HHWHMWl
LIBRARY
TORONTO
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REGISTER No
COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION.
W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Theology, Congregational
Union, Edinburgh.
JAMES BEGG, D.D., Minister of Newington Free Church, Edinburgh.
THOMAS J. CRAWFORD, D.D., S.T.P., Professor of Divinity, University,
Edinburgh.
D. T. K. DRUMMOND, M.A., Minister of St Thomas's Episcopal Church,
Edinburgh.
WILLIAM H. GOOLD, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature and Church
History, Reformed Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh.
ANDREW THOMSON, D.D., Minister of Broughton Place United Presby
terian Church, Edinburgh.
Oitor.
REV. THOMAS SMITH, D.D., EDINBURGH.
r r / 7 ; - < f
THE COMPLETE WORKS
OF
THOMAS MANTON, D.D.
VOLUME XV.
CONTAINING
SEVERAL SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL;
TREATISES ON THE LIFE OF FAITH AND ON SELF-DENIAL;
ALSO
SEVERAL SERMONS PREACHED ON PUBLIC OCCASIONS.
LONDON:
JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BEBNERS STREET.
1873.
PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
ex
CONTENTS.
JTAUm
SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. Continued.
SERMON LXIII. " By faith they passed through the Eed Sea as
by dry land," &c., ver. 29, . . . 3
LXIV. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down," &c.,
ver. 30, . . . .17
LXV. " By faith the harlot Kahab perished not with
them that believed not," &c., ver. 31, . 30
A TREATISE OF THE LIFE OF FAITH, 45
The Life of Faith in Prayer, . . . > .145
The Life of Faith in Hearing the Word, . . 154
A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL
The. Epistle Dedicatory, , . . .177
Book I., 179
SEVERAL SERMONS PREACHED ON PUBLIC OCCASIONS
A Fast Sermon on Isa. xliii. 22, .... 297
A Fast Sermon on Mai. iii. 7, . . . .315
A Preparative Sermon for Receiving the Sacrament, . 329
Sermons on the Sacrament
2 Chron. xxx. 18-20, ..... 342
Cant. ii. 3, . ' . * 358
A Sermon on Luke xvii. 32, . . ^ . * . 369
VI CONTENTS.
PAGE
A Sermon on John iii. 33, 379
Sermons on Micali vi. 8
Sermon I, ...... 394
II., .... .404
A Sermon Preached before the Parliament, . . . 414
A Sacrament Sermon, ..... 427
A Sermon on Micali vii. 18, . . , , . 43S
A Sermon on John xiii. 8, . . . . 450
A Sermon Preached before the Sons of the Clergy, . . 463
A Sacrament Sermon on Luke xxii. 20, . .475
A Sermon on the Ends of the Sacrament, . . 487
SERMONS
ELEVENTH CHAPTER OF THE HEBREWS.
VOL. XV.
SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL
SERMON LXIII.
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land ; which the
Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. HEB. xi. 29.
THIS chapter is a chronicle and history of the mighty acts done by
faith. The instance which I shall now produce is that of the believ
ing Israelites, who all together, with Moses, their leader, passed through
the divided waters of the Eed Sea ; but the Egyptians, pursuing and
trying to follow them, were overwhelmed and destroyed.
In the text you have two things the preservation and safety of
Israel, and the destruction of the Egyptians. The one illustrates the
other ; the one was the fruit of faith, and the other of presumption
and unbelief. In the first, take notice of the act. (1.) They passed
through the Red Sea ; (2.) The success, As by d,ry land. And suit
ably in the other part there is (1.) The attempt, Which the Egyptians
assaying to do; and (2.) The issue, They were drowned.
To understand which passages, we must remember the story recorded
by Moses, Exod. xiv. The sum is this : When Pharaoh at last had
consented to let the Israelites go, he soon repented of his grant ; and
understanding by spies how they were entangled in the jaws and straits
of Pihahiroth, this occasion invited him to make pursuit after them.
What should the poor Israelites do ? Fight they durst not, being a
multitude of undisciplined people of all ages and sexes, and pursued
by a regular and potent army of enemies. Fly they could not, having
the sea before them, the Egyptians behind them, the steep and un-
passable hills on either side of them. This was the case, and in human
reason nothing but destruction could be expected. But Moses, by
special order from God, commandeth Israel to march forward, and
expect the salvation promised. And when Moses gave the signal by
his rod, the sea miraculously retreated, standing up like heaps of con
gealed ice on each side while they passed through. This is done, and
they go on safely ; the sea flanked them on both sides ; the rear was
secured by the cloudy and fiery pillar interposing between them and
Pharaoh's army till such time as all were out of danger, and safely
arrived at the further shore ; and so neither man nor child was hint.
The Egyptians follow the chase, as malice is perverse and blind, and
4 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SER. LXIII.
those whom God designeth to destruction take the ready course to
bring it upon their own heads ; for at the signal again of Moses
stretching forth his rod, the returning waters swallowed them all up
in a moment. This was a strange and glorious work of God's almighty
power and unspeakable mercy, and the fruit of their faith; and it
teaches us both to believe and how to believe in God to believe,
since with respect to faith God produceth such wonders ; and how to
believe with an unlimited confidence in- the greatest straits, for nothing
is too hard for God to do.
But you will say the age of such miracles is long since past, and
these are antiquated dispensations, now no more in use, nor reasonably
to be looked for ; and, therefore, what is this to us ?
I answer Their passage through the Ked Sea may be considered
three ways:
1. Historically.
2. Sacramentally.
3. Applicatively, with respect to the use for which the apostle pro
duceth this instance.
First, Historically, as a notable pattern of providence ; and so it re
presents to us two things
1. Unspeakable comfort to all believers in the midst of their ex
tremities. God can disentangle and help them out, for he is with them
in all their dangers. See how he promises his presence to his people:
Isa. xliii. 2, ' When thou passest through the waters, I will be with
thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee ; when thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the
flames kindle upon thee/ For the waters, Israel is an instance ; both
in the Eed Sea and in the river of Jordan, God preserved them : for
the fire, the three children is an instance; when they were cast into the
fiery furnace, they walked in it unsinged and untouched, nothing
burned but their bands, Dan. iii. 27. Where God calls his people to
be, there he will be with them ; and therefore we must be content to
follow God through fire and water. Surely he can secure his people
in the greatest dangers and difficulties, and find a way of deliverance
for them in the most desperate cases. As David, when Saul was
eagerly hunting after him, Saul on this side of the mountain and
David on that, yet God brought him off. There is no danger so great
but God can deliver out of it ; and many times God's deliverance is
nearest when our danger is greatest. Only, those that look for such
deliverances must be upright, for to such the Lord shows himself
strong : 2 Chron. xvi. 9, ' For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro
throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of
them whose heart is perfect before him.'
2. It speaks terror to the wicked, and such as maliciously pursue the
people of God, as the Egyptians did here. They were engaged in an
evil design, they had neither command nor promise from God ; yea,
they went against God's command, for they acted out o'f malice, pride,
cruelty, and desire of revenge, and so justly perished. So that here is
a dreadful glass wherein to see the judgments of God against the
enemies and pursuers of his people : Prov. xi. 8, ' The righteous is
delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.' Pharaoh
VER. 29.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 5
would either kill them or drive them into the sea, and there all his
chariots were overwhelmed. Daniel was cast into the lions' den, but
the lions did not devour him, but devoured his accusers, Dan. vi. 22-
24. That which was a preservation to God's people was the destruc
tion of the Egyptians ; passing through the Red Sea is the means of
their safety, but of the others' ruin. Which should check the pride
and daring* attempts of wicked men, who pursue their evil designs to
their own destruction , being blinded with malice and hatred, they
neither remember things past, nor consider things present, nor foresee
things to come, but are led by a fanatical spirit, which is furious and
driving, till it hurries them to their own destruction. Thus, if we
consider it historically, it is a notable passage to encourage us to trust
in the Lord.
Secondly, Sacramentally. The apostle tells us, 1 Cor. x. 2, ' That
they were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea , ' that
is, in the cloud that hid them from the Egyptians, and in their passage
through the Red Sea. This passage had the same signification that
baptism hath. How were they baptized in the sea ?
1. They were baptized unto Moses in the sea; that is, Moses'
ministry was confirmed by that miracle, and so they were bound to
take Moses for their leader and lawgiver ; as the miraculous dispen
sations .by Christ assure us that he was sent by God as our lawgiver,
whom we should hear and obey.
2. It is called a baptism, because it signified the difference that God
puts between his people and their enemies, or the deliverance of his
people from the common destruction of mankind was sealed to them
by this passing through the sea, for here God shows that he would put
a difference between his people and others. For which respect baptism
is said to be avrlrvn-os, an answerable figure to the ark of Noah ; so
Peter urgeth it, 1 Peter iii. 20, 21, ' While the ark was a preparing,
wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. The like figure
whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.'' They that were in
the ark were exempted from the deluge. So they that are baptized into
Christ, that enter into covenant with God by Christ, they are exempted
from the deluge of wrath which overwhelms the rest of the world. So
that though we have not extraordinary ways of preservation, as the
people of God had of old, yet we have special privileges by Christ
which answer to it, and a deliverance of a far better nature.
3. They were baptized in the cloud and sea, because by submitting
to God's command they gave up themselves to God's direction and
the conduct of his providence by this initiating act, that he should
lead them through the wilderness unto Canaan, and the land of pro
mise ; as we pass through the waters of baptism, that we may give up
ourselves to be led through this world, which answers to the wilderness,
to heaven, to Canaan, the land of promise, to be commanded and
governed by him till he brings us to our rest.
Thirdly, Applicatively, with respect to the use for which the apostle
brings these instances ; and it is to confirm believers in the faith of
Christ, though they were sorely pushed at, and endured great sufferings
for Christ's sake. These examples of faith, which the apostle produces,
serve for a double use either to show the nature of that faith by
(5 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SfiB. LXIII,
which the just do live, or else to commend the excellency of that faith,
that we may get it, and exercise it, and be eminent in it ; and so these
instances of faith are of use in all ages, when the miraculous dispensa
tions are ceased.
But now this instance that we have in hand serves not only^for one
of these ends, but for both uses to show the true nature of faith, and
also to commend the excellency of it. Therefore
1. I shall show what is the nature of faith, which we may learn
from this instance.
[1.] Faith inclined them to obey God's command, and upon obedience
to expect the mercy promised : Go through the Eed Sea and you shall
be saved. Now this is the common nature of all faith : Ps. cxix. 66,
' Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments/
This is the great business of faith, as the Israelites were to obey God,
and to wait for his salvation out of this imminent danger.
[2.] For the command, faith gives courage to obey God in the most
difficult cases. If we be bidden to go into the Red Sea, we must not
forbear ; for none of God's commands must be disputed, how contrary
soever they be to flesh and blood. If God will command Abraham to
take his only son, and offer him for a burnt-offering, he must not stick
at it : Gen. xxii. 2, ' Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom
thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there
for a burnt-offering.' If God commands us to sell all, that we may
have treasure in heaven, we must riot murmur as the young man did :
Mark x. 22, ' He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.'
We must give up our lives and all our comforts into the hands of
Christ, and nothing must be abated ; whatever God commands we
must do, though it be never so difficult.
[3.] For the promise, the Red Sea was as a grave to them in visible
appearance, and for a considerable time they walked every moment in
the valley of the shadow of death. But this is the nature of faith, it
teaches us to depend upon God's promises in the greatest extremities.
Going down to the Red Sea is as our going down to the grave, yet the
promise of eternal life is sure to us, and the belief of it is required of
all Christians : John xi. 26, ' Whosoever liveth, and believeth in me,
shall never die;' that is, never wholly die; 'believest thou this?' Faith
can find a way to salvation through the great deep, and a passage to
life through death and the grave ; it can see a heaven when we are in
the midst of the Red Sea. This passage through the Red Sea had a
respect to baptism, and we are said ' to be buried with Christ in bap
tism,' Col. ii. 12. Now, among other senses implied in the phrase, one
great sense is our willingness to die, out of a confidence to enjoy life
in heaven, though they are killed all the day long.
2. This instance doth very much commend to us the excellency of
this grace of faith, which was so necessary to believers in that age,
when they were exposed to such great sufferings. Now, how it is
manifested from this instance.
[1.] God's promise produces its miraculous effect through faith, and
not otherwise. God could do it, whether the Israelites did believe, yea
or nay; but their faith must concur: 'Through faith they passed
through the Red Sea.' The apostle doth not mention the mercy, or
VER. 29.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS xr. 7
the power of God, but their faith. It is true the supreme original
cause is the goodness and power of God, but the means is faith. So
1 Peter i. 5, ' Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation.' When we rest upou his word, who is faithful and able to
save to the uttermost, then the power of God is exercised for us :
Mark ix. 23, * If thou canst believe, all tilings are possible to him that
believeth ; ' that is, then thou art capable of having the glorious power
of God exercised on thy behalf, beyond the ability of nature. On the
contrary, nothing but unbelief puts an impediment in God's way:
Mark vi. 5, 6, ' He could do no mighty works there/ &c., and ' he
marvelled at their unbelief ; ' there was no occasion or opportunity,
for where faith is wanting, how can the power of God be owned and
seen ? Now. since the promise of God produces its glorious effect by
the means of faith, so that our faith must concur, this doth mightily
commend faith.
[2.] Here is another circumstance which commends faith likewise :
this faith was weak at first, and mingled with unbelief ; for first they
murmured, as you may see : Exod. xiv. 11, 12, ' And they said to Moses,
Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die
in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry
us forth out of Egypt ? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in
Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians ? For it
had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die
in the wilderness ; ' words of impatience and distrust, and very near to
a plain revolt from God ; and yet at length these t murmurers, through
faith they passed through the Red Sea, as if it had been firm land.
There was a great mixture of unbelief, but where faith prevails, it is
accepted with God. Though first they murmured, yet afterwards they
believed. Now, when after such great faults God takes it so kindly,
we will believe the promise, we should address ourselves to believe in
him.
[3.] There is yet another circumstance in this instance ; all of them
were not true believers, but the faith of some made others partakers
of the benefits. The ungodly receive many temporal benefits by the
faith of others : Acts xxvii. 24, ' God hath given thee all them that
sail with thee ; ' while yet many of them were infidels. The faith of
some may save a community ; ' through faith/ that is, the faith of
' Moses, and some of the eminent godly Israelites. We must not think
all this multitude had faith ; but it was so pleasing to God, that for
their sakes the community passed safe, and did arrive at the opposite
shore. Now this showeth how much God esteemeth the faith of his
children.
[4.] It is commended to us again by the distinction God makes be
tween believers and unbelievers ; the one pass through the sea as on
dry land, and the other sink as lead, and are drowned. We see our
privileges in their destruction. Salvation is not a common favour:
John iii. 36, ' He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life ; and
he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God
abideth on him.' There is salvation for believers, and nothing but
destruction for unbelievers. Presumption ruins, as faith saves. Oh !
who would not then be of the number of those that believe in Christ
8 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SflR. LXIII.
to salvation, since God makes such a distinction between them and
others ?
Having laid this foundation, the doctrine is this
Doct. That they who, upon the belief of God's promises, do resolve
to run all hazards with Christ in the performance of their duty to him,
are only capable of salvation by him.
This is the end why the apostle produces this instance, to encourage
the New Testament believers to constancy in the many sufferings they
were exposed to for owning Christ ; and to continue faithful to Christ,
and depend upon the promises still, though they were butchered and
slaughtered everyday. To evidence this, take these five considerations
First, That true faith receives the promise of God, with the terms
and conditions which it requireth. This proposition, I suppose, will
not be questioned. If the Israelites in the text hoped to see the salva
tion of God, they must do what God directed them to do. And of all
others the like is required ; if they will believe, and expect any benefit
from God, certainly they must do what God hath required in order
to that benefit. All that can reasonably be supposed to invalidate the
truth of this proposition is this : either that the gospel is no benefit,
but a due debt from God, which we may expect from his natural good
ness, and so that God hath not power to give it upon condition ; or
that he will give it without condition. One of these must be supposed.
Now, if all these be false, then the proposition stands firmly.
1. The first supposition, that the gospel is no benefit, but a due
debt from God, which we may expect from his natural goodness, do
we whatever we will to the contrary, is an absurd conceit ; for the
privileges of the gospel are always represented as a benefit. 1 Tim.
vi. 2, the apostle shows that Christian masters should not be despised
by their Christian servants, ' but rather do them service, because they
are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit ; ' that is, of the pri
vileges of the gospel : it is always represented as a benefit. And it is
such a benefit as is called grace, and this oppositely to debt : Kom. iv.
4, ' Now to him which worketh is the reward reckoned, not of grace,
but of debt ; ' for God is not bound by any merit to give this grace to
any. .Well, then, if it be God's free gift, then he hath a power to
impose conditions ; it is at the liberty of the donor to give it upon
what terms he pleases, for who but the Almighty can prescribe con
ditions and laws of commerce betwixt him and his creatures ? It
belongs to every donor and free benefactor to make his own terms,
and to dispose of his own gifts and donations according to his will.
If it be a right which belongs to every ordinary person who is an
owner to do with his own as pleaseth him, Mat. xx. 15, much more
the great God may determine of his own gifts, and how a right to
them may be conveyed to us. Well, then, thus far we go on clearly
that the privileges of the gospel are a grace, and a grace to be disposed
of by him according to the pleasure of his own will. But then
2. I add further ; either God will give them without any conditions,
or he will give those benefits upon certain terms and conditions which
he liketh to impose upon the creature. Now, to grant as much as may
be granted, there are certain benefits indeed which God gives without
asking our consent, or imposing any condition upon us on our part ;
VER. 29.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. 9
as the giving of a redeemer to take our nature and fulfil the law, and
satisfy his provoked justice on our behalf, and to merit grace sufficient
for our deliverance from sin, and death, and hell, and the devil ; this
he did without our knowledge and consent, for he considered us as
creatures in misery, and in more inextricable straits than the Israelites
were when they were shut up between mountains and entangled in
the land, as Pharaoh saith. But having laid this foundation, God
having given a redeemer, then he doth enact and propound a cove
nant, without asking our consent, or treating with us in the making
of it, that we may bring it down, and model it according to our
humour. No ; the matter is not left free for us to debate ; the covenant
is formed to our hands, and we are thankfully to accept of it, and
submit to it, not to mould it to our turn ; for we must take it as we
find it ; and so the saints are described, Isa. Ivi. 4, ' Those that choose
the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant/ The ques
tion now is, Whether there be any terms or no terms in this covenant?
Surely there are ; for these blessings are not given to all, as experience
manifests, -for some die in their sins. How shall poor creatures make
out their interest, unless God hath declared upon what conditions we
shall be possessed of these privileges ? Well, now, if God hath once
declared the conditions, if we would have the benefit, we must consent
to them ; as the Israelites, if they would be safe, they must take God's
direction, and pass through the Red Sea, though it seem to threaten
apparent death. If we would have justification and adoption into
God's family, we must believe in Christ : John i. 12, ' For to as many
as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them which believe on his name.' If we would look for ever
lasting life, ' we must by a patient continuing in well-doing seek for
honour, and glory, and immortality,' Rom. ii. 7. To expect a benefit
without terms is to lay the foundation of a great building upon a
shadow, and to deceive ourselves with a covenant of our own making,
or to presume of that which was never given to us by God. Indeed,
whence we have the grace to perform the condition, whether from
God or ourselves, that is another question ; but a condition there is ;
we are only proving the way and order of being instated into the
benefits promised, and the necessity that true faith should submit to
it. It is true we have the first grace from God ; the conversion of the
heart is from God as a free lord ; it is his resolved gift to the elect.
But we are speaking now, not of what God does as a free lord, but of
a condition stated by our proper and rightful sovereign the giving
of the grace whereby we fulfil the condition that belongs wholly to his
free dominion ; but appointing the condition, that belongs not wholly
to his free dominion, but his being the supreme ruler and governor of
the world. Now we must take the promise with the terms and con
ditions annexed.
Secondly, That the conditions which God requireth are, partly a
belief of the promise, and partly obedience to the command annexed ;
as the Israelites were to believe that God would carry them safe and
sound to the next shore through the Red Sea as upon firm land ; and
therefore, believing this, they were, upon the authority of God's word,
to resolve to go down into the great deep, and try what God would do
10 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [$ER. LXIII.
for them. Their faith was seen in trusting him with the event, with
out any anxiety and trouble of mind ; and their obedience was seen in
taking the course and way they were prescribed by God, even through
the deep water ; though it was so unlikely a way for their preservation,
yet they ventured themselves. So we, that believe in Christ for eternal
life, must first believe God's promise, that he will bring us to that
blissful estate through the way appointed ; and so we must resolve to
take this way, and follow God whithersoever he leads us by his word
and Spirit, that we may obtain this happiness. It is a great point,
and a part of faith, to believe the promise ; there is very much in that;
for though we all desire to be happy, yet this happiness being promised
by an invisible God, and lying in an invisible world, it is not easily
assented unto ; it is not received with that trust and strength of faith
by us while we dwell in flesh, and have a corrupt nature within us,
which is importunate to be pleased with present things or carnal
vanities, which are nigh at hand, and therefore ready to be enjoyed.
Therefore it is a great work of the Lord's grace ' to open our eyes,
that we may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches
of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,' Eph. i. 18 ; to look to
tilings unseen, which are eternal, and to overlook those that are seen,
that are temporal : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look not at the things
which are seen, which are but temporal, but at the things which are
not seen, which are eternal/ This is a mighty act of faith. Most
men mind earthly things, cannot take heaven for their whole happiness,
or the word of God for their great security, for that is only done by a
soul that sincerely believes : Ps. cxix. Ill, ' Thy testimonies I have
taken as an heritage forever, they are the rejoicing of my soul.' The
next part is to resolve to seek this happiness in God's way, to follow
it close whatever it cost us, to hold on in our journey, be our way safe
or dangerous, rough or pleasant: Phil. iii. 11, ' If by any means I
might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.' A Christian must
come to this ; whatever way it is that God leads me into by his word
and Spirit, so I may attain happiness at last, I will hold on my course.
And so it may fall out that we must ' hate our own lives, and forsake
all we have,' Luke xiv. 26, 33 ; not as casting it away needlessly and
unprofitably, but venturing it for God's sake, running the hazard of
life, and leaving all we have, rather than miss of eternal life, and being
unfaithful to Christ.
Thirdly, These being the conditions, the belief of the promise,
and thorough obedience to submit to the appointed way; lest we
deceive ourselves with a notion, God loves to try us, to see if we have
received the promise sincerely, whether we thoroughly believe his
word, and are fully obedient to his commands : James i. 12, ' Blessed
is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall re
ceive the^crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that
love him/ The Lord loves a tried obedience, because it is most for
his honour when his people are tried, and they are faithful to him ;
and it is most for our comfort to make our sincerity evident to us.
Sometimes the difficulties lie against our assent to the truth of the
promise ; at other times, against our resolution to follow God's way,
cleaving to him and Christ, and not looking back.
VER. 29.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS xi. 11
1. Against the strength of our assent, whether we can believe such
unlikely things as God hath promised (for so it seems to carnal reason),
as that he can carry his people through the deep waters, and they shall
not overflow them. Certainly many doubts arise in our minds concern
ing unseen things, which we cannot enjoy till we shoot the gulf of
death. Now Abraham, the father of the faithful, was so called because
he could assent so strongly to the promises, and give glory to God ' by
believing in hope against hope : ' Kom. iv. 18-20, ' 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 ; he
staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong
in faith, giving glory to God/ Faith can expect a deliverance when
it seems impossible to reason. When Abraham was childless, and had
been so for many years, yet he expects an issue that for number shall be
as the sand upon the sea-shore. If there be not some difficulty in the thing
to be believed, it is not an object of faith ; for things present within the
view of sense, and things easy and next at hand, are, as it were, already
enjoyed. It is no trial of your faith to look for probable things ; but if
you can believe when the case is never so difficult, if you can depend
and rest yourselves upon the word of God, that you shall be carried
through the sea and not be drowned, because you have God's word for
it, this is faith. Many difficulties may be objected against such things
as God hath revealed in his word ; yet it is enough to a believer that
God hath revealed them. Our inquiry, when we come to look into the
things we are to believe, should not be, How can these things be ? No ;
but, Are these things revealed by God, yea or nay ? How can these
things be ? is the voice of unbelief, at the least, of a weak and stagger
ing faith. Nicodemus said, ' How can these things be ? ' John iii. 9.
We are to receive .supernatural truths as men take pills, not chew, but
swallow them, take them upon the credit of the revealer ; if the testi-
fier be God himself, his word should be more to us than the greatest
evidence in the world.
2. Sometimes the difficulties lie against our resolution to take God's
way. A total resignation of ourselves to the will of God is required of
all that will be saved. Now by dangers we are tried whether we will
keep this resolution. Strength of assent excludes speculative doubts
and errors ; strength of resolution fortifies us against worldly tempta
tions, both on the right hand and on the left. On the right hand
temptations do arise from worldly profit, pleasure, and glory ; on the
left hand temptations do arise from fears of danger and terrors of
sense. Now, when these come with full power upon the soul, they are
ready to shake the most confirmed resolution ; but a Christian is to
maintain the vigor of his faith, and cherish such a confidence in God's
promises as may check all fear, and cause him, when God calls him
thereunto, to venture on the greatest dangers rather than quit his duty:
Ps. xxiii. 4, ' Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil.' It was a comfortless journey in the midst
of waves for so many men, women, and children to hold it ; yet a be
liever that ventures upon God's command fears nothing : Dan. iii. 17,
18, 'If it be so, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, king !
12 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SER. LXIII.
But if not, be it known unto thee, king, that we will not serve thy
gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.' Thus are we
to show our undaunted confidence of God's protection and deliverance.
Fourthly, Because we are fickle creatures, God will have us, by the
solemn profession of such a faith, visibly to enter into his covenant.
As God meant to season Israel for after trials, therefore they were
baptized in the cloud and in the sea, as was said before, that they
might the better submit to his conduct throughout the wilderness, be
fore he brought them into the land of promise ; so all those that are
willing to take Christ and his cross, Christ and his yoke, the Lord will
not leave them under the tie of a bare purpose and resolution, but will
have it solemnised in the baptismal covenant, wherein we profess _ a
belief of God's promises, and vow to run all hazards with Christ in
our warfare against the devil, the world, and the flesh. We cannot
forsake the devil, but he will make as hard pursuit after us as Pharaoh
did after Israel, to bring us back again into bondage ; he doth violently
assault new converts. We cannot renounce the world, and the vain
courses thereof, but it will hate us, and be exasperated against us.
The world only loveth its own, and those that are of a worldly strain,
and will not part company with them ; they hate others, speak evil of
them, and do evil to them. The flesh will entice us to some unfaith
fulness to Christ, and compliance with the world, and disobedience to
God, and it will be troublesome to resist its motion's. Therefore God
will have us solemnly roll ourselves in this calendar, and as soon as
we are baptized we put on our armour : Kom. vi. 13, 'Wherefore yield
ye your members instruments, 6V\a, weapons of righteousness ; ' and
Rom. xiii. 12, ' Let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the
armour of light.' Then we are solemnly listed in Christ's service. He
was baptized as the captain of our salvation, and we as his soldiers :
and when we are baptized soldiers we are to arm ourselves with this
resolution, through many tribulations to enter into the kingdom of
God. Christ's first work is to lead us into the waters, that we may
be seasoned for other encounters, or that fight of afflictions and troubles
we are likely to meet withal before we get to heaven : Heb. x. 32,
'After ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of affliction/
Baptism was heretofore called an enlightening, because there was
wonderful grace given in the use of that ordinance in the primitive
times. Now, when we are enlightened, we presently enter upon our
warfare, and we must look for a fight.
Fifthly, Having thus solemnly entered into covenant with God,
certainly we are bound to make it good, if we would have benefit by it.
For it is not enough to make covenant, but all the promises run to
him that keepeth covenant. Salvation is promised not to the under
taker, but the conqueror : Kev. ii. 7, ' To him that overcometh will I
give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of
God;' and ver. 11, 'He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the
second death ; ' and ver. 17, ' To him that overcometh will I give to
eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and irj^ the
stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that re-
ceiveth it;' and ver. 26, 'He that overcometh, and keepeth my works
unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations ; ' and chap.
VER. 29 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 13
iii. 5, c He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment,
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will con
fess his name before my father and before his angels.' Therefore it is
not enough to undertake, but we must perform ; it is not enough to
renounce, but we must overcome, not only forsake the devil, but resist
him : James iv. 7, ' Eesist the devil, and he will flee from you ; ' Peter
v. 9, 'Whom resist, steadfast in the faith.' We must not only renounce
the flesh, but we must mortify and subdue it by the Spirit : Gal. v.
24, ' They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections
and lusts thereof;' Horn. viii. 13, 'If ye, through the Spirit, mortify
the deeds of the body, ye shall live.' We must not only renounce the
world, but overcome it : 1 John v. 4, ' Whosoever is born of God over
cometh the world, and this is the victory whereby we overcome the
world, even our faith ; ' and we must be crucified to it : Gal. vi. 14,
' The world is crucified to me, and I unto the world/ and so persevere
in our duty to God.
Use 1. To inform us of the nature of true faith, so to believe the pro
mises as to be ready to do what God commandeth, to obtain the benefit of
them. It concerneth us very much to understand the nature of faith, for
we live by it : Gal. ii. 20, ' I live by the faith of the Son of God ; ' and
can we live by it and not know what it is ? What is it then ? It is such
a trusting ourselves in the hands of Christ, upon a confidence of his pro
mises, that we are willing to do anything and suffer anything rather
than commit the least sin, and be unfaithful to him. Or a resolution
to go on with our duty, trusting ourselves entirely in his hands, what
ever dangers befall us. This is called a committing of our souls to him.
in well-doing : 1 Peter iv, 19, ' Wherefore let them {hat suffer accord
ing to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well
doing, as unto a faithful creator.' And the apostle saith, 2 Tim. i.
12, ' I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I have committed to him against that day/ The
Israelites, when they went into the Ked Sea, did entirely commit and
put themselves into God's hands. It is a notable faith when we can
so readily believe God, and hold on our duty with quietness, whatever
evils do befall us, or whatever dangers threaten us : Ps. xxxvii. 34,
' Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall cause thee to in
herit the land/ Obey God's directions, and see how God will make
good his word.
Use 2. Reproof. It condemneth several sorts of persons
1. Those that are always urging difficulties against their duty, and
pretend danger when there is no cause : Prov. xxii. 13, ' The slothful
man saith, There is a lion without ; I shall be slain in the streets/
And again, Prov. xxvi. 13, ' The slothful man saith, There is a lion
in the way, a lion is in the streets.' In those countries lions were
frequent, and their range was in the night, when they went forth to
seek for their prey : Ps. civ. 20, 21, ' Thou makest darkness, and it
is night, wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The
young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God/
Now the slothful man's pretence was, that if he should go forth too
early to his labour, he should meet a lion in the very streets. Now it is
used proverbially of those that urge any slight danger against their
14 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SfiR. LXIII.
duty ; because sometimes the lions came into the cities and inhabited
places, therefore he durst not go out of his house. There are
some that will not venture a frown or a scorn for Christ, and dare
not own religion, when there is no probable cause for fear ; and so
are frighted out of their necessary duty, not only by real dangers, but
by imaginary fears : the shadow of any trouble quite discourageth
them.
2. Those that attempt anything without a lawful call. The
Israelites had a good call ; they had a command from God^ to enter
into the Ked Sea, and they had a promise of God's protection. He
that will undergo dangers, let him see how his matters stand with
God, and what ground he hath both for his undertaking and for his
confidence and courage.
[1.] For his undertaking. For these Israelites, who at God's bid
ding could enter the Red Sea, yet presuming against God's warrant
to go up against the Canaanites, were beaten : Num. xiv. 44, 45, * But
they presumed to go up unto the hill top : nevertheless the ark of
the covenant of the Lord and Moses departed not out of the camp.
Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in
that hill, and smote them, a-nd discomfited them, even unto Hormah.'
The case was this, they had murmured at the report of the spies, and
when they had smarted for that by a sore plague, they would all of a
sudden go up and fight the Canaanites to expiate the suspicion of
their cowardice. The ark removed not, but at the removal of the
cloud, Num. v. 17, 21 ; and Moses would abide by the ark. But
God showed his dislike of the action, because they went without the
Lord, and the signs of his grace.
[2.] What ground there is for their courage and confidence ; for
in particular events we have no assurance but from God's especial
promise. Indeed, in all lawful undertakings we have the promise of
God concerning eternal life to bear us up, and we may be confident
of this : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little flock ; for it is your father's
good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' But for other things we
must refer them to God. For eternal salvation we may be sure, but
for other things nothing but a particular promise can be the strong
pillar of our confidence.
Quest. But if we have no express promise, may we not bear up
ourselves against difficulties and improbabilities by believing in God?
Ans. If believing be meant only of a confidence in God's power,
not determining the certainty of the event, we may. Many times we
are cast upon God's providence ; all human refuge and helps fail,
there is_ no possibility of escape ; but then God forbiddeth despair :
2 Cor. i. 9, 10, * But we had received the sentence of death in our
selves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth
the dead. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver,
in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.' It was when the furious
multitude at Ephesus was let loose upon him. But the truer trust is
showed in a ready adherence to his call and to our duty : Ps. xliv.
18, 19, 'Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined
from thy way, though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons,
and covered us with the shadow of death.'
VER. 29.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS xi. 15
3. It condemneth them who pretend to faith, and yet do not make
a total resignation of themselves to God.
[1.] Some reserve their interests. Now you have not saving faith
till you can sell all for the pearl of price : Mat. xiii. 45, 46, ' The
kingdom of heaven is like to a merchantman seeking goodly pearls ;
who, when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all
that he had, and bought it.' One cometh boldly to Christ : Mat. viii.
19, ' Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest ; ' but when
he heard, ver. 20, ' The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air
have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head/ we
hear no more of him. The young man came to Christ to know ' what
good thing he should do to have eternal life,' Mat. xix. 16 ; but when
Christ said to him, ' Sell all thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me,' ver. 21 ;
when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for
he had great possessions, ver. 22. Therefore faith being so necessary
to salvation, cheat not yourselves with the image of it.
[2.] Some reserve their lusts; but true faith is inconsistent with
the predominancy of any lust or sin ; for a Christian wholly giveth up
himself to the will of God. Therefore he that continueth in his sins, not
resolving in his heart to forsake them and to renounce all righteous
ness in himself, and wholly and solely to rely upon the mercy of God
and merit of Christ, betaking himself to a new course of life, mistakes
God's promise, and his faith will end in shame and confusion : Isa.
Iv. 7, ' Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy
on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.'
Use 3. Of exhortation. To exhort you to such an entire resignation
of yourselves to the will of God, and dependence upon his promises,
that you may be prepared to go on with your duty, whatever hazards
you incur by it.
To press you to this, consider how obedience and dependence do
mutually befriend each other. It may be made good by these two
considerations (1.) None can hope for salvation but he that keeps
God's way; (2.) None can keep God's way but he that hopes
for salvation. They each depend upon one another.
1. None can hope for salvation but he that would keep God's way,
because God hath by a wise ordination conjoined ends and means.
He hath not simply promised blessedness, but requires a qualification
and a performance of duty in the persons to whom the promise is
made : Ps. i. 1 , 2, ' 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.' And Ps. cxix. 1, 2,
' Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the
Lord : blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him
with the whole heart.' There is blessedness ; ay, but we must keep
the way of the Lord, and that punctually, and be undefiled in that
way. To look upon one side of the covenant, as upon the promises
only, is a groundless presumption ; so that whosoever live in any sin
against conscience, they may take notice how fearful their estate is
1(5 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [$ER. LXIIL
for the present, how needful ft is to begin a good course before they
can have any good hope towards God.
Besides, there is no such course to damp our hope and weaken our
confidence as sin. Surely we cannot trust him whom we offend freely
and without restraint. Sin will breed shame and fear, as pain will
follow upon the prick of a needle ; and where it is allowed, you will
soon find the effects of it. On the contrary, faith and love go to
gether ; faith that hopes in his promises, and love that seeketh to
please God. Sin, that now weakens the faith we have in the command
ment, will in time weaken the faith we have in the promises. It may
be for the present our confidence in God's mercy and promises is not
directly assaulted ; we bear on with a little slight hope till the hour of
death, or the time of some extraordinary trial ; but when the evil day
comes, the consciousness of any one sin which we have indulged,
allowed, and lived in, will be of like force to withdraw our assent from
God's mercies, as the delight and pleasure of sin is now to tempt us to
transgress his commandments ; ' For the sting of death is sin, and the
strength of sin is the law/ 1 Cor. xv. 56. When we feel the stings of
sin, then we shall doubt of the mercies of God. And that is the reason
why dying persons, when they are serious, have so many troubled
thoughts within them. And take the experience of the godly, they
find this still ; when they have been acquainted with a spiritual life,
their hope increases by their diligence in a holy life. And the scripture
tells us so : Heb. vi. 11, ' And we desire that every one of you do show
the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.' The
more diligent we are in a holy life, the more hope and the more con
fidence we shall have in God's mercy and in the merits of Christ ; for
then our qualification is more clear. So far as a man neglects his
duty and abates in his qualification, so far does his assurance abate ;
it must needs be so. Therefore, mark, none can hope for salvation but
he that will keep God's way, and that is resolved to be at God's direction.
2. None can keep God's way but those that hope for his salvation ;
for without this we can never have a heart or head to do anything for
God. It is a notable passage of Bernard, Peccator nihil expectat, in-
deque peccator est, quod bonis prcesentibus non solum detentus, sed
etiam contentus A sinner hopes for nothing, and therefore he is a
sinner, because he is not only withheld by present things, but satisfied
with them. They that look for no great matters from God in another
world, no wonder they are so negligent and careless of their duty ; they
can never be diligent in his service, or faithful and true to him. Besides,
the difficulties and dangers which attend us, if we will be sincerely
obedient, are so many and great, that if we begin with God, we shall
not go on with him unless we surely depend on the blessedness he
offereth to us : Heb. x. 39, ' We are not of them that draw back to
perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul ; 5 that is,
who purchase the salvation of the soul with the loss of other things, as
the word signifies. Well, then, let these always be coupled : if
we would keep the commandments of God, we must hope for the
salvation of God ; and if we would hope for the salvation of God, we
must keep the commandments of God, This is most acceptable to
God, most comfortable to you, and most honourable to religion. It is
VER. 30.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. 17
most acceptable to God: Ps. cxlvii. 11, ' The Lord taketh pleasure in
them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.' Oh ! when these
two are coupled, the fear to offend him and dependence upon his grace
in Christ, the Lord takes pleasure in them. And it will be most com
fortable to you: Acts ix. 31, 'They walked in the fear of the Lord,
and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost.' And it is most honourable
to religion, for this is the religion of Christ's making ; religion is then
in its true constitution and frame : Mat. xi. 29, ' Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall
find rest for your souls/ When we reflect upon the proper ground of
comfort, the mercy of God, the covenant of grace, and the merits of the
Redeemer, and keep up a due care of obedience, this is Christian re
ligion. And it is an honourable thing in the world ; and this will
show that you are sincere and upright ; and that after a while that you
have gone on walking in his fear, and in the comforts of the Holy
Ghost, you shall enjoy his blessed presence in heaven.
SEBMON LXIV.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed
about seven days. HEB. xi. 30.
IN the last verse we have represented the faith of Israel under the con
duct of Moses, now we shall represent their faith under the conduct
of Joshua. There we saw what was done in their passage out of
Egypt, here we shall see what is done in their entrance into Canaan.
' By faith the walls of Jericho fell down/ &c. Here is
1. The grace exercised Faith.
2. The event that followed The walls of Jericho fell down.
3. The manner how it was accomplished After they were com
passed about seven days. Where (1.) The means, ' They were com
passed about ; ' (2.) The time, ' Seven days.'
1. The grace exercised Faith. The great skill of Christians is to
find out the new testament pre-signified in the old, and the old testa
ment fulfilled in the new ; both agree to tell us the way of living by
faith in Christ. Joshua was a type of Christ, as his name shows,
which in the new testament is always written Jesus : as Acts vii. 45,
' They were brought in with Jesus into the possession of the gentiles,'
and Heb. iv. 8, ' If Jesus had given them rest ;' that is, Joshua. Now
this also was the name of our Lord : Mat. i. 21, ' Thou shalt call his
name Jesus (which signifies a saviour), for he shall save his people
from their sins.' Joshua was a great captain ; and Christ is the 'cap
tain of our salvation,' Heb. ii. 10. Joshua was to overcome strong
holds, and whatever let the people's possessing the land of promise ;
so doth Christ demolish all strongholds, the devil and the grave, death
and hell, that he may introduce us into the heavenly Canaan, the land
of our eternal rest. Joshua overcame by God's appointed means, by
VOL. xv. B
18 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SER. LXIV.
the priests marching before, and the ark of the covenant following, and
then the people : Joshua vi. 8, ' And it came to pass when Joshua had
spoken unto the people, that the seven priests, bearing the^ seven
trumpets of ranis' horns, passed on before the Lord, and blew with the
trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them,' &c.
So doth Christ overcome by the gospel ; the ark of the covenant is our
strength : Ps. cv. 4, ' Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face
evermore.' The priests blowing with trumpets of rams' horns is a
figure of the power of the ministry ; for so the apostle explains this: 2
Cor x. 4, 5, ' For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imagi
nations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ/ As they by the blast of their trumpets were to throw down
this strong city, the way to be partakers of this benefit is faith ; they
walked about with the ark of the covenant, and the priests blowing
their trumpets, submitting to God's direction ; they expected the event;
and so the prayer of faith will do very much to the demolishing of the
strongholds of Satan as we go to the promised land.
2. The event that followed the walls of Jericho falling down ; their
hope was not frustrated. If we will believe God's promises, and exe
cute his commands, we need no shifts, or artifices, or secular policy,
or means of our own, to work deliverance for us. To evidence the
greatness of the success, we must know
[1.] That Jericho was a strong and well-fenced city, one of those
which frighted the spies who were sent to view the land : Num. xiii.
20, ' The cities are walled, and very great/ And see how the people
aggravate the report of the spies ; Deut. i. 28, ' The cities are great,
and walled up to heaven ; and, moreover, we have seen the sons of the
Anakim there.' Every rumour increases in the spreading. This
city, amongst others, to men's eyes seemed impregnable, so much we
gather from Joshua, chap vi. 1, 'Now Jericho was straitly shut up,
because of the children of Israel ; none went out, and none came in/
In the Hebrew (and so it is noted in the margin), the city ' did shut
up itself ; ' that is, it was strongly fortified in itself, both by its situa
tion and by art, and was shut up by the obstinacy of the inhabi
tants.
[2.] It was a frontier town, the first that kept them from entering far
into Canaan, being the first city of Canaan on the west side of Jordan, by
which the people entered into the land ; and until this rub and impedi
ment was taken out of the way, they could not safely make any further
passage. Now, if they should miscarry in their first attempt, it would, in
the eyes of the Canaanites, bring a disreputation upon their arms and
contradict the report of the mighty wonders that were wrought for them ;
and in the eyes of the Israelites it would be a great discouragement to
their faith. Therefore, in this first attempt, God would open a safe and
ready way and passage to his people,and by this victory give them a pledge
of further mercy. And therefore, upon their faith and obedience to God,
the walls fell flat to the ground, Joshua vi. 20, for nothing can stand
betore the power of God and the faith of his people. Now this gave
great courage to Israel to see that God owned them in it ; but it was a
VER. 30.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS xr. 19
great terror to the Canaanites ; for in fighting against his people, they
were to fight with God.
3. The manner, how it was accomplished ' After it was compassed
about seven days : ' where -take notice of the means and time.
[1.] The means is intimated in the word, ' They were compassed
about/ To understand which, we must have recourse to the stoiy.
They had a special command from God to walk about Jericho, and
had a promise that it should fall down flat, Joshua vi. 4, 5. Now their
faith was manifested by obedience to his command and dependence
upon his promise. The means may be considered negatively or posi
tively ; what they did not. and what they did.
(1.) Negatively, what they did not. (1.) They make no trenches to
keep themselves safe. (2.) They stand not in battle array to repel the
excursions of their enemies, but march on one after another in the order
prescribed : Josfiua vi. 9, ' The armed men went before the priests that
blew the trumpets ; and the rear-ward came after the ark, the priests
going on and blowing with the trumpets/ (3.) They lay no formal
siege to assault the city ; set no engines of battery against the walls.
(4.) The people raised no cry to create terror : Joshua vi. 10, ' And
Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor
make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word come out of
your mouth, until the day I bid you shout, then shall ye shout/ It
was meet that no noise should be heard, but that God's voice should
be attended upon with silence and quietness on the people's part, that
it might visibly appear their enemies were not overcome by the power
of men, but of God. So that, by this negative view, we see the victory
was not to be accomplished by force of arms, effusion of blood, or any
other means which carnal reason or common sense would suggest ; for
God, without blow or bloodshed, can bring mighty things to pass.
(2.) Positively, what means they used : nothing but a procession of
the ark, and armed men, and seven priests with seven trumpets of rams'
horns sounding to them. Silver trumpets were not used, though in a
general case they were prescribed : Num. x. 9, ' And if you go to war
in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow
an alarm with the trumpets, and ye shall be remembered before the
Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies/ And an
instance of the success of it we have in the Jews' war against apostate
Israel, when they say, 2 Chron. xiii. 12, ' And, behold, God himself is
with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry
alarm against you : children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord
God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper/ This promise annexed
to the signs was fulfilled, and was a type and pledge of God's blessing
when his ministers stir up his people against Satan, sin, and antichrist,
wherein the Lord will be with them and bless their labours. This
was to be ordinarily done by silver trumpets, but in this case God
would try them by more despicable means, by trumpets made with
rams' horns. And then the ark followed the priests, which was a special
evidence of God's presence among them ; for when the ark was lifted
up, the priests were to cry, ' Eise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be
scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee,' Num. x. 35. A
type of Christ's ascension and conquering the enemies of our salvation ;
2Q SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [$ER. LXIV.
as ye shall see the same words are used, Ps. Ixviii. 1, c Let God arise,
and let his enemies be scattered ; let them also that hate him flee be
fore him ' And that psalm is a prophecy of Christ's ascension, as
appears by the 18th and 19th verses, compared with Eph. iv. 8-10.
As the ark was among the Israelites, so is Christ among his people ;
and what ground the church had because of that pledge of God's pre
sence to expect deliverance, we have the same ground, yea, a more sure
ground of confidence in Christ. Whenever he begins to stir and show
himself, woe be to those that oppose his kingdom and interest m the
world ; 'he hath the same care, power, and faithfulness towards his
people' that ever he had at first. When he ascended up to heaven, he
went thither conquering and triumphing, and still can subdue and
conquer a rebellious world to himself. Well, in this order they
went round about the city for six days together ; and the event suc
ceeded : this was to prove their faith the more, and to try their obedi
ence and patience.
[2.] We come to the time' After they had compassed about the
city seven days.' They were every day to make this procession once ;
and the event appeared not till the last and seventh day. No reason
can be given why it must be the seventh day but God's will ; only a
septenary is a sacred number. On the seventh day, when the signal
fore-appointed was given, the people gave a shout, and the event suc
ceeded ; the walls fell down.
Now, from the means thus positively considered, I might observe two
things
(1.) That the means seemed ridiculous in the eye of reason; for
what could seven priests blowing of seven rams' horns be to overturn
such great and strong walls ? But God's command and promise will
do great matters, for he can bring his ends to pass by means that have
not any natural aptitude and fitness thereunto. And the apostle saith,
2 Cor. x. 4, ' The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strongholds.' And faith must
use such means as God hath appointed, though they seem weak.
(2.) Though these means seem ineffectual at first, yet we must tarry
God's leisure ; they will succeed in time, and they shall do what God
intendeth to do by them. The walls of Jericho shall not fall down
till the seventh day God hath his set time to bring his people out of
Egyptian bondage, and he kept touch to a day, though he seemed
almost to break his word, for it was night before they went forth :
Exod. xii. 41, ' And it came to pass, at the end of the four hundred
and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the
hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.' And so in many
other cases. Our times are always present with us out of impatiency
of the flesh, when it may be God's time is not yet come. But they
that would faithfully promote the interests of Christ's kingdom must
tarry God's leisure.
Doct, That it is the property of faith to adhere faithfully to the in
terest of Christ's kingdom, quietly waiting for his salvation.
The business of the apostle in this chapter is to confirm the minds
of the believers in adhering to Christianity against the temptations of
that age, which were of two sorts (1.) The slender appearance of the
VER. 30.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 21
growth and progress of that religion ; the church of God being but as
a grain of mustard-seed cast into the ground, and coming up at first
but with a few slender stalks and branches, which promised no great
increase. (2.) The other temptation was the manifold oppositions
they met with; their profession exposing them to great troubles,
therefore they were quite discouraged, some began to forsake the
assemblies of the faithful, and to be weary of persecuted Christianity.
Now, to cure them of this disease, he shows them what faith hath done
in all ages, and what great things have been accomplished by weak
means, whilst God's people had a heart to depend upon him ; and
among the rest, he produces this instance of the taking and demolishing
of Jericho by the blowing of rams' horns. If this instance were useful
for them, it is so for us ; for all ages have their discouragements, and
feeble minds soon faint and give out upon the least opposition. There
fore let us see what we shall learn from thence. I shall lay down
seven propositions
First, That Christ's purpose after his ascension was to destroy the
kingdom of darkness. This is evident : Ps. ex. 1, ' The Lord said unto
my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy
footstool' Christ upon the throne hath enemies here in the world,
but in due time they shall be his footstool. He shall gain upon op
position, and against opposition, and by opposition ; and they shall be
so far from overturning his throne, that his enemies shall be a step or
footstool to get into it. The same is emblematically set forth, Rev.
vi. 2, * And I saw, and behold a white horse : and he that sat on him
had a bow ; and a crown was given unto him : and he went forth con
quering, and to conquer.' This is a notable representation of the rise
and progress of Christ's kingdom ; he comes forth upon a white horse,
and his furniture is a crown and a bow. His crown notes his dignity, and
his bow the armour and weapons whereby he promotes his authority :
Ps. xlv. 3, 4, ' Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, most Mighty, with
thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously,
because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness; and thy right
hand shall teach thee terrible things.' Christ is furnished to subdue
and conquer, and bring as many as he pleases into a subjection to his
kingdom ; for it is added, ver. 5, * Thine arrows are sharp in the heart
of the king's enemies ; whereby the people fall under thee/ He hath
weapons to wound the consciences of sinners, and pierce deep into their
hearts. Having a grant of a kingdom over the nations, his design is
to conquer and carry all before him, and he will do it.
Secondly, This kingdom of darkness is the state which is opposite to
Christ's kingdom as mediator. The devils are said to be ' rulers of
the darkness of this world,' Eph. vi. 12; and their power is called the
power of darkness, as opposite to the kingdom of Christ, ' Who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness,' Col. i. 13. The gospel. king
dom is a kingdom of light, life, and love, where we have the clearest
knowledge of God that begets life in us, and love to God and his
people. Now opposite to light is ignorance and error ; opposite to life
is a religion that consists of shows and dead ceremonies ; and opposite
to love is uncharitableness, malice, hatred, especially of the power of
godliness. Now, where these eminently prevail, there is an opposite
22 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [$ER. LXIV.
kingdom set up against the kingdom of Christ, and this is done by two
sorts of people (1.) By all those that continue in the old apostasy
and defection of mankind from God ; as all men in their natural state,
and eminently by the gentiles and idolatrous heathen world, who live
in ignorance of the true God, and are dead in trespasses and sins, and
where envy, pride, malice, and ambition reign, instead of the spirit of
o-oodness and love which the gospel would produce. Now these men
oppose the light that shines to them : John iii. 19, ' This is the con
demnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil.' (2.) It may be and
is done by a second foiling away from Christ, which is foretold : 2 Thes.
ii. 3, ' That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,
and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition ; ' that is, the day
of judgment will not come till there be a falling away first. Now^this
falling off from Christ's kingdom is there where, in opposition to light,
error is taught and ignorance is counted the mother of devotion, and
people are restrained from the means of knowledge, as if the height of
Christian faith and obedience did consist in believing what men would
impose upon them by their bare authority. And where, instead of
life, men place their whole religion in some superficial rites and cere
monies, and some trifling acts of seeming devotion and exterior morti
fication ; this is a kingdom opposite to that lively religion which Christ
hath established. And instead of love to God and souls, all things are
sacrificed to men's private ambition ; and conscience is forced by the
highest penalties and persecutions to submit to the corruptions of the
Christian faith and worship. And wherever this prevails, there is a
manifest perversion of the interest of Christ's kingdom. Now this is
the Jericho, the block in the way of God's people in their passage to
the heavenly rest. Now both these apostasies, the general apostasy
from God, and the special apostasy from Christ, are defended by the
authority and power of the world, and upheld by the interests of several
nations which own and practise these things; and God's people, in
opposing them, are put to great difficulties. Therefore we are told
that God's witnesses are slain in the city : ' And their dead bodies shall
lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and
Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified,' Rev. xi. 8 ; that is, the city
which answers to Sodom for impurity, to Egypt for idolatry, and to
Jerusalem for persecution of the saints ; for that is the city wherein
our Lord was crucified ; he would not say Zion, because that is the
name of the church. And till the wall of the city fall down (as it is
prophesied there the tenth part of the wall shall fall down), there is
an impediment and block in the way of Christianity.
Thirdly, To demolish this corrupt estate we are all to be active in
our several places ; for we are employed as soldiers under the captain
of our salvation. Our great business in the world is to promote the
kingdom of light, life, and love ; to be sure we enter into it ourselves,
and to bring as many as we can along with us. (1.) That we enter
into it ourselves, for much of the kingdom of God is within us : Luke
xvii. 21, 'For behold the kingdom of God is within you.' And we
must all become light in the Lord : Eph. v. 8, ' Ye were sometimes
darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.' And we that were dead
VER. 30.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. 23
in trespasses and sins must be quickened in Christ: Eph. ii. 1, 'You
hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.' And then
the love of God must bear rule in our hearts, and fill us with all meek
ness, purity, charity, goodness, holiness, and heavenly-mindedness ; we
must see we be not of the opposite party of Christ. Now Christ hath
much to do with every individual person before he can settle his king
dom in their hearts. There is a mighty combat between Christ and
Satan for the rescue of every sinner that is recovered to God. The
strong man seeks to keep his castle till a stronger than he comes to
dispossess him : Luke xi. 21, * When the strong man armed keeps the
house, his goods are in peace.' Satan is the strong man armed, and
the heart of every unconverted sinner is his garrison, which he keeps
shut up against Christ by prejudices, carnal interests, worldly inclina
tions, and sensual allurements ; and this strong man must be cast out,
and his fort stormed and demolished, before a sinner can be gained,
and brought to change masters, and leave his obstinate impenitency.
Christ draws one way, the sinner another ; for many times we seem
ready to repent, but then we are drawn off again, loath to quit our
carnal pleasures and company, and we would sit down and be quiet in
our sins, but Christ will not let us alone, till at last we leave the fort
to him. (2.) When Christ's government is set up in the heart, where
Satan reigned before, then we must most earnestly seek to promote his
interest in the world, and that others be fellows with us in the same
grace. Naturally ' all seek their own things, and not the things of
Jesus Christ,' Phil. ii. 21. But when we are the Lord's, and really
made partakers of his grace, every one in his place must be a priest to
God, we must blow the trumpet ; by our desires, prayers, endeavours,
and holy example, we must seek to promote Christ's kingdom, and
draw others into the divine life. For this is one great effect of the
love of God planted in our hearts, to convert others when we are con 7
verted ourselves : Lukexxii. 32, ' When thou art converted, strengthen
thy brethren.' We are to invite them to have communion with us, as
we have with the Father and the Son : 1 John i. 3, ' That which we
have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fel
lowship with us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with
his Son Jesus Christ/ Grace is and will be diffusive of itself ; as fire
turns all near it into fire, so every one in his capacity will endeavour
to bring home others to God.
Fourthly, To do this we have means in the eye of sense very weak,
whatever they are in the eye of. faith. Our means are to appearance
weak ; like those in the text, they carried about the ark of the cove
nant, and made a blast with rams' horns. The preaching of the gospel,
the prayers of the church, the faith and holy conversation of believers,
and the patience of the saints, these are the means by these and such
like is the kingdom of sin, Satan, and antichrist demolished, and
Christ's kingdom is set up in the world. These means are proper to
the Mediator's dispensation, whose kingdom ' comes not with observa
tion,' Luke xvii. 10. But his kingdom is not carried on in a way of
external pomp, but by internal power and virtue. The word preached
is one means, as the apostle tells us that by the preaching of the cross
he was the great solicitor to proselyte, gain, and recover the world :
24 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SflR. LXIY.
1 Cor. i. 18, ' The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolish
ness, but unto us wriich are saved it is the power of God.' Use this
means, and see what it will do. So the prayers of the church ; for
Christ taught us to pray, ' Thy kingdom come.' Acts iv. 24, ' And
when they heard that, they lift up their voice with one accord ; ' ver. 31,
' And when they had prayed, the place was shaken, where they were
assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
they spake the word of God with boldness.' So also the holy conversation
of believers : Mat. v. 16, ' Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father that is in heaven ; '
1 Peter ii. 12, ' Having your conversation honest among the gentiles ;
that whereas they spake against you as evil-doers, they may, by your
good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visita
tion ;' 1 Peter iii. 1, ' If any obey not the word, they may without the
word be won by the conversation of their wives.' This overcomes
prejudice, and endeareth and reconciles religion, and represents the
goodness of it to the consciences of men. Another means is by meek
and humble sufferings: Eev. xii. 11, ' And they overcame him by the
blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony : and they
loved not their lives unto the death.' These were the means by which
they got the victory over the pagan world. Thus is the opposition
made by the kingdom of darkness against the kingdom of Christ borne
down and demolished, and these strongholds brought to nought.
Fifthly, Though the means be weak, yet our faith must be strong ;
for there are mighty props to bear us up, viz., the decree and de
signation of God, seconded with his mighty power, the death and
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and the promise and power of the Holy
Ghost.
1. The decree and designation of God, seconded with his mighty
power. The decree of God : Ps. ii. 6, ' Yet have I set my king upon
my holy hill of Sion ; ' that is, appointed Christ to rule over the nations ;
and they that set themselves against God's decree, they do but imagine
a vain thing, ver. 1. Now this is a mighty encouragement to all those
that seek in their place to remove the corruptions whereby Christ's
interest is obstructed and interrupted in the world, that they act with
God, and seek to advance that which his decree hath established and
his heart is set upon. The other branch is, that this purpose of God
is backed with his almighty power, which can easily remove all im
pediments ; and when he will take to himself and put forth his great
power, opposition gives way of itself. So the scripture speaks : Ps.
cxiv. 3, * The sea saw it, and fled ; Jordan was driven back/ He
alludes to the drying up of the sea and the water of Jordan to give
his people passage ; and when God puts forth his power, no opposition
can hinder nor impediment stand in the way. Acts xii. 7, Peter's
chains fell off from his hands when the angel bid him arise, and the
iron gate opened on its own accord ; so here the walls of Jericho fell
down. We expect not miracles, yet still there are acts of wonderful
power for the preserving and advancing of Christ's interest in the
world, and when the season is come, opposition shall give way of itself.
2. You have the merit and intercession of Christ, the merit of his
humiliation here upon earth, and the power of his intercession in
VER. 30.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS xi. 25
heaven. His merit on earth, for one end for which the blood of Christ
was shed was to promote the interest of his kingdom, and to fetch men
off from their inveterate prejudices and superstitions ; and therefore
the apostle saith, 1 Peter i. 18, 19, ' You are redeemed not with cor
ruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received
by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of the Son
of God/ &c. How shall we bring men off from their opposition which
is confirmed in them, and hath been the religion of their fathers and
grandfathers for many generations ? Oh ! see what the blood of Christ
can do ; it hath a mighty virtue in it to take off this opposition. And
so his intercession in heaven : Ps. ex. 1, ' The Lord said, unto my
Lortf, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy
footstool.' Christ is at the right hand of God, and there he is to sit
till all opposition be destroyed, which is a mighty encouragement to all
that are factors and agents for his kingdom here below. He is at God's
right hand, pleading for them before God the Father : John xvii. 10,
' All mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them.'
They are those that take his part in the world ; and he is their advocate
and intercessor at God's right hand, to prosper their endeavours, to
pardon their failings, to remove impediments that lie in their way,
there he is pleading with God.
3. The mighty and all-conquering spirit that proceedeth both from
the Father and the Son. Of this Spirit of God I shall say two things
(1.) That he is invincible and almighty, and therefore his operations
are suitable to the agent. Oh I what mighty things hath this Spirit
done as to the demolishing strongholds ! Heretofore by this Spirit the
apostles and messengers of Christ wrought miracles, cured diseases, cast
out devils, conveyed gifts by laying on of hands, silenced oracles, and
so everywhere destroyed the kingdom and power of Satan, and con
vinced the world of the truth of this despised religion. And still his
mighty force is seen in enlightening and convincing men's minds of the
truth of the Christian religion, and furnishing his people with gifts, and
converting others, and changing them from sinners to saints : 1 Cor.
vi. 11, ' Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sancti
fied, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the
Spirit of our God.' (2.) This Spirit is promised to be with us in the
faithful dispensing of Christ's ordinances : Mat. xxviii. 20, ' Lo, I will
be with you always to the end of the world/ In the whole flux and
course of the gospel kingdom he is with us. Now Christ is with us by
his Spirit ; for when he departed, the Comforter came to supply his
absence : therefore, if he be with us, it is by his Spirit. Therefore,
upon all these grounds, how mean and despicable soever the means
appear, let us believe the Lord our God, who hath set his King on his
holy hill, established him by his decree, which is backed by a mighty
power, and the Lord Jesus represents his merit, and we have the pre
sence and promise of a mighty conquering Spirit : 2 Chron. xx. 20,
' Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established ; believe his
prophets, so shall ye prosper/
Sixthly, If our whole dependence be upon God, we must be sure to
keep God's direction, and use only regular and holy means, such as he
hath prescribed as our duty to observe, Here the Israelites every day
26 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SEE. LXIV.
were to make the procession about the city, ^and the seventh day
seven times, and all in silence ; unless it were with blowing the rams'
horns, they were not to raise a shout till the signal was given. We
cannot expect success in what is not of faith. By carnal and unlawful
means we forfeit God's protection, and lose his blessing, for he is not
bound to maintain us in our sin. Our dependence supposes obedience ;
if we trust in God we must be true to him : Ps. xxxvii. 34, ' Wait on
the Lord, and keep his way ;' 1 Peter iv. 19, ' Commit the keeping of
your souls to him in well-doing.'
Seventhly, Keeping to God's direction, you must wait his leisure,
or tarry for the time and season which God hath appointed. Six days
the wall stands fast, not a stone stirred, and for a good part oft the
seventh, but upon the evening of the seventh day all comes tumbling
down : Hab. ii. 3, ' The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the
end it shall speak, and not lie ; though it tarry, wait for it ; because it
will surely come, it will not tarry.' Every dispensation of God hath
its prefixed period ; as the mercy, so the timing of the mercy is merely
in God's hand. It is not always ready at our beck and call, but we
must wait God's time, who hath his seasons of afflicting and trial as
well as of delivering. We must not miscarry through weakness or
haste, either give over as discouraged, or break out into any unlawful
action to help ourselves : Isa. xxviii. 16, ' He that believeth will not
make haste.' It is in vain to hope, but while we are waiting and
acting in our place and calling. For the promoting of God's kingdom
in the world we must tarry God's leisure. We can neither prevent
nor put off God's time.
Use 1. The use is to encourage all those who wish well to the pro
pagation of Christ's kingdom, and are troubled at the stumbling-blocks
that are in the way. Consider what may be done, and what hath been
done, and both will encourage you to wait upon God.
1. Consider what may be done.
[1.] Christ is the governor of the world ; all power is put into his
hands, to be employed for the good of his people : John v. 22, ' The
Father hath committed all judgment to the Son.' He hath the govern
ment of angels, devils, men, and of all events in the world. Things
are not left to their own arbitrament and uncertain contingency, but
they are administered by our wise and powerful Eedeemer. It is not
Satan which governs the world, but Christ ; therefore all that are of
Christ's confederacy are of the surer side, for they are with the gover
nor of the world, and then what may not be done ?
[2.] He is the head of the church as well as governor of the world :
Eph. v. 22, ' And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to
be head over all things to the church.' He is more concerned than
we can be. The church is not ours, but his ; and he is fitter to be
trusted with the concernments of it than we, and more tender of its
welfare than we are or can be ; therefore by the prayer of faith let us
recommend his own affairs to him.
[3.] Christ's manner of governing should not be disliked by those
that have faith, though sense despise it. His manner is not to subdue
the world by the visible force of a strong hand, as an earthly con
queror, but by his word and Spirit, and the secret conduct of his pro-
YER. 30.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 27
vidence : Zech. Iv. 6, ' ISTot by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,
saith the Lord of hosts.' The world dotes upon might and power,
because that is the next visible means ; but God will do his business
another way. A little key will open a door sooner than an iron bar.
His holy and invisible means will do it better than all those ways
which carnal wisdom suggests.
[4.] Considering the groundwork laid in his death and intercession,
surely these means should not be contemptible. (1.) His word is a
powerful instrument : Ps. ex. 3, ' The Lord shall send the rod of thy
strength out of Zion ; rule them in the midst of thy enemies/ The
word of the Lord is the rod of his strength ; and it is called the ' arm
of the Lord/ Isa. liii, 1, and ' the power of God unto salvation,' Rom.
i. 16*. A mighty word it is, and doth mighty things in the hearts of
God's people and in the world. Satan's kingdom is demolished, and
so is antichrist destroyed by his word : 2 T,hes. ii. 8, ' Then shall the
widked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of
his mouth.' (2.) Then for the other branch, what can stand before
the all-conquering Spirit of Christ ? You see it in that servant of
God, Stephen: Acts vi. 10, ' They* could not resist the wisdom and
spirit by which he spake.' There is a spirit dispensed by the gospel
that can turn a lion into a lamb : Isa, xi. 6, ' The wolf shall dwell
with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid ; ' bring
us to love what we hale ; ' to delight in the law of God/ Eom. vii. 22.
Whereas before, our carnal mind was ' enmity against God/ Rom. viii.
7, that can change us, that bore the image of Satan and the earthly
one, into the image and likeness of God : 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' We all with
open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord/ He can turn a ' thorn into a fir-tree, and the briar into a
myrtle-tree/ Isa. Iv. 13. All these expressions the scripture useth to
set forth the mighty things and changes which the Spirit of God can
make. Thus consider what may be done.
2. Let us consider what is past, and how the gospel was planted at
first. When the Lord Jesus first came to set up the kingdom of light,
life, and love, what did he do? The gospel was planted at first not
by force or human power, but only by the heavenly divine power of
the Lord's grace. It was not the power of the long sword, but the
demonstration of the Spirit, which converted the world. The apostles,
when they were sent abroad, had no temporal interests to lean to, no
worldly powers that were friendly to back them ; yet the gospel pre
vailed and got up in the world. These things were remarkable in
the first spreading of the gospel
[1.] The doctrine itself is contrary to corrupt nature ; it doth not
court the senses nor woo the flesh by the offers of pleasure, or profit,
or splendour of life ; but teaches us to deny all these things, and to
expect persecutions, and to be contented with spiritual comforts, and
the recompenses of the other world: Mat. xvi. 24, 'If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me/ Christ did not allure his followers, as Mahomet, with fair pro
mises of security and carnal pleasure, but tells us of mortification and
the cross. It teaches us to row against the stream of flesh and blood
23 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. [&ER. LXIV.
and to bear out sail against all the blasts and furious winds of oppo
sition. The stream runs smoothly when wind and tide go^ together,
where a carnal doctrine is set afoot among carnal men. But in Christ s
doctrine there is nothing lovely to move a carnal eye ; this doctrine
taught the proud world humility ; the uncharitable world, love to all
men, even to their enemies ; the unchaste world, that a lustful glance
is adultery; the revengeful world, to turn the other cheek to the
smiter ; the covetous world, to be liberal, not to cark and take thought
for worldly things, but to lay up our treasure in heaven ; the dissolute
world, to walk circumspectly in all godliness and honesty. This was
the doctrine that prevailed.
[2.] Who were the persons and instruments that were made use of
to promote this doctrine ? They were contemptible persons, a few
fishermen, destitute of all worldly props and aids, of no power, and
wealth, and authority, and other such advantages as are apt to beget
a repute in the world ; yet they preached, and converted many nations,
though they had no public interest to countenance them, though they
were not backed with the power of princes or the countenance of
worldly potentates. We are told, "Frov. xxix, 26, 'Many seek the
ruler's favour.' But the gospel had a firm footing in the world long
ere there was a prince to countenance it, and many to persecute it.
And as the instruments were poor, so the first professors of the Chris
tian religion were generally poor also : James ii. 5, ' God hath chosen
the poor of this world, rich in faith ; ; and 1 Cor. i. 26, ' Not many wise
men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called/'
And therefore it is much, being so destitute of worldly succour and
support, that the gospel should be able to hold up its head in the
world ; but it did.
[3.] The powers of the world, as they were not friendly to it, so
they were set against it. Bonds, sufferings, and afflictions did abide
for them everywhere that professed this way ; yea, fires were kindled,
horrible tortures invented ; but no fire was hot enough to consume the
gospel. When Satan made his hottest onset against it by his bands
of persecutors, even in the midst of persecution did the church increase
her strength and glory ; and the martyrs' blood was the church's seed.
No rage of man was strong enough to bear down Christ, no sword sharp
enough to wound his truth to the death ; never did war, pestilence, or
famine sweep away so many as the first persecutions did ; the poor
Christians were murdered, slaughtered, butchered everywhere, yet still
they multiplied and increased, as the Israelites did in Egypt under
their cruel bondage, or as a tree lopped sends forth more sprouts.
[4.] Not only the powers of the world were irritated by Satan, but
he raised up the most learned philosophers to dispute against the
gospel, and bend the force of their learning against it ; yet it prevailed
above all the power of their carnal wit. It was the purpose and
design of God that the gospel should be sent forth, and set up in such
a place and age, where and when there were the most learned enemies
in all the world, that so all their learning might be nonplussed, and
the gospel triumph over it. Never were there so many learned men
as about the time of Christ and his apostles ; and if ever reason and
learning could have disgraced truth, it would have been then. They
VER. 30.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS xi. 29
pleaded with words, but Christ with mighty works ; they used so
phisms and lies to get into men's souls, and he shined into men's souls
with an insuperable light ; their weapons were weak and carnal, but
his strong and spiritual ; all was carried on in a plain way, without the
pomp of words and secular arts, lest the cross of Christ should be of
non-effect, and that the faith of the world might not stand in high-
flown notions or the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, 1 Cor.
ii. 4, 5. Those simple plain men were to deal with men of excellent
parts and learning, some of which received the gospel, and suffered
for it. Thus, as Aaron's rod devoured the magicians' serpents, so the
gospel was too hard for the wisdom of the world, and in the mouths
of babes did Christ show forth his praise, Ps. viii. 2.
[5.] Do but consider the wonderful success of the gospel ; it did
diffuse and spread itself like leaven in the mass and lump through
out all the parts of the known world, and that within the space of
thirty or forty years, or thereabout. Saith Tertullian, Hesterni sumus,
&c. We are but of yesterday, and yet how are we increased ! Look
upon Christians, and you shall find them in all places, in cities,
villages, isles, castles, free towns, councils, armies, senates, markets ;
everywhere but where their religion forbids them to be, in the idols'
temples. Such a wonderful increase and success the gospel had in
such a short time, as the apostle tells the Colossians, chap. i. 6, ' The
gospel is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth
fruit, as it doth also in you.'
[6.] There is this circumstance notable in it too ; there were
Jerichos to be demolished, the world was leavened with prejudices,
and possessed with many false religions, wherein they and their
fathers had been bred up and lived a long time. Christ did not
seize upon the world, as a waste is seized upon by the next comer.
No ; the ark of God was to be set up in the temple that was already
occupied and possessed by Dagon. Before Christ could be seated in
the government of the nations, and settle his law, first Satan was to
be dispossessed ; the wolf was to be hunted out, that the flock might
remain in peace. Superstitions received by a long tradition and
prescription of time were to be removed. Men keep to the religion
of their ancestors with much reverence and respect. People are loath
to change their gods, though their worship be never so vain and foolish,
the gods to whom they have prayed in their adversities, and whom
they have blessed in their prosperities ; to break their images that
they have worshipped, and to destroy their temples and altars for
which they had such veneration and reverence, this seemeth hard and
severe. How dear idols are to their worshippers, and how people
are habituated to those superstitions, appears by Kachel's stealing
away her father's idols, Gen. xxxi. 34. Though she was one of them
which built God's Israel, yet she had a hankering mind after her
father's idols. Therefore these things stick by us, and no humours
are so obstinately stiff as those which are found in religious custom.
The Jews accused Stephen of saying, Acts vi. 14, * That this Jesus
of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs
which Moses delivered us;' and Paul, Acts xvi. 31, 'That he did
teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, nor to observe,
30 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SEE. LXV.
being Bomans.' Certainly it is a very hard thing to bring men out
of an old religion to a new one ; yet, when the trumpet of the gospel
sounded, down went all the altars, images, and superstitions of the
gentiles, and the religion of Jesus took place.
[7.] I have but one consideration more, and that is, when Satan
had raised up heretics in the church, to rend the body and divide
it, as worms that breed in the body and devour it, that so by the
church he might destroy the church, yet Christ confounded them,
and a little time did break each sect in pieces, so that those which
were the great scourge and vexation of one age were scarce known
to the next but by their names and some obscure report. The
church of Ephesus had Nicolaitans among them; but they hated
their doctrine, and within a little while it came to nothing: Kev. ii.
6, ' But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
which I also hate.' And the church of Pergamus had those which
held the doctrine of Balaam, yet there were ' those that held fast
Christ's name, and did not deny the faith/ ver. 1 ; and so this
heresy vanished and departed. So for others, where the light of the
gospel did quickly disperse those fogs as soon as they arose. When
any mists arose which did darken the kingdom of light, they were
presently scattered and confounded. Well, then, here is encourage
ment for our zeal and fidelity to Christ, to support us in difficult
cases whatever obstructions are made. Let us trust Christ's means,
wait upon him with faith and patience, and in due time he will do
his work.
Use 2. Let none of us build Jericho again. Joshua imposed a solemn
curse on those that built the wall of Jericho, because thereby they
would obliterate the memory of divine power and justice : Joshua vi.
26, l And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the
man before the Lord that raiseth up and buildeth this city Jericho ;
he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest
son shall he set up the gates thereof.' Which curse we find fulfilled :
1 Kings xvi. 34, ' In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho ;
he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born, and set up
the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of
the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.' Cursed are
they that revive old superstitions.
SERMON LXY.
By faith the harlot Eaha~b perished not with them that believed not,
when she had received the spies with peace. HEB. xi. 31.
IN this verse observe
1. The person spoken of Eahab, an harlot and a stranger, bred
up among idolaters.
2. The effect of her faith She received the spies ivith peace.
VEK. 31.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 31
3. The benefit She perished not ivith them that believed not. Let
us open these things.
1. The quality of the person, Bahab the harlot ; she was a gentile
before, and in that gentile estate an hostess (for the word signifies
both an harlot and an hostess), and most probably an harlot, for so
she is spoken of in scripture, and so defiled both in body and mind
with idolatry and adultery.
2. Here is the effect of her faith ' She received the spies with
peace;' that is, with good- will, and entertained them safely. Harbouring
God's persecuted servants is reckoned an effect of faith in scripture.
The story is in the 2d chapter of Joshua, where take notice
[1.] Of the coming of the spies to her house, which might be done
on their part ignorantly, not knowing it to be a brothel-house ; or
by divine providence guiding them thither where he had a soul to
convert ; or they might choose it to avoid suspicion, and that they
might have the greater liberty to espy all things, she living near the
walls ; but God makes use of it to another purpose, to be an occasion
of saving her and her family.
[2.] The discovery of the spies by that watchful and jealous people ;
for it was told the king of Jericho that some of the children of Israel
were come to spy out the land, chap. ii. 2, and he sends to her to bring
them forth, so that she not only entertains them kindly, but conceals
them, hazarding her life for their safety ; as we are also ' to lay down
our lives for the brethren,' 1 John iii. 16 U She was willing to expose
her life to danger to save her guests, rather than gain the favour of
the king of the country by betraying them. Here we learn that the
weakest faith is tried, and does expose us to some self-denial. For
this young and raw convert is put upon this: the spies came to
her house, and she in good-will conceals them, when the king sends
to know what was become of them.
[3.] The course she took to hide them ; partly by an honest means,
covering them with stalks of flax in the upper part of the house ;
and partly by an officious lie, as if they were gone in the dark before
the shutting in of the gate. Her lie was an infirmity, pardoned by
God, and not to be exaggerated by men ; as here the apostle mentions
her faith, but not a word of her lie. There was some weakness in
the action, but for the main of it, it was a duty expressing great
confidence in God; and the Holy Ghost puts the finger upon the
star, and, contrary to the guise of the malignant world, who overlook
the good and reflect only upon the evil of an action, he takes notice
of the good, but passeth by the evil.
[4.] Before the spies were gone from her, she makes a confession
of her faith to them : Joshua ii. 9-11, ' I know that the Lord hath
given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that
all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you : for we have
heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when
you came out of Egypt ; and what you did unto the two kings of the
Amorites that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom
ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our
hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man,
because of you ; for the Lord your God he is God in heaven above,
32 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SEE. LXV.
and in earth beneath.' Here is her profession of faith, which is very
notable in this new convert. In it observe
(1.) The ground of it, the rumours of the great things which God
had done for his people. It is said, Koiu. x. 14, ' How shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard ? ' This woman had
heard of God, and the mighty wonders he had done for Israel, and
this was the ground of her faith.
(2.) The efficient cause. God thereby touched her heart, and
gave her some saving knowledge of himself. The Canaanites
had heard, as well as she, of those mighty works of God, yet they
believed not, but grew obstinate, and perished in their resolution to
resist the Israelites, and therefore were exterminated. They heard
to some degree of fear, 'for their hearts melted within them;' but
they heard not to any degree of faith, for they submitted not, but pre
pared to resist the purpose of God, and his design of giving his people
the land. Thus it was by the secret power of God's Spirit.
(3.) The fulness of her profession. It is well observed by Origen,
Ilia, quce aliquando erat meretrix, cum Spiritu Sancto repleta est, et
de prceteritis confiletur, de prcesentibus vero credit, prophetat et prce-
nuntiat defuturis The woman that was sometimes an harlot, when
she was wrought upon by the Holy Ghost, she believeth what is past,
she acknowledged what is present, she foretelleth what is to come.
So that here is a full confession. For what is past, she acknowledged
the truth of the miracles which God had wrought, to show his love
and care over his people. For what is present, she believes God to
be the true God. For what is to come, she believes confidently that
God would give the land into their hand ; though the people of
the city think themselves safe within their city and walls, and think
to carry it by mere strength, and fear not, and are not sensible either
of their sins or dangers, yet she was confident of the future success
of God's people, and destruction of her country, The consideration
of God's mighty wonders, blessed by the Spirit of God, bringing such
a confession from her.
(4.) She is careful to save the house she came of, and therefore
takes an oath of the spies to save her and her father's house : Joshua
ii. 12, ' Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since
I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my
father's house, and give me a true token.' And accordingly the
bargain is made, if she did not betray them, that she was to hand out
the line by which they were let down upon the wall. This shows
that all believers have their assurance from a covenant, and that this
covenant is confirmed by certain signs, which faith makes use of as
the means of preservation. For she was to hang out the scarlet line
by which she and all her house might be kept in safety. So much for
the effect of her faith ; she received the spies with peace.
3. Let us come to the benefit ' She perished not with them that
believed not ; ' that is, when the incredulous and idolatrous people were
destroyed, she and all her family were preserved ; as God can, and
often doth, save his people in the midst 'of general calamities. You
shall see, when the city was taken, Joshua keeps faith with her :
Joshua vi. 22, 23, ' Joshua said unto the two men that had spied out
VEB. 31.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. 33
the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the
woman, and all that she hath, as you sware unto her. And the young
men that were spies went in, and brought out Kahab, and her father
and mother, and her brethren, and all that she had ; and they brought
out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel ; ' and
when they had fired the city, ver. 25, ' Joshua saved Rahab the harlot
alive, and her father's household, and all that she had ; and she
dwelleth in Israel even unto this day ; because she hid the messengers
which Joshua had sent to spy out Jericho/ Thus I have opened the
words. The notes from this instance the apostle gives are three
[1.] From the quality of the person, observe that God shows
wonderful mercy to penitent sinners, if they return to him, and believe
in him.
[2.] From her faith, observe that true faith, wherever it is, will
show itself by some eminent and notable effects.
[3.] From the benefit, observe that the rewards of true faith are
excellent and glorious.
Doct. 1. That God is ready to show wonderful mercy to penitent
sinners, if they return to him, and believe in him, how great soever
their sins have been before. Rahab the harlot is an instance. She
had been a gentile, and lived an unclean life, yet when she owned the
true God she is pardoned, and placed in the catalogue of God's
worthies who are eminent for faith. There are many such instances
given us in scripture; not to lessen the nature of their sins, but to
amplify God's grace. In John iv. we have an instance of the woman
of Samaria ; she was a vile woman ; for (ver. 18) Christ tells her, ' Thou
hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast is not thy
husband;' yet afterwards she was a notable means of promoting the
faith of Christ. Former sins will not hinder their acceptance with
God who seriously come to seek grace. The same also may be
observed in another woman ' which washed Christ's feet with tears,
and wiped them with the hairs of her head/ Luke vii. 38. The woman
was a heathen, and one that had lived in a sinful course, but she then
relented, and lets fall drops of tears plentifully upon Christ's feet,
which tears were the effects of sorrow and love ; and because she wept
much and loved much, it argued a great expression of gratitude from
her, because of the great mercy showed to her in the pardon of her
sins : ver. 47, ' Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved
much.' The throne of grace is open for all sinners ; it admits of no
exception of persons. ' Turn and live,' is the great tenor of the
gospel : Ezek. xviii. 33, ' I have no pleasure in the death of him that
dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye;'
Ezek. xxxiii. 11, 'As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in
the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way
and live : turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways ; for why will ye die,
house of Israel ? ' And publicans and harlots, though infamous
amongst men, yet they are not excluded, but accepted with God if
they turn from their evil course. Nay, many times they enter into
the kingdom of God before self-justiciaries: Mat. xxi. 31, 'The
publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you/
For there is nothing that lies so cross to the spirit of the gospel as
VOL. xv. c
34 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SfiR. LXV.
self-righteousness. Now, when people pride and please themselves in
an external righteousness, there is more hope of a publican than of
them. Christ invites and calls such, and we must not keep them off:
Mat. ix. 13, ' I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repent
ance.' But we must remember two cautions
1. That they must break off the course of their sins. For our
commission is this (and we cannot speak comfortably to you upon any
other terms), ' Turn and live.' We call them not to confidence while
they live in their sins, but to repentance, that they may break off the
course of their sins. To tell them of trusting in God's mercy while
they remain in their wickedness is a vile flattery, and the worst sort
of flattery ; but to invite them to repentance is charity. See Isa. Iv.
7, ' Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy
upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon ;' and Dan.
iv. 27, ' Break off thy sins by righteousness, and thy iniquities by
showing mercy to the poor.' He speaks this to a cruel oppressing
king, Nebuchadnezzar, who had troubled all the world by his ambi
tion, that he would let go his captives, and behave himself more
righteously, restore the prey unjustly taken for the enlarging his
empire and territory. And so I may say to all sinners ; if their faith
be unfeigned, if their repentence be serious and sincere, there are
hopes of mercy for them, not otherwise.
2. There is another caution, and that is, to be as eminent in their
repentance as they have been in their sins ; so was Eahab, so was
that gentile woman that came to wash Christ's feet, so was the woman
of Samaria. The apostle requires it as an equitable proposal to all
converts : Kom. vi. 19, 'I speak after the manner of men, because of
the infirmity of your flesh ;' that is, which men will judge to be equal ;
that which, if you have but reason and conscience within you, you
cannot but judge reasonable. I know how bad you are, and you cannot
yield God such entire obedience as he doth require and as he doth
deserve, and I have regard to the infirmity of your flesh ; but 'as ye have
yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity ; even
so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness ; '
be as eminent in your sanctification as formerly you have been in
serving your base lusts and vile affections ; serve God as well as you
have served the devil ; and as you have been guilty of such foul sins
as render you infamous among men, so serve God now exemplarily. It
is equitable you should be as eminent in holiness as you have been
in sins and wickedness.
The grounds of this, why the Lord shows wonderful mercy to
penitent sinners, whatever their sins have been before, are
[1.] The infiniteness of God's mercy, that can pardon all, even our
greatest sins. We sin as men, but he pardons as a God : Hosea xi. 9,
' I am God, and not man ; therefore Ephraim is not destroyed/ It was
well Ephraim had to do not with revengeful men, but with a pardoning
God. God acts like himself in the exercise of his mercy. Sure an
emperor's revenue can pay a beggar's debt. Surely so great and
infinite mercy can pardon and absolve our obligation to punishment.
Alas for us men ! it is tedious to think of forgiving seven times a day,
VEB. 31.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS xt. 35
to forgive when still a man is perverse and multiplying his offences ;
but to forgive seventy times seven, it breaks the back of all our
patience ; but God will pardon like himself, after many and many
offences.
J2.] The infiniteness of Christ's merit. Surely his blood can wash
cleanse out all these stains. An ocean can cleanse one nasty sink,
be it ever so foul. ' The blood of Christ his Son cleanseth us from
all sin/ 1 John i. 7.
[3.] The covenant of grace exempts no sin but the sin against the
Holy Ghost : Mat. xii. 31, ' All manner of sin and blasphemy shall
be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost
shall not be forgiven unto men.' There is no sin but this one which
hath not been forgiven, or may not be forgiven, in one person or
another ; therefore, though they have fallen very foully, yet we should
not despair of them.
[4.] The power of the Holy Ghost can change and sanctify the vilest
heart, and can turn a dunghill into a bed of spices ; for nothing is
too hard for the hand and power of God. He that made all things
out of nothing, he can make a graceless heart to become gracious ; for
what is too hard for the Almighty? When the Lord speaks, all things
are possible to God. He can make sometimes < the last to be first,'
Mat. xix. 39. He can make those that set out last for heaven to do
more than an early professor ; indeed, they must be more earnestly
diligent. When Celsus objected against Origen that Christianity
was a sanctuary for flagitious persons, because of the large terms of
the gospel, he made this answer 'The gospel,' saith he, 'is not merely
a sanctuary to receive them, but it is an hospital to cure them.' There
is a mighty Spirit that can turn them from those sins, and change
their hearts ; they come to it as to an hospital to cure them of their
foul diseases, which no other physician can do but Christ.
Use. To check despair for ourselves or others.
First, For ourselves. There is a twofold despair a raging and a
sottish despair. Raging despair is when we are rilled with terror, and
are afraid of the wrath of God, that we think we shall never be for
given, having daily offended him. Sottish despair is when we think
of sin, and go on to please our lusts.
1. This point serves to cure the raging despair. This is spoken of
in Cain: Gen. iv. 13, 'My punishment is greater than I can bear;'
and Judas, who said, Mat. xxvii. 4, 5, ' I have sinned in that I have
betrayed innocent blood ; and he cast down the thirty pieces in the
temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.' To cure this
raging despair, consider, if you have but a mind to return from your
great and infamous sins, the Lord is more ready to receive and pardon
you than you can be to return. While the prodigal was yet a great
way off, ' the father ran to meet him,' Luke xv. 20. And when David
had fallen foully, and his conscience was full of trouble, Ps. xxxii. 5,
1 1 said I will confess mine iniquities unto the Lord, and thou for-
gavest the iniquity of my sin j When he did but conceive the purpose,
the Lord renewed the pardon. Oh! do not stand aloof from a pardoning
God; you have a sure and sufficient remedy before you in Christ Jesus,
and in the covenant of grace. The Lord saves none as innocent, but
36 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SfiR. LXV.
he excepts none as penitent : Therefore to say, My sin is greater than
can be forgiven, is to please the devil and cross God's design in the
work of redemption. Is your disease so great that the physician of
souls cannot cure it ?
2. There is a sottish despair, when men are not much troubled for
their sins, but think they shall never be converted, and be brought to
love this strict, holy, and heavenly life, and so resolve to go on and
make the best they can of a carnal course, and drive off all remorse of
conscience. This is spoken of, Jer. xviii. 12, ' And they said, There is
no hope, but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every
one do the imagination of his evil heart/ and Jer. ii. 25, 'Thou
sayest, There is no hope : No, for I have loved strangers, and after
them will I go.' They think there is no possibility of their ever being
reduced or reclaimed to a holy and heavenly life, and so past cure,
past care ; and are resolved to live as they list : The case is desperate,
say they, and I am at a point ; and thus they are resolved to continue,
and go on in their evil course. These are obstinate in their infidelity
and impenitency, and therefore they are worse than the former.
Despairing fears are not so bad as these desperate resolutions, because
they do not only doubt of God's mercy, but question his sovereignty,
and refuse subjection to him, and despair of sanctification rather than
pardon, and draw wilful rebellious conclusions from it. Oh ! do not
cherish such a thought, nor yield to such despondency. God can
turn and pardon you ; and though with men it is impossible, yet not
with God.
Secondly, This is of use to check our despair for others ; for when
you find some of your relations, after many warnings, to relapse into
gross sins, certainly we are bound to do all we can to reclaim them from
them. Give not over praying and warning ; you ought still to represent
to them the danger of such courses, but cut them not off from all hopes,
for God can reclaim the most odious sinners ; and show them that there
may yet be hope of mercy for them, and that no past sins can hinder
our conversion to God if the Lord pleases ; and that they ought to put
themselves into a posture to seekjiis grace ; though still you are always
to represent the danger of those desperate courses wherein they are
engaged.
Doct 2. From her act ' By faith the harlot Kahab perished not/
&c. Observe, that true faith, where it is weakest, will show itself by
some eminent and notable effect. We, in the latter age, to excuse our
selves from duty, have involved all things into controversy ; therefore
it is good to look to the ancient faith. How did the holy ones of God
live heretofore ? Here is an instance of an ancient faith, and the low
est of the kind ; it is a firm belief of such things as God hath revealed
to us, so as to make us fruitful and faithful in obedience to him. And
I would have you observe, that in all this catalogue and chronicle of
the faithful and eminent believers, no instance is propounded to us of
an idle and barren faith, and always the apostle shows what was done
by faith ; for surely the working faith is tmly the true faith : Gal. v. 6,
' Faith which worketh by love.' Kahab's faith was no dead faith, but
manifested by works ; therefore the apostle James saith, chap. ii. 21,
' Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered
VER. 31.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS xr. 37
Isaac his son upon the altar ? ' and ver. 25. ' Likewise also was not
Kahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the mes
sengers, and had sent them out another way?' In this raw and
young convert faith was not without its effect.
To make this more evident, let us consider the temper of her faith,
since it is so good to live by the ancient faith.
1. The ground of her faith was the fame and the report of God's
wondrous works which he had done for his people. She had heard of
the true God, as much as was necessary to acknowledge his power
against his enemies and his grace towards his people, and this was
sufficient as a means to beget saving faith in her soul. And if so, then
we have greater grounds of faith than she had ; for we have heard of
the stupendous wonders of our redemption by Christ. Now, where
more is given, the more we must account for : Luke xii. 48, * For unto
whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required ; and to
whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.' The
more light God bestows, the greater improvement he expects. We
have not only general rumours to build upon, as she had, but the sure
word, where these things are more certainly and clearly discovered to
us ; and therefore God expects a better tempered faith from us.
2. She makes a confession of that faith which was wrought in her
heart ; for to the spies she acknowledges God to be the only true God,
both in heaven above and the earth beneath ; and she acknowledges
the Israelites to be his peculiar people, whom he had owned and loved,
and that she could not be saved but as gathered to that people under
the head, Messiah ; and in heart and affection she was already become
one of God's servants, and this she professed to the spies. And the
same is required of us : Kom. ix. 10, ' If thou confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus Christ, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved ; for with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation.' Let us own the true God in Jesus Christ, and love
him, and own and love his people. When once we are brought to this,
to run hazard and take our lot with them, then we are in the right
posture.
3. This faith and confession was evinced by some effect ; for she enter
tained the spies, which was all she was capable of doing at present, and
she^entertains them as some of the people of God, as members of the true
church, or as of the number of them who worshipped that God whom
she believed to be the true God. And truly much faith is shown in
harbouring the saints and being kind to God's people. Many shall be
tried at the last day by this : Mat. xxv. 35, ' I was an hungered, and
ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink ; I was a
stranger, and ye took me in,' &c. Everything is accepted with God
according to the principle from whence it flows. Now, what might it
have been, for anything in the nature of the act, but her trade, an
entertaining and being kind to her guest, for she kept a house of public
entertainment ? or what might it have been but a bare act of civility ?
Yet, because of her faith in God, and love to his people, it is counted
an act of love and obedience, not civility, but religion. So our Lord
hath told us, Mat. x. 41, ' He that receiveth a prophet in the name of
38 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SEE. LXV,
a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward ; and he that receiveth a
righteous man in the name of a righteous man^shall receive a righteous
man's reward : and whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little
ones a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto
you, he shall in no wise lose his reward/ It is accepted of God if it be
in Christ's name ; and if we give because we believe they are Christ's
disciples, who is our Lord and Saviour, it is respected as done to him
self, and shall be accounted as a fruit of faith. But now those that love
a gospel without charges, and whose faith shows itself by talk and
high-flown and curious notions of religion, rather than by any solid
fruit, their faith is but an imaginary delusion, a shadow of faith, not
any true grace. Faith that is true is a plain thing to believe in one
God, and that this God hath a people with whom I must travel to
heaven ; they are to be my everlasting companions. If I am true to
this God, and kind to his people, the thing is put to a plain issue.
4. This effect was accompanied with much self-denial, which was
seen in two things (1.) In preferring the will of God before the safety
of her country, and cherishing those guests who were strangers before
the gratifying and pleasing her own citizens. We are bound to love,
and we are bound also to seek the welfare of our country ; but we are
bound to love God more than our country. Therefore we owe fidelity
to him first, and then to the place we live in, and we are to promote
their welfare so far as is consistent with our fidelity to our supreme
Lord. (2.) The other instance of her self-denial was her venturing her
life rather than betraying those messengers of Joshua, that were the
worshippers of the true God. It was an action that might have been
of dangerous consequence to her ; but, to manifest her fidelity to God,
she overlooks the threatenings and cruelty of her citizens, the promis
cuous events of war, and the burning of the city in which she and her
parents lived ; and so in the effect, by her faith, she renounced all to
serve the true God. It is not every act will manifest true faith, but
acts of self-denying obedience, in which we do deny ourselves for God,
check our natural love, and thwart our lusts and hazard any interests.
When God calls us to it, can we part with our conveniences of life, all
that is near and dear to us in the world, upon the proper and sole
encouragement of faith ? This is a mighty evidence of faith.
5. I observe there was a mixture of infirmity in this act, an officious
lie, which cannot be excused, though God in mercy pardoned it. This
is not for our imitation, yet it is for our instruction ; and it shows us
this, that faith in the beginning hath many weaknesses. Those that
have faith do not altogether act out of faith, but there is somewhat of
the flesh mingled with that of the spirit. But this is passed by out of
God's indulgence ; he accepteth us notwithstanding our sins before
faith, and notwithstanding our weaknesses in believing. Before faith
she was a harlot ; in believing she makes a lie. God doth reward the
good of our actions and pardon the evil of them, not to encourage
us in sinning, but to raise our love to him who forgives us so great a
debt, and receives us graciously, and pardons our manifold weaknesses.
But why is this the true believing ? The reasons are
[l.J From the nature of faith, which is such an apprehension of the
love of God, and of the blessedness that he offers to us, as makes us
VER. 31.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 39
willing to do whatever we can for him, and that in some eminent way
of self-denial. Faith works both by love and hope, as it looks back
ward and forward. As it looks backward, the love of Christ is so
great and condescending that it moves us to gratitude ; as it looks for
ward, the blessedness hoped for is so glorious that it draws off our
hearts from all other things, and lessens our esteem of them, that this
gratitude may more self-denyingly be expressed by parting with them,
yea, by the loss of all that is near and dear to us, to show our fidelity
to Christ. They are nothing in comparison of our love to Christ :
Phil. iii. 8, / 1 count all things but loss for the excellency of the know
ledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ/ Here
are the two considerations which faith works upon what Christ hath
done for us, and what he will yet do for us. And if we consider these
two things, faith may well afford self-denying obedience, and forsake
all easily for Christ's sake. This great love of Christ overcomes all our
natural self-love to our interest and worldly comforts, that we may own
Christ, and be faithful to him.
[2.] The gospel requires such a kind of faith, and therefore we must
exercise it. All that will enter into life should hate father and mother,
&c., so far as they may stand in competition with Christ : Luke xiv. 25,
' If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife
and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he
cannot be my disciple ; ' and ver. 33, ' Whosoever he be of you that
forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.' He that had
found the pearl of great price sold all to buy it, Mat. xiii. 45, 46. He
did not only cheapen it, but he did go through with the bargain. Let
all go that is inconsistent with your trust and love.
[3.] This is that faith which honours God and Christ in the world,
and assures us of salvation : 2 Thes. i. 11, 12, ' We pray that God
would fulfil the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him.' Would you
honour Christ, and have Christ glorified in you, then you must mind
the work of faith. He speaks not of the illicit, but imperative acts of
faith. Self-denying obedience is the imperative act of faith : then the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified in you, then you are glorified
in him, and then you have the assurance of salvation. A faith that rests
in the heart only, and is discovered by no self-denying act, brings
Christ no glory in the world, and will bring us little comfort and peace ;
but faith which shows itself in acts of love to God and his people, and
that with self-denial, is more evident, and doth much honour God in
the eyes of the world. When we are willing to do and suffer so much
for him, this brings us comfort, and doth show this faith is real, that
we are true to God, whom we own and acknowledge.
Use. The use is to press you to see whether you live by this ancient
faith.
1. It is not a bare assent to the report of God's love in Christ. Many
may think it true that Christ died and rose again, that yet feel no force
of it upon their souls. Surely a dead opinion is not that lively faith
that enableth the people of God to do such great things for him. Th
devil knows there is a God and Christ, will you put your salvation
40 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [$ER. LXY.
upon this ? No ; ' Faith without works is dead/ James ii. 20. If you
do not feel the force of it upon your hearts, to make you deny your
selves, and give up all your interest for God, and run all hazards for
him and his people, you do not truly believe.
2. It is not a bare confession, nor a loose owning the name of
Christ. Eahab made a confession, but rests not there. So, many
own him as the God of the country, and cry up his name, but neglect
his office ; as the Jews made much ado with the names of Abraham
and Moses, but they were of a quite different spirit ; they did neither
do the works of Abraham: John viii. 39, * If ye were Abraham's
children, ye would do the works of Abraham ; ' nor hearken to the
words of Moses : John v. 46, ' Had ye believed Moses, ye would have
believed me.' So you believe there is a Christ, and own him; but if
you be Christians, you would do works becoming Christians.
3. It is not a confidence in God's mercy ; that is not enough, if we
will do nothing for him. For faith is such a trusting in God, through
Christ, for eternal life, that we are willing to forsake all rather than
be unfaithful to him ; and we care not what we lose, and what hazard
we run, so that we may have a portion among God's people, and ob
tain the heavenly inheritance. When the apostle distinguisheth the
true believers from the false, what saith he ? Heb. x. 39, 'We are not
of them that draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the
saving of the soul/ There are some that believe, yet will save the
flesh ; but others that will save the soul, though their interests in the
flesh be hazarded. Now, the apostle shows there that there are some
will purchase the saving of their soul with the loss of other things.
God tries us in some necessary part of confession, which may expose
us to loss, shame, and hazard in the world ; now, if we will not spare
the flesh, but save the soul, this is to cleave to him.
4. Nothing then remains to justify our faith but such an acknow
ledging of the true God as causes us to confess his name and to pre
fer his interest before our own, and so to be willing to endure anything
for his sake, and be ready upon this faith to show all self-denying acts
of obedience ; to part with what we have for the relief of others and
the advancement of religion, when we cannot keep it without betray
ing religion. Alas! that religion which costs nothing is worth no
thing ; it is idle, empty, and foolish ; that, when you come to die, will
bring terror, and never yield solid peace.
Doct 3. There is one thing more in the text, and that is the bene
fit which affords us this point, that the rewards of faith are excellent
and glorious. Kahab is an instance of this also, for when she by faith
entertainecHhe spies in peace, ' she perished not with them that be
lieved not ; ' that is, she was not destroyed with the Canaanites. Let
us a little see her privileges.
1. From a child of the devil, she is made a daughter of God, and
adopted into God's family. And so, if you be sincere in the faith of
the gospel, you shall be also ; the Lord will take you for his children,
that weis the children of wrath before: John i. 12, 'To as many as
received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name.'
2. From a citizen of Jericho she is reckoned among the people of
VER. 31.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS xi. 41
Israel, and incorporated into the body of God's church : Joshua vi.25,
* She dwelleth in Israel even unto this day.' So, if we have the sincere
faith, we are not only of the visible church of professing Christians,
but are reckoned among the elect, and have our names written in
heaven ; that is a matter of great joy : Luke x. 20, ' Kejoice in that
your names are written in heaven ; ' for this is a * better name than
of sons and daughters/ Isa. Ivi. 5, a name that shall continue to all
eternity.
3. We find, when there was a destruction of all the rest, she was
not destroyed with the Canaanites, but God by his servant Joshua
took great care for her preservation. So believers are saved from
everlasting destruction : John iii. 16, ' Whosoever believe th in him
shall not perish, but have everlasting life.' They are not involved in
the wrath and destruction which shall light upon the unbelieving and
impenitent world. This is the portion of all those that fly to the true
God, and to the communion of 'the true church. If it be sure that
the unbelieving world shall perish (as sure it is, as sure as God is
true), then it is a great mercy we shall not perish with them. Certain
it is that all that come not out of the apostasy shall perish forever.
But we that are willing to return to our duty to God, to trust God,
and trust his promises, and take his way, blessedness will be our
portion.
4. Another privilege which Rahab had was, that she was honour
ably married to a prince in Israel, and one of the ancestors of Christ,
namely, to Salmon, father of Boaz : Mat. i. 5, ' And Salmon begat
Boaz of Rachab/ Laying all ends together, we certainly find it is
the same Rahab, that Salmon married her, who was one of the spies,
a head and prince of Israel. Thus God can heap honour upon those
that trust in him : her name is mentioned in the genealogy of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now they that sincerely believe have a
better marriage, they are married to Christ himself : Rom. vii. 4,
* Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law, by the
body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to him who
is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God/
They are taken into a nearer relation to him, our covenanting with
him being a kind of marriage. If we believe as Rahab did, we shall
have the reward Rahab had. But how can we reconcile the two
apostles ? Paul ascribes it here to her faith, but James to her works :
James ii. 25, ' Was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and sent them out another way ? ' Here
is no contradiction ; the apostles fairly agree together, for they speak
not of the same faith. Paul speaks of the lively, James of the dead
faith ; Paul speaks of the faith working by love, and so she was justi
fied by faith, but James speaks of an empty naked profession of faith
without works ; so that a man is not justified by an empty faith with
out works. A dead faith little profits us, but a living faith makes us
obedient to God, and ready to every good work ; that justifies us, and
qualifies us for this blessed and glorious reward.
But let us see the general case. What are the privileges and the
rewards of faith ? (for hitherto we have only considered them with
respect to Rahab). It justifies, sanctifies, glorifies.
42 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SER. LXV.
[1.] It justifies : Rom. v. 1, 'Being justified by faith, we have peace
with God.' sinners ! do you know what it is to be condemned by
the law of God? for sinners impleaded, and that justly, in the court
of God's justice, and to be condemned to everlasting wrath ? If you
did, then you would see that it is a mighty privilege to be justified, to
be accepted with God, and freed from the deserved condemnation, or
that dreadful punishment which sin hath made our due. Now, this
generally in scripture is ascribed to faith.
[2.] It sanctifies, or is the Spirit's great instrument in sanctification.
For, Acts xv. 9, it is said, ' Purifying their hearts by faith/ It is faith
that promotes purity and sanctity. It is the first stone in the spirit
ual building : 2 Peter i. 5, ' Add to your faith virtue/ &c. Faith is
made the bottom of all, as that which gives life and strength to all the
rest ; without which virtue would be nothing but a little dead and cold
morality, however it is cried up in our age, if not enlivened by the
love of God in Christ, and hopes of eternal glory, as it is when it pro
ceeds from faith. Christ prays, John xvii. 17, ' Sanctify them through
thy truth/ We are sanctified by the truth of the gospel. But now
what makes the gospel operative but faith ? 1 Thes. ii. 13, ' Ye re
ceived it, not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of
God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe/
[3.] It glorifies ; because they that believe eternal life so as to seek
after it, and that whatever it cost them, they shall have it. You may
always observe, in all God's dispensations of grace and favour, he
would do nothing for men till they believe ; he could not, or rather
would not, do it for them. We find it true of God's dispensation to
the old church, and in the life of Christ upon earth Can you believe ?
Mark ix. 23, ' If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believeth/ So it is true of eternal life. But then this belief is sup
posed to be operative, and that we are resolved to take the way God
hath appointed. As soon as we believe, we have a right and title :
John v. 24, ' He that heareth my words, and believeth on him that
sentjme, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation,
but is passed from death to life/ And when we verify our faith by
taking God's way, though others neglect it, then our right is con
firmed : Mat. xix. 28, ' Ye that have followed me in the regeneration,
when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall
sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel/ Take
regeneration^ either for a new state of the church (as some few do),
when all things are new in the church, and old things are passed
away, you shall be elders in the church (so some expound it) ; but I
think properly and principally it is taken for the regeneration at the
last day, when we shall have new bodies and new souls ; then we shall
have all that our hearts can wish. When our service is over, we shall
receive the end of our faith : 1 Peter i. 9, ' Receiving the end of our
faith, the salvation of our souls/
Use. Let this commend faith to us, which is the great grace ; we
must still exercise it in this world. Where we know God by hearing,
faith is of use to us ; when we know him by vision and sight, the use
of it ceases, but the fruit remaineth, for sight is the fruit of faith :
John xx. 31, These things are written, that ye might believe that
VER. 31]. SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 43
Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing ye might have
life through his name/ You shall have life in his name if you will
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. All that I shall press you to is a
faith like Kahab's. Rahab heard the rumours of God's gracious works
for Israel, and of his judgments upon their enemies, and upon this
she owns the true God, and runs hazards for his people.
1. You have heard that God hath sent his Son into the world to
save sinners ; believe it, and believe it strongly ; here is the grand truth
you must live by.
2. This God hath given a law of grace, that we may be partakers
of these benefits. Possibly the spies might inform Rahab of God's
giving a law upon Mount Sinai ; for it is not likely she would join
herself so suddenly to Israel, if she knew not what laws they should
live by. If that be uncertain, we are sure the Lord hath given a law
of grace from Mount Zion, or the new covenant, wherein God hath
showed us how we shall attain eternal life. Now heartily consent to
stand to this covenant.
3. Upon this faith be sure to demonstrate by some real effects that
it hath prevailed in your heart. For if you believe God's great pro
mises, what do you venture upon them ? Surely we do not believe
great things if we do nothing to obtain them. I ever look upon this
as a truth, that there is much more of unbelief in neglect than there
is in humbling trouble or despairing fears. For the troubled person
believes indeed the covenant of God, but he cannot make out his title,
therefore he lies under despairing fears. The neglecter showeth that
he accounts these things a fable, else he would more look after them,
and exercise himself self-denyingly in godliness : 2 Peter i. 5, 10, 16,
compared together ; ver. 5, ' Giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue,' &c. ; ver. 10, ' Give diligence to make your calling and election
sure;' ver. 16, ' For we have not followed cunningly-devised fables,
&c. They that do not give diligence to grow in grace, they that do
not give diligence by all self-denying acts to make their calling and
election sure, they count the gospel a fable, and neglecting their duty,
they show themselves to be unbelievers.
4. That which you do, let it be some self-denying act for God and
his people. I join both together, because if a man love the one he
will love the other, and the Lord's interest is only upheld by his people
here in the world ; his interest liveth and dieth with his people. And
therefore, when we are willing to deny ourselves that we may own
God's people, and join with them in all their sincere endeavours to
advance the kingdom of Christ, then we shall know we believe in God,
and that we have this true faith God requireth of us.
A TREATISE
OP
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
A TREATISE OF THE LIFE OF FAITH.
And the life ivhich I now live in the flesh, I live ly the faith of the
THERE are two parts of a Christian's duty dying to sin and living to
God. They are both in the text ; the first part, dying to sin, in that
mysterious expression, ' I am crucified with Christ ; ' the second branch,
living to God, in the following clauses, in which a spiritual and holy
riddle is propounded, and then solved and opened : ' I am crucified,
yet I live/ and though I live, yet I live not, ' for Christ liveth in me ; '
and then he openeth the whole riddle and mystery in the latter part
And the life ivhich I live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of
God.
Many things might be observed
1. They that are crucified with Christ nevertheless live. They
that partake with Christ in one act partake with him in all ; if they
are mortified with Christ, they are also quickened by him.
2. In the spiritual life of a Christian, Christ hath the greatest hand
and stroke ' Not I, but Christ liveth in me/
3. Believers live in the flesh after they are called to grace, but they
do not live after the flesh.
4. That besides the animal life, there is a spiritual life, and these
two are distinct. The animal life is the life of the rational soul void
of grace, accommodating itself to the interests of the body : Jude 19,
' Sensual, having not the spirit ; ' and to the power and pomp of the
world, highness of rank and place, riches, pleasures, honours ; it con
sists in the exercise of the senses. The spiritual life is a principle that
enableth us to live unto God, to act and move towards God as our last
and utmost end, to serve his glory as our great scope, and enjoy his
favour as our chief good. Both these two lives are governed by a
distinct guide and ruler the animal life by sense, the spiritual life by
faith ; so that man's reason is either brutified and debased by sense,
or refined, sublimated, and raised by faith. If a man be debased by
sense, he walloweth in all manner of brutish sensuality, he liveth in
pleasure, and maketh the profits and pleasures of the world his only
scope and aim ; if refined and elevated by faith, his soul worketh after
God, and is carried out to the concernments of the world to come.
48 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
But quitting all these, here is a life within a life, and a life overruled
by a life, and that overruling life is called the life of faith.
Doct. Those only live spiritually that live by faith; or, the ^ great
means on our part whereby we receive the influences of the spiritual
life is faith in Christ.
Living by faith is a point of large and universal concernment,
therefore I shall in a few discourses insist upon it. And I shall treat
of it
1. In the general.
2. In particular, in all duties, acts and conditions of this life.
I. In the general. Here I shall inquire
1. What faith is.
2. Why and how we are said to receive life from it.
3. Give you some observations concerning this life.
First, What is this faith by which the just shall live ? Faith is a
grace by which we believe God's word in the general, and in a special
manner do receive Christ, and rest upon him for grace here and glory
hereafter. This may serve for a short definition or description of faith.
Here is assent, consent, and affiance.
1. There is assent, by which we believe God's word in the general :
Acts xxiv. 14, ' Believing all things which are written in the law and
the prophets/ There is the first work of faith, which is to assent to
the scriptures and all things contained therein. The general faith
goeth before the particular ; there is no building without a foundation.
2. There is consent. Faith doth in a special manner receive Christ ;
that is, the faith that saveth : John i. 12, ' To as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name/ When I take him as God offereth him, and
to the ends for which he offereth him, that he may do that for me,
and be that to me, that God hath appointed him to do and be in the
gospel.
3. There is affiance. Faith doth rest upon him ; besides choice,
there must be a recumbency : Isa. xxvi. 3, ' Thou wilt keep him in per
fect peace whose mind is stayed on thee ; because he trusteth in thee/
That is a special work of faith. Now, what do we rest upon him for ?
For grace here all kinds of grace, justification, sanctification : Acts v.
31, ' Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a
saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.' For
privileges, qualifications, duties, Christ is all to us. And then for
glory hereafter: 1 Tim. i. 16, we are said to 'believe on him to life
everlasting/ There is the end which faith aimeth at, or the main
blessing which it seeketh, and upon the hopes of which the life which
it begetteth is carried on : 1 Peter i. 9, ' Keceiving the end of your faith,
the salvation of your souls/ Those that fly to Christ by faith do eye
this as the prime benefit to be had by him, by which temptations of
sense are defeated.
Secondly, How and why we are said to live by it. Distinct graces
have their distinct offices ; in scripture speech we are said to live by
faith, but to work by love ; there must be life before operation. Now
we are said to live by faith
1. Because it is the grace that doth unite us to Christ. Other
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 49
graces make us like Christ, but this maketh us one with Christ prin
cipally and primarily. For the understanding of this reason, you
must know that the author and fountain of the spiritual life is Christ.
He is called ' the Prince of life/ Acts iii. 15. Christ liveth in a be
liever, and a believer liveth in Christ ; he is in us by his Spirit. Before
we can have anything from Christ, we must first have Christ himself :
1 John v. 12, ' He that hath the Son hath life.' Now we have Christ
when we are strictly united to him, as members to the head, from
whence they receive sense and motion : Col. ii. 19, ' And not holding
the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourish
ment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of
Cod ;' as the root to the branches from whence they receive sap and
influence : John xv. 5, * I am the vine, ye are the branches : he that
abideth in me, and 1 in him, -the same bringeth forth much fruit; for
without me ye can do nothing.' Christ is the principle of life and
motion, as united to us by the Spirit on his part. But what is the bond
on our parts but faith ? Eph. iii. 17, ' That Christ may dwell in our
hearts by faith.' Jesus Christ doth make his first entry into, and
dwelleth in believers by his Spirit: 1 John iv. 13, ' Hereby we know
that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his
Spirit.' Whereby he uniteth them to himself, and quickeneth them,
and worketh the grace of faith in them ; as bees first make their cells,
and then dwell in them ; and when faith is so wrought, we do thereby
lay hold upon Christ, and receive daily supplies from him, and make
use of him as a fountain of life and grace upon all occasions. This
uniteth us to him, and keepeth him with us, and us with him, so that he
never withdraweth that influence which is necessary to the being and
life of grace. The habit of faith in our heart is the pledge of his pre
sence, and as it is exercised daily, it draweth from him strength and
comfort, to support us in all conditions, and to excite and enable us in
every duty.
2. Because all other graces are marshalled and ranked under the
conduct of faith. As the stars in their order fought against Sisera, so
all graces are brought up in their order and season. There are several
divine qualities that have their office and use in the spiritual life ; but
all are regulated and quickened by faith ; and therefore the whole
honour is devolved upon this grace: 2 Peter i. 5-7, 'Add to faith,
virtue ; to virtue, knowledge ; and to knowledge, temperance ; and to
temperance, patience ; and to patience, godliness ; and to godliness,
brotherly-kindness ; and to brotherly-kindness, charity.' Saving faith,
which taketh hold of Christ for pardon and strength, and daily flieth
to him for both, that is the root which must be cherished, increased,
and kept in exercise by all that would thrive in any other grace, and
be fit for any duty. That is the first stone in the spiritual building,
to which all the rest are added. Without faith virtue would languish,
our command over our passions be weak, and the back of patience
quite broken, and our care of the knowledge of divine things very
small. It is faith acting upon Christ and heaven, and the hopes of a
better life, that sets all the wheels at work in the sonl ; temperance,
in moderating sensual delights ; patience, in bearing the miseries of
the present life : Heb. xi. 2, * By faith the elders obtained a good re-
VOL. xv. D
50 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
port.' In every verse it is said, By faith, by faith. Some of the effects
there spoken of do directly and more formally belong to other graces ;
but though the private soldiers do worthily in the high places of the
field, yet^we say the general won the day ; the honour of the victory is
put upon him, because it was achieved under his conduct. So it is
here ; all graces have their use in the holy life. Love worketh, hope
waiteth, patience endureth, zeal quickeneth to own God's truth and
cause, obedience urgeth to duty; but faith, remembering us of our
obligations to Christ, and presenting the hopes of a better life, hath the
greatest stroke in all these things. 'Faith worketh by love,' Gal.
v. 6 ; ' faith feedeth hope/ Heb. xi. 1 ; ' faith is viroGrracr^ rcov
ekTrigopevav, the substance of things hoped for;' faith teacheth
patience to wait and submit to God's will for the present ; it is but a
little time : Heb. x. 38, 'Now the just shall live by faith; but if any
man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him,' So that faith
is like a silken string that runs through a chain of pearl ; or rather,
like the spirits that run with the blood through all the veins. If love
constraineth, it is faith working by love; if hope be exercised, it is
faith that showeth it the riches of the glory of the world to come ; if
patience be contented to tarry God's leisure, it is because faith assureth
us of the blessing to come.
3. Because whatever is ascribed to faith redoundeth to the honour
of Christ. The worth lieth in the object, as the ivy receiveth strength
from the oak about which it windeth. Faith doth all, not from any
intrinsic worth and force in itself; but all its power is in dependence upon
Christ Fidei mendica manus. We are said to live by faith, as we
,are said to be fed by the hand ; it is the instrument. It is very not
able what the apostle saith of the miraculous work of faith : James v.
15, ' And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise him up.' Faith is said to do it, because the Lord doeth it ; and
faith setteth his power a-work. The like concurrence and use of faith
there is in other gracious works : 1 John v. 4, 5, ' This is the victory
that overcometh the world, even our faith ; and who is he that over-
cometh the world, but he that belie veth that Jesus is the Son of God ? '>
Christ hath and will overcome the world ; therefore faith, that appre-
hendeth this, and encourageth us by it, is said to do it. Christ is the
fountain, and faith the pipe and conveyance ; it is the grace that
bringeth most honour to him.
4. Because faith removeth obstructions, and openeth the passages*
of grace, that it may run more freely. Expectation is the opening of
the soul : Ps. Ixxxi. 10, ' Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.' He
hath power and readiness to give us abundance of all things, if we could
come and depend upon him for it. It is the narrowness of our faith
which hindereth our felicity ; we are not straitened in God, but in
ourselves ; we will not enlarge our expectations to take in and seek as
much as God offereth. Unbelief ponit obicem, puts a bar in the way :
Mark vi. 5, ' And he could do no mighty work there/ It is like a dam
to a river, it hindereth the passage of grace. God's grace is given out
to the creature according to its expectation. Unbelief is a kind of re
straint to almightiness ; he could not because he would not ; for so it
is, Mark xiii. 58, ' And he did not many mighty works there, because
.THE LIFE OF FAITH. 51
of their unbelief.' That power which we distrust is justly hidden from
us ; but confidence opens a free passage for grace into our souls.
Thirdly, The observations concerning this life.
Obs. 1. This life must be extended, not only to spiritual duties, and
acts of immediate worship, but to all the actions of our natural and
temporal life ; "O Be vvv eV aapfd. That natural life which we live,
and those things which concern that life, they are ordered by a virtue
drawn from Christ by faith in him. A true believer sleepeth, and
eateth and drinketh in faith ; and in the lawful occasions of his call
ing, as well as religion, faith hath an influence to order them to God's
glory, and with respect to eternal happiness : 1 Cor. x. 31, ' Whether
ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God ;' and,
Heb. xi. 33, ' Who through faith subdued kingdoms, fought battles.'
Take God's directions, and order all things to his glory: Col. iii. 17,
' Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him/ Every
action must be influenced by religion, looking to the promises : Heb.
xi. 13, 'By faith Sarah received strength to conceive seed ; ' by her faith
in the promise. Christians are not left to their own nature, neither in
things necessary nor in things indifferent in their own nature, neither
in words nor deeds ; they are to look to Christ's command, and to be
looking for his help, and aiming at his glory, still consulting with God,
and seeing God in every little work of his. There is not a gnat, nor
pile of grass, but discovers its author. And as there is a providential
influence, so a gracious influence ; as when we use such holy fear and
heavenly-mindedness that every one may see heavenly-minded ness in
all our actions, and so the poorest servant, being under this divine in
fluence, liveth by faith as well as the greatest monarch.
2. We never act nobly in anything till we live the life of faith. There
is a twofold life the animal life, and the spiritual and divine life : 1
Cor. ii. 14,. 'The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of
God.' The human soul accommodateth itself to the interests and con
cernments of the body ; but the divine life is animated by heavenly
things, and is carried out to look after more noble things than back
and belly concernments.
3. We never live comfortably till we live by faith. While we are
guided by sense, we are tossed to and fro, according to the variety of
accidents in the world ; but a believer in the greatest straits doth
not only make a poor and sorry shift to live, but hath a comfortable
means of subsistence : Hab. ii. 4, ' The just shall live by his faith.'
For whilst he dwelleth under the shadow of imputed righteousness, to
cover all his defects and sins, and to hide him from death and wrath,
and can draw virtue from Christ to enable him to do every good word and
work, and hath the power of God to make use of for his inward and
outward support, and the hopes of glory to comfort him when this life
is ended, what should hinder his rejoicing even in the hardest dispen
sations ? He is well at ease that hath wholly given up himself to this
kind of life : Heb. x. 38, ' Now the just shall live by faith ; ' that is, in
the hardest trials, when they suffer the spoiling of their goods, and look
for loss of life every day. By life we are to understand a happy and
a comfortable life : non est vivere, sed valere vita. We are enabled to
52 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
hold on cheerfully and comfortably in a holy course, notwithstanding
troubles.
4. That the life of faith is glory begun. First we live by faith,
and then by sight, 2 Cor. v. 7. Faith now serveth instead of sight
and fruition : Heb. xi. 1, ' Faith is the substance of things hoped
for, and the evidence of things not seen.' Though it doth riot affect
us to the same degree that the life of glory or the beatifical vision
will, yet somewhat answerable it doth. The life of glory is inconsistent
with any misery ; but the life of faith maketh us to rest as quietly
upon God and his gracious promise as if there were no misery,
where it hath any efficacy and vigour, so as no allurements or terrors
can turn us aside, but we follow our Lord in all conditions with
delight and cheerfulness. The expectation cannot affect us as the
enjoyment ; but in some measure it doth : Bom. v. 2, 3, ' We rejoice
in hope of the glory of God ; and not only so, but we glory in tribu
lation also/ We are contemptible in the world, but we hope for a
glorious estate, and so can forego those transitory contentments which
worldlings so much magnify. This quieteth and comforteth God's
children in the meanest condition.
The use of this is to persuade you to live this life of faith, if you
would live indeed, arid live nobly and happily. To this end
1. Take care that this life be begun in you.
2. Improve this life to a cheerful walking with God in all conditions.
For the
First, If you would have this life begun in you
' 1. Study the grounds of faith ; for if the foundation be not well
laid, all the building will be like a bunching wall or a tottering fence.
Now what are the grounds of faith ? The promises of the gospel.
Therefore consider seriously what is said in the gospel (1.) To
whom, and (2.) By whom.
[1.] What is said in the gospel. The sum of the gospel is abridged
and contracted to our hands in many places of scripture; these
especially : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of
all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners,
of whom I am chief.' Is this true indeed, that God hath sent his
Son to save us from hell, and to pay our debt and procure salvation
for us ? And why shall I stand out ? The gospel excludeth none,
why should I exclude myself ? I am sinner enough, shall this dis
courage me from looking after Christ ? That will be in effect as if
a beggar should say, I am too poor to receive alms ; or the sick man
should say, I am too sick to go to the physician ; or as if one should
say, I am too filthy to be washed, or too cold to go to the fire.
Your discouragement should be a motive ; I am the chief of sinners,
and therefore I will put in for a share. God inviteth us, not because
we are worthy, but that we may be worthy. So Acts x. 43, f To him
give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever be-
lieveth in him should receive remission of sins.' What do all the
prophets and holy men of God give witness to ? That there is such
a benefit prepared for all that will lay hold of it ; and I profess to
believe the scriptures, and shall I not put in for a share ? Lord, I
have sins to be pardoned as well as others, and I believe thou art the
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 53
Son of God, and the Lamb of God that came to take away sin. So
Heb. v. 9, ' He is become the author of eternal salvation to all that
obey him/ Will Christ give eternal life to all that obey him ? I have
too long stood out against thee, Lord. I now lay down the weapons of
my defiance, and say, Here I am ; what wilt thou have me to do ?
[2.] To whom God offereth this mercy. To every creature : Mark
xvi. 15, ' Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature.' And am not I in the rank of creatures ? But to whom
especially ? To ' the weary and heavy laden,' Mat. xi. 28. To them
that are lost : Mat. ix. 13, ' I am not come to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance.' To such as have most feeling of their sins.
I have a burden too heavy for me to bear ; since Christ calleth me,
I will come to him for ease.
[3.] Who it is that calleth : Christ, who is able, willing, and
faithful. Able ; for all authority and power is given to him in heaven
and earth, Mat. xxviii. 18 ; ' All judgment is given the Son,' John v.
22. They said to the blind man, Mark x. 49, ' Be of good comfort ;
arise, he calleth thee ; ' that mighty HE that hath the disposal of
every man's eternal state. And willing he is : 2 Peter iii. 9, ' Not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance ; '
if you will believe him on his call : Ezek. xxxiii. 11, ' I have no
pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from
his ways and live.' And you have God's truth for it : Ps. cxxxviii. 2,
' He hath magnified his word above all his name.' Now take him at
his word ; nay, we have his oath : Heb. vi. 18, ' That by two immutable
things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong
consolation.' His word was enough ; but since he hath added his oath,
what contumely do you do him to refuse his offers ! 1 John v. 10,
' He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar.'
2. Wait for God's power to settle your hearts upon these grounds :
Faith is his gift, Eph. ii. 8 ; and Phil. i. 29, ' To you it is given on
the behalf of Christ to believe in him.' And he worketh it : Heb.
xii. 2, 'Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.'
Without him it cannot be done : John vi. 44, ' No man can come
unto me except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him.' And
this by his almighty power : Eph. i. 19, ' And what is the exceeding
greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working
of his mighty power/
3. Look not for a transient act ; that his Spirit should work upon
us as a stranger, but dwell in us as an inhabitant. After believing,
the Spirit cometh to dwell in us and work in us, as a pledge and
earnest of eternal life : Eph. i. 13, 14, ' After ye believed, ye were
sealed with that Holy Sprit of promise, which is the earnest of our
inheritance/ He remaineth constantly, and flitteth not, but taketh
up a fixed and immovable habitation, not as a wayfaring man, for a
night : 1 Cor. vi. 19, ' Know ye not that your body is the temple of
the Holy Ghost that is in you ? ' He dwelleth there not as an inmate
or underling, but as lord of the house, and is worshipped and re
verenced there. This is the great evidence : 1 John iv. 13, ' Hereby
we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given
us of his Spirit/ Magnificent words ! Who may entitle themselves
54 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
to such a privilege ? They that have the Spirit, not to come upon
them at times, but to remain there as a principle of life : John iv. 14,
* Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never
thirst ; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of
water springing up into everlasting life.' It shall quench his thirst
after vanity and earthly delights, and make them tasteless ; they not
only get a draught, but the Spirit of Christ is as a fountain to make
this grace enduring in itself and in its effects. It is not a stream or
a pond, that may be dried up ; but a well, and a springing well, and
maketh us fruitful in all well-doing ; yea, at length it becomes an
ocean.
4. Look for the effects of it. If you have such a life begun in you
as the life of faith, then you will have
[I.] Spiritual senses, taste, and feeling : 1 Peter ii. 3, ' If so be ye
have tasted that the Lord is gracious ; ' and Ps. cxix. 103, ' How
sweet are thy words unto my taste ! yea, sweeter than honey to my
mouth ! ' You will relish spiritual things, which to others have no
savour ; then promises begin to be savoury and to rejoice the heart,
when others are no more moved with them than with common his
tories. You will then be sensible of good and evil suitable to that
life you have ; more sensible of sin than any affliction: Bom. vii. 24,
' Oh, wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from this body
of death ? ' more sensible of God's hiding his face. It was as a sword
in David's bones, Ps. xlii. 10. More sensible of -providence : Jer. v.
3, ' Thou hast stricken them, but they have not 'grieved.'
[2.] Spiritual affections, being dead to sin and the world, and
alive to God : 1 Cor. ii. 12, ' Now we have received, not the spirit
of this world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know
the things which are freely given to us of God ; ' desiring to be with
Christ, Phil. i. 23; and having an heart set on things above, Col.
iii. 1.
[3.] You have spiritual strength : Eph. ii. 10, ' We are his workman
ship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them ; ' and Phil. iv. 13, ' I can do
all things through Christ that strengthened me.'
Secondly, Improve this life to a cheerful walking with God in a
course of obedience. To this end
1. Meditate on the promises: 1 Tim. iv. 8, 'Godliness is profitable
to all things, and hath the promise of this life and that which is to
come; ' and Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, < He is a sun and a shield; the Lord will
give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that
walk uprightly ; ' and Ps. xxxiv. 9, ' There is no want to them that
fear him ; ' and Eom. viii. 28, ' All things shall work together for good
to them that love God.' We shall have whatever is expedient to bring
us safely to heaven. God hath made promise of more than we could
ask or think protection from all evil, a comfortable supply of all bless
ings, temporal, spiritual, and eternal. Consult with these promises:
Ps. cxix. 24, ' Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors ; -
Ps. xlviii. 12, 13, ' Walk about Zion, and go round about her ; tell the
towers thereof ; mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces.'
3. Sue out your right at the throne of grace ; there the promises are
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 55
put in suit : Heb. iv. 16, ' Let us come with boldness to the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of
need/ Promises are given us, not only to plead with ourselves, but to
put them in suit, and plead them with God.
3. What is wanting in the creature, see it made up in God ; that is
living by faith : Ps. xci. 1, ' He that dwelleth in the secret place of the
Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty ; ' 2 Cor, vi.
10, 'Having nothing, yet possessing all things.' In every strait do
this make God all in all : Ps. xci. 9, ' Because thou hast made the
Lord which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation.' This is
not a senseless stupidity, but a lively exercise of faith.
4. Counterbalance things as thus, set God against the creature:
Mat. x. 28, ' Fear not them which kill the body, but are notable to kill
the soul ; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul
in hell.' The covenant against providence : Ps. Ixxiii. 16, 17, 'When
I thought to know this, it was too painful for me, until I went into the
sanctuary of God, then understood I their end.' Things eternal against
things temporal : Rom. viii. 18, ' I reckon that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall
be revealed in us.' So 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look not to the things
that are seen, but to the things that are not seen ; for the things which
are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.'
The use and profit of afflictions against the present smart of them :
Heb. xii. 11, Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous,
but grievous, nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.' All trouble
cometh from not right sorting and comparing things ; seeking that on
earth which is only to be had in heaven, and seeking that in the crea
ture which is only to be had in God, and looking for that from self
which is only to be found in Christ, and seeking that in the law which
is only to be had in the gospel.
II. Now I come particularly to treat of the life of faith ; let us see
how this life of faith is exercised and put forth. The life of faith may
be considered either
First, With respect to its object, the promises of the new covenant ;
as our justification, sanctification, the supplies of the present life, or
everlasting blessedness.
Secondly, With respect to its trials, or the opposite evils that seem
to infringe the comfort of these promises; as deep afflictions, great
temptations from the devil, the world, and the flesh.
Thirdly, With respect to its effects as holy duties and the exer
cises of grace ; as with respect to the ordinances by which it is fed and
increased as the word, prayer, and sacraments; and the duties of
charity, of public and private relations as to the honouring God in our
generation or in our callings.
First, To begin with the life of faith as to justification, or those pro
mises wherein Jesus Christ and his righteousness is offered to us for
the pardon of our sins and our acceptance with God. Here I shall do
three things :
1. Prove that justification is one main or chief part of the life of
faith.
56 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
2. I shall show you how we live by faith, or what is the work of
faith in order to justification.
3. What we must do that we may so live.
]. That this is a main part of the life of faith.
[1.] It is included in the expression, as it is applied and expounded
by the apostle. I shall bring two places : Horn. i. 17, ' For therein is
the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith ; as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.' He giveth a reason why he was not
ashamed of the gospel, because of that great blessing revealed in it,
the righteousness of God ; that righteousness which God imputeth
without the works of the law, by virtue of which we are accepted with
God ; and how doth he prove it, that there is such a righteousness of
God ? He proves it by that saying, ' It is written, The just shall live by
faith.' The other place is Gal. ni. 11, ' But that no man is justified by
the law in the sight of God is evident ; for the just shall live by faith.'
So that we cannot handle living by faith, unless we take in this branch.
[2.] There are many promises made of this benefit. Now it is faith
that receives the promises : Jer. xxxi. 34, ' I will forgive their
iniquities, and will remember their sins no more.' Now, wherever there
is a promise there must be faith ; for as the law, with its threatenings
to the fallen creature, is the strength of sin 1 Cor. xv. 56, ' The
strength of sin is the law,' so the gospel, with its promises, is the
strength of faith ; and therefore our comfort thence ariseth. If we
would live and act comfortably on the promises, we must live by
faith.
[3.] Because there is a daily use of faith for the continuance and the
increase of the sense of this benefit, therefore this is a great part of our
living by faith. It is said, Kom. i. 17, that 'the righteousness of God
is revealed from faith to faith ; ; from first to last, from one degree of
faith to another ; not only the beginning of justification is by faith,
but the whole progress of it. Many think that this kind of faith on
Gods free justifying grace in Christ is necessary to give us comfort at
our first conversion, as if then it had finished all it should or could do ;
at other times faith is laid aside, unless we fall into some notable decay,
or may be plunged into some deep doubts, or fall into some great
offences, or be exercised with some sharp afflictions, when we are forced,
as it were, to begin all again. Oh, no ! there is a continual use of it ;
for faith is not only obstetrix, the midwife to the new birth, but nulrix,
the continual nurse and cherisher of it, and of all the comfort and
peace that we have thereby ; it is still necessary to our communion
with God, and continuance and increase of comfort ; for as soon as we
take off our eye from Christ, the remembrance of former sins will
trouble and vex the conscience. And therefore we must every day
humble ourselves for sin, and seek pardon, and cry out with David, Ps.
cxliii. 2, ' Enter not into judgment with thy servant, Lord, for in thy
sight no man living shall be justified ;' as not the greatest sinner, so
not the best saint, neither before regeneration nor after. There is no
other way of maintaining comfort but by flying to grace, and seeking
favour and pardon according to the new covenant. Yea, those evils
mentioned before, as notable decays, great offences, deep doubts, sharp
afflictions, they are all occasioned by the discontinuance of the exercise
THE LIFE OF FATTH. 57
of faith, and because we do not cherish a warm sense of the love of
God in pardoning our sins for Christ's sake. The more we keep the
grounds of comfort in constant view, the more uniform and even we are
in our course of walking with God ; as fire once kindled is better kept
burning than when it is often quenched and often kindled again. And
therefore this should be our daily task, to live by faith with respect to
justification,
[4.] Because this is the ground of all other parts of the life of
grace, take it. either for the life of sanctification, or our present
living to God, or take it for the life of glory, or our living with God
hereafter.
(1.) It is the way to the life of sanctification, or our present living
to God and converse with him. Take it either for his influences upon
us, or our duty to him , for Christ lives in us by his Spirit, and we live
in him by faith, as Christ liveth in us by his Spirit, and we receive
his influences. The holy God will have no communion with us while
the guilt of sin standeth in the way : Isa. lix. 2, ' Your iniquities have
separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face
from you/ Sin, and nothing but sin, doth raise up a wall of separation
between us and God ; poverty, sickness, reproaches, these are evils, but
none of these shall separate us from the love of God in Christ ; but sin
breedeth a strangeness between us and Go^ ; so that till sin be taken
away, there can be no communion between God and us, and we are cut
off from the blessed influences by which the life of grace might be main
tained; Jer. v. 25, "Your sins have withheld good things from you/
Till sin be removed, the cock is, as it were, turned, and the course of
the blessing stopped. But take it for our acting grace, and living to
God ; we are careless of our duty unless we be interested in this benefit ;
the more love we have to God, the more sense we have of his pardon
ing mercy ' Ps. cxxx. 4, ' There is forgiveness with thee, that thou
mayest be feared/ We can neither have hand nor heart to serve and
obey God without this encouragement ; the more we believe him to be
gracious, the more we fear to offend him ; and by experience none are
so cautious of sin, as those that seek after daily pardon. Who is more
careful not to run into new arrearages than he that desireth to have his
debts paid and cancelled and blotted out ? So they that are solicitous
to make even reckoning between God and their souls are most cautious
that they do not interrupt their peace with new sins ; and whilst they
plead so hard for mercy, they have the greater sense of duty and
obedience. So that we cannot carry on the life of sanctification without
looking after the life of justification.
(2.) For the life of glorification, we are incapable of that, and can
not hope for it with any comfort till we are pardoned : Eom v. 18,
' The free gift came upon all to justification of life/ Life follows justi
fication, as death doth condemnation. All men by nature are dead in
law, and by justification this sentence is repealed, and men are invested
with a new right to everlasting life : John v, 24, ' fie that heareth my
word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life/
They are not only put into a living condition by sanctification, but have a
sentence of life passed in their favour, for justification is a sentence
58 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
of life ; so that if we would live the life of grace, or hope for ^ the life of
glory, we must be put into a condition for both by justification.
2. What doth faith do with respect to this benefit ?
[1.] It assents to the truth of the gospel offering this benefit to us,
and causeth the soul to be fully persuaded that God is appeased in
Christ with all those that cast themselves upon his grace, and seek
God's favour in and through him. This is the work of faith, to believe
that it is the good pleasure of God revealed in the gospel to pardon
and justify all them that do believe in Christ : 1 Tim. i. 15, ^This is
a faithful'saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came
into the world to save sinners.' Assent goeth before pursuit ; first we
must believe that this is a true and faithful saying, before we shall
look after such a benefit from him. So Heb. xi. 13, ' They saw the
promises afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them/
When a man can be persuaded that it is even so, that God will be
gracious to them that believe in Christ, then he will hug and embrace
these precious promises. And Eph. i. 13, 'In whom also ye trusted,
after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.' You
see under what notion they took up the gospel ; first we must be per
suaded that the gospel is a word of truth, before we stir either hand
or foot to look after any benefit by it. I do the rather press this, be
cause the justification of a|sinner is the great secret revealed in the
gospel, which was hidden from nature till God revealed it. Arid
therefore doth the apostle so operously prove the truth, of this in the
three first chapters to the Komans. His argument stands thus that
all the world being guilty before God, they must either be condemned,
and that will not consist with the mercy and goodness of God, or there
must be some way of justifying a sinner ; but his wisdom hath found
out that way : Rom. iii. 21-23, ' But now the righteousness of God
without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets; even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus
Christ unto all and upon all that believe ; for there is no difference :
for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' All the
world was at a loss about this, how the sinful creature should get rid
of the dread of God's justice; for every man that hath a conscience
knoweth that it implies a law, and a law implies a judgment for the
breach of the law. Now all the world was afraid of this judgment of
God ; the apostle proves this both of Jews and gentiles. Now faith
looks into the gospel, and there finds this secret revealed by the holy
men of God ; and therefore, whenever the gospel is spoken of, and this
mystery of justification, you shall find there is some addition or note
of assurance added, that it is a word of truth, or a faithful saying,
because the heart of man is apt to doubt of the truth of this glorious
mystery.
[2.] Faith exciteth us to put in for this benefit of being justified in
God's sight. We fell from God by unbelief, and nothing exciteth us
to seek after God again but faith. Now this faith doth by setting
before us, on the one side, our own sinful and cursed estate ; and on the
other side, God's promises of pardon and free justification by Christ.
In Heb. vi. 18, the heirs of promise are described to be those 'who
fly for refuge to lay hold upon the hope that is set before them.'
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 59
There is a plain allusion to the avenger of blood and the city of refuge.
A man that had killed another, if he were taken before he came to the
city of refuge, he was to be put to death; now such a man, when his
life was concerned, he would fly to the city of refuge. Such are the
heirs of promise ; they run to take hold of the hope set before them ;
the curses of the law drive them, and the promises of the gospel draw
and allure them ; and we never put in seriously and in good earnest
for a share in this benefit till faith stirreth up active and lively thoughts
about these things, and then we never leave till we see ourselves in
terested therein.
(1.) Faith worketh in us a serious thoughtfulness about our sinful
and cursed estate ; that driveth us to Christ, as the other consideration
draweth us, and sweetly allureth us to close with him. The first con
sideration of our sinful and cursed estate driveth us out of ourselves,
when we consider how ' all the world is become guilty before God,'
Horn. iii. 19 ; and liable to the curse, Gal. iii. 10, ' As many as are of
the works of the law, are under a curse ; ' that we are ' children of
wrath/ Eph ii. 3 ; that this curse is no slight one ; that it is an eternal
separation from God, and being cast out with the devil and his angels
into everlasting fire. Now, when this is represented by faith, the sin
ner beginneth to 'fly from the wrath to come/ Mat. iii. 7, which
otherwise is looked upon but as a fable and vain scarecrow, Sense and
natural reason cannot judge aright, neither of its own misery, nor of
the way of recovery from it; but faith, improving the scriptures, shuts
up the sinner, that he hath no evasion, nor way of escape : Gal iii.
22, ' The scripture hath concluded all under sin ; ' shut them up as in
a prison, as the word signifieth. This is the work of faith. Con
science will tell men of a law, and a law of a judge and a judgment-
day, and that he doth not stand upon sound terms with this judge,
that he dareth not seriously to think of death and the world to come,
without horror and amazement : but faith, working upon scripture,
doth make him more distinctly to understand it, and to be most sensibly
affected with it : Jonah iii. 5, ' The people of Nineveh believed God,
and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them
to the least of them/ There is a faith required to believe the
threatenings of the law, as well as the promises of the gospel, to con
vince men of their cursed estate by natuie, without which it is not
effectual.
(2.) It draweth us to close with Christ by the promises of pardon.
It spreadeth before the soul all the melting offers of the word, and his
invitations of sinners to return to him ; such as that, Isa. Iv. 7, ' Let
the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts ;
and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy on him ;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon him/ Arid he prays
us to be reconciled to him ; 2 Cor. v. 20, ' Now then we are ambas
sadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us : we pray you
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God/ And shall all this be
spoken in vain ? 2 Cor. vi. 1, ' We beseech you receive not the grace
of God in vain/ Shall all the sweet offers of grace in the gospel be as
dry chips or withered flowers to me ? This makes a poor distressed
creature to stir up himself, to believe if this be certain, that God is not
60 THE LIFE OF FAITH
willing that any should perish, but rather that they should repent,
and be converted, and healed. And hath he made such a general
offer, that I am sure that I am contained under it ? Why shall I hang
back and not come to him for pardon, and wait for his grace ? I am
condemned already, and shall I pull upon myself new woes, by despis
ing God's mercy so freely offered to sinners ? Shall my unbelieving
heart draw back when God inviteth me to come to him ? What did
God mean when he said, Acts x. 43, ' To him gave all the prophets
witness, that through his name whosoever believeth on him should
receive the remission of sins ' ? Wherefore did Christ send abroad his
apostles with the glad tidings of salvation in their mouths ? Luke
xxiv. 47, ' And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in his name among all nations.' Why hath he said, 1 John ii. 1, 2,
' If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous ; and he is the propitiation for our sins ' ? Surely God
did not intend to flatter and delude his creature with a vain hope, nor
to entice and court him into a fool's paradise ; certainly he is in earnest
in what he saith. I need mercy, and he hath promised to give it ; I
thirst after it, and he will give it me, for he is faithful ; therefore let
me see what God will do for my poor soul.
(3.) It directeth us to use the means which God hath appointed ;
namely, to humble ourselves before God, and to sue out this blessing :
Luke xviii. 13, ' Lord, be merciful to me a sinner ; ' and 1 John i. 9,
' If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.'
It is a great part of faith to put God's bonds in suit : Jer. iii. 12, 13,
' I am merciful ; only acknowledge thine iniquity.' This is God's
prescribed course, and we must use it in faith ; he cannot be offended
with that which himself commandeth, nor deny what he hath promised.
Doth not he command thee thus to come into his presence, yea,
beseech thee ? and why art thou afraid ? Hath he not said, that if
we cast ourselves at his feet with brokenness of heart, confessing our
sins, he will forgive them, and cast them into the depths of the sea ?
Refusal of means argueth despair ; therefore go and plead the promises
with him, and urge him upon his own word.
(4.) The work of faith is to make application ; not only to see that
sin may be pardoned, and how, but that our sins are or shall be
pardoned for Christ's sake. There are degrees in this application ;
sometimes God's children apply promises in the humbling way, and
creep in at the backdoor of a promise : 1 Tim. i 15, ' Christ came
into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' There I can put
in for a share ; I am sure I am sinner enough, if Christ came to save
sinners. They put their mouths in the dust, yet look up, because
there is hope. And sometimes they express their confidence for the
future ; though they are not persuaded of their good estate at present,
yet they hope they shall at length be pardoned and accepted : Ps. Ixv.
3, ' As for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.' He can
and will do it. So Micah vii. 19, ' He will turn again, he will have
compassion ^ on us, he will subdue our iniquities; thou wilt cast alt
their sins into the depth of the sea/ At other times they express
their confidence of pardon as an act past : Ps. xxxii. 5, ' Thou for-
gavest the iniquity of my transgression ; and Isa. xxxviii. 17, ' Thou
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 61
Last cast all my sins behind thy back/ To say so is an act of experi
ence of a sinner now justified by faith ; and though every self -con
demned sinner cannot thus apply his pardon, nor thus lay hold upon
this benefit, and apply it to himself, yet he should endeavour it.
(5.) It is a work of faith to wait the Lord's leisure, though comfort
doth not succeed and flow as soon as we would have it. You must
not throw up all, as if God were beholden to you, or at your beck and
command. As soon as you have used the means, you must be satisfied
and contented with his word till the promise be made good. Many
give the lie to God when they find not at first what they hope for ;
but we must be satisfied with God's word till it be made good to us :
Isa. xx vi. 8, ' In the way of thy judgments we have waited for thee ;
the desire of our souls is to thy name, and to the remembrance of
thee/ Whatever desires we have after comfort and the enjoyment of
this benefit, we must be contented to tarry the Lord's leisure ; though
we be not answered, his word is sure ; though we do not presently feel
the comfort and effect of it, his word is gone forth in truth. ' I shall
yet praise him for the help of his countenance/ Ps. xlii. 5. There
may be a grant where there is no sense of it. We do not live by sense
or actual comfort, but by faith.
3. What must we do that we may so live and set faith a- work ?
To this end and purpose directions are several, according to the
different state and posture of the soul. As for instance, if the heart be
sluggish, and your desires cold and dull towards this benefit, then there
is one course to be taken ; but if the heart be comfortless and dejected,
then there is another course to be taken ; and then, if you find your
hearts too slight in the work of pardon, and you make a small matter
of it, another course must be taken.
[1.] If the heart be sluggish, and your desires cold and faint, and
you cannot be earnest in the pursuit of so considerable a blessing, then
you must quicken and awaken the heart by considering the danger
on the one side, and the profit and utility on the other.
(1.) The danger of security/or not prizing of a pardon,, and of the
comforts of a justified estate. Let me tell you, it is as ill a sign as
can be when a man esteemeth not of pardon, or of God as a pardoner ;
it argues deep carnality and security in those that were never ac
quainted with God, and a strange witchery and fascination of soul
that is fallen upon them that are regenerate, and will in time cause
them to smart for it.
~Lst. It argues deep carnality and security in those that are strangers
to God. For this is the first notion' that rendereth God amiable,
because he is so necessary to our consciences. Guilt and bondage are
natural to us ; but it is a sign men are hardened in fleshly delights
when they have lost their actual sense of this, and are past feeling.
Therefore consider how dangerous their condition is, if God put the
bond of the old covenant in suit, and require their souls at their hands :
Luke xii. 20, ' Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee/
Oh, miserable they ! when they shall be haled to hell, and the direful
sentence shall be executed upon them, * Go, ye cursed, into everlasting
fire/ And consider, there is nothing but the slender thread of a frail
life between yon and this ; and how soon is that fretted asunder !
62 THE LIFE OF FAITH
2d Or if this evil should fall upon God's own children, a man
that is spiritual, that he be listless and careless about his justification,
it aro-ueth some sore spiritual disease, and it will cost them much
bitterness before they get rid of it ; and if the Lord meaneth them
mercy, they shall again taste the vinegar and gall of the law's curse ;
and is' it nothing to you to be liable to the wrath of God?
(2.) To awaken the sluggish heart, consider the utility and profit of it ;
if once you could clear up your justification, what sweet, happy lives might
you lead! Ps. xxxii. 1, 2, 'Blessed is the man whose transgression is
forgiven, whose sin is covered.' In the original it is, Oh ! the blessed
ness of the man. But the blessedness of such a man is more fully
set forth by the apostle, Bom. v. 1-5, 'Being justified by faith, we
have peace with God through Christ.'
1st. The very first-fruit of it is peace with God. Sin had broken off
all friendship and amity, and procured enmity between God and the
creature ; and is it nothing to have God for an enemy, and to be in
dread of him every day, lest he should bend his bow, and shoot his
arrows at us? If all the world were at war with you, and God
were your friend, you were happy men ; but if all the world be at
peace with you, and God your enemy, you may be soon miserable
enough ; till you can make a wall between you and heaven, you can
never be secured. All that is truly good and truly evil dependeth
upon our peace and war with God. I shall illustrate it by that place,
Acts xii. 20, ' The men of Tyre and Sidon had offended Herod, but
they made Blastus their friend, and desired terms of peace, because
their country was nourished by the king's country/ Tyre was an
island on the sea,- and could not subsist without supplies from the
king's country. Certainly we cannot subsist a moment without God,
and therefore it concerns us to be at peace with him. Till we are
justified, we are utterly out of God's favour, and liable to his indigna
tion ; but when we are justified, there is an everlasting peace concluded
between us and him.
2d Free and cheerful access to God. So it follows, Bom. v. 2, ' By
whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.'
If you have any dealings with God, and know anything of this kind of
traffic, you will be glad to hear how you may think of him comfort
ably, and come to him with assurance of welcome. Wicked men
cannot endure to think of God ; their thoughts of God are a torment
to them. But to have a free access to him upon all occasions, and
cheerfully to lay forth your whole case to him, is not this a blessed privi
lege ? To be in like favour with God as Joseph was with Pharaoh, to
ask and have, and be assured of welcome whenever we come to him,
that, ask what we will, we may be assured it shall be done for us.
3d. Joy of salvation. So it follows, 'We rejoice in hope of the
glory of God.' Though our estate be poor and contemptible in the
world, yet there is glory enough provided for us in heaven ; and seem-
eth it a light thing to be the King's son-in-law ? to be heirs of God,
and co-heirs with Christ ? Well may we forego all transitory prefer
ments, which worldlings so magnify, for these hopes. Well may we
despise the shame, and endure the cross, if such a glory be set before
us. To have a glimpse of it here in the world is very comfortable ;
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 63
the very preparatives are sweet. Now this glory is but revealed to us,
and our hearts have received a little of it; what will it be when
this glory shall be revealed in us? Rom. viii. 18, ' I reckon that the
sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the
glory that shall be revealed in us,' when we shall have glorious bodies,
glorious souls, glorious company, glorious sights, glorious exercises.
Nothing can be desired here to be compared with it.
4th. Comfort in afflictions : ver. 3, ' We glory in tribulations.' Some
make it an enlargement of what he had said before : ' We rejoice in
hope of the glory of God ; ' and tribulation doth not weaken this joy.
And others interpret it, * We do not only rejoice in the glory of God,
which is the best part of our estate, but, which is much more admir
able, we find matter of rejoicing in our afflictions and tribulations,
which are the worst part of our estate : ' James i. 2, 3, ' My brethren,
count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations ; knowing this,
that the trial of your faith worketh patience ; ' and 2 Cor. xii. 10, ' I
take pleasure in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in perse
cutions, in distresses for Christ's sake : for when I am weak, then I am
strong/ Those things that are so unwelcome to the natural man, that
spoil all his rejoicings, they are the matter of a godly man's rejoicing.
A wicked man will part with God, and Christ, and peace of conscience,
and the hopes of eternal life, and all to shun the cross ; but such is
the temper of a godly man, he cleaves closest to God in the worst of
times, and finds matter of rejoicing in the worst condition.
5th. And this is backed with a reason, which makes a fifth benefit
a further increase of patience : ' Tribulation worketh patience.'
Grace is so welcome that they are willing to exchange outward com
forts for inward grace. By nature we are like untamed heifers, very
unruly at first yoking, but after a while we come quietly to bear the
yoke : James i. 3, ' Knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh
patience/ At first a new cart squeaks and creaks, but afterwards goes
away silently under a heavy load. At first we complain the cross is
very heavy and burdensome to us, but afterwards we quietly submit to
the will of God.
6th. And this bringeth on another benefit, and that is experience:
ver. 4, * And patience, experience/ We learn many sweet experiences
of God by afflictions. A man that hath been at sea, and endured
storms and tempests in foul weather, is not so easily dismayed nor
afraid of the rolling of every wave and the tossing of the ship as one
that never hath been at sea. So when we have had experience of God
and ourselves, and of the course and issues of things, we are not so
easily discouraged as others are.
7th. The hopes of everlasting life are increased and strengthened,
and so we are the better able to bear the inconveniences of the present
life. If a poor man be robbed of twenty or thirty shillings, no wonder
if he cry and take on, because he hath no more to help himself with ;
but now, if a rich man be robbed of such a sum, he is not much
troubled, because he hath more at home. So a man that is justified
by faith, and hath assurance of the favour of God, he can comfortably
bear up against all the troubles and crosses he meets with in his way
to heaven.
64 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
8th. Sweet tastes of God's fatherly love : ver. 5, ' The love of God
is shed abroad in their hearts/ God hath his comforts for his afflicted
ones. His people are never so assured of his love as then, for there is
love seen in their afflictions. Oh ! it is no mean thing to live by faith.
Come and see ; will you be a stranger to all this ?
[2.] If the heart be dejected and comfortless
(1.) Consider what grounds we have to hope for pardoning mercy from
the Lord. Partly from the nature of God : Micah vii. 18, ' Who is a
God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the trans
gression of the remnant of his heritage ? he retaineth not his anger for
ever, because he delighteth in mercy.' Never did we take more pleasure
in the acting and committing of sin, than he in the pardon of it. No
man is backward to do that he delights in. God's purpose is to make
liis grace glorious : Eph. i. 6, ' To the praise of the glory of his grace/
He everlastingly purposed this within himself, and, as a wise God,
accordingly hath suited means to that end. His justice cannot com
plain, having received full satisfaction in Christ, who paid the full
price: Rom. iii. 24, ' Being justified freely by his grace, through the
redemption that is in Jesus Christ ; ' Lsa. xxx. 18, ' Therefore will the
Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you ; arid therefore will he be
exalted, that he may have mercy upon you : for the Lord is a God of
judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him/ And partly from
the name of God : Isa. 1. 10, ' Who is among 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
himself upon his God/ Now the name of God is at large described :
Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7, ' The Lord, the Lord God, gracious and merciful,
long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth/ &c. These names
are given to God that we may take notice of his graciousness, and that
we might stay our hearts on the name of God. Why doth he invite
us with such earnestness ? He that waited upon thee when thou
wentest astray, will he not pardon thee when thou returnest ?
(2.) To answer all discouragements : What is it that keepeth thee
off? Thy unworthiness ? that indeed maketh us the fitter objects of
his grace arid mercy. God giveth this freely without worth ; for grace
doth all things gratis, without any worth in us. If we were riot un
worthy, how should God show forth the riches of his grace ? And
when we have a sense for it, and a heart broken for it, it is a good
preparation to the work. If any man were bitten with the fiery ser
pent, he might look up to the brazen serpent and be healed. It mat
ters not what the disease be, so Christ be the physician. If any feel
sin a burden, and do truly and earnestly desire to'be eased of it, he is
invited to ask, that by asking he may receive : Mat. xi. 28, ' Come
unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you
rest/ Oh ! but, saith the poor troubled, humbled soul, I am not hum
bled enough. Remember, it is not the deepness of the wound, but the
soundness of the cure that we should look after. If you are weary of
sin, and unfeignedly willing to part with it, and everything that would
separate between you and Christ ; if Christ be precious to you, and you
are willing to give up yourselves to the Lord's use, the end is wrought.
Humiliation is not required for itself, but for these ends.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 65
[3.] If yon have cause to suspect that your hearts are too slight in
the estimation of pardon, and that you make too easy a work of it, and
pass it over too lightly, then consider
(1.) What it cost the Lord Jesus Christ to bring it about. It cost
the precious blood of the Son of God : Rom. v. 9, ' Being justified by his
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.' Did it cost the
blood of Christ to procure it, and shall I have slight and mean thoughts
of it? The apostle did urge this as an argument to press ministers
to have a care of the flock, because ' they were purchased by the
blood of God/ Acts xx. 28. It was not an impostor that died at
Jerusalem, but the very Son of God. By the same argument we may
press men to look after justification by faith in Christ, because Christ
hath purchased it with his precious blood.
(2.) It is a work wherein eternity is concerned ; justification is but
that act done privately which you expect God will do publicly at the
last day: Acts iii. 19, 'Repent, that your sins maybe blotted out,
when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the
Lord.' Your act is nothing, unless it be ratified by Christ at that
day. Everywhere the scripture puts us upon this task. Boldness at
lus coming is made the test of the strength of our faith : 1 John ii.
18, * And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear,
we may have confidence, and may not be ashamed before him at his
coming/
(3.) If you go about this work with brokenness of heart, you cannot
be slightly in it, if indeed the heart be wounded for sin ; there is no
dallying with broken bones ; surely such will mind a cure.
(4.) Take heed of an heart purposing to continue in sin : Heb. x.
22, ' Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water.' If you have fallen into sin, you must humble
your souls deeply before the Lord: Hosea xiv. 2, 3, 'Take away all
iniquity, and receive us graciously/ You will not beg that God would
take away this plague, but take away this sin, that you may not sin
again, but that you may be more serious than ever you have been, that
you may have a new heart, and sin may never live in you more.
Secondly, I shall speak of the life of faith as it respects sanctifica-
iion. This also must be regarded.
1. These two must not be severed ; justification and sanctification
must carefully be distinguished, but not separated: 1 Cor. vi. 11,
' Such were some of you, but you are washed, but you are justified,
but you are sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the
Spirit of our God : 1 Cor. i. 30, ' Who of God is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption/ They always
go together in God's dispensations : 1 John i. 9, ' If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness/ Sin is considerable in the guilt and filth of it,
as it renders us obnoxious to God's justice, or as it tainteth our facul
ties and actions, and indisposeth us for his service; and both must be
done away. Christ came to do both ; he was sent into the world to
restore God's image in us ; but the image of God consisteth in the
participation of holiness, as well as the participation of blessedness.
VOL. xv. E
gg THE LIFE OF FAITH
For God, that is happy and blessed, is also holy and good ; the filth of
sin is opposite to holiness, and the guilt of it to blessedness. So that
Christ must restore but half the image of God, or he must give us
this double benefit; if he should give us the one without the other,
many inconveniences would follow. If he should free us from the
guilt of sin, and give us impunity without holiness, then bonum phy-
Isicum, a natural good, would be consistent with malum morale, a moral
evil ; and if he should give us sanctification, and deny impunity, the
highest natural evil would be consistent with a moral good. And
therefore he giveth us both ; he justifies that he may sanctify, and he
sanctities that he may glorify. It is not consistent with God's wisdom
and justice to give us pardon and let us alone in our sins, nor with
his wisdom and mercy to give us holiness without pardon. Yea, jus
tification (if it could be said to be alone) would only give us freedom
from hell ; but without sanctification we should remain unqualified for
heaven or the life of glory. It is true, such an one would be ex
empted from pcena sensus, the punishment of sense, but not from
pcena damni, the punishment of loss. We cannot enjoy heaven, nor see
the face of God till we are sanctified : ' For without holiness no man
shall see the Lord,' Heb. xii. 14. And therefore both must go to
gether; and wounded souls, those that are affected with their condition,
look for both ; as he that hath his leg broken desireth not only to be
eased of the present pain, but to have it set right again. Those that
are sensible of their condition before God would not only have their
sins pardoned, but would have their hearts enlarged to serve God
with more cheerfulness and freedom. Well, then, both is desired by
a broken heart, and Christ is made both to us : 1 Cor. i. 30, ' He is
made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and
redemption.' And it is his work not only to turn away God's wrath,
but to turn us from our sins : Acts iii. 26, ' Unto you first, God having
raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every
one of you from his iniquities ; ' and Acts v. 31, ' Him hath God ex
alted with his right hand, to be a prince and a saviour, to give re
pentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.' Now, what Christ giveth,
faith receiveth ; and therefore if we would live by faith, faith must be
exercised in this great blessing of sanctitication.
2. Sanctification is the greatest benefit of the two, if you compare
them together. Many will cry up justification, but neglect sanctifica
tion, but preposterously ; for, of the two, sanctification is the greater pri
vilege. 1 prove it thus
[1J Justification freeth us a malo naturali, from pain and suffer
ing ; but sanctitication a malo morali, from sin and pollution ; for sin
is worse than misery, and holiness is to be preferred before impunity;
and therefore justification, which frees us from misery, is not so great
a privilege as sanctification, which frees us from sin. And the saints
here have chosen the greatest sufferings rather than the least sins ;
as Moses * chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,' Heb. xi. 25. And
God hateth sin, as being against his very nature. God may inflict
punishment, but he cannot infuse sin. Now, as misery and punish
ment is less than sin, so justification, which frees us from misery and
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 67
punishment, is not so great a blessing as sanctification, which frees us
from sin.
[2.] The end must needs be more noble than the means. Now,
sanctification is the end of justification, as glorification is the end of
sanctification. God's end in justifying is to sanctify, or to promote
holiness ; and therefore, Heb. ix. 14, Christ is said to ' purge our
conscience from dead works, that we may serve the living God ;' and
Luke i. 74, 75, ' He hath delivered us out of the hands of our enemies,
that we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before him all the days of our lives.' Therefore we are purged from
the sentence of death, therefore we are delivered from the curse of
the law, and from hell. Certainly the end must needs be more noble
than the means : now the wisdom of God hath appointed justification
to promote sanctification.
[3.] This is that which is nearest to the life of glory. Ends are
more noble, as they are nearest the last end. Justification is the
pledge of the life of glory ; but sanctification is not only a pledge, but
a beginning. Indeed justification is causa removens prohibens ; it
takes away that which hinders, namely, guilt, or the sentence of con
demnation, which is that which hinders our entering into glory ; but
sanctification beginneth that life which is perfected in glory, and dif-
fereth from it as an infant from a man. When we know God per
fectly, and love God perfectly, then our happiness is completed, and
not till then. Complete holiness and conformity to God is the great
thing that God designeth ; and therefore, the more of that the more
are we advanced towards eternal happiness : Eph. v. 25-27, ' Christ
loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might pre
sent it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or
any such thing ; but that it should be holy and without blemish/
First he doth cleanse and sanctify, and then he doth perfect all in
glory ; when they are fully freed from all sin, then they are fully freed
from all misery.
[4.] Real perfections are above relative. Sanctification is a real
moral perfection, but justification is but a relative one ; our state is
changed by it, but not our hearts ; that is done by this other privilege
of sanctification. Real moral perfections make us like God : Exod.
xv. 11, ' God is glorious in holiness ' he counts that his highest and
chief est glory. Moral perfections exceed natural ; and of all moral
perfections, holiness is the greatest. It is better to be wise than to
be strong, and to be holy than to be wise. Beasts have strength, and
man hath reason, and the devils have cunning and knowledge ; but
angels are holy, and God is glorious in holiness ; that is their perfec
tion, and herein we most resemble God, in that which is his chiefest
glory.
J5.] This is that which renders us most amiable in the eyes of God,
therefore it is the greatest privilege. Now God loveth us for holi
ness ; he delighteth in it, as the reflex of his own image upon us ; he
doth not love us as pardoned, but as holy. We love him indeed for
pardoning : Luke vii. 47, ' She loved much, because much was forgiven
her;' but God delights in the pure and upright. God is the first
63 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
object of his own love ; and next, ' the saints and excellent ones upon
earth, in whom is his delight,' Ps. xvi. 3. So that though we love him
for pardoning, yet he loveth us for holiness. There is amor compla-
centicc, as the scripture witnesseth, Prov. xi. 20, ' Such as are upright
in their way are his delight.'
[6.] God's interest and honour is to be preferred before our comfort
and personal benefit. Justification, though it sets forth the glory of
God's grace, yet it doth more immediately concern our comfort. In
sanctification, besides our personal benefit, which is the perfection of
our nature, God's honour and interest is concerned in our subjection to
him; and this, besides the honour of his grace for our ^notification,
springs only from grace, as our justification doth, and is the fruit of
Christ's merits. Well, then, we'need to look after this benefit, as well
as justification, which is of such use and service to us, lest the main
disease be left uncured.
3. It is a great part of the glory which God expecteth from us, to
believe in him as the only Holy One of Israel, and the sanctifier of his
people, viz., that he will sanctify our natures, and enable us to the
practice of that holiness which he requireth of us : Lev. xx. 8, ' I am
the God that sanctifieth you;' and Isa. xliii. 15, 'I am the ^Lord,
your holy one ; ' and Hab. i. 12, ' Art not thou from everlasting,
Lord, my God, my holy one ? ' He is not only our merciful _one,
to pardon us ; but our holy one, to sanctify us ; and he taketh it to
be a principal part of his honour and glory to be so.
4. It is needful to exercise faith upon this privilege of sanctification,
that we may not be discouraged, and grow cold and negligent, when we
find the difficulties of obedience. There is none that hath had to do with
God and his own heart, but he finds strong oppositions, little prevailing
against his lusts, and the work of God is often interrupted. Now if
there were not promises to bear him up, he would throw off all as
impossible, and be discouraged, that he should never bring his heart
to any good purpose in the things of God. And therefore God hath
undertaken in his promises, as sin is filthy, to cleanse and purge it out :
Ezek. xxxvi. 25-28, ' Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and
ye shall be clean ; from all your filthiness and from all your idols will
I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give yon, and a new spirit will I
put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within
you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judg
ments and do them.' And as there is strength in it, so he hath pro
mised, Micah vii. 19, ' He will turn again, he will have compassion
upon us, he will subdue our iniquities.' A Christian may encourage
himself in his God ; he will help him. Our own strength is too weak to
govern our hearts, to conquer our lusts, to defeat temptations ; but God
will do it for us : and therefore we should not give over all as a de
sperate case, but cheer up our hearts in the sense of God's love and help ;
though we can never hope to overcome sin in our own strength, yet
God will do it for us.
My next business is to show how faith doth concur, or what influ
ence it hath upon sanctification. I shall first speak of sanctification in
the general, and then of the parts of it mortification and vivification.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 69
1. What influence it hath upon sanctifi cation in the general. .1
shall show you that in two distinctions. Sanctifi cation may be con
sidered as to its beginning, or as to its increase and progress.
[1.] As to the beginning of sanctification, what influence hath faitli
upon the first work ? Certainly there is need of faith ; for the first work
falls under a promise : Heb. viii. 10, ' This is the covenant that I will
make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord ; I will
put my laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts/ There
are promises of grace, and promises to grace, that where he hath given
grace he will give more absolute and conditional promises. Now
faith and the promises are correlatives. Now all the business is to
know what use we can make of these absolute promises of grace : the
conditional promises they point out what we must do ; but as to the
absolute promises what shall we do there ?
(1.) These absolute promises show the power of God to all those
that take hold of his covenant, and his willingness to make use of his
power for their good ; for God will use his power this way, so that we
may come to him, and plead as the leper did, ' Lord, if thou wilt, thou
canst make me clean/ Mat. viii. 2. God can do it, and therefore there
is some comfort ; and we have no reason to despair, as if the work were
impossible. So that what difficulties do arise, they should drive us to
God to put these promises in suit. Though we do not know how it will
succeed with us ; though we have such sinful hearts, that we do not
know which way they should be subdued, and our headstrong corrup
tions mortified ; yet the Almighty, who hath promised it> is able to do
it for us, as that place showeth, Mark x. 27, 'With God all things
are possible/ God can change our crooked perverse hearts, and make
them willing in the day of his power, Ps. ex. 3.
(2.) These absolute promises encourage us to come to God, and set
his power a-work by prayer ; as Ephraim, Jer. xxxi. 18, ' Turn thou
me, and I shall be turned ; for thou art the Lord my God/ Though
Ephraim had a stubborn and rebellious heart, like a bullock unaccus
tomed to the yoke, yet he was encouraged to go to God because he
was the Lord his God. These absolute promises may be pleaded in
prayer.
(3.) These absolute promises engage us to wait upon God till they
be accomplished. God hath undertaken to take away the old heart ;
so that we may say, as in Ps. cxxiii. 2, ' Behold, as the eyes of servants
look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden are
unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes wait upon the Lord our
God, until that he have mercy upon us/ They engage us to persevere
with diligence in the use of means, though we do not know what will
come of it. So Prov. viii. 34, ' Blessed is the man that heareth me,
watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors/ Though
it be long ere God look upon us, long before we find any preparation
towards this work, yet this engageth us to lie at the pool.
(4.) These absolute promises engage us to wait with hope, looking
up still with confidence that he wilt accomplish the things promised.
But you will say, What hope can a man have of the absolute promises ?
There is this hope, that I am not excluded, that I, as well as others,
am invited to take hold of God's covenant; and there is the same
70 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
favour shown to me that there is to all ; and it is some hopeful presage,
that God hath inclined my heart to look after it ; that I am weary of
my sins, that I am troubled with my lusts, though it be but a natural
weariness, because of the inconveniency of them ; that I desire grace,
though it be but a natural desire of ease and happiness ; that I pray,
though it be but literally, and not spiritually : ' Take with you words,
and turn unto the Lord, and say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and
receive us graciously,' Hosea xiv. 2. It is well that there is some affec
tion and natural fervency ; we are in grace's way, and lie more obvious
to the Lord's grace. But, most of all, there is this hope, that we have
a general confidence of God's all-sufficiency ; as the woman that had
an issue of blood twelve years, Mat. ix. 21 ,' And came behind Christ,
and touched the hem of his garment ; for she said within herself, If 1
may but touch the hern of his garment, I shall be made whole.' When
all remedies fail, and we are still troubled and burdened with our lusts,
yet we have this general prepositional persuasion, that if we come to
Christ, and get into him, we shall be the better for him ; though we
have tried many means, and have been nothing the better, but rather
rhe worse, yet when we thus do, there is some hope. Thus these
promises have their use ; for God doth not only propound them to faith,
but by them worketh faith : 2 Peter i. 4, ' Whereby are given unto us
exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in
the world through lust ; ' enabling a graceless sinner to believe and
apply the pardon, grace, and blessedness offered in them. So soon as a
sinner gets grace to believe and apply them, the Lord worketh in the
heart the things promised, andinfuseth those divine qualities in which
the life of grace consisteth.
(5.) There are many considerations as means which may uphold
and encourage our hearts in waiting for this work of grace to be begun
in us, and faith makes use of them. As
~Lst. That many that have been as vile and obstinate against God,
and as much hardened in a way of sin as we are, yet the promise hath
taken hold of them. Men that have been bond-slaves to the devil and
their own lusts, yet they have been caught in their month, arid the
Lord hath wrought upon them ; as Zaccheus, who had formerly lived
in a course of oppression, Luke xix. 8, 9 ; Mary Magdalen, who had lived
in whoredom, Luke vii. 37; and Saul, a persecutor and blasphemer,
and an injurious person, 1 Tim. i. 13. Instances and examples encour
age faith as ^weli as promises, for they are patterns of what God will
do : 1 Tim. i. 16, ' For this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first
Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them
that should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.' These instances
are as masterpieces of grace. As artists hang up their masterpieces
in their shops to draw customers, so God sets forth these instances to
show what he will do for poor returning sinners.
2d There is an encouragement that Christ hath purchased the spirit
of grace for us, to promote this work in our hearts : John xvii. 19, ' For
their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified by the
truth.' He hath set apart himself as a sin-offering, that we might be
sanctified ; all the means of grace are sprinkled with the blood of Christ
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 71
that promote and help on the work of grace in our hearts : Eph. v. 26,
' He gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify and cleanse it
with the washing of water by the word.' Christ hath given himself
as a sacrifice and offering to God, that we might come to duty not only
in obedience, but in faith, and that we may with the more comfort
depend upon him in the use of the means of grace that he hath
appointed.
3d He hath filled himself with all grace for the same end, that we
might be filled with the abundance of that grace which is in him : Ps
Ixviii. 18, ' He hath received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also,
that the Lord God might dwell among them ; ' not to keep them to
himself alone, but to communicate them to us. So it is said, John i,
16, ' Of his fulness have we all received grace for grace.' There is a
fountain of grace set up in our nature, that we might repair to him.
He is God that freely giveth life to all things, and he is God in our
nature, that we might not think him strange to us.
[2,] Let us consider sanctification in its progress and increase ; and
there let us see what promises are made to faith, and what faith must
do with these promises.
(1.) Let us see what promises are made to faith. And so it is a
great relief and encouragement to poor creatures, that are troubled with
the relics of sin, and the remainders of corruption, to consider what is
propounded to faith. Christ hath undertaken to subdue sin wholly,
and to sanctify us throughout : 1 Thes. v. 23, 24, ' And the very God
of peace sanctify yon wholly ; and I pray God your whole spirit and
soul and body may be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.' The
work is but begun, but God will carry it on to perfection : Phil. i. 6,
' Being confident of this very thing, that he that hath begun a good
work in you, will perfect it unto the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.'
The same power that begun will finish it. It was said of the foolish
builder, that he began and could not make an end ; but the work of
grace hath its beginning, progress, and final consummation and accom
plishment from God. And where God hath begun his work in any
heart, it is a pledge that he will do more. And so, Rom. vi. 12, the
apostle propounds it as a precept, ' Let not sin reign in your mortal
body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof ;' and after it is pro
pounded as a promise, ver. 14, ' Sin shall not have dominion over you ;
for you are not under the law, but under grace ' Well, then, these are
the promises, so that if we would increase and grow up in this holiness
intimated in the promises, we must increase in faith, a-nd believe that
Christ will be as good as his word.
(2.) Let us see what faith must do as to these promises.
i.st. The work of faith is to encourage us in our conflicts. We are
many times wrestling with sin, and find it too hard for us ; but then
the believer should look up to the power of God engaged and assisting
in this work, and so can triumph in victory before the battle. In out
ward cases the chance of war is uncertain, and that is a good caution,
4 Let not him that puts on his harness boast as he that puts it off; '
but it is not so in the spiritual warfare. Paul mingleth thanksgivings
with his very groans, Rom vii. 24, 25. He complains and gro.nns
72 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
' Oh wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from this hody of
death ? ' But he comfortably cheers up his Tiearfc in the next verse, ' I
thank God through Jesus Christ our lord ; ' that through the power
of the Spirit of Christ he should be able to subdue the body of sin,
which otherwise would carry him headlong to death and destruction.
And the same Paul, when buffeted with a messenger of Satan, he prayed
three times ; he would fain have been rid of the temptation, 2 Cor. xii.
9. He knocked once, and again, and a third time, as Christ prayed
thrice; but all the answer he could get was, 'My grace ^ is sufficient
for thee.' When this is our case, that we are discouraged in our resist
ance of sin, because our endeavours at first succeed not, the promise
should bear up our hearts.
2d. The work of faith is to encourage us to wait in the use of means
for our growth and improvement; for God, that fulfilleth promises,
fulfils them in his own way. Faith is not a devout sloth and idle
expectation ; we must up and be doing, praying, hearing, meditating,
debating these promises with ourselves, that this work may go on and
prosper, until we come to the full of our hopes. God hath greater
things to do for us and by us. All increase is by God's blessing upon
our labour and diligence, and so is the increase of grace too : Luke
xix. 26, ' For to every one that hath shall be given ; ' that is, he that
tradeth, and improveth his talent well, shall have more ; that which
God hath given him, he shall find a great increase of it, if he use well
what he hath received. And therefore Christians, that have these pro
mises, are to labour after a great increase of grace, and to improve
Christ to a further use, John x. 10, ' I am come that they might have
life, and that they might have it more abundantly.' We should not only
be living, but lively Christians ; not only make a hard shift to get to
heaven, but labour that grace may abound yet more and more, that
an abundant entrance may be given to them into Christ's kingdom :
1 Thes. iv. 1, ' Furthermore, we beseech you, brethren, that as ye have
received of us how ye ought to walk, and to please God, so ye would
abound more and more.'
3c?. The office of faith is to increase our confidence and enlarge
our expectations, according to the extent of the promises ; for the
more we expect from Christ, the more we receive from him : Ps. Ixxxi.
10, ' Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it/ The larger thoughts we
have of Christ's fulness and excellency, the more do we experience it
in ourselves; if we would increase in love, and zeal, and patience, we
must increase in faith. It is a preposterous care in many to seek the
growth of other graces when they do not seek the growth of faith ;
this is as if we did water the branches of the tree, and not the root.
2. I come now to speak of sanctification more particularly ; namely,
the two parts of it mortification and vivification. Faith hath a
notable influence upon both these.
[1.] As to mortification the mortifying of fleshly lusts. The flesh
is our great enemy ; so the apostle telleth us, 1 Peter ii. 11, 'Abstain
from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.' And therefore, unless,
we mean to run the hazard of the loss of our souls, the flesh must be
subdued, which is our great clog and hindrance in our way to heaven.
But how doth the flesh prevail against us ? Ans. The flesh prevaileth
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 75
two ways ; both are specified, James i. 14, ' Every man is tempted, when
he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.' There are two words,
efeXvcoyuez/o? KOI SeXeao//,ei>o?, sometimes we are drawn away by our
own lusts : at other times we are enticed.
(1.) Sometimes we are drawn away by the flesh ; it hurries men inta
sin by its violent motions : Jer. viii. 6, ' Every one turned to his course
as the horse rusheth into the battle : ' like a headstrong horse, hearing
the noise of the trumpet, his rider hath no command of him ; so fleshly
lusts put reason out of the throne, that his affections cannot be
governed ; checks of conscience, restraints of the word, profession,
resolutions, all bond,s and cords are too weak to hold us to our duty;
the flesh moves, and then we are carried away to fulfil the lust thereof
(2.) It enticeth us by the pleasure and satisfaction that we expect
in gratif} ing carnal nature, or by hope of mercy and repentance after
it is committed ; or by some other means it deceiveth the sinner into
rebellion against God. Now faith is of great use to purge vis from,
these lusts; for it is said, Acts xv. 9, 'Purifying their hearts by faith.'
What doth faith do to purify our hearts and weaken our fleshly lusts ?
1st. It applieth the blood of Christ: 1 John i. 7, ' The blood of Jesus-
Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.' Christ's blood cleanseth us,
but so as faith applieth it to us. Look, as water cleanseth and soap
cleanseth, but both are applied by the hand of the laundress that
washeth, so the blood of Christ cleanseth as it is applied by faith.
We may look upon the blood of Christ as the price by which the Spirit
was purchased to cleanse us from sin : 1 Peter i. 2, ' Through sancti-
ficalion of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ.' The blood of Christ is applied and received by faith,.
and so the heart is cleansed.
2d Faith purifies the heart, as it excites the new nature to break
the force of fleshly lusts, and puts a rub in our way : * The spirit
lusteth against the flesh,' Gal. v. 17. It stirs up the new nature to-
draw the mind another way : 1 John iii. 9, ' Whosoever is born of God
doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin,.
because he is born of God.' There are dislikes and counter-buffs aris
ing from the new nature, that sin shall not carry it so freely. But how
doth faith excite the new nature ? Partly as it presents the thrt-aten-
ings of the word, when lusts are sturdy and will not be broken : Rom.
viii. 13, * If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die ; ' and Gal. vi. 8, ' He-
that sows to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption.' Now these
things being represented and realised by faith, it stops the career of sin.
And partly by representing the promises : 1 Peter ii. 1, ' I beseech you
as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts/ We are foir
another country, and shall we trouble and pester ourselves with any
thing that should hinder us in our journey heavenward ? We expect
a room among the angels, and shall we live as slaves in the world ?
Thou art in the way to Canaan, and why art thou in love with the
flesh-pots of Egypt ? 2 Cor. vii. 1, * Having these promises, let us-
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit^ perfecting holi
ness in the fear of God ;' and 1 John iii. 3, 'He that hath this hope
in him, purifieth himself as God is pure/ Faith excites the new
nature by fear and hope, by terrors and promises. And then partly as it
sets love a- work : Gal. v. 6, ' Faith worketh by love,' and so begets an
74 THK LIFE OF FAITH.
hatred of sin : Ps. xcvii. 10, < Ye that love the Lord, hate evil ' > Partly
<is it represents the great things Christ hath done for us: Christ hath
loved me and we himself forme/ Now, shall I sin against this (rod
that sent'his sSn to die for me? All this is to prevent the act, and
break the force of sin.
3d It iniproveth all the means instituted by Christ for the weak-
enino* of sin and the abating the corruption of our natures. It is said,
Eph v- 26, ' He gave himself, that lie might sanctify us by the wash-
in^ of water through the word,' Christ did not only die to sanctify
ust but to sanctify us in such a way that we might receive grace by
the institutions of the gospel, that the word and sacraments and prayer
might stir us up to mortify sin. Faith raaketh use of the word : Ps.
cxix. 9, ' Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way ? By taking
heed thereto according to thy word ; ' and ver. 11, ' Thy word have I
hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.' By the word we
learn wisdom arid spiritual counsel ; that makes us discern the wiles
of sin, that we may not be enticed nor enslaved by it: John xv. 3,
'Now 'ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you.'
It is the work of the Spirit and faith to apply the efficacy of Christ's
blood for the cleansing of sinners ; but the word hath its use, as a glass
to discover sin, and as it quickens us by new arguments to work it
out, He that daily makes use of the word of God, and doth attend
with conscience upon the ordinances, he hath some new consideration
or other suggested to him to work out sin. So for the sacraments.
For baptism, 'Ye are dead;' therefore 'mortify your members,' Col.
iii. 2, compared with ver. 5. You that are baptized have engaged
yourselves to be mortifying sin, and to employ the strength of Christ
for the subduing of it. So for the Lord's Supper: 1 Cor. v. 7, 8,
' Purge out therefore the old lea.ven > that ye may be a new lump, as ye
are unleavened: for even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, neither with
the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth.' The remembering and applying Christ's death
is a means to weaken sin yet more and more. The word and sacra
ments are the means by which Christ applieth the virtue of his death.
In the word we have the charter, the promise and grant of Christ and
all his benefits, from God unto every one that will receive him; but in
the sacraments there is a seal annexed to this grant, whereby we
are confirmed in this grant ; and by every new act we oblige our
selves to mortify sin more and more. And then (lastly) prayer ;
for faith sets the soul a-praying that God would create in us ' a
clean heart,' Ps. li. 10, and so makes good his promise of washing
and cleansing us from all sin.
[2.] For vivification. By nature we are dead in trespasses and sins :
Eph. ii. 1, ' You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins.' Christ came to help us out of -this estate, and purchase grace
and life for us, and to work it in us: John x. 10, * I am come that
they might have* life.' And therefore he is called 'the Prince of life/
Acts iii. 15, because he is the principal cause of it; and 'a quickening
spirit,' 1 Cor. xv. 45. A spirit from his better part, his godhead, and
a quickening or life-making spirit, because of the effects of his power
on the hearts of believers: for we can never live to God till we are
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 75
quickened by him. And he is said to be our life: Col. iii. 4, ' When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear/ &c. He is our life, not only
meritorie, as he hath purchased life for us ; but effective, as he works
it in us. There is not only an everlasting merit, but a constant influ
ence, for our life is a fruit of his: John xiv, 19, ' Because I live, ye
shall live also.' Then we begin to five to God, when by faith we are
united to Christ : 1 John v. 11, ' God hath given to us eternal life, and
this life is in his Son.' It is in Christ, and we have it by virtue of our
union with him. And then faith doth continually derive vital influ
ences from Christ for the supporting, and maintaining, and strengthen
ing this spiritual life in us, as the branches have their sap and influence
conveyed to them from the root : John xv, 5, c He that abideth in me,
and 1 in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; for without me ye
can do nothing/ And as the members of the body have strength and
sensation by their union to the head .; Eph. i. 22, 23, 4 He is head over
all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that
filleth all in all.' Here then is the use of faith, to look up to Christ,
and depend upon him for the constant supplies of spiritual strength,
to enable to the operations of the spiritual life '. Phil. iv. 13, 'I can do
all things through Christ that strengthened me.' But the influence
of faith on the particular operations of the spiritual life will be
handled hereafter.
Thirdly, The life of faith, as it respects glorification, or the promises
of eternal life. And here I shall show you
1. That this is a necessary part of the life of faith.
2. What are the acts of faith with respect to this life.
3. How we may bring our hearts so to live.
1. We cannot exclude this from being a branch of the life of faith ;
and that for these reasons
[l.j Because eternal life is one of the principal objects of faith; and
it is the first motive that invitelh us to hearken after the things of
God. The apostle telleth us, Heb. xi. 6, 'He that corneth to God
must believe that God is, and that he is a re warder of them that dili
gently seek him.' He that would have anything to do with God must
be persuaded of his being and of his bounty. In the choosing of a
religion, we look after a right object, whom to worship, and a fit re
ward ; for that induceth us, and maketh up the match between our
hearts and that object. Now God, that krioweth the heart of man, and
what wards will tit the lock, doth accordingly deal with us; as he
propounds himself as the first cause, and highest being, to be rever
enced and worshipped by us, so also as the chief est good, to be enjoyed
by us in an everlasting state of blessedness. All the doctrines of the
Christian faith tend to establish this hope in us ; and therefore the
salvation of our souls is called ' the end of our faith,' 1 Peter i. 9. This
is the main blessing that faith waiteth for , all our believing, waiting,
working, striving, is to this end ; so John xx. 31> 'These things are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that believing, ye might have life through his name.' All that
is written in the gospel is to establish faith in Christ the Messiah, and
that in order to eternal life. This is the upshot of all, that we might
have a true and well-grounded hope of eternal life.
ijg THE LIFE OF FAITH.
[21 Because this is always matter of faith, never of sense, in this
world: 2 Cor v. 7, 'For we walk by faith, and not by sight.' Other
privileges propounded in the promises are sometimes matter of > sense;
as sanctification and the comforts of this world ; but this life arid
blessedness which is to come, and is hid with Christ in God, is always
matter of faith, and never of sense, unless it be of spiritual sense, which
is nothing but the result of faith, or some foretastes of blessedness to
come when we are firmly persuaded of the certainty of it.
[3.1 This is that which indeed puts life and strength into us, and
that which mainly constitutes the difference between us and others ;
and therefore, if there be such a thing as life spiritual, as certainly there
is it is fed and maintained by reflecting upon everlasting happiness,
and the interests of the world to come : 2 Cor. iv. 16-18, 'For which
cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward
man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for
a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal,
but the things which are not seen are eternal' There is an outward
man and an inward man, or the animal life and the spiritual and
divine life. The animal life is that which is supported, cherished, and
maintained by the comforts and delights of the present world ; as
lands, honours, and pleasures ; and when they are out of sight, they
are in darkness that have nothing else to live upon, and are at a loss,
and dead while they seem to live ; but now the spiritual and divine
life is supported by the comforts and delights of the world to come,
and they that live by faith, they live in heaven, and have an anchor
within the vail. And therefore, when we believe this, another spirit
cometh upon us, and there is such a life and strength 'derived into our
heart, that we bear up with joy and courage, when the outward and
animal life is exposed to the greatest difficulties and decays; for we
are for another world. And therefore we are said to live by faith, be
cause it apprehends those great and glorious things which are kept for
us in heaven. Yea, as soon as the spiritual life is begun in us, it pre
sently worketh this way : 1 Peter i. 3, ' Who hath begotten UH to a
lively hope.' It is the immediate effect of the new life, which is given
in regeneration; and by this the heart is kept up, till all that God hath
promised be brought about. This is the staff and stay of the spirit.
[4.] We need press this part of living by faith, because, whatever
men pretend, eternal life is little believed in the world. The most
part, even of those that live in the common light of Christianity, are
purblind, and 'cannot see afar off,' 2 Peter i. 9, or look beyond the
grave. God's own children have many doubtful thoughts, not such a
clear and firm persuasion of things to come, but that it needeth to be
increased more and more. The apostle prayeth for the converted
Ephesians, * That the eyes of their understandings may be enlightened,
that they may know what is the hope of their calling, and the riches
of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,' Eph. i. 18 ; that is, that
they might more clearly see and firmly believe those good things which
they should enjoy in heaven. Alas ! we are so taken up with trifles
and childish toys, that our faith is verv weak about those excellent bless-
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 77
ings. But I shall give you some evidences that these great and
excellent blessings are little believed.
(1.) Because we are far more swayed with temporal advantages, than
we are with the promise of eternal blessings. These blessings are more
excellent and glorious in their nature, more certain in their duration :
2 Peter i. 4, ' Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises, that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature.'
And yet they have less influence upon us than perishing vanities. What
should be the reason ? Who would prefer a cottage before a palace?
& lease for a year before an inheritance ? There is no compare be
tween the things themselves, but we are not equally persuaded of things
to come, and things in hand, arid of a present enjoyment. As in a
pair of scales, though the weights be equal, yet, if the balances be not
equal, a thing of less weight will weigh down a, greater. Cyprian
bringeth in the devil vaunting against Christ, ' I did not die and shed
my blood for them ; I had not heaven to bestow upon them, nor eter
nal happiness to reward them ; I only propounded a carnal satisfaction
in the pleasures of sin, that are but for a season, which, when they are
gone, it is as nothing; and yet among all thy pensioners, Christ I
show me one that is so ready to follow thee as they are to follow me.'
If we had faith, we would say with Paul, Kom. viii. 18. ' For I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us ; ' and as Moses,
Heb. xi. 26, ' Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures of Egypt ; for he had respect to the recompense of reward.' But
alas ! how many are there that pretend to believe as Christians, and yet
a little profit or pleasure in the world is enough to sway with them, to
run the hazard and forfeiture of all their hopes in the world to come.
(2.) Surely men do not believe heaven, because they are so little
affected with it. If a beggar were adopted into the succession of a
crown, he would please himself in thinking of the honour, and hap
piness, and delights of the royal estate ; or, to put a more likely
supposition, if any poor man did understand that some great inherit
ance were bequeathed to him, he would often think of it, rejoice therein,
long to go and see it, and take possession of it. But there is a promise
of eternal life left us in the gospel of being heirs with God, and co-heirs
with Christ ; and who puts in for a share, thinketh of it, rejoiceth in
the hopes of it, longs for it. taketh hold of this eternal life ? 1 Tim.
vi. 18. Certainly if we were persuaded of these things, we would embrace
them : Heb. xi. 13, ' These all died in faith, not having received the
promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them,
and embraced them/
(3.) Because we do so little labour after it. For outward advantage, let
it be certain or uncertain, men will endure great pains. If the things be
certain, a man toileth hard all day for a small piece of money, for a
shilling or two; do we seek heaven with the like earnestness? They
that do believe will do so : Acts xxvi. 7, ' Unto which promise our
twelve tribes, instantly serving God night and day, hope to come.'
Others do not. Or if the thing be uncertain, as with merchants: how
many hazards do they run ? Impiger extremos currit mercator ad Indos.
These are not uncertain ; and why do we no more abound in the work
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
of the Lord ? I Cor. xv. 58, ' Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
ye steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord/
(4) Because we are contented with so slight assurance as to our
title and interest: 2 Peter i. 10, 'Give all diligence to make your
callin^ and election sure.' In matters of weight men love great earnest,
o-reat 'assurance. Do we labour to make all so sure and clear as to
heavenly things? Heb. iv. 1, 'Let us therefore fear, lest a promise
bein^- left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come
short of it.' We should put it out of all question ; as we should not
come short, so we should not seem to give any appearance of coming
short. Alas ! any fond presumption or slight hope serveth our turn.
(5 ) The pretended strength of our faith about future recompenses
dot.li in some measure show "the weakness of it, and that it is but a
slight and overly apprehension. Most men will pretend to be able to
trust God for their heavenly inheritance, and yet cannot trust God for
their daily maintenance ; they find it difficult to believe in temporals,
and yet very easy in spirituals or eternals : what should be the reason ?
Heaven and things to come are greater mercies, and the way of bring
ing them about more difficult ; and they are not so commonly dispensed
by* God as temporals are; and there lie more natural prejudices
against these mercies when men are serious. What ! can you easily
believe that you shall live, though you die ? John xi. 25 ; that your
scattered dust shall be re-collected and raised up into a beautiful and
glorious body ? that a clod of earth shall shine as the stars? What is
more easily believed than this, that God will give you daily bread ?
The whole earth is full of his goodness, and God feedeth ail his crea
tures, not a worm but is sustained by his providence ; but he pardoneth
but a few, saveth but a few, and blesseth but a few with spiritual
blessings. But here is the mistake ; bodily wants are more preening,
and faith is put there to a present exercise. Men are careless of their
souls, and content themselves with some general desires of ease and
hopes of eternal welfare ; and therefore it is they say they find no
difficulty in believing their salvation and eternal life. Eternal life is
sought in jest, talked of as a plausible fancy ; but worldly things are
desired in good earnest.
(6.) Because we will venture so little upon our everlasting hopes.
Where men have an expectation they will make adventures, for they
know it will turn to a good account. God hath made many great and
precious promises ; he hath told us, ' Give alms, and you shall have
treasure in heaven/ Luke xii. 33. Leave anything for his sake, you
shall have ' in the world to come eternal life,' Mark x. 30 ; ' Mortify the
deeds of the body, and you shall live,' Rom. viii. 13. Now, when we
will not venture anything upon God's bond, it is a sign we do not
count him a good paymaster, and so make him a liar in all his
promises.
2. What is the work of faith with respect to this life of glory.
[1.] To assent firmly to the promises, that offer this eternal blessed
ness, and to convince the soul of the truth of what they offer. Assent
needs to be strengthned, that we may believe more firmly. Founda
tion-stones can never be laid with care and exactness enough. Many
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 79
hang between believing and unbelieving, neither assent to the truth of
the promise, nor directly deny it. Though you do believe, believe it
again, with more certainty and assurance of understanding. As when
a picture waxeth old, we refresh the colours ; so work up your hearts
to a full assurance of the truth and certainty of these things. What
is the great work of the gospel, but to establish our faith of eternal
life ? Here it is revealed to us : 2 Tim. i. 10, * And hath brought life
and immortality to light through the gospel.' Here it is promised to us :
1 John ii. 25, ' This is the promise that he hath promised us, even
eternal life.' Why hath God made so many promises? What need
had he to natter and deceive us, to promise more than he will perform ?
He can strike us dead if we do not please him, and crush us easier than
we can crush a moth or a worm. In all other parts of scripture God
standeth to his promises, even those of a present accomplishment, etin
ultimo non deficiet ; surely he will not fail you at last, he is so faithful
and punctual. The same God that gave the commands, which you
find so powerful on your consciences, this same God gave the pro
mises. And God is willing to give us a pawn and pledge of these bless
ings promised in the joys of the Spirit : 2 Cor. i. 22, ' Who hath also
sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts/ It is not
donum, a gift, but pignus, a pledge ; and not only pignus, but arrha,
an earnest: therefore work up faith to this assent. It is a notable
assent that is described Heb. xi. 1, * Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen ; ' it is ' the substance
of things hoped for.' Faith openeth a light into the other world ;
it is the perspective of the soul, by which we look within the vail. Faith
hath an eagle-eye ; it can see things at a distance, and pierce through
all the mists and fogs that intercept the eyes of others. 'Abraham
rejoiced to see Christ's day, and he saw it, and was glad/ John viii.
56. And yet there were many successions of ages between Christ and
Abraham ; but he saw Christ with the eyes of faith. So the patriarchs
saw things afar off by faith : Heb. xi. 13, 'These all died in faith, not
having received the promises, but having seen them afar off/ As the
devil showed Christ the glory of the present world in a map and repre
sentation, so doth faith, which is the evidence of things not seen, repre
sent to the soul the glory of the world to come in a map ; they have a
Pisgah-sight and view of heaven, so as they apprehend it as a real
thing. Other men have but a general guess and tradition about heaven,
a dream of elysian fields, or a surmise of happiness ; but a believer has
a sight of it by faith. As Stephen's eyes were opened, so are their eyes
by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Others have an empty notion ;
they a real prospect. The other expression is, that ' faith is the evi
dence of things not seen ; ' that is, it bringeth in the comfort of it to the
soul. There is an intromission of the object, as well as an extramis-
sion of thoughts. How is it the substance ? Things absent and to come,
by the real persuasion and expectation of the believer, are made real
and present with the soul, as if already enjoyed ; and so faith defeateth
sense, which prevaileth with us because of present temptations, dangers,
and delights. Faith is an anticipation of our blessedness, or a pre-occu-
pation of our everlasting estate ; as the air and winds carry the odours
and sweet smells of Arabia into the neighbouring provinces, so faith,
gO THE LIFE OF FAITH.
believing the promises causeth us to feel something of heaven in our
own hearts. It is not a naked sight, but some foretaste and beginning
of heaven
[2.] There is need of faith to apply and make out your own interest ; not
only that there is such an estate, but such an estate reserved for you :
2 Tim iv. 8, ' Henceforth there is laid upfor me a crown of righteousness; '
and '2 Cor. v. 1, ' And we know that if this earthly house of our tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens ; ' and 1 Tim. vi. 18, ' That they may lay
hold of eternal life.' Faith hath an eye to see, and a hand to lay hold
and claim it as your patrimony. It is comfortable with us when we
can make out our own title and interest. Many catch at it by a fond
presumption, but they cannot hold it fast ; it is an hope that will leave
them ashamed. But upon clear and fair grounds we are enabled to
apply and take home the promises, as so many conveyances of our
inheritance. There is a charter written with Christ's blood, sealed
by the Spirit, and offered to us by God himself. Now have you ever
dealt with God about it, that you might make out your claim and
title ? I would not grate upon tender consciences, therefore, if you
cannot apply it absolutely, because you have not assurance, yet the con
ditional offer should encourage you to work and wait, and deal with
God about it : Eom. ii. 7, ' To them which, by patient continuing in
well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life.'
He will give it to all, and so to me; do God's work cheerfully, and
continue with patience ; be the more earnest to be such as may apply
'this general promise. And to help you to apply conditional promises,
consider in whose disposal all this glory is, even in the disposal of a
bounteous God, and a faithful and compassionate Saviour, who is ready
to do good to thy poor soul : Jude 22, ' Looking for the mercy : of our
Lord Jesus Christ, to eternal life.'
[3.] There must be 'earnest expectation,' that is the next work of
rfaith, looking and longing for this blessed estate. I join both together,
-because the apostle speaks of the ' earnest expectation of the creature,'
Kom. viii. 19, aTrofcapaSotcia T% /mVe&>? ; the word signifieth the
stretching out of the head of the creature, as Sisera's mother and her
ladies looked through the lattice for the return of her son : Titus ii. 13,
* Looking for the blessed hope, &c.' Faith, having a promise looks to
see tiie blessing a-coming in the rnidst of the labours and crosses of this
world, not mounting up to heaven by fits ; but this is the posture of a
gracious soul, to dwell upon the thoughts of God and the world to
come, and to live in the constant expectation of it. The spiritual
life is abated as this is abated : Rom. viii. 23, ' And not only they, but
ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we our
selves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the re
demption of our bodies ; ' and 2 Cor. v. 3-5, ' If so be that being clothed,
we shall not be found naked : for we that are in this tabernacle do groan,
being burdened ; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon,
that mortality may be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought
us for this selfsame thing is God, who hath given to us the earnest of
the Spirit/ Can a man believe blessedness to come, and not long to
enjoy it ? No ; the mind and heart will be set at work ; a taste will
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 81
make a man long for more. The little seeds in the earth will break
through the clods to come to stalk and flower. As the clusters of
Canaan put heart into the Israelites, and made them long to come to
the possession of that good land ; so the beginnings of the spiritual life
will set you a-longing and groaning that you may be at home with God.
JL] There is a waiting and tarrying the Lord's leisure with patience
perseverance, notwithstanding the distance of our hopes, and the
difficulties of the present life : Job xiv. 14. ' All the days of my
appointed time I will wait till my change shall come/ It is but a
little while and we shall have full possession ; and the reason why we
have not full possession sooner is, not because heaven is not ready for
us, but we are not ready for it ; for it was prepared by the decree and
designation of God before the world was, Mat. xxv. 34 ; it was bought
and purchased when Christ died, Heb. ix. 15 ; and it is possessed by
Christ in our name, John xiv. 2. Our nature is already in heaven,
though not our bodies; we shall riot sleep long in the dust; as soon as
God's number is full, ' he that shall come, will come.' Therefore tarry
God's leisure. Omne peccatum impatientioe est ascribendicm, saith
Tertullian Every sin is to be ascribed to impatience. Men, like the
prodigal, must have their portion presently : Luke xv. 12, ' Father, give
me the portion of goods that falleth to me.' They must have their
good things in this life, Luke xvi. 25 ; they cannot be contented to
wait for God : Heb. x, 36, ' Ye have need of patience, that after ye have
done the will of God ye may receive the promise.' There is a time
when God hath work for us to do in the world, to do and suffer his
will. Whatever grace we can spare, we cannot spare patience : Luke
viii. 15, 'The good ground briugeth forth fruit with patience.' It
endureth the plough, the harrow, the cold, the frost, that in due time
the seed may spring up and flourish. So we, after a little patience,
shall be received into an inheritance which our Father hath prepared,
and Christ hath purchased for us.
[5.] The work of faith is to ' breed joy ' in the hopes of this blessed
ness, and those tastes that we have of it. The apostle saith, Heb. iii.
6, we are Christ's, ' if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of
hope firm unto the end/ When we first believe in Christ, we do by
hope take hold of the promised glory, and find a great deal of comfort
and sweet encouragement therein. Now as this delight abateth in yon,
so doth the spiritual life. As in the outward life taste decayeth and is
lost, so the animal life decays, and languishing and death come on.
It was a comfortable thing to be working for heaven at first, it should
be so still ; therefore keep up the rejoicing of your hope. It should
do our hearts good, and make them leap within us for joy, every time
we think what God hath provided for us in Christ. If worldly men
cannot think of a little pelf, or any petty interest in the world withou,fe
comfort, shall we think of the promises, and not be affected with
them ? Carnal men indeed, who have no spiritual appetite and savour,
whose joy is intercepted and prepossessed by the vanities of the world,
and delights of the flesh, the promises are as dry chips and withered
flowers to them ; but our hearts should leap for joy, because 'great is
our reward in heaven,' Luke vi. 23. What ! do we look for such great
things, and no more rejoice in the Lord ?
VOL. xv. F
THE -Ll^ OF FAITH.
[6 ] All this that faith doth is to be improved, to encourage us in a
way of holiness, and to overcome the world.
(1.) To encourage and quicken us in the way of holiness. Hope
sets all the wheels a-going: Phil. iii. 14, 'I press towards the mark,
lor the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ.' We have
tto reason to begrudge God's service when we consider what wages he
giveth. Certainly we do but talk of eternal life, we do not believe it,
if we do no more in order thereunto. What labour and hazards do men
expose themselves unto to be built one story higher in the world. Now
rfaith the apostle, 2 Cor.V. 9, 'Wherefore we labour, '&c. <j)i\oTifjiovjjLe0a,
we have an ambition to, ' that whether present or absent, we may
be accepted of him.' Surely did we believe things to come, our
industry, and care, and thoughts, would be laid out more upon them.
A man that spendeth all his time and care in repairing the house where
he dvvelleth for the present, but speaketh not of another house, nor
sendeth any of his furniture thither, will you say such a man hath a
mind or a thought to remove ? A man that spendeth the strength of
his cares on worldly things, surely he doth not believe eternity ! We
work as we believe ; if indeed we are persuaded of such an estate, why
do we no more prepare for it ?
(2.) To overcome the world. The world is the great let and hind
rance to the keeping of the commandments, arid the victory that we
have over the world is by faith, 1 John v. 4; even that faith which.
doth counterbalance things temporal with things eternal.
1. This giveth us victory over the afflictions and troubles that we
meet with in the world ; these are bitter to sense. Nature and grace
teach us to have a feeling of our interests, and to be affected with God's
providence when he maketh a breach upon them. We must neither
slight the hand of God, nor faint under it: Heb. xii. 5, ' My son,
despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art
rebuked of him.' There are extremes on both hands ; when our Father
is angry, we ought to lay it to heart, and to humble ourselves under
his mighty hand ; and yet we must not be like men without hope,
altogether broken with difficulties. Now what keepeth us from faint
ing, which is the other extreme ? 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look, not
to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen ;
for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not
seen are eternal.' This must bear up our hearts against all sorrows :
Heb. x. 34, ' Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in
yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.'
Our happiness is not gone, and therefore we may bear "it, not only
patiently, but joyfully against all fears: Luke xii. 32, 'Fear not, little
flock, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom.' We
must look for hardships here in the world, but all will be made up
when we get home to God. And therefore bear up with a generous
confidence ; if God will whip us forward, that we may mend our pace
to heaven, in the issue we shall have no cause to complain ; if we have
an anchor that 'entereth into that which is within the veil/ Heb, vi.
[3, this should keep us from being tossed and shaken, at least from
owag overwhelmed with the miseries of the present life. Nature will
work, and have a feeling of these things, but grace must support us.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 83
The beauty and glory of the life of faith is never seen while all things
succeed according to our heart's desire ; we do not know whether we
live upon God or the creature, the encouragements of earth or heaven,
till we be reduced to some necessities. Paul said, 'None of these
things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself,' Acts
XX. "24:.
2. That we mny despise the pleasures, and profits, and honours
of the world. Affectation of worldly greatness is the great expression
of the animal life, but the spiritual life, or the life of faith, inclineth us
to look after the happiness prepared for us by Christ. The great use
and end of it, is to keep us from aspiring after, and admiring great
things here below ; it quencheth the delights of the flesh, and begets a
holy weanedness in us : Heb. xi. 13 ; ' They confessed themselves
strangers and pilgrims here upon earth.' To be carnally disposed
argueth little faith. In a pipe, if there be a leak, the water gusheth
out, and runneth not forward ; our affections are diverted from things
above, if they leak out to present comforts. They are the most active
faculties, they cannot remain idle in the soul ; either they leak out to
present things, or they run forward to heaven and heavenly things ;
and if they do so, the esteem of the world is abated. And therefore
this is the use of faith, to reject those fawning pleasures that would
beguile us of those pleasures which are at God's right hand for ever
more, those deceitful and vanishing honours that would bereave us of
the glory, from whence we shall never be degraded.
2. How or what shall we do that faith may have its perfect work
with respect to this lii'e of glory ?
1. Keep the eye of faith clear. When we are to see things at such
a distance, and to see them with such affection, we had need of clear
eyes. It is said, Heb. xi. 13, 'They saw them afar off.' The world is a
very blinding thing : 2 Cor. iv. 4, ' In whom the God of this world hath
blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glori
ous gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them.
It is as dust cast into the eyes. A man may discourse of heaven, and
talk at the same rate that other Christians do, but he hath not such a
lively affective sight of it. If we do not take heed of the suffusions of
lust and carnal affections, these brutify us insensibly, and make us
judge of all things according to present interest, and so molehills seem
mountains.
[2.J Consider the harmoniousness of all the declarations that God
hath made concerning eternal life, how they suit with the doctrine of
God the Father, Son and Spirit.
(1.) As to God the Father, it suiteth his decrees ; he hath deter
mined to bestow everlasting happiness on some, to the praise of his
glorious grace : Kom. viii. 30, ' Moreover whom he did predestinate,
them he also called ; and whom he called, them he also justified; and
whom he justified, them he also glorified:' 2 Thes. ii. 13, 'God hath
from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of
the Spirit and belief of the truth/ And it suiteth to his covenant :
God hath not only purposed out of his own love, but is under bonds to
give us eternal life. A covenant is God's solemn transaction with his
subjects, and consists of precepts, and laws invested with the sanction
$4 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
of promises and threatenings. His commands, all of them, imply such
an estate, and some express it. All of them imply it ; for they are
work in order to wages, or a reward to be given, and it is not fit we
should have our wages till our work be over. And some express it :
John vi. 27, ' Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that
meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall
give unto you ; ' and Mat. vi. 19, 20, ' Lay not up for yourselves trea
sures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through and steal ;' and Luke xiii. 24, ' Strive to enter in at the
strait gate.' And so for his promises : John vi. 47, ' He that believeth
on me hath everlasting life.' If there were no such thing, then all
those commands and promises were given in vain, and would the wise
and faithful God natter us with lies ? And for his threatenings : Mark
xvi. 16, 'He that believeth not, shall be damned/ And are all the
threatnings of God a vain scarecrow ?
(2.) Look upon the doctrines concerning Christ. Look upon Christ
in his person, and states of humiliation and exaltation; his coming
from heaven shows it ; his going there again was to prepare a place
for us ; his sitting at the right hand of God, is to promote our interest
in heaven ; his coming to judgment is to take us to himself. Consider
Christ in his humiliation: why was Christ apparelled with our flesh,
but that we might be clothed with his glory ? If Christ were in the
womb, and in the grave, why may not we be in heaven ? It is more
credible to believe a creature in heaven, than God in the grave. And
then for his exaltation : when he had purchased a right and title, he
went to heaven to prosecute and apply it. As the high priest went
into the holy of holies with the names of the twelve tribes upon his
breast ; so Jesus Christ is gone into heaven with the names of all the
saints upon his breast. And then consider his benefits: justification
is our release from the curse, and sa notification is to fit us for God.
All ordinances tend to this, to nourish in us hopes of everlasting life.
The word : Isa, Iv. 3, ' Hear, and your soul shall live.' The Lord's
supper is food for our souls.
(3.) And then for the Spirit : his graces are life begun. Faith seeth
it, love desireth it, hope looks for it : Eom. viii. 23, ' We, who have
the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan within ourselves,' &c. The first-fruits
show a harvest to come. And 2 Cor. i. 22, ' Who hath sealed us, and
given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.' Would God give us
earnest, and not make good the whole bargain ? give us a taste to
mock us, and no more ? Is the whole scripture false, and a very fable ?
God's covenant a mockery ? Christ's miracles a dream ? and were the
wisest men in the world fools ?
[3.] Clear up your interest, otherwise your hope is but a fancy. Themad-
man at Athens, was he ever the richer for saying all the ships were his
that came into the harbour ? ' The hope of the hypocrite shall perish/
Job xxvii. 8. There must be an acceptance of the general covenant before
there can be of particular promises. Did you ever choose God for yours,
and give up yourselves to serve him ? that you might be able to say,
as David, Ps. cxix. 94, ' I am thine, save me ; ' arid Ps. Ixxxvi. 2, ' Save
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 85
thy servant, that putteth bis trust in tliee.' A covenant supposeth both
parties engaged ; it dotb not leave one bound and the other at large.
[4.| Exercise meditation, mind it more seriously, think of it oftener
* Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,' Mat. vi. 21.
Thoughts of heaven should be more familiar and sweet to us, and not
lie by as neglected or forgotten. But alas ! most are of the earth, and
think of the earth and speak of the earth. Thoughts are the first-born
of the soul, and if we did observe them, we should soon discover the
temper of our souls. If they be set upon getting gain, carnal projects
discover a carnal heart ; as they, James iv. 13, ' Go to now, ye that
say, to-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there
a year, and buy and sell, and get gain.' Or the rich fool in the gospel :
Luke xii. 18, ' This I will do, I will pull down my barns and build
bigger, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.' These
thoughts will engross all our time. But we should do as Abraham
was bidden, Gen. xiii. 14, lift up our eyes, and take a view of the good
land aforehand, and solace our souls with the contemplation of it.
[5.] Improve the Lords supper. When we are assembled there,
and sit down at bistable, it is a pledge of our ' sitting down with Abra
ham, Isaac, and Jacob, and drinking of the new wine in our Father's
kingdom,' Mat. xxvi. 29. When Christ instituted the Lord's supper,
he discoursed to them of a kingdom : Luke xxii. 30, ' That ye may
eat and drink at my table in my kingdom/ Here we come to think of
that kingdom that cannot be moved, the purchase of Christ's blood,
and to raise our affections to heaven and heavenly things, that we may
be more confirmed in our hope. Here we come to taste of the cup of
blessing which Christ hath prepared for us, even his own precious blood.
Fourthly, I now come to treat of living by faith, as to the promises
and blessings of the present life. Here I shall,
1. Show you the necessity of pressing this branch.
2. Give you some maxims and principles of faith, that have an in
fluence upon this life.
3. Show what are the acts of faith, with reference hereunto.
4. How we shall bring our hearts thus to live.
1. There is a necessity of pressing this part of the life of faith.
[1.] Because there are promises of this kind of blessings, as well
as of eternal blessings : 1 Tim. iv. 8, ' Godliness is profitable to all
things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to
come.' It is not only profitable at the end of the journey, but by the way ;
when we come to die, it will be no grief of heart to us that we have
been godly ; for when we are about to set sail for eternity, then we
shall receive the fruit of all our labours. Ay, but now where it seem-
eth to expose us to so many troubles, now when godliness is upon its
trial and exercise, it is not left destitute and shiftless, it hath the pro
mise of the life that now is, that is, of this life and the comforts of it,
as health, wealth, favour, peace, and safety. Why hath God multiplied
so many promises of this kind, but that we should trust him with our
secular as well as our eternal concernments ? Mat. vi. 33, * First seek
the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and all these things
shall be added to you ; ' that is, given in by way of overplus, cast into
the bargain. He doth not say, Seek the world as hard as you can, and
gtf THE LIFE OF FAITH.
grace and glory shall be added unto you; but, Seek, the kingdom of
heaven, and then earthly things will not be stood upon, but cast in as
paper and pack-thread.
[2.] These are necessary for our maintenance during the time of our
service : Mat. vi. 32, ' Your heavenly Father knoweth that you have
need of these things.' We consist of a body as well as a soul, and they
have both their necessities. Now our heavenly Father knoweth our
frame and make, and how serviceable these things are in our journey to
heaven ; will he be so unkind as to deprive us of our necessary supports ?
Will any man send a message, and cut off the feet of them by whom he
sendeth ? Will Gbd employ usin this world, and not give us a subsistence ?
Hezekiah took care that the Levites might have their portion, ' that
they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.' 2 Chron. xxxi. 4.
Would God take care of our souls only, and as to the support of our
bodies leave us to shift for ourselves? No, God is in covenant with
the whole believer, his body as well as his soul ; that is one ground and
reason from which Christ proveth the resurrection of the body, because
he is the God of Abraham : Mat. xxii. 32, ' I am the God of Abraham,
and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of
the dead but of the living.' And if he be Abraham's God, if he will
be an infinite arid eternal benefactor to Abraham, he must raise
Abraham's body as well as his soul. And the mark of circumcision
was in his flesh, as the water of baptism is sprinkled upon our bodies ,
therefore he will take care of the bodies of his saints. And further,
Christ purchased both body and soul . 1 Cor. vi. 20, * Ye are bought
with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which
are God's.' And this is not only an enforcement of our service, but
doth also infer his care over us ; for Christ will be tender of what he
hath purchased. He did not only purchase us to service, but to a bless
ing When God aimed at a new interest in us by redemption, it was
such an interest as might be comfortable and beneficial to us ; other
wise he had a full interest in us before, which we could not make void
by sin ; but it was such an interest as did oblige him to chastise us
for our sins and rebellions. I speak this to show that Christ's purchase
doth not only infer our duty to him, but his care of his people. And
our bodies are united to Christ as well as our souls ; as whole Christ is
united to us in the mystical union, so whole we are united to Christ,
bodies as well as souls. The outward man is a part of the mystical
body as well as the soul, and accordingly the body is seized on by the
Spirit, and used as his temple : Kom. viii. 11, ' He shall quicken our
mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in us/ It is true, these
considerations are most concludant of the glorious estate of the body
hereafter, but yet they do proportionably evidence God's care of the
body for the present, as long as he will use us for his glory.
[3.] Without this part of the life of faith we should be encumbered
with a world of destructive and distracting cares and troubles, which
would much infringe the happiness of the spiritual life, and weaken
the duty of it so that we could not attend the service of God with any
freedom and cheerfulness. Therefore to ease us of this burden and
clog, God would have us depend upon his care and all-sufficiency, and
tjake no thought what we shall eat, and what we shall drink, and
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 87
wherewithal we shall be clothed : Prov. xvi. 3, ' Commit thy works
unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.' As the spiritual
life is the most noble kind of life, so it is the most comfortable; for
God taketh all our cares upon himself, and easeth us of those anxious
and tormenting thoughts which otherwise would eat out all our comfort
and vigour : so 1 Peter v, 7, ' Casting all your care upon the Lord,
who careth for you.' The care of duty, that is ours ; but the care of
events, that is God's work. Do your work, and as for success, and
support, and maintenance, commit it to God's faithfulness and all-
sufh'ciency, and submit it to his sovereign will. God would not have
us overburdened and discouraged, and therefore he hath undertaken to
do what is necessary for us.
[4.] There is a necessity of this part of the life of faith, because we
are trained up to believe in God for eternal things, by waiting upon him
for temporal. As we try how to swim in the shallow brooks before
we venture into the deep waters, so before we trust Christ with our
eternal estate we must try how we can trust him for temporal mercies,
Experience confirms us in waiting upon God ; his word is now put to
a present proof and trial : Ps. xviii. 30, * The word of the Lord is
tried.' When you put it in suit, you see God standeth to his promises,
arid certainly he will not fail you in greater things. Faith would be
but a notion, and we should never know the strength and comfort of it
till we die, if there were not some present proof as to the intermediate
promises, before we come to receive our final and consummate happi
ness. So that if we cleave not to the promises of God concerning
temporal things, we shall adhere to the promises of eternal life with
less certainty and assurance. Both promises flow from the same
fountain of God's everlasting love, and are established in the same
mediator, and received by the same faith. Yea, the promises of ever
lasting life are more spiritual, and farthest removed from sense, and
are more difficult to be believed, and therefore first we must begin
with easier things. And the Lord, by giving us outward things, would
nourish our faith in things spiritual and heavenly ; for when we see
his care over us in these lesser things, we may be sure he will not
neglect us in things of a greater moment ; they are pledges to the soul
that if God be so punctual in the lesser things, he will not fail in the
greater.
[5.] This part of the life of faith is necessary, not only for the supplies
of the outward man, but for the sanctifying of our outward condition,
that it may not be a snare to us. If we have outward blessings, we
should see them coming from the covenant ; and so they are sweeter,
and turn to a better use, when we receive them from the promise by
faith ; for it is said, 1 Tim. i. 4,5, that ' all the creatures are sanctified
by the word of God and prayer to them that believe and know the truth.'
There is but a sour taste in these outward comforts, meat, apparel,
riches, honour, favour of men ; if they be not received and improved
by faith, they soon taint and pervert the heart, and withdraw it from
God and heavenly things. But when we see his love in them, and
they come from our heavenly Father, they are much sweeter and better.
To be carved to by a great person is counted as great a favour as
affording the meal itself. To take these things out of God's hand, to
gg THE LIFE OF FAITH.
see that he remembereth us, and sendeth in our provisions at every
turn, this endeareth the mercy, and raiseth our thankfulness. So on
the other hand, if we want these blessings, it keepeth us from a snare
to find them in the covenant. Distrust in temporal promises hath
driven the faithful servants of the Lord to many hard and dangerous
shifts, and hath occasioned their falls more than other things.
Abraham thought to save his life by a lie, and David by dissembling,
when he could not trust God. And daily experience shows it, what a
shrewd temptation this is, even to the godly.
2. Let me give you some maxims, grounds, and principles of faith,
which, being well digested, will help us to depend upon God for this
kind of blessings.
[1.] That God hath the sole disposing of this life, and the interests
thereof. It is by his providence that everything is ordered, when,
where, and how we shall live ' He hath determined aforehand the
times, and the bounds of our habitation,' Acts xvii. 26. The land of
Canaan was divided by lot, and the partage thereof was merely by
God's decision, and his governing the chance of the lot. So it is true of
all other countries ; a man hath not a foot of land more than God hath
set out for him by his all-wise providence ; so all the wealth that we
enjoy: Deut, viii. 18,' Thou sha.lt remember the Lord, who giveth
thee power to get wealth.' It is Cod appointeth who shall be wise,
and who shall be rich ; who shall have great gifts of the mind, and
who shall have great and ample revenues by the year. The world is
not governed by blind chance, but by his wisdom. However wealth
cometh to us, it is from God as the first cause, whether it come by dona
tion, purchase, labour, or inheritance. If it come by gift, the hearts of
all men are in God's hand ; he that sendeth the present is the giver,
not the servant that bringeth it to us ; it was God that made them
able and willing. If it come by inheritance, it is by the providence
of God that a man is born of rich parents, and not of beggars. He
hath cast the world into hills and valleys, put some in a high and some
in a low condition. If by our own labour and purchase, it is God
gives the ability, the skill to use it, and the success in our callings;
the faculty, the use, the success, are all from God. He doth riot leave
second causes to their own work, as an idle spectator, but interposeth
in all the affairs of the world. So for favour and respect in the eyes
of enemies, or people averse from us : Prov. xvi. 7, ' When a man's
ways please the Lord, he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him.'
There is a great deal of difference between pleasing God and pleasing
men please men, and yet God may be angry with you, and blast all your
happiness ; but please the Lord, and that is the way to be at peace
with men too. So for favour in the eyes of princes : Prov. xxix. 26,
c Many seek the ruler's favour, but every man's judgment is from the
Lord/ Among the multitude of suitors and expectants, the event is
as God casts it, who is the great judge and umpire in human affairs.
And humble prayer doth more than ambitious affectation. Notwith
standing all our blowing, the fire will not burn without the Lord.
[2.] Another principle that hath an influence upon our faith is this,
that he is ready and willing to distribute and dispense the blessings of
this life to his people ; for his fatherly providence is ever watching
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 89
over them for good. He is liberal and open-handed to all his creatures,
but much more to his saints. There is not a poor worm but feeleth
the benefit of his providence ; all the beasts of the field are provided
for by him ; he sendeth showers of rain and fruitful seasons, and filleth
the lap of the earth with blessings, that they may have food ; the fishes
of the sea, that multiply in such fries and shoals, yet they are fed ;
the fishes, that are but mute creatures, that cannot so much as make a
sound, yet have a voice to proclaim a bountiful God: Job xii. 7, ' Ask
the beasts, and they shall tell thee ; the fowls of the air, and they shall
teach thee.' God sends us to school to the beasts of the field. Go and
ask them if God be not liberal and open-handed. StLuke instanceth
in the ravens : Luke xii. 24, ' Consider the ravens, that they neither
sow nor reap, that have neither storehouse nor barns ; yet God feedeth
them. How much better are you than fowls ? ' Shall a kite be more
dear to him than a child ? But why is the raven mentioned ? Some
say it is animal cibi rapacissimum, the most ravenous fowl ; yet they
are supplied. But there seems to be some other reason, for they are
elsewhere instanced, in Job xxxviii. 41, ' Who provideth for the raven
his food ? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack
of meat ; ' so Ps. cxli. 9, ' He giveth to the beast his food, and to the
young ravens which cry/ Why should the raven be propounded as
the great instance of providence? The naturalists tell us, rou? veorrovs
7u/8a\Xet o Kopa%, that the ravens expose their young ones as soon as
they are hatched, but they are fed either by the dew of heaven, or by
a worm that breeds in the nest, one way or other they are provided
for. Surely the Lord of hosts never overstocks his common ; where he
sends mouths, he will send supplies, but especially to his people: Ps.
xxxv. 27, * He taketh pleasure in the prosperity of his servants.' The
Lord delights to see his servants do well in the world ; and it is no
pleasing spectacle to him to see his people in a suffering, afflicted,
ruinous condition. Oh then ! why do not we rouse up our faith ?
If God hath said he takes pleasure in the prosperity of his people, shall
we not rouse up ourselves, and wait upon him for these outward things ?
[3.] When God withholdeth any degree or measure of earthly bless
ings from us, it is for our good : Ps. xxxiv. 9, ' Oh fear the Lord, ye his
saints, for there is no want to them that fear him ! They that fear the
Lord shall not want any good thing.' They may lack many things which
others enjoy, but no good thing ; so Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, ' The Lord will
be a sun and shield, he will give grace and glory, and no good thing
will he withhold from them that walk uprightly/ Good is not to be de
termined by our fancies and distempered appetites, but God's wisdom.
We say this and that is good for us, as children desire green fruit, but
our Father saith not so. Every distemper affecteth the diet that feedeth
it, but we must be contented with God's allowance, who is faithful to
our souls, and taketh away those comforts that would hurt us, and
eclipse our graces, and hinder us in serving him in the way he requireth.
Every man's present portion given him by providence is best ; not what
we would have, but what God thinks good to give us. That is best
which is fittest for us, not that which is largest. If you were to choose
a shoe for your child's foot, you would cot choose the largest, but the
fittest. A garment too short will not cover our nakedness, and a gar-
90 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
ment too long will soon become a dangling dirty rag. Goliath's armour
may be too big for little David.
[4.] The best way to get and keep worldly blessings is to get and
keep in with God. This is a paradox to the world; a strict, severe
holding to the truth is the ready way to expose us to dangers, and doth
often bring great loss and inconveniency upon those that do so; and
yet it is a truth for all that ; for sin bringeth a curse, and righteousness
a blessing: Dent. v. 33, ' You shall walk in all the ways which the
Lord your God has commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may
be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which
ye shall possess.' Our reward lieth not in this world, and yet here God
is not altogether wanting to his people.
[5.] There are certain qualifications wherein if we do excel we shall
not want, as to instance in three, justice, mercy, and honouring of
parents. God, that is the patron of human societies, is so well pleased
with the respects of inferiors to superiors, and with equity and justice
between man and man, and relieving the indigent, by which the world
is kept in order and harmony, that if these things be in you, and abound,
you shall not want the comforts of this life : Prov. xxi. 21, 'He that
followeth after righteousness arid mercy findeth life, righteousness, and
honour ; ' so Ps. xxxiv. 12, 13, ' What man is he that desireth life, and
loveth many days, that he may see good ? Keep thy tongue from evil,
and thy lips from speaking guile.' But more particularly, see how
the Lord doth reward justice: Isa. xxxiii. 15, 16, 'He that walketh
righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the .gain of
oppression, and shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth
his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing of
evil, he shall dwell on high, his place of defence shall be the munitions
of rocks , bread shall be given him, his water shall be sure;' and
Prov x. 6, ' Blessings are upon the head of the just, but violence
covereth the mouth of the wicked ; ' and Dent. xxv. 15, ' But thou
shalt have a perfect and just weight ; a perfect and just measure shalt
thou have, that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee.' So for mercy : he that watereth shall be watered
himself: Eccles. xi. 1, ' Cast thy bread upon the waters, and after many
days thou shalt find it ; ' and Ps. cxii. 3, ' Wealth and riches are in his
house, and his righteousness endureth for ever.' And this is spoken of
the merciful man, for so the apostle doth apply it : 2 Cor. ix. 8, 9,
' And God is able to make all grace abound towards you. that ye, always
having all-sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.'
As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor ;
his righteousness remains for ever/ And so for honouring of parents :
Exod. xx. 12, 'Honour thy father and mother, that thy days may be long
in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee ' This is the way to
live well and long in the vorld. God having such a love to human
society hath made these promises here specified.
[6.] The more we trust God, and look to him in all things, the
more we have ; for trust is a very endearing, engaging thing : Ps. xci.
9, 10, ' Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, ever) the
Most High thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall
any pla,gue come nigh thy dwelling.' There shall no evil befall the
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 91
man that always liveth upon God ; so 2 Chron. xx. 20, ' Believe in the
Lord your God, so shall you be established ; believe his prophets, so
shall you prosper ; ' and 1 Chron. v. 20, ' They cried unto the Lord in
the battle, and he was entreated of them, because they put their trust
in him.' How did they trust ? What ! had they particular confid
ence in God ? No, they committed the affair to him with submission
to his will. Or had they a particular revelation ? No, but they sought
to God. and put the case into his hands.
[7.] That temporal promises, if they are not made good to our persons,
are sometimes made good to our posterity. The blessing lieth asleep
' for a while, and then it riseth up to their seed, in great abundance
' The just man walketh in his integrity, and his children are blessed,
after him,' Prov. xx. 7. It may be he is afflicted and greatly
oppressed in the world, and maketh a hard shift to run through it :
but then his children are provided for, and have a strange blessing of
providence accompanying them , so IFR. xliv. 3, 4, ' I will pour water
upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground , I will pour
my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thy offspring ; and they
shall spring up as among the grass, as the willow by the water-courses.'
David was a great student in providence, and observed God up and
down in the traverses of his dispensations, and gives this as the result
of his inquiry and observation, Ps. xxxvii. 25, 26, ' I have been young,
and now am old, yet I never saw the righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging bread. He is ever merciful and lendeth, and his seed is
blessed.' God hath a blessing for them and theirs, so as to bestow
necessaries upon them ; and Prov, xiii. 22, ' A good man leaves an
inheritance to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner is
laid up for the just.' They that thrive by the oppression of others,
and seek to grow great in the world, lay up for the heir of a poor,
godly man.
[8.] God will provide many times when we are at an utter loss ; as
Abraham answered his son Isaac., when he asked his father ' Where is
the lamb for a burnt-offering ? ' Gen. xxii. 7, * God will provide him
self a lamb for a burnt-offering,' ver. 8. So we may quiet our hearts
in God's promises for our supplies. God hath means that come not
within our ken and perceivance : John vi, 4-6, ' And the passover, a,
feast of the Jews, was 'nigh at hand. When Jesus lifted up his eyes, and
saw a great multitude coming unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence
shall we have bread, that all these may eat ? And this he said to prove
him, for he himself knew what he would do.' Such straits many times
befall poor believers. There are many mouths, and little meat ; trad
ing dead, and means of supplies cut off but this he doth to try us
what we will do in such a case of straits and great necessities. But
God will find out means of supplies that we could never think of ; and
when we have it out of the hands -of God's providence immediately, it
is the sweeter, and doth more evidence God's love and care of us :
Zech, viii. 6, ' If it be marvellous in your eyes, should it therefore be
marvellous in mine eyes ? saith the Lord of hosts.' Ps. Ixxviii. 41, ' Yen
they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.'
This was the fault the Israelites were taxed with, they limited the Holy
One of Israel within the circle of human probabilities. Thus we should
92 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
not be : 2 Peter ii. 9, ' The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly/
This should answer all our doubts, oibev o Kvpios ; we know not, nor
cannot see. When all lawful means have been tried unprosperously,
then is the time for the Lord to show forth his skill and power.
[9.1 Our faith must be tried in these things as well as in others.
Look, as in all other the promises, God tries our faith before he gives
us tlie blessing. How shall we know that we believe, and depend
upon God for outward supplies, unless we be reduced to some straits,
and have but from hand to mouth, and be cut short in our temporal
conveniences ? There are times of trial in which God will try all his
children -'The Lord tries the righteous,' Ps. xi. 5. Thus he tried
them, Heb. xi. 36, 37. God tried them whether they would live by
faith upon him when they were 'destitute, afflicted, and tormented,
when they were stoned, and sawn asunder, slain with the sword, and
wandered about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins.' And thus he tried
Israel in the wilderness, before he had them into a land flowing with
milk and honey : Deut. viii. 2, 'And thou shalt remember all the way
which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness,
to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart,
whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no/ God will try
us whether we serve him for love or wages , whether we live merely
upon the creature or the promises, and can depend upon his all-suffi
ciency.
[10.] We cannot be absolutely confident of success as to temporal
'things ; that is not the faith required of us, for they are not absolutely
promised ; but with exception of the cross, and as God shall see them
good for us. God hath reserved a liberty of showing his justice ^in
punishing a sinning people : Ps. Ixxxix. 32, ' He will visit their iniquity
with the rod, and their transgression with stripes ' The world shall
know that he doth not allow sin in his own people and children ; it is
as odious to God in them as in others, yea more, and therefore they
feel the smart of it. When we go out of the way in which the bless
ing falls, it is no marvel it falls beside us. But here is a doubt that
might be largely discoursed upon, Why then are temporal blessings so
often expressed in the covenant?
I answer
(1.) Partly because it is the ordinary practice of the Lord's free-grace
to supply his people with things comfortable and necessary ; while he
hath work for them to do, he will give them protection and mainten
ance. I observe two different speeches of Paul whilst he was in the
middle of his work ; he saith, in 2 Cor. i. 10, 'Who has delivered us
from so great a death, and doth deliver, and in whom 1 trust that he
will yet deliver ; ' but when his work began to draw to an end, he
speaketh at another rate : 2 Tim. iv. 6-8, ' For I am now ready to be
offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith ; hence
forth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness/ God by a secret
instinct begat a confidence in him. But when he began to call him
off, and the time of his departure was drawing nigh, he speaks more
faintly, as one that was sensible that God was calling him off from his
service in the world.
THE LIFE OF FA IT FT. 93
(2.) Partly, because these Blessings are adopted into the covenant
that they may be a ground of prayer and praise.
1st. It is a ground of prayer. We go the more confidently to God
when we have a particular promise of the blessing we ask; as Ps. cxix.
49, ' Kemernber thy word unto thy servant, wherein thou hast caused
me to hope.' When God hath given out a promise, and enables us to
apply it, and then to challenge him upon his word, then we are the
more borne up to prayer. A general intimation is not so clear a ground
of trust as an express and particular promise. Our necessities lead us
to the promise, and the promise to God, that we may put his bonds in
suit. We have somewhat to urge and plead, and have a greater hold
fast upon God ; it is a sweet argument that increaseth our earnestness
in prayer.
2d. It is a ground of praise. It is a greater comfort when we can
see our mercies coming out of the womb of the covenant. What
others have by common providence, they have by special mercy ;
others have by simple donation and indulgence, they have everything
by promise; others receive from a creator, they from a loving father ;
though for substance the gift is the same, yet the cause and end differ.
'God blesseth them out of Zion/ Ps. cxxviii. 5. Mercies wrapt up in
the bowels of Christ, and dipped in his blood, are a ground of praise
indeed.
3d We now come to the third thing, What faith is required ? or
what are the acts of faith about these promises ? In the general, to
depend upon God's all-sufficiency, that he is able, and his promises,
that he is willing to provide for us ; for if God were not willing,
why hath he multiplied so many promises concerning temporal things ?
Now this dependence is to be manifested several ways.
[1.] By recommending our case to God in prayer. We may law
fully pray for temporal things ; for Christ hath made it one of the
petitions in his perfect form ; ' Give us this day our daily bread,' next
to ' Thy will be done/ Such things are to be asked as are necessary
to the being of the subjects. Prayers to God for spiritual things are
most acceptable, but these are not despised. A child pleaseth his
father most when he desireth him to teach him his book rather than
give him an apple ; yet he is not refused when he desireth food ; both
requests are allowed, though one be preferred, Well then, pray we
must, and in prayer we act faith: Ps. Ixii. 8, 'Trust in him at all
times, ye people ; pour out your hearts before him ; ' and 1 Sam. xxii.
3, 4, * God is my rock, in whom I trust ; I will call upon the name of
the Lord, so shall I be saved/ If we trust God, we will be often with
him at the throne of grace, for there we act our trust, and encourage
ourselves in our belief of God's hearing. Whenever we feel ourselves
pinched with any earthly necessity, we run to God, a/nd spread his
promises before him. This is trust, for it always keepeth up an
acknowledgment of God as the giver of corn, and wine, and oil, and
the comforts of this life : Hosea ii. 8, ' She did not know that I gave her
corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold/ It easeth
the heart of the burden of distracting cares : Phil. iv. 6, ' Be careful
for nothing, but in everything let your requests be made known unto
God/ When the wind is gotten into the bowels and caverns of the
94 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
earth, it shaketh, and heaves, and causeth terrible earthquakes^ till it
get a vent, then all is quiet ; so we are full of unquiet tossings in our
minds till we go and pour out our hearts before the Lord.
[2.] This dependence is manifested by keeping us from the use of
unlawful means, and base shifts. Faith can rather trust God though
we have nothing, than step out of the way for a supply : Prov. xvi. 8,
1 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without
right/ That proverb expresseth the disposition of a gracious heart:
though a man might easily help himself out of his straits by bending
a little to some sinful way, yet he rather waiteth upon God, and looks
for his blessing in his own way. They that use ill means, and do not
tarry God's leisure, they live upon the creature, not God. The protec
tion of the law is only for them that travel in the day, and upon the
road ; a man never gets anything by going aside out of God's way.
Therefore faith looketh upon unjust gain as a certain loss, like the flesh
stolen from the altar with a coal in it, that fireth the bird's nest.
Besides peace of conscience which we lose, faith seeth a ruin in the
estate: Prov. xx. 17, ' Bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but after
wards the mouth is filled with gravel ; ' they think to find a great deal
of comfort in that bread they have gotten by deceit, but it proveth
gravel in the belly. To make haste to be rich is to make haste to be
poor, to bring a curse upon ourselves and families.
[3.] By doing our duty without distraction, and referring the event,
issue, and success of every business to the Lord.
Because this is the sum of the whole duty of trusting upon God for
temporal things, I shall show you
(1.) That duty must be done by us without distraction, with quiet
ness and a contented mind.
(2.) That events must be left to God.
\st. Duty must be done. God would not put the trouble of the event
upon us, but only requireth us to perform the subservient duty : Phil,
iv. 6, /jujbev fjLepifjLvdre, ' Be careful for nothing ;' and 1 Peter v. 7, 'Cast
all your care upon the Lord ;' he is willing to take the burden upon
him, all of it. What! must we leave all things to sixes and sevens,
and let wife and children shift for themselves ? There is cnrov&j and
jjueptfiva, anxious solicitude and holy diligence ; as in a pair of com
passes one foot is fixed in the centre, whilst the other wandereth about
the circumference. The work of faith is not to abate industry, but to
fix the heart ; the dependence of faith is not an idle and devout sloth,
but an industrious waiting. Not to labour is to tempt providence, and
to cark is to distrust it. Miracles are not to be multiplied without
necessity. "When we neglect means, we discharge God of the obligation
of his promise. If you starve for want of industry, you can blame none ;
God hath not undertaken that sin shall not be your ruin, rather the
contrary. By a quiet use of means you enter into God's protection ;
do your duty, and then take no thought what you shall eat, and drink,
or wherewith you shall be clothed, nor how sustained ; that is to take
God's work out of his hands.
2d Events must be left to God. There are two acts of faith,
committing and submitting all our affairs to God.
First, Committing all your affairs, persons, and conditions, and all
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 05
events that concern you, to the will, wisdom, power and goodness of
God. Put them into his hands, and see what he will do for you. We
are directed to do so in two places, each of which hath a distinct pro
mise, the one of ease, the other of success. The One is in Prov. xvi. 3,
'Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be estab
lished ; ' the other place is, Ps. xxxvii. 5, ' Commit thy way unto the
Lord, and he shall bring it to pass ; ' this will bring success, or else
ease us of a great deal of unnecessary trouble. Some do not- under
stand the weight and burden of their affairs, because they are retch-
less, and foolish, and have slight spirits ; others that have a sense of
their business and difficulties, take all the burden upon themselves,
and so through their own distrust are eaten out with piercing cares.
But the believer that is sensible of his own weakness, and ackriow-
ledgeth the wise and faithful conduct of God's providence, after he hath
done his duty leaveth the event of all things to God. Into how many
inconveniences, temporal and spiritual, do we plunge ourselves, till we
do so. Let God alone, for he will guide all to his own glory and our
comfort, for he is a faithful God. This is the true depending upon his
providence, when we put all our comforts into his hands.
Secondly. Submit your thoughts and affections to God in the dis
posal of your condition. As Jesus Christ our Lord ' Not my will be
done, but thine/ Luke xxii. 42. Lord, if thou wilt bring about this
comfort, I will bless thee; if not, here I am, let the Lord do to me as
he will : 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26, ' If I find favour in the eyes of the Lord,
he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation : but
if he say thus, I have no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him do
as seerneth good unto him/ When a man puts himself and all his
interests as a die into the hands of God's providence, to be cast high or
low, as he pleaseth; as those in Acts xxi. 14, ' When they saw he
would not be persuaded, they ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be
done.' When we cannot by lawful means avert evil, let us acquiesce
in his providence; he knows what way is best to bring us to heaven.
Whether is it most equal for us to desire that the will of God should
be subject to our affections, or our wills and affections subject to God's
providence ? If things fall out contrary to our inclinations, they are
agreeable to his wisdom : and though they are against our wills, yet
not against our salvation ; for God in all the ways of his providence
aimeth at his own glory and the salvation of his people. Therefore
what is against our will, is not against our profit, and it is not fit the
wheels of providence should move according to our fancies, as if we
could guide things better than God, We ascribe too much to our
selves when we would prescribe to God. It is man's duty to submit,
admire, not quarrel at providence ; if things are not as we would have
them, they are as God would have them. We all condemn the blas
phemy of Alphonsus, who said, Si Deo a consiliis adfuisset in crea-
iione mundi, se consultius multa ordinaturam If he had been by when
God made the world, he would have ordered things a great deal better
than now they are. Yet we are guilty of the same blasphemy in our
murmurings ; we think if we had the reins of government in our own
hands, we would order the affairs of the world in a better way. Foolish
creatures ! thus are we offended, because we know not God, and do
not consider the end and meaning of his dispensations.
96 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
But you will say, There may be obedience in this submission, but how
is it an act of dependence ?
I answer, thus: when we believe that God is so good and faithful
that he will do what is best, though we see not how. Certainly mur
muring is the effect of unbelief: Ps. cvi. 24, 25, 'They believed not,
but murmured in their tents/ So submission is an act of faith.
Could we believe that the wise and faithful God is carrying on all
things for our good, that would make us in quietness and silence to
possess our souls, till we see the end of the Lord, and what he pur-
poseth by all the straits he reduceth us unto.
[1.] This dependence is manifested by using all comforts vouchsafed
with reverence and thankfulness. There is a living by faith in pro
sperity as well as adversity ; and it is a part of the divine and spiritual
life ' to learn how to abound' as well as ' how to be abased,' Phil. iv. 12.
Fiiith must be exercised when we have comforts as well as when we
want them. 1 Tim. iv. 3, it is said, 'the creature is to be received
with thanksgiving of them that believe ; ' and ver. 5, ' Every creature is
sanctified by the word and prayer.' We are to take all our comforts
out of the promise, and to seek God's blessing upon them, giving
thanks for the use. Alas ! otherwise when we have earthly things, we
have them not with God's blessing ; and then the creatures will be like
a deaf nut, when we come to crack it there is no kernel in it. Com
pare Prov. x. 4, with Prov. x. 22 ; in one place it is said, ' The diligent
hand maketh rich ; ' and in the other place it is said, ' The blessing of
the Lord maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it,'
Well then, it will not be amiss to treat of living by faith when
we have these outward supplies, and the comforts of this life. Now
the acts of faith when we have these blessings, are these
(1 .) To look up and acknowledge God, the donor of all that we have :
1 Tim. vi. 17, ' Charge them that are rich in this world thatthey be not
high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who
giveth us richly all things to enjoy.' These blessings do not come by
chance, but from the God of heaven. You shall find your betters
made conscience of this duty : Jesus Christ ever gave thanks, when he
made use of the creatures, John vi. 11; though he were heir and lord
of all things, and thought it no robbery to be equal with God, he gave
thanks to God ; and that not for the choicest dainties which we enjoy,
but for sober and coarse fare, five barley loaves, and two small fishes,
ver. 9. And it seerneth Christ had expressed himself very affection
ately, for mark, it is said, ver. 23, ' When they came nigh unto the
place where they had eaten bread, after the Lord had given thanks.'
He cloth not say, where the Lord wrought the miracle, but where the
Lord had given thanks ; he characterise^! the place, not by the miracle,
but the thanksgiving. Christ's way of expressing himself made some
deep impression upon them, therefore it is repeated. Well then, so
much faith we should express, as to acknowledge the donor of all our
comforts, and have our minds raised thereby ; and therefore the
spouse's eyes are compared to ' dove's eyes,' Cant. v. 12. Doves sip
and look upward, so should we ; not like swine that raven upon the
acorns, and never look up to the oak from whence they drop ;
especially at your full and well-furnished tables, where such clusters of
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 97
mercies crowd in before your eyes and observations : Dent. viii. 10,
4 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord.'
They are great mercies, and sweetened and sanctified to you when you
acknowledge them to come down from heaven ; though the matter of
the provision be fetched from the field or the sea, yet it comes from
God as the first cause.
(2.) This piece of living by faith is necessary too, not only to take
them out of the hands of God as a creator, but to take them out of the
promise. It is said they are ' to be received with thanksgiving of them
that believe and know the truth/ 1 Tim. iv. 3. It is good to see by
what right and title you have your mercies, comforts, and supplies.
There is a two-fold right, a providential right, and a covenant right
Dominium politicumfundatiir inprovidentid.et domiuiumevangelicum
fundatur in gratia ; by a providential right, wicked men as well as
the godly possess outward things as the fruits and gifts of God's com
mon bounty; it is their portion, Ps. xvii. 14. They are not usurpers
of what falleth to their share in the course of God's providence, and
are not responsible merely for possessing what they have, but abusing
what they have. They have not only a civil right by the laws of men
to prevent the encroachment of others, but a providential right before
God, and must give an account to him for the use of them. But then
there is a covenant-right from God's special love; so believers have a
right to their creature-comforts ; and that little which the righteous
have is better than the treasures of many wicked : as the mean fare of
a poor subject is better than the large allowance of a condemned traitor.
This we have by Christ who is the heir of all things, and we by him,
in his claim ' All are yours, for you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.'
1 Cor. iii. 23. This covenant-right then is that we should look after,
that we may enjoy all things as the gifts of God's fatherly love and
compassion to us, and take all out of the promise, as a part of our por
tion in Christ, which doth very much better the relish of our com
forts.
(3.) That we may have the comfortable use of them, with God's
leave and blessing. The natural, comfortable use is the fruit of faith ;
for ' Man liveth not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God/ Mat. iv. 4. The power of sustaining life is
not in the means, but in God's word of blessing. As God hath a creat
ing word, by which he made all things, so a providential word, by which
he preserveth and upholdeth them from falling into nothing. lie may
give the means, when he doth withdraw the blessing ; when they do
not prosper to continue us in health, and strength, and vigour, and
blessing, and fitting us for the service of God : Ps. cvi. 15, ' He gave
them their requests, but sent leanness into their souls ; ' that is, no
comfort in that which they obtained ; and therefore the apostle maketh
it an argument of God's bounty to the heathens that he gave them not
only food, but ' gladness of heart/ Acts xiv.17, and cheerfulness. And
in scripture there is a distinction between bread, and ' the staff of bread/
Lev. xxvi. We may have bread, and yet not ' the staff of bread : ' wo
may have worldly comforts, but not with a blessing.
(4.) We must act faith in the promises, that we may have a sancti
fied use of them, that our hearts may be raised the more to love God
VOL. xv. G
93 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
for every taste of mercy : Hosea ii. 8, ' They did not know that I gave
them corn, and wine, and oil.' The creatures live upon God, but they
are not capable of knowing the first cause ; man only is capable, and
God giveth him an heart to love him as the strength of our lives and
' the length of our days,' Deut. xxx. 20 ; and to serve him cheerfully
and ' with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things/ Deut.
xlviii. 47. Alas ! they that live by sense, all their meals are but a
sacrifice, a meat or a drink-offering, to their own lusts ; but when we
live by faith, we use all these comforts for God. ' Holiness to the
Lord ' was written in all the pots in Jerusalem, Zech. xiv. 20 ; not
only upon the vessels and utensils of the temple, but upon the very pots
and horse-bells. All blessings that come from God must return to
God again ; as all rivers come from the sea, and in all countries, dis
charge themselves into the sea again. The most part of the world
abuse these gifts of God, as occasions of sinning against the giver, and
so we fight against him with his own weapons ' Their table is their
snare/ Ps. Ixix. 22, and that is a heavy judgment. We think the want
of worldly comforts is a great judgment, but the abuse of worldly com
forts is a greater, for that is a spiritual judgment; and this not only
when they are grossly abused to surfeiting and drunkenness, and open
contempt of God, but when they are abused to security, hardness of
heart, forgetfulness and neglect of God, which is the more secret and
common evil. Christ giveth a caution to his own disciples : Luke xxi.
34, ' Take heed, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with sur
feiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life.' Take these words
in the vulgar and gross notion of them, they are not unseasonable.
We had two common parents, Adam, the father of all mankind, and
Noah, the preserver of all mankind, and both miscarried by appetite,
the one by eating, the other by drinking. The throat is a slippery
place, and had need be well guarded. But I suppose the words are to
be taken in a more spiritual notion ; the heart may be overcharged,
when the stomach is not, when we are less apt to praise God, or when
we settle into a worldly, sensual, careless frame of spirit, and from an
inordinate delight in our present portion are taken off from minding
better things, and are fully satisfied with these things.
4. How shall we bring our hearts thus to live by faith ?
[1.] We must empty our hearts of covetous desires : Heb. xiii. 5,
' Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be contented with
such things as ye have ; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee' implying, that he that will depend upon God, and
receive the comfort of the promise, that God will not leave him nor for
sake him, must so do. He that would cast himself upon God's provi
dence, he must be -content with God's allowance. We do but ensnare
and perplex our thoughts while we would go about to reconcile the
promises with our lusts, and crave more than God ever meaneth to
bestow. Many men set God a task, to provide meat for their lusts :
Ps. Ixxviii. 18, 19, 'They tempted God in their hearts by asking meat
for their lusts : yea, they spake against God, they said, Can God furnish
a table in the wilderness ?' And what was the issue? their carnal
affections and hopes did but make trouble to themselves. Though it
be the ordinary practice of God's free-grace and fatherly care to provide
TOE LIFE OF FAITH. 99
things comfortable and necessary for his children, whilst he hath work
for them to do, yet he never undertook to maintain us at such a rate,
to give us so much by the year, such portions for our children, and sup
plies for our families. We must leave it to the great shepherd of the
sheep to choose our pastures, bare or large. This is the way to breed
faith : Luke xii. 15, ' Take heed, and beware of covetousness ; for man's
life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth/
That is faith's principle : I shall never be the more safe and happier,
nor the better provided for, in a spiritual sense, nor the more comfort
able, because I have abundance. Faith looketh to heaven, and a little
serveth turn to keep us by the way. He is not poor that hath little,
but he that desireth more. Enlarged affections make want.
[2.] Secure your great interest, and then it will be easy to wait upon
God for temporal supplies : Mat. vi. 33, ' First seek the kingdom of
God and his righteousness, and these things shall be added.' That
once sought after, and well secured, draweth other things along with
it ; and then you need not be anxious about food, and raiment, and
protection, and maintenance, and such like things. When this is our
care, to live eternally, our desires of other things are abated, and so
are our fears about them. Yea, this will assure us that in some measure
we shall have them. Provide for the soul, and the body shall not want its
allowance ; provide for the body, and we cannot have assurance for our
souls. Men carry it so, as if it were their work to provide for their
bodies, and leave their soul at all adventures. If God take care for it,
well ; if not, they are not troubled. Indeed it is quite contrary. It is
true, we are to serve God's providence for both, but first for our souls.
A man may have a little provision in the world without so much ado ;
these things are cast into the bargain, and by way of overplus. He
that giveth a jewel will not stand upon a trifle ; God that blessed the
house of Obed-edom for the ark's sake, 2 Sam. vi. 11, 12, will bless
you, and keep you, because Christ is received into your hearts : 1 Kings
iii. 11-13, ' Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for
thyself long life, . . . ; lo, I have done according to thy words, . . . And
also I have given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and
honour,' &c.
[3.] Be persuaded of the particularity of God's providence ; that he
doth not only mind the greater affairs of the world, but is conscious to
everything and every person that liveth here. Christ knew when virtue
passed out from him in a throng : Luke viii. 45, ' Somebody hath touched
ine,' saith he. It is a notable passage which we have in Acts ix. 11,
' Arise, go into the street, which is called Straight, and inquire in the
house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus ; for behold he prayeth.'
God knoweth where we are, what we do, what we think, and what we
speak ; as where Saul was, in what street, in what house, and what
he was doing. God seeth all in what posture we are, whether we fear or
rejoice, whether we are sad or merry, whether angry or pleased, whether
we are toying or praying. God doth not only look after the preserva
tion of the species, or kinds of things, but after every individual, and
careth for them, as if he had none to care for besides them. Every
child that is born into the world, God taketh notice of it ; and there
fore Paul is said to be ' separated from his mother's womb,' Gal. i. 15.
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
As soon as a child is born, God is making way by particular acts of
providence, for some hidden purpose and design of his about that child,
fitting the temper, &c. But you will say, Paul was a notable instru
ment*^ God's glory ; but he takes care, not only for great and notable
instruments of his glory, but poor and despicable persons : Ps. xxxiv. 6,
1 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him ; ' one of no account
and reckoning in the world, such a one as was forgotten, or never
thought of in his neighbourhood. Yea, the beasts and fowls are known
of God : Ps. I 11, ' I know all the fowls of the air, and the wild beasts
in the field are mine.' Though there be such innumerable flocks, yet
God knoweth them particularly, yea, all their motions : Mat x. 29,
' Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not
fall to the ground without your Father.' And if God be at leisure to
look after all the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and the
fishes of the sea, will he not look after his saints and servants ? Yes,
they and every thing about them is cared for : Mat. x. 30, ' The hairs
of your head are numbered ; ' not only the head itself, or hands and
feet, which are paries integrantes, but the hairs of your head : excre
ment itious parts, rather for conveniency and ornament, than necessity.
Well then, be settled in the belief of this truth of God's particular pro
vidence. There is riot only a common providence to be ascribed to
God, that he doth in the general furnish the world, and store it with
sufficiency, and so leaving us to our own industry, catch that catch can,
and so make it our own ; no, but he hath a personal eye upon every one
of us. He doth not leave us scattered upon the face of the earth to forage
for ourselves, but we all live upon his finding, and he appoints to every
one their lot and portion. In common plenty he can punish with per
sonal scarcity, as he did the prince of Samaria ; and in general scarcity
he can furnish with personal plenty, as Elijah did the Sareptan widow.
Many will allow God a general inspection, that he upholdeth the pillars
of the earth, but believe not that he taketh care of particulars, and so
resolve to shift for themselves ; but be once persuaded of his particular
notice and care, and that will help you to live by faith.
[4.] Feed trust with arguments, and reason sometimes from the
greater to the less. He hath given us his Christ and his Spirit : Kom.
viii. 32, ' How shall he not with him give us all things else ? ' Some
times from the less to the greater ' If he clothe the lilies and feed the
ravens, how much more will he provide for you, ye of little faith,'
Mat. vi. 26, 30. Keason from things past to things present : as David :
1 Sam. xvii. 37, * The Lord hath delivered me from the paw of the
lion and the mouth of the bear, and he will deliver me out of the hands
of this uncircumcised Philistine/ And then reason from things past
and present to things future : 2 Cor. i. 10, ' Who hath delivered us
from so great a death, and doth deliver ; in whom we trust that he
will yet deliver us.' God hath provided for me hitherto, even when I
lay in my mother's womb ; it was he prepared thy swaddling-clothes
when thou wast not able to shift for thyself. He provided two bottles
of milk for thee before thou wast born ; and he provided for thee when
thou hadst no reason, no grace, no interest in him ; certainly he will
provide for thee now. And on the other side, reason from things to
come to things present : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little flock, it is your
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 101
Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' If he will give
heaven, why not daily bread ? Thus may we help faith by reasoning.
Christ hath taught us this skill.
[5.] Consider your relations to God, and improve them to increase
your confidence. The apostle saith, 1 Tim. v. 8, ' He that provideth not
for his own is worse than an infidel.' God is your creator, and you are
his creatures ; and God is bountiful to everything that he hath made :
Ps. cxlv. 15, 16, 'The eyes of all things wait upon thee, and thon
givest them their meat in due season ; thou openest thine hand, and
satisfiest the desire of every living creature.' He that is so tender of
all his works, will he forget you and forsake you? The apostle saith,
1 Peter iv. 19, ' Commit your souls unto him, as unto a faithful creator.'
They were in a great deal of danger, they carried their lives in their
hands from day to day, and therefore the apostle gives them this advice.
And then he is a shepherd, that is his relation to the visible church,
and you may draw conclusions from it : Ps. xxiii. 1, ' The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall want no good thing.' And then he is your father :
Mat. vi. 32, ' Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these
things.' And will a father be unmindful of his children ? Yea, he
is your God, in covenant with you : Ps. xxxi. 14, ' I trusted in thee,
God ; I said, Thou art my God.' A man must make sure his per
sonal interest, and then it will be more easy to live by faith, and draw
comfortable conclusions from thence.
[6.] Consider the vanity of carking : Mat. vi. 27, ' Which of you by
taking thought can add one cubit to his stature ? ' We cannot change
the colour of a hair, nor make ourselves a jot taller or stronger. A
man is pierced through with worldly cares, and yet the world frowneth
upon him: Ps. cxxvii. 1, 2, 'Except the Lord build the house, they
labour in vain that build it. It is in vain to rise early, and go to bed
late, to eat the bread of sorrows ; for so he giveth his beloved sleep/
There is a general and a particular meaning in this psalm. The general
sense is this : there are many that follow their business close, with great
wisdom and dexterity ; they labour and toil, live sparingly, do this and
that, and yet are destitute of these outward things ; it is the Lord must
give the blessing. But then there is a more particular meaning in this
psalm, concerning Solomon, who was called Jedidiah, the beloved of
the Lord, 2 Sam. xii. 25, who was a builder ; 1 Chron. xxii. 9, Adonijah
and Absalom thought to have stept into the throne, but it is in vain.
The Lord giveth his beloved rest. The kingdom is for Solomon, do
what you can , so it is in vain for us to cark, and care, and trouble our
selves. The Lord giveth these things to whom he please th ; Luke. v.
5, our Saviour Christ bids his disciples ' cast out the net.' They had
toiled all night and wearied themselves, and caught nothing ; but at
his command they cast out the net, and enclose^ a ^mlultitude of fishes.
Our diligence and toiling cometh to nothing without God's blessing.
Thus do, and usually God prevents us with the blessings of his goodness ;
or if we be pinched, and feel want, it is to make our supplies t^e more
glorious. ' How many loaves have ye ? and they said, Seven, and a few
little fishes,' Mat. xv. 34, 35. Here Christ, to supply the wants of the
multitude, wrought a miracle ; he will have it seen what he will do,
though he hath never so little to work upon.
Secondly, I come now to the second thing propounded the opposites
102 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
of this life ; or those things which would seem to infringe the comforts
of the spiritual life, temptations from the devil and the world, and sharp
afflictions.
First, I begin with the life of faith with respect to the temptations
of Satan. And here I shall (1.) Prove that this is a considerable part
of the life of faith ; (2.) I shall show you what props and supports faith
hath, that we may overcome the temptations of the devil. (3.) What
are the acts of faith, with respect to these temptations. ^
I. That this is a considerable branch of the life of faith. Two con
siderations will evidence that (1.) The necessity of temptations ; (2.)
The necessity of faith to grapple with those temptations.
[l.J This must be considered in the life of faith, because of the neces
sity of temptations. And without this part of the life of faith, the
spiritual life would not be guarded against all inconveniences, and the
molestations of it; for whosoever doth unfeignedly dedicate himself to
the service of God must expect to be assaulted by Satan. We took an
oath in our infancy to fight under Christ's banner. Baptism is sacra-
mentum militare, an engagement to the spiritual warfare ; and the grace
that is infused into us is not only called clothing, but ' armour of
light/ Kom. xiii. 12, and ' armour of righteousness,' 2 Cor. vi. 7, be
cause Christ arrayeth us non 'ad pompom, sed ad pugnam ; not to set
us out in a vain show, but to furnish us and secure us for the spiritual
combat. A Christian's life is a warfare, and we cannot discharge the
duties of it without a battle or conflict. We do evil easily, but we
must fight for the good that we do ; they that think this unnecessary,
scarce know what Christianity meaneth. Many are never acquainted
with any such thing as temptations, because they know not what Chris
tianity meaneth. When wind and tide go together, the sea must needs
be smooth and calm. * The strong man keepeth the house, and all the
goods are in peace,' Luke xi. 21. Satan and they are agreed. They
that are least troubled may be most hurt ; they are quiet and secure,
because Satan hath gotten them into the snare, and hath a quiet dom
inion in their souls. Many there are that are contented to bear his
image, being conformed to him in infidelity and love of temporal good,
in pride and malice, and the like ; they embrace his principles, are
guided by his counsels, do his will and works ; they strive for the
establishing of his kingdom, hating those that oppose it. It is in vain
to comfort those against temptations. But whosoever doth seriously
purpose to live to God will be molested with the devil ; and they can
not serve God cheerfully, unless there be provision made against it,
which Christ hath abundantly done : Luke i. 74, 75, ' That being de
livered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve him without
fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days/ Such en
counters are to be expected. Certainly there must be temptations ;
for God in wisdom permits it, and Satan in malice and policy
effects it.
[2.1 God seeth it fit that we should be tempted.
(1.) - -
Partly, that we may be the oftener with him. We keep off
from the throne of grace, till temptations drive us thither. When the
sheep are apt to wander from the fold, the shepherd lets loose the dog
upon them ; so doth God let loose Satan to drive us to himself for
mercy and grace to help.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 103
(2.) And partly, because such a dispensation is necessary, to prove
and humble us, that we may not be proud of what we have, or con
ceited of more than we have. Paul was buffeted with a messenger of
Satan, ' lest he should be exalted above measure,' 2 Cor. xii. 7. A ship
laden with precious wares needs to be balanced with wood or stones ;
spiritual evils need a spiritual cure; outward afflictions are not
so conducible to humble a gracious heart as temptations to sin.
And
(3.) Partly to conform us to Christ, that we may pledge him in his
own cup. For he himself was tempted : Mat. iv. 1, ' Then was Jesus
led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil/
Now the disciple is not above his Lord. The devil that did once set
upon Christ will not be afraid of us.
(4.) And partly, that we may be pitiful to others : Gal. vi. 1, 'Con
sidering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.' We are fierce and severe
upon the failings of others ; now when we are tempted ourselves, we
learn more pity and compassion. When we know the heart of a
tempted man, we are more compassionate to others.
[3.] Satan in malice effects it, out of envy to mankind who enjoy
the happiness which he hath lost ; and out of hatred to God, the devil
is always vexing the saints, and sending abroad the sparks of tempta
tions, either with hopes to recover the prey taken out of his hands
as Pharaoh made pursuit after the Israelites, thinking to have brought
them back again, or else to discourage and weary and vex the children
of God, and make their lives uncomfortable. The enemy will be
tempting, either to draw us to sin or to trouble. Now two ways doth
Satan assault us either by his wiles: Eph. vi. 11, 'Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil;' or by his fiery darts; ver. 16, 'Take the shield of faith, that
you may be able to quench the fiery darts of Satan ;' those poisoned
and envenomed arrows their lusts and their consciences are sometimes
set a-raging ; he seeketh to stir up despairing fears ; or he inflames
their lusts and corruptions, that he may draw them to dishonour God,
or lose their own peace.
(1.) He hath wiles ; and if we descry them not, we are soon surprised
and taken. The immoderate use of carnal pleasures is accounted
Christian cheerfulness. The apostle tells us that ' he turneth himself
into an angel of light/ 2 Cor. xi. 10. Would Peter ever have made a
motion for Satan to our Saviour, if he had seen his hand in it ? Mat.
xvi. 22. He covereth his foul designs with plausible pretences : carnal
counsel shall be pity and natural affection ; revenge shall be zeal : Luke
ix. 53, 54, * Wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven
and consume them, as Elias did?' Immoderate use of pleasure shall
go for cheerfulness, and covetousness for frugality, and licentiousness
for Christian liberty. The devil observeth our humours and inclina
tions, and suits his baits accordingly. He can preach up the gospel
to beat down the price of it ; as he came crying after Christ : Mark i.
24, ' I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God ; ' to render the
person of Christ odious, and his doctrine suspected. He urgeth the
comforts of Christianity, to exclude the duties thereof, and to rock us
asleep in ease, and carnal pleasure, till conscience be benumbed. At
other times he urgeth duties to exclude comforts, and so to keep us in
104 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
a dejected frame, and under bondage and fear : 2 Cor. ii. 11, ' Lest Satan
should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.'
He doth not only abuse the inclinations of our concupiscible faculty,
but the inclinations of our irascible faculty : Gal. v. 24, ' They that
are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts
thereof/ By lusts he meaneth vexing, troublesome passions ; and by
affections, sorrow, grief, fear He observeth us in our duties, and
'catcheth the word out of our hearts,' Luke viii. 12. As soon as
we begin to be serious, and to have any good motions within us, he
diverts us by one business or delight or other.
(2). He hath 'fiery darts,' either setting a- work in us despairing
fears, as he did in Cain : Gen, iv. 13, * My sin is greater than I can
bear ; ' and Judas : Mat. xxvii. 4, 5, ' I have sinned in that I have be
trayed innocent blood. And he departed and hanged himself , ' or
casting in blasphemous thoughts against God and Christ, and the
truths of the gospel and world to come. David was sorely shaken ' Ps.
Ixxiii. 13, 14, * Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed
my hands in innocency, for ail the day long have I been plagued, and
chastened every morning,' Even good David thought that all religion
was in vain. The envious one will be flinging his darts into our souls,
and casting over the seeds of many noisome plants into the heart, that
is new ploughed up and broken,, or inflaming our lusts and corruptions ;
he sees our looks, affections, speeches, gestures, and behaviours ,
observes our humours, when we are inclined to wrath, or lust, or any
other transport of soul ; he knoweth what use to make of a frown, or
an angry look, or a wanton glance : 1 Cor, vii. 5, ' That Satan tempt
you. not for your incontinency/ ' Give not place to the devil,' Eph. iv.
27. He sets some lust or other a-boiling. Or to draw us to some gross
sin, thereby to dishonour God : 2 Sam. xii. 14, ' Because by this deed
thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.'
Or to disturb their peace : Ps. xxxii. 3 ; 4 ' When I kept silence, my
bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long ; for day and
night thy hand was heavy upon me, my moisture is turned into the
drought of summer/ Or by some extreme grief, to stir up murmurings,
repinings, and distrust of God. Well then, you see a necessity of some
remedy for this great annoyance of the spiritual life.
2. Now the great remedy is faith, without which we are at an utter
loss ; yea, a great part of the work and life of faith is to resist Satan : 1
Peter v, 9, * Whom resist, steadfast in the faith.' That is the way of
resisting Satan, to keep up our courage against him. Bernard hath a
saying, Increduli tiw.ent diabolum quasi leonem, qui fide fortes despi-
ciunt quasi vermiculum , that unbelief feareth Satan as a lion, but
faith treadeth on him as a worm. And that is a good step to victory
when we have courage to stand to it. Stand your ground, and Satan
falleth. In assaulting us he hath only weapons offensive, he hath none
defensive ; but a Christian hath defensive and offensive weapons, a
sword and a shield ; therefore our security lieth in resisting with
assurance of help and victory. In the next place observe that of the
apostle Paul : Eph. vi. 16, ' Above all, take the shield of faith, where
with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of Satan/ We are
bidden to ' put on the whole armour of God,' ver. 11, No faculty of the
soul or sense of the body must be left naked and without a guard ;
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 105
there must be not one saving grace wanting. The spiritual soldier is
armed cap-a-pie. The poets feign of their Achilles that he was vul
nerable only in his heel, and there he got his death's- wound. A Chris
tian, though never so well furnished in other parts, yet if any part be
left naked, he is in danger. Our first parents, and Solomon, who had
the upper part of the soul so well guarded, were wounded in the heel,
miscarried by sensual appetite. Many have #reat sufficiencies of know
ledge, yet are intemperate and unmortified. Well then, a Christian must
be completely armed. The apostle there reckoneth up, ' the helmet of
salvation/ which is hope ; ' the breast-plate of righteousness, the girdle
of truth, the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the
sword of the Spirit,' and lastly, ' the shield of faith/ There is no piece
of armour for the back-parts, because there is no flight in this spiritual
warfare. We must stand to it * Kesist the devil and he will flee from
you/ James iv. 7. Now which is the choicest piece of this armour ?
' Above all, eVl iraaiv, take the shield of faith.' Why ? Because it
giveth life, and being, and vigour to other graces ; it preserveth all the
rest, and therefore is fitly compared to a shield which covereth the
whole body. The apostle begiuneth with ' the girdle of truth/ or sin
cerity ; or an honest intention to live according to the will of God :
when a man endeavoureth to be, both to God and man, what he seemeth
to be. Satan useth wiles, but we must be sincere. It is dangerous to
fight against him with his own weapons ; we cannot match our adver
sary for craft and policy ; our strength lieth in truth and plain-dealing.
A girdle strengtheneth the loins, so this giveth courage and boldness.
Then there is 'the breast-plate of righteousness/ or that grace that
puts us upon a holy conversation suitable to God's will revealed in the
word, whereby we endeavour to give God and man their due. This
secureth the breast, or the vital parts ; that seed of inherent grace, or
an honest, fixed purpose to obey God in all things. And then ' the
feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace/ We
shall meet with rough ways as we are advancing towards heaven, And
what is the ' preparation of the gospel of peace ? ' A sense of the
peace and friendship made up between God and us by Christ ; without
this we shall never follow God in ways of duty, when we meet with
difficulties and hardships. Then 'the helmet of salvation/ which is
the hope of eternal life: 1 Thes. v. 8, 'And for a helmet the hope of
salvation/ which maketh us hold up our heads in the midst of all
blows and sore assaults, and is our great motive and encouragement in
the Christian course. Then ' the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God /dwelling in us richly, furnishing us with arguments against every
particular temptation. These do all worthily. But ' above all, take
the shield of faith/ which covereth all the other armour. Who would
care for the girdle of truth, if he did not believe there was a God to see
and reward all that he doth. The breast-plate of righteousness would
lie by neglected if faith did not persuade us this is the way to please
God, and attain our own happiness. We should never learn to put on
the shoes of the gospel of peace if we were not justified by faith in
Christ's death ; for so we come to have peace with God : Rom. v, 1,
'Being justified by faith, we have peace with God/ Hope would
languish did not faith give us a real and an effective sight of the world
106 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
to come. And 'the sword of the Spirit/ or word of God, is only
managed by faith persuading us of the truth of the threatenings, and
promises, and precepts, that these are of God. So that it is faith, or a
constant adhering to the truth of the gospel, that quickeneth, and
covereth, and enableth us to make use of all the other parts of the spi
ritual armour. And therefore in another place it is said, ' Fight the good
fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life/ 1 Tim. vi. 12. The whole
spiritual combat is a fight between faith and sense, faith and Satan.
The great thing for which we fight is faith : 2 Tim. iv, 7, ' I have
fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.'
And the great thing by which we fight is faith ; this is evident in those
words of Christ to Peter : Luke xxii. 31, 32, ' Satan hath desired to
winnow you as wheat, but I have prayed that thy faith fail not ; '
implying that we shall be able to abide the encounter while faith
holdeth out. Why ?
[1.] Because by faith we set God before us as the spectator and
helper in the conflict : Heb. xi. 27, ' He endured, as seeing him that
is invisible.' And so we see more for us than against us: 2 Kings vi.
16, ' Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with
them.'
[2.] By faith we believe that God is true in all the promises of the
gospel ; and so temptations are defeated, whether they tend to atheism,
blasphemy, unbelief, despair, or any sensual practice. Man fell at first
by believing the devil rather than God, Gen. iii. 3 ; and we stand now
by believing God rather than the devil. When we are tempted to any
unworthy thoughts of God, or unseemly practices against him, while we
keep close to his word, because God cannot lie, this giveth us victory.
[3.] And by faith we set the merit and power of Christ a-work
for us, and so are encouraged to make resistance. Satan is not only
called 6 e'^$po?, the enemy, that assaults by strength and force,
but o avT&iKos, our adversary, 1 Peter ver. 8, in point of law and
right, he is both a tempter and an accuser. Now in point of law-
Satan would carry it against all that come of Adam, were it not that
Christ hath freed us from the curse of the law. Now without faith we
are destitute of Christ's imputed righteousness ; for that is ' unto all,
and upon all them that believe/ Kom. iii. 22. And only received by
faith : Phil. iii. 9, 'And be found in him, not having our own righteous
ness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith.' And so we are not only
exposed to the dint of sin-pursuing justice, or the wrath of God : John
iii. 36, ' He that believeth not the Son, hath not life, but the wrath of
God abideth on him ; ' but to all the bitter accusations and challenges
of the devil our adversary. But when we are possessed of it by faith,
then, ' Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect ? it is
Christ that justifieth,' Kom. viii. 33. We may silence Satan by the
righteousness of Christ. Again, as he opposeth by strength and power,
faith engageth the power of God on our behalf : Eph. vi. 10, * Be strong
in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' Without this, if we stand
by our single strength, we are exposed as a prey to every temptation ;
but when we set Christ against the tempter, we are not so weak in the
hands of Satan as Satan is in the hands of Christ. He that sideth
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 107
with us against Satan hath an absolute command over him. If he will
be our second, why should we fear ? Satan hath no more power in him
than any other creature, which may be taken away at God's pleasure,
and is in the meantime limited by him. The unclean spirits obeyed
Christ in his lifetime upon earth, Mark i. 27 ; if Christ do but say the
word, at his rebuke they vanish.
Well then, yon see temptations from Satan must be, will be ; and
the means to resist him is not by spells, but by faith, or confidence in
the death, intercession, and power of Christ. This evil spirit is not
driven away with crosses, and holy water, and charms, and relics, but
by a steadfast faith in Christ, according to the promises of the gospel :
II. Having showed the necessity of living by faith in an hour of
temptation, I now come to show what are the grounds, props, and
supports of faith against Satan's temptations.
1. Christ's victory over Satan. Christ hath obtained a fourfold vic
tory over Satan, all which doth encourage our faith.
[1.] By his personal conflict with him in his own temptations.
Jesus Christ himself was tempted, Mat. iv. and therefore we should
not be dismayed when we are tempted. It becomes good soldiers to
follow the captain of their salvation ; he is the more likely to pity and
succour us : Heb. ii. 18, * For that himself hath suffered, being tempted,
he is able to succour them that are tempted ; ' as a man troubled with
the stone, or gout, his heart is entendered to pity others labouring
under the same exquisite and racking pains; as Israel was to pity
strangers, because they themselves were once in the ' same condition.
Non ignant malt, miseris succurrere disco. He hath pulled out the
sting of temptations by submitting to be tempted in his own person.
He sanctified every condition that he passed through : his dying hath
pulled out the sting of death , so his being tempted hath made that
condition the more comportable. He hath directed us how to stand
out, and by what kind of weapons we are to foil Satan. He that is a
pattern in doing and suffering is also a pattern in resisting ; and not
only so, but he hath overcome Satan. Our general in whose quarrel
we are engaged, hath already vanquished Satan ; he got his victory
over Satan for us. Christus diabolum vicit, saith Austin, et pro te
vicit, et tibi vicit, et in te vicit. Christ hath beaten Satan to our hands.
Christ's victory over Satan, though it be by himself, yet it is not for
himself, but for his members, that we may have the victory over him,
and comfort in all our temptations ; as he hath shown us the way to
fight, so he hath assured us of the victory, that we shall overcome.
[2.] Another victory he obtained over him was by his death : Heb. ii.
14, * Through death he destroyed him that had the power of death,
that is the devil.' Never was such a blow given to the kingdom of
darkness as then ; not to take away his immortal life and being, but
his power and strength to hurt. Then was Satan disarmed , and after
wards by his Spirit Christ cometh and dispossesseth him ; so Col. ii. 15,
' And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them
openly, triumphing over them in it ; ' and Eph. iv. 8, ' He hath led
captivity captive.' Upon the cross he overcame his and our enemies,
and triumphed over them ; satisfying his Father's justice, he spoiled
the devil of that power which he once had over the souls of men through
jQg THE LIFE OF FAITH.
the law's curse ; so that though the devil doth tempt believers, yet he
cannot overcome them Non pugnd sublatd sed victoria. The devil
may molest us, not totally vanquish us ; Christ will not exempt us
from a battle, yet it is a spoiled adversary we fight with, he hath secured
us the victory ; he may hold us in exercise, but he cannot hinder our
salvation ; he may bruise our heel, but he cannot break our head.
The wounds we receive from Satan may be painful, but not mortal so
as to quench the life of grace ; though he foil us sometimes, yet we are
kept by the power of God to salvation. A man may be bruised in the
heel by divers temptations, and slip into sins thereby ; but it is but in
the heel, far enough from any vital part.
[3.] He prevailed over the devil by his gospel, when he first sent
abroad his disciples to the lost sheep of Israel : Luke x. 18, ' And he
said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven;' but
especially after his ascension, and the pouring out of the Spirit, when
he sent abroad his disciples into the world, casting down the idols of
the gentiles, under which the devil was adored : 1 Cor. x. 19, 20,
' What say I then ? that the idol is anything ? or that which is offered
in sacrifice to idols is anything ? but I say, The things which the
gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God.' And he
still goeth on conquering and prevailing, putting Satan out of posses
sion : Luke xi. 21, 22, ' When a strong man armed keepeth the house,
his goods are in peace ; but when a stronger than he shall come upon
him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein
he trusted, and divideth his spoils ; ' as he doth enlighten, reclaim, and
sanctify all the elect, and subdue those lusts by which Satan ruleth in
the hearts of men. If Christ conquereth Satan by his word, and by the
preaching of the gospel establishing his kingdom, his word should dwell
richly and abundantly in our hearts, that we may oppose the command
ments of God and his counsels to the counsels and solicitations of the
devil, and look that this word that prevaileth over all the world should
prevail with us also : Col. i. 6, * This word is come into all the world,
and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you/
[4.] The last victory that Christ shall have is at the day of judg
ment : Phil. ii. 10, * That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth,'
compared with Kom. xiv. 10, 11, ' We must all stand before the judg
ment-seat of Christ; for it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every
knee shall bow to me/ Then ( the devil shall be cast into the lake of
fire and brimstone,' Kev. xx. 10, and all the saints, together with
Christ, shall triumph over him : Kom. xvi. 20, * The God of peace
shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly ; ' as Joshua and his followers
set their feet on the necks of the Canaanitish kings in the cave. So
that our absolute and final victory is near and sure ; God will do it,
and shortly. Then we shall never be troubled more with a busy devil,
all his power shall be broken in pieces. This will be a glorious con
quest indeed, and a mighty comfort and relief to us in the sharp con
flicts we now have.
2. There are many promises that concern this warfare : promises of
strength, of victory, and of the reward of victory.
[1.] Of strength, or such supplies of grace as we may be enabled to
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 109
stand out against the powers of darkness. Paul was buffeted with a
messenger of Satan, and he knocked at the door of grace thrice, 2
Cor. xii. 7, all the answer he could get was, ' My grace is sufficient for
thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness/ This promise was
particularly made to Paul, but the reason is general ; God's power is
perfected, that is, manifested to be perfect, in the weakness of the
creature. It is his glory to give ' power to the faint ; and to them that
have no might he giveth strength/ Isa. xl. 29, that they may rejoice in
the Lord their strength. Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church,
will also be the saviour of the body, that the glory may redound to
him alone. He hath a tender sense of our danger, and is never more
at work for his people than when they are most assaulted by Satan.
He doth in effect say, They are undone if I help them not: Zech. iii.
1, 2, 'And he showed me Joshua the high-priest, standing before the
angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, Satan, even the
God that hath chosen Jerusalem, rebuke thee. Is not this a brand
plucked out of the fire ? ' And thereupon he puts forth the strength
and efficacy of his mediation. Our friend in heaven, and advocate, is
pleading for new grace for us. When a town is besieged, they are not
left to their standing provisions, but relief is sent to them. Christ will
engage and fight for us.
[2.] Promises of victory ; there are many in scripture : Gen. iii. 15,
' The seed of the woman shall break the serpent's head/ It is not
only true of Christ, but of his seed ; they shall prevail at length and
conquer, together with Christ : so Mat. xvi. 18, ' Upon this rock I will
build my church, arid the gates of hell shall not prevail against it/
In the gates was their munition and defence, and there they sat in
council and judicature ; so that the expression intirnateth that all the
power and policy of hell shall not prevail against the church of God,
nor any member thereof, to destroy utterly the work of God's grace in
their hearts ; so 1 John v. 18, ' He that is begotten of God keepeth
himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not ; ' that is, tactu quali
tative, as Cajetan speaks, with a deadly, mortal touch ; and James iv.
7, ' Resist the devil, and he will flee from you/ Though he cometh
ramping and roaring, and seeking to devour us, yet if we seriously
resist, Satan will depart ; whereas, the more we yield, he tyranniseth
the more, Mat. xii. 44. These and many other promises there are
made, to assure us that if we will but stand to it, Satan shall not
prevail,
[3.] Of reward upon victory : Rev. ii. 10, ' Be faithful unto death,
and I will give thee a crown of life , ' that is, a garland of immortality,
if we will be faithful, seriously own God's cause, and make a stout and
peremptory resistance, without thinking of flying from him, or yielding
to him in the least. So in many other places ' He that overcometh,
shall not be hurt of the second death/ Rev, ii. 11 ; and Rev. iii. 21,
' To him that overcometh I will grant to sit with me upon my throne,
as I also overcame, and am sat down with my Father upon his throne/
Stay but a while, and there will a time of triumph come, and you
shall be able to say, 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' Henceforth there is laid up for me
a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
give me at that day.' He that is now a soldier, shall then be a con
queror, and the danger of the battle will increase the joy of victory.
Travellers, when they come into their inn, can sweetly remember the
troubles and dangers of the road.
III. What are the acts of faith about these temptations ?
1. To cause us to renounce our own strength, and to look up to the
Lord for help : 2 Chron. xx. 12, ' We have no might against this great
company that cometh against us, neither know we what to do, but our
eyes are unto thee ; ' it is a good address in spiritual cases as well as
temporal. There must be a renouncing of our own strength before we
can expect help from the Lord ; for ' God giveth grace to the humble/
James iv. 6. And you shall see in the next verse, it is that whereby
we resist, not only natural corruption, but the devil's temptations : ver.
7, ' Submit yourselves therefore unto God, resist the devil, and he will
flee from you..' Here he explains who are the humble, they ' that sub
mit themselves to God.' It is not to be understood morally of those
that are of a lowly carriage towards men, but spiritually of those that
in the brokenness of their hearts do acknowledge their own nothing
ness and weakness. God withholdeth and withdraweth his influences
when we do not acknowledge the daily and hourly necessity of grace,
when we do not desire it with such earnestness, nor receive it with such
joyfulness as we were wont. In the Lord's prayer, the word ar)fjbepov,
daily, though it be only mentioned in the fourth petition, yet it con-
cerneth alfthe rest, especially the two following petitions, ' daily bread,'
and * daily pardon,' and ' daily strength' against temptations, they are
all alike necessary : Ps. xvi. 8, ' I have set the Lord always before me,
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved ; ' we must set
God before us in point of reverence, and in point of dependence. As
a glass without a bottom falleth to the ground, and is broken as soon
as it is set out of hand ; so doth a sensible Christian apprehend himself
to be in such a condition out of God's hand that he falleth, and is
broken to pieces. If the new creature could live of itself, God would
seldom hear from us ; therefore every day we must come for new sup
plies.
2. To keep us from discouragement and fainting under temptations.
Wherefore have we armour, but to use it when we are called to fight ?
For what use serveth Jesus Christ, but ' to destroy the works of the
devil ' ? 1 John iii. 8. He came into the world to grapple with our
enemy, that by the fall had gotten an hand and power over us. If he
hath conquered the devil, and that for our sakes, why should we be
afraid ? Satan cannot tempt us one jot further than the Lord will per
mit him ; his malice is limited and restrained. If you be in Satan's
hands, Satan is in God's hands ; he could not enter into the herd of
swine without leave, Mark v, 12 ; and will God suffer him to worry
and destroy the sheep of his flock without any regard or pity ? God
gave him a commission to afflict Job, chaps, i. and ii. Hath he not
engaged his faithfulness, that we shall not be tempted more than we
are able to bear? 2 Cor. x. 13 , he will give strength. If he let him
loose upon you, look upon Jesus Christ, with all his merits, value,
virtue, and power. Is he not able to defend thee ? It is true in gen
eral, Christ as mediator hath done nothing apart, wherein all his mem-
THE LIFE OF FAITH. Ill
bers have not an interest with him. Did he overcome Satan for himself ?
No, he hath overcome, and his people overcome with him : 1 John iii.
13, * I write to you, young ones, because ye have overcome the wicked
one.' Christ needed no such combat with Satan, nor victory over him,
for anything that concerned himself, seeing he had in the beginning
cast him down to hell, where he holdeth him still in chains of darkness.
3. But this is not all the work of faith, to keep us from fainting ; it
should also fill us with courage, and assurance of victory : Kom. viii.
37-39, ' Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through
him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things
to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord/
Before the battle a believer is sure of victory. In other fights the
event is uncertain ; Non ceque glorietur accinctus, ac discinctus ; but
a believer when he goeth to fight, he is sure to have the best of the
war, because the Father and Christ are stronger than all their enemies,
and they cannot pluck him out of their hands : John x. 28, 29, ' And
I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them
me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my
Father's hand.' They may have many shakings and tossings in their
condition, yet their final perseverance is certain. Christ is so unchange
able in his purpose, so invincible in his power, that when once hetaketh
a man into his custody and charge, who can destroy him ? ' TTrepviKM^v
we do overcome, are sure of victory before we fight. Believe and
prosper : 2 Chron. xx. 20, ' Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye
be established ; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.' In temporal
cases a man doth not presently conquer those he shall fight with;
though he doth believe he shall conquer them, yet a particular impres
sion doth much. But here is a promise made by God ; there is a
covenant passed between us and him ; to what end ? We have his
bond for it, that if we fight against Satan, we shall overcome ; resist
and he will fly. You will say, Is it no more but believe the promise,
and Satan is gone ? /
Ans. Yes ; if it be with a right faith, such as quickeneth us to a
serious and thorough resistance, then thou hast nothing to do but to
remember that thou fightest God's battle, in God's sight, and he will
crown thee.
4. To engage us to use all the means God hath appointed for the
vanquishing temptations, namely, watching, and striving.
[1.] Watching : 1 Peter v. 7, ' Be sober and watchful ; for your
adversary the devil goeth about seeking whom he may devour.' Watch,
that you may not give Satan an advantage, 2 Cor. ii. 11, or an occa
sion, 1 Cor. vii. 5 ; and Gal. v. 13, ' Use not your liberty as an occasion
to the flesh.' They cannot stand long that lay themselves open to
Satan's snares, and ride into the devil's quarters. Therefore we must
guard the senses, take off occasions leading to sin.
[2.] Striving, and resistance : 1 Peter v. 9, * Whom resist, steadfast
in the faith ; ' James iv. 7, * Resist the devil, and he will fly from you/
We make but a faint and cold resistance. Some kind of res stance
112 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
may be made by common grace ; but it must be earnest and vehement,
as against the enemy of our souls ' Get thee behind me, Satan/ Mat.
iv. 10. A merchant that hath a precious commodity, and one biddeth
a base price, he foldeth up his wares with indignation. As the olive-
tree said in Jotham's parable, ' Shall I leave my fatness to rule over
the trees ? ' so say, Shall I leave my soul open, without a guard, for
every temptation to make a prey of me ? A thorough resistance there
must be ; yielding a little bringeth on more mischief.
Secondly., The life of faith discovers itself with respect to temptations
from the world. That faith hath a great use and influence upon our
victory over this kind of temptations appeareth by that scripture
which we have in 1 John v. 4, ' Whosoever is born of God overcorneth
the world ; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our
faith/
1. I shall explain this maxim.
2. Show the necessity of this part of the life of faith
3. Show what are the acts of faith.
4. How we may bring our hearts to such a frame.
I. To explain this maxim.
1. What is meant by ' the world ? ' All worldly things whatsoever,
so far as they lessen our esteem of Christ and heavenly things, or hin
der the cheerful performance of our duty to God, namely, honour,
riches, pomp, pleasure, the favour or fear of men, their wrath, praise,
or dispraise ; as these prevail and find entertainment in our hearts, so
far they hinder the life of faith : John v. 44, ' How can ye believe which
receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh
from God only?' and John xii. 42, 'Nevertheless, among the chief
rulers also many believed on him; but because of the pharisees they
did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue, for
they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God / 1 John ii.
15, ' Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him ; ; 2 Tim. iv.
10, ' For Demas hath forsaken me, having embraced the present world ;'
and so far as faith prevaileth, the heart groweth dead to these things ;
in short, to the delights and terrors of the world, the fears and snares
of it. 2 Cor. vi. 7. A Christian should have on the ' armour of right
eousness, on the right hand and on the left.' Man is apt to be wrought
upon both ways, by the fears of evil, and hopes of good. Accordingly,
in the world to come, where lie the great objects propounded to faith,
there is something to outweigh the fears of this life, Mark x. 28-30 ;
something to outweigh the pleasures of this world ; set the recompense
of reward against the pleasures of sin. Coniemptus a me est Romanus,
et favor et furor, said Luther, I despise both the pope's favour and
fury. But chiefly that scriptural instance of Moses is remarkable :
Moses had temptations of all kinds, Heb. xi. 24-27. There were
temptations on the right hand and on the left ; if honour would have
tempted him, he might have had it ; but ' by faith he refused to be
called the son of Pharaoh's daughter/ ver. 24. If pleasures would
have tempted him, he might have enjoyed them ; but ' he chose rather
to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures
of sin for a season/ ver. 25. If the riches and treasures of this world
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 113
would have enticed him, he might have flowed in them ; but ' he es
teemed the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of
Egypt, Ver. 26, than left-hand temptations, or the terrors of the world
' By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king ; for he
endured, as seeing him who is invisible,' Thus we must stand out
against all temptations : 2 Peter i, 6, ' Add to temperance, patience.'
A Christian that would hold out with God must have a command over
all his passions, of anger, fear, and grief, and over his affections of love
and delight, that he may not be corrupted with sensual delights, nor
discouraged with the crosses and trials that he meeteth with in the
world. We must observe both, lest we be, like Ephraim, a 'cake not
turned/ that we do not forfeit our integrity, as Joab did, who turned
not after Absalom, but turned after Adonijah, i Kings i. 19. On the
other side, some may bear up against boisterous temptations out of
stubbornness, humour, and interest, and the pre-engagenient of credit,
the expectation of applause, or to carry a name, yet are lost in the lusts
of the flesh, and vanities of the world. Again ; all are not called to the
afflictions, of the gospel, and so are not tempted to apostasy. In the
parable of the sower there is the stony ground that withered in perse
cution, Luke viii. 13, and the thorny ground that brought forth no
fruit to perfection, being choked with the cares, riches and pleasures
of the world, Luke viii. 14. Here is our daily conflict ; the holding
on of profession is an external thing, the victory is less over outward
inconveniences than inward lusts. It is the sharpest martyrdom for a
man to tear his own flesh, more than to give his body to be burned, 1
(Jor. xiii. 3. The secret and sly victory of the world is over our will
and affections, and if we do not prevent this, our profession is as good
as nothing ; though we should keep on a profession, whilst we secretly
gratify our lusts, all our sufferings are but like swine's blood offered in
sacrifice, which was an abomination to the Lord.
2. In what sense we are said to have victory over the world. Faith
is said to be the victory over these things by a metonomy of the effect
for the instrumental cause ; it is the means whereby we overcome.
However the force of the expression is to be noted : faith is not only
said to be the means of overcoming, but the victory itself. But when
may it be called a victory ?
[1.] We are said to overcome the world when we stand our ground,
and are not overcome by it ; it lieth not in being free from troubles and
temptations, but in a courageous and resolute resistance. Though the
temptation cease not, yet if we keep what we fight for, 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' I
have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith,' Bom. viii. 37,
virepviKw/jLev, ' We are more than conquerors; ' and Rev. xii. 11, ' They
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death ; ' when a
man abideth constant with God, notwithstanding the flatteries or
threatenings of the world, and is not drawn to apostasy, as the Levites
left their possessions for the sake of God's pure worship, 2 Chron.
xi. 14.
[2.] When we get ground by the temptation, and this either exter
nally or internally.
(1.) Externally, when our profession is glorified and commended to
VOL. xv. H
114 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
the consciences of men by our resolved defence and avowing of it : Rev,
xii. 11, ' They overcame by the word of their testimony, not loving
their lives to the death.' Sanguis martyrum semen ecclesice The
blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church ; by their steadfast pro
fession and adhering to the truth they defeated the devil and propagated
the gospel. So Paul : Phil. i. 12, ' The things that have happened
unto me have fallen out rather for the furtherance of the gospel ; ' his
suffering for the truth conduced as much to the propagation of it as
his preaching.
(2.) Internally, when we are more confirmed in the truth of the
gospel and the pursuit of heavenly things, and gain strength by every
conflict ; as the apostle telleth us, Rom. v. 3-5, that ' tribulation work-
eth patience ; and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope
maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts.' The more we are assaulted, the more the habit of grace is
perfected ; as David when scoffed at by Michal : 2 Sam. vi. 22, ' I will
yet be more vile.' It often falleth out that our courage groweth by
sufferings, and those that were ready to faint are at least more rooted
by being shaken ; and so Christians are ' more than conquerors/ Rom.
viii. 37, as they thrive by opposition. A staff is held the faster by
how much it is sought the more to be wrested out of our hands.
3. What faith is this that overcometh the world ?
Ans. It is not a naked assent, or a cold opinion, or that which the
scripture calleth a l dead faith/ James ii. 17, but such as is lively and
operative. It is described, 1 John v. 5, ' And who is he that over
cometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ? '
That is the great vital or enlivening truth, that Christ is God ; there
fore when Peter made his confession : Mat. xvi. 16-18, ' Thou art
Christ, the Son of the living God/ Christ telleth him that ' flesh and
blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock will
I build my church/ This truth, that Jesus is the promised Messiah,
very God and man in one person, and the anointed Saviour of the
world, is a truth that cannot be attained by any human means, and is
the corner-stone upon which the faith of all believers is founded ; and
whosoever^ doth indeed build his hope upon it, the gates of hell shall
not prevail against him. Many take up this opinion upon human
credulity, or as the current and avowed truth of the age and country
in which they live ; the universal consent of the Christian world hath
taken up such a principle. But those that do indeed receive it, and
put all their hopes of salvation upon it, these overcome the world.
More particularly
[1.] It is such a faith as receiveth whole Christ, as king, priest, and
prophet: John i. 12, 'To as many as received him;' that doth so
believe Jesus to be the Messiah and Saviour of the world, as to
believe his promises, and fear his threats, and obey his precepts ; for
such a one hath far stronger allectives and encouragements to piety
than the world can afford to the contrary. Christ hath promises of life
and immortality with which this world with all its emoluments is not
to be compared, or brought into reckoning the same day, Rom. viii. 18.
Christ hath threatenings, Mark ix. 44, in comparison of which all the
T11K LIFE OF FAITH. 115
punishments and tortures in the world are but a flea-biting, or a thing
not to be mentioned. His commands of bearing the cross and denying
ourselves may be well digested, and will outweigh all the allurements
and terrors of the world, if we indeed cordially believe them ; but
when men stick at these poor inconsiderable vanities, surely they do
not take Christ to be the Messiah, or Son of God. No comforts, no
terrors like his ; no commands like his, because they are his commands :
Ps. cxix. 48, ' My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments,
which I have loved, and I will meditate in thy statutes.'
[2.] It is such a faith as receiveth Christ with the whole heart, a
cordial assent : Acts viii. 37. ' If thou believest with all thy heart.' A
naked opinion is easily begotten in us ; but we must so believe Chrijst
as to profess his name, to hope for the things promised by him, and
under that hope to follow his precepts and directions ; such an effectual
faith overcometh the world.
[3.] Such a faith as 'worketh by love/ Gal. v. 6; as draweth us to
love God above all, and to make the enjoyment of him our chief scope
and happiness. This will excite us to observe what conduceth to this
enjoyment of God, and eschew the contrary. Our first sin was a turn
ing from God to the creature, and our conversion is a turning from the
creature to God, to love him above all, as our reconciled God and
Father in Christ. He that hath such a faith may with ease overcome
the world, and the terrors and temptations thereof; and he that is
carried captive to the world hath not such a faith, is not a cordial be
liever.
II. The necessity and profit of this part of the life of faith.
1. It is by the world that our spiritual enemies have advantage
against us. Satan lieth in ambush in the creature, and seeketh to work
us off from God by the terrors and allurements of the world ; therefore
it is said, 1 John iv. 4, ' Ye are of God, and have overcome him,
because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.'
Conquer the world, and the tempter is disarmed, and disabled from
doing that hurt to you which otherwise he would. He blindeth as ' the
god of this world,' 2 Cor. iv. 4 ; he troubleth as 'the prince of this
world/ John xiv. 30, ' The prince of this world cometh, and hath noth
ing in me.' He findeth it no hard matter to entice a sensual worldly
mind to almost anything that is evil. He may do what he lists with
them ; but when once these inclinations are mortified and broken the
cord is broken by which he was wont to bind and lead you. The
strength of temptations lieth in the bent of our affections. Let a man
be in love with wealth, or honours and pleasures, and how soon will
the devil draw him to betray, and cast away his soul for any of these
things ! The world is the bait and provision for the flesh : 1 John ii.
16, ' Whatever is in the world ' is in ' the lust of the flesh, the lust of
the eyes, and pride of life.' The lust is put for the object, either riches,
pleasures, or honours. It is the world that fits us with a diet for
every distemper, and a bait agreeable to every appetite. A proud cor
rupted mind must have honour and high place, and be supplied with
pomp of living ; an inordinate, sensual appetite must have pleasures
and meats and drinks ; so the covetous must have wealth and bags of
gold. So that conquer but the world, and you may pluck up temp-
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
tations by the root ; lusts will wither and come to nothing. The flesh
is furnished with its prey from hence.
2. It is the great let and hindrance from keeping the command
ments, and keeping them cheerfully. Worldly lusts and allurements
soon tempt us to transgress, till faith gets the upper hand : Tit. ii. 12,
'That, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live righteously,
soberly, and godly in this present world.' The world soon raaketh a
breach upon sobriety, or justice or godliness. Denying worldly lusts
must first be done, and as a means to the other, or else your hearts will
never be free for God and his service. It is the world that hindereth you
from duty, and hindereth you in duty, and from walking sweetly and
comfortably with God in your whole course. While these fetters and
clogs are upon you, you cannot run the race that is set before you : Heb.
xiL 1, c Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth
so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before
us.' You have no heart, no life for holy things, because your affections
are diverted : Ps. cxix. 36, ' Turn away mine eyes from beholding
vanity.' Inordinate desire of, and delight in worldly things, divert our
minds from the pursuit of heavenly things.
3. This eonstituteth the great difference between the animal and the
spiritual life ; the rational soul, being void of grace, accommodateth
itself to the interests of the body, and the difference lieth in being
addicted to the world or vanquishing the world. A mere animal man
is one that merely looketh after the concernments of this life, and is
swayed by the interests of this life, as power and pomp, and greatness
of rank and place in the world , but a spiritual man is one that looketh
after the world to come : 1 Cor. ii. 12, ' .For we have not received the
spirit of this world.' And these two lives are distinguished again :
Rom. viii. 5-7, ' For they that are after the flesh do mind the tilings
of the flesh ; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally-minded is death ; but to be spiritually-minded is life
and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' A mere animal
life is the same with the carnal life ; for those that do not live the life
of grace are sometimes described by their worser, and sometimes their
better part ; they are called -^TV^LKOS and aapKiKos. So John iii. 6, ' That
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit.' Christ showeth the necessity of being born again before a man
can enter into the kingdom of God ; they can never else be spiritual in
their dispositions, motions, and inclinations. The mere animal life is
wholly bent to please the flesh, and to seek the interests and concern
ments thereof, as riches, honours and pleasures ; for reason is either
brutified and debased by sense, or elevated and refined by faith.
4. We have a daily conflict with the world. If we are not daily put
upon dangers and difficulties, in which respect the apostle saith, ' I die
daily/ 1 Cor. xv. 31, yet we are daily put upon snares and temptations,
and the pleasant baits of the flesh. These things are suitable to our
natures, and comfortable to our senses, and necessary to our uses. We
have a fleshly part as well as a spiritual ; so that if we do not continu
ally watch and guard our hearts, we are overcome, and that to our
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 117
utter ruin. It is the case of many men ; the good word is choked in
them by the pleasures and cares of the world, Mat. xiii. 22, 23, and
Luke viii. 14, so that they are never thorough Christians, whatever
proficiency they have attained unto, or whatever profession they make
of the name of Christ. Multitudes are thus deceived that make a pro
fession of religion, whilst their worldly lusts remain in full strength ;
as thorns draw away the strength of the earth from good seed, and
overtop it, and keep it down. Many have a form of godliness, but are
lovers of pleasures, lovers of riches and honours, more than God. God
hath but the flesh's leavings.
III. The acts of faith in this victory over the world.
1. It overcometh the world, as it digesteth and applieth the word of
God. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, the great weapon
against the world, the devil and the flesh; and the more richly we are
furnished with the knowledge of it, the more we are prepared for a
victory over Satan and the world : 1 John ii. 14, ' I have written unto
you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth
in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.' There are notable
counsels, pure precepts, rich promises, powerful directions, and sundry
considerations to draw us oft' from the world, tnat we may look after
the world to come ; that is the drift of the whole scripture. Now all
must be digested and applied by faith, or it worketh not : Heb. iv. 1,
2, ' Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into
his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was
the gospel preached, as well as unto them ; but the word preached did
not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.' In
the word of God there are ' precious promises, that we may escape the
corruption that is in the world through lust/ 2 Peter i. 4 ; promises
that contain spiritual and eternal riches. If we can believe the pardon,
grace, and blessedness that are offered in them, then these things will
keep us from being ensnared by the world. Among all these promises,
the chiefest is the promise of entering into his rest. Meat will nourish
us if it be eaten, and water will quench thirst if we drink it, and re
ceive it into our bodies : so will these promises where they are applied.
2. As it receiveth the Spirit, or strength from Christ, whereby to
overcome the world. He died to purchase this grace for us : Gal. i. 4,
'He gave himself for us, to deliver us from the present evil world;'
that is, to purchase the Spirit to dwell in our hearts for this end and
purpose : 1 John iv. 4, ' Greater is he that is in you than he that
is in the world.' We must not rest upon our own strength in our war
against the world, but by faith lean upon Christ, who worketh in us
by his Spirit, and beateth down Satan under our feet.
3. It prepossesseth the mind with the glory of the world to come
Moses had an eye to ' the recompense of reward/ Heb. xi. 26 ; and 2
Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look not to the things which are seen, but to
the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are tem
poral, but the things which are not seen are eternal/ The more sight
. we have of the worth and excellency of spiritual things, the more is
our esteem of the world abated, and consequently the force of the
temptation. Diversion is the cure of the soul ; while the mind is kept
intent upon the greater matters of everlasting life, the heart and affec-
118 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
tions are drawn off from present things. The world will not be cast out
of our affections but by the real sight of something better than itself.
Till faith hath opened heaven to you, and evidenced things invisible,
and showed you that they are not shadows but substances, which the
promise revealeth and believers expect, you will still be catching at
present things as your portion. No eye can pierce so far as heaven,
but faith : Heb. xi. 1, 'Faith is the evidence of things not seen.'
4. It improveth Christ's victory over the world, and applieth it for
our comfort and encouragement: John xvi. 33, ' In the world ye shall
have tribulation : but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.'
He overcame the world in his personal conflict, and by his death.
Now the victory of Christ our head concerneth his members ; for he
did not overcome the world for himself, but for us : 1 Cor. xv. 57,
' But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ/ He overcame the world in our name, and when we are
interested in him, he maketh us conquerors together with himself, and
in all our conflicts and sufferings assureth us of a certain victory. So
that his suffering people need not be dismayed with the power and
policy, the threats and terrors of the world, for though Christ will not
exempt them from a 'battle and exercise, yet they are partakers of his
victory by faith, and shall, abiding in him, find they have to do with
enemies already vanquished. He would have us so certain, that yet
we should not be secure ; and doth so exhort us to fight, that first
he promiseth the victory before we go to the battle. Non ceque glori-
etur accinctus, ac disdnctus.
5. Faith enlighterieth the mind to see things in another manner than
the world seeth them, and maketh that evident to a Christian which
the world seeth not ; not only things to come, or the riches of the glory
of the inheritance of the saints, but things present the vanity of
earthly things, that ' man in his best estate is altogether vanity,' Ps.
xxxix. 5. To see it so as it begets a weanedness from the world, and
maketh us ' use the world as if we used it not,' 1 Cor. vii. 29, 30.
Others have empty notions, so as to be able to discourse of the vanity
of the creature, but not an affective sight ; eyes to see, but not a heart
to see. But in faith there is not only notional apprehension, but
spiritual wisdom and prudence, Eph. i. 17. It is opposed not only to
ignorance, but folly' fools, and slow of heart to believe ! ' Luke
xxiv. 25. It affects us suitably to the things we know. Carnal men
know all things after the flesh, and are affected with them according
to their present interest. They have false practical conceits of the
world, and so are enamoured upon a dream ; they do not consider, and
therefore admire flesh-pleasing vanities ; they do not weigh things in
the balance of reason, nor improve those general notions that they have.
The sight that faith hath of the world is as the apprehensions of a
dying man, serious and piercing; those that worldly men have are like
the notions of a disputant.
6. It enableth us with patience to wait upon God for his salvation :
Lam. iii. 26, 'It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait
for the salvation of the Lord.' Sense is all for present satisfaction,
and so it undoeth the soul; but faith can tarry God's leisure Gill those
better things which we do expect do come in hand ; and though they
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 119
are oppressed with afflictions for a while, yet it is but a little while,
and all shall be made up to our full content : Isa. xxviii. 16, 'He that
believeth shall not make haste/ Where there is a certain expectation,
we can bear a little inconveniency for the present. We are but tarry
ing in the place where God hath set us for the present, till he bring us
into his kingdom : Kom. viii. 25, ' That which we hope for, we do with
patience wait for/ Impatience and precipitation is the cause of all
mischief. What moved the Israelites to make the golden calf, but
impatience in not waiting for Moses, who remained too long, according
to their fancy and mind, in the mount with God ? What made the
bad servant, Mat. xxiv. 48, to ' smite his fellow-servants, and to eat
and drink with the drunken/ but this, ' My lord delayeth his coming ' ?
Hasty men are loath to be kept in doubtful suspense. David said in
his haste, ' I am cut off/ Ps. xxxi. 2 ; and Ps. cxvi. 11, * I said in my
haste, All men are liars ;' Samuel, and all the prophets that had told
him he should enjoy the kingdom. All carnal men cannot wait for
the time when they shall have pleasures at God's right hand for ever
more, and therefore take up with present delights ; like those that can
not tarry till the grapes be ripe, but eat them sour and green. Solid and
everlasting pleasures they cannot wait for, therefore choose the pleasures
of sin, that are but for a season. A covetous man would wax rich in a
day, and cannot tarry the leisure of God's providence: Prov. xx. 21,
' An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end
thereof shall not be blessed/ The covetous man will not stay till God
doth give crowns, and honours, and glory in his kingdom. Revolts
and apostasies from God proceed hence ; they cannot wait for God's
time, and tarry for the fulfilling the promises ; finding themselves
pressed and destitute, the flesh, which is tender and delicate, groweth
impatient. It is tedious to suffer for a while ; but they do not consider
that it is more tedious to suffer for evermore ; thence come murmur-
ings, and unlawful attempts, stepping out of God's way, as if troublous
waters would only heal them. As an impetuous river is always
troubled and thick, so is a precipitate, impatient spirit always out of
order, and ready for a snare.
IV. How shall we bring our hearts into such a frame?
1. Engage in no business but what you have Christ's warrant for,
for truth and duty to him : Heb. xii. 4, ' Ye have not yet resisted unto
blood, striving against sin/ We must be sure it is sin we strive
against, for we cannot expect God's blessing upon our private quarrels,
or that he should be the natron of our faction, and lacquey upon our
humours. When conscience is clear, we may comfort ourselves in all
the opposition we meet with. When there is no medium between sin
and suffering, then we ought to bear up with courage and cheerfulness,
as the only and best course for us, and that which God calleth us to :
1 Peter iii. 17, 'For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye
suffer for well-doing, than for ill- doing ; ' again, 1 Peter iv. 15, ' Let
none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as
a busybody in other men's matters/ Conflicts with the world, and suf
ferings, are not to be taken up lightly or rashly. We are accountable
to God for our temporal interests and opportunities of service ; but
when the cause is clear, then cheerfully lay down all at Christ's feet;
120 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
not upon other men's humours and fancies, nor pre-engagements of our
own : 1 Peter ii. 19, 20, ' For this is thank- worthy, if a man for con
science towards God, endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what
glory is it, if, when ye are buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it
patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it
patiently, this is acceptable with God.'
2. Consider, he is able to bear you out, and will do so, whilst he
hath a mind to use you for his glory. For what cannot the Son of
God do? Fears in Christ's company argue little faith. When they
embarked with him in the same vessel : Mat. viii. 23, 26, ' Why are
ye so fearful, ye of little faith ? ' So when engaged with Christ
in the same cause, why should we perplex ourselves with vain fears ?
It is said, Heb. xi. 27, ' By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the
wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible/
Pharaoh was incensed against him, a potentate of mighty power, yet
Moses had his call, his supplies and helps, though invisible to others.
All the power in the world is nothing to this, and it was by faith, and
you see there how his faith wrought. Therefore we should fortify our
selves against the greatest and most enraged adversaries.
3. You can suffer no loss by Christ. Why hath he made such
great promises to you ? We think much of our petty interests : Mat.
xix. 27, ' Behold we have forsaken all, and followed thee ; what shall
we have therefore ? ' A great all : what had Peter to forsake ? a
small cottage, a net, a fishing boat ; and yet, ' What shall we have ? '
You need not seek another pavmaster ev irakivjevecriq, in the
great regeneration, you shall receive an hundred-fold, Mark x. 29, 30.
You shall be recompensed abundantly in kind or in value.
4. Temptations from the world should the less prevail with us,
because it is the whole drift of religion to call us off from the world ;
so that if we be baptized into the spirit of our religion, we should be
quite of another temper, not apt to be wrought upon by temptations of
this kind. Do we profess to believe in our crucified Lord ? and what
is the great effect his death hath upon us ? Gal i. 4, * He gave himself,
that he might deliver us from the present evil world.' Who have
interest in him ? ' They that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh
with the affections and lusts thereof/ Gal. v. 24. He doth not say
they are Christ's that believe he was crucified, or that he died for
sinners, but they that feel the power and efficacy of his death in
mortifying their sins. What ! a Christian, and so worldly ? a Christian,
and so vain and frothy ? It is a contradiction. You that are carried
out after the pomp and vanities of the world, do you believe in Christ,,
whose kingdom is not of this world ? False Christians are branded :
1 John iv. 5, ' They are of the world, and speak of the world, and the
world heareth them ; ' they are engulfed in the world, and they would
fain draw others to be as bad as themselves.
5. Consider Christ's example : Heb. xii. 3, ' Consider him that
endured such contradictions of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied, and faint in your minds.' Christ himself was exercised, his
religion was counted an imposture, his doctrine blasphemy, his miracles
questioned as a cheat, and yet he endured this without fainting ; so
should we. Weariness is a less, and fainting an higher degree of defi-
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 121
ciency. The devil's design is to weary and tire us out in God's service ;
but let me persuade you to be dead to the world and the delights of
the world. To the world ; have you lost your credit for Christ in the
world ? remember that Christ made himself of no reputation. Are
you driven from your habitations ? Christ had not a place where to
lay his head. Are you reduced to great straits in the world ? Christ
was hungry and thirsty. Are you forced to live upon ordinary fare ?
Christ was contented, and blessed God for a few barley loaves, and
two fishes. And then, to the delights of the world : whatsoever this
world affordeth, must be left on this side the grave ; pomp, honour,
pleasure, estates, must be left behind us : Job i, 22, ' Naked came I
out of my mother's womb, and naked must I return again.' Here we
bustle for rank and greatness, and death endeth the quarrel. Open
the grave, and thou canst not discern between the rich and the poor,
the king and the peasant. Skulls wear no wreaths and marks of
honour in the grave ; all are alike obnoxious to stench and rottenness.
Thirdly. I am treating of the life of faith with respect to the op-
posites of it, and have handled it with relation to temptations from
the devil, and from the world, and now I come to speak of the life of
faith as to afflictions. And here I shall show you, (1.) That there
is need of faith ; (2.) The grounds, or principles of faith ; (3.) What
are the acts of faith as to this branch.
1. The need of faith will be seen if we consider
[1.] The troubles and afflictions of the people of God c Man is born
to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.' All have their crosses and
sorrows, much more God's own people : Ps. xxxiv. 19, 'Many are the
afflictions of the righteous ; ' though it be those whom God dearly
loveth, their afflictions may be many, great, and long. This is often
the lot of God's children, and heavy to be borne : Job vii. 20, ' Thou
settest me up as a mark, so that I am a burden to myself ; ' and Job
xvi. 14, 'He breaketn me with breach upon breach.' That expression
(chap. vii. 20), as it implieth some comfort, that affliction doth not
hit the saints by chance, but by aim and direction we are ' appointed
thereunto,' 1 Thes. iii, 3 ; so it expresseth much terror. A mark is
set up on purpose to receive the darts, arrows, and bullets that are
shot at it. Now what shall relieve us in such a case but faith ?
Sense seeth no good in all this, because it judgeth by the outside and
present feeling: Heb. xii. 11, 'Now no chastening for the present
seemeth joyous but grievous.' When we feel nothing but pain, and
smart, and blows, how can God love us ? Sense telleth us of nothing
but wrath and anger, and is not able to unfold the riddles of provi
dence. Will natural courage bear us out ? ' The spirit of a man
will bear his infirmity,' Piw. xviii. 14. For a while this will hold
out ; but when God redoubleth his blows, many and great troubles
will quite break it. The stoutness of the creature is soon borne down
by a few trembling thoughts, or a spark of God's wrath falling upon
the conscience ; therefore faith will only help us to bear crosses in the
right manner : Ps. xxvii 13, ' I had fainted, unless I had believed to
see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.' It is believing
keepeth us from being overcome by our troubles, whilst it helpeth us to
wait for gracious experiences in them, or a comfortable issue out of them
122 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
2. The many sins that are incident to this condition show the need
of faith ; as
[1.] Impatiency when our will is crossed : Gen. xxx. 1, ' Give me
children, or I die.' To be sick of the fret is a disease incident to us :
Ps. xxxvii. 1, ' Fret not/ We murmur and repine against God, and
that even for small matters ; as Jonah for a gourd : ' I do well to be
angry/ Jonah iv. 9, so strangely are we transported.
[2.] A spirit of revenge against instruments. Christianity estab-
lisheth a universal and diffusive charity, even to enemies ; to pray
for them, and peek their good. Now we are vindictive and transported
into uncomely passions when wronged by men : 2 Sam. xvi. 9, * Why
should this dead dog curse my lord the king ? let me go and cut off
his head/ No, saith David, ' let him alone, God hath bid him curse/
No man is troubled at a shower of rain that falleth ; but if any cast
a bucket, or a bason of water upon us, we are presently all in a rage
against them.
[3.] Waxing weary of our duty, and being quite tired and dis
couraged in our service : Heb. xii. 3, ' For consider him that endured
such contradictions of sinners, lest you be weary, and faint in your
minds/ Weariness and fainting belong to the body properly, and they
differ gradually ; weariness is a lesser, and fainting a higher degree
of deficiency ; as when labour, or hunger, or travail abateth the strength,
weakens the active power, or dulleth the spirits and principles of motion ;
and from the body, it is translated to the rnind. When troubles are
many and long-continued, then we faint, and begin to be weary of the
faith and service of Christ, and sink under the burden. It is the
devil's design to tire and weary us out.
[4.] Closing with sinful means for an escape : 1 Sam. xxviii. 7, ' Look
me out a woman that hath a familiar spirit/ Carnal shifts are very
natural to us, and if we cannot trust God, and wait upon him, we are
apt to take indirect courses. Afflictions are often compared to a prison,
and the sorrows that accompany it to fetters and chains. Now God
that puts us in can only help us out, for he is the judge and governor
of the world ; but now we attempt to break prison ; we are not able to
hold out till God send an happy issue, but take some carnal course of
our own. The devil will make an advantage of our afflictions ; he
tempted Christ when he was an hungry : Mat. iv. 3, ' When he had
fasted forty days, he was an hungry ; then came the tempter to him/
^ [5.] Despairing and distrustful thoughts of God. David, after all
his experiences, said, 1 Sam. xxvii. 1, ' I shall one day perish by the
hand of Saul.' He had a particular promise and assurance of a kingdom,
and hfid seen much of GodV care over him ; yet after- all this, David
doubteth of the word of God , so Ps. xxxi. 22, ' For I said in my haste,
I am cut off from before thii:e eyes ; ' God hath no more care and
thought of me ; and this at that very time when deliverance was com
ing ' Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when
I cried unto thee ; ' so Ps. Ixxvii. 7, ' Will the Lord cast off for ever ?
and will he be favourable no more ? Is his mercy clean gone for ever ?
doth his promise fail for evermore ? ' Questions, to their appearance,
full of despair ; yet there is some faith couched under them. Will the
Lord cast off ? it implieth the soul cannot endure to be thrust from
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 123
him. Will God be favourable no more ? it implieth some former
experience, and desire of new proof. ' Is his mercy clean gone for
ever ? doth his promise fail for evermore ? ' Faith maketh some
defence, he hath a conscience of sin ; I have deserved all this, but God
is merciful ; will not mercy help ? But to appearance despair carries
it from faith.
[6.] Not only despairing thoughts do arise, but atheistical thoughts,
as if there were no God, no providence, no distinction between good
and evil : Ps. Ixxiii. 13, ' Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and
washed my hands in innocency/ When there is so little enjoyed, and
the flesh is so importunate to be pleased, we question all.
[7.] Questioning our interest in God by reason of the cross. Our
Lord hath taught us to say, ' My God/ in the bitterest agonies ; but
few learn this lesson: Judges vi. 13, 'If God be with us, why is all
this befallen us ? ' Sometimes we question the love of God because we
have no afflictions, and anon, because we have nothing but afflictions,
as if God were not the God of the valleys, as well as of the mountains.
Well then, if all these distempers be incident to the afflicted, there is
great need of faith, which is the proper cure and remedy for them. If
we had faith, we would be more submissive to God and meek to men,
constant in waiting without using ill means, or yielding to distrustful,
despairing thoughts and atheistical debates.
3. There is need of faith because of our duty under troubles, and
that equal temper of heart that is necessary for the right bearing of
them. There are two extremes, slighting, and fainting, and they are
both prevented by that exhortation : Heb. xii. 5, ' My son, despise not
thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of
him.' To despise them is to think them fortuitous, and to bear them
with a stupid and a senseless mind, not considering and understanding
that they come from God, that their end is repentance, and their cause
is sin ; or if we understand these things, we do not lay them to heart,
or regard God's chastising hand, so as to make a right use of our suffer
ings. A sense we must have of our Father's displeasure. We owe
that reverence to his anger as that we should humble ourselves ; as
Miriam : Numb. xii. 14, ' If her father had spit in her face, should not
she be ashamed seven days ? ' Men cannot endure to have two things
despised, their love and their anger. Their love : when David thought
his kindness despised by Nabal, he in his fury resolved to cut off all
those that pissed against the wall, 1 Sam. xxv. 36 ; and Nebuchadnezzar,
when his anger was despised, he was in a rage and said, ' Heat the furnace
seven times hotter.' Now faith keepeth us from slighting the hand
of God ; it seeth the hand of God in the affliction. The world ascribeth
things to blind chance, but faith seeth God in it ; for an invisible hand
can only be seen by faith : Job v. 6. ' Affliction doth not come out of
the dust, nor trouble spring out of the ground/ It doth not come by
chance, nor by the stated course of nature, as all things grow in their
season, but it hath a cause from above ; a wise God hath the ordering
of it. The other extreme is that of fainting. To faint under these
is to be weary of our profession, and to incline to apostasy, because our
sufferings are numerous, and of long continuance. Therefore faith and
patience are necessary for us, Heb. vi. 12, that we may hold out with
124 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
God, and keep up a holy confidence. The former principle is of use
here too ; God hath the whole guiding and ordering of the affliction,
and while the rod is in his hands, there is no anger in his heart ; he is
a wise God, and cannot be overseen ; he afflicteth no more than is
needful : 1 Sam. ii. 3, ' For the Lord is a God of knowledge ; by him
actions are weighed;' he weighs every drachm and scruple of the
cross. And he is a just God, and afflicteth us no more than is
deserved : Job xxxiv. 23, ' He will not lay upon man more than is
right, that he should enter into judgment with God/ Man can never
commence a suit or have a just pretension to except against his pro
vidence. He is a good God ' He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve
the children of men/ Lam. iii. 33, but as a tender father, hath tears in
his eyes when the rod is in his hand. It is only what our need and
profit requireth ; therefore faint not. Well then, there is need of
faith.
II. I shall show you what are the grounds and principles for faith,
that will bear it up under afflictions.
1. That God hath a hand in all the afflictions that do befall us :
Amos iii. 8, ' Is there evil in the city, and I have not done it ? ' God
is not the author of the evil of sin, but there is no evil of punishment
but he hath a hand in it : Job i. 23, 'The Lord hath given, and the
Lord hath taken/ It is Chrysostom's gloss upon the place : he doth
not say the Chaldean hath taken, the Sabeari hath taken, but the
Lord hath taken. Job doth not look to the instruments, but to God.
2. That he chasteneth us but as our need and profit requireth.
There is a vain conceit that possesseth the minds of men, as if the
godhead were envious, and had no pleasure in the happiness of men,
and therefore did delight to cross and thwart them. To Oelov fydovepov,
was a principle among the heathens. Job alludeth to this conceit
when he saith, Job x. 3, ' Is it good unto thee that thou shouldst oppress
and despise the work of thine hands, arid shine upon the counsels of
the wicked ? ' Doth God take delight to torment his creature ? or
doth it do him good to grieve and afflict his own children ? We have
hard thoughts of God. The devil seeketh much to weaken the opinion
of God's goodness in our hearts ; for if God be not good, he is no longer
to be regarded and trusted ; he seeketh to insinuate into our first
parents a distaste of God, and so still he doth in us. Therefore it
concerneth us to cherish good thoughts of God ; that when he cor-
recteth ; it is but as our need and profit requireth. Our need : 1 Peter
i. 6, ' Ye are for a season, if need be, in heaviness/ All the afflictions
that come upon us are needful for us, to reclaim us from our wanderings,
and to cut off the provisions of our lusts, and restrain us from doing
evil or growing evil. It is a sad and woful thing for a child to be left
to himself, arid to give him the reins upon his own neck ; but more sad
for a man to be suffered to go on in sin without any chastisement or cor
rection. Those whom God corrects not he seemeth to cast them off, and
deliver them to their own lusts; and then they must needs perish. And then
he correcteth us as our profit requireth: Heb. xii. 10, ' They verily for a
few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit,
that we may be partakers of his holiness/ Our earthly parents "many
times act out of passion, rashly, not considering what is meet for their
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 125
children ; their chastenings may be arbitrary and irregular : they for a
few days chastened us, or for fancy ; God for the whole term of life,
till he hath made us perfect, and done his whole work upon us. His
corrections are regulated by his perfect wisdom, issue from the purest
love, tend to and end in our highest happiness ; it is no ways arbitrary,
for he never chasteneth us but when he seeth cause, and knoweth
certainly that it will be good for us ' He for our profit ; ' not that we
may increase in the world ; no, no, but in some better thing, some
spiritual and divine benefit. That we may be more like God, capable of
communion with him, that is true profit.
3. That the afflictions he bringeth on his people come from love :
Heb. xii. 6, ' For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth ; ' and Eev. iii. 19, 'As many as I love I
rebuke and chasten : ' it is good to see whence our evil cometh. Afflic
tions upon God's own children mostly come from God's paternal love,
for mere love, for the increase and trial of grace. God may punish
others, but he chasteneth none but sons ; that is an effect of his fatherly
love, or else from mere anger ' an evil, an only evil,' Ezek. vii. 5. In
a design of vengeance ; not to fan or purge, but to destroy. So upon the
reprobate, all their troubles are the beginnings of sorrow, the suburbs
of hell. Or else from anger mixed with love, or fatherly displeasure :
as the corrections that follow sin. David's child was taken away,
2 Sam. xii. 10-12. Anger beginneth, but love tempereth the dispensa
tion. Or else from love mixed with anger ; as Job out of love was
put upon trial, that his patience and faith might be manifested; but
he mingleth corruption, some murrnurings, and then God puts in a
drachm of anger, and speaketh to him out of the whirlwind.
4. That he corrects in much measure. His love sets him a-work,
and then his wisdom directeth and tempereth all the circumstances of
the cross, that they may suit the effect which God aimeth at : Isa, xxvii.
8, ' In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it. He
stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.' God meteth out
their sufferings in due proportion, in weight and measure ; as physicians
in prescribing pills and potions to their patients have a respect to the
ability of the patient, as well as the nature and quality of the disease :
Jer. xxx. 11, ' I will correct thee in measure/ This moderation and
mitigation of evils is seen, either in proportioning the burden according
to our strength, or in proportioning the strength according to the bur
den ; sometimes the one and sometimes the other. By mitigating the
temptation according to our strength: 1 Cor. x. 13, 'But God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are
able.' A merciful man will not overburden his beast ; so God will
not lay a man's burden upon a child's back. Sometimes in proportion
ing the strength to the temptation ; if he layeth on a heavy burden, he
will give strength to bear it. He is ready to help us and support us :
Horn. viii. 26, ' The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.' When we
begin to sink, the Spirit beareth a part of the burden with us : Ps.
xxxvii. 24, ' Though he fall he shall not utterly be cast down ; for the
Lord upholdeth him with his hand/ He may seem to be pressed down,
but not quite lost : Phil. iv. 13, ' I can do all things through Christ
that strengthened me ; ' bearing strength is there spoken of. So Col.
126 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
i. 11, ' Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,
unto all patience, with long-suffering and joy i'ul ness/ There is a gra
dation : the power of God doth not only strengthen us to patience, but
to all patience. We may have patience in some afflictions, and not in
others. Those may bear loss, perhaps, that cannot bear affronts or dis
graces. Long-suffering is patience extended. Not only the weight of
afflictions is considerable, but length ; we may tire under a long afflic
tion. He goeth on to joyfulness. We may endure a heavy affliction,
and endure it long, but yet go drooping and heavily under it ; but God
will give strength to bear it cheerfully,
5. The affliction shall not always last ; yea, it shall be very short.
His wrath on the church abideth but for a little moment - Isa. xxvi.
20, { Come, my people, enter into thy chambers, and shut thy doors
about thee ; hide thyself, as it were, for a little moment, until the in
dignation be overpast.' A moment is the smallest part of time ; that
point of time that is but indivisible, we call a moment. Now the time
by which misery is set forth is called a moment, yea, a small moment,
which is a great comfort to us. Our afflictions are bitter but short.
If it be distress of conscience ; God ' will not always chide : ' Ps. ciii.
8, 9, ' The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous
in mercy ; he will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger
for ever/ He will not pursue the dry stubble. If it be Satan's rage,
* he hath great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time/
Kev. xii. 12 ; dying beasts bite shrewdly, Pains of body cannot last
long ; Phil. iii. 21, ' Who shall change our vile body, that it may be
fashioned like unto his glorious body.' Church distresses will at length
be over, All our toil and labour, it is but till dust return to the dust,
during the pre-eminence of enemies, or when rulers are unfriendly :
Ps. cxxv. 3, ' For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of
the righteous, lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity/
The rod is the ensign of power. Do riot murmuringly cry. How long ?
within a little while we shall be as well as heart can wish. Let us
therefore humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God : Hosea vi.
1,2, c Come and let us return unto the Lord , for he hath torn and he
will heal us ; he hath smitten and he will bind us up.' The afflictions
of the church are from God, and his hand ; and so the healing must
come alone from him. But when ? ' After two clays he will revive
us ; in the third day he will raise us up/ It may seem long to sense,
but it is short to faith. As Christ's death lasted but for a while ;
the church hath her resurrection as well as Christ. Nay, but one day ;
Ps. xxx. 5, ' Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the
morning/ If we make a right reckoning, our sufferings are very short ;
so Isa. xvii. 14, 'And behold at evening-tide trouble, and before the
morning he is not ; this is the portion of them that spoil us, and the
lot of them that rob us.' A tempest whirleth and roareth in the night ;
but when the sun ariseth in its strength, it is gone.
Obj. But common sense and experience is against this.
Ans. So it contradicts all matters of faith. But to clear it, how it
is long and how it is short.
1. How it is long.
[1.] It is long because of present smart ; it is irksome to sense.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 127
Men in a fever reckon hours, and quarters, and minutes. Winter
nights, to one that sleepeth not, seem tedious in the passing ; though
when they are past, they are as a thing of nothing : Ps. xc. 4, ' A
thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and
as a watch in the night.' A child would fain pass over his hard
lesson.
[2.] It is long, because of our earnest desire of the blessings hoped
for. To an hungry stomach the meat seemeth long a-dressing: Prov.,
x. 26, ' As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slug
gard to them that send him/ The least delay to earnest expectation
is tedious ' Hope deferred rnaketh the heart sick,' Prov. xiii. 12.
[3.] We measure things by a wrong rule, not by the standard of
scripture computation. The longest time to eternity is nothing : Ps.
xc. 4, ' A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday.' What
the point or prick in the centre is to the circumference, that is time to
eternity. Sapienti niliil magnum est, cui nota est ceternitatis mag-
nitudo He that is acquainted with the vastness of eternity accounts
nothing great.
2. How it is short.
[1.] It is not so long as it might be in regard of the enemy's rage :
Zech. i. 15, ' And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are
at ease ; for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the
affliction.' Satan and wicked men know no bounds when God sets
them a-work to correct his people ; they go about it with cruel minds,
and destructive intentions. God intended to correct and purge them ;
they intend to root out and destroy them.
[2] Not so long as it may seem to be in the course of second causes.
In a natural way no end can be seen, when those that hate them seem to
be fortified with a strong back of secular interests, and stand upon an
immutable foundation : Mat. xxiv. 22, ' And except those days shall
be shortened, there shall no flesh be saved ; but for the elect's sake
those days shall be shortened/ Though they shall run out to the full
length of the prophecies, yet as to the course of second causes they are
nothing so long as they appear.
[3.] Not so long as the merits of our sins would seem to call for :
Ezra ix. 13, 'And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds,
and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us
less than our iniquities deserve/ Injustice it might be forever; as
the punishments of the wicked in hell, these flames might never be
quenched, The evil of one sin cannot be expiated in thousands of
years ; but yet though our suffering be sharp and bitter, yet it is but
short, not so long as sin would make it. God relents presently : Isa.
xl. 1, 2, ' Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 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 ; ' not as if they had suffered
more at God's hand than they have deserved, but they had endured so
much as God deemed fit to be inflicted.
[4.] Love to God doth not count them long : Gen. xxix. 20, ' Jacob
served seven years for Eachel, and they seemed to him but a few days,
for the love he had to her/ All our afflictions and troubles are nothing
128 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
to love. Shall not we endure a few years affliction for our Christ, who
lived a life of sorrows, and died a cursed death for our sakes ? Surely
if we had any love to him, it would not be so tedious.
[5.] Not long with respect to our reward in heaven : Eom. viii. 18,
' For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us ; ' no more than
-a feather to a talent ; and*2 Cor. iv. 17, ' For our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory ; ' it is but as drop of vinegar to an ocean of sweetness,
a rainy day to an everlasting sun-shine. As the forty martyrs in Basil,
that were put out naked in a cold winter's night, and to be burned the
next day, comforted themselves thus, saying, Apifjivs 6 x^ei/Awv , K. r. \.
Sharp is the cold, but sweet is paradise ; it is but a night's enduring,
and to-morrow we shall be in the bosom of God.
[6.] It shall turn to good. This is the comfort of the people of God,
that all that befalleth them is either good or shall turn to good : Bom.
viii. 28. ' All things shall work together for good to them that love
God.' If we have but a little faith, we may know it for the present,
and be assured of it before we see it ; and if we have but a little
patience, we shall know it and find it by experience. All things work
together for good ; singly and apart they may be against us, but omnia
simul adjumento sunt. Poisonous ingredients in a medicine, take
them singly, and they are destructive ; but as they are tempered with
other things by the hands of a skilful physician, they prove wholesome
and useful. So all things that befall us, are tempered and ordered by
God for good. There is no beauty in a building till all the pieces be
set together. We view God's work by halves, and then his providence
seemeth to be against us ; but all together it worketh for our good.
How for our good ? Sometimes for good temporal, usually for good
spiritual, but certainly for good eternal.
(1.) Sometimes for our good temporal, or for our greater preserva
tion : Gen. 1. 20, ' Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto
good, to bring it to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.'
The Egyptians and Israel had wanted a preserver if Joseph had not
been sold and sent into Egypt. If a man were to go to sea. in a voyage
upon which his heart is much set, but the ship is gone before he cometh ;
but afterwards he heareth that all that were in the ship were drowned;
this disappointment is for good. Crassus's rival in the Parthian war,
when he heard how that army was intercepted and cut off by the craft
of the barbarians, had no reason to stomach his being refused. Many
of us have cause to say Periissem, nisi periissem We had suffered
more if we had suffered less. In the story of Joseph there is a notable
scheme and draught of providence. He is cast into a pit ; thence drawn
forth, and sold to the Ishmaelites ; by them brought into Egypt, and
sold again. What doth God mean to do with poor Joseph ? He is
tempted to adultery by his mistress; refusing the temptation he is
i'alsely accused, sent to prison, kept for a long time in ward and duress ;
all this is against him. Who would have thought that in the issue all
this should have turned for his good ? that the prison had been the
way to preferment ? that by the pit he should come to the palace of
the king of Egypt, and exchange his party-coloured coat for a royal
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 129
robe ? Thus in temporal things we gain by our losses, and God
chooseth better for us than we could have chosen for ourselves.
(2.) For our spiritual good. All affliction is made up and recom
pensed to the soul ; it afflicts the body, but bettereth the heart : Ps.
cxix. 71, ' It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might
learn thy statutes.' There is more to be learned in the school of afflic
tion than in the vastest libraries ; Bodley and the Vatican cannot
furnish us with a book that will teach us as much as a little experience
under God's discipline. Madmen are cast into prison, kept in the
dark, and under all hardships, to bring them to their mind again ; so
to cure us of our spiritual frenzy, and dementation in a course of sin
ning, God is forced to use us a little hardly. Thou darest not pray,
Lord, let me have worldly comforts, though they damn me ; let me not
be afflicted, though it do me good. And if thou darest not pray so,
wilt thou murmur when it falleth out to be so ? If a man break an
arm or a leg in pulling us out of the water wherein we shall certainly
be drowned, would we be angry with him ? and shall we fret against
the Lord when he taketh away the fuel of our lusts ? Is it not a good
exchange, to part with outward comforts for inward holiness ? certainly
that will be of more gain to us than all the affliction, pain, and loss
which we suffer will do us hurt. Learning God's statutes by heart is
a good lesson, though it cost us trouble in learning. We lose nothing
but our rust by scouring. If God will take away our outward peace,
and give us peace of conscience ; our worldly goods, and give us true
riches, have we any cause to complain if our outward wants be recom
pensed by an abundance of inward grace ? 2 Cor. iv. 16, ' But though
our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day : '
and we have the less of the world that we may have more of God, and
are kept poor that we may be * rich in faith,' James ii.. 5- Who is the
loser, if we have a healthy soul in a sickly body, as Gains had ? 3
John 2. And an aching head maketh way for a better heart ; doth
not God deal graciously and lovingly with us ? Afflictions are com
pared to fire that purgeth away the dross, 1 Peter, i. 7 ; to the fan
that driveth away the chaff, Mat. iii. 12 : to a priming-hook that cuts
off the luxuriant branches, and maketh the' others that remain more
fruitful, John xv. 2 ; to physic, that purgeth away the sick matter, Isa.
xxvii. 95 ; to ploughing and harrowing the ground, that fitteth it to
receive the good seed ? Jer. iv. 3. Wilt thou be troubled when God
cometh to make use of this fire to purge out thy dross, this fan to
winnow away thy chaff, this pruning-hook to lop off the luxuriancies
of thy soul, this physic to purge out thy corruption and filth, this
plough to break up thy fallow ground, and destroy the weeds that
grow in thy heart ? Should we not rather rejoice that he will not let
us alone in our corruptions, but refine us as metal is by the fire ; and
fan and winnow us, that we may be pure grain ; and prune us, that we
may be fruitful in holiness ; and use a medicine to cure those distempers,
which otherwise would destroy us ; and suffer the ploughers to make
long furrows upon our backs, that we may enjoy the richer crop ? thus
it is for spiritual good.
(3.) For our eternal good. Heaven will make a complete amends :
2 Cor. iv. 17, ( For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
VOL. xv. i
130 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' The
affliction worketh it as a means which God useth, it shall either hasten
or secure our glorious estate ; this mainly is intended in Kom. viii.
28-30, ' For we know that all things shall work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many
brethren, Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called ;
and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified,
them he also glorified/ Well then, as a bee sucketh honey from a
bitter herb, so there is a great deal of good which faith can extract out
of afflictions ; no water, but it can turn into wine ; no stones out of
which faith cannot make bread.
[7.] That we shall have comfort, and support and direction, and
many intervening blessings, before the deliverance cometh.
(1.) Comfort ; we shall have it : 2 Cor. i. 5, ' For as the sufferings
of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.'
God will refresh and relieve our troubles with many comfortable ex
periences of his grace; comforts proportionable to our afflictions.
Should we have great sufferings and small comforts, we should not be
well enough provided for ; such a degree of heat will not warm cold
water unless it be made more intense ; a little boat that would serve
well enough in fresh water, will not serve at sea, where we are to con
flict with boisterous waves and mighty billows; therefore as our
sufferings abound, so our consolations by Christ abound also. God
suits his dispensations to the need and want of the creature. The
disciples, when they had lost the bodily presence of Christ, they re
ceived the Spirit. God will not give comforts upon conflicts till the
affections be purged from the dross and feculency of outward delights ;
till then we cannot relish spiritual delights. Troubles usually enlarge
the capacity of the soul, for they humble us, -and an humble soul is a
vessel fit to receive grace. They put us upon the exercise of grace ;
then men pray most, and have most communion with God ; and the
more grace is exercised, the more comfort is increased ; for the comforts
of the Spirit follow the graces of the Spirit, as heat doth the fire.
After the sharpest winter there is the sweetest spring, and tlie more
fruitful summer and autumn.
(2.) For support. If deliverance cometh not yet, if God giveth sup
port, we have no reason to complain ; as he that is well clad is not much
' annoyed with the cold. David prayed, and counted support an answer :
Ps. cxxxviii. 3, ' In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and
strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.' It is a real answer to
have strength to bear out in our troubles, though deliverance be not
yet come. Sustentation is a degree and beginning of deliverance,
though God doth not remove the trouble : Isa. xl. 31, ' But they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength ; they shall mount up
with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk
and not faint.' God enables them to bear up and hold out when they
seem to be quite spent.
(3.) So for direction. This is another of those intervening mercies,
Ps. cxliii. 10. David was in great danger, and beggeth for deliverance ;
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 131
or if not that, yet for instruction ' Teach me to do thy will, for thou
art my God.' The danger of sin is a greater inconvenience than the
danger of troubles. Now he beggeth wisdom of God to carry it well
under his trouble ; for in our troubles we are very apt to miscarry, un
less God guide us continually. Necessity is an ill counsellor, and will
soon tempt us to some indirect course ; and therefore it is a great
mercy to have our guide : Isa. Iviii. 11, c And the Lord shall guide thee
continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought.' In our gloomy and dark
condition God will lead us by the hand and help us over our stum
bling-blocks.
III. What is the work of faith under afflictions ?
1. To enlighten the mind, that we may judge aright of afflictions.
Sense maketh lies of God, and causeth us to judge amiss of his dispen
sations. Why ? because it judgeth of them by the outside and present
feeling : Heb xii. 11, ' No affliction for the present seemeth to be
joyous, but grievous.' Alas ! if we should judge of all God's care and
love by our sense of his present dealing, we shall conclude that he hath
no respect to his people. Therefore faith, that is the evidence of things
not seen, is needful, that we may interpret God's providence, and rightly
understand his dealing with us. Faith remedieth this double evil of
sense, because it interpreteth things not according to their outside and
visible appearance, but according to the promise. Again, it looketh
not upon providence by pieces, but in their whole draught, to the end
of things.
[1.] Faith is necessary, that we may not dwell in the bark and out
side of God's dispensations. Sense judgeth /car oi|w,by outward appear
ances, and so informs you of nothing but expressions of God's anger ;
but faith can see love in his anger, and unfold the riddles and mysteries
of providence, and showeth you how God can extract honey and sweet
ness out of gall and wormwood, and that his heart is full of love when
his hands are smart and heavy upon us ; as when he had a mind to
bless Jacob he breaketh his thigh, and maketh him halt and go lame ;
and the bucket goeth down into the well the deeper, that it may come
up the fuller. So that whatsoever appeareth, faith concludeth that God
is a good God. Faith, ploughing with God's heifer, cometh to know
his design : Job xi. 6, ' And that he would show thee the secrets of
wisdom, that they are double to that which is/ By the secrets of
wisdom is meant the hidden ways of his providence. Divine providence
hath two faces, the one of rigour, the other of clemency sweetly
tempered therewith ; like a plaited picture, that one way representeth
the face of a virgin, another way the face of a serpent. We look
upon it but of one side, and think that he dealeth harshly with us, and
that all is wrath and severity ; his love is hidden from us when we
we feel nothing but pain, and smart, a-nd blows, but faith showeth
it to us.
[2.] Faith is necessary, that we may not judge by the present, not
looking to what is to come. He that looketh upon the first rude draught
of any notable work seeth no beauty in it : Ps. xxxi. 22, ' For I said
in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes ; ' and Ps. cxvi. 11,
' I said in my haste, All men are liars/ David was fain to eat his
words spoken in haste. The fumes of passion and carnal affection
132 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
blind the mind, that we look only to what is present. David was
quieted when he saw their end, Ps. Ixxiii. 17. This settled him a-nd
satisfied him, to consider what this will be in the issue. The end puts
the difference.
2, To teach us to carry ourselves heroically, above our present con
dition, not as overcome and dejected by it unto an uncomely sorrow :
2 Cor. iv, 16, ' For this cause we faint not ; for though our outward
man perish, our inward man is renewed day by day.' He was happy
in the increase of comfort and grace by the decrease of worldly felicity,
by his outward pressures being the more incited, and made the more
towardly to the performance of his duty : 2 Cor. vi. 8-10, ' By honour
and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers, and yet
true ; as unknown, and yet well known ; as dying, and behold we live ;
as chastened, and not killed ; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing ; as poor,
yet making many rich ; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.'
Thus doth a Christian live above his outward estate by faith ; if con-
tumeliously used by some, yet reverently respected by others ; though
vilified by some, yet commended by others ; ' deceivers, yet true/ that
is, though he was represented as an impostor, yet those that had eyes
to see might easily see and find him to be a faithful dispenser of the
truths of God. Good Christians are persuaded of it, and the wicked
are convinced of it, however they seem to dissemble it ; we are looked
upon by some as if they knew us not, yet by others we are owned and
valued ; in danger, but yet sustained ; exercised with a little affliction,
yet we have a being and an opportunity of service ; looked upon as
miserable, and in a sinking condition, yet always cheerful, rejoicing in
the testimony of a good conscience ; as poor, and having little of
worldly substance, yet enriching others with grace and the gifts of the
Spirit ; as having nothing, yet we are so provided for by God's pro
vidence as to want nothing that is necessary and useful for us ; not
having the wealth of the world in our hands, yet having enough for
necessary use with contentment. Thus should a Christian live above,
yea, contrary to his worldly condition. Once more, hear Paul again
expressing his condition : 2 Cor. iv. 8, 9, ' We are troubled on every
side, but not distressed ; we are perplexed, but not in despair ; perse
cuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not destroyed ; ' wrestling with
all difficulties, yet sustained by an invisible assistance ; brought to ex
tremity as to any secular and human means, yet carried through.
This should be the temper of a gracious heart, never more exalted
than in his low degree, never more humble than when most exalted ;
still there is work for faith, but no ground for discouragement.
3. To see it made up in God what is wanting in the creature. A
Christian's life is made up of riddles and mysteries ; he wanteth all
things, and yet he hath all things, and can see fulness of supplies in
the midst of want, and an all-sufficiency in God, when there is no means
of outward help. As a wicked man in the midst of his sufficiency is in
straits : Job xx. 22, ' In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in
straits ; ' so a godly man in the midst of his wants can satisfy himself
in God. It is the happiness of heaven to have all things in God, with
out the intervention of means, for there ' God is all in all/ 1 Cor. xv
28. The life of faith is but heaven anticipated and begun : Hab. iii
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 133
18, ' Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my
salvation.' Yet, that is, * though the fig-tree do not blossom, and the
labour of the olive fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall
be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herds in the stall,' ver.
17. When all outward supplies are cut off, to rejoice in such a low
condition, that is faith indeed. As David, when all was lost at Ziklag :
1 Sam. xxx. 6, ' David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.' That
is living by faith indeed, when God's all-sufficiency is enough to us.
4. To wait on the Lord for a final and sanctified issue out of all our
afflictions : Ps. xxxvii. 7, ' Best in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.'
This waiting is an act of dependence on God as the fountain of our life
and happiness, though he seem to turn away from us : Micah vii. 7, ' I
will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation/ And
an act of patience, or tarrying the Lord's leisure : he that waiteth,
must be content to stay: Isa. xxviii. 16, 'He that believeth shall not
make haste/ Faith doth patiently attend upon God: Ps. xl. 1, 'I
waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined his ear unto me, and
heard my cry/ It is not enough to wait for a while, but to wait till
the blessing cometh. And it is an act of hope, or an expectation of a
comfortable issue : Isa. viii. 17, * I will wait upon the Lord that hideth
his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him ; ' notwith
standing the present tokens of his wrath and displeasure. He that
waiteth is in expectation to receive. Now if we could bring our hearts
thus to wait upon God patiently, a blessed end would surely follow ;
for none ever waited but they found the deliverance come in due time :
Isa. xxv. 9, ' Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will
save us ; this is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad and
rejoice in his salvation/ But we are hasty and precipitant, and must
have present satisfaction, or else the promises are not for our turn ; our
dependence is loose, our patience is quickly tired, and our hope soon
lost. When the people saw that Moses stayed too long in the mount^
then presently they must have an idol. Samuel directed Saul to go to
Gilgal, and there to tarry for him seven days, 1 Sam. x. 8. Saul
tarried till the seventh day was come, but could not tarry till the
seventh day was over and past, therefore he himself offered sacrifice,
1 Sam. xiii. 12, which cost him the loss of his kingdom. So many bear
out a while, but cannot tarry till our Lord cometh to take his work into
his own hands, and so miscarry in the very haven, just when God is
about to right the wrongs done to his people.
5. Obstinately to cleave to God when he seemeth to thrust us from
him by many disappointments : Job xiii. 15, ' Though he slay me, yet
I will trust in him/ This is a holy obstinacy that is very acceptable to
God : such as blind Bartimeus showed : Mark x. 48, ' Many charged
him that he should hold his peace, but he cried the more, Thou son of
David, have mercy on me ! ' or as the woman of Canaan, that standeth
fending and proving with Christ till he giveth her satisfaction, and telleth
her, c woman ! great is thy faith ; be it unto thee, as thou wilt,' Mat.
xv. 28. When we turn discouragements into motives of believing, and
draw so much the nearer to Christ as he seemeth to drive us away from
him, it will be well with such in the issue. For however God seemeth
to wrestle with such for a while, yet it is with a purpose to give faith
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
the victory, and to yield up himself to do for us what our souls desire
of him. This holy obstinacy of faith we should get. Lukewarm deal
ing, however it may please us in a calm day, yet when we are to conflict
with great difficulties, and delays of deliverance, nothing but such a
kind of faith will make us hold out. You pray, and God keepeth
silence, and will not seem to take notice for a time ; as the woman of
Canaan called to Christ, and he ' answered her not a word,' Mat. xv.
23. It is not said he heard her not a word, but he answered her not a
word : these two differ, Christ often heareth when he doth not answer ;
his not answering is indeed an answer, and speaketh this, Pray on,
continue your crying still, the door is kept bolted that you may knock
again. Afterwards he gives her a rebuke ver, 26, ' It is not meet to
take the children's bread, and cast it to the dogs: Observe, first ' he
answers her not a word : ? and then he gave an answer to the disciples,
not to the woman, and the answer is sad, She is not within my com
mission ' I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel ,'
ver. 24. Yet she came and saith, ' Lord, help me.' ver. 25. Then he
saith, ' It is not meet to take the children's bread, and give it to the
dogs:' But she fastens upon him, and turns discouragements into
arguments ( Truth. Lord, but the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall
from their master's table: ver, 27. Then Christ saith unto her, ' 0,
woman ! great is thy faith,' ver. 28. Thus when Christ seemciii to look
away from you, and to rebuke you, you should cleave to him the more
by a holy obstinacy of faith.
6. To look for the recompense of reward ; 2 Cor. iv, 18, ' "While we
look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which
are not seen are eternal.' Faith sees the eternal glorious things that
are to be enjoyed after this life. Certainly an object, though never so
glorious, cannot be seen without eyes ; if there be looking, there must
be an eye wherewith to look and see. Faith is the eye of the soul,
without which there can be no prospect of the other world. Therefore
faith is said to be * the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence
of things not seen/ Heb. xi. 1. If you would look at things invisible
by reason of their nature, as God, or by reason of their distance, as the
blessedness of the world to come, you must get faith, Nature is short
sighted. In things near at hand, reason is acute enough ; in things
that are afar off, we are stark blind ; we see little of anything beyond
this world to quicken us, to make that preparation that such eternal
things deserve. Therefore the wisest part of this world is taken up
with toys and trifles ; the sweetness of honours, and wealth, and pleasure
is easily known. Few can see the worth of these unseen things, only
those who can pierce above the clouds of this lower world, to the seat
of the blessed. The light of faith will make you see heaven, and
glory, and happiness, in the midst of deep pressures and afflictions,
7, To make us humble ourselves under God's mighty hand, owning
sin as the cause of all our miseries. Two things compose the heart to
quietness and submission to the will of God, to see the cause of afflic
tions, and the end of afflictions. The cause of afflictions is sin : Micah
vii. 9, ' I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned
against him;' Lev. xxvi. 41, 'If then their uncircumcised hearts be
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 135
humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity.'
When God is angry, it is our duty to stoop humbly under his afflicting
hand. The end of afflictions is for our good : Heb. xii. 9, 10, ' We have
had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence ;
shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live ?
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but
he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.' We must
be contented with God's methods, and submit to his discipline, let him
take what way and course he pleaseth to do us good.
Thirdly, I now come to the third rank, the effects of faith, and there
to speak of the influence of faith upon obedience, and the duties of
holiness. Distinct beings have a distinct principle, by which their life
is conducted and ordered ; a beast liveth by sense, a man by reason, and
a Christian by faith. By sense the beasts discern what is hurtful or
useful, agreeing or disagreeing with their natures ; mere human affairs
are guided by reason ; but all matters of Christianity, and of a spiritual
nature, are directed and improved by faith. Therefore, as we have
spoken hitherto of the influence of faith with respect to its objects, and
opposites ; now of its effects, because the whole business of Christianity
is conducted and quickened by it. Therefore I shall now treat of the
influence of faith upon obedience, and show you (1.) What obedience
is required of a Christian ; (2.) The necessity of faith as to this obed
ience ; (3.) What is the work of faith in order hereunto ; (4.) How we
shall bring our hearts thus to live in yielding obedience to God.
I. What obedience is required of us ; it is needful to state that, that
we may see it is no easy thing to walk with God. I think I need not go
one step further back to prove that obedience is necessary, notwith
standing the grace of the gospel. In the kingdom of grace we are not
our own masters, or at liberty to do what we will. Christ came, not
only as a saviour, but as a lawgiver, and accordingly hath given us laws
to try our obedience : Heb. v. 9, the apostle telleth us, ' He is become
the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.' Christ
came not into the world to lessen God's sovereignty or man's duty,
but to put us into a greater capacity to serve God ; and though love be
the great gospel duty, Bom. xiii. 10, yet by love is not meant a fellow-
like familiarity, but a cheerful subjection to the will of God : 1 John
v. 3, ' This is love, that we keep his commandments, and his command
ments are not grievous.' Therefore I think I need not go so far back,
but shall take the rise of my discourse from the next step. And sup
posing that obedience is required, I shall show you what obedience is
required and expected from us ; and that I shall do by a short view of
some few places of scripture. The first place I shall mention is,
1 Peter i. 15, ' But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy
in all manner of conversation/ No small thing is required of Christians,
but a conformity in some measure to the God whom they worship ;
the impression or stamp must be according to the engraving of the seal.
If we own God as the supreme being, worthy of all that respect and
worship that we give him, we must study to be like him ; no other
pattern is set before the eyes of the children of the Lord ; the holiest
upon earth is not a sufficient copy for us to imitate. Now as God is
holy, not only in regard of the purity of his essence, but also in regard
136 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
of the rectitude of his administrations : Ps. cxlv. 15 , ' The Lord is
righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works ; ' so a Christian
must not satisfy himself with an imaginary holiness within, but must
really manifest the frame of his heart in his conversation and visible
actings, that he may express God to the life, and be a perfect resem
blance of his purity to all that see him, and are conscious to his walking.
Yea, they must be holy ev Trday avaarpo^fj, ' in all manner of conversa-
that is, in every creek and turning of his life ; there is no part of his
conversation which ought not to savour of holiness ; not only his religious
but even his common and civil actions ought to be done in the Lord,
and for his glory. And in all conditions he ought to prove himself a
hater of what God hateth, and a lover of what God loveth. This is
one place that expresses a Christian's duty, and the Lord help us to
fulfil it. And as here our duty is expressed by holiness, and all manner
of holiness, so the next place will acquaint us with the branches of it.
And that is in Luke i. 74, 75, ' That being delivered out of the hands
of our enemies, we might serve him without fear, in holiness and
righteousness before him all the days of our lives.' Our duty there is
made the end of our deliverance ; Christ came to deliver us from the
curse of the law, but not from the duty of the law ; not that we might
not serve God, but that we might serve him the more cheerfully, with
out fear, with peace of conscience, and joy of heart. But how will God
be served ? and wherein must we express our duty to him ? There are
two words- ' In holiness and righteousness/ Holiness noteth our
consecrated estate, and expresseth the duties of the first table ; and
righteousness the duties of the second table; and both together, universal
obedience prescribed in both the tables of the moral law. Mark it, our duty
liethnotin external shows, but in inward and substantial graces, expressed
in a full conformity to the will of God. And this ' before him,' that is,
before the all-seeing God, to whom no hypocrite can be acceptable.
And ' all the days of our lives ; ' not for a fit or start, we must be con
stant all our life ; it is not enough to begin well, but we must hold out
in such a course. Take another place : Col. i. 10, ' That ye might
walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good
work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.' Still the work of a
Christian groweth upon our hands ; we are not only to be subject to
God, but with such a subjection as will become such a Lord to exactor
receive. And what is there not due to him ? ' Worthy of the Lord/
so as the world may see there is no terror comparable to his frowns, no
comfort comparable to his smiles, or the sense of his favour. There is
a repugnancy and unbeseemingness in a slight careless conversation
to so great a Lord as we profess to serve and obey. And this ' unto all
pleasing ; ' it is not enough to regard the matter of our actions, but
also the scope and end of them. A thing done may be good for the
matter, yet the end may be faulty ; as a piece of money may be good
metal, yet if it have not the king's stamp, it is not current ; there must
be in every action at least an habitual, and in actions more solemn and
weighty an actual purpose to please God by our obedient walking.
' Walk worthy of the Lord in all pleasing,' and that too with fruitful-
ness, that ye grow better every day, ' being fruitful in every good work.; '
praying better, hearing better, loving God more, and abounding in his
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 137
work ; and this not only in practising what we know, but searching
that we may know more of his will concerning us ' Increasing in the
knowledge of God.' If all this beget not in you a sufficient sense of
the duty that belongeth to a Christian, take one place more : Heb. xii.
28, ' Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let
us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence
and godly fear.' All the privileges of the gospel kingdom are given to
us to oblige us ' to serve God ; ' and if we would serve God, we must
* have grace,' that is, we must take fast hold of grace, otherwise we
have neither heart, nor hand to serve him. But how will God be served ?
* Acceptably,' in a cheerful manner, as being persuaded of his accept
ance and good- will to us in Christ. And then in the other part of this
scripture our duty is expressed by two words ' Reverence and godly
fear.' 'Reverence/ in God's service, looketh at his excellency and
glorious majesty, that there may be a due respect shown to him,
and at our unworthiness, and the infinite distance between him and
us a sense of our vileness to come near him, and to be concerned in
anything that concerneth his glory, who is so great a God. And then
with ' godly fear/ that we may circumspectly handle and meddle with
his service, with a care riot to offend, but please him in all things ; as
with the greatest humility, so with the greatest caution. By this time
I suppose you see what it is to serve God, and what obedience is
required of us ; that he will not be put off with everything. No, he
requireth that men should be like him, walk worthy of him, in holiness
and righteousness all their days, and that with reverence and godly
fear.
II. I shall show the necessity of faith as to this obedience. Faith
is necessary (1.) As to God's acceptance ; (2.) And our encourage
ment ; (3.) From the nature of the thing itself.
1. It is necessary as to God's acceptance ; for nothing can please God
that is not done in faith : Heb. xi. 6, ' Without faith it is impossible
to please God/ It is so with respect to the person working, and it is
so with respect to the work itself.
[1.] With respect to the person working, because he is not within
the covenant of grace till he belie veth, ' but the wrath of God abideth
on him/ John iii. 36, e%0pa)v Swpa aSwpa. Enemies' gifts are giftless ;
the services of wicked men are but glittering sins. In the covenant of
grace God doth not accept of the person for the work's sake, but of the
work for the person's sake ; that is, because of his interest in Christ,
in whom alone he is well pleased. And therefore whatever we do must
be done in a believing state ; for our obedience is not acceptable in
itself, because of much defect and imperfection in it, but in and through
Jesus Christ.
[2.] With respect to the work itself. For unless it be quickened
by a true and lively faith, it is not acceptable to God ; for it is but the
carcass of a good work, without the life and soul of it. Superficially
the selfsame things may be done by a believer and a carnal man ; but
that is but the body of a duty, that which should animate it is an
obediential confidence, for all the motions, affections, and inclinations
of the soul, are swayed and inclined by faith ; 'as all motion is inspired
from the head, albeit we go upon our feet, and move with our hands.
138 THE LIFE QF FAITH.
So a firm assent to God's good-will and pleasure revealed to us hath a
sovereign command on every grace, to cause it to put forth an operation
proper lo it. All good acts regularly performed issue from faith, and
therefore they are called ' the work of faith/ 2 Thes. ii. 11. Well
then, to our acceptance, the person must be accepted, before the work
can please God ; and that service is rightly qualified which proceedeth
from faith in Christ, is conformable to the word, and tendeth to God's
glory.
2. As to our encouragement, that we may serve the Lord readily and
cheerfully, when we hear of so much duty, as was intimated before.
Alas ! what shall we do that are ' beset with sin ? ' ^Heb. xii. 1. What
shall we do that find sin always * present with us ? * as Paul groaningly
complains of it : Kom. vii. 21. ' I find then a law, that when I would
do good, evil is present with me.' Christians are often discouraged
with the thoughts of their own weakness and vileness, and the impor
tunate returns of their lusts, and are ready to say, we shall never do
anything, or to any good purpose. Therefore, till they be persuaded
of God's help and grace, they do but coldly set upon the practice of holy
duties, stagger much, and are off and on, often fainting at the difficulty
of the work, dismayed at their manifold slips, their service groweth
tedious and troublesome, and their want of faith occasioneth doubts
and fears, and deadness and uncheerfulness. so that they drive on
heavily in the Lord's work. But now faith, on the other side, keepeth
us close to the commandment, and causeth us to rest upon the Lord
for ability to do what he requireth, and comforts us with the acceptance
of our sincere and unfeigned services, though weak and imperfect, and
so causeth us to go about it with cheerfulness, life, and vigour. Was
it not an encouragement to Moses when God said unto him, Exod. iv.
12, ' Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee
what thou shalt say : ? And was it not enough to encourage the
disciples when Christ said, ' I will be with you always, to the end of
the world ' ? Mat. xxviii. 20. And doth it not exceedingly quicken us
to remember that God will help our infirmities, and accept of our
sincere endeavours, and reward our sorry services with eternal life ?
What will put life and heart into us, except these promises do ?
3. Faith is necessary from the nature of the thing itself, because of
the inseparable connection between faith and obedience, as between
the cause and the effect. Take faith either for assent, or for dependence,
or a confident relying upon God's mercy in Christ, still there is this
connection between faith and obedience.
[1.] Take faith for an assent. Faith produceth it where it is in any
life and vigour ; therefore it is called ' the obedience of faith,' Kom. i.
5, and Eom. xvi. 26, as being begotten by it. Faith is not without
obedience ; there will be a reverent subjection to God if we believe he
is, and doth govern the world. Nay, there is not only such a connection
between faith and obedience as there is between the cause and effect,
but in some respect such a connection as between branches growing out
of the same root, or acts of the same grace. The same grace that pro
duceth assent produceth^ obedience ; by faith we assent to every part of
God's known will as good and fit to be observed by us. Now if this
assent be real, you will assent to his commands as well as to his
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 139
promises, and see a necessity of obeying the one as well as resting
upon the other : Ps. cxix. 66, ' Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I have believed thy commandments/ There is a faith that is con
versant about the commands as well as the promises ; these are part
of his word, and therefore must be believed. Faith is an assent to the
whole doctrine of God, not only that part which concerneth our privi
leges, but that other part which concerneth our duty ; the one part is
as true as the other, and if we assent to it heartily, or ' receive the
word gladly/' Acts ii. 41, we are bound to acknowledge the precepts as
well as to expect the graces and benefits of the new covenant.
[2.] Take faith for dependence, or a confident relying upon God's
mercy in Christ, and still faith and holiness are near akin, and do one
imply the other. Partly, because when we choose and accept of Christ,
we choose and accept of him as a lord and king, as well as a saviour :
Acts v. 31, ' Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince
and a saviour,' for Christ is the perfect antitype to Melchisedec king
of Salem, which is by interpretation, ' king of righteousness, and after
that, king of peace.' As a saviour to beget peace, so a king to command
the heart ; so that if we take Christ with all his titles, we must necessarily
mingle resolutions of duty with expectations of mercy ; and as we thrive
in the one, we grow in the other. Our confidence in God's mercy can
be no greater than our fidelity to God's commands. When love to the
world or the flesh tempts us to omit any part of our duty, or work any
disorder in our souls, Satan will easily weaken our confidence thereby,
and sin will breed distrust, when the soul is serious. Confidence and
comfort follow grace, as heat doth fire ; and fears and doubts follow
sin, as pain doth the pricking of a needle, or some sharp thing where
with a man goreth himself. And partly, because faith in this sense is an
act of obedience to God's will, and therefore draweth all other parts of
obedience along with it ; for we believe in Christ, because God hath
commanded it : 1 John iii. 23, ' And this is his commandment, that we
should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ ; ' and John vi. 29,
' This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.'
Many times a poor soul hath no other motive and encouragement, but
ventureth in the face of difficulties on the encouragement of a com
mand; as Peter: Luke v. 5, 'We have toiled all night, and taken
nothing ; nevertheless, at thy command, I will let down the net.' So
say. Lord 1 I am an unworthy, poor, frail creature ; yet at thy command
I will believe. Well then, I reason thus, that which is itself the
obedience of a command cannot be the cause of disobedience. We must
not pick and choose ; the main work doth not exclude the rest, but
enforce it. Certainly if we believe on God's command, we will make
conscience of other things that are commanded, as well as faith ; for
he is truly obedient to no precept that doth not obey all : James ii. 10,
' Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he
is guilty of all.' The same reason that maketh us believe, upon
believing will make us obey God in other things, for all are enforced
by the same authority. And partly, because this dependence of faith is
the endeavour of a contrite or broken heart to come out of his misery,
and to seek happiness of God by Christ. Now a broken heart cannot
wax wanton against God ; if we seek our relief by Christ, we cannot
140 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
allow ourselves in rebellion against Christ : there is a contradiction in
the thing ; he cannot be an enemy to Christ, and hate him in whom
he would trust. Among men dependence begets observance : Ps. cxxiii.
2, ' Behold, as the eyes of servants look upon the hand of their masters,
and as the eyes of a maiden on the hand of her mistress ; so our eyes
wait upon the Lord our God until that he hath mercy upon us ; ' or
rather: Phil. ii. 12, 13, ' Work out your salvation with fear and trem
bling, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do/ Men
will not offend him from whom they look for their all. So that
dependence and obedience mutually infer one another.
III. I come to the third thing, to show what faith doth in order to
obedience.
1. It urgeth the soul with God's authority, and chargeth the heart,
as it will answer it to him another day, not to neglect or despise the
duty we owe to him. It is faith alone that doth acknowledge and im
prove God's sovereignty, and worketh the sense of it into the heart to
any purpose. And that for these reasons
[1.] Because the governor is invisible, and we do not see him that
is invisible but by faith : Heb. xi. 27, ' For he endured, as seeing him
who is invisible.' Temporal potentates are before our eyes, their ter
rors and rewards are matter of sense. That there is an infinite, and
eternal, and all-wise Spirit, who made all things, and therefore hath a
right to command and give laws to all things, reason will in part tell
us. But faith doth much more assure the soul of it, and impresseth
the dread and awe of Gocl as if it did see him with bodily eyes.
[2.] Because it must appear that this is the will of this supreme
being. As the ruler is invisible, so none without faith can believe that
those commands are God's commands, holy, just, and good, without
which persuasion there can be no obedience : 1 Thes. ii. 13, ' When ye
received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it, not as
the word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which worketh
effectually also in you that believe/ There is need of faith to see that
they be God's laws ; for it is not matter of sense, that the scripture is
the expression of his commanding and legislative will, whereby he
showeth to man what is holy, just, and good, andbindingly determineth
his duty : Micah vi. 8, ( He hath showed thee, man, what is good ;
and what cloth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God ? '
[3.] And partly, because many of these commands are contrary to
natural reason, and are not so evident by those common rules by which
we judge of things. Contrary to natural reason : Heb. xi. 17, ' And he
that had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son ; ' and
ver. 30, the compassing Jericho seven days, to natural reason, was a
very unlikely means to make the walls fall down. So Abraham, con
trary to natural affection, offered his son ; and ' when he was called to
go into a place, which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed ;
and he went forth, not knowing whither he went,' Heb. xi. 8. There
is cultus naturalis and cultus institutus natural worship and in
stituted worship ; as Naaman's washing seven times in Jordan, 2
Kings v. 10. Some commands of God carry their own reason and
evidence with them, others stand only upon the authority of his in-
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
stitution, which no natural light could ever reveal to us, but only faith,
giving credit to the word of God.
[4.] And partly, because we are not only to see God in the command
and see it urged bindingly, but to receive it with that reverence that
becometh so great a Lord. It is his command who ' is able to save and
to destroy/ James iv. 12. He hath potestatem vitcc et necis do or die ;
so that intuitus voluntatis, 1 Thes. iv. 3 ; and v. 18 ; 1 Peter ii. 15.
The sight of God's will is reason enough, and instead of all reasons to
a believer. Thus to charge the heart, that we may not shift and dis
tinguish ourselves out of our duty, there is need of faith, that we may
shake off sloth and negligence, much more all deceit and fraudulency ;
a general dogmatical faith will not serve the turn.
2. It uniteth us to Christ as a fountain of grace, without whom we
can do nothing : John xv. 5, ' Without me ye can do nothing.' We can
do nothing without Christ, nothing apart from Christ : 2 Cor. iii. 5,
' Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of our
selves but our sufficiency is of God.' Christ is the fountain from
whence all our supplies come : John i. 16, ' And of his fulness have we
all received, and grace for grace/ and all by virtue of our union with
him : 1 Cor. i. 30, ' Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption ; '
and the band of this union is faith : Eph. iii. 17, ' That Christ may
dwell in your hearts by faith/ As the Spirit on Christ's part, so faith
on ours ; and the more we act faith, the more clear and sensible it is :
John vi. 56, 57, ' He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood
dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and
I live by the Father : so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me ; '
as meat chewed and digested begets spirit and life, and is turned into
the eater's substance. Some do but taste Christ a little, and spit him.
out again ; but those that concoct and digest him, that embrace Christ,
and apply him by faith, and by a constant dependence, Christ doth
abide in them by his constant influence and quickening virtue. By
this spiritual union and mutual indwelling we are made partakers, not
only of his righteousness and merits, in order to our justification, but
also of his Spirit, in order to our sanctification. As the branches par
take of the sap of the root, and as members of the body are partakers
of the life of the soul by which the body is quickened ; so whosoever
is united to Christ, the Spirit of Christ dwelleth in him : Kom. viii. 9,
* Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he
is none of his ; ' and if the Spirit of God dwell in us, he will not suffer
us to be unholy and unfruitful,
3. Faith comforts and encourageth us by the promises of assistance,
acceptance, and reward.
[1.] By the promises of assistance. Alas ! in ourselves we are weak
and of no strength, and so our hearts are faint, and our hands feeble.
Duty can never be done without God's sanctifying grace ' Let us have
grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly
fear/ Heb. xii. 28. It must be so, or we are quite discouraged. There
must be both habitual grace, which giveth a general readiness and
preparation of heart for the actions of the new life : Eph. ii. 10, ' We
142 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
are his workmanship, created in Jesus Christ unto good works ; * a
bowl is first made round before it can run round ; we cannot act with
out a principle, without divine qualities infused ; and also actual
grace, by which God doth excite that grace which is infused into us :
Heb. xiii. 21, ' The Lord make yon perfect in every good work, to do
his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight.' God
doth continually co-operate and work in us and with us. As providence
is a continual creation, so is assisting grace a continuation of God's re
newing work ; he is at the beginning, middle, and end of every good
action : Phil. ii. 13, ' He worketh in us both to will and to do.' Now
this is a great encouragement to ply the oar, when we have wind and
tide with us ; the soul groweth into a confidence, and is much encour
aged to lift up the feeble hands and strengthen the weak knees : Isa.
xlv. 24, ' Surely shall one say, In the Lord I have righteousness and
strength.' Comfort and spiritual ability increase as God strengthens
us in the promise : Phil. iv. 13, 'I can do all things through Christ
that strengthens me.' Assurance of help encourageth us to work.
[2.] By promises of acceptance. We drive on heavily when we
know not whether God will accept of our work, yea or no ; as he that
serveth a hard master that is always finding fault, hath no mind to
his work. To take off this discouragement, God doth often promise to
accept of what we do through the assistance of his Spirit : Kom. xii.
1, 'Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God;'
1 Peter ii. 5, ' Ye are an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ/ Our sacrifices are not sin-
offerings, but thank-offerings ; as the dedication of ourselves to God's
service : Kom. xii. 1, ' Present your bodies a living sacrifice ; ' i.e., peni
tent and humble supplications : Ps. Ii. 17, c The sacrifices of God are
a broken spirit,' and offering praise to God : Heb. xiii. 15, ' By him
therefore let us offer unto God the sacrifice of praise continually, that
is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name ; ' so charity to the
saints : Phil. iv. 18, ' I have received the things which were sent from
you, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God ; ' and all these in
testimony of our thankfulness to Christ in offering up himself as a
sin-offering. All spiritual sacrifices must be done in a spiritual man
ner ; these are acceptable to the Lord, not for any worth that is in
them or advantage that can be in them, but because they are presented
to God by Jesus Christ, who taketh away the iniquity of our holy things:
Exod. xxviii. 38, ' And he shall bear the iniquities of the holy things,
which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts, that
they maybe accepted before the Lord ;' and he perfumeth our services
with the incense of his merits : Kev. viii. 3, ' There was given unto him
much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints/
Our iniquities are many, yet God's mercy is great, who will accept us
and our services that are unfeignedly performed to his glory. He
owneth his gracious work in us when what we do is good, and done by
a man in Christ, by strength drawn from Christ, and for God's glory,
though in itself it be weak : Mai. iii. 4, ' Then shall the offerings of
Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old,
and as in former years/ viz., when they are purified to be an holy
priesthood unto God ; so Isa. Ix. 7, < They shall come up with accept-
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 143
ance upon mine altar.' Many such promises as these there are in the
word of God everywhere, which is a great encouragement to poor souls
to do their utmost.
[3.] By promises of reward. Hope doth excite and whet endeavours.
We have no reason to be sluggish in God's service, for in the end it
will turn to a good account : 1 Cor. xv. 58, ' Be ye steadfast and un-
movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.' He hath interposed
his faithfulness, and laid his justice at pawn with us ; Heb. vi. 10,
' God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love.' If
God be a just God, we need not doubt; the rewards of religion are to
come, but where they are apprehended as certain and evident, they do
exceedingly encourage and strengthen the heart. It should be a shame
to us that when we have such wages we are no more hard at work.
When it is for the everlasting enjoyment of the ever-blessed God, shall
we tire and wax faint ?
4. Faith reasoneth and argueth in a most powerful and prevailing
way, with such arguments that a believer cannot say nay to them. It
reasoneth partly from what is past, and so all its arguments are dipped
in love, or a sense of God's kindness to us in Christ, and then they
must needs be forcible : Titus ii, 11, 12, ' For the grace of God that
bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us, that deny
ing ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly in this present world ; ' and Gal. v, 6, ' Faith worketh by
love ;' and Rom. xii. 1, ' I beseech you, by the mercies of God/ &c.
Faith sets love to plead for God, and love beareth all before it : 2 Cor.
v. 14, ' The love of Christ constraineth us ; ' so in the text, ' Who loved
me, and gave himself for me.' There is nothing like the pleadings of
faith ; he left heaven for our sakes, and took a body, and endured a
cursed death, and is gone to heaven to plead our cause with God ; he
hath pardoned so many sins, and what wilt thou then not do for him ?
Faith will take no repulse. And then faith reasoneth forward, partly
from hope, and partly from fear. From the eternal recompenses ; no
hopes equal to the rewards it proposeth, no fears comparable to the
terrors it representeth ; no pleasure like the joys of heaven, no terrors
like the torments of hell ; and so looking into the world to come, it
breaketh the violence of every contrary inclination : 2 Cor. iv. 17,
1 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,' and so quickens the
soul to follow hard after God, and overcometh the world, the great
hindrance of keeping the commandments : 1 John v. 4, ' This is the
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.'
IV. What shall we do, that faith may have such an influence upon
us?
1. Consider how just it is for God to command, and how reasonable
it is we should obey the supreme being ; his will is the reason of all
things, and who should give laws to the world but the universal
sovereign, who made all things out of nothing ? Whatsoever you are,
or have, you received it from the Lord ; and therefore whatever a
reasonable creature can do, you owe it to him. You are in continual
dependence upon him, ' for in him you live and move, and have your
144 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
ino-,' Acts xvii. 28 ; and he hath bought you and redeemed you, and
called you to life by Christ, 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20, ' You are not your
own, for ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God in your
body and* in your spirit, which are God's/ You owe your time and
strength, your life and love, all that you are and can do, you owe it all
to God.
2. He enjoineth nothing but what is good for us: Deut. vi. 24.
'And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the
Lord our God for our good ; ' and Deut. v. 29, '0 that there were such
an heart in them that they would fear me, and keep my command
ments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children
for ever/ God hath tempered his sovereignly to the reasonable crea
ture, and doth not rule us with a rod of iron, but with a sceptre of love.
3. That God loveth all that are good, and hateth all that are evil,
without any respect of persons : Acts x. 35, ' But in every nation, he
that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him ; ' and
Ps. v. 5, ' Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity ; ' the greater of
either kind the more, the lesser the less.
4. This must be laid up in the heart with a lively faith, and this
belief must prevail with us so far as to submit ourselves to God's will,
to like what he liketh and to hate what he hateth ; to love that best
which his word telleth us he loveth best, to hate that most which his
word telleth us he hateth most, though otherwise pleasant to our nat
ural inclination. But alas ! we mistake opinion for faith, or a cold
and dead assent for true believing. A hypocrite is not transformed by
his faith ; he talketh much of it, but he showeth little of the spirit of
it ; especially the fruit of obedience, which is most natural and proper
to it, and without which all other pretences are to little purpose ; as
the three children in the furnace, the fire had no power over them, nor
was one hair of their head singed, nor their coats changed ; no more
power hath the word upon their hearts. A true believer is changed
thereby : 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord ; ' Phil. iii. 10, ' That I
may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death/
5. That it is much better to obey the law of God than our own
affections, the lusts of the flesh, or the law of sin 'Not my will, but
thine be done,' so our Lord said, Luke xxii. 42. By retaining any
branch of our own wills unrenounced, or not resigned up into God's
hands, we give Satan a hold of us, and he will never let go the hold
till we cut off the member that offendeth ; it is as an halter about an
horse's neck, and we are as a bird that is caught by one claw, and as
an ambassador pursuing but part of his instructions. Indispositions
are so far from excusing, that they call for the more duty ; though we
cannot command the wind, yet we are to fit the sails.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 145
THE LIFE OF FAITH IN PBAYEE.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering ; for he that waveretli is
like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed.
JAS. i. 6.
I SHALL from this text further treat of the life of faith. Having spoken
of the influence and use of faith upon obedience, or the duties of holi
ness in general, I shall now speak of the use of faith in prayer.
In the context there is an exhortation to prayer, and in the text an
instruction how we should pray.
1. There is an exhortation to prayer in the fifth verse ' If any
man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God.' He presseth us to make an
advantage of our wants, and to look upon them as so many occasions
of recourse to God at the throne of grace ; and he encourageth them,
partly by the consideration of God's nature ' Who giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not/ We need not make scruples of con
sulting with God upon every occasion ; he is not backward to bestow
grace, nor is he wont to reproach those to whom he giveth anything ;
though prayer putteth God to it never so often and never so much, yet
he upbraideth none. And then he encourageth them partly by a pro
mise ' Let him ask, and it shall be given him/ It is said of Augustus
that he never sent away any from him sad ; it is true of the Lord, he
doth not send away his worshippers sad ' Ask, and it shall be given
you ; ' prayer will not be a fruitless labour.
2. In the text there is an instruction how we should pray, which is
laid down and enforced.
[1.] It is laid down to prevent mistakes ' Let him ask in faith/
[2] It is enforced by a reason ab mcommodo, from the inconveniency
of not asking in faith ' For he that wavereth is like a wave of the
sea, driven with the wind and tossed/ Wavering and doubting keep
men in a perpetual tempest and agitation of mind, roving to and fro
from one dependence to another, as the waves of the sea are carried
hither and thither.
Doct. That none pray aright, but those that pray in faith.
Faith is all in all in prayer ' The prayer of faith shall save the
sick,' James v. 15. It is not prayer simply, but the faith in prayer
that prevaileth with God for a gracious answer ; so Mat. xxi. 21, 22,
' If ye have faith, and doubt not, ... all things whatsoever ye shall
ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive/ The grant and answer is
suspended upon that condition, for God will not exercise his power till
we rest upon it. In short, faith and prayer are inseparable companions,
like Hippocrates' twins, they live and die together ; they are begotten
together, and grow up together, and die together.
1. They are begotten together, for faith beginneth its life in crying
unto God. The first grace that is acted is faith, and the first duty
when grace is infused is prayer : Zech. xii. 10, ' I will pour upon them
the spirit of grace and supplication ; and Paul after his conversion, the
first news we hear of him is, ' Behold, he prayeth,' Acts ix. 11. As
VOL. xv. K
146 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
the new-born babe falls a-crying ; so, as soon as we are born again, the
first work that is set upon is prayer.
2. They grow up together, mutually strengthening and increasing,
and setting one another a- work ; Ps. Ixii. 8, ' Trust in the Lord at all
times, pour out your hearts before him.' Trust vents itself in prayer,
and prayer increaseth trust, for in prayer the principles of confidence
are solemnly drawn into the view of conscience..
3. Because they end together. When we come to die, faith is
resolved into sight, and prayer into an uninterrupted praise.
Now for the clearing of this point
First, I shall show you what is that faith that is requisite in prayer.
Divers thoughts and opinions there are about it : I will not perplex
you with them, but conceive it thus : it is a confidence that our prayers
shall be heard ; that is the faith that is required in prayer : 1 John
v. 14, ( And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we
ask anything according to his will, he heareth us."
This confidence that we shall be heard containeth many things in it.
1. A believing that there is a God, or else why should we pray unto
him ? Heb. xi. 6, ' He that cometh to God must believe that God is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him ; ' other
wise all our devotion will be but customary and for fashion's sake, or a
compliance with the vulgar error ; as one called it, eamus ad communem
errorem, when he spake of the worship of God. Unless we have this
persuasion that God is, all is nothing.
2. That he is such an infinite being that he can supply all the
wants of the creatures, and accomplish all their desires : Eph. iii. 20,
* Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all
that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us/
This is a main prop of confidence in prayer, that God is able not only
' to exceed our prayers, but our conceptions and hopes : so 2 Chron, xx. 6,
And he said, Lord God of our fathers ! art not thou God in
heaven ? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen ?
and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able
to withstand thee ? ' Faith sets prayer a-work, and prayer sets the
almighty power of that God a-work, and hath a universal empire and do
minion over all the world, and all the events and affairs of the world ;
and therefore our Lord Jesus Christ layeth down this as a ground for
prayer' Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory ; ' he can set
all things a-work for the glory of his name, and for the good of his
people.
3. That he is omniscient as well as omnipotent, he knoweth what
we do and speak, when and where any poor creature is praying to him :
Acts ix. 11, < Arise, and go into the street that is called Straight, and
inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold
he prayeth/ God observeth you in your most private and secret re
tirements; in what corner of the house soever we are, he knoweth
what we are a-doing, whether we are toying or praying, for it is said
in what street Saul was, and in what house, and what he was doing :
so Mai. iii. 16, ' Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to the
other, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance
was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 147
upon his name.' God taketh notice of every word we speak to him, or
of him, or for him. We cannot hear many speaking at once, because
we are finite creatures, but God heareth all the world over, and know-
eth how to interpret the secret groans and motions of the heart : Rom.
viii. 27, ' He that searcheth the heart knoweth the mind of the Spirit.'
We do not speak to an absent God, but to one that looks into the
secret corners of our heart, to one that is always present and near at hand.
4. That God is ready to hear and answer our prayers : Ps. Ixv. 2,
'0 thou that nearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.' He hath
taken the name upon him of a God hearing prayer ; it is his nature
and property, it is his work and constant practice ; what hath God
been doing for thousands of years, but receiving the addresses of his
people ? yea, it is his delight and glory, he will be known by it ; there
fore he is called the ' Father of mercies/ 2 Cor. i. 3, as being the
fountain of all grace, and ' rich in mercy to all that call upon him,'
Rom. x. 12. He is more ready to give than we are to ask ; yea, he
giveth unasked, and more than we ask ; and his quarrel with us is,
because we do not ask enough.
5. That God will stand to his word, which is the rule of commerce
between him and his creatures. This assurance he hath given to the
church : Ps. cxxxviii. 2, ' Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy
name/ that is, above all that is famed and spoken of God ; you have
him puncl nal in making good his promises. The heathens had two
notions of their gods, that they always kept touch with their worship
pers, and were ready to do them good. They are both true of the
great and living God whom we serve in the spirit ; we may put the
humble challenge upon him, and mind him of his word : Ps. cxix. 49,
* Remember thy word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused
me to hope ; ' and by this we exceedingly encourage ourselves to deal
with him, when we have his promise to show for it ; 2 Sam. vii. 27,
'For thou, Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed unto thy
servant, saying, I will build thee an house, therefore hath thy servant
found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.' The attributes of
God apprehended at large have not such a force upon the soul as when
he is obliged and bound by his promise, and therefore this is a great
holdfast upon God.
6. That God will both accept of our persons and prayers in Christ,
the son of his love, in whom he is well pleased : Eph. i. 6, 'Who hath
accepted us in the Beloved, to the praise of his glorious grace ; ' this is
the proper ground of prayer. Christ was sparingly revealed in the old
testament, yet when they prayed, they looked towards the temple, where
were the figures, and symbolical representations of Christ; yea, some
of them spake out : Dan. ix. 17, ' Now therefore, our God, hear the
prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine
upon thy sanctuary, that is desolate, for the Lord's sake/ Jesus Christ
was a mediator to the church in the old testament, but sparingly known ;
but now to us he is plentifully made known: Eph. iii. 12, 'In whom
we have boldness, and access with confidence, by the faith of him/
Our encouragement of pleading, and our hopes of acceptance, must be
grounded upon his merit and intercession, and the Father's love to
him, and to poor sinners in and through him.
148 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
7. Out of all this there resulteth an actual reliance upon God,
according to these terms, for the acceptance of our persons, and the
answer of all our requests and supplications : 1 John v. 15, 'And if
we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have
the petitions that we desired of him.' Keep to the rule of prayer, ask
the things that are agreeable to God's will and conducible to his glory,
and fit for us to receive in our station, and then though they be ever
so difficult, ever so many in number, ever so presently needed, we are
confident we shall have the petitions we ask. Indeed it doth not open
a door for us to expect the fulfilling of all our desires, and promises of
our own making ; if we interpret it so, it is horrible presumption, as
you know it is to forge a bond ; this maketh for God's dishonour, and
is an ungrounded confidence ; but ask regularly, according to God's
will, you may be sure God will grant what you ask.
But how can we thus rely upon God, and have confidence that we
shall be answered in all our particular requests, since mercies asked
are so various, some absolutely promised, and some only conditionally,
and temporal things are not always granted in kind.
Ans. 1. Prayer may be heard when it is not answered with success ;
Daniel was heard as soon as he prayed : Dan. ix. 23, ' At the beginning
of thy supplications the commandment came forth ; ' but yet, Dan. x.
12, 13, there was some stop, and some time before it could be brought
about. The Lord heareth presently, but giveth in comfort afterwards ;
prayer put up in Christ's name gets a hearing presently, and in time
gets an answer. God will exercise our faith for a while, to believe
this, though we see it not ; and he will exercise our patience for a
while, to wait for his leisure, and in the meantime encourageth us to
believe that prayer is heard, when it is not answered at all in kind.
Therefore we must distinguish between God's hearing and answering
the prayers of his saints ; God will take his own way and time for
giving in answers of prayer to his people. Mordecai's name stood in
Ahasuerus's books some time before his honour was conferred upon
him. You may not hear of God for a good while, but you shall hear
of him at length. Abraham prayed for a child, but many years inter
vened before he had him in his arms. Our Lord Jesus Christ was
heard as to the success of his death, in the victory over his enemies,
but not as to the taking away of the cup: Heb. v. 7, 'Who in the
days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications
with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from
death, and was heard in that he feared.'
2. We may be sure that prayers are granted, so far as they are
asked regularly : 1 John v. 14, ' And this is the confidence that we
have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth
us.' What is it to ask according to his will ? It concerns the person,.
the matter, the manner, and the end of prayer ; si boni petant bona r
bene, ad bonum.
[1.] The person or the petitioner, he must be one that serveth God :
1 John iii. 22, ' And whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we
keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his
sight/ He that serveth God and pleaseth God is sure to be accepted ;
so James v. 16, 'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 149
availeth much.' What have others to do to come in Christ's name ?
Naturalists speak of a jewel of great virtue, which, being put into a
dead man's mouth, loseth all its virtue so prayer, though it be of
wonderful use and virtue, yet put into the mouth of a dead man, one
that is dead in trespasses and sins, and is not made alive by Christ, it
is of no virtue and efficacy with God.
[2.] For the matter, it must be according to the will of God ; it
must be good and lawful, such things as God seeth fit for us ; it must
be conformable to his revealed will, and with submission to his secret
will ; not contrary to his word, nor against his decrees.
(1.) It must be according to his revealed will. The throne of grace
is not set up that we may come and vent our sudden distempered pas
sions before the Lord, or to set God a task to provide meat for our
lusts. When the disciples would have called for fire from heaven,
Luke ix. 54, 55, Christ saith unto them, ' Ye know not what manner
of spirit ye are of.' We are soon transported into uncomely passion,
and we would have enemies confounded. Many times a child of God
goes on the devil's errand ; we are his messengers when revenge sets
us a-work.
(2.) With submission to his secret will ; Mat. xxvi. 39, ' Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me ; nevertheless, not as I will,
but as thou wilt.' Christ, as mediator, was subject to his Father's will.
So we pray aright when we pray that if God see it good for us, to give
the thing we desire ; if it be hurtful to us, God will not hear ; in that
case denying is a greater mercy than granting. As the heathens
observed it too great a facility in their gods to grant men their wishes
to their ruin. Herod was too lavish when he gave his minion leave to
ask what she would to the half of the kingdom.
[3.] The will of God falleth upon the manner too ; it must be with
fervency, that our hearts may be upon the work : Mat. vii. 7", ' Ask,
and ye shall have ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you.' We must return upon God with renewed importunity
[4.] The will of God falleth upon the end too : James iv, 3, ' Ye
ask, and receive not ; because you ask amiss, to consume it upon your
lusts.' God will not provide meat for our lusts ; this were to debauch
the throne of grace.
3. I answer, that faith is to be acted in prayer for temporal mercies ;
for both spiritual and temporal mercies and blessings are promised,
and whatever is the matter of a promise is the object of faith. God
will be as punctual in the lesser matters which concern the present life,
as in the weightier matters that concern thy eternal happiness ; so that
lie will either give them in specie, in kind, or in value. It is fit that
God should judge of it, whether a temporal enjoyment will be good for
us, or when he will give something in lieu of it ; we are to acquiesce in
his good providence for our provision here, as well as our salvation
hereafter, He is willing to take our care from us, Phil. iv. 6, 7 ; he in
tends not our loss, but our ease ; he will provide for us, and in the
issue will give us a full account of his love and faithfulness.
4. To act faith in prayer for temporal mercies is not to believe that
we shall have them in specie, in kind, but faith is to rely upon God's
power, submitting to his will : Mat. viii. 2, ' If thou wilt, thou canst
150 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
make me clean/ Unbelief thinks little of an invisible hand, and saith,
'Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?' Doubting of God's
power is the great thing that unbelief stumbleth at ; we must not con
clude against his will, but refer all things to his will, well knowing
that he is a good God, and a wise God, not troubling ourselves about
events, but determining that he will cast all things for the best. This
is the faith that we are to have in conditional promises.
Secondly, Let me show you the necessity of praying in faith.
1. Without faith prayer is not acceptable to God : Heb. xi. 6, ' With
out faith it is impossible to please God.' God doth not look to the
eloquence of a prayer ; carnal men, that have no grace, may have great
gifts of speech and flowing of language ; nor doth God look merely to
the ardour of affection, for lust may make men earnest, and beget in us
rapid motions ; but he looks to the prayer of faith.
2. No prayer hath life in it but what is made in faith : Rom. x. 14,
' How shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed ? ' It is
but a mocking of God, to pray to him, unless we expect good of it ; we
do but come and repeat words for fashion's sake if we do not pray in
faith. Why should we address ourselves to him, if we make a question
of his power and good- will to help us ?
3. Faith is necessary, that we may not be dismayed with the diffi
culties and seeming impossibilities of obtaining what we need and ask
according to God's will. Many times mountains must be removed:
Mat. xxi. 21, ! If ye have faith, and doubt not ; . . . If ye say unto
this mountain, Be thou removed, and cast into the sea, it shall be
done.' It is true, not only in the age of miracles, but in all ages, here
are still mountains of oppositions, difficulties which seem as impossible
to remove as a mountain. Now this would shut up our mouths, and
make us languish in despair, if there were not faith to remove these
mountains i Zech. iv. 7. 'Who art thou, great mountain? before
Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain.' Faith apprehends nothing too
hard for God. How contemptible are those difficulties to a lively
active faith ? Who art thou, mountain ?
4. Faith is necessary, that we may resolve to stick fast to God, with
out carnal shifts, whatever cometh of it, and not to use any means of
deliverance, but what are every way consistent with our duty to God.
I take this to be the case of the text ; he speaks this when Christians
had divers cases to be resolved, saith he, ' Let us pray in faith, nothing
wavering ; ' and in ver. 8, ' A double-minded man is unstable in all
his ways : ' he is divided between God and the world, and in doubt
whether the ways of God be still to be adhered to and owned, and
whether we should continue waiting upon God quietly, however things
succeed with us, or else shift for ourselves. This man is in a waver
ing condition ; and therefore to keep us in a close adherency to God,
and in a quiet dependence upon him for the issue of all our troubles,
there is need of faith ; for he that cannot trust God cannot long to be
true to him. Therefore ' let him ask in faith,' that is, adhering to God's
all-sufficiency ; he that is persuaded of God's power and good- will, and
doth refer himself to him, to bear him out in his duty, 'this man will
be faithful to God.
5. Faith is necessary, that we may wait God's leisure : Hab. ii. 3,
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 151
' The vision is for an appointed time ; ' we must not be too hasty : Isa.
xxviii. 16, 'He that belie veth will not make haste.' Precipitancy is the
cause of much evil ; Saul could not tarry till Samuel came, but would
go and offer sacrifice himself, and that lost him his kingdom. So
when we are hasty, and cannot tarry the Lord's coming, we miscarry.
Use 1. Here is reproof
1. To them that will not pray, when God alloweth us, yea, commands
us, to pray in faith, and with a confidence that we shall speed the better.
If there were but a loose possibility, we should pray : Acts viii. 22,
' Eepent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee ; ' it is a very great diffi
culty, yet pray ; so Exod. xxxii. 30, ' And it came to pass on the
morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin,
and now I will go up unto the Lord, peradventure I shall make an
atonement for your sin ; ' so 2 Kings xix. 4, ' It may be the Lord thy
God will hear all the words of Babshakeh ; ' so Joel ii. 14, ' Who
knoweth, but the Lord will return, and repent, and leave a blessing
behind him ? ' Faith can stand upon one weak leg ; if there be but
a ' may be,' we should go to the throne of grace.
2. It reproveth those that do not look for any success in prayer, that
pray only out of course, and throw away their prayers ; as children
shoot away their arrows, and never look after them any more ; that do
not gather up the fruit of their prayers : Ps. v. 3, ' In the morning will
I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up ; ' a-nd Hab. ii. 1, ' I
will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower and will watch
to see what he will say unto me.' He was spying and observing what
came in by his dealing with God in prayer ; he was looking to see the
blessing coming. Besides, when we do not look after the success of
our prayers, we lose many gracious experiences that would confirm
our faith : Ps. xviii. 30, ' The word of the Lord is a tried word.' I
have found that it is not time lost to go and plead the promises with
God. And it will awaken our love : Ps. cxvi. 1, ' I will love the Lord,
because he hath heard the voice of my supplication ; ' and it will quicken
us to holy living, and a life of praise.
3. It reproveth those that have many doubtings and dark thoughts
about what they pray for, about the mercy and power of God ; this is
an evil incident to God's own children. There is a twofold unbelief, a
reigning unbelief, and a doubting unbelief. The reigning unbelief is
in those that were never acquainted with God : Mai. iii. 14, ' Ye have
said, It is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept
his ordinances ? ' But then there is a doubting unbelief, which is a
weakness left upon the saints, which though it make their prayers very
uncomfortable, yet it doth not make void their prayers ' O thou of
little faith! wherefore didst thou doubt?' Mat. xiv. 81. Peter ven
tured out of the ship, at Christ's call, but his feet were ready to sink
ever and anon. David was surprised with this unbelief, but the Lord
heard him : Ps. xxxi. 22, ' I said in my haste, I am cut off from before
thine eyes : nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplication
when I cried unto thee.' If faith, be weak, we must not cease to pray,
but pray the more, that faith may be confirmed, and that we may be
assured of God's favour, and may grow up into a confidence in this duty.
152 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
Use 2. Of exhortation, to persuade us to pray in faith. Now to this
end, consider what encouragements there are.
1. Consider what assurance Jesus Christ hath given us : John xvi.
23, ' Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father
in rny name, he will give it you.' There is a note of asseveration,
' Verily, verily.' Whatever our doubts and temptations he about it, the
word of God is to be tried ; do you think that Christ spake truth when
he said, ' Verily, verily.' So John xv. 7, ' If ye abide in me, and my words
abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto
you/ If Christ hath subdued your desires to a submission to God's
providence, and to the government of his laws, ask what you will, and
it shall be given you ; so John xiv. 13, 14, ' Whatsoever ye -shall ask in
my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.' Christ delighteth
in despatching the affairs of his people. As the vision was double, and
Pharaoh's dream was doubled for the greater assurance and certainty ;
so here Christ inculcateth his speech for the greater confirmation of it,
that we may be confident he meant as he spake.
2. In all your prayers to God consider how significant the name of
Christ is in heaven. If you come in the sense of your own unworthi-
ness, and desire alone to be accepted in him, you shall not be slighted
or neglected. If you send a child or a servant to a friend for a thing
in your name, the request is yours ; and he that denyeth a child or a
servant, denyeth you. Jesus Christ hath sent you in his name, Go ask
in my name ; so that in effect the request becomes Christ's request. God
can no more deny your request in Christ's name than he can deny Christ
himself.
3. Consider, how much God loveth you : John xvi. 27, ' For the
Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me ; ' his heart is
upon the things you ask for his glory. Now this is a mighty encour
agement ; as when Joab perceived the king's heart was towards
Absalom, 2 Sam. xiv. 1, compared with the following verses, he made
intercession by the woman of Tekoa. So when your desires are
regulated according to his will, and subordinated to his glory, his heart
is upon these requests.
4. Consider, the moans of the beasts and other dumb creatures are
regarded by him, and will not the Lord hear the prayers and supplica
tions of his people ? Ps. cxlv. 15, 16, ' The eyes of all things wait upon
thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest
thy hand and satisfiest the desires of every living thing/ When the
creatures gape for their refreshment, God satisfieth them. Now if the
Lord hath respect to them, will he not hear his own children ? Luke
xii. 24, * Consider the ravens : for they neither sow nor reap ; which
neither have store-house nor barn ; and God feedeth them : how much
more are you better than the fowls ? ' Such is. the Lord's overflow
ing love, that all the creatures have their wants supplied by his bounty.
5. Consider what kind of prayers have found acceptance with God.
Solomon's dream was pleasing to the Lord, 1 Kings iii. 5, compared
with vers. 9-13 ; the workings of his heart in his sleep were pleasing
to God. Many times through grief, and the prevalency of our dis
tempers, we are hardly able to put prayer into language ; but then
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 153
faith can send sighs to heaven. Words are but the outside of prayer ; it
is the actings of grace that lieth nearer the heart that is the prayer.
A dumb beggar can get an alms at Christ's gate by making signs. If
we be not tongue-tied with sin, and carnal liberty hath not brought an
indisposition upon us ; nay, a look finds acceptance with God : Ps. v.
3, ' My voice shalt thou hear in the morning ; in the morning will I
direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up? And the breathing out
our souls to God : Lam. iii. 5, 6, ' Thou hast heard my voice ; hide not
thine ear from my breathing.' Yea, broken words with spiritual affec
tions will be accepted with God ; nay, chattering, as Hezekiah chat
tered like a crane, Isa. xxxviii. 14. Our desires have a loud sound in
God's ears : Ps. x. 17, ' Lord, thou hast heard the desires of the
humble/ Desires make no sound with men, but with God they have
an audible voice. All this being put together, is a great comfort to
the soul that God will accept of a sigh, a groan, a look, a desire, a
dream ; these are more acceptable to him than the pen of a ready writer,
more than when we flow in words without spirit, life, and affection.
6. Consider the condescension of God, in parables relating to this
matter, Luke xi. 8 ; he speaketh there of a man that would not rise
to give loaves to another because he was his friend ; yet because of his
importunity, he would not be gone else, he arose and gave him. So
Luke xviii. 3-5, there was a clamorous widow and an unjust judge ; he
would not avenge her of her adversary for her sake, yet he did it, for
his own sake, and for his own quiet, ' lest by her continual coming she
weary me/ In these parables there is a condescension to our suspicious
thoughts, as if God had said, I know you think me tenacious and hard
hearted, that I am not willing to give grace ; I know these are your
secret thoughts, yet if I were so, see what importunity will do. Grant
it that your supposition were true, yet it becometh you to pray, and to
be earnest and instant, and see what I will do for you.
Use 3. If none pray aright but those that pray in faith, then let us
examine ourselves Do we pray in faith ? How shall we know that ?
Ans. By three things.
1. By the serenity and composure of your spirits in prayer. Hannah,
when she had poured out her heart before the Lord, 1 Sam. i. 18, it is
said, ' she went away, and her countenance was no more sad ; ' so when
thou hast made thy moan to God, thou findest a great deal of ease and
comfort come of it. As when the wind is shut up in the bowels of the
earth it causeth terrible convulsions and earthquakes till it get a vent ;
so there are many tempestuous agitations and workings of heart in us ;
but then a believer can go to God, and there ease his heart by pleading
his case before the Lord.
2. When thou continuest praying, though God seemeth to deny
thee ; when upon a denial thou dost return and fasten the more upon
him ; as the woman of Canaan cleaves the closer to Christ the more
he seemed to thrust her from him. Christ says to her Mat. xv. 26,
' It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs ; '
but she answers, ver. 27, ' Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs
that fall from their master's table/ It is a sign you expect something
from God when you will not be put off without it.
3. When you are satisfied with the promise before you enjoy the
154 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
thing promised : Ps. Ivi. 4, ' In God I will praise his word.' When
you can praise God for his word, though as yet you have not the per
formance ; you see the blessing in the root, and this bears up your
hearts.
THE LIFE OF FAITH IN HEAKING THE WOBD.
But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith
in them that heard it. HEB. iv. 2.
I AM now to show you the use of faith in hearing of the word.
It hath been sometimes said that there are many good laws, but
there wanteth one good law to put them all in execution ; so it may be
said you often hear good sermons, but there wanteth one good sermon
to persuade you to put the rest in practice. This is the design of this
text.
The apostle is proving in the context that it concerneth us to take
heed, by the example of the Israelites, that we do not miscarry through
unbelief. The ground of the argument is, that we have an offer of
rest as well as they, a merciful tender of eternal life, which he calleth
' a promise of entering into God's rest/ ver. 1. Though many occasions
of getting and doing be spent and gone, yet whilst it is to-day this offer
is continued to us ; and therefore we should stir up ourselves to lay hold
of it in time. For we are in danger as well as the Israelites. Those
that have like privileges may expect like judgments if they presume
upon them or do not improve them. Yea, we are rather more in
danger ; the gospel was preached to them but darkly and implicitly, to
us more clearly and fully. Canaan was but a type and figure of the
heavenly inheritance or eternal rest to be obtained by Jesus Christ ; yet
their unbelief was heinous, and cost them dear. The sum of the
apostle's reasoning is, they had gospel as well as we, and we shall have
judgments as well as they; he giveth a reason of their judgment for
our warning, though they had gospel in the wilderness, ' yefc the word
preached did not profit them,' &c.
In the words take notice (1.) Of an event ; (2.) The reason of it.
1. The event,- The word preached did not profit them ; in which,
assertion we have
[1.] The subject, The word preached, \6yo$ a/cofy, the word of
hearing, they did, or might hear it,
[2.] The predicate, Did not profit them ; that is, they got neither
title to nor possession of eternal rest by it. That deserveth the name
of profit, because it is the greatest good that God did ever give or man
is capable of ; and all is nothing without this, loss rather than profit
to the soul, whatever we get by it. If a man get knowledge by the
word, or honour and credit by the word, by professing or preaching it,
yet if he doth not get a title to heaven, or a right to enter into God's
rest, he doth not profit by it ' The word did not profit them/
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 155
2. The reason of the event. Some read the text, * Because they
were not united by faith to it ; ' so is the marginal note, and Chryso-
stom and many others go that way, and they explain it thus : the
greatest part of Israel were not of the mind whereof Caleb, and Joshua,
and others were, who believed God's promise of bringing them into
Canaan, and thereupon received no benefit by the promise. But I
rather choose the text-reading, Not being mingled with faith, //,?)
o-vy/cetcpa/jievos, the word is taken from a potion, which, according to the
ingredients put into it, is medicinal or mortal. The word is the potion ;
if it hath all its ingredients, if mixed with faith, it produceth its effect,
and becometh the power of God to salvation ; if not, it doth us no good,
but hurt rather ; or as any liquor mingleth with the thing on which it
is poured ; or, as to make the seed fruitful it must be incorporated with
the earth, and receive of the virtue and fatness of it ; so the word must
not only be heard, but digested by faith, or it will not be profitable, or
stand them in any stead that hear it.
Doct. That though the word of God be so great a blessing, and so
excellent a means of salvation, yet it doth no good, where it is not
mixed with faith in the hearing : Kom. i. 16, ' I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to every one
that believeth.'
- Consider here (1.) The things mixed; (2.) The necessity of this
mixture in order to profit.
First, The things mixed ; they are the word of God, and faith.
1. The word of God. A divine revelation is the proper object of
faith ; there is a human credulity when we believe anything spoken by
man for the authority of the speaker ; but no authority of man can be
such a firm and sure ground of faith as the testimony of God, who
neither can deceive nor be deceived. Therefore, ' if we receive the
testimony of man, the testimony of God is greater,' 1 John v. 9. Now
the whole word is to be received and apprehended by faith ; but chiefly
the doctrine of the gospel, which containeth the offer of Christ and all
his benefits. The whole word is to be received, for faith hath a respect
to all truths ; there is the same reason for one as for all, because they
are all revealed by God : Ps. cxix. 160, ' Thy word is true from the
beginning, and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for
ever/ From beginning to ending there is nothing but truth ; whatever
is contained in the word is either history or doctrine, or precepts, or
promises, or threatenings ; faith mingleth with all these.
[1.] The historical part of the word. These must be believed,
because the doctrinal part dependeth thereupon ; as the creation of the
world, the fall of man, the promise of the Messiah to Adam, the cov
enant made with Abraham. There is a harmony in the scripture, as
in a concert all the notes agree, and suit one with another. The whole
scripture suiteth with these historical passages, because they conduce much
to our profit ; for they are pawns and evidences of the possibility, yea,
certainty of other things that are to come : Ps. cxxi. 2, ' My help cometh
from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.' The scripture is not
only a register of what is past, but a prognostication of what is to come.
Yea, it serves for our caution 'Now all these things happened unto them
for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition,' 1 Cor. x. 11.
THE LIFE OF FAITH.
Now faith looketh upon these things in the word as if a-doing before
our eyes.
[2.] Doctrines ; as the mystery of the trinity, the union of the two
natures in the person of Christ, the benefit of imputed righteousness,
that we are healed by another's stripes, the doctrine of the resurrection,
&c. All these mystical verities we receive them upon God's revelation.
They are properly the objects of faith, because without God's revealing
them they cannot be understood and found out by the light of natural
reason , and in these things, though we cannot so presently and fully
see the reason of what we believe, yet we see reason enough why we should
believe them, because they are revealed in the word of God, which no
otherwise appeareth to us to be his word. In these things reason must
not be heard against scripture, or be set up as the highest judge in
matters of religion. As reason corrects sense, so faith reason. To
appearance a star is but a little spark or spangle ; but reason will tell
us "it is much bigger, because of its distance from us. The work of
fe race is to captivate the pride of our thoughts and prejudices against
God's revelation : 2 Cor. x. 5, ' Casting down imaginations, and every
high thing that exaiteth itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ/
Eeason must be captivated to faith, though not to fancy. If it be
revealed it must be believed, how absurd and unlikely soever it seem
to us ; this is ' receiving the kingdom of God as a little child,' Mat.
xviii. 3. A child believeth as he is taught ; I mean by God, not men.
Thou art neither fit for heaven, nor the understanding of heavenly
things, till thou hast denied thine own wisdom. That which is above
reason cannot be comprehended by reason ; all lights must keep their
place, sense is the light of beasts, reason of men, and faith of the church ;
to consult with nature in supernatural things, it is all one as if you did
seek the judgment of reason among the beasts, and determine of human
affairs by brutish instinct. There are many things necessary to
religion which the angels themselves could not know if they had not
been revealed : Eph. iii. 10, ' That unto the principalities and powers
in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom
of God.' The way of salvation by Christ is such a mystery as could
not have entered into the heart of any creature, no, not an angel. In
these things, believe God upon his word ; pills are to be swallowed, not
chewed ; if the sick man cheweth them, he spits them up when he
tasteth the bitterness of them, and so loseth a wholesome remedy. Or
to use Chrysostom's comparison ' A smith that taketh up his red-hot
iron with his hands, and not with his tongs, what can he expect but to
bum his fingers ? ' So we destroy our souls when we judge of mysteries
of faith by the laws of common reason.
[3.] Precepts. That is another part of the word to be propounded
not only to our obedience, but to our faith ; and first to our faith,
and then to our obedience : Ps. cxix. 66, ' Teach me good judg
ment and knowledge, for I have believed thy commandments.'
It is not enough to grant them rational or wise directions, or
good rules for the regulating of human nature, but we must see
them as God's laws, as injunctions from the glorious and power
ful sovereign of the world, which we cannot neglect with-
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 157
out the greatest hazard; that is to believe the commandments.
Many will catch at promises, but do not regard precepts ; they smile
upon the promise, but frown when the command puts them in mind of
their duty. Faith owneth our obligation to God, and maketh us see
the necessity of obedience, as well as it representeth the comfort of the
promises, and to perform our duty, how contrary soever it be to our
interest and carnal affections. But otherwise, without faith, when the
commandments are crossing to our corrupt humours, they are ques
tioned, slighted, and shifts studied by defiled consciences to divert the
thoughts of duty. Therefore we need expressly to see that this is the
will of God.
[4.] Promises ; these are only received by faith ; Heb. xi. 1, ' Faith
is the substance of things hoped for ; ' so the promissory part of the
word is there in brief described These are a principal object of faith :
2 Peter i. 4, ' To us are given exceeding great and precious promises,
that by these you might be made partakers of the divine nature.' The
Lord worketh saving grace tit first by these promises, enabling the
guilty, graceless, and cursed sinner to believe, and apply the pardon,
grace, and blessedness freely offered in them ; and as soon as he gets grace
to believe and apply these promises, God beginneth to apply and make
out upon his heart the things promised, stamping his own image upon
him, that the sinner beginneth to look like God his Father for holiness,
wisdom, and purity. These promises have a fitness to purify the heart
as well as pacify the conscience, and must be used to both ends. If
we respect promises, we must respect all promises ; the honour of God
is as deeply engaged to perform one promise as another. God's failing
in any one promise would be the breaking of the whole covenant ; as on
our part the breach of one point maketh us guilty of the breach of the
whole law -. James ii. 10, ' Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
offend in one point, he is guilty of all.' Promises for pardon, and
promises for sanctification, you must regard both, and put both in suit ;
promises for this life, and of a better. Many live by their wits in the
world, and yet pretend to live by faith for heaven. You must trust God
for all things, your names and estates as well as for your souls ; only you.
must not be a stranger to the main promises, for herein lieth the life
and heart of religion.
[5.] There are threatenings in the word of God, and these are part
of the object of faith ; for God is faithful and true in his threats as-
well as his promises, and therefore equally to be believed in both. The
threatenings should work with us as if already accomplished. Josiah
rent his clothes when he heard the words of the law : 2 Chron. xxxiv. 19,
' And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the law,
that he rent his clothes.' We are not like affected when the judgment
is threatened, as when it is come upon us ' But to this man
will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and
trembleth at my word,' Isa. Ixvi. 2. So Noah prepared for a flood
many years before it came : Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith Noah, moved with
fear, prepared an ark, to the saving of his house.' Tell many of the
wrath of God, and they look upon it as a vain scarecrow ; tell them
of judgment to come, which is enough to make a heathen tremble, Acts
xxiv. 25, but they are no more moved at it than with a dream or a vain
fable. All is for want of faith ; but they that will not believe, shall feel.
158 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
Thus you see the whole word is the object of faith : faith in the
histories, for our warning and caution; faith in the doctrines, to
increase our reverence and admiration ; faith in the threatenings, for
our humiliation ; faith in the precepts, for our subjection ; and faith
in the promises, for our consolation. They all have their use : the
histories to make us wary and cautious ; the doctrines to enlighten us
with a true sense of God's nature and will ; the precepts to direct us,
and to try and regulate our obedience ; the promises to cheer and
comfort us ; the threatenings to terrify us, to run anew to Christ, to
bless God for our escape, and to add spurs to our duty. Thus faith
maketh use of the word of God, and all things contained therein.
But especially the truths of the gospel, and that good thing which
is offered in those truths is that mainly which saving faith doth close
with and rely upon, and is fully satisfied withal. This is that which
is most mysterious in itself, and remote from vulgar knowledge :
Mat. xvi. 17, 'Flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee,but my Father
which is in heaven ; ' most profitable to lost sinners : Tit. ii. 14, ' Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,' &c. ;
doth most set forth the praise of God : 2 Cor. i. 20, ' All the promises
of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen , unto the glory of God by
us ; ' that to which all the rest tendeth : Eev xix. 10, ' The testimony
of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy,' the life and heart of religion, the
most blessed news that could come from heaven. Faith findeth death
in the threatenings, a burden of work in the precepts ; but in Christ
and the gospel it findeth the way to heaven laid open, a way how a
sinner may be saved and divine j ustice not wronged. This is that which
' the angels desire to look into,' 1 Peter i. 12. So excellent and ravish
ing is the saving of lost sinners by Christ incarnate, they study it and
pry into it.
Once more, the word is considered as dispensed in the ordinance of
teaching and hearing ' The word preached did not profit them! God
doth not only work by the word, but by the word preached : 1 Cor. i. 21,
' It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe.' To hope to gain the world by the preaching of a few con
temptible persons was looked upon as a ridiculous confidence ; but it
pleased God to make use of that way, which pierced farther and
conquered more than the Koman armies ever could. Britannorwn in-
accessa Romania loca, Christo tamen patuere. Eph. i. 13, 'In whom
ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation.' The hearing of the word is the ordinary means whereby
faith is wrought and exercised ; so 1 Peter i. 25, ' The word of the
Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word, which by the gospel is
preached unto you/ That word is the seed of the spiritual life, that
word endureth for ever in the effects of it, that word must be mingled
with faith in the hearing ; not only the scripture in the general, but
the particular messages that are brought to you, and delivered from
and according to that word by the Lord's servants, whom he hath sent.
Many men will not declaim against the written word, but they have a
slender esteem of those portions of truth which God carveth out to
them by the messengers whom he sendeth to them. God, that insti
tuted prophets and apostles to write scripture, did also institute pastors
and teachers to explain and apply scripture: Eph. iv. 11, 'He gave
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some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some
pastors and teachers.' And when they go to work, clave non errante,
their messages are the word of God.
But you will say, Must we believe all the dictates of fallible men ?
Ans. Yes, in what accordeth with scripture, and is rightly deduced
and inferred thence. Consequences are the word of God, and bind as
well as the express scripture, Mat. xxii. 32. Jesus Christ proves the
resurrection by this consequence, that ' God was the God of Abraham,
and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ; ' only we are to search :
Acts xvii. 11, 12, ' They received the word with all readiness of mind,
and searched the scripture daily whether those things were so ; ' there
fore many of them believed. The scriptures we receive upon their
divine evidence, and other doctrines upon their consonancy to the
scripture : Isa. viii. 20, ' To the law and to the testimony, if they speak
not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.'
We must not be light of belief, but weigh things in the balance of the
sanctuary ; nor yet obstinate and contemptuous of what is delivered in
the way of an ordinance.
2. Faith. Nothing less will serve the turn. That whereby the soul
receiveth the word is faith ; that whereby it receiveth it effectually is
sincere faith. There ever have been and still are three sorts of men
in the world.
[1.] Some that break out into open opposition of the gospel ; that
are so far from being Christians, that they are scarce men : 2 Thes. iii.
2, ' That we may be delivered from unreasonable, and wicked men, for
all men have not faith.' Infidels are unreasonable and absurd, and
never oppose the laws of Christ but they also violate the principles of
nature.
[2.] There are some that are neither hot nor cold, that do not oppose
the gospel nor yet accept it ; that assent which they seem to have, is
not so much an actual assent as a non-refusal, or non-opposition, or
rejection of the counsel of the word. Some indeed stand in full con
tradiction, and actually reject the counsels of God: Luke vii. 30, ' But
the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against them
selves ; ' and Ps. ii. 3, ' Let us break their bands asunder, and cast
away their cords from us.' But these though they make some profes
sion of the gospel, yet they are careless, idle, and secure. These the
apostle speaketh of, Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall we escape if we neglect so
great salvation,' compared with Mat. xxii. 5, ' And they made light of
it.' They do not deny, but excuse themselves. Non vacat is the sin
ner's plea ; but non placet is the real disposition of his heart.
[3.] There is a third sort, that do not only make profession of the
name of Christ, but receive the truth in the love of it and in the power
of it, and transfer it into practice : 2 Thes. ii. 10, ' They received not
the love of the truth, that they might be saved.' There is a receiving
truth in the light of it by conviction, but there follows no conversion.
And then they receive the truth not only in love, but in power. The
gospel is the ministration of the Spirit and power : 1 Thes. i. 5, ' Our
gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the
Holy Ghost, and in much assurance ; ' 1 Cor. ii. 4, ' My speech and
my preaching was not with the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in
160 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
demonstration of the Spirit, and of power.' And they transfer it into
practice: John viii. 31, 'If ye continue in my word, then are ye my
disciples indeed ;' and Mat. vii. 21, ' Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doth
the will of my Father which is in heaven/ Christ's real worshippers
are known, not by compliments and external respects, but the inward
constitution of their hearts, and the course and uniformity of their
practice and conversations ; they are those that do so carefully and con
stantly attend unto God's word that they lay it up in their hearts : Ps.
cxix. "ll, ' Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin
against thee ; ' and make it the rule of their whole lives : Gal. vi. 16,
' As many as walk according to this rule ; ' so as to obey his commands :
Kom. vi. 17, ' Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that
was delivered you ; ' rely upon his promises : Ps. cxix. 49, ' Kemember
thy word unto thy servant, on which thou hast caused me to hope ; '
fear his threats :' Isa, Ixvi. 2, ' To this man will I look, even to him
that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.' A
carnal man doth not tremble under his strokes, but they tremble under
his word, and engage themselves to continue with God in well-doing,
and in the pursuit of everlasting happiness : Rom. ii. 7, ' To them who,
by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, honour and immor
tality, eternal life.'
To make this evident unto you, 1 shall show you
(1.) How many things come short of faith, or that true and unfeigned
assent that must be mingled with the word, to make it a sovereign
remedy for our souls.
(2.) What is that true faith that doth so.
1st. Many things come short of faith, or that true and unfeigned
assent which maketh the word effectual. There are several degrees of
assent.
[1st,] There is conjecture, or a lighter inclination and propension
of the mind to the gospel or word of God, as possibly or probably
true ; a suspicious knowledge or guess at things, when we go no higher
than an ' it may be so.' The generality of careless professors go no
further. It may be true, for aught they know, that there is a rest
remaining for the children of God : and these do walk according to the
trade of Israel, and conform to the current opinions and practices that
are a-foot.
[2d] There is beyond this opinion, when the mind is strongly
inclined to think it true, but not without fear of the contrary ; they
are so rationally convinced of the truth of the gospel that they are
not able rationally to contradict it ; yea, they can dispute for it, but it
is but opinion ; they can plead for it, and defend it, as a dead, rotten post
may support a living tree : yet it doth not sink so deep unto them as
to enter into the heart : Prov. ii. 10, ' When wisdom entereth into thine
heart, and knowledge is pleasant to thy soul.' They live in suspense and
uncertainty in matters of religion, and do not know aX??0&>?, * Surely,
that Christ came out from God : ' John xvii. 8, and acr^aXw?, Acts ii. 36,
' Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that
same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ/
[3d] There is a higher degree, and that is dogmatical faith or a
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 161
naked assent unto, or a persuasion of the truth of God's word ; but it
is such an enlightening as is without taste and without power ; it
worketh no thorough change in the heart or practice : as many men
that make no doubt of the truth of the gospel, yet do not feel the power
of it. This is spoken of, James ii. 19, 20, ' Thou believest that there
is one God, thou dost well ; the devils also believe and tremble. But
wilt thou know, vain man, that faith without works is dead ' ? They
have so much light as may disturb their peace, but not so much as
doth comfort the conscience and overpower their carnal affections.
Well then, this is not it that must be mingled with the word ; not the
word and conjecture ; not the word and opinion ; not the word and
dogmatical faith that rests in a dead naked assent, but it must be a
believing with all the heart, a cordial assent : Acts viii. 37, ' If thou
believest with all thy heart, thou mayest be baptized.'
[4th.] There is presumption, or a snatching at the promises, without
considering the terms. There is no man that hath a conscience, and
some loose persuasion of the truths of the gospel, but he apprehends
it to be a good word, suitable to the necessities and desires of a
guilty and indigent creature ; but it hath no prevailing efficacy to purge
the heart and subdue him to God : Micah iii. 11, ' Yet they will lean
upon the Lord and say, Is not the Lord among us ? none evil shall come
upon us.' The leaning of a carnal presumer, and the leaning of a
broken heart, differ, as the leaning of a drunkard that is not able to go
alone, and the leaning of a wounded man that is ready to faint. Now
a man that in compassion would lend his arm to one wounded, and whose
life is dropping out by degrees, would not lend his arm to a reeling
drunkard that is defiled with his own vomit ; so the claims of mercy
that a bold sinner maketh to the grace of God in Christ are rejected,
when the dependence of a broken-hearted creature is justified. We
have a comfortable promise : Ps. 1. 15, ' Call upon me in the day of
trouble, and I will deliver thee ; ' but a guard is set about it, that no
disobedient wretch should gather its sweet fruit : vers. 16,17,' But unto
the wicked, God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or
that thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth, seeing thou hatest
instruction, and castest my words behind thee ? ' The like you have in
Ps. Ixviii. 19, 20, Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with
his benefits, even the God of our salvation, Selah. He that is our
God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the
issues from death.' We can never speak enough of the mercy of God
to poor broken-hearted sinners ; it is here twice repeated ; but bold
and daring sinners, that continue in their rebellion and enmity against
God, have no share in it, nor can they lay claim to it ; ver. 21, ' But
God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such
a one as goeth on still in his trespasses.' Christians that live loosely,
as pagans, they shall not find grace to be a sanctuary to them. It was
Origen's answer to Celsus, who said that Christianity was a sanctuary
for wicked profligate persons, No ! saith he, it is not a sanctuary
for them, but an hospital to cure them.
2d What is the true faith that must be mingled with the word ?
[1st.] It is a lively faith, or assent to the doctrine of God. The
scripture speaketh of a dead faith ; James ii. 20 ; and a lively faith,
VOL. xv. L
1(52 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
and of a lively hope : 1 Peter i. 3, ' Who hath begotten us again unto
a lively hope "; ' such as quickens them to the use of all due means to
attain what they believe and hope for: Acts xxiv. 14-16, 'But
this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy,
so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which
are written in the law and the prophets: and have hope towards
God, which they themselves also allow ; that there shall be a resur
rection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I
exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward
God and toward men.' A drowsy inattentive assent prevaileth noth
ing, but such as hath life and affection in it. To many faith is no
more than non-denial, or a negative assent ; they do not contradict
the truth, but it doth not affect the heart, and excite them to pur
sue and look after the things represented to them. Faith is acted
and exercised about what we hear, as about matters wherein we
are deeply concerned. It is not enough to have faith, but it must
be exercised and put forth such a faith as engrafteth the word into
us : James i. 21, * Eeceive with meekness the engrafted word, which is
able to save your souls.' It is not only pleased with the notions as
matter of opinion, but receiveth and layeth up the word as the seed of
life , yea, changeth the disposition of the soul into the nature of the
word : Horn. vi. 17, ' But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of
sin ; but ye have obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine which was
delivered to you,' eZ? ov Trape^od^re TVTTOV StSa^}?, into which form of
doctrine ye were delivered ; its lively character is enstamped upon us :
2 Peter i. 4, ' Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature/
What effect hath the word upon the soul, to transform us into the
image of God ?
[2d] It is an applicative faith. We do not only believe God's word
and all things contained therein, to be a truth, but we believe it as a
truth that concerneth us in particular, and thereupon apply it to our
selves. Meat will feed, if it be eaten ; water will quench thirst, if we
drink it, and receive it into our bodies ; yet if we neither eat the one,
nor drink the other, we may perish for hunger and thirst. So the
applying and urging the heart with the word preached doth profit us :
Job v. 27, ' Hear it, and know thou it for thy good ; ' and Kom. viii.
31, ' What shall we then say to these things? ' and Heb. ii. 3, ' How
shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? '
[3d] It is an obediential confidence, such as doth not take one part
of the word and set it against the other; the precept against the pro
mise, or the promise against the precept, that hope to take liberty now
and then, to break a commandment without forfeiting a claim to the
promises ; or, like mountebanks, that drink poison in confidence of an
antidote : Kom. vi. 1, 2, ' What shall we say then ? shall we continue
in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid ! how shall we that are
dead to sin live any longer therein ? ' They are not encouraged to
duty, but to sin by hopes of grace : Jude 4, Turning the grace of God
into lasciviousness ; ' these debauch the principles of the gospel. It
teacheth other things, where it is rightly apprehended: Titus ii. 11,
12, 4 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto
all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we
THE LIFE OF FATTH. 163
should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world ; ' others
.are not sensible of the necessity of yielding obedience to God.
Secondly, The necessity of this mixture in order to profit. This I
shall make good, for otherwise the ends of the gospel cannot be obtain
ed. I prove it thus
1. It is agreeable to the wisdom of God, that as there should be a
means to offer, so there should be a means to receive his grace. The
word doth only offer grace, but it is faith doth receive it ; therefore, as
without the word there can be no faith, so without faith the word can
have no power. To a good crop, or a fruitful harvest, there is required,
not only good seed, but subactum solum, a prepared soil and ground,
Mat. xiii. The seed was the same, but the ground was different : some
fell on the highway, some on the stony ground, some on the thorny
ground, some on the good ground, which only thrived and prospered :
ver. 23, ' He that receiveth the seed into the good ground, is he that
heareth the word, and understandeth it, which also beareth fruit, and
bringeth forth, some an hundred, some sixty, some thirty-fold.' Well
then, there must be receiving as well as offering, and a kindly receiv
ing. A plaster doth not heal at a distance till it be applied to the sore.
It is our souls were wounded, and our souls must have the cure ; the
light that illuminateth must shine into the place that is enlightened ;
the life that quickeneth must be in the substance which is quickened
by it. If the bare discovery and offer of grace, without the applying
of grace, or receiving of grace, were enough, the gospel would save all
alike, the despisers of it as well as those that submit to it. Therefore
there must be receiving ; Christ must not only be offered, but received :
John i. 12, 'To as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God.' And the covenant is not only tendered to
us, but accepted by us : Acts ii. 41, * Then they that gladly received
his word were baptized/ Blood shed will not avail us, unless it be
blood sprinkled : Heb. xii. 24, ' And to the blood of sprinkling, that
speaketh better things than the blood of Abel/ Christ's making the
atonement is not effectual to salvation, unless it be received, owned,
and applied : Kom. v. 11, ' We joy in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom we have received the atonement/ General grace
must some way be made particular, or else it cannot profit us. Christ
doth not save us at a distance, but as received into our hearts, or else
why are not all justified, all adopted, all saved ? There is the same
merciful God, the same sufficient Saviour, the same gracious covenant :
the reason is, some apply this grace, others do not : Eph. i. 13, ' After
ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation/ It is not
enough to know the gospel to be a doctrine of salvation in the general,
but we must look to this, that it be a doctrine of salvation to ourselves
in particular.* What doth it profit us, if it be a doctrine of salvation
to others, and not to ourselves ? therefore we must receive and apply
the promises to our own souls, that they may stir up joy, and thank
fulness, and praise, and may quicken and enliven our obedience, and
in time our interest in them may be determined to our joy and comfort.
2. That the proper grace to receive is faith. Here I shall show
El.] The necessity of it.
2.] The efficacy of it, that without it the ends of the gospel cannot
164 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
be obtained ; that by it they are powerfully and effectually obtained.
First, The necessity of it, because without it the ends of the gos
pel cannot be obtained ; and this with respect to God, Christ, the gos
pel, or Christian religion, and the believer himself.
1. With respect to God. Holiness and love to God is required sub
ratione finis, and faith sub ratione medii, as a means to make us holy
and to love God. That this is the great end of the gospel institution
is plain from scripture : 1 Tim. i. 5, ' Now the end of the command
ment is charity, out of a pure heart and a good conscience, and faith
unfeigned.' The end and scope of the gospel is love to God, and faith
in Christ our Redeemer is the great means which conduceth to it. So
Christ giveth us an account of the words which he heard from his Father ;
and the sum of it is, that our great duty is that we love God, and our
great happiness to be beloved by him, John xiv. 21-23. The gospel
revelation was set up for this end and purpose, to represent to us the
goodness and amiableness of God, that he might be more lovely to us
and be loved by us. The great design of reconciling and saving lost
man by Christ, and his wonderful condescension in his incarnation, life,
sufferings, and death, is all to reveal this love of God in Christ, and to
work up our hearts to love God again. To this end also tend his mer
ciful covenant and promises, all the benefits given to his church, and
the privileges of the saints, the Spirit, pardon, peace, glory ; all these
tend to warm our hearts with love to God ; and faith is appointed to
look upon all these, to consider them, and improve them : Gal. v. 6,
' Faith worketh by love.' The principal use of faith is to kindle the
love of God in our souls, that knowing and believing the love which God
hath to us in Christ, we may love him again, and thankfully obey him.
Now if this be not enough to you, take an argument or two, thus
If the great end of Christ's coming is to bring us to God : 1 Peter
iii. 18, ' For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the
unjust, that he might bring us to God;' John xiv. 6,' Jesus saith
unto him, I am the way, and the truth and the life ; no man cometh
to the Father but by me ;' and Heb. vii. 25, ' Wherefore he is able to
save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him/ I say, if
this be the end of Christ's coming, to bring us to God that is, to turn
us in heart and life to him from whom we had fallen, surely love to
God is the great end of the Christian religion ; and therefore faith,
which is to receive and improve it, is the means to this end.
Again, if heaven and eternal blessedness be but perfect love, then
the end of the gospel is love; for the gospel is appointed to make us
everlastingly happy. Therefore was it written, therefore did the Son
of God come to bring us to this perfect estate. But now heaven is
but the love of God, and perfection in holiness; and to be blessed in
heaven is to be happy in the perfect love of God, to see' him as he is,
and to be like him. A perfect love to God is maintained by perfect
vision, and on our part a perfect receiving his love to us. Then surely
that is the end,, and faith is the means, to take notice of, and be per
suaded of the love of God that shineth to us so gloriously in Christ.
Well now, how can the end of the gospel be obtained, which is to
love God, and be beloved of him, if either we have no faith, and do not
believe this wonderful demonstration of God's love in Christ ; or but
a dead faith, and do but slightly reflect upon it, with cold and narrow
THE LIFE OF FAITII. 165
thoughts ? surely, though the gospel be such a notable institution to
teach us the art of loving God, and so sovereign a remedy against our
corrupt self-love, yet it will not profit unless it be mixed with faith in
the hearing
2. With respect to Christ, who in the gospel is represented as
clothed with the office of a mediator between God and us, which he
executeth in that three-fold function of a prophet, priest, and king. Now
the great duty of the gospel is to own him in all these, and to submit
to him, that they may have their perfect effect upon us. To hear him
as a prophet: Mat. xvii, 5, ' This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased ; hear ye him.' To receive him as lord and king: Col. ii. 6,
' As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him/
Consider him as a priest: Heb. iii. 1, ' Consider the apostle and high-
priest of our profession, Jesus Christ/ Now, how can any of this be
done without faith, or a sound belief that he is the Son of God, that
cometh in all these qualities to us ? Can we learn of him whom we
take to be a deceiver ? or obey him whom we believe not to be our true
and rightful Lord ? and if we believe not his merits and sacrifice as a
priest, can we be comforted with his glorious promises and covenant,
and come to God with the more boldness and hope of mercy upon that
account, especially in a dying hour ? Surely Christ must lie by, and
the fruits of his offices be neglected, unless we believe that he is
authorised and fitted for all these things ; that he is the teacher sent
from God to show us the way of life ; that his sacrifice offered through
the eternal Spirit is of full merit and value to expiate our sins ; and
that he is lord of life and glory, and able to protect us till he hath
brought us to heaven : 2 Tim. i. 12, ' I know whom 1 have believed, and
1 am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day.' We must be persuaded of his authority,
sufficiency, readiness, willingness to do us good, before we can trust
ourselves and our eternal interests in his hands. Who will take physic
of a physician that he trusteth not ? or go to sea with a pilot whose
skill he questioneth ? Surely before we can heartily consent, or re
solvedly put ourselves into his hands, to be reconciled to God, and
saved from sin and punishment, and finally brought to perfect happiness
and glory, we must be persuaded what he is, and that he is able to do
all this for us : Mat. ix. 28, * Believe ye then that I am able to do
this ? ' Christ puts the question to the blind men ; they answer, ' Yea,
Lord/ So when you consider of Christ's glorious offices, and the
blessed effects of them, think you that he is able to do these things.
Pose your hearts, will he indeed show me the way to heaven ? hath
he paid such a ransom for my captive soul ? will he protect me so
powerfully in the way of salvation ? let faith work such a thorough
persuasion of his ability and fidelity, as may extort a full resignation
from you of yourselves into his hands, that by his own methods he
may lead you to everlasting glory.
3. With respect to the word itself, or those sacred oracles wherein
the gospel or the Christian religion is contained, you will see the truths
there recorded cannot well be apprehended and digested without faith,
because there are things written which do concern matters past, present
and to come ; and all these have difficulties which can be only removed
by faith.
1GG THE LIFE OF FAITH.
[1.] Matters past; as the creation of the world; the providence of
God towards his church and people throughout all successions of fore
going ages, till the scriptures were written and completed ; the keeping
of the promise of the Messiah still a-foot till his coming in the flesh ;
the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These were
things of necessity to be confined to some determinate time and place ,
it was not necessary that Christ should be always dying and always
rising, in every age and place, and in the view of every man. These
things can therefore only be apprehended by faith, for we saw them
riot ; they are believed upon some competent and sufficient testimony.
[2.] Things present are those which concern our present duty ; sup
pose accepting of Christ and self-denying obedience, both require faith,
vea, a strong faith.
(I.) The accepting of Christ for our Lord and Saviour. Now this
is hard, yea, impossible to be done, without a sound persuasion of the
truth of that doctrine which concerneth our redemption by Christ;
for this is a rare and wonderful mystery ; 1 Tim. iii. 16, ' Great is the
mystery of godliness.' Those natural apostles, which are gone forth
into all lands to preach up an infinite and eternal power, I mean the
sun, moon, and stars, these natural preachers are dumb and silent, say
not a word concerning Christ, or God manifested in the flesh. Angels
could not find out this mystery by all their excellency of wisdom and
knowledge ; but they admire it, as they study it, and see it in God's dis
pensations to the church : Eph. iii. 10, ' To the intent that now unto
the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by
the church the manifold wisdom of God ; ' and 1 Peter i. 12, ' Which
things the angels desire to look into.' Yea > the blessed virgin, when
a messenger was sent from heaven to tell her of this mystery, though
an extraordinary messenger, and she so nearly concerned, said t Luke i.
34, ' How shall this be ? ' The conception of a virgin, the death of
the Son of God, who was life itself, are not matters so easily apprehended
and improved, unless the Lord give us faith. How can we build upon
this foundation with any confidence ?
(2.) Self-denying obedience. Men are addicted to their own wills
and lusts, and will not easily suffer themselves to be persuaded to
change heart and life, especially when this change is like to cost them
dear in the world, and they must forfeit those things which they see
and love for a God and glory which they never saw. Naturally the
spirits of men are yokelessand libertine : Ps. ii. 3, ' Let us break their
bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.' And when
temptations come, we consult with the flesh, and so will not easily be
lieve the necessity of this self-denying obedience, but cavil and wriggle,
and distinguish ourselves out of our duty. Unless a firm assent lay a
strong obligation upon us, we shall cast off yoke after yoke, till we leave
Christ but an empty name.
[3.] Things future in the unseen world. We have to do with an
invisible God, who hath propounded hopes in an invisible world. Now
what shall we do without faith, which is 'the evidence of things not
seen/ Heb. xi. 1. We are apt to take up with things present, and are
little affected with things unseen, and above our senses. Nothing but
a strong faith will engage us to look after these things, and to venture
all depending upon these things.
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 167
4. With respect to the party who is to receive these truths, faith is
necessary ; who may be considered as to his mind, heart, and life, all
which are to be bettered and profited by the word.
[l.J As to his mind, which must be enlightened and awakened.
Corrupt and carnal reason is such a stranger to God and heavenly things
that unless the Lord give us a new light, which may direct and quicken
us, we shall not much mind either God or heaven. Therefore for our
cure the understanding must be enlightened and awakened, and it is
both by faith.
(1.) Enlightened rightly to the discerning of these things: 1 Cor. ii.
14, ' The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for
they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they
are spiritually discerned.' Supernatural matters must be discerned by
a supernatural light, spiritual matters by a spiritual light ; other things
are determined by sense and reason, but our light in these things is by
faith, by which we see those excellent and high things which are above
the reach of the natural man. It serveth for the government of the
soul, as the eye for the body ; by it we see God : Heb. xi. 27, ' By faith
he saw him that is invisible.' Hereby we see Christ : John, vi. 40,
' That every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have
everlasting life ; ' and we see heaven : 1 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look
not to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen ;
for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are
not seen are eternal.' Till God openeth the eye of our minds, we neither
see God : Heb. xi. 6, ' Without faith it is impossible to please God ;
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is ; ' nor do we see Christ :
1 Peter ii. 7, * Unto you therefore which believe he is precious ; ' nor
do we see heaven : 2 Peter i. 9, ' Receiving the end of your faith, the
salvation of your souls.' Therefore must we mind this, to get a spiri
tual sight ; seriously deal with God about it : Eph. i. 18, * The eyes of
your understandings being enlightened, that you may know what is the
hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints.'
(2.) The understanding or mind must be excited and awakened to
regard and consider these things which we see and are convinced of.
For otherwise, in seeing we see not, and in hearing we hear not. As
when you tell a man of a business whose mind is taken up about other
things, he mindeth it not, regardeth it not, or carrieth himself as if he
minded it not. They do not think of God, and Christ, and heavenly
things ; they mourn for sin as if they mourned not, rejoice in God as
if they rejoiced not, seek after heaven as if they sought not after
it. Now to cure this inadvertency, or to bring us to a more attentive
consideration of these things, requireth a lively faith. The same light
and Spirit that doth open the eyes of the mind to discern heavenly things
doth also awaken us to the minding of them : Acts xvi. 14, ' Whose
heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things that were spoken
of Paul.' Many precious truths lie by, and are lost for want of con
sideration. Non-attendency is the bane of the professing world : Mat.
xxii. 5, ' They made light of it ; ' when men will not suffer their minds
to dwell upon these things, that they may consider what is true misery,
and what is true happiness.
168 THE LIFE OP FAITH.
[2.] That which is next to be considered in the entertainment of
truth, or of the gospel is the heart, which is to be subdued to God:
Horn, vi. 17, ' But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin ;
but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was
delivered to yon.' Now how shall this be done without faith ? to gain
the heart to a holy and heavenly life, which is naturally so averse from
it. The credulity and belief required of Christians is as the matters
which are presented to our belief. Christianity, which is mostly con
versant about things practical, must be received not only with the mind,
but the heart : Kom. x. 9, 10, ' If thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved ; for with the heart man belie veth
unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto sal
vation ; ' so Acts viii. 37, ' If thou believest with all thy heart thou
niayest be baptized.' You must receive the truth in the love of it :
2 Thes. ii. 10, ' They received not the love of the truth, that they might
be saved.' That which was made for the heart must be admitted into
the heart ; till it is there it is not in its proper place, it is rejected
where it seemeth to be received. For if you be convinced of the truths
of the gospel, and do not admit them to come into your hearts, you
are false to them and yourselves, and cannot expect they should
profit you. This is the difference between the unsanctified and the
regenerate : the one receiveth the truth in the light of it, by a mere
speculation, but shuts up his heart against it ; the other receiveth it
in the love of it, openeth his heart to it, and admitteth it to its proper
place and work ; the one imprisoneth it in unrighteousness, the other
entertaineth it with love and regard. Now this is the true receiving,
and that which is proper to faith, to receive all holy truths with a
practical intent, to work them upon your hearts according to their
nature, weight, and use. Now if it be so, we may see how little we
profit by the gospel till we mingle it with faith in the hearing; ithat
is, so apprehend and believe the truth as to get the heart affected with it.
[3.] The life is bettered and overruled by the word received. For a
believer is to be considered as to his head, heart, and life. When the
mind is enlightened and the heart sanctified, the truth is to break out
into the conversation ; the life must be holy and obedient : 1 Peter i.
14, 15, 'As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to
the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you
is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.' Now how shall
this be done without faith ? By a lively faith it may be done. How
dare you neglect Christ if you believe that he is the Son of God, who
must be your judge? or indulge the flesh, be mindless of heavenly
things, if you believe the necessity of self-denial, and the reality of the
world to come ? There is a great deal of difference between the name,
title, and profession of a believer, and the real efficacy of true faith.
A true believer is to get the truth of the gospel into his mind, heart,
and life ; that truth which enlighteneth his mind, doth also purify his
heart : Acts xv, 9, ' Purifying their hearts by faith : ' so that by it not
only mistakes are discovered, but lusts subdued. And it doth not only
purify the heart, but overcome the world ; 1 John v. 4, ' This is the
victory whereby we overcome the world, even our faith.' And it pro-
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 169
duceth a good conversation, not discouraged with tribulations, nor
diverted from the pursuit of eternal happiness by the baits and allure
ments of the flesh. Yea, it putteth us upon a bold and an open pro
fession of the name of Christ, and respect to his ways, however dis
countenanced in the world: 2 Cor. iv. 13, * We having the same spirit
of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I
spoken ; we also believe, and therefore speak/ Now this being the
case of the person who is to receive and entertain the gospel, to receive
it into his mind, and heart, and life, certainly there is a necessity of
faith, for it is the office of faith to do all these things.
Secondly, The efficacy of faith. To this end I shall show
1. That all efficacy is ascribed to faith.
2. Whence it hath its power and force.
[1.] That all efficacy is ascribed to faith ; for till the gospel be
owned as a divine and infallible truth, it hath no effect upon us :
1 Thes. ii. 13, ' Ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us,
not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which
effectually worketh also in you that believe/ The truths of the gospel
concerning God, Christ, sin, grace, hell, and heaven, are of such weight
and moment as that they might move a rock ; yet they shake not, they
stir not the heart of a carnal professor, because they receive the word
in word only ; but where it is received in faith, it is not received in
word only, but in power. And there it worketh effectually : 1 Thes.
i. 5, ' Our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and
in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance/ To believe the truth of
God's word is the ready way to make it effectual ; it is slighted, because
it is not credited. A man may give high and cogent reasons against
his lusts, and yet follow them, if the truth be not rooted in his heart.
All graces are set a-work by faith, as reverence to the word ; some
* tremble at the word' when it convinceth of sin, Isa. Ixvi. 2, because
they know it is the word by which they shall be judged at the last day :
so for repentance ; some humble themselves at God's warnings and
threatenings, it is the fruit of their faith ; Jonah iii. 5, ' The people of
Nineveh believed God and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth/
Some prize Christ as he is offered in the new covenant, but this is
from faith : 1 Peter ii. 7, ' To you that believe he is precious/ When
faith representeth him in all his loveliness, then the soul prizeth him.
Some are ready to the duties enjoined : Ps, cxix. 66, ' I have believed
thy commandments/ Faith doth all, and enliveneth all truths, and
rnaketh them operative.
[2.] Whence hath faith this power ?
(1.) Because it qualifieth us for the gift of the Holy Spirit : Gal, iii.
14, ' That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith ; '
and John vii. 39, ' This he spake of the Spirit, which they that believe
in him should receive/ The Spirit begets faith and actuateth faith,
and then faith doth enliven all truths.
(2.) From the matter propounded to faith and apprehended by it,
which is God's word, and hath a stamp of his wisdom, goodness, and
power. left upon it. There we see his divine authority, charging and
commanding us under pain of his displeasure to mind and regard such
things. It is the Lord hath spoken it: 1 Thes. ii. 13, ' Ye received
[70 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God,
which effectually worketh also in them that believe/ And it is en
forced upon us in the most strong and potent way of argumentation,
as from the equity and excellency of what he hath commanded : Hosea
viii. 12, ' I have written to them the great things of my law, but they
were counted as a strange thing , ' from his great love in Christ : 2 Cor.
v. 14, 'The love of Christ constraineth us;' from the strict day of
accounts, as we will answer it to him another day : Rom. ii. 16, ' In
the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, ac
cording to my gospel ; ' from the importance and unspeakable concern
ment of those things to us, our salvation or damnation depending
thereupon : Mark xvi. 16, 'He that belie veth and is baptized shall be
saved ; but lie that believeth not shall be damned.' The danger of
refusing him is no less than everlasting death, and the happiness of
complying with his motions no less than everlasting life and complete
blessedness. Now everlasting life and death being in the case, we had
need be serious.
(3.) The way of faith's working about these things. The apprehen
sion is clear, the consideration serious, the assent strong, the application
close, so that men are pierced to the quick where this faith prevaileth,
and are deeply affected with what they hear.. The apprehension is clear :
Heb. xi. 1, ' Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence
of things not seen.' The consideration serious ; they attend, they search :
Acts xvii. 11, ' They searched the scriptures daily.' The assent strong :
Acts ii. 36, * Let the house of Israel know assuredly ; ' and John xvii. 8,
' They have known surely.' And the application close: Rom. viii. 31,
' What shall we say to these things ' ?
Obj. How can faith be necessary to make the word effectual, since
itself cometh by hearing, and is ordinarily wrought by the word :
Rom. x. 17, ' So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God'?
Ans At first God by his preventing grace taketh hold of the heart,
and maketh it to believe ; as at the first creation light was made before
the sun ; and the first man was made out of the dust of the ground,
afterwards he propagateth and bringeth forth after his kind ; so that
the first work might be exempted from the common rule, yet not the
subsequent works.
2. Even then there is a faith wrought in and by the hearing, as the
gospel doth propound and make known to the understanding the object
of saving faith ; the Lord doth at the same time work the grace of
faith in the hearts of the elect : Acts xvi. 14, * And a certain woman
named Lydia. a seller of purple, which worshipped God, heard us, whose
heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things spoken by
Paul.' Without this the word would not profit.
3. One faith maketh way for another, the dogmatical faith for the
saving faith, and common and general grace for a particular and saving
work of God's Spirit ; as the priming of the post maketh it receptive
of other colours.
Use 1. Is information, to show the reason why there is so little
profiting under so much means ; thereis no faith, the cause is from
ourselves or in ourselves. Alas! we may complain: Isa. liii. 1, 'Who
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 171
liath believed our report?' Most men Lave not that general
faith so as to incline their hearts anct ears to take notice of what God
saith.
Use 2. Is reproof of divers sorts.
1. Some do not hear ; they neglect the seasons of grace, and refuse
to come there where the sound of the gospel may be heard ; whereas
we are commanded ' to be swift to hear/ James i. 19. Others sleep
while the word is preaching ; as Eutychus fell asleep ' While Paul
was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the
third story, and was taken up dead/ Acts xx. 9. It was a sin, and
God punished him, though he was a youth, and the sermon was after
supper, and of great length, even till midnight; it was an infirmity,
but infirmities are punished by God. Others talk, or suffer their minds
to be diverted by every trifle: Ezek. xxxiii. 31, ' And they come unto
thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and
they hear thy words, but they will not do them ; for with their mouth
they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness ; '
as a child's eye is off his book if a butterfly do but come by. The
devil findeth them other work ; how often do we mingle sulphur witli
our incense ! Those that hear in jest will find hell hot in good earnest.
Well then, Rev. ii. 7, 'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith to the churches/
2. Some do not understand what is outwardly heard by the ears of
the body : Mat. xiii. 19, 'When anyone heareth the word of the king
dom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and
catcheth away that which was sown in his heart;' and Jer. v. 21,
' Hear now this, foolish people, and without understanding ! which
have eyes and see not, which have ears and hear not.'
3. Some do not believe what they understand ; that is the great
requisite, Acts. xv. 7, ' That the gentiles by my mouth should hear the
word of the gospel and believe/
4. Some do not obey what they seem to believe : Rom. x. 16, ' But
they have not all obeyed the gospel ; for Esaias saith, Lord, who hath
believed our report ? ' and Mat. vii. 26, 27, ' And every one that heareth
these sayings of mine, and doth them not, shall be likened unto 'a
foolish man that built his house upon the sand ; and the rain descended,
and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house,
and it fell, and great was the fall of it/
5. Some do not persevere in what they undertake to obey : Deut. v.
27-29, 'Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say,
and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto
thee, and we will hear it, and do it. And the Lord heard the voice of
your words, when ye spake unto me; and the Lord said unto me, I
have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have
spoken unto thee ; they have well said all that they have spoken. Oh
that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me, and
keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them
and with their children for ever/
Use 3. Is to press and excite you
First, In the general, to entertain the gospel with a sound and
lively faith.
172 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
1. Without it there is no sin to be conquered. The first sin was
unbelief: Gen. iii. 1, 'Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every
tree of the garden ? ' and still unbelief is the cause of transgressing,
for the flesh is importunate to be pleased, and the temptations of the
world will hurry us to evil : Heb. iii. 12, ' Take heed, brethren, lest
there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the
living God.' The flesh is fed with the baits of sense, but the spirit is
encouraged and strengthened by the supports of faith.
2. Without it no grace can be thoroughly exercised : Heb. xi. 6,
' Without faith it is impossible to please God.' All graces are set a-
work by faith ; repentance : Jonah iii. 5, ' The people of Nineveh be
lieved God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth.' To believe
the truth of God's word when it is spoken is the ready way to make it
effectual. Their repentance was no more than legal, but it was as
good as their faith was. All is quiet in the soul, no news of repentance,
nor noise of any complaining against sin, till faith sets the conscience
a-work ; so there is no prizing of Christ without faith. He and all his
graces lie by as a neglected thing till we believe : 1 Peter ii. 7, ' To
them that believe he is precious.' When faith represents him in his
loveliness to the soul, then the affections are stirred.
3. No worship can be seriously performed without it. For prayer :
Ps. Ixv. 2, ' thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come/
When we believe him to be a God hearing prayer, then we come cheer
fully into his presence. ISo for hearing the word, it is this bindeth the
ear to hear: Acts x. 33, ' We are all here present before God, to hear
all things that are commanded thee of God ; ' and it bindeth the heart
to reverence : Isa. Ixvi. 2, ' To him will I look, who is of a humble
and contrite heart, and trembleth at my word.'
4. Without it no acts of justice and mercy can be well done: Acts
xxiv. 14-16, ' But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which
they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all
things which are written in the law and the prophets ; and have hope
towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a
resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust. And here
in do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence to
ward God and toward men.'
But how shall we do to get this faith ?
[1.] Beg it of God, it is his gift : Eph. ii. 8, ' By grace ye are saved,
through faith ; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.' He
must open the eyes of our minds: Eph. i. 17, 18, "That the God of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him ; the eyes of
your understandings being enlightened, that ye may know what is the
hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints.'
[2.] Study the grounds of faith. Many truths revealed in scripture
are agreeable to the light of nature, and known by it ; as that there is
one God, the first cause of all things, of infinite' power, wisdom, and
goodness ; that it is reasonable that he should be worshipped and
served, and that according to his will ; that we have faulted with him,
and have rebelled against his will declared in his law, and so are ob- '
THE LIFE OF FAITH. 173
noxious to his wrath and displeasure ; that reasonable creatures have
immortal souls, and die riot as the brute beasts ; that true happiness
is not found in those things wherein men ordinarily seek it, namely, in
things grateful to the animal life; all these things, and such like,
nature teacheth. The business of the Christian religion must needs lie
in three things.
(1.) In declaring to us more fully the nature, will, and worship of
God.
(2.) In rinding out a remedy for the fall, or expiating the faults
and sins of men, which is done by the incarnation, death, and resur
rection of Christ.
(3.) In propounding a fit happiness for an immortal soul. Now
think with yourselves with what congruity and evidence these things
are done in the gospel ; here are prophecies to usher in this doctrine,
miracles to confirm it, valuable testimony to recommend it to us ; and
how agreeable all these are to the nature of God and our necessities.
[3.] Attend upon the means whereby faith is wrought, as the min
istry of the word : 1 Cor. iii. 5, ' Who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but
ministers by whom ye believed ? ' There is some consideration or other
given out to beget or strengthen our faith, for God is not wanting to
his ordinances, and we go on by degrees in believing, the sincere soul
still finding more evidence in the word continually, and more experi
ence in his own heart : John v. 10, ' He that believeth on the Son of
God hath the witness in himself.'
[4.] Get a prepared heart. To this end
(1.) See that there be no carnal bias : John v. 44, ' How can ye be
lieve that seek honour one of another, and seek not the honour that
cometh from God only ? ' Indulgence to any sensual affection, to the
honours, riches, and pleasures of the world, maketh men unfit either to
believe or consider the truths of the gospel.
(2.) Let there be no wilful, heinous sin : 1 Tim. iii. 9, ' Holding the
mystery of faith in a pure conscience.' Men are loth to believe to their
torment, as malefactors cannot endure to think of the assizes. An
honest and good heart doth best receive the good seed. Sin doth
weaken our faith, and wilful sins breed horror in our minds, and make
us wish the gospel were not true, that there were no God, no day of
judgment, no hell for the wicked and ungodly , if so ; then it is your
interest to be an unbeliever.
[5.] Are you willing or unwilling to believe ? If willing, wait upon
God, he will not fail the waiting soul : John i. 17, ' Grace and truth
came by Jesus Christ;' if unwilling, Christ will not give his grace to
them that despise it, or make folks believe whether they will or no, or
when they had rather not believe ; or if God out of his secret grace
will surprise you, you cannot expect it.
Secondly, In every particular message that is brought to you in the
way of an ordinance, regard God's providence in it, Christ hath a
greater share in it than the teacher. Kemember now that in every
important truth your faith is tried : John xi. 26, ' Believest thou this?'
and ia every duty pressed your obedience is tried. Now let faith be
lively and applicative, and the closer the application the better. The
promise of pardon and life is universal, and includeth you as well as
174 THE LIFE OF FAITH.
others, if you will believe in Christ, for all true believers shall be saved ;
but this is to excite your faith and obedience, not to assure your in
terest, which dependeth upon your sincerity in faith, love and obedience.
There is the application of faith and the application of assurance.
The application of faith is a particular application of Christ and the
promise to ourselves, so as to excite us to look after the benefits and
ends for which Christ is appointed : Acts xiii. 26, ' To you is the word
of this salvation sent.' It is our duty to make general grace partic
ular. The application of assurance is, when I actually determine that
my own sins are pardoned, that I am adopted into God's family, and
appointed to eternal life, which cannot be without some sense of my
sincerity, because the promises of God require a qualification and per
formance of duty in the party to whom the promise is made : 1 John
iii. 14, ' We know that we have passed from death unto life, because
we love the brethren.' And as you are to stir up your faith, so you
are to set about the duties which the word calleth for. On the first
opportunity fall a-practising, for this is a message sent from God to
try your obedience ; by doing this continually you will insensibly
habituate yourselves to the practice of godliness, and so grow up into
comfort and peace.
See the Use of Faith in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, handled in the Sermon
on Heb. xi. 28.
A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL;
WITH
SEVERAL SERMONS
ON TilE
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER,
AND OTHER OCCASIONS.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
To THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ANN, LADY WHARTON.
MADAM, The known esteem your ladyship had for the reverend
author, and the kind respects you still bear to his surviving relations,
gives your lady ship a claim to any of his works. But besides that, the
right 3 r ou have to a part of this volume makes this public offer of it to
your ladyship justly necessary, the ' Treatise of Self-denial ' being many
years since, in the time of your ladyship's widowhood, designed and
prepared by the author for the press, he intending the dedication of it
to yourself, which he therefore often called ' My Lady Wharton's book.'
That copy being lost, the ensuing treatise has been collected from his
own notes, and therefore is truly his own, though it wants much of that
exactness it would have had had it been polished by his last hand, and
so would have been more worthy your ladyship's acceptance.
What was then so suitable to the circumstances of your ladyship's
case, the providence of God hath made as seasonable now it is pub
lished, God having of late called you in a more eminent manner to
the exercise of this great duty of self-denial by the sad breach he hath
made in your noble family. Seldom do God's eminent servants pass
off the stage of this world without some remarkable trials, in which he
will prove the truth and strength of all their graces, and so not only
magnify the power of his own grace, in carrying them through such
temptations, but also evidence the strength of their graces in bearing
them, for a pattern to those that should hereafter believe in him.
One branch of self-denial here treated of is the denial of our own
wills, not only in a subjection to God's laws, but in a submission to his
providences ; and how congruous and fit a thing is it that the author
of our beings should govern us and dispose of us according to his own
pleasure ! Men do what they will with their own ; and God's right to
them, and to everything that they have, is far more absolute than their
right can possibly be over themselves, or anything that is theirs ;
especially when his right to them is what they have owned arid consented
to when they entered into his covenant, and chose him for their God,
and gave up themselves and all they had to him to be at his disposal.
Can it be thought that God deals hardly with any when he takes from
them, not only what he has given to them, but what they themselves
have given back to him again in their covenant-engagement ? He is
a, God, and therefore can do no wrong to his creature ; and he is their
God, and therefore will do them no harm. As he is a God, he is under
VOL. xv. M
178 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
no law, but his own nature and will ; and as he is their God, he is
engaged by covenant to make all occurrences work for their good in
the issue. And what if God withdraw the endeared objects of their
affections, that the beams of their love, being contracted, may more
strongly centre upon his most amiable and blessed self; that the world
being embittered to them, they may more earnestly long for their
heavenly country; and that finding the sweetest flowers here to be
fading and withering, they may loosen their hold of all things here be
low, and take the faster hold upon God and eternal life. Sure such
providences ought to be entertained not only with submission, but
thanksgiving.
The great and powerful instrument by which God works these blessed
effects in the hearts of his people is faith, which is a grace of his own
operation ; that faith which unites the soul to Christ and fetches in
those supplies from the covenant of grace which are for their support
arid comfort in all their afflictions : that faith which realiseth the un
seen glory, presentiateth our future hopes, looketh beyond time to
eternity, and so deadeneth the heart to all the delights and smooth
pleasures of sense, and reconcileth it to all the rougher paths of God's
providences. How excellent, useful, and pleasant a life is this life of
faith, which the author handles in the other treatise!
Your ladyship being so well instructed in the school of Christ, hav
ing for so many years sat under the ministry of the worthy author of
these following treatises and sermons, I doubt not but your serious
thoughts have often suggested these and many other such-like consid
erations for your encouragement and support under God's afflicting
hand ; and may you every day find more and more relief from them!
Yet I hope your ladyship will pardon the liberty I have taken of being
your remembrancer herein, the place in which I have the honour to
serve your ladyship in your family for so many years obliges me thereto;
and I am the more encouraged to hope for your favourable acceptance
hereof, having been a witness of so many instances of your ladyship's
condescending goodness.
May the great God of heaven and earth enrich with the choicest
blessings my noble lord and your ladyship, that you may be examples
of a holy, self-denying obedience and active faith ; and so by how much
the more conspicuous you are in that eminent station God hath set
your honours in, by so much the more useful and exemplary you may
be to all that are about you. That God would lengthen out both your
years to further usefulness, and after a long and fruitful life here on
earth, and a large experience of the goodness of God to yourselves, and
those that have descended from each of you, you may be gathered into
God's garner as a full-ripe shock of corn coming in its season. So
prays, as in duty bound, right honourable your ladyship's most obedient
servant and chaplain,
WILLIAM TAYLOR.
A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL
BOOK I.
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself. MAT. xvi. 24.
THE occasion of these words standeth thus : Christ had foretold his
passion, and Peter taketh offence. The cross though it be the badge
of Christianity, is always displeasing to flesh and blood, and we dislike
heaven, not for itself, but for the way we travel to the land of promise,
through a howling wilderness. Carnal fancy imagineth a path strewed I
with lilies and roses : we are too tender-footed to think of briers and
thorns. Peter giveth vent to his distaste by carnal counsel ' Master,
favour thyself.' Peter's speech to his master is much like the voice of the
flesh or Satan in our own hearts ; when duty cannot be done without
difficulty and disadvantages, our carnal hearts say, Favour thyself, let
this be far from thee. Christ rebuked Peter, or rather the devil in
Peter * Get thee behind me, Satan.' God's own children may often
play Satan's game. Peter speaketh out of an innocent affection and
respect to his Master, and the devil hath a hand in it. And therefore
it is a high point of spiritual wisdom to be skilled in his enterprises
' We are not ignorant of his devices,' saith the apostle, 2 Cor. ii. 11.
The devil turns and winds on every hand ; the same Satan that stirred
up the high-priests to crucify Christ, sets his own disciple upon him, to
dissuade him from being crucified. He was afraid of the work of
redemption, and therefore seeketh either to hinder the sufferings of
Christ, or to make them so ignominious that the scandal might take
off from the efficacy. When Christ was upon the cross he playeth the
same game, but by other instruments : Mat. xxvii. 40, ' If thou be the
Son of God, come down from the cross/ Though he had our Saviour
at that pass, yet he was afraid what the work would come to. It is
very notable that when Christ rebuketh Peter, he doth with the same
severity check the devil, tempting him to idolatry, and Peter dissuad
ing him from sufferings ; it is spoken to both, ' Get thee behind me,
Satan,' compare Mat iv. 10, with ver. 23 of this chapter. So strong
an inclination had our Lord to die for us, that he looked upon carnal
pity to his person with the same indignation and scorn which he doth
upon a temptation to idolatry. However, the condescension and tender
ness of Christ to his erring disciple is to be observed : he doth not only
rebuke him, but instruct him, and the rest of his disciples. Thus can
Christ make an advantage of our failings ; Peter's carnal counsel was
130 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BoOK I.
the occasion of this excellent lesson, which Christ by this means hath for
ever consigned to the use and profit of the church ' If any man will
come afterme, let him deny himself.' I shall a little open the words.
Christ saith, ' If any man/ to show that the (Juty is of an unlimited
concernment ; it involveth all, whosoever will enter themselves in Christ's
school, or list themselves in his flock or company ; it doth not only
concern a few which are called out to be champions for his cause, and to
expose their bodies to the cruel flames, but ' if any will come after me.'
(Will, 6e\ei ; the word is emphatical, it noteth the full purpose and
consent of the will. Whosoever is firmly resolved. ' Come after me ; '
as a scholar after his teacher, as a sheep after his shepherd, as a soldier
after his centurion. Coming after, it is a phrase proper to scholars.
The phrase showeth the necessity of the duty, unless you will be dis
claimed as none of my followers. Here Christ would give us the main
(character of his own disciples. Christianity is a school and sect of
I men that deny themselves and their own conveniences for Christ's
fsake.
'Let him deny himself; ' these are the words which I shall insist
upon. And in them there are two things to be observed : the act
* Let him deny ; ' the object * Himself/
t 1. For the act, airapvycrdaBa) ; the word being a compound is the
more emphatical ; it signifieth prorsus negare Let him utterly deny
! himself. Denial properly belongeth to speeches, but by a metaphor
it may be also applied to things. To speeches it is proper, as to pro
positions or requests. In propositions we are said to deny when we
contradict that which is affirmed ; in requests we deny when we refuse
to grant what is desired of us. Now by an easy traduction it may
also be applied to things, which we are said to deny when we neglect,
slight, or oppose them ; as denying the power of godliness, neglecting
or opposing it ; though with propriety enough the word may retain its
original sense, because all things are managed in the heart of man by
rational debates, counsels, and suggestions, and we are said to deny
when we refuse to give assent to fleshly dictates and counsels. The
flesh, or corrupt self, hath its propositions, its motions in the soul ; it
speaks to us by our own thoughts, and puts us upon this or that work.
Envy, lust, and corrupt motion have a voice, and an imperious voice,
too, that grace is much put to it to give a strong negative. Envy bids
Cain, Go kill thy brother ; ambition bids Absalom rebel against his
father; covetousness bids Judas betray his Lord and Master; so
I worldly affection bids us pursue present things with all our might.
Now because we are wedded to our opinions, and these are the sugges
tions of our own hearts, therefore they are called self ; and we are said
to deny when we enter our dissent, and deny the motion. Flesh, what
have I to do with thee ? I am not ' a debtor to the flesh,' Kom. viii. 12.
I will hazard all for Christ, and make it my work to get into covenant
with God. This for the act ' Let him deny.'
2. The object is the next word to be opened eavrbv, ' Himself/ a
capacious word, that doth not only involve our persons, but whatever is
ours, so far as it standeth in opposition to God, or cometh in competi
tion with him. A man and all his lusts, a man and all his relations ;
a man and all his interests ; life, and all the appendages of life, is one
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 181
aggregate thing which in scripture is called self. In short, whatsoever
is of himself, in himself, belonging to himself, as a corrupt or carnal
man, all that is to be denied. And indeed, every man hath many a
self within himself ; his lusts are himself ; his life is himself ; his name
is himself; his wealth, liberty, ease, favour, lands, father, mother, and
all relations, they are comprised within the term of self. As when our
Lord explaineth it, Luke xiv. 26, ' If any man will come after me, and
hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren,
and - sisters, nay, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple;' pureiv is
the same with dTrapveio-Oai, hating, it is the same with denying or
neglecting his duty to them for God's sake, when a higher duty is to
take place. I confess, among the things which are called self there is
a difference.
[1.] Some are absolutely evil, and must be denied without limitation ; j
as lusts and carnal affections, Tit, ii. 12, which are very properly called '
self, because we are as tender of them as of our own souls ; and there
fore they are expressed by the terms of the ' right hand,' and the ' right
eye/ Mat. v. 29, 30. A sinner will as soon part with his eyes as with
his lusts, or the pleasure of his senses. And so they are called
' members : ' Col. iii. 5, ' Mortify your members, which are on the
earth.' Sin is riveted in the soul, and it is as irksome to a natural
heart, to part with any lust, as with a member or joint of the body ; we
are willing to hold them by as fast and close a tenure as we hold our
selves ; we startle at a reproof, as if a joint were pricked or touched.
[2.] Other things are only evil respectively as they prove idols or)
snares to us ; and so life, and all the ornaments, comforts, and con-i
veniences of life ; as liberty, honours, wealth, friends, health, they are
all called self. The reason is, because by love, which is the affection
of union, they are incorporated with us, and become parts of us : Hosea
iv. 18, 'Ephraim is joined to idols;' they are cemented with them.
Now that which is to be denied in these things is not so much the I
thing itself, but our corruption that mingleth with them, and causethf
them to become a snare to the soul.
The point that I shall insist on out of the whole is
Doct. That it is the duty of all that would be Christ's disciples to
deny themselves.
I shall handle the doctrine of self-denial
1. In general.
2. In its several kinds and subjective parts.
First, In general. In managing this argument, I shall use this
method, viz.
1. Give the extent of self-denial.
2. The reasons of this duty, with the most effectual motives and
arguments of persuasion.
3. The signs by which we may know whether we omit or practise it.
4. The helps which the scripture prescribes for our furtherance in
so great a work.
First, And as a foundation for all the rest, I shall consider the ex
tent of this duty, both in regard of the object, or the things which are
to be denied, and in regard of the subject, or the persons who are to
practise it.
182 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
1. For the object A man's own self, it is a bundle of idols. Since
God was laid aside, self succeeded in the crown ; we set up everything
that we call our own. Everything before which we may put that pos
sessive ' ours' may be abused and set up as a snare, all the excellences
and comforts of human life, both inward and outward.
For the understanding of this, and that you may know how far self
is to be denied, I must premise some general considerations, and then
instance in some particulars ; for it seemeth harsh and contrary to
reason that a man should deny himself, since nature teacheth a man
to love himself and cherish himself: Eph. v. 29, ' No man ever hated
his own flesh ; ' and grace doth not disallow it. Therefore
[1.] In general, you must know when respects to self are culpable.
There is a lawful self-love ' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,'
James ii. 8 ; in which there is, not only a direction to love our neigh
bour, but a concession and allowance implied to love ourselves ; and in
so doing, we do well. By an innocent and natural respect nature for
tifies itself, and seeks its own preservation. A man may respect him
self in a regular way. That self which we must hate or deny is that
self which stands in opposition to God or competition with him, and
so jostleth with him for the throne ; lay aside God, and self steppeth
in as the next heir ; it is the great idol of the world, ever since the fall,
when men took the boldness to depose and lay aside God, as it were,
self succeeded in the throne. Fallen man, like Keuben, went up to his
father's bed. Self intercepted all those respects and embraces which
were due to God himself, 'and so man became both his own idol and
idolater. It is with God and self as it was with Dagon and the ark ;
they can never stand together in competition ; set up the ark, and
Dagon must fall upon his face ; set up Dagon, and the ark is deposed
and put down. Well then, if we would know when self is sinfully re
spected, we must consider what are the rights and the undoubted
flowers of the crown of heaven ; I mean, what are those special privi
leges and respects that are so appropriated to the godhead, as that
they cannot without treason to the King of all the earth, be alienated
from him or communicated to any creature. Now these are
four :
(1.) To be the first cause, upon whom all things depend in their
being and operation.
(2.) To be the chiefest good, and therefore to be valued above all
beings, interests, and concernments in the world.
(3.) To be the highest lord and most absolute sovereign, who
swayeth all things by his laws and providence.
(4.) To be the last end, in which all things do at length terminate
and centre.
1st As God is the first cause, so he would keep up the respects of
the world to his majesty by dependence and trust. Now it is the
ambition of man to affect an independency, to be a god to himself,
sufficient for his own happiness. Our first parents greedily catched at
that bait : ' Ye shall be as gods/ Gen. iii. 5. The devil meant it not
in a blessed conformity, but a cursed self-sufficiency ; and we are all
apt to be taken in the same snare, which certainly is a very grievous
sin. Nothing can be more hateful to God. This therefore is a great
BOOK L] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 183
part of self-denial, to work us off from other dependences, and to trust
in God alone.
2d. As God is the cKiefest good, so he must have the highest esteem.
Valuing other things above God is the ground of all miscarriage in the
business of religion. When anything is honoured above God, or made
equal with God, or indulged against the will of God, Dagon is set up,
and the ark is made to fall.
3d. As God is the highest lord and most absolute sovereign, it is
his peculiar prerogative to give laws to the creature ; therefore self is
not to interpose and give laws to us, but only God ; his will must
stand. The great contest indeed between God and the creature is,
whose will shall stand, God's will or ours ; who shall prescribe to us,
self or God. Fleshly nature sets up laws against laws, and our fleshly
wills set up providence against providence. Self-will is bewrayed by
murmuring against God's providence, by rebellion against his laws, and
when we are obstinate in our homage and obedience to self : Jer. xviii.
12, we will walk in the way of our own heart ; and Jer. xliv. 17, what
soever cometh out of our mouths, that we will do. So James i. 14,
the apostle makes it to be the root of all sin when a man is drawn away
by his own lusts and his own will, that is set up against the laws of
God. So in providence, a stubborn creature will not submit when
God's will is declared. It was a great submission, and an act of self-
denial in Christ ' Not as I will, but as thou wilt ; ' but self saith, Not
as thou wilt, but as I will ; for we by murmuring set up an anti-pro
vidence against God.
4th. As God is the last end of our beings and actions, the supreme
cause is to be the utmost end : Prov. xvi. 4, ' God made all things for
himself.' But now, in all that we do we look to ourselves ; vain man
sets up self at the end of every action, and jostles out God. In all the
actions of life they are but a kind of homage to the idol of self. If they
eat and drink, it is to nourish self, a meat-offering and drink-offering
to appetite. If they pray or praise, it is but to worship self, to advance
the repute of self ; the crown is taken off from God's head, he is not
made the utmost end. If they give alms, they are a sacrifice offered
to the idol of self-estimation ; ' They give alms to be seen of men,' saith
Christ, and in this self is set up, and God is deposed and laid aside.
[2.] Let me give you some particular instances. To instance in ex
cellences, moral or natural, or in civil interest. In moral excellences :
v righteousness, that is apt to be a snare in point of self-dependence.
Paul found it to be ^q^iavy a loss, Phil. iii. 7, a hindrance from
casting ourselves entirely upon grace. It is the highest point of self-f
denial for a man to deny his own righteousness, to see the dung and ?1
dross that is in himself and all his moral excellences. So also, con-*
cerning our own wisdom, that is a self that comes to be denied. It is
said to Babylon : Isa. xlvii., * Thy understanding hath undone thee.'
So of all men, when we presume upon our own sense and apprehension,
we soon go wrong. This is the main thing to be considered here ; for
Peter, out of carnal wisdom, dissuades Christ, and then Christ saith,
* Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself,' deny the dic
tates of his own reason and will. He that makes his own bosom his
oracle, asketh counsel of a fool ; we shall be cavilling and disputing till
184 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BoOK I. 1
we have disputed ourselves out of all religion : Job, vi. 24, ' Cause me
to understand wherein I have erred/ Till we come to see by divine
light, carnal wisdom is always making lies and ill reports of religion ;
\ve think it folly and preciseness to be strict, and that zeal is fury, and
it is cowardice and disgrace to put up wrong. We shall still be call
ing good evil, and evil good, because we are wise in our own eyes ;
there is a woe pronounced upon such ' Isa. v. 21, 22, * Woe unto them
that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight ! ' &c.
!It is an excellent point of self-denial to * become a fool, that we may
be wise/ 1 Cor. iii. 18. As when we look in a perspective-glass we
wink with one eye, that we may see the more clearly with the other ;
so here we must put out the eye of carnal wisdom, and become fools,
that we may be wise for Christ, So for all civil interests ; life, that is
the most precious possession of the creature, and yet not too good to
be denied : ver. 25, Christ instariceth ' Whosoever shall lose his life for
my sake shall find it/ That is the gospel way of thriving, to lose all
for God, Now this is to be denied, not only in purpose and vow, but
when it comes to trial; as it is said of the saints; Rev xii. 11, 'They
loved not their lives to the death/ When it comes to a point, either
they must leave their God or lose their lives on the account of re
ligion. The loving-kindness of God is better than life. So for estate :
Mat. xix. 27, ' We have left all and followed thee/ say the disciples ;
we must leave our coat, as Joseph did, that we may keep our conscience
whole. The best usury in the world ; ten in the hundred would in the
world be counted an oppression ; but now here is a hundred for one,
| Mark x. 32. So also for fame and esteem in the world ; though to an
ingenious spirit this is exceeding precious, yet John the Baptist, speak
ing of Christ, saith, ' He must increase, but I must decrease/ We
| must be content to be ciphers, that Christ may rise up into the greater
' sum ; as one in a crowd that holds another upon his shoulders, he is
lost in the throng, but the other is exposed to the view of all. So for
our friends : Luke xiv. 26, c Whosoever hates not his father, and his
mother/ &c. There are many cases wherein we are to deny our
friends ; as suppose, when we shall incur their displeasure, out of
faithfulness to Christ. Carnal parents will frown upon us, and, it may
be, withdraw maintenance, and other conveniences of life; but it is
better an earthly father should frown than that God should frown, it
will be made up in spiritual relations, So in case of doing justice and
right we must not own father, mother, brothers, or sisters, for this is
but more handsome and natural bribery, Levi was commended for
this by the Lord : Deut. xxxiii. 9, ' He saith to his father and mother,
I have not seen him, neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor
knew his own children, but observed my word, saith the Lord/ It is
good to be blind and deaf to all relations in this case. Asa spared not
his own mother, but deposed her, being idolatrous. See Deut. xiii. 6-9,
' If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter,
or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thy own soul, en
tice thee secretly, saying, Let us go serve other gods, which thou hast
not known, thou, nor thy fathers, . , thou shalt not consent unto him,
nor hearken unto him ; neither shall thy eye pity him ; neither shalt
thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him ; but thou shalt surely kill
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 185
him ; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and after
ward the hand of all the people,' &c. We are apt to look upon these
rules as calculated for Utopia, and have but a grammatical knowledge
of them. So also for carnal things : if it be a right hand or a
right eye, it must be plucked out and cut off, Mat. v. If it be as gainful
and as profitable a sin as the right hand is profitable to us, yet it must
not be spared. ' We must deny all ungodliness,' Titus ii. 12, though ever
so pleasing. Thus for the object, it extendeth to all things.
2. For the subject : see the extent of it, it reacheth all sorts of men ;
Christ saith, ' If any will come after me, he must deny himself.' It is
notable, that circumstance in Mark, when Christ gives the lesson of
self-denial : Mark viii. 34, ' When he had called the people unto him,
with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after
me, let him deny himself/ There is no calling, no sex, no age, no
duty, no condition of life that is excluded, but one way or other, they
are put upon self-denial. No calling: magistrates, and those who are
called to public trust, they are most obliged, in regard of God and
men, to deny themselves. It is notable, the self-denial of Joseph,
though he were a great officer in Egypt, yet his family ran the
same lot with other tribes. And Joshua, in the division of the land,?^
he took his own lot and share last, Joshua xix. 49. Men in public]
places are most liable to mind private interest, to the neglect of
the public ; but they ought not to feather their nests with public
spoils.
So for men of private stations. It is not the duty of public persons
only, all conditions are liable to self-seeking ; many times your private
callings may be against the public interest, either of religion or civil
welfare, as they that made shrines for Diana, when the gospel came,
and reformation likely to be wrought, Acts xix. 24, they cried, ' Our
gain will be gone/ Therefore in this case you should be content to
sink and to suffer loss, as the lighter elements descend to conserve the
universe. Or, it may be, you have thriven by iniquity of traffic ; now
you are to deny yourselves by making restitution : Luke xix. 8, ' I will
restore fourfold, and give to the poor/ Kestitution is a hard duty, but j
a necessary one ; and you must vomit up your sweet morsels where
with you have surefeited, or else conscience will not be healthy. And
so for other callings and relations : minister and people. Ministers, of
all men, had most need to practise this duty. We are to deny our
own ends. How many carnal ends may a man promote by his service
in the ministry ? Fame, applause, the satisfying of our necessity ;
we are not to preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord. We are
to deny ourselves in our learning and parts ; we are debtors to the
learned and unlearned, we are to become all things to all ; and Christ
hath lambs as well as sheep. We must be content to go hack ten
degrees, that we may condescend to all, not to soar aloft in speculation ;
possibly this may be more for our fame and repute of learning, but less
for profit. So for people : in hearing you must deny the curiosity of
the ear, that others may profit by plainer lessons, and that every one
may have his portion in due season. It is a great part of self-denial
to suffer the words of exhortation, (ruilt is apt to recoil when tender
parts are touched. Now you are to deny yourselves, to love the reproof
A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
as well as the comfort, and count it precious oil. Consider the submis
sion that was in Hezekiah when the prophet came with the bitter
threatening of a curse that should cleave to his posterity ( Good is
the word of the Lord ! ' a sweet submission of a sanctified judgment,
Tsa. xxxix. 8. All that was good in it was, that it should not come in
his days. So also for all sexes : it is a duty for men ; not only for
men, who are called out to public actions, but for women also, they
are to deny themselves in their delicacies of life, that they may exer
cise themselves in the grave duties of religion, that they may not wax
wanton. It is necessary also in all duties; to instance in those two
great ones which do divide and take up the whole Christian life, prayer
and praise, both of them should be practised with self-denial. When
we come for grace, we should deny our own merit Lord, not for
our own righteousness. And when grace is received, when we come
to praise God, self must vanish, that God may have all the praise, Mat.
16. When the good servant gives an account of his faithfulness, he
saith, ' Not my industry, but thy pound hath gained ten pounds ; ' he
gives it all to grace. So 1 Cor. xv. 10, the apostle checks himself, as
if he had spoken unbeseeming ' I laboured more than you all, yet not
I, but the grace of God that was with me ; ' so Gal. ii. 20, ' I live,'
then presently draws in his words again, ' not I, but Christ liveth in
me/ As the elders throw their crowns at the Lamb's feet, so all our
excellences must be laid at the feet of Christ ; as the stars disappear
when the sun. ariseth, so we must shrink into nothing in our own
thoughts. When Joab had conquered Kabba, he sent for David to
take the garland of honour ; so when we have done anything by grace,
we must send for Christ to take the honour. Prayer is the humble
appeal to mercy, disclaiming of merit ; and praise is the setting of the
crown upon Christ's head; not I, but the grace of God that is wrought
in me.
To apply this, all men are to practise this duty, in all things, at all
times, and with all their hearts.
[l.j All men are to practise it. Ohl do not put it off to others ;
no man can exempt himself. Usually, when these duties are pressed,
we think they are calculated for men in great places, and rich men ;
but it is a duty that lies upon all, all are apt to seek themselves.
When Christ spake something concerning Peter, it is said, 'Peter
looked about on the disciple Jesus loved.' So we are apt to look about
to others. Look for it, before you die you will be eminently called to
this service. Never Christian went out of this world, but, one time or
other, God tried him in some eminent point of self-denial. As it is
said, God tempted Abraham, tried him in that difficult point of offer
ing his son, Gen. xxii. 1 ; so Christ trie'd the young man ' Go, sell all
that thou hast, and give to the poor,' Mat. xxii.
[2.] For the object in all things. Let not your self-denial be
partial and halting ; as Saul slew some of the cattle, but spared the
fat, and Agag. Many can deny themselves in many things, but they
are loth to give up all to God without bounds and reservations. As
Joshua deposed all the kings of Canaan, so every lust is to be cast out
of the throne. He that denies himself only in some things, really he
denies himself in none. Jehu put Baal's priests to death, but con-
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 187
tinned the calves in Dan and Bethel, out of interest and reasons of state.
Herod denied himself in many things, but could not part with hisHerodias.
[3.] You must deny yourself always ; it must not be temporary and
vanishing. In a good mood we can give up and renounce all, and be
humble, and ascribe all to grace. We may hang the head for a day
like a bulrush, Isa. Iviii. There should be a constant sense of our
unworthiness kept up, and a purpose of renouncing all and giving up
all. It is not enough to deny a man's self in a thing wherein there is
no pleasure, and when his soul abhors dainty food, but it must be in
things which are desirable, and this must be constantly practised too.
Ahab humbled himself for a few days.
[4.] It must be with all our heart. Which signifies that it must
not be done by a mere constraint of providence, as a mariner in a storm
casts away his goods by force, but as a bride leaves her father's house :
Ps. xlv. 10, ' Forget thy father's house ; ' it must be out of a prin
ciple of grace, and out of love to Christ. Now you must not do
it politicly, but with your whole heart. There is no such great self-
seeking as is carried on usually under the colour of self-denial. As
the apostle speaks of some, 2 Cor. xi. 12, that would preach the gos
pel freely, to shame and cast contempt upon Paul. The devil dis-
guiseth himself into all forms and shapes. As Jacob put on Esau's
clothes that he might appear rough and hairy, and so get the blessing ;
so many seem to deny themselves of the comforts of life, but it is but
for their own praise. The Pharisees were liberal in alms ; they could
deny themselves in giving, which others could not do ; but it was to
be seen of men. Therefore this self-denial must not be self-seeking,
carried on under a pretence, for that is abominable to God. Thus
for the extent of the duty.
Secondly, I come to handle some reasons, with the most effectual
enforcements. It is the duty of all that would be Christ's disciples to
deny themselves j I shall prove it by several grounds.
1. We cannot else be conformed to our great Master. Jesus Christ
came from heaven on purpose to teach us the lesson of self-denial ;
his birth, his life, his death, was a pattern of self-denial. His birth,
it was a great step from God's bosom into the virgin's lap ; a great
condescension : 2 Cor. viii. 9, ' When he was rich, he became poor,
that we might be rich/ None can deny themselves so much as Christ
did, because none was so rich as he. We may talk of flocks and herds,
and the poor ornaments and supplies of a frail life ; but he had the
possession of a perfect happiness and glory in the divine nature, he
was rich indeed. He needed not to have the respect of the creature
to make him more happy ; he was the lord of glory, and heir of all
things. Yet when he was thus rich he made himself poor. He did
not only subject himself to the law, and abject condition of the creature,
but came in a poor, mean way, not in pomp, not in a princely equipage.
As soon as he took our nature, he would have a feeling of our wants
and miseries, therefore was born in a mean, obscure way. Born of a
poor mother, in a poor pi ace, wrapt up in cheap and unworthy swaddling-
clothes, the fellow of God, the heir of all things, the lord of angels, he
is thrust out among beasts in a stable. Christ would not come in
pomp, but with slender provision and furniture, to put a disgrace upon
188 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
worldly greatness and bravery. He would overturn the idol of the
world, not only by power, but by the choice of his life. And as his
birth, so was his life ; he was exercised with sorrows and labours.
Christ was not a man of pleasure, but a man of sorrow. Kom. xv. 3,
the apostle saith, ' Christ pleased not himself,' neither in the choice of
his own life, nor in any delights that he could propose to himself of
his own profit and advantage, he was happy enough without them,
So in his death. If any had reason or cause to love his natural life,
Jesus Christ had. His soul dwelt with God in such a fellowship as
we are not capable of; and yet he gave up himself to redeem us from
the present world, Gal i. 4 It is but ridiculous to profess Jesus Christ
to be our master, and not to conform to his example. We have no
reason to be more tender and delicate of our interest than Christ was.
What is our self to Christ's self ? We are poor creatures under a
law ; Christ was God over all, blessed for ever. The disciple is not
above his master, nor the servant above his lord ' It is enough for
the disciple to be as his master, the servant as his lord. If they have
called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call
them of his household ! ' Mark x. 25. We should not murmur, we
cannot be worse used than Christ was , we have no cause to complain
if we be reduced to a coarse robe, when we remember Christ's swad
dling clothes ; to complain of a hard bed or prison, when Christ was
laid in a manger. Certainly an innocent poverty is more comfortable
than all the pomp in the world, if we would but choose what Christ
chose. Christ was a pattern of suffering from the cradle to the cross.
They that caress themselves in all the delights of the world seem to
profess another master than Christ. We are of a base condition, but
two or three degrees distant from dust and nothing. The sun can go
back ten degrees ; Christ, the Lord of glory, might go back ten degrees,
but we have not so much to lose.
12= This hath been practised, not only by the master, but by all the
fellows in the same school. Christ set the first copy, and all the saints
have written after it, some better, some worse : Rom. xiv. 7, ' None of
us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself , for whether we
live, we live to the Lord , and whether we die, we die unto
the Lord.' In the context the apostle speaks of the difference
of weak and strong believers; some weak, some strong, but they
all agree in this, none of us, not one that hath given up his
name to Christ, is allowedly a self-seeker; none live to them
selves. The example of the saints is to be considered, lest we should
think it exceeds the capacity of the creature, and that only Christ
could practise it. We find the children of God, those among them
that have made the highest progress in Christ's school, they have had
lowest thoughts of self. Paul, that was a glorious apostle, yet he
saith in one place, 1 Tim. i. 15, that * he was the greatest of sinners ; '
and in another place, Eph. iii. 8, that ' he was less than the least of
saints.' A man would have thought that Paul, with more congruity
of speech, might have said, the greatest of saints and least of sinners,
but he saith, the greatest of sinners, and the least of saints ; not to
lessen grace, but still to lessen self, and put a disgrace upon it. They
that are the best scholars in this school most abhor self-conceit
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENTAL. 189
and self-seeking. As the laden boughs hang the head and bend
downward, so do the children of God that have been most fruitful in the
Christian course; as the sun, the higher it is, doth cast the least
shadows; so for self-seeking. I wonder how a man can look upon
these two great instances of Moses and Paul without blushing. Of Moses :
Num. xxxii. 32, * Blot me out of thy book/ upon condition he would
save the people ; as if he could take no comfort in his great spiritual
privileges, when the glory of God should suffer loss by the loss of his
people. So Kom. ix. 3, * Let me be accursed from Christ, for my
brethren that are in the flesh/ Paul, in an excess of zeal, could be
willing to bear the common punishment for a common good. We,
that are so tender of our honour and respect, so wedded to our ease
and private interests, how can we look upon these without shame ?
Can Paul and Moses wish to be a common sacrifice for God's glory,
and for the redemption of others, and we be so tender to our own
respects? Moses speaketh to God himself, and Paul calls God to
witness ' I lie not : ' Rom. ix. 1, 'I speak the truth in Christ, I lie
not, my conscience also beareth me witness in the Holy Ghost/ There
is a treble oath and asseveration 'I speak the truth,' 'I lie not,'
' the Spirit bears witness with my conscience/ Or rather, there is a
double asseveration, with an appeal to two witnesses, both to the Spirit
and conscience. Not as if they could wish for hardness of heart ; but
with an excess of zeal they were carried so high in imitation of Christ,
to part with their own happiness for a public good.
3. Jesus Christ may justly require it; all the idols of the world!
expect it from their votaries. In nature we are sensible that all respects
to divine powers are commended by self-denial. We see it in pagans ;
when Baal was silent, his priests gashed themselves, 1 Kings xviii. 28 ;
they cut themselves, after their manner, with knives and lances, so that
the blood gushed out ; to gratify their idol, they would not spare their
own blood. So those hypocrites, Micah vi. 6-8, see how liberal they
are ' Shall I give the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? thousands
of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil/ &c. To part with a beast in sacri
fice, they thought it was not self-denial enough ; they devise something
more costly, all their flocks and herds, their children, the fruit of their
womb, their whole substance. So superstitious votaries among the
papists, they mangle their flesh with scourges and whips, use excessive
tasting and abstinence from meat, pinch their own flesh. And we
fatten and feed ourselves, and cannot deny ourselves for Christ. See
the instance in spiritual idols, how worldly and carnal men can deny
themselves to compass their ends : Ps. cxxvii. 2, 'They rise early, go to
bed late, eat the bread of sorrow ; ' they can deny themselves of sleep,
and food, and rest, and all in a devotion to worldly interests : Eccles. iv.
8, ' He bereaves his soul of all good/ There is no end of their toil ;
with an unwearied patience they lay out their strength in vain pursuits.
Many a covetous man doth shame many a godly man. Religion is a
better thing ; shall lust do more with them than the love of Christ
with thee ? Lust that will make a man labour in the very fire, though
it be but for a thing of nought, to deny himself of the necessary support
and conveniences of life. Consider the tyranny of worldly affection.
Certainly we should have a stronger impulse, for we have a better
190 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
reward ; we are acted with a more mighty spirit. It is true, in carnal
men it is not self-denial so much as the obstinacy of self-will and
stomach. The kingdom of Satan is divided ; self-will is set up against
self-delight or ease. Nay, in pleasure, which doth seem of all vanities
to be most soft and effeminate, yet men can deny themselves for their
pleasure, their credit, estate, their conscience, and all sacrificed to the
gullet of that great idol and Moloch-god, their belly,
j 4. Because self is the greatest enemy both to God and man. (1.) It
(robs God of his honour. Self, it is a near and dear word to man ; it
4 is both the idol and the idolater. It receives the worshipwhich^ it
perforineth j a^ trie shore, and "tnlrTsucFs
them in again. Self is made a god, and then god is made an idol ;
Phil. iii. 20, ' Whose god is their belly.' All their toil and labour is
to feed and delight themselves, and to exalt themselves. Self hath
such sacrifices and devotions as God requires. Self hath solemn
worship. A carnal man prays, and what then? He makes God the
object, and self the end ; so that self is the god. So self hath private
and closet duties, vain thoughts, and musings, in which we lift up our
selves in our own conceit ' Is not this great Babel that I have built?'
Some time of the day we consecrate to the great idol self, to puff up
ourselves with the conceit of our own worth. This is a more secret
worship of self. The public worship of self is in self-seeking, and the
private in self-conceit, when we feast and entertain our spirits with
whispers of vanity, and suppositions of our own excellency and greatness.
(2.) As it is God's, so it is man's enemy. Self parts itself against
itself, and is its own greatest enemy. Not only they of a man's own
house are his enemies, as Christ speaks, but his own heart is his enemy ;
self-will, self-wit are the greatest foes you have in the world. Look,
as the ape doth crush out the bowels of her young ones while she
embraceth them, so man wrongs himself when he overloves himself ;
a man need fear and suspect no creature in the world so much as
himself, and that when we most respect self. The world^^J-JJjftjifiSLl
mj^ trouble thee, but cannot hurt thee without thyself. No enemy can
Kurt us so much as we hurt ourselves; therefore, if we would take revenge of
them that hate us most, we should begin with our own hearts. Men trust
their hearts as their best friends, and so they are deceived. . It is the
greatest judgment that God can lay upon any creature, to give him
up to himself: Ps. Ixxxi. 12, ' So I gave them up to their own
heart's 'lusts, and they walked in their own counsels.' Oh ! it is a sad
doom to be given up to self. On the other side, it is the greatest
conquest that can be, to conquer self ; it is an enemy that will hardly be
subdued : Prov. xvi. 32, ' Better is he that overcometh himself than he
that conquereth a city;' i.e., he that is able to conquer the masterless
bosom enemy, self, that is so apt to betray us.
I 5. Because those that are Christ's disciples are not their own men :
JRom. xiv. 6, ' We are not our own, but the Lord's.' Our will should
Ttot be our own law, nor our profit our aim, because we are not our own.
There are many relations between us and Christ which take away all
the property we have in ourselves. We cannot say that our tongues
are our own, to speak what we please, nor our works our own, nor our
interests our own ; no, thy tongue when thou speakest, it is cot thine,
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 191
but Christ's ; and so thy estate when thou tradest, remember it is not
thine, but Christ's ; thy prayer, thy public service, they are not thine,
but Christ's. Kemember, thy strength is not thine own when thou art
wasting it in lust and vanity ; it is not thine, but Christ's. So our
several relations. I have showed you before the title God hath to us ;
now let me open the several relations. We are but servants ; now
servants are not sui juris, masters of their own will, but subject to the
will of another, by whose command and for whose profit they are to
act. The property of servants, saith Aristotle, is not to do their own
will and pleasure ; they have given up themselves to another. So we
are children, and God is our Father, and children are under govern
ment, they are to be guided by their father. Then the most honourable
relation is that of a spouse, 1 Tim. ii. 12. Now the woman, saith the
apostle, must riot rule over her own head ; we are to be guided and
directed by him. The most honourable relations put us upon self-
denial.
6. Because it is the most gainful project in the world, therefore we|
must deny self. Self-denial is the true way of self-advancing. Leave}
as much as you can for Christ, you will lose nothing ' He that loseth
his life shall find it : ' Mark x. 29, 30, ' Jesus answered and said, Verily
I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or
sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake
and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time,
houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mother, and children, and lands,
with persecution, and in the world to come, eternal life/ Though wej
n*ave iFnoFnTspecie, in kind, we shall have it over and above in value.)
God will not weary us with expecting too much. Here we have peace
of conscience, and hereafter life eternal ; others do but gain a shadow
to the loss of the substance. They have neither quiet of conscience nor
the hopes of glory ; Mat. xvi. 26, ' What is a man profited if he should
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? ' &c. And the evangelist
Luke hath it, chap. ix. 25, ' Lose himself/' To seek the good of our
souls, that is indeed to seek ourselves. Every man's mind, his soul, is
himself ; to lose his soul, that is indeed to lose himself ; and when we
lose ourselves, we lose all. When a man hath most need, riches fly
away ; you cannot bribe divine justice, nor keep the soul from hell.
Therefore if you would seek yourselves indeed, seek yourselves in
God.
7. Because otherwise a man can be nothing in religion, neither dot
nor suffer ; and therefore we must resolve either to deny ourselves or toi
deny Christ. Before we go out of the world, we shall be put upon the
trial. Peter denied his master, because he could not deny himself.
All duties in religion put us upon self-denial private duties upon the
denial of lusts, and public upon the denial of interests ; therefore we
read of ' denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,' Titus ii. 12. In
private duties : whenever you go to pray, private duties are contrary to
the inclinations and dispositions of the heart, which are for ease and
pleasure, and the gratifications of the flesh. If thou hast no self-denial,
thou wilt never bring thy heart to God in them. Then in public duties
we must look for opposition. Advancers of public good are usually
exposed to public hatred, they are sure to be spoken against ; when
192 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
the devil cannot prevail with instruments to slacken the work of God,
{then he stirs up the world against it. That must be a complete action
fwherein malice cannot find fault. It is true, we are not always exposed
to persecution, but always to censure. Many that have neither heart
nor hands to do good, yet have tongues to censure those that do it,
magistrates and ministers. Therefore we must look for trouble, if not
from malice, yet from envy. Who can stand before envy ? If perse
cutors be under restraint, yet carnal professors will be apt to blemish
what is not done by themselves. Therefore whosoever would be a
disciple to God and Christ, this is his first lesson ; this is the A B C of
religion. We shall never digest the inconveniences of a spiritual life
till we resolve upon it. We must make over our interests in our lives,
and whatever is dear to .us, reckon the charges, Luke xiv. 26. A
builder spends cheerfully as long as his charges are within his allowance ;
but when that is exceeded, and he goes beyond what he hath reckoned
upon, then every penny is disbursed with grudging. Most resolve upon
little or no trouble in religion, and from thence it comes to pass that
when they are crossed, they prove faint-hearted. Therefore put your
life in your hand, and resolve to follow Christ wheresoever he goeth.
| 8. Every one must deny himself, because it is a special part of faith,
j Faith looks upon God's mercy in Christ, not only as true, but as good ;
better than life, and better than all the contentments of it, else it is not
faith : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accep
tation/ It doth not only look upon it as a wise and faithful saying, but
as a thing of choice. There is not only assent to what is true, but there
is consent and choice. Faith is an inclination of the soul to true worth,
and therefore, with a resting upon the mercies of Christ there is a
renouncing of interest ; Mat. xiii. 46, the merchant that found the rich
pearl 'went and sold all to buy it. 1 This is faith, to come and
traffic with God for his mercy in Christ, to part with all, whatever is
pleasant and profitable in the world, rather than be deprived of his
grace : Luke xiv. 27-29, ' He that hates not his father and mother,
yea, and his own life, cannot be my disciple;' and then our Lord brings
the similitude of a man that goes about to build, and sits him down
and counts the charge. In faith there is a sitting down and account
ing the charges, or considering what it is to take Christ. The comforts
of Christianity we prize much, but they are only necessary to be pro
pounded in case of distress of conscience. But he that desires to be a
Christian indeed is seriously to cast up his reckoning, what is required
athishands, thoroughly to examine whether he be willing to forego such
hopes and contentments as are incompatible with the life he seeketh,
or to endure all crosses and calamities wherewith he may be encum
bered. The builder that goes hand over head to work, lays the founda
tion of his disgrace in the loss of his cost. Men labour to fortify their
actual persuasion of the mercies of Christ before the carnal life be
renounced. It is a mistake to look to faith first, and the settling our
particular assurance, as if that were the difficultest thing in religion.
I The great difficulty lies in self-denial. As Christ put the young man
1 in Mat. xix. 26, upon the trial, Canst thou leave all, and follow me ?
so we are to put ourselves upon the trial, otherwise our application to
God's mercy, and settling our particular persuasion, will be but a rash
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL^ 193
confidence. Every one hath some tender parts, and usually at first
conviction our tender parts are touched. When God begins to work
upon the heart, we should say, Soul, thou hast busied thyself in a wrong
way, there is one thing necessary : come out of that way, or thou shalt
never be happy. Forsake thy father's house : we are apt to stick at
this, we are not able to renounce all for him. As when God called
Abraham, he called him from his father's house ; so when we are called
to God, we are called from something pleasant and profitable to self.
Thirdly, The notes and signs of self-denial. There are exclusive
and inclusive marks. Exclusive marks will show us when self is not
denied ; then inclusive marks follow, wherein we may take comfort.
1. Exclusive notes for conviction, how we may know when self is
iu dominion and sovereignty. It is a sign self is exalted and in
dominion
[1.] When a man did never set himself to thwart his own desires. Car-L
nal indulgence makes lust a wanton. When we cocker our lusts, they!
grow contumacious and stubborn. They that gratify their senses
and wallow in all fleshly delights, never knew what it was to be exer
cised in Christ's school ; a man that cannot deny his ease and pleasure
is not fit for Christ : Eccles. ii. 11, ' Whatever my eyes desired, I kept
not from them ; I withheld not my heart from any joy/ When men
can remit nothing of their vanity and luxury they make Christianity to
be but a notion and an empty pretence ; they are men and women of
pleasure, when Jesus Christ was a man of sorrows. The children of
God are always wont to cross themselves in things which they most
affect ; as David poured out the water of Bethlehem when lie longed
for it. It is good sometimes to make such an experiment upon our
selves ; we may find out many images of jealousy, if we would try
whether we could deny ourselves in what we most affect.
[2.] By an impatiency in our natures when we are crossed by others.!
Self seems to be a very delicate and tender thing ; we cannot endure*
to be crossed in our opinions and interests, or in the accomplishment
of our lusts. Hamari is sick, and cast upon his bed, because he wanted
Mordecai's knee. Always our affliction argues the greatness of our
affection. It should be the eXd^io-rov, f the smallest thing,' as the apostle
saith, ' to be judged of men/ 1 Cor. iv. 3. When men have set a high
price and value upon themselves, they are vexed when others will not
come up to their price. John died for crossing Herod in his Herodias ;
Jonah made his gourd to be a piece of himself, he prized it too much,
as appears by his great vexation when God had smitten it. Fretting
and murmuring show what is the tender nart of our souls, and what
we have made as part of ourselves.
[3.] When a man is loath to be a loser . Some are of cheap!
and vile spirits, they love a gospel withoi *he apostle speaks,'
1 Cor. ix. 18, can be content to serv, y may be at no
expense for God. Look, as we should count and reckon upon the
charges before we profess religion ; so after profession we should ask
conscience what it hath cost us to be godly, at what expense we have
been at for Jesus Christ, since we have espoused Christ and religion.
David would not serve God with that which cost him nought. If a
man were told that his way to such a place is encumbered with briers
VOL. XV. N
194 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
and thorns, and that he must ride through many dirty lanes, and must
look for scratching brambles, and many miry places, now when he seeth
nothing but a green and pleasant path, he would think he had mis
taken and lost his way ; so when you are told your way to heaven is a
strait way, and that religion will put you upon self-denial of your
pleasure, profit, and carnal desires, and yet you never wrestled with
your lusts, nor quitted anything for Christ, and meet with nothing, but
pleasure, profit and delight in the profession of religion, you may well
think that you are mistaken in the way, and it is a great sign you
are yet to seek in the duty which Christ's scholars must practise.
![4.] When the heart is grieved for the good of others, it is a sign
self is then in dominion. Many can rejoice and please themselves when
God hath been glorified by some act of their own, but they are grieved
when the work is done by others ; selfish and carnal men would fain
make a monopoly of religion. Oh ! consider, such a temper is a sign
that self is too dear and near to us. We should be as glad if God be
glorified by others as when ourselves are the instruments of his glory.
Luther said, Si nos nonsumus digni, fiat per alios My design is, that
the work of God may be done ; and if I be not worthy, let the work
of God be done by others. So Paul ; Phil. i. 15, 16, Many preach
the gospel, supposing to add affliction to my bonds ; yet if the gospel
is preached, I therein rejoice, and will rejoice. It is a Pharisee's spirit
to malign and envy the good of others : John xii. 19, ' Behold, all the
world goes after him, and we prevail nothing ; ' they were vexed Christ
had so much of the respects of the people. Men would monopolise all
respect to their faction, and keep up a devotion to their interest ; this
made the elder brother envy at the prodigal's return, Luke xv. When
we envy the gifts and graces of others, and their esteem in the world,
it is a sign self remains in sovereignty and dominion. Many, because
they would shine alone, are apt to blast and censure the repute of others,
and malign the grace wrought in them, whereas we should rather re
joice therein.
| [5.] When men care not how it goeth with the public so they may
| promote their private interest. I mention this because, as self is to be
denied for God's sake, so it is to be denied for the good of others. There
is self in opposition to God, and self in opposition to the good of others :
1 Cor. x. 14, ' Let no man seek his own, but every one the good of
others ;' as we are bound to promote the glory of God, so the good of
one another too, especially the public good. Therefore the children of
God have no heart or regard to their private conveniences with the
loss of the public. Moses, when God promiseth to prefer him, Exod.
xxxii. 10, 11, ' Let me alone, do not beseech me for this people, and 1
will make of thee a great nation.' God offers him a composition, if he
would cease his prayers, and tells him the holy seed should be continued
in his line, instead of the line of Abraham, and all the rest of the tribes
should be abolished ; yet it is said, Moses besought the Lord, and desired
mercy for the people, Lord, let not thine anger kindle against thy
heritage ; it is no matter what becometh of me, so the people be safe.
So Neh. v. 18, ' I took not the bread of the governor, because the bon
dage was heavy on the people; ' he would not take the necessary sup
port and maintenance whereby the greatness of his place might be borne
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 195
out, because there was affliction upon the children of God. But now
carnal men care not how they embroil a nation, nor how it goes with
the public affairs, so they may promote their own interest, and set up
self in place and honour. The children of God are wont to yield up
all their own interest for a public good : Jonah i. 10, ' Cast me into
the sea ; ' so the tempest may be still, no matter what becomes of me.
So Nazianzen, when there was a great trouble and contest about his
place ' Doth my honour trouble you ? Let me go aside in obscure
silence, and live neglected, and die, and my bones be thrown into the
dark, where they may not be found nor known/
2. As there are exclusive marks, so there are inclusive also. I shall
name but three.
[1.] When a man in all his purposes, in every actual choice, is swayed j
by reasons of conscience rather than by reasons of interest ; when he \
is contented to be anything, so as he may be serviceable to God's glory,!
and Jesus Christ may be all in all. Thus Paul, when he was in a$
strait whether to be dissolved or stay in the flesh, it is no matter which
it be, so Christ be magnified, whether it be by life or death, Phil. i. 23.
If my body be spent with labour, or fall as a burnt-offering in martyr
dom, it is no matter, so Christ still be magnified ; when we are con
tented that self should vanish, so as Christ may appear, and shine in
all his glory. As when the sun displays its beams the stars vanish ;
when we are put upon any choice of life, whether we shall do this or
that, still we are to measure it, not by self-interest, but with respect to
God's glory. Seneca saith, A magnanimous man cares not, doth not
look, where he may live most safely, but most honestly. A child of
God looks, in the disposal of his affairs, where he may have most work,
and do most service, and not merely to provide for ease and safety. As
a traveller, when two ways are proposed to him, one pleasant, the other
very craggy and dangerous, he doth not look which way is most pleas
ant, but which way conduceth to his journey's end ; so a child of God
doth not look to what is most grateful to the flesh, but how he may do
most work and service, and glorify God upon earth.
[2.] By an humble submission to God's will. It is a great conquest j
over ourselves when we can conquer our own will. Now the children!
of God speak as if they had no will of their own at all. Before provi
dence is past, they absolutely give up themselves to God's disposal,
either for deliverance or trouble. In 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26, ' The king
said unto Zadock, Carry back the ark of God into the city ; if I shall
find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show
me both it and his habitation ; but if he thus say, I have no delight in
thee, behold, here am I, let him do to me, as seemeth good unto him.'
David speaks as if he had no will of his own, and gives up himself to
the disposal of God. So also after the event, when God hath declared
his will, they silence all the murmuring of their spirits: 1 Sam. iii. 18,
' It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good.' There is
enough to calm all the discontent of their mind, there is God in the
providence. A child of God can lose nothing by force. Men may take
away his estate by violence, but he resigns it to God. God may take
away his friends, but he resigns them, they are taken away by the con
sent and resignation of a sanctified will. So for their lives, they resign
196 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
themselves up to God. Therefore it is notable, when the scripture
speaks of wicked men, it is said, ' What hope hath the hypocrite, when
God shall take away his soul? ' and Luke xii. 19, ' This night shall
thy soul be required of thee.' The children of God consent to give up
their souls, estates, and friends, upon the call of providence. There is
a subscription to God's will ' It is the Lord.' Nay, there is not only
patience, but they can even bless God, because his will is accomplished :
Job i. 21, ' The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed
be the name of the Lord.' They can see as much cause of blessing God,
not only when he doth enrich them, but when he doth impoverish them,
and lays his hand upon them ; this is to cause our wills to be swallowed
up in the will of God, and this is to be like the great pattern Christ
himself ' Not my will, but thine be done ; ' we should not be like
our great master if we did riot this. Christ indeed prays against
affliction, so may we. We should not have known the greatness of
his self-denial if he had not manifested his natural desires, but he re
fers himself to God. And so must we also.
[3.] When a man is vile in his own eyes, and reflecteth with most
[indignation upon his own sins. There are none that pass a severer
doom than the children of God do upon themselves when they have
ginned against God; they need no other judge than their own con
sciences to pass a sentence upon them. Men naturally are apt to
favour themselves ; they are slight in self-humiliation, and deep in
censure of others. With indignation they reflect upon the sins of others,
but with indulgence upon their own. As Judah, when it was told
him, ' Tamar thy daughter hath played the harlot ; and also, behold,
she is with child by whoredom. Judah said, bring her forth, and let
her be burnt/ Gen. xxxviii. 24. But when she showed him the tokens,
and that he had defiled her, then he was calm enough. It is otherwise
with God's children, no sins so odious to them as their own : 1 Tim.
i. 15, 'Jesus Christ came to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' Oh,
there is no such sinner in the world as I am, saith Paul. So Prov.
xxx. 2, ' Surely I am more brutish than any man, and I have not the
understanding of a man.' How could a godly man say so ? It is the
fruit of spiritual indignation. A godly man spends the most of his
revenge and spiritual indignation upon himself. Oh, there cannot be
a more brutish person than I have been, that have sinned against so
many mercies, so many obligations, and so much light ! These are
not compliments, but they speak them with bitter feeling. Saith
Chrysostom, They do not only speak it in humility, but in truth. They
can but know the sins of others by guess and imagination, but they
feel their own sins, they know them by sense. As in sorrow we are
apt to say, There is none like mine. Why ? Because we feel the
gripes of our own pains. So the children of God, they feel how griev
ously they have sinned against God. Saith David, Ps. Ixxiii. 23, ' I
was as a beast before thee.' They know they have more mercies than
others, and more obligations than others, therefore their offences seem
to them to be more grievous. Well, if the heart be brought to this
pass, that the heat of indignation is spent upon thy own sins, and these
things be spoken not by rote and imitation, but out of deep sense and
feeling, it is a comfortable sign that self is dethroned in thee.
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 197
Fourthly, To give you the means of self-denial, whereby this work
may be made more easy.
1. If you would deny yourselves, lessen your esteem and your affec-l
tion to worldly things. I join them together because affection follows?
esteem. If you would deny yourself for Christ, you must prize the
worst of Christ before the best of the world. See Ps. Ixxxiv. 10, ' I
had rather/ saith David, ' be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness/ When an earthen pitcher
is broken, a man is not troubled at it, because he hath not set his esteem
and heart upon it, being but a trifle. What made Moses so eminent
for self-denial that he could refuse all the honours of Pharaoh's court,
and choose rather ' to surfer affliction with the people of God, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ' ? It is said, ' He esteemed the
reproach of Christ to be greater riches, than the treasures of Egypt,'
Heb. xi. 25. Moses' esteem was set right. Again, lessen the affection ;
the greatness of our affection causeth the greatness of our affliction.
Therefore we are so troubled to part with things, because our hearts
are too much set upon th m. We greaten the things of the world in
our esteem and affection ; then it is a trouble to part with them for
Christ's sake. Alas ! all these outward things, they serve but to prop
up a tabernacle that is always falling. But how shall we lessen our
esteem and affection ; is that in our power ? I answer, You may do
much, deny lusts in their first motion, ere they grow upon your esteem
and affection, and prevail by delight in the soul. When anything be
gins to sit too close and too near the heart, it is good for a Christian
then to be wary, and ask this question, How shall 1 deny this for God ?
1 Cor. vi. 12, 'I would not be brought under the power of anything.'
Though the objects you converse withal be lawful, yet when they en-j
croach upon thy spirit, then deny them. And then take heed what
thou dost account thyself. It is a great part of Christian prudence to
know what is ourselves. Do not count sin thyself. See how the apostle
parts it, Rom. vii. 17, ' It is no more I, but sin that dwelleth in me.'
Thou shouldst be able to say concerning all carnal desires, It is not I,
but sin. There is an old and corrupt self So thou shouldst not couut
the world thyself, that is none of thee : Luke xii. 15, ' Take heed, and
beware of covetousness.' What is the reason ? ' For man's life con-
sisteth not in the abundance of what he possessetb/ It is not thy
self, thou are neither further from the grave nor the nearer to true
contentment ; I may be happy without this.
2. Seek self in God, this is an innocent diversion. When we cannot j
weaken the affection, let us change the object. What is it that is so-1
near to thee? Is it honour? seek honour in God. Do but change-
vain glory for eternal glory. That is a lawful seeking of self when we
seek it in God : John v. 44, ' How can ye believe that receive honour
one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God ? '
You may change your desires from vain glory into everlasting glory :
John xii. 43, ' For they loved the praise of men more than the praise
of God.' If a man did desire praise, where can we have better than
to be praised with God's own mouth, in the face of all the world, at
the great day of accounts, when Christ shall proclaim you to be an
heir of the crown of heaven ? So for pleasure ; if thy soul be drawn
198 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
out to it, oh ! remember, there are no pleasures like to those chaste
delights thou mightest enjoy by communion with God, the pleasures
which are at his right hand for evermore. Affections are not abrogated,
but preferred ; and we transplant our desires, that they may flourish
in a better soil. If thou desirest riches, turn out thy heart toward the
good treasure God hath opened in the covenant, to be rich in grace,
rich towards God.
i 3. If thou wouldst deny thyself, resolve upon the worst, to please God,
j though it be with the displeasure of yourselves and all the world.'
* Usually we do not sit down and count the charges, we do not make
our resolution large enough. When we take up the profession of
\ religion, we look for but little trouble, therefore are soon discouraged.
' Usually we give God but small allowance ; we do not carry our lives
and our estates in our hands, as we should do, when we take religion
upon us. A man never comes to Christ rightly, unless he gives up
himself and friends, and bids Christ take all. Till it comes to such a
resolution as Nazianzen had concerning his human learning I never
affected riches, nor greatness in the world, only I have affected a little
eloquence, and I will tell you how far I have affected it, that I have
something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ. So men should
give Christ liberal allowance ; then when it comes to trial, thou wilt
riot be grudging ; it is that thou didst count upon, to part with for
Christ's sake.
I 4. Take heed of confining thy welfare to outward means, as if thou
fcouldst not be happy without such an estate, without so many hun-
fdreds in the world ; beware of binding up thy life and contentment
with the creature, for when we come to part with it, we can as soon
part with our lives. The children of God resolve, ' Though the fig-tree
do not blossom, and the labour of the olive fail, yet to rejoice in the
Lord,' Hab. ii 17, 18. This should be a Christian's resolution, not to
trust to the creatures, but in God, though all these things are gone.
This is a holy independency, when our hearts are taken off from the
creature. The men of the world have only a candle which is soon
blown out, an estate that may easily be blasted : but the children of
God have the sun, which can stead them without a candle. The Lord
saith, Hosea ii. 11, 12, ' I will cause their mirth to cease,' speaking of
the carnal Jews. Why? ' I will destroy her vines and her fig-trees/
All the wicked man's happiness is bound up with the vine and fig-tree,
with his estate. Consider, your happiness doth not lie within your
selves, nor in any other creature, but in God alone. God in himself
is much better than God in the creature; now carnal men, they prize
God in the creature, but not God in himself. And therefore the first
thing we must depend upon is that God is an all-sufficient God in him
self ; not God in friends, not God in wealth, but God in himself. We
cannot see how it can be well without friends, and wealth, and liberty,
therefore our hearts are glued to them. Oh, take heed of this. All
these things are but several pipes to deliver and convey to us the influ
ence of the supreme cause ; therefore still prize God in himself before
God in the creature.
* 5. Direction : often act faith, and look within the veil. Send thy
I thoughts as spies and messengers into the land of promise. A man
B()OK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 199
will better quit that he hath upon earth when he hath strong expecta
tions of heaven, Bom. viii. 18. When a man seeth that God hath
laid up a more excellent glory for him, he will reckon these things
are not to be named the same day: 2 Cor. iv. 16, 'For which cause
we faint not: but though our outward man perish, yet the inward
man is renewed day by day. Tor our light affliction, which is but for
a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen.' The apostle gives an account of his valour and
resolution ; how he was able to withstand the discouragements of the
world * We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are unseen.' Heaven will satisfy all losses and then the world
is quitted with ease. Look, as the woman left her pitcher when she
was acquainted with Christ ; so when a man is acquainted with better
things, his heart is taken off from these outward things. When Christ
said to Zaccheus, salvation is come to thy house, then he presently added,
* Half of my goods I give to the poor.' When the heart is much in
heaven, the earth will seem a small thing. When we look upon the
stars, they seem but as so many sparks and spangles ; but if we were
above the earth, the world would seem but like a little black spot.
6. In all debates between conscience and interest, be sure to observe 3
God's special providence to thyself. When conscience and interest are j
a struggling, consider, whence hadst thou that which thou art so
unwilling to part withal, but from the Lord ? Distrust is the ground
of self-seeking. We do not consider the providence of God to us, and
that all changes are in his hands, and therefore we cannot deny our
selves. Who is that which gave thee such an estate that thou art loth
1o lose ? or such a comfort thou art unwilling to part withal ? When
Amaziah the king of Judah was admonished by the prophet not to let
the army of Israel go with him, ' What shall I do/ saith he, ' for the
hundred talents ? ' 2 Chron. xxv. 9, the sum for which he had hired
them ; and the man of God answered, * The Lord is able to give thee
much more than this.' So when thou art troubled, How shall I do toj
live ? what shall I do for an estate ? The Lord is able to give theef
more than this. It is God's blessing that maketh rich, and he can:
supply thee with a great deal more if he see fit. Men think it is their
own providence that doth all, and so they are loth to part with what
they have. Consider, thou couldst not have this if God had not given
it thee. So when men are loth to lose their friends, when, by the pro
fession of religion, they may be in danger thereof, remember who
brought them to be thy friends. Prov. xvi 7, ' When a man's ways
please the Lord, he makes his very enemies to be his friends.' Piety
will do more than carnal compliance. Thou mayst by this hazard God
and thy friends too.
7. Consider the right God hath in all that is thine ; he hath a natural
right, and a right by contract. A natural right to all thou hast : he
made it, and he gave it thee. No creature can be sui juris, at his own
power and disposal. Riches are not thy own, but God's bounty to
thee. Foolish men account all that they have their own, they think
they may do with it as they list : Ps. xii. 4, ' Our tongues are our own,
who is Lord over us ? ' Consider, thy tongue is not thy own, for it was
200 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
not made by thee ; and when it is blasted, thou canst not repair it. A
prodigal that is not able to deny his pleasure, speak to him about it,
and he will answer, I hope that which I spend is my own. Thy estate
is not thy own, to spend it as thou pleasest. So covetous men think
they are absolute lords of what they have : 1 Sam. xxv. 11, 'Shall I
take my bread, and my drink, and give it to strangers ? ' Goods must
be laid out according to the owner's will, else it is robbery. Now all
that thou hast is God's, therefore thou art to part with every interest
and concernment of thine, as it may be for his glory. God hath a
right also by contract : thou hast given up thyself, and all that is
thine, to God, Rom. xii. 1 ; and do but consider the danger of alien
ating things that are once consecrated. Consider, what was the end of
Ananias and Sapphira.
Before I come to the particular kinds of self-denial, take some obser
vations concerning this duty.
If you would deny yourselves,
[1.] Every one must observe hisjemper, and the particular constitu
tion of his own soul. There are several ways of sinning ; let every one
look to his own way, Isa. liii. 6. God knows, we are all out of the way,
but usually there is some particular way of sin into which our hearts
do wander and digress. Now when God tries any man, he tries him
in his Isaac ; therefore self-denial must be considered according to the
kind of self-love. Which way doth self-love most of all bend and
incline your souls. The observation is necessary, because there may
be some kind of shadow of self-denial in carnal men. Lusts are
obstinate, and because their contrariety will not give way one to the
other, therefore, for the convenience of the grand lust, a man may deny
himself in something. A covetous man bereaves his soul of good, and
may be rigid and sullen to his nature, yet he may not deny himself.
He may deny himself of pleasure, but not of worldly profit. Others,
that are of a dreggy and voluptuous constitution of spirit, they may
be slight as to worldly profit, when their hearts are caught by another
snare : Ps. xviii. 23, ' I kept myself from mine iniquity/ Usually there
is some special sin, which, by the frequency of temptation that often
occurs, and our desires that way, we may call our sin. Now herein is
our uprightness tried, when we can deny our sin,
[2.] Many may deny themselves in purpose, that yet fail when they
come to act. Certainly, in purpose we must deny ourselves. Whenever
we come to Christ, we must bring our lives and our comforts in our
hands ; we must come with a resolution to part with all. Though every
Christian be not a martyr in effect and act, yet he must be in vow and
purpose, and resolve to renounce all upon the just and convenient
reasons of religion, Now the trial is when we are put upon these
particular cases. We cannot so well judge of an affection by its single
exercise, as when it is brought to a direct conflict and trial The things
of religion, in the absence of a temptation, may seem best to the soul ;
but the spirit is never discovered till we come to an actual choice, and
particulars are compared with particulars; then desires, which before lay
hid and dormant, rouse themselves, and oppugn grace in the civil wars
of the soul. When there is a conflict between conscience and interest,
then are we tried. Now you need not wish for these cases, for before
BOOH I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 201
you go out of the world you will find they will come fast enough.
Many cases will happen when duty is without encouragement, and all
self-respects fail ; nay, when for conscience' sake you are put upon visible
disadvantage, Kev. xii. 11. It is said of the children of God, that ' they
loved not their lives to the death/ When it came to this pinch, that
either they must deny life or deny Christ, then they loved not their
lives. Many may in a prodigality of resolution, seem to lay all at
Christ's feet, as Peter in his confidence talked high ' I will not deny
thee/ but yet afterward they may fail, when they come to resist unto
blood : Heb. xii. 4, * Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against
sin.' When you must make choice of the world or Christ, then are
the best discoveries made.
[3.] They are nothing in religion that cannot deny pleasure and the |
delicacy of life. For this is the constant and private self-denial of as I
Christian, which is always necessary. All sin is rooted in a love of
pleasure more than of God ; for therefore do we sin, because of the
contentment we do imagine to be in sin, that draws on the heart to the
practice of it. Now he that cannot abjure his contentment is nothing :
JProv. xxv. 28, ' He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city
that is broken down, and without walls.' The meaning is, he that-
cannot subdue his inclination to pleasure, doth lie open to every
temptation. As an unwalled town in time of war receives every army
that comes ; so is his soul, it lies obvious to temptation. And besides,
pleasures will necessarily bring a brawn upon the heart, they are so-
contrary to the severity of religion. Seneca said, Certainly, it is-
necessary that he should have low thoughts of duty that hath high,
thoughts of pleasure, and to gratify his senses. If God had required
nothing of us but the perfection of reason, if we were only to show our
selves men, there must be a bridle upon appetite and sensual desires.
There is an old quarrel between appetite and reason. Nature itself
would suggest such arguments to us as would put us upon the mortifi
cation of the senses.
[4.] We must deny ourselves in point of desire as well as in point J
of enjoyment: Titus ii. 12, 'Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts/ 1
The great part of this duty consists in mortifying and subduing worldly
lusts, that we may be content with our portion, though but a little of
the world, if God seeth us fit for no more. It is a high point of self-
denial, not only to part with what we have, but to be content with
what we have ; when the soul comes to this, to say, I have enough r
because I have as much as God allotteth me, and because God seeth
it fit I should have no more. To be content with a little of the world,
and not to desire more, it is the poor man's duty as well as the rich.
As a rich man is to quit his possessions when God calls him, so a poor
man is to quit, mortify, and subdue his desires. Covetousness, when-
once it prevails upon the heart, it desires, it grasps, it aims at the whole
world ; therefore Christ saith, Mat. xvi. 26, ' If a man should gain the
whole world/ implying, that is in the aims of men. When a man's-
corruptions break out that way, he will never be satisfied. Solomon
saith, Eccles. v. 10, ' He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with
silver/ The heart of man is largely drawn out, so that like the grave,
we shall never be able to say, It is enough. To enjoy complacency in
202 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
our portion, it is a great part of self-denial. To desire more, it is but
to desire more snares. If I had more, I should have more trouble,
more snares, more duty ; greater gates do but open to more care ; I
should have more to account for, more time, and more opportunity ;
and alas ! I cannot answer for what I have already. If a plant be
starved in the valleys, it will never thrive on the mountains ; so if in a
low condition we are not able to conquer the temptation of it, what
shall we do if we had more, if we cannot be responsible to God for what
we have ?
I [5.] Vainglory is as sordid a piece of self, and as much to be denied,
as affectation of riches and worldly greatness. Covetousness, that carries
a man to another object, but vainglory to another end ; the one makes
us idolaters, and the other hypocrites ; an idolater sets up another God,
and a hypocrite denies the true God. For mark, God, by reason of
the excellency of his being, is to be the highest object of our respect;
and because he is the supreme cause, he is to be the ultimate end of
all our actions ; and when we set up another end, we deny God his
prerogative.
[6.] We are to deny ourselves, not only in case of temptation to
direct sin, when either we must thus deny ourselves or actually sin,
but also for the general advantage of duty and obedience, and the con-
veniency of a holy life ; for instance, I am to deny my pleasure, not
only when reason may be grossly discomposed, not only by refusing such
works of the flesh as stink in the nostrils of nature, but lest I be unfit
ted for duty, lest insensibly I contract a distemper and brawn upon
my heart. And so I am to deny riches, not only not to seek them by
unlawful means, and when I cannot keep them with a good conscience,
but not to lay out the strength of my spirits in the pursuit of the world,
that it may not intercept the vigour and strength of my soul, which should
be reserved for communion with God. So I am to deny honours, that
is, not only ambitious affectation of them, but when they will make
me to lose the pleasant opportunity of devout retirement, and a religi
ous privacy with God. And riches are to be denied, not only when
they choke conscience, but when they choke the word.
[7.] In the work of self-denial there must special regard be had to
the seasons wherein we live, in several cases.
(1.) In doubtful times when God seems to threaten judgment, then
our heart must be more loose from worldly comforts than at other times,
and we must deny ourselves of those comforts which at other times a
man may take. Our Saviour reproacheth the scribes and pharisees
for not discerning the seasons. It is a great fault of Christians when
they do not regard the season and time of God's displeasure ; for in
stance . Jer, xlv, 4, 5, ' That which I have built will 1 break down, and
that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land. And
seekest thou great things for thyself ? Seek them not.' I am pulling
down, saith God, and plucking up, and for men to mind worldly great
ness, and honours, and the conveniences of the outward life, when the
face of the times looks towards a judgment, when we may see a storm
in the black clouds, then to think of building, planting, and advancing
ourselves, it is most unseasonable and horrid security. This the Spirit
of God takes notice of in the men that lived in the days of Noah : it
BOOK i.j A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL.
is said, ' They ate and drank, and married.' All these things, you know,
are necessary for the supportation of mankind ; but when they minded
these things, and had no regard to the season, did not see the storm
in the clouds, at such a time when God seems to begin his controversy
with a nation, whatever we do, we should do it with caution and
fear ; for the more we busy ourselves in the world, the more snares do
we draw upon ourselves. God looketh, that we should be observant of
the season, and not seek after honours, and ease, and plenty. When
judgments are coming, our hearts should be most wearied then, when
the'face of the sky doth begin to lower and thicken towards a storm.
(2.) Wnen we are like to put a stumbling-block in the way of a new
convert, 2 Kings v. 26. The prophet speaking to Gehazi, when he ran
after l^aaman for a gift ' Is this a time/ saith the prophet, ' to receive
money, and to think of vineyards and olive-yards, and sheep and oxen,
and men-servants and maid-servants ? ' Simply to receive a gift had not
been unlawful, but Elisha was resolved to take none, to show he did not
make a trade of miracles for his private gain, but it was God's honour he
aimed at ; it was enough for him that the God of Israel was acknow
ledged by Naaman the Syrian to be the true God, he would allure him
by the freeness of the gift. The prophet doth not so much rebuke
Gehazi for the lie, as for the unseasonableness of the motion, that it
might bring disgrace upon the honour and highcallingof the prophet, and
dishonour the God of Israel. We must depart from our own conveniency
in such cases ; it is a great sturnbling-block to the world when they
that pretend to reformation seek honours, profits, great places, and
preferments for themselves and their families. All pious designs must
have a suitable carriage. In Austin's time it was a scandal against
the Christians, and the heathens soon took up that reproach, that they
overturned the idols, not out of any piety or devotion, but covetousness,
that they might have the gold. Reformers of all men should be con
tent with the goodness of the action.
(3.) In prosperous times of the church there is much self-denial to
be practised. I confess, self-denial is chiefly for suffering times, for
so it is in the text 'Let him deny himself, and take up the cross;'
these two are coupled together, that when a cross meets us in our way,
which we cannot avoid without some hazard of conscience, then we
must deny ourselves. But, however, it is a duty that is always in season.
I shall show you wherein this self-denial is to be practised in pros
perous times.
1st. We must deny ourselves in charity, and in a constant improve
ment of our substance to God's glory. Charity, it is the constant vent
of Christian affection, a holy emptying out of self in liberal and charit
able distributions, and it is the only cure and preservative we can have
against self-seeking, if done out of sincere aims : Mark x. 31, ' Go sell
all that thou hast/ saith Christ to the young man, and ' give to the
poor, and come and follow me, taking up thy cross/ but he was sad
at that saying. There is somewhat extraordinary in that trial, ' Go,
sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor.' This is the self-denial
Christ calleth for. Can we trust him upon a bill of exchange to be
paid in heaven ? How much is to be given is hard to define, some
what must be done worthy of the gospel, and that you may have more
204 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
comfort within yourselves, otherwise you may be as great a self-seeker
as those that get goods by rapine, when you possess them with avarice.
He is not only a covetous self-seeker that takes away other men's goods,
but he that penuriously keeps his own, if he holdeth more than is meet ;
we are to go back some degrees in pomp and pleasure. Take the ex
ample of Jesus Christ, how many degrees he went back: 2 Cor. viii.
9, * When he was rich, he became poor, that we might be rich.'
2d. In obedience to the word in the strictest inward duties. Many
duties go against the bent of a carnal heart, as inward mortification,
meditation, self-examination. There is no outward glory in these
things, and they are painful and distasteful to flesh and blood. Now
in this case you must deny yourselves, for the free practice of these-
holy duties. Cornelius, when he came to Peter, he and his family, say
they, Acts x. 33, ' Here we are all before the Lord, to hear all things
that are commanded thee of God ; ' we are contented to hear whatever
God will be pleased to teach. The ministers of the gospel are factors
for heaven, they drive God's bargain and covenant with the world.
Now the Lord cannot endure any reservation, and withdrawing the
shoulder from any known duties ; how contrary and distasteful soever
they are to flesh and blood, you must practise them. We are all
afraid of sins against conscience, and certainly they will be very clam
orous. But now the world is mistaken in sins against light and con
science; we think that sins of commission are only sins against conscience j
as when a man commits adultery, tells a lie against a check of conscience ;
but, oh ! let me tell you, sins of omission may be sins against conscience
too: James iv. 17, mark, the .apostle doth not say, To him that knows-
it is evil, it is sin ; but ' He that knoweth to do good, and doth it not,
to him it is sin ; ' when you are convinced of any duty, and do not
practise it ; you are not come up to Christ's rules. Sins of omission
are sins against knowledge, as well as sins of commission.
3d In the uprightness of our aims, to see that we be not guided by
aims that flow from self-love. A man had more need to fear his heart
in prosperous times than in times of persecution, that he be not led
with perverse respects, with the outward countenance of religion ,.
with respect to his own interest, that you be not lovers of yourselves,
under ' a form of godliness/ as the apostle speaks, 2 Tim. iii. 1. That
you do not merely hold out a pretence of religion, upon those undue
motives. There are no greater enemies to Christ than those that pro
fess Christ upon self-interest, Phil. iii. 18, 19. The apostle speaks of
some that preached Christ crucified, whose God is their belly, and who
minded earthly things , all their aim was to flow in abundance of
wealth and pleasure. They really oppose the virtue and power of his
cross, as much as those that openly do call him a seducer.
4th. In prosperous times you are to deny yourselves, in mortifying
earthly pleasures and carnal desires, how dear soever they be to the
soul, though our lusts be as near and dear as the right hand and the
right eye. In times of danger God takes away the fuel of our lusts ;
but in times of peace we are to take away the desires and lusts them
selves ; and indeed that is hardest. It is easier to quit life than one
lust for Christ ; these being more rooted in our nature, are more hardly
overcome j enduring of hardships is nothing to the overcoming of lusts.
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 205
We are to crucify and deaden these desires to the world, how sweet
soever they be. Men think there can be no pleasure, but in the ac
complishment of their carnal desires. It is pleasant, no doubt, to a
woman with child, to have what she longs for ; but yet it is more
pleasant not to be troubled with those longings ; so when these lusts
are gone, it will be exceeding pleasant and comfortable to the soul.
Your great work then is to take heed that you do not live as those
that are debtors to the flesh, Eom. viii. 12. You owe no suit and ser
vice to your carnal desires. We are bound to clothe and feed the body,
that it may be an instrument to serve God, but no farther ; you are
not debtors to it, you owe it nothing : and therefore if those desires
-encroach upon you, you must renounce them. The conveniences of the
present life, these things serve only as ballast to a ship in the passage,
we are bound for a city whose commodities cannot be purchased for
gold or silver. You cannot buy repentance, faith, pardon, or glory,
with gold or silver,
5th. This public self-denial is required of you in seeking to promote
the common salvation and public benefit of the saints, without any
partial respect to your own interest and opinion. Usually this is the
fault of the children of God, saith Nazianzen, when they begin to grow
well, then they are factious and divided, as green timber that lies in
the sunshine is apt to warp ; so when we enjoy the sunshine of pros
perity, we are apt to divide and grow turbulent: Rom. xv. 2, the
apostle saith, ; Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good,
to edification.' We are not to please ourselves, not to look to the
gratification of our own opinions, not to be privately urging our own,
opinions to the tormenting of interests and the breach of Christian
charity ; it is a most spiritual kind of self-denial to be ever ruled by
respects to the general interests of religion more than by private affec
tion to our own party. Look, as the elements leave their proper motion,
the water will ascend, and the air descend, to conserve the universe, and
that there may be no vacuum and emptiness in the world ; so it is
good not to be partial to our own private interest, and at least to for
bear censures and exasperations, and drawing everything to the height.
Secondly, Having handled the doctrine of self-denial in general, I
come to the kinds and subjective parts of it ; self must be denied so
far as it is opposite to God, or put in the place of God ; and therefore
we may judge of the kinds of self-denial according to the distinct privi
leges of the Godhead,
1. As God is the first cause, upon whom all things depend in their
hcing and operation, and so we are to deny self, that is, self; dependence.
2. God is the chief est good, and therefore to be valued above all
beings, interests and concernments in the world, and so we are to deny
self, that is, self-love.
3. God is, and he alone, the highest lord and most absolute sovereign,
who swayeth all things by his laws and providence, and so we are to
deny self, that is, self-will, by a willing and full obedience to his laws,
and by an absolute^ subjection to the dominion of his providence ; the
one is holiness, and the other is patience; the one relateth to his
governing, the other to his disposing will.
4. God h> the last end, in which all things do at length terminate,
206 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
and so we are to deny self, that is, self-seeking. According to these
considerations is the doctrine of self-denial.
As God is the first cause, so he would keep up the respects of the
world to his majesty by dependence and trust. It is the ambition of
man to affect an independency, to be a god to himself, sufficient to his
own happiness. Now nothing can be to God more hateful than this.
The main thing that preserves and maintains our allegiance and respect
to the crown of heaven, is a constant dependence upon God for all
things. For we find by experience that the heart is never kept in a
right frame but when we look for our all from God. And therefore it
is notable that in the covenant of grace, wherein the Lord would repair
the ruins of the fall, and bring the creature into a new obligation to
himself, God represents himself as all-sufficient, when he came to make
a covenant with Abraham : Gen. xvii. 1, ' I am God all-sufficient ; ' we
bring nothing to the covenant but all-necessity, and we come to meet
with all-sufficiency in God. Now a great part of self-denial is to work
us off from all other dependencies. We are marvellously apt to depend
upon our own righteousness, our own wit and wisdom, our own spirit
ual strength, arid the supplies of outward life. Therefore I shall in
the succeeding discourse, seek to draw off the heart from these things,
that so our trust and dependence may entirely be fixed upon God himself.
That which I shall first persuade you unto is
First, To deny our own righteousness. For this we have a pregnant
example, and that is the example of the apostle Paul : Phil. iii. 9, ' I
count all things but dung and dross, that I may be found in him, not
having mine own righteousness.' Look into the context, and you will
find it express to the purpose. In the 4th ver. he saith, ' If any might
have confidence in the flesh, I might much more.' It is no great matter
for those to deny themselves that have nothing to trust to ; but now,
who could display such a banner of his own excellency as Paul could ?
Besides his other external privileges, take notice of his moral qualifica
tion : ver. 6, ' That he was, touching the righteousness of the law,
blameless ; ' that is, whilst a pharisee, he was a man of a strict and
severe life, for outward confortmity and righteousness of life altogether
blameless. Who so strict, so just, and temperate as Paul ? Nay, after
he was a Christian : ver. 8, ' I have suffered the loss of all things for
Christ ; ' credit and interest, honours among the Jews, friends, country,
all things, in the behalf of the gospel. Now what is his judgment upon
all ? See ver. 7, ' Those things which were gain to me I counted loss.'
Naturally, he was apt to count those things gain, to look upon them as
rare and singular grounds of confidence. If any might expect to be
saved, certainly Paul might ; you would have wished your soul in his
soul's stead, if you had been acquainted with him. But saith Paul, ' I
counted them to be loss,' that is, through the treachery of my heart
would prove hindrances from closing with Christ, and dangerous
allurements to hypocrisy and self-confidence. Nay, he repeats it again
in the 8th ver. for the greater emphasis ' Yea, doubtless, and I do
account all things but loss/ to show that he made this judgment, not
only upon his Jewish observances, but upon his actions as a Christian,
upon his good works after faith ; though he had converted many thou
sands to God, and done and suffered much for Christ, ' yet I do to this
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 207
day count it to be a loss, I count them to be cncv[Ba\a, dog's meat ; notl
that he repented of anything that lie had done and suffered, but as they*
might hinder the application of the merit of Christ, but as things that
his heart was apt to plead before God's tribunal. It is all nothing, it
is loss, it is dung, it is dogs' meat. And why ? ' That I might gain
him, and be found in him/ &c. All was to make way for the greater
esteem of Jesus Christ.
Now, upon this eminent example, let me press you to this kind of
self-denial, to draw off your hearts from your own righteousness. My
method shall be this
1. J shall show you how hard a matter it is to bring men off from
dependence upon our own righteousness.
2. The danger of leaning upon our own righteousness.
3. Some discoveries of those that are taken in this snare of death, that
are carried away by a vain trust and presumption of righteousness in
themselves.
4. Some remedies and cures.
[1.] I shall show it is a very hard matter to bring men off from a
dependence upon their own righteousness.
(1.) Because by nature it is incident to all men. This is an evil
that is natural to us. Works are our natural copy and tenure. ' Do
this, and live,' it was the covenant made with Adam, and it is written
upon the heart of all men. We all seek to be saved by doing. There
fore upon conviction, as soon as we begin to be serious, as soon as the
conscience is awakened, the first question is, ' What shall I do to be
saved ? ' John vi. '28, ' What shall we do, that we may work the works
of God ? ' They imagined that life eternal might be gained by the
works of the law, without Christ. Now this natural disposition is con
firmed and strengthened, partly by ignorance and security. Men do not
know what is necessary to true righteousness : Kom. x^ 3, ' Being-
ignorant of the righteousness of God, and going about to establish
their own righteousness, they have not submitted to the righteousness
of Christ.' They do not know what is necessary to the justifying of a
soul in God's sight. None are so apt to rest in their own righteousness
as those that have least reason viz, persons ignorant and formal. St
Paul saith, Phil. iii. 4, ' If any might have confidence in the flesh,
much more I/ As those that have little learning will be showing of
it on all occasions ; so persons that do but regard the outside of
religion, and practise formal duties, are most apt to rest in them.
Why ? For formal duties do not discover weakness, and so puff men
up. Carnal men search little, and blind conscience is soon pacified ;
usually, men that are ignorant, and go on in a dead course without
feeling defects and needing the supplies of heaven, they are most con
fident. So partly by natural pride and self-conceit. Man is a proud
creature, and loth to be beholden to another. A russet coat patched
of our own seems better than a silken garment that is borrowed. Our
righteousness ! What a poor, filthy, tattered thing it is ! Yet our hearts
run upon it more than on the righteousness of Christ, that is so excellent
and glorious. We are loth to submit and yield to this borrowed right
eousness. That is the reason why the apostle useth that expression,
Rom. x. 3, ' They have not submitted to the righteousness of God.'
208 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
It needs a great deal of submission and condescension to be content to
be beholden to divine grace. Men would fain maintain the dignity of
works, and are loth to stoop and sue in forma, pauperis, to come as
beggars to God ; we would rather come as creditors, to challenge a
debt which we suppose he oweth to us. And partly, it is confirmed
and strengthened by natural ease and laziness. That which is our own
costs no waiting. Paul saith, Phil. iii. 8, ' I have suffered the loss of
.all things, that I might win Christ.' Ere Paul could be secured against
his own fears, he ran through a great many hazards, he suffered much.
We have not the comfort of Christ's righteousness, but after much
waiting and prayer. But now, when we seek it in ourselves, blind con
science will take hold of anything. And partly too, because God doth
I follow such kind of men with prosperity in this world ; therefore they
f think the Lord is well pleased with them, till the hour of death comes,
^ then they find ail to be but froth, and that no man is a loser by God.
Outward religion bringeth outward blessing. Dogs have crumbs that
fall from the table ; they have the offals of mercy ; therefore they that
depend upon their own righteousness cannot say God is in their debt,
for they have outward prosperity .
(2.) It is most incident to persons after first conviction. When
conscience is first opened, men fetch their comfort from their own
duties. The law leaves them wounded and low, and they lick them
selves whole again by some offers and resolutions of obedience. Usually,
observe it, carnal men are only sensible of, or careful about religion
upon some gripes of conscience ; they use duties as men do strong-
j waters in a pang. Nature is more prone to a sin-offering than to a
| thank-offering. Duties should be a thank-offering, and they make
fthem a sin-offering. As in an outward case, when men have offended
their superiors, for a while they become more pliant and obsequious,
that they may redeem their fault by their after diligence , so it is here,
when conscience comes and arrests men in the name of God, then men
will run to duties till conscience be asleep again. Therefore it is good
in all gripes of conscience, and whenever we come to settle our peace,
to observe from whence you fetch your comfort, and how it grows upon
you : Ps. xcii. 19, &c., ' In the midst of my sad thoughts, thy com
forts delight my soul.' It is very sweet when a Christian can see he
hath fetched his comfort from Christ, arid not merely from some out
ward observances and formal duties. Inquire how thou didst come to
be satisfied with thy estate. Usually when conviction is not very deep,
men blind and choke conscience with their own endeavours, and their
resolution of growing better. When they are wounded with sin, then
they are apt to run to self for a plaster.
(3.) After conversion the children of God are very subject to it, to
lessen their esteem of Christ by overvaluing their own righteousness.
f As long as we live in the world we are apt to set up a righteousness of
j our own. When the apostle would give us a catalogue of sins, pride
of life is last mentioned, because, when other sins are subdued, pride
remains, it grows upon the ruin of other sins. Now of all the pieces of
pride, this is the most dangerous, to pride ourselves in our own right
eousness. The apostle Paul doth not only say, I count my righteous
ness, when a pharisee, loss; but now that I am a Christian, I yet
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENTAL. 20i>
1 account all things loss/ It is storied of Mr Fox, that he was wont toi
say he was more afraid of his graces than of his sins, as being in danger]
to be puffed up, lest they should tempt him to a self-confidence. OurJ
Saviour prescribes it as a general rule, whenever we have done any
thing for God, he would still have us cherish thoughts of our own
nothingness : Luke xiii. 10, ' When you have done all, say you are un
profitable servants ; ' herein I have merited nothing. And that pos
sibly may be the reason, why the children of God, in the fairest view
of their graces, do so solemnly disclaim their own righteousness ; as
1 Cor. iv. 4, the apostle Paul saith, ' I know nothing by myself, yet am I
not thereby justified.' Paul knew no unfaithfulness and no negligence
in himself in the work of the ministry, yet am ' I not justified for this
before God.' When you have done your utmost, still run to grace,
and make grace your claim : Neb. xiii. 22, ' I caused the Levites to
sanctify themselves ; remember me, my God, concerning this also,
and spare me, according to the greatness of thy mercy.' It was an
excellent work, ' yet spare me/ saith he, ' according to the greatness of
thy mercy.'
[2.] I shall show how dangerous it is to lean upon our own right
eousness.
(1.) We shall not prize Jesus Christ ; Christ is outed of the heartf
by the confidence that men have in their works. Because Paul dis-*
esteemed works and counted ' all tilings dung/ the more excellent did
Jesus Christ seem to him ' All is dung for the excellency of the
knowledge of my Lord/ So, on the contrary, when men esteem works,
they are sure to disesteem Christ. Now it is the highest profaneness
in the world not to esteem Christ. It is not only profaneness to be
drunk, commit adultery, or steal, but not to prize the Lord Jesus
Christ. And when the apostle speaks of not prizing Christ, 1 Cor.
xvi. 22, saith he, ' Let him be accursed till the Lord come ; " and Heb.
xii. 15, ' Let there be no profane person, as was Esau, who despised
the birthright.' The birthright, it was a pledge of the grace we have
by Christ, and therein lay Esau's profaneness, he did despise his
spiritual privileges ; therefore nothing is mere dangerous than the con
ceit of our own righteousness.
(2.) It will certainly be a great loss to you ; it will deprive you of
many precious experiences. God is very tender of the trust of the
creature ; when men stand upon their own bottom, they turn the back
upon their own mercies, they will soon grow dead and careless, and re
ligion will not be carried on in such a sweet and sensible way, because
grace is obstructed, for that you depend upon yourselves. But now by
disclaiming works you will lose nothing, but you will gain Christ, and
in him find comfort and grace. When once we are interested in thei
righteousness of Christ, then we shall have the proof and virtue of the j
Spirit of Christ for the mortifying of sin and quickening the soul
to holiness : see Phil. iii. 10, ' That I may know him, and the power
of his resurrection/
(3.) Dependence upon our own righteousness, it will draw the heart
to demure hypocrisy, by making men contented with an imperfect re
semblance and dead picture of righteousness. There are none that
trust more in works than those that are most defective in them. If
VOL. xv. o
210 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BuOK I.
we come to perform duties indeed, we cannot but be sensible of the
weakness of them, and so we shall fly to mercy. None are so truly
godly as those that cast their whole dependence upon grace ; none per
form duties with more care, and overlook them with more self-denial ;
none have greater care of duty, and lower thoughts of it when it is
performed. Who more strict and laborious than Paul? yet all is
nothing but dung and dog's meat. In the scheme of judgment, and at
the last day, Mat. xxv. 37, when Christ saith to the sheep, ' Stand on
my right hand, you have fed me,' &e., they say, ' Lord, when saw we
thee an hungry, and fed thee ? ' &c. They wondered that God should
' take notice of such worthless services. The goats were apt to plead for
themselves, but the sheep admire at God's thoughts of their charity.
Carnal men, when they are pressed to strict duties, they choke con
science with maxims of grace ; but when they look for blessing, then
they build upon works. Now the godly are quite contrary, they work
as if there were no grace ; and yet they expect all from grace, as if
there were no works.
(4.) It will make the promise to be of no effect to you. All our
comfort lies in the acceptance of the gospel, we are undone by the old
law. Now when you depend upon works, you cut off yourselves from
those hopes, and are obnoxious to the rigour of the law. God puts it to
your choice at what court you will stand ; will you plead at the tri
bunal of justice, or of grace? Kom. xi. 6, 'If it be of works, it is no
more of grace ; and if of grace, it is no more of works.' Either it must
be wholly of grace or wholly of works. So Gal. iii. 18 ; if you build
upon the law, you will evacuate and make void the promise to you.
The covenant will not be mixed, no more than gold or clay, no tem
pering of these things. Gal. v. 2-4, those that would establish
works, the apostle tells them they are * fallen from grace,' are ' debtors
to the whole law,' and that 'Christ profits them nothing.' God doth
not love a patched righteousness. New cloth upon an old garment
will make the rent worse. Your souls must be entirely carried out to
the righteousness of Christ.
(5.) We shall best know the danger of self-dependence when wrath
doth actually make pursuit after sinners, either in pangs of conscience,
or in the hour of death, or at the day of judgment. Phil. iii. 9, '
that I might be found in him ; ' the expression ' found' implies that
there is a time when God will search Jerusalem with candles. When
wrath makes inquisition for sinners, oh, it is an excellent thing to be
sheltered under the buckler of grace ! Merit-mongers are best confuted
by experience. Certainly, they that cry up works seldom look into
their own conscience. However men may babble in the schools, yet
when they come to plead with God, then they will see there is no claim
will serve their turn but the righteousness of Christ. They may dis
pute with men such as themselves, but when they come to dispute with
their own consciences in the agonies of death, then they will cry out it
is best to lean upon the merit of Christ. Let a man plead with God,
Give me not a crumb of mercy, unless I be found worthy ; do not save
and justify me, unless I deserve it. Yet, when conscience arrests men,
and cites them before the tribunal of God, then they tremblingly fly
to the horns of God's mercy, and to his free acceptation in Jesus
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 211
Christ. Therefore this will be comfortable to you in the hour of death.
You cannot have a better winding-sheet than to be wrapt up in Christ's
righteousness ; it is only that will bear you out. Therefore say, Hor-
reo quicquid de meo est, ut sim meus.
[3.] To give some discoveries of the depending upon our own right
eousness. Because men are doctrinally right, and disclaim the opinion
of merit and works, they do not discern this secret vein of guilt that
runs throughout the soul. There are practical papists, as well as prac
tical atheists. Thou shalt not be judged by thy naked opinion, but
by the disposition of thine heart. A man may own grace in pretence, I
yet trust in himself all the while. Luke xviii. 9, compared with the
llth. verse. In the 9th verse it is said, 'Jesus spake this parable
against those that trusted in themselves that they were righteous ; '
there he brings the instance of the Pharisee ; yet in verse 11, he saith,
' God, I thank thee ; ' he talks of grace, of blessing God and owning
God, but he was proud and puffed up by the conceit of his own right
eousness, his secret confidence was built upon his own works. So Deut.
ix. 4, ' Say not in thine heart, this is for my righteousness/ Though
we do not say it with the tongue, and plead for merit, yet there may
be a saying in the heart ; there is a language which God understands,
in the secret dispositions of the soul. All thoughts are not explicite,
and impressed upon the conscience ; some are impUcite. thoughts by
interpretation. How shall we find this difference out ?
(1.) When there is a secret blessing of ourselves in our performance
of good duties, without humiliation for defects. The children of God,
the more they do, the more they abhor themselves and hunger after
Christ. It is a notable passage of Nehemiah, chap. xiii. 22, ' And I
commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that
they should sanctify the sabbath-day. Remember me, my God, con
cerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy/
It was an excellent work he had done here, to put them upon sanctify
ing the sabbath, yet * spare me/ When the children of God do any
thing worthy and excellent, they the more hunger after grace as having
sensible experience of their own defects, whenever they come into
God's presence. They have more cause to be humbled than lifted up,
though carried on with much activity and life in a holy service. There
is much weakness, much want of zeal, and want of affection or atten
tion ; therefore they have still cause to reflect even upon their holy
things. But now, when there is no actual humiliation, when men per
form duties, and grow more proud and conceited, their duties prove
loss to them, not gain. This is one advantage we have by holy ordin
ances, to grow more vile in our own eyes. Nothing makes the children
of God to abhor themselves so much as their duties, because there they
converse with a holy God, and that puts them upon the remembrance
of their defects, and there they discern the weakness of their graces.
As we feel the lameness of the arm in labour and exercise, so in those
spiritual exercises they discern the feebleness of their graces. Nay,
there their corruptions are irritated, and make resistance, and therefore
they come to see that their natures are full of sin and their services
are full of weakness. And so they cry out with David, Ps. cxliii. 2,
' Enter not into judgment with thy servant, Lord I ' He doth not
212 A TliEATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
say with thy enemies, with unbelievers, but with ' thy servant/ Self-
conceit then is a sure argument of self-dependence. When men think
much of what they have done for God, and do not break out into
actual humiliation, certainly it is a sign their hearts do run upon the
merit of their actions. Secretly they say in their hearts, This is my
righteousness, which is against the standing rule of Christ : Luke
xvii. 10, ' When you have done all you can, say you are unprofitable
servants.'
(2.) When men grow vain and wanton after solemn duties, as if
their former strictness should bear them out : Ezek. xiii. 33, ' He that
trusts to his righteousness, and commits iniquity/ &c. Usually men that
trust to their righteousness indulge themselves in vanity and sin with
the more licence and boldness, as if one part of obedience would recom
pense and make amends for the defect of another. This is grossly
done by carnal men ; as the Jews hoped to repair their want of mercy,
by the multitude of their sacrifices, as if that would make amends for
their defect in the weighty things of the law, by tithing mint and
cummin. It is true the children of God may be surprised, as good
Josiah was, his breach with God was after he had prepared the temple,
2 Chron. xxxv. 20, when he went out to fight against Necho, king of
Egypt. Now suitably, and like to this, is when the indulgence goes-
before the duty ; it is all one, only it is more carnal, as when men give
up themselves to a greater liberty in sinning, out of pretence that their
repentance shall make amends for all. As those in the primitive times
that delayed their baptism, When I am baptized, I will leave off my
vicious course of life ; or, as men give up themselves to youthful follies
upon a dream of a religious old age, and upon a pretence of a devout
retirement and that hereafter they will sequester themselves from the
world.
j (3.) When men would have some worth in themselves before they
come to God for mercy. He comes to God most worthy that conies-
most sensible of his airworthiness, Luke xviii. 9. Bead the parable
that Christ spake against those that were ' righteous in themselves ; "
the one would come to God with something of his own, the other would
come as a beggar ' God be merciful to me a sinner ; ' the one appeals
to justice, the other to mercy. It is contrary to the gospel, however
disguised it seems ; it seems to be humility, yet indeed it is but pride.
When men will not look after the comforts of the gospel because they
are not worthy, this is contrary to the tenor of the gospel ; for where
fore is Christ a Saviour, but for sinners, 1 Tim. i. 15. It is but a
humble pride when men would have some worth in themselves before
they would come to God.
(4.) When men murmur if God doth not hear their prayers, and
come in at their times and seasons : Isa. Iviii. 3, ' Wherefore have we
fasted, and thou regardest not ? ' When men will come arid challenge
God as if he were in debt to them, it is a sign their hearts secretly run
upon their own righteousness. Murmuring is a fruit of merit. If
God be not a debtor, why should we complain where nothing is due ?
Therefore the complainers speak perversely against the providence of
God. It is a sign they think they have deserved better. Those
that prescribe to God ascribe too much to themselves. Proud hypo-
BOOK L] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 213
crites think God is beholden to them, that he is bound to hear them,
therefore they murmur if they have not what they expect. They en
tertain crosses with anger, and blessings with disdain. Mai. i. 2, when
Ood loved them, they count slight of his mercy and say,' ' Wherein
hast thou loved us ? ' The children of God wonder why the Lord
should show them any mercy at all ; they wonder anything should be
theirs but vengeance and punishment, since nothing is theirs but sin.
4 What am I ! ' saith David, 2 Sam. vii. 18. Whence is it that God
should be so merciful and gracious t6 me ? Nothing can be little to
them, because they know their sins are so great and their deserts so
small. And if God lay affliction upon them, they are humble and
quiet, knowing it is but the fruit of their doings.
(5.) When men go on in a track of duty and outward observances,
a.nd never look after the interest of their persons, this is a sign they
would be accepted for their works 5 sake. It is God's method to accept!
of the person before the work. And all that are God's are driven to *
take hold of the covenant, driven out of themselves to run to the ' hope
that God hath set before them,' as it is said of the heirs of promise,
Heb. vi. 18. There was never a man that belonged to God but one
time or other he was driven to run to the covenant of grace ; therefore
when men never breathe out those desires to be found in Christ, it is
a sign their hearts do secretly build upon their own righteousness.
(6.) If the person of Christ be not exceeding precious to your souls,
and always kept in the eye of your faith and in the arms of your love,
you have not a due sense of your own state and actions : Cant. i. 13,
* A bundle of myrrh is my beloved.' The children of God always keep
up an esteem for Christ in their hearts, and strive to keep in the fire
of love to their dearest Lord. Paul groans fearfully under the
relics of sin, Kom. vii. 22 , but saith he, ' Blessed be God for Jesus
Christ : ' Your hearts will be breaking out in thanksgiving if you have
a due sense of the nothingness of your own works.
[4.] For the helps and remedies to take you off from depending up
on your own righteousness.
. (1.) Meditate much upon the nature of God; it is such that his
children are ashamed to appear in his presence. Job saith, chap. xlii.
5, 6, ' I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine
eye seeth thee ; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and
ashes/ Oh! consider, you have to do with a holy God, that can en
dure no imperfection because of the holiness of his nature, and that
will not release his law because of the severity of his justice : Ps. cxL
3, ' In thy sight shall no flesh living be justified/ Alas ! we can scarce
keep up a fair show before men ; a discerning man may soon look
through the veil of our profession, How shall we do to appear before
the holy God ? We need to have a better robe than our own if we
would be comely in God's sight, for our ' righteousness is but as filthy
rags/
(2.) Extenuate no sin, for that will lessen your esteem of Jesus
Christ. Have true and proper thoughts of the least sin. See how
God hath been displeased with the lesser sins of his people : one pas
sionate fit of anger kept Moses out of Canaan ; Adam was thrown out
of Paradise for eating an apple ; and the angels of heaven for a thought,
214 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
aspiring to God's greatness and majesty. Therefore extenuate no sin,
and this will make Christ exceeding precious.
(3.) Consider the greatness of God's love, and the infiniteness of
the reward that he hath provided for us. If we did oftener think of
this we should be ashamed of our weak requital, and should run to the
merit of Christ
(4.) Eemember that we have all from God. Whenever we have
done anything with which the heart is apt to be tickled, remember
how many considerations there are to humble you. In every holy
service, if there be anything that is good in it, it is from God ' Of
thine own, Lord, have we given thee.' Shall we be proud because
we have received more from God than others ? A servant that trades
with his master's money doth but his duty, and deserves nothing All
we do in holy things, it is upon the expense and cost of divine grace.
(5.) Consider how much evil and weakness is in every service.
Certainly that cannot merit glory that needs pardon itself. Though
whatever we do in holy things be by divine grace, yet all that passes
through our hands receives some soil and filth from our hearts like
pure water that runs through a dirty channel.
(6.) Whatever we can do for God, it is due to him, so that the pay
ment of new debts will not quit old scores.
Secondly, I corne to work you off from dependence upon your own
wisdom, a matter necessarily to be regarded in this argument. Christ
had foretold his sufferings, and Peter, out of carnal wisdom, dissuadeth
him from the cross, and suffering himself to be so used ; and upon this
occasion Christ saith, ' If any man will come after me, he must deny
himself/ that is, he must not, with Peter, follow his own carnal reason
and understanding, as if such kind of counsel and advice were best.
Thereupon, in the 25th verse, as a help to self-denial, our Lord lays
down a conclusion that is quite contradictory to the judgment of carnal
sense ' He that will save his life must lose it ; ' implying that we
must have other thoughts, we are not to be guided by the judgment of
our own sense and reason, but by maxims and principles of faith.
Therefore we have that dissuasive, Prov. iii. 5, ' Trust in the Lord
with all thy heart, and lean not to thine own understanding ; ' where
Solomon shows that dependence upon our own understanding and wis
dom is wholly inconsistent with a trust in God.
In the managing of this argument
1. I shall state the matter, how far we are to deny our own wisdom.
2. Show how hard and difficult a matter it is to bring men off from
leaning upon their own understanding.
3. The signs whereby leaning to our own wisdom is discovered.
4. Dissuasives or reasons to take us off from such a dependence.
5. The directions that are proper in this case.
[1.] How far we are to deny our own wisdom. It concerns us both
in doctrinals and practicals,
1. In doctrinals. To wave such discourse as is controversial, I shall
lay down two propositions.
1st. Keason must not be heard against scripture.
2d Scripture cannot be understood or applied without the Spirit.
[1st] Keason must not be heard against scripture, or be set upas the
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 215
highest judge in matters of religion ; otherwise we shall soon shift off
many of the chief est principles and articles of faith, as the incarnation
of Christ, the resurrection of the body, the mystery of the trinity, &c.
Who, by his own wisdom, can see God veiled under the curtain of flesh,
the root of the vine growing upon one of his own grapes ? Who can
see that life must be fetched out of death ? or that one man must be
healed by another's stripes ? that the morsels of worms are parcels of
the resurrection ? Therefore the first work of grace is to captivate the
pride of our thoughts and our prejudices against religion : 2 Cor. x. 5,
' Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every high
thought to the obedience of Christ ; ' captivating every high thought,
the inward reasonings of the mind, to the obedience of Jesus Christ.
There is vTrafcor) Tr/crrect)?, an obedience of faith. Reason must be cap
tivated to faith, though not to fancy ; and if it be revealed, we must
believe it, how absurd soever and unlikely it seems to nature. At first
conversion our prejudices must strike sail to religion. When our
Saviour speaks of the first conversion, he saith, Mat. xviii. 3, that
' whosoever receives the kingdom of God, he must receive it as a little
child.' A little child believes as he is taught ; so must we, as we are
taught, I mean by God, and not by men. You are never fit for
heaven nor the understanding of heavenly things, till you have denied
your own wisdom ; that which is above reason cannot be comprehended
by reason. All lights must keep their place. There are three lights
sense, reason, and faith. Sense, that is the light of beasts ; reason,
that is the light of men ; faith, that is the light of the church ;
all these must keep their place. To consult with nature in super
natural things is all one as if you should seek the judgment of reason
among the beasts, and determine of human affairs by brutish instinct.
If carnal men should but have liberty to let nature work, and set down
a divinity of their own, what a goodly religion should we have in the
world ! A very comely chimera ! For practicals, I am sure it would
be large enough ; natural conscience hates fetters and restraints. And
in doctriuals it would be absurd enough ; man can never take a right
draught and image of God. We cannot empty the ocean with a cockle
shell ; so neither can we exhaust the divine perfections by the shallow
discourse of our reason. The heathens that were most profound in the
researches and inquiry of reason, they sate abrood, and thought of
hatching of an excellent religion ; but what was the issue ?<Rom. i. 22,
' Professing themselves wise, they became fools/ All that they pro
duced was fables, and high strains of folly mixed with popular rites and
customs. There are many things that are necessary to religion, which
the very angels themselves could not know if it had not been revealed
to them : Eph. iii. 10, 'That to the principalities and powers in heavenly
places might be known, by the church, the manifold wisdom of God/
The way of salvation by Christ is such a mystery as that it could not
have entered into the heart of any creature, no, not of an angel. If an
angel had been, to set down which way man should be saved ; nay, if all
the cherubim and seraphim, thrones, dominions, and powers, if they
all had met together in a synod and council, it would have posed
nil the world and the united consultation of angels, to have found
216 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
out such a way. Therefore in those things that are revealed we
must believe God upon his word ; we must believe above and without
reason.
[2d] The scripture cannot be understood nor applied without the
Spirit. A blind man cannot see the sun, though it shine ever so clearly ;
and so, till the inward light meet with the outward, we cannot appre
hend God's mind We shall be ' ever learning, and never come to the
knowledge of the truth.' As the eunuch said to Philip, Acts viii. 32,
Philip saith to him, * Understandest thou what thou readest ? And
he said, How can I, except some man should guide me.' Whenever
you go to the word of God, you must not be your own interpreter ; it
must be interpreted by the same Spirit by which it was indited. It is
very notable, when Christ himself was the preacher (and certainly none
can interpret as Christ could), he expounded the scriptures. But it is
'said, Luke xxiv. 45, ' Then opened he their understanding, that they
might understand the scripture/ Christ, as an external minister, first
opened the scriptures, and then, as the author of grace, he opened their
understandings, without which they would have been veiled up in
clouds and darkness. Mere flesh and blood are apt to stumble in God's
plainest ways, and when we rest in the strength of our own reason we
shall soon make a contrary and indiscreet use of truth : Hosea xiv. 9,
* Who is wise, and he shall understand these things ? prudent, and he
shall know them ? The ways of the Lord are right, the just shall
walk in them ; but the transgressor shall err therein.' The ways of
the Lord become an occasion of ruin to the wicked ; they shall undo
themselves by their own apprehensions. Carnal reason turneth all to
a carnal purpose ; as the sea turneth the dews of heaven and the tribute
of the rivers into salt water. But they are plain to them that are
enlightened by a heavenly light. As the sun draws out a stench from
carrion, and a sweet savour from flowers ; or as the pillar of the cloud
was ' light to the Israelites, and ' darkness to the Egyptians ; ' so are
the ways of God ' the savour of life unto life ' to them that believe ;
but unto the other the ' savour of death unto death,' 2 Cor. ii. 16.
So Solomon saith, Prov. xvi. 29, 'As a thorn goeth up into the hand of
a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of a fool.' The Jews were
wont to sew their garments with thorns ; now when he would sew, he
wounds and goreth himself, because his spirits are disturbed. Natural
more strict ' Let them that have wives be as though they had none/
G. There is his inference. Now compare it with 1 Cor. xv. 37 ;
the epicure draws another inference ' The time is short/ What then ?
Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die/ The apostle
presseth strictness, and he presseth jollity. The commonest truth in
practical divinity is a mystery, and it must be divinely understood.
(2.) As it holds in doctrinals, so also in practicals , there we are to
cease from our own understanding.
1st. We must not take counsel of human and fleshly wisdom. Folly
is bound up in the heart of a man, and it is the more dangerous because
it goes under the disguise of wisdom ; so that we think none are wise
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 217
but those that are fleshly wise. Now the apostle saith, Eom. viii. 7,
' The wisdom of the flesh is enmity to God.' An enemy may be recon-|
ciled, but enmity cannot. A vicious man may become virtuous, but
vice cannot become virtue. Do but observe what a contradiction there
is between the wisdom of the flesh and the wisdom of the Spirit This
eaith, The way 'to be exalted, is to abase ourselves;' the way to
become first is to be last ; the way to be strong is to be weak ; the way
to live is to die ; the way to be wise is to be a fool : 1 Cor. iii. 18, ' He
that would be wise must be a fool, that he may be wise ; ' that is,
renounce his own wisdom that he may be taught of God. It is a high
point of wisdom to be one of the world's fools, to take such a course as
that the world counts us fools. To save life, we must lose it ; so con
sequently of estate, and other appendages of life. That which the
flesh would call saving, the Spirit calls losing ; that which the flesh
would call wisdom, the Spirit calls folly. So on the contrary, the flesh
is quit with the Spirit. That which the Spirit calls strictness, the flesh
calls folly and preciseness ; that it is cowardice and disgrace to love
enemies and to put up with wrongs ; and to pardon inj uries a servility
of spirit ; and that charity is prodigality. As astronomers call the
glorious stars by the names of lions and bears, the dragon's tail, &c ;
carnal reason miscalls the graces of God's Spirit. To renounce
present delights and advantages there is not a course more foolish in
the eye of natural reason : 1 Cor. ii. 14, ' The natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ;
neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned/
These things are folly to him ; and our heart will be apt to say, when
any begin to be strict, We shall have you turn fool now. Fervent zeal
seeemeth peevishness and frowardness, and strictness mere scrupulosity
and niceness. To be severe and strict in religion, to do or suffer, or to
quit visible conveniences for invisible rewards, to renounce interests, to
mortify carnal affections, all this is folly in the judgment of sense : Isa.
v. 20, 21, 'Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put
light for darkness, and darkness for light ; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter.' It is a strange perverseness to confound the names
arid nature of things. We would count him a madman that would call
night day, and day night; yet so distorted and depraved is our reason.
A man that is blind cannot distinguish between night and day ; he
may suppose it is night when it is day, yet he cannot take darkness
itself for light. Now, what is the reason of all ? It is rendered in the
21st verse, ' Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent
in their own sight/ When men lean upon their own wisdom, they
can expect to make no better judgment. Reason is not only blind, but
mad ; and therefore see who you make your counsellors. We shall
never be good subjects to God as long as we give fleshly wisdom the
hearing. Abraham, when he offered Isaac, did not acquaint Sarah,|
lest she should dissuade him ; so in all cases of religion consult not with
flesh and blood. Every sin hath a thousand shifts and fig-leaves.
There is no sinner but he is like Solomon's sluggard, that is ' wiser in
his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason,' Prov. xxvi.
16. I confess in a doubtful case a man is to deliberate ; but in the!
wisdom of the flesh interest hath the casting voice, rather than conscience j
and religion. Therefore take heed of making your bosom your oracle,!
218 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
and neglecting constant application to God for wisdom and direction
in all cases, especially as to religion.
2d. We must not rest in our own private and sanctified light ; how
good soever it be, it must not puff us up and take off our dependence
from God, though we have knowledge, wisdom, parts, and learning. It
is a high contempt of God, when you make your bosom your oracle ; you
take his work out of his hands. Christ is the great counsellor, Isa. ix.
6. And we are to go to him for advice. It is God's prerogative, which
he will not part with : Prov. iii. 6, ' Acknowledge him in all thy ways,
and then he shall guide thy path.' This keeps in the fire of religion,
and maintains a commerce betwixt us and heaven. All nations that
have been touched with the sense of a deity have granted a necessity of
consulting with a divine power. The very pagans had their sibyls and
oracles that they consulted with. And certainly the people of God
dare not resolve upon any design till they have first asked counsel of
God. Next to depending upon our own righteousness, this is the greatest
evil. God is very jealous of the creature's trust ; for trust is the
acknowledgment of his sovereignty, and sets the crown upon his head :
Judges ix. 15, ' The bramble said unto the trees, If in truth you anoint
me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow ; ' where
trust is made an acknowledgment of sovereignty. Therefore if we
would acknowledge God, we must make him our oracle and counsellor,
and that in three cases.
[1st.] In the general choice of thy life, both for opinion and practice.
David had made God his portion : Ps. xvi. 6, 7, ' The lines are fallen
to me in pleasant places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless
fthe Lord who hath given me counsel ; my reins also instruct me in
jthe night season ; ' as if he had said, Lord, if I had been left to the
counsel of my own heart, I should have been as wicked a wretch as
others are ; I have as vile a heart, that doth as much delight in flesh and
the pleasures of sin as any do. Oh, whither should I have gone ? What
would have been my course and way if the Lord had not given me
counsel ? How should I have been hardened in ways of sin and carnal
pleasures ! There are many who have more wisdom than I have, yet
they have taken a wrong course, and are prejudiced against the ways
of the Lord. Oh, blessed be God that I have received counsel in my
reins : Ps. xxv. 10, ' What man is he that feareth the Lord ; him shall
he teach in the way that he shall choose.' They that think to be
religious upon their own choice and wit prove stark fools, and are justly
hardened by their own prejudices. It was the corrupt doctrine of the
heathens. Quod vivamus, deorum munus est; quod bene vivamus,
nostrum, Seneca saith, That we live, we owe to the gods ; that we live
well, we owe it to ourselves. So Tully, Judicium hoc est omnium
mortcdium, &c. This is the judgment of all men, that prosperity is to
be sought of God, but wisdom is to be taken from ourselves. This is
to rob God, to enrich man ; and that is the highest sacrilege, to rob
God of his glory. God must not only give thee heaven, but he must
give thee counsel. Thou mayst resolve and purpose, and yet still thou
shalt be set back till God give thee direction. As a picture must be
seen m its proper light, so the ways of God are never lovely till they
are discerned by his own beam and light.
I'M.] In the management of the whole spiritual life, still we need
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 219
counsel and direction. Our own wisdom is an empty lamp ; we shall
soon stumble if we have not new counsel and direction from God.
Mark the apostle's speech in 2 Thes. ii, 5, ' The Lord direct your
hearts into the love of God, and the patient waiting for Christ.' We
know not how to exercise love, nor how to fix our patience, nor how to
dispense the exercise of every grace in an orderly manner, without
counsel from God. When a ship is rigged, yet it needs a pilot ; so
when the soul is furnished with grace, still we need direction how to
exercise grace, otherwise religion will degenerate into a fondness and
superstition, and patience will be turned into blockishness ; zeal into an
indiscreet heat, and constancy into humorous stiffness. There are many
nice and critical cases in religion which we shall not understand with
out the continual direction of the Spirit. Let me instance in those
rules : Eccles. vii. 16-18, * Be not righteous overmuch, neither make
thyself overwise. Why shouldst thou destroy thyself ? Be not
overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish. Why shouldst thou die
before thy time ? It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this ;.yea,
also from this withdraw not thy hand ; for he that feareth God shall
come forth from them all/ How shall we know how to take the
middle way, that we may neither hazard conscience nor endanger our
selves by a sullen and rigid obstinacy ? God will direct us how to
temper zeal with prudence ' He that feareth God shall come out of
them all/ Through false appearances and the weakness of grace we
are apt to miscarry ' Fear God,' that is, acknowledge him, and he
will decide the case.
[3d] In all your particular actions and affairs self-wit is very confi
dent and presumptuous, and we speak as if all were in our own hands : I
will carry on this business, and thus and thus order my affairs. But
alas ! where we seem most wise we are most infatuated. Pharaoh was
never such a fool in his life as when he said, ' Let us go wisely to work/
Exod. i. 10. God loves to confute men in their vain confidences ; and
when they lean to their own understanding, they seldom prove success
ful ; for then we entrench upon God's prerogative, and God will have
the creature know that all their actions are in his power, and the success
depends upon his blessing. This is the bridle God hath on the world,
the disposal of their affairs : Prov. xx. 24, ' Man's goings are of the
Lord ; how can a man then understand his own way ? ' We cannot
see the event of things in the course of our lives, what is expedient, and
what not, therefore we must ask counsel of God. Man would fain work
out his own happiness, and like a spider, climb up by a thread of his
own weaving; but it is gone with a breath ' The hope of the hypocrite is
like a spider's web/ Men that will be their own carvers, they seldom
carve out a good portion to themselves. God will have us daily to
acknowledge the dominion of his providence, and live in a continual
dependence, that so there may be a constant respect between us and
him 'Lord, teach me,' saith David, 'on thee do I wait all the day
long : ' PH. xxv. 4, * Show me thy way, Lord ; teach me thy paths/
David would not give over his dependence, no, not for a moment.
Thus I have shown how far we should not lean upon our own
understanding.
[2.] I shall show you how hard a matter it is to draw men off from
-220 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
dependence upon their own wisdom. It is natural to us all, but
especially it is incident to young Christians, who are hugely given to dog
matise, because their notions, being hasty and fervorous, are accompanied
I with more confidence, though with less reason. They are peevish and
obstinate in their sense, and none so humorously conceited of what
they hold as they. It is incident also to men of great parts. Simple
iinen that are not able to raise doubts and objections are more credu
lous < The simple believeth every word ; ' but these, that have such
tin high claim and title to the exercise of reason, are wont to scoff at
matters of faith, to lose the reverence and respects of religion, at least
are not so soon won to close with the simplicity of the gospel. But I say
it is naturally incident to us all, and truly, hardly cured, for several
reasons. Partly, because the evil is so close and spiritual. Christians
do not easily fall to open idolatry, to worship a stock and a stone, but
they easily idolise their own understanding, and so their respects to
-God are intercepted, or but coldly rendered. We are not so sensible
of the defects and weakness in the understanding as we are of dis
tempers in the will. Distempers of the will are always cum lucid,
accompanied with some combat and strife, by which they are exposed
to the view and notice of conscience ; but the distempers of the under
standing are more silent, and when we are convinced of them, they
seem more pardonable, because they do not work such disturbance as
other sins do ; it is a secret and sly evil. And partly, because a natural
wit befriends carnal desires. There is a league and a conspiracy
between the soul and the spirit, between the understanding arid the
carnal desires : Heb. iv. 12, 'The word of God is quick and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of the soul arid the spirit ; ' it can dissolve the cursed league
a.nd conspiracy between a carnal understanding and a carnal heart.
It is an easy matter to deceive him that will be deceived. We love
our understanding, for there bad counsel hath more credit than the
best and most sacred suggestions of the Holy Ghost. Oar wit is fore
stalled by affection, so that we are willingly directed by the dictates of
our own hearts, and it is troublesome to us so much as to suspect them.
And partly through pride. Natural wit is very confident. It is no
easy tiling for a man to pluck the eyes out of his own head, and to
give his hand to another to lead him which, way he pleaseth. Man is
loath to have the leading part of his soul to be debased. By our
understandings we are distinguished from the beasts, and therefore we
cannot endure to cease from resting in our own understanding and
parts. That man is extremely proud of his understanding, appears by
iwo sensible experiences or observations.
(1.) We rather would be accounted wicked than weak ; sooner own a
wickedness in morals than a weakness in intellectuals. In wickedness
there seems to be somewhat of bravery and choice ; we all affect the
repute of wisdom : Job xi. 12, ' Vain man would be accounted wise,
though he be born as the wild ass's colt.' Though man be foolish
and gross of conceit, yet he would fain be accounted wise : Gen. iii. 5,
* Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.' Ever since the fall we
catch at knowledge. The pharisees were mighty angry with our
Saviour when he charged them with blindness : John ix. 40, * Are we
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 221
blind also ? ' Will you say we are ignorant that are the great rabbis,
and doctors of the people ?
(2.) Another observation is, that errors are more touchy than vices.
Men do with greater patience bear with declamations against sin than
convictions of error, which may arise partly from this, because erroneous
persons usually take up their errors out of interest, and men cannot
endure the voice of a hated truth. But chiefly, and the most universal
reason, is our natural pride ; men are conceited of the sufficiency of
their understanding, and so become impatient when they are convinced
of their mistake.
[3.] The signs whereby leaning to our own understanding is dis
covered.
(1.) When men are puffed up with a conceit of their knowledge, it
is a sign they lean upon it. Why ? For esteem and admiration is tin-
inseparable evidence of trust. Therefore the scriptures that do dis
suade us from leaning upon our own understanding, dissuade us also
from being wise in our own eyes, or conceit : Rom. xii. 6, * Be not wise in
thy own conceit ; ; and Prov. iii. 7, ' Be not wise in thy own eyes ; fear
the Lord, and depart from evil.' These two always go together, self-
conceit and self-dependence : 1 Cor. viii. 2, ' Knowledge puffeth up ; '
and, ' If any man thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing as he-
ought to know.' Our ignorance is never cured till we come to heaven,
and it is a good progress in grace to be sensible of it. When men think
they are above ordinances, they know as much as men can teach them ;
for substance, they know nothing. It is a sign they have never waded
into the depth of the scripture. Menedemus was wont to say of them |
that went to Athens to study the first year, he thought they were*
wise men ; the second year, philosophers ; the third year, orators that f
could talk of wisdom; the next year that they were plebeians, that;
they understood nothing but their own ignorance. Usually thus it is*
in growth in scriptural knowledge. Young Christians are very opinion
ated, but when they look into the breadth of the commandment, then
they see their own ignorance that ' they know nothing.' This is the
reason why the children of God have such a low opinion of their
understandings. A man would wonder at their expressions : Prov. xxx..
2. 3, ' Surely I am more brutish than any man, I have not the under
standing of a man ; I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge
of the holy.' The more he saw, the more he was acquainted with his
ignorance ; so that he durst not attribute any wisdom to himself.
None are so sensible of their ignorance as those that abound in
knowledge. Look, as when the sun appears, the light of the candle
seemeth nothing; so when God comes and enlightens their mind, oh,
what a brutish creature was I ! But now, self-admiring argues great
confidence.
(2.) When men dare undertake anything without asking counsel
from God: Prov. iii. 6, 'In all thy ways acknowledge him/ We are
not to lessen our dependence, no, not for a moment. Whenever you
go forth in the strength of human counsel and reason, you do, as it
were, say, In this business I can do well enough without God. It is
a great contempt to put upon God when in the things of the family,
church, or commonwealth we do not seek him earnestly. Not only in.
222 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
doubtful and difficult cases, which are wholly above our strength and
wit to decide, but in all your ways God must be sought and acknow
ledged. The prophet Jeremiah speaks as one that was sensible of his
dependence : Jer. x. 23, ' Lord, I know the way of man is not in him
self ; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.' There should
be such an actual sense and feeling upon the soul. So David said,
Ps. xxv. 4, ' Show me thy ways, Lord ; on thee do I wait all the
day/ A Christian dares not to go into the study, shop, nor into the
assembly or council, without God, Mr Greenham, when one came to
f ask his advice in a business, he answered, Friend, you and I have not
{prayed yet.
(3.) If thou wert never moved to bless God for making Christ to be
wisdom. You know what the apostle saith, 1 Cor. i. 30, ' He is made
to us of God wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemp
tion/ I observe, many bless God because Christ was made redemption
and sanctification, for natural conscience is sensible of the sad conse
quences of sin ; but usually we lean upon our own understanding, we
do not bless him for being made wisdom to us : John xiv. 6 > ( I am
the way, the truth, and the life/ Many may bless him for life, for the
hopes of glory ; but hast thou blessed him, because he hath been a
prophet to teach thee ? This is always the first work of grace, to con
vince us of our brutishness and folly as Paul, when he was converted,
was made blind that we may prize Christ the more, that we may say
to Christ, as Moses to Hobab, his father-in-law, Num. x. 31, ' Leave us
not, I pray thee, that thou mayst be to us instead of eyes ; ; that thou
mayst run to Christ for eye-salve : Kev. iii. 17, 18, ' 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. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou
mayest be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and
that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thy eyes
with eye-salve/ &c. When men are never convinced of their natural
blindness, they do not prize Christ in all his offices ; it is no small
matter that he is a prophet to guide thee ; the truth, as well as the
way and the life.
(4.) When men cite God before the tribunal of their own reason,
this is a sign that the word and counsel of God was never exalted in
their judgments. In matters of faith, worship, and obedience, we are
to fetch our light from the scripture. And we would set up an higher
tribunal, and fetch all from our reason, and give laws to heaven. Usually
men will dispute against the righteousness of God's decrees, the sim
plicity of his ordinances, the mysteries of faith : Kom. ix. 20, ' Who
art thou, man, that disputest against God ? ' When men are apt
to pick quarrels with religion, to cavil and snarl at God's ways, to dis
pute away duties rather than practise them, it is an ill sign. All* the
ways of God seem unjust and incredible to the carnal reason of men ;
they cannot believe how Christ should be God and man in one person ;
how it should be just that by one man's transgression all should be
made sinners, and why God should elect some, and leave others in their
corruption. Ah, foolish man ! who art thou, that disputest against
God ? They cannot believe the same body shall rise again ; suppose
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 223
it be thrown into the sea, and eaten up by fishes, and those fishes de
voured by men, and those men torn with wild beasts, they cannot see
how it is possible God should restore to every body his own substance :
Mat. xxii. 17, * Ye err, not knowing the scriptures, and the power of
God : ' the power of God showeth that it may be so ; the scripture that
it is so. There is the rule and ground of truth. So men will dispute
against the simplicity of the ordinances : 2 Kings v. 11, 12, ' Are not
Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of
Israel ? ' They cannot see but reading at home may be as effectual as
the public ministry. So they cannot see why men should pray, since
God's decrees are past, and his decrees are unalterable ; if he will, he
may give mercy and salvation without their prayers ; and if he will
not, he cannot be won to it by their importunity. Who art thou,
man, that repliest against God ?
(5.) When men despise the advice and help of other Christians. The
Lord will have us to profit by one another. He withdraws himself
many times to this end and purpose, that we may be endeared one to
another, as well as engaged to himself. Certainly the head cannot
say, I have no need of the foot. As God would establish a dependence
between himself and us, so he would establish a dependence between
Christians among themselves ; therefore grace doth not only come from
God, but we receive it in part through the means of the body : Col. ii. 19,
' And not holding the head, from which all the body, by joints
and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increas-
eth with the increase of God.' The admonitions of the weakest Chris
tian, they may be of great use to enkindle zeal, if not to better our
knowledge ; as a wisp of straw may enkindle a great block. Now when
a man thinks his own wit sufficient, and that he need not be taught of
any, it is an evil sign : Prov. xxvi. 12, ' Seest thou a man wise in his
own eyes, there is more hope of a fool than of him.' A fool will rather
be counselled than one given to self-conceit. You cannot put wine, or
any other liquor, into. a blown bladder till the wind be voided, and the
bladder rid of it, so here such puffed bladders are in a sad condition,
can receive nothing, they can make no progress in grace.
[4.] In the next place I must join dissuasives and directions together.
If you would cease from your own understanding
(1.) Be sensible of the utter impotency of nature : 1 Cor. ii. 14,
' The natural man understands not the things that are of God.' He is
not only actually ignorant, but unable to conceive ; not only through
negligence, but weakness ; not only will not, but cannot ; there is a pre
judice and positive enmity in the heart. The mind of man is not white
paper, but it is prepossessed with carnal principles, atheism, unbelief,
profaneness, libertinism. As the stomach that is ill-affected with
choler casts up all the food it receiveth as soon as it is swallowed, so we
reject all holy doctrine. Though we may like generalities, yet when
we are pressed to practice, carnal reason will discover itself. We are apt
to think ourselves angels, but we are but beasts : Eccles. iii. 1 8, ' I said
in my heart, concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might
manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.'
Nay, after regeneration we have great cause still to suspect ourselves.
There are two voices, flesh and spirit. And our wisdom that we have,
224 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
is often enthralled, and made a prisoner to sinful passions and affections.
Therefore when we go about any business, especially when we come to
the word, we should never do it without lifting up our souls to God for
the spirit of wisdom and revelation : Eph. i. 17, 18, ' That the God of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the
spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him ; the eyes of
your understanding being enlightened, that we may know what is the
hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints.'
(2.) Consider the mischief of self-conceit, or dependence upon our
own wisdom. Most men in the world are ruined by it ; of Babylon
is said, * Thy understanding hath undone thee.' Who would choose
him for a pilot that drowns every vessel that he governeth ? it is as
inconsistent with salvation, as trusting 'in wealth. It is true, the object
is more excellent, but therefore the temptation is the more dangerous.
Now, ' It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than
for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,' Mat. xix. 24. Con
sider, what a great folly it is ; Bis desipit, qui sibi sapit He that is
wise in his own eyes is twice a fool ; a fool by having but a little
knowledge, and by his great conceit of it. And then it is the ground
of all the creature's miscarriages. Apostasy from religion, whence
comes it ? From, idolising self- wit, John vi. 65. Christ had spoken
something which they understood not, of eating his flesh ' From that
time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him/
because they could not fathom it by the line and plummet of their
reason. It is the usual rise of heresy ; then a man is ripe to breed
monstrous opinions in the church. When men will have the mysteries
of faith demonstrated by the law of reason, like a sick man who will
not swallow his pills, but chew them ; when he tastes the bitterness,
he presently bringeth them up, and so loseth a wholesome remedy.
Then it is the ground of all corruption in life, the lust of covetousness,
it is rooted upon self-conceit, Prov. xxiii. 4. When Solomon dissuadeth
from covetousness, ' Labour not to be rich,' then presently, ' Cease from
thy own wisdom.' See how these two precepts are coupled, as if the
Spirit of God should say, if you hearken to carnal wisdom, that will
tell you of honour, great pleasure, and of flourishing in your family ;
that you shall want nothing ; but be not wise in your own eyes, that
will be a means to keep you from labouring to be rich, from prostituting
your precious time, care, and strength, only to advance secular interests.
Thirdly, I come now to speak of dependence upon our spiritual
strength, and grace received : Gal. ii. 20, ' I live ; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me/ where there is an abnegation of all his own strength with
respect to the spiritual life. The work of the inferior agent is
denied, that the supreme may have all the glory: not I, but Jesus
Christ.
1. I shall show you the consequence and weight of this part of self-
denial.
2. How far forth our spiritual strength is to be denied.
3. W^hat are the signs whereby dependence upon our own strength
may be discovered and found out.
[1.] For the consequence and weight of this : I shall show you in
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 225
several considerations, that certainly this is a necessary part of self-
denial.
(1.) Because dependence maintains the commerce between God and
man ; it is the ground of the creature's respect to God. A proud
creature is loath to be beholden, to come out of itself, and to fetch all
from another. We had rather keep the stock ourselves. When the
prodigal had his portion in his own hands, away he goes from his father.
We would be strangers to the throne of grace were it not that there
were a continual dependence upon God for the supply of grace. Those
two great duties of prayer and praise are built upon dependence. So
that in effect the whole spiritual life is but a profession of our depend
ence upon God.
1st. To instance in prayer. If we did not depend upon God for
daily receiving, the Lord would seldom hear from us. Most of the
prayers in the apostle's writings are for a supply of grace : 2 Thes. i.
11, ' Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count
you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his good
ness, and the work of faith with power ; ' and Eph. iii. 14-17, ' I bow
my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he would grant
you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with all
might, by his Spirit in the inner man/ &c. This was the reason, why
Paul prayed for others, and why the saints pray for themselves, that
they may have new strength from God in the inward man. So Heb.
xiii. 20, ' Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead
our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the
blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work
to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight.'
This is the great cause of Christ's intercession, to maintain the life
which we have received. God would oblige us to continual visits and
intercourse with himself by keeping grace in his own hands.
2d. For the duty of praise. Self loves to divide the glory with free
grace ; and truly, if we be not sensible of our dependence upon God,
we shall never think of setting the crown upon grace's head. The
saints that are kept humble, are also kept thankful ; they see they
can do nothing themselves, and therefore they come and give God the
glory: Luke xix. 16, ' Thy pound' saith the faithful servant, 'hath
gained ten pounds ;' as if he had said, It was not my industry, but
thy pound. This makes the children of God to come with ingenious
acknowledgments ' Not I,' said Paul, ' but Christ that liveth in me.'
Alas I I do little in the spiritual life, it is Christ that doth all. I live,
there is some concurrence ; but mine is nothing to what Christ doth.
So 1 Cor. xv. 10, ' I laboured more than they all ; yet not I, but the
grace of God which was with me.' They take off the crown from the
head of self, and lay it at the feet of Christ. As Joab sent for David
when he had conquered Kabbah, to take the honour of the victory ; so
when they have done anything through grace, they send for God to take
the honour. They know whence their supplies come, and that makes
them thankful.
(2.) It is a very great sin to rest in ourselves ; it crosseth the very
end of the covenant, and robs Christ of his free grace. In all God's
dispensations to the creature, his aim is to magnify his own grace ;
and the great end of our being Christians is to be to the ' praise of his
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226 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
glorious grace,' Eph. i. 12. When we come to heaven, it is a great
question which we shall most admire, grace or glory. Certainly when
our affections are wrought up to the pitch of the glorified estate, we
shall value glory for grace's sake ; for this is God's great end, that
grace may have the glory. Therefore it is a necessary part of a
Christian's work, to keep his heart still sensible of his dependence upon
grace; therefore self-sufficiency after grace received is a great sin.
The more we rest in self, the more we rob grace. Carnal men, they
are hardly sensible of foul and gross sins ; but a Christian is sensible
of spiritual evils, and of these chiefly. When we humble ourselves for
want of life and quickening, there may be something of hypocrisy in
that ; because quickening serves the pride of parts, and we would all
discover gifts with applause. Now it is a sign of grace to be humbled
for depending upon our own strength and endeavours, because we would
not rob Christ of his chiefest honour and glory.
(3.) It is a sin not only foul in its nature, but severely punished by
God. The saints have never so foully miscarried as by their self-confi
dence. Who would have thought that Lot who was pure and chaste
in Sodom, should have committed incest in the mountain, when there
was none but he and his own daughters ? Though he avoided the
filthiness of Sodom, where there was a multitude to draw him to evil,
yet he fell foully when there was none but his own family. In the
dreadful falls of God's children we may see that nature is but a sorry
undertaker. No man knows how far his heart will carry him till it
comes to the trial. Who would have thought that Peter's high
resolution would end in curses and blasphemy, and denying of Christ ?
The man of God, that spake against the altar of Bethel, could deny the
king's request, but could not deny the old prophet to turn back and eat ;
1 Kings xiii. 8. compared with the 19th ver. ; when grace had left him,
then he falls. The prophet saith of Ephraim, that ' he was a cake not
turned,' baked but of one side ; for a great while we may stand fast ;
but when once we grow secure, we may sadly miscarry. Hezekiah knew
how to be sick, but. not how to be well. The Spirit of God will not
flatter us in our vain confidences ; when we proudly trust in ourselves,
the Lord, to punish pride, will deny his assisting grace, and so we
soon feel the disappointment of a trust misplaced. When God framed
us and renewed us by grace, he doth still reserve a dominion over par
ticular acts of grace. Grace is but a creature ; if we rest in it, we
may make grace an idol ; it is not an independent thing, but dependeth
in, esse, conservari et operari. There is a constant concurrence
necessary to strengthen the habit as well as to produce the act, without
which habits are dead and useless.
[2.] How far ^ spiritual strength is to be denied. The question is
needful, lest while we seek to establish devotion we lay a ground for
laziness ; therefore I shall show it in four propositions
(1.) That there is somewhat in a Christian which we may call spiri
tual strength ;
(2.) That this strength is to be maintained and supported ; and
(3.) To be drawn out in constant exercise ; yet
(4.) Not to be rested in, for several reasons.
1st. There is somewhat in a Christian which we may call spiritual
strength. The famiiists sav. That errace is Christ himself work! no- in
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 227
us, and that there are no habits of grace ; that it is not we that repent
and believe, but Christ. But certainly this is false and foolish ; there
is something poured out upon a Christian : Zech. xii. 10, ' I will pour
out upon them a spirit of grace and supplication ; ' and there is
something that remains in them, called the ' seed of God,' 1 John iii.
9, which cannot be Christ or the Spirit, because it is called the new
creature and the inward man, that is created after God. And a good
treasure, that a Christian hath of his own, a good stock God hath be
stowed upon him : Mat. xii. 53, 'A good man out of his good treasure,'
&c. There is a stock of grace conveyed into the soul which may be
increased ; therefore we are said, 2 Peter iii. 18, 'To grow in grace.'
All which things are not compatible to the Spirit ; nay plainly, the
fruits of the Spirit, which are the created habits of grace, are distinguished
from the Spirit himself : Gal. v. 22, ' Now the fruits of the Spirit are
these, love, faith, gentleness,' &c ; so 2 Tim. i. 5, ' The unfeigned faith
that is in thee.' In regeneration there is introduced into the soul a
stock of knowledge, a whole frame of grace, faith, and patience, and
love, and hope, and these abide upon the heart. They are not transient
operations of the Holy Ghost, nor the Holy Ghost himself, but such
habits as abide still in the heart. Besides, if in acts of grace there were
nothing but an operation of the Holy Ghost, and a man were a mere
patient, then all our defects, and the faintness of our operation, were
to be charged on the Spirit ; as a ship is an innocent piece of timber,
therefore the splitting thereof is not charged upon the ship, but the pilot.
2d. This strength is with diligence to be maintained and supported ;
we are to be very careful that we do not waste our stock, and prove
bankrupts with grace received. When we embezzle our habitual trea
sure, God is exceeding angry, and then he withdraws his actual
influence. By gross sins we maim and distemper the new nature, and
it is a long time ere it can be set right again. It cost David much
labour and travail of soul to get a right spirit within him : Ps. li,
' Lord create in me a clean heart ; ' it was a creating work. It must
be constantly maintained, for we may easily embezzle and weaken it in
a great measure.
3d It must be stirred up and improved to holy actions c A good
man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things/
God hath given us a treasure to trade withal. Grace teacheth no man
to be lazy. The doctrine of dependence on Christ doth not take us off
from endeavours, but from resting in them. But you will say, What
can we do with habitual grace, if there be not some predetermining
influence ? I answer
[1st] Some small power there is to an act, otherwise what difference
were there between a regenerate and an unregenerate man, if a renewed
man were totally disabled ? The days of our unregeneracy are thus
described, Kom. v., ' Then were we without strength;' but certainly,
when we are taken to grace, there is some kind of power ; God's image
is repaired in such persons ; they have renewed faculties, Eph. iv. 23.
God hath given us gifts and abilities to work which are not altogether
in vain ; motion and operation followeth : Col. ii. 6, ' As you have
received Christ, so walk in him.' Something you may do by virtue
of the new nature. Thou mayst call upon thy soul, and awaken it ;
it is thy work to quicken habitual grace, and to do what thou canst to
228 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
bring it forth : 2 Tim. i. 6, ' Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee.'
It is an allusion to the priest that kept in the fire of the altar ; so we
are to stir up ourselves as much as we can. Isa. Ixiv. 7, The Lord
complains, ' There is none that stirs up himself.' As we are men, we
have understanding and memory, and can revive truth upon the con
science in an outward and literal way ; but as we are renewed men, so
we have a sanctified understanding and memory, and that is more,
and a greater advantage ; so we may call upon the soul and stir it up,
and grieve for deadness.
[2d.] I answer, all the moral actions of the regenerate are com
manded by God : though the principle of motion be but natural, yet
we are under a command to be doing ; want of predetermining grace
will be no excuse. God may do what he will as to matter of assistance,
but I must do what I am commanded in matter of duty. God is at
liberty to act, but we are not; we are bound, but the Spirit is free.
Therefore, putting forth the exercise of grace, being a moral thing, and
that which falls under a command, we are obliged to it.
[3d] It is God's way to meet with his creatures in the midst of
their endeavours : Kom. viii. 26, ' The Spirit helpeth our infirmities.'
Helpeth together the word importeth such help as when another
steppeth it, to sustain the burden that lieth too heavy upon us. When
we wrestle and strive in a way of duty, God will come in with his assist
ance. We know not the counsel of God ; he may join with us, but we
refuse his help and put it away if we act not. tip and be doing, and
the Lord will be with thee. Within there must be a habit of grace ;
without, there is an assisting grace. We must be doing, and leave
alone God with his own gracious work.
[4th.] This strength, though it must be improved and stirred up to
action, yet it must not be rested in. When God frames the new
creature, he doth not leave us as a clock to go of ourselves. God
hath reserved the dominion over particular acts of grace to himself,
that so he may keep the creature in a constant dependence. Not only
the seed, but the tree ; and not only the tree, but the fruit, dependeth
upon grace. We are not only the planting of the Lord, grow in his
courts, but our fruit is found in .him : Hosea xiv. 8, ' In me is thy
fruit found/ Grace is not only seen in renewing the faculty and
strengthening the habit, but also in quickening it to bring forth fruit.
Because this is the matter in hand, I shall lay down several reasons
and considerations to enforce it.
[1st.] Because though we are renewed, yet it is but in part. The
maim of nature is not fully recovered till we come to heaven ; we still
halt of the old fall ; our nature is not altered of a sudden, but still
tasteth of the old leaven ; there is a constant weakness while we are in
the world. Many would flatter nature, and say of it as Christ said of
the damsel, she is * not dead, but sleepeth,' as if original corruption
were not a deadly maim, but only a swoon and languish ment. After
grace is put into the heart, we still find that our graces are weak and
feeble. The children of God complain, Gal. v. 17, ' The flesh lusteth
against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary
one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.' We
cannot act with such freedom and courage as we would in the holy life.
So Paul, personating a regenerate man, saith, Kora. vii. 18, ' To will is
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 229
present, but how to perform that which is good, I find not/ The new
nature may purpose and will, but we cannot perform a good work
without a new concurrence.
[2d] Because the habit of grace is but a creature, it is not an in
dependent thing, like the {Spirit of God himself. If we rest in it, we
may make grace an idol. There is need of the concurrence of grace,
to strengthen the habit and produce the act, without which the habits
will be but dead and useless. This is that the apostle intimates when
he saith in the 2 Thes. i. 11, ' We pray always that God would count
you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his good
ness, and the work of faith with power.' Grace is a creature, therefore
depending, as all other creatures, upon God, and cannot stir or move
without God. The apostle saith, Acts xvii. 18, ' That in him we live,
and move, and have our being ; ' we are moved and acted by him. If
God should but suspend his influence, the creature cannot move, nor stir
a joint or arm. If God should but ' let loose his hand,' as it is expressed,
Job vi. 9, all creatures would fall into nothing. There is a provi
dential assistance that is necessary to all created agents ; as the fire
could not burn the three children, though the property was not destroyed,
but because God's influence was suspended ; all things would fall into
nothing if he should let loose his hand. I produce these things for
demonstration ; for in the exercise of every grace God doth not only
work by a general concurrence, as a universal cause, but by special aid
and assistance. Every act is from God, as the author of nature, and
graciousness of the act is also from God, as the author of grace. There
is a great deal of difference between the natural elevation of the faculty
and the gracious exercise of it. As the apostle saith, 2 Cor. iii. 5, ' Not
that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but
our sufficiency is of God.' As the apostle saith, 2 Cor. iii. 5, ' Of our
selves we are not able to think a good thought.' We are so far from
a good work that we cannot so much as think without an influence of
providence. Nor can we think graciously without the influence of
grace. Therefore to the resistance of any sin, or to the performance
of any holy duty, there must be some concurrence from God. We can
not rest in any creature or created thing, but still look up to him as
the independent cause that sends forth his influence. Nay, this holds
in the very angels ; grace is always necessary every moment to the
angels, to prevent possible sins, and to stir up actual rejoicing in God ;
they had need of a continual influence from their creator, so have we.
[3d] Because of the several indispositions of the saints. We are
always weak, but sometimes we lie more wind-bound and suspended
than at other times, and are not able to move and stir. The children
of God find a great many corruptions, a loathness and shyness of God's
presence, especially after long guilt, and there needs a ' day of power
to make them willing,' Ps. ex. 3. So also they find deadness ; when
they have given content to the flesh, their hearts are apt to grow flat
and dead, and they lose the savouriness of their spirits ; therefore David
begs for quickening : Ps. cxix. 37, * Turn away mine eyes from behold
ing vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way.' And sometimes they
are in straits, they are bound up and suspended. The mind is like
the eye, which is a very tender part, soon offended and out of temper
Men, you know, are very seldom indisposed for bodily labour ; but now
230 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
the affairs of the Christian life, being wholly spiritual, there will be
much unfitness and distemper as to them ; the soul will soon be
indisposed.
[4th.] A fourth reason is the sovereignty of God, who keepeth grace
in his own hand, and gives it out at pleasure, that he may make the
creature beholden to him. God delights to have men and angels to
be his debtors, and therefore he exerciseth all his dispensations to them
with a liberty and freedom * He giveth the will and the deed, accord
ing to his good pleasure,' Phil. ii. 3. He gives the power and the
faculty, and the act ; he suspends and enlargeth the acts of the under
standings and affections of men according to his own pleasure. We
cannot be masters of any one good act without grace. He will be
master of his mercies, that he may keep the power in his own hands,
that we might wait upon him by a humble and actual trust.
[5th.] The necessity of a continued influence from Christ. Grace
is in his keeping : 2 Tim. ii. 1. * Thou therefore, my son, be strong in
the grace that is in Christ Jesus.' That grace which makes us to
work strongly in duty, and with good effect, it is in Christ not in our
selves : John xv. 5, ' Without me you can do nothing ; ' separated from
Christ, we can act nothing. Members divided from their head, they
cannot live ; so out of our mystical head we cannot live and act. There
is not one individual act of grace but Christ is interested in it, as the
soul is in the motion of every member. There must not only be a
constant union, but a continual animation and influence: Phil. iv. 13,
* I can do all things, through Christ that strengthened me,' not only
hath strengthened, but strengtheneth by a constant influence. You
saw Adam was an ill keeper of his best jewels ; and because Christ is
a good steward, he knows the value of spiritual privileges; therefore all
is put in his keeping ; it is put into safe hands, that we may be sure to
find it when we have need. But you will say, If we can do nothing
without Christ, what difference is there then between the state of nature
and the state of grace ? I answer, By grace we have new faculties,
which have some small power, though we can be confident of little
success. Before conversion we were wholly passive, there was no
co-operation ; but now we have renewed faculties, there is a sub-opera
tion ; we act as instruments, in the virtue of the principal agent ; we
have a will to close with the things of God, and an understanding to
judge aright of them as moved by God ; how we may carry out the
work of God, and act as instruments in his hand, by virtue of the prin
cipal and supreme cause.
[6th.] Another consideration to press you to a continual dependence
upon God in the exercise of your spiritual strength, is the sad experi
ence of God's children whenever they have been left to themselves. I
need not instance in the angels, which did ' excel in strength ; ' yet
when left, they fell. I need not speak of Adam in innocency, how he
fell when God left him, when he left him, I say, to the freedom of his
own will. But let us speak of holy men of God that are under the
same dispensation we are, the most holy and sanctified men of God : 2
Chron. xxxii. 31, it is said of Hezekiah that ' the Lord left him, that so
he might know what was in his heart/ God will show us what we are in
ourselves ; if he should but suspend grace and spiritual influences but
for a moment, what poor chaff are we before the blast of every tempta-
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 231
tion ! As when a glass is shaken then the dregs appear, so it is with
us. I now come to give you the signs.
[3.] The signs of depending on our spiritual strength.
(1.) If you would know whether you do so, observe the frame of the
heart both before and after duty. (I.) Before duty, and every address
to God ; whenever we come to worship, we should have actual thoughts
of our own weakness. When we come to pray, Lord, we know not how
to pray, how to act faith, and how to draw forth grace ; we should
still be * poor in spirit,' that is a grace of constant use. But now, when
men are full of parts and gifts, and think ' to go forth and shake them
selves as at other times,' as it is said of Samson when his strength was
gone ; when we think to find the same savouriness and smartness of
expression, God will make us see how much we are mistaken. There
fore when we have not actual thoughts of our own weakness when we
come to perform any holy exercise, it is a sign we are too full of our
own gifts and abilities. (2.) After the duty, art thou moved to bless
God for the supplies of his grace, especially if gifts have been discovered
with applause ? Art thou able to say with David, ' Lord, of thine own
have I given thee ? ' canst thou cast the crown at the feet of Christ ?
canst thou take all thy excellency, and lay it down at Christ's feet ?
If it be not thus with us, it is a sign we depend too much on our own
strength.
(2.) Another note is a confident presumption of the success of future
actions and undertakings, without taking God along with us in our
resolution. Thus Peter, he was a sad instance of leaning upon him
self : Mat. xxvi. 74, " Though all men should deny thee, yet I will not
deny thee.' The confidence of the children of God is built upon the ex
pectation of grace ; and if God will undertake for them, then they can
be confident of the success of their endeavours : Ps. cxix. 32, ' I will run
the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart.'
Look to the ground, whether it be built upon thy own resolution, or
the expectation of his grace.
(3.) When man dare venture upon occasions of sinning and tempta
tions, certainly this is a great confidence, and it cannot proceed from
divine grace , for God when he keeps us, he will keep us in his ways,
not when we tempt his providence. Therefore when men can delight
in carnal company, and put themselves upon such a snare, it is a sign
they depend not upon God. For what is the fruit of depending upon
God ? avoiding all occasions of evil. Therefore when men dally with
temptation, it is a sign they place confidence in their own strength.
(4.) Despising of ordinances. These are the pipes by which God
conveys his influences to us, and by which the habits of grace are
strengthened, by the power that goes out in them. There must be
dependence upon God in the use of means if we would maintain grace :
Luke xviii. 8, * Take heed what you hear, for to him that hath shall be
given.' Attend upon ordinances. Why ? for otherwise you will lose
the flush of gifts which puff you up. Many despise hearing when they
have got a little knowledge.
(5.) It is a sign of dependence upon ourselves when we contemp
tuously insult over others that are weaker than ourselves ; for if we did
acknowledge all to be from grace, how could we be proud ? Who
232 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
would dare to be proud of that which is but borrowed ? Who could
be proud because he is most in debt ? If we have more gifts than they,
we are more obliged to God, and this keeps the hearts of God's people
humbled : 1 Cor. iv. 7, ' For who maketh thee to differ from another ?
And what hast thou, that thou didst not receive ? Now if thou didst
receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it ? ' Thy
merit is no more than theirs, and in thyself thou art as incapable of
spiritual blessings as they are, and in holy duties thou canst do no
more than they can ; for what dost thou add to duty ? Nothing but
what will lessen the value of it ; they can add corruptions and weak
ness of their own, so canst thou. The pharisee, you know, that con
demned the publican, he speaks of grace in pretence * God be thanked,
I am not as other men,' &c. ; but because ' he despised others/ Christ
spake that parable. When men are proud and confident of their own
abilities, and despise others, there is a depending upon themselves ;
they have much cause of thankfulness, but none of pride.
Fourthly, I come to speak of the fourth head viz., Dependence
upon the supplies of the outward life. And
1. To show that there is such a sin.
2. How evil and heinous it is, that it is capable of the highest
aggravations.
3. What are the notes and evidences by which this secret vein of
guilt may be traced and found out in the soul.
4. The proper cure and remedy.
[1.] That there is such a sin appears by the testimony of scripture,
and by experience.
(1.) By the testimony of scripture, which is the best judge of the
heart : Mark x. 23, 24, ' And Jesus looked round about him, and said
to his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the
kingdom of God 1 ' Now because this seemed harsh unto the disciples,
who were leavened with the conceit of a pompous Messiah, therefore,
ver. 24, it is said, ' The disciples were astonished at his words. And
Jesus answered and said, How hard it is for them that trust in riches
to enter into the kingdom of God ! ' Christ allays the wonder, it is
not simply impossible for a rich person, a man that possesseth wealth,
to be saved , poor Lazarus sleeps in the bosom of rich Abraham ; there
may be godly rich as well as godly poor ; but it is impossible for them
that ' trust in riches/ Our Lord shows how irreconcilable it is with
the hope of salvation, as impossible as for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle. That place showeth that there is such a sin, a sin
that we may easily commit when we have anything in the world. And
because men think light of spiritual sins, that do not end in a gross and
foul act, he showeth how irreconcilable it is with all hopes of salvation
when it reigneth. So Job, when he doth protest his own innocency :
Job xxxi. 24, ' If I have made my gold my hope, or said to the fine
gold, Thou art my confidence. If I have rejoiced because my wealth
is great, and because my hand hath gotten much/ Job, to vindi
cate himself from- hypocrisy, reckoneth up the usual sins of hypo
crites, and among the rest this is one, To make gold our hope, and
fine gold our confidence. He had before named extortion and
oppression, and now carnal confidence. It is not enough that our
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 233
wealth be not gotten by fraud, cozenage, and extortion ; but we must
not trust in it, nor make it our confidence, Luke xii. 15-21. The rich
man is not charged, that he had gotten his goods wickedly, but that he
had trusted in them ' Soul, eat, drink, and be merry, thou hast goods
laid up for many years.' Men think them to be the staff of their lives,
and the stay of their posterity ; therefore it is said, ' The rich man's
wealth is his tower,' as elsewhere it is said, * The name of the Lord is
fi strong tower ; the righteous run to it and are safe.' A godly man
thinks himself never safe till he be gotten within the verge of the cov
enant, till he be within the munition of the rocks that God hath pro
vided for the safety of his soul. But the rich man, till he be walled
and entrenched within his wealth, he never thinks he is safe and secured
against all the changes and chances of this present life ; and so God is
laid aside, ' not the name of the Lord,' but his wealth is his * strong
tower.' Therefore is covetousness called idolatry, and a covetous
person an idolater, Eph. v. 5. It is not so much because of his love to
money, as because of his trust in money. The glutton loveth his
gullet, and the gratifications of his appetite ; he makes his ' belly his
god,' but he doth not trust in his belly-cheer, thinks not to be protected
by it, as the covetous person doth by his estate, and so becometh an
idolater, making the ' creature his god.' The covetous man is an
idolater, because he robs God of the chiefest respect the creature can
show to him, which is confidence and trust ; he thinks he is the better
and safer, because of the abundance of his goods.
(2.) By experience, I shall prove first it is incident to all men, and
that they are ensnared who are least sensible of it.
1st. It is incident to all men. Every man is naturally an idolater,
and he makes the creature his god ; few or none are free from this
idolatry ; we all stick to the creature too much. The rich, the poor,
all sorts of men, may be comprised under this censure. The poor can
not be exempted, for those that have not wealth idolise it too much in
fancy and conceit, they imagine what a happy thing it is to be in such
a case oh, had they wealth, this vyere enough to make them happy !
and because they have not, therefore they trust in those that have it,
which is idolatry upon idolatry ; therefore it is said, Ps. Ixii. 9, 'Surely
men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie ; ' there
fore a lie, because they disappoint those that trust in them, to the wrong
of God. To appearance, men of low degree can do little or nothing,
but men of high degree are a lie. It supposeth a promise, and a breach
of promise. Men of high degree tempt us to trust in them, and then
they will surely prove a lie. The miscarriages of the poor are by a
servile dependence on such as have not power to hurt or help them, if
God will not ; they are apt to say, I shall lose such a friend, hazard
his frowns and displeasure, all their hopes are built upon his favour, so
they come to displease God. But chiefly this sin is incident to the
rich: Ps. Ixii. 10, 'If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.'
Usually, as our estate grows, so doth our confidence, the distemper is
bred up in us by degrees. Great men, their minds are secretly and
unawares enchanted with their estates, and delight in the fruition of
them, and from thenceforward we begin to date our happiness, and so
grow secure, and neglectful of God and holy things. Many that are in
234 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
want despise wealth, and live in actual dependence upon the providence
of God ; but as soon as they begin to have somewhat of the creature,
their hearts begin to value their estates, as if they could live alone, and
without God, and then they are altogether intent about increasing their
store, or keeping and retaining that which they have gotten. As
Antigoims's soldier, who had a grievous disease upon him, yet fought
valorously, but when cured, became as timorous as others, because
then he began to prize his body ; so when we are poor our hearts may
be taken from the creature, but when riches increase, we begin to think
that our 'mountain stands strong ; ' and that now we are secure against
all the strokes and changes of providence.
2d It is a secret sin that is found in those that are least sensible of it.
We are blinded with foolish and gross conceits, and are apt to think that
a man doth not make money his idol if he doth not pray and offer sacri
fice to it, and adore his gold with outward ceremonies, as the heathens
did their idols of gold and silver ; whereas the sin is to be determined,
non exhibitione ceremoniarum, sed oblatione concupiscentiarum, saith
Gregory not by formal rites of worship, but by the working of the
heart towards it. Many carnal Christians are idolaters in affection ;
though not by external rites of worship, yet in the inward workings of
their heart. We smile at the vanity of the heathens that worshipped
stocks and stones, and onions and garlic, and yet we do worse, though
more spiritually ; we worship the creature, and set it up instead of God.
Though we do not actually say to gold, ' Thou art my confidence,' or
use such gross language to riches as, You shall deliver me, or, I will
put my trust in you ; yet our hearts do secretly say so when we make
it our main care to get or gain wealth. Therefore it is not enough that
you break not out into such actual thoughts. Kemember, there are
implicit as well as explicit thoughts ; this is the interpretation of our
actions when we do not make God our portion, but trust in the abun
dance of our wealth ; our hearts say so, Thou art our confidence, and
we do not perceive it. Many declaim against the vanity of outward things,
and yet their hearts secretly trust in them. There is a difference
between speaking as an orator and acting as a Christian. Many may
make it their common theme and common place ; they grant the crea
ture is vain, and wealth but an unstable possession, because they are in
judgment convinced of the vanity of them. Men will say, We know
well enough money is but refined earth, and we esteem as basely of it
as others do ; but their hearts work towards it, and they are loath to
part with it. Their ' inward thought is that their houses shall endure
for ever/ Ps. xlix. 12. This is not the fruit of habituated meditation,
or mature deliberation, still money hath thy heart and trust, and thou
thinkest thou canst not be happy without it. He that gives God good
words is not said to trust in him ; so he that gives the world bad words,
that can speak contemptuously of the creature, yet he may trust in the
creature all the while.
[2.] I will endeavour to show you the evil of the sin, and how great
it is.
(1.) Job saith, chap. xxxi. 24. it is a denying of God, to make gold
his confidence. You take away God's honour, and wholly lay him aside.
Do not flatter yourselves, a man cannot trust in God and riches too :
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 235
Jonah ii. 8, ' And they that observe lying vanities forsake their own
mercy.' You renounce God by trusting in wealth. The same altar
will never serve God and Dagon ; the Philistines could riot bring it to
pass, do what they could ; nor will the same heart serve for God and
the world. Now consider what dishonour this is to leave God for the
creature ; it is as if a woman should leave her husband, and dote upon
her slave, or as if a fool should throw away his treasure, and fill his
chest with coals ; or take away his precious garments, and fill his ward
robe with dung.
(2.) And then it is idolatry, the setting up of another God. "We
first commit adultery, by diverting our love and esteem from the true
God, and then we commit idolatry, by fixing our hope and expectation
in the creature. Trust is only due to God. Now by trusting in worldly
pelf you dethrone God, and put money in his place ; therefore it is said,
Col. iii. 5, * coveteousness which is idolatry ; ' and there is a parallel ex
pression : Eph. v. 5, ' Nor covetous man, who is an idolater.' Mammon is
the idol, and the worldling the priest. The inward worship is esteem and
trust, and the outward care and endeavour is to wallow in wealth. All
their care is about their present accomodations, whereas a man's main
care should be for heaven and grace, and for other things he should
refer himself to God's allowance.
(3.) This must needs be a very great sin, for it is the ground of all
miscarriage in practice. When men think they cannot be happy with
out money, they dare not obey God, for fear of offending mammon ;
they shall lose their wealth, which is their happiness : 1 John v. 3-5,
' For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his
commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God, over-
cometh the world : and this is the victory that overcometh the world,
even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that be-
lieveth that Jesus Christ is the son of God?' It is notable, when the Spirit
of God speaks of ' keeping the commandments,' he presently speaks of
'victory over the world.' What is the connexion and contexture
between these two sentences ? The world, that is the great hindrance
of keeping the commandment ; it hinders the soul from looking after
heavenly things. It is impossible a man should fix his heart on things
above, unless he be weaned from trust in the world. All our esteem
of riches comes from the trust in them. If men were truly persuaded
that all things were vain, they would make out after other satisfactions ;
but men think there is no want in their condition, therefore they
neglect heaven.
(4.) It is the ground of all disquiet and discontent of mind. If a
man would live a happy life, let him but seek a fit object for his trust,
and he would be safe ; we lose the equal poise of our spirits, because we
bind up our life and happiness with the life and presence of
the creature. David saith, Ps. xxx. 6, 7, ' I said in my pro
sperity, I shall never be moved, my mountain standeth strong.
Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled/ When once we
begin to think of a strong mountain, and set up our hopes and
heart here, it doth but make way for a great deal of trouble. A man
shall never want trouble that misplaceth his trust ; he will always be
up and down as the creature is. Whereas a Christian whose heart is
fixed in God is like the nave and centre of a wheel, it is still in its own
236 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
place and posture, though the wheel move up and down ; such Christians
keep their spirits in an equal balance in all providences. A child of
of God whose heart is fixed on God, though there be a great change
made in his condition, he is where he was still ; but a wicked man, his
hope and comfort ebbs and flows with his estate ; when his estate is
gone, his confidence is gone. It is a sad thing to have our hopes fixed
upon that which is subject to so many casualties, the waves, the wind,
the fire, the wrath of man, the undermining of thieves, the unfaithful
ness of a debtor. Certainly we shall never have peace till our confidence
be rightly placed. Ps. cxii. 7, it is said of a godly man, ' He shall not be
afraid of evil tidings.' Why ? Because ' his heart is fixed, trusting in
the Lord. 5 Though there come messenger upon messenger, as to Job,
one bringing him news of a bad debt, another of a loss at
sea, another of an accident by fire, a tempest, an earthquake,
or it may be of the violence of thieves, or robbers, he is not
' afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed,' trusting in God. As
Job, he was equally poised and equally balanced in spirit, his
joy doth not ebb and flow with the news that is brought to him.
But now see the contrary in wicked men : Jer. xlix. 23, they have
heard evil tidings, therefore their heart fainteth. The enemy was
broken into the country, all their estate that lay upon the borders was
lost, for of that the prophet speaks ; this causeth faintness and trem
bling at the heart. It is a sad thing to put your joy and your content
ment under the creature's power. Now till your trust be rightly
placed, so it will be.
[3.] The third thing is, to give you the signs by which this confidence
may be discovered. I will give you but three plain evidences : by your
care to get wealth ; by your thoughtfulness in the possession of it ; and
by your grief for the losing of it.
(1.) By your carking care in getting an estate ; when men cumber
themselves with much business, and have confidence in the means, with
neglect of God, it is a sign we think we cannot live without an estate.
A man that is always getting crutches showeth that he cannot go alone.
There is a lawful labour. Wealth may be sought for the necessaries of
life, and for the exercise of good works ; but when men make it their
main aim to get an estate, it is a sign they place their happiness in it ;
they make it their chiefest good, and utmost end. Now because it is
hard to distinguish honest labour from worldly care, you must examine
it by the disproportion of your endeavours in spiritual and heavenly
things. Our Saviour concludeth his parable against trusting in riches :
Luke xii. 21, ' So is he that heapeth up treasures to himself, and is not
rich towards God.' Men make most provision for the world, and a
little slender care serves for heaven. They have no care to provide
suitably for their souls ; all their endeavours are to leave their posterity
an estate, but they are not so careful to see grace in their hearts. That
which they desire is to see them well matched, well provided for, but
are not troubled about their carnal or unregenerate estate. They can be
contented with slight assurance in the matter of heaven, but all things
seem too little to settle their estate upon earth. A little degree of sancti-
fication serves the turn, but in the world they would still have more and
more, join house to house, and field to field, not faith to faith, and virtue
to virtue. They have a lean soul, and a fat estate ; they suffer the
BOOK L] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 237
lean kine to devour the fat when they suffer worldly cares to eat up
all their vigour and strength, which they should reserve for communion
with God. Bernard saith, Felix domus ubi Martha queritur de Maria
Oh that is a blessed family where Martha can complain of Mary 1
Luke x. 40. She complains Mary was too much in spiritual things.
But alas ! it is usually quite contrary : Mary may complain of Martha
all our care and endeavours are spent in the world, and we content
ourselves with some drowsy devotion towards God. When there is
such a disproportion, this is a sign men had rather enjoy wealth than
God. Heavenly things should have the first place, and our principal
strength : Mat. vi. 37, ' Seek first the kingdom oi God ; ' but you are
all for the fatness of an outward portion, neglect heavenly things, and
are for that which would perpetuate your names on earth.
(2.) When in possessing wealth you look upon it as the surety and
pledge of your happiness and felicity, you then place the chief stay and
trust of your souls in the things of this life. When a man hath gotten
an estate, then he grows proud, and drunk with temporal happiness,
as if he were above fate, and all the changes to which the creatures are
obnoxious : this is a sign men dote upon their wealth, and make a god
of it. Vain admiration always ends in vain expectation. We think
we are above the control of providence, we have enough for us and ours :
Luke xii. 19, ' Soul, take thy ease, thou hast goods laid up for many
years.' When God gives us an estate, we think we have enough to
make ourselves and children happy. Oh, it is good to keep the heart
sensible of the changes of providence every moment ; and when we
glitter most in the splendour of an outward estate, let us remember man
at his best estate is but vanity. Many times we cannot roast that
which we have got in hunting ; God may blast all in an instant. But
especially if this security put you upon injurious practices, when a man
dares venture upon a sin in a confidence that his greatness and wealth
shall bear him out. When men wax insolent to God, and proud and
injurious to men, and all upon confidence of their present greatness,
as if they were sufficiently secured and fenced against all changes
whatsoever when they grow fat and wanton against God and men, as
Deut. xxxii. 15, this is that the Spirit of God speaks against, Ps. Ixii.
10, ' Trust not in oppression, be not vain in robbery ; ' when men care
not what wrong they do to their inferiors because they are sure and
safe, as if God could not bring them down, surely and certainly, and
suddenly and wonderfully, by strange and unexpected means.
(3.) When we are loath to let them go upon just and convenient
reasons. As suppose, if they be taken away by providence, men's hearts
are so depressed as if all their happiness were gone. Job was other
wise ; he had messenger upon messenger of evil tidings, yet blessed
God. It was Gregory's observation, Sine dolore amisit, quia sinel
amore possidet ; Job lost his estate without grief, because he possessed
it without love and trust. His heart was not fixed upon his estate,
therefore he parts witk it most easily. Carnal men are troubled when
their riches take wing, because they are their god. Their hearts are
depressed beneath the heart of man, because their happiness is gone ;
as Micah said, ' Ye ask me what aileth me, when ye have taken away
my gods/ Or else they are loath to let them go voluntarily, upon any
good occasion. A carnal man, he holds his life by them, he cannot be
238 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
happy without them ; therefore he dares not dispose of them for holy
uses, or for his own relief.
[4.] To give you the remedies and cures of this distemper.
(1.) God only can do it thoroughly, and to purpose. We read,
Mark x. 23, that ' Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples,
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of
God !' and ver. 24, The disciples were astonished at his words.' But
Jesus ariswereth again, and saith unto them, ' Children, how hard is
it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God. It
is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich
man to enter into the kingdom of God.' Then it is said, ver. 26, ' And
they were astonished out of measure, and said, Who then can be saved ?
| And Jesus said, With God all things are possible.' It is impossible to
enter and trust ; it is as impossible almost to have it and not to trust
in it. This blessing then is to be sought of God with greater care
and diligence ; you should put up more frequent prayers for this grace
than you do for wealth and life. To have a competent measure, and
not to trust in it, it is a greater blessing than the greatest abundance
in the world. Therefore let this be one of your constant prayers,
I ' Lord, let not my heart be set upon these things/
(2.) Man must use endeavours, for we confute our prayers by
idleness ; for when a man doth not use the means, he shows his designs
are not hearty. Now the means to attain this are these following
I 1st. Frequent practices of charity * we should be as careful to em
ploy wealth to charitable uses, as worldlings are to gather wealth :
Luke xii. 33, ' Sell that you have, and give alms. Provide for your
selves bags that wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not,
where no thief approacheth, and moth corrupteth not/ There is no
remedy nor cure, but only in laying them out, and then they will be
ours for ever. This is a real profession, you look upon all these things
as vanity, and only useful as you have a further opportunity of service
of doing good. There is no means to prevent the danger of trust and
confidence, but a constant exercise of good works ; these are the true
riches. The way of destroying idols was by crumbling them to pieces.
It is better to be a steward than a treasurer ; to have them in our
hands, that we may give them to others, than to have them in our
hearts, that we may adore them ourselves ; therefore while thou pos-
j sessest them, it is not thou that art rich, but thy chest ; but when thou
distributes! them, and art rich in good works, these are the riches that
can never be lost.
2d. Make but suppositions, and see how thou canst bear the loss of
all things when but represented in conceit and imagination If God
should blast my estate, if such a friend should prove unfaithful, such a
debtor defraud me. The church, Hab. iii. 17, 18, doth make a sup-
j position ' Though the fig-tree should not blossom, neither shall fruit
be in the vine, and the labour of the olive should fail, and the fields
shall yield no meat, the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there
shall be no herd in the stalls, yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy
in the God of my salvation/ Suppose that God should send a dear
year, and there should be scarcity in all things, what then ? Can I
comfort myself in these things ? The fool in the Gospel durst not sup-
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 239
pose what might fall out that night ; it would discompose all his mirth
to have thought of a sudden stroke that night, Luke xii. 19, 20. He
dreams of many years. This would keep your souls in an equal poise,
either to keep or forego an estate. Men do not acquaint their souls
with suppositions of loss and danger, and so grow secure.
3d Meditate upon the vanity of the creature. Talk hardeneth andj
deludeth men, but meditation leaveth deep effects. There is a moral!
efficacy in constant and serious thoughts ; the world puts fair titles on
them, and calls them goods, treasure, and substance ; but God calls it
shadows, lies, running after shadows. How different are the notions
of the word from those of the world ; the word looks upon it as a vain
shadow : Ps. xxxix. 6, ' Surely every man walketh in a vain show,
surely they are disquieted in vain ;' the word shows they are not only
vanity, but lies :' Ps. Ixii. 9, ' Surely men of low degree are vanity, and
men of high degree are a lie.' The creatures lie by our own thought,
they abuse us by our trust, and they will surely prove a lie. A man
should not rest in any creature, unless he hath a mind to be deceived ;
now no man would be deceived. Nay, the scripture speaks of them as
if they were nothing : Prov. xxiii. 5, ' Wilt thou cast thine eyes upon
that which is not ? ' In comparison of better things, they are rather
said not to be than to be. And consider, riches take to themselves
wings ; the thief, the sea, the displeasure of the magistrate, the violence
of the soldier, and our own unadvised words many times are wings to
riches, that make them fly away from us ; but the more ' enduring sub
stance' is in heaven, Heb. x. 34.
4th. Improve experiences to this end and purpose ; it is a lesson God
hath taught us now in these times. Men were never more greedy of
the world, and God never more showed us the vanity thereof ; the
greatest men have proved a lie to their dependents ; how many have
experience of these things ! They, and their fathers and grandfathers,
have laid out all their wit, labour, and toil to get a great estate, and
are deprived of it all in a moment, and now it is bestowed upon others.
Thou hast known many great ones who are now no more thought of ;
either they are dead and gone, and others enjoy their places ; or if a-
live, their flower is gone, they live like a neglected stalk. How often
hath God stained all worldly glory, and the world will do so still ; it
will forget thee, as it hath forgotten many others. How many in
these times have had heirs that they never thought of, those that have
been strangers to their blood and family ! Job xxvii. 17, ' Though he
heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay ; he may
prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide
the silver.' They may provide and heap up a great estate, and think
now they and their families are ennobled for ever ; but riches take wing,
and God bestows them upon others that we never dreamed of.
5th. Lay up several gracious maxims and principles in the soul.
1. None ever trusted in the world, but they had cause to complain.
Mammon's drudges have hard work, and worse hire and wages ; as
Jacob after he served seven years, and when he expected beautiful
Rachel, he receives Leah. Riches will surely disappoint the trust you
put in them ; they promise contentment, but that promise is but a lie ;
they do but distract the head and heart with cares. They promise
peace, plenty, and security, which they can neves bring to you. They
240 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
are called ' deceitful riches/ A man should not trust in any creature,
unless he had a mind to be deceived. At death especially we shall see
how the world hath beguiled us : Job xxvii. 8, ' What is the hope of
the hypocrite, when God shall take away his soul ? ' a sorry gain and
purchase. When our service is ended, we see what kind of wages
mammon giveth us in the day of wrath : Zeph. i. 18, ' Neither their
silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the
Lord's wrath.' Justice will not be bribed with money, we cannot buy
a pardon. Consider, if a man had taken a long voyage to the Indies,
and had brought many commodities with him, and not one fit for the
traffic of that place; just so it is here, we are bound for a city where
gold and silver will make no traffic, thou canst not buy one hour for
repentence. Consider how justly the saints and blessed angels may
laugh at thee when thy foolish trust is disappointed Lo, this is the
man that trusted in his riches, and would not make the Lord his por
tion. (2.) The more wealth, the more danger. In a net, when great
fishes are taken, the lesser escape ; so it is in public calamities, they
that are the poorest, many times have- the best portion. A tree that
hath largeness and thickness, being loaden with boughs, provoketh
others to lop it, or else it falleth by its own weight. Nebuchadnezzar,
when he had forced Jerusalem, he carries away the princes and noble
captains, but the poor were left in the land. Therefore never believe
the world, it promiseth life, continuance, advancement of families, but
no man can assure himself to hold his wealth one night ; remember,
you have to do with a cheater. (3.) Thy estate, it is not thy life.
Thy life and happiness is not bound up with thy estate ; Luke xii. 15,
it lies not in abundance, but in the providence of God. (4.) Remember,
God is the author of all the wealth we enjoy. This will draw off the
heart from the creature, that it may with more entire trust fix and
fasten upon God himself. In want and distresses we see the creature
is vain, but few will own this in abundance : Prov. x. 22, ' It is the
blessing of the Lord that maketh rich.' By what means soever thou
hast thy estate ; if it comes to thee by inheritance, yet it is God that
gave it to thee ; it is of God's grace, that a man was born of such rich
friends, not of beggars. If thy estate comes by gift, remember, the
hearts of men are in God's hands, and it is he that can make them
able and willing. If thy estate comes by industry and skill, and dili
gence in thy calling, bless God that gives thee thy skill and success ;
many have not the skill, and many have not the success that have as
great skill as thyself.
I now come to speak to that branch of denying, self-will. As God
is the supreme lord and law-giver, so we are to deny our self-will.
Now our submission to God is double, to his laws, and to his provid
ence ; we submit to his laws by holiness or obedience ; we submit to
his providence by patience.
First, We submit to his laws by obedience. Our will is to give
place to the will of God : Col. iv. 12, ' That you may be perfect and
complete in all the will of God.' This was the prayer of Epaphras,
and this should be the aim of every Christian, to bring his will to a
perfect conformity to the will of God.
1. I shall show the difficulty of this part of self-deniaL
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 241
2. Give some motives to enforce it.
3. Give some rules, which may serve both for direction and trial.
First, For the difficulty of this part of self-denial ; that will appear
if we do but consider
1. That man's will is the proudest enemy that Christ hath on this
side hell, it resisteth Christ in all his offices. In his kingly office and
reign : Luke xix. 14, * We will not have this man to reign over us.'
God hath set up Christ as king, and the world votes it in the nega
tive ' We will not have this man/ The great contest between us and
God is, whose will shall stand, God's or ours. The soul cannot endure
to hear of another king and another sovereign, because it affects a
supremacy, and it cannot endure that any should lord it over us : Ps.
xii. 4, ' Our tongues are our own ; who is lord over us ? ' Man would
have the command of his own actions. A proud creature cannot en
dure to hear of fetters and restraints. The rebellion of the world
against Christ was 'to cast away his bands and cords/ Ps. ii. ; so Jer.
ii. 31, ' We are lords, we will not come at thee/ They would be
absolute, and without God. This is so rooted in our nature that Satan,
when he sets heretics at work, he puts them upon holding out this bait
of worldly liberty and freedom from the reign and sovereignty of God :
2 Peter ii. 18, ' They promise liberty, but are themselves servants of
corruption/ The great rage and tumult of the world is to break the
bands and cords, and to loosen us from our obedience to God. The
proud will of man cannot endure to hear of an higher lord ; this
hindereth his reign in the heart, and slighteth the offers of his grace :
John v. 40, ' You will not come to me, that you might have life/
Christ comes with riches of grace, and desires entertainment, and we
neglect him, and are taken with the basest creatures. If a king should
come to a subject's house and desire entertainment, and he should ne
glect him, and talk with base fellows, this were a mighty affront put
upon him. Yet this is our disposition towards Christ; he comes to
dispense comforts and graces, and we will not entertain him, but are
taken up with the creature. All that Christ hath done is, to us, lost
for want of our consent. All things are ready prepared, decreed in
heaven, only the guests are not ready, they will not come, will not con
sent, and ratify the decrees of heaven. In short, this is the cause of
all sin, and of all the disorder of the creature : James i. 14, ' Every
man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed/
Man taketh himself to be lord over his own actions, and enacts con
trary laws to God, in the court of his own heart, and is so wedded to
his own affections, that he accounts his lusts himself, and can as well
endure to have his sin reproved as a member of his body to be cut off.
2. The difficulty of it will appear again if we consider, the will is
far more corrupted than any other faculty of the soul. The under
standing is much blinded, but the will is more depraved and averse
from God. The mind of a carnal man hath a little light, which is apt
to suggest some good motion. As Job's messenger said, ' I alone am
escaped to tell thee ; ' so may conscience say, I alone am escaped out
of the ruins of the fall to suggest some good motion to thee. But now
the will doth more abhor and refuse good than the understanding is
ignorant of it ; there is some light in the understanding, but there is
VOL. xv. Q
242 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
nothing but sin in the will. Many a man is often convinced, his un
derstanding is gained before he is converted ; they see better things,
see what is good, before they choose them. The last fort Christ gains
in the heart is the will of man.
3. Consider, the will is not subdued by all the methods and external
arts of grace which God useth to gain the soul. The Lord makes a
challenge in Isa. v, 3, 4, * Judge between me and my people, what
could be done more for my vineyard than I have done ? ' What could
God do more than to provide a Christ, a gospel, a gracious covenant ?
and yet all this doth not gain with man. There we have the highest
motives to allure us, the strongest arguments to persuade us, the
greatest terrors to affright us, yet the soul will not yield. Oh, what
sweet motives have we to come in to God : the offer of Christ ; the
promise of heaven and glory ! God outbids all the world. What will
you have more ? You have my Son to die for you, my grace to help
you, heaven to reward you. God hath contrived a sweet plot of grace,
but the will of man slights all. The devil, he cannot bid so fair for
your heart, yet men give up their souls to him. He cannot promise
you everlasting glory. Can Satan give you such recompenses as God ?
The world cannot assure you of everlasting happiness. You may die,
or these things may fly away from you. The devil was never buffeted
for you ; he endured no agonies, shed no blood for you ; he seeks to
undo you all he can, therefore ' Come to me,' says Christ. But the
sum of all is in Mat. xxiii. 37, ' I would, but you would not.' When
God comes with external offers, with fit accommodation of means, with
all necessary circumstances and methods of grace, yet the sinner turns
back. Christ renews messengers, yet the proud will of man saith, ' I
will not : ' Ps. Iviii. 5, ' They will not hearken to the voice of the
charmer, charm he never so wisely/ All the charms of grace will not
prevail, they stop their ears ; Christ's blood may stand as cheap as
common blood for all this, if God did not come in with an act of
power. Nay, further, if he should threaten and inflict judgment, yet
all will not work to soften the heart and subdue the will of man, with
out an almighty efficacy and influence. The greatest terrors are of no
force. Judgment may break the back, but not the heart. Pharaoh
was crossed again and again, God multiplies plague upon plague, yet
his will stood out ' I will not let the people go/ When God knocks
upon us by the hammer of judgment, yet it will not break the flint and
the rock and adamant that is in our will. The bad thief had one foot
in hell, yet he blasphemes still. Not only the standers-by, but one of
the thieves derideth Christ on the cross.
4. When the will is in part renewed and cured, yet still it is apt to
recoil and return back again to its old bondage. How often do the
children of God complain of weariness, deadness, and straits, continual
reluctation of the flesh : Gal. v, 17, ' The flesh lusteth against the spirit,
so that you cannot do what you would/ A child of God cannot do what
he would ; when his will begins to be set towards heaven, it is very
much broken and distracted : Eom. vii. 18, 'To will is present with
me ; but how to perform that which is good, I find not/ When we
are gone out of Sodom, we are apt to look back again. And this will
be our condition till we come to heaven : the flesh will rise up in arms
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 243
against every holy motion, and our fetters hang upon us, till we come
into Christ's arms. We are not only at first conversion like a bullock
unaccustomed to the yoke ; but afterward still we find there is an unruly
will, not fixed with obedience to the will of God.
Secondly, To give you motives and arguments to enforce this kind of
self-denial.
1. The soul is never renewed till the will be tamed and subdued to
God. The soul can never be said to be regenerated till the will be
renewed. The new creature begins in the mind, but is never perfected
till it come to the heart, till we ' put off the old man with his lusts/
Eph. iv. 22, 23. Till our natural inclinations be altered till grace be
placed in the centre of the heart, corruptions will recoil. When the
bird's wings are broken, then it can fly no longer ; so when once the
will is broken, then the sinner is subdued, and taken captive by grace.
The mind is only the counsellor, the will is the monarch ; till this be
done, you cannot look upon yourselves as new creatures.
2. Because no creature can be sui juris at his own dispose, and to
live according to its own pleasure. If any might plead exemption, then
certainly Christ, as man, might, because of the glorious fellowship that
was between the human and divine nature. But see, when Christ took
human nature, he was bound to submit his human will to the Godhead ;
when he took our nature, he took our obligation upon himself, and
therefore he saith, Heb. x. 9, ' Lo, 1 come to do thy will, God/
When Christ came into the world, this was his work, to do his Father's
will. He brought himself into the condition of a creature, and then,
.having taken our nature, he was to take our obligation upon himself,
which Christ performed. Christ and his Father had but one will
between them both : John v. 30, ' I seek not my own will, but the will
of my Father that sent me ; ' there was a perfect resignation. Christ
did so obey as if he had no private human will of his own, but only the
will of his Father. Christ did not look to his own ends, to the safety
and conveniency of his human nature, but to what was his Father's
will. And wilt thou stand upon terms with God ? And dost thou
think thou art too great to submit and stoop to God ? Nay, consider
the holy angels, that have many privileges above man, yet they have
no exemption from duty and homage; they have many privileges,
freedom from troubles, sicknesses, diseases, and from all the infirmities
and clogs of the flesh, but they are not freed from obedience ' They
obey his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word/ Ps. ciii.
23. The Psalmist speaks of the angels there, they still owe homage to
their creator. Those courtiers of heaven are servants of God, and
followers with us in the same obedience. Now Christ in his prayer,
Mat. vi., hath referred us to the example of his angels ' Thy will be
done on earth, as it is in heaven/ You upon earth are not held to a
harder law than they are in heaven ; they obey his will, and so must
you. Certainly, no men are too good nor too great to obey God. If the
example of the angels be too high, then look to all the creatures, they
obey God, and somtimes contrary to their natural tendency and motion,
as the sun stood still ; and it is said in the Gospel, Mat. viii. that ' the
winds and seas obeyed him/ Man only is eccentric and exorbitant in
his motions ; they glorify God in their way. The sun shall rise up in
244 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
judgment against many a carnal wretch. God hath set to them a
decree, beyond which they shall not pass ; and they obey the laws of
their creation, but we are disobedient, and break through all restraints.
3. Consider the right God hath to us, as we are his creatures, and as
we are new creatures ; as we are bare creatures, we hold our being and
all that we have continually from God. Now you know, the more a
man holds of a lord, the more homage he is bound to perform. Thou
boldest thy life and all thy comforts by his allowance ; the more thou
hast, the more is due, though usually it be quite contrary : the more
we have from God, the more we slight him. Qui majores terras pos-
sident, minores census solvunt Many times, they that hold the greatest
lands pay the least rent ; so the more we hold from God, the less care
ful we are to give in returns of obedience to him : Jer. v. 5, ' I went to
the great men, but they have altogether broken the yoke.' Those that
have more means of instruction, that have higher breeding, have greater
obligations upon them ; but these usually are the worst. A horse that
is kept low is easily ruled by his rider ; but when he grows lusty and
fat, he lifts up the heel against him, and will not suffer the bit ; so when
men grow great and prosperous, when God hath fenced them with pros
perity, then they wax wanton and disobedient. And as we are new
creatures : 1 Peter iv. 2, ' That he no longer should live the rest of
his time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.' The
great aim of grace is to cure the disorders of the will, and to bring us
into a stricter bond of service to the Lord ; therefore usually at con
version this is made explicit by our own solemn vow. A good heart
is contracted to Christ, as an evil heart is to the world: Cant. ii. 16,
' My beloved is mine.' All that is thine is God's ; you have no will of
your own, you have given up yourselves to another ; take heed of re
tracting the vows of your solemn covenant and fealty that you have
sworn to God.
4. There is a great deal of reason our wills should be given up to
the will of God, because we are not able to manage them ourselves.
By the laws and customs of all nations fools and madmen are to be
ruled by their kindred, not to be left to their own wills, but to the will
of another ; now naturally we are mad fools, as Titus iii. 3, ' Foolish
and disobedient,' and have not the guidance of our own will ; therefore
it is not fit that it should be left in our power, but given up to God.
If we be our own pilots, we shall soon shipwreck ourselves. When God
requires the resignation of our will, it is but the taking a sword out of
a madman's hands. A man's own will, it is the cause of all the mis
chief that comes to him, and, at last, of his ruin. Tolle voluntatem,
tolle infcrnum, saith Bernard There would be no hell were it not for
the perverseness of a man's will. It is Chrysostom's position, Nemo
Iceditur, nisi a seipso Man could never be hurt were it not for him
self and his own will ; others may trouble us, but cannot hurt us ; the
devil may tempt us, but not hurt us till we consent ; theworld may
frown upon us, but it cannot harm us ; so the apostle intimates, 1 Peter
iii. 13, ' Who can harm you if you be followers of that which is good ? '
It is presently added in the next verse, 'But and if ye suffer for
righteousness' sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terror,
neither be troubled.' Men may trouble and molest you, but cannot
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 245
harm you without your own consent. Now since none can harm us
but our own will, and since we are unfit guides, it is fit we should have
a guardian, and who is wiser than God ? The merchant, though he
hath stored the ship with goods, yet because he hath no skill in the
art of navigation, therefore suffers the pilot to steer it ; so though the
will be ours, let us give it to God, to manage it according to his good
pleasure.
5. It is a very great condescension and blessing that God will take
the charge of our will. The strictest rules of religion are to be reck
oned among our privileges. It is the greatest judgment that God can
lay upon any creature to give him up to his own will, and to the sway
of his own heart ; the Lord threatens it when other means are in
effectual : Ps. Ixxxi. 12, he saith, ' So I gave them up to their own
counsel, and to their own heart's lust ; ' that is a dreadful punishment.
So Kom. i. 24, it is said, ' The Lord gave them up to uncleanness ; '
and ver. 26, ' Their own vile affections/ It is worse to be given up to
a man's own heart than to be given up to Satan ; for a man that is so
given up may be recovered again : 1 Cor. v. 5, ' Deliver such a one to
Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in
the day of the Lord ; ' this may be for his exercise and trial ; but when
once a man is given up to himself, to the sway of his own heart, there
cannot be a greater judgment. When the sentence of obduration is
passed upon us, it is as much as to say, Give him up to hell and utter
judgment, as an irrecoverable sinner.
6. It will be great pleasure to us in the issue when once we can get
the victory over our own will. There is none have more joy and greater
happiness than the angels and spirits of just men made perfect, and yet
none have less of their own wills. The angels and blessed spirits per
fectly accomplish the will of God, therefore are completely happy. Why
should we account that a sad work which is a part of our happiness in
heaven ? The saints and angels complain not of any burden ; yet they
have no velle and nolle of their own, they will and nill as God doth.
We think it is a happy thing to have our carnal desires accomplished,
and wonder how any can be contented without them ; they fancy such
great felicity in their way ; therefore the world wondereth at the
children of God : 1 Peter i. 4, * They think it strange that you do not
run with them into the same excess of riot/ It is pleasant to a woman
with child -to have what she longs for, but it is much more pleasant to
be without the trouble of such longings ; so the world thinks it pleasant
to have their carnal desires satisfied, but it is a great deal more pleasant
to have those desires mortified. Drink is very pleasant to a man in a
fever ; but who would put himself into a fever to taste the pleasure of
drink ? Certainly, if a man would be completely happy, he must re
nounce his own carnal desires. If you would but trust Christ upon
his word, you would find it is not so burdensome and grievous as you
imagine ; you would find ' his yoke to be an easy yoke/ Mat. xi. 28,
not only as you have help from God, but the very delight and content
ment we enjoy would make it easy. Certainly it will be far better to
give up our wills to God, than to the devil. How hard is his yoke,
and how small are his wages ? A little pleasure here, and eternal pains
hereafter.
246 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
Thirdly, In the next place, I shall give you some rules which will
serve both for direction and trial ; it is very needful, for men are apt
to flatter themselves with a pretence of obedience ; they cry, Lord, Lord !
but do not do his commandments. Many will give good words, and
because they do not break out into such an actual contest with God,
as those rebellious and obstinate wretches, Jer. xviii. 12, ' And they
said, There is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices, and we
will every one do the imagination of his evil heart ; ' or as those, Jer.
xliv. 16, 17, 'As for the word thou hast spoken unto us in the name
of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee, but will certainly do what
soever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth,' &c., if they do not
break out into such an obstinate and gross contest with God, they think
they are safe ; but you know, Mat. xxi. 28, Christ spake a parable for
the discovering of such a hypocritical profession of the two sons ; the
one said, ' I go sir, and went not ; ' the other, ' I will not ; but after
ward he repented and went.' Our Saviour puts the question, ' Whether
of the twain did the will of his father ? ' He that said, I will, but did
not, was the worst, because the understanding is somewhat better than
the will ; therefore men will give God good words. This rebellion is
disguised with a promise and pretence of obedience ; therefore I shall
give some rules which you must observe in denying your own will, and
by which you may try your estate.
1. If you will obey God there must be some solemn time when you
make this resignation to him. Naturally we are averse, arid therefore
whosoever is brought in to God, he comes humbly, and like a pardoned
rebel, and lays down the weapons of defiance. God, as creator, hath
a right to your wills, to your obedience ; but he will have his right
confirmed by your grant and consent : Rom. xii. 1, ' I beseech you, by
the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.' There can be
no more acceptable sacrifice to God than the entire resignation of our
wills to him. So Acts ix. 6, Paul comes and lays down the buckler,
and gives God the key of his own heart ' Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do ? ' Grace had so melted him that he that had done nothing
before but breathe out threatening, now comes humbly, crying out,
' Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? ' This is that our Saviour
intends in that expression, Mat. xi. 28, ' Take my yoke upon you.'
Jesus Christ will force it upon none, he requires the consent of your
own will. In matrimonial contract consent is not to be forced ; so
Christ doth not force his spouse against her own consent, but she is to
make an actual resignation of her own self to God. You must desire
God to come and take possession of your hearts.
2. When you give up yourselves to God, it must be without bounds
and reservations : Col. iv, 12, ' I pray that you may be perfect and
complete in the whole will of God ; ' you must not pick and choose,
but take all the will of God as your rule to walk by. So Acts xiii. 22,
' My servant David, he shall fulfil all my will/ Whatever God will
signify to be his pleasure, that will David fulfil. We should so per-*
fectly obey as if we had no will of our own, not reserving a propriety*
in the least motion or faculty of ours. The least sin, when it is'
allowed, is a pledge of the devil's interest and right to us. If a man?
BOOK L] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 247
hath bid a thousand pounds for an excellent jewel, will he stand for a
penny more ? And as we thus entirely resign ourselves at first, so
afterwards we must make good our vows ; we must remember every
action of ours, it is given up to God ; every motion, every glance, it is
under a rule ; and in every lesser action we should say, will God have
this to be done or no, and in this manner ? and if not, let us not do it
for a thousand worlds. Especially in praying Do I pray as the Lord
would have me? Is it with such reverence, with such submission,
such affection ? I gave up myself to do his whole will, to do the duty,
and in that manner which God requires. So in eating and drinking,
in all actions you should do all in obedience, in that manner, and to
that end that God requires. Every glance of the eye is under a rule :
Mat. v. 28, ' Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart/ We must use our
sight in obedience to God, and so also our hearing.
3. There are some special things which God hath willed, and our
master hath given us a special charge about ; those things must be
done, how distasteful soever to flesh and blood, or prejudicial to our
interests. There are three things that have his stamp and seal upon
them ' This is God's will.' So it is said of holiness and sanctifica-
tion : 1 Thes. iv. 3, ' This is the will of God, even your sanctification ; '
so of duties of relation, obedience to magistrates, parents and masters :
1 Peter ii. 15, ' Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, ... for
so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silencer the
ignorance of foolish men/ So of the duty of thanksgiving * In every
thing give thanks to God, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you ; ' concerning these things we have the express pleasure
of God. Now it is great rebellion and disobedience not to obey God's
solemn charges. Holiness, it is irksome to nature, and we are apt to
forget thankfulness, and we are sensibly tried in duties of relations.
God hath expressed his will concerning all these.
4. In all these things we must not only do what God wills, but we
must do it, because he wills it ; this is pure obedience. The bare
signification of God's will and pleasure, it should be reason and motive
strong enough. You read, Lev. xix, where God enacteth sundry laws ;
this is the reason for obedience ' I am the Lord/ The Lord wills,
that is enough to engage the obedience of the creature. So in these
places before mentioned, wherein holiness and thanksgiving, and duties
of relation are enjoined, this is the reason alleged ' for this is the
will of God/ The angels have no other motive^ Ps. ciii. 22, ' They
do his will, hearkening to the voice of his word/ This is that which
is motive enough to the angels, God hath signified his will ; and we
should captivate all our thoughts, and not allow of disputes 'Have
not I commanded thee? ' saith God to Joshua. So we should plead
with ourselves : when we are slack and sluggish to any duty, say, Hath
not the Lord commanded thee ? What needeth any farther argument ?
5. We must not only do what we know, but we must search that
we may know more. This is a great sign of an obedient heart, when
we are willing to inquire what duty further God requires : Rom. xii.
2, ' That ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect
will of God/ A man that hath given up himself to God must make
248 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
it his constant practice ; we shall be accountable for ignorance as well
as neglect. Many times there may be somewhat of will in ignorance.
When men have no mind to practise, certainly they have no heart to
know and search : Eph. v. 17, 'Be not unwise, but understanding
what is the will of God/ Men are loath to sift out truth to the bottom,
lest it should prove to their disadvantage ; when they do not under
stand, or have a confused notion that what God commands is contrary
to their lusts, they will not know it distinctly ; these do not err in
their minds so much as in their hearts. Some err in their mind, out
of simple ignorance ; others in their heart, they have no mind to know ;
in such their negligence there is deceit. Therefore search and find out
what is the acceptable will of God, that you may have a clearer light
and ground for practice. The angels are always hearkening for a
new command, Ps. ciii. 22, so should we be hearkening still. As the
beasts, in the Revelation, that stood before the throne : Rev. iv. 6,
' They had eyes on either side,' that they might see what God would
have them to do ; so we should be always searching that we may be
perfectly instructed in the will of God.
6. Our obedience is chiefly to be tried by keeping ourselves from
our sin, i. e., that sin, which our corrupt will had wedded and espoused.
So David : Ps. xviii. 23, ' I was upright before thee, and I kept my
self from mine iniquity.' Herein is our subjection to the will of God
chiefly tried, in keeping ourselves from our own sin, which is most
vehement and passionate ; thy worldliness, thy sensuality, thy pride,
according as the corruption runs out, for we are apt to deceive ourselves
in generals. God hath left some particular lust for trial ; we are to
'deny all ungodliness/ but chiefly this bosom sin. If men were
acquainted with their own hearts they would find there is some sin for
which conscience smiteth most ; a sin, to which temptations are most
frequent, of most usual residence and recourse, that is proper to their
constitution and course of life. Certainly he is not acquainted with
his own heart that doth not know this sin ; and he is not acquainted
with the work of grace that doth not resist and mortify it. Therefore,
though it be never so dear and pleasant, yet herein God will try thy
obedience, Mat. v. 29, 30. Oar Saviour expresseth it ' by cutting off
the right hand, and plucking out the right eye.' Though it be as
dear and precious to us as a member of the body, as useful as a right
hand, or as pleasant as a right eye, yet it must be plucked out ; as
men to preserve life will cut off a gangrened joint, though it be a right
hand ; so must our bosom lust be mortified.
7. Because there cannot be an exact conformity to the will of God,
our obedience will be discovered by the general bent and course of
our lives. A godly man hath set his face towards heaven ; it is true,
sometimes he may be turned out of the way, but the course of his life,
the bent and care of his soul, is to bring up his heart to a conformity
to the will of God. A ship that sails to the east or to the west, may
be driven back by a storm, but it makes way again towards the haven ;
so a man may be overborne by the violence of a temptation, but makes
way again, seeks to recover the harbour to which he aims. A godly
man is troubled for the breach of God's will above all things ; sin is
most contrary to the divine will ; therefore our obedience will be
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 249
best known by our care to avoid all sin, and by our grief for com
mitting it.
Secondly, I come now to speak to the second branch, submitting to
tLe providence of God.
As God is the supreme lord and law-giver, so we are to deny our
self-will by a subjection to his laws, which is holiness, and by a sub
mission to his providence, which is patience. In renouncing the
dominion of the will, it is not enough to do what God commandeth,
but to suffer what he inflicteth. His will is declared in his providence
as well as in his law. Now, murmuring is an anti-providence, a re
nouncing of God's sovereignty, as well as open sins and rebellion against
his laws ; therefore when God's will is declared, though against our
dearest comforts and nearest relations, this should be enough. In
stating this submission I shall show
1. How far we are to submit to the will of God in providence.
2. What are the grounds of this submission.
3. The helps to it.
First, How far we are to submit to the will of God in providence.
That will be discovered in several propositions.
1. The lowest degree is, we must be quiet and silent. When a
vessel is much shaken, it is apt to plash over; and so usually we give
vent to strong passions, and to the grievances of the mind, by murmur
ing and complaint. There is a quick intercourse between the tongue
and the heart ; and therefore when the heart is burdened and over
charged, it seeks ease and vent by the tongue. The first degree then
of the patience of the children of God is to keep silence : Ps. xxxix.
10, saith David, ' I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, because thou
didst it ; ' it is God, and therefore the least repining thought must not
be allowed ; when he saw God in the providence, he durst not speak
one word that might savour of discontent. So Lev. x. 3, when Aaron
had two children taken away by a judgment, and a strange stroke of
God's providence, it is said Aaron held his peace. Now this quietness
and silence must be, not only in suppressing words of pet and passion,
but in calming the affections. When an oven is stopt up, it is more
hot within. When David kept his tongue as with a bridle, yet musing
made the fire burn and his heart boil against God, Ps. xxxix. 3. And
therefore there must be a quiet contentation of the mind and submission
of the heart, how grievous soever the affliction be. A stormy mind is
as bad, though not as scandalous, as a virulent tongue. You must
be contented in your very souls, you should not dare to quarrel with
God, nor enter a plea against providence. Thoughts are as words
with God ; therefore take heed of private disputings. We must obey
God with silence and quietness. Believing will give us ease, when
disputing cannot.
2. We must not only quietly submit to God, but willingly, and
approve and accept the providence. Patience perforce is no grace.
God is not glorified, till there be a subscription of the judgment and
a consent of the will. A subscription of the judgment, that the provi
dence is good, because God wills it ; as Hezekiah said, Isa. xxxix. 8,
' Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken.' Look into
the context, and you will find it was a heavy sentence that intimated
25U A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
the transportation of his issue and posterity into Babylon, yet his sancti
fied judgment calls it good good, because God would have it so.
That is best which God wills. We murmur, we set up an anti-provi
dence, and censure the acts and dispensations of God, as if we could
correct them, and do better and fitter for the government of the world.
A heathen could say, If this be pleasing to God, let it be, that is best
which pleaseth him. And so there must be a consent of the will : Lev.
xxvi. 41, ' If then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they
then accept of the punishment of their iniquity/ Mark that place :
it is not said, if the} 7 shall bear the punishment, but ' accept the pun
ishment of their iniquity ; ' kiss the rod, and welcome the providence.
There must be a perfect correspondence between our wills and the
dispensations of God. Look, as the patient doth willingly take bitter
pills that make for his health ; so should we swallow with willingness
and contentment the hardest accidents. We should not take the
providences of God as a drench, but as a potion ; not as a thing that
is enforced upon us, but that to which our sanctified judgment consents.
Heathens, if their lives were as good as their works, may shame many
Christians ; they would always be of the same mind with God. Seneca
saith, I yield to providence, not out of necessity, but choice. It is
best, saith he, because God wills it ; if he bless, it is good ; if he afflict,
it is good ; his will is the highest wisdom and reason ; therefore faith
welcometh all providences, as well as submitteth to them. Kabbi
Gamzeth said, This dispensation is good, and this too, because it comes
from God. God hath a supreme right to dispose of us according to
his own pleasure : Job ix. 22, ' Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder
him ? and who can say, What dost thou ? ' Will you resist him
in the disposal of what is his own ? Which is more equal, that your
will should stoop to God's, or God's will be brought down to yours ?
How little good will it do us to murmur ! it is better to submit.
3. We are not only to submit to God, but to love him when he seems
to deal most hardly with us. You know in the gospel we are bidden
to love our enemies, though they be really so, though they be our
fellow-creatures, and we do not depend upon them as we do upon
God; therefore much more are we to love God when he only appeareth
as an enemy. The Lord Jesus in the height of his sufferings loved
his Father, yea, he loved the cross for his Father's sake : John xviii.
11, ' The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink of it? '
Christ loved the elect when he suffered most for them, and loved his
Father when he suffered most from him It is a bitter cup, but it is
of my Father's sending. Our love should glow most to God in our
affliction, so the church professeth, Isa. xxvi. 8, 'In the way of thy
judgments, Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our souls
is to thy name ; ' then did their desires burn and glow towards God.
Many pretend to love God when he blesseth them, when they abound
in ease and all kind of comfort, but storm as soon as they are touched
in the skin. Look, as the heliotrope turns after the sun, not only in a
shining but in a cloudy day ; so in most gloomy days the bent of our
hearts and desires should be after God. So also among the creatures ;
the dog loves his master that beats him, and many times when he is
half dead he will run after his master. Look, as God sends Israel to
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 251
the ox, because they did not love him for his kindness ' The ox
knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib ; but Israel doth not
know ; my people doth not consider,' Isa. i. 3 ; so we may send you to
the dogs for not loving of God when he beats you ; we should the
rather love him then, because God loves us when he doth correct us
* He loves whom he chastens.' A man may give entertainment to
strangers, but he gives chastisement only to those of his own family.
We are of God's household, a part of the charge of God, and therefore
are under the discipline of his house. And that is some argument of
God's love, that he doth not let us alone. You are put to your trial
before men and angels, whether you can love him, when he exerciseth
you with sharp afflictions.
4. We must not only love God for the dispensation, but entertain
it with cheerfulness and thanksgiving. This should be enough to
the creature, that God's will may be fulfilled, though with their loss
and smart: Job i. 22, 'The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken
away, blessed be the name of the Lord.' A child of God is of a differ
ent temper from other men ; he can fear God for his mercies, and
praise him for his justice. We are bound to bless him for taking as
well as giving. All God's corrections to his children are administra
tions belonging to the covenant of grace, evidences of God's faithfulness,
and means of good to the saints, and therefore deserve to be reckoned
in the roll of mercies. Oh, what a good God do we serve, when we can
even bless him for afflictions ! A Christian can sing in winter as well
as in the spring. In outward things we can thank a physician for a
bitter potion. We can pay a surgeon for cutting off an arm or a leg
in a gangrene, and therefore much more have we cause to bless God
for his faithfulness to us, for taking as well as giving ; but if there
were no advantage, it is enough that God's will is accomplished, this
is matter of praise. See the instance of David, 2 Sam. xii. 20, when
he understood that the child was dead, ' He arose from the earth, and
washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came in
to the house of God, and worshipped. Then he came into his own
house; and they set bread before him, and he did eat.' Before, he
would not rise from the earth nor eat bread, but sat mourning ; but
when God's pleasure was declared, he goes with praise into God's
house, and with cheerfulness to his own, because he would not seem to
oppose or cross God's will, but would bear it with cheerfulness and
patience. It is more than enough to thee that it pleaseth God, whose
pleasure thouart bound to fulfil, how dear soever it should cost thee.
5. This submission must be manifested, whatever the cross be.
As in obedience there must be no reservation, they were not to leave
a hoof in Egypt ; so in the cross we must make no exceptions, but
give God a blank paper, and let him write what he will. I know there
is a gradation in our miseries, some are greater and some are less, though
every one thinks his own to be most burdensome, because he is under
sense and feeling ' No sorrow like my sorrow.' There is a great deal
of difference between afflictions. Those miseries that light upon the
outward estate, they do not sit so close as those that light upon the
body ; and those that light upon the body are nothing so terrible as
those that light upon the soul ' The spirit of a man can bear his in-
252 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
firmities, but a wounded spirit, who can bear ?' Common generousness
will bear up under an outward cross ; yet all must be borne with
patience and submission. The apostle enumerates sundry sorts of
afflictions : 2 Cor. xii. 10, c Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in
reproaches, in necessities, in persecution, in distresses, for Christ's
sake ; ' if it be racking pains of the body, or if it be reproaches that
enter into the very soul ; if it be want, calamity, infamy, loss of goods,
loss of children or husband, of all dear relations, we must not be our
own carvers, but we must take up our cross, as Christ saith. God
himself will choose the rod ; we are not bound to seek, or choose, tir
make the cross, but to bear, and take it up, when it is laid upon us.
We are not to fill the cup ourselves, but drink that which God
tempers in the cup with his own hand. It is not a cup of our own
brewing ; it is a deceit to say I could bear such and such an affliction
with cheerfulness, and patiently, if it were not the loss of dearest and
nearest relations. But God knows how to strike in the right vein.
The world would soon become an. emptiness and solitude if every
ignorant creature might be his own physician, and prescribe his own
potion. Those that would have a cross of their own carving do not
submit to God, but to their own wills. Pride of will shows itself in
providence as well as worship, when men cannot bear the cross that
God hath laid upon them. Impatience is as great a sin as supersti
tion. Look, as it is superstition to carve to ourselves such worship as
pleaseth us, so it is a breach of God's law, an entrenchment upon the
sovereignty and wisdom of providence, when we would carve out our
own cross. How grievous soever the affliction be, we must submit.
Suppose it be a submission to death itself, it is not by chance, but by
God's disposing hand ; God doth but call us back to our old dust, and
by the same sovereignty bring us to the grave by which he brought us
out of the womb : Ps. xc. 3, ' Thou turnest men to destruction, and
sayest, Keturn, ye children of men/
6. This submission must be manifested by preparing ourselves to
suffer yet more than we feel for the present in vow and purpose. A
Christian resigns up himself to the will of God, he hath no will of his
own, Lord, turn me into what condition thou pleasest, as David, 2 Sam.
xv. 26, ' Here I am, do to me as seems good in thine own eyes/ A
believer sets his name to a blank, that God may write what he pleaseth ;
this is to reserve no will of our own. Patience is a very high grace ;
it doth not only consent to known articles, but refers itself for the
future to God. It is a question which is most worthy, obedience or
patience ; obedience hath a stated rule, all the articles of the covenant
are absolutely set down, what God hath required ; but patience refer-
eth itself for the future to God, let God write what he will ; I am thy
creature, it submits to whatever future trial God will appoint. So
Acts xxi. 13, the apostle Paul speaks of greater sufferings ' I am ready,
not only to be bound, but to die for the Lord Jesus/ If it were a
heavier burden, even death itself, I am ready to bear it, I have given
up my will to God. So Heb. xii. 4, ' You have not yet resisted unto
blood, striving against sin ; ' intimating they should prepare themselves
for greater sufferings. The persecution already borne was as nothing ;
this makes the lesser suffering to be more tolerable. Kesolution for
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 253
the worst that can come, it is a great degree of submission, and will be
a very great help, when you are resolved to bear whatever God will
inflict ; alas ! otherwise we shall soon faint and murmur.
7. It is a very high degree of submission to submit to God's dis
pensation in spiritual wants and troubles. We should not be troubled
at whatever we may want without sin, and therefore you should bear
spiritual evil with a sweet submission to and acquiescency in the will
of God.' I shall instance but in three things to be borne, the want of
sensible consolation, spiritual desertion, and many times God's not
hearing of our prayers.
[1.] Want of suavities in religion, or of sensible consolation. These
are a mere preferment in grace, and we must tarry till the Master of
the feast hath bid us sit higher. All the sin is if the comforts of the
Holy Ghost be despised, not if they be not enjoyed, when we have low
and cheap thoughts of them ; it is not the want, but the contempt.
Such things as are mere dispensations, and proposed as rewards are
different from duties. To want grace, though it be God's gift, that is
a sin, because the creature is under a moral obligation ; but not to
want sensible comfort, because that is merely given, but not required ;
and therefore when we want these things, we are to be patient. Eemem-
ber, Christ himself parted with these for a while : when he was in the
midst of his agonies, he said, ' Not my will, but thine be done ; ' it hath
relation to the sensible consolations of the Godhead, which Christ felt
by virtue of the glorious fellowship ' Not my will, but thine be done ; '
this may be God's will to keep us from pride. Therefore when Chris
tians would have those redundancies and overflowings of Christ's love
at the beck of their own desires, it is a sign they have riot learned to
submit to God ; it argues impatiency, or conceit of merit. Kemember,
in these sensible consolations there may be more of self-love, and of
indulgence to our own appetite, than of obedience. We praise God
best when we are contented with what he gives, and contented with
what he doth, though it be with our loss. But when men cannot love
God nor serve God, unless they be feasted with love and fed with these
sensible consolations, it is like peevish children, that will not be quiet
till pleased with some bait and sweetness ; it is not the Father's will
that quiets them, but the apple, or some such external satisfaction.
It is an act of obedience to submit to God's mere will.
[2.] In matter of desertion it is good to be sensible of God's with-
drawments. But we should be rather troubled about the fault than
the punishment, that which causeth God to withdraw the comfort of
his presence, for herein God will have his sovereignty and pleasure
acknowledged : Phil. ii. 13, it is said, ' He giveth both to will and to
do, according to his own pleasure/ I confess this is a bitter cup ; but
remember, Jesus Christ himself hath been our taster. He complains
of desertion : Mat. xxvii. 46, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken
me ? ' and we do not deserve to be handled more softly than the Son
of God. He complaineth of desertion, to manifest his sense of the
evil ; but still he saith, ' Not my will, but thine be done.' God may
make use of this to humble us for our self-conceits, and for our pride
and thoughts of merit, or having an obligation upon God. It is good
sometimes to be left to ourselves, and stand upon our own legs, that so
254 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
we may know ourselves ; as God left Hezekiah, that he might show
him the pride of his heart. That we might be kept low and empty,
and that grace may be exalted, these dispensations are very necessary.
[3.] When God doth not always sensibly hear our prayers. Though
this is a very sad case, to go away from God without a token for good,
without any sensible effect of his love, yet God will show us that prayer
deserves nothing ; therefore when we have wrestled mightily at the
throne of grace, yet we may miss. Why ? that we may know,- though
Christ be full and God willing, yet we must have * grace for grace/
John i. 16 ; that is, grace for grace's sake, freely. God will make us
see we are but unprofitable servants, and he will not give blessings to
us but in and through Christ, when we rely upon him. Or else we
may ask too coldly, or without esteem of those spiritual blessings, or
else thou hast been too earnest for temporal blessings, and God will
not give thee poisoned weapons to offend thyself. God knows what is
best, and his will must be submitted to.
Secondly, For the grounds upon which we are to renounce our own
will.
1. The absolute sovereignty of God, and his supreme right and do
minion over the creatures, to dispose of them according to his own
pleasure. He can destroy and annihilate, and no man can call him to
account : Job ix. 12, ' Behold he taketh away and who can hinder
him ? and who can say, What dost thou ? ' Before what tribunal will
you cite God ? And where shall he give an account of his dispensa
tions ? When he takes away, who can say, Lord, what dost thou do ?
Every man may do with his own what he pleaseth, why not God ? thou
art as ' clay in the hand of the potter : ' Rom. ix. 20, ' Nay but, man,
who art thou that repliest against God ? Shall the thing formed say
to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus ? ' Why should
we deny God the common privilege of all proprietors ? If God use us
according to his own pleasure, he doth but use that which is his own.
A man may cut out his own cloth as he pleaseth. Why should we
confine the right of God to narrow limits ? If he make us sick, pained,
infamous, if he humble us with want, if he should take away our
relations, where will you cite God to give an account of this matter ?
It is injurious to resist a man in the disposal of his own goods ; why
should we resist God, that hath such a supreme and absolute right
over the creature ? 1 Sam. iii. 18, saith Eli, ' It is the Lord,' it is he
that is the supreme and absolute lord. ' Let him do whatsoever he
pleaseth/ It is good to be satisfied with the will of God, and sit down and
say no more ; it is the Lord, and he may do with his own as he pleaseth.
2. God can take away nothing from us but what he gave us at the
first ; we do but return him his own, and we should do it with thanks.
When he taketh anything from us, he doth but demand his own goods.
Job, chap. i. 22, saith, ' the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away,
blessed be his name/ He that hath taken, gave first. And Seneca hath
just such another passage, abslulit, sed et dedit God hath taken ; ay !
but he gave first, it was his own. So Job ii. 12, ' Shall we receive good
at the hands of God, and not evil ? ' If God hath left blessings and
comforts with us, shall we be grudging when he comes and demands
them again, when he did but lend them to us for awhile ? Kemember,
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 255
God takes but a part that gave all, and it is his mercy that he hath
left thee anything,
3. The excellency of God's will. God is infinitely good, wise, and
powerful ; he knows what is better for us than we do for ourselves.
Unless we will blaspheme God, and count him evil, or ignorant, or
impotent and weak, why should we murmur ? Alas 1 we are poor,
short-sighted, narrow- witted creatures ; it is best to leave our condition
to the wisdom of providence. Say, when thou goest to murmur and
repine against God, when God takes away thy comforts, estates,
relations, Who am I, that I should prefer my will and my judgment
before God's ? We pray daily ' Thy will be done/ and shall we con
fute our own prayers ? consider, which is more equal, that thy will
should be conformed to God's or God's stoop down to thine ? It is
the child's happiness that the father's will is his rule, not his own.
God's will is more safe. We usually make our reason the highest
court, and enact laws, and then would have God bound by them.
Should the sheep choose their pasture, or the shepherd ? God shapeth
your condition, and cutteth out your allowance.
4. Ground : the honour the Lord doth us, that he should take us in
hand, though it be to correct us ; Job speaks of it with admiration,
Job vii. 17, 18, 'Lord, what is man, that thou shouldest magnify him,
and that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every
moment ? ' It is meant of corrective dispensations, that God should
spend his thoughts upon such an unworthy creature, that God should
try him in a way of affliction ; how grievous soever the chastisement
be, yet that God should look after him is wonderful. If a king should
undertake to form the manners of a mean subject, it is a great
abasement ; so that God should look down upon us from the height
of his imperial glory : Job xiv. 2, 3, ' Man cometh forth like a flower,
and is cut down ; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not ; and
dost thou open thy eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judg
ment with thee ? ' ' What is man ? ' saith he. Man is but a vapour,
and ' dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one ? ' Wilt thou look
upon such a shadow of clay ? upon such an unclean sinful creature ?
We are unworthy of the very anger of God, as a beggar is unworthy
the anger of a prince, or a worm of the indignation of an angel.
5. Whatever God doth to his children, it is with aims of good ; he
is goodness itself, more apt to do us good than the fire to burn or the
sun to shine. Consider, God's nature is most alien from other courses,
he doth not ' willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.' It is for
our sakes that he puts on this rigour ; the scripture speaks of it as a
forced dispensation. If a friend should undertake a business that is
contrary to his nature and disposition to pleasure us, we are the more
obliged to him : so it is God's great condescension that he should take
the rod in his hand, and that he should use it to our profit, we are
bound to acknowledge it. If God doth punish, it is not that he
delighteth in punishment ; but he doth punish us here that he may not
punish us for ever. Who would not rejoice, that, if when he owed a debt
of a thousand pound, the creditor should require but twenty shillings?
It is God's mercy that we shall suffer in this world, that we may not
suffer in the world to come : 1 Cor. xi. 32, ' When we are judged, we
256 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the
world.' There is often a great deal of mercy in affliction. After the
sin of Adam, there could not be a more gracious nor more wise invention
than affliction to wean our affections from the delight of the senses,
and to meeken the spirit. And if God should not deal thus with us,
we had cause to complain, as if he were too gentle ; as we have cause
to complain of that physician that lets his patient die, because he will
not put him to the trouble of physic ; or as Eli's children had cause
to complain of their father, because he was so indulgent ; and Amnon
of David. It is a great judgment to be let alone. When God was
angry with Ephraim, what is his sentence ? Hosea iv. 17, ' Ephraim
is joined to idols, let him alone.' It is an honour that God is mindful
of us, that he will give us suitable corrections. If a man see a serpent
creeping upon another while he is asleep, though he give him a great
blow, yet it is a courtesy to him to kill that serpent that would destroy
him : so God doth but kill that serpent that would kill us. We arc
chastised, but it is only to destroy and kill sin. But suppose we could
see no good in the affliction, yet we are bound to believe there is good
in it, and not to have hard thoughts of God. Alexander, when his
physician was accused that he would poison him in such a potion, takes
the letter in one hand, and shows it his physician, and drinks off the
potion in confidence of his trust and fidelity. Distrust will make lies
of God, as if he meant to hurt and wrong us ; but we should say as
Christ did, ' The cup that my Father hath given me, shall I not drink
it ? ' We should trust God's potion. We are dearer to God than we
can be to ourselves ; he is more solicitous for our good, than we are for
our own. God loves the lowest saint infinitely more than the highest
angels love God.
6. Impatience doth not lessen the evil, but double and increase it :
takes not away the bitterness of the affliction, but makes it bitterer,
and is the wormwood and gall of it. All the evils in the world consist
in the disorder of the will, in the disagreement that is between the
object and the appetite. Man's will is the cause of all his misery ; we
are troubled because it falls out otherwise than we would have it.
He that wills what God wills may have somewhat to exercise him, but
hath nothing to trouble him. All the evils that we meet with in the
world come merely from our own will.
Thirdly, for the helps by which we might bring our hearts to yield
to the will of God.
1. See God in all things. This is the first principle of submission :
Ps. xxxix. 10, ' I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, because thou
didst it ; ' that made David quiet and altogether silent. So Hezekiah
speaks of his patient submission to his disease and the sentence of
death : Isa. xxxviii. 15, ' What shall I say ? he hath both spoken unto
me, and himself hath done it.' That passage, though it be in the song
of thanksgiving, relates not to the deliverance, but to the affliction.
As soon as we see God in the providence, it is the duty of a Christian
to cease and say no more ; as he answered the king, I have learned not
to dispute with him that can command legions. .Why should we con
tend with the Lord of hosts, unless we can make good our quarrel ?
Every wheel works according to the motion of the first mover. Creatures
BOOK I] A TIIEATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 257
are but subordinate instruments of providence. We break our teeth
in biting at the nearest link of the chain. Oh ! look to the supreme
mover, it is God that hath fastened all the links. David was so far
from opposing God that he bears the very contumacy of the instrument :
2 Sam. xvi. 11, * Let him alone, and let him curse : for the Lord hath
bidden him/ This was spoken when Shimei cursed him, and one of
the captains would have taken off his head ; that was a time rather
for humiliation than revenge. As a magistrate, he might have punished
him ; but ' Let him alone ' saith he, I see God in it. Consider, it is
God that chooseth men to be instruments of his justice, that by them
he may admonish us of our duty. To resist a lower officer of state is
to contemn that authority with which he is armed. Consider, instru
ments are set a-work by God ; they could not wag their tongue without
God. It is good to see God at the end of causes. Do not think God
sits idle in the heavens ; providence hath no vacancy. Christ saith,
' My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.' God is always working,
in and by the operation of the creature. We look no higher than the
creature, and so are apt to murmur.
2. Wait for changes. Evils foreseen are the better digested and
borne ; it is like the fitting of the burden before we put it upon our
backs. Hereby the cross is made more portable ' The evil I feared/
saith Job, ' is come upon me.' It is good to look for changes ; it is
good to look for the affliction before it finds us out, and to keep our
rnind and heart loose from all comforts. We have great reason to
think of changes : we cannot elude the course which God hath set ;
the cause of suffering is born and bred up with us. We were born in
sin, and sin grows as we grow, and therefore the cross, which is the
consequent of sin, shall not be taken away till we are taken out of the
place of sinning. God might have translated us to heaven presently,
without trouble, but there is a method in all his works. He might
have caused the earth to bring forth bread as well as an ear of corn ;
but he would have it first to grow, then to be threshed, then ground,
then baked, and so fitted for man's use ; so there are many preparative
changes to fit us for heaven, as the stones were squared before they
were set in the temple. He were a madman that should expect his
bread to grow out of the ground before the corn were cleansed by the
flail, or bruised by the mill-stone, or baked in an oven; or should
expect the stones of a building to come together by chance ; so it is a
great madness to think to go to heaven without changes and afflictions.
We must expect to ' enter into the kingdom of God by much tribula
tion.'
3. Moderate and lessen your carnal desires. Our afflictions are very
much heightened by our affections. We set up a court of providence
ill our own hearts, enact laws there, and speak of what we would do
and do not reserve the exceptions of God's providence. Oh! it is
very hard to repeal the decrees and sentence of our own will when once
it is set and determined ; when we have decreed that thus we will do,
this we will have, then we are vexed if God will not let it stand ; this
causeth storms and murmurs against the will of God : Jer. xlv. 5, * And
seekest thou great things for thyself ? seek them not.' When men's
desires are for great things, especially in uncertain times, they do but
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258 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
dress up a trouble and sorrow for themselves. Self-love and self-seek
ing always make way for self-trouble ; and therefore keep your desires
low. It is far easier to add than to subtract ; and it is far better to
rise with providence, when the master of the feast ' bids us sit higher/
than to be compelled to descend and lie in the dust. Therefore till
God's will be declared it is good to keep the heart in an equal poise
for all providences, and not let our will outstart God's : as David said,
2 Sam. xv, 26, ' If the Lord hath any pleasure in me, he will bring me
back again ; if not, here I am, let him do with me what pleaseth him.'
He did not dare to pass his vote first, but gives providence the preced
ency ; so should we.
4. Consider, what little cause you have to indulge your own mur
muring ; guilt is enough to silence any creature. Thou art a creature,
and a guilty creature, and God is the sovereign Lord of heaven and
earth ; let this stop thy mouth. There is always cause from God, and
we may still say, as in Ezra ix. 13, ' Thou hast punished us less than our
iniquities have deserved.' . We are now in Babylon, and we might have
been in hell. Consider, God is too just to do us wrong. Certainly
there is a cause ; if he will exchange hell for Babylon ; there is much
of mercy, but nothing of injustice. But suppose there were no cause
visible, God may resolve the reason of his actions into his own will.
God is under no law, and thou hast no tie and engagement on him ;
why should he give an account of his matters ? If affliction is not
deserved from men, it is to be borne more cheerfully. Whose cross
would we bear, the cross of Christ or the thieves ? When we suffer
as malefactors, we bear the thieves' cross. There is no cause why we
should allow our murmuring. Consider the evil of murmuring, search
it to the head, and you will find it always comes from pride. The
devil is the proudest creature, and the most discontented with his con
dition. Murmuring is always a fruit of supposed merit, we think we
have deserved better. Alas ! we are worthy of nothing, and if we have
ever so little, we have cause enough to be content. Though you can
not fare as others though you have not such good trading though
you have not houses so well furnished, yet what have you deserved ?
5. Do but interpret your murmuring, what is it ? It is but a taxing
of God, and it is an high presumption for creatures to tax their creator,
as if they were wiser than he ; it is, in effect, to say, this is not well
done ; there is an error in providence, which we would fain correct.
If it be good, and best, why should we repine ?
6. Consider, what little good will murmuring do us ? We should
never argue against providence, because we cannot counterwork it. It
is best to do that voluntarily which we must otherwise do by force.
Submit to God ; God will have the better in all contests with the
creature : Job ix. 22, ' Who can hinder him ? ' Your comforts, and
children, and estates, are in his hands ; if he will take them away,
who can hinder him ? Therefore why should we murmur against him.
The next branch of self-denial is denying self-love. God is the chief est
good and highest object of the creature's respect, and therefore we are
to deny self, that is, self-love. A necessary doctrine. It is said, ' In the
latter times, that men should be lovers of themselves/ 2 Tim. iii. 1
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 259
Men have been always lovers of themselves, in every age of the church ;
but in the lees and dregs of time this evil shall most reign and prevail.
The latter times are inflamed with wars, and so all love to our neigh
bour is devoured ; and with heresies, and so God is neglected, and then
there remains nothing but self to be respected and adored. In the
abbreviation of divinity, or in a moral consideration, there are made
to be but three general persons or beings, God, thy neighbour, and
thyself. Now when men have lost their reverence to God, and their
charity to their neighbour, self is only left to devour all the respect of
the creature.
In treating of self-love we must
1, See how far it is criminal.
2. Then speak of the branches and kinds of criminal self-love.
First, How far self-love is criminal. To love ourselves is a dictate
of nature, and not disallowed by grace. We read not that man is
expressly commanded to love himself, because every man is naturally
inclined to it ' No man hath ever hated his own flesh, but loveth it,
and cherisheth it/ Eph. v 29. By natural instinct all creatures move
and act to their own good and preservation. But though there be not
an express command, yet there is an allowance, it is implied in that
precept ' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself/ The thing
enforced is love to our neighbour, but the thing implied is love to our
selves. There is an innocent affection planted in nature moving every
man to procure his own welfare. In procuring this welfare we have a
liberal allowance ; nature aimeth only at things necessary, but in
grace God hath been indulgent, enlarging the bounds of allowance,
and besides necessaries, hath afforded us the conveniences and moderate
pleasures and delights of the present life. Therefore the motions of
self-love are regular and tolerable as long as they do not entrench upon
the privilege of God, but are subject to his will and the laws of sancti
fied reason.
But when are they vicious and sinful ? I answer, when they go
beyond the limits prescribed, when self-love encroacheth upon the
love of God, or the love of our neighbour, when a man loves no other
but himself, and makes religion and all to stoop to his private com
modities or pleasure. Aristotle in his ' Ethics/ defining self-love,
saith, ' he is a lover of himself that doth all he doth for his own sake,
and with respect to himself, to his own pleasure and profit/ But let
us rather take the description from the apostle, in two places : Phil. iL
21, 'Those that seek their own things and not the things of Jesus
Christ ; ' and 1 Cor. x. 24, ( That seek their own, and not another's
welfare/ Who mind the conveniency of their own life, and their own
private profit, without any respect to the glory of God and the salva
tion of others. This is self-love that is prejudicial both to God and our
neighbour, when a man makes himself the centre of all his actions, with
out any respect to God or the good of others. But because par
ticulars are most sensible, therefore let me tell you
Secondly, This self-love is twofold to our persons and to our interests.
I told you before that self is a capacious word, and doth not only involve
us, but that which is ours. (1.) To our persons : we manifest that by
doting upon ourselves, and by the admiration of ourselves, and so it is
260 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
contrary to true humility and lowliness of mind. And then (2.) To
our interests and enjoyments: we manifest self-love, by an inor
dinate zeal and care of our interests, preferring them before the
conscience of our duty to God and our neighbour, being loath to part
with anything that is ours for God's sake. This I principally intend
to treat of, as being contrary to God's privilege of being the chiefest
good ; for this is a preferring something before him, when we can
neglect his glory, or our obedience to his commands out of a zeal to
our own interests.
First, The first kind of self-love is shown by doting upon or
admiring our own persons. Self-conceit must be renounced, as well as
self-interest. When a man thinks of himself beyond what is meet,
and admires his own gifts and excellences, this is to be in love with
his own shadow, to become our own parasites and flatterers.
Here I shall show you
1. To what kind of persons this evil is incident.
2. How it discovers itself.
3. How odious it is.
4. Some remedies.
[1.] To whom it is incident ? To all men by nature. By long
conversation and acquaintance, a man becomes enamoured of himself,
and hath high thoughts and opinions of his own excellency ; as Goliath
admired his own stature, and Nebuchadnezzar his own Babel, ' That he
had built for the honour of his majesty.' There is a natural disposi
tion this way, and there are none of the sons of Adam to be excluded.
But usually and mostly it is incident
(1.) To those that are most ignorant of the state of their own hearts :
Eev. iii. 17, 18, '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, I counsel
thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich.'
The church of Laodicea doted upon itself; she thought herself rich,
and wanted nothing, when they wanted all things, though blind and
unclean, yet miserably conceited. In a transparent glass the least
motes are seen ; but in a thick bottle we cannot discern the grossest
dregs and sediment. Certainly those that have most light, they have
lowest thoughts of themselves. He that knows himself best loves
himself least of all. Love is always blind, especially self-love ; it is
but a fond fancy of that which is not : Bom. vii. 9, ' For I was alive
without the law once ; but when the commandment came, sin revived,
and I died/ When Paul had but little knowledge, he had great
conceit of himself. A short exposition of the law would beget a large
opinion of our own righteousness. Usually what is wanting in the
light of reason is made up in the pride of reason.
(2.) It is incident to men that by their own industry have raised
themselves to any excellency, either in estate, or learning, or other
endowments ; there are none so apt to be puffed up and conceited of
themselves as they are, for they look upon themselves as makers of their
own fortune ; they are not only drunk with their felicity and attainments,
but admire their own prudence and diligence, by which they have
compassed worldly greatness and excellency. It is a question who are
BOOK I] A TREATISE OP SELF-DENIAL. 261
most apt to dote on their own excellency, those that have been
perpetually happy, or those lifted up out of misery and a low estate.
In a perpetual hereditary happiness there is little of our own acquest
and purchase to be seen ; but those that have raised themselves out of
a low condition are apt to be puffed up upon a double ground, their
happiness and their diligence ; they are happy, and they have made
themselves so, as they think, and so dote upon their own prudence and
diligence, as well as their felicity and acquests.
(3.) It is incident to men of great gifts, especially after some public
performance and exercise of them. It is hard to discover gifts with
applause, and not to be proud. Our minds are secretly enchanted
with self-love, and the music of our own praise. Therefore the apostle
forbiddeth novices, those that were newly begotten to Christ, young
men, to be put into the ministry, but very mortified persons : 1 Tim.
iii. 6, ' Lest being lifted up with pride, they fall into the condemnation
of the devil/ Men of great gifts and unmortified spirits are very apt
to fall into pride, and so into condemnation ; in a strong wind it is
hard to sail steady. It is a question not easily decided, which duties
are most difficult, public or private. In private duties there seems to
be some difficulty, because there we have no other witness but God,
and so we are tempted to slightness, for every one cannot see God ;
and in public duties there we are tempted to pride and self-conceit in
the exercise of our parts.
(4.) It is incident to good Christians ; they are in danger to be
enamoured of their own goodness. Pride once got into heaven itself
among the angels, it crept into paradise, and the best heart can hardly
keep it out. When men have withstood the ' lusts of the flesh,' and
' the lusts of the eye,' yet they may be overcome with ' pride of life/
Look, as a castle, when it cannot be taken by assault, many times it is
blown up ; so when the devil cannot surprise and take us by other
stratagems, by open assault, he seeks to puff and blow up the heart.
Paul was like to ' be puffed up with the abundance of his revelations/
2 Cor. xii. 7, though he were a sanctified vessel, and though his enjoy
ments were not of an earthly nature. It is a sin very incident to the
children of God to be lifted up with a vain conceit of their own worth,
others are not liable to it so much as they are. It is no wonder for a
beggar to call himself poor, or a drunkard to have such low thoughts
of himself, they are not in such danger as you are. And it is a sin got
out with a great deal of difficulty ; God is forced to punish it with
other sins. For common sins, God useth the discipline of affliction ;
but for this he punisheth sin with sin, and gives us up to some
scandalous fall, that so we might know what is in our own hearts.
[2.] How it bewrays itself ; I shall mention but two marks.
(1.) By admiring thoughts and reflections upon our own excellency.
A man is apt to entertain his spirit with privy whispers of vanity, and
to court himself, as it were, with suppositions of applause and honour
in the world : Luke i. 51, ' He scattereth the proud in the imagination
of their heart/ Proud men are full of imaginations and musings upon
their own worth, greatness, and excellency. This is the courtship that
self-love shakes to itself, when men muse upon the excellency of their
gifts, and how far they excel others. As the strutting king, Dan. iv.
262 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
30, as he walked on the palace of Babylon, he is musing upon the
vastness of his dominion and empire : ' Is not this great Babel that I
have built for the honour of my majesty and the glory of my magnifi
cence ? ' When men make an idol of self, they are wont to come and
solemnly worship it, to dote and gaze upon their own excellences and
achievements ; but a sincere Christian's heart is taken up with admiration
of Christ and the riches of the covenant, as Abraham walked through
the land of promise, Gen xiii. and said, ' All this is mine.' So carnal
men are wont to take a survey of their gifts and excellences, how far
they excel others in parts, prudence, and estate, and so play the parasites
with their own hearts.
(2.) It discovers itself by partiality to their own failings. Man is a
very favourable judge to himself ; men favour their own sins, but with
bitter censure comment upon the actions of others : Prov. xvi. 2, ' All
the ways of a man seem right in his own eyes, but God weighs the
spirits ; ' mark, it is in his own eyes. Man is apt to be partial in his
own cause, blinded with self-love ; when he comes to weigh his own
actions, self-love takes hold of the scale, and so there is no right done.
There is a great deal of difference between our balance and the balance
of the sanctuary. Men are loath to see an evil in themselves ; they can
see motes in the eyes of others, severely censure their failings, but can
not see beams in their own, Mat. vii. 3. A sincere heart is most severe
against his own sins, and flings the first stone at himself; but self-love
is blind and partial. The apostle saith, that ' love covers a multitude
of sins.' It should do so in our neighbour, but it doth cover that
which is in ourselves. The cases of Judah and David were very
famous. Judah, when he was to sit judge upon Tamar, would have
burned her because she had committed adultery, Gen. xxxviii. 34 ; but
when he saw the bracelets, ring, and staff, when he understood his own
guilt, he becomes more favourable and mild. So David, 2 Sam. xii.
5, when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to
Bathsheba, and represents the case to him, it is said, ' David's anger
was greatly kindled against the man. And he said to Nathan, As the
Lord liveth, the man that hath done this shall die, die without mercy.'
But when David was found to be the person, and the prophet tells him,
* Thou art the man/ then he was not so severe, his mind was more
calm. In a disease we think our pain the sharpest ; so when truly
cured of self-love, we think no sins like our own. The apostle Paul
counted himself ' the chief est of sinners/ and certainly a person so
sanctified would not lie.
[3.] Let me come to the odiousness of this sin. This is prejudicial
to God, to your neighbours, to yourselves.
(1.) To God it is flat sacrilege ; we detract from God, and rob him
of the praise of his gifts, that we may set the crown upon our own head :
Hab. i. 16, ' They sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their own
drag/ Instead of acknowledging God, in their greatness they cry up
their prudence, valour, and understanding. When we intercept God's
praise, this is to deify ourselves, and put ourselves in the place of God.
Trust and praise are God's own privileges ; it is the rent which God,
as the great landlord of the world, expects from us. He hath leased
out mercies and comforts to the world upon this condition, that we
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 263
should give him the acknowledgment of praise. To intercept the praise
due to him is to rob him of his rent and revenue. All creatures are
bound to exalt and magnify God.
(2.) It is prejudicial to others. Self-love makes men envious and
slanderous. When men would shine alone, and would have all the
world else to serve for their foils, to set them off, therefore they blast
their gifts with censure, aggravate their failings, and load them with
prejudice, that upon the ruins of their good name, they might erect a
fabric of praise to themselves. Self-lovers are always bitter censurers ;
they are so indulgent to their own faults, that they must spend their
zeal abroad. And therefore, observe it, the apostles, when they would
dissuade from the pride of censuring, they always bid us to consider
ourselves : Gal. vi. 1, ' If any brother be fallen, restore such a one with
the spirit of meekness, considering yourselves.' Do not set up a high
conceit of yourselves, and so blemish others, and make an advantage
of their failings. So James iii. 1, ' Be not many masters, knowing that
we shall receive the greater condemnation/ If men would look inward,
they might judge freely, with more profit and less sin.
(3.) It is prejudicial to ourselves. Inordinate self-love was the ruin
of angels, arid it will prove the confusion of men ; he is the best friend
to himself who loveth himself least. Carnal self-love is indeed but
self-murder ; properly, it is the hatred of thy soul which is truly thy
self. As the ape which hugs her young ones with too much earnest
ness, crusheth them, and thrusts out their bowels ; so this self-hugging
will be your ruin. It hinders us from the love of God ; and those that
love not God shall never be happy ; and it is the cause of all sin, 2
Tim. iii. 2, ' Men shall be lovers of themselves.' It is set in the first
place, as the mother of all the rest ' They shall be lovers of them
selves, then covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers ; '
lovers of themselves, therefore ' covetous ' seeking to increase their own
store, though the means be never so unjust and irregular. They ' shall
be lovers of themselves/ therefore proud, as it is common for such men
to gaze upon their own excellency, and the idol they set up in their
own hearts. They ' shall be lovers of themselves/ therefore * boasters/
Men use to draw others to the worship of their own idols, insulting
over others, because they deify themselves, loving pleasure more than
God, gratifying their private appetites, though with the displeasure of
God. ' Fierce, incontinent/ It were easy to derive their pedigree. But
to instance in a sensible inconvenience, self-love is a ground of self-
trouble and discontent. When men set an high price upon themselves,
and others will not come up to it, then they are troubled and vexed.
He that is low in his own eyes is secured against the contempt of
others ; they cannot think worse of him- than he doth of himself. It
is true, a self-loving man may set himself low in his own expression,
speak as if he were a vile creature ; but that is but an artifice of pride,
to beat self down that it may rebound the higher. If others should
think of him as he speaks of himself, he would be much troubled.
[4.] To give you some remedies against this self-love. If you would
not dote upon yourselves, consider
(1.) The vileness of your original ; it is good to remember * the hole
264 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
i of the pit, out of which we were digged.' Agathocles, a potter's son,
I afterward king of Sicily, would be served in earthen dishes, that he
j might be put in mind of his first condition. We should all consider
the baseness of our original. Why should we be proud of our own
worth? We have been infamous from our birth, tainted in our blood,
prisoners to Satan, defiled in nature, guilty of high treason against God.
What a pitiful creature is man by nature ! Certainly the angels, if
they could be touched with such kind of passions and afflictions, they
cannot choose but laugh at us, to see us dote upon ourselves ; it is as
if a leper should be conceited of the comeliness of his own face, and
think every scar a pearl or ruby. We still halt of the fall and maim
of nature all our lives ; and the longer we live in the world, we are the
more sensible of it. A man that hath been sick, and begins to walk,
he feels the aches in his bones ; so after we are recovered, we feel the
disorder of nature 'We cannot do the things that we would/ Gal. v.
17 : and Kom. vii. 18, ' For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh)
dwelleth no good thing ; for to will is present with me, but how to
perform that which is good, I find not.'
(2.) Consider the purity of God. Much acquaintance with God in
our thoughts would make us loathe ourselves. How did Job cure his
self-love ? Job xlii. 6, ' Mine eyes see thee, and therefore I abhor my
self, and repent in dust and ashes/ The only way to loathe and abhor
ourselves is to think often of God's holiness. To this God must we be
like in holiness ; and when this holy God corneth with his impartial
balance to weigh the spirits of men, and I come to give an account to
him, what a loathsome creature shall I appear ! Whenever your
thoughts begin to be tickled, and your hearts enchanted with self-
admiration ; when you begin to muse how much you excel others in
parts and prudence, turn your thoughts upon the excellency of God,
and then thou wilt cry out, vile, unclean, and unworthy creature I
As the prophet Isaiah, when he saw God in vision : Isa. vi. 5, ' Then
said I, Woe is me ! for I am undone ; because I am a man of unclean
lips ; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts/ When you
think of the immaculate purity of the holy God, all your proud thoughts
will vanish. Daniel saith, Dan. viii. 10, ' I saw this great vision, and
there remained no strength in me ; for my comeliness was turned in
me into corruption, and I retained no strength.' Men are self-con
ceited, because God and their thoughts are mere strangers. The stars
shine most, the further off they are from the sun ; the less light there
is, the more they will shine, as at night ; one seemeth to exceed an
other * One star differeth from another in glory/ 1 Cor. xv, 41. But
when the day comes, all the differences of the stars vanish, none
shineth; the heaven seems to be as if there were no star at all. So
when God ariseth in all his glory, those that are apt to think them
selves to be better than others, they see that all is nothing but dark
ness and mere imperfection in comparison of him.
(3.) Consider the greatness of thy obligation. A man hath no cause
to love himself the more because he hath more gifts than others, but
to love God the more ; great gifts do not argue a good man, but a good
God. The apostle saith, 1 Cor. iv. 7, ' Who hath made thee to differ?'
If thou excellest others, consider, who must have the praise and glory
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 265
of this. Must thou dote upon thyself, or love God that made thee to
differ ? The more thou hast received from him, the more thou art in
debt to him. A man should be humble, not only for his sins, but for
his gifts and excellences. The greater our gifts, the greater must our
account be. Gifts and excellences lay a greater obligation upon us.
It is not the greatness of gifts, but well using of them is the glory of
the receiver ; and that is from God too. If thou shouldst be gracious
and better than others, yet who made thee better ? It is an evidence
thou hast gifts with a curse if they puff thee up.
(4.) After every duty there is enough to keep thee humble. When
thou hast done the duty, either conscience works and smites for some
failing, or it doth not work. If conscience should not work, there is
enough to keep thee humble : 1 Cor. iv. 4, ' I know nothing by myself,
yet I am not thereby justified.' If conscience should not smite thee
for one straggling thought in prayer, one carnal glance and reflection,
yet still you. must say, ' I am not hereby justified.' God knows the
secret working of my heart, to which I am not privy. I am apt to be
partial in my own cause ; this will not quit me before the tribunal of
God. So, Luke xvi. 15, ' Ye are they which justify yourselves before
men, but God knoweth your hearts ; for that which is highly esteemed
among men is an abomination in the sight of God/ He doth not only
say that which is 'esteemed' among men, but that which is 'highly
esteemed ; ' and then he doth not say, God may not have such high
thoughts of it, but it is ' abomination in the sight of God. That which
men call a rose may be found a nettle when it comes to God's judg
ment ; that you call spice may be dung when God comes to make a
judgment ; and thy sacrifices may be carrion. But if conscience should
work, and smite thee for failings, then there is enough to humble thee,
and keep down these high thoughts that self-love is apt to put forth :
1 John iii. 20, 'If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our
heart, and knoweth all things.' My heart now smites me, that I have
had some vain thoughts and carnal reflections while I have been doing
something for God ; but will not God much more ? God seeth with a
more clear light. What is the light of my conscience to the pure eyes
of his glory ? God hath an ocean-hatred against sin, I have but a
drop ; I may hate sin because it is against my interest, but God
hates it, because it is against his nature ; his holiness sets him against
it. God knows the privy turnings of heart. The duty seems to be
a strange duty wherein you will not find some matter of humiliation.
(5.) Get this advantage of thy failing, that thou mayest be the more
out of love with thyself. Oh, what odious creatures should we appear,
if we did but keep a catalogue and roll of every day's miscarriage if
all the errors of our life were but drawn up together ! Now whenever
you put yourselves in the balance, graces in the one scale, sins in the
other, your evils will much overweigh ' Few and evil are the days of
my pilgrimage,' saith Jacob. We have but a few days in the world, a
short life, yet it is long enough for thousands of sins and evils. Our
sins are more than our graces, because in every act of grace there is
some fleshly adherence. We think well of ourselves. Why ? because
we only take notice of our worth and excellency, and not of our defects,
as if the reflexive light were nothing else but to see the good that is in
266 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
us. Consider, conscience was made to censure the evil as well as to
approve the good : Kom. ii. 15, ' Their conscience also bearing witness,
and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing, or else excusing, one
another.' It should be translated thus, accusing and excusing by
turns ; accusing must take its turn. You are bound not only to know
your knowledge, but your ignorance ; not only to reflect upon your
graces, but your sin. It is an easy matter to know our graces, but it
requires a great deal of grace to get a humble sense of our continual
fail <.d-ri.
Secondly, I come now to the second kind of self-love, and that is
self-love to our interests and enjoyments.
There is a lawful respect to the safety and convenience of our lives.
As we are bound to love ourselves, so we are bound to love our interests
and our relations. The service of Christ requires no violation of the
laws of God and nature, but still the great interest must be preserved.
We are bound to love ourselves, but we must love God more than our
selves. He is a true disciple that doth not seek himself, but the honour
of his master. Now the place of scripture for this, is Luke xiv. 26,
' If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, wife and
children, or brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life, he cannot be
my disciple.' To all these relations the scripture enforceth a dear and
tender love ; and yet in such cases where such love is incompatible
with the love of Christ, we should rather hate than love. Hatred there
is the same with denial in this scripture ; hate, that is, to deny his own
life ; all must be renounced for Christ's sake, because there is a higher
obligation. We are more obliged to our Creator than to our parents,
and we owe more service to our Kedeemer than to our greatest friends
and benefactors in the world. Let him not ' love father and mother
above me,' for so it is Mat. x. 37. And pray, mark again, all these
relations are mentioned because one time or other they may prove a
snare. The frowns of a father or mother, it is an ordinary temptation.
When a child takes to religion, he exposeth himself to the displeasure
and brow-beating of a carnal father and mother. And so the insinu
ation of a wife, of one that lies in the bosom, it is a great snare ; so
provision for our children and family ; so brothers and sisters ; loss of
familiarity between them, when we are to lose our commerce, it is a
great temptation. Then love to our own lives. Life, it is the great
possession of the creature, by which we hold other things ; these are
known temptations. Well then, it is a faulty self-love when we love
anything that is ours, and prefer it before the conscience of our duty
to God ; when we are loath to part with our lives, with our relations,
anything that is ours, for Christ's sake, or the just reasons of religion.
Concerning this self-love, I shall observe
1. That we mistake our own identity, and think self to lie more in
the conveniences of the body than of the soul. A man hath a body
and a soul too, and he is to seek the welfare of both. Now we love
the body, and seek the conveniences of the body ; that is the reason
why so often in scripture self is expressed by the body : Eph. v. 25,
' So ought husbands to love their wives, even as their own body/ be
cause naturally our love runs out that way. Man loves this life rather
than the next, and his body rather than his soul, and pleasure more
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 267
than the body ; they waste and harass the body in hunting after riches,
pleasure, and honour, and profit, and such-like appurtenances of the
outward life ; now these are mere mistakes. The self we are to pre
serve and maintain is soul and body, in a convenient state and consti
tution, to perform duty to God, and to attain to true happiness. Now
when we love the body, we do not love that which is properly ourselves.
The body hath more affinity with the beasts, as our souls have with
the angels ; our souls are ourselves f What shall it profit a man to
gain the whole world and lose his soul ? * In another evangelist it is,
4 If he shall lose himself.' Our souls were chiefly regarded by Christ ;
in the work of redemption he poured out * his soul to death' for our
souls ; therefore in denying thy self this must be distinguished.
Whatever thou dost with the body, or the conveniences of the body,
do nothing to prejudice the soul and eternal happiness. I ground this
observation upon this very context. Christ had spoken something of
his bodily sufferings ; and saith Peter unto his master ; ' Favour thy
self/ Mat. xvi. 23 ; and then Christ giveth this lesson in the text,
* Deny thyself/ and take up thy cross ' If any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me ; for
whosoever will save his life shall lose it. and whosoever will lose his
life for my sake shall find it ; ' and then explains it, ver. 26, * For what
is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world and lose his own
soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? ; We lose
by saving the body. He that makes his body himself, and the appur
tenances and conveniences of the temporal life himself, he will deny
Christ, but will never deny himself. You must reckon upon and dis
cern this first, what is yourself.
2. We misplace self as well as mistake it. He that loves himself
more than God lays God aside, and sets self on the throne in his heart ,
now this is a great crime in the eye of nature. There is a natural
reverence to what we conceive to be of divine power. Every one will
say, I love God best ; God forbid, I should love anything above God.
We cry out against the Jews for preferring Barabbas before Christ,
yet we do the like every day, when we prefer a carnal satisfaction before
communion with God. We think the Gadarenes were vile men, that
could be content to part with Christ, and preferred their swine before
him ; yet we, that profess to believe the dignity of his person, do many
times little less. We look upon it as a great scorn in the Philistines
that they should set up Dagon above the ark ; yet this is done by
carnal persons, and they are not sensible of it, because it is done (as
idolatry is, under this light we enjoy) spiritually. Look, as a man
may give the devil bad words, yet hold the crown upon his head, that
doth not exempt us from his power and dominion many that defy
the devil in their words, yet defy him not with their heart so empty
professions do not satisfy. This self-love is not to be measured by
naked professions, but real experiences. If your heart be carried out]
more to the creature than to God, and the strength of our spirit run
out to pleasure, arid we spend whole hours and days that way, and can
find no time for God, we love the creature more than God, though we
do not say so much in gross language.
But here a question will arise, What are those usual experiences, by
268 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
which this disposition is to be measured ? I shall answer it in several
propositions.
1. The comparison of affection with affection is the best way to dis
cover the temper and strength of our love ; that is, when we compare
our affection to Christ with our affection to other matters ; for we can
not judge of any affection by its single exercises, what it doth alone as
to one object, as well as by observing the difference and disproportion
of our respect to several objects. If you observe the vein of marks
and signs in scripture, they always put us upon this compounded trial,
the disproportion of our respect to God and to the world ; as to instance
both in the pleasure and profit of the world. In the pleasure of the
world, 2 Tim. iv, 3, there is a description of very carnal men ' Lovers
of pleasure more than lovers of God.' Simply and apart, a man can
not be so well tried, either by his love to God or by his love to pleasure ;
not by his love to God, because there is in all men a pretence of devo
tion and service to God ; nor by his love to pleasure, because there is a
lawful allowance of taking pleasure in the creatures, provided they do
not take and overcome our hearts. But now, when you compare
affection with affection, when the strength of a man's heart is carried
out to the use of worldly comforts and pleasures, and God is neglected,
and we cannot find any delight in the exercises of religion and the
way of communion, God hath established between himself and us ;
this is an ill note, and shows that we are ' lovers of pleasure more than
lovers of God.' So for the profit of the world, Luke xii. 21, Christ
spake a parable, to find out who is the covetous man, and concludes it
thus ' And so is he that lays up treasures to himself, and is not rich
towards God.' Simply, man cannot be tried by laying up of treasures,
by hoarding up worldly provision, and by getting increase in the world.
Why ? because we are allowed to be active and cheerful in the way of
our calling, and God may bless our industry. And besides, on the
other hand, a man may think he hath made some provision for heaven,
because he waits upon God in some duties of religion, and because of
some cold and faint operations, some devout and cold actings and
workings of his soul. But now compare care with care * He that
lays up treasures to himself, and is not rich towards God ; ' that is,
when a man is all for getting wealth for himself, and is not so earnest
to get grace and get a covenant interest for himself, to be enriched
with spiritual and heavenly exercises ; when men follow after spiritual
things in a formal and careless manner, and after earthly things with
the greatest earnestness and strength that may be ; when respects to
the world are accompanied with the neglect of heaven ; when men can
be content with a lean soul, so they may have a fat estate ; when all
their care is to join land to land, and not lay up evidences for heaven;
this is a sign the heart is naught, and grossly covetous.
2. Though comparison be the best way to discover love, yet this
love is not to be measured by the lively stirring acts of love so much
as by the solid esteem and constitution of the spirit. Why ? because
the act may be more lively where the love is less firm and rooted in
the heart. The passions of suitors are greater than the love of the
husband, yet not so deeply rooted. The commotion may be greater
in less love, but esteem and solid complacency is always a fruit of the
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 269
greater love. Men laugh many times most when they are not always
best pleased. A man may laugh at a toy, yet he cannot be said to
rejoice more in that toy than in other things, because the act of his
joy is more lively than it would be in a solid, serious matter. We
laugh more at a trifle, but are better pleased at a great courtesy. The
commotion of the body, and spirits, and humours, depends much upon
the strength of fancy ; and fancy depends much upon the sense and the
presence of the object, so that sensible things do much affect and urge us
in the present state to which we are subjected ; we are masses of flesh
and blood, and it is our infirmity introduced by sin, that the senses and
vital and animal spirits are affected with sensible things rather than
spiritual. For instance, a man may have more affectionate expressions
upon the loss of a child or an estate, than at God's dishonour. A man
may weep more for a temporal loss than for sin. Why ? because in
spiritual things grief doth not always keep the road, and vent itself by
the eyes. So a man may seem to have more lively joy in sensible
blessings than in spiritual, and yet he cannot be concluded to be carnal -
Why ? because of the solid estimation of his heart ; he could rather
part with all these things than offend God ; had rather want this and
that comfort than want the favour of God. David longed and fainted for
the waters of Bethlehem, as strongly as the spouse that was sick of love,
longed for Christ. But he would not have refused the consolations of
the Spirit, as he refused, pouring out the waters of Bethlehem. The
affections may be violently carried out to a present good, which though
it be not without some weakness and sin, yet it doth not argue a state
of sin. Therefore the judgment you are to make upon your heart,
whether you love your relations and contentments more than God, is
not to be determined by the rapid motion, but by the constant stream
and bent of the heart. Your affections may be more vehemently
stirred up to outward objects, because two streams meeting in one
channel run more vehemently and strongly than one stream. It is a
duty required of us by nature and grace moderately to prize these
things, children and friends, outward delights and comforts ; nature
craves a part, and grace judgeth it to be convenient ; there may be
more sensible stirring in the one though the solid complacency and
esteem of the soul be set right.
3. As our affection to outward things is not to be judged by the
vigorous motion and titillation of the spirits, so neither altogether by
the time and care that we lay out upon them. A man may spend
more time in the world than in prayer with God, yet he cannot be
said to love the world more than God. Why? Because bodily
necessities are more pressing than spiritual. In the proportions of
time, we see that God allowed six days for man to labour, and ap
propriated only the seventh to himself, which is an intimation at least
that the supply of bodily necessities will require more time than
spiritual. I do not speak this, as if in the week a man were free whether
he would serve God or no. For as we may do works of necessity on the
sabbath day, to preserve ourselves, so we must in the week redeem
seasons for duty. But I speak this to show that the great proportions
of time spent in the world do not argue disproportion of affection to
God and the world. The body must be maintained. Nature and
270 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
grace hath laid a law upon us so to do, and it cannot be maintained
without active diligence in our calling ; and therefore, though I should
give God but two hours in the day for immediate service, and spend
the other in my calling, and necessary refreshment, yet I cannot be
said to love God less and the world more, provided it be with these
two cautions
[1.] That I go about the duties of my calling in obedience, and
upon a principle, and for ends of religion. If a Christian were wise,
he might give God all his time, not only that which he spends in the
closet, but that which he spendeth in the shop ; when you go about
your worldly business with a heavenly mind, and do it as God's work,
to the end of his glory. Those that live by handy labour, they must
labour, not merely to sustain themselves, but to glorify God, and da
good to their neighbours : Eph. iv. 28, ' Let him that stole, steal no
more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing that
is good, that he may give to him that needs.' Mark, if a man were in
such necessity, if he hath but from hand to mouth, if a man live by
handy labour, yet he is to have a gracious end, to bring glory to God,
to be useful to his neighbour, to give to him that needs. So that in
effect God hath the most work, though grace be exercised rather about
temporal than spiritual employments; for the difference is not so much
in the proportion of time as in the materials of grace. In our callings
grace is to work there ; grace works to keep the heart right in worldly
employments ; and in duties of worship, grace works to keep the heart
right in spiritual employments. That in worldly business we may
have a heavenly, mind, and that in spiritual business we may not have
carnal minds ; that now and then you may send a glance to heaven ;
and in duties, that you may not straggle into the world.
[2.] My next proviso is that you will sometimes make the world
give way to grace, and rather encroach upon your temporal than spiri
tual necessities. Too, too often we find the * lean kine devour the fat.'
Now it is good sometimes to take revenge, and let grace encroach upon
the world, for special and solemn duties. Look, as it is a sin to feed
without fear, so it is a sin to trade without fear, lest we should be too
much in the world. Eemember, ' we are debtors, not to the flesh/
Kom. viii. 12. Did we promise we would be all for the flesh ? No,
but rather we are ' debtors to the Spirit/ we have entered into covenant
to gain all opportunities for heaven. It is better to make business
give way to duty, than duty to business. Bernard hath a pretty ex
pression, Felix ilia domus u~bi Martha queritur de Maria That is
a happy family where Martha is complaining of Mary ; when the world
complains of duty, rather than duty complains of the world, for the
greatest part of our time and care should be spent in the work of God.
4. The great trial of our esteem and love to God is when duty and
interest are utterly severed. When we are put upon an exigency or
strait either to deny ourselves or Christ ; as in the similitude of the
dog following his master, when two walk together in company, we do
not know whose he is ; but when they part, the matter is tried. God
and mammon may sometimes walk together, but when they part
company, you are put to your choice, whether you. will leave God or
the company of mammon. I leave all upon this decision, because such
BOOK L] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 271
straits and cases are called SoKirjias, trials { Knowing the trial of your
faith worketh patience;' and 'count it all joy when ye fall into divers
trials/ James i. Our affections are brought into the lists, and God
and angels sit as spectators to behold the combat. Here are deliber
ate debates ; and when in a deliberate debate the world gets the victory
of conscience, it is an ill sign ; here you show whether your esteem
and a solid complacency be in God or no. The things of religion, in
the absence of a temptation, seem best, but when you are brought to an
actual choice, either of duty or sin when duty is left without sensible
encouragement, or loaded with sensible discouragement, what will you
do then ? which will you prefer ? Kev. xii. 11, * They loved not their
lives unto the death ; ' when it came to the pinch. A temptation,
represented in fancy and speculation, is nothing so terrible as it is in
its own appearance. We may be of great confidence in fancy, as Peter
was ; but when we are called out to death itself, then not to love our
friends or lives, to hazard the frowns of a father, the familiarity of
kindred, provisions for your children, it is a sign your love to God is
real. It is true, in such a case as this is, a child of God may be over
borne by the violence of such a temptation, but speedily he retracts his
error. Here is the great trial, when we are called out (as first or last
we are) to break a law or hazard an interest, to please men or to please
God ; then are we put to it, to see if we will deny ourselves or Christ.
The high priest under the law had the names of the tribes upon
his breast, but the name of God on his front or forehead Exod. xxviii.
29, compared with 37 to show that he was to love the people, but to
honour God ; an emblem of every Christian, if his relations be on his
breast, yet the honour of God must be on his forehead. That interest
must be chief and predominant ; when we can venture upon the dis
pleasure of God to gratify our interest, this is to love ourselves more
than God.
But you will say, Many of us are still left in the dark, every one is
not called to martyrdom and public contests. How shall we judge of
our own hearts, and know whether we have this kind of faulty self-
love ? whether we mistake and misplace ourselves, or not ? I answer,
We need not wish for these cases, they will come fast enough, before
we come to heaven. But if they come not, there are a great many
other cases by which you may try your souls cases that do not belong
to martyrdom. I shall (1.) Show what are the acts of self-love ; (2.)
What showeth the reign and state of it ; (3.) Give some remedies.
1. The acts of this kind of self-love are many. All sins are a conversion
from God to the creature ; and so far as we sin, we prefer the creature
before God. But there are some special acts of sin that are to be taxed
and censured upon this occasion. When a man can break a law to
salve an interest, and makes duty to give way to relations, this is to
venture on God's displeasure to gratify a friend. No affection to the
creature should draw us to offend God. So it is said to Eli : 1 Sam.
ii. 29, ' Thou honourest thy sons above me.' Eli did not think so, in
his heart ; but this was the interpretation of his act. By virtue of his
office he should have put them by the priesthood ; but he chose rather
to please his sons than God, and was more careful of the credit of his
sons than of the credit of God's worship, which was extremely scand-
'2T2 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
alised. When parents prefer their children to spiritual employments,
or continue them there for their maintenance, though otherwise unfit
and unworthy, this is to honour their sons above God. God is to have
the highest honour and respect.
[2.] When we can part with spiritual prerogatives for a more free
enjoyment of carnal pleasures. When we make pleasures to be the
business of our lives, and are carried out with great affection thereunto,
but are cold and careless in the service of God, this is to love them
more than God, 2 Tim. iii. 4. It is a sin not to be stroked with a
gentle censure. There is much of profaneness shown, when duty and
pleasure come in competition ; and we cannot find any contentment in
communion with God, but can part with that to gratify the senses.
The temptation is so low, that the sin riseth the higher. When the
consolations of God are exchanged for the pleasures of sin, it is a sorry
exchange ; like Esau's selling his birthright for a mess of pottage, Heb.
xii. 16. When the temptation is small, and yet prevalent, it is a sign
the natural inclinations are very great ; they are carried downwards,
as heavy bodies, by their own weight ; they are not forced, but inclined.
A little sinful delight and satisfaction draweth them out of the way,
and maketh them hazard the love of God, the consolations of the Spirit,
and whatsoever is dear and precious to Christ. Now this is aggravated,
when upon serious debates and stragglings of conscience men do not
what is best, but what is sweetest, it is a very shrewd symptom of this
evil, for resolution or debate argueth something of choice and full con
sent ; not only a doing of evil, but a preferring of it.
[3.] When men have an actual conviction upon them, and out of
carnal reasons think of delays ; Mat. xxii. 5, ' They made light of it,
and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise ; '
and so, Luke xiv. 18, they are loath to part from these things. Christ
calleth, not only from sin, but from the world ; they do not send a
denial, but an excuse ; some neglect, others oppose. They do not kill
the preachers, yet they prefer these paltry matters before the king's
grace tendered to them. When their hearts are affixed on worldly
affairs, they will not leave them for heavenly offers. An overgreat care
for the business of the world worketh a neglect of God : Heb. ii. 3,
' How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? ' Though
we do not contemn or oppose, yet if we neglect, we think the world
better, and will not be called off to higher things.
[4.] When men have a greater savour in worldly gain than in the
ordinances of God, when they think all time is lost that is spent in
duty : Amos viii. 5, those wretches that said, ' When will the new
moon be gone, that we may sell corn ; and the Sabbath be over, that
we may set forth wheat ? ' It was a hindrance and a loss to them to
lose a day ; it was irksome to fast from gain. It is a profane spirit
that grudgeth God his time, and to think that all is lost that is spent
in duty and service to him ; this is to love the world more than God.
This savour is bewrayed by self-denial, when we can deny ourselves
more for pleasure than for God ; it is an ill sign when we count noth
ing too much for our lusts, and everything too much for God. When
we spend whole days in the world, Ps. cxxvii. 2, or in pleasure, count
ing it a pleasure to riot in the day-time, 2 Pet. ii. 13 ; in effect and
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 273
necessary interpretation, this is to ' love pleasure more than God/
When we cut God short of his necessary allowance, and do not keep
the soul healthy, and are loath to redeem time for ordinances, and can
spend it freely and without remorse in pleasures, and this is our joy
and rejoicing ; when men can rack their brains and waste their
strength in worldly business, yet will not take pains in a godly life, it
shows that the world, not God, is uppermost in the heart.
[5.] When for the favour and countenance of men, and our ambition
to attain them, we do many things that are contrary to the conscience
of our duty to God. It is an ill sign when men cannot satisfy them
selves in the approbation of Christ ; he should be instead of all. It
were a great folly in a race to make the people judges, and neglect the
aycovoOer'rjs ; it is no matter what standers-by say, so the judge of the
race do approve. Yet thus too many do ; they are convinced of the
excellency of the ways of God, yet dare not profess them, lest they
should ' lose the praise of men/ John xii. 42, 43. Their consciences
were sufficiently convinced, but their heart was not subdued and
weaned from self-respect. In all controverted cases, thus it falls out ;
men are hardened, not so much for want of light, as want of love to
God ; they will not veil to truth. Such a spirit, in the reign of it, is
wholly inconsistent with grace, for so Christ chargeth it : John v, 44,
' How can ye believe, when ye seek honour one of another ? ' Men are
loath to lose credit with their own party ; so Paul, Gal. i. 10, ' For do
I persuade men, or God ? or, do I seek to please men ? For if I yet
pleased men, I should not have been the servant of Jesus Christ.'
Paul, when a pharisee, was carried with a wild zeal, and animated
with a false fire.
[6.] When we find more complacency in outward enjoyments, and
are more satisfied with them than in God's love and favour; when
men cannot find any sweetness in communion with God, but are
wonderfully drawn out in fleshly delights. This is contrary to the dis
positions of God's people : Ps. Ixxxiv. 10, ' One day in thy courts is
better than a thousand elsewhere/ Oh, that is a day of a thousand
that is spent in free access to God in his ordinances ! Wherever there
is a new heart, it must have new desires and new delights. But carnal
men, like swine, find more pleasure in swill than in better food. It is
irksome to converse with God in duties, they find no more pleasure than
in the white of an egg. As those, Mai. i. 13, that brought the sick lamb,
and the lame, yet they did count it a great burthen, and they say,
' What a weariness is it ! ' They puffed and blowed, and said, How
weary am I with bringing this sacrifice ! This is an ill note, and dotli
in effect proclaim that the life of pleasures is more excellent and satis
fying than that which is spent in the exercises of religion.
[7.] It argueth a spice of this carnal self-love when men envy them
that have outward increase, as if they had the better portion. This it*
an evil with which the children of God may be surprised when Satan
is at their elbows. They may have admiring thoughts of the world,
and think it a brave thing to milk out the breasts of worldly consola
tions: Ps. cxliv. 15, 'Happy is the people that is in such a case.'
But this is but like a nod in case of drowsiness, they awake with more
vigour and life ; yea, rather, ' Happy is that people whose God is the
VOL. xv. s
274 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
Lord/ The ground of this trial is because God in the ordinances is
much more sweet than God in the creature, even as much as grace
excelleth nature. Now, the best that wicked and carnal men have is
but God in the creature. You prize a carnal self when you look lean
upon their mercies ; you have a true self, that is more advanced and
ennobled ; but you prize a carnal self, as if this would make you more
happy than those privileges you have, and the comforts you enjoy with
a good conscience. For the aggravating of this evil, consider, the deyil
himself is not taken with material things, with carnal pleasure, and
with the delight of the senses. Why ? because he is a spiritual essence.
Christians, they are made partakers of a divine nature ; therefore when
carnal men increase in wealth, or grow fat, and flourish in outward
pleasure, they should not envy them. The people of God have always
disclaimed this evil, as the Psalmist doth, in Ps. vi. 7, * Thou hast put
more gladness into my heart than when corn, and oil, and wine in
creased/ If they grow fat upon common mercies, should I wax lean
upon spiritual mercies ? So Ps. xvii. 15, ' As for me, I will behold
thy face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy
likeness.' Those that bear down all before them with violence, they
.may be filled with treasures, they may provide for their babes, but I
envy them not their portion ; I have a better self, that is provided for
' When I awake, 1 shall be satisfied with thy image and likeness/
[8.] When men are more troubled for worldly losses than they are
for sins against God, this is also to love the creature more than God,
All affection follows love, and so doth grief ; and therefore it is notable,
John xi. 35, it is said, 'Jesus wept,' and then it followeth, ' They
said, Behold, how he loved him/ The greatness of our grief will
bewray the greatness of our love ; therefore when we grieve more for
worldly losses than for sins, this is an act of self-love. I confess, in
crosses there may be a greater commotion, but there should not be a
more solid grief. A Christian's sorrow is consecrated, it is water for
the uses of the sanctuary ; we should not lavish out our tears, but
reserve them. m Men may spend their affections on carnal matters, and
then, when they should mourn for sin, they have no tenderness left.
Most of our grief should be for the affront we put upon God's grace.
It is an argument men love the creature more than God, when they
can grieve more for a temporal loss than for departure of God.
2. ^ Then for the state of it. Most of the marks already given are
convincing , yet you must know a man is not tried by what he doth
in a temptation in all these things ; but a man is to be measured by
the constant course of his life. When a man maketh pleasures and
earthly advantages to be the scope of his life rather than God's service,
andletteth go all care of heaven, and constantly consults with flesh and
blood, and is ruled and guided by the love of the creature and respect
to his own interest, rather than the love of God, this argues the state.
Many a man, in fact, and by the interpretation of his action, may be
said to love the creature more than God. But the state is to be
measured by the esteem and solid constitution of the soul; when
men's bent is to the carnal life, and they are prejudiced against the
strict part of religion, and have neither hope, nor desire, nor estirna- 1
tion for Christ, as the pearl of greatest price. And therefore, when-
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 275
ever they are put to the trial, they fall off from Christ to the ' present
world/ as 2 Tim. iv. 10. They seek to provide for their safety and
profit rather than peace of conscience, and never, or but in a slight
manner, look after their true self, and I may add, are not grieved for
the failings in act. This showeth it is an habituated disposition ; self
is in the throne, and not God.
3. I come now to offer some remedies. Herein I shall speak some
thing by way of consideration, and something by way of means. I
shall be brief, because prevented in the general part. To inform the
judgment is not so necessary, every one will confess that it is not fit
the creature should be preferred before God ; but to impress an awe
upon the heart, and to awaken faith and meditation.
[1.] Consider, how much thou differest from the temper of God's
children, when thou preferrest self before God, and esteemest the out
ward appendages of life rather than that which is properly thyself. The
children of God count the worst part of godliness better than the best
of worldly pleasures. Take Christ at the worst ; when obedience puts
us upon inward trouble or outward suffering, yet they think it is fit he
should have the preferment ; they count the groans of prayer better
than the acclamations of the theatre. The very tears of God's children
are blessed, and they look upon the most burdensome and difficult
duties as sweet. They cannot only say, ' Thy loves are better than
wine,' as Cant. i. 3 ; the manifestations of his grace are more choice
than the best refreshments of the creature ; but, * One day in thy
courts is better than a thousand/ Ps. Ixxxiv. Galeacius Carracciolus
said, Cursed be the man that thinks all the world worth one hour's
communion with God. Now when thou preferrest thy pleasure and
contentment, what a vast difference is there between thee and them !
It is recorded of Moses, Heb. xi. 26, that ' he esteemed the reproaches
of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.' He looks upon
that as the most glorious passage of his life. And Thuanus saith of
Lewis Marsae, a French nobleman, when he was condemned to suffer
for religion, and because of the nobility of his blood was not bound
with ropes, as others were, Cur non et me torque donas, &c. Give
me my chain also, and make me a knight too of this excellent order.
The reproaches of Christ are better than all the pleasures of the world.
[2.] Consider, how wilt thou be able to look Jesus Christ in the
face on the day of recompenses, when you have such cheap and low
thoughts of him for trifles, when you are content to part with God
and Christ, and all the comfort and hope of the Spirit, for a trifle, for
worldly concernments, base and dreggy pleasures. The day of judg
ment is one of the enforcements of self-denial When Christ had laid
down this doctrine of self-denial, ver, 27, saith he, 'For the Son of
Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, and then
he shall reward every man according to his works.' The devil will
insult over you, because you would forsake Christ' upon so small a
temptation, and would sell all the excellent things of religion for a toy,
a matter of nothing. And how will you look the blessed companions
of Christ in the face, angels, and those self-denying saints that could
give up every concernment, and counted not their lives dear ? You
become the scorn of saints and angels : Ps. Hi. 7, ' Lo, this is the man
276 A TKEATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK L
that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his
riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness/ This is the man
that would not make God his portion, that preferred his body before
his soul, and his wealth and pleasure before Christ ; this is he that
would not part with a little comfort in the world for Christ's sake.
[3.] Consider, if we would love ourselves, we should love our best
self. The dignity of the soul requires the chiefest care to keep and
save it. The body was made to be the soul's instrument to work by,
therefore it is inferior to it ; we should look principally to the safety
of the soul. Besides, the bodily life may be lost, but the soul endures
to eternity ; the bodily life may be repaired, while the soul is sick.
Therefore it is best to secure the soul in the hands of Christ, and
then thou canst not miscarry. Alas ! the body is but the case, but
the vessel, as Anaxarchus said, Tunde vasculum, &c. When he was
put into a great mortar, and pounded with brazen pestles, he cried out
to his tormentor, Beat on, beat on the bag of Anaxarchus, thou canst
not hurt himself. Now who would preserve the case, and lose the
treasure ?
[4.] You may seek self with more allowance and leave from God
and conscience, yea, and with more success, when the better part of
self is once secured and made safe. Self-love is not abrogated and
disannulled by grace, but overruled and put in its proper place. By
the law of nature we are first to look after the necessities, and then the
conveniences of life. We are bound to look after the necessities and
conveniences of the body, but first we must look to the soul : Luke x.
42, * One thing is necessary ; ' it is a necessary thing to secure the
soul. It should be the main care of a Christian to state what is neces
sary for the salvation of his soul ; this will stead you in life and death.
This one thing is simply necessary ; one thing is necessary for itself,
all other things necessary in order to it. Thou art to maintain thy
body, that it may be an instrument for thy soul while thou actest and
workest toward true happiness. ' Seek first the kingdom of God,' Mat.
vi. 33 ; that is, first seek to get into a state of grace. The kingdom
of God is put for all the whole state of evangelical grace. The first
thing the Israelites did in the morning was to seek manna ; this kept
them alive. So the first thing, and thy chiefest care and work should
be to secure thy soul, and then all other things will be added, so far as
they are convenient.
[5.] The very motives and reasons that draw us to self-love do draw
us to better things, for he that loveth anything would love the best of
the kind ; and therefore, if we love anything that is good, let us love
that which is eternally good. What do we love ? is it friends, life,
glory, pleasure, substance ? When we love friends, let us love the
best of friends, an eternal friend, such as God is. We should please
them most with whom we are to live longest. If we love long life, let
us love eternity ; if glory and praise, remember that there is no praise
like that which is given us before God and angels, out of Christ's own
mouth ; vain glory, it is nothing to everlasting glory. If we love plea
sure, let us love the best of the kind ; those ' pleasures which are at
God's right hand ; ' the nearer the fountain, the sweeter the water.
If we love wealth, let us love ' enduring substance/ Heb. x. 34, the
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 277
joy of heaven is Celled ' enduring substance.' All earthly things are
'but perishing movables.
[6.] Consider, what reason we have to love God above all things ;
not only in point of desert, we are more obliged to God than to all
things in the world, and not only in point of law and duty, which we
shall be responsible for, but in point of natural reason. All the crea
tures are but the image and shadow of that goodness which is in God.
The good of the creature is but splendor summi ~boni a ray or beam
of the chief est good. God hath parcelled out his goodness, these are
but bro'ken pieces. Why should we dote upon the image, and neglect
the substance ? Why should we love other things, and not God much
more ? and, with the dog, catch after the shadow, and let go the sub
stance ? It is true, in the creature there are some draughts and strict
ures of God's goodness which serve to put us in mind of God ; not to
intercept our affections, but to proclaim to us that God is more worthy
of our respect and esteem. God hath parcelled out his goodness in all
the creatures, to admonish us, and not to satisfy us. Consider, all these
things stand in need of God to preserve them, they need other things.
But now, God alone is enough, and he himself, without the creature,
can satisfy thee ; he that hath God hath all things ; he that possesseth
him, ' possesseth all things,' 1 Cor. iii. 18, and they are more thine when
thou hast them not, than when thoti dost enjoy them without God, for
then they are a less snare to thee. So then say with indignation to all
other loves, ' Whom have I in heaven but thee/ &c. Ps. Ixxiii. 25.
[7.] It is a very great honour when thou art called out to any actual
trial, to show how much thou lovest God above the creature. There
is no cause of grief in such a case, if our eyes were opened and our
affections mortified. Certainly it is better to give up our concernments
to God freely than to have them taken away from us by force ; to offer
them up to God, than to have them snatched from us. It is a great
honour that God will have our will exercised, and our loyalty mani
fested ; he might take away our pleasant things by the dominion of his
providence, and so they may be taken away in punishment. It is an
honour when we can sacrifice them by way of thanksgiving ; death
will take us from them, and God may take them from us. It is an
honour that we may resign them before we die, and that by an act of
choice and consent we may render them to God for the sake of a good
conscience. ' To you, it is given to suffer,' saith the apostle ; your gain
will be more than your loss. The means that may enable you to obtain
this self-denial, follow.
(1.) See that you take heed of complicating and folding up thyself
with the creature. We are apt to make ourselves too large ; take heed,
what thou countest thyself. There is an old and corrupt self, which
we should not own. Consider thy comfort, thy safety, thy value and
acceptation with God, doth not depend upon these things, Luke xii.
15 ; thy safety doth not lie in them ; these things are but pipes to con
vey the blessing of God to thee. Thou dost not live upon abundance,
but upon providence ; otherwise thy bread would be as a turf of earth
to thee, not thy comfort. A man may have happiness enough in a
single God, without the creature, Hab. iii. 18. In heaven, it is our
privilege that there God is ' all in all/ without the intervention of
278 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
means and creatures. It is a dark way to enjoy God in the creature ;
the highest way is to enjoy him alone, separate from these outward
things. Neither thy value and esteem with God, nor thy eternal life,
doth lie in it. God loves thee, though naked, stripped of all temporal
gifts and favours ; he doth not love thine, but thee. Jesus Christ died
not for thy goods and estate, but for thy person. And when God looks
for thee in heaven, he doth not look that thou shouldst come with a
train of outward comforts ; for when we go to the grave we go naked,
and leave these things behind us.
(2.) Act faith, partly upon the blessed recompenses. What is the
reason men dote upon the creature ? Because they are not acquainted
with a higher glory. Carnal men are purblind, they cannot ' see afar
off/ 2 Peter i. 9 ; they look upon the things of heaven as golden dreams,
as pleasing delusions ; therefore cannot be divorced, nor separate their
affections from present comforts. It is notable, when Christ said to
Zaccheus, ' Salvation is come to thy house,' presently he saith, ' Half
of my goods I give to the poor.' As good almost bid men pluck them
selves asunder, as press them to such a thing ; it is as to rend the
body from itself ; yet the sight of heaven will do this.
(3.) Then faith must be employed to judge aright of present
sufferings and encumbrances : faith must count losses to be savings.
As we are not to believe reason, so not sense, against the articles of
faith. Why do we believe the glorious mystery of the trinity, three
in one ? Because Christ hath revealed it to us. The same Jesus hath
revealed, ' Blessed are they that suffer persecution ; and he that loseth
shall save/ Why should we count that grievous which Christ hath
called blessedness ? Why should we count that loss which indeed is
the greatest gain ? We are as much bound to believe persecutions
will make us blessed, and losing will be saving, as we are bound to
believe that God is three in one, and that there is a union of the two
natures in the person of Christ. Faith is as much seen in practicals
as it is in speculative principles ; there it is oftener tried ; the other
is but in special temptations.
(4.) Let us love ourselves, and all things else, in God, and for God's
sake. When God is made ours, we love ourselves in loving God. We
should love nothing but for God's sake ; do all to his glory, and with
aims and ends of religion. Certainly God doth all things for himself.
We should not love any other, no, not ourselves, but for God's sake, and
the accomplishing of his holy will. If we Jove the godly, we should
love them because they bear his image. Our enemies we should love,
because of God's command, and our relations and comforts as they are
God's gifts to us. God must have all the heart ; and in those affections
that are carried out to other things, the supreme reason must be taken
from God. That is the law still in force : Deut. vi. 5, ' Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy
might. The Lord our God is but one.' And it is often repeated in
the new testament. We are to reserve no part for idols, for creatures ;
all is too little for so great a God, though it be more than we can per
form. When a great prince in his progress comes to an inn, he takes
up all the rooms in the house, not holding it to stand with his state to
have a stranger to be sharer with him. All our respect must either be
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 279
carried out to God, or to other things for God's sake. Certainly this
will be a means to keep ourselves from such a degree of affection to
them, as may alienate and divide our souls from God ; yea, in whatever
we love, it will make us tend to the service and glory of God. Look,
as when one foot of the compass is fixed in the centre, it gives strength
and direction to the other part that moves about the circumference ; so
when the heart is fixed in God, resolved to love God alone, we shall
receive strength and direction from him, our love will be rightly set
The saints and angels above love God with all their hearts and all their
souls, therefore they cannot sin. Love is all the rule and guide they
have, they can do nothing inordinately ; so should we, in our measures,
labour to come up to this, and it would be an exceeding great
regulation of our love. Self-interest may come in as accessory, but the
principal and original cause of all is God alone. We should love our
selves united with God by Jesus Christ ; love God's servants as those
that are dignified and beautified with his image ; our relations, as they
may be tokens to us of God's love.
THE fourth branch is against self-seeking, by which I mean a denial
of our own ends, for God must be the utmost end of all the creatures
actings.
Here I shall show
1. What this self-seeking is.
2. The evidences how it bewrays itself.
3. How necessary it is to handle it.
4. How difficult it is to deny this part of self.
5. Some remedies by way of consideration and practice.
First, What it is. Self-seeking is a sin, by which men refer all they
do or can do, to their own glory and advancement. There is a double
self-seeking, contrary to the double end of the creature's being and
operation ; one, by which we aim at our own profit ; and another, by
which we aim at our own glory. For the two great ends of the crea
ture's being are, that we may enjoy God ; and then that we may glorify
God.
1. Our great aim should be to enjoy God ; that is the happiness to
which we are poised and inclined by the bent of nature. An immortal
soul was made for an eternal good ; nothing beneath God will satisfy
it ; and the heaven that we expect is nothing else but the filling up the
soul with God. There is a great controversy in the world between God
and self while we are here ; but now in heaven the quarrel is taken up,
and we and God are united in the nearest and closest way of union
and communion, that we may enjoy him forever. Now when we rest
in any low enjoyment, and are satisfied with it without God, that is
self-seeking ; in effect it is self-destroying, self-losing. But the scripture
speaks according to our aim and intention ; we intend to seek ourselves,
though in effect, we do but lose ourselves. Of this the scripture speaks
' All seek their own, and not that which is Jesus Christ's/ In effect,
neither their own, nor Christ's, but the carnal and corrupt heart of a
man counts nothing our own things, but the concernments of the flesh.
Of this kind of self-seeking they are guilty that do God's work, but not
with God's end ; not to enjoy him, but to enjoy the world ; they make
280 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
a mere merchandise of obedience ; if they have worldly gain, they are
satisfied ; for other things they will give God a bill of discharge : Mat.
vi. 12, * They have their reward/ They will acquit and release God
of all the grant and promise that he hath made of heaven to them in
the covenant of grace, if God will give them a patent to enjoy as much
of the world as they can, which argues a sordid and base spirit : Rom.
xvi. 18, ' They are such as serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their
own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of
the simple.' The apostle speaks of false teachers, that did not make God
their end, but were wholly bent upon their secular profit ; that reprove
not for, but soothe men up in, their sin. In their preaching there is no
salt, and in their private visits there is a great deal of worldly com
pliance, and all because they have set up another God, such a base
thing as the belly, instead of Christ.
2. The next aim of the creature should be to glorify God in all the
motions and operations of the soul. This must be the settled frame
and constitution of souls, to enjoy God, that is our happiness ; to
glorify God, that is our work ; and therefore, when the aim of the
heart is at our own glory and praise, this is self-seeking. Now, that
you may discern it the better, and see when the soul is guilty of it, I
shall show you how far we are to intend the glory of God in every
action of ours ; I shall do it in these propositions
[1.] This must be the end that we must propose to ourselves in all
our civil actions ; though the action be civil, yet the end must be
religious, that I may glorify God, and do good to others, 1 Cor. x. 31,
though it be but in such a natural action, as eating and drinking ; this
must be the fixed aim, ' to do all to the glory of God,' otherwise you
set up another God, Moloch instead of God. When merely you eat to
gratify your own flesh, it may be a meat-offering and drink-offering
to appetite. So also for your traffic ; if it be merely for wealth, it
is but consecrating yourselves to mammon, and setting the world in
the place of God. This is the great mercy of God, that, considering
our necessity, he hath so wisely ordered it that he might lose no part
of our time. Our very natural actions may be religious. Works of
nature may become acts of grace, and our traffic may be a kind of
worship when our ends are to glorify him ; otherwise we set up self
in his place. Your very eating is idolatry when it is merely to please
and gratify self. Your table it is a table of devils ' Whose God is the
belly/ Phil. iii. 18. And then, as for your traffic : when you trade in
the world merely to grow rich, and have not an aim at the glory and
service of God, you set up another god ; mammon is your God, Mat.
vi. 24, ' No man can serve two masters ; ye cannot serve God and
mammon/ But here ariseth a question worthy to be discussed,
Whether in every action we are bound actually to intend God's glory ?
I answer, We should labour as much as we can to make our thoughts
actual ; this is the very vitality and vigour of the spiritual life, when all
our natural actions are raised up to a supernatural intention. As a
Christian is not to have evil aims, so he is not -to be like a blind archer,
to shoot at random and without a mark. Why should we forget God
at any time, that doth always remember us ? There is not a moment
that passeth but God looks after thee, or else thou couldst not live ;
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 281
nay, he doth remember us, as if he had forgotten all others, and had
none else to care for in the world. There is not a good thought of
thine forgotten. The spiritual life seemeth to be as asleep when we do
not think of God. In gratitude we seem to be obliged. And consider
again, certainly an actual elevation of the soul is of no great labour
and trouble, because thoughts are quick and sudden ; and it will not
hinder us, or be a burden to us, to look up with the eye of our soul, but
it would be of great profit, it would make the actions of the mind more
acceptable to God ; and the soul will the better be kept upright ; this
will be as a golden crown upon the head of every action, and will be an
excellent means to prevent carnal injections. However, because of our
infirmities in the lesser actions of life, the habitual intention sufficeth ;
as an arrow may fly to the mark, though the archer hath ceased to
think of it ; or rather, as a man travelling homeward may not always
think of home, yet he is journeying thither ; so a Christian may not
always actually think of heaven, yet his heart is set that way. We
should at least renew this every morning. And in the noble actions of
life that require more labour and difficulty, there our thoughts should
be explicit, and the reason is, because Satan is ready to blast every
serious duty with the injection of carnal thoughts. The devil is not
only with you in the shop, but in the closet, and at duty ; and many
times, though we * begin in the spirit/ yet we are apt ' to end in the
flesh.' Self recoils upon us : Gen. xv. Abraham when he had quartered
the sacrifices ' The fowls came down, but he drove them away.' So
when we think of offering duty to God, carnal thoughts are apt to rush
into the mind ; so that without this actual intention we may easily
begin for God, and yet end for self-interest notwithstanding.
[2.] In actions sacred, and in the higher operations of the soul, be
they either internal or external, the utmost end must be the glory of
God. (1.) In internal actions, in desires of grace and salvation, our
end must not be self. Our motions are then regular, when they are
conformed to God, when we have the same end and aim as God hath.
Now whatsoever God doth, both within and without, in creation and
grace, it is for himself : Prov. xvi. 4, ' The Lord hath made all things
for himself/ Well then, we should seek grace and glory with the sama
aim that God gives it : Eph. i. 6, ' He hath accepted us in the Beloved,
to the praise of the glory of his grace ; ' that is God's aim, that grace
may be glorified in thy salvation, and in thy acceptance of Jesus Christ.
I desire my salvation, but I should not rest there ; but this should be
my utmost aim, that God may be glorified in my salvation. Some
make a question whether or no we may look to the reward ; but those
that make it seem to mistake heaven, and they have a carnal notion of
the reward of the gospel, and dream of the heaven of the alcaron, and
not the heaven of the gospel. What is the heaven of the gospel, but
to enjoy God for ever, in the way of a blessed and holy communion ?
Now can any man be so irrational to conceive I should not aim at the
inheritance of the saints in light, as well as at the vision and fruition of
God? This must needs be a high act of grace, to seek my own
happiness in the highest way of communion with God. They mistake
the nature of the covenant, or the way with which God would deal with
men, for God hath invested his precept with a promise, and men would
282 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
seem wiser than God. We may use the Spirit's motives without sin,
as the saints have done. It was a foolish modesty in Ahaz, when God
' bade him ask/ and ' he would not ask a sign/ Isa. vii. 10-12 ; so it is
a foolish modesty, when men will not act their faith upon the reward
and the blessed recompenses. Christ used this way : Heb. xii. 2, It is
said, ' for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, and
despised the shame/ &c. And truly all creatures, as they are now
made, must needs take this course, look to the glory, that they may
discharge the duty and endure the cross. No created agent can rest
merely in the beauty and goodness of his own action. It is a folly to
say that virtue is a reward to itself, if you speak of eternal reward ; it
is God's covenant way. We are not only to regard duty, but the
encouragement of duty. But then the reward must not be the chief
cause, but the encouragement ; the ultimate reason must be the glory
of God. When we make the reward the ultimate end of all we desire,
this is to respect self above God ; the glory of God must be the main
spring of all our desires and hopes. To look after happiness is an
innocent aim of nature, but to glorify God is the aim of grace. Now
only to aim at happiness is the mere motion of nature, and of our own
will ; but it is our duty to have a further aim at the glory of God. By
the law of our creation we were bound to aim at the glory of God,
though our happiness were not subordinate to it, for ' God made all
things for himself/ (2.) In external actions, and in duties of worship,
we must have a good aim. It is dangerous in sacred things to look
a- squint, and by the temple to serve the concernments of the shop ; this
is to put dung in God's own cup ; this is to make God serve with our
iniquities ; and to use worship as a pretence and cover to interest. When
we pervert things from their proper use, we do them an injury. If a
cup were made for a king to drink in, and we should use it as a vessel
to keep dung and excrements, it were a high affront ; yet nature doth
not design such things to such an use, but art, and the will of man.
Duty is made for the special honour of God, by his appointment,
therefore it should have no end beneath itself.
[3.] In all conditions of life, a Christian should be indifferent to
every estate, so God may be glorified ; to be like a die in the hand of
God, let providence cast him high or low, as it pleaseth God : Phil. i. 21,
' So be it, that Christ may be magnified in my body, whether it be
by life or death ; ' I am indifferent, my aim only is to magnify Christ.
This is the temper of a Christian ; things may fall out, not as we think,
but always as we would, if our general aim be to God's glory, for in
providence we are required only to be passive. There is nothing left
to our choice ; we are to resign up our wills to his good pleasure ; our
duty is submission ; events must be left to God himself, and in these
things he will provide for his own glory. Well then, whether your condi
tion be prosperous or adverse, pleasing or displeasing, if it be for God's
glory, it should be all one to you. A traveller, when he asks the way,
it is all one to him if you direct him to the right hand or left, so he may
accomplish his journey ; so it is to a Christian ; whether his way to heaven
lies by sickness or health, by quiet or trouble, by living at home or by
exile and banishment, abased or abounding, by estate or poverty, a
Christian is content, so God may be glorified. Thus should we, in all
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 283
conditions of life, submit ourselves to the disposal of God, that he might
be glorified upon us. Some dispute whether we are not to be at such
a pass for the eternal state of our souls, whether he will damn us or
save us, so he may be glorified. I answer, No ; this seems to be
extremely harsh, and God doth not put us upon that trial, the laying
down our souls to the disposal of God ; that is only required of Christ,
that he should lay down his soul as to the consolations of the Godhead,
for a while. It would put a creature into an inditferency in point of
duty, or into despair in point of hope ; whereas God in his covenant
seeks to draw on the creatures to be earnest for the everlasting welfare
of their souls, rather than to leave it at his disposal. By this you may
see what is self-seeking ; we do not make it our aim to enjoy God and
glorify him in this manner.
Secondly, To give you the signs by which a self-seeker may be dis
covered. The best judge is his own conscience. Yet to revive guilt
by a note or two.
1. A man is guilty of this self-seeking when he puts himself upon
the profession of godliness, out of the promise of some worldly advantage.
Gen. xxxiv. 22-24, observe the argument of the Shechemites, they would
yield to circumcision upon this supposition ' Shall not all their cattle,
and all that they have be ours ? ' A brutish argument ; and yet this is
very usual, especially in times of public changes. It is usual for men
to follow a dying church for a legacy, as vultures for a carcase ; the
change may be good, but their end is stark naught. It was a complaint
made, Nonpietate everterunt idola, sed avaritid. There may be a great
idol in their own hearts. Men may follow Christ ' for the loaves,' John
vi. 26 ; they did not value his person, but they would live at ease, and
be fed with miracle. Vix diligitur Jesus propter Jesum Seldom is
Jesus valued for his own sake. Men seek temporal conveniences in
the practice and profession of the gospel, ease, peace, wealth, credit, and
so they appropriate Jesus Christ to secular uses. It was an inestim
able mercy that God should send his Son, yet they look no further than
the loaves.
2. When a man cannot endure to be crossed for his religion. Carnal
professors are ' enemies to Christ's cross,' Phil, iii. 18 ; their lamp
will not burn, unless it be fed with the oil of praise and profit. A
godly man is contented to be neglected and abased for Christ, and yet
still is satisfied with his work : 2 Sam. ii. 22, ' I will be yet more vile.'
Blessed be God, I can suffer this for his sake. A horse that hath a
nail in his foot may travel well upon soft ground ; but in a hard and
gravelly way there he halteth. So men as long as religion is accom
panied with conveniency, then they may like it, but are ' enemies to
the cross of Christ ; ' then hirelings will soon prove changelings : Job
ii. 9, ' Dost thou yet retain thine integrity ? ' When men are delicate
and tender, and cannot endure the cross, it is a sign they had other
aims of credit and profit in their profession.
3. By envying others in the same profession ; we should rejoice in
their gifts and graces, and be glad that God may be honoured by
others as well as ourselves ; but proud men would shine alone, they envy
the gifts and graces of others ; this is a sure note of self-seeking. It
is not grace they look after, but carnal advantage. This is the practice
284 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
of the elder brother, which Christ taxeth in the 15th of Luke ; he that
is truly gracious, desires that others may partake of the same grace, for he
knows that God is thereby the more glorified. But when we are covetous
of reputation, and design our own honour, then the fewer, the greater is
our advantage. These men know that their stream will suffer some
loss, when it is diffused into so many channels. It is notable, that of
the apostle, Gal. v. 26, ' Let us not be desirous of vainglory, envying
one another, provoking one another/ Self-seeking puts men upon
passions and envy ; they are touchy, because they are jealous of their
own interest ; and they are envious, because they think the common
ness of gifts and graces detracteth from their esteem.
Thirdly, To show you how necessary it is that you should practise,
and that we should preach, this part of self-denial. How necessary it
is appeareth enough already ; but yet further, it may be added that
you should regard it. (1.) Partly, that you may not rob God of his
essential honour. There is nothing that alienates a man from God so
much as self-seeking. Devotion and service are preserved when we
make God our paymaster ; but when men look to the world and the
approbation of men, they do not care for God 'If any man love the
world, the love of the Father is not in him,' 1 John ii. 16. Christ is
troublesome to such, not welcome, because of the interest he hath in
conscience. Brethren, it is no small matter I am speaking about; self-
seeking abuseth God exceedingly. It is one of his prerogatives to be
the utmost end of the creature's being and operation, and you usurp
that which is proper to God ; when self hath a pre-eminence above him,
God is kept out of the throne. Pharaoh only reserved this, to be
greater in the throne than Joseph ; you may do much that is good,
clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give your body to be burnt, but, all
this while, self is greater than God in the throne. (2.) This is very
necessary, that you may not rob him of his tribute from the creatures.
God hath given us many things, only reserved this ' My glory will I
not give to another.' He hath given us the profit, that we may give
him the glory. God hath given us a lease of the comforts of the world,
only this he hath reserved as his rent and acknowledgment that he
will be glorified in all our actions and honoured in all our blessings.
God hath made us, and hath a right and title to us. He that planted
the tree, hath a right in the fruit. God that made us, certainly expects
some fruit from us. God gave us talents to this purpose, or rather
lends us ; we are but servants, to employ the talents to our master's use.
A Christian hath given himself up to God a ' living sacrifice/ Horn. xii.
1. You are not your own, God hath a right and title to you, therefore
do not rob him of his glory ; a sacrifice under the law was no more his
that offered it, but the Lord's.
And as it is necessary you should practise it, so it is necessary we
should press it again and again upon you. Self-seeking is a close evil,
as well as a dangerous and heinous one. Two things I observe (1.)
That the greatest self-seeking usually is carried on under the colour of
self-denial, As the Gibeonites put on old shoes and old garments to
make a league with Joshua ; so many pretend mortification and self-
denial to endear themselves to others, for worldly profit and advantage,
as those the apostle speaks of, in 2 Cor. xi., that to gain credit, entrance,
BOOK L] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENTAL. 285
and applause, would take no maintenance. All the carnal designs of
men have been carried on under a pretence and veil of religion. Herod,
under a pretence of worship, would have Christ to be destroyed, Mat. ii.
8 ; and Jezabel proclaims a fast to destroy Naboth, 1 Kings xxi. 9 ; so
Simeon and Levi pressed the Shechemites to be circumcised out of
revenge. A crocodile weepeth, and then maketh a prey. Carnal ends
are often shrouded under religious pretences. (2.) That we are more
apt to accuse others out of envy than to reflect upon ourselves. Many
think self-seeking is a sin only incident to them that are called to public
employment, either in the church or common-wealth. We may
warn others, but we cannot judge of them ; for self-seeking lies in the
aim of the spirit, and is liable to the censure and judgment of God
alone. When the action was fair, Job i. 9, it was Satan's accusation,
* Doth Job serve God for nought ? ' You should not out of envy ac
cuse others, but reflect on thy own heart. We may not have such
opportunity as they to enrich ourselves, and that may put us upon
envy ; but art not thou a self-seeker so far as thou canst reach within
thy grasp ? Oh, the envy that is in our hearts, and the pride that'is in
our prayers and conferences which we do not take notice of! Wouldst
thou be thought well of in thy place, as Simon Magus, would be
peyas, ' some great one ; ' thou mayest be guilty of simony, as they may
be guilty of hypocrisy, bribery, and purloining from the public.
Fourthly, It is a difficult and hard piece of self-denial. It is natural
to us 'All men seek their own things,' Phil. ii. 21. All our mark,
naturally, is at some aim of our own, at our own profit and credit. It
is very hardly laid aside, for base and unworthy desires are very im
portunate, and do recoil upon us after mortification, and after resolu
tions to the contrary. We often find that we begin well ; we aim at
the glory of God, it is our habituated aim, but thoughts of pride grow
upon us, in the very middle of the action, or else after it is ended. It
is an impudent sin, that will assault us again and again.
Fifthly, Let me give you some remedies against this sin, by way of
consideration and practice.
1. By way of consideration.
[1.] Self is a base and unworthy mark to be aimed at. He that
shoots at a shrub, will never aim so high as he that shoots at a star.
That service must needs be base that doth not intend Christ, and cen
tre in him. All actions savour of their end. How low-spirited are
they that seek themselves ! How soon they are apt to warp ! It doth
but expose you to temptation. They that have an ill end will not
scruple at an ill way. He that hath a right mark in his eye will
hardly miscarry so much as he that takes a wrong mark.
[2.] Consider the greatness of the sin in making other things our
end besides God ; you use the name of God that you may enjoy the
world ; you make him a minister of sin. You make religion a bait,
and Christ a means to accomplish your carnal purposes. It is a ques
tion who sins more, he that makes use of wrong means, or he that pro-
poseth a wrong end. He that makes use of wrong means makes the
devil serve God ; but he that hath a wrong end makes God serve the
devil. You make the end serve the means ; nay, though it be but in a
glance and in a thought, it is a degree of whoredom. God would
286 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
have Israel to have the ' law written upon the fringes of their gar
ments/ Num. xv. 39, that they might look upon it, and remember the
commandments of the Lord, and * do them ; ' and that ye seek not after
your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to go ' a-
whoring.' You know the glance of the eye outwardly, and a thought
in the heart, it is whoredom * He that looks on a woman to lust after
her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart/ Evil
suggestions that draw us away from God, are whoredom ; you break
the vows of loyal love and affection to Christ. As a man may be an
adulterer in thought, so he may be a spiritual adulterer too : James iv.
4, ' Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity with God ? ' The devil for one sin of thought, for
aspiring after the dignity of God, was turned out of heaven. Now in
your own thoughts you make your own praise your end.
[3.] It is an ill sign. To know the end doth distinguish a man from
a beast, and to choose the end doth distinguish man from man. Survey
all the world, wherever the name of Christian is heard, you will find,
here is the great difference between man and man, in what they make
their utmost end and chiefest good , therefore when you make self your
end, it is an ill character and sign.
[4.] No man doth less enjoy himself than he that doth most seek him
self. Self-seeking is always attended with self-losing, for we cannot expect
wages from God and mammon too. And worldly rewards are very
uncertain ; God is wont to disappoint carnal aims, and the event is not
suitable to the intention.
[5.] You shall have the greater judgment ; Mat. xxiii. 14, 'Woe un
to you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites I for ye devour widows' houses,
and for a pretence make long prayers, therefore ye shall receive the
greater damnation/ The pharisees, that they might be counted great
devotionaries, would make long prayers, that they might have the dis
posing of orphans, and be trusted with widows' portions. All sin is
out of measure sinful, yours especially ; your very pretence, when you
would seem to be good, and are stark nought, it aggravates the sin be
fore God. If we would be accounted good when we have an evil aim
within ourselves, when we take up religion for an ill purpose, and for
a cloak only, the sin is the greater, and so will the judgment be also.
[6.] Consider the dishonour that comes to Christ by self-seeking.
There are no greater enemies to the gospel than self-seeking Christians :
Phil. iii. 18, 19, ' For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and
now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of
Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly/ None
greater enemies than they that make a god of their belly. What is
the reason few or none are now converted, that ordinances are not so
powerful as they were wont to be, but because many shroud themselves
under the name of Christians, and yet mind nothing but their own pro
fit and gain ? Testify against them we must, though with grief, that
we may keep up the honour and repute of religion, that is mightily
stained by them. It is an honour to God when we serve him out of
pure love, not for pay and gain. But when men merely make a market
of religion, Satan and his instruments make an advantage of this ; they
will say they profess religion, only to get great places. God may have
BOOK I] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 287
servants enough upon such terms : Job i. 9, ' Doth Job serve God for
nought ? ' It is true, Job is diligent and zealous, but doth Job lose
by his profession ? So carnal men will say, Is it for nought ? They
hunt after great places and preferments in the world. It was an old
complaint of the gentiles, Lo, say the heathens, those that talk of their
being freed from the tyranny of the devil, that they are dead to the
world and alive to Christ, yet we see them to be as base and self-seek
ing as any. In vain do they talk of baptism and the Holy Ghost (by
which they think they are ruled in all their actions) , and of the gospel,
when their whole life is nothing else but a contradiction to the rules of
the gospel. It is a mighty prejudice to religion, and a dishonour
to God, when men shroud themselves under the name of Christian and
zealous persons, and secretly aim at their private commodity and
profit.
2. But to remedy this evil by way of practice, be more frequent in
prayer and praise. Frequent in prayer, to be purged from all self-
seeking and sinister respects . carnal affection will be importunate.
Then for praises, cast the honour upon God himself. As when they
would have given the apostles divine houour, they cried out, ' We are
men of like passions with yourselves. Why gaze ye upon us ? ' so
when we meet with applause in the world, and are apt to be puffed up, we
should cast it back, and remember that God is to have this praise. As
Joab sent for David that he might have honour in taking the royal city,
so should you give God all the glory and praise.
Having handled self-denial in reference to God, I shall now speak
of it with respect to our neighbour.
As there is a carnal self in opposition to God, so there is also a
carnal self in opposition to the good of others, to the duty we owe to
our neighbour. In a moral consideration there are three general beings,
God, thy neighbour, and thyself. Now self is ravenous, and devoureth
the respects due to both. It seeks to intercept and usurp the rights of
the Godhead, and to divert and engross the respects that are due to our
neighbour. Well then, I shall now speak of self-denial with reference
to our neighbour, and the rather because it is established by God's law,
and that in the next place to our respects of God: John iv. 21, ' And
this commandment we have from him, that he which loveth God, should
love his brother also.' The scripture speaketh very little of love to our
selves, because of the strong bent of nature that way ; there is some
what of allowance, but nothing of precept. Self-love is not commanded
in scripture, but regulated. The commandment takes notice of our
love to God, and then of our love to our neighbour. This grant we
have, that we should love ourselves ; but this by commandment, to love
our neighbour.
1. Because love to our neighbour is a means to preserve our respects
to God ; partly because he trieth us by this sensible way. God needeth
nothing from us. He is elevated far above our bounty and kindness ;
and therefore it is easy to pretend love to God, if God had not
devolved his own right upon our brethren, and made them the proxies
to receive those respects, that we cannot so well bestow upon God
himself. God needs not our love, but his servants do. Therefore it
is made the test of our love to God that we love our brother : 1 John
iv. 20, ' If a man say I love God. and hateth his brother he is a liar ; '
288 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK L
so 1 John iii. 17, ' If a man loveth not his brother, how dwelleth the love
of God in him ? ' We cannot love God aright, without loving our
brother, and cannot love our brother aright if we love not God ; we
must love our brother for God's sake. Therefore our pretensions are
but mere lies when we pretend to be open to God, and our bowels are
shut against our brethren, whom he hath made his proxies. And justly,
because by sensible objects God would wean us from a devotion to our
selves, that so we may be made more fit for respects to objects spiritual
and invisible. We are naturally moved to respect things or beings that
are visible to our senses, and communicate with us in nature and blood,
for so far they are nearer to self, and therefore God required the more
respects to man, that we might be prepared for respects to his essence,
which is more remote. Thus God argueth : 1 John iv. 20, 'If he love
not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he
hath not seen ? ' By the senses, we see man partake with us in the
same communion, and similitude, and nature ; and if objects sensible
do not work upon us, how shall we be moved to do anything for God,
that is invisible, and more remote? If things that have a greater
similitude with us, if visible things, of the truth of whose being we have
certain proofs, do not work upon us, how will our respects be elevated
to God, who differeth more from us, of whose being we are apt to doubt,
because he is invisible ? If we have no natural love, how can we be
supposed to have that which is supernatural ? So that we see God
would make advantage of this natural love, and by our respects to
man fit us to love himself. It is necessary then to state this kind of
self-denial. Now that you may see how far we are to deny ourselves
in reference to the good of others, let me lay down some propositions,
and then close all with application.
[1.] A man is bound with many engagements to love his neighbour.
[2.] To love his neighbour as himself.
[3.] In some cases, more than himself.
(1.) A man is by many engagements bound to love his neighbour ;
no man is born for himself. Nature teacheth it, and grace doth estab
lish this dictate of nature. There is no one thing pressed in scripture so
earnestly as the love of our neighbour : Gal. v. 14, ' For all the law is
fulfilled in this one word, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'
How can the apostle say, ' All the law ? ' There are respects due to
God that are established by the law, as well as to man. The meaning
is, all the civil part of the law, the whole second table ; or else, all the
law, as we obey God in loving man, for God's sake, so we turn the
duties of the second table into duties of the first, and make commerce
to be a kind of worship. Besides, this is Christ's solemn command :
1 John xv. 17, ' These things I command, that you love one an
other. This is the sum of Christ's charge to his disciples. By
way of special charge, it is ranked with faith : 1 John iii. 28,
'And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the
name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us
commandment.' Here is the great commandment, faith in God,
and love of the brethren, the great charge of Christ, which he left
at his death. It is a legacy as well as a precept. Speeches of dying-
men are wont to be received with most veneration and reverence, but
especially the charge of dying friends. It is notable, the brethren of
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 289
Joseph, when they were afraid he would remember the injuries they had
shown to his person, they sent messengers unto Joseph ; Gen. 1. 16,
saying, ' Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye
say unto Joseph, forgive the trespass,' &c. Oh, let us fulfil the will of
dead. When Jesus Christ took his leave of his disciples, this was
that he gave in charge, that we should have special respect to the good
of one another. Therefore, when thou art wont to quarrel with, or to
neglect others, say, What love do I bear to Christ, since I do forget the
solemn charge the dying Jesus left to his disciples, John xiii. 34.
Christ calls this his new commandment ' A new commandment give
I unto you, that ye love one another.' How could he say so, since it
was as old as the moral law, or the law of nature ? New, because it
is excellent, as a new song among the Hebrews is an excellent song ;
or rather, new, because solemnly and specially renewed by him, and
commended to their care. New things and laws are much esteemed
and prized ; so let this my new commandment, let it be highly in
esteem and regard. Nay, let me add farther, one reason why Christ
oame from heaven was to propound to us a pattern of charity ; as to
repair and preserve the notions of the Godhead, that the glory of God
might suffer no loss by the greatness of his sufferings, so to show us a
pattern of charity. To elevate duty between man and man ; and
therefore is his example so often urged in this case : John xiii. 34,
* That ye love one another, as I have loved you ; ' and Eph, v. 2,
* We ought to walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet-
smelling savour.' Christ would come from heaven to show us the
highest pattern of self-denial. He would discover to us the love of
his Father : John xv. 19, 'As the Father hath loved me, so have I
loved you.' The Father loved him with an infinite love, yet parted
with him for the salvation of mankind ; he parted with- his dear Son
out of his own bosom to be unworthily treated in the world for our sakes.
And Jesus Christ parted with himself and all, to raise our love to God
and men ; therefore we ought to ' walk in love/ as Christ hath loved
us.
(2.) The ordinary measure of our respect to our neighbour is that
love that we bear to ourselves : James ii. 8, * If ye fulfil the royal law,
according to the scriptures, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye
do well.' This is the royal law, the solemn standard of equity, and
the measure of all respects between man and man, like the king's high
way, and road of duty. Self and neighbour being equal in the balance,
therefore they are to have the same respect. Now this rule, ' Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' implies two things (1.) And
principally, that I am to do them no more hurt than I would do to
myself : Mat. vii. 12, ' Whatsoever you would others should to you, do
you the same to them, for this is the law and the prophets/ that is, this
is the sum of the whole word concerning moral duties. As I would not
have them to injure me, so must not I injure them ; wish them no more
hurt than to my own soul. I must hide their defects and infirmities,
as I would hide and conceal my own. And in all contracts and acts
of converse I am to put my soul in their soul's stead ; in short, to wish
or do them no more evil, than by a regular act of self-love I would wish
VOL. xv. T
290 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK L
or do to myself. Then (2.) It implies that I am as really to promote
their good as my own : 1 Cor. x. 24, ' Let no man seek his own things,
but every man another's wealth ; ' not seek his own, so as to exclude
another. It is not to be understood simply, apart and by itself, but
in sensu conjuncto, for I am to seek my own things ; but let him not
seek his own things, so as to neglect his care of another's welfare. We
are to perform all offices of humanity suitably, and convenient to their
necessities ; we are to wish them all spiritual graces and eternal bless
ings, as we would to ourselves i Acts xxvi. 29. * Would to God all that
hear me this day were altogether such as I am/ And we are not only
to wish but to procure their good by all means possible, only this cau
tion is to be observed, that our endeavours may be more for our own
good than the good of others ; and yet I cannot be said to love myself
more than others, because the expression notes only the reality of that
affection that I should bear to them. I am to love them as myself.
But in expressing the effects of this love, by industry > care, and bounty,
there is a method, an order prescribed by God ; and so I am first to
love my own body ; next, my near relations, the wife of my bosom and
children , then neighbours, then strangers, then enemies : Eph. v. 28,
1 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies/ It is made
the rule of conjugal society, therefore there must be a subordination :
first wife, then children, then kindred, then neighbours ; therefore the
apostle saith, 1 Tim. v. 8, * But if any provide not for his own, and
especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is
worse than an infidel.' The Hebrews preferred the men of their own
nation before the Grecians in their daily ministration. The effects of
bounty and love are to be dispensed according to the urgency of neces
sities. They that dwell about us, and are more frequent with us, their
necessities provoke us more to acts and expressions of love towards
them.
(3.) In some cases a man is bound to love his neighbour more than
himself. In the law it is, ' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; '
hut in the gospel we have an higher pattern : John xiii. 34, ' As I
have loved you, so ought you also to love one another/' Now the Lord
Jesus hath loved us with an high love, he hath laid down his life for
us. And it is no strain to apply this in some cases to love to our
neighbours ; 1 John iii. 16 ? Hereby perceive we the love of God, because
he laid down his life for us ; and we ought to lay down our lives for
the brethren/ He shed his precious blood, which was more valuable
than all the world, therefore we should not stick at anything, not life,
which is our most precious possession. Life and all must go for our
neighbour's sake. But you will say, In what cases ? First my single
life, to save the whole community and society. It is a constant rule
that all private things must give way to public; for God's glory is
more promoted and concerned in a public good than in any private ;
therefore a public good is better and more considerable in itself, than
any particular happiness of ours. In the whole business of self-denial,
the great question is, which shall take place, God's glory, or the creature's
profit. Thus Jonah, to save the company, saith, * Cast me into the sea.'
It was not only an act of patience and submission to the sentence of
God when he was discovered and found out by lot ; but it was an act
BOOK L] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 291
of charity, to save those that sailed with him. Men should be contented
to be sacrificed for a real public good. The creatures, they will leave
their private bent to preserve the universe.
Case 2. We ought to help on one another's spiritual good with the
loss of our temporals, and to venture person and estate for the propa
gation of the gospel. Paul's glorious excess of charity is in some degree
to be imitated, Kom. ix. 3, who could wish himself ' to be cursed from
Christ for his brethren and kinsmen in the flesh ; ' and Moses, Exod.
xxxii., ' To blot his name out of the book of life/ if God would spare
his people. In some degree they are to be imitated ; with our loss we
are to promote the spiritual good of others. We have an high instance
in our Lord Jesus Christ : 2 Cor. viii. 9, ' For ye know the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, that ye, through his poverty, might be rich.' When he
was rich, rich in the glory of the Godhead, yet he would come in the
form of a servant. But alas I who becomes poor for Christ now ?
Who is willing to go back any degree of his own pomp and pleasure,
that he may advance the public good, and promote the glory of Christ ?
Public spiritual good is far more valuable than any temporal good.
3. It is a necessary act of our love to God, we may expose ourselves
to uncertain dangers, to hinder another's certain danger. If a man
were assaulted by thieves and ruffians, to prevent murder, I am bound
to endanger my own life. If I may possibly contribute help, by the
laws of God I am to help the wronged party, though it be to my own
hazard. Thus Esther. ' If I perish, I perish,' when she went into the
king. There was a double ground of that resolution ; one was, she
preferred the public good before her own private life ; the other ground
was because the cause was only hazardous, though likely. Now this
case is the more binding, if it be the life of a public person, of a
minister or magistrate. A subject is bound to preserve the life of a
magistrate more than his own. The hand will put up itself to save
the head ; so ministers, as Kom. xvi. 4, For my sake they laid down
their own necks/ He speaks of Aquila and Priscilla, they exposed
themselves to danger of death to save Paul in some tumult ; and there
fore, saith he, I do not only give them thanks, but all the churches of
Christ. Nay, if it be but the life of a private friend that is in danger,
I am bound to expose myself to some hazard for his sake : John xv.
13, * Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends.' Christ speaks of it as an act of love and friendship.
For though simply my life and his be of a like value, and mine may
be more dear to myself than his, yet my duty to him and his life,
must oversway, especially if the case be but hazardous, as to rescue
him from an assassin.
I shall conclude all with a word of use, which is to condemn two
sorts of persons, self-lovers and self-seekers.
First, Self-lovers. There are several sorts of them.
1. When men seek their own contentment above the public benefit.
They care not how it goes with the public, so their private interest
flourish. The sin is more aggravated, if it be in times of public hazard,
if men be neglectful. Among the Eomans, men would leave their shops
and trade, and venture all for the common good. But when in dangerous
292 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
cases men are diverted from public service by a zeal to private interest,
this is a foolish course ; like to those that would look to their own cabins,
when the vessel itself is in danger. Judges v. 16, those that were want
ing to public duty, were blasted with infamy and shame. ' Gad, Dan,
and Ashur, that had their country near the sea ; and felt not the yoke ; '
and Reuben, that lived on the other side Jordan, stayed at home
unworthily, to tend their cattle and flocks, and were more affected with
the bleating of the sheep, than with the groans and complaints of their
brethren, under the oppression of Jabin.. Those that ' did not come
out for the help of God, they are cursed,' ver. 23. So they are counted of
a base and degenerate spirit, who are mentioned : 1 Chron. iv. 22, 23,
'They dwelt among plants and hedges ; there they dwelt with the
king for his work ; ' these were ancient things. Some that came of a
noble extraction, yet because they remained in Babylon, and would not
venture with the people of God, and go up and build the temple, they
are marked out as men unworthy of their extraction.
2. When men in the course of their lives do only mind their own
things, and are wholly taken up in fulfilling their own wills and desires.
This is the temper of most men, they are of a narrow private heart, and
do not seek the welfare of others. It is both against nature and grace.
Against nature : no man is born for himself, his country hath a share
in him ; his friends, and the persons with whom he lives, have a share ;
for by nature man was made to be helpful to others. Man by nature
is a sociable creature, made for commerce. If man could live of him
self, he might live to himself. Now human society is built upon com
munion and commerce. The eye cannot say to the foot, I have no
need of thee ; and we cannot say of the meanest person, We have no
need of thee. It is the wisdom of providence to cast the frame of the
world into mountains and valleys, to make some poor and some rich.
The poor are as necessary for manual labour, for corporal and hard
services, as are the rich ; therefore it is against nature when men wholly
live to themselves. So it is also against grace, which casts us into one
mystical body. And the apostle, Rom. xii. 5, hath a notable expres
sion, ' So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one
members one of another.' There is a great self we are to regard, and
that is the societies to which we do belong and we are members of ;
and the welfare of this great body must we seek and promote. As in
a clock, one wheel moveth another, each part gives and receives help,
and one from the other ; so should every one be serviceable, and put
his heart, hand, and head to the common good, and be sensible of the
common evil As in the natural body there is no disaster happens to
any one member, but all the rest are affected therewith. The tongue
cries out when we tread upon the toe, You have hurt me ; or if the
foot be pricked with a thorn, the rest of the members will testify their
compassion. The tongue complaineth, the eyes shed tears, the head
studieth to recover it, and find out the grievance, and the hands will
assist. There are three ways wherein we are to be specially serviceable
one to another : by prayers, by counsel, and by outward actions of
relief. (1.) We are to mind in our prayers the good of one another, and
labour for it with God, as we would seek his face for our ^ own souls.
This is a cheap act of charity, it costs us nothing but a little breath
BOOK I.] A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. 293
and expense of spirit, and it is an advantage to us, as well as benefit
to them, that we have an occasion to go to God. David, you know,
fasted for his enemies, Ps. xxv, and Abraham prayed for Sodom ; but
alas ! few are nowadays touched with the miseries of others. If we
be free from trouble, we care not what others suffer. Now the apostle
saith, Heb. xiii. 3,. ' Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with
them ; and them which suffer adversities, as being yourselves also in
the body.' We tbat are at liberty, must not forget them that are in
bonds, but esteem them as our own, till God set them free. Canst thou
be a member, and not be affected ? The children of God, when they
have been in a flourishing condition themselves, have always laid to
heart the miseries of others of God's children that have been in a suf
fering condition. Nehemiah was a favourite at court, the king's cup
bearer, yet he is sensible of the affliction of his country, chap. i. And
Daniel, a great prince in Babylon, yet how affectionately doth he plead
with God for Sion : we are to implead their case with God, though
we are never so well. (2.) Another way is by counsel. Thou art
not to suffer sin upon thy brother, no more than upon thy own soul,
for every man is made his brother's guardian and keeper : Heb. iii. 13,
'Exhort one another daily while it is called to-day, lest you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin/ Take heed not only
lest you yourselves, but lest any of your body and society be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin. It is true, we have charge and trust
enough of ourselves, but yet God hath laid this duty upon us too,
therefore we should be much in spiritual counsel, though we spend
ourselves, and be spent ; it is a great part of self-denial, that is required
of us. John iv., Jesus Christ was weary, yet he treats with the woman
of Samaria about conversion. (3.) This love is to be manifested by
sensible acts of charity and relief. You had need be much in
this, for Christ takes notice of it as done to himself. If Christ lay
languishing upon his bed, we all pretend we would go and visit him.
' What you do to these little ones, you do to me/ saith Christ He
tries the young man by that, Mark x. 31, ' Go, sell all that thou hast,
and give to the poor.' It is the doctrine of self-denial to the young
man, as if self-denial and giving to the poor were terms equivalent. I
press it the rather because men love a cheap religion, pretend to pray
for others, but yet stick at those costly acts of charity ; can give good
words and counsel, but will not relieve and clothe; but we cannot
satisfy God with mere words, as you cannot pay debts with the noise
of money ; there must be some real bounty, by which you should ap
prove your heart to God. It is the main thing Christ taketh notice of
in the day of judgment.
3. When in acts of charity to others men only regard their own re
lations and friends. This is but a natural love, because relations and
friends, they are but self-multiplied, and dilated, and * If you only love
them that love you, what reward have you ? ' Mat. v. 46. Who will
give you thanks for this ; for the mere motion of nature. But it is
according to the pattern, when you can ' love enemies/ and love those
that wrong you. Christ loved us when we were his enemies, and
children of wrath ; and when we had offended God, he loved us, and
gave his soul as a propitiation for our sins. Therefore you are not
294 A TKEATTSE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BOOK I.
only to love your own relations and allies, but enemies may come in as
your neighbour, Luke x. 29. It is a high prerogative to be a forgiven
Therefore let us not lose this crown of honour. Let us try which will
be most weary, they in offending, or we in pardoning.
Secondly, It reproves self-seekers. And here
1. They are guilty that seek their private benefit, though it be with
the public loss : that make a prey and merchandise of the calamity of
the times ; that trouble the water, that they may fish in it ; that
feather their own nests with public spoils ; set an house on fire to roast
theit eggs : set on foot innovations to promote themselves. Men had
need look to themselves in such cases. We read, Nehem. v. 14, though
by the allowance of the king of Persia, Nehemiah had a standing course
of diet allowed for him and his friends, yet, saith he, * I took not the
bread of the governor.' We should not carve out such large portions
to ourselves, in times of distress and calamity. We see Joseph had a
great trust in Egypt, yet he had made no provision for himself. There
fore it is the glory of a man in a public place rather to depart from
his own right, than to make a merchandise of the times, and a prey of
his brethren.
2. When men make merchandises of their private courtesies, and
aim only at their own praise ; when men eye self in all they do, and
have an aim only to advance themselves in the esteem of others, in all
the public good they do, these are self-seekers indeed. The heathen
poet could say, that is no alms, which we use as a way of trade and
exchange, that it will bring no profit to you at all. Still we must look
to the pattern, Jesus Christ \ when he loved us, ' He pleased not him
self/ Born. xv. 3. Therefore there should be nothing of self and
.private reflection upon our own interest or our own charity.
3. Persons envious, those that would have a monopoly of gifts to set
of themselves, and envy the gifts and graces of others. Whereas God
would have us rejoice in each other's grace and labours. What is theirs
by labour, is ours by love, by virtue of the mystical body ; whatever
members do, the glory and good rebounds to all. We being in the body,
we should not envy them, as the foot doth not envy the eye, because it
is seated in a higher place. Envious persons are not members of the
body, but wens, that grow monstrous by sucking, they seek to draw
all to themselves, therefore cannot rejoice in the good of others.
SEVERAL SERMONS
PREACHED ON
PUBLIC OCCASIONS,
SOME OF WHICH EXPLAIN
THE NATURE, USE, AND END OF THE SACRAMENT OF
THE LORD'S SUPPER.
A FAST SERMON.
But thou hast not called upon me, Jacob ; but thou hast been iveary
of me, Israel ISA. xliii. 22.
IN the front of the text there is an exceptive particle which referreth
to the context But. Now, if you consider the context before or after
it, it containeth promises of mercy, of God's forming them into a state
and people ; of forgiving their iniquities for his name's sake, &c.
'But' God promiseth mercy, though they had deserved judgment.
The Lord was resolved for once, to make use of his prerogative, and
to save them out of the mere and free motion of his own grace. Thus
doth God sometimes work out of order and course, and show mercy
when the state of a people is most sinful. He promiseth to restore
Israel when they had neglected him, and were ready to cast him off.
Such instances we have in like cases, 1 Cor. xi. 25. In the very night
in which Christ was betrayed, he instituted the Lord's Supper ; he
was consigning to the Church the food of life, when the world was
designing and plotting against him a cruel death. So God was giving
the law in the mount, while the people were worshipping the calf in
the valley. Whilst Paul was persecuting the church, Christ appeareth
from heaven to convert him, and make him an apostle, Acts ix. Free
grace doth often step out of the way and beaten road to meet sinners
in their wanderings. So here, God promiseth them great mercies ;
yet he chargeth them with their sin and shameful neglect of him : ' But
thou hast not called upon me, Jacob ; but thou hast been weary of
me, Israel.'
For the verse, there are two distinct charges
1. A neglect of prayer.
2. Growing weary of God.
I shall now insist upon the former, though not excluding the latter
also. The point is this
Doct. People are at a dangerous pass when they begin to neglect
prayer.
Eliphaz layeth it as an heavy charge upon Job, chap. xv. 4t, ' Surely
thou restrainest prayer before God.' When conscience is clamorous,
wants pressing, and yet men cannot find the heart to go to God, it is
a sad case. Kestraint noteth the keeping in of a thing that would
fain break out. So the heathen are described to be the families that
all not upon his name, Jer. x. 25 ; that is, that do not acknowledge
and worship him. So Ps. xiv. 4, ' The workers of iniquity/ of what
298 A. FAST SERMON.
religion soever they profess themselves to loe, ' they call not upon the
Lord.' The evil of this will appear if we consider
1. The ends why this duty was appointed.
2. The causes why this is neglected.
First, Why the duty was appointed. God's command is reason
enough for the practice of any duty. There needeth no other argu
ment to a gracious heart than this is the will of the Lord concerning
you ; but all God's institutions are full of reason, and in a condescen
sion to us ; he requireth nothing by way of mere task. The duties
of religion are not a task, but a means to do us good ; so is this among
the rest.
1. It is a notable part of God's worship, or a serious calling to mind
his presence and attributes, It is a sin, not only to deny God, but to
forget him, Ps. ix. 17. Now we are apt to forget God, who is an
invisible being, though we have all things from him, and he be
necessary to us continually. Therefore in prayer we present ourselves
before him that we may solemnly remember God, and inure ourselves
to a reverence of his majesty. Therefore they that neglect prayer are
said to forget God : Jer. ii. 31, 32, ' We are lords, we will come no
more unto thee. Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her
attire ? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number/
They carry themselves as if they had no need of God's support ; they
do not regard him, nor preserve any reverence of him in their minds.
To withdraw from prayer is to withdraw from God ; and to be
unwilling to pray is to be unwilling to draw nigh to God, or to have
any serious thoughts of his being and attributes.
2. It is a profession of our dependence. We do not enjoy our
mercies by chance, or by good fortune (as we speak), but by the
indulgence and gift of God. Now, that we may not be ignorant of the
nature of our tenure, God will have us pray, that we may acknowledge
his right and grant in all that we possess and enjoy. Thus, Mat. vi.,
God biddeth us ask ' our daily bread ; ' the bread you eat is not your
own, but God's. You entrench upon his prerogative when you use it
without his leave ; as when we take anything that is our neighbour's,
without asking his leave, we are thieves and robbers. To use the
creatures without prayer is robbery ; and without praise, is sacrilege :
therefore it is said, 1 Tim. iv. 5, ' That every creature is sanctified by
the word and prayer.' In the word we know our liberty ; in prayer
we ask God's leave and blessing ; therein we acknowledge the donor
of all we have and hope for : Ps. Ixii. 8, ' Trust in the Lord at all
times, pour out your heart before him/ If we depend upon God, we
must pray to him, and seek for a relief in all our troubles. Those that
depend upon his relief will earnestly beg it of him, and apply them
selves to him by prayer.
3. It is a duty wherein the mysteries of our most holy faith are
reduced to practice. There are two great mysteries in the Christian
religion the doctrine of the trinity, and the mediation of the Son of
God. We have the comfort of both in prayer ; and we never practi
cally and experimentally discern the benefit of it so much as there.
(1.) The mystery of the trinity. It seemeth a profound speculation,
till we find the use of it in our addresses to God: Eph. ii. 18,
A FAST SERMON. 299
'Through him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father/ The
mystery is unriddled when a poor soul cometh to God through Christ
by the Spirit. When a needy and guilty soul would have any gift
and benefit from God, he is discouraged till he reflect upon the merit
and mediation of Jesus Christ, and put his cause into his hands ; and
yet he knoweth not whether Christ will tender his suit, or regard it
yea or no, until he be encouraged by the Spirit. The whole process
of soul affairs, or the workings of a needy guilty soul towards God,
may be put into this short issue : God, as a lawgiver and judge, which '
is our first apprehension of him, by the spirit of bondage driveth us
to Christ as mediator ; Christ, as mediator, by the spirit of adoption
bringeth us back again to God as a father, or one that is able and
willing to show mercy. When we first think of God, his terror and
majesty oppress our hearts with fears ; but we must have grace, or
we are undone for ever ; but there is no grace, no salvation, in any
other but Jesus Christ, who hath procured us welcome and audience.
He giveth us leave to come to God, having opened the door by his
merit and intercession ; and the spirit and heart to come. (2.) The
mediation of Jesus Christ. He died to bring us to God, 1 Peter iii.
18 ; and our great duty is coming to God by him, Heb. vii. 25. But
where do we so sensibly find this as in the duty of prayer, wherein
we have experience how Christ bringeth us to God ? He doth, in
effect, there take us by the hand, and lead us to God, and hideth our
sins, and procureth our acceptance, and presenteth us amiable to his
Father, having justified and sanctified us, and cleansed us from those
pollutions which rendered us loathsome and abominable in his sight.
Do you know, Christians, what you neglect, when you neglect prayer,
one of the most concerning acts of your religion ? If you omit it
wholly, you do not deserve the name of Christians ; if you perform it
rarely and unfrequently, you are not serious Christians ; or if you put
off God with a few frozen and heartless words, you are not lively
Christians.
4. One special end of prayer is to nourish communion and familiarity
between God and us ; for it is the converse of a loving soul with God,
between whom there is a mutual complacency. God delighteth in us,
and we delight in God ; it is the nearest familiarity that man in flesh
can have with God, and therefore called ' an acquainting ourselves with
God: ' Job xxii. 21, * Acquaint thyself with God, and good shall come
unto thee.' Acquaintance among men groweth by frequent commerce
and intercourse, when they often meet and speak one to another ; so
by this holy commerce with God we grow acquainted with him. So a
visit of God : Isa. xxvi. 16, ' In trouble have they visited thee.' In
prayer we give God a visit. Well then, when you neglect prayer, you
neglect to give God a visit, or to preserve an acquaintance between him
and you ; and it is as if a man were weary of the presence of his dear
est friend. Should we stand off from this work, or go to it as a bear
to the stake, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, or an ox to
the yoke ? Now this familiarity is the more to be prized, because it is
said, that c thereby good shall come unto us ; ' and that upon a double
account. (1.) Partly, as it giveth boldness in our present distresses.
When God and you are grown strange, you cannot come with that
300 A FAST SERMON.
freedom and sweetness ; as to a familiar friend we are wont to pour
out our complaints into his bosom upon all occasions. Men are soon
weary of their friends out of satiety or penury, their stock is soon spent,
they waste by giving : Prov. xxv. 17, ' Withdraw thy foot from thy
neighbour's house, lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.' But it
is not so with our heavenly friend, the oftener we come to him, the
welcomer. He bids us pray continually, 1 Thes. v. 17. Now though
mere love should put us upon this commerce with God, yet (2.)
There is another advantage which accrueth to us. A man that hath
been frequently entertained by God, and accepted with him, and had
his prayers heard and granted, hath a great encouragement in the hour
of death to go to him for help. It is a dreadful thing for a man to go
out of the world who hath had no comfortable knowledge of God, no
skill to pray to him, no encouragement to expect acceptance from him ;
to appear before a God whom they never heartily loved, nor ever were
acquainted with as to any intimate communion. I leave it to consider
what the condition of a man is who, in the greatest distress, must have
recourse to an unknown friend, to whose favour he can pretend no merit
and title ; or of whose kindness he hath never had experience ; yea, into
whose presence he is forced against his will. Alas, how soon will the
time come upon us, when those that despise prayer will betake them
selves to it when it is too late ; that will cry, Lord, Lord, when anguish
and terror seize upon them ; when prayer that should be the fruit of
faith, love, and hope, shall be only the product of despair and horror !
When we shall challenge acquaintance with Christ ; but he shall say,
' I know ye not, ye are workers of iniquity.'
5. Prayer is required to preserve in us a sense of our duty, and to
keep the heart in better frame. They had need be careful who come
often into God's presence : I Peter i. 17, ' If ye call on the Father, who
without respect of persons judgeth every one according to his works,
pass the time of your sojourning in godly fear ; ' and Lev. x. 3, c I will be
sanctified in all that draw nigh unto me/ So 2 Tim. ii. 22, ' Whosoever
nameth the name of Christ, let him depart from iniquity.' We that
so often draw nigh to God should be afraid to offend him ; as men are
afraid to offend those upon whom they depend, and into whose presence
they must often come ; or, as those who minister in the presence of
princes must be seemly clad, and always appear in neat and comely
apparel. Communion between God and us is interrupted by wilful sin
1 Peter iii. 7, ' That your prayers be not hindered.' A Christian is
still to take heed that his access to God be not spoiled ; either broken
off, or carried on carelessly and formally. God will stand at a distance
from us, or the heart will stand at a distance from God ; God is pro
voked to withdraw by our disorderly walking ; or else the heart will
grow shy of God as Adam hid himself when he had sinned. If we
give way to pride, and passion, and lust, and worldly-mindedness, how
shall we pray at night, and look God in the face with any confidence ?
1 John iii. 21. How wilt thou keep his favour, when thou hast grieved
his Spirit ? who would distemper himself with drink that is to plead his
cause in a case of life and death ? By constant prayer God layeth an
obligation upon us to be strict, and holy.
6. To engage our affections to heavenly things. We wrestle with
A FAST SERMON. 301
God to catch an heat ourselves. God needeth not importunity ; our
heavenly Father knoweth what we have need of ; he is not moved with
the charms of rhetoric, why then doth God require striving and arguing
in prayer ? Partly to increase our faith. Every argument which we
use in prayer is a new ground of hope drawn forth in the view of con
science. Partly to engage our desires and affections. The more
earnestly we beg anything of God, the more zealously we are engaged
to seek after it ; for God will warn us of our duty hy our own requests.
We present our desires before God, and plead them with him. Now
these desires are either pretended or real. If pretended, then our
prayer is no prayer, but a mockery, and formal and customary devo
tion ; and God will not be mocked, it will cost us dear to personate and
act a part in his presence, and to complain of burdens that we feel not,
or express desires which we have not. If real, then they are actuated
and animated by the apprehensions of his observing presence ; so that
in speaking to God, we speak to ourselves ; our prayers are so many
exhortations to the fear and love of God, and the forsaking of sin, and
to seek the glory of God, and the peace and welfare of the church, or
whatever the request be, Nay. not only an exhortation, but a kind of
engagement, an implicit vow ; we bind ourselves to our duty by our
requests. When we desire that his name may be hallowed, or his will
be done, we are bound to do what in us lieth to glorify his name, to
promote his kingdom, to subject ourselves to his will, honestly to seek
our daily bread in our vocation and calling, and to take the appointed
course to obtain the pardon of our sins, and strength against tempta
tions. It is not only a sermon preached to ourselves in God's hearing,
but a solemn vow and engagement to use all the appointed means
whereby we may obtain these blessings ; and if we falter we are the
more criminal, because we neglect, or turn away from that which we
profess to be our desire and happiness.
7. To be a means of comfort and spiritual refreshing. The soul is
disburdened of trouble by this kind of vent and utterance. To pour
out our complaints into a friend's bosom, who will only pity us, though
we do not expect succour and redress from him, will give us some ease ;
much more to open our hearts to one who is able and willing to help
us : Job xvi. 20, ' My friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears
to God/ To bring our complaint and request before the throne of
grace, must needs yield comfort and solace to the soul. Certainly none
ever made conscience of prayer but he carried away some comfort with
him. There is a pacifying virtue in this duty, as the opening of a
vein cooleth the blood. Many of David's psalms begin with anguish
and bitter complaints, and end with assurance and rejoicing ; as if in
the midst of prayer his affairs were altered, and one had brought him
news, and all things went according to his own heart and mind. The
very conferring with God bringeth some refreshment, your burden is
east off, and devolved upon the Lord: 1 Peter v. 7, 'Cast your care
upon God,' saith the apostle, ' for he careth for you.' How do^we cast
our care upon God ? Another place will inform you : Phil. iv. 6, 7,
1 Be careful for nothing ; but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.' &c. It
is no more dishonour for God to bear our cares than it was for Christ
302 A FAST SERMON.
to bear our sins ; and what is the effect ? ' The peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ/ &c. Look, as when the air is imprisoned in the earth, there
are shakings, and convulsions, and earthquakes, till it get a vent, but
then all is quiet ; so the soul is tossed and turmoiled with many tor
menting thoughts, till we acquaint God with the matter, then all is
quiet. When Hannah had commended her suit to God she went away,
and her countenance was no more sad, 1 Sam. i. 8. How often do the
children of God come away with triumph from the throne of grace, and
leave their sorrows and their fears behind them ! Well, then, thou that
neglectest prayer, neglectest the comfortablest and sweetest part of
God's worship, a duty that is not burdensome, but pleasant, and con-
duceth to the comfort, and quiet, and ease of the soul, as well as to
God's honour ; a duty wherein you have liberty to beg the greatest
mercies, to deprecate his most grievous judgment, to treat with him
about the most important business in the world, which is the saving of
your own souls. Surely it is no tedious task for a needy soul to beg
of God, who is so ready to relieve him, and show him grace and
favour.
Secondly, The causes why men neglect it.
1. Out of atheism, that is at the root. When men neglect prayer,
either they believe there is no God, or no providence ; for did we be
lieve that there was a God who made all things, and doth sustain
all things, and that we do depend upon his goodness for all that we
are and have, we would be more frequent in prayer ; for necessity
compelleth us to worship him whom we take to be God ; and to im
plore his help who giveth all manner of blessings, and ordereth all
things which fall out in the world. The pagan mariners in a storm
called every man upon his God : Jonah i. 6. Jure venit cultus ad sibi
quisque deos. The gentiles that acknowledge a God, have also
acknowledged a necessity of prayer and supplication to him. Plato
and^Proclus have written books irepl Trpoa-evyfis, concerning prayer, and
have given directions how to pray, though they were heathens. Cer
tainly whatever profession men make, they are not better than atheists,
who do not make conscience of prayer, public in assemblies, private in
families, personal and secret in closets. When the eyes of all things
look to him for a supply of their wants, should not we own him and
acknowledge him ? Eliphaz chargeth Job deeply : Job xv. 4, ' Thou
castest off fear, thou restrainest prayer before God/ As if the restraint
of prayer did argue a casting away of all reverence and fear of God.
Many content themselves with public worship, are never with God in
private. Have they any sense of providence, any fear and respect of
God ? David maketh the not calling upon God to be the special
character of an atheist : Ps. xiv. 1, 'The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.' How doth he prove it ? ver. 4, ' They call not upon
the Lord/ they do not seek after him. This sign is sure, and will not
fail. Thou hast need to suspect thyself when thou neglectest to pray
in thy family, in thy closet ; thou dost not think God is there.
2. Security. The creature's address to God beginneth in a sense of
his own wants ; for surely they that are deeply affected with their own
wants, and persuaded of God's readiness to supply them, will pray ;
A FAST SERMON. 303
but men slight God when they do not need him : Jer. ii. 31, ' We are
lords, and will not come at thee.' In sickness or extreme danger,
hypocrites will pray : Job xxvii. 10, ' Will he delight himself in the
Almighty ? will he always call upon God ? ' The sincere cannot be
long away from God ; for they delight in his company; and they look
not to things seen, but to God's invisible conduct, upon which all
their happiness dependeth ; and are sensible of their own weakness
and frailty, and therefore their commerce with God is constant. They
need daily pardon, daily grace, as well as daily bread. But hypo
crites never care for prayer, till extreme necessity put them upon it.
At other times they are secure and careless. Their duties are forced
from them, like water out of a still, not like water out of a fountain :
Isa. xx vi. 16, 'In trouble they will visit thee, they will pour out a
prayer when distress is upon them.' In their straits, then they howl ;
when God visits them, then they visit God. A drop of prayer is much
at other times ; then they pour it out by buckets : as where water is
precious, they spare it not to quench a fire: Hosea v. 16, 'In their
afflictions they will seek me early ; ' at other times they turn back
upon the mercy-seat. Carnal men use their duties, as we do strong
waters, not for' a constant drink or diet, but to help in a pang, after
long neglects, or upon some great trouble. But a gracious heart is
sensible of its constant necessity ; and they that are carried on with
a constant delight in God, do not run to him, as men do to a tree in a
storm, which otherwise they would pass by and take no notice of.
Surely those that have felt the weight, and smart, and sting of sin,
will cry for mercy and healing. They know that the soul is a tender
thing, like the eye, soon offended and out of order ; they know it is
more exposed to danger than the body, though generally it be less
cared for. Though man's body be never so strong, and of such an
athletic constitution, yet no man will follow his labour so as to omit
to take his necessary food, or necessary rest, that he may keep it in
good plight. So whatever good estate the soul is in, we must not
omit to pray, to keep the soul in good plight.
3. Out of coldness in religion, and weariness of God, as in the
latter clause ; and then his service groweth burdensome. Man is an
unstable creature, and loveth shift and change ; for a while zealous,
but when his first heats are spent, falleth off ; and religion is laid by ;
closet duties are thrown out of doors, family duties go next after, and
then public duties are little regarded, or used only for custom and
fashion's sake. They lose their first love, and then leave off their first
works, Eev. iii. 3, 4. It is base ingratitude, since God gives us so
little cause for it : Jer. ii. 5, ' What iniquity did you find in me ? '
What hurt did the worship of God do you and your families ? So
Micah vi. 3. But men are of another spirit, and so God is neglected.
Certain it is, carnal pleasures will make men weary of prayer, or
prayer will make men weary of carnal pleasures. They take the worse
choice.
4. Want of peace breeds loathness and backwardness, as David hung
off, Ps. xxxii. 3, till he had recovered his peace. Men have no comfort
in God when they come to him as an angry judge rather than a gra
cious father, 1 John iii. 27. Every duty is a new arraignment, a very
304 A FAST SERMON.
penance, and a reviving of their fears. Certainly you should have more
comfortable thoughts of God. Get a conscience better established ;
improve the death and intercession of Christ more, that you may come
with boldness, Helx iv. 16, and x. 19.
5, Want of spiritual strength. He that hath lame joints cannot de
light in exercise, which is a pleasure to them that are strong and
healthy. Prayer groweth a burden to men of weak and wandering
thoughts, lean and barren understandings, and dead affections. You
should get the distemper removed, but not neglect the duty. God hath
provided help for prayer, and fitness cometh by use. You should
rouse up yourselves : Isa. Ixiv. 7, ' There is none that calleth upon thy
name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee/ If you will not
stir up yourselves, this dulness, deadness, and barrenness will increase
upon you.
Use. Oh I then, let us begin to bethink ourselves. It is a dangerous
case when men begin to slacken in prayer, and this daily commerce
with God, when there is less frequency and less complacency in this
work. Time was when thou couldst not be content until thou hadst
given God a visit, and must consult with him upon all occasions ; but
now thou beginnest to lose thy tenderness, thou art a stranger to thy
self, and therefore grown a stranger to thy God, as if thou hadst no
business with him. Thou wert wont to keep a continual correspond
ence with the God of heaven, and to maintain a sweet intercourse be
tween him and thy soul. How came these fervours to be spent ? ' Ye
ran well, who hindered you ? ' Have you found any discouragement
in God that your delight in him is lessened, and your care of duty
lost ? Many do it out of carnal affection their affections leak out to
the world ; others out of rotten, corrupt; and base principles. As for
instance
1. Some think they need not pray, they cannot alter God. So Maximus
Tyrius, the Platonist> reasoned. God hath set the course of his counsels,
importunity will not prevail with him to alter them. I answer Though
we can make no change and alteration in God, yet it bettereth our hearts
and increase th our trust. Rev, xxii., : I come. Even so, come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly/ Elias knew God would give rain, then setteth himself
a praying.. We pray not that God's will may be altered, but accom
plished in his own way, God will have it brought about by this means
that he may do a people good upon his own terms, in the way of
entreaty and supplication ; Jer. xxix, 11. 12, 'I know the thoughts
which I think towards you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give
you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and go and pray
to me, and I will hearken/ So Ezek. xxxvi. 37, ' I will yet for this be
inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them/ So when Daniel
understood by books Dan. ix. 3, ' I set my face unto the Lord God by
prayer and supplication,' Daniel goeth to work in good earnest.
2. Others think they are above prayer ; look upon it as an inferior
duty for men of their standing and growth. I answer Surely on this
side eternity we must be always praying. God's children are called his
' supplicants,' Zepk v. 10 ; ' the generation of them that seek him/
Ps. xxiv. 2. Here are necessities of the church, yea, and personal
necessities of our own, to put us upon it. Jesus Christ himself was
A FAST SERMON. 305
frequent in the practice of it, and chose places of solitude and retire
ment, spent whole nights in prayer, see Mat. xiv. 23, 24. When the
disciples go to sea, Christ goeth unto the mountain to pray. If he that
had the fulness of grace prayed to the Father with such fervour, should
we think ourselves above prayer that are poor indigent creatures, and
have nothing but what we receive by begging ?
3. Some will not pray but when the Spirit moveth them, not in a
constant stated course. I answer This is as if we should never come
to God but when he doth expressly send for us. But the suspension of
the Spirit's influence is often a punishment of our neglect in this kind.
He withholdeth grace because we do not seek it in his own way. We
are to stir up the grace received, 1 Tim. i. 6 ; indisposition doth not
excuse us. Though I find nothing but deadness in my heart, yet I
am to pray, because my weakness and impotency doth not dissolve my
obligation to duty. And God hath promised to be with us when we
are up and doing. The influence of grace is not the rule of duty, but
the help. God's command is the reason and rule of duty. ' Howbeit
at his command/ &c., Luke v. 5. Whether disposed or indisposed, we
are bound to obey. God may do what he pleaseth, we must do what
he hath commanded. Our impotency is sinful ; a drunken servant is
a servant still. The outward act of a duty is under a command, though
we do it not so spiritually. ' Take with you words/ Hosea xiv. 2.
4. Others think there is no need of such frequent praying. They
use it as physic, not as a diet. Ans. The hours of duty are not
determined ; but the expressions wherein they are enjoined are large
and comprehensive : 1 Thes. v. 17, ' Pray without ceasing.' There
must be a constant correspondence between us and God. When
there are such gaps between duty and duty we lose ground in the
spiritual life ; we must be frequent in it if fervent : a key seldom
turned rusteth in the lock ; a man gaineth fitness by degrees. A
gracious heart seeth reason enough to be much and often with God.
5. Some say it is in vain to serve the Lord and attend upon his
worship ; as Mai. iii. 14 ; and then everything is begrudged : Mai.
i. 13, ' What a weariness is it ! ' But these are not acquainted with
God who rewardeth perfunctory services, much more those which
are real, as Ahab's counterfeit humiliation. These are drowned in
sense, and therefore observe not what cometh from above, and reckon
not of prayer, because they question the being of God and his provi
dence, Ps. xv. 2. Surely his people can give you many experiences
of God's hearing and answering their prayers.
Here is the second charge ' But thou hast been weary of me, O
Israel/ To be weary of God, is to be weary of his worship and
service.
Doct. That it is as sad a character as can be given, either of persons,
or of a people, to say that they are weary of God.
To represent this to you I shall show ;
1. The nature of the sin.
2. That it is incident sometimes to a people considered in their
community ; sometimes to persons considered in their single capacity.
3. The causes of it.
4. The effects.
VOL. XV. TJ
306 A FAST SERMON.
5. What a sad charge this is.
First, The nature of the sin To be weary of God. Weariness in
the body noteth a deficiency of strength, no more mind to work ; in
the soul a falling from God, and we have no mind to his service,
which is either partial or total.
1. Partial. When the heart is more alienated from God than
before, and all our respects to him grow burdensome and grievous,
and the heart begins to repine at everything we do for him : Mai. i.
13, 'Ye said also, What a weariness is it ! and ye have snuffed at it,
saith the Lord of hosts ; and ye brought also that which was torn,
and lame, and sick : thus ye brought an offering. Should I accept
this at your hands, saith the Lord of hosts ? ' There is a tediousness
and irksomeness in God's service, be it never so slight. They that
brought a sickly lamb for an offering, yet puffed as if they were tired
with some great burden and labour : Amos viii. 5, ' When will the
new moon be gone, that we may sell corn, and the sabbath that we
may set forth wheat ? ' As if all were lost that were laid out upon
God. And so he is neglected and begrudged as an unwelcome
guest.
2. Total. When not only the power of religion is abated, but the
very profession of it is cast off ; and so, being weary of God, is a
plain revolt or departure from him, and the obedience we owe to
him : Heb. iii. 12, ' Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart
of unbelief in departing from the living God/ The evil is departing
from God by a formal and direct apostasy, or denying and forsaking
that which they formerly professed ; and the cause of it is the evil
heart of unbelief, expecting no good by that way. It is an evil heart,
because the heart which inclineth to this apostasy hath a malignant
quality in it, not infirmity only, but malignity and unbelief in the
cause of it, or a doubt of the happiness offered by Christ.
Secondly, That it is incident sometimes to persons considered in
their single capacity ; sometimes to a people considered in their com
munity.
1. To persons considered apart and in their single capacity. A
more common sin it is than we are aware of, for all by nature are
inclined to it.
[1.] Partly out of natural adverseness to God : Kom. viii. 7, ' The
wisdom of the flesh is enmity to God ; ' and Col. i. 21, ' Enemies by
your minds in evil works/ This enmity manifesteth itself by a back
wardness to that which is good, by a proneness to that which is evil.
And it is enmity against God because of his law. It is not subject,
nor can it be. In the law there is a precept and a sanction. The
precept showeth what is due from us to God ; and the sanction what
is due from God to us, the debitum pcence what punishment is
due to us ; for reward we can expect none, having faulted in our
duty. Now both breed a strangeness and enmity between us and
God. We hate him as a lawgiver, and we fear him as an avenger, Isa.
lix. 2. We are as shy of God as God hath reason to loathe us. Ever
since Adam first sinned, and then ran to the bushes, this disposition
remaineth in us. Our forefather was first a fugitive, and then an exile.
This is the disposition of all his posterity. We will not come to God,
A FAST SERMON. 307
or not keep with him. The natural aversion from our duty is hardly
cured, we having temptations of sense to feed it, Jam. i. 14. And
our legal bondage, because of the sanction and curse, breedeth in us
a shyness of God, Genesis iii. 10. And after we have seemed to con
sent to the invitations of his grace, yet it is hard to settle in a
thorough love in his majesty, and delight in him.
[2.] Partly because of the fickleness and changeableness of man,
who is unstable as water : a restless creature that loveth to shift and
change. In his comforts, the very delights of nature by continuance
grow burdensome to us, and pleasures need to be relieved and refreshed
by other pleasures. In his opinions and notions about religion, light
chaff is taken up by every wind, Eph. iv. 14. In his affections:
John v. 35, 'Ye rejoiced in his, light for a season.' And curiosity,
an adulterous affection to truth, loveth it while new. The frame of
our hearts is soon changed ; sometimes we are zealous, anon cold and
flat ; now humble, then proud ; now devout, anon vain ; now meek,
and soon after passionate. In the choice and course of our lives no
creature so unlike itself as man is. When our first heats are spent
we flag and grow weary : Gal. v. 7, ' Ye did run well ; who did
hinder you, that you should not obey the truth ? ' Sometimes they
show great forwardness in embracing the truth ; and though they
have no satisfying reason for their defection from it ; yet mere levity
diverts their affection and zeal, and they grow cold and careless in it,
yea, quite alter the course of their religion and profession, and their
former zeal and sufferings tend to no other effect but the disgrace of
the gospel. Jehu's pace for a while often endeth in Demas' choice.
' Demas hath forsaken us, having loved this present world. ' So ver
satile and fickle is man's heart.
But more distinctly ; particular persons may be ranged under two
heads.
(1.) Common and ordinary professors ; and there is little doubt of
them, but that they who are only acquainted with the toil of religion,
and never knew the comfort of it, that they will put themselves into
all shapes and forms as their affections and interest lead them.
Therefore no question the love and zeal of hypocrites may miscarry
and vanish , and though they seem to be carried on with great fervour
and affection in the ways of God for a while, yet afterward fall quite
away ; partly because their love to God was built upon foreign
motives, the favour of the times, the awe of education, the advantage
of good company. Jesus is not loved for Jesus' sake. If he be the
object of their respect, yet not the reason ; and then it is no wonder
to see hirelings prove changelings; and those that loved a Christ
triumphing, to forsake and hate a Christ crucified. All artificial
motions cease, when the poise is down by which they are moved. And
meteors vanish and disappear when the matter that feedeth them is
spent ; when in the meantime the stars, those constant fires of heaven,
shine with a durable light and brightness. Partly because that love
and zeal which they had for God was not so rooted as to subdue
contrary affections. A taste they had of the goodness of God in offer
ing pardon and life by Christ, and but a taste, Heb. vi. 4-6. Such
as is easily choked by the cares of this world and voluptuous living.
308 A FAST SERMON.
Therefore we are warned : Heb. iii. 6, 14, ' To hold fast the confidence
and rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end/ Well, then, growing
weary of God is the ordinary sin of the carnal professor who never
was thorough in the practice of godliness.
(2.) God's own people may abate much of their vigour in religion.
Their love to God decay eth, and their sense of things eternal is lessened,
and they grow cold in prayer, dead and uncomfortable in their duty,
and so live as if they were weary of God, and weary of well-doing.
And therefore are such often quickened in the scripture : Gal. vi. 9,
'Let us not be weary in well-doing.' And 2 Thes. iii. 13, ' But ye,
brethren, be not weary in well-doing/ They lose all, if they persist
not. And we have an instance, Kev. ii. 4. They that were com
mended for their labour in the Lord's work, zeal against hypocrites,
patience in adversity, yet have this charged upon them, that they left
their first love. Though they make not a total defection, yet they
may suffer much loss in the degree of grace ; and the acts and fruits of
it may be much intermitted, which is a great evil ; because the
highest degree of love doth not considerably answer the love of Christ,
nor the duty of the regenerate, who are called by him from such a
depth of misery, and to such an height of happiness, and who are to
love him with all their soul, heart, and might. And because to come
short, not only of the rule, but our former practice, is the more culpable ;
for it seemeth to be a kind of condemning of our former practice, as
if we had been too hot and earnest before, and done more than we
needed. And lastly, because as love and zeal decayeth, so doth our
work, Kev. ii. 4, 5 ; either it is wholly remitted, or else performed in
a perfunctory, slight manner ; such as argueth a neglect and contempt
of God, rather than a due esteem and sense of his majesty. They dare
not utterly give over the service of God, or quite abandon it ; yet lay
not to heart their slight and perfunctory dealings with him. Thus you
see it is a common sin which all should take heed of.
2. It is incident to a people considered in their community ; yea,
nothing is more usual than for nations to grow weary of God ; for the
whole f olloweth the reason and manner of the parts.
[1.] For the church of God in general. We in our times, who live
in the dregs of Christianity, may soon perceive a manifest difference
between the early days of the gospel, and those corruptions which now
obtain ; when the faith of the gospel is turned into dead opinions, and
questions, and vain janglings ; and the worship of the gospel into a
theatrical pomp, and the pageantry of empty ceremonies, which eclipse
the majesty and splendour of it; and the discipline of Christ into a
temporal domination ; and all is carried in the Christian world by sides
and interests ; so that Christianity looketh like another thing, a design
calculated for the present world, rather than a serious preparation for
the world to come. In the first days we read, Acts iv. 33, ' That
with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.' Chris
tianity shineth more by its native lustre than meretricious orna
ments ; and Acts xix. 20, * That the word grew mightily.' But in the
latter times, atheists and scoffers abound, and are more rife than serious
worshippers : 2 Peter iii. 3, ' There shall come in the last days scoffers,
walking after their own lusts.' The church of God is troubled, not only
A FAST SERMON. 309
with furious persecutors, subtle deceivers, but also profane scoffers.
At the first promulgation of the gospel, truths were new, and the
exercises of the Christian religion lively, and there was great concord
and seriousness among the professors of the gospel. Before men's
senses were benumbed with the customary use of religious duties, the
notions of God and salvation by Christ were fresh and active upon
their hearts ; but when the profession of Christianity grew into a form
and national interest, and men became Christians rather by the chance
of their birth than their own choice and rational conviction, and the
world was turned into the church, and the ancient severity and strict
ness was much lost, and the memory of those miracles and wonderful
effects by which our religion was confirmed almost worn out ; and so
the truth of it questioned and impugned by men of subtle wits and a
prostituted conscience, we seem to grow weary of the name of Christ;
and in the fag-end of time mockers and atheistical spirits swarm every
where ; and the holy, meek, sober, humble, heavenly spirit seemeth to
be banished out of the Christian world, but that a few broken-hearted
Christians keep it up. And partialities, and sidings, and sects are
countenanced, while unquestionable duties are little regarded, except
by those few who have the courage to live in a counter-motion to the
practices of a loose age, by their holiness and charity, and serious
regard to the hopes of another world.
[2.] In every nation. What ups and downs are there in religion ?
Now the interest of God is in great request, and anon neglected,
scorned, and trampled upon. You have Israel's story, Ps. Ixxviii.
and still the burden is, ver. 37, ' Their hearts were not right with him,
neither were they stedfast in his covenant.' Sometimes all afloat for
God, but presently quite becalmed. Usually religion is changed in a
nation upon two grounds, change of persons, and change of interests.
(1.) Change of persons. When good old zealous men are gone, the
stage is shifted, and there cometh on a new scene of acts and actors ;
one generation passeth, and another cometh. As we are told of Egypt,
there arose a generation that knew not Joseph, a new family reigned
in Egypt, though we have no account of it in scripture ; so here a new
generation rise, that will scarce own their father's God, at least grow
weary of him ; and being never pope-bitten, nor acquainted with the
former bondage from which their ancestors were freed by the mighty
power of God, grow cold in religion, ready to give up all which was
retrieved out of former corruptions with so much ado. It is hot work
for a while, but afterward it runneth into formality, and religion
groweth dead and flat. A new sort of persons arise that forget the
old God : Josh. xxiv. 31, 'And Israel served the Lord all the days of
Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, which had
known all the works of the Lord, and what he had done for Israel.'
For a while there is a zealous generation ; but they decay and die
away, and religion decays with them. And the survivors lose their
zeal for God and the interests of his kingdom. Salvian^compareth
religion to a river, which loseth in depth what it getteth in breadth ;
to a body, which, as it groweth larger and bigger, groweth less active ;
to a mother, that is the weaker for every birth. Multiplicatis fidei
populis, fides diminuta est. (2.) By the change of interests. When it
310 A PAST SEKMON.
is for their interest to own God, men think they can never bind them
selves fast enough to him ; but when the posture of interest is changed,
God is laid aside, they grow weary of God ; they deal treacherously
with the Lord, and walk willingly after the commandment, Hosea v.
7, 11. And then though they be broken in judgment, all their matters
go backward, and not forward, they will not be reclaimed. Jehu drove
on furiously, while interest and reason of state carried him to pull down
Baal, but still kept up the calves at Dan and Bethel. There he showed
himself weary of God. Therefore you see what changes there are in
the world.
Now it is a very great evil, sorely resented by God, when his people
cast him off: Ps. Ixxxi. 11, 'Israel would none of me.' God had
chosen them above all nations, but they would not stick close to God.
They had seen his miracles, enjoyed his worship; but by degrees
their respect to God was cooled, and they must have the gods of the
nations round about them. So God threateneth to resist them that were
turned back from the Lord, Zeph. i. 6. In the days of Joshua (in
whose time that prophet prophesied), they had professed a great refor
mation, but soon revolted ; therefore God would be quick and severe
upon them. So Jer. ii. 12, ' Be astonished, ye heavens,' &c. The
Lord speaketh as if the sun should be struck blind with astonishment,
and the spheres should hurl out their stars, and the lights of heaven
look pale upon such a wickedness, that a people should grow weary of
their God, and change their God for that which is no God !
Thirdly, The causes why a people grow weary of God. Besides
those general causes, as to persons and nations, mentioned before, these
may be added
1. Want of love to God. For love is the life and heart of all other
duties. As that decayeth, other things decay with it. If the first love
be gone, the first works will be gone also ; at least are not carried on
with that life, seriousness and complacency, as they should be, Kev.
ii. 4, 5. Love is the great principle of our duties ; and therefore it
concerneth Christians to keep it up in strength. Nothing is hard and
grievous to him that loveth God ; he is never weary of serving and
glorifying God, 1 John v. 3. Therefore the sense of our obligation to
Christ, who hath done such great things for us, should never be worn out.
2. We are too much led by sense ; and if we have not present
satisfaction, we soon grow weary of religion, as if all this while we had
gone upon a wrong scent : Mai. iii. 14, ' Ye say, It is in vain to serve the
Lord ; and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances ?' Isa.
Iviii. 3, ' Wherefore have we fasted, and he seeth not ? ' &c. People
are carried on with great fervour and vigour for a while ; but if they
meet not with sensible benefit, tire and grow weary of religion, and
attendance upon the duties thereof. But this should not move us ; for
God doth not govern the world by sense, but by faith, 2 Cor. v. 7 ;
and our eternal reward is sure, 1 Cor. xv. 58. If we faint and give
over, we miss of it. And besides, you do not serve God, but tempt
and take an essay of him. If you forego religion, because you find not
at first what you hope for, you do not make the adventure of faith, but
only try conclusions and experiments, and look for such sensible proofs,
which God will not always vouchsafe to you.
A FAST SERMON. 3H
3. It argueth too much love of the world, which by long impor
tunity prevaileth with us to forsake God, and grow dead and cold in
religion, 2 Tim. iv. 10. When we are well at ease, the world draweth
us off from the love of God and heavenly things : 1 John ii. 15, ' If
any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.' And
where there is not love there is no delight ; and where there is no de
light there will soon be a weariness or backwardness to his service.
4. It comes from indulgence to the ease of the flesh. As bodily
weariness is most incident to the lazy, so is spiritual weariness to those
who do not rouse up themselves : Kom. xii. 11, ' Not slothful in busi
ness ; fervent in spirit ; serving the Lord.' If we will not take pains
to keep grace alive, we soon tire and flag in the ways of godliness.
We must stir up ourselves : Isa. Ixiv. 7, ' There is none that calleth
upon thy name, none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee/
So we by prayer and diligent meditation must keep up the fervour of
our spirits ; and take heed of a remiss will, which is easily discouraged.
There is in the saints an habit of doing good, which is kept up by in
fluence on God's part and diligence on ours. Now he that works by
an habit, worketh with delight, is never weary of doing good. There
is infused in regeneration an inclination to spiritual and heavenly
things, Heb. viii. 10, and Ps. xl. 8. Now this inclination is strength
ened into a preparation or readiness, 2 Tim. ii. 21. The inclination is
the remote power, the readiness is the next and immediate power ; the
inclination is from the seed of grace, the readiness from growth and
strength of grace. Now next to this readiness, an earnest impulsion,
a zeal for the service, when our hearts within us make us willing.
And this is continually strengthened in us by God's influence perfect
ing the habits of grace, Heb. xiii. 21 ; and by ourselves, Kev. iii. 2 ;
by our watchfulness and diligence.
5. Impatience of troubles, and the manifold discouragements we
meet with in the way to heaven : Heb. xii. 3 5 ' Consider him who
endured such a contradiction of sinners, that ye may not wax weary
and faint in your minds.' The tediousness of afflictions doth make
the mind weary. Elijah speaketh like a man quite tired and spent,
' Take away my life, I am not better than my fathers.' The best
Christians may be tired and out of breath in bad times : Mat. xxiv. 12,
' Because iniquity doth abound, the love of many waxeth cold.' It is
not taken in a general sense, that when there is a deluge of wickedness,
sin, by being common, groweth less odious ; but in a limited sense,
taking iniquity for persecutions, it is at least a damage to zeal.
Fourthly, The effects. I shall not mention the gross effect, total
apostasy from God, or wholly giving over religion, which doth suffi
ciently discover itself ; but the effects of that partial deficiency or
weariness I mentioned. Three things I will name
1. Boldness in sinning. When men begin to lose their tenderness
and strictness, have not such a deep awe upon their hearts, but let loose
the reins, and allow themselves to sin freely in thought, sometimes
foully in word and act, the heart is not watched, the tongue is not
bridled, nor the life regulated with that circumspection and care which
becometh saints the heart is suffered to remain full of envy, pride,
and worldliness, and other evil affections ; the tongue overfloweth with
312 A FA -ST SERMON.
idle, if not rotten and unsavoury speeches. In their lives men become
vain and careless, more bold and venturous upon temptations and
snares. Certainly then men grow weary of the restraints of religion ;
while they have any love to God, they have a lively hatred of sin, Ps.
xcvii. 10. They deny the motions of sin with more resolution ; bewail
the commission of it with more tenderness, Luke vii. 47 ; yea, bemoan
themselves because of the relics of corruption, Horn. vii. 24. But when
men lose their conscientious tenderness, wallow in sin without remorse,
cast off their former strictness, not their fond scrupulosity, and enlarge
themselves to all manner of vanity, they are grown weary of that exact
ness which religion calleth for.
2. More coldness in duties of worship. Either it is omitted, or per
formed perfunctorily, and in a careless, stupid manner. (1.) It is less
frequent, as if they could live without God, Jer. ii. 31, 32, Job xxvii. 10 ;
and need not such frequent converse with him, scarce keep an holy
acquaintance. Usually this evil groweth upon us by degrees ; as the
glory of the Lord in Ezekiel did remove not all at once, but by certain
steps, from the holy place, the altar of burnt-offering, the outward
court, the city, then rested on one of the hills which encompassed the
city, as loath to be gone. So men grow cold towards God by degrees.
God is first cast out of the heart, then out of the closet, then out of
the family, then more indifferent to public duties ; then sin begins to
manifest itself, till the sinner appear in his own colours. Therefore
observe how this weariness and satiety grows upon you, when you sel
dom think or speak of God, Ps. x. 3, seldom converse with him, grow
more strange to him, begin less to love and prize the ordinances and
means of grace. God is neglected ; you have no mind to meet with
him, as formerly you had. Ps. Ixiii. 2, David prayeth, ' That I may
see thee, as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.' (2.) When there is less
complacency and seriousness in worship. It is more tedious and irk
some, and we do not keep up a delightful communion with him, neither
in the word nor prayer, nor is meditation of God so sweet as it was
wont to be, but more grievous and troublesome. The word was the
solace of your souls, ' sweeter than honey or the honeycomb/ Ps. cxix.
103 ; but now you are gospel-glutted and Christ-glutted ; manna
loseth its relish with you ; prayer is looked upon as a task and a pen
ance, rather than a privilege. The throne of grace, which was the
porch of heaven, is now neglected ; and though you were glad to meet
together and call upon the name of God, now it is an heavy bondage
to be tied to accustomed opportunities of meeting with God. You
could say, as David, Ps. civ. 34, ' My meditation of him shall be sweet ;
I will rejoice in the Lord.' Now thoughts of God rush into the mind
like unwelcome guests ; you like not to retain them in your minds.
3. Less care and study to please God. Surely they who value and
esteem his favour above all things make it their business and work to
please him, Col. i. 10, Isa. Ivi. 4, 1 Thes. iv. 1,2 Cor. v. 9. Now when
it is a more indifferent thing to you whether God be pleased or dis
pleased, this is not so greatly minded ; our intention is less sincere, and
we more mind the pleasing of ourselves and the pleasing of men. We
are grown weary of him. They that keep up that high esteem of him
can be content to do anything and suffer anything rather than dis-
A FAST SERMON. 313
please God and lose his favour. His love is their life, his displeasure
as formidable as death itself to them, Gen. xxxix. 9. So also they are
willing to suffer anything, Phil. iii. 8-10.
Fifthly, What a sad estate of soul it is appeareth (1.) By the
"heinousness of the sin ; (2.) Terribleness of the judgment.
1. The heinousness of the sin.
[1.] It is an horrible contempt of God, after trial, to fall off from
God, and return to our carnal pleasures and satisfactions again. Those
that never chose him sin less than those that grow weary of him after
choice ; for the apostle saith, 2 Peter ii. 21, ' Better they had never
known the way of righteousness.' For they do in effect pronounce,
after some trial and experience, that the world is better than God, or
proclaim to the world that there is not in God what they expected in
him.
[2.] It is a very senseless and unreasonable sin. God never gave
you cause or occasion to grow weary of him. He challengeth Israel :
Micah vi. 3, ' my people, what have I done unto thee ? and wherein
have I wearied thee ? testify against me , ' Jer. ii. 5, what is it
maketh you weary of God ? His commands ? They are not grievous,
but all holy, just, and good. His trials are not severe, nor above mea
sure, nor beyond strength. His rewards are not doubtful or question
able, but sure, if we had but the patience to wait for them. * Many
good works have I done among you ; for which of those do you stone
me ? ' Much good he hath done us ; what is it makes us weary ?
[3.] There is much ingratitude in it. He hath given much cause
to the contrary. There is none begin with God but they have an in
vitation to go on in God himself a new inviting sweetness to keep up
our affections fresh and lively, 1 Peter ii. 3, Ps. xxxviii. 8. In his
ways much serenity and peace, Gal. vi. 16 ; yea, strength if we be sin
cere with him, Prov. x. 29 ; besides a promise of supply. It is not
only matter of usual experience, but secured by promise : Isa. xl. 30, 31,
1 The youths shall faint and be weary, but they that wait on the Lord
shall renew their strength/ Look, as in heaven God is always to the
blessed spirits new and fresh every morning ; so in the church, when
we taste anything it doth not cloy there is more to be had in God,
still greater things than these. In carnal and earthly things, the more
we try them the imperfections which formerly lay hid are discovered
upon fruition ; therefore, all these things are less in enjoyment than
they were in expectation. But it is not so in these spiritual things ;
every taste should provoke appetite.
2. The terribleness of the judgment.
[1.] On nations. When men have opened the doors to the king of
glory, and then throw him out again, or bid him depart out of their
coasts for temporal reasons, as the Gadarenes did Christ, God taketh it
heinously : 2 Chron. xii. 8, ' They shall know my service, and the ser
vice of the kingdoms of the countries;' that is, they should see what a
difference there was between serving God and serving enemies.
[2.] On churches. Kev. ii. 5, 'Behold I will come against thee
quickly.' When their zeal of Christianity was abated, he threateneth
a removal of their candlestick. If a people grow weary of Christ, they
that would not acknowledge his worth shall know the want of him to
314 A FAST SERMON.
their bitter cost. God would unchurch them, by removing his ordin
ances from them, and give them over to those errors and delusions they
affected and lingered after.
[3.] For particular persons, it layeth them open to God's severe cor
rection, Hosea v. 15. The great use of afflictions is to quicken us ; if
God's discipline smart, we may thank ourselves for it. God maketh
them the sharper, that we may not dote upon the world, and neglect
him, and grow cold in his service, and to awaken a lively sense of re
ligion in us.
[4.] For total defection. There is dreadful vengeance appointed
for them that prefer the creature before God, bodies before souls, and
earth before heaven : Heb. x. 9, 10, ' They draw back to perdition/
Use. Take heed of growing weary of God.
1. Man is a very changeable creature, and the course of temptations
may be altered, 1 Kings ii. 28, and 1 Kings xiii. 4-19.
2. There is a cursed satiety. Our affections are deadened to things
to which we are accustomed. Manna is loathed by the Israelites :
Nothing but this manna. The full stomach loatheth the honeycomb.
When first acquainted with religion, we are more affected with it, but
afterwards glutted. Certainly we more admire grace, and are more
affected with it, when first called out of darkness into light, 1 Peter ii. 9.
In a deep thirst our taste is more lively ; but yet the sense of this
wonderful mercy should never be forgotten by us, nor should we ever
lose our gospel relish.
3. When we grow weary of God, we take little notice of it. The
generality of professors, if they do not wholly cast off religion, are
satisfied though their love to God be exceedingly cold ; and as long
as they do a few outward things for God, which they had rather leave
undone than do them, do not take notice of the decay of their
principle, which is faith working by love. But God noteth this ; for
he weigheth the spirits, and all is but tithing, mint, and cummin, if
we pass over judgment and the love of God, Luke xi. 42.
4. The issue of this distemper of mind is so dreadful, that we can
not sufficiently watch against the first declinings, for these are the
cause of all the rest. When you begin to grow careless, strike in effec
tually and rouse up thyself, 2 Tim. i. 6, ava^wTrvpeiv, as the priests
were to keep in their holy fire of the altar. Otherwise when the evil
heart beginneth to draw us from God, we shall be hardened in it, Heb.
iii. 12, 13. It was a delight to me to think of God, to speak of him,
or to him ; how is it that my heart is gone off from these things ? God
is as lovely as ever, and sin as odious.
5. Worldly lusts must be mortified ; for if our love be pre-engaged,
God will be defrauded. As when the pipe breaketh out, the water
cannot go forwards. It is an inordinate affection to other things that
deadeneth our hearts to God.
A FAST SERMON.
Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
But ye said, Wherein shall we return ? MAL. iii. V.
THOUGH the time of this prophecy be not exactly specified, yet the
matter showeth that Malachi prophesied after the return from captivity.
When the people were established again in their possessions, they soon
forgot God and the mercy of their deliverance, and polluted themselves
with divers sins and abominations. Therefore the prophet is sent to
expostulate with them, which he doth in a warm and close way of
arguing. The sins charged upon them are pollution of God's worship,
and profaneness in the people ; but in the priests, who should teach
them better, ignorance and partiality in God's law. Besides, in the
people again, carelessness in worship, a parsimonious detention of God's
rights, marriages with infidels, polygamy, abuses of divorce, blasphe
mous and hard thoughts of God, contemptuous speeches of his providence.
Observe how soon a people may forget the mercy of their deliverance.
A man would have thought that persons newly come out of a long and
tedious captivity should have been more awful and thankful. But man
is man still ; and no moral means will cure them, without God's special
and powerful grace. They were tainted by long converse with the
heathen, and smelt of Babylon when they came back to Zion, having
brought home the sins of the country with them where they had been
scattered. To such a people is Malachi sent ; and his dealing with
them is suitable ; sometimes boldly expostulating, other whiles sharply
threatening, again seriously exhorting the people.
The verse, of which the text is a branch, carrieth the face of a sweet
exhortation to repentance : a duty very seasonable ; for, saith he,
' from the days of your fathers ye have gone away from mine ordinances,
and have not kept them. Keturn unto me, and I will return unto you,
saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return ? '
In which words there is
1. An accusation Ye have gone away.
2. An exhortation Return unto me.
3. The rejoinder or reply of the people.
1. In the accusation there is the nature of their sin ; they had gone
off from God's ordinances, and had not kept them. Sin is a going away
from God's ordinances, or a breach of his law, 1 John iii. 4 ; and the
law may be broken, either by omitting the good required, or doing the
evils forbidden. This people are supposed to be charged with both in
316 A FAST SERMON.
the text. Ye are gone away from mine ordinances, by doing things
contrary to the law ; there is transgression, or sins of commission. And
ye observed not what the law required, ye have not kept them ; there
sins of omission are implied. The next thing in the accusation is their
long continuance in their sins, ' from the days of your fathers.' The
longer we lie in sin, the more heinous and provoking it is, and the
worse it is remedied, and it bringeth us nearer to the curse and actual
judgment ; for God will not bear always. A chimney long foul and not
swept, is fired at length.
2. The exhortation. There you may take notice of the duty, the
motive and authority with which it is backed. (1.) The duty,
' Keturn to me.' They that are gone away from God's ordinances
are gone away from God himself ; by breaking his laws they re
nounce their fealty to their rightful Lord, and turn the back upon
him, and not the face, Therefore repentance towards God, Acts
xx. 21, is necessary to set the creature right again, and put him in
his proper place and posture, called therefore a turning or returning
to God often in scripture, because the bent of the heart is altered, and
set to love, please, serve, and glorify God. This is the duty we must
mind, if we mean to be safe. And it must be done, not by a few, but
all, or many, at least ; but especially every one must look to himself.
Many are willing others should turn from their sins, but stay behind
themselves. No ; let us come jointly and generally, every one of us
bring our bucket to quench the common burning ~ Hosea vi. 1, * Come
let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn, and he will heal us ; he
hath smitten, and he will bind us up/ This turning is not an hanging our
heads for a day like a bulrush ; but a putting away the evil of our doings,
and a fixing and engaging our hearts to love God, and live to him ;
this is the duty. (2.) The motive is. 'And I will turn unto you.' If
we turn to God in a way of duty, he will turn to us in a way of mercy.
We turn to him by his preventing grace, and God turneth to us by his
rewarding grace, giving us blessing, comfort, peace. Our returning to
God is our great duty ; his returning to us is our great happiness. (3.)
The authority with which both are backed, in those words, ' saith the
Lord of hosts ; ' that is, which hath all things at his command, to arm
them for us or against us 5 according as we make him a friend or an
enemy. (1st.) This bindeth the duty. Remember with whom your
business lieth, with the Lord of hosts. It is ill to be found in a course
of disobedience to him. He that commandeth all things, shall he not
command your hearts? (2d.) It assureth the promise; for what
difficulties soever lie in the way of our happiness, the Lord of hosts can
remove them.
3. I come now to the people's answer and reply, or entertainment
of this exhortation : ' But ye said, Wherein shall we return ? ' (1.) It
is not a serious question, but a cavil, not a desire of information, but
a bold expostulation ; for it is mentioned here with a 'but;' 'but ye
said ;' and it suiteth with the stout and stubborn genius of this people,
who would not yield to anything that might infer their guilt. See it
all along : Mai. i. 2, 'I have loved you, saith the Lord ; but ye said,
Wherein hast thou loved us ? ' They remember the old desolations,
and were not satisfied with the present mercies. So ver, 6, ' Hear,
A FAST SERMON. 317
priests, that despise my name ; and ye say, Wherein do we despise thy
name ? ' They would not own any such thing. So ver. 7, * Ye have
offered polluted bread on mine altar ; and yet say, Wherein have we
polluted thee ?' They thought everything good enough for God, and
yet would not own that they had any lessening thoughts of his majesty.
So chap. ii. 14, God rejected their offerings, and they say, 'Wherefore ?'
they saw no cause. So chap. iii. 8, * Ye hath robbed me, saith the
Lord ; ' as they detained the maintenance due for the support of his
worship ; ' and yet ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee ?' So ver. 13,
' Your words have been stout against me ; yet ye say, Wherein have we
been stout against thee?' Thus did they outface all challenges.
Therefore it is not a serious inquiry, like that, Acts ii. 37, ' Men and
brethren, what shall we do ? ' and Acts xvi. 30. These speak as
owning their sin, and desiring to be directed into a better course. But
in the text they did not ask as desiring to be satisfied in the duty,
but as quarrelling at the application of it to themselves ; wherein had
they sinned, that they should need to return ? It is an exception to-
the charge, that they had not departed from God. (2.) This question
or reply was not in words. The scriptures are wont to attribute
such sayings and speeches to wicked men as agree to their manners ;
if their mouths do not say so, their practice and carriage saith so ; as
Ps. xiv. 1, ' The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.' There
are explicit thoughts expressly conceived in our minds, and implicit
thoughts which lurk in our hearts, and are known from the interpre
tation of our actions, when these are run up to their proper principle.
Men live as if they were influenced by such a thought ; what could he
do worse if he should actually say, There is no God ? So he shows
us what and wherein we offend ; not that they speak it in plain terms,
but they clearly showed such was their meaning : What have we done
amiss ? or wherein do we depart, that thou biddest us return ? that
is, the exhortation was lost upon them, as if they needed no repent
ance nor reformation.
Doct. That a people who are apparently gone off from the ways of
God, are not easily brought to a sight and sense of the necessity of
returning to him.
The point is true (1.) Of mankind in general; (2.) Of nations;
(3.) Of particular persons.
First, The point is true of mankind in general, who, being fallen
from God, continue in their apostasy as long as they can with any
tolerable shift and pretence of satisfaction. There is in all some false
imaginary happiness, and some counterfeit righteousness, wherein they
please themselves. The false happiness is as their God, and the
superficial righteousness is as their Christ and mediator ; and so they
are secure and senseless, till God open their eyes by a powerful con
viction. They neither seek after another happiness, nor trouble them
selves about the way whereby they may obtain it.
1. That men set up a false happiness in their carnal estate needeth
not much proof ; for ever since man fell from God, he adhered to the
creature : Jer. ii. 13, we left the fountain, and we betook ourselves to
the cistern. And if we can make a shift to patch up a sorry happi
ness here in the world apart from God, we neither care for him, nor
318 A FAST SERMON.
will come at him : Jer. ii. 31, ' Wherefore say my people, We are lords;
we will come no more unto thee ? ' They love to live of themselves.
Our pleasure, profit, and honour, that is our God ; and while we enjoy
these without control, we look no further ; and if we can sail with
a full current in worldly felicity, we count ourselves well a-paid.
Certainly we do not seek our happiness in an invisible God, nor can
we wait to enjoy it in an invisible world. The flesh must be pleased ;
and the more it is pleased, we think ourselves the more happy.
(2.) That there is something in us which is instead of Christ to us,
to keep the conscience quiet when our affections take up with present
things. Our happiness is to satisfy our desires, our righteousness is
to allay our fears. Now here we run to an external course of religi
ousness, as if it would make us perfect, as appertaining to the con
science. We seek to something external, which is diversified according
to men's education. If pagans, to the epyov vbpov, Bom. ii. 15. If
we do some external works, and avoid some gross sins, wherein shall
we return ? If Jews, to ritual observances of Moses, and there is our
righteousness : Kom. x. 3, ' For they, being ignorant of God's right
eousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have
not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.' Out of
ignorance and pride in their legal observances, they rejected the
obedience of the gospel. If they be Christians, they rest in baptism
and the name of Christians, or the outward profession of the gospel,
without coming under the power of it. The apostles obviated this,
1 Peter iii. 21, and 2 Tim. iii. 5. Among Christians, who are divided
in opinions, interests, and affections, some rest in this form, some in
that ; some that they are of a church which claimeth infallibility and
damneth all others that are not of their own way ; and if they be
herded there, they think they are safe. They are catholics, others are
heretics ; and out of the church there is no salvation, but there they
promise it themselves without scruple ; though God knoweth, and we
may easily see that of all Christians they are in the most hazardous
condition ; and it is a very large charity that can allow them any pro
bability of salvation. Others have their external forms, wherein they
place all their religion, though accompanied with little life and power
of godliness. And others take up a stricter form, and delude their
souls with the fallacy and self-conceit of disproving other men's errors,
when their hearts are not a jot the better constituted towards God, or
disposed to the heavenly life ; if they stand on the vantage ground,
they are not the taller men. And so as long as men make any shift
to live quietly in the carnal state, in vain do you press them to return
to God. Thus it is with mankind in general.
Secondly, As to nations, which is the case here; for a national
return to God preventeth national judgments. Now how hard is it to
convince them of a necessity of returning to God, though they are
apparently gone off from his ways !
1. Because the commonness and continuance of sin taketh away the
odiousness of it. By custom and tract of time, corruptions get esteem
and veneration, that they are accounted a great part of religion ; and
God is outlawed as it were, and Christ's prescriptions and institutions
are looked upon as innovations, against which the zeal of the country
A FAST SERMON. 319
is engaged. And though, in pressing men to return to God, we do
not, as Moses, open a new fountain in the wilderness, but, with Isaac,
dig the wells which his father had opened before, because the Philistines
had stopped them and filled them up with earth, Gen. xxv. 18 ; yet
the world cannot bear it ; but say unto us, as they did to him, Go from
us. It was Nazianzen's plea, in reviving the doctrine of the trinity,
after the church had been long oppressed by the Arians : Though we
endeavour to take away the earth with which the old fountains have
been obstructed and filled up, it will not do. That which hath been
received by tradition from their fathers, though vain, they will not
part with, 1 Peter i. 18 ; and John iv. 20, ' Our fathers worshipped
in this mountain.' Inveterate superstitions are not easily removed.
In the text, ' From the days of your fathers ye are gone away from my
ordinances ;' and no wonder that they said, 'Wherein shall we return ? '
2. Because of some show of worship and religion left among a
people. If they be not wholly gone from God, they will not own
that they are in part gone from his ordinances ; and so reformation
becometh desperate, lest they should seem to lose the whole, while
they yield that they have erred in part. Antichrist had not gotten
such a great advantage over Christian people if he did not sit in the
temple of God, 2 Thes. ii. 4. And the Jews did not so often cry
out, The temple of the Lord ! the temple of the Lord ! as they cry
out, The church ! the church ! and all corruptions and usurpations
must be borne out by the name of the church and the authority of the
church, and we must not so much as peep and mutter against the
church. And thus Christ's ordinances are turned against himself,
and the beast pusheth with the horns of the lamb, Rev. xiii. 11.
Church constitution is used to oppress Christ's interest, and the
most serious people that he hath in the world. Press them to return
from whence they are fallen, and still they have this buckler to ward
off all invitations of reformation : The church hath decreed otherwise,
and the church cannot err ; and with this mormo or bugbear they
fright and drive off all motions of returning to God.
3. Because they are in part reformed already, and purged from some
of their defilements, and will you have them returning still ? These
people had been in Babylon, but now they had built the temple, and
the sacrifices and worship were restored, and therefore think they
might well say, * Wherein shall we return ? ' Had they not done enough
already ? Must reformations be reformed, and no end of them ? Alas !
Christ gets up by degrees, for the world disputeth it with him inch
by inch. And if his messengers would be contented with half Christ,
they might live in pomp and ease as others do Si dimidio Christi,
&c. The ark and mercy-seat removes, till it was seated in its proper
place, from Shiloh to Kirjath-jearim, then to the house of Obed-edom,
then to the city of David, till at length placed in the temple. We
accept with thankfulness as much as God alloweth us and the world
will bear, and are ready to support the common Christianity with
our utmost endeavours, provided we be not bound to consent to en
croachments, and to approve imperfections and defects, as if these
spots of the church were the beauty of it. We observe All cannot be
done at one time, and we must wait God's leisure. The best kings
320 A FAST SERMON.
of Judah could not bring the people to return as far as God would
have them, and they themselves would have them : 2 Chron. xx.
33, ' Howbeit the high places were not taken away ; for as yet the
people had not prepared their hearts to the God of their fathers ; '
2 Chron. xxxiii. 17, ' Nevertheless the people did sacrifice in the high
places, yet to the Lord their God only.' We bless God for the abolish
ing of idolatry, for the zeal of the first reformers, the consent and
allowance of our princes, that Christ is so far onward in his way ; and
we abhor those that go upon that principle, the worse the better, as
being wholly bent to separation, division, and destruction ; but yet we
patiently and humbly wait for a more thorough returning to the
Lord.
4. Another reason why a people are not easily brought to a sight
and sense of the necessity of a national repentance is because they
many times return feignedly, as in Josiah's time : Jer. iii. 10, ' This
people hath not returned to me with their whole hearts, but feignedly,
saith the Lord.' There seemed to be a thorough reformation then,
for that godly prince searched into all nasty corners that he might
cleanse them ; but many discontinued their practice that yet hankered
after them in their hearts, and secretly kept up their abominations.
And Zephaniah was sent in his days : Zeph. i. 4, ' I will utterly consume
all things, saith the Lord.' Why ! will the Lord never be pleased ?
Yes ; God is a good God, but the people dealt deceitfully with him ;
they seemed to turn to the Lord when they did not. There may be
a face of strictness when there is little of the power of godliness, and
men contradict not only the principles of their religion, but their own
professions.
Thirdly, Come we now to particular persons. When they are
apparently gone off from God, it is hard to bring them to acknowledge
their sin, and to see a necessity of returning to him. I will enforce
this by two considerations
1. That a people professing repentance in the general, yet, when it
cometh to particulars, wince and start, and will not be convinced of
apparent sins, and then reply, ' Wherein shall we return ? '
2. That is but a notion of repentance, not a real exercise of it,
when we profess to return to God, and know not wherein we should
return.
1. For the first, I will prove it by two things (1.) The several
shifts men use to divert a particular acknowledgment of sin ; (2.) The
causes of it.
[1.] The several shifts men use.
(1.) Men rest a in generals, and say, We are all sinners, and raise a
great outcry against sin. But alas ! that is but a notion, and too
much in the air to work upon the heart and conscience. Confession
should be particular; you must fetch out your sins by head and
shoulders till you find out the Achan, the most particular and most
affective. Blunt iron, that toucheth many points, maketh but a bruise ;
a needle, that toucheth but one point, entereth to the quick. As
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream, but could not tell what it was,
Dan. ii. 5 ; or as Ahimaaz brought David tidings of a tumult, but
could specify no particularity, 2 Sam. xii. 27 ; so many confess to
A FAST SERMON. 321
God sins, but do not name the sins by which they have provoked him.
Sin in the general is the common pack-horse upon which men lay all
their burdens ; it is long of sin ; but what sin I pray you ? If it be
sin, amend then, avoid sin. There they start aside. Zanchy observeth
the apostle saith not, 1 John i. 9. Si confiteamur nos peccatores esse ;
sed si confiteamur peccata nostra He doth not say, If we confess
that we are sinners, but, If we confess our sins. We should par
ticularise those that most wound the conscience. Malefactors in men's
courts are not indicted in general terms, but fact and circumstances
are related. But to God we confess by wholesale and in the lump,
say we are sinners in the general, but will scarce be known of any
particular sin we have committed. God saith, Hosea v. 15, ' I will
return to my place till they acknowledge their offence.' And again,
1 Kings viii. 38, ' When he shall acknowledge his own plague, and
the sore of his own heart.' In deep distress, inward or outward, there
is some concealed sin which we must find out, without which much
show of prayer and humble confession of a sinful people will be little
worth.
(i5.) They confess particular faults, but not the sin God aims at.
There are some creditable sins and loved errors, like diseases, that are
incident to the best complexions and constitutions. It may be human
frailty, when it is gross enormity ; distractions in duties, when tippling
should be mentioned rather ; some defects of love to Christ, when it
is gross inclinations to the world and sensual delights, &c. As Moses
pleaded he had a stammering tongue, he was not eloquent, &c. ; but
God gently toucheth his privy sore : Exod. iv. 19, ' And the Lord
said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt ; for all the men
are dead which sought thy life.' Moses pleaded not that, but God
knew what was the great impediment and let in the case. So it is
with us, we plead this and that, confess sins that we are guilty of
indeed, but overlook the main sin.
(3.) Transferring or putting it upon others ; they care not upon
whose back the burden is cast to ease their own shoulders. Atkm
puts off the sin upon his wife, and obliquely upon God himself : Gen.
iii. 12, ' The woman which thou gavest me,' &c. Aaron puts it off
upon the solicitations of the people : Exod. xxxii. 22, ' Thou knowest
this people, that they are set on mischief,' &c. Pilate washed his hands,
but yet he could not wash off his guilt, though he said, ' Look you to
it/ Mat. xxvii. 24. So among others, sometimes the people shift off
their burden on their rulers and governors, whereas the princes smart
often for the people's sins, Prov. xxviii. 2 ; on the other hand, the
prince on the people, Zech. xi. 3 ; as head and stomach mutually
vitiate and disorder one another. Again, people on their ministers,
ministers on the people ; but both are punished : Luke vi. 39, ' The
blind lead the blind, and both fall into the ditch ; ' Ezek. iii. 20, ' The
wicked shall surely die ; but if thou givest not warning, his blood
will I require at thy hands.' Oh ! what cause have all of us to
acknowledge our offences and humble ourselves before the Lord, and to
return to a more serious discharging of our duty ! So among us ; one
party chargeth the calamities of the nation upon another, as if they
said, ' Wherein shall we return ? ' The stricter party charges it on the
VOL. xv. x
322 A FAST SERMON.
profane, the profane on the stricter party ; but we all see cause to
charge it on ourselves : 2 Chron. xxviii. 10, 'But are there not with
you, even with you, sins against the Lord our God ? ' He would have
them seriously to consider their own ways, and dive into their own
hearts ; though God had made them the scourge to punish the chil
dren of Judah, had not they their sins also ? One party may have
the advantage of another in point of power and interest ; but they all
stand upon the same level before God. All have miscarried, and
neither the one nor the other can say, ' Wherein shall we return ? '
(4.) They outface all challenges ; and when they have done apparent
injury to God, others, and their own souls, they will not see it, but
reject all convictions : Jer. xvi. 10, ' It shall come to pass, when thou
shalt show this people all these words, and they shall say, Wherefore
hath the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us ? or what is
our iniquity ? or what is our sin that we have committed against the
Lord our God ? ' &c. Wicked men are pertinacious or presumptuous,
either to deny or excuse their sins, though never so notorious and con
spicuous ; choosing rather to charge God with iniquity, as if he had
punished them without cause or above measure, than to acknowledge
their perfidious carriage towards him. So Jer. ii. 23, ' How canst thou
say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim ? See thy way in
the valley, know what thou hast done/ &c.
(5.) By censuring faithful reprovers : Jer. vi. 10, ' The word of the
Lord is to them a reproach/ It is a sad crisis and temper of a people
to count matter of reproof matter of reproach ; and let a man deal
never so faithfully, they say he doth but rail. Though truths be de
livered never so wisely, strongly, and with clear deduction from scrip
ture, and with never so much caution and circumspection, yet guilt is
touchy, and cannot brook it. And this is the fault of the religious
party, the fooleries adopted into their religion.
[2.] The causes of it.
(1.) The blindness of self-love, whereby we are conceited of our
selves, and of our own gifts, and of our own good estate, and will not
have the fallacy and cheat that we put upon ourselves discovered, Prov.
xvi. 2. Especially in such practices as are in vogue a-nd esteem, Luke
xvi. 15. There are certain sins that are authorised, by the ignorant
false zeal of some good men, and cried up as a piece of religion. Now
the discovery of this is irksome ; conceits of our own goodness will not
permit a debate about them : John ix. 40, ' Are we blind also ? ' It
is a sign of a naughty heart when men cannot endure to hear of their
sins and errors.
(2.) Loathness to acknowledge ouv shame. Certainly a man is loath
to take shame to himself, and, though conscious of an offence, will not
seriously confess it even to God. Adam hid himself, Gen. iii. ; David
kept silence, Ps. xxxii. ; and is forced to urge his backward heart by a
practical decree, ver 5. And Job maketh it the common nature of
man : Job xxxi. 33, ' If I have covered my transgressions, as Adam, by
hiding my sins in my bosom/ Some take the name Adam properly
for the first man, whose fall and covering his transgression were re
markable ; others take it appellatively, as Junius, more humane, after
the manner of all mankind, who use to palliate and cloak their sins.
A FAST SERMON. 323
(3.) Indulgence to our lusts. Serious acknowledgment is a means
to mortify them, and forsake them ; for men cannot easily continue
in sins for which they solemnly judge themselves before the Lord.
Now all the godly, none excepted, have some tender parts in their
soul, which they are loath should be touched, some evils which are as
their Delilahs wherein they delight most ; as David had his iniquity,
from which he kept himself, Ps. xviii. 23. And every man, besides
their general inclination to all sins, hath a peculiar and particular in
clination to some bosom sins, which their constitution and education
does prompt them unto, or course of life does minister occasion of. And
these are the evils in which men should prove their sincerity, as in not
sparing them, so in not covering or hiding of them, but confessing them
with all bitterness of spirit before the Lord. Surely you should return
from every known sin. For he that reserveth and alloweth any one
darling sin, is no forsaker of sin, but doth only make choice of that
sin which he would live in. .As what profit is it to guard one part of
the city walls, when the other are left open to every assault ? But yet
here is an indulgence which maketh us touchy and tender of having
this sin meddled with ; as it is seen in Herod, Mark vi. 19, 20. And
not in him only ; but some good men are impatient of reproof when
their Delilah is touched ; therefore it is hard to convince them, to bring
them to see wherein they should return.
2. Now I come to my second consideration, that it is but a notion
of repentance, not a real exercise of it, when we profess to return to
God, and know not wherein we should return. What do you call
returning to God ? Long harangues against sin in prayer ? This
may be done by hypocrites, who raise up a puppet of sin in their own
fancies, and cudgel it with barren invectives, but yet regard iniquity
as a darling in their hearts. Surely real repentance is when anything
that was amiss before is mended. It is either the reformation of some
particular disorder by which God was provoked, or a general fixing
of the heart to God, that we may love him more and serve him better,
that it may sensibly appear that we have gotten good by every serious
act of humiliation before God. But to bring it to some head, no re
pentance is serious and real but what is honourable to God and
profitable to us. Now the more particular it is, the more these ends
are accomplished.
[1.] Solemn repentance honoureth God ; and therefore it is often said
to be a giving God glory, Mai. ii. 2 ; Kev. xvi. 9, * They repented not
to give him glory ; ' Josh. xvii. 19, ' My son, I pray thee, give glory
to the God of Israel.' True confession and humiliation for sin under
judgments doth especially give God a double glory the glory of his
truth, and the glory of his justice ; the one relates to his laws, the
other to his providence. (1.) The glory of his truth: Hosea vii. 12,
' I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.' God herein
showeth that his word shall take eSect, that his threatenings are not a
vain scarecrow, that men shall feel the danger which they would not
believe. When he suits the judgment to the sin, according to the
rule of the word, we are convinced of this, and so give God the glory
of his truth. (2.) His righteousness. God loveth to be clear when he
judgeth, Ps. li. 4, or to have the reason of his dispensation seen, that
324 A FAST SERMON.
he may have the glory, and we may have the shame: Jer. ii. 17, ' Hast
thou not procured this unto thyself ? ' and is not this thy ' way in the
valley ?' as we say to children, Is not this your eating green fruit ?
This silenceth us, and honoureth God.
[2.] It is profitable to us to know what sin God aimeth at ; that
God never afflicts but for a cause, is necessary to be known, for the
honour of God ; and for what cause, that is necessary to be known, for
our profit, that by the bitterness of the effects it may be made more
odious to us ; for our knowledge is more by the effect than the cause,
Jer. ii. 19. By the evils we suffer God showeth us the evil which we
commit, and that we may know what to redress : 1 Cor. xi. 30, * For
this cause many are weak and sickly among you.' Particular repent
ance respects particular sins.
Use 1. It informs us how difficult the work of conversion is, when
the first work, and that which is but a common work, and may be
lost, namely conviction, is so hard. Such is our blindness and par
tiality in our cause, our stupidity and hardness of heart in interpreting
the word and providence, that when we are called upon to return to
God, we know not wherein to return. Oh ! what ado is there to bring
a man to a kindly conviction of sin ! The knowledge of the disease is
but the first step to the cure ; but when, under deadly spiritual dis
tempers, we are heart-whole, and will not see our folly and filthiness,
that we may turn to the Lord, and carry it so carelessly as if we
needed no repentance Ex pede Herculemby this piece of the work
judge of the rest
Use 2. To exhort us to two things
1. Take heed of the shifts whereby men beguile themselves, and if
they do anything towards turning to God. it is but personated, a part
acted for a day ; but God is not more glorified, nor are they ever the
better.
[1.] Take heed of outfacing open crimes. We are so shameless, as
to clear ourselves when our wickedness is evident: Jer. v. 19, * And it
shall come to pass, when ye say, Wherefore doth the Lord our God all
these things unto us ? Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange
gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not
yours.' So Jer. xiii. 22, ' If thou say in thine heart, Wherefore are all
these things come upon me ? For the greatness of thine iniquity are
thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.' In our afflictions
many thoughts boil up in our minds, and among the rest, about the
cause of our troubles, Why doth God deal so severely with us ? And
we are at a loss in apparent causes ; so wretched and sottish is our
self-conceit, as if we were to be taught and told that which all the
world can see. The foul blotches of our wickedness do appear, and yet
we are loath to take notice of it, and bear it out as if we had done
nought amiss ; like the whore in the Proverbs, Prov. xxx. 20, ' She
wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.' An allusion
to one that has eaten fat meat ; when the mouth is wiped all is clean.
This is outfacing.
[2.] Take heed of transferring. Man is mightily given to it ; some
times charging it on the wickedness of former generations, that we
may remove it far enough from ourselves. This is in the nature of
A FAST SERMON. 325
man. Ask the Jews the reason of all their present calamities ; and
they will tell you their fathers worshipping the calf in the wilderness ;
but this will not fit us, for we have overpassed the deeds of the wicked
of former generations, Acts v. 28. They have far outgone them in sin.
Many declaim against the evil of the times, like the crafty lapwing
that goeth screaking abroad to draw the fowler from her own nest.
Have you no sins of your own to bemoan ? Are riot the times the
worse for you ? Is there nothing wherein you may exercise your per
sonal repentance in reference to God ? The sins of the land, you
should be affected with them as if they were your own, because of your
concern for God's glory, and because you be members of that society
that hath so greatly sinned against God. So did Moses : Exod. xxxiv.
9, ' Pardon our iniquity and our sin, a-nd take us for thine inherit
ance;' so Daniel, chap. ix. 5, 6, 'We have sinned and committed
iniquity,' &c. ; and ver. 13, the holy man joineth himself with the
common body of which he was a member. {Some transfer it upon the
opposite faction, maliciously misinterpreting a-nd misapplying provi
dence to the disgrace and disparagement of those from whom they
differ ; as Shimei imputed all David's calamities to his severity to the
house of Saul : 2 Sam. xvi. 8, ' And the Lord hath returned upon thee
all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned.'
Thus men take the boldness to sit as a coroner's inquest on the souls of
others, by their bold glosses and comments on the providence of God,
and make it speak their own language. When they themselves live
in apparent defiance of God, they will censure his people for doubtful
matters, or lesser failings. God doth not use to contend with a nation
for lesser faults or ordinary infirmities ; nor do his judgments come
for doubtful things, but the apparent breaches of unquestionable duties :
Hosea iv. 2, ' By swearing, lying, killing, stealing, committing adultery,
they break out, and blood toucheth blood/ Now for men guilty of
such like crimes to lay all on the people of God, it is as if a man
overgrown with leprosy should upbraid another with a pimple in his
face, or that hath in his drunkenness plunged himself into the sea,
should revile another for slipping into a ditch. But then, on the other
side, the people of God ought not to put off this wholly from them
selves, as if they were to bewail the sins of others when they appear
in these duties. For
(1.) They have their sins; a spirit of division and unsubjection to
all that may be called lawful power, freely speaking evil of dignities ; a
censorious spirit, and a spirit of detraction, which men professing
godliness make little conscience of; a spirit of murmuring against
God and man ; a libertine spirit, that runneth out more to pride than
duties ; impaling, enclosing religion within a party, and care not what
hard things they think, speak, and do against others, thus impro-
priating Christ, as if the word of God came to them only, making
private and doubtful opinions the characteristic of a godly man;
hazarding the main of religion for the interest of a party, and
fighting apart from the body of Christ's army, anathematising a
Christian nation, considering how far they differ, not how far they
agree ; railing against and obstructing the office of the most useful
ministry Christ hath upon earth that I know of or ever read of.
326 A FAST SERMON.
Besides their many personal miscarriages, whereby they have offended
God.
(2.) The sins of professors, yea, the regenerate amongst them, are
most provoking, Amos iii. 2. They sin against a nearer relation, which
is more than if a stranger did these things, 1 -Peter i. 14 ; against a
principle of life within, 1 John iii. 9. There is more unkindness in
their sins, John vi. 67 ; more knowledge of their duty, James iv. 17.
They have felt more of the sting of sin, Josh. xxii. 17, tasted the bitter
waters. They are in covenant with God, Lev. xxvi. 25. They
make profession of a strict obedience, Neh. v. 9. They harden and
justify the wicked, Ezek. xvi. 51.
2. Inquire wherein you should return. Find out the provoking sin.
To do so (1.) There needeth much searching and self-communing,
Lam. iii. 40. If you know wherein you have departed from God, you
may know wherein to return to him. (2.) There needeth much prayer.
Beg of God, Job xxxiv. 32 : ' That which I see not, teach thou me ;'
seek for a further information from God, if anything divideth be
tween you and him. Your hearts are deceitful ; he must give you
light. (3.) There needeth much observation of your own ways : Prov.
iv. 26, ' Ponder the path of thy feet ; ' then you will soon see how God
is dishonoured and provoked by you. But if all this will not do
[1.] Let me tell you, for apparent wicked men to inquire wherein to
return, what special sin God aimeth at, it is but n, deceit they put
on themselves, to leave the matter of repentance on cm uncertain debate.
And it is all one, as if a man should break through a thorn-hedge,
and curiously desire to know which thorn hath pricked him. For those
that are overgrown with sin, it is enough to know that the author of
all afflictions is God, the cause is sin, and the end is repentance ; that
they must be new creatures, or they are undone for ever. To be more
particular with them is to defeat the purpose of the dispensation, and
to put them upon the leaving of one sin, when God calleth for a
change of state, or a passing from death to life ; and this is but like
mending an hole in an house that is ready to drop down.
[2.] For a serious penitent, God will instruct him : Ps. xciv. 12,
* Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, Lord, and instructest out
of thy law.' Partly by the word ; common and avowed truths, well
considered and improved, will state much of our guilt, Bom. i. 18.
Heb. ii. 2. Partly by checks of conscience. What saith conscience,
awakened by misery ? Gen. xlii. 21, * And they said one to another,
We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the
anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear ;
therefore is this distress come upon us;' so Isa. lix. 12, 'Our trans
gressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us ;
for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know
them.' Partly by the complexion and face of providence ; we may
know what is the procuring sin. God is fain to teach us, as Gideon
taught the men of Succoth, by briars and thorns. By the evil we
suffer he showeth us the evil which we have committed, and so
helpeth our faith by our sense.
[3.] It informs us how we may keep a true fast to God. We have
had many superficial mock fasts. If we were once brought to a
A FAST SERMON. 327
sight and sense of returning to God, or a serious exercise of repentance
upon those days, they would turn to a better account. What is there
wanting ?
(1.) A thorough acquaintance with ourselves. Religion in general
lieth much in a true and unfeigned knowledge of ourselves. I am
sure the life of this duty dependeth upon it. Alas! till a man
thoroughly understand himself, his own heart, dispositions, inclina
tions, ways and actions, how can he humble himself before God?
But most of us are great strangers at home ; and while our eyes run
to the ends of the earth, we do too little examine our own case, that
we may be acquainted with the temper and frame of our own hearts,
that we may have a just view of our own image and likeness, as it is
represented to us in the word of God, James i. 23, 24. We are often
discovered to ourselves in our own proper shape ; but we forget it,
pass it over, and do not consider whether anything be amiss in us, yea
or nay. If we see it, it is but transiently ; do not consider it so as to
reform or amend anything. And then we are apt with those in the
text to say, ' Wherein shall we return ?' Alas ! a few serious thoughts
would present us to ourselves with a surprising monstrous appearance,
and beget much self-abhorrency in us. How unpleasant soever such
a sight be, yet it would be very profitable to us whenever we come to
humble ourselves before God. What advantage this would be to us
in prayer and praises. Remember thou art a sinner !
(2.) There is wanting contrition and sorrow of heart, or a sensible
feeling of the loathsomeness and heinousness of sin. We want a
broken and contrite heart when we would reconcile ourselves to God,
Ps. li. 17. Otherwise men complain of a burden they feel not. They
confess sin, or such actions as are commonly called sins and censured
among men as sins ; but while they confess them without sense and
feeling, it is a sign they do not confess sin as sin, as a violation of
the laws of God, and a provocation of his holiness, with that broken-
ness of heart which the nature and desert of it requireth. It is
possible we may use passionate forms of speech, and talk by rote after
others ; but I observe in the rites of Moses, that if any man touched
the water of purification wherewith another man had cleansed him
self, he was not purified, but defiled thereby. To speak in the strain
of humble penitents, and not to have the heart affected, is to make use
of their forms without their spirit. Surely we should confess sin, as
we commit sin. Will ye sin with the whole man, and confess it only
with the ' mouth ? act it with delight, and not confess it with a sorrow
that affects the heart, or without any sense and feeling ? This showeth
we are not as real in confessing as we are in sinning.
(3.) There is a defect in the very confession, which seems to be all
in all in our humiliations. We have other notions of words and things
in dealing with God and dealing with men. Certainly confession is
much ; it hath promises annexed, 1 John i. 9. But what is confession ?
Suppose an injury done to a man by his equal or inferior. Let us
instance in the latter , some wrong done to you by your tenant or
servant ; you have a mind to pardon, but he must acknowledge it. If
he confess the injury only in general or ambiguous terms, if it be
cursory, and without any sense and sorrow for it, or if he did excuse
328 * A FAST SERMON.
or extenuate his fault, or upon the next occasion offered to do the
like wrong again, would it not rather provoke than pacify you ?
Thus we put a real and deep signification upon confession in our own
matters, but take it in the slightest and emptiest meaning, in things
relating to God. Our confessions to him are either general, ignorant,
senseless, or without any particular view or lively feeling of the horror
of the sins we confess. And so many confess they are sinners, but do
not at all confess their sins, their own real actual guiltiness, that which
indeed they have committed, or are inclined to do, 1 Kings viii. 38.
When it comes to particulars, there is a multitude of extenuations
and pretences to hide and cover it ; there is not such a confession of
the heinousness of our sins as may abase and humble the soul in
God's presence, as may induce the hatred of sin, or put an engage
ment upon the heart to renounce it.
(4.) There is not that earnest desire to forsake sin. We are told,
Prov. xxviii. 13, it is the mortifying confession which is acceptable to
God ; such a confession of sin as may put us upon requests to God,
not only that sin may be pardoned, but also that sin may be subdued.
To confess sin as loathsome, and act it over again with fresh delight
and vigour, is to mock God ; though they bewail it, and never cease
the more from sinning, it is but an hypocritical pang. To-day they
confess it, and to-morrow they act it again with as much delight as
before ; so all their humiliation is but a false appearance, or a shadow
of repentance. Still here is no returning to God.
A PREPARATIVE SERMON FOR RECEIVING
THE SACRAMENT.
For a multitude of the people, even many of Epliraim and ManasseJi,
Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they
eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezeldah
prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one that
prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers,
though lie be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanc
tuary. And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the
people. 2 CHKON. xxx. 18-20.
THE analogy between the sacraments of the Old and New Testament
is so common a theme, and so generally known, that I need not spend
time to show you how near of kin, and what a great deal of affinity
there is between circumcision and baptism, the two initial sacraments,
and the passover and the Lord's supper, the other two ordinances that
serve for our growth and strengthening when we are once admitted
So that you see my choice is suitable to the occasion. This text
though it speaketh of the celebration of the passover, yet will well
enough befit the solemnity of the Lord's supper ; and therefore I shall
handle them at present. The occasion of the words is this : Hezekiah,
that good prince, is no sooner stepped into the royal seat of Judah, but
he thinketh of reforming religion, and the abuses that throughout his
father's time had crept into God's worship. And indeed the best way
to settle a kingdom is to settle the religion of it, to begin reigning with
reforming. Therefore it is said in 2 Chron. xxix. 3, that in the first
year of his reign, the first month, he opened the door of the house of
the Lord. ' He opened,' for his father Ahaz had shut it, and polluted
it, chap, xxviii. 25. And indeed his reformation went on in a true step
and pace, for it began first with the temple and ministry. The com
monalty were likely to follow of their own accord when the doors of the
house of the Lord were set open, and the Levites sanctified. It is but
Christian prudence to cleanse the spring if we would have the stream
clear ; to look to God's house, and those that should dispense his word
and ordinances, if we would have the people brought in a way of con
formity to him. Well, he meeteth with a rotten clergy, especially the
first sort ; the priests they proved tough burs and knotty pieces, they
330 A PREPARATIVE SERMON FOR
do not come kindly off in the working, they would not easily be planed
by the civil magistrate. The Levites and subordinate ministers were
more ready, and pliable, and forward to advance the work, as you may
see, 2 Chron. xxix. 34. I remember, when it was debated in the Coun
cil of Constance, as I take it, whence the reformation of the church
should begin, answer was made, A minoritis from the minorites,
from the lower clergy. Imo vero a major itis, saith the emperor from
the majorites, the chief, from the greatest of them, those that chal
lenge a superiority over their brethren. And indeed it is but fit it
should begin there, if that of Luther be true, Religio nunquam peri-
clitatur nisi inter reverendissimos, that religion and reformation
suffereth most of all from the right reverend, and is never at a stay but
when it cometh to them. It is said here the Levites were more up
right in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. But this is by
the by.
I shall not go over the several progresses of this glorious design ;
only tell you that this chapter is chiefly spent in setting forth the care
of this good prince for the due celebration of the passover. And in
deed that is kindly reformation that maketh the ordinances of Grod to
speak a pure language, Zeph. iii. 9 ; and above all, ordinances that
take care for the purity of the sacrament. Well, the priests are
despatched to this purpose throughout all Israel and Judah, and are
entertained with varied success. Some laugh and scoff at them ; and
indeed it is an usual thing for reformers to meet with a scoff ; and all
the welcome that a reformation finds is but a jeer, a frump. But it is
said in ver. 11, however, 'divers humbled themselves, and came to
Jerusalem.' Amongst those that came, all of them are not so clean as
could be wished, for there were many in the congregation that were
not sanctified, ver. 17 ; and therefore they are fain to make a virtue
of necessity, to put the Levites upon another employment, which was
not so properly theirs ; for it belonged to the priests (as you may see,
Lev. i. 5), only to kill the beasts appointed for the celebration of the
passover ; yet the Levites are fain to do it now. The reason of this
unusual practice is more fully rendered in the text ' For a multitude
of the people, even many of Ephraim/ &c.
And thus you see I have brought you home to the words, which are,
for the general scope of them, a reason why the Levites did execute the
priests' office. In them briefly you have (1.) The state and condi
tion of the people ; (2.) The prayer of Hezekiali because of that state
and condition ; (3.) The gracious answer of Grod to that prayer.
1. The state and condition of the people, set forth in two things
(1.) By their indisposition ' Many of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Issa-
char had not cleansed themselves ; ' they were guilty of some legal
pollution. (2.) By their practice, notwithstanding this indisposition
' Yet they did eat the passover otherwise than it was written ; ' that
is, notwithstanding this indisposition, many did rush upon the ordin
ances.
2. Hezekiah's prayer ' But Hezekiah prayed for them saying, The
Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek the Lord,
though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary ;
that is, he entreats the Lord, that though the people failed in some
RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT. 331
legal and ceremonial preparation and the outward acts of purification,
yet that the Lord would be pleased to pardon those whose hearts were
right and fitted and prepared for them. As if he had said Lord, these
men have not purified themselves with outward purification, yet
because their hearts are set towards thee, therefore, Lord, pardon the
failing.
3. Here is the success ' And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and
healed the people.' He was pleased to dispense with them notwith
standing their indisposition.
There arc three queries in all these three parts, and I must despatch
them in a word.
1. Concerning the indisposition and practice of the people. A ques
tion may be raised, Whether those of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun,
sinned or no in coming to the ordinance ?
I answer, briefly and affirmatively, that they did ; and that for
two reasons drawn from the text.
[1.] They offended ; because the text saith 'They did otherwise
than was written.' God's service is prescribed, and what he would
have us to do is written. The apostle, speaking concerning the Lord's
supper, saith, 1 Cor. xi. 23, For I have received of the Lord that
which I also delivered unto you.' God is the best appointer of his own
worship. The essentials of a sacrament are set down in the institution,
from which we must not swerve to the right nor to the left. Obedience
must be adequate to the commandment. We must not do more nor
less than is prescribed. To do more is will-worship and superstition ;
to do less is irreligion and profaneness. And this latter was the fault
of these Israelites ; they were not cleansed according to the law, and
' therefore they did eat the passover otherwise than it was written/
But
[2.] It is probable they sinned, because Hezekiah prayed for them
for the pardon of their offence. Where there is no sin there needs no par
don. If Hezekiah pray, it is a sign the people are guilty. We cannot
imagine this good king would compliment with God, and make that a
fault in the excuse which was none in the committing ; as our gallants
would fain be accounted faulty that they may handsomely crave a
pardon. No doubt this good prince thought it a weighty business
when he saith, ' The good Lord pardon,' &c.
2. Another query falleth in upon this concerning the second part,
Hezekiah's prayer. If the men sinned in coming, why did he merely
pray for them ? He should rather have kept them back, he being
the chief governor; did he not offend in not keeping them off? I
answer No; for
[1.] He took all the pains that possibly he might for the due cele
bration of the passover ; he used all the means ; he deferred it for a
while, that the priests might be sanctified, and the people better pre
pared, ver. 3. He sends posts to give warning of it too, and doth
what he can to cleanse and fit them ; and therefore he could not be
blamed.
[2.] The priests were faulty in not being sanctified themselves.
[3.] Something may be said too, if we consider the posture of the
kingdom at that time. Hezekiah had but two tribes, Judah and
332 A PREPARATIVE SERMON FOR
Benjamin ; and probably they were all cleansed, and served the Lord
with one heart, for it is said the multitude of those that were not
purified were of Zebulun, and Ephraim, and Manasseh, and Issachar;
that is, some scattered people of the ten tribes that were then in
captivity, not under his dominion. He had given them license and
passport to come to Jerusalem, and receive ; therefore, if they came
not after the due manner, the fault was their own. Hezekiah' s care
is showed in praying for them. And, indeed, it is Christian patience to
suffer, where we have not power to help it. When we do what we
can to keep off unworthy receivers, if they come still, and we have no
other authority over them, let us pray for them ; especially if the
defect be not in the heart and life of the service. But
[4.] These had prepared their hearts towards the Lord. They were
careful of the main business ; therefore, because of a great inconvenience
that would follow, it was but fit they should be dispensed with. It is
true, a partaker should be fitted and fully accomplished. Preparation
is due preparation when it corneth to the fulness of the precept ; and
a receiver is then purified when he is cleansed according to the purifica
tion of the sanctuary. Yet because the failing and unfitness was in a
ceremonial pollution, and because they came from far, and for want
of time, it was better for Hezekiah to sue for a dispensation than to
turn them off; for they were mocked at their coming up; and they
would have been more laughed at if their journey had been to no
purpose, and they had returned re infecta, without receiving the pass-
over. And therefore well might Hezekiah pray that the Lord would
pass by their other wants and weaknesses, because the people we see
set their hearts right.
3. The third query is about an expression { And God healed the
people.' Why ? Had God smitten them for so small a fault, for
want of a ceremonial cleansing ? especially since the fault could hardly
be avoided, by reason of the straits of time, and a long journey. I
answer
[1.] It is true that God doth usually punish faults of this nature
with smitings. You know what is said, 1 Cor. xi. 30, ' For this
cause many are sick among you, and weak, and many sleep/ For this
cause, for irreverent receiving. And indeed that which is little in
man's account is not so many times in God's. God is chary of his
ordinances, and jealous of his worship ; failings are faults there, and
therefore he is sensible of the least prevarication. Uzzah is smitten
for looking into the ark. And these here may well need an healing
for but coming without a due cleansing. For
[2.] This ceremonial pollution was threatened with death ; as Lev.
vii. 20, it is said, ' The soul that eateth of the sacrifice, having his
uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.'
Therefore the people were all under the penalty of this sentence. And
though God smote none of them, for aught we know, yet he might
well be said to heal them, because he freed them of this guilt, and
delivered them from the power and curse of this law. And,
indeed, where the heart is right, God is not hard to be entreated to
pardon a failing which can plead necessity, especially since God
does rather look to the heart than the offering, and the frame of
DECEIVING THE SACRAMENT. 333
the soul more than to the outward order. Nunquam in odoribus
sacrificiorum, &c. A desire of being cleansed is often accepted for
the cleansing itself.
Well, these are the parts, and you have heard them explained.
I shall insist on the first The people's state and condition. And so
(1.) Of their indisposition ; (2.) Of their practice.
First, Their indisposition 'A multitude of the people had not
cleansed themselves/ I observe thence briefly, and by way of preface
to the rest of the doctrines, that in those times in which there is much
care had about the right celebration of a sacrament, there are many
yet that are unworthy.
Hezekiah sends posts, breaketh down the idolatrous places, doth
what he can for the due celebration of the passover ; and yet you. see
here are many 'that had not cleansed themselves.' The point I prove
by that. 1 Cor. xi., the whole context, from ver. 17 to the latter end.
The apostle had but newly planted a church amongst them, and in
structed them in the nature of ordinances ; and yet, you see, ere
they are warm in their religion, they had may unworthy communicants,
unfit to partake of the ordinances. It is with institutions usually as
it is with men ; their vigour declineth with their age ; ordinances lose
much of their life and right observance when a people have been
inured to them. And yet you see here, as soon as they began to be
instructed what a sacrament meant, and who ought to be partakers,
yet most of them were unworthy to receive ; some were j anglers, and
some intemperate ; divers faults amongst them.
The reasons of the point are these
1. Because there is a great deal of laziness in people, and an
unwillingness against such a soul-searching ordinance as the sacrament.
Now the best governors and most pious reformers cannot reach so low
as the people's hearts, and therefore, though they take never so much
pains to provide for the due administration of the ordinances, yet, till
their hearts be wrought upon by the word, there will be those that are
not cleansed, some unworthy receivers that are ' not purified according
to the purification of the sanctuary.' Some unwilling wretches there
are that will submit no further than law requireth. The laws of men
are terminated in the obedience of the outward man, but ' the law of
God/ as the apostle speaketh, Heb. iv. 13, 'is quick and powerful,
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing the soul and spirit, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents/ If religion were only
visible, and the strength of a duty did consist in the outward presence
at it, it were possible to bring all into a prepared way of receiving ;
but because of heart-preparations, therefore still there may be some
that are unworthy. If men were diligent and willing to prepare their
houls upon every hint from the authority of the magistrate, we should
see a worthier company of receivers. But when men will do no more
than they are compelled to, it must needs be that, notwithstanding all
the provisions for the better performance, yet some should remain
unfit namely, lazy, unwilling persons, that take no pains to trim up
their lamps to meet the bridegroom, to furnish their soul with answer
able affections and a becoming spirit, as beins: to meet with God in
every part of this worship.
334 A PREPARATIVE SERMON FOR
2. There is a great deal of hypocrisy in many men, and it is possible
that they may carry their naughtiness so secretly that they may hide
it from the most discerning eye. Now an hypocritical receiver is an
unworthy receiver; and therefore, in the times of greatest care about
the admission of worthy communicants, these may slide under covert
of their mask and fair pretences. A gaudy show may go far, and
indiscernible hypocrites do often press upon the ordinances. Judas,
you know, eats the passover even in Christ's own company ' He that
dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me/ Mat.
xxvi. 23. The pharisee? and sadducees submitted to John's baptism ;
it 13 said in Mat. iii. 6, e/3a7rr/bzm> VTTO CLVTOV, ' they were baptized
under John ; ' they submitted to the ordinance, and his ministry ; and
yet they were a generation of vipers all the while vipers not only in
the genera], as they were ol /ca/cal TOV 6(f>iov o-Trapa/AvdSes, as Ignatius
calleth Menander and Basilides, two infamous heretics, the spawn of
the old serpent the devil ; but vipers they were and serpents in these
three respects
[l.J The viper, they say, when she hath bitten a man, runneth
to the water, and if she misseth of it, she dies ; so these, after they
had devoured widows' houses, they ran to the water of baptism.
Hypocrites will come to ordinances to justify their extortion, their
biting and griping of the faces of the poor. Sacraments are made
stales to their base ends, to pacify their own consciences, or satisfy
other men's opinions, concerning their other unjust dealings,
[2.] Vipers, too, as all other serpents, lay aside their poison while
they are drinking, but resume and take it up again after their draught.
And such hypocrites can lay aside their superfluity of naughtiness
while they are at the ordinance, but it is with a promise to take it up
again, saying to their sins, as Abraham to his servants, Gen. xxii. 3,
' Abide you here ; I must go yonder and worship, and come again to
you.'
[3.] Vipers, because this beast is speckled, full of curious spots with
out, but fuller of poison within. So these have a gaudy painted out
side, a form of godliness, but within there is the root of bitterness.
Now what course is there to keep off such wretches, such glorious
hypocrites and close moralists, that come not within the compass of
the law, that look so like saints ? To the ordinances venture they will ;
they must, to still their consciences and to insinuate with other men.
And how shall we do to turn such off? for certainly they are un
worthy, Therefore, in these times, in which much care is had, many
are unworthy still ; the viper's teeth not seen till felt. Other reasons
might be added ; but I come to application.
Use. Is it so, that, when much care is taken about the ordinances,
many are unworthy to come ? It serveth
1. To show what need we in this land have to humble ourselves, as
for other sins, so especially for our sacrament sins, for the profane
mixture and the promiscuous riff-raff that was admitted to the Lord's
table without any distinction of persons. For if it be so, that many
are unworthy in times when greatest care was had, how much more
was it so when no care was had at all ! When encroaching governors
did let loose the reins of church government to all licentiousness, and
RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT. 335
none felt the severity of ecclesiastical discipline but conscientious
ministers, those that stood in the gap to keep out the drivelling swine
and hogs that would have come in there where the hedge was broken
down ; when every surly drunkard could crow over his pastor, and even
dare him to turn him off from the communion ; nay, when entangling
articles did make it alike punishable to turn off, or admit common
scandalous sinners to these holy mysteries, what think you, was there
not a great deal of profaneness then, and many unworthy receivers ?
Oh, then, consider it, and labour to remember this sin in your humilia
tion, for fear lest the land mourn for it, because it was so general. Oh,
think upon it, what it is to be guilty of the body and blood of the
Lord, and to crucify Christ Jesus so often as it hath been done in our
assemblies. And would to God that you and I could so think upon it
as seriously to be affected with it, and to bless God for the hopes we
have that the ordinances shall be more duly administered, and that we
would join in effectual prayers to God to bless the designs afoot to that
purpose ; for, indeed, as the apostle speaketh, \ Cor. xvi. 9, ' A great
and effectual door is opened, but there are many adversaries.' But I
come to another use.
2. Is it so, that when much care is taken, yet many are unworthy,
&c. It serveth, then, for a double exhortation, both to pastor and
people. (1.) To us of the ministry ; (2.) To you.
[1.] To us, that we should use all diligent care and circumspection
to prevent this unworthiness. Then give me leave to speak a little to
myself and my brethren. You see the people are unworthy and un-
sanctified, do what we can, though there be never so much care and
pains taken. It therefore lieth upon us to double our diligence, that
though we may fail of our expectations, yet to discharge our duties in
striving to fit you for this great mystery. Were I speaking to a con
gregation where this part of the exhortation would be seasonable, I
should strive to press upon myself and others a twofold duty. (1.) To
instruct the people in the nature of the ordinances ; (2.) To admonisli
them of the danger of this their unprepared coming. But in this place
let it be enough to name these things.
[2.] Here is an exhortation, too, for the people to stir them up
every one to look unto himself whether he be not one of the number.
A gracious heart is apt to suspect itself : and when it heareth such a
doctrine as this is, that when the greatest care is had there are many
that are unworthy, it beginneth to think that itself is principally spoken
to. You know when Christ had foretold his passion, and said to his
disciples that one of them should betray him, it is said in Mat. xxvi.
22, that ' they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one to say
unto him, Lord, is it I ? ' Why, unworthy receiving is a sin of the
same nature. The apostle saith, 1 Cor. xi. 27, ' Whosoever receiveth
unworthily is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.' Therefore,
when I say that when most care is had some come unworthily, many-
poor trembling souls are ready to groan out such a question, ' Lord, is
it I ? ' and to fear that it is them indeed ; whereas, those that are truly
guilty will come in last and for fashion's sake, like Judas there ; for it
is said, ver. 25, ' Then Judas, which betrayed him, said, Master, is it I ? '
When all had done, then cometh he. Guilt is most backward to put
336 A PREPARATIVE SERMON FOR
the question ; and indeed it is a sign we are unworthy when we do not
know ourselves to be so. If we are sensible that we are unfit, and
desire to be cleansed, that is the ready way to make us worthy. Ay !
but you will say, who is worthy for these things ?
I answer briefly A man is worthy two manner of ways
(1.) Dignitate cequalitatis, by an exact worthiness as the labourer
is worthy of his hire. And thus we are not worthy to approach into
God's presence, or to meet him in this holy ordinance of his. In this
sense humble Jacob acknowledged, Gen. xxxii. 10, ' I am not worthy
of the least of all thy mercies/ And John Baptist, Mat. iii. 11, saith
he was not worthy to bear Christ's shoes after him. And thus none is
worthy to feed upon his Saviour. And, indeed, when we compare the
high privileges that we enjoy by being admitted partakers with our
unworthiness this way, it cannot but ravish the soul with thoughts of
God's infinite love and the riches of his goodness. But
(2.) There is dignitas convenientice, which consists, though not in a
perfect and exact proportion, yet in some fitness and meetness unto
that which is required. Thus, in scripture, are we commanded 'to
walk worthy of the Lord,' worthy of our profession, worthy of the
gospel ; that is, suitable to all these. And thus must we come worthily ;
that is, so fitted and prepared as may bear some resemblance and
agreement to the solemnity of the work that we go about. And in this
sense, this worthiness followeth. that worthiness which is called by
divines dignitas dignationis a worth of acceptance, or a desiring of
God to take our actions in good part for Christ's sake, and to pardon
the many failings that accompany them.
So that briefly now, the unprepared unworthy receiver is he that
cloth not come with answerable meet affections, and so holy and reve
rent a frame of spirit as God doth require we should bring into his
presence. And those are not cleansed with the purification of the
sanctuary that do not take pains with their hearts to fit and furnish
them with such a meetness and holy temper. If you ask me more
particularly what these are, I shall follow the apostle's method in de
scribing and taking notice of such as are pointed at, 1 Cor. xi. They
are
(1st.) All ignorant persons that cannot discern the Lord's body :
1 Cor. xi. 29, ' He eateth and drinketh unworthily, not discern
ing,' yu-r; SiaKpivcw, not differencing, ' the Lord's body,' so the original
signifieth. Persons that have not a competent measure of knowledge,
and think there is no difference between the elements of the bread and
wine that they see before them, and common bread and wine. They
are not acquainted with this mystery, for they know as much as they
know only by hearsay, and not by experience. They are not able to
put a difference, and do not know the nature, use, and end of the
uacrament, and cannot tell what the elements signify, but only by rote
and custom. They come not with that reverence to it as if it were
Christ's body, nor do consider it as a matter of such weight. They say
that by the bread is meant the body, and by the wine the blood of
Christ. They say, but they do not know it ; they have learned in a
notion, but do not spiritually know it to be so , and therefore irre
verently conie to it as if it were a matter of nothing. They do not
RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT. 337
come to it as if it were to eat Christ's flesh indeed ; men of a sottish
heart, that cannot have an intimate knowledge of the things that are
of God, and of such an high mystery. And, indeed, it is impossible
to know it as we ought but by faith.
(2<i) Those that do not judge and condemn themselves, 1 Cor. xi.
31, 32. It is implied there they did not condemn themselves. A gra
cious prepared heart is a self-judging heart Iniqua lex est quce se
examinari non patitur; a wicked heart is loath to come to trial.
Where the soul is sensible of some guilt, there it will not easily be
called to an account. And that is the reason why vain frothy men are
so averse to this duty, and to ask themselves what they have done ' be
fore they come to the sacrament. The strength of sin lies much in
this, in that it hindereth all that it can the discovery of itself. Now
the deceitfulness of sin can never be better discovered than by self-
judging ; therefore corruption doth what it can to keep us from this
severe duty. Men are not willing to judge themselves ; and yet until
they do they are unworthy. It would require a great conquest over
many spiritual wickednesses to be able to look back into our ways ; and
it is an hard matter to keep our soul from roving that it may be searched.
And therefore natural men cannot exercise a restraint over their
hearts till they be searched and winnowed. Hence they mislike this
preparation most of all, to look into their ways, and the state of their
souls. This self-judging is unpleasant, partly because of natural pride,
and partly because of our laziness. It is an humbling, and it is a
difficult duty. It maketh the soul to take pains to be out of love with
itself ; and they would fain be excused here, and desire the good Lord
to pardon them if they do not thus prepare their hearts, crying out, as
Naaman to the prophet, 2 Kings v. 18, ' The Lord pardon thy servant
in this thing.'
(3c?.) Those that come in uncharitableness and malice are not
cleansed, as appeareth by the apostle's finding fault with the Corin
thians for this thing : 1 Cor. xi. 17-20, ' They came together, not
for the better, but for the worse, because there were divisions among;
them/ And indeed malice rendereth the ordinance ineffectual. There
are two things which we seek in it, union with God, and com
munion with the members. Uncharitableness in respect of both, is
a very unsuitable disposition for a sacrament. As to communion with
others, where the hearts are not united, communion is but comple-
mental. And for union with God, God communicates himself there
where he findeth answerable dispositions in his servants to receive
him. Likeness is the ground of love, and love the ground of union.
Then are. we united to God when we are like him, as God reasoneth
from his truth in Isa. Ixviii. 8, ' Surely they are my people, children
that will not lie.' So we may reason here, surely they are my people,
they love one another; they are gentle and long-suffering, apt to
forget wrongs; and pass by injuries, as I 'do; they are' mine, for they
resemble me in this. Likeness of desires is the speediest way to beget
union of minds.- M It was an observation of historians, Eadem velle et
nolle demum firma est amicitia Love is kindled by sympathy and
suitable disposition. If we would be one with God we must be as
God is, full of love, and lay aside all malice and superfluity of naughti-
VOL. xv. y
338 A PREPARATIVE SERMON FOR
ness. If we would meet God in the sacrament, we must be sure to
have such affections about us, as God will own and acknowledge ; if
John's reasoning is strong and pithy, how shall we love God whom we
have not seen, if we do not love our brother whom we have seen ?
Besides : 1 John iv. 18, ' God is love ; and he that dwelleth in love
dwelleth in God, and God in him: Our soul is fitted for God to
possess, when it is seasoned with love and holy affections toward the
brotherhood. Therefore it is good to come thither with special love
towards God's people, and as much as in us lieth with charity to all
men, The two gospel commandments are { faith and love,' 1 John
iii. 23. And therefore we must strive to quicken both for this evan
gelical ordinance. Especially we should take care before we approach
there, that we forego all our turbulency, all malicious discontented
thoughts. In the ordinary sacrifices under the law this was required,
that if their brother had aught against them, they should go first and
be reconciled. How much more, under the grand sacrifice of the
gospel, should we bring our hearts to such an holy pitch of self-denial,
that we may forgive the greatest injuries that are done unto us. Well
now, you see who are unworthy. I shall name one use more, and so
conclude this point.
3. If it be so that when much care is taken, yet many still are un
worthy ; it serves then to show there is no cause why men should
abstain from the use of ordinances, for fear of communicating with
wicked and profane men. Thus it hath been when the greatest care
hath been taken of preventing these : and thus it may be still until
the church do leave off to be a mixt company ; and there be no unclean
thing within the pale of it.
Ay I but you will say, My comfort is hindered by it. I answer
briefly
[1.] It cannot choose but be matter of grief to God's people to see
Christ's flesh torn by the teeth of wicked men. and their Saviour
crucified afresh by their profane and irreverent receiving } and to see
carnal wretches to snatch at these privileges which they know were
purchased only for them. I say, this cannot choose but be matter of
grief. But if we will not partake but there where there is no cause
of grief and sorrow , if we expect such a perfect communion, we must
wait for that till we enjoy the society of just men made perfect, and
are admitted into the everlasting fellowship of the godly in the
heavens. This first ; but
[2.] We shall find that there are many that partake with much joy
with unprepared persons, as those of Judah with the Israelites in the
text. It is said in ver. 21, ' That they kept together with great glad
ness/ But
[3.] There is a double communion. (1.) Direct and immediate
with Christ ; and this they may fully have if they be not wanting to
themselves. (2.) There is a spiritual communion with the members
which proceeds from the union with the head : and we should not
deprive ourselves of our union with Christ and the inward communion
of the saints, for the outward intrusion of some few that have no share
nor portion in the things administered. But this, as matter of debate,
I leave, and come to another point drawn from the second branch of
RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT. 339
the first part, namely, the practice of the people. Notwithstanding
their indisposition it doth not keep them off; but they partake not
withstanding : * Yet they did eat the passover otherwise than was
written.' From hence
Obs. That many rush upon the ordinances notwithstanding their
unpreparedness. Their not being cleansed, I told you before, was a
fault, yet they did eat. The reasons are
1. The remissness or abuse of the censures of the church that do
not restrain such persons from coming, but let them alone to continue
in their sins, as 1 Cor. v, ' throughout the whole/ They had not cast
out the incestuous person, and disabled him for communion.
2. It proceedeth from ourselves, because
[1.] There is a great deal of ignorance and unbelief in the hearts
of most men. They do not know, and will not believe the danger of
unworthy receiving ; they think it is nothing, and therefore sottishly
put themselves upon the ordinance without any fear at all. They
hear us thunder out vengeance against such a sin, but their hearts
are hard and their ears made fat ; they cannot conceive that we speak
to them all the while, and therefore securely go on as if they were in
a safe case. Infidelity besotteth the heart and casts a veil upon the
soul j so that seeing, they do not see ; they know the danger, and yet
rush upon it ; we show them the pike, and yet they run their own
bowels upon it. It is said, Heb. iv. 2, ' That the word preached did
not profit them, because they did not mix it with faith in the hearing/
And indeed that is the reason why people do so sottishly. Tell them
of their own destruction, they do not believe ; when we tell them of
the danger, while we declare that all ignorant persons, and all persons
that do not judge themselves, and uncharitable wretches, are those
that come unworthily to the Lord's table. Yet a man would wonder
to see how many that lie under the guilt of these sins, do come there,
and sit it out as boldly as the best. Truly these men give us the
hearing, but they are full of infidelity, they do not mix the word with
faith, and stir up the applicative crediting faculty of their souls, so
as to say, Surely this will fall upon me if I receive unworthily. Their
infidelity will not suffer them to bring their souls and the word to
gether, and therefore they have a kind of confused knowledge of the
danger, but they do not think how they cast themselves upon it.
Infidelity besotteth them so that they cannot look to their ways and
consider what they are doing.
[2.] Custom prevaileth with most rather than conscience ; they will
receive because they have used to do it. The people are ready to ask
us concerning this holy feast, as the Jews did the prophet, in Zech. vii.
3, concerning their fast: 'Should I not weep in the fifth month,
separating myself, as I have done these many years ? ' So these, Should
I not receive now, having received so long ? Custom is the main
principle that puts them upon an ordinance ; and custom usually
eateth out the strength of any performance, and dissolves it into a
mere formality ; ' When ye fasted, ye fasted not to me, saith the Lord/
When people receive they receive not for the Lord, but for custom's
sake : * Ye eat ; for yourselves, and drink for yourselves, not for the
Lord/ No wonder then if many rush upon the ordinances when
340 A PREPARATIVE SERMON FOR
custom driveth them. Many would be beaten off from coming un
prepared, if use had not hardened them in it. Where people come to
duty for fashion's sake, no wonder if they be without life and motion
in it. Customary services are cold services. The main reason why
people rush so unworthily upon the ordinances, is because they have
been at them heretofore, and felt no sensible hurt by the disorderly
approach ; and therefore why should they not venture again ? Those
that have but the least experience in the ministry, can say that it is the
hardest work of all to fetch the people off from their old customs,
especially in matters of religion; and more especially there where
they have a command for their warrant, and a precept to justify their
practice. Where custom meets with a duty it altereth it ; our actions
are as they are principled. Keceiving is not receiving when it is done
for fashion's sake, because we have done so these many years. And
indeed profaneness may kill its thousands, but custom its ten thousands
in this kind, most unworthy receivers are but customary receivers ;
and therefore did they come unpreparedly, because they came not for
conscience. These are the grounds.
Briefly to apply the point. Is it so that many rush upon the
ordinances notwithstanding their unpreparedness ? It serveth then
(1.) To teach us in the ministry how careful we should be to put
people in mind of the danger of unworthy receiving ; that we may, if
possible, snatch them out of the fire, as the apostle speaks ; and be like
the angels that guarded paradise with their flaming swords, keep men
out of that place which will prove their destruction. And would to
God I could sufficiently press the point upon your considerations, and
possess you of the danger of rushing upon the ordinance in a state of
unpreparedness, whilst you are in your unfitness and uncleanness, and
live under the power of your reigning sins. brethren ! consider
God is somewhat chary over his ordinances ; he will not have them
unhallowed by profane and rude hands. Uzzah's touch struck him
dead in the place. Duties are tender things, and therefore it is not
good to be too busy with them. A drachm of poison is enough to
make you stone dead ; and one poisoned ordinance may kill yon.
Unpreparedness, indisposedness, poisoneth duty. The sacrifices of the
wicked, continuing in their wickedness, are an abomination to the
Lord. The want of cleansing of the heart infects the ordinance ; and
when that is poisoned once, farewell the performer. God will be
sanctified in all that come near him, either by obedience from them
or vengeance upon them. Nadab and Abihu were struck dead in
the place for offering strange fire ; and God may strike you dead in
the place for bringing strange affections into his presence. I remember
what Jonathan said in 1 Sam. iv. 4, ' I did but taste a little honey
with the end of my rod, and lo, I must die.' And so it is here ; the
tasting of a little bread, and the sipping of a cup of wine, may kill
thee.
But because men are not easily persuaded of the heinousness of this
sin, I shall briefly display it (1.) In the greatness of the guilt ; (2.)
In the grievousness of the punishment.
1st, The greatness of the fault. It is no less than blood-guiltiness,
even being guilty of the blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT. 341
The apostle saith just so much, 1 Cor. xi. 27, ' Whosoever shall eat
this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty
of the body and blood of the Lord/ ! there are many of us whose
hearts rise against these Jews, that were the cause of so innocent a
person's death as our Saviour's ; we could even pluck out their eyes if
they were present ; whereas all the while we carry the same malice in
our hearts, and at every sacrament do crucify the Lord of life afresh.
You would take it ill of a man to unchristian you, and call you a Jew ;
and yet such you are ; for you have also imbrued your hands in the
blood of your Saviour. See the difference between a worthy com
municant and an unprepared receiver ; the one hath all his guilt taken
away by partaking, the other hath his increased, and hath a crying
sin added to the score, which indeed maketh ail the rest full weight ;
they have killed their Saviour. It was a close one of Peter to the
Jews : Acts ii. 23, ' This is he whom ye have taken, and by wicked
hands have crucified and slain/ And it must be mine to all unworthy
receivers, for they are the very men.
2dly, Look upon the grievousness of the punishment.
[1st.] You venture your temporal life in every unprepared receiv
ing. You know what the apostle saith, 1 Cor. xi. 30, ' For this cause
many are sick and weak among you, and many sleep ;' that is, are
dead. It is no good playing with edge tools and dallying with duty.
God's judgment may kill you in the place for your irreverent coming
into his presence. The sacrament is to some as the water of jealousy ;
if the party were unclean it made her thigh rot and her belly swell,
Num. v. 18 ; so, if you come hither before you have cleansed your
self according to the purification of the sanctuary, every drop of wine
that you drink will make your heart rot, and prove a curse to you.
Therefore, as you tender your life, and a blessing upon all that you
have, either be clean or forbear.
[2dly.] Irreverent receivers are often punished with spiritual dead-
ness and stupidity. Oh ! it is a fearful judgment to be given over to
"hardness of heart, and to be infatuated by our performances. The
ordinances, when they are not for the better, they prove the worse,
and become the savour of death unto death. None so insensible and
so hard to work upon as unworthy communicants ; partly because
natural pride is mightily strengthened with a slight performance of
duty, whereas it is abated if it were thoroughly done ; and besides,
the just judgment of God shuts up such men in unbelief. We know
this by experience. The best way to make some men sensible, that
are past all other cure, is to deprive them of vhe ordinances. But
[3dly.] The grand judgment of all provoketh God eternally to^cast
you off without repentance. The apostle saith so much, 1 Cor. xi. 29,
' He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damna
tion to himself/ You would think this were a harsh word if we
ourselves should speak it, therefore you see it is very scripture words.
The Lord give you grace to hear, to fear it, to consider thoroughly !
The God of heaven give you understanding in all things I
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENT.
Yet they did eat the passover otherwise than ivas written.
2 CHRON. xxx. 18-20.
IN the words I have observed three parts (1.) The condition of the
people ; (2.) The prayer of Hezekiah ; (3.) The success.
I began with the first part, and therein took notice
1 . Of the people's indisposition ' Many had not cleansed themselves ;'
and from thence observed That when much care is had about the
due celebration of a sacrament, yet even then there are many that are
unworthy.
2. From the people's practice. Notwithstanding their indisposi
tion they did eat the passover That many rush upon the ordinances
notwithstanding their unpreparedness.
3. I shall observe somewhat from the expression, which noteth the
fault of their practice They ate otherwise than it was written.
The point is That then we offend in our duties when we do other
wise than is written.
Brethren, God's service is written service ; the rule of our obedience
is enrolled, it is upon record : if we go beyond it, or come not up to
the fulness of it, we do not do as is ' written ;' then we offend in our
duties. I shall show, first, how many ways we do otherwise than is
written, and then prove and apply the point.
We do it two ways either when we do too little or too much, when
we come short of the rule, or go beyond it. There is a pharisaical
superstition and an irreligious profaneness. True obedience is ade
quate to the commandment ; just measure, no more, nor no less. To
do more is will-worship,, to do less is laziness. God liketh both
tempers just alike ; neither pleaseth, for neither doth ' as it is written.'
1. When we do too much. Brethren, the essentials of a sacrament
are set down in the institution ; there is the rule. If we seek to patch
it up with some zealous additions and pieces of our own, we go beyond
the rule ; we do too much, more than God hath required, and there
fore more I am sure than he hath promised to accept. Quis re-
quisivit ? that is all the thanks that we shall have for it ' Who hath
required these things at your hands ?' Isa. i. 12.
Ay ! but you will say, May we do too much in matters of religion ?
Can God ever have enough of us ? '
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 343
Yes, brethren, there may be too much ; if you go beyond what is
written, then there is an nimium in religion. But here we must dis
tinguish of the inward part of the duty, which is as the soul to it,
and the outward part and presence, which is as the corps and body.
The heart of duty is in the heart, it lieth in the right frame of that ;
and in respect of this, we can never do enough to put the heart in a
right posture to meet God in his ordinances. The virgins can never
be too long, never be too much in trimming up their lamps to meet
the bridegroom. A worthy communicant can never take pains enough
to prepare his untuned heart, that he may come with answerable
affections and a becoming spirit, that he may embrace his Saviour in
the ordinance. Thus all that we can do is little enough to answer
God's expectation ; all our righteousness cometh far short of it, and
is nothing to him, as it were. Thus never enough. But
2. In the outward part of duty, in corporal service, and in the
pomp and solemnity of his worship, there we may do too much, and
that which may be superfluous, more than we need to have done.
Nature is mad upon its inventions, and therefore loveth to serve God its
own way, to have some crotchets of its own in the outward part of his
worship ; therefore God loveth to bridle men up. In this respect they
must look at what is written. It is connatural, saith Aquinas, for
all men to be led with sensible things ; and therefore in these we
usually exceed Etdatur aliquid superfluumcultuiDei, asheproveth,
2a. 2d. Qusest. 932 Art.
In the worship of God, which is chiefly spiritual (John iv. 24),
there may easily be too much of sense brought in, since we are so
apt to be led by sense ; therefore we must have recourse to the rule,
to what is written. It is an easy matter to be too pompous in
a sacrament, and to sin against the plainness of the ordinance.
Duties are like your coats of arms, best when they are plainest, and
not overcharged with too many fillings ; or like wine, then most
generous and sprightly when it is plenum sui et immixtum alieni,
pure and uncompounded. God's ordinances look better in their own
plain coat, without welt or guard, than in all the trimmings and
flourishing gaudiness of our own devices. The sacraments were to
feed men's hearts, not to please their eyes or tickle their ears ; and
plain bread and wine decently distributed by the minister looketh
better, and is more seemly, than copes and altars, and golden candle
sticks and basins, and all the apish immolations that have been used
of late. Prayer is a great deal more comely without the noise of the
organs and the pomp of our great churches than with them. Bap
tism is more like itself without the cross than with it. And so, in all
the service of God, you shall find that is best which is written. And
the ordinances are most like to themselves when they are divested of
all their outward pomp, and brought home to their native colours,
to the plainness of the precept Brethren, we do not come to the
sacrament to feed our eyes, but hearts ; therefore it is best to look to
what is written. So ordinances nourish most when they come nearest
to their primitive institution. We may, then, do too much here.
A sense-pleasing religion is dangerous ; it is too, too much suitable
to the bent of natural inclinations; and that is the reason why
344 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
country people are so much taken with these shows ; they do not love
the native beauty that is in duties half so well as they do the painting
of them: they love outward service intolerably, and dote upon it
when it goeth beyond what is written. Brethren, it is a miserable
thing when you will place religion in that for which you have no ground
nor warrant If you will find yourselves work, and not take that
which is cut for you, you know who must pay you your wages. Mark
that question of our Saviour to the pharisees, Mat. xv. 3, ' Why do
ye also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions ? '
Transgress, Trapafiatvew rrjv frrdKrjv, that is the phrase ; why do ye
outpass, outdo the commandment ? Ye do not keep to the letter of
the statute, but go beyond what is written by your traditions. They
did overdo in the outward part. And indeed, hence they had their
name of pharisees, as Epiphanius, cited by Spanhemius, testifies ; they
were called pharisees because of their superabundant will-worship,
by which they severed themselves from others. They had their
SeuTe/ofixm?, as he speaketh, their alterings and patchings which they
set upon the commandments. They were not contented with what
was written, but must have their own devices to set off the ordinance,
as they think, the better. You see they are forbidden there, and so
should you be. God will give you no thanks nor reward for outgoing
the rule. If you will perform acceptable service, you must keep to the
commandment, not go beyond what is written.
But you will say, Shall we observe nothing in the sacrament but
what is in the institution ? What will you say, then, to the love-feasts
used by the primitive church ? for they were founded upon no express
command in holy writ ; it was a mere custom of the church, to which
all the poor people were invited upon the charges of the rich. And
what will you say to ceremonies among us ? to that of the gesture,
suppose standing, sitting, kneeling, or whatever it be? Since the
institution and scripture is silent as to these things, either we must
use no gesture at all, which is impossible, or go beyond what is written
do something at the ordinance that is not commanded.
I shall answer briefly.
1. In general, that certainly whatever is made a medium, or modus
cultus, a part or a manner of worship, a part of our duties, a way of
serving God, without a warrant from the written word of God, is
unlawful, and not to be used. Omnis cultus sine verbo Dei, idolola-
tria est, saith Mercer, a papist All worship without footing in the
word of God is but superstition and idolatry. Brethren, it is certainly
very hazardous to place any religion in that which we have no precept
for from scripture. It is not good to mingle our own chaffy conceits
and inventions with the ordinances of God, or in our addresses to God
to do anything otherwise than it is written. The Lord would have
his ordinances speak a pure language : they must be pure, without
mixture. If anything be done at the time of worship, it is good to
put a difference between it and the duty, and not alike to make con
science of both. If we think the ordinances not perfect when the
patch is gone and the ceremony taken away ; if we think the purity
of religion is gone, as many ignorant people do they say they have
lost religion when the pomp of it is gone it is a sign we have served
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 345
God otherwise than was written, and placed equal holiness in our
customs as God's commands. But
2. I answer in particular
[1.] To the matter of love-feasts. It is true the Christians of the
primitive times had their dyaTras, love-feasts, before the sacrament.
Warrant in the word of God there is none for these feasts that I could
ever see. For the rise and ground of them, some make it to be in
imitation of the heathens, who, whensoever they had a general
sacrifice (that is, when more than one did sacrifice at a time), and
a general sacrifice they had once a year for the whole village, did
meet, //.era ra? TWV Kapjrwv cn^y/co/uSa? (as Aristotle speaks in the
8th Book of his Ethics, chap. 9), after the gathering in of, their first-
fruits, offering their sacrifices and feasting one another. Now, because
the sacrament came nearest to this sacrifice and was most like it, the
Christians would not come behind them ; they would have their feasts
too ; for it is manifest the primitive Christians did come as near the
customs of the gentiles as possibly their religion would give them
leave. Or some say they were in imitation of the Jews, who did
always finish their sacrifices with feasts and banquets, as is manifest
out of scripture ; and therefore some conceive these love-feasts were
after the sacrament ; but the former opinion is more probable. Again,
some think they did this in imitation of Christ, who instituted the
sacrament after a full supper ; therefore, to express their love one to
another, they would have their feasts too. Whether this or that were
the cause or rise of it, it matters not much ; certain we are there is no
ground in scripture for them.
But then you will reply It is lawful, then, to do many times more
than is written, to observe that in our practice which is not prescribed
in the institution.
I answer, therefore, further concerning these love-feasts
1. It is uncertain whether they were lawful or no at that time of
the ordinance. It is true, indeed, there is no express prohibition in
the scripture against them, and the apostle seemeth rather to reprove
the abuse than the use of them ; but yet, if you mark it, there is
nothing said to encourage the Corinthians to continue them, but
rather to give them over, it being but a thing of their own devising,
since it was so much abused ; for you shall see the apostle speaks
vsomewhat slightingly of them ; he calleth it their * own supper,'
1 Cor. xi. 21 ; that is, a supper of their own devising. He would
be sure to set it far enough from the ordinance ; it should not claim
kin of that, and fetch its descent as high as the Lord's supper ; it was
their supper ' every one taketh his own supper.' Besides, in
ver. 22, that seemeth to condemn the very use of them : c Have ye
not houses to eat and drink in ? ' Cannot ye feast at other
times ? Besides, the apostle Jude speaketh very meanly of them too :
Jude 12, 'These are spots in your love-feasts.' He doth not say
' in the love-feasts/ as being an approved, received, grounded custom ;
but ev aydjrais vfju&v, 'in your love-feasts;' they are not Christ's
feasts, but yours ; feasts of your own appointment. But besides, if it
be not plain out of the word of God, yet certainly much language may
be fetched out of the works of God ; for you see he blasted this custom
346 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
of theirs by his providence. As soon as ever it was begun amongst
them it was corrupted, and within a little while after, it so stank in
the nostrils of men that it was altogether given off. It was abused
to riot, and excess, and contempt of the poor in the apostle's time as
soon as ever it was set up, and afterward no doubt it grew worse ;
and therefore the church left it off, God providing by his providence
that we should only know the name of it and no more. Therefore we
may guess it was not very pleasing to God, because he suffered it to
rot so timely.
Again, it was no way, as I conceive, a fitting custom for communi
cants to come with a full gorge and a clogged stomach to the elements.
You know we are most apt to feel the comfort of the creature when
we are hungry, and so then also most likely to be sensible of that
spiritual nourishment which is signified by the comfort of the crea
ture. Therefore, all these things considered will make us suspect
that custom, that it was but a will-worship, an innovation of theirs,
and that the thing itself was not warrantable. You know what
Abraham said to God : Gen. xviii., ( Far be it from thee to slay the
righteous with the wicked.' So say I, Far be it from me to confound
a righteous custom with the wicked abuse of it; yet these things
will make it uncertain whether that were a lawful custom or no.
But
2. If the primitive Christians did use this custom amongst them, as
ignorant people amongst us do their customs, namely, to think the
ordinance is no ordinance without them, then they added to God's
institution, and did more than was written ; they make it a medium
cultus, and so it is unwarrantable. I have stayed too long upon this
question of the love-feasts.
[2.] To the other part of the objection, concerning ceremonies, I
answer in a word. So there be no holiness placed in them, these cere
monies may be used in and about duties. (1.) Such as are necessary
and profitable, as a gesture in the sacrament ; it is impossible but there
must be one. (2.) Such as are grave and serious, without pomp and
ostentation, not vain and light, but becoming the ordinance ; as lifting
up the hands in prayer, covering the eyes, or the like. (3.) Such as
have no show and suspicion of evil in them, and not apt to be abused
by silly and superstitious men. (4.) For the number, they must be as
few as possible, for fear lest they entrench upon Christian liberty, and
be burdensome to tender consciences ; and these, too, not violently en
forced as parts of duty, nor superstitiously embraced as of a like autho
rity with the ordinance. Briefly, all those that will come within the
apostle's rule, eucr^yu-oz/ft)?, and Kara rdfyv : 1 Cor. xiv. 40, ' Let all
these things be done decently and in order.' I should speak more of
the nature and use of these, but I am willing to hasten to something
that is more practical. Concerning unwarranted ceremonies, there are
places in scripture written on purpose, Col. ii. and Gal. v. And of
these things more fully, Calvin in his " Institutes," book ii. chap.
7, book iv. chap. 10 ; Zanchy, and others in divers places. Besides,
these ceremonies must be suitable to the end of the ordinance, other
wise it is too much, as Aquinas, cited before. Thus you have this ob
jection answered, and the question stated. And you have seen the first
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 347
way wherein men do otherwise than is written when they do too much ;
when they place too much holiness, or bestow too much care and pomp
upon the outward part of God's service ; when we dote too much upon
a custom, and think the duty no duty without it. As if there were no
baptism without the cross, and no communion without kneeling. To
go on now
Secondly, We do otherwise than is written when we do too little,
when we come not up to the fulness of the spiritual part of the
commandment. Brethren, you will wonder at the expression, yet it is
true ; a wicked man had rather bring a thousand bullocks, whole rivers
of oil, for sacrifice, than one drachm of faith. The one many times is
in our power, the other not. They had rather tear their flesh with
whips than rend their hearts with repentance. They cannot endure
the inward part of the law ; therefore, in respect of this, they rush upon
ordinances otherwise than is written. Pharisee-like, they look only to
the tithing of mint, and neglect ra ftapyrepa rov vbpov, the ordering
of their ways and humbling of their heart. If the law did only tie
the outward man, they could love it, they would do as it is written ;
but they cannot endure to hear that ' the word of God is quick and
powerful, piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,' Heb. iv.
12. They do not love to hear of the spirituality of duty, of taming of
spiritual wickedness. They could present their persons to an ordin
ance, but they do not like that cry of wisdom, ' My son, give me thy
heart.' They cannot endure to hear such an invitatory to these holy
mysteries as that of the apostle is in Heb, x. 22, ' Let us draw near
.with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience.'
Briefly, if you would know when we do too little in duty, then you
were best see what is written concerning duty, what is required about
it. (1.) Something about the heart before duty ; (2.) Something in
duty ; (3.) Something after it. I shall refer it to these heads
1. We do otherwise than is written if we do not something about
the heart before duty, and that is preparation. The heart must be
fitted to meet God in the ordinance. Hezekiah beggeth for none, ver.
19, ' but those that had prepared their hearts to seek the Lord God.'
And certainly God will bless none but those that come with prepared
hearts to seek him, prepared to seek the Lord. You know, when a
man goeth to seek a thing, he fitteth himself with necessaries to find
it, a candle, and spade to dig for it, if need be ; and he cometh with
longing desires to find it. And thus must we do to prepare our heart
to seek the Lord. We must come with faith and repentance, and
other qualifications ; and we must come with a desire to find him.
Faith is to clear our eyes, to make us see the presence of God in the
ordinance, and desires will keep up faith to a search, to look after him
till we have found him whom our soul loveth, as the spouse speaketh.
Therefore, if we would prepare ourselves to seek the Lord, we must
furnish our heart with answerable affections, with such a frame of spirit
as will find him out. We must come with desires after him, saying,
as David, Ps. xciii. 1, ' God, my God, early will I seek thee ; my
soul faints for thee, my flesh longeth for thee/ A true communicant
cleanseth his stomach beforehand, that he may come with an appetite,
348 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
that he may relish the fatness and marrow that is here prepared, that
Christ's flesh may be meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed, John
vi.; 55. Brethren, thus it is written, and then you eat the passover ac
cording as it is written when you thus prepare your hearts, and fit
them. for the ordinance ; that you come with a longing after it, and
desire to seek God in it, when your affections are suitable to the mys
tery. But of this preparation I must speak hereafter. I am as yet
but in the doctrinal part.
2. There is also something to be done about the heart in duty, and
that is stirring of it up ; and therefore, if you would come to the rule,
to the commandment, you must not scant God in that neither. Many
men make conscience of the work and come to the performance, but
they do not do it as it is written ; they do not rouse up their spirits,
and stir up their hearts while they are receiving, and shake off that
drowsy dulness which casts a damp upon their affections. Brethren,
it is not the outward presence that maketh a communicant ; for a man
may receive, and yet not receive, as it is too often ; that is, not do what
God requireth of him. A duty done without life and efficacy is as a
duty not done at all, because it is otherwise than it was written and
God hath commanded. Mark that expression, 1 Cor. xi. 20, ' When
you come into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.' Dull
and dead receivers, they only come into one place ; they do not eat the
Lord's supper, even when they eat it, because they do not stir up
themselves to see the beauty of the Lord in his worship. We come
short of the rule if we come not with holy life and activity, with a
working, waiting spirit, that will warm our hearts within us, and make
them burn under the ordinances. Mark how the church complairieth :
Isa. Ixiv, 7 5 ' There is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up
himself to take hold of thee/ They were many that prayed there, but
they did not stir up themselves in prayer. Many called upon, God,
but they did not cry to him. The offence of the duty was because it
was not performed as it is written, with zeal, care, and ardency of
affection. If a mere repetition of words were prayer, if a dead sitting
under the word and ordinances were hearing, and if our actual presence
at the sacrament were receiving, everybody would do it as it is written,
and none would eat the passover otherwise. No, brethren ;, the word
requireth more of you. Your hearts must be actuated and spirits
quickened. You must not only have graces, but exercise them.' You
must awaken your hearts and souls. The apostle would have Timothy,
ava&Trvpeiv, 2 Tim. i. 6, to stir up the gift that was in him ; so must
a Christian at the sacrament, ava%Gyirvpeiv, stir up the graces of God's
spirit in him ; he must blow away the ashes from them, and make
them glow and sparkle ; he must rouse them up, as you would a little
fire in a brand that is ready to go out. Duties are but dead things
without this stirring. We are far below what is written if we do not
take pains with our hearts, that they may be quickened at the time of
performance. See what a qualification James requireth in prayer, chap.*
v. 16 ; ' fervent and effectual ' it must be ; in the original it is but one
word, Seijo-is Ivepyov/jLevy, a prayer animated and actuated with zeal,
life, and holy fervency, put up with great affection. As in prayer, so
in receiving ; a Christian's heart should even sweat with bestirring itself
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 349
to lay hold upon the Lord. There is an expression, Acts xxvii. 7,
' Instantly serving God day and night.' In the original it is eV
e/creveia, with the forcible putting to of all their might and strength,
with their stretehed-out strength. Oh ! brethren there can never be
too much done in respect of the spiritual part of the commandment.
Let us not then lag behind, but aspire to the fulness of the precept,
that we may do according as is written.
3. And, last of all, if we would not do too little, there is something
to be done after duty ; and that is recollecting and running over all
the carriage of the heart towards God in the duty, and the gracious
intercourse that the soul had with God. Brethren, when we strive to
keep to the rule, all will be suspected. Christians will think they have
never been vigorous enough in their performances, that all is too little
to come near the strictness and spirituality of God's law. Therefore
they will call their hearts to an account, call themselves before them
selves, that they may be humbled for their failings, and thankful for
their supplies of grace. They are afraid they have not kept to the
rule, therefore they will beg for pardon of their holiest things, and say,
as Neherniah, chap. xiii. 22, ' Kemember me, my God, concerning
this also, and save me according to the greatness of thy mercy/ Thus
you see, brethren, what is required and what is written ; what we must
do that we may neither go beyond the commandment nor beneath it ;
that we must not overlash in the outward part, nor come short of the
purity and fervency of the inward.
I shall now propose a few reasons, and they are these
1. Because God loveth to be the appointer of his own services, and
can best prescribe the way of his own worship. Now God's way is a
revealed way ; he hath written his counsel in his word ; therefore, if
we do otherwise than is written, we offend, because then we appoint
our own service, and so are derogatory to God's wisdom, as if he knew
not the best way to be worshipped. The very heathens had some
glimmerings of this light, that every deity must appoint his own
worship ; and therefore all their rights and ceremonies were such as
they feigned were revealed unto them by some god or another. Detur
enim venia o.ntiquitati, <fec., saith Livy You must give leave to all
men to feign the inspiration of their laws by some god or another.
But, brethren, to come to divinity, God loveth to appoint his own
service, to meet with a double corruption in us pride and laziness.
[1.] Pride. We would fain be avre^ovcnoi, lords of our own actions,
and have religion in our own power. And therefore, if men were left
alone to themselves, you should see how religion would turn into rites,
and all duties into a ceremony ; the purity and power of the ordinances
would be lost in a pompous sense-pleasing outside. Every man, saith
Luther, is born with a pope in his belly. Natural pride would carve
out such religion wherein we were most likely to merit.
[2.] But now, again, to meet with our laziness. An heart so dis
posed likes the outward part of the duty, but careth not for the soul
of it ; we had rather give the fruit of our bodies for the sin of our
souls than be humbled for it : < Therefore he hath showed thee, man,
what is good, and what he doth require,' Micah vi. 6-8. His service
is written service to prevent this corruption. Nay, in the time of the law,
350 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
when sacrifices and obedience were chiefly corporal, God set a stint to
supererogating and the madness of our nature ; he descendeth to the
very utensils of his house, that men might not serve him after their
own devices. God would have but one altar and tabernacle ; it had
almost stirred up a controversy in Israel to build another, Josh. xxii.
10. If God should trust to our finding, and his service should be
measured in our ephah, not weighed in the balance of the sanctuary,
what with pride, what with laziness, he would have but a sorry service
of it. Naturally we are rather for the paint than the power of
religion.
2, God's word is the only rule and judge of our actions. Therefore,
seeing God will appoint his own service, as we derogate from God
in the first reason, as if he were not wise enough to appoint, so we
derogate from the appointment in his word, as if that were not suffi
cient. The apostle, when he sets the Corinthians right in the receiving
of the sacrament, he goeth to the word : 1 Cor. xi. 23, ' For I have
received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you.' You see
he referreth you to the institution: Brethren, God's appointment is
written ; if you do otherwise than is written, you derogate from his
appointment. It is not custom, it is not tradition, but the written
word of God. People are much swayed with that, as if that were the
rule of obedience ; but then they may safely do otherwise than is
written. God would have us take nothing upon trust, but go to
what is written. Custom otherwise will become master of our faith,
and easily entail upon us coldness and formality. If there were not- a
standard to measure services by, we should see the ordinances quickly
lose both power and purity. Their power ; for they would be used
but for fashion's sake. Their purity ; for then the ordinances would
not speak a pure language, but like those mongrel children that came
of Jewish parents and Ammonitish mothers, Neh. xiii. 24, half in the
speech of Ashdod, and half in the Jews' language. There would be
a miserable gallimaufrey of God's ordinances and man's devices, a
linsey-woolsey religion. Thus without heed hath a cross slipt into
baptism, and many fooleries into the Lord's supper. No matter for the
ancientness of these things ; we must look to what is written. Let
others pretend antiquity ; our antiquity must be the scripture. It
was excellently spoken of him that said, We must not heed what
others say who were before us, but what Christ did who was before
all. And as sweetly, holy Ignatius, epol dp^eLa earlv Itjaovs 6
Xpio-rbs Jesus Christ is my antiquity. Christ must be our antiquity.
Ancientness is no warrant for us. An old custom may be an unwritten
one ; for there is vetustas erroris, as well as antiquitas veritatis
error may be mouldy, as well as truth be hoary. The cross in baptism
I believe is ancient, yet there is no ground for it in the scripture. As
our Saviour saith of the matter of divorce : Mat, xix. 8, ' From
the beginning it was not so.' And none plead custom for their prac
tice in the ordinance but those that have very little of the power of
religion in them.
To apply it now : Is it so that then we offend in our duties when
we do otherwise than is written ? It serveth then
First, To direct us where to go for information how to perform the
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 351
will of God : to the scriptures ; see what is required there. In all
duties look to the institution, and measure thy practice by it ; walk
according to that rule, as the apostle's phrase is, Gal. vi. 26. Oh !
brethren, natural light will not teach us how to serve God aright.
The wisest men in the service of God became vain in their ' imginations,
and their foolish heart was darkened,' Eom. i. 21. Nature teacheth us
that there is a God ; but how he will be worshipped we know not until
we search the scriptures and see what is written concerning it. Therefore
in every performance look what is required. And here, to press you
to it, let me use these arguments
1. Nothing is accepted of God but what he hath required. The
Lord doth not love to humour us in our pride. You know what he
said to the men that came with their oblations : Isa. i. 12, ' Who
hath required this at your hands ? ' Why, the Lord himself for
matter, though not for manner. And if he did so to them, that did
what he required, though not how he required it, certainly he will
much more to you, that do not search the records. Try your obedi
ence by the rule ; you may offend in matter as well as in manner, for
aught you know ; and therefore, how likely is it but that you shall
be turned away with a Quis requisivit ? Who hath required it ?
There is nothing so displeasing to man as to have his service refused,
or to be rejected when he thinketh he pleaseth most. Oh ! brethren,
if you do not do duty according to God's will, the Lord will reject
you, scorn your obedience : Isa. Ixvi. 3, ' He that killeth an ox is as
if he slew a man, and he that sacrificeth a lamb as if he cut off a
dog's neck.' True it is the Lord did command these things, to kill
an ox, to sacrifice a lamb ; but they did not look to the intent, look
to the manner ; and therefore their sacrifice was but murder and
mocking to God, as the killing of a man and the offering of a dog, a
ridiculous thing, an abominable thing to offer to the Lord. Brethren,
it is so here ; he that receiveth the sacrament unworthily is guilty of
murder, of the greatest murder, of crucifying the Lord of life : the
Jews' curse lights upon them, the blood of the Lord Jesus is upon
their head ; the apostle saith so, 1 Cor. xi. 27. The matter is good,
the receiving is required ; but the receiving unworthily, not in God's
manner, that is that maketh it abominable. You do not do it after
the Lord's will and in his way ; and therefore he will cry, Who hath
required it ? You shall be as welcome to him as you can expect to
be to a loving father whose only son you have killed. Oh ! brethren,
the Lord will not be served after your way ; though you hit right
upon the matter of obedience, yet you have not done what is written
for the manner, and therefore shall not be accepted. As you would
know, then, that the Lord should have respect to your offerings, do
you look to the commandment ; see what the Lord hath required of
you. Eeason cannot teach you ; our foolish heart is darkened. Cus
tom is but a bad guide ; as I have done these many years. You know
it is the description of a false fast, Zech. vii. 3. The practice is but a
bad rule ; the most may err. Go to the word of God, look what is
written ; and then the Lord will accept the service, when thou strivest
to come near the commandment. See what is punctually required, and
then diligently set thyself a-work. The Lord will accept weak en-
352 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
deavours, so they be suitable to the command ; so you do but endeavour
to perform what is written, the Lord will accept it more than all the
pomp and outside of those that would supererogate in the outward
part ; so thou dost not hand-over-head rush upon the ordinance, but
weighest thy services in the balance of the sanctuary, lookest to what'
God requireth ; though thou dost not come near it but in thy purposes
and desires, the Lord will accept thee. All that the faithful could say
for themselves in the prophet was, ' The desire of our soul is to thy
name, and to the remembrance of thee,' Isa. xxvi. 8. And all that
Nehemiah could urge for the best Jews was that they did desire to
fear God's name, Neh. i. 11. I say, See thou hast prepared to meet
the Lord in his own ordinances, and wouldest fain do what is written :
remember the death of the Lord Jesus after the due order and right
manner, then the Lord will be pleased with thy sacrifice. But if thou
comest with unwritten worship, pompous stuff, with a common lazy
heart, and not looking to the ends of a sacrament, to the grounds of
thy obedience, because thou dost otherwise than is written, the Lord
will have no regard to thee and to thy sacrifice. God accepts but what
he requireth, and he will not own the requiring of that service which
is not agreeable to his word for the manner, though the matter of
it be good. Who hath required ? As if the Lord should say Let
him that hath required accept. Thus you see, as we tender the pleasing
of God by what we do, we should labour to be directed in the nature
of the duty and manner of performance. Look to what is written.
2. The next motive is this, it is the only way to settle the conscience.
The scripture is a sure rule ; and when a man walketh by the rule,
he need not fear. What is the reason many are troubled ? They are
afraid they do not duties after the right manner. Why, brethren,
look to the word ; see what is required there. If your service hath
the truth of the commandment, though it cloth not reach the measures
of it ; if you strive after so much as is required, and have this in your
desires to do what is written, you will find the Lord will accept you.
And indeed, if they would often view the nature of the duty, it would
be better with them.
There are but two things trouble the conscience in matter of per
formance scrupling what is lawful, and doubting what is acceptable.
Now, if we would go to the rule, the conscience would be settled in
both particulars.
[l.j For matter of scruple, the word of institution, if it be consulted
with, will clear all. I know what is written there, and I am bound
to look upon no other thing as a medium cultus, as a part of worship.
I know what to do, what to forbear ; the Lord hath showed us his
will ; and therefore the conscience is every way freed from scrupulous
perplexities. The word is a clear, full rule, that satisfieth every man.
The commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, Prov. vi. 23 ; and
every Christian taketh it home to direct him in particular, saying as
David, Ps. cxix. 105, ' Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to
my path;' Brethren, naturally we have a dark, misty heart, and there
fore may well scruple the way ; but when we take a lantern with us,
we may see we are in the path, and so walk on the more boldly : * So
shall I not be ashamed, for I have respect to the commandment,' Ps.
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 353
cxix. 6. We should not be wavering and so unstablished if we
would often look to the rule of obedience ; there is enough to remove
scruples.
But you will say The word of institution is not so full, but, though
we consult it, there may scruples remain ; as to instance in circum
stances, and, to specify them, about the gesture in worship, about the
time of receiving, &c. ; the scripture doth not determine, and therefore
we may scruple still.
I answer Something for clearing of this I have already said in
the doctrinal part, and therefore shall add but little now, only for the
circumstances specified.
(1.) Touching the gesture, it is of so small concernment that the
scripture doth not descend to determine the fittest, whether standing,
or sitting, or kneeling. We are left to our liberty, and only stinted by
the general rules of charity and conveniency of gestures ; so there be
no holiness placed in them, and so made parts of worship, any are
lawful. The people of God have used many gestures in the service of
God never prescribed in the law, and yet cannot be said to do other
wise than was written, because they had not any superstitious conceit
of them, to think the service any whit the more acceptable or effectual.
Those solemn gestures accompanied in reading the law, Neh. viii. 5, 6,
of the people's standing up and bowing their heads, and worshipping
with their faces to the ground, were not prescribed in the law ; and
yet might be well used, though it be nowhere found in the books of
Moses why they should be used. Only idolatrous and superstitious
gestures, such as do riot suit with the nature of the ordinances, are
forbidden.
(2.) For the times of receiving, the scripture is not punctual in that,
how often we should do it ; but the apostle's oo-a/a? implieth a TnAXa/u? :
1 Cor. xi. 25, * As often as ye shall eat this bread, and drink this cup,'
implieth that it should be very often. So for prayer, 'pray con
tinually,' 1 Thes. ii. 15. The Spirit of God doth not assign special
times for these duties, but generally shows that we should do it as often
as we can, very often. The Lord doth not tie his servants to such
times and hours ; it may be their spirits may be unfit then ; but they
should show their obedience to God by coming every time they may
have it. Therefore you see there is no reason for scruple ; if we look
to the institution, we shall be rightly informed. Well, therefore, now
to press this part of the motive. As thou wouldst have thy conscience
freed from its scrupulousness, that thou mayest know what is lawful
and what is seasonable, that thy soul may not be as a skein of ruffled
silk, perplexed and entangled, search the commandment, look to that.
When we are clearly informed about our duty, and have a right know
ledge of the will of God, we may the more freely set about the perform-
ance ; otherwise we shall sin in manner, Kom. xiv. 14. This is the
first .part.
[2.] Doubting what is acceptable. What is the reason the people
of God are so dejected, and do so doubt of the acceptance of God ? It
is because they are not acquainted with the nature of the ordinances.
Many receive no comfort by the sacraments, because they do not know
the use and benefit of them. They do not look into the scriptures to
VOL. xv. z
354 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
see what God hath promised to accept. The promise and the com
mandment are so indissolubly knit together, that whilst we keep to the
rule, why should we doubt but that the Lord will be well pleased with
our sacrifices : Heb. xi. 4, * Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain,
by which he obtained witness that he was righteous.' TL\eiova ; it does
not signify gratiorem only, but uberiorem, a more beseeming sacrifice:
he came nearer the rule, and therefore he had a testimony of his
person and performance. Cain did not come to the rule, which was
to give the tenth part of the first-fruits, quod offer ebat non recte
dividebat ; and therefore he cannot find such comfort. When Christians
strive to keep to the rule, then they obtain a witness.
But you will say Doth the searching of the commandment settle
the conscience ? It filleth it with doubting rather ; for when we see
the strictness of the institution, and how far we come short of it, we
are ready to doubt that we do too little, less than God requireth.
I answer briefly No ; the true soul can comfort itself in the sin
cerity of its desires; for though God accounts nothing little that
springeth from an upright heart, yet they think all is too little because
they cannot perfect holiness in the fear of God. And indeed the
peace of conscience ariseth hence ; because
(1.) They meet God in his own way. Having searched the institu
tion, they know what God requireth ; and therefore will not pay the
debt of obedience with their own devices ; they offer him a pure
worship. Though they cannot be perfect in their services, yet they
will make a right choice, serve God after his own mariner ; not make
it up in the pomp what is wanting in the power of religion, as many
do ; but look principally to the inward part, to the truth of religion.
Brethren, he is a better debtor, and more to be trusted, that payeth
the creditor in true money, than another that overlasheth in counter
feit coin. One diamond is better than a whole rope of Bristol stones.
It is somewhat in God's account when we take the right way to please
him, when we love pure ordinance, and had rather serve him for con
science' sake than custom. It is a comfort to a poor soul when he doth
but go to the rule ; and though otherwise, if he would serve God after
man's way, he might do better, yet he would rather bring written service.
Certainly, when we submit to God's appointment, the simplicity and
plainness of his ordinances, it is a comfort ; whereas, on the other side,
when men serve the Lord after their own fashion, and satisfy their
conscience with the outward part of worship, like those that the Lord
speaketh of, Isa. xxix. 13, ' Their fear towards me is taught by the
precept of men,' they usually feel no comfort, get no benefit by the
ordinances, only lull their consciences asleep by them. All that they
get by duty is a false peace, not quickening grace ; pride in their
excellences, rather than humility for their wants and failings.
(2.) There is comfort in it that they do it upon a good ground.
They present true service with a true heart. They do what is written
because it is written. They do not come to the sacrament as those
Jews kept their fast, Zech. vii. 3, because they had done so for these
many years ; or as Ezekiel's hearers, chap, xxxiii. 31, 4 They come and
sit before me as my people.' Not for fashion's sake, because the people
of God in the country where they live use to do so ; but because God
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 355
hath commanded, instituted such an ordinance, and in his holy word
invited them. They do it in obedience to God. But of this more by
and by.
(3.) They may comfort themselves because they bend all their
strength and power to come up to the fulness of the commandment.
Though they cannot receive as they ought, yet they will not allow
themselves in any laziness. Therefore, before duty they strive to seek
God in the ordinance. In duty, they strive to meet God in the or
dinance ; after the duty, they bless God for admitting them, and
humble themselves for their failings. They account nothing too
much, and therefore they know God accepteth their little. They use
their best endeavour, and therefore there is nothing that may trouble
them when they search the rule ; lor there they know the Lord will
accept their endeavours. And if they offer a better sacrifice than
Cain, that is, if they come with a better heart, in a better manner,
than worldly men (for they will be sacrificers too), and their desires
are to the remembrance of God and a due celebration of the com
munion, that they know the Lord accepteth. But, on the contrary,
without a due knowledge of the nature of obedience, the grounds
and ends of it, there can be no such comfort. Therefore, as thou dost
tender the settling of thy conscience, as* thou wouldst not have it
entangled with scruples, divided and distracted with a double mind
a wavering double-minded man, 8/i/ru^o?, that is St James's word :
James i. 8, * A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways ;' now
of the thought that thou doest well, and then again thinking that
thou shalt not be accepted, and so banded and whirrited between hopes
and fears ; seek the word, go to the canon, ' to the law, and to the
testimony/ Isa. viii. 20, that thou mayest be directed. Christians are
perplexed many times, because they do not ask counsel of the word of
God so often as they should. So I have done with the first use.
Use 2. Is it so ? It serveth then to press us to see whether we do
perform duty aright or no. Do we do it as it is written ? Here is a
mark to try it by, whether we make the word of God both the rule
and the ground of our obedience. Everybody will answer, Yea, to
the question. And therefore 1 must a little amplify and take abroad
the trial. And therefore, that you may not deceive yourselves, and
think that you do no otherwise than is written, I shall lay down a tew
marks by which you may discover it whether you make the word the
ground and rule of your duties. If you do so, then
1. You will use the ordinances in faith and obedience. This is a
principal rule to try yourselves by. And certainly if men would deal
impartially with themselves in it, they might know whether they
have had a due recourse to the word or no.
But you will say What is it to use the ordinances in faith and
obedience ?
For answer, you must know, that every ordinance of God hath a
word of institution, which word of institution hath two parts a com
mand, arid a promise ; as the Lord's supper, the word, prayer, ever
you shall find it hath a word of institution : and every word of institu
tion hath a command and a promise. Now we use the ordinances
in faith and obedience when we give obedience to the command and
356 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
credence to the word of promise ; when we look to the grounds of an
ordinance, and the ends of it ; that God hath instituted it, and to
what end ; what benefit we receive thereby, that we may have the com
mandment for our rule, and the promise for our comfort, and to
encourage us with hopes of good success. I shall handle them a
little severally, and then give you the drift of the mark.
[1.] We must do it in obedience to the command ; that is, when
we set about the duty, because the Lord hath required it of us. So
that if it be asked why we do this, and observe that service, as it was
said concerning the passover, 'Why do you observe this?' Exod. xii.
26, you may give this for a reason Because God hath commanded us.
If you should ask your souls why you do come to the sacrament, your
hearts may answer Because the Lord hath appointed this ordinance
for the strengthening of my faith ; because it is a part of the homage
that I owe to my creator ; he hath commanded me thus to remember
the Lord's death, 1 Cor. xi. 25.
[2.] We must do it in faith. Look to the promises, that God will
make them good unto us, that we shall feel the fruits of the ordinance
in our own souls. The acts of faith are three
(1.) To make us confident that the Lord can make good what he
hath promised ; that his body shall be meat indeed, and his blood
drink indeed, though we see but the plain outward elements. The
heart must be constrained to acknowledge God's power to work by the
sacraments; and say, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean:
Lord, it is thy pleasure to appoint this ordinance, for the sealing of
the pardon of my sins, the strengthening of my faith, and for the
effectual remembering of the death of Christ to my poor soul ; and
if thou wilt, thou canst make good all these things unto me.
(2.) It must kindle a desire in our hearts after the accomplishment
of the promises, that the Lord would make good to our souls the
mercies conveyed by this ordinance. There must be an holy thirst
and longing after the benefit of them
(3.) It must stay the heart, and make it wait the leisure of God
until he doth make it good unto us. Though we do not see the Lord
working as yet for the sealing of the pardon of our sins, the spiritual
nourishing and strengthening of our souls, yet there is a command to
keep up our obedience and faith, to keep up our expectation. Just as
Peter in the Gospel, when Christ bid him let down the net at such a
side of the ship, and thou shalt take some fish, Luke v. 5 : the com
mand and the promise is there : ' Master,' saith he, * I have toiled all
night, and caught nothing ; yet at thy command I will let down the
net.' So, brethren, when you have toiled a great while in expectation
of the benefit of the ordinances, and cannot sensibly find any, yet if
then at Christ's command ' howbeit at thy command ' that shall
keep up your obedience (and because of Christ's promise that he should
catch fish, he would believe still, and desire -that the Lord would
accomplish his promises) ; so, because of the Lord's promise annexed
to the duty, you doubt not but the Lord will work for you good in his
due time ; for you are confident he is able, and you have desired that
he would. This is to do it in faith and obedience. Thus in any duty,
as of hearing of the word ; as Isa. Iv. 3, there is a word of institution
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 357
for the hearing of the word and the promise annexed thereunto:
' Hear, and your soul shall live.' The word of command, c Hear ; ' the
promise, * And your soul shall live.' Now, we must hear in obedience
to that command ; and sue out that promise, by being confident God
is able, faithful, willing to make it good ; by desiring that he would
enliven our souls, and, in the conscionable use of the ordinances, wait
upon his good pleasure when he will accomplish it.
Examine, therefore Do you thus use the ordinances in faith and
obedience, at Christ's command, and looking to him for the supply of
grace that he hath promised to convey by that ordinance ? and wilt
thou wait for them, and art thou confident the Lord will be as good
as his word ? It is a sign that thou dost duties as it is written, that
thou hast looked into the institution, and hath conformed to it. If
thou canst in thy heart answer for thy appearance at this holy table,
that it is because the Lord commanded thee hither, in expectation of
such mercies as the Lord hath made over to this ordinance, and doth
long for and desire the accomplishment of them, it is a sign that thou
dost it in faith and obedience.
2. The next mark is, if thou dost make the word the rule and
ground of thy obedience, thou wilt be careful of the purity of the
ordinances, that nothing may be mixed with them but what is in the
word, in the institution. There will be no doting upon old customs,
no superstitious hankering after ceremonies, unwritten rites, that have
no ground in the word of God; but thou wilt be willing that all should
be gone and done away. Certainly those that are so ready to quarrel
for some old fond custom, it is a sign they little prize the institution
of the ordinances ; they do not search that. Ignorant men, that are
least versed in the word of God, are most ceremonious. Their very
religion is ceremony, and their duty is but a custom. Certainly if
they did it for conscience' sake, they would have looked to the com
mand that bindeth the conscience ; and then the love of these things
would not have crept upon them, and have possessed their souls. What
is the reason many are so disquieted now, when some things are taken
away which they were formerly accustomed to? Oh ! brethren, they
do not make the word the ground and rule of their obedience. Their
very religion is custom, that which they have received by tradition,
not what was delivered to them in the institution ; and therefore they
never look to the mixture and tampering of human devices with God's
prescription. They do not care for pure ordinances.
Therefore the rule to examine by is how thou standest affected to
the purity of God's worship. Thou wouldest fain have nothing done
but what thou hast some warrant for ; nay, thou wouldst have had no
word used which may be an occasion of corrupting the worship of God.
Priest and altar do offend, because when such terms are used he
beginneth to fear a sacrifice, a mass, to answer them. They have
gotten a pure lip ; as the Lord saith, ' He would turn to the nations a
pure language, a pure lip.' And in another place, ' I will take away
the names of Baalim out of their mouth, and thou shalt call me no
more Baali, but Ishi,' Hosea ii. 16, 17. They would not have any
monuments of superstition left, not a paganish or a popish word in
and about the ordinances. Though Baali signifieth Lord, yet God
358 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
will not be called so, because that was their term for their idol. And,
saith David, Ps. xvi. 4, ' I will not take the names of their God in my
lips.' See that command also of Moses, Dent, xxiii. 13, ' And in all
things that I have said unto you, be circumspect, and make no men
tion of the names of other gods ; let it not l>e heard out of thy mouth.'
They are careful that such words shall not be used as have a show of
idolatry ; they will have the Lord's service expressed the Lord's own
way. Unwary speaking hath been cause of much corruption ; and
therefore they are so careful to have things done according to the
word, that they do not love such names and words as custom and
superstition hath a long time used about the ordinances. You shall
see, Num. xxxii. 38, it is said there that the Israelites obtained ' Nebo
and Baal-meon (their names being changed) and Shibmah, and gave
other names to the cities which they built.' Brethren, these were
idolatrous names ; their cities were called after their idols. Baal was
an idol, Judges vi. 31 ; and Nebo was an idol: Isa. xlvi. 1, ' Bel boweth
down, Nebo stoopeth ; their idols were upon the beasts/ They change
not Shibmah; but Nebo and Baal-meon, such names as were scandalous.
So they that are truly careful of coming to the written word, they
would have no odd names continued ; they would not have the Lord's
day nicknamed Sunday. They have a pure lip, and would have no
unbeseeming word used in the worship of God. Search by this.
/ sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit loas
sweet unto my taste. CANT. ii. 3.
IN this verse two things are observable (1.) Christ's commendation ;
(2.) The church's experience.
1. Christ's commendation, in the beginning of the verse, where he
is compared to an apple-tree among the trees of the forest. Some trees
yield no fruit at all, as cedars, firs, and elms; some only yield fruit for
swine, as oaks bear acorns. The apple-tree beareth variety of comfort
able fruit for men. To this we see Christ is compared, and not to an
ordinary apple-tree, but to the tree of life, which is in the midst of the
orchard and paradise of God, Rev. ii. 7. And mark, in the context,
how Christ and the church are bestowing honour upon one another.
Christ avoucheth the church to be the best of all assemblies ; and the
church avoueheth Christ to be the best of all Gods. The bridegroom
beginneth and saith, ver. 2, ' My love is as a lily among thorns/ and
the bride answereth, ' My beloved is as the apple-tree among the trees
of the wood.' Quis sicut te ? is twice used in scripture of God and of
the church, Micah vii. 17, with Dent, xxxiii. 29. The text falleth in
with the latter part the church's eulogy to Christ. Other trees yield
little comfort to a poor fainting creature travelling in the wilderness ;
but Christ is an apple-tree, comfortable for shade, pleasant for fruit.
2. The church's experience I sat down under his shadow with great
delight, and his fruit ivas sweet unto my taste. The commendation is
built on the church's experience. They that have tasted and felt how
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 359
sweet Christ is can better speak of him than others : 2 Cor. i. 4, ' That
we may comfort others with the comforts wherewith we are comforted
of God.' A report of a report is a cold thing. We can best commend
Christ to others when we have felt his virtue and tasted his sweetness
ourselves. Two things the church experimented in Christ (1.) Com
fortable shadow ; (2.) Pleasant fruit.
[1.] A comfortable shadow. In those eastern countries the scorching
of the sun was vehement, and the heat of it much annoyed them in
travel, therefore so often is there allusion made to a shadow ; as Num.
xiv. 9, ' Their defence is departed from them ;' it is in the margin
their shadow ; and so the true God : Ps. xci. 1, ' He shall abide under
the shadow of the Almighty.' And that is the reason why the spouse
complaineth, Cant. i. 6, ' I am black, because the sun hath looked upon
me ; ' expressing thereby her afflictions, which to us, in these colder
countries, seemeth a strange expression. To them rain is always used
for a blessing but sunshine often for affliction, they being parched and
scorched with excessive heat. And therefore was it that Jonah was so
much vexed when he wanted the comfort and shadow of his gourd.
We read, Jonah iv. 7, 8, that he was exceedingly glad of the gourd ;
but when the sun did arise and wither it, and did beat upon his
head, he fainted, and wished that he might die. So God, when he
promiseth great happiness to his people, saith, Hosea xiv. 8, ' I will be
to them a green fir-tree ; ' meaning a cool and wholesome shadow
against the scorching heat of the sun. All this is said to show how
comfortable a cool shade was to them in those parts.
[2.J His fruit ivas pleasant to my taste- Christ hath not only a
shadow to hide us, but cordial fruit to cheer and revive us. By fruit
are meant those spiritual privileges and benefits which we enjoy by
Christ, which are sensibly and satisfactorily pleasing to the soul.
Doct. Those that earnestly seek after a shelter in Christ from the
wrath of God shall not only find that shelter, but many comfortable
benefits and fruits accruing to them.
Here I shall show (1.) What it is to sit down under the shadow of
Christ with great delight ; (2.) What these fruits are, and how com
fortable to a spiritual taste.
First, For the first, that I may not strain the metaphor, but take it
as it runneth most easily, I shall give you these propositions
1. A shadow is not prized by men till some heat scorch them. The
church is here represented as faint and parched with heat. Our
addresses to Christ always begin with a sense of our own want and
misery. Ease is sweet to the burdened soul, and none seek rest in
Christ to any purpose but those that feel the load of their own sins,
Mat. xi. 28. None fly to their city of refuge but those who are sensible
of an avenger of blood at their heels, Heb. vi 18. None desire so ear
nestly to be found in Christ but those who apprehend a search, that
wrath maketh inquisition for sinners, Phil. iii. 9. None are so willing
and anxious about entering into an ark as those that fear a flood, Heb.
xi. 7. It is the thirsty hart that panteth for the water- brooks ; the
hart that hath been chased or eaten serpents, Ps. xlii. 1. It was the
stung Israelite that did in good earnest look to the brazen serpent,
John iii. 14. The scorched only prize a shadow. We have but cold
360 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
and careless respects for Christ till the sense of our misery awaken us.
Comfort is a relative word, and implieth distress ; so doth also justifi
cation, and supposeth accusation, or a sense of condemnation deserved.
2. That which scorcheth poor distressed souls is a sense of God's
wrath. Observe how fitly God's wrath is set forth by the scorching of
the sun a glorious creature, and very useful, whose influences upon
the world are usually very benign and comfortable ; yet, to accomplish
the purposes of nature, he sometimes ariseth with a burning heat.
God's goodness is exceeding great and large ; yet this good God hath
his wrath, which is set forth to us by the notions of a consuming fire,
Heb. xii. 29, and a burning oven, Mai. iv. 1. The wrath of the living
God is a dreadful thing, which consumeth and drieth up all without
recovery, unless we get a shelter from it. It was typed out by the fire
wherein the sacrifices were burnt ; and the sense of it is a scorching
thing indeed, which drinketh up our blood and spirits, Job vi. 4. Now,
because this sense may be increased in us either by sharp afflictions, or
heightened by Satan's temptations through the permission of God,
sometimes the heat and sweltering which the soul feeleth upon these
occasions is expressed by the burning of the sun, Cant. i. 6 ; compare
also Mat. xiii. 6, ' When the sun was up they were scorched, because
they had no root, but withered away ; ' and ver. 21, ' When tribulation or
persecution ariseth because of the word/ This may awaken a sense of
wrath, when God externally appeareth as an enemy. So heightened
by Satan's temptations, which are called fiery darts. Eph. vi. 16. His
fiery darts are not only boiling lusts, but despairing fears, when the
conscience is filled with horror and trouble.
3. Scorched souls can find no shelter nor refreshing shadow among
the creatures, but only by coming to the spiritual apple-tree, who is
the Lord Jesus Christ. Alas ! the creatures carry no suitableness nor
proportion with our grief ; no more than a good meal or a nosegay of
flowers to the trouble of a condemned man, or a rich shoe can give ease
to a gouty foot. If our trouble were outward want, riches would satisfy
it ; but when the wrath of God scorcheth the conscience, what will
riches, or honours, or pleasures do? Ps. xxxix. 11, 'When thou with
rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, his beauty consumeth as a moth.'
Trouble of conscience will not be got off by carnal means. Greatness
and beauty and wealth will be no cure or plaster for this fear. In
deed, in a light conviction, we may divert conscience and stupify it by
carnal enjoyments, and quench our thirst at the next ditch ; but it is
but a palliate cure ; our wound is skinned over, and breaketh out again
in a greater sore. The evil is but put off', not put away ; as those,
Amos vi. 3, that did drink wine in bowls, and did put far away the
evil day. When they do not make a sure peace with God, but all
their thoughts are to put judgment out of their mind, they may harden
their hearts, but they cannot quiet their hearts ; for the virtue of this
opium will be soon spent, and the trouble will return more ragingly.
God can soon blast the shadow of this gourd, as he did Jonah's ; or
else he may give you over to a stupid conscience ; and a lethargy is a
very dangerous disease.
4. Christ is a complete and comfortable shadow, the only screen be
tween us and wrath. Observe how fitly Christ's interposing between
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 361
vis and the wrath of God is set forth by the shadow of a tree interposed
between us and the heat of the sun. In him alone we find refreshing,
ease, and comfort : Mat. iii. 17, * This is my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased.' God is appeased in Christ towards us ; he is the
shadow which we have against the wrath of God, even Jesus, who hatli
delivered us from wrath to come, 1 Thes. i. 10. He hath drunk hell
dry. To redeem us from the curse of the law he was made a curse for
us, Gal. iii. 13. He hath borne the wrath of God in his own person
that we might have the blessing, the gift of the Spirit. So he is a
shadow against the fiery darts of Satan ; nothing will guard us, and
help us to quench them, but the shield of faith, Eph. vi. 16. This
faith in Christ we hold up as a shield against his violent and piercing
temptations, and so quench that heat and pain and horror which other
wise these temptations would kindle in our hearts. We answer his
bitter accusations by Christ's righteousness. Then, for the troubles
arid afflictions of the world he is still our shadow : John xvi. 33, ' In
the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have rest/ A
storm rattling upon the tiles doth not much dismay you when you sit
warm under the covert and protection of a strong roof. God promiseth
his people, Isa. xxv. 4, to be ' a shelter from the storm, and a shadow
from the heat ; ' and Isa. iv. 5, * The Lord will create upon the assem
blies of Mount Sion a cloud and a smoke by day, and a shining of a.
flaming fire by night/ It is an allusion to the Israelites in the wilder
ness ; he shadowed them by day with a cloud, and lighted and heated
them with a fiery pillar by night. As we travel to our heavenly rest,
we need light and we need shelter ; we have both from Christ.
5. Faith is necessary, that we may have the comfort of our shadow ;
for we make use of Christ by faith. There are three acts of faith
(1.) They choose, consent, and own Christ as the only shadow ; (2.)
They earnestly run to it ; (3.) Compose and quiet their hearts under
it. For some make this sitting down as an act of spiritual desire ; as
Junius, Summe desidero ut sedeam I earnestly desire that I may sit
down. Some as an act of spiritual delight ; as our translation, ' I sat
down with great delight.' However, both are implied.
[1.] Here is a choice arid owning of Christ as the only shadow
against wrath. They that would find Christ a shadow must use him
and employ him to that end ; as Ps. xci. ] , ' He that dwelleth in the
secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the
Almighty/ The qualification and the promise is the same. What is
abiding in the shadow of the Almighty but dwelling in the secret place
of the Most High? God is to his people what they take him to be.
Dwell in God, and you shall dwell in God. If you will take God to
be what he offereth himself to be, and hath promised to be, you will
find him actually and indeed to be so when need shall require, and you
make use of him to that end. So delight is rewarded with delight.
Isa. Iviii. 13, 14 ; and courage and strength of heart with strength
of heart, Ps. xxvii. 14, and Ps. xxxi. 24 ; for God loveth to make good
the undertaking of faith, and will every way answer his people's ex
pectations. If God hath set forth Christ to be a propitiation, a screen
between you and wrath, use him as such ; run to your spiritual apple-
tree. Surely Christ can only shelter us from the wrath of God ; and
362 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS'.
faith, which maketh use of Christ to this end, can only give us an in
terest in this benefit : Ps. ii. 12, ' If his anger be but kindled a little,
blessed are they that trust in him/ Deliverance from wrath is the
fruit of embracing Christ, or closing in covenant with him ; those that
betake and apply themselves to him as their only refuge and safety.
A carnal man is to seek ; in the midst of all his worldly comforts he
hath not a true shadow or a true place of retreat from the heat of God's
wrath. When God frowneth they know not whither to go. If God let
loose conscience or Satan against them, all worldly comforts are soon
dried up. Wealth, honour, riches will not stead them in the day of
wrath, Prov. xi. 4 ; much more when he summoneth them into his pre
sence : Eev. vi. 16, ' They shall call to the mountains, and say, Fall on
us, and hide us from the wrath of him that sitteth on the throne/ Oh i
what would they give then for a shelter !
[2.] This work must not be done sleepily, but in the greatest ear
nest. The original phrase expresseth a vehemency of desire of this
shadow to overshadow them. Such a desire should we have after
Christ and his righteousness. Oh ! that I might be found in him !
And all is nothing to this, that I may gain Christ, Phil. iii. 8.
[3.] This sitting down with great delight noteth the composing and
quieting the soul in Christ. Here they have ease and rest when once
gotten to sit down under his shadow. So that it is not a bare choice,
but such as is accompanied with desire and delight.
6. They meet not only with coolness, but fruit ; as an apple under
an apple-tree to one that sits under its shadow in a great heat. Christ
yieldeth not only a comfortable shadow to believers, but also pleasant
fruit. We are not only sheltered from wrath, but we may take and
eat the apples of paradise. The mercies of the covenant are riot only
privative, but positive, Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, and Gen. xv. 1. There is
shadow on a. fir-tree, but fruit on an apple-tree. The returning pro
digal desired only to be accepted into the family, to be made an hired
servant, to be kept from perishing ; but the father maketh a feast,
Luke xv. It was as much as our thoughts could reach to, to be de
livered from hell and wrath to come ; but God will give abundance of
grace, and the gift of righteousness by Christ Jesus, Kom. v. 15. We
shall not only enjoy his shadow, but taste his fruit.
Secondly, My next inquiry is, what these fruits are ? They are the
benefits and the privileges which we have by Christ. Mark, here is
(1.) Fruit ; (2.) His fruit ; (3.) Sweet to our taste.
1. Here is fruit. Christ received of the Father the fulness of
power and of the Spirit for the benefit of the redeemed, that he might
shower down the streams of grace on all that repair to him for relief
and succour. Now what these fruits are
[1.] In the general, we may tell you, all that is worth the having we
have from Jesus Christ ; all the blessings of this present life and of
the world to come: 1 Cor. iii. 21-23, 'All things are yours, because
you are Christ, and Christ is God's/ We lost our right to all by sin,
and Christ came to restore all to us, ordinances, providences, heaven,
happiness, and death, as the couple between the worlds. All things
that concern life natural : Kom. viii. 32, ' If God spared not his own
Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 363
freely give us all things ? ' All things that concern maintenance, pro
tection, food, raiment, safety during our service ; all things that con
cern life spiritual, 2 Peter i. 3; to keep alive grace in the heart, to
express it in the conversation. For the other world we have eternal
life, 1 Tim. iv. 1. All things here hath a subserviency to that life,
Bom. viii. 28.
[2.] More particularly, there are many choice and excellent fruits
which believers receive from him.
(1.) The pardon of all our sins : Eph. i. 7, ' In whom we have
redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of sins ; ' sin, which is such a
mischief to us, such a wrong to God. The wrong done to infinite justice
was so great that the Son of God must come and shed his blood before
there could be a sufficient ransom given to keep up the honour of God's
government. We cannot be sufficiently apprehensive of so great a
benefit. So Acts xxvi. 18, ' We are turned from the power of Satan
to God, that we may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance
among them that are sanctified.' Is not this a sweet fruit, to have a
free and full forgiveness of all our sins and daily failings ? Isa. Iv. 7.
What is it that troubled us before we were acquainted with Christ but
sin ? What is it that made God terrible to us but sin ? that clogged
our consciences, disabled us from serving him cheerfully, but sin ? that
rendered us shy of God's presence, but sin ? that damped our hearts in
all our afflictions, but sin ? that stood in the way of all our mercies
and hopes, but sin ? Surely, if we can get rid of sin, this is a benefit
that is not lightly to be passed over.
(2.) Peace with God: Rom. v. 1, ' Being justified by faith, we have
peace with God/ God, that was formerly an enemy, is now a friend ;
the war between us and heaven ceaseth. Tyre sought peace with
Herod, because they could not subsist without him, Acts xii. 20.
Certainly ' in him we live, move, and have our being.' He could destroy
us every moment. He hath sent messengers to tell the world of this
peace, Acts x. 36, preaching peace by Jesus Christ. God's messengers
come to you with an olive branch in their mouths, proclaiming and
offering this peace to all that are willing to enter into it, and cast away
the weapons of their defiance.
(3.) Adoption into God's family, John i. 12, and 1 John iii. 1.
David could say, ' Seemeth it a light thing to you to be a king's son-
in-law?' So may I say, to have the blessed God, whom we had so
often offended, to become our reconciled father in Christ ; and it will
not be an empty title, but justified and filled up with answerable
privileges as to us : Mai. i. 6, ' If then I be a father, where is my
honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear?' God, that dis-
liketh empty titles on our part, will not put us off with an empty
title.
(4.) The heirs of glory: ' For if children, then heirs, co-heirs with
Jesus Christ,' Bom. viii. 17. Children shall have a child's portion :
' He hath begotten us to a lively hope, to an inheritance incorruptible
and undefined, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,'
1 Peter i. 3, 4 ; and Titus iii. 8, ' Being justified by faith, we are made
heirs according to the hope of eternal life.' All God's children have
an ample inheritance kept for them ; it is secured to them by the
364 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
promise of the faithful God, and possessed by Christ in their name,
and in due time is bestowed on themselves, Rom. vi. 8.
(5.) The Holy Ghost is given, not only to sanctify us at first, but
to dwell in our hearts as a constant inhabitant, as in his own temple,
1 Cor. vi. 19, to maintain God's interest in our souls, to conquer the
devil, subdue the flesh, and overcome the world; to resist the devil,
1 John iv. 4 ; to subdue the flesb, Rom. viii. 13 ; to overcome the
world ; for, 1 Peter i. 5, ' We are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation.' The Spirit succoureth us in all our extremities
that is, by the power of his Spirit dwelling in us. By this Spirit
we are cleansed more and more from all filthiness of flesh and spirit,
sanctified throughout, and fitted more and more for the enjoyment of
that eternal happiness we are appointed unto.
(6.) Peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost ; for this is a
great privilege of Christ's kingdom, Rom. xii. 17. The Spirit, indeed,
is not so necessarily a comforter as a sanctifier ; and yet this is part
of his work, to shed abroad the love of God in our hearts, Rom. v. 5.
To assure us that we are his children, Rom. viii. 16 ; and to be the
earnest and fore- pledge of our everlasting happiness : 2 Cor. v. 5,
' Who hath given us the earnest of his Spirit.'
(7.) Access to God, with assurance of welcome and audience,
Ps. 1. 15, and Heb. iv. 15, 16, and 1 John v. 14. This confidence we
have, that ' Whatsoever we shall ask in his name, he will do it for us.'
Oh ! what a mercy is it that we have a father to go to ! that our
persons and services should be acceptable and pleasing to him for
Christ's sake ! We find the comfort of it living and dying. These
are some of those fruits which grow upon this spiritual apple-tree.
2. His fruits ; for a threefold reason
[1.] Because purchased by him. All these privileges were procured
for us by his blood, death, and sufferings. Pardon of sins : Col. i. 14,
' In whom we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of sins.'
God would not cancel our debts till he had received this satisfaction.
Peace with God : Col. i. 20, * Having made peace through the blood
of his cross/ It stood the Mediator dear that we might enjoy God's
peace and favour with life. Adoption into God's family ; it is the
fruit of his sufferings or being made under the law : Gal. iv. 4, 5,
' Heirs of glory/ We are purchased unto everlasting redemption,
Eph. i. 14. The sanctification of the Spirit, Eph. v. 25, 26. Peace
of conscience : ' This man our peace,' Micah v. 5. Audience :
Heb. x. 19, * We have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood
of Jesus/ So that he purchased all these favours for us.
[2.J These fruits flow from him ; for as he purchased them, so he
hath the keeping and dispensing of the purchased benefits ; for he
hath purchased this grace, not into another's hand, but into his own.
He doth by the Spirit sanctify and bring back the souls of men unto
God. Therefore it is said, John i. 16, ' Of his fulness have we received,
and grace for grace/ And whatever the Spirit doth, he doth for his
honour and glory, and as his Spirit : John xvi. 14, ' He shall take of
mine, and glorify me/
[3.] It is enjoyed by virtue of an interest in him, as we are mem-
TS of his mystical body : 1 Cor. i.
i-jt/i/t/
bers of his mystical body : 1 Cor. i. 30, ' But of him are ye in Christ,
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 365
who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness.' First we
are in him, and then he is made to us of God all that we stand in
need of. When we are engrafted into Christ we partake of his
benefits : 1 John v. 12, ' He that hath the Son hath life,' &c. ;
John xv. 1, 2, 5, 'I am the vine, ye are the branches/ So that by
virtue of our union with him, and interest in him, we receive these
fruits.
3. These are sweet unto a believer's taste. Observe there
[1.] That believers have a taste of the goodness of Christ. They do
experimentally find a great deal of comfort and sweetness in him :
1 Peter ii. 3, ' If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.'
Others know Christ by hearsay, they by experience. They know
'the grace of Christ in truth,' Col. i. 6. We use to say, Optima
demonstratio est a sensibus Things talked of do not affect us so
much as things tasted and felt. He that hath tasted honey knoweth
the sweetness of it more than he that only reads of it. Therefore we
ought to get this taste that is, an inward experience of the truth and
goodness of heavenly things ; for Christian religion is a tiling not only
to be understood, or disputed, or talked of, but also tasted. Moral
instruction may give a sight, but faith a taste.
[2.] That Christ's fruits are very sweet to their taste, because of
the suitableness of the fruit to the prepared appetite. They have an
hungry conscience, and so can sooner taste that sweetness. As a man
is, so is his appetite. The beasts find sweetness in grass, swine in
their swill, more than an epicure in all his dainties. Among men,
every constitution of heart afFecteth a suitable diet. In the general,
the carnal relish only carnal things. More particularly, some worldly
men, like the serpent, feed on the dust of the ground. Some vain
glorious men, like the cameleon, live upon the air and breath of
popular applause ; the sensual, on the husks of brutish pleasure. But
a Christian s delights are on Christ, the promises of the gospel, and
the fruits of the Spirit, 1 Cor. ii. 12. A Christian hath another spirit
than the spirit of this world. A sanctified soul can taste the sweet
ness of spiritual things, word, sacraments, graces,, hopes. Yea, the
way of obedience is sweet to them : Prov. iii. 17, ' Her ways are plea
santness, and all her paths are peace.' It is wonderfully comfortable,
and filleth their hearts in a satisfying manner, when they can have
any experience of God's love in Christ, in the word, or meditation, or
prayer, or sacraments : ' My soul is filled as with marrow and fatness/
saith David, Ps. Ixiii. 6. Besides the attractive goodness of the object,
there is inclination in their own souls to it.
Use 1. Here is an invitation to draw us to Christ.
1. As he is a shadow. This notion is like to prevail with none but
those who are scorched with God's wrath, or laden with the burden
of sin ; with them that are either of a troubled or of a tender con
science. They long to sit down under his shadow indeed, and to get
a taste of his pleasant fruits; yet I must speak to all, to begin here.
The fruits are neither eaten nor the sweetness of them felt till we
come under his shadow, and delightfully sit under his righteousness ;
but I pray you all to consider what need we have of this (1.) Con
sider our own deservings : ' Are we not all children of wrath even as
3G6 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
others?' Eph. ii. 3. If we are grown insensible, the greater is our
misery; and doth it not concern you 'to fly from wrath to come'?
Mat. iii. 7. Because as yet we feel not the scorching and broiling
heats, should we not make sure of a shelter ? If a spark light upon
the conscience, if God's anger be kindled but a little, what a condition
are you in ! (2.) A drooping soul that mourneth under the fears of
God's displeasure, how doth he value this ? The afflicted and poor of
the flock, they will trust in the name of the Lord, Zeph. iii. 12 ; and
should we not value that which is prized by them that are more
serious than ourselves ? (3.) When you must appear before the bar
of God when you are to die, a shelter and a screen between you and
wrath will be very welcome, Rev. vi. 16. What would you give then
for a sealed pardon, for an interest in Christ's righteousness, for a
propitiation or means of atonement between you and an offended
God ? (4.) The damned in hell, that are lost for ever, who are
scorched in eternal flames, and have made trial of that sad condition,
what would they give ? Luke xvi. 24, ' Have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my
tongue, for I am horribly tormented in this flame.'
2. With respect to pleasant fruit : Ps xxxiv. 8, ' Oh ! come, taste
and see how good the Lord is to those that put their trust in him.'
We entertain black thoughts of the ways of God, as if religion were a
sour thing, and there were no pleasure and delight for those that
submit to it. Augustine and Cyprian were both kept off by a fear
that they should never see merry day more ; as, indeed, it is hard for
pleasant natures wholly to renounce accustomed delights. To confute
this prejudice, if you will not believe the spies who have visited the
land of promise, and passed it through, and have brought a good
report thence, told you how pleasant and sweet the fruits thereof are,
come arid make trial yourselves. Oh ! taste and see. You will find
enough in Christ to spoil the gust and relish of all other pleasures,
Quam suave milii subito factum est car ere suavitatibus nugarum. As
the sun puts out the fire, so doth this greater delight make carnal
vanities tasteless to you. Surely all Christ's fruits will be sweet to
you. Is it not sweet to hear that voice, ' Be of good cheer, thy sins
tire pardoned' ? Mat. viii. 2 ; so ' I will be to you a father, and you
shall be my children.' The comforts of the Spirit, are they not
the sweetest things that ever were felt ? Peace, Phil. iv. 7 ; joy,
1 Peter i. 8 ; yet these are but part of his wages. If Christ be sweet
in the ordinances, what will he be in heaven ?
Use 2. Do we ever sit down under his shadow, so as to find his
fruit sweet unto our taste ? You may try your state, and discern it
by your relish of spiritual things. When men find no savour and
sweetness in Christ, and can enjoy full contentment and satisfaction
without him, it is a dangerous sign of a carnal heart, Eom. viii. 5,
and Luke xiii. 16. I am sure it is an humbling consideration. The
grossy carnal heart can taste the sweetness of the creature, but not of
Christ. To an unmortified heart there is no more taste of Christ than
in the white of an egg. The promises are but as dry chips and
withered flowers. Christ crucified is no feast to them ; they are
pleased better with a vain story, or any carnal recreation or sensible
SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS. 367
enjoyment, or the mirth of vain company. They long not for, nor
ever taste, the apples of paradise, or the fruit which groweth upon the
tree of life.
But are Christians to be measured by their feelings, tastes, or com
forts ?
I answer The taste of the sweetness of Christ's fruits may be con
sidered either with respect to God's dispensation or our duty and
disposition of soul.
1. If you consider it as an act of divine dispensation, or an impres
sion of the comforting (Spirit, this dependeth upon God's pleasure, who
sheddeth abroad his love in Christ in our hearts by the Spirit in what
measure he pleaseth. These spiritual suavities or high tides of com
fort God letteth out upon special seasons, after deep meditation, earnest
and strong desires, sad conflicts with sin and the world, or great
struggling by pangs of trouble. As we give children a piece of sugar
after a bitter potion, so to him that overcometh, God giveth to eat
of the tree of life in the midst of paradise, Rev. ii. 7, and ver.
17 ' hidden manna,' &c. This is Christ's feast for conquerors or
triumphers. For this we must wait upon God in his sanctuary,
leaving him to his own pleasure, and be content till the master of the
feast bid us come and sit higher.
2. There is a state of spiritual things which is a necessary duty,
when these things please us better than any worldly things whatsoever.
To be holy is more contentment than to be rich. To love God more,
trust him more, and obey him better, please more than if God should
give them all the honours of the world. This taste is known more by
esteem, admiration, thankfulness, and solid contentment, than by pas
sionate joys ; yet they should be excited on special occasions. They are
never so well pleased as when they enjoy most of God, have a sense of
his presence. Never so satisfied as when they are most fruitful, as
when most powerfully drawn out after God. This taste must be
cherished, and still kept up in us. Affectionate stirrings and work
ings of soul after heavenly things are very sweet, and such as all
Christians should strive for ; yet esteem, choice, and thorough willing
ness and well-pleasedness with Christ are the main things. You must
not be dead-hearted ; therefore you must take heed of those things
which would deaden your taste. What are they ?
[1.] Want of faith. Such worthy things could not be entertained
with such coldness if we did believe them true : 1 Peter ii. 7, ' To
them that believe, Christ is precious ;' and if he be precious, we will
give him a suitable welcome into the heart ; we will entertain him as
we do precious things. A carnal wretch may talk of Christ as others
do, but to him Christ and his gospel is a common thing, because he
hath no sound belief of these things, only a little human credulity.
Affection still followeth persuasion, Heb. xi. 13. We look for no
great matters, therefore go no higher than a customary devotion or a
cold respect.
[2.] We are governed by fancy, sense, and carnal appetite ; and
the carnal gust will mar the taste of heavenly things. The joys of
sense are natural to us, and the joys of faith are strangers to our
hearts ; and then it is no wonder that the one does easily vanquish and
368 SERMONS ON THE SACRAMENTS.
overcome the other. Brutish worldlings rest satisfied with worldly
contentments and carnal delights, and the taste of the pleasures,
profits, and honours of the world spoil the taste of spiritual comforts.
Garlic and manna will never suit the same appetite. The heightening
of the world lesseneth our esteem of Christ, 1 John ii. 15. Conscience
is stupefied with vain delights. When we come to say, Soul, take
thine ease ; thou hast goods laid up for many years ; then better
things are coldly entertained. Spiritual things lose their sweetness
when your pleasure is intercepted by the things you enjoy in the
world.
[3.] Some sin is regarded in the heart, rolled as a sweet morsel
under the tongue. And if sin be grown sweet, spiritual delight
languisheth ; for something else pleaseth us better ; as a sucker
draweth away the strength of the tree, or as a leak in a pipe lets out
the water, or a wound in the body weakeneth the strength. Yea, till
sin grow bitter to us, nothing in Christ will relish with us ; for Christ
came to take sin away ; and till sin be sin indeed, grace will never be
grace indeed.
[4.] If you do not prepare your appetite by self-examining, 1 Cor.
xi. 28, and confession of sin. Humiliation for our un worthiness, recon
ciling ourselves to God upon new covenant terms, hearty resolutions
for God, a deep sense of our wants, these things breed an appetite
and desire of grace ; and hungry consciences know how to prize the
food. Be sure to do thus, and then you will find a weli-pleasedness
in Christ ; and say, * His love is better than wine,' Cant. i. 2. His
loving-kindness is better than life. If the affections be not ravished,
there will be at least a solid esteem ; at least you will find that 'one
day in God's courts is better than a thousand elsewhere,' Ps. Ixxxiv.
10. There is a solid complacency in Christ, and a serious joy, that is
more durable than sudden transports of soul.
Use 3. Direction to us in our special addresses to God. The
practice of the spouse is then in season. Come and sit down under
his shadow r , and eat of his fruits. I remember Solomon saith, Prov.
xxvii. 18, ' Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat of the fruit thereof.'
So he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. When you come
to duties, you come to sit under the spiritual apple-tree, to wait upon
your master for your dole and portion. We taste the fruits of Christ
most in solemn ordinances : Ps. xxxvi. 8, ' They shall be abundantly
satisfied with the fatness of thy house ;' so Ps. Ixv. 4. And they
are not sparingly dispensed. The spiritual apple-tree is fully laden,
and you may eat and feed abundantly with his blessed allowance,
Cant. v. 1. Only remember, if you would find God's favour and
presence in the mercies, you must use diligence ; for we come to
partake as well as receive. When we hear or pray loosely, with
slackness and remissness of zeal, we lose the comfort of these duties.
So in the Lord's supper you must exercise faith, and repentance, and
love, and thankfulness to your Kedeemer. All the benefits we enjoy
are Christ's fruits, his by purchase and right and from him com
municated to us. Serious thoughts, and an active lively faith i?
required, that you may take and give up yourselves to Christ in an
humble obedience.
A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32.
Bem&mber Lot's wife. LUKE xvii. 32.
HERE is a warning of Christ's relating to an history recorded by
Moses, in which two things are remarkable (1.) The sin committed
by her ; (2.) The punishment inflicted on her ; what she did, and
what she suffered. She remembered too much the place where she
had lived, and was loath to get out of it ; and when she was got
out, her heart hankered after it still. And we must remember the
manner how she died, for our caution and warning.
It is brought in here among the predictions of the calamities that
were to come upon Jerusalem. And in the parallel place it is thus
expressed : Mat. xxiv. 16-18, * Then let them which be in Judea flee
into the mountains ; let him that is on the house-top not come down
to take anything out of his house ; neither let him that is in the field
return back to take his clothes.' Now read the foregoing verse here :
ver. 31, 'In that day he which shall be on the house-top, and his
stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away ; and he that
is in the field let him likewise not return back. Remember L&t s
wife.'
The comparing these two places together will give us the sense,
that where life is in safety, we must not think of loss of goods, lest we
lose both ; and where eternal life is in danger, we must not run that
hazard for any temporal things : for it presently followeth, ver. 33,
* Whosoever shall seek to save his live, shall lose it ; and whosoever
shall lose his life, shall preserve it.' For both temporal and eternal
life, ' Remember Lot's wife.' And it is either a proverbial expression
to hasten their flight, or a profitable admonition.
Doct. That it is very profitable for those whom God hath called
from a state of wrath and perdition to eternal safety and rest by
Christ to remember Lot's wife.
This woman was called out of burning Sodom to a secure place of
retreat ; but she disobeyed God, and perished in the passage.
To make this evident, I shall (1.) Briefly give you the history
concerning her sin and judgment ; (2.) Show why it is profitable for
us to meditate on it.
First, The history concerning her sin and judgment. You have it,
VOL. xv. 2 A
370 A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32.
Gen. xix. 26, ' And his wife looked back from behind him, and she
became a pillar of salt/
1. Of her sin ; she looked back. What fault was there in that ? you
will say. I answer
[1.] There was disobedience in it, because it was against the ex
press command of God, given by an angel: Gen. xix. 17, 'Look not
behind thee.' Now this commandment of not looking back was not
given to Lot alone, but to his wife and children, as the event showeth ;
for he, nor either, or any of them, was not to look back. Now, to go
against an express command of God in the smallest matters is a great
crime. As when Saul spared Agag and the fattest of the cattle, against
God's command, Samuel telleth him, 1 Sam. xv. 23, that rebellion is
as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
It is rebellion and stubborness when men wilfully transgress God's
known commandments, and commit a sin the rather because it is
evident to them God hath forbidden it. Now this God taketh as
heinously as if it were witchcraft, when men leave God and seek to
devils ; or idolatry, when they forsake God's true worship, and serve
idols ; they despise and resist God's known will, and so rob him of his
glory, and the service due from the creature to him.
[2.] There was unbelief in it ; not believing the words of the angel,
God's messenger, who had assured her in the name of God that he
would destroy Sodom : Gen, xix. 13, * Hasten hence, lest thou be
consumed in the iniquity of the city/ Now she would look back, to
see whether the prediction and warning were true. And therefore
the author of the Book of the Wisdom of Solomon, chap. x. 7, calleth
her aTriarovo-rj^ ^frv^fj^ ^vrf^elov, a monument of an unbelieving soul.
It is a grievous sin to call God's truth in question. But usually
disobedience is complicated with unbelief, and men despise the com
mands of God because they do not believe his threatenings : Heb. iii.
12, ' Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief,
in departing from the living God/ An unbelieving heart will easily
be perverted and enticed into a rebellion against God, and those that
cannot trust God will not be true to him.
[3.] There was worldliness in it, or an hankering of mind after
what she had left in Sodom ; and so this looking back was a look of
covetousness, a kind of repentance that she had come out of Sodom ;
for people are wont to look back who are moved with a desire and
remembrance of their former dwelling. So Lot's wife looked back
because she had left her heart behind her. There were her kindred,
and friends, and country, and that pleasant place which was as the gar
den of God, Gen. xiii. 10. From thence this woman came, and thither
she would fain go again ; as if she had said, And must I leave thee,
Sodom, and part for ever from thee 1 This certainly had an influence
on her, for she was loath to depart ; for when the angel warned them
all in common, Lot lingered : ' And the men laid hold upon his hand ;
and when his wife lingered, they laid hold on the hand of his wife,
and on the hand of her two daughters ; the Lord being merciful to
him : and they brought him forth, and set him without the city,' Gen.
xix. 16. Nay, when they had brought them forth, they were fain to
quicken them : * Escape tor thy life, lest thou be consumed/ ver. 17 ;
A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32. 371
and the wife lingered behind her husband ; for it is said, ' His wife
looked back from behind him,' as inclining still to stay. Now when
God would try their obedience, they were to despise their substance
and fair dwelling they had left behind, and to show no signs of re
pentance that they were to come out ; but she looked back. And
so shall we, if we be not fully loosened from the world, and our hearts
cleave to any earthly thing. Affectation of worldly things draweth
us from ready obedience unto God. Till we be thoroughly resolved,
we are in danger. Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter, despised the riches, and pleasures, and treasures of Egypt,
Heb. xi. 24-26 ; and so must all that would be safe ; not only leave
these things at God's call, but ' count them dung and dross,' Phil. iii.
8; reject them with detestation and abhorrency, so far as they are a
temptation, if they would not come into the snare again.
[4.] There was ingratitude for her deliverance from that dreadful
and terrible burning which God was bringing upon the place of her
abode. When God meant to destroy Sodom, yet Lot found such favour
for himself and his family that, in the utter waste and desolation of four
whole cities, he was only exempted, and the fifth city, which was
Zoar, preserved for his sake. It is said, ' The Lord was merciful to
him,' Gen. xix. 16. He could not pretend to it out of any merit ; and
might have smarted ; for his choice showed weakness in not resting
on God's word : ver. 19, ' I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some
evil take me, and I die.' Only this God required at his hands, that
he and his family should make haste and begone. Now, to disobey
God in so small a matter was in her great ingratitude. The sins of
none are so grievous to God as of those that have received much
mercy from him : Ezra ix. 13, 14, ' After such a deliverance as this,
should we again break thy commandments ? ' To commit sin after
mercy maketh it more provoking ; when the angels of God shall come
in an errand from heaven. Nay, the Son of God was amongst them ;
for one of the angels is called Jehovah, ver. 24 ; the Lord Christ was
one of them. Oh ! think what it is to despise the mercy of Christ,
who came from heaven to deliver us ; and shall it be slighted ?
2. Of her judgment. She was turned into a pillar of salt. The
judgment was sudden, strange, shameful ; suitable to the punishment
which lighted on the Sodomites.
[1.] It was sudden. Sometimes God is quick and severe upon
sinners, surprising them in the very act of their sin ; as Lot's wife was
presently turned into a pillar of salt. So Zimri and Cosbi unladed their
lives and their lusts together, Num. xxv. 8 ; and Herod was smitten
in the very act of his pride : Acts xii. 23, ' Immediately the angel
of the Lord smote him ; ' Dan. iv. 33, ' The same hour was the thing
fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar;' Dan. v. 30, 'In that night was
Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.' Thus many times judg
ment overtaketh the wicked in the very instant of their sin ; and God
will give the sinner no time. Therefore we should not tempt and pre
sume upon his patience. If you make bold to sin still, because you
have done so long, and yet go unpunished for it, God may break in upon
you in an hour that you think not of. The fly that playeth long with
the flame yet is burnt at last. Lot's wife had warning to go out of
372 A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32.
Sodom over night, but she made no reckoning of that. She was com
manded in the morning, not only to go, but to make haste ; yet she
cared not for that. When her husband and she prolonged the time, yet
they were not punished for that ; and when they took liking of another
place than the angel appointed (the angel saith the mountain, they
Zoar), she is not punished for that. But when she would tempt God,
and provoke him further, and look back, then God turned her into a
pillar of salt. Surely it is the greatest mercy to have grace to repent ;
but it is also a mercy to have space to repent : Rev. ii. 21, * I gave
her space to repent of her fornication/ &c. But God's patience must
not be wearied.
[2.] It was strange. For here a woman is turned into a pillar of
salt. Strange sins bring on strange punishment. When Aaron's sons
offered strange fire to God, strange fire came from heaven and con
sumed them, Lev. x. 2. And Job telleth us in general, chap. xxxi.
3, ' Is not destruction to the wicked, and a strange punishment to
the workers of iniquity ? ' that is, some stroke of justice which is
singular and remarkable, whether on persons or nations. The stupid
world is not awakened by ordinary judgments, but looks upon them
as some chance or common occurrence ; and therefore God is forced to
go out of the common road, and diversify his judgments, that by some
eminent circumstance in them he may alarm the drowsy world to
take notice of his hand. As here ; when this woman had gone directly
against God's command, and would not trust herself with his provi
dence, but out of corrupt affection hankered after the things she had
left, God did severely punish her ; and her statue and pillar stood for
a memorial to all others, to warn them, and season them, not to run
into like transgression.
[3.] It was shameful ; for she is made a public and lasting monu
ment of shame to herself, but of instruction to us. Where there is
sin at the bottom, there will be shame at the top. If ever God open
the conscience, we ourselves shall be ashamed : Rom. vi. 21, ' What
fruit had ye in those things whereof ye are now ashamed ?' What
fruit then ? But besides it bringeth a blot ; besides that <j>6/3o<; Biiraiov
tyoyov, God setteth us forth as spectacles of public shame. Some
God hangeth up in chains of darkness, as warnings to the rest of
worldly sinners. Sin brings dishonour to God; and therefore no
wonder if it do bring dishonour to us. If we be not tender of God's
name, he will not spare ours. Besides the wound in the conscience,
there is a blot and a stain that will not easily be washed off. God
threateneth his people that they shall be a proverb and a taunt to
all that pass by, Jer. xxiii. 8, and Lam. ii. 15.
[4.] It was a judgment suitable to that which was inflicted on the
rest of the Sodomites. All Sodom was turned into a salt sea ; the
cities were destroyed by sulphur and brimstone ; but the country about
was filled with salt, that it might be fruitful no more : for it is said,
Deut. xxix. 23, that ' if Israel kept not covenant, the land shall be
burned with brimstone and salt; neither shall it be sown, nor bring
forth, nor shall any grass grow in it ; like as in the overthrow of
Sodom and Gomorrah;' and Zeph. ii. 9, 'As I live, saith the Lord,
Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Amrnon as Gomorrah ;
A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32. 373
even the breeding of nettles, and pits of salt ;' so that the cities being
consumed, the land did lie in heaps and pits of salt. Now propor-
tionably, Lot's wife, by her lingering and liking to this place, was turned
into salt also, and those that like the sins of a place shall partake of their
plagues. When we are called out of mystical Babylon (Rev. xviii. 4,
'Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that
ye receive not of her plagues'), surely it concerneth UH to be thorough
with God ; for those that seem to escape may be overtaken with the
judgment of the place, and led forth with the workers of iniquity.
Secondly, I must show how profitable it is for us to meditate on
this instance, even for all those who are called from wrath to a state
of rest and glory.
1. That it concerneth such not only to consider the mercies of God,
but also now and then the examples of his justice, that ' we may
serve him with fear, and rejoice with trembling/ Ps. ii. 11. We are
in a mixed estate, and therefore mixed affections do best. As we are
to cherish the spirit or better part with promises and hopes of glory,
by which the inner man is renewed day by day, so we are to weaken
the pravity of the flesh by the remembrance of God's judgments, not
only threatened, but also actually inflicted ; for instances do much
enliven things. When the apostle had reckoned up the judgments
of God on the Israelites in the wilderness or passage to Canaan, he
maketh this use of it, 1 Cor. x. 11, 12, ' Now all these things happened
to them for examples, &>? TVTTOL, and they are written for our admoni
tion, upon whom the ends of the world are come : wherefore let him
that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.' Now, what was done
to them may be done to us ; for these judgments are patterns of
providence ; and if we would blow off the dust from the ancient pro
vidences of God, we may easily read our own doom or desert at least.
The desert of sin is still the same, and the exactness of divine justice
is still the same ; what hath been is a pledge and instance of what
may be. And scripture history is not only a register and chronicle of
what is past, but a kind of calendar and prognostication of what is to
come. Mark, again, this must be considered by him that seemeth to
stand, or to have good advantages by grace. Here was a woman taken
as a brand out of the burning, and in a fair way of escape, yet after
ward perished, and is set up as a public monument of salt, to season
the rest of the world. All these things are warnings to us ; and the
most spiritual ought to take heed by them. So our Lord Christ, when
he mentioneth the disastrous end of those Galileans whose blood
Pilate mingled with their sacrifices, and those on whom the tower of
Siloam fell, would have all make this use of it . Luke xiii. 5, * Except
ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.' He would have us make use
of judgments for our caution and warning, to quicken and increase
our repentance. Electorum corda semper ad se sollicite redeunt
Tender hearts apply all to themselves ; they find it an help : it doth
not weaken their confidence and joy in the Lord, but it doth increase
their caution and watchfulness.
2. That not only modern and present, but ancient and old judg
ments are of great use to us, especially when like sins abound in the
age we live in, or we are in danger of them as to our own practice.
374 A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32.
God biddetb the Israelites go to Shiloh, and see what he did to it
for the wickedness thereof, Jer. vii. 12. And the apostle saith, the
Israelites in the wilderness were our figures and examples, 1 Cor. x. 6,
that ' we should not lust as they lusted, nor murrnur as they murmured,
nor tempt Christ as they tempted.' And another apostle tells us, that
Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth for an example to those that should
afterward live ungodly, Jude 7. If others have smarted for dis
obeying God, why not we, since God is impartially and immutably
just, always consonant and agreeable unto himself ? His power is the
same, so is his justice and holiness. If we will not be warned by
threatening nor example, we sin doubly ; as he that will run into a
bog wherein others have plunged themselves before is guilty of double
folly of adventuring rashly, and not taking warning. This is one
great benefit that we have by the historical part of the word, that it
does not only preserve the memory of the saints, that we may imitate
their graces and enjoy their blessings, but also recordeth the sins and
punishments of the wicked, that we may avoid their judgments. As
here, Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt to season after ages.
3. This particular judgment is monumental, and so intended for a
pattern and spectacle to after ages ; and it is also here recommended
by the Lord himself : 'Remember Lot's wife.' He exciteth us to look
upon this pillar ; and therefore certainly it will yield many instructions
for the heavenly life.
EL.] This seemeth to be a small sin. What ! for a look, for a glance
er eye, to be so suddenly blasted into a pillar of salt ! This seemeth
to be no great fault ; but it teaches us that little faults in appearance
many times meet with a great judgment. There may be much crooked
ness in a small line ; and the matter is not so much to be regarded as
the majesty and authority of God that commandeth ; as in garments
the dye is more than the stuff. A man may be more wicked in com
mitting sin in a small matter than in a great ; partly because it is
against a plain commandment ; partly because the sin might have
been easily left undone, because the temptation was not great, and we
stand with God for a trifle. But that I may at once vindicate God's
dispensation, and enforce the caution, I shall prove
(1.) That sin is not to be measured by the external action, but by
the circumstances. Eating an apple, to a common eye, is no great
matter , but God hath laid a restraint upon it, and that was the ruin
of all mankind. .Moses's words, Num. xx. 10-12, 'Hear now, ye
rebels ; must we fetch water out of this rock for you ? ' But 'he spake
unadvisedly with his lips,' Ps. cvi. 33. God found unbelief in them,
and therefore he shut him out of the land of Caanan. God knew this
woman's heart, and could interpret the meaning of her look. We
cannot put a difference between the look of Abraham and the look of
Lot ; yet the one was commanded, and the other forbidden. Abraham
is allowed to look to Sodom : Gen. xix. 28, ' And Abraham got up
early in the morning, and looked toward Sodom ; and behold the
smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.' Yet Lot
and his family are forbidden to look that way. We cannot distinguish
between the laughter of Abraham and the laughter of Sarah : Gen.
xvii. 17, * And Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, saying, Shall
A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32. 375
a child be born to him that is an hundred years old ? and shall Sarah,
that is ninety years old, bear?' Compare Gen. xviii. 12, ' And Sarah
laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old, shall I have
pleasure, my lord being old also ? ' And she is reproved : ' And the
Lord said, Wherefore did Sarah laugh?' The one was joy and
reverence ; the other was unbelief and contempt. We cannot distin
guish between the Virgin Mary's question, Luke i. 34, ' How shall this
be ? ' and Zachariah's, Luke i. 18, ' And how shall I know this ? for I
am an old man:' and he was struck dumb for that speech, ver. 20.
But though we cannot distinguish, God, that knoweth the secret
motions of the heart, can distinguish.
(2.) This woman's sin is greater than at first appeareth. For here
was (1.) A preferring her own will before the will of God. Gx>d
said, Look not back ; but she would look back. (2.) There was a
contempt of the justice and wrath of God, as if it were a vain scare
crow : 1 Cor. x. 22, ' Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy ? are we
stronger than he ? ' (3.) Here is also a contempt of the rewards of
obedience, as in all sin : Heb. xii. 15, 16, ' Looking diligently, lest any
man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness, springing up,
trouble you, and thereby many be defiled ; lest there be any fornicator,
or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birth
right.' (4.) There was an abuse of the grace offered for her escape
and deliverance. Warning is given by an angel, and offer to save
herself and all that belonged to her; as none sin against God, ' but
they despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance,' Horn. ii. 4.
Oh I therefore look not on sin at a distance, but make a narrow in
spection into it. All these four things are in every deliberate sin,
seem it never so small.
(3.) Because we think we may preserve the smaller sins for breed,
and that God is more severe in remembering these than we are faulty
in committing them. Therefore think of and seriously consider that
small sins are the mother of great sins, and the grandmother of great
punishments. As little sticks set the great ones on fire, and a wisp of
straw often enkindleth a great block of wood, so we are drawn on by the
lesser evils to greater, and by the just judgment of God suffered to fall
into them, because we made no conscience of lesser. The lesser com
mandments are a rail about the greater, and no man grows downright
wicked at first, but rises to it by degrees. So for punishments. Nahab
and Abihu for strange fire ; Ananias and Sapphira keeping back part ,
Uzzah for touching the ark ; the Bethshemites for looking into the ark.
We may make little reckoning of sin, but God doth not make little
reckoning of sin ; or else why hath he given us these instances ? So
that this advantage in the spiritual life we have by this instance, that
no sin should be accounted small that is committed against the great
God.
[2.] This was a sin committed by stealth : as she followed her hus
band, she would steal a glance, and look towards Sodom ; for it is said,
Gen. xix. 26, * His wife looked back from behind him/ God can find
us out in our secret sins ; and therefore we should make conscience, as
not to sin openly, so not by stealth. Achan was found out in his
sacrilege, how secretly soever he carried it, Josh. vii. 18 ; Ananias
376 A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32.
and Sapphira in keeping back part of what was dedicated to God, Acts
v, ; Gehazi in affecting a bribe : 2 Kings v. 26, ' Went not my spirit
with thee ? ' meaning the light of his prophetic spirit. Lot's wife would
lag behind, and look to Sodom, fearing a rebuke from her husband,
but she met with a rebuke from the Lord. The apostle saith, Eph. v.
12, ' It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of
them in secret.' A serious Christian is ashamed to speak of what they
are not ashamed to practise. But though you can hide it from men,
you cannot hide it from the all-seeing eye of God. Uncleanness
usually affecteth a veil of secrecy ; therefore it is said, 'Whoremongers
and adulterers God will judge,' Heb. xiii. 4. God will judge them,
because usually this sin is carried so closely and craftily, that none but
God can find them out. Well, then, let no man embolden himself to
have his hand in any sin, in hope to hide it ; for nothing can escape
God's discovery, to whom all things are naked and open. God knew
what the king of Syria spake in his secret chamber : 2 Kings vi. 12,
' Elisha the prophet telleth the king of Israel the words that thou
speakest in thy bed-chamber.' God knew the secret thoughts of Herod's
heart, which it is probable he never uttered to his nearest friends, con
cerning the murdering of Christ : Mat. ii. 13, ' Herod will seek the
young child to destroy him.' In short, to be an open and bold sinner
in some respects is worse than to be a close and private sinner, because
of the dishonour done to God, and the scandal to others, and the im
pudence of the sinner himself ; but in other respects secret sins have
their aggravations.
(1.) Because if open sins be of greater infamy, yet secret sins are
more against knowledge and conviction. The man is conscious to him
self that he doth evil, and therefore seeketh a veil and covering, would
not have the world know it. It is a sin with a consciousness that we
do sin : James iv., ' To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not,
to him it is sin.' If you live in secret wickedness, envy, pride, and
sensuality, and would fain keep it close, this is to rebel against the
light.
(2.) This secret sinning puts far more respect upon men than God ;
and this is palliated atheism. They are unjust in secret, unclean in
secret, envious in secret, declaim against God's children in secret,
sensual in secret. Ah, wicked wretch ! art thou afraid men should
know it, and art thou not afraid God should know it ? What ! afraid
of the eye of man, and not afraid of the great God? Thou wouldst
not have a child see thee to do that which God sees thee do : Jer. ii. 26,
' The thief is ashamed when he is found/ saith the prophet. Can man
damn thee, and fill thy conscience with terrors ? Can man bid thee
depart into everlasting burnings ? Why art thou afraid of man, and
not of God ?
(3.) The more secret any wickedness is, it argueth the heart is more
industrious about it, how to bring it to pass with least shame and
damage to ourselves ; as David plotted Uriah's death : 2 Sam. xi. 14,
&c., ' David wrote a letter to Joab, saying, Set Uriah in the fore-front
of the hottest battle, and retire from him, that he may be smitten, and
die.' So Josh. vii. 11, * They have stolen, and dissembled also, and
put it among their stuff.' So Acts v. 9, ' How is it that ye have agreed
A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32. 377
together to tempt the Spirit of God ? ' In secret sins there is much
premeditation and craft and dissimulation used. Oh ! therefore avoid
these sins.
[3.] The next lesson which we learn hence is, that no loss of earthly
things should make us repent of our obedience to God, but that we
should still go on with what we have well begun, without looking back :
Luke ix. 62, ' No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking
back, is fit for the kingdom of God.' A man that hath undertaken
the service of Christ must go through with it. In ploughing there is
no looking back. The people of Israel, when they found the incon
veniences of the wilderness, were making themselves a captain to go
back to Egypt. The apostle saith, Phil. iii. 13, ' Forgetting the things
which are behind, I reach forth to the things which are before.' We
should not mind or look at anything behind us that would turn us back
and stop us in our way to heaven. The world and the flesh are the
things behind us, we turned our backs upon them in conversion. If
either of these would call back our thoughts or corrupt our affections,
we must renounce them, detest them. The things before us are God
and heaven ; and is not God and heaven better than the world and the
flesh ? Surely God should be pleased before the flesh, and heaven
sought after rather than the world. A crown of endless glory is better
than all the vain delights and pomp of this world ; and therefore we
should not grow weary of walking with God, and look to the things
behind us so as to forfeit and hazard the things which are before us.
Thus you see many useful instructions may be drawn, to make us per
severe in the heavenly life, and carry it on with more success.
Use. From the whole
1. Remember that in getting out of Sodom we must make haste.
The least delay or stop in the course of our flight may be pernicious
to us. Persons convinced of their danger are always in haste : Mat.
iii. 7, ' Who hath forewarned you to flee from the wrath to come ? '
And the heirs of promise are described, Heb. vi. 18, to be such as
' have fled for refuge, to take hold of the hope which is before them.'
No other pace is comely here but flight. Alas ! we are apt to linger
when God calleth us ; and though there be fire and brimstone in the
case, yet we are loath to depart, till God by a sacred rescue pluck us
out of that woful estate wherein we are by nature. David lingered
not : Ps. cxix. 60, ' I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy com
mandments/
2. That till our resolutions be firmly set for God and heaven, and
there be a thorough bent and bias upon our hearts, and the league be
tween us and our secret lusts broken, after we have seemed to make
some escape, we shall be looking back again ; * For where our treasure
is, there our heart will be, 7 Mat. vi. 21. As in the instance of Lot's
wife ; her heart hankered after what she had left behind And there
fore, till the heart be effectually turned from the creature to God,
weaned from the love of its secret lusts to the love of Christ, the back
bias of corruption will recover its strength, and we are ready to revert
to our misery, whatever profession we have made, and hopeful beginning
we have had. *
3. That to look back, after we have seemed to escape, doth involve
378 A SERMON ON LUKE XVII. 32.
us in the greatest sin and misery. The apostle tells us, 2 Peter ii. 20,
21, 'If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and they are again
entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse than the be
ginning ; for it had been better for them not to have known the way
of righteousness/ &c. Their sin and judgment had been less if they
had not professed to have yielded to God so far. Partly because a re
volt in them is treachery and breach of vows ; for we turned our back
upon the world and all the allurements thereof when we consented to
the covenant, and resolved to follow Christ in all conditions, till he
should bring us into a place of rest and safety. And partly because
it is a profession of our mistake by experience ; as if upon trial we
found the world better, and God worse, than ever we thought them to
be : Micah vi. 3, ' my people, what have I done unto thee, and wherein
have I wearied thee ? ' Partly because they have had some relish
and taste of better things, Heb. vi. 4. Now light and taste about the
ways of God do much aggravate sin ; partly because the devil is most
furious against such : Mat. xii. 45, ' The last state of that man is worse
than the first.' Well, then, if men be not really and effectually changed
in their hearts, and do only make profession, they may be ensnared,
and made slaves to their lusts again.
4. That if we would not go back, we must not look back The devil
will not say at first, Go back to Sodom, though that is it which he ia-
tendeth ; but rather, Look back, hoping the person which yields to
look back will go back in the end. Sin is bashful and shameth to
beg too much at first ; it asketh but a little, and that little will draw
on more ; and so corruption insensibly steals upon us, and our hearts are
drawn off from God. Therefore watch against the first declinings ;
these are the cause of all the rest. Evil is best stopped at first ; the
first breakings of! from God, and remitting our zeal and watchfulness.
He that keeps not a house in constant repair will be in danger of
having it fall down upon him. So, if we grow remiss and careless, and
keep not a constant watch, temptations will increase upon us.
A SEKMON ON JOHN III. 33.
He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is
true. JOHN iii. 33.
FOR the occasion of these words, we must look a little back into the
context. There you will find that both John and Jesus were admit
ting proselytes into the kingdom of God by baptism ; Jesus in the land
of Judea, and John at ^Einon, near Salim. Now the kingdom of God
seldom enjoyeth any long and successful progress without opposition.
If outward enemies fail, domestic jars and quarrels shall be raised
rather than this kingdom shall go forward without contradiction.
John's disciples were at least half friends to Christ, yet were troubled
at the great resort to his baptism, out of foolish emulation and jealousy
for their master's credit ; which was occasioned thus : A dispute there
was between John's disciples and some Jews, whether John's baptism
or their legal washings did most avail for the purging away of sin.
Among other things objected by the Jews to lessen John's baptism,
they mentioned that practised by Christ as a more excellent and
esteemed way. This nettled John's disciples ; therefore, as men grieved
to see so many attend to Christ's doctrine and frequent his baptism,
and fearing lest their master should be outshined, and the respects of
the people be turned upon another, they complain to John : * Rabbi/
say they, ' he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest
witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.' It is
good to see how John receiveth this complaint. Nothing will try a
man's grace more than questions of emulation. John, like a modest
and self-denying spirit, doth seek to allay this envy in his disciples by
his humility and faithfulness, giving a large testimony to Christ, both
of the excellency of his person, and the certainty and truth of his
doctrine.
1. Of the excellency of Christ's person above himself, or any other
messenger of God. He telleth them that every one must hold the
place given him from above, and contain himself within his degree and
measure. Now his place was to be the servant, and Christ the lord.
He was not the Christ, but his harbinger, Christ was the principal
person and bridegroom. He had honour enough in being the friend
of the bridegroom, and to rejoice in that the bride or the church began
to hear Christ. Christ had the spring in himself ; what others had
was by communication ; and therefore he must yield to the growing
380 A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33.
glory of Christ, who by his original came from above, and in respect
of dominion and sovereignty was above all.
2. The certainty and truth of this doctrine : ' What he hath seen
and heard, that he testifieth.' His doctrine was infallible, and as being
conscious to the secrets of God, his testimony was certain, though it
found little credence and reception in the world : ' No man receiveth
his testimony ;' that is, no man in comparison, none with that
assurance they ought to do. John's disciples say, ' All men fol
low him;' but John saith here, * No man receiveth his testimony.'
They think there were too many followed Christ, and John think-
eth there were too few. They say invidiously, 'All men;' John
humbly, ' No man.' None to speak of, none as they ought, for
many followed him out of novelty. Thereupon he persuadeth them to
receive Christ's testimony. His argument is, that thereby they should
bring honour to God, and honour him with that honour which he
most esteem eth, by a solemn acknowledgment of his truth : ' He
that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is
true.'
The words contain
1. The true notion of Christ's doctrine it is a testimony.
2. The respect due to it it must be received,
3. The effect and fruit of this receiving it bringeth honour and
glory to God.
There take notice
[1.] Of the particular attribute that is honoured that God is true.
[2.J The solemnity or manner of honouring hath put to his seal.
Or, in short
(1.) The description of a believer he is one that receiveth Christ's
testimony.
(2.) The work of a believer is to put to his seal that God is true.
Doct. He that heartily embraceth the doctrine of the gospel doth
solemnly ratify and bear witness to the truth of God.
First, I shall speak of the true notion of Christ's doctrine it is a
testimony. Here I shall handle the nature, value, and use.
First, The nature of it. A testimony is a sort of proof, necessary in
matters that cannot otherwise be decided, and found out by rational
discourse, as in two cases
1. In things that depend upon the arbitrary will of another ; and
2. In matters of fact. In both these respects the gospel is brought
to us as a testimony. In the first respect by Christ, who came out of
the bosom of God, and knew his secrets. In the second, as it is a
report of matter of fact by eye and ear witnesses ; so by the apostles.
[1.] A testimony is necessary in matters that depend upon the arbi
trary will of another If I be concerned to know how he stands
affected towards me I must know it by his testimony solemnly deposed
and given for my satisfaction. So the gospel,, or the doctrine of God's
good-will in Christ for the salvation of sinners, is a thing that cannot
be found out by the light of nature. But Christ, who was in the
bosom of the Father, knew his heart, and hath given testimony how it
staodeth affected to the salvation of men. None can know God's mind
but God himself, and he to whom he will reveal it. So Christ saith,
A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33. 381
Mat. xi. 27, ' No man knoweth the Father, save the Son, and he to
whomsoever the Son will reveal him,' as no man knoweth the things of
a man but the spirit in a man. To save sinners is not proprietor
divince naturce a necessary act of the divine nature ; but opus liberi
consilii an act of his new grace, love, and condescension : John iii.
16, * God so loved the world.' This wonderful work proceedeth from
the free motion of God's will, and therefore it was impossible to be
found out by discourse of natural reason ; for how could any man
divine what God purposed in his heart before he wrought it unless he
himself revealed it ? That Deus est placabilis that God was to be
appeased, man might find out by the continuance of the course of
nature and the blessings of providence, notwithstanding many sins and
the need of an expiation and a propitiatory sacrifice : but for the way
of appeasing God, how a man shall be pardoned, reconciled to God,
and obtain eternal life, of this nature knew nothing. The angels,
which are the highest sort of rational creatures, wonder at it when it
is revealed, Eph. iii. 10, and 1 Peter i. 11. Therefore the knowledge of
the gospel merely dependeth upon the testimony of God brought us by
Christ, who was sent to reveal his Father's will.
[2.] A testimony is necessary in matters of fact. Matter of law is
argued and debated by reason, but matter of fact is only proved by
credible witnesses ; and in this sense the gospel to us is a testimony
that Christ came into the world, taught the way of salvation in that
manner wherein it is now set down in the scriptures, wrought miracles,
died for our sins at Jerusalem, and rose again to confirm all, and to
make faith to the world that he was the true Messiah. These things
were to be once done in one place of the world, but yet the knowledge
of it concerned all the rest of the world. All the world could not see
Christ in the flesh, nor see him work miracles, nor see him rise again
and ascend into heaven; and it was not necessary that he should
always live here, and act over his sufferings in every age and every
place, and so give the whole world a testimony of sense ; yea, the con
trary was necessary, that he should but die once, and rise again, and go
to heaven ; and those that lived in other ages and other places should
have only valuable testimony of it ; and this was the office put upon
the apostles, who were chosen witnesses of the death and resurrection
of Christ : Acts i. 21, 22, one of those that conversed with Jesus was
ordained to be a witness of the resurrection ; and Acts ii. 32, ' This Jesus
hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses ;' so Acts x. 39, ' We
are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews and
at Jerusalem ; ' and in many other places. In this sense the word of sal
vation is a testimony brought us by credible witnesses, the apostles
confirming it by miracles everywhere ; but of their testimony we speak
not now, but his testimony.
Secondly, The value of his testimony. Christ is to be believed in
all that he delivered to the world concerning the mind and will of
God. This will appear if we consider (1.) The witness ; and (2.) The
testimony itself.
1. The person witnessing. It was he who was spoken of and pro
mised in paradise, Gen. iii. 15 ; shadowed and figured in the sacrifices
of the law. It was he who was prophesied of in the Old Testament :
382 A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33.
John v. 39, ' Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have
eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.' The whole
scope of the Old Testament is to bear witness of Jesus Christ, of his
person, natures, offices, his birth, life, death, sufferings, and the glory
that should follow. A man may trace the story of Christ among the
prophets, and show from point to point that he was the person sent
from God to declare his will to the world. It was he who was owned
by God by a voice from heaven at his baptism, Mat. iii. 17 ; at his
transfiguration, Mat. xvii. 5 ; a little before his death : John xii. 28,
' Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven,
saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again ;' and 2 Peter
i. 16, 'For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when
there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory ; This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' It is his testimony whom
the Father has sealed, John vi. 27 ; to whom he hath given the Spirit
without measure, John iii. 34 ; who wrought miracles in the sight of
all the people, appealed to his works, and professed to stand to that
judgment. His followers, who could not be deceived, nor certainly
would not deceive, have assured us so. His disciples could not be
deceived, for they did not learn these things from others, nor gather
them up from their own reason, but were eye-witnesses and ear-
witnesses. It is not a report of a report, that is uncertain ; neither
did they hear and see them slightly or perfunctorily, but conversed
with him from day to day ; had no sign of distraction and fantastic
impressions. Neither are the things such as they could be deceived
in them ; or, if that could be imagined, by whom should they be
deceived ? Not by God, who cannot be deceived himself, for he
knoweth all things ; nor will he deceive others, being so holy in
himself, and so good and loving to mankind. Nor by angels, good or
bad. Not by good angels, for how can they be good if they deceive ?
Nor by evil angels, whose tyranny they set themselves to oppose,
overthrowing their idols, temples, and altars, and seeking to draw men
from their worship to the worship of the true God, who made heaven
and earth, to true virtue, piety, charity, and holy and inoffensive
living with men. Nor would they deceive. To what end should they
do this ? Their religion forbiddeth them to lie for God, to do evil
that good may come of it. What was it that they might have wealth,
pleasure, or glory and honour, and the favour of men ? These things
they renounced for the doctrine's sake which they preached, and did
teach others to renounce, and did endure all manner of displeasure,
torments, and death. They had no reason to witness these things but
for the profit of the world.
2. The testimony itself. It is such a testimony as man needeth,
as hath a fair correspondence with other principles of reason, and
such as hath a convincing evidence in itself.
[1.] It is such a testimony as man needeth. There is a double
necessity upon mankind to look out for such a religion or doctrine as
may allay our fears and satisfy our desires. Till these things be done
man is unsatisfied ; a religion doth not do the offices of a religion.
As to God, the great business of a religion is to provide due honour
for God ; as to man, due rest for his soul. This latter we have now
A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33. 383
under consideration chiefly: Jer. vi. 16, 'Stand in the ways, and
see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls ; ' and Mat. xi. 28, 29,
' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will
give you rest ; take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am
meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.' Now
the soul is never at rest, nor sits easy within the bosoms of the con
sidering part of mankind, till there be provided a suitable happiness,
and a sufficient means for the expiation of the guilt of sin. Happi
ness is our great desire, and sin is our great trouble. The great
question of the fallen creature is, Micah vi. 7, ' What shall I give for
the sin of my soul ?' They are haunted about the scruples of appeas
ing provoked justice. And then the other question and inquiry is,
' Who will show us any good ?' Ps. iv. 6. Where shall a man be
happy, that he needeth not seek any further ? Now a testimony that
shall answer these two grand scruples and controversies, which have
much perplexed the mind of men, should be acceptable to us.
[2.] It hath a fair correspondency with principles of reason and
truths evidenced by the light of nature, some of which respect our
fears of punishment, some our desires of happiness, some both ; but I
keep to these two.
(1.) That there are a God of infinite power, and wisdom, and good
ness, who made all things, and so men, and should be served by
them.
(2.) That all have extremely faulted in this subjection which is
due to the creator of the world. Experience manifesteth this.
(3.) That having faulted in this subjection, they are liable to God's
punishment: Rom. iii. 19, 'All the world are become guilty before
God ;' UTTO&tfo? rS) eo3.
(4.) That there are no hopes of being freed from this punishment,
unless the holy and just God receive some satisfaction. Now the
mystery of redemption by Christ doth fairly accord with these prin
ciples, and is built upon them. The heathens invented several ways
of expiation to bring God and man together, and to reconcile justice
and mercy, but none so considerable as this ransom found out by
God.
And then, for desires of happiness, the principles of reason are
these
(1 .) That reasonable creatures have immortal souls, and die not as
the beasts die.
(2.) That true happiness is not to be found in such things wherein
men ordinarily seek it, as riches, honours, and pleasures.
(3.) That since vice and virtue receive not suitable rewards here,
therefore there must be some reward and punishment after this
Hfe.
(4.) That Christ's testimony showeth us the right way of obtain
ing the one and eschewing the other, for he hath brought the true life
and immortality to light, 2 Tim. i. 10.
[3.] That this testimony hath a convincing evidence in itself : 2
Cor. iv. 2-4 ' By the manifestation of the truth, commending our
selves to every man's conscience in the sight of God ; but if our
384 A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33.
gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the god of this
world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should
shine unto them.' If men's minds were not blinded with delusions,
and their hearts biassed with carnal affections, they could never reject
it. It is true, the way of salvation by the death of Christ and his
resurrection from the dead are not known but by illumination from
the Spirit or supernatural revelation ; yet they are not contrary to
such truths as are naturally known concerning the power, wisdom,
and goodness of God, and are evidenced to us by their harmony and
agreement with other truths revealed both in nature and scripture,
and in the doctrine of Christ concerning them. There is a singular
power to terrify and humble the mind of man, and then to give it
true peace and comfort, such as cannot be found elsewhere ; and to
draw them to a genuine holiness, derived from the highest fountain
and principle, the Spirit of Christ ; the highest rule, the will and
command of God ; and the highest end, which is the pleasing, glorify
ing, and enjoying of God.
Thirdly, The use of it as a testimony.
1. To bless God that he hath stated a rule of commerce between
us and him. If Jesus Christ had not come out from the bosom of
God, we had been left at great uncertainties ; but now God hath told
us his mind, what we must do, and what we may expect in the testi
mony which Christ hath brought from heaven. The way of blessing
and enjoying God is not left to our uncertain guesses, but made known
in an authentic way by Christ.
2. To show us with what sureness we may build upon the hopes of
the gospel ; it is God's testimony. The apostle saith, ' If we receive
the witness of men, the testimony of God is greater/ 1 John v. 9.
It is but reason that we should allow God that value and esteem that
we give to the testimony of men who are fallible and deceitful.
Among men, in the mouth of two or three witnesses every truth is
established, Deut. xix. 5. Now, we have witness upon witness con
cerning the gospel. There are three that bear witness in heaven,
and there are three that bear witness on earth : 1 John v. 7, 8,
' There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Ghost ; ' the Father by voice and oracle ; the Son by
voice to 'Saul, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' in words so
convincingly that he knew it was God ; the Holy Ghost descending
on Christ in the form of a dove, and on the apostles in cloven tongues
of fire. There are three also that bear witness on earth, ' the Spirit,
the water, and the blood, 1 in the heart of a believer, a bosom, near
testimony, illuminating and enabling a man to discern the doctrine
to be of God ; leaving constant and sensible effects, pacifying and
quieting the conscience, and sanctifying the heart by this doctrine,
the blood of Christ cleansing and purifying us as by clean water.
God's testimony is the ultimate resolution of faith. Now if after all
this we should not believe the testimony of God concerning his
Son and his message delivered to us, how great will our condemna
tion be !
3. Our danger is great if we receive not and obey not this doctrine
A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33. 385
concerning accepting sinners to life in Christ ; that will appear by
comparing two places. In Mat- xxiv. 14, it is said, * The word of the
kingdom shall be preached et? pap-rvpiov, for a testimony to them :'
and Mark xiii. 9, ' A testimony against them.' First to them, next
against them ; to them, if they receive it ; against them, if they reject,
neglect, or believe it not. What is now an offer of grace will then
be an accusation for despising grace. God will not be without a
witness at the day of judgment, and men will be left without excuse.
We had sufficient to convince us of the way of pleasing God.
Secondly, The respect that is due to this testimony. It is not only
to be heard or understood, but received : ' Whosoever receiveth this
testimony ;' that is, to hear it so as we may understand it ; to under
stand it so as we may assent to it with our minds ; to assent to it
with our minds so as we may embrace it with our affections ; to
embrace it with our affections so as we may build our hope and con
fidence thereupon, and lie under the sovereignty of it in our lives
and actions. This is to receive the testimony of Christ : one degree
maketh way for another.
1. Hear it or regard it we must. Here is a testimony brought out
from the bosom of God concerning the weightiest matters, our eternal
peace and salvation ; and that by his Son taking our nature. Now,
for us to disregard it is the greatest indignity and affront that we can
put upon God : Mat. xxii. 5, ' But they made light of it, and went
their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.' There was
a feast provided, all things were made ready a marriage-feast of the
king's son a message sent, but ' they made light of it.' Now many
will not take it into their care and thoughts, nor so much as consider
what God had intended from all eternity for their comfort and peace.
The first sort of bad ground was the highway, the careless, neglected,
unbounded common : Mat. xiii. 19, ' When any man heareth the
word and understandeth it not ; ' ^ avvievros non attendit ; doth
not lay it to heart, doth not consider the necessity and use of this
doctrine. So Acts xvi. 14, God's first work upon Lydia was to make
her attend to the things spoken by Paul ; that is, to enter into a deep
consideration with herself. The careless highway hearer is very
common, that lightly taketh up the current opinions where he liveth,
and doth the work of an age in a breath. Men say, We are all
sinners, and God is merciful, and Christ is the saviour of the world ;
but they never weigh these things. The outward notion falleth upon
their hearts as seed doth upon the beaten path, but it never entereth
so as to take root there.
2. Understand it we must, or we do not receive this testimony.
We must search after the thorough knowledge of those things which
Christ hath taught us concerning the purpose of his Father, or the
manner of our salvation : John xiv. 21, ' He that hath my command
ments and keepeth them/ A man must have them before he can
keep them ; have them in our judgments before we can keep them in
our memory, hearts, and consciences ; know our duty before we can
make conscience of it. Nothing gets to the will and affections
without the understanding, as nothing passeth to the bowels without
the mouth and the stomach : Prov. xix. 2, ' Without understanding
VOL. xv. ^ B
386 A SEKMON ON JOHN III. 33.
the heart is not good/ You cannot go on with the work of God
till you do understanding!}' close with Christ Jesus. Christ called
the multitude and said, * Hear and understand/ Mat. xv. 10. Next
to the ear, the mind must be possessed with these truths.
3. We must firmly assent to it, acquiesce in the testimony of
Christ ; and the mind must be so far prevailed with as to assent to
the truth of what it understands. The apostle saith, 1 Tim. i. 15,
' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation/ First
determine of that ; the word is true. If we did believe it, we would
make more use of it. There is a defect in point of assent. Doubts
would sooner vanish if we did not secretly give God the lie. Man is
apt to suspect evangelical truths as lying cross to his lusts and
interests ; even dogmatical infidelity is more rife in this lower world
than we do imagine, where God is unseen, and our great hopes and
enjoyments are to come, and our owning of God costs us so dear, and
the flesh is so importunate to be pleased. All our coldness in duty
arid boldness in sinning cometh from hence ; atheism and unbelief
lieth at the bottom. Men are not persuaded of divine truths, and
therefore they have so little influence upon them ; therefore look to
assent; John vi. 69, ' We know and are assured thou art the Christ ;'
so John xvii. 8, ' They have known assuredly that I came out from
<God/ We should come to this certainty and persuasion, and firm
adherence to the general truths.
4. To embrace it with all affection : Acts ii. 41, * They received
the word gladly ; ' aa^evw^. It is good news to a poor hungry con
science to hear of a pardoning God, and a merciful and faithful
Redeemer, and the offers of eternal life, and a sure way pointed out
how to come at it ; it is the rejoicing of their souls. Therefore we
must embrace it with hearty and unfeigned affection. The gospel is
not only true, but good ; therefore to be received with the dearest
affection. Christ is not only to be received understandingly, but
heartily, 1 Tim. i. 15. Many relish not the gospel because their
affections are pre-engaged. Swine prefer swill before better food.
5. To build our hope and confidence thereupon while we continue
with patience in well-doing. I join both together, because resolutions
of duty (in a sound heart) are always mingled with expectations of
mercy. Such a good being offered under conditions, we are to per
form the conditions ; they that believe shall have the good things
promised : Ps. cxix. 166, * Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and
done thy commandments/ None doth rightly rest and rely upon Christ
but he that resigneth up himself to his service. Comforts are in
order to work, and are never needed nor felt but while we are
working. It is the laborious man that hungereth and hath an appe
tite. The last ground, which is the good ground, is that honest heart
which, having heard the good word, keepeth it, and bringeth forth
fruit with patience, Luke xviii. 15. This is to receive the testimony
of Christ, when heart and conscience give way to it, and we suffer it to
sway us to obedience, when the word dwelleth plenteously in us, ruling
in our hearts. The degrees make way for one another ; attentive
audience for knowledge.; knowledge for faith or assent ; assent to the
truth and goodness of what Christ offereth in the name of God, for
a ^ .vx
A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33. 387
embracing and prosecution, and that for the subjection of the wbole
man and constant reliance upon God in the exercise of holiness. We
must receive the precepts with a resolution to practise them ; the
promises with a resolution to depend on them as our only happiness.
Thirdly, He that thus receiveth doth ratify the truth of God, and
solemnly bear witness to it. Here I shall (1.) Speak of the manner
of ratifying and confirming ; and (2.) Of the matter confirmed.
1. The manner of ratifying and confirming. It is not said, believed,
or confessed, or protested, but ea-cfrpdyHrev, 'hath put to his seal.'
Those things that we doubt off we are not wont to confirm with our
seal, but those things which we are assured of, and would have others
to look upon as firm and authentic. Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's
name, and sealed them with his seal, 1 Kings xxi. 8, to give them the
greater credit. Nehemiah, when he had renewed his covenant with
God, he and the princes and Levites and priests sealed it, Neh. ix. 38.
So Esther viii. 8. ' Write ye also for the Jews in the king's name,
and seal it with the king's ring ; for the writing which is written in
the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.'
So Jer. xxxii. 10, ' I subscribed the evidence and sealed it.' But
then here ariseth a doubt : How can we confirm the truth of God,
and make it more authentic ? for God is worthy of credit though no
man believes him ; he needeth only to say, Teste meipso : if he must
stand to man's courtesy, Turn Dens si homini non placuerit, Deus non
erit I as Tertullian saith in a like case. Again, what credit can
the testimony of God have from man's seal, who deceiveth and is
deceived ? I answer It is not out of need, but out of condescension.
God's truth is the same in itself, and needeth not our confirmation ;
but he will put this honour upon us, that we should as far as we can
honour his truth by our subscription. It is our honour that our
testimony is taken in so great a matter. God is true, though every
man be a liar, Rom. iii. 4 ; but our sealing is of great use and profit
both to ourselves and others.
[1.] To ourselves ; to bind us more firmly to believe that doctrine,
and live according to it, which we have owned and ratified by our own
consent. You do, as it were, give it under hand and seal that you are
one that will stand to this faith, and expect comfort and privilege by
this covenant : Isa. xliv. 5, ' One shall say, I am the Lord's, and another
shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord.' When you assent unto
and embrace this doctrine, you subscribe to the God of Jacob, and give
up your names to be entered into his muster-roll, and registered into
the church-book of the first-born: Ps. Ixxxvii. 6, 'The Lord shall
count when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there/
God hath his lease-book, wherein all that belong to him are registered.
Now you do, as it were, under hand and seal list and enrol yourselves
in his service, and, as a member of Christ's mystical body, engage your
selves to perform duty, and to wait for the comfort of the promises.
[2.] For the profit of others. Your faith professed doth as it were
seal the truth of God to them : Isa. xliii. 10, ' Ye are my witnesses,
saith the Lord.' God's people, that have from time to time such plen
tiful proofs of divine power and providence, are able to give sufficient
testimony for him ; and others are confirmed in the faith and belief of
388 A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33.
that to which we attest when we are diligent in holiness, patient and
joyful under the cross, full of hope and comfort in great straits. We
put to our seal to the promises, and commend our faith to others. God
was angry with Moses and Aaron, Num. xx. 12, ' Because ye believed
me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel ; therefore
ye shall not bring the people into the land which I have promised
them.' We are not only to believe God ourselves, but to sanctify him
in the eyes of others. We set hands to a thing that we would pro
mote and get to pass in the world. We must believe so that others
may be moved by the generousness of our faith to embrace the truth.
When the Thessalonians had received the word in much assurance, and
much affliction, and much joy in the Holy Ghost, the apostle telleth
them, 1 Thes. i. 5-7, they were ensamples to all that believed in
Achaia and Macedonia. Thus we propagate our faith, and commend
the truth of God to others. But alas ! many are not only infidels
themselves, but propagate their infidelity : Titus i. 16, ' In their works
they deny him/ live down the faith they pretend unto. Our lives
should be a confirmation of the gospel, but are indeed a confutation of
it ; we should confirm the weak, and we offend the strong. Well, then,
the meaning is, he is firmly persuaded in his own heart, and doth
openly profess and live accordingly, and gains others to do likewise.
(2.) The matter confirmed, that God is true ; not that God is mer
ciful, or that God is just, holy, and wise, but that God is true.
[1.] God's truth is a great prop of faith. That which upheld Sarah,
when she had a promise of conceiving a child, after she was past age,
was the faithfulness of God, Heb. xi. 11. So you put to your seal that
God is true, he is truth itself. God can do anything, but cannot lie.
The heathen acknowledged it to be the property of the gods to speak
the truth and do good.
[2.] The honour of his veracity is more pleasing to God than any
other thing : Ps. cxxxviii. 2, ' Thou hast magnified thy word above all
thy name.' He hath ever stood upon that, in being punctual in keep
ing covenant and fulfilling his promises. This is most conspicuous
above all that is famed or spoken or believed of God ; nothing so dear
to God as his truth. Men cannot endure to have the lie put upon them ;
they take themselves to be honoured when their word is believed. And
will God disappoint them that deny themselves, and build upon his
promises ? It cannot be.
[3.] This setting to his seal that God is true, it supposeth some pre
cedent obligation which he hath taken upon himself, and God's word
is engaged and laid at pledge. Now
(1.) God is engaged by promise to Christ in the covenant of redemp
tion, that he will justify, sanctify, glorify all those that believe in
Christ, Isa. liii. 10, 11. Now the poor soul that receiveth his testi
mony giveth it under hand and seal that God is as good as his word,
that he hath performed the conditions of the eternal covenant; as
when men are bound to pay great sums, they require an acquittance that
they have discharged their obligation. God is obliged to Jesus Christ
to bestow eternal life upon all those that come to him in his name.
Now every poor soul that is encouraged to wait for this benefit giveth
t under his hand that God is true.
A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33. 389
(2.) God was engaged to the old church to send Christ to raise up a
great prophet from among his brethren, like unto Moses, whom they
should hear, Deut. xviii. 13. He was to be a lawgiver as Moses was,
but of a far more perfect law ; such an one whom the Lord had known
face to face, as he did Moses, but of a far more divine nature ; one ap
proved to the world by miracles, signs, and wonders, as Moses was,
but miracles evidencing a divine power. Now they that receive Christ's
testimony do acknowledge that God hath discharged his faith whicli
was plighted to the old church in the promises and prefigurations of
the law. You say, Yea, Lord, it is as thou hast promised. There
fore, Eom. xv. 8, Christ is said to be ' the minister of circumcision, for
the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers ; ' so
Luke i. 70-73, ' As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which
have been since the world began ; that we should be saved from our
enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us ; to perform the mercy
promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath
which he sware to our father Abraham.'
(3.) God is true in the doctrine of reconciliation and promise of
eternal life to Christ's faithful disciples discovered* to us in the gospel,
or in what he speaks by Christ ; there is a divine character in his doc
trine. The testimony of Christ is the testimony of God. He spake as
an original author; for so it followeth, ver. 34, 'He whom God hath
sent speaketh the words of God;' John vii. 16, 'My doctrine is not
mine, but his that sent me.' He devised it not himself as man, nor
acquired it by any human art and industry. As God equal with the
Father, he knew all these mysteries ; as man, by communication from
his Godhead. God is true in what he revealeth by his Son : so John xiv.
24, ' The word which you hear is not mine, but the Father which sent
me/ You j ustify God's truth against the objections of your own hearts
and the prejudices of the world ; you own it as a doctrine that hath a
divine truth only in it, and so build on it.
Use. To persuade us to receive Christ's testimony, and to receive it
so as that we put to our seal that God is true. It is easy to reason ;
partly
1. From the honour that is done to God. God justifieth, sanctifieth,
glorifieth us, and we justify, sanctify, and glorify God. We justify
God : Luke vii. 29, ' And all the people that heard him, and the pub
licans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.' When
we receive God's message by Christ, we acquit him of all that the blind
world or, our carnal hearts lay against him. We sanctify God : Isa.
viii. 13, ' Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear,
and let him be your dread.' To sanctify is to set apart, and to expect
and fear more from God than can be expected and feared from all the
powers in the world. We glorify God : Kom. iv. 20, it is said of
Abraham, ' He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief ;
but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.'
2. Consider what an honour there is put upon us, that such poor
worms as we are should be called to the sealing of God ; s truth, to con
firm the promises by our consent, and to give it under our hands that
we believe the promises, that so others may be moved by our example
390 A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33.
to accept of this way of salvation, and so your faith procures credit to
God. Oh ! do not deprive yourselves of this dignity.
3. On the other side, consider what a great dishonour it is to God
not to give credit to his word. You blaspheme God when you do not
receive his testimony : 1 John v. 10, * He that believeth not God hath
made him a liar.' To make God a liar is to make him no God at all.
To have the promise of life unfolded, if we do not heartily embrace it,
and firmly build upon it, and be diligent upon these hopes, we carry it
so as if his testimony were not true. Hereby you wrong yourselves by
your own prejudices, and become a stumbling-block to your brethren,
confirming them in an evil way.
4. You are of the church, and pretend to receive Christ's testimony;
you are God's witnesses, it is a mockery, a treachery, if you should not
put to your seals, live in the constant sense and belief of eternal
blessedness by Christ
5. Consider how careful God's faithful servants have been to per
form their duty in this kind. Moses : Deut. xxxii. 4* ' He is the rock ,
his work is perfect ; a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and
right is he.' So Joshua, chap, xxiii. 14, * Not one thing hath failed
of all the good things which the Lord spake concerning you.' So
Jacob: Gen. xlviii. 15, 16, 'He blessed Joseph, and said, God, before
whom my father Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me
all my life long unto this day, the angel which redeemed me from all
evil, bless the lads,' &c. It is the great and most acceptable piece of
worship ; if you put to your seal to God, God will seal to you : Eph.
i. 13, 'In whom also, after ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy
Spirit of promise.'
Object. But you will say, What needeth all this ado ? Do not we
believe the scriptures to be the word of God, and Jesus Christ to be
the Messiah ? Are we not baptized into his name ? I answer
1. Many may visibly possess Christ, and yet not believe in him.
Christ hath disciples in name, and disciples indeed ; John viii. 37, ' If
ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.' Many pro
fess to know God, but in their works deny him, Titus i. 16. So God
refuteth the claim of those that said, ' My God, we know thee ; but
ye have not followed the thing that good is/ Hosea viiL 2. We pro
fess God knoweth the heart, and yet we never take care to purge the
heart from corrupt lusts. We profess God hath a particular provi
dence and care of his people, and yet we shift for ourselves. We pro
fess God is true, yet believe him no further than we can see him.
2. A speculative assent doth not denominate us true believers, but
answerable walking. Certainly to believe so as to put to our seal
implieth it, where, when a man receiveth the word of God as his truth,
and doth accordingly manifest it in his life, .he puts to his seal, and
by his profession and practice doth declare that God is true. They
that live merrily and sleep quietly in a course of sin, or a negligent
uncertainty of their salvation, do not believe, unless a dead opinion be
taken for faith ; a dead opinion begotten in us by education, and the
tradition of the country where we live. We deceive ourselves with
names, and shows, and dead opinions, and customary religion, but
have no life nor seriousness : they have a literal knowledge and appre-
A SERMON ON JOHN in. 33. 391
hension of the things taught, but it worketh no change in them. You
are to believe so as to put to your seal ; not in word, but in deed ; to
declare plainly in the whole course of your lives that you believe the
great promises brought to you from God by Christ. Many in their
manner of living make God a liar. The careless preacher is as bad,
or worse, than he that is haunted with actual doubts about Christianity.
The trembling doubter mindeth his business, but these never regard
it, and do in effect say, Christ and his salvation is not worth the
looking after ; as it is said of them, Ps. cvi. 24, ' They despised the
good land, they believed not his word.' Those that resolve to give
over the pursuit of Canaan are said to doubt of his promise. They
that neglect salvation do not believe the truth of it: Heb. ii. 3, 4,
4 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ? which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by
them that heard him, God also bearing them witness both with signs
and wonders, and with divers miracles/ If a man tell you that in
your field there is a rich treasure which you may have for digging, if
you believe the man, will not you go about to dig it up ? but if you
doubt the truth of it, then you let it alone. The things propounded
by Christ are so worthy, that, if you believe them, you will put in for
a share, and use all good means to obtain the comfort and benefit
promised.
3. In speculative assent there is not that firmness in many that live
in the church as is generally conceived. In the bosom of the church
there are practical atheists : Zeph. i. 12, ' And it shall come to pass
at that time that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish
the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, The
Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil/ In Jerusalem, in the
degeneracy of the Christian religion, such men were more rife than the
serious worshippers of Christ : 2 Peter iii. 3, ' There shall come in the
last time scoffers, walking after their own lusts/ The last days are full
of those profane scoffers. At the first promulgation of the gospel, while
truths were new, and the exercises of Christian religion lively, and there
was great concord and seriousness amongst the professors of the gospel,
then profane scoffers were rare and unfrequent ; before men's senses
were benumbed with the customary use of religious duties, the
notions of God were fresh, lively, and active upon their hearts ; but
afterwards, when the profession of Christianity grew into a form and
national interest, and men were rather Christians by the chance of their
birth than their own choice and natural conviction, the church was
pestered with this cattle. It was an article objected against Pope John
the twenty-third in the Council of Basil, that he believed that there
was no life eternal, that the soul died with the body ; and Paul the
third is reported by another good author to say, when he was dying,
that now he should know three things of which he had doubted all
his life An anima fiat immortalis; an sit infernus; an sit Deus.
Were these monsters alone, think you ? Certainly there are others
who, however they smother their opinions, do indeed think there is no
heaven and no hell ; especially now are they rife among us that live
in the dregs of Christianity, when men are grown weary of the name
of Christ, and the ancient severity and strictness is much lost, and the
392 A SERMON ON JOHN III. 33.
memory of those miracles and wonderful effects by which our religiou
was confirmed is almost worn out, or else questioned by subtle wits
and men of a prostituted conscience. Now there are many mockers,
and men of atheistical spirits swarm everywhere, who only talk of
these things in jest ; nay, and as it seemeth by their slight and frothy
handling of the matter, preach of them in jest. Certainly one great
fault in Christians, is they do not mind strengthening assent to or belief
of gospel revelations ; whereas the weakness of this weakeneth all our
graces, and is the cause of that unevenness and uncertainty that we
bewray in the course of our lives. Hence cometh our coldness in duty,
our boldness in sinning. Our coldness in duty : Would we serve God
in such a lifeless, heartless manner, and pray so carelessly, if we did
believe that what Christ hath told us of the everlasting enjoyment of
tbe blessed God were true ? If we did believe the truth of the gospel
and of the world to come, how careful and earnest should we be to
make our calling and election sure. We would think all diligence
little enough. So our boldness in sinning : We would not venture, if
we did believe everlasting torments and the strict account that we
must make to God. Temptations then would be refused with scorn
and indignation: 'In vain is the net laid in the sight of any bird,'
Prov. i. 17. Therefore it is a fault in Christians when they mind the
applying act, but do not labour to make their assent more firm.
Things may be daily applied when once we are assured of them ;
otherwise we raise an house without a foundation.
4. In this sealing God's truth there are many things implied which
most Christians want. It implieth spiritual evidence, experience, and
confidence in temptations to the contrary, and enforceth practice.
[1.] It implieth spiritual evidence. None can receive Christ's testi
mony without a work of the Spirit; spiritual things must be spiritually
discerned : 1 Cor. ii. 14, * The natural man receiveth not the things of
the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' To sight there
must be not only objectum perspicuum, but organum bene affectum.
Besides the perspicuity of the object, there must be a clear eye. A
blind man cannot see at noonday, nor he that hath the strongest sight
at midnight, Eph. i. 17, 18. Now most Christians have not the Spirit
of Christ. God revealeth these things and giveth us eyes to see them.
[2.] Some experience of the power of this truth in comforting and
changing the heart. A report of a report is never judged valuable ;
you cannot say to others, God is true, till you have felt somewhat of
it in your own hearts: 1 John i. 1, 2, 'That which was from the
beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word
of life (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear
witness, and show unto you that eternal life which was with the Father,
and was manifested unto us) ; that which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us ; and
truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ/
Experience is above all dispute : Phil. i. 9, ' This I pray, that your
love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all judgment ;'
to have some impression of the truth upon our hearts.
A SERMON OX JOHM III. 33. 393
[3.] It discovereth itself by confidence in temptations to the con
trary, either from inward troubles or outward. Inward troubles or
agonies of conscience : The faith of a weak Christian bringeth more
honour to God than the love of a strong Christian. Upon the en
couragement of Christ's testimony he casts himself upon God's mercy,
when he feeleth him as an enemy: Job xiii. 15, ' Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him.' So in outward troubles ; when in the midst
of deep afflictions, you can comfort yourselves in the promises, and
rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorious. This is to honour God, to
put to your seal that God is true ; as the martyrs are said to seal it
with their blood. Faith is but a notion before.
[4.] It enforceth holiness. When your lives are swayed by these
principles, and you are full of that lively diligence which becometh
Christians, then you declare plainly that you think God is true. All
these are exemplified in the church of the Thessalonians : 1 Thes. i.
5-7, ' For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in
power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance ; as ye know
what manner of men we were among yo'u for your sake ; and ye became
followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much
affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. So that you were ensamples to
all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.' So that you see there is
need of pressing you to believe, that you may put to your seal that
God is true.
SERMONS ON MICAH VI, 8.
SERMON I.
He hath showed thee, man, what is good ; and ivhat doth the Lord
require of thee, but to do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly
with thy God f MICAH vi. 8.
IN the context yon have First, A question to which the text is an
answer. The question is in vers. 6, 7. The sinners would know what
would please God, vers. 6, 7. Their question teacheth us
1. That ceremonial observances will not compensate a neglect of
substantial duties.
2. That hypocrites will give anything rather than give up them
selves to the Lord ; rivers of oil, thousands of rams, their own children,
so they may not part with their own wills. Quid qucerit a te nisi te ?
3. That it is not the costliness of the sacrifice, but the godliness of
the sacrifice which God looketh at.
Secondly, The answer is in the text, ' He hath showed thee, man,
what is good ; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly,
and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God?' The pertinency
of this answer must be vindicated.
1. The question was not a scruple or case of conscience about the
true satisfaction or way of appeasing God's justice, but a contentious
cavil of them that stood much upon their outward sacrifices, and were
willing either to continue that way or to add more, if this would please
God and they might thereby avoid his wrath. Now, these did in vain
pretend ignorance when the rule of their duty was plain and easy.
2. The answer is suited so as best to convince hypocrites; not to
show the true means of atonement, but to defeat their false claim.
Whatever atonement God would accept, yet without the performance
of necessary duties it would be fruitless and ineffectual to them : ' He
hath showed thee, man, what is good/
Dock That in revealing our duty to us, God exacteth nothing of man
but what is good.
The observation yieldeth two points
1. That God hath plainly revealed his mind concerning the duty of
the creature.
2. That whatever God hath so revealed is good.
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8. 395
First, That God hath plainly revealed his mind concerning the
duty of the creature : ' He hath showed thee, man.' How hath he
showed us ? Partly by the light of nature, partly by the light of his
word.
1. By the light of nature. The things here mentioned concern
either the lower or upper hemisphere of our duty. To walk humbly
with God importeth that we should carry ourselves with reverence and
obedience to the divine majesty ; and to do justice and love mercy, that
we should carry ourselves justly and charitably towards men. Both are
revealed by the light of nature. Our duty to God : Rom.-i. 19, ' That
which may be known of God is manifest in them ; for God hath showed
it them/ How showed it them ? By graving it on their hearts. Our
duty to man : Eom. ii. 15, ' Which show the work of the law written
upon their hearts, their consciences also bearing them witness, and
their thoughts accusing or excusing,' by turns.
2. By the light of his word, wherein our duty is more clear, full, and
certain.
[1.] More clear : Ps. cxix. 105, ' Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.' The use of a lamp is by night, and the
light of the sun shineth by day. Whether it be day or night with us,
we clearly understand our duty by the word of God. The night signi-
fieth adversity, and the day prosperity in all conditions. Hence we may
learn how to behave ourselves. Once more, the word path noteth our
general choice and course of life ; the word feet our particular actions.
Now, whether the matter wherein we would be informed concerneth
our choice of the way that leadeth to true happiness, or else our dex
terous prosecution, that we may not swerve from the right way in any
action of ours, by doing anything impertinent or inconsistent with our
choice, still the word will direct a humble and well-disposed mind ; so
that here our duty is clearly stated, and if a man's heart stand in awe of
the word, he cannot easily miscarry.
[2.] It is more full ; for the book of nature is blurred by man's
apostasy from God 'and degeneration from his primitive excellency;
and our chief good and last end being altered by sin, we strangely mis
take things ; and, weighing them in the balance of the flesh, which we
seek to please, we put light for darkness and evil for good, Isa. v. 20,
and so miserably grope in the dark, and cannot so clearly discern our
way to true happiness. And besides, man's condition is such that he
needeth a supernatural remedy a redeemer; which, depending upon the
mere grace of God, cannot be found out by mere natural light, which
can only judge of things necessary, and not of such things as depend
upon the arbitrary will and love of God, John iii. 16. Besides, in the
things evident by natural light, nature is dark. The great lines of our
duty are fair and legible, epyov vopov. The outward work is written iri
our hearts abstinence from gross sins, performance of outward duties ;
some notices are escaped out of the ruins of the fall, and to convince
us of sin, and mind us of our duty; but that full, entire spiritual
obedience which is due to God is not known to nature. Therefore,
besides the candle of the Lord within us, which is reason, God hath
set up a lamp in the sanctuary, which is scripture, to direct us in the
way to true happiness , and this is clear and full, and compriseth all
396 SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8.
that is necessary. Therefore David saith, Ps. cxix. 96, "Thy com
mandment is exceeding broad ; ' as containing all things necessary for
our duty and happiness.
[3.] It is more certain, as having a greater stamp and impress of
God upon it. Everything that hath passed through God's hand dis
covers its author. The light of nature showeth itself to be of God ;
but much more the light of scripture, wherein he hath discovered more
of his wisdom, goodness, and power ; it being such a revelation of the
mind of God as is fit for God to give and us to receive ; suited to the
nature of God, to preserve a due honour, esteem, and reverence of his
blessed majesty ; and exactly calculated to our necessities, for recovery
out of sin, and obtaining our true and proper happiness ; and cometh
to us attested with such evidence from heaven as we cannot rationally
withstand : 2 Peter i. 19, ' We have a more sure word of prophecy,
whereunto we shall do well to take heed, as unto a light which shineth
in a dark place.' It is surer than the light 0f nature, as not liable to
such debate and uncertainty, which must be cleared before man's duty
can be stated to him. More sure than miracles, oracles, visions, as
being put into writing ; and a faithful record, as the constant measure,
standard, and rule of faith and manners for the use of the church in
all ages.
Now it is good to see how David compareth these two revelations
of the mind of God, where he first admireth the brightness of the sun,
and then the purity of the law. The joining of both these medita
tions showeth
(1.) That the world can be as ill without the word of God as with
out the light of the sun. What would this inferior world be without
the light of the sun, but a great cave and obscure dungeon, where
men would creep up and down like worms out of their holes ? Now
the light of the word is as necessary for the blessedness of our souls
as the sun's light is comfortable to our bodies.
(2.) The comparing of both these showeth that there are two books
wherein we shall do well to study, both made by God himself, and
both manifesting and discovering God to the world the book of
nature, and the book of scripture. You cannot look upon the book of
the creatures, but in every page and line of it you will find this truth
presented to your eyes, that there is an infinite, eternal power, that
made all things, and is to be owned, reverenced, worshipped, and
obeyed by us. TMs is enough to leave the world without excuse.
But in the book of the word you may see more of God and the way to
enjoy him. This doth more powerfully convince man of his misery,
and show him his remedy. The use which the psalmist maketh of
these books is notable. Of the first, to admire the glory of God by
the beauty of the heavens ; of the second, to humble and awe man by
the purity and strictness of the law ; as all religion lieth in the know
ledge of God and ourselves. Well, then, this is the double way of
revelation
The revelation of God's mind in the word consists of two parts
the moral part, and the evangelical.
(1st) The moral part doth mostly contain our first holiness, and
the primitive duty which we owed to God as a creator before the fall
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8. 397
or our defection from him, that we should serve and obey him as
our rightful Lord, and love him as our chief good and happiness.
The moral part is that which is mentioned in the text, and still
belongeth to us ; for every creature ought to be in subjection, and is
under a debt of duty to his creator. And Christ Jesus, when he came
to redeem us, did not dissolve this bond ; for he ' redeemed us unto
God,' Rev. v. 9. He never intended to rob God of a creature when he
made any man a Christian. This were to make us rebels against God,
and not subjects to him. This was far from Christ's intent ; for he
came to fit us for that holiness and righteousness which was due to
God by virtue of our creation ; to fit us for it by his renewing and re
conciling grace. He encourageth us by his reconciling grace : Luke i.
74, 75, ' That we should serve him without fear, in holiness and
righteousness, all the days of our lives.' He inclineth us to it by his
renewing grace : Eph. iv. 24, ' The new man is created after God, in
righteousness and true holiness/ Therefore the law of grace is subor
dinate to the law of nature, and was introduced that we might return
to the obedience due to God. And in this respect it may be said, * He
hath showed thee, man, what is good ; ' for Kom. vii. 12, * The law
is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good;' that is, the
law in general, and this command in particular, that which had
wrought such gracious effects in his heart. The law is holy, fit for
God to give and us to receive ; and just, hugely conducible to the
good of human society ; good, very profitable to those that observe
them.
(2d.) The evangelical part of the word, which revealeth pardon of
sins ajnd salvation by Christ to all those that will accept it with a
believing and thankful mind, and are willing to return to their obed
ience to God, 1 Tim. i. 15, John iii. 16, Heb. v. 11, and in many other
places. Now here is the greatest, fullest, and truest prospect of his
goodness to mankind, Titus iii. 4, in that, when God was displeased
for the breach of the first covenant, and man hereby had fallen irre
parably from his primitive holiness, and brought himself under guilt
and a curse, he took occasion by this misery to open a door of hope
to us by Christ, and hath set up a new court of righteousness and life,
where sinners may appear ; and grace taketh the throne, and the judge
is Christ, and the rule is the gospel ; and upon repentance, faith, and
sincere obedience, we may be accepted with him ; and the Lord
standeth with open arms to receive all those that run for refuge to this
court, and take sanctuary at this grace, devoting themselves to his fear
and service. Here we may say indeed, ' He hath showed thee, man,
what is good.' The gospel part is called ' the good word : ' Heb. vi.
5, ' Having tasted the good word ; ' and the great privileges offered to
us are called ' glad tidings of good things,' Rom. x. 15, quoted out of
Isa. Iii. 7; the best things that ever were brought to man's ear.
Therefore chiefly I shall consider these words with respect to the gos
pel revelation.
Secondly, Whatever God hath so revealed is good.
1. To clear this to you, I shall premise some distinctions of good
ness.
[1.] There is a moral and beneficial goodness. That which is good
398 SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8.
morally is that which is our duty, just and equal ; as Dent. xxx. 15,
'I have set before you life and good, death and evil.' Holiness is
called good, and sin evil. That is good which is right in the sight of
the Lord. The good of profit and utility is also spoken of, Deut. vi.
24, ' The Lord commanded us to fear the Lord our God, for our good
always ; ' so Deut. x. 13, ' Statutes which I command thee this day for
thy good.'
[2.] Moral good is either bonum per se, good in itself, because of its
suitableness to the nature of God ; or merely upon God's institution.
This distinction is intimated, Kom. xiv. 17, 18, ' For the kingdom of
God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in
the Holy Ghost ; for he that in these things serveth Christ, is accept
able to God and approved of men ; ' that is, these things are pleasing
to God, as suitable to his nature, and as agreeable to the reasonable
nature in us ; whereas things that merely depend upon positive insti
tution are indifferent without God's command, and, in comparison and
competition with these unquestionable duties, may be said not to be
good : Ezek. xx. 25, ' I gave them statutes that were not good ; ' it is
riot simply denied, but comparatively.
[3.] Beneficial goodness is twofold either concerning the body and
the soul, or this life and a better. Godliness conduceth to both:
1 Tim. iv. 8, { Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise
of the life that now is, and of that which is to come/ Yet the good
of the soul must be first regarded, and other things are superadded,
Mat. vi. 33. And God dispenseth the good things of this life with
respect to a better ; when we want them, the want turneth to good :
Kom. viii. 28, ' We know that all things work together for good to
them that love God/
2. Now let me show you that, in the revelation of our duty, God
exacteth nothing of us but what is good. I prove it thus (1.) By
the design of the Christian religion ; (2.) The structure and frame
of it.
[1.] The design of the Christian religion is to make man good,
and to cure him of all evil. I prove it, because it requireth
man not only to do good, but to be good. It is the perfection of our
nature ; it forbiddeth sin, that it may allow us no liberty to sin, to be
bad and miserable. So far as a man doth not comply with these
precepts, so far he is an enemy to himself. Surely our perfection is a
great part of our duty. Our religion calleth us to the highest degree
of goodness, to be full of goodness ; not to take up with any lower
degree of holiness. It doth not account him to be good that would
not be better. And whatever degrees of grace we have, we are obliged
to ask more and we are to endeavour after more ; and this with con
formity to the highest pattern : Gen. xvii. 1, ' Walk before me, and
be thou perfect ; ' and Mat. v. 48, ' Be ye therefore perfect, as your
heavenly Father is perfect ;' 1 Peter i. 15, 16, 'He saith, Be holy, as
I am holy. Wherefore, as he that hath called you is holy, so be holy
in all manner of conversation and godliness ; ' 2 Peter iii. 11, ' What
manner of persons should we be, in all holy conversation and godli
ness ? ' From all these places we conclude, that we should still be
aspiring after a further degree of holiness, goodness, and perfection ia
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8. 399
conformity to God ; that man by his duty may be prepared for his
blessedness ; and that, whilst he groweth more like God, he might be
more fitted for the vision and fruition of God. We are called to per
fection, and though we cannot fully attain to it in this life, we must
come nearer and nearer : ' He that hath this hope, purifieth himself,
even as he is pure,' 1 John iii. 2, 3. No less pattern than God is set
before us. Thus does the true religion design to make man good.
[2.] The structure and frame of it. How doth it promote this
design ? Four ways (1.) By the blessedness and reward which it
offereth ; (2.) By the duties it requireth towards God and men ; (3.)
By the means which it useth to enforce these things ; (4.) The course
it taketh to fortify us against temptations to the contrary.
(1.) The blessedness and reward which it offereth. We are often
inquiring, ' Who will show us any good ? ' Ps. iv. 6. Now, in the
scripture, God has showed man what is his chief good and proper
happiness. There is the greatest good that can be attained or imagined,
for beyond God there is nothing. And the happiness which the word
offereth is God reconciled, God finally and fully enjoyed. Our happi
ness, by the way, consisteth in reconciliation with God ; at the end, in
the vision and fruition of God. This is happiness indeed.
(1st.) Our reconciliation with God through Christ, if we will enter
into his peace. This is that which we only are capable of here, and
the good we are now admitted into : Kom. v. 1, ' Being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' As soon
as ever we turn to him by faith and repentance, he giveth us the
pardon of all our sins, and accepteth us in the Beloved, to the praise
of his grace ; and thereby the sentence of death is reversed ; we are
delivered from wrath to come, 1 Thes. i. 10, ' and not only so, but
being justified by faith/ we are * made heirs according to the hope
of eternal life,' Titus iii. 7. We have a right, though not the possession.
And there is a long train of blessings which we enjoy for the present
by virtue of this right ; only we have them not but as we verify and
make good the reality of our first faith and repentance by a constant
holy walking and obedience ; as audience of our prayers : 1 John iii.
22, ' Whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his com
mandments, and do the things which please him.' The presence of
the Spirit, assuring us of the love of God, John xiv. 21, 23. Peace
in our own souls. What pleasure like the testimony of a good con
science ! as no torment like that of an evil one : heaven is begun in
the one, and hell in the other : 2 Cor. i. 12, * This is our rejoicing.'
Having this, you may look God in the face in duties, 1 John iii. 21 ;
in death, Isa. xxxviii. 3. This peace of a good conscience supposeth a
walking according to God's counsel and direction in a course of holiness ;
for it is an approbation of the discharge in our duty. There is some
trouble while good acts are a-doing, as there is a slight pleasure while
sin is committed ; but as soon as the mists and clouds of passion are
over, conscience will accuse or excuse. Besides, we are under the con
stant care and providence of God : Ps. xxxiv. 15, ' The eyes of the
Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry : the
face of the Lord is against them that do evil.' All necessaries are
vouchsafed. Mat vL 32, 33. Afflictions are moderated, 1 Cor. x. 13;
400 SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8.
sanctified, Rom. viii. 28. Enemies are awed or bridled, 1 Peter iii.
13, Prov. xvi. 7- All these blessings are consequent upon the state of
reconciliation, when our repentance is not a fancy, nor faith a naked
opinion or cold assent, but such a lively sense of God's love and grace
as maketh us faithfully return to a love of God, and a care of and
delight in his ways.
(2d) The vision and fruition of God in heavenly glory. That is
the great good offered to us when our nature is perfected, and by its
most perfect acts is employed about the most perfect object, and God
is all in all, giving out the fullest communications of his grace to us,
and that for ever, the soul being perfect, without spot or blemish, and
this vile body like Christ's glorious body. And we shall ever remain
in the sight and love of God ; and what is sweeter than his presence?
Ps. xvi. 11, 'In thy presence is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand
pleasures for evermore/ And this without fear of change, 1 Thes. ii.
17. If anything be good, this is good, to live for ever in the sight of
God, and to love him and be beloved of him.
(2.) The duties it requireth of us both to God and man.
(1st.) As to God, the great duty of love, that we should love God
in Christ, with all our souls, and with all our hearts, and with all our
strength : Deut. x. 12, ' What doth the Lord require of thee, but to
fear the Lord thy God, and to love him with all thy soul, and to walk
in his ways, and serve him with all thy heart ? ' It obligeth us to
seek after this happiness, the vision and fruition of God, with such
affections as do become it ; to begin our happiness in our duty, to
train up ourselves in a way of loving God, and receiving the com
munications of his love to us, that the consummation of the spiritual
life may be like the whole progress of it; and so in our very work we
have a foretaste of our reward and end. Oh ! then, what a good
religion is this, where our principal work is love and delight in him
whom we serve and worship ! And is that any hard task ? What
is the object of love but good ? And the acts of love are sweet and
pleasant. And should we stick at this, to love a good God in the
highest manner ? Is not the object good ? Is he not good to us ?
What floweth from him but goodness ? And what do we expect from
him but such good as our hearts cannot sufficiently conceive of ? And
since our whole religion is nothing else but an art of loving God and
enjoying God, surely that which he hath showed us is good.
(2d.) As to men. To do good is the employment of our lives :
Eph. ii. 10, ' Created in Christ to good works/ &c. ; and this with a
zeal, Titus ii. 14. Now that doctrine is good which only employeth
men to do good. But to whom must we do good ? To all : Gal.
vi. 10, ' Do good to all, especially to the household of faith ; ' yea,
enemies not excepted : Mat. v. 44, ' Do good to them that hate you ; '
Rom. xii. 21, 'Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.'
And this doing good God expecteth from us in every capacity and
relation. Magistrates, Rom. xiii. 4, are * the ministers o*f God to them
for good/ deputy gods. So ministers : Acts xi. 24, ( Barnabas was a
good man, and full of the Holy Ghost.' A man of a selfish temper and
spirit hath not that zeal for God, that compassion for souls. So
private Christians to one another : ' I am persuaded that ye are full
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8. 401
of goodness/ Rom. xv. 14. Very kind these were ; it makes us most
compassionate to the bodies and souls of one another. So people iu
an inferior quality servants, when they are good : Eph. vi. 8,
' Whatsoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of
the Lord, bond or free.' If they make conscience of doing good in
their callings, and go about their duties as service to God and out of
compassion to men, God will take notice of it in the poor bond-servant.
A principle of love and good-will in the heart doth make any service
more acceptable and valuable than any outward pomp in what we do.
A sincere honest heart is beyond all external advantages.
(3.) The means it useth to enforce these ; that is, what are the
encouragements and helps?
(1st.) The love of God in Christ is the great engine of the gospel,
and the motive and encouragement which should persuade us to
our duty, 2 Cor. v. 14, and Rom. xii. 1, Titus ii. 11, 12. God would
be obeyed by his people, not as slaves, bat as children ; and would
have the great spring and rise of man's obedience to be love and
gratitude ; and therefore doth he oblige us at so high a rate, and
carry on the covenant of grace in such an astonishing way of mercy,
that none of his commandments might be grievous to us, because
sweetened by his love, 1 John v. 3. God will be served, not as an
imperious sovereign, but as the God of love ; not with a grudging
mind, but with delight and readiness ; not as dragged and forced, but
as excited and influenced by that deep sense that we have of God's
goodness.
(2d.) We are inclined and enabled by the sanctifying Spirit. In
the Christian religion, not only the precepts are good ; but there goeth
along with them the power of God to make us good: Ps. cxliii. 10,
' Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God ; thy Spirit is good.'
The Spirit's direction hath strength joined with it. And he is a good
Spirit, as he doth incline us to good. The Spirit is the only fountain
of all goodness and holiness : Neh. ix. 10, ' Thou gavest also thy
good Spirit to instruct them.' Why is he so often called the good
Spirit, but that all his operations tend to make men good and holy ?
Eph. v. 9, The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness,
and truth.' The phrase noteth both our thankfulness to God and
beneficence to men.
(4.) How doth it fortify us against all temptations to the contrary,
but by the proposal of good to us. So it keepeth us from the evil of
sin. The great art which religion teacheth us is but the preferring of
the greater good before a lesser. Do that, and you are safe ; for all
the world miscarrieth by preferring a worse thing before a better.
Three things religion mainly persuadeth us unto to keep us safe (1.)
To prefer God before the world ; (2.) The soul before the body ; (3.)
Eternity, or a long life before a short one.
(1st.) God before the world. Its great business is to get us to love
God above all, that comparatively we may little esteem reputation, wealth,
pre-eminence, grandeur, pleasure, in comparison of the favour of God
and the fruition of God. Usually these are the things which all that
perish prefer before God and immortality Now, if you could have an
higher esteem of God, and say truly, with David, Ps. Ixxiii. 25, * Whom
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402 SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8.
have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire
besides thee ; ' you have plucked up all temptations by the roots. See
John v. 44, and John xii. 42, 1 Johnii. 15, 2 Tim. iii. 4. So that here
is the great miscarriage of men, they have not digested this point of
religion. They love the world more than God, the praise of men more
than the praise of God, pleasures more than God. Is God that man's
chief est good who preferreth his lust, his wealth, or honour, or any
base thing in the world before him ? A little fleshly delight or fear
of man shall make him break with his God.
(2c?.) The soul before the body. In all reason the better part should
have most respect and care. The good of the body is fluid, and van
ishes ; the soul is immortal. Now, shall we pamper the body and
neglect the soul ? What a fool is he that hath cared for all things more
than what should be most cared for, his precious and immortal soul !
Luke xii. 20, ' Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee ;
then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided ? ' Luke
x. 42, * Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken from
her.' Surely we have better souls than a dog or a swine souls which
are capable of better things than the pleasures of this life ; the know
ledge of God, and the love of God. If you would seek good, seek the
good of your souls in the first place.
(3d) That a long life should be preferred before a short one, eternity
before time. All that are convinced of a life to come should therefore
lay out more care upon things eternal than temporal. What wise man
would be careful to furnish his inn, where he tarrieth for a night, and
be content that his house be naked and destitute, where "his constant
abode is ? Do thus, and temptations will little sway with you, 2 Cor.
iv. 18. What is a little affliction here, or happiness here ? Eom. ii.
7, ' To them that, by patience in well-doing, seek for glory and im
mortality, eternal life.' Every one would do well, have good ; then
seek everlasting good ; this your religion directeth you unto.
Use 1. Information or instruction how false the prejudices of the
world are, as if the ways of God were rigid, severe, and unprofitable.
No ; ' He hath showed thee, man, what is good/ He requireth
nothing that is hard, unjust ; nothing that is noxious and harmful, or
for our real loss and damage ; nothing which a man well in his wits
would refuse, if left to his own option and choice. What notion have
you of good ? that which is amiable, pleasant, profitable, honourable ?
1. That which is amiable or draweth affection : /ca\bv earl ov nravra,
&c. What is more amiable than holiness ? It is the beauty of the soul.
]t is nothing else but putting the soul in a decent posture of subor
dination to God, or a regular decency in our thoughts, affections, words,
and actions. The beauty of the body, which consists in good colour
or good proportion, is a mean thing to this. As it consists in good
colour, it is but skin deep, and soon blasted and withered by age and
sickness, or as lovely proportion that may be in an horse or any other
creature. But this of the soul, si oculis cerneretur, if it could be seen
by the eyes of the body, how would it ravish us, and stir up a wonder
ful love in the hearts of men to itself 1 By this we are made amiable
to God, in whose sight it is a great price, 1 Peter iv. 3, to Christ, to
the holy angels, to good men. It is a pleasant sight to see it in a
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. & 403
thorough good man, who seeketh to do good to all, to hurt none,
lusteth not to honour and greatness, but giveth place to all, giveth due
respect to all, and, how great soever, condescendeth to the meanest ;
wrongeth none, is angry with none, raileth at none, revengeth himself
upon none, but is courteous to all, beneficial to all : to God ; is careful
to keep up a due remembrance of God by daily invocation and wor
ship ; always rejoiceth in Christ, and liveth in obedience to the sanc
tifying motions of his Holy Spirit ; so that his life is not tainted with
the blot of any heinous sin ; is still encouraging himself by the pro
mises of another world, and levelling and directing all his actions
thither. Thus is the good man described in scripture ; and can there
be a more delightful spectacle, unless it be to a man blinded with pre
judice and the love of vice, than to see such a man ?
2. pleasant. Surely the truest delight is found in the exercise of
godliness : Prov. iii. 17, ' All her ways are ways of pleasantness, and
her paths are peace/ None have such a sweet life as they that live
holily and suitably to God's commands, moral and evangelical. Sensu
alists are sots and fools, that run to carnal delights ; they never come
away from their sports with such a merry heart as the Christian cometh
away from the throne of grace. The conscience is the most sensible
faculty, and the pleasures are more intimate and deep than those that
only tickle the sense, as all carnal delights can do no more. The sad
dest duties have their pleasure annexed ; no man ever repented his
repentance, 2 Cor. vii. 18. But those duties that concern communion
with God, as prayer, though it seem a dull unpleasing task to the carnal,
iit is a sweet reviving to the gracious: 1 Sam. i. 18, Hannah, having
poured out her prayer to God, ' was no more sad.' So conformity to
God ; as in justice : Prov. xxi. 15, ' It is a joy to the just to do judg
ment.' So mercy is a blessed god-like thing, Acts xx. 38. These are
chaste delights, never soured with any sting or remorse.
3. Profitable. Men stand upon advantage. What profit? is the
usual question : Dent. v. 29, ' Oh ! that there were such an heart in
them that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments
always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for
ever.' No advantage o*r disadvantage cometh to God ; he is above the
reach of our injuries or benefits. What hath God lost by the fall of
the angels ? They have lost, but he hath not lost. Even in this life
we have more than all the wages of sin cometh to : 1 Tim. iv. 8, ' For
bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things,
having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to
come ; ' and Mat. vi. 33, ' Seek first the kingdom of God, and his right
eousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.' No man is a
loser by God. Here we have peace of conscience, Ps. cxix. 165, but
chiefly in the other world. When a man gaineth most by the devil's
service, he is the greatest loser ; when he loseth most by God's service,
he is the greatest gainer, 1 Cor. xv. 58, Rom. vi. 22.
4. Honourable. If we consider it aright, service is an honour and
duty a privilege ; God is so great a master, and his work is such noble
work. He requireth nothing but what is the perfection of our being,
that it puts an excellency upon a man to yield to this service: Prov.
xii. 26, ' The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour.' Carnal
men, though loath to submit to God's precepts themselves, yet see an
404 SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8.
excellency in those that practise them. God himself is glorious in holi
ness, ExocLxv. 11. So that to be holy is to put on the royal robe of
the king of all the earth. Surely the more a man partaketh of the
image of God, and the nature of God, and the holiness of God, the
more excellent, far above those who have no higher trade than to please
the flesh.
Use 2. What reason we have to acquiesce in and bless God for the
good religion what he hath taught us : we had lost the knowledge of
God, and the world to come, and the way that leadeth to it. Now,
that we have such a sure revelation, that teaches us to know God ; it
is our glory, Jer. ix. 29 ; to know Christ it is our life, John xvii. 3 ;
to know the world to come, 2 Tim. i. 10, the way thither by Christ's
doctrine : Ps. xvi. 11, ' Thou wilt show me the path of life.' By Christ's
example, 1 Peter ii. 21, which was necessary, we being bound to imita
tion, and very engaging. We live by the same laws God himself lived
by when he was in the flesh. In short, the moral part of the word is
good, but the evangelical part glorious, 1 Tim. i. 1, 9, 11. Oh ! let us
prize this discovery of the will of God.
Use 3. It informeth us what a good people we should be, for the
impress should be according to the seal. What do bad people do with
a good religion ? In our religion all is good. There is a good God
whom we should imitate: Ps. cxix. 68, 'Thou art good, and doest
good ; teach me thy statutes ; ' and Acts xiv. 17, ' Nevertheless he left
not himself without witness, in that he did good,' &c. And from
whom it came ; a good Christ : Acts x. 36, ' God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth, who went about doing good ; ' that is, to the bodies and
souls of men giving sight to the blind, limbs to the lame, and health
to the sick, life to the dead, naturally, spiritually. There is a good
Spirit, so called because he maketh us good. Barnabas was a good
man, and full of the Holy Ghost, Acts xi. 24. There is a good word.
Now what remaineth but that we be also a good people ?
1. Good to man. Goodness should be the constitution of our souls,
and doing good the business of our lives. It is mighty taking, more
than rigid innocency : Kom. v. 7, ' For a good man one would even
dare to die/
2. Good to God. Many place religion in an easy temper, which is
often difficult to God ; wax to other things, but as a stone to God ;
easy to temptations, hard to be instructed to godliness. But, Luke
vi. 45, he is a good man that out of the good treasure of his heart
bringeth forth good things ; ready to honour and glorify God on all
occasions, ever liveth in constant obedience to him.
SERMON II.
And to walk humbly ivith thy God. MICAH vi. 8.
THIS relateth to the duties of God's worship, which, indeed, 'are the
chief and principal. All our justice and mercy must come from love
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8. 405
and obedience to God, or else they are destitute of their true and pro
per principle. We are under a law, subjects to the heavenly sovereign,
to whom we must give an account ; and in all that we do, either to
God or man, obedience must sway the conscience and incline the heart.
Faith presents encouragements, and then what we do is no more
morality, but religion. In this clause two things are observable
1. The matter. To walk with God is to live an holy life, Gen.
v. 22.
2. The modus or manner humbly ; or, as the word may be tran
slated, ' Humble thyself to walk with God ; ' i.e., with that submission
and reverence which will become such a God. Humility is a voluntary
debasement of soul before God, arising from a sense of his greatness
and our vileness.
Doct. Walking humbly with God is our great duty, which distin-
guisheth the sincere from the hypocrites.
I shall show you
1. What it is.
2. What reasons may enforce it.
First, What it is, or what it containeth.
1. A ready submitting or subjection of ourselves to all God's com
mands. Sin biddeth a defiance to God and disowneth his authority ;
therefore, Ps. cxix. 21, the proud are described to be those ' that err
from God's commandments/ Wicked men shake off the yoke of God,
and will not be subject to their maker : Exod. v. 2, * Who is the Lord,
that I should obey his voice ? ' This is the language of men's actions,
if it be not of their tongues. Every wilful sin hath a great deal of
pride in it, for it is a lifting up our will against the will of our creator,
and so a depreciation or contempt of God's majesty and sovereign
authority, and disowning his interest in us : 2 Sam. xii. 9, ' Wherefore
hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do that which is
evil in his sight ? ' So Ps. xii. 4, ' With our tongue will we prevail ;
our lips are our own : who is lord over us ? ' So it is charged, Neh.
ix. 16, 'Our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and
hearkened not to God's commandments.' Sin is a pride against God
himself. When the prophet inviteth them to repentance, he saith,
Jer. xiii. 15, ' Hear ye, and give ear ; be not proud ; ' that is, break off
your obstinacy and contempt of God. We humble ourselves then to
walk with God when we lie at God's feet, desiring to know his pleasure,
claiming no power over ourselves, or anything that we have, but en
tirely submit ourselves to be commanded and governed by him. There
are two branches of this ready obedience (1.) A fear to offend ; (2.)
A care to please.
[1.] A tear to offend so great and glorious a majesty, Heb. xi. 28, 29.
The more holy any is, the more humble in this sense ; that is, more
tender of doing anything that is displeasing to God : as it is said
of Michael, the archangel, OVK eVoX/^o-e, Jude 9, * He durst not bring
against him a railing accusation/ &c. So Prov. xiii. 13, ' Whoso
despiseth the word shall be destroyed ; but whoso feareth the command
ment shall be rewarded.' There is nothing of less account with the
carnal-minded than a commandment ; but there is an holy awe upon
the gracious ; they dare not proceed if a commandment stop their way.
406 SERMONS ON MIC AH VI. 8.
The authority of God is more than if an angel should stand in the way
to hinder them with a drawn sword. They dare not go over the belly
of a commandment to enjoy the things they most affect. This is the
first branch, a reverence of God's authority.
[2.] The other is a care to please, or an holy solicitude to approve
themselves and their lives to God : Col. i. 10, ' Walk worthy of God,
unto all pleasing.' He is a God too great to be slighted or negligently
served, or put off with a little superficial religiousness done by the by.
No ; the whole drift and bent of their lives and their chief endeavour is
to be well-pleasing unto God : 2 Cor. v. 9, ' Therefore we labour, that,
whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him/ And they are
still improving themselves herein, and striving to come out of their
first weakness ; they cannot satisfy themselves with what they have
done : 1 Thes. iv. 1, ' As you have received how to walk, and how to
please God, so you would abound therein more and more/ They daily
grow better, and mend upon the hand. Surely this is not service be
coming the great God. They are troubled that they know him so
little, love him no more, serve him no better ; and therefore still are
exciting themselves to more growth and progress in godliness. This
is the first and great thing which is included in humbling ourselves to
walk with God.
2. It consisteth in a patient contentedness with every condition God
bringeth us into; for as we are to subject ourselves to be governed by
God's commanding will, so we are to submit ourselves to be ordered by
his disposing will. Those that would walk with God must follow him
wheresoever he leadeth them. They are called to his foot, Isa. xli. 2,
to go to and fro at his command as he should appoint them, or sub
mit to be disposed of according to his will. And herein consists true
humility, meekly to submit to God's corrections, or to humble ourselves
under his mighty hand, 1 Peter v. 8. Murmurings are the fruit of
pride. The devil, the proudest creature in the world, is the most discon
tented with his condition. They whose souls are lifted up are opposed
to the just who live by faith: Hab. ii. 11, 'Behold his soul, which is
lifted up, is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith/
Afflictions are in themselves humbling occasions ; but where they light
upon hypocrites, it discovereth their pride and swelling against God's
sovereignty that he should have the disposing of us at his pleasure ;
whereas the humble and upright soul submits to God, and waiteth for
him in the hardest and straitest condition. Therefore, if we would
humble ourselves to walk with God, we must be contented with his
conduct, that he may lead us to heaven in a way best pleasing to him
self, not thinking ourselves worthy of any better condition than he
seeth fit to bring us into ; nor murmuring against it if it be hard and
pressing ; yea, accepting the punishment of our iniquity, Lev. xxvi. 41 ;
glad it is no worse with us ; for then, and never till then, are our
hearts humbled : Ezra ix. 13, ' Thou hast punished us less than we
have deserved/ If we are in Babylon, remember we might have been
in hell.
3. It implieth specially reverence in worship, and that we be
deeply sensible of our unworthiness to approach his holy presence.
Surely we have not a due sense of the excellency of God, unless we
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8. 407
debase ourselves before him. It is said, Lev. x. 3, ' That God will be
sanctified in all that draw nigh unto him.' God is sanctified when we
carry ourselves humbly, holily, and uprightly in his sight ; when we
set him apart from common things, going about his worship with
another kind of heart than we do go about our ordinary business. So
Ps. xcv, 6, ' Oh ! come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel
before the Lord our maker.' Here we come in the lowliest manner, to
express the sincere humility of our souls, as sensible of our great dis
tance from God, and his superiority over us. God's love doth not
abase his majesty : Ps. Ixxxix. 7, ' God is greatly to be feared in the
assembly of the saints, and had in reverence of them that are round
about him.' Our thoughts should be taken up with the greatness of
his power, excellency, and majesty, that he may not only be loved, but
feared by us, and our praise and humble adoration may be made up
of both.
4. A constant dependence on him, and a looking for all from him
that we stand in need of in the course of our obedience, that we
may live in him, and live to him, and continually receive a supply of
strength from him : Gal. ii. 20, ' I live, yet not I,' &c. ; and Phil. ii.
12, 13. Spiritual life would be at a stand unless God did strengthen
and enable. The humble soul is sensible of his utter insufficiency, 2
Cor. iii. 5, therefore liveth in and upon Christ, hath no life but
from him, no access to God but by him ; he is daily receiving from
Christ, John xv. 5. They live in him as members in their head, as
branches in their root ; need him not only for a turn, but for their
very subsistence. The stock is not in our hands, but in his.
5. A modest sense of their own vileuess and nothingness. Humility,
properly and strictly taken, is a mean esteem of ourselves. In their
course of walking with God, the best see enough to humble them ;
it is because they are best acquainted with themselves, they think
none so bad as themselves. Thus Paul, 1 Tim. i. 15, counts him
self Trpwro? a^aprwKwVj ' the chiefest of sinners/ and ' less than the
least of all saints/ eXa^ta-rorepo^, Eph. iii. 8. So Agur : Prov. xxx.
2, ' I am more brutish than any man/ They have such dull thoughts
of God, such an aversion from holy things, their meditations are so
strange and backward as to the life to come, that they think there
can hardly be such unthankful creatures in the world. A good
Christian hnteth himself for the imperfectness of his obedience to
God, more than hypocrites do for reigning sin. No question but ' the
righteous is more excellent than his neighbour/ But you will say,
How then can he speak this in truth ? I answer They have more
light and love, therefore none value themselves at a lower rate than
they do ; and they know more evil of themselves than possibly they
can know by another ; they have an intimate sight of their own sins,
but a remote view of the sins of others. Guilt checketh a mis
trust of others, but uprightness condemneth ourselves. A man
grievously sick feeleth his own pain, and can but guess at the pain
of another. The sincere heart is conscious to such defects in his love
to God, such slightness in his service, such cold thoughts of happi
ness to come, such unreadiness in his duty, such non-proficiency under
his advantages and the means he enjoyeth, and experienceth such
408 SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8.
reluctances and oppositions of the carnal nature against anything that
is good, that he thinketh none can be as bad as himself. As their
spiritual life increaseth, so doth their sense of what is an annoyance
to it ; but the heartless hypocrite is vaunting and boasting : ' God, I
thank thee I am not as other men/ Luke xviii. 11. Now, concern
ing this humility, I observe four things
[1.] It is spoken of them that are supposed to do justice and love
mercy ; they walk humbly with God. Some are altogether destitute
of goodness, have no real worth wherein to pride themselves. Humi
lity doth not imply a want of grace, but an humble sense of the
imperfections which are mingled with the grace that we have ; and
doth not only become the downright sinner, but the choicest ser
vants of God : Luke xvii. 10, ' When you shall have done all those
things which are commanded you. say, We are unprofitable servants.'
Many speak against resting in their own duties when they have done
nothing for God therein. Humility is when we have done all. To
use this plea, when done nothing, is to harden ourselves in the neglect
of duty. They that have done nothing are cast out as unprofitable
servants, Mat. xxv. But when done our utmost, then to humble our
selves is most proper and commendable, and tendeth most to the glory
of God and our own self-abasement.
[2.] I observe, that walking humbly is here pressed ; not hanging
the head for a day like a bullrush as many will in a day of humilia
tion, but are proud at other times. Walking implieth more than one
act, a continued course and tract of humility, or a life of lowliness,
meekness, and patience. This grace is never out of use ; our exercise
of it continueth till we are perfected in heaven ; still there is an
abasing of themselves before God, Isa. vi. 2, 3. But here, in this life,
God's children are still admiring the mercy of God in Jesus Christ,
still kept sensible of daily weaknesses and failings, see a constant
need of having their wants supplied, and receiving new comfort and
grace out of Christ's fulness. And once more, it is a frame of heart,
not a pang. Legal terrors are a judiciary impression, which lasteth
but for a while ; but this always continueth with us. A stormy con
science we must get rid of as soon as we can, but a tender conscience
must be always cherished.
[3.] I observe, this humble walking is consistent with an interest in
God; nay, floweth from the sense and assurance of it 'Thy God.'
There is no such humility required of us as to put ourselves out of
Christ, or to think ourselves excluded utterly from the favour of God.
That is not true humility, but sinful ingratitude, to deny his spiritual
graces and favours vouchsafed to us. As, in a temporal case, to
profess deep poverty when God has given us somewhat to live upon,
is a lie and a deceit ; so to deny grace received is Jmmilitatis causa
mentiri. God's children are sensible of their defects, none more ; yet
they do not deny their grace, Cant. i. 6, and v. 2, Mark iv. 24. Paul
acknow r ledgeth a will when he could not own a thorough perform
ance, Rom. vii. 18. When he in humility calleth himself less than
the least of the saints, he acknowledged himself a saint in some
degree, and owneth the work of grace, though in the lowest form a-nd
rank. Christ was angry with Peter's over-modesty, whether in defect
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8. 409
or excess, John xiii. 10. Remaining defects do not make void our
interest in Christ, nor change our spiritual estate.
[4.] I observe, that it is no such humility as doth enfeeble our hands
for duty ; for it is, ' Walk humbly.' They bewail defects, but go on
still. Some languish, and spend their religion in fruitless and idle
complaints. Oh, no! humble yourselves, but yet walk with God.
It is sinful and legal dejection which crippleth our endeavours. God's
children press forward to mend what they complain of : Phil. iii. 13,
14, ' I have not attained, I am not perfect ; but this one thing I do, I
press forward towards the mark.' To lie down under heartless dis
couragement is not the fruit of true humility.
6. There is also included in it a giving God the glory of all that
we have, are, and do ; not boasting of ourselves, nor arrogating to
ourselves that excellency which is due to God. Whatever we have,
we have it from God, and we have it for God, 1 Cor. iv. 7 ; therefore
the crown of excellency must be taken off from our own heads, and
thrown at the Lamb's feet, Rev. iv. 10 ; unwilling to wear a crown
in his presence. The saints have been very tender of robbing God of
any part of his honour, or ascribing anything to their own merit
or power, Gen. xxxii. 10; Luke xix. 16, * Thy pound ;' 1 Cor. xv. 10,
* Not I, but the grace of God which was with me ; ' Gal. ii. 20, ' I
live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me,' &c. They would disappear
and be hidden in a throng, that God may have all the glory. They
have all from him, therefore they cast the honour of all upon him.
7. Looking for our acceptance and reward from God's mere mercy ;
allowing no conceit of righteousness or merit in ourselves, but hoping
humbly to find grace by a free covenant : Jude 21, ' Looking for the
mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.' That is the only
claim the Christian makes. 'Christ spake a parable against those
that trusted in themselves- that they were righteous,' Luke xviii. 9.
A good Christian, well acquainted with his great imperfections, un-
worthiness, blusheth at his own defects, dareth not challenge God as a
debtor, but ascribes all to his mercy and benignity as a gracious bene
factor.
Secondly, What reasons may enforce it, or why should we thus
humble ourselves to walk with God.
1. It is God, the fountain of all being, from whom we and all that
we have doth come, and on whom we do continually depend, and who
is the sovereign Lord of the whole earth. To carry ourselves unduti-
fully to him is as much as in us lieth to lessen his majesty, and to
bring down the rate of his honour in the world. By slight and
neglectful dealing his greatness is disparaged, Mai. i. 14. His great
ness calleth for other manner of service than is usually given him in
the world. Superficial dealing in his service floweth from mean
thoughts of him ; and we propagate this slightness to others so far as
our actions are public. And besides, by such malignant sin his holi
ness is blotted : Ezek. xxxvi. 20, ' They profaned my holy name
among the heathen.' But of that by and by. There is not a more
powerful means in the world to keep men humble than a due appre
hension of God : Iga. vi. 5, ' I am unclean, for I have seen the Lord
of hosts ; ' Gen. xviii. 27, ' I have taken upon me to speak unto the
410 SERMONS ON MIC AH VI. 8.
Lord, who am but dust and ashes.' The term dust refers to our
original. When the soul was formed out of nothing, the body was
made of the dust of the ground. Ashes refers to the curse or wrath
of God that came upon themA>y the fall. So Job xli. 5, ' I have
.heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee ;
wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes/ By God's
appearing in so great glory and majesty he had a deeper sense of his
own vileness than ever before. If God were indeed seen and duly
apprehended by the eye of faith, the most holy of all his saints would
become loathsome and vile in their own eyes. When we compare
ourselves with other creatures, we seem wise, good, powerful, as they
are foolish, wicked, and bad. The stars differ from one another in
brightness and glory in the night; but when the sun appeareth, all these
differences are obscured and vanish out of sight. So where God is
thought on and rightly apprehended, our wisdom is but folly, our
power but weakness, our righteousness as filthy rags. He is all, we
are nothing but what he maketh us to be. All the creatures are to
him ' as nothing, less than nothing,' Isa. iv. 17 ; nothing in opposition
to him, nothing in comparison with him, nothing in exclusion of him.
Now the mind of man should be often seasoned with these thoughts.
2. ' Thy God ; ' which noteth our interest in him. He is our God,
partly by his own condescension, and partly by our choice. The one
noteth our ingratitude, the other our treachery and breach of covenant
if we do not humble ourselves to walk with him.
[1.] His condescension. He hath crowned thee with his grace and
favour. He must not be the lesser for that, but the greater in our
esteem ; because that through Christ in the covenant he becometh
ours : Deut. xxviii. 58, ' Thou shalt do all the words in this law, that
thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, The Lord thy God.'
You above all others are most obliged to God, and singled out to hold
forth the name of God with honour to the world, that by the impres
sion upon your hearts and lives the world may know what a great and
glorious being he is: 1 Peter ii. 9, ' A peculiar people, that show forth
the praises of him,' &c.; ra? a/oera?, his properties and excellences
to the world, that others might have a reverence of God. The world
must know from you that God is wise, powerful, good, his counsel the
wisest course you can take ; his power in an holy awe, not daring to
offend him. There are the greatest advantages on the one side, the
greatest terrors on the other, discovered by the joy of your faith, readi
ness of your obedience, and patience under the sharpest afflictions.
[2.] Our choice. We have taken upon ourselves to serve and
honour him, believing his excellences and waiting for his reward. Now,
for us to be disobedient to God, or murmur against his providence,
and to carry it high against him, it is to be rebels to God while we
profess to be his people, and, in confidence of our privileges, to break
his law, Luke vi. 46, and John vi. 67, ' Will ye also go away ? ' It
goeth near his heart. So that our interest in him doth not make void
our duty, but establish it rather. Who will reverence him if his
people do not ? those whom he hath known of all the families of the
earth, who have devoted themselves to him, and chosen him for their
God.
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8. 41 1
[3.] You are with him, always before him in his eye and presence :
Luke. i. 75, * In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of
our life.' To be proud and undutiful before God is to affront him to
his face. Others sin behind God's back, you before his very face :
' Will he force the queen before my face ? ' Esther vii. 8.
[4.] In the word ivalk there is an argument which noteth a continual
converse with God and communion with him. Can they be proud
that have so often to do with an rWly and glorious God ? Surely
every glimpse of his majesty should take down their self-exalting
thoughts. For those who are strange to God, and have little business
with him, to contemn and slight him, is not so great a wonder: but
you have continually to do with that majesty that is so much to be
reverenced and dreaded ; this should move you ; the bent of your
hearts are towards him, your thoughts are on him, your work lieth
with him, even with so holy and so great a God ; therefore surely
we should walk humbly. If you know the God whom you worship,
if you be serious with him, as you are often with him, the very
thoughts of God will teach you humility arid reverence.
Use I. If walking humbly with God distinguished the sincere from
the hypocrites, let us see if we walk humbly with God.
1. It it be so, it is yourselves that you have most cause to complain
of in your afflictions, more than the rigour of God or the injustice ot
men. The rigour of God : Lam. iii. 39, ' Wherefore doth a living
man complain, a man for the punishment of his sin?' Is God
severe, or have you been unthankful ? Did I honour God with my
prosperity, or did I not give him just cause to take away the fuel of
my lusts by my ingratitude to him ? Nor injustice of men, if slighted,
disparaged, disesteemed, and reproached. Contempt from these is no
great matter to him that hath a constant sense of the burden of
remaining sin. Paul did not complain of afflictions, but of ' the body
of death/ Kom. vii. 24 ; as if no hurt can be done to such a poor
worm and such an unworthy sinner as himself. Reproaches might
be an help against his sore burden, 2 Cor. xii. 10.
2. If it be so,- if you are rightly humble, you will be more willing to
be admonished than praised ; for your design is humble walking witli
God, and no man that hath any sense of his duty but will soon see how
much more he deserveth reproof than praises. The world seeth not
the many secret sins you are conscious unto, and how much more you
deserve reproof than commendation. It is the proud man despiseth
reproof, but the humble prizeth it. Instances of the one is Amazias
to the prophet: 2 Chron. xxv. 16, 'Art thou made of the king's counsel?
forbear, why shouldest thou be smitten ? ' Zedekiah to Michaias :
2 Chron. xviii. 23, * Which way went the spirit of the Lord from thee
to me?' The pharisees to Christ: John ix. 39, 40, 'Are we blind
also?' Humble men are of another temper. Job ' despised not the
cause of his servants, when they contended with him,' Job xxx. 13, 14.
David : Ps. cxli. 5, ' Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kind
ness ; let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not
break my head.' Surely to a gracious heart reproofs are better than
praises or flatteries.
3. You will not look upon your graces and privileges without looking
412 SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8.
upon your infirmities. A Christian's life is an intermixture of thank
fulness and humility : ' I believe, help my belief/ Mark ix. 29. And
when you do so, you will say you have more cause to blush than to be
proud, 1 Cor. iv. 4, ' The world seeth the good, not the evil ; ' Luke
xvi. 15, ' That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination
in the sight of God.' Self-love overlooketh our failings, Prov. xvi. 2,
but our actions will we weighed in a more impartial balance.
4. When you reflect upon your enjoyments, you will consider your
account, Luke xii. 43. How shall we do when we shall appear before
God's tribunal to answer for his honour, estate, gifts, &c. ? This
reckoning doth quench all self-exalting thoughts.
5. You will not consider your afflictions, but the undeserved mercies
yet remaining, and set the evil against the good, Job ii. 10.
6. You will not look upon your excellency, but remember the
author, and the undeserved goodness of God, 2 Sam. vii. 18, 1 Cor.
iv. 7. You have nothing but what was given you of grace, and may
be taken away by justice.
Use 2. To persuade the most close walkers with God to be
humble.
1. Pride came into the world with sin. Man was never more arro
gant than since he was wretchedly miserable. It is not perfection, but
imperfection is the cause of pride ; not height, but defect of grace. To
be proud and holy is to be sick and well. The sun at height casts least
shadows. Laden branches do most bend the head. When holiness is
at the highest, there is no pride ; as in heaven, and in the person of
Christ.
2. The humble have the advantage of others. Where there is an
humble sense of wants and the burden of sin, they hear the word with
more seriousness than others : Isa. Ixvi. 2, ' To him will I look that is
poor in spirit, and trembleth at my word.' They have more life in
their supplications than others have. The poor sendeth up supplica
tions when others pray formally and heartlessly ; they find the want
of grace, and pray heartily as an hunger-starved child crieth for bread :
Heb. iv. 1 6, ' Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in a time of need.'
3. They have most respect with God : 1 Peter v. 5, ' Be subject one
to another, and be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the
proud,' &c.
4. Consider what need there is why close walkers should be
humble.
[1.] The sin and misery they were once in. They were born fleshly,
carnal, averse from God, Bom. iii. 6, liable to God's wrath, Eph. ii. 3.
If escaped by Christ, the sentence was once passed upon you, the rope
was about your necks ; you were as bad as the worst. This must be
remembered, though not to weaken your confidence, yet to humble your
hearts. You were at the gates of hell, and might have entered in, but
for the grace of your Kedeemer.
[2.] There is much corruption of nature yet remaining, Gal. v. 17 ;
and this often breaketh out into actual sin, which breedeth fear of the
wrath of God, and should beget such a sense of it as promoteth humility,
and should quicken your prayers for pardon.
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8. 413
[3.] Though it break not out into actual sin, yet there are such
defects in our best duties as should humble us, such low apprehensions
and dull conceptions of God, Christ, and heaven as neither excite rever
ence nor joy, at least not becoming such a God, such a Christ, such a
glory, that a Christian cannot satisfy himself in his imperfect endeavours.
Ye cannot do the things that ye would : ' How to perform that which
is good I find not/
[4.] The remainder of sin would bring you to damnation if God
should deal with you according to your deservings ; and it is a wonder
that a fire doth not come forth from his jealousy to consume you.
If Christ, that died for your sins, did not now hide your nakedness, and
by his intercession procure your daily pardon, you would every day be
your own destroyers ; nay, you would not be an hour longer out of hell,
Heb. iii. 17, 18.
[5.] We have a great deal of work to do, and our strength is very
small. The best may say, Lord, we have no might ; our eyes are
unto thee ; Rom. vii. 18 ; ' How to perform that which is good I find
not.'
[6.] Now you have a little grace, you cannot keep it of yourselves.
Now you are made alive, you cannot keep yourselves alive, if not pre
served by him that infused life into you at first, Jude 1, and kept by
his power. If he be not the finisher who was the author of it, how
speedily, how certainly would you undo all ! You are carried in his
arms. If left to yourselves in one temptation, it doth easily overcome
you. None can preserve us but he that created us.
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE
PARLIAMENT.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light sliall not be clear,
nor dark : but it shall be one day which shall be known to the
Lord, nor day, nor night, &c. ZECH. xiv. 6, 7.
THESE words are a notable prophecy, and, as all prophecies are, some
what obscure. Your time and occasions will not give leave to search
them to the bottom. That we may state the meaning and particular
application to the time concerned upon sure evidence, whether they
relate to the general state of the times under the gospel dispensation,
I say to that whole tract of time from Christ's ascension to his second
coming ; or rather, some special season when this shall be most emin
ently fulfilled ; and what that season is I shall not now dispute. Let
it suffice to note that you have here (1.) A description of troublous
times ; (2.) A prescription of comforts against the troubles of them.
1. The description of troublous times, ver. 6 And it shall come to
pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark.
2. A prescription of comforts ; and there three things are observable
[1.] The short continuance of them It shall be one day ; that is,
one period of providence.
[2 ] The providential ordination and disposal of them Known unto
the Lord.
[3.] The end and issue of them At evening it shall be light. There
are two things intimated the issue shall be comfortable, and that in a
strange season At evening.
To explain these parts
First, The state of the times. By light and darkness, day and night,
is meant prosperity and adversity, Isa. xxi. 11, 12 ; truth and falsehood,
joy and sorrow, hopes and fears. Now, when it is said they shall be
neither light nor dark, 'the meaning is, neither good nor bad to any
extremity, neither applaud nor complain, neither thorough day nor
thorough night, but an intermixture and vicissitude of either.
Secondly, The comforts produced.
1. ' It shall be one day ; ' one period or course of providence, much-
what after the same tenor. God's people may meet with sharp en-
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT. 415
counters here in the world, and be kept in much uncertainty as to their
outward comforts ; but the time is but short ; short in itself, short in
comparison of eternity, short in regard of their own desert, short with
respect to the enemies' rage, short with respect to our love to God, Gen.
xxix. 20, and many other considerations, &c.
2. * Known to the Lord ; ' that is, determined, appointed by him.
We know it not many times : Acts i. 7, * It is not for you to know the
times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power ; '
but it is known to him. Nothing befalleth us without his providence
and special designation, his hand and counsel : Acts iv. 28, ' To do what
soever thy hand and counsel determined before to be done.' God taketh
notice of these affairs. He hath set the time, and tempered with his
own hand every ounce and drachm of that bitter cup we drink of.
3. The issue and close * Towards morning it shall be light ; ' where
the issue is comfortable and the season strange. It shall end well, and
that at such a time when nobody would look for it. All providences
to God's church end in light, and this at the evening, when sun and
day is gone, when seemingly all things tend to a new calamity, and are
ready to introduce a sad night and extreme darkness. When miseries
first seize upon us we are full of hopes ; and when things begin to clear
up and look hopefully, we say, Now it will end, and, Then it will end,
when it may be it is but the beginning of the day or morning of our
troubles. But at evening, when our hopes are quite spent, and we give
all for lost, then unexpected deliverance breaketh in, and we come to a
period of all our troubles : Luke xviii. 8, ' I tell you that he will avenge
them speedily.'
First, From description, observe, that the day of the church's con
flict is mixed, and yieldeth wonderful variety of providences. Some
times truth and righteousness, with its fautors and abettors, getteth
the upper hand ; and sometimes the contrary party, that foment error
and unrighteousness. Now, it is a doubtful day in a twofold regard
^1.) Because light and darkness are either intermixed or alternate;
either because they shine together at the same time, or they do by
turns succeed each other ; either because crosses and comforts, troubles
or successes, are equally poised, and a man cannot say which is greater,
the light or darkness ; (2.) Or else because our estate in respect of
either is not durable and fixed, but liable to great uncertainties ; we do
not know which will carry it at the last. Let me illustrate the point
in either sense.
1. There is an intermixture of providences at the same time, and
the church is in several respects both happy and miserable at once.
Here things go well, and there ill ; as, for instance, it may be ill with
many private men when it may be well with the public ; as Paul in
prison rejoiced when the gospel was freely preached, Phil. i. 15
Modo me moriente, floreat ecclesia. Or it may be well with us when
it is ill with the church ; as Nehemiah was preferred when the city of
God and the sepulchres of their fathers lay waste, Neh. i. It is a rare
case when there is a perfect harmony between our private condition
and public happiness, Ps. cxxviii. 6. But to come to instances more
home and express to the present case. Jacob was at once frighted
with hearing of Esau's four hundred men, and cheered with the sight
41 ft A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT.
of an host of angels sent to guard him. The angel that wrestled with
him blessed him but maimed him. Paul had his revelations and his
thorn in the flesh at the same time. And to be yet more express in
public cases, here success, there a loss ; here it is Goshen for light ;
there Egypt for darkness ; here hopes, there fears : as Rev. x. 1, 'I saw
a mighty angel, that was clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon
his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of
fire.' Christ appeared thus to his church and people. A cloud, that
signified a storm, and a rainbow, Nuncius fcederis et serenitatis, that
signifieth a calm, or fair weather ; this at the same time. These are
strange prolusions of providence. God tempereth his dispensations ;
good and evil are interwoven with one another in a strange variety.
Some evil there is to show we are not past all danger ; some good, to
show we are not shut out from all hope ; as a wise pilot taketh in so
much burden as will ballast the ship, and not sink it.
2. Successively there is a vicissitude and interchange of condi
tions ; good and evil succeed each other by turns ; as see the state of
the Jewish church. Saul's time was bad, David and Solomon's good ;
Kehoboam and Abijah's bad, Asa and Jehoshaphat good ; Joram and
Joash bad, Uzziah arid Jotharu good ; Ahaz bad, Hezekiah good ;
Manasseh and Ammon bad again. Josiah good, and his successors till
the captivity all bad ; after the captivity good, a little reviving. Thus
variously doth God exercise his people in the world. Or take a more
particular case ; Hezekiah, after his coming to the crown, prospered for
divers years ; but the tide soon turneth ; Sennacherib invadeth his coun
try, seizeth on all ; but when he prayeth, God delivereth him by a
miracle, smiting Sennacherib's host, 2 Kings xx. 1. Then he sickens,
and is ready to die, yet he dieth not, but fifteen years are added to his
life. After this, his heart was lifted up, 2 Chron. xxxii. 25 ; then
wrath cometh upon him, a sad message concerning the calamities of
his posterity. What a strange succession is here ! up and down, day
and night, light and dark. So Dan. xi. 32-34. The church is in
danger of being ruined ; ' Then the understanding among them shall
do exploits , ' and yet after that, ' they shall fall by the sword/ and
by ' the flame/ and by ' spoil many days ; ' and then hoi pen by a little
help, and so get up again after their hopeless condition. Human affairs,
under God, depend much on the people's hearts, and how uncertain
are they ! Those that cried Hosanna to-day, to-morrow Crucify.
Peter makes a glorious confession, and a little after a gross denial
Paul was received as an angel of God, and then looked upon as an
enemy, Gal. iv. 14-16. The church complaineth, Ps. cii. 10, ' Thou
hast lifted me up, and cast me down.' Now in prosperity ; then that
being abused brings adversity. Compare 2 Sam. xix. 43, with 2 Sam.
xxii. 1. In the first place we find them striving with the men of
Judah, saying, ' We have ten parts in David ;' and chap. xx. 1, ' We
have no part in David ; every one to his tents, Israel.'
Secondly, The reason of this, why the day of our conflict is such a
mixed doubtful day. Let us consider (1.) The equity; (2.) The
wisdom of God in it.
1. The equity of it. It is such a day as is very suitable to our
condition in the world.
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT. 417
[1.] We are in a middle place, between heaven and hell, and there
fore partake somewhat of both. Hell is set forth by utter darkness ;
and of heaven it is said, ' There is no night there/ Kev. xxi. 25. It is
all day or all night in the other world ; but here, neither day nor night,
neither clear nor dark. It is convenient that this middle place of trial
should have somewhat of both. In hell, all evil and only evil, Ezek.
xvii., without any temperament of mercy ; and in heaven, no more
death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor any pain any more, Kev. xxi. 4.
These pleased spirits are ever rejoicing. God would give a taste of
the other world in the present life ; of eternal death and eternal life in
the sorrows and comforts of the present life ; it shall not be too well
nor too ill in the world.
[2.] We have mixed principles flesh and spirit, Gal. v. 17 ; and
as long as sin remaineth in us we cannot be perfectly happy. The
flesh needeth to be weakened by divers afflictions ; as grace to be en
couraged, and love cherished, with experiences and proofs of God's
favour ; clouds and sunshine, frowns and favours, summer and winter,
day and night. I speak of the best. Alas ! generally we are ' evil,
only evil, and that continually,' Gen. vi. 5 ; and therefore our condition
might be so.
[3.] As our principles are mixed, so are all our operations. There
is a mixture of good and evil in all our services. The water receiveth
a tincture from the channel through which it passeth. Our duties are
spotted and stained ; there is iniquity in holy things ; yea, our zealous
undertakings and engagements for Christ have a tang of the flesh.
There is a great deal of wrath, revenge, fleshly zeal, and kitchen-fire,
rather than a coal of the altar, while we are engaged for God : Isa.
Ixiv. 6, ' Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags ; we are as a dried leaf ;
our iniquities have taken us away/ None of our actions are free from
default and defilement.
2. The wisdom and justice of God in it. He hath many wise ends
to be accomplished by these mixed providences. ,
[1.] That a people worn out with long misery may be more pliable
to God's purpose. By such mixed providences God will weaken and
waste stubborn nature, and cause them to be tossed up Jind down, that
by the protraction of their miseries he may work them to his own bent.
A cloud that is soon blown over, and doth only wet us a little in the
passing, is not regarded ; but when the conflict is long between light
and darkness, sunshine and storms, and our miseries continue longer,
it doth awaken a people to inquire after God's mind. For a great
while a people make a light matter of religion, and God's interest in
the nation is looked upon as a trifle, not worth the looking after, and
therefore is there such slight reformation ; but before God hath done
with them they shall see that his interests are to be regarded as well as
other rights of man. Surely God hath some notable work to do upon
England, or else he would not pursue us with so many effects of his anger
and break us with so many changes and distractions. Are all these
shakings to no purpose ? and to leave us there where God found us at
first ? as unholy and unreformed as before ? Surely, then, it will be
utter ruin : Ezek. xxiv. 13, ; Because I would have purged thee, and
thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any
VOL xv. 2 D
418 A SERMON PEE ACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT.
more/ But God seemeth not to leave England so. He would say,
Let them alone : Hosea iv. 17, ' Ephraim is joined to idols ; let him
alone.' As it is with a natural body, when corruption hath seized upon
the vital parts, the body must be brought very low, and just kept alive,
that a better spring of blood may be procured ; the wise physician
giveth nothing for a while that may strengthen nature, lest it strengthen
the disease ; so when corruptions are so inveterate, rooted in men's
minds, God doth wear us out with a continual vicissitude and inter
change of providences. His dispensations are somewhat like those sup
plies the Athenians gave to a lingering war, just enough to keep it
up, not to end it. Demosthenes compareth them to a medicinal diet,
which neither strengthens nor suffers to die. till it groweth to a, linger
ing mischief. As by the motions of his Spirit, so by the courses of
his providence : Job xxxiii. 14, ' God speaketh once, and twice, and
man perceiveth it not/ God is loath to be gone and make it whole
night, and loath to tarry and make it perfect day, but sometimes one
party prevaileth, sometimes another. Oh ! that we were wise !
[2.] To work us from earthly things to things heavenly. In heaven
there is no night, but all day. There is no stability in outward com
forts, that we may look higher, and get ' the moon under our feet/
Rev. xii. 1. All sublunary things are liable to changes. We are
eagerly bent upon temporal happiness, and would seek our rest here,
but that God maketh all unquiet to drive us higher, Mat. vi. 19, 20.
Here is slandering and violence. Noah's ark, when it was tossed upon
the waves, was the nearer to heaven ; so the more we are tossed upon
the unstable waters, the more should we look after the place of our
eternal rest, where we shall be for ever with the Lord.
[3.] To put a cloud and veil upon his proceedings. There is a
foolish curiosity that doth possess us ; we are usually earnest to know
the event, but slack to use the means ; it is natural to us to inquire
after what is to come, and to neglect present duties. Now no creature
shall know the bottom of his counsels, Isa. xlv. 15. When he
meaneth to be a saviour, the world shall not know so much, but things
are kept in a doubtful uncertainty, and we cannot say whether they
tend to ruin or establishment : Eccles. vii. 14, ' In the days of pros
perity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider : God hath set
the one against the other, to the end that man may find nothing after
him ; ' that man may not be able to look to the end of God's design,
who would either slacken his duty or choose his party, not upon reasons
of conscience, but carnal motives ; and therefore, when man is upon
his trial, the face of things looketh doubtfully, Isa. xlviii. 7, and John
xiii. 7.
[4.] To prevent the excesses of either condition, God tempereth and
qualifieth the one with the other. Prosperity maketh us grow wanton,
adversity stupid ; therefore, that we may mourn as if we mourned not,
and rejoice as if we rejoiced not, 1 Cor. vii. 31, we are exercised with
various changes. Out of indulgence to us he giveth us prosperity, lest
we should be overwhelmed with sorrow ; and then adversity again for
the abuse of prosperity ; the one is set against the other, to keep the
soul in an equal temper and poise. In adversity we think we shall
never be delivered, in prosperity never moved. Now, to keep the soul
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT. 419
steady, God seemeth to hover, and the face of providence looketh with
a doubtful uncertainty. Especially are we apt to be corrupted with
prosperous things ; as Hezekiah, 2 Chron. xxxii. 25. When stormy
winds fill the sails, it is hard to go steady. It is certainly an help to
inure our thoughts to changes ; but when we are well at ease we are
apt to forget. Few say, as David, Ps. xxxix. 5 ' Surely man at his
best estate is altogether vanity/ We should rejoice with trem
bling. The Egyptians used to present a death's-head at their feast.
Leaven (which, was forbidden in other sacrifices, Lev. ii. 11), was
allowed in thank-offerings, Lev. vii. 13 ; and Amos iv. 5, ' Offer a
sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven.' Leaven made bread sour to
taste. When we offer praise for any benefits and deliverances, we
should still entertain suitable thoughts of the bitterness to which we are
incident during the present state. That we may neither surfeit in
prosperity nor despond in adversity, neither wax wanton nor be swal
lowed up of sorrow, God giveth us such intermixtures of providences.
[5.] To make way for the exercise of our faith ; therefore, in the
tenor of his providence, God doth so govern and order his providential
dispensations towards his people, that they shall not live by sense but
by faith. To make this evident, let me tell you five possible ways of
providence may be imagined. The first is, that the righteous shall
always see good, and the wicked suffer evil. The second, that the
righteous shall always be afflicted, and meet with nothing but evil in
the world, and the wicked be always prosperous, and enjoy good. The
third, that both good and evil men should always be afflicted, and never
see good day in the world. The fourth, that both good and bad men
should be always prosperous, and never troubled with any evil. The
fifth, that neither to all the righteous or all the wickejl there should be
evil and only evil, or good and only good, but a mixture of both ; to the
good sometimes good, and to the evil sometimes evil. Now, though
all these ways of providence might be just, yet God doth only the first
and the last of these ; the first in the world to come, the last in the
present life ; that is to say, that the righteous should enjoy good, and
only good, and the wicked evil and only evil. This is the dispensation
which God reserveth for the world to come, where the good are always
and completely blessed, and the wicked are always and completely
miserable. The last, God hath chosen for this world, a mixture of
good and evil promiscuously dispensed ; that is to say, that some good
men shall enjoy more of worldly prosperity, others be kept low and
bare ; as we read of a poor Lazarus resting in a rich Abraham's bosom,
Luke xvi. 23 ; and that there should be vicissitudes in the same per
son; some comforts, some crosses. On the other side, the wicked
should be sometimes mighty and prosperous, ' not plagued like other
men/ Ps. xiii. 5 ; and sometimes that the iniquity of their heels should
cleave to them. There are intermixtures, that neither the righteous nor
the wicked may be known by their outward condition. Why ? Because the
present state is a state of faith, not a state of sense, Acts ii.6, 7. We are
justified by faith, we live by faith, we walk by faith, and not by sight ;
therefore this state of 'faith requireth that the manner by which God
governeth the world should neither be too sensible and clear nor too ob
scure and dark, but a middle thing, as the daybreak or twilight is between
420 A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT.
the light of the day and the full darkness of the night. If too clear,
we should not need faith. If too obscure, we should wholly lose
faith. Therefore, the first way of providence is not fit for the pre
sent world, that the godly shall always be happy and flourish,
and have all things according to their heart's desire, and the
wicked always in troubles and calamities. This would make religion
too sensible a thing, unfit for the present time, when we walk by faith
and not by sense. If the world were so governed, it could not be put
to any trial ; and temporal things, the good and evil of the present
time, would be the great motives to induce men to serve God and avoid
sin. Therefore, that men may live by faith, and look for a better
reward of righteousness, and a greater punishment of sin, God will not
always observe this law and course in his dispensations, to bestow upon
the good the blessings of the world, and inflict upon the evil the
punishments thereof ; but promiscuously give good things to the
wicked, that they may.not be thought the chiefest good, and sometimes
he will bestow them upon the good, that the very possession of these
may not be thought evil. Sometimes he will be glorified by his ser
vants in a high and prosperous, and sometimes in a low and afflicted
condition ; and they shall enjoy vicissitudes and interchanges ; some
times no complainings in their families, sometimes great breaches
made upon them. Therefore the first way may be fit for heaven, not
fit for earth. It would make all things too liable to sense if God had
distinguished men by their outward condition. No ; in these things
he dealeth promiscuously : ' All things come alike to all,' Eccles. ix. 2.
He doth not promiscuously dispense the riches of his grace ; these are
invisible treasures. His Christ, his Spirit, the hopes of glory, he
giveth only to the good ; but health, wealth, beauty, strength, success,
children, are promiscuously given to good and bad ; and God will take
them, as well as give them, at his pleasure.
But now, all the other ways of providence, as the second, third, fourth,
would too much obscure the providence of God, and hinder faith ; as
the second, that the righteous should alwa} T s see evil, and the wicked
enjoy the good things of this world. Alas ! if we were held always in
misery and affliction, and the wicked should always wallow in pomp,
and ease, and plenty, it would be a grievous temptation to the weak to
deny providence; yea, the faith of the strongest would be grievously
shaken ; for we cannot expect that the good should be perfect in an
instant, and presently dead to all temporal interests. If now, when we
see some good ones oppressed whilst the evil rejoice, we be so apt to ques
tion, as the Israelites, Exod. xvii. 7, ' Is the Lord amongst us, yea or
no ? ' or as David, Ps. Ixxiii. 13, ' Verily I have cleansed my heart in
vain, and in vain have I washed my hands in innocency ;' what would
be done then ? and who could keep his patience and keep his faith if
the wicked were always kept in joy and triumph whilst the godly are
in tears ? Therefore God mixeth his dispensations. Sometimes, to
exercise our faith and patience, he denieth many things to his friends
which he bestoweth upon his enemies ; yet often, on the other side,
punisheth the wicked and rewardeth the godly, to show his provi
dence. And so faith is neither made void by too great a light, nor
extinguished by too great a darkness.
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT. 421
The third sort of providence, that both should be always miserable,
both wicked and godly ; for if both were alike afflicted there would
be no knowledge of the goodness of God till the world to come, no
invitations to repentance nor sense of the mercy of the creation to
invite us to remember God. All our pleasant affections would be
useless, and our graces, which serve for delighting in God, be cut off
and prevented ; the harmony and order of the world disturbed, which
hath cast the world into hills and valleys, appoints some to be in
prosperity, others in affliction and want, that the happy may have
occasions of showing mercy and relieving the miserable ; as the great
veins in the body abound with blood to fill the lesser. But chiefly
God would not then show his bounty to all his creatures as he doth :
Mat. v. 45, ' He maketh his sun to arise upon the evil and the good,
and sendeth rain upon the just and unjust.' So Acts xiv. 17, ' He
left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain
from heaven and fruitful seasons/ &c. This world is a common inn,
where God entertaineth sons and bastards, and seeketh to draw and
allure them to repentance by his goodness, Kom. ii. 4. He would
have wicked men think whence they have all this wealth, honour and
greatness, houses and fields, servants and provisions. Did I bring
them into the world with me when I was born, or did a good God
provide them for me ? No ; ' Naked came I into the world/ Did I
acquire them by my own wit and industry? No; many that excel
me in these things want them. Had I them by inheritance ? Who
made me to be born of rich parents, not of poor ? Many more
righteous than I are in a mean estate of life ; surely it was God that pre
vented me with his goodness and mercy, and shall I be unthankful for
these benefits? These reasonings would God stir up in the minds of men.
Not the fourth sort of providence, that both should be continually
happy ; for then there were no room for suffering graces, for the exer
cise of fortitude and patience, contempt of the world and self-denial.
The best would soon forget the world to come. David would not
have the Canaanites utterly destroyed to keep Israel in exercise :
Ps. lix. 11, ' Slay them not, lest my people forget/ When there was
great deliberation in the senate of Rome whether Carthage should be
utterly destroyed yea or nay, Scipio was against it, that the Roman
youth might be kept in exercise by an emulous city ; and the event
showed the soundness of his advice, for the ruin of Carthage was the
ruin of Rome ; for being corrupted by prosperity, they fell into all
licentiousness, and for want of a potent adversary to keep them in
breath and exercise, fell into destructive divisions and seditions among
themselves. It is said, Prov. i. 32, ' The prosperity of fools destroyeth
them/ Well, then, you see the reasons of this mixed dispensation.
But is not this contrary to that faith and dependence that we
should have upon God for present mercies, when there is such a
doubtful face of things that men know not what certainly to expect ?
for certainty is the ground of faith and close affiance.
I answer That ' godliness hath the promises of this life, and that
which is to come/ 1 Tim. iv. 8 ; and that verily God doth not cast off
his people, and leave them to shift for themselves in temporal things :
Ps. xciv. 14, ' For the Lord will not cast off his people, nor forsake
422 A SERMON PEEACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT.
his inheritance.' Men may cast them off, and God may hide himself
from them for a while, but yet he taketh care of them. He may for
a time correct and chastise them, and permit them for a while to
abide under sharp oppressions ; yet he will not utterly forsake them,
but support and deliver them in his own season. But the faith which
is required of us is not a certain expectation of temporal events ; there
God }eaveth it to a may-be. If outward things were sure, we should
live by sense rather than faith. God will be waited upon, and there
fore keepeth the disposal of all things in his own hand, Jer. ii. 31,
keepeth it as doubtful. The true generous faith is not a confidence
of particular success, but a committing ourselves to God's power, and
referring ourselves to his will ; as the leper : Mat. viii. 2, ' Lord, if
thou wilt, thou canst make me clean/
[6.] To win the heart by the various methods of judgments and
mercies, and to gain upon us by both means at once : Ps. ci. 1, ' I
will sing of judgment and mercy ; unto thee, Lord, will I sing/
It may be neither day nor night, but both together, that our fears and
hopes may draw us to God, Mixed graces do best, Acts ix. 33, To
increase our fear, God lettetb out trouble ; to encourage us to hoping
in God, that trouble is checked by other providences, Cant. iv. 16,
Isa. xxvii. 6. The wind bloweth, God keepeth it from growing furious :
Ps. cxxxviii. 7, ' Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt
revive me ; ' as putting life into his affairs.
[7.] God doth it to bring his people to a Christian union and
accord. God will not hear one sort of his people against another.
When religious interest is divided, God keeps the balance equal, and
success is sometimes cast on this side, sometimes on that. The light
shineth sometimes in one hemisphere, sometimes in another ; every
party cometh on the stage, have their success, and manifest their
corruptions, cannot bear one with another. God breaketh this con
fidence and that, then draweth to an union. That at length we may
lay down our enmities and oppositions, and { not bite and devour one
another, lest at length we be consumed one of another,' Gal. v. 15.
Sometimes the strength and upper-hand is given to these ; they carry
the day, but not the complete victory. What doth this intimate but
that we should end the difference by compromise and reconciliation,
lest, while we weaken one another by our mutual differences, the
whole church be made a prey to Satan and his emissaries, and
inevitable ruin and destruction light upon the whole. What have
we gained by our contests ? Stumbling-blocks are multiplied, atheists
are increased. Oh ! when shall that spirit prevail There is a tribe
lacking in Israel' ? Judges xxi. 8, 9. Though they fought against
them, yet they owned them as brethren. Alas ! one faction is getting
the ball from another, and our church divisions are but like a game
at football. Surely, though two seeds will not be reconciled, yet
God's family may be reconciled. Now where principles are such as
may let in somewhat of Christ, we should try all means ; we cannot
wholly separate till our master be gone before us. If they fly from
peace, we must pursue it, Mat. v. 9.
[8,] To prevent contempt and insolency towards those that are
fallen under God's displeasure. This is to 'persecute them whom
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT. 423
God hath smitten, and to speak to the grief of those whom God hath
wounded/ Ps. Ixix. 26 ; Prov. xxiv. 17, ' Kejoice not when thine
enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth ;
lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath
from him.' A vindictive spirit is a transgression of God's law. To
rejoice and insult over misery is the worst sort of revenge.
[9.] It is a ground of patience : ' Shall we receive good at the hand
of God, and not evil?' Job ii. 10. Heavy afflictions want not their
comforts to make them tolerable. We want not mixtures to support
us. He measureth out good and evil with a great deal of wisdom
and tenderness. Should not they which have received good things
from the Lord be content to submit to evil things or afflictions, when
God seeth meet to exercise them therewith ? The tide will ebb and
flow. We would have it always flow ; but God will not ask our leave
and consent, and govern affairs by our opinion, but will send good
and evil as it pleaseth him. Therefore, as we receive and entertain
good things thankfully and cheerfully, so it is our duty to receive evil
things submissively and contentedly. It is a great fault to limit God
to one way of dealing with his people, and that we cannot endure
changes. We must resolve for good and evil, and prepare for it,
Phil. iv. 12. Vicissitudes in our condition are necessary for us. A
settled ease in the world would soon corrupt us. In short, God freely
conferreth good things upon us ; and therefore we should not take
it ill if sometimes he maketh us taste the bitter fruits of our own
deservings. A Christian should be prepared for new assaults of
trouble.
[10.] To show that our comforts and crosses are in his hand ; and
he doth variously dispense weal or woe as our condition doth require :
Isa. xlv. 7, '' I form the light, and create darkness ; I make peace, and
create evil ; I the Lord do all these things.' So Job xxxiv. 29, ' When
he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble ? and when he hideth
his face, who then can behold him ? whether it be done against a
nation, or against a man only/ God diversifieth his providence, that
if we will not take notice of him in one dispensation, we may in
another. So Ps. Ixxiv. 16, 17, ' The day is thine, and the night is
thine ; thou hast prepared the light and the sun ; thou hast made
summer and winter.' It is spoken of a deep time of trouble. He
that hath set winter and summer, day and night, one against another,
hath set good and evil in the life of man. You must not so understand
it as if good came from God, and evil from ourselves, or by chance.
No ; God's hand is to be seen and owned in both. He is our party ;
therefore our first business is to reconcile ourselves to God, to please
him, to bear the evil patiently, to accept the good thankfully from his
hand. None can resist or remedy what God is pleased to do, 2 Chron.
xxv. 8. God hath power to help and power to cast down ; and in both
he worketh sovereignly and irresistibly. Dangers and deliverances,
troubles and consolations, come all from him. He will put us upon
various exercises, fearing, believing, trembling, rejoicing, mourning,
giving thanks.
Application. Now what use should we make of all this ?
1. Be sure you do not make an ill use of it
424 A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT.
[1.] When we are not thankful for our mercies because they are
not full and perfect. That is a proud and murmuring spirit that
entertaineth crosses with anger and blessings with disdain. What
but this is spoken of, Mai. i. 2, 'Wherein hast thou loved us?'
and Ps. Ixxviii. 20 ; as the people murmured in the wilderness, when
they were come out of Egypt ; when we disvalue what we have in
comparison of what we expect. Pliny speaketh of some, Quantumlibet
scepe obligati, hoc solum meminerunt quod negatum est Forget what
is granted, pitch only upon what is denied ; as children in a pet throw
away what they have if you do not give them more : ' All this/ saith
Hainan, 'availeth me nothing/ Esther v, 13. As in the body, if one
humour be out of order, or one joint broken, the soundness of the rest
is not regarded, so apt are we to murmur if all be not done at once :
though God see it needful to keep us in fears and uncertainties, and
you have not all that you look for, yet acknowledge what you have.
Do not say, It is but so and so, a truce rather than a peace. God is
making a step onward in England's mercies. Many strange provi
dences there are to bring us to this. It is a mercy that he remem
bered us in our low estate, Ps. cxxxvi. 23, when all was struck at ;
honour, and religious worship, and property were at stake, that he
gave us some breathing and rest after our oppressions, Hosea xi. 4 ;
some ease after toil, as ploughmen give their oxen after they come
from labour. And now the union of the parliament with their brethren
is a step further ; we hope we are growing towards the glorious evening.
It is an ill use not to acknowledge mercies if all things are not accord
ing to your minds. Do not say, It is but thus and thus : Zech. iv.
10, ' Who hath despised the day of small things ? ' It is God's way
to begin with little things that promise not much ; thankfulness is
the way to make them greater. God is at work ; tarry till he bring
it forth to perfection.
[2.] It is an abuse if we are discouraged in God's service because
of this uncertainty and the returning of clouds after rain, that you
cannot tell whether it will be day or night. You ought to take God's
part ; as in the combat between flesh and spirit, to come into the
relief of the better part; so in this doubtful conflict. (1.) When
you have any respite and breathing-time, then is a time and season to
put your hand to the work : John ix. 4, ' I must work the works of
him that sent me while it is to-day ; the night cometh when none
can work/ Blessed be God, it is not night with us. Truth is not
wholly banished, nor buried under a night of ignorance, error, and
superstitions ; nor the comfort of prosperity wholly gone. Whilst it
is day let us do something for God's interest. (2.) If there be un
certainties, never a great work is brought to 'pass without troubles,
and duty should be welcome to you though you are uncertain of the
event. Go about it with a resolute submission to God's will, and as
prepared for all weathers, Phil. iv. 11, 12. This is a Christian spirit.
When you pitch upon temporal happiness altogether, and a settled
estate in the world, you will be deceived. (3.) Change cometh not
till our condition proveth a snare to us ; till we grow neglectful of
God and his interest, as if we could do well without him, and use our
power against him, and so provoke him to leave us.
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT. 425
2. The right use we should make of it. When we have mixed
dispensations, and are under a dubious conflict, then
[1.] By way of caution, take heed of human confidences, and pre
suming too much of temporal success by means and instruments. One
great reason of this long uncertainty wherewith England is exercised
is because we run from one means to another, and do not take up the
controversy between us and God. It may be said to us, as to Israel,
Jer. ii. 36, 37, Why dost thou run to and fro, one while in this manner,
another while in another, to seek establishment here and there, like a
sick man turning in his bed ? One while they thought the Assyrian
would do it, and then the Egyptian. They shifted hands, but still
the mischief continued. The Assyrian distressed them, but helped
them not : they were disappointed in the Egyptian. Then the threaten
ing is, ' Thou shalt go forth with thy hands upon thy head ; for the
Lord hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them/
Come back with a heavy heart and dejected habit. As clapping the
hands is an expression of joy, so going forth with their hands upon
their heads is a sign of great sorrow ; as Tamar, when defiled by
Amnon, 2 Sam. xiii. 19, ' laid her hand upon her head, and went out
crying;' a gesture of lamentation. In the issue it would turn to
extreme grief and anguish of heart. It is not improper, now you are
met to rejoice in God, to mind you of these things. I do not speak
this to take you off from the use of means, but from trusting in means :
Oh ! this will do it, and that will do it. I tell you, it is the Lord must
do it. But when do we trust in means ? When we use the creature
without God, and hope to work out our ends without giving God his
ends, Jer. iv. 14. To get rid of misery by fleshly aid, human force
and counsel, without humiliation and repentance, and serious-
returning to the Lord. When we set the creature against God by
wicked combinations, and cover it with a covering, that we may add
sin to sin, Isa. xxx. 1. To carry on an evil purpose, to countenance
lewdness, that a profane spirit may again come upon the stage and
sin triumphantly. If we have this in design, it is to set means
against God. Sometimes we set up the creature above God, as if his
blessing were nothing to human preparations ; and our hearts run
more upon outward helps than his favour and blessing, Jer. ii. 13 ;
and Hosea v, 13, * When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw
his wound, then Ephraim sent to king Jareb, yet could he not heal
you, nor cure you of your wound.' Sometimes we yoke the creature
with God, when we confine his providence to our probabilities, as if
God could work no other way but that which we fancy : Ps. Ixxviii.
41, ' They turned back, and tempted God, and limited the Holy One
of Israel.' We do no more than we see reason for in the course of
second causes. I tell you, God is the main party ; it is with him
this nation hath to do ; it is not with unquiet libertines, with open
enemies, but with God.
[2.] For direction
(1.) Walk by a sure rule : Ps. cxix. 105, * Thy word is a lamp to my
feet, a light to my path/ Civil interests are determined by the laws of
the country where we live. So far as concerneth conscience, the word
of God is a rule and sure direction. When you consult with it, What
426 A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT.
would God have me to do in such a case ? you shall be sure to know
his mind and your own duty, and so can suffer and act the more
cheerfully.
(2.) G-et a sure guide : Prov. iii. 5, 6, ' Trust in the Lord with all
thy heart, and lean not to thy own understanding : in all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' We have no more
understanding than as God is pleased to confirm to us from day to .day.
Magistrates are bidden to be instructed : Ps. ii. 10, 'Be wise now
therefore, ye kings ; be instructed, ye judges of the earth.' Their
good and evil is of a public influence. When men make their bosom
their oracle, their own wits their counsellor, especially when swayed
by their passions and corrupt affections, they usually miscarry.
(3.) Encourage yourselves by the sure promises that you have to
build upon : ' The sure mercies of David,' Isa. Iv. 3. The righteous
have a sure reward : Prov, xi. 18, ' To him that soweth righteousness
shall be a sure reward.' Heaven is a kingdom that cannot be shaken :
Heb. xii. 28, < Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be
moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with
reverence and godly fear.' There are great alterations here, but in
heaven all is stable ; there is joy without any mixture of sorrow, no
misery, no weakness to perplex. In short, a man wrapt up in the
peace of God, and the quiet of a good conscience, and hopes of eternal
life, is fortified against all encounters, storms, and difficulties whatso
ever.
A SACRAMENT SERMON.
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell
thereof. CANT. i. 12.
12.
THIS chapter is a sweet dialogue between Christ and the church,
wherein they interchangeably express their mutual love to each other.
To reflect upon the context would detain me too long from the words.
In such scriptures every word is a sacrament and every line a mystery.
The Jews compare the three books of Solomon to the three parts of
the temple which he built ; they liken the Proverbs to the porch,
Ecclesiastes to the holy place, and the Book of Canticles to the sanc
tum sanctorum, the holy of holies within the vail, where all things
were full of mystery, reverence, and religion. Every expression in this
book needeth distinct explication ; therefore let it suffice to note, that
when Christ had in the 10th and llth verses professed his love to the
church, and what he would do for her, the church, by way of thankful
return, expresseth her love to Christ again, and promiseth here a lively
exercise of grace in all acts of special communion with him While
the king sitteth at his table, &c.
In this profession of the church's respect to Christ you may
observe
1. The season or occasion When the king sitteth at his table.
2. The effect or event My spikenard sendeth forth the smell
thereof.
In the first observe (1.) The person ; (2.) His act or posture.
[1.] For the person, ' While the king/ that is, Christ, who in this
whole song is set forth as a king : ver. 4, ' The king brought me into
his chambers ; ' partly to answer the type, Solomon, and partly to show
that all acts of communion on Christ's part are not only social and
festival, but regal, such as would become a king, and flowed from his
kingly office. And therefore, when we would have special communion
with Christ, we must look upon him as a king. Partly to beget reve
rence. When they offered him a sickly lamb, the Lord pleadeth his
dignity: 'I am a great king, saith the Lord of hosts,' Mai. i. 14;
implying that they did disparage his royal majesty in the baseness of
his worship and service. Partly that we may admire his love and
428 A SACRAMENT SERMON.
condescension to us, he that is so excellent, the King of kings, of such
sovereign majesty, that he will be so familiar with poor believers, and
sit at the table with them, and feast them with his loves: Mat. iii. 11,
' But he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am
not worthy to bear ; ' and Mat. viii 8, ' And the centurion answered
and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my
roof.' And partly to enlarge our confidence , we may expect nothing
but what is royal, largesses beseeming the dignity of a king : Mat.
xxii. 2, ' The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, which
made a marriage for his son.' Christ will show himself a king in the
ordinances of the gospel ; in the new covenant he giveth himself to us,
and with himself the benefits of pardon and life.
[2.] The gesture and posture wherein he is represented, ' Sitteth at
his table/ Some render the word, in corona sua, while the king is
in his ring and crown ; the Septuagint, ev rfj avatc\.icrei avrov, in his
sitting down, a phrase usually put pro discuinbentium ccelu, for a com
pany sitting down to meat ; their gesture was leaning, their form was
in a round or ring : therefore we translate it, ' Sitteth at his table ; '
and Ainsworth, to express the import of the Hebrew word iUDDIl
* Sitteth at his round table.'
But what is meant, then, by Christ's sitting at his table ? Some
apply it to his abode in heaven, in the midst of the holy angels and
the spirits of just men made perfect ; and the eternal pleasures they
enjoy there are often set forth by a feast. But rather it implieth the
fellowship we have with Christ by the gospel, which is also set forth
by a table ready furnished and prepared, where Christ is present
feasting with us ; as Mat. xxii. 1-3, ' The kingdom of heaven is like
a certain king, that made a marriage for his son ; ' and Prov. ix.
2, ' Wisdom hath killed her beasts, and mingled her wine ; she hath
also furnished her table , ' and Isa, xxv. 6, ' And in this mountain
shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a
feast of wines on the lees ; of fat things full of marrow, of wines on
the lees well refined; More particularly, the Lord's supper is called
the table of the Lord : 1 Cor. x. 21. 'Ye cannot be partakers of
the table of the Lord and the table of devils.' Well then, we see here
(1.) That Christ hath prepared and furnished a table for the enter
tainment of his family :. Ps= xxiii. 5, ' Thou preparest a table before
me in the presence of mine enemies/ Devils malign, but cannot in
fringe our comforts ; they grieve to see the riches of his bounty to us,
but we are invited freely to partake of them.
(2.) He hath not only a table, but he sitteth down, cometh and
suppeth with us : Kev. iii. 20, ' I will sup with him, and he with me.'
The king is in the round or ring among the rest of the guests. At
the first institution, Christ did himself partake of his own supper ;
then he was present in person, but still in spirit, and doth but wait
the time when he will ' drink new wine with you in his Father's king
dom/ Mat. xxvi. 29; 'That ye may eat and drink at my table in my
kingdom,' Luke xxii. 30. For the present, the effect of an ordinance
dependeth upon that sweet company and communion that we have
with him in these duties, All gospel ordinances are the sweeter be
cause of Christ's presence with them , this doth enliven the soul, when
A SACRAMENT SERMON. 429
Christ is at the table and sitteth amongst us. Thus we see in what
posture Christ is represented.
Secondly, The effect of this on the church's part, ' My spikenard
sendeth forth the smell thereof.' It is usual in scripture to represent
sin by roots of bitterness, and the fruits and graces of the Spirit by
sweet spices and plants. Now, among all these plants, spikenard was
of chiefest account. The herb lavender, which is pseudo-nard, or bas
tard spikenard, is sweet ; but the true spikenard was ot great price
and esteem. The oil thereof they were wont to pour on the chief
guests at great entertainments ; as Mark xiv. 3, 'As Jesus sat at meat,
there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard,
very precious ; and she break the box, and poured it on his head.'
Now afterwards it is said, ' It might have been sold for more than three
hundred pence/ ver. 5. The Roman penny was about sevenpence half
penny, and so maketh near ten pounds. And it is said. John xii. 3, that
' the house was filled with the odour of the ointment/ Now hereby
are figured the graces of the Spirit, wherein Christ delighteth, Only
let us inquire whether this be to be applied to the church passively or
actively ? Some take it passively, as if it were that liquid nard where
with Christ anointeth the church , for ' we have an unction from the
Holy One.' Junius renders it, perfundor odoribus suavissimus; but
rather it is to be understood actively, that pure and liquid nard where
with she anointed Christ. This costly and honourable entertainment
was bestowed on the chief guest ; and the church speaketh of her
respect to Christ ; she eritertaineth him with the sweet favour of her
good ointments when Christ sitteth at his table.
Doct. That in acts of special communion with Christ, grace cannot
lie hid, but will breathe out with great fragrancy ; or, at the table of
the Lord our graces should be specially a-nd in a most lively manner
exercised.
1. There is a reverence common to all worship, for 'God will be
sanctified in all that draw nigh unto him/ Lev x. 3.
2. There is a special delight and affection which should accompany
every act of communion with God ; for ' it is good for us to draw nigh
unto him/ Ps. Ixxiii. 28 ; and God saith, Isa, Ivi. 7, ' I will bring them
to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.'
3. Besides, in all acts of communion with God there is an inter
change of donatives and duties. Where we expect to receive much
grace, there it must be much exercised and acted ; Mark iv. 24, * With
what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.' It is but
equity that we should entertain Christ with our best, that we should
break our box of spikenard whenever he vouchsafeth to come among
us. All communion must needs be mutual, and consists in acts of
grace from Christ to us, and acts of love from us to Christ. As you
would delight in Christ, and be refreshed with the favour of his good
ointments, so you must carry it so that Christ may delight in you ;
your spikenard must send forth the smell thereof.
4. Again, Christ may more sensibly manifest himself in one duty than
another, for he is not tied to means, or to time and season ; and it is
his presence that maketh an ordinance comfortable, and doth revive
the exercise of grace. As upon the approach of the sun in the spring
430 A SACRAMENT SERMON.
all is lively and fresh, so the heart is quickened by his drawing nigh
unto us. Now sometimes he hideth himself in a more solemn duty,
and manifests himself in a more common one, where we least expect
him ; as the spouse that fell asleep at a feast, Cant, v, 1, 2, was
roused and awakened in meditation.
5. One duty must not be set against another. They are all instituted
by God, and accompanied with his blessing, and are means of our
communion with him, yet they all have their special use and tendency,
and one is to be preferred in this respect, another in that, as the ends
are for which they are appointed ; as in the word we come to Christ
as our teacher, in prayer as our advocate, in baptism as our head and
lord, into whose mystical body we are planted ; in the Lord's supper
as the master of the feast, or our royal entertainer.
6. Though the Lord's supper be a special means, yet it is the
spirit of grace which doth stir up faith, hope, and love in us. There
are three things which must not be forgotten
[1.] The duty is a means accommodated and fitted to this end, or
God would never have instituted it.
[2.] The Spirit is the author both of grace and the exercise of
grace ; he first infuseth, and then quicken eth and stirreth up grace in
us by this means : John vi. 63, 'It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the
flesh profiteth nothing.'
[3.] You must stir up your own hearts : Isa. Ixiv. 7, ' There is
none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee;' 2 Tim. i. 6,
' That thou stir up the gift of God that is in thee/ Well, then, allow
ing all this, yet it is a truth that at the Lord's table graces should be
exercised in a special lively manner; which will appear if we con
sider
(1.) The general use which sacraments have besides and beyond
other duties.
(2.) What is the special use and intent of this duty.
(3.) What graces are to be exercised.
First, What a sacrament hath beyond other duties. It is the most
mysterious instrument of our sanctification and preservation in a state
of grace, and therefore requireth a special exercise of grace.
1. In a sacrament there is a more sensible assurance. In other
duties we see God's goodness or readiness to do us good, in this his
solicitousness and anxious care for our good : Heb. vi. 17, 18,
* Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of
salvation the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to
lie, we might have strong consolation.' He is cautious to make all
sure. Nudum pactum, a naked promise, is not so great an argu
ment of God's love to us as a covenant signed and sealed.
2. A closer application. A general invitation is not so much as an
express injunction. We have the universal proposal in the word, the
particular application in the sacraments : Acts ii. 38, ' Kepent and
be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost.'
. 3. A solemn investiture, or taking possession by certain instituted
A SACRAMENT SERMON. 431
rites. As we are put in possession by certain formalities of law. as of a
house by the delivery of a key, or of a field by the delivery of a turf,
This is my house, this is my field ; so we take possession of Christ
and all his benefits, ' This is my body.'
4. A visible representation of the mysteries of godliness ; and so it
doth excite us to the more serious consideration of them when they
are transmitted to the soul not by the ears only, but by the eyes :
Gal. iii. 1, ' Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set
forth crucified among you.'
5. An express means of union and communion with Christ. We
draw nigh to God in prayer, and God draweth nigh to us in the word ;
but here is not only an approximation, but a communion : 1 Cor. x.
16, ' The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the
blood of Christ ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion
of the body of Christ ? ' There is no union like that of food, which
becometh a part of our substance ; we eat his flesh, we drink his
blood, that which is mystically so,
6. It is God's feast, where we come to eat and drink at his table
as those that are in friendship with him. Some duties are our work,
others our ordinary meal, but this is our feast : Ps. xxii. 26, ' The
meek shall eat and be satisfied ; they shall praise the Lord that seek him ;
your hearts shall live for ever.' Therefore we should specially rejoice
in God our Saviour when we are admitted into his banqueting-house.
7. This is the sum of all other duties and privileges, epitome evanyelii,
the abridgment of Christian religion, the land of promise in a map :
Luke xxii. 20, ' This cup in the new testament in my blood.' The
whole new testament comprised in one ordinance, pardon sealed,
heaven anticipated, word and prayer mingled together ; therefore
should grace in a special and lively manner be exercised.
Secondly, What is the special use and intent of this duty? It
was instituted for the remembrance of Christ : 1 Cor. xi. 24, 25,
'And when he had given thanks, he brake it, 'and said, Take, eat;
this is my body, which is broken for you ; this do in remembrance of
me : and after the same manner also he took the cup, when he had
supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood ; thin
do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me ;' and ver. 26, it
is an annunciating or showing forth the Lord's death till he come.
We show it forth before God and men, as the ground of our thankful
ness and confidence; and our great duty is 'to discern the Lord's
body,' ver. 29 ; that is, to look upon it as a body offered in sacrifice for
the reconciliation of the world to God, and to behave ourselves accord
ingly; so that our great work is to commemorate the mystery of
redemption by Christ, with all the consequent benefits thereof. Now
in this mystery there is considerable
1. The occasion and necessity of it, why Christ should be given
for us, our guilt, and misery, which could only be expiated by the
blood of the Son of God ; so that one great work of the sacrament is
the representation of the evil of sin ; for we are to remember the Son
of God, ' Who was made sin for us that knew no sin, that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him,' 2 Cor. v. 21, and who
was 'made a curse for us,' Gal. iii. 13.
432 A SACRAMENT SERMON.
2. The cause of it ; the great love of God, or his mercy to poor,
sinners : John lii. 16, ' God so loved the world that he gave his only-
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but
have everlasting life/ And the great love of the Kedeemer, who
willingly came to perform this act of bounty, to give his life for his
people : Gal. ii. 20, ' Who loved us, and gave himself for us.' There
fore that which was set forth and commended to our thoughts is the
infinite love of God in Christ.
3. The act of redemption itself ; his ' obedience to the death of the
-cross,' Phil. ii. 7 ; or his ' making his soul an offering for sin,' Isa. liii.
10. Therefore he is represented as * crucified before your eyes,' Gal
iii. 1.
4. The consequent benefits which thence result to as. You come
not to receive the mercy of an hour, but here is pardon of sin given
us without any infringing the honour of God's justice, Horn, iii. 25, 26 ;
the favour of God, 2 Cor, v. 19 ; the spirit of grace, Titus iii. 5, 6,
Gal. iii. 14, and 1 Cor. x. 4, compared with John iv. 14, and
vii. 37. So also eternal life, or hopes of glory, Titus iii. 7, and
Eom. v. 1, 2, and 1 John iv. 9. And indeed this whole duty is a
figure of the eternal banquet. Now the king sits at his table, and
his people round about him ; hereafter they shall sit about the throne,
and the Lamb in the midst of them, and then ' he shall drink KCILVOV,
new wine with them in his Father's kingdom,' Mat. xxvi. 29. And the
discerning his body now is a pledge of seeing his face then. Now
these blessings are great, and therefore should raise our wonder ,
most needful, and therefore should quicken our thankfulness ; most
firm and sure, for they are dearly purchased, freely offered, surely
{sealed. The covenant of grace, by which they are conveyed to us, was
founded in his blood, offered to us in the promises of the gospel, and
sealed, in this duty : Mat. xxvi. 28, ' For this is my blood of the new
testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.' Now
it being thus dearly purchased, most freely promised, and solemnly
applied, externally by eating this bread and drinking this cup, in
ternally by the Holy Ghost sanctifying the action to such a purpose,
we should be more revived and encouraged in waiting upon God.
Thirdly, What graces are to be exercised, which is as it were the
pouring out of our box of precious spikenard on Christ's head or
feet.
1. With respect to the necessity of our redemption, a humble
-sense of the odiousness of sin, represented to us in the bruises and
sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ when he came to be a sacrifice for
sin, that we may loath it, condemn it, resolve no more to have to do
with it : Kom. viii. 3, 'By sin he condemned sin in the flesh;' that
is, by the sufferings of Christ God showed an example of his wrath
and displeasure against all our sinful indulgences to the flesh. There
fore Christ crucified must be a sin-killing spectacle. And when we
behold Christ crucified, our old man must be crucified with him :
Rom. vi. 6, 'Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with
him j' and Gal. ii. 20, ' I am crucified with Christ.' The bitterness
of bis agonies and passions must make sin hateful to us.
2. The love of God in Christ, which was the cause, must beget a
A SACRAMENT SERMON. 433
fervent love to him again, that we may love him who hath loved us
at so dear a rate: 2 Cor. v. 14, 15, ' For the love of Christ constraineth
us ; because we thus judge, that if one died for all. then were all dead ;
and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live
unto themselves, but unto him which died for them.' There must be
a willingness and resignation to deny ourselves, and all that is dear to
us in the world, rather than prove unfaithful to Christ, who suffered
such great things for our redemption. This love must kill and mortify
our sinful self-love, which is so great a bane and mischief to us, and
the cause of all our miscarriages.
3. The act of redemption, or the death of Christ, must breed in us
a lively faith in Christ, that we may accept him as our Kedeemer and
Saviour upon his own terms, and trust ourselves into his hands, and
devote ourselves to his service, crying out, as Thomas, * My Lord and
my God/ John xx. 28 ; welcoming him into our souls with the dearest
embraces of thankfulness and hearty affection.
4. With respect to the consequent benefits, there must be
[1.] Earnest desire, ' called hungering and thirsting after righteous
ness/ Mat. v. 6 ; after communion with God in Christ, that you may
be partakers both of his renewing and reconciling grace, and that you
may get more sensible proof of his love to your souls.
[2.] Joy in the sense of the greatness, suitableness, and firmness of
the mercy represented, offered, and applied to you : Cant. i. 4, ' We
will be glad and rejoice in thee ; we will remember thy loves more than
wine ; ' Acts viii. 39, ' And he went on his way rejoicing/
[3.] Hope, which is a desirous expectation of the promised glory,
looking and longing for it with more earnestness and confidence. This
antepast in the house of our pilgrimage is sweet, but what will be our
communion with him in heaven ? The house of God is the gate of
heaven ; Christ's death is the price given for your life : Rom. v. 10,
' If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of
his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.'
5. That love which is here commemorated must be imitated, and
leave a suitable impression upon you. If Christ gave his life for those
who are sometimes called his enemies, sometimes his people, such an
impartial charity must you have to all men. To brethren and neigh
bours : 1 John iv. 11, 'If God so loved us, we ought also to love one
another ; ' that is, this love must be answered in our imitating it to
wards our brethren. And to enemies : Eph. iv. 32, ' And be ye kind
one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' Our wrongs are greater and more in
number. .But especially must our love be greater to souls, that we
may do anything for the saving of souls. This must be regarded, for
we have not a due sense of any excellency till we adopt it into our
manners, till it be the very constitution of our hearts and our constant
practice. Imitation is a greater respect than commendation.
Use 1. Information.
1. That in right celebration ' of the Lord's supper, all the work
is not the minister's ; it should be a busy day with every Christian, as
becometh the guests of the God of heaven at so sweet a feast Christ
instituted this duty, and blesseth it ; the minister, as his steward, dis-
VOL xv. 2 H
434 A SACRAMENT SERMON.
penseth it, but you must receive it ; and receive it with an applicative
faith, with the holy ardours of love, with heavenly desires and resolu
tions of thankful obedience, loathing sin, renewing covenant with God.
You have these graces from Christ, as Esther had sweet odours out of
the king's treasury, Esther ii. 12. They are stirred up by the Spirit, but
they must be acted by you, and then Christ is pleased and refreshed.
2. To show how unfit they are for the Lord's supper who have no
grace at all. Here God requireth the fragrancy of grace ; how can
they send forth a sweet-smelling savour who have no spikenard. When
they come to break their box, it is empty ; they have not gotten this
precious ointment. How can they be lively who are not so much as
living ? Who would expect a flame from a dead coal ? Can it glow
before it be kindled ? Here we are to quicken and draw forth the
grace that we have. This is no duty for them who are dead in their
sins. What should a dead man do with a cordial ? and men that have
no life, with food. No ; there must be a stock of grace, a good treasure,
before we can bring it forth. In vain do men seek after quickening
when they have no life.
3. How unsuitable and sad it is that we are most dead where we
should be most raised, fresh, and vigorous ! At any time dead service
doth ill become a living God. The heathens saw that the worship
must be proportioned to the object of worship. When they worshipped
the sun, they offered a horse, and Josiah destroyed the horses of the
sun, 2 Kings xxiii. 11. Surely whatever is tendered to God should
have the stamp of God upon it. But now in this duty special life and
rejoicing in God is required of us ; here we have to do with the bread
of life : John vi. 35, ' I am the bread of life ; ' and the water of life ;
and shall we be conversant about these things with a dead heart ? All
should be life and vigour here. What may be the causes of this
deadness ?
[1.] Slowness of heart and averseness from all spiritual duties. Our
heart naturally bendeth downwards, and sin doth beset us as a weight :
Heb. xii. 1, ' Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so
easily beset us/ This cloggeth us in all our heavenly flights and
motions. In the best the heart hath a wing and a weight ; it would
fain mount up to God, but the flesh depresseth us.
[2.] A particular cause is customariness. We come carelessly, with
common hearts, as to a common work. Custom goeth no further than
the external act, or conformity to the common practice : ' They sit
before thee as my people/ Ezek. xxxiii. 31. They do not consider
what is required, but perform what is used, and are guided by others'
practice rather than their own conscience and the nature of the duty ;
and then no lively exercise of grace is to be expected from them.
[3.] Some carnal distemper. When you give contentment to the
flesh, you draw on a hardness and deadness upon the heart, and then
in all acts of communion with God there is no life in you : Ps. cxix.
37, ' Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in
thy way/ An inordinate liberty in worldly and fleshly delights
quencheth the vigour of grace, and obstructs the lively exercise of it ;
as the prophet saith, c They take away the heart/ Hosea iv. 11. This
is a superadded burden and clog to the spirit.
A SACRAMENT SERMON. 435
[4.] Confidence in their own good estate, without actual preparation,
or raising their desires and affections. They think, with Samson, to
go forth and shake themselves as at other times ; but their strength is
gone, their mind is barren and vain, their will remiss, their affections
dead and cold. There needeth continual diligence to keep the heart in
a right frame, and serious preparation before solemn duties.
[5.] The confusion of a dark and ignorant mind : ' What went you
out for to see ? ' Mat. xi. 8. They have a devout aim in general, but
do not consider the particular end and use of the duties they are con
versant about, nor their own wants, and what suiteth most with their
case, either the work of faith or repentance ; and then what life can
you expect in them ?
Use 2. To press you to stir up your graces, and break open the box
of precious ointment, that the whole house may be filled with the
savour of it. If you want Christ, let your souls make hard pursuit
after him. If you have found him whom your souls love, rejoice in the
light of his countenance. But whether you exercise desire or delight
most, let both endear Christ, that he may be more precious to you, and
you may engage yourselves to great fidelity to him, resolving to live
for the future in all love and obedience to him. Consider again and
again what sin deserved, what Christ hath suffered, how wonderfully
God's love is expressed, and what thankful obedience is required of us.
More particularly
1. Humble yourselves before God, as unworthy to approach his
presence. The saints never loath themselves so much as in the highest
acts of communion with God : Job xlii. 5, 6, ' I have heard of thee
by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee ; wherefore I
abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.' The soul is never in such
a humble posture as when it hath the most raised thoughts of God ;
then the most holy become vile and loathsome in their own eyes. So
Isa. vi. 5, ' Woe is me ! for I am undone, because I am a man of un
clean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips ; for mine eyes
have seen the king, the Lord of hosts.' Great is our un worthiness to ap
pear in the presence of so glorious a majesty ; yet this should not make
us run away from God, which is an act of legal bondage, but humbly
and penitently to run to him, which is an act of faith and dependence
on Christ. We are unworthy, but we must not refuse God's remedy,
but sue it out in a broken-hearted manner.
2. Admire the wisdom and love of God in finding out such a remedy
and ransom for our souls. It deserveth to be the wonder of all men
and angels. The angels stand by, and wonder at what God hath done
for us : 1 Tim. iii. 16, ' Great is the mystery of godliness, God mani
fested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels ; ' and 1 Peter
i. 12, ' W nicn things the angels desire to look into ; ' and Eph. iii. 10,
* To the intent that now, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly
places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.'
The angels were but spectators, not the parties interested, but yet they
pry into this mystery. Oh ! how deeply should our hearts be affected
with it.
3. I commend to you the look of faith. Look upon Christ as cruci
fied for you : ' They shall look upon him whom they have pierced/
436 A SACKAMENT SERMON.
Zech. xii. 10 ; and as ' bearing your sins in his body on the tree/ 1 Peter
ii. 24. This is the sight which is exposed to the view of your faith.
When Pilate had scourged Jesus, he brought him forth to the Jews,
saying, l Behold the man,' John xix. 5. Or as John pointed as with
the finger to Christ : John i. 29, ' Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh
away the sins of the world.'
4. Heartily receive Christ, that he may live in you, and you in him :
John i. 12, ' To as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God ; ' and Col. ii. 6, ' As you have therefore re
ceived Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.' Receive him with joy
and thankfulness, as the greatest gift that ever could be given you, with
a hearty consent of subjection to him.
5. Give up yourselves to Christ as his redeemed ones : 2 Cor. viii.
5, ' But first gave their own selves to the Lord ; ' and Rom. xii. 1, ' I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service ; ' and Ps. cxix. 94, ' I am thine, save me.' Give up
yourselves to Christ, to be justified, sanctified, saved by him. Our very
taking Christ requireth this giving ourselves to him, for we take him
as our Lord and Saviour.
How shall we do to be thus lively in the exercise of grace in this
duty?
[1.] Beg the assistance of the Holy Spirit. When God's wind
ariseth upon the gardens, the spices flow out : Cant. iv. 16, 'Awake,
north wind, and come, thou south ; blow upon my garden, that the
spices thereof may flow out ; ' that is, in sweet and refreshing odours.
We should provide fresh thoughts, but they will be dead and cold unless
the Spirit come in with new and fresh influences. The habits of grace
lie asleep till he doth actuate and quicken them. The censers of the
sanctuary need not only to be filled with incense, but to be set afire,
before the perfumed smoke can ascend to heaven in clouds and pillars :
Cant. iii. 6, 'Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars
of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders
of the merchant ? ' When the heart is inflamed and love kindled, then
do we send out a sweet savour.
[2.] Seriously prepare yourselves. Look not for sudden rapt motions
when you use not God's means to get your hearts into this frame.
There is a watching unto prayer, and a serious examining before re
ceiving. The general preparation is the holy life, for one duty pre-
pareth for another ; they that are led by the Spirit will pray by the
Spirit. But there is a special preparation, like trimming our lamps
when we go to meet with the bridegroom.
[3.] You must rouse up yourselves, and call upon all that is within
you to do its office : Ps. ciii. 1,2,' Bless the Lord, my soul, and all
that is within me, bless his holy name : bless the Lord, my soul, and
forget not all his benefits.' A man hath some power to awaken his own
soul, and stir up himself to heed the work that he is about. You
may speak to your hearts ; we must do what we can as reasonable
creatures.
[4.] When we have done all, all must be perfumed with the sweet
incense of Christ's intercession : Rev. viii. 3, ' And another angel came
A SACRAMENT SERMON. 437
and stood at the altar, having a golden censer ; and there was given
unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all
the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.' Alas !
we mingle weeds with our flowers, and sulphur with our incense ; and
our duties, as they come from us, are very unsavoury, and stink in the
nostrils of God ; not like the odoriferous smell of a precious oint
ment.
A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18.
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneih iniquity, and passeth by
the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? MICAH vii. 18.
THE words express an admiration of the Lord's incomparable goodness
and pardoning mercy. The question is, how they are brought in here
in this place? The prophet had prophesied of great things which
God would do for his people, and the fountain of all is his pardoning
mercy.
Obs. That the ground and foundation of all our hope and comfort
in our restoration after our distresses is the Lord's pardoning mercy.
The state of God's people now was mean and calamitous. They
were fallen by their iniquity ; yet not fallen past recovery, not sunk
beneath all hope: ver. 8, c Kejoice not against me, mine enemy;
when I fall I shall arise.' The church adviseth her adversaries to
sobriety and moderation in using those advantages they had against
her ; for the Lord hath his times, as of chastening and casting down
his people, so also of delivering and raising them up again, and
clothing their enemies with shame. Therefore the prophet speaks of
building up the fallen walls, ver. 11, 12. Desolate churches have
their time of restoration, when God will do marvellous things for his
people, ver. 15, and so reckon with their adversaries that they should
move out of their holes like worms out of the earth, because they shall
be afraid of the Lord our God, ver. 16, 17. And then presently,
in the text, ' Who is a God like unto thee ? ' &c. This abrupt and
passionate admiration of God's pardoning mercy showeth that all these
promises had their rise there. There were great difficulties to be
overcome before these promises could take place, but the greatest
difficulty and obstruction lay in their sins. And the prophet wondereth
more at his grace subduing sin, than at his power overcoming dif
ficulties. Instances we have : Jer. xxxi. 34, God had promised great
things to his people, both as to their spiritual and temporal condition ;
the reason rendered there is, ' For I will forgive their iniquity, and
will remember their sins no more.' So Jer. xxxiii. 8, ' I will cause
the captivity of Judah to return ; for I will cleanse them from their
iniquity.' That is the ground of all.
Reason 1. Sin is the greatest obstacle. Take that out of the way,
A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18.
and then mercies come freely from God : Isa. lix. 2, ' Your sins have
separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face
from you.' While sin remaineth unpardoned or unrepented of, God.
withdraweth his precious presence, and will not be seen of his people,
to hear, and help, and bless them : Jer. v. 25, ' Your iniquities have
turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things
from you.' If there be any restraint of God's blessing, it is because of
man's sin. So that remission or pardon is gratia removens prohibens ;
it removeth that which stoppeth our mercies. As when the obstruc
tion is removed, the fountain floweth forth freely; so when sin is
removed, that which letteth is taken out of the way.
Reason 2. Sin is the cause of all our evils, as well as it stoppeth
and hindereth our mercies ; it is the great makebate, as well as the
great obstacle. Sin being pardoned, the cause of the misery is re
moved ; and the cause being removed, the effect ceaseth : 2 Sam. xii.
13, ' The Lord hath put away thy sin ; thou shalt not die.' The
proper wages and recompense of sin is death ; and sin being gone,
death is gone. So Isa. xl. 2, ' Her warfare is accomplished.' What
is the reason of such a sudden change ? ' Her iniquity is pardoned.'
A foul stomach breedeth an aching head. There is no getting rid of
an aching head till the stomach be purged. Effects continue as long
as causes work and exert their influence.
Reason 3. Outward mercies, were they never so great and full, would
never yield any true satisfaction, unless they be joined with reconcili
ation with God and pardon of sin. Here God promiseth to give them
light after darkness, to make their enemies move out of their holes
like worms out of the earth; but all this is nothing unless God
pardoneth and passeth by their transgressions. Sin is apprehended
by God's people as the greatest evil. Till that be gone, their comforts
yield them no solid satisfaction. Quid prodest regium alimentum, si
ad Gehennam pascuit ? A traitor, till execution, may have allowance
according to his quality from his prince ; so may the Lord bestow
many common mercies on those who are yet left to everlasting destruc
tion. No solid happiness till pardon: Ps. xxxii. 1, 2, 'Blessed is he
whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered: blessed is
the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity.' Till we be
received into God's favour, and justified, we have no solid ground of
rejoicing
Use 1. To reprove
1. Them that look not after pardon of sin in their distresses, but
temporal blessings in the first place. These howl rather than pray,
Hosea vii. 14. Their suits to God are like the moans of beasts rather
than the groans of a sanctified heart.
2. Those that hope to remove evil, either by sinful means or natural
means, without being reconciled to God. (1.) Sinful means. As
Saul in his distress goeth to the witch of Endor. These do more
entangle and involve themselves. Fear is an ill counsellor, and
urgeth men to use indirect and evil means to avert the things feared;
and so, whilst they think to avoid their danger, they hasten and
increase it, Prov. x. 24. Instances are frequent. Samson's wife, the
Philistines threatened to burn her and her father's house with fire
440 A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18.
unless she would betray her husband's secrets, Judges xiv. 15. She
doth so, and Samson taking his revenge ; they fulfil what they
threatened, Judges xv. 6. The children of Israel murmured at the
report of the spies, and said, ' Would God we had died in the wilder
ness,' 'Num. xiv. 2 ; and God saith, vers. 28, 29, ' As ye have spoken in
my ears, so will I do unto you ; your carcases shall fall in this wilder
ness.' The rebels against fatherly government were afraid of scat
tering ; they would build a tower, 'lest they should be scattered on
the face of the earth ' (a solemn place wherein to meet), Gen. xi. 4;
and for that reason God ' confounded their language, and scattered
them,' ver. 8. Jeroboam, to secure the kingdom in his own house, set
up calves at Dan and Bethel, lest the people should return, when they
went up to Jerusalem to worship, to their natural lord, 1 Kings xii.
26 ; and this very thing became a snare to the house of Jeroboam to
cut it off and destroy it, 1 Kings xiii. 3, 4. The Jews were afraid of
Christ, lest the Komans would take jealousy at their frequent resort to
him, John xi. 48 ; and for that reason wrath came upon them to the
uttermost. Many will help themselves by sinful compliances, seek to
preserve their families, and thereby they ruin them. The second com
mandment is express. The way to secure ourselves is not to commit
new sins, but get a pardon of the old. (2.) By lawful means. Usually
means are cursed when we tamper with them before we have made
our peace with God. Israel's going forth without a peace-offering,
Judges xx. ; Asa seeking to the physicians before the Lord, 2 Chron.
xvi. 12, will sufficiently instruct us in that. Therefore 'acquaint
yourselves with God, and be at peace, and good shall come unto you,'
Job xxii. 21. Bustling in the world occasioneth more trouble till our
peace be made with God. There is no getting out of the comfortless
pit but by the blood of the everlasting covenant, Zech. ix. 11. All our
mercies come from a covenant of love, and a covenant made sure by
the blood of the Son of God. David had his sins pardoned before his
health restored, Ps. ciii. 3. First iniquity removed, then the disease.
3. It reproveth those that, lying under the fruits of sin, have not an
heart to seek their recovery from the Lord's pardoning mercy. The
church here was fallen under God's indignation, and that by reason of
sin : ver. 9, ' I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have
sinned against him.' It was a rod dipped in guilt ; and yet hopeth in
the Lord for a restitution to wonted privileges, because none like him
in pardoning. When God covereth himself with frowns, there is no
cause of despair. God threateneth that he may not punish, and pun-
isheth that he may not punish for ever. God maketh show of depart
ing that we may hold him the faster, and threateneth to remove from
a person or nation that he may not indeed remove, but that we may
entreat him to stay. And, indeed, he is not hard to be entreated. He
that is going away showeth us the way how to keep him still ; when
he flieth from us, he draweth the soul that it may run after him, Ps.
Ixiii. 8. When he seemeth to remove, he doth not go out of sight, that
you may always follow him ; and if you follow him, he will stand still.
If he seem to be wholly out of sight, it is that you may seek him early
and earnestly, Hosea v. 16. He hath left somewhat behind him to
draw the soul to him. When he smiteth very sorely, it is to awaken a
A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18. 441
drowsy sinner, that we may bethink ourselves, and not perish for
ever : ' Who is a God like unto thee ? '
Use 2. To instruct us what should most affect our hearts ; not so
much God's acts of power as his acts of grace. The church here ad-
mireth more his pardoning mercy than his glorious power in her
restoration ; that mercy should find the way to them, notwithstanding
sin, yea, many sins. The godly are sensible of the desert of sin, and
their inability to satisfy justice for it. The impediments of God's
power lie altogether without God ; but the impediments of his pardon
ing mercy within him. The soul pauseth upon this, that God is just
and holy ; therefore, when mercy rejoiceth over judgment, there is the
triumph of the saints. The effects of God's power are more obvious to
our apprehensions, but the fruits of his pardoning mercy are more
suspected because of our ill-deservings. It is notable here that God
pardoneth as El, as a strong God. ~Quis Deus fortis par tibi ? So
Junius, Who is a strong God like thee in pardoning ? Partly to show
that he doth not pardon out of need, but choice. He could avenge us,
but he will not. Men forbear their enemies out of policy, not out of
pity. The sons of Zeruiah may be too hard for them ; otherwise,
' Who findeth his enemy and slayeth him not ? ' We are always in
God's power, yet he pardoneth and spareth us. The more power men
have, the more they are given to oppression and acts of violence. God
is able to destroy us, but he showeth his power rather in pitying our
miseries and relieving our wants, in pardoning rather than in punish
ing ; partly to show the concomitancy of his power with his pardon
ing mercy. He will be strong in pardoning ; he will pardon so as to
subdue enemies, to remove lets and impediments. So Exod. xxxiv.
6, 7, ' Jehovah, Jehovah, El, the Lord, the Lord, the strong God,
merciful and gracious.' So Num. xiv. 17, 18, where Moses alludeth
to the former place : ' Let the power of my Lord be great/ So doth
this to both of them : ' Who is El like thee ? '
But to come more closely to the words.
Doct. That the chief glory of the true God consisteth in the pardon
of sins, wherein there is none like him.
I shall evidence it by these considerations
1. We have not a true apprehension of God till we see him singular
and matchless in excellency, and do give him a distinct and separate
honour far above all other things which are in the world. ^ We are
bidden not only to glorify God but to sanctify God, Isa. viii. 13, and
1 Peter iii. 15 ; to think and speak somewhat of God that cannot be
thought or spoken of other things ; for to sanctify is to set apart from
common use. And when it is applied to God, it signifieth to set him
above on the highest point of eminency, to reverence and adore him in
our hearts, as to love him and trust in him, and fear him above all
other things. The Lord, out of his love, thinketh no people like his
people. Quis sicut tu ? It is used of God and Israel : Deut. xxxiii.
29, ' Who is like unto thee, people saved by the Lord ? ' We are
to love God, and serve him, not by chance, but by choice ; not because
we know no other, but no better ; to see a superlative excellency in
him, to single him out as the only name above all other names. As
Exod. xv. 11, * Who is like unto thee among the gods ? who is like
442 A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18.
unto thee, glorious in holiness ? ' So Ps. Ixxi. 74, ' Thy righteousness
God, is very high ; who is like unto thee ? ' So Ps. Ixxvii. 13,
' Who is so great a God as our God ? ' Thus do the people of God,
in these and many other places, exalt the glory of his attributes beyond
all compare, and see something in their ' beloved above all other be
loveds/ Cant, v. 9 ; and so their souls are more settled in their choice,
and fortified against temptations, whilst they do not measure God by
the line of created beings, and by these expressions raise their thoughts
and hearts into an holy wonder. We are too apt to fancy God after the
model of the creature, and so transform his glory into the similitude of
such finite beings as we ourselves are. No ; who is like him for good
ness and power ? If we speak of strength, he is strong ; of goodness,
there is none good but God ; of wisdom, God is only wise, &c.
2. Among all his excellences, his pardoning mercy shineth forth
most conspicuously in the true religion, and is represented with such
advantages as cannot be found elsewhere. His style and name is ' a
God of pardons/ Neh. ix. 17. So when he proclaimed his name before
Moses, Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7, his pardoning mercy maketh up the greatest
part of his name. Now names are a notioribus, from such things as
are most obvious and observable in them to whom the names are given.
To evidence this, that no God is like our God, consider
[1.] The business of a religion is to provide sufficiently for two
things which have much troubled the considering part of the world
to provide a suitable happiness for mankind, and a sufficient means for
the expiation of the guilt of sin. Happiness is our great desire, and
sin our great trouble. Both these are fully laid down in the scriptures.
There we find what is true happiness, and there also how the grand
scruple of the world may be satisfied, and their guilty fears may be
quenched by the expiation of sin. It was sin that plunged us into
mischief, and that cut us off from the favour of God, and did forbid
all communion with him and enjoyment of him ; therefore the great
question of the fallen creature is, * Wherewith will God be pleased ? '
and ' What shall I give for the sin of my soul ? ' Micah vi. 7. The
whole world is in dread of provoked justice : Eom. i. 32, ' Who know
ing the judgment of God, and that they which commit such things are
worthy of death/ Men are sensible of a sentence of death passed upon
them, the fear of which puts them in bondage and trouble all their
days, Heb. ii. 14.
[2.] Till there be a due course taken for the pardon of sin, there is
no provision made for establishment either of the creature's comfort or
duty. (1.) Not his comfort. All the world is VTTO^LKO^ ra> Qew, Kom.
iii. 19, ' become guilty before God/ answerable to him for the breaches
of his law, and standeth in dread of his righteous anger and wrath.
Nothing obtrudeth itself upon our thoughts but the comfortless sight
of our misery when we are serious ; and men are never perfect, as
appertaining to the conscience, Heb. ix. 9, never upon sound and good
terms, but racked with perplexing fears. (2.) Not his duty; for
religion can never take deep root in our hearts till some hope be estab
lished that God will not deal severely with us, nor call us to an account
for all our errors and swerving from his holy law : Ps. cxxx. 4, ' There
is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared/ Forgiveness
A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18. 443
encourageth us to the hearty service, worship, and obedience of God,
whereunto otherwise we could have neither hand nor heart. But since
he will forgive^the penitent supplicant, and pardon the slips and
frailties of our lives, this draweth us to obedience ; whereas a despera
tion of his mercy would certainly avert us from it. We are not in a
desperate and hopeless condition ; God will allow pardon to the peni
tent. If our condition were altogether hopeless, it would engage us in
a course of sin, without any thought of returning or repenting ; as they
said, Jer. xviii. 12, ' There is no hope,' &c.
[3.] Natural light giveth some evidence of this truth, that God is
placable. The gentiles were all of this opinion, that their gods were
inclined to pardon. Thence came all their sacrifices and expiations.
They thought their gods would be propitious to sinners if they did
come humbly and ask pardon. We see in the daily course of God's
providence that God forbeareth the worst, doth not stir up all his
wrath against them. They have life, and food, and raiment, and ease,
and liberty, and friends, and wealth, and honour, Kom. ii. 4. All
these forfeited mercies are continued to us ; and God doth not deal
with men in utmost rigour, which showeth that he is willing to be
appeased and ready to forgive upon terms consistent with his honour
and the common good. Yea, his commanding us to forgive one an
other is an argument that mercy and forgiveness are pleasing unto God.
It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence. If this be a perfection
or glory in man, reason will tell us that somewhat of this may be ex
pected from God. Certainly our condition is not desperate and past
all hope while we are yet in the way, and under an obligation to use
means for our recovery. And the Lord inviteth us by daily mercies,
Acts xiv. 17. This showeth the possibility of a pardon to fallen man
kind. We are not in termino, as the fallen angels are.
[4.] It showeth a possibility, yea, a probability. In all false reli
gions there can be no solid and firm persuasion of pardon. Partly
because there is no sufficient expiation of sin, even in the judgment of
those who knew least of the nature of sin and the malignity of it.
They were still at a loss for a recompense to appease angry justice.
They were sensible that sin is a wrong done to God, and that its wages
is death ; that there must be satisfaction given, some amends for the
wrong done, and some means used to appease God. Therefore they
had several ways and inventions how to wear off this sense of sin ;
sometimes by mock sacrifices, as many now would droll away con
science. So Alexander ab Alex. Thucydides. They offered painted
sacrifices. The gods of the heathens were false gods, and therefore
contented with an imaginary satisfaction. Sometimes real sacrifices,
wherein they hoped to prevail by the pomp and cost of them, hundreds
of beasts ; sometimes by dolorous impressions on their own bodies, as
Baal's priests gashed themselves. The devil delighteth in the torture
and destruction of the creature ; he ruleth by fears, and all the dark
superstitions in the world are supported by a spirit of bondage, and
this fear of provoked justice. Sometimes offer their children in sacri
fice, or chose out some men who should die for the rest. Caesar telleth
us of the old Gauls, Quod pro vita hominis nisi vita hominis red-
datur, non posse Deorum immortalium numen placari arbitrantur.
444 A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18.
(2.) The other reason is, because there was no law of commerce
established between them and that which they conceived to be God ;
no certain promise to build upon. The gentiles are described to be,
Eph. ii. 12, ' Strangers to the covenants of promise.' Something they
knew of vice and virtue, but nothing of sin and righteousness in order
to a covenant. We have a covenant, wherein remission of sins and
salvation by Christ is put into a stated course. The covenant ia the
church's charter, whereby she holdeth these privileges. (3.) They had
no advocate to plead for them, as we have, who is to make our peace
with God in case of breaches, 1 John ii. 1, 2. Indeed, they had a
conceit of a sort of middle powers. They had their mediators, 1 Cor.
viii. 5, 6, Aeyofjievoi Oeol, \^ofjuevoi Kvpioi ; but no true mediator to go
between God and them. As they had their celestial and supreme
deities called by this title among the heathens, so inferior deities, a
second order, agents between the gods and men. But all this is a
fabulous supposition, no way satisfying the heart of a reasonable crea
ture.
[5.] In the Christian religion all things are provided for which are
necessary to establish a regular hope of pardon.
(1.) There is full satisfaction given to divine justice, and the founda
tion laid for pardon in the death of Christ, Eph. i. 7. If God will
pardon sins, there must be some course taken to keep up the honour
of his justice and the authority of his law, or else the government of
the world could not be kept up. God is not to be considered as the
wronged party only, as a private man may forgive the wrong done to
him, but as the judge and governor of the world. Sin is a disobed
ience to his law. He that hath offended God as a lawgiver shall be
punished by him as a judge, unless some course be taken. God must
be known to be a righteous God still, Horn. iii. 25 ; leave some brand
upon sin, Kom. viii. 3 ; check those thoughts of impurity which indul
gence to carnality breedeth in the hearts of men, Deut. xxix. 19, that
God's law and government may not be brought into contempt, and
sinners take liberty to sin without fear. Now, to all these ends Christ
came, to purchase forgiveness for us by his own blood.
(2.) We have privileges offered to us by a sure covenant in Christ's
name, Luke xxiv. 47, and Acts v. 31. The gospel is an indenture
drawn between God and us, wherein is required repentance, and pro
mised forgiveness of sins ; or, if you will, a testament, wherein precious
legacies are left to us by our dying Lord ; and pardon of sins is the first.
This sealed and solemnly conveyed to us in the Lord's supper, Luke
xxii. 20 ; the new testament, that is, ^^eiov ical a(f)pd<yi$, Mat. xxvi.
28, ' My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many, for the
remission of sins.'
(3.) It is dispensed upon rational terms, such as faith and repent
ance. (1.) Faith : Acts x. 43, ' To him give all the prophets witness,
that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remis
sion of sins/ It is fit that those who would have benefit by Christ
should acknowledge their Redeemer, and thankfully accept of the bene
fit procured by him and offered in his name, and heartily consent to
his conduct and government, that he may bring them home to God
again, and put them into a capacity of pleasing and enjoying him.
A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18. 445
Faith is our thankful owning of our Bedeemer unto the ends for which
God hath appointed him. (2.) Eepentance is required : Acts iii. 19,
* Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted
out.' It was agreeable to the honour and wisdom of God that those
who would be reconciled to him should be sensible of this weighty
debt which is upon them, and heartily confess their sins, and with
brokenhess of heart sue out their pardon, 1 John i. 9 ; for it was not
meet that sin should be pardoned till the creature doth relent, nor for
the honour of God's majesty that we should take pardon otherwise
than upon our knees: Jer. iii. 13, ' Only acknowledge thine iniquity.'
Our case is not compassionable till we are sensible of our wrongs, and
willing to return to our duty. An absolute pardon, without any stoop
ing on the creature's part, would open a flood-gate to all profaneness
and indulgence to our lusts. Thus there is a condecency to God's
nature in the terms required.
(4.) In the manner of dispensing forgiveness. God doth it in a free,
full, and universal remission of our sins. It is a free pardon : Isa. xliii.
25, ' I, even I, ani he that forgiveth your iniquities for my name's sake,
and will remember your sins no more.' It is not given without our
desiring, yet without our deserving. God doth it for his name's sake,
pitying our misery, and for the glory of his own mercy, Isa. Iii. 3. As
the sale was without any gain and benefit to us, so the redemption and
recovery without any cost to us. It cost Christ dear, but to us it
cometh freely. It is a full pardon ; for God pardoneth not by halves,
and so as to reverse it again, but fully : Micah vii. 19, ' Thou wilt
cast all their sins into the depths of the sea/ The persons accepted
to grace and favour are made capable of salvation, Kom. v. 10. So-
universally : Mat. xii. 3, ' All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be
forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost,' No
reservation of any one sin but that sin for which men will not ask
pardon. Our sins are infinite, many of them iii every pardoned sin
ner, Ps. xix. 12; Ps. xl. 12, 'They are more than the hairs of my
head ; ' and those not ordinary infirmities, but sometimes heinous
transgressions ; yet free grace pardoneth all, not only in one, but in all
believers ; and doth remain as full and overflowing in God to pardon
self-condemned sinners as ever.
Application. 1. Information. To show us the excellency of the
Christian religion above other religions in the world, because it dis-
covereth pardon of sins upon such terms as may be most commodious
for the honour of God and satisfactory to our souls. The heathens
were mightily perplexed about the terms how God might dispense it
with honour, and man receive it with comfort. That man is God's
creature, and therefore his subject ; that he hath exceedingly failed
and faltered in his duty and subjection to him, that therefore he is
obnoxious to God's just wrath and vengeance, were truths evident by
the light of nature and common experience. Therefore they had their
terrors and convictions, and that God needed to be atoned and pro
pitiated by some sacrifice of expiation ; and the nearer they lived to
the original of this institution, the more clear and pressing hath been
the conceit hereof ; and the more remotely, the more have these notions
degenerated and been gradually depraved. But in all their cruel and
446 A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18.
dark superstitions there is no rest for souls. They knew not the true
God, nor the proper ransom, nor had any sure way of covenant to con
vey pardon to them, but were still left to this puzzle and distraction
of thoughts, that they could not make God just without some diminu
tion of his mercy, nor apprehend God merciful, without making him
unjust. Somewhat they conceived of the goodness of God, but they
could not apprehend him reconciled to the sinner without debasing his
holiness, and not such an enemy to the sin : ' Thou thoughtest I was
altogether such an one as thyself ; ' and therefore had not such notions
of the remission of sin as would breed repentance and true holiness, or
work in them any true change of heart and life. Their pardon of sin
was but a probability, their rites to procure it slight and ridiculous, or
else barbarous and unnatural, giving their ' first-born for the sin of
their souls ; ' and the effects of this apprehended expiation were too
weak and ineffectual to reduce them to God. The Jews had many
sacrifices of God's own institution, but such as ' did not make the
comers thereunto perfect as appertaining to the conscience/ Heb. ix.
9. The great price and ransom that was given to provoked justice
was known to few. They saw much of the patience of God, but little
of his forgiveness. Their ordinances were rather a bond acknowledg
ing the debt than an acquittance revealing the discharge ; therefore
called ' The handwriting of ordinances against us,' Col. ii. 14, and
Kom. iii. 24, 25. And therefore the redemption of souls is spoken of
as a great mystery, which then was but sparingly revealed : Ps. xlix.
4, 5, ' My mouth shall speak of wisdom ; ' and again, ' I will utter my
dark saying/ What was that wisdom, that dark saying ? See ver. 7,
8, ' None can give God a ransom for his brother ; the redemption of
the soul is precious/ Eternal redemption by the Messiah was a dark
thing in those days. No mere man is able to rescue a sinner from the
power of death, to which he is sentenced by the law of God. So again,
in more early days, in Job's time, it was ' an interpreter, one of a
thousand/ that brought this message to the distressed sinner, that
' God had found a ransom/ Job xxxiii. 23, 24. They were persons
rarely found that were employed in that work, or had a discovery of
the mind of God about it. So that you see what an hidden thing this
atonement, that lieth at the bottom of pardon of sins, was in those
days : they knew little of this great transaction. Oh ! what cause
have we then to bless God for a more clear and open discovery of this
blessed truth !
Use 2. To put us upon self-reflection. Do we entertain this offered
pardon as such a singular thing deserves ? Sure if there be none like
God in pardoning, we should not be affected with it as some ordinary
thing. Here, therefore, I shall inquire what impression it should
leave upon us.
1. The sense of God's glorious grace in pardoning should work in
us a great love to God, and commend and endear him to our hearts,
or else we do not entertain it with that singular affection which so
great a benefit and so glorious a project of his love deserveth, but
lightly pass it over as a common thing, or a piece of stale news : Kom.
v. 8, * God commendeth his love to us in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for the ungodly ; ' Luke vii. 47, * Her many sins
A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18. 447
are forgiven to her, therefore she loved much/ Certainly the self-
condemning sinner will be deeply affected with this grace, and the
saints are always admiring, Eph. iii. 18, 19. Did you ever feel in
your hearts what a glorious work of mercy he hath wrought in our
redemption ? Are your souls more engaged to him ? Have you any
of the saint's admiration of the height, length, breadth, and depth of
this love and grace ?
2. Where it is rightly entertained it breedeth admiring thoughts.
Everything about God is marvellous, but especially his mercy : ' He
hath called us into his marvellous light/ 1 Peter ii. 9. We never
have any true apprehension of God in any of his attributes till he
filleth us with wonder : 1 Sam. ii. 2, ' Is any holy as the Lord ? '
Deut. xxxii. 31, 'There is no rock like our rock;' Ps. Ixxxvi. 8,
' Among the gods there is none like thee, Lord ; neither are any
works like thy works/ Now, since the chief glory of God consists in
his grace, and one special act is the remission of sins, therefore we do
not rightly entertain this discovery of God unless we are raised into
some admiration of his grace. This was God's end : Eph. i. 6, ' That
we might be to the praise of the glory of his grace/
3. Such as breedeth a reverence of God : Ps. cxxx. 4, ' There is
forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared ; ' and Hosea iii. 5,
' They shall fear the Lord and his goodness/ That sense of pardon
which worketh no reverence, but rather a contempt and commonness
of spirit in all our transactions with God, is justly to be suspected.
4. It confirmeth us in the true religion, Jer. vi. 16, Mat. xi. 28, 29.
In a consultation the inquiry is, Where shall I have any rest of soul ?
Carnal comforts tickle the senses. False religions leave us in darkness
and perplexity ; and doubtful, uncertain, loose proposals of grace breed
a vanishing delight, which is lost upon the increase of knowledge and
a little serious consideration ; but the grace of Christ truly propounded
soon brings ease and peace. Now this is a confirmation : 1 John v. 10,
' He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself ; ' an
argument in our own bosoms.
5. It taketh off the heart from other things, and bringeth us back
from the flesh to God ; for where this comfort maketh a due impression,
the sensitive lure hath less force. No joy like joy in God and recon
ciliation with him by Christ, Kom. v. 11. Delight is not abrogated,
but preferred ; it is most chaste, rational and pure ; an holy delight
in a pardoning God.
6. It giveth us strength and encouragement to new obedience. Who
would not serve a pardoning God, such a pardoning God ? Titus ii.
11, 12, ' The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to a F
men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we sho r
live soberly, righteously, and godly/ &c. Teacheth, not by v
instruction, but persuasion. If it doth not engage us to reaj 1
obedience, our apprehensions are not right, 2 Cor. v. 14 ;
matchless and singular in his mercy, we should be sii
obedience. /
7. It melteth us into the forgiveness of others. Go^
man so far that it is a shame to retain our ng?r
Isa. Ivii. 8, 9. We must not measure God. bv
448 A SERMON ON MIC AH VII. 18.
pardoneth ; none like him. Man is revengeful, inexorable, but God
is a God of pardons ; his pardoning mercy is suitable to his greatness,
and other excellences of his nature. Now, what impression doth this
make upon us ? Eph. iv. 32, ' Forgiving one another, as God for
Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' We have been a thousand times
more disingenuous to God, Mat. xviii. 26, 27. He that owed ten
thousand talents, upon his entreaty the lord forgave him the debt ; but
he was inexorable to his fellow-servant that owed him but an hundred
pence. The implacable, inexorable nature of man is one of the
greatest degeneracies of human nature^ To retain a sense of wrong, to
watch opportunities of revenge, is to represent the image of the devil
in its proper colours.
8. It teacheth us to entertain with reverence the grace tendered to us
in the Lord's supper, that was designed and appointed for the re
presentation and remembrance of Christ, and the solemn communica
tion of the benefits thereof to the penitent believer. Now forgiveness
of sins is one expressly mentioned, Mat. xxvi. 28, ' For this is my blood
of the new testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.'
Christ hath purchased for us the remission of sins, and we are to yield
him that obedience which he requireth upon the account of having
so dealt with us. Here Christ and his new testament gifts are solemnly
delivered to us, the wondrous love of God manifested. Now, what
becometh us more than admiring his pardoning mercy, and making
God amiable to us, and to express our joy and thankfulness ? Here
we come to profess communion with a reconciled God, and to take a
sealed pardon out of his hands.
Use 3. To press you to admire the grace of God in the pardon of
sins. It will never be unless we look upon it
1. As a necessary mercy. Three things make it necessary law,
conscience, judgment. By law we are condemned, though not executed :
John iii. 18, ' He that believeth not is condemned already.' This
sentence standeth in force till we repent and believe. And then con
science : Kom. ii. 15, ' Which show the works of the law written in
their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness.' So judgment :
Acts x. 42, 43, ' He it is that was ordained by God to be judge of
quick and dead ; and to him give all the prophets witness, that through
his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.'
Now to them that have a sense of these things, that look shortly to
appear before the bar of God, and are afraid of his displeasure, it will
appear to be a necessary mercy.
2. It is a great mercy. If forgiveness of sin had been a small
thing, it had not been purchased at so dear a rate : Eph i. 7, ' We have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins ; according to
the riches of his grace.'
3. It is a sure mercy. If we be qualified to receive it, God's truth
1 justice lies at pawn to make it good to us.
' 4. Comfort to refresh the weary, and make glad the 'mournful
\*"Ve are apt to say, None like us in sinning ; but remember,
* God in pardoning. Penitent believers should take comfort
"ihstancling their great sins before conversion, and slips
v > jour consciences accuse vou of so much unthank-
A SERMON ON MICAH VII. 18. 449
fulness to God ; yet, Horn. viii. 33, 34, ' Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? it is God that justifieth ; who is he that con-
demneth ? it is Christ that died,' &c. When you are sensible of the
great wrong done to God, remember Christ hath satisfied for it, and
God is readily inclined to pardon you. There is no mercy for them
that fear not justice ; no justice for them that fly to mercy. God hath
erected a throne of grace for them that judge and condemn them
selves, and will wonderfully discover the riches of his grace.
VOL. xv.
A SEEMON ON JOHN XIII. 8.
If I ivash thee not, tliou hast no part with me. JOHN xiii. 8.
THESE words belong to the story of Christ's washing his disciples' feet.
In which
1. The preface is remarkable, ver. 3-5. Jesus, knowing sufficiently
the dignity of his person, that he was the eternal Son of God, and was
now about to return to God, to take possession of all power in heaven and
in earth, after the manner of a waiter and servant of the meanest quality,
in all humility, sets him to wash and wipe the feet of his own disciples.
By the magnificence of the preface, a man would have thought that
he had been about to work some great miracle or give some notable
instance of his divine power ; but here was no miracle, unless it were
of humility and love. We keep state, and stand upon our terms, think
it much below us to do an office of kindness and love to inferiors ; but
Christ, when he had the highest thoughts of bis glory, would evidence
the greatest humility, to take down our pride, and to assure us, by so
pregnant a proof, that his exaltation should not hinder him from con
descending to the necessities of his meanest people.
2. The next thing is the interruption made by Peter when Christ
came to perform this office to him. (1.) He diverteth it by wonder
and admiration : ver. 6, ' Lord, dost thou wash my feet ?' that is, pur
pose to do it. His admiration of Christ's humility was good, but his
declining and shunning to receive this office of love from him was a
faulty modesty ; as the saints usually run into extremity in their humi
liations, while they so far debase themselves as to refuse their own
mercies. We are unworthy, it is true, and we cannot have a sufficient
sense of it ; but God can and will do more for unworthy creatures than
they can ask or think, or imagine it to be consistent with their duty to
receive from him. Christ corrects his error by instruction, showing that
the action of washing had a further meaning, as he should afterwards
understand when he had received the Spirit, and should be called to
discharge the office of an apostle in the church, ver. 7. (2.) Notwith
standing this warning, Peter persists in his error : * Lord, thou shalt
never wash my feet.' He would by no means let Christ wash his feet
What was modesty before is now some degree of obstinacy, as infirmi-
A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8. 451
ties grow upon our hands when we indulge them. This second refusal is
more peremptory, after Christ had declared the rneaningof this washing.
Surely he should have acquiesced in Christ's answer ; for we must yield
obedience to his will, though for the present we <Jo not know the reason
of it. But he was so far from acquiescing, that he proceeded to a
wilful refusal ; therefore Christ rebuketh him more severely, and with a
threatening that would go to his very heart. And ' Jesus answered him,
If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.'
In which words
1. A sin supposed or taxed If I ivasli thee not.
2. A sad threatening denounced to break his obstinacy Thou hast
no part with me.
1. The sin supposed' If I wash thee not.' The question is whether
it relateth to his non-submission to Christ's action of washing his feet,
or to the spiritual washing and cleansing of the soul. Ans. To both,
but chiefly to the last.
[1.] I do not exclude the former, because we ought to obey God,
though the reason of what he doth and cointnandeth appeareth not. It
was Peter's fault to prefer his own preconceived opinion before the wis
dom of Christ ; and disobedience to a positive command is no small sin,
though the precept hath no other worth to commend itself to our con
sciences but the will and authority of the commander. The whole
world was ruined by eating the forbidden fruit, or the transgression of
a positive law.
[2.] Christ doth primarily and principally speak of the spiritual wash
ing, of which the washing of their feet was but an emblem and figure.
(1.) It is usual with Christ to pass from corporeal things to spiritual
benefits as from the water of Jacob's well he discourseth of the well
of life, or the gift of the Spirit, John iv. 13, 14 ; and from the growing
of the corn to the gathering of fruit unto the eternal harvest, John
iv. 35, 36 ; from their following him for the loaves to labouring for
meat that perisheth not, John vi. 27 ; and afterward beginneth a nota
ble discourse of the bread of life, or the true manna that came down
from heaven ; so from the drawing and pouring out of water at the
feast of tabernacles of the flowing out of the Spirit, John vii. 38, 39 ;
and many other places. (2.) He saith not, ' If I wash not thy feet,'
but, ' If I wash thee not ;' by the words declaring that it was not the
refusal or contempt of that action which he principally spake of, and
afterwards explaineth himself how far the choicest believers need to
be washed, ver. 10. (3.) That washing of feet was not so necessary
to salvation that a matter of such moment should depend upon the
neglect of it, as exclusion from all benefit by Christ. (4.) The words
are opposed to the preconceived opinion of Peter and the other dis
ciples, who only looked to the external action : ' Ye are clean, but not
all,' ver. 10,
2. The threatening on this supposition * Thou hast no part with
me/ Some make a distinction between the words, in me, and with
me ; as if the sense were, Though thou hast part in me, yet none with
me, that is, in the supper which he was about to institute ; but this
is more argute than solid. The phrase implieth two things (1.)
No communion with him ; (2.) No interest in him or his benefits.
452 A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8,
[1.] No communion with him ; as 2 Cor. vi. 15, * What concord
hath Christ with Belial ? or what part hath he that believeth with an
infidel ?' that is, there is no familiarity and friendship or communion
in worship between them. Presently after this the sacrament of
Christ's body and blood was instituted, to the participation of which
this spiritual washing was necessary.
[2.] No interest in him ; as Acts viii. 21, ' Thou hast neither part
nor lot in this matter.' Part and lot is right portion, or inheritance ;
so ' no part with me ' is no interest in Christ or his benefits.
Doct. That without the washing of the soul from sin men can have
no communion with God in Christ nor interest in him. I prove it
1. With respect to the nature of God, who is represented to us as
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
[1.] Our God is pure and holy : Hab. i 13, 'Of purer eyes than to
behold iniquity ;' that is, with approbation and acceptance, yea, or BO
much as connivance, or to let it go unpunished. The sense of this is
at the bottom of all that terror and astonishment that is in the heart
of sinners, 1 Sam. vi. 20 ; and the disbelief of this is the ground of all
their security, or pleasing themselves in their sins, Ps. 1. 21. An
unsanctified man can never have any quiet in his sins till he hath
defaced the awe of God's holiness in his conscience, or entertained un
worthy lessening thoughts of his purity and holiness. This is the
cause of the deep humiliation of the saints, and that great self-abhor-
rency, and self-loathing which they express whenever they have to do
with God. They cannot think of him, but they are ashamed of the
remainder of corruption in their hearts : Isa. vi. 5, ' Woe is me ! for I
am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips,
for mine eyes have seen the Lord of hosts.' So Job xlii. 5, 6, ' I
have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear ; but now mine eye
seeth thee ; wherefore I abhor myself in dust and ashes.' Thus were
the saints affected when God manifested himself to them in a way of
grace. God is a most pure, holy being, and the fountain of all purity
and holiness, in comparison of whom the purity of the highest creatures
is but pollution: Job xv. 15, 16, 'Behold he putteth no trust in his
saints, and the heavens themselves are not clean in his sight : how
much more abominable and filthy is man, who drinketh in iniquity
like water ?' The good angels were never defiled with sin, yet, because
of the mutability of their natures, God is said not to trust them, because
they are creatures, and so changeable ; and they are said, in a com
parative sense, not to be clean in his sight. Oh ! how much more
should we confess ourselves to be vile and abhorred, who are actually
defiled with sin, and are so mutable and fickle, and do so often show
what dregs and dross remaineth in our hearts. But God, though he
be so good and holy in himself, yet may dispense with the unholiness
of others. No ; his purity implieth an hatred and aversation from all
that is not pure and holy : Ps. v. 5, * The foolish shall not stand in thy
sight ; thou hatest the workers of iniquity ; ' for none can have com
munion with this holy God unless they be pure and holy also. God
is good to such as are of a clean heart, Ps. Ixxiii. 1 ; and Ps. xviii.
26, * With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure, and with the
upright thou wilt show thyself upright.' So that there is no fruition
A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8. 453
of or communion with this holy God till we arc in some measure
cleansed and washed from sin.
[2.] Look we to God incarnate, the second person, our Mediator and
Redeemer ; he also is pure and holy : and, therefore, if conformity
maketh way for communion, we must be pure as he is pure. Christ
is pure, whether you consider his person or design of coining into the
world. For his person : Heb. vii. 26, ' Such an high priest became
us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.' This
was he who was to bring us to God, and who was set up as a
pattern of holiness in our nature. He was pure and holy in his con
ception and birth, life and death, never tainted or stained with the
least sin ; his human nature being more like God, and nearer to him
than any creature possibly can be. He chose not here a life of
monkish sequestration, but free conversation with men, yet never was
defiled with their evil company, nor made partaker in their sins.
And surely they are very unlike him who are not washed and cleansed
from sin, whose hearts are filled and lives are spotted with envy,
malice, lust, ambition, affectation of greatness and esteem in the
world, and excessive use of carnal pleasures. A life so unlike Christ
is to contradict and deny our profession, and to be called Christians
to Christ's dishonour. Such a pure and holy head will not suit with
a filthy ulcerous body. For this design Christ died, to cleanse, purify,
and sanctify us : Eph. v. 26, 27, ' He loved the church, and gav<;
himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of
water, through the word, that he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but
that it should be holy, and without blemish.' The Lord Jesus, when
he undertook the recovery of lapsed mankind, wanted not love to
intend to us the greatest benefit, nor wivsdom to choose it, nor merit
or worth to purchase it. What was it then which he did intend,
choose, purchase ?
I answer To sanctify and cleanse us. Herein he showed the
fervency of his love, the wisdom of his choice, and the value of his
purchase, and by all the necessity and excellency of holiness. He
saw that our great misery was that we were polluted and unclean by
sin, and so made loathsome to God. Therefore his love inclined him,
not to loath us, but seek our good ; so his wisdom pitched on this, as
the most proper and necessary benefit for us. And because of the
value of his sufferings, he despaired not to get us made clean, and
accordingly pursueth that work till it cometh to its final perfection,
and so at length taketh us home to himself, as fully pure and perfect,
without any spot or remnant of sinful defilement. Now this being
Christ's design, surely except he wash us we cannot participate of
other benefits, we have no room in his family, no right to the
privileges either of his table or kingdom.
[3.] If you look to God the Spirit, still the argument groweth upon
our hands. The Spirit is to make up the match and union between us
and the Redeemer, and to bring us to Christ, as Christ is to bring us to
God. He that hath not the Spirit of Christ, is none of his Rom. viii. 9.
Now the Spirit is an holy and sanctifying Spirit, the healing of our
natures, and sanctifying and cleansing our hearts, is his great work.
454 A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8.
He is called the Comforter, but he is also called the Spirit of sanctification,
1 Peter i. 2, Born. i. 4. He is both a sanctifier and a comforter; but
first a sanctifier, then a comforter ; yea, in this life more a sanctifier than
a comforter ; for his sanctifying work is more necessary, and carried on
with less interruption than his comforting work. Nay, once more, he is
therefore a comforter because a sanctifier; as appeareth by those
metaphors whereby his comforting operation is expressed 'seal/
'earnest;' so as the sealing of the Holy Spirit is nothing but the
impress of the image of God upon our hearts, and the earnest of the
Spirit is that conformity to God for the present, that assures of more
to come, maketh us long and look for more communications of it
The dwelling of the sanctifying Spirit in our hearts is the earnest and
pledge of our dwelling for ever with God, and beginneth that vision
and fruition of him which is perfected in heaven.
2. In respect of our natural estate, in which we are altogether filthy
and abominable by reason of sin. We are told, Ps. xiv. 3, 'The'
Lord looked from heaven ;' and what did he see here below ? ' They
are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy and abominable/
All persons, and all their actions flowing from their corrupt hearts,
are vile and loathsome in God's sight ; the Lord looked from heaven
before and all was good, very good ; there was no disorder in the
creation, Gen. i. 31. Whence came the change? As we came out
of God's hands we were all pure and clean, but when sin had once
invaded our nature the case was altered ; all became filthy and odious
to God ; so that there was an utter incapacity of enjoying communion
with God or having an interest in him, which incapacity remaineth
till we are sanctified by the Spirit. We have gentle constructions
and moderate names and terms that we put upon sin to make it go
down the better, or to satisfy ourselves in that polluted estate which
the fall hath put us into. But if we look into the scripture we shall
find sin and sinners compared to things which are most filthy and
loathsome ; as to the blood and pollution of a new-born child before
it be washed, Ezek. xvi. 6 ; to the ifoisome steam and exhalation
which breaketh out from an open sepulchre, Rom. iii. 13 ; to filthy
dung and excrements, James i. 21 ; to the uncleanness of a removed
woman, Ezek. xxxvi. 17; to a vessel in which is no pleasure,
Hosea viii. 8, which is but a modest expression of that draught
into which nature emptieth itself. These and many other expressions
doth the scripture use to set forth the loathsomeness of sinners to
God. Surely we need to be cleansed and washed, if we had eyes to
see our natural face. The sins of others are hateful to us though we
are tainted ourselves, but we are blinded with self-love. If we run
into open sin we find there is a natural bashfulness or inconfidence,
or shyness of appearing before God. Now, all this evinceth a neces
sity of being washed from sin if we would enjoy any commerce and
communion with God in Christ; therefore the one is required in
order to the other: James iv. 8, * Draw nigh to God, and he will
draw nigh to you ' ; and presently, ' Cleanse your hands, ye sinners,
and purify your hearts/ &c. Till that be done, God will not show us
his grace and favour.
3. With respect to the new covenant, or our entering into the
gospel state, the manner is set down, Heb. x. 22, ' Let us draw
A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8. 455
near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water/ All that would draw nigh to God by Christ must draw nigh
with a true heart, and in full assurance of faith at first ; and, before
they can have other blessings from him, have their consciences
sprinkled with Christ's blood, and their hearts and lives in some
measure sanctified. Certainly it is our great duty and privilege to
draw nigh to God by Christ ; and it is the great drift and intent of
the new covenant, as appeareth, Heb. vii. 19, * For the law made
nothing perfect ; but the bringing in of a better hope did, by which
we draw nigh to God.' Granted ; but how must we draw nigh to
God ? Some things are required with respect to the covenant, and
some things with respect to the covenanter. (1.) With respect to
the covenant itself, which is made up of duties and privileges. We
must draw nigh with a true heart, unfeignedly resolving to perform
the duties required. All serious actions must be done with the heart,
especially religious actions, wherein we have immediately to do with
God, who will not be mocked with a vain show. Now, no business is
so weighty as the pursuit of eternal happiness, or the great affairs of
our precious and immortal souls ; therefore these must be gone about
with our heart, and with a true heart, unfeignedly resolving and pur
posing to do what God require th of us, and all that he requireth of
us. God, that dispenseth with defects, will not dispense with want of
sincerity ; therefore we must unfeignedly yield up ourselves to do his
will, and to be complete therein, otherwise we come as Judas to
Christ, to betray him with a kiss ; or as Joab to Abner, embracing
him to smite him under the fifth rib. Any one lust reserved in
yielding up ourselves to God, showeth that there is falseness at heart ;
the fleshly mind and interest is not thoroughly mortified ; there is a
carnal bias in it, which in time will make it revolt from God if it be
let alone ; neither can there be a thorough intention and habitual
purpose to please God in all things, Heb. xiii. 18 ; Ps. Ixvi. 18. (2.)
In full assurance of faith. This hath the promises of salvation for
its object, and implieth not only an assent to the truth of them, but
a dependence upon God that they will be made good to us, we putting
no bar and impediment in our own way ; that is to say, we doing what
to us belongeth, performing all the duties required whatever it costs
us ; for it is such a trust as taketh the things promised for our whole
happiness, and the promises themselves for our whole security. It is
enough to the self-denying Christian that they have pardon and
heaven to hope for, and God's word to bear them out ; and they venture
their all upon it, that whatever befalleth them they can comfortably
rely upon God, and keep up the rejoicing of their hope : they dare
not draw back whatever temptations they have to the contrary,
Heb. iii. 6-14 ; Heb. x. 39. This was chosen as their sole comfort
and blessedness, and to this they would adhere and stick to, and find
joy and comfort enough in it, Ps. cxix. 111.
4. With respect to the person covenanting : That to qualify us for
communion with God in Christ we must be washed from sin ; we
must have our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water. These two graces explain how Christ
456 A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8.
must wash us that we may have part with him. This washing is
more plainly expressed, 1 Cor. vi. 11, ' Such were some of you ; but
ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God ; ' where there is a
general word washing., the kind or species of it, sanctification and
justification; there is a relative and real change. But let us explain
the text in hand.
[1.] Justification is expressed in that phrase, * Having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience.' The part sprinkled is the con
science, which is the most quick, lively, and sensible power of man's
soul ; when other faculties are corrupted, this taketh God's part
And by an evil conscience is meant a conscience unquiet by reason of
sin. Every man's conscience is witness and judge of that impurity
and corruption which he is defiled with. Now, the heart is said to
be sprinkled from this evil conscience with allusion to the sprinklings
of blood under the law, and signifieth the sprinkling the blood
of Jesus, which speaks better things than the blood of Abel,
Heb. xii. 24 ; and is done when a poor sinner, being sensible of
sin, maketh hearty application of the blood of Christ for remission
and pardon with devoting himself to God. Well then, the person
that would draw nigh to God with comfort, must be one that is
sprinkled from an evil conscience ; that is, in a penitent and broken
hearted manner, confesseth his sins with a purpose to forsake them,
depending upon the merit of Christ's sacrifice and intercession for
his reconciliation with God, 1 John i. 9 ; for while we lie under the
guilt of sin, we cannot draw nigh to God with any comfort or hopes
of acceptation. The blood of Christ is sprinkled, on God's part, by
his Spirit through the ordinances, on our part by faith and repent
ance; and this sprinkling doth qualify us for lively and spiritual
worship, or, which is all one, for communion with God through
Christ. Witness the apostle's reasoning, Heb. ix. 13, 14. As the
legally unclean were purified by the sprinkling of the blood of a red
heifer, so the spiritually unclean by the blood of Christ, ' who, through
the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God.'
[2.] The other benefit is expressed by having their bodies washed
with pure water. As the former alluded to the sprinklings of the
law, this to the washings of the law ; that to the sprinkling of blood,
and this to the washing of water : * Our body is cleansed/ not but
that the heart is washed from sinful pollution as well as the body,
no, but there must be salt cast into the spring. If the heart be
washed from sin, it will show itself in the purity of the outward man.
Now this washing implied sanctification, which is accomplished by
the Spirit. See Titus iii. 5, * He hath saved us by the washing of
regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost/ This is promised
to penitent believers : Ezek. xxxvi. 25, ' I will sprinkle clean water
upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness.' Now, our
bodies are said to be washed to show that if the Spirit hath renewed
our hearts, our outward conversations should be blameless and holy.
All outward actions are done by the body, and our bodies must be
washed as with pure water. Well then, Christ doth justify and
sanctify the penitent believer to qualify us for communion with God ;
A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8- 457
and the purging of Christ's blood is joined with the renewing of the
Spirit. He that is justified must be sanctified, and his sanctification
must be evidenced by an holy and blameless conversation. He that
would dwell in God's holy hill must have a clean heart and pure
hands, Ps. xxiv. 3, 4, or else he hath no part or right in the matter of
the new covenant.
5. With respect to the seals or confirming signs of the new cove
nant, which are baptism and the Lord's supper. The analogy of the
two sacraments showeth the necessity of this washing, and they are both
employed in Christ's speech. In the supposition, ' If I wash thee not/
is implied baptism , in the commination, ' Thou hast no part with me,'
is implied the Lord's supper, which Christ was then about to institute.
Clearly in baptism washing is implied ; in the Lord's supper, the bone-
fits of Christ's death are signed, sealed, and confirmed to us. In foro
ecclesicc, none but baptized persons have right to the Lord's table ; so
in foro cceli, before God, none but those that have the fruit of baptism
have right to the benefits thereof ; no right to the benefits purchased
by his blood till we have the spirit of sanctification. More distinctly
(1.) Baptism is the sign and seal of spiritual washing by regeneration ;
it assureth us of the purifying virtue of the Lord's grace, and bindeth
us to seek after it. If we do our part, God will on his part give grace,
whereby our hearts may be purified and cleansed. By the visible act
we profess the acceptance of the gospel covenant to both ends, and it
is but a nullity and empty formality if sin be not washed away. That
baptism signifieth the washing away of sin is clear by the scriptures :
Titus iii. 5, \ovrpov TraXiyyeveorias. Water, by its mixing quality, doth
purge and cleanse : Acts xxii. 16, 'Arise and be baptized, for the wash
ing away of thy sins.' It is the rite used by us when first dedicated tc
God. Now the external application is nothing without the internal
effect or renewing of the Holy Ghost. Baptism saveth, ' not the putting
away the filthiness of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
towards God,' &c., 1 Peter iii. 21. Careless Christians forget their bap
tismal covenant ; some renounce it, but most forget it, 2 Peter i. 9.
The water is sprinkled on their bodies, but the Spirit is not poured
out upon their souls. Christ would revive this signification before he
would admit his disciples to his table (1.) For the efficacy of baptism
is the true preparation required to the Lord's supper ; (2.) The Lord's
supper, as it supposeth baptism or washing from sin, so it promotethit.
We remember Christ's blood, which is the foundation of all the grace
communicated to us, 1 John i. 7, and bind ourselves anew to purge out
sin, that we may keep an holy feast to God, 1 Cor. 5-8, and that we may
partake more of the sanctifying Spirit, and be encouraged to pursue after
holiness in confidence of his blessing ; for it is but a renewing of the
covenant that we made in baptism ; not another, but the same covenant,
Mat. xxii. 20.
6. With respect to the types of the law. Drawing nigh to God, and
having communion with God, was the privilege of priests under the
law ; for when the people were kept at a distance, the priests had leave
to draw near, and to be conversant about his holy things. Now under
the gospel we are all made priests to God, 1 Peter ii. 5 ; yea, we have
the privilege of the high priest to enter into the holiest, Heb. x. 19 ;
458 A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8.
he but once a year, but we at all times, Heb. iv. 16. Here I would
observe three things (1.) Their consecration to their office. No
priest could officiate and draw near to God till he was consecrated by
certain rites, which consisted either in oblations or offerings, and ablu-
tions or washings. For full communion with God our whole life is our
consecration ; but for such communion as we are capable of now, our
first dedication sufficeth, when sanctified by the Spirit. There is our
ministration before the throne of glory in heaven, when justification and
sanctification are complete ; before the throne of grace, when first
accepted, renewed, or washed in the laver of regeneration, Kev. i. 6.
(2.) In the exercise of their office. The priests went to the laver first
before they went to the altar. The high priest was not to enter into
the holiest but after many washings and purifications, Lev. xvi. 4 ;
after a five-fold sprinkling, washing his body : Exod. xxx. 20, ' They
shall wa.sh with water, that they die not, when they come near to the
altar to minister.' So must we be washed. (3.) In the privileges of their
office and function. They had a portion for their own table ; but if
they eat it in their uncleanness they were to die. He must not eat the
bread of God in his uncleanness, Lev. xxii. 30 ; Lev. vii. 20, 21,
and other places. They were in danger of cutting off by the hand of God,
and so for any of the offerings, which otherwise were their allowance.
Use 1. Information That we have all need to be washed if we
expect benefit by Christ. There is a double necessity of this washing
[1.] Because of our natural pollution ; for we are all sinners, and sin
is of a defiling nature, making the person unclean and loathsome to
God wherever it is. (1.) That we are all sinners by nature the scrip
ture everywhere witnesseth : Job xv. 14, * What is man that he should
be clean ? and he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous ? '
that is, man by nature is neither clean nor righteous, destitute of purity
by nature, and uprightness of conversation. They are ill acquainted
with man who think otherwise ; for if you consider the universality of
sinning, his earliness in sinning, his easiness in sinning, his constancy
in sinning, you may soon see what his nature is ; and the fountain
being so corrupt, the streams and emanations from it must needs be
defiled also. Now (2.) that we are therefore odious and loathsome to God,
scriptures wit ness also : Prov. xiii. 5, ' A wicked man is loathsome/ To
whom ? To God chiefly, being a stench in the nostrils of his holiness. To
good men, Prov. xxix. 27. There is odium offensionis et odium inimi-
citice; the first is opposite to the love of complacency ; the second, to the
love of benevolence. To indifferent men ; for they that allow sin in them
selves dislike it in others, Titus iii. 3. To themselves ; for they are
unwilling to look into themselves, John iii. 20. Therefore certainly if
they would become Christ's people, have communion with him, and
interest in him, they must be purified.
[2.] Because of daily infirmities : John xiii. 10, ' He that is washed
needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit/ Though we
be not wholly unclean, yet we contract new filth by walking up and
down in a dirty and defiling world, so that a man that needeth not to
wash his whole body, needeth still to wash his feet. Every spot or every
sin that we commit doth not alter our estate ; yet we should be still
purging out the relics of sin. Though we do not wallow like swine in
A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8. 459
the mire, yet we contract much soil. Daily failings must not be swal
lowed without remorse and a new exercise of daily repentance. If a
man were unclean under the law, he was to wash his clothes before
even. Every night look to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins
of the world. God's reckoning with Adam would not let him sleep in
his sins. Especially before solemn duties we must humble and
cleanse ourselves for these sins, and seek strength against them ; espe
cially when we would get our interest in Christ more confirmed, our
communion with him more free. Though we have actually renounced
profaneness, yet we must bewail failings.
2. That soul-washing is Christ's work, and communicated to us in his
own way , for it is said here, ' If I wash thee not.' Certain it is that
none can change or cleanse his own heart : Jobxiv. 4, ' Who can bring
a clean thing out of an unclean ? Not one/ That which is wholly cor
rupt cannot cleanse itself. Our pollution is so universal, that there is
nothing left untainted, no sound part to mend the rest. And it is not
a slight tincture, but a deep dye, like the leopard's spots or the Ethio
pian's skin. The word cannot do it without Christ. Good instruc
tions may show a man his duty, but cannot change his heart. Christ
needed not only to be sent as a prophet, but must sanctify himself as a
priest and sacrifice ; before this benefit could be procured for us. There
fore it is said, John vii 17, 18, ' As thon hast sent me into the world,
even so also have I sent them into the world ; and for their sakes I
sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth/
It was impossible to recover holiness into the world, unless a price, and
no less price was paid than the blood of the Son of God. Therefore it
is said, ' He hath washed us in his blood/ Kev. i. 5. This is the foun
tain opened for the washing of our guilty and sinful souls. Zech. xiii. 1.
Well, then, soul-washing is Christ's work, and communicated to us in
his own way ; that is to say, would we be cleansed from sin, we must beg
it of God, for it is a divine operation. ' Wash me throughly from mine
iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin/ But whatever God doth he doth
by Christ. He would not look towards us but for Christ's sake. Come
we to Christ then, for it is his blood clean seth us from all sin ; he pur
chased this grace into his own hands ; but what Christ doth he. doth
by his Spirit : * For the renewing of the Holy Ghost is shed on us
abundantly through Christ Jesus our Lord,' Titus iii. (j. Go we to the
Spirit then, waiting for his work ; but what he doth he doth it by the
ordinances, the word, and sacraments ; for which end also Christ
died : Eph. v. 26, ' Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it,
that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water through
the word.' But what must they do in the ordinances ? Will their
bare presence work ? or can we expect this benefit by an idle and
slothful attendance ? No ; we must diligently use the means, obey
the Spirit's sanctifying motions, act the grace received : 1 Peter i. 22,
' Seeing ye have purified your hearts in obeying the truth, through the
Spirit/ It was Naaman's error that he would be cleansed from his
leprosy and sit still ; but the prophet bids him go and wash : he must
wash himself if he would be made whole. So, if we lie upon the bed
of ease, and say, Christ must do all, we miss the benefit. In cleansing
the leper, besides the sprinklings of the priest, he must wash himself,
4GO A SEKMON ON JOHN XIII. 8.
Lev. xiv. 6. We must make conscience of using the means diligently,
and the rather as being encouraged by Christ's purchase or the merit
of his death.
3. It informeth us that they handle the gospel amiss, and do not
take a right way to be partakers of the fruits and benefits of Christ's
death, that do not seek to be washed from sin by him. It is in vain
to seek comfort without holiness. These do not consider the ends of
Christ's undertaking. He was manifested to take away our sins,
1 John iii. 5 ; and he came to dissolve the works of the devil, 1 John
iii. 8 ; to give his Spirit to sinful miserable man, to sanctify and cleanse
him. Surely it is a mistaken Christ that we close with when we use
him to increase our carnal security and boldness in sinning ; as many
are possessed with an ill thought that God, since the exhibition of
Christ, is more reconcilable to sin than he was before, and by reason
of Christ's coming there were less vanity and malignity in sin. Oh !
let this conceit be far from you, lest you make Christ a minister or
encourager of sin, Gal. ii. 17. This is to set up Christ against Christ,
his merit against his doctrine and Spirit ; or rather, you set up the
devil against Christ, and varnish his cause with Christ's name, and so
it is but an idol Christ that you dote upon. The true Christ came
first to wash us, and then to comfort us ; therefore take heed of setting
his death against the ends of his death, and running from and rebelling
against God because Christ came to redeem you and recover you to
God. To seek Christ only for comfort argueth mere self-love ; but
those that seek holiness from the Redeemer have a more spiritual
affection to him. The guilt of sin is against our interest, but the
power of sin is against God's glory. The great aim of his death was
k To redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify to himself a peculiar
people, zealous of good works,' Titus ii. 14. Not only to free our
consciences from the bondage of fears, but our hearts from the bondage
of sin, that we may serve God with more liberty and delight.
Use 2. Direction. In the Lord's supper, where we come to renew
our interest in Christ and his benefits, we must look to this first, Are
we washed ? Have we made conscience of our baptismal vow ? It is
a lie to the Holy Ghost when we make use of his covenanting signs
without a real minding the duties of the covenant ; this is to tear the
bond and prize the seals. Alas ! if you be not washed, you come to
lay claim to the benefits you have no title unto ; and if you think you
have a title, it is only the fruit of your ignorance, mistaking a con
ditional offer for an actual absolute grant. Well, then, are your hearts
true to God in the covenant which you are to renew and feel ?
But who can say, my heart is clean ? Prov. xx. 9. I answer Per
fection or absolute purity, we cannot expect; for the work is but a-
doing ; but sincerity we must require, and that may be discerned by
four things
1. If there be no sin but what you are willing to know, and there
fore prize the light that discovereth it : John iii. 20, 21, * Every one
that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved ; but he that doeth good cometh to the light,
that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.'
Iniqua lex est. quce te examinare non putitur.
A SERMON ON JOHN XIIL 8. 461
2. If there be no sin that you know, but you truly and heartily
desire to leave and get rid of it, though to your carnal part it be never
so near and dear, and count it the greatest happiness in the world to
master it ; though the heart be more inclined to one sin than another,
yet you mainly set yourselves against it: Ps. xviii. 23, 'I was also
upright before him, and kept myself from my iniquity.'
3. If you are not only content to subdue it, but resolve seriously to
make use of the means God hath made known to you to purge out
sin: Isa. i. 16, ' Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your
doings ; ' Jer. ix. 14, ' Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness,
that thou mayest be saved/ Many are content God should search
them, but will not stir hand or foot, nor do anything to their own
cure ; they do not act like creatures in misery, &c.
4. Do you make conscience of your covenant vow and engagement
to forsake all impurity so far as that your inward and beloved lusts
are weakened, though you cannot wholly get rid of them ? I put this
last question to you, partly because our sincerity is not only to be
determined quoad conatum, as to the endeavour, but quoad eventum,
as to the success, Gal. v. 24. The back bias of corruption is weakened,
and we must get a greater readiness, and be the fitter to serve Christ
in purity and sincerity: 2 Tim. ii. 21, 'If a man purge himself from
these, he shall be a vessel of honour, sanctified and meet for the
Master's use, and prepared for every good work/ There must be
something in a Christian above natural men. In some measure he
must be ready and fitted for the service of Christ, and perform acts of
obedience, not by constraint, but with delight and cheerfulness; which
cannot be till the heart be cleansed from accustomed sins. Partly
because the main intent of the covenant is to cleanse us from sin.
Consider it either on God's part or man's. On God's part, there are
promises to allure or attract us to all manner of purity, as promises of
being received by Christ as children into his family. These oblige us
to purify ourselves from sins of all kinds, 2 Cor. vii. 1. And promises
that offer help to enable us to vanquish the inclinations of the sensual
and carnal life, which promises if they be received by faith, do make
a wonderful change in sinners, 2 Peter i. 4. Now, we sincerely accepting
this covenant, it cannot be imagined but some effect must be produced,
if we on our part do not put a bar. We are under a vow and obliga
tion to die unto sin, Kom. vi. 11, which a sincere Christian doth make
conscience of. He is a debtor, Rom. viii. 12, 13, and therefore doth
not forget his vow, but is mortifying and weakening the power of
sin every day, and therefore giveth over all care of satisfying or
gratifying the flesh, but all his business is to live a pure and holy life,
to the praise and glory of God. Therefore, haying by God's promises
greater strength, by his own vow stricter obligations, he cometh in
some measure to overcome sin. Thus I have given you the lowest
marks of sincerity in this point. Will you now try yourselves ? Are
you thus far washed from sin ?
But here a question ariseth, Are we bound to have assurance of our
sincerity before we come to the Lord's table ? I answer
1. We are bound to be sincere, and to examine whether we be
sincere ; and so the decision is, we may come without assurance, but
462 A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8.
we cannot regularly come without examination. I shall prove both
parts.
[1 .] That we may come without assurance ; for though sincerity be
absolutely necessary to the acceptance of the new covenant, yet being
and seeing are distinct. A man may be sincere, and have a right to
the blessings of the covenant and yet see it not, or not discern his
right and title. That dependeth on the clearness of our sanctification,
and the evidence of the Spirit witnessing the truth thereof, which is
not vouchsafed ordinarily, but to eminent self-denying Christians ; and
therefore, if none but those who have evidence of their sincerity should
come to the Lord's table, a great part of those that profess his name
should be cut off from an use of this holy means, because they have
not the fruits of serious diligence, 2 Peter i. 10, and self-denying
obedience, 1 John iii. 19, and so would lose not only the sense of their
interest in spiritual privileges, but God's help to obedience ; for sacra
ments are not only means to confirm our faith in God's promises, but
to engage us to purity and holiness ; and the absurdity of cutting off
so many Christians from this help and means is obvious.
[2.] We ought not to come without examination, because we have
the express injunction of scripture, 1 Cor. xi. 28. And the reason of
the thing enforceth it, that you may find out what inward corruptions
and sinful inclinations are yet strongest in you, and hear what God
and conscience have to say to you as to the fulfilling of your former
covenants, or what you have yet to complain of as your greatest burden,
what grace you most need to remove the impediment; for on God's
part all things are ready.
2. If we cannot approve ourselves as sincere upon examination, we
must the more seriously renew our faith and repentance by these
acts.
[1.] You must dedicate yourselves anew by renouncing sin with an
utter detestation, or renewing your purposes to forsake all sin, never
to meddle with it any more : Isa. xxx. 22, ' Thou shalt cast them
away as a menstruous cloth, and say unto them, Get you hence.' The
phrase implieth hatred and abhorrence of sin ; So, get you gone ; I
have nothing to do with you, Hosea xiv. 8 ; and so Job xxxiv. 33.
Never purpose to commit any sin ; yea, purpose to oppose all sin ; and
these purposes often renewed, lest you grow remiss in them.
2. Bewailing our failings ; when God hath opened a fountain for
uncleanness, that we are not clean unto this very day, Isa. Ixiv. 6, ' We
;ire all as an unclean thing, all our righteousnesses as filthy rags,' for
which we are justly loathsome to God.
3. Hunger and thirst for this grace, Mat. v. 6, in confidence and
hope, through Jesus Christ, to have the work brought to greater per
fection : Col. i. 21, 22, * And you, that were sometimes alienated, and
enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and
unblameable and unreproveable in his sight ; ' and Eph. v. 26, 27,
' That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by
the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not
having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it should be holy
and without blemish/
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS
OF THE CLERGY.
The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be
established before thee. Ps. cii. 28.
THE context speaketh of God's unchangeableness. The world changeth,
and we change, but God changeth not ; in the midst of all confusions
he is where he was at first. Now this is a great comfort to God's
people, both as to their persons and to their posterity. For their
personal happiness, whatever breaches are made upon them, they
cannot perish utterly that have an interest in an unchangeable God.
When engaged in a good cause, they may die, and fall in the quarrel ;
but God liveth for ever, and so their service will not be lost. His
promises are mostly made good in the other world ; therefore a poor
mortal creature may find and enjoy happiness enough in a living God.
Thus as to their persons. Now to their posterity : it is a comfort that
when we go to the grave we have a God with whom to leave our
children when we can provide for them no longer ; he hath undertaken
to look after them, and bring them up. This is the other part of the
comfort The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed
shall be established before thee.
In which words observe (1.) The persons ; (2.) And then their
privilege.
1. The persons The children of thy servants.
2. Their privilege is set forth in two words They shall continue ;
they shall be established.
And the ground or duration is specified in that word Before thee.
Let us open these circumstances, that we may see what aspect they
have upon the present occasion.
First, The persons, ' The children of thy servants.' There two
things will be explained (1.) Who are the servants of God here
spoken of ; (2.) In what sense children is taken
1. Who are the servants of God here spoken of ? Men maybe
said to be the servants of God
[1.] In a general sense ; and so all that worship, fear, and obey
him are his servants.
[2.] In a limited and more restrained sense; and so those that wait
464 A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.
upon him in the office of the ministry are said to be his servants :
2 Tim. ii. 24, ' The servant of the Lord must not strive, hut be gentle
to all men, apt to teach ; ' and Ps. cxxxiv. 1, ' Bless the Lord, all ye
servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.'
It is meant of the priests which watched by turns in the temple ;
and the prophets : Amos iii. 7, ' Surely the Lord God will do nothing,
but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets/ The one
sort are as retainers, that wear his badge and livery ; the other, as
his domestics and menial servants, that have a nearer and constant
attendance upon him. Now I cannot but say that the privilege here
spoken of belongeth to all God's servants, but in an especial manner
to his special servants ; all are rewarded by God according to the
degree of their service. Nebuchadnezzar, that was but a servant at
large, a bare instrument of his providence, had his wages ; but there
is a special blessing descendeth upon the family of ministers, as their
service is more eminent, and nearer about his person. In the whole
course of their employment they are devoted to him. Their labour is
great, so are their sufferings ; they are called out upon the stage as
the public factors for his kingdom, and so exposed to more hardships
and losses ; therefore God will make it up to their posterity. Often
they are contemned, have no portion among their brethren ; therefore
God will be their portion. Certainly, though they be not principally
intended, they cannot be excluded and shut out from this blessing.
2. In what sense is children taken ? Either the children of their
flesh or of their faith. Some say the children of the same faith with
the godly teachers and servants of the Lord, begotten by them to God,
as noting the perpetuity of the church, who shall in every age bring
forth children to God. It is the comfort of God's people to see a young
brood growing up to continue his remembrance in the world, that
when they die, religion shall not die with them, nor the succession of
the church be interrupted. This sense is not altogether incongruous ;
but rather, I think, the children of their body are here intended, it
being a blessing often promised. See the next psalm, Ps. ciii. 17,
' The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, and his
righteousness to children's children/
Secondly, The privilege, ' Shall be continued ; shall be established ; '
in what sense is it spoken? Some think only pro more faderis,
according to the fashion of that covenant which the people of God
were then under, when eternity was but more darkly revealed and sha
dowed out, either by long life, or the continuance of their name in their
posterity, which was a kind of literal immortality. Clearly such a
kind of regard is had, as appeareth by that which you find in Ps.
xxxvii. 28, 'The Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints;
they are preserved for ever/ How ? since they die as others do.
Mark the antithesis, and that will explain it : ' They are preserved for
ever ; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off/ They are preserved
in their posterity. Children are but the parents multiplied and the
parent continued. It is nodosa ceternitas ; when the father's life is
run out to the last, there is a knot tied, and the line is still continued
by the child. I confess, temporal blessings, such as long life, and the
promise of a happy posterity, are more visible in the eye of that dis-
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY, 465
pensation of the covenant ; but yet God still taketh care for the chil
dren of his people, and many promises run that way that belong to the
gospel administration, and still God's service is the surest way to
establish a family, as sin is the ready way to root it out. And if it
doth not always fall out accordingly, yet for the most part it doth ;
and we are no competent judges of God's dispensations in this kind,
because we see providence by pieces, and have not the skill to set them
together ; but at the day of judgment, when the whole contexture of
God's dealings is laid before us, we shall clearly understand how the
children of his servants continue, and their seed is established. But
of this by and by.
There is but one clause more that needeth explaining, and that is,
' Before thee.' Some understand it of the duration of the blessing;
that is, so long as thou dost endure ; as before the sun and moon is
rendered, c as long as the sun and moon endure,' Ps. Ixxii. 5. And
the Septuagint renders it, et? TOV alwva KarevOvvQija-erai, ' Shall be con
tinued for ever/ or, ' Before thee ; ' God looking on, or they looking
upon thee. But rather it noteth God's respect and favour. These
blessings do not come by chance : Ps. xli. 12, * Thou upholdest me in
mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever/ In a like case,
Lev. xxvi. 9, ' I will have respect to you, and make you fruitful, and
multiply you ; it is I will set my face to you ; ' e7ri/SA,e^ro> e<' v^as ;
And the Chaldee paraphrase, ' Am I in the place of God ? ' Gen. xxx. 2.
A facie Domini debuisses peter e ? Oughtest thou not to seek them
from the face of God ?
The words are explained. The point is That God hath a great
care of and blessing for the posterity of his servants, that they may be
established by his favour.
Here I shall show you (1.) What privilege they have ; (2.) The
reasons ; (3.) Keconcile it with common sense and experience ; (4.) To
whom the promise is most eminently fulfilled.
First, How far a blessing cometh on the posterity of God's servants.
1. Good men do convey many temporal mercies to their relations ;
that is the least. God cannot satisfy himself with doing good to the
persons of his children, but he must do good to their relations ; all
about them fare the better for their sakes. A land fareth the better
for them: 2 Kings ii. 12, ' My father, my father, the chariots of Israel,
and the horsemen thereof ; ' that is, the defence of the country ; much
more the vicinage and place of their abode. Sodom was in Lot when
Lot was in Sodom : Gen. xix. 22, ' I cannot do anything while thou
art there/ Nearer yet ; they bring a blessing into their families. You
know the offer made to Lot, Gen. xix. 12, ' Hast thou any here besides
son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters ? Whatsoever thou hast
in the city, bring them out of this place/ There was a fearful storm
a-coming, and God would have none that had relation to Lot to perish
by it. These sons-in-law were but so by contract and promise of mar
riage, for Lot's daughters were virgins, and knew not a man, yet God
offereth them quarter for Lot's sake. Nearer yet ; their own children,
that are a part of themselves, do certainly enjoy many temporal bless-
ino-s by their means. Ishmael, though the church was not continued
in hifl line, yet a great part of the world fell to his share : Gen. xxi.
VOL, XV. 2 G
466 A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.
13, ' I will make of him a great nation, for he is thy seed.' There is
the blessing of Isaac and the blessing of Ishmael ; if they have not the
blessing of Isaac, yet usually the blessing of Ishmael, Isa. Ixv. from
ver. 19 to the last.
2. Where the parent is in visible covenant, the children also are in
visible covenant with him as soon as born. I say, they are without scruple
to be accounted children of the covenant, and belonging to the church,
till they do declare the contrary. Let us see a few places to prove
this : Eom. xi. 16, ' For if the first-fruit be holy, the lump is also holy ;
and if the root be holy, so are the branches.' It is an allusion to the
law, where the lump was consecrated in the first-fruits, or the cake of
the first dough that was offered in the heave-offering. So when a man
is dedicated to God, his whole family and posterity is dedicated to God
with him. There is a federal holiness descendeth to them by virtue of
their parents accepting the covenant of God. So in the decision of
that case that was brought to the apostle, where one of the yoke-fellows
was an infidel : 1 Cor. vii. 14, ' For the unbelieving husband is sancti
fied by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband ;
else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.' The scope
of that place is to hold forth some privilege to believers, which is not
common to others ; for it is for the believer's sake ; for otherwise the
unbelieving husband had been as much sanctified in himself as in the
wife. Certainly, therefore, it is some special privilege not common
to the marriage of an unbelieving couple. Mark again ; this is pro
pounded both negatively and positively. The Holy Ghost doth not
mention both, when one is emphatical enough : ' Else were they un
clean, but now are they holy.' Pray observe the gradation of the
privilege ; the unbelieving husband, to whom all things are impure, he
is sanctified to serve God's providence to this holy end and use. But
higher yet; the children, they are holy; he is sanctified, they holy;
that is, instrumentally sanctified, to be a means that the believing wife
may bring forth fruit unto God. But now they are holy ; and because
holy, not to be refused and rejected from the ordinances. Persons
were called unclean that might not enjoy the privileges of the temple ;
holy, that were sanctified for worship. When God permitted ordin
ances to the gentiles, they are called holy : ' That which God hath made
holy, call not thou common and unclean,' Acts x. 15, intending thereby
the gentiles as capable of gospel worship. One place more : Ezek.
xvi. 10, '.Sons and daughters born to me,' Those that are born during
our being in covenant with God are born to God ; as the children born
in marriage are reckoned to the husband. This is the high privilege
which God puts upon his servants, to beget sons and daughters to God,
whilst others beget sons and daughters to men for civil uses, or only
to people the world. Take, for instance, Seth and Cain, Gen. vi. 1, 2.
To bring forth to God, to multiply the church ; it will be your crown
and rejoicing in the day of the Lord. It is a greater blessing than to
see your children monarchs of the world, or if they had been born
kings and queens ; that had been beneath this of being members of
the church. It is very notable that Moses, when he would set forth
the dignity of Shem, he doth it thus: Gen. x. 21, ' Shem, the father
of all the children of Eber^ the brother of Japheth, the elder, which is
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY. 467
of the Hebrews/ This is his prerogative above all his brethren. The
{Syrians, Assyrians, Lydians, Persians, Armenians, Elamites, these all
came of Shem ; but because they were ignorant of the knowledge of
the true God, he doth not take his title from them, though they were
great and mighty nations ; this was his prerogative, that Abraham
came from him, and all Israel, the people whom God had chosen to
himself, and among whom he would record his name, whilst all the rest
of the world lay in darkness. A man would have thought that Moses
should have set out his great ancestor in more magnificent terms.
Another would have taken notice either of his long life (for he lived
six hundred years), that he saw both worlds, both before the flood and
after ; that he was one of the heirs of Noah, one of the three great
princes of the world; that Asia, the paradise of the earth, fell to his
lot, and Shinar, a land rich in jewels, gold, and spices ; another would
have reckoned up the mighty kings descended from his loins, or have
called him father of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persians, famous nations
that made such a bustle in the world ; but Moses only calleth him
father of the children of Eber, a nation shut up within the precincts of
a little spot of land ; but theirs were the ' promises, and the adoption,
and the glory,' Kom. ix. 4, ' a-nd the covenant, and the law.' I tell you,
to be a means to bring forth children to God, and to multiply the
church, is as great an honour as can be put upon you.
3. If they die in infancy, we need not trouble ourselves about their
salvation. God is their God, Gen. xvii. 1 ; and that is all the best of
us have to show for his right to heaven. They are bound up in the
same bundle of life with their parents, in covenant with God, and never
lived to disinherit themselves. We judge of the graft according to
the tree from whence it was taken, till it liveth to bring forth fruit of
its own ; so of children, according to their father's covenant. God
knoweth how to instate them in the privileges of it ; Christ died for
the church, and they are part of the church, Eph. v. 26, 27.
4. If they live, and bewray the corruption of their natures, there is
more hope of them than of others. The grace of the covenant run
neth most kindly in the channel of the covenant : Kom. xi. 24, ' How
much more shall those which be the natural branches be grafted into
their own olive-tree ? ' They seem to lie more obvious to the Lord's
grace. God followeth them with more calls and offers of grace. The
Jews were to have the hansel and first offers of the gospel, though
they killed the Lord of life, first at Jerusalem, because they were
children of the promise, Acts iii. 25, 26. God followeth a covenant
people to the last, and beareth with them time after time, till he can
bear no longer. They have a greater holdfast upon God ; they may
plead promises ; and if ever God touch their hearts with remorse, they
may plead their father's covenant. After Solomon's warping, God
remembers promises to David, 1 Kings xi. 12, 13, and 32, 34.
5. Among them salvation is most ordinary, though God leaveth
himself a liberty to take men of an evil stock. A rose may grow upon
a thorn ; viles virgulce pretiosa opobalsama sudant ; a slip of an ill
stock may be grafted into the tree of life. Hezekiah was the son of
Ahaz, and Josiah the son of Amon. Again, all the children of elect
parents are not elect, to show the liberty of his counsels. In the very
468 A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.
line of grace God will make a distinction. Abraham had Isaac and
Ishmael ; and Isaac had Jacob and Esau : Josh. xxiv. 4, ' I gave unto
Isaac Jacob and Esau ; ' intimating the distinction between the person
and posterity of the -one and the other, Though I grant all this, yet
usually the children of godly parents are they that obtain the blessing ;
they are in a greater nearness to grace than others are, and there is
more to be presumed of their children than of others, because of the
ordinary practice of the Lord's grace, and because they have more
means and helps, and in an ordinary course lie more obvious to the
blessing, have more instruction, are nurtured and trained up in the
knowledge of God, and have the prayers and examples of their godly
parents. It is to be presumed that all godly men will thus do. God
reckoneth upon it : Gen. xviii. 19, ' I know my servant Abraham, that
he will command his children and household after him, that they shall
keep the way of the Lord, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham
that which he hath spoken of him.' He presumeth that in these
families God is known and honoured, that there is less temptation to
sin, as lying out of the devil's road. A godly family is the suburbs of
heaven, where the young brood is hatched to supply the church.
6. They are not cast off till they do even wrest themselves out of
the arms of mercy. Cain excommunicated himself: Gen. iv. 16,
'And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.' The face of the
Lord, in one sense it is everywhere ; but it is meant of the church,
where God is worshipped. Ishmael, for scoffing and malignity against
the power of godliness, Gen. xxi. 9. He mocked Isaac, which the
apostle maketh to be persecution, Gal. iv. 29. Esau, for profaneness
or despising the birthright, that he may set his lusts a- work, Heb. xii.
15, 16 ; preferring the satisfaction of sensual lusts before the great
privileges in Christ. The Jews were ' broken off for unbelief,' Rom.
xi. 20. God bore with them after they had crucified Christ all along ;
as the branches of the covenant grow wild, God may be cutting them
off. When God doth cast off a people, that is dreadful, Kom. xi.
He speaketh to the Romans as a body and a church. God may break
off a church as well as a person by scattering judgments, prevalency
of error, and profaneness ; the discouragements of his children ; they
withdrawing, all is broken to pieces. This is the spiritual judgment
now upon us, and we are not sensible of it.
Secondly, The reasons.
1. That he may show the riches of his grace, which reacheth not
only to the persons, but to the families of those that love him and
serve him. God is resolved to act in the covenant according to the
highest laws of friendship ; as David : 2 Sam. ix. 1, * Is there yet any
left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's
sake ? ' So will God be a friend to us and our children after us. Yea,
this love runneth down to thousands of generations, Rom. xi. 28.
They are beloved for their father's sake. For so many years to love
their seed, this is a friendship not to be paralleled, 2 Sam i. 19. It is
mercy that our persons, that the fruit of our souls should be accepted,
spotted and speckled as it is ; that the evil should not outweigh the
little goodness that is in them ; but the fruit of our bodies is much
more, especially if you consider the natural leprosy and filthiness that
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY. 469
is in them. But grace, like a mighty river, will be pent within no
banks, but overfloweth all that a man hath, all his relations.
2. Out of an indulgence to natural affection. God hath a son of his
own, and he knoweth how he loveth him, and is acquainted with the
heart of a father, and he hath planted an affection in parents to their
children. Love, like a river, is descensive. Many are more sensible
of a misery and curse in their seed than in themselves. Surely next
to our eternal happiness their welfare is the most welcome blessing
which we can receive ; therefore, in an indulgence to good parents,
God will bless them in their children. The charter runneth for them
and their seed. Children are a part of them, the parent continued, as
before, Ps. xxxvii. 24. We abide and live in them when we are dead
and gone.
Thirdly, How can we reconcile the promise with experience, since
the children of the servants of the Lord are reduced to great extre
mities, and are as naught and bad as others ?
I answer, The blessing is invisible for a great measure, and we
want faith to interpret this privilege, as well as any other mentioned
in the covenant. Sometimes their outward portion may be small, but
however, they are a holy seed unto God. We see the providence of
God by pieces ; for the present they may be in their natural condition,
and the blessing doth not as yet break out in effects of grace, as it
doth afterwards. We must leave the Lord to his own seasons. Some
times for a while God may skip over the next branch in the line, and
a wicked and ungracious man may interrupt the blessing for a while,
but it runneth on again to a thousand generations. Jotham had Ahaz,
but Ahaz had Hezekiah ; the grandfather wicked, the son wicked, but
the grandchild godly again ; so that still there is a respect to the
family. It is the usual practice of the Lord's grace, and is here put
into the form of a promise, and must, as all temporal promises, be
referred to God's pleasure, when to exempt the godly from poverty
and their seed. Mostly the blessing is conspicuous enough in the
course of God's dispensations, and examples to the contrary are very
rare. David was a man of good years and narrow observation, a great
student in the providence of God ; yet saith he, Ps. xxxvii. 25, ' I
have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous
forsaken, nor their seed begging bread/ He could find none of their
issue in his time reduced to a state of beggary.
Fourthly, To whom the promise will be most eminently fulfilled.
There are some qualifications mentioned. All God's servants have
their blessings, but these especially ; as, namely
1. The strict, and such as dare not offend him : Ps. ciii. 17, ' The
mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that
fear him, and his righteousness to children's children.' They that fear
him, that walk exactly in his sight and presence, such are frowned
upon, hated, maligned, scorned in the world ; therefore God doth take
care to provide for them and theirs.
2. The just and upright. They abridge themselves of many advan
tages of gain which others hunt after. It is not lost : Ps. cxii. 2, ' His-
seed shall be mighty upon earth ; the generation of the upright shall
be blessed/ They cannot project, and turn, and wind in the world as
470 A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.
others do, but they deal plainly ; it is not without a blessing. So
Prov. xx. 7, ' The just man walketh in his integrity, and his children
are blessed after him.' They transmit a clear estate, and so it
thriveth.
3. The merciful and charitable : Ps. xxxvii. 26, ' He is ever merciful,
and lendeth ; his seed is blessed/ When we are urged to giving, you
may object, What shall wife and children do ? I answer Give the
rather ; do something the more for every child, that the blessing may
be entailed upon them ; it is lent to the Lord, and it will be paid to
your posterity ; your children will not have a whit the less.
4. Those that are tender of God's institutions. The second com
mandment, that provideth for God's instituted worship, the sanction of
it speaketh of blessings and punishments in the posterity, and deser
vedly. Family arguments prevail with many to yield to the corrup
tions of their age. But alas ! that which they would build they
destroy ; their children are not preserved, but ruined by it. You may
convey an estate, but with a curse. Much of the evil that hath lighted
upon ministers and their families had its rise hence. God, that glori
ously exalts godly ministers and their children, that would rather
suffer the loss of all than yield to the least corruption in worship,
doth also reckon with them and their families that are partial in his
law.
Use 1. I might apply this to parents by way of advice and con
solation.
1. Be godly yourselves. Carnal parents obstruct and stop up the
course of mercy from descending upon their children as much as in
them lieth ; especially in giving up themselves to carnal practices and
evil compliances for tbeir children's sake. Hcereditates transeunt cum
onere. Whatever hands they pass through, the burden continueth.
Nay, further, this is not the best way to provide for your children, to
drudge and toil like horses, and neglect heaven and happiness, to make
them great, or to break God's laws to salve their interest. Besides
the mischief you do yourselves, you do not profit them a whit. Fear
God, be upright and charitable, careful of God's institutions, and then
leave your children with God, and see if he will not provide for them.
It argueth a great deal of infidelity when you think you cannot leave
them well unless you leave them great. You renounce God, and set
up a wedge of gold, if you think that will do them more good than the
covenant and the promises of God.
2. Educate your children in God's fear. This will be the means to
continue and increase the blessing. Look, as there is a double curse
where the father is carnal and the son carnal, so there is a double
blessing where the father is godly and the son godly ; the blessing is
still increased. Abraham laid the foundation, Isaac made an addition,
Jacob increased it a little further ; Joseph, who was the most eminent
of all the patriarchs, he still carried on the blessing ; therefore it is
said, Gen. xlix. 26, ' The blessings of thy father have prevailed above
the blessings of thy progenitors/ You may have great hopes when
you see children taking kindly to religion, and zealous for their father's
God. So in that passage, Gen. xviii. 19, 'I know that he will
command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY. 471
the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may
bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.'
3. When you die, leave a charge with them : 1 Kings ii. 2, ' Keep
the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his sta
tutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies,
as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all
thou doest, and whithersoever thou tnrnest thyself,' &c. ; and 1 Chron.
xxviii. 9, ' And thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy
fathers, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind,'
<fcc. It is the last time that you can do anything for God. Speeches
of dying men have great weight in them, and are entertained with
much reverence. Jacob's sons used that as their best plea: Gen. 1.
16, ' Thy father did command before he died, saying/ &c. So the
sons of Jonadab, the son of Rechab ; Jer. xxxv. 3, ' We will drink no
wine, for our father commanded us, saying,' &c. There is most esteem
had to a father's dying charge ; it will stick by them far more than press
ing discourses at another time. As Mr Bolton charged his children, See
that none of you meetin an unregenerate conditionat theday of judgment.
Use 2. Is comfort to poor dying saints, when they leave a great
charge behind them ; though you leave them no great matter, it is a
good portion to lay up some prayers for them, to leave them a God in
covenant with them. God doth strangely provide for the children of
his people ; a little holdeth out, like the widow's oil and meal. As to
visible means, a man cannot tell how they live, yet live they do, and
flourish, and by unexpected providences thrive into a great increase.
Therefore moderate your fears and cares ; God will provide. I look
upon this meeting with joy of heart, as being in a great measure the
fruit of the promise, and I hope you will go away refreshed with the
sight of it, and increased in confidence, saying, ' Lord, the children of
thy servant shall continue, they shall be established.'
Use 3. Advice to the children of godly parents.
I shall first speak to them in the general, and then to this day's
meeting more particularly. In the general
1. Bless God for this privilege. Better be the child of a godly than
wealthy parent. I hope none are of so vile a spirit as to hate and con
temn your parents because of their piety. Certainly it is a great privi
lege when you can go to God, and plead your Father's covenant : Ps.
cxvi. 14, * Lord, I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid.' So
did Solomon : 1 Kings iii. 25, 26, ' Lord, make good thy word to thy
servant David, my father.' That you are not born of infidels, or popish
parents, nor fautors and upholders of superstition and formality, but
in a strict, serious, godly family, it is a great advantage that you have.
It is better to be the sons of faithful ministers than of nobles.
2. Do not interrupt and break off the blessing. It is the greatest
unworthiness that can be to be ungodly children of godly parents, and
to cast off the God of your fathers : Jer. ii, 12, ' Be astonished, ye
heavens, at this ! ' He would have the sun to look pale upon such a
wickedness, and the spheres to cast out their stars, that a people should
cast off their God. Solomon continued alliance with Hiram because hy
had been a lover of David ; and it is his advice to others, * Thine own
friend and thy father's friend, forsake thou not.' Surely, then, not the
472 A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.
father's God. Wilt thou be a traitor to thy father's God ? ' Be aston
ished, ye heavens 1 ' None stain their blood so much as you that
forsake the sincerity and strictness of religion which your fathers pro
fessed. Treasons in the posterity are counted a stain to noble ances
tors ; so is apostasy and loss of church privileges in you. It is an ex
cellent thing to see the power of religion preserved from father to son :
Heb. xi. 9, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are called ' heirs of the same
promise.' Pliny writeth that it was counted a great honour and point
of felicity that in one house of the Curios there were three excellent
orators one after another, and of the Fabii three presidents of the
senate in the same succession. Oh, what an honour is it when there
is a constant succession from father to the son, from the son to the
grandchild, and all heirs of the same promise ! The third descent,
they say, maketh a gentleman in a new and opulent family. Here is
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all heirs of the same promise ; this is the
true noble blood, a holy kindred, true gentry ; otherwise omnis sanguis
concolor all blood is of a colour. It is a high honour to be born of
such a race. My father, my grandfather, and great-grandfather were
all servants of the Lord, and will you cut off the entail ? Christians,
I must speak to you not only as sons of private Christians, but as the
sons of ministers, of whom special holiness is required, and which will
engage a special blessing to their posterity , and will you stop the
course of it ? Oh ! let not the ministerial blessing be worn out of
your generations. I remember one observeth of the Jews, that as long
as the strength and virtue of manna continued in their constitutions,
they were a fortunate, valorous, and brave people ; but when, after some
successions of generations, that it was worn out, they grew pusillani
mous and base. The ministerial blessing, while that lasteth, the pos
terity thrive, and by a wonderful providence arrive to great increase,
many times from small beginnings. Oh ! therefore keep up the
warmth and vigour of godliness in your families, and then you will
transmit the blessing to ages to come, and the children that are yet
unborn. But alas ! many times, through our carelessness and default,
in the next generation it is worn out ; as Phylostratus said of the son
of Kufus, Perrinthius, a great master, ' As for his son, I have nothing
else to say but that he was his son.' If that be all your honour, that
you are the son of such an eminent man, but have nothing worthy in
you, that will be a sorry commendation ; much more if you should
fall to looseness and riot, you are the stain of your parents, and put
them to shame when they are dead and gone. There is a notable
place, Lev. xxi. 9, * The daughter of any priest, if she shall play the
whore, she profaneth her father, and shall be burnt with fire/ Let
us comment on this text a little. Under the daughter, saith Calvin,
the sons were also comprised ; but if that were not, the daughter of
the priest suiteth with your case ; for the sons of priests were priests,
which you are not now in the times of the gospel ; and her case was
more like yours, who are not always public persons. Now it is said,
' She profaneth her father/ How ? That is, she was a defilement to
his name and house. And so the Septuagint, TO ovo^a rov Trar/oo?
avrris avrr) peftrjXoi, she is a reproach to the dignity of his office.
Ministers must be not only good in their own persons, but in their
A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY. 473
relations, ruling their children and their own house well. Eli's sons
were a disgrace and shame to their father ; so will you be. if you be
nought. Men judge of the parents by the behaviour of their children.
Yea, that is not all ; the reflection will not only be personal, but as
they will judge of the parents by the children, so of the calling by
the persons ; yea, and of God by the calling. It reflects upon God
at last ; as the people ' abhorred the offering of the Lord because of
the wickedness of Eli's sons,' 1 Sam. ii. 17. The heathens thought
it a disgrace to the persons of their gods if their ministers were
detected of impurity ; and that is the reason of the great punishment
there mentioned, * She shall be burnt with fire.' The punishment of
the priest's daughter was greater than that of any other woman. Others
were riot to die for simple fornication, neither man nor woman ; but
the man to marry her, or to pay a sum of money, Exod. xxii. 16, 17 ;
but she is to be burnt. Austin observeth the same of the Romans, Lib.
de Civit. Dei, cap. 5, Nam et ipsi Romani antiqui in stupro detectas
vestales sacerdotes, vivas etiam defodiebant : aduiteras autem fceminas,
quamvis aliqud damnatione, nulla tamen morte plectebant ; usque
adeo gravius quce putabant adyta divina quam humana cubilia vindi-
cabant. They were zealous for the honour of their gods, and therefore
punished the faults of their ministers the more severely. Well then,
if you would preserve the name of your ancestors to posterity, show it
in the gravity of your conversations. Your offences will be a disgrace
to them, and by them to God.
3. Observe the blessing. Some of you, it may be, came to town
poor and ill provided, your parents, out of their short allowance,
being not able to supply you better ; but you brought the blessing
of the covenant along with you, and that was stock enough to set
up withal ; and so mercies have wonderfully increased with you.
Jacob taketh notice of this : Gen. xxxii. 10, ' I am not worthy of all
the mercy and all the truth which thou hast showed to thy servant ;
for with my staff came I over this Jordan, and now am 1 become two
troops/ Mark, he taketh notice not only of mercy, but truth. By
truth I understand God's faithfulness engaged in the covenant of his
fathers ; for elsewhere I observe that truth is thus understood and
applied to Jacob : Micah vii. 20, ' Thou wilt perform thy mercy to
Abraham, and thy truth to Jacob, which thou hast sworn to our
fathers of old.' The covenant is made in mercy, and made good by
truth. Mercy first openeth the door of grace, and truth keepeth it
open ; and therefore mercy to Abraham, because the covenant is made
with him ; and truth to Jacob, to whom it is made good. Well then,
own the blessing of the covenant : Lord, when I came to town, I was
a poor lad of mean estate, could hope for little, and would be even
glad to live ; and afterwards, when a young beginner, full of doubts
and fears ; but Lord, out of thy mercy and truth, thou hast provided
liberally for me, and brought me from mean estate to large and plenti
ful means. Basil saith it is a useful speculation to consider how
we grow up into estate, and come to enjoy what we have. It maketh
us humble to remember mean beginnings, and thankful to observe
the gradual increase of our comforts ; and it decreaseth dependence
when we see the mere blessing of the covenant hath carried us through,
474 A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.
and provided such large and rich supplies for us. Oh ! surely he is
a faithful God in keeping mercy for thousands of them that love him.
Now I come more particularly to speak of the meeting of this day.
Let it be like a meeting of ministers' sons. If you would have the
ministers' blessing upon you, show somewhat of ministerial graces.
There are two graces which a minister should chiefly show forth
sobriety and hospitality, or bounty to the poor. You are not ministers
all of you, yet you should savour of the stock from whence you sprang ;
and show your extraction, that you were bred in families where
sobriety and hospitality were in great respect. It is said of the earth
that was taken from the banks of Nilus, that it sympathiseth with
the river and place from whence it was taken ; at that time when
the river swelleth and overfloweth, the earth will be more heavy and
damp than at other times ; and when it decreaseth, it groweth dry
and light again. I apply it thus : You are not ministers, yet you
should not forget the hole of the pit out of which you were digged,
but savour of a ministerial education to the last, in being temperate
and charitable.
[1.] Let me press you to sobriety and temperance. At a feast
men grow more loose, and abate of their severity and awe. Certainly
there needs caution. When Job's sons were feasting, the father
falleth a-sacrificing. Let it be a sober meeting, as becometh ministers'
sons. You have begun well ; let not your crown fall to the dust. Do
but consider what a dishonour it will be, not to yourselves only, but
to this holy calling, yea, to the Lord himself, when from a feast of
ministers' sons, some shall go away with staggering feet, inflamed
countenances, and a faltering tongue. Oh ! let it not be. You do
well to begin with a sermon to season your hearts ; and you will do
as well to end and conclude with a psalm, that it may look like one
of the sober and holy love-feasts the old Christians used.
[2.] Let me press you to charity. This is the great end of the
meeting, and therefore must not be left out or neglected. The
occasions and wants of ministers and ministers' widows are many and
great. Now let them know that you have received the ministerial
blessing. This is the necessary acknowledgment, that you have
received all from God. Let him that gave you all that you have
receive a part back again for the relief of his poor servants. Give as
ministers' sons, in a liberal, plentiful manner, that the world may know
from what kind of stock you came.
A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20.
This cup is the new testament in my Hood, ivhich is shed for you.
LUKE xxii. 20.
THE text is a proposition, and there are in it, as in all propositions,
two parts
1. A subject or thing spoken of, rovro TO Trorrjpiov, continens pro
contento the cup for the wine.
2. A predicate, or what is said of it It is the new testament in my
blood, ivhich is shed for you.
In which observe
[1.] The phrase or manner of predication ; it is sacramental, such as
is ancient and usual, where the name of the thing signified is given to
the sign ; the wine is the testament ; that is, the sign and seal of it.
[2.] A specification of that covenant or testament of which the cup
is a sign or seal ; it is Kawrj BiaOtj^, the new testament.
[3.] The ground of both ; that is, how the wine cometh to be
designed to such a use, or how the testament is said to be new, eV rS>
aifiari JJLOV, in or by my blood.
[4.] The amplification of this ground, by two circumstances
(1.) By the ordination or disposition of his blood, TO e/cxvv6/j,evov,
which is shed, so it came to be the ground of the new testament.
(2.) The persons for whom vTrep V/JLWV, For you.
Doct. That the Lord's supper hath a special respect to the new
testament of Christ, which was ratified by the shedding of his blood.
There are four things to be explained in the opening and improving
of this point
(1.) A testament ; (2.) A new testament ; (3.) This new testament
is to be considered as founded on Christ's blood ; (4.) The respect
which this cup hath to the new testament.
First, That the new covenant hath the notion of a testament It
is not only a covenant, but SLaB^/crj, a testament.
First, In the general, a testament is a man's last will about the
disposing of those goods which he leaveth at his death ; so is the
covenant of grace a free and firm disposition of the mediator's good
things, to be possessed by the heirs of promise according to his will.
A covenant it is with respect to the manner of agreement ; a testament
with respect to the manner of confirming it by the testator's death ; a
covenant in respect of God, a testament in respect of Christ. As it is
a covenant, so it is a stipulation between God and his people, promising
mercies to them, and requiring duties from them ; like a marriage
476 A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20.
covenant between a man and his wife, or the testator and the heir.
God hath ever delighted in this way of transaction, that he might mix
his sovereignty with love and sweetness, and that this solemn obliga
tion might be a help to faith and obedience, as being an indenture
solemnly drawn up and agreed between God and us. As it is a testa
ment, so it respects the death of Christ, by which it is ratified. The
apostle telleth us, Heb. ix. 16, 17, * Where a testament is, there must
also of necessity be the death of the testator ; for a testament is of force
after men are dead, otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator
liveth.' Men that make a will in their lifetime have a power to
change and alter it at their pleasure ; it is but voluntas ambulatoria,
as the civilians say ; but when he is once dead, the inheritance is so
alienated and transmitted to others that it cannot be reversed ; but
the heir may challenge his right, and the will must be put in execu
tion. So here, by the death of Christ the new covenant is made firm,
valid, and effectual ; without which neither we nor the fathers under
the law could be saved by it ; for God never intended to give remission
and eternal life, which he promiseth in the new covenant, but for and
in the consideration of Christ's death. Now this notion of a testament
hath more of free grace in it. A covenant, in the first notion and
apprehension that we have of it, seemeth to have more of debt, but a
testament more of grace. A covenant hath more of bargain and com
pact ; therefore we call God's first transaction a covenant of works ;
but a testament hath more of gift. A testament is merely for their
good for whom the testament is made. Legacies are more free than
wages ; therefore the notion of a testament is only proper to the
covenant of grace. We do not call the covenant of works a testament.
This in the general.
Secondly, More particularly in the new covenant all things concur
that belong to a testament.
1. There is a testator, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. A
testator is one that hath a just title and a full power to those goods
which he disposeth of, and so giveth the same right which he had in
them to other persons after his death. Our Lord Christ had a full
right and power over those things he disposed of, as the heir of all
things, Heb. i. 2 ; and by virtue of his purchase, according to the pact
and agreement between the Father and him, which is set down Isa. liii.
10, 11. By the covenant of redemption Christ was bound to lay down
his life as an offering for sin ; and then the Father would make him a
fountain of grace, life, and peace to poor sinners. The death of Christ
cometh under a twofold consideration, according to the twofold relation
which he sustaineth, as an act of a mediator or a testator. Consider
God's transaction with us as a covenant, so he is a mediator ; as a
testament, so he is the testator. As mediator, so his death was a meri
torious ransom or price, to purchase the inheritance and to expiate the
offences of the heir. As a testator, so his death was necessary to
make the covenant valid, and the blessings of the new covenant
in force. For as the testator hath no intention to give his inheritance,
and part with the title and possession before he die, so God did never
intend to give remission and eternal life but with respect to Christ's
death ; and if Christ had not died, the promise had been vain, and of
A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20. 477
no force. Kemission of sins and eternal life could not have been given
under the law, unless the mediator had been to pay the price of the
same under the gospel, neither could believers either then or now
obtain any benefit but by his death.
2. There is a writing, or an instrument, and deed of conveyance,
disposed into a testamentary form, written and sealed, for the assurance,
comfort, and benefit of the heirs of promise, and they are the scrip
tures which, by the catholic and general consent of all the Christian
world, are called the Old and New Testament, because therein Christ
hath disposed and bequeathed what he hath purchased for us. To
this writing we must have recourse, as the ground of our hope, right,
and claim. All the books written since Christ's coming in the flesh
bear this title in the front, and are called icaivrj SiaO^/cr) ; and the
whole drift of those books is to set down the death of Christ as a
testator, and to seal up the great inheritance of eternal Hie to every
faithful Christian, as the son and heir of Christ, and to state the terms
according to which we enter ourselves heirs. Ministers of the gospel
are called ministers of the new testament, 2 Cor. iii. 6. Their great
work is to bring souls to mind and seek after Christ's legacies. Some
times the gospel may be looked upon as an act of oblivion, as it offereth
pardon and justification to all who in a sense of sin and tear of wrath
flee unto Christ, and putting their cause into his hands, do give up
themselves to do the will of God. Sometimes it is called a charter,
as it holdeth forth the hope of eternal life to the justified and the
sanctified. But in a respect it is a testament or deed of gift, to assure
the believing world, and to encourage them with confidence, to lay
claim unto righteousness and eternal life, as heirs of Christ, and to
seek after the fruits of his purchase in this life, and the full possession
in the life to come. The gospel is our law security; therefore it is
said, John xx. 31, ' But these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have
life through his name.' This is the drift of the whole gospel.
3. There are notaries, and they are prophets and apostles, who by
the Spirit indited and drew up this testament. Therefore it is said,
Eph. ii. 20, ' Ye are built upon the foundation of the prophets and
apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone ;' that is to
say, Christ is placed and laid as the foundation of our comfort and
hope in the doctrines and writings of the apostles and prophets ; they
did commit to writing such truths concerning him as are necessary to
salvation. So it is said, Eph. iii. 4-6, ' How that by revelation he
made known unto me the mystery which I writ before in few words
(whereby ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it
is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
that the gentiles should be fellow-heirs of the same body, and par
takers of his promise in Christ by the gospel ; ' that is, that they
might draw up Christ's testament.
4. There are legacies left us by our Lord Jesus Christ in this blessed
testament ; they are pardon of sin, favour with God, grace, life, glory,
all things that are necessary to our blessedness. Gods covenant
notion is God all-sufficient.
478 A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20.
But more especially two legacies are more notable, which imply
the rest the one initial, the other consummate.
[1.] Pardon of sins. This is expressly mentioned in the parallel
place to the text, Mat. xxvi. 28, ' This is the blood of the new testa
ment, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.' This is the
great legacy which Christ hath left to his redeemed people when he
made the covenant. It was sin that plunged us into mischief, and
cut us off from the favour of God, and did forbid all further and
longer communion with God and enjoyment of him. Therefore this
is that which is in Christ's eye, to obtain the pardon of sins : Eph.
i. 7, ' In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of his grace ;' and Col. i. 14, ' In whom
we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins/ This is
gratia removens prohibens. Sin was the wrong done to God, that brought
such a loss upon us of God's favour, image, and fellowship. This Christ
came to remove, by repairing (rod's honour, and giving satisfaction to
provoked justice.
[2.] The next great legacy is eternal life, which he bequeathed and
disposeth to the heirs of promise : Luke xxii. 29, 30, ' And I appoint
unto you a kingdom,as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may
eat and drink at my table in my Father's kingdom ; ' and John
xvii. 24, ' Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me may be
where I am, and behold my glory/ Sin is our great trouble, happi
ness our great desire. The grand scruple of the world was to have
their fears quenched by the expiation of guilt, and their desires
satisfied by the enjoyment of a fit happiness. These are the legacies
left us by our Lord.
5. There are terms according to which these legacies are to be
enjoyed. The new covenant is so a testament that it still remaineth a
covenant, copulatively, not privatively, a testamentary covenant ; while
it provideth for our comfort and safety, it doth not abolish our duty ;
it requireth something from us, as well as bestoweth something upon
us etiam hcereditates liabent sua onera, &c. Men may put con-
ditons into their wills and testaments ; therefore the sacramental
form doth not disannul our obligation. The conditions are faith,
repentance, a-nd new obedience. Faith : Kom. iii. 25, ' Whom God
hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood/ Ke-
pentance : Acts. iii. 19, ' Kepent and be converted, that your sins may
be blotted out/ New obedience: Heb. v. 9, 'He is become the
author of salvation to all them that obey him/ Only I must give you
this caution, that all things required of us as conditions and duties are
also disposed as legacies in the covenant : Jer. xxiv. 7, ' I will give
them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be my
people, and I will be their God/ So Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27, ' A new
heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you ;
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will
give you an heart of flesh : and I will put my Spirit within you,
and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judg
ments, and do them ;' and Zech. xii. 10, * And I will pour upon the
house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of
grace and supplications, and they shall look upon him whom they have
A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20. 479
pierced, and mourn for him.' This is the proper intent of a testa
ment, that certain unspeakable gifts are designed unto us antecedently
to all conditions performed by us; as Christ giveth himself to us,
bestowing the first grace. Conditions of the covenant are conditions
in the covenant. God doth not only bestow them, but give them.
The articles are promises : Heb. viii. 10, * For this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel ; I will put my laws into
their minds, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a
God, and they shall be to me a people.' Not only pivileges, but
qualifications. He requireth them so as we may be sensible of our
obligation, and acknowledge our duty so as to strive to do our utmost
in the use of means, and turn these precepts into prayers, and it is
our act at last ; and some of this we must find in us before we can
take comfort. What he requireth he promises to bestow. God is
no Pharaoh, to require brick where he giveth no straw ; he giveth us
not only pardon, but faith ; not only heaven, but holiness ; and giveth
a new heart as well as the new Jerusalem.
6. There are heirs : Gal. iii. 29, ' And if ye be Christ's, then are
ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to promise ;' and Rom. viii.
17, 'It' children, then heirs.' The blessing of Christ's testament is
no common thing cast abroad at random. There" are certain persons
to whom it doth belong, others to whom not. None are described
by name, but by character, which is as good as if described by name ;
and which character must be interpreted exclusively. Compare John
xvii. 9 with 20, ' I pray for them ; I pray not for the world, but
for them which thou hast given me ; neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe.' Christ hath left nothing to
the carnal world in this testament, but all believers are comprised.
As to the wicked, there is not only a preterition, but a positive ex
clusion. A preterition is a sufficient bar against any man's testament,
because he is not named in the will, nor designed to any favour by
it; but the carnal and the wicked are excluded: Ps. 1. 16, 'As to
the wicked, God saith, What hast thou to do to take my covenant
into thy mouth?' and Acts viii. 21, 'Thou hast neither part nor
lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.'
But let us see how the heirs of promise are described. Sometimes by
God's election and the appointment of God, who, in his unchangeable
counsel, designeth the heirs of promise : John vi. 37, ' All that the
Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I
will in no wise cast off;' and Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little flock ; it
is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom.' Christ's testa
ment is made in compliance with God's decrees ; but because this is a
secret not known till afterward, therefore the heirs of promise are de
scribed in the gospel or testament itself, Heb. vi. 18. There you have
one description, ' Who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope
that is set before us ;' those who, being chased by the terrors of the
law (as the man that was guilty of casual homicide was by the avenger
of blood at his heels), do take sanctuary at the Lord's grace in Christ,
and are resolved to continue there, waiting for his mercy unto eternal
life. Sometimes they are described to be { the called :' Heb. ix. 15,
'That they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
480 A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20.
inheritance.' The heirs of the new testament are the called. Some
are not called at all, as the gentiles, to whom the gospel is not preached.
Some are called, but refuse or neglect to accept of this grace ; as they
that were bidden to the marriage of the king's son made light of it :
Mat. xxii. 5, ' So many are called, but few are chosen/ Others
seem to bind themselves to the observation of the covenant, but
do not indeed come under the bond of it. Others are called, and are
obedient to the heavenly call ; they that choose the things that please
God, and take hold of the covenant, Isa. Ivi. 4, These are heirs, the
effectually called. Again, they are described by their dedication to
Christ : 1 Cor. iii. 23, -All things are yours, and ye are Christ's, and
Christ's is God's.' As Jesus Christ gave up himself to God, humbled
himself to do all the work of God ; so they to Christ : ' To them to live
is Christ.' 'Sometimes by their sanctification : Acts. xx. 32, ' To give
you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified ; ' and Acts
xxvi. 18, ' That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an in
heritance among them that are sanctified by faith.' Faith, as it
beginneth in brokenness of heart, so it must end in holiness of life, or
else we have no title to the inheritance. Such as are washed from the
filth of their corruptions by the blood of the new testament : John
xiii. 8, ' If I wash thee not, thou hast no part in me ; ' and 1 Cor.
vi. 11, ' But now ye are washed, but now ye are sanctified.' Now
some of these descriptions agree to the lowest degree of grace ; others
include a more perfect measure. Let not poor sinners think them
selves excluded from the testament of Christ if they have not such a
measure of grace as others. If they cannot make out their title by
their holiness, they should by their brokenness of heart; if not by
the bold challenge of faith, yet by their humble plea. There are
fathers, and young men, and babes in Christ ; even babes have their
share in Christ's testament : 1 John ii. 12, ' I write unto you, little
children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.' The
qualification is sometimes laid down to suit with the strongest, tallest
Christian, sometimes with the weakest, because Christ's testament was
intended for the use of little children as well as for fathers and young
men. If you run for refuge, if you receive Christ as offered in the
gospel, if you resolve to please God, and take hold of his covenant,
these are the characters of the heirs of promise.
7. There are seals, which are the sacraments ; in this text, ' This
cup is the new testament ; ' that is, the sign and seal of it. It must
be understood sacramentally, for properly the new testament implieth
higher legacies than the sacramental cup. But you must expound it
as other sacramental phrases are expounded ; as see the like ; circum
cision is called God's covenant, Gen. xvii. 10. That in the llth verse
is meant a token of the covenant ; so ver. 13, ' My covenant shall be
in your flesh ; ' that is, the sign of it. The apostle explaineth all this :
Kom. iv. 11, ' And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the
righteousness of faith.' It is a sealing sign appointed by God to make
us truly and really sure of our right to Christ's death and blood shed,
and all the benefits purchased thereby. It is a confirming sin, not
to infidels, but believers. To infidels miracles are for a sign, 1 Cor.
xiv. 22 ; but to believers the ordinances of the gospel, as they excite
A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20. 481
our faith by the eye, more to mind and regard the grace contained in
the testament itself.
8. There are witnesses of this testament. The witnesses from
heaven are the ' Father, Word, and Spirit ; ' and the witnesses on earth,
' the Spirit, the water, and blood ; ' the one external, the other inter
nal ; the one of the truth of the gospel, the other of our interest, as
well as the truth of the things themselves.
[1.] The witnesses from heaven : 1 John v. 7, ' There are three that
bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost/
the blessed Trinity, that Jesus is the Son of God and the saviour of
the world, in whom all our confidence should be placed, and on whom
we should leave the weight of our souls. God seeketh no farther
amends for all our wrongs, nor other price for what we need. The
Father, Word, and Spirit witness this. The Word, that is Christ
Jesus, the eternal Son of God, whom the apostle calleth the Word.
The Father witnessed by an audible voice from heaven when Christ
was baptized: Mat. iii. 17, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased ; ' which was given very solemnly, in a great congregation
of people, and divinely with great glory and majesty. Again renewed
before Peter, James, and John, at Christ's transfiguration, Mat. xvii. 5,
upon which Peter pleadeth the truth of the gospel covenant : 2 Peter
i. 16, 17, ' For we have not followed cunningly-devised fables, when we
made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but were eye-witnesses of his majesty ; for he received from God the
Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from
the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.' That God approved Christ and the work he was going about,
the Word gave testimony to this, not by naked affirmations, but in his
doctrine and miracles, ' that he that believeth on him shall be saved.'
He hath expressed his Father's mind to the world, and his own office
in fulfilling it, that there should be no doubt of it. The Holy Ghost
witnessed also at his baptism, resurrection, ascension, at the effusion or
descent upon the apostles, that still the world hath fuller confirmation :
Acts v. 32, ' And we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also
the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.'
[2.] The witnesses on earth. The Spirit, the water, and the blood,
these agree in one ; they are not one as the former were, 1 John v. 8.
This is internal, ver. 10. The work of regeneration of the soul by the
power of the Word and Spirit is signified by water. The work of jus
tification of guilty souls by the blood of Jesus Christ, and the testimony
of the Spirit bearing witness to our spirits, is an assured testimony that
Jesus Christ, whom we believe, is the only-begotten of the Father, full
of grace and truth. The changing, pacifying, converting, and comfort
ing of souls crieth aloud that Jesus Christ, in whom we believe, is the
true and living God, whom to know and believe is eternal life. The
great work of applying all the privileges of the saints, and making
them actual partakers of the blessings of Christ's death, is committed
to the Holy Ghost. All agree in this, that Jesus Christ is a sure re
fuge for sinners ; that that was without us is now within us, tran
scribed by the Spirit of grace upon our hearts.
Secondly, We are not only to consider a testament, but a new
482 A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20.
testament. For the understanding of this, note that Christ made his
testament two ways
1. One in typical promises under the law, before he came in the
flesh ; and so in types and figures he died as it were, and was the
Lamb slain from the beginning of the world, Kev. xiii. 8.
2. The other after his incarnation, in plain and clear terms, when he
fulfilled the types, actually laid down his life ; then it was as a closed,
sealed will, now it is an open one. In short, these two testaments
differ in three things in excellency, clearness, and efficacy.
[1.] In excellency. We have better promises and better ordinances.
Better promises : Heb. viii. 6, ' But now hath he obtained a more ex
cellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better
covenant, established upon better promises.' Though in effect they
were the same, yet now more spiritual. The first testament had a
greater mixture of temporal promises ; and in the importance of it, it
more concerned this life. Their hell was Egypt, their heaven was
Canaan, their eternity was long life, their salvation was temporal de
liverance, their gladness was the affluence of worldly comforts and
blessings. The promises then were clogged with more conditions.
And also better ordinances. The first testament was a dispensation
full of dark and painful and chargeable rites ; all the services tended
rather to stir up brokenness of heart than faith, and signified the death
of the sinner more clearly than the death of a saviour and redeemer ;
and as much as they presignified a redeemer, they typed out his person
rather than our benefit. None but the priest could enter within the
vail ; the way to the holy place was not yet open. The priest could
only eat of the sin-offering, Lev. vi. 26. The priest was only to eat
what is offered for the people's sins : eating implieth union, to show the
death of the sacrifice should become the death of the priest himself.
The priest became one with the beast slain ; but now sinners eat the
sin-offering, feed upon the sacrifice. It is notable that neither priest
nor people could eat of the sin-offering for the whole congregation.
This social communion was reserved for the gospel. God and they
would not eat at one table, lest they should think their communion
full and perfect without us, Lev. xvii. 11, 12. Blood was forbidden
upon this very ground, because given upon the altar for the remission
of sins. Now this is the reason why we are bidden to drink of it :
Mat. XXVL 2*7, ' Drink ye all of it ; for this is the blood of the new
testament, which is given for the remission of sins.' It is not the
blood of the old testament, but the new. In short, so much as the
blood of Christ doth excel the blood of the sacrifices, and as far as
heaven is above the earthly sanctuary, and men's souls above the vessels
thereof, so far doth our covenant exceed. We have better promises,
more comfortable ordinances ; the new covenant is set forth with new
signs ; there needeth nothing to complete it but new hearts.
[2.] In clearness. All was dark and obscure then ; there was the
blood of lambs, a-nd goat's, and other sacrifices. Christ's death was
then exhibited but in types and figures. The promise of laying down
his life was then accepted in the old testament ; the actual perform
ance is in the new. He was then slain in figure. The doctrine of the
Trinity was not clearly known, nor the incarnation, death, and resur-
A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20. 483
rection of Christ, union with Christ, and the recompense of reward,
and the saints' resting-place. God did not so familiarly reveal himself
as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ : 2 Cor. iii. 18, { But
now we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by
the Spirit of the Lord/
[3.] In efficacy. Grace was not amply and largely given forth ; the
promise of the Spirit was the benefit of gospel times, Acts ii. Grace
was but sparingly given out, as it were upon trust ; now there is a
fuller gospel grace.
Thirdly, This new covenant is founded upon Christ's blood. God
would have this satisfaction before he would give out grace, that
justice might be satisfied as well as mercy glorified. The blood of
Christ is the ransom of our souls, the price of our pardon and peace,
the foundation of all that grace we expect from God. This expiateth
sin, merits the gospel covenant and the Spirit to apply it, or grace to
enable men to receive the inheritance. In short, the death of Christ
is the foundation, life, and soul of the new covenant, which we come
to remember in this sacrament.
Fourthly, The respect which the cup or the Lord's supper hath to
the new testament.
1. It doth more particularly excite and bind us to look after the
blessed legacies of this new testament. In the word the offer of
grace is more general, God speaks promiscuously to all ; but in the
sacraments it is personally applied ; every one cometh, man by man,
to take hold of God's covenant. The object revealed in the word is
like the brazen serpent that was exposed to the eyes of all without
difference and distinction, that whosoever had need, and looked upon
it, should be healed ; but the object propounded in the sacrament is
like the sprinkling of the door-posts with blood to assure that house of
safety. Those things that are propounded generally should affect all,
for none is excluded ; but those things that concern us more expressly
do more excite us, for we are not only not excluded, but warned to
look after them. In the word there is an invitation, but in the sacra
ment a closer touch and application : Acts ii. 38, * Be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'
2. Here is a crucified Christ represented to us as in a glass,
Gal. iii. 1. Bread and wine are appointed to this use. Now, his
death is the life of our souls, and his sufferings are the feast of our
souls, they being the price of our peace and reconciliation with God.
The same flesh which was given to God for sacrifice is given to us for
food ; the blood given to God for atonement, and to us for refresh
ment : Job vi. 51, 'I am the living bread which came down from
heaven ; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever : and the
bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the
world.'
3. We profess a union between us and Christ ; for as these things
are turned into our substance, become one with us, so doth Christ
with our souls ; John vi. 56, 'He that eateth my flesh and drinketh
my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him/ The penitent, hungry, and
484 A SACKAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20.
believing soul feedeth upon him, and receiveth strength and life from
him.
4. By this ordinance the grant of remission of sins and life eternal
is confirmed and sealed to us. As there are certain formalities of law
which make any deed or conveyance of law authentic, so by this
solemn way do we enter into possession of Christ and his benefits.
The promise is sealed by these visible rites, which imply that as really
as our bodies receive the bread and wine which represents, so do we
receive, Christ and all his benefits.
5. It is an ordinance that is accompanied with the special presence
of the Spirit. All gospel ordinances are the ministration of the
Spirit, 2 Cor. iii. 18. We cannot but expect a blessing upon the use
of God's instituted means. It is the great intent of this duty:
1 Cor. xii. 13, ' We have been all made to drink into one Spirit/
eTroTLo-QTjfjLev eZ? ev irvev/jia. . He cometh especially to apply to our
souls the benefits of redemption, and to excite faith and love in us,
and to fill our hearts with life and comfort.
Use. You have heard of a confirmed, sealed testament ; and this a
new testament, where the ordinances are accommodated to a more
spiritual help ; and this founded in the blood of your Kedeemer, who
by his death hath merited your reconciliation with God ; and all this
represented, sealed, and exhibited to you in this duty. Oh ! then,
mind your work, and go about it advisedly.
1. As it is a testament.
[1.] Have you entered yourselves as heirs to Christ's testament ?
You may be children of the kingdom, and yet cast out ; pray, preach ;
Mat. vii. 23 : eat and drink in his presence : Luke xiii. 26, ' Then
shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and
thou hast taught in our streets ; but he shall say, I know you not
whence you are,' &c. the cursed estate of them that are out of Christ,
that have no part and portion in this testament ! The only evidence
is, if we have received Christ as offered in the gospel : 1 John v. 12 r
* He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of
God hath not life ;' and John i. 12, ' To as many as received him, to
them gave he power to become the sons of God.' We first receive
him in the promise before we receive him in the sacrament. Do you
so receive him as to be willing to give up yourselves to God by him ?
Many have had an offer of Christ, but never yet had a heart to
receive him. The offer hath been fruitless through their negligence
and disesteem of heavenly things : Mat. xxii. 5, ' They made light of
it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.'
Others there are that give a rash consent, consensus temerarius ;
they do not consider what it is to receive Christ ; they are willing
in generals, unwilling in particulars. Or else there is consensus de
future, hereafter ; they are willing to mind their soul's health when
sick, or when they come to die. There is consensus involuntarius,
such a consent as a person would not yield unto if he were in an
estate of liberty ; when frightened and forced into a little religious
ness, when in distress, then they would have Christ by all means; or
else there is a partial consent to the benefits of Christ without sub
jection to him, or a feeble consent which is easily controlled. You
A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20. 485
must consent without exceptions and reserves; you must entirely
resign yourselves to him with a full, hearty, entire consent; there
must be an accepting of Christ as offered to us in the gospel with
his benefits, or a consenting that he be ours and we his. This is
true willingness, all things considered, when you have considered
his strict laws, and made allowance for incident temptations and
difficulties.
[2.] Challenge your right, lay claim to the blessings of the cove
nant, as children do to their estates left them in a testament sealed.
Bring forth and produce the written testament of your dying Mediator
before the court of God's justice, and by faith plead the benefit of the
inheritance, sue out the legacies. Let not the testament of Christ
lie by as useless ; say, Lord, I am a guilty sinner that deserveth to be
sealed up under a curse ; but, Lord, thou hast sent thy Son to save
poor sinners : he died and gave his life a ransom for many, offereth
grace in the gospel, and now hath condescended to my weakness so far
as to give me visible security.
[3.] Bind yourselves to the Lord anew. When you renew a cove
nant, you must not only lay claim to privileges, but bind yourselves to
the duties of it: Dent, xxvii. 9, 10, 'And Moses and the priests,
the Levites, spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed and hearken,
O Israel ; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God ;
thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his
commandments and statutes, which I command thee this day;'
and Deut. xxvi. 17, 18, ' Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be
thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes and his
commandments and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice;
and the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people,
as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his com
mandments/ We are said to enter into the bond of the holy oath,
Isa. Ivi. 4. Then we take hold of his covenant when we choose the
things that please him, and resolve upon that holy, spiritual, and
heavenly life that he hath required of us ; do not take them up upon
some sudden motion, sinister respects, or base ends ; but out of due
consideration, and in judgments rightly informed, and out of affec
tion and choice. Ps. xxv. 10, * All the paths of the Lord are mercy
and truth to such as keep his covenant and testimonies.' None but.
they that make conscience of obedience do partake of the benefits of
his promises. The mercies of the Lord remembered and challenged
should invite us to this, Eom. xii. 1, and 1 Cor. v. 16. This duty
bindeth us. David complained that his familiar friend, that ate at
his table, did lift up his heel against him. God admits us to his
table to show that he and we are agreed ; after offences will be aggra
vated by this. When God in the gospel bids you take Jesus Christ,
and be reconciled to him, if you answer, Lord, I am willing, I will
accept of Christ, and be thankful, the match is made, when the will
is effectually inclined to Christ, and to God the Father by him.
2. As it is a new covenant, God expecteth you should be more
holy, and that there should be a more free spirit, more holy.
Things that grow in the shadow cannot be so kindly as those that grow
under the sunshine. We read of great graces in the saints ; then
486 A SACRAMENT SERMON ON LUKE XXII. 20.
let us be ashamed that we are no better, much more that we are worse
than the people of God that lived under the first testament. We should
serve God in newness of the Spirit, Kom. vii. 6. Our worship should
be more serious and delightful, our obedience more spiritual, our hopes
more lively and strong, our joy more overflowing. Secondly, Our filial
freedom should be greater, as we have more of the gospel spirit : Kom.
viii. 15, c For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again unto
fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry,
Abba, Father/ God expecteth greater liberty of spirit ; we have the
spirit of adoption more plentifully poured out. All things under the
first covenant did press to servile fear and bondage of spirit ; now we
are acted more by a spirit of love. Our experience of the efficacy of
the gospel should be larger, our fixed notedness greater in all, to have
something like the better testament
A SERMON ON THE'ENDS OF THE
SACRAMENT.
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning
John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see ? A reed shaken
with the wind ? But what went ye out for to see ? A man clothed
in soft raiment ? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in king's
houses. But ivhat went ye out for to see ? A prophet ? yea, I say
unto you, and more than a prophet. MAT. xi. 7-9.
THE context standeth thus
1. A message is sent from John in prison to Christ. He sendeth two
of his disciples to inquire if he were the Messiah, not for his own satis
faction, but theirs. They were offended in Christ out of respect to their
master.
2. Christ's answer to this message. He referreth them to his works.
What do you see and hear ? Which teacheth us that our works should
praise us in the gates, not our own lips. When the question is put, Are
you the sons of God, yea or nay ? what are your works ? works exceeding
the power of nature? John x. 38, 'If I do not the works of my
Father, believe me not ; but if I do, though you believe not me, believe
the works.' You should allow the full place of an evidence to them.
3. As they departed, Christ commendeth John, not before his dis
ciples, lest he might confirm their error, or by flattery seek to ingrati
ate with them, or to teach us this moral instruction, that none is to be
praised before his face : ' When John's disciples were departed, Jesus
began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out
into the wilderness for to see ? '
In commending John, he first beginneth with the people, inquiring
after the reason of their great resort to him before he was in prison.
Three times he propoundeth the question. Surely when such multi
tudes came from all coasts and quarters, you saw some reason for it
What was your aim ? Was it by chance, or to behold some worldly
greatness, or to hear the word of God from some great prophet ? Was
it a childish errand, a carnal design, or a religious reason that moved
you to hear a prophet of the Lord ? You that run after him, had high
thoughts of him, you did not go out to see a reed. Plenty grew in the
wilderness, that was not your errand ; you did not look upon John as
such. A reed is a fit emblem of an inconstant person ; it bendeth now
488 A SERMON ON THfi ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT.
this way, anon that way. John was no such reed ; he changed not his
testimony for frowns or flatteries : ' What went ye out for to see ? '
Gallantry is not to be seen in the desert, but in a king's court. What
wasit that moved you ? Why doth Christ put the question thrice ?
Partly to show that the reasons that move us to a duty should be well
examined. Partly to shame them that they had no more obtained the
right end. Surely ye went to see a prophet, You will not own that all
this resort was to a seducer or impostor ; you went to see a prophet, one
that was commissioned, and had a warrant from God to reveal his
will. Why do ye desert him now in prison ? Why do ye not believe
his testimony concerning me ? ' What went ye out for to see ? '
The observation which I shall raise from these words shall be this
That when we are going to an ordinance, we should consider our aim,
and what we are going about.
In hearing, ' What went ye out for to ' hear ? Picked words, apt
cadences of speech, or out of a desire after ' the sincere milk of the word,
that you may grow thereby ? ' 1 Peter ii. 2. Is that your aim ? So in
the sacraments, What do you go to see ? Do you go to taste wine and
bread ? That you may do at home in greater plenty, and with less
trouble. Or is it to put yourselves into the garb of worship that is in
fashion ? Translate the scene, and you will be Turk or pagan upon
the same account. What do you go out to see ? Is it to meet with
Christ in his ordinances ? Thus in every action should we reflect upon
the principles and ends, the reasons that move us to any duty. Is it
only to see the faces of one another, or to meet with Christ?
1. As men, thus should we do. The prophet biddeth them, ' Show
yourselves men,' Isa. xlvi. 8. The privilege of a man is to use recol
lection, to fix his scope ; to know the end distinguished a man from a
beast. Beasts are overruled by providence ; they act for an end, but
they know it not. To go on in a track and course of duties without
considering the end and reason of them, is to be ' like horse and mule,
which have no understanding,' Ps. xxxii. 9 ; to act like beasts rather
than men. A man's eye is upon the end before his hand be in the
work. What am I now doing, and why ? And the more weighty any
action is, the more recollection should we use in that kind. What is
my aim ? In ordinary works we do not always think of the end,
actually, solemnly, but in great businesses we do ; it is suitable to the
principles of reason, much more in duties of religion.
2. As Christians, much more should we thus do. Why ? Partly
because there is an end appointed. Every duty is appointed for an end,
not only a general end for the glory of God, but some especial use. It
is not a task, but means appointed in order to the obtaining some end.
If duties had been a mere task, then we should look no farther than
the work wrought. But now we are to use them as means for the end
to which God hath sanctified them. God out of sovereignty might
have appointed them as a task, as an acknowledgment of his own domi
nion ; but he hath affixed some end and spiritual profit to be obtained
by them ; and therefore called means of grace. Partly also because of
God's observation. He looketh not to the action, but the aim : Prov.
x. 2, ' All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord
weigheth the spirits' in the balance of the sanctuary. The plea from
A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT. 489
the act is not allowed, Luke xiii. 26. The action must not only be
good, but performed to a good end. Partly because the end is the dis
criminating circumstance in all actions : Hosea i. 4, ' The Lord said
unto him, Call his name Jezreel ; for yet a little while, and I will
avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to
cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.' There was God's command ;
but Jehu's aim was at his own greatness. He did it not with that
mind God required. A man may do good, but not well. And to
come to duties : ' Hearing the word.' This may be but a customary
devotion : Ezek. xxxiii. 31, ' They come unto thee as the people cometh,
and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but
they will not do them ; for with their mouth they show much love ; but
their heart goeth after their covetousness ; ' so the seals. Many that
tear the bond yet prize the seal out of a superstitious conceit. Good
things done to an ill end are not acceptable. So in prayer and all other
duties, we are chiefly to regard the aim and end ; for these duties may
be performed out of self-interest, or to feed fancy, or to satisfy curi
osity : Ezek. xxxiii. 32, ' Lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song
of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument :
for they hear thy words, but they do them not.'
3. This will further appear from the profit of thus considering what
we are about. In approaching to the table of the Lord there is a treble
benefit.
[1.] It maketh us come the more worthily. The work cannot be well
done unless the end be regarded. ' Hear, for it is for thy life ' finis est
mensura mediorum. They that come for a worthy end will come in a
worthy manner. When we go about it hand over head, we are slight
and careless. A right pure intention in the supper begets reverence,
awakens desires after the blessings offered. It is for Christ, therefore
with reverence, therefore with affection, hungering and thirsting after
him. What am I now a-doing ? When the Israelites came to hear God,
they washed their garments : Exod. xix. 12. When we come to taste
God, to feed on Christ, we had need to prepare our appetites, seeing
such great things are made over to us.
[2.] As it maketh us to do it seriously, so with cheerfulness ; the end
sweeteneth the means. Physic is troublesome, but it is for health. To
sequester ourselves, and to examine conscience, all soul-work is difficult ;
the soul is loath to discover its own nakedness, as a man in debt is loath
to cast up his accounts. Every duty is tedious to the flesh, but God
hath annexed some spiritual profit. What will it be in the issue ? It
is a relief to the soul. As a worldly man worketh hard, fareth hard,
but it is for gain : Isa. Iv. 2, ' Wherefore do you spend your money for
that which is not bread ? and your labour for that which satisfieth not ?
Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let
your soul delight itself in fatness.' The Spirit of God would have
them to consider with themselves.
[3.] It helpeth us to judge of the success. You thrive in an ordi
nance when you have the ends for which God appointed it. Every duty
hath its special end, as every tree its special fruit. Would a man
gather grapes off thorns or figs off thistles ? There are experiences as
a well by the way. Now, when you have fixed your aim, you will sensibly
490 A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT.
discern whether you have thrived. We see what to look after. Have
I met with Christ according to that way of manifestation which is
proper to this duty ? In the word we come to him as our teacher ; in
prayer, as our advocate ; in the supper, as the master of the feast, to
satisfy us with his loves.
Let us apply this to the Lord's supper. Look 'to the right ends of
all duties. Thus we should do in the supper ; partly because we are
apt to rest in the work wrought, and partly because the work wrought
is nothing without a due aim. Signs are either natural, as smoke of
fire, or by institution. The sacraments are signs by institution. Now
in every instituted sign, unless we look to the author and the end, we
do nothing ; for every instituted means, as it hath authority from the
author, so it hath a tendency and respect to the end, without which it
loseth its nature, and is but a common action. If bread and wine were
natural signs of Christ, I could not use bread and wine but I must
think of Christ. Now I use these as instituted signs ; therefore, unless
I look to the end, the action is a nullity. I look to the author as able
to perform what is signified by it, and as obliged to give it ; and the
end, to help our infirmities, and as a seal and pledge to assure us, and
to revive affections towards Christ and all his benefits. Partly because
in the Lord's supper God hath joined so many good ends, that when
one ceaseth to move us and affect us, the other may take place which
is more suitable to our condition. Now I shall show you what are the
ends of the Lord's supper. I have often spoken of them severally ;
I shall now speak of them conjunctly.
The ends of supper are 1. To be a badge of profession, and to
put a visible difference between us and infidels and idolaters, or the
worshippers of false gods. The church is said to be ' terrible as an
army with banners,' Cant. vi. 4, for order, comeliness, and strength.
The banners of Christ, under which the army of the church marcheth,
are the sacraments. The Jews were distinguished from all other
nations by circumcision and the passover, so a Christian is by baptism
and the Lord's supper. As for this last, see 1 Cor. x. 21, ' Ye cannot
drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils; ye cannot be
partakers of the Lord's table, and the table of devils.' So that every
time we come to the Lord's table, we profess ourselves to be a
peculiar people unto him, or a part of that distinct society who are to
hold out his honour to the world, and so difference ourselves from
Turks, Jews, and infidels, and in effect to withdraw from all false religions
in the world. As Christ will not be confounded with idols and devils,
so neither will he have his people confounded with idolaters and the
children of the devil ; they are visibly distinguished by these rites, as
a people set apart to worship and serve the true God, and promote
his honour and glory in the world ; as Balaam prophesied of the
church, Num. xxiii. 9, 'They shall dwell alone, and shall not be
reckoned among the nations/ They shall have their religion and
laws apart from other nations ; be a distinct community to the world,
as Goshen to Egypt ; as those in the ark to those that perished in
the waters ; as Gideon's fleece to all the rest of the ground ; as the
house of Eahab to the rest of Jericho ; they are in a society who own
God, and God will own them. WelL then, this end of the sacrament
A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT. 491
must not be neglected, for hereby we profess to own the true God, and
Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, and to abhor idols, and all false
religions in the world. But you will say, Do not the rabble of nominal
Christians the same ? What great matter is it ? I answer
[L] This is not all which Christ intended by this mysterious
ordinance, but yet this must not be neglected. Visible godliness is
not enough, but visible godliness must not be omitted. Eom. x. 8, 9,
* If thou shalt confess with thy mouth, and believe with thy heart, the
Lord Jesus, thou shalt be saved ; for with the heart man believeth
unto^ righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salva
tion/ The one is necessary to our own safety, the other to the glory
of God. Therefore Christianity is sometimes described by the inward
part, which is faith in Christ ; sometimes by the outward part, which
is confession. Therefore Christ is called, 'The high priest of our
profession/ Heb. iii. 1. It is a thing not to be smothered in the
heart, but outwardly owned and acknowledged. Now confession is
more made by sacraments than any other thing. This is proper to
the society of Christians. We may preach to heathens, but this is
our military oath to bind us to stand to our profession.
[2.] Profession rightly understood is a great matter, for two
reasons
(1.) Cases may happen when our profession is like to cost us dear,
as in the primitive times, when owning of Christ exposed them to
great danger ; the bleak winds that blow in our backs blew in their
faces, and it was as dangerous then to be a Christian as now to be no
Christian, or a professed Turk and infidel; yea, more, because
Christianity maketh us more mild to enemies and opposers than a
false religion ; which usually maketh men bloody, and inspireth them
with destructive furies against the welfare of others ; and men need
to be obliged to profession then, because of the trouble to the flesh
which accompanied it. The ancient libertines, when their profession
was costly, thought it enough to be Christians in heart, though they
outwardly complied with idolaters and false worshippers. The
apostle urgeth promises of communion with God : * I will dwell with
them, and walk with them ; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people,' 2 Cor. vi. 16, and concludeth, 2 Cor. vii. 1, ' Having
therefore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of
both flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God ; ' and
Phil. ii. 10, ' Every knee shall bow to Christ, and every mouth con
fess him.' To prostitute my body and keep my mind, it is as if a
wife that yieldeth her body to another man should say, I keep my heart
loyal to my husband. Now, when we have to do with pseudo-
christians, ad aras Jovis aut Veneris adorare et sub antichristo /idem
occultare idem est. Zwinglius : Rev. xiv. 13, * Blessed are the dead
which die in (or for) the Lord from henceforth,' airdpn. ^ We must
separate from them, only we must distinguish of corruptions ; if not
such as are an apparent revolt from the institutions of Christ, if im
perfect, inexpedient, as far as we are convinced of the evil, we must
separate from the evil.
(2.) Because we are bound to a profession, not in word only, but in deed ;
to a suitable walking or to glorify Christ. He is not a professor
492 A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT.
whose life is not a hymn to God. Actions are the best image of our
thoughts. A man may destroy his profession by his conversation :
Titus i. 16, ' They profess they know God, but in their works they
deny him.' Experience teacheth us that a man may profess a
religion which he doth abhor ; though they know God, they do not
love him, and live to him, and they are not really and seriously what
they nominally profess to be. An unclean person is a votary to
Priapus ; a drunkard to Bacchus ; not a disciple of Christ. An
earthly sensual worldling doth in his life say that the alcoran is
better than the gospel ; a merciless man is worse than an infidel,
and hath denied the faith, 1 Tim. v. 8. Interpretative circumcision
is turned into uncircumcision, Kom. ii. 25 ; and Jer. ix. 25, 26, ' I
will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised,
&c. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of
Israel are uncircumcised in heart/ Uncircumcised in heart have a
pagan heart. Certainly a man that is obliged to the profession is
obliged to the duties which the profession calleth for. What ! pro
fess yourselves to be Christians, and live loosely ? This is to be called
Christians in opprobrium Christi, to the reproach of Christ. A
Christian and a worldling ! a Christian and a sensualist ! it is as great
a contradiction as to say a Christian and an infidel. Profession
includeth holy practice as well as verbal acknowledgment. There is
a practical blasphemy : Rev. ii. 9, 'I know the blasphemy of them
that say they are Jews, and are not.' You blaspheme when you
worship, and you make Christ a patron of your sin: Ps. I. 16, 17,
'But to the wicked, God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my
statutes, or that thou shouldst take my covenant into thy mouth,
seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee ?'
Every sacrament is an aggravation of your unfaithfulness, and so
doth not profit, but hurt you. Baptism, though not renounced, is
forgotten, when we live as if we were in league with the devil, the
world, and the flesh : 2 Peter i. 9, ' Hath forgotten that he was
purged from his old sins/ Better that scalding lead and oil had been
poured upon them than the water of baptism. So for the Lord's
supper: 1 Cor. xi. 27, 'Wliosoever shall eat this bread, and drink
this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and
blood of the Lord ;' and Heb. x. 29, ' Of how much sorer punishment-
shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of
God, and counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was
sanctified an unholy thing ?' Well, then, they are as bad as infidels,
yea, worse than infidels, 1 Tim. v. viii. To be brought up in princes
courts, and yet to be of clownish behaviour, aggravates the crime.
If you ask what duties doth this profession bind you to, I
answer Consider what are the excellences of the Christian profes
sion ? Sure principles of trust, or commerce between us and God,
for mercies [of daily providence, pardon, and life ; excellent re
wards, and holy precepts of purity and charity. Now, if we trans
gress any of these, we dishonour our profession.
As to the first, distrust of providence, it is said, Mat. vi. 32, ' Take
no thought, saying, What shall we eat, &c. (for after these things do
the gentiles seek) ; for your heavenly Father knoweth that you have
A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT. 493
need of all these things.' Then, for the other part, commerce with God
and rest for the soul ; as to fears of vengeance and desires of happi
ness, we are commanded, Jer. vi. 16, to ' stand in the ways and see,
and ask for the old paths, the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall
find rest for your souls.'
As to the second, for excellent rewards, 1 Cor. ii. 12, the apostle
saith, ' Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit
which is of God ; that we might know the things that are freely given
to us of God/
As to the third, for holy precepts purity and charity. As to
purity : 1 Peter iv. 3, ' For the time past of our life may suffice us to
have wrought the will of the gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness,
lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries/
So for charity : 1 Tim. v. 8, ' If any man provide not for his own,
especially they of his own house, he hath denied the faith ; ' that is,
done an act incompatible with the Christian religion.
2. The next end is, it is a seal of the covenant. Circumcision was
so : Gen. xvii. 11, * My covenant shall be in your flesh/ And the apostle
explaineth it : Eom. iv. 11, 'He received the sign of circumcision, a seal
of the righteousness of faith/ Now what is true of one sacrament is
true of all, for they agree in their general nature ; and therefore it is
said, Luke xxii. 20, ' This cup is the new testament in my blood/ A
charter that hath divers seals hath not this for one part, that for another,
but all for the whole.
Well, then, the new testament is confirmed by them. Now the
covenant bindeth mutually. God bindeth himself to give grace to us,
and we bind ourselves to live unto God : Exod. xxiv. 6-8, * And Moses
took half of the blood, and put it in a basin, and half of the blood he
sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and
read in the audience of the people i and they said, All that the Lord
hath said, will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood and
sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant,
which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.'
Well, then, sacraments on God's part are signs and seals of the
promise of grace ; on our part, an obligation to obedience. God bindeth
himself to be our God, and we bind ourselves to be his people. God
to be our God, that is to be a benefactor becoming an infinite and
eternal power ; that is, the meaning of ' I will be your God,' Mat. xxii.
32, and Heb. xi. 16 ; that is, Father, Son, ,ind Holy Ghost, will em
ploy all his wisdom, power, and goodness to keep us from all evil, and
bestow on us all good; Gen. xv. 1, 'Fear not, Abraham; I am thy
shield, and thy exceeding great reward ; ' and Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, 'For the
Lord God is a sun and a shield ; the Lord will give grace and glory ;
no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.' Here
a shield, hereafter a reward ; both in part here, both fully hereafter,
when the sun is in his meridian. Again, on the other side, we bind
ourselves to be his people ; that is, as to entrance and progress. As
to entrance : Acts xx. 21, ' Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the
Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ/ So it is an obligation to repentance and faith ; this is making
the covenant. As to progress, continuance, and keeping covenant ; so
494 A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT.
we bind ourselves to new obedience : Heb. v. 9, ( He is become the
author of eternal salvation, unto all them that obey him/
Now, then, if we come aright, we must come with a true heart, and in
full assurance of faith, Heb. x. 22. With an assurance of faith, that God
will be as good as his word, pardoning, sanctifying, blessing, and that
he will keep us to everlasting glory ; and with a true heart bind our
selves to a return to our duty, depending on the Eedeemer's sacrifice,
and to walk in all new obedience. The oftener we renew this covenant,
the more conscience we must have of both parts. In baptism we first
bound ourselves to depend upon God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
as our benefactor, redeemer, and sanctifier ; as also 1 Peter iii. 21, to
serve, worship, and obey Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as our Lord,
redeemer, and sanctifier. We often renew this in the Lord's supper.
Our faith is the more confirmed, and our obedience more strengthened ;
as the servant whose ear was bored, Exod. xxi. 6, bound himself to his
master. The oftener we devote ourselves to God, the more conscience
we should have of our oath. House up yourselves there. Doth God
give you bread and wine to be symbols of his wrath and backwardness
to do you good ; or to be symbols of his grace and readiness to help
us. and of his bounty towards us ? If he hath forgiven our sins, will
he not forgive our infirmities ? If he gives the beginnings, will he not
give the continuance ? If eternals, will he not give temporals ? Ps.
xxiii. 1, ' The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want.' So also excite
your obedience ; I am the Lord's, and shall I live to myself ? No ;
4 His I am, and him will I serve,' Acts xxvii. 23. I am no longer my
own, and shall I live as my own ? I shall be the most faithless man
in the world. Breach of vows in an indifferent thing is a great crime,
much more here : Acts v. 4, ' Whilst it remained, was it not thine
own ? and after it was sold, was it not in thy own power ? Why hast
thou conceived this thing in thine heart ? Thou hast not lied unto
men, but unto God.'
3. It is a pledge of heaven : Mat. xxvi. 29, ' But I say unto you, that
I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until the day when
I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom ; ' that is, after a new
manner ; then we enjoy the effects of it, fulness of joy and eternal
delights : Mat. viii. 11, ' Shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven ; ' sit down at an eternal feast. And
Luke xxii. 30, ' That you may eat and drink at my table in my king
dom/ So John vi. 54, ' Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood
hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day/ The man
revived that touched the prophet's bones ; to eat Christ's flesh by faith
leaveth a quickening power. This is our refreshing in the house of our
pilgrimage, as Israel had manna in the wilderness till they came into
the land of Canaan ; so that if we come rightly to this holy duty, we
come not mainly for any temporal good, but either heaven, or tem
poral things in order to heaven. He that believeth not the promise of
eternal life with his whole heart, cometh in vain. Therefore, here we
come to grow more heavenly-minded, to set mind and heart a- work, to
look more and long more for the heavenly estate, and to quicken our
selves to prepare for it, and to seek it in the first place, referring our
selves to God for other things : Mat. vi. 33, ' First seek the kingdom
ASERMON ON THE ENDS OP THE SACRAMENT. 495
of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto
you.' God, who is our father, will give us temporal things so far as is
for our good ; but chiefly he showeth himself a father in Christ, to
make us heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Therefore we must
make heaven our great end and scope : 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we
look not to the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the
things which are not seen are eternal ; ' and the great motive which
must dwell in our minds, and govern our choices, and direct all our
motions and actions. Heart and mind must be in heaven before we
be there.
4. It is the sign, means, and pledge of our communion with Christ :
1 Cor. x. 16, ' The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the com
munion of the blood of Christ ? The bread which we break, is it not
the communion of the body of Christ ? ' God giveth you this bread
and this wine in token of your union with Christ, as these things become
one with us, and are turned into our substance. Before conversion,
there was a separation between God and us, Isa. lix. 2 ; but at conver
sion, and as soon as we do believe, there is a union ; we are united to
Christ, and by Christ to God ; but we solemnly come and take pos
session of him in the sacrament. This is one of the instruments of ap
plication and conveyance. Here is Christ, and all his benefits made
made over to you. Christ is the remedy of all evil and the fountain
of all good. So we come solemnly to receive him out of God's hands,
that our conjunction with him may be more close and sensible ; that
he may live in us by his Spirit, and we may live in him by faith, as
the branches do in the vine, and the vine in the branches, John xv.
1, 2. Our conjunction with him is intrinsical and spiritual, but yet real.
By virtue of this union we are made one spirit with the Lord : 1 Cor.
vi. 17, ' And one body ; ' Eph. i. 23, ' Which is his body, the fulness
of him that nlleth all things ; ' and Eph. iii. 6, ' That the gentiles should
be fellow- heirs, and of the same body.' This conjunction is partly by
faith : Gal. ii. 20, c 1 live by the faith of the Son of God ; ' and Eph.
iii. 17, ' That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.' God hath
put our life into his hands ; he is our root : ' And because he liveth, we
shall live also.' Faith, or a constant dependence upon Christ, is a
means of his dwelling in us by his Spirit. And partly by love ; that
maketh a conjunction of minds: 1 Sam. xviii. 1, 'And the soul of
Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and he loved him as his own
soul.' Christ loveth us, and we love him. None can unclasp these
mutual embraces : Kom. viii. 39, ' Neither height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which
is in Christ.' From this union resulteth a communion of righteousness
and sanctification.
[1.] Of righteousness : 2 Cor. v. 21, ' For he hath made him to be
sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him.' We have the effects of his righteousness, as he
suffered the effects of our sin. As we are partakers of Adam's sin by-
natural generation, so by regeneration we are made partakers of Christ's
righteousness : Kom. v. 19, ' As by one man's disobedience many were
made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.'
496 A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT.
It is as effectual for pardon and salvation as if believers themselves had
performed it.
[2.] God giveth us his Holy Spirit to sanctify us, which is the best
and choicest gift which God can give, as it is also the greatest which
the saints desire ; for what greater gift can there be than to be par
takers of a divine nature, to love God, and be like him, and be made
fit for him ? Now Christ is not only made righteousness, but sancti-
fication to us : 1 Cor. i. 30, ' But of him ye are in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption.' And it is said, this spirit of holiness 'is shed upon us
abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Lord/ Titus iii. 6, for the renew
ing and healing of our natures. In short, the favour of God and
image of God are the two great benefits which we have by virtue of our
union and communion with Christ.
5. It is a means of our spiritual growth and nourishment. As
bread and wine are the principal means of corporal nourishment : Ps.
civ. 15, ' Wine that maketh giad the heart of man, and oil to make
his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth the heart of man ; ' so
is Christ the food and nourishment of the soul : John vi. 56, ' He that
eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him.'
His flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed. We are
planted into Christ by baptism, and we are nourished in the Lord's
supper. There must first be life, and then food ; and where there is
life, food is necessary to preserve it. So in spiritual life, because of
frequent decays and constant employment ; we need food for the soul
as well as for the body. This ordinance supposeth implantation into
Christ, that the covenant is made and initiated, that our new birh is
passed, that now we come to strengthen it ; therefore we are baptized
but once, but we communicate often. f Oo-/a? implieth TroXXa/a? ; * As
often as ye eat this bread/ &c., implieth that we should be frequent ; for
by the frequent performance of this duty the Holy Ghost doth confirm
our faith, excite our love, quicken our hope, and helpeth us more fully
and sensibly to be made partakers of the righteousness and spirit of
Christ, and rooted in our union with him unto a continual persever
ance.
6. A memorial of Christ's death. To both the elements Christ
saith, ' Do this in remembrance of me ; ' and of the whole action,
4 Ye do show forth the Lord's death till he come,' 1 Cor. xi. 26. His
passion is acted over again in figure and representation : Gal. iii. 1,
' Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified
among you.' So that your duty there is affectionately and with appli
cation to consider the occasion, manner, and end of Christ's death, for
the strengthening of our faith, and the preservation of our union and
communion with Christ. The occasion was our fallen estate, which
brought on guilt and misery, without a sense of which there is no
prizing of Christ. A speculative knowledge of our sin and misery
will beget only an opinionative faith in Christ ; for such as is our
sense of the misery so will our reflections be on the remedy ; but a
sensible, awakening knowledge of our great necessity will teach us to
value Christ as a Saviour, and come heartily to him. Therefore we
must come to this work with a due sense of our misery and spiritual
A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT. 497
indigence, feeling the burden of our sin, and hungering and thirsting
after righteousness. The cause and reason of his death as a gift, or
a propitiatory sacrifice, is God's free love, John iii. 16. Therefore
we must come admiring God's grace and goodness to us, applying it
with Confidence and delight ; and out of a sense of this great love,
devoting ourselves to his love and service. The manner of it : Phil,
ii. 8, 'He became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.' So
painful, shameful, cursed a death, to put an everlasting brand on sin.
And then the end ; to propitiate God, offended with our sins : 1 John
ii. 2, ' If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ, the righteous ; and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not
only for ours, but for the sins of the whole world ; ' and 1 John iv. 10,
' Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' Therefore we must
depend upon this propitiatory sacrifice, earnestly desiring to partake
of the fruits thereof, namely, remission of sins and reconciliation with
God, with the gift of the Spirit and adoption to eternal life.
7. It is a pledge of his corning. When Christ went, he left a
promise with us : John xiv. 3, * And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you to myself, that where 1 am,
there ye may be also.' Now he would still keep the promise a-foot,
that we might look for him, long for him, and wait for him. Keason
saith, He may come ; faith saith, He will come ; love, When will he
come?
8. It is a band of love : 1 Cor. xii. 13, ' And have been made all to
drink into one spirit ; ' and 1 Cor. x. 17, ' For we, being many, are
one bread and one body ; for we are all partakers of that one bread.'
The world inaketh sacraments matters of contention and division ; but
saints use them otherwise, to enkindle a mutual love to one another,
to pardon failings, pity miseries, lay aside grudgings, and be mutually
helpful to one another ; in short, that we may get more love to God
and man.
9. To be an holy banquet or spiritual feast, or the entertainment
God hath provided for his family in the house of their pilgrimage.
This is evident from the nature of the work and the frequent allusions
in scripture to a feast. The sacrament is a feast upon a sacrifice. A
man keepeth a feast to show his affection to his guests, and to renew
and increase their affection towards him ; so God keepeth a feast of
loves to beget and renew in us a sense and persuasion of his fatherly
love to us in Christ, and to renew our love and cheerful obedience to
him. Well, then, let us not sit down to God's feast without an
appetite, nor eat and drink without sense, and taste, and joy, and
gratitude to our entertainer : Ps. xxii. 26, ' The meek shall eat and
be satisfied ; they shall praise the Lord that seek him ; your hearts
shall live for ever.' I shall conclude with a few corollaries.
First corollary, If these be the ends of the sacrament, you see what
need there is of preparation ; that we consider the tenor of our pro
fession, and the nature of God's covenant, the reasons and ends of
Christ's death, and the hopes of glory. Alas ! without this there will
be no prizing of Christ, no desire of righteousness, no hope of ^Iva-
tion, no care to please God. While men are negligent in preparation
VOL. xv. 2 i
498 A SERMON ON THE ENDS OF THE SACRAMENT.
and examination of themselves, they provoke God whilst they handle
these holy things negligently.
Second corollary, is to show how all these things do promote holi
ness. As it is a badge of profession ; surely the peculiar people must
be an holy nation, 1 Peter ii. 9. As it is a seal of the covenant we
are obliged to holiness and new obedience. Therein we devote our
selves to God, to be ' holy as he that hath called us is holy/ 1 Peter i.
16, 17, As it is a pledge of heaven ; it is a sinless state we look for :
1 John iii. 3, ' He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, as
Christ is pure.' As it is a means of communion with Christ : 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 the blood of Christ,
his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.' The visible fruit of this communion
is holiness : 2 Cor. vi. 14, ' For what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?'
And as it is a means of our spiritual growth. What is growth but
growth in holiness ? As it is a memorial of Christ's death ; so with
the apostle we should be able to say, ' I am crucified with Christ/
Gal. ii. 20 ; and Kom. vi. 6, ' Knowing that our old man is crucified
with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth
we should not serve sin/ What did he die for but to sanctify us ?
As it is a pledge of his coming ; can a guilty creature long for Christ's
coming ? The voice of sinful nature is, Depart ; but the Spirit in the
bride saith, Come. Would prisoners and malefactors long for the
assizes ? As it is a bond of love ; true spiritual love is inter bonos :
1 John v. 1, ' Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him that
is begotten of him.' Our hearts are purified for this love: 1 Peter i.
22, ' Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth.' As it
is a feast , if we are not holy, we are unworthy guests, unthankful to
God that entertaineth us : Ps. xli. 9, ' Yea, mine own familiar friend,
in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his
heel against me.' Men do more grievously take injuries from kindred
and domestics that eat their bread. You must not eat with God
unless you resolve to live in a state of holy friendship with him. From
the whole, let us sanctify ourselves in body and soul, and come in a
holy manner to this holy table.
Third corollary, is to show the false ends, as resting in the work
wrought. Sacraments do no good merely as a work wrought. If
severed from the word, they are unprofitable ; as a seal without an
indenture and writing : Mat. xxviii. 19, 'Go ye therefore, teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost ; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com
manded you ; ' and Eph. v. 26, ' That he might sanctify and cleanse
it, by the washing of water through the word ; ' and 1 Peter iii. 21,
' The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us ; not
the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience towards God.'
The papists say it is viaticum morientium, therefore thrust the
sacrament into the mouths of those that die, and, if neglected, they
almost despair of the salvation of him that dieth. No ; it is viaticum
A SERMON ON THE ENDS OP THE SACRAMENT. 499
viventmm; it is our journey provision. Death is not a journey, but
the end of a journey ; it is a passage in a moment, a cessation from our
journey in this world, which jieedeth no viaticum. It is a going out
of the world, like the putting out of a lamp, in a moment. As a lamp
needeth no oil to be extinguished, but to burn, we need this for our
journey going through the world, but not at our departure out of tha
world. In that moment that our body dieth, the soul it is in the hand
of God.
END OF VOLUME XV,
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