in white.
I confess this phrase doth sometimes note the purity and
holiness of the person, so Rev. iii. 4, " Thou hast a few names
even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and
they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy." But
ordinarily it notes the joyfulness and comfortableness of our
state ; so in Rev. vii., the saints are brought in, in white, not
only because of their purity and cleanness, but because of
their rejoicing. I say then ordinarily the saints and people
of God go in white, they have a peace and a rest within.
" Great peace have they that love thy law (says the Psalmist),
and nothing shall offend them." Rom. ii. 10, " But glory,
honour and peace to every man that worketh good, to the
Jew first, and also to the gentile." Let him be what he will
be, if he be godly, if he work that which is good, glory, ho
nour and peace shall be upon him ; not only an outward, but
an inward peace he shall have.
Arid, indeed, how can it be otherwise ? For the saints and
people of God do walk with God, they converse with God,
they do acquaint themselves with God. Now if ye look into
Job xxii. 21, ye shall find that this acquaintance bringeth rest
and peace : " Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at
peace." The saints and people of God are, as I may so
speak, of God s special acquaintance, and so they have peace,
for they do walk with God, and have communion with him.
They have communion with the Father, and he is the God of
all consolation; they have communion and fellowship with the
Son, and he is the Prince of Peace; they have communion
and fellowship with the Spirit, and he is the Comforter :
they have communion with the Father, and the Son, and the
Spirit, in and by the gospel ; and that is the word of peace,
the gospel of peace. How can it therefore be, but that
the saints and people of God ordinarily should have peace
within ?
But to make out this more fully unto you. Consider, I
pray, how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, with
whom the saints and people of God have communion and
fellowship, are engaged for their peace.
1. The Father is engaged to give peace unto them. He is
engaged by his prerogative, by his commandment, by his pro
mise, by Christ s purchase and by the saints chastisements.
6 A LIFTING UP [SEE. 1.
He is engaged by his prerogative. Kings and princes will
stand, ye know, for their prerogatives. And this is the
great prerogative of God the Father, to give peace, inward
peace. " I create the fruits of the lips, peace, peace," Isa.
Ivii. 19. And he is called, the God of peace; the God of
consolation : not the God of indignation, not the God of
war, but the God of peace. This is the great prerogative of
God the Father, to give peace unto his people.
He is engaged also, by virtue of his commandment. And
therefore if ye look into Isa. xl. 1, 2, ye shall find, that he com
mands the prophets and ministers, to preach comfort, " Com
fort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God (verse 1) ;
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that
her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned,
for she hath received of the Lord s hand double for all her
sins." Suppose a man s affliction, or temptation, be very
great or much : he hath commanded us to comfort, and com
fort twice ; " Comfort ye, comfort ye :" not once, but twice,
" Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith the Lord." But
there are divers comforters, that are indeed like Job s com
forters, like Job s friends, they speak hard words unto poor
distressed souls. Well, says he, therefore, in verse 2, Speak
ye comfortably, so ye read it; but in the Hebrew, speak ye
to the heart. ih-hy speak soft and sweet words, speak to
the heart of Jerusalem. Oh, but my temptation is so great,
that I am not able to hear those that come to comfort me.
Mark what follows : speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and
cry unto her, lift up thy voice and cry, if a poor soul be dis
tressed, tempted and cannot hear easily ; you that are minis
ters, lift up your voice and cry : not only speak to the heart,
but cry ; lift up your voice and cry unto her. Well, but
what are they to speak and cry ? There are three things
which will comfort a poor distressed soul, and they are to
be spoken. Say, first, " that her warfare is accomplished ;"
affliction and temptation is at an end, it shall be no more.
Secondly, "That her iniquity is pardoned." Her sin is for
given fully and freely. Thirdly, " That she hath received at
the Lord s hands double for all her sins," God hath no more
against her, no quarrel, no controversy, no further punish
ment to inflict upon her, she hath sufficiently born the pun
ishment of her iniquity: thus the Lord hath commanded
SER. 1.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 7
ministers for to preach peace, and to preach comfort ; and
what God hath commanded us to speak, he hath engaged
himself to work. Thus, I say, the Father is engaged by
virtue of his commandment.
He is engaged also, by virtue of his promise. And there
fore, if ye look into Psalm xxix., ye shall see what the
Lord hath promised: verse 11, "The Lord will give
strength unto his people ; the Lord will bless his people
with peace." Here is the promise, "The Lord will bless his
people with peace." Yea, if ye look into Isaiah xxvi., ye
shall find there, that the Lord hath promised to keep the
peace of his people for them, verse 3 : "Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee." So ye
read the words, but according to the Hebrew, they ought to
be read thus ; nyn mW o bw : Thou wilt keep peace, peace :
twice peace. Thou wilt keep peace, peace, for him whose
mind is stayed on thee. So that the Lord is not only en
gaged to give peace unto his people, but he is by promise
also engaged to keep their peace for them.
Yea, the Lord is engaged by purchase. Christ hath pur
chased peace for his people ; and what Christ hath purchased
for them, God the Father is engaged to give unto them.
Read the purchase in Eph. ii. 13, 14, " But now in Christ
Jesus, ye who were sometimes afar off, are made nigh by the
blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both
one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even
the law of commandments, for to make in himself of twain,
one new man, so making peace." Verse 16, " And that he
might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,
having slain the enmity thereby; and came and preached
peace unto you that were afar off, and to them that were
nigh." So that thus ye see it is the purchase of Jesus
Christ : this inward peace and quietness of soul, it is Christ s
purchase ; and what Christ the Son hath purchased, God the
Father is engaged to give.
Yea, the Father is engaged to give peace unto his people,
by all those chastisements that they do meet withal. And
therefore in Isaiah xl, which I named before, the Lord com
mands us to comfort and speak comfortably unto his people,
upon this account, " For she hath received of the Lord s
8 A LIFTING UP [SEB. 1.
hand double for all her sins." Even because a fulness of
chastisement had been upon them. Thus, I say, God the
Father, by virtue of his prerogative, by virtue of his com
mandment, by virtue of his promise, by virtue of Christ s
purchase, by virtue of chastisements that are laid upon his
people, is engaged to give peace unto his children.
2. But now proceed a little, and ye shall see, that as the
Father is engaged, so the Son also is engaged to give peace,
inward peace, and quietude of soul unto his servants.
He is engaged by those qualifications and endowments
that he received from God his Father, for this end and
purpose. Isa. Ixi, " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (says
he) and he hath anointed me," why ? " that I might comfort
those that mourn." That is one end. But I pray look into
Isa. 1., and consider the 4th verse, " The Lord God hath
given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how
to speak a word in season to him that is weary : he wakeneth
morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the
learned." They are plainly the words of Christ, as will
appear to you, if you read but the following words : " The
Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious,
neither turned I away the back ; I gave my back to the
smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair :
I hid not my face from shame and spitting." So that these
are the words of Christ. Well, what doth Christ say here ?
He tells us, that he hath received the tongue of the learned,
to comfort those that are distressed and troubled in con
science, for to help poor wearied souls. Why doth he say,
the tongue of the learned ? " The Lord God hath given me
the tongue of the learned." All men desire to hear the
learned : and it is the greatest piece of learning in the world,
to speak a word in due season by way of comfort to those
that are weary ; this is the greatest piece of ministerial learn
ing, and saith Christ, " He hath given me the tongue of the
learned." Well, but all learned men have not wisdom to
speak in season. Mark what follows. " He hath given me
the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak
a word in season to him that is weary." But hath Jesus
Christ such skill at this work, in comforting those that are
troubled ? Yes, " He wakeneth morning by morning." As
a master is early up in the morning to teach his scholars, so
SER. 1.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 9
hath God the Father been teaching of Christ from all eter
nity this great skill : " Morning by morning he wakeneth,
morning by morning he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the
learned." This is the piece of learning, says Christ, which I
have been learning morning by morning of my Father from
eternity, and this is that great learning which he had attained
unto. So that in regard of this endowment which he hath
received from the Father, he is engaged to give peace unto
his people ; for he hath received the tongue of the learned
for this end and purpose, that he might speak a word in
season to them that are weary.
He is engaged also, by his own disposition ; his sweet,
loving, and tender disposition. He is a lion, indeed, of
the tribe of Judah, but not that roaring lion seeking to
devour. He is a king, indeed, but he comes meekly, riding
upon an ass s colt. (t He doth not lift up his voice in the
streets." When our Lord and Saviour Christ left the
world, he said unto h!s disciples, " My peace I give unto
you ; my peace I leave with you : not as the world gives
peace, but my peace I give unto you/ 7 John xiv. 27. And
as soon as ever Christ rose from the dead again, and met with
his disciples, what doth he say unto them ? When they were
all met together, " Peace be unto you/ John xx. 19. As it
was his last words when he left them, so it is the first word
that now he useth when he seeth them again. But, O Lord,
we have sinned greatly since we saw thee. Be it so, yet
" peace be unto you." But, O Lord, here is Peter among us,
that hath denied thee since thou sawest us. Be it so, I
know it very well, yet " Peace be unto." Peace when he
went away, and peace when he came again : this is his lan
guage and this is his disposition still. Thus he is engaged.
Yea, he is engaged by office to give peace unto his people.
Ye know the apostle calls him our great High Priest. It
was the work of the high priest in the Old Testament, to
bless the people ; and when he did bless the people, what did
he say, but, " The Lord bless ye, and give ye peace ?" Now
then, if Jesus Christ be our great High Priest, and it be the
office of the high priest to bless, and to give peace, then
Christ, by virtue of his office also., is engaged to give peace
unto his people. Take all these three together ; Christ the
second Person is engaged : by his endowments he received
A LIFTING UP r SBB . ,
from the Father; by his own disposition ; by his office; and
it appears pla.nly, that there is a great engagement upon
Jesus Christ to give peace unto his servants
3. As the Father and the Son are engaged to give peace
sli q t7h H 7 r? 6 SaintS and people of God ak the
Spirit, the Holy Ghost ,s engaged to give peace unto them.
For, as I may so speak with reverence, he is, as it were t h,
great executor of Jesus Christ. When Christ died, hem Je
his will, and gave a legacy to his disciples, My peace I e
a3
one m our bosom. When a man sins, a godly mans*
Satan accuses him in heaven: and therefore says John "If
aaiaSaTrfr rv he T-- V
Sata " ""
Satan doth also accuse him to himsef
the apostle "We have the Spirit
"For the Snirt shll r s Our witncss al o;
hath peace and quiet. So that, if you cor HdJ-u J~* he
gagements, the Father ena^ed LTs j S e "
Ghost engaged, for the pete a nd JeT oTSfd s *-.? y
must you not needs conclude U,i. , chjldren,
say, Surely, there is an "ltd *** 3 " d d Ctrine
which ordinanly God s pel Ie a^d
, to r ak the
within tm; but aTfK ^ t haVC " Ot "^ a " d
everlasting condition b S a " d fears about
Etsictrans]atSyr . ac>
SER. 1.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 11
But some have never had peace all their days. Oh, says
one, I have been a long while afflicted, troubled : two, four,
six years, and never yet had peace and quiet within me.
Either therefore this doctrine is not true, or else I am not
godly.
All that may be which you speak of, and yet this doctrine
may be true. General rules have always some exceptions.
Though the garment that the saints do ordinarily wear, be
white, yet here and there some do go in black, and go so a
great while. But that there may be no stumbling concern
ing this matter, I shall desire you to consider with me, some
few distinctions.
1. Ye must know, that there is a fundamental peace, which
the saints and people of God have; and there is an additional
peace. A fundamental peace, which does naturally arise and
flow from their justification : " Being justified by faith, we
have peace with God," Rom. v. And then there is an addi
tional peace, which arises from the sense of their justification.
Possibly a child of God may for a long time lose the latter,
but the former he shall never lose. As a woman that hath a
great jointure, goes abroad some journey, and meets with
thieves, and they take away all the money that she hath about
her ; but yet, says she, though they have taken away my
spending money, they cannot take away my jointure, I have
not lost my jointure. So now the saints sometimes, may
lose their spending money, they may lose the peace that
arises from the sense of their justification ; but as for the
peace that arises and issues from their justification itself, the
first peace, that they shall never lose. Peace is the church s
jointure, and that peace they shall never lose.
2. Ye must know, that there is a great difference between
peace, comfort and joy. A man may have peace that hath
no comfort ; a man may have comfort that hath no joy : one
is beyond the other, one a degree above the other. As now,
it may be day-light, and yet the sun may not shine forth ; the
sun may shine forth, and yet not noon-day. Possibly a man
may have peace, and yet not much comfort, only stayed upon
God ; possibly a man may have comfort, and yet not much
joy. But now, many a poor soul thinks, because he hath no
joy, therefore he hath no comfort; and because he hath not
12 A LIFTING UP [SER. 1.
much comfort, therefore no peace. Labour to know the
difference between these.
3. Ye must know, that there is a peace which lies in oppo
sition to what one hath been ; and a peace, that is in oppo
sition to what one would be. A godly man, a weak Christian,
when he considers what he would We, and what he would
have, he hath no rest nor quiet : but now, come unto the
same man, and say thus, You remember what a wicked life
once you led; ye were a drunkard, or ye were a wanton:
what say ye ; would ye be in that condition again ? Oh no,
saith he then, I would not be in that condition for all the
world. Here now the soul hath peace in opposition to what
it hath been, though it hath not peace and quiet in opposition
to what it would be.
4. Ye must know, that there is a secret, dormant peace ;
and there is an awakened and apparent peace : peace in the
seed, and peace in the flower. As it is with many a wicked
man, for the present he hath great comfort; but when
affliction comes, and the day of death comes, then he
hath trouble ; trouble in regard of sin ; why ? the sin and
guilt was in his heart before, only it lay sleeping there, but
now it is risen. So with a godly man in regard of his peace :
possibly for the present, he may be full of trouble ; but
when affliction comes, and the hour of death comes, then he
hath peace and comfort : why, it was there before, it was at
the bottom, only he was not aware of it, he did not know of
it. For now, ask such a weak Christian who is thus full of
fear for the present, Ye see there is a drunkard, a swearer, a
wanton, would you be in his condition ? would you be con
tented to be in that man s condition ? Oh, no, says he ; I
would not be in such a condition for all the world. And why
doth he say so, but because there is a peace and quietude at
the bottom, although he be not aware of it ? It is true the
saints grieve, but then dolent et de dolore gaudent ; they re
joice that they can grieve : they are troubled for sin ; and
they have rest and quiet in this, that they can be troubled
for their sin : they have no peace in their sin ; but they have
peace in this, that they can have no peace in their sin.
For say now unto them, are ye troubled that ye are
troubled; you are in some measure grieved for sin; and
. 1.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 13
are ye troubled that ye are grieved ? No, will they
say, I am glad that I am grieved for sin ; and the Lord
knows, it is my trouble that I can be grieved no more ; I
have quiet and peace in that I am troubled. Some have
peace in the direct act, and some have peace in the reflex act,
some have it more at the first hand, and some have it more at
the second hand. But consider all these distinctions, and you
will find, that there is no godly man, but more or less in some
of these respects, he may be said to have peace within. But
suppose it be so, what is the issue of this doctrine ? what
doth it tend and lead unto ?
The issue is thus much. Then, behold, what a blessed
condition the saints and people of God are in ! Is it not a
blessed thing to have peace within ; to have quiet, peace and
rest within ? If ye have peace within, though ye want peace
without, you will be able to bear all your burdens, "The spirit
of a man will sustain his infirmities," Prov. xviii. 14. But
a wounded spirit who can bear ? Some bear agues and fevers;
some bear stones and collides, rackings and tormentings; but
a wounded spirit who can bear ? Oh, but " the spirit of a
man will sustain his infirmities," if he have peace within ;
if he be heart-whole, as they say, if he have peace within,
then will he be able to bear all his burdens. Ye see into
what times we are now fallen ; we cannot promise ourselves
peace for a day together ; suddenly a cloud may arise, in a
night, and all our comforts laid in the dark ; how good a
thing is it then to have peace within, to have rest and quiet
within ! If I have peace within, I can relieve myself here
against all calamity. What though I have trouble from my
friends ? yet I have peace within : what though I am thus
reproached ? yet I have peace within ; I am wet indeed, my
garment is wet ; but I am not wet to the skin, I am dry
within, I have peace within. "Blessed (says our Saviour)
are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted/ Matt. v.
4. Are those blessed for the present that shall be com
forted ? How blessed are those then that are comforted, and
that have peace and quiet already.
This doctrine looks wishly, both upon the ungodly, and
upon the godly. It looked once so wishly upon a great man
in Germany, that it was the beginning of his conversion and
14 A LIFTING UP [SER. 1.
turning to God : I mean Galeacius Carracciolus. He was a
papist, a profane person ; and coming occasionally to hear
Peter Martyr preach, he heard this expression or similitude,
When ye see men at a distance skipping, leaping and danc
ing, ye think the men are mad ; but when ye draw near to
them, hear what music they have, then ye do not wonder ;
but ye rather wonder at yourselves that ye should wonder at
them. So, said Peter Martyr, when ye look upon the godly
at a distance, and see them running after ordinances, and
frequenting the means and rejoicing in the ways of God, you
think the people are mad, and ye say they are mad ; but if
you draw near to a godly course, and perceive what music
these people have within, you say not they are mad, but you
rather wonder at yourselves, that you should wonder at them.
Hereupon the Marquess hearing this similitude, was so
stricken withal, that he began to look into his condition, and
it was the first occasion of his conversion. I say no more.
You that are ungodly, ye hear what music the saints have
within, peace and quiet within, ordinarily, though here and
there there may be some exception ; yet ordinarily, what
music they have within ! Oh, who would not be godly !
But this doctrine also, looks wishly upon you that are
godly. And it calls for your thankfulness, that you should
praise the Lord for the peace and quiet that you have. You
will praise God for your outward peace, especially if it be a
peace after war, especially if the war were a civil w r ar, and ye
have felt the smart of it, then ye will praise God for peace.
You that are godly, and have peace, have had a war within,
a civil war within your own bosoms, and ye have felt the
smart of trouble of conscience, and now ye have peace ; and
will ye not be thankful ? will ye not praise the Lord, that
hath given you this peace and rest ?
I confess indeed, it is the duty of all those that have rest,
and peace and quiet within, to be very thankful ; but there
is one thing that hinders my thankfulness, that I cannot
praise the Lord for the peace and quiet that I have, and that
is, I fear my peace is not right ; for there are many that have
a counterfeit and a false peace, and I fear that my peace is
such, and therefore I cannot praise the Lord, or be thankful
for it.
I grant ye, there is a false and counterfeit peace, that
. 1.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 15
wicked men have, even an inward peace. And if ye look
into Deut. xxix. 19, ye may read as much: "And it come
to pass when he heareth the words of this curse, that he
blesseth himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace,
though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add
drunkenness to thirst." So that a man may be in a most
cursed way, adding drunkenness to thirst, and yet he may
have peace, and say in his heart, It shall go well with me.
Questionless, there is a peace of security ; there is a peace
and a rest of sleep, as well as of health. A man that is
wounded and full of aches and pains, feels them not when he
is asleep ; but the reason why he doth not feel them, is not be
cause of his health, but because he is asleep. So a man may
be freed from the trouble of aches and pains within, because
he is asleep, as well as because he is in health. But there is
also a peace that is the fruit of the Holy Ghost ; as ye read
in Gal. v : " The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace."
Questionless, there is a false and a true peace. But shall I
say, that all my money is counterfeit, because there is coun-
feit gold abroad ?
But to help a little in this ; I will speak something of the
difference of true and false peace ; and yet very briefly, thus :
True saving peace is the child of grace, and the mother of
grace. There is a peace that arises from the apprehension of
God s common goodness ; which is common peace. And
there is a special peace, that arises from the apprehension of
God s special favour and free grace ; true peace is the
daughter of that grace, yet it is the parent of inherent grace,
or of gracious actions, I should rather say the nurse, for says
the apostle, " The peace of God that passes all understand
ing, keep (or guard) your minds and hearts," Phil. iv. 7-
This saving peace, is a guard unto all our graces. As false
peace is a guard to our sins, so true peace is a guard unto all
our graces.
True saving peace, is such a peace as is wrought by faith.
"Being justified by faith, we have peace," Rom. xv. "The
Lord give you peace in believing," says the apostle." It
comes in a way of faith : true saving peace is wrought by
faith. False peace, is such as is either born with us and was
never interrupted, being the offspring of nature only ; or the
16 A LIFTING TIP [SfiR. 1.
emanation of a natural conscience, or such as is wrought out
byHime, time working out one s trouble.
True saving peace, will live in the sight of sin. False peace
doth not endure the sight of sin ; a godly man, the more he
doth see his sin, unless he be under temptation, the more
peace he hath : a wicked man, the more he doth see his sin,
the less peace he hath ; and all his peace arises from a not
sight of his sin.
True saving peace loves to be examined, is willing to be
examined, it loves to be tried. But false peace, cannot en
dure examination, it flies from the light, it doth not love to
be tried.
True saving peace is spoken by God. " I will hear what
the Lord will say, for he will speak peace," says the Psalmist,
Psalm Ixxxv. 8. When God speaks peace, he speaks it to a
soul under or after temptation. When God speaks peace,
he speaks it with a strong hand : giving such peace ^as no
creature in the world is able to give. \Vhen God speaks peace,
it is a peace beyond all expression ; the peace of God that
passeth all understanding, it cannot be uttered. Now though
a wicked man have peace, and much peace and quiet within,
yet God doth not speak it; for it was not spoken to him in
or after temptation, it was not spoken by a strong and unre-
sistible hand ; it is such a peace, as may be wrought by time,
time working off the trouble ; or the pleasures and content
ments of the world may beget the like; it is not a peace
that is beyond all expression, a peace beyond all under
standing, but a low peace, which you may easily express.
But now as for you that are godly, that make this objection,
and have this fear and scruple in your hearts, I will here
appeal unto your own souls ; you know and remember
your former trouble ; now ye have peace, and ye have rest
within ; I appeal to you, I say, whether yea or no, when ye
were in that trouble, suppose I, or another minister, or ten
other of your own choosing, suppose a hundred should have
come to you with one promise after another, had we been
able to have spoken comfort to you ? Oh, no ; if the Lord
had not spoken comfort to me, it had not been in the power
of all the ministers in the world, to have spoken comfort unto
my soul, but the Lord certainly hath done it. Yet I appeal
SER. 1.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 17
to you ; are you not willing to have your peace examined ?
are you not willing to have your peace, your inward peace
tried ? yes, with all my soul I would have my peace tried :
and truly, I could not hope that my peace were right, if I
were not willing to have it examined. Well, yet I appeal to you
further; and do not you find that you have peace, even then
when you do see your sins ? and the more you see your sins
upon the back of Christ, the more peace you have ? yes ; and
do not you find this, that your peace came in, in a way of
believing ? from the sight of Christ, laying hold on the pro
mise ? by the prospect of free grace ? yes, I must needs say
so, had I not had a promise to stay rny scul upon ; had I
not had a view of free grace ; had I not seen the Lord Jesus,
I had never had any peace in my poor soul : but the Lord
knows, that thus I attained my peace. Well, then, be of
good comfort, man or woman, I tell thee from the Lord, thy
peace and quiet is right. I know what the danger is of
sewing pillows under men s elbows, and speaking peace,
where none ought to be spoken : but, I say, if it be thus with
thy soul, notwithstanding all thy sins and fears, from the
Lord, I say unto thee, thy peace is right ; go in peace, and
the God of peace tread down Satan under thy feet.
But I fear that my peace, my inward peace is not right be
cause it doth not last and continue.
The second doctrine answers to that objection : for the
second doctrine saith, That a godly man s peace may be in
terrupted.
But one thing yet troubles me, and makes me fear that
my peace and quiet is not good, and that is, because I came
so lightly and slightly by it. I see how it hath been and is
with others of the people of God; some that have been long
afflicted and wounded and have lien troubled a great while,
and so they have had peace : but as for me, it is not so with
me, I came lightly and slightly by my peace and quiet, and
therefore I do even fear that the Lord never spake peace yet
unto my soul.
Dost thou say lightly ? how lightly ? hast thou stolen thy
peace ? or have others bought their peace ? for you say, others
have been much afflicted and troubled, and had a great deal of
heart-smart. But I pray tell me, did those who have had all
this trouble, did they purchase, or buy their peace at the hand
VOL. II. C
18 A LIFTING UP [SEE. 1.
of Christ with all this trouble ? or did Christ give them that
peace and comfort freely ? Buy it ! no, surely ; they did
never purchase it, never buy it, but Christ gave it them freely.
Why, if Christ gave it them freely after all their trouble, why
may he not give it thee after less trouble ? I have read, and
so have you, in the gospel, a parable of two that came into
the vineyard to work ; the one in the beginning of the day,
who bare the heat of the day, and the other at the latter end
of the day ; and both had a penny. When they were both
paid, he that was there at the beginning of the day, murmurs,
saying, I have been here all this day, and I have borne the
heat of the day, and I have but a penny ; and the other that
came in at the latter end of the clay, hath a penny as well as
I : the man that had been there working at the beginning and
heat of the day, he murmurs ; but he that came at the latter
end, he did not murmur, nor say, Surely, my penny is naught,
because I have a penny given me, as well as he that hath
borne the heat of the day. If any should complain, those
that have borne the heat of the day, that have been so much
troubled, should in reason be the persons, but hath the Lord
taken you, and given you a penny, the same peace with him
who bare the heat of the day ; and will you complain, and
say, Surely, my penny is false coin, and my peace naught,
because I have not borne nor endured so much trouble as
another hath ? You know, some children are born into the
world with more pain than others, some with less pain :
should the child that is born with less pain, say, I am a
bastard, because I was not born with so much pain as the
other was ? When Christ is formed in the souls of men and
women, some are regenerate and born again with more pain,
some are regenerate and born again with less pain : should
he that is born with less pain, say, I am a bastard, and not a
true son, because there was not so much pain at my first re
generation as such an one had ? You know how it was with
Zaccheus; Christ comes unto his house, and the same day
that he came, he said to Zaccheus, " This day is salvation
come to thy house." He had assurance the first day. But
Paul is converted ; and he lies troubled, and is three days
blind. Should Zaccheus now say, Surely, I am not converted,
for I never lay three days blind, nor was so much troubled
as Paul was ? No surely, no more may you say, that your
SER. 1.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 19
peace is false because you have not such abundance of trouble
as others have ; you are not to make another s measure your
rule : God goes several ways with his people, as well in re
gard of peace, as in regard of grace. This therefore I say
unto you, look unto your peace itself; have you peace and
quietness of soul ? Then bless and praise the Lord for that
peace of yours : yea, do not only praise the Lord for your
peace and quiet, but praise the Lord that ye came so sweetly
by it, in a way of free grace ; and if for any thing you are to
be troubled, it is for this, that you should nick-name the
grace of God, and call it little or false. Christ calls it free,
and you call it false. Oh, be humbled for this, and praise
the Lord for any measure of quiet and peace that he hath
given unto thee.
But, will another say, all this doth not come up to my
case ; for I have no peace nor quiet in my soul to be thank
ful for : some there are that have peace and quiet indeed, and
they, no question, ought to be very thankful for it ; but my
poor soul hath been long afflicted, troubled, and I never yet
had assurance of God s love in Christ ; I have not this peace
and quiet within : what shall I do, that I may attain unto it?
or what should a poor soul do, to get and attain this peace
and quiet within ?
Ye know what the Psalmist says, " I will hear what the
Lord will say, for he will speak peace unto his people," Psalm
Ixxxv. 8. It is not in my power, or in the power of any
poor creature, to speak peace unto you; but it is the Lord
only that must speak peace unto thy soul ; and the Lord
speaks peace in the way of an ordinance.
But what does the Lord say ? what does the Lord speak
from his word in the way of an ordinance, that I who was
never yet settled, may attain unto this inward peace and
quietude of soul ?
1. He wills you to study and consult much the death,
sufferings and fulness of the satisfaction made by Jesus
Christ ; go down into the grave of Christ ; Christ s blood is
the object of faith, and faith brings peace : unbelief is a
painful sin, and faith is an easing and quieting grace. "Being
justified by faith, we have peace," &c., Rom. v. 1. The more
you see the free and infinite love of God, the more will your
heart be at rest and quiet within you. And where shall you
c 2
20 A LIFTING UP [SEE. I.
see the love of God, but in the death of Christ ? By seeing
Christ on the cross, you see divine love in triumph. All true
peace within, arises from sight of peace made without :
where shall you read of that, but in Christ s death ? And
therefore says the prophet, " the chastisement of our peace
was upon him." In Psalm xli. ye have a promise made of a
great blessing unto him that considereth the poor, " Blessed
is he that considereth the poor." Who is this poor ? Tar-
novius tells us, from the 10th verse, that it is Christ in his
sufferings: for, as he observes, this psalm is a psalrn of
Christ, verse 9th, " Yea, mine own familiar friend in whom I
trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lift up his heel
against me." They are the words of Christ, and Christ
speaks this psalm ; and this poor to be considered, is Christ
in his sufferings: says he, I will not here debate the truth of
this interpretation ; but if true, the Lord promised here a
blessing to him that doth wisely consider the death and suffer
ings of Christ : and wherein doth that blessing lie and consist ?*
"The Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble, nvi
ova: in the evil day, or in the day of evil, saith the
Chaldee paraphrase: in the day of vexation, saith Symma-
chus. Now the day of temptation, doubts and great fears, is
an evil day, and a day of vexation : this day will God deliver
him from, who doth wisely ponder on the death of Christ-
could we see the heart of Christ, we should doubt no more!
and in his death you may see his heart, in his blood you may
see his heart. Ye know what the prophet Isaiah says,
Lord wilt thou not ordain peace, who hast wrought all our
works for us?" And where shall ye find that God hath
Brought all our works for us, but in Christ s grave and
not nly s unto the grave of Christ and
s th re t I r P eaC6 >
is the great peace-maker, hath a commission to take up all
^Cdtorl^^^ 11 US ^ know his word!
(sa?s he) th.?T m " "T *" tOn Ue of * Darned
s we, I Go M 1 PI " W rd in due Season * him that
ary. Go then to Christ, and press this engagement, and
* Pauper hie Christus est et beatne
ip S iu 8q uospronobis S ustinut,graoe fiddi P ^ ^^ CrndatM
vius in Psalmum xli. ddl ammo recte considerant. Tarno-
. 1.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 21
say, Lord, thou hast therefore received the tongue of the
learned, that thou mayest speak a word in due season to
him that is weary. And, O Lord, I am one of those
wearied souls ; wearied with my temptations, wearied with
inward trouble ; now, Lord, speak a word in due season to
this poor, wounded, and wearied soul. Thus go to Christ.
Only in your addresses to Christ, be sure that ye go in up
rightness. Take heed that you do not desire peace merely
for the comfort of it, but as an help unto your grace : " He
will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold
from him that walks uprightly." Good men seek peace for
grace sake ; but wicked men and hypocrites, seek grace for
peace sake. When you do make your addresses for peace,
be sure you come to Christ in uprightness ; and take heed
that you do not desire peace only for the comfort of it, but
as an help unto your grace.
And when you go unto Christ for peace, carry the promise
with you, go in the way of a promise. Go and wait long on
Christ, wait upon him only, and keep his way. Some say
they do wait on God, but they do not keep his way, they
throw up their duty if they have not comfort presently : but
in your addresses to Christ, go and wait long on him ; and in
case that peace and comfort doth not come presently, lay by
that great question a little, Whether you be in Christ or no,
whether you be the child of God or no. The great trouble
is this, Oh, I am afraid I am not the child of God, if I did
but know that I am the child of God, I should have peace.
If peace and comfort therefore do not come presently, lay
that question aside a little, and in due time, Christ will an
swer that question too, only now for the present wait on him,
and keep his way.
But, because it will be said, should not we be humbled for
sin committed ? and is net humiliation a good means to get
peace within ? Therefore, in all your humiliation, carry
Christ along with you.* When you go to mourn for sin,
begin aloft with Christ : and do not always think to begin
below with sin, and so to come up to Christ ; but begin aloft
with Christ, and so by your humiliation, fall down upon sin.
You say, Oh, but I would be first humbled before I do go to
* Oportet te stepe agere quod ton vis et quod vis oportet relinquere.
22 A LIFTING UP [SEB. 1.
Christ, but I pray tell me, can ye be humbled and not see
your sin ? and where can ye have such a prospect of sin, as
in the death of Christ ? is there any thing in the world, that
can shew you the misery, ugliness, and damning nature of
sin, as the death of Christ ? If you begin with Christ, then
you will certainly come down to your sin and be humbled for
it : but if you begin with sin, you will not certainly come up
to Christ. There is many a poor soul that hath said, I will
be first humbled for my sin, and then I will go to Christ;
but he hath stuck so long in the legal work, that he hath
never come at Christ. And if you be humbled before you do
come to Christ, you will have no great peace and comfort in
your humiliation : but if you first come to Christ, and then
carry Christ along with you to your humiliation, then you
will have much comfort and peace therein, would you there
fore be so humbled as you may have peace thereby ; be sure
of this, that you carry Christ with you unto that work, do
not begin always with sin to go up to Christ, but rather be
gin at Christ, and so fall down upon sin.
Labour to mortify your affections, and to get your will
melted into the will of God : as the winds are to the sea, so
are the affections to the soul of man : so long as the sea is
hurried with the wind, it hath no rest or quiet ; and what is
the reason that our hearts are no more calmed and quieted,
but because we have not yet resigned up our wills to the will
of God ?* It is our own will that troubles our peace ; get
but your will mortified into the will of God, and you will
say, Lord, I would fain have peace ; yet not my will, but
thy will be done : I would have peace presently, yet I have
no will but thine ; therefore, Lord, when thou wilt, and as
thou wilt, not my will, but thine own will be done. Thus
do, and you are at rest presently.
Dost thou want peace and comfort and quietude of soul ?
Take heed how you walk with doubting company ; take heed
how you walk with those that are full of fears and doubtings.
As one drunkard doth make another, and one swearer doth
beget another, and one opposer of godliness doth draw on
another, and one adulterer doth make another ; so one
doubting Christian doth make another. You that are weak,
* Propria voluntas turbat pacem.
SER. 1.] FOB THE DOWNCAST. 23
and full of doublings, should go and lean upon those that
are strong and have full assurance ; and you that have as
surance, should give the shoulder to those that are weak, and
say, Come, and lean upon me, and I will be an help unto you.
You know how it is with the ivy and the vine ; the ivy leans
upon the oak, and the vine upon the posts or the house-side;
the ivy and the vine do not lean one upon another ; if the ivy
and the vine should come and lean upon one another, what
twisting would there be ; and both would fall to the ground :
but the ivy leans upon the oak, and the vine upon the posts
or the house-side. So a weak Christian should go and lean
upon a strong Christian : but if one doubter leans upon ano
ther doubter, both will fall to the ground. I have read of a
woman that was under great temptations, and meeting with
another in the same condition, said to her, I am afraid I shall
be damned ; So am I to, said the other ; Oh, but said she
again, I do not only fear, but I am sure of it ; certainly I
shall be damned : Aye, but said the other, yet my condition
is worse, for I am damned already. Here was damned and
damned : Oh, said one, I shall certainly be damned ; Oh,
said the other, I am damned already. Oh, what communion
is here ! is this to build up one another ? Do you therefore
want comfort and peace ? You that are weak, go and lean
upon those that are strong, and have full assurance ; and you
that have assurance, be not unwilling to give forth your
shoulder unto those that are weak, and are full of doubtings.
And to end all. Dost thou want peace and inward quietude
of soul ? Whensoever the Lord then doth but begin to
speak the least peace unto thine heart, take heed that you do
not refuse it, but rather improve it, and stir up yourselves
then in a way of believing ; praise God for every smile, and
rejoice in the least: if a bowed sixpence, as it were, be sent
you from heaven, lay it up, even every love-token. Peace is
a tender thing. Doth the Lord begin to speak peace to any
of your souls ? now stir up yourselves in a way of believing,
and then Christ will give you more.
Ye know how it was with Nathaniel : when Nathaniel be
lieved upon what Christ had spoken, says Christ unto him,
" Believest thou, because I said unto thee, I saw thee under
the fig tree? I will shew thee greater things; thou shalt
see the angels of God ascending and descending ypon the
24
A LIFTING UP [SfiR. 1.
Son of Man." So will the Lord Christ say to a poor soul, I
have spoken a word unto thee, and I gave thee a little peace,
and dost thou believe because of the word I have spoken unto
thee ? thou shalt see greater things, and I will give thee abund
ance of peace. Look into Isaiah xlviii. 18, and there you shall
find the Lord speaking thus : " Oh that thou hadst hearkened
to my commandments; then had thy peace been as a river,
and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." When the
Lord speaks, and calls upon people to believe, if then they
do hearken to him, then shall their peace be like a river.
And when does the Lord call in a special manner upon
people to believe ? When he gives out a word, and when he
gives them a little peace, then he is calling upon them to be
lieve ; now return, and now believe, says the Lord. Ye
know how it was with Elijah : when they wanted rain, and
had wanted rain for a long time, Elijah sends his servant to
wards the sea, to see if he could perceive any rain coming,
and Elijah falls down upon his face in prayer ; his servant
goes, but no sign of rain : he goes again, and no sign of
rain ; and the seventh time Elijah s servant perceives a cloud,
of the bigness of an hand, and he comes down unto his
master, and tells him he had seen a cloud, the bigness of a
man s hand : whereupon Elijah concludes and says, " Come,
let us up, I hear the noise of many waters." So say I, you
have been upon your face, and have been much discouraged,
yet if you have been at prayer, and a little refreshment
comes, though it be but the bigness of an hand, yet conclude
and say, Surely, there is more rain a coming; Come, O my
soul, why art thou cast down ? and why art thou disquieted
within me? hope in God, and wait on him, I hear abun
dance of rain coming. When our Saviour Christ sometimes
speaks peace, he doth at the first speak by a small word, and
if that be improved, then he speaks more. Ye know how it
was with Mary ; she was at the sepulchre, and had been
inquiring after her Lord, and says she to the angels, They
have taken away my Lord ; and the angels talked to her, but
could not comfort her. But at last comes our Saviour
Christ, and he speaks to her, and then she was com
forted. But what does he say to her? Only one word;
Mary: so when a man is in trouble, the Lord comes some
times and speaks but a word, he takes a promise it may be,
SER. 2.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 25
and sets on a word thereof upon the soul, and the heart an
swers, Rabboni, my Lord. Doth the Lord therefore speak
but one word unto thee, yet stir up thyself in believing, and
hearken unto him, for he will speak yet more fully and
plainly ; only when he speaks, listen : hearken diligently unto
him and improve what he saith, so shall your peace be as a
river, and your righteousness as the ocean.
And thus I have done with the first argument.
SERMON II.
TRUE PEACE MAY BE INTERRUPTED.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted
within me, $c" Psalm xlii. 11.
IT is possible that the saints and people of God, may be
much discouraged, and cast down : though there be an in
ward peace and quietness of soul, which they are ordinarily
endued with, yet possibly this peace may be interrupted, and
themselves much discouraged and cast down.
Here are two words in the text speak as much ; cast-down,
disquieted. And three times in this Psalm, the Psalmist
saith, his soul was cast down within him ; yet this David was
a man of great peace and comfort ordinarily.
And as with David, so it was, is, and will be with other
saints. This is so ordinary a case, that the Holy Ghost
hath provided a standing psalm, or prayer, on purpose for
such as are in this condition : Psalm cii., the title, " A prayer,
or psalm, of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and
poureth out his complaint before the Lord/ In Psalm cxix.
25, he saith, " My belly cleaves to the dust " and that is
low indeed. And verse 28, " My soul melteth for heavi
ness :" I am not only sad and heavy, but my soul melteth
for heaviness. Canticles v., the Spouse saith, " Her heart
was gone ;" or, " My soul failed within me." And if we
look into Psalm cxliii., we find, at the 4th verse, that the
Psalmist saith, " My spirit is overwhelmed, and my heart
within me is desolate." What do all these expressions
26 A LIFTING UP [SER. 2.
high, great and many, speak, but this truth that is now before
us ?
For the more full clearing and opening of it, I shall labour
to show .
First, How far it is possible for a good man to be dis
couraged, or cast down.
Secondly, How it doth come to pass that he is so dis
couraged.
Thirdly, How those discouragements can stand with his
grace and goodness.
Fourthly, How they may be healed and cured.
And first. If you ask, How far the discouragements of
saints may reach ? For, will some say, I know it is possible
that the most gracious, holy man, may be much discouraged,
but not with such discouragements as mine are.
1. I answer. What are yours ? Are you so far disquieted,
discouraged, cast down, as to refuse the word, promise, or
consolation that is brought unto you ? So far may the dis
couragements of the saints extend : Psalm Ixxvii., verse 3,
" I remembered God, and was troubled." He doth not say,
I remembered my sin, and was troubled, but God ; Yea, I
was not only troubled, but " I did complain, and my spirit
was overwhelmed within me." But when the promise came,
and mercy came, and comfort came, did he refuse that too ?
Yes : verse 2, " My soul refuseth to be comforted."
2. Are you so far discouraged, disquieted, cast down,
that your very body feeleth the smart of your discourage
ments ? that you do not only refuse the promise, and all
comfort for your soul, but even for your body ? Then look
into Psalm cii., and see if your case may not be paralleled,
verse 4, " My heart is smitten and withered like grass, so
that I forget to eat my bread : verse 5, " By reason of the
voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my skin :" verse
6, " I am like a pelican of the wilderness, and I am like an
owl of the desert :" verse 9, I have eaten ashes like bread,
and mingled my drink with weeping :" verse 10, " Because of
thine indignation and thy wrath ; for thou hast lifted me up
and cast me down:" verse 11, "My days are like a sha
dow that declineth ; and I am withered like grass." Oh,
but I am not only so far discouraged, as to refuse comfort for
. 2.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 27
soul and body, but my soul refuseth duty, and casts off duty
too for the present.
3. Therefore, it is possible, that a good and gracious man s
discouragements may extend thus far too. You will think
it strange that I find an instance for this in that holy man
Jeremiah; yet if you look into Jer. xx. 7 9j you find it
made good. Indeed, saith he, " The word was as fire in my
bones, and I could not forbear/ But for the time he did
resolve to forbear preaching in the name of God, which was
his duty, which he had commission to do : for, says he, " I
will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his
name." This holy, gracious man, was under temptation, he
was much discouraged, and thereupon he said so. Yet, verse
13, he saith, "Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord; for he
hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evil
doers." But then mark the next words ; " Cursed be the day
wherein I was born ; let not the day wherein my mother bare
me be blessed." " Cursed be the man who brought tidings
to my father, saying, A man child is born to thee." What a
sudden change was here, even in the best of the saints, from
encouragements to discouragements. Oh, but I have not only
cursed the day of my birth, as Jeremiah, and wished that I
had never been born ; but I am weary of my life, and have
sought after mine own death : and was there ever any godly,
gracious man, that was thus discouraged, and cast down ?
Yes. What think you of Job ? "I was weary of my
life," x. 1. And in the iiird chapter, Job, pouring out his
complaint in regard of himself, he saith, verse 20,
" Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life
to the bitter in soul?" verse 21, "Which long for death,
but it cometh not, and dig for it more than for hid treasures."
Now ye know, that those which dig for gold and silver, dig
industriously and earnestly. Thus it is with me, says Job,
I am so afflicted, and distressed ; and in such bitterness of
soul, that I long for death, and dig for it as for hid trea
sures.
Oh, what a mighty deep of discouragements, may the
saints and people of God fall into, and yet be godly, gra
cious !
Secondly, But why doth God suffer his own people and
dearest children to be thus discouraged, and their peace to
2 g A LIFTING UP [SER. 2.
be interrupted ? I know, will some say, that all our pre
sent joy and comfort, is but a creature, and so may be
eclipsed; and that Satan is near unto the best of God s chil
dren, thrusting and pushing them forward into these dis
couragements, that they may be like unto himself who is a
discouraged spirit: but why will God suffer it to be so ?
In general, it is for their good, for their good they have,
and for their good they do want their peace and comfort.*
The star which led the wise men to Christ, did not always go
before them, but sometimes it appeared, sometimes it was
hidden from them : but both appearance and hiding was for
their benefit ; its first appearance invited them to Christ, and
its withdrawance made them more diligent in seeking after
him. So when Christ hid himself from his mother Mary, she
sought him the more, and when she found him, she rejoiced
the more : but both his absence arid his presence, her fear
and her comfort, was for her good ; for his absence did in
crease and draw out her desires, and his presence did increase
and draw out her joys. When God is absent from us, then
we have testimonies of our love to God, by our desires after
him ; and when he is present, then we have testimonies of
his love to us, by the shines of his countenance ; so that
whether God shines or not, whether we have comfort or not,
both is for our good. Thus in the general, but yet more
particularly.
1. Ye know it is God s way and manner to deal with the
children of men, according to their own dispositions, to
stoop and condescend unto their infirmities : therefore says
the prophet Hosea, " He draws us with the cords of a man."
Hosea xi. 4. Now it is man s disposition to come to God
at the second hand : so long as man can find a fulness in
any creature, he comes not to God ; but first he sees an
emptiness in the creature, duty and ordinance, and then he
says, Oh what a fulness is in God himself, in Christ him
self! " The widow that is desolate, trusteth in God," 1 Tim.
v. 5 ; though a widow, yet if not desolate, sometimes, she
* Sicverusjustitissolnonnunquamorituretad nos accedit aliquando rur-
sus a nostro climate aberrat utrumque tamen beneficium nostrum est
Frumentuminterramjactumegetaliquotempore ut congelatur et induretur
ahquo etiam ut molliatur neutrum illi obest, utrumque necessarium est unum ut
crescat alteruni ut radices agat. Granat.
SER. 2.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 29
would not trust ; and therefore God suffers a desolation to
come upon her widowhood. When David s men took up
stones to have stoned him, then, says the text, " He en
couraged himself in the Lord his God," 1 Sam. xxx. 6. So
long as man hath encouragement elsewhere, he doth not en
courage himself in the Lord his God. This being man s
nature, and God having a design of love upon his own chil
dren, he suffers a damp and discouragement to pass upon all
their comforts : their peace to be interrupted, their hearts
disquieted, and their souls discouraged, that so they may en
courage themselves in God alone.
2. This inward peace and quietness of soul, is so great a
commodity, that God would have the price to be enhanced
and raised. Common and ordinary blessings once lost, and
found again, are extraordinary : it is a common and ordinary
mercy that a man sits in his shop, and walks up and down in
his trade ; but if he be sick awhile, lose his health, and not
able for five or six weeks to look into his shop ; if then he
can get down but one day, Oh, says he, what an extraordinary
mercy and blessing is it, that I should go down again : thus
the interruption of an ordinary blessing does raise it to an ex
traordinary. So long as a man hath his health and strength,
though he be able to travel forty, fifty, three-score miles a day,
he is not mnch affected therewith ; but if he be sick a little, and
at death s door, and then begins to recover, though he can but
put forth his hand, or stir his leg, he blesses God, and says,
Oh, friends, I can stir myself in my bed, I can move my hand,
or my leg ; what an extraordinary merey and blessing is this !
So in this case, so long as a man hath inward peace and quiet
ness of soul, without interruption, he looks upon it as a
common mercy and blessing; but if his peace be a little in
terrupted, and his soul buffetted by Satan, and then he re
covers his peace, Oh, says he, what an extraordinary blessing
and mercy is this ! Now God will sometimes raise the
price of this commodity from an ordinary to an extraordinary
blessing, and therefore he doth suffer his own children and
dearest servants to be thus discouraged, and their peace to
be interrupted.
3. God is a tender Father, and he would have all the love
of his children ; he would not have his children to love their
nurse more than himself : our joy and peace and comfort, is
30 A LIFTING UP [ SEB -
bat the nurse of our graces; now when God sees that his
eh Idren fall in love more with the nurse than with himself,
then he removes the nurse, and causes their peace to be sus
pended and interrupted : he will not have the nurse to be
loved more than himself.
4 Sometimes God doth suffer this cloud to arise upon the
peace and comforts of his people, that he may tram them up
unto more perfection; comfort is the children s milk: ye
may observe, therefore, that the weaker chnstian hath some
times more lively, sensible comforts, than the stronger Chris
tian hath ; why? but because this inward joy and peace and
comfort, is that milk and sweet honey, whereby they are
drawn off from the pleasures and sweetness of the world ;
and as these comforts do wean us fronx the world s comforts,
so we have need to be weaned again from these weaners,
which God doth sometimes by restraining of them, and so
we grow up unto more perfection.*
5. Sometimes, again, God sees his children do grow vain
and light and frothy and wanton and secure under their
peace and comfort, and then he withdraws himself, hides his
face, and so they do lose their comfort. This was the case
in Canticles v, where the spouse saith, "My soul faileth
within me," at verse 6. But why ? " I opened to my Be
loved, but my Beloved had withdrawn himself:" and why
had he withdrawn himself ? He comes and makes a tender
of love and mercy, verse 2, and she would none, verse 3,
" I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on ? I have
washed my feet, how shall I defile them ?" that is, I am now
laid to sleep ; they are words that import security, and upon
her security he withdraws himself, and being withdrawn, her
soul fails within her. And thus it is many times with, the
children of God in their particulars ; the Lord sees that they
grow secure, vain, frothy and wanton under their peace and
comfort, then he withdraws himself, and their peace faileth.
6. Our Lord and Saviour Christ is a tender chirurgion,
who hath set all our bones which we ourselves have broken
* Ignorandum non est consolationes spirituales esse infantium cibum et lac
dulce quo Deus nutrit suos et a mundi voluptatibus avocat ut harutn voluptatura
inescati dulcedine alias omnes consolationes contemnant et anioris divini dulce-
dine capti omnem amorem mundi abjiciant.
Deus negat suis consolationes ut fiant perfectiores. Granat.
SER. 2.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 31
by our sins. You know that a wise and an honest chirurgion,
though he desire his patient may be quickly cured, yet if he
sees the plaister doth not lie right, he takes it off again, for
it is not laid right, saith he : so doth Christ do, he sees that
the comforts of his people sometimes are not right laid, and
therefore, saith he, though I desire this poor wounded soul
may be quickly cured, yet because this comfort, this promise,
this experience doth not lie right, it must be taken off again.
Now the comforts of the saints are so laid sometimes, as the
very laying of them doth breed discomfort. As in the sowing
of seed ; it is not enough that the seed be good, but it must
be well sown, else the very sowing thereof may cause weeds:
so though light be sown for the righteous, yet sometimes it
so is sown, as that the very sowing thereof doth breed these
weeds of fears and discouragements, that you may say, and
that without prophecy, Here is a poor soul that ere long
will be much discouraged, though for the present full of
comfort.
But this is hard to say : can ye foretel a man s discourage
ments, even in the time of his comfort? Who is there
among all the saints so comforted, concerning whom you
may say, Surely this man will be much discouraged again ?
When a man, a good man, doth lay his spiritual comfort
upon outward blessings, you may say beforehand, this man s
comfort will never hold, but ere long he will be much dis
quieted ; and this was the reason why the saints in the time
of the Old Testament, laboured under so many discourage
ments, even because they measured the love of God so much
by these outward blessings. Psalm cxliii. 4, " Therefore my
spirit is overwhelmed within me." W^hy so ? Verse 3,
" Because the enemy prevailed :" he measured God s love
too much by these outward things, and therefore when the
enemy broke in upon him, he thought God did not love him,
and so he was overwhelmed ; thus in regard of all outward
blessings. Seest thou therefore a man who raiseth his per
suasion of God s love from the smiles of any creature, say
of such a man beforehand, Oh, this poor soul ere long, will
be in the dark, and under some discouragements.
When a man is unthankful for true peace, and unhumbled
for false peace, he cannot hold his peace long. Before a man
is converted, he hath peace within ; " For when the strong
32
A LIFTING UP [SfiR. 2.
man keeps the house, all is at peace ;" but it is false peace :
after a man is converted, he hath peace within, and it is true
peace ; God expecteth that a man should be humbled for his
former false peace, and thankful for his present true peace.
Now when God sees one both unhumbled for false peace, and
unthankful for his present true peace, the Spirit of the
Lord is grieved, so it withdraweth, and the soul is com
fortless.
When a man doth raise his comfort only from somewhat
that he doth find within himself; from grace that he doth
find within, and not from grace without ; from Christ within,
and not from Christ without; then his comfort will not hold;
perpetuum est quod habet causam perpetuantem, that is per
petual, which hath a perpetuating cause : grace without is
perpetual, Christ s own personal obedience in the merit of
it, is perpetual ; but the actings of grace within us, are not
perpetual, or not perpetually obvious to sight, and therefore
cannot perpetually comfort. Indeed, our grace within, and
obedience, is in some respects a cause of our peace. 1st, A
causa sine qua non, a cause without which we can have no
comfort; for a godly man can have no comfort, if he have
no obedience. 2ndly, A cause which doth, removere prohibens,
remove what hinders our comfort, namely, our sin. Srdly
A cause witnessing: for there are three that bear witness, the
Spirit, water and blood ; water, which is our sanctification,
is one. 4thly, A cause confirming ; for by our obedience and
sanctification, our justification is confirmed, and the sense
thereof; so that obedience is one cause, but not the
only cause of our peace, nor the principal : when there
fore you see the streams of a man s comfort run in this
channel, raising all his comfort only, or principally from his.
obedience, or acting of grace within, then you may say,.
though the stream be now full, stay but a little, and ere long I
you will see it dried, and this man will be much discouraged.
When a man, a good man doth lay his comfort, rather
upon the impression, or comings in of the word, than upon!
the word itself. For example, suppose a man take the Bible,
and upon the opening thereof doth pitch on some promise:]
for the present he is much refreshed and comforted: oJ
suppose that he doth not open the Bible, nor read the Scrip-J
ture, but sitting down in a dark condition, some promis^t
SER. 2.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 33
doth come to him which before he thought not of; now at
the coming of this promise, his heart is much raised, warmed
and comforted, insomuch that he concludeth, saying, Now I
am a child of God, now I know that God loves me, that I
have a share in Christ : either this man raiseth his comfort
from the word itself, or from the comings in of the word ; if
from the word itself, how can his comfort die ? if upon the
bare coming in of the word, how can his comfort live ? For
when a word comes not, then his comforts fail. We read in
Psalm xvi., that "he shall multiply sorrows that hasteneth
after another :" your translation reads it thus, " Their sor
rows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God " but
the word God, nnn in canuvjr uv, is not in the Hebrew.
The whole verse are the words of Christ ; what saith he at
verse 2 ? " Oh my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, thou
art my Lord, my goodness, holiness, or righteousness is not
for thee, but for the saints that are in the earth, and for the
excellent in whom is all my delight." But O Lord, our
Saviour, what if we do not go to thy goodness, holiness and
righteousness, resting upon that alone ? He answereth,
" Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after ano
ther." And is not this to hasten after another, when men
rest upon the bare coming in of the word, or the impressions
on the heart that are made thereby ? Where do we read in
all the Scripture, turn from one end of the Bible to the
other, where do we read that Christ hath appointed any
such way of comfort as this, that a man should raise his
comforts from pitching, or by an opening of the book ?
If I pitch upon a promise to-day, and so have comfort, may
I not pitch upon a threatening to morrow, and so have no
comfort again ? Where hath Christ appointed any such way
as this, that I should measure God s love, or cast my ever
lasting condition by the coming in of a particular word ?
Indeed, God doth sometimes by his providence, upon the
opening of the Bible, cause our eye to fall upon some pro
mise, which is a providential comfort; he doth sometimes
send a particular word to stay and bear up ones soul in a
particular distress or affliction, but not that I should mea
sure his everlasting love, or cast my condition by the coming
in of every word. This therefore is to hasten after another ;
and how many sorrows are multiplied upon the hearts of
VOL. II. D
34 A LIFTING UP [SER. 2.
God s people hereby ? How many poor souls are there
that walk in this way ! God our Father sees it, that the
plaister is not right laid, and so he is fain to take it off, but
all from a design of love, to lay it right ; and for these
reasons God suffers his own people to be much discouraged.
Thirdly, but how can all this stand with grace ? Can a
man be thus comforted arid discouraged, discouraged and
then comforted again ? thus to and fro in his comfort, yet in
Christ, yet gracious, yet holy ?
Yes : for though there be much evil in this traversing up
and down, yet in the saints there is still a mixture of some
grace withal, some grace mixed with their discouragements.*
Take the saints and people of God, and though they be
much discouraged and cast down, yet still they mourn after
God; and though they cannot wait so patiently as they
would, yet they say in truth, if they did but know that God
would come at last, they would wait all their lives; here is
grace; and though they cannot mourn for sins past, for
which they are most disquieted, yet they dare not put forth
their hand willingly unto any sin present. I have read of
one that was so troubled and cast down, that he said and
thought, I find so little comfort in my soul, that I would
willingly suffer my body to live in burning fire until Christ s
coming, so that I might but have the assurance of God s
love and favour ; and though I am persuaded I shall go to
hell, yet my hope is, that my pains here will be mitigated
there, in all which trouble, saith my author, nothing in the
world could persuade him to do any thing willingly that was
displeasing to God ; this man was at the last comforted, and
then he would often say, The devil took advantage of my
sorrow for evil things, to make me unthankful for good
things. But I speak this to shew, that the saints are never
so discouraged, but still there is a grace that is mixed withal, ,
they dare not sin.f Yea, and though by their very dis
couragements, they do sin against the gospel in unbelief,.
Revertere anima mea in requiem tuam, Psal. cxvi., observemus verbum
revertendi quo admonemur, fieri quidem subinde, ut animus piorum optata,
requie privatur et variis discriminibus inquietetur verum juxta id accidere con-
solationis quod suo tempore conceditur illis divinitus ut ad quietam suam rever-
tantur. Muscul. in Psal. cxvi.
t O lOty Faces a lottf custodivit quia vina sua vi conservant.
SER. 2.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 35
yet by the same discouragements they are kept from their
sins against the law, these discouragements being as the lees
that do keep the wines.
Yea, and though they do rest too much upon their righte
ousness, whereby their feet sink into divers sloughs, yet it
is because they would be the more obedient to God their
Father, and in the midst of all their discouragement pro
fess in truth, I would give all the world for the presence of
God ; here is grace, a mixture of grace withal ; no marvel
therefore, that these discouragements may be in a godly
gracious man.
But is there no evil in this, to be thus fluctuating to and
fro, comforted and then discouraged ? is there no evil in
these discouragements ?
Much, very much ; I shall not enter into the particulars.
But how can they improve Christ as they should in this
condition ? So long as a man s title for his land is in
question, he cannot sow his ground, nor build houses ; and
if you ask him, Why do not you sow your ground, and
repair your houses ? his answer is ready, I dare not lay out
much cost, because my title is in question : so here, so long
as a man s title to Christ is in question, he cannot improve
Christ as he should. If a man be going a journey, and
know not his way, he loseth much of his way and of the
comfort of it in inquiring after the way, and thinking whether
he be right or wrong ; when he comes at three or four turn
ings, there he stands while he might ride a mile, and when
he comes above in the field, and sees a shepherd at a dis
tance from him, he rides up to him to inquire whether he be
in his way or not ; yea, and all the day long he is thinking
of his way, whether he be right ; whereas, if he knew his
way, he might have many precious thoughts of God and of
the word. So in this case, while a man is doubting and
fearing, and knows not whether he be in the way to heaven
or no, how much precious time is lost ! thoughts of Christ
lost ! thankfulness for mercy lost ! Of all hearts, the
Scripture saith, an unbelieving heart is an evil heart; and
when men s hearts are discouraged and cast down, are they
not unbelieving? Who would not therefore take heed of
these discouragements, and of the interruption of their peace?
Fourthly, but suppose now that I have lost my comforts ?
D 2
36
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 2.
Times were heretofore, when my soul was full of joy, but
now I am quite discouraged ; what should a poor soul do to
recover his peace and comfort again, that uninterrupted peace
may be restored ?
Some things by way of question ; some things by way of
doctrine.
]. Hast thou forgot the years of the right hand of the
Most High ? hast thou lost all thy experience too ? I know
that usually when our comforts fail, our former experiences
fail, yet not always ; for the Psalmist saith here, " My
soul is cast down," yet at the same time, verse 6, he saith,
" Therefore I will remember thee from the land of Jordan
and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar." So Psalm
Ixxvii. The Psalmist having said at the 7th verse, " Will the
the Lord cast off for ever; and will he be favourable no
more ; is his mercy clean gone for ever ; and doth his pro
mise fail for evermore ? hath God forgotten to be gracious ?"
he addeth in the same breath, " But I will remember the
years of the right hand of the Most High." Ye know what
the disciples said, " Did not our hearts glow within us while
he opened the scriptures to us ?" Luke xxiv. 32. Beloved !
you have no comfort now, well, but you remember at such a
time, when you were all alone in your chamber, and no soul
was near you, how the Lord came and opened the scriptures,
the promise to your soul, wherewith your heart did glow
within you. Have you quite forgotten the openings of those
scriptures to you ; (I speak not of the glowings, for I sup
pose they are now gone) but are the scriptures gone that
were then opened to you ; did not you say in your last:
trouble and down-cast condition, if ever the Lord appear to me
again, I will never doubt of his mercy more ; and did he not
appear unto you and open the promise unto your heart ; and
have you now forgotten these things ? this is your infirmity,
why should you not remember the days and times and work
and experiences of the right hand of the Most High ?
2. Do you not use the means for the restoring of yo
comforts in such a manner, as thereby 5 ou do lose them
more ? A man may have great desire after some prefermen
and place, which many ride for, but one is so hasty that h
rides over hedge and ditch, and thereby falls and hurt
himself, so others get before him, and by his too muc
SER. 2.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 37
haste, he doth lose his place. Thus it is sometimes with
good people, they make so much haste to their comfort, that
they lose it by their haste ; they would have it sooner if they
went on in an ordinary way of waiting on God without such
posting haste ; but they must have it to-day ; oh let me
know my interest in Christ to-day, saith one, or else I am
undone for ever. Thus, by stinting and limiting God to a
time, they tempt the Holy One, and so are more distant
from their comfort ; the more the child cries, and is froward
under the rod, the longer is the rod continued.
Some seek comfort in away of reason, and think to reason
out their temptation, and to reason in their comfort, but as
one saith well, Dispute not with God lest you be confounded,
dispute not with Satan lest you be deceived.
Some again tire themselves in duty, neglecting of their
calling ; the truth is, prayer is a friend to comfort, and more
than ordinary time is to be used in prayer for those that are
troubled in conscience, but when men under temptations,
and without comforts throw up their callings, thinking that
nothing is to be done but prayer, by throwing aside their
calling, they lay themselves open to more temptations of
Satan, they do so tire out their natural spirits in duty, that
they are flat and dead in duty, so their temptations are the
more increased, and their comforts more distanced. Where
fore consider, if you would have comfort restored again,
whether you do not use the means of comfort in such a
manner, as to set you at a further distance from it.
3. Whether have you not strained, and reached for some out
ward comfort so far, as to lose your inward comfort ? I read
of Francis Spira, that when he was in horror of conscience,
he could not with peace and quietness behold his wife and
children, for, to get an estate for them he denied the truth,
and therefore when they came before him in his trouble, he
cried out in much horror, How terrible is the sight of these
to me ! They had been comforts to him before, yet now he
could not away with the sight of them. Oh, thought he,
for your sakes, and for your provision, T have denied the
truth and yielded to these superstitions ; and therefore says
he, How terrible is the sight of these unto me ! What
peace or comfort had Judas in the sight of his thirty pence ?
Look what outward comfort a man strains his conscience for,
38
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 2.
that will be death unto him to behold. We read of David,
that when his men had ventured for the waters of Bethle
hem, he would not drink of it, but poured it out before the
Lord, for, saith he, "Why should I drink the blood of
these men ?" He did not sin in desiring of it, nor did he
command his men for to venture through the enemy s quar
ters, for those Hebrew words, in n, quis dabit, who will
give me ? are but words of wishing, who will give me to
drink of the waters of Bethlehem ; that is, Oh, that I had
the waters of Bethlehem: according to the Hebrew lan
guage, but though he sinned not in his desires, yet when he
had the waters, he poured them forth before the Lord, and
said, " God forbid that I should drink the blood of these
men " and will you drink the blood of your own conscience ?
Time was heretofore when you had peace and comfort, and
by straining and stretching your conscience for your outward
comfort, now you have lost your inward, will you not then
take that outward comfort, and pour it forth before the
Lord, and say, God forbid that I should drink the blood of |
mine own peace and comfort ? How can any of you have
peace, while those stolen and unrestored goods lie by you ?
But alas ! all my comforts do lie prostrate at the feet of I
my fears, that now I have no peace at all : what shall I do>[
that my peace and comfort may be restored ?
By way of direction, three things.
1 . Look what you would do if you were to be justified, I
and do the same now: if I were to be justified, having a
sight of my own sin and nature, I would, through grace,
come to the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and leave the-|
weight of my poor, guilty soul upon it ; which act of faith
would justify me, and give me peace; for "being justified I
by faith (saith the apostle), we have peace with God."
And as faith doth justify and give peace at the first, so the I
renewing of this act of faith doth renew our peace ; and j
what is my justifying faith, but in time of temptation to
leave myself and condition upon Christ alone, saying,
Whether godly or ungodly, whether in Christ or not in
Christ, now I do not dispute, but leave myself upon Christ
alone: this do again, and this will bring peace again.
-, 2 ; Y U have now lost y ur comforts and the shinings of
d s face: either God has withdrawn himself for your sin.]
SER. 2.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 39
or not ; if not for your sin, he will return again, and that
quickly too ; if for your sin, labour more and more for to
find it out, and to be humbled for it.
I know you will say, Oh, but now in this condition I
cannot be humbled.
But withal remember, that in this condition, that goes
for humbling which doth not before, and God will take that
for humiliation now, which he would not take before. Psalm
xxxii., saith David, " I said I will confess my transgression
unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."
Dixlt non fecit, saith Austin, he said he would do it, but did
not do it fully, yet thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.
God took his humiliation although it was very low. Why ?
Verse 3, 4, we find him under temptation and in much dis
couragement, for saith he, " My bones waxed old with my
roaring all the day long, day and night thy hand was heavy
upon me ; my moisture is turned into the drought of sum
mer," yet how ready was God to receive an acknowledgment,
and a little humiliation from him at this time.
Oh, but what is all this to us ? this was David s case. Nay,
saith David, this is not my case alone, for verse 6, " For
this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee, in a time
when thou mayest be found." God will receive a little when
you are much discouraged. Either therefore God hath with
drawn for your sin, or not ; if not, wait but a little, he will
return again ; if for your sin, labour more and more to be
humbled for it, for he will receive that measure of humi
liation now, which he will not do at any other time.
3. Are all your comforts gone, and would you have them
fain restored ? Then read and read the Scripture much ; if
you cannot read yourself, get some others for to read them
to you. When a man s mind is empty, as in temptation and
want of comfort, it is empty of Christ, and full of fear, then
it doth grind itself, as a quern or mill when empty of corn,
one stone grinds another : the more full a man s mind is,
the more free from temptations and fears. Now Scripture
matter is the most filling matter, the more ye see Christ
walking in the sweet shades of divine love toward poor
sinners, the sooner will your faith revive, and your comforts
be restored ; and where can you see Jesus Christ walking,
and taking his turns with poor sinners under the shades .of
40
A LIFTING UP [SER. 2.
divine love, but in the Scriptures ? stand there awhile, and
you shall see him, and your heart will say, And why not one
turn of love with me, oh my Saviour ? Study, read, and read
much the scriptures.
But if I do read the scriptures, and read them much, 1 shall
then meet with some promise, possibly many, and now I
cannot apply them being thus discouraged as I am, I shall
see the promises indeed, and say, There is such and such an
old friend of mine, but it is now mine enemy, the promise
will not own me, and I cannot apply it, and so it will do me
no good.
Ye cannot tell what the promise will do till you come to
apply it; the promise never gives down its power and
strength till it be applied, it doth then work when it is put
to work, and not before. When Moses saw his rod turned
into a serpent, he was afraid of it, and fled from it, but
when he put forth his hand and took it by the tail, it was a
rod in his hand again, as it was before ; it may be you look
upon such and such a promise at a distance, and you say,
Oh, there is my enemy, now it will not help me, it will sting
me, it will undo me, but put forth your hand again to it, and
it will become a promise, a rod in your hand, as comfortable
as ever it was before.
And doth not the promise come to you ? go you to it.
Sometimes the promise doth come to us, sometimes we go to
it ; when the promise doth come to you, you have joy, when
you go to it, you have peace, and this peace may last longer
than the other joy ; but remember this as an everlasting rule,
that your very relying upon the promise doth make it yours.
But if I do read the scriptures much in this condition
of my discouragement, I shall not only meet with the
promise, but with a threatening, and that will discourage
me more.
Not so, for if a threatening make way to the promise, and
doth therefore come forth to meet you, that it may lead you
to the promise, have you any hurt thereby ? Now as the
law was a schoolmaster to bring to Christ, so sometimes
the threatening is a schoolmaster to bring you to the pro
mise.
Yea, and God doth therefore sometimes send the threat
ening that it may lead you to the promise. You know how
SEE. 2.] FOR THE DOWNCAST.
God appeared to Elijah, first in a wind that did shake the
mountains and rocks, but God was not there; then in an
earthquake, but God was not there ; then in a fire, but God
was not there ; then in a still voice, and there was God. So
when God appears to a soul, sometimes he doth first send a
threatening, and shakes the rocks and mountains, and hard
hearts, and his converting grace may not be there, but
there is a still voice behind, the voice of the promise, God
is there, and all this shaking of the threatening, is but
to make way unto the still voice of the promise that is
behind.
Oh, but if I should read the scriptures much in this con
dition, I should meet with many other things which concern
not me, there are many histories in the Scripture which
suit not with my condition, and so I should get no good or
comfort.
Say not so ; Christ cures, per modum divertentice, by way
of divertency, as you do those that are grieved. If a friend
have lost a husband, or wife, or child, you do not speak
of the lost person and say, Oh, what a sweet friend, or
husband, or wife, or child you have lost ; but you speak of
something else, and then afterwards you are able to speak
of the person lost, but first you divert his mind from the
matter of his grief, and so you do cure his grief. Thus doth
Christ also when he cures a poor, wounded, grieved soul, he
doth not always speak to the subject matter of grief in hand,
but leads the heart sometimes into the consideration of other
truths, and then afterwards doth speak unto the matter that
is now concerning ; he cures by way of divertency.
Study therefore, oh, study the Scriptures much, for thus
the Lord will pour wine and oil into your bleeding wounds,
and in due time you will say, as David did, " In the multi
tude of my thoughts, O Lord, thy comforts have comforted
my soul/ Psalm xciv. 19.
But suppose the Lord do restore to me the joy of my
salvation, that the bones which I have broken may rejoice;
suppose there be a return of peace and joy, what shall I do
then?
I shall not need to tell you what then, you will tell me
what then, for you will say, Oh, now I must be thankful, now
42 A LIFTING UP [SfiR. 2.
I must believe, now I will never doubt of mercy and of grace
again. Only take these few words of advice.
Be sure that you understand your comforts rightly ; be not
mistaken in them : labour to distil and refine your comforts.
As there was a mixed company came out of Egypt, which
set the Israelites a murmuring; so there is a mixed company
that comes with your comforts. Every creature is born into
the world with some filth ; when you have comfort, labour
to find out and separate the dross and filth, put away that
mixed company. Rose leaves keep not long in the leaf:
distilled comforts keep the longest.
If you would be rid of Satan from coming into your
quarters, fall you upon his ; the way to keep the enemy out
of our country, is to fall into his. So deal with Satan, do
him all the mischief you can ; be not barely offensive, up
and be doing against him.
If you would keep your comforts, put them all into the
hand of Christ to be kept for you. A child that knows not
how to keep his money, if he get a penny from any friend,
he brings it to his father or mother, and saith, Mother, pray
keep this penny for me. You have experience that you
cannot keep your own comforts, you will lose and spend
them quickly. As Jesus Christ is the Lord Treasurer of all
our graces, so he is the Lord Keeper of all our comforts ;
and therefore, when God is pleased to give in any comfort to
you, go to Jesus Christ, and say, Lord, keep my comforts for
me, keep my evidences for me, keep my assurance for me :
ye must not only depend upon Christ for graces, but for
comforts ; and as well for the keeping, as for the getting of
them.
As you have any spiritual comfort from Christ, spend all
for Christ : for though in temporal things, the way to have
little, is to spend much ; yet in spiritual things, the more
you spend, the more you have. And therefore, whatsoever
comfort you have, spend it with the saints. Do as Moses
did : when Moses was in Pharaoh s court, and in great pre
ferment, standing in the presence of the king, he went out
to visit his brethren, and to comfort them under their
burdens : " I will see (saith he) how it fares with my breth
ren, under their burdens." So do you also. Hath the Lord
spoken peace and comfort to your soul, and do you now
. 3.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 43
stand in the presence of the King of kings, having his face
shining on you, with your comforts all restored unto you ?
Now then go out unto your brethren, and inquire who they
are that labour under any burden, and with the same comfort
wherewith you have been comforted yourselves, comfort
others, knowing this for certain, that the more you spend,
the more you shall have, and the longer you shall keep your
comforts : yea, and this Christ expects, that what comforts
we have from him, we should spend for him.
And thus I have also done with this second argument.
SERMON III.
SAINTS SHOULD NOT BE DISCOURAGED WHATEVER THEIR
CONDITION BE.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted
within me, 8;c" Psalm xlii. 11.
HAVING spoken of the two first doctrines, the third
followeth, which is this :
The saints and people of God have no true reason
for their discouragements, whatever their condition be.
David had as much cause and reason for his discourage
ments here as any other, for he did want ordinances, yea, he
was kept from the ordinances ; therefore, saith he, verses 1,
2, " As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth
my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for
the living God, when shall I come and appear before God ? "
Yea, after he had known the sweetness of them he was
deprived of them, \erse 4, " For I had gone with the multi
tude, I went with them to the house of God." And in this
condition he had many enemies, he was in the state of afflic
tion and persecution, his enemies reproached him, they re
proached him in the matter of his God, and that daily, verses
3 and 10, " While they continually say unto me, Where is
thy God ? As a sword in my bones mine enemies reproach
me, while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God ? "
And he was now under great desertions : though the ene
mies did reproach him in the matter of his God, yet if God
44 A LIFTING UP [SfiR. 3.
had been present with him, he had been well enough ; but
they said, " Where is now thy God ? " and his own heart
said so too, that God had left and forsaken him, which was
his failing, verse 9, I will say unto God, my rock, why hast
thou forsaken me ?" yet for all this he saith, " Why art thou
cast down, O my soul ? " As if he should say, Thine ene
mies do not only reproach thee in the matter of thy God,
but thine own heart ; thou art now kept from those precious
ordinances which once thou didst enjoy ; yet why shouldst
thou be disquieted or cast down ? there is no reason for it.
So that the words speak plainly this truth, A godly, gracious
man hath no true scripture reason for his discouragements
whatever his condition be.
It was a sad condition that the prophet Habakkuk did
present unto himself, yet, saith he, chap, iii, " I will rejoice in
the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation," verse 18.
But oh thou servant of God, thou art now under a threaten
ing, and not under a promise, which makes thy very belly to
tremble, and wilt thou, canst thou now rejoice ? Yes, saith
he, verse 16, " When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips
quivered at the voice, rottenness entered into my bones ; yet
will I rejoice in the Lord," &c.
But it may be thou thinkest this threatening will never be
fulfilled. Yes, saith he, verse 17, " Although the fig-
tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines ;
the labour of the olive shall fail, and the field shall yield no
meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there
shall be no meat in the stalls : yet will I rejoice in the
Lord," &c.
But a man may rejoice, though he have no wine to drink
or olive to eat, because these are but creatures which are for
our refreshment : but wilt thou rejoice, O prophet, if thou
wantest thy daily bread, and such creatures as are for our
daily nourishment ?
Yes, saith he, Although the field shall yield no meat,
and the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there
be no herd in the stall, yet will I rejoice in the Lord." So
that whatever a godly man s condition be, he may rejoice,
and there is no true reason for his discouragement.
Indeed, there is no sin so unreasonable, but the sinner
thinks he hath reason for it; and so the saints and people of
SER. 3.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 45
God may think, that they have reason for their discourage
ments : hence it is that they have so many whys and where
fores, " Why hast thou forsaken me ? " " Why go I mourn
ing ? "
Yea, they may not only seem to have some reason, but, in
a way of nature, they have reason for their discouragements ;
and therefore saith David, " When I saw the prosperity of
the wicked, I said, I have cleansed my hands in vain, until I
went into the house of the Lord," Psalm Ixxiii. So that, so
long as he was in the house of nature, and natural reason, he
did see reason for his discouragement.
Yea, not only so, but take things asunder, and consider
things by pieces, one from another, abstracting the means
from the end, and so the saints may have a true and real
reason for their discouragements, for every affliction is griev
ous. If the husbandman look only upon the breaking up of
his ground, without respect to the harvest, he may well be
discouraged, but take both together, and so he will not : thus
if the saints consider their breakings apart from their harvest,
they may see cause for their discouragements ; but if they do
consider their breaking up and their harvest together, the
means and the end together; I say, take all together, and
then, whatever their condition be, they have no reason to be
cast down or be disquieted.
What is there in or for the saints that may be a sufficient
bulwark against all discouragements ?
I answer, A godly, gracious man hath propriety and in
terest in God himself. Some special men and women there
are in the world, whom the great God of heaven and earth
doth make over himself unto, and they that have him for
their God and portion, have no reason to be disquieted what
ever their condition be : thus it is with the saints, and there
fore the Psalmist doth not barely say, that he would rejoice,
but that God was " his exceeding joy," Psalm xliii. Satan
may darken this light and joy for a time, but he can never
put it out; all the saints and people of God are possessed of
this. It is written of Antoninus the Emperor, one of the
persecutors in the primitive times, that being environed and
compassed about by his enemies, whereby he and all his army
in the field were like to be lost for water, he commanded the
Christians of his army to pray for rain ; whereby present re-
4( , A LIFTING UP [SER. 3.
lief came to him, his army was preserved, and his enemies
destroyed ; whereupon he wrote a letter to the Roman senate
in favour of the christians, and gave this commendation of
them in it, That they were a people which were, Deo contenti,
content with God, quern circumferunt secum inpectore, whom
they did always carry about with them in their bosom : yea,
saith he, in that same letter, it is very credible, that although
we think them wicked men, Deum pro munimento habere in
conscientia, that they have God in their conscience for their
bulwark.* Thus a heathen, thus an enemy, thus he who
was once a persecutor confessed, and shall not we say as
much ?
Oh but, say some, tolle meum et tolle Deum, take away that
word my, and take away the comfort of that word God; no
God to me unless he be my God, and there are many of
God s people that cannot say, God is my God, for they do
want assurance ; and therefore how can they have comfort
in this ?
Yes, if my very resting on God doth make him mine, I
may have comfort in him too ; now the saints and people of
God may always, and do rest on God, and though Satan
saith by way of temptation, You have not believed, you have
not rested on God ; yet they may say, Oh, but now I do rest
on God, and so may always have comfort in their propriety
and interest in God.
God doth always know them and their conditions. " I
know thy works, and thy tribulation, and thy poverty," saith
Christ to the church of Smyrna, Rev. ii. 9, 10: and this
Christ speaks as a relieving comfort to that church in a sad
condition ; for saith Christ, " Satan shall cast some of you
into prison ten days." Yet be of good comfort, Smyrna ; I
know thee and thy tribulation and poverty ; whatever thy
condition be, I do know thee in it : and it seems this is a
general cordial, for it is given unto all the churches ; I know
thy works O Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis,
and Philadelphia : it is spoken as a terror, indeed, to Laodi-
cea, for that which is most comfortable to the good is most
i TOV Qeon ov (j)epova-k cola avveifyatv t09 OVT t<nm one v TTO-
vopiv a Qeovr urni Qiov e^nvai O.VTO parov tv avrn$i](Tti rr-
oi . Justin Mart. 2 Apol.
SER. 3.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 47
terrible to the wicked, as the presence of God, the omnisci
ence of God, &c. But to the godly this is a great comfort ;
whatever my condition be, yet God my Father knows it, and
doth know me in it.
God would not have his people be discouraged, and if God
their Father and Jesus Christ their Saviour would not have
them discouraged, then there is no true reason for their dis
couragements : now God and Christ would not have his
people to be cast down or disquieted whatever their condition
be. " Let not your heart be troubled," saith our Saviour to
his disciples, John xiv. 1. As if he should say, I am now to
die, to leave you all, to go to my Father ; and when I am
gone, you will meet with many troubles, but I would not have
you discouraged, let not your heart be troubled. But now if
thou diest, we shall then lose thy presence, and what greater
trouble or affliction can there be than the loss of thy pre
sence ? Well, saith Christ, yet I would not have you trou
bled at heart; let not your heart be troubled. But if we lose
thee, O Lord, we shall lose all the ordinances, and those
many sweet opportunities of receiving good for our souls
which we have enjoyed by thy presence. Be it so, saith our
Saviour, yet I would not have you troubled at the heart ; let
not your heart be troubled. But, Lord, if we lose thee we
shall be as sheep scattered, some will deny thee, all will for
sake thee ; and when the Shepherd is smitten, we, as sheep,
shall be all dispersed, and fall into sad temptations, afflictions
and desertions. Well, saith he, however it be, yet I would
not have you troubled at the heart, let not your heart be
troubled however, this is Christ s mind, will and pleasure
concerning his disciples.
And if you say, How may it appear that God the Father
would have his people to be of the same mind and disposi
tion never to be discouraged ? It appears plainly, because
God hath provided promises of comfort, succour and relief,
suitable to all conditions : I dare boldly challenge all men,
to shew me any one condition, which God hath not pro
vided a promise of comfort, mercy and succour suitable
unto it.
Yea, and if you look upon the promises, and mark them
well, you shall find they are so laid, worded and moulded,
as that all discouraging objections may be fully answered,
48 A LIFTING UP [SEE. 3.
and taken off as they rise. For example, suppose the
Church of God be under persecution of enemies, Isa. liv.
17, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper."
But you will say, Our enemies, O Lord, are many, they rise
up against us, and gather into bodies, and confederate
against thy servants; verse 15, he takes off that thus,
" & Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me,
whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for
thy sake." But, O Lord, they have gotten instruments of
death, and the whole power of the militia and ammunition
into their hands. Be it so, saith the Lord, verse 16, "Be
hold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the
fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work, and
I have created the waster to destroy: no weapon that is
formed against thee shall prosper." But, O Lord, they
have got authority on their side, and they rise against us in
judgment: mark then what follows, verse 17? "And every
tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt
condemn." But this is a promise made unto the Jewish
Church only, and not to us. Not so, " this is the heritage
of the servants of the Lord," verse 17 So that if you be
the servants of the Lord, this promise tells you that it is
made to you. But we are in an unbelieving condition, and
are not able to lay hold on this promise. Well, but saith
this promise, " this is the heritage of the servants of the
Lord :" children shall have their inheritance, though for the
s O
present they are not able to sue for it, it falls upon them in
course. Oh, but we may sin against the Lord, and cut our
selves off from this promise and this inheritance : mark then
what follows, " And their righteousness is of me, saith the
Lord," not only this promise is of me, but the righteous
ness, whereby they shall believe, and lay hold on it, and
walk under it, is of me, saith the Lord. Oh, how gra
ciously is this promise laid, whereby all unbelieving objec
tions may be taken off! so it is in all the promises; do but
observe and mark them, they are so moulded, ordered,
worded, as that every word of the promise doth hold forth a
distinct answer unto your objections. Now if God have so
laid his promises, that all unbelieving objections may be
taken off as they rise, what doth this argue, but that God
SER. 3.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 49
our Father would not have his people discouraged, whatever
their condition be ? therefore they have no reason for it.
There is no matter of discouragement, which the saints
do, or can meet withal, but there is a greater encouragement
bound up therewith, or comes along with it : God doth never
more graciously appear to his people, than when there is the
greatest matter for their discouragement. John lay some
years in the bosom of Jesus Christ, whilst Christ lived, but,
then he had not the revelation given him ; Christ dies, John
is afflicted, persecuted, driven into the isle of Patmos, there
an exile, and there Christ appears to him, and gives him that
blessed book of comfort, the book of the revelation. We
read of Jacob, that at one time especially he did so see the
Lord, that he called the name of the place, Peniel, " for I
have seen the Lord," Gen. xxxii. 30, saith he, and when
was that, but when churlish Laban was on one side of him,
and his rough brother Esau coming out against him in an
hostile way on the other side ? Once he had a vision of a
ladder, the top whereof was in heaven, and the foot on
earth, angels ascending and descending upon it; which in
John i. Christ interprets to be himself. " You shall see the
angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man ;"
but when had he this vision ? not all the while he was in his
father s house, but when he was fain to fly from the anger
of his brother, lay in the open field in the night, and had
no pillow but an hard stone to lie upon, then doth Christ
thus appear to him, and make such a discovery and mani
festation of himself, as he never had before. And when was
it that Mr. Robert Glover was so filled \vith heavenly joys,
that he cried out, He is come, he is come ? Ye read of him
in the Book of Martyrs, that for five years together, he was
worn out and consumed with fears and troubles; he could
neither eat nor sleep, he was so afflicted in his soul upon
the apprehension of some backsliding, he thought he must
needs be thrown down to hell when he died, yea, he thought,
saith the story of him, that he could not more despair in
hell, yet after this long time of wrestling with this tempta
tion, it pleased God to come in with comforts : but I say,
when was this ? why, then especially, when he came within
sight of the stake, then he cried out with clapping of his
hands, He is come, he is come. Thus doth God, with
E
50
A LIFTING UP [SER. 3.
whom are reserves of mercies, reserve his sweetest consola
tions, for the time of our sourest afflictions, and doth temper
the one with the other in most fit proportion.
Yea, the Lord doth not only give forth encouragement
in time of discouragement, and proportion his encourage
ments unto our discouragements, but he doth make your
discouragements, occasional rises and bottoms, unto your
encouragements and comforts. The Lord caused a deep
sleep to come upon Adam, and then he took a rib from his
side, wherewith he made a help for him; so doth God
cause a deep sleep to come upon you in your discourage
ments, out of which he takes a rib, and builds up a help for
you, making the discouragements of the saints, to contribute
to their very encouragements. " Behold, saith the Lord,
I will allure her (that is the church, his people) and bring
her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her, and
I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of
Achor for a door of hope," Hosea ii. 14. But a wilder-
nessed condition is a lost condition, and what comfort can
one have in a lost condition ? True, saith God, ye cannot,
in and by yourselves, but there I will speak friendly and
comfortably to her, and of all the times that I choose to
preach gospel to a poor soul, I choose to do it in a wilder-
nessed and lost condition. But though the Lord do speak
comfortably to us, if we be in a wilderness, a dry and barren
place where no food, nor comfort is, how can we be but dis
couraged ? Nay, saith the Lord, but " I will give her her vine
yards from thence:" but if we sin and murmur in the wilderness,
as the Israelites did, the Lord will cut us off as he did them,
and a wilderness is a place of trouble, wherein we are apt
to murmur, and be discouraged : nay, saith the Lord, " But
I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of
Achor for a door of hope." The valley of Achor, was the
valley of perturbation, trouble, and of great discouragement,
when the men of Israel fled, and fell before the men of Ai,
for the sin of Achan, Joshua vii. 26 ; yet it was an inlet to
the land of Canaan, to the land of rest. Now, saith the
Lord, look as it was with them though the valley of Achor
was a valley of trouble and perturbation, yet it was the door
by which the Israelites came into the land of rest: so
shall it be with you, I will make vour troubles and discou-
SER. 3.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 51
ragements, the very door of your hope ; the valley of your
discouragements shall be the door, and an inlet unto all
your rest and comfort. God takes the same way with the
members, as he went with the head; Christ s cross was an inlet
of glory, his suffering time was the valley of Achor to his
disciples, and was it not a door of hope unto them, and unto
all the saints ? This is God s way ; discouragements bring
encouragements; and the more discouragements the saints
have, the more encouragements they shall have; yea, their
discouragements shall contribute to their encouragements,
and be a door of hope to them. Now if the valley of Achor
shall by promise be a door of hope, why should we be dis
couraged whatsoever the valley of Achor be, whatever our
condition be ?
A praying man can never be very miserable, whatever
his condition be, for he hath the ear of God ; the Spirit
within to indite, a friend in heaven to present, and God
himself to receive his desires as a Father ; it is a mercy to
pray, though I never have the mercy prayed for; thereby
God doth come down to us, and we go up to God. It is
the soul s converse with God on earth, and a great ease to a
burdened, troubled spirit; for thereby he may go and
empty all his heart into the bosom of his best friend. Now
every godly gracious man, is a praying man, more or less
he prayeth ; it is spoken as an argument of Paul s conver
sion, " Behold he prayeth ;" as speech is common unto all
men, so prayer unto all Christians ; God hath none of his
children born dumb; as soon as one of your children is
born, it cries, and it sucks, and it sleeps : so with every man
that is born of God, as soon as he is born, he cries unto
God in prayer, he sucks the breast of the promise, and he
sleeps in the bosom of God by divine contentment, being
dead unto all the world ; it may be he cannot pray as he
would, but though he cannot pray as he would, nor hear
as he would, nor perform any duty as he would, yet he
prayeth. It may be said of him, " Behold he prayeth :"
turn him where you will, and behold he prayeth : sick, yet
behold he prayeth ; tempted, yet behold he prayeth ; at
home or abroad, yet behold he prayeth ; and can he be
miserable while he prayeth ? Surely no, why then should he
be discouraged, whatever his condition be ?
E 2
52 A LIFTING UP [SER. 3. ;
If the matter of the saints discouragements, be but a
cloud that will blow over and melt away, then no reason for
their discouragements, whatsoever their condition be. Now
thus it is with the people of God, though they be in a dark,
and very dark condition, yet their darkness is but the dark
ness of a cloud, and as he said, Nubecula est, cito transibit ;
it is but a cloud, it will soon over. So may they say con
cerning every matter of their discouragement ; It is dark
indeed, but this darkness will over ; there is a storm comes
down upon us, but we shall see land again, the shore again; i
it is but a cloud, but a cloud. And upon this account David
comforted his own heart here, and checked his soul for his
immoderate dejection : " Why art thou cast down," &c. j
" Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him." I shall be
delivered, this cloud will over, it will not last, it is but the \
darkness of a cloud.
But how shall it appear that it is but a cloud, and the
darkness of a cloud ? I think it is night, and dark night
with my soul, yea, such a night as shall never know morning.
Indeed if I did know that the matter of my discouragement
were but a cloudy darkness, then I would conclude and say,
There is no reason for this discouragement : but how shall I
know whether this darkness be the darkness of a cloud, or
of the night ?
If the darkness be such as comes immediately after the
rising and shining forth of the promise, then it is but the
darkness of a cloud, not of the night : the sun doth not rise
to set immediately ; and therefore if darkness comes imme
diately after sun-rising, it is certainly the darkness of an
eclipse, or of a cloud, not of the night. There was a fair
promise rose and shined upon Joseph, when the Lord said,
" that his sheaf should be higher than all the sheaves of his
brethren:" yet presently after that there arose a darkness
upon him, but it was the darkness of a cloud, and not of the
night; why so? because he had a promise first, which did
shine upon him. So David had a fair promise of the kingdom,
when he was anointed by Samuel ; yet a darkness presently
rose upon him, but it was the darkness of a cloud only, and
not of the night; why? because it was such a darkness as
arose immediately after the shinings forth of a promise.
And I pray you shew me any Scripture, where you find that
SER. 3.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 53
ever any darkness arose presently after the breaking, shining
forth of a promise, which was more than the darkness of a
cloud, which vanished away ? Or where do you find in all
the Scripture, that ever any poor soul came into the dark,
immediately after the giving out of a promise, but that soul
did come to the light again ? Now as for the darkness that
covers the saints, it is usually a darkness that comes after the
giving and shining out of a promise ; and therefore that
darkness is but the darkness of a cloud, and they may say,
a cloud, a cloud, and it will pass away.
If a man be so in the dark, as yet he can see to work, and
dig up pits, it argues that the darkness is but the darkness of
a cloud. A man cannot see to work artificially in the night,
but though there be much darkness by reason of a cloud,
yet he may see to work, and to dig up pits, because it is
day. Now in Psalm Ixxxiv. the Psalmist saith, at verse 5,
" Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, and in whose
heart are the ways of them ; who passing through the valley
of Baca, dig up pits, the rain also filleth the pits, they go
from strength to strength, till they appear before God in
Zion." It is an allusion to the practice of the Jews : when
some of them went up to Jerusalem, their way lay through
the valley of Baca, which was a very dry valley, where no
houses were, where no water was for their relief and refresh
ment ; whereupon they digged up pits, and so the rain fell,
and they were refreshed, got strength, and went on to Jeru
salem, where they saw the Lord in his ordinances. So saith
the Psalmist, " Blessed are they in whose heart the law of
God is." There are a generation of men in the world, that
have the law of God in their hearts, though they cannot act
and work towards God as they would : these sometimes are
in a dry and barren condition, where no water or comfort is;
yet if in this condition they dig up pits, go to prayer, wait
upon God in duty, though they find no comfort springing
up in their duty for the present, yet in due time the rain of
God s blessing will fill those dry pits and empty duties,
whereby their life shall be like unto a pool of water, and
they shall go from strength of grace to strength of grace,
until they see the Lord. Know ye, therefore, any man that
is in this valley of Baca, where no water is, yet if he can find
in his heart to dig up pits, to pray, read, hear, meditate,
54
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 3.
confer, and perform duties ; though those duties be empty of
comfort for the present, yet the rain of grace and mercy
shall fall upon those pits, and he shall go from strength to
strength, until he appear before the Lord in glory. Now
thus it is with the saints, though darkness, and a great dark
ness be upon them, yet in that dark condition they are still
digging up pits, and therefore this darkness is not the dark
ness of the night, but the darkness of a cloud, and they may
say, This is a cloudy darkness, and it will over ere long.
If the darkness which a man is under be such, as there
are some openings of light withal, then it is the darkness of
a cloud, and not of the night ; though the cloud may cause
much darkness, yet ever and anon it opens, and there are
some interims of light withal; but the night opens not,
there are no interims of light then. Now interims and in
termissions ot light, are sure and certain pledges of a greater
light which is yet to come. You know that when David
fled from Absalom, he was in a dark condition, for the text
saith, " He went, and he wept," and he went barefoot; his
own son persecutes him, drives him from his throne, a great
confederacy was raised against him by wicked men, with the
child of his own bowels ; here was darkness upon darkness,
matter of great discouragement, but it was a cloud, and
no more.
You will say, How should David have known that it was
but the darkness of a cloud ?
David prayed, the Lord turn the counsels of Ahithophel
into folly ; and before David had overcome Absalom, and
was restored to his kingdom, Ahithophel did hang himself:
David singled out Ahithophel to pray against, and the Lord
heard his prayer : that judgment of Ahithophel was the re
turn of David s prayer ; here the cloud opened, and this ans
wer of his prayer in the interim, was a seal to David of the
full deliverance that came afterwards, for God seals divers
matters with the same seal.* So when a man is in the dark
by reason of some temptatiom, affliction, or desertion, which
he cannot see the end of: if in this interim, before the full
deliverance comes, he hath some lesser deliverance, that les
ser deliverance in the interim, is a seal unto him of the
future deliverance, and he may say, here is a pledge of my
* Deus uno sigillo sigillat diversas materias.
SER. 3.] FOR THE DOWNGAST. 55
full deliverance, for here is the opening of the cloud. Now
thus it is always with the people of God ; they never are in
any affliction, temptation, or desertion, but before their great
deliverance comes, they have some special providence, some
reviving in the midst of their trouble, some interim, of light,
some openings of the cloud ; and therefore in the midst of
all they may say, surely this my darkness, is not the dark
ness of a night, but of cloud ; I say, there is no discourage
ment doth befal the saints, but the matter thereof is a cloud,
and they may say, it is but a cloud, it will pass over, and
therefore why should they be discouraged ? Surely there
is no reason for their discouragements whatever their condi
tions be.
If these things be so, how heavily doth this doctrine fall
in reproof upon some, I wish I might not say, some of the
servants and people of God ! A godly man hath no true
reason for his discouragements, whatever his condition is,
although it be never so sad ; and some are always dis
couraged, whatever their condition be, although it be never
so good ; whatever falls out, the saints should not be dis
couraged, no, not at any thing, and yet many are discouraged
at every thing and upon every occasion. Oh, what un
worthy walking is this ! how contrary do you walk to God !
And do you know what it is to walk contrary to him ? Hath
he not said, " If you walk contrary to me, I will walk con
trary to you ?"
But I have reason to be discouraged, for I have no sense
and feeling of God s love.
We do not live by feeling, but by faith : it is the duty of
a Christian to begin with faith, and so to rise up to feeling :
you would begin with feeling, and so come down to faith ;
but you must begin with faith, and so rise up to feeling.
And I pray tell me, is it not sufficient to be as our Master
was ? Did not Christ want the sense of God s love, when
he said, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?"
Yea, had not Christ the sense of God s anger upon him
when he did perform the greatest act of obedience that ever
the sun saw : yet did he then say, I am not the child of
God, because I want the sense of God s love, because I am
under the sense of God s anger ? No, but with the same
breath that he said he was forsaken, he said, "My God,
56
A LIFTING UP [SER. 3.
my God;" and at the same time he called God Father,
" Father, forgive them," &c. So may you do ; though
God hath forsaken you, though you want the sense of his
love, yea, and are under the sense of God s anger; yet
at the same time you may say, The Lord is my Father,
and you may go to him as your Father : and if you can say,
God is my Father, have you any reason for your discourage
ments ? Yet how often are God s own people discouraged
and cast down ? Oh, you that are the disciples of Christ,
labour more and more to follow your Master ; and as David
here, so do you often say, " Why art thou cast down, O my
soul ?"
What a mighty, vast difference, is there between a godly
man and a wicked upon this account : a godly, gracious man,
hath no reason for his discouragements, whatever his con
dition be; a wicked man hath no reason for his encourage
ment, whatever his condition be. A gracious man is apt
to be much discouraged, but he hath no true reason for
it : a wicked man is apt to be much encouraged, but he hath
no true reason for it. It is said of the wicked, Psalrn vii.,
" God is angry with the wicked every day :" whatever the
day be, God is angry with them; though it be a day of
fasting and prayer, yet then is God angry with them ; though
it be a day of praises and of thanksgiving, then is God angry
with them; when he sins most, and when he sins least, God
is angry with him ; not one day goes over his head, but
God is angry with him, and one blow or another God s
anger reacheth forth to him every day ; he doth not always
feel those blows, but God is smiting of him, and is angry
with him every day ; and therefore, whatever his condition
be, there is no reason for his encouragement. Suppose a
man were in prison, committed for some great offence, and
condemned to die under the displeasure of his prince or
state ; and his servant should come unto him, saying, Sir,
be of good comfort, your wife is well at home, you have very
sweet children, an excellent crop of corn, your neighbours
love you dearly, your sheep and cattle thrive, and all your
houses are in good repair and order : would he not answer
that servant, and say, What is all this, so long as I am con
demned to die ? Thus it is with every wicked man, he is
under the displeasure of the great God, a condemned man,
SER. 3.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 57
and God is angry with him every day ; and if his heart were
open to be sensible of it, he would say, You tell me of my
friends and goods and name and trade ; but what is all this,
so long as I am a condemned person, and God is angry with
me every day I rise ? but for the present he feeleth not his
displeasure, is not sensible of it; yet let him know that
there is a day corning, when he will find the truth of this
matter no reason for his encouragement, whatever his con
dition be. And as Saul once cried out, saying, " God hath
forsaken me, arid the Philistines are upon me ;" so shall he
cry, out and say, God hath forsaken my soul, temptations are
now upon me, my sins and guilt are upon me, God hath
forsaken me, and the devils are now upon me. But now, as
for a godly, gracious man, though his condition be never so
sad, and his soul never so much cast down, yet he hath no
reason to be discouraged, I say, whatever his condition be.
What a glorious condition are the saints in, who would not
be in love with this condition ; who would not be
in Christ; who would not leave the ways of the wicked ;
who would not be godly ? Oh, you that are ungodly, labour
to become godly.
The exhortation is specially directed to the saints, and
with you I must leave a word of exhortation. Take heed
and beware of discouragements, of being cast down, you
have no reason for it, much reason against it.
Thereby you rejoice the heart of Satan, he claps his hands
and laughs to see you cast down, now, oh now, saith he,
this man is like to me, I am a despairing spirit, and so is
he ; I am discouraged and cast down, and so is he ; he
stands triumphing over you, to see you under these dis
couragements : when you are sad, he is glad.
And as you rejoice the heart of Satan, so you grieve the
heart of God ; one friend is grieved at the grief, sorrow
and discouragement of another, and the more real friend
ship, the greater is the affliction and trouble of the one, if
the other be grieved. Now God is the friend of the faithful,
Abraham, the friend of God, actively, passively : God was
a friend to him, and he a friend to God ; so with all be
lievers ; Christ is their friend, " Henceforth call I you no
more servants, but friends/ saith Christ ; and the Holy
Ghost is their friend, for it is the Spirit that comes and
58
A LIFTING UP [SER. 3.
dwells in them, and manifests himself to them : and we are
said to grieve the Spirit. As God is the worst enemy, so he
is the best friend, the truest friend, the most real friend in
all the world, therefore when you are cast down and dis
couraged, you grieve him, you grieve the Father, you grieve
the Son, you grieve the Spirit ; and do you know what you
do when you grieve the Lord ? Is it nothing to grieve such
a friend ?
Thereby you do in some measure, yea, in a great measure,
make void and frustrate the end of Christ s coming, who
came not only to free us from hell, but from our present
fears, " That being delivered out of the hands of our ene
mies, we might serve him without fear," Luke i. And will
you then go drooping, discouraged, bowed down under your
fears all your days ?
Thereby you unfit yourselves for the service of Christ ; the
passover of old was not to be eaten with any old leaven, the
old leaven was to be purged out, and none that were sad and
sorrowful were to eat of the holy things. Now, saith the
apostle, " Christ our passover is sacrificed for us, therefore
let us keep the feast," that is, the gospel feast, " not with
old leaven ;" and will no bread down with you but leavened
bread; sour bread; the bread of mourning ? will you thus
keep your passover, your Christian feast ? Some of you
have been doubting, fearing, trembling, cast down, dis
couraged many years : and is it not yet time to bewail your
unbelief; to honour free grace ? what, will ye always grieve the
Spirit, the Father and Christ ; always be frustrating of Christ s
work ? will ye always be eating old leaven ? is it not yet time
to say, " Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art
thou disquieted within me ? hope in him, for I shall yet
praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and mv
God."
I know indeed that I have no just and scripture reason
for my discouragements, but I see there is much reason
against it, yet I am one of a troubled spirit, I would fain
have it otherwise, that at last I might glorify free grace ;
what should I do that I may bear up against all discourage
ments, that I may not be discouraged, whatever my con
dition be ?
The only way which the Psalmist useth here is, to hope,
SER. 3.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 59
trust, believe in God ; and how we should use our faith in
Christ as that we may not be discouraged, follows after, for
the present, take these directions :
1. If we would not be discouraged in any condition,
then never lay your comforts upon your condition, nor be in
love with any condition for itself; let not your condition
itself be the cause or bottom of your encouragements.
Hang a cloak or garment upon a rotten peg, and that will
break, and the garment will fall down ; now there is no
condition but is a rotten peg, every condition is alterable,
no condition so firm and fast, but is exposed to many
changes, it is a rotten hold ; God is pillars, his name
is Adonai, which signifies so much, and in Isa. xxvi., we
are commanded to trust in the Lord, " For in the Lord
Jehovah is everlasting strength," or " the Rock of Ages."
And, saith the Psalmist, " My flesh faileth, and my heart
faileth, but God is the Rock of my heart for ever," so the
Hebrew.* Lay your comforts upon your own condition,
and you do but build on the sand, which will be carried away
with every wind, and storm, and tempest ; but if upon Christ
himself, upon God himself, ye build upon the Rock, and
though the floods, and storms, and winds do rise and beat
upon you, yet you shall not lose your comforts, because they
are built upon a rock.
2. Be sure that you think of Christ in a right way and
manner, as he suiteth with your condition, and as he is held
forth in the gospel. We are very apt to have mis-thoughts
of Christ ; as Satan doth transform himself into an angel of
light, so he would transform Christ before you into an angel
of darkness : but the Scriptures hold him forth under such
relations as do make him very amiable unto poor sinners.
Are you accused by Satan, world, or your own conscience ?
he is called your Advocate. Are you ignorant ? he is called
the Prophet. Are you guilty of sin ? he is called a Priest,
and High Priest. Are you afflicted with many enemies, in
ward and outward ? he is called a King, and King of kings.
Are you in straits ? he is called your way. Are you hungry
or thirsty ? he is called Bread and Water of Life. Are you
afraid you shall fall away, and be condemned at the last ? he
y Psalm Ixxiii. 26.
gO A LIFTING UP [SCR. 3.
is our second Adam, a public person, in whose death we
died, and in whose satisfaction we satisfied ; as there is no
temptation or affliction, but some promise or other doth es
pecially suit therewithal : so there is no condition, but some
name, some title, some attribute of Christ doth especially
suit with it : and as you do not look on Christ, but in refer
ence to your condition, so you are not to look upon your
condition alone, but with Christ s attribute suitable there
unto if you look upon Christ s attribute of love without
your condition, you may presume ; if on your condition
without Christ s attribute of love, you may despair : think on
both together and you will not be discouraged.*
3. If your discouragements begin to arise and press in
upon you, check yourself, and say, Why should I multiply
thoughts without knowledge ; why should I tire out my soul
with these thoughts ; am I able to add one cubit to my spi
ritual state ; am I, by all my thoughtfulness, able to alter my
condition ; yea, doth not my thoughtfulness set me at a far
ther distance from the mercy desired ? The truth is, the only
way to lose the comfort desired, is to be solicitous about it ;
as the only way to have an outward blessing is to be content
to go without it : so the only way to have a spiritual or out
ward affliction removed, is to be contented that it should be
continued, if God and Christ will have it so. But you will
have your affliction presently removed, and you must pre
sently know that you are in the state of grace, and the child of
God, or else you will be discouraged, and as the bird in
the net, the more it strives, the more it is entangled ; so with
you also. Wherefore do temptations, afflictions, desertions
come, and Satan join with them, and say unto thy soul, This
will ever be ? answer, Well, but I therefore believe the con
trary, because thou sayest so, Satan, who art a liar ; yet if
God will have it so, I am contented, I leave it to him : whe
ther I shall ever be in this condition or not, is not my ques
tion, but now, O Lord, let me serve thee, that is all my
desire, let me see thee as thou pleasest, when thou pleasest.
* Christus titulos sibi sumit, qui present! rerum condition! conveniant unde
varium suae gloriee radium in singulis epistolis ad ecclesias spargit, pro yaria for-
tuna, qua sunt ecclesise ; quodocet, illud immensse, divine majestatis imprimis
esse mente contemplandum ; quod in rem presentem maxime conducat. Bright-
man in Apocalyps., cap. ii. p. 43.
. 3.] FOB THE DOWNCAST. 61
I have done, Lord, I have done; I have been questioning
and questioning my condition these many years, I see there
is no end of that, yea, the more I do, the more I may, I get
nothing by it; why, therefore, oh, my soul, should I tear out
myself with this kind of thoughtfulness ? thus check your
selves.
4. Whenever you think of any thing which is in itself ter-
tible, or matter of discouragement, be sure that you mingle
the consideration thereof, with those sweet things which God
hath given and prescribed to you. \ here is nothing terrible,
but God hath joined some comfortable thing with it : the
name of God is terrible, he is called the great and dreadful
God ; but to sweeten this, he is called the God of all con
solations : death is terrible, it is called the king of terrors ;
but to sweeten this, it is called a sleep : the day of judgment
is terrible ; but to sweeten that, our present Advocate shall
be our future Judge ; yea, our best Friend, and our dear Hus
band. Now if you abstract the terror of any object from the
sweetness of it, no wonder if you be much discouraged. It
is our duty to behold things as God presents them, and to
take things as God doth give them. What God hath joined
together, no man may put asunder. If you consider the
sweetness of an object or condition, without the sourness of
it, then you may grow too wanton : if you consider the terror
of an object or condition, without the sweetness of it, then
you may be too fearful : but if you think on both together,
then you will fear and believe ; and believe and fear, and so
be kept from discouragement.
5. If you would not be discouraged whatever your con
dition be, labour more and more to get your self-love morti
fied, even religious self-love : all your discouragements are
from self-love, not from the venom of your condition, but
from the poison of self-love. Oh but I am discouraged, be
cause I have no assurance. Well, but suppose you had
assurance, what then ? then I should have comfort : and is
not here self? Oh but I am discouraged about my everlasting
condition. And is not that self? doth not that word condi
tion sound ones self? I dare boldly say, there is no tumult
or immoderate discouragement in the soul, but hath self at
the bottom. Could I leave myself, and my condition with
God and Christ, and mind his service, glory and honour
62
A LIFTING UP [SER. 3.
more, God would take care of my comfort : but when I
mind myself, and my condition so much, and his service,
glory and honour so little, no wonder that I am so much
discouraged. Therefore, labour more and more to mortify
self-love, and so shall you never be discouraged, whatever
your condition be.
6. In case that temptation press in upon you, and urge you
to sad discouragements, speak to this purpose unto your own
soul. Why should I buy my repentance at so dear a rate ?
There is none of all these doubtings, unbelieving fears and dis
couragements, but you will be ashamed and repent of after
wards. You know how it is with the traveller, he thinks the
sun is not yet up> and so he loiters and sits down ; but the sun
creeping up behind the cloud, at last breaks out upon his face,
and is got before him, and then he says, O what a fool was I,
to think the sun was not up, because I saw it not, what an
unwise man was I thus to loiter and sit down ! So it will be
with you : you now lie down upon the earth, and your belly
cleaves to the dust by reason of your discouragements ; but
the grace of God and the love of Christ, is creeping up be
hind the dark cloud, and it will break out at the last upon
you, and shine into your face with the golden beams of
mercy ; it will prevent you, and be before you ; and then you
will say, Oh, what a fool was I to be thus discouraged, what
an unworthy creature I, to doubt thus of God s love ; I have
sinned, I have sinned by all my unbelief: now the Lord
pardon me all my doubtings, I am, O Lord, ashamed of
these my doubtings and questionings of thy love, pardon
them, O Lord, unto my soul. This is that which you must
come to, you must at last be ashamed and repent of these
your unbeliefs, doubtings and fears, and therefore whenever
they press in upon thee, say at the first unto thyself, Why
should I buy my repentance at so dear a rate, by yielding
unto these discouragements ? And for this very reason,
because that discouragements are to be repented of, therefore
the saints and people of God have no reason to be dis
couraged, whatever their condition be.
And thus have I spoken to this truth under a more general
consideration ; through grace I shall labour to clear it further
to you by particulars.
, SER. 4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 63
SERMON IV.
A LIFTING UP IN CASE OF GREAT SINS.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted
within me, &c". Psalm xlii. 11.
THE doctrine or observation that now we are pressing
from these words, is this :
That the saints and people of God, have no reason for
their discouragements, whatever their condition be ; no just,
true, scripture reason, for their discouragements, whatever
their condition be.
It is clear by the words, and proved the last day by some
general considerations.
Now more particularly, to make it out by divers instances.
Nine things there are, which usually are the grounds and
occasions of the discouragements of God^s people.
I. Sometimes their discouragements are drawn from their
greater and grosser sins.
II. Sometimes they do arise from the weakness of grace.
III. Sometimes they are taken from their failing in and
non-acceptance of duty.
IV. Sometimes they are drawn from their want of evi
dence for heaven, and non-assurance of the love of God.
V. Sometimes they do come from their temptations.
VI. Sometimes from their desertions.
VII. Sometimes from their afflictions.
VIII. Sometimes from their unserviceableness.
IX. Sometimes from their condition itself.
Now if in all these respects, the saints and people of God
have no reason to be discouraged, then we may safely con
clude, that a godly man should not be discouraged whatever
his condition be. I shall labour, therefore, through the grace
of Christ, to make out this great truth unto you in all these
respects, and begin with the first at this time.
I. Sometimes the discouragements of the saints and peo
ple of God, are drawn from their sins, their greater and
grosser sins : the peace and quiet of the saints and people of
God is many times interrupted by their sins.
f>4
A LIFTING UP [SER. 4.
Oh, says one, I am a man or woman of a rebellious heart,
I have so slight a spirit, so unholy and uneven a conversation,
that when I reflect upon my heart and life, I cannot but be
discouraged. I know, indeed, it is a great evil for a man to
labour under a sore temptation, or a sad desertion ; but were
my heart good, my life good, my conversation good, I should
not be discouraged; but as for me, I have committed and do
commit such and such great sins, have I not reason, and just
reason now to be discouraged ?
No, for discouragement itself is a sin, another sin, a gospel
sin; now my sin against the law, is no just cause why I
should sin against the gospel. I confess, indeed, there is
much evil in every sin, the least sin is worse than the greatest
affliction ; afflictions, judgments and punishments are but the
claws of this lion ; it is more contrary to God than the misery
of hell: Chrysostom had so great a sense of the evil of it,
that when the empress sent him a threatening message, Go,
tell her, said he, Nil nisi peccatum metuo : I fear nothing but
sin. And, in some respects, the sins of the godly are worse
than the sins of others, for they grieve the Spirit more, they
dishonour Christ more, they grieve the saints more, they
wound the name of God more, they are more against the
love, and grace, and favour of God than other men s sins are.
And the Lord doth see the sins of his own people ; yea, so
far he sees sin in them, that he doth chastise and afflict them
for it; not only from their sin, but for their sin ; and there
fore, saith the apostle, in 1 Cor. xi. 30, speaking of the un
worthy receiving of the Lord s supper, " For this cause
many are sick and weak among you." And he doth not
speak only of saints in appearance, and in church estate, but
of such also as were saints indeed, and therefore he saith,
" We are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we
should not be condemned with the world." He puts himself
in ; We are judged that we may not be condemned with the
world. Our Saviour Christ saith, Rev. Hi. 19, "As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore and repent."*
It seems, then, it was for sin committed, else why should he
say, Repent ; and, repent therefore ? Repentance is for sin
committed already, and these were such as he loved too, whom
SER. 4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 65
he threatens thus to rebuke and chastise ; and doth any fa
ther rebuke, chastise, or correct his child only from sin, and
not for sin ? Was not Moses a gracious and a holy man ?
and yet for his unbelief and sin he lost the land of Canaan.
Was not Samson a good man ? and yet by his sin he lost his
eyes and his life too. Was not David a gracious and a holy
man ? and ye for his sin the Lord said, " The sword should
never depart from his house ;" and yet Christ had made sa
tisfaction for his sin too, as well then, as for the saints now.
But now, though there be never so much evil in the sins of
God s people, yet they have no reason, no just cause or
scripture reason to be cast down, and to be discouraged in
that respect.
But how may this appear ; that notwithstanding the sins
of God s own people do grieve the Spirit of God, are a dis
honour to Jesus Christ, and do wound the name of God,
and the profession of Christ so much ; that yet the saints have
no reason to be discouraged or cast down ?
1. They know, or they may know, that they shall never be
condemned for their sin, whatever it be. " There is no con
demnation to those that are in Christ Jesus/ saith the apos
tle. Christ was made sin for them ; and if Christ be made
sin for me, then my sin shall never hurt me. Luther is bold
here, for saith he, Christ is made sin-damning, our sin is sin-
damned : I confess, indeed, said he, that I have sinned, but
sin-damning is stronger than sin-damned, and Christ was
made sin-damning for me.* The thing is true, though the
expression be strange ; Christ was made sin for saints, there
fore their sin shall not hart them. It stands not with the
justice of God to exact the payment of one debt twice. Now
the Lord Jesus Christ hath not only been arrested, but in
gaol for the debt of the saints and people of God, and he
hath paid it to the utmost farthing ; he hath paid it better
than they could have paid it themselves, if they had gone to
hell : for if a godly man had gone to hell, and been damned
for ever, he would have been always paying, but the debt
would never have been paid : Christ paid it all down for the
present. And if you look into Scripture, you will find, that
* Fateor me peccasse, sed peccatum meum damnatum in Christo est, qui est
peccatum damnans ; est autem peccatum illud damnans, fortius peccato dam-
nato. Luther.
VOL. II.] F
66
A LIFTING UP [SER. 4.
the Lord doth not condemn a man, no not a wicked man,
barely for the act of his former sin, but because he will not
turn from it. Psalm vii. 11, " The Lord is angry with the
wicked every day :" verse 12, " If he turn not, he will whet
his sword ; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready ; he hath
prepared for him the instruments of death, he ordaineth his
arrows against the persecutor." The Lord hath prepared
instruments of death against every wicked man ; but yet,
notwithstanding, though a man be never so wicked, if he turn
unto the Lord, God will not discharge those instruments of
death upon him, yea, though his sins have been never so
great; but, saith the text, " If he turn not," (not because he
hath sinned before, only, but because he turns not from his
sin,) " he will whet his sword ; he hath bent his bow, and
made it ready." Now there is, always, in the saints and peo
ple of God, a turning disposition, although they do sin against
God ; there is always, I say, a turning disposition in them,
and therefore the Lord will not discharge the instruments of
death upon them : surely, then, they have no reason to be
quite discouraged in this respect.
2. As godly men shall never be condemned for their sins,
so their sins shall never part God and them. What is the
seeming reason why some are so discouraged about their sins ?
but because they think they shall not only lose the face and
presence of God by their sins, but that they shall lose God
himself. But now, I say, the sins of the godly shall never
part God and them ; their sins may hide God s face : but as
their sins did not hinder God and their coming together at
first, so their sins shall never part God and them : their sins
may cause a strangeness between God and them, but shall
never cause an enmity ; their sins may hide God s face from
them, but shall never turn God s back upon them : those
whom God loves, he loves unto the end : " I am the Lord
that changeth not," saith he. And as the prophet Isaiah
speaks : " As the covenant that the Lord made with Noah,
such is the covenant that he makes with his people." Now
look into Genesis, chapter viii., and you shall see what the
covenant is that the Lord made there with Noah, and with
the world by Noah. When Noah came out of the ark, he
built an altar, and sacrificed; verse 21, "And the Lord
smelled a sweet savour, and the Lord said in his heart, I will
SER. 4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 67
not again curse the ground for man s sake." Why ? " For
the imagination of man s heart is evil from his youth." You
would think this were a reason why God should curse the
ground again ; for the imagination of man s heart is evil trom
his youth ; man is wicked, therefore, surely God will curse
the ground again : nay, saith the Lord, but though you that
are poor creatures think so, yet I, that am the God of all
grace, I make this covenant with the world by Noah, that I
will not curse the ground any more for man s sake; because
the imagination of man s heart is evil from his youth contin
ually. I confess, indeed, the Hebrew T signifies quamvis,
although ; as well as quoniam, because : and it may be so
translated ; " Although the imagination of man s heart is
evil," &c. Yet the Chaldee paraphrase, Septuagint, Hierom
and Montanus render it, because.* But though it be so
translated, yet that is enough to make good the truth and
doctrine which I urge from this scripture. The covenant
that the Lord makes with his people, is such a covenant as
the Lord made with Noah ; so saith the prophet Isaiah.
What then ? Therefore if God be in covenant with a man,
he shall never lie under wrath again ; for though the world
sin, the world shall never be drowned again ; and so, though
he do sin, he shall never lie under wrath again. Now as for
the people of God, they are all in covenant with God, they
are under this gracious covenant, and therefore, though the
mountains may be removed, God s mercy shall never be re
moved from them ; and though the great hills may be thrown
into the sea, the people of God, once in covenant with God,
shall never be thrown into hell : and tell me then, have you,
that are the people of God, any just cause or reason to be
cast down, or to be discouraged ?
3. If the very sins of God s people, through the overruling
hand of grace, shall be an occasion of more grace and comfort
to them than ever they had in all their lives before ; then
surely they have no reason to be discouraged in this respect.
Now mark it, and you shall find, that God doth never suffer
his people to fall into any sin, but he intends to make that
* Sensus enim et cogitatio human! cordis, &c. Hierom.
On tyx.Eila.i r\ ^Lctvoia. Sept.
Quia cogitatio. Montanus.
O 1 ? TN Chaldee Paraphrase.
F 2
gg A LIFTING UP [SfiR. 4.
sin an inlet unto further grace and comfort to them. This ye
see in the first great sin that ever was committed by the
children of men, the fall of Adam, the Lord himself came
and preached the gospel, preached Christ unto fallen man ;
and surely when God himself preached the gospel, we are to
think the man was converted. Now the greatest blessing
that ever the world saw, was the righteousness of Jesus
Christ ; but how came that about ? God suifers man to fall,
and man s unrighteousness must usher in Christ s righteous
ness. The Scripture tells us that the Lord suffered Hezekiah
to fall, that Hezekiah might know all that was in his heart ;
he did not know his own heart before, and therefore the Lord
let him fall that he might know his own heart. But if you
look into the Romans, chapter xi., you shall find in so many
words what I am now speaking; verse 32, " For God hath
concluded them all in unbelief." Why ? " That he might
have mercy upon all." Oh, what a blessed design upon un
belief is here ! Therefore God concludes all under unbelief,
that he might have mercy upon all : sin gets not, but is a
loser by every fall of the godly. And if ye look into the
Scripture, ye shall observe, that when the people of God fall,
usually they fail in that grace wherein they do most excel;
and wherein they did most excel, therein they did most mis
carry. Abraham did most excel in faith, and therein he did
most miscarry: Moses did most excel in meekness, and
therein he did most miscarry ; we read of no other sin concern
ing Moses but his anger : Job did most excel in patience,
and therein he did most miscarry : Peter did most excel
in zeal and resolution for Christ " Though all the world
forsake thee, yet will not I " and therein he did most mis
carry, denying Christ at the voice of a damsel. I say, ye
shall observe this, that the saints fell and failed in that grace
wherein they did most excel ; and they did most excel where
in they did most miscarry : what is the reason of this ? but
because the Lord, by the over-ruling hand of his grace, did
make their very miscarriages, inlets and occasions to their
further grace and holiness. God hath a great revenue from
the very infirmities of his people. He doth never suffer any
of his people to fall into any sin, but he hath a design by that
fall, to break the back of that sin they do fall into. Now,
then, have the saints and people of God any reason to be
SER. 4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 69
discouraged in this respect ? By their sin they may be, and
are oftentimes suspended from their comforts and use of their
privileges ; but by their sin they do not lose their right there
unto. Ye know how it was with the leper in the times of
the Old Testament, among the Jews ; when he was carried out
of the city or town, from his own house, by reason of his
uncleanness : or now, if a man that hath the plague, and be
carried from his own house by reason thereof; the leper then,
and the man that hath the plague or the pest now, may say,
Though I be removed from mine own house, and have not
the use of my house, yet I have a right to my house still ;
and though I cannot come to the use of my land, yet I have
a right to my land still. So a godly man may say as con
cerning his sin, This sin of mine, indeed, it is a pest, and
the plague of my soul, and a leprosy ; but though, by this
leprosy of mine, I am now suspended from the use of my
comforts, yea, from the full use of my interest in Jesus
Christ ; yet, notwithstanding, I have an interest in Christ
still, I have not lost my interest, still I have right to Christ ;
although I cannot come to the use of him as I did before,
yet I have right unto Jesus Christ now, as I had before : and
if all these things be so, why should a godly man be cast
down or discouraged in this respect ? Surely he ought not
to be so.
But suppose a man s sins be such as never were pardoned
before ; and truly that is my case, for I have sinned a great
sin, and I do not read in all the word of God, any example
that ever such a sin as mine was pardoned; have I not
reason now to be quite discouraged and cast down ?
I answer, No ; for, I pray, what do you think of Adam ?
Adam sinned a great sin in our first fall : the Lord himself
came and preached the gospel to him, " The seed of the
woman shall break the serpent s head/ Should Adam have
said, Oh, but there is no hope for me, for I have no example
or precedent of pardon ? Adam could have no example of
any that was pardoned before him, because he was the first
man., and the first that sinned. Should he have sat down
and been discouraged, because he could not find any example
for the pardon of the like sin that he had committed ? You
know what our Saviour Christ said, " iivery sin and blas
phemy shall be forgiven, unless it be the sin against the
70 A LIFTING UP [SER. 4.
Holy Ghost ;" every sin, though it be boiled up to blasphe
my. You say, you have no example for the pardon of such
a sin as your s is ; but doth not your sin come within the
compass of these words, "Every sin and blasphemy?"
Surely it doth. Have ye any reason then to be discouraged
under the power of this objection ?
But suppose that a man have sinned greatly against his
conscience, or against his light, against his knowledge, hath
he not just cause or reason then to be cast down, and to be
quite discouraged ?
No; for if there be a sacrifice for such a sin as this is,
then a man hath no reason to be quite discouraged; cause
to be humbled, as you shall hear afterward, but no reason to
be discourao-ed. Now in the times of the Old Testament, in
times of the law among the Jews, there was a sacrifice, not
only for sin committed ignorantly, but also for sin committed
against light and against conscience : and I appeal to you,
whoever you are that make this objection, do you not think
that Peter, when he denied his Lord and Master, sinned
against his conscience, against his light, and against his
knowledge? Surely then there is no reason that a man
should be quite discouraged, no not in this respect.
But suppose that a man s sins be exceeding great, gross,
and heinous ; for I do confess that possibly a godly man
may sin some sin against his light, and against his conscience
sometimes ; but as for me, my sin is exceeding great, gross
and heinous, and have I not just cause and reason now to be
discouraged ?
No, not yet, for though your sin be great, is not God s
mercy great, exceeding great ? is not the satisfaction of
Christ great ? are the merits of Christ s blood small ? Is
not God, the great God of heaven and earth, able to do
great things ? You grant that God is almighty in providing
for you ; and is he not almighty also in pardoning : will ye
spoil God of his almightiness in pardoning ? You say your
sin is great, but is it infinite ; is there any more infinites
than one, and that is God ? Is your sin as big as God, as
big as Christ; is Jesus Christ only a Mediator for small
sins ; will you bring down the satisfaction of Christ, and the
mercy of God, to your own model ? Hath not the Lord j
said concerning pardoning mercy, that his " thoughts are notj
SER. 4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 7l
as our thoughts, but as the heavens are greater than the
earth, so are his thoughts (in this respect) beyond our
thoughts." Hath not the Lord said, in Isaiah xliii, unto the
people of the Jews, at verse 22, " But thou hast not called
upon me, O Jacob ; but thou hast been weary of me, O
Israel." Verse 23, " Thou hast not brought me the small
cattle of thy burnt offering, neither hast thou honoured me
with thy sacrifices." Verse 24, " Thou hast bought me no
sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the
fat of thy sacrifice ; but thou hast made me to serve with
thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thy iniquity." Yet,
verse 25, " I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgres
sion for my own sake, and will not remember thy sins."
Here are sins, and great sins ; and if the Lord will therefore
pardon sin because it is great, unto his people ; then surely
they have no reason to be quite discouraged in this respect.
Now look what David saith * in Psalm xxv. 11, " For thy
name sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity for it is great."
Mark his argument, " Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great :"
if David use this reason, then may you also ; and if this be
a reason why God should pardon sin, because it is great;
then this cannot be a reason, a just reason, why you should
be discouraged.
But suppose that a man s sin be the sin of revolting,
declining ; for this is my case, will some say : I have striven,
and striven against my sin a long while, and I return unto it
again. Times were heretofore, that I have been exceeding
forward and ready unto what is good ; but now I am much
declined, abated, and even gone backward with revolting,
and deep revolting, and I have lain long so, even for many
years. Have I not reason, and just reason now to be dis
couraged and cast down within myself ?
I answer, No, not yet; for though this be a sufficient
cause of great humiliation (for backsliding in scripture
phrase is called rebellion, and rebellion is as the sin of witch
craft), yet a good man hath no reason to be discouraged in
this regard ; for thus saith the Lord, Jer. iii. 1, " They say,
if a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and
* 3> UirTlK quoniam grandis est. Hierom.
Tro\\rj ya^ EBTI- Septuagint.
niN D3 fcOin- Chaldee Paraphrase.
72 A LIFTING UP [SER. 4.
become another man s, shall he return unto her again ? shall
not that land be greatly polluted ? But thou hast played the
harlot with many lovers, yet return again unto me, saith the
Lord." And, verse 12, Return thou backsliding Israel,
saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon
you ; for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep
anger for ever/ And again, verse 14, " Turn O backsliding
children, for I am married unto you." And if ever the Lord
Jesus Christ did betroth himself unto any soul, he will never
put that soul away again : " I hate putting away," saith God.
Men put away their wives among the Jews, but saith the
Lord, " I hate putting away." And Isa. 1. 1, " Thus saith
the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother s divorcement,
whom I have put away, or which of my creditors is it to
whom I have sold you ? " Among the Jews, the husband
did put away his wife upon small occasions. As for adul
tery, you know that was death ; he did not put away his wife
upon adultery, she was to die for it : but the husbands put
away their wives upon other occasions, and when they put
away their wives, they gave the wife a bill of divorce, that so
upon all occasions the woman might shew thereby that she
was free from such a man. Now, saith the Lord, you that
charge me, and complain that I have put you away, come
and shew me the bill of divorce : " Thus saith the Lord,
where is the bill," &c. Poor soul, thou complainest that I
have put thee away, come then and shew me the bill of
divorce : let any one who complains that I have put him
away and cast him off, come and bring out his bill of divorce;
this ye cannot do: men indeed put away, but if ever the
Lord Christ doth match himself unto thee, he will never put
thee away again.
And whereas you say, that you are declined, and have
inch revolted, and so have continued even many years,
consider whether you be not mistaken; every abatement
affection is not a declining in grace: possibly we
may not gneve for sin afterward so much as at our first
conversion, yet we may hate it more : at first you may pray
more against it, yet afterward watch more against it. We
"ever see the face of sin so ugly, as in the glass of God s
e love, and do you not see the free love of God more ?
y your affections might be higher at the first, but i
s
SER. 4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 7$
not conviction more clear and full ? As affections dry up,
so we grow more settled in our judgment ; and if your judg
ment be more settled, you are not declined, though your
affections be somewhat abated.
And whereas you say. that you have returned to vour sin
again and again, and have continued under your revolt for
many years ; I shall only tell you what Mr. Bilney, a blessed
martyr once. said. Hearing a minister preach very terribly
against sin, and saying thus, Behold, thou old sinner, thou
hast lain rotting in the grave of thy sin these threescore
years, and dost thou now think to go to heaven in one year ?
dost thou think to go forward to heaven more in one year,
than thou hast gone backward to hell these threescore years?
Ah, said Mr. Bilney, here is goodly preaching of repentance
in the name of Christ ! had I heard such doctrine preached
heretofore, my poor soul had despaired for ever; but, saith
he, the Lord Christ died for sinners, young sinners and old
sinners, for one as well as the other ; such as have lain long
in sin, as well as those that have lain but a little while in sin,
if they will come home unto Christ. And you know what our
Saviour saith, " If thy brother transgress against thee, for
give him." But, Lord, he hath transgressed against me
once, and I have forgiven him : yet, saith our Saviour, for
give him again. Oh but, Lord, I have forgiven him again
and again, and yet he returns to his fault again : then forgive
him again, saith Christ. But, Lord, how often shall I
forgive my brother ? Saith our Saviour, If he sin against
thee seventy-seven times, and says that he doth repent, do
thou forgive so oft. And now shall the Lord Jesus Christ
enjoin us to forgive our brother, if he sin against us seventy-
seven times; and will not the Lord Christ forgive much
more, if a poor soul do turn unto him and say, Lord, I
repent me that I have sinned against thee. Will the Lord
Christ command me a poor sinner to forgive so many times ;
how often will the great God forgive ? what, seventy-seven
times ! nay, seven hundred times seven hundred. And have
ye any reason then to be discouraged in this respect ? surely
you have not.
But suppose that a man hath sinned foully, greatly, and
he cannot repent, or be humbled enough : for that is my
case ; I have sinned, I have sinned greatly, and now after all,
74
A LIFTING UP [SER. 4.
my heart is hard, and I cannot be humbled enough, oh, I
cannot repent enough : hath he not just cause and reason
for his discouragement now, yea now to be quite discou
raged ?
No, not yet, for what if the Lord will have your humilia
tion from you by degrees ? Should you be so, or so much
humbled for the present, it may be it would be with you as
it hath been with others, you would never think of your sins
afterward; but may be the Lord will have this work of
humiliation to stay long upon thy soul, and he will not give
it you all at once. Some there are, that when they come
into a house, they pay a great income and little rent, others
pay a little income and a great rent : so it is with souls that
come to Christ ; some at the first lay down a great humili
ation, and they have lesser of it afterward ; some have less
at the first, and have more afterwards by continuance in it :
and what now if the Lord will lead thy soul in this latter
way ? this latter way may be the better way if the Lord
think fit.
Again : it may be, that if you had so much, or so much
humiliation now at the first, you would think, that in, and
by, and for your humiliation you should have acceptance
with God, and the remission of your sin; if you be kept
off from this rock and danger, by your want of that degree
of humiliation, which you would have, and so be trained up
to prize the Lord s free grace in giving you humiliation, have
you any cause to complain ?*
Again : if you had so much, or so much humiliation for the
present, it may be then, you would have the less humility ;
a little humility, is as good as a great deal of humiliation, as
good being humble, as being humbled. Now because thou
art not humbled, therefore thy soul is kept humble ; hadst
thou many tears, and abundance of tears, may be then thou
wouldest be proud, but the Lord doth deny thee tears, and
thou art not humbled to the degrees of thy own desires, and
so the Lord keeps thee humble by the want of thy humilia
tion.
Again : it may be, that if you were humbled so, or so
much at the present, or at the first, you would have the less
: Sepe negatur cum quseritur, et conceditur cum non expectatur. ut ex eo
constet esse opus divinre gratirc. Bonavent.
4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 75
fear of your own heart. The more humbled, it may be, the
less after-fear, and the less humbled, the more after-fear, the
less humbled, sometimes, the more a man fears his own
heart and his own condition. Gracious fear is as good as
humiliation, and if that which you want in humiliation you
have it made up in fear, have you any reason to be dis
couraged ? I know it is usual with Satan, to say unto the
people of God at their first coming on to Christ, that they
are not humbled enough, arid so keeps them off from mercy
and grace. But, I pray, tell me, can ye ever be humbled
enough ? Can there be any proportion between your sins
and your humiliation ? The truth is, we should labour that
our humiliation be answerable to our sin; but God is
not pleased with grief for grief, God is not pleased with
sorrow for sorrow ; the end of all our sorrow and grief is,
to embitter our sin to us, to make us to prize Jesus Christ,
to wean us from the delights and pleasures of the creature,
to discover the deceitfulness and naughtiness of our own
hearts. In scripture phrase, and language of the New Tes
tament, repentance is called an after-wisdom, an after-mind,
/xeravo m, a bethinking of ones self, it is called a conviction ;
now though you be not humbled unto the degree which you
do desire, yet notwithstanding, do you not bethink yourself,
are you not convinced of the evil of your former way ? hath
not the Lord now given you an after-wisdom ? and do not
you say concerning your sin, Oh, if it were to do again, I
would not do it for all the world ? Thus it is with the ser
vants and people of God, though they cannot be humbled
so much as they would be, yet notwithstanding, they are
thus far humbled, thus far grieved, that their sins are em
bittered, and themselves thereby weaned from the delights
and pleasures of the world, convinced of the evil of their
sin, and what they want in humiliation they have it in
humility, the less humbled, the more they are kept humble,
and what they do want at the first, they have it afterwards
by degrees, soaking into their souls. Have they then any
reason to be discouraged in these respects ? surely, no.
But should not a godly, gracious man be fnlly grieved
and humbled for his sin ?
Grieved, humbled for his sin ? yes, surely : though the
Lord, through the over-ruling hand of his grace, do work
76 A LIFTING UP [SEB. 4.
never so much good out of my sin unto me, yet I am to be
humbled for it, and the rather to be humbled for it, because
he works good out of it. I have read indeed of the mother
of those three learned men, Lombard, Gratian, and Co-
msestor, the three great pillars of the Roman Church, for
Lombard wrote the Sentences, and Gratian the Popish
Decretals, and Gomsestor, Historian! Scholasticam, that when
she lay on her death-bed, and the priest came unto her, and
called upon her for repentance of her whoredoms,* for these
three, Lombard, Gratian and Comeestor, were her bastards,
as the very popish writers do record it, and he, telling her
that she must be greatly afflicted, grieved and humbled for
her uncleanness, or else she could not be saved, why, said
she, I confess, indeed, that whoredom and uncleanness is a
great sin, but considering what a great deal of good hath
come to the church of God by my sin, that three such
great lights have been brought forth into the world by my
sin, non valeo panitentiam agere, I cannot, I will not re
pent. And thus it is with many poor ignorant souls, when
they see, how the Lord by his over-ruling hand doth work
good unto them out of their sin, as some outward blessings
and mercies, they do not repent of their sin, but rather
justify themselves in their sins : but now take a godly man,
a gracious soul, and the more that he sees the Lord working
good out of his sin, the more he is humbled for it ; and
upon that very ground, because God works good of it there
fore he is humbled the more.
Yet further; it is observed, that though the Lord did
ordinarily call David his servant, yet when David had sinned
that great sin, he sent the prophet to him, saying, Go, say
to David ; he had lost the title of servant, now bare David,
now single David, now David without the title my servant.
And so, though God ordinarily called the people of Israel
his people, yet when they had committed that great sin of
* Hos tres viz. Gratianum, Pet. Lombardum, et Pet. Comsestorem suisse
Germanos ex adulterio natos, quorum mater, cum in extremis peccatum suum
confiteretur et confessor redargueret crimen perpetrati adulterii, quia valde grave
esset et ideo multura deberet dolore et penitentiam agere respondet ilia; Pater,
scio quod adulterium peccatum magnum est, sed considerans quantum bonum
secutum est, cum isti silii mei sint lumina magna in Ecclesia, Ego non vaieo
pemtere. Cui confessor hoc ex dono Dei est, ex te autem adulterium crimen
magnum et dehoc doleas, &c. Decret. fol. i. Gratiaai vita.
. 4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 77
idolatry, in the matter of the golden calf, the Lord doth not
call them his people, but he saith to Moses, The people,
not My people, but The people, and Thy people, Moses ;
now they had lost their old title. Thus, I say, the sins of
God s own people do deprive them, and divest them of their
spiritual privileges, and can a gracious heart look upon this,
and consider how he is divested and disrobed of his spiritual
privileges, and not mourn under it ? Can one friend grieve
another friend, and not be grieved himself ? The saints by
their sins, they grieve God, who is their best friend, and
therefore certainly they must needs be grieved, they must
needs be humbled, or there is no grace ; not grieved, not
humbled, not gracious. But now because they are grieved,
and humbled for sin committed, therefore they are not dis
couraged ; I say, because they are grieved, arid because they
are humbled for sin committed, therefore they are not dis
couraged, for discouragement is a hindrance to humiliation,
and the more truly a man is humbled for sin committed, the
less he is discouraged, and the more a man is discouraged,
the less he is truly humbled.
You will say, then, but what is the difference between
these ? a man is to be humbled, and not discouraged, not
discouraged and yet to be humbled, what is the difference
between these two, being humbled and being discouraged ?
It is a profitable question^ and worth our time : by way
of answer, therefore, thus,
When a man is humbled, truly humbled, the object of his
grief, sorrow or trouble, is sin itself, as a dishonour done
unto God : the object of discouragement is a man s own
condition, or sin in order to his own condition, the ultimate
object of discouragement being a man s own condition.
When a man is discouraged, you shall find still, that his
trouble runs all out upon his own condition. Oh, saith a dis
couraged person, I have sinned ; I have thus sinned, and
therefore my condition is naught, and if my condition be
naught now, it will never be better ; Lord, what will become
of my soul ? Still his trouble is about his own condition.
But when a man is grieved and truly humbled for sin, his
trouble is about sin itself, as a dishonour done unto God.
To clear this by Scripture : you know Cain was discouraged,
but Cain was not humbled ; how may that appear ? Cain was
yg A LIFTING UP [SER. 4.
troubled about his condition. Ah, saith he, my punishment
is greater than I can bear. On the other side, the poor pro
digal was humbled, but not discouraged : how may that ap
pear ? his trouble was about his sin, and not about his
condition : " I will return unto my Father (saith he), and I
will say unto him, I have sinned against heaven and before
thee, and I am no more worthy to be called thy son, make
me as one of thy hired servants." David was sometimes
both discouraged and humbled, and then you find his repen
tance and humiliation to be very brackish ; but if you look
into the list Psalm, you shall find David humbled but not
discouraged, for it is a penitential Psalm, therefore humbled
but not discouraged, for still he did keep his assurance ; verse
14, " Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of
my salvation." But what was his repentance, his trouble
about ? It was about his sin, and not about his condition,
read verse 23, and so on : " Wash me throughly from mine
iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my
transgression, and my sin is ever before me ; against thee,
thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight : be
hold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother con
ceive me." Still, ye see, his eye is upon his sin, and not
upon his condition only. So that I say, when a man is truly
humbled and grieved for sin, the object of his grief is sin, as
a dishonour done unto God : whun a man is discouraged and
not humbled, then his trouble is all about his condition, and
what will become of him.
True humiliation, it is no enemy, but a real friend unto
spiritual joy, to our rejoicing in God. The more a man is
humbled for sin committed, the more he will rejoice in God,
and rejoice that he can grieve for sin. He grieves, and re-
joiceth that he can grieve for sin, therefore humiliation, by
our Saviour Christ, is made an eifect of the Comforter : " I
will send the Comforter, and he shall convince the world of
sin." Because there is comfort always goes along with true
humiliation, it is not an enemy but a friend to our spiritual
rejoicing; but discouragement is an enemy to spiritual joy.
A man that is discouraged is grieved, and he is sad upon his
grief, and if ye tell him that he must rejoice in God, and call
upon him to rejoice in God, Oh no, saith he, it is not for me
to rejoice, I am a man of another disposition, joy doth not
. 4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 79
belong to me, or to one in my condition : but now, when a
man is truly humbled, the more he is humbled for sin, the
more he can rejoice in God ; but the more a man is discou
raged, the less he rejoiceth in God.
The more a man is humbled, truly humbled for sin, the
more he is found in duty ; the more a man is discouraged,
the more his hands are weakened to duty : as it is with the
water, if the water do continue in its true stream, it doth not
overflow the banks, it doth not break down the dam : some
times you have a great fall of water, a great and mighty flood,
and then the river overflows the banks, and the water bears
down the dam. So here, duty is the bank of sorrow, grief
and humiliation for sin ; I say, your duties are the banks of
all your godly sorrow, and when a man s sorrow or grief doth
arise to such an height, that it swells over duty, and a man
saith, I will pray no more, it is to no purpose ; and I will hear
no more, for there is no hope for my soul ; and I will examine
my own heart no more : when thus sorrow swells over duty,
and breaks down the dam of duty, then it is discouragement,
it is not humiliation : be not mistaken, this is not humilia
tion, this is a plain discouragement. There is a great differ
ence then, between discouragement and humiliation. Many
people indeed do call their discouragements, humiliation ; but
the Lord knows, there is not a drop of humiliation in a flood
of discouragement : would you therefore be humbled ? Oh,
then, be not discouraged ; for the more you are discouraged,
the less you will be humbled ; and the more humbled you
are, the less discouraged you will be.
But if there be such a great difference between these, and
if it be our duty, to be humbled for sin, but not to be dis
couraged ; what should a man do to bear up his heart to the
work of humiliation, and yet bear up against all discourage
ment ? How shall I be so humbled, as I may not be dis
couraged ? or what shall a man do that he may be humbled,
and yet not be discouraged in his humiliation ?
Let Christians carry this rule always up and down with
them, namely, That a man is to be humbled for his sin,
although it be never so small, but he is not to be discouraged
for his sin, though it be never so great. Both these parts
are true ; a man is not to be discouraged under his sin,
although it be never so great ; because discouragement itself
80
A LIFTING UP [SER. 4.
is a sin, and that cannot help against sin, sin cannot help
against sin. A man is to be humbled for his sin, although it
be never so small, for it is a dishonour to God, and little sins
make way to great sins. So, then, if thou wouldest be hum
bled, and not discouraged, carry this rule up and down with
you, and always remember it upon all occasions : It is my
duty, and I have reason to be humbled for my sin, although
it be never so small ; but I have no reason to be discoura
ged under my sin, though it be never so great.
In all your humiliation, be sure that yon never part or se
parate those things that God hath joined together : God
hath joined commandment and promise together, the promise
and the commandment are born twins ; there is never a com
mandment that you read of, but hath a promise annexed to
it, a promise of assistance, a promise of acceptance, and a
promise of reward. If you look upon the commandment
itself without the promise, then you will despair; if you look
upon the promise without the commandment, then you will
presume : but look upon promise and commandment, com
mandment and promise together, then ye will be humbled,
in case ye have sinned, but ye will not be discouraged. The
Lord, you know, hath given two eyes to man, and if a man
should put out one, and say, I can see well enough with the
other, what need I have two ? he should sin greatly. So for
the soul, the Lord hath given two eyes, as I may so speak;
the eye of conscience, which is to look upon God s com
mandment; and the eye of faith, which is to look upon God s
promise : and if any man will say, I will put out the eye of
faith, I can see well enough with the eye of conscience upon
God s commandment, he shall do ill, and very ill : and if a
man shall say, I will put out the eye of conscience, for I can
see well enough with the eye of faith, he shall do very ill.
But whenever you find you have sinned against any command
ment, presently say, Where is the promise ? I may not look
upon the commandment without the promise, nor the pro
mise without the commandment. Thus join both together,
and you shall not be discouraged, yet be humbled.
In all your humiliation, take heed that you do not mourn
for your sin only in order to your condition, but rather mourn
over your condition in order to your sin. Humiliation, you
have heard, is objectated upon sin itself, as a dishonour to
SER. 4.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 81
God ; the object of our humiliation is sin itself, as a dishon
our done unto God : but now the object of our discourage
ment, you have heard, is our condition, only our condition.
Well, then, would you be humbled so as you may not be dis
couraged ? take heed that you do not stand poring only upon
your condition, but rather say thus unto thine own soul ; Oh,
my soul, thou hast been much mistaken, the Lord pardon it,
for all this questioning hath been about thy condition, and
what will become of thee ; and if at any time thou hast
grieved for sin. it hath been in order to thy condition, because
thy condition is naught, and because thou didst not know
what should become of thee : but now, if thou wouldst be
truly humbled, and not be discouraged, then lay aside a little
the thoughts of your own condition, and pitch upon sin as a
breach of God s law, a transgression of the law of God, a
dishonour done to God, and as a breach of the law of love
between Christ and you. Thus, I say, if you would be hum
bled, and not discouraged, rather mourn over your condition
in order to your sin, than for your sin in order to your
condition.
In your humiliation, take heed that you do not meddle too
much with God s prerogative and with God s peculiar. In
humiliation, a man is to meddle with that which belongs to
man : some things there are that are peculiar to God and are
his prerogative. You see how it is with the birds of the air;
so long as the birds fly up and down here in the air, they do
live comfortably ; but if the birds do fly up to the element of
fire, it will burn their wings, and they will fall down headlong.
So here, so long as a man in his humiliation keeps within his
own compass and element, he may walk comfortably there ;
but if a man in humiliation, will soar up unto God s prero
gative, certainly his soul will fall down upon the earth and be
much discouraged. Now, I pray, what is more the preroga
tive and peculiar of God than this, To know who is a repro
bate and who is not ? When a man is humbled and grieved
about his sin, and he finds that he hath sinned much against
God, and thereupon he concludes himself to be a reprobate,
is not this to come upon God s prerogative ? The Scripture
tells a man, indeed, what he is for the present : That a man
for the present is a drunkard, or a swearer, or a sabbath-
breaker, or an adulterer ; and therefore the Scripture tells
VOL. II. G
82 A LIFTING UP [SER. 4.
him for the present, that he is in the state of nature, and
under the wrath of God : but doth the Scripture tell him
that he is a reprobate, that he can never be converted and
turned to God ? Surely this is God s great prerogative to
know, his secret which he reserves to himself; and therefore
when a man goes to be humbled before God, and concludes,
Oh, I am a reprobate, and there is no hope for me, and I
shall never be converted ; this is to soar too high into God s
prerogative, and he will burn his wings, and he will fall down
into great discouragement. Therefore, in all your humilia
tion, take heed that you do not fall upon any thing that is the
peculiar and prerogative of God, for then you will not be
humbled but discouraged.
The more you are humbled and grieved by the sight of
God s free love and grace, the more you will be humbled and
the less discouraged. When you come to humiliation, you
are humbled, because you have sinned against God ; but how
do you present this God to your own soul : do you present
him as a Judge only, or as a Father also : do you present the
Lord unto your soul only under the notion or attribute of his
greatness, or under the notion and attribute of his goodness
also ? Luther said thus : When my heart is brisk and jolly,
I present God unto myself under the notion of his greatness ;
but when my heart is low and fearing, then I present God
to me under the notion of his goodness : one while I consider
Christ as my example, another while as my gift : when my
heart is too high, then I consider Christ as my example ;
when my spirit is too low, I consider Christ as my gift. So
do you also. I know you will say, I cannot sometimes pre
sent the Lord unto my soul under the notion of a Father,
because I have no assurance of his love. Yet you may con
sider the Lord as gracious in himself, as good in himself, and
loving in himself, and say, I have thus and thus sinned against
a gracious God, and although thou hast not assurance of
God s love to thee in particular, yet if you can present God
to your soul, under the notion of his general goodness, as good
in himself, you will never be discouraged, but be humbled.
If you would be truly humbled, and not be discouraged ;
not discouraged, and yet humbled ; then beat and drive up
all your sins to your unbelief, and lay the stress and weight
of all your sorrow upon that sin. As in matter of thank-
SER. 5.]
FOR THE DOWNCAST.
fulness, if a man do run up every mercy, unto the fountain
mercy, the blood of Jesus Christ, he will be most thankful :
1 so in the matter of humiliation, if a man do run up every
sin unto the fountain, the head sin, he will be most hum
bled. Now what is the great sin, the fountain sin, the head
sin of all your sins, but unbelief; and believe it, he is never
far from faith, that is humbled for his unbelief, and he will
never be discouraged that is not far from faith. Now there
fore, if at any time you find your soul in any sin, then say,
This hath my unbelief done, I did not think that I had had
such an unbelieving heart; oh, what an unbelieving heart
have I ! This, even all this sin hath my unbelief brought
forth. Now the Lord heal my unbelieving heart.
A soul grieved for unbelief will never be discouraged too
much, nor be humbled too little : he will be humbled in
truth for sin, because he is humbled for his unbelief, which
is the mother sin ; yet he will not be discouraged, because
he is humbled for that which doth cause all discouragements.
Lay therefore the weight of your sorrow upon this sin, and
you shall be truly humbled without unjust discouragement.
And thus I have despatched the first particular : by all
which you see, that a gracious, godly man, though he hath
just cause for humiliation, yet he hath no just and scripture
reason to be discouraged for his sin ; though he have sinned,
and sinned greatly, yet no discouragement is to grow upon
this condition.
And thus I have done with the first instance.
SERMON ,V.
A LIFTING UP IN CASE OF WEAK GRACE.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted
within me, #c." Psalm xlii. 11.
II. Sometimes the discouragements of the saints do
arise from the weakness of their graces.
Oh, says one, I am a poor, feeble, and a weak creature :
some are strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might,
G 2
84 A LIFTING UP [SER. 5
who do a great deal of service for God in their day ; but as
for me, I am a poor babe in Christ, if a babe, and so am
able to do little or nothing for God. Therefore I am thus
discouraged and cast down ; have I not just cause and reason
for it ?
No, for " God is able to make all grace to abound towards
you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may
abound to every good work," 2 Cor. ix. 8. And if God
have recompensed your weakness with wisdom, then surely
you have no cause to complain of your weakness. Some
times weakness is recompensed with wisdom ; for, says
Solomon, Prov. xxx. 24, " There be four things that are
little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise : " the
ants, the conies, the locusts, and the spider. Wherein doth
the wisdom of the ants consist ? He tells you in verse 25,
" The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their
meat in summer." In time of plenty they do lay up for the
time of want. Wherein doth the wisdom of the conies
consist ? He tells you in verse 26, " The conies are a feeble
folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks : " though
they be weak in themselves, yet they dwell in strong places.
Wherein doth the wisdom of the locusts appear ? He tells
you in verse 27, " The locusts have no king, yet go they
forth all of them by bands:" though they be weak alone,
yet they do join together, and so are strong. But wherein
doth the wisdom of the spider consist ? He tells you in
verse 28, " The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in
kings chambers : " though the chamber of a king is most
swept and cleansed, yet by the industry of her hands she
doth take hold on the beams thereof, and dwells on high,
out of danger. So that, although these creatures are weak
and feeble in themselves, yet by their wisdom, their weakness
is recompensed, and they save themselves from injury and
wrong, as well as if they were stronger.* Now shall the
ant, cony, locust and spider, be wise in their kind, and shall
not a Christian be so ? True, saving grace is the best wis
dom ; every godly man is a wise man, and though he be but
weak in grace, yet he hath true wisdom : the wisdom of the
* Admonemur nullam creaturam propter parvitatem contemnendam esse,
quando qmdem quod ,lhs in corpons mole deest, aliis quibus a Deo ornantur
datibus compensari solet. Cartwright iu Prov.
SER. 5.] FOR, THE DOWNCAST. 85
ants, to provide in summer against a rainy day ; the wisdom
of the conies, to build in the rock Christ ; the wisdom of
the locusts, to join with others ; and the wisdom of the
spider, to take hold on those beams of the promises, which
are in the chamber of our King, Christ. And if God have
thus recompensed your weakness with this wisdom, why
should you then complain ?
But is it then no disadvantage for a man to be weak in
grace ?
Yes, much, very much ; there are many disadvantages
which a weak Christian lies under, that a strong Christian
doth not. Ye see how the weak fire lies sobbing under the
disadvantage of green wood, which the strong fire doth not ;
so doth Christ s smoking flax lie under many disadvantages,
which the strong Christian doth not. As,
Though a man have truth of grace, yet if he be but weak
in grace, he is more apt and ready to stumble and fall, and
to be turned out of the way. " Wherefore lift up the hands
which hang down, and the feeble knees," saith the apostle,
Heb. xii. 12, " Lest that which is lame be turned out of the
way." A weak man is more apt to fall than a strong ; and
if he do fall, he is more unable to rise again. A strong man
fallen, is quickly up again ; but the weak falls, and is ready
to fall again when he rises : so it is with a weak Christian, he
stumbles often and is apt to fall ; and if he have fallen, he
is even ready to fall again when he goes about to rise.
He is more easily quenched, in regard of his comforts,
than the strong Christian is. A strong Christian will improve
that for himself which seems to be against him; but the
weak Christian will improve that against himself which is in
truth for him. When our Saviour Christ said to the woman
of Canaan, " It is not lawful to cast children s bread before
dogs ; " she made an advantage of those words, and thereby
did gather in upon Christ, saying, " True, Lord, but the
dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table." Thus she
improved that for herself, which seemed to be against her :
why ? because she was strong in faith ; " O woman," saith
our Saviour, " great is thy faith." But when the angel of
the Lord appeared to Manoah, Judges xiii, he said to his
wife, " We shall surely die, because we have seen the Lord."
Thus he improved that against him, which did make for him,
86
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 5.
as his wife truly interpreted the thing, verse 23 : why so, but
because he was weak in faith. The strong fire burns the
more by the very water that is cast upon it, but the weak
fire is quenched by the very fuel, wood, or coal that is cast
on it ; so a weak Christian also is apt to be quenched, even
by those very truths and dispensations whereby he should
burn and blaze out the more.
He cannot glorify God as the strong Christian may and
doth. One sun doth glorify the Creator more than an hun
dred other stars, because there is much light met in one
body; and one strong Christian doth glorify God more, than
an hundred lesser, weak saints, because there is much light
and grace met in one person. " He that offereth praise,
glorifieth me," saith God, Psalm 1. 23.
It is an hard thing for the weak Christian to praise God,
for he often doubteth of God s love, and therefore cannot
praise him as he should ; but the strong Christian may, he
can say, Blessed be the Lord for this or that mercy, for it
comes from love to me.
The more a man doth believe above hope and under hope,
and the less he doth live by sense, the more he glorifies
God. Now the strong Christian is able to exercise his faith
in this kind, for says the apostle Paul, " Abraham considered
not his own body, but being strong in faith, was persuaded
that God was able, and so did give glory unto God," Rom.
iv. A weak faith cannot do so, for saith the apostle, verse
13, "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own
body now dead, he staggered not at the promise of God
through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to
God." It seems then that it is the strong, and not the weak
faith which doth give glory to God. And would ye know
wherein this strong faith differs from the weak faith, in
regard of its operation ? why, says the apostle, the weak
faith staggers at the promise, which the strong faith doth
not ; the weak faith doth attend too much unto second causes,
which the strong faith doth not; the weak faith judges by
what it sees and feels within, but the strong doth not, but
by the word without ; and therefore it is strong faith which
doth give glory unto God especially.
A strong Christian will do great things for God, a weak
Christian can do but small things, for his strength is but
. 5.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 87
small, and his soul little. Now the greater things we do for
God, the more we glorify him.*
A strong Christian can mind and tend the public, but a
weak Christian cannot. I have enough to do at home, saith
he, oh, that my own everlasting condition were but settled,
and then would I mind the public too.
A strong Christian is able to wait long on God ; he that
waiteth long with quietness, honours God : but as your
weaker children cannot stay long for what they would have,
but must be served presently ; so the weak Christian also
cannot wait long on God for what he would have : but the
strong Christian doth.
A strong Christian is helpful unto others. " We that are
strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak," Rom. xv.
1. And again, " Him that is weak in the faith receive you,"
xiv. 1. Children and babes are fit to be carried in others
arms, but are not able to carry others. The weak Christian
is apt to be oifended with others, to censure and judge
others, and so to make burdens for others to bear, Rom.
xiv. 1, 2. But the strong Christian is a bearing Christian, a
carrying Christian, one that can displease himself that he
may help another. Now the more serviceable and helpful a
man is to others, the more he glorifies God ; thus the strong
Christian is, but the weak cannot in all these things give
glory to God as the strong Christian may. Surely therefore
there are many disadvantages which a weak Christian lies
under, that the strong Christian doth not.
Yet there is no reason why he should be discouraged.
For weakness doth not exclude from mercy, but inclines
God unto mercy, rather. Psalm vi. 2, " Have mercy on me,
O Lord, for I am weak." It is spoken of an outward weak
ness ; and if that which is less doth incline God to mercy,
then much more that which is greater.
And if he have as great an interest in Christ, as many
promises to run unto, and as many embraces of love from
God the Father, as the strong Christian hath ; then there is
no just cause why he should be cast down in regard of his
weakness.
Now so it is, though your grace be never so weak, yet if
* OXtyoTTiffo? oXiyo^fni^od 1 Thess. v. 14.
88
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 5.
ye have truth of grace, you have as great a share and interest
in the righteousness of Christ for your justification, as the
strong Christian hath. You have as much of Christ imputed
to you, as any other. It may be you have gathered less of
this manna, for your spending sanctification ; but if you be
an Israelite indeed, you have so much of this manna, as that
you have no lack : for it is said of the Israelites, " They
gathered some more, some less ; yet he that gathered much
had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack ;"
all which figured that equal proportion, saith Mr. Ainsworth,
which all believers have in Christ, the spiritual manna.
And if ye look into Scripture, where do God s promises
fall more thick, than upon those that are weak in grace?
Christ begins his preaching with the promises, Matt. v. ; and
I pray, what are those persons whom the promises are espe
cially made unto, but such as are weak in grace ? " Blessed
are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those that hunger and
thirst after righteousness. Blessed are those that mourn/ 5
He doth not say, Blessed are those that are strong in grace ;
or blessed are those that rejoice in God ; or those that have
full assurance of their everlasting estate and condition : no,
but as if his great work and business were to comfort, up
hold, and strengthen the weak, these he begins withal, and
many gracious, rich and blessed promises he doth make to
them. Yea, the promises are so made to them, as, attended
to, will give a full answer unto all their fears: as, for example,
the Lord promises, Matt, xii., That he will not break the
bruised reed," &c. Will the weak Christian say, Oh, but I
am exceeding weak, and very feeble : then our Saviour says,
" He will not break the bruised reed." And what more weak
and feeble than a bruised reed ? an whole reed is not very
strong at the best, but bruised it is weak indeed. Will the
weak Christian say, Oh, but my weakness is mingled with
many sins ; so the fire in the smoking flax is mingled with
smoke, yet says Christ, I will not quench the smoking
flax." Will the weak Christian say, Oh, but, though God do
not quench me, yet I shall be quenched ; Nay, saith Christ,
but I will bring forth judgment unto victory ;" it lies on
my hand to do it and I will do it. Will the weak Christian
say, Oh, but, I have much opposition in my way, how can
judgment come to victory ? then Christ says, he will bring
SER. 5.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 89
forth, EW? a.v K(3a\\T), thrust forth with violence; it is the
same word that is used in other scriptures, noting a force ;*
as if Christ should say, I will force this victory through all
opposition, that it shall meet withal. So that the Lord doth
not only give several promises to those that are weak in
grace, but he doth so lay them,, as he doth help to apply
them.
And if ye look into your experience, who have more kisses,
and embraces of love from God our Father, than the weak
Christian hath ? The parent kisseth the babe and little child,
when the elder child is not kissed ; for, says he, this is but
a little child. And so, when the prodigal comes home, then
the father falls upon his neck and kisses him, why ? but
because upon his first return, he is a babe in Christ ; this is
my little child, saith the father, and therefore I will kiss
him with the kisses of my mouth.
And though it be a great affliction to be weak in grace,
yet if Christ will condescend unto mine infirmities, why
should I be discouraged in regard thereof ? Condescending
mercy is great and sweet mercy : now though God doth
shew mercy unto all his people, yet he will do it by Christ
as an high priest ; and what is the work and office of the
high priest ? but to sympathise and bear with the infirmities
of those that are weak, "We have not such an high priest
(saith the apostle) as cannot be touched with our infirmities,"
Heb. iv. 15. Three things there are, which do speak out
the condescending love of God to those that are weak in
grace ; 1. He accepts their duties, though mingled with many
weaknesses ; and their services, though they grow upon a
weak stock,* Rev. iii. 8.> " I know thy works, (saith Christ
to the Church of Philadelphia) for thou hast a little strength,
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."
2. The Lord doth not over-drive those that are weak, but
is contented to go their pace with them, Isa. xl. 11, "He
shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his
bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
* Matt. vii. 5, x/3a\e Trpolov ri\v
Matt. ix. 38, OTTUQ tx.fia\r) EgfoJae.
Matt, x, 5, at[AOVia K/3aAXel.
* Christus fidem et jamsi infirmam fovet
90 A LIFTING UP [SfiR. 5.
3. He doth sometimes, yea, oftentimes, yield unto their
desires, going, as it were, after them, Matt. ix. 18, "There
came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My
daughter is now dead, but come and lay thine hand on her ;
and Jesus arose and followed him." The man had faith, for
he said, " Only lay thine hand on her, and she shall live :"
yet his faith was weak, for he limited and stinted Christ,
both to time and means ; * Conic down, and lay thine hand
on her." In the viiith chapter, a centurion comes to him,
for the cure of his servant, and he was strong in faith ; for
saith Christ, " I have not found so great faith, no, not in
Israel." Christ doth prevent, and goes before him ; for
when he saith, verse 6, " My servant lies sick, Jesus said to
him, I will come and heal him :" here Christ offered to go ;
No, Lord, saith the centurion, " Speak the word only."
But the ruler desires Christ to go with him, and he followed
him; Christ prevents the strong, and he followeth the weak;
he commends the strong centurion, and he condescendeth
to the weak ruler. What then, though the weak ruler be
not commended as the strong centurion was, should he be
discouraged ? No, because Christ s condescending love
was as fit for him, as his commending favour was for the
centurion : strong grace shall be more commended, but
weak grace shall be much encouraged by the condescending
love of Christ.
If Christ have put a Why .and Wherefore upon the dis
couragements of the weak, then they have no true reason
to be discouraged, in regard of their weakness. Now if ye
look into Matt. viii. 26, ye shall find, that our Saviour says
to his disciples, Why are ye doubtful, O ye of little faith ?"
Ye read in verse 24, that there arose a great tempest, in
somuch that the ship was covered with water ; was not here
cause of fear ? yet says Christ, Why are ye fearful ? Yea,
it is said that their Help was asleep ; Christ was their only
help in the storm, and verse 24, He was asleep ;" had they
not then cause to fear ? yet says Christ, " Why are ye
fearful, O ye of little faith } The like ye have in Matt,
xvi. 8, Jesus said, O ye of little faith why reason ye
amongst yourselves, because ye have brought no bread ?"
Here is another Why put upon their discouragements. So
again, Matt. xiv. 31, when Peter began to sink, he cried out,
I 5BR. 5.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 91
tind Christ said unto him, " O thou of little faith, wherefore
lidst thou doubt?" Here is another Why or Wherefore
;but upon the discouragement of a weak faith. Now why
loth our Saviour speak after this manner to them ? Why
| no ye doubt ? and Why are ye fearful ? Not only to reprove
(jiheir doubting and discouragement, but to shew that there
ivas no reason for it : though their outward discouragements
were great and their faith was but small, yet he tells them,
that they had no reason for to be discouraged, " Why are ye
fearful, O ye of little faith ? It seems then, by these Why s
and Wherefore s, that though a man s faith be small, and his
Utward discouragements great, yet he hath no just and true
eason for to be discouraged.
And if a Christian would be discouraged, if he did not
ometimes find a weakness and smallness of grace within
him, then he hath no reason to be discouraged, because he
doth find this weakness. Now ye know, that the kingdom
of heaven, both without us, in the gospel, and within us, in
regard of the saving effect of the gospel, is compared to a
grain of mustard-seed, which, saith our Saviour, is the least
of all seeds ; but grows up in time, to that stature, height,
and bigness, as the fowls of the air come and make their
nests in it. So is the gospel, both in the preaching and the
effect of it : it begins low, and is very little at the first; and
therefore, if a man should not find his grace to be small at
the first, he would doubt whether ever the kingdom of
heaven were in him or no, saying, The kingdom of heaven
is like unto a grain of mustard-seed, the least of all seeds ;
but I have not found it so in my soul, I have not found this
littleness and smallness of grace, and therefore I do fear that
the kingdom of heaven was never in my soul in truth. Thus
men would doubt, and be discouraged, if they should not
sometimes find their grace to be small. And if so, then
why should a man be discouraged, because he doth find it
thus ? Surely he hath no just cause or reason for it.
Oh, but yet, it is an uncomfortable thing to be weak;
strong christians are full of comfort : they have assurance of
God s love, and are full of joy; but the weak are full of
fears and doubts. This is my condition ; I am most un
comfortable, therefore I am thus discouraged; have I not
cause and reason for it ?
92
A LIFTING UP [SER. 5.
No : for though the weakness of grace is usually accom
panied with doubts and fears, and the strength of grace,
with assurance, joy and comfort; yet it is possible, that a
man may have a great deal of grace, yet may have no
assurance ; and a man may have assurance, not doubting of
God s love, and yet may have but little grace.
Ye must know, that there is a difference between un-
comfortableness and less comfort. If a man be possessed of
a great estate in the world, he hath more comfort than ano
ther, who hath but the pledge and earnest of it ; but though
I am not possessed of it, yet if I have the earnest and
pledge of it, I may have much comfort in it. Now the
least grace, is a pledge and earnest of more, yea, of the
greatest measure ; and is it not a comfortable thing, for a
man to have the pledge and earnest of glory ? Such have
all those that are weak, though they be but weak in grace.
But how shall I know that my little, is a pledge and earnest
of more ?
The Spirit of adoption, is a pledge and earnest of the
whole inheritance : and though you cannot do so much
service for your heavenly Father, as your elder and stronger
brother doth, yet if you do not only obey God because you
see a reason in his commandments, but because there is a
child-like disposition in you, then have you the Spirit of
adoption, and so your little, is a certain pledge of more.
And if you mourn over your little, and wait on God for
more, then is your little an earnest of much : Rom. viii. 23,
"And not only they, but ourselves also (saith the apostle)
which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves,
groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the
redemption of our body." He proves, that the Romans had
the first-fruits, the pledge and earnest of more in the Spirit,
by their groaning and waiting : do I therefore groan under
the present burden of my own weakness, waiting upon God
for more, then have I the first fruits of the Spirit ; and so
that little which I have, is a pledge and earnest of more :
and upon this account, though your grace be weak, and small
in itself, yet considered as an earnest, it is much : and is
it not a comfortable thing, to have the pledge and earnest
of glory ? Such is the comfort of all those that are weak in
. 5.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 93
grace, and therefore why should they be discouraged in
regard of their weakness ?
Oh ! but, I am not discouraged at ray weakness, in regard
of the uncomfortableness of it, but in regard of the unser-
viceableness of it : for if I were strong in grace, I should be
able to do more service for God ; then I should be able to
resist my temptations, and to overcome the evil one : for
the apostle John saith, " I write to you young men, because
ye are strong, and have overcome the evil one." But I have
great temptations, and but small strength to resist them : I
have a great deal of work to do for God, and have no
strength to do it with ; therefore I am thus discouraged, have
I not cause and reason now ?
No : for the spiritual battle is not always to the strong :
our victory lies not in ourselves and our own habitual
strength, but in Christ s fresh assistance. How often have
the strong fallen, and the weak stood ? We read of that
young King, Edward the Sixth, that when the Emperor
sent to him, desiring that his sister Mary, afterwards Queen
of England, might have liberty for the mass in her house,
this young prince did stand out against that temptation, when
all his Council was for it ; yea, when that good man, bishop
Cranmer, and that other holy man, bishop Ridley, did yield
thereunto, and pressed the King to it, insomuch as the
King did break forth into tears, desiring them to be con
tented; whereupon, the archbishop Cranmer took his school
master, Mr. Cheke, by the hand, and said, Ah, Mr. Cheke !
you have such a scholar that hath more divinity in his little
finger, than all we have in our whole bodies. Here the
weak stood, and the strong did fall; the weak did resist
temptation, when the strong did yield ; for our strength lies
in Christ without us, not in ourselves within us. And if ye
look into the iind and iiird chapters of the Revelation, ye
shall find, that whereas all the churches are charged with
some sin or other, only the Church of Philadelphia is
charged with no sin at all, but commended for keeping the
word of Christ s patience; and yet this church, and no
other, is said to have a little strength. And ye know what
Paul saith, " When I am weak, then am I strong ; most
gladly therefore will I rejoice in mine infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest on me," 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10.
94
A LIFTING UP [SER. 5.
Though your grace be weak, yet you may do much for
God in your day: "The tongue (says James) is a little
member, and boasteth great things; behold how great a
matter a little fire kindleth," chapter iii. 5. "Behold also
the ships, (saith he, verse 4) which though they be so great,
yet are they turned about with a very small helm."* And
shall not a little grace do as much as a little tongue, or as a
little fire, or as a little helm? Surely, though grace be
little, yet it may be an helm unto all your life, a rudder unto
all your practices. Ye see how fruitful weak things are in
nature ; the strongest persons have not always most children,
but the weaker. The herring is a weak fish in comparison
of the whale, and what abundance are there ? The dove is
a feeble bird in regard of the eagle, and yet how fruitful
is it ? The vine is a weak tree in regard of the oak, and yet
it is more fruitful. So in grace ; you may be weak in grace,
yet you may be very fruitful. The jailor was but weak in
grace as soon as he was converted, nor Zaccheus, nor the
thief on the cross ; yet what clusters of divine grapes did
presently grow upon these branches ? And if you may be
very fruitful in good, though weak, why should you be dis
couraged in regard of your weakness ?
Oh, but I am not discouraged at my weakness, in regard
of my unserviceableness, or unfruitfulness only, but in re
gard of my own guiltiness ; for I have made myself weak in
grace by mine own sins ; I have fallen into sin, and so have
weakened my self and grace : my grace is not only weak,
but it is weakened, and weakened by sin ; therefore I am
thus discouraged, have I not cause and reason now ?
No : for possibly you may be mistaken : some do abate in
their natural parts, and they think they decay in their graces :
as some grow in parts and gifts, and they think they grow
in their graces. But if you have not fallen into any great
and gross sin, then no such spiritual disease or fever hath
seized on you, whereby your grace should be weakened.
But suppose the thing be true, which you do object, that
you have sinned, and by your own sin your grace is now
* Quod autem tarn minuta et infirma animalia in rupibns domicilia sibi excul-
pent, confirmare nos debet, ut uon dubitemus etiara infirmi et imbellos qua:
difficilia sunt aggredi dummodo officii ratio id postulet. Cartwrigbt in Prov. xxx.
14. quatuor parva sunt in terra.
SER. 5.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 95
weakened ; then have you cause indeed to be much humbled
before the Lord, yet not to be discouraged. For, if no
thing have befallen you, but what may possibly befal a true
believer, then you have no reason to be cast down as with
out hope. Now ye know how it was with Samson ; he was
strong, and of great strength inward and outward ; yet his
strength was taken away, and he became as one of us. How
so ? why, he had laid his head in Dalilah s lap, and so he
lost his strength, and was weakened by it ; but it cost him
dear, both his eyes, and his life too : and if you have so laid
your head in Dalilah s lap, that your strength is abated, it
may, and it is likely it will cost you dear: yet this case
is no other than what may befal one recorded for a true
believer.
And though your strength be abated, and your grace
weakened, through your own sin ; yet being true saving
grace, it shall never he annihilated, for it is the new creation ;
and nothing created by God, can be annihilated by us. Man
is created by God ; he may be killed by man, but he cannot
be annihilated, and brought to nothing : the tree and wood
may be burnt to ashes, but it cannot be annihilated and
brought to nothing, for it is part of the creation. Now your
grace was created by God also, if true, though small; and
therefore, though it may be weakened by your sin, yet it
cannot be annihilated and brought to nothing.
And if yet the promise do belong to you, and to your
condition, then you have no reason to be discouraged or
cast down, in respect of this. Now if ye look into Rev. iii. ye
shall find, that as there are many promises made to the seve
ral churches, so there are promises also made to the church
of Sardis ; yet this church had fallen and weakened herself;
for says Christ to her, verse 13, "Strengthen the things that
remain and are ready to die ; I have not found thy works
perfect :" so that though your grace be weakened, and that by
your own sin, insomuch as all seems to be ready to die, yet
there is a promise belonging to such a condition, and there
fore no just cause or reason for discouragement, though much
cause of humiliation.
But I am not discouraged at the weakness of my grace,
because of mine own guiltiness only, but because of its like
ness and similitude unto common grace ; I know that it is a
96
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 5.
contradiction to say, that a little grace is no grace at all ;
but my little is so little, that I even fear it is none in truth.
If the piece of coin that I have be little, yet if it be gold, it
is well ; but if it be little, and a counter too, then what am
I the better ? Now so it is, that I fear my little is but a
counter, and not true grace indeed; therefore I am thus
discouraged, have I not cause and reason now ?
No : for though your grace be never so small, yet if it be
good coin, and not a counter, then you have no reason to be
discouraged in this regard. Now to satisfy you in this
scruple, I will tell you what small, weak, little grace will do,
and not do, in opposition to common grace.
It will not oppose much grace ; the least spark of fire will
not oppose the flame, or resist the flame ; water will, because
fire and water are contrary : and so, false grace will oppose
the highest degree of grace, saying, What need you be so
strict and precise ? You may go to heaven with less ado :
but the least degree of true grace will not oppose the
highest.
It loves examination, it loves to examine, and to be ex
amined ; for it is sincere, and sincerity is much in examina
tion : it is called aXtxpm a, for it holds up all its actions to
the su,n and light ; it doth love the work of examination :
false, counterfeit, common grace doth not so.
It is very inquisitive after the ways of God, and after
further truths : as the man that climbs up into the tree, first
gets hold on the lower boughs, then on the higher, and so
winds himself into the body of the tree, till he comes to the
top, so doth a Christian do ; he begins with the lower, then
unto the higher, and so to higher discoveries : at the first,
therefore, he is most inquisitive, " What shall I do to be
saved ?" says he ; and again, " Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do ?" False and common grace is not so.
It is much in the work of humiliation; it grows in a
waterish place. Now suppose that two herbs be much alike,
the one sovereign, and the other naught, and it be told you,
that the sovereign, good herb, grows in a waterish place,
and the other on a rock, will you not easily discern those by
the places where they grow? Thus it is here: the weak
grace of the saints, grows in a waterish place, it is much in
humiliation; but the common, false grace of hypocrites,
SER. 5.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 9/
grows on a rock. As a weak Christian is very apt to rest
upon his own doings, so he is much in doing, and in the
work of humiliation most.
It works according to the proportion of its own weakness ;
it staggers at the promise, yet it goes to the promise ; it doubts
of Christ s love, yet it doth run to Christ ; it stumbles, yet
it doth keep its way ; it is ignorant of Christ, and not so
forward in the knowledge of Christ as it should be, yet it is
laying of the foundation, Heb. vi. 1. It is the fault of a
weak Christian, that he is always laying the foundation, yet
he is laying of the foundation ; though it works weakly, yet
it works according to the proportion of its weakness ; but
the common, false grace doth not so.
It is willing to learn of others ; for, says a weak Christian,
I am but a babe in Christ, and therefore why should not I
be willing to be carried in others arms ? The less I can do,
the more I will receive : as the strong Christian is much in
doing, so must I be much in receiving : it is not thus with
that false and common, counterfeit grace. But as the natura
lists do report and write of the lion, that he will not eat of any
prey, but what he hath hunted down himself;* other beasts
will, they will prey upon what is killed by others ; but the
lion, king of the beasts, is so proud, that he will not eat of
that which is killed by another. So, men that are strong in
parts and gifts, and have no grace withal, will not eat of that
which they do not hunt down themselves ; if they hunt it
down, then they will close therewith, else not. A strong-
graced Christian will, and a weak-faithed Christian will, but
he that hath parts and gifts alone, cannot relish that so well,
which is brought to hand by another.
It is very sensible of its own weakness : a weak Christian
is weak, and he doth feel his weakness, and is very sensible
of it ; not a man in all the world, saith he, that is more
weak than I.f Now ye know, that if a lady or queen come
to an house, she hath a great train attending upon her, and
though ye see her not, yet if you see her train, you say, she is
there still. Such a great queen is grace ; though a man have
never so little of it, yet it brings a great train with it ; and
* ^Elian de animal.
f Deo placet fides infirma modo, nobis non placet fidei infirmitas. Austin.
VOL. II. H
98
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 5.
though ye see it not, yet if you see the train, will ye not
say, Purely the grace of God is here ? Thus now it is with
you that are weak in grace ; these seven things, and a far
greater train than these, you may see in your lives, and
therefore certainly, you have no just cause and reason for
your discouragements in this respect.
Oh, but yet, this is not the thing that doth pinch with me :
I hope, through mercy, the root of the matter is in my soul,
that this great queen of grace hath taken up her lodging in
my heart ; but yet I am exceeding weak in grace, and very
feeble still : some are weak in grace because they are but new
plants, new converts, lately brought home to Christ, and are
yet babes in Christ, and so they have excuse for their weakness;
but I profess that I have been converted a great while, yet I
am weak ; I am an old man or woman, yet I am weak in
grace ; I am an old professor, and yet am weak in grace :
therefore I am thus disquieted, have I not just cause and
reason now ?
No ; for though it is a shame for an old man to go in
coats, or to be carried in the arms like a babe, as every weak
Christian is; and though Christ will upbraid men of their
slowness and dulness, that have long sat under the means,
yet you have no just cause and reason for discouragement;
for though you may be weak in regard of others, yet you
may be strong in regard of your former self, and be more
strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, than you
have been heretofore. And to clear that, consider
1. The more extensive a man s obedience is unto God s
commandments, the more he is grown in grace. Weak
Christians are much in some duties, and therein they are
most intense : but little or nothing in others : and as they
grow in grace, so their hearts are dilated, and extended unto
other duties.
2. The more exact and accurate a man is in duty, the
more he doth grow in grace; and the more he grows in
grace, the more exact and accurate he doth grow in his duty.
He that writes better than he did before, doth not write
more paper, or make more letters, only he doth write more
exactly and accurately: so, the grown Christian doth not
perform more duties than he did before, but the same more
exactly.
SER. 5.] FOR, THE DOWNCAST. 99
3. The more a man sees and understands his Christian li
berty, and yet doth walk more strictly, the more he doth
grow in grace : some think they grow in grace, because they
have more understanding in their Christian liberty, though
they do walk more loosely ; these are deceived in their spi
ritual growth ; but if I know my Christian liberty more fully,
and now do walk more strictly in my life, then do I grow in
grace indeed. Now is it not thus with you ? Yes 1 through
grace I am able to say, that I see my Christian liberty more
than I did heretofore ; and yet I am more strict in my life :
though I cannot yet pray as I would, and hear as I would,
and perform duty as I would, yet I do perform my duties
with more exactness than formerly ; and though I have not
so much affection as I had in this or that work of God, yet
now I find, that I am more dilated, and my obedience is
more extended and extensive unto God s ways and com
mandments than before. Then though you are still weak in
regard of others, yet you are grown stronger in regard of
your former self, and therefore certainly, you have no just
cause or reason to be discouraged in this regard.
But suppose that I am yet but weak in grace, and tempta
tions or discouragements press in upon me, in regard of the
weakness of my grace ; what shall I do that I may be able
to bear up my heart against those discouragements?
Then consider what a great charge God the Father hath
given to Christ of those that are weak, Isa. xlii. 1, " Behold
my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul
delighteth ; I have put my spirit upon him." &c. : but why ?
verse 3, " A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smok
ing flax shall he not quench." This is my charge, saith the
Father, which 1 give to my Son : and upon this account he
came into the world, that those who have life might have it
in abundance : and for this cause he did die for us, Rom. v.
6, " For when we were yet without strength, in due time {or
according to the time, that is, the time appointed by the
Father), Christ died for the ungodly."
Consider also, what charge our Saviour Christ did give
unto his apostles, and in them, to all the ministers of the
gospel, concerning those that are weak in grace. " Peter,
Peter, (said our Saviour) lovest thou me ? (then) feed my
sheep." And again, " Lovest thou me ? (then) feed my
H 2
100
A LIFTING UP [SER. 5.
lambs." And again, thirdly, "Lovest thou me? feed my
lambs." Have a care of those that are weak in grace. All
the time that Christ lived upon earth, he went about doing
good, healing all sicknesses and diseases, and condescending
to the weaknesses of men. One comes to him, and thought
to have stolen her cure, yet Christ did bear with her. Ano
ther comes, and puts an if upon his will, "Lord, if thou
wilt, thou canst make me clean ;" and he did bear with him.
Another comes, and puts an if upon his power, " Lord, if
thou canst do any thing," &c. i 7 et Christ did yield to him.
And when he left the world, then he charges his apostles with
the weak saints, " Feed my lambs ;" and again, " Feed my
lambs."
Consider also, what a great mercy it is to have a little
grace, though it be but a little ; for though you have never
so little grace, yet if you have grace in truth, you have union
with Christ, you have communion with the Father, you have
your own nature taken away, and are partakers of the divine
nature ; you have a right and title unto all the promises ;
yea, unto all the ordinances ; yea, unto all the creatures.
Your afflictions are not curses, the curse is taken out of every
cross, you have an interest in all that Christ hath done and
suffered, you are made partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light, an inheritance uncorruptible, undefiled, that
fadeth not away : you have God for your portion, Christ for
your Saviour, the Spirit for your Comforter, heaven for your
inheritance, the angels for your guard, and all the creatures
in the earth under your feet ; this, and all this you have,
though you have never so little grace ; and can you read over
all this inventory of mercies, and sit discouraged in the midst
of them ?
Yet if all this will not prevail in the time of your tempta
tion, think with yourself, and consider seriously, How much
you shall weaken yourself, yet more and more, by your dis
couragements in this kind. All discouragements weaken ;
humiliation weakens not, the greatest humiliation doth not
weaken, but the least discouragement doth, upon what ac
count soever. Now if all discouragements do weaken, then
what an unreasonable thing is it for me to be discouraged at
the sight of my weakness ? But so it is, that discourage
ments, even from the sight of our own weakness, do yet
SER. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 101
more and more weaken ; surely, therefore, it is an unreason
able thing for a man to be discouraged at the sight of his
own weakness : wherefore, lift up your hands, oh ye saints,
and be ye lift up, oh ye drooping souls. We are commanded,
ye may read our commission, Isa. xxxv. 3, " to strengthen
the weak hands, and to confirm the feeble knees, and to say
to them that are of a fearful spirit, Be strong, fear not."
And if it be our duty to say and speak thus, then it is your
duty to encourage yourself in the Lord, and to say to your
self, Be strong, oh my soul, and fear not. Be thankful for
your little, and in due time you shall have much: labour
also for much, yet be content with little, even with little
grace, if God will have it so.
And thus I have done with the second instance.
SERMON VI.
A LIFTING U? IN CASE OF MISCARRIAGE OF DUTIES.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted
within me, #c." Psalm xlii. 11.
III. Sometimes the discouragements of the saints and
people of God, are drawn from their dutie, the failings and
successlessness of their duties.
For they reason thus : through the Lord s grace and
mercy, I have been kept from great and gross sins, yet if
the Lord loved me indeed, he would draw my heart near
unto himself; but when I come to prayer, or duty, I find so
much deadness, clulness and awkness of heart and spirit, that
I fear the Lord will never accept such an one as I am, nor
such duties as mine are : when I go to prayer, either praver
is altogether absent from me, or I have no life therein ; if I
go to hear the word, I am not attentive, but filled with dis
tractions ; and whatever duty I perform, I want life and love
in it. Oh, my heart is like a rock or stone, and therefore I
fear the Lord will not accept my duty, and the rather, be-
102 A LIFTING UP [SER. 6.
cause I find, that I have been long at prayer, and I am never
the better, the Lord hears me not, the Lord regards me not ;
and have I not just reason and cause to be discouraged now ?
No : here is reason, indeed, why you should be afflicted,
but no reason yet, why you should be discouraged. I con
fess, indeed, here is cause and reason of grief and of afflic
tion ; for take prayer, to instance only in that, and it is that
act and work of the soul, whereby a man doth converse with
God; God conversing with man, and man with God. And is
it not a sore affliction, for a poor creature to be shut out of
God s door, such a friend as God is ? Oh, saith Chrysostom,
it is more bitter than death, to be spoiled of prayer : and
hereupon, as he observes, Daniel chose rather to run the
hazard of his life, than to lose his prayer. Prayer is the
soul s weapon, and is it not a grief to want a weapon in our
spiritual warfare ? Prayer is the souFs ornament, the ex
cellent garment of a Christian ; and is it not an affliction, to
be without this garment, and to be found naked ? Prayer is
the Christian s element ; and as the fish lives in the water as
in its element, and dies when it is out, so a Christian lives in
prayer as in his element, and his heart dies when he is out of
it. Prayer is the soul s provisioner, fetcheth in provision
for the soul and for all its graces : the old bird, the dam,
goes abroad and fetcheth in meat for the young ones, and
they lie in the nest gaping, to receive the meat upon its re
turn ; and if the old one be killed abroad, the young ones
will die presently at home. So here, prayer goes abroad,
and fetcheth in provision for all our graces, and they all lie
gaping, to receive this provision from the mouth of prayer ;
if this be killed, how can those other graces live ? The truth
is, the more sweetness a Christian finds in any work, the
greater is his affliction, if he want that work; now what
abundance of sweetness, doth a gracious soul find in prayer?
therefore when a man is narrowed, or shut up in prayer, it
cannot but be a great affliction to him. But though it be a
matter of great affliction, yet a good man hath no reason to
be quite discouraged, yea, though he meet with many fail
ings therein, and cannot pray as he would, nor perform duty
as he should.
How may that appear ?
Thus
SER. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 103
Every godly, gracious man, is in covenannt with God by
Jesus Christ; and that covenant is a covenant of grace,
which is the great charter, the magna-charta of all his spi
ritual privileges and immunities. Now in this great charter,
the Lord doth proclaim this, that sincerity shall go for per
fection ; that a little done for God, in the time of tempta
tion, shall be counted much. In this great charter, the Lord
doth proclaim unto all his people, that he doth rather regard
the bent of the heart, than the enlargement of the heart ; that
he doth rather regard the will to do, than the doing. In this
great charter, the covenant of free grace, the Lord proclaims
unto all his people, that if they do fail in prayer, and other
duties, for I speak not of prayer only, though I instance in
that, he will not cast them off, but he will rather be moved
to pity them ; for the covenant that the Lord makes with his
people, is as the covenant that a man makes with his wife,
" I will betroth thee unto me for ever/ Hosea 2, saith the
Lord. Now a man will not put away his wife for every
failing, neither will the Lord put away his people, nor cast
them off, because he is betrothed to them, though they do
fail in duties. Again : in this great charter and covenant of
grace, the Lord doth proclaim unto all his children, that
what they want in performance, he will make up in indul
gence. He proclaims this unto them, that he will require
no more than he gives ; he will give what he requires, and
he will accept what he gives. Now, therefore, am I in that
covenant of grace ? and are there many failings in all my
duties ? yet if this be true, that the Lord is more moved by
my failings to pity me, than to cast me off, then I have no
reason for to be discouraged. And thus it is with every child
of God ; he is in this covenant of grace, and so the privi
leges, and immunities of all this great charter, belong unto
him.
Though there be many failings in a godly man^s duty, yet
so long as it is a duty, there is somewhat of Christ therein,
there is somewhat of God therein. Now God will not cast
away his own, because it is mixt with ours, but he will ra
ther pardon ours, and accept ours, because it is mixt with
his. The husbandman doth not cast away his wheat, be
cause it is mixt with chaff; he brings it into his barn, and
there is a time, when he will separate the chaff from the
104 A LIFTING UP [SEK. 6.
wheat; but he doth not cast away the corn because it is
mixt with chaff, yet this grain of wheat hath nothing of the
image of the husbandman upon it : but there is never a duty
of a godly man, but hath somewhat of the image of Christ
upon it, and therefore, I say, he will not cast away his, be
cause it is mixt with ours, but he will rather pardon and
accept of ours, because it is mixt with his.*
If our acceptance of duty do not come in by the door of
performance, but by another door, and that door is Christ,
then a godly man hath no reason to be discouraged, though
there be many failings in his performance. Now, all our
acceptance of duty comes in by Christ, because our sacri
fices are mingled with Christ s perfumes, Rev. viii. 4, " And
the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of
the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel s hand/ 5
Our prayers go unto God the Father, through the hand of
Christ ; did our prayers go immediately out of our own
hands into the Father s hand, we might have cause to fear,
but it goes by the hand of Christ ; Christ takes it, and hath
it into the presence of God the Father. As it is with your soul,
or your body when you die ; though your body be crooked
or deformed, and your soul defiled, yet when you die, Christ
meets your soul, and invests it with glory, and so brings it
into the presence of God the Father; so it is with your
duty, your duty, it may be, deformed, defiled, or a crooked
duty, but Christ meets your duty, and he clothes it with
his glory, and so hath it into the presence of God the Father.
And thus it is with all the saints and people of God ; surely,
then, though they have cause to be afflicted, by reason of
their failing in duty, yet they have no reason at all why they
should be discouraged.
O
But I have no parts or gifts in duties, therefore I am thus
discouraged: some there are, that have great abilities in
duty, they pray, and can pray with great abilities, they go
* Quamvis odibilis, detestabilis, et execrabilis fit causa mea in ore meo, nihi-
lominus in ore tuo benedicto, in ore tuo sacratissimo et in labiis tuis, quibus
tanta gratia diffusa est, est favorabilis. Parisiens. de Rhetor. Div. cap. \xi.
Est et alia firmitas et confirmatio mese partis quod tu ipse advocatus est et
propitiatio qui es et judex meus et propter hoc non est possibile ut patiaris
causam meam periclitari in manibus meis. Apud homines enim non est
possibile ut advocatus fidelis et Justus permittat periclitari causam cuius patro-
cinium suscepit. Ibid.
SER. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 105
to a sermon, and can bring away every word, and have a
great gift in conference ; but as for me, I am a poor crea
ture, who want all these gifts ; I have no utterance in con
ference, I have no abilities in prayer, I have no memory for
a sermon, my memory is even as a sieve, good things run
out presently ; I have no gifts at all, a poor seaman, or
tradesman I am, that have no parts, no gifts in duty ; and
have not I just cause and reason now to be discouraged ?
No : for whosoever you are that make this objection, do
ye not know, that the glory of the second temple was greater
than the first ? Solomon, you know, built a great house,
and it was a glorious building, much gold and silver in it :
the second temple was not so full of gold and silver, and yet
it is said of the second temple, that the glory of it was be
yond the glory of the first : why ? this reason is given, be
cause " The desire of all nations should come into it." That
is, Christ, who is indeed " the desire of all nations j" de
facto, gold and silver is the desire of all nations ; but, de
jure, and by right, the Lord Jesus Christ is " the desire of
all nations ;" and because that Christ, " the desire of all na
tions," should come into the second temple, therefore the
glory of it was beyond the glory of the first. Now thy
soul is the temple of the Holy Ghost ; it may be, thou hast
not so much gold and silver, not such golden parts and
golden gifts as another hath., but if " the desire of all na
tions," the Lord Jesus Christ, be come into thy soul, hast
thou any reason to complain ? Thus it is with every child
of God, though he hath not those parts and gifts that ano
ther hath, yet the Lord Jesus, " the desire of all nations,"
is come into his temple, into his soul ; and therefore, he hath
no reason to be discouraged.
If the want of parts and gifts be better for you, then you
have no reason to be discouraged for the want of them. Now,
you know, that it is better for a man that hath but a little stock,
to have a little farm, than to have a great farm and a little
stock ; a man that hath but a little stock, and a great farm,
may for the present brave it out, and converse with company
that are in estate beyond him, but at last he will decay and
break : better that a man, who hath but a little stock, should
have a little farm suitable to his stock. Now God our Fa
ther sees, that thou hast a little good, there are some good
106
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 6.
things found in thee ; but these good things, this little stock,
is not big enough for a great farm of parts and gifts, and
because the Lord sees that thy stock of grace is not great
enough for such a great farm of parts, therefore, in design
of mercy, he hath thus ordered it, that thou shouldest have
a less farm of gifts.
If our parts and gifts do not commend our services and
duties unto God, then have you no reason to be discouraged
for the want of them. Now, so it is, that they do not com
mend us, nor our services unto God. When you have good
meat in a dish, possibly you will lay flowers upon it, cut
oranges and lemons, and lay upon the side of the dish ; but
a wise man knows, that the meat is never the better for those
flowers, or for the sugar that lies on the side of the platter ;
a wise man knows, that if those were wanting, the meat
were never the worse. Beloved, God our Father is of in
finite wisdom, these parts and gifts are flowers indeed, and
they help to cook out a duty, and to make it more acceptable
to men, but the Lord, who is wisdom, knows, that the duty
is never the better ; and he knows, that when these flowers
are wanting, the duty is never the worse. "All flesh is grass,
and the flower thereof, and it fades away." Parts and gifts
are but flesh, and our wise God knows the meat is never the
worse, when these flowers are wanting. Yea, 1 if I had all
parts and all gifts, that I were able to preach and speak like
an angel, and that I were able to cast out devils, yet not
withstanding, if I have not Christ and grace within, my parts
and gifts will but sink me deeper into hell. Two men, sup
pose, do fall into the river, one man hath bags of gold about
him, and the other none ; he that hath none, makes a shift
to swim, and get away ; but he that hath the bags of gold
about him, sinks by his gold, and he cries out as he sinks,
Oh, take away these bags of gold, this gold undoeth me,
this gold sinks me 1 So these golden parts and golden gifts,
if a man hath not grace withal, hath not Chirst within, shall
but sink him deeper into hell. These commend us not, I
say, nor our service unto God, dor doth the want thereof
discommend us unto him.
You say and complain, that you have no parts or gifts ;
but I pray, hath not the Lord recompensed the want of them
some other way unto you ? Philosophy saith of nature, UK
. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 107
deficit in uno, abundat in altero ; Where nature is deficient in
one thing, it is abundant in another thing. If a man wants his
eyes, he hears the better : and the less he sees, the more he
remembers : where nature is wanting in one thing, it is ex
ceeding in another. And as nature, so the God of nature
and the God of grace too : it may be you do want a head-
memory, but hath not the Lord given you a heart-memory,
to remember the sermon as you have occasion to use it ?
Some have parts and gifts, and they want plainness and
openness of heart for God ; some again have a plain heart,
and they want gifts and parts. It is said of Jacob, that " he
prevailed with God in prayer, and he was a plain man."
Mark how the Holy Ghost doth put these two together, that
that man should be the prevailing man with God in prayer
who was the plain man : and that man that was the plain
man, should be the prevailing man in prayer ; a plain man,
but prevailing with God. Well, then, though thou art
but a plain person, and hast no parts or gifts as others have,
yet thou mayest prevail with God, and thy name may be
called Israel, prevailing with the Lord. When God denies
one, he gives another mercy. Thus it is with all the saints
and people of God, and a godly, gracious man may say
thus, Well, though I have not great parts and gifts, yet,
blessed be the Lord, I have a plain and an open heart for
God : and if the Lord hath done thus much for you, and
recompensed you in another way, have you any reason then
to be discouraged for want of parts and gifts in duties ? Cer
tainly you have not.
Oh, but yet, this is not the matter of my discouragement,
I am not discouraged for want of parts or gifts in duty, but
I want the grace and the holiness of duty, I want the grace
and the holiness of prayer : I go to prayer and duty, but the
Lord knows, with a dull, dead and a straitened heart; I
think, verily, that there is not a more rocky, stony, flinty
heart in the world than mine ; I oifer myself to God some
times in prayer, but when I come at it, I am not able to
speak a word, my heart is so shut up and straitened ; and
have I not cause and reason now to be discouraged ? Is not
this matter of just discouragement ?
No : for pearls sometimes grow upon rocks ; and possibly
108 A LIFTING UP [SER. G.
there may be some pearl of grace growing upon that rocky
heart of thine. Yet further
You say, that you are straitened in duty ; but are you satis
fied and contented with that condition ? or if you had en
largement in duty, would you be satisfied therein ? No, I am
not satisfied with my straitened condition ; and the truth is,
though I had never so much enlargement, enlargement
alone would never satisfy my soul; but if I had more affec
tion, I would give it up to God, yea, if I had a sea of affection,
I would pour it out before the Lord, and if I had prayers,
and tears, and enlargements, like the sands upon the sea
shore, I would offer them all up to God. Well, and is not
this to be enlarged towards God ? A poor man that hath
never a penny in his purse, sees another, or many others in
want, but he hath nothing to relieve them with ; yet, saith
he, if I had wherewithal, I would relieve all these men, I
would clothe them all, I would feed them all : is not this
man s heart enlarged now towards the poor, though he hath
not a penny to help them with ? So in your case ; for the
present, thy affection is poor, and thou art straitened, but
thou sayest, if I had a sea of affection, I would give it all to
God ; and if I had prayers like the sand upon the sea-shore,
I would give them all to God ; is not this to be enlarg
ed towards God ? God doth give by denying sometimes, and
thus he hath dealt by you.
If your condition herein be no other than the conditions
of the saints and people of God, then you have no just cause
and reason to be discouraged in this respect. Now in Psalm
Ixxvii. 3, 4, the Psalmist saith there, " I remembered God,
and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was over
whelmed: Lord, (saith he at the 4th verse,) thou bold
est mine eyes watching, I am so troubled that I cannot
speak." I cannot pray ; I am so troubled that I cannot
speak. A mother hears her child cry, and saith she, now
doth this child cry for the breast, yet the child speaks not a
word, but the mother knows the meaning of the child s cry
ing, and the language of it : and doth a mother know the
language of her child s crying, and doth not God our Father
know the language of his child s cry, that cannot speak unto
? The beggar that follows you for an alms, is a beggar,
SEB. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 109
though he be dumb and cannot speak ; and you say, Send
him away with some gift, for he follows us. So here, though
your heart be shut up in duty, yet if you can follow
God, he looks upon you as a beggar at the throne of grace,
and in due time he will serve you, and send you away with
comfort.
You would fain have enlargements, and workings of the
heart in prayer : but what would you do with those enlarge
ments ? Would you shew your enlargements, your excel
lencies, your graces to God, when you come to duty ? A
beggar you know, if he have any excellent thing, as gold, or
silver, he hides that, and he shews his wounds, he shews his
sores : if you mean to give him a penny, and ask him if he
have any money, I have twopence, or threepence Sir, saith
he, or a penny ; but he hides his excellency, and he lays
open his wounds ; and if he can but open his sores before
you, he thinks he doth beg effectually. Beloved, we all go
to God in prayer, in forma pauperis, every man sues in this
court in the form of a beggar. If thy heart then be strait
ened, if thy heart be hard, and if thy spirit be dull in duty,
you may go to God and open your sores, and wounds before
him ; you may go and say, Lord, what an hard heart have I,
and what a dull and straitened spirit have I ! This rather
becomes a beggar, and you must come as a beggar, when you
come before him ; yet you must know that neither your po
verty, nor your riches ; neither your straitenings in duty,
nor your enlargements, do make any alteration in the mind
and will of God. Indeed, God seems to deal by us some
times as a father doth by his little child ; he holds a piece of
gold or silver in his hand, and saith the father, if you can get
this out of my hand you shall have it ; so the child strives
and pulls, and works, and then the father opens his hand by
degrees, first one finger, then another, and then another, and at
last his whole hand; and the child thinks he hath got the money
by his own strength and labour, whereas the father intended
to give it him, but in that way. So here, God intends to give
us a mercy in the way of prayer, and he sets us a praying for
it, and we think we obtain it by the strength of our own
prayer, as if we did move, and change the will of God by
our duty ; but all the enlargements in the world, make no
alteration in the will of God ; he is unmoveable, unchangea-
HO A LIFTING UP [SEE. 6.
ble, and the same for ever ; but he will give out his blessings
in a way of prayer, therefore it is our duty to pray, yet we
must not be discouraged though we cannot pray as we
would.*
It is usual with the Lord to restrain prayer, before he doth
give enlargement, and to make a man speechless before he
openeth his mouth : Luke i. we read so of Zacharias, a gra
cious and holy man, at the 67th verse, it is said of him, that
" he was filled with the Holy Ghost and he prophesied." Yet
if you look into the former part of the chapter, you shall find,
that before he was thus filled with the Holy Ghost, and pro
phesied, he was dumb, and stricken with dumbness, verse
20th, saith the angel to him, " And behold thou shalt be
dumb, and not able to speak :" so he continued dumb, before
he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied. It may
be, here is a further mystery in this, for Zacharias was a le-
vitical and a legal priest ; and our Lord and Saviour Christ
being to come into the world immediately, who knows but
that Zacharias was thus stricken with dumbness, to shew,
that the Lord will silence all our legal performances,
before he will enlarge us with the enlargements of Christ, and
of the gospel ? This is God s usual way with his people. It
may be thou hast gone on in duty in a legal manner, and
now thou art stricken with dumbness ; yet if God have a
design to discover more of Christ to thy soul: and to
enlarge thee with the enlargements of the Holy Ghost, have
you any cause to complain ?*
As for the dulness of your heart in duty and prayer, though
dulness be an ill sin, yet the sense thereof is a good sign : as
the thistle is a good sign of a fat ground, though it be an ill
weed : so the sense of your dulness is a good sign, though
it it be an ill weed : for it argues that you are used to private
duties : for dulness in private, and pride in public duties is
the temptation. Only here remember three things. 1. That
* Etsi non sit possibi le per ea moveri imtnobilem et per omniaque immutabilem
Deum, potentia enim mihi videatur esse ad movendnin ipsum recitantem vel me-
ditantem ipso ad movendum inquam et preparandum ad gratiam devotionis et
gratitudinis et largitatis et beneficentise incogitabilis Dei. Parisiens. cap. 22.
de Rhetor. Div.
* Quando oramus, non ideo oramus ut per hoc divinam dispositionem itnmu-
temus, sed ut impetremus id quod Deus disposuit sanctorum oratio nobis impe-
trandum. Tostat. Mat. 6.
SEE. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. Ill
you do not measure or judge of your everlasting condition,
by your present affection. 2. That you do not forbear duty,
because of your dulness in it ; because duty is a great re
medy against it, and whither should a dead soul go, but to
the living God ? 3. That one great cause of your dulness,
is your doubting, and discouragement ; and therefore, no rea
son that you should be discouraged because of it, lest you
augment the same.
What is prayer, and the nature of it ? Prayer is the pour
ing out of the soul to God ; not the pouring out of words,
nor the pouring out of expressions ; but the pouring out of
the soul to God. Words, many times, and expressions, are
a great way off from the soul ; but sighs and groans are next
the soul, and have more of the soul in them, than words
and expressions many times have : now thou complainest,
that thy heart is straitened and dead and dull ; but when you
are so straitened in prayer, do ye not at that time pour out
sighs and groans after prayer, saying, Oh, what freedom once
I had, O Lord, that I might have the like freedom again ?
And whereas you say now, that your heart is hardened in
duty., consider whether there be not a great mistake about
hardness and softness of heart; Durum est quod tactui non
cedit molle cedit ; A hard thing doth not yield to the touch,
but a soft thing doth. Wax yields when it is touched, be
cause it is soft ; and wool yields when it is touched, because
it is soft, but an hard thing yields not. And upon this ac
count, it is said of Pharoah, that his heart Was hard, why ?
because he did not yield to God, he had not a yielding dis
position. Now there is many a poor soul complains
that his heart is hard, and yet, notwithstanding, he hath
a yielding disposition to every truth, a yielding dis
position to every affliction and dispensation of God.
Wherefore dost thou complain, and say, Oh, my heart is
very hard ? yet if at this time thou hast a yielding disposi
tion to yield to every truth of God, and to yield to every
touch of the Lord s hand, know from the Lord, that here
is a soft heart ; be not mistaken ; but many are mistaken, and
because they are mistaken herein, and it is but a mistake,
therefore they have no reason for to be discouraged.
But I do not only want enlargement and softenings of
heart in duty, but I am oppressed and filled with distractions,
112
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 6.
my heart is no<- only dull and dead and straitened, but I feel
many positive evils ; as the leaves of a tree are eaten up with
caterpillars, so I may say, my duties are eaten up with dis
tractions, I never go to duty, but, the Lord knows, a world
of distractions comes in upon me, and have I not just cause
and reason to be discouraged now ?
Surely this is a great evil, for as one saith well, Tantum
temporis oras quantum attendis ; so much time you pray, as
you do attend in prayer ; and upon this account, if the Lord
should abstract all the outgoings of our souls in duty, and all
our distractions from our prayers, oh, how little of prayer
would be left many times. It were an incivility, you will
say, when a petitioner hath gotten the king s ear, for the
poor petitioner then to turn his back upon the king : and
what an evil must it needs be, when a poor soul hath gotten
the ear of God, then to turn the back by way of distractions
upon the Lord, who comes down to hear his prayer. We
used to say, When the candle burns, the mouse bites not,
or the mouse nibbles not ; when the candle doth not burn,
then the mouse eats the candle ; but when the candle burns,
the mouse doth not bite the same. And so long as a man s
heart is warm and inflamed in prayer, he is freed from dis
tractions ; but when a man s heart is cold in prayer, then
come these ill distractions. So that certainly, there is a
great deal of evil indeed in these distractions. Yet there is
no reason for discouragement. For
What rock is there so firm or fast, but hath some seams
of dirt upon it ? And what soul is there so firm and fast
and immoveable in duty, but hath some seams of dirt or dis
tractions growing upon it ? Abraham, the father of the
faithful, had birds coming down upon his sacrifice ; and what
child of Abraham is there, but hath these foul birds, unclean
birds of distraction, one time or other coming down upon
his sacrifice ?
If that these distractions shall not hurt the servants of
God, nor their sacrifices, neither them nor their duties, then
they have no reason to be discouraged under them, though
to be humbled for them. Now it is a true rule, non nocet,
quod non placet ; that which doth not please doth not hurt.
These distractions in duty do not please the saints, they lie
under them as a heavy burden, they do not please them,
SER. 6.] FOR THE DOW.VCAST. 113
therefore they shall not hurt them. You know what the
Psalmist saith, " If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear my prayer," Psalm Ixvi. 18. Distraction in
prayer is a great iniquity ; if I regard this iniquity in my
prayer, the Lord will not hear my prayer. But when may a
man be said to regard iniquity ? You know, that if you re
gard a man that comes to your house, you run and meet
him at the door, you bid him welcome, have him in, and set
a stool for him, and you give him entertainment: but if you
bid the man begone, saying, I will have nothing to do with
you, you are my burden, I pray begone ; then you do not
regard this man. Thus it is with the saints and people of
the Lord, distractions press in upon their prayer and duty;
but dost thou fetch a stool, dost thou give entertainment,
and dost thou bid welcome to these distractions ? No ; the
Lord knows, I bid them begone; the Lord knows, they are
my burden ; then certainly, as that is true, " If I regard
iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer;" so
on the contrary, if I do not regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will hear my prayer. A man doth sometimes open a
door for one of worth, and others press and crowd in with
him, and if the master say to his servant, Why did you let
all these men in ? he answers, Sir, I did not open the door
for these, but for another, and these did press and crowd in
upon me, and I could not hinder; then is the master satis
fied, and the servant excused. So in this case it is, and that
often, with the people of God ; Christ stands at their door and
knocks, they run to meet with him in prayer, and by prayer
they open the door of their heart to him ; but then distrac
tions press and crowd in upon them, yet they can say in
truth, Lord, I never opened my door for these, but do de
sire that these, and all these, may be put out again. What,
then, do you not think that God will be satisfied with this
answer of uprightness ? Surely he will, and therefore,
though these distractions do crowd in upon you, here is
matter of affliction, but not of discouragement.
If these distractions in duties do move the Lord to pity,
then thou hast no reason to be quite discouraged, though
humbled under these distractions. Ye know how it is with
a loving father ; a father hath a son, whom he loves dearly,
this child of his is crazy-brained, but he hath his Lucida
i
114 A LIFTING UP [SER. 6.
intervalla, and he will speak very good reason sometimes ;
his father loves to hear this child speak, when he speaks rea
son ; but all on a sudden the child is out ; what then ? doth
his father hate him for that ? No ; but the bowels of the
man yearns, Oh, now my child is out; then the father s
heart doth ache over this child whom he takes pleasure in.
Thus it is between God and a poor soul, God loves his chil
dren dearly, he loves to hear them pray ; " Let me hear thy
voice, and see thy face (saith Christ), for thy voice is sweet,
and thy countenance is comely," Cant. ii. 14. God loves to
hear his children pray, but every foot they are out ; in, and
then out again ; out, and then in again. But what then ?
Is the Lord moved hereby to destroy his children ? No ;
but now the heart of your Father aches, and now his bowels
yearn : shall there be bowels in the heart of an earthly father
this way ? and shall there not be bowels in the heart of God
our heavenly Father this way ? Surely there is. Well,
therefore, though in regard of thy distractions, thou hast
cause for ever to be humbled, yet certainly thou hast no
cause to be quite discouraged.
Oh, but this is not my case ; for though I am troubled
with many distractions, for which I have cause to be hum
bled, and though my heart be dead and dull and hard in
duty, and though I have no parts and gifts in duty, yet this
is not the matter of rny discouragement especially ; but that
which discourageth me concerning duty is this : I pray, and
pray, and am never the nearer ; I have been praying thus
long, thus many years, and am never the nearer : I have
an undutiful, disobedient child, and I have been praying
thus long, and he is never the better ; I have been praying
for the sense of God s love thus long, and am never the
nearer ; I have been praying for such and such a spiritual
mercy, thus and thus long, and am never the holier : God
regards me not, for he answers me not, and have I not just
cause and reason for my discouragements now ?
No: for
Though God doth not answer you presently, yet he doth
hear you presently :* he heard Moses when he prayed, though
he did not grant his prayer ; and it is a great mercy that
* Cito semper audit, tardus aliquando respondet.
SER. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 115
God will receive my prayer, though I never do receive the
thing that I pray for, and I may yet say, " Father, I thank
thee, that thou hearest me always."
It is usual with God s own people and dearest children to
say and think sometimes, that the Lord doth not answer
their prayer, when the Lord doth. There is a two-fold re
turn or answer of prayer ; there is a visible return of prayer,
and there is an invisible return of prayer. As it is with the
vapours that are drawn upward by the heat of the sun ; some
there are, that do fall again in great rain and hail, and ye
hear and see the returns of those vapours in the day ; but
sometimes the vapours fall in a dew in the night, and you
do not see the return thereof, but you go abroad in the
morning, and you find the dew upon the ground, although
you did not see when the dew fell. So here, your prayers
are drawn up by the heat of God s love in Christ ; some re
turn upon you again in the day, visibly ; some return in the
night invisibly^ when you see them not: there is a visible,
and there is an invisible return of prayer. What more usual
with God s people, than to say, and think, that the Lord
doth not hear their prayer, nor make return to them, when
indeed he doth, and that visibly unto others also ? Luke i.
you read of Zacharias and Elizabeth, that they were very
righteous ; verse 6, " They were both righteous before God."
And Zacharias and Elizabeth had no children ; but Zacha
rias prayed for children, for at verse 13, the angel said unto
him, " Fear not Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy
wife Elizabeth shall bear a son, and thou shalt call his name
John." The Lord heard his prayer, and sent an angel to
tell him his prayer was heard, but Zacharias doubted thereof,
verse 18, "Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I
know this ? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken
in years." Here he doubts, and it was his sin thus to doubt,
as you may see by verse 20, " Behold, thou shalt be dumb,
and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall
be performed, because thou believest not my words." Here
plainly now, was a return of prayer, yea, here was a visible
return of prayer ; and yet Zacharias, though a godly and a
holy man, doubted whether the Lord had heard his prayer
or no. So that I say, this is no new thing with God s own
people and dearest children, to say, and think sometimes,
i 2
116
A LIFTING UP [SER. 6.
that the Lord doth not answer their prayer, when the Lord
indeed doth answer, and that visibly too. But
If the Lord s not hearing, granting and answering your
prayers presently, be sometimes matter of great encourage
ment, then it is not always a matter of discouragement.
Now the Lord s not hearing and granting your prayer pre
sently, is sometimes matter of great encouragement. You
have divers children at your table, some younger and some
elder, some babes and little ones, some grown ; when you
come to carve out your meat unto them, you carve first to
the little ones, and you do not carve first to the greater, for
say you, these little ones will cry, and they have no patience
to stay, and therefore they shall be first served ; but those
greater have more wit and more patience, and they will stay.
Beloved, thus now it is between God and us : the Lord hath
two sorts of children that come to him in prayer, and he
intends to serve them both ; but he looks upon those that
are weak, and serves them first ; as for those that are
stronger and have more faith and patience, saith the Lord,
You are able to stay, I see your faith and patience, and
therefore I will serve the little ones first, but as for you, I
will serve you last. Thus it was with Abraham, after the
Lord had made Abraham a promise of a seed, he made him
stay a great while, why ? because he saw he had faith to
stay. So now, thou hast not presently a return or answer
to thy prayer, why ? because the Lord, it may be, sees thou
hast strength, faith and patience to stay. And is not this
rather matter of encouragement than discouragement ?
Who ever stayed and waited long upon God, but he had
more than he prayed for ? Either God answers your prayers
presently, or if he do not, he will not only pay you the
principal, but he will pay you forbearance money, and you
shall have good security, and a pledge for the principal too.
The desire is a pledge of the thing desired ; prayer is a
pledge of the thing prayed for ; a waiting heart is a pledge
of the thing waited for : and the longer you stay, the more
your hearts shall be weaned from the thing prayed for, and
the more you shall be taught to wait upon God ; and some
times a waiting frame of heart is a greater mercy than the
thing waited for. By this means also, you shall be weaned
from your prayer, so as not to rest on it. A child may so
. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. Il7
love the nurse, as to forget the mother ; and one may pos
sibly so love duty, as to forget Christ ; but by God s delay
ing to answer, you are weaned from this nurse, and kept
from resting on it. Or, it may be, you came to duty with
too high esteem of your own performance, and too low
esteem of the duty itself: hereby God teacheth you to come
to the duty with high esteem of it, and with low esteem of
your own doing it. Yea, the longer you stay, the more you
shall be humbled, and your self-despising thoughts, because
you cannot pray, may please God more than your best
prayer. You see, that when a man angles, he throws his
line into the water, and there is the hook and the bait,
those are heavy ; then there is the cork, and that is light ;
and when the fisher, or angler, sees that the light cork is
drawn under water, now the fish bites, saith he, now there
is hope, now there is something coming. So, you go to
prayer, and there is somewhat heavy and weighty in your
spirit ; but there is something that is of a corky and light
nature in your spirit ; the longer you stay, the more your
cork shall be drawn under water, that lightness of spirit
shall be drawn under water, and so the more you shall be
humble and humbled. Thereby you are taught to fan your
prayers. There is much chaff amongst the good wheat of
our duties, and God s delaying time is our fanning time :
when the fish doth not bite, the fisher mends his bait ; it
may be, saith he, my hook is not well baited. So should
you do, when you take nothing by prayer, God s delay calls
for your amending.
Yea, by this means you may remember how you delayed
the Lord ; he spake often to you, and it was long ere you
heard him, shall we think it long ere he hears us, when it
was so long ere we heard him ? It may be you have for
gotten your delays of God, but by this forbearance he doth
graciously mind you thereof.
Yea, by God s forbearance to answer you, the Lord teach
eth you to forbear ; God s forbearance doth teach us forbear
ance ; and is that nothing ? Let all this be considered, and
you will say indeed, here is more matter of encouragement
than discouragement.
If you would be discouraged, in case God should always
answer your prayer presently, then you have no reason to
118 A LIFTING UP [SER. 6.
be discouraged, because he doth not answer you presently.
But now, if the Lord should always answer thy duty and
prayer presently, you would be discouraged; why? because
you would say thus, I looked into the scripture, and there
I find, that God doth not always answer his children pre
sently; his children have prayed, and then they have waited,
and this hath been the way that God hath taken with his
children ; now God doth not take this way with me, and
therefore, I fear I am none of God s children, and so you
would be discouraged. Now I say, if you would be dis
couraged, in case the Lord should always answer your prayer
presently, then you have no reason to be discouraged, be
cause he doth not hear you presently : but you would be
discouraged in case the Lord should always hear you pre
sently; you would say then, God doth go not the same way
with me, that he goes and hath gone with his children.
Surely, therefore, you that are the saints and people of God,
have no reason for your discouragement in this respect.
Oh, but I fear that God doth not only delay his answer,
but that he denies my prayer.
It may be so, for God doth sometimes deny his own peo
ple the thing they pray for, " Ye ask and have not (saith
James), because ye ask amiss." Yet they were the people
of God. Abulensis observes, that God doth sometimes
grant a wicked man his petition, and deny a godly man his
petition, that he may encourage wicked men to pray, and
teach good men not to rest on their prayers.*
Yet if the thing you ask of God be pleasing to him, and
he doth still bear up your heart in praying, and depending
on him, it argues rather that he delays than denies; for,
Psalm x. 17, the preparing of your heart, and the inclining
of his ear, go together, and, 1 John iii. 22, the apostle saith,
"And whatever we ask we receive of him, because (as a
sign thereof) we keep his commandments, and do the things
that are pleasing in his sight."
Oh, but there lies my grief, for I have not kept his
commandments, and God, I fear, is displeased and angry
with me.
* Quicquid placet tibi ut petatur a te procul-dubio placet et tibi ut et id
ans petenti ; presertim si ipsum largiri, tibi cedat ad gloriam, petenti vero
expediat ad salutem. Parisians. 346.
SER. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 119
Be it so, and did Jonah keep his commandments, when
he ran to Tarshish r and was not God angry with him when
he threw him into the sea ? yet even then he prayed, and the
Lord heard his prayer. And did not Christ seem to be dis
pleased and angry with the poor Canaanitish woman, when
he said unto her, " It is not meet, to take the children s bread
and cast it before dogs ?"
Oh, but she did believe ; but I fear God will ^never hear
my prayer at all, because there is so much unbelief in my
prayer, as there was not in hers.
But was it not so with David ? "I said in my haste, I
am cast out of thy sight, nevertheless the Lord heard my
prayer," Psalm xxxi. What unbelief was here. "I said in
my haste, I am cast out of thy sight " nevertheless, the
Lord heard his prayer.
Oh, but I am afraid yet, that the Lord will never hear
my prayer, or regard my duty, because I am so selfish in it;
I come unto God in mine affliction, and my affliction makes
me go to prayer, my affliction doth make me pray, I cry by
reason of my affliction, and this is selfish.
And did not those seek themselves at first, who came unto
Christ for cure ?* All true love begins in self-love. The
sweetest flower grows on a dirty stalk. And I pray, what
think you yet of Jonah ? The Lord heard me, saith he,
out of hell, and yet I cried, saith he, by reason of mine
affliction.
Oh, but I fear the Lord will never hear my prayer, be
cause I was no better prepared, yea, not at all prepared
thereunto.
Do you not know how the Lord dealt by Hezekiah ?
Hezekiah prayed, " The Lord shew mercy to every one that
is not prepared, according to the preparation of the sanc
tuary (and, saith the text), the Lord hearkened and healed
the people," 2 Chron. xxx. 18 20. Yea, God can rain
without clouds, without preparations.
Oh, but yet, I am afraid the Lord will not hear my prayer,
or regard my duty, for I am a man or a woman of great
distempers, many passions, and frowardnesses in my life and
conversation.
* Omnis amor incipit a seipso.
120 A LIFTING UP [SER. 6.
But what think ye of Elijah ? Elijah prayed that there
might be no rain, and there was no rain for three years and
a half; and he prayed for rain, and there was rain : and yet,
saith the apostle, " He was a man of like passions as we
are," James v. 1 7
Oh, but I fear, I am afraid the Lord will not regard my
prayer, or duty, for I am such a one, or such a one, or such
a one.
What an one ? what an one art thou ? Art thou such a
one as beginnest to look towards Christ but yet not fully
come off? you know what was said concerning Cornelius,
Acts x. 31, " Cornelius, thy prayer is come up before me."
Yet he did not begin to look towards Christ. Art thou such
a one as the publican was? the publican stood and smote
himself upon the breast, and he said, " O Lord, be merciful
unto me a sinner." And our Saviour saith, " He went away
justified, rather than his fellow." Luke xviii. 13, 14. Or art
thou such a one as the poor prodigal ? he said to his father,
" I am not worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of
thine hired servants ?" and the father heard him and over-
granted his petition. And if all these things be true, what is
there that can justly discourage any poor drooping, doubting
soul, in regard of duty ; shall his want of parts and gifts, or
his abundance of distractions ? &c. No : for though a godly
man have but weak parts or gifts ; though his spirit and his
heart be dull, dead and straitened ; though he labour
under many distractions in duty ; though the Lord hide his
face, and defer an answer to his prayer ; though the Lord
seem to be angry ; though there be much unbelief in his
duty ; though there be a great deal of selfishness ; though
his heart be not prepared, according to the preparation of
the sanctuary ; though he be a man of many passions, and
great distempers : yet notwithstanding all this he hath no
just cause or warrant to be discouraged : cause there is to
be humbled under all these things, but no just cause to be
discouraged and cast down.
And if so, then by way of application. What mighty en
couragement is here, to every poor drooping heart, to come
unto God in duty ! though dead, though dull, though strait
ened, yet to come unto God in duty.
And what a mighty difference is here between a godly, and
. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 121
a wicked man ! a wicked man goes to prayer, and " his
prayer is an abomination to the Lord." And if you look
into the viiith of Hosea you shall find at the 13th verse, that
the Lord threatens wicked men thus, That when they do
come to prayer and to offer a sacrifice to him, that then he
will remember their iniquity. At verse 12, "I have
written to you the great things of my law, but they are ac
counted as a strange thing, they sacrifice flesh for the sacrifi
ces of my offering, but the Lord accepteth them not ; now
will I remember their iniquity." Mark the word, Now,
now, when ? Now when they do come to prayer ; now will
I remember your iniquity, saith the Lord. I know, saith the
Lord, all your carriage in such and such a place, I know
your uncleanness, and your adulteries when you were in the
dark, when the curtains were drawn about you, and the can
dle out : I know your carriage at such a tavern, and upon
such an ale-bench, how you sat there, and scorned and re
viled my children ; 1 know your opposing, scoffing and jeer
ing at those that are godly ; I know all this, and now thou
comest to prayer, now swearer, now adulterer, now drunkard,
now thou comest to duty, now will I remember thine ini
quity. Is it not a sad thing, that the Lord should remem
ber a man s sin at the time when he comes to prayer ? yet thus
the Lord deals with the wicked. But as for the godly and gra
cious man it is not so with him ; when he comes to prayer,
though he have many failings in duty, yet the Lord remem
bers his mercy, then the Lord remembers his loving-kind
ness, then the Lord remembers his covenant, " for he is ever
mindful of his covenant." Oh, what encouragement is
here then for every man to become godly, to get into Christ !
and what encouragement is here, for the saints and people
of God to come to duty ! Oh, you that have but a little faith,
have you any reason to be discouraged ? will you not at last
say to your soul, Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and
why art thou thus discouraged ?
But, suppose that I have done foolishly, and have sinned
in being discouraged upon all occasions ; suppose I have
many failings in duty, and Ehe Lord doth not answer my
prayer presently : what shall I do, that I may bear up my
heart against this discouragement, either in regard of my own
failing in duty, or in regard of God s not answering ?
122 A LIFTING UP [SER. 6.
Take heed, that you do not lay the stress and weight of
all your comfort upon duty : either the gift of duty, or the
grace of duty, or the present answer of it. So much as ye
lay the stress, and weight of your comfort upon duty, so much
will you be discouraged in case you do either want duty, or
an answer to it. When Paul was tempted and buffeted, he
prayed thrice : " For this, (saith he,) I besought the Lord
thrice," 2 Cor. xii. 8, that is often, and the Lord gave him no
other answer than this, " Paul, my grace is sufficient for thee,
formy strength shall be made perfect in thy weakness." Where
upon Paul saith, "Now therefore will I glory in mine infirmities,
that the power of the Lord may rest upon me." Hast thou
therefore been at prayer? and hast thou prayed thrice or
often ? and hast thou no answer but this, " My grace is
sufficient for thee ?" know that thou hast a Paul s answer,
and therefore rather glory in this, that the Lord should find
thee faithful for to wait upon him, than be discouraged ;
knowing, that the Lord s strength shall be perfected in thy
weakness.
Consider seriously and frequently of this rule That diffi
culty doth commend duty : the more difficulties your duties
do press through to God, the more acceptable they are to
him. The less there is to sweeten your duty to you, the
more sweet is your duty to God. It is in our performing
of duty, as in the offering of the Jewish sacrifice, in the offer
ing of their sacrifice there were two things, the sacrifice, and
the obedience in offering the sacrifice ; and the more difficult
it was for any poor Jew, by reason of poverty, or the like, to
offer this sacrifice, the more and greater was his obedience in
offering it; the more difficult in offering, the greater the
obedience offered. So also it is in our gospel sacrifices, and
in all our duties, there are two things in them ; there is the
sacrifice, the duty, and there is the obedience in bringing the
duty : and the more difficulty in performing the duty, the
greater is the obedience to God in the performing of it.
Now is it not an hard thing, and very difficult, for a man to
pray, and continue praying, when his heart is hardened and
his spirit straitened? especially if he be sensible thereof?
then he is ready to despond, and say, I can pray no more :
and is it not a very hard thing for a man to pray, and perse
vere in prayer, when he thinks that God doth not regard his
SER. 6.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 123
prayer ? then he is apt to say, Why should I pray any longer,
for God regards me not : yet, now, if you do pray and perform
your duty, your obedience is the more obediential, and the
more acceptable ; and if you would but think of this rule
Difficulty doth commend duty, and the less you have to
sweeten your action the more sweet it is to God ; I say, if
you would but remember this, it would both encourage you
to duty, and keep you from discouragement in it.
And we must all learn to leave the event and success of
our spiritual things unto God himself; so shall we never be
discouraged in any duty. For the word of the Lord is sure,
and God hath spoken it : " Cast thy gift upon the Lord, and
he will sustain thee ; he will not suffer the righteous to be
moved for ever," Psalm Iv. You read it thus : " Cast thy
burden upon the Lord :" but in the Hebrew, it is, thy gift ;
" Cast thy gift upon the Lord."* That is, saith Schindler,
Quicquid tibi dari donative expelis : Whatsoever thou dost
desire that God should give thee, cast that upon the Lord :
thou comest to prayer, and thou prayest for such a mercy, or
such a gift, cast that on God, and leave it wholly to him.
Oh, but the mercy I pray for is a necessary mercy ! Be it
so, yet it is to be cast on God. But it is a spiritual gift ! I
pray for pardon of sin, the sense of God s love, growth in
grace, consolation to my poor drooping soul. Be it so, yet
thou must cast this on God. Many there are, that can leave
the event and the success of their outward things unto God,
but to leave the event and success of prayer, and their spiri
tual things unto God, this they cannot understand, and this
they are utterly unacquainted with : but whatever thy gift be,
cast it upon the Lord, leave the success and the event of all
your spiritual things upon God : what then ? " and he will
sustain thee, and thou shalt not be moved for ever." Thou
art mo\ed for the present, and thy heart is moved, and thou
art much discouraged, yet do but try this way, leave the
event to God. Go to prayer, go and perform thy duty leav-
* -|irp mn hy ^Wn. Hebrew.
"pl D. Chaldee Paraphrase.
Trjv nt^ipvav. Septuag.
Projice super Dominum charitatem tuam. = Hierom.
Rab. Salv. Jar. Abbreviate dictus Rashi vel Rasi -[NltfD (quod etiam pro do-
no usurpatur "J^OH ntfttfO 2 Sam. ii. 8). Bibl. Bomb.
124
A LIFTING UP [SEB. 7-
ing the event of that unto God, and the Lord that hath
promised will certainly fulfil it, thou shalt be sustained, and
thouo-h thou art moved for the present, thou shalt not be
moved for ever. And thus I have done with the third in
stance.
SERMON VII.
A LIFTING UP IN THE WANT OF ASSURANCE.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted
within me, be." Psalm xlii. 11.
IV. SOMETIMES the discouragements of God s people
are drawn from the want of their evidence for heaven.
And thus they reason or argue : I am a poor creature, who
doth want assurance of the love of God, and of mine own
salvation ; therefore I am thus discouraged. Indeed, if I
had any evidence of an interest in Christ, I should never be
discouraged whatever my condition were : but, alas ! I want
the assurance of God s love, and of eternal life. Should I
now die, I do not know whether I should go to heaven or
hell, and what would become of my soul to all eternity. Oh
I want assurance of my salvation, and therefore I am thus
discouraged. Have I not just cause and reason for my dis
couragements now ?
No, no reason yet. It is indeed a great evil and a sore
affliction, to want the assurance of God s love and of one s
own salvation ; yet, notwithstanding, the want of this assu
rance is no sufficient ground or bottom for your discourage
ment. I confess it is a great evil and a sore affliction for a
man to want assurance ; for sin and affliction are twisted
together in the want of assurance. As of all blessings those
are the greatest, where grace and comfort are joined together;
so where sin and affliction are twisted together, of all afflic
tions they are the most afflictive. And thus it is in the want
of assurance : for as in assurance there is something of grace,
SER. 7.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 125
and something of comfort or reward ; so in the want of
assurance there is somewhat of sin or unbelief, and somewhat
of affliction too. Sin and affliction, affliction and sin, are
both twisted together in the want of assurance.
The truth is, a man that wants the assurance of God s
love, and of his interest in Christ, is neither fit to receive
mercy from God, nor to make return of love and praise to
God as he should. Not fit to receive mercy as he should,
for though he would have Christ come in, yet by unbelief he
shuts the door against him, and he makes an evil interpreta
tion of mercies offered unto him. If a mercy or blessing
be tendered unto him, he saith, This comes in judgment to
me ; it is a blessing indeed in itself, but I fear it is a judg
ment to me. Thus he makes an ill interpretation of bles
sings, and so is unfit to receive. And he is not fit to make
returns of love to God again : assurance returns praise.
And therefore saith the text here, O my soul, wait on God,
hope in God, " for I shall yet praise him," why ? " for he is
my God." Praise grows upon assurance. And upon this
account, I say, he is neither fit to receive mercy, nor to make
return of praise as he should.
Yea further, he that wants assurance of God s love, con-
verseth too much with Satan. As he that hath the assur
ance of God s love, doth converse with Christ, " the Spirit
bearing witness to him that he is the child of God ;" so he
that doth want assurance, converseth with Satan, and Satan,
though falsely, is still bearing witness to his spirit that he is
not the child of God. And is it not a misery to be in these
converses with Satan, to be under his hellish droppings ?
David felt one pang of unbelief, and he cried out, and said,
" It is too painful for me." Oh, what a pain is it then, to
lie bed-rid of an unbelieving heart. You know a chaste and
a loving wife, counts it an affliction to her, to be followed
with the solicitations of an unworthy person, to suspect and
be jealous of her husband s love ; for, saith she, he doth
therefore follow me with these, solicitations, making me to
suspect my husband s love, that so he may attain his own
filthy desires. So saith a gracious soul, the devil is always
following and tempting me to suspect the love of Christ, and
he doth therefore do it, that he may attain his mind upon
me ; for the devil knows well enough, that the more I sus-
126 A LIFTING UP [SER. 7-
pect Christ s love, the more I shall embrace Satan s love.
The truth is, beloved, this want of assurance of God s love,
or interest in Christ, is an inlet to many sins and miseries ;
for first a man doubts of his own salvation, and after he hath
continued doubting, then he riseth up unto a full conclusion,
saying, Now know I that Christ doth not love me, I did but
doubt before, but now I know he doth not love me. And
after he is risen to this conclusion, then shortly he riseth
higher, and he goes further, thus : If Christ doth not love
me now, he will never love me, and if I have not interest in
Christ now, after all the preaching I have heard, and ordi
nances enjoyed, if I have not an interest in Christ now, I
shall never have it ; and so the longer I live, the more I
aggravate my condemnation ; therefore as good in hell at
first as at the last, and therefore now I will even make away
with myself. Oh, what a black chain is here, and the first link
is the want of assurance. If you should see a child, a pretty
child, lie in the open streets, and none own it, would it not
make your bowels yearn within you ? Come to the little one,
and say, Child, where is thy father ? I know not, saith the
child. Where is thy mother, child ? I know not. Who is
thy father ? what is thy father s name, child ? I know not.
Would it not make your heart ache to see such a little one
in the streets ? But for a poor soul to lie in the streets,
as it were, and not know his father, whether God be his
Father, or the devil be his father ; for a soul to say, I do not
know my father, whether God in Christ be my Father, yea
or no; this is pitiful indeed. The word father is a sweet
word, for it sweetens all our duties ; take the word Father
out of prayer, and how sour is it ? Surely, therefore, it is
a sad and sore affliction, to want the assurance of God s love
in Christ. But now, although it be a great evil, and a sore
affliction for to want this assurance, yet I say, the saints and
people of God have no reason to be cast down or discouraged,
although they do want the same.
How may that appear ?
Thus : if the want of assurance be not the damning un
belief, then a man hath no reason to be quite discouraged,
although he do want assurance. Now, though there may be
much unbelief bound up in the want of assurance, yet I say,
the bare want of assurance, is not that unbelief that shall
SER. 7-] FOIi TIIE DOWNCAST. 127
damn ones soul to all eternity, not that unbelief which Christ
threatens with damnation. For if you look into John iii.
18, you shall find our Saviour speaking thus: " He that be-
lieveth on him is not condemned ; but he that believeth not
is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God." But now, lest any
poor soul that would believe and cannot, should be afflicted
and troubled at these words, therefore saith our Saviour
Christ, in the following words, I will tell you wherein lies
the damnableness of unbelief, verse 19, " This is the con
demnation (he speaks in relation to the words before), and
this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds
are evil; for every one that doeth evil hateth the light;
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved
or discovered :" this light is Christ. Now therefore, doest
thou hate the light, Christ ? and therefore keepest from it,
lest thy deeds should be discovered ? Or rather on the con
trary, doest thou not know there are evil deeds in thy life, and
much evil in thy heart ? and doest thou not therefore desire
to come to Christ, who is the true light that thy deeds
may be discovered, and thy sin amended ? Then, thou
canst not believe as thou wouldest, and though thou doest
want assurance, and though thou hast much unbelief in thee,
the Lord Jesus Christ hath spoken it, thou shalt never be
condemned to all eternity for this want, but the Lord Christ
will pardon this unto thee : and therefore certainly upon this
account, God s people have no reason for their discourage
ment.
If there be such an overruling hand of grace, and mercy
upon the want of the saint s assurance, as that it shall
work to their and to others good ; then they have no reason
to be quite discouraged,, although they do want assurance.
As for their own good : thereby they do gain experience ;
thereby they come to see the emptiness and nothingness of
all their own righteousness. David saith, ye know the scrip
ture, Psalm cxvi., " I said in my haste, all men are liars."
The words in the Hebrew may be read, " I said in my
shaking ;"* " I said in my shaking, all men are liars."
ISn Hebrew. Festinavit, celeriter motus fuit, vel cum timore fugit.
EK TW; aad. Septuag.
128 A LIFTING UP [SER. 7-
David was shaken by men, and then he saw that men were
liars. So, when a man is shaken in his own righteousness,
then he sees the emptiness and the lying disposition of it ;
and, I pray, when is a man s own righteousness more shaken,
than when he doth want assurance of God s love ? Thereby
also, a man comes to get more and stronger assurance of
God s love ; Certissimum est, quod certum est post incertitu-
dinem ; that is most certain that is certain after uncertainty :
the shaken tree grows the strongest. It is observed of
Thomas, that of all the apostles, he cried out, and said, " My
Lord and my God." Two My*s, not one My : My Lord, or
My God : but two My s, " My Lord, and My God." Two
My s, why ? Because he had two No s before, " Unless I
may put my finger into his side, I will not believe." So
you read it ; but in the original there were two No s, I will
not, not believe ; a double Not. And as there were two No s
of unbelief, so there are two My s of faith. So far as a good
man is sunk in unbelief, so far he will rise in faith ; so much
as a man is shaken by unbelief, and in the want of assurance,
so much he will rise unto assurance and be confirmed and
steeled in it.
And as for others : a man is never more fit to comfort, to
relieve, to satisfy others in their fears, than when he hath
been in fears, and doubting himself. It is a good speech that
Maldonat hath out of Bernard : Citius quidem ego qui infir-
mus sum; I would rather believe poor doubting Thomas,
than confident Peter: I would rather believe poor doubting
in fuga. Chaldee Paraphrase.
In stupore meo. Hierom.
Unde metuebatur suspicio firma sit certitudo. Bernard.
Apud Gersonem memini me legisse narra junculam, &c. Refert ille se
novisse hominem pium pulsatum et vexatum erebris dubitationibus etiam in fidei
articulo qui enim ad extremum in tantam lucem veritatis et certitudinis intro-
ductus est ut nulla resideret vacillatio in ejus anima neque plus dubitaret de ea
re quam de vita sua, quinetiam addit hanc certitudinem non ex nova alicujus
ratione aut demonstratione ortum fuisse, sed ex captivatione intellectus atque
admirabili quadam Dei illuminatione a montibus <eternis. Davenaat. in Colos.
cap. 3. p. 160.
ov nr) revow nequaquam ; duplex negatio fortius negat.
Fieri non potest ut bene de fide scribal aut recte scripta bene intelligat, qui
non spiritum ejusdem urgentibus tribulationibus aliquando gustaverit. Luther.
Citius quidem ego qui infirmus sum crediderim Thomse dubitanti et palpanti
quam Petro audienti et credenti. Maldon. in Nov. Test. p. 34.
SER. 7-] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 129
Thomas than Peter that never doubted. Thomas having
once doubted, knew how to deal with a poor doubting soul.
Thus, I say, God doth order the want of assurance ot his
servants unto their own, and others good : and therefore no
reason, that they should be cast down, and quite discouraged,
although they do want assurance for the present.
If a man, a gracious man, may have comfort; yea, and
live comfortably, although he do want assurance, then he
hath no reason to be quite discouraged, in case he want it.
Now, though it may seem a paradox to you, yet you shall find
a truth in it; I say a man that hath no assurance for the present,
may have comfort; yea, he may live comfortably, if things
be rightly ordered. For he that hath no assurance, may have
hope, and hope is comfortable. He that hath no assurance,
may yet rely upon Jesus Christ; and stay his soul upon
Christ ; and in all reliance there is some comfort. He that
hath no assurance, may be justified, and being justified by
faith, we have peace with God. He that hath no assurance,
may submit unto God s commandments ; and saith the
Psalmist, " the entrance into thy commandments, giveth
light:" and so comfort. " In keeping thy commandments,
there is great reward :" and so comfort. " It is a comforta
ble thing, (saith Solomon) to behold the light :" and in all
light there is some comfort. Now God is light, and the free
grace and love of God is light, which a man may behold, that
hath no assurance. You do sometimes take a great deal of
contentment in the reading of a story : I do not mean a
scripture story, but in other books, I say, a man sometimes
takes a great deal of contentment in reading of a story, al
though it doth not concern him ; for, saith he, although this
story doth not concern me, yet I take complacency, and con
tentment in reading of it, because here I read of the valour
of such a man ; and of the faithfulness of such a man to his
friend ; and of the excellent carriages and virtues of men.
Now, my beloved, is there no excellency in God himself to
content the soul ? Is there no faithfulness in God ? Is
there no love and mercy in God himself? Is not the Lord
the God of all consolation, and God of mercy, without rela
tion to my condition ? Is there not an ocean of excellent
love and grace in God himself ? How many sweet stories of
love and grace, may you read in this little book of the bible ?
VOL. II. K
130 A LIFTING UP [SER. 7-
Besides, a man that hath no assurance, now, and then may
have some promise thrown into his soul, to uphold him with.
When Elijah was by the brook, and could not enjoy the ordinary
meat of the land, a raven brought him meat : and whenever
was any godly man in such a condition, but he had one raven
or other to bring him comfort ? Sometimes a temptation is
a raven ; God makes it so ; sometimes a desertion is a raven ;
sometimes affliction ; sometimes a particular word and promise
is thrown into his soul; and is there no comfort there? I say,
though a man do want assurance for the present, he may live
comfortably. Surely therefore agodly man hath no reason forhis
discouragement, though for the present he doth want assurance?
But I do not only want this settled assurance of God s
love, and so the ordinary food of the land ; but I have no
raven to bring me any comfort : I mean, I have no promise,
no particular word to bring in comfort unto my soul, and to
uphold me in my dark condition : though I do want a settled
assurance, yet if I had a particular word and promise, to up
hold my soul, until I had this assurance, I should not be
discouraged : but I want this settled assurance, and I have no
particular word or promise to uphold my soul with, until it
come ; and therefore I am thus discouraged : have I not rea
son now ?
I answer, No. For, Christian, what particular word or
promise wouldst thou have ? Have ye not the whole gospel
before you, a bag of golden promises ? A father hath two
children ; and he comes unto one, and gives unto that child a
piece of gold, there child, saith he, supply thy want with
that; but unto the other child, he saith, here child, I know
that thou art in want, and there are bags of silver and gold in
my study; take the key of my study, and go in, and take
rtiat thou wilt : is not this latter in as good a condition as
the former or rather better ? Thus it is with the saints ; the
is pleased to give now and then, a particular word to
Jme of his children; but unto others, he saith rather, here
take the key of faith, for faith is the key, and hath a power
nlock all the promises, I give thee faith, and by this faith,
1 give thee a power to go unto all my promises : is not this
latter in as good a condition as the other ? Thus it is, I say,
with all the servants of God, "Having therefore these pro
mises," saith the apostle, &c. 2 Cor vii 1
. 7-] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 131
If the promise of grace do belong to you, then you can
not say, I have no word, no promise to uphold me with :
now, that the promise of grace doth belong to you, is cleared
thus : 1. Your very resting on the promise, makes it to be
long to you, and it becomes yours, by your resting on it ;
but you do or have rested on the promise. 2. If the com
mand doth belong to you, then why not the promise ? Doth
not the word of commandment belong to you, namely,
Thou shult not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not
commit adultery ?" Doth this word of command belong to
you ? Yea, surely ; for the commandment saith, Thou, and
thou, and thou shalt not, &c. ; and that word Thou doth
include Me ; the word of promise hath its Thou and Thee
and Thy also. Psalm xxxvii., " Trust in the Lord and do
good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt
be fed," verse 3 : " Delight thyself in the Lord, and he
shall give tliee the desire of thy heart," verse 5. And if you
put yourself within the compass of the commandment s
Thou, God will put you within the compass of the promise s
Thou. 3. If you may, and it be your duty to rest on the
promise, then it belongs to you : now, you may rest on the
promise of grace and holiness for sanctification, and it is
your duty so to do, else i/~ were no sin not to rest on the
promise : but unbelief, and not resting on the promise,
sin; only ye must know, that there is a great difference
between the promise of consolation and the promise of
sanctification. To apply the promise of comfort, without
endeavour after holiness, is presumption ; but to apply the
promise of sanctification, that I may be more holy, is no
presumption, but my duty ; and if it be your duty to apply
and rest on this promise, then it belongs to you.
Oh, but yet, when I go unto the word, or the Scripture, I
find, that God s promise still runs upon some condition, and
I cannot perform that condition^ I do not find that condi
tion in myself; and therefore, I fear, that I may not go unto
these promises, and that I have no right to them.
But what if a good and gracious man may apply a con
ditional promise, although he hath not performed the con
dition ? Pray look into Nehemiah, chapter i. and there
you will find, that the Jews being in captivity, Nehemiah
goes unto God in prayer, and doth press the promise which
K 2
132 A LIFTING UP [SER. 7-
God made unto the Jews by his servant Moses, verse 8 :
"Remember, I beseech thee, thy word that thou com-
mandest thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will
scatter ye abroad among the nations ; but if ye turn unto
me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though
there were of you cast unto the uttermost parts of the earth,
yet will I gather them from thence, and I will bring them
unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast
redeemed by thy great power." The Jews in Babylon were
scattered according to the word, but alas, they did not re
turn unto the Lord, and leave their sins, according to the
conditions of the promise ; yet, notwithstanding, Nehemiah
goes unto the Lord, and presseth this promise, and the
Lord heard him, and he had acceptance, as ye find in the
following chapter. .
What if the condition of one promise, be the thing pro
mised in another promise ; will ye then fear, that the pro
mise doth not belong to you, because you have not performed
the condition of the promise ? Now so it is, that the con
dition of one, is the thing promised in another promise.
For example : in one promise, repentance is the condition
of the promise, 2 Chron. vi. 37, 38 ; Joel ii. 15 19. But
in another promise, repentance is the thing promised, Ezek.
xxxvi. 26, " I will take away the heart of stone, and give
you an heart of flesh." In one promise, faith and coming
to Christ is the condition ; " Come unto me, all ye that are
weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest," Matt. xi.
28. But in another promise it is the thing promised, John
vi. 47, " All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me."
In one promise, obedience is the condition of it, Isa. i. 19,
" If ye consent and obey, ye shall eat the good of the land."
In another promise, it is the thing promised, Ezek. 3G. 27, "I
will put my Spirit into you, and cause ye to walk in my
ways." In one promise, perseverance is the condition,
Matt, xxiv., " He that continueth to the end shall be saved."
But in another promise, it is the thing promised. Psa. i. 3,
" His leaf shall not wither ;" Ezek. xxxvi., " 1 will put my
fear into your hearts, and ye shall not depart from me." In
one scripture of the Old Testament, the coming of the De
liverer is promised to the Jews, upon condition that they
. 7-] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 133
i turn from ungodliness ; Isa. lix. 24, " The Redeemer shall
(come out of Zion, and unto them that turn from ungodliness
,in Jacob." But in another scripture in the New Testament,
i turning Jacob from ungodliness is the thing promised; Rom.
ii. 26, " There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and turn
(ungodliness from Jacob/ : Now if the condition in one pro-
I mise, be the thing promised in another promise, will ye fear
i that the promise doth not belong to you, because ye have not
i performed the condition ?
And, again, what if the condition of the promise be per
formed for you, better than you could perform it ? In the
i beginning the Lord made a covenant with man, a covenant of
I works, " Do this and live " and Adam, the first man, stood
las a common person for us all, to perform the condition of
I doing : and if Adam had performed the condition, we all had
I performed the condition. Now the Lord makes a new cove-
nant of grace with man, and the Lord Jesus Christ is a second
Adam, and he stands as a common person, and if he perform
the condition, then all his seed do perform the condition.
Now the Lord Jesus Christ hath performed the condition for
all his seed : although the first Adam did not perform the
condition for his seed, yet the second Adam hath performed
the condition of the promise and of the covenant for his seed
to the full. Now if all these three things be true, namely,
that a man may go to the promise, the conditional promise
with acceptance, although he hath not performed the condi
tion ; that the condition of one promise is the thing promised
I in another promise ; that the Lord Jesus Christ hath per
formed the condition of the promise for you, better than you
; can perform it : have ye, then, any reason to be discouraged
and to keep off from the promise, because you have not per
formed the condition ? But so it is, that a child of God may
go to a conditional promise with acceptance, although he hath
not performed the condition ; and the condition of one pro
mise is the thing promised in another; and the Lord Jesus,
our second Adam, hath performed the condition of all the
promises for all his seed: surely, therefore, you have no rea
son to be discouraged in this respect.
But this is not my case, for I do not only want assurance
of God s love, and have no particular promise ; but, instead
of the promise, I have a threateuing set upon my soul : oh a
134 A LIFTING UP [SEB. 7-
the bitter words of the threatening have soaked into my
heart. Time was, heretofore, indeed, that I had a promise ;
I could say, I had a promise, and I rejoiced in it : but now I
have lost my promise, and instead of the promise a threaten
ing is come. Oh, I feel the smart and the anger of the
threatening, and have I not just cause and reason to be dis
couraged now ?
No : for if you be drawn to Christ, is it material whether
it be done with a cord of flax or a cord of silk ? God hath
two arms whereby he draws us unto himself; the arm of his
love, and the arm of his anger and justice : the arm of his
love is put forth in the promise, the arm of his anger and
justice is put forth in the threatening ; and with both these
he doth lift up the fallen sinner. What if God lift you up
with his left arm, so you be lifted up ! Sometimes he lifts
up with the arm of his threatening, that he may carry us in
the arm of his promise ; for as the law was a schoolmaster to
bring to Christ, so the threatening is a schoolmaster to bring
us unto the promise : is the threatening therefore come ? then
is the promise a coming ; for the threatening is given forth
in order to that.
And if this, which you complain of, may be the condition
of the saints, then you have no reason to be discouraged.
Now, for the loss of the promise, you know how it was with
Joshua : the Lord gave Joshua a gracious promise ; " I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee : be strong, be not dis
mayed, be not afraid, be of good courage, for I will not leave
thee, nor forsake thee," Josh. i. 6. But the children of Israel
were a little discomfited by the men of Ai, and see how
Joshua lost the sight of the promise ; in Joshua vii. 6, 7j
" Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face,
before the ark of the Lord, he and the elders of Israel, and
put dust upon their heads, and said, Alas, O Lord God,
wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan,
to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us ?
Would to God we had been content to dwell on the other
side Jordan." Oh, what unbelief is here ! what discourage
ment is here ! how had he lost the promise ! O Lord, saith
he, what shall I say, when Israel turn their backs before their
enemies : and oh, what shall we say, when Joshua turned his
back upon the promise ! But so it was with Joshua here,
SHR. 70 FR THE DOWNCAST. 135
he had lost the sight of the promise which once he had. And
as for the threatening, you know how it was with David ; hav
ing sinned greatly in the matter of Uriah, the Lord threatens
him, " that the sword should never depart from his house ;"
and the threatening did take hold upon him, and David was
under the stroke of the threatening. But was not Joshua
godly ; and was not David godly ? So, then, a godly man
may possibly lose the sight of the promise, and have a threat
ening set on his soul too.
But if a promise, given out by the Lord, shall never be
reversed, and a threatening may be repealed ; then you have
no cause to fear in this respect. Now a threatening is there
fore given, that it may not be fulfilled. Jonah knew this so
well, that he professeth to the Lord, that therefore he fled to
Tarshish, because, saith he, " O Lord, I knew that thou art
a merciful God." As if he should say, I knew, O Lord, thou
art so merciful a God, that though thou hast threatened Ni
neveh, yet thou wilt reverse thy threatening. But a promise
once given unto a soul, shall never be reversed or repealed.
It may rise up to an oath, as sometimes it doth, for when
God gives a promise to a soul, and opposition ariseth, if then
God gives out the same promise again, it amounts to an oath ;
" As I live (saith the Lord) I will never reverse this promise
that I have made to thee." But a promise once given, shall
never be reversed or repealed : Gal. iii. you have the case that
is now before you. Saith Paul, at verse 15, "I speak after
the manner of men ; though it be but a man s covenant, yet
if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or addeth thereunto.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made."
And therefore, saith the apostle, the promise shall not be dis
annulled, although the law came after the promise. But if
the promise that the Lord gave to Abraham, was not disan
nulled by the law, that came four hundred and thirty years
after ; (verse 1 7) " wherefore then serves the law ?" he tells
you, verse 19 ; "It was added because of transgression." So
now, say you, if that the promise that God hath given here
tofore, be not disannulled, and made void, by the threatening
that follows after, wherefore then was the law or the threat
ening given unto my soul ? It was added because of trans
gression : God had some transgression of yours to discover
unto you, that you did not think of, and therefore the threat-
136 A LIFTING UP [SfiR. 7-
ening and the law came after. But the promise is quite out
of sight, and I have lost it. And did not the Jews also lose
the sight of the promise which was given to Abraham ? When
the Lord gave the law, and they stood trembling and quaking
before Mount Sinai, did not they then lose the sight of the
promise that was given to Abraham ? So, say I, although
thou hast lost the sight of the promise that once thou hadst,
and a threatening be come in the room of it, the promise that
was once given thee, it may be four hundred and thirty days
ago, or many years ago, shall never be disannulled or reversed.
And the reason is this : Because God doth not repent in the
matter of the gospel. Ye read in Scripture, that God is said
sometimes to repent, " It repented the Lord that he made
man ;" sometimes it is said that the Lord doth not repent,
" I am not a man that I should repent :" how are these two
reconciled ; God doth repent, and God doth not repent ?
Thus to our present purpose : God repents as to the matter
of the threatening, but God never repents as to the matter of
the promise : God repents as to the matter of the threatening,
and therefore saith the Lord to Jeremiah, " I am weary of my
repenting." I have threatened, and threatened, and I am
weary of threatening. Here God repented as to the matter
of the threatening ; but God never repents as to the matter
of the promise. And therefore saith the apostle, Rom. xi. 29,
" The gifts and calling of God are without repentance." And
the promise is a great gift. So then, as to the matter of the
promise, God doth never repent. Wherefore, poor soul, hast
thou a promise given thee, may be five years ago, may be ten
years ago, may be twenty years ago, and hast thou lost the
sight of the promise; and instead of the promise is there a
threatening come upon thy soul, that makes thy heart quake
and tremble ? I here tell thee, from the Lord, the promise
that was once given unto thee, though now thou hast lost the
sight of it, shall never be repealed or recalled. Oh, what
matter of encouragement is here ! Is here matter of discou
ragement? nay, rather, here is matter of great encouragement.
Oh, but yet this is not my case : I do not only want assu
rance of God s love, but I have assurance of God s displea
sure ; I do not only want assurance of my salvation, but I
have assurance of my damnation : I do not only want the
testimony of the Spirit, bearing witness with my spirit that
. 7] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 137
I am the child of God ; but I have another testimony within
my soul, bearing witness to me that I am a reprobate. And
have I not cause to be discouraged ?
No, not yet ; for it may be you look upon the back-side of
God s dispensation. If we look upon the face of God s
dispensation, we see his love and good pleasure ; but if we
look on the back-side thereof, we conclude nothing but anger
and displeasure. It may be it is so with you in this case.
But,
If you find no such testimony of reprobation as you speak
of, in all the Scripture ; then you have no reason to fear or
to be discouraged in this respect. Now search the Scrip
ture, and you shall not find in all the word, any ground for
such a testimony of reprobation. We read, indeed, of
Francis Spira, notorious for his despair ; when his friends
came to comfort him, having spake comfortable words unto
him, that he said, Why go ye about to comfort me ? comfort
belongs not to me, for I am a reprobate. Oh, said one of
his friends, do not say so, for none are able to say so. Yes,
said he, as the elect of God have a Spirit within them, bear
ing witness that they are the children of God ; so reprobates
have another spirit, bearing witness with their spirits that
they are not the children of God, but the children of Satan:
and such a spirit of reprobation have I. But, my beloved,
if there be such a spirit or a testimony of reprobation as
this is, either it must be from the Spirit of God, or from the
spirit of Satan : if from the spirit of Satan, then he is a liar,
not to be believed ; if it be from the Spirit of God, how
doth it suit with the word ? for the Spirit of God is called
the Comforter ; can such a spirit of reprobation come from
the Comforter ? And if you have such a testimony as this
is, either you must have it from the word, or from the Spirit
of God alone without the word : if from the word, then from
the threatening ; for it is not from the promise, nor from the
command : if from the threatening, a threatening may be
repealed, a threatening may be reversed, as you have heard.
And if you have it from the Spirit of the Lord, how can it
be that the Spirit should be called a Comforter ? Surely
therefore, if you have such a spirit of reprobation in your
bosom, it is from Satan, and he is a liar. But, my beloved,
I will in this appeal to you, whether do you not think that
138 A LIFTING UP [SEB. 7-
there is many a soul now in heaven, that whilst he lived said,
I am sure to go to hell ? You know that ordinary story of
the woman that took a glass in her hand, and throwing it on
the ground, said, As sure as this glass breaks I shall be
damned ; and the glass broke not. Well then, thy condition
is not alone, others of God s people may be and have been
led in this way of temptation ; and therefore no reason why
thou shouldest be cast down or discouraged.
But yet this doth not reach my case or condition, for I do
not only want the assurance of God s love, and of mine own
salvation ; but I have wanted assurance this two, this four,
this six, this eight, this ten years : and I have continued so
long doubting in unbelief, and my heart is so hardened with
it, that I am afraid I shall never be healed or saved. Oh, I
have sat under such and such precious gospel means, and if
ever I should have had assurance of God s love, I should
have had it before this. I have sat under many a comfort
able sermon, and under the gospel preached many years, and
yet have no assurance of my salvation ; surely if the Lord
would ever have bestowed assurance upon me, I should have
had it ere this : but still unbelieving, and still do I want
assurance, and my heart hardened under unbelief, and there
fore I am thus discouraged. Have I not cause and reason
now?
No, not yet, for our evidence for heaven is in God s keep
ing, our comforts as well as our graces ; and our evidence for
heaven, as well as our heaven and salvation ; and he will
bring it forth when we have most need, in a due time, though
not in our time. And if you look into Isaiah xlvi, you shall
see what a gracious promise the Lord makes unto hard
hearted sinners ; an invitation and promise together : verses
12 and 13, " Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are
far from righteousness, I bring near my righteousness, it
shall not be far off, and my salvation, it shall not tarry."
Oh, but I have no righteousness to lay my assurance upon.
Well, yet saith the Lord, Never speak of thy righteousness,
man, 1 will bring near rny righteousness." Oh, but my
heart is dead and hard and stout. Then hearken unto me,
ye stout-hearted, saith God." Oh, but I am far off from
righteousness. Be it so, Yet hearken unto me, ye stout
hearted, that are far from righteousness, I will bring near my
SER. 7-] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 139
righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation it
shall not tarry."
But that you may have more full satisfaction in this, 1
shall desire you to consider three or four propositions.
1. Though it be possible for a man to attain to full assu
rance of God s love, yet he may have saving faith that hath
no assurance. Faith and assurance differ ; and therefore
saith the apostle, " Draw near with full assurance of faith."
Assurance of faith comforts, but the reliance of faith saves.
It is possible that a man or woman may have such an assu
rance, as that they never doubted of God s love ; but ordi
narily, a man never had assurance of his salvation, that never
doubted of his salvation. The first step to salvation, is to
see that there is no salvation ; we must go to heaven by hell
gates ; and he that is not troubled sometimes with Satan, is
possessed by him. I say, ordinarily a man never had assur
ance of his salvation, that never doubted of his salvation.
A man may have true saving faith, that yet hath no assurance
of his salvation.* This is the first.
2. As a man may have true saving faith, and yet no assur
ance, so a man may have strong faith and assurance, yet
many doubts, fears, and mistrustings may be left in his soul.
It is observed to my hand, that of all the churches, the
church of the Thessalonians are most commended for their
faith and their graces, " So that they were examples to all
that believed," 1 Thess. i. 7 Yet in chap, iii, verse 10, the
apostle saith, there was something lacking in their faith :
" Night and day praying exceedingly, that we might see
your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your
faith." Something was lacking in their faith, yet they were
examples of faith unto all the churches.
3. As a man may have strong faith with assurance, and
yet some doubts and fears may be left in the soul still , so a
man may have strong faith and assurance, yet for a long time
may be deprived of the feeling of it. And therefore whereas
the spouse in the Canticles in one place saith, " I am my
Beloved s, and my Beloved is mine ;" in another place she
saith, " I sought him whom my soul loveth, and I found him
* Prima pars salutis est nullam sperare salutem.
Ideo terret nos ira Dei ut ad fiduciam illius nos urgeat. Luther.
140
A LIFTING UP [SfiR. 7-
not : I opened to my Beloved, and he was gone, and my
heart failed ; I called and he answered not/
4. As a man may have strong faith, and yet for a great
time may be deprived of the feeling of it ; so it is possible a
man may be a godly, gracious man, yet may continue and go
on doubting for a long time, yea possibly, he may die doubting
also. The godly and the wicked are contrary. Now for the
wicked, you shall find that a wicked man may think his con
dition good, yet it may be very naught ; he may have hope
and persuasion that he shall go to heaven, and he may die in
these persuasions, yet he may go to hell. Rev. iii. ye read
thus of the churches of Laodicea, at verse 16, " So then,
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spew thee out of my mouth : I would thou wert cold or hot,"
verse 15. These were very wicked ; had these people any
thoughts of mercy, or did they think their spiritual condition
was good? Read verse 17, "Because thou sayest, I am
rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing ;
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind and naked." So that I say, a wicked man
may think his condition good, and yet it may be very naught.
Yea, daily experience tells us, besides the parable of the
foolish virgins, that he may die in these persuasions. So on
the contrary, a man may think his condition naught, and go
fearing and trembling a long while, yea, even die under these
fears, yet his condition may be very good. Consider it
rightly, I know indeed, ordinarily, God doth come in with
some comfort or other unto a child of God before he dies ;
but I would be loth to say, and you will be loth to think,
that certainly that man goes to hell that doubteth of his sal
vation, or that dies doubting of his salvation. No, possibly
a man may doubt and fear, and doubt long, even die doubt
ing, without a settled assurance of God s love, yet he may go
to heaven and be saved for ever. What then, though thou
hast stayed long, and hast long wanted assurance, yet God
hath not led thee so far as he hath led some, and thy condi
tion is no other than that which may befal the dear servants
and children of God.
But, though for the present, you do want assurance of
God s love, and of your own salvation : yet if you may con
clude by scripture arguments, that you shall have it before
SER.. 7-1 FOB THE DOWNCAST. 141
you die, then have you no reason to be discouraged : now,
though this or that particular Christian, in a case not ordi
nary, do die under a cloud, and with much fear and doubting
about his everlasting condition : yet there are arguments in
scripture, whereby a man may ordinarily know, and con
clude, that he shall have peace and assurance before he dies.
For example,
He that is content to stay, and go without a mercy, if God
will have it so, shall not want it for ever : " For the patient
abiding of the meek, shall not be forgotten for ever :" Psalm
ix. As the way to have affliction continued, is to be disconten
ted under it, so the way to have it removed, is to be con
tented with it. There is a faith of expectance, a faith of
reliance, and the faith of assurance. The faith of expec
tance, will rise up into a faith of reliance, and the faith of
reliance, to the faith of assurance, there is seldom a may
be faith, but hath a shall-be, and it is at the bottom, if God
would make it float.
If the Lord hath wrought wonders for thy soul when thou
wert in the wilderness, and in a desert; then certainly, he
will bring thee into the land of rest. So he dealt by David,
so he dealt by Israel, so he will deal by thee.
If thy heart be upright in the matter of thine assurance,
God will certainly give assurance unto thee : for ye know
what the Psalmist saith, " The Lord will give grace and
glory : and no good thing will he withhold from them that
walk uprightly," Psalm Ixiv. 21. If therefore, I say, thy
heart hath been upright in the matter of thine assurance, the
Lord will give thee assurance, though for the present thou
wantest it. Now I pray, when is a man s heart upright in
the matter of his assurance, but when he doth desire assurance
of God s love, and of his own salvation rather that he may
praise and serve God the more, than for his own comfort ?
For this look in Psalm ix. and see how David reasons to this
purpose, verse 13, 14. " Have mercy upon me, O Lord, con
sider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou
that liftest me up from the gates of death : that I may shew
forth all thy praises in the gates of the daughters of Zion : I
will rejoice in thy salvation." Here are three things obser
vable, first, he was in a very low condition, at the gates of
death : from the gates of death, saith he, gates of death, that
142 A LIFTING UP [SEB. 7-
is, the power of death : " The gates of hell shall not prevail/
that is, the powers of hell shall not prevail ; so here, the
gates of death, that is, the powers of death. David was under
the power of death, at the gates of death, and now in this
condition he prays unto the Lord for mercy, that the Lord
would lift him up, but why doth he pray so ? mark his end.
At verse 14. " Have mercy upon me, O Lord, consider
my trouble." Why ? " That I may shew forth thy praise in the
gates of the daughter of Zion." O Lord, bring me from the
gates of death, that I may praise thee in the gates of the
daughter of Zion, not for my own comfort, Lord, but that I may
praise thee. Well, but what inference doth he make of this ?
see what follows in the latter end of verse 14. "I will, or
shall rejoice in thy salvation ;" O Lord, my heart hath been
upright in this petition, and now I know that thou wilt grant
my prayer, I will, I shall rejoice in thy salvation.
When a man can praise God for what he hath, although
his condition be very sad ; God will give him more,
and give him a better condition. If God shew mercy, saith
one, or give a blessing, and I praise God, I pay my debt ;
but if my case be low and sad, and I praise God, then God
is pleased to be called my debtor, and he will certainly pay
his debt.
If the Lord be the health of your countenance, you shall
have the assurance of your salvation in due time, though
now you want it. Thus the Psalmist reasons in the text,
" Wait on God, or hope in God, for I shall yet praise him,"
why ? " for he is the health or my countenance." But when
is God said to be the health of our countenance ? when his
smiles make us look cheerly, and his frowns make us look
sadly ; if I look well when God smiles, though all relations
frown ; and do look ill, when God frowns, though all my
relations smile; then is God the health of my counten
ance. Now I appeal to you, beloved, you that do want
assurance, hath it not been thus with you ? Do ye not earn
estly desire assurance, yet are content to stay, wait, and go
without it, if God will have it so ? Hath not the Lord shewn
wonders for thy soul, when thou hast been in a wildered con
dition, in preserving and keeping thee from doing evil to
thyself; and have not you been upright in the matter of your
assurance, saying thus ; O Lord, give me assurance of thy
. 7] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 143
love, not that I may have comfort only, but that I may be
more fit to serve thee : and have ye not praised the Lord, in
your sad condition, for what you have : and hath not the
Lord been the health of your countenance, so that when the
Lord hath smiled upon you, then you have looked well ; and
when the Lord hath frowned upon you, then you have looked
ill? surely you cannot but say, I must not deny these things;
I cannot be faithful to mine own soul if I should deny
them ; yea, Lord, thou knowest, and my soul knows it, that
thou hast done wonders for me, when I have been in a low,
desert, and bewildered condition. And, O Lord, thou knowest
I desire assurance of thy love, not for my own comfort only,
but that I may be more fit to praise and serve thee. And,
Lord, thou knowest I have praised thee, in some measure,
for what I have. Yea, Lord, thou art the health of my
countenance : when thou smilest upon me, then I look well ;
and when thou frownest upon me, then I look ill: I may say
in truth, The Lord is the health of my countenance. Well,
then, I say unto thee from the Lord, go in peace, and be of
good comfort, though thou doest for the present want comfort
and assurance of thy salvation, thou shalt have it in due time.
And if all these things be true, oh, you that are the people of
the Lord, have you any reason to be discouraged ? certainly
you have not: therefore why should you not check your
selves, as David here, and say, " Why art thou cast down,
oh my soul ; and why art thou disquieted within me ?"
Only, by the way, let no man misapply this doctrine, say
ing, If we should not be discouraged, although we do want
assurance, then I will neglect the getting of my assurance.
Beloved, ye see into what times we are now fallen, times of
war, and rumours of war ; times of blood ; these are dying
times : and is this a time for any of you to want assurance of
God s love ? When your hay lies abroad in the summer, and
you see a shower coming, you say, Cock up, cock up ! and I
would to God you might not see showers a coming, and yet
your evidences for heaven lie at random ; wherefore, in the
name of the Lord, cock up, cock up : and you that have false
assurance for you have heard that a man may think his
condition is good, when it is naught, yea, that he may die so
too look you well into your condition, and consider your
condition duly ; this is no time to have false assurance : la-
144 A LIFTING UP [SEB. 7*
bour, then, to get true assurance; and you that have assur
ance, labour to grow up more and more into it, and the riches
thereof.
But suppose, for the present, I do want assurance ; I con
fess, indeed, I ought not to be discouraged, although I do
want assurance, as I have heard ; but it is an hard thing to
bear up one s heart against all discouragements, in the want
of the assurance of God s love : but suppose I do want it for
the present, what shall I now do, that I may bear up against
discouragements in this condition ?
Some few things by way of direction here, and so I con
clude this argument.
Doest thou want assurance of God s love and of thine own
salvation ? labour more and more for to put to sea, I mean
to the sea and ocean of God s love, and the deeps of Christ s
merit and satisfaction. When you are at sea in a storm, or
stress of weather, you desire sea room, and if ye have sea
room enough, ye think all is well : it may be there are some
passengers in the vessel or ship, and they say, For the love
of God set us ashore, we are not able to ride out this storm ;
oh, set us upon some land or other : but the skilful mariner
saith, Nay, but still keep to sea ; if ye come to the shore we
are undone, we are all lost creatures. So in this case, the
time of the want of your assurance is a storm time, it is a
time of great stress upon your soul ; and if ye skill not the
methods of Christ, you will say, Oh, now set me upon some
duty, upon the coast of mine own righteousness, or mine own
holiness : but if you have a skill in the way of the gospel,
you will rather cry out, and say, O Lord, keep my soul in the
ocean of thy free love; sea room, sea room, and all is well
enough. Now there is sea room enough in the ocean of
God s free love, and of Christ s merits and satisfaction ; but
if you touch upon your own righteousness, you do but en
danger your soul, and sink your own heart into more despair
ing doubts and fears ; stand off, therefore, now, from your
own shore, and keep to sea, even that great sea of God s love
and Christ s merits.*
* In sola Christi morte totam fiduciam tuam constiiue, huic morti te totum
committe, hac morte te totum contege eique te totum involve, si Dominus te volu-
erit judicare, die Domine, mortem nostri Jesu Christi objicio inter me et te et
judiciam tuum aliter tecum non contendo ipsius meritum affero pro merito meo
SER. 7-] FOB THE DOWNCAST. 145
If you do want assurance, take heed that you do not
hearken unto any thing out of an ordinance, contrary unto
the comfort which the Lord speaks to you in the time of an
ordinance. Ye come to an ordinance, and there the Lord
begins to comfort you, so you go away, and ye are satisfied,
and your souls are refreshed ; but then afterwards, you sit
down and parley with Satan, and with your own souls ; and
ye lose all again, and doubt again, turning God s wine
into your own vinegar, and are unsatisfied again. But sup
pose that a father should give an estate of land unto his
child, and make it over to him with the best conveyance that
the law can provide ; and then this son having laid down
his conveyance some where negligently, a cunning lawyer,
(that he may get money from him,) should come and write
on the back-side of this conveyance, for such and such rea
sons, this conveyance is naught: should the son do well
thereupon to say, my father hath done nothing for me, I
have been deceived all this while, my father hath given me
nothing ; were this fair dealing with his father ? and if he
should run this course, should he ever have any assurance of
his land firm m his own thoughts ? Now, so it is with you
that are the people of God; the Lord hath given to you a
fair inheritance; heaven is your inheritance, the fairest and
best inheritance : the Lord hath given it you underhand and
seal, and sometimes you think your evidence is clear, and
you lay it by, and Satan comes and scribbles on the back of
it, and he saith, it is naught ; and you believe it, and then you
doubt again, and you are unsatisfied again : is this fair deal
ing with God ? Surely no. Wherefore then dost thou want
assurance ? The way to get it, and the way not to be dis
couraged in the want of it, is this : take heed that ye never
hearken to any thing, out of an ordinance, contrary to the
comfort which you have received in an ordinance.
Take heed that you be not discontented with your condi-
quod habere debuissem et heu non habeo. Anseltno in Meditat.
Cavendum est in lucta cum Deo ne fragili fundamento innitaris quod ille facit
qui de meritis suis confidit, nam ut ille qui solis meritis suis innititur. Deo
auxilio seipsum privat, sic qui de seipso totaliter diffidit et soli gratiae innititur
Dei adjutorium ad se trahit. Parisienis in Lib. de Rhetor. Div.
Propter incertitudinem proprise justitiae tutissimum nduciam totam sola Dei
miserecordia reponere. Bellarm. Lib. 5. de Justif. cap. 7.
L
14G A LIFTING UP [SER. 7*
tion : discontentment breeds discouragement : but dost thou
want the assurance of God s love ? Say thus with thine own
soul ; however it be, yet will I wait on God, when the Lord
pleaseth he will give me assurance ; I will only labour to be
contented with my condition. But if ye be discontented, ye
will certainly be discouraged.
If you do want assurance of God s love, and of your
own salvation, take heed that you do not say, I shall never
be assured ; take heed you do not say, I shall never
have a promise; take heed you do not say, I shall never be
comforted ; take heed you do not say, I shall never have the
testimony of the Spirit, bearing witness with my spirit, that
I am the child of God ; do not say thus, I shall never be helped,
I am in a sad condition, and I shall never be better; I am
in an uncomfortable condition, and I shall never be comfor
ted ; I want assurance, and I shall never have assurance.
Beloved, this ye cannot say, for who knows what God will
do, whose ways are in the deep, and whose foot-steps are
not known ? You know how it is with a sick person ; if the
physician come, and tell him, thsre is hope of life, then his
heart dies not; but if the physician saith to him, Sir, you are
in a great and dangerous fever, and I would wish you to set
tle your estate, and look out for comfort for your soul, for
the truth is, you will never be recovered ; then his heart
dies. So here, take a poor soul that wants assurance, if he
saith, there is hope that I may be assured, he is not discou
raged : but if he saith, I have no assurance, and I shall never
have it, then he is quite discouraged ; it is this word never,
that doth discourage : oh, I shall never be encouraged, and I
shall never have assurance, and I shall never have the testi
mony of God s Spirit. Take heed that you do not say, I
shall never be assured, that is a temptation ; take heed of
the word never, in this case.
Carry this for a rule with you, and remember it much ;
that the less assurance you have, the more precious your
obedience may be, and the more kindly God may take it at
your hands. It is no great matter for a man to write, and to
work by the day light, or candle light ; but for a man to
write, or to work in the dark, is hard. So here, it is no
great matter comparatively, for a man to pray, and to work
7-] FOR TIIE DOWNCAST. 147
spiritually, while he is in the light ; but for a poor soul to
pray, and to work towards God, and to be obedient, when he
is in the dark, and hath no assurance of the love of God, is
something : I confess indeed that the more assurance you
have, the more full your obedience will be, but the less assu
rance you have, the more ingenuous may be your obedience ;
I say, the more full your assurance is, the more full and large
yourobedience will be; but the less assurance youhave, the more
ingenuous your obedience may be. Every child will serve
his father for his portion, and for his inheritance ; but when
a child shall doubt of his father s love, yea, when a child shall
conclude and say, I know that my father will disinherit me,
I know that my father will bestow nothing upon me, yet I
will serve him because he is my father ; will not all men say,
Here is ingenuousness indeed in this child ? So between God
and you; it is good for a Christian to be obedient at all
times, and the more assurance you have, the more you are
bound to obey ; but doth thy soul fear that God will disin
herit thee ? and yet dost thou -say, However it be, I will obey
God, for he is my Father ; though I cannot see him, yet will
I serve him ; and though I have no comfort from God, yet
will I be obedient to him, for it is my duty, he is my Father ?
The Lord will take this kindly at thine hands, and what thou
wantest in the largeness, shall be made up in the ingenuousness
of thine obedience. Wherefore, then, dost thou want assurance
of the love of God ? Comfort thyself with this, and say
within thine own soul, Well, though I do want assurance, I
hope, through grace, I am in some measure obedient, and the
less assurance I have, the more kindly God takes my obedi
ence at my hand : and therefore why should I be discouraged
or cast down ? Think, and think often of this rule ; and it
will help you to be obedient, and bear up your hearts also in
the want of assurance.
And thus I have done with the fourtli instance.
L 2
148 A LIFTING UP [SSB. 8.
SERMON VIII.
A LIFTING UP IN CASE OF TEMPTATION.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted
within me," &c. Psalm xlii. 11.
V. SOMETIMES the discouragements of the saints are
drawn from their temptations.
And thus they argue with themselves : I am a poor crea
ture, that hath laboured under many temptations, never any
so tempted as I have been: these two, three, four, five, six,
or many years, that I have lien under these temptations, and
no relief comes, no help comes; have I not reason then to
be discouraged and cast down ?
No; no reason yet: I grant that the least temptations are
great afflictions ; for the more a man is unfitted by affliction
for God s service, either in doing good or receiving good, the
worser and more heavy is that affliction to a gracious spirit.
Now, though God doth so overrule the temptations of his
people, that they receive good thereby, as appeareth afterward,
yet the temptation in itself doth indispose a man unto what
is good. The more a man is tempted unto what is evil, the
more a man is hindered from what is good. It is an affliction
to a gracious heart to be conflicting, fighting and combatting
with a man : but in temptations, we do combat and conflict
immediately with Satan, who is the prince of the air; with
principalities and powers; with that evil one, who for his de
vouring nature is called a lion, for his cruelty is called a dra
gon, and for his subtlety an old serpent: and in every temp
tation, a poor soul goes into the field with Satan, and fights
a duel with him. " Satan hath (saith Christ to Peter) desir
ed you ;" in which duel and combat a man doth not mis
carry for this present life barely, but, if he miscarry, he
miscarries to all eternity ; he dies, is killed and slain to all
eternity : oh what a mighty hazard doth a poor soul run in
every temptation ! The chaste and good woman counts it an
affliction to her, so long as she lives, if she be but once vio
lated ; if a filthv person meet her in the field, and violate
her, though she do not consent unto him ; she wrings her
SER. 8.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 149
hands, and saith, I am undone for ever. Nv. these tempta
tions are the solicitations of an unclean spirit, and what though
a man do not consent unto them, yet thereby his soul suffers
violence. Oh, saith a gracious soul, what though I do not
consent, yet what an infinite misery is it to be thus abused,
defiled, and violenced by these temptations ! The more any
affliction doth seize on soul and body, the greater it is : it is
comfort in a family that the wife is well, when the husband is
sick ; or that the husband is well, when the wife is down :
where both are down at once, it is a sad family indeed. So
though the soul be afflicted, yet if the body be well; although
the body be afflicted, yet if the spirit be well, it is some com
fort : but where both are down, the condition is sad : and
seldom doth any great temptation befal a man, but soul and
body are both down at once ; though at first it falls upon the
spirit, yet it descends into and fires the body. And therefore
saith Paul, " I received a messenger of Satan, a thorn in my
flesh, buffetting of me." As in the comforts of the Holy
Ghost, though the comforts be poured out upon the soul and
spirit, yet they run down upon the body : so in the troubles
of temptation, though they seize first upon the inward man,
yet they run upon the skirts of the outward man also. And
thus you will find it with Job (chap. vii. 1). God had put
Job into Satan s hand, only with this reserve, " See that thou
spare his life. 53 The devil having the power, first he loads him
with outward afflictions, and then with inward temptations :
while he was under *his outward afflictions, how sweetly did
he carry it, blessing the Lord, saying, " The Lord gives, and
the Lord takes away, blessed be his name ; but when the
volley of temptations came, then see what a sad condition the
good man was in, how he was all on fire, as if Job could not
be found in Job : while he was under these afflictions, he
rebuked his wife, for saying, " Curse God, and die ;" but
now, being under temptations himself, he wisheth to die, and
curseth the day of his birth : " My soul chooseth strangling
and death rather than my life," Job vii. 15. But had this
temptation any influence upon his body too ? it seems his
heart, and soul, and spirit was much disquieted, for he saith,
" Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee ?" verse 20.
But was his body fired with it too ? Yes : " When I said,
My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint ;
150 A LIFTING UP [SEH. 8.
then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me with vi
sions." verse 13, 14. As now we find by experience, many
poor souls cannot sleep while they are under their tempta
tions ; and if you will see the sum and upshot of all, read
what he says at verse 20 : " I am a burden to myself." And
so many now ; Why should I live any longer ? I am a burden
to my family, I am a burden to mine acquaintance, a burden to
all my friends, I am a burden to myself; who knows the
burden of a poor tempted soul but he that bears it ? Heb. xi.
37. Temptations are ranked among the greatest afflictions :
" They were stoned, sawn asunder, were tempted :" and, in
Ileb. ii., it is said of our Saviour, that " himself suffered be
ing tempted," yet he sinned not under his temptation. So
that there is somewhat of a suffering in every temptation,
although one be free from sin. And in Rev. xii. 12, it is
said, " Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea,
for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath."
And wherein is his wrath more seen than in his temptations.
Oh, what a sad and woeful condition is it then to lie under
temptations ! Yet, let me tell you, though there be some
suffering in every temptation, and the least temptation is a
great affliction, yet the saints and people of God have no
reason to be discouraged or cast down, whatever their temp
tations be.
How may that appear ?
Four demonstrations of it.
1. If Satan do therefore tempt the people of God, that he
may discourage them ; then have they no reason to be dis
couraged because they are tempted by Satan. I say, if Sa
tan s great design, end and aim, in all the temptations of the
saints, be to discourage them ; then they have no reason to
be discouraged because they are tempted, for then they
should gratify Satan, and give him his end. Now Satan
doth tempt that he may tempt; he tempts unto one sin,
that he may tempt unto another; he tempteth a man to sin
against the law, that he may make him sin against the
gospel ; and what greater sin against the gospel, than unbe
lieving discouragements? He knows or thinks, such and
such a person is gone from his kingdom, and he saith,
Though I cannot hinder his salvation, but he will be saved
do what I can; yet I will hinder his comfort, and make him
FOR THE DOWNCAST. 151
draw heavily, and if I can but discourage him in his duty, I
shall in time make him to cast it off. His great design is to
discourage ; and therefore whenever any godly man is
tempted, he should say, Well, through the grace- of Christ,
seeing Satan s design is to discourage, my design shall be to
bear up my heart and spirit against all discouragements.
2. If God our Father doth pity his children under their
temptations, and the more they are tempted by Satan, the
more they are pitied by God ; then have they no reason to
be discouraged, whatever their temptations be. How is it
with your own bowels ? If you had two children, one that
is in your house with you at home, and another that is in
Spain or Italy, abroad, exposed to great temptations ; is not
your pity most towards that child that is abroad, and exposed
to most temptations ? Your love may be expressed to him
that is at home as much another way, but your pitying love
is most to him that is abroad.* As in the time of a storm,
great rain or hail, if you have one child lie in your bosom,
or sitting upon your knee, and another that is abroad in the
open fields ; though your love in one kind may run out to
him that is upon your knee, yet, doth not your pitying love
run out more to him that is abroad in the open fields ?
Thus it is with God, he hath two sorts of children ; some
that are exposed to more temptations, and some that are
exposed to less ; though his grace and love may run out
more in one kind to them that are less tempted, yet his pity
ing love runs out most unto those that are most tempted.
And upon this account you will find in Scripture, that when
God saw any of his children were to go into any sad temp
tation, he did either immediately before, in or after, more
than ordinarily reveal himself unto them. The more you
are tempted by Satan, the more you are pitied by God. It
matters not whether your temptation be great or small : if
less, you have the less pity ; if more, you have the more
pity. Why then should you be discouraged, although your
temptations be never so great ?
3. If all the temptations of God s people be overcome
and broken, before they do fall on them ; then have they no
* Quo gravior incumbit tentatio, eo solet indulgentius agere cum suis Deus.
Brightman Apoc. ii. 49.
152
A LIFTING UP [ SEE. 8.
reason to be discouraged or cast down, because they are
tempted. Now so it is, Christ was a common person, not
only in his death, but in his life ; he did act and work and
bear as a common person, as our second Adam all along :
Christus non meruit sibi. Christ did not die for himself,
nor obey for himself; but he did die for us, and obey for us,
and all his seed were in him, as in a common person. Look
whatever evils Christ did bear, those he did bear for us, and
we did bear in him, as in our second Adam ; and therefore
when he was tempted, he stood as a common person in his
temptations, and in him all the saints and people of God,
who are his seed, were tempted ; and in his overcoming they
did overcome. For as when the first Adam was tempted,
he being a common person, we all were tempted in him ;
and vhen he yielded to Satan, we did all yield in him ; when
he was overcome, we were overcome in him ; and when he
did eat the forbidden fruit, all his seed did eat in him; and
every child of Adam may now say, 1 did then eat the for
bidden fruit : so when Christ was tempted, all his seed were
tempted in him ; and when he overcame, all his seed over
came in him. And therefore when you read the story of
Christ s temptations, ye are not barely to say, Thus and
thus Christ resisted for my example: but, in his resisting, I
did resist; in his overcoming, I did overcome. For, as I
did eat in the first Adam s eating, and yield in the first
Adam s yielding ; so I did refuse, and resist, and overcome
in Christ, the second Adam^s refusing, resisting, and over
coming. Thus with all the saints and people of God, who
are the seed of the second Adam, Christ hath not only
overcome their temptations for them, but in Christ their
second Adam they have overcome Satan, and made a spoil
of principalities and powers. And therefore why should
they be discouraged, whatever their temptations be ?
4. If God hath such an overruling hand of grace upon
all the temptations of the saints, as that they shall turn to
their good ; then they have no reason to be cast down, or to
be discouraged, because of them. Now God would never
suffer his people to be tempted, but that he intendeth to
destroy their temptations by their temptations. Look what
is the end and issue of an evil, that was God s design in
suffering thut evil to come to pass. And this is the end and
SER. 8.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 153
issue of all the saints temptations, that thereby they are
more enlightened. Tentatio dat intellectum. Temptation
gives understanding ; tempting times are teaching times.
Thereby they are more humbled ; " For this cause (saith
Paul) I received a messenger of Satan (he speaks it twice)
that I might not be exalted."
Thereby they are the more occasioned to live in God and
depend on him. " Watch and pray (saith our Saviour) lest
ye fall into temptation." Watching doth note our diligence,
praying doth note our dependence. And why watch and
pray? but, lest ye enter into temptation.
Thereby the grace and power and might of God in Christ
is the more discovered, and revealed to them. " My grace
is sufficient for thee," saith God to Paul in the time of his
temptation ; a word which he had not heard before.
Thereby their graces are more increased, as the Israelites
were multiplied by being oppressed. Unus Christianus ten-
tatus mille Christiani. One tempted Christian is worth a
thousand, saith Luther ; for as the wind and breath of the
bellows, though contrary to the fire, blows up the fire, and
increaseth the flame thereof; so, though the breath of temp
tation be contrary to grace, yet thereby grace is more
increased, and raised to a higher flame. When Satan curs-
eth, God blesseth ; and when God blesseth, he saith, " In
crease and multiply."
Thereby all the saints are made to triumph over Satan.
It is a Christian s duty, not only to triumph over the world,
but over Satan ; therefore saith the apostle, " The God of
Peace tread down Satan under your feet." Those ctre words
of triumph, and Paul in the name of other Christians, tri
umphs over principalities and powers. How shall a man
triumph, if he never have victory ; and how shall he have
the victory, if he never fights ? Therefore God leads his
people into the field, that they may fight ; but in all this
fight, God stands by, Christ stands by, love stands by ; and
God hath no design but of love upon his children in their
temptations.
Yea, upon this account our Saviour saith, that he doth
" appoint unto his disciples a kingdom, because they con
tinued with him in his temptations," Luke xxii. And shall
his disciples then be down, and be discouraged or complain,
154 A LIFTING UP [SER. 8.
because they are with him in his temptations ? Surely they
have no cause, they have no reason for their discourage
ments, whatever their temptations be.
But I have been tempted long, and long, and long as
saulted, yet I have no deliverance.
How long? As long as Christ himself? " He was in all
points tempted as we are, sin excepted," Heb. iv. Indeed
Satan found nothing in him, no tinder to receive the sparks
of his temptations ; but do but abate the sin of his tempta
tions, and then in all points he was tempted as we are, even
as much and as long : for if you look into Luke iv. 2, you
shall find that he was at one time tempted forty days ; and
then when Satan left him, the text tells us, " He left him for
a season/ tor he was daily tempting of him. And though
you have been long assaulted, hath not Satan left you for a
season, have you not had some intermissions, some revives,
some breathing times ? Job complained that he was not
suffered to swallow his spittle, he had no breathing time, as
he thought. But though your temptations have been long,
and very long ; yet you have had revives, Satan hath left
you for a season. And if that be true, That God hath such
an overruling hand of grace upon your temptations, that
your very temptations shall turn to your good ; that thereby
you are more enlightened, humbled, and your grace in
creased ; then the longer you are in this school, the better
scholar you shall be, the more enlightened, and the more
humbled, and the more gracious : why should you then be
discouraged, though your temptations be very long ?
But I am tempted many times to doubt of my child-ship,
Whether I be the child of God or no ?
And was not Christ our Saviour tempted so ? There are
but three particular temptations mentioned, in all the forty
days of Christ s temptation, and two of them run so : " If
thou be the Son of God ? " Wherein Satan labours to draw
a cloud upon Christ s assurance, and to write an if upon his
child-ship or sonship. Do you think to march through
your enemy s country to heaven, and never be at a stand
about your condition ? Suppose a man should travel through
a strange country which was very long, wherein he never
was before, and wherein are many cross ways ; would you
not wonder that he should travel all the way, and never be
SER. 8.] FOR THE DOWNCAST, 155
at a stand about his way, never question his way, whether
right or wrong ? If you be the child of God, you are now
from home, and travelling home, warring in a strange coun
try ; and do you think it is possible, and would it not be a
wonder, that meeting with so many cross ways, you should
never be at a stand about your condition, or question your
way, whether you be right or no ? Give me leave to
propound you a parable. Suppose two men : one goes very
brave, fares deliciously, is very merry, and full of money,
yet hath no lands, no calling, nothing left him, no friends to
maintain him, nor any honest way known to bring him in
money, and yet he is full of it; the other works hard, fares
meanly, goes plainly, and he is oft complaining, I fear I shall
want and miscarry, yet he hath a calling., some land, good
friends, and some money ? Which of these two, think you,
doth come most honestly by his money ? Will you not all
say, the latter ? For though he hath but a little, yet he
works, hath a lawful calling, ways known for to bring it in.
But as for the other, though fine, brave, and looks high, yet
he hath nothing to bring it in ; I fear he comes not well by
it. So spiritually : there are two sorts of people in the
world : one that is very confident of his salvation, and full
of comfort, yet he prayeth not in private, reads not, medi
tates not, examineth not his own heart, takes no pains about
his soul, but is often spending, keeping ill company, will be
sometimes drunk, swear, and be unclean, yet he is very con
fident he shall go to heaven ; the other prays, hears, reads,
meditates, walketh with all strictness in his life and conver
sation, yet he is always doubting and fearing, but through
grace he hath some comfort : which of these two, think you,
is in the best condition, and comes most honestly by his
comfort? Will you not say, surely, the latter? for though
he fears, yet he is always doing, working heaven-ward. The
other, though confident and full of comforts, hath no good
way for to bring them in, and therefore surely his evidence
for heaven is stolen, his comforts are all stolen ; but as for
the other, though he hath but little comfort, yet he comes
truly by it. Thus it may be with you ; whilst others swag
gering it, and braving it out with their comfort, and false
confidence, go to hell, and perish everlastingly. It is a sure
rule, that God s promise of mercy doth suppose our misery ;
156 A LIFTING UP [SER. 8.
if he promise health, he supposeth our sickness ; if he pro
mise grace, it supposeth our sin. Now, though in the times
of the Old Testament, God promised much outward bles
sing ; yet in the times of the New Testament, the mercy
promised is, to send the Comforter ; the Spirit who shall
bear witness unto our spirits that we are the children of
God. Often our Saviour saith, " I will send the Comfor
ter :" why ? but to show that in the times of the gospel, the
people of God shall labour under doubtings, and be full of
fears about their spiritual estate ; and therefore, though you
do doubt of your childship, which is your evil, yet your state
herein, is no other than what may be the state and condition
of God s own people in these gospel times ; why therefore
should you be discouraged in this respect ?
But I do not only doubt of my child-ship, I am not only
tempted to doubt whether I be the child of God or no ; but
I labour under sad and fearful temptations, I am tempted to
strange and horrid things, such as I fear to name ; I am even
tempted to make away myself; tempted with blasphemous
thoughts, to doubt whether there be a God or no ; whether
the Scripture be true ; and to say that I have sinned against
the Holy Ghost : such and such things I am tempted to, as
my very soul and flesh doth tremble at ; and have I not just
cause and reason now to be discouraged and cast down ?
I confess this is sad indeed : I do not read in Scriptuie,
though I read of many sins of the godly, that ever any godly
man did make away himself. It is a good speech of Austin :
Sibi auferendo presentem vitam, abnegantfuturam; Men by
taking away their present life, deny themselves their future
life. But because, saith Mr. Perkins, some have done this,
whose lives have been counted honest and good formerly;
therefore my sentence is thus : I dare not say they are damn
ed, because of their former life ; and I dare not say they are
saved, because of their sinful death ; yet for the temptation
itself, I say, if it do not come to act; as there is no duty
which a godly man doth perform, but a wicked man may do
the same, yet remain wicked ; so there is no temptation which
a wicked man may yield unto, but a godly man may be
tempted unto, yet remain godly: was not Christ himself
tempted by Satan to throw himself down from the pinnacle
of the temple? yet he did it not: only my counsel and advice
. 8.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 157
from the Lord is, if any be troubled with such a temptation,
be sure ycu reveal it, and discover it presently; and as for
those horrid, blasphemous suggestions which lie so heavy
upon your souls, which make your heart and flesh to tremble
at the rising of them. Ye have read how it was with the
king of Moab, when he could not break through the host of
Israel, nor make them cease from following the victory ; he
presented unto their view a horrid spectacle, sacrificing on the
walls his own dear son, and heir to the crown, that so the
Israelites, being not able to endure the view of that inhuman
sight, might give over the victory. Tims doth Satan do;
when he cannot drive a gracious soul out of the field any
other way, then he presenteth such horrid, inhuman sugges
tions to him, that he may scare him from the good ways of
God : it is not in our power to hinder Satan from presenting
these things to our thoughts. When you come into wicked,
ungodly, and profane company, if they will swear, and curse,
and blaspheme, you cannot hinder them from speaking, nor
yourself from hearing ; you may sit down and mourn, saying,
Oh, what blasphemy is here ! what cursing is here ! but do
what you can, they will fill your ears with these things. Now
Satan, being a spirit, he is able to present these blasphemies
to your spirits, and you cannot hinder it : you may cry out
and say, Oh, what blasphemy is here ! oh what a burden is
this to my soul ! but he can present them to you whether
you will or not; and did he not present these things unto
Christ himself? " All these things will I give thee (saith he)
if thou wilt fall down and worship me." What greater blas
phemy can be imagined, than that the God of heaven and
earth, as Christ was, should worship Satan ; yet hereunto he
did tempt our Lord and Saviour. And if our God doth so
order the temptations of his children, as that thereby they
are kept from sin, have they any reason to be discouraged
now by these horrid temptations ? Many a man is kept from
other sins. Jerom, Luther, Magdeburgensis and others, re
late a story of a certain martyr, that when the enemies could
not threaten him out of his religion, they sent a very hand
some, fair, and beautiful woman to entice him to folly ; and
he finding himself to be moved, and his lust begin to work,
did bite off his tongue, and spit it in her face, thinking that
the pain thereof would keep him from that fleshly lust,
A LIFTING UP [SER. 8.
counting it more ease to combat with pain than with lust, as
Austin speaks,* and hereby he was preserved. I do not
speak of this fact to commend it, but only to shew that God
doth sometimes keep his children from lust by pain. Now
in these blasphemous suggestions you find a great deal of
pain, and if you were not in these pains, you would be lust
ing after other evils. God seeth what filthy, vile, lusting
hearts you have, and therefore suffers these pains for to come
upon you, and so you are kept from lust. Did you never
know a man kept from lust by these temptations ? yea, did
you never know a man converted to God by occasion of these
temptations ? I have, and I think many, many poor souls
that have lived in an ignorant condition a long time, then it
pleased God to suffer Satan to throw in these temptations,
these horrid temptations, whereby they are so amazed and
startled, that thereupon, they looking into their own condi
tion, were converted unto Jesus Christ. The more delights
and complacencies a man takes in sin, the more sinful is the
sin : the more a man s flesh trembleth, and his soul is bur
dened under temptation, the less sinful. Now, cannot you
say, in truth, Lord, though these be my greatest burdens,
yet they are my least delights ? Yes. Well, then, be of
good comfort, the Lord doth but hereby keep you from other
sins, and therefore why should you be discouraged whatever
these temptations be ? As for the sin against the Holy Ghost;
he never sins against the Holy Ghost, that fears he hath
sinned against the Holy Ghost.
But these are not my temptations ; I praise God I am free
from such : but I have other great and strong temptations,
and have no strength to resist them. I am a poor, weak
person, a weak young man, or a weak young woman, and I
fear I shall yield unto my temptations ; and therefore I am
thus discouraged, have I not just cause and reason now ?
No ; for out of weakness we are made strong, and when
we are weak, then are we strong in the Lord, saith the apostle
Paul. Possibly a man may be weak in regard of years, and
yet may be strong in regard of grace, and overcome his
temptations. In 1 John ii. 12, "I write unto you little
children," saith the apostle John. Children he doth call
* Difficilius est pugnare cuui libidine quam cum cruce.
FOR THE DOWNCAST. 159
them all, for he was their father in Christ. And at verse
13, " I write unto you, fathers (saith he), because ye have
known in a) that is from the beginning: I write unto you,
young men, because you have overcome the wicked one : I
write unto you, little children (saith he), because you have
known the Father :" which, because it is matter of concern
ment, he repeats again at verse 14: "I have written unto
you, fathers, because ye hav e known him that is from the
beginning: I have written unto you, young men, because
you are strong, and you have overcome the wicked one."
There are three sorts of people in the world ; some that are
old and aged, some that are children, some that are middle-
aged, and are called young men, or young women. The aged
think that they have no need to learn, they know as much as
the minister can tell them ; therefore saith the apostle here,
" I write unto you, fathers." Children think that they are
not yet to learn, and they have time enough before them ;
therefore saith he, " I write unto you, children." Young per
sons think they should mind their business, trades and call
ings ; therefore saith he, " I write unto you, young men."
And I pray mark what he speaks, words suitable to all these
conditions : old men love antiquities, and therefore, saith he,
" I write unto you, fathers, because you have known him that
is from the beginning." Children love to have the father s
and mother s name in their mouth ; and therefore saith he,
se I write unto you, children, because ye have known the Fa
ther." Young men are strong, and are fit for fighting, and
therefore saith he, " I write unto you, young men, because
you have overcome the evil one." What evil one is that but
Satan the tempter ? and, of all others, young men are here
said to overcome the evil one ; of all men and women, young
persons do overcome. This time of young men is the over
coming time. And I pray tell me, was David an old man
when he slew Goliah ? Nay, not thirty years old. Was Jo
seph an old man when he refused and overcame the tempta
tion of his mistress ? Was Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
old persons when they resisted and overcame the temptation
of the king, choosing rather to go into the fiery furnace than
to yield ? Nay, but they are called the three children ; and
hath not God said, the " young child shall play upon the hole
of the asp ?" What is the hole of the asp, if temptation be
160
A LIFTING UP [SER. 7
not ? And if you consider that story of the Israelites victory,
which God gave them against the Amalekites, ye shall find
that they never had a more glorious victory; so great, that they
set up an altar, and called the name of it, " Jehovah Nissi,"
the Lord my shield. Yet if you look into Deuteronomy you
will find that the Amalekites fell upon them when they were
weak and weary at Rephidim, and in this weak and weary
time they had this glorious victory. What therefore though
you be weak and weary, and now are in the valley of llephi-
dim ; yet thou mayest overcome, and have so glorious a vic
tory, that thou shalt set up an altar, and call the name of it,
" Jehovah Nissi," the Lord my shield.
Oh, but I have yielded, and been overcome already in my
temptation.
Well, but know you not that it is one thing to be overcome
in prtelio, in the skirmish ; and another thing to be overcome
in hello, in the battle ; those who are overcome in the skir
mish, may overcome in the battle: and let me tell you this,
that you are never quite overcome, so long as you keep your
weapon in your hand : when a man lieth down before his
enemy, and gives up his weapon, then he is overcome in
deed ; and when you lie down, and are discouraged, and give
all up, saying, I will pray no more, and hear no more, and
read no more, all is to no purpose ; then are you overcome :
but till that be, though you be overcome in the skirmish,
you may overcome in the main battle ; will you then lie down
and be discouraged ? or is there any reason why a godly man
should be discouraged ? No. Surely if this be true, that a
man is never quite overcome till he lie down ; then, through
grace, every godly man should say, I will never give up my
weapon : " Why art thou cast down, oh my soul ? Still wait
on God."
But yet all this reacheth not my case or condition ; for I
fear that my temptations are not such temptations as are
incident unto God s people; as my sin and spot is not the
spot of God s people; so that my temptations are not, that
they are not such as God s own people do meet withal ; and
I rather fear it, because that since the time that I have set
my face towards heaven, I have met with such temptations
as I did never feel before : surely therefore all is not right
with me ; have I not cause then to be discouraged and cast
down ?
. 8.] FOB THE DOWNCAST. Ifil
No ; for, I pray, what are the temptations of God s people,
and how do they take them ?
1. When a godly man is tempted to any sin ; if he fall
into it, then he is tempted again with unbelief, to think that
all is naught, even all that ever he had done before, tempted
to aggravate his sin, and to despair. When a wicked man is
tempted to what is evil, if he fall into it, then he is tempted
to presume, tempted to excuse his sin, and to think, and say,
This is but a slip, or youthful carriage, God is merciful, and
the like ; and so he is tempted to presume. This usually is
the way and manner of Satan with the godly and ungodly.
2. When a godly man is tempted to what is evil ; if he fall
into it, the devil then tempteth him to think it was no temp
tation, and to lay all upon himself, saying, I have done fool
ishly, I will go out and weep bitterly ; the devil had no hand
here in it, it was all mine own. When a wicked man is
tempted to what is evil, if he fall into it, he is then tempted
| afresh to think it is but a temptation, and I was drawn into
I it by others, it was not myself, Satan tempted me, or such an
p one tempted me, the woman that thou gavest me, or the
jj friend that was with me ; and so he doth lay it on others.
This is usually the way and manner of Satan with the godly
i, and ungodly.
3. When a godly man is tempted to what is evil, he rather
startles at the sin than at the burden of it. When a wicked
man is tempted to what is evil, he rather startles at the bur
den and at the punishment than at the evil and sin of it.
; And this we see clearly in the xxvith of Matthew ; our Sa
viour tells the disciples, at the 21st verse, that one of them
should betray him ; whereupon they were all of them aston
ished, and said every one, one by one, " Lord, is it I ?"
These were good disciples. Judas yet stirs not : but at verse
25, it is said, " Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered,
and said, Master, is it I ?" Then ; When ? Look to verse
24, and you shall read that our Saviour speaks of the burden
and punishment of his sin : " The Son of Man goes, as it is
written of him ; but woe unto that man by whom the Son of
Man is betrayed ; it had been good for that man if he had
not been born." Then Judas answered, Is it I, Lord ? Then
he startled. The true and gracious disciples of Christ startled
at the sin, when Christ did but name the sin ; but then not
VOL. II. M
162 A LIFTING UP [SER. 8.
a word from Judas : but when Christ speaks of the punish
ment and burden of his sin, then Judas startled, and not a
word from them. So that, plainly, a gracious soul startleth
at the evil of a temptation more than the burden of it, a
wicked man more at the burden than at the evil of it. This
is the way of the godly and ungodly in their temptations.
And as for you, poor, tempted, doubting souls, that labour
under sad temptations, and think it hath not been with you
as with others ; have you not even found it thus ? Can you
not say of a truth, Lord, my soul hath found it thus ? For
after I have sinned, I have been tempted again, to doubt of my
child-ship, and to sad despair; when I have been tempted to
sin, and have fallen into it, I have laid all upon myself, and
said, it is no temptation, but this is my own corruption ; yea,
Lord, thou knowest my soul hath been more startled at the
evil of the temptation, than at the burden ; as for the burden
of my temptation, I leave that to thee, take it off when thou
wilt ; but oh that my soul were freed from the evil of it.
Then be of good comfort, it is no otherwise with you than
what may be with God s dear children ; your spot is no other
than what may be the spot of God s own people.
And whereas you say, I fear that all is not right, because I
find such temptations now, since I have looked towards hea
ven, which I did never feel before :
Do you think that Peter ever did deny Christ before he
was converted to Jesus Christ ? Did David ever number the
people whilst he was in the state of nature ? Do you read
that the children of Israel wanted water and bread while they
were in Egypt, or that they met with so many temptations
there as they did after God had appeared mightily to them ?
Was not Christ tempted after baptized, and heard a voice
from heaven, saying, This is my well-beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased :" did he ever meet with such temptations,
before he was so declared to be the beloved Son of God from
heaven ?
And if God do not measure a godly man by any one ac
tion, under any present temptation, nor cast his everlasting
condition thereby ; then what reason is there why he should
be discouraged in this respect ? Look into the Scripture,
and you shall find, that though God doth chastise his people
for their miscarriage, and change of their behaviour under
SER. 8.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 163
their temptation; yet he doth never measure a godly man, or cast
his everlasting condition by that. You will not measure milk
when it seeths and wallops, but when it is cool : andGod will not
measure his children by what they are when they wallop in
some temptation, but by what they are when they are cool
and most themselves. So he did deal with Job, Jeremiah,
and Moses, and all his children : indeed he doth not deal so
by the wicked, he measures them sometimes by one carriage,
and they are cast thereby, that even everlastingly they are
cast thereby. Ananias and Sapphira lied but once to the
Holy Ghost, that we read of, and Satan had a hand therein ;
for saith the apostle, " Why hath Satan filled your heart, that
you should lie unto the Holy Ghost?" yet they were cast
thereby. It was but one act that Saul did when he spared
Agag and the fatlings, yet he was cast thereby. It was but
one act that Adam did, and Eve did, when they did eat the
forbidden fruit, and Satan tempted them to it, yet they were
cast thereby, and all mankind lost thereby. Why ? Because
they were upon a covenant of works. So when men are un
der a covenant of works, if they miscarry but in one action,
though tempted thereto by Satan, yet God may cast them
thereby. Now all the wicked, still, are under the covenant
of works ; and therefore though it he but one act wherein
they miscarry, and they be drawn thereunto by Satan, yet
_God sometimes doth, and justly may cast them thereby unto
all eternity. But as for the saints and people of God, they
are not under a covenant of works, but of grace, all of them
are so ; and therefore God deals graciously with them, not
measuring them by any one carriage, under one temptation.
No, saith the Lord, it is but the time of their temptation, I
will not measure this man or woman by what they are now,
but as they are when they are cool, most themselves, and out
of temptation. Oh what a gracious privilege is this I Whc
would not labour to get into Christ, to become godly, to be
in this covenant of grace ! And as for you that are godly,
tell me, upon all this account, have you any just cause and
reason for your discouragements under your temptations
Surely no ; whatever your temptations be, yet you have no
reason for discouragement.
But what then ? What shall I do that I may bear up my
heart against all discouragements in this kind, that I may not
M
164 A LIFTING UP [SER. 8.
be cast down or discouraged by reason of my temptations ?
I confess, indeed, that there is no reason why a godly man
should be discouraged in this respect ; but yet it is a hard
thing to bear up against all discouragements in time of temp
tation: what shall I do in this case, that I may not be
discouraged whatever my temptations be ?
I will say nothing to your natural temper : if temptations
arise from natural causes, then natural means, as physic, are
to be used and applied, and people should do well to be per
suaded thereunto. But somewhat by way of direction spi
ritually.
If you would not be discouraged under your temptations,
take heed that when you are in temptation, you do not ex
pect too much from any one means of help ; over expectation
breeds discouragement; disappointment doth breed discou
ragement : it is not the sadness of your condition, but dis
appointment that doth cause discouragement. If a man be
in debt, and under an arrest; so long as he thinks he hath
friends to bail him, or some goods and commodities to make
sale of, he is not discouraged ; but if he expect much from
his friends, and all fail him, and his goods be seized, that he
cannot have help come in at that door, nor from any other
means, which he expected from, then he is quite discouraged.
If a man be in the water, wherein there is danger of drown
ing ; so long as he can get hold of something that will bear
him up, he is not discouraged ; but if he lay hold of seme
tuft of grass on the bank side, and that breaks, he falls back
again, and is more plunged in the water ; and if he be not
scared out of all thoughts, he is more discouraged than ever.
So here, in temptation, we are as in the water, and in fear of
drowning, crying out, We sink, we sink ; then we fly to some
tuft of grass, some means or other, and if that break or fail,
then we are quite discouraged. Would you not, therefore, be
dejected or cast down in time of temptation ; take heed that
you do not lay all your strength upon one tuft of grass ; this
or that man s counsel ; this or that particular means ; but say
rather, I am now indeed in the deep, and in fear of drown
ing, and see no means of deliverance ; but God s ways are in
the deep, and he is infinite, he hath ways and means that I
know not of; therefore though I use the means, yet I will
SER. 8.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 165
not rest on them, and though all tufts of grass break, and
anchors come home ; yet I will wait on God.
If you would not be discouraged in time of temptation,
take heed that you do not say of your temptation, this is no
temptation. Satan tempts, first unto what is evil, and then
he tempts God s people to think that their temptation is no
temptation : as long as man thinks it but a temptation, he
thinks, it will not last long, it is but a temptation, it will not
hold always, and so his heart is in some measure upheld
with hope : but when Satan can persuade, that the temp
tation is no temptation, but a worse matter, then the heart
sinks and dies : take heed therefore that you do not say
that your temptation is no temptation.
Consider what infinite engagements are upon Jesus Christ,
to succour and relieve poor tempted souls; yon can never
be discouraged under temptation, so long as you think, how
mightily Christ is engaged to help those that are tempted;
and engaged he is many ways ; engaged by his own temp
tations; for he was therefore tempted, that he might be
able experimentally to succour those that are tempted : en
gaged he is by promise ; for he hath said he will not quench
the smoking flax, yea, though it hath more smoke than fire :
engaged he is by his interest in you, and his name upon
you : engaged he is by his own gracious disposition ; when
he was upon earth, he cured those that were vexed by
Satan : art thou now tempted ? thou art now vexed by Satan ;
Christ is as gracious in heaven as he was on earth : engaged
he is by office ; tor saith the apostle, " We have not such
an High-Priest, as cannot be touched with our infirmities,
but was in all points tempted as we are, that he might
succour those that are tempted ;" he is our great High-
Priest. When the man-slayer was pursued by the avenger
of blood, if the man-slayer fled unto a city of refuge, he
was safe there : where he was to stay till the death of the
high-priest; and when the high-priest died, then he was
set at liberty. The Lord Jesus Christ is our High-Priest ;
by whose death we are set at liberty; and by whose life
we are all preserved : it is his office to succour poor tempted
souls, pursued by avengers of blood: and if a good man
be faithful in his office, much more will Christ, by whom all
other men are faithful. Yea, God our Father hath erected
166 A LIFTING UP [SER. 8.
an office for the succouring of poor tempted souls, and Jesus
Christ hath this office ; whenever therefore you are tempted,
and fear you shall miscarry under your temptation, then
remember Christ, and say, Oh ! but the Lord Jesus is in
office; he is bound to succour poor tempted souls, and
such a one am I ; he is engaged by his own temptation ; he is
engaged by promise ; he is engaged by his interest in me,
and his name upon me ; he is engaged by his own disposi
tion he is engaged by his office, and therefore though I be
tempted unto what is evil, yet, avoid, Satan, for I shall be
delivered ; I am tempted, but I shall be delivered, for the
Lord Jesus Christ is engaged for my deliverance. Do but
think of Christ s engagement, and you will never be dis
couraged, whatever your temptations be.
Think not to comfort or relieve yourself in temptation,
with mere philosophical or moral reasons, for the disease
of temptation is stronger than that physic ; temptations
answered by reason will return again, but temptations dipt
in the blood of Christ will return no more, or not with such
violence and success. Ye see how it is with a candle that
is blown out, it is easily lighted again, but if you put it into
water, then it is more hard to light. So, temptations blown
out with resolutions and moral reasons do easily return, but
quenched in Christ s blood do not so. Christ is an universal
good, reason can hold forth but a particular good ; now
there is that in an universal good which will answer unto
all your ills ; but as for moral reasons, the tempter will say
to them, Christ we know, and the promise we know, but
who are ye ? It is God himself, saith the apostle, 2 Cor. 1.
" Who comforteth us in all our tribulations. " Are we in the
dark ? Christ only can light the candle.
Be not unwilling to advise with those that have trodden
the way of temptation, though they be weaker than yourself.
Christ was stronger than any angel, yet in the time of his
agony, the angels came and comforted him. Possibly a
stronger may be comforted and strengthened by a weak
hand in the time of an agony ; and temptation-time is agony-
time. Are you therefore tempted and in the dark ? Speak
with those children of light that have gone through this dark
entry of temptation. Who knows, but that God may speak
that comfort to you by a weaker hand, which you could
never obtain bv a stronger.
SER. 8.] FOR THE DOWNCAST.
But especially speak arid converse with the promise ; hear
what the promise speaketh; the Lord by it saith, that no
temptation shall overtake you, " but what is common to men."
1 Cor. x. 13. Oh ! say you, never any one was troubled with
such temptations as I am, but saith the apostle, say not so,
"for no temptation hath overtaken you, but what is common
to men." You think that your temptation is extraordinary,
and the truth is, that is a second temptation at the back
of the first ; it is a temptation to think that my temptation
is extraordinary, yet say you, Oh ! my condition is extra
ordinary, my affliction extraordinary, and my temptation
extraordinary; but, says the apostle, "no temptation hath
overtaken you, but what is common to men." You think
that you shall never be able to bear your temptation. Oh !
say you, I am a poor weak creature, my temptation is strong
and great, therefore I shall never be able to bear it. But
says the apostle, " God is faithful, who will not suffer you
to be tempted above that ye are able. " Again, you think
that you shall never be rid of this temptation, Oh, say you,
I have been tempted thus and thus long, and no deliverance
comes, nor any likelihood of deliverance, surely therefore I
shall never be delivered : but the apostle saith, " God is
faithful who will with the temptation, make a way for escape.
He will give an outlet, open a door and window, that this
smoke may go out. It may be that you see not this door,
it may be out of sight ; so the door of the ark was in the
time of the flood, but when the ark was built, the door was
built. So when Satan built this temptation, God did build
a door in the sides thereof, and in due time you shall see
it. But may I be sure of that, you will say ? Yes, as sure
as God is faithful, for he hath pawned his faithfulness for
the truth of this promise. " But God is faithful, " says the
apostle, " who will with the temptation, make a way for
escape." Oh ! that that men would mind the promise more
and all the words thereof. They are so hurried sometimes
with the temptation, that they cannot hear the promise.
But is all this true ? Oh, then attend the promise, hear what
the promise speaketh.
Consider also what comforts lie behind your temptations ;
as temptations sometimes lie in ambush behind your per
formances, so comforts lie in ambush behind your temptations,
168
A LIFTING UP [SER. 9.
and as the greatest temptations do sometimes follow the
highest manifestations of God s love (witness the 3rd and
4th chapters of St. Matthew), so the greatest consolations
do sometimes follow the worst temptations. When did the
angels minister unto Christ, but when he had made a good
dispatch of temptations ? So it shall be with you also ; for
Christ was tempted, that by his example and issue of temp
tation, he might succour you under your temptation. Ye
have heard of the patience of Job, and what end the Lord
made with him, he had twice as much after the temptation was
over as he had before; and if you ride out this storm, assuredly
the good angels will come and minister to you, and your
consolations shall be doubled unto what ye had before.
Wherefore, my brethren, take unto you the whole armour
of God, that ye may be able to withstand in this evil day,
and having done all to stand ; and so much for the fifth instance.
SERMON IX.
A LIFTING UP IN CASE OF DESERTION.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted
within me," #c. Psalm xlii. 11.
VI. SOMETIMES the discouragements of the saints are
taken from their desertions, spiritual desertions.
And this was David s case here, for, saith he, verse 10,
" As a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproached me,
while they say unto me, Where is thy God ? " And verse 9,
" I will say unto God, my Rock, why hast thou forgotten
me ?" And this is the ordinary case of God s children : Oh,
saith one, the Lord hath forgotten me, hid his face from me,
and hath forsaken my soul, and therefore I am thus discou
raged. I do not complain for want or loss of outward
mercies and blessings; yea, though all the world should
forsake me, I should not be much afflicted, if God and Christ
were present with me : but times were, when the candle of
the Lord shined upon me, when I walked, as I thought, in
the light of his countenance; but now the Lord hath hid
SER. 9.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. i69
his face from me, and hath left and forsaken my soul. Have
I not just cause and reason to be cast down now, and to be
much disquieted ?
No. I grant, and it must needs be granted, that it is a
most sad thing for a gracious heart to want the face and
presence of God and Christ, to be deserted and forsaken by
Christ ; yea, I do not know any thing, or any affliction, that
is so afflictive to a gracious heart, as this : for, take any
other affliction, and though it be great, yet it is but a parti
cular affliction, the loss of some particular good, and the
putting out of some one candle, or the hiding of some one
star ; but if Christ hide his face, and God withdraw or hide
himself, it is the darkening of the sun, which brings an uni
versal darkness upon the soul; and it embitters all other
afflictions, for as the presence of Christ sweetens all other
comforts, so the absence, or forsakings of Christ, do embitter
all other sufferings, and cut off all our relief and remedy
against them. So long as the face of God shines upon a
poor soul, he may run to Christ, and relieve and help himself
against his affliction. True, my friends forsake me, my rela
tions forsake me, but Christ hath not forsaken me : but if
God and Christ forsake, where shall a man relieve or refresh
himself in this stormy day ? And as those sins are greatest,
that cut off our relief against other sins ; so those afflictions
are greatest, that cut off our relief against other afflictions.
Such is this : of all afflictions, it looks the most like a judg
ment to a gracious soul. " O Lord (saith David), correct
me not in thine anger, nor chasten me in thy hot displeasure,"
Psalm vi. 1. When God hides his face, and forsakes the
soul, he seems to correct in anger and in hot displeasure.
Herein a Christian doth, as it were, combat with God him
self: he fights with men sometimes, and then he is more
than a conqueror, because Christ fighteth with him and in
him; he fights with Satan, principalities and powers, and
then he doth overcome, because Christ is with him : but oh,
saith the soul in this desertion, God is mine enemy here I
must fight it out hand to hand with divine anger, and what
shall I do now, how is it possible that I should now escape ?
The truth is, this affliction above all others seems to draw a
curtain over all our comforts, and to put an end unto all our
spiritual joy. What birds sing in the winter time ? Some
170 A LIFTING UP [SEE. 9.
may, but ordinarily they no not. If you walk abroad in the
winter time, and hear no birds sing, and one say to you,
What is the reason of this deep silence ? two or three months
ago, when we walked in the fields, every wood had its several
music; how sweetly did the birds sing then, but now they
are all silent : what is the reason ? you will easily answer,
Aye, then indeed it was summer time, then the sun shone
upon them, and so they sang ; but now the warming and
enlivening beams of the sun are gone, they sing no
more. Beloved, the light of God s countenance is our
spring, desertion is our winter. Show me that saint that is
able to sing in this winter time. I confess it is possible for
a man to do it, and some there are. Habakkuk was one that
learned this song of faith ; but how few are able to sing and
rejoice when God hides himself. No, saith the soul, two or
three months ago the Lord shined upon me, and then I could
sing indeed ; but now God and Christ is gone, and so all my
songs are gone, and joys are gone, and I fear I shall never
see them again, or rejoice in Christ again. It is said of
Mary, that when she went to Christ s sepulchre, she wept ;
and though the angel came to her and said, " Why weepest
thou ? " yet she continued weeping, the presence of an angel
could not comfort her. Why ? Oh, saith she, u . they have
taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid
him." Would it not grieve a prince to be dispossessed of
and to lose his crown ; to be made like an ordinary man ?
This presence of Christ is the crown of a Christian; and
therefore when God had forsaken the church, as we read in
Lam. v., she complained, verse 16, " The crown is fallen
from my head." Why ? verse 20, Wherefore dost thou
forget us for ever, and forsake us so long a time ? " Verse
Thou hast utterly rejected us, thou art very wroth
against us." Take away the presence of Christ, and ye set a
Christian among the ordinary rank of men : and must he not
needs be troubled when his crown is thus taken from his
head ? I have read of a religious woman, that having borne
nine children, professed that she had rather endure all the
pains of those nine travails at once, than endure the misery
of the loss of God s presence. And indeed this affliction of
God s forsaking a man, is so great, that if a man feel it not,
I even fear it is because he is forsaken indeed. But now,
SBB.7.] TOR THE DOWNCAST. 171
though there be never so much gall and wormwood in this
cup, yet the children of God have no reason to faint at the
drinking of it ; no just cause or reason yet to faint, or be
discouraged, or cast down.
How may that appear ?
1. For the clearing of this truth to you, ye must know,
that God, or Christ is said to forsake a man, either in regard
of his power, grace or strength, or in regard of the comfort
able feelings of his love, either in regard of union or in
regard of vision. 1. In regard of union he never forsakes
his own people. 2. In regard of his power, grace and
atrength, he never forsakes them totally. And, 3. in regard
of vision, or comfortable feelings, though he do forsake for a
time, yet he will return again. And if all these be true,
have they any reason to be much discouraged? For the
first, ye know what is said, John xiii. 1, " Those whom he
loves, he loves unto the end." As for the second, ye know
what he saith also, Heb. xiii. 5, " I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee." " We are kept by the power of God
unto salvation," 1 Pet. i. 5. And as for the third, hath not
the Lord promised, Isaiah liv., that he will return again with
advantage ? Verse 7j " For a small moment have I forsaken
thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee : in a little
wrath I hid my face from thee, for a moment ; but with
everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the
Lord thy Redeemer," verse 8. Now ye know that friends
are not much troubled at such a parting, which is but for a
time. It is said of the church of Ephesus, that when Paul
took leave of them they wept, " because he said they should
see his face no more." The saints Cctnnot say so in regard
of Christ ; though they see not his face for the present, yet
they cannot say, I shall see his face no more, for he will
return again, yea, and return with advantage ; for though he
forsakes for a moment, yet with great mercy, and with ever
lasting kindness, will the Lord have mercy on them. What
then, though you be forsaken for a moment, have you any
just cause and reason for your discouragement ?
2. If Christ do therefore forsake his people, that he may
not forsake them, and hath a design of love, and nothing but
of love upon them in his forsaking ; then have they no just
cause for their discouragements. Now I pray, what is the
172 A LIFTING UP [SfiR. 9.
reason why God doth forsake his people for a time, or a
moment, hath he any design but love upon them ? Doth he
not therefore withdraw himself from them, that he might
draw them to himself ? Doth he not therefore hide his face
for a moment, that he may not turn his back upon them for
ever ? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment,
that they might die unto all the world, and long after heaven,
where there is no forsaking ? Doth he not therefore forsake
them for a moment, that they might die unto the way of
sense, and learn to live by faith, which is the proper work of
this life ? Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment,
that in this winter of their desertion, the weeds and vermin
of their sins may be killed and mortified ? Doth he not
therefore forsake them for a moment, that he may see their
love to him ? In time of his presence we have the sense of
his love to us ; but in the time of his absence, then he
seeth, and we ourselves have the sense of our love to him.
Doth he not therefore forsake them for a moment, that their
very joys and comforts may be more fervent, exalted and
enlarged? It is our nature to rejoice most in a comfort,
when it is redeemed from the hand of death, and recovered
from loss. The wise men, when they saw the lost star again,
then they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Did they not
rejoice in the star before ? Surely they did, but they rejoiced
more, even with exceeding great joy, when they had found
the lost star. And this is our nature, we rejoice most in
the finding of lost mercies. Now the Lord Christ knows
our nature, and therefore that he may raise our joy, our
praise, our thankfulness, for his presence, face, and manifest
ation of his love, he doth sometimes withdraw them. So
that in all his withdrawings, he hath a design of love upon
our souls : have we any reason then to be much discouraged,
though deserted ?
3. Though it pleaseth God, to hide his face from his peo
ple sometimes, insomuch, as they are in the dark, and in a
very dark condition ; yet they are never so much in the dark,
but that they have light enough to work by: for what day is
there m all the year, that is so short, dark, and gloomy, but
a man may see to work by ? Indeed, sometimes the sun is in
the eclipse, sometimes behind a cloud ; sometimes it breaks
not forth with his golden beams, as at other times : but if the
SER. 9.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 173
sun be up, and it be day, a man hath always light enough to
work by. Now the sun is always up with the saints, it is
always day with them ; though the beams of the Sun of
Righteousness do not shine, yet it is always day ; they are
not children of darkness ; they may have a dark day of it,
but though it be never so dark, they may find light enough
to do the great work which they came into the world for;
which is to believe, and trust, and stay themselves on God ;
this a man may do in the darkest time, when he hath no
light : and therefore saith the prophet, " Let him that walks
in darkness, and seeth no light, stay himself upon the name
of the Lord." What then, though you have not so much
light as you would have, to refresh yourselves by : yet if you
have light enough to do your Father s work by, and the
greatest work of this life is to trust in God, and believe,
have you then any reason for your discouragements ? Thus
it is with all the saints ; though they may be in the dark,
and the sun shines not out upon them, yet it is always day
with them, and they have light enough, when it is darkest,
to do their Father s work and business by ; and therefore
certainly, the saints have no reason to be cast down, and
discouraged, although they be much forsaken, deserted, and
in the dark.
But Jesus Christ hath not only deserted, forsaken, and
withdrawn himself from me, in regard of vision ; but I fear
also in regard of union : not in regard of comfortable feel
ings only ; but in regard of strength and power : and there
fore I am afraid, and discouraged, and have I not cause
for it ?
No. For a man that is in the dark, is not able to judge
of his own grace, or Christ s strength in him : now you are
in desertion, therefore in the dark, therefore you are not
able to judge of your own grace, and Christ s strength in you;
yet if you can judge in this condition, and will deal faithfully
with your own souls ; is there not as much of Christ s
strength, and grace in your lives and conversations, as when
ye had that presence which ye mourn after, excepting your
enlargement in duties ? I confess indeed, that a gracious
man in time of desertion, hath not those enlargements, as
he had when God s face shined upon him ; but setting aside
your enlargements, what is there in your conversations
A LIFTING UP [SER. 9.
wanting now, which you had then ? and is the very want of
enlargement a sufficient reason to say that Christ is gone,
and hath forsaken me, not only in regard of vision, but in
regard of union, strength, and grace ? We read in Canticles
v. 5, that when Christ withdraws from the spouse, there
is some myrrh left upon the ringles of the door ; the spouse
ariseth, follows after him, and enquireth for him, saying,
" Did you see my Beloved ?" She met with the watchmen,
they smote her, and she was willing to bear their smiting,
that she might hear of Christ; she stands and admireth at
the beauty and excellency of her beloved ; " White and rud
dy, the fairest of ten thousand." Now in this desertion of
yours, is there not some myrrh upon the ringles of your
heart ? Do you not still stand admiring Christ, and his ex
cellencies ? Do you not enquire after your Beloved ? going
to one and to another, saying, " Did you see him whom my
soul loveth ?" Are you not willing that the watchmen
should smite you, so ye may but meet with Christ again ?
And will ye say then, he is only gone in regard of vision, but
in regard of union, power, strength and grace too ?
Surely you have no reason for it.
But I am not only forsaken and deserted, and want the
comfortable feelings, and manifestations of love which I once
had, and do now desire to have ; but I do find the contrary
tokens of God s displeasure, manifestations of his anger:
were it only in the withdrawings of love I might bear it ; but
Christ is angry, God is angry, appears to be mine enemy
and have I not reason now to be much discouraged ?
No : for if this hath been the condition of the saints be
fore you, why should you fear your state in this respect ?
Now look into Isaiah Ivii, and you shall find that God saith,
" I was wroth and smote him ;" he did not only hide his
face, but he was wroth ; yea, he is not only wroth, but he
smote his people too, and yet the promise is, " I will restore
comfort to him, and to his mourners :" did not Job think,
and say that God was angry with him, and become his ene
my ? and did not Job s friends think that God loved them
and was their friend, and his enemy ? yet if you look into Job
xln. you find that God was more pleased with Job, for he was
fain to pray for them before they could be accepted; and
know ye not that it is Christ s usual manner to personate an
. 9.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 175
enemy when he intends the most friendship, to seem a
I stranger when he intends the most communion. It is said
) that God was angry with Moses, Exod. iv. yet even then
j he gave him such a promise of mercy as he had not before,
ver. 14, 15, and 16. Ye know what David s choice was,
" Lord, let me fall into thy hands, and not into the hands
of men, for with thee is mercy." It is sometimes a mercy
to be immediately chastised by the hand of God our Father.
! God might turn us over to the hands of men, but if God
will take us into his own hand, and chastise with his own
; hand immediately, there is love in it. If a prince should
say to his officers, "my whole kingdom is before you, do
I right, and execute justice and judgment ; but as for such
and such a family, if they shall commit any fault, I will
chastise them immediately with my own hand, you shall not
j meddle with them, I will do it myself, " would not this argue
; love ? Thus it is with the saints in the time of desertion, then
i God takes the soul into his own hand, all creatures and
officers of his anger stand and meddle not; in other afflictions
God turns us over to his officers, but in desertion, there he
doth correct immediately ; and therefore though he strikes,
yet there is love at the bottom, and the more Christ doth
sympathize with you in any affliction, the less cause you
have to be discouraged. Christ is our sympathizing High-
Priest in all our afflictions, but the more we are like to
him in any affliction, the more he doth sympathize, and his
heart let out the more unto us. Jesus Christ was in desertion
himself, and not only forsaken, but, for our sakes, under
the wrath and displeasure of God his Father ; and therefore
when he sees a soul, not only deserted, but under anger and
displeasure of God, then he saith. Oh ! there is a soul that
is in my case, and so he does most commisserate and
compassionate that person. Have you then any reason
to be discouraged in this respect?
But this is not my case; for I am not only deserted,
forsaken, under manifestations of Christ s displeasure; but
I have sinned and drawn down this desertion upon my own
soul ; and therefore now it is that I am thus discouraged,
and have I not reason for it ?
No, for God doth not always desert and forsake his people
for their sins ; sometimes he doth, and sometimes he doth
A LIFTING UP [SER. 9.
not. As appears by comparing the iiird and yth chapters of
the Canticles. And it may be he doth now withdraw from
you, not for your sin ; and if there be but a may be of it,
there is no reason for discouragement. But suppose it be
so, look I pray into Isaiah Ivii. again, and see what the Lord
hath promised to a poor soul in this condition: verse 17,
" For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote
him ; I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly
in the way of his heart." Will ye say, the Lord doth not
only hide his face from you, but he hath smitten you ? So
here. Will ye say, oh, but I have sinned, and drawn this
desertion upon myself ? So here : " For the iniquity of his
covetousness I was wroth, and smote him." Will ye say,
oh, but I have sinned on both sides of this desertion : I
have sinned before the desertion came, which sin was the
cause of it ; and I have sinned since : I have been deserted
by my frowardness and peevish carriage ? So here : " For
the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and hid me ; "
there is sin on the one side : " and he went on frowardly in
the way of his heart ; " there is sin on the other side of
desertion : here is sin on both sides ; what then, is there
any hope, or comfort, or mercy for a heart in this condition ?
Yes, saith the Lord, " I will restore comfort unto him, and
to his mourners." Oh, but it is not comfort that my soul
desires ; but I have a foul, filthy, unclean, wicked heart of
mine own ; oh, that my heart were healed : is there any hope
of healing mercy in this condition ? Yes, saith the Lord, in
the text ; " I have seen his ways, and will heal him." Oh,
but though I be healed, I shall sin again, and wander from
God again : nay, saith the Lord, " But I have seen his ways,
and will heal him, and will lead him also." But I see no
means or likelihood of all this ; how can it be ? Yes, very
well; for saith the Lord, verse 19th " I create the fruit of
the lips ; peace, peace, peace, to him that is afar off ; and I
will heal him again :" Oh what comfort is here ? what an up
holding promise is here ? Can you read it or think of it, and
your heart sink before it ?
This is but part of my condition, for 1 have sinned, Christ
hath forsaken me; I have sinned, Christ hath smote me,
and he goes on smiting, goes on angry, goes on displeased ; I
I have been deserted a long while, in the dark a long while ;
SER. 9.] FOU THE DOWNCAST. 177
and I am so far from the light, that it doth even grow darker
and darker ; my condition being more sad every day than
other ; every day I am more deserted and my condition worser ;
have I not reason to be cast down and discouraged now ?
No : for when was it worst with the Israelites ? They
had an ill time of it all the time they were in the land of
Egypt, a dark time; but was it not worst with them im
mediately before their deliverance ? Did not the task
masters then beat them ? When was it worst with David ?
Ill at all times in the wilderness ; but was it not worst with
him at Ziklag, when he had lost his wives, and his own men
took up stones against him ? Psalm x, we read that David
saith, " Why standest thou afar off, O Lord, and hidest
thy self in time of trouble ?" hiding is more and worse than
standing afar off. When the sun is going down, then it
seems to be far off; but when it is hidden, then it is set,
and is further off : so saith David, Lord thou art not only
afar off, but even out of sight, quite out of sight and art hidden
from me ; his desertion grew higher and higher : and if you
look into Psalm xiii, you find that he speaks to the like pur
pose ; " how long wilt thou hide thy face from me ? how long
wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever ? " As hiding is more
than stan ding afar off; so it is worse than forgetting: for,
as Musculus observes well, forgetting is but remisso amoris ;
a man that loves another may forget him, yet he may love
him well; but hiding the face is, Ira testimonium the
testimony of anger ; and it is as if David should have said :
Lord, thou doest not only restrain thy love towards me, but
thou doest shew tokens of thy displeasure, and anger, and
thy displeasure riseth. So Psalm xxii, ver. 1, f My God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken me! I cry in the day time, but
thou hearestnot, " ver. 2. How can this be, saith Augustine,
that God should forsake Christ in his sufferings, for these
words are spoken of Christ, when God was in Christ recon
ciling the world unto himself ? Yes, very well, saith he, for
Christ was a common person, stood in our stead, and place,
and so personating of us, he saith, " Why hast thou forsaken
me!" Yea, and Lord, thou hast not only forsaken me, but
my desertion riseth yet higher; for, " I cry in the day-time
and thou nearest not. " But you may see this abundantly
made out in Job xxx. 20, u I cry unto thee, and thou dost
VOL. II. N
17s A LIFTING UP [SER. 9.
not hear me ; I stand up, and thou regardest me not, thou
art become cruel to me ; with thy strong hand thou opposest
thyself against me." Ver. 27, " My bowels boiled, and rest
not, the days of affliction prevented me : I went mourning
without the sun ; I am a brother to dragons, and a companion
to owls." And ver. 26, " When I looked for good, then evil
came to me ; and when I waited for light, there came dark
ness. " Thus you see that it may be the condition of God s
own people, to be worser and worser; and their condition
more and more dark in their own apprehensions; and there
fore no reason why you should be discouraged in this respect.
But my desertions have been so long, that I fear it will
never be otherwise with me ; God is now gone, Christ is
now gone, comfort gone, and I fear now that Christ will
never return again ; and. this is that which even sinks my
soul : I confess the least desertion and forsaking is a great
evil: but though I were under the greatest cloud in the
world, I should bear it, if I did but think that Christ would
return again : but I find in scripture, that there is a final
rejection mentioned, as well as a present desertion : the
saints and people of God, are it may be deserted for a time ;
but they are never rejected : David was deserted, but he was
not rejected ; Saul was rejected, finally rejected ; and I fear
that I am not only deserted for the present, but finally
rejected, that God hath even cast me off; and therefore I
am thus discouraged, have I not cause and reason for it
now ?
No, not yet ; for first, it is usual with saints in affliction,
to think that God is gone, and will return no more : there is
no affliction which the people of God meet withal, and they
meet with many, wherein they are so apt, and prone, and
ready to write a never upon their condition, as in this case of
spiritual desertion. If a godly, gracious man fall sick, he
doth not say presently, or conclude, I shall never recover
again; if he be persecuted by enemies, he doth not conclude
presently that he shall never be delivered : but if God hide
his face at any time, then comes out this never, I shall never
be delivered, I shall never be restored to comfort again. So
Psalm 13 " How long wilt thou hide thy face ? what, for ever I"
So Psalm 77, "Will the Lord cast off for ever?" ver. 7,
"Will he be favourable no more ? is his mercy clean gone for
SER. 9.] FOR, THE DOWNCAST.
ever? and doth his promise fail for evermore?" This is
the proper place and ground, where this unbelieving con
clusion grows ; when they are in this condition, they rise to
a never ; oh, it will never be otherwise with me ; Christ is
gone, mercy is gone, and I shall never see the face of God
again. This is usual, and most usual with the saints in this
condition.
Therefore you shall observe, that when God doth give out
a promise to his children in this condition ; the promise is so
cast and laid, as may most obviate, and face this objection, and
take off our never. Psalm ix. 18. " The needy shall not al
ways be forgotten, the expectation of the poor shall not fail
for ever." So Psalm ciii. " The Lord is merciful and gra
cious, (verse 8.) slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy:
he will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for
ever." So Isaiah Ivii. 16, " For I will not contend for ever,
neither will I be always wroth." God seeth that in this con
dition, his people are apt to write a never upon their condi
tion ; and therefore that he may condescend unto their infir
mities, when he comes to give out a promise, he doth not
barely promise mercy ; but he puts in the ever into his pro
mise, that he may take off our unbelieving never.
If it be made out unto you by Scripture, that God or
Christ is not so gone, but that he will return again ; then
will you not say, surely I have no reason for my discourage
ments ?
Now for the clearing of that, give me leave to propound
several questions to you.
1. Did ye ever read in all the word of God, that a man
was finally rejected and forsaken, but an evil spirit from the
Lord did seize upon him presently ? Saul was finally rejec
ted, and the text saith, that an evil spirit from the Lord
seized upon him ; and what is the evil spirit, but an envious
spirit ? The envious man in the gospel, is the evil man ;
and this evil spirit seized on Saul as soon as God did forsake
him ; for an envious, malicious, persecuting spirit came upon
him against David, and the saints with him. So when God
forsakes a man finally, a persecuting spirit enters him.
When God forsakes his own children, Satan, that evil spirit
comes to them ; for when God goes, Satan comes : but there
is much difference between a tempting Satan, and a persecu-
N 2
]80 A LIFTING UP [SER. 9.
ting Satan : tempting Satan comes to the saints, when they
are deserted ; but a persecuting Satan doth not enter into
them. But did ye ever know, or read of any finally rejected,
but an evil, persecuting spirit seized on them from the
Lord?
2. Do you read of any in all the word whom God did
finally forsake, that could not find in their hearts to forsake
God and his ways ? God doth not forsake us, unless we
forsake him ; " Ye have rejected me, saith the Lord, and
therefore I have rejected you." Possibly a good man may
want this sense of God^s love ; but then he hath the sense of
his own sins : possibly he may want the feeling of his own
perfection, which is divine love ; but then he hath the feel
ing of his own imperfection. But I say, Did you ever read
in all the word, of any man finally forsaken, that could
not find in his heart to forsake God, and the good ways of
God?
3. Did ye ever read in all the word, that God did ever
forsake a man, who was sensible of his forsaking, and com
plained thereof, simply for itself. We read of Saul indeed,
that when he was forsaken, he cried out, and said, " God
hath forsaken me, the Philistines are upon me " God hath
forsaken me, but it is in order to an outward evil ; the P hi-
listines are upon me. But the saints when they are foasaken,
are sensible of this evil, simply for itself, and think the time
long and tedious, when they are so forsaken : " O Lord,
(saith David,) how long wilt thou hide thy face from me :
what, for ever?" But I say, was ever man forsaken, was ever
man quite forsaken of God, that was sensible of this evil,
only and simply for itself?
4. Did you ever read in all the word of God, that ever a
man was finally forsaken, who was tender in the point of sin,
who sat mourning after God ? We read in the Romans, that
when God gave up the Gentiles to their sins, they gave up
themselves unto all uncleanness, and were past feeling. The
saints and people of God on the contrary, in the time of their
desertion, are tender in the point of sin, and they mourn
after God: when was a man ever forsaken, whose heart was
in this frame ?
5. Did you ever read that Christ did finally forsake a man
in whose heart and soul, still he did leave his goods, furni-
. 9.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 181
ture, and spiritual household-stuff ? A man sometimes goes
from home, and sometimes he doth quite leave his house.
There is much difference between those two : if a man leave
his house, and comes no more, then he carries away all his
goods ; and when ye see them carried away, ye say, This man
will come no more. But though a man ride a great journey,
yet he may come again ; and ye say, Surely he will come
again ; why ? Because still his goods, wife, and children are
in his house. So if Christ reject a man and go away finally,
he carries away all his goods, spiritual gifts, graces, and prin
ciples : but though he be long absent, yet if his household
stuff abide in the heart ; if there be the same desires after
him, and delight in him, and admiring of him, and mourning
for want of him ; ye may say, surely he will come again ?
Why ? Because his household-stuff is here still. When did
Christ ever forsake a man in whose heart he left his spiritual
furniture ?
6. Did ye ever know a man finally forsaken of Christ, who
did long after the presence of Christ, as the greatest good ;
and looked upon his absence as the greatest evil and afflic
tion in all the world ; being willing to kiss the feet of Jesus
Christ, and to serve him in the lowest and meanest condition,
so he might but enjoy him ? We find that the saints desire,
above all things, to be kissed with the kisses of Christ s
mouth : and therefore the book of the Canticles doth so
begin, chapter ii. 1. " Let him kiss me with the kisses of his
mouth ;" even because that is the first and the chiefest of the
saints desires in this life : but if Christ will not kiss me with
the kisses of his mouth, saith a gracious soul, yet I am wil
ling to kiss his feet, as Mary did. There is a time coming,
when he will kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for ever ;
but for the present, if I can but kiss his feet here, I have hope
to be kissed by him in heaven. Now, I say, did Christ ever
forsake a man finally, who did thus long after Christ himself?
Can those that are forsaken, mourn after his presence as the
best thing, and for his absence as the greatest evil in all the
world ? I appeal to your own souls, and bosoms herein,
whoever you are that labour under this fear, that Christ is
gone, and he will return no more; suppose that God hath
hid his face from you, seems to forget you, and to be angry
with you j yet in the midst of all these darknesses, do you
182 A LIFTING UP [SER. 9.
find an evil spirit, an envious, malicious spirit from the Lord,
seizing upon you ? Do you find, that you can find in your
heart to forsake God, and the good ways of God ? Yea,
rather, do you not find the contrary, though you want the
sense of God s love ? Have you not the sense of your own
sin , and when you want the sense of your own perfection,
have you not some sense of your own imperfection ? Do you
not look upon this desertion, as the greatest affliction in all
the world ? Can you not mourn after God, and his pre
sence ? Doth not Christ every foot, send in one token of his
love or another to visit your souls ? And are you not wil
ling to kiss the feet of Jesus Christ ? Oh yes, I must needs
say, though I have fears that Christ is gone, and will return no
more, yet, I praise the Lord, I do not find an envious, mali
cious persecuting spirit in my soul unto the saints and peo
ple of God. I do not find that my heart is willing to forsake
Christ, and the good ways of Christ : but I find that I can
mourn for the absence of Christ simply for itself, and look
upon it as the greatest affliction in the world : that I am ever
willing to kiss the feet of Jesus Christ : and to be in the
lowest and meanest condition, so he would but return unto
my soul again. Yea, and I must needs say, that every foot
I receive one token or other, one promise or another to
visit me in my condition. Then, be of good comfort ; though
Christ be absent, yet he will return again ; and with great
mercy, and with everlasting kindness will he gather your
souls unto himself again : and thus I say it shall be with all
the saints. Surely therefore they have no reason for their
discouragements, whatever their desertions be. Why there
fore should not every one say, " Why art thou cast down, O
my soul ; and why art thou so disquieted within me ?"
Upon all this account I see, I have not so much reason for
my discouragement : but it is an hard thing to bear up ones
heart from sinking in the time of desertion, when God hides
his face : what shall I do then, and this may be the condition
of us all, that I may bear up my heart against this discou
ragement, even when I am most in the dark, and Christ hides
his face from me, or forsakes me ?
Take heed that ye do not measure God s eternal affection,
by some present dispensation. There is an eternal displea
sure against a man ; and there is a present displeasure with a
; SER. 9.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 183
man. Eternal displeasure, or hatred, cannot stand with
eternal love ; but eternal love, and present displeasure, may
stand together. A father may be displeased with the child
for the present, and yet may love him with paternal love.
So God may, and doth love, though for the present dis
pleased : but when men measure eternal affection, by present
dispensation, then they are quite discouraged ; and you will
find all discouragements in this case do arise from hence.
Some there are, that do walk by particular providences,
experiences, words, manifestations, and incomes of love; and
when they have them, then they are much refreshed; and if
they want them, then they are much discouraged, and say,
Ah, Christ loves me not, and God is gone, will return no
more. Why? Because they measure God s eternal love, by
some present dispensation: but if God s present dispensations
may seem to run cross to his eternal purpose, why then
should they be discouraged, and say, He is gone for ever ?
Now so it is, he* may hide his face, he may withdraw, and
deny particular comforts, and manifestations, yet love me
eternally. Oh, that people would not measure God s eternal
affection, by some present dispensation, so should they never
be much discouraged.
If you would not be discouraged in this condition, take
heed of letting fall any despairing, despondent, unbelieving
speeches ; for the more busy Satan is about you, in the time
of desertion, the more tedious will that time be, and more
full of discouragements. Now look, as it is with some dog ;
if you let fall a bone, or bread, or meat, the dog stays and
waits still ; but when he finds none, he goes his ways. So it
is with Satan, when a man is in a desertion, he comes, and
saith he, This is a time for me to work, who am the firstborn
child of darkness ; and this soul being in the dark, it is a fit
time for me to work upon him ; there he stands, and if any
despairing, despondent speches do fall from you, Satan stays
the longer; but if none fall he goes away the sooner. Have
you therefore been, or are you under any desertion, and let
fall any bones for Satan ? look back, and gather them all up
again, gather up these crumbs again, and mourn over them,
and take heed for the time to come; for the more of these
fall, the longer Satan stays, and the more you will be dis
couraged.
184 A LIFTING UP [SEK. 9.
Be sure that you hear things indifferently on both sides.
There are two parties pleading in your souls in the time of
desertion. One that doth plead for Christ, to maintain and
bear up the love of Christ in your heart, saying, He is gone
indeed, and he doth hide his face; but he will come again,
and shine upon you again. There is another party, that doth
plead the cause of Satan, against Christ, saying, He is now
gone, and will return no more, you shall never see his face
again. In this case be sure that you do hear things indiffer
ently, and let not your ear be open to one, and shut to the
other. He can never judge rightly, that doth not hear both
parties. Though it be no time to jadge when you are under
temptation, and in the dark ; yet how frequently do poor
souls judge themselves in this condition, and even judge
themselves to be under judgment, why ? but because they
hearken more to one side than to the other. If Satan come,
and tell them a story of God s displeasure, they will be sure
to hear that at large ; but if Christ come and tell them a
story of God s love to sinners, that they hear not; or if they
do, yet as a man that reads a book to confute it, is disputing
against what he reads all along, so are they also disputing
against the words of the gospel all along as they hear them ;
saying in their hearts, Oh ! but this is not made for me ; it
is a good promise, but it belongs not to me, this is not my
condition ; and a hundred such oh buts! But is this equal?
How is it possible, but that a man should misjudge, and
be much discouraged, when he hears thus ? Wherefore, my
exhortation from the Lord is, which I beseech you in his
name to receive ; never receive any relation from the law,
but be assured your ears be as open for to hear the gospel :
never receive any relation, or story from Satan ; but let your
ear be as open to hear what Christ saith. And why should
not this exhortation be received ? Had I intreated some
great thing for Christ, would you not have done it ? But
now that I only intreat you to carry things indifferently,
to have an ear open, as well to Christ, as to Satan ; will ye
not yield to it? Oh, methinks every gracious soul should
say, Well, through grace, I will hearken more to Christ : I
confess indeed, I have heard what Satan hath said; but
when comfort hath come, I have turned away mine ear, and
have not heard ; or if I have heard, I have been disputing
SEB. 9.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 185
against what I have heard, and making objections all along :
now the Lord pardon this evil to me ; through grace, mine
ear shall be more open to Christ, and less open to Satan.
So do, and you will never be much discouraged, whatever
your desertion be.
Labour more and more for to live by faith : when God
seems to be mine enemy, saith Luther, and to stand with a
drawn sword against me, then do I cast, and throw myself
into his arms : and what better way than to venture upon
God in this case ? and to say, whether saved, or not saved ;
whether damned, or not damned ; whether hypocrite, or not
hypocrite ; I do cast myself upon God at a venture. It is
the love, and favour of Christ, that you mourn after, and are
discouraged for the want of; you cannot get a more ready,
and compendious way to get this love, than, when you are in
the dark, to throw yourselves into Christ s arms at a ven
ture ; this takes, and wins the heart of Christ over to you :
What ! will this poor soul throw himself into my arms (saith
Christ) now I do seem his enemy ? well, then I will shew
myself to be his friend ; and this is the proper work of this
life : as for those sights and visions of God, they are the
work of heaven ; and though God give them sometimes, yet
it argues more strength of grace for to be able to live with
out them. Suppose two men in your work ; one that must
have his pay presently, his wages presently, yea before he
hath done his work: the other will not have his wages till
his work be all done, and if ye oifer him money, No, saith
he, I will stay till all be done, and receive it in a lump toge
ther: which of these two, is the ablest man, or which the
poorest man? Will you not say, Surely, he that cannot stay,
is the poorest ? and he that can stay longest for his wages, is
the ablest man ? So it is here ; God hath two sorts of
servants : one that doth go by visions and manifestations of
love, and are not able to live at all by faith, but must have
sights, and visions, and manifestations every day, or else they
die, and murmur or complain. And others say, Oh ! but
these sights and visions are for heaven ; if God will have it
so, I am contented to stay till all my work be done : which
of these two is the poorest or the strongest ? Will not ye
say, surely, he that is able to stay, is strongest ; and he the
poorest, and weakest, that is not able to stay, or to live by
186 A LIFTING UP [SEE. 9.
faith ; Oh ! therefore labor more and more to live by faith ;
and when you are in desertion, say, whether saved, or not
saved ; whether hypocrite, or not hyprocrite, I will stay, I
will wait on God, and let him come when he pleaseth. If
you lay yourself at Christ s feet, he will take you into his
arms.
But what need I say more ? Is there not enough in the
compass of your own experience, to answer unto all your fears
in this respect ? When you have been in desertion, have you
not said that Christ is gone and that he will never come
again : and yet hath not Christ come again ? Yea, and have
you not said in the day of your desertion, If ever Christ do
return again, I will never make such unbelieving conclusions
as I have done : and hath not Christ returned after this ?
Now, then, when Satan comes, and suggests jealousies of
Christ s love unto you, why are you not more peremptory ?
Why do you not say to him ? this I have heard before, Sa
tan ; thou toldest me this before, that Christ was gone, and
would never return again; but I have found it false, he did
return, and therefore through grace, I will never believe these
false reports of Christ ; Christ is faithful, I have always found
him so ; those whom he loves, he loves to the end ; and I
know he loves me, Satan, for I love him ; for my love is but
the reflection of his love ; I could not love him, if he did not
love me first, and through grace, I love him ; I know he loves
me, because he hath changed me, and is every foot sending
me some tokens of love ; one promise, or another to uphold
my heart ; yea, I know, Satan, that Christ doth love me, be
cause thou tellest me that he hates me ; and if he hath loved
once he will love me to the end ; and therefore though for
the present he hides his face from me; yet I shall see his
face again. Thus gather in your experiences, and plead with
Satan, or your own unbelieving hearts, according unto all
o y o
these experiences ; so shall you be able to live in the time of
this desertion, and never be discouraged, whatever your de
sertions be.
And so much for the sixth instance.
10.] FOB THE DOWNCAST. 187
SERMON X.
A LIFTING UP IN CASE OF AFFLICTION.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted
within me," 8<c. Psalm xlii. 11.
VII. SOMETIMES the discouragements of the saints, are
from their outward afflictions, and relations.
So it was here with David ; for, saith he, verse 3, " My
tears have been my meat day and night." Whereupon, verse
5, 6, " My soul is cast down within me :" then verse 7 8,
" All thy billows are gone over me :" verse 10, " As a
sword in my bones, whilst they reproach me daily :"
then verse 11, " Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and
why art thou disquieted within me ?" To the like purpose
he speaketh in the next Psalm, verse 2, " Why go I mourn
ing because of the oppression of the enemv ?" then, verse
5, 6, " Why art thou cast down ?" So that his inward dis
couragements did arise very much from his outward
afflictions. And thus it is ordinarily with the people of God ;
for, saith one, Never was any soul afflicted as I have been,
and am : I confess indeed that national calamities are very
great; but besides national miseries, I have many, and many
personal afflictions ; and therefore now it is that I am thus
discouraged, have I not reason for it ? No.
I grant, and confess it no new thing for God s own chil
dren to be much afflicted : " these are they that came out of
great tribulations," Rev. vii. And
When God s people are so afflicted, they are, and will be
very sensible of their affliction ; in some respects more sen
sible than wicked men; for the more apprehensive a man is of
God s displeasure under affliction, the more sensible he must
needs be of the burden of it. Now the saints and people of
God, in the day of their affliction, are more apprehensive of
God s displeasure than wicked men are, and so in some res
pect s are more sensible of their afflictions. Yea,
As they are, and will be very sensible of their afflictions, so
they are very apt to be much discouraged, by reason of them.
And therefore said the Psalmist, Psalm cxliii. " Therefore my
soul is overwhelmed within me, and my heart is desolate ;"
jgg A LIFTING UP [SEE. 10.
why ? Read verse 3, and ye shall find the reason, " Because
the enemy oppressed me." And was not Joshua thus ex
ceedingly cast down, when a party of his men fell before the
men of Ai ? See how he lies on the ground, chapter vii, and
what language he speaks ; even the same for substance, that
murmuring Israel had spoken : for they said, " Would God
we had stayed in Egypt :" and saith he, " Would God we had
stayed on the other side Jordan :" yet Joshua, a most gra
cious, holy, blessed servant of God. So that God s own peo
ple are apt to be much discouraged, by reason of their afflic
tions ,and outward sufferings. But now I say, let a man s
afflictions be nev er so great, yet if he be in Christ, and have
made his peace with God, he hath no reason to be cast down
or discouraged, whatever his afflictions be ; for, saith our Sa
viour, " In the world you have trouble ; but be of good com
fort I have overcome the world :" And the more a man is
discouraged under his afflictions, the less able he is to bear
it. So long as a man s hand hath skin upon it, he is able
to put it into the sharpest vinegar, without smarting ; but if
the skin be off, it doth smart exceedingly, and he can hardly
bear it. So long as a man s bones are knit together, and in
joint, he may stand under a great burden, but if the shoul
der bone be out of joint, who can bear a burden ? And what
do all our discouragements, but disjoint the soul, and put
the spirit on the rack ? Discouragements make afflictions to
stay the longer : an impatient patient makes a cruel physi
cian : and the more the child cries under the rod, the longer
the rod is continued ; what reason therefore, for our discou
ragements under afflictions ?
But this truth will appear if you consider, 1. What the
afflictions and sufferings of the saints are. 2. Whence they
proceed. 3. What accompanies them. 4. W hat follows
them, and what is wrought by them.
First: As for the afflictions themselves. 1. They are part
of Christ s purchase for you. Look upon Paul s inventory,
1 Cor. iii. 21. "All things are yours; whether Paul, or
Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things
present, or things to come." So that death itself, the king
of terrors and afflictions, is here reckoned amongst the goods
and chattels which Christ hath purchased for you, and left
unto you ; and if death be yours, then all afflictions are
SER. 10.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 189
yours ; and who will be afraid of that which is his own ?
2. They are the gift of God ; " To you it is given, not only
to believe, but to suffer, " saith the apostle. It was the
speech of a good man, now in heaven, being once under
great afflictions ; O Lord, these afflictions are thy pearls, and
I will wear them for thy sake. 3. They are but seeming
evils ; they are real trials and seeming evils. Therefore the
apostle saith, " Every affliction seems grievous ; " but con
sidering altogether, it is rather a seeming than a real grief.
And therefore saith he, 2 Cor. vi. 9, 10, "We are as unknown
and yet well known : as dying and behold we live : as chas
tened, but not killed : as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing : as
poor, yet making many rich : as having nothing, and yet
possessing all things." In which words as Austin observes,
he puts a tanquam, sicut AS upon his afflictions ; as if his
sufferings where but as afflictions, and not afflictions. When
a man takes any physic, he is sick withal , yet because it is
but physic-sickness, you do not call it a sickness ; it is as a
sickness, but not a sickness. Now all the afflictions of the
saints, are but their physic, prescribed and given them by the
hand of their Father : and therefore, though they be sick
therewith, yet it is but as a sickness, not so indeed all things
rightly weighed. When an unskilful eye looks upon the
threshing of the corn, he saith, Why do they spoil the corn ?
But those that know better, say, The flail doth not huvt the
corn ; if the cart-wheel should pass upon it, there would be
spoil indeed, but the flail hurts not. Now there is no afflic
tion, or suffering that a godly man meets with, but is God s
flail. And if you look into Isaiah, xxviii, ye shall find the
Lord promiseth, under a similitude, that his cart-wheel shall
not pass upon those that are weak, ver. 27, For the fitches
are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a
cart-wheel turned about upon the cummin, the fitches are
beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with the rod." God
will always proportion his rod to our strength. But though
mine affliction be not greater than I can bear, yet if it lie too
long upon me (say some) I shall never be able to bear it.
Nay, saith the Lord, ver. 28, " Bread-corn is bruised, because
he will not ever be threshing it." But what is this to us ? Yes,
it is a parable, for ver. 26, " His God (speaking of the
ploughman) doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach
190 A LIFTING UP [SER. 10.
him." And if the ploughman have this discretion, much
more shall the Lord himself; for, ver. 29, "This also cometh
forth from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel
and excellent in working." I am God s corn, said the
martyr, I most therefore pass under the flail, through the
fan, under the millstone, into the oven before I can be
bread for him. And if our chaff be severed from our graces
by this flail, have we any reason to be discouraged because
we are thus afflicted ? The truth is, the day of affliction
and tribulation, is a godly man s day of judgment, it is all
his judgment day, he shall never be judged again, so as to be
condemned at the day of judgment ; " Ye are judged with
the world (saith the apostle) that ye may not be condemned
with the world. " And when the godly man s affliction day
is, he may say, Now is my judgment day, and I shall never
be judged again ; why therefore should he be discouraged,
whatever his afflictions be ?
And in the. second place. This will appear also, if you
consider, whence their afflictions come. If all the sufferings
of God s people do come from divine love, the love of God
in Christ to them, then have they no reason to be discouraged
though they be much afflicted. Every rod is a rod of rose
mary to them, fruits of their Father s love. And if you
look into Heb. xii, ye shall find both the thing proved, and
the inference. The thing is proved at ver. 6, " For whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom
he receiveth." Which he illustrates by a similitude. Sup
pose a man have two sons, one a bastard and the other
legitimate ; he will rather give education and correction to
the legitimate son, and neglect the bastard : and saith the
apostle, ver. 8, " If ye be without chastisement, then are you
bastards, and not sons." What then? Ver. 12, "Wherefore,
lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees."
As if the apostle should say, If all the sufferings and afflic
tions and chastisements of the saints, do proceed from love,
then have they no reason to hang down their hands or
heads. But so it is, that all their sufferings come from love,
and therefore no reason for their discouragements.
Thirdly. This will appear also, if you consider, what
comes with the afflictions of the saints. There comes much
supporting grace, much light, much of God s presence,
. 10.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 191
fellowship and communion with Christ in all his sufferings.
Much supporting grace: "Thy rod, and thy staff comfort
me." God never lays a rod upon his children s back, but
he first puts a staff into their hand to bear it ; and the staff
is as big as the rod. It matters not what your afflictions
be, great, or small, it is all one, you shall be upheld ; and up
holding mercy is sometimes better than a mercy that you
are afflicted for the want of. But the Lord doth not only
uphold his people under sufferings, but he gives forth much
light therewithal. The school of the cross, is the school of
light.* Affliction is our free-school, where God teacheth his
children, and learns them how to write, both their sins and
their graces. Their sins : so long as leaves are on the trees
and bushes, ye cannot see the birds nests : but in the winter
when all the leaves are off, then ye see them plainly. And
so long as men are in prosperity, and have their leaves on,
they do not see what nests of sins and lusts are in
their hearts and lives ; but when ail their leaves are off, in
the day of their afflictions, then they see them and say, I
did not think I had such nests of sins and lusts, in my soul and
life. Job xxxvi. 6. " He withdraweth not his eye from the
righteous :" verse 8, " And if he be bound in fetters, and be
holden in cords of affliction, then he shews them their works
and their transgressions, that they have exceeded." Yea,
afflictions do not only discover their sins unto them ; but it
is God s plaster, thereby he doth heal the same : " Before I
was afflicted, I went astray," saith David. And Job xxxvi.
10, " He openeth also their ear to discipline, and comman-
deth that they return from iniquity." Yea, these afflic
tions and sufferings of the saints do not only discover and
heal their sins ; but do put them upon the exercise of grace :
" In their afflictions (saith God) they will seek me early."
Yea, they do not only draw out their graces but discover
their graces too, which possibly they did never take notice of
before. I have read of some foolish youths, that sitting on
the water side, upon the bank, and mingling their legs toge-
gether in the water, they did not know their own legs ; but
one standing by, and smiting them on the knees with a staff,
every one then knew his own legs, and pulled them up. And so
* Via crucis, via lucis.
192
A LIFTING UP [SER. 10.
it is many times j there is such a likeness between hypocrites 7
common graces, and the graces of God s children,
that the saints do not know their own graces; Oh,
saith one, it is no more than a hypocrite may have; but
then God smites them with some affliction, and so
they feel, and see, and know their own graces : and good rea
son for it; for when God comes, he discovers all: and
when is God more present with his people, than when
they are most afflicted ? God useth to be at the back of
affliction. There heaven opened to Stephen. Afflictions
are the rusty lock oftentimes, which opens the door into the
presence chamber. When was Christ with the three children
but in the very fiery furnace ? And ye have a standing pro
mise for it, " I will be with thee in the fire, and in the water,"
saith the Lord. And saith the apostle, " Then doth the
Spirit of the Lord and of glory, rest upon his children. "
Yea, and as they have most of God, when they are most
afflicted, so in time of their sufferings, they have most com
munion, and fellowship with Jesus Christ in his sufferings.
Therefore saith the apostle Peter, chap. iv. ver. 13, " But
rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of Christ s sufferings."
The \vordpartaker is the same that is used in John ; " Truly
our fellowship is with the Father." And the same that is
used in the Corinthians, concerning the Lord s supper, " The
cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of
the body ot Christ ? " You will all grant that you have com
munion with Christ at the Lord s supper ; but the same
word being used here shows that you have communion with
Christ in his sufferings also ; especially when you do suffer for
him. And the greater your sufferings are, the more fellowship
and communion you have with Christ in his sufferings. Now
then, if all this be true, that a Christian hath experience of
supporting and upholding grace; much light; his sin dis
covered and healed; his grace exercised and manifested;
God s presence enjoyed; and made partaker of the sufferings
of Christ, in and by his afflictions ; what reason hath he to
be discouraged, although he be much afflicted ? But so it is
that a Christian hath never more experience of God s up
holding, sustaining grace ; his sin is never more discovered,
and healed ; his grace is never more exercised and manifested ;
God is never more present with him, than when he is most
SER. 10.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 193
afflicted : and he is never more partaker of Christ s sufferings
than in and by his sufferings. Surely therefore, he hath
no reason for his discouragements, whatever his afflictions
be.
Fourthly. This will appear if you consider the fruit,
benefit, end, and issue of your afflictions, and what they
bring forth. " They bring forth the quiet fruits of righteous
ness, " and triumph over Satan ; for now poor Job may say,
Satan, thou saidst I did not serve God for nought ; but now
the contrary appears. Yea " they work out an exceeding,
eternal weight of glory." And if you look into Phil, ii., where
we are commanded " to work out our salvation with fear
and trembling : " you shall find it is the same word that is
used here concerning afflictions ; that they work out an ex
ceeding, eternal weight of glory. Now if all my afflictions
do bring me in the quiet fruit of righteousness ; make me to
triumph over Satan; and work out an exceeding weight of
glory; have I any reason to be discouraged, although I be
much afflicted ? Thus it is with all the saints and people of
God; though their sufferings may seem to be grievous for
the present, yet they bring forth the quiet fruits of righte
ousness; thereby the saints triumph over Satan; and these
sufferings work out an exceeding and eternal weight of
glory. Surely therefore, a godly, gracious man hath no
reason to be discouraged, whatever his affliction be.
But my affliction is not an ordinary affliction; my suffer
ings are not ordinary sufferings ; for I have lost all my com
forts and am stript naked of all my former blessings and re
lations: I have been long afflicted, and many afflictions
crowd and press in upon me, like so many waves of the sea :
only there is this difference ; the waves come and go, but my
afflictions come and stay; they come and go not; they all
stay upon me at once and I see no end of my afflictions :
the floods are risen, O God, the water-floods are risen and
do cover my soul; yea and these waters of affliction are so
deep, that I can feel no bottom, see no end of them : have I
not just cause and reason then to be much discouraged ?
No : for what if you have been, or would be drunk with
the comforts of your own relations ? Noah was drunk with
his own wine; and how many are there in the world, that
have been drunk, even with the comforts of their own rela*
VOL. ir. o
194 A LIFTING UP [SER. 10.
tions ? And if God your Father see, that you have been
or would be drunk with your own comforts, have you any
hurt, that he hath taken them from you for a time ? When
a wise father sees that his child falls in love with his maid,
one that is much beneath him ; doth his father do him any
wrong, that he removes her from him, or him out of her
sight ? It may be the present affection of the child saith,
my father deals hardly by me : but will the child s reason
say so afterwards ? No, but he will rather say, at such a
time I fell in love with my father s servant, and if my father
had not removed her out of my sight, I had been lost and
undone for ever. Now all the creatures are servants to the
children of God, and it may be, God your Father seeth that
you are fallen in love with them that are much beneath you.
Or, suppose that a child be to travel some long journey, and
his father gives him a staff in his hand ; when he is abroad
in the fields, some enemy meets him, and takes away his
staff, and beats the child therewithal ; but a friend comes in,
and takes away this staff from both, both from, the child and
from the enemy ; doth he do the child any wrong, in taking
away this staff out of the hand of the enemy ? May be the
child will say, I pray Sir, give me the staff again, for it is
mine ; True, saith the friend, child, this staff is yours, but
you have not strength enough to use it, and manage it against
your enemy, he would wrest it out of your hand again, and
beat you with it, and therefore I will keep it from you both :
doth he therefore do the child any wrong ? Thus it is here :
the Lord gives a creature-comfort into the hands of his
child, and God intends it for a staff (for bread is the staff of
life): but Satan comes, and wresteth his staff out of his
hand, and beats him therewithal : then comes Jesus Christ,
and takes it out of the hands of both ; Oh, saith the child of
God, but I pray thee, Lord, give me this creature-comfort, for
it is my staff. True child, saith Christ, it is thy staff, but
thou hast not strength to wield it against Satan, he will abuse
thee with it ; therefore I will keep it from thee, and in due
time thou shalt have it again : doth Christ our Lord and
best friend, do him any wrong in keeping it from him ?
Oh, but my afflictions are not ordinary and usual, but new
and strange.
You think so j but the Apostle saith, Think it not
. 10.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 195
strange concerning the fiery trial, as if some new thing had
befallen you." And what if God will carry you to heaven by
some back way, and let you in at some back door ; hath not
he promised to lead us in a way that we have not known ?
Oh, but I do not only want one mercy, but I do want ano
ther and another j afflictions come thick, and I see no end,
I feel no bottom.
And was it not so with David, the type of Christ ? Psalm
xl. 1, 2, " I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined
his ear unto me, and heard my cry : he brought me out also
of an horrible pit ; (or as some read it, out of an unbottomed
pit) out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and
established my goings." Three things here that are most ob
servable. 1. David was in such an affliction, wherein he did
feel no bottom at the first, saw no end. 2. Though he felt
no bottom at the first, yet at the last he did, and a rock
which God set his feet upon and established his goings.
3. Till he did find this rock, he prayed, and waited patiently,
and he was not discouraged. What therefore though our
afflictions be as thick as any mire, that therein you do stick
so fast, as you cannot get out, that you feel no bottom, see
no end ; yet if in this case you pray and cry and wait pa
tiently on the Lord, as David did ; you shall be set upon a
rock in due time, and your goings shall be also established.
And whereas you say, that your afflictions are thick and
long and hard ; how long man ? What ! is your bush con
sumed ? Do they not make you long more for heaven ?
When the apprenticeship is hard and tedious, the young man
longs for the day of his freedom. Oh, saith he, that I were
in my father s house. Oh, that the time of my freedom were
come. So here, long and hard afflictions, make us long more
for heaven. Now will ye count that too long, which makes
you long more for heaven ? And as for your relational com
forts ; did God ever take away the comfort of an outward re
lation, and not make it up in the sweetness of spiritual rela
tions?
But this is not all my case ; for I do not only want such
and such comforts, I do not barely want the comforts, and
the love of my relations ; but I feel the anger, and the smart
of them ; for my own familiar friends, and acquaintance are
become mine enemies ; they reproach me, curse me, speak
02
196 A LIFTING UP [SER. 10.
all manner of evil of me without cause ; and this they do
since I set my face towards heaven : time was heretofore,
when they did love me dearly; bnt now they hate me,
they persecute me, and do all manner of evil to me ; and
is this nothing ? Is not this a just cause, and reason for my
discouragement ?
No. For if our worst enemies be sometimes our best
friends, then what reason is there that we should be discou
raged, although we be much opposed ? Now so it is many
times ; as our best friends are our worst enemies by flattering
us, so our worst enemies are our best friends by making us
more watchful. So many enemies, so many schoolmasters,
saith one.* Hath not our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
said, " Our enemies are those of our own house, they shall
ever revile you and persecute you ; but blessed are you,
when they do all this for my name s sake/ And I pray
tell me whether it is worser to be persecuted or to be a
persecutor ? Your friends persecute you, speak all manner
of evil and do all manner of evil to you, even since you
have looked towards Christ ; and for his sake they do it,
for his sake ye are persecuted, opposed, maligned. But
you might have been the persecutor, and they the persecuted.
Which is worst ? Will you not say, Oh, it is infinitely
better to be opposed for the way of God than to oppose ;
and to be persecuted than to persecute ? I would chuse
rather to be persecuted than to be a persecutor. God might
have left you to be a persecutor, and your persecuting friends
might have been persecuted by you ; but now that God hath
so ordered it by his providence and grace that you are
persecuted and they persecutors, have you any reason to
complain or to be discouraged ? " Know ye not that the
world hateth his own ? " So long as the pot stands
empty and there is no honey in it, the bees and stinging
wasps do not gather about it, but if once there be honey in
it, then they flock about it. And so long as you were empty
of what is good and walked on with an empty heart, no
opposition was made unto you. But now these stinging
bees and wasps flock about you, what doth this argue but
that you have gotten some honey, somewhat that savoreth
of good and of Christ, which you had not before ? Why
* Totidem inimici, totidem psedagogi.
SER. 10.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 197
should you not therefore rather praise God for what you
have, than be discouraged under your opposition.
This is not my case. For I praise God I do not meet
with any opposition or persecution from my friends, nor do
I need; for my very affliction is an opposition unto what
is good, my affliction doth indispose me unto what is good,
and expose me unto what is evil, to temptations and many
sins ; it keeps me from duty, from ordinances and oppor
tunities of doing and receiving good ; and therefore I am
thus discouraged under my affliction, have I not cause and
reason now ?
No. For it may be that you are mistaken here and
think that you are hindered from the work of God, when
indeed you are not. We read of Paul that he was whipped
up and down the streets like a rogue, that he was oft im
prisoned ; and who would not think but that his reproaches
and imprisonments should hinder him in the work of his
ministry ? But he saith that his " sufferings turned to the
furtherance of the gospel."
When God leads a man into an affliction, then God doth
call him to another work. So long as a man is well and in
health, he is bound to go abroad and to hear the word ; but
when he is sick, then his work is not to hear, but to be
patient and quiet under the hand of God ; then he is called
to that other work which his affliction doth lead him to. It
may be, your affliction may hinder you from your former
work which God hath called you from, but it doth not hinder
you from that work whereunto you are now called by your
affliction. And what though my affliction doth hinder me
from my former work ; yet if God will not fault me for the
neglect of that, have I any reason to be discouraged because
I do not do it ? This is certain, that if God call me to a
new work, he will never blame me if I lay by the former.
You will not blame your servants if they lay by their former
work, when you call them to a new. And when God leads
into a new affliction, then he doth call to a new work.
And as for matter of temptation and sin, this is certain,
that, that affliction doth never expose a man to a new sin,
which doth make him sensible of his former sin. Now, as
you have heard, the afflictions of the saints do both discover
and heal their sins, making them sensible of them which
A LIFTING UP [SER. 10.
they were not before. And if you look into Psalm cxxv. 3,
you will find a promise to this purpose : " The rod of the
wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous, lest the
righteous put forth their hands to iniquity. " As it is with
a master that sets his servant to beat the dust out of his
garment, though he cause the rod or stick to pass upon the
garment, yet he will not suffer it to rest so long upon the
garment, as it shall be torn thereby. Your affliction is
God s rod and he suffers it to pass upon your garment.
Why ? That he may fetch out your dust therewith ; but he
will not suffer this rod to rest so long upon you as to tear
your garment. "Lest the righteous put forth their hand
unto iniquity," saith the text.
And if this fear of yours be a good sign of your grace,
then why should you be discouraged in this respect ? Now
what better sign of truth and uprightness of heart have you
than this : that you are therefore troubled at your affliction,
because it doth expose to temptation and sin, and because it
doth hinder you from what is good ; do you not say so ?
Lord, thou knowest I am therefore afflicted under this
affliction, not because of the burden of it so much, but
because thereby I am hindered from doing and receiving
good, and exposed to such temptations ; as for the affliction
itself, though it be great, yet Lord, thou knowest I should
submit to it and be quiet under it, were I not thereby ex
posed unto what is evil. Here now is sincerity, here is
uprightness, and will you then be discouraged ; nay, rather
have you not cause and reason to be much encouraged ?
This is not my fear, or cause of my discouragement, but I
am under a great and sore affliction, so and so afflicted, and
I fear I have brought myself into this affliction by my sin :
had not my sin been the cause of my affliction, I should not
be troubled ; but oh, my affliction is great and long, and I
am persuaded that my own sin is the cause thereof. Yea,
and that which aggravateth the matter is, I cannot find out
what the sin is ; if God would but discover it to me, I
should be more at quiet. But my sin is the cause of my
affliction, and I know not what the particular sin is that hath
brought me into this affliction. And have I not just cause
and reason for my discouragement now ?
No ; for did not Jonah bring himself into his affliction by
SER. 10.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 199
his sin, and yet when did God more fully appear to him,
than when he was in the whale s belly? Did not David
bring himself into his affliction by his sin : he sinned in the
matter of Uriah, and the Lord said, " The sword shall never
depart from thy house ;" and what was the sword of Abso-
lom, but an affliction which dropped out of that threatening,
brought upon him by his sin : and yet when was David s
heart in a better frame ? " If (saith he) the Lord have any
pleasure in me, he will bring me back to the ark again ; if
not, let him do with me what seemeth good in his eyes." And
when did God more fully appear to David than under this
affliction ? for he prayed, " The Lord turn the counsel of
Ahithophel into folly," arid God heard him presently. And
if ye look into Deut. iv., you shall find a standing promise
made for your comfort in this matter : verse 25, " If you
shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the
likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the
Lord, to provoke him to anger ; I call heaven and earth to
witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly
perish from the land ; ye shall not prolong your days ; the
Lord will scatter you among the nations, and you shall be
left few in number among the heathen, and there you shall
serve gods, the work of men s hands. But if from thence
thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if
thou seek him with all thine heart and all thy soul." Here
was a great affliction, to be driven out into another country.
This affliction was caused by their great sins. Yet the pro
mise is, that if from thence, from this valley and bottom,
they did seek the Lord, he would shew mercy to them. And
all this in the times of the law : and is not God as gracious
now in the times of the gospel, as then in the times of the
law ? And what though you cannot find out what the parti
cular sin is, it is good to search, but sometimes it is better
for a poor soul that it is not discovered ; for if I be under an
affliction for some particular sin, and find it out, then I am
once humbled for it, and go no further : but if I find it not
out, I search and search, and so am humbled continually for
many sins. And therefore I say, it is sometimes better that
the particular sin is not discovered. Why then should a
godly, gracious soul be discouraged in this respect ? Surely
he hath no reason for it.
200 A LIFTING UP [SliR. 10.
Yet there is one thing sticks with me in regard of personal
afflictions, I fear that they do not come from God s love ;
were I certain that this affliction did proceed from God s
love, then I should never be troubled ; but I even see the
visible characters of God s displeasure and anger, engraven
upon my afflictions, and therefore I am thus discouraged :
have I not cause and reason now ?
No ; for if affliction do rather argue God s love, than
hatred, then have you no reason to be discouraged. Now
though affliction do not argue God s love ; yet, I say, it doth
rather argue love than hatred. A man may be no father to
a child, yet he may correct him : but if two children commit
a fault, and a man take the one and correct him, and let the
other go, it argues rather that he is his father than not. So,
though chastisements do not always argue God to be our
Father, yet it doth rather argue his fatherly love than not.
And is there any thing in God, that is not a friend to all
the saints ? When a man is a friend to another, not only
his purse is his friend, his estate is his friend, his staff is his
friend ; but his sword is his friend. So, if God be a friend
to a man, then not only his love is his friend, and his mercy
his friend, but his sword is his friend, his anger is his friend.
Now God is a friend to all the saints, and therefore his very
anger and justice is a friend too. But,
What are those visible characters of love, which are
engraven upon an affliction ?
If affliction be a blessing to one, then it doth come from
love ; and if a man can bless God under affliction, then it is
a blessing to him. Job s affliction was a blessing to him :
why ? because he blessed God under it : " The Lord gives,
and the Lord takes away, blessed be his name," &c.
If an affliction do end in our love to God, then it comes
from God s love to us ; for our love is but a reflection of
God s love, and it doth flow from his : and if I can say, I
love God never the worser for this affliction, then I may say,
God loves me never the lesser, notwithstanding this affliction.
If an affliction teacheth the mind of God, then it doth
come from love : " As many as he loveth, he chastiseth ;"
and, Blessed is the man whom thou chastiseth, and teach-
est out of thy law." So that if affliction be a teaching
affliction, then it doth come from love.
SliU. 10.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 201
If it be laid on in measure, and imposed in due and sea
sonable time, so as a man may grow thereby, then it doth
come from love. When a man intendeth to kill and destroy
a tree, or to bring it unto the fire, he cuts it at any time, so
as it shall grow no more ; but if he cut it in a due time, it
argueth that he intendeth it for growth. So when God
pruneth and cuts by afflictions, in such a time as men may
grow in grace, it argues his love.
When God is especially present in affliction, and more
present in an affliction than at another time, it argues that the
affliction doth come from love. Now whoever you are that
make this objection, and fear the affliction doth not come
from love, are you not able to say, Thus I find it indeed,
though 1 have been much afflicted, yet through grace I have
been able to bless the Lord under my affliction, and to say,
" The Lord gi^eth, and the Lord taketh away," &c. I love
the Lord never the lesser for mine affliction, and the Lord
hath taught me much in this mine affliction ; I have gained
more by my sickness, than by many a sermon ; yea, and he
hath cut me in due time, for if I had not met with such an
affliction at such a time, I did not know what evil I should
have fallen into. And this I must needs say, I have had
more of God s presence in my affliction, than ever I had
before. Well then, be of good comfort, though your afflic
tion be very grievous, yet it doth come from love. And
thus it is with all the saints and people of God, and there
fore why should they be discouraged, whatever their afflic
tion be ?
But though a Christian have no reason to be discouraged in
regard of his own private affliction, yet hath he not reason to
be discouraged, when it goes ill with the public ? And thus
it is now with us ; we see how it is with this poor nation,
troubles and calamities from every part, therefore I am thus
discouraged ; and have I not cause to be cast down, and to
be much disquieted now ?
Indeed, this is a sad thing ; and oh, that we could weep
day and night, and pray too, for this poor, bleeding nation !
If ever God s people, here in England, had cause to be af
flicted, troubled and humbled, under the hand of the Lord,
and to run together in prayer, surely they have reason now ;
202 A LIFTING UP [SEE. 10.
yet, saith the Scripture, " Say to the righteous, in evil times,
It shall go well with him." Did ever any calamity come
down like a storm upon a kingdom, but God did provide
some hiding for his own children ? Did he not provide an
ark for Noah in the time of the flood, and a mountain for
Lot in the time of the fire of Sodom ? The worst that man
can do, is but to kill his neighbour : death is the worst that
can fall ; and what is death, but an inlet to eternal life unto
the people of God ? When the saints in the primitive times
came to bear witness by their deaths unto the truth of Christ,
then they said, Now we begin to be Christians indeed ; now
we begin to be like to Christ. There is a three-fold death :
spiritual death in sin, eternal death for sin, and temporal
death which came in by sin. If God spare me from the two
former deaths the spiritual death and eternal death and
only inflict the temporal death, have I any cause to complain ?
Thus it is with the saints : though they die temporally, yet
they are free from the spiritual and eternal death ; and what
godly man may not say, I could not live long in nature, and
shall I now bear witness unto the truth with this little spot
of time that remains ! Christ died for us, the just for the
unjust, and shall not I that am unjust be willing to die for
the just ! The worst of all is death ; the worst of death
is gain. When my body is broken, may I not say, if godly,
now a poor pitcher is broken, arid shall go no more to the
well : now a poor prisoner, my soul, is delivered, and I go
home unto my Father. But if you look into the viith of Re
velation, you shall find what a glorious issue God doth give
unto all his people in the times of public troubles : verse 9,
"After this I beheld, and lo a great multitude, which no man
could number, of all nations, kindreds and people stood be
fore the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white
robes, and palms in their hands." A robe is a garment of
majesty, palms are an ensign of victory ; and saith he, I saw
them with robes and palms. The world looks upon my ser
vants as poor and of low spirits, but, saith Christ, I look
upon them as under a royal, princely garment, in robes and
of a princely spirit. And though the world looks upon them
as discomforted, yet, saith Christ here, they shall overcome,
for they have palms in their hands. But who are these;
This scripture tells, verse 14, These are they which come
SER. 10.] FOB THE DOWXCAST. 203
out of great tribulations, and have washed their robes, and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb." But why are
they in white robes, and their robes washed ? Because by
their tribulations they are washed from filth. Affliction is
God s soap : before a godly man goes into afflictions, his
very graces are mixed with sin ; his faith is mixed and dirtied
with unbelief and doubtings, his humility with pride, his zeal
with lukewarmness : but now, by his tribulation, his gar
ments and robes are made white, and washed, and he shall
be of a more royal spirit, and be clothed with robes. But
though the Lord make use of my tribulations thus to wash,
yet I fear that by these public calamities, I shall be dri
ven from ordinances, the temple and worship of God. Nay,
saith he, therefore, at verse 15, " They are before the throne
of God, and serve him day and night in his temple." But
what though we have the ordinances, if Christ be not present
with them ? He adds, therefore, " And he that sits on the
throne shall dwell amongst us." But though we have the
presence of Jesus Christ, yet we may suffer much with want.
True, yet verse 16, " They shall hunger no more, neither
thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any
heat ; for the Lamb which is the midst of the throne shall
feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of wa
ter." Oh, but yet we may be brought in the meanwhile into
grievous straits, and be in a sad and mournful condition.
True, but there is a time a coming when all tears shall be
wiped away from our eyes ; and therefore he adds this, at the
1 7th verse, " And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes." How should tears be wiped away hereafter, if they
were not shed for the present ? Though then you do fear it
now, and shed many tears, yet all shall be wiped away and
not one left. Oh, what gracious dealing is here ! Thus will
Christ deal with his people in troublous times ; and there
fore though our condition, in regard of the public, be exceed
ing sad, and very grievous, insomuch as we have all cause to
mourn and weep ; yet if you be in Christ, and have made
your peace with God, you have no reason to be cast down.
And thus it is with every godly man : surely, therefore, a
godly, gracious man, hath no reason for his discouragements,
whatever his affliction be.
But what shall we do, then, that we may not be discourag-
204 A LIFTING UP [SER. 10.
ed, whatever our affliction be, whether public or private, na
tional or personal ? A good man, indeed, hath no reason to
be discouraged under his affliction, but it is a hard thing to
bear up against all discouragements under great affliction :
what shall we do in this case ?
Either you have assurance of God s love in Christ or not ;
if not, this affliction shall be a messenger to bring it to you.
So look upon your affliction ; and if you have assurance, then
actuate your assurance, reflect much on yoar interest in, and
your peace with God through Christ ; put yourselves often
upon this disjunction either there is enough in God alone,
or not ; if there be not enough in God alone, how can the
saints and angels live in heaven, who have no meat, drink,
nor clothes there, but God alone ? And if there be enough
in God alone, why should I not be contented with my condi
tion, and comforted under it, whatever it be ? What though
men hate me, if Christ loves me ? Oh, labour more and
more to see your interest in Christ, and ever hold it to your
eye!
If you would not be discouraged under your afflictions,
remember much your fellowship with Christ in his suffer
ings ; thus : Now by these my sufferings have I fellowship
with Christ in all his sufferings ; and therefore as Christ died,
and did rise again, so though my name dieth, estate dieth,
body dieth, and all my comforts die, yet they shall rise again.
The apostle argueth, and proves, that the Romans should die
no more in their sins, because Christ being risen from the
dead, died no more ; and therefore, saith he, though you fall
into sins, yet you shall die no more, because you are risen
with Christ. So say I, though your afflictions be great, and
seem to swallow up all your comforts, yet your comforts shall
not be buried in them ; for, if godly, you are risen with
Christ, and have fellowship with him, and so die no more.
When therefore affliction comes, rejoice in that you are made
partakers of his sufferings, and say, " Rejoice not over me,
O mine enemy, for though I fall, yet shall I rise again ;" for
by my sufferings I have fellowship with Christ in his suffer
ings, and so in his resurrection, comforts and glories.
If you would not be discouraged under your afflictions,
labour more and more to be strangers to the world, and to be
acquainted with the ways of God under affliction. The dog
SER. 10.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 205
doth not bite, or tear, or hurt those that dwell in the house ;
if a stranger comes, he flies upon him, and tears him, because
he is not acquainted with him. And what reason is there
that men s afflictions fly upon them and tear them so much
as they do, but because they are strangers to, and know not
the way of God under them ; labour therefore to live by faith
above the world, to be a stranger to the world, and be more
acquainted with the way of affliction.
Consider what Christ hath borne and left you to bear.
There are but two things to bear ; sin and sufferings. Christ
hath borne all your sins, will not ye bear his sufferings ? He
hath borne and carried the heavy end of the staff: you have
not one sin to bear, and will you not then bear the suffer
ings ?
Consider also, and that frequently and seriously, what
abundance of good you and others get, or may get by your
afflictions. God by afflictions lets out nothing but corrupt
blood. Be of good comfort, man, (said one now in heaven,
to another complaining under his afflictions,) Christ will do
thee no hurt in the latter end. God never whips his chil
dren but for their good, and doth teach both them and others
by them. I was converted (said one, telling the story of his
conversion) by seeing a man executed ; for, thought I, if a
man be thus punished with death for breaking one of the
laws of men ; what do I then deserve, who have broken all
the laws of God ? Affliction sometimes teacheth the by
stander much, but especially it is teaching to yourself;
thereby you see and read the fulness of God, the emptiness
of the creature, and the vileness of sin. It recals sin past,
and prevents sin to come ; it quickens prayer, and enlarges
thankfulness. And it may be thou mayest owe thy conver
sion to some affliction, as a means thereof; and if so much
good do come by it, will you be discouraged under it?
Think, and think much of the good thereof.
Whenever any affliction comes, do not stand poring on
the evil of it, but be sure that you look as well and as much
upon what is with you, as upon what is against you : there
is no mercy which you can lose, but hath some burden
with it: there is no misery that can befal you, but hath
some mercy with it. When men lose a mercy, they
only consider the sweetness of a mercy lost, and not the
burden that they do lose withal. Oh, saith a poor
206 A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
woman, I have lost my husband, so loving, so gracious, so
helpful ; but not a word of the burden that is gone withal,
and so there is much discouragement. When affliction comes
men only consider the evil, and not the mercy that doth come
withal, and so they are much dejected. Suppose that a lov
ing father in some high room, throw down a bag of gold to
his child, and it lights on the child s head, insomuch as it
breaketh his head-and causeth the blood to come ; whilst the
child feels the smart thereof, he is impatient and forward ;
while he looks only upon the leathern bag he is not thank
ful ; but when he looks into the bag, and sees what a great
deal of gold his father hath given him, then he speaks well of
his father, notwithstanding all the smart of his head. There
is never an affliction, but is a bag of gold given unto the
people of God ; though it seem a leathern bag without, yet
there is gold within ; so long as they stand poring upon the
leathern bag, or attend unto the smart of their affliction, they
are not thankful, they do not praise the Lord, but are much
discouraged ; but if they would look into the bag, and tell
their gold, then they would have comfort, and not be discou
raged. I tell you from the Lord, there is gold within ; look
in this bag, the bag of affliction, tell over all your gold which
the Lord hath given you in this affliction, and then you will
be quiet. If a mercy be taken from you, consider the bur
den that is taken away too. If a misery come, consider the
mercy that doth come withal ; labour ever, labour to see both
together, as well what is for you as what is against you, then
will you never be much discouraged, although your affliction
be never so great.
And thus I have done with the seventh instance.
SERMON XI.
A LIFTING UP IN CASE OF UNSERVICEABLENESS.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ; and why art thou dis
quieted within me?" $c. Psalm xlii. 11,
VIII. SOMETIMES the discouragements of the saints do
arise from their employments, work and service.
. 11.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 207
Either they are not called forth to work for God, as they
do desire, or they do want abilities and skill to work, or they
have no success in their work. Oh, says one, I am a poor,
unuseful, and unserviceable creature ; God hath done much
for me, but I do nothing for God : others are used and em
ployed for God, but as for me, I am cast by as an useless
vessel, in whom God hath no pleasure : and therefore I am
thus discouraged, have I not just cause and reason now ?
No, for is family work and service nothing, is relation
work nothing ? There is a three-fold sweat, says Luther ;
political sweat, ecclesiastical sweat, and domestical sweat.
A man may sweat at family work ; and it is a great betrust-
ment to be trusted with the work of a family : and this work
you are betrusted with.
Is it nothing for a man to be trusted with the work of his
Christian station ? The whole body of Christ is divided into
many members ; every member in the body hath a work
suitable unto it : the eye doth not hear, as the ear doth ; nor
the ear see, as the eye doth; but every member worketh
according to that station which it hath in the body. So, " ye
being one body, are many members," saith the apostle, and
all members have not the same office. Look therefore, as
the station is which ye have in the body of Christ, such is
the work that ye are betrusted with.
And is it nothing for a man to be employed in comforting,
relieving, and supporting others ! This is so great a service,
that the very angels are employed therein, as in a work most
suitable to them. For when the Lord would stir up and
provoke the children of Israel to repent, he sent a prophet
to them. Judges vi. 7? 8. But when he would comfort,
strengthen, and encourage Gideon, he doth not employ the
prophet therein, but he sends an angel to him, saying, verse
12, " The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour/
And if ye look into the story of the New Testament, ye shall
find, that when Christ was on Mount Tabor, in his transfigu
ration, then the angels are not said to attend upon him ; but
when he was sweating in the garden, then the angels came
and comforted and ministered to him. Why? Because this is
angelical work, to comfort, relieve, and support others in the
208 A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
time of distress.* Now are you not trusted with this work ?
How many poor, drooping, tempted, and deserted souls are
there whom you may go and administer to ! And is this no
work at all ?
But there is a generation work, a work of special employ
ment, which God doth trust others with ; as for me I have
none of this work to do, I am a poor, useless, and unser
viceable person, one that God doth not use at all, and
therefore I am thus discouraged. For is it not a very great
mercy to be used and employed for God in the world ?
Yes, it is a very great mercy and blessing, I confess, to be
used in any work or service of God. This was Moses com
mendation, that he was the servant of God ; Moses, " the
servant of the Lord, is dead." And in this title David
gloried more than that he was king of Israel, Psalm xviii,
"A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord." He doth
not say, A Psalm of David, the king of Israel. Thus Paul,
Peter, James, and Jude do entitle their epistles : Paul, a
servant of Christ; and Peter, a servant ot Christ; and
James, a servant of Christ ; and Jude, a servant of Christ.
Yea, and Christ himself doth glory in this title of God s
servant; and the Father glories in Christ on this account:
" Behold my servant, whom I have chosen. My servant the
Branch." So that a great privilege it is to be God s servant,
used and employed for him.
The more serviceable a man is to God the more he doth
honor God, and the more he honors God, the more he
honors himself. Honor est in honorante. Those that stand
before, and wait on kings and princes, honor themselves in
honoring their masters. So in honoring God, a man honors
himself; yea, and thereby God doth put honor on him: for
what is honor but Testimonium de alicujus excellentia, testi
fying of another s excellency; and the more I testify of any
excellency in a man, the more I honor him. Now, when
God doth betrust a man with his work, he testifies of an
excellency in him : " The Lord hath counted me faithful, and
* Quasi angelus sibi munus consolandi miseros tanquam gloriosius percipiat,
munus autem objurgandi impios tanquam minus nobile, hominibus remittat
Cajetan.
Ac si angeli proniores essent ad laborantem consolandum quam ad gratulandum
triumphanti. Mendoza in 1 Sam. cap. i. 6.
SER. 11.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 209
put me into his work, " saith Paul. Yea, the greatest great
ness in this world is to wait upon the great God. Therefore,
saith our Saviour of John the Baptist, "Amongst them
that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than
he." Matthew xi. 11. And if ye look into Gen. i., ye shall
find that the moon is called one of the two great lights,
ver. 16, " And God made two great lights, the greater to
rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night." Bat though
the moon is said to be lesser than the sun, yet it is said
to be one of the two great lights. And why so ? are there
not other stars greater than the moon? Yes; but because
the moon is the most influential and serviceable to the world,
therefore it is said to be greater than others. So that in
God s account, the more service we do in the world the
greater we are, and the more honorable in God s eyes.
Thereby also we are kept from the dint of temptations ;
idleness breeds temptation. Our vacation is the Devil s
term ; when we are least at work for God, then is Satan
most at work about us. By doing nothing men learn to do
evil. Yea, idleness is the burying of a living man.*
Great and good employment is the mercy promised. That
can hardly be a small mercy, which the great God doth
promise ; promised mercies are the sweetest mercies. Now
the Lord promiseth, Isaiah Iviii. 18, "That if thou draw
out thy soul to the hungry, &c. the Lord shall guide thee
continually ; and they that shall be of thee, shall build the
old waste places : thou slialt raise up the foundations of
many generations, and thou shalt be called the repairer of
the breaches, the restorer of paths to dwell in. " Here is
employment and betrustment promised.
The more useful and serviceable a man is to God, the
more apt and ready God will be to pardon his failiijgs ; not
only the failings of his present employment, but of the
other part of his life also. What a great failing was that
in Rahab, to say the spies were gone, when she had hid them
in the top of her house. Yet the Lord pardoned this failing
to her. Why ? Because she believed, and was useful, and
serviceable unto God s great design in that her day. And
if ye look into Numb. xii. ye shall find, that though Aaron
and Miriam were both engaged in the same sin and evil, of
* Homines nihil agendo male discunt pgere. Otiuai est vivi hominis sepultura Sen.
VOL. II. P
210 A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
envying and murmuring against Moses, yet the Lord spared
Aaron when he struck Miriam with a leprosy. But why
(saith Abulensis) was not Aaron smitten with the leprosy as
well as Miriam ? what, because he was not so deeply in the
transgression as she was ? No ; for verse 1, it is said, " then
spake Aaron and Miriam ; " not as if she were put on by
him ; or because that Aaron confessed his sin as she did not?
No, for so did Miriam also, for she was a good woman. Or
because that God owed Aaron a punishment till afterwards ? *
No, for that appears not by the text ; but he was the high
priest, and if he had been smitten with leprosy, it would
have brought his ministry under some contempt, the work
of the Lord would have ceased for a time also, and though
he failed in this thing, yet he was otherwise a very useful
and serviceable man ; and God would shew his aptness and
readiness to pardon such, rather than others.
If a man be employed for God in any special service and
work, the Lord will not only pardon his failings, but if he be
faithful in his work, God will bless him, and set a character
of love and favor upon him. What a character of love did
the Lord set on Caleb and Joshua. Of all men in scripture,
it is said of Caleb, that he followed the Lord fully ; and this
character God himself did set upon him, Numb. xv. 24,
" But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with
him, and hath followed me fully, &c." But why did God
own and dignify Caleb thus ? Even because he was faithful
in that work, service, and employment which God did call
him to.
Yea, the serviceable man is the only man who doth live
and speak when he is dead ; I mean for God. Some are
very active and serviceable for the Devil ; whilst they live,
they write and print wanton, filthy books ; and they speak
while they are dead, but it is still for Satan. Others are
very active and serviceable for God ; while they live, they
write and print works of faith and holiness ; and they also
speak when they are dead. As it is said of Abel, " who
being dead, yet speaketh ; " but how doth he speak now ?
The apostle tells us, Heb. xi. by faith, by which A av\w, it
relates unto iri<n s faith. Well, but what act of faith did he
K at Aapwv ()ia TO
Chrysostom. Horn. 8. ad Colos.
. 11.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 211
do ? He offered a more excellent sacrifice than his elder
brother, which was the work and service of his day. So
that the serviceable man is the only man who doth speak
when he is dead. Surely therefore, it is a very great privilege
and mercy, to be used and employed for God in his work
and service. Yet if God will not use me, why should I be
discouraged, or complain ? Is not God free; and may not
he employ whom he pleaseth ? Shall the poor potsherd say
unto him, why dost thou lay me by ? What if God will
cross hands, and lay his right hand on another s head, and
his left hand on mine ; shall I think to direct and order the
hands of God s providence, as Joseph would have altered
Jacob s ? Is not his work his own ; and may not he put it
out unto whom he please ; and if I complain thereof, is not
this my pride ? Proud men scorn their own employment,
and envy at others. It is a mercy indeed to be employed
for God ; yet if God will not trust me with his service, as I
desire, why should I be discouraged ? Yet I may be God s
servant. For,
1. The service of God is twofold. Sometimes it is taken
for some special employment, which a man is called forth
unto. And sometimes it is taken for our ordinary obedience
unto God s commandments. In the first sense it is used
often in Numb. iv. and frequently in the old testament
called, the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. So
in the new testament also, Rom. xv. 31, "That my service
may be accepted." In the second sense it is used, Rom. xii.
1, "Which is your reasonable service." So also, Rev. ii. 19,
" I know thy work, charity and service." This latter service,
is the saving service, that service whereby, in a special
manner, we are called God s servants. And in that respect
we may be serviceable to God, though not in the former.
2. As for the service of special employment, that is also
various. Sometimes God doth call a man to one kind of
service, sometimes to another. He hath several ways of
employment ; he employed Moses one way, in giving out
the law ; and he employed Ezra another way, in restoring of
the law. Both were employed, but their employments were
very different. In 1 Sam. xxx. we read, that when David
fought against the Amalekites, to recover his wives and
substance, some of his men stayed and tarried by the stuff,
p 2
212 A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
to preserve that ; and saith David, verse 24, " As his part is,
that goeth down to the battle; so shall his part be, that
tarrieth by the stuff, they shall part alike/ Now it may be
you are one of those that stay by Christ s stuff, being
employed in some lower and meaner service ; Christ hath a
care of you, and though you stay at home, yet you, even
you shall have part in the spoil, as well as those whose work
and employment is more honourable.
3. Yea, though God do lay me by for the present, yet he
may use me afterward. God did make use of Joseph, but
he first laid him by ; God did make use of Moses but he
first laid him by ; God did make use of David, but did he
not first lay him by ? And if Barnabas, the companion of
Paul, were the same person with Barsabas (as some do verily
believe, though the Syriac translation is plainly against it,*
because the name of both was Joses or Joseph, as appears
by comparing Acts i. 23, with Acts iv. 36. And because
this Joses was not called Barnabas from the beginning, but
named Barnabas by the apostles, Acts iv. 46) : if, I say,
Barnabas were the same with Barsabas, then it appears
plainly, that God doth not always lay a man by, to use him.
no more, for what abundance of service Barnabas did, the
book of the Acts doth declare ; yet he was first laid by, in
the choice that was between him and Matthew, for the lot
fell on Matthew ; yet Barnabas is sent out afterwards by the
church, Acts xi. 22, and by God himself, Acts xiii. 2, and
much service he did do for God : so that though God do lay
me by for the present, yet he may use me afterwards.
4. And if a man may be employed for God in some spe
cial service, yet may go to hell when all is done ; and a man
may not be employed, and yet go to heaven afterward : then
why should you be discouraged, because you are not so em
ployed ? Now what think ye of those which ye read of in
Matthew vii, they say at the last day, " Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name, cast out devils in thy name and
done many wonderful works in thy name ?" Works and
great works, and many, and wonderful, they did and all in
the name of Christ; yet he will say to them, " Depart from
me, for I never knew you ; or I know you not." Yea, did not
* Quidam cundem putant. Emman. Sa. Alp. Salmeron, in Acts i. Vide Transl.
Syriac m Acts xv. 22.
SER. 11.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 213
our Saviour Christ say concerning Judas, " I have chosen
twelve, and one of you is a devil ?" A devil, yet an apostle ;
what greater work, service, or employment, than the work of
an apostle ? yet possibly a man may be an apostle in regard
of employment, and a very devil in regard of life. On the
other side, how many good and gracious men are there in the
world, who were never used, or called forth unto any special
service, such as are now in heaven, and shall be so unto all
eternity ? What then, though you be not employed, or used
as others are; yet surely you have no just cause or reason
to be discouraged in this respect.
5. And if it be the property of a good man to rejoice in
the service of others ; then why should you be discouraged,
because others are employed, and you not ? A godly man
doth mourn for another s sin, as well as for his own, because
he mourns for sin as sin, and as a dishonor unto God : so he
rejoices in the service of another, as well as in his own, be
cause he rejoices in the work itself, and because God is
honoured. You would have God s cart to be driven through
your gate. Why ? is it not because you may have some toll
thereby ? Paul said, " However, Christ is preached, and
therefore I rejoice ;" and if Christ s work be done, whose
hands soever the work comes through, why should you not
rejoice ? And if it be your duty to rejoice, then surely you
have no scripture ground and reason for your discouragement
in this regard.
But I am not discouraged, because I do want employment,
or service ; I have more work lies upon my shop-board, than I
can turn my hand unto : but I have a great deal of work to do,
and I have no skill to do it : oh, I want abilities, I want
sufficiencies, I do want endowments ; therefore I am thus
discouraged, and have I not cause and reason now ?
No : for God s greatest works, are not always done by the
greatest parts and most choice abilities. Gideon did a great
work for God in his generation, yet saithhe, Judges vi. 15, " Oh,
my Lord wherewith shall I save Israel ? behold my family is
poor in Manasseth, and I am least in my father s house :"
as if he should say, If this great work be done, it must be
done by some strong and potent family or person ; but as for
me, I am the least in my father s house, and my father s
house is the least in Manasseth ; yet, saith the Lord to him,
214 A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
" I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite Midian as one
man." I have read in scripture, that the people have been
too many, and the means too strong for God to work by ;
but I never read that it was too small, or weak for God to
work by. God saith, " Who hath despised the day of small
things ? And if he will not have us to despise the day of his
small things, surely he will not despise the day of our small
things. Did not the weakness of the apostles overcome the
strength of all the world ? Who doth not see what weighty
buildings God hath sometimes laid upon our laths ? He is
able to make as great a hole with his needle, as with our
bodkin.
Our best abilities for God s work, are from the breathings
of the Spirit of God. Water is weak in itself, but when the
wind blows upon it, how strong is it. So, if the Spirit of
God breathe upon us, we are strong, though in ourselves as
weak as water : " Not by might, nor by strength, but by the
Spirit of the Lord," saith Zechariah. And if ye look upon
that great service of the re-building of the temple, when they
came out of Babylon, ye shall find, that so long as they went
forth in the strength of outward powers, the command of
Cyrus, and the like, they were much hindered, and the ene
mies then caused the work of the Lord to cease ; but when
the Lord stirred up the spirit of Haggai, Zechariah, Zerrub-
babel, and others to build, then they went on and prospered;
Why ? Because they went forth in the strength of the Spi
rit of the Lord ; not in the strength of man s command, or
of their own abilities.
Though the work of the Lord be carried on, not by might
nor by strength, but by the Spirit ; yet this Spirit doth not
always breathe and work alike : Christ sent out his disciples
for to preach, to cast out devils, and by the Spirit of the
Lord, they did preach, and cast out devils ; yet they had not
then received so great a measure of the Spirit as afterwards,
when he breathed on them, saying, " Receive ye the Holy
Ghost;" yea, and though he did thus breathe upon them when
he left them, yet they did not then receive in so great a
measure of the Spirit as afterwards ; for they were still to
wait for the promise, that is, the Spirit, Acts i. ; so that
though God will carry on his own work, by his own strength
and by his own Spirit, yet the assistance thereof, is not al-
SER. 11.]
FOB THE DOWNCAST.
215
ways alike ; sometimes it is more and sometimes it is less ;
even where it falls in truth and power.
But though the Spirit doth not always work alike, yet if
God call you to any work or service, you shall have so much
assistance as is needful for you ; only you must know, that
Dabitur in hora, it shall be given in that hour, it shall not lie
cold and stale by you ; but when you come to use it, then it
shall be given out unto you, more or less, but sufficient.
Before Moses came to his work, he complained of want of
abilities, his stammering tongue, and want of eloquence, &c.,
but when he was warm at his work, and was engaged in it,
then we read of no such complaints : God s call, is our wall
and strength, " Go in this thy might," saith God to Gideon;
and what might was that ? the verse tells you, it was the
might of his call ; for says the Lord in the next words,
" Have not I sent thee ?" Judges vi. 14. Our might then,
is in God s call, not in our own abilities : and a little warm
assistance, is better than much cold and stale ability.
But I fear the Lord hath not called me to this work, but
that I am an intruder into the work of the Lord, because
I do want abilities.
Nay, but if the Lord do sometimes call a man first, and
doth furnish him with abilities afterward, then you have no
reason to make such conclusions. Now ye know how it was
with Saul ; God did first call him, and then he gave him
another spirit ; he had not that other ruling spirit, before he
was called to rule, but after. So the apostles were first cal
led to their office, and then Christ did furnish them with
abilities, " Who hath made us able, or meet ministers, not
of the letter," &c. When were they made meet, or able ?
what, before they were called ! No, but afterwards. God s
call is not like to man s, man s call doth always pre-suppose
abilities, God s call doth sometimes bring them.
And if God s porters, whom he hath set to keep the door
of opportunity, do judge you able, then you are to rest in
their judgment; "A large, and effectual door is opened,"
says Paul. God hath a door, which when he calls a man to
work, he doth then open to him : this door is kept by certain
porters, whom God hath appointed to keep the same, and if
they judge that you have abilities, then are you to rest and
acquiesce therein ; for though I am to judge of mine own
216 A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
grace, and not another; yet others are to judge of my gifts,
and abilities, and not my self. Some will judge of their own
gifts and of others graces ; this is evil, but in reference to
work and external service, others are to judge of mine abili
ties and not myself; as I am to judge of mine internal grace,
and not another. Accordingly, Luther counselled Spalatinus,
who having many sad thoughts of leaving his ministry : This
is, saith Luther to him, a diabolical temptation, and you
know not now, why you are afflicted with it; we which are
spectators, know it better, therefore you ought rather to trust
us than yourself, who in the Lord, before the Lord, yea, the
Lord by us, doth exhort you to go on in your work, unto which
he hath called you. So say I now to you, you doubt of your
call because you do want abilities ; but do those porters judge
you able, who are set to judge ? then are you in this case,
rather to rest in their judgment, than in your own. Now
God s porters have judged you meet for his work, and have
opened the door of opportunity to you ; and therefore you
have no reason to be discouraged in this respect ; only re
member this : That the weaker your legs are, the faster you
must hold on the hand of free grace.
Oh, but I fear that I am not called to this work, but that
I am an intruder, because I meet with so many difficulties in
my way.
Do you meet with difficulties in your way ; what virtue or
virtuous action is there but hath some stone upon it ? Nulla
virtus sine lapide ; there is no virtue but hath some stone or
other that is rolled upon it. As Christ himself had a stone
rolled on him, so every work of Christ, and truth of Christ,
and way of Christ, hath one stone or other that is rolled upon
it. Yet ye must know that there is a pearl lying under that
stone, and the heavier the stone is, the more precious is the
pearl ; the harder the nut and shell is to crack, the sweeter is
the kernel ; and in due time Christ will send his angel to roll
away the stone from your work and his service, and that be
fore you are aware.* When the women said, as being at a
stand, and not knowing what to do, Who shall roll away the
stone ? then did the angel come, and rolled it away for them
Nisi ipse elevasset lapidem non inventa fuisset sub eo hfec margarita. Heb.
Prov.
SER. 11.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 217
before they were aware of it. Peter had the brazen gates
opened for him when he came to them ; they did not stand
open before, but when he came at them, then did they open
to him. And if you go on in your way and work which God
doth lead you to, the brazen gates which are now shut against
you shall then open to you; if, I say, you go on in your work
in way of faith, as following the conduct of the Lord.
And if God s clearest call to a work hath always been fol
lowed with the greatest difficulty, then have you no reason
to question your call in regard of difficulties. Now I pray
tell me, when Moses went to bring the children of Israel out
of Egypt, had not he a clear call for that: yet what abun
dance of difficulties did he meet with in his way to it? And
when the Jews came out of Babylon, did they not meet with
many difficulties : some at their coming out, some in their
way, some at the building of the temple ; yet had they not a
call, and a clear call thereunto ? Without all doubt they had.
Surely, then, you may have a call, and a clear call to your
work and service, yet you may meet with many difficulties in
your way, and therefore have no reason to be discouraged in
this respect.
But I am not troubled, afflicted, or discouraged in regard
of my call ; for I am persuaded that God hath called me to
his work and service: but I am most unserviceable; I do not
do that work and service which I am called unto ; I lie like
a dry log or chip in the family and place where I live. Oh !
I am most unserviceable, and therefore I am thus discou
raged.
That is ill indeed ; for every good and gracious man is a
serviceable man, more or less he is serviceable in his place
and condition. Onesimus, before converted, was unprofit
able ; but being converted, now profitable, says the apostle.
A good man, in scripture, is compared to those things that
are most profitable. Is the wicked compared to the green
bay tree, which doth bring forth no fruit : the godly is com
pared to the olive tree, which is all profitable ; the fruit pro
fitable, the leaves, bark and the tree profitable. Is a wicked
man compared to the goat : a good man is compared to the
sheep; and what is in a sheep not profitable ? its flesh is pro
fitable, its wool profitable, its skin is profitable, yea its very
dung is profitable : and such a sheep was Paul ; nothing in
218 A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
Paul not profitable and serviceable : will ye instance in his
Jewish and natural privileges ? he makes use of them, Phil.
3, to advance the righteousness and knowledge of Christ ;
yea, " all these (says he) I count as dung and dross in regard
of Christ." Will ye instance in his conversion to Christ ?
he doth make use of that to convert others, and to establish
others, by frequently telling the story of it to others. Will ye
instance in his parts, gifts and learning ? he makes use of his
Hebrew sometimes, sometimes of his knowledge in the hea
then poets, sometimes of his knowledge in the Roman cus
toms.* Will ye instance in his friendship, acquaintance, and
interest in men ? that he makes use of with Philemon, from
Christ, in the case of Onesimus. Will ye instance in his af
flictions ? he doth make use of them to persuade his people
to their duty : " I Paul, a prisoner of Christ, do beseech
you," &c. Will ye instance in his temptations ? he doth
make use of them, and tells the Corinthians how he was buf
feted by Satan. Will ye instance in his sins ? he doth im
prove them also for the advancement of God s grace : " I
was a blasphemer, &c. (saith he) but I obtained mercy."
Thus, ye see, there was nothing in Paul not profitable, he was
all over serviceable and profitable ; and if ye be one of these
sheep, you will be serviceable and profitable in your place
and condition, more or less. I remember the speech of a
martyr, when he came to die, and to be burnt for Christ, Oh,
said he, thus long have I grown in the orchard of Christ,
and have borne some fruit, though not much, yet some ; and
now that I grow old and dry, and can bear fruit no longer,
shall I be taken and thrown into the chimney, to make a fire
for the warming of others : what a great mercy and blessing
is this ! Ye know what Solomon saith, " Whatever thou
findest in thy hand to do, do it with all thy might:" and what
Jeremiah saith, " Cursed is he that doeth the work of the
Lord negligently." Art thou therefore unprofitable, unser
viceable ? then have you cause to be humbled. Yet even in
this respect you are not to be cast down or discouraged, for,
either you are unserviceable because you want abilities, or,
* Tow yag evoc ECT/IEJ . Acts xvii. 28. Aratus.
$>fi%ovffiv T)rj k-p/ora ojutXtai *ca KCU. 1 Cor. xv. 33. Menander.
KpjjoTee cit ijsivffrai icaxa S^ca yaertpt<; apyoi. Titus i. 12. Epi-
menides.
. 11.] FOB THE DOWNCAST. 219
because ye want will and heart thereunto. If you say you
want abilities, I have spoken to that already. If you say
you are unwilling and do want heart thereunto, then why do
you thus complain ? he that complains of his own unservice-
ableness is not unwilling to serve the Lord. But you com
plain, and say, Oh, I am most unserviceable ; therefore you
are willing, and have an heart to serve ; and if you can speak
in truth with Samuel, and say, " Speak, Lord, for thy servant
is ready to obey " then you are not unwilling to serve the
Lord. Now cannot you say thus in truth ? Yes, through
grace I am able to say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant is ready
to obey. Surely, then, you are not unwilling ; this your un-
serviceableness doth not arise only from your unwillingness
and want of heart; and therefore you have no just reason to
be discouraged in this respect.
But this is not the matter which doth pinch with me ; for
according to my poor abilities I have laboured, and have been
truly willing to serve the Lord inVny generation ; but I labour,
work, and take pains, and all in vain : 1 labour, and have no
success in my labour ; I work, and have no success in work ;
I serve, and have no success in my service ; and therefore
I am thus discouraged, have I not cause and reason now ?
No : for possibly you may be mistaken in the matter of
success : you may have good and great success and not know
thereof. There is a time when the seed doth lie dead under
the clods ; and saith our Saviour, " Unless the seed dies, it
abides alone." Should the husbandman complain in this
time that he hath no success in his sowing ? If the devil do
oppose by the world without, and assault you with tempta
tions within, it argues that there is good success, though you
know it not. Now, does not the world oppose you ; and
does not the devil assault you with temptations, discouraging
you for want of success ? Yes, that he doth. Then there is
some good success, though for the present it be hidden from
your eyes. This is a certain sign, said Luther to Spalatinus,
that your work is neither ungrateful to God, nor unprofitable
to the church, in that you are troubled with these tempta
tions ; for if it were unpleasing to God, you would rather
long after it, as they do that run before they be sent. Where
as Satan, when he finds such as are truly sent by God, and
220 A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
pleasing to him, he makes them a weary of their work by
these and the like temptations.
And if God s own dearest children have sometimes la
boured or toiled all their night or day, and have caught no
thing, then no new thing doth befal you in case you want
success. Now ye know, and have read, how it was with
Noah ; an hundred and twenty years he preached to the old
world, and not one soul was saved but his own family, eight
persons, in the ark. Did not Jeremiah, also, toil in his day
and night, and what did he catch ? Read what he says, Jer.
vi. 29, " The bellows are burnt, the lead is consumed of the
fire, the founder melteth in vain ; for the wicked are not
plucked away: reprobate silver shall men call them." Yea,
doth not Christ himself say, Isa. xlix., " I have laboured in
vain, I have spent my strength for nought :" and do you think
to fare better in this case than Noah, Jeremiah, Christ him
self?* I confess the want of success in our work, is a great
temptation, even one of the greatest temptations ; yet if God
will have me lay out my strength in vain, why should I be
discouraged ! The good physician doth not lose his fee,
though the patient die ; nor shall you lose your reward though
ye have no success.
Yet this is not the thing which doth trouble me ; for I ac
knowledge that I have been entrusted with many services,
and God hath called me to them ; I have been willing there
unto, and have had some good success, but when I look into
the Scripture, I find that some have been employed in way
of judgment, as Nebuchadnezzar ; others in way of mercy,
as Nehemiah, &c. Some, again, have been employed in way
of mercy to others, as Cyrus, and Judas, but not in love and
mercy to themselves ; others have been employed in way of
mercy to themselves and others too, as Paul, and Peter, &c.
Now I fear that either I have been employed in a way of
judgment, or that I have not been employed in a way of love
and mercy to myself, but for others ; and therefore I am thus
discouraged and cast down, have I not just cause and reason
now ?
No : for if God have employed you, and trusted you in his
service in a way of love and mercy to yourself, as well as to
others, then you have no reason to be discouraged in this res-
* Content sibi hanc causam cum Christo communem esse. Calvin.
SF.R. 11.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 221
pect. Now, when doth God employ a man in a way of love
and mercy to himself, as well as for others good ?
When a man s heart is thereby drawn out with love to
God. That which ends in love, comes from love ; that
which ends in your love to God, came from God s love to
you. So in outward blessings, if they end in your love to
God, then they came from God s love to you. So in the
matter of afflictions, if I do love God the more by them,
then did they corne from God s love to me. So also in the
matter of employments, if you do love God by them, and
they do end in your love to God, then they came from God s
love to you.
When God doth employ a man in his service, in a way of
love and mercy to him, then he doth more or less acquaint
him with his design therein ; and if God do acquaint me
with his design in his work, then he doth employ me in a
way of love to me. He employed the Assyrian as a rod in
his hand, to scourge the people of Israel ; but they knew
not God s design, they went on upon their own design.
Therefore saith the prophet Isaiah, in the name of the Lord,
chapter x. 6, " I will send him against an hypocritical na
tion, howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think
so ; but it is in his heart to destroy nations, not a few."
The Lord employed Peter to open a door to the Gentiles in
the conversion of Cornelius, and though he knew not God s
design at the first, yet he did fully know it afterwards ; fur
says he, and the rest, " Now hath God also to the Gentiles,
granted repentance unto life." v
When a man is employed in a way of special love to his
own soul, he hath high thoughts of his employment, but low
thoughts of his own actings under it ; therefore said John
the Baptist, " I indeed baptize you with water, but there is
I one comes after me, he shall baptize with the Holy Ghost
and with fire, whose shoe-latchet I am unworthy to unloose."
But though the employment of Korah, Dathan and Abiram,
was good and honourable, yet they had low thoughts thereof,
and high thoughts of their own actings, Numb. xvi. 3 ; for
said they to Moses and Aaron, " Ye take too much upon
you, seeing all the congregation are holy :" as if they should
say, We are as good as you. Why so ? Even because they
222 A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
were not employed in mercy to their own souls, but for
others good.
He that is employed and used in a way of love and mercy,
is very tender of the name of God, and doth so act and work
as the name of God may not suffer, or be defiled by him.
Thus it was with Ezra, though the enemy lay in his way to
Judea, yet he would not ask a convoy of the king ; for says
he, " I was ashamed to require of the king a band of sol
diers and horsemen, to help us against the enemy in the
way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, the hand of
our God is upon all them for good that seek him, and his
wrath is against all them that forsake him." Now Ezra was
a good man, a man that God did call forth to this employ
ment, not only out of love to others, but to himself; and
thus did he act for God, being more careful of God s name
in the work, than of their own safety.
When a man is employed in a way of love and mercy to
his own soul also, then he doth grow in grace while he is
exercising of his gift. A man that exerciseth a gift for the
good of others only, grows in parts, and in pride also ; but a
good man grows in experience, and so he doth grow in faith:
he meets with difficulties and deliverances, so he doth grow in
faith; God discovers himself to him in the way, so he still grows
in faith, love and holiness. God gives him a promise when
he sends him forth, as he did give to Joshua, chap. i. ; this he
looks much upon, and goes forth in the strength of, and so
as he uses his gift in his work, he doth grow in grace thereby,
but the other doth not.
He makes no great outward bargain of God s service,
neither doth he labour to pocket up much for himself. God
employed Moses in a great work, but where do you read of
any great estate that he got for himself? We read of
Joshua, that when he had brought the children of Israel into
Canaan, and divided the land by lot to them, then when he
had served others, in the last place he did serve himself, and
that in no great matter. What did Nehemiah get by his
service ? Not as the former governors did. Why ? Be
cause he feared the Lord. So then, if a man be employed
in way of love and mercy to himself, he doth not make his
employment a shoeing-horn to his own preferment. It is
enough for me my Master s work is done, saith he ; neither
SER. 11.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 223
doth God use to pay them all their wages here, whom he em
ploys in mercy to themselves. But as a merchant, if he have
to deal with a stranger for a less commodity, he pays him down
presently ; but if with a friend for some great priced com
modity, he takes time, and doth not pay down his money
presently. So, if God have to do with a stranger, as Nebu
chadnezzar, he will pay him wages presently ; but if God
deals with a friend, whom he employs in mercy to himself,
then he doth put off his full payment till afterwards.
He doth God s work without any great noise or notice of
himself, like Christ, " He lifts not up his voice in the street,"
and as the angels in Ezek. i., his hands are under his wings ;
he hath four hands to work with, but they are not seen, they
are under his wings. Let your light so shine before men,
(says Christ,) that they may see your good works, (not your
selves,) and glorify your Father/ not yourselves. As it is
with the fisher, so with him ; he shews the bait, but hides
himself; he holds forth the word of truth, but not himself;
though he have four hands to work with, yet they are all
under his wings, hidden ; but says Jehu, " Come and see my
zeal for the Lord of Hosts." This is another difference.
If God do use and employ a man in a way of love and
mercy to himself, he is willing to be used, and contented to
be laid by and to be used no more. Another man is not so,
if he have been used in one thing, he thinks he must be used
in other things, and when he hath done, he cannot bear that
God should lay him by and use another. Thus it was with
Saul, he could not be contented that God should use David.
But when God told Eli, that he would lay him and his house
by, he answered, " Good is the word of the Lord " for he
was a good man, and one whom God had used in love and
mercy to himself, and so when God had done with him, he
was content therewith.
He that is used and employed in a way of love and mercy
to himself, will do the work of the Lord fully, though he do
his own works by halves. Caleb did his own works by halves,
and the work of God fully ; for he was used in mercy to
himself and others. Jehu did the work of the Lord by halves,
and his own work fully ; for though he was used in mercy to
some, and judgment to others, yet not in love to himself.
When God doth use a man in a way of judgment, he hath
ordinarily more skill at pulling down, and destroying what is
224 A LIFTING UP [SKU. 11.
man s, than in setting up and building what is God s. But
when God doth use him in a way ot love and mercy to his
own soul, he hath a dexterity in, and a heart to the setting
up of what is God s ; witness Jehu on the one hand, and
Nehemiah on the other hand. How is it therefore with
thee ? Hast thou a skill at pulling down what is man s, and
no skill nor heart to set up what is God s ? Hast thou been
employed and used in God s service, and have you done
your own work fully, and God s work by halves ? Art thou
not contented to be laid by, and that God should use an
other ? Dost thou make a noise in the work, and thy hands
not under thy wings ? Hast thou made a goodly outward
bargain of the Lord s work, and his service as a shoeing-
horn to thine own ends ? Hast thou not grown in experi
ence, faith and holiness, by this work, but in pride rather ?
Hast thou not been very tender of the name of God in thy
service; nor been acquainted with God s design; nor thine
heart drawn out the more to love the Lord ? Then surely
God hath not used or employed thee in love and mercy to
thine own soul. But if thine heart have been drawn out
with love to God by thy very service and employments, and
thou hast been in some measure acquainted with God s
design in that service, and hast been very tender of the
name of God, and more willing to hazard thyself than to
defile his name, and hast grown in grace by the exercise of
thy gifts ; and hast made no bargain of the Lord s service,
but hast had thy hands under thy wings, and hast not done
God s work by halves, and now after all, art contented that
God shall lay thee by, and make use of others ; then surely
the Lord hath used and employed thee in a way of love and
mercy to thine own soul ; and therefore why shouldest thou
be discouraged in this respect ? Certainly you have no just
cause or true reason for it.
But suppose that the Lord either shall not use me in his
service, or if he do, that difficulties and oppositions press
in upon me, or that I meet with no success in my work
according to my desire, what shall I do, that I may be able
to bear up my heart against all discouragements in this
kind?
In case that God do not call you forth to any work or
special employment. Then,
SER. 11.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 225
Consider that you have now the more time to mind your
own soul, and to attend to your own condition. Some fire
so employed, that they have not time enough to pray, read,
meditate, examine their own hearts, and to look into their
own condition. Yea, though a man s work do lie in the
ministry, it is possible that he may so mind his public work,
as to neglect his private. But now, if thou hast no public
employment or service, then you have the more time for to
spend upon your own soul, the more time to converse with
the Lord in private, and to look into your own condition.
And if you be not called forth to work, and yet are willing
to work, you shall be paid for that work and service which
you never did. As some men shall be punished for those
sins which they did never commit in the gross act, because
they were willing and had a desire to commit the same. So
some shall be paid for that work and service for God, which
they never did perform, because they were willing to have
done the same. Now, is it not a great mercy to be paid for
that work which I never did ? Such is the privilege of all
those that are not called to service, and yet are willing to it.
In case that you are employed in God s work and service,
and difficulties press in upon you ; then,
Consider that the greater the difficulty is, the greater shall
your obedience be in carrying on the work ; and the more
you do follow after duty, and redeem it from the hand of
difficulty, the greater shall your comfort and reward be when
all is done.
And the more that any service, work, or duty, is oppressed
with difficulty, the more assistance may you expect from
God; his assistance, help, and income, is given out much
according to the difficulties which we do meet withal. If
the difficulties be small, then his assistance is less ; if the
difficulties be great, than is his assistance greater. Now
what matter what the difficulties are, so long as my assist
ance is suitable ? This is God s way with his, he doth pro
portion his assistance unto our impediments. And therefore
if your difficulties be great, and more than ordinary, then
may you look for great and more than ordinary assistance.
Oh, what a comfort is this !
In case that you work, and serve, and toil, and do take
VOL. ii. Q
22C A LIFTING UP [SER. 11.
nothing, having no success, or not so comfortable as you
desire; then,
Consider this, that the less success you have, the more
are you free from envy. It is a hard thing for a man that
works not, not to envy him that works ; and for him that
hath no success, not to envy him that hath great success.
Of all men in the world, the successful man is the most
envied. The heathens had this notion amongst them, which
they applied to their gods ; and therefore when Polycrates,
king, or rather tyrant of Samos, prospered so abundantly
in all that he undertook, Amasis, the king of Egypt, his
friend and confederate, wrote thus to him:* "That thou
doest well and prosper, is no small joy to me ; but I must
tell thee plainly, that these great and overflowing successes
do not please me, who know full well the nature of the gods,
how envious they are. It is my wish concerning myself,
and the like I wish for all rny friends, sometimes to prosper
and sometimes to miscarry; and in this vicissitude rather to
pass my life, than without any alteration to prosper; for I
never yet could hear of any who having thus prospered long,
did not at the last, end in universal destruction." Which he
imputed to the envy of their gods ; for their gods were devils ;
and indeed, what is the reason that the successful men in any
kind are the most envied by the world, but because the
Devil (who is the envious one) doth provoke thereunto ?
Yea, always so it is, that success doth raise envy, t Hast
thou therefore been at work and hast had no success, then
shall you be the more free from envy.
Hereby also you are kept from that great temptation of
resting on your own labours. As we are very apt to rest on
our duties, sufferings and enjoyments ; so we are very apt to
rest on our own labours and employments. That we may
not rest on our duties, God doth sometimes suspend our
duty, or our heart in it. That we may not rest on our
spiritual enjoyment, God doth sometimes suspend that also.
So here. What is the reason that God doth put the sen
tence of death upon our employments, or doth suspend their
success, but that we may be kept from resting on our labours ?
* 1 h \eyei. &c. Herodotus.
j t A- uctus honos oneris, fiuctus honoris onus.
SER 11.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 227
Were our labours more successful, we should rest more upon
them, but by want of success we are weaned from them.
This is comfort even in the want of comfort.
But in this case, why should not that comfort and support
us, which did comfort and support Christ himself? Isa.
xlix. 2, ye read of his call to his work : " The Lord hath
called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother he
hath made mention of my name." Here is his clear call to
work, verse 2, ye have his divine assistance, "And he hath
made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his
hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft in his
quiver." Then verse 4, ye have his want of success expressed
in many words : " Then said I, I have laboured in vain." Is
that all ? No : " I have spent my strength for nought." But
is that all? No: "and in vain" again. Then at verse 6,
God the Father comforts him against this discouragement :
"And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my
servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob : I have given thee
for a light to the Gentiles." Though thou hast little success
in this work amongst the Jews, thou shalt have great success
in a greater. But wherein doth Christ comfort himself in
this case of no success in his work amongst the Jews ? That
we have in verse 4 : " Surely my judgment is with the Lord,
and my work with my God." Whatever judgment men do
make, it matters not much, for " my judgment is with the Lord,
and my work with my God." I have done the work which God
gave me to do, and therein I have approved myself unto God ;
and therefore though I have laboured in vain and spent my
strength for nought, yet I have comfort in my work, for my
judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God ; I
have not lost my labour, for my work is with God. And
thus may you also comfort yourself in the want of success ;
true, I have laboured in vain as to others, but not in vain to
myself; I have lost my labour as to others, but not as to my
God ; for my reward is with God, and though I have spent
my strength for nought in regard of men, yet my work is
with my God ; and in all this work I have approved myself
unto him ; and therefore whatever the success be, yet will
not I be discouraged ; for my judgment is with the Lord,
and my work with my God. *
* Proprie autem dici non potest quod Christus frustra laboravit ne quidem
Q 2
228 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
And thus I have done with this eighth instance, whereby
it doth appear that a good man hath no reason or cause to be
discouraged in regard of his work or service, however it may
fare with him therein.
SERMON XII.
A LIFTING UP IN CASE OF DISCOURAGEMENTS DRAWN
FROM THE CONDITION ITSELF.
" Why art thou cast down, my soul ; and why art thou dis
quieted within me ? " $c. Psalm xlii. 1 1 .
IX. SOMETIMES the discouragements of God s people
are drawn from their condition, the condition itself.
Oh, saith one, my condition is exceeding sad, both for soul
and body ; there is no condition that is like to mine : my
affliction and my condition are twisted and woven in toge
ther; my affliction, misery, and my calamity are seated in
my very condition : they do not only grow upon my condi
tion, but are in the condition itself, and therefore I am thus
discouraged ; have I not cause and reason for it ?
No : I will grant and must confess, it is possible that a
godly man s condition in regard of outwards, may be very
bad, Cum bene sit malis, et male bonis ; when it goes well
with those that are bad, and ill with those that are good, I
am strongly solicited to believe there is no God, said the
heathen : but we have learned better divinity than this. A
man s condition may be very bad, and yet the man himself
may be very good, and God may be good to him. Yea,
respectu judseorum turn quod Christus omnium conversionein vere non intendit
sed tantum eorum quos efficacitur convertere voluit qui principaliter sunt electi
turn quod opus predicationis Christ! apud eos qui non erant convertendi, usum
suum tamen habuit vel quod erat futurum hoc illis in testimonium in die judicii
vel quod ad consolationem nostrum id fecit ut videlicet predicatores non nimium
dolerant et animum abjicerent si semen ab illis projectum aliquando viderent in
animis audientium non fructifieare. Estius in Loc.
Sensus igltur hoc loco sio esse poterit ; consumpsi frustra vires, &c. quasi,
dicat ; non est quod quisquam exist! met id circo me frustra laborasse, quod non
missus venerim aut aliter atque oporteret rem tractarim in aliquove deliquerim
conditio (sic enim significat OtyStO) studia et actiones omnes me sic significat
n/#E^ imo omnia mea a Deo meo a patre omnium Deo disposita et ordinata
fuere. Fortrius in Esai. cap. 49.
SEB. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 229
It is possible that a godly man s condition in regard of the
world, may be worser than the condition of a wicked man ;
for what else is the meaning of the parable of Dives and
Lazarus ? Jacob was driven out of his father s house and
lodged in the open fields, in the night, whilst wicked Esau,
profane Esau, stayed at home, and lay in his warm bed : ye do
not read that ever Esau did serve so hard a service in Laban s
house as Jacob did, nor are ye able to parallel Esau s misery
with Jacob s ; yet saith the Lord, " Jacob have I loved and
Esau have I hated." So that it is possible for a good and
godly man s condition, in regard of the world, to be worser
than the condition of the wicked. Yea,
It is possible that a godly man s condition may be worser
in regard of outwards, after his conversion, worser I say,
than before his conversion. Grace is fain sometimes to wear
sin s clothes ; and a gracious man, sometimes, doth wear the
punishment of that sin which he hath committed before his
conversion. What think you of Paul ? Do you read that
ever Paul before his conversion was put into the stocks;
that he was whipped up and down the streets like a rogue ;
that he was imprisoned ; that he was stoned by his country
men? But after his conversion he was so used. In the be
ginning of that xixth chapter of the Acts, he breathed out
threatenings against the saints, and goes out to kill the peo
ple of God ; but no sooner is Paul converted, but the Jews
sought to kill him : so that I say, possibly a gracious man s
condition, in regard of outwards may be worser, at least for
a time, than it was before he was converted and drawn to
God.
But now, take a godly man s condition, and though it be
never so sad, yet there is no reason why he should be dis
couraged or cast down because of his condition, in itself con
sidered. For,
1. By way of demonstration. If his condition be carved
out unto him by the hand of his Father, who is of infinite
wisdom and love ; then he hath no reason to complain, or
to be disquieted. Now look into Psalm xvi, see what David
saith of Christ, and Christ of the saints, at verse 6, " My
lines are fallen unto me in a pleasant place ; yea, I have a
fair heritage," or a goodly heritage; Why ? (verse 5.) " The
Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup."
230 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
Three things are most considerable here. First, these words
are plainly spoken of our Lord and Saviour Christ, and of
his great sufferings, as appears by verse 10. " For thou
wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine
Holy One to see corruption." " Men and brethren, (saith
the apostle in Acts ii. 29.) let me speak unto you of the pa
triarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his se
pulchre is with us unto this day ; therefore being a prophet
and God had sworn unto him, that of the fruit of his loins
according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his
throne;" he seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of
Christ. At the 27th verse of the iind chapter ye have the
same words that you have here in Psalm xvi, " Thou wilt
not leave my soul in hell ; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy
One to see corruption." So that plainly the words of the
Psalm are spoken of Christ, and of his great sufferings. But
now in the second place ; though his sufferings were very
great and many, yet saith he, " My lines are fallen unto me
in a pleasant place, and I have a goodly heritage ;" but why
so ? The reason is, in the third place, in verse 5, " The
Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup ;" the
Lord, my Father, saith he, hath drawn out my lines for me,
he hath measured out my condition and the Lord himself is
my portion and the portion of mine inheritance. Thus now,
may every godly man say ; my lines are fallen unto me in a
pleasant place, yea, I have a goodly heritage. Why ? for the
Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup :
surely, therefore, he hath no reason to be discouraged, what
ever his condition be. Again.
2. If a man do not live upon his condition itself, but upon
his call into his condition ; then he hath no reason to be
discouraged in regard of his condition itself. Now as our
Lord and Saviour Christ said, " Man lives not by bread
but by every word of God ;" so say I, man lives not upon his
condition, but upon God s call into his condition; and if God
call a man into a condition, he will maintain him in it: there
fore you find these two go together, in Psalm xvi, " Thou
maintainest my lot ;" at the latter end of verse 5, " And my
lines are fallen to me in a pleasant place." And thus it was
with the children of Israel, when they went through the Red
Sea; it is said, " The waters stood like a wall on each side
SER. 12.J FOR THE DOWNCAST. 231
of them ;" ye never read before of a wall of water, and yet
then the waters were as a wall unto them ; a strange kind of
wall, made of waters : but saith the text, " the waters were as
a wall," stood as a wall on each side of them. Beloved, God s
call is our wall, which will bear off, and bear up one s heart un
der troubles and discouragements. Oh, saith a gracious soul,
what abundance of opposition do I meet withal in my condi
tion ; but yet the Lord hath called me into this condition,
and therefore I am quiet, I am contented, I am satisfied ; I
confess I did not think to have met with so much affliction
in my condition as now I do ; but God hath called me into
it, and therefore I have comfort. Thus it is with all the
saints, they are led by God s call into their condition, and
they can shew their patent, they can say, Here is my call.
Now, if a man do not live upon the condition itself, but upon
God s call into his condition ; and God doth call his people
into whatsoever condition they are ; then they have no rea
son to be discouraged by reason of their condition. Again,
3. If there be no condition that a godly man can fall
into, but there is some mercy that is mixed with it, and Jesus
Christ hath paid for that too, then a man hath no reason to
be discouraged, whatever his condition be. Now you know
w r hat Solomon saith : " Shall a living man complain ? is not
a living dog better than a dead lion ? " Some mercy still
that is mixed with misery, and Jesus Christ hath paid the
reckoning ; godly men have nothing to pay, not anything to
pay. Suppose you were invited to a great feast, and some
of the dishes were not so well dressed or cooked up as you
desire, would you find fault ; would you complain ? No ;
why ? Because this feast doth cost me nothing. The mas
ter of the feast may find fault, but I am a guest and it cost
me nothing, and therefore I have no reason to complain.
Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ is the great master of the
feast, and of all the comforts which you have, and he hath
paid all your reckoning, there is nothing for you to pay ;
and if you bring in your prayers, your tears, your obedience,
as matter of payment, they will not be taken ; no, saith
Christ, I have paid all myself, witness these empty purses,
these empty veins of mine ; as for you, O my friends, ye are
welcome, but you have nothing to pay, not a penny, not a
farthing. I say there is no condition that a godly man can
232 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12
fall into, but there is some mercy that is mixed withal, and
Christ hath paid the reckoning for the mercy too ; surely
then, the people of God have no reason to be discouraged
by reason of their condition.
But (will some say) I am in a poor, low, mean, base and
despised condition, and therefore I am thus disquieted; as
for those that are in a prosperous estate and condition, they
may well bear up their heads and be of good comfort. Rich
men indeed and those that are in a prosperous condition,
have many opportunities of serving God, publicly and
privately, which a poor man hath not ; they have time to
frequent the ordinances in the week, to converse much with
God in private, whilst the poor man is fain to be at work for
his living, and glad he can get his living too; there is no
man knows the misery of a poor condition but those that are
in it. And such is my condition, and therefore I am thus
discouraged ; have I not cause and reason for it ?
No. For whosoever you are that speak or think thus,
do you know what the burden of prosperity is ? You see a
town sometimes upon the side of a hill, and you say, what a
fine town is there, what pleasant meadows are about it, what
excellent woods, what clean ways unto it. Thus you speak
at a distance. But when you draw near unto this town, and
go through some of the lanes, you find them very dirty, and
then you say, I did not think at a distance, that there had
been such a dirty lane about this town ; I saw nothing but
fine and clean meadows when I was at a distance, I did not
think there had been such dirty passages to it. So, when
you look upon prosperity at a distance, you think there is no
dirty lanes, no foul passages to it and from it ; but when you
come near unto it, then you find many a dirty passage, and
you say, Oh, what dirty sloughs are here ! The truth is, the
more prosperous (I speak now of outward prosperity) a man s
condition is, the more opportunities he hath of doing and
receiving good. But if you look into Numbers iv., you shall
find that every opportunity of service carries a burden with
it ; and therefore the service of the Levites, is often, and in
many verses of the chapter called a burden ; I will name
but one, which is the last : " According to the commandment
of the Lord, they were numbered by the hand of Moses,
every one according to his service, and according to his
SER. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 233
burden." Service and burden do here go together; burden
and service, service and burden. And now poor soul, is it a
burden to you, that you are freed from a burden ; hath not
our Lord and Saviour Christ said, and do you not find it in
experience, " That the poor receive the gospel ? " Is not a
living sprig of a tree better than a dead arm ? The poor hen,
you know, so long as she lives is upon the dunghill, and
there she is scraping, and picking up her living ; but when
she is dead, then she is brought unto the master s table. The
hawk on the contrary, while he is living, is carried upon the
fist, and upon the arm, and hath good flesh and provision
made for him, and a house to sit in ; but when the hawk
dieth, then he is thrown out unto the dunghill. So in this
case ; so long as a poor, godly man is living here, it may be
he is upon the dunghill and picking up his living, a little
and a little ; but when he dieth, then he is brought into his
master s presence. But the rich, ungodly man when he
dieth, though while he lived he had great provision, yet then
he is thrown out unto the dunghill, and comes no more into
his master s presence. Oh, you that are godly, though in a
low condition, would you then change your condition with
the wicked ? The lower your coudition is, the higher is your
obedience ; if you submit unto the work of your condition,
this is angelical obedience ; for the angels, though in order
of nature they are above men, yet at the command of God,
they are ministering spirits unto men, attend and look to
men that are much below them in nature. And the lower
the work is that they do in tending men, the higher is their
obedience to God. So say I ; the lower the work of your
condition is, the higher and more angelical is your obedience
in submitting unto your condition, and to the work thereof.
Luther said : A poor woman knitting of a pair of stockings
in a way of faith, doth a greater work than Alexander did in
conquering the world. It was the speech of a good man
that is now in heaven : The more riches the more debts.
For if a man be not in Christ, all his present riches will be
future debts ; he will wish : Oh, that I had less of them, oh,
that I had never a penny. And I pray tell me, who have
most promises in scripture ? The poor or the rich ? The
oppressed or the oppressor? The high or the low? He
that is most exercised hath the most promises; and a
234 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
low condition is an excellent commentary upon those pro
mises. When the sun shines, ye see not the stars ; but in
the night the stars appear. So, whilst prosperity shines upon
us, we do not see the promises ; but when the night comes,
adversity comes, a dark and low condition comes, then we
see those promises which we saw not before. But suppose
that a father hath two children, and to one he gives a brave
garment, saying unto him : Child, take and wear this gar
ment; but there is all thy portion, I shall give thee no more.
The other he gives a mean garment to, but saith he: Child,
be contented, it is not thy portion ; thy brother s garment is
his portion, but though the garment be mean it is not thy
portion, I have a good inheritance for thee. Will not this
latter child be contented ; will he be discouraged think you,
because he hath not so brave a garment as the other hath ?
Why, take a wicked man, and though he have a braver garment,
yet it is all his portion, his portion is in this life, there is all
thou shalthave, saith God, there is thy portion. But now, as
for a godly man, though he have a mean garment, yet it is not
his portion. Oh, you that are godly, will you then be dis
couraged because you have not so brave and fine a garment as
another hath? Consider that the Lord himself is your portion.*
Oh, but, I praise the Lord, I am not in a poor and low and
base condition, my condition is full enough ; but I am in an
unsettled condition, I am never settled in my condition,
sometimes in one condition, and sometimes in another;
could I be but settled, though I had the lesser, I should be
contented ; but my condition is never settled, and therefore
I am thus disquieted and discouraged ; have I not some rea
son now ?
No : for I pray, what settlement would you have here in
this world ? The best estate of men is altogether vanity ; is
there any settlement in vanity ? " Verily (saith the Psalmist)
*Luc. 6. Vse vobis divitibus quonium accepistis hie consolationem vestram :
non simpliciter dicit Christus quoniam consolationem recipitis in hac vita sed
addit vestram quasi ista sit ipsorum portio, ultra quam nihil illis boni sit expec-
tandum amplius unJe in greeco pulchre positum est oil ain^le -r]v TT^O.-
K\r]ffii> vpwv. Musculus in Matth. 5. p. 67.
Non est simplex verbum e x ^ sed compositum aTre^re significat autem
OTTfXEiv non tamen simpliciter recipere et habere, sed portionem solatii sui
jam accepisse et jam habere, ut postea nullam aliam et nihil amplius vel, petere
possit vel expectare debeat. Chemmit. Harm, cap 50. p. 542.
SER. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 235
the best estate of every man, (or every man in his best es
tate) is altogether vanity;" so you read it: but in the He
brew it is, every man standing, Omnis homo stans, as Monta-
nus gives it, every man in his most settled estate, so the
word signifies ; " Verily every man in his most settled estate
is altogether vanity."*
But suppose that your condition be more unsettled than
any others ; if God hath no design but love upon you in your
unsettlement, then surely you have no reason to be dis
quieted because of this. Now, I pray, why doth the Lord
suffer the condition of his people to be so unsettled in the
world, but that they may settle upon himself? Oh, saith a
gracious heart, I see there is no abiding place here, therefore
I look for one that is to come, that hath a foundation : had I
been settled in the world, I should never have been fixed
upon God himself; but being unsettled in the world, I learn
to settle upon God himself: God doth therefore carry his
children from vessel to vessel, from condition to condition,
that their filthy scent may not remain. Beloved, there is no
condition here below, that is able to grasp, or hold the love
of God to his children ; every condition is too narrow a ves
sel to hold the love of God in, and therefore God doth lead
his people into several conditions, that so he may have the
fuller vent for his love : so long as you are in one condition,
you do not see or observe your own self and carriage there
in, and therefore God leads you into a new condition, that
you may see what you did in youi former condition. For
example : when a man is in health, he doth not then observe
his own carriage in the days of health ; therefore God leads
him into sickness, and when he is sick then he doth observe
what his carriage was while he was in health ; then, saith he,
how wanton was I, how worldly was I, how vain was I, when
I was in health : but when a man is sick, then he doth not
observe his carriage in that condition ; therefore God leads
him into health again, and when he is in health then he seeth
what his carriage was while he was sick; and then, saith he,
how froward was I, how impatient was I, when I was sick.
I say, a man doth not observe the present carriage of his
soul in his present condition, and therefore God leads him
into a new condition, and then he sees what his carriage was
* 3YT 1YD DIK- jD ^nn^S"^ Sterit, constitit, constitutus fuit.
236
A LIFTING UP [SEE. 12.
in the old condition. Philosophy tells us, that if a sensible
object be laid close to the organ of sense, there will be no
sensation ;* as if a book be held close unto your eye, you will
not be able to read a letter ; but hold it at a convenient dis-
rance, and then you may read it all. So here ; so long as a
man is in a condition., and that is held close unto him, he
doth not see his own carriage therein, but at a distance he
doth ; wherefore the Lord doth remove him to some distance
from his former condition and so he sees and observeth what
he was, and did therein. It is an easy thing for a man to
sing when the Psalm is set, a child can do it ; but it requires
some skill to begin, it requires some singing skill to turn
readily from one tune to another ; but when the Psalm is
begun, every one can go on then. A poor weak horse can
go on in the road, so long as he keeps the same way ; but
when he comes to turn out of that way into another, then
he stumbles ; it requires some strength in a horse to go rea
dily over the cart wracks, to go from one way into another,
this requires strength. So every poor weak man, may go on
in the same way, and in the same condition, this requires no
great store of strength ; but to carry the sameness of heart
towards God in variety of conditions, this argues strength,
this requires skill : what therefore if the Lord will lead you
from one condition to another, and so draw out your skill
and strength, and hath no design but of love upon you, will
you then be discouraged ? Thus it is with all the saints ;
surely therefore they have no reason to be cast down in this
respect.
Oh, but I am not so much troubled about my outward
condition, as about the condition of my soul, the Lord knows
my soul s condition is very sad; for sometimes I am under the
ordinances, and sometimes not ; sometimes I can stir out to
an ordinance, but sometimes oppositions keep me at home ;
I am not under a settled ordinance ; and when I am under
the ordinance, 1 get little good thereby ; I hear and I do not
remember, my heart is hard and dead and dull, and it is lit
tle that I profit, and therefore I am thus discouraged : have
I not cause and reason now ?
No, not yet. For as for your want of ordinances, if God
* Sensibili positum juxta sensorium nulla sit sensatio.
SER. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 237
lead you to the want of an ordinance, he will make the very
want of an ordinance, to be an ordinance to you. When the
children of Israel came into the land of Canaan, where there
was ordinary food, then manna ceased ; but when ordinary
food could not be had, as in the wilderness, then they had
manna, bread that was baked in the clouds ; then they had
angel s food immediately from God ; and immediate mercies
that come immediately out of the hand of God, are the
sweetest mercies. God doth always give some opportunities
of good unto his people ; either of doing good, or receiving
good ; and the less opportunity they have of receiving good,
usually the more opportunity they have of doing good : what
though your hand be empty of receiving opportunities,
yet if your hand be full of doing opportunities, have you any
cause to be discouraged ? God knows how to give the com
fort of an ordinance in the want of an ordinance. When
Jonah was in the whale s belly, he prayed, and in his prayer,
he looked towards the temple, though he was absent from it,
and the Lord heard his prayer. And beloved, if the Lord
do remember your carriage, labour of love, longings, groan-
ings, mournings after the ordinances, as much when you
want them, as he remembers your enlargements under them;
then you have no reason to be discouraged in this respect.
Now look into Psalm cxxxii., and you shall see how David
presseth the Lord to remember him, verse 1, " Lord remem
ber David and all his afflictions ;" he was in great afflictions,
and he desired the Lord to remember him ; but under what
notion would he have the Lord remember him ? why saith
he, remember him ? " How he sware unto the Lord (verse
2,) and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob ; surely I will
not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my
bed ; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine
eye-lids, until I have found out a place for the Lord, an habi
tation for the mighty God of Jacob/ He wanted the ordi
nance, and his heart was restless after it ; and now he desires
the Lord to remember him for this. So that I say, God will
in a special manner remember your carriage, labour of love,
longings and groanings after ordinances when you want them.
Oh, but though the Lord do remember us in due time; yet
what shall we do in the mean time? Mark what follows at
verse 6, " Lo, we heard of it at Ephrata, we found it in the
238 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
fields of the woods." What is that ? " Lo we heard of it at
Ephrata ;" we heard of it, that is, we heard of the ark (which
he had spoken of before) and the habitation of the mighty
God of Jacob. We heard of it at Ephrata ; as if he should
say, it was commonly reported and thought that the Lord,
would settle his ark, and his house and habitation at Ephrata,
at Bethlehem, a plentiful place ; but now we have found it in
the fields of the wood. Now we find that the Lord would
settle his house, and his ark at Jerusalem, which is compas
sed about with hills full of woods ; in the fields of the forest
have we found it. Beloved, our eye is all upon Ephrata,
upon Bethlehem, upon the plentiful place; but the Lord
doth so order things in his goodness, that when he brings his
people into the woods, the fields, the forest, there they find
his ark, his presence, and his habitation in the midst of it.
And what godly man is there, whom God hath called at any
time from the ordinance, but he may say thus ; lo, we heard
of it at Ephrata, but we have found it in the fields of the
woods ; and if you do not find the presence of God and the
ark of God and his habitation at Ephrata; yet if ye find him
in the fields of the woods, in the barren forests ; have you
any cause to complain ? No, surely you have not. Oh, but
I am in a plentiful place for the present, I am at Ephrata ; I
am not in the barren fields, I am under plentiful and pre
cious ordinances; but I do not remember, I hear, and I re
member not.
Therefore ye must know, that as for your want of memory,
there is an head-memory, and there is an heart-memory :
some have an head-memory, whereby they are able to give
an account presently of all they have heard, in their due
order ; but they want an heart-memory to suggest the things
to them when they should use the same. Some again have
an heart-memory, so as they can remember the things when
they should use them ; but they have no head-memory.
Now if you can remember the things as you are use to them,
though you forget the words and method, have you any
cause to complain ? Though the words heard, do depart
from you, yet your heart may be kept sweet by the hearing
of them. Water is often poured into a vessel, and runs out
presently, yet it keeps the vessel sweet. So now, though
you hear, and hear, and hear again, and you cannot remeni-
..
SER. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 239
ber, and the things heard do not stay by you as you desire,
yet your soul may be kept sweet thereby.
As for your deadness ; it is some life to feel one s own
deadness ; for there is a death, and a deadness, as I may so
speak. There is a life, and a liveliness ; a man may be alive
and yet not lively, as a sick person. So a man may be
under some deadness, and yet not be dead unto death. There
is a deadness that is opposite to liveliness ; and there is a
deadness that is opposite to life. Now you complain, Oh,
my heart is dead, my heart is dead ; this argues that it is but
a deadness that is opposite to liveliness, else you could not
feel your own deadness. A man that is stark dead, cannot
feel that he is dead; I say therefore, in that you feel your
own deadness, it argues, that it is but a deadness that is op
posite to liveliness, and not that deadness that is opposite to
life itself; and if you be alive in opposition to death, though
you have a deadness in you that is opposite unto liveliness,
have you any reason to be quite discouraged, and cast down ?
The tradesman complains that his trade is dead, and you
complain that your heart is dead; this argues that your
trade is there, and that your trade is in the matter of your
heart.
As if your unprofitableness, and unfruitfulness under the
meansand ordinances, yeknow that there is a difference between
j
: .
unfruitfulness and less fruitfulness ; the good ground brings
torth fruit, in some thirty, in some sixty, in some an hun
dred fold ; thirty is less than sixty, yet this is not unfruitful-
ness ; sixty is less fruit than an hundred fold, yet this is not
barrenness. A good man may be less fruitful than another,
DF than he was formerly, yet he may be fruitful; and it may
be thus with you. But suppose you cannot profit under
:he means, and be indeed unfruitful ; yet there is a great
leal of difference between the unfrtdtfulness of the good
tree, and the barrennesss of the barren fig-tree. Though a
rood man be unfruitful, yet he is very sensible of his unfruit
fulness. Oh, saith he, there is not a more barren, vile,
wretched, unprofitable heart in all the world than mine : it is
not so with the barren soul. Though a good man may
ae too unfruitful, yet he doth not cumber the ground ; the
Darren fig-tree doth, Luke xiii., that is, he doth eat out
;he heart of the soil from others and doth hinder others ; he
240 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
is a cumberer to the place and family where he grows and
lives: the good man is not so, but though he is unprofitable
in his own eyes, yet in truth he is profitable to the souls of
others. Though a good man doth not profit so much as
he should and would, yet he is willing that any means should
be used with him for his profit and growth, even to be
digged about and dunged : " And I will dig about it and
dung it." Luke xiii. Upon which words, saith Bernard :
Non refugit f&ditutem medii, qui expectat fcecundilatem
animce : dung is a means unsavory, and he that desires the
growth of his grace, will not refuse the foulness of the
means, that means which to flesh and blood is unsavory,
Though a good man may be very unfruitful, yet God will not
cut him down, he will prune him and cut him in such a time
as he may grow thereby, but he will not cut him down.
But the barren fig-tree, he will cut it down ; cut it down,
saith the owner, why should it cumber the ground any longer ?
But however it be, art thou unfruitful, unprofitable under
the means ? then have you cause to be be humbled : humble
yourself therefore before the Lord your God, yet be you not
discouraged.
Oh, but yet this is not my case only ; for I do not barely
complain of my unprofitableness under the means and ordi
nances (though that is much) but I fear that my spiritual
condition is not right; and if my spiritual condition be not
good and right, after I have lived thus long under such
searching means and ministry, I fear it will never be right.
I do not read in all the scripture that ever an hypocrite was
converted ; publicans and sinners I read of, but I do not
read of an hypocrite converted ; and having lived under the
means of grace thus long, if now my condition be unsound,
then 1 am a hypocrite, and indeed this I fear, and therefore
I am thus discouraged ; have I not cause and reason for it ?
No. For though you have lien long under the means of
grace, and are not converted, yet there is hope, there is hope
concerning this. When our Lord and Saviour Christ rose
from the dead, the stone was rolled and removed away. And
when the Lord Christ doth raise up a poor soul, he will roll
away the stone, though it be as heavy as death, though it be
as heavy as hypocrisy, though the stone be as heavv as hell
itself; yea, Christ will roll away the stone though it hath
SER. 12.J FOR THE DOWNCAST. 241
lien long upon you. And I pray, what think you of Paul ?
was not Paul a hypocrite before his conversion ? " Woe to
you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites," saith our Saviour ;
and saith Paul concerning himself, concerning the law, " I
was a pharisee." Our Saviour saith that the scribes and
pharisees were hypocrites ; and Paul saith concerning himself,
he was a pharisee and yet he was converted. There is one
hypocrite then converted, and you may read of others.
But is not this usual with God s own children; do they
not speak it sometimes out, that they are but hypocrites ? I
am but an hypocrite. Ye read of that blessed martyr, Mr.
John Bradford, that being in prison, and writing to a friend,
he subscribes his letter thus ; Your s in Christ, a most
unprofitable, hard-hearted, miserable sinner. And another
letter he subscribes thus ; Your s in Christ, a very painted
hypocrite, John Bradford. Some there are, that think their
souls are sincere, and yet they are most unsound. Some
again think they are unsound, and yet they are most sin
cere.
But to come a little nearer, and yet I must but touch
upon it ; did ever hypocrite long and mourn after the pre
sence of God in Christ, as the best thing in all the world ;
did ever hypocrite dwell, and abide in the work of private
examination of his own soul; did ever hypocrite love grace
better or more than gifts ; or that most, which is the most
spiritual, most savory; did ever hypocrite desire peace, and
comfort for grace sake, and not rather grace for peace sake ;
do hypocrites ordinarily think they are hypocrites ; where
do you find that in the scripture, that hypocrites ordinarily
think they are hypocrites ? If hypocrisy be a man s burden,
it is not his condition. Did ever any hypocrite walk contra
ry to himself, to his former self? When men were truly con
verted they did. So you read of Zaccheus, before he was
converted, he was a great oppressor and a covetous man ;
but being once converted, saith he, " Lord, behold, the half
of my goods I give unto the poor; and if I have wronged
any man, I will restore four-fold;" here he walks contrary
to himself. So the jailor, before he was converted, he im
prisoned the apostles, and whipped them till the blood ran
down upon their backs ; but being converted, he hath them
into his house, sets meat before them, and washeth their
VOL. II. R
242 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
wounds; he walks contrary to his own former self. So
Paul, before he was converted, he persecuted the saints and
the gospel; after converted, then he did preach the gospel,
which before he persecuted : thus he walked contrary to his
former self. I have read, or heard of a young man that was
given much to jeering and scoffing; and his mother being
godly he would frequently jeer and scoff at his own mother ;
it pleased God at the last to work savingly upon him, and
then he would never come into the presence of his mother,
but he would fall down upon his knees, not in the morning
and evening for a blessing, but whenever he came into the
presence of his mother, he would fall down in a reverential way
upon his knees, till she bid him stand up. I do not commend
the action, but I speak this to shew, that when a man is con
verted, and turned to God, then he will walk contrary to
himself. Now, whoever you be, that make this objection,
have you not found it thus in your own souls ? I appeal
unto you, cannot you say thus ? Indeed it is little I enjoy
of God here ; but the Lord knows, I do long and mourn for
the presence of God in Christ, as the best thing in all the
world ; and I am much in the examination of mine own
heart in private, when no eye doth see me ; and I do desire
those things most that are the most spiritual, and the most sa
vory, those my soul closeth most with; and 1 do not desire grace
for comfort, but I desire comfort for grace : and ah, Lord
thou knowest I have gone up and down fearing for many
years together, that I have been an hypocrite; I have sat
down weeping and said, Oh, I am an hypocrite, I am an hy
pocrite, hypocrisy hath been my burden indeed. And Lord,
thou knowest, I do now walk contrary to my former self ;
before the Lord was pleased to work upon me, so and so
I lived ; but now through grace, I do walk contrary to my
former self : then, soul, be of good comfort ; for though there
may be many failings, for which you should be humbled, yet
do not say that thou art an hypocrite; thy condition is, or
may be very good : wherefore go in peace and the Lord com
fort thee.
Oh, but will some say, this is not my case yet; for I do
not only fear that my condition is unsound, but I am afraid
that I am concluded under it, and it will never be otherwise ;
for there are but some few elect and chosen ones that shall be
s I
SER. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 243
saved to all eternity, it may be one of a hundred, or one of a
thousand ; and things are now cast in time according to
God s decree before time. Indeed, if this were true, That
Christ died for all, for all particular men, and that Christ in-
tendeth to save every particular man, as the doctrine of
some is, then I should have hope ; but I have heard that this
doctrine is not true, and that Christ did not die for all men,
with intention to save every particular man, and therefore
seeing that few are under election, one of a hundred, or two
of a thousand, I fear that I am none ot them ; and there
fore I am thus discouraged, have I not cause and reason
now?
No : for though this doctrine be true, that there is a certain
number of elect persons, who are but few comparatively,
and that there is no such thing as general redemption ;
yet this is in no way prejudicial to there is or growth of
your comfort.
As for election ; it is true indeed that there is a certain
number of elect persons, whom God hath chosen to grace and
eternal glory, before the foundation of the world was laid ;
for the apostle Paul saith expressly, Eph. i. 3, " That we are
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world;" he doth
not say, blessed be God who hath decreed to choose us, but
" who hath chosen us ;" nor doth he say, who hath chosen
all, but us ; where some are chosen, others are left ; nor doth
he say, who hath chosen us upon foresight of our faith or
holiness, but, " that we may be holy," holiness being the
fruit of Election ; and if ye look into Matt. xxv. ye shall find
that those who stand at Christ s right hand at the day of
judgment, unto whom he saith, " Come ye blessed, inherit
the kingdom," are such for whom the kingdom was prepa
red before the foundation of the world.*
Now this number of elect persons is certain and unaltera
ble ; for the foundation of God standeth sure. And as the
schoolmen observe, If a man that is predestinated to life,
could be damned, then the will of God might be altered ; for
when he doth predestinate a man to life, he wills his salva-
* Non qui futnri eramus sed ut essemus, nempe ctrtum est, nempemanifestum
est, ideo quippe tales eramus futuri quos elegit ipse predestinans ut per gratiatn
ejus tales essemus. Austin, L. Predestin. Cap. 8.
R 2
244 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
tion ; and when he damns a man, he wills his damnation ;
and therefore if those that are predestinated to life can be
damned, then the will of God may be altered, which is im
possible ; for his will is like himself, unchangeable.
As the number of elect persons is certain, and cannot be
diminished, nor augmented ; so the Lord doth certainly know
all those persons, for their names are written in the book of
life, and the Lord knows who are his, that is, saith Mr. Bayne
God only knows his collectively ; no man or creature doth in
this sense know who are God s.
But though God only knows by himself, who those are
that are approved for his, yet a man may know that he is one
of those elect ; for if I see myself set apart from the world
in time, then may I know that God hath separated me from
others before time ; and if I have chosen God for my por
tion, then may I know that God hath chosen me, for we
choose him because he hath chosen us first : and if I love
God in time and believe on Christ, then I may know that
he hath loved me, and given himself for me : for all our grace
is but a reflection of his grace. If you see the prints and
characters of the seal upon the wax, you know the seal hath
been set upon it, though you did not see when it was done.
Of this mind was that blessed martyr, Mr. John Bradford,
with whom Mr. Fox doth join, in his annotations upon Mr.
Bradford s faith.* Thus do I wade, saith he, in predestina
tion, in such sort as God hath opened ; 1 begin with crea
tion, from thence I come to redemption, so to justification,
and so to election : we must judge of election, by that which
cometh after,* that is by our faith, and belief in Christ ; not
that faith is the efficient cause of our election, but the effect
rather, and the cause certificatory, or the cause of our certifi
cation, whereby we are brought to the knowledge of our
election ; and to this purpose doth the apostle exhort us to
make our calling and election sure ; " Give all diligence
(saith he) to make your calling and election sure :" it seems
then that there are some who are elected. That a man
may know, and be assured of his own election. That the
way to know this, is not to begin aloft, but to begin below
with our vocation ; and therefore the apostle puts election
* Vol. 3. p 354. Acts and Monuments.
* De Electione judicandum est a posteriori.
SER. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 245
last, saying, not make your election and your vocation sure ;
but " make your calling and your election sure."
As for universal redemption, ye must know that Christ did
indeed die for all men ; but it is no where said, that he died
for all the particular men of the world with intention to save
them, which is the thing in question : bnt that he died for
all, that is, both Jew and gentile, is very true ; and if ye look
into Scripture, and observe how, when, and upon what occasion
this speech came in, you will easily see this is the meaning of
it. In the times of the Old Testament, Christ is not said to
die for all, but, " he bare the sins of many," Isa. liii. ; not of
all, but of many. And so whilst Christ lived, preaching only
to the Jews, and commanding bis disciples not to go into the
way of the gentiles, it is said, " He gave himself a ransom
for many ;" not for all, but for many : but when the apostles
preached to the gentiles, then it is said indeed and not be
fore, that Christ died for all. Why ? Because they held
forth Christ to the gentile as well as to the Jew. And there
fore if ye look into 1 Tim.ii., you shall find, that whereas the
apostle had said, verse 4, " Who would have all men to be
saved ;" and verse 5, 6, " For there is one Mediator, who
gave himself a ransom for all :" he explains this in regard of
the gentiles, verse 7, " Whereunto I am ordained a preacher
and an apostle ;" a teacher of the gentiles : and thus it is a
reason why they should pray for all, even for the heathen
magistrates, verse 1. And to the same purpose doth the
apostle John speak, in his first epistle, ii. 2 : " And he (speak
ing of Christ) is the propitiation for our sins ; and not for
our s only, but for the whole world ; " not for the sins of the
whole world, as our translation gives it, but, as the Greek and
the ancient Syriac renders it, for the whole world. But why,
and how is Christ the propitiation for the whole world?
What, is Christ the propitiation for every particular man in the
world ? No, but, " the whole world," is opposed to the Jews,
unto whom he wrote ; for to the believing scattered Jews did
he now write, as appears by the title of this epistle, called an
epistle general ; which title, only those epistles of James,
Jude and Peter have, which were written to the scattered
Jews, 1 Peter i. 1 ; James i. 1. So that in this sense, it is
true, Christ died for all, that is, for the Jew and gentile ; but
246 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
that he died for every particular man in the world, with in
tention to save him, is no where to be found in the Scripture.*
As for the comfortableness of that doctrine of universal
redemption ; whereas it is said, that it is conducible to the
comfort of such as are afflicted and troubled in spirit. If this
doctrine of universal redemption be indeed an enemy to the
comfort of a poor, doubting, afflicted soul, then you have no
reason to be discouraged in regard of this objection, or of
your own condition in this respect.
Now to clear that, take these four or five arguments :
1. That doctrine which doth enervate or make void the
satisfaction of Christ for actual sins cannot be a friend, but
a great enemy to the faith and comfort of a poor, doubting,
and afflicted soul ; for he is especially troubled for his actual
sins ; and the great comfort that he hath, lieth in this, that
Christ hath satisfied for them. Now what saith the doctrine
of universal redemption, to the satisfaction of Christ for
actual sins ? It plainly tells us that a man may be, and
thousands are damned for those very sins which Christ hath
satisfied for, and it must needs say so ; for if Christ died for
all the particular men in the world, then all the particular
men in the world may be saved ; and if they may be saved,
then Christ did bear their actual sins on the cross, or else a
man s sins may be pardoned, which Christ did not bear on
the cross ; and if Christ did bear the actual sins of all the
particular men in the world, then those that are damned,
must be damned for those very sins which Christ did bear
and satisfy for, or else they are not damned for them. But
men are not only damned for their final unbelief, but for sins
against the law ; for the law is made for the ungodly. And
Rom. ii. 12: "As many as have sinned without law, shall
also perish without law/ 5 " And because of these things
(saith the apostle, speaking of actual sins against the law)
* Trem. et Bodet non pro nostris tantum sed etiam pro totius mundi ; nequa-
quam hanc interpretationem fert phrasis ; verito ergo et non pro nobis tantum
sed etiam pro toto^mundo sic et Arabs, &c. porro usitatum est Hebraeis totum
munduin dicere pro certa universitate quorundum de quibus in subjecta materia
agitur &c. Ludov. de Dieu. in Joan. i. 2.
Johannes qui natione Judseus erat ne existimaretur docuisse pro Judseis tantum
Christum propitiationem esse quando dixit est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris,
at jecit pro totius etiam mundi peccatis ut etiam Gentes significares. Cyril.
L. 11. cap. 19.
SBR. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 247
" the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedi
ence." Now if men be damned for their actual sins against
the law, and Christ have borne them on the cross and satis
fied for them, then men are damned for those very sins which
Christ hath satisfied for ; and if so, then what is this but to
enervate, and make void the satisfaction of Christ ? If you
pay a debt, and afterwards be thrown into prison for the
same debt, doth not the imprisonment make void the satis
faction of your pavment. Yet thus now it is according to
the principles of this doctrine of universal redemption : surely
therefore that doctrine is no friend, but a great enemy to the
faith and comfort of a poor, doubting and afflicted soul.
2. The intercession of Christ, in conjunction with the death
of Christ, is a great pillar of our Christian consolation, Rom.
viii. 33, " Who shall lay anything to the charge of God s
elect ? " Verse 34, " Who is he that condemneth ? 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 separate us from the love of God ? &c. " So
that our comfort is not only laid on the death of Christ, nor
on the intercession of Christ alone, but upon the connection
of these two together. And indeed, what comfort would the
Jews have in the bare sacrifice, if the high priest did not
take the blood thereof and carry it into the holy place,
sprinkling the mercy-seat for them, whom the sacrifice was
offered for? But according to this doctrine of universal
redemption, the intercession of Christ is parted from his
death ; for though it tells you that Christ died for all, yet it
tells you, that he doth not intercede for all ; and it must needs
say so, for Christ said, " Father, I thank thee that thou
hearest me always ; " therefore if Christ should pray for the
conversion of all the particular men in the world, then all
the particular men in the world should be converted and so
saved ; but all are not saved or converted, therefore this
doctrine must needs divide between the intercession and the
death of Christ, and so pull down that great pillar of our
Christian comfort, which stands in the conjunction of Christ s
death and intercession.
3. That doctrine which is contrary or repugnant to the free
grace of God, cannot be a true friend to the comfort of a
poor, doubting soul ; for what is our great comfort on this
248 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
side heaven, but the free grace of God ? Now, what is free
grace, but the special favour of God shewn to some more
than to others ? And therefore if you look into Rom. ix. ye
shall find, that when the apostle would set out the free grace,
of God, saying, " Whom he will, he shews mercy to ; and
whom he will, he hardens ; " he first shews that Jacob and
Esau were alike, alike in regard of their parentage, for both
were of Isaac and Rebecca ; alike in regard of their work,
" For the children being not yet born, and having done nei
ther good or evil, &c.," yet God did love the one and hate
the other, shewing mercy to the one and not to the other.
Why ? Because " God will have mercy on whom he will
have mercy, and will have compassion on whom he will
have compassion." ver. 15. So that it is the work of free
grace to shew mercy to some and not to others, who are alike
unworthy. So again, Ephes. ii., the apostle proving that by
grace we are saved ; first he shews that the Ephesians by
nature were as unworthy as any other, being all by nature the
children of wrath, ver. 1, 2, yet those Ephesians did obtain
mercy and not others. Why ? Because by grace they were
saved. So that free grace is that distinguishing mercy of
God, whereby he doth shew mercy to some and not to others,
who are alike miserable and unworthy. But now this doc
trine of universal redemption tells us, that as Christ died
for all, so he doth give a sufficiency of grace unto all, and
therefore that which distinguisheth one man from another,
must be the free will of man and not the free grace of God ;
for commune qua tenus, commune non distinguit ; that which
is common, as common, cannot distinguish. As suppose
now that a father doth bestow an equal sum of money upon
two children, to purchase house or land with; one doth
purchase and the other not ; the reason why the one pur
chases and the other not, is, because the one wills it and the
other not. Indeed he that purchaseth doth it by his father s
help, assistance and money ; but what reason is there why
he doth make a purchase and the other not, but because he
wills it and the other not ? So, if God give a sufficiency of
grace unto all ; that one man doth believe, you will say, is by
the grace of God ; but the reason why one believes and the
other not, is only the will of man, that this man wills it and
the other not. Now where free-will hath the casting vote,
SER. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 249
there the free grace of God doth not reign. But according
to the doctrine of universal redemption, free-will is that
which doth make the difference between man and man, it is
that which hath the casting voice ; surely therefore, it is no
friend, but a real enemy to the free grace of God, and so an
enemy to the comfort of a poor, doubting soul.
4. That doctrine which is opposite to the assurance of my
salvation, cannot be a friend to my comfort in time of
temptation. For what comfort can I have in my soul, so
long as I doubt of my eternal welfare ? Now this doctrine of
universal redemption, doth destroy the assurance of our sal
vation ; for who doth not know that according to that doc
trine, a man may fall from grace as long as he lives ? Else
(it will tell you) that he should not act freely, but be under a
necessity, and necessity and freedom cannot stand together.
But if a man may fall from grace as long as he lives, then he
can have no assurance of his salvation till he be dead. And
if a godly man cannot have assurance of his perseverance in
grace, then he cannot have assurance of his salvation. But
according to that doctrine a godly man cannot have assurance
of his perseverance in grace ; for I can have no assurance of
any mercy without God s promise. But this doctrine will
tell you that God hath nowhere promised to any man, that
he shall certainly persevere in grace. Surely therefore it
is no friend to our assurance of salvation, and therefore
is a real enemy to the faith and comfort of a poor, doubting
soul.
5. The more any doctrine doth hang the mercy of God upon
conditions to be performed by us, the less comfortable it is
and the more it leaves a poor doubting soul in his fears.
Now according to this doctrine of universal redemption, the
whole mercy of God is made to depend and hang upon
performance of our conditions, yea, upon the performance
of the condition of nature. For, say we, if Christ died for
all particular men, and so God doth will the salvation of all
the particular men in the world, then he doth will this, either
absolutely or conditionally ; if absolutely, then it must needs
come to pass; conditionally therefore, saith this doctrine,
God doth will the salvation of all men, upon condition that
they repent, believe, and obey; if so, say we, then either
God doth will this condition, viz. that all particular men
250 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
should repent and believe or not ; if not, then God doth not
will the salvation of all ; for he that doth not will the means,
doth not will the end ; Qui vult finem, vult media ad finem.
If God do will this condition, viz. the faith and repentance
of all the men in the world ; then, say we, he doth will this
either absolutely or conditionally ; if absolutely, then it must
needs come to pass that all men should repent and believe,
which they do not. Conditionally therefore, say the main-
tainers of this doctrine, and what condition is their precedent
to faith and repentance, but nature and the work thereof?
Yea, what grace or mercy is there in the gospel, but they do
tie it up unto our conditions ? Will ye instance in the pur
chase and benefits of the death of Christ ? These, say they,
are to be given out upon condition. Will ye instance in the
grace of the new covenant? All that, say they, is to be
given out and is promised upon condition. There is no ab
solute promise of grace, say they, in all the scripture. Now
look what that doctrine is which doth make all grace condi
tional, that must needs be very obstructive to the hope and
comfort of a poor, doubting soul. Such is this doctrine of
universal redemption ; surely therefore it can be no true
friend, but is a real enemy to the consolation of a poor,
doubting and afflicted soul.
But if Christ did not die for all and every particular man,
how can I conclude that he did die for me ; can I raise a
conclusion of faith unless the proposition be universal ?
Although I need not answer this objection because those
that make it do themselves answer it, from their own princi
ples and experience, saying, that faith is an assent to the
truth of the gospel ; and that they were converted unto God
and did believe before they held this doctrine of universal
redemption. Yet for further answer you must know,
There is a faith of reliance, and there is a faith of assu
rance. As the faith of assurance hath a shall be of mercy for
its bottom ; so a may be of mercy is a sufficient ground and
bottom for the faith of reliance. Jonathan and his armour-
bearer had but a may be of mercy, when they went against
their enemies ; " It may be the Lord will work for us,"
1 Sam. xiv. 6 : yet they relied on God. Now, though Christ
did not die for all particular men, yet if he died for sinners
indefinitely, there is a may be of mercy for me. But so it is,
SER. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 251
that Christ did die for sinners indefinitely, though not for
sinners universally ; and therefore there is a sufficient ground
for me to believe, and rely on him.
Ye know, or may know, that the act of reliance, is before
the act of assurance. I must indeed be assured that Christ
is able to save me, before I rely on him, but I must first rely
on him, before I can be assured that he will save me; and
by this act of reliance, we grow up into assurance ; I know
that he will shew mercy to me, by my coming to him, and
relying on him ; for he hath said, " Whoever comes unto me,
I will in nowise cast out." Now if my assurance be raised
from the act of reliance, then the first ground and bottom of
the conclusion of my faith, is not this general proposition ;
Christ died for all; but this indefinite proposition, Christ
died for sinners. And if the conclusion of faith must arise
from a general proposition, then take it thus ; Whoever
comes to Christ, and relieth on him, shall be saved : or thus;
Christ died for all those that do come to him, and rely on
him. But I come to him, and rely on him, therefore Christ
died for me, and I shall be saved by him. So that thus now,
ye see the want of that general proposition, Christ died for
all men, is no hindrance to the conclusion, or assurance of
our faith ; and therefore you have no reason to be discoura
ged in reference to this objection.
Yet there is one thing more that sticks with me, even that
old objection which I cannot be rid of: when I look into my
condition, the condition of my soul or body, I find my con
dition is such as never any one s condition was ; I have con
versed with many a godly man and woman, but I do not find
that ever he or she was in such a condition as I am ; and I
have read the Scripture, but I do not find there that ever any
godly man was in such a condition as I am : could I be but
persuaded that ever any gracious man was in the like condi
tion, I should have hope and comfort ; but I am persuaded
that never any godly soul was in such a condition as I am ;
therefore I am thus discouraged, have I not cause and reason
now?
No : for if it be usual with the saints and people of God
to think thus, then you have no reason to be discouraged in
this respect. Now I pray look what the church saith in Lam.
i. 1, 2 : " Is it nothing to yow, all ye that pass by ? behold,
252 A LIFTING UP [SEE. 12.
and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow ;" if there
be any condition like unto my condition : and it seems that
such were the thoughts of God s people whom Peter did
write unto in his first epistle, iv. 12 : " Beloved (saith he)
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try
you, as though some strange thing happened unto you :" you
will think that no body s condition is like unto your s, some
strange thing is happened unto you. And so in 1 Peter v. 9,
" Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the
world :" you think that you meet with such afflictions as ne
ver were in the world before ; be not deceived, saith he.
But suppose that your condition be as never any body s
was, hath not the Lord said, " Behold I work a new thing ?"
Is not the name of Christ, <e Wonderful," and are wonders
wrought ordinarily ? If your condition be as never any
body s condition was, then have you an opportunity of glori
fying God more than ever any man or woman had ; then you
have an opportunity of glorifying God, either in doing or in
suffering, more than ever any man or woman had. And then,
oh, what grace is here, what mercy is here, what love is here
to overcome thy soul withal, that thou shouldest have such
an opportunity as never man or woman had before ! And
therefore, what I said unto you often, I must now conclude
with : God s people have no reason for their discouragements
whatever their condition be.
Thus now I have done with this last instance, and with all
the instances. Give me leave to speak something by way of
application, in reference to the whole, and so I will shut up
this exercise.
If all these things be so, if this be true, that the children
of God have no reason for their discouragements, whatever
their condition be : then what a mighty necessity is there
upon us all, to look into our conditions, and to consider
whether we be in Christ or no ; whether we be godly, yea,
or nay ; whether we have made our peace with God, aye, or
not : and whether we have faith, aye, or no ? All men have
not faith, saith the apostle. Indeed all men say they have
faith ; and should I go from seat to seat, and from bosom to
bosom, and knock at every breast in the congregation, ask
ing, whether doth faith dwell here or no ? unless it were some
SER. 12.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 253
few troubled ones, afflicted in conscience, every one of you
would say, I do believe, I praise God I do believe, I have
faith here within : but all men have not faith, and few there
be that do believe. Children, young men and women, faith
is not a thing that is born with you ; it is a harder thing to
believe than to keep the ten commandments. When once
you come to know what it is to believe, you will say, Oh, it
is a harder thing to believe than to do any thing ; I do not
know any thing in all the world that is so hard as to believe.
But if you do believe, be in Christ, are godly, and have made
your peace with God, blessed are you of the Lord, nothing
shall offend you, nothing shall discourage you. But if not
godly, if not in Christ, if not believing, every thing shall of
fend thee and discourage thee, and thou hast no reason to be
encouraged, whatever thy condition be. Shall we not then,
my beloved, all of us, as in the presence of the Lord, seri
ously look into our condition and consider whether we be in
Christ, aye, or not ?
But suppose I be in Christ, or I be not in Christ ; believe,
or not believe ; what then ? If yet you do not believe, if yet
you be not in Christ, if yet you be not godly ; this doctrine
doth here from the Lord hold forth an invitation to you to
come unto Jesus Christ : for if a man be in Christ, and be
godly, then he hath no reason to be discouraged, whatever
his condition be. If a man be not godly, he hath no reason
to be encouraged, whatever his condition be. On the one
hand there lies all encouragements, on the other hand there
lies all discouragements. Now, therefore, in the name of the
Lord, do I here, this morning, lay before this congregation
life and death ; encouragement on the one hand, and discou
ragement on the other hand : and if there be an adulterer, a
swearer, a lying child, or a stealing servant ; if there be ever
a poor wanton, a sabbath breaker, an opposer of God here ;
I beseech you, in the Lord, come unto Jesus Christ ; by all
these encouragements that I have been speaking of, by all the
mercies of the new covenant, and by the salvation of thine
own soul, man, or woman, I beseech you come unto Jesus
Christ. Oh, that men and women would give no rest unto
themselves, till they have made their peace with God, and
till they have gotten into Jesus Christ.
And in case that you be in Christ, and that you do believe,
254 A LIFTING UP [SER. 12.
that you be godly, and have made your peace with God ; then
see that ye walk up unto all these encouragements, see that
you walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. Oh, you that
are godly, (if these things be as ye have heard,) why hang
you down your heads; why are you cast down and disquieted;
why do you not walk in the comforts of this truth declared,
and in the strength of these encouragements ? You see what
a venture we have run to speak comfort to you that want
comfort. You have heard in several exercises, that a godly
man hath no reason for his discouragements, whatever his
condition be : not in regard of sin ; not in regard of failings
and successlessness in duties ; not in regard of want ot assu
rance ; not in regard of temptation ; not in regard of afflic
tion; not in regard of desertion; and now, not in regard of
his condition, in itself considered. Now, after all this, I ap
peal to you, you that are without comfort, do you not think
that there are some wicked men in this congregation, that
have presumed, when they have heard these things preached,
and have said, These things belong to me ; and so have en
dangered their own souls by presumption, comforting them
selves when they should not be comforted ? I appeal to you,
whether you do not think that there are some wicked men in
the congregation, that have thus endangered their souls by
misapplication of these consolations : and if so, that there
hath been this hazard run, and all to comfort you ; then will
you now refuse this comfort ? Oh, you that have refused
comfort all this while, receive it in the Lord ; and you that
were never comforted before, now comfort yourselves, and
walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. And you that have
gone up and down fearing, trembling, doubting, and much
discouraged ; yet now at the last say, " Why art thou cast
down, O my soul ; and why art thou disquieted within me ?
hope in God, wait on God, trust in God ; for I shall yet
praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my
God." How you should so hope, and wait, and trust in
God, as to bear up your hearts against all discouragements, I
shall yet speak to in the next exercise.
So much for the ninth and last instance.
SER. 13.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 255
SERMON XIII.
THE CURE OF DISCOURAGEMENTS BY FAITH IN JESUS
CHRIST.
" Wliy art tliou cast down, O my soul ; and why art thou dis
quieted within me? Hope in God ; " or, wait thou, or, trust thou in
God. Psalm xlii. 11.
You have heard of the saints discouragements, and the
unreasonableness of them ; there is no just cause or reason
for their discouragements. Would you now hear of some
means against them ? The Psalmist saith in these words,
" Hope thou in God/ or trust thou in God, or wait thou on
God. And so the doctrine plainly is this :
Faith is the help against all discouragements.
Hoping, trusting, waiting on God, is the special, if not the
only means appointed against all discouragements. " I had
verily fainted, unless I had believed, (saith David,) to see the
goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." I had
fainted, unless I had believed. Faith bears up the heart
against all discouragements.
For your more clear understanding of this truth, and our
better proceeding, I shall labour,
First, To shew you what it is to hope, trust in God, or to
wait on him.
Secondly, That faith doth quiet one s heart in the times of
discouragements.
Thirdly, That it is the duty of all the saints and people of
God, when discouragements do arise, then, and then espe
cially to trust in God and to exercise their faith.
Fourthly, What there is in faith that can bear up the heart
against all discouragements, and how faith doth it.
First, if ye ask, What it is to hope in God, to trust in
God, and to wait on him ?
I answer, that to hope in God, is to expect help from
God ; to trust in God, is to rely or rest upon God for help ;
and to wait on him, is to continue and abide in this expec
tation or reliance. Properly, according to scripture phrase,
trusting in God is the recumbency or the reliance of the
soul upon God in Christ, for some good thing that lies out
256 A LIFTING UP [SER. 13.
of sight. I say, first, it is the recumbency or reliance of the
soul upon God, the staying of the soul upon God : so you
read in Isaiah xxvi. 3, " Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."
So the spouse in the Canticles, is found leaning upon her
Beloved ; and so we are commanded to trust : not tv TU X^orw
only, but rov e-ye^avla wow, on him that raiseth Christ
from the dead : which notes a fiducial repose ; so that trusting
in God, is to stay upon him. Rom. iv.ll. And then I say, it is
the reliance or the stayance of the soul upon God in Christ ;
and so I take it to be meant here, for the word here trans
lated, God, hope or trust in God, is in the plural number,
Elohim ; and so when the prophet, in Isa. xxvi., doth exhort
unto trusting in the Lord, he gives this reason, at verse 4,
tf For in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength ;" so you
read it, but according to the Hebrew thus : " Trust in the
Lord for ever, for in Jehovah Jah is everlasting strength."
" For in Jehovah Jah :" Jah is an abridgment or an abrevia-
tion of Jehovah, noting the Son of God ; and so when Jesus
Christ comes in the end of the world, to sit upon his glorious
throne, the converting Jew shall praise him under that name,
singing, as you read in Revelation xix., " Hallelujah," praise
the Jah : which if you compare with Psalm Ixviii., you shall
find is to be understood of Christ, at verse 4 : " Sing unto
God, sing praises to his name ; extol him that rides upon
the heavens, by his name Jah ; rejoice before him, extol him
that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah ;" and they shall
sing, Hallelujah. Now if you look into Psalm Ixviii. 18,
you shall find the reason why this Jah is to be praised : for,
saith the Psalm, " Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led
captivity captive, thou hast received gifts for men." Which
words, Eph. iv., are applied to Christ : " But unto every one
of us, is given according to the measure of the gift of Christ."
Verse 8, " Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on
high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."
So that when the prophet doth exhort us to trust in Jehovah
Jah, he exhorteth us to trust in the Lord, in Christ ; and
therefore I say, both according to the Old and New Testa
ment, faith is the repose or recumbency of the soul upon
God in Christ.
But yet that is not all. A man that doth repose upon
SEH. 13.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 257
God in Christ, trusting in him, doth trust unto him for some
good thing that lies out of sight; and therefore the apostle
saith, that " faith is the evidence of things not seen," Heb.
xi. ; where he gives divers instances of Abraham, Sarah,
Moses, and others, who all did repose upon God for some
what that lay out of view ; and this indeed is only worthy of
the name of faith. I will trust a man that is most un
worthy, I will trust a thief, I will trust a liar, so far as I can
see him. But as Parisiensis saith well, this is fides Deo
digna, faith worthy of God, to repose on God for somewhat
that lies out of sight, and out of view ; and when a man
doth thus stay himself upon God in Christ, for somewhat
that lies out of sight, then he is said to trust in God ; and
when a man doth continue thus, then he is said for to wait
on God. This is the first. But then,
Secondly, How may it appear that faith, and the exercise
thereof, will quiet the soul, suppress or allay discourage
ments ?
You know how it was with Hannah, when she had recei
ved a word from God, " She went away (saith the text) and
looked no more sorrowful," her heart was quieted ; why ?
she had a word from God ; and though before she was a wo
man of a sorrowful spirit, yet having received a word from
God, and believing that word, her heart was quiet. Prov.
xvi. 3 : " Commit thy works unto the Lord," there is faith ;
" and thy thoughts shall be established," there is quietude.
And if you look again into Isa. xxvi. you shall find that the
Scripture is most express for this, verse 3. " Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, be
cause he trusteth in thee." Mark the words. Firsr, the
Lord doth here engage himself to give peace unto those
that do stay upon him, that have this faith of reliance,
though they have not yet attained to the faith of assurance,
to be able to say, I know my sin is pardoned, and that Christ
is mine, yet, if they can but stay themselves upon God, the
Lord doth hereby engage himself to give peace unto them ;
yea, he doth not only engage himself to give peace unto
such a soul as stays himself upon God, but double peace :
you read it in your English, perfect peace ; thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace : but in the Hebrew it is, peace,
peace; thou wilt keep him in double peace, he shall have
VOL. ir. s
A LIFTING UP [SER. 1.5.
peace, and peace; not peace and doubting; not peace, and no
peace : but if he stay himself upon the Lord, he shall have
peace, peace; he shall have double peace. Yea, the Lord
doth not only engage to give peace unto such a soul, but to
keep him in peace ; * Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,"
or in peace, peace; and all upon this account, because he
trusteth in thee ; not because he prayed, not because he
humbled himself, (though that is his duty; and he doth
thereby placere Deo, though not placare DeumJ but because
he trusteth in thee, because lie stayeth himself upon thee.
And ye know, that if ye have a business depending at law,
though for the present you be much troubled about it ; yet,
if you have a friend, a lawyer, that is able, faithful and willing
to look to it ; if you can but leave your business with him,
it doth very much quiet your heart; the very leaving your
business with him, doth quiet your mind. So here. If a
man can but leave his business, and his cause, and his things
with God; then he is at rest, and he may say, " Keturn unto
thy rest, O my soul," as David did ; which is done by faith.
And to clear this a little, three or four things there are that
do ordinarily cause disquietude or discouragement. First,
the darkness that is in the understanding ; for when a man
is in the dark, especially if he be alone, he is very apt to be
scared, and to be disquieted. Secondly, inordinate and un
ruly affections, and passions, especially that of fear, whereby
the soul is benighted. Thirdly, guilt of conscience. Though
there be much water that doth beat upon the ship at sea, yet
it sinketh not ; but when there is a leak, a hole in the ship,
then the ship sinketh, and the water doth become its grave.
So, though there be many troubles that beat upon a man,
yet his heart doth not sink ; but when there is a leak in his
conscience, when there is a hole there, when a man hath a
guilty conscience, then he sinketh, and his heart fails him.
And fourthly, the apprehension of God s greatness, with our
distance from him. Now faith cures all this; for in oppo
sition to the first, of darkness, faith brings light into the
soul, and shews a man his way, and his warrant for what he
doth. Secondly, it doth pare and take off those inordinate
and unruly affections and passions that are in the soul ; and
therefore in Psalm xxxvii., at verses 1 and 7> you shall find
that fretting and trusting are set in opposition. " Fret not
SER. 13.]
FOB THE DOWNCAST.
259
thyself because of the evil doer, verse 3, but trust in the
Lord." And again verse 7 " Rest in the Lord, and wait
patiently for him ; fret not thyself because of him who pros-
pereth in his way." Thirdly, it doth heal the conscience,
and purify that ; therefore saith the apostle, " Let us draw
near with assurance of faith, having our consciences sprin
kled," &c Heb. x. Fourthly, it does also bring the soul
near to God ; the great work of faith is to bring God and the
soul together. So you have it in Eph. iii. 12. " In whom
we have boldness, and access with confidence, by the faith of
him." Faith gives a man access unto God, and brings him
near unto God. But a man may come near unto God, and
yet he may fear, and tremble, as the Jews did at Moun:
Sinai; true, but saith the apostle, " By this faith we have
boldness and access." The word is, Trauma, a freedom oi
speech ; a man by faith may come into the presence of God
with open mouth and speak all his mind unto God. Yea,
faith doth not only thus bring a man into the presence of
God with open mouth, freedom of speech and boldness ; but
it brings him into the presence of God with open face and
uncovered. " We all with open face," saith the apostle,
speaking to believers in the times of the gospel ; " We all
with open face behold, as in a glass, the mirror of the Lord ;"
with open and uncovered face. There are three vails, or
coverings that we read of in the Old Testament, that were
thrown upon faces. 1. There is the vail of obscurity, and
that was upon the face of Moses. 2. The vail and the cov
ering of guilt, and so Haman s face was covered, a cloth
thrown over his face, and his face was covered. 3. And
there is the vail of abashment, or shame ; and so it is said
of the angels, that they cover their faces in the presence of
God. Now to shew with what boldness a Christian, and a
believer, comes into the presence of God by Christ through
faith, as if all vails were taken off; saith the apostle, " We
come with open face ;" and (e we all with open face behold,
as in a glass, the mirror of the Lord." And upon this ao-
count, a believer may now come with more boldness into the
presence of God, than Adam in the state of innocency; foi
though Adam in the state of innocency had no vail, or cover
ing of guilt thrown over his face, yet there was a great dis
tance between God and him. But now, since the fall, since
s 2
260 A LIFTING UP [SER. 13.
Christ s time, God is come into our nature, manifested in the
flesh ; and so God is come near to us., and by faith we do
draw near to God. No wonder, therefore, that the apostle
saith, that " by faith we have boldness, and access with con
fidence." Faith tells a man, that God is come near to him,
and he is come near to God ; and therefore faith certainly is
the great remedy and means against all discouragements that
can arise.
Thirdly, How may it appear, that when discouragements
do arise, it is the duty of every Christian to exercise faith,
and then especially ?
You know what David said, " At what time I am afraid, I
trust in thee." And the Scripture is most express for this :
Isa. 1. 10, " Who is amongst you that feareth the Lord, that
obeyeth the voice of his Servant, that walketh in darkness,
and hath no light ? Let him trust in the name of the Lord,
and stay upon his God." First, It is possible for one that
is the servant of God to be in darkness, and in such a dark
condition, where no light nor no comfort is. Secondly,
When he is in this dark condition, and discouragements do
arise, (the commandment is most express,) then he is to trust
in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. So also
our Saviour Christ commands his disciples, John xiv. 1,
Let not your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, be
lieve also in me." There was a great cloud arising upon
Christ s disciples, Christ to be taken from them by death ;
the Shepherd to be stricken, and the sheep scattered. Now
the only means against trouble that Christ prescribes, is this:
Ye believe in God, believe also in me ;" and he gives many
arguments to press thereunto, in this xivth chapter. This
time was the time of Christ s own trouble ; Christ was now
to die, and to bear the sin of many, and to lie under the
sense of his Father s wrath arid displeasure ; whereupon he
saith, that his heart was heavy unto death : but though it was
the time of his own trouble, yet he addresseth himself to
comfort his disciples against their trouble, and the only means
and remedy that he doth prescribe is this, " Ye believe in God,
believe also in me." So that I say, when discouragements
do arise, it is the duty of all Christ s disciples then, and then
especially, for to trust in God by Christ ; for I pray, what is
faith made for, but for such a time as this is ? every grace is
SER. 13.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 261
to be exercised in its season. If a man have sinned, then
he is to repent ; that is the season for his repentance. If a
man have received any mercy from God, then he is to be
thankful; that is the season of thankfulness. If another
poor Christian be in want, then he is to exercise his charity ;
that is the season of that grace of charity. If God s face do
shine upon a man, then he is to rejoice ; that is the season of
spiritual joy. If a man be given to wantonness, and have a
beautiful object laid before him, then he is to exercise chas
tity ; and that is a season for it. So, when discouragements
do arise, then he is to exercise faith ; and that is the season,
the proper time and season for it. For it is not only our
duty to bring forth fruit, but we must bring forth fruit in its
season. Psalm i. 2. Now this is the proper, season for faith
to work in, when all a man s comforts are out of sight ; and
therefore when discouragements do arise, then, and then
especially, the saints and the people of God are to exercise
their faith.
Fourthly, But what power hath faith to suppress and allay dis
couragements; and what is there in faith that canbearupa man s
heart against all discouragements, and how doth faith do it ?
Faith doth give a man the true prospect of things, past,
present and to come, and of things as they are. Whence are
all our fears and discouragements, but from hence, that men
do not see things as they are : if evil be stirring, they
think it is greater than it is ; if good be stirring, they think
it is lesser than it is. If a man be in temptation, then he
loseth sight of his former experiences, and so he is much
discouraged. If a man be under a desertion, he loseth the sight
of what is present, what God is to him, and what he is to
God; and so he is discouraged. If a man be under an afflic
tion, he loseth the sight of what is to come ; the end, and the
issue of the affliction, and so he is disquieted. But now
when faith comes, it opens a man s eyes to see things that
are invisible ; it is the evidence of things not seen : " By
faith, Moses saw him that was invisible." And therefore
when the apostle Peter doth direct his people for to see
things past, present and to come, he exhorts them to a work
of faith, Epist. 1.9. " He that lacks these things, is blind ;"
one of those things is faith, as you read in verse 5, " Give all
diligence, add to your faith," &c., then, " He that lacketh
262 A LIFTING UP [SER. 13.
these things is blind," at verse 9. But suppose a man do
want faith ; wherein is he blind ? Why, saith the apostle,
" He cannot see things afar off," he cannot see into the other
world, he cannot see unto the end of a temptation, or afflic
tion, or to the end of a desertion. Well, but though he can
not see things that are to come, yet he may see things that
are past: nay, saith he, if a man wants the assurance of God s
love, and that is an act of faith, " he hath forgotten that he
was purged from his old sins : Wherefore the rather (saith he
at verse 10) brethren, give all diligence to make your calling
and election sure." If you would see things past, present and to
come, then grow in faith, and assurance of God s love, and so,
saith he, shall you be able to see things afar off. Could a man
but see what would be the end, and issue of his affliction, he
would be quiet under it. It is in regard of our affliction, as
it is in regard of your salt, or sea water : take the water as it
is in the sea, and so it is salt and brackish ; but drawn up by
the sun into the clouds, it becomes sweet, and falls down into
sweet rain. So take an affliction in itself, and it is salt and
brackish ; but drawn up by divine love, then it is sweet ; and
if a soul can but taste the love of God in it, and see what a
loving end the Lord will make ; he will then find it is very
sweet, and say, I could not have been without this affliction ;
I do not know how any one twig of this rod could have been
spared. Now, it is only faith that shews a man the end and
the issue of all his troubles. It stands upon the high tower
of the threatening and promise, seeing over all mountains
and difficulties ; it seeth into the other world ; it sees through
death and beyond death ; it sees through affliction and be
yond affliction ; it seeth through temptation and beyond
temptation ; it seeth through desertion and beyond deser
tion ; it seeth through God s anger and beyond his anger : I
say, it seeth things past, present and to come. Now, if a
man had such a power as he were able to fetch in all his for
mer experiences, to see things present as they are, and to
see all the events, and issues of things to come, would he not
be quiet notwithstanding all that might arise for the present ?
Thus faith is able to shew a man things past, present and to
come ; and to shew him greater matter of comfort, than the
matter of his troubles is; and in so doing it must needs quiet
the soul.
SER. 13.J FOR THE DOWNCAST. 263
Faith, true saving faith, doth see that in God and in
Christ, which answers unto all our fears, wants and miseries;
I for faith closeth with the name of God ; " Let him stay him
self upon the name of God," Isa. 1. Now there is that in
God s name that doth answer unto all our fears and wants.
For example, Exod. xxxiv., the Lord descended in the clouds
at verse 5, and stood with Moses there, and proclaimed the
name of the Lord, ver. 6. the Lord, the Lord : Jehovah, Je
hovah : that is, one that gives a being unto things that are
not. Will you say, Oh, that it were thus, or thus with me ?
but as Rachel mourned for her children and could not be
comforted, because they were not : so do I mourn after my
prayers, because they are not ; and after duties because they
are not; and after humiliations, because they are not. Well,
saith the Lord, be of good comfort, for my name is Jehovah,
who do give a being to things thatare not; and this he repeateth,
the Lord, the Lord ; or Jehovah, Jehovah. Well, but though
the Lord do give a being to things that are not, this doth not
comfort me ; for though, I praise the Lord, I can say, my
prayers are, and my duties are; yet the Lord knows they are
very weak, and my temptations are very strong, and my lusts
mighty and therefore I am thus discouraged. Yet, be of good
comfort ; for, saith the Lord, my name is EL ; that is, the
strong, or the mighty God ; and therefore though thou beest
never so weak, and thy duties weak, yet 1 will carry on the
work of my grace in thee ; and though thy temptations be
never so strong, and thy lusts strong, yet I am stronger, for
my name is EL, the mighty God. Oh, but though God be
strong, and able to help me ; yet I fear that God is not wil
ling to help me ; I know God is able, and that God is strong
enough, but I fear the Lord is not willing, and therefore I
am thus discouraged: yet, be of good comfort, saith the Lord,
for my name is Merciful, that is the next word ; the Lord,
the Lord ; the Mighty God : and as my name is the Mighty
God, and therefore I am able to help thee ; so my name is
Merciful, and therefore I am willing to help thee. But
though the Lord be willing to help me, yet I am a poor un
worthy creature, arid have nothing at all to move God to help
me ; yet be of good comfort ; for saith the Lord then, my
name is Gracious ; I do not shew mercy because you are good,
but because I am good; nor do I stand upon your desert, but
264 A LIFTING UP [SER. 13.J
I shew mercy out of free love ; my name is Gracious. Oh,
but I have been sinning, I have been sinning a long time,
ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years: had I come in at
first, I might have had mercy; but I have been sinning
long, and therefore I fear there is no mercy for me. Yet,
saith the Lord, be of good comfort for my name is Long-
suffering, that is the next, Gracious and Long-suffering ; slow
to anger, or long-suffering. Oh, but I have sinned exceed
ingly, I have sinned abundantly; so many sins as I am never
able to reckon up, and to humble myself for ; I have bro
ken all my promises with God, and all the vows that I have
made unto him ; and therefore I am thus discouraged. Yet
saith he, be of good comfort, for " I am abundant in good
ness and truth " art thou abundant in sin ? I am abundant
in goodness : and hast thou broken faith with me ? yet I am
abundant in goodness and in truth also. Oh, but though the
Lord be thus unto his own chosen ones, such as David, Abra
ham, or Moses, yet I fear the Lord will not be so to me. Yes,
saith the Lord at verse 7v " Keeping mercy for thousands :"
I have not spent all my mercy upon David or upon Abraham,
or upon Paul, or upon Peter ; but I keep mercy for thou
sands. Oh, but yet my sins do recoil, I am the greatest sin
ner in the world, for I have sinned all kinds of sin, I have
sinned all sorts of sins, and therefore I fear there is no hope
for me. Yet, saith the Lord, be not discouraged, for I keep
mercy for thousands, " forgiving iniquity, transgression and
sin ;" even all sorts and all kinds of sins ; the sin of nature
and the sin of life ; the sin of weakness and the sin of pre
sumption ; the sin of ignorance and the sin against know
ledge : these, saith the Lord, I forgive, even all sorts and all
kinds of sins, and this is my name for ever. Oh, but I am
afraid to lay hold upon this promise, for I think this is a doc
trine of liberty. Say not so, saith the Lord, at the next
verse, " I will by no means clear the guilty :" but if there be
ever a poor, drooping, fearing, trembling soul, that desires to
know my name, lo, saith the Lord, here is my name, where
by I will be known for ever: " The Lord, Jehovah, that gives
a being to things that are not ; the mighty God ; the merci
ful God : the gracious God ; abundant in goodness and
in truth; reserving mercy for thousands ; forgiving iniquity,
transgression and sin ; and this is my name for ever." Now
SER. 13.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 265
faith comes, and closeth with this name of God, leading the
soul into this rich wardrobe, and so doth quiet the heart
against all discouragements.
Faith doth put the soul under God s commandment,
and leaveth God to answer unto all such objections and
inconveniences as may come thereby ; which if a man can do
he may be very quiet. Now true saving faith will enable him
to do this. For ye know how it was with the three children,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; they put themselves
under God s commandment. The Lord commanded and
said, " Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image. "
Well, but the king commands them to fall down before his
image. No, say they, we will not stir, we will not bow. But,
saith the king, I will make you bow or I will heat the
furnace seven times hotter for you. Well, be it so, say they ;
as for that we are not solicitous, we will do the work that
God hath set us to do ; we will put ourselves under God s
command ; we know that our God is able to deliver us ; and
whether he will deliver us or no, we will leave that to him,
let him answer to the inconveniences and mischiefs that
follow upon his work ; for saith the text : " They trusted in
the Lord." And so you know it was with Noah ; Noah was
commanded to build an ark, for, saith the Lord, yet an hun
dred and twenty years and the whole world shall be destroyed,
and therefore Noah, "build thou an ark for thyself and thy
family ; " which Noah did and put himself under this com
mand. But now the world, the old world might speak thus
(as certainly the language of their conversation was) : Noah,
dost thou think that thou art the only man in all the world
that God loves ? Dost thou think, Noah, that God loves
thee, one man, more than all the men in the world; and
thy one family, more than all the families in the world beside ?
And if thou dost believe what thou preachest, that the world
shall be destroyed by water in an hundred and twenty years,
why dost thou marry and beget children, as thou hast done
since thou hast preached this doctrine ? And Noah, if thou
dost make an ark or a ship, who shall be the pilot ; who shall
be the mariner, the sailor ? As for thyself, thou hast been a
preacher, and dost thou think that thou and thy few sons are
able to guide and govern so great a vessel ? If it be as thou
preachest, that the beasts, the wild beasts of the field shall
266 A LIFTING UP [SER. 13.
come unto this ark ; the lion, and the bear, and the tiger,
will they not tear thee to pieces ? And if all the beasts of
the field, two by two, shall come into the ark, Noah, will
there not be such a stench in the ark with their dung as will
poison thee ; shalt thou be ever able to live, thinkest thou ?
Well, for all this Noah goes on, and he built the ark and
leaves God that set him on work to answer to all these objec
tions, and to all those inconveniences that might come by
the doing the thing which God commands. And so doth
faith always ; faith puts a man under the commandment of
God, and leaves God to answer to those objections and
inconveniences that may come thereby. Now when a man
can do thus, must he not needs be quiet ?
It is (to speak more briefly) the proper work of faith to
resign and give up our wills unto God ; for by the resigna
tion of the will unto God, we do trust God with ourselves
and conditions.
It is the proper work of faith to fall with a suitable pro
mise and to apply the same. If that plaister of the promise be
not laid on the soul with a warm hand it will not stick. And
what is the reason that the promise sticks not upon many
souls, but because it is laid on with the cold and chill hand of
unbelief. Now the hand of faith is a warm hand.
It is the proper work of faith to trade with the call of
God ; for true saving faith is a venturing grace, but without
a call it will not venture.
It is the proper work of faith to see the hand of God in
every dispensation ; " The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh
away," saith faith. " I was dumb and opened not my mouth,
for thou Lord hast done it/ saith faith.
It is the proper work of faith to look on both sides of
God s dispensation and of our own condition. There is a
dark side of a dispensation and there is a light side thereof.
Sense and reason look on the dark side alone, faith seeth
both sides. Come, my beloved brethren (said Latimer to his
fellow prisoners when he went to the stake), though we pass
through the fire to-day, yet we shall light such a candle in
England, as shall never be put out again. He saw both sides
of the dispensation, why ? but because he believed.
It is the proper work of faith to see one contrary in
another; for it speaks and concludes as the word of faith
SER. 13.] FOB THE DOWNCAST. 267
doth. Now the word of faith speaVeth on this wise : " I
will give you a door of hope in the valley Achor. And the
Lord shall judge his people, and repent towards his servants,
when he seeth that their power is gone, and none shut up
or left." Deut. xxxii. 36.
It is the proper work of faith to engage God to succour,
Psalm xxxvii. 40 : " For the Lord will save them, because
they trust in him." So Isa. xxvi. 3 : " Thou wilt keep
them in perfect peace, because they trust in thee." Now
when a man can do all these things, will he not be quiet and
free from discouragements ? Surely he will. Faith can and
will do these and all these things. Certainly therefore, faith
and faith alone is that grace which will bear up the heart
against all discouragements.
Now if faith be such a help against all discouragements,
then in case that discouragements do arise, you see what to
do : exercise your faith ; trust in the Lord, trust in the Lord
for ever ; for in Jehovah Jah is everlasting strength ; he is
the Rock of Ages, trust in him. Oh, ye people of the Lord,
trust in the Lord for ever, pour out your hearts before him ;
wait, hope, trust in the Lord.
But will every faith quiet a man s heart against discourage
ments ; suppress and allay our discouragements ?
No. There is a feigned and there is an unfeigned faith.
There is an effectual and there is an ineffectual faith. There
is an operative, working faith and there is a workless faith.
Saith the apostle : " Thou sayest thou hast faith, shew me
thy faith by thy works." The more precious a thing is, the
more counterfeits there are of it. And what is more precious
than faith ? Therefore there is a counterfeit faith, and a
counterfeit faith will not quiet one s heart, suppress and allay
one s fears. Yea, true saving faith will not do it neither in
the habit ; it is only that faith can do it which God rewardeth.
God doth not reward the habit of grace, but the act of grace ;
he rewardeth men according to their works and not according
to their habits. Yea, strong and grown faith will not do it
always. A man may have assurance of God s love and yet
he may be discouraged. You say indeed, if I had but the
assurance of God s love in Christ, and did know that God
were mine, and that I had an interest in Jesus Christ, I
would never be discouraged. But be not deceived. When
268
A LIFTING UP
[SER. 13.
David spake the words of the text lie had assurance, for he
saith : " I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my
countenance, and my God, " and yet he was discouraged ; for
he saith : " Why art thou cast down, O my soul ; and why
art thou disquieted within me ? :} So then it is not every
faith, nor always true faith, nor always grown faith can do it.
But how then should a man so exercise his faith as he
may bear up his heart against all discouragements, in case
that discouragements do arise ?
You must be humbled for your unbelief. A man can
never believe as he should that is not humbled for his unbe
lief; and he is not far from faith and the workings thereof,
that is humbled for unbelief and the workings thereof. You
shall see therefore in Lam. iii., that as soon as the church had
reproved herself for her unbelief, how presently she gathereth
hope; saith she at verse 17: " Thou hast removed my soul far
from peace, I forgot prosperity, and I said, my strength and
my hope is perished from the Lord." Now she humbles
herself for it : " Remembering mine affliction and my misery ;
the wormwood and the gall; my soul hath them still in
remembrance, and is humbled in me : this I recal to mind,
therefore have I hope." I humbled myself for my former
unbelief and despairing thoughts and words ; and therefore
have I hope. Some think they do well to doubt. Oh, says
one, if I should not thus fear and doubt I should grow secure.
But a man may be tutus though he be not securus. Safety
speaks opposition to danger, security to watchfulness ; yea,
there is a holy security which we are to labour after., and the
more we are freed from these doubting fears, the more we
attain unto that security. Would you therefore, so exercise
your faith as that you may not labour under sad discourage
ments ? Take heed that you do not please yourself in your
doubting, but be humbled for your unbelief.
Be sure that you do not go to God immediately without
Christ, but with Christ in your arms ; " Ye believe in God,
believe also in me," saith our Saviour. God out of Christ
is a consuming fire, and there is no coming at him ; so he is
a dreadful God and we tremble at his presence, not rely on
him. Now we are very apt to go unto him alone, and to
to trust in a naked God ; for there is much of old Adam in
us still : the vessel keeps that savor long wherewith it was
SER. 13.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 269
first seasoned. And at the first, Adam went unto God im
mediately, and trusted unto him immediately. But now, says
Luther, give me a God clothed with flesh; God manifested
in the flesh, is the object of our faith. Take heed of a
natural faith, for that will end in discouragement.
If you would so exercise your faith as that you may not
be discouraged whatever your condition be ; then trust in the
Lord himself and not in youi - own duties, your own enlarge
ments, humiliation, or holiness. I know men say that they
do not trust in any of these things, but in God alone. But sup
pose now that a man should come to borrow a sum of money
of you, it may be an hundred pounds, and you will not lend
him this sum of money unless he gives you a pawn, or unless
such and such men be bound with him ; will you say that
you trust this man alone ? Surely no. So, when a poor
soul will not trust the Lord unless he have a pawn from God ;
unless this or that duty, or enlargement shall become bound
for God ; do you trust God alone ? David saith in the Ixii.
Psalm, at the 5th verse : " My soul, wait thou only upon
God, for my expectation is from him : " and then see what
the issue is at verse 6 : " He only is my rock and my salvation,
he is my defence, I shall not be moved." He had said at
verse 2, thus : " He only is my rock and my salvation ; he is
my defence, I shall not be (greatly) moved." But when he
had digested this matter a little further and more fully, he
leaves out the word greatly and saith, " I shall not be moved/
Wherefore, would you so trust in the Lord as you may not be
moved, trust in the Lord alone ; although you have nothing
to be bound with or for the Lord.
If you would trust in the Lord so as you may not be dis
couraged : then trust in the Lord before you do act, or move,
or work in your business. Some there are that will trust in
God when they can go no further ; they will act, and work,
and do what they can ; and when they can go no further,
then they say, I will trust in the Lrd for the rest. But
saith the Psalmist, Psa. xxxvii. 3 : "Trust in the Lord and
do good ; " he doth not say, do good and go as far as you
can, and when you can go no further, then trust in the Lord.
No, but saith he, "Trust in the Lord and do good." But if
you think to do good and to go as far as you can, and then
to trust 5 such a trust as this will end in discouragement,
270 A LIFTING UP [SER. 13.
and therefore I say, trust in the Lord first before you do
work at all.
If you would trust in the Lord, so as you may not be dis
couraged whatever your condition be, then trust in the Lord
Jesus Christ in the first place, before you trust in the promise.
Christ s blood is the great and first object of our faith. In
times of the Old Testament, they came to Christ by the pro
mise, because Christ was not then come, but promised : now
Christ is come, we come to the promises by Christ. Yet
mistake not ; there is a promise of Christ, and a soul must
come to Christ in that promise. But I speak of particular
words and promises. Some will not trust in Christ, unless
they have this or that particular word set upon their hearts
and spirits ; and so, indeed, do rather rest on the bare letter
of the word, or the sense and impression that is made upon
the soul by the setting on of the promise. But all the pro
mises are yea and amen in Christ. Christ therefore is first, and
if a man doth trust in the promise first, and so go unto Christ
afterwards ; then when he wants a particular word or a pro
mise, he will not trust in Christ, but be quite discouraged.
But when a man doth trust in the Lord Christ first, and in
particular promises afterwards ; then, though a particular pro
mise doth not shine forth, yet his faith lives, and he is not
discouraged ; wherefore, venture upon Jesus Christ first, and
then upon the promise as given unto thee by the hand of
Christ.
If you would so trust in the Lord, as you may not be dis
couraged whatever your condition be ; then, if ever it pleaseth
the Lord to give out a promise to you, never let it go, but
hold it fast, although you see nothing but the contrary unto the
thing promised. This was Abraham s case : the Lord gave
Abraham a promise, but Abraham saw the contrary to the
thing promised ; yet Abraham did not dispute the promise,
he did not stagger at the promise, and say, Surely the Lord
hath not given me this promise, it was but a delusion, and I
was deceived. No ; but Abraham still bears up to the pro
mise, and doth not dispute or stagger at the same. So must
you do likewise; if ever the Lord give out a promise to
you, hold it, keep it, never let it go, although you do see the
contrary.
Oh, but this is hard work indeed ; and if I should do so,
SF.R. .1.3.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 271
I fear that I should presume, and that I should tempt the
Lord. What, trust in the Lord when there is no means m
view? Yea, when I see the contrary unto the thing pro
mised ? I would do it, but I fear I should presume, and
tempt the Lord.
Tempt the Lord, say ye ? Dost thou know what it is for
to tempt the Lord ? It is said of the children of Israel that
they tempted the Lord, and said, Is God amongst us ? And
when thou sayest, after all the experience of God s presence
with thee, Is God with me ? is not this rather for to tempt
the Lord ? It is said of the children of Israel, that they
" tempted the Lord, and limited the Holy One of Israel : "
and when you limit God, and say, I shall never receive this
mercy for now I do see the contrary ; is not this rather for
to tempt the Lord ? Properly, and according to scripture
phrase, to tempt the Lord, is to put God upon a trial for the
satisfying of one s lust ; and therefore if you look into Psalm
Ixxviii., you shall find that these two go together, at verse 1 8,
" They tempted God in their heart, by asking meat for their
lust." To put God upon a work for the satisfying of one s
lust, is indeed to tempt the Lord. Every putting God upon
a trial, is not a tempting God : but to put God upon a trial
for the satisfying of one s lust, this is to tempt the Lord :
and therefore it is said, the wicked Jews came to our
Saviour Christ tempting him, and saying, " Shew us a
sign." Gideon desired a sign, and yet he did not tempt
the Lord. Why ? Because he did not desire a sign
to satisfy his lust, but to strengthen his faith. But
now these Jews came, and desired a sign to satisfy their
lust ; and therefore saith our Saviour Christ unto them, " Ye
wicked and adulterous generation." How comes the word,
adulterous, in there ? Why, look, as it is with a woman that
is naught, filthy, and unworthy ; her husband sending a mes
sage to her, and warning her to take heed of such company;
when the messenger comes, I doubt, saith she, whether you
come from my husband, or no ; and what sign have you, that
ye come from my husband ? she knows that he comes from
her husband, but because she may go on in her sin, she
asketh a sign : How may I know that you come from
my husband ? So it was with these wicked Jews, they
asked a sign that so they might go on in their sins ; where-
272 A LIFTING UP [SER. 13.
upon our Saviour saith, " Ye wicked and adulterous genera
tion." But now, when a poor, doubting, fearing, trembling
soul shall desire to believe, and would fain have some token
from the Lord to strengthen his faith, he is not adulterous
then, nor doth he tempt the Lord, nor presume : for is it pre
sumption for a man to keep the Sabbath day ? No. Why ?
Because it is commanded. Is it presumption for a child to
obey his parents ? No. Why ? Because it is commanded.
So it is commanded for a soul to believe, when all comforts
are out of sight, and when he sees nothing but what is contrary
to the thing promised. Presumption, properly, is the taking
of a thing before it is given or offered. But in this case, the
promise is given, and therefore no presumption for to hold it
fast. There is a two-fold presumption which you read of in
Scripture : one whereby men do rest upon their own works
for salvation without Christ : so the Jews did, and therein
they presumed of mercy before it was given unto them. Ano
ther, whereby men do as they think, or in their way, rest on
Christ for salvation, and yet live without works and obe
dience : and therein they presume also because they take
mercy when it is not given them. But if I rest on the pro
mise, or on Christ, that I may be made the more holy, doing
what I can to be fruitful in every good work, yet resting
upon Christ for all ; this is no presumption ; why ? because
I do not take mercy before it is offered : and though I hold
the promise fast, when I see nothing but what is contrary to
the thing promised, yet this is no presumption ; why ? be
cause I do what is commanded : for, says the apostle, " Let
them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the
keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faith
ful Creator." Now creation work, is out of nothing, it
is light out of darkness. Yet thus are we commanded to
commit our souls unto God ; and therefore though all fail,
and we see nothing of the mercy promised, it is no presump
tion then, to hold and keep fast the promise.
But suppose the Lord hath given me a promise and now
after the promise given, I see nothing of the mercy promised
and that all my comforts are out of sight ; how shall I be
able to bear up my heart against all discouragements, not
withstanding I see nothing but what is contrary to the thing
promised, and to the mercy desired ?
SER. 13.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 273
Either thou hast assurance of God s love, or else thou
hast not. If thou hast assurance ot the love of God, then
put thyself often to this disjunction. O my soul, either it is
thy duty to believe, or it is not : if it be not thy duty to be
lieve, why dost thou believe at all ? If it be not thy duty to
believe and rest on Christ, why dost thou rest upon Christ
at all ? And if it be thy duty to rest on Christ and believe,
why then shouldest thou not believe at all times, and trust
perfectly unto the Lord ? And if you have assurance, then
actuate your assurance, mind yourself of your privileges,
and your interest in Christ ; then you will say unto yourself:
What though I have nothing but bad tidings from this world,
yet notwithstanding, I have nothing but good tidings from
the other world, and from my Father above : and if Christ
be mine, then all is mine, life is mine, and death is rtiine ;
and what though all my comforts be dead and are gone, and
are all out of sight, yet Christ is a living Christ, Christ is a
living Saviour ; and therefore be of good comfort, O my soul.
But if you do want the assurance of the love of God, then
yet you must and may look on Christ, who is the brazen
serpent, the only brazen serpent, and your very looking
upon him in the time of your discouragement, shall go for
faith : " Look unto me (saith he) from all the ends of the
earth, and be saved."
Again ; If you want assurance, you may and must turn
your eye, and your thoughts, from those objections that do
invade your faith. It is said of Abraham, " That he consi
dered not the weakness of his own body :" and this was im
puted unto him for believing, that he considered not what
might invade his faith : and so this shall be imputed unto
you for faith, if, when these objections shall come in upon
you, you turn your eye from them, unto Jesus Christ, and do
not consider them.
And if you do want assurance, then set yourselves to be
lieve that you do believe. " Faith is the evidence of things
not seen " and therefore if your faith be not seen, you must
believe that you do believe; thou must believe sometimes
that thou hast faith. As there is a feeling in prayer, so faith
hath its feeling too ; and therefore if you cannot see your
faith, you must believe that you do believe. And whether
VOL. II. T
2/4 A LIFTING UP [SEU. 13.
you have assurance, or have not assurance, consider these few
thing as some helps to your faith in this case :
1. That God doth never lead his people unto any great
mercy, but first he doth put the sentence of death upon all
means that do tend unto it. Thus it was with Abraham, so
with Joseph, so with David, and many others.
2. That it is a great sin to limit God s mercy, as well as
to limit his power : you say it is a great sin to limit the
power of God; the children of Israel are condemned for this;
they limited the Holy One of Israel ; they tempted the Lord
and limited the Holy One of Israel. Now, doth not a man
limit God when he limits his mercy, as well as when he
limits his power ? And when you say, you shall never have
such a mercy granted, because I now see the contrary; is not
this to limit his mercy ?
3. That when the Lord hath given out a promise to his
people, he doth then sometimes try whether they will trust
to his naked word, or no. Christ hath his times to try men ;
and when he gives out a promise, and bringeth the soul into
a quite contrary condition, this is his trying time: and there
fore hath the Lord now given out a promise unto you ; and
do you see nothing but what is contrary to the thing pro
mised ? Say unto thine own soul, O my soul, it may be
Christ is now trying of me, it may be this is my trying time,
and therefore now will I wait on God.
4. That God doth oftentimes fulfil one promise by deny
ing another. Hath the Lord therefore given thee a promise,
and doest thou see nothing but what is contrary to the thing
promised. Now know, and remember, that we have by not
having ; God doth give by denying, and fulfils some promi
ses by not fulfilling others.
5. That when we see nothing but what is contrary unto our
help then is Christ s time to help. I read, as I remember,
but twice in the New Testament, that mention is. made of
Christ s hour : once in John xiii. " And he knowing that his
hour was coming," and that was the hour of darkness : once
in John ii. 4, when his mother came unto him for wine, he
said, " Woman, mine hour is not yet come :" but afterwards,
when their own wine was done, and their pots were filled
with water ; then he turns their water into wine, then Christ s
hour was come. So now, when all our bottles are dry, when
jSER. 13.] FOR THE DOWNCAST.
(there is no wine of comfort in our own bottles, then is
Christ s hour; and when the hour of darkness is upon our
(condition, then is Christ s hour: and if thou wouldst
but say unto thine own soul : Soul, Christ s time and hour
is an hour of darkness ; Christ s time is a time when there
! is no wine in our own bottles. Now thus it is with me ; I
j have no wine left in my own bottles, my bottles are all dry
and empty, and there is an hour of darkness upon my condi-
tion, therefore this time is the time for Christ to help me.
This would cause you to wait on God, and exercise faith in
the lowest condition, even when you see nothing but the
contrary unto your desires, and the Lord s promises.
6. That either you are under an extraordinary affliction or an
ordinary. Either you are under an ordinary temptation or an
extraordinary. Either you are under an extraordinary de
sertion or an ordinary. Either thy strait or stress and trou
ble is ordinary, or else it is extraordinary. If it be an ordi
nary trouble, why then are you troubled more than ordinary ;
why are you discouraged extraordinarily ? If your affliction
or misery be extraordinary, then either God hath brought
you into this condition, and hath led you heretofore in a way
of extraordinary deliverance or of ordinary deliverance. If
God have led you heretofore in a way of ordinary deliver
ance what mean those wonderful incomes of love and sup
porting grace that you have had, when your soul hath been
ready to sink and to die within you ? And if the Lord hath
heretofore led you in a way of extraordinary deliverance,
and hath now brought you into this extraordinary condition ;
then know from the Lord, that it is as great a sin for you
now not to trust in God for extraordinary mercy, as it would
have been for you not to have trusted in the Lord for
ordinary deliverance in an ordinary case. You know how it
was with the children of Israel, they sinned greatly in the
wilderness, so much that the Lord kept them out of the
land of Canaan, and many of their carcases fell in the wil
derness ; what was the reason ? The text tells us they did
not believe. Wherein was their unbelief? They did not
trust God for meat in the wilderness. Why, but that had
been a miracle to have meat in the wilderness ; true, yet this
was their unbelief, that they did not trust God for meat in
the wilderness. Again, they sinned and did not trust God
T 2
276
A LIFTING UP
[SBR. 13.
for water. Why, but it was a miracle for them to have water
in that place, where no water was naturally ; true, yet because
the Lord had led them in a way of miracles before, they
sinned now in that they did not trust God for miracles ; and
it was as great a sin that they did not trust God for miracles,
being led in a way of miracles, as that they did not trust
God for ordinary mercies, when the Lord led them in ways
of ordinary mercies. So I say to you ; if God lead you
in a way of ordinaries, then must you trust God for ordi
naries ; but if ordinary means cannot be had, and God have
led you in a way of extraordinaries, it is then a sin in you
to tie God to ordinaries. Are you therefore in an extra
ordinary case and strait ? Know that it is no sin now to
trust God for extraordinary mercy, help and relief.
7. And if after all these things your hearts fail you and you
would so trust in God, as that you may not be discouraged
whatever your condition be ; then ask thine own soul these
questions. First : Whether there be any gain by doubting ;
whether there is any spiritual gain to be made by doubting ?
Faith purifies the heart but doth doubting purify the heart ?
Secondly : Whether there is anything in all the world more
pleasing to God, than to trust the Lord, in and by Jesus
Christ, when all comforts are out of view, and when you see
nothiug but what is contrary to the thing promised ? Thirdly :
Whether you must not venture upon Christ at the last; and
if you must venture upon Christ at the last, why not now
as well as at the last ? When a man comes to go over a river,
though he ride once and again into the water, and comes
out saying, I fear it is too deep for me ; yet considering
that there is no other way for him he resolves to venture ;
for, saith he, the longer I stay the higher the waters wil Irise,
and there is no other way for me, and I must through at last,
as good at the first as at the last ; and so he doth venture
through and is safe. Thus it is here. You must venture
upon Christ at the last, there is no other way but venturing
upon Jesus Christ, thou must do it at the last ; and were it
not as good for you to do it at the first as at the last ?
Surely, the longer you stay the harder you will find it to
venture, and the more difficulties will arise upon the work of
believing. You say now, Oh, but my heart is not humbled ;
Oh, but I am a great sinner, and should I venture upon
. 13.J FOR THE DOWNCAST. 277
Jesus Christ ? But will thy heart be more humbled by keep
ing from Christ; and shalt thou be a less sinner by keeping
from him ? No, certainly ; but the longer you stay from
Christ, the harder work it will be to venture upon Christ at
the last. Wherefore, if there be ever a poor, drooping,
doubting, fearing, trembling heart in all this congregation,
know, that I do here in the name of the Lord, call out to
you, and say, O soul, man or woman, venture, venture, ven
ture upon Christ now; for you must come to this venturing
work at the last, and if ever, it is true here, better at the
first than at the last. Must you not venture upon Christ at
the last ; and if at last why not now ? Thus ply and follow
your own souls with these three questions. And,
8. If you would so trust in God as that you may not be
discouraged whatever your condition be ; then consider fre
quently and seriously, what a blessed thing it is for to wait
on God and for God. Yea, what a reasonable thing it is
that you should wait for him and on him. For,
He hath waited on you and for your repentance. He
waited in the days of Noah for the repentance of the old
world, and he waited long, 1 Peter iii. 20, a long while also
hath he waited for your repentance ; and if he had not waited
long, what had become of you ? Yea, and he hath not only
waited, but he doth still, and will wait to shew mercy, Isa.
xxx. 18, he waiteth to shew mercy on them that wait for his
mercy. Now shall God wait for us and for our repentance ;
and shall not we wait for him and his grace ?
Ye have waited on others and do still wait on others ; who
is there in all the world that you deal with, but you do wait
upon ; will ye instance in great men ; must you not wait
long to speak with them ; yea, though it be for their own
good ? It is recorded of Henry, the emperor of Germany,
that when he came to speak with the Pope, the Pope made
him and his wife and eldest son, stand waiting three days
in the cold winter season at his palace gates, before he would
speak with the emperor. Will ye instance in your inferiors
and such as are beneath you; must you not wait even for
them that do wait on you ? Your servants, if you bid them
do a thing, you must wait till it be done ; and if you bid
them come, you must wait till they come. Or will ye in
stance in other creatures ? Do you not wait on the sun for
278 A LIFTING UP [SER. 13.
light ; on the water for coolness ; on the fire for heat ? Now
if we wait on the creatures, all the creatures, is it not reason
able that we wait on the Creator ? Yet further, do ye not
sometimes wait on the lusts of men ? Yea, ye have some
times waited on your own lusts, " The adulterer waiteth for
the twilight, " saith Job. And how often have you waited
for an opportunity of sinning ? Now will ye wait on men,
your inferiors, other creatures, yea, on the wills and lusts of
men ; and will you not wait on the grace of God ?
Look when you give over waiting then may deliverance
come ; and if it come then how will you be filled with shame
and confusion ? 2 Kings vi. 33, the king said, " It is a vain
thing to wait on God any longer." And if ye look into the
next chapter, at verse 1, ye shall find that deliverance came
in the next words. No sooner had the King said, " It is a
vain thing to wait on God any longer," but the prophet m
the next words saith : " To-morrow about this time shall a
measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures
of barley for a shekel in the gates of Samaria." chap. vii. 1.
So that deliverance doth sometimes come when men give
over waiting. And if deliverance do thus come to you, what
shame and grief will this be to you ; how will you befool
yourself and say, Oh, what a fool was I that I could not
wait a little longer ? I have given over waiting, and lo, now
deliverance is come and I have no comfort in it.
When you give over waiting, then you lose ctll your former
labours ; though you have performed many duties, yet if you
do not wait upon God therein, you do lose all your prayers.
It is said of Saul, 1 Sam. xxviii. 6 : " That he inquired of
the Lord, who answered him not ; " and so he sought unto
a woman that had a familiar spirit, ver. 7- Yet 1 Chron. x.
14, it is said that " he inquired not of the Lord." He in
quired and he inquired not ; how doth this agree ? "Well,
for though he did inquire of the Lord, yet because he did
not wait upon God therein, but gave over waiting, his in
quiring in scripture phrase is said to be no inquiring ; prayer
without waiting, in seripture phrase, is no prayer. Look
when a man doth give over waiting, then doth he lose all
his labour; his former prayer is nothing, his former duty
nothing ; it shall not once be remembered or imputed to him.
On the other side : if you wait on God he will not alway
ISfiR. 13.] FOR THE DOWNCAST. 279
j forget your work of faith ; though he may seem to forget you,
yet " the patient abiding of the meek, shall not be forgotten
(for ever." Psal. ix. 18. God will come and visit you in due
i time, "He that doth come, will come,^and will not tarry;"
yea, and your very waiting (that I may speak with reverence)
I will make him come the sooner. It is not so with men ; if
j you expect a friend, you do go forth to meet him ; -but it
! is not your expecting, waiting, that will make him come.
I But so it is with God ; your very expecting of him and
I waiting for him will make him come ; and therefore the holy
men in scripture use this argument with God for mercy :
" Let me not be ashamed, for I have waited on thee ; " yea,
and if God do come, he will come with a recompence, and
pay you all your forbearance money, Is. xxxv. ; yea and
when he doth come, you shall be able to triumph in his
appearing, and say, " Lo this is our God, we have waited
for him : " if you have not waited, you cannot triumph in
his appearance ; but if you wait, you shall say when he
comes, Lo this is my God and I have waited for him ; yea>
the Lord will not only come, but he will come with a blessingj
for " Blessed are all those that wait on him ; " yea, he will not
only bless you upon your waiting, but he will strengthen you
therein, Isa. xl. : " Those that wait on the Lord shall renew
their strength." Oh, what a blessed thing is it then for to
wait on God ; who would not hope, trust, wait on the Lord ?
Is there anything to be gotten by your sad discouragements,
" O ye of little faith ? " Are you able to alter one hair
of your condition by all your thoughtfulness ? Is it not
much better now, for to wait on God ? Why then do
you not call your own heart aside, and say, Come O my soul^
why hast thou limited the Holy One of Israel thus long ;
why hast thou dishonoured Christ thus long by thy vain
fears ? " Why art thou cast down, O my soul ; and why art
thou disquieted within me ? Hope, trust, wait on God ; for
he is the health of my countenance and my God."
And thus now I have done with this great argument : ye
have had the patience to hear it, the Lord give you grace^to
practise it. I conclude all with the words of my commission :
" Ye that are of a fearful spirit, be strong, fear not : behold,
your God will come, even God with a recompence, he will
come and save vou." Is. xxv. 3.
SERMONS ON FAITH
THE SPIRITUAL ACTINGS OF FAITH THROUGH NATURAL
IMPOSSIBILITIES. THE GREAT THINGS FAITH
CAN DO. THE GREAT THINGS FAITH
CAN SUFFER.
IN FIVE SERMONS,
PREACHED AT ST. MARGARET S NEW FISH STREET,
AND OTHER PLACES. A. D. 164555.
[The small volume first issued by the Countess of Huntingdon, contained these
Five Sermons ; and with them were likewise inserted, as Sermons IV. and V.,
the first and the last Sermons of the foregoing work, entitled, " A Lifting Up
for the Downcast:" thus supplying the little work so popularly known as
Bridge s Seven Sermons on Faith.]
SERMONS ON FAITH.
SERMON I.
THE SPIRITUAL ACTINGS OF FAITH THROUGH NATURAL
IMPOSSIBILITIES.
" And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now
dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness
of Sarah s womb." Rom. iv. 19. And being not weak [or weakened^
in faith, fyc.
IN this latter part of the chapter ye have the commend
ation of Abraham s faith ; described from the subject or
matter of that he believed, in the 18th and 19th verses.
From the manner of his believing, " He staggered not (at
the 20th verse) at the promise of God through unbelief, but
was strong in faith," &c. From the cause of his faith, the
sight of God s all-sufficiency and faithfulness, " Being fully
persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to
perform." From the effect of his faith, " He gave glory to
God."
First of all for the subject or the matter that he believed,
more plainly expressed in the 18th verse: "Who against
hope believed in hope, that he should become the father of
many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall
thy seed be." Aggravated and enlarged in this 19th verse.
The matter that he believed was enclosed with many diffi
culties. He believed that he should be the father of many
nations, and that in his seed all the nations of the world
should be blessed ; herein he had an eye unto Jesus Christ :
but now his own body was dead, being about an hundred
years old, and Sarah s womb dead ; yet notwithstanding,
says the text, " Being not weak in faith, he considered not
his own body now dead, nor yet the deadness of Sarah s
womb."
You will say, How can this be that the apostle here says,
284
OX FAITH.
[SER. 1.
" Abraham considered not his own body being now dead/
when we read. Gen. xvii. 17, unto which story this chapter
relates, it is said, that " Abraham fell upon his face, and
laughed in his heart, and said, Shall a child be born unto
him that is an hundred years old ? and shall Sarah that is
ninety years old, bear ? " Did not Abraham here consider
the deadness of his own body, and the deadness of Sarah s
womb ? Why does the apostle say thus then ?
Some answer it thus, that the apostle here speaks of the
first giving out of the promise unto Abraham, which we read
of in the xiith of Genesis ; but that cannot be, he was not
then an hundred years old : " He considered not his own
body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old."
And so it is said he was an hundred years old, in the xviith
chapter of Genesis and the 17th verse, therefore it must
relate unto that.
Others, they answer it thus, that Abraham indeed at the
first did consider his own body, and did doubt through
unbelief; but afterwards Abraham recollected himself, and
got over that unbelief: but the apostle, he speaks the con
trary in the 20th verse, " He staggered not at the promise
through unbelief."
Others, they answer it, by labouring to find out some
mystical interpretation of those words, " Shall a child be
born unto him that is an hundred years old, and shall Sarah
that is ninety years old, bear ? " as if Abraham, say they,
had said thus : Lord, thou hast some secret meaning in these
words, I pray thee speak it out unto me, and tell me plainly
thy meaning. And therefore, say they, God answered to
that purpose in the 19th verse, " And God said, Sarah thy
wife shall bear thee a son indeed ;" I mean according to my
words, Sarah shall bear thee a son indeed.
But we need not strain for any mystical interpretation* or
expression. When Abraham says, " Shall a child be born
unto him that is an hundred years old?" Gen. xvii. 17, they
are words not of doubting, but words of inquiring ; Abra
ham desiring to be further satisfied, and rightly to understand
the meaning of the promise, and rightly understanding the
meaning of the promise, says the apostle, he did not much
mind, he did not throughly mind, he did not stand poring
SRB. 1.] ON FAITH. 285
upon or considering the deadness of his own body, or the
dead ness of Sarah s womb.
There are three things, especially, considerable in these
words.
First of all, That Abraham s body and Sarah s body
are tread, after God gives out a promise of a great seed
of his.
Secondly, That notwithstanding this, yet Abraham be
lieved and is commended for it. " He being not weak in
the faith, considered not his own body being now dead."
And thirdly, That in all this he had an eye unto Jesus
Christ, as I shall shew you afterward. Accordingly I would
take up three observations thus :
First, When God intends to fulfil his promise by giving
any special blessing to the children of Abraham, he does
first of all put the sentence of death upon the blessing, and
upon all the means that do lead unto it.
Secondly, That then, and then especially it is the duty of
all the children of Abraham to trust in God.
And Thirdly, that no difficulty can stand before faith; true,
saving, justifying faith canies the soul through all difficul
ties, discouragements and natural impossibilities to Jesus
Christ.
I begin with the first at this time.
When God intends to fulfil his promise by giving any
special blessing to the children of Abraham, to believers, he
does first put the sentence of death upon it, and upon all the
means that do lead unto it.
A promise of a great seed like the stars of heaven, and the
sand upon the sea-shore, is given to Abraham ; but before it
is fulfilled, Abraham s body is dead, and Sarah s womb dead ;
the sentence of death put upon the mercy, and the means
that do lead unto it ; and herein Abraham is held forth for
our example, it was written not for his sake alone, at the
23rd verse, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, at
the 24th verse. And as thus it fell out with Abraham, so it
falls out with all the children of Abraham, with all believers,
when God intends to give any special or great mercy by ful
filling his promise, he does first of all write down the sentence
of death upon the mercy, and upon the means that do tend
unto it.
286 ON FAITH. [SER. 1.
The saints and people of God, they are called the " Re
deemed of the Lord," Isa. Ixii. 12., not only because they are
redeemed from hell and from wrath, but because that they have
their mercies and blessings in a way of redemption ; there is
a line of that great mercy of redemption that runs through all
the mercies which they have; they have health redeemed out
of the hand of sickness, they have liberty redeemed out of
the hand of straitness, they have peace redeemed out of the
hand of war, they have assurance redeemed out of the hand
of doubting and unbelief, they have mercy redeemed out of
the hand of misery, they have joys and comforts redeemed
out of the hand of grief: they are the redeemed of the Lord ;
whatsoever great mercy or blessing they have, they have it in
a way of redemption. Thus it was with Abraham. And was
it not thus with Joseph ? I shall not have time to speak of
the patriarchs all of them, Joseph you know had a pro
mise by way of vision, "That his sheaf should be higher than
all the sheaves, and all the sheaves of his brethren should
bow down to his," Gen xxxvii., the sun and the moon should
bow down before him, his father and mother ; this promise
was afterward fulfilled when his brethren went down into
Egypt, and bowed before him there, and his father went
down into Egypt ; but first of all Joseph is sold into Egypt,
the sentence of death put upon the mercy ; the promise did
bring forth, but it had a sore and a hard labour first.
And was it not thus with the people of Israel ? They had
a promise of great increase like the sands of the sea, and
that they should be brought into the land of Canaan ; first
the sentence of death is put upon both these, their males are
to be cut off from Egypt, and before they come into Canaan,
they must go into a howling wilderness ; thus the sentence
of death passes first upon the mercy before they do come
to it.
And was it not thus with David ? David had a kingdom
promised him, that he should be the king of Israel, but first
of all David must be thrust out of the kingdom, he must
into the wilderness, he must be hunted up and down there
like a partridge, David must be a traitor first before he can be
a king, and David must be a rebel first in the eyes of the king
before he can come to the kingdom and to the throne ; he
SER. 1.] ON FAITH. 287
had the mercy afterward, but at the first, sentence of death
was put upon it.
So Job, a great, and a large, and a comfortable estate that
God gave unto him, but first he is plundered and spoiled of
all, a sentence of death passes upon all his comforts ; and is
not this God s dealing with his people still ? look I pray into
the xith of the Revelation, and ye shall see how the two wit
nesses are to fear ; " After three days and an half, (at verse
11.) the Spirit of Life from God entered into them; and
they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them
which saw them : and they heard a great voice from heaven ;
saying unto them, come up hither ;" but I pray mark, Rev.
xi. they are killed first ; at the latter end of verse 7> " He
shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and
kill them, and their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the
great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt; and
they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations,
shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall
not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves :" there is a
Spirit of life enters into them afterwards. Aye, but first of
all a sentence of death passes upon them ; this is God s way
and manner of dealing with his people, with the children of
Abraham, with those that are true believers.
What reason for it ? This seems somewhat strange : not
a blessing or a mercy of any great importance, or concern
ment, but the sentence of death passes upon it first : what
reason for this ? Why is God pleased to take this way with
his own people, the children of Abraham ?
First of all, God doth so give blessings and mercies unto
his own people, as "That he may be most of all seen therein."
Beloved, God doth not only give us these outward creature
comforts for to supply our wants, but to bear up the honour
of his own greatness. You have not fish out of the water
only to supply your wants ; nor fruit from the earth only to
supply your wants ; nor light from the sun only to supply
your wants, but to bear up the honour of God s greatness
also. When he gives unto his people, he does give in
such a way as may most of all bear up the honour of his
own greatness. If it were only to supply their wants, then
possibly, the sentence of death should never come upon the
second cause ; but now it is also to bear up his own honour,
288 ON FAITH. [SER. 1.
the honour of his own greatness and that is done this
way.
Hereby God is known to be a living God : so long as there
is life in the means, God is not so well known to be a living
God. But when all means are dead and yet the mercy
comes, Oh, says a soul, now I see that God is a living God.
Hereby the power of God is made known ; he must needs
be great in power that can say to things that are not, Be ;
and give a resurrection unto dead things. So long as there
is strength and ability in the means, men do not so much
consider the power and the all-sufficiency of God. But
when all means are strengthless, and all means are dead, and
yet the mercy comes, Oh, says a soul, now I see that God
is a God almighty, God all-sufficient.
Hereby he is made known under the name of Jehovah ;
a Being that gives a being unto all other beings ; faithful in
fulfilling his promise : so long as there is a being in the
second cause and in the means, God is not known by the
name Jehovah ; but when there is a sentence of death put
upon the second cause, and yet the mercy comes, Oh, now,
says a soul, I see that God is Jehovah, a Being that gives a
being unto all other beings. Therefore God does it.
And then, again, secondly, God does go this way with his
people, with believers, the children of Abraham, that they
may learn more to trust unto him, to trust unto God alone.
You know what the apostle says, in 1 Tim. v. 5, " She that
is a widow and desolate, trusteth in God." We seldom trust
in God until a desolation come upon the means. A widow
that is desolate trusteth in God : when desolation comes upon
the means, then we learn for to trust in God. One that
does learn to swim, so long as he can touch the bottom, can
touch the earth with his foot, he does not commit himself
unto the stream ; but when he can feel no bottom, then he
commits himself unto the mercy of the waters. Now so
long as a man can stand upon the second cause, he can feel
the bottom with his feet, he does not commit himself to the
stream of mercy ; but when once the second cause is gone,
and he cannot feel the bottom, then he commits himself unto
the stream of mercy. And you shall see the apostle gives
you this account of it, in 2 Cor. i. 9, " But we had the sen
tence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in our-
,$ER. 1.] OX FAITH. 289
selves, but in God which raiseth the dead/ : This is another
reason why God is pleaded to go this way.
Again, thirdly, it is fit that all believers should be conform
able to Jesus Christ. It was thus with Christ. We read in
i that iind of the Philippians, of our Lord and Saviour, " that
God highly exalted him, and gave him a name above every
i name." But see, first of all a sentence of death passes upon
I his name : ki He was made of no reputation/ verse 7 j he
was made of no name first : " And being of no reputation,
I took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of man : wherefore God hath highly exalted, and
given him a name which is above every name." He brought
salvation, life to light ; he spoiled Satan ; but first of all he
i was spoiled himself, and a sentence of death passes upon him
before he brought things unto life, and he gives you to un
derstand thus much himself, and here he holds forth himself
for our example : in the xiith chapter of John, says he, at
the 23rd verse, " The time is come that the Son of man
should be glorified." Well, but how ? " Verily, verily, I say
unto you, except a corn of wheat fall to the ground and die,
it abideth alone ; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
Thus he comes .to his glory: he must die first, and so he
must come to glory. " If any man serve me (says he at the
26th verse), let him follow me ; and where I am, there shall
also my servant be." This is the way that Christ went, and
this way God took with Christ. Love loves to be like unto
Jesus Christ; and faith loves to go in the garment of Jesus
Christ : as with him, so with the saints.
And then again, fourthly, God is pleased thus to order
things in the dispensations of his grace and mercy, that the
comforts of his people may be the more sure and stedfast.
If our comforts hang at the girdle of the creature, they are
most uncertain ; but if they be laid up in God, in his pro
mise, upon his power, then they are certain. He that is en-
ffa^ed in the crowd, must be carried to and fro in the crowd ;
O O *
and he that is in a ship, must be carried as the ship is. If a
man stand upon a bank of ice, he is apt to slide ; but if he
stand upon dry ground, he stands more sure. All the second
causes, they make but a bank of ice, and when a man stands
on them, and his comforts on them, he is apt to slide; the
VOL. II. U
290 ox FAITTI. [SER. 1.
only dry ground is God s power, and God s faithfulness, and
his promise.
That a man s comforts therefore may not slide, but may
be more sure and stedfast; God takes this course with his
people, putting a sentence of death upon the mercy, and
upon all the means that do lead unto it, before he gives it
out unto the soul.
Aye, but you will say, this shakes the very foundation of
all my comfort ; for if this be true, that when God intends
any special mercy to the children of Abraham, he does first
put the sentence of death upon it, and upon all the means
that do lead unto it ; then surely I arn none of the children
of Abraham, I never had any special mercy yet given unto
me, I do not find that it hath been so to me.
No : what then ? because your experience does not speak
it, is it not therefore true ? Some would have the sun set
by their watch, and not their watch set by the sun : some
measure the truth of all the doctrines that they hear by their
own experience, and if their own experience speak them
true, then they are true ; otherwise not. But I say, what
then ? It may be thou art a man or woman, that the Lord
never gave out a promise to thee, not a promise to thy soul ;
some there are in prayer, that by the strength of their
memory can reach in a promise ; and when art and memory
reaches in a promise into prayer, the sentence of death does
not then pass indeed ; but when the Lord gives out a pro
mise to the soul, then the sentence of death passes upon the
business, upon the mercy, and upon the means that do lead
unto it. I appeal unto all the saints here : whether ever had
ye any great mercy in all your life, but, first of all, there was
a sentence of death passed upon it, and upon all the means
that did lead unto it ? And therefore, though thou sayest,
this shakes the foundation of thy comfort ; truly, better a
rotten foundation should be shaken, than stand.
But, you will say, is it so with the saints in regard of all
their spiritual blessings too ?
Yes, when ever did the Lord give an ordinance to his peo
ple in the way of a special mercy, but first of all the sentence
of death came upon the business, and upon all the means
that did lead unto it ?
When did the Lord ever give any grace to his people, but
SER. 1.] ox FAITH. 291
jftrst of all the sentence of death past ? When ever did the
Lord give any encouragement in duty to any of his children,
I but first a sentence of death past ? When ever did the Lord
(give any great enjoyment of himself to any of his children,
but first the sentence of death past ? When ever was a poor
soul made fruitful, but first a sentence of death past? Oh,
i never any more barren than I, never any more dead than I.
I Our Lord and Saviour Christ, he promises his disciples, that
she would send them the Holy Ghost, the Comforter: but
! before the Comforter came, he goes away himsslf from them,
land they were left, and never in such a sad condition as
immediately before the Comforter came. And if you mind
I it here, though Abraham had many acts of faith, yet this act
! of faith is singled out from all the rest of the actings of
Abraham s faith ; wherein Abraham is held forth as a pattern
j for all believers. The grace of a godly man, is his soul s
; resurrection; we are risen, being risen with Christ; by grace
we rise. Now, says the apostle, it is in regard of the resur
rection as with seed that is sown ; it first dies, and then it
rises. The saints and people of God, they have all their
graces and all their comforts in a way of resurrection. This
is the way therefore God takes with his people. Only take
along with you these three or four cautional considerations.
This is to be understood concerning the great and the
special blessings and mercies which believers have. There
are some blessings and mercies that are more common and
ordinary ; some that are more special and greater. I do not
say that this is true concerning every common and ordinary
blessing that a believer hath, that he hath no blessing, no
mercy, but first of all a sentence of death is put upon it, and
upon all the means that do lead unto it ; but, I say, it is true
concerning the great and the special blessings and mercies.
We read of Abraham that he had other children ; it was not
so in regard of them ; but Isaac was the great blessing, it
was so in regard of Isaac. The children of Israel, they had
their daily bread and their water; their daily provisions, we
do not find it in regard of them : but they had manna from
heaven, and they had water out of the rock ; they had spe
cial water, special bread, so in regard of these. And there
fore if you look into Exod. xv. you shall find there, at the
last verse, " They came to Elim, where were twelve wells of
u 2
292 ON FAITH. [SER. 1.
water, (according to the twelve tribes, every tribe had one,)
and three-score and ten palm trees," (according to the num
ber of those that went down to Egypt). But now before
they had these twelve wells of water, ye read at the 29nd
verse, that " they went three days in the wilderness, and
found no water." At the 25th verse, you read of waters
they had that were very sweet ; but before that the water was
bitter, it was called Marah. " And when they came to
Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for
they were bitter : therefore the name of it was called Marah.
And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall
we drink ? And he cried unto the Lord, and the Lord
shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters,
the waters were made sweet." The special waters and bles
sings of God s people come to them thus.
Again, the sentence of death may be put upon your mercy
in another man s hand. It was a great mercy even to Isaac,
that by him all the nations of the world should be blessed ;
but the sentence of death was put upon this mercy in Abra
ham s hand, as well as in his own. Thou comest, it may be,
to the preaching of the word, and thou art converted by such
a sermon ; thou dost not see how the sentence of death was
put upon this mercy before thou hadst it : may be the sen
tence of death was put upon it in the minister s hand, in the
preacher s hand ; may be he had laid aside those doctrines
and those truths, and thought to preach upon another
matter; maybe the sentence of death was put upon thy
mercy in his hand. So sometimes it is in another man s
hand.
Again, though the sentence of death be put upon a mercy
before a believer comes to it; yet it is much according to
the life of the mercy that is afterward. If the life be great, ,
the death is great ; if the life be small, the death is small.
And sometimes the sentence of death falls mostly upon the
apprehension ; as it was with Hagar ; she was in the wilder
ness, and she thought she should die for want of water;
Only, said she, I will not see my child die; and there was a
well by. So that now, here the sentence of death lay
mostly upon her own apprehension. And thus you have it
also with Joshua, of whom you read in the ist of Joshua :
the Lord makes him a great promise, " Now therefore arise,
SER. 1.] ON FAITH. 293
(says he, at the second verse) go over this Jordan, thou and
all this people ; every place the sole of your foot shall tread
upon, that have 1 given unto you." And at the latter end
of the 5th verse, " I will be with thee, I will never leave
thee nor forsake thee." Now if you look into the viith
chapter, you find that Joshua had " rent his clothes, (ver. 6,)
and fell to the earth upon his face, before the ark of the
Lord, until even-tide ; and Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God,
wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan,
to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us ?
Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other
side Jordan." Why, what is the matter ? You read,
" There went up three thousand men of the Israelites, and
thirty-six men of them were smote by the men of Ai."
Here was cause now of fear, but no cause of such expres
sions as did fall from Joshua : a sentence of death passes
upon the mercy, but it lay mostly upon the apprehension of
Joshua. Sometimes it falls more upon the apprehension,
and less upon the thing ; sometimes it falls more upon the
thing, and less upon the apprehension : but always more or
less, when God intends any great or special mercy to his
people, to the children of Abraham, he does first cause the
sentence of death to pass upon it, and upon all the means
that do lead unto it.
You will say then, Why does God give the promise ? I
confess this is true, I seldom had any great mercy in all my
days, but first of all the sentence of death came upon it :
but one thing seems very strange to me, that the Lord should
give out a promise; first a promise given out, and then
comes the sentence of death upon the mercy, and upon the
means that do lead unto it. What should be the meaning
of this ; why does the Lord deal thus, give out a promise
first?
A promise is given out twice. At the first, before we do
use the means, to encourage us thereunto ; afterwards upon
some encouragements that we do meet with in the use of
means.
W T hen the Lord does first give out the promise, a sentence
of death then passes, that he may shew you where the mercy
lies. As the mother does deal by her child ; shews the child
where the meat stands ; Child, thou art not yet fit for it, thou
294 ON FAITH. [SER. 1.
shalt have it in due time, look, here it stands. Or as a
father that shews the child where the money lies ; Child,
time is not yet, but there the money lies, there is the bag it
is in, none shall take it from thee. So does God do. You
think that the mercy lies in the second cause ; No, says God,
here, here is the bag that it lies in. Therefore he does first
give out the promise, that he may tell the soul where the
mercy lies, show the soul where it is.
And then again. God does therefore give out the promise,
notwithstanding the sentence of death ; because he intends
not to give the mercy presently. You think, it may be, that
as soon as you have a promise set on upon your heart, you
shall presently enjoy the mercy : nay, but God does there
fore give you a promise, because you shall not have it pre
sently.
As for example : If I would pay a man my money down
presently, I would not give him a bond ; but my very giving
him a bond, argues, I am not to pay him presently. So the
Lord, he gives out a promise, and you think now, you must
have it presently : No, says the Lord, but because a sentence
of death is to come, and thou shalt not have it presently,
therefore I give out the promise.
Again, God does therefore give out the promise, notwith
standing his sentence of death, that your hearts may be
borne up against all discouragements, when the womb of the
second cause shall be dead. God sees that his child, or ser
vant is going into a great storm : There is such a child of
mine, says God, he is going into a great storm, and his faith
will be put to a great stress ; therefore I will furnish him
with cables and good anchors ; I will throw him out a pro
mise. You think, because God gives you a promise, because
God gives you cables, because God gives you anchors, there
fore you shall come to land presently : the Lord does there
fore give you a promise, because he does see that a storm is
coming : you mistake the way of God in his promise ; this is
God s way, he gives out a promise, and then causes the sen
tence of death to pass upon the business, and upon all the
means that do lead unto it.
I come unto the application.
Whilst I stand upon this truth, methinks I see matter of
great and everlasting encouragement to all the saints and peo-
SKB. 1.] o.\ FAITH. 295
pie of God : be not discouraged, but ratber keep silence, wait
and stay upon God when the darkest times go over your
head : when the sentence of death is put upon the mercy,
and blessing which you do most desire. This is God s way,
when he intends any great mercy to any of his children, he
puts a sentence of death first upon it. Oh, when death sits
upon the means, then we conclude all is dead, the mercy
dead, all is gone, and we are very apt to have despairing
thoughts and to make despondent conclusions. " I said in
my haste (says he) all men are liars," Ps. cxvi. 11 : Samuel
says, I shall have a kingdom ; the sentence of death is put
upon the business ; " all men are liars." So in another
place : " I said in my haste, I am cast out of thy sight," Ps.
xxxi. 22 : shall I see the face of God ? nothing but death
upon all the means ; I am cast out of thy sight. So with
Hezekiah, " I said, (says he) I shall be cast out of the land
of the living," Isa. xxxviii. 11. And so now-a-days: I thought
indeed we should have had a reformation ; but now nothing
but sad division : I thought we should have had free enjoy
ment of all the ordinances ; but now the sentence of death
put upon all. I had thought I should have had assurance ;
and never doubted again ; but now death is put upon it, and
upon all the means that do lead unto it: all is dead, all is
gone : oh, we are very apt to be much discouraged, and to
make strange conclusions when death comes upon the
means : it is a hard thing to keep from such conclusions : for
the business comes to a vote, as it were, it comes to a vote
before the soul. The question is, saith the soul, whether I
shall be saved or no ? As many as are for the affirmative,
say, Aye : Aye, says the promise. As many as are for the ne
gative, say, No : No, says threatenings ; and No, says guilty
conscience ; No, no, no, say a thousand sins. The question
is, whether I shall be be delivered or no ? I am in such an
affliction and straitness ; the question is, whether I shall be
delivered or no ? As many as are for the affirmative say, Aye :
Aye, says the promise. As many as are for the negative,
say, No : No, says providence ; No, say all second causes,
and all the means round about; No, no, no, say a thousand
sins. Now my beloved, it is a hard thing for a poor soul to
give an affirmative with the bare promise, when all else gives
a negative : but the reason is, because this truth that I am
296
OX FAITH.
[S.5R. 1.
now upon, is not by you ; were but this truth by you, it were
easy to give an affirmative with the bare promise, when death
sits upon all the means. As for example : suppose our army
be in the field, engaged with the enemy ; a troop routed, a
regiment routed, a wing routed ; Come, says a carnal soldier,
fellow soldiers, shift for your lives, for we are all undone and
spoiled : Nay, not so, says the believing soldier, this is God s
way; when God intends any great mercy to his people, he
does first of all put the sentence of death upon it, and upon
all the means that do lead unto it : and therefore, come, fall on,
fall on, brave hearts, fall on ; for this is God s way : and so
it proves many times.
Or suppose a man be in some personal strait or affliction :
the devil, the tempter he comes ; Ye see in what strait ye are,
there is no means at all for your deliverance, you had as good
take such and such an indirect course ; why should you wait
any longer ? Nay, says the soul, but I have learned other
wise : when God intends any great mercy to his children, he
does first of all put the sentence of death upon it, and upon
all the means that do lead unto it ; and therefore I will wait
on God still, I may be in God s way, this may be God s way ;
it may be the Lord is in a way to give me a greater mercy
than ever I had in all my days. Oh, my beloved, that you
would but gird this truth upon your thigh, how might you
cut off all discouragements as they rise upon you.
You will say, How does this cut off discouragements ?
Some things there are that die, and never rise again, as
beasts ; some things there are that die, and do rise again, as
men. The sentence of death is upon the mercy that I do
much desire ; and did I know, indeed, that it should rise
again, it were a matter of great encouragement to me, but
that I do not know.
For answer, I shall only say thus much to it: A may be of
mercy is a sufficient ground for our reliance and support of
the soul upon God. Mark, there are two acts of faith, the
faith of reliance and the faith of assurance ; assurance that
causes joy, reliance that causes quietness. Accordingly there
are two objects of faith : a shall be of mercy, that is the ob
ject of assurance ; a may be of mercy, that is the object of
reliance. Ye shall observe, therefore, that when the Lord
would call out his people to an act of reliance upon him, he
SER. 1.] ON FAITH. 297
holds out a may be of mercy to them : " Seek the Lord, ye
meek of the earth, seek righteousness, seek meekness ; it
may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord s anger :" ye
know the place in Zephaniah (ii.8). And if ye look into 1 Sam.
xiv., ye shall find that this may be was that encouraged Jo
nathan ; at the 6th verse, " Jonathan said to the young
man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the
garrison of these uncircumcised ; it may be the Lord will work
for us, for there is no restraint with the Lord to save by
many or by few. 3 It may be the Lord will work for us,
for there is no restraint with the Lord to save by many or by
few. This encouraged Jonathan, and hereby he encourages
his armour-bearer. So, when a man can say thus, It may be
the Lord will shew mercy to me in such a work, or in such a
business, there is no restraint with him ; it causes the soul to
rely on God. Now this doctrine, it holds forth a may be to
you, a may be of mercy to you ; though you have not an assur
ance that this mercy, that hath the sentence of death upon
it, will certainly rise again ; yet, notwithstanding, seeing it is
God s way, this is God s way with the children of Abraham ;
when he intends to give a special mercy, he does put a
sentence of death upon it. This holds forth a may be unto
you ; a may be of mercy this doctrine holds forth unto you.
Why, therefore, my beloved, should we not rely upon God,
when the sentence of death is put upon the means, upon all
the means that do lead unto the mercy that you most desire ?
But you will say unto me, Is there no way, no means to
spy out God s meaning in this particular ? Oh, that I did
but know whether this mercy that hath the sentence of death
upon it, shall rise again! How shall one know that; are
there no means to know it ; whether a mercy shall rise again
when the sentence of death is upon it ?
I shall speak but two things unto that, briefly.
1. A Christian may have some persuasion of the resurrec
tion of his mercy, when the sentence of death is put upon
it, by the frequent visitings of the promise. Mark, when
God intends any special mercy to his people, he gives out a
promise ; then comes the sentence of death : but if he in
tends to fulfil the promise, he does cause the promise fre
quently to visit the soul, even when the sentence of death is
upon the business ; often to knock at the door of the soul.
298 ON FAITH. [SER. 1.
When there is good will between two young people kept from
marrying by their parents, and the young man often is at the
house, ye say, Surely, if the parents were but dead, there
would be a marriage quickly, by the frequent visitings. So,
now, when the promise does frequently visit the soul in the
time when the sentence of death is upon the business, it
argues that the mercy is not quite dead. Moses had a pro
mise in a vision : the bush burning, and not consuming ; Is
rael in Egypt, and not destroyed. Moses, he carries his
promise along with him in his bosom ; indeed we do not read
of it till Moses comes to die ; and when Moses comes to
bless the people : " The good will of him that dwelt in the
bush, be with you," Deut. xxxiii. 16. This same promise
kept Moses company all along ; and though the sentence of
death was often put upon the business, yet, notwithstanding,
in that the mercy came and visited him, it argued that this
promise was not quite dead. So by the frequent visitings of
the same promise; "Though the tree be cut down, yet
through the scent of those waters it shall rise again," Job
xiv. 9.
2. But especially in the second place : a Christian may
have some comfortable persuasion that the mercy is not dead
but sleepeth : by the first fruits of the promise. When the
Jews kept the feast of the first fruits, they knew that the
harvest was not far off. And so, when the first fruits of a
mercy comes, we may know that the mercy or blessing
is not far off. Beloved, God does use to give the
first fruits of a blessing before the great blessing comes. It
is a good speech of one ; says he, God does with the same
seal seal divers matters ; one mercy is made a seal to another.
God does give one mercy as a pledge of another, and as a
seal of another. And so our Saviour Christ does, in that
ixth chapter of Matthew, we read of a certain ruler that came
to him for his daughter; and he said (at the 18th verse), " My
daughter is even now dead, but come, and lay thine hand
upon her, and she shall live." Here was his belief, that he
should say, Come, and lay thine hand upon her ; Christ could
have healed her, without coming to her, but Jesus arose and
followed him. " And behold a woman (at the 20th verse)
which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came
behind him, and touched the hem of his garment; Jesus
SER. 1.] ON FAITH. 299
turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter,
be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole. And
the woman was made whole from that same hour. And when
Jesus came into the ruler s house, and saw the minstrels, and
the people making a noise ; he said unto them, Give place,
for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed
him to scorn." He did a miracle in the way, as a pledge
unto them that he would do this miracle also, that he would
raise up his daughter; and by this miracle that he did in the
way, he did give them a seal of the miracle following, of the
mercy following. Thus he does many times.
Thus he dealt by David: the Lord made David a promise
of the kingdom, to give him the kingdom, bring him to the
throne : David, he is thrust out into the wilderness ; well,
when he is there, Saul he persecutes him, hunts him ; Saul
comes so near him, as that Saul is on one side the hill, and
he on the other, nearer : but even there Saul is delivered into
the hand of David. This now, this mercy here in the wil
derness, was a pledge to him of the kingdom afterward. So
now is it with you : hath the Lord given you a promise of
some great blessing, or some great mercy ; and thereupon
does the sentence of death come upon it, and upon all the
means that do lead unto it? In the interim, between the
promise and the fulfilling, does the Lord deliver you from
some affliction that rises up in your way : the interim-mercy,
the deliverance being of the same nature with the mercy
promised, is a pledge unto you that the mercy shall rise
again ; though the sentence of death be now upon it. And
thus you should lock upon things.
But while I am upon this, it is enough for the reliance of
the soul upon God, a may be of mercy : I say, a may be of
mercy is enough for the act of reliance. And this doctrine
always holds forth this truth unto you, that there is a may
be; because, when God intends to fulfil his promise, by
giving any special blessing, or mercy to the children of Abra
ham, he does first of all put the sentence of death upon the
blessing, and upon all the means that lead unto it. Shall we
not then wait upon him ; keep silence in the day of trouble ?
I will give you two or three encouragements hereunto, and
so I will wind up all.
Beloved, the sentence of death (you say) is upon the mercy
300 ox FAITH. [SER. 1.
or the blessing that you do much desire. If ever the mercy
rise, and the grave clothes be taken off; it shall be the
choicest mercy that ever you had in all your lives. Abraham
had divers sons, but the jewel was Isaac, the dead mercy :
Hannah had divers children, but who like Samuel, the found
mercy ? Mercy once lost and then found is a choice mercy,
it is the greatest mercy. First I say, if ever vou come to
find the mercy you have lost ; if ever that rise which the
sentence of death is put upon, it shall be the greatest mercy.
Job had a good estate ; but when all was plundered, a sen
tence of death come upon all : when he came to his comforts
and his estate again, then it was done. Some have observed
concerning Joseph, that according to the several links of his
affliction were the pearls in the crown of his mercy. There
is observed some eight or nine. I shall not have time to en
large myself in them, only thus : Joseph he is sold by his
brethren into Egypt ; answerable unto that, Joseph s breth
ren come down to Egypt, and worship before him. Joseph
is accused for wronging his mistress, sad reproaches cast upon
him ; answerable to that, a herald proclaims before him,
This is the man whom the king honours. Joseph is thrown
into prison, the irons enter into his soul; answerable to that,
a chain of gold is hung about his neck. Joseph, a poor
stranger, brought as low as ever man was ; answerable to that,
he is made next in the kingdom to Pharaoh. Beloved, if the
dead mercy rise, as your bodies when they rise they rise in
glory, so when the mercy rises, it will rise a glorious mercy.
And as it shall be the greatest mercy that ever you had, so it
shall be the surest. That is most certain that is certain after
uncertainty. Whose assurance was like to Thomas s ? Oh,
says Thomas, my Lord and my God ; two my s, My Lord and
my God : it came out of doubting. A tree that stands after
shaking stands the most firmly. Assurance after doubting is
the strongest assurance, surest assurance, as it is the greatest
mercy. So, I say, it shall be the surest mercy, if ever the
mercy rise.
And then again, lastly : as the surest, so it shall be the
sweetest mercy ; the children of Israel, they had wholesome
meat and water, and drink : but the sweetest water was that,
which they had after no water : water out of a rock, that was
like honey : and a mercy that comes out of a rock, that comes
SER. 1.] ON FAITH. 301
i from out of the sentence of death, from under death ; it shall
i be the sweetest mercy. You know what the father of the
i prodigal says, when his son was come home : he calls his
friends together : " Come, (says he) and make merry with
me; for this my son was dead, and is now alive," Luke xv.
32 : calls his friends together, and speaks thus unto them.
So shall it be with the soul, when the mercy lost, is found,
when the mercy dead is raised : then the soul shall call in
his friends ; Come, O my friends ; come, I will tell you what
the Lord hath done for my soul, here, here is a mercy dead,
and it is now alive : come, make merry with me, O my
friends ; this my assurance it was even dead, and it is now
alive : oh, this blessing, this blessing it was dead ; but it is
now alive : come and make merry with me, O my friends :
for this mercy was dead, and it is now alive. Thus I say :
if this mercy rise that hath the sentence of death upon it :
it shall be the greatest mercy, it shall be the surest ; and it
shall be the sweetest mercy, that ever you had in all your
days. And therefore, who would not wait upon the Lord ?
Who would not wait upon the Lord when the sentence of
death is put upon the mercy, and upon all the means that do
lead unto it ? O my beloved in the Lord, that you would
but possess your hearts with this one truth, this mercy ; how
quiet would your souls be under all the distempers and the
troubles of the time ; national distempers, personal distem
pers. When you look upon the troubles that are abroad,
yet your hearts would be quiet, and you would say, Well,
but yet notwithstanding, we may be in the way to the great
est mercy that ever England saw ; why should we be thus
discouraged ? O my soul, wait upon God, this is God s
way ; he never gives any great mercy to any of his people,
but first he does put a sentence of death upon it, and upon
all the means that do lead unto it. And therefore, notwith
standing all, yet we may be in God s way. Therefore, O my
soul, wait on him.
Thus much for this time.
3C2
ON FAITH.
. 2.
SERMON II.
THE SPIRITUAL ACTINGS OF FAITH THROUGH NATURAL
IMPOSSIBILITIES.
" And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now
dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness
of Sarah s womb." Rom. iv. 19.
THE words, as ye heard the last day, are spoken concern
ing Abraham ; and they hold forth three great truths unto
us.
The first is this : That when God intends to fulfil his pro
mise, by giving any special blessing to the children of Abra
ham, he does first put the sentence of death upon the
blessing, and upon all the means that do lead unto it.
Abraham s body is dead, and Sarah s womb is dead, when
God had promised him a great seed.
The second is this : When God is thus pleased to put the
sentence of death upon a blessing, or the means that do lead
thereto; then, and then especially, it is the duty and com
mendation of all the children of Abraham to believe in God,
and not to stand poring upon the means, and the deadness
thereof. " He considered not his own body being dead, nor
the deadness of Sarah s womb."
The third is this : That no difficulty can stand before
faith ; true, saving, justifying faith, carries the soul through
all difficulties, discouragements, and natural irr. possibilities,
to Jesus Christ. Thus it was here with Abraham ; he being
not weak in faith, he had an eye unto Jesus Christ.
I have done with the first, and my desire is now at this
time to despatch the second.
When God is pleased thus to put the sentence of death
upon a blessing, or the means that do lead unto it ; it is the
duty of the children of Abraham then to trust in God, not
to stand poring upon or considering of the means, and the
deadness thereof.
Thus it was here with Abraham. God made Abraham a
promise that his seed should be like the sand, and like the
stars, for multitude : but Abraham s body is dead, and his
wife s body is dead ; notwithstanding, Abraham considered
SER. 2.] ox FAITH. 303
not the deadness of the means. And in all this he is held
forth for our example, as you heard the last day. As he did
therefore, so must we do.
The doctrine is somewhat large ; I shall break it asunder
into three parts, and endeavour to clear up these three pro
positions unto you, for the proof of the whole.
First, That a mere rational considering of the means, and
the deadness thereof, is a great and a special enemy to the
work of believing.
Secondly, That when all means fail, it is the duty and
commendation of the children of Abraham then to believe.
Thirdly, That so to do is exceeding pleasing to God, and
most acceptable.
First, That a mere rational considering of the means, the
straitness or scantiness, narrowness or deadness of the
means, is a great and a special enemy to the work of believ
ing.
Abraham being not weak in faith, considered not his own
body being dead. It he had considered, he might have been
hindered in his faith.
Ye read of Zacharias, that good man, father of John the
Baptist, that when the angel brought him tidings of a child,
in way of his special mercy, he would not believe it. And
in the ist ot Luke, and the 30th verse, ye read how he
was punished for it : " Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not
able to speak, until the day that these things shall be per
formed, because thou believest not my words." But what
hindered him, what kept him off from this work of believing ?
You shall find at the 18th verse; too much attendance unto,
and considering of the means, and the deadness thereof.
Zacharias said unto the angel, " Whereby shall I know this ?
for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years."
He looked too much upon, and considered ; he stood poring too
much upon the means ; and this was the enemy unto his
faith. You know, beloved, that the Scripture hath laid a flat
opposition between faith and sense. We live by faith, says
the apostle, and not by sight or by sense. The reasons drawn
from sense are sense ; and when a man does live by reasons
drawn from sense, and bears up his mind therewithal, he does
live by sense. If you live by faith you do not live by sense ;
if you do live by sense you do not live by faith. They are
304 ox FAITH. |"SER. 2.
as two buckets, the life of faith and the life of sense; when
one goes up the other goes down : the higher faith riseth the
lower sense and reason ; and the higher sense and reason the
lower faith. That is true of the schools, reason going before
faith, weakens and diminisheth it; but reason following upon
faith, increases and strengthens it. Besides, you know Paul
says, " Not many wise," &c. Why not many wise called ?
Those that are wise, they consider the things of God, and of
the gospel, in a mere rational way ; and therefore not many
wise are called : it hinders them from the work of believing.
Luther says well, If you would believe, says he, you must
crucify that question, why ? God will not have us so full of
wherefores. And if you would believe, you must go blind
fold into God s command. Abraham subscribes to a blank,
when the Lord called him out of his own country.
Besides, you know the great field that faith hath to work
in ; the large and vast orb and sphere that it hath to move in.
Faith can go into the Old Testament, and run as high as
Adam, and come back again to the soul, and and tell the soul ;
I have seen a man whom God hath pardoned that damned all
the world ; and why may he not pardon thee ? Faith can run
up to heaven, and come home again to the soul ; and say,
I have seen the glory there ; be of good comfort, there is
enough in heaven to pay for all. Faith can ruu unto God s
all-sufficiency, to God s omnipotency, and having viewed that
well, it returns to the soul home again, and says, Be quiet,
there is enough in God alone: and faith having placed
and seated itself upon this high tower and mountain,
God s omnipotency and all-sufficiency, it hath a great pro
spect, it can look over all the world, and look into ano
ther world too. But now reason, it gets upon some little
mole hill of creature ability, and if it can see over two or
three hedges, it is well. And therefore, oh, what a pain is it
to faith to be tied to reason. I suppose you will all say, that
if a man were able to go a journey of two or three hundred
miles a foot, he were a very good footman ; yet if you will
tie him to carry a child of four or five years old with him,
you will say, it would be a great luggage to him ; and the
man would say, pray let this child be left at home ; for though
he may run along in my hand half a mile, or go a mile with
me, yet, notwithstanding, I must carry him the rest of the
5ER. 2.] ON FAITH. 305
Lvay : and when I come at any great water, or to go over any
nil, I must take him upon my back ; and that will be a
rreat burden to me. And thus it is between faith and rea
son. Reason at the best is but a child to faith. Faith can
t"bot it over mountains and difficulties, and wade through
ifflictions, though they be very wide: but when reason
^omes to any affliction, to wade through that, and to go over
some great difficulties ; then it cries out and says, Oh, faith,
good faith, go back again ; good faith, go back again. No,
says faith, but I will take thee upon my back, reason. And
so faith is fain to do indeed : take reason upon its back; but
ioh, what a luggage is reason to faith ; oh, what a burden is
reason to faith. Faith never works better, than when it
(works most alone. The mere rational considering of the
means, and the deadness thereof, is a great and special
enemy to the work of believing. That is the first.
The second proposition is this, That when all means fail,
! and seem to lie dead before us ; then it is the duty and com
mendation of all the children of Abraham to believe : that
is, to believe the thing may be, and so to rest and rely on
God in Christ. Thus it was here with Abraham.
And hath not the Lord commanded by the apostle,
saying, " Let them that suffer according to the will of God,
commit the keeping of their souls to the hand of God, as
into the hand of a faithful Creator," 1 Pet. iv. 19. When
ye are scrupled about your election or reprobation, you look
upon God as a potter that hath power over the clay, to make
it either a vessel of honour or dishonour : but when you are
to believe, then you are not to look upon God as a potter,
that works out of clay or out of materials ; but as a Creator,
that works out of nothing, yea, as a faithful Creator, that
will be sure to work out of nothing, whom you shall be sure
of. Thus then you are to look upon him. You know the
place in 11 ab. iii. 17 : " Although the fig-tree shall not blos
som, neither shall fruit be in the vine ; the labour of the
olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat ; the flock
shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in
the stalls : yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the
God of my salvation : the Lord God is my strength/ &c.
Thus Habakkuk believed. Beloved, we are so to believe, as
the promise runs. God s promise is the rule of our faith ;
VOL. II. X
306 ox FAITH. [SER. 2. . .
Jook how that speaks, so may we believe. The promise and j
faith is the buckle and clasp fit for one another. Now the I
Lord does not only promise to help the children of Abraham,
but he promises to help when all means fail : " When the ! -,-.
poor and needy seek for water, and there is none," Isa. xli.
1 7 I pray look into Jer. iii. 8, " Behold, (says the Lord,)
I will bring them from the north country, (his people scat- i .-:;.
tered here into the land of the north,) and gather them from the j
coasts of the earth; and with them the blind and the lame, !-
the woman with child, and her that travaileth with child to- U;-
gether ; a great company shall return hither." The Lord
promises to bring them back to their own country from the
land of the north.
Aye, but may some say, I am a poor blind man, and I
shall never find the way home again.
Says he, " I will gather them from the coasts of the earth, U-
and with them the blind."
Oh, but I am a poor lame man, and I shall never be able | : -
to go so far,
" And with them (says he) the blind and the lame."
Oh, but I am a woman with child, surely I shall never be
able to return to my own country.
Yes, says he, " the woman with child."
Aye, but I am a woman like to be in travail about that
time, surely I shall be left behind ; I shall never return to
my own country.
Mark, " the woman with child, and her that travaileth
with child, and a company shall return." God does not
only promise help, but he promises to help the children of
Abraham when all means fail.
And if you look into the New Testament, you will find
that several promises which are given out in the Old Testa
ment, upon special and extraordinary occasions, assuring
nelp beyond means, are brought down into the New Testa
ment for us to apply there. When the devil came to tempt
our Lord and Saviour to turn stones into bread, says our
Saviour, "Man lives not by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds out of the mouth of God," Matt. iv. 4. Now if
you look into Deut. viii. 3, you will find that those words
were spoken upon an extraordinary occasion ; help beyond
means : " He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger,
SEK. 2.] ON FAITH. 307
md fed thee with manna, which thou kncwest not, neither
lid thy fathers know: that he might make thee know that
nan doth not live by bread only, bat by every word that
iroceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord."
Andsoherein thisRom.iv. Abraham believed when all means
"ailed ; he believed the promise, and he is brought down for
,)ur example, that we should believe the promise also when
itieans fail. And if you look into and consider Heb. xi.,
vhere you have a catalogue of rrany believers, ye shall find,
;hat many of them believed when the means failed, beyond
neans; and yet they are all brought down and made mention
)f for our example.
Surely, therefore, it is the duty of the children of Abraham
j;o believe when all means fail, and seem to be dead before
is : means for the soul, means for the body, means for the
family, means for the churches.
Take this for the reason : Such a faith is to be exercised
! jnto God, as is suitable unto that God in whom we do
believe. If the God in whom we do believe, were a God
;hat did help only by means, then we were to trust so unto
!iim ; but being as he is such a God as works beyond means,
we are to exercise a faith towards him suitable to this God
in whom we do believe. So in regard of our love ; we must
love God with a love worthy of God. Now if a man should
i only love God for benefits and blessings that he receives
from him, and not for the holiness and excellency that is in
i God himself; this love were not worthy of God. So in re
gard of our faith : if we should only believe God in regard
of the reason, and experiences, and means ; this faith were no
way worthy of God. I will believe a man, I will believe the
worst of men, the vilest of men, so far as I can see him ;
and shall I believe God no further ? We must believe with
a faith worthy of God ; faith is not worthy of God, unless
we believe beyond means : this is the faith that is worthy of
God, this is the faith required and commended. Take but
one scripture for it more. In Luke xvii. there were ten
lepers came unto Christ desiring cure, saying, " Jesus, Mas
ter, have mercy on us." At verse 13, " When he saw them,
he said to them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And
it came to pass as they went they were cleansed." It seems
they were not cleansed then as he spake ; they were not
x 2
308 ox FAITH. [SER. 2. : pii.-
cleansed when Christ says, " Go arid shew yourselves to the j ,:
priests ;" for it is said, " As they went they were cleansed."
Why then should they shew themselves to the priests ? They ! ...
were to shew themselves to the priests, to bring an offering
for their cleansing; yet, says our Saviour, " Go shew your- ; :
selves to the priests." They were to believe that they should
be cleansed, although they saw themselves full of leprosy.
So, although a soul sees himself to be full of leprosy, yet
notwithstanding it is to rely upon Jesus Christ, and to .;:
believe as if he were fully cleansed. This is the second I
proposition.
The third will make out this the more full : Thus to be- I K tn
lieve when all means fail, is exceeding pleasing to God and Ij (Vs
most acceptable.
This kind of faith Christ commends in Thomas : Thomas
(says Christ) " thou hast believed because thou hast seen ;
but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen."
John xx. 29. Blessed is any man that does believe, though
his hands may be full of sense : but of all believers, blessed
is that believer that believes beyond sense, that believes and
hath not seen.
There are two especially that Jesus Christ does commend
for believing : the Canaanitish woman, and the Centurion.
To the one, says he, " O woman, great is thy faith." Mat. xv.
28. And to the other : " I have not seen such faith, no, not
in Israel." Mat. viii. 10. And both of these believed above
hope and under hope, when the means in view seemed to
chide them off from believing. In Heb. xi. many of the
saints are commended for their faith. They had other graces
wherein they did excel : Moses was a meek man, he is not
recorded there and commended for his meekness, but for his
faith. Samson was a stout and a resolute man ; he is not
commended there for that, but for his faith. They had
other excellent graces, but this grace of faith is singled out
to wear the crown. "They all obtained a good report
through faith." Heb. xi. 39. That wears the crown of all
other graces. And you shall find that that faith was mingled
with many weaknesses : Rahab, one of those believers, what
a deal of weakness passed from her in her believing. Yet
notwithstanding, though their faith was clogged with many
weaknesses, yet their faith is commended, and most of them
SEK. 2.] ON FAITH. 309
believing beyond means, and when all means failed ; plainly
speaking out this truth to us : the great acceptation that
such a faith hath with God. Beloved, this faith, believing
when all means fail and lie dead before us, turns God about ;
(as we may speak with reverence) and makes God, of an
enemy, a seeming enemy, to become our friend. If you
trust unto your friend for a kindness, he will do it because
you rest on him ; if you rest upon an enemy, he fails you.
But if you rest on God, he will therefore do it because you
rest on him, and he will become your friend by your resting
on him. Oh, I have been a great and a wretched sinner, yet
notwithstanding, I know there is infinite riches of grace in
Christ, and therefore, says the soul, I will rest on him : " yea
Lord, though thou kill me, yet will I rest upon thee." Aye,
(says the Lord) wilt thou now rest upon me, now I frown,
now I chide, now I have a rod in my hand, now I have a
sword in my hand to kill thee (as it were) wilt thou now rest
upon me ? Well, be of good comfort, thou art mine for
ever. Man or woman, go in peace, good is thy faith. This
resting thus upon God when all means fail, it melts God s
anger into love.
And besides, it is that faith that is most successful, the
most speeding in prayer. You may look into the second of
Chronicles, the thirteenth chapter, and you shall find there
that Abijah going to war with Jeroboam, had not more than
half so many as Jeroboam had. Abijah " set the battle in
array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hun
dred thousand chosen men." A great army. But Jeroboam
had as many again. " And Jeroboam also set the battle in
array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men,
being mighty men of valour." I pray now let us consider,
how went the day ? Read the seventeenth verse : " Abijah
and his people slew them with a great slaughter : so there
fell down of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men."
Five hundred thousand chosen men slain. How came this
about ? Read the eighteenth verse : " Thus the children of
Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of
Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord God
of their fathers." Or as some books have it, " because they
stayed upon the Lord God of their fathers." The means
was too scanty, it was short ; they rested upon God beyond
.310
ON FAITH.
[SER. 2.1
the means, and see what great success they had upon this :
they were but four hundred thousand, against eight hundred
thousand; and they slew five hundred thousand men. So
successful is this work and this way of believing.
It is this faith that now I am speaking of ; believing when
all means fail and lie dead before us, that does honor God
especially, which doth justify the soul ; " It is the soul-
saving faith of all." Pray look into the seventh of Luke,
and consider it well. It is said at the last verse : " Jesus
said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace."
But here is no mention at all before of her faith. There is
mention of her love in the forty-seventh verse : " I say unto
thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved
much." There is mention before of her tears, at the thirty-
eighth verse : " A woman in the city, which was a sinner,
brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet
behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears,
and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed
his feet, and anointed them with the ointment." Here is
mention of her tears, here is mention of her liberality, and
bounty, and love to Jesus Christ ; and yet our Lord and
Saviour Christ does not say thus : Woman, thy tears hath
saved thee, go in peace : Woman, thy repentance and thy
humiliation hath saved thee, go in peace : he doth not say,
Thy love to me and thy bounty to me hath saved thee, go in
peace, woman. No, but our Lord and Saviour, he saw a
secret work of reliance upon himself in this woman, for she
was a great sinner, and he says unto her, Woman, thy faith
hath saved thee, go in peace. This is the soul-saving faith,
thus to believe when all means fail and seem to lie dead
before you. Surely therefore, to do thus must needs be
exceeding pleasing to God, and most acceptable.
And so I have done with those three propositions ; and
now I come to the application.
If these things be so, oh, what manner of faith should we
have ? Will ye only believe when means are strong and
have life in them ? Ye have read of the unbelief of the
people of Israel when they were in the wilderness : being in
the wilderness, they wanted much outward provision, ordi
nary provision ; and by occasion thereof they murmured, full
of unbelief, in so much as the Lord was angry with them,
,SER. 2.] ON FAITH. 311
I and slew them, so that they never came into the land of pro-
iinise. But, I pray, what was their unbelief for which God
I did slay them : was it this, that they did not believe when
they had means ? No, but that they did not believe when
all means failed, when all outward means failed ; that is their
unbelief.
Beloved, we have their promises, we have their example,
we have more means of faith than they ; and shall not our
faith rise higher than theirs; shall not we believe an inch
beyond the means ? You have heard the doctrine : It is
the duty of all the children of Abraham to believe when
means fail, it is exceeding pleasing to God, and it is most
acceptable. Oh, what an encouragement is here to believe
above hope, and under hope, and when death sits upon the
lips of the second cause, and speaks nothing but terror.
Some there are, that say, they can believe for their bodies,
but they cannot trust God for their souls, when means fail.
Some say, they can trust God for their souls, when means
fail, but they cannot trust God for their bodies. Some say,
they can trust God for themselves, but they cannot trust God
for their families : What shall become of my wife and child
ren ? Some say, they can trust God for their families, but
they cannot trust God for the church ; when a storm rises,
they cry out and say, Lord, carest thou not that we perish ?
though Jesus Christ be in the ship with them.
We are very ready and apt to hunt after the means when
we want them ; and to rest upon them when we have then".
And there is a great propenseness in us to doing rather
than unto believing, before conversion ; and in the point of
conversion.
Before conversion, says the young man, Matt. xix. 1C,
" What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ?" And in
the point of conversion, Acts ii.., " What shall we do to be
saved ?" And Paul himself, Acts ix. 6, " Lord, what wilt
thou have me to do ?" The jailor too, Acts xvi. 30, " What
shall I do to be saved ?" What shall I do ? But I pray
mark the apostle s answer to the jailor, when he cried out,
and said, Oh, what shall I do ? The apostle does not say, Go,
fast and pray ; though he had need do that : but the first
work that the apostle does put him upon, is, " Believe, and
thou shalt be saved." This is the work.
312 ON FAITH. [SEK. 2.
And therefore, when some came to Christ, and asked him
this question, " Master, what shall we do that we may work
the works of God ?" says Christ, "This is the work of God,
that ye believe in him whom he hath sent," John vi. 28, 29.
And of all workings of faith, this same believing, when all
means do fail and seem to lie dead before us, is that which is
most pleasing to God. Oh, that we could learn, oh, that we
could learn this point, to believe when the sentence of death
is past upon a business, and upon all the means that do lead
unto it.
You will say, I am afraid to believe when means fail, for
God hath commanded us to use means : and as in angling
for fish, a man is to have his eye upon the cork, so he is to
have his eye upon the means ; God hath commanded us to
use the means.
True, in your fishing and angling you have an eye unto the
cork, but in Christ s fishing there is another cork that you are
to have an eye unto : Christ commands to believe. " Master
(say they), we have fished all night, and caught nothing ; ne
vertheless at thy command we will cast in again," Luke v. 5.
The same God that hath commanded you to keep the ten
commandments, commands you to believe when all means fail.
And whereas ye say, ye are afraid to believe when you have
no means, because God hath commanded you to use the
means, and now means are wanting.
I shall desire you to consider with me but these four
tilings.
First of all, thou sayest means fail, and seem to lie dead
before thee, and thou art afraid now to believe ; but it may
be, that this is the time that God does take away the means,
on purpose to try thy faith.
Beloved, there is a time when God does purposely take
away the means to try a man s faith. God does first try our
faith before he does feed our sense. When our Lord and
Saviour Christ was to work that great miracle, feeding so
many thousand with five barley loaves and two small fishes;
we read in John vi. 5, thus : " Jesus lift up his eyes, and
saw a great company, and said to Philip, Whence shall we
buy bread, that these may eat ?" Why did our Saviour Christ
thus put Philip upon it ? Head what follows : " And this he
said to prove him." He took away the means, "and this he
SER. 2.] ON FAITH. 313
said to prove him." There is a time when the Lord does
sometimes take away the means on purpose to prove thy
faith. How dost thou know, man or woman, whether this
be not the day and the time ? Thou sayest, thou canst not
believe, because means fail ; it may be it is the time of thy
trial, God sending this time of purpose to try thee.
Again, secondly, consider this; God does never give to
supply our lusts, but to supply our wants. Possibly there
may be means to supply thy want, though not means to sup
ply thy lust. When our Lord and Saviour Christ fed so
many thousands, what did he feed them with ? " Five barley
loaves and two fishes," John vi. 9. Not with turkey, not
with partridges, not with quails, not with chickens, but with
barley loaves. It may be thou hast a barley-loaf-means,
but thou hast not chicken -means ; and because thou
hast not means to supply thine appetite, and to supply
thy lust, thou sayest thou hast no means, and all means fail.
Oh, this is very ordinary among some people ; because they
have not means to satisfy their mind and their lust, therefore
they say that all means fail. I beseech you, beloved, consider
whether there be not this great mistake, when you say that
all means fail ; only a failing of means to supply your appe
tite and your lust, but not a failing of barley-loaf-means;
whether there be not always that means left by God ?
In the third place. But suppose that all means fail indeed,
and lie dead before you : now faith is a means to a means :
mark, now faith is a means to faith, faith hath a commission
from God to put life into that means that lies dead before
you ; faith hath a power from God to make that a means
which was none before. Poor soul, thou standest quaking
and shaking at a distance, and sayest, Oh, there is no means
but contrary means ; come up to that contrary means, come
up to it in a way of believing, and thy very coming up to
that which thou lookest upon as contrary, through thy faith
will be made a means to thee. When the apostle Peter was
in prison, the angel comes to him, strikes off his chains, and
bids him go out presently. Peter does not say thus, What
should I stir for, Lord ? Sir, there is an iron gate to go
through, there are so many guards of soldiers to pass through.
Peter does not say so, but rises in a way of believing, comes
to the iron gate in faith; and when he comes at it the iron
314 ON FAITH. [SER. 2.
gate doth open. And so it will be with you. Indeed, if you
come unto that which seems a contrary means, in a natural
way, the iron gate still continues shut ; but oh, if you would
use your faith, come up unto that which you look upon as the
most contrary in the way of believing, faith hath such a
power from God, to put life into that means that lies dead
before you.
And in the fourth place, consider this for your further en
couragement : that look what way God is used to walk in to
wards you, the same way you may boldly expect him in.
Does the Lord use to walk towards thee in a way of preventing
mercy ? You may boldly expect him in that way. Does the
Lord walk towards you in an extraordinary way ? (as in these
times he hath toward us, though an unworthy people :) I say,
does the Lord wald towards you in an extraordinary way ?
Hath he done so heretofore ? You may expect him in that*
way. Now I appeal to you, you that are the people of God ;
hath not the Lord walked towards your souls in an extraor
dinary way? Hath not the Lord said concerning Christ,
" His name shall be called Wonderful ?" Isa. ix. 6. As you
are known by your name, Richard, or Thomas, or John, so
Jesus Christ shall be known by this name among his people,
Wonderful: working wonders.
Hath not the Lord said, " His name is in the deep ?" Ps.
Ixxvii. 19. Beloved, the Lord s way is in the deep towards
his people and towards the wicked : towards his people, his
way is in the deep when he walks towards them. Behold,
saith he, by the prophet Jeremiah, speaking concerning the
times of the gospel, " a new thing will I work, I will do a
new thing, a woman shall compass a man ;" you read it, Jer.
xxxi. 22 ; but as Calvin reads it, " A woman shall lay siege
to a man." That is the weaker shall take the stronger.
And, says the Lord, never tell me it is a new thing, and such
a thing as was never done before, I will never stand upon
that, I will do things never done before, I will do a new
thing, says the Lord, I will lead you in a way that was never
went, never trodden before ; I will do a new thing. And
when the Lord walks in an extraordinary way towards you,
now his way is in the deep. " His way is in the whirlwind"
says the prophet, Nah. i. 3. Oh, beloved, shall we tie God
to means then ? True, God hath commanded you to use the
i SER. 2.] ON FAITH. 315
means when you have them : but where hath God forbidden
you to trust in him when you have no means ? Thus Abra-
i ham did ; he considered not his own body being dead, nor
Sarah s womb being dead ; for this his faith is commended ;
so shall you be. Oh, that our faith were right : oh, that we
could learn to live by faith, at a higher rate than ever yet we
have done. Time yet may come, for aught we know, that
you may find more use of this point.
But you will say unto me, I am afraid I shall presume :
trust in God when all means fail, means for my soul, and
means for my body, and means for my family ; trust in God
now. I am afraid I shall presume : presumption is a great
sin.
Mark. I shall only tell you what it is to presume, in ans
wer to this ; prasumo, is to take a thing before it is given, or
offered : mercy it is always offered to a poor sinner : Jesus
Christ came to save sinners, and die for sinners ; thou canst
not take mercy before it is offered. For a man to think that
he shall fly in the air with wings like a bird, this is to pre
sume : for a man to put God upon provision for his lust this
is to presume : for a man to put God upon extraordinary,
where ordinary may be this is to presume.
But for a man to rely upon God for necessities in extraor
dinary cases when ordinary cannot be had, this is no pre
sumption, but faith. Mark, I say, to put God upon extra
ordinary, when ordinary may be had ; this is presumption :
but to rely upon God for necessities in an extraordinary case,
when it cannot be had in ordinary ; this is no presumption
at all. Beloved, it is presumption in the highest degree for
you and me, poor creatures, to tie up the hands of God ; to
labour to do it is dangerous.
As for example : one poor subject to go to his prince, and
tie up his hands and feet, or to go to his palace, and nail up
all his doors, and leave him but one little wicket to come out
at; this is presumption. And so for a man to tie God to
means, to tie God to a time, to tie God to this or that means,
to tie God to means in general ; this is presumption. Mark,
some there are that tie God to a time : Oh, if mercy does not
come by such a day, or such a time, I am undone for ever.
Others they will not tie God to a time, but they will tie God
to this or that particular means : Oh, if mercy come not in
316 ON FAITH. [SER. 2.
that way, or by that means, I am gone, I am lost for ever.
Others, they will not tie God to time, nor to particular
means, but they will tie God to means in general, they will
not believe God a whit beyond means, and so tie God to
means in general : ah, what is this but rank presumption,
for a poor creature, to tie up the hands of his Creator ? the
sin that you seek, and think to avoid, you fall into : this is
presumption.
And beloved, do you know how prejudicial this is to your
selves ? As a dishonour to God, so great a hindrance to your
selves to do thus: it turns God out of the way of his mercy;
Nay, says God, seeing you will have no mercy but in a road
of means, you shall have none but in a road of means ; so
mercy comes thin, and scant, and by little drops ; whereas
otherwise mercy would come thick, and full and large.
Hereby you are put upon indirect means to get out of
trouble ; pray what is the ground that causes men to use
indirect means to get out of trouble? is not this at the bot
tom ? you think means must be used ; this is at the bottom.
Beloved in the Lord, as you do desire God may not be
dishonoured, that mercy may come full and not scant unto
you, learn to believe at another rate than ever you have
done ; when all means fail and seem to lie dead before you,
then believe: so for thy soul, so for thy body, so for thy estate.
You will say, how should I do this : to believe when all
means fail and lie dead before me ? I have a great prospect
in my sins ; the guilt of one sin comes, and that hath a blow at
my conscience : and the guilt of another sin that comes and
that gives a blow to my conscience, and my conscience is all
black and blue with blows, and they all cry out and say,
Poor, damned, damned and undone creature, and I see no
way, no means at all left for my salvation ; ah, Lord, what
shall I do to believe now, when all means fail.
I shall only speak a word to it, and so wind up all, thus ;
Know, that thou mayest trust God, that thou mayest find
mercy, that thou mayest believe in such a case as this is.
Beloved, therefore thou hast not believed in such a case
heretofore, because thou didst think thou mightest not be
lieve. Bat now know from the Lord, it is no temptation, it
is no presumption, in such a case as this thou mayest lean
thy poor guilty soul upon God this day. I am loth to make
SER. 2.] ON FAITH. 317
comparisons between one duty and another ; but if there be
any compares, this act of believing, when all means seem to
lie dead before us, is more than all thy prayers and tears :
thou cryest out and sayest, Oh, that I had tears in prayer,
oh, that God would enlarge my heart in prayer, oh, that
God would break this hard heart ; and blessed be the Lord
indeed when so it is.
But now, art thou in such a case ? Hast thou a prospect of all
thy sins, and all means seem to lie dead before thee ; and doest
thou now go unto Jesus Christ, saying to him, Ah Lord, I
have been a great and a wretched sinner ; yet now, hearing
of thy free and rich grace, I do throw myself upon thee ;
Lord, if thou killest me, yet I will trust in thee ; through thy
grace, I will never return again unto folly ; only Lord, I do
lean my soul upon thee; as for comfort, Lord give me
comfort when thou wilt ; only, I lean my soul upon thee ? I
tell thee, this act of thy faith is more pleasing to God than
thy twenty years tears, than thy twenty years prayers, if
there be any compare.
But why then, my beloved, should you look at this as a
matter of presumption, to trust upon God and upon Christ
in this condition ? Know it is your way unto Jesus Christ
when all means fail. Oh, it is the only way for your deli
verance ; deliverance from your sins, and the fear of your
sins. Carry this rule home along with you : deliverance is
then nearest, when faith works highest ; and faith then works
highest, when all means are lowest. Do not stand poring
then, Christian ; do not stand poring upon the deadness of
the means, or the deadness of thine own heart. As the
sight, beholding and gazing upon beauty, is a snare and a
temptation to those that are given to wantonness ; and the
sight of much gold and silver and fine houses, a temptation
to those that are given to worldliness : so the sight and be
holding of the deadness of the means, is a great snare and
temptation to those that are given to doubting, and those
that are given to unbelief. Does the means, therefore, lie
dead before thee at any time ? Soul, man or woman, go to
the Lord, and sav thus: Ah, Lord, turn away mine eyes
from beholding this same dead means. Away, away to the
promise, when all means fail, now bear thyself at length
upon the promise ; go unto Jesus Christ, throw thyself now
318 ON FAITH. [SER. 3.1
at his feet, and say, Lord, though thou kill me, yet will I-
trust in thee ; if I perish, I will perish here. Do this and
live.
And thus I have done with the second proposition. And
so much for this time.
SERMON II.
THE SPIRITUAL ACTINGS OF FAITH THROUGH NATURAL
IMPOSSIBILITIES.
" And being not weak (or weakened) in faith, he considered not his
own body now dead, when he ivas about an hundred years old, neither
yet the deadncss of Sarah s womb." Rom. iv. 19.
THE words are spoken of Abraham, and they hold forth
three great truths, as ye have heard.
First, That when God intends any great mercy or blessing
to the children of Abraham, he does first put the sentence of
death upon the blessing or mercy, and upon all the means
that do lead unto it.
Secondly, That then, and then especially, it is the duty of
all the children of Abraham, of all believers, then for toJ
trust in God.
Thirdly, That no difficulties can stand before faith : true,
saving, justifying faith, carries the soul through all difficul
ties, discouragements, and natural impossibilities, to Jesus
Christ.
I have done with the two former, and am now to speak
unto the third :
No difficulties can stand before faith : true, saving, justify
ing faith, carries the soul through all difficulties, discourage
ments, and natural impossibilities, to Jesus Christ.
Abraham had a promise given him, that his seed should
be as the stars of heaven, and that in his seed all nations of
the world should be blessed. Upon this promise, Abraham s
body is dead, and Sarah s body is dead; now Abraham
believes. " Being not weak in faith, he considered not the
deadness of his own body." And in this he had an eye
;SER. 3.] ON FAITH. 319
nnto Jesus Christ, for this was imputed to him for righteous
ness ; and herein he is held forth as an example to us that
I believe with a justifying faith, in this chapter. So that
I wherever there is true, saving, justifying faith, it carries a
man through all difficulties, through all natural discourage
ments.
For the clearing whereof, I shall deliver myself in these
I four things.
First, I will shew you, that the way to Jesus Christ is
clogged with many difficulties and natural discouragements.
I This as a rice unto all the rest.
Secondly, That true, saving faith, will carry one through
lall these.
Thirdly, That nothing else can do it.
And fourthly, What it is in true, saving, justifying faith,
that does it ? how this faith comes to do it ?
First: The way to Jesus Christ is clogged with many
(difficulties or natural discouragements. No sooner does a
(man begin to look after Christ, but difficulties and natural
(discouragements do arise ; and they are prest by Satan with
violence. When the children of Israel began to make out of
Egypt, Pharoah doubles their task, and labours to make their
iway grievous and troublous. And so soon as a soul begins
to look after Christ; Satan and the world labour to make
ihis way troublous. The devil is the great hunter of souls.
I So long as the game goes well with the hunter and he is
j going into his snare, he makes no noise; but if once the
hare or the game begin to decline the snare and to go another
way, then he whoops and halloos and makes a noise, that he
may scare it into the snare again. And so, as long as men
are going into the devil s snare, he makes no noise ; but if
once they begin to turn aside from his snare, then he raises
town and country, and a great noise is made to scare the
soul in again ; he knows that a candle may be easily blown
into light when it is new put out. Paul met with no buffet-
ings of Satan, till he had been taken up into the third hea
vens and seen the glory there. So long as Paul went on in
his pharisaical way, he met with no opposition. And so
long as a man goes on in the way of the w r orld, or in some
pharisaical devotional way that is not the way of the gospel,
he meets with no opposition; but when once the Lord
320 ON FAITH. [SER. 3.
takes him (as it were) into the third heavens and shews him
the glory of Christ, then Satan begins to buffet him. Nature
within us, that stands and says, Will you go to Christ ? it is
impossible that ever you should get him. And the world
without : Will you go to Christ ? you will lose all your
friends. Will you become a fool too ? What with the world,
and what with the flesh, and what with the devil, the way to
Jesus Christ is clogged with many difficulties.
And this will appear yet further, if you consider the
nature of faith and the worth of it. It is a grace, a gospel
grace, a precious grace, whereby we do come to Christ. I
say it is a grace ; Nulla virtus sine lapide. When our Lord
Jesus Christ was crucified, they rolled a stone over his se
pulchre, and when the disciples came, they said, " Who shall
roll away the stone ? " And as our Lord himself had a stone
rolled upon him, so the more of Christ is in any virtue, the
greater stone and the greater difficulty is rolled upon it;
every virtue and every grace hath one stone or other that is
rolled upon it ; but the more of Christ in any thing, the
more, the greater is the stone that is rolled upon it. Faith
is an excellent grace. " The trial of your faith is more pre
cious than gold," says the apostle. What is faith itself then ?
It is the intelligencer of the soul, the directrix or queen-
regent of all the graces, it sits at the stern and guides the
whole vessel. It is that grace that gives a being unto a
Christian, other graces the well-being. It is that grace that
brings Christ and the soul together. It is that grace that
covers the defects of all other graces. It is called the shield ;
a shield does not only cover the body, but the rest of the
armour ; faith does not only cover the soul, but the defects
of all other graces. There is an excellency in grace : excel
lent things and jewels they are hard to come by. Therefore
by it we come unto Christ. He that comes over the river must
come from that side of the water if be will come to this.
And he that comes to Christ, he must come from his old
customs, and his own engagements, and his own righteous
ness ; this is a hard thing. I may say in some respects it is
harder to believe than to keep the ten commandments,
because there is something in nature towards them. Christ
is the way to heaven, and faith is the way to Christ (under
stand it rightly) faith is the way to Christ ; now therefore
SER. 2.] ON FAITH. 321
it being so hard a work to believe, surely, the way to Jesus
, Christ must needs be laid with many difficulties and natural
discouragements. But that is but the rice.
Secondly : Though the way to Jesus Christ be clogged
with many difficulties; true, saving, justifying faith, will
carry us through all difficulties, discouragements, and natural
impossibilities to Jesus Christ. It is that grace that is op
posed to the sinful a^Krat that the apostle speaks of. He
being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body,
ov SwptSri he staggered not; the word you translate staggering,
in other places it is translated doubting, nothing doubting ;
but the same word is translated also discerning ; " not dis
cerning the Lord s body." 1 Cor. xi. 29. And so the word
will fully bear that signification. When a man looks upon
things with an eye of reason, he makes a discretion of
dijudication of things : some things are facile easy, some
things are hard. But when a man looks by faith upon the
power of God, there is not that discretion there. All things
are easy to the eye of faith that looks at the power of God.
You shall observe therefore, that when our Lord and Saviour
himself would bear up the hearts of his disciples over all
discouragements, he directs them to this work of believing
with a saving, justifying faith ; you know the place : " Let not
your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in nee."
John xiv. 1. An Hebraism, noting a similitude : "The Father
works hitherto, and I work." That is, as the Father works
so I work. So here, " ye believe in God, believe also in
me. " That is, as ye believe in God the Father, so believe
also in me ; ye believe that God the Father is able to pro
vide for you ; believe in me that I am able to satisfy for you.
If you would not have your hearts troubled that I am now
to leave you, at the many discouragements that you are to
meet withal ; it is not enough for you that you believe
in God as God ; but you must believe in me also as
your Mediator, and rest upon me. True, saving, justifying
faith is the only means to bear up your hearts through
all this trouble. And if you look into Luke xvii., you
shall find that when our Saviour Christ would teach his
disciples how to do a hard work, he does point them unto
this justifying faith. "And the Lord said, " verse 6, " If
ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say to
VOL. II. Y
322 ON FAITH. [SER. 3.
this sycamore tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be
thou planted in the sea, and it should obey you." You will
say this is a faith of miracles. You may be pleased there
fore to observe, that our Saviour Christ uses this and the
like expression upon three several occasions. Once upon
occasion that his disciples could not cast out the devil out
of some that were possessed. Once upon occasion that the
fig-tree was dried up and withered. And once here upon
occasion that the disciples said, " Lord, increase our faith ; "
when they thought it was so hard a thing to forgive a man
so often as Christ required.
Our Saviour uses this and the like expression of removing
a sycamore-tree and the mountains ; upon occasion that the
disciples could not cast out the devil. And of that you
read in Mat. xvii. 20, and there, indeed, he speaks of the faith
of miracles. "Why could not we cast him out ? " verse 19.
"Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily
I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder
place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible
unto you." Here he speaks of the faith of miracles, because
thereby we should be able to cast out the devil ; which
plainly speaks a miracle.
He uses again this like expression upon an occasion of
the drying up of the fig-tree. And concerning that, you
read in Mark xi. 20 : "As they passed by, they saw the fig-
tree dried up from the roots. Peter calling to remembrance,
saith unto him, Behold, the fig-tree which thou cursedst is
withered away. Jesus answering, said unto them, have faith
in God. And verily I say unto you, whosoever shall say
unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into
the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, &c." Here the
faith called for is both faith of miracles and a justifying faith
too. A faith of miracles, it is brought in upon occasion of
this miracle, Christ says, If he have faith, he shall not only
do this, but he shall remove mountains. But here is a jus
tifying faith also intended, for he says, " Have faith in God,"
verse 22, so you read it. But in the margin of your bible
it is, have faith of God ; when as the scripture speaks of a
justifying faith, it uses to speak in such an expression as
this : so Paul says, " I live by the faith of the Son of God ; n
SER. .3.] ON FAITH. 323
Gal. ii. 19, speaking of justifying faith, not by faith in the Son
of God. So in Rev. xiv. it is called " the faith of Jesus : " and
then it seems to run very largely, somewhat too largely, if it
were only a miraculous faith, faith of miracles that were here
intended. For I say unto you, whosoever shall say unto this
mountain, be thou removed, the faith of miracles and gifts
only to some, unto another the gift of faith ; not to all, says
the apostle. And then here it is opposed to doubting, the
same word that is used here in my text concerning Abraham,
who believed and staggered not : says he here, " whosoever
shall say to this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou
cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart " or shall
not stagger in his heart; it is the same word that is used
there, the same opposition. So that I take it both are here
intended ; one primarily, the other secondarily.
But now in Luke xvii. there is another occasion that this
expression is brought in by our Saviour Christ. He says
unto his disciples, verse 3, " If thy brother trespass against
thee, rebuke him ; if he repent, forgive him ; if he trespass
against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day
turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him :
and the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith : and
the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed,
you might say unto this sycamore tree, &c. " Here is no
miracle here that these words are brought in upon : why
should our Saviour put that upon a faith of miracles, in
doing a work of Christianity, the forgiving the brother so
often thus ? the faith that is to be exercised in prayer, and
in forgiving our brother ordinarily, is not the faith of mira
cles : but the faith he here calls for, is a faith that is to be
used in prayer, and in forgiving of our brethren : surely this
is a saving faith, a justifying faith that is here intended. And
as one says well, What is all the work of faith, but as the
removing of mountains ? When we take our sins, that
stand up and hinder the light of God s grace from shining in
our hearts, and remove them off from ourselves unto Jesus
Christ, to his blood, that they are drowned as in the bottom
of that red sea ; what is this but to remove mountains ?
When we take our carnal reason, and our high thoughts, and
bring them into obedience unto Jesus Christ ; what is this
but to remove mountains ? When our great and manifold
y 2
324 ON FAITH. |"SER. 3.
temptations are laid level, that the promise may come into
the soul freely, what is this but to remove these mountains ?
Mountains rose up in the way of Zerubbabel when he was to
build the temple. Zech. iv. 7- " Who art thou, O moun
tain ?" Temptation and corruption are mountains ; and the
curse of the law, is a great mountain. Would you, therefore,
now remove these mountains, walk over these natural impos
sibilities; there is no such way as to get a justifying and a
saving faith, says our Saviour. What abundance of difficul
ties did Noah s faith carry him through. The Lord com
manded Noah to build an ark : Noah, he might have said
thus : Lord, thou hast now commanded me to build an ark ;
I was never brought up to that trade ; I have been a preacher
many years, bnt I never yet was a wheelwright, never yet a
ship-carpenter : and, Lord, if I do go about to build an ark,
the whole world will jeer me : What will this old man do ;
will he ride in a ship upon the dry ground ? And when I
have built the ark, Lord, how shall I do to get in all the
creatures into the ark ? And if the creatures do come, they
will tear me in pieces; the lions and the bears, they will prey
upon me. Yea, Lord, and if they do come into the ark and
into the ship, the very stench of all the beasts will poison me.
Yet, notwithstanding all these difficulties and all these dis
couragements, Noah prepared an ark. Why ? For he be
lieved, and he believed with a saving, justifying faith.
So if you look into the New Testament, that is full of this.
What abundance of difficulties did the wise men go through
that came to worship Jesus Christ ? They were commanded
to go worship him that was born King of the Jews. They
might have said thus : What is the King of the Jews to us ?
We know no such king. Shall we go out of our own king
dom, and out of our own country to worship the King of
the Jews ; the despised people of the Jews ? When they
came at Jerusalem, the learned men, the priests, and those
that were of that country, they knew none such : when they
came at the place where Christ was born, they found him in
a stable ; and they might have said, Is this the King of the
Jews : is this his palace ? What, a stable for his palace !
W T hat, are these horses, are these his courtiers ? Is this a
king ? It is impossible he should be a king. Yet, notwith-
SEK. 3.] ON FAITH. 325
standing, they went. Why ? Because they believed, and
this their faith carried them through all.
What abundance of difficulties did Matthew s faith carry
him through. The Lord commanded Mathew to follow him ;
Matthew, follow me, says Christ, Matt. ix. 9, and so he did.
But he might have said thus : Whether shall I follow this
man ? I have a good calling, I have so many hundreds com
ing in by the year from the custom house ; this man hath
not whereon to lay his head : I shall be a beggar ; all my
friends will call me a fool. Notwithstanding Matthew leaves
all and follows Christ. Why ? He believed with a saving,
justifying faith.
What abundance of difficulties did Zaccheus s faith carry
him through. " Zaccheus (says our Lord to him), haste and
come down, for I must abide with thee this day : he came
down, he received him into his house \" and being there, he
says, " Lord, behold the half of my goods 1 give to the poor,
and if there be any one that I have wronged by false accusa
tion, I restore unto him fourfold/ 3 Luke xix. 5 9. Mark,
what a hard work he went through : " The half of my goods
I give to the poor." Pray let us compute it a little. Sup
pose his estate was a thousand pounds. Lord, says he, the
half of my goods I give to the poor : there is but five hun
dred left. Suppose he had wronged a man to the value of a
hundred pounds ; Lord, says he, I restore fourfold : then
there is but one hundred left of a thousand. What a great
matter was this. Yet this Zaccheus did. Why ? " O Zac
cheus (says Christ), this day is salvation come to thine house,
for so much as thou also art the son of Abraham." He be
lieved, as Abraham did, with a saving, justifying faith. So
then, thus you see, that true, saving, justifying faith carries
a man through all difficulties, discouragements, and natural
impossibilities to Jesus Christ.
But, in the third place, nothing else can clp it : conviction
of the good ways of God cannot do it. Saul was convinced
that David was a righteous man : " Oh, my son David (says
he), thou art more righteous than I," 1 Sam. xxiv. 17; and
yet he persecuted him. Conviction, bare conviction will not
do it.
Resolution will not do it neither. Resolution to turn to
God and to become a new man or woman, that will not do
326 ON FAITH. [SER. 3.
it : bare resolution will not do it. Many resolve that will
not do it. And therefore says our Saviour to Peter, " Peter,
I have prayed that thy faith fail not/ Luke xxii. 13. Satan
hath desired to winnow thee; and, Peter, thou hast said,
though all men forsake me, thou wilt not : thou hast taken
up a great resolution, but, Peter, it is not resolution will do
it, if any thing hold, it will be thy faith ; and therefore, Peter,
I have prayed that thy faith fail not. He does not say, I
have prayed that thy resolution fail not ; no : " Peter, I have
prayed that thy faith fail not." You have read what Hazael
resolved, when the prophet told him he should be a. great
persecutor, rip up women with child. Oh, says he, does my
lord look upon me as a dog s head ; and yet he did it. Re
solution will not do it : resolution will not carry one through
temptation and difficulties.
Again, moral virtues will not do it. The young man that
came to Christ, he was a great moralist. When our Saviour
told him he should keep the commandments that he might
obtain eternal life ; " Lord (says he), all these have I kept
from my youth," Matt. ix. 20 ; and Christ looked upon him
and loved him ; he was a fine moralist, but notwithstanding,
he did not follow Christ, he went away, and was very sorrow
ful. Bare moral virtues will not do it, for they are dead
things. You see how it is with a man s shoe, though the
leather be never so thick, yet by going upon the stones and
the gravel, the leather wears thin, and wears out: but if a
man goes barefoot, though the skin of his foot be thinner,
the skin does not wear out, but grows thicker ; as Indians,
they go barefoot, and the skin of their feet wears thicker
by going upon the gravel and upon fche stones. What is the
reason ? The leather of a man s shoe is a dead thing, but
the foot is a living thing. And so faith is a living thing, and
will carry a man over gravel, and stdnes, and difficulties ; but
moral virtues, they are but dead things, and though they be
never so thick, they will grow thin, and wear out, and come
to nothing. Bare moral virtues will not do it.
And then, again, gifts and parts and gospel enlargements
cannot do it, they leave black ashes upon the soul ; they are
a blaze, they make a great blaze. Straw that is burnt, makes
a great blaze, but it leaves black ashes upon the hearth ; so
where these are, without saving faith, they may make a great
,SEB. 3.] ON FAITH. 327
blaze, but the end of them is black ashes upon the soul.
Judas, ye know, he had great gifts and gospel parts ; but that
would not do it, would not carry him through all his tempta
tions and difficulties to Jesus Christ. Pray do but compare
1 Nicodemus and Judas : Nicodemus was but in his catechism
of Christianity when Judas was a preacher ; Nicodemus comes
to Christ by night, when Judas preaches Christ openly ; but
! in the end, Nicodemus owns Christ when he is dead, and
Judas betrays him when he is living. Nicodemus had a true,
saving faith ; Judas had only gifts, gospel gifts and gospel
enlargements ; that will not do it neither.
And then, again, the experience of God s former dealings,
providential dealings and preservation, that will not do it.
You know how it was with those spies that were sent into
the land of Canaan ; there were two sorts of spies ; there
were good spies and there were bad spies : the good spies
brought up a good report of the land, and the evil spies
brought up an evil report.
How ? Why ? Consider but a little. The good spies,
they met with many troubles when they were sent out to spy
out the land : fain to be hidden in Rahab s house : and then
they fled to the mountains, and there they lay : they come
home, and thev say, The Lord hath delivered this people into
our hands. The other spies, now, that brought up the evil
report, they met with no such hard fare, thai we read of; and
yet they come home, and they say, The men of the country
are the children of Anak, and the cities are walled up to
heaven : they had experience of God s preservation in an es
pecial manner, and yet, notwithstanding, that would not do
it. Bare experience of God s preserving mercy, that will not
do it ; it is only faith will do it, saving, justifying faith will
do it. " This is the victory whereby you overcome the world,
your faith : by faith ye stand." 1 John v. 4 ; 2 Cor. i. 2, 3, 4.
Look upon your dangers under a sea notion, and faith it is
called your anchor. Look upon your dangers under a land
notion, and faith, it is called your shield. Nothing but faith
can do it.
Fourthly, you will say to me, What is it in this saving,
justifying faith, that is able thus to carry the soul through all
difficulties, and discouragements, and natural impossibilities
to Jesus Christ ? How does faith do it ?
328
OX FAITH.
[Sfin. 3.
Give me leave to stay here.
Faith shews the soul the glorious, invisible things of Godj
and of his grace, and brings them near unto the soul. I
was a hard thing for Moses to leave all the pleasures, and pro- 1
fits, and preferments of Egypt: he did it though, choosing
rather the afflictions of Pharaoh with God s people. Why ? f
Says Hebrews xi., " He saw him that is invisible." But I
how did he see him ? By faith, says the text, " by faith he
saw him that is invisible." Faith opens the eyes for to see
that a man hath more with him than against him. And the
works of God in Christ, are not seen by the world ; God s
pardoning mercy, not seen by the world ; the union with
Jesus Christ, and the privilege thereof, not seen by the
world ; the satisfaction of Jesus Christ for a poor sinner, not
seen by the world ; the great power of God not seen, or if
so, yet at a distance, it does not much affect. " Faith is the
substance of things not seen," Heb. xi. 1 j it does not only
shew a man things that are otherwise unseen, but brings
them near ; salvation near, pardoning mercy near, the privi
leges of union with Christ near, Christ s satisfaction near:
and so when difficulties and discouragements do arise, says
the soul, through faith, Why should not I be satisfied with
any condition, seeing Christ hath satisfied for me ? I am
one with Christ. Christ is a common person. When Christ
died, I died ; when Christ rose, I rose ; when Christ as
cended, I ascended; Christ sitting in heaven, I sit there.
Thus faith, it elevates and raises up the soul into heaven, it
carries it over all difficulties and discouragements, that it
can meet withal.
Again, true, saving faith ; it tells the soul that all things
are its own. " All things are yours (says the apostle) things
present, and things to come, life and death ; all things are
yours," 1 Cor. iii. 22. Faith speaks the same language : all
things are yours, soul, all things are yours : difficulties are
yours, and natural impossibilities are yours ; things present
are yours, and things to come are yours. Will you be afraid
of that which is your own ? Will the owner be afraid of his
own dog ? A mastiff, he falls upon a stranger, and worries
him, and a stranger is afraid of him ; but the owner is
not afraid, he leaps and fawns upon him, but he does not
not worry him. Says faith, all these difficulties, and all these
SER. 3.] ON FAITH. 329
temptations, they are your own, they will not worry you ;
they may leap upon you, they may fawn upon you, but they
will not worry you ; they are all your own ; part of the pur
chase that Jesus Christ hath made for you, all these are your
own. Faith holds this steadily upon the soul, and so a man
breaks through difficulties.
Again, true, saving, justifying faith, it shews a man greater
excellencies in Christ than all difficulties, and natural dis
couragements can amount unto on the other side. You
know how it is with a dog, the greyhound, if he sees the
game a great way oiF, he gives it over : but when he comes
near, he will rush through the very bushes for to take the
hare, throw himself upon his back that he may take it, a na
tural hope makes him do it : faith it raises a mighty hope in
the soul, presents the soul with many excellencies, and raises
a mighty hope in the soul for the obtainment of them : it
does spread more excellencies before the soul, than can be
lost by the hand of difficulties : for example : If a man hath
been a prodigal, and now is returning to Christ ; the world
says, friends say, if you take this course you will lose all ;
you will lose all your acquaintance, lose your liberty, lose
your estate, may be, lose your life : be it so, says faith,
though thou losest thy friends, thou shalt gain better : and
though thou losest thy liberty, thou shalt gain better : and
though thou losest thy life itself, thou shalt gain a better ; it is
but a while neither, says faith, that thou shalt lose these things
and thou shalt have them better, in a better edition. When
a man s eyes are open to behold the excellencies of Christ,
then they are shut up to outward discouragements. When
a man hath beheld the sun in its glory, his eyes dazzle to the
things that are below : now faith opens a man s eyes to see
the excellencies of Jesus Christ, and so the soul is carried
through difficulties and discouragements, though they be never
so many.
Again, true, saving faith, it enables the soul to leave the
success and the event of all unto God himself. Nothing
strengthens the hands of difficulties and discouragements so
much, as solicitude about success and event of things : true
saving faith helps a man to leave the success to Christ; it
does commit the soul unto God, unto Christ; there is a
mutual committing between Christ and a believer : Christ
330 ON FAITH. [SER. 3.
commits himself unto a believer, and a believer commits him
self again unto Christ. Christ commits himself unto a be
liever : you know what is said in the gospel, " He did not
commit himself unto them, because they did not believe
him/ John ii. 24., arguing, that he did commit himself unto
others that did believe him. And believers commit them
selves unto Jesus Christ. " Commit thy way unto the
Lord," Ps. xxxvii. 5 ; there is a mutual way of committing :
Christ, he does commit his grace ; he does commit his Spi
rit ; he does commit his truth unto a believer : a believer
commits his estate, and his name, and himself again unto
Christ : Christ commits his work unto a believer ; and a be
liever commits the success of the work, again unto Jesus
Christ. Faith now leaves the event, and the success again
unto Jesas Christ; and therefore when difficulties and
natural discouragements arise, and say, What wilt thou do
now ? What wilt thou do now to be preserved ? What
wilt thou do to continue now ? W T hat wilt thou do to be
delivered now ? What will become of you now ? Oh,
Satan, says a believer, thou hast mistaken the question ; my
question is not, W T hat shall become of me ? I have left the
success of things to God : but my question is, What shall I
do for God ? My question is, How shall I love Jesus Christ ?
My question is, How shall I be like unto Jesus Christ ? My
question is, How shall I serve my generatiop, and own Jesus
Christ in these times ? This is my question. Faith, true,
saving faith, it leaves the success and the event of things
unto Christ, and so thereby the soul is carried through all
difficulties and natural discouragements unto Jesus Christ.
True, saving faith, is that grace whereby the soul
takes up the yoke of Christ, and the burden of Christ
upon his soul. Christ s burden, does unburden all other
burdens ; the very taking of Christ s burden upon a man,
does ease him of all other burdens. This may seem strange
to you, that the taking of a new burden should ease one
of the former : if a man be carrying coals or wood, the
taking of a new burden would not ease him of the former ;
but the burden of Christ, beloved, is of another nature. Aus
tin distinguishes them ; there is a burden burdening, and a
burden supporting : he expresses it thus ; the feathers that
a bird or a fowl is clothed with, they have a weight in them,
SER. 3.] ON FAITH. 331
the wings and feathers have a weight, a pound of feathers is
as heavy as a pound of lead ; there is a weight in those fea
thers, yet notwithstanding they bear up the burden of the
body ; there be a weight in them, one weight bears up ano
ther : or as it is with your coaches, the wheels are heavy ;
yet notwithstanding, being fastened unto the coach, unto the
body of the coach, makes the body to go away the lighter,
though they be heavy in themselves. So now it is here, the
burden of Jesus Christ it makes all other burdens to go away
the lighter. Faith, true, saving faith, it is the grace that
takes up the burden of Christ upon the soul, and so thereby
all other burdens are made the lighter, and difficulties and
discouragements overcome.
True, saving faith, it does teach a man for to pick out the
love of God, from under the anger of God. God never makes
his pills so bitter, but he mingles some sugar withal : and true
faith can find it out. When as our Lord and Saviour Christ
said, " Woman what have I to do with thee ? mine hour is
not yet come," John ii. 4, 5 : the next words that she says
is, to the servants, " Whatsoever he bids you do, that do/ 5
They wanted wine, she came to him for wine, and he an
swered her so : it may seem an hard answer, yet says she to
the servants, " Whatsoever he bid you do, that do." For
our Saviour had said, " My hour is not yet come :" implying
therefore, that he would do it. Implication is enough for
faith, for Mary s faith. Faith, it acquaints a man with the
ways of God, and acquaints a soul what God s ways are : it
tells the soul that when Christ seems to be the greatest
enemy, he intends the greatest friendship. He, says faith,
does then intend for to raise us up, when he seems most for
to cast us down : whereupon, when difficulties and discou
ragements do arise, is this his way indeed ? says a believing
soul, why then shall I be borne down with so many discou
ragements, though they be never so many ?
True, saving, justifying faith, fills the soul with God s
infinity or infiniteness. God s way is not as your way, says
faith, nor his thoughts as your thoughts ; but as the heavens
are above the earth, so are his thoughts beyond yours, and
his ways beyond yours. Faith lodges this principle into the
soul, that God is infinite ; and having laid that principle
there, when difficulties and discouragements do arise, saying,
332 ON FAITH. [SER. 3.
you see now into what distress you are brought, now you see
there is no hope at all for your deliverance ; true indeed,
says the believer, through the strength of faith, I see there
is no way in any one reason, but God is infinite : I see many
difficulties, but God is infinite. The soul by faith being
filled with the apprehension of God s infiniteness, hereby is
carried through all difficulties and discouragements to Jesus
Christ.
I have not time, I see, to tell you how faith works by love,
which much water cannot quench, stronger than death. And
how faith is strengthened with the strength of the power of
God, that it lays hold upon. As the ivy is strong, by the
strength of the oak that it grasps upon ; so faith is strong,
by the strength of that God that it grasps upon.
But the thing is sufficiently proved : No difficulties can
stand before saving faith : true, saving, justifying faith,
carries the soul through all difficulties, discouragements, and
natural impossibilities, to Jesus Christ.
I come to the application :
If these things be so, then if difficulties and natural dis
couragements do arise, (who is there among you but meet
with some or other in your several places ?) see here the way
how for to grapple with them ; strengthen your faith, exer
cise your faith. Resolution ; you are mistaken, resolution
will not do it. Christian, here is thy strength. Conviction
will not do it, moral virtue will not do it, exangelical gifts
and parts and enlargements will not do it; experience of
God s preservation of you will not do it. Christian, here is
thy strength. But oh, let not your strength be cut off in
the lap of any Dalilah. True, justifying faith, is your
strength, that is your shield. The heathen could say, when
he was sore wounded, Is my shield whole ? if that be well,
all is well. So say I, if your shield be well, if your faith be
well, if your true, justifying, saving faith, be well, then all is
well. Thus you shall be able to look difficulties and discou
ragements in the face, though they be never so great.
You will say unto me, Suppose a man hath newly begun
to look unto Jesus Christ, and now difficulties and natural
discouragements do arise ; how shall he be able so to raise
and to use his faith, as he may be able to break through all
unto Jesus Christ ?
SER. 3.] ON FAITH. 333
Take heed that you do not stand poring too much upon
them. Abraham considered not the deadness of his own
body, Sarah s body. But if you will behold them,
Exercise your faith in the promise, before you do speak
with those difficulties. Seme there are that stand poring so
much upon difficulties and natural discouragements, that
they have spent the strength of their spirits ; so that when
the promise comes, they have no strength at all in their
spirits to entertain the promise with. If the rope or cable
be never so strong that is thrown out into the water, if a
man be drowned before the rope or cable come at him, what
matter is it though the cable be never so great ? Some there
are that stand poring so much upon natural discouragements,
that their hearts are even sunk and drowned before the pro
mise comes ; and how can the promise help you then ?
Therefore say, Come first promise, come first promise.
And then again, if you will behold these, look upon them
as they are, your trial and many times the devil s engines to
work your hearts off again : I say your trials, and the devil s
engines to work your hearts back again. When you were in
your natural condition, then your heart was quiet, your con
science quiet, and the devil quiet, and your friends quiet, and
did not speak evil of you : now you begin to look towards
Christ, now conscience condemns, now the devil accuses,
now your friends, your former friends, they speak evil of
you. I appeal to thee, man or woman, in thine own soul,
dost thou not think that thy former condition was an ungodly
condition ? Yes. And then quiet ? Then conscience quiet, then
friends quiet, then Satan quiet : and now conscience accuses,
and now Satan accuses, and now friends speak evil. Oh,
therefore say, surely this is nothing but a temptation ; and
believe it, beloved, it is half a victory over a temptation,
to know that a temptation is but a temptation.
Now, now especially, set thyself with all thy might to
venture upon Jesus Christ. Labour much in venturing upon
Jesus Christ now. Mark, faith is nothing else but the soul s
venture ; it ventures to Christ, it ventures on Christ, it ven
tures for Christ.
It ventures to Christ, in opposition to all legal terrors. It
ventures on Christ, in opposition to all our own guiltiness.
It ventures for Christ, in opposition to all difficulties and
334 ox FATTII. [SER. 3.
discouragements. The proper nature of faith is to venture ;
and what need we venture, if there were no difficulties ?
Difficulties properly call for venturing. Mark it : do diffi
culties arise ? now set thyself to venture upon Jesus Christ.
If a man be to go home over some water, or river, and the
water rises, he says with himself, How shall I get over this
water ? the longer I stay, the more it rises. He begins to go
into it, and he comes back again. But, says he, there is no
other way, as good first as at the last ; I must venture, I
must over, there is no other way : and so he ventures. So
say I now unto thee. This thou must come unto at last,
poor soul: difficulties and discouragements arise, to stave
thee off from Christ ; at the last thou must venture upon
Jesus Christ ; at the last you must venture, notwithstanding
all your guilt : you begin to do it, and you are ready to go
back ; but know this, first or last you must venture upon
Christ. Hadst thou not better do it at first ? Oh, there
fore, whenever any difficulties do arise, put thyself upon
faith ; say, Come, Oh my soul, here is a difficulty, now ven
ture on Jesus Christ.
For your encouragement know this : That the more and
greater difficulties your duties or your graces are recovered
out of the hand of, the more comfortable they will be to you.
I pray mark it. I say, duty or grace, recovered out of the
hand of difficulty, is the most comfortable. You know how
it was with David at Ziklag ; the enemy had come upon him,
taken away his wife and all his comforts : a sentence of death
was upon all his comforts. David, he follows after, overtakes
the enemy, recovers his wife and all his comforts, and there
he had the greatest spoil of all spoils : he sent unto all his
friends of his spoil, he never had a greater spoil. So I say,
does difficulty or discouragement break in upon your duty,
morning duty, evening duty ? or any grace ? follow after it.
If thou strikest this difficulty in the hinder part, and reco-
verest thy duty or thy grace out of the hand of the difficulty,
thy duty and thy grace will be more comfortable than ever
it was.
Study Jesus Christ more, and labour for a clear and a
distinct knowledge of Jesus Christ. Faith, in scripture
phrase, it is called knowledge, the knowledge of Christ:
" By his knowledge he shall justify many," Isa. liii. 11. To
SER. 3.] ON FAITH. 335
know and believe, they are put together ; the more you
know, the more clear and distinct knowledge you have of
Christ, the stronger your faith ; the less knowledge you have of
Christ, the weaker your faith. A weak faith is apt to be blown
down with every wind. " Abraham being not weak, he consi
dered not his own body," so he staggered not. The weak
fire, it may be put out with fuel, casting of much wood upon
it : the strong fire, it increases and grows even by throwing
on of water, that is contrary. A weak faith is borne down
instantly. Art thou therefore weak, and hast newly begun
to look towards Jesus Christ ? Oh, labour to get stronger
faith ; and that you shall do, by growing in the knowledge
of Jesus Christ. Study Christ more; his life more, his
death more, his fulness more, the merciful disposition of
Jesus Christ more. Thus shall you be able to grow strong,
and shall work through all difficulties and discouragements
unto the Lord Christ.
Yet you will say to me, But suppose now that a man hath
believed some time, a great while, been in Christ a great
while, difficulties and discouragements do arise to beat a man
out of the good ways of Christ that he hath taken up : how
should a man so raise and use his faith, as he may be able to
work through all those unto Jesus Christ ?
I will speak but to this, and so I will wind up all.
Consider your call, often consider your call, your first call
to a work ; and put yourselves often unto this disjunction,
Either God hath called me to this work, or else he hath
not. If God hath not called me, what means this scripture,
and what means that scripture, and what means the other
scripture ? And if God hath called me, why should I lay
down the work for any difficulty ; will not he carry me
through ? And know this, that difficulties do sometimes
arise in our way, to make a stoppage in our proceedings ;
and sometimes they arise only to draw out our faith. When
as thou seest thy call clear unto any work, then say, These
difficulties arise only to draw out my faith, and not to make
a stoppage in my proceedings.
Consider this, That the more you believe in the face of
difficulty, the more you please God. Nothing so pleasing to
God, as believing in the face of difficulty. God will trust
him with much, that trusts much to God ; God will break
336 ON FAITH. [San. 3.
through many difficulties to save thy soul, if thou canst
break through many difficulties to come to him. There is
no grace does more honour God, than faith ; of all graces it
honours God most, and of all the pieces of faith, none do
more honour God, than believing in the face of difficulties.
When therefore any difficulty or natural discouragement
does arise, say, The Lord pardon me ; oh, I have dishonoured
God enough already : is this the way for to honour God, to
believe in the face of difficulties and natural discourage
ments ? here now I have more opportunity to do it, the Lord
help me, now will I set myself to believe.
Sometimes when you meet together, speak unto one an
other of the great things that God hath done, the great
things that God hath promised, the great things that faith
hath done. As words of anger do draw out anger, so expe
riences do draw out faith. Only I pray take heed, when ye
speak of your experiences, and what God hath done, that ye
do not lay, or ground your faith upon your experience, but
upon the promise. It is a good speech that Parisiensis hath,
Experience, says he, it is like the crutch, the lame man s
crutch, it does uphold the lame man, but it does not cure
him : and so an experience, it stays up thy soul for the pre
sent, but experience cannot cure you of your unbelief; it is
only the promise cures you of your unbelief. It is said in
Ps. cvi., concerning the children of Israel, " When they saw
the Egyptians lie in the sea before them, then they believed
in God, and sang his praise:" and the next words that follow
are, " they soon forgat his works." Aye, when as we be
lieve the word only because of experience, no wonder that we
soon forget our experiences, and all. Therefore take heed,
tell of your experiences, draw out your experiences for to
strengthen your faith, yet lay not your faith upon your expe-
perience, but upon the word.
And again, above all things consider what great difficulties
Jesus Christ hath broke through to come to you. Ye read
of him so described in the Canticles, " He comes leaping
over the mountains ;" many are the mountains that Jesus
Christ came leaping over to come to you. Passion work is
greater and harder than creation-work : he came leaping over
the mountains of work. Oh, shall Jesus Christ come leap
ing over mountains and difficulties to come to my soul,
SER. 3.] ON FAITH. 337
my soul, and shall I go over no mountains, and break through
no difficulties to get to Jesus Christ ? think what difficulties
he broke through to come to you.
And, never speak with your difficulties or discouragements
apart from the promise. If a man be travelling in the road,
and a thief can sunder him from his company, draw him
alone into the woods, a hundred to one but he takes his
purse, if he save his life. And if the devil can part you
from the promise, take you into the woods, where you shall
see nothing but darkness, difficulties and discouragements ;
a hundred to one but he spoils you of all your comforts.
Man or woman, does difficulty arise therefore ; natural dis
couragements arise ? Away to the promise, and say unto
them when they come, I will never speak with you, unless it
be in the presence of a promise.
Oh, but God s providence seems for to cross his promise.
Be it so ; yet thou mayest believe, though God s provi
dence seems for to cross his promise, yet thou mayest rest
on the promise.
Oh, but I have a threatening set on upon my heart.
Be it so ; yet thou mayest believe the promise, although
the threatening have taken hold upon thee, and filled thee
with trouble ; for God does therefore threaten, that he may
make way to a promise. God s promises do not make way
to his threatenings, but his threatenings make way to his
promises. God does therefore threaten that he may not
fulfil ; but God does therefore promise that he may fulfil.
And therefore, though the threatening have taken hold upon
thine heart, and thou liest under the apprehension of God s
displeasure ; get away to the promise, rest upon the promise.
Aye, but Jesus Christ hath withdrawn from me, and hid
himself from me.
Be it so ; yet thou mayest go to the promise. Christ
doth therefore withdraw from thee, that he may draw thee
to him. Jesus Christ does therefore hide himself, that he
may shew thee his face more and more. Our brother Joseph,
he cannot conceal himself long ; his bowels and compassions
will not let him.
Wherefore then, whensoever any difficulties or natural
discouragements do arise upon you, come to this conclusion;
now therefore will I trust in God, now therefore will I ven-
VOL. II. Z
338 ox FAITH. [SER. 4.
ture upon Jesus Christ : oh, my soul, now venture, now
venture, and say, Lord, such and such difficulties are risen ;
thou hast called me to this work ; difficulties arise upon me :
surely thou hast called me to this work ; they are not there
fore to make a stoppage in my proceedings, but to draw out
my faith : now, therefore, I do here lay the weight of my
poor guilty soul upon thee, do with me what is good in thine
eyes : ah, Lord, my prayers are dead, my affections dead,
and my heart dead; but thou art a living God, and I bear
myself upon thee. Beloved, " If ye can believe, all things
are possible ; if you cannot believe, all things are impossible/
Faith will make a thing easy, though it be never so difficult ;
as unbelief doth make a thing difficult, though it be never so
easy. This is a certain truth, no difficulty can stand before
faith. True, saving, justifying faith, carries the soul through
all difficulties, discouragements, and natural impossibilities,
to Jesus Christ. Oh, therefore, as you desire to grapple
with the difficulties that you do meet withal, stir up your
selves in a way of believing, for you have heard that nothing
else can do it. The Lord teach us to believe at a higher
rate than ever yet we have done.
SERMON IV.
THE GREAT THINGS FAITH CAN DO.
" And what shall I say more ? For the time would fail me, to tell
of Gideon, and of Barak ; and of Samson, and of Jephthah ; of David
also, and Samuel, and of the prophets : who through faith subdued
kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths
of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword ;
out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to
flight the armies of the aliens, women received their dead raised to life
again," #c. Heb. xi. 32.
IN this Heb. xi. you have a little book of Chronicles,
wherein the believers of the Old Testament do stand upon
record for their great work of faith. In the former part of
the chapter, the apostle doth instance in several believers at
SKR. 4.] ox FAITH. 339
large ; in the latter part he is more compendious, and draws
up the instances into a narrower room : for, saith he, " The
time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, and of Sam
son, and of Jephtha," &c. Now these believers that he doth
instance in, in the latter part of the chapter, are of two
sorts: some famous and of good reports for their actions,
and sojne for their sufferings ; some did great things, and
some suffered great things : and both by their faith. Those
that suffered great things, are mentioned in the following
words : " Others were tortured, not accepting of deli
verance." Those that did great things by their faith, in
these verses ; their persons are mentioned, and the fruits and
effects of their faith, for which they are mentioned in these
verses. Their persons are mentioned in verse 32, ye have
their names there ; their state, condition, and their order :
their names, Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephtha,
and David ; their state and condition, some were kings, some
were judges, some were prophets. Faith runs through all
conditions and ranks of men ; faith and true grace is able to
make a plantation upon every condition of men. And as
for their order here, Gideon is before Barak, and Samson
is before Jephtha ; yet if you look into the story in the
Judges, you shall find Barak is before Gideon, and Jephtha
before Samson. And here Gideon set first, and Samson
first. Why ? Because they excelled in faith; and those are
most excellent in God s eyes, who are most eminent in faith;
those are most excellent in God s eyes, who most excel in
faith. But now as for the fruits and effects of their faith,
they are many ; here are no less than ten mentioned in these
verses. They subdued kingdoms, verse 33 : " Who through
faith subdued kingdoms :" so the judges did, and so David
also. And they wrought righteousness : so Samuel did,
" Whose ox have I taken ?" and so David did when he
spared Saul. And they obtained promises ; promises, that
is the thing promised. God is so faithful, saith Beza, in
fulfilling his promises, that the promise is put for the thing
promised: they obtained the promises, that is, the thing-
promised. Now the promise they obtained, it was not the
great promise of the Messiah, for that verse 39, " They re
ceived not the promise," that is, the great promise of the
Messiah ; but the promises they obtained, were particular
z 2
340 ox FAITH. [SER. 4.
promises of deliverance, victories and kingdoms : so they
obtained promises, and so Gideon, and Barak, David and
others did. And then they stopped the mouths of lions ;
so David and Daniel did. And they quenched the violence
of fire ; so the three children did. And escaped the edge or
mouth of the sword ; so Elijah and Elisha did. And out of
weakness were made strong ; so Hezekiah was. And they
waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the
aliens ; so the judges and David did. And women received
their dead raised to life again ; so the woman of Sarepta and
the Shunamite did. So that now here you may see, what
great things the believers of the Old Testament did by faith.
And so the doctrine that I shall pitch upon at this time,
riseth from all the words, and not from any particular clause
or passage, but from the whole :
That true, saving faith, will do very great things.
It is true faith that the apostle here speaks of, as appears
by the whole chapter ; and these things that they did, as
appears to the reader at first view, were great things. So
that I shall not need to spend any time, for clearing of the
doctrine from the words that it doth arise from ; and all
these verses and words, they are witnesses to it, they cry out
this doctrine with one voice : True, saving faith, will do very
great things.
For the opening and clearing whereof, I shall labour to
shew,
First, That true saving faith is a doing, working, stirring
grace.
Secondly, That true saving faith will do great things. And,
Thirdly, How faith comes to do such great things.
First, True saving faith is a doing grace, an active, work
ing, doing, operative grace. The more spirits any thing hath,
the more active it is. Faith, true saving faith, hath the spirit
of the gospel in it; the gospel is the ministration of the
Spirit, and true saving faith, it hath the Spirit of this spiritual
dispensation ; and therefore it must needs be a very spiritual
and working grace. It is called a work itself, in 1 Thess. i.
3, " Remembering without ceasing your work of faith ;" and
in 2 Thess. i. 2, " The work of faith with power." Our Lord
and Saviour Christ saith, it is the work of God ; " This is
the work of God, that ye believe :" it is in itself a work.
. 4.] OX FAITH. 341
And it is a friend to work : true saving faith, it is a work,
and it is a great friend to work, it is not an idle housewife.
What is our sanctifi cation, but our faith incarnate ; it works
love, it works by love ; and love is very inventive, active
and expensive : it is a friend to work ; a work in itself, and a
friend to work.
And it is also the first worker in the soul. " Trust in the
Lord and do good ;" not first do good and then trust in the
Lord, trust in the Lord first: trust in the Lord and do good.
It is the work that sets other works on work, the wheel that sets
all other wheels a going, without which a man is idle though
he be at work. As a child may be very busy at his play, yet
but play ; and a servant may be very busy about his own
employment, and yet his master counts it an idleness, because
he is not about his work appointed him. So, now, a man
may be very busy in regard of the world, and yet he may be
idle God-ward. Nisi a Deo agenda, nil ages : faith must be
the first worker, and if faith be not the first, all other works
are as nothing.
Yea, as faith is a work, and a friend of work, and a first
worker, so it is an universal work. Faith is that grace that can
turn its hand to every work ; some can work exactly at one
thing, but they are bunglers at another ; but faith, true saving
faith, can turn its hand to every business. Possibly a man
may be sick, and he cannot pray himself, but yet he may be
lieve ; though prayer cannot turn its hand to this condition,
yet faith can. Possibly a man may be very poor, and is not
able to help another ; liberality cannot turn its hand to this
condition, but faith can work in it.
And not only so, but faith works best when it works alone,
when it works all alone. If comfort come, and sense and feeling
come, faith knows how to use these ; but though a man have
no sense and no comfort, yet faith can work, and faith works
best when it works alone ; when it works all alone, without
these auxiliaries.
Yea, faith works best sometimes when it works in the
dark ; as it works best when it works alone, so sometimes it
works best in the dark. Men can work well in the light but
not in the dark, but though a man s condition be very dark,
yet faith can work then : faith works best when it works in
the dark. Faith loves to work like Christ, and Christ s great-
342 o.\ FAITH. [SER. 4.
est action of obedience was in the darkest time, when he was
on the cross. I remember a speech of that good old man,
Mr. Dod ; when a man that was troubled in his mind lay a
dying, he said to him, Sir, what will you say to Christ ? when
he was dying, did he not say, " My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me ?" And was not Christ s highest piece of
obedience upon the cross, in the dark, in a dark condition ?
Faith works best sometimes in the dark.
Yet further, faith, it works best at the last, and the longer
it works the better ; for faith grows by experience, and the
longer that faith works, the more experience it gets ; and
the more experience faith gets, the stronger it is, and there
fore faith works best at the last. Now put all these together ;
faith is a work, and faith is a friend to work, and faith is the
first worker, and faith is an universal worker, and faith works
best when it works all alone, and faith works best sometimes
in the dark, and faith works best at the last ; and certainly
you have the first, namely this, that true saving faith is a
doing grace, it is a working grace. But,
Secondly, You will say, What are those great things that
faith will do ; for we have heard that faith is a doing grace,
that is the doctrine ; faith will do, and do great things ; but
what are those great things that faith will do still?
Faith will do as great things now, surely, in gospel times,
New Testament times, as ever in Old Testament times ; and
I shall not instance in those ten particulars, only so far as to
make forth the general doctrine, and to bring it unto our
selves, I shall shew you what great things faith will do still,
and shall speak to that more positively and absolutely, and
then comparatively.
Faith, true saving faith, it will resist great temptations, it
will perform great performances, it will suppress all your
fears, it will mortify all your cares, it will assuage and subdue
all your griefs, it will make you a stranger in this world, it
will keep your hearts steady and upright in all the turnings
and changes of your life, it will make you faithful under all
your betrustments, it will realize eternity to you, and make
those things visible to you that are in themselves invisible,
and it will make you live in continual dependence on Christ,
and fetch all from him. All these things are great things,
SEB. 4.] ON FAITH. 343
i and I must not dwell upon any of them, but only touch upon
each of them.
Is it not a great matter for a man to resist and overcome
great temptations ? Joseph did so ; sorely tempted by his
, mistress, but he overcame the temptation. How ? He be
lieved : " How shall I do this evil, and sin against my God ?"
Is it not a great matter for a man to perform duties to
the hazard of his life ? Thus Daniel did, he set open his
windows when he went to pray, prayed and kept to his duty
to the hazard of his life. Why ? Because he believed. Again,
Is it not a great matter to mortify your fears, and all
your fears, your great fears ? This faith will do : " What
time I am afraid I will trust in thee." Again,
Is it not a great matter to mortify your cares and extreme
thoughtfulness ? This faith will do. In Prov. xvi. 3, " Com
mit thy work unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be estab
lished." Commit thy work, there is faith, and thy thoughts
shall be established. And,
Is it not a great matter to have your griefs assuaged
when they are great ? Faith will do it. Hannah was a
woman of a sad and a sorrowful spirit, and the Lord gave
her in a word, a particular word, and she believed, and was
no more sad.
Is it not a great matter to be kept straight, and even, and
steady, in times of changes, the great turnings and changes
of your life ? This faith will do. Job met with many chan
ges, but his heart was kept steady and upright in the midst
of all ; " Lord, though thou kill me, yet will I trust in thee."
Again,
Is it not a great matter to be a stranger to the world, to be
a stranger from the world ? Faith will do this. It is said of
Abraham, in Heb. xi. 9, " By faith he sojourned in the land
of promise, as in a strange country :" mark the expression,
" he sojourned in the land of promise." There are some
outward blessings that we have by prayer, that we have by
promise ; it may be a child, or such a relation, that we have
by prayer, and by promise, and we think we may be very in
dulgent to our affection in regard of that mercy : but see
here, Abraham was a stranger in the land of promise, as in a
strange country. And then again,
Is it not a great matter for a man to be faithful under all
344 ON FAITH. [Sen. 4
his betrustments ? Caleb and Joshua were so ; they were
sent to spy out the land of Canaan, and when the other spies
brought up an ill report, they were faithful in their report.
Why ? Because they believed, " The Lord hath given them
into our hands as bread," say they ; faith will make a man
faithful under all his betrustments. And,
Is it not a great matter for a man to see those things that
are invisible, to realize eternity, and to see those things that
are invisible ? " By faith Moses saw him that is invisi
ble." And,
Is it not a great matter for a man to live in continual de-
pendance on Christ, and fetch all from him ? Faith will do
this ; for as Christ could do nothing without faith, he could
do no great things there, because of their unbelief; so faith
can do nothing without Christ, " I live, yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me." Why ? " Because I live by the faith of the
Son of God." Faith will make a man live in continual de-
pendance on Christ, and fetch all from him. Now, beloved,
these are great things, every one of these is a great matter :
but true, saving faith will do all these things.
But then to speak to it yet more comparatively; there are
two or three great agents in the world, that are close at work,
and faith will out-work them all, and do greater things than
any of them. There is a carnal policy with power, which is
a great agent, and worker, in reference to the affairs of the
world. There is civil honesty, a great agent in reference to
our dealing between man and man. And there are gospel
gifts, parts, and common grace, which are great agents in
reference to our religion. Now, not to shew the difference
between them, but to give you a little taste, that I may make
out the general doctrine, that faith doth work beyond all.
And if you compare it with power, power clothed with
policy, or policy clothed with power : faith will do more than
all policy and power can do. And I pray turn unto 2 Chron.
xiii., where you shall see this clearly proved to you, verse 3.
There is a great battle fought ; " And Abijah set the battle
in array, with an army of valiant men of war, even four hun
dred thousand chosen men : Jeroboam also set the battle in
array with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty
men of valour :" Jeroboam had as many again, Abijah but
four hundred thousand. Now if you look into verse 16., it
SER. 4.] ox FAITH. 345
is said the children of Israel fled before Judah, and Abijah
and his people slew them with a great slaughter, verse 17.
So there fell down slain of Israel, five hundred thousand cho
sen men, such a slaughter as you shall not hear of: Abijah
had but four hundred thousand men, and they slew five hun
dred thousand. Why? They had power enough, they
were as many again : what was the matter, did they want po
licy ? It is said verse 13. But Jeroboam caused an ambush-
ment to come about them ; so they were before Judah, and
the ambushment was behind them : here was power, and
here was policy, and yet this great army is beaten with half
the company, and five hundred thousand slain : how comes
this to pass ? Indeed you read of the children of Judah,
that they cried unto the Lord " They cried unto the Lord,"
verse 14. But if you will have the reason, look to verse 18,
" Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that
time : and the children of Judah prevailed, because they re
lied on the Lord God of their fathers." See faith can do
more than all the power and policy in the world can do; true
j saving faith can do more in reference to the affairs of the
world too : what power is able to turn the tide ? if the tide
come in and go oat, you may bring in your vessels with it,
or send out your vessels ; who is able to turn the tide ?
j What power on earth is able to turn the tide ? And what
I power of men can turn the power of providence ; or policy
of men, can turn the tide of providence ? But faith can do
it, true saving faith can turn the tide even of providence ;
and therefore it can do greater things than all power, the
greatness of the world joined with policy.
There is another great agent in the world, and that is civil
i honesty and morality, which deals much between man and
mart ; how may it appear that faith can do greater things
than this ?
That appears plainly thus :
Civil honesty and morality doth trade but in small matters,
and therefore the civil, honest, moral man, he never breaks
in his profession. Why ? Because he trades not in great
matters. When do you hear a noise of a poor man s break
ing ? When a great, rich merchant breaks, you have the
noise of it through the city. When do you hear of ships or
vessels miscarrying in narrow waters ? In the seas, ships
346 ox FAITH. [SER. 4.
that launch out to sea, they are shipwrecked ; but those that
trade in narrow waters, they seldom or never shipwreck.
So those professors that launch forth into the ocean of the
gospel, they break sometimes ; but the civil, moral man, he
blesseth himself when he sees this ; these, says he, are uncon-
stant men, these are uneven men, sometimes for this, and
sometimes for that opinion ; but I am constant. Whereas
the truth is, it is because he trades in narrow waters, in
small things, and so never breaks, never suffers shipwreck.
But now, true, saving faith trades in the high things of the
gospel.
Though civility and morality may do much between man
and man ; yet it will never make a man to leave all to follow
Christ. The young man that came to Christ, said, "All
these things have I done ; " but saith Christ, " Go and sell
all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come, and
follow me;" he could not down with that. So that chility
and morality will never make a man part with all to follow
Christ, but true faith will. If Christ say, Follow me ! saith
faith ; I will follow thee wherever thou goest.
And though a civil man may do much in a way of righ
teousness between man and man, yet he doth not deal with
God through morality, doth not deal with God through
man ; faith doth, true, saving faith doth ; " I was dumb,
and opened not my mouth, for thou Lord hast done it."
Morality can say the first part. Suppose a moral and civil
man be reviled, out of the goodness of his nature he can
say the first part, " I was dumb, and opened not my mouth ; "
but morality cannot speak the second part, " because thou
Lord hast done it." Morality doth not deal with God
through man, but faith doth, and so it doth greater things
than this agent.
How may it appear that true, saving faith can do greater
things than gospel parts, gifts, and common grace ?
It appears thus :
Though gospel parts and gifts are very useful and profit
able for the edifying of the body, for edifying of others;
yet they will not humble a man and cause him to walk hum
bly with God. Magnum non est magna facere, it is no great
matter to do great things ; but for a man to do great things
and think himself nothing, this is great. Now parts and
SER. 4.] ON FAITH. 347
gifts, they puff up ; but true, saving faith doth humble.
Mark the opposition in Hab. ii. 4 : " Behold, his soul which
is lifted up," towered up, saith the Hebrew, " his soul that
is towered up, is not upright in him ; but the just shall live
by his faith."
True saving faith hath a yet not 1. If you look into the
New Testament, you shall find there is a threefold yet not /.
One that relates to sin, Rom. vii., " I sin, yet not I." One
that relates to spiritual life, " I live, yet not I." One that
relates to duties, " I have laboured more abundantly than
they all, yet not I." True, saving faith hath this yet not /;
parts and gifts know not this yet not I.
Though parts and gifts may be very useful unto the body,
yet they will never make a perfect change in a man. Sup
pose a man hath very good parts and gifts and withal he be
given to passion, ye shall observe his gospel parts and gifts
will never take away his passion, but he is as passionate now
as ever he was. Gospel parts and gifts never make a thorough
change in a man, faith doth, and faith makes such a change,
as a man is directly contrary unto what he was before.
Zaccheus, an oppressor before, now saith he, " Lord, behold,
the half of my goods I give to the poor." Why? Because
he was a son of Abraham, a believer. And so the jailor, he
whipt and scourged Paul and Silas ; but when he came to
believe, he takes them into his house and set meat before
them. Why ? For he believed and all his house. True,
saving faith will make a perfect change ; but parts and gifts
will never do it.
As for common grace, though a man may rise to a very
great profession thereby, he will never hold it ; these colours
are not laid in gospel oil, and it will never hold, it is but a
varnish and it will off. But saith the apostle, " We are kept
by the power of God through faith ;" faith will hold. You
see how it is with the leather that a man wears on his shoe,
it will wear out ; there are some poor people that go without
shoes, and their skin is thin, not so thick as the leather, and
yet it wears not off. Why ? Because there is a life in it ; the
one grows thicker and thicker ; the other thinner and thin
ner. Why ? Because there is no life in it. So parts and
gifts and common grace, they wear out because there is no
life in them ; but now, true, saving faith, there is life in it,
348 ON FAITH. [SER. 4.
and it will not wear out. So that thus you see, true, saving
faith is above all others, considered alone. It will resist
great temptations, it will perform great performances, it will
mortify all your fears, it will subdue all your cares, it will
assuage all your griefs, it will make you a stranger in this
world, it will keep your hearts steady, and even, and upright
in all the turns and changes of your life, it will make you
faithful under all your betrustments, it will realize eternity
to you, it will make those things visible to you, that are in
themselves invisible, it will make you to live in continual
dependance on Christ, and fetch all from him, it will do
greater things than policy joined with power, it will do
greater things than morality and civility, it will outshoot
that in its own bow, and it will do greater things than gos
pel gifts, and parts, and common grace. Surely then, true,
saving faith will do great things.
But then, you will ask me how comes it to pass that true,
saving faith can do such great things ?
Faith goes forth in the might of God s power, the almighty
power of God, and therefore saith our Saviour, " If thou
canst believe, all things are possible." And if you look into
the scripture, you shall find that the great works of God,
of his almighty power, are ascribed to faith, both in the Old
Testament and in the New. In the Old Testament the great
works of God were much expressed in victories over ene
mies ; and in the New Testament the great works of God
much in cures of diseases ; and both these are given to faith ;
the great victories of the Old Testament given to faith ; and
the great miraculous cures of the New Testament given to
faith ; and will you know the reason ? God will ascribe
much to that grace that ascribes much to him ; and set the
crown upon the head of that grace, that sets the crown upon
the head of his Son. Now the more that any man can wait
upon God in the use of low, and mean, and poor, and no
means, the more he doth ascribe unto God and to his power.
It is said, By faith the walls of Jericho fell down. Did faith
pull down the walls of Jericho ? No, but it was the almighty
power of God that pulled down the walls of Jericho ; but
this is said to be done by faith. Why ? Because they did
wait upon God in the use of ram s horns ; and when a man
SER. 4.] ox FAITH. 349
can wait upon God in the use of ram s horns, then a man is
said to live by faith.
As faith goes forth in the might of God s power, so in the
might of God s promise ; the promise is made to faith, the
promise of doing great things is made to faith. In John xiv.
12. " Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me,
the works that I do, shall he do also, and greater works than
these shall he do, because I go unto my Father :" so that not
only the promise is made to faith, but the promise of doing
great things, is made to faith.
As faith doth go forth in the strength of the promise, so
faith doth go forth in the strength of God s call: there is
much might in God s call, faith goes forth in the strength
and might of God s call. Read what the Lord said to
Gideon, in Judges vi. 14. " And the Lord looked upon him,
and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel
from the hand of the Midianites :" what might was this ?
Go in this thy might, " have not I sent thee ?" here is the
might ; go in this thy might : what might? the iright of my
call. God s call is a might, and when a man doth go forth in
the might of God s call, he goes forth in a mighty strength ;
faith goes forth in the might of God s call.
As faith goes forth in the might of God s call, so it doth
go forth in the sense of what God and Christ hath done for
the soul ; I know faith and sense and feeling differ ; but I
say, faith is very sensible of what the Father hath done, and
what Christ hath done for poor sinners ; and when a man is
very sensible of what great things God hath done, and Christ
hath done, then saith a man, Shall God do such great things
for me ; and shall Christ do such great things for me ; and
shall not I do great things again for God and Christ ? Faith
is very sensible of what God and Christ hath done for sin
ners. And thus faith makes a man do great things for God,
faith goes forth in the might of God s power, faith goes forth
in the the might of God s promise, faith goes forth in the
might of God s call, and faith goes forth in the sense of what
God and Christ hath done for the soul. And thus it comes
to pass that faith will do very great things. And thus now
I have done with the doctrinal part ; I come to the applica
tion.
If this doctrine be true, true saving faith will do great
.
350 ox FAITH. [Sr.R. 4.
things, and very great things ; then we may here see the rea
son why men do no great tilings for God, why men do no
great things in their generation, and why there are no great
things in their generation, and why there are no great things
found in men s conversation, no great things for the most
part. It is because men do want this true saving faith, it is
a working grace, an active grace ; and therefore if I be not a
worker for God, it argues I have none of this faith. True saving
faith, it will do great things for God ; what shall we say to
those that cannot do small things ? It is a small thing to
leave drunken company, a small thing to leave a foolish
fashion, a small thing to leave an idle word, faith or troth;
men cannot do small things ; true saving faith will do great
things, and very great things. Oh, what shall we say of those
that are so far from doing great things, that they cannot do
small things ; have they faith ? Let not men be deceived. .
I say again, true saving faith will do very great things. Was
it not a very great matter for a young man brought up in the
court, to leave all the court preferment, and to choose afflic
tion with the people of God, rather than the preferments of
the court ? this Moses did by faith. Was it not a great
matter for a people to venture into the sea, merely upon a
command ? this faith made the people do. By faith Peter
ventured on the waters of the sea ; by faith Israel entered
into the sea. True, saving faith is a venturing grace, it will
venture far for God, and far after God. Was it not a great
matter for Rahab the harlot, an inn-keeper, a whore, to
become a saint, a believer ; for a drunkard and for an adulterer
to become a believer, is it not a great matter ? By faith
Rahab the harlot believed. Certainly, where there is faith
in truth, it will make a man do great things; there will be some
thing that is great found in his life and conversation. Thus it
was with these men, Gideon and Barak. It will be said that
their faith was a faith of miracles, and they wrought miracles
by it. Indeed some did, all did not ; for " By faith they
wrought righteousness," the text saith, and that is not a
miracle : this is one of the great things. Oh, but their faith
was strong, and our s weak. But Gideon s faith was weak,
he was fain to have two or three signs to underprop his
faith ; and Barak s faith was weak, he would not go forth
against the enemy without the woman Deborah. Oh, but these
SER. 4.] ON FAITH. 351
men were busied about great works and great employment.
Mistake not, you may do great things by faith in small em
ployment. It was no great matter of employment for the
poor woman to give two mites ; it was a great matter she
did : why ? because she did it by faith. And so the woman
of Sarepta, when the prophet said, Give me a cake first ; it
was no great matter that her faith was employed about a
cake and a little that she did, but a great matter in giving
him first. So that I say, faith may do great things, although
it be not employed about great matters. Oh, but I do great
things, and therefore I hope I have this true, saving faith.
I do great things : that is well. But I pray only consider
this, Those things are great, which are great in their own
present generation : that which was a great matter heretofore,
ir. ay be a small matter now; and that which was a small
matter heretofore, may be a great matter now. In the times
of the bishops, it was a small matter then to keep the doc
trine of religion, and a great matter to oppose the ceremo
nies ; now it is a small matter to oppose the ceremonies, and
a great matter to keep the truth and the doctrine of religion.
I say, that which was a great matter before, may be a small
matter now ; and that which was but a small matter hereto
fore, may be a great matter now. But if your faith be true,
you will do great things ; there will be some great thing or
other found in your life, and such as are great indeed.
If this doctrine be true, in case, Christians, that you have
any great work to do, call in for faith, call in for faith. In
case ye have a great outward employment, you will send to
the most skilful man in that faculty ; if it be to build a house
or go to law, you will call in for the most skilful agent.
True saving faith is a great agent, a great worker ; and there
fore if you have any great work to do, call in faith, look to
your faith. It is said of Mr. Tyndale, in the story of his life ;
there being a conjuror in the Low Countries, where he lived,
that would undertake to fetch a dish of meat off any prince s
table, and make a great dinner for his friends ; and it being
reported he had often done it, they being met together to
behold this skill, Mr. Tyndale would go in among them, and
he sets himself to believe that this fellow should not be able
to do it ; and when all his company was met together, he
could not do it ; saith he, There sits the man that hinders
352 ox FAITH. [S&R. 4.
me. Oh, faith can do more than all the conjurors in the
world. Have you any great matter to do, Christians ? call in
for faith. And certainly there are yet great things to do :
antichrist to fall, the Jews to be called, great things to be
done for this land. God hath done great things, yet greater
things are to be done ; God hath done great things for your,
and my family, there are yet greater things to be done ; God
hath done great things for your soul, there are yet greater
things to be done. When any .great thing is to be done,
Christians, Christians, call in for faith, set faith a work now.
You will say, What shall we do, and how shall we so im
prove our faith as we may do great things thereby ?
Study much the greatness of God ; for the more you study
the greatness of God, the more will your mind be grandeured,
greatened, and your faith strengthened. Children do little
things, because their minds are not upon great things. Kings
and princes are the great men of the earth, they do great
things, for their minds are great; they have great minds.
Why ? Because their minds are exercised about great things.
Saith Solomon, I will build a house, a great house. Why ?
For it is to the great God. Would you do great things?
Study much the greatness of God. Thus will your mind be
great and your faith strengthened to do great things.
If you would so improve your faith, as you may do great
things thereby, keep close to the ordinances of God. Faith
lives upon God in the ordinances. Those that cast off the
ordinances do not live by faith. What then ? By expe
riences, by revelations, impressions, and visions, I had almost
said by fancies ; they do not live by faith ; faith lives upon
God in the use of ordinances, and it gathers strength thereby.
Look I pray again into 2 Chron. xiii., and you shall see how
Abijah s faith was raised ; by faith he overcame Jeroboam,
and slew five hundred thousand of them together. But I pray
how did he strengthen his faith ? Mark the words : " And
Jeroboam came out against him, and Abijah stood upon a
mountain, and said, Hear ye me, Jeroboam, and all Israel,"
verse 4. " Ought ye not to know, that the Lord God of Israel,
gave the kingdom of Israel to David for ever ? " And verse
9 : " Have ye not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons
of Aaron and the Levites, and have made you priests after
the manner of the nations of other lands ? " So that " who-
!
SER. 4.] ON FAITH. 353
soever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock,
and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are
no gods. But as for us, (see how he strengthens his faith,)
the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him ; and
the priests which minister unto the Lord, are the sons of
Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business, and they
burn unto the Lord, every morning and every evening, burnt
sacrifices and sweet incense; the shew- bread also set in or
der upon the pure table, and the candlestick of gold, with the
lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the
charge of the Lord our God ; but ye have forsaken him, and
behold God himself is with us for our captain," &c. He
argues God had not forsaken him, because they had not for
saken the ordinances. Would you therefore, so improve
your faith, as you may do great things thereby ? keep close to
the ordinances.
If you would so improve your faith, as you may do great
things thereby, do not check your faith, do not rate off your
heart from believing, do not chide off your heart from believ
ing, let your heart believe to the utmost. Our Lord and
Saviour Christ, hath given us a very good encouragement in
this respect ; for, saith he, " I say unto you, whatsoever
things ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye shall receive
them, and ye shall have them :" do but believe it, saith our
Saviour Christ. I charge you, saith he, do not doubt, do not
chide off your faith, do not check your faith, do not rate off
your heart from believing ; there are many do so, they check
their faith by doubting and rate off their faith by unbelief.
If you would so improve your faith, that you may do great
things thereby, use your faith to do small things, put your
faith to work every day, use your faith to do small things. It
is a good rule ; do not commit any sin, because it is small ;
do not neglect any duty, because it is not great: and though
the thing be small, put your faith to work in ordinary matters,
put your faith to work. Sometimes you come to a great mat
ter and you put on your faith there ; but because your faith
is not used to small things, your faith will not come on here.
I remember a speech of Mr. Greenham concerning suffering ;
saith he, If you would suffer hard things from papists, be
content to suffer small things from protestants ; and if you
would be able to suffer hard things from enemies, you
VOL. II. A A
354 ox FAITH. [SER. 4.
must be content to suffer small things from friends ; saith
he, you will never be able to suffer great things from ene
mies, if you are not able to suffer small things from friends.
So say I in the point of doing; you will never be able to do
great things by faith, if your faith be not used to do small
things. And therefore, Christians, in all things you do, the
life you live in the flesh, put your faith to work in your par
ticular callings, in small things ; and when your faith is used
to do small things, you will be able to do great things ; but
you will never be able to improve your faith to do &reat
things, if you use not your faith to do small things.
Study much, and look upon the call you have to any work,
and do not stand poring upon your own ability, or upon the
difficulty of the work : thus these worthies, when the Lord
called them, the work was great and difficult, and they were
weak ; but they looked upon God s call, and they did not
stand poring upon their own abilities ; but as Abraham
considered not his own body, so these, and therefore they
did great things by faith. Possibly a man is called to a
place in the magistracy, and he looks upon it as a great
work ; I am not able, saith he, it is beyond me : so a man is
called to the ministry, I have no parts, nor gifts, the work is
beyond me. So for believing, a man is commanded to be
lieve, but I cannot believe, my heart is dead, I cannot be
lieve : whereas now, if men did but look upon the call of
God, they would be able to do great things for God. Either,
Christian, thou art commanded to believe, or not : if thou art
not commanded to believe then unbelief is no sin ; and if
you are commanded to believe, then you are called to it; do
not stand poring upon the difficulty of your work, but look
upon the call of God ; and thus shall your faith work
and do great things. And thus I have done with the main
doctrine that grows out of these words. There are some
particular notes, that as little twigs, do grow from this great
oak, which I shall draw out, and so conclude ; and that is
out of verse 32.
In that the apostle saith, " What should I say more ? for
the time would fail me," &c. The number of believers in
the times of the old testament, it seems was not small : " The
time would fail me," saith he, to tell of the believers of the
old testament: few shall be saved indeed comparatively;
SER. 4.] ox FAITH. 355
but through grace many there are that do believe. If there
were many in the old testament times, certainly then there
are many now in the new testament times, that do believe.
In that the apostle doth here instance in Gideon, and
Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah : Gideon and Barak, he
instances in them, thus much you may note ; God will own
that faith, that is but weak at first. Gideon s faith was weak
at the first, Barak s faith was weak at the first ; it is more
like to live, this faith that is weak at the first, than that
which is born with teeth ; faith that is weak at the first, God
will own. It is true, not only for faith that is weak at first,
but all weak faith ; God will own the weak faith and com
mend the strong faith ; he will bear with the weak faith, and
commend the strong faith. See it in the case of of Thomas ;
" Thomas, (saith he,) reach hither thy hand, and thrust thy
finger into my side : Lord, (saith he,) I believe, my Lord,
and my God :" well, saith Christ, Thomas, thou believest :
here he owns his faith though it is weak, but commends the
strong faith : " Blessed is he that hath not seen, and yet hath
believed." Christ will own the weak faith, and commend
the strong faith ; but I say, he will own the faith that is weak
at the first. May be, here are some that are believers, that
begin to look after Christ, some young Christians that begin
to look after God, and turn from their evil ways, and begin
weakly at the first ; remember this, God will own that faith
as weak as it is.
But God sets here Gideon before Barak, and Samson before
Jephthah. The second note from thence is, though the Lord
will own the weak faith, weak at the first, yet God doth most
highly esteem of them that do most excel in faith ; Gideon
is before Balak, Samson before Jephthah : those are in most
account with God that do most excel in faith.
But then, in that the apostle doth here instance in Samson
for a believer. It is possible that a great sinner may become
a true believer ? Yea, possibly a man may have true faith,
yet he may fall foully, so Samson ; but if he do fall foully,
and be a believer, he is like to pay dearly for it ; so Samson,
both his eyes went for it. But though a man do pay dearly
for it, yet God will return again and own his faith, and record
his faith. So Samson s faith is.
In that the apostle doth here make mention of Jephthah :
A A 2
356 ON FAITH. [SER. 4.
Jephthah, who was a bastard, under a reproach, yet recorded
for a believer. Possibly a bastard may become a believer ;
one that lies under great reproach in regard of parentage may
become a true believer. Behold what that is, that will roll
away reproach from a family, it is faith, true saving faith.
Behold, here was a reproach upon Jephthah and his family
as a bastard ; now he believes, and faith rolls away the re
proach from his person, and from his family, and he is re
corded as a believer. Let none be discouraged in regard of
any reproachful condition that they are in ; true faith will roll
away the reproach, and by faith you may become of good
report.
In that the apostle doth speak of David : " Of David, also,
and Samuel, and of the prophets." Consider, I pray, these
were extraordinary men. When then, God hath any extra
ordinary work to do, he will raise up extraordinary men to
do it; and when God doth raise up a man extraordinarily, he
will give extraordinary gifts. But what I would have you
consider thence, is this ; that we may make use of extraordi
nary examples to strengthen our ordinary faith : here are ex
traordinary cases, and brought in bv the apostle to this end
and purpose, to strengthen our faith. Be not discouraged,
then, when you go into Scripture and read of extraordinary
examples. Satan tells you, Aye, but this is an extraordinary
example, and it reacheth not me : do not say so, God will
make use of extraordinary examples to strengthen ordinary
faith.
But to end all. You see what high esteem God hath of
faith ; these men did great matters, Gideon, and Barak, and
Samson, and Jephthah, and David; yet their great actions
are brought in here, upon the account of their faith ; Fides
nobilitat omnes ; it is faith that raiseth a man. Great things
they did, but those things are upon record only as they were
wrought by faith, and their faith was weak, and laboured
under many infirmities. Look into this xith of Hebrews,
here is no mention made of Samson s infirmities, here is no
mention made of Rahab s infirmities ; here is mention of
their faith, but their infirmities past by, and not once men
tioned ; their faith is mentioned, and all the great things that
they did, mentioned only upon the account of faith. What
a great esteem hath God of faith ! What a mighty encou-
. 5.] ON FAITH. 357
ragement, then, should this be to all that hear the word of
the Lord this day, to get faith, to strengthen your faith. Oh,
you that have no faith at all, and some such there may be
here ; you that have no faith at all, get faith, get faith ; and
you that have true saving faith, improve it to do great things
by it ; and the truth is, if you have true saving faith, you will
do it, and there will be some great things found in your con
versation : for you remember the doctrine, true saving faith
will do very great things. And thus I have done with the
first rank of believers. Their doing is first mentioned, their
suffering follows.
SERMON V.
THE GREAT THINGS FAITH CAN SUFFER.
" And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they
might obtain a better resurrection : and others had trial of cruel mock-
ings and scourgings : yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They
were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the
sword; they wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins, being afflicted,
destitute, tormented ; of whom the world was not worthy, they wan
dered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."
Heb. xi. 35.
THIS xith chapter of the Hebrews, being a chronicle of
the Old Testament believers ; we find here the report of a
doing and a suffering faith. The doing faith is described and
commended by several instances at large in the former part
of the chapter, and more compendiously and briefly at verse
32 : " What shall I say more ? for the time would fail me to
tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jeph-
thah ; of David, also, and Samuel, and of the prophets : who
through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched
the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword ; out of
weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to
flight the armies of the aliens, women received their dead
raised to life again. 5
In the words that I have chosen to speak unto at this time,
358
OX FAITH.
you have another sort and rank of believers, famous in their
generation for their suffering faith. I have spoken unto the
former in a neighbouring congregation, having shewed that
this faith will do great things. Now in these words we have
a suffering faith ; for bv faith they should be carried through
these sufferings : thus are the words to be understood. Others
by faith were tortured ; and others by faith had trial of cruel
mockings and scourgings ; and others by faith were stoned,
sawn asunder, &c. It seems, then, that these the apostle
here speaks of, were such as lived in the time of the Macca
bees ; they did not live after Christ, for it is said at verse 39,
" They received not the promise ; " Christ was not come
when they lived. And they did not live in the times of the
prophets, or before ; for the apostle had brought down his
chronicle unto the days of the prophets, as ye read in verse
32. So that these must needs live in the times of the Mac
cabees. It seems, then, that ecclesiastical histories may at
some times be made use of in the preaching of faith.
Now the things that these believers suffered were great,
hard, and very many. Here are nine sorts of suffering set
down in the text. It is said that they were racked, or tor
tured : some read it, beaten with clubs, but it comes all to a
reckoning ; for when they were racked, they were beaten with
clubs. And the apostle saith, that " they accepted not deli
verance, that they might be partakers of a better resurrec
tion ;" upon which words some do think that there are degrees
of glory, and that the suffering saints should have a better
degree of glory at the resurrection ; but the word better, is
spoken in comparison with that deliverance that was offered
to them. In scripture phrase, afflictions are deaths, and when
a man is delivered from an affliction he hath a resurrection.
When a man hath been sick, and at the grave, and raised to
health again, he hath a resurrection, in scripture language.
Now this resurrection or deliverance is refused, hoping for a
better resurrection, having an eye to the great, and last, and
better resurrection. That is the first ; they were tortured or
racked. And they had cruel mockings : there is a mocking,
and there is a cruel mocking, when a man shall insult over
another, and laugh at him in his misery, this is a cruel mock
ing ; as the Jews derided our Saviour on the cross ; this is a
great aggravation of affliction, this they endured. That is the
EH. 5.]
ON FAITH.
359
econd ; they had trial of cruel mockirigs. And they were
j.courged, and whipped up and down like rogues, as if the
ivorld was too good for them, they not worthy to live. And
Jiey were in bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned,
(They were sawn asunder. And they were tempted; some
i read it, burned, by the change of a letter or two they read it
,?o, " and were burned :" but it seems their afflictions were
illed with temptations, and temptation is a great aggravation
affliction ; so they were tempted. And they were slain
idth the sword. And they wandered up and down in sheep
skins and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, in
i mountains and caves and dens of the earth, driven from their
I own habitation ; and these are such of whom it is said here,
" the world was not worthy." And these hard things they
(endured by faith, saith the apostle. So that here, now, you
jsee what hard things faith will suffer, true saving faith (for of
(that the apostle speaks here) is a suffering grace, a bearing
grace, it will carry us through all afflictions, although they
:j be never so great : and so the doctrine from all the words is
this :
True, saving faith can, and will suffer very hard things.
It is that grace that will carry us through all afflictions
and sufferings, though they be never so great. True, saving
faith can, and will suffer very hard things.
This doctrine lies upon the surface of the words and all the
words together speak it; but for the further opening and
clearing of it : First I shall labour to shew you that it is pos
sible that a true believer, one very precious in the eyes of God,
may meet with most unworthy things from the hands of
men. Secondly : That faith will carry through these. And
thirdly : How, and by what means, faith will carry a man
through these.
First : It is possible that a true believer, one very precious
in the eyes of God, may meet with most unworthy usage
from the hands of men ; these were hard things and unwor
thy that these believers suffered ; yet they were such of whom
the world was not worthy. You know there is an old enmity
between the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent ;
a malignant disposition in the men of the world against the
saints and people of God, they must work as they are ; the
wicked and men of the world are an unworthy people. But
360 ox FAITH. [SER. 5.
because you judge yourselves unworthy, saith the text, " Lo,
we turn to the Gentiles, because ye judge yourselves un
worthy." * Go (saith our Saviour unto his disciples) and
preach, and if any be worthy stay ; " the men of the world
are unworthy, an unworthy people. Yea, they are an unrea
sonable people, absurd men, impertinent men that have not
faith. They are compared in scripture unto beasts for their
unreasonableness ; " beware of dogs," saith the apostle. When
our Lord and Saviour Christ did send out his disciples to
preach the gospel, " beware of men," saith he ; I do not say,
take heed and beware of lions and bears, but beware of men,
you shall find such unreasonable dealing by men, therefore
beware of men. Now if the men of the world be an un
worthy people and unreasonable, will ye wonder that the
saints and people of God meet sometimes with unworthy
usage from them ? It is possible. To raise it a little higher ;
possibly the more precious a man is, the more unworthy
usage he may meet withal. The apostle Paul was a most
precious man in his day and generation, and yet what un
worthy usage had he? It is said in 1 Cor. iv. 11, "Unto
this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked,
and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place, and
labour, working with our own hands ; being reviled, we bless ;
being persecuted, we suffer it ; being defamed, we intreat :
we are made as the filth of the world, and the offscouring of
all things unto this day." We are the filth, we are made
the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things unto
this day. Some think that the apostle here doth relate unto
that of one man dying for the people, the guilt of all the
people being upon him. Others, that it is a similitude taken
from a kind of tumbrel and vessel that goes up and down
the city, that ye throw all the filth into. But I rather take
the two Greek words, 7TpKca0p^] and Trtpn/"?)" 01 to relate unto
that in Lament, iii. 45: "Thou hast made us as the off-
scouring and refuse in the midst of the people." In the
Hebrew: "Thou hast made us the off-scouring, and the
filth, and refuse in the midst of the people." Thus Paul
was made, and yet Paul a precious man ; he laboured more
abundantly than they all. So that I say, it is possible that
the more precious a man is, the more unworthy usage he
may meet withal from men.
SER. 5.] ON FAITH. 361
Yea, to raise it a little higher ; it is possible that a man
may meet with most unworthy dealings therefore, because he
is precious in the eyes of God ; not only in regard of men ;
but in regard of God: for God doth sometimes so order
things in his providence, that he doth put men to suffer
hard things, because they are precious in his eyes. " Unto
you it is given, not only to believe, but to suffer." Suffering
sometimes is a gift, it is a great gift. A suffering gift, saith
Chrysostom, is a greater gift than the gift of miracles ; for
saith he, if God do give me a gift to work miracles by, I am
in God s debt ; but if God do give me a suffering gift, he is
pleased thereby to become my debtor ; suffering sometimes
becomes as a reward for doing. Ye read of the heifers that
brought home the ark out of the Philistines country, that
when they brought the ark home, the Israelites they take
the heifers, and they offer up the heifers unto God for a sacrifice.
Why so ? saith one, it is an ill requital to the heifers. No,
the heifers could not have a higher honour put upon them ;
this their suffering is a reward for their doing. And so what
greater honour can a man have after all his doing for God,
than to be called forth to suffer, and to bear witness to the
truth ? Indeed we do not think thus, but you will say, Oh,
surely God doth not love me because he puts such hard
suffering work upon me. But I pray tell me, suppose that
a general should have some great work or service to do, and
he should single and pick some half a dozen soldiers for to
go upon this Work; would these soldiers say, Surely the
general doth not prize us, he doth not honour us, nor love
us, because he puts us upon this hard service. No, but they
will say the contrary ; Surely the general prizeth us, loves us,
and honours us, because he puts us upon such a hard service
as this is. So here, it doth rather argue that the Lord doth
honour, love, and prize you, in that he puts you upon a hard
work and service. But now, if these things be true, then
surely this first branch is sufficiently made out, That a man
may be very precious in the eyes of God, and yet meet with
most unworthy usage from the hands of men. That is the
first thing.
Secondly : You will say, How shall a man be able to go
through these hard things and sufferings; what will carry
him through them ?
362 ox FAITH. [SER. 5.
True, saving faith will do it and nothing bat this faith will
do it ; "I had verily fainted in mine affliction (saith David)
but that I believed." It is faith and faith alone that will
keep from fainting under suffering. And to make this out a
little unto you :
The more assurance of God s love any man hath, the
more able he will be to encounter with sufferings and with
afflictions : the sight of God s love doth cause love in us to
God, Amor amoris causa, love is the cause of love, and much
water cannot quench love, it endures all. Now the assur
ance of God s love grows upon faith, it is the flower of faith ;
faith is the stalk, assurance is the flower ; assurance is the
cream of faith, " Let us draw near with full assurance of
faith."
The more that any man is able to gather up and to manage
his experiences, the more able he will be to suffer, to en
counter with sufferings ; experience is a great help in suffer
ing times. Now it is faith and only faith that can gather up
and manage experiences. " The Lord (saith he) that deli
vered me from the lion and the bear : " it was faith that did
gather up this experience and did manage it. So in Psalm
Ivi. 9, " When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn
back : " how do you know this ? saith he, " this I know, "
how ? " for God is for me ; " this I know, for God is for me.
I have this experience of God, that he is with me and for
me ; and therefore I know it. But
The more that any man is able to apply the promise, the
more able he will be to suffer, to encounter with sufferings ;
the promise is a great shelter in a rainy day. Now there is
nothing but faith that can apply the promise ; the promise is
the plaster that none but the warm hand of faith can lay on
upon the sore : if it be laid on by any other hands, it will
not stick. I have heard of a poor, doubting soul, drawing
near to her death, and the minister pressing one promise
after another ; O Sir, saith she, these are gracious promises,
but they will not stick upon my heart. And what is the
reason that the promise indeed doth not stick upon many
hearts ? but because it is laid on by the chill and cold hand
of unbelief. Remember faith hath a warm hand, and only
faith hath a warm hand to lay on the promise. But then
again,
SER. 5.] ox FAITH. 363
The more that any man doth see his call clearly, his call
to suffer, the more able he will be to encounter with his suf
ferings. Now it is faith only that doth trade with the call
of God. God s call is a great wall, a strong wall; God s
call can make a wall of water. When the children of Israel
went through the Red Sea, the water stood like a wall on
each side ; it was God s call that made those walls. There
is nothing but faith that doth converse with the call ot God,
and makes out the call of God. Three things call us to
suffer: 1. The commandment of Christ: " If thou wilt be
my disciple, thou must deny thyself, and take up thy cross."
2. The example of Christ, for thereunto are we called, in 1
Pet. ii. 5 ; Christ hath left us an example of suffering. And
3. Suffering strength with suffering opportunity. Now there
is nothing but faith is able to discern these things ; and
therefore faith, and faith alone, is that grace under Christ,
which can carry us through our affliction and suffering,
although they be never so great.
But you will say, We have heard and read of many that
have suffered hard things, and yet had none of this faith ;
no true, saving faith, and yet have suffered great and hard
things.
True ; you have heard, it may be, of some Jesuits dying
for their religion. It is possible that a wicked man may
suffer much, and that upon the account of his religion too ;
but, as Austin speaks, there is an unlikeness of suffering in
the likeness of suffering. As, saith he, gold is in the same
fire with the wood and with the straw ; with the same fire
the straw is consumed, and the gold is refined. Things suf
fered may be alike, and yet a great unlikeness in the suffer
ing. And to clear up this to you, that you may see that
faith alone is able to do this :
Though a wicked man may suffer very great and hard
things, yet he may also suffer as an evil-doer. " If ye suffer
for evil doing (saith the apostle), what thanks have ye ? "
But faith, true, saving faith, it doth well and suffers ill.
And though a wicked man may suffer much, and very
hard things, yet he doth not suffer upon choice ; he would
choose rather, if it were at his choice, to make a breach upon
conscience, than a breach in his estate, for to lose his con
science, than to lose his life ; he doth not suffer upon choice,
364
ON FAITH.
[SER. 5.
faith doth. " By faith Moses chose rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God." True, saving faith, it suffers great
and hard things, and that upon choice.
And though a wicked man may suffer much, yet he doth
not lay the stress of all upon the word of faith ; the stress
of all is laid upon somewhat else. Faith loves to suffer, and
it lays the stress of all a man s sufferings upon the word of
faith.
Though a wicked man may suffer much, and that upon an
account of religion ; yet it may be he is sullen, or froward,
or discontented, not cheerful : but faith suffers cheerfully.
Paul and Silas sung in the stocks ; and the primitive chris-
tians took with joyfulness the spoiling of their goods. And
so the martyrs in Queen Mary s days. It is reported that
when Mr. Philpot was in the dungeon, the bishop sent to
him to know why he was so merry ? Seeing a pair of stocks
in the dungeon, saith he, there is a pair of organs that I have
not played on yet; making himself cheerful in the time he was
in the dungeon. And meeting with a minister that had re
canted, and informing him better, the minister made a
recantation of his recantation, and was as cheerful as any
others. Faith suffers cheerfully.
Though a wicked man may suffer much, and that upon the
account of his religion ; yet he will rest upon his sufferings.
Faith will make one suffer, and keep one from resting upon
one s suffering. As in regard of duty, faith will make one
perform a duty, and it will keep one from resting upon that
performance ; so in regard of sufferings, faith will make one
suffer, and it will keep one from resting upon one s suffering.
In case that a man hath done much, faith will put him on to
suffer as if he had done nothing ; and in case a man hath
suffered much, faith will put him upon doing, as if he had
suffered nothing : according to that of our Saviour, " He
that \\ill be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow me." Follow me ; when ? After a suf
fering ; not to sit down and rest there, but to follow me after
a suffering.
Again, though a wicked man may suffer much, and that
upon the account of his religion, and be very confident, yet
he will give in at last. I have read of a great atheist that
was burnt to death in Paris, for blaspheming of Jesus Christ.
SER. 5.] ox FAITH. 365
And as he was going to the stake, saith he to the friars and
priests that followed him : Behold, how boldly I go to the
fire : as for your Lord and Master Christ, he went trembling
to his death, and sweat drops of blood ; but I, in the strength
of reason, under which I sacrifice my life, go with boldness
unto these flames. But when he came there, and his tongue
was cut out for blasphemy, the story saith, that then he cried
out, and roared out like a bull. Vidi ego hominem, saith the
author, I saw the man, I saw him when he was at the stake.
In the time of his liberty he was loose ; in the time of his
imprisonment, he was sullen ; and when he was at the stake,
he was mad, with horror of conscience mad. Oh, but true
saving faith will not flinch, and give in at last. The three
children did not only come to the fire, but rid out the storm.
But I say no more in this, only thus :
Though a wicked man may suffer much, and that upon
the account of his religion ; yet he doth not bring forth the
quiet fruit of righteousness : but true, saving faith doth, it
suffers, and brings forth the quiet fruits of righteousness.
So that now you see by all this, that it is faith alone, it is
true, saving faith, and faith alone, that will carry a man
through sufferings. But then,
Thirdly, you will say, How and by what means can faith
do this ? What is there in faith to do it, to carry a man
through hard things, and through all sufferings, although they
be never so great ?
It is the work of faith to make a man resign and give up
his will to the will of God ; and when a man can do so,
what may he not suffer ?
It is the work of faith, the proper work of faith, to cleave
close unto the commandment of God. True, Satan, I am
an unworthy creature; but God hath commanded me to
believe. True, I am a great sinner; but God hath com
manded me to believe. Faith doth peremptorily stick unto
the corrmaridment, and it leaves God to answer unto the
objections and inconveniences that follow upon his obedience
to the commandment; it leaves that to God. By faith
Abraham, when he was called to go out, obeyed, not know
ing whither he should go. Now when a man can do this,
what may he not suffer ?
It is the proper work of faith to close with the gospel,
366
OX FAITH.
[SER. 5.
whereby the soul doth receive the fulness of the Spirit, the
promise of the Father. Now when a man s heart is filled
with the Spirit of God, what may he not suffer? Pray do
but consider the apostles, after that the Spirit came upon
them ; you know they would suffer any thing, though it
were never so great. Before the Spirit came upon them,
though they had the personal presence of Christ, they could
not suffer any thing, though it was never so small. Now
faith doth close with the promise of the gospel, whereby the
soul doth receive the Spirit of God, the promise of the
Father.
It is the proper work of faith to look upon the recompense
of reward. By faith Moses had an eye to the recompense
of reward, and so chose affliction with the people of God.
Saith our Saviour to his disciples, " Let not your hearts be
troubled." How so, Lord ? Saith he, " I go to prepare a
place for you : in my Father s house there are many man
sions." Faith shews one the glory and the joys of heaven ;
and when a man sees those things, what may he not suffer ?
The more that a man can see the hand of God as a Father
upon the rod, the more able he will be to suffer, and the
more cheerful. Ye bring a child to school, arid he sees the
school hung with rods, in everv corner a rod, and the child
is afraid : but if his father s house be set with rods, the child
is not afraid in his father s house. Now faith, true, saving
faith, will shew one the hand of a Father upon the rod :
" The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away," saith faith.
" I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, for thou, Lord,
hast done it," saith faith.
The more a man can see to the end of his affliction and
suffering, the more able he will be to go through it. Now
faith tells a man that there is an end. " No temptation
(saith the word of faith) hath befallen you, but what is com
mon ;" and with the temptation there is an outlet, there is a
door, a door in the ark, although the door may be under
water, and the outlet may be under water. Faith doth not
only tell a man that there is an end, but that the end shall
be good, and all shall work together for his good ; yea, it tells
a man that his affliction shall be but for a moment, and that
moment shall be recompensed with abundance of comfort.
Ps. xxx. 5 : " For his anger endureth but a moment ; in his
SER. 5.] ON FAITH. 3G7
favour is life : weeping may endure for a night, but joy
cometh in the morning/ So also in Isa. liv. 7 " For a
small moment have I forsaken thee ; but with great mercy
will I gather thee : in a little wrath I hid my face from thee
for a moment ; but with everlasting kindness, will I have
mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer/ Faith tells
us this. Now when a man knows, and considers this, what
may he not suffer ?
It is the proper work of faith to look on both sides of the
dispensation ; there is a dark side and there is a light side in
affliction and suffering. Sense and reason look only on the
dark side, but faith looks to both sides of the dispensation.
It is written of Mr. Latimer, the blessed martyr, that when
he was going to the stake, taking leave of his fellow prison
ers, saith he, Be of good comfort, O my friends and brethren,
for though we go to the stake to-day, and be burnt to fire,
we shall light such a candle in England as shall never be put
out ; we shall make such a fire in England to-day, as shall
never be quenched. He saw both sides of the dispensation,
because he believed. Faith will shew one both sides of the
dispensation.
It is the proper work of faith, to see one contrary in ano
ther, or through another. It will see the smiles of God in
the midst of frowns ; it will see love in the midst of anger ;
it will see order in the midst of confusion ; it will see mercy
in the midst of misery; it will see a door of hope in the
valley of Achor. Faith, it looks upon things with the pros
pective of the promise ; and the promise speaks on this wise,
in Deut. xxxii. 36 ; saith the Lord there, " The Lord shall
judge his people, and repent himself of his servants, when
he sees that their power is gone, and there is none shut up
or left." Faith, I say, sees one contrary in another, or be
yond another ; and when a man can do so, what may he not
suffer.
And if God do engage to help and succour in afflictions,
and if the Lord do count himself engaged to succour, deliver,
and help in affliction, because men trust in the Lord ; surely
faith can do very much in the day of affliction. Now I pray
look into scripture, and you shall see that the Lord is engaged
upon this account in Ps. xxxvii. 40 : " And the Lord shall
help them, and deliver them ; he shall deliver them from the
368 ON FAITH. [Seu. 5.
wicked, and save them, because they trust in him." So in
Isa. xxvi. 3 : " Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose
mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." Mark
the words, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, so you read
it; but in the Hebrew the words run thus: "Thou wilt keep
peace, peace ;" not peace and doubting, not peace and trou
ble ; but peace, peace. Why ; Because be trusteth in thee.
But I cannot trust in God, I have no assurance of God s
love. Mark the words, he will keep him in peace, peace, whose
mind is stayed on thee ; he doth not say, who hath assurance
of God s love, but if it be but a faith of reliance, though it
be not a faith of assurance ; he will keep him in peace, peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.
Now if the Lord be thus engaged to help and succour men
that do believe, then certainly faith can do very much in a
suffering day. Now I have given you an account of the
general, how it comes to pass that faith can do it. Faith
will carry us through all our sufferings, though they be never
so great, and you see how faith can do it, and so the doctrine
is clear.
Now for application.
If true saving faith be such an accommodation unto all our
suffering, then, in case that any of you are to suffer any great
suffering, the first thing you do, call in for faith. As I said
upon the former doctrine, seeing that faith will do great
things ; and therefore if you have any great thing to do, call
in for faith. So now I say upon this doctrine, Seeing that
true saving faith can and will suffer very hard things ; in case
you have any thing to suffer, first call in for faith, call in for
faith. If you have a great sickness, you will send for the
best physician that hath the most skill at such a disease. Faith
hath the best skill at your sufferings, and therefore send and
call in for faith as soon as ever you come to the brink of
these waters, call for your faith, and look to your faith.
You will say, But these are no suffering times, the winter
is past, and there is no suffering now.
Then bless God and praise the Lord that you have so
much gospel liberty as you have. But our Lord and Saviour
saith, that in the last days, there shall be such tribulation as
never was ; and I am sure we are fallen into the last days.
Our brethren in the vallies of Piedmont, they have suffered ;
SER. 5.] ON FAITH. 369
and the apostle commands us to be in bonds with those that
are in bonds, and to be afflicted with those that are afflicted ;
what do you know what your faith may do for them ?
But to come a little nearer ourselves. Is there never a
servant here that suffers from an evil master, that would
fain go to the ordinance, frequent the ordinance, but checked,
scorned, and despised by his master? Is there never a
husband here, or wife here, that suffers hard things from his
or her relation, merely upon the account of religion ? Is
there never a man or woman here that hath suffered hard
things from the hand of his or her kindred, since they began
to look towards Christ ? Is there never a professor here
that suffers from the hand of some professor ? What de
vouring among us, biting, consuming one another ? Of all
reproachings and sufferings, you will find those most bitter
that come from professors, when one professor doth reproach
another, and slander another, and persecute another. Now
if there be any here, unto you I speak, call in for faith,
whatsoever your sufferings be, call in for faith.
But suppose there be none of these sufferings among us,
who knows how soon you or I may be called forth to suf
ferings, if not in the public, yet in our particular ? I have
heard of a good man and woman, that were feasting at a
great dinner upon the account of God s goodness and rnercy
to their family ; and while they were at dinner, celebrating
the goodness of the Lord to their family, them and their
children, comes a messenger in and saith, One of your chil
dren is dropt into the well and drowned. Beloved in the
Lord, who knows how soon a relation of yours or mine may
be in the well; how soon such a comfort of yours or rr.ine
may be in the well ? Wherefore call in for faith, in all your
sufferings call in for faith.
You will say unto me, What shall we do that we may so
strengthen or improve our faith, as that we may bear up in
a way of believing against sufferings ; for I am a man, or a
woman that, I confess, have met with sufferings, and I am
seldom out of sufferings, sometimes in my body, sometimes
in my name, sometimes in my estate, sometimes in my rela
tion, and the Lord knows what I may be called to suffer ;
what shall we do that we may so strengthen or improve our
VOL. II. B B
370 ON FAITH. [SER. 5.
faith, that we may bear up in a way of believing, against all
our sufferings ?
Consider frequently what great things the Lord hath done
for you already. " I will remember the years of the right
hand of the most High ; I will remember all thy wondrous
works," saith the Psalmist; stirring up his faith and getting
strength from faith. The consideration of what great things
God hath done for you already, will engage your heart and
make you willing to suffer. For example, go along with me
a little, and I will instance only in that great matter of your
first conversion and turning to God. That day that thou
wert converted and brought home to God, all thy sins were
pardoned, past, present, and to come ; I say, virtually those
that are to come. That day that thou wert converted and
brought home to God, thou wert made the child of God,
and heir of the kingdom which is incorruptible, undefined ;
and which fadeth not away. That day thou wert converted
and brought home to God, thou hadst the key of the scrip
ture put into thy bosom, I say, thou hadst the key of the
scripture put into thy bosom to wear it, I mean the Spirit of
God. That day that thou wert converted and brought home
to God, thy old nature was taken away, and thou wert made
partaker of the divine nature. That day that thou wert
converted and brought home to God, thou wert received
into union with Christ and into communion, thou wert re
ceived into union and into communion with the Father, and
with Jesus Christ. That day that thou wert converted and
brought home to God, thy soul was freed ; those that the
Son makes free, they are free indeed ; though your will were
not libera, yet it was liberata; as soon as a man is converted
and brought home to God, he is free to duty, though not
from duty ; and he is free from his sin, though he be not free
to his sin. That day thou wert converted and brought home
to God, thou wert received unto the special protection of
God, though not to free, yet to sanctify and sweeten your
affliction. That day you were converted and brought home
to God, you had a right and title given you unto all the
ordinances, Jus ad rem, though not in re; they are your
Father s plate, and as a child you may drink out of your
Father s plate. That day thou wert converted and brought
home to God, thou hadst a special right and title given thee
. 5.] OX FAITH. 3/1
i unto all the creatures : you may look up to heaven and see
the stars, and say, these are my Father s candles ; and when
you hear the thunder, you may say, this is my Father s
voice ; and when you see the sea, you may say, this is my
Father s fish-pond ; and when you see the godly men of the
world, you may say, these are my Father s children ; and
when you see wicked men, you may say, these are my Father s
dish-clouts to make his children clean ; and when you con
sider of the devils, you may say, these are my Father s
hangmen, his executioners; and when you see the gold, and
riches, and wealth of the world, you may say, this is my
Father s dung-hill. I say, that day thou art converted and
brought home to God, God doth great things for you in
that moment. Now the more that you consider what great
things God hath done for you, the more your heart is en
gaged to God; and the more your heart is engaged, the
more willing and able you will be to suffer.
If you would strengthen your faith to suffer great and hard
things, study much the book of the Revelation, which is a
standing cordial for the relief of the saints, in suffering in
antichristian times ; and study and read and commend to
your children, the Book of Martyrs, where you have exam
ples to the life of the people of God, dying for the faith :
but above all things, study much the sufferings of Christ.
Faith, true saving faith, it loves to dwell in the wounds of
Christ; and believe it, the sight of a suffering Christ will
teach one to suffer ; nothing like it : the example of Christ,
especially the sight of Christ s sufferings, will not only teach
you to suffer, but will sanctify your heart by the suffering,
and will provoke you to suffer. What, shall the Lord Christ
suffer such great things for me, and shall I suffer nothing for
him ? Study the sufferings of Christ.
If you would so strengthen your faith as you may be able
to suffer hard things, consider much and frequently, the great
gains of suffering, possess your heart therewithal. Beloved,
suffering times are gaining times ; and if your heart and mind
were but possessed with that truth, it would not be a hard
thing to suffer hard things, and that by faith : I shall there
fore spend a little time to make out this, for the strengthen
ing of your faith, that suffering times are gaining times.
Suffering times are teaching times; " Blessed is the man
B B 2
372
ON FAITH.
[SER. 5.
whom thou chastisest, correctest and teachest out of thy
law : Schola crucis, schola lucis : the cross is God s free
school, where we learn much : suffering times are teaching
times.
As suffering times are teaching times, so suffering times
are sin-discovering times; afflictions recal sins past, and pre
vent sin to come ; afflictions shew us the emptiness of the
creature, the fulness of God, the vileness of sin. When
Adonibezek had his thumbs and toes cut off, he could re
member his own sin. You see how it is in winter, when the
leaves are off the hedges, you can see where the birds nests
were ; when the leaves were on in summer time, you could
not see those nests: and so in prosperous times men do noti|
see the nests of their hearts and lives ; but when their leaves
are off, then their nests are seen. Suffering times are sin-
discovering times.
As suffering times are sin-discovering times ; so suffering
times are self-bethinking times. You see many a man run.
on in the day of his prosperity, and never bethinks himself.
When the prodigal was pinched, then he bethought himself;
and Manasses in prison, then he bethought himself : and
saith Solomon, praying for the people in adversity, " If then
they shall bethink themselves." There is manv a man that,
I may say, doth owe his conversion to his affliction, and can
say, If I had not been afflicted, I had never been converted.
Suffering times, are self-bethinking times.
As suffering times are self-bethinking times : so suffering
times are fruitful and growing times : " Every branch in me
he pruneth, that it may bring forth more fruit." Suffering
times, then are growing times.
As suffering times are growing times ; so suffering times
are truth-advancing times : in the time of prosperity we
lose truth, in the time of adversity we find truth and bear
our testimony for truth, then truth is advanced. It is a good
observation that Marloret hath upon Dan. viii. to shew that
truths were advanced by suffering; verse 11., it is said of the
little horn, " He hath magnified himself even to the prince of
the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and
the place of the sanctuary was cast down : and an host was
given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgres
sion, and it cast down the truth to the ground, and it prac-
j$ER. 5.] ON FAITH. 373
ised, and prospered :" that is, saith he, not the horn, as it is
ordinarily carried ; for it is in the feminine gender, which
only can relate to the word truth, not to the horn ; he cast
down the truth, and the truth practised and prevailed. So
that suffering times are truth-advancing times.
As suffering times are truth-advancing times : so suffering
times are uniting times : in times of prosperity, professors
they wrangle, fall out, divide; but when the shepherd s dog
comes, then the sheep run together. Suffering times are
i till uniting times.
ntstl As suffering times are uniting times ; so suffering times
:: are praying times ; he that will not pray, we say, let him go to
roi sea, there he will be sick, and that will make him pray, that
is the meaning; " In their affliction they will seek me early."
Suffering times are praying times.
As suffering times are praying times ; so suffering times
are soul-assuring times : there is many a man or woman goes
up and down many years doubting, and hath no assurance ;
and when they grow sick, God doth send in his evidence for
heaven by the hand of that sickness, and he hath assurance
for heaven that never had it before : according to that in
Hos. ii. 14., " I will allure her, and bring her into the wil
derness, and speak to her heart." " Comfort ye, comfort ye
my people, saith your God ; speak ye comfortably to Jerusa
lem, because her iniquity is pardoned." When ? In the day
of her warfare : " for her warfare is accomplished, her ini
quity is pardoned ; for she hath received double from the
hand of the Lord," Suffering times are soul-assuring times.
As suffering times are soul- assuring times ; so suffering
times are weaning times : when this mustard is laid upon the
I breast of the world, then are we weaned. Suffering times
are weaning times.
Suffering times are heavenly times and glorious times;
when the world is most bitter, heaven tastes most sweet and
glorious ; for, saith the apostle, " then shall the Spirit of God
and of glory rest upon you." When ? In suffering times,
when the people of the Lord doth suffer, the Spirit of glory
shall rest upon them. Suffering times are glorious times.
And if all these things be true, then surely you will say with
me, suffering times are gaining times. And if you would but
think of this, and possess your heart with it, you would be
374 ON FAITH. [SER. 5|
more willing and able to suffer. Christians, they boggle a
sufferings and they startle at sufferings ; what is the reason
they do not know the gains of suffering. But is this true
That suffering times are gaining times ; that suffering times
are teaching times ; that suffering times are sin-discoverind
times ; that suffering times are self-bethinking times ; thai
suffering times are growing times ; that suffering times are
truth-advancing times; that suffering times are uniting
times ; that suffering times are praying times ; that suffering
times are soul-assuring times ; that suffering times are wean
ing times ; that suffering times are glorious times ? then
surely suffering times are gaining times. And if thou would-
est strengthen thy faith, Christian, so as thou mayest be able
to endure hard things, think upon this much, and press it
upon thy own soul, carry this away with thee, if no more ;
suffering times are gaining times ; Oh my soul, suffering time
are gaining times : and thus you shall be able to hold ou
and suffer. And thus I have done with the main doctrine.
There are two or three observations that lie about the words;
I will only give you them and so conclude.
You may consider here, what the persons were that suf
fered hard things. The text saith, they were such of whom
the world was not worthy. Then greatness of sufferings
and afflictions, are no sufficient reason why you should doubt
of God s love, or of your own everlasting condition. Here
were very hard things that these believers suffered, and yet
they were such of whom the world was not worthy. Shall I
then doubt of my condition, or question God s love, because
my afflictions are great ? I must not. But you will say, My
afflictions are very strange, and none like mine ; one cannot
hear of such an affliction as mine is, not in an age. And I
pray, in your age, have you heard of a man or woman sawn
asunder ? Thus were these, of whom the world was not
worthy. But my afflictions are thick, they come very thick.
And so did their s here. But my afflictions are filled with
temptations ; I am not only afflicted, but I am tempted, and
temptations grow upon mine afflictions. So it was with
these here, they were tempted; not only afflicted, but tempted;
and yet such of whom the world was not worthy. But my
afflictions are such as make me unserviceable. So, in the
eye of reason, these afflictions made these believers; they
SER. 5.]
OX FAITH.
375
were whipped up and down like rogues. And I pray you
3!! me, who would ever have thought, in the eye of reason,
lat Paul s ministry should have done any great good, after
ic had been whipped up and down like a rogue ? Yet Paul s
Iministry was blessed ; and, though you think your afflictions
(make you unserviceable, if God call you to them, he will
i take care for your service. But my afflictions are such as
I find me all alone ; I am afflicted and afflicted, a man or wo
man of affliction, and I have none to pity me. So it was
here with some of these; they wandered in the wilderness,
| and they were in the caves and dens of the earth, and such
of whom the world was not worthy. Possibly then, thy
afflictions, man or woman, may be very great, and yet thou
mayest be precious in the eyes of God, and such an one of
whom the world is not worthy. And therefore now, if there
be ever a man or woman here in all this congregation, that
labours under any great burden ; I say to that person, Ques
tion not thy condition, doubt not concerning God s love,
because of the greatness of thy affliction ; thy affliction may
be very great, and yet thou mayest be a person of whom the
world is not worthy in God s account. I will give you this
parable, apply it yourself. Suppose you see a company of
children playing together one while, and may be afterwards
fighting ; and then you see a man come and carry away one
of these children, and he strikes him, but he lets the others
alone, and he strikes them not ; which of these children, will
you say, this man is a father unto ? Will ye not say, in all
likelihood he is a father unto that child that he carries away
and strikes. I leave you to apply it.
You may observe upon what account they suffer these
hard and grievous things ; upon the account, saith the text,
of a better resurrection. Then what shall we say to those
that would steal away from you the doctrine of the resurrec
tion ? It may be, men will not speak out here with you,
but they have done it with us, and nibble at this doctrine.
What shall we say to them ? They are enemies to your
faith, they are enemies to your great relief in suffering times,
they are enemies to your good conscience ; a good conscience
is a great matter in suffering times. I remember a speech of
a good minister, when he was silenced in the bishops time,
and had his living taken from him ; Well, saith he, I praise
3/6 ON FAITH. [SER.
the Lord, though I have lost my living, I have saved i
conscience, and this conscience is a great matter in sufferinj
times. Now by their having an expectance of a better
resurrection, they refused the present deliverance, and so
kept their conscience. Do there therefore come in men
among you, to steal away this great doctrine of our resur
rection ? Avoid them, avoid tnem, that they may be
ashamed ; hold close to this doctrine. As you desire, chris-j
tians, to have comfort in a rainy day, and a bottom for your
faith in suffering times, hold fast this doctrine of the resur
rection, and this doctrine that you have been instructed in
from the word.
And so to end, ye may observe here, by what means they
suffered these hard things, and that is, as you have heard, by
faith. Surely then, it is no easy thing to believe, with this
true> saving faith ; a hard thing to believe. This true, saving
faith, can do great things, and can suffer hard things. True,
saving faith, will make it easy to do great things, and easy to
suffer hard things ; but it is hard to get this true, saving
faith. You will say, If a man were in the sun, he might go
round the world in a day ; but it is hard to get into the sun.
So this true, saving faith, will make a man to do great things,
and to suffer hard things ; but it is a hard thing to get it, and
few there be that have it. We read of Elias, that when the
Lord had given him a power to shut heaven, that it rained
not for three years and a half, he went away and hid himself;
they could find him before : ordinary men might be found ;
but Elias that did this great work, could not be found. So
an ordinary faith may be found out ; but this true, saving
faith, that doth great things, and suffers hard things, is hardly
to be found. There is a common faith that grows every
where. As it is in your flowers and plants ; ye have your
field thyme, and your garden thyme; ye have your field
rose, and your garden rose ; your field rose grows every
where, but your garden rose grows not every where. You
have pebble stones every where, but diamonds are not to be
found every where. So there is a pebble faith, and a field
faith, an ordinary faith, and this you may have every where.
Bat this diamond, this garden faith, to suffer hard things, it
is hard to be found ; few there be that have it, and therefore
few can do great things for God, or suffer hard things from
SER. 5.] ox FAITH. 373
men. Wherefore, beloved in the Lord, give me leave to end
with this exhortation, to beseech you in Christ Jesus to get
this faith ; above all getting, get this faith ; you that have
not this true, saving faith, get it. Some there be here, it
may be, that have faith good enough to swear by, but not
faith good enough to live by ; true, saving faith, a believer
can live by, but he cannot swear by it. A true believer is
very sensible of his unbelief : saith he, There was never a
more unbelieving heart than mine ; I think there is not a
man or woman in the world, is troubled with such an unbe
lieving heart as I. True, saving faith, is sensible of unbelief;
and therefore you that have not this true, saving faith, labour
to get it ; above all, get it. Get this true, saving faith ; and
you that have this true, saving faith, improve it, use it, do
great things for God, and suffer hard things from man. Yea,
certainly, if you have this true, saving faith, you will be able
to do great things for God, and to suffer very hard things
from man : for that is the doctrine at this time, True, saving
faith, can and will suffer very hard things.
THE FREENESS OF THE
GRACE AND LOVE OF GOD
TO BELIEVERS DISCOVERED,
IN REFERENCE TO
1. THEIR SERVICES AND SUFFERINGS. 2 THEIR CONSO
LATIONS. 3. THEIR SALVATION AND
ETERNAL GLORY.
TOGETHER WITH
THE EXCELLENCY OF THE FEAR OF GOD. THE GOODNESS AND
PLEASANTNESS OF BROTHERLY LOVE. THE WISDOM OF
HEARING THE VOICE OF THE ROD. REPENTANCE
THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT JUDGMENTS.
IN SEVEN SERMONS.
1671.
TO THE READER.
THE labours of this Reverend Author (now with God) both in print and in
preaching, have already praised him in the gate, and make his name and memory
still remain and continue like a precious ointment, notwithstanding the vain en
deavours of some, to make both himself and writings ridiculous ; in which kind,
though they may be abundantly repayed, since a late Author makes some on all
sides guilty of the like ; yet there is cause to fear (whatsoever innocent design
may be pretended by those witty men) that religion itself may be contemned and
slighted by such practices.
It is hoped that these Sermons will give no occasion for such cavils, but that
they may be of use to some persons, to direct and confirm them in the good old
ways of God, though they may want much of those advantages, which it may be
the Author s own hand would have bestowed upon them. And upon that account
the reader is desired not to be offended, though some things may not be so exact
or plain as might be wished, nor to impute it to the Author in the least, but to
look upon it only as the fault of the transcriber or publisher.
Yet hoping that notwithstanding these disadvantages, some may (through the
blessing of God) reap profit and benefit by them, they are here published and
submitted to the judgment of the candid reader.
J. O.
ON THE
FKEENESS OF THE GRACE AND LOVE
OF GOD.
SERMON I.
" Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own ? Is thine
eye evil because I am good ? So the last shall be first, and the first
last; for many be called but few chosen." MATT. xx. 15, 16.
I DO intend, God willing, to shew you the freeness of
the grace of God in reference to men s employments and
sufferings, and therefore have made choice of this scripture,
wherein you have the parable of certain labourers in the
vineyard ; the parable is propounded and applied; propound
ed from verse 1 to verse 16 : " For the kingdom of heaven
is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out
early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard, and
when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, be
sent them into his vineyard ; and he went out about the third
hour, and saw others standing in the market-place; and he
said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever
is right I will give you, and they went their way ; and again
he went about the sixth hour, and the ninth hour, and did
likewise ; and about the eleventh hour he went out and saw
others idle, and he said unto them, Why stand you here all
the day idle ? and they said unto him, Because no man hath
hired us : he said unto them, Go you also into the vineyard,
and whatsoever is right, that shall you receive. So when
even was come, the Lord said unto his steward of the vine
yard, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning
from the last even to the first ; and when they came that
were hired about the eleventh hour, they leceived everv man
a penny, but when the first came they supposed that they
should have received more, and they likewise received every
man a penny, and when they had received it, they murmured
382 THE FREENESS OF [SfiR. ]|
against the good man of the house, saying, These last hav
wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to u
that have borne the burthen and heat of the day. But h<
answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong
didst thou not agree with me for a penny ? take that thine i
and go thy way ; I will give unto this last, even as unto th
first. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own
Is thy eye evil, because I am good ? So the last shall b
first, and the first last ; because many are called, but few
chosen."
And thus far the parable goes, to shew that all is of free
grace, both for service and for suffering. Now if you mind
the 1st verse of the parable, you will find it brought in \vith
a, /or: " For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man,"
&c. The former chapter saith, " For we have forsaken all to
follow thee, and what shall we have ? But Jesus saith, He
that hath forsaken father or mother, wife or children, houses
or lands for my sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and inherit
eternal life; and they that are last shall be first, and the first
shall be last."
Thus shall it be in suffering, many that are first shall be
last ; and so it shall be in service, in employment, and in la
bour. For after he had spoken this parable of the labourers,
he concludes, "the last shall be first, and the first last;" con
cluding for suffering and for service : and he gives the reason
of it from our election ; " For many are called but few cho
sen :" and shews the grounds of it, that it is of free grace ;
" The first shall be last, and the last first." So that as to
service and as to suffering, all is of free grace. Now take
these words as they are in relation to the former, and they
will afford us this doctrine :
That there is much of the freeness of the grace of God
laid out both in our services and sufferings.
Free grace in the matter of our services and labour, and
free grace in the matter of our sufferings: " The first shall
be last, and the last first ; for many shall be called, but few
chosen."
For the prosecution of this doctrine, I shall
First, labour to shew you, That it is a great mercy to be
used for God, and by God, either in a way of service or suf
fering for his name.
SER. 1.] GRACE AND LOVE. 383
Secondly, That there are some that God doth especially
single out to serve him, or to suffer for him.
Thirdly, That it is the free grace of God that one serves
above another.
Fourthly, I shall shew wherein this free grace of God doth
appear or shine forth in the matter of our employment and
sufferings.
Fifthly, I shall shew why God will order and dispose of
our services and sufferings in the way of free grace or free
love.
First, I say, It is a great mercy to be used for God, or by
God in the matter of service or sufferings, it is a great mercy
to be employed in any work for God. For,
1. The more serviceable any man or woman is for God, the
more they honour God ; and the more they honour God, the
more will God honour them. When I testify of any excel
lency in God, then I honour God ; when God testifies of any
honour in me, then God honours me; as now when God
calls me to any service, then God testifies an excellency in
me, then God honours me. When a governor puts any
honour upon a common soldier, he calls him forth to special
service; so it is an honour for a man to be serviceable to
God. This was the honour of Moses; " Moses, the servant
of the Lord." And when the Holy Ghost puts an honour
upon David, he says, " The Psalm of David, the servant of
the Lord." Not, The Psalm of David, the king of Israel ;
no, The Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. So in the
New Testament, this was Paul s honour ; " Paul, the servant
of the Lord." Now is it not a great honour to honour God,
and to be owned by God ? Thus it is with them that serve
the Lord.
2. The more serviceable any man is for God in his gene
ration, the more apt God is to accept of his work, though
there be failings in the work. Observe what great failings
there was in Aaron, yet God accepted of the work.
3. The more serviceable any man is whilst he lives, the
more comfortably he will die, when he comes to die. What
is a man s comfort upon his death bed, but that according to
his measure he hath served God ? Saith Christ, " Glorify
me, O Father, for I have done the work that thou hast sent
me to do." And so it is a man s comfort to do the work that
384 THE FREENESS OF [SER. 1.
God gives him to do ; yea it will be his comfort at the day of
death.
4. The more serviceable any man is whilst he lives, the
more he shall speak when he is dead ; there are them that
being dead yet speak. Why what speaks Abel, but faith,
good works, good examples ? He offered a better sacrifice
than Cain ; he was truly serviceable to God in his day, and
now he speaks when he is dead. Thus Abel did, and thus it
is with a serviceable man. Look how it is with a wicked
man that is serviceable to the devil, and that writes wicked
and wanton books that speak when he is dead ; so is it with
a man that is serviceable unto God. This honour is in the
service of God above all others : and, to say no more, this is
the thing that is desired more in some respects than the en
joyment of heaven : " I desire (saith the apostle) to be dis
solved, and to be with Christ, which is best of all ; yet ne
vertheless, for your sakes, and the service of the churches, I
desire to live." So that I say, in one respect, this is more
desirable than heaven ; for no such work is to be done in
heaven. And is it not a great matter, very great to be ser
viceable unto God, to be used and employed by God either
in service or suffering ?
As it is a great mercy to serve for God, so is it not a great
mercy to suffer for God ; to be called out to suffer for the
name of Christ ? for saith the former chapter, " We have
forsaken father and mother, wife and children, houses and
lands for the sake of Christ ; but saith Christ, He that for
sakes so much for me, shall receive a hundred fold, and
eternal life ; yea, he that suffers for me shall reign with me."
You carry a burthen, but Christ carries the heavy end,
and you have communion with Christ also thereby ; and
thereby, also, your heart shall be filled with comfort, yea,
even the comfort of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God
dwells in every believer ; and that man that suffers for God,
the Spirit of God rests upon him as the dove rested upon
the earth. And so saith Peter ; " The Spirit of God and of
glorv resteth in you." A man is never more glorified than
when he suffers for God. Remember that. When our Sa
viour Christ was upon the cross, he was then glorious before
the eyes of heaven, and never more glorious than then, for
U. 1.] GRACE AND LOVE. 385
" now is the Son of man glorified : " so may you say when
in sufferings, Now am I glorified. Oh, the glory of a Chris
tian ! Nay, says the martyr when going to the stake, Now
I begin to be a Christian. And thereby he is assured of
eternal life and salvation. "Our present light afflictions
(saith the apostle) work an eternal and exceeding weight
of glory." And says our Saviour, " If ye be reviled and
reproached for my sake, happy are you/ And if you look
into Phil. i. 28, you will find that sufferings are an evidence
to us. Thus now you see, it is a mercy, yea, a great mercy
to suffer for the name of Christ. That is the first thing.
Secondly : But then there are some that God doth gra
ciously single out to service, or to suffer for him ; this honour
all the saints have not, but some God doth graciously single
out not only to service, but to suffer for him. Now there is
a providential service, and there is a mercenary service ;
there is a judicial service, and a gracious service; some that
God doth single out graciously : possibly a man may be
providentially used in the service of God; thus Naaman
had a servant in his house that was providentially made use
of for his conversion. So I say, a man may be made use
of providentially, and also mercenarily and judicially. So
the devils have been ; " Whom shall I send to be a lying
spirit in the mouth of the prophets ? Send me ; and he went."
This is a judicial service ; and thus the devils do serve for
wages ; and them also that are the instruments of the devil.
Persecutors are judicial servers; they are them that make
clean the dishes. So that I say, there are them that may serve
God providentially, mercenarily and judicially. Providentially,
and so all the creatures serve him. Mercenarily, so they
served him that said, " Lord, Lord, have we not done many
wondrous works, yet Christ says he never knew them, depart
from me." And then there is a judicial service, as when
God gave license and power to destroy the ten tribes: but
then, as there is a providential service, a mercenary service,
and a judicial service, so there is also a gracious service ;
there are some that God doth graciously single out to serve
him and to serve him in suffering for him. Did not God
graciously single out Caleb to serve him ? For it is said,
" he followed God fully." And did not God in the New
Testament single out Paul ? " Go thy way to Ananias,
VOL. n. c c
386 THE FREEXESS OF [~SER. 1
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou
have me to do ? And the Lord said, Arise, go into th
city, and it shall be told thee what thou shalt do," Ac
ix. 6. So I say, God doth graciously single out some no
only to serve him, but to suffer for him.
Thirdly, AVhat is it that makes the difference, that som
are employed in the work and service of God, when othe
are not ? It is only the free grace of God. It may be, yoi
may think it is from men, that the providential hand dot
fall upon one more than upon another ; or that it is the wil
of men to single out whom they will for sufferings ; but it is
only the free grace of God. Look, what the sovereignty oi
God doth in a way of judgment and affliction, that, the fr
grace and love of God doth in a way of mercy. As now.
suppose two men be together in a transgression, one is sin
gled out to judgment, the other is not. Why ? The sove
reignty of God orders it so. " Think ye that they on whom
the tower of Siloam fell, were greater sinners than others." No.
A man may be wrapt up in great afflictions and calamities
as Job was ; and why so ? It is the sovereignty of God :
I will do what I will with my own. So look, what God s
sovereignty doth in a way of judgment, the same the free
grace of God doth in a way of mercy. Oh, is it not a great
mercy to be singled out to suffer for the name of Christ,
Phil. i. 29, " Unto you it is given not only to believe, *but to
suffer for Christ." So I say, it is not only to believe, but to
suffer; and so God doth graciously choose some and not
others for this great work.
Fourthly, But wherein doth the free grace of God shine
forth and appear in the matter of our services and suffer
ings ?
I answer, In many things : will you begin with your own
employments ? What is the reason one man is called forth
to an employment, and not another ? It is only the free
grace of God. What is the reason one man hath success in,
a work, and not another ? It is only the free grace of God.
But to clear it the more unto you ; the more unlikely any
person is to serve or suffer for God, the more the free grace 1
of God shines forth in that person. Now who are those that
God doth generally make use of in his service, but those that
are the most unlikeliest persons ? As now will you instance
Sid
. 1.]
GRACE AND LOVE.
387
;
n matter of men s places, estates, callings ; there were two
.ervants concerned in the conversion of Naaman ; the servant
)f the prophet, and Naaman s own servant. Who is the most
ikely now? Certainly the servant of the prophet; yet you
the other doth it : so that I say, the unlikeliest often-
imes God makes use of, which is to shew forth the freeness of
is grace : will you instance in the matter of ability as to the
iinistry ; who more unfit and unlikely to be used in the gos-
el, than a company of fishermen, poor fishermen ? for it is
aid, they perceived they were unlearned, and yet you find
em made use of by our Saviour for the promulgation of the
spel. Will you instance in the matter of free grace ? Who
so commended as Nathaniel that came to Christ? " Be
hold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile." Who
^(more unlikely to be used in God s service than Paul ? Was
it likely Paul should bring any honour to God, who was
whipt and scourged up and down town like a malefactor ?
yet this man preached: and do you think he was like to do
j an y good by his preaching ? yet you find it is said, " He did
more than they all ;" and God blessed his ministry, and he
converted the gentiles. Why is this but to shew that God
will make use of them that are most unlikely to do him ser
vice : " For they that are first shall be last ;" and this only to
shew the freeness of his grace.
But wherein doth the grace of God appear as to our suf
ferings ? for the great thing is to stand our ground : to this I
answer ;
Is it not a great mercy, that the great God of heaven and
earth should call us worms to bear witness to his name, his
great name, yea, to suffer for it ?
Is it not a great mercy and favour, that God will take no
tice of all the injuries that are done unto them that suffer for
him, as done unto himself ? " I know thy works," saith
God ; do men jeer thee arid reproach thee for the sake of
> "I Christ? then happy art thou. What wrong is done unto
them that suffer for God, he takes it as done unto himself :
so that I say, it is a great mercy and favour, that the God of
heaven should take those injuries as done unto himself,
that are done unto us. Nay, saith God, " I will give you a
mouth, and tell you what you shall speak when you come be-
c c 2
-
388 THE FREENESS OF [SfiB. 1
fore men." " Take no thought for what you shall spea
for it shall be given you."
Is it not a great mercy, that your hearts shall be filled witl
joy in the midst of sufferings ? " They went away rejoicin
that they were counted worthy to suffer."
Is it not a great mercy, that some shall stand, that ar
likeliest to fall, when others fall, that were likely to stand ?
Is it not a great mercy, that those whom the adversarie
think shall dishonour and mar the work of God, that
should bring more honour to God, and suffer more power
fully and strongly for him than others, and that they shoulc
be used most for God ?
Is it not a great mercy, that when God seems to have mos
displeasure against us, his love should be then most set upor
us, as it is in sufferings ? Who would but think, that when
we are given into the hands of wicked men, it is from the
displeasure of God against us, when yet it is from the fre<
grace and great love of God unto us ?
Is it not a great mercy to consider, that what is our great-
est misery seemingly, that that should contribute to oui
greatest mercy ? Thus it is in our sufferings for the name oi
God : you see what great and wondrous things were done by
the death of Christ; so also what wonders were done by Jo-
seph in Egypt when he was sold thither by the malicious-
ness of his brethren ; it is the way of God unto his people \
that the more others work to do them harm, the more Goci
doth order it to prove for their good ; which is only from the
free grace, love, and favour of God. We never did any work
yet, but free grace paid us for it : even the work of suffering.
God pays us for that : he was a preacher to day, yet carriec
to prison, that paid him for it. Yea, Christians are paid foi
the work they never did : and what is the reason of it, but
only the free grace of God. Thus you see wherein the free
grace of God appears and shines forth.
Fifthly. Why will God carry on the work of our services
and sufferings in the way of free grace ? Why, God wil
order our employments and sufferings in a way of free
grace that we may not be proud of them; we are apt
to be proud of our employments and sufferings, and there
fore God will carry on his work so, as that he may keej
us from the sin of pride and haughtiness, when we shall con-
. 1.] GRACE AND LOVE. 389
sider it is the free grace of God to single us out to service or
sufferings. Why should we be proud ? God loves to con
found the wicked and ungodly in the world by making those
that are the most unlikely to be serviceable to himself; and by
ordering their services and sufferings in a way of free grace.
This God doth to confound the wisdom and reason of world
ly men. " Many are called, but few chosen." God hath set
the weak to confound the strong. Again, God doth dispose
of his work in a way of free grace, that none may be discou
raged from his service, or suffering for him. If none but
great and mighty and holy men were to be used in God s
service, then the weak would be discouraged and despised,
and we should be ready to say, I am not worthy. Now God
doth so order and dispose of his work, as not to discourage
the weak, but to give encouragement to all. Well then if so,
a word for application. Is this a truth that we have heard,
that all that God doth either as to the ordering of our ser
vices or sufferings is in a way of free grace ? What have we
then to say, but as Job, " The Lord gives, and the Lord
takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord?" You say,
that God chooses whom he pleases to serve him, or to suffer
for him ; and that it is out of free grace: if so, why should
not all suffer ? But you hear it is not all but some, that God
doth graciously single out to suffer for himself.
But here some may say, I am weak, and do not any work
for God.
But give me leave : is family work nothing ? The apostle
insists much upon that in his epistles, he calls much upon
parents, children, masters and all to do their duty. Refor
mation work is a great work, or else the apostle would never
have spoken so much of it, and exhorted so much to it.
Is it nothing to do the work of your generation ; to do the
work that is suitable unto your condition ? All men are not
called to all works : there is a peculiar work to every man.
Now is comforting work nothing ? Is supporting work no
thing ? Is relieving work nothing ? This comforting work
it is angelical work. Is it nothing to improve the talent that
God hath given thee ? This will be the great question at the
day of judgment, Faithful or not faithful ? There are none
but have talents more or less, which they must then answer for.
But you may be ready to say, I have no work. That is a
390 THE FREENESS OF [SfiR.
mistake; for there are none but have work : therefore look]
unto that which is your work.
But you may say again, Though I have work and service,!
yet my service may be a judicial service, or a mercenary ser
vice, or a providential service: now how shall I distinguish
my service, whether it be a providential, a judicial, a merce
nary service, or whether God hath graciously singled me out]
to serve him in a way of free grace and love ?
In answer to this, take these two or three things.
1. If it be a work or service given you by free grace, then
God will lead you more and more, and bring you to be ac--
quainted with the design of his work. When Peter was cal
led to open the door of the temple, at first he did not know
the design, but afterwards he was told it. So thus it is with
thee : if God do call thee to work, he will acquaint thee with
the design of the work.
2. If you serve God in a way of free grace, then you will
be contented with your work : yea ? you will be contented to
be used for God, to be laid out for God, you will say, I am
contented, because God hath called me.
3. When God doth make use of a man in a way of free
grace, then that man doth not make any great bargains
for himself: they that serve God any other way, will make
great bargains for themselves, make use of his service to in
crease their estates : but now they that serve God out in a
way of free grace, will not do so. Therefore now you that
are at work, do you pocket up at work ? Do you make great
bargains for yourselves ? If so, this is no free grace work.
But you will say, I am afraid I do not serve God in a way
of free grace, because I have no success in my work. But
you may observe in the scripture, that sometimes a man may
be called to work by free grace, and may have success at the
beginning as Joseph had many years, and yet the success
may leave him.
As now there are them that preach irany years, and never
convert one soul, yet this should not discourage them ; for
free grace may call you to a work, and yet you may not find
that success in it which you expected.
But then again, here is the great question yet behind;
suppose God doth deal with the children of men in a way of
free grace and love, then what is my duty, and what shall I
. 1 .] GRACE AND LOVE.
do. that I may so serve and suffer, as to serve and suffer un
der the conduct of free grace ?
In answer to this, you may take in these following parti
culars.
If you would serve and suffer under the conduct of free
grace, then serve your call fully ; and go to the utmost of the
thing called unto, leaving God to do his work : do your work
to the utmost, and leave God to do his. When God called
Joshua to do a work fully and he did it, God shewed mercy
to him, and to his posterity after him : and so when Jehu
was called to a work, and he did it by halves, God blew upon
him, and upon his posterity after him. Therefore I say,
when God calls us to a work, let us do our work fully, and
leave God to do his work.
If you would serve God under the conduct of free grace,
then when you find any warmth or heat upon your affections,
take the hint of this opportunity for the doing of that work
God calls you to.
If you would serve God under the conduct of free grace,
then do not envy others that are more employed, that have
better success, and are better paid than yourselves : observe
how it is with two servants in a great shop, the one at one
end, the other at the other end ; the one may take more mo
ney than the other, yet they do not envy one another : and
why ? but because they both serve one master. Thus it
should be with the saints and servants of God, they all serve
one Master ; and therefore one should not envy another be
cause he is more employed or hath better success.
If you would serve God under the conduct of free grace,
then be sure you do not serve for wages ; mercenary in your
service. It becomes those that serve under free love to be
very free in their service : saith one, I have been wrought
upon by my neighbour, and ever since I have endeavoured
to do him good. Now it is God that hath wrought upon us
by his free grace ; and if so, let us freely serve him and labour
to do him all the honour we can. When the prodigal first
thought of returning home unto his father s house, he saith
first , " Let my father make me as one of his hired servants."
This was a legal expression j I will be hired, " Let him make
me as one of his hired servants ;" but when he saw his father s
love he talked no more of his hired service. Inheritance is
goo
THE FREEXESS OF [S ER .
not of the bond-woman but of the free. I do confess in
deed it is not unlawful to look unto the recompense of ."
ward ; yea it is lawful for us to do it. But now do you desire
to serve under the conduct of free grace, then look not"
Z::L d ^ n0 l d ?, aSan hireli ^ ?> ^bourers of the
and
v the conduct of divine love > the "
wo* , T upon the account of his s od ess
\\okoutyoursalvatmnwithfearand trembling, for it is
God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure If you do serve and work, then f ear upol f^1
account of God s goodness to you.
And to conclude this application. If you would serve as
ose that serve under the conduct of free grace and love,
then have a care that in all your workings you depend unor
nothing but the free grace of God in reference to "yTur call
and if so, why then should you not willingly suffer for the
name of Christ P Would you know whether/you ~3
> suffer ? why this is a certain rule, when the case is so with
you, that you must either suffer or sin.
But then a second word of application may be this. Is it
so that so much of the free grace is laid out in reference to
our services and sufferings ? then let us freely and willingly
suffer for the name and cause of Christ.
Is it so, that so much of the free grace of God is laid out
m reference to our services and sufferings ? then why should
not be contented with our sufferings; not only contented
in suffering, or contented upon suffering, but contented with
sufferings. Our Saviour tells us, that they that will be his
isciples must deny themselves, take up the cross and follow
Not only take up the cross, but follow him ; yea, and
deny themselves. Some will deny themselves in this or that,
but will not take up the cross; but saith our Saviour "If
my man will follow me let him take up the cross and follow
filv h T 1St CSllS US t0 Suffer > let us suffer
freely, because his grace is free.
If you would serve under the conduct of free grace, then
x J e f any l6gal "W P n your sufferings, Matt.
ix. 27, Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Behold,
J have forsaken all and followed thee, what shall we have,
SER. 2.] GRACE AND LOVE. 393
therefore ?" This was a legal therefore. Christ answered and
^aid, " You shall have your reward ; but many that are first
shall be last, and the last first." The only way to take away
this legal therefore, is to look more and more upon the free
grace of God, either in your services or sufferings for him ;
for this all must do, that either serve God or suffer for him,
under the conduct of free grace. Do you desire to serve
God either as to employments or sufferings under the conduct
of free grace and love ? then look more and more upon his
free grace, and depend upon it in reference to your call, in
reference to your assistance, in reference to your dependence,
and in reference to your reward, seeing all is of free grace,
bless the name of the Lord. Thus it is both in suffering
work and in service, the first shall be last, and the last first.
Therefore as you would desire to serve or suffer under the
conduct of free grace, rejoice and bless God for his free
grace ; remember this, that whether we serve or surfer it is
of free grace.
Thus you see how the free grace of God shines forth both
in our services and sufferings. " Is it not lawful for me to
do what I will with my own : is thine eye evil because 1 am
good ? So the last shall be first, and the first last, because
many are called, but few chosen."
SERMON II.
" Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father,
which hath loved us, and given us everlasting consolation and good hope
through grace ; comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good
word and work." 3 THESS. n. 16, 17.
HAVING already treated of the freeness of the grace of
God in reference to our employments and sufferings, I do
intend to shew you, also, the freeness of the grace of God in
reference to our comforts and consolations; and this text,
you see, saith, God hath given us " everlasting consolation,"
and tells us further, that God hath given us this everlasting
consolation " through grace."
Therefore, without any further explication, you see that
394
THE FBEBNESS OF
[SER. 2
free love is written upon all our spiritual comforts. For what
is more free than gift? " Now our Lord Jesus Christ him
self, and God, even our Father, hath given us everlasting
consolation and hope through grace." Therefore it is by thej
grace, by the free grace of God that we are truly comforted.
There is much of the freeness of God s grace and love laid!
out in our spiritual comforts and consolations.
For the opening of this argument.
First, I shall shew you that it is a great mercy to be truly j
comforted.
Secondly, That it is possible for God s own people to live ]
a great while without any considerable comfort.
Thirdly, That it is not in the power of any creature, or any
thing on this side God or Christ, to comfort a poor, distressed,
drooping soul.
Fourthly, That when God doth give or bestow comfort
upon any, he gives and bestows it in a way of free grace.
Fifthly, To shew wherein the grace and love of God is
manifested in the matter of our spiritual comforts.
Sixthly, Why God will deal with us in the way of free |
grace and love in the matter of our comforts.
Seventhly, When a man may be truly said to be comforted j
in a way of free grace and love.
Eighthly, What a poor drooping soul must do, that he may
be truly comforted in a way of free love ; and in case he be
so comforted, what returns he should make. Of these in
order.
First, I say it is a great mercy to be truly comforted ; for
it is a promised mercy, and promised mercies are no small
mercies : now this is a mercy promised, Matt. v. 4, " Blessed
are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."
As this is a mercy promised, so it it is the proper birth,
fruit, and effect of the Holy Ghost. Gal. v. 22, " But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentle
ness, goodness, faith." Joy and peace are the proper fruits
of the Holy Ghost, and therefore no small mercies.
As this comfort is the proper birth, fruit, and effect of the
Holy Ghost, so it is the main part of the kingdom of God.
Rom. xiv. 17, " For the kingdom of God is not meat nor
drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."
SER. 2.] GRACE AND LOVE. 395
It is a main part in the kingdom of God, and if so, no small
matter.
This comfort is reward also, as well as a main part of the
kingdom of God. Comfort and joy in the Holy Ghost is
both duty and reward ; so it is promised in the forementioned
scripture, Matt, v., " Blessed are they that mourn, for they
shall be comforted ; " and if so, then surely it is no small
thing.
As it is duty and reward, so it is that grace whereby you
are enabled to read your other graces. When a man is under
great temptations, sorrows and afflictions, it is a hard thing
to read his graces ; but now this helps us to read our graces.
Some will say they cannot read their graces, they lie at the
bottom. As to explain it, take this plain comparison :
there are many fishes in a fish-pond, but now in rainy and
foul weather the fish lie all at the bottom, and are not to be
seen ; but in fair weather the fish swim and are visible : so if
it be foul weather upon a soul, if it be dark and gloomy
weather, the soul cannot read his graces ; but now when
God shines upon him, then he is enabled to read them, yea,
though his graces lie at the bottom, as I may say, yet the
poor soul is able to read them. And if it be so, it is no
small thing ; it is no small matter to read our graces, our
other graces.
As it is that grace whereby you are enabled to read your
other graces, so it is that whereby you joy in all good things.
Grief and sorrow straiten the soul, straiten the heart ; but
joy and comfort dilate the soul, widen and open the heart :
" I will run in the Way of thy commandment, when thou
shalt enlarge my heart," Psalm cxix. 32.
As by this grace you are enabled to joy in all good things ;
so it is also that grace whereby you are enabled to bear up
against every evil thing, to bear up under all afflictions.
Are you reproached ? By this comfort you are enabled to
bear up against reproaches ; for saith the apostle Peter, " If
you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you."
Are you reproached ? Comfort will turn that to your benefit
and blessing. Are you persecuted ? " Blessed are you
when men shall revile and persecute you, rejoice," &c. Are
you not only persecuted, but beaten too ? Comfort will bear
396 THE FREENESS OF [SfiR. 2.
up your hearts under all stripes and afflictions, for we find
Paul and Silas suns; in the stocks. Well but this is not all.
O
This is the grace that will strengthen and establish you in
the good ways of God. Mark how they go together in 2
Thess. ii. 16, 17 : " Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and
God even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given
us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace,
comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word
and work." Comfort and establishment go together ; and
if it be so, it is no small matter.
This is that grace that will give a beauty and lustre to
your profession. The comforted Christian is the truly beau
tiful Christian. If a man have never so much beauty in his
face, yet if his face be wrinkled with grief and blubbered
with tears, the beauty of his face is not seen ; but when joy
and comfort comes, that wipes off all, and his beauty then is
seen. So here, comfort doth not only take away reproach
from your profession, but it gives a lustre, a beauty to your
profession. The comforted Christian, I say, is the truly
beautiful Christian ; and if so, surely it is a great mercy to
be truly comforted.
That is the first thing in general, that it is a great mercy
to be truly comforted.
Secondly, As it is a great mercy to be truly comforted, so
it is possible for God s own servants and dearest children to
live a long time without any considerable comfort, any fun
damental comfort; their hearts may faint. " My heart and
my soul fainteth," saith the Psalmist; and you know how it
was with Daniel, x. ] 7 You may see how he was bowed
down, he complains there was no strength remained in him,
until there came one and touched him, and set him upon his
legs again. A good man may faint and want comfort, and
all the former comforts that he hath had may be eclipsed.
" Restore to me the joy of thy salvation," Psalm li. 12, saith
David ; his glory and comfort was eclipsed. Yea, possibly a
gracious soul may live a long time without comfort. " How
long wilt thou forget, yea, forget me, O Lord ; what, for
ever ? " Psalm xiii. 1. I say a man may live a long time
without any considerable comfort. There is a time when
God will try his people, and see whether they will take
comfort from, his hand or from another hand ; it may be it
SER. 2.] GRACE AND LOVE.
may be so with you sometimes, God may try whether you
will wait upon him, and believe in him, and rest upon him
for comfort.
Thirdly, As a man may live long without comfort, so it is
not in the power of any thing, on this side God and Christ,
to give comfort to a poor drooping soul. This is the Lord s
prerogative : " I am the Lord that comforteth." This is his
name : " Father of mercies, and God of all comfort and
consolation." And 2 Cor. vii. 6, " Nevertheless God that
comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us," &c. It
is God s prerogative only to do it ; comforting work is crea
tion work ; it is not in the power of the creature, but of the
Creator. Isaiah Mi. 19 : "I create the fruit of the lips,
peace, peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is near,
saith the Lord, and I will heal him." It is God s work to
comfort, and not in the power of any other ; man may be
instrumental to comfort, but it is none but God alone that
can do the work.
But some may object and say, Can none but God alone
comfort ?
No, none but God alone can rate off Satan. If a great
dog or mastiff be worrying a child or a sheep, a stranger
comes and strikes him and calls him off, but the dog takes
no notice of him ; but when the master comes he rates him,
off presently : none but the master can do it. So here it is
none but God that can rate off Satan from worrying the
poor drooping soul, when it is under temptation, none but
God the master. It is not in the power of any creature,
but in the power of God alone ; it is in the power of none
but the third person in the Trinity, the Spirit of God.
What needed the third person in the Trinity to have come
into the world, as he is now, if any other could comfort ?
As none can redeem but Christ, the second person of the
Trinity, because the second person came from heaven on
purpose to redeem ; so none can comfort but God, and his
Spirit., because the third person came from heaven to do it.
Tnere is none but God alone that can comfort a poor soul.
That is the third particular.
Fourthly, When God doth bestow comfort, he bestows it
and gives it in a way of free grace, in a way of free love and
grace. See but how they go together in the text, " Who
398 THE FREENES3 OF
nath given us everlasting consolation through grace." I will
give you one scripture more to prove it, and consider it well,
Job xxxiii. ; you have there the draught of a man s conver
sion. First he goes on in his sin ; and all on a sudden God
gives in a word to him, at verses 14, 15 : " For God speaketh
once, yea twice, but man perceiveth it not : in a dream, in a
vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in
slumberings upon the bed ; then he openeth the ears of
men, and sealeth their instruction." And then the soul is
filled with horror of conscience, as in verse 19, " He is
chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of
his bones with strong pain." And when God hath done
thus, then he justifies him, and gives him faith, and shews
him true righteousness, as in verse 23, " If there be a mes
senger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to
shew unto man his uprightness." This is justification, and
when this is done, then the Lord comforts him, as in verse
25, " His flesh shall be fresher than a child s, he shall return
to the days of his youth." You see God comforts him in a
way of free love ; and in verse 26, " He shall pray unto
God, and he will be favourable unto him, and he shall see
his face with joy, for he will render unto man his righteous
ness." God comforts in a way of free love, he comforts how
he pleaseth, and as far as he pleaseth ; but whensoever he
comforts, it is still I say in a way of free love. You may
see it in Isa. Ixv. 14: it is said, " Behold my servants shall
sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart,
and shall howl for vexation of spirit." And thus also saith
the Lord in the former verse, " Behold my servants shall
eat, but ye shall be hungry ; behold iry servants shall drink,
but ye shall be thirsty ; behold my servants shall rejoice, but
ye shall be ashamed." God comforts whom he pleaseth and
as far as he pleaseth, and it is all free, out of free love.
John xiv. 20 : " At that day you shall know that I am in
my Father, and you in me, and I in you." And at verse 16,
" And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." This work
of comforting is properly the \\ork of the Holy Ghost; and
the Holy Ghost breathes as the wind, where it listeth ; and
therefore I say, comforts whom and how he pleaseth, and all
!
SER. 2.] GRACE AND LOVE. 399
in a way of free love and free grace. This is the fourth
particular.
Fifthly, Wherein is the love, the free love of God mani
fested to us in the matter of our comforts ? I answer in
many things.
I will pitch but upon three only.
1. The greater he is that giveth, and the greater the thing
is that is given, and the lesser or meaner the person is that
the thing is given unto, the more free is the love of him
that gives and bestows the thing. Now this comfort and
consolation is a great thing, it is a very great matter, it is a
birth of the Holy Ghost. Is that a small thing ? It is
part of the kingdom of God. Is that a small matter ? It
is both duty and reward. Is that small ? It is that which
exceeds all the joy of the world. " Lift up the light of thy
countenance upon me : thou hast put more gladness into
my heart, more than in the time that their oil and their wine
increased," Ps. iv. 7- Ask a poor drooping soul and he
will tell you that it is a great thing, for it comes from a
great God. Isa. Ivii. 15: "For thus saith the high and
lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy ; I
will dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that
is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the
humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Unto
that soul that trembles, unto that soul will God bring com
fort and will be nigh unto him. Now if a prince should
rise from his throne to come and help up a poor fallen
cripple, would it not be looked upon as an act of very great
favour. Yet thus God does when he comes to comfort, the
great " high and lofty One " comes down from his throne,
as it were to lift up a poor drooping soul. Oh, what free
grace is this ! But,
2. The more God doth cross hands, (understand me) the
more I say that God doth cross hands in the matter of our
comforts, the more doth the free grace of God appear in
our comforts ; when Jacob blessed Joseph s two children,
"he crossed his hands, and he laid his right hand upon the
younger, and his left hand upon the elder ; Not so, father/
says Joseph ; now what doth this shew but only the freeness
of his love ; and so if God shall cross hands in the matter
of our comfort, what doth this argue but the freeness of his
400 THE FREENESS OF [Sf.R. 2.
love and grace; and God doth sometimes do thus when he
comes to comfort, he doth cross hands. Sometimes two
men have been in the same transgression, and the one hath
been comforted and the other not; what shall we say of
Peter and of Francis Spira. Spira having professed the
truth, and being called to witness to it, did deny it ; so did
Peter, he denied Christ, yet Peter was comforted, but Spira
never comforted, but lay despairing and roaring out to his
death, " I am a reprobate, I am a reprobate, no hope for
me, no hope for me;" Peter was comforted, Spira was never
comforted. What do you think of David and Cain, Cain
murders his brother Abel, a godly man ; David murdered
Uriah, a godly man too : Uriah had been with him in all
his troubles, and was a very good man, but though David
was an adulterer also, yet a messenger is sent to him that
says, " Thy sins are forgiven thee : " but Cain was not com
forted, but driven out from the presence of the Lord. So
that I say there may be two in a transgression, and the one
may be comforted and the other not. Look into the Scrip
tures and into your own experiences, and you will find great
sinners comforted, and lesser sinners not comforted, and
great sinners converted and comforted sooner than others.
Zaccheus was a great sinner and yet was comforted ; the
jailor was a great sinner and yet comforted; and yet many
that have walked very closely with God have not been com
forted. Ps. Ixxxviii. 15. Heman complains sadly in verse
14 : " Lord, why castest thou off my soul, why hidest thou
thy face from me : I am afflicted and ready to die from my
youth up : while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted ; " and
yet he walked close with God, as you may find in the former
part of the Psalm. Yet we find sometimes, I say, the
greatest sinners converted and soonest comforted. Now
what is this but crossing of hands in the matter of our
comforts, and this is only to shew forth the freeness of the
grace of God ; and the free grace and love of God is most
abundantly, most eminently manifested to the soul by this
crossing of hands.
3. The more unbelieving any man is that is comforted,
the more doth the freeness of the grace of God appear.
Dearly beloved brethren, it is with our consolation as it is
with our justification and our sanctification ; when God
GRACE AND LOVE. 401
comes to justify a man he finds him ungodly ; yet he justifies
the ungodly, and not only the ungodly, but the unbelieving
also : and therefore the Lord said, " Go and compel them
to come in." They were unbelieving persons, yet God calls
them. And so it is also in the matter of our sanctification ;
when God comes to sanctify men, he finds them unwilling to
be sanctified : but as God justifies them though unwilling
because he doth it freely, so he sanctifies them too, though
unwilling, because he sanctifies freely. And so it is also in
the matter of our comforts. When God comes to comfort
he finds the soul unwilling many times. My soul refused
to be comforted," saith the Psalmist, Psalm Ixxvii. 2. And
so again, " Remember the word unto thy servant, upon
which thou hast caused me to hope," Psalm cxix. 49. I was
unwilling, but thou causedst me to hope whether I would or
no. When God comes to comfort, he doth it though men
are unwilling to be comforted. It is very strange that it
should be so, and yet such is the unbelief of men s hearts,
that as before conversion they are unwilling to be turned, so
after conversion they are unwilling to be comforted. Now
this is that I say, that the more unwilling any man is to be
comforted, yet if God doth comfort him, the more free doth
the grace of God appear in it. God doth comfort though
souls are unwilling. Oh, the freeness, the freeness of the
grace of God in the matter of our comforts. Thus you see
how and wherein the free grace of God appears and is mani
fested in our spiritual comforts and consolations. That is
the fifth particular.
Sixthly, Why will God deal with us in a \vay of free grace in
the matter of our comforts and consolations ; would it not be
better in a way of settlement, in a constant way, would not
that be best ? No, take notice of this, that there is no way
to make a mercy sure like this. I know no mercy that is so
sure as that which is wrought and given in a way of free grace
and free love. They go together in the text : " Everlasting con
solation through grace." The only way, I say, to make a thing
sure, is to receive it in this way in which God gives it, that
is in a way of free grace. Pray tell me, did not God choose
David freely and his house. Yea, it was freely in opposition
to the house of Saul, 2 Sam. vi. 21. Says David to Michal
Saul s daughter, " It was before the Lord, which chose me
VOL. II. D D
402 THE FREBNESS OF [SfiR. 2.
before thy father and before all his house, to appoint me
ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel," &c. God
chose him freely also in opposition to his own brethren.
And was not his house sure? The covenant was sure, 2
Sam. xxiii. 5, " Although my house be not so with God, yet
he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in
all things and sure, for this is all my salvation and all my
desire." God hath made me his chosen, and his mercies to
me are sure. God will deal with us in a way of free grace
that our mercies may be sure. " By grace ye are saved ;"
and if so, what a comfort is it that God will so order and
dispose of it, that we may be sure of it and depend upon it ;
for God will have us depend upon him for our spiritual
comforts : and what will make us more depend upon him,
than to know that he gives all in a way of free grace ? We
must depend upon God both for our spiritual and our out
ward comforts ; seeing what he doth he doth freely, we must
freely depend upon him for comfort. But,
Seventhly, When may a man be said to be truly comforted
in a way of free grace ? I cannot deny but I am comforted,
saith a poor soal, but I know not whether it be in a way of
free grace and free love : now how may I know that I am
comforted in a way of free grace ?
I shall speak to this negatively and affirmatively.
1. Negatively. There is a comfort that is the daughter of
time. A man or woman is sorrowful, but time wears it out,
time comforts them. This comfort that springs from and
ariseth out of time, is not true comfort, neither is that man
truly comforted by free grace. But when the soul is truly
comforted in a way of free grace, then he is comforted by
the Holy Ghost; the Holy Ghost bearing witness that he is
the child of God.
There is a comfort that ariseth from the satisfaction of a
natural conscience. A man knows by nature that there is a
God, and that this God is to be prayed unto, and therefore
he prays accordingly ; and when he hath done, his natural
conscience is satisfied, and he is then comforted : but now if
a man s comfort arise only from this, from the satisfaction of
a natural conscience, that man is not truly comforted ; for
he that is truly comforted, is comforted by joy in believing :
" In whom believing, ye rejoice," Rom. xv. 13.
IJSER. 2.] GRACE AXD LOVE. 403
There is a comfort that ariseth from a man s npn-attend-
Lance to his own condition. Men may be comforted, why ?
{because they never look into their condition, how it stands
^between God and their souls. There is a comfort arising
I! not only from a man s conscience, but from the non-attend-
I ance to his own condition, and hereupon he is secure ; but
II this is not the comfort that ariseth from free grace and free
I love.
There is a comfort that doth arise from the use of the
I creature. Men are troubled in their minds, and they run
presently to the tavern, to their music or merry company to
I put it off, and so it may be are comforted ; but if a man s
comfort arise only from the creature, he is not truly com-
I forted, not comforted with the comfort of free grace and love.
I He that is comforted in this way, it is but a diversion to him,
| and not true comfort. As straw when set on fire will make
II a flash and a flame, but black ashes remain behind; so when
II men are troubled, and they run to the tavern, or to music
I and merry company, all this is but a flash, black ashes
| remain behind. Provoked trouble will be angry trouble, and
I angry will be most troublesome ; when men run to merri-
i ment to divert trouble, they provoke it.
There is a comfort that doth arise from the common work
of the Holy Ghost : " Some who have tasted of the hea
venly gift, and are made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and
yet fall away," Heb. vi. 4. The false ground " received the
word with joy." Now if a man s comfort ariseth from these
common workings of the Holy Ghost, it is not true comfort;
j for he that is truly comforted, is comforted in a way of free
love, his comfort is unspeakable. " Whom having not seen
you love, in whom though now you see him not, yet believ
ing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory," i
Pet. i. 8. Thus you see, negatively, when a man is not truly
i comforted in these five particulars. A man is not truly com-
forted from time, nor from the satisfaction of a natural
: conscience, nor from a non-attendance to his condition, nor
i from the use of the creature, nor lastly from the common
I workings of the Holy Ghost. But,
2. Affirmatively. We have heard when a man may be
said not to be comforted. Now when may a man be said to
be comforted, truly comforted in a way of free grace ? Be-
DD 2
404 THE FREENESS OF [SER. 2.
loved in the Lord, are you willing to have your comforts
tried ? False and counterfeit things do not love trial ; now
if you be willing to be tried, to have your comforts tried, it
is a sign and a hope that your comforts may be true : but I
shall not insist on this. There are two or three things I
shall speak to here,
If you have been comforted by the word of promise set
on upon your souls by God, then are you truly comforted in
a way of love and free grace, for what is the promise but the
word of grace. But some may say, I have had a promise,
but I fear it may be from the devil, for the devil may bring
a promise ; did he not bring a promise unto Christ ? Matt,
iv. 6, saying, "He shall give his angels charge over thee,
and in their hands they shall bear thee up." This promise
was brought to Christ by the devil, and it may be my pro
mise may be handed to me by Satan, and set on upon my
soul by him. But do but mark this, I will only say this one
thing to thee, poor soul, to ease thee of this objection : If Satan
bring a promise to you, it is to lead you into sin, to draw you
into sin and to that which is evil; as this to Christ here,
" He will give his angels charge concerning thee, cast thyself
down/ 5 He brought a promise to do evil : " Cast thyself
down." But now if God hand a promise to you, it is for
your doing of good ; therefore says Christ to Satan, " It is
written :" I have a word and a promise too : " It is written
thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." The devil brought
this that he might do evil, and God gave Christ a word to
keep him from evil. And so when you are brought into
temptations, great temptations, if you have a word of pro
mise brought home to your hearts to bear you up under
temptation, it is not the devil that gives it in to you, that
hands it to you. No, for the devil is no friend to faith, no
friend to stay you up, for the tempter will not act against
the temptation. Saith Luther, Though the devil be magni-
potent, yet he is not omnipotent ; though he be mighty, yet
he is not almighty. And therefore I say, if you have a pro
mise come to you to help you to do good, it is not of Satan
but of God ; for he is almighty, he is able to comfort. That
is the first.
Would you know whether you be comforted in a way
of free grace and love, you may know it by the ebbing
GRACE AND LOVE. 405
(Hind flowing of your comforts, which will ebb and flow ac
cording to the cause. They say the marigold opens and
, j shuts with the sun, when the sun shines it opens, when the
sun withdraws it shuts, it opens and shuts according to the
Withdrawing and shining of the sun ; and so if your comforts
! jbe true, the more the righteousness of Christ opens before
I/ou, the more the Sun of righteousness shines upon you,
Wthe more you will be comforted. If your comforts be true,
btche more the freeness of the love of God is opened to you,
l:he more will the comfort of the soul be enlarged ; if your
jpomforts be true, the more God shines with his countenance,
the more is the soul comforted. " Lord, (says David in Ps.
j.v. 6) lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, thou
nast put more gladness in my heart than in the time that
rheir corn and their wine increased." Now according to the
jopening and shutting of these things, so will your comforts
,jbe. How is it therefore with you; is there any ebbing and
ijflowing? How is the righteousness of Christ; hew is the
.light of God s countenance discovered to you; are they
ijlaid open to you ? Then are you truly comforted in a way
Hof free grace and love. That is the second.
If you be comforted in a way of free grace and love, then
I your comforts are true friends to holiness of life. That
comfort that is wrought by the grace of God without you,
is the greatest friend to the grace of God within you, and to
I holiness in your lives. False comfort is a friend to sin, a
neighbour, a guard to sin; but no friend to true and gra
cious comfort ; yea, those that have this false comfort can
endure sins against conscience. But now where there is
! true comfort, and comfort from the grace of God, there
I conscience is as the apple of the eye, and the man cannot
i endure the least sin, he cannot bear the least mote of sin
I to lie upon his conscience. How is it therefore with you ;
; is your comfort a friend to holiness of life ; and can you say,
! The more comforted I am, the more holy I am ? Then you
are truly comforted.
But suppose I want comfort now, and that I am one of
a drooping, trembling spirit and of an afflicted heart ; what
shall I do that I may be comforted and comforted in a way
of free grace ? I answer :
Go away and be sensible of your unbelief ; for it is want
406 THE FREENESS OF [SfiK. 2.
of believing that hinders our comfort, and when the Com
forter comes, he will convince the world of sin and especially
of unbelief. Would you then be comforted in a way of
free love ? Go then I say and be sensible of your unbelief,
and be humbled for it.
Observe what those things are that hinder your spiritual
comforts, and take heed of them. They are many. I will
only name some of them. As,
Worldly fears and worldly delights ; these are enemies to
true comfort.
Sins against conscience : they that sin against knowledge,
will hardly have peace of conscience; nay it is pity they
should have peace, lest they be engaged and encouraged
thereby to sin ; those that sin against conscience will hardly
have peace. Do you think to have the Spirit to be your
friend whom you grieve so often ? If then you would be
truly comforted, you must have a great care of sinning
against conscience and thereby grieving the Spirit, that
" Spirit whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption,"
Ephes. iv. 30. Would you then be truly comforted ? Ob
serve I say these things that hinder your spiritual comfort ;
can you think that what you grieve most should comfort
you most ? Therefore as you expect true comfort, have a
care of grieving the Spirit of God.
If at any time God make a tender of grace, or offer a
word of cone fort and peace to you ; be sure you do not
refuse it. We are apt to refuse to be comforted, but be
sure you accept of it, especially in time of temptation.
Be sure you do not rest upon your own performances in
reference to your comforts. Brethren and beloved, think
on these things, and compare them with your own daily
experiences. I say, if you would be truly comforted, do not
rest on your own performances. As we are apt to rest
upon our own righteousness in reference to our justification ;
so we are apt also to rest upon our own performances in
reference to our comforts. Oh, take heed you do not go
about to establish your own comforts upon the bottom of
your own performances, for if you do, you will not submit
to the consolations of God.
If you would be comforted in a way of free grace and
love, then study much the freeness of the grace of God.
fr
i the
H5ER. 2.] GRACE AND LOVE. 407
BYhat is the reason people are no more comforted ? It
Is because they see no more of the grace of God, the
|ree grace of God. The more you look into the riches
IJind freeness of God s grace, the more you will be comforted.
If you want comfort at any time, walk graciously in the
I vant of it. When you want comfort go to God and say :
[Lord, although I cannot see thee, yet will I serve thee ;
Mind although I cannot enjoy thee, yet I will obey thee ;
Bind although I cannot see thy face, yet I will follow after
l;hec, if by any means I may obtain thee. Walk graciously
n the want of your comforts.
Set yourself to rejoice in him that gives you comfort,
y Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice," saith
|;he apostle, Phil. iv. 4. He doth not only say, Humble
[yourself for sin ; which is a duty and a great duty ; but he
I saith " Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice in the Lord/ Re-
Ijoice in the Lord who gives you comfort freely. As much
I is you have been humbled for sin formerly, so much should
lyou now rejoice that you have been comforted, and freely
I comforted by the grace of God ; rejoice so much in the
I Lord of your comforts.
To name them only : If you would be comforted in a way
of free grace and love, then be thankful for your comfort.
He that is thankful for a little, shall have much ; be thankful
therefore to God for your comfort.
Would you be comforted in a way of free grace and love ;
then go to God for that comfort. Friends and beloved;
God is willing, most willing to comfort ; and, what will
[you not go to him? God is willing to make good his name
and his title ; now this is one of his titles, I am the Lord
that comforteth. He is willing to do what Christ was sent
to do ; " the Spirit of the Lord is upon me to comfort all
that mourn," Isa. Ixi. 2. Is not God willing to do it ? He
hath sent the Comforter also to comfort you, yea he hath
given his ministers charge to comfort you : " Comfort ye,
comfort ye my people," Isa. xl. 1 ; and are not you willing
now to receive what God hath promised ? " I will not leave
you comfortless, I will come unto you," John xiv. 15. You
will be troubled and reason with yourselves, yet I will not
leave you comfortless. " As one whom his mother com
forteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted,"
408
THE FllEENESS OF
[SER. 2
Isa. Ixvi. 13. Therefore now, oh, poor drooping soul, gc
to God, for he is willing to comfort thee, if thou be bul
willing to go to him. Only in your going to God observe
these two or three directions.
1. When you go to God for comfort, go to the offic
which he hath set up for comfort, the office of the Holyj
Ghost.
2. When you go to God, shut your eyes, and cast yourself
at an adventure upon the free grace of God.
3. In going to God for comfort you must stay God s]
leisure ; some come and ask God, and because they do not
receive an answer presently, they are gone ; but be sure you!
do willingly stay God s leisure. Thus I say, would you have
comfort ? You must observe these things, to go to God s
office, to shut your eyes, and to cast yourselves at adventure
upon the free grace of God, and then you must stay God s
leisure; thus doing you shall be truly comforted ; and when
you have obtained this comfort and are thus truly com
forted, then take these few rules with you, and so I conclude.
1. Take as much pains to keep your comfort as ever you
did to get it.
2. Labour more and more to increase it, for if it do not
increase it will certainly decrease.
3. Be comfortable to, and comforting of others ; for how
do you know but that God hath comforted you, to this very
end, that you might comfort others ; Paul was so, and be sure
to shew comfort for comfort s sake.
Brethren and beloved in the Lord, do not receive this grace
in vain ; but &o, all you that have this comfort, and magnify
the riches of God s grace, the freeness of the grace of God
that hath comforted you, and say, What, such a one as I
comforted ! Others of thv children, Lord, have walked
closely with thee, but I have walked loosely ; and shall I be
comforted and not they ? Oh, what free grace is this ! I have
been a great sinner, Lord, and what, am I comforted ? Oh,
what free grace is this ! There are some that have walked
in the light, and they are now in darkness ; but I have walked
in the dark, and yet am now in the light ; oh, what free grace
is this ! Go away, therefore, and magnify the riches of God s
grace in the matter of your comforts.
Thus you have heard how the freeness of the grace of God
SER. 3.] GRACE AND LOVE. 409
is written upon all your comforts, your comforts and conso
lations are all deeply enamelled with the free grace of God ;
and that much of his free love is laid out in your comforts
and consolations. And thus I conclude with the words of
my text : " Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God,
even our Father, which hath loved us, and given us everlast
ing consolation and good hope through grace ; comfort your
hearts, and establish you in every good word and work."
SERMON III.
" For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of your
selves, it is the gift of God." EPH. n. 8.
IN the former exercise I have been shewing you the free-
ness of the love and grace of God in the matter of our com
forts and divine consolations. I shall now, in the third place,
shew you the freeness of the grace of God in reference to
our salvation and eternal glory, and therefore follow these
words which the apostle speaks at the latter end of verse 5,
" By grace are ye saved ;" and so you see the same in verse
8, " For by grace are ye saved, and that not of yourselves, it
is the gift of God."
But why should he say the same words again in so short a
a compass ? Why, it was to shew, not only that his heart
was full of the free grace and love of God, but to shew, also,
that he thought he could never speak enough of it, and there
fore he repeats it, " By grace ye are saved :" " For by grace
are ye saved." That is to say, from first to last you are saved
by the free grace and love of God.
From whence, then, I take up this doctrine :
That there is much of the free love and grace of God laid
out in the matter of our salvation and eternal glory.
For the clearing of this point, I shall endeavour to shew
you,
First, That it is a matter of infinite happiness and of great
concernment to go to heaven and to be saved for ever.
Secondly, To shew you how this mercy is obtained, this
410
THE FREENESS OF
[SER. 3.
mercy of salvation and eternal glory ; I shall shew it is of
free grace and free love.
Thirdly, I shall answer two objections.
Fourthly, I shall shew you wherein the free grace and love
of God appears in the matter of our salvation.
Fifthly, Shew you why God chooseth to save the children
of men in a way of free love and grace.
First, I shall speak a little by way of introduction : it is a
great matter and of infinite concernment to be saved and to
go to heaven for ever. For,
1. You are thereby saved from wrath to come. You count
it here a great matter to be saved from the wrath of man,
but it is a far greater mercy to be delivered frorr. the wrath
of devils, to be delivered from their fury and malice, and not
to lie at their mercy to all eternity. Yea,
2. You shall be delivered from all sorrow, both inward and
outward; and if so, how blessed and happy are you, for you
shall die in the Lord : " And blessed are the dead that die in
the Lord, for they rest from their labours," &c. Rev. xiv. 13.
It is a mercy to have meat and drink, and a bed to lie on,
but it is a greater mercy not to need them : in heaven you
shall be freed from these needs and necessities. You walk
here, but it is with a burden ; you hear now, but it is with a
burden ; you repent now, but it it is with a burden : but in
heaven you shall be freed, not only from the guilt of the
neglect of duty, but from the burden of duty also ; heaven
knows of no duty that hath a burden with it. Thus you shall
be freed. Again,
3. You shall not only be freed from these troubles, but you
shall also be brought into a possession, into " an inheritance
that is incorruptible, that fadeth not away ;" where you shall
enjoy the company of saints and angels, and that without
suspicion or jealousy one of another. Here you have the
company of saints, but either you suspect them or they you,
either they are jealous of you or you of them ; but heaven
knows no suspicions, no jealousies ; saints live there without
suspicions.
4. If you go to heaven and be saved, you shall then be
filled with glory. If you have but a little taste of glory here,
you are ready to break under it, under a little glory; but the
time will come when you shall be filled with glory, and your
. 3.] GRACE AND LOVE. 411
hearts shall bear up under it \ your bodies shall be changed;
" your vile bodies shall be changed, and made like unto
Christ s glorious body ;" you shall be filled with glory, soul
and body both. Yea,
5. If you be saved, your graces shall be always in act, al
ways in exercise ; your understandings shall be fully enlight
ened, your difficulties shall be removed, and you shall see
them all little and easy upon you, and your wills, hearts and
affections shall be drawn out to God with infinite satisfaction
and infinite delight : " I shall be satisfied when I awake with
thy likeness," Psalm xvii. 15. All delight ariseth from en
joying things suitable : now what is more suitable for a ra
tional creature than to enjoy his ends. When a husband
hath been at sea from his wife half a year or a year, what joy
it is to her to see him come home again. So for a poor soul to
see Christ, what joy is it, after he hath withdrawn himself a
great while ? Here we have communion with Christ but in
part, and interrupted ; but then you shall be ever, for ever
with the Lord, and have communion with him without inter
ruption. Now we see joy and glory but darkly; and if there
be so much sweetness to see Christ in a glass, oh, then, what
sweetness will it be to see him face to face, and enjoy him
for ever. And, to say no more,
6. If you be saved you shall have the knowledge of the
continuance of this condition. Though a man s condition be
never so happy in itself, yet if he think it will not continue,
that man is unhappy in the midst of his happiness. This is
the unhappiness of hell, men shall know and be assured that
they shall never be delivered out of it, never, never, never :
and this is the happiness of heaven, that men shall always
rejoice, and shall be assured that they shall so continue to do
ever, ever, ever.
Secondly, But in what way does a man come to this attain
ment ; how and in what way is a man saved ? Why in a way
of free love and grace, for if God bestow any thing in a way
of gift, it is free, for what is more free than gift. Now do
but consider what these things are which are called in Scrip
ture, salvation ; and you may observe that they all come in a
way of gift.
Sometimes salvation is put for the Author of salvation,
Jesus Christ : " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in
412 THE FREENESS OF [SER. 3.
peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy
salvation," Luke ii. 29, 30. That is, Christ the Author of
our salvation. And so saith Christ to Zaccheus, " This day
is salvation come to thy house;" that is, Christ. Now this
salvation is obtained in a way of gift. Saith Christ to the
woman of Samaria, " If thou hadst known the gift of God,
and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink," &c.,
John iv. 10. He calls himself the gift of God.
Sometimes salvation is put for the means of salvation, for
the gospel : " How shall we escape if we neglect so great
salvation," Heb. ii. 3 ; that is, the means of salvation, the
gospel. This salvation is also called the gift of God : " Unto
you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of hea
ven," Matt. xiii. 11.
Sometimes salvation is put for eternal glory. " Who would
have all men to be saved, both Jew and gentile." And this
salvation is the gift of God too. Rom. vi. 23, " But the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," Now
salvation, as to the Author of it, as to the means of it, and
as to the salvation itself ; it is all of free grace, all given in a
way of free love and grace ; and therefore it must needs be
that much of the free grace and love of God is laid out in
our salvation.
Thirdly. But you will say, If it be so, that by free grace
we are saved, then what need we use the means of salvation ;
you say we are saved by grace, by free grace, wherefore then
need we endeavour ?
Yes, we are to endeavour : do you not use your endeavour
to get your daily bread ? and yet that is the gift of God.
Your livelihood is the gift of God, for you say, " Give us this
day our daily bread." It is then the gift of God, and yet we
are to use the means. And so we are to do what we can,
although not what we should in the matter of our salvation ;
because by our endeavour and using the means we shew our
dependence upon God, and our obedience to him, because he
hath commanded it. For,
Again, Although, I say with the apostle, " By grace ye are
saved, and not of works ;" yet works are necessary, good
works are necessary in regard of our thankfulness to God ;
and necessary, as they are an evidence of our salvation, saith
the apostle ; although I say, by grace ye are saved, yet you
SER. 3.] GRACE AND LOVE. 413
are to be in the performance of good works. Eph. ii. 10,
" For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works ;" the same word, good works. That is the third
general. But,
Fourthly, Wherein doth the freeness of the grace .of God
appear in the matter of our salvation ?
There is a great deal of free grace in this, that God should
ordain us to eternal life and salvation. 2 Tim. i. 9, " Who
hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not accord
ing to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."
Again,
To name them. Is it not great grace, mercy and favour,
that God should send his own Son from heaven to die for us
and to purchase our salvation, yet so he did. " Ye are bought
with a price." W T hat price ? " The blood of Jesus Christ,
who gave himself a ransom for you," 1 Tim. ii. 6.
Is it not a great mercy, a very great favour, that we that
had broken the first covenant, and had not performed the
conditions of it, that we should be set up again as I may say;
that God should set us up again, under another covenant,
that runs without any condition ; and yet so he did, Heb.
viii. 10. " For this is the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord, I will put
my law into their mind and write them in their heart, and I
will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people."
Yet further, it is in the matter of our salvation, as it is in
the matter of our consolation and comfort ; and as I said of
that, so I say also of this : That the greater, and the more
glorious any mercy is, and the more worthy and great the
person is that giveth it, and the more unworthy the person
is that receives it, the more doth the grace of him appear
who giveth it ; now what greater mercy, what more glorious
mercy, than heaven and salvation ? It is called the kingdom
of God, the kingdom of heaven ; it is called the kingdom of
glory, and eternal glory ; it is called joy, enter into the joy of
our Lord : and great is the joy of our Lord ; that joy which
was set before Christ, that is the joy of the saints in heaven,
" It is such as eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither
hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things
which God hath prepared for them that love him," 1 Cor. ii.
414 THE FREENESS OP [SER. 3.
9. Paul was wrapt up to heaven, but when he came down
he was not able to declare the glory thereof; those that are
in a war, are better able to declare the passages of it than
those that write it, but yet they are not able to declare it all.
So the apostle could speak something of this great and infi
nite glory, but was not able to declare it all. There was one,
who was asked by his prince, What God was ? he desired first,
two days to answer, when they were past he required four
days, and after four days, he asked eight days to answer ; so
if you should ask me what glory that is, which is in my
text, I must take two days, and then four days, and then
eight days to answer, and yet then I should not be able to
declare, nor be able to express, this glory which is wrapt up
in this one word, salvation.
But it may be this blessed estate is bestowed only upon
those that are worthy ? No, not so, this is most commonly
bestowed upon those that are most unworthy : what is more
unworthy than a dog ? Why, was not Stephen looked upon
as a dog ? Yea, were not the Gentiles looked upon as dogs ?
Saith Christ ; " Why cast ye the children s bread to dogs ?"
Now though salvation was of the Jews, for Christ came of
the Jews, yet salvation is now for the Gentiles ; and among
the Gentiles who was more unworthy than a blasphemer,
and a persecutor of the saints and servants of God, and such
a one was Paul, and yet he was saved, though he was not
only undeserving of it, but deserving quite the contrary ;
now who more undeserving than those that deserve the con
trary ? yet by grace even they are saved, therefore, saith the
Psalmist, Ps. viii. 3. " When I consider thy heavens, the
work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast
ordained ; what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the
son of man that thou visitest him," &c. So I say, that the
more glorious any mercy is, the more unworthy the re
ceiver is, and the greater he is that gives, the more free is the
thing given, and thus it is with our salvation. Salvation is a
great, and glorious mercy, and this salvation is given, and that
is great and glorious too, and it is given unto man who is
most unworthy, and it is given by God who is most infinite
and excellent above us. But again.
The more God doth cross hands in the matter of our sal
vation, the more free is his grace, in his bestowing of it upon
SER. 3.] GRACE AND LOVE. 415
us : for as I shewed you before, that God doth cross hands
in the matter of our comforts, so I say now, that God doth
cross hands in the matter of our salvation also ; for he doth
often save them that are most unlikely to be saved, as Paul,
and Matthew the publican, and who more unlikely than
Zaccheus or the thief on the cross, or the jailor ? yet were
these saved, though very unlikely to be saved. And so on
the contrary, who more likely to be saved, than the young
man in the gospel, that came to Christ, yet you know he was
rejected : the young man he comes unto Christ, and says,
Matt. xix. 16. " Good master, what good thing shall I do,
that I may have eternal life ? Says Christ, Keep the com
mandments ; All these things have I kept, saith he, from my
youth upward ; then saith Christ, Go, sell all that thou hast
and then thou shall have treasures in heaven, and it is said
he went away sorrowful." Mark now, was not this a forward
young man, a very forward man, " all these, saith he, have I
kept from my youth upward," and Christ doth not contra
dict him, and yet notwithstanding, this man could not do
what Christ commanded him, he could not sell all he had ;
it was too hard for him to learn that lesson which Christ set
him, for it is said that he went away sorrowful ; and there
fore saith Christ, " A rich man shall hardly enter in the king
dom of heaven :" and what is this but only to shew that
God doth often cross hands in the matter of our salvation,
to shew that " the first shall be last, and the last first," for
God loves to cross hands in the matter of our salvation ;
and therefore we find in Scripture that there aie some that
come to Christ and say as the scribe in Matt. viii. 19:
" Master, I will follow thee wheresoever thou goest," and
Christ seems to put him off, and yet in the next verse almost
he puts one forward, and he excuses himself and says,
" Suffer me to bury my father," but Christ saith, " Follow
me," &c. Thus you see what crossing of hands there is in the
matter of our salvation, to shew " the first shall be last, I say,
and the last first." Friends, stay but a little while, until
the day of judgment, and then you will see what crossing
of hands there will be ; then you shall see some men at the
right hand of Christ, whom you would have thought would
never have been saved, and then also you shall see some
on the left hand of Christ, whom you would have thought
416 THE FREEXESS OF |"SER. 3.
would never have been there. God, I say, will cross hands in
the matter of our salvation, and the more he doth so, the
more doth the freeness of his grace appear to them that are
saved. Again,
Yet one thing more, the more our salvation is laid upon
the arch or pillar of grace and love, the more free is the
grace of God, and the more free it doth appear in the be
stowing of it. Now what are the arches and pillars of free
grace and love, upon which our salvation under Christ is
laid. I shall name some of them.
The absoluteness of the covenant. That God justifies the
ungodly. Thus our righteousness is not in us but in Christ.
That the guilt of our sins by which we lay liable to condem
nation is removed. That a little sincerity covers a great
deal of infirmity. That what God calls cur s is not indeed
cur s, but God s, as our graces, our duties, which are not
indeed cur s but God s. That God will in due time glorify
us and honour us. Sin doth provoke God and causeth him
to be angry with us, but grace doth provoke him to love us ;
and therefore the pillars of our salvation are laid under Christ
upon grace, upon free grace and love: and thereby the free-
ness of the grace of God doth the more appear in the matter
of our salvation. And that is the fourth general. But then,
Fifthly, Salvation is a work of grace ; and seeing we are
saved by grace alone, why then doth God choose to save
men in this way of free grace ? I answer,
It is because this is the most honourable way unto God.
The papists are not ashamed to say that it is most honour to
a man to be saved by works, but I am sure it is more honour
and more honourable unto God to save by his free grace.
If there was somewhat of the good pleasure of God in the
world s condemnation, all the reason in the world then that
there should be free grace in the way of salvation. Pray
how came Adam to stand for the whole world ? He was not
chosen by us, why it was the good pleasure of God that ha
should stand for the whole world, and that he sinning, we
should be all guilty of sin by, and through him : so I say, if
there was, as I may speak with reverence, somewhat of the
good pleasure of God in the old world s condemnation, why
then should there not be free grace in the soul s salvation,
Rom. v. 15. " But not as the offence, so also is the free gift,
$F.R. 3.] GRACE AND LOVE. 417
for if through the offence of one, many be dead, much more
the grace of God, and the gift of grace, which is by one man,
Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
God would have heaven and salvation to be of one piece ;
he would have the work of heaven to be the same ; now
there were many angels that fell, and many thousands that
stood, why how came they to stand that did stand, more than
the others that fell? it was only by free grace, they were
elect angels. Now men and angels in heaven are of the
same choir and sing the same song ; and therefore those men
that are saved, oh, \vho are they ? why they are the elect,
and they have great cause to glorify the grace, the free grace
of God.
God saves men in a way of free love and grace, because
none shall miss of salvation. As God will punish and con
demn all the proud, all the wicked, that none shall escape ;
so he will also save all that he hath a mind to save, by free
grace because they shall not miss of salvation.
God will save men in such a way as whereby he may be
glorified to all eternity, and therefore he saves them in a way
of free grace and love ; for what have we to praise God for
in heaven, but only for free grace, free grace, to gloriiy his
name for that ; therefore I say, God will save men in this way
of free love and grace, that he may be thereby glorified
hereafter to all eternity, and thus I have done with the
doctrine ; now go along with me a little by way of appli
cation.
If we be saved by free grace, if free grace and love be the
foundation of our salvation, why should we not then stand
clear from all our own works, as to the meritorious ends of
them ; for grace and works are opposed, and therefore faith
as a work can neither justify nor save. I confess the apostle
saith, " Work out your own salvation w r ith fear and trem
bling," but what follows, " for it is God that worketh in you
both to will and to do of his good pleasure," Phil. ii. 12, 13.
If we be saved by grace, why should we not be tender of
the grace of God, of the name of God, of the free grace of
God, and of the great name of God. Are you saved by grace
and will you turn grace into wantonness ? Oh, my friends,
I say, if you be saved by grace and by grace alone, how
VOL. II. E E
418 THE PREEXESS OF [SER.3.
tender should you be of the name of God and of the free
grace of God.
If we be saved by grace, then we may here see the reason
why many do take so much pains as they think for heaven,
and yet fall short of it and go to hell ; why it is because
salvation lies under the conduct of free grace. Some men
abstain from sin that they may not be damned, others per
form holy duties, read and hear, &c., that they may go to
heaven, yea " many strive and shall not enter," because sal
vation is of free grace.
If by grace ye are saved, and that there is much of the
free grace of God in our salvation, why then should you
doubt of it ? I confess it is a hard thing to have assurance
of your salvation, and if you have it, it is free grace to you
more than to another, and free grace is the founder of it, if
you have it. But yet, O soul, if by grace we are saved let
us not then doubt of it, for it is most sure ; if you are saved
by grace, I say, why doubt ye then, oh, ye of little faith.
O Christians, comfort yourselves with these words, " It is
your Father s good pleasure to give you the kingdom," Luke
xii. 32. It is his good will and pleasure, it is in a way of
free grace and love.
But you may say though it be in a way of free grace and
love, yet it may not be for me, it may none of it be mine,
saith the soul.
Nay, say not so, but mark what an inference the Psalmist
makes and draws up from this general. Psalm cxxx. 4, 5 :
" But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be
feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his
word do I hope." And so in Psa. ciii. speaking at large of
the grace, mercy and goodness of God, in the 8th verse he
saith : " The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and plenteous in mercy ; " but what is the conclusion : " Bless
the Lord all ye his hosts, bless the Lord all his works, bless
the Lord O my soul." The very last words are, " bless the
Lord O my soul ; " from the consideration of the freeness of
the grace of God in general lie draws up this conclusion,
"bless the Lord O my soul."
But you may say: Though God will save by grace, yet.
surely all shall not be saved by grace. Shall all men be"
saved ; is God so free ?
SKH. 3.] GRACE AND L.OVE. 419
No, all men shall not be saved, for saith the apostle, Gal.
v. 15: "We through the spirit wait for the hope of righ
teousness by faith ; for in Jesus Christ, neither circumcision
availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but the new creature."
But shall not all be saved ? No, saith the same apostle,
Eph. v. 6 : " Let no man deceive you, for no whoremonger,
nor unclean person, &c., hath any inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ, and of God." There is no place for unclean
things in heaven. You know what the apostle saith to the
Galatians, "The inheritance is not to the bondwoman nor
to her children." So that I say that God doth not save all,
but those he doth save are saved by free grace.
But you would know who those are that are saved, or
that shall be saved for ever ; why, thus briefly only to name
things :
Look who those are that are justified, they shall be cer
tainly saved.
Those that are willing to part with all for Christ and for
the service of Christ, they shall certainly be saved. " And
every one that hath forsaken house s, or brethren, or sisters,
or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my
-sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit ever
lasting life." Matt. xix. 29.
They that stand at Christ s right hand here, they shall be
sure to stand at Christ s right hand at the day of judgment ;
and so be saved. " Now he that hath wrought us for the
self-same thing is God, .who also hath given unto us the
earnest of his Spirit ; he that hath wrought us for the self
same thing," 2 Cor. v. 5 ; it is the very same word which is
used for " work out your own salvation," &c. So that there
is a working up of the soul unto eternal glory ; and if Christ
hath wrought you unto the self-same thing whilst you live
here, then you are at his right hand now : and then you may
be sure to stand at his right hand at the day of judgment,
and so shall be sure to be saved for ever to all eternity.
Those that are tender to Christ s little ones, that are tender
to those that are despised in this world, and ready to help
and assist them according to their wants, they shall surely be
saved for ever. " Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you. For I was an hungred, and
ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink ; I
2 E E
420 THE FKEEXESS OF [SfiR. 3.
was a stranger, and ye took me in ; I was naked, and ye
clothed me ; sick, and ye visited me ; in prison, and ye came
unto me. And the righteous answer, Lord, when did we see
thee sick, or naked, or hungry, and fed thee, and clothed
thee ? " why saith he, " Inasmuch as you did it to one of the
least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me," Matt.
xxv. 35. So I say, look who these are that are tender of
Christ s little ones and are ready to help them, and to relieve
them according to their wants and necessities ; those are they
that shall be saved to all eternity.
Those that " strive together for the faith in times of afflic
tion," those are they that shall be saved for ever. " That ye
stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind, striving together for
the faith of the gospel," Phil. i. 27- So I say, look who those
are, that in the time of persecution strive for the faith, they
shall surely be saved and that to all eternity. Yet one thing
more.
Those that come to Christ in time of temptation, they
shall be saved freely to all eternity. For saith our Saviour
Christ, John vi. 39 : " And this is my Father s will that hath
sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose
nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day ; " in verse
37, says Christ, "him that cometh to me, I will in no wise
cast out," and I will give you the reason, saith he, " For it is
the will of my Father that I should lose none which he hath
given unto me, but that they should rise at the last day."
How is it therefore with you, holy and beloved brethren in
the Lord ? Do you come to Christ in your temptations ?
Do you strive together in love for the faith in time of perse
cution ? Are you tempted ; are you brought low ? Remem
ber this, that Christ is able to raise you up and to save you
to all eternity ; and therefore, O soul, doubt not of your
salvation.
But some may say, I am guilty of this doubting, what shall
I do that I may not doubt of my salvation ?
This is too large a subject to speak to now, I shall only
say this to it. Let me desire you to study much the freeness
of the grace of God in general ; and consider also much and
frequently, the particular instances of grace and mercy that
God hath shewn to others, and you will find it is all of free
grace ; yea and this scripture shews you that all is of free
SER. 3.] GRACE AND LOVE. 421
grace ; and therefore though it be a hard thing for us to get
assurance of our salvation ; yet the particular instances and
examples of the mercies that God hath bestowed upon others,
should much encourage us and bear us up, and should stir us
up to get assurance. Grace and mercy being shewn to others
doth not only shew that it may be had, but that mercy hath
been had. When you see the ice trodden then you say you
will venture. So you say, such a one was unworthy, such a
one profane, and yet he hath obtained mercy and why may not
I ? Therefore if you would have assurance of your salvation,
think much of the freeness of the grace of God ; and withal
consider the particular instances and examples of others,
that have obtained this mercy and that in a way of free grace
and love too.
And lastly to conclude, Is it so, that God saves the soul
freely, and that our salvation is only by the free grace and
love of God ? Why then should we not come with boldness
for salvation since it is so free ; oh, let none be discouraged,
but let it stir us up to come with boldness and to plead for
it, if it be free. Is salvation free and will not poor sinners
come to receive it ? Come, oh, come freely for salvation,
Christ Jesus is willing to make good his own name, and this
is his name, he is called " Jesus, and he shall save his people."
This is the will also of my Father, that you should come unto
me, John vi. Christ Jesus hath now salvation in his hands,
and will you not come and ask for it ? But methinks I see
salvation in your faces ; methinks I hear a voice among you
saying, " What shall we do to be saved ? "
In answer to which thus : " Believe in the Lord Jesus ;
and venture your salvation upon him."
And then if you will be saved you must become as little
children ; for saith our Saviour, " unless you become as little
children, you cannot be saved." Matt, xviii. 3. "You cannot
enter into the kingdom of heaven." As little children, how ?
Why not seeking great things ; little children do not seek
great things, you must become as little children, low and
humble, not seeking great things, for great things become not
little children. You must be willing to part with all at Christ s
command and for his service ; and for want of this the young
man went away without eternal life : " Go and sell all that
thou hast and follow me, and he could not do it;" and he
422
THE FREENESS OF
. 4.
lost heaven by it ; he would keep earth and he lost heaven by
it. But once more,
Be not only willing to part with all for Christ s sake, and
at his command ; but go and cast yourself at adventure upon
his free grace and love, and then go and work, and perform
duties and pray and use endeavour ; work as if there were
no grace to be saved by, and bear thyself still upon free
grace, and build upon the grace of God, as though there were
no works. Thus do and you shall be saved to all eternity,
for ever and for ever.
SERMON IV.
" But so did not I, because of the fear of God." NEH. v. lo.
In this chapter, there are three things most considerable.
First, The voice or cry, at the beginning of the chapter ;
" And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives,
against their brethren the Jews." And then,
Secondly, you have made known to you, what Nehemiah
did in this case, in verse 6, 7> " And I was very angry when I
heard their cry, and these words, then I consulted with myself,
and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers/ 7 &c.
Thirdly, You hear more of Nehemiah s acting at verses 14,
15, " Moreover from that time that I was appointed to be
their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year
even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king,
I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor :
for the former governors that had been before me, were charg-
able unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine,
beside forty shekels of silver, yea even their servants bare rule
over the people : but so did not I, because I feared God, be
cause of the fear of God."
From hence then observe this truth or doctrine.
That those that truly fear God will not do as others do.
The true fear of God will keep men from doing those
things that other men will do ; yea, though an action be to a
man s advantage, yet they that fear God will not do it, if
SER. 4.] GRACE AND LOVE. 423
f it be evil ; and so it was with Nehemiah. " But so did not
I I, because of the fear of God." For the opening of this we
, shall,
First, Inquire what it is to fear God ; and we shall,
Secondly, Shew you that a man that truly fears God, will
do as Nehemiah did, neither can he do as others do.
Thirdly, We shall shew you, what there is in this fear of
I God, that doth lay such a balance upon men s hearts, that
they cannot do as others do.
Fourthly, We shall answer this question, whether a man
that fears God, may not sometimes do as others do.
Fifthly, I shall shew you the issue and consequence of this
truth.
And then I shall make some application.
First, If you ask what this fear of God is, I answer in the
general. That it is a passion of the soul whereby a man doth
flee from imminent evil. But now further, if you ask me, What
the fear God is, I say that it is twofold :
A servile fear, and a filial fear.
A servile fear, whereby a man fears God upon the account
of hell or judgment, or because of the wrath of God.
But now a fear of God, not only because of his judgments,
but because of displeasing him, because of his love, because
we would not offend ; this is a filial fear, to fear him because
we would not do contrary to his commands ; and thus did
Abraham, when he would have offered up his son Isaac :
" For saith God, (Gen. xxii. 12.) " By this I know thou fear-
est God," because he obeyed his command, and was afraid to
do contrary.
This fear of God, this filial fear, is not only because of
his love, but of his love in conjunction with his great
ness also : the greater a man is, the more we fear him,
and the nearer he is in relation to us, the more we reverence
him. Yet further, as the love of God in conjunction with his
greatness, calls for our fear ; so also,
The word and works of God call for our fear ; for the Avord
of the Lord is mighty, and his works are wonderful ; for it is
said of God, fe that he is fearful in praises, working wonders."
Thus if you ask me what this filial fear is, I say it is a fear
whereby we fear him, because of his love, because of his
424 THE FRKENESS OF [SfiR. 4.
greatness, and because of his word, and works. That is
the first.
Secondly, A man that truly fears God, cannot do as others
can do ; for in the text we find that Nehemiah had an oppor
tunity in his hand, to make himself, to raise himself, to make
himself rich, as to outward things : but you see what he
saith, " But so did not I, as others did because I feared God ;"
where the true fear of God is planted in a man s heart, he
cannot, he will not do, as other men can and will do : I shall
clear this to you by instancing in some particulars.
He that fears God, cannot do as others do in the matter of
his choice; you know how it was with the damsel, the
daughter of Herodias, Matt. xiv. 7? 8, when she had danced
before Herod, he was so delighted with her, that he gave her
this privilege, to choose what she would to the half of his
kingdom, and she asked the head of John the Baptist. She
was bad, and her choice was bad ; not having the fear of God
in her heart. But when Esther had her choice, she chose
the contrary, for she chose the freedom of John the Baptist,
in the freedom of the Jews : she acted not as the other did,
because of the fear of God ; they that fear the Lord cannot
do as others do. I may instance in Moses also, he would
not do as others ; for saith he " I will choose rather to suffer
afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures
of sin for a season/ Heb. xi. 25. And why did he thus ?
but only because of the fear of God.
As they that fear God, will not do as others do in the mat
ter of their choice ; so neither will they do as others do in the
matter of worship ; for what saith Joshua, " As for me and
my household, we will serve the Lord;" Josh. xxiv. 15.
" Do you what you please. Therefore fear the Lord, and
serve him in sincerity and truth, and put away the God s which
your fathers served, or the gods of Amorites, in whose land ye
dwell ; but as for me and my household, we will serve the
Lord." As for me I will worship God, worship you whom
you will ; thus you see what they will do that fear the Lord.
Will you instance in the matter of your callings, for a man
really is what he is in his calling, in his trade ; or will you
instance in the divine calling, you know what the apostle Paul
saith ; some, saith he, " preach Christ out of envy, and some
out of good will," some to get a livelihood by it, to make a
SER. 4.] GRACE AND LOVE. 425
trade of it, to get riches, and honours, and estates ; but so did
not I, because of the fear of God ; no great advantages will
make a man that fears God, to do as others do ; he saith always,
others do so and so, but so will not I, because I fear the
Lord.
A man that fears God cannot do as others can do, in the
matter wherein he is intrusted. You know how it was with
the spies, Caleb brought a good report of the land of Canaan,
because he feared God ; but so did not the others.
They that fear the Lord cannot do as others do, in the
matter of afflictions. A man that fears the Lord, can love the
Lord in adversity, and fear him in prosperity. It is said of
king Ahaz, that he sinned more and more, because of his af
flictions : but Jehoshaphat did not so, when he was under
great afflictions and troubles, for he sought to the Lord, and
laboured after faith and strength from him, that so he might
be established : but so doth not the wicked man, because he
feareth not God.
As there is a great difference between a good man, and a
wicked man, or between one that fears the Lord, and one that
doth not in the matter of afflictions : so there is a difference
also in the matter of their refreshment, in their eating, and
drinking and recreation. Job i. 5. " And it was so, when
the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent
and sanctified them." Job sanctified them, and so cannot
a wicked man do ; but a man that fears the Lord can
do this. And,
A man that truly fears the Lord cannot do as others do, in
the matter of right and propriety : they that fear not God
will take advantage upon others, in the matter of their right
and propriety. You may see what Abraham did ; Lot would
not let Abraham have his right, though it was his right, yet
Abraham because he feared God, and for peace sake, gives up
his right ; but those that fear not the Lord cannot do so.
Thus you see, that those that truly fear God cannot, will not
do as others do, in the matter of his choice, of his worship,
of his calling, of his afflictions, of his refreshments, or of his
right and propriety. And that is the second general. But.
Thirdly, What is there in this fear of God, that should
balance the soul, and cause it not to do as others do ? Why,
By the fear of God a man is enabled to depart from evil, as
426 THE FREEXESS OF [SfiR. 4.
the Psalmist saith. There are two seeds in the world, the seed
of the woman, and the seed of the serpent : now these two
seeds rule in the whole world; in some the seed of the woman
rules, and in some the seed of the serpent : now they that
are of the seed of the woman can fear the Lord, but they that
are of the seed of the serpent cannot fear the Lord; and
therefore no wonder that they that fear the Lord cannot, will
not do as others do ; why, it is because they are of another
seed, they are of the seed of the woman.
As they that fear the Lord are of another seed, so they
are also of another principle, and therefore they cannot do
as others do. Principles are the springs of all actions, and
every man acts according to his principle, according to the
principle that is in him. Now he that fears the Lord differs
from another man in his principles, and so he doth also in
his actions and in his ends.
Look into his ends, and you shall see how they differ from
other men s. Ends are the seeds of actions ; and if so, a
man that fears the Lord, his ends differ from other men s,
and then no wonder that he cannot, will not do as others
do. Again,
As he differs in his ends, so also in his conscience ; every
man is according as his conscience is. Take a man that fears
the Lord, and he is tender of his conscience ; but others
that have their consciences burnt and seared are not so : and
if so, then no wonder that he that fears the Lord cannot, will
not do as others do.
As he that fears the Lord differs in the matter of his con
science, so he differs also in the matter of his restraints. A
wicked man abstains it may be from one evil to commit an
other; but he that fears the Lord abstains from all evil
because of the fear of God, which the other doth not. A
wicked man is bad in good company, and a good man is good
in bad company, yea he is the same in all company ; there
fore he that fears the Lord cannot, will not do as others do.
But,
Fourthly, Is it possible for a man that fears the Lord to
do sometimes as others do ?
Yes, he may, for the apostle speaks plainly concerning the
same, Rom. xii. 1. Mark what he saith: " I beseech you,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye be not conformable
SEH. 4.] GRACE AND LOVE. 427
to this present world/ &c. But now observe this, that it is
one thing what a man doth in a sudden passion, and another
thing what he doth in his serious consideration. For take a
man that fears the Lord, and in his sudden passion he shall
deny Christ as well as another ; but in the way of serious
consideration he shall never do it. And further take notice,
that it is one thing what a man doth in a particular action,
and another thing what he doth in his common practice ; for
yoa may find in Scripture, that God s people have sometimes
run away from God as to a particular action, but yet in their
constant course they feared the Lord. And therefore those
that fear the Lord do not do as others do, because if they
turn aside, they repent of their so doing and turn to God
again. So I say there is still a difference between them that
fear the Lord and those that do not. But,
Fifthly, Suppose a man do truly fear the Lord, what is the
issue and consequence thereof? Why the issue will be this ;
if you fear the Lord, God will deal well with you, he will
deal well with you in a special manner ; he will make a dif
ference between you and another in his dispensations. Ps.
i. : " Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of
the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth
in the seat of the scornful ; but his delight is in the law of
the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night ; he
shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth its fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not
wither, but whatsoever he doth shall prosper. The ungodly
are not so, but are like unto the chaff which the wind
driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in
judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous ;
but the way of the ungodly shall perish." Thus you see
how God s dispensations shall be to them that fear him; it
shall go well with them, but not so to the wicked. It is
said that " Those that feared the Lord spake often one to
another." And it is said in Isa. viii. 11, 12, " For the Lord
spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me, not
to walk in the way of this people," &c. Ps. cxii. 6, 7> 8,
you may find there that there will be a great difference one
day, between them that fear the Lord and they that do not:
" Surely he shall not be moved for ever, the righteous shall
be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of
428 THE FREENESS OF [SfiR. 4-
evil tidings, his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord : his heart
is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire
upon his enemies. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the
poor, his righteousness endureth for ever, his horn shall be
exalted with honour. The wicked shall see it and be grieved,
he shall gnash his teeth and melt away, the desire of the
wicked shall perish. Yea God will do great things for them
that fear him ; he will put his law into their hearts, that
thereby they may keep his commandments." He will do
greatly for them, for his eye shall be upon them. The eye
of the Lord is upon the righteous, and his ear is open to
their cry. He is ready to answer those that fear him upon
all accounts. Read what the Psalmist saith, Psalm xxxi. 19,
" Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for
them that fear thee, that thou hast wrought for them that
trust in thee before the sons of men."
Yea further, if you truly fear the Lord, the eye of God
shall be upon you for good : " Unto him will I look that
trembleth," unto him will I look that feareth, saith the
Lord.
Again, if you truly fear the Lord, the Lord will delight in
you.
Yea, God will be a God unto you, God will be a strong
tower to you, and he will sanctify all unto you. And to say
no more, they that fear the Lord shall want no good thing.
Oh what a blessed thing is it then to fear the Lord, for from
him God will withhold no good thing. And thus you see
the issue of this fearing of God. Consider it, consider I
say the consequence and issue of it, and let it be so many
motives to stir you up more and more to fear the Lord.
So much shall serve for the doctrinal part, now then by
way of application.
Here we may see what a sad excuse that will be which
many make, that say they do but as others do ; but alas,
this is an excuse fit for the lips of those only who fear not
God at all. But,
If this doctrine be true, then here you may see who those
are that fear God in truth. There are many pretenders to
it, but we find here that those that truly fear the Lord
cannot, will not do as others do. They will not do as others
SKR. 4.] GRACE AND LOVE. 429
do in the matter of their choice, in the matter of their wor
ship, nor of their calling, nor in what they are entrusted
with, nor in their refreshments, nor in their afflictions, nor
in their right and propriety ; and if it be so, how few are
there that fear the Lord in truth. They that truly fear God
say always as Nehemiah, s( But so did not I because of the
fear of God/ There are many that lie quiet under sins of
omission, and under sins of commission too ; but so will not
I because of the fear of God. Do others sin, and do others
act contrary to the will of God ; yet let us not do so, but let
us say with Nehemiah, But so will not I because of the fear
of God. Oh therefore let me desire all to fear the Lord.
And for you that do fear the Lord, be you comfoited, for
comfort belongs to you. Everlasting mercy belongs to you
who fear the Lord. " I have loved you with an everlasting
love/ Jer. xxxi. 3.
But it may be some will say, I am afraid I do not fear the
Lord, and so this comfort doth not belong to me. Why
consider,
Do you make conscience of what you do, doth your con
science accuse you or not for what you do, do you find con
science accuse or excuse ?
Have you not sinned in the dark, when none could accuse
but God only ; and do you act and walk and live and labour
as if you were in the presence and sight of God ? If you
do thus, then you do fear the Lord, " and then it shall be
well with you/ Eccles. viii. 12. Again,
Do you run and speak one to another ? If so, then this
is to fear the Lord, for it is said that they that feared the
Lord spake often one to another," Mai. iii. 16. And,
Do you truly desire to fear the Lord, then look into Nehe
miah, and observe his spirit well, and do accordingly. And
to say no more,
Have you had advantages to make you rich in this world,
and would you not take them, because of the fear of God ?
Then certainly you have received free grace, and you have
the Spirit of God ; for this is a true sign that you have true
grace in your heart, and that you are one of them that truly
fear the Lord ; and therefore be you comforted, for comfort
belongs unto you, everlasting mercy belongs unto you.
But it may be some will say, Suppose I do not fear the
430 THE FREENESS OF [SER. 4.
Lord, what shall I do that I may fear the Lord, fear him as
I should do, fear him more and more.
For answer, If you would fear the Lord in truth, then
Be humbled for want of this fear. That man is not far
from grace, who is humbled for the want of grace. A man
will never be humbled for unbelief, unless he be humbled for
the want of faith.
Go to God and beg of him to fulfil his promise. God
hath said, " I will put my fear into their hearts ;" now go to
God, I say, and beg and desire him that he would make
good this promise to you.
If you would fear God in truth, then observe what that
is that is nearest and dearest to you, and give that up to
God. You know Abraham offered up Isaac, his only son,
and saith God, " By this I know thou fearest me." And
further,
If you would fear the Lord in truth, then worship God
according to his own appointment; take heed of mingling of
God s worship with any of man s inventions, for he that doth
so, feareth not God nor worshippeth him according to his own
appointment. And then,
If you would feafr the Lord in truth, then take heed of
sinning when you have an opportunity. Again, .
If you would fear God more, then love the Lord more, la
bour to strengthen your love to God. Again,
If you would have your fear strengthened more and more,
then study much the free grace of God in giving out his
mercy to one more than to another : " Two in a field, the one
taken and the other left; two walking together, the one taken
and the other left." If you would strengthen your fear study
much the free grace of God.
If you would fear the Lord in truth, live much in and
study much upon dependence wholly upon God ; it is our
great duty to depend upon God.
If a man be upon a high tower, and another holds him from
falling by the hand only, he will certainly be very fearful of
offending him that holds him so. Why we are thus in the
hand of God, and our dependence is upon him for every thing ;
how fearful ought we then to be of offending this God. Oh,
study your dependence upon God more and more. And,
Again, use the world as using it not. Deal with men as
SER. 4.] GRACE AXU LOVE. 431
in the presence of God; and when you are dealing with men,
be sure to deal with God before all the men in the world.
Again, let your eye be very much upon the severity and
justice of God, upon his severity and justice. Consider
God s severeness to Adam in eating the forbidden fruit ; and
his severeness to Moses for a word, that for one word God
would not let him enter into the promised land ; and consider
his severity to David for numbering the people. Yea,
Again, consider that God can not only destroy the body,
but soul and body too. Therefore, O man, fear him " that
can destroy both body and soul, when he will, in hell fire."
Thus, now, if you would have your fear strengthened, then
study these things ; consider and meditate upon these things.
But yet a little further.
If you would strengthen your fear of God more and more,
then labour after more communion with him now, in this
world, while you are here. We use to say, Too much famil
iarity breeds contempt ; but here it is not so, for by familia
rity and communion with God we shall have more sweetness
and more delight in his ways, more strength in his service,
more comfort in our afflictions. If you would, therefore,
have these advantages, then labour to walk more close with
God, and to have more communion with him ; labour there
fore, I say, to have more communion with God if you would
fear him more and more. The greater a person is here on
earth, as I told you before, the more we fear him ; and the
nearer he is in relation to us, the more we reverence him.
My friends, would you obtain everlasting mercy, would
you have everlasting mercy belong to you ? then labour to
fear the Lord in truth yet more and more. And I beseech
you to think of this truth, rr editate upon it, think of it upon
all occasions, and say, Do others slubber over duties ? so will
not I, because I fear the Lord. Do others walk injuriously ?
so will not I, because I fear the Lord. Do others do con
trary to the will of God ? but so will not I, because I fear
the Lord. Let this truth go up and down with you, and it
will keep you in your dealing both with God and man. Re
member the character of one that fears the Lord ; he is one
that cannot, will not do as others do, for so saith the text :
" But so did not I, because of the fear of God."
432 THE FREEXESS OF [SfiR. 5.
SERMON V.
" Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell to
gether in unity." PSALM cxxxiu. 1.
In this short Psalm we may see the excellency of the saint s
communion, fellowship, and brotherly agreement.
It is described and commended.
First, Described from the fountain of it, from God as a
Father, and therefore he says, " How good and how pleasant
it is for brethren."
Secondly, Described, also, from the act and exercise there
of, which is, " to dwell together in unity."
Thirdly, It is commended from the goodness, and profita
bleness, and pleasantness of it. It is a good thing, a profit
able thing for brethren to dwell together in unity ; behold
how good it is in the eyes of men ; behold how pleasant it is
beyond expression "for brethren to dwell together in unity."
And the goodness and pleasantness of it is expressed by
two similitudes. It is compared to the precious ointment
upon the head of Aaron : verse 2, " It is like the precious
ointment upon the head, that run down upon the beard, even
Aaron s beard ; that went down to the skirts of his gar
ment."
It is compared, also, to the dew that fell upon Hermon and
the hills of Zion : verse 3, " As the dew of Hermon, and as
the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion." &c.
Thus, you see, the design of this Psalm is to declare the
goodness and profitableness of unity between brethren, from
whence, then, I take up this observation :
That a loving agreement between the saints, among them
selves, is exceeding pleasant and very profitable.
Some things are pleasant but not profitable, and some
things are profitable and not pleasant, as physic, &c. ; but
communion and fellowship, and a loving agreement among the
saints is both pleasant and profitable.
It is a pleasant thing for the saints and people of God to
agree together ; for the same word which is used here for
pleasant, is used also in the Hebrew for a harmony of music,
such as when they rise to the highest strains of the viol,
when the strings are all put in order to make up a harmony,
SER. 5.] GRACE AND LOVE. 433
so pleasant is it, such pleasantness is there in the saints
agreement.
The same word is used also in the Hebrew for the pleasant
ness of a corn field. When a field is clothed with corn, though
it be cut down, yet it is very pleasant, oh, how pleasant is it ;
and such is the saints agreement.
The same word in the Psalmist is used also for the sweet
ness of honey, and of sweet things in opposition to bitter
things. And thus you see the pleasantness of it, by its being
compared to the harmony of music, to the corn field, to the
sweetness of honey, to the precious ointment that ran down
Aaron s beard, and to the dew that fell upon Hermon and
the hills of Zion : and all this is to discover the pleasantness,
profitableness and sweetness of the saints agreement : " Be
hold how good and how pleasant it is," &c. It is a pleasant
thing to behold the sun, but it is much more pleasant to be
hold the saints agreement and unity among themselves.
There are many times breakings and losings in the love of
the saints, and therefore when they come to an agreement
and union among themselves again, it must needs be very
pleasant and profitable and sweet, for things once lost and
found again are very sweet. And upon this account it is,
that the commandment of love is called " a new command
ment," because it is broken so often, and so often renewed
again. And the Psalmist speaks here of the sweetness and
pleasantness of unity, because there is no sweetness in divi
sion ; but unity is a good way and means to keep out trouble
and evil division from among the people. And,
Further, the more difficulty any mercy is obtained with,
the sweeter it is when obtained. There are many things
which are hard to come by, but when they are obtained they
are sweet ; and so there are many difficulties in the way of
love and sweet agreement, and the people of God are encum
bered with many difficulties, they have many things to put
them out of the way of love and of sweet agreement among
themselves, and therefore saith the apostle, Phil. i. 27, "Only
let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ;
that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may
hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one Spirit, with
one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."
Again. The more suitable any thing is to our condition,
VOL. II. F F
434 THE FREEXESS OF [SfiR. 5.
the more pleasant and sweet it is. Now this brotherly love
and union is a conjunction of suitable things, and is suitable
to our condition, and suitable things are delightful unto men,
and the more suitable any thing is, the more we delight in it.
And this agreement, this union, is every way suitable to our
own condition as we are men; and is also suitable to all the
creatures, for they run together and agree together. And it
is suitable to us also as we are Christians, it is suitable to
Christ s command : " A new command (saith he) I give unto
you, that you love one another." It is suitable to Christ s
own example, who hath loved us ; and suitable also to the
gospel, which is a gospel of peace : " Let your conversation
be as becometh the gospel, that you be of one spirit and of
one mind." So, I say, this holy agreement is every way
suitable, and therefore the more pleasant and delightful, and
so it ought to be unto us.
As it is pleasant and delightful, so it is a profitable good :
" Behold how good a thing it is," it is very profitable. For is
it not profitable for the " dew to fall upon Hermon, and upon
the hills of Zion, to make them fruitful ?" Why such is the
dew of holy agreement, when it falls upon the hearts of men:
and this doth make men increase and multiply in the church,
and to be fruitful in good works ; the Psalmist saith, " God
commandeth his blessing ;" and when God blesseth, we shall
certainly increase and multiply ; and this I say doth increase
the church, and hereby are the saints both increased and de
lighted by the blessing of God on them, they do increase in
things that are good and profitable ; and this was the thing
which Christ prayed for, yea prayed for again and again ; yea
as I said it is the great thing which Christ hath commanded :
a new command &c. Is it not therefore good and profitable
to love one another?
Again, This is the mercy and the grace that is promised,
specially in the latter times glorious things are spoken of, and
and promised to the last days ; and this is one of those things
which are promised, and if so, it is then certainly good and
profitable.
Again, This is the legacy which Christ left with his disciples
and people ; saith he, " Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you,"
, 5.] GRACE AN D LOVE. 435
John xiv. 27 5 and therefore surely this agreement among
brethren is very good and profitable.
Again, Certainly it is good and profitable to walk worthy of
the high calling to which Christ hath called us, as the apos
tle speaks, Eph. iv. 1,2, 3, " I beseech you to walk Avorthy of
the vocation, wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and
meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love,
endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace," &c.
Again, Is it not good and profitable that our prayers should
be heard, that God should hear and grant our requests and
prayers ? Why, look into the Scriptures, and you will find
that our love is a help to our prayers ; it is a help unto us,
whereby to have our prayers heard and answered.
Again, Is it not good and profitable for a man to know that
he is a child of God, and that he hath an interest in Christ ?
Why, look into 1 John iii. 14, " We know that we have pas
sed from death unto life, because we love the brethren :"
there is a day of death, of natural death, whereby man shall
pass from life to death ; and there is likewise a time of spirit
ual life ; when a man passeth from death to life. Now how
shall I know whether I am " passed from death to life ?"
Why, if I love the brethren. Yea, saith Christ, " Hereby
shall all know that you are my disciples, if you love one ano
ther " not only yourselves shall know it, but others shall
know it also ; and is it not then very good and profitable ?
For hereby you shall know that your prayers are heard ; and
by this also you shall know that you are passed from death
to life ; and hereby you shall not only know yourselves to be
Christ s disciples, but others shall know it also ; and if it be
so, then certainly it must be good and profitable.
Again, This will give a relish and a savour to all your en
joyments ; it is the salt of all your comforts : " Have salt in
yourselves, and have peace one with another."
Although our condition be never so prosperous, yet if we
cannot agree among ourselves, if love and peace be wanting,
that sours all the rest ; and though the ordinances be never
so sweet, arid our privileges never so many, yet if we be not
united together in love, all is made sour ; this is that which
sours all our enjoyments, the want of love and agreement, for
that gives a relish to all our enjoyments when we have it.
F F 2
436 THE FREEXESS OF [SfiR. 5.
Again, This is that which will make all things easy unto you.,
though they be never so hard in themselves ; whereas the
contrary will make all things hard though never so easy : if I
am to do a work or service for one : why, though the work be
never so hard of itself, yet love will make it easy ; many
complain and say they cannot profit by the ordinances : why,
what is the reason ? It is for want of love to them ; there are
jars and contentions between friend and friend, between
this man and the other man ; why, it is for want of love :
love would make all things easy for you, though never so
hard. Now put all these things together, and then you may
see, what a pleasant and profitable thing it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity, to love, to unite, to live in unity one
with another.
Well then if this be so, why should we not all abound in
it ? Why do not we love and agree one with another, if it be
so good and profitable as we have heard, then let us all agree
together.
But it may be some will say, we do live together in love
and unity, and we are united one to another, but
Yet give me leave to mind you of what the apostle saith,
1 Thess. iv. 9, " But as touching brotherly love, you need
not that I write unto you ; for you yourselves are taught of
God to love one another, and indeed ye do it towards all the
brethren which are in all Macedonia ; but we beseech you
brethren that you increase more and more." Though you do
it, yet we beseech you to increase it more and more, and so I
say to you : yea and Christ hath commanded it also, and you
must do it in obedience to his command.
If our love be right as it should be, then we shall love
others also, even our neighbours and friends and brethren ;
we shall love them as ourselves. " The second command
ment (saith our Saviour) is like unto it, that you love your
neighbour as yourself." Pray for yourselves, do all the good
you can for yourselves, avoid all iniquity that may come upon
yourselves, and to prove your love to be right do all this for
your neighbours also, and love them as yourselves.
If our love be as it should be, we shall then love others,
because they are godly, let them be of this opinion, or of the
other opinion, yet that matters not ; though they be not of
my opinion, yet if my love be right, I love them because they
SER. 5.] GRACE AND LOVE. 437
are godly, and I love him most that is most godly ; and as he
increaseth in godliness, so must my love increase toward him.
If your love be true, and such as it ought to be, then you
will love one another, and love your brother ; as Christ loved
you, even so ought you to love one another ; how was that ?
Why, Christ loved you freely, in opposition to all the injuries
you had done unto him : it is said, 1 John i. 6, 7> " If we say
we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie
and do not the truth ; but if we walk in the light as he is
in the light, we have fellowship one with another :" and in
John iii. 16, " For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son." Yea Christ hath so loved us, that he
hath laid down his life for us ; and we are to love as Christ
loved, even to the laying down of our lives for our brethren.
If your love be true, it ought to be without restriction, yea
and without all dissimulation : I say you are to love without
any restriction, the only measure of love is to know no mea
sure ; and you are to love without any dissimulation, yea, and
your love ought to be also, without degeneration; many do
begin to love spiritually, but end carnally ; but true love is
without restriction, dissimulation, or degeneration.
If your love be true and such as it ought to be, then it
will never be bought, neither can it be sold ; love cannot be
bought, and if it be true love, it will never be sold, neither
directly nor indirectly.
If your love be as it ought to be it will be singular, it
will make you singular in your love. " Love your enemies,
saith Christ ; It hath been said you shall hate your enemies,
and love your neighbours," but I say unto you, love them
both, " love your enemies, do good to them that hate you,
and despitefully use you; for if you love them that love
you what reward have you, do not even the publicans so,"
Matt. v. 43, 44, 45. Love them that hate you, this is sin
gular love ; and love where it is true will make a man thus
singular in his ways and carriage.
True love is a praying love. Says one, " I never loved any
man, till I had prayed for him in particular." True love, I
say, is a praying love.
And true love is a love at all times, at one time as well as
another.
And a man that loves truly declares that he is loosened
438 T11K FREEXESS OF [SER. 5*
from the world, and that he is one that is wrought upon by the
Holy Ghost. In the primitive times, it was said that they
were all of one heart, and all things were common among
them ; and when we are thus of one heart and of one mind
it doth declare that we have been wrought upon by the Holy
Ghost ; and therefore certainly there is a great mistake in
men s love ; all men say they love the saints ; they love them
in words, though I am afraid many love them but little in
their hearts.
But you will say, How far is our love to be exercised, upon
whom and how far ? I say no more but this, so far as the
word brethren doth extend, so far this union and love ought
to go, " Behold how pleasant and how good it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity." So far, I say, as this word
brethren extends ; and that is so far as God is their Father,
it matters not for opinion or what judgment they are of;
if God be their Father they are your brethren, and are to
be beloved by you, and so far is your love to reach and
extend.
But you will say, Wherein doth this love consist ?
Why, in these three things :
In the matter of our judgments.
In the matter of our affections. And
In the matter of our practice.
1 . In the matter of our judgments. " Be of the same
mind one towards another, mind not high things but con
descend to men of low estate ; be not wise in your own con
ceit, recompence no man evil for evil; if it be possible
as much as in you lieth, live peaceably with all men."
Rom. xii. 16.
2. In the matter of our affections, in the 10th verse of
this chapter: "Be kindly affectioned one towards another
with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another."
3. In the matter of our practice, read the 3rd verse of
this chapter : " For I say through the grace given unto me,
to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think ; but to think soberly, accord
ing as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
Thus you see how we should act as to our judgments, affec
tions, and practices one toward another.
But you will say, If this be so, then how much is our
SER. 5.] GRACE AND LOVE. 439
love wanting one toward another, but what shall we do that
our love to one another may be more knit together ; what
shall we do that we may advance and rise to this holy agree
ment, both in our own hearts and others ?
For answer hereunto take these directions.
Be serious in this work and lay aside the former hinder-
ances of your love, and your former divisions ; and let not
any of you say this is the fault, and that is the fault, and
such a one is the cause of it, and such a one is the occasion
of it. No, but lay the fault on yourselves, lay it upon your
selves and not upon others, and say, " It is I, the Lord knows
it is I ; it is I that have raised this storm ; " and say as David,
" I have sinned, I have sinned." Let not your former divi
sions be forgotten, but take warning by them; lay not the
fault, I say, upon others, but upon yourselves, and acknow
ledge it and say, It is I, I Lord that have sinned. And,
If you do desire to be serious in this work, then do you
desire peace ; and if it be possible live at peace with all men.
The same word that is used in the original for persecutors,
is also used for peace, to shew that we should follow after
it with might and main, as persecutors follow those they
persecute, and that if possible we should live at peace
with all.
Be sure you strengthen your love ; love must be strength
ened else this union cannot continue ; it is the property
of love to interpret things in the best sense, to interpret
things well.
It is the property of love to speak highly of the person
or thing beloved ; where there is a uniting and a sweet agree
ment, there love will speak high things of each other.
The property of love is to cover the infirmities of those
they love ; and indeed how can there be any agreement if
infirmities be not covered. It is the property of love to
give no offence, nor to take any ; and it is a great sign that
there is no agreement, nor no love, when people are so apt
to give offence and to take offence ; for true love is apt to do
neither, but to take all in good part.
True love knows how to give and how to take admonitions.
Arid thus you have heard what love will do; therefore I
beseech you to strengthen your love to one another; yea, I
440
THE FREENESS OF
beseech you in the Lord to increase it more and more one
toward another.
But you may say further, Suppose there be a difference in
the matter of our judgments or opinions ; what shall we do
to remove it ? Why,
Be sure of this, that you do not mistake the meaning of
that scripture which your judgment is founded upon. It is
said "There was a division among the people because of
Christ ; " why for what was it, what was the reason of it ?
It was because of misunderstanding, and for want of a right
understanding of Christ. So I say, this division may come
for want of a right understanding of the Scriptures, upon
which our judgment is grounded and founded. But
Consider, O man, whether you do not settle your judgment
upon the judgment or opinion of any, or upon the know
ledge of another. " Hast thou faith," saith the apostle,
" have it to thyself before God ;" Rom. xiv. 22. But is not
a man then to confess his faith before others when he is
called to it? Yes, but the apostle speaks here of lesser
things ; if thou hast faith have it to thyself in little dispu
table things ; and do not rely upon others, but look to thy
self and give things a time ; " in due time God will reveal,"
saith the apostle.
If you desire this holy agreement, then do what you can
to keep union in the ministry and between the ministry. It
was not for nothing that our Saviour prayed, John xvii.
11, 21, " Holy Father keep through thine own name, those
whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are, that
they all may be one as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee,
that they also may be one in us." It is not good for people
to cry, " I am for Paul, and I am for Apollos, and I am for
Cephas," and the like, this is the way to make division ;
therefore do all you can to live in love and unity ; for love is
of God and the contrary is of the devil.
Take heed of disputation, what have we got this many
years by disputation ? Those that are weak are sooner
brought in by humiliation than by disputation.
If after all this there do remain division among you, by
reason of your judgments or opinions ; then remember the
apostle s rule and be sure to walk by it; for, saith he(as we
instanced before) " Let no man think more highly of himself
PER. 5.] GRACE AND LOVE. 144
than he ought to think, but to think soberly ; as God hath
dealt to every man the measure of faith." The apostle
directs us to live humbly and to walk meekly one toward
another ; and not to be rash or to think highly of ourselves.
But further :
If you would live in love and unity, then let us look upon
other men s infirmities in conjunction with their excellencies,
and their excellencies in conjunction with their infirmities ;
and thereby the one will take away or hide the other. Let
us not pore only upon a man s infirmities, upon his buts as
I may say ; he is a godly man but : therefore if you
would agree, join his infirmities and his excellencies together,
and then look upon him.
If you should meet with any provocation that may weaken
your love one toward another, then be sure to take that as an
opportunity to exercise your patience and your love ; when
you meet a beggar in the streets full of sores, then you think
you have an opportunity to exercise your charity, to give
something. And so you should say when you are provoked
by another to debilitate your love and affection, you may
say, Why now have I an opportunity to exercise my patience.
Again,
If you will live in love and unity, then you must resolve
with the grace of God, to love where you are not beloved ;
let love arise above all difficulties ; labour for a gospel spirit,
to love though you are not loved. A legal spirit is a fretful
spirit, saith Christ, " You know not of what spirit 
