i
THE
WORKS OF THOMAS I ANTON, D.D.
VOL. XVIL
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.
General
REV. THOMAS SMITH, D.D., EDINBURGH
THE COMPLETE WORKS
OF
THOMAS MANTON, D.D.
VOLUME XVIL
CONTAINING
SERMONS ON SEVERAL TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE.
LONDON:
JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BEENEBS STREET.
1874.
PRINTED BY BAI.LANTYNH AND COMPANY
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
CONTENTS.
SERMONS ON SEVERAL TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE, PART I. Continued.
SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27 Continued.
Sermon VIII. " And take up the cross," &c., . . 3
IX. " And he was sad at that saying," &c., . 13
X. " And Jesus looked round about," &c., . 24
XL "And the disciples were astonished at his
words," &c., . . .36
XIL " It is easier for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle," &c., .... 48
Xm. " And they were astonished out of measure,"
&c., ..... 59
XIV. " And Jesus, looking upon them, saith," &c., . 72
XV. " With God all things are possible," . . 82
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS i. 3
Sermon I. " We are bound to thank God always," &c., . 95
II. " We are bound to thank God always," &c., . 105
III. "Your faith groweth exceedingly," &c., . 117
IV. " Your faith groweth exceedingly," &c., . 126
V. " Your faith groweth exceedingly," &c., . 135
SERMON UPON MATTHEW viii. 5-10, . . . . 146
SERMON UPON MATTHEW xv. 21-28, . . . .155
SERMON UPON JOHN viii. 56, . . . . .167
SERMON UPON ROMANS iv. 18-21, . . . . .179
Vi CONTENTS.
PAGE
SERMONS UPON MARK iii. 5
Sermon I. " And Jesus looked round about on them with
anger, being grieved for the hardness of
their hearts," . . . . 191
II. " And Jesus looked round about on them with
anger," &c., . . . .199
III. " And Jesus looked round about on them with
anger," &c., . . . .209
SERMONS UPON EXODUS iv. 21
Sermon I. " I will harden his heart, that he shall not let
my people go," &c., . . .221
II. " I will harden his heart," &c., . . .231
SERMON UPON GENESIS iii. 15, . . . . 241
SERMONS UPON GENESIS xxiv. 63
Sermon I. " And Isaac went out to meditate in the field
at the eventide," . . . .263
II. " And Isaac went out to meditate," <fec., . 274
III. " And Isaac went out to meditate," &c., . 281
IV. " And Isaac went out to meditate," &c., . 288
V. " And Isaac went out to meditate," &c., . 298
VI. " And Isaac went out to meditate," &c., . 306
VII. "And Isaac went out to meditate," &c., . 314
VIII. " And Isaac went out to meditate," &c., . 323
IX. " And Isaac went out to meditate," &c., . 331
X. " And Isaac went out to meditate," &c., 339
SERMONS ON SEVERAL TEXTS or SCRIPTURE, PART II.
Epistle Dedicatory, ..... 351
SERMONS UPON LUKE xvi. 30, 31
Sermon I. " And he said, Nay, father Abraham : but if
one went unto them from the dead/ &c., . 353
II. " And he said, Nay, father Abraham," &c., . 363
>
SERMON UPON HEBREWS xiii. 20, 21, . . . . 373
SERMON PREACHED ON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING, . 383
CONTENTS. Vl i
PAQK
SERMON UPON LUKE xxii. 31, 32,. .... 395
SERMON UPON HEBREWS i. 9, . . . . . 407
SERMONS UPON ACTS xxiv. 14-16
Sermon I " Believing all things which are written in the
law and the prophets," &c., . . 419
II. " Believing all things which are written," &c., 428
SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH xiv. 20, 21, . . . 441
SERMON UPON JOHN iii. 14, 15, . . . . . 453
SERMONS UPON 1 THESSALONIANS v. 16
Sermon I. " Kejoice evermore," . . . . 469
II. " Kejoice evermore," .... 479
SERMON UPON 1 THESSALONIANS v. 17, . . 491
SERMONS
ON
SEVERAL TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE.
VOL. XVII.
SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27.
SEKMON VIII.
And take up the cross. MARK x. 21.
DOCT. 3. All those that follow Christ should prepare their shoulders
for the cross.
Here I shall show (l.)What it is to take up the cross ; (2.) The
reasons why they must so do.
I. What it is to take up the cross.
1. Negatively.
[1.] Not to devise a voluntary affliction to ourselves ; as Baal s
priests gashed themselves : 1 Kings xviii. 28, They cried aloud, and
cut themselves after their manner with knives and lances, till their
blood gushed out upon them ; and the pharisees had their self-dis
ciplines. Christ is a lover of human nature, and he hath put no such
severe penance upon us. This is to make the cross, not to take it up.
Origen, that was too allegorical in plain texts, was too literal when he
castrated himself upon that text, Mat. xix. 12, There be eunuchs
which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven s sake/
Christ only intended power over our natural affections.
[2.] Not to draw sufferings upon ourselves by our own rashness and
folly : James i. 2, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into
divers temptations/ He saith, when ye fall into them/ not when ye
draw them upon yourself. It was Tertullian s error to say that afflic
tions are to be sought and desired. Man is never satisfied with his
present condition ; sometimes we question God s love when we have
no afflictions, and anon when we have nothing but afflictions. In all
these things we must refer ourselves to God s pleasure, not desire
troubles, but bear them and improve them when he layeth them on us.
Christ hath taught us to pray, Lead us not into temptation ; it is but
a fond presumption to cast ourselves upon it. Philastrius and Theodoret
speak of some that would compel men to kill them out of an affectation
of martyrdom ; this was a mad ambition, not a true zeal. And no less
fond are they that seek out crosses and troubles rather than wait for
them, or by their own violence and miscarriage draw a just hatred upon
themselves. Christ would not that for his sake we should run head-
4 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SEIl. VIII.
long into dangers, and without necessity ; there is a medium between
faintness and rashness. Christ himself did not take up the cross till
it was laid upon him. If a man set fire to his own house, he is liable
to the law ; if it be fired by accident he is pitied and relieved. There
fore we are not to seek the cross, or make it, but bear it, and take it
up ; not to fill the cup ourselves, but to drink it off when God puts it
into our hands to take it up ; when we cannot avoid it without sin. or
a breach upon our consciences, we are not to shift then, or avoid it by
unlawful means.
2. Positively. To bear it patiently and willingly when we cannot
avoid it without sin. When we are brought into a necessity of either
suffering or sinning, in such cases there must be a cheerful, free,
voluntary submission of ourselves to surfer the whole will of God.
To take up the cross implieth (1.) Faithfulness and integrity without
shifting ; (2.) Patience and submission without murmuring ; (3.) Joy
and cheerfulness without fainting.
[1.] Faithfulness and integrity without shifting. Many distinguish
themselves out of their duty, and when God calleth them to suffering
put a fallacy upon their souls : Gal. vi. 12, * As many as desire to make
a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest
they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. They cannot
live without honour, and ease, and plenty, and therefore turn and wind
themselves to shift the cross. Our Lord Jesus offered himself: Ps.
xl. 7, 8, Then said I, Lo, I come ; in the volume of the book it is
written of me, I delight to do thy will, my God, yea, thy law is within
my heart. So should we resign ourselves when the will of God is so,
and give up the comforts of our lives when we can hold them no longer,
and be glad we have something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ.
The apostle speaks of some who are enemies of the cross of Christ,
whose god is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who mind
earthly things/ Phil. iii. 18, 19. Hultum interest inter tlieologum
glorice et theologum crucis. Men that have no love to God, but only
serve their fleshly appetites, and look no higher than riches, and
honours, and pleasures, and applause, will never be faithful to Christ.
There are a sort of men that study to save themselves, not from sin, but
from danger, and accordingly accommodate themselves to every interest.
As the men of Keilah dealt with David, they entertained him for a
while, but when Saul pursued him, they resolved to betray him, they
would come into no danger and trouble for him ; so they deal with
religion.
[2.] Patience and submission without murmuring. We show our
obedience to God in suffering his will, as well as doing his will. He
is sovereign in his acts of providence as well as in. his laws. And this
we must do without murmuring or repining against God, as if he did
us wrong, or did deal hardly with us : Isa. xxx. 15, In quietness and
confidence shall be your strength ; that is, in faith and patience,
humbly submitting to God s will, and depending on his favour and
gracious protection. There must be a submissive attendance upon
God: Ps. Ixii. 1, Truly my soul waiteth upon God; from him cometh my
salvation ; Ps. xxxix. 9, I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because
thou didst it; not uttering impatient words; God s will silenceth all.
VER. 21.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 5
[3.] Cheerful behaviour under the cross : Kom. v. 3, And not only
so, but we glory in tribulation also ; James i, 2, My brethren, count
it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. Afflictions to God s
people do not only minister occasion of patience, but great joy : 2 Cor.
vii. 4, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation, virepTrept ao-evofMai
TTJ %apa ; I overflow with joy. A dejected spirit doth not behave
itself answerably to its principles, privileges, and hopes. Are you at
peace with God, and have you communion with him at every turn ?
And have you hopes of glory, and are you so troubled when you are a
little cut short in your temporal comforts ? A Christian should be at
an indifferency, to rejoice as if he rejoiced not, and mourn as if he
mourned not. Dejection of spirit argueth too great addictedness to
worldly comforts, and love of ease and flesh-pleasing, and ingratitude
for all the spiritual good we have received. Shall God lay in such
great comforts, and after such great receivings do you take it ill to be
put to a little expense ? Job xv. 11, Are the consolations of God
small with thee ? If you had a due sense of the world to come, you
would be glad to keep your conscience, though you lose your coat : Heb.
x. 34, Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your
selves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance, Kom.
viii. 18, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Do you look for a glory to be revealed in you ? Then look upon all
the sufferings of this life as a feather put into the scales against a talent.
We are to have a sense of our condition, yet in regard of the honour
done to us to bear a part of Christ s cross, and in regard of the com
fort and happiness provided for us we should be cheerful, that it may
not be known to be an unwilling patience, and extorted by force.
There is one expression more : Luke ix. 23, Let him take up his cross
daily. How daily ? There are fair days as well as foul days, and the
face of heaven doth not always look sad and lowering. How then are
we to take up the cross daily ? I answer
(1.) It notes a daily expectation of it ; the first day that we begin to
be Christians, we must reckon on the cross : Mat. xvi. 24, If any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me. These words are the Christian s indenture, and every one
must seal to this before he can call Christ master. As porters stand in
u street waiting for a burden for them to carry, so must a Christian be
ready and prepared to meet with any hardship which God may lay out
for him in his Christian course ; or as the Israelites ate the first pass-
over with their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staff
in their hand, Exod. xii. 11. as ready for a journey, so should a
Christian be ready to go forth at God s call : Acts xxi. 13, eToi /io?,
e%&), I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for
the name of the Lord Jesus. Evils familiarised are less burdensome;
by renewing our daily resolution the evil is the less when it cometh.
(2.) The frequency of our conflicts, as if every day there were some
exercise for our faith and patience. We are not to prescribe to God
how long or how much affliction he shall exercise us with. No; though
it were all the days of our lives, we must be content ; it is but a
moment to eternity. We must take up our cross as often as it lieth in
6 SEUMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. VIII.
our way, and we cannot baulk it without sin : Gen. xlvii. 9, Few and
evil have the days of the years of my life been. Man is born to
trouble. The world is a valley of tears, not the mount of the Lord,
where is fulness of joy, If there were no cross, we should not be in
tune and consort with the rest of the world, for here all the creatures
are a-groaning.
(3.) The word daily showeth that private and personal calamities
are a part of the cross, as well as the afflictions of the gospel, and for
the profession of the name of Christ. Afflictions are either for God or
from God. Sickness and death of friends and loss of estate by an
immediate providence are a part of our cross. There is an enduring
persecution for the name of Christ, and an enduring affliction at the
will of Christ. Ordinary crosses do not exclude the comforts of Chris
tianity ; these occasion experience of God and trial of grace, and are a
part of God s discipline for the mortifying of sin, and are happy oppor-
i unities to discover more of God and of grace to us. Yea, there is
more reason for -submission in these, because God taketh us into his
own hands. A man that stormeth when a bucket of water is cast
upon him, is patient when he is wet with the rain that cometh from
heaven.
II. The reasons why those that follow Christ should prepare their
shoulders for the cross.
1. That we may be conformed to our head. He had a bitter cup
tempered for him by his Father s hand: John xviii. 11, The cup that
my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it ? and we must pledge,
him. Jesus Christ was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,
Isa. liii. 3, and there would be a strange disproportion between head
and members if we should altogether live in delicacy, ease, and plea
sures. The bitter cup goeth by course and round, first to Christ, then
10 his apostles, and it goeth from hand to hand ever since. The
apostle speaks of va-Tep^ara rcov OKi^ewv ^eicrrov, Col. i. 24, that
which is behind of the afflictions of Christ/ There is Christ personal
and Christ mystical. Christ personal, as he is complete in himself, so
his sufferings are complete ; but the sufferings of Christ mystical are
not perfect until every member have their own alloted share and por
tion. Indeed our sufferings are but the drops upon the brim of the cup ;
he drank up the dregs. The great wave of affliction did first beat
upon him, and being thereby broken, some small sprinklings of it do
light upon us ; we bear the hinder part of the cross of Christ. It is
but reason that those that will partake with Christ in his kingdom
should be partakers with him in his sorrows, and thaj; the soldiers
should follow the captain of their salvation, Heb. ii. 10, and fare as
lie fared: John xv. 20, Kemember the word that I said unto you,
The servant is not greater than the Lord ; if they have persecuted me,
they will also persecute you/ We cannot in reason expect better
entertainment than he found in the world. If you had an high esteem
of Christ, and a low esteem of yourselves, you would easily consent to
submit to the will of God herein. It is an unseemly daintiness to be
nice and tender of carrying the cross after Jesus Christ, as if we were
better than he. Many Christians will seem to express much devotion
to a crucifix, or those chips of wood which importers cry up for pieces
VER. 21.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 7
of the cross of Christ ; but here is true respect to the cross of Christ,
to be willing for Christ s sake to bear afflictions with patience and
humble submission. The apostle counted all things but dross and
dung: Phil. iii. 10, That I may know him, and the power of his resur
rection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable
to his death. There is a great deal of sweetness and spiritual comfort
in suffering after, for, and with Christ; we should count all things
dung and dross to gain this experience. This should be comfort
enough to a gracious heart, that thereby he is made more like his Lord
and master.
2. Because of the world s hatred: John xv. 19, If ye were of the
world, the world would love its own ; but because ye are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world
hateth you. A thorough Christian will be sure to meet with opposi
tion. We are told, 2 Tim. iii. 12, Yea, and all that will live godly
in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. If a man will be lukewarm,
not caring how things go, he may find friendship with the world ; but
he that hath any zeal and conscience, and would be faithful, the world
will hate him as an object reviving guilt : 1 John iii. 12, Not as Cain,
who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother ; and wherefore slew
he him ? because his own works were evil, and his brother s righteous.
The spiritual and carnal seed cannot agree ; Gal. iv. 29, For as then
he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the
spirit, so it is now.
3. It is needful, in order to our following Christ, that our pride and
carnal affections should be broken by the cross : 1 Peter i. 6, Now for
a season (if need be) ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.
There is a need of the cross to reclaim us from our wanderings, to cut
off the provisions and fuel of our lusts, to make us mindful of heavenly
things, and that we may retreat to our great privileges, and to humble
us for sin, to stir us up to prayer, and to wean us from the world.
Tribulatio tarn nobis necessaria est quam ipsa vita, immo magis
necessaria, et multo utilior quam iotius mundi opes et dignitates
Affliction is as necessary to us as life itself, yea, more necessary and
profitable than all the wealth and honours of the world ; and therefore,
being so necessary and profitable for us, we should be willing to take
up the cross.
Use 1. Is of information. It informeth us
1. With what thoughts we should take up the stricter profession of
Christianity, namely, with expectations of the cross. We cannot but
expect great inconveniences and troubles in Christ s service, therefore
let us not flatter ourselves^ Many think they may be good Christians,
and yet live a life of ease and peace, free from troubles and afflictions ;
this is all one as if a soldier, going to the wars, should promise himself
peace and continual truce with the enemy, or as if a mariner, committing
himself to the sea for a long voyage, should promise himself nothing
but fair weather and a calm season, without waves and storms ; so
irrational it is for a Christian to promise himself a life of ease and rest
here upon earth.
2. That a Christian had need be a mortified and resolute man.
[1.] A mortified weaned man : That which is lame is soon turned
8 SERMONS UPON MAEK X. 17-27. [SER. VIII.
out of the way, Heb. xii. 13. If we have any weak part in our souls,
there the assault will be most strong and fierce. A garrison that
looketh to be besieged takes care to fortify the weak places, and where
there is any suspicion of entrance ; so should a Christian mortify every
corrupt inclination lest it betray him, be it love of honour, pleasure, or
profit.
[2.] He had need be a resolved man : His feet shod with the pre
paration of the gospel of peace/ Eph. vi. 15 ; or else in hard ways he
will soon founder and halt. That eroi^aaia, that preparation is a
resolved mind to go through thick and thin, and to follow Christ in all
conditions. Well, then, it is no easy matter to be a Christian indeed.
Nature in the general is against bearing the cross. Christ himself,
his human nature recoiled and shunned it without sin ; and to us it is
more grievous to suffer : Heb. xii. 11, No affliction for the present
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. And besides, lusts ,if they be not
purged out, will tempt us to stumble, and we need to be armed with
great resolution, or else after we have launched out into the deep with
Christ, we shall be ready to run ashore again. Now most Christians
are not mortified, and so they trip up their own heels. Most Christians
are not resolute, and do but take up religion as a walk for recreation,
not as a journey, so as to be prepared for all weathers.
[3.] What fools they are that take up religion upon a carnal design
of ease and plenty in the world : they quite mistake it. There are in
conveniences that attend religion in peaceable times, but the profes
sion will afterwards engage us in the greater troubles ; and therefore
men do but make way for the shame of a change, and other incon
veniences to themselves, that hope for temporal commodity by the pro
fession of the gospel. The great drift of the gospel is to draw us off
from the comfort of this world to the concernments of a better, and
to bring us to follow a naked Christ upon unseen encouragements;
therefore they that have temporal things in their eye quite change the
nature of the gospel, and make Christ another Christ.
[4.] That the course which Christ taketh to draw in proselytes is
quite different from that of Satan and the world. Satan showeth us
the bait and hideth the hook, but Christ telleth us the worst at first.
The world useth to invite followers with promises of honours and
riches, and Christ telleth us not of the crown, but the cross. Why so?
Partly to discourage hypocrites, who will come and cheapen and taste,
but will not buy. Christ will not deceive them, but have them count
the charges. Partly to forearm his people, that they account afflictions
will come, and prepare accordingly. We entered upon the ways of
godliness on these terms, to be willing to suffer afflictions when the
Lord seeth fit, and therefore we should arm ourselves with a mind to
endure them, whether they come or no. God never intended Isaac
should be sacrificed, yet he will have Abraham lay the knife to his
throat. Partly because sorrows foreseen leave not so sad an impression
upon the spirit, the evil is more familiarised before it corneth : Job iii.
25, For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that
which I was afraid of is come unto me. When we suffer our fears to
prophesy, and do expect evils, they smart less ; prcecogitati mali mollis
ictus ; but when they come unlooked-for, it is the more burdensome.
VER. 21.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 9
He saith his lesson best that often conned it over. Partly because it
allayeth the offence when we see nothing befalleth us but what we were
warned of beforehand : John xvi. 1, These things have I spoken to
you, that you should not be offended ; and ver. 4, But these things
have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember
that I told you of them. The scripture speaketh nothing at random ;
we pretend to believe them when they are read, and yet we complain
when they are fulfilled. For all these reasons it is necessary that those
that will be Christ s disciples must be forewarned in peaceable times
of approaching troubles, and the rather because we are so apt still to
promise great things to ourselves.
Use 2. Is of reproof of several sorts,
1. Of those that suffer per force, by compulsion and constraint, not
willingly. It is not enough to bear the cross, but we must take it.
It is said of the three children, that they yielded their bodies that
they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God/ Dan.
iii, 28 ; that is, they cheerfully suffered themselves to be cast into the
furnace, rather than worship any but the true God. Many suffer, but
it is unwillingly and against stomach, with repining and impatience
under the hand of God, like refractory oxen, that draw back, and are
loath to submit their necks to the yoke, especially such as have not
been acquainted with sufferings. Patience per force is no true patience,
little better than the patience of the devils and damned in hell, who
suffer misery and torment against their wills, being forced to it. Kebel-
lion and want of subjection is the very curse of crosses ; it maketh the
burden heavier than otherwise it would be, and causeth God to redouble
his strokes, as a stubborn child under the rod hath the more blows.
2. Those that murmur not against the cross in general, but such a
cross ; if it were any other they could bear it. Christ saith, Take up
the cross, indefinitely, whatever God is pleased to lay on us ; we must
not be our own carvers, but stand to God s allowance. The patient is
not to choose his own physic ; God knows what is best for us. Men
under their troubles wish that God would afflict them in another kind,
lay any trouble upon them rather than that which is laid, and think
they could bear it better. The poor man wishes any other cross but
poverty, the sick man he could bear poverty better than the pain of
sickness. He that hath a long and lingering sickness wisheth for a
sharp fit so it might be short ; and, on the contrary, another feeling a
sharp and violent sickness, could wish for a longer, so it were less
painful. Thus we are apt to dislike our cross, which God layeth on us
for the present. But this is disobedience to God and folly too, for if
God should leave us to ourselves to choose our own crosses, we should
choose worse for ourselves than the Lord doth, that affliction which is
hurtful and dangerous for us. The Lord knows what is best for us and
in what vein to strike us.
3. Those that desert their duty and their station, as being discouraged
by the cross ; these are more culpable than the former : Ps. cxxv. 5,
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead
them forth with the workers of iniquity/ He had been speaking of
the rod of the wicked resting on the lot of the righteous, ver. 3 ; and
therefore by them that turn aside he meaneth such as dare not trust
10 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27, [&ER. VIII.
God, nor adhere to the comfort of the promises ; these are in the same
rank with open enemies : Eev. xxi. 8, The fearful and unbelieving
are joined together.
4. Those that seek to make their worldly advantage and the profes
sion of the gospel agree further than they ever will ; and when they
cannot frame the world and their conveniences to the gospel, they will
fashion a gospel to the world and their carnal courses in it. It is a
pity such had not been of the Lord s counsel, when he first contrived
and preached the gospel, that they might have helped him to some
discreet and mild course, that would have served the turn for heaven
and earth; but do what ye can, the way is narrow that leadeth to
life, Mat. vii. 14 ; Take my yoke upon you, &c., and ye shall find rest
unto your souls/ Mat. xi. 29.
5. Those that suffer, but it is for their evil-doing ; these take not
up the cross of Christ, but the cross of the thieves. Or if a man put
himself upon needless danger, he taketh not up Christ s cross, but his
own, and so hath his amends in his own hands. Afflictions so coming
may be sanctified by repentance, good in their use, though not in their
cause. When- we suffer for our faults, we ought to bear it patiently,
but we cannot suffer so cheerfully : 1 Peter iv. 15, But let none of
you surfer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busy
body in other men s matters/
Use 3. To press us to take up the cross, and to take heed of grudging
and heartless discouragement. Now, that you may so take up the cross,
see the hand and counsel of God in it. So it was as to Christ s cross :
Acts ii. 23, * Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and fore
knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified
and slain ; John xviii. 11, The cup which my Father hath gi^en me/
&c. ; and so as to the Christian s cross : 1 Thes. iii. 3, That no man
should be moved by these afflictions, for yourselves know that we are
appointed thereunto/ All things must obey God s appointment, and
every one must yield up himself to the disposal of God. And we have
Christ s example, who took up his cross for us, and doth not call us
but to walk in such ways as he hath trodden before us : 1 Peter ii. 21,
1 For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps/ He hath paved
the way with the blessing of his example, whatever the cross be. Are
we banished our country ? Our Lord Jesus was a stranger upon earth,
and when he was in the cradle he was carried into Egypt. Are you
poor ? You cannot be poorer than Christ, who had not where to rest
his head. Are you constrained to hard fare ? He thought a draught
of water a courtesy : John iv. 7, Jesus saith unto her, Give me to
drink ; and on the cross they gave him vinegar to drink when he was
athirst. . Christ preached in a boat in the midst of the waves. Do but
read the history of Christ s life, and the hardship he endured, and will
you be scandalised at a little suffering ? Are you reproached ? Christ
himself was called a devil, accused of blasphemy and sedition, and you
must not think to be better used than he was. Quum Christus ipse
ct ucem et supplicia passus sit tantum illis pretii accessit, ut nemo istis
dignus sit, saith Luther Since Christ hath endured the cross, there
hath such a value and honour accrued to it thereby, that no man
VER. 21.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 11
is worthy to have this honour put upon him. We bear it together
with Christ : Bom. viii. 26, The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities,
a-wavTLkaupdveTai, ; 1 Cor. x. 13, He will Avith the temptation also
make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Such a
master may well expect cheerful servants. He will give us peace and
comfort in all our sufferings : John xvi. 33, These things I have
spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace : in the world ye
shall have tribulation ; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the
world ; 2 Cor. i. 5, For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so
our consolation also aboundeth by Christ/ Jacob, when he slept, and
had a heap of stones for his pillow, had then the visions of God ; and
usually when we are taken off from the comforts of the world, then we
have the clearest manifestations of the love of God : Eom. v. 5, The
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is
given unto us. It is an honour for us to suffer with Christ and for
Christ : Phil. i. 29, For unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not
only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. And all this,
how bitter soever it be for the present, will end well : Acts xiv. 22,
We must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom of God.
After this howling wilderness there will be a Canaan. We have had
our times of good, and is it nothing to pass over so much of our time
in peace and comfort ? Job ii. 10, Shall we receive good at the
hands of God, and shall we not receive evil ?
Use 4. If all that enter themselves disciples of Christ must prepare
for the cross, then are we indeed prepared for it ? You will think all
this needeth not in times of peace, when religion is under the covert
and protection of the laws, and we are not called to the afflictions of
the gospel, yet certainly such questions as these are not to be entertained
coldly and carelessly. Have you prepared your shoulders for the cross
of Christ ? It is necessary to put it to you
1. Because of private crosses, which are incident to all, such as loss
of goods and relations, pains of body, sickness, reproach, contempt, and
the like. There is none get out of the world without some exercises :
1 Peter v. 9, Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in
your brethren that are in the world ; Heb. vi. 12, * That ye be not
slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit
the promises. All the heirs of salvation have their conflicts before
they come to enjoy their hopes. The earth is a middle place between
heaven and hell, and partaker of both ; it is only evil that is in hell
and only good that is in heaven ; but here our state is mixed, our
afflictions are tempered with some comforts, and our comforts seasoned
with some afflictions. Earth must be earth, and heaven must be heaven ;
here we must expect our trials : Job ii. 10, Shall we receive good at
the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil ? therefore we
need to be provided ; there is good that need to be tried, and bad that
need to be purged out.
2. Because we should be always ready to encounter the greatest
difficulties. Though we do not always lie under tribulations and per
secutions, yet we should be always prepared, prceparatione animi, as
Joseph prepared for the years of scarcity in the years of plenty. The
wise virgins had not only oil in their lamps, but oil in their vessels ;
12 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. VIII.
we should not only have grace for present use, but against future temp
tations. Now have you indeed this preparation of heart ? And because
a man may crack and vaunt it before the temptation cbmeth, let us
consider who hath this preparation of heart, so as cheerfully, willingly,
and patiently to bear the cross, and who hath it not.
[1.] He that is not strict and holy in a time of peace will not be
cheerful in a time of trouble : Acts ix. 31, Then had the churches
rest, &c. ; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of
the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. When we are not called to passive
obedience and suffering, our active obedience should be more cheerfully
performed. Now where is it so ? Our fathers suffered more willingly
for Christ than we speak for him ; they were not ashamed to die for a
crucified Jesus, they endured the fire better than we can a frown or
scoff.
[2.] He that is not mortified to the world, but loveth a flesh-pleasing
life, is but ripening himself for apostasy : James v. 5, Ye adulterers
and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity
with God ? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the
enemy of God. A fond and delicate person, that hath a value for
worldly contentments, will be grieved when he cometh to part with
them ; he that is corrupted with prosperity, will be dejected with adver
sity ; but no man is prepared but he that is crucified to the world by
the cross of Christ, that liveth in a holy weanedness in the midst of
his present enjoyments : Gal. vi. 14, But God forbid that I should
glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world
is crucified to me, and I unto the world.
[3.] He that is not abounding in charity, and willing to part with
temporal things in a way of free distribution, will be loath to part with
them by constraint, and by way of sacrifice and voluntary surrender to
God, when he calls for them. I offer this, because the churches that
were free from persecution are still charged with the duty of charity ;
and it is a general precept, Gal. vi. 10, As we have therefore oppor
tunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of
the household of faith; because he that will not part with his super
fluities willingly to God, will never part with his substance and the
main of his estate with rejoicing, when it is made a prey to the violence
of men. It is irrational to think that he that grudgeth at a command
that requires him to part only with a little of his temporal conveni
ences, will not storm at the violence when all is taken away : James
v. 1, Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that
shall come upon you/ There are their howling times, when that
wealth which they sat abrood upon is taken away in an instant.
[4.] He that cannot digest lighter afflictions, how will he bear
greater? Jer. xii. 5, If thou hast run with the footmen, and they
have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses ? and if
in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then
how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan ? The prophet was all
in a pet because the men of his town and neighbourhood had conspired
against him, and were very troublesome to him. God tells him, If thou
canst not bear this, how wilt thou do when thou art exposed to greater
trials ? There are private persecutions, therefore father and mother
VER. 22.] SEUMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 13
are put into the catalogue of things to be renounced by us when we
take to Christ : Luke xiv. 26, 4 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. If a frown and
disgrace, and loss of preferment, be so much, how will you endure
rapine, and torture, and all manner of violence and evil ?
[5.] He that begrudgeth a little pains for God, and counts it so
tedious to converse with him a little while in duties of holiness, and
reckons all labour too much, and is loath to strive to enter in at the
strait gate, Luke xiii. 24, how will he endure torments, and expose the
body to all kind of sufferings ? Necesse est, ut ei honestum vile sit, cui
corpus carum est He that is so tender of his ease, so delicate that
he cannot endure the labours of the gospel, how will he bear the afflic
tions of the gospel ? If it be irksome to put the body to a little trouble
in prayer or meditating, or other holy duties, how will he rejoice in the
midst of all tribulations that shall befall him for Christ s sake ? Thus
you see how few are prepared for the cross.
SERMON IX.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great
possessions. MARK x. 22.
WE have hitherto seen the young man at his best ; now we shall find
him discovered and laid open in his own colours. It was well that he
came to Christ with such reverence and seriousness about such a
weighty question as What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ?
It was well if he could say truly, All these have I kept from my youth.
But now, here is the event and issue of this interlocutory discourse
between him and Christ ; when Christ bid him Sell all, and take up
his cross, and follow him, then he went away sad, &c.
Here observe
1. How he was affected with Christ s advice, He was sad at the
saying, and went away grieved.
2. The reason of his sorrow, or why he was thus affected, For he
had great possessions.
In the first part we may observe
[1.] The kind of the affection ; he was not angry, but sorry ; he doth
not fret and fume, but goes away sorrowful.
[2.] Observe the degree of it ; it is expressed here by two things a
sad heart, and a heavy countenance. The sadness of his countenance
I gather from the word arvyvda-as evrl rw \6yy, He was sad at that
saying. The word properly signifies he lowered at that saying ; the
lowering of the heavens is expressed by that word, So the sky was red
and lowering, Mat. xvi. 3, Trvppd^t yap arvyvd^wv 6 ovpavos. Then the
sadness of his heart, a7rij\6ij \v7rovpevos, He went away grieved. la
Luke xviii. 23, it is TreptXvTros eyevero, < He was very sorrowful. Note,
14 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. IX.
that he went away, and we hear no more of him ; like those, John vi.
66, At that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no
more with him.
Secondly, here is the reason of this, For he had great possessions.
In Luke it is said rjv ^ap irXova-ios cr<p68pa, He was very rich ; he had
both Knjpara possessions, and ^p^ara, riches too, as appears by the
next verse. And observe, that the bare having is rendered as the
reason, He had great possessions/ and therefore he went away sad. It
is hard to have them without lustful affections to them. It may be, if
he had so little as the poor fishermen, or the other disciples whom
Christ called, he would sooner have left all and followed Christ ; but
having so much to lose, it was the more difficult for him to forsake
all : He went away, for he had great possessions.
To give you a few brief points
1. That a man may go very far, and be zealous and forward at first,
yet afterwards cool and fall away.
2. That trials bring men forth to the light, and make them manifest
what they are.
3. A man wedded to the world will renounce Christ and his com
mands rather than the world whenever it comes to a proof.
4. A carnal worldly man may be very sorrowful when he cannot have
heaven in his own way.
5. The disease of worldlings is very incident to great men, and it is
a very hard matter to keep the heart of such open and free for Christ.
Doct. 1. That a man may go far, and be zealous and forward at first,
and yet cool and fall away at last.
Witness this young man, who comes to Christ to learn of him the
way of life, and that in such an humble and reverent manner, and
makes profession that he hath kept the commandments from his youth ;
and yet when Christ tells him what he must do more, he was troubled,
and falls off. So Judas walked with Christ for a while, but afterwards
proveth a traitor to him : John vi. 70, Have not I chosen you twelve,
and one of you is a devil ? When others were turning away from
Christ, and were offended at his doctrine, he continues in Christ s com
pany, and yet a devil for all that. Judas was not carried away with
the stream of the defection ; he kept the bag, and his temptation was
not yet come, yet his heart was not sound. So Herod heard John
gladly, and did many things, yet afterwards put him to death : Mark
vi. 20, Simon Magus, he believed, and when he was baptized, he con
tinued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs
which were done, Acts viii. 13. Here was faith and solemn profes
sion and fellowship with Philip, and this not feignedly, but out of a
sense and conviction of a power that accompanied his doctrine, and yet
afterwards he discovered that he was but in the gall of bitterness and
bond of iniquity, ver. 23. The reasons of this are
1. They take up religion upon foreign and extrinsic reasons, and when
those reasons fail, their religion faileth also. As puppets moved by the
wires to which they are fastened, so they are moved by credit and
esteem and countenance in the world ; they court religion while it hath
a portion for them. Thus we read of some that followed Christ for
the loaves : John vi. 26, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles,
VER. 22.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 15
but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled ; and ye rejoiced in
his light for a season, John v. 35. Curiosity and novelty made them
rejoice in his light for a while. Vix queritur Jesus, propter Jesum.
Eeligion is scarce received in the world for religion s sake. Now
foreign things, as they are accidental to religion, possunf abesse et adesse,
so must the respect built upon them be casual and accidental, and very
uncertain, even as those reasons vary. Men upon these foreign reasons
may be very zealous for a time, as interest will urge men more than
conscience ; and when it is their interest to follow or promote such
a way, they are vehement sticklers for it. Therefore the difference
between false and sincere professors is not altogether taken from their zeal
and outward diligence ; they may be exceeding zealous and forward
upon the impulsion of false principles who have a base heart lurk
ing under it, because the motions of lusts disguised with religion
are rapid and earnest, and byends have a powerful influence. Though
lust be served, yet because it is in the way of religion, men s affec
tions are much aloft, and they may seem to have great fits and zealous
pangs in the service of God, and yet all this comes to nothing.
2. Because they many times rest in externals without internal grace.
This young man for outward conformity went very far. There is no
thing for external duties that a child of God doth but a hypocrite may
do also ; he may pray, preach, confer, hear the word, though not in a
holy and gracious manner. A painter may paint the external colour of
fire, but not the internal virtue and heat of it, or the limbs, shape, figure,
and colour of a man, but the life cannot be painted, there is no counter
feiting that ; so many men deceive themselves and others by a show of
religion, and their diligence in external duties, when they are void of
the truth and power of it ; the power of religion cannot be counter
feited. Now externals will in time be cast off, where there is not the
root to feed them.
3. Because that internal affection which they seem to have to the
ways of God is not rooted and fixed, only a slight tincture, that may
easily be worn off : Luke viii. 13, They on the rock are they which,
when they hear, receive the word with joy, and these have no root which
for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. At first men
have some taste, and seem to feel some sweetness in the word, and that
begets a little affection to it, and that affection begets profession, and
that profession begets external reformation; so far it is good ; but in time
they lose their relish and taste, and then their affection is gone and
dried up, and then their leaf falls, and afterwards run from their pro
fession into profaneness and a plain distaste of the ways of God.
4. Their corrupt lusts were only restrained, not mortified and
weakened, and so it is but like a sore that is skinned over, and festers
inwardly, and will at length break out again. This is the case of
many : Luke viii. 14, That which fell among thorns are they which,
when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches
and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Many an
unsound professor seems to cast the world and their old fashions behind
their back, yet their hearts are not wholly weaned from them, nor are
they wholly cast out ; some prevalent lust remains that will make them
turn back to their old vomit again ; so dangerous it is to have Satan
16 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. IX.
only gone out for a while, and not cast out, Luke xi. 24, to have any
thing wherein to delight besides Christ when we close with him, or to
have those things which we formerly seemed to slight to seem great
and lovely again, and bear bulk in our eyes. This point is but reductive
to this place, therefore I shall not handle it at large.
Use. It doth press us unto two things to search for a sound work,
and to watch against declinings.
1. To search for a true sound work. We have need to shift and
ransack all the corners of our souls, to see that there be no one reserved
lust as a seed of our revolt and apostasy from Christ. One leak let
alone will ruin the ship, so will one lust the soul : Ps. cxix. 133, Order
my steps in thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Whilst any one sin remains unbroken, all that we do in conformity
to God will be lost ; and therefore let us search and see, that our love
to the ways of God be founded in a complete resignation to his use and
service, and a renouncing of every fleshly interest, if we would constantly
persevere with Christ. Profession will fail unless there be a good and
an honest heart to bear it out ; and what is that but a resolution to
make this our great business and interest, to get the love of God in
Christ whatever it cost us ? It is not enough to have good offers and
inclinations ; one idol left in the heart will estrange us from God :
Ezek. xiv. 4-6, Every man of the house of Israel that settcth up his
idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity
before his face, and cometh to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him
that cometh according to the multitude of his idols ; that I may take
the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged
from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel,
Thus saith the Lord God, Eepent and turn yourselves from your idols,
and turn away your face from all your abominations/ And what is
prized besides Christ will be soon prized above Christ ; therefore,
unless the sweetness of his grace makes all the baits of the flesh
unsavoury to us, we cannot be sound.
2. To watch against declinings, for we lose ground every day, as a
thing running down the hill falls lower and lower, if we do not keep up
a constant relish and savour of good things. When you lose your
first love, you will leave your first works : Eev. ii. 4, 5, Nevertheless
I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Kemember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do
thy first works. We see it is very ordinary for new converts to be
carried on with a great measure of affection and zeal, because of the
newness of the thing, and the edge upon their affections is not yet
blunted by change of condition, or multiplicity of business, and the
Lord restrains furious temptations, till they be a little confirmed and
engaged in his way, and he has a deeper sense of comfort. Now take
heed to keep up this, for when this edge is blunted and taken off, a
man loses ground. Therefore the apostle saith, Heb. iii. 6, Whose
house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the
hope firm unto the end. Upon our first acquaintance vyith Christ
there is a mighty joy of heart, and comfort in the hopes of a pardon
and of eternal life. Oh ! you must keep up this to the end. If you
quite lose your savour, you run into total apostasy ; and if you lose it
YER. 22.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 17
in part, you grow remiss and lazy. If you have not such delight in
God, you can read and hear the offers of grace and eternal life without
any considerable joy and thankfulness, you have not that lively sense
you were wont to have ; take heed, you are upon decay.
Doct. 2. That trials bring men forth to the light, and make them
manifest what they are.
Here upon the trial the young man is discovered. Who would but
have thought this young man good till now ? But when he heard Christ s
terms, he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved/ As lime
seems cold, and to have no heat and warmth in it, till you pour water upon
it, then it burns and smokes, so our corrupt affections lie hid till there be
an occasion to try them. Trials are either extraordinary or ordinary.
Extraordinary, as that of Abraham : Gen. xxii. 1, And it came to pass
after these things that God did tempt Abraham ; that is, try him for
his discovery, by the command for sacrificing of his son, his only son,
the son whom he loved, the son of the promise. So this young man,
Christ tries him, sell all. But then God s ordinary trial is in the
course of his providence or by his word. By his providence, either by
affliction : Dan. xi. 35, And some of them of understanding shall fall,
to try them ; 1 Peter i. 7, That the trial of your faith, being much
more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,
might be found unto praise ; or some other occasion offered to dis-
oover either grace or sin, as Joseph was tried by the temptation of his
mistress. Or by his word, which doth search and try our hearts, when
it pursueth them within, and folio weth them home to their consciences :
John vi. 60, * When they heard this, they said, It is a hard saying,
who can hear it ? They are offended when it toucheth upon a bosom
sin, pride, sensuality, or covetousness, or unlawful pleasure, they are
tried by it.
Again, trial is either for the discovery of grace or corruption, to
discover the corruption of their hearts or the weakness of their graces.
So God trieth his people, as he tried Hezekiah : 2 Chron. xxxii. 31,
Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon,
who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land,
God left him to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
So Christ tried his apostles : John vi. 6, * And this he said to prove
them, for he himself knew what he would do.
Reasons.
1. It is for good that men should be discovered, the graces of his
people to their comfort, and their weakness that it may be repaired ;
as when a man tries a leaky vessel with an intent to make it more
stanch, and a man that is diseased, by walking and stirring the disease
appears ; it is better it should be discovered that it might be remedied,
than to lie hid in the body till it kill us. The hypocrite is tried that
he may be discovered : Prov. xxvi. 26, His wickedness shall be showed
before the whole congregation. It is a great part of God s providence
to uncase hypocrites. It is for the church s good, lest men get a name
to do religion a mischief; and
2. It is for the glory of God, that men may appear what they are,
and for the reclaiming of offenders. Many were likely to have grace,
if they were discovered to themselves and knew they had no grace.
VOL. xvir. B
/ 1
18 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. IX.
Trials are ordered by God for this end and purpose. God is wise, and
knows in what vein to strike. God tries not to inform himself, but
to discover us to ourselves : Ps. cxxxix. 2, Thou understandest my
thoughts afar off. God knows not only conclusions and events, but
the first contrivances, though afar off. As a man in the air may
see a river in the rise, fountain, and course all at once, so God doth
see things altogether, but he tries us, that we may be discovered to
ourselves, and suits the means accordingly.
Use. Well, then, expect trials, and see to it how you behave your
selves under them.
1. Expect trials. Mat. vii., we read of two builders, the one built
upon the sand, the other on the rock ; when they had built, the tight
ness of the building was to be tried ; the winds blew, the rain fell, the
waves did swell and arise ; that that was built on the rock stood, that
that was built on the sand fell. Whosoever buildeth a confidence for
heaven must look to have his building tried. Count it not strange
we are loath to forecasts and to think of trials. You shall see even
the people of God many times are subject to security when trials are
nearest. When the shepherd was to be smitten and the sheep scat
tered, then the disciples were asleep, Mat. xxvi. 40 ; and they were
dreaming of ease and of dividing kingdoms when the cross was at their
heels : Acts i. 6, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the king
dom to Israel ? We promise ourselves perpetual exemption, if we have
but a little breathing time : Ps. xxx. 6, In my prosperity I said I
shall never be moved. We take a carnal pillow, and lie down upon
it, and count it strange when it comes.
2. Be careful how you acquit yourselves in trials. When the hour
of temptation is come upon the earth, then we should be cautious :
Kev. iii, 10, Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also
will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all
the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Whatever a man
doth, he will behave himself well when he is upon his trial.
Doct. 3. That a man wedded to the world will renounce Christ and
his commands rather than the world when it comes to a proof.
When two persons walk together, you cannot tell to whom the
servant that follows them belongs, but when they part company then
it is seen ; so when Christ and the world part, then the servant of the
world and the servant of Christ is seen ; for he that is addicted to the
world will break all the commands of Christ for the world s sake. It
must needs be so, for the world diverts the heart from Christ, and sets
the heart against Christ.
1. The love of the world diverts the heart from Christ, that there is
no room for holy things. The heart will be where the treasure is,
Mat. vi. 21, and so the delight that we should have in heavenly things
will be intercepted, the stream will be carried another way, the heart
will be withdrawn from God, whom we should love with all our soul
and might. Look, as in a pair of balances, what you take out of one
scale, you make the other so much the more weighty ; just so our souls
hang like a pair of balances between God and the world ; what you
give to the world you take from God, and what you give to heavenly
things you take from the world : Col. iii. 7, Set your affections on
VER. 22.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 19
things above, not on things of the world. Our desires cannot be
carried out after heavenly things with any intention unless they be
remitted to the world.
2. The love of the world sets the heart against Christ, and carries
it to contrary things. I shall prove it by three considerations it dis-
poseth and inclineth the soul to all evil ; it incapacitateth us for the
doing of any good ; and it hinders us from the receiving any good.
[1.] It disposeth and inclineth the soul to all evil. It makes a man
break every command of the law of God : The love of money is the
root of all evil/ 1 Tim. vi. 10. Let it once reign in the heart, and
then a man sticks at no sin, and he becomes a ready prey for Satan
when his heart is intoxicated with the love of present things : Micah
ii. 2, Covet fields, and take them by violence, and houses, and take
them away ; so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his
heritage. First they covet, and then they will stop at nothing, but
break out into all that is unseemly. Let Judas but enchant his
thoughts with the pleasure of a supposed gain that he can make of
his master, and he will soon come with a Quid dabitis f What will
you give me ? Gehazai, let him but affect a reward, and he will dis
honour God and lay a stumbling-block in the way of a new and noble
convert. Let Achan s heart be tickled and pleased a little with the
sight of it, and he will be purloining the wedge of gold and Babylonish
garment. Let Balaam hear of gold and silver, and he will curse Israel
against his conscience, and venture though there be an angel in the
way to stop them. Ahab will consent to Naboth s blood when his
vineyard is in the chase. Ananias and Sapphira will keep back part
of what was dedicated to God, if they look upon what they part
withal. Simon Magus will deny religion, and return to his old sor
ceries, that he. may be some great one among the people. So that
there is no sin so foul but the love of the world will make it plausible,
and reconcile it to the thoughts of men.
[2.] It incapacitateth us, and makes us incapable of doing service to
God in our general and particular calling.
(1.) In our general calling.
(1st.) It destroys the principle of obedience, which is the love of God :
1 John ii. 15, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. The great principle which sways and inclines the heart to do
the will of God is love ; now the love of the world and the love of God
are contrary and inconsistent. Love anything besides Christ, and you
will soon love it above Christ. Why ? Because the love of God is a
stranger and foreigner, the love of the world is a native.
(2d) It is contrary to the matter of our obedience. The commands
of God and the commands of mammon are contrary : Mat. vi. 24, No
man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the
other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon. God saith, Pity the afflicted, relieve the
miserable, venture all for a good conscience, seek heaven in the first
place with your most ardent affection, with your most earnest diligence.
But now mammon saith, Be sparing of your substance, follow the
world as hard as you can, stick at nothing, lie, steal, comply with the
lusts of men, and then you shall be rich. Well, now, he that is ruled
20 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [&ER. IX.
by mammon, whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded, that is,
enchanted with the love of worldly goods, he can never serve God ;
he loves wealth above all, he trusts it above all, he serves it more
than God himself ; though his tongue dare not say earth is better than
heaven, and that the things of this life are better than everlasting
blessedness, and therefore they shall have more of his heart and care,
yet his life says it ; he can part with God for the matters of this world.
In short, it unfits us not only for one duty, but for all duties required
of us. God s laws are for our respects to God, neighbour, and self; this
inordinate love of the world denies what is due to God, what is neces
sary for our neighbour, and what is comfortable for ourselves. A man
that loves the world is unthankful to God, unmerciful to his neighbour,
and cruel to himself.
(3c.) It slights the encouragements of obedience, which are the
rewards of God, as it weakeneth all our future hopes, and depresseth
our heart from looking after spiritual and heavenly things. They de
spise their birthright, Heb. xii. 16, and when they are invited to the
wedding, Mat. xxii., they prefer their farm, oxen, and merchandise,
before the rich feast of grace which God invites us to.
(2.) He that loves the world will break with God in the duties of
his particular calling for the world s sake. What manner of men
ought magistrates to be ? Exod. xviii. 21, Such as fear God, men of
truth, hating covetousness ; not only not covetous, but hating covet-
ousness ; for let this once possess his heart, it will make him base, and
act unworthily ; nay, for a piece of bread will that man transgress.
Then for a minister, what a poor meal-mouthed creature will it make
him ! One qualification of a minister is, 1 Tim. iii. 3, Not to be greedy
of filthy lucre. If his heart be set upon that, it makes him sordid,
low-spirited, flattering and daubing to curry favour with men, more
intent upon his gain and profit than the saving of souls. See the work
of a minister : 1 Peter v. 2, Feed the flock of God that is among you,
taking the oversight thereof, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready
mind. What a low flat ministry will that be that is inspired with no
other aim but outward profit ! If that be their inducement to under
take, and their prime encouragement to discharge the work of their
calling, how soon will they strain themselves to please men, especially
great ones, and writhe themselves into all postures to soothe the humours
and lusts of others ; as Balaam : 2 Peter ii. 15, Who loved the wages
of unrighteousness, and therefore would fain curse the people whom
God blessed. This base, powerful, imperious lust will draw men to
very base and unworthy actions. Saith God, Ezek. xiii. 19, Will ye
pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread,
to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls of people
alive that should not live by your lying to my people that hear your
lies. That is to say, What ! will you declaim against the good, and
harden the evil in their evil, and comply with the fashions of the world
thus to humour men ? So if a man be a master of a family : Prov. xv.
27, He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house. What a
burden and trouble will he be to his servants and all about him ! In
short, it is love of the world that makes one an oppressing landlord,
another a false tradesman and an ill neighbour, that makes him study
VER. 22.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27, 21
iniquity of traffic : Ezek. xxviii. 5, By thy great wisdom, and by thy
traffic hast thou increased thy riches. So that it is the pest and bane
of human societies.
[3.] It hinders the receiving of good, and those means of reformation
that should make us better. A man that is under the power of worldly
lasts is prejudiced against whatever shall be spoken for God, and for
the concernments of another world : Luke xvi. 14, The pharisees also,
who were covetous, heard all these things, and derided him. If the
word stir us a little, and men begin to have some anxious thoughts
about eternal life, these thorns, which are the cares of this world, will
choke the good seed, and stifle our convictions, so as they come to
nothing : Mat. xiii. 22, He also that receiveth seed among the thorns
is he that heareth the word, and the cares of this world and the deceit-
fulness of riches choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. They
will distract the head with cares, and put out all thoughts of our
eternal condition. If a man begins to do some outward thing, it will
make us soon weary of religion and attendance on holy duties, as if all
time laid out upon God were lost ; and they cry out, When will the
sabbath be over that we may set forth wheat/ Amos viii. 5. The
heathens counted the Jews a foolish people, as Seneca saith, because
they lost a full seventh part of their lives ; he speaks it with respect to
the sabbath ; so other men are of his mind ; they think all lost that is
laid out upon God. And it distracts us in duty, and carries away our
heart : Ezek. xxxiii. 31, They come unto me as the people cometh,
and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy word, but they
will not do them ; for with their mouth they show much love, but their
heart goeth after their covetousness. It interlines our prayers and holy
services with worldly projects and thoughts ; nay, it turns religion into
a trade and market. Men live by it ; it makes religion to serve their
worldly ends ; they make a market of their devotion, as the Shechem-
ites, for then, say they, their substance and their cattle will be ours.
Use. To inform us of the evil of worldliness. We need to be set
right in that, for most men stroke it with a gentle censure. They will
say, He is a good man, but a little worldly, as if it were no great
matter to be so ; nay, men are apt to applaud those that are guilty of
this sin : Ps. x. 3, They bless the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
He that by hook and crook gets honour and riches is the only pru
dent man in their account. If our children are loose, and drunkards,
and riotous, we are offended, but if we see them worldly, we are not
troubled. Oh ! it is a foul sin, but the men of the world will not
believe it. Surely we have too mild thoughts of it, and therefore we do
not watch and strive against the love of the world : Luke xii. 15, Take
heed and beware of covetousness. The words are doubled for the more
vehemency ; he doth not say, Take heed only, but Take heed and
beware of covetousness. Sins that are more gross and sensual are
easier discovered, and such a sinner is sooner reclaimed, but this is a
secret sin that turns away the heart from God. And to make you
more careful to avoid it, in scripture a covetous man is called an
idolater, Eph. v. 3, and covetousness is called idolatry, Col. iii. 5 ; and
is that a small crime ? What ! to set up another god ? Who are you
that dare to harbour such an evil in your bosoms, and make no great
22 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. IX.
matter of it ? Will you dethrone that God which made you, and set up
the world in his stead ? It is called adultery, James iv. 4 ; it is a breach
of your conjugal vow. You did promise in your baptism to renounce
the world, and give up yourselves unto Christ s service, and will you
cherish such whorish and disloyal affections as will carry you to the crea
ture instead of God ? Oh ! we cannot think bad enough of such a sin.
Doct. 4. A carnal worldly man may be sorrowful when he cannot
win heaven in his own way.
When he cannot get heaven, and his own will in the world also, as
this young man was, when he could not be a Christian at a cheaper
rate. He departed from Christ sad, as loath to miss this felicity, and
yet loath to pay so dear for it. There is a sorrow that worketh repent
ance to salvation never to be repented of, 2 Cor. vii. 10 ; but this is
of another nature ; it makes a wound in the conscience, and doth no
more. It troubled him much that he had moved this question when
he did not find Christ s answer according to his desire and expectation ;
and this is just the disposition of a man that hath a sense of eternity,
and yet is wedded to his lusts. Fain he would be happy hereafter,
but will not leave his lusts now ; so they are troubled ; they cannot have
Christ and the world too. Christ for their consciences, and the world
for their affections. They love this world, and yet would fain be saved
in the world to come, and therefore are grieved when they cannot have
both. On the one side they are troubled with a sense of religion, and
on the other side with a fear of losing their worldly interests. See a
like trouble in Herod : Mat. xiv. 9, The king was sorry ; neverthe
less for his oath s sake, and for them that sat with him at meat, he
commanded it to be given her. He was loath to put John to death,
and yet loath to deny her. So Balaam would have the reward, and yet
loath to go against the express command of God, Num. xxi., xxii. So
Pilate was loath to condemn Christ against his own conscience. Thus
shall we be affected till we seek God with our whole hearts.
This sorrow of the young man will give us some light as to the
difference between those conflicts that are in a gracious and renewed
man, and those conflicts that are in the unregenerate. There are con
flicts in both, yet they differ much. In the unregenerate graceless soul
the conflict is between conviction and corruption ; conscience wrestles
with their lusts, and lusts wrestle with conscience, and so men are
sorrowful upon carnal, not godly reasons ; whereas the conflict in the
regenerate is in the same faculty, carnal reason against spiritual reason,
and carnal will against spiritual will, carnal affections against spiritual
affections ; the battle is fought in every faculty. In the conflict betwixt
the flesh and spirit in the regenerate, the spiritual part prevails. Herod,
and Pilate, and Balaam had a conflict, natural conscience did restrain
them for a while, but at last they yielded ; and here the young man
yielded, and went away sorrowful. This conflict and sorrow may leave
u wound in the conscienoe, but it doth not prevail to cause them to
look after heaven on Christ s own terms.
The last point is taken from the reason of his heavy and sorrowful
departure, For he had great possessions. He had them ; is that a
fault ? Here is no note of crime put upon him as to his getting of them.
He is not taxed with an insatiable desire of riches, nor with uncon-
VER. 22.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 23
Bciouable means to get them ; only it is said that he was marvellously
rich and had great possessions, and therefore he went away sorrowful ;
so that the point will be this
Doct. 5. That the disease of worldliness is very incident to great
persons and men of quality.
If we have not a mortified heart, the very having an estate may prove
a snare to us. I observe this, because many please themselves in this,
that they have not got what they have by extortion or cosenage, or by
any fraudulent or unlawful means, that their heritage comes to them
lawfully, in the fair way of providence ; but if they have it, and they
look not to their hearts, it will enchant them. It is not the means of
gathering wealth, but the deceitfulness of it, however gathered, that
chokes the word. The very possession and presence, though it be not
greedily sought for nor unlawfully purchased, may enchant our minds,
and render us unapt to obey Christ s commandments. Take three
propositions
1. That it is possible, yea, very likely, that our hearts may be inor
dinately set upon wealth lawfully gotten ; and therefore God gives us
that caution : Ps. Ixii. 10, If riches increase, set not your heart upon
them. Though they should increase by God s providence, yet con
sider, a man may drink too freely, and be intoxicated with his own
wine. The mind may be enchanted with a secret delight and desire
to retain and increase riches lawfully gotten. A man may be a slave
to his wealth, and loath to part with it upon religious reasons. It ia
very likely it will be so when men have anything in the world. Saith
Austin, Nescio quomodo cum superflua et terrena diliguntur, arctius
adepta quam concupita comprimunt ; nam unde juvenis, iste tristis
discessit, nisi quia magnas hdbebat divitias ? A liud est enim nova
mcorporare, quia desunt ; aliudjam incorporata divellere ; ilia enim
velut cibi repudiantur, ista vero velut membra prceciduntur I do not
know how it comes to pass, but so it is, there is more danger in pos
sessing wealth than in getting it ; this young man went away sad, for
he had great riches ; and it is one thing, saith he, to refuse that we
have not, another thing to part with what we have : we may refuse
that we have not, as we do some meats ; but that we have, we are loath
to part with it, as we are with the members of our bodies. Covetous-
ness is not to be determined by a greedy thirst only, but also by com
placency, delight, and acquiescence of soul in worldly enjoyments.
Though we would not desire more, yet if our hearts be glued to that
we have already, we are unapt for the kingdom of God ; these are
torn from us as members. In short, it is the corruption of our hearts
that we are very prone to affect worldly goods too much, and so much
the more by how much the more plenty and abundance of them is
enjoyed. The moon is never in an eclipse but when she is at the
full ; so when we are at the full these things prevail over us. They
that have much flax and gunpowder in their houses had need be care
ful to keep fire from it ; so a Christian, that enjoys a great store of
wealth, had need look to his heart, that corruption do not meet with
it ; that aversion from God, and conversion to the creature is so natural
to us, that when we have great store of the world s goods, we are ready
to set our hearts too much on them.
24 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. X,
2. That the gathering of a spiritual disease is very secret and insen
sible. Bad humours breed in the body, and are not discovered till a
strain ; much more distempers breed in the soul ere we are aware,
and therefore the more caution is necessary : Prov. xxx. 9, Give me
not riches, lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ?
Every man is afraid of want and poverty, but who is afraid of riches ?
Yet Agur is as much afraid of that as of poverty. Our greatest learn
ing is to learn how to abound. The worldly-minded judge riches and
abundance a happy condition : Oh ! blessed is the man, they will say,
that is in such a case. It is the sum of every man s wish ; but to be
shy of the world, to suspect danger in plenty, it can never enter into
their hearts. But alas ! as a rank soil is apt to breed weeds, so many
snares are incident to this condition and this sort of life. Alas ! they
that have great and plentiful estates, how apt are they to pamper the
flesh, to grow forgetful of God, slight in holy things, to be wedded to
worldly greatness. A corrupt heart will take mischief in every course
of life, as a drunken man will stumble in the plainest way, but espe
cially in a plentiful condition. As soon as men have anything in the
world, their heads are lifted up above their brethren, and they grow
proud, scornful of God s word, slighting of holy things, and we are
wholly enchanted with pleasures of such an estate, but consider not the
snares that secretly are laid for their souls.
3. There is no means to prevent the danger but by the continual
exercise of good works, and a prudent carefulness to improve our sub
stance for God s glory and helpfulness to others. Look, as we clip
the wings of birds that they may not fly away from us, or as we cut
off the superfluous boughs of trees that they may not hinder their growth
and height, so this should be your care, not to join house to house,
and field to field, for then our desires will swell into so vast an excess
and proportion, as will not become grace and hopes of heaven. No ;
but your business should be how you should honour God : Prov. iii.
9, Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all
thy increase ; Give alms, and all shall be clean unto you/ Luke xi. 41.
A man s care should rather be for contracting and cutting short his
desires, and how to make use of it in order to eternal life. Unless
there be this constant solicitude upon the heart, it is impossible for a
rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
SEKMON X.
And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly
shall they that have riches enter into the kngidom of God I
MARK x. 23.
You have heard this young man was loath to sell all, and yet loath to
quit his hopes of eternal life. He did not go away murmuring and
frowning against Christ, but, because he could not bring both ends
VER. 23.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 25
together, He went away sad, for he had great possessions/ The
instance of this young man had raised them all into wonder, and there
fore when they were full of thoughts about it, our Lord would make
use of this for the instruction of his disciples. You find our Lord
edifying his disciples upon all occasions, and improving every occurrence
for their good. As a wise man passing by the field of the sluggard
learns wisdom, and hath a sensible discovery of the loss and ill effects
of idleness and careless indiligence ; so by this young rich man s re
fusal of Christ s terms, the disciples might know the snares of the
wealthy, and what a pull-back from Christ the love of the world is.
Surely they that were sent forth to gain the world need such an instruc
tion partly that they might be more diligent in warning rich men of
their danger and duty : 1 Tim. vi. 17, Charge them that are rich in
this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches,
but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy ; and
partly that they might not be offended if their doctrine should be
despised by men of that rank and order. The rich and full-fed world
lings were likely to despise the doctrine of a crucified Saviour and
oppose his worshippers : James ii. 6, 7, But ye have despised the
poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment
seats ? Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are
called ? Now they are forearmed against this contempt by seeing
Christ hinself refused by a rich man. And partly for themselves, that,
laying aside all thoughts of worldly greatness, they might the better
bear their own poverty, riches being such a hindrance and impediment
to the kingdom of God ; for they were leavened with the conceit of a
carnal Messiah, that they should be mighty men in the world, and
until the Spirit was poured out they had this conceit ; for these and
such like reasons, Jesus looked round about him, and saith to his dis
ciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom
of God 1 In this verse we have
1. Christ s gesture, And Jesus looked round about him, Trept/SXeTfrd-
/Ltei/o?, the gesture of one that is to speak or do some notable thing :
Luke vi. 10, And looking round about upon them all, he said unto
the man, Stretch forth thy hand. So here he looked round about to
every one of them, to see how they entertained this passage and occur
rence of providence, and to stir up their attention, and to cause them
to be affected with it as a matter of some great weight and moment,
that, when this moral, sweet-natured, forward young man came with
such respect, kneeling to him, and asking him such a question, and
went away sad, Jesus looked round about, as if he had said, How do
you entertain this ?
2. Here is Christ s speech, He saith to his disciples, How hardly
shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. I will take
notice of the matter and the form.
[1.] The matter, where the persons spoken of, They that have riches.
The privilege denied, entering into the kingdom of God.
[2.] The form. It is by way of question, How hardly ? he would
appeal to them. See now what the love of the world did. They were
leavened with it, and thought of great offices in the kingdom of the
Messiah ; but how hard is it for a rich man to enter into the kingdom
26 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. X.
of heaven. How hard ? It is (1.) Questio adnrirantis. It is pro
pounded in the form of an admiring question. (2.) It is questio do-
lentis, of one that bewails the corruption of human nature, that men
should turn God s good gifts and blessings into a snare. Alas ! How
hard ! &c.
For the matter, there is not an utter impossibility, but a very great
difficulty. It is spoken of such men as have riches only ; and Christ
explains himself in the next verse, Children, how hard is it for them
that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God ! It doth not
lessen the wonder, but increase it, for then they were astonished out
of measure among themselves, saying, Who can be saved ?
By the kingdom of God is meant the kingdom of grace, or the
kingdom of glory. How hardly do they submit to the doctrine of
Christ, or enter into the kingdom of grace here ! Or how hardly are
they made partakers of his glory in the kingdom of heaven hereafter !
Doct. It is a very hard matter for such as abound in worldly wealth
to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
1. I shall explain the point by the circumstances of the text.
2. Show whence the difficulty doth arise.
3. Make application.
I. To explain the point by the circumstances of the text. And
here
1. The persons spoken of, They that have riches. The very having
layeth us open to a snare. It is true Christ explains himself in the
next verse, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to
enter into the kingdom of God ! The plain sense of the words is this,
It is hard to have them and not trust in them. The disciples were
astonished at his words when he said, How hardly shall they that
have riches, &c. ; but when he said, How hard is it for them that
trust in riches, &c., they were astonished out of measure. And we see
Agur, when he prays to God, not only deprecates the sin, but the estate,
Give me not riches, lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the
Lord ? Prov. xxx. 8, 9. James ii. 6, Do not rich men oppress you,
and draw you before the judgment-seats ? He doth not say, Do not
wicked rich men oppress you ? but simply rich men. As a fat and
fertile ground produceth weeds, if it be not carefully tilled and planted
with better seed, so do riches usually prove a temptation to us.
But you will say, Why doth he speak so hardly against one order
and sort of men whom God hath set up in the world ? Are not riches
in themselves God s blessings ? Prov. x. 22, The blessing of the Lord
maketh rich ; and are they not promised to his people ? Ps. cxii. 3,
Wealth and riches shall be in his house ; and accordingly are bestowed
upon them. For we read of Abraham, Gen. xxiv. 25, The Lord hath
blessed my master greatly, and he is become exceeding great ; saith
Eliezer. So was Job, chap. i. 3, The greatest of all the men of the
East. So David, Solomon, and Lazarus of Bethany, Joseph of Arima-
thea, and others ; and therefore is it not to calumniate our Master s
bounty to say, that the very having of riches is an impediment to us
in our heavenly pursuits, and a snare to us ? I answer No.
[1.] The fault is not in riches, but in our abuse of them : 2 Peter
i. 4, The corruption that is in the world through lust. It is your
VER. 23.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 27
unmortified corruption that spoils all, not wealth in itself. The poison
is not in the flower, but in the spider. The carnal disposition which
remains in us maketh us ready to drown our mind, our time and affec
tions, our life and love in the world, and the cares and pleasures thereof,
and so they are ensnared thereby, and hindered from looking after
heavenly happiness. Eiches are an advantage of doing liberal, magni
ficent things, if they be used well ; and to blame riches simply, were
to blame him that made them, and distributeth them according to his
will, as if he did bait his hook with seeming blessings, and did set
golden snares to entangle the souls of men. The goods of this world
are profitable to them that can make a good use of them, as giving
them the means of being more God-like, and more useful in their
places ; for certainly it is more blessed to give than to receive, Acts
x. 35. They do not make us corrupt, or put corruption into us, but
only discover the corruption that is there already ; as when we fill a
leaky vessel, the unsoundness of it is seen, as soon as it is filled it begins
to run out. Our corruptions are drawn out by these things, and plainly
discovered to the world, when the fault is not in the riches, but in the
lust.
[2.] When wealth is spoken of as an estate full of spiritual danger,
it is rather to check our desires of it than to lessen God s bounty, as if
there were no obligation upon us by those temporal blessings. If we
covet and seek great things for ourselves, we do but run into the
mouth of temptation : 1 Tim. vi. 9, They that will be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which
drown men in destruction and perdition/ We are to bless God for his
bounty, but we are to guard our own hearts, and contract our desires
before the will of God is declared. When we ask riches, we know not
what we ask. Do not aim at great things for yourselves in the world.
[3.] Wealth, considered not as sought by us, but as given by God,
needeth peculiar and special grace to improve it, because we must not
only look to the manner of acquisition, but to the manner of fruition.
It is true we have honestly acquired it, it comes to us fairly, but then
we must see how we enjoy it. Some are rich because they are wicked,
having gotten their wealth by unjust and indirect means ; but others
are wicked because they are rich, being corrupted by the enjoyment of
them. There are some gifts of God that are absolute bona, so abso
lutely good that they can never be evil, such things do certainly make
the owner, or him that possesseth them, good too ; as the graces of
the Spirit, faith in Christ, the love of God, fear of his name ; but one
may be rich, but yet never the better. Nay, consider man in statu
lapso, fallen from God to the creature : he is easily made worse, and
usually is too, and that by the good things he doth enjoy, if the Lord
doth not vouchsafe to him his grace.
[4.] I answer again When temporal blessings follow eternal, then
it is well, as wisdom with an inheritance is good ; and Solomon asked
wisdom, and with it God gave him riches and honour in great abun
dance ; but where they are given singly and apart, so they are given
to God s enemies. Elijah was poor, and Ahab rich ; Paul, that holy
man, was in prison, and bound with a chain, and Nero at the same time
emperor of the world. God hath gifts for all his creatures : some in
28 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. X.
one way, some in another, shall find him a good God. Jesus Christ,
that gave his Holy Spirit to the best of the apostles, gave the bag to
Judas. Nay, Jesus Christ himself, that had the Spirit without measure,
chose a poor estate. He that made a fish to pay him tribute could as
well have made men to do so ; he that multiplied a few loaves could
have increased his stock; he that made the world could have buift
himself a stately palace ; but when he was rich, yet for our sakes he
became poor, 2 Cor. viii. 9, that he might sanctify holy poverty in his
own person, and honour it by his own example ; and usually he cuts
his children short, while wicked men live in* plenty. Therefore they
that merely have riches, that is, that have it apart from grace, are in a
worse condition than those that are kept low and bare. As a child
may be dieted for its health, while a servant is left to a free allowance,
so God knows our weakness ; and they understand nothing in divinity
that do not know this, that God works congruously, and will not only
give strength, but will also abate the temptation itself, and not suffer
us to have overmuch in the world, lest it should become a snare to us.
So much for the persons spoken of, They that have riches.
2. The privilege in debate, that which is denied or hardly vouch
safed to them is, Entering into the kingdom of God/ By which is
meant
[1.] The kingdom of grace ; and so the meaning is, they are in
capable of the doctrine of Christ, as the thorny ground was of the good
seed. Now what are they that answer to the thorny ground ? They
that are choked with the cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life,
Luke viii. 14 ; that is, the heart wherein Christianity cannot enter with
any good effect and success : these choke and destroy many hopeful
seeds of grace, which would otherwise spring forth in a lively diligence,
and earnest pursuit of that one thing necessary. And this may be the
meaning of How hardly do they enter ! viz., the great difficulty of
rich men s becoming the disciples of Christ ; and the truth is, at the
first setting forth of the gospel, it was verified by plain experience, for
it is said, Mat. xi. 5, among other miracles which Christ wrought, he
tells us the poor have the gospel preached unto them ; it is Trreo^ot
evasyye\iovTai, they are all to be gospelled ; and ov vroXXot, Not many
wise men after the flesh, nor many mighty, nor many noble are called,
1 Cor. i. 26 ; not many of that order and rank.
[2.] Entering into the kingdom of God may be expounded of being
made partakers of his glory in the kingdom of heaven ; this follows
necessarily upon the former, for if they are incapable of grace, they are
incapable of glory. And this is true too : James ii. 5, Hath not God
chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom ?
And this was such a truth that even the scoffers and opposers of the
Christian religion took notice of it, Julian the apostate, in his epistle
to Ecebolius, speaking scoffingly of those passages, saith, I have taken
away from these Galileans some of their wealth, that they might not be
deprived of the heavenly kingdom which their master promised them.
3. The thing spoken of these persons with respect to that pri
vilege ; there the form, TTW?, How : it is QavpdcniKov 7ripptjfj,a, saith
Hesichius, a form of admiration ; and the matter, How hardly ! It
is not an utter impossibility, but a very great difficulty. All men are
VER. 23.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 29
saved with difficulty : If the righteous scarcely are saved, 1 Peter.
iv. 18. It is no easy matter, but it is more difficult for them than
others. It is passionately, expressed, Oh, how hardly ! it is the
greatest difficulty imaginable, such as made the disciples wonder:
They were astonished at his words, ver. 24. Afterwards it is set forth
by the proverb of a camel passing through the eye of a needle, ver. 25.
Many foolish conceits men have about this, whereas in truth it is
nothing but a Jewish proverb, to show it is a very unusual thing, of extra
ordinary difficulty, not to be removed but by the almighty power of
God, but with God all things are possible, ver. 27. Not that riches
are evil in themselves, but that it is hard for such creatures as we to
possess them without sinful and inordinate affections.
4. Consider who it is that speaks it. Alas ! if it had been the say
ing of any private divine or particular minister, we might tax it as
rash and rigorous ; but the mouth of truth itself hath spoken it, even
Jesus Christ, whom we own as our Lord and Master. He knew the
way of salvation, and knew the state and danger of souls, and he hath
interposed his authority, and represents the difficulty. It is Jesus
Christ, that had so much wisdom to judge aright of matters, Jesus
Christ, that had so much regard to the comfort and happiness of men,
that he would not fright them with a needless danger ; and therefore
certainly you should take such an admonition to heart from the mouth
of him whom you call your Lord and master, and from whom at last
you expect your doom and judgment ; he hath said it. If any wise
man had said it from the experience of almost all ages and persons,
you ought to have regarded it ; but when our Lord hath said it, he
who is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, why should we not
believe him ? I pray what do you think of Christ ? Was not he
able to judge of the case ? It was the saying of Plato, ayaOov elvat
SicupepovTcos, Kal TTJOVCTCOV elvat Siafapovrcos dSvvarov It is impos
sible to be excellently good and eminently rich ; therefore Celsus, a
heathen who sought all occasions to disgrace the gospel, saith that
Christ borrowed this saying of Plato, but he is confuted by Origen in
his book against him. This proud heathen was sensible there was
wisdom in the speech, therefore he would deprive Christ of the honour
of it. But now since we believe the doctrine of Christ, and own it as
the speech of Christ, who is our Lord and master, therefore it should
more sink into our hearts. Thus for the explanation of the point,
from the circumstances of the text.
II. Let us see whence this difficulty doth arise ? I answer Because
of the sins to which a wealthy estate doth expose us.
1. Riches are apt to breed atheism and contempt of God. They
that are wholly drowned in pleasures of sense do not look into the in
visible world, and see God which is the Father of spirits : Prov. xxx.
9, Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ? There
is a practical atheism when men forget or despise God, and a specu
lative atheism when they deny God. Now the rich are apt to do both.
A man that tumbles in wealth, ease, and plenty is apt to forget and
despise God : But Jesurun waxed fat, and kicked ; thou art waxen
fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness, then he for
sook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his snlva-
30 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. X.
tion, Deut. xxxii. 15. Nay, in some sort they deny God ; they live
as if there were no God at all, none to call them to account. Men that
have seen no changes, and were never humhled under God s mighty
hand, never think of an invisible power. I remember the psalmist
saith, Ps. Iv. 19, Because they have no changes, therefore they fear
not God ; they have not an awe or reverence, or due sense of a divine
power upon their hearts, because they never have been acquainted
with changes ; the condition they have lived in hath been a constant
tenure of worldly happiness. So Zeph. i. 12, They are settled upon
their lees ; that is, are not tossed from vessel to vessel, as wine that
is racked. They live in an even course of worldly prosperity, and in
abundance of worldly comforts, without a, change, and this chokes and
Sluts the heart, that they have no sense of the Lord s goodness,
hanges do more awaken us, and make us look to God, as the foun
tain of good and evil. Istce vices magis in nobis excitant sensum divines
bonitatis, quam continuus tenor falicitatis, qui nos inebriat. In short,
the pleasures and thoughts of the world do so take up their hearts,
that there is no place for any serious thought and solemn remembrance
of God, such as should beget an awe in us. It is said, Isa. v. 12,
The harp and the viol, and tabret and pipe, and wine are in their
feasts ; but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the
operation of his hands. Thoughts of God are suppressed as soon as
they do arise, and they take no notice of the work of God s hands, nor
what he doth in their days to revive the sense of his eternal power and
Godhead ; nor do they take their comforts out of God s hands, but
look altogether to natural and to second causes, as being sufficient to
themselves, to live of themselves. Indeed, they may seem in opinion
to own a God, as others do ; they take up the current opinions, and
perform customary worship, but they do not glorify him as God, or
repair to him with that life and fervency as those that stand in need
of him, nor consecrate their best time, and strength, and affections to
his service. It is usually the broken-hearted godly poor, and those
that have had frequent experiences of the changes of providence, that
exercise themselves to godliness, and seek after God in good earnest.
The great landlord of the world hath more rent from many poor cot
tages than from divers great palaces, for they wallow in plenty, and
never think of God.
2. Kiches keep men from being broken-hearted and seeing their
need of Christ. It is the poor needy soul, sensible of its own sin and
misery, that is likely to thrive in religion, and prosper in any heavenly
design and pursuit. Now those that are rich have so many entertain
ments of sense to inveigle their minds and divert their thoughts, and
are so besotted and enchanted with present delights and pleasures, that
they have no feeling of their condition, or sense of the necessity of
God s grace ; therefore it is our Lord begins his description of blessed
ness : Mat. v. 3, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the king
dom of heaven. How few of them that are rich in estate are poor in
spirit ! The sense of their present ease and welfare makes them for
get all thoughts of their spiritual condition, and reconciling themselves
to God by Christ. The prodigal never thought of going to his father
till he began to be in want, Luke xv. 17, 18. While men have any-
VER. 23.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 31
thing in the world, they are senseless and secure in the midst of all
their sin and misery ; and if they can live without God and apart from
God, they will not come at him : Jer. ii. 31, Wherefore say my
people, We are lords, we will come no more unto thee ? As if this
merry world would always last, and there were no judgment to come,
and God would never bring them into his presence, but they live a
life of estrangement from God ; they can live upon themselves, and
their own supplies, and things that fall to them by the bounty of God s
providence.
3. Suppose these worldly rich men should take to the serious pro
fession of religion, as some of them do, and so mask and varnish over
a heart wholly wedded to the world and worldly things with some kind
of form and garb of religion, and it may be the strictest too, yet they
can never walk worthy of it, nor hold and maintain it with any power
and vigour : They are enemies to the cross of Christ ; and why ?
They mind earthly things, Phil. iii. 18, 19. Christ speaks of selling
and forsaking all, and they are for getting and taking all into their own
hands. Now it is more difficult for them that have anything in the
world to comply with Christ s commands. Surely they that live in a
lower condition have less temptations. The young man here went
away sad, For he had great possessions. I shall mention a story of
a soldier of Antigonus, which is well known, because it helps to set
forth what we have now in hand. This person had a very loathsome
disease upon him, which made his soul desire to be divorced from his
body, and then none so ready and forward to venture himself in all
battles as he, and when the general, admiring his valour, got him to
be cured, then he, that had been so prodigal of his life before, was as
shy, tender, and wary of it as others ; when he had a life worth the
keeping, he was loath to venture and expose it to danger. I apply it
to this purpose. It may be when the world disappoints thee thou art
ready to venture thy little all for Christianity, but if anything may
make the world sweet to thee, none so sparing, so afraid and ashamed
to own Christ as they. Certainly it conduceth much to the safety of
grace to have the temptation removed, as well as to have the lust
abated : Rebus in angustis facile est contemnere vitam He that hath
little can soon part with it, whereas riches expose to apostasy : 2 Tim.
iv. 10, Demas hath forsaken us, having loved this present world.
4. It maketh men apt to take up their rest here, and to sit down
satisfied with the world as their chiefest good, without any earnest
longing for or looking after a better estate : Ps. xvii. 14, From men
of the world, which have their portion in this life ; small hope or
desire of the pleasures of another world ; they will have their heaven
here, and therefore How hardly shall they enter into the kingdom of
heaven. The Lord will not remove us a deliciis ad delicias,^ from
Delilah s lap to Abraham s bosom, from carnal to spiritual delights ;
and the truth is they have no mind to be removed : James v. 5, Ye
have lived in pleasure on the earth and been wanton. Here we are
in a place of exile, banishment, separation from God, where God doth
not exhibit himself in that latitude which he doth in the other world,
and yet here they seek their felicity : Luke vi. 24, Woe unto you that
are rich, for you have received your consolation. God requires of us
32 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. X.
contentation, and allows us a temperate use, and holy delight in the
blessings of his providence, but we are not to take our whole comfort
here (for that is meant by our consolation), and sit down drunk with
temporal happiness, that will make us mindless of those other things
offered to us in the gospel, and kept for us in the world to come.
5. They are apt to wax proud and scornful, and impatient of reproof,
and so grow licentious, and lose the benefit of the remedies that might
reclaim them from their errors : 1 Tim. vi. 17, Charge them that are
rich in this world, that they be not high-minded. I interpret it of
this sort of pride, when men grow scornful of admonition, licentious in
sin, and hate reproof. All pride is incident to riches, but especially
this pride ; for as soon as a man hath anything about him, he begins
to speak higher, and look higher, and fare higher, and to display the
ensigns of his vanity in his apparel ; but chiefly his heart is higher,
and so grows impatient of check, and so cannot bear the means God
hath appointed to warn him of his danger and duty. They think we
are too bold thus to deal with them and speak to them. It is observed
of beasts, that they never grow fierce but when they are in good plight ;
so usually men when they are full, grow scornful and fierce, and cannot
endure to hear the mind of God powerfully and plainly set forth.
Great men have great spirits, and they will not stoop to such base and
mean persons as the messengers of Christ : Jer. v. 5, I will get me to
the great men, and will speak unto them, &c., but they have altogether
broken the yoke and burst the bonds ; Jer. xiii. 15, Hear ye, and
give ear, be not proud, for the Lord hath spoken. Men are high and
scornful, and if they have anything to bear them out in contempt of
the Lord s message, they set themselves to oppose Christ and his
interest, and dash against the corner-stone, though they are broken in
pieces. They are the great and yokeless men of the world that will
come under no rule, and no awe of Christianity.
6. They are wanton and sensual, and so must needs be careless of
heaven and heavenly things : partly as sensuality brings a brawn and
deadness upon the heart, and takes off all sense and feeling and
savouriness of spirit: Hosea iv. 11, Whoredom and wine and new
wine take away the heart; that is, infatuate men, and make them of
such a base brutish spirit, that they are incapable of sound reasoning,
or of entertaining the doctrine of godliness : 1 Tim v. 6, She that
liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. A life of pleasure brings
on a strange deadness and infatuation upon the soul, partly as sen
suality engrosseth the time, and causeth us to waste those precious hours
in which we should make provision for eternity ; to eat, drink, and be
merry, and knit one carnal pleasure to another, and so leaves no room
for any serious sober thoughts of God, Christ, and the world to come,
and necessity of regeneration and taking the way of holiness : Luke
xii. 19, I will say to my soul, Soul, thoti hast much goods laid up for
many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. And partly
as sensuality doth strengthen our enemy. The greatest enemy we have
is the flesh, and the more we please it, the more we set back our
salvation. Now when men nourish their heart, and strengthen their
corruptions, how can they be overcome by the power of the Lord s
grace? James v. 5, Ye have nourished your hearts as in a day of
VER. 23.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 33
slaughter. They add fuel to their lusts, and make corrupt nature
more active and stirring than otherwise it would be. Now rich men
are very sensual and apt to please the flesh ; yea, they can hardly avoid
it in the plenty of accommodations they enjoy, as scripture and experi
ence witnesseth. Sodom was a pleasant and fruitful place, and was as
the garden of God. What were the sins of that place ? Pride, ful
ness of bread, and abundance of idleness/ Ezek. xvi. 49 ; and that
fulness did dispumare in libidinem, as Tertullian saith, issue out into
monstrous lusts. Alas ! where there is such a glut of worldly things,
what hope is there to prevail, and bring men under the power of strict
religion and that holiness Christ calls for. Men grow excessive in
their pleasure, and they refresh not their labours with some kind of
.pleasure (for that God hath .allowed), but they refresh one pleasure
with another, and so set up the flesh in God s stead : Their god is
their belly/ Phil. iii. 19, and they are Lovers of pleasure more than
lovers of God/ 1 Tim. iii. 4. Men think sensuality no sin in those that
are rich. Indeed greedy getting or griping to raise an estate the world
will condemn. Oh ! but when a man lives plentifully, and is at heart s
ease, without considering whether he nourish a temptation or no, the
world takes no notice of that : Ps. xlix. 18, While he lived, he blessed
his soul ; and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself ;
that is, when thou spendest freely upon carnal satisfactions, that is
accounted more honourable. Nay, and they themselves do applaud
themselves in this course, and think because their estates will bear it,
therefore they may indulge their carnal desires. Oh! do not think so.
You are to consider things with respect to eternity and the world to
come. Plenty will be no excuse. You would be angry with your
cook if he should make your meat too salt because he had store of salt
by him ; so may God be angry with you, if you have plenty, such as
would refresh the hungry, and supply the needy, and you altogether
lay it out upon pomp and pleasure, above what your estates and what
your bodies will bear, but chiefly what your souls will bear ; for you
should keep up the welfare of your souls, and be ready and free towards
God. Do you think you were made only for idleness and pleasure, and
others must glorify God only by labour and service ? The rich glutton
was cast into hell ; here was no oppression, but he fared deliciously
every day/ and sucked out the sweetness of his wealth, and the indict
ment that is brought against him is this: Luke xvi. 25, Son, remem
ber that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things/ A slavery to
pleasures will make the hardship and duties of religion intolerable.
You are brought into bondage and under the power of these things,
and then you cannot leave them that you may attend upon the good of
your souls and upon the things that relate to eternity : 1 Cor. vi. 12,
All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the
power of any.
7. The more rich, the more wedded we are to the world ; for cres-
centem sequitur cura pecuniam ; usually the more we have, our desires
are increased to get more : Eccles. v. 10, He that loveth silver shall not
be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase/
Men when they are low are modest ; food and raiment is enough, and
they receive it with great thankfulness ; but if they had a little more
VOL. XVII. C
34 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. X.
in the world, then they should serve God without distraction, and if
they had such a proportion they would care for no more ; but if those
desires be granted, they find themselves entangled, and their hearts
deceived, and still they must have more and more, until they settle
into a worldly course. As a river, the greater it grows by receiving of
little brooks, the wider and deeper still it wears the channel, so out
ward things, the more they increase, the more they enlarge desires.
Men would be a little higher in the world, a little better accommodated ;
and when they have that, they would have a little more, and still a
little more, and so keep joining house to house, and field to field, till
there be no place that they may be placed alone in the midst of the
earth, Isa. v. 8. They would seize upon all things within their grasp
and reach. As fire increaseth with new fuel, so this burning desire
doth increase on their hands ; whereas we should still take thankfully
what God vouchsafeth to us, without those vast cravings and desires,
and look after no more than will serve us in our passage to heaven.
Mariners freighted for a near haven will not victual for a long voyage.
Magno viatico breve Her non instruitur Time is short, 1 Cor. vii. 29.
Thus there is very great difficulty with respect to the sins that are
incident to a plentiful estate, and grow upon us insensibly.
Use 1. This doctrine showeth us how contented we should be with
a mean condition, if God reduce us thereunto. We can hardly be
poorer than Christ and his apostles, and shall we murmur ? Many
have more than they had, take them altogether, and yet think then:
condition hard and strait : 1 Tim. vi. 8, And having food and raiment,
let us be therewith content. God hath freed thee from those snares
and occasions of sin which others are subject unto, and so thy way to
heaven is made more easy. Certainly they that do indeed intend the
kingdom of heaven would not desire a more difficult passage ; therefore
be content with a mean estate, though you have no more than neces
saries. Contract your desires, and your trouble will be lessened. The
Israelites said to the king of Edom, Let us go through your land in
peace ; but the cravings of carnal men are endless, They enlarge
their desire as hell, Hab. ii. 5. Not to be content with our lot and
portion, especially when it is competent, is a great sin. When you
hunt after more, what do you but increase your temptations, and
multiply your snares ? You load yourselves with clay, Hab. ii. 6 ;
base riches which pollute you, thorns which make your condition more
uneasy. And when will there be an end of these desires ? Lust will
grow with the possession ; the more wood you put on, the more the fire
increaseth. Therefore, rather bring your minds to your estates than
your estates to your minds ; if you be not content with what you have
now, you will never be contented hereafter ; a greater estate will not do
it, if grace do not do it ; as in some diseases, non opus habent imple-
tione, sed purgatione, there is more need of purging than filling; a
man is still hungry though he hath eaten enough, and still thirsty
though he hath drunk enough. The way is, not to increase our sub
stance, but to moderate our desires.
Use 2. It teacheth us patience and comfort under loss of goods. We
should possess the things of this world as if we possessed them not, and
therefore when God taketh away our plenty, we should mourn as if we
VER. 23.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 35
mourned not. You may find gain in this loss, and profit in this trial.
The Lord seeth fit many times to take away the fuel of our pride and
other lusts, to draw us to seek better treasure in heaven, the purchase
whereof is certain, the possession firm, and the price incomprehensible.
The Lord will keep you aloof from temptations ; he knows that if you
were rich, you would grow sensual, insolent, and negligent of spiritual
things. God knoweth what condition is best for you ; you should have
a greater account to make ; he expecteth from others charity, from you
patience. Besides, says Job, chap i. 21, The Lord gave, and the Lord
hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord. Some think it is
the greatest misery to have been sometimes happy, but that is through
corruption, when former enjoyments make men more nice, delicate, and
tender, aiid so less able to bear the present cross. But if we consider
rightly, the less we have been afflicted, the less are our afflictions on
that behalf. Is it nothing that God hath given us to pass over some of
our days with peace and comfort ? should we be so unthankful as to
account that no benefit because it is past ? Job ii. 10, What ! shall
we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ?
is not what you have received a pledge of what he can do for the
future ?
Use 3. To the rich, to show them what need they have of special
grace to manage that condition aright. It would seem a hard censure
upon this sort and order of men, yet it is a truth, and spoken by him
who is truth itself. It concerneth you to look after special grace more
than others ; your danger is great, and your difficulties in order to
eternal life not a few. You need peculiar grace
1. To prevent the evils and to heal those diseases that are incident
to riches ; as contempt of God. We are apt to neglect and despise
him when our necessities do not drive us to him, such is the pravity
of our natures: Hosea v. 15, In their affliction they will seek me
early. Make God your refuge and he will be your habitation : Ps. xci.
9, Because thou hast made the Lord thy refuge, even the Most High
thy habitation. Neglect of Christ and salvation by him ; they that
have an happiness in their hands already see no want in their condi
tion : The whole need not a physician. Take heed of being heart-
whole, then you will have no relish for the gospel. It disposeth to
apostasy ; you have something of value which you must esteem as
nothing for Christ. It maketh us neglect heaven : Ps. iv. 6, 7. There
be many that say, Who will show us any good ? Lord, lift thou up
the light of thy countenance upon us : thou hast put gladness in my
heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
An estate without God is not good. Lord, let me not have my all
here, for these things must be left. It maketh you proud and scornful ;
remember there are the true riches, without which a person is but vile.
He is most honourable before God that hath most grace. The value
of men is otherwise in the world to come than in the present world.
Your humility is your crown. It makes you to be more sensual.
Wealth is the pander of pleasure, the purveyor for the flesh, but it
should not be thus. There is more cause of fear than rejoicing : Gal.
vi. 8, He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.
It makes us worldly, as chains to detain us under the power of Satan,
36 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27, [SfiR. XL
and enslave us to the world. It doth but betray you into mischief.
Do you desire your way to heaven should be made more hard, that is
hard enough already?
2. That you might devote your riches to the Lord, and be holy and
heavenly in the midst of so great temptations ; that you may not by
momentary and temporal things forfeit eternal, but rather further
them: Luke xii. 21, So is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and
is not rich towards God; 1 Tim. vi. 18, 19, That they be rich in
good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in
store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that
they may lay hold of eternal life/ Wealth rightly employed makes
us capable of a greater reward hereafter, as it makes us more useful
here.
SEKMON XL
And the disciples tvere astonished at his words. But Jesus answered
again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that
trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God I MARK x. 24.
IN these words you have two things
1. The entertainment which the disciples gave to his former speech,
They were astonished at his words.
2. Christ s further explication of himself, But Jesus answered again,
and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in
riches to enter into the kingdom of God ! Wherein observe
[1.] The manner of our Saviour s speaking, in that kind compella-
tion, Children/
[2.] The matter of the explication, How hard is it for them that
trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God !
1. For the entertainment which the disciples gave to his former
speech, They were astonished at his words/ This astonishment was
caused either by the legal dispensation under which obedience was
rewarded with visible and temporal blessings, and therefore they mar
velled that rich men should find such difficulty of entering into heaven;
or else it was occasioned by the Jewish expectation of a pompous
Messiah; wherewith the disciples themselves were leavened, expecting
to share of the honours and riches of that kingdom which Christ
would set up. Now Christ s answer was quite blank contrary to these
carnal hopes, therefore they marvelled. Or it may be upon the com
mon reason that the gates of heaven should be shut to them to whom
the gates of the world do always lie open. Thus hardly are good men
brought to disesteem worldly things, and rightly to ponder and weigh
the doctrine of the cross, which Christ had so frequently taught them.
2. For Christ s explication ; and there
[1.] The compilation, re/era, Children ; so he bespeaks them who
VKR. 24.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 37
were sincere for the main, though a little leavened with carnal conceits,
and to sweeten the doctrine which seemed so contrary to their humour :
1 Thes. ii. 11, As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and
charged every one of you, as a father doth his children/ Novices and
weak ones are to be used with all indulgence, for they had not received
the Spirit in that plentiful measure as afterward.
[2.] The matter of his explication, How hard is it for them that
trust in riches, &c. He had said before, How hardly do they that
have riches ; now he explains himself, they that trust in riches. He
instanceth in this
(1.) As one common disease of rich men, as soon as they have any
thing in the world, they are apt to trust in it. Some abuse riches one
way, some another ; some to increase their worldly cares and desire of
having, others to feed their pride and sensuality ; this way, or that
way, according to their different temper and constitution of body and
soul, but they all agree in this, both the muckworm and the epicure,
that they trust in riches.
(2.) He instanceth in this trust rather than love of riches, not how
hard is it for them that love riches, but how hard is it for them that
trust in riches, because this is more, and doth more express the disposi
tion of worldly men. We love many things in which we do not put
our trust, but we put our trust in nothing but what we love. A
glutton loves his belly-cheer, but he doth not trust in it, as thinking to
be protected by it, as the covetous doth by his estate ; and therefore
though he make his belly his god, or his chief good, and last end, yet
he doth not make it the first cause and fountain of his happiness. But
now this gives all the titles and privileges of God to wealth. Trust
makes wealth to be the first cause, the chief good, and the last end.
Well, then, for these two reasons doth Christ instance in this one sin,
as being a common disease and cause of all the rest, or implying
them at least. This young man, who went away sorrowful from Christ,
thought he should be despised, and grow necessitous if he should for
sake all upon the command of Christ ; he made his riches to be the
fountain of his hope and confidence ; and therefore dot\ Christ say,
How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom
of God!
Doct. That rich men are very prone and apt to put their confidence
in riches, and so thereby render themselves incapable of the kingdom
of God.
In the handling this point I shall (1.) Show there is such a sin as
trusting in riches ; (2.) The heinousness and evil of it ; (3.) The signs
and discoveries of it ; (4.) The remedies.
I. That there is such a sin, and that a very common sin. The
scripture shows it plentifully. Job, when he protested his innocency,
among other sins he reckoned up, he disclaims this, chap. xxxi. 24, 25,
If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, Thou art my
confidence ; if I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because
my hand had gotten much. Job to vindicate himself from hypocrisy
reckons up the usual sins of hypocrites, and among the rest this for
one, making riches our hope and confidence. He had immediately
before waved the crime of extortion and oppression, but he thinks not
38 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XI.
that sufficient to clear himself, and therefore he further denieth also the
crime of carnal confidence. It is not enough that our wealth he not
gotten by fraud, cosenage and extortion, but we must not trust to it.
Symmachus renders it a<f>o/3iav, my safety and security, the cause why
I am not afraid. The world looketh upon wealth as that which will
help us to all we want, defend us from all we fear, and procure to us
all we do desire ; as if by that we were out of the reach of all danger,
and in a capacity to live longer and happier under the patronage and
provisions which our money shall procure to us. Another place is
Prov. xviii. 10, 11, The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the right
eous runneth into it and is safe : the rich man s wealth is his strong
city, and an high wall in his own conceit. Mark, what the name of
the Lord is to the believer, that is wealth to the carnal rich man in his
own conceit. A godly man never thinks himself safe till he can get
into the name of the Lord, and be within the compass and verge of the
covenant ; but a carnal rich man, if he be walled and entrenched within
his wealth, thinks himself secure against all changes and chances, and
so God is laid aside and little cared for. That there is such a sin you
see, but I shall prove that it is a common sin, very incident to all men,
and that it is a very secret sin, but yet of a pestilential influence.
1. It is very natural to all men, yea, impossible almost to be free
from it. Consider man as degenerate, and in that corrupted estate in
which he is, as fallen from God as his chief good and last end, and so
he is an idolater, and makes the creature his god, or sticketh too much
to it, more especially to wealth. Wealth is the great instrument of
commerce ; it cannot be denied to have a power and influence upon
human affairs : Eccles. x. 19, Money answereth all things. It can do
much in this lower world, and saveth us out of many dangers : Prov.
xiii. 8, The ransom of a man s life are his riches. It hath its use in
this world as a means in God s hands to sustain and preserve life. But
what more common than for a man to look to the subordinate means, and
neglect altogether the first cause. As children will thank the tailor,
and think they owe their new clothes to his provision rather than to
their parents bounty, so we look to the next hand, and set up that
instead of God. Rich and poor cannot be exempted from this sin.
(1.) The poor, and those that have not wealth ; they idolise it in
fancy and conceit, that if they had estates this would make them happy
and glorious ; and because they have not, they trust in those which have,
which is idolatry upon idolatry. See Ps. Ixii. 9, Surely men of low
degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie. To appearance
men of low degree are nothing and can do nothing towards our relief,
and so are vanity ; but men of high degree, they are a lie, because they
disappoint those that trust in them, to the wrong of God. Alas ! they
have neither power to help nor hurt, if the Lord will not : 2 Kings vi. 27,
If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee ? And there
fore we need not fear the hazard of their frowns nor of their displeasure ;
we need not with such restlessness court their favour and trust in them
that have wealth. (2.) But chiefly this is incident to worldly great men,
to trust in what they have ; their minds are secretly enchanted by their
estates when they are increased to them. Still the distemper grows with
the increase of worldly accommodations : Ps. Ixii. 10, Trust not in
VER. 24.] SERMONS UPON MA UK x. 17-27. 39
oppression, and become not vain, in robbery : if riches increase, set not
your heart upon them. As soon as we begin to have anything about
us, from thence forward we date our happiness and security. Many
that in want despise wealth, and live in an actual dependence upon
God s providence, as soon as they have somewhat in the creature, they
begin to value themselves at a higher rate, as if they could live alone
without God, and their hearts are altogether for increasing their store,
or keeping and retaining what they have already gotten.
2. It is a very secret sin, and found in those that are least sensible
of it. We seldom or never mistrust ourselves of this confidence, which
is so natural and so common ; and why ? Because we have too gross a
notion of this sin of trusting in riches. A man doth not think he
makes money his idol if he do not pray to it, or offer sacrifice to it,
or adore it with outward ceremonies, as the heathens did their idols of
gold and silver ; whereas this sin is to be determined nan exhibitions,
ceremoniarum, sed oblatione concupiscentiarum, not by the formal
rights of worship, but by the secret workings of the heart towards it.
Though we do not actually say to the fine gold, Thou art my confi
dence, or use such gross language to riches as, Ye shall deliver me, or
I will put my trust in you, yet secretly we idolise it, and set it up in
the place of God. It would have been a sorry vindication of Job s
innocency to deny that ; few hypocrites say so in open language, but
our hearts say so though we perceive it not. There is nothing so close
and secret in the bosom of man as his trust. But the heart hath a
tongue as well as the mouth, and thoughts are called the sayings of
the heart. Yea, divines usually observe that there are two sorts of
thoughts, implicit as well as explicit. The scripture calls them
inward thoughts : Ps. xlix. 11, Their inward thought is that their
house shall continue for ever/ This is the interpretation of our actions
when we do not make God our portion, but trust in the abundance
of our riches; this is our inward thought, the saying of our heart.
Ye are my God ; we do in effect say, Thou art my confidence, my
hope, and my joy, and will stand by me when all things cease and
fail, and wilt not suffer me to want or to be wronged as long as
thou lastest ; these are the secret speeches of our hearts. Christians,
many may, orator-like, declaim against the vanity of the creature, and
speak as basely of money as others do, and say, We know it is but a
little refined earth, but their hearts close with it, they are loath to part
with it for God s sake or upon God s declared will. As he that speaketh
good words of God is not said to trust in God, so speaking bad words
of worldly riches doth not exempt us from trusting in them. There is a
difference between declaiming as an orator, and acting like a Christian ;
well, then, it is a common but secret sin.
II. My next work is to show the evil of this sin, and how great it
is, both in regard of its heinous nature and in regard of its mischievous
effects.
1. In regard of its heinous nature. It is a renouncing of God, and
setting up another in his stead.
[l.J It is a renouncing of God, and taking away his honour. The
heart of man is so conscious to itself of its own weakness, ijiat it will
not be long without a prop , it must have something to rest upon.
40 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XI.
Now, naturally, we have no respect to invisible things, so as to choose
them and to rest upon them, but easily take up with what comes next
to hand. By a vile ingratitude we pervert God s bounty to a defection
from him. As harlots love the gifts rather than the man, so we take
the gifts of God, and rest upon them, and set them up in God s stead.
No man can trust God and riches too, therefore if we trust in riches,
the heart is diverted and carried away from God : Jonah ii. 8, They
that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. They turn their
back upon God, and take up with these vain comforts here in the world.
The same temple will not serve God and Dagon ; the Philistines could
not bring it to pass, do what they could ; nor the same heart God and
the world : 1 Tim. 6, 17, Charge them that are rich in this world,
that they trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God. If we
trust in the one we disclaim the other. Now consider what a dishonour
is this to leave God for the creature ! the fountain of living waters for
broken cisterns : Jer. ii. 13, My people have committed two evils,
they have forsaken the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns,
broken cisterns, that can hold no water. They leave the husband for a
slave, treasure for coals, things precious for dung.
[2.] As there is a leaving of God, so there is the setting up another
god in his stead ; therefore covetousness is called idolatry, Col. iii. 5,
and a covetous man an idolater/ Eph. v. 5. Mammon is the idol, and
the worldling the priest. Our trust is not only diverted, but placed
elsewhere, while we expect that from wealth which is to be expected
from God alone. Trust in God is a confidence that no evil shall befall
us, and nothing truly good shall be wanting to us while we keep in
with him ; such a kind of confidence we place in riches, therefore this
must needs be a heinous sin. So that besides apostasy and forsaking
the true God, there is idolatry: we set up another god. Trust is a
prime affection, which keeps up all commerce between us and God.
Our allegiance and respect to the crown of heaven is mainly preserved
by dependence, and the heart is never kept in a right frame but when
we look for all from God. Let a man but think himself sufficient to
his own happiness, and God will soon be laid aside. As soon as we can
live without God, we presently omit all kind of worship and respect to
him. Our first parents greedily catched at the bait : Ye shall be as
gods, Gen. iii. 5. How as gods ? Not in a blessed conformity, but
in a cursed self-sufficiency. Thus we all affect to be sufficient to our
selves, to be able to live without God. The prodigal son, when he had
his portion in his own hands, soon left his father. If we can live with
out God, we will never care for him. You dethrone God, and put
money in his place, and set up something as God.
2. The mischievous effects and fruits of carnal confidence. You
may consider these effects meritorie and effective.
[1.] Consider it meritorie, the merit of it ; it maketh us incapable
of eternal life. God is disparaged from being our paymaster and giv
ing us our reward when we trust in money. Look, as God sent the
Israelites to their idols, to see whether they could deliver them : Judges
x. 14, Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen ; let them
deliver you in the time of your tribulation ; so he will send us to the
things we trust to. A man seeks his heaven and happiness here, while
VER. 24.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 41
he is content to enjoy wealth without God, and so dischargeth God
from providing a reward for him : Luke vi. 24, Woe unto you that
are rich, for ye have received your consolation ; you have the happi
ness you pitch upon. God once said, Woe to you that are rich, but
never said, Woe to you that are poor. They that have their heaven,
their happiness here without God, can expect no more from him.
Therefore meritoriously this is the fruit of it, it will make us incapable
of eternal life.
[2.] Consider carnal confidence effective, in the influence of it ; the
effects of it are very mischievous.
(1.) It is the ground of all miscarriage in practice. When men
think they cannot be happy without wealth, or so much coming in by
the year, then they will soon come to this, they dare not obey God for
fear they shall lose their worldly comforts, wherein their happiness lies.
It is notable, when the Holy Ghost speaks of keeping the command
ment, and that the commandments of God are not grievous to his
people, presently he speaks of victory over -the world : 1 John v. 3, 4,
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/ Why ? What is the reason of this connection ? The
world is a great hindrance and let in keeping the commandment.
Unless a man overcome his worldly appetites and worldly desires, he
cannot keep the law of God to any purpose ; and therefore David saith,
Ps. cxix. 36, Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covet-
eousness ; implying that while our hearts are carried out so strongly
after worldly things we can never be thorough and upright with God
in the way of his testimonies.
(2.) It hinders us from looking after heavenly things. It is impos
sible a man should in good earnest seek things above whilst he trusts
in the world, and promiseth himself a long and happy life here. Trust
is acquiescentia cordis, the rest and complacency of the soul ; it seeks
no further when it hath something to rest in ; therefore when we rest
here, all other happiness is neglected ; there is no want in their condi
tion : Luke xii. 19, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many
years ; take thine ease. They cannot endure to think of a change, of
leaving this, and going to a world to come, of shooting the gulf, and
launching out into another world, and therefore make no provision for
eternity. Well, then, trusting in riches is bad, as it takes off the heart
from depending upon God s providence for the present, for so far a
creature exempts itself from the jurisdiction and dominion of God ; but
much more bad as it takes us off from depending on God s promises
for the future, as it flatters us with hopes of long and happy days, and
causeth us to put off all thoughts, and all care about eternity and blessed
ness to come. He that trusts in riches judgeth all his happiness to be
in this life ; let him enjoy the world to the full, and he hath enough ;
here is his happiness, and his heaven too : he saith as that cardinal, He
would not give his portion in Paris for his portion in paradise. Tell a
worldly man of laying up treasures in heaven, and of the riches of the
heavenly inheritance, he smiles at it, and will not give a foot of land
here for an acre in heaven. Tell them of growing rich towards God,
42 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [&ER. XI.
and it is but a fancy : Luke xii. 21, So is he that layeth up treasure
for himself, and is not rich towards God. So they may enjoy present
satisfactions, they will give God a discharge for other things. As the
Beubenites and Gadites would stay on this side Jordan, and consented to
abate their portion in the land of Canaan, because they were already in
a rich country, so they can be content to abate heavenly happiness, for
if it be well with them here, they are satisfied, for other things they
need not trouble themselves : 1 Cor. xv. 32, Let us eat and drink,
for to-morrow we shall die ; and there is an end of the world with us,
(3.) It is the ground of all the disquiet and discontent of mind that
we meet with. If a man would live a happy life, let him but seek a
sure object for his trust, and he shall be safe : Ps. cxii. 7, He shall
not be afraid of evil tidings ; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
A man that puts his confidence in God, if he hears bad news of mis
chief coming towards him, as suppose a bad debt, a loss at sea, accidents
by fire, tempests, or earthquakes, as Job had his messengers of evil tid
ings, which came thick and threefold upon him, yet he is not afraid,
for his heart is fixed on God, he hath laid up his confidence in God,
therefore his heart is kept in an equal poise ; he can say, as Job, The
Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name
of the Lord, Job i. 21. His comforts did not ebb and flow with the
creature, but his heart was fixed trusting in the Lord. But now when
a man puts his joy and his contentment under the creature s power, lie
is always liable to great dejections and anxious disquiets : Jer. xlix.
23, They have heard evil tidings, they are faint-hearted. His life
and happiness consists in the presence of creatures, and in the affluence
of the world which, being mutable, so must his comfort needs be ; so
that he that trusts in riches, to be sure doth but make way for sore and
sad troubles of spirit. Good David, when he had abused his prosperity
to a carnal trust and security, he felt the more trouble afterwards, and
so gives us the instance of himself in this kind : Ps. xxx. 6, 7, * I said
in my prosperity, I shall never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou
hast made thy mountain to stand strong, thou hidest thy face, and I
was troubled. He shall never want troubles that placeth his trust in
anything on this side God, but is up and down as his worldly comforts
ebb and flow ; whereas a Christian, who makes God his trust, and the
favour of God his greatest interest, is like the nave or centre of the
wheel, which still remains in its own place and posture in all the cir
cumgyrations and turnings about of the wheel. So in all the turnings
of providence, when the spokes are sometimes up and sometimes down,
sometimes in the dirt and sometimes out of the dirt, the nave and
centre is still where it was. Well, then, if you would be acquainted
with true peace, let not your hearts be set upon great estates, which
are liable to so many changes, but trust in the Lord, and your heart
shall be established.
III. I come to give some signs and discoveries of this secret evil,
confidence and trust in riches.
1. When men oppress, and do that which is evil, and think to bear
it out with their wealth, power, and greatness, as if there were no God
above to call them to an account, or as if there had not been, or could
not be such a turn of human affairs as God can lay them low enough,
VER. 24.] SEUMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 43
and their honour be laid in the dust, and the poor and afflicted shall
be exalted. God hurls the world up and down, that misery may not
want a comfort, nor power a bridle. Sometimes God puts up this,
sometimes the other sort of men, that still by all these changes he may
keep the world in order, that think they may do anything because it is
in the power of their hands : Micah ii. 1, Woe unto them that devise
iniquity, and work evil upon their beds ; when the morning is light
they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. Usually the
world is governed by interest rather than conscience ; they count every
thing right which they are able to effect, and justice is measured by
present safety, not by principles of conscience ; it is in the power of
their hands, and therefore they will do it. The Lord gives caution
against this : Ps. Ixii. 10, Trust not in oppression, become not vain
in robbery ; if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. When
a man thinks he is able to carry it against others, and to do his
adversary two wrongs for one, then he makes no conscience, but does all
that he can, not all that he ought. Alas ! this poor creature rests upon
his vain support, and that which seems to be his present advantage will
in time prove his loss and ruin, when the course of providence is
altered. How soon can God turn poor worms into dust ! bring them
down from their altitudes, and make them become the scorn and
shame of those afflicted poor that wait upon the Lord ! Ps. Hi. 6, 7,
The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him. Lo, this is
the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance
of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. This is that
brave, that gallant man in the world, that never thought of securing his
greatness by God s protection, nor applied himself to piety and justice,
nor imagined that such things would be useful to his present security,
but resolved by wealth and wicked enterprises to establish and per-
petuate his greatness ; but how hath God confuted all his vain and
false hopes, and brought utter destruction upon him ! Thus it hath been,
and thus it will be again, till the world learn to grow wiser by all the
changes that God hath wrought before their eyes. And therefore, this
is a sign of trusting in wealth, when men grow proud, insolent, and
overbearing, and speak roughly : Prov. xviii. 23, The rich answereth
roughly, and are high-minded : 1 Tim. vi. 17, Charge them that are
rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain
riches, but in the living God.
2. An inordinate care and solicitousness to get wealth. Multiplying
of worldly practices cometh from unbelief in God and confidence in
the means : Prov. xxiii. 4, Labour not to be rich ; cease from thine
own wisdom. This toiling and labour to get the world into our hands
argues we esteem of it beyond what it deserves. Indeed there is a
lawful labour ; wealth may be sought for the necessities of life and
exercise of good works ; but when men make it their main care, they
place their happiness in it. Now, because it is hard to distinguish
honest labour from worldly care, the best way will be for you to con
sider the disproportion of your endeavours to earthly and spiritual and
heavenly things ; for our Saviour, when he describes the carnal fool, that
1 rusted in the abundance of his riches, he tells us, Luke xii. 21, So is
he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God.
44 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SEE. XL
When men seek the world in good earnest, and make slender provision
for heaven and the happiness of their precious and immortal souls,
when they never look after the assuring of their interest in things to come,
when the lean kine devour the fat, when that which should be sought
first, either is sought last or not at all, then men trust in these outward
things. Surely you fancy a greater happiness in the enjoyment of
worldly things than you should. The scripture notes as a sign of this
inordinate respects a making haste to be rich: Prov. xx. 21, An
inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof
shall not be blessed ; and chap, xxviii. 20, He that maketh haste to
be rich shall not be innocent ; and ver. 22, He that hasteth to be
rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come
upon him. When men are so earnest to commence into an estate,
taking all opportunities, seeking to get it by indirect means, and think
thereby to make them and theirs happy, this inordinacy will prove their
bane and ruin. In bestowing it as God directs, none so slow ; in getting
it, none so earnest : certainly he that believeth will not make haste,
3. When men think themselves better provided by a wealthy apostasy
than by a close adhering to God all-sufficient. Sometimes the keeping
of wealth and religion come in competition. Now, when a man debates
with conscience, Here is your duty, and there is your loss, can you
trust in wealth rather than in the promises of God ? If the Lord for
our duty should reduce us to never so great straits, he is able to make
it all up to us again, this should suffice us : The Lord is able to give
thee much more than this, 2 Chron. xxv. 9. But if in the debates of
conscience gain bears sway, it is a sign we trust in wealth rather than
in the promises of God.
4. When men slacken or omit prayer, because they are well at ease
and have worldly abundance. This is a certain truth, that trust in
God, or prayer, or an acknowledgment of God, always go together : Ps.
Ixii. 8, Trust in him at all times, ye people ; pour out your hearts
before him/ If the heart be taken off from the creature, it will be
much with God ; but when men are full, and think they need him not,
and therefore grow cold and careless in their addresses to him, it may
be in their affliction God shall hear from them, but at other times the
throne of grace lies neglected, they have other trusts, and depend on
something on this side God, or God would be oftener acknowledged.
5. When men think wealth shall sufficiently secure them against all
changes, and that when they have it they shall see nothing but happy
days, and therefore give up themselves securely to enjoy the pleasures
of this life : Luke xii. 19, Soul, thou hast goods laid up for many years ;
take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. Sensuality, security, and
pride are the fruits of carnal confidence : They trust in their wealth,
and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches/ Ps. xlix. 6. As
if their felicity and chiefest stay lay in them, not only against the
chances of this life, but against God s threats and vengeance and judg
ment ; thence men fetch their support and comfort, and hope for them
and theirs : Prov. x. 15, The rich man s wealth is his strong city. A
penny in their purse is better than the God of heaven. Here is their
great assurance, the sure pledge of their happiness, as if God could not
bring them down wonderfully.
f
VER. 24.1 SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 45
6. When men are so loath to forego riches when God calls them
thereunto, it is a sign they trust in them, not in God. The soul of man
should be justly poised, and at a point of indifferency to worldly
things, to get or keep, to want or have, as God will. Until our
resolutions be as easily cast the one way as the other, we shall never
be said to be wholly free from this sin of trusting in riches ; but
certainly we are deeply tainted with it when we are so over dejected
with worldly losses : 1 Cor. vii. 31, They that mourn as if they
mourned not ; and 2 Peter i. 5, Add to temperance, patience. If
there were a moderation in the use of worldly things, it would make
way for patience. Gregory saith, Job lost his estate without grief,
because he possessed it without love ; but it is a sign we love them too
much when we murmur against God, and the heart is so depressed
when they are taken away by God s providence, as if all our happi
ness were gone. Certainly riches are too highly prized, and the world
too impatiently desired, when they are so deeply lamented ; if when
they take wings, and are gone, they bewail it as if their god were
gone : Judges xviii. 24, * Ye have taken away my gods which I made,
and the priest, and are gone away, and what have I more ? and what
is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee ? Thence ariseth their
trouble, grief, and sorrow of heart.
IV.. For the remedies against this secret and great mischief of
putting our confidence in earthly things.
1. By way of consideration.
[1.] Consider the uncertainty of riches should check our trust in
them : 1 Tim. vi. 17, That they trust not in uncertain riches. What
depends upon more uncertainty than our outward estates ; and will you
trust in them ? Who would trust another that is sure to fail him at
his greatest need ? Prov. xxiii. 5, Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that
which is not ? for riches certainly make themselves wings, and fly away,
as an eagle towards heaven. A man is not better and more sufficiently
provided for his dinner because there is a flock of wildfowl now pitched
upon his fields ; they may soon fly away. Kiches are like winged
creatures, compared to eagles which fly away towards heaven. How are
they gone ! how many ways may the Lord take them away from us !
There is the fire, the thief, fraudulent bargains, vexatious lawsuits,
public judgments, the displeasure of the times. Many are the wings
that riches have, and therefore unless a man hath a mind to be deceived,
why should he trust in them ? This should be deeply thought of in
our greatest prosperity, especially when we have many instances before
our eyes. Alas ! how many are there that have laid out all their wit,
and labour, nay, and venture conscience, to get an estate, and all is
gone in an instant, and they have heirs that they never thought of !
And yet the world is as greedy upon these things as ever.
[2.] Consider, none ever trusted to the world but they have cause to
complain in the issue. We think wealth can do great things for us,
and stand us in stead beyond any other thing to make us happy, but we
shall find it otherwise. God is jealous of our trust, and the creature
that is of itself vain is made more vain by our dependence upon it.
God will set himself to disappoint a carnal trust : Prov. xi. 28, He that
trusteth in his riches shall fall.
46 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. XL
[3.] Consider, the more wealth, many times the more danger, there
fore shall we trust in this ? In a net, when great fishes are taken, the
lesser make their escape. A great tree by the largeness and thickness
of its boughs provoketh others to lop it, or it falleth by its own weight.
Nebuchadnezzar led the princes and nobles captive when the poor were
left in the land. As many times thieves and robbers cut off the finger
for the ring s sake when they cannot otherwise pluck it off, so is a man
destroyed and made a prey for his wealth s sake.
[4.] Consider the unprofitableness of wealth without God ; it cannot
make you contented, and safe, and happy, and comfortable : Luke xii.
15, A man s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which
he possesseth/ A man doth not live upon his wealth : Not by bread
alone/ Mat. iv. 4, but by the providence of God. I do not only say
they cannot make you happy and wise ; certainly they cannot do that ;
but they, cannot make you more healthful, cheerful, and comfortable ;
so that whether you will or no, at length you are brought to depend
upon God. But especially is their unprofitableness seen in the day of
death and in the day of wrath. In the day of death, when a man must
shoot the gulf of eternity, and launch out into the deep ocean of the
other world : Job xxvii. 8, What is the hope of the hypocrite, though
he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? When you must
die, and nothing shall remain with you but the bitter remembrance of
an estate, either ill-got or ill-spent (for it is all one), oh ! how bitter
and grievous will this be to you to call to mind the iniquity of traffic,
to remember the cries of the oppressed widow or orphans, or neglected
poor, or your pride and luxury, and sowing to the flesh, when God
comes to take away the soul ! Or else in the day of wrath : Prov. xi.
4; Riches profit not in the day of wrath/ Of internal wrath, when a
spark of God s anger lights upon the conscience, and our thoughts are
awakened against us, and fall as a heavy burden upon us, oh ! what
will all riches do ! To allude to that Prov. vi. 35, He will not regard
any ransom, neither will he rest content, though thou givest many
gifts. Justice will not be bribed, neither will all the money you have
buy you a pardon. And in the day of external wrath : Zeph. i. 18,
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the
day of the Lord s wrath. As Absalom s mule left him hanging by the
hair of the head, so will riches leave and forsake you in all your misery.
[5.] Think seriously of this, that God is the author of all wealth,
and the sovereign disposer of it ; and therefore, whether we have it or
have it not, we must trust in God. If wealth fails, that we have it not,
then it is manifest it is not to be trusted in. If it should increase, yet
it should occasion us to trust in God, who gives us what we have ; by
what means soever it comes to our hands, it is his gift : It is the
blessing of the Lord that maketh rich, Prov. x. 22. If riches come to
you by inheritance from your ancestors, it was by the providence of
God that you were born of rich and noble friends, and not of beggars.
If it come by gift, it is God that made them that gave it you able and
willing. If it comes by industry and skill, it is God that gives the
faculty, the use, and the success ; so that still God is to be trusted in,
not the creature, for he hath a mighty hand in the disposal of things
in the world.
VER. 24.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 47
2. By way of practice.
[1.] Pray more to be kept from this sin than from poverty, namely,
to have riches, and not to trust in them. It is an extraordinary gift
of God, and to be sought with greater care, diligence, and frequency of
prayers and fastings, than either health, preferment, life, or any other
thing : ver. 27, With men it is impossible, but not with God, for with
God all things are possible. God only can do it thoroughly. This
should be the constant request of rich men, Lord, let me not trust in
what I have ; this is a greater blessing than the greatest abundance in
the world.
[2.] Be more ready to watch opportunities of charity, to distribute
and dispense your estate than to increase it ; for there is nothing will
free us from this sin so much as the continual exercise of charity, or
the giving of alms. Therefore .your great care and delight should be
to hearken after charitable occasions for the relief of the poor and for
the church of God, and be glad when occasions of doing good are
offered. They that hunt a,fter opportunities of gain trust in riches, but
they that seek opportunities of doing good show they are clear from
this sin : Luke xii. 33, Sell that you have, and give alms ; provide
yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens, that
faileth not ; then you trust in the promises. Your office is not that
of a treasurer, but of a steward, to have them in your hands a not in
your hearts ; otherwise not you but your chest is rich.
[3.] Labour by faith to make God your trust and confidence : 1 Tim.
vi. 17, That they trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God.
To rely upon his power, mercy, and goodness for all that you have and
stand in need of : Give us this day our daily bread ; for protection
and provision. When God giveth you riches, suspect what your heart
may do with them. It is good to fear always, especially when we have
what we wish for or desire. Therefore, still be. looking to God, taking
your maintenance out of his hands, and praying to him, and blessing
him daily for your supply, and this will make your estate sweet and
comfortable to you, and free from those snares wherewith otherwise
it will be encumbered.
[4.] Be sure you get grace together with an estate, for otherwise
singly it will be a snare to you : Prov. xiv. 24, The crown of the wise
is their riches, but the foolishness of fools is folly. Kiches are as they
are used ; if they fall to the share of a man that is godly and wise,
they are a crown and ornament, otherwise a snare ; for the one
employeth them to the honour of God, and the good of the church and
state, and is more.publicly useful, but the other groweth more haughty
and fierce, and scornful of holy things, and sensual and vain, and eateth
and drinketh, and swaggereth away the good gifts of God, which
might have a more noble use. So Eccles. vii. 11, Wisdom is good
with an inheritance ; it is good without it, but more conspicuously
good with it. It is not said an inheritance is good without wisdom or
grace. No ; it is reserved to the owners for their hurt. So Prov. xvii.
16, Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,
seeing he hath no heart to it. Many a man hath a price, but he hath
not a heart ; an estate is but as a sword in the hand of a madman,
when a man wants grace to improve it.
48 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. XII.
[5.] Be sure your esteem of riches come belo\v your esteem of
religion and good conscience. As Nazianzen said of his eloquence, he
had something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ. By all my
wealth and glory, this alone I have gained, that I have something to
which I mignt prefer my Saviour. This is like the woman clothed
with the sun, and the moon under her feet, Rev. xii. 1, contemning all
worldly and sublunary things for Christ.
[6.] Think of changes in the midst of your fulness : Surely every
man at his best estate is altogether vanity, Ps. xxxix. 5 ; not only at
his worst estate, when God rebuketh him for sin. We should make
suppositions, and see how we can bear the loss of all things, when they
are represented but in conceit and imagination: Hab. iii. 17, 18,
Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the
vine, &c., yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my
salvation. The fool durst not suppose the accidents of that night :
Luke xii. 20, Thou fool ! this night thy soul shall be required of
thee. Security is a coward ; acquaint the soul with a supposition of
loss and danger.
SEEMON XII.
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. MARK x. 25.
I HAVE now read you a sentence, that at first view may seem to cut
off the greatest and most splendid part of the world from all hopes of
salvation. Had it been my saying only, you might take liberty to tax
it as rash and rigorous, but the mouth of truth itself hath spoken it,
even Jesus Christ, whom we own as our Lord and master. He suffi
ciently knew the worth and way of salvation, and the state and danger
of souls. Now he interposeth his authority : Mat. xix. 24, I say unto
you, 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/ If we believe him,
then "let rich men look to themselves. He had already told them, that
it is hard for them that have riches ; then he shows wherein the diffi
culty lay, because of their trusting in riches. Now, he represents the
difficulty by a similitude ; it is as hard for them to enter into the
kingdom of God, as for a thing of the greatest bulk to pass through
the straitest place ; for what more strait than a needle s eye, and a
camel is a creature of a great bulk. A camel cannot pass through a
needle s eye without a miracle, nor a rich man enter into the kingdom
of God without the singular power of God s grace. For the expression :
Some say there was a gate at Jerusalem, called the eye of a needle, a
strait gate, by which a camel could not enter. Nisi deposito onero,
et flexis genibus, without laying aside his burden, and bending his
knee. But no approved history mentions this, and the conceit lesseneth
the force of our Saviour s speech. Others say that the word /ca/
VEB. 25.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 49
signifies a cable, by which mariners do fasten the anchor, but that also
is a mistake ; for that word is otherwise spelt, /ca/^tXo? and doth also
rarely occur in that sense, and therefore rather the beast is intended
than the cord or cable.
It was an ordinary proverb among the Jews, and is so even to this
day, that an elephant cannot pass through the eye of a needle. Our
Saviour indeed a little changeth the proverb, instead of the elephant,
a beast which few had seen, putting a camel, a creature very ordinary
in Syria ; It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. I
will not say that this similitude was chosen because they were wont to
lade their rich wares upon camels, and so the camel doth most decipher
the rich man, who is the packhorse of his wealth, and hath the burden,
but not the use of it. However, two things I may gather from it, as
Origen hath done before us
1. That there is something in turning Christian, or entering into
the kingdom of God, that answers the needle s eye, and that is the
strait gate and the narrow way which leads to life, Mat. vii. 14, the
strait gate of repentance, and the narrow way of constant mortification.
2." That there is something on the rich man s part which answers
the camel, namely, that they grow so great and bulky, in regard of
their pride, worldly lusts, joys, and confidences, that they cannot reduce
themselves to those straits that are necessary for entering into the
kingdom of God, as the camel s bulk and bunchback hinders his
entrance into a strait place. This without straining I might observe ;
though I must tell you, I think the main intent of this proverbial
speech is nothing else but this, to express an extraordinary difficulty on
the rich man s part, not to be removed but by the almighty power of
grace. Such similitudes are frequent in scripture : Jer. xiii. 23, Can
the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots ? so Mat.
xxiii. 24, Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat and swallow a
camel.
Well, then, you see it noteth the difficulty, if not utter impossibility,
for men of that rank, without peculiar grace to avoid the snares of
Satan, or to render themselves capable of eternal blessedness. And
since Christ doth again and again press this we have had it three
times, and now doth amplify it by a comparison I shall observe
Doct. That the danger of riches,, and the difficulty of rich men s
salvation, is a point ought much to be pressed and seriously thought of.
There are two propositions included in this observation (1.) That
the salvation of rich men is very difficult ; (2.) That this must be
much pressed and seriously thought of.
I. The difficulty of their salvation. I have formerly proved this
by reason of the sins incident to this state and condition of life, there
fore now I shall quit that, and prove there is a great deal of difficulty
for rich men to enter into the kingdom of God, because of the duties
required of them.
1. There are common duties that concern them and all Christians.
2. There is something peculiar and singular expected from the rich,
which makes their entrance into heaven more difficult.
1. There are common duties that concern them and all Christians,
that are more difficult for them than for others to perform, and these
VOL. XVII. D
50 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. XIL
are set down Mat. xvi. 24, If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Christ saith, If
any man, without exception ; small and great, rich and poor, they
must all submit to those terms. The duties are three, and they make
way one for another (1.) He must deny himself, and he must comply
with this ; (2.) That he may take up his cross, and bear it kindly and
willingly ; and that fits for the (3.) Duty, following Christ, or cleaving
close to him. These are the three duties that are required of all that
will come after Christ, and would follow him as their great Lord and
master, and captain of their salvation : He must deny himself, his
own wit, his own will, his own affections and interests, and be wholly
at the disposal of God, pleasing him in all things. Till we come to
this, nothing else in Christianity will down. Well, when this is done,
then he must take up the cross ; first deny ourselves, that bows the
back of a sinner ; then take up, and bear the cross kindly ; that is to
say, rather suffer the loss of all than wilfully sin against God, and
hazard his favour. And after this he must follow Christ, not forsake
him because of the cross, but stick the closer to him, walking accord
ing to his doctrine and example. Let us treat of these duties apart,
and withal show how hard it is for the rich man to comply with them.
[1.] He must deny himself, whatever his corrupt heart desires, how
dear and pleasing soever it be ; though his parting with the content
ments of the flesh should be like cutting off the right hand, and pluck
ing out the right eye/ Mat. v. 29, 30, yet this must be done, and he
must fully resign up himself to please God in all things. Now this is
very hard and difficult for all men, which we may soon be sensible of
if we do but consider how earnestly man affects a dominion and sove-,
reignty over himself, to be sui juris, at his own dispose, as those rebels
against God said, Ps. xii. 4, Our lips are our own, who is lord over
us ? A libertine yokeless spirit possesseth them. We conceit that
our hearts are our own to think what we please, our tongues our own
to speak what we please, our hands our own to do what we please.
Man affects to be a god to himself, and to be solely under the govern
ment of his own will, and to have all his comforts in his own hand and
at his own dispose, denying himself nothing which his heart affects ;
as Solomon saith he did, Eccles. ii. 10, Whatsoever mine eyes desired,
I kept not from them, I withheld .not my heart from any joy. Natural
pride and self-love is such that we cannot endure the yoke of any
restraints, but we let loose the reins to a full fruition of whatever our
hearts affect. Now, as self-denial is difficult to all, because of this
yokeless and libertine spirit, much more to the rich and to the great,
and to those that flow in ease and plenty, and have no bands and
restraints of providence upon them ; they are more licentious, impatient
of contradiction, or of having their wills thwarted, and therefore by a
lawless liberty they wholly seek to please themselves, and to feed their
own lusts, without any care and respect to God : Jer. v. 5, I will get me
to the great men, and will speak unto them, but they have altogether
broken the yoke, and burst the bonds ; that is, they cast off all the
bonds of loyalty and obedience to God. And why ? Because they
think they can subsist alone and apart from him : Jer. ii. 31, Where
fore do my people say, We are lords, we will come no more unto thee ?
VER. 25.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 51
Men think themselves to be lords of their own fortune, and therefore
slight God, break through the restraint of his laws, cannot deny them
selves anything that their corrupt hearts affect. Those that are in a
low condition, kept bare, and in a daily need of providence, are more
humble and submissive to God ; but when they grow great, they turn
the back upon him, and cannot endure his strict government. So Jer.
xxii. 21, I spake to thee in thy prosperity, but thou saidst, I will not
hear. Those that are rich and well at ease are loath to be controlled
in their will, even by God himself : Exod. v. 2, Who is the Lord, that
I should obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not the Lord, neither
will I let Israel go. Who so self-willed, proud, and scornful of God
as they ? who so apt to please themselves, and to use their riches to
foed their lusts, and to provide accommodations for their flesh and
corrupt nature ? Self-denial and a flesh-pleasing course are inconsistent ;
and therefore, because of the lawless liberty which they take to please
themselves and to make provision for the flesh, they cannot comply
with this precept of Christ, Let him deny himself.
[2.] To take up the cross, that is another of Christ s precepts, and to
be willing to suffer affliction, either from the hands of God or from the
hands of men for God s sake. This is one thing that we must reckon
upon : if we would be Christians and Christ s disciples, first or last we
shall be called to this exercise. Ignatius, when he was led bound
before the tribunal, Now, saith he, I begin to be a disciple of Christ.
Many think it is factious to talk of the cross in days of peace and liberty,
but Christ puts it into our indentures. If we should never suffer for
Christ, yet we must be sure that we have a heart that would suffer if
God calls us to it. It is possible a man may go to heaven without
suffering, but he cannot go to heaven without a resolution to suffer
when God will. Now the cross makes it hard to all: Heb. xii. 11,
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous.
It is not pleasing to the flesh to endure blows, suffer smart, and to
account all that we have as dung and dross in comparison of Christ ;
to be joyful in tribulation, and so wholly swallowed up with the hopes
and interests and concernments of the world to come, and to be dead
to present things. Oh ! how irksome is the remembrance of this to
those that are high in place and office, and sail with a full tide and
current of worldly felicity ! To be averse to suffering is natural to man,
and is in itself no sin, for nature is to seek its own welfare and preser
vation, but when it goes to excess, -it argues a tenderness of the flesh,
and that we have consulted with Satan : Mat. xvi. 22, said Peter, Be
it far from thee, Lord ; this shall not be unto thee ; but Christ said,
ver. 23, Get thee behind me, Satan. Now the more men have to
lose, the more tender they are of losing it ; a little is sooner quitted.
This young man went away sad, for he had great possessions. Great
men, when once they come to be noted for the profession of the truth,
they shrink and fall off presently ; they have not learned to leave all
for Christ s sake. Judas, that had the bag, turns apostate and traitor
to Christ, John xii. 6 ; when he saw nothing but opposition increasing,
the supposed kingdom not to go forward, and heard Christ speaking of
nothing but the cross and suffering, he thinks of betraying his master ;
lieaven is no pennyworth for him if it cost so dear.
52 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27 [SfiR, XII.
[3.] Let him follow me. He that will be Christ s disciple must
follow him, his doctrine, and his example.
(1.) His doctrine ; that is, the directions he hath given us in his
word. Now what is the drift of Christ s doctrine ? The doctrine
Christ brought out of the bosom of God is to draw us off from the
world to heaven, from the pleasures of the flesh and the baits of this
life, to seek things to come and things eternal. This is one great
excellency of the Christian faith, that it reveals the doctrine of eternal
life and a blessed estate to come, which all other professions in the
world could only guess at. Christ hath made it manifest, and brought
it to light, that there is such a thing : 2 Tim. i. 10, He hath brought
life and immortality to light through the gospel. And the gospel re
veals the way that leads to it ; it makes a free offer of it upon the con
dition of faith in Christ : John iii. 16, 17, God so loved the world,
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
.should not perish, but have everlasting life : for God sent not his Sou
into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him
might be saved. And walking in all holiness of life : Heb. xii. 14,
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall
see the Lord. And .the gospel lays before us the highest motives to
quicken us to walk therein, and take off our affections from the world :
Col. iii. 1.2, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God : set your
affections on things above, not on things of the earth. This must be
our great scope and business, that we may get home to God with a
neglect of present advantages. The gospel tells us that we should not
be troubled though our outward man decay, whilst this light affliction,
that is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. iv. 17. Well, then, seeing this is the
great design of the doctrine of Christ, that here we should ply our work,
that hereafter we may receive our wages ; that here we should study
holiness, that hereafter we may be blessed with him. Now what doc
trine can be more contrary than this to those that have their portion
here, Ps. xvii. 14 5 That have received their consolation here, Luke
xvi. 32, That have received their good things in their lifetime, Luke
xvi. 25 ? To tell them of a dislodging and removal, and of foregoing
the things they love and see for a God they never saw, oh ! how tedious
is this to a carnal heart ! They are already happy and blessed, and
cannot endure to think of a change, and therefore are incapable of
following this doctrine, that drives us off from carnal vanities to look
after the interests and concernments of the world to come.
(2.) His example. I shall only instance in two things we are to
follow him in humility of heart and purity of life.
(1st.) In humility : Mat. xi. 29, Learn of me, for I am meek tfnd
lowly of heart. This is the great thing the Son of God would recom
mend to us, in which we should take after him, even to be of an humble
and lowly spirit : Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ
Jesus , Phil. ii. 5. Christ was the Son of God. He did not affect to
be a God by robbery, as the angels had rebellious thoughts against the
empire and majesty of God, and they were thrust down from heaven
for their aspiring ; but the Son of God was equal with God the Father:
VER. 25.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 53
1 He thought it no robbery to be equal with God, ver. 6 ; and yet he
made himself of no reputation, took upon him the form of a servant
and was made in the likeness of man, and being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, ver. 7, 8. Certainly, if any had cause to
stand upon his terms, Jesus Christ had much more. That preface is
notable and very magnificent, John xiii. 3, Jesus knowing that the
Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come
from God, and went to God. And what follows ? He washed his
disciples feet, ver. 4, 5. Thus the boughs that are most laden hang
their heads, and the sun at the highest casts the least shadow. Jesus
Christ indeed was high, excellent, and glorious, yet he would conde
scend to set his disciples such a pattern of humility. But now who
more proud and disdainful than the rich ? When men have anything
in the world, they grow high and lofty. Oh ! when we consider the
pride of man to man, we may more stand wondering at the condescen
sions of God to man. As soon as a man hath any estate in the world,
he is altered presently : 1 Tim. vi. 17, Charge them that are rich in
this world, that they be not high-minded. Many that in their low
estate were humble and meek, in prosperity grow proud and disdain
ful ; many that were forward and zealous, grow cold and slothful in
spiritual things ; many that, while they were kept dependent upon
God, were diligent in hearing, profitable in conference, thought it no
disgrace to instruct their families, were patient of reproof, but when
the world comes in upon them, no such matter. As the moon is never
eclipsed but in the full, so all the grace that they seemed to have it is
under an eclipse when they are in the full of prosperity.
(2d) In purity and holiness: He that saith he abideth in him,
ought himself so to walk even as he walked/ 1 John ii. 6, and 1 John
iii. 3, Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as
he is pure ; and 1 John iv. 17, As he is, so are we in the world/
Now prosperity and true holiness seldom go together ; they are afflic
tions that promote holiness : They verily for a few days chastened us
after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, that we might be par
takers of his holiness : now no chastening for the present seemeth to be
joyous but grievous, nevertheless it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby/ Heb. xii. 10, 11.
Then are men most serious when they feel the rod and are pinched
with some necessity ; but when they are full, they wax wanton, kick
with the heel, and throw off all respects to God and godliness.
2. As the difficulty ariseth from the general duties that are common
to them with others, so it ariseth also from this : more is required of them
that are rich and great in this world than of others They should be
eminent and exemplary for holiness. They have larger accounts to
make to God than others, for our account must be according to our
receipts : Luke xii. 48, 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/ Among men this is a constant rule, and so it
is with God ; the account is according to the thing with which ye are
trusted ; they that have more must account for more. Now certainly
more is required of great and rich men than of others upon four
accounts they have greater obligations, more opportunities for spirit-
54 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [&ER. XII.
ual improvement, they have larger abilities and advantages of honour
ing God, and because of the influence of their example.
[1.] They have greater obligations. Certainly they to whom God
hath been more bountiful, are bound to be more dutiful than others.
It is not enough to render to God, but we must render according to
what we have received. It was Hezekiah s fault, 2 Chron. xxxii. 25,
Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him.
The rent must be paid according to the value of the farm. God will
not accept that at the hands of a rich man which he would accept from
a poor man, which hath not such great obligations. A man that hath
tasted of the bounty of God s providence, and hath had fulness and
plenty of all things, it is required he should serve God more cheerfully
than others, Deut. xxviii. 47. Their duties are greater, and their sins
are greater ; as you know the prophet aggravates David s sin by the
mercies he had received, in 2 Sam. xii. 7-9, I anointed thee king over
Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul ; and I gave thee
thy master s house, and thy master s wives into thy bosom, and gave
thee the house of Israel and of Judah ; and if that had been too little,
I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things : where
fore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his
sight ? They have tasted more of the bounty and goodness of his
providence, and have had more than others to revive the sense of God,
and keep up the memorial of God in their hearts.
[2.] They have more opportunities of being free to good duties, as
being not so straitly bound to bodily labour for present maintenance,
nor burdened with so many cares and distractions of this life, and so
have more time and leisure for studying the mind of God in his word
and improving themselves in the knowledge of the truth, and medita
ting the statutes of God, as David professeth he did all the day long. And
look, as the apostle speaks of married and single persons, 1 Cor. vii. 32,
33, He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the
Lord, how he may please the Lord ; but he that is married careth for
the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife ; they
that are in a single estate have more leisure to attend the service of
God, greater opportunities of holy privacy and meditation upon the
promises of God, are less distracted and divided with the cares of the
world, and have nothing else to do but to serve God and study to please
him ; so it is true of poor and rich ; those that live in a plentiful con
dition, oh ! what a great deal of time and leisure have they for religious
duties, better education, more helps, more advantages, therefore they are
more bound to addict and give up themselves to the study of divine
things. A little knowledge of God he will accept of in a poor trades
man that is divided and distracted with the cares of the world, and
have not such leisure to attend the service of God, and the opportunities
of holy privacy and meditation, which he will not accept of in the rich,
that have so many opportunities to furnish themselves with knowledge,
and have little else to do but to serve God and labour to please him,
and to study the promises of God, that they may grow in grace ; and
yet, when they abandon themselves to sensuality, and live from one
week s end to another, and can scarce tell what to do with their time,
and yet cannot afford it to God, how culpable are they !
YER. 25.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 55
[3.] They have greater advantages of furthering the duties of piety
and mercy, and of honouring God with their substance, Prov. iii. 9, and
of relieving others, of making themselves friends of the mammon of
unrighteousness/ Luke xvi. 9. I say they have greater opportunities of
being rich in good works, 1 Tim. vi. 18. Others that have hearts
have not estates, and cannot be so publicly useful. God expects from
very man according to his ability, and therefore they should abound in
all acts of mercy and piety, for the promoting the honour and service
of God, and relief and comfort of others. But alas ! usually it is here
as in nature, those mountains in the bowels of which there are most
mines of gold and silver are most barren ; so rich men, for the most
part, live most unprofitably as to the fruits of grace, piety, and charity.
They that have great estates have least heart to do anything for God,
and men of a middle condition do exceedingly outstrip those that are
vastly and excessively rich, in being liberal and open-handed for hon
ouring of God and the relief of others.
[4.] More is required of them because of the influence of their ex
ample. They are as the first-sheets, others are printed off by them.
The more any are exalted and lifted up above others, the more con
spicuous are their actions. The example of an eminent person is never
single, for when such a one doth evil, he carries others with him as
the stream doth that which floats upon it. If they do good, their
countenance and example doth exceedingly provoke many to follow
after that which is good ; therefore they should specially take care to
fear God, and be diligent in the exercise of godliness, and serious in
the business of eternal life. But alas ! who authorise sin and propagate
it in the poor more than they that have a plentiful fortune and estate
to bear them out in it ? Who are more dissolute and lascivious, and
profaners of God s holy name and day, and deriders of God s word, and
holy services and servants ? and so wherever they go, they leave their
dregs behind them, and leaven others, and draw them into sin, which
makes the difficulty of their salvation so much the greater.
II. The other proposition that is contained in this observation is,
that this ought to be much pressed, seriously thought of, for Christ
inculcates it again and again.
1. To keep up a remembrance of God and heavenly things in the
hearts of rich men. Security and forgetfulness of God is the cause of
all the mischief rich men are liable to. Men that have so much in
the world never think of God and salvation. The heart is so full of
the world, that it leaves no place for the thoughts and remembrance
of God. When God would offer to come in upon them, it doth fare
with him as it did with Christ ; when he was born at Bethlehem, there
was no room for him in the inn, Luke ii. 7. When God would lodge
in the understanding, the upper chamber of the soul, that is full of
worldly or sensual projects. If he would enter into the memory, that
is the world s warehouse, and it is pestered with cares about present
things. If he would enter into their hearts and affections, they are
prepossessed already, that is the world s storehouse, there their treasure
lies ; and so, what with this and that, it comes to pass, that God is
not in all their thoughts/ Ps. x. 4. The awful remembrance of God
is a strange uncouth thing to those that are full, and live plentifully
56 SERMONS UFON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XII.
in the world. This appears by the whole current of scripture ; God
forewarns his people of it : Deut. xi. 12, When thou shalt have eaten
and be full, beware lest thou forget the Lord thy God. When men
are full, and abound with so much accommodation, God is banished
out of their thoughts. He complains of this as the cause of his people s
forgetting him : Hosea xiii. 6, According to their pasture, so were
they filled ; they were filled, and their heart was exalted, therefore have
they forgotten me/ God is forgotten in prosperity, when we have not
such a sensible need of him and of his help. Men can live alone and
apart from God, and therefore cast off all thoughts of him : 1 Tim. vi.
17, Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-
minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who
giveth us richly all things to enjoy/ Plenty easily breeds forgetful-
ness of God, therefore it needs often to be inculcated and enforced upon,
and thought of by them.
2. This ought to be much pressed and seriously thought of, to awaken
suspicion ; there may be a snare in our estate. To suspect danger is
a good means to prevent it, and therefore, that we may draw men to
self-suspicion, being compassed about by the snares of the devil, we
must again and again tell you how hard it is for rich men to be saved.
Agur was afraid of riches and the evil influence of them, and therefore
prays for a competency : Prov. xxx. 8, 9, Give me neither poverty nor
riches ; feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny
thee, and say, Who is the Lord ? Whereas men that never think of
danger are surprised with it before they are aware ; therefore it is good
to be suspicious of a prosperous estate, to be afraid of the world more
when it smiles than when it frowns. Most men are afraid of poverty,
but few are afraid of wealth, and yet there the snares and temptations
] ie ; and the reason is, because they prize their temporal interest more
than their eternal salvation. Poverty is against their temporal interests,
but wealth, fulness, and plenty is a hindrance to their eternal salvation,
and men will venture their souls rather than their bodies. It is fat and
rank soil that feedeth weeds ; therefore think of it often ; here lies the
difficulty to have the world at will and not to be ensnared by it ; to
learn to abound is the harder lesson. Paul had learned both, so must
we : Phil, iv, 12, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to
abound ; everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full
and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need/ We say of a
proud man or woman, Such a one would do well to be a lord or lady ;
but it is harder than you imagine. How few are there that have any
lively thoughts of eternity, or make any serious preparation for death
and judgment, when they have health and wealth, and all the accom
modations which the carnal nature desires ? And therefore be suspicious
when you find delight, and what is pleasing to the flesh, it is not likely
to be safe for your soul. Oh ! possess your estates with fear. The fear
of a snare may help to avoid it. How easily may such a carnal heart
as yours be enticed from God, and grow cold and remiss about the
great things of your salvation !
3. This ought oft to be pressed and seriously thought of, to stir up
observation how it is with us. There is no man that observes his heart
but will find this effect, that riches make the business of salvation more
VKK. 25.] SE:;MON T S UPON MARK x. 17-27. 57
difficult. Good David observed that his heart was corrupted by his
condition : Ps. x. 6, He hath said in his heart, I shall never be moved ;
for I shall never be in adversity. And elsewhere we find he was
sensible that worldliness was creeping upon him : Ps. cxix. 36, Incline
my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. A child of
God hath not the bent of his heart so perfectly fixed towards God but
it is ever and anon returning to its old bent and bias again. The best
may find that they cannot keep their affections as loose from the world
when they have houses, and lands, and all things at their will, as they
could when they are kept low and bare. The best may find that their
love to heavenly things is on the wane as worldly things are on the in
crease. It is reported of Pius Quintus that he should say of himself, that
when he first entered into orders, he had some hopes of his salvation ;
when he came to be a cardinal, he doubted of it ; but since he came
to be pope, he did even almost despair. Many may find a very great
change in themselves, much decay of zeal for God s glory, and love to
and relish of God s word, and minclfulness of heavenly things, as it fares
better with them in the world. Now it is good to observe this before
the mischief increaseth. Look, as jealousy and caution is necessary to
prevent the entrance and beginning of this mischief, so observation is
necessary to prevent the increase of it. When the world doth get too
deep an interest in our hearts, when it begins to insinuate and entice
us from God, and weaken our delight in the ways of God and zeal for
his glory, then we need often to tell you how hard it is for a rich man
to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4. To stir up supplication for special and peculiar grace, that it may
not be so with us, that the Lord would keep us from the snares of our
condition ; for with God all things are possible ; that we may go to
God, and say, Lord, let not my estate be my bane and poison. On the
one side, it is a great judgment that God brings upon wicked men
when their table becomes their snare, Ps. Ixix. 22, when their comforts
are cursed to them, and when their hearts are drawn from God by
their plentiful condition in the world. On the other side, it is a peculiar
grace and favour from God when we be heavenly-minded in the midst
of plenty, and keep up lively spiritual exercises of godliness notwith
standing our opulency and plentiful condition in the world. Jehoshaphat
is an instance to encourage you to pray for this : 2 Chron. xvii. 5, 6,
it is said of him, He had riches and honour in abundance, and his
heart was lift up in the ways of the Lord. Christians, it is hard to
carry a full cup without spilling, to have riches and honour, and all
this with great abundance, and yet to have a lively zeal towards God
and a great delight in his ways. Now this is possible with God, and
this God hath bestowed, and therefore it should be asked. There is
nothing that quickens to prayer so much as a constant sense and appre
hension of the danger and difficulty which attends such an estate ;
therefore this must ever be laid before you, that your thoughts may be
steeped in this consideration.
Use 1. It serveth to check the desire of greatness and increase of
wealth. If you had more your duty would be more, and your account
greater, and your snares and temptations and stumbling-blocks in the
way to heaven would be much more multiplied ; and therefore you
58 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. XII.
should be contented with what you have. If we cannot thrive in the
valleys, and keep up a lively and warm respect to the world to come
in a low condition, how should we expect to grow on the tops of the
mountains, where we are more exposed to tempests, and the soil is more
barren ? therefore you should strive rather to give a good account of a
little than to make it more. The Lord knoweth that if you were a step
higher, you would be apt to be proud, licentious, secure, mindless of
eternal life, further off from God, and then better you had lived in
beggary all your days. The time will soon come about when you will
judge so, and therefore do not enlarge your desires, as if you could
never have enough.
Use 2. It teacheth us patience, not only in the want, but in the loss of
outward riches. It is more irksome to lose than to want, as it was
an unnatural thing for the sun to go back ten degrees in Ahaz s dial.
Yet this is to be borne, for when God taketh away your wealth from
you, he maketh your way to heaven more easy ; if God taketh away
riches, he doth but take a bush of thorns out of the way that would
prick and gore your souls. The world is apt to turn away your heart
from true happiness, and to hinder you in the way that leadeth to it.
Now God s grace is seen not only in fortifying the heart, but in abat
ing the temptation ; he seeth you are apt to sleep upon a carnal pillow,
and therefore taketh it from under your heads to awaken you. If you
believe the word of God, that riches and honours do easily prove a snare,
why should you be grieved when the snare is broken ? Do you love
to have your salvation hindered or hazarded ? and therefore why are
you so impatient when God cuts you short in these outward things ?
Use 3. Let rich men think of this, and make application of this
sentence to their own hearts, that they may possess their estates with
fear. To this end, consider
1. The person speaking is Christ, who had so much wisdom and love
to tlie comfort and happiness of men, that he would not fright them
with a needless danger. (See before on ver. 23.)
2. Whom it is spoken of ; rich men. those that can live of themselves
in the world without the supply of others. The disciples, that had little,
cried out, Who then can be saved ? We fancy it is spoken only to
the overgrown rich ; but they that have but one talent must improve
it, and it is hard to do so. We must give an account of one talent as
well as ten. The sensualist will turn this upon the covetous, and the
covetous upon the sensualist, the voluptuous gallant upon the cor
morants of the city, and they upon the epicures ; but Christ saith in
definitely, the rich.
3. What is spoken of, entering into the kingdom of God. It is
salvation and eternal life ; not a trifle. Christ doth not say, He shall
do no worthy exploits in the world, or arrive at no great degree of
grace, but, He shall not enter into the kingdom of God.
4. How it is spoken. It is represented by a similitude that im-
plieth impossibility, or at least an extraordinary difficulty without a
miracle of peculiar grace.
Then look about you, sirs. Such speeches of Christ were doubly
entertained with wonder, as by the disciples in the next verse, They
were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then
VEK. 26.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 59
can be saved ? or with scorn : Luke xvi. 14, The pharisees also, who
were covetous, heard all these things, and derided him. For the rever
ence you hear to Christ, I hope you will not entertain it with scorn,
but rather with wonder, holy fear, and solicitude.
I expect now you will say. What shall we do to prevent this mis
chief ?
[1.] Kemember your condition in the world. You are not a free-
bolder, but a tenant-at-will : Luke xii. 20, Thou fool ! this night
thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall all those things be
which thou hast provided ? You are not owners, but stewards ; not
lords and masters of what you have, but only must improve it for God ;
and you must give an account : Luke xvi. 2, Give an account of thy
stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward/ You are not
citizens but strangers: 1 Peter ii, 11, Dearly beloved, I beseech you,
as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against
the soul. . The world is our inn, where we abide but for a night ; our
dwelling is there where we live longest.
[2.] Judge of your estates to be good or bad to you, not as they do
accommodate the flesh, but as they help or hinder you in your way to
heaven. Make heaven your end, and consider all things else as means
and helps. Ordinances are the next means, riches and estates are
remote helps to heaven. All things are measured by the great and
last end, therefore you are to judge of all things as they help you on iu
heaven s way. Better to be preserved in brine and pickle than to rot
in honey.
[3.] Devote your wealth to the Lord : Luke xii. 21, So is he that
layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God. Kiches
are snares, and will certainly prove means of our damnation if we do
not so. That is the best condition for us in which we may do most
service to God, and not to the flesh : Gal. vi. 8, For he that soweth
to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the
Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
SERMON XIII.
And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves,
Who then can be saved f MARK x. 26.
IN this verse you have the entertainment of Christ s doctrine concerning
the difficulty of rich men s being saved. The effects of it are two
(1.) A great wonder or deep sense of this difficulty, They were
astonished out of measure ; (2.) An anxious question, And they
said among themselves, Who then can be saved ?
For the first branch, their great wonder, Trepia-aws e^e7r\^a-crovTO, they
were struck at heart, astonished out of measure/ We meet with it be
fore at the first proposal of this difficulty, They were astonished at his
words ; but now, when Christ had rendered the reason, and reassumed
60 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XIIL
the former difficulty, It is easier for a camel/ &c., this doth increase
the astonishment, and it is not barely said, they were astonished, but
out of measure. Let us a little inquire into the reason of this won
der. Why should the disciples be so troubled at this speech ? They
were poor, or, however, had left all and followed Christ, as it is in the
next words.
1. Some say it was for others, to see so great a part of the world
cut off from all hopes of salvation. Though all have not wealth, yet
there are few but do desire it, and that desire may hinder as well as the
enjoyment ; therefore, they being solicitous for the salvation of others,
they were astonished, and said, Who then can be saved ? Certainly
it is good not only to work out our own salvation, but to effect the
salvation of others. We have a saying, Omne bonum est sui diffu-
sivum All good seeks to propagate itself ; as fire turns all things
about it into fire. This is the disposition of God s people ; when they
have found any comfort and benefit by Christ themselves, they desire
others should share with them, and be partakers of the same grace and
heirs of the same promises. David, after many roarings and disquiets,
when he had found that penitent confession of sin was such a notable
way for the easing of his own conscience, and had seen the fruit of
humble dealing with God, he pens the 32d psalm, which is Ma-
schil, a psalm of instruction/ and so is willing to teach others the
way. So Andrew calls Peter when he had found Christ, John i. 41,
and Philip calls Nathanael, ver. 45. Carnal things are possessed
with envy. They that are rich and great in the world would shine
alone, and when they are gotten to the top themselves, they are loath
to teach others the way to climb up after them. But it is not so with
spiritual things, grace is charitable and communicative. Indeed, where
any take up religion out of faction and carnal aims, they would enclose
the common salvation, and envy the profession and hope of it to others,
that they may be the better esteemed and respected themselves. It is
observed of mules and other creatures that are of mixed and bastard
production, that they never procreate and beget after their kind.
Mongrel Christians are envious rather than communicative ; but those
that have really tasted of the sweetness of Christ themselves are glad
of company, and it is a great satisfaction to them to hear that others
are in a towardly or hopeful way of salvation : 1 John i. 3, 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. The apostle had fellowship with
Christ, and therefore was so zealous to bring others to the enjoyment
of that privilege ; therefore, this might be one reason why the disciples,
that were safe as to their own particular, and had left all and followed
Christ, were troubled to hear that it was so hard for rich men to be
saved. Surely this charitable disposition becomes us well, and answers
the great patterns we have in the world. We read of some that were
so zealous for the salvation of others that in some sense they preferred
it before their own : Blot me out of thy book that thou hast written/
saith Moses, Exod. xxxii. 32 ; and Paul, I could wish that myself were
accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the
flesh/ Rom. ix. 3. So much of personal happiness as resulted to him
VEIL 26.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 61
i rom communion with God, he could even lay it down at God s feet
for their sake. These are rare instances I confess, but some portion of
this spirit all should have : Charity seeketh not her own/ 1 Cor. xiii. 5.
Chrysostom saith, I cannot believe it is possible for that man to be
saved who doth not labour to procure and further the salvation of
his neighbour ; for whoever would go to heaven would not go to
heaven alone, but laboureth to draw others along with him. Vide
Chrysostom de Sacerdot., lib. vi. It was out of zeal for the salvation of
others.
2. The former reason was good, and argued a gracious disposition
in them, but this that I shall now give is of a worse alloy, and argues
weakness. And yet I cannot but think that this had an influence
upon them, viz., the hopes of an earthly kingdom, and the great
emoluments and preferments they expected thence. Christ s own dis
ciples were deeply leavened with a conceit of an earthly kingdom
which the Messiah should set up. And though they had left all and
followed him in his poor estate, yet they expected greatness and honour,
and the confluence of all worldly blessings, when the kingdom of the
Messiah should begin ; and therefore, when they heard Christ again and
again expressing himself concerning the difficulty of rich men s enter
ing into the kingdom of God, They were astonished out of measure,
as finding all their carnal hopes dashed at once. I cannot but think
this was one cause of their astonishment, because in all their converses
with Christ they bewrayed a spice of this humour. Two instances I
shall give as a pregnant proof of it. One when they were at the
sacrament, a little before the death of Christ : There was a strife
amongst them which of them should be accounted the greatest, Luke
xxii. 24. They understood that the kingdom was consigned to them
in that ordinance, and they were framing of principalities, and striving
who should have the highest preferment and office in this kingdom.
Nay, you shall see after Christ had suffered such ignominious things
at Jerusalem, this conceit abode with them ; and therefore after his
resurrection they come to him with this question, Lord, wilt thou at
this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ? Acts i. 6. They
thought the Messiah would set up a temporal kingdom over all nations,
and that they should at least be princes and lords under him, in the
exercise of his dominion and sovereignty. Justin Martyr tells us that
the heathens imagined some insurrection that the Christians would be
guilty of against magistracy, because they spoke so much of the king
dom of heaven ; and well might they be excused of their jealousy and
of this surmise, since Christ s own disciples were so far mistaken in it,
whom he had so often warned of the cross, and to whom he had expressly
said, that his kingdom was not of this world. But we see hence that
the best are too carnal, and too apt to mind earthly things, and to please
themselves with the dreams of a happy estate in the world. The
appetite of temporal dominion, and wealth, and honour, and peace is
natural to us, and we think God doth us wrong if he doth not make
us flourish here. All God s children find something of this disposition.
ill themselves, even whilst they are under the cross ; they do too little
comfort themselves with the meditation of the glory of the world to
come, but are always feeding themselves with desires and hopes of an
62 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR. XIII.
earthly happiness, and of turning the tide and current of affairs that
seem to be against them, that the world may more smile upon them,
and befriend them more ; and when they are frustrated and disap
pointed of this hope, their soul faints, and they are astonished out of
measure. Oh ! this is a sign that our conversation is not in heaven,
and that we do not seek the things that are above, and are not perfectly
subdued to the will of God, who many times sees the cross to be
necessary and profitable for us ; and therefore, to please ourselves still
with carnal hopes and dreams of a commodious and comfortable con
dition in the world, is not for a Christian.
3. The sense of this difficulty might revive the thoughts of other
difficulties. Other things besides riches might obstruct them, and
hinder their passage to heaven ; and therefore, even those that had left
all and followed Christ were astonished out of measure, when they
understood the way to heaven to be much harder than they formerly
conceited. Certainly it is good to think of the general case when one
instance is given. Is it hard to the rich and not to the poor ? have
they no temptations ? When we hear strict doctrine pressed, we
should not put it off to others, but fear for ourselves. The poor dis
ciples were astonished out of measure when Christ spake to the rich,
How hard it was for them to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4. Possibly this astonishment might arise from fear of the success of
the gospel, wherein they were to be employed as instruments, when
they heard that rich men were not likely to prove friends, but rather
enemies to the kingdom of God. Alas ! what should they do that had
parted with all, and were like to be left destitute to the mercy of an
unkind world ! If the great and mighty men of the world, who
should be their props and supports, should so hardly be gained, alas !
then how should they go abroad and preach with any efficacy for the
saving of souls ! Now, whether this or that or all caused the wonder,
I will not now determine ; all these have an influence upon it, and for
these reasons they were astonished out of measure. This is the first
effect, their wonder.
The second effect is a doubt moved among themselves privately,
Who then can be saved ? This question may be looked upon either
1. As a question of anxious solicitude. Alas ! how is it that any
can be saved ! Or
2. Of murmuring and secret dislike. Why, if it be so, who is able
to receive this severe doctrine, or to enter upon this strict course?
Now which of these shall we take it to be ? Either for a question of
anxious solicitude, or a question of murmuring and secret repining ?
I answer
[1.] I suppose this question expresseth their anxious solicitude, and
so for the main it is a good question. When we hear strict doctrine,
it is good to be moved with it, and fall a-questioning. Many hear it
over and over again, yet are slight, no wonder, no astonishment in their
hearts ; therefore it is good when it is weighed and laid to heart.
This question of the apostles brings to mind a saying of one, when ho
heard Christ s sermon on the mount read to him, he cried out, Aut hoc
non est evangelium, aut nos non sumus christiani Either this is not
true gospel, or we are not true Christians.
VER. 26.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 63
[2.] There might be something of weakness, mixtures of infirmity.
I cannot say there was nothing of murmuring and dislike ; the mutter
ing or saying this among themselves seems to infer it ; they durst
not make Christ conscious to the question, for it is in the text, They
said among themselves ; that is, they muttered privately, and so it
argues there was something of dislike.
[3.] This weakness was not to a prevalent degree, so as to make
them take offence, and depart from Christ, as we find others did upon
the like occasion, when Christ had preached something strict and con
trary to their humour : John vi. 60, 61, Many of the disciples when
they heard this, said, This is a hard saying, who can hear it ? When
Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto
them, Doth this offend you ? What and if you shall see the Son of
man ascend up where he was before, &c. And from that time many
of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him, ver. 66.
Now these, though they were astonished at the strangeness of the doc
trine of Christ, yet they did not reject or refuse the belief of it.
There was more of anxious solicitude, but somewhat of muttering,
Who then can be saved.
Doct. When the difficulties of salvation are sufficiently understood
and laid forth, we shall wonder that any are or can be saved ?
I shall prove (1.) That it is a difficult thing to be saved; (2.)
Wherein the difficulty of salvation doth lie ; (3.) Show how tin s
ought to be seriously minded and regarded by us, that it is such a
difficult thing to go to heaven.
I. That it is a difficult thing to be saved. Christ showeth that,
Mat. vii. 14, Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it. The way to heaven is some
what like that which is described, 1 Sam. xiv. 4, And between the
passages by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines
garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on
the other side. So is our way to heaven a strait way, between rock
and rock ; here is the rock of vain presumption, and there the rock of
despairing fears. Indeed, the text tells us of two things, the gate strait,
the way narrow. The gate is strait, the entrance into religion hard ;
there must be repentance and bewailing our former sins, the working
up the heart to a fixed resolution against sin, and a serious dedicating
ourselves to God. Oh ! how hard is it to pass through this gate ! And
then there is a narrow way, full of difficulties to corrupt nature ; our
lusts are impatient of any restraint, and we are loath entirely to give
up ourselves to do and suffer God s will. So Mat. xi. 12, The king
dom of heaven sufFereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
It is no wonder that earthly kingdoms are surprised by violence, but it
is strange that the kingdom of heaven should suffer violence ; how
shall we understand this ? Violence doth not signify unlawful attempts,
but earnest diligence. It is not an injurious violence, such as snatches
at earthly crowns, but the industrious violence, a resolution to break
through all impediments, and take no nay ; no discouragements can
much abate our edge, and take us off from our pursuit of the heavenly
kingdom. So 1 Peter iv. 18, a righteous man is scarcely saved, /ioXt?
; with much ado he gets to shore, he makes a hard shift to
64 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XIII.
get to heaven. This is enough to intimate the general truth, that
there is difficulty to get to heaven.
II. Wherein lies the difficulty of salvation ? The reason of doubt
ing is this, because God s terms upon which heaven is offered are
gentle and sweet : Mat. xi. 30, My yoke is easy, and my burden is
light. The law which God hath given us is holy, just, and good,
becoming a God to give and a creature to receive : Kom. vii. 17, The
law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good ; a
law such as a man would choose if he were at liberty, and at his own
option and choice. Therefore how is it so difficult, especially since
there is so much strength given. Habitual strength : Eph. ii. 10, We
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. We
are fitted by his grace ; and there is so much actual strength : I can
do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me, Phil. iv. 13.
God is no Pharaoh, to require brick where he gives no straw. And
therefore, since the way is so good, his yoke so easy, and there is so
much strength given, and since the encouragements are so many, both
from the work and from the wages. From the work itself: Her ways
are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, Prov. iii. 7.
There is a great deal of peace, comfort, and sweetness in walking with
God, as those that travelled to Sion, Passing through the valley of
Baca, make it a well, the rain also filleth the pools/ Ps. Ixxxiv. 6 ; so
they meet with many comfortable refreshings in a course of godliness.
And then for the wages, God is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him, Heb. xi. 6. Well, then, to sum up all, these things concur,
since the way is plain, the helps many, the promises full and sure, why
is it so difficult to go to heaven ? I answer The fault is not in God,
but in our own selves, in our own hearts, in our addictedness to temporal
satisfactions ; and therefore when God calls us off from the interests
and concernments of the present world, wholly to look after the interests
and concernments of the world to come, the disposition of our flesh or
carnal nature and the course of God s institutions will not suit. And
this must needs be a very great difficulty, not easily removed, because
(1.) It is natural to us ; (2.) It is increased by custom ; (3.) It hath a
powerful efficacy upon us to hinder us from walking in the ways of
God, that are so sweet and pleasant.
1. This is natural to us, to be led by sense, or to be addicted to pre
sent things. There are three sorts of beings in the world angels, that
are pure spirits without flesh, these were made for heaven, and not
earth ; there are brute creatures, that are flesh without immortal souls,
these were made for earth, and not heaven ; and there is man, a middle
nature between both these, that hath a fleshly substance and an
immortal soul, made partly for heaven and partly for earth, as partak
ing of both ; he hath a body that was made out of the dust, and so
fitted to live in this world, and he hath a soul that came down from
the superior world, and must return thither again. Now these two
things must be regarded according to the dignity of the parts of which
man consisteth, his earthly part and his heavenly part. The soul being
the better part, the perfection and happiness of it should chiefly be
looked after. The good of the soul is the enjoyment of the ever-blessed
God, this should be our main work and business ; and the good of the
VER. 26.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 65
body should be looked after in an inferior and subordinate manner.
The good of the body is meat, drink, wealth, honour ; these things are
to be looked after in our passage to heaven. The good of the soul is
the chief good, and so should be looked after as our great end and
scope, and the good of the body minded only as a means. Man was
made for earth in his passage and way to heaven, but his home and
happiness is in heaven, where he is to enjoy the blessed God among
his holy angels, and those blessed creatures that dwell above in the
region of spirits. This was the end for which man was created, and
while man continued innocent he had a heart inclined and disposed
towards God as his chiefest good ; he sought the good of his soul, and
was to love him, and fear him, and serve him, and depend upon him as
the fountain of his happiness. But by the fall man was drawn off
from God to the creature to seek his happiness there : They have for
saken the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken
cisterns, that can hold no water, Jer. ii. 13. Not only Adam in his
own person, but all his posterity are turned from God to the creature.
Now man in his pure naturals is inclined to the creature, which con-
duceth to the satisfaction of the earthly part, and not to God, wherein
the happiness of his soul lies. This will be evident to you if you con
sider that though the soul be created by God, yet it is created destitute
of grace or original righteousness ; and being destitute of the image of
God or original righteousness, it doth only accommodate itself to the
interests of the body, and seek the happiness of the body ; for where
there is not a principle to carry us higher, it can only close with things
present and known, such as are the pleasures of the body and the
interests of the bodily life, and so forgets God and what concerns the
enjoyment of him. And so it is said, Bom. viii. 5, They that are
after the flesh do mind (or savour) the things of the flesh, and they
that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Therefore take man i u
in his pure naturals, as destitute of grace, his soul forgets its divine
original, and so conforms itself to the body, and only seeks its welfare
and happiness ; and thence proceeds all our mindlessuess of God and
averseness to him, our unruly and inordinate appetites of temporal
things, and the confusion, weakness, and disorder that is seen in the
life of man and all his operations and faculties. Hence comes that
dulness and slowness that is in his understanding to conceive of spiritual
things, his acuteness in back and belly concernments : He that lacketh
these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, 2 Peter i. 9. He is sharp-
sighted in all things that concern the present world, but cannot see
things to come ; and until the Lord make a gracious change upon him,
he sees nothing of the worth of salvation, or of a need of Christ, and
making any serious preparation for eternity. Hence comes that averse-
ness of will to what is truly good, that he cannot endure to hear of it :
Eom. viii. 7, The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. And while the soul
is so, it hath such a bent and proneness to that which is evil, or what
concerns our interest in the world. Hence it is that our memories are
so frail and slippery as to that which is good, and so tenacious of that
which is evil. Good things easily slip from us, as clear water through
a grate ; but evil things, as slime and mud, stick with us. Henco
VOL. XVII. E
66 SERMONS UPON MAKE X. 17- 27. [SER. XIIL
comes his affections to be like tinder, to take fire at the spark of every
temptation ; the affections are awakened and stirred presently ; but in
holy things they are like fire in wet wood, that needs much blowing
and much excitation. Hence it is that in the course of our lives we
take up with the interests of the present world, and make no provision
for a better life ; we are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God,
2 Tim. iii. 4, and forsake God for the present world : 1 Tim. iv. 10,
Demas hath forsaken us, having loved the present world. Well, then,
by a natural constitution we are utterly at a loss, the soul being desti
tute of a principle that should carry it to look after spiritual things as
its great scope and interest ; it wholly purveys and caters for bodily
pleasures, and the honours and profits of the present life. Here lieth
the great difficulty in the way of salvation.
2. This addictedness to present things is increased by our converse
in the world ; so that besides natural inclination there is inveterate
custom, whereby this inclination to carnal satisfactions, such as riches,
pleasures, ease, safety, and sensual delights, is strengthened and deeply
engraved in us. The first years of a man s life are merely governed by
sense, and the pleasures of the flesh are born and bred up with us, by
which means we come to be stiff, and settled in a carnal frame.
Custom is another nature, and therefore the more we are accustomed
to delight in any course of life, we are weaned from it with the greater
difficulty : Jer. xiii. 23, Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the
leopard his spots ? then may ye also do good, who are accustomed to
do evil. Every act disposeth the soul to the habit, and after the habit
or custom is produced, every new deliberate act adds a stiffness of bent,
or sway unto the faculty, wherein the custom is seated ; so that by
degrees we grow into an obstinacy and strength of will in a carnal course,
which is called hardness of heart, or a heart of stone, in scripture.
A man is ensnared by his customs, whatever they be ; for an addicted-
ness in the general to carnal satisfactions brings a slavery upon us. So
if men be addicted to this or that carnal satisfaction, it brings slavery
upon them ; as a man that is given to wine : Titus ii. 3, Not given to
much wine. The word in the original is SeSoiAxw/ieyo?, ensnared by
wine ; or a man that is given to women : 2 Peter ii. 14, Having eyes
full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin. Men by the tyranny of
custom become so impotent to resist their lusts, that the satisfaction
thereof becomes their very element, out of which they cannot live ; it
is their Eden and their heaven, their very paradise, though at length
indeed they find it to be their hell. And of all evil customs, covetous-
ness or worldliness is most dangerous, because it is of more credit and of
less infamy in the world ; and besides, it doth multiply its acts most, and
works incessantly ; and therefore we read of hearts exercised with covet
ous practices, 2 Peter ii. 14. Their hearts are always running on the
unworthy things of this present world. Now, while worldly men s hearts
are so deeply dyed with such desires as carrieth them out to such things,
they are hardly saved. Well, then, here is another reason of the diffi
culty that our lusts are born and bred with us from our infancy, and
can plead prescription, and religion cometh afterwards, and findeth us
biassed and prepossessed with other inclinations, which by reason of
long use cannot easily be broken and shaken off.
VER. 26.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 67
3. Let us now consider the great efficacy and power which this incli
nation to temporal things hath upon us, and then you will see it is very
difficult for us to enter into heaven.
[1.] This inclination and addictedness to present things weakens our
sense of the world to come, and then our reward hath no influence upon
us to move us and encourage us to serve God. Whilst the world bears
bulk in our eye, heavenly things are of small or of no value with us.
Satan blinds us as the god of this world, 2 Cor. iv. 4 ; that is, by the
love of the world. Christ cured the blind man by anointing his eyes
with clay, but the devil puts out the eyes of our souls with this thick
clay, for gold is so called : Hab. ii. 6, That ladeth himself with thick
clay. He blinds us so as we cannot have a true sight and persuasion
of the truth and worth of things to come. We cannot look afar off into
the other world : 2 Peter i. 9, He that lacketh these things is blind,
and cannot see afar off. Mountains seem molehills only at so great a
distance ; heaven is as a matter of nothing in comparison of present
things ; as in a prospective glass, look at one end of it, it greatens the
object, at the other end it lessens the object. Thus when we look upon
things to come through the glass of our own passions and carnal affec
tions, they are nothing, they have no force nor power to move us.
Saith Austin, Men do not look after heavenly things ; Quia in terrena
prori dorsum eorum semper incurvum est, their backs and necks are
bowed down, that they cannot look upward and have any true sight of
heaveflly things ; the world and the profits of it are real and substantial,
but heavenly things are shadows, dreams, matters of conceit and mere
imagination. And therefore, since this addictedness to temporal things
hath such force upon us, to hinder the sight of the world to come, it
must needs be difficult to us to be saved.
[2.] This addictedness to present delights and pleasures makes us
impatient of the restraints of religion. Our natural desires carry us to
those things which religion forbids. We cannot endure to be bridled,
and kept from forbidden fruit, but we have all an appetite after it : Ps.
11. 3, Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from
us ; and Jer. v. 5, They have altogether broken the yoke and burst
the bonds ; and Kom. viii. 7, The carnal mind is enmity against God,
for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Niti-
mur in vetitum, the prohibition doth but irritate corruption, as a stream
if checked grows more furious. A man wholly given up to present
satisfactions cannot endure the yokes and fetters religion would lay upon
him ; he would be a free creature, and live as he list. Indeed it is to
be a captive creature, but this he accounts his liberty and freedom.
[3.] It maketh those duties seem irksome and unnecessary which are
necessary as the way to salvation. Look into the book of God, and
you will find we are called upon to strive to enter into heaven, and
required to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. ii.
12, with all holy solicitude, with all lively diligence, to be still employed
in this work ; To strive to enter in at the strait gate/ Luke xiii. 24 ;
To walk worthy of God, who hath called us to his kingdom and glory,
1 Thes. ii. 12. Now they that are addicted to ease, pleasure, and sen
sual delights cannot endure to be held to this work ; they do either
openly refuse this work, or delay it, which is the more modest denial,
68 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiR XIII.
or else are cold in it. Some profane persons cast off all care of duty,
as if religion were but a point of policy, heaven but a dream, and hell
but a false fire, the gospel but a fable to busy men s heads with, and so
resolve to please the flesh, and never trouble themselves about uncertain
futurities. Many thus live in defiance of God and Christianity, or else
they delay to a more convenient season, they have no mind to the work :
Acts xxiv. 25, Go thy way for this time ; when I have a more con
venient season, I will send for thee. Lust must have present satisfac
tion, but Christ comes always out of season. When Christ makes an
offer of heaven to their souls, hereafter they will be glad to hear of him,
but now he comes before the time. As he said in Seneca, A quingua-
gessima in otium discedam When I am fifty years old, then I will
retire and study philosophy ; so when their youthful vanities are spent,
then they will look after these things. When the heart cannot keep
out light and conviction of our duty, it seeks to keep off care, and so
by making fair promises for the future we elude the importunity of
present conviction. Or else a heart addicted to present satisfaction is
very cold in religion, for the heart that is diverted by other pursuits
cannot make religion its work, but only minds it by the by. The world,
that is their business, but religion, that is put in the place of a recreation,
and they mind earthly things, Phil. iii. 19. Their heads and hearts
are full of the world, so that they have no room for God. Their time,
thoughts, discourses are wholly swallowed up of present things and
complying with their present lusts.
[4.] This addictedness to present satisfactions will make us shrink at
the trials God exerciseth us with before we go to heaven : Acts xiv. 22,
Through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God.
All good things are hard to come by, and God will show that heaven
is worth something. When men have cheap thoughts of it, God will
enhance the price of heaven. There must be striving and suffering before
we get thither. The howling wilderness was the ready way to Canaan.
The captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering. We
should else neither esteem the cross of Christ nor long for heaven ; but
present ease, present safety, present wealth doth wonderfully enchant
us, to have good days here, and a quiet life without any trouble. If
we could compound with God for this world and heaven too, then we
should like it ; but now, while we are so wholly inclined and addicted
to present things, it must needs be a difficult thing to hear of trials and
crosses that we must endure.
III. This difficulty must be sufficiently understood and seriously
thought of by us. And here
1. Negatively. We should so reflect upon the difficulty (1.) Not
to murmur against God because heaven is not to be had upon cheaper
terms, and his ways lie so cross to our desires. Take heed of this ; as
if he were envious, and had not a good respect for the happiness of his
creature. It is but reasonable that we should labour for heaven, as we
do for all other things that are good and excellent ; that which costs
nothing is worth nothing. Besides, there are so many corruptions to
be mortified, duties to be performed, and trials to be endured, that the
faith of the elect may be found to the more praise and honour, 1 Peter
i. 7, and therefore all the pains, and shame, and loss, and trouble, is but
VER. 26.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 69
necessary. This is an ill use and end to murmur against God and
repine against his sovereignty and dominion over the creature ; and yet
this is the use that many make of it : John vi. 60, Many of his disciples
when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying, who can hear it ?
What ! nothing but mortifying our desires ? nothing but thwarting
our pleasing inclinations ? nothing but performing such works which
we cannot abide. Why hath God planted such desires in us if he
would not have them satisfied ? (2.) Not that we should despair or
wholly despond, as those, Jer. xviii. 12, 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, There is no hope ; no, for I have
loved strangers, and after them will I go. Well, I see my condition is
helpless and hopeless, therefore I resolve to make the best of it. When
men hear how hard it is to go to heaven, they throw off all in a de
spondency, they shall never br.ing their hearts to this work. But we
should not despair ; and think it altogether impossible Trpoaipya-i? OVK
earlv a&vvcnwv ; there cannot be a pursuit of that which is impossible.
Past cure, they say, past care. Many, their affections are so strongly
set upon carnal things, and they are so inveigled with the comforts of
the world and the pleasures of the flesh, that they are discouraged, and
so think it impossible to do otherwise than they do. Oh, no ! that is
not the use of it. Do not say, There is no hope of the world to come,
therefore let us make the best of this life. God would have the fallen
creature to despair of himself indeed : With man it is impossible, but
with God all things are possible, as in the next verse.
2. Positive. Why should these difficulties be thought of and laid
to heart ? to what end ?
[1.] To prevent slightness of spirit. There is not a greater bane to re
ligion, nor a greater judgment lights upon a creature, than a vain, frothy,
slight heart ; and therefore, to prevent this, and that we may in good
earnest mind the things of our eternal peace, it is good to understand
sufficiently the difficulty of it. A slight heart thinks it no such great
matter to get to heaven, there is no such danger of missing it as men talk
of ; though they be not so religious as preachers would have them, nor
so strict in conscience as to abstain from every smaller matter, yet through
the grace of God they shall do well enough. Hell is made for the devil
and devilish men and outrageous sinners ; if they live fairly, and do as
their neighbours do, they shall do well enough, though they do not pine
and whine over their sins, or busy their brains about clearing up their
interest in God ; though they be not so nice and scrupulous, and take
God s word too strictly, they shall do well enough for all that. Chris
tians, these conceits, with which most men are leavened, are the bane,
and eat out the heart of all religion. It is no such easy matter to go to
heaven as the world imagines. A cold faint wish will never bring us
thither, nor a desire to enjoy it when we can live here no longer. No ;
there must be watching, and labouring, and striving; this must be
your great business and employment : Ps. xxvii. 4, One thing have I
desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the
Lord, and to inquire in his temple. Oh 1 whatever is neglected, this
business must be looked after day after day, namely, in what posture
70 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XIII.
we are for the enjoyment of the blessed God : Phil, iii 12,
" I follow after it, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am
apprehended of Christ , Acts xxvi. 7, Unto which hope the twelve
tribes served God instantly/ some render it; but it is ev eKreveia,
with all their strength, day and night, hope to come. Now it is neces
sary men should be sensible of the difficulty of being saved, to quicken
their endeavours, and to bring them out of this slight frame of heart
which is so natural to us ; they think there needs not so much ado
that we make the way straiter than God hath made it ; they will not
believe it is half so hard as it is. We see how great is our sloth and
negligence. Now, if after he hath told us it is as hard as to go through
the eye of a needle, what would we do if all were easy ? Think of the
difficulty to prevent this slight heart.
[2.] To keep us in a due dependence upon and an admiration of
grace, God would have us sensible of the difficulty. What carnal
hearts have we ! how hard a matter is it to guide and govern them in
the fear of God that we may keep up an admiration of the power of
God that is perfected in our weakness ! 2 Cor. xii. 10, When I am
weak, then am I strong. Alas ! when we look to ourselves, we may
cry out, when we think of these things, Who can be saved ? This
awakeneth our prayers for special grace from day to day, and rnaketh,
us to look up to God for new supplies, because we find it is not in our
selves : * The way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that
walketh to direct his steps, Jer. x. 23 ; We are not sufficient of our
selves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God/
2 Cor. iii. 5.
[3.] That we may be forearmed with resolutions. They that take
a walk for recreation do not prepare for all weathers, as they that
resolve upon a journey ; or they that go to sea for pleasure, if they see
a storm coming, easily go to shore again, but they that go for
business resolve upon all hazards to finish their voyage. Now, that we
may resolve to make a thorough work of Christianity, and to hold on our
way in Christ s strength notwithstanding all difficulty, our Lord would
have us to sit down and count the charges, Luke xiv. 28, to consider what
it will cost us to go to heaven ; not to discourage us, but to provoke us
to put on the more resolution, lest we tire when we find more difficulty
than we did expect, and that we may resolve to hold on with God,
whatever it cost us.
Use 1. This shows us the reason of that presumption which is so
common. We use to say that despair kills thousands, but presumption
its ten thousands. What is the reason that many presume ? Oh ! the
difficulties of salvation are not well weighed. True hope is a middle
thing between presumption and despair ; the object of hope is bonum,
futurum, arduum, sed possibile. Hope considers its object as hard, for
that which is easy to come by is as if it were already enjoyed ; a man
cannot be said to hope for that which he may have with the turn of
his hand. Well, then, it considers the good to come as difficult, to
awaken diligence and serious endeavours ; but then it considers it as
possible, for otherwise we are really discouraged from looking after
it ; for why should we look after that which is impossible ? Paul s
mariners gave over working when all hope that they should be saved
VER. 26.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 71
was taken away, Acts xxvii. 20. But now presumption leaves out the
difficulty, and reflects only upon the possibility. Some may be saved ;
surely God will not damn all his creatures ; therefore I shall be saved.
But suppose the contrary, few are saved ; then what shall become of me ?
On the other aide, despair reflects only upon the difficulty, and leaves
out the possibility. Oh ! it is hard, it is impossible with men, there
fore they give it over. I shall make no work of it, saith despair.
Now the scripture, that would breed and nourish in us a true hope,
doth all along lay forth the difficulty, to prevent slightness of spirit,
.and yet represents the possibility to prevent despair ; the difficulties
to quicken our endeavours, and the possibility to encourage men to
hope for the grace of God.
2. It presseth us to mortify our addictedness to present things.
Christians ! if you could overcome the world, you pluck out the root of
all temptations, and then the commandments of God would not be
grievous : 1 John v. 3, 4, For this is the victory whereby we overcome
the world, even our faith ; the world is the great let which hinders us
from keeping the command, from being so exact, punctual, and sincere
with God, Overcome the world, and the work will be easy. Take
heed of pleasing the flesh, or letting the world have too great an
interest in your hearts ; let it not seem a great thing in your eye.
Until your hearts are drawn off from present things, and you are
wholly baptized into that spirit that suits with the world to come, to
make that your main care and desire, you will never prosper in heaven s
way, until your thoughts be loosened from the world, and you are
carried out more to heaven and heavenly things. Consider, why should
you be addicted to present things ? You that are strangers and not
inhabitants, your happiness lies not here : If our hopes were only in
this life, we were of all men most miserable, 1 Cor. xv. 19. We aro
but probationers for heaven : Our conversation should be in heaven/
Phil. iii. 20.
3. To fortify us against the difficulties in the way of salvation. You
must be at some pains and labour : John vi. 27, Labour not for the
meat that perisheth, but for that meat that endureth unto everlasting
life. Do not slacken your endeavours. To quicken you, consider
[1.] If you love your salvation, you will be at some cost about it. It
it is a sign you make no reckoning of heaven, and have no great sense
of things to come, when you grudge your pains ; it is a sign you slight
it when you are so slow in the pursuit of it : Phil. iii. 14, I press
towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus. Oh ! did you value heaven, or had you any esteem of heavenly
things, you would not think much of a little pains, of striving with
God in prayer, of wrestling, and denying your lusts, to bring your
hearts to a readiness and cheerfulness in the service of the ever-living
God. No trade in the world you can drive on by idleness. Who ever
prospered in any course of living if he followed it with a slack hand ?
We cannot think to have those great invisible things of the Lord s
kingdom and his glory if you will do nothing for it.
[2.] There is difficulty both in the way to heaven and hell. Lusts
.are ravenous things, and cannot be fed or kept without much self-
denial. You must deny yourselves either for God or the devil. You
72 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SfiB. XIY.
must deny your comforts, and your estate. Men will venture much
for their lusts and for their sensuality ; there must be a great deal of
charge to feed this humour, to satisfy the pleasures of the flesh ; it
is costly to be an epicure. Worldliness wastes the spirits, racks the
brain. For ambition, how many hazards do men run for their great
ness in the world ? how many men sacrifice their lives upon the point
of honour, for revenge, and for a little vainglory ! Now, if a man will
take pains to go to hell, shall he not take pains to- go to heaven ?
When men will be at such costs for lusts as to deny conscience and
slight many of the comforts of the present world for lust s sake, shall
we take no pains and exercise no self-denial for heaven ?
[3.] If we be at a little labour it will not be in vain in the Lord :
1 Cor. xv. 58, Be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in
vain in the Lord. Whether you consider your vales or wages, your
labour is not in vain. Your vales : Christ s servants have a great deal
of comfort and sweetness : Prov. iii. 17, Her ways are ways of
pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. And for the world to come
there is a full and sure reward ; therefore do not stick at a little pains ;
though it be difficult, yet remember it is for salvation.
4. Let us look to our own selves ; how is it with us ? are we in the
way to hell or heaven ? Let us look to our own standing ; do we
leave the boat to the stream ? do we give up ourselves to the sway of
our corrupt and carnal affections ? or else do we row against the
stream and current of flesh and blood ? It is no easy matter to be
saved. I do not ask now what will become of those that never minded
salvation, that never busied their thoughts about it, but even in effect
say, Let them take heaven that list ; but I ask, what will become of
those slothful perfunctory Christians that count a little slight and formal
religion enough, which is without any life, alacrity, and power ? Will
this do the deed ? Such will fall short of heaven.
SEKMON XIV.
And Jesus, looking upon them, saith, With men it is impossible, but not
with God ; for with God all things are possible. MARK x. 27.
WE have seen the disciples wonder returning. Christ, that is never
wanting to his in their trouble and astonishment, graciously looketh
upon them, and in words full of comfort giveth a solution of that which
was such a riddle to them, And Jesus, looking upon them, saith, &c.
Here we have
1. Christ s gesture, Jesus looked upon them.
2. Christ s answer, by a distinction how it is impossible and how
not. In the first part of the distinction there is a concession, That
with men it is impossible. In the second branch there is a correction,
But not with God. This latter branch is confirmed by a general
reason, Tor with God all things are possible. In this text three
VER. 27.] SERMONS UPON MAUK x. 17-27. 73
things are asserted (1.) The impotency of nature ; (2.) The sovereign
efficacy of grace ; (3.) The general truth upon which it is grounded, and
that is the omnipotency of God. Accordingly the points are three
1. That it is impossible for mere man by his own natural strength to
get to heaven.
2. Men that are discouraged with the sense of their own impotency
should consider the power of God.
3. That this power of God is all-sufficient, and can do all things.
Doct. 1. That it is impossible for mere man by his own natural
strength to get to heaven.
Two things will evidence that
1 . There is legalis exclusio ; we are all excluded by the sentence of
God s law, and therefore it is impossible for any mere man to get to
heaven. The law knows no way of justifying a sinner, but only of
saving a creature holy and innocent ; and if we be not holy and inno
cent, there is a sentence in force against us. That scripture expresses
the tenor of the law : Gal. iii. 10, For as many as are of the works of
the law are under the curse ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that
continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law
to do them. An innocent nature is presupposed, for the person must
continue, it doth not say now begin. The law doth not treat with man
as lapsed or fallen, or as having already broken with God, but as in a
good and sound estate ; and therefore,- since by the fall we are sinners,
we are also under the curse by nature : Eph. ii. 3, And were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others ; liable to the stroke of God s
vindictive wrath. Well, now, with man it is impossible. God hath
placed a cherub with a flaming sword that keeps the passage into para
dise. Heaven s gates are shut against us now. No mere man can
appease an angry God, or redeem his soul from the curse that keeps
him out of heaven. We are weak and without strength : Rom. v. 6,
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for
the ungodly. Weakness or without strength there beareth the same
sense with unworthiness. We are unable to perform the work or duty
through the curse of the first covenant, and when we were altogether
sinful and unworthy, then Christ died for us, and therefore it is impos
sible in regard of his legal exclusion ; for suppose we could obey per
fectly for the future, yet the paying of new debts doth not quit old
scores. We are without strength, because we cannot expiate former
transgressions, and so the law is become impossible through the weak
ness of our flesh : Rom. viii. 3, For what the law could not do in that
it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the like
ness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh.
2. There is evangelica difficultas; there are difficulties by the gospel
which mere man cannot overcome. Though the gospel giveth hopes
of entrance into heaven, or reversing the strict conditions of the law,
yet upon such terms as we must be beholden to grace for them. Christ,
that requires the conditions of the gospel, must also give them to us :
Acts v. 31, Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince
and a saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
He is not only a prince and lawgiver, but also a saviour, or the author
and fountain of grace. He doth not only give the privilege, remission;
74 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [&ER, XIV.
but he gives the condition, repentance. If you conceive of Christ that
he doth give the privilege, and require the conditions, and no more,
you legalise Christ, as the Samaritans had a temple without an ark
and a mercy-seat ; so to speak of a law without grace, or if you
separate the law of the gospel from the grace of the gospel, it is
impossible.
Why is it thus impossible with man upon gospel terms ? The legal
impossibility all will acknowledge, but whence is this evangelical
difficulty? It ariseth from three things there is vitiosa contra-
rietas, a corrupt nature ; there are externa impedimenta, many out
ward snares ; and there is inimica oppositio, a great deal of enmity
and opposition ; therefore with man it is impossible.
[1.] There is vitiosa contrarietas, a corrupt nature, inclined to evil
and averse to good : Gen. vi. 5, God saw that the wickedness of man
was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of
his heart was only evil continually. Man hath such a heart that, if
left to itself, will always be minting evil thoughts and evil desires and
carnal and inordinate motions. And as the heart of man is prone to
evil, so it is averse to what is good, and so averse that it cannot do any
of the great duties that God hath required of him. Look upon this
averseness and impotency with respect to duties ; he cannot know,
believe, nor obey. He cannot know : 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 dis
cerned. And he cannot believe : John vi. 44, No man can come to
me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him ; it is not said,
he doth not, but he cannot. And he cannot obey : Rom. viii. 7, The
carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be/ And consider this impotency with respect
to our thoughts, words, and deeds. He cannot think a good thought :
2 Cor. iii. 5, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything
as of ourselves. He cannot speak a good word: Mat. xii. 34, How
can ye, being evil, speak good things? He cannot do any good thing:
John xv. 5, Without me ye can do nothing. He doth not say, nihil
magnum, you can do no great thing, you cannot acquit yourselves in
some eminent temptation with honour, or in some notable duty ; but nihil,
you can do nothing without me. Well, then, when we cannot know,
nor believe, nor obey, nor think, nor speak, not do anything without
grace, surely it is impossible man of himself should perform the
conditions of the gospel ; he is wholly impotent, and unable to help
himself.
[2.] There are externa impedimenta, outward impediments. Man
is impotent and corrupt naturally, and his corruption is fed and
strengthened by worldly things, and so his outward condition proves a
snare to him : 1 John ii. 16, All that is in the world, the lusts of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but
is of the world. Lust or distempered appetite finds an answerable
diet. There are sensible objects which to our souls as thus constituted
prove shrewd and dangerous temptations and snares. If we will find
the lust, the world will afford us the object. For the lusts of the flesh,
there are pleasures and carnal delights to beset our souls, to inveigle
VER. 27.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 75
and entice us from the strictness and severity of the Christian profes
sion. For the lusts of the eye there are riches and all kinds of profits.
For pride of life there are dignities, and superiorities, and popular
acclamations, and all sorts of preferments, or anything men are natu
rally proud of ; so that a poor creature living in the midst of so many
snares and temptations, may sadly cry out, as Bernard doth, Oh, woe
is me ! here are snares and temptations, and there is a sensual nature
in us that is strongly drawn forth by all that is about us. It is true,
riches, pleasures, and honours were not snares in their original institu
tion or God s intention, but they prove so through our corrupt affection.
God ordained them as miserimce necessitatis solatia, as Jerome tells us,
to be helps and comforts in our mortal condition ; but through the
strong affection we bear to them they prove snares : 2 Peter i. 4, The
corruptions that are in the world through lust. It is from unmorti-
fied corruption and lustings after them. Here, then, is that which
increaseth the difficulty ; these sensible objects to which we have a great
inclination by nature, and which are continually present with us, do
enchant and divert the heart from God and heavenly things, so that
we either sin in them or for them. In the use of them, or for the
getting and keeping of them, we offend God many times, and cross the
rule that is given unto us ; so that besides the natural impotency that
is in us to all things spiritual, the soul is further depraved and corrupted
by evil habits, or particular inclinations to any of these sensible objects.
This is a superadded impediment to our condition by nature, as a
crooked stick by growing becomes more difficult to be made straight. It
is impossible for any mere man to receive the things of the Spirit, but
much more for one that is wedded to any of these sensible things ; for
here Christ puts the impossibility upon a carnal rich man, because he
hath so much of the world to divert his heart from God and true
happiness. There are degrees of impossibilities ; as some have fewer
lets and impediments, and some have more, so it is more or less impos
sible, as they need more or less of God s special and extraordinary grace.
For let us consider any dispositions to these sensible objects. Let us
consider any of the dispositions to these sensible things, be it riches,
the lusts of the eye, so he calls covetousness, or an inclination to
riches, for by the eye the heart is wounded, and so the difficulty of
salvation is increased. When once men set up this as their scope, and
make it their business to be rich and great in the world, They that
will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, 1 Tim. vi. 9. Or be it
an inclination to honour, either to popularity or esteem of the people ;
or to ambition, or an inordinate desire of preferment by the magistrates
and potentates of the world, John v. 44, How can ye believe that
receive honour one of another ? it makes the impotency the greater.
Or if it be an inclination to pleasures, Lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God, 2 Tim. iii. 4. But mostly doth our Lord here put tho
difficulty upon riches. Why ? Because that is a complicate tempta
tion, and that is the fuel of pleasure, and the means by which we get
to honours and greatness in the world ; therefore here is the greater
difficulty for a rich man in his corrupt estate to enter into the kingdom
of God.
[3.] There is inimica oppositio if we would go to heaven, there
76 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XIV.
are enemies to oppose. The devil : 1 Peter v. 8, Your adversary the
devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
And wicked men : John xv. 19, If ye were of the world, the world
would love its own, but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you ; and
Whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,
2 Tim. iii. 12. But because the great opposition is from Satan, there
fore I shall insist upon Eph. vi. 12, We wr-estle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places/ There is a more
terrible and dangerous party against us than bodily and human power.
Indeed we have bodily enemies, and they are great lets and great dis
couragements in the way of salvation, when the Lord lets loose their
hands against us. These are but Satan s auxiliary forces whom he stirs
up and employs ; but the principal part of our conflict and wrestling
is against devils and damneU angels, enemies of great power and
strength and influence upon the rulers of the darkness of this world ;
they have a mighty power upon the ignorant, carnal, and blind part of
the world, and it is with these we contend and wrestle about the things
which concern the honour of God, and the eternal welfare of our souls.
Now this terrible opposition, how soon will it bear down a poor crea
ture that stands merely by his own strength ! Alas ! set creature
against creature, and Satan is too hard for us ; he exceeds us in the
rank of beings, and so we are no match for the devil. Our adversary
is of a spiritual, immaterial substance, and so invisible both in his
nature and approaches, and doth often reach us a deadly blow before
we know it is he, and in the very simplicity of our hearts we run into
the snare. And again, he is so restless in his assaults, so unwearied
in his motions : 1 Peter v. 8, Your adversary the devil as a roaring
lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. The best Christian
will be surprised if there be not a greater than he to stand by him and
for him. He is either weakening our comforts, or enticing us to sin, or
making us weary of the ways of God. If he cannot pervert us, and draw
us by some gross sin to dishonour God, he ceaseth not to vex us, and
make our heavenly course uncomfortable to us. The devil never ceases
to pursue his designs, but observes all our motions, all the postures of
our spirits ; when we are merry and when we are angry, when we are
laughing and when we are mourning. He sees how the tree leans,
and then joins his force to run us down. And he is of great power,
one that can make terrible opposition, of great authority and influence
over the carnal world, of great cunning and dexterity in setting our
sins a- work. Certainly unless we be strong in the Lord, and in the
power of his might, there is no standing, Eph. vi. 10-12, compared.
But why hath God left it impossible to man, when he hath offered
hopes by the new covenant ?
(1.) That all the glory of the good that is in us may redound unto
his grace : Eph. i. 6, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein
he hath made us accepted in the beloved. That is God s end in the
new covenant, that we might ever admire and highly esteem his glorious
grace. And therefore it is not only grace that opens the door, that re
moves the flaming sword that is against us, that takes away the curse
VER. 27.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 77
of God, but in the whole business of salvation all is to be ascribed to
grace : It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of
God that showeth mercy, Rom. ix. 16. The words willeth and runneth
are considerable. The Lord, that brings us into this state, keeps us in
this state.
(2.) To keep the creature in a constant dependence upon him, and
that he might often hear from us. As long as a man is sufficient to
himself, he never comes to God : Jer. ii. 31, We are lords, and will no
more come unto thee. 2 If a man had the dominion over his own spirit,
and were sufficient to himself, God would never hear from him. The
prodigal went away from his father when he had his portion in his own
hands and he never thought of returning till he had spent all and
began to be in want, Luke xv. 14. Thus should we do with God.
Prayer and all trading with heaven would cease if we were sufficient
of ourselves as to do anything ; and therefore with man it is impossible.
Use 1. Take heed that you do not make a wrong use of this impos
sibility, namely, so as to be discouraged and throw off all, as if there
were no hope. God hath left it so as that we may despair of our own
strength, but not of his help. We should not be discouraged, since he
worketh in us what he requireth of us.
1. God can overcome all this difficulty. He that made the heart
is above it, and can frame it to himself. Evangelical difficulty lies in
three things the corruption of our nature, outward impediments,
and Satan s opposition. Now the scripture represents God as able to do
all for us. He can change our hearts, sanctify our condition, and help
us to vanquish our temptations.
[1.] He can change our hearts by regeneration. Alas ! we cannot
change our natures or turn ourselves to God, and therefore we are apt
to be cast down when we look upon God s holy ways and the strength
of our own lusts. But God is able to change those hearts of ours, and
take away their reluctancy ; not by making a violent impression, as we
force a stone upward, but by imprinting in our hearts the habits of
grace, whereby we are carried out willingly in the ways of God, and so
our business becomes easy : Titus iii. 4, According to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost ; No man can come unto me except the Father which hath
sent me draw him, John vi. 44 ; Draw me, and we will run after thee,
Cant. i. 4. He puts forth his mighty power upon the heart, and
changeth the bent of our souls, and so we come in.
[2.] God can sanctify our condition, that it shall not be a snare.
Christians, whatever you think of it, it is not easy to keep yourselves-
unspotted from the world, to live in the midst of so many temptations
and to carry on an equal, holy, heavenly frame of heart, such as the
apostle mentions, 1 Cor. vii. 29-31, It remains that they that havo
wives be as though they had none, and they that weep, as though they
wept not ; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not ; and they
that buy, as though they possessed not ; and they that use this world,
as not abusing it. This is our duty ; but how shall we do to get such
a weaned heart ? With man it is impossible but not with God. He
can give a rich man such grace as to contemn the world, to lay up
treasures in heaven, and upon religious reasons to leave all for Christ s
78 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XIV.
sake. God taught Paul this holy weanedness : Phil. iv. 12, I know
both how to be abased, and I know how to abound ; everywhere and
in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to
abound and to suffer need. And he can teach it you if you will wait
upon him. Our own natural spirits indeed carrieth us quite another
way : James iv. 5, 6, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy,
but he giveth more grace. Our natural spirit is all for temporal
things ; it envies the greatness of others, it designs for ourselves ; but
when lusts rage, he can bridle them ; the Lord is able to give us a
holy weanedness and moderation of our desires in the midst of all those
baits and snares that we are compassed about withal.
[3.] To conquer temptations. It is God that rescues the prey, and
plucked us at first by a strong hand out of Satan s power : Luke xi.
21, 22, When the strong man armed keepeth his palace, 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. God can bind Satan, and dispossess him, and
recover you out of the snares of the devil, wherein you are taken cap
tive by him at his will, 2 Tim. ii. 26. And when we are once in a
state of grace, he can preserve you in despite of men and devils. The
world assaults the children of God with great force and power, and the
devil is in the design ; but, saith the apostle, Greater is he that is in
you than he that is in the world/ John iv. 4. God is greater in
counsel, greater in strength, greater in his providence and watchfulness
for the good of his people. Till this divine power interpose it can
never be.
[4.] We have no reason to doubt of his will, for he hath promised to
take away the heart of stone : Ezek. xxxvi. 26, A new heart 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.
There is nothing within the compass of our Christian calling of which
we have not a promise in the covenant. The precept and the promise
go hand-in-hand ; therefore the promise will be made good, and so we
have no reason to despair, but humbly wait upon God in the use of
means till these promises be accomplished.
2. What use shall we make of it then ? Go to God for this power,
and give God all the glory of any saving grace wrought in us by this
power.
[1.] Go to God for this power when you are sensible of your impo-
tency. In vain do we talk of power to men that are not sensible of
. weakness, and will not so much as essay whether they have power or
no : 2 Cor. xii. 10, When I am weak, then am I strong/ When
creatures are helpless and shiftless, God takes pity upon them ; there
fore when you have been tugging and wrestling in the business of
salvation, and it doth not come on kindly, but you find your weakness,
then you may come to God for his power. Bewail your impotency, and
say, as Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. xx. 12, Lord, we have no might, neither
know we what to do, but our eyes are unto thee ; or rather as Ephraim,
Jer. xxxi. 18, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a
bullock unaccustomed to the yoke ; turn thou me, and I shall be
turned. God s chastisement revived the sense of his duty, and think-
VER. 27.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 79
ing of his duty made him feel his impotency, and feeling his impo-
tency that made him groan to God, and wait for his power. Oh ! it is
well when practical experience convinceth us of our weakness and
necessities, and our weakness and necessities lead us to the promises,
and the promises to Christ, in whom they are Yea and amen ; and
Christ to God as the fountain of grace, and then we rest upon the
power of God. And therefore, since it is impossible with man, go to
God, and say, Lord, I confess the debt, I acknowledge my impotency,
but thou hast forbidden me to despair, therefore I come to thee ; give
what thou commandest, and command what thou wilt.
[2.] If it be impossible with men, let God have all the glory of any
saving grace wrought in thee. Mark this, because there is a deceit.
God must not only have some glory, but all the glory, for in the new
covenant there is no glorying but in the Lord. All will acknowledge
and count it a piece of religious manners to speak of some help of grace,
but they do not give it its due praise. The pharisee could say, God,
I thank thee I am not as other men/ Luke xviii. 11. As, for instance,
if a man should say, It is all from God indeed, but only in a Pelagian
sense, as he is author naturce, the author of nature, as he created us
at first with a rational soul, and .gave us an understanding and will,
whereby he enableth us freely to choose that which is good ; here is
God s power acknowledged, but at too remote a distance. The very hea
thens would acknowledge grace, as sacrilegious as they were in robbing
God of his due. Quod vivamus, that we live, and that we had rea
sonable natures, that was the gift of the gods ; but quod bene vivamus,
that we live well, that is of ourselves. This confounds nature and
grace ; we sacrifice the wax to God, and keep the honey to ourselves.
Again, we should acknowledge God not only in the grace of external
revelation, revealing the object, that God hath given us an excellent
religion, there is his grace, but in working upon the faculty. Here
God is acknowledged, but at too low a rate, for we need not only the
sunlight, but eyes : Eph. i. 18, The eyes of your understanding being
opened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what
the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Or if we will
go further, and acknowledge internal grace is necessary, but not absol
utely necessary, but only for facilitation, to do it the more easily, for
the work is very difficult if mere man were left to himself ; here God s
power is acknowledged, but not enough ; grace is absolutely necessary,
not as a horse to a journey, but as legs and feet. Again, if we should
acknowledge it as absolutely necessary for God to excite and move us,
but give the main stroke to our own will, this is not praise high enough ;
it is God inclines the heart, it is God that gives us the will, the begin-
ing and ending of all is from him ; with man it is impossible, therefore
God must have all the glory.
Doct. 2. Those that have a deep sense of their sinful impotency and
carnal distempers should seriously consider and encourage themselves
by the sovereign power of God s grace.
Of the power of God as generally considered I shall speak by and by.
Now I shall speak of it as it worketh in a way of grace, to bring us
into a state of grace, and to preserve us therein.
1. The scripture speaks of this power that bringeth us into a state
80 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XIV.
of grace \ 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.
Mark, there is a mighty glorious power that is seen in converting a
sinner, and turning him from sin to holiness, even greater than the
power by which God made the world. When God made the world,
as there was nothing to help, so there was nothing to hinder ; but such
is the perverseness of man s nature within, such is the opposition from
without, and so great an enemy is Satan, that nothing less than God s
powerful grace can begin such a saving work in them : 2 Peter i. 3,
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that per
tain unto life and godliness. There is a divine power that gives us
life, or a gracious spirit within, and a divine power that helps us to
walk in a course of godliness without. So Kom. xi. 23, God is able to
graff them in again. The Jews are of all people most obstinate and
averse from God ; they have no natural goodness of disposition in them ;
they please not God, and are contrary to all men ; and shall the Jews
be converted ? Yes ; for God is able to graff them in again/ and bring
them into a state of grace.
2. This power of grace is seen in preserving us in a state of grace,
and carrying on this work in despite of men and devils, till grace be
crowned in glory. Alas ! if God did never so much for us at first, yet
if he did not keep us, we should be made a prey, and be shipwrecked
in the haven s mouth ; therefore from first to last the power of God is
seen
[1.] In defending the habit of grace that is begun in the soul.
When the apostle had told us that God of his abundant mercy had
begotten us again unto a lively hope, 1 Peter i. 3, presently he saith,
ver. 5, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salva
tion. First we are begotten, then kept, heaven is kept for us, and we
are kept for it ; first the power of grace is a quickening power, and then
a preserving power, defending the w r ork God hath begun in us.
[2.] God actuates and quickens our graces in us : It is God which
worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure, Phil. ii. 13,
inspiring and breathing holy motions into us : Awake, north wind :
come, O south wind ; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof
may flow forth, Cant. iv. 16. And then strengthening those graces,
and defending them in all assaults and temptations, and causing us to
grow : Col. i. 11, According to his glorious power, unto all patience
and long-suffering, with joyfulness ; and Eph. iii. 16, That he would
grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with
might by his Spirit in the inner man. And thus he continueth to do
till they be perfected and completely glorified. Thus the Lord puts
forth his power in defending, quickening, and increasing the grace
that he hath wrought in us. We have seen there is a power put forth
in a way of grace.
Now this should be considered by them that have a deep sense of
their im potency and carnal distempers, for these reasons
(1.) Because it is a. great relief and prop to the soul. Oh ! what
cannot the working of this mighty power do for us ! It exceedeth all
the contrary power, whether in sin, the world, or the devil, and so
answers our doubts and fears. But you will say, How is the power of
YEB. 27.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 81
God such a relief to the soul ? We can easily grant that God is able,
but how shall we know that he will put forth this mighty power for
us ? I answer (1.) In agonies of conscience ; it is not the fear of hell
only that troubles us, but our rooted distempers. Indeed, fears of hell
awaken us, but when we come to see our inveterate and rooted carnal
distempers, this troubles us. A poor soul that is anything far gone in
this preparative work cries out, It is impossible this blind heart of mine
should ever be enlightened, this vain mind be made serious, this hard
heart be softened, these bewitching lusts renounced. It is the difficulty
of parting with sin troubleth the conscience ; therefore it is a relief to
represent God as able. So in the midst of assaults and temptations,
when we are dangerously beset, and fear we shall never be able to hold
out, think of the power of God : 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 unto him against that day ; Jude 24, Unto him that is
able to keep you from falling. Our great trouble is for want of power.
(2.) Again, it must needs be a relief to the soul, because if we be per
suaded of his power it gives us some hope of his will also ; so that we
may go to God, and say as the leper, Mat. yiii. 2, Lord, if thou wilt,
thou canst make me clean. Look, as beggars, if they see an ordinary
man pass by, they do not use much clamour and importunity with him,
but if they see a man well habited and well attended, they will follow
after him, and plead hard for relief, and say, Sir, it is in the power of
your hands to help us ; so it doth encourage us to consider God is thus
able, and can easily help, and do this for us. Nay (3.) God s power is
engaged by promise, and therefore in many cases we may reason he
is able to keep us, and therefore he will : Eom. xiv. 4, He shall be
holden up, for God is able to make him stand ; and Rom. xi. 23, They
shall be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. The
two pillars of the temple were called Jachin and Boaz, strength and
stability ; he hath strength, and therefore he will establish, for he hath
power enough to make good his word.
(2.) Difficulties are left for this very end, to drive us to the throne
of grace, that we may set the power of God a-work, that where man
leaves off, there God may begin, and when the creature hath spent its
allowance, the Creator may show forth his strength. Look, as in the
outward case, God promiseth to deliver his people, when he seeth
that their power is gone/ Deut xxxii. 26, so in the inward case, He
giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he in-
creaseth strength/ Isa. xl. 29.
Use 1. Let this support us in all the difficulties that we meet with
in our way to heaven. When we are at a loss, God is not at a loss :
Zech. viii. 6, If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this
people in these days, should it also be marvellous in my eyes, saith
the Lord. God s power is not to be measured by our thoughts and
by our scantling. Things may seem strange to us, but God can easily
effect them. He that bringeth forth in the spring such beautiful
flowers out of the earth, which looked with such a horrid and dismal
face in the winter, what cannot he work in our souls ? This is a great
support to a fainting soul ; it is easy with God to do what we count
impossible. A stranger cannot charm a mastiff dog, when the master
VOL. xvii. v
82 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XV.
of the house can with a word. The shepherd can call off the dog
from the flock ; so the Lord can easily rebuke Satan, when he finds
him most violent, and he can subdue and quell the strongest lust.
2. When we are sensible of our weakness, let us observe the laws
God hath set to the creatures. God will be attended upon, and waited
for in the use of means. We must come to the throne of grace, and
therefore our Lord, when he teacheth us to pray, he saith, Thine is
the kingdom, the power, and the glory. We must corne to God, if
we would have his power exerted ; and God will be believed in, and
have his power rested upon and applied: Mark xv. 28, woman!
great is thy faith ; be it unto thee even as thou wilt ; John xi. 40,
If thou wilt believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God ; that is,
his power. If in desperate exigences we would have the power of
God put forth, God must be sought to, and rested upon ; and you
must abstain from all sin. Sampson received strength no longer from
God than he kept the law of his profession. When we entangle our
selves, and wilfully run into sin, and turn away from God, we discharge-
God from looking after us.
3. Observe what experience you have of the power of his grace ;
have you found it working in you ? Mere reading and hearing will
not evidence this truth so much as experience, that there is power put
forth in a gracious way. Alas ! otherwise we shall but speak of it as
strangers to it, with cold notions ; therefore can you say, I can do all
things through Christ strengthening me? Phil. iv. 13. And are
you strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might ? Eph. vi. 10.
Have you learned this holy art of -conquering your distempers and
temptations by the power of God ?
SERMON XV.
With God all things are possible. MARK x. 27.
Doer. 3. I come to the general truth upon which this is grounded,
that God is omnipotent, and can do all things. This I shall prove,
explain, apply.
First, I shall prove by scripture and by reason.
1. By scripture, because it is an article of faith, and the scrip
tures that concern this point may be ranked thus: You will find
the question propounded, Gen. xviii. 14, Is anything too hard for
the Lord? and this answered, Jer. xxxii. 17, There is nothing too
hard for God. The affirmative is in the text ; and Mat. xix. 26,
With God all things are possible ; and the negative, which binds it
the more strongly, is in Luke i. 37, With God nothing shall be
impossible. The general is in the text, All things are possible with
God ; and the particular is in Job xlii. 2, I know that thou canst do
everything. So that the power of God is not only propounded in the
lump, but particularly parcelled out. Certainly God is almighty.
2. I shall prove it by reason.
[1.] The creation of the world shows it. The apostle tells us, Born.
YER, 27.] . SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 83
j. 20, That the invisible things of him from the creation of the world
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and godhead. If you will know what God is, look
upon his creatures. Every creature that hath passed his hand hath
some prints and some stamp upon it, that may discover God, his god
head, and his power ; that is the most visible thing seen in the creation.
His wisdom and goodness is seen in the creation, but his power lies
upward ; and the most natural notion that we have of God is God
Almighty. God made all the things that are seen, and more than are
seen. He that made all things is omnipotent, and can do whatever is
possible to be done. Creatures only can do what is possible to be
clone in their own kind. A man is one kind of creature, an angel is
another ; both have their essence limited. Man can do things belong
ing to a man, an angel can do all things belonging to an angel ; but
God made all things, and therefore he can do all things. In short,
He that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain/ Isa. xl. 22, he that
handles the great ocean as a child newly come out of the womb, he
that appointed the clouds a garment thereof, and thick darkness a
swaddling band for it, Job xxxviii. 8, 9, He that hangs the earth upon
nothing/ Job xxvi. 7, What cannot he do? The earth, that vast and
ponderous body, has nothing to support it but the fluid air, that will
not so much as support a pin or feather. It hangs like a ball in the
midst of the heavens ; where are the pillars and props that sustain
this mighty mass? It is upheld by nothing but the power of God.
And for the manner of making, how did he make all things ? By his
woi d. This great builder needed no instruments and tools : Heb.
xi. 10, Whose builder and maker is God ; he commanded, and they
were created/ Ps. xlviii. 5. What more easy than a word ? One asks
what is become of the tools and engines wherewith God made the
world ? Tully brings in a philosopher disputing against the creation
of the world : With what spade did God dig the sea ? where was
the trowel wherewith he arched the heavens ? and the line and plum
met by which he laid forth the foundations of the earth ? There was
nothing but his word that brought all things out of the womb of
nothing. This is the omnipotent, the glorious God, that can do all
things. And then, ex parte termini, he brought all things out of
nothing, which philosophers could not so much as conceive how it should
be done. What a large stride and gap is there between being and not
being ! He that out of mere nothing brought forth all this world,
certainly nothing can be too hard for him. A man cannot work
without materials and preparations to his work, but God works when
he hath nothing to work upon. As long as the creatures endure, as
long as heaven and earth stands, which is a monument of God s power,
we need not doubt of his all-sufficiency ; and therefore in difficult and
hazardous cases the scripture refers us to God as a creator : 1 Peter
iv. 19, Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God
commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faith
ful creator. Why as unto a creator ? At that time they carried their
lives in their hands; they had nothing to subsist upon, no visible in
terests to defend them. Well, go on cheerfully in well-doing, and
commit yourselves to him that can work all things out of nothing ;
84 SERMONS UPOX MARK X. 17-27. [SKll. XV.
your souls, that is your lives ; put your lives into the Creator s hands.
There may be something of love in the expression, He that created
you will take care of you, and there is also something of power implied ;
they had but only from day to day, and then he bids them trust in
God as a creator. So Ps. cxxiv. 8, Our help is in the name of the
Lord, who made heaven and earth. Whilst you see heaven and earth,
doubt not of God. He hath not lost nor spent his power. He that
made heaven and earth is as ready and as able to work as he did at
first. Though a potter (it is Basil s similitude) make a thousand
vessels, his art is not lessened by the making, but increased rather ;
so whatever God doth, he doth not spend by giving ; his power is the
same, and his word is as mighty as ever : He spoke, and it was done,
he commanded, and it stood fast ; Ps. xxxiii. 9, and that when there
was nothing to work on. The will and the word of God, what mighty
things can they do ! He can do the greatest things without any visible
means; things are "done in the world, and nobody can tell how or by
what. So the apostle tells us that he still acts according to his mighty
power, which he wrought in the creation : 1 Cor. i. 28, God hath,
chosen ra yu?) ovra, things that are not, to bring to nought things that
are/ God will ever triumph over human improbabilities, and will have
no flesh to despair because of the smallness of the means, or to glory
in his sight because of the greatness of them ; for he doth all things,
and that by his mighty power : Bom. iv. 17, his creating power is there
again alluded to, He calleth those things that are not as though they
were. As when God created the world, he spoke light out of dark
ness ; and so still when he finds nothing to work upon he calls things
that are not as though they were; speaking of fulfilling his promises
to Abraham. So he works grace in the hearts of his people according
to his creating power : 2 Cor. iv. 6, For God, who commandsd the
light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give us the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So that
nature well considered is a great help to grace ; when we consider the
creation, and busy our thoughts therein, it helps us more to enlarge
the power of God in our apprehensions.
[2.] As creation, so providence shows it. Take it either for God s
external or internal providence.
(1.) His external providence, preserving all things in their proper
place, and for their proper use : Heb. i. 3, He upholdeth all things by
the word of his power. All things that are in the world are held up
by God s hand ; they do not subsist by their own nature so much as by
divine manutenency : He upholds all things. It is an allusion to a
weighty body that is held up by the hand of man, which if loosened, it
falls to the ground ; so the creature would fall to nothing if not kept
up by God. Now what an almighty grasp hath he that holds up all
things ! He that feedeth so many mouths with the opening the hand
of his bounty : Ps. cxlv. 15, 16, The eyes of all wait upon thee, and
thou givest them their meat in due season : thou openest thy hands,
and satisfiest the desire of every living thing ; he that sustains and
guides so many creatures, that preserves the confederacies of nature,
that sets bounds to the sea, and makes decrees for the waves to obey,
beyond which they shall not pass : Jer. v. 22, Which have placed
YER. 27.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 85
the sand for the bounds of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it can
not pass it ; and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they
not prevail ; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it ; he that
holds the winds in his fist, is not he mighty and strong ? And there
fore, if God should but loosen his hand, the world would soon fall into
confusion and nothing. Thus his sustaining and preserving all things
speaks him an all-powerful God.
(2.) His internal providence. The providence of God is chiefly seen
in his power over the spirits of men that are voluntary agents. He
.hath such a power over them that they are not masters of their own
affections and dispositions, but act contrary many times to their
intended purposes : Prov. xxi. 1, The king s heart is in the hand of
the Lord as the rivers of waters; he turueth it whither soever he will/
Look; as a man by cutting a channel draws the water this way or that
way, hither and thither, so doth God move the hearts of all men in the
world, nay, even of kings and princes : Prov. xvi. 7, When a man s
ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with
him. Strange thing that God can put a bridle upon the spirits of
men, and they shall be at peace with him whom. they hated; their
hearts are turned many times to what formerly they resolved against.
Esau is an instance ; he had vowed Jacob s death, and meets him with
purpose to destroy him, but when God brings them together, Esau falls
embracing of Jacob : Gen. xxxiii. 4, And Esau ran to meet him, and
embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Egypt dismissed
Israel with jewels. Balaam comes to curse, and he falls a blessing
Israel. This bridling, turning, changing the hearts of men, it is a
notable discovery of God s omnipotency. Look, as there is more power
seen in governing a skittish horse than in rolling a stone, so in ruling
those beings which have a principle of resistance doth the Lord show
forth his power. Angels, men, and devils can do nothing but as God
will, and as God gives them leave. The devils are fain to ask Christ s
leave to enter into the herd of swine, Mat. viii. 31 ; and therefore how
may the flock of Christ s sheep rest secure under the power of his
providence, when those damned spirits are held in by the irresistible
providence of God that they can do nothing but what God will ! As
Tertullian said, If the bristles of swine be numbered, much more are
the hairs of the saints. God hath such a mighty power, that not a
creature can be troubled without his leave, even by those spirits that
are most opposite to him ; so that his power over the affections and
hearts of men shows he is a great and mighty God.
[3.] That God is almighty appears by the strength that is in crea
tures, which is an effect and shadow of the power of God. All the
power that is in creatures is from God, and he wastes not by giving as
we do. That expression suits to this case ; God took from the spirit
of Moses, and put it upon the elders, and yet Moses had not the less
because of their participation. We cannot communicate to others but
we lessen ourselves, but God remaineth in an infinite fulness ; and
therefore, if he hath given power to creatures, he hath more power
himself. Now there is great power in creatures : Job xli. 8, Job
tells us -of great whales that have bones as brass, and strong as pieces
of iron ; and David tells us of angels that excel in strength, Ps.
86 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SER. XV.
cxxxiii. 20, so that one of them slew a hundred fourscore and five
thousand in one night in Sennacherib s host. And if there be such
strength in creatures, what is there in God from whom they have it ?
for nothing is in the effect but what was first in the cause.
Secondly, Let me come to explain this power of God by three dis
tinctions
1. God s power is twofold either absolute or actual. (1.) His ab
solute power is that by which he can do that which he never will do.
This is spoken of Mat. xxvi. 53, Thinkestthou not that I cannot now
pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve
legions of angels ? Mat. iii. 9, God is able of these stones to raise up
children to Abraham ; he can do more than ever he did or will do.
He can do not only svhat men and angels conceive can be done, but
what he himself conceiveth can be done, (2.) His actual power is that
by which he doth whatever he will : Ps. cxv. 3, Our God is in the
heavens ; he hath done whatsoever he pleaseth ; and Ps. cxxxv, 6,
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth, in
the seas, and all deep places. Never shall anything be done but what
God wills, and what God wills shall surely come to pass ; which is a
notable support in all accidents.
2. God s power is ordinary and extraordinary. (1.) Ordinary is
that which is according to the course of second causes and law of
nature, when he preserves the creatures, and works by them according
to the order which he himself hath established : Ps. cxix. 91, They
continue this day according to thine ordinance, for all are thy servants.
All the creatures, sun, moon, and stars, do keep the track and path
which God hath set unto them, and God preserves the beings of all
things, and keeps the covenant of night and day, as it is called in
the prophet. (2.) There is God s extraordinary power, by which he
can suspend the whole course of nature, as he hath done sometimes
upon eminent occasions ; as when the sun stood still in the valley of
Ajalom, Josh. x. 12, 13, or when the sun went back ten degrees on the
dial of Ahaz, 2 Kings xx. 11 ; his interdicting the Red Sea that it
should not flow, Exod. xiv, 21, 22 ; his causing iron, which is a heavy
body, to swim upon the top of the water at the prayer of Elisha, 2
Kings vi. 6 ; his suspending the burning of the fire when the three
children were in the furnace, Dan. iii. 27 ; his shutting the mouths of
the hungry lions when Daniel was in the den with them, Dan, vi. 22 ;
his making the ravens, which are by nature birds of prey, to be cat
erers to Elijah, 1 Kings xvii. 6.
3. Distinction. There are impossibilia natures, and impossibilia
nalura, things impossible to nature, and things impossible by nature.
Things impossible to nature God can do, but not things impossible by
nature ; he will do things above nature, and besides it, but nothing
against it. Things impossible by nature are such as either respect
the agent or the object. (1.) With respect to the agent, that which
is repugnant to his own essential perfection. Thus God cannot lie :
Titus i. 2, Which God, that cannot lie, hath promised ; Heb. vi. 18,
That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to
lie, we may have strong consolation. God cannot deny himself:
2 Tim. ii. 13, If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful ; he cannot
VER. 27.] SERMONS UPON MAUK x. 17-27. <S7
xleny himself; for these things imply weakness, and not power. God
cannot die, God cannot sleep. It is no discredit to a wise man that he
-cannot play the fool, or to a valiant man that he cannot be a coward.
God can do all things, so as that he is still God ; those things that are
repugnant to the perfection of his nature he cannot do. (2.) With
respect to the object, such things as imply a contradiction ; as that a
thing should be, and not be, to make a creature finite and infinite,
dependent and independent at the same time and in the same respect ;
limited to a place and yet in every place; to make the sun shine and
not to shine at the same time ; these are against the nature of the
things themselves. These distinctions have their use in many con
troversies that are about religion.
Use. For exhortation. To press you to believe that God is almighty,
and to improve it.
1. Believe it. Need we press men to that ? It is a piece of natural
divinity, a truth held forth tc us, not only in the book of scripture, but
of nature. That light which finds out a deity will discover him to be
almighty ; and therefore need we any great ado to persuade men to
believe it ? Yes, certainly ; for this is the great thing that we question
in cases of difficulty; we doubt more of the power of God than of his
will. Our seeming doubts of his will are but pretences to cover our
shameful and atheistical doubts of his power ; that which works subtly
and underground in us, and weakens our confidence in God, and hin
ders the rejoicing of our faith, is a doubt of his power. Surely God
knows us better than we do ourselves ; and the scripture shows all
along that our doubts are about God s power. When there was a
promise brought from God that Sarah should conceive with child, she
did not believe the promise: Gen. xviii. 13^ 14, And the Lord said
unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety
bear a child, which am old ? Is anything too hard for the Lord ?
There was her doubt and difficulty. So Moses, the man of God, the
Lord had told him face to face that he would feed his people, and give
them flesh to eat, and he doubted of God s power ; Num. xi. 21, 23,
The people among whom I am are six hundred thousand footmen,
and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole
month. Shall the flocks and herds be slain for them to suffice them ?
or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them to suffice
them? And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord s hand waxed
short? So when the prophet foretold there should be such plenty in
Samaria, where there was great scarcity, saith the nobleman, 2 Kings
vii. 2, Behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might
this thing be ? There was his doubt. So the Virgin Mary, when
the angel comes with the message of the great mystery of the incarna
tion of the Son of God, that he should be born of her, Luke i. 34, Then
said Mary unto the angel. Ho\v can this be, seeing I know not a man?
At this rate still doth unbelief speak in the wilderness ; as the children
of Israel : Ps. Ixxviii. 19, 20, Can God furnish a table in the wilder
ness ? Behold he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the
streams overflowed ; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for
his people ? Certainly the scripture knows what is the special lan
guage of our hearts better than we ourselves. Now unbelief is still
o
88 SERMONS UPON MAEK X. 17-27. [SER. XV.
represented as doubting of God s power. Besides, doubts haunt us only
in times of difficult} 7 , and when mercies expected are hard to come by.
If we did doubt of God s will because of our unworthiness, why do we
not doubt at other times, when things are easy ? But these doubts
surprise us only when the things we expect from God according to his
promises are difficult and hard to come by. And the reason why we
are so apt to doubt of God s power is the imperfection of our thoughts
about God s being. We are inured to principles of sense, and con
verse with limited beings, and therefore confine God to a circle of our
own making : Ps. Ixxviii. 41, They turned back and tempted God,
and limited the Holy One of Israel. We confine God to the course of
second causes, with which we wholly converse, and when there is diffi
culty, there our hearts fail; therefore there is need to press you to
believe God s power.
2. Improve it to strengthen our faith and encourage our obedience.
[1.] To strengthen our faith, either in prayer or in waiting. In
prayer: Oh! when you come to God, remember he is able to do
abundantly above all that we ask or think/ Eph. iii. 20. How hard
and difficult soever the thing be that we ask of God, he is able to do it.
When our Lord taught us to pray, what are the encouragements he
gives us ? see the conclusion of the Lord s prayer, Mat. vi. 13, Thine
is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. As God hath a kingdom
and authority to dispose of all things for his glory and our good, so he
hath a power to back it ; it is not an empty title. Pray for help with
such cheerfulness and confidence as if it were the easiest thing in the
world to be done. All those things that are so difficult to be obtained,
either the sanctification of our souls, or the promotion of Christ s
kingdom, or any of those things, Thine is the power ; there is that
which holds up our hands in prayer, and gives us confidence towards
God. So to strengthen our faith in waiting, touching the performance
of all God s promises for ourselves and others. Abraham believed
above hope and against hope. Why ? Being fully persuaded that
what he had promised he was able also to perform, Kom, iv. 21. This
is the great security of the soul, that confirms us in waiting upon God,
when the accomplishment of his promises is unlikely to reason, God is
able/ If you expect of God preservation in the midst of difficulties,
such a fickle and such a changeable creature as man is, how can that
be ? 1 Peter i. 5, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation. The power of God is engaged for our defence. So for tem
poral difficulties, when we see no means, no likelihood to escape, yet
we are not thoughtful of this matter, for our God whom we serve is
able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver
us out of thy hand, king, Dan. iii. 17. In death, when we go to
the grave, to moulder into dust and rottenness, then to look upon the
morsels of worms as parcels of the resurrection, what shall uphold and
support our hearts in waiting upon God for this? Phil. iii. 21, Who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue
all things unto himself/ The scripture still refers us to the mighty
power of God, whereby he can subdue and cause all to fall under him.
The destruction of antichrist and enemies of the church, who are sup-
VER. 27.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 89
.ported by great and strongly combined interests, how can that ever he
hoped for ? Rev. xviii. 8, Her plagues shall come in one day, death
and mourning, and famine, and she shall be utterly burnt with fire, for
strong is the Lord God who judgeth her ; and that is the greatest
cordial of the soul. The life of faith lies in the belief of God s power
and all-sufficiency. He can raise up the church from her low con
dition, and all without any means ; when all is dry bones, then God
can put life into his people.
[2.] To encourage us in obedience ; it is good to believe and improve
the power of God.
(1.) That we may carry it more humbly and more dutifully : 1 Peter
v. 6, Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God/ This is that
which begets a deep awe and reverence of his majesty. Shall we not
submit to that God that is able to crush us ? Oh ! therefore let us
study to please him in all things. When you sin, you bid defiance to
the Almighty, and enter into the lists with God, and provoke him to
jealousy : 1 Cor. x. 22, Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy ? are we
stronger than he ? Do you know what it is to dash against God and
contest with God ? He that is almighty is the most desirable friend
or the most dreadful adversary, and therefore humble yourselves, and
carry it dutifully towards him. Every one would be in with the
Almighty. Be sure to keep in with the Lord : Deut. x. 17, For the
Lord our God is a God of gods and Lord of lords, a great God, a
mighty and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward/
Will you provoke him and dare him to his face ?
(2.) To keep us upright in obedience, without warping and using
any carnal shifts: Gen. xvii. 1, I am the Almighty God; walk before
me, and be thou perfect. God alone is enough to you. The reason
why we so often step out of the way is, because we do not believe God
to be almighty, that he is more able to defend than man to hurt.
Even God s own children may warp for want of a sound belief of this.
Abraham saved himself by a lie, because he would not trust God with
his preservation, Gen. xx. 11. Moses was backward to do the Lord s
message, Exod. iv. 13, as if God could not bear him out before Pharaoh,
and before the Egyptians. There was a promise Jacob should have the
blessing, but Rebecca puts him upon using indirect means to obtain it,
because she could not trust God s all-sufficiency to bring it about. He
that will not trust God and rest upon his power cannot be long faithful
to him ; because they think there is not enough in God, they will seek
elsewhere. All sincerity ariseth from these two things (and until you
get your hearts into this frame you never will be sincere), submitting
all things to God s will, and resting upon God s power. How desperate
soever the case be, this will relieve you, and keep you sincere and com
fortable, the Lord is a powerful God, and knows how to provide for his
glory, and for your sustentation.
Now to quicken you thus to believe and improve the power of God,
I will offer these considerations
(1.) Consider the amplitude of God s power, which is not to be
measured by our scantling and model. We can do something, but God
can do all things ; we must have matter prepared, but God works out
of nothing; we do things difficultly, and must have time, but God can
90 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SEE. XV.
do all things in a moment ; he needs no instruments or tools, no pattern
or copy, but worketh all things according to the counsel of his will.
We rust with age, and our strength is dried up, but the Lord s hand
is not shortened that it cannot save, Isa. lix. 1. His strength is never
wasted or dried up. When anything is to be done or expected from
God, is it greater than making the world ? and God is where lie was
at first. Our knowledge of things is by effects, but God never had an
effect adequate to his power ; he hath done great things, but he hath
power to do greater ; Mai. ii. 15, And did not he make one ? yet
had he the residue of the Spirit. When he created the world, he had
the residue of the Spirit, he could have made more worlds. All created
effects are finite, and therefore not fully answerable to the force of the
cause. Let us be still enlarging in our thoughts of God s power. This
is a power that needeth not the concurrence of visible means, but can
work without them ; yea, opposite power is no hindrance to God.
Rubs are plain ground to him : Isa. xxvii. 4, Who would set the briers
and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would
burn them together. What can briers and thorns do against a devour
ing flame ? they are fit fuel to increase the fire, but cannot hinder the
burning, God works through all opposition: Isa, xliii. 13, I will
work, and who shall let it.
(2.) Consider this power is ready to be employed for our use, so far
as it shall make for God s glory and our good. God is ours if we be
in covenant with him ; and if so, all that is in God is ours also, quantus,
quantus est. As great as he is, God makes over himself in covenant.
I am yours, therefore almightiness is yours, to be set a-work for you.
And, as Aristotle said, rwv <f)i\u>v Ttavra icowa, all things are common
between friends and confederates : 1 Kings xxii. 4, Jehoshaphat said
unto the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my
horses as thy horses/ Surely, being in covenant with God, it is a
relation of friendship, and whatever is God s is ours ; and that is the
reason of this expression, Eph. vi. 10, Be strong in the Lord, and in
the power of his might. In all our faintings and fears we should look
upon God s almighty power as a guardian for our good. All that God
hath is forthcoming for our use ; as all other things, so his almighty
power and strength.
(3.) Whatever his will is, or whatever God hath determined to do
concerning us, yet he would have us magnify his power, and with com
fort cast ourselves upon it : Isa. viii. 12, 13, Fear not their fear, nor
be afraid ; sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear,
and let him be your dread. You should set power against power, that
you may not be dismayed, Isa. 1. 10. It is not meant spiritually only,
but also in temporal cases : Let him trust in the name of the Lord,
and stay upon his God. You should comfort yourselves in the power
and all-sufficiency of God.
(4.) Consider how angry God hath been with his children for not
resting upon his power. Nothing hath hindered the discovery of God s
power and the manifestation of his love to them so much as distrust
of his power: Mark vi. 5, He could there do no mighty work. It is
not said, he would not, but he could not do any mighty works there,
because of their unbelief. Unbelief doth put a bar and rub in the way
VER. 27.] SERMONS UPON MARK x. 17-27. 91
of God s onmipotericy ; and John xi. 40, If thou wouldst believe, thou
shouldst see the glory of God. God doth not put forth himself because
we do no more rest upon him and his all-sufficiency to help us. See
how angry God hath been on this account with his own children and
people ; with Moses and Aaron : Mat. xx. 12, Because ye believed me
not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye
shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
The believing of God s power is not determining the success, but when
we encourage ourselves to pray and wait, and to be sincere and faithful
upon the account of God s power, that God is able. Many troubles
and perplexities have befallen God s children for not believing his power.
Zacharias, John s father, was struck dumb for not believing: Luke i.
20, Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak until the day
that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my
words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And God let the noble
man live to see himself confuted, and then he was crushed to death :
2 Kings vii. 2, Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered
the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord should make windows
in heaven, might this thing be ? And he said, Behold, thoa shalt see
it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not eat thereof.
(5.) Consider it is a notable argument in prayer to conjure the
Lord by his power. As the leper comes to Christ, Mat. viii. 2, Lord,
if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean ; do what thou wilt, but this I
know, that thou canst, thou hast power enough. See how Moses insin
uates : Num. xiv. 15, 16, Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one
man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak,
saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the
land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the
wilderness ; as if he should say, Lord, thou wouldst have the glory of
thy power seen in the eyes of the nations, that they may know thee as
a mighty powerful God ; now they will say, The Lord was not able to
bring them into Canaan.
(6.) All our courage, and all the strength of our comfort and
obedience, and all the blessings of obediencej depends upon the be
lief and the improvement of God s power. Look into the book of
God, and you shall see all the generous acts that worthy men have
performed came from hence. Abraham, the father of the faithful,
offered up his son, his only son, the son of the promise, and
that freely ; and why ? Accounting that God was able to raise
him up, even from the dead, from whence also he received him in a
figure, Heb. xi. 19. In such a trial, what would support and bear us
out ? So when the fiery furnace was heated seven times hotter than
ordinary, burning and flaming exceedingly, the three children ventured
into it upon this principle, Our God whom we serve is able to deliver
us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy
hand, king, Dan. iii. 17. What is the reason we are so cowardly
and dastardly ? We look to things sensible and visible, and cannot set
the power of God against it or above them, and consider how he can
bring good out of evil, and so carnal fears and hopes draw us aside.
Why are we discouraged, and turn from God in difficult cases rather
than in easy cases, but that we do not believe that he can do all things ?
92 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [&ER. XV.
Paul believed, therefore in the face of opposition he goes on in his work
unwearieclly : 1 Tim. iv. 10, Therefore we both labour and suffer
reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all
men, especially of them that believe/ This made him in the midst of
reproaches and all manner of difficulties to go on with courage.
(7.) When we run to carnal shifts because we cannot trust this
power of God, then we engage his strength, that should be for us,
against us, and it is just with God to blast us. Jonah runs from his
work, and God sends a storm after him. Jonah was afraid of the
Ninevites, but mischief will sooner or latter overtake them that run
from their duty, and they have worse inconveniences by their own
shifts. Jacob would get the blessing by a wile, but that cost him
dear ; he was banished from his father s house upon it, lest Esau
should kill him. Indirect courses will certainly prove a loss ; though
you may obtain your purpose, yet you plunge yourselves into greater
difficulties afterward, and obtain your desires with more trouble than
if you had waited upon God.
(8.) If the thing be not done for us which we need and desire when
we trust upon the power of God, it is because it is not best for us.
He that trusts upon the power of God cannot miscarry. A cross is
best, and a low estate is best, and troubles are best. It is not for
want of power and love that we are afflicted of God ; he will deliver
us and support us, and turn it to the best : Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, For the
Lord God is a sun and a shield, he will give grace and glory, and no
good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly/ Ps.
xxxiv. 9, The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that
seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. If we want anything
we would have, certainly it is not good for us.
(9.) The less power we have in ourselves, the more experience we
have of God s power : Isa. xl. 29, He giveth power to the faint,
and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. So Deut.
xxxii. 36, The Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for
his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none
shut up or left. When human help begins to fail and is spent, then
God s power is seen. The lean cheeks, and the faint voice, and the
pale colour of a hunger-starved beggar moves more than all the cant
ing entreaties of a sturdy one. When we are sufficiently humbled in
the sense of our own unworthiness, and can entirely cast ourselves
upon God, out of a confidence of his power, help will not be far off,
for he really pities those that are indeed miserable, and have a sense of
it, and sets his power on work for their relief.
(10.) We can never expect to be free from biting cares and per
plexities about the various occurrences of this life until we can entirely
cast ourselves upon God s all-sufficiency and power. Oh ! but when
you are once got upon the rock, then you will not be tossed with the
uncertain waves : Isa. xxvi. 3, 4, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee : trust ye in
the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
In the ebbings and flowings of the creature a man is safe and fixed,
for he hath that which answers all things. A man that hath no lands,
yet if he hath money, the wise man tells us, that answereth all things.
YER. 27.]
SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27.
93
and he may do well enough ; so if a man hath nothing in the creature,
yet if he hath the power of God, that answereth all things ; he can
rejoice in God when creatures fail, Heb. iii. 17, 18 : As having nothing,
yet possessing all things, 2 Cor. vi. 10. The Almighty God carrietli
the purse ; we have all things in God, and he will supply us as he
seeth it to be best with respect to his own glory and their eternal
condition ; and therefore, if you would be freed from all these floating
uncertainties, and those tempestuous agitations of spirit by which you
are tossed to and fro, you will never come to this till you encourage
yourselves in the sense of God s power and all-sufficiency.
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
SERMON I.
We are bound to thank God alivays for you, brethren, as it is meet,
because that your faith groiveth exceedingly, and the charity of
every one of you ail towards each other aboundeth. 2 THES. i. 3.
THE first part of this epistle is gratulatory, for the Thessalonians*
perseverance and increase in grace ; in which (1.) The apostle giveth
thanks to God ; (2.) He telleth of the fame thereof in the churches,
ver. 4, that he might the better encourage and exhort them to con
tinue. By both he intimateth his love and spiritual affection to them.
In his thanksgiving to God we may take notice of
1. The affectionate manner.
2. The matter of this thanksgiving, the increase of their faith and
charity.
For the manner, it is done emphatically, We are bound to thank
God always for you, as it is meet. There are three emphatical words :
Always ; this work of God among them was much upon his heart,
and still give him new matter of praising God in their behalf. Then
there is the obligation from justice and equity, signified in those words;
ofaiXopev, We are bound, and Kadax; a^iov ea-riv, As it is meet ;
there the expression is stronger. He doth not only tell them that he
did it, but that he ought to do it, We are bound, and it is meet.
The first expression respects the mercy of God, so there was a debt of
duty lying upon him ; there was justice in the case. The second
respects their estate, It was meet ; becoming the condition into
which grace had brought them, and so there was equity in the case.
Some refer this last clause to the performance of the duty, that he
gave thanks as was meet ; that is, in that manner which so great a
benefit deserveth, not slightly and perfunctorily, but with great rejoic
ing. But rather it refers to the apostle s judgment of their estate :
As it is meet, hearing what I do, for me to judge of you ; for a
parallel expression doth thus explain it, Phil. i. 7, Even as it is meet
for me to think thus of you all. He conceived himself bound to
judge of them all to be such as had owned the Lord with a sincere
faith, and his people with a sincere love, and were likely to continue
96 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
therein. Not his affection, but his judgment inclined him to think
so ; the church of the Thessalonians and every member thereof had
given such real and evident signs of the grace of God in them, that
lie was bound to give God special thanks for this grace. The gospel
hath and may be blessed in some places, so far that all the members
of particular churches have given positive evidences of true grace in
them, and that to the most discerning Christians, and those who were
best able to judge. It is yet possible, and therefore why should we not
endeavour after it? It is meet for me to judge so; I hope you are
so ; therefore I count myself bound to give thanks to God.
From this preface four points are observable
1. That it is a debt we owe to God to give thanks for his benefits.
2. That in thanksgiving to God we should specially own his spiritual
benefits.
3. That not only the spiritual benefits vouchsafed to ourselves, but
to others also, must be acknowledged with thankfulness.
4. That in thanksgiving for spiritual benefits, whether to ourselves
or others, the increase of grace must be acknowledged, as well as the
beginnings of it.
In the former epistle he gave thanks to God for their faith and love,
here for the increase and growth of both, Your faith groweth exceed
ingly, and your love aboundeth/
Doct. 1. That it is a debt we owe to God to give thanks for his
benefits.
Paul saith here not only, We do/ but, We are bound/
1. Justice requireth it, for the benefits were given upon this condi
tion, that we should praise God for them : Ps. 1. 15, Call upon me in
the day of trouble ; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
This is God s pact and agreement with us, that we shall have the bene
fit, and he will have the glory. As the king of Sodom said to Abraham,
Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself again, Gen. xiv. 21 ;
so in effect God saith to us, You shall have the comfort, but let me
have the honour. We ourselves consent to this covenant ; we seldom
make prayers in our distress but we promise thankfulness : Hosea xiv. 2,
Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, so will we render
the calves of our lips/ We engage to offer praise when our requests
are heard. Now, when God heareth and granteth our requests, there is
an obligation upon us to glorify God for the mercies received. But
now, though God be sought to in our necessities, there is no more
mention of him when our turns are served. We are forward in suppli
cations, but backward in gratulations. All the lepers could beg health,
yet But one returned to give God the glory/ Luke xvii. 18. Surely
we should be as much affected, or rather more, in receiving the mercies
than we were in asking them ; for before we only knew them by guess
and imagination, but then by actual feeling or experience of the com
fort of them. But chiefly the argument is, that justice requireth it.
It is a kind of theft, and unjust detention of what is another s, if in
our necessities we crave help, and afterward there is no more mention
of God than as if we had these blessings from ourselves.
2. God by his precept commanding it and we in our distress pro
mising it, he expecteth that there should be thankful returns of the
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 97
mercies afforded to us. That is the second argument, God s expectation ;
which must be interpreted deoTrpeTrw, becoming the excellency of his
being. One may be said to expect a thing dejure, rightfully, or de facto,
really and actually. God knoweth that he hath to do with unthankful
creatures, and that the stupid world will not take notice of his kind
ness ; therefore de facto, actually, he expecteth no more than is given
him, having a full and clear prospect of all future events ; butc?e jure,
of right, he might expect. So these expressions are to be interpreted :
Luke xiii. 7, These three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree,
and find none. So Isa. v. 4, When I looked it should bring forth
grapes, brought it forth wild grapes. So we may fail his expectation,
but still to our loss : 2 Chron. xxxii. 25, Hezekiah rendered not again
according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was lifted up;
therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
All our receipts call for a return, and a return suitable, which if we
perform not, God s wrath is kindled against us, and therefore a good
man should make conscience of his returns : Ps. cxvi. 12, What shall
I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me ?
3. It keepeth up the intercourse between us and God, which would be
interrupted and broken off if we should discontinue our addresses to
him as soon as we have what we would have, and when our wants are
supplied God should hear no more from us. By the laws of Ezekiel s
temple, the worshippers were so required to go in at one door and out
at another, that none of them might at any time turn their backs upon
the mercy-seat, Ezek. xlvi. 9, but which way soever they entered they
were to go away right against it. God cannot endure men should turn
their backs upon him when their turn is served. Prayer and praise
still keep up communion and familiarity with God, that still there may
be a commerce between us and him, by asking -all things, and taking
all things out of his hands. Prayer and praise are our continual work :
Heb. xiii. 15, By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise con
tinually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks unto his name.
The supreme benefactor and fountain of all goodness must still be
owned ; there must be a constant course in it. Some mercies are so
general and beneficial that they should be remembered before God every
day ; and God is still blessing his people, and by new mercies giving
new matter of praise and thanksgiving.
4. It continueth a succession of mercies, for the more thankful we are
for them the more they are increased upon us, as an husbandman trusts
more of his precious seed in fruitful soils. The ascent of vapours
maketh way for the descent of showers. The sea poureth out of her
fulness into the rivers, and they all return again into the sea : Ps. IxviL
5, 6, Let the people praise thee, God, let all the people praise thee,
then shall the earth yield her increase, and God, even our God, shall
bless us/ Or when the springs lie low, we pour in a little water into
the pump, not to enrich the fountain, but to bring up more for our
selves. I do the rather observe it, because it is not only true of
outward increase, but spiritual also : Col. ii. 7, Rooted and built up
in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding
therein with thanksgiving. If we give thanks for so much grace as
we have already received, it is the way to increase our store. The
VOL. XVII. G
98 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
reason why we do no more thrive in grace or advance in the spiritual
life is because we do no more give thanks.
5. In thanksgiving all spiritual graces are acted and promoted.
(1.) Faith is acted in thanksgiving when we see and own the invi
sible hand that reacheth out our supplies to us : All things come of
thee, and of thine own have we given thee, 1 Chron. xxix. 14. Stupid
and carnal creatures look to the next hand, as if he that bringeth the
present were more to be thanked than he that sendeth it : Hosea ii. 8,
She did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil. We are
unthankful to God and man, but more to God, because blessings that
come from an invisible hand we look upon as things of course, and da
not praise the giver. Beasts own the next hand : Isa. i. 3, The ox
knoweth his owner, and the ass his master s crib, but Israel doth not
know, my people doth not consider. (2.) Love : It is love that doth
open our mouths, that we may praise God with joyful lips : Ps. cxvi. 1,
I will love the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplica
tions ; and then, ver. 2, I will praise him as long as I live/ The
proper intent of mercies is to draw us to God. When the heart is full
of the sense of the goodness of the Lord, the tongue cannot hold its
peace. Self-love doth more put us on prayers, but the love of God on
praises, therefore to seek and not to praise, it is to be lovers of ourselves
rather than of God. (3.) Hope is acted. While we give thanks for
the very grant, for the promise, for the preparations, with greater
assurance we expect what is behind ; as Abraham built an altar in the
land of Canaan, and offered thanksgivings to God, when he had not a
foot in the country, Gen. xiii. 18. (4.) Our humility : The humble
soul is most delighted in the praise of God, but the proud soul in its
own praises : They sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their
drag, Hab. i. 16. Whilst others sacrifice to God, they deprive God
of his honour, and exalt anything rather than the author of felicity ;
they ascribe all to themselves, whilst the others profess their unworthi-
ness of the least mercies from God : Gen. xxxii, 10, I am not worthy
of the least of all thy mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast
showed unto thy servant ; and 2 Sam. vii. 18, Who am I, Lord
God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto ?
God is never exalted till the creature be abased.
6. It preventeth many sins ; as (1.) Hardness of heart, and secu
rity in enjoying the blessings of God s common providence. These
common mercies point to the author, and discover their end to the
thankful soul, but to the unthankful they prove occasions to the flesh ;
so their table is made a snare to them, and their welfare a trap, Ps.
Ixix, 22. But when we sip and look upward, and acknowledge God
on all occasions, the creature is sanctified to us : 1 Tim. iv. 4, Every
creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received
with thanksgiving. Where there is a due acknowledgment of the
donor, we have it with a blessing. So (2.) It suppresseth murmuring,
or that quarrelling, fretting, impatient humour which venteth itself
against God, even in our prayers and complaints, and soureth all our
comforts. Murmuring is an anti-providence, the scum of discontent,
by which we entertain crosses with anger, and blessings with disdain.
Man is a touchy creature, always querulous, especially when God
SEEMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 99
retrencheth him in some worldly conveniences which he fancieth.
Now a thankful spirit counterbalance^ crosses with comforts : Joh
ii. 10, What ! shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and
shall we not receive evil ? It taketh notice how gracious God hath
been notwithstanding his seeming severity, therefore it can bless God
in every condition : Job i. 21, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord/ This fretting humour
is cured ; as long as we see occasion of giving thanks, it causeth us to
submit to his disposing will. (3.) It prevents distrust and carking
cares. This remedy is prescribed by the apostle : Phil. iv. 6, Be
careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. When
we acknowledge what God hath done for us, it prevents distrust :
Ps. Ixxvii. 10, 11, I said, This is my infirmity, but I will remember
the years of the right hand of the Most High : I will remember the
works of the Lord ; surely I will remember thy wonders of old. There
are great convulsions in an earthquake, but when it findeth a vent all
is quiet. When we can bless God for favours already received, we
will not doubt of his goodness for the future, but quietly compose our
selves to wait for the good end of the Lord. (4.) It cureth spiritual
pride to consider who must be praised and owned for all the good
which is in us : 1 Cor. iv. 7, Who maketh thee to differ from another ?
and what hast thou that thou didst not receive ? Now if thou didst re
ceive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it ? The
more we have, we are more indebted to grace. We have all from God
and for God, not for ourselves, our own glory and ostentation. God
will be angry if we rob him of it, as Herod was smitten because he
gave not God the glory, Acts xii. 23. The receiver is as bad as the
stealer ; we consent to this robbery and usurpation.
Use. Oh ! then, let us be more abundant in thanksgiving and praise.
It is God s will concerning us in Christ : 1 Thes. v. 18, In every
thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concern
ing you. But there are other reasons to persuade us ; as (1.) Our
profit both spiritual and temporal. It argueth a good spirit, great
faith and love, when we look to God in everything, and a submissive
spirit when we take anything kindly at his hands, the nations had
never fallen to idolatry if they had kept up thankfulness, and con
sidered God in all their mercies : Acts xiv. 16, 17, Who in times past
suffered all nations to walk in their own ways ; nevertheless he left
not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from
heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Setting up the idol chance was the great cause of perverting mankind.
Besides, this is noble and delightful work, the work of angels, our work
in heaven. Well, then, observe what matter of praise God vouchsafeth
to you continually. If you did want many of the comforts you now
enjoy, how miserable would your lives be ! A thing too near the ball
of the eye is not seen well ; our comforts must be set at a distance to.
make us value them. (2.) Our continual dependence. It is with us
as it was with the raven and the dove which Noah sent forth out of
the ark, Gen. viii. 7, 8 : the raven, feeding on the floating carrion,
returned no more ; but the dove, finding not whereon to rest the sole
100 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
of her foot, returned with an olive branch. Carnal men, if they can
get anything from God to .support them, and they have their stock in
their own hands, they care no more for him, but live apart from God :
Jer. ii. 31, Wherefore say my people, We are lords, we will come no
more unto thee ? (3.) Consider how thankful others are for less than
what we enjoy. There are many that would be glad of our leavings,
but usually those that enjoy the greatest possessions pay the least rent,
and God receiveth more praise from a poor cottage than from a rich
palace. But I proceed to the second point.
Doct. 2. That in thanksgiving to God we should especially own his
spiritual benefits.
These are usually overlooked, but yet these deserve the chiefest
acknowledgments.
1. Because these are discriminating, and come from God s special
love, which floweth forth to his own people. Corn, and wine, and oil
are bestowed upon the world, but faith and love upon his saints.
David prayeth, Ps. cvi. 4, Remember me, Lord, with the favour
which thou bearest unto thy people. To have the favourite s mercy
is more than to have a common mercy. Protection is the benefit of
every common subject, but intimate love and near admission are the
privileges of special favourites. Now by the common effects of his
providence, love or hatred cannot be known : Eccles. ix. 1, 2, No man
knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them ; all things
come alike to all, &c. The things without us, and the things before
us, and the things promiscuously dispersed, will not discover his special
love to us. Christ gave his purse to Judas, the worst of the disciples,
but his Spirit to the rest as the choicest gift.
2. Because these concern the better part, the inward man : 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. He doth us more
favour that healeth a wound in the body than he that seweth up a rent
in the garment. Is not the body more than raiment ? So is not the
soul more than the body ? Yea, further, and the soul furnished with
grace, than the soul furnished only with natural gifts and endowments ?
1 Cor. xiii. 1-3, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a
tinkling cymbal : and though I have the gift of prophecy, and under
stand all mysteries and all knowledge ; and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing :
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give
my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
I am nothing without saving grace ; therefore these are the mercies
for which God will be praised.
3. These are brought about with more ado than temporal favours.
God as a creator and upholder of all his creatures doth bestow tem
poral blessings upon the ungodly world, even upon the heathens that
know hini not, that never heard of Christ ; yet saving grace he be-
stoweth only as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
was to purchase f these blessings by his death and bloody sufferings
before we could obtain them : Eph. i. 3, Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 101
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Other blessings run in the chan
nel of common providence, these in the channel of Christ s mediation.
4. Because these are pledges of eternal blessings, and the beginnings
of our eternal well-being. The life that is begun in us by the Spirit
is perfected in heaven : John v. 24, He that heareth my words, and
believeth on him that hath sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life. It is a
spark that shall not be quenched, and the food that feedeth it is the
meat that perisheth not, but endureth to everlasting life, John vi. 27.
Those graces and eternal blessedness are to be linked together, that
they cannot be separated : Horn. viii. 30, Whom he did predestinate,
them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and
whom he justified, them he also glorified. Sanctification is included
in the last word ; here in the beginnings by sanctification, and hereafter
in the full possession of eternal glory. So 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. It loseth itself in the ocean of eternal glory and happiness.
5. These incline and fit the heart for praise and thankfulness to
God. There is an occasion to praise God, and a disposition and a
heart to praise God. Outward benefits give us the occasion to praise
God, but these not only the occasion, but the disposition ; other bene
fits are the motives, but these the preparations, as they do fit and
incline the heart. The work of faith and love do set the lips wide open
to magnify and praise the Lord. Grace is the matter of God s praises,
and gives also a ready will to praise him, yea, the very deed of praising
him : Ps. Ixiii. 5, My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. When they feel the
love of God shed abroad in their hearts, they are inclined to praise
God.
0. Temporal favours may be given in anger, but the graces of the
Spirit are never given in anger. God may give us worldly honour and
riches in judgment, and indulge large pastures to beasts fatted for
destruction ; but he giveth not faith and love in anger, or a renewed
heart in anger, but as a token of his special love : To you it is given
to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, Mat. xiii. 11 ; To
you it is given to believe, Phil. i. 19. So that for these principally we
should praise the Lord. We have a quick sense in bodily mercies,
but in soul concernments we are not alike affected. We think God
dealeth well with them to whom he giveth greatness and honour ; but
doth he not deal well with you to whom he hath given his Spirit ?
7. These render us acceptable unto God. A man is not accepted
with God for his worldly blessings ; he is indeed the more accountable
unto God, but not of greater account with him : Luke xii. 48, For
unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall the more be required/
The more helps and the more encouragements, the more work and
service God expecteth, but they are not more precious in his sight for
temporal things sake. Under the law the rich and poor paid the
same ransom ; the rich is not accepted for his riches, nor the poor man
despised for his poverty ; but now the saving graces of his Spirit are
acceptable with God. It is said, 1 Peter iii. 4, A meek and quiet
102 SERMONS UPON 2 THES3ALONIANS I. 3.
spirit is in the sight of God of great price. God esteemeth this more,
and therefore it should heighten the esteem of grace in our hearts, and
quicken us more to get and increase it.
8. These benefits should be acknowledged, that God may have the
sole glory of them, for he is the Father of lights, from whom corneth
every good and perfect gift, James i. 17. It was the opinion of the
stoics, Quod vivamus deorum munus est, quod bene vivamus nostrum
Our natural being we ascribe to God, but our moral perfections we
are apt to usurp the glory of them to ourselves. Judicium hoc est
omnium mortalium, saith Tully. All men think that prosperity and
success is to be asked of the gods, but prudence and good management
belongeth to us. But these opinions are sacrilegious, and rob God of
his chiefest honour ; therefore, to prevent spiritual pride, we must be
sure to bless God for spiritual blessings ; our crowns must be cast at
the feet of the Lamb, Kev. iv. 10, 11, for he only is worthy to receive
honour, and blessing, and glory, and power. Whatever we do, it is
from him who worketh all our works in us : Isa. xxvi. 12, Thou wilt
ordain peace for us, for thou also hast wrought all our works in us ;
and 1 Chron. xxix. 14, All things come of thee, and of thy own have
we given thee. By his grace we are what we are : 1 Cor. xv. 10, By
the grace of God I am what I am ; and Luke xix. 16, Thy pound
hath gained ten pounds.
Use. Is to exhort us to two things (1.) To be in a capacity to bless
God for spiritual blessings ; (2.) To be most affected with these mercies.
1. See that you be in a capacity to bless God for spiritual blessings.
First see that you have these mercies, and then bless God for them. It
would trouble a man even to trembling to hear slight and vain persons
take up a form of thanksgiving which no way is proper to them, as to
bless God for their election before time, their sanctification in time,
and their hopes of glory after all time. As if a leper should give
thanks for perfect health, or a madman that he is made wiser than his
neighbours, or a man that is ready to die to thank God that he is
pretty well and recovering, so they give thanks for grace which they
never knew nor felt. This is to mock God while we pretend to adore
him. It is true there are spiritual mercies for which all are bound to
give thanks, such as the mystery of redemption, the new covenant, the
offers and invitations of grace, means, and time to repent ; these you
should value more, and bless God for them. But for men that know
not their own great necessities and benefits, but slight their chiefest
mercies, and account them burdens, they can more feelingly thank God
for a gluttonous meal, or unjust gain, or some vain pleasure, but for
the means of grace they bless him not. But now, the flower of thanks
giving is when we can bless God for Christ, for his Spirit, for heaven,
for faith and love ; and therefore we should labour to get these things,
and to make our sincerity more unquestionable; for these are the
chiefest matters for which God expecteth praise from us. The apos
tolical forms insist upon these things : 1 Peter i. 3, Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
2. To be most affected with these mercies. Other mercies may be
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 103
overvalued, especially if we look upon them under the notion of provi
sion for the flesh ; so our very thankfulness may be a snare. Lust
ngrosseth our hearts, but religion tippeth our tongues. Men will
thank God for their preferment more than for the offer of Christ, and
pardon and life by him. Our esteem is known by this, what it is that
moveth us to thankfulness ; if it be for the world, as used for the
pleasure of the flesh rather than for the service of God, it is but lust
disguised in a religious form. Therefore, what are you most affec
tionately thankful for, worldly or spiritual good things ? God is to be
thanked for all, for temporal encrease, but chiefly for spiritual mercies.
Now what endeareth God to your hearts, that he is so good in Christ, or
that he blesseth your outward estate ? You should not lessen that favour,
but look for a better and more distinguishing expression of his love.
Doct. 3. That not only the spiritual blessings vouchsafed to ourselves,
but to others also, must be acknowledged with thankfulness.
1. It suite th with our relation of members in the same mystical body
of Christ, and so is a part of the communion of saints : 1 Cor. xii. 26,
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it ; or
one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it/ The
members care for one another, and are affected with each other s woe or
weal. If the toe be trod upon, the tongue will cry out, You have hurt
me ; therefore, they that have lost sympathy and feeling seem to have
cast themselves out of the body, as if they were no way concerned in
their fellow-members in Christ If we be in the body, we must be
affected with others concernments as with our own : Phil. i. 7, I have
you in my heart/ Where sincere love is among Christians, there will
be a communion of prayers and praises, therefore they bless God for
others mercies as their own. See Rom. xii. 15, Rejoice with them
that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Spiritual love is but
acted and personated if we only drop some words of prayer and praise,
and do not look upon ourselves as under a debt, and that it is meet so
to do, and do it upon inclination, and not merely upon the invitation of
others. We should give thanks for all their mercies, especially for
such spiritual mercies as constitute the union, such as faith and love.
By faith we are united to the head, by love to the fellow-members : Col.
i. 3, 4, We give thanks to God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ
Jesus, and of the love which you have to all the saints/ These graces
qualify for this spiritual communion.
2. The glory of God is concerned in it. Wheresoever his goodness
shineth forth, especially with any eminency, it must be acknowledged :
Rom. i. 8, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your
faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. When Christ s kingdom
doth thrive extensively or intensively, by the addition of more peace or
the increase of grace ; if we love our Master, we must be glad when he
getteth more servants, and our joy must be expressed in praises. When
Paul was converted, he saith, Gal. i. 24, the saints glorified God in
me ; that is, praised God in his behalf, and gave him the honour of
that great work, that so useful an instrument was gained to the faith.
3. The spiritual blessings vouchsafed to others conduce to a common
good, therefore our profit and interest inviteth us to this duty. The
good of some is the gain of the whole ; we have benefit by their
104 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
example, and are confirmed by having companions in the faith and
patience of the gospel, and the common profession groweth by their
accession to the faith : 1 Thes. i. 7, 8, Ye were examples to all that
believe in Macedonia, and Achaia ; for from you sounded out the word
of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place
your faith to God-ward is spread abroad. Eminent Christians promote
the interest of the gospel, and their gifts make them serviceable : 1 Cor.
i. 4, 5, I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace that is
given you by Jesus Christ, that in everything ye are enriched by him,
in all utterance, and in all knowledge ; and Kom. i. 12, That I may
be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and
me. It is a comfort to meet with our Father s children everywhere,
and that we have hopes of having more companions in heaven.
4. If we have no profit by them, yet the thing itself is a benefit to
us, for if we have anything of the bowels of Christ or love to souls,
surely we are gratified when any are converted to God. If the salva
tion of our brethren be dear to us, whatever is given in order thereto
we must reckon among our benefits, and we should rejoice in one
another s gifts and graces as our own. True goodness is communi
cative, and diffusive of itself, as fire turneth all about it into fire.
Hypocritical profession is accompanied with an envy; they would
shine alone ; and mules and creatures of a bastard production do not
propagate.
5. We increase their faith and comfort when we give thanks to God
for them. To that end doth the apostle mention his thanksgiving,
that they might be encouraged to go on: Phil. i. 3-6, I thank my
God upon every remembrance of you, being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good! work in you will perform it until the
day of Jesus Christ.
Use 1. They are monsters of men that repine at the riches poured
down by their own or other men s ministry upon others ; yet such a
base spirit reigneth in many ; they cannot endure any should be godly
and serious.
Use 2. Let us bless God for others. The angels rejoice at the con
version of a sinner, Luke xv. 10. Now this should never be omitted
(1.) When there is some eminent work accomplished, either for the
multitude of objects or degree of grace. As when Cornelius was gained
to the faith as the first-fruits of the Gentiles, Acts xi. 18, When they
heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying^
Then hath God also unto the Gentiles granted repentance unto life ;
and ver. 21, The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number
believed, and turned unto the Lord ; and ver. 23, Barnabas was glad
when he had seen the grace of God, and exhorted them all, that, with
purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord. (2.) When there
are special circumstances, as if we have been instrumental to do them
good, and God hath blessed our word, or converse, or example : 1 Thes.
ii. 19, 20, For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are
not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ?
for ye are our glory and joy. Or if we have prayed for anything for
others, whatever we have prayed for must be thankfully acknowledged
when brought to pass: 2 Cor. i. 11, You also helping together by
prayer for us, that for the gifts bestowed upon us by the means of
SERjlOXS UPON 2 THE^SALONIANS I. 3. 105
many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf ; and
3 John 4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk
in the truth.
Doct. 4. That in thanksgiving for spiritual benefits, whether to our
selves or others, the increase of grace must be acknowledged as well
as the beginnings of it.
The degree is from God. He that beginneth perfecteth : Phil. i. 6,
He that hath begun a good work will perfect it to, the day of Christ.
The whole progress of the work, from the first step to the last, is all
from God, not from the power of our own free-will, or the strength of
our resolutions, or the stability of our gracious habits. For the first,
that it is not from the power of our own free-will, is plain from John
vi. 44, No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me
draw him. And then for the second, that it is not from the strength
of our resolutions : Ps. Ixxiii. 2, As for me, my feet were almost gone,
my steps had well-nigh slipped. And for the third, that it is not from
the stability of gracious habits, see Kev. iii. 2, Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which remain, and are ready to die, for I have
not found thy works perfect before God ; and 1 Peter v. 10, The God
of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ,
after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish,
strengthen, settle you. He that beginneth the work of grace in us
doth still carry it on to perfection ; he doth establish what is attained,
and increase our spiritual strength for all difficulties and duties ; so
Luke xvii. 5, The apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Use. Take notice of God s favour in the addition of every new degree
of grace, because the change is more remarkable. We may ascribe our
first conversion to God, but we must also our after-growth. We are
still under the love and care of Christ ; though we are passed from
death to life, yet not from earth to heaven. You are in continual need
of Christ for direction, intercession, pardon, further sanctification, sup
port, comfort, and peace ; therefore take notice of every degree. If
there be greater fervour, if more delightful exercise, if more ability and
strength to overcome opposition, let God have the glory of all. He
many times chastiseth our pride and unthankful ness with lapses or
decays if we do not acknowledge him ; as Peter and David, what
grievous lapses had they !
SEKMON II.
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet,
because that your faith groweih exceedingly, and the charity of
every one of you all toivards each other aboundeth 2 THES. i. 3.
IN these words we have observed (1.) An affectionate form of thanks
giving ; (2.) The matter of it.
For the first, it is a blessed thing when complaints are turned into
thanksgivings, both for ourselves and others. For ourselves we should
106 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
not be always craving and always complaining. Gratulation should
find a place in our addresses to God, as well as acknowledgments of
sin and supplications for grace : Col. iv. 2, Continue in prayer, and
watch in the same with thanksgiving. So for others, we should rather
take notice of their excellences than of their blemishes. "We give
occasion to others to suspect us to have a rough imperious spirit, to be
always finding fault, never acknowledging the grace they have received
or the good they have done. This was far from Paul s temper, who
was ever ready to acknowledge anything of Christ wherever he found
it, especially where grace was discovered with eminency, as in these
Thessalonians ; therefore he saith, We are bound to thank God always
for you, brethren, as it is meet ; whence we observed four doctrines.
I am now to speak of the matter of this thanksgiving, Because that
your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all
towards each other aboundeth ; where observe these six things
1. That it is a comfort that our inward man is in a good state, how
ever it be with us as to our outward condition before the world. These
Thessalonians were poor and afflicted. We read in the first epistle,
* They received the gospel in much affliction, 1 Thes. i. 6 ; and in the
verse next the text he speaketh of their patience and faith in all
their persecutions and tribulations ; and the following words tend
wholly to comfort them under their sore troubles. Yet their condition
before God was thriving and prosperous, and matter of thanksgiving
rather than lamentation. So 2 Cor. iv. 16, For this cause we faint
not/ saith the apostle, but though our outward man perish, yet the
inward man is renewed day by day. We should count this world s
goods well exchanged if the want or loss of them be recompensed to us
by the increase of spiritual graces, and be glad if it go well with our
souls, though our bodily interests be infringed. If God by an aching
head will give us a better heart, by a sickly body an healthy soul, as he
did to Gaius, 3 John 2, by lessening us in the world, or reducing us to
straits, make us rich in faith/ James ii. 5 ; by troubles and oppositions
excite us to a more lively exercise of grace. We should not barely
submit to such a dispensation, but give thanks. The children of God
are always set forth to be of this temper : Ps. cxix. 71, It is good for
me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes ; 2 Cor.
xii. 9, 10, I will rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me ; therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in
reproaches, in necessities, in persecution, in distresses for Christ s sake ;
for when I am weak, then am I strong ; if the afflictions and troubles
of the world may do us good, and our knowledge and holiness be
increased as our estates are diminished. So Heb. xii. 11, No chasten
ing for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them
which are exercised thereby. All the honours and riches of the world
are not worth the least degree or drachm of grace.
2. Their condition was not only good, but growing better every day.
It is not enough barely to be good, but we must grow from good to
better, and be best at last. God s children wait on the Lord, and he is
not wont to be sparing and straitened to those that attend upon him :
Isa.xl. 31, They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 107
They are planted in his courts, and that is a fertile soil : Ps. xcii. 13,
14, Those that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in
the courts of our God ; they shall still bring forth fruit in old age, they
shall be fat and flourishing/ There are ordinances by which they re
ceive a supply of the Spirit ; their hearts are upon the ways that lead
home to God : Ps. Ixxxiv. 7, They shall go on from strength to
strength. When our hearts are set upon a thing, we will neither go
off nor go back, but still gain ground. They find new encouragement
in God s ways : Prov. x. 29, The way of the Lord is strength to the
upright ; the more they walk in it, the more encouragement they find
to do so, all which doth condemn our laziness, that we make no more
progress. Surely our reward should encourage us : Phil. iii. 14, I
press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Jesus Christ: In a race where there is so great a prize, we should not
stand at a stay, but still be running, and getting nearer the goal ; the
way is so pleasant that we have no occasion to tire in it : 2 Peter iii.
18, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. We have so many benefits by Christ, that surely we are
encouraged to seek for more. Besides, consider God s expectation.
God expecteth more from some than others, according to their years
and standing : Heb. v. 12, For when for the time ye ought to be
teachers (having had so much means and advantages), ye have need
that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of
God. So Luke xii. 48, 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. We expect he should come sooner that rideth
on horseback than he that goeth afoot. Now, that we may grow, car
nal affections must be weakened : John xv. 2, Every branch that bear-
eth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit. This
purging is by mortification ; faith, the mother grace, must be increased :
Kom. i. 17, Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith
to faith ; as it is written, The just shall live by faith. We must still
continue to live by faith. The means of grace must still be attended
upon : 1 Peter ii. 2, As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the
word, that ye may grow thereby/
3. Their growth was considerable ; they arrived to a great degree of
eminency, virepav^dvei, rf 77/0-749 vpwv, teal 7rXeoz/aet f) a^airt]. Here is
high faith and great love. Certainly they did not overgrow their duty,
but it was a wonderful growth, considering the difference between them
and themselves, what they were before the gospel came to them, and
what now ; considering also the difference between them and others, how
they had outgrown their equals, yea, those who had received the gospel
before them. Surely we should not only grow in grace, but seek to
excel in grace ; God will have more glory, and we more comfort. Now
those that would excel (1.) Should be more humble ; for, James iv.
6, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble/ The
Lord increaseth his grace where all is ascribed to God and nothing to
ourselves, but he is an enemy to those that lift up themselves, and puff up
themselves and set the crown upon their own heads. (2.) They should
be diligent in the use of their gifts, for to him that hath shall be given/
Luke viii. 18 ; that is, that useth what he hath, that carrieth himself
108 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIAXS I. 3.
according to the helps vouchsafed, and employeth and improveth what
he hath, he shall have more. They shall have more -faith, more love
from the same Spirit who gave them the first grace. If in the effect
you show what you have, and declare what you have, you shall have
more ; the original stock shall be increased. (3.) There should be
thankfulness. They own God in all : Col. ii. 7, Eooted and built up
in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding
therein with thanksgiving. The creature then robbeth not God of the
glory of his gifts, and therefore shall have more. (4.) There must be
obedience to the word of God as our rule, the sanctifying motions of
the Spirit as our principle, and the author of that grace which we have.
Now the more ready we show ourselves to comply with the directions of
his word and the motions of his Spirit, the more is grace strengthened
in us ; for disobedience to the word is a provocation to God, which
hindereth the due impression of it on our souls : Jer. viii. 9, They
have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them?
And disobedience to the Spirit is a grief to him : Eph. iv. 30, c Grieve
not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption. So that sin hindereth our growth, and letteth out our
strength. But what shall we say of them that beat down the price of
Christianity as low as they can, and content themselves with what is
barely necessary to salvation, as if the safest way were to go as near
the brink of destruction as possible ? These men care not though they
dishonour God, so they may be saved, but they will in time see that
the greatest grace is no more than needeth.
4. They grow in both graces, both in faith and love. These two graces
are inseparable companions : Col. i. 4, Since we heard of your faith
in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints. So
1 Tim. i. 13, Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast
heard of me, in faith and love, which is in Jesus Christ. The one con-
cerneth our personal benefit and safety, the other the good of the body,
that we may have a tender care of the unity, honour, and prosperity of
Christ s church. We .are to build up ourselves in our most holy faith,
and we are also to edify others, which is done by love principally.
Besides, this connection is necessary, because all religion is exercised by
these two graces. The mysteries of religion are received and im
proved by faith, and the precepts and duties of it are acted by love :
1 Cor. xvi. 13, 14, Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit yourselves
like men, be strong; let all things be done with charity. And there
fore that qualification which entitleth us to the privileges of the new
covenant is made to be faith working by love, Gal. v. 6. The one
grace without the other is not saving and sincere. Faith without love
is dead, James ii. 17, and love without faith is but a little good-nature,
or facile inclination to others, not derived from the Spirit of God, nor
built on our belief of his grace in Christ ; they depend upon one
another, as the effect upon the cause. Faith produceth love, as it
showeth the true grounds of union, and from a sense and apprehension
of God s love to us causeth us to love others. In short, both graces
are recommended by the same authority : 1 John iii. 23, 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. , He that
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 109
mnketh conscience of the one will make conscience of the other also.
Again, the one referreth to God, the other to men ; faith for God,
charity for our brethren. The one keepeth us from defection from
God, the other preventeth a schism and a breach with our fellow chris-
tians. Well, then* here was the commendation of those Thessalonians,
their adherence to the faith was very constant, and they lived in unity
and amity with one another. There is no surer argument of sincerity
and proficiency in Christianity than this growth of faith and love. They
are the fountain of all other duties ; and if you would be accounted
thorough and growing Christians, you must excel in both these graces ,
for true solid godliness is rooted in faith, and acted by love towards
God and men, which is the all of Christianity.
5. This growth and proficiency was found in all ; not only some among
them were eminent for faith and love, but all. If the apostle had only
said, The charity of you all aboundeth, it might seem to refer to the
church, that there was no schism there ; but he saith, Of every one of
you all towards each other. In other epistles, the believers, to whom
the. apostle wrote, have all the style of churches/ or men sanctified,
<fcc. ; but afterwards notorious and particular miscarriages are reproved,
which showeth that the denomination, \vasapotioriparte, from the better
part ; but here he mentions all and every one ; they were a choice sort
of Christians. Where shall we find their fellows ? It is our duty to
be such, and it should be our care ; for here we see what the grace of
God can do if we be serious, and what an advantage it is to be in good
company, and to have good examples about us, and how much living
coals do enkindle one another when they lie together.
6. He saith, faith groweth, but love aboundeth. Love must not only
increase, but abound to each other. A thing may be increased inten
sive or extensive ; intensively, when it is more rooted, when there is a
greater fervour and vigour of faith and love ; extensively, either as to
effects or objects ; as to effects, in doing more good, as when we abound
in works of mercy ; or as to objects, by doing good to more persons, not
confining our love to one only, or a few, but extending it to all. This
was the case of those Thessalonians ; their love was not a lank or lean
love, but an abounding love, full of all good fruits ; and this not to some,
but to all, even the meanest Christians among them. If we would
give others occasion to bless God for us, let us imitate their example.
Occasions are many, objects are many, to whom we may be beneficial,
therefore our charity must not be straitened, but abounding.
[1.] The internal affection must increase : Phil. i. 9, This I pray,
that your love may abound yet more and more ; that is, both their
love to God and their neighbours, especially to those who are God s.
There are so many things to extinguish it, or make it grow cold, that
we should always seek to increase this grace, that it may be more fer
vent and strong, and not grow cold and dead.
[2.] The external expressions should abound both as to acts and
objects.
(1.) As to acts. In duties of charity we should not be weary. Now
we may be weary upon a double occasion, either because we meet not
presently with our reward ; to that the apostle speaketh, Gal. vi. 9,
Be not weary of well-doing, for in due time we shall reap, if we faint
110 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
not; duties of charity have their promises annexed, which are not
presently accomplished, but in their season ; they will be either in this
life, or in the next ; or because of continual occasions, when there is no
end : Heb. vi. 10, 11, For God is not unrighteous to forget your work
and labour of love, which you have showed towards his name, in that
ye have ministered to the saints and do minister ; and we desire that
every one of you do show the same diligence, to the full assurance of
hope unto the end. Meaning that formerly they had a courage to own
Christ and his despised ways, and to be charitable to poor Christians ; .
now he desireth them to be so still ; as long as the occasion continueth,
so long should the charity continue, that at length they might reap the
reward, Te have ministered, and do minister. This is tedious to
nature and to a niggardly and base heart, but love will be working
and labouring still, and ever brmging forth more fruit. Where this
heavenly fire is kindled in the soul, it will warm all those that are
about them. But love is cold in most ; it will neither take pains, nor
be at charge to do anything for the brethren ; but Christian love is an
immortal fire, it will still burn and never die ; therefore we should
continue the same diligence, zeal, and affection that formerly we had.
(2.) As to objects. Christ telleth us, The poor ye have always
with you, Mat. xxvi. 11. As long as God fmdeth objects, we should
find charity ; and the apostle saith, Gal. vi. 10, As we have oppor
tunity, let us do good to all men. Expensive duties are distasteful to
a carnal heart. It may be they would part with something which the
flesh can spare, and will snatch at anything to excuse their neglect ;
they have done it to these and these ; but as long as God bringeth
objects to our view and notice, and our ability and affection doth con
tinue, we must give still. If our ability continueth not, providence
puts a bar, and excuseth ; but if our affection doth not continue, the
fault is our own.
Now I come more particularly to speak of the growth of faith, Your
faith groweth exceedingly.
Doct. That it is well with Christians when their faith groweth and
doth considerably increase.
The scripture speaketh of a weak faith and a strong faith, therefore
it concerneth us to consider whether our faith . be weak or strong, in
the wane or in the increase. Now we shall best judge of the growth
of faith (1.) By the nature of it ; (2.) The properties of it ; (3.) The
examples of scripture.
First, Let us see the nature of it, and thereby we shall best judge
of the growth of it. Faith is a grace whereby we believe God s word
in general, and especially the doctrine of salvation by Christ, and do
receive him and rest upon him for grace here and glory hereafter.
First, The general object of faith is the whole word of God : Acts
xxiv. 14, Believing all things which are written in the law and the
prophets. Certainly the general faith goeth before the particular, for
there is no building without a foundation ; so that the general faith is
a firm and hearty assent to such things as are revealed by God, because
revealed by him. In which description we may consider (1.) The
object of this grace, things revealed by God, as revealed by him ; (2.)
The act, it is an assent ; (3.) The adjuncts or qualifications of this act,
it is a firm, cordial, or hearty assent.
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. Ill
1. The objects of faith, considered materially, are such things as are
contained in the divine revelation. Formally these things by faith are
apprehended under that consideration as revealed by God, by virtue of
the truth and authority of his testimony. The objects of faith mate
rially considered are all such things as are contained in the word of God
or revealed by him, which are of a different nature, precepts, promises,
threatenings, histories of facts done, mysteries of godliness ; all these
are apprehended, and improved by faith, to the use of holy living or
entertaining communion with God through Christ ; only among these
objects some are more noble and excellent, others of lesser weight and
moment, The chief objects of faith are those things which are abso
lutely necessary to salvation, and without which we can neither be holy
here nor happy hereafter. Such are those things which we specially
call articles of faith, as briefly comprehending all the mysteries of
salvation, the decalogue, &c. But many other things are contained in
the word of God, and conduce to the confirmation and fuller under
standing of these things, though not of like weight and importance
with them ; as, for instance, divers histories and miracles which are
spoken of in scripture, as also some lesser doctrines, which only belong
to the greater fulness and perfection of knowledge. The first sort of
things must be explicitly and distinctly known and believed; an
implicit faith may suffice for the rest. Now an implicit faith we call
that faith by which we belie ve. things not distinctly and apart, but as
they are contained in their common principle ; as, for instance, he that
belie veth the book of Judges to be a book divinely inspired, and yet
hath neVer read it or heard it read by others, he doth indeed believe
the histories contained therein to be true, but not by an explicit faith, for
he knoweth them not but by an implicit and general faith, as he is per
suaded the book was indited by the Spirit of God ; but he who hath read
the book, and knoweth particularly what is said of Sampson, Gideon,
Barak, and others of the Lord s worthies, and believeth it, he hath a
distinct and explicit faith of these things. The believers of the Old
Testament knew the Messiah and Kedeemer of the world implicitly,
and not with that particularity which is required of believers in the
New. And so do many weak Christians assent to all things contained
in the word of God by an implicit faith, though they do only expressly
and explicitly believe things necessary to salvation ; which is not said
to justify laziness in any, or an overly carelessness in any matters of
religion, as if we should acquiesce in the knowledge of a few necessary
things, and seek no further. No ; The word of God must dwell in us
richly, in all wisdom, Col. iii. 16 ; for though things absolutely necessary
are but few, yet other points have their use, and conduce both to the
confirmation and improvement of the rest. But hitherto we have only
spoken of the object of faith materially considered ; we must speak also of*
the formal consideration. Things revealed by God, as revealed by him ;
for every assent, even that which is given to things contained in the
word of God, cannot be called faith. For instance, if a man should
certainly hold and maintain any point of religion, as the creation of the
world out of nothing, but not upon the account of God s revealing any
such truth, but for some other reason which seemeth necessary and
cogent to him, he cannot be said to believe this article, or to understand
it by faith; as it is said, Heb. xi. 3, Through faith we understand
112 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
that the worlds were framed by the word of God ; for faith is an
assent to a divine testimony ; but when we know things by other ways
and means of assurance, it is not faith, whatever it be. So if a man
should believe the passages of God s providence towards the Israelites,
upon the relation of Josephus the historian, and not upon the authority
of the sacred writers who have delivered it to us, he cannot be said to
have faith ; which also may be said of them who adhere to the true
religion only out of custom, and the happy chance of their birth and
education, or because they received it by tradition from their ancestors,
or the bare warrant of their present teachers, or evidence of reason.
2. The next thing which the description offereth to us is the act of
faith about this object, which is an assent. The formal object of faith
is some divine truth, as we have seen. Now the understanding hath a
double act about truth apprehension and dijudication, or exercising
a judgment about it. So in these divine truths first we apprehend the
nature or tenor of them, or consider what is propounded to us in the
word of God, which is knowledge or apprehension ; but then secondly
we judge or determine concerning the truth of these things, which is
acknowledgment or assent, and this is the act proper to faith.
3. The adjuncts or qualifications of this assent come now to be con
sidered. They are two (1.) It is a firm assent ; (2.) It is a cordial
and hearty assent
[1.] As it is a firm assent, so faith is distinguished from many
things that look like it, or pass for it in the world; as (1.) Non-contra
diction, or not questioning the truths of religion, which is all the faith
that most have, and cometh from their inadvertency and carelessness
about divine matters. They do not object against the truth of what
the gospel propoundeth, because they do not regard it and weigh it in
their serious thoughts. This difFereth little from children s learning
questions of catechism, or saying things by rote ; they can say over the
articles of their belief, and never doubted of them ; you may teach
them to think and say anything, what you please, for they say it, and
never consider of it. So most men in the Christian world talk at the same
rate that others do, but consider not what they say, nor whereof they
affirm, only ignorantly and inconsiderately swallow down the current
opinions, without knowing the certainty of those things wherein they
have been instructed, Luke i. 4. And so though they never doubted
of the truth of their religion, it is because they were never assaulted
with temptations to the contrary, and all the strength of their faith
lieth in their inconsideration or non-attention. If they have any
ground and bottom, it is only men s saying so, and therefore their belief
(if they have any) should rather be called human credulity than
Christian faith. In short, they that believe everything believe nothing,
which soon appeareth when a temptation cometh. (2.) It distin-
guisheth it from conjecture, which is a lighter inclination of mind to
a thing, as possibly or probably true, whereby men get no higher than,
It may be so, and yet there are shrewd suspicions to the contrary. A
guess is not an assent, much less a firm and strong assent, as faith is.
(3.) It distinguisheth it from opinion, which is a trembling, fearful,
uncertain assent. Opinion is beyond conjecture, but short of faith.
Conjecture only supposes it may be so, but opinion asserts that it is so,
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 113
though not without some fear of the contrary ; but above all, this faith
is an undoubted persuasion of the truth of things revealed by God. By
opinion one may be so convinced of the truth of divine things as not to
be able reasonably to contradict them ; but by faith a man is so con
vinced of the truth of the gospel that he seeth all the reason in the
world to embrace and follow it : Col. ii. 2, c That their hearts might
be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the
full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery
of God, and of the Father, and of Christ : and 1 Thes. i. 5, For our
gospel came not unto 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 you for your sake ; and 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.
[2.] The next qualification of this assent is that it is a cordial or
hearty assent : I mean, such as doth engage the will and affections to
pursue the happiness which God hath revealed, in the way and by the
means which God hath prescribed. We read in scripture of believing
with the heart, Bom. x. 9, 10, and with all the heart, Acts viii. 37.
The object of faith is not only true, but good, and therefore produceth
a cordial adherence to the truths of which it is persuaded. There is
not only a conviction of the mind, but a bent and inclination of the
will, which followeth the persuasion of faith if it be firm and strong ;
for it considereth not only the evidence of the things propounded, but
the worth, weight, and greatness of them : 1 Tim. i. 15, * This is a
faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation ; otherwise it will not
serve the end and purpose of the gospel, which requireth us to crucify
our lusts, and sacrifice our interests, and perform duties displeasing to
corrupt nature, and all this upon the hopes only which it offereth to
us, and to wait upon God for his salvation in the midst of all pressures
and afflictions. Therefore certainly believing is an heart-business, not
a simple, naked, and speculative assent. This latter qualification doth
exclude two things from true, lively, and saving faith (1.) That
which divines call historical; (2.) That which they call temporary
faith.
(1.) Historical faith, which is a simple and naked assent to such
things as are propounded in the word of God, and maketh men more
knowing but not better, not more holy and heavenly ; they are not
excited thereby to pursue that happiness which the gospel offereth in
the way of holy living or patient continuance in well-doing. So Simon
Magus believed the preaching of Philip, Acts viii. 13, yet his heart
was not right with God, but he still remained in the gall of bitterness
and bond of iniquity. And so many believed in the name of Christ,
to whom Christ committed not himself, because he knew all men,
John ii. 23, 24 ; and this faith even the devils may have : James ii. 19,
Thou believest that there is a God, thou doest well ; the devils also
believe, and tremble ; and that not only in truths evident by natural
light, such as that is there mentioned, that there is a God, but in
gospel truths, as that Jesus is the Son of God : Mark i. 24, The devil
cried out, saying, Let us alone ; what have we to do with thee, thou
VOL,
114 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
Jesus of Nazareth ? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God/
Now this kind of faith is called historical faith, not from the object of
it, as if it did only believe the histories of scripture. No ; they that
have it may believe the promises, the doctrines, the precepts as well as
the histories ; but from the manner in which it is conversant about its
object, namely, thus : as we read histories in which we are no way
concerned ; we nakedly read them for knowledge sake, not to make a
party in their broils and interests, but only to know what was done ;
so they that have only this kind of faith, read the scriptures as persons
unconcerned, and rest in idle speculation, without referring those
notable truths to choice and practice. I cannot say that this cannot be
called faith, because they that have it do believe those things which
are true, and do truly believe them ; but yet lively saving faith it is
not, for he who hath that, findeth his heart engaged to Christ, and
doth so believe the promises of the gospel concerning pardon of sins
and life eternal that he seeketh after them as his happiness, and doth
so believe the mysteries of our redemption by Christ as that all his
hope and peace and confidence is drawn from thence, and doth so
believe the commandments of God and Christ as that he determineth
to frame his heart and life to the observance of them, and doth so
believe the threatenings, whether of temporal plagues or eternal damna
tion, as that, in comparison of them, all the frightful things of the world
are as nothing : Luke xii. 24, Be not afraid of them that can kill the
body, and after that have no more that they can do. Destruction
from God is a terror to them, beyond all the evil that man can threaten ;
as he said to the emperor, Thou threatenest a prison, but Christ
threateneth hell.
(2.) It is distinguished from temporary faith, which is an assent to
scriptural or gospel truth, accompanied with a slight and insufficient
touch upon the heart, called a taste of the heavenly gift, and of the
good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Heb. vi.
4-6. By this kind of faith, the mind is not only enlightened, but the
heart affected with some joy, and the life in some measure reformed,
at least from grosser sins, called, escaping the pollutions of the world/
2 Peter ii. 20 ; but the impression is not deep enough, nor is the joy
and delight rooted enough to encounter all temptations to the contrary.
Therefore this sense of religion may be choked, or worn off, either by
the cares of this world, or voluptuous living, or great and bitter per
secutions and troubles for righteousness sake. It is a common deceit ;
many are persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the only Son of God,
and so are moved to embrace his person, and in some measure to obey
his precepts, and to depend upon his promises, and fear his threatenings,
and so by consequence to have their hearts loosened from the world in
part, and seem to prefer Christ and their duty to him above worldly
things, as long as no temptations do assault their resolutions, or sensual
objects stand not up in any considerable strength to entice them ; but
at length, when they find his laws so strict and spiritual, and contrary
either to the bent of their affections or worldly interests, they fall
off, and lose all their taste and relish of the hopes of the gospel, and
so declare plainly that they were not rooted and grounded in the
faith and hope thereof. This is true faith generally considered, which
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 115
foundation being laid, it will be easy to show the nature of special
faith, which now followeth to be discussed.
Secondly, The special objects of faith are God s transactions about
man s salvation by Christ ; "therefore, besides the general faith, there
is a special faith, whereby we receive Christ, and rest upon him.
Saving faith is called a receiving of Christ : 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 in his name ; and Col. ii. 6, As ye have
received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. We take him as
God offereth him. and to the ends for which God offereth him ; to do
that for us and to be that to us which God -hath appointed him to do
for and to be unto poor sinners. The general work of Christ as
mediator 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. And the great use that we make of him, is to come to God
by him. There is implied in faith an intention of God as our chief est
good, for otherwise Christ is of no use to us ; and a consent to Christ s
undertaking, that he may bring us to God, or a thankful acceptance
of him for those ends. All they are rejected that will have none of
him: Ps. Ixxxi. 11, 12, But my people would not hearken to my
voice, and Israel would none of me ; so I gave them up unto their
own hearts lust, and they walked in their own counsels ; that will not
come to him that they may have life, John vi. 40 ; that will not have
him to reign over them/ Luke xix. 27. But they who consent to
receive him as their lord and saviour are accepted with him ; only
let us see how this consent is qualified.
1. It is not a rash consent, but such as is deliberate, and serious,
and well-advised. When God in the gospel biddeth us to take Christ,
men are ready to say, With all their hearts ; but they do not consider
what it is to receive Christ, and therefore retract their consent as soon
as it is made. No ; you must sit down and count the charges, Luke
xiv. When you have considered his strict laws, and made a full allow
ance for incident difficulties and temptations, and can resolve, forsaking
all others, to cleave to him alone for salvation, it is an advised consent.
2. It must not be a forced and involuntary consent, such as a person
maketh when he is frightened into a little righteousness for the pre
sent ; such as a person would not yield to if he were in a state of
liberty. It may be in a distress or pang of conscience ; by all means
they must have Christ when sick, when afraid to die, when under some
great judgment. No ; the will must be effectually inclined to him, and
to God the Father by him, as our utmost felicity and end. Christ s
people are a willing people : Ps. ex. 3, Thy people shall be willing in
the day of thy power/
3. It must be a resolved consent, a fixed, not an ambulatory will,
which we take up for a purpose, or at some certain times, for a solemn
duty, or so. No ; you must cleave to him : Acts xi. 23, He exhorted
them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord/
You must trample upon everything that will separate you from him :
Phil. iii. 8, 9, Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that
116 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
I may win Christ/ &c. ; and Bom. viii. 38, 39, I am persuaded that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present nor things to corne, nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4. It must be not a partial consent, but total ; not only to take
Christ as offered with his benefits, but a consent of subjection to him
as our Lord. We are to take him and his yoke : Mat. xi. 29, Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me. We are to take him, and his
cross : Mat. xvi. 24, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me/ It is accompanied
with a resolution to obey his laws and keep his commandments, that
we may abide in his love.
Thirdly, Besides this consent, there must be a recumbency, depend
ence, resting, or a fiduciary reliance upon him for all things we stand
in need of from him. Recumbency is a special act of faith : Isa. xxvi.
3, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee,
because he trusteth in thee. Now what do we rest upon him for ?
For somewhat here and somewhat hereafter (1.) Here ; for the inward
man, for all kind of grace, justification, sanctification, privileges, duties,
for the beginning and continuance : Phil. i. 6, Being confident of this
very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ ; and Acts v. 31, Him hath God ex
alted to be a prince and a saviour, for to give repentance to Israel,
and forgiveness of sins/ He is the author and fountain of grace, as
well as a Lord and lawgiver, and the ground of our hope and confidence,
as giving us that righteousness whereby we may stand before God,
and have comfortable access to him. And then for the outward man,
God hath not only undertaken to give us heaven and happiness in the
next world, but to carry us thither with comfort, supplying us in a
way most conducible to his glory and our welfare : Ps. Ixxxiv. 11,
The Lord is a sun and shield ; the Lord will give grace and glory ;
no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. All
things are yours, ordinances, providences : 1 Cor. iii. 2l, For all
things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world,
or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and
ye are Christ s, and Christ is God s. (2.) Hereafter ; that Christ will
give us eternal glory and happiness in the other world: 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 which should here
after believe in him to life everlasting ; and John xx. 31, 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
main blessing which faith ainaeth at : 1 Peter i. 9, Receiving the end
of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. By this all temptations
of sense are defeated.
Now, if you would know whether your faith groweth or no, you must
discover it by the firmness of your assent, or the resolvedness of your
consent, or the peace and confidence of your reliance.
1. For assent. If you believe the word of God, especially the gospel
part, with an assent so strong that you can resolve to venture your
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALOXIAKS I. 3. 117
whole happiness in this bottom, and let go all that you may obtain the
hopes which the gospel offereth to you, certainly he hath a strong faith
who taketh God s promises for his whole felicity, and God s word for
his only security ; he needeth no more, nor no better thing, nor surer
conveyance to engage him to hazard all that he hath, when the enjoy
ment of it is inconsistent with his fidelity to Christ.
2. Your consent. A full, entire, hearty consent to resign yourselves
to Christ ; not a feeble consent, such as is contradicted by every foolish
and hurtful lust, but a prevalent consent, such as can maintain itself
notwithstanding difficulties, temptations, and oppositions of the flesh,
and control all other desires and delights whatsoever.
3. For reliance. When you can trust him for deliverance from the
guilt, power, and punishment of sin, and to quicken, strengthen, and
preserve grace in you to everlasting life. You trust him in all his offices;
as a priest, when you believe his merits and sacrifice, and comfort your
selves with his gracious promises and covenant, and come to God with
more boldness and hope of mercy upon the account of his intercession,
especially in all extremities and necessities: Heb. iv. 14-16, Seeing
then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession ; for we have not
an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infir
mities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin :
let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need/ You trust him,
as a prophet when you give up yourselves as his disciples to the con
duct of his word and Spirit, oeing persuaded that he will infallibly
teach you the way to true happiness : John vi. 68, Lord, to whom
shall we go ? thou hast the words of eternal life. You trust him as a
king when you become his subjects, and are persuaded that he will
govern you in truth and righteousness in order to your salvation, and
defend you by his mighty power from all your enemies : 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 unto him against that day ; and
2 Tim. iv. 18, And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work,
and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom ; to whom be glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
SERMON III.
Your faith groiveth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you
all towards each other aboundeth. 2 THES. i. 3.
THE growth and increase of faith may be judged of (1.) By the
nature of faith; (2.) The properties of it; (3.) The examples and
instances of great faith in scripture.
We are now upon the second thing, the properties.
1. A dependence upon God for something that lieth out of sight.
118 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
That this is an essential property of faith appeareth by the description
of it : Heb. xi. 1, The evidence of things not seen; that is, not seen
by sense and reason. Some things are invisible by reason of their
nature, as God, for no man hath seen God at any time, John i. 18 ;
and therefore he is called the invisible God, Col. i. 15. And some
things by reason of their distance, because they are absent and future,
as the glory of the world to come, and therefore it is an object of faith
and hope : Kom. viii. 24, For hope that is seen is not hope ; for what
a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for it ? Vision and possession
exclude hope, and leave no room and place for it. Now without faith
a man can have no sight of these things : 2 Peter i. 9, He that lacketh
these things is blind, and cannot see afar off. There is a mist upon
eternity, and we cannot look beyond the clouds of this lower world
unless we have the eagle-eye of faith ; but by faith we can see them,
so as to frame our lives accordingly : 2 Cor. v. 7, For we walk by faith,
and not by sight. By sense we see what is pleasing or displeasing to
the flesh, but by faith what conduceth to the saving or losing of the
.soul. Faith being very much like sight, and serving us for the govern
ment of the soul, as sight doth for the body, it may much be explained
by it. Now to bodily sight there must be an object, a medium to make
the object conspicuous, and a faculty or organ. (1.) The great object
of faith is eternal life, as procured by Christ and promised in the gospel.
There is no use of sight where nothing is to be seen ; therefore the
object is set before us in the view of faith, in the promises of the gospel,
Heb. vi. 18, and xii. 2. God s truth is as certain as sight itself can be
in it; we see all things promised as sure and near. (2.) The medium;
as we see colours in the light of the air, so these spiritual and heavenly
things in the light of the Spirit : 1 Cor. ii. 11, 12, For what man
knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
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 us of
God/ (3.) The eye, or visive power. A blind man cannot see at
noonday, nor the sharpest sight at midnight. Now this eye is faith,
which is the evidence of things not seen ; we are as sure of them as if
we saw them with our eyes, or as we are of those things which we now
see with our eyes.
The sight of faith may be considered either (1.) As to its certainty
and clearness ; (2.) As to its power and efficacy.
[1.] As to its certainty and clearness. We do so see God, heaven,
Christ, that we are affected in some measure as if we saw them with
our bodily eyes. God, whilst we walk before him : Acts ii. 25, I fore
saw the Lord always before my face. Christ: Gal. iii. 1, Before
whose eyes Jesus Christ had been evidently set forth, crucified among
you. Christ was set forth before their eyes, as if they had seen him
hanging and dying upon the cross. Heaven ; they have it in their eye,
and are affected in some measure, as if they were in the midst of the
glory of the world to come. I say, only in some measure ; for compare
the light of faith and the light of glory, and there is a difference in the
degree. The light of glory nullifieth sin, the light of faith only rnorti-
fieth it ; but yet really it maketh us do those things which we would
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 119
do if we saw the glory of heaven, shun those things which are to be
avoided as if we saw the flames of hell. There is a certainty and firm
belief which hath a great influence upon us, so compare it with the
light of sense. Those things which we are to see and feel move the
more passionately, for while the soul dwelleth in flesh, and looketh out
by the senses, the objects of sense are more apt to move the passions,
but yet faith doth effectually move us, though not so passionately.
[2.] As to efficacy and prevalency, this sight prevails over those
things which we see and feel. A Christian hath senses as well as
others, and knoweth that he dwelleth in a world full of sensible objects,
which are pleasing to that flesh which he still carrieth about with him ;
but God hath opened the eyes of his mind, by which he seeth better
and more glorious things, which take up his heart and mind, life and
love, care and time, and so is weaned from sense-pleasing vanities, and
can deny them, and trample upon them, for the enjoyment of these
better things; and neither life, nor anything comfortable to life, is
counted so dear as that, for their sake, he should hazard the favour of
God, his Kedeemer s blessing, and the happiness of the world to come.
If sight and sense invite and entice him to sin, and forsake his God
and Christ, the objects of faith prevail against the amusements of sense,
and sway his choice, and incline his heart, and govern his resolutions
in the whole course of his life. He looketh not to things as they seem
for the present, or relish to the flesh, or as they appear to short-sighted
men who are governed by sense, but as they will appear at last, and
will prove to all eternity, and so can leave things which he seeth and
feeleth for things which he never saw, but expecteth shortly to enjoy.
Well, then, this is the essential property of faith, to look to things
not seen by sense, but revealed by God in his word ; and this property
showeth itself in all the acts of faith, elicit and imperate. Elicit acts
are those which are proper to this grace ; imperate are such as belong
to other graces, but faith hath an influence upon them by virtue of
which they are produced. We may more plainly call them acts and
effects.
(1.) As the acts of faith, which are assent, consent, trust, or depend
ence.
(1st.) For assent to such truths as God hath revealed in his word.
When we have sufficient evidence of this revelation, the less sensible
helps we need to underprop our assent, the stronger is our faith. Let
me instance in the great article of the Christian faith, Christ s person
and office. I shall produce that place of the apostle, 1 Peter i. 8,
Whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not,
yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Though
they had never seen Christ in the flesh, and he was now absent from
them in regard of his bodily presence, being withdrawn into the heavenly
sacrary, yet this did not hinder their faith ; they loved him and rejoiced
in him as if they had seen him and conversed with him bodily. It was
an advantage certainly to have seen Christ in the flesh, and to converse
with him personally here upon earth, to see his miracles and hear
his gracious words ; but faith can embrace him as offered in the promise
though it never saw him in the flesh ; and the fewer sensible helps
faith hath besides the word, it is the more highly esteemed by Jesus
120 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
Christ. The same appeareth by Christ s words to Thomas : John xx.
29, Thomas, because thou hast seen, thou hast believed ; but blessed
are they that have not seen, yet have believed. Thomas must have
the object of faith under the view of his senses, which argued a great
weakness and imbecility : Unless I see in his hand the print of the
nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, I will not believe/
What if Christ would not give him that satisfaction, but other sufficient
evidence ? This was his infirmity, therefore Christ telleth us they
have the stronger and more acceptable faith that do not give laws to
heaven, or prescribe to God upon what terms they will believe, but
accept of the assurance God offereth, without satisfaction to sense.
(2d) For consent, when we come to enter into covenant with God,
God is invisible who maketh the promise, and heaven, which is the
great promise that he hath promised us, is future and yet to come, and
lieth in another world, and before we get thither we must encounter
many difficulties, yea, shoot the gulf of death ; but the believer can as
really and heartily transact with the great God, and give the hand to
the Lord to become his, as he can with a man that is present, and
offereth a good bargain upon easy terms and conditions ; he hath so
firm a belief of the life to come, that he taketh it for his portion and
happiness : 2 Cor. iv. 18, While we look not at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not seen ; he looketh to things unseen,
which he taketh for his treasure and happiness, and is resolved to be
anything and do anything which God will have him be and do, that he
may obtain it.
(3d) Another elicit act of faith is trust and dependence, which
maintaineth us in a course of patient and cheerful obedience to God,
though our happiness be yet to come ; yea, though for the present we
are harassed with great troubles and afflictions, and it may be, see not
the signs, i.e., any sensible tokens of God s favour and respect to us,
yet the sight of an invisible God, and confidence of a future reward,
keepeth up joy in the soul, and no violence of temptation is able to
break it, and remove us from the truth : Kom. viii. 24, 25, We are
saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth,
why doth he yet hope for ? But if we hope for that we see not, then
do we with patience wait for it. They are confident that in God s
time they shall have salvation and final deliverance, though it be not
to be seen anywhere but in God s promise by Jesus Christ. Well, then,
the fewer external comforts we need, the stronger is our faith ; the
more, the weaker. Weak Christians must be carried in arms, dandled
on the knees, fed with sensible pledges and ocular demonstrations, or
ejse they are ready to faint.
(2.) The imperate acts or effects of faith, they are produced by
virtue of this property, faith s prevailing oversight and sense. I shall
name four
(1st.) To promote holiness, and reduce us and reclaim us from the
false happiness. Surely none will accomplish the work of faith with
power, and so glorify God and Christ in the world, that is, live in all
holy conversation and godliness, but those that have that faith which
is the evidence of things not seen. Those that live always as in the
sight of an invisible God, are the thorough Christians. What greater
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 121
check can there be to temptations to sin than to live always in the sight
of an invisible God ? Gen. xxxix. 9 ; or to temptations to the world,
than an invisible glory ; or to the troubles and molestations of the
world ? Bom. viii. 18, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us; and 2 Cor. iv. 17, * Our light affliction, which is but
for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory. If godliness expose us to difficulties, molestations, and
troubles, faith seeth the final rest, glory, and happiness. If we are
inclined to the honours and pleasures of the world, faith seeth the most
shining glory will soon burn out, and end in a snuff: Ps. cxix. 96, I
have seen an end of all perfection, but thy commandment is exceeding
broad ; and 1 John ii. 17, The world passeth away, and the lust
thereof, but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever/ If sense
present the bait of present profit, pleasure, or honour, faith seeth the
final shame, ignominy, and loss ; and so we are guarded on all sides
against right-hand and left-hand temptations. This is a general ; I
shall speak of more particular effects.
(2c) To keep the heart tender and in awe of God s word. Surely
it is a blessed frame of spirit, and very useful to us, to tremble at the
word of God : 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 ; and to
stand in awe of his word : Ps. cxix. 161, My heart standeth in awe of
thy word. Now this can never be unless we have that faith which is
the evidence of things not seen ; for many times the word threateneth
evils which are not likely to corne to pass, if we look to the visible face
of things, and all that part of God s discipline is lost unless we can
believe unseen things. See Heb. xi. 7, By faith Noah, being warned
of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to
the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world, and became
heir of the righteousness which is by faith. The world was then in a
jolly condition, and little dreamt of a flood. The earth flourished as
much as ever, and there was building, and marrying, and planting ; but
God had told him of a universal destruction of all things by a deluge,
therefore he admonisheth the careless world, and provideth for his own
and family s safety. So we read of Josiah, when he heard of the words
of the book of the law, he rent his clothes, 2 Kings xxii. 11. We do
not read of any actual trouble that was then in the land, or any danger
nigh. When an age is very corrupt and ripe for judgment, God giveth
warning. But alas ! few take it or lay it to heart, for the world is led
by sense, and not by faith : they are not affected with things till they
feel them. Few can see a storm when the clouds are ingathering, but
securely build on the present ease and peace, though God be angry.
But in the eye of faith a sinful estate is always dangerous ; therefore
they fall a praying and humbling themselves, and cry to God mightily,
and use all means of safety, while a judgment is but yet in its causes.
(3cZ.) To support us against the greatest dangers and terrors : Heb.
xi. 27, By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the
king, for he endured as seeing him that is invisible. To depend upon
God s aid and succour in a time of great extremity and danger needeth
a strong faith. As to appearance, he was ready to be swallowed up, being
122 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS T. 3.
pursued by a wrathful and puissant king ; the sea was before him, the
Egyptians behind him, and the craggy and inaccessible mountains on
each side ; but the terrors of sense may be easily vanquished by those
invisible succours which faith relieth upon ; an invisible God can bear
us out against visible dangers.
(4.) To teach us how to carry an equal mind in prosperity and ad
versity. In prosperity, when we are borne up by the chin, we have
but too much confidence, and when we are lessened and cut short in
the world, we are full of diffidence and distrustful fears : Ps. xxx. 6,
In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. When a child of
God hath gotten a carnal pillow under his head, he lieth down, and
sleepeth sweetly, dreaming many a pleasant dream of uninterrupted
felicity in the world, but if God taketh away his pillow from under his
head, then he is as diffident as formerly confident, then God will be
favourable no more. God is the same, his promises the same, the
covenant the same, the Mediator the same, but our condition is changed,
because we look to things seen, live upon things seen, and still imagine
of things according to what we see and feel. So for supplies of main
tenance and provision ; if we have them not in view and sight, how
little can we depend upon God I If sense be against the promises, the
promises do us but little good. How few can comfort themselves in
God when all faileth, Hab. iii. 18, or make his all-sufficiency their
storehouse ! Gen. xvii. 1. No ; they must have a full heap in their
own keeping. How few can take his promises for their heritage ! Ps.
cxix. 11. No ; they must have lands and fixed revenues, or else they
know not where to have food and raiment for themselves and children.
How few can be contented to trust the purse in God s hands, and be
contented to take their daily allowance from him ! which yet is a
necessary point of faith, of continual practice. How few can see all
things in God when they have nothing in the creature ! 2 Cor. vi. 10.
Many talk of living by faith, but it is when they have enough in the
world to live upon ; they eat their own bread ; wear their own apparel,
only call it by God s name. The life of sense is more evident than the
life of faith. Well, now, this being the nature of faith, thereby we
may know the measure of it ; for the excellency and degree of every
thing is known by the essential properties.
2. The second property of faith is self-denial, or a venturing of all
in Christ s hands, or a foregoing all for Christ. That this is included
in the nature of faith, yea, essential to it, I must prove to you
[1.] By the description of faith in scripture : Heb. x. 39, We are
not of the number of them that draw back to perdition, but of them
that believe to the saving of the soul ; e/c 7rtcrTe&&gt;? et? TrepiTrolrjcnv ^1^9,
the purchasing of the soul ; not purchasing in the way of merit, but
means. A true and sound faith will cause us to save the soul, though
with the loss of other things. The flesh is for sparing or saving the
body, but faith is for saving the soul whatever it costs us. The flesh
saith, Favour thyself ; faith saith, Hazard all for Christ.
[2.] By reason. I will prove that it not only necessarily results from
the nature of faith, but is included in it ; for faith builds upon the
promise of salvation by Christ. Now this promise is not only true but
good, 1 Tim. i. 1. It is certainly true, and requireth the firmest be-
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 123
iief ; it is eminently good, and worthy to be regarded above all other
things ; the happiness is most desirable, and the assurance of enjoy
ing it as strong as can be given us. Now we do not close with this
promise rightly unless we assent and embrace, take the thing promised
for our whole happiness, and the promise itself for our whole security.
The thing promised we do not take for our whole happiness unless we
forsake all other hopes and happiness, and can let go all pleasures,
profits, worldly reputation, and honour ; yea, life itself, when it is in
consistent with our fidelity to Christ, or the way we should take to
enjoy the blessedness that he offereth. Not only wilful sin, and all
carnal pleasures, but anything, though never so near and dear to us.
No ; we will not take up with any other portion and felicity for all the
temptations in the world. And also there must be a confidence of
God s promise in Jesus Christ, that we may venture our all upon this
security, and, if God call us to it, actually forsake all ; so that without
self-denial we can neither trust God nor be true to him.
[3.] This suiteth with the nature of the conditional and baptismal
covenant. There is an absolute covenant whereby God promiseth to
give faith to the elect, and a conditional covenant sealed in baptism,
wherein it is said that He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved/ Mark xvi. 16. Now by this covenant none can be believers or
disciples of Christ, but those that forsake all for Christ s sake : Mat.
xiii. 45, 46, The kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant-man seek
ing goodly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, he
went and sold all that he had and bought it. Christ knew the nature
of faith better than we do. Many cheapen the pearl of price, but do
not go through with the bargain, because they do not sell all to pur
chase it, all that is inconsistent with this choice and trust. So Luke
xiv. 26, If any man come unto me, and hate not father, and mother,
and brother, and sister, yea, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Shall we think to go to heaven at a cheaper rate, after such express
declarations of the will of Christ ? All Christians are not called to
this, but all must be ready for this : Eph. vi. 15, Your feet shod with
the preparation of the gospel of peace ; Acts xxi. 13, I am ready not
to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the
Lord Jesus ; 1 Peter iii. 15, Be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear. This every disciple must be, prepared to undergo
martyrdom if God calls him to it.
[4.] I prove it by the instances of believers, ordinary and extraor
dinary. Faith was ever a venturing all and a forsaking all upon God s
veracity and truth of his promises.
(1.) Extraordinary. Noah had but God s bare word for the flood,
Heb. xi. 7, yet notwithstanding the mocks of the incredulous world,
with vast expense and care he prepare th an ark, which was the pre
scribed means to save himself and household. Abraham leaveth his
father s house, though he knew not whither God would call him, Heb.
xi. 8. Here was venturing all on God s fidelity ; and afterwards we
read that he was ready to offer Isaac, leaving the way to God how to
fulfil his promises, ver. 17, 18. So the Israelites passing through the
Eed Sea, ver. 29, there they put their all into God s hands, when upon
124 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIAXS I. 3.
his word themselves and little ones and all their substance ventured
into the great deep. So Christ s trial of the young man : Mark x. 21,
Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and then
shalt have treasure in heaven, &c. ; but the promise of eternal life and
great treasure in heaven could not part the young man and his great
estate.
(2.) Ordinary. Moses : Heb. xi. 24-26, By faith Moses, when he
was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh s daughter,
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to en
dure the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ
greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the
recompense of reward. So those that the apostle speaketh of, Heb. x.
34, Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves
that ye have in heaven a better auid an enduring substance. They
Irad such a faith in Christ, that though they had lost their goods, yet
because they lost not Christ and the hopes of heaven by him, they
thought themselves happy enough. So Paul s quitting all honour and
respect with his countrymen : Phil. iii. 8, I count all things but dung
and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord. It is endless to instance in all, bu- this is enough to show you
that the true believers are still known by their self-denial. But you
will say, if this be necessary to the very truth and being of faith (as
certainly it is), how shall we know our growth, for we can but forsake
all ? I answer By your readiness and willingness to part with all for
Christ.- The weakest believer can part with no more but all, but the
stronger this faith is, he doth it with the more readiness of mind, and
with least defaults in his duty and blots in his fidelity to Christ.
Would you know then whether your faith be strong or weak ? know
it by this The more you can adhere to Christ, whatever temptations
you have to the contrary, if you can venture not only some, but all
things, upon the account of the promise of eternal life
(1st.) Deny the sinful pleasures of the flesh ; they were never worth
the keeping. If I cannot deny a littf j vain pleasure, what can I deny
for Christ ? Surely momentary delight is bought too dear if it must
be bought with the loss of eternal joys. Esau is represented as a pro
fane person, that sold his birthright for one morsel of meat, Heb. xii.
15. If the vain delights of the world prevail so with men that all the
promises of the gospel cannot reclaim them, these comply with the
motions of the flesh, which is importunate to be pleased, but have no
sense of the offers of Christ, who calleth upon us to save our souls.
The true Christian is a stranger and pilgrim on the earth, whose mind
and heart is set upon better things, which are to come, 1 Peter ii. 11.
Upon the security of God s word, he is taking his journey into another
world.
(2d.) We must be willing to sacrifice all our interests : Mat. xvi.
24, If any man will come after me, and be my disciple, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross and follow me. If God be trusted as
our felicity, worldly felicity must be no impediment to our duty ;
therefore, if we cannot incur blame and shame with men, yea, damage
and loss, that we may be faithful with God, our faith is worth nothing.
(3d) If God call you not to sufferings, yet there are some expense-
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 125
fill and self-denying duties which ever are incumbent upon you, Mat.
xxv. 35. Visiting the sick, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry :
Luke xii. 33, Sell that ye have, and give alms ; provide yourselves
bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heaven that faileth not.
Can you trust Christ upon such promises, and be at some loss for the
gospel ? for a religion that costs nothing is worth nothing. Most men
love a cheap gospel, and the flesh engrosseth all ; faith gets little from
them to be laid out for God. These men run a fearful hazard of being
rejected for ever ; they sow to the flesh : Gal. vi. 8, He that soweth
to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to
the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
(4th.) If your faith maketh you to submit to providence. When we
first entered into covenant with God, we entirely and absolutely gave
up ourselves to God, to be governed by his commanding will, and to be
ordered by his disposing will. You cannot shift yourselves out of his
hands, but your voluntary submission to anything, if you may have
Christ and heaven at last, is the trial of your faith : Job i. 21, The
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the
Lord ; ; Phil. i. 20, So Christ be magnified in my body, whether it be
by life or death. He was come to a point ; nothing should be reserved.
So Christ may be glorified, and you may have his saving grace, let
him give or take ; the more willingly you do this, the stronger is your
faith. Certainly to deny all is an essential property of faith.
3. The third evidence of a growing faith is when our light is turned
into love ; for faith is not a bare knowledge, but a sound, a savoury
and effective knowledge, a knowing things as we ought to know them
1 Cor. viii. 1, 2. A knowledge with a taste ; for such a difference as
there is between the sight of meat and the tasting of it, such a differ
ence there is between speculative knowledge and the apprehension of
faith, 1 Peter i. 3. You may dispute him out of his belief that seeth,
but you can never dispute him out of his belief that tastes, for you
cannot make him go against his own sense. The steadfastness of
unlearned Christians cometh mainly from their taste and love ; they
adhere more closely to Christ than those that have only a dead opinion,
because they received the truth not only in the light but love of it,
2 Thes. ii. 10. Now the more taste we have of the things we know
and believe, the stronger is our faith. Now, besides the manner of
apprehension, the truths apprehended tend mainly to raise our love to
God, that we may love him that loved us first, 1 John iv. 19. We
know God that we may love him, and faith is nothing else but a behold
ing the love of God in the face of Jesus Christ, that our hearts may be
wanned, attracted, and drawn to God. Faith is the bellows to enkindle
the fire of love in our souls ; and therefore faith, the more sound and
sincere it is, the more it worketh by love, Gal. v. 6. Faith is required
sub rations medii ; love, sub ratione finis. The end of the gospel
institution is love, 1 Tim. i. 5. Well, then, when you make it your
great business to love God, and count it your great happiness to be
beloved by him, then may you best judge of the growth of your faith.
The gospel representeth the goodness and arniableness of God, that he
may be more lovely to us, and be beloved by us ; for this was the end
of reconciling and saving man by Christ ; his incarnation, life, sufferings,
126 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession is all to reveal the love
of God in Christ, and to work our hearts to love God again. To this
end also tend his merciful covenant and promises, and all the benefits
given to the church, all the privileges of the saints, his Spirit, pardon,
peace, glory, all these to warm our hearts, and fill them with a sense
of the love of God. Now if we slightly reflect upon these things, with
cold and narrow thoughts, we have not the true faith, certainly not a
grown faith.
SERMON IV.
Tour faith groweth exceedingly. 2 THES. i. 3.
THE fourth essential property of faith is its respect to the word of God.
That I may explain this with more full satisfaction, I shall open four
things (1.) The relation of the word to faith ; (2.) The acts of faith
about the word ; (3.) The effects of faith thus exercised ; (4.) The
notes whereby we may discern a strong or grown faith.
First, The relation of the word to faith.
1. It is a means to beget and breed faith : Eom. x. 14, 15, How
shall they call on him on whom they have not believed ? and how
shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard ? and how
shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach except
they be sent ? Every part of the gradation hath its weight. First,
what I am bound to adore and invocate ; I must believe in him as a
divine power. For the second, how shall men believe in Christ as a
God unless they have heard of him ? Faith is a believing such things
as God hath revealed because he hath revealed them ; therefore the
divine revelation must be conveyed to them by some means or other.
The third, there is no hearing without a preacher ; some messenger or
interpreter that may bring tidings of pardon and life by Christ. Then
for the fourth branch, How shall they preach except they be sent ?
that is, come with authority, evidence, and power, whereby it may be
known that he is a messenger authorised and sent by God, that the
things propounded may be received as a certain truth of God s own
revelation, that we may depend upon the credit of his word, and that
with such a lively and effectual belief as may prevail with us to assent
unto it, and embrace it notwithstanding all difficulties and objections
to the contrary. Now such is the doctrine of salvation by Christ, which
inviteth us to call upon his name or name ourselves by the name of
Christ, because we may believe in him, and run all hazards for him,
2 Tim. i. 12. Why ? Because we have heard of him ; the fame of
his doctrine, so suitable to the glory of God and the necessities of
mankind ; and the fame of his miracles, especially his death and
resurrection, and that by authentic preachers, or faithful men author
ised by God, and sufficiently owned by him, as those that are commis
sioned to instruct the world, and to teach them the way of salvation ;
so that the word is the great means to work faith.
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3; 127
2. It is the warrant of faith, which stateth the laws of commerce
between us and God, which showeth how far God hath obliged him
self, and we may depend upon him, as appeareth by the words of
Christ : John xvii. 20, Neither pray I for these alone, but for them
also that shall believe in me through their word. The principal
object of faith is Christ; we believe in him ; and the warrant of faith
is the word, that is, the doctrine which by the apostles is consigned to
the use of the church. For these and no other Christ prayeth, and
according to this way or law of grace God offereth himself to be recon
ciled to his creatures. So that here you may hold him to his covenant ;
the word is gone out of his lips, and without this you make promises to
yourselves which God will not stand unto.
3. It is the object of faith, or the thing which we do believe: Acts
xxiv. 14, I believe all things which are written in the law and the
prophets ; and add to that, in the writings of the apostles. To make
the object of the Christian faith complete, take in also what is written
in the apostles, for We are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, Eph.
ii. 20; that is, the doctrine of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
being the chief sum and scope of it, who is to be accepted of as he is
revealed and offered in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament,
betwixt which there is a sweet harmony and agreement. But because
this is too bulky and large for us to manage at one time, let us consider
the sum of the scriptures in the method wherein God hath put it,, and
that is, the covenant of grace ratified by the blood of Christ, which is
the most glorious discovery whereby God hath made known himself to
his creatures : Ps. cxxxviii. 2, I will praise thy name for thy loving-
kindness and thy truth, for thou hast magnified thy word above all
thy name. There we see that God s word is the chiefest discovery
that he hath made of himself to the creature, for it is magnified above
all his name ; that is, it doth set forth God above all that is named,
famed, spoken, or believed, or known, or understood of God. And
what is the matter of his word ? His loving-kindness and his truth ;
that is, in the word there are contained admirable promises, which God
will certainly perform to the utmost importance of them. There we
see his mercy and loving-kindness in making such great promises.
The promises of the new covenant are beyond all expression great and
precious, 2 Peter i. 4 ; they contain as much as the heart of man can
desire, all spiritual aiid eternal riches, pardon of sin, taking away the
stony heart, eternal life ; these are offered to men to believe. And
then his truth and fidelity in performing these promises most punctually
to all those that do believe, and will accept the pardon, grace, and
blessedness offered, and behave themselves accordingly. Well, then,
God s mercies in Christ to them that repent, believe, and obey God are
the matter and object of our faith.
4. The word is the security and strength of our faith (1.) As it
puts God s grace into the way of a promise ; (2.) As this promise is
the promise of God.
[1.] We have much advantage in believing by the formality of a
promise. A promise is more than a purpose, more than a doctrinal
declaration, more than a prediction of prophecy.
128 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
(1.) More than a purpose. A purpose is only the thought of the
heart, a thing secret and hidden, but a promise is open and manifest.
A purpose is the intention of a person, a promise is his intention revealed,
whereby we have a knowledge of the good intended to us. If God
had only purposed to give us eternal life, we might at last have enjoyed
it, but we could not have known it beforehand ; it would have been as
an hidden treasure. Promises are the eruptions and overflows of God s
love to us ; his heart is so big with kindness and designs of goodness
that it cannot stay till the accomplishment of things : Isa. xlii. 9,
Before they spring forth I tell you of them. God s purposes are a
sealed fountain, but his promises are a fountain broken open, bubbling
forth. He might have done us good, and given us no notice, but love
concealed would not be so much for our comfort. Besides, they are
obligations which God taketh upon himself promittendo se fecit debit-
orem. So far as God hath promised, so far he hath made himself a
debtor. God s purposes are unchangeable, but his promises are a
security put into our hands, so that we have a greater holdfast upon
God now the word is gone out of his lips, Ps. Ixxxix. 34. We may
put the bond in suit, throw him in his handwriting : Ps. cxix. 49,
Kemember thy word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused
me to hope. We have the pawn of the thing promised, which we
must hold fast till performance cometh. His truth and holiness lie at
stake, and are as it were impawned with the creature.
(2.) It is more than a doctrinal declaration. It is one thing to
reveal a thing, another to promise it. A doctrine maketh a thing
known, but a promise maketh a thing sure. A doctrine giveth us notice,
but a promise giveth us right and interest if we be qualified. Christ
hath brought life and immortality to light through the doctrine of the
gospel, 2 Tim. i. 10 ; but he hath not only manifested, but granted,
assured it to believers by the promises of the gospel, 1 John ii. 25.
It is so conveyed to us as that we may be sure of obtaining it.
(3.) It is more than a prophecy or simple prediction. Scripture
prophecies will be fulfilled because of God s veracity, but scripture
promises will be fulfilled, not only because of God s veracity, but also
because of his fidelity and justice. As by our promise another man
cometh to have a right to the thing promised, therefore it is just it
should be given unto him, so it is in God ; it was his mercy and good
ness to make the promise, but his holiness and justice bindeth him to
make it good : 1 John i. 9, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins. And as for pardon, so for life : 2 Tim. iv. 8, Henceforth there
is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the righteous judge
shall give me on that day. It becometh a debt of grace. This may
be illustrated by what divines say of an assertory lie and a promissory
lie. An assertory lie is when we speak of a thing past or present other
wise than it is, and a promissory lie is when we speak of a thing for
the time to come which we never intend to perform ; and this is the
worst sort of lies, because it doth not only prevent the end of speech,
which is truth, but also defeateth another of that right which we seem
to give him by our promise in the thing promised, which is a further
degree of injustice. Now we should apprehend God to be very far
from this : Titus i. 2, In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 129
lie, promised before the world began ; and Heb. vi. 18, That by two
immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might
have a strong consolation.
[2.] It is the promise of God. In every promise, that it be certain
and firm, three things are required (1.) That it be made seriously and
heartily, with a purpose to perform it ; (2.) That he that promiseth
continue in his purpose without change of mind ; (3.) That it be in
the power of him that promiseth to perform what he hath so promised.
Now in the promise of God there can be no doubt of any of these
things. Certainly God meaneth as he speaketh, when he promiseth
eternal life to the faithful servants and disciples of Jesus Christ ; for
what need had he to court his creatures into a false and imaginary
happiness which he never meant to bestow upon them ? to send his
Son with a commission from heaven, to assure them of it, who also
wrought miracles to confirm the message that he brought from God,
died upon this truth, and rose again, and entered into the happiness
that he spoke of, to give us assurance, and a visible demonstration of
the truth of it ? sent abroad his apostles to invite the world to embrace
it, his Holy Spirit accompanying them, and sealing their message also
with divers signs and wonders ? And surely he doth continue in the
same mind, for there is no repeal of this law of grace. And he is
able to perform it ; for what difficulty is there which omnipotency can
not subdue and overcome? Surely what God hath promised he is
fully able to perform.
Secondly, The acts of faith about the word.
1. We are to believe and credit it upon solid and sufficient evidence.
It is said, Heb. xi. 11, They saw these things afar off, and were per
suaded of them ; and Acts xiii. 48, When the gentiles heard this,
they glorified the word of God, and believed ; that is, blessed God for
his glorious mercy revealed in the gospel. The sound belief and firm
assent leadeth on other things, for the most powerful truths work not
till they are believed : 1 Thes. ii. 13, Ye received the word not as the
word of man, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe. Here beginneth the efficacy. Now
usually we receive the truth at first upon low and insufficient evidence,
but afterwards our assent is upon better grounds, and more valid and
strong ; as the Samaritans : John iv. 42, Now we believe, not because
of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is
indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. Her saying was much,
for the woman had testified that she had met .with an holy person that
had told her of all that ever she did. So Nathaniel was drawn to Christ
by Philip s persuasion, but when he perceived that he knew the heart
and secret things, John i. 48, 49, He saith unto him, Whence knowest
thou me ? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip
called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. Nathaniel
answered, and saith unto him, Kabbi, thou art the son of God, thou art
the king of Israel. Christ then promiseth him further assurance and
greater evidence, which should beget a more confirmed and strong faith :
ver. 50, Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee,
I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou ? thou shalt see greater
things than these. The church is in possession of a religion which
VOL. XVII. I
130 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
God hath blessed throughout successions of ages, and we received the
doctrine of the gospel and new covenant upon report and hearsay ;
hereafter we see farther and better grounds, and the scriptures are
owned with more certainty of evidence. Well, then, here is the first
thing, assent, or a receiving all truths about supernatural things upon
the credit of God s word.
2. The work of faith is to apply these things ; for the closer such
blessed truths are laid to our own souls, the more we feel the virtue of
them : Job v. 27, Lo, this it is ; know thou it for thy good ; Eom.
viii. 31, What shall we then say to these things ? The promise
includeth you as well as others, and promiseth and offereth you pardon
and life if you will believe in Christ ; therefore the application I press
you to is not a claim of privileges (stay a while there), but an exciting
yourselves to perform the duties of the gospel, that you may turn away
from all other ways of felicity, and choose this alone. Faith must be
applicative, and the closer the application the better ; but there is a
difference between the application which is an excitement of your duty,
and that application which is an assurance of your interest : Acts xiii.
20, To you is this word of salvation sent. It is my duty to make
general grace particular, but not presently, and at first dash to enter
my plea and claim, but to oblige me to take God s way. God calleth
upon me to repent and believe in Christ, that I may have pardon and
life.
3. We are heartily to consent to this blessed covenant which is
contained in the word of God, taking the promises offered for our
happiness, resolving upon the duties required as our work : Acts ii. 41,
They received the word gladly, and were baptized. There was a
precept and a promise, ver. 38 ; they accepted the counsel, and waited
for the promise. Our respect to the word is made up of a mixture of
obedience and dependence ; there must be a consent to both, and we
must resolve for the holy and heavenly life. Faith is an act of the
will as well as of the understanding : 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. Besides being
persuaded, there is embracing : The promises of God in him are Yea,
and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us/ 2 Cor. i. 20 ; and
they are exceeding great and precious promises, 2 Peter i. 4. In
one place you have both : 1 Tim. i. 15, This is a faithful saying, and
worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners. Therefore embrace them you must with all your hearts,
and submit to this way of covenanting with God.
4. Your judgments must highly esteem these promises, and your
hearts find full contentment and satisfaction in them. We read often
of receiving the word with joy, and the confidence and rejoicing of
hope, Heb. iii. 6. Usually the word of God hath too cold and slight
entertainment in our affections, and we do not value those precious
promises as we ought to do. They should be dearer to us than our
lives, and give us more satisfaction than all the enjoyments of the
world : Ps. cxix. Ill, I have taken thy testimonies as an heritage for
ever ; they are the rejoicing of my soul. They do you good to
your very heart, and the more you are acquainted with them, the
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 131
more you will see the worth of them : Luke vi. 23, Kejoice and leap
for joy, for great is your reward in heaven. And of the eunuch, when
lie had sealed covenant with God, Acts viii. 39, it is said, he went
his way rejoicing. Faith cannot do its office, that is, out of an holy
gratitude to God, to draw us off from the allurements of sense, and
fortify us against adversities and troubles, and engage us to the duties -
of Christianity, which are distrustful to flesh and blood, unless it did
fill our hearts with an higher and better joy than the world yieldeth.
Surely it is comfortable to be pardoned and reconciled to God, to be in
the way, and under the hopes of eternal life.
Thirdly, The effects which these acts produce. These may be stated
by the several uses for which the word of God serveth. (1.) It is the
peed of a new life; (2.) The constant rule of all our actions; (3.)
The sure charter of our hopes ; (4.) Our strength and preservation
against all temptations from the devil, the world, and the flesh ; (5.)
Our comfort and cordial in all afflictions.
1. It is the seed of a new life : 1 Peter i. 23, Being born again,
not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever ; and James i. 18, Of his own
will begat he us, with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of
first-fruits of his creatures ; and also, 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. When we so believe the
pardon, and grace, and blessedness offered, that our hearts are changed
into the life and likeness of God ; for the truth is not rightly owned
and believed till this change be wrought both in heart and life, then
we are cast into the mould of this doctrine : Rom. vi. 17, Ye have
obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered to you.
Gospel truths serve not for speculation or mere talk and discourse, but
for sanctification ; and therefore if this seed be sown and engrafted in
your hearts, and you begin to live to God an holy and heavenly life,
you have the surest evidence of your faith ; for causes are made sen
sible to us by their effects. It is usually brought as a proof of the
word, the sanctifying virtue of. it ; so it is of the sincerity of your
faith, for the word profiteth not unless it be mingled with faith ; and
since both faith and the word concur to this effect, it may be ascribed
to either. Surely therefore if we believe the word of God, and value
it as we ought, it doth leave the impression of God s image upon us,
for it is the fairest draught and representation of God that ever was
in the law and life of Christ, 2 Cor. iii. 18. If our souls and lives be
a transcript of the word, this image is thence deduced to us by the
Spirit, and of necessity it must be so, for Christ s comforting promises
of mercy and glory are made to these new creatures who live the holy
and heavenly life. They have God s mark and signature upon them,
arid therefore are said to be sealed to the day of redemption/ Eph. ii.
30, and Eph. i. 3. This renovation of the soul is the seal of God, the
pledge of his love, and the earnest of the heavenly inheritance.
2. The constant rule of all our actions. There is a fixed determined
rule from whence we cannot swerve and vary without sin, and if we
would have communion with God here or enjoy him hereafter. We
must keep close to this rule : Gal. vi. 16, As many as walk according
132 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
This rule, that is the word of God, which directeth us as to our
general path and way, and all our steps or particular actions : Ps. cxix.
105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths.
We must hide the word in our hearts : Ps. cxix. 110, Thy word have
I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. We must con
sult with it upon all occasions, as willing to understand our duty : Ps.
cxix. 24, Thy testimonies also are my delight, and my counsellors/
And because we may mistake through error of mind, or be tempted
aside through aversion of heart and manifold temptations, therefore
we must earnestly beg it of God : Ps. cxix. 133, Order my steps in
thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. And we
must use all study ourselves, Kom. xii. 2, and constant watchfulness :
Eph. v. 15, See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as
wise. Now that which I say is this : When the word ruleth the
main course of our lives, and teacheth us how to live in the world,
soberly, righteously, and godly, the tenderness of the word, and high
respect to it, that we dare not transgress it whatever temptations we
have so to do, showeth that faith hath obtained its effect in us ; for
trembling at the word, fearing of a commandment, and whatever of
that kind is spoken of in the scripture, they are all fruits of faith.
3. It is the charter of our hopes : John xx. 31, These things are
written that ye might have life through his name ; 1 John v. 11,
This is the record that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. Now the work of faith is to lay hold upon eternal
life, 1 Tim. vi. 12 ; that is, seize upon it as ours, as assured to us by
the word of God, or to take it as our happiness, and accordingly pur
sue after it : Eph. i. 13, In whom ye trusted after ye heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Now, when we choose this
felicity for our portion, set our hearts upon it, make it the chief care
and business of our lives to seek it, and do all as means thereunto,
carry ourselves as strangers and pilgrims in the world, and look for no
great matters here, but wholly depend upon God s faithful word for
this happiness to come, then is faith wrought in us.
4. It is our strength and preservative against all temptations from
the devil, the world, and the flesh. The word of God is the sword
of the Spirit, Eph. vi. 17, a weapon of excellent use in the spiritual
warfare ; and it is said, 1 John ii. 14, Ye are strong, and the word of
God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. This
helpeth us to ward off the blow of any temptation. When the heart is
well stocked and furnished with this word of God, you have something
to oppose still to darken the splendour of the world, to check the
desires of the flesh, and so do the better carry on a continual warfare
and watchfulness. And so the fleshly inclination is overruled, and the
profits, honours, and pleasures of the world have less force upon us.
When the devil showeth the bait, and the flesh is ready to swallow it,
faith showeth the hook. A belief of the word of God being of a lively
and vigorous nature, produceth noble effects in us. It casteth down all
that rebelleth against God, and casteth out all that would be preferred
before him : Ps. xxxvii. 31, The law of his God is in his heart, none
of his steps shall slide. A lively active sense of his duty is kept fresh
upon his heart.
SEKMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 133
5. To be our comfort and cordial in our afflictions : Ps. cxix. 59,
This is my comfort in my affliction, thy word hath quickened me ;
ver. 92, Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished
in my affliction/ Heb. xii. 5 ; Ye have forgotten the exhortation which
speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the
chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. So
Ps. xciv. 19, In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts
delight my soul. God s comforts are such as God alloweth, or God
worketh. The matter of both is in the scriptures, though the Spirit be
the author of them, and the instrument he worketh by is faith. In
wants and straits how sweet is it to a believer to consider how amply
we are provided for in the covenant. When God s hand is heavy upon
us, and providence represents him as an angry judge, yet the covenant
represents him as a father. In a time of trial, one promise of God
will give you more true comfort and support than all the arguings of
men.
Fourthly, The notes whereby we discern a strong and grown faith
as to this property of it, its respect to the word.
1. When the consolations laid down in the word of God are more
prized than any extraordinary dispensations. Certainly it is a weakness
when men undervalue the comforts of the word, as slender, empty,
unsatisfactory, and would have the manifestations of God s love exhibited
to them in some singular and extraordinary way. Eliphaz chargeth it
on Job wrongfully, Job xv. 11, Are the consolations of God small with
thee ? is there any secret thing with thee ? God s ordinary way is
the sure way, the other layeth us open to a snare. Surely our consci
ences are best settled in the ordinary way of God s word, in a way of
faith, repentance, and close walking with God ; but as Naaman despised
the waters of Jordan, so many despise the ordinary comforts, and would
have signs and wonders to assure them. These may long sit in dark
ness, because if God comforts them not in their way, they will not be
comforted at all. Now, though God sometimes, in condescension to his
people, may grant their desires, as Christ did to Thomas, yet it is with
sin upbraiding of their weakness and unbelief, John xx. 28. You
should acquiesce in the common allowance of God s people, lest you
seem to reflect on the wisdom and goodness of God, and lay open your
selves to some false consolation and dream of comfort, while we affect
new rules without the compass of the word ; especially when we find
not our expectations there speedily answered, like hasty patients ready
to tamper with every medicine they hear of, rather than submit to a
regular course of physic. Gregory telleth us of a lady of the emperor s
court that never ceased importuning him to seek from God a revelation
from heaven that she should be saved. Bern difficilem petivit et
inutilem. It was a thing difficult, and unprofitable ; difficult for him
to obtain, and unprofitable for her to ask, having a surer way by the
scriptures : 2 Peter i. 19, Peftaibrepov \6<yov, We have a more sure
word of prophecy than oracles. The adhering of the soul to the
promises is the unquestionable way to obtain peace. Luther, as he con-
fesseth, was often tempted to ask for signs or some special revelation.
He tells also how strongly he withstood these temptations, Pactum
fed cum Domino meo, ne mihi mittat visiones, vel etiam angelos; con-
tentus enim sum hoc dono, quod habeo scripturam sanctam quce abunde
134 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
docet et suppeditat omnia, quce necessaria sunt, tarn ad hanc vitam, tarn
adfuturam I indented with the Lord my God that he would never
send me dreams and visions ; I am well contented with the gift of the
scriptures.
2. When the word is matter of joy and firm confidence to us before
there is any appearance of performance. This in two cases
[1.] In case of delay, when it is long ere God appeareth, and faith
doth not require the existence and pre-essence of the thing believed,
only the promise of it. Therefore though the promise be delayed, it
eyeth the blessing at a distance : Heb. xi. 13, These all died in faith,
not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, were
persuaded of them, and embraced them. Abraham was one of them :
John viii. 56, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he
saw it, and was glad/ And we, if we would be strong believers, must
do likewise : Heb. vi. 12, Be not slothful, but followers of them who
through faith and patience inherit the promises. A Christian is not
to be valued by his enjoyments, but his hopes ; heaven is all performance.
Here he dealeth with us by promises, but you will find his payment
sure, and that God in effect is better than all his promises ; for they
cannot signify and convey the full sense of all that God naeaneth to
bestow. Therefore we must wait, whether the promise be to be ful
filled in this life or the life to come ; let us dig the pit, and tarry till
God fill it with rain from heaven.
[2.] In case of difficulties, wants, distresses, the naked promise must
be ground of hope and comfort to you ; though it seem to be contra
dicted in the course of God s providence, when it is neither performed
nor likely to be performed, you are to go by his word whatever his
dispensation be : Rom. iv. 18, Abraham against hope believed in
hope ; and David saith, Ps. Ivi. 4, In God will I praise his word, in
God I have put my trust ; I will not fear what man can do unto me.
So ver. 10, In God will I praise his word, in the Lord will I praise his
word. The best holdfast faith can have on God is to take him by
his word ; though he withholdeth comfort and deliverance from us,
yet we may praise him as long as we have his word. His dispensation
giveth no satisfaction, yet the soul can find rest and contentment in his
word. Well, then, if the word be an impregnable bulwark against
all fears and dangers, and comfort against all wants and distresses,
your faith is grown ; for the more simply our dependence is upon the
word of God, without sensible encouragements, the stronger is our
faith.
3. When all the trust we have in God concerning the comforts we
expect by the way is still referred to the great blessing of eternal life.
We are to trust God by the way for our protection and defence, as well
as for the reward at the end of the journey ; by swimming in the
shallow brooks we learn to venture in the great ocean, but still in sub
ordination to the main blessing. This is the great comfort : Luke xii.
32, Fear not, little flock ; it is your Father s good pleasure to give
you the kingdom. And our faith in the word tendeth to this : Eom.
xv. 4, Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might
have hope. Therefore strength of faith is hereby determined.
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 135
4. Because the word is not only our charter, but our rule. The
strength of faith is known by this. If we value the word of God as it
maketh us wise unto salvation, therefore we delight in the plain word
without the ornaments of wit, as painting in glass windows hindereth
the light. Everything communicateth to its own nature ; heat causeth
heat, cold causeth cold. Ministers speak as the oracles of God, and so
the people receive.
SERMON V.
Tour faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you
all towards each other aboundeth. 2 THES. i. 3.
WE come to the fifth property of faith, which is an high value and
esteem of Jesus Christ. I mention this
1. Because faith in the new covenant mainly and distinctly respects
Christ: Acts xx. 21, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the
gentiles, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus
Christ. Why repentance respects God I showed you lately, because
from God we fell, and to God we return. We fell from him as we
withdrew our allegiance and sought our happiness elsewhere ; we return
to him as to our rightful Lord and proper happiness. But faith respects
the Mediator, who is the only remedy of our misery, and the means
of eternal blessedness. He opened the way to God by his merit and
satisfaction, and actually bringeth us into this way by his renewing
and reconciling grace, that we may be in a capacity to please and enjoy
God, and that is the reason why faith in Christis so much insisted on,
as it begets a title to the blessings of the new covenant. It hath a
special aptitude and fitness for this work of our recovery from sin to,
God, partly because a guilty conscience is not easily settled, and brought
to look for all kind of happiness from one whom we have so much
wronged. Adam, when once a sinner, was shy of God, Gen. iii. 10.
Guilt is suspicious, and maketh us hang off from God, Ps. xxxii. 13 ;
and if we have not one to lead us by the hand, and bring us to God,
we cannot abide his presence.
2. Partly because the comfort of the promises is so rich and
glorious, and the persons upon whom it is bestowed so unworthy, that
it cannot easily enter into the heart of a man that God will be so good
and gracious to us, unless we have a sound belief of his merit who hath
procured these mercies and hopes for us : 1 Cor. ii. 9, Eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the
things which God hath prepared for them that love him. Therefore
since sense and reason could look for no such thing, a strong faith is
necessary.
3. The way God hath taken for our deliverance is so supernatural
and strange that nothing but faith can receive it : John iii. 16, God
so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoso
ever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life ;
136 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
and Eom. viii. 32, He spared not his own Son, but gave him to die
for us.
[4.] The chief of our blessings lie in another world, and nature can
not see so far off: 2 Peter i. 9, He that lacketh these things is blind,
and cannot see afar off. Unless we believe Christ, and his message
to us, we shall never entertain these things.
[5.] For the present Christ s people are assaulted, and afflicted with
so many difficulties, and so seemingly forsaken, and temptations to
unbelief in this lower world are so manifold and pressing, that we can
take no comfort in the new covenant unless we have faith in Christ,
who is able to maintain and defend us till he hath brought us home
to God : 2 Tim i. 12, I know whom I have believed, and I am per
suaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him
against that day.
[6.] Faith in Christ is most fitted for the acceptance of his free gift.
Faith and grace go always together, and are put as opposites to law and
works: Kom. iv. 16, Therefore it is of faith, that it might be of
grace ; and Eph. ii. 8, By grace ye are saved, through faith, and that
not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Faith establisheth the free grace
and favour of God, or his condescension to us in the new covenant,
wherein pardon and life are offered to penitent believers. What we
receive by the grace of God in Christ cannot be of right, or such as we
may challenge by virtue of obedience to the law upon that account.
He might condemn us, but he doth accept us upon these new terms
which Christ propounded of his mere grace : and therefore faith solveth
the interest of grace in our pardon and salvation.
[7.] Because the duties of the new covenant are opposite to the bent
of the carnal heart, which is set upon liberty and uncleanness : Bom.
viii. 7, The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject
to the law of God, neither indeed can be. And nothing will bind us
but faith in Christ, to whom we must give an account in the solemn
judgment : Acts xvii. 30, 31, He commandeth all men everywhere to
repent, because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the
world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained ; whereof
he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from
the dead. In which words I observe four things (1.) That God
requireth of all that will submit to the gospel repentance and new
obedience ; (2.) That the binding consideration is, that the judgment
of every man s estate is put into Christ s hands, who in the day ap
pointed will declare and determine every man s right and qualification ;
(3.) That the efficacy of this consideration dependeth on the strength
of our faith or belief in Christ; (4.) That the strength of our faith
dependeth on that assurance given, irlo-nv Trapa^v irdaiv. Woe be to
those that now refuse Christ, or do not believe him so as to obey him :
2 Thes. i. 8, In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[8.] Till we believe in Christ all his offices are useless to us, and
therefore without faith he will do us no good. Who would learn of
him that doth not believe him to be the great Prophet sent of God to
teach the world the way to true happiness ? Who would obey him
that doth not believe that he is our Lord, that he hath power over all
SERMONS UPON 2 THE3SALONIANS I. 3. 137
flesh, at whose judgment we must stand or fall ? Who would depend
upon the merit of his obedience and sacrifice, and be comforted with
his gracious promise and covenant, and come to God with boldness and
hope of mercy in his name, and be confident that he will justify and
save, who doth not believe that he is a priest who once made an atone
ment, and doth continually make intercession for us ? In the days of
his flesh, all that would have benefit by Christ he did put them to this
question, whether they did believe he was able to do it? To the
father of the possessed child, Believest thou that I am able to do this ?
Mark ix. 23 ; to Martha, John xi. 26, Whosoever liveth and belie veth
in me shall never die : believest thou this ? So still it holdeth good ;
this is the most necessary grace, that maketh way for all other respect
to Christ.
That this respect is an high value and esteem of Christ above all
other things. That faith implieth an esteem of Christ is plain by that
of the apostle, 1 Peter ii. 7, Unto you therefore which believe he is
precious. And that it is a transcendental respect and esteem, so as
that all other things are lessened in our opinion of them, and estima
tion of them, and respect unto them in comparison of Christ, appeareth
by other scriptures ; as Phil. iii. 8, I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge 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. He had counted, and did count, as not repenting of his
choice ; he could deny his own honour, ease, profit, and estate, his own
everything but his own God and his own Christ. So Mat. xiii. 45, 46,
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant-man seeking goodly
pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and
sold all that he had and bought it. The pearl was accounted of great
price, if he would sell all things for it. Christ is so dear and precious,
that the most excellent things are not dear and precious when they are
to be ventured for his sake : Acts xx. 24, But none of these things
move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might
finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of
the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. No faith
but this will allure and draw our hearts to Christ, and no faith but
this will keep our hearts to him, there being so many other things
either to keep us, or to draw us off from him. Nothing but this trans
cendental respect begets the close adherence to Christ.
Now I will show three things (1.) That Christ hath deserved this
esteem ; (2.) That faith only will give it him ; (3.) The notes, or how
this esteem of Christ will show itself.
1. That he deserveth it ; and that
[1.] By what he is in himself, the Son of God and the Saviour of the
world. This is the chief ground of our respect to the mediator : Acts
viii. 37, 38, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest ; and he
answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So
Martha maketh her confession of faith : John xi. 27, Yea, Lord, I
believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God that should come into
the world. 3 So Peter in his own name and the name of his fellow-
disciples : John vi. 69, We believe and are sure that thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God. This is the ground of adherence to
138 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
him and dependence upon him, that he whom the Christian world hath
hitherto called their Saviour is the very Son of God, appointed by God
to execute the office of king, priest, and prophet to the church. This
giveth us ground to adhere to him, and vanquish all temptations : 1
John v. 5, Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth
that Jesus is the Son of God. The most part of the Christian
world leap into this opinion, and the name of Christ is prized, but his
office is neglected ; there is a fond esteem of his memory, but no real
improvement of his grace. Quandoquidem panis Christijam pinguis
factus est, tractatur in conciliis, disceptatur in judiciis, disputatur in
scholis, laudatur in eclisiis, questiosa res est nomen Christi. But this
is the true ground of a Christian s esteem, when soundly persuaded that
he is the Christ.
[2.] What he hath done for us. Christ requireth not so much at
our hands as he himself hath voluntarily performed for our sakes. He
pleased not himself/ that he might promote the glory of God and our
salvation, Kom. xv. 3 ; He became poor that we might be rich/ 2 Cor
viii. 9 ; He was obedient to the death, even the death of the cross/
that we might have life, Phil. ii. 7 ; He was made sin for us, that we
might be the righteousness of God in him/ 2 Cor. v. 21 ; He was
made a curse for us/ that we might have the blessing; Gal. iii. 13.
Doth he require so much of us ? It is grievous to the flesh to be
crossed, but he hath suffered greater sorrows and agonies, that we might
have eternal life.
[3.] What he still doth for us. He is our life/ Gal. ii. 20. You
live upon and by his life : John xiv. 19, Because I live, ye shall live
also. We use him not as an instrument which is laid by when our
turn is served, but as an head and root. He is your righteousness, 1
Cor. i. 30, and 2 Cor. v. 21, He hath made him to be sin for us who
knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
You have the effect of his merit and obedience to plead to God ; he is
your blessedness for the present : Col. i. 27, Christ in you the hope of
glory. All the fatherly goodness of God cometh to you by him ; all
your helps, mercies, and hopes are founded in him alone. It is he pre
sents your requests to God, and you take all your mercies out of his
hands : 1 Cor. viii. 6, To us there is but one Cod, the Father, of whom
are all things, and we in him ; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
are all things, and we by him. Your petitions are presented by the
hands of him who is the beloved of God.
2. That faith doth give him this esteem, as it is an assent, consent,
and affiance.
[1.] As an assent, we believing what he is, hath done, and doth still
do for us, therefore we prize him. Faith knoweth him partly by what
the word revealeth : John iv. 10, If thou knewest the gift of God, and
who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked
of him, and he would have given thee living water ; and John vi. 40,
This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the
Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life. They see such
an excellency, fulness, and all-sufficiency in him as draweth off their
hearts from all other things, and they cleave to him alone. Partly by
experimental feeling, that he is such an one to us. As they see him to
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 139
be such, they find him to be suoh : 1 Peter iii. 3, If so be that ye have
tasted that the Lord is gracious. The word revealeth, and experience
findeth him to be so.
[2.] As it is a consent. We see Christ is so necessary for us, so
beneficial to us, that we accept him for our Lord and Saviour, and count
all the choicest concernments in the world but base things in compari
son of his grace ; therefore, forsaking all others, we devote ourselves
to him, and are married to the Lord, that we may bring forth fruit to
God, Horn. vii. 4. Nothing is allowed to rival Christ in the soul, or to
be a competitor with him : Hosea iii. 3, this is the form of the con
jugal covenant, Thou shalt not be for another, but thou shalt be for
me.
[3.] As it is a trust and affiance in him, that we may be reconciled
to God, and saved by him from sin and punishment, and so be brought
safe into a state of perfect happiness. Every one of these benefits doth
endear him to the soul. Surely dependence will beget observance, and
we will love him and please him in whose hands we venture our all,
even our eternal interests and concernments.
3. The notes, or how this esteem will show itself.
[1.] In labouring to get Christ above all. This is the prime care, and
must be carried on, whatever is left undone : Mat. xvi. 33, Seek ye
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you ; Ps. xxvii. 4, One thing have I desired of the
Lord, that will I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire
in his temple ; Prov. iv. 7, Wisdom is the principle thing, therefore
get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding. The acces
sary things must give way to the principal, the arbitrary things to the
necessary. Food and raiment is not so necessary as Christ ; temporal
want is not so great an evil as eternal misery. Well then, communion
with God in Christ must be minded, whatever is neglected. Most
men s time and labour is laid out upon unsatisfying vanities ; their life,
and love, and time, and strength, and care is spent on worldly things,
and they have seldom and cold thoughts of salvation by Christ, cannot
deny themselves a little worldly pleasure or carnal ease, that they may
attend upon this work, to get an interest in Christ s renewing and
reconciling grace. Of those that were invited to the marriage-feast it
is said, Mat. xxii. 5, They made light of it.
[2.] A care in keeping Christ above all. Nothing should be so near
and dear to you as Christ ; he is your life and your strength. Your
great care is, that he may lie as a bundle of myrrh in your bosoms :
Cant. i. 13, A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall
lie all night betwixt my breasts ; or dwell in your hearts by faith/
Eph. iii. 17. Christ is all in all to you. You are loath to put the com
forts of his presence to hazard for a little carnal satisfaction, are chary
and tender of your respects to your Redeemer, that he be not displeased
or provoked to withdraw by any unkind dealing of yours. Whatever
temptations would withdraw you from your duty you reject with loath
ing and indignation. Christ hath pitched upon this as the true and
proper evidence of our love to him and esteem of him : John xiv. 21,
* He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth
140 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALOXIANS I. 3.
me ; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love
him and will manifest myself to him. We are apt to flatter ourselves
with an airy religion, that we value Christ and prize Christ ; if so, we
will be careful he be not offended and displeased.
[3.] By a willingness to lose all rather than lose Christ : Luke xiv.
33, Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he
cannot be my disciple. Counting the most dishonourable things in
the world as honourable for his sake : Heb. xi. 26, Esteeming the re
proach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he
had respect unto the recompense of reward ; Acts v. 41, And they
departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. They see a beauty in
his despised ways. You can worship Christ as the wise men did,
though in a stable, and are contented to be made vile for his sake : 2
Sam. vi. 22, I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in my
own sight. And we read of Marsacus, when he was led forth to
suffer, and because of his quality they bound him not as they did others,
he cried out, Cur non et me quoque torque donas, &c. Why do you not
give me also my chain, and make me a knight of this noble order ?
Some will pretend to prize Christ, but can hardly suffer a disgraceful
word for him, or endure to be browbeaten with a frown.
[4.] By delighting in him and the testimonies of his love above all
things else. Faith must breed such a confidence in Christ as keepeth
up our delight in him, and such a delight and well-pleasedness of mind
as we find not elsewhere : Ps. iv. 7, Thou hast put gladness in my
heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased ;
and Cant. i. 4, We will be glad and rejoice in thee ; we will remem
ber thy loves more than wine. The choicest contentments of the flesh
are nothing so satisfying as the joy of his salvation. This joy is called
unspeakable and glorious, as being better felt than uttered, 1 Peter
i. 8. The strength of it is seen when other comforts fail : How pre
cious are thy thoughts unto me, God 1 how great is the sum of them 1
Ps. cxxxix. 17.
Sixthly, The sixth property of faith is victory over the world : 1
John. v. 4, 5, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world,
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith : who
is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the
Son of God ? I shall despatch this briefly, and shall show you
1. What is the world that is to be overcome ? All worldly things
whatsoever, so far as they lessen our esteem of Christ and heavenly
things, or as they hinder us in our duty to God. In short, the delights
and terrors of this world ; for we must be armed on both sides with
the armour of righteousness, both on the right hand and the left, 2
Cor. vi. 7. The fears of this world are apt to stagger us, so do snares
prevent and inveigle us. Moses had temptations of all kinds, right-
hand temptations from riches, honours, pleasures : Heb. xi. 24-26,
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the
Son of Pharaoh s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt ;
left-hand temptations : ver. 27, By faith he forsook Egypt, not fear-
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONTANS I. 3. 141
ing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is
invisible/ The armour of the right hand is called temperance ; of
the left hand, patience : 2 Peter i, 6, To knowledge temperance, and
to temperance patience/ In the parable of the sower sowing his seed
we read that which fell on the stony ground withered in persecution :
Luke viii. 13, They on the rock are they which, when they hear, re
ceive the word with joy ; and these have no root, which for a while
believe, and in time of temptation fall away. That which was sown in
the thorny ground was choked with the cares, riches, and pleasures of
the world : ver. 14, And they which fell among thorns are they which,
when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches
and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. If the
terrors of sense assault our constancy, we must set loss against loss,
pain against pain, fear against fear : Mat. x. 28, Fear not him that
can kill the body, and do no more, but fear him that can cast both
body and soul into hell. If they threaten a prison, remember God
threatens hell ; if they threaten fire, God threatens everlasting fire ; if
they threaten loss of estate, loss of heaven is much worse. If the
delights of sense are likely to corrupt us, to pervert or divert our minds
from better things, we must look to it, and remember what better
things are reserved for us. Persecution is opposite to profession with
out, but this obstructs the very vigour, life, and power of godliness
within : 1 John ii. 15, : If any man love the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. And then for pleasures : 2 Tim. iii. 4, Lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God ; Heb. xii. 16, e Or profane person
as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Honours are
baneful to our faith : John v. 44, How can ye believe which receive
honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from
God only ? They eat out the heart of it. These are our daily temp
tations.
2. The necessity of overcoming the world.
[1.] It is by the world that our spiritual enemies have advantage
against us. The devil seeketh to tempt or fright the fleshly nature in
us either by the terrors or allurements of sense. Therefore conquer
the world, and the tempter is disarmed ; he blindeth us as the god of
this world : 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 glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
He vexeth as the prince of this world, and having a strong party
in the world, he findeth it no great matter to entice a sensual
worldly mind to almost anything that is evil. The baits and provi
sions of the flesh are in the world : 1 John ii. 16, For all that is in
the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. The world fits us with
a bait agreeable to every appetite, or a diet that suiteth with every
distemper of our souls. A proud mind must be honoured and
humoured, and will go nothing lower than high place and pomp of
living. A sensual mind must have its pleasures, and the covetous
the increase of wealth, and religion is either cast off or neglected and
made an underling.
[2.] The world is the great let and impediment to our obedience.
142 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
In the first epistle of John, chap, v., in the context to the words that I
am now explaining, ver. 2, 3, it is said, By this we know that we love
the children of God,when we love God, and keep his commandments ;
for this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his
commandments are not grievous. Then it followeth, ver. 4, For
whatsoever is bora of God overcometh the world. &c. So Titus ii. 11,
12, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. The
one must be done that the other may be done. We shall soon be
tempted to make a breach upon righteousness, sobriety, or godliness
if we do not labour to overcome the world. So Ps. cxix. 36, Incline
my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
[3.] This victory over the world distinguished the spiritual from
the animal life. The world of mankind is distinguished into two-
sorts some that live the animal life, and some that live the spiritual
life. They that live the animal life are such as only behave themselves
merely as living creatures, or as a wiser sort of beasts, and the comfort
of their life is only kept up by the good things of this world, land,
heritages, honours, pleasures, riches ; and so reason is subjected to
sense, all their contrivance is for the flesh. But the spiritual and
divine life is supported by the comforts of the Spirit and the foresight of
eternal joys in the world to come, and so reason is raised and subli
mated by faith. These two lives are distinguished : John iii. 6, That
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit
is Spirit ; 1 Cor. ii. 14, 15, But 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 : but he that
is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man;
and Jude 19, These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having
not the Spirit. Now the more we live this spiritual life, the more
thorough Christians we are. Another kind of spirit cometh upon a
man, he liveth as a man of another world ; he can bear up when the
outward and animal life is exposed to the greatest difficulties, 2 Cor.
iv. 16 ; he fetcheth his solace and comfort from those great and glorious
things which are kept for him in heaven. It is a mighty thing to have
this spirit of faith.
[4.] We cannot hold out with Christ whilst any temporal and
sensitive thing lieth too near the heart : 1 Tim. vi. 10, For the love of
money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have
erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows, and 2 Tim. iv. 10, Demas hath forsaken us, having loved
this present world. The devil hath them in a string, and we are
easily taken again, though we seem to make some escape from him.
3. Faith is the grace that is employed in overcoming the world. It
is not only said to be a means of overcoming, but the victory itself ;
for it is the nature of faith. There are terms in it as in other graces ;
it is a recess from the world, and an access to God, a drawing off the
heart from things visible and temporal to those which are invisible and
eternal. How doth faith overcome the world ?
[1.] As it is an assent to God s word, and chiefly to the promises of
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 143
the gospel. Now this strong and firm assent doth prepossess the mind
with the glory of the world to come: Heb. xi. 26, Moses had an eye
to the recompense of reward ; and 2 Cor. iv. 18, We look not to the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen ; and Heb.
xi. 1, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen. By this sight and view of heavenly things our esteem of the
world is abated, so by consequence the force of the temptation. Alas !
whatever this world offereth must be left on this side the grave, pomp,
pleasure, estate : 1 Tim. vi. 7, For we brought nothing into this world,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Here we lust for greatness,
but death soon endeth the quarrel. In the grave no difference is to be
discerned between rich and poor, both are alike obnoxious to rottenness
and corruption ; but faith persuadeth us of better things : 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,
and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
[2.] As it is a consent. It causeth us to surrender ourselves to Christ s
discipline, or that religion which wholly draweth us off from this world
to the world to come. Its purpose and drift is that we may deny our
selves, bear the cross, and follow him. This we promise in baptism :
1 Peter iii. 21, Baptism saveth us (not the putting away the filthiness
of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God), by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ/ The spirit of our religion is not the
spirit of the world : 1 Cor. ii. 12, 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.
[3.] As it is a dependence and trust in Christ s power and sufficiency
to maintain you, and defend you safe, till you are brought home to God.
He died for this end : Gal. i. 4, Who gave himself for our sins, that
he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will
of God and our Father. He intercedeth for us to the Father for this
end : John xvii. 15, I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of
the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. He over
came the world in his own person for this end, not only to encourage
us, but to enable us by his example : John xvi. 33, These things I
have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace ; in the world
ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the
world. He sendeth his Spirit into our hearts to preserve us against
the assaults of the devil, the world, and the flesh : 1 John iv. 4, Ye
are of God, little children, and have overcome them ; because greater
is he that is in you than he that is in the world. And because every
state of life is thick-set with temptations, he reneweth his influence
upon us: Phil. iv. 13, I can do all things through Christ which
strengthens me. He had before spoken of carrying an equal mind in
all conditions ; Christ enabled him as well as taught him this content
ment.
Well, then, reckon the growth of your faith by the exercise of your
mortification and weanedness from the world, rather than by strong
confidence of your good estate or highflown joys and comforts. The
comforts of the Spirit will not be tasted by an unmortified worldly
heart. Most men s confidence cometh from their security and mind-
144 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3.
lessness of these things. The comforts are more suspicious when the
mortification is a sure note.
Seventhly, The seventh property of faith is quieting the heart against
fears and doubts, and waiting on God. I join these two things to
gether because the scripture doth : Lam iii. 26, It is good that a man
should both hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of God. But we
must handle them asunder.
1. Waiting. Sense is all for present satisfaction, but faith can tarry
God s leisure till these good things which we do expect do come in
hand : Isa. xxviii. 16, He that believeth shall not make haste. Men
that cannot tarry for relief will yield up a town upon the basest terms.
The children of God were always forced to eat their words when they
spoke in haste : Ps. xxxi. 22, For 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 ; and Ps. cxvi. 11, I said in my
haste, All men are liars. But where faith and hope is there is patience:
Rom. viii. 25, If we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience
wait for it ; James v. 7, 8, Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the
coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious
fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the
early and latter rain. Be ye also patient ; stablish your hearts, for the
coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Unbelief leapeth overboard on the
first danger. 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 till he came down from the Mount, where he
was with God? What made Saul to offer sacrifice, but want of
patience till Samuel came ? 1 Sam. xiii. 8-10, He tarried seven days,
according to the set time that Samuel had appointed. But Samuel
came not to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him. And Saul
said, Bring hither a burnt- offering to me, and peace-offerings; and he
offered the burnt-offering, and it came to pass that as soon as he had
made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold Samuel came, &c.
What made the bad servant to smite his fellow-servant, and to eat and
drink with the drunken, Mat, xxiv. 40, but this, My Lord delayeth his
coming ? Hasty men are loath to be kept long in doubtful suspense.
The voluptuous cannot wait their time, when they shall have pleasures
at God s right hand for evermore, therefore take up with present
delights, like those that cannot tarry till the grapes be ripe, but eat
them sour and green. Solid everlasting pleasures they cannot wait for,
therefore choose the pleasures of sin that are for a season. A covetous
man will wax rich in a day, cannot tarry the leisure of God s provi
dence : Prov. xx. 21, An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the
beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed. The ambitious
man will not stay till God gives crowns and honours in his kingdom.
All revolts and apostacies from God proceed hence ; they cannot wait
for God s help, and tarry the fulfilling of his promises, but 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 it is more tedious to suffer for evermore. Thence come mur-
murings and unlawful attempts, stepping out of God s way. An impetu
ous river is always troubled and thick, so is a precipitated impatient
spirit, out of order, and ready for a snare.
SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 3. 145
2. Quieting the heart against doubts, fears, and cares. By a growii
faith thoughts are established : Prov. xvi. 3, Commit thy works unto
the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Fire well kindled
casteth the least smoke. We have firm ground to stand upon, there
fore we must not reel to and fro in a doubtful agitation of mind :
James i. 6-8, Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering; for he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed ;
for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Faith fixeth the
heart against fears : Ps. cxii. 7, He shall not be afraid of evil tidings ;
his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord ; Isa. xxvi. 3, Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth
in thee ; Rom. v. 1, Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ; Phil. iv. 7, And the peace
of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus ; Rom. iv. 20, Abraham staggered not at
the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving
glory to God ; and Mat. vi. 30, Wherefore if God so clothe the grass
of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall
he not much more clothe yon, ye of little faith ! so Mat. viii. 26,
He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, ye of little faith ! The
weak are mated with every difficulty : Mat. xiv. 31, thou of little
faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Ps. xlii. 5, Why art thou cast
down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me ? Hope
thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Well, then, here is a sure note of a grown faith, the more we can quiet
ourselves in the promises of God, and wait his leisure for their accom
plishment..
VOL. xvn.
SERMON UPON MATTHEW VIII. 5-10.
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a
centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at
home sick of the palsy, grievously afflicted. And Jesus saith
unto him, I ivill come and heal him. The centurion answered
and said. Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under
my roof ; but speak theivord only, and my servant shall be healed.
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me : and
I say to this man, Go, and he goeth ; and to another, Come, and
he cometh ; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When
Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed,
Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not
in Israel. MAT. viii. 5-10.
I COME now to the instances of a grown faith, and begin with the faith
of the centurion ; and that deservedly, for
1. Christ owneth it as great faith : ver. 10, I have not found so
great faith, no, not in Israel; that is, a faith so ripe and mature, and
that in a military man and an heathen.
2. Because he marvelled at it. In ordinary cases wonder is a fruit
of ignorance. When we are ignorant of a thing, or a thing exceedeth
our capacity or apprehension, we wonder at it. But this cannot be
imagined in Christ, for he knoweth what is in man, and could not be
surprised, being the author of this faith. Therefore some interpret it
of some external gesture of wondering, which he used to commend the
centurion s faith. Why not the passion of wonder itself ? for we won
der at things strange and unusual though we be not ignorant of them ;
and Christ would discover all our sinless infirmities ; therefore this
showeth it was a remarkable thing. We read that twice Christ
wondered ; once here, and another time, Mark vi. 6, And he mar
velled because of their unbelief.
3. Because he was the first-fruits of the gentiles : ver. 11, 12, And
I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall
sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into utter darkness ;
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth/ This was the first
occasion which Christ took to speak of the rejection of the Jews and
SERMON UPON MATTHEW VIII. 5-10. 147
the calling of the gentiles. This man was a Roman and an heathen,
but it seerneth had gotten some knowledge of the true God and the
true religion ; and though he were not a proselyte, yet the Jews gave
him this testimony, Luke vii. 5, He loveth our nation, and hath built
us a synagogue ; and indeed we read nothing but well of him. The
very errand that brought him to Christ was care of his servant, and
looking out for cure for him. Many have no more care of their
servants than they have of their horses and oxen ; but this man was of
another temper, good to the Jews, good in all his relations. Now, that
we may profit by this example, let us consider these three things (1.)
What was his faith, and wherein the greatness of it lay ; (2.) How
this faith was bred and begotten in him ; (3.) The effects and fruits
of it, or how it discovered itself.
I. The nature of his faith. It was a firm persuasion that all power
and authority was eminently in Christ, and that he could do what he
pleased. The great end of Christ in all his miracles was to discover
himself to be the Son of God, and one in whom the divine nature and
power resided, and so by consequence that true Messiah and Saviour
of the world. This was Peter s confession of faith: Mat. xvi. 16,
Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God ; the promised Messiah,
the anointed Saviour of the world. And with Peter all the rest of the
disciples join: John vi. 69, We believe, and are sure, that thou art
that Christ, the Son of the living God. This the Samaritans, being
convinced and converted, confessed also : John iv. 42, We know that
this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. This Martha
acknowledges : John xi. 27, She saith unto him, Yea, Lord, I believe
that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, that should come into the
world. This was it which the apostles preached: Acts xiii. 23, Of
this man s seed hath God, according to his promise, raised unto Israel
a saviour, Jesus. This they required of all whom they converted to
the Christian faith : Acts viii. 37, I believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God. Now this the centurion cometh off roundly with, being
firmly persuaded of a divine power and authority in Christ; for he
ascribeth an omnipotency to his word, and reasoneth it out notably :
Speak but the word, and my servant shall be healed ; ver. 8, 9, For
I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me ; and I say to
this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh;
and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Here then was the
greatness of his faith.
Object. You will say then, All have great faith, for all the Christian
world professeth this truth that Jesus is the Son of God, papists and
protestants, carnal and renewed ; the rabble of nominal Christians as
well as the seriously godly are of this opinion that Jesus is the Son
of God and the Saviour of the world.
Ans. 1. Distingue tempora You must distinguish of the times
In that age there was no human reason to believe this truth. Anti
quity was against it, and therefore, when Paul preached Jesus, they
said, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods/ Acts. xvii. 18.
Authority was against it : 1 Cor. ii. 8, Which none of the princes of
this world knew, for had they known it they would not have crucified
ihe Lord of glory. Authority, not only civil, but ecclesiastical, was
148 SERMON UPON MATTHKW VIII. 5-10.
against it : Acts iv. 11, This is the stone which was set at nought of
you builders. The universal consent of the habitable world was
against it ; only a small handful of contemptible people owned him :
Luke xii. 32, Fear not, little flock, futcpov irolpviov. At that time
it was the critical point, the hated truth, that the carpenter s son
should be owned as the son of God. Those bleak winds that blow in
our backs, and thrust us onward to believe, blew in their faces, and
drove them from it ; those very reasons which move us to own Christ
moved them to reject him. For many ages the name of Christ hath
been in request and honour, but then it was a despised way. For men
to lay aside their old religion, and temples, and altars, and ceremonies,
and rights of worship, for the new way of Jesus of Nazareth, never
heard of before, born of a Jewish woman, living in a mean way, cruci
fied like a malefactor, and dead and buried ; that he should be owned
as the Son of God and the Saviour of the world, what could be to
appearance more unreasonable ? Alas ! what should we have done, if
we had been put to encounter with these difficulties and prejudices?
And no sooner did any man own this truth, but he was presently
exposed to all manner of troubles and persecutions, brought before
magistrates, tortured, murdered by all the cruel deaths that could be
devised ; and all this to be endured upon the hopes of an unseen world.
Therefore then it was an undoubted truth : 1 John v. 1, Whosoever
belie veth that Jesus is the Son of God is born of God ; and 1 John
iv. 2, Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is of God/ Nay, somewhat less than faith and great faith. At
his first appearance a certain persuasion, impressed upon the soul by
the Spirit of God, of the divine power and all-sufficiency of Christ, so
as to repair to him for help, was faith and great faith ; when the veil
of his human nature and infirmities did not keep the eye of faith from
seeing him to have a divine power, though they could not unriddle all
the mysteries about his person and office, this was accepted for saving
faith.
2. The speculative belief of this truth was not sufficient then, no
more than it is now, but the practical improvement. Grant that truth,
that Jesus is the Son of God, and other things will follow, as that we
must obey his laws, and depend upon his promises, and make use of his
power, and trust ourselves in his hands ; otherwise the bare acknowledg
ment was not sufficient. If a man had at that time with some kind of
belief owned Christ as the Son of God, and yet could not overcome the
shame and fear of the world, he would not have been accepted ; for it
is said, 1 John v. 5, Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. Unless that effect followed,
the belief was vain. Therefore it is said, John ii. 23-25, Many
believed in his name when they saw the miracles which he did. But
Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
and needed not that any should testify of man, for he knew what was
in man. Christ knew the inside of men, and therefore knew this faith
was unlikely to bear any stress, or hold out against temptations. Men
might be convinced of some excellency and divine power in Christ, and
yet remain unconverted. So Acts viii., Simon Magus believed in Christ,
yet remained in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity. So we
SERMON UPON MATTHEW VITI. 5-10. 140
read again, John viii. 30, 31, As he spake these words, many believed
on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. Some are his
disciples in show, not truly and really, being not settled and rooted in
the faith. So it is noted, John xii. 42, 43, 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. They
had faith, but it was too weak to encounter temptations ; they were too
tender of their reputation, lest they should be despised, and turned out
of their places for deserting the old way wherein they were bred. But
none of this can be imputed to our centurion, whose faith Christ
approved and rewarded ; for in contemplation of this faith the cure
was wrought : ver. 13, And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy
way ; and as thou hast believed, so be it unto thee, And he ventureth
the credit he had with his nation ; and though the particular address
concerned not him, but his servant, yet he maketh an open acknowledg
ment of Christ.
II. How was this faith wrought and bred in him ?
I answer The groundwork was laid in his knowledge of the omni-
potency and power of God, and his acquaintance with the scriptures of
the Old Testament, though he were not a professed Jew. This prepared
for his faith in Christ ; the report or hearing was the ground of faith :
Isa. liii. 1, Who hath believed our report? He had heard by fame
of his excellent doctrine : Mat. vii. 29, That he taught as one having
authority, and not as the scribes. And he had heard the rumour of
his miracles, more particularly the late instance of curing the leper,
which was notorious and public ; for Christ biddeth him. show himself
to the priests/ Mat. viii. 4 ; and also the miracle in recovering the ruler s
son, an instance near, which was done in time before this : John iv.
46, 47, And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at
Capernaum ; and he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into
Galilee, and he went .unto him, and besought him that he would come
down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. By all which
he was moved to ascribe the omni potency of God, which he knew before,
to Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God can bless slender motives to a will
ing heart ; and there is a readiness in holy souls to believe sooner and
easier than others : Acts xvii. 11, These were more noble than those of
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,
and searched the scriptures whether these things were so or no. They
were not light of belief, for they searched the scriptures ; yet they were
more ready to believe than perverse and prejudiced persons, irpodv^oL.
When there is sufficient evidence, they can hold out no longer. Thus
the Spirit of God blessed the knowledge of this centurion, and the
rumours that were brought to him of Christ s doctrine and miracles.
III. The effects or fruits of it, or how it discovered itself.
1. In that he applieth himself to Christ. They that believe in Christ
will come to him, and put him upon work, whilst others prize his name
but neglect his office. A gracious heart will find occasions and oppor
tunities of acquaintance with Christ, if rot for themselves yet for others ;
for when they have heard of him, they cannot keep from him. Faith
150 SERMON UPON MATTHEW VIII. 5-10.
never wants an errand to the throne of grace ; either necessity brings us
thither, or delight. Christ inviteth us to come for what he hath to
give : Mat. xi. 28, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. He is angry that w.e will not come :
John v. 40, And ye will not come to me that ye may have life. If
we be backward, he sendeth afflictions upon ourselves and families :
Hosea v. 15, In their affliction they will seek me early. Surely it is
a delight to him to do his office in helping distressed creatures, or else
he would -never have taken it upon him. The elect shall be brought
to him upon one occasion or another, and he will kindly receive them:
John vi. 37, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and he
that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out/ An apoplexy fallen on
a beloved servant bringeth this centurion to Christ. Well, then, since
Christ is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him,
Heb. vii. 25, let us not neglect the occasions of coming to him, but get
nearer to God by repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Would
Christ stoop so low as to take our nature and purchase us with his blood,
and be strange to us when we come for the fruits of his purchase and
his mercy, to help us and ours ?
2. That he accounteth misery an object proper enough for mercy to
work upon. The centurion came to him, saying, Lord, my servant
lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented/ ver. 6 ; that is,
grievously affected with the disease. Alas ! what can we bring to
Christ but sins and sicknesses? Justice seeketh a meet object, for it
giveth to every one what is due, but mercy only seeketh a fit occasion.
It doth not consider what is deserved, b\it what is desired and wanted.
Etiam si sim indignus, sum tamen indigene, saith Romeranius I am
not worthy, but I am needy. The more affected we are with our misery,
the fitter for Christ s mercy : Ps. ix. 18, The needy shall not always
be forgotten. The more hope we have, the more we are sensible of
our need : Ps. xl. 17, But I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh
upon me. Faith giveth us this ground of hope, that misery is a motive
to God s pity. Though we have nothing within us or without us to
commend us to Christ, yet he will not despise the miserable and the
needy, and they shall not perish who in the sense of that need repair to
him. God bringeth all-sufficiency to the covenant, we bring nothing
but all-necessity ; as the widow was only to provide empty vessels ;
the oil failed not till the vessels failed. Christ s bowels yearn towards
the distressed.
3. When Christ offereth to come and heal him, ver. 7, I will come
and heal him (which was the great condescension of the Son of God
to a poor servant), see how the centurion taketh it, ver. 8, He answered
and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my
roof. Humility is a fruit of faith. A sound believer hath an high
esteem of Christ and a low esteem of himself, and the one breedeththe
other; they see Christ so excellent and themselves so vile, in regard of
past sin and present infirmities. What ! the Son of God come to the
house of an ethnic, and one that hath lived in idolatry and the worship
of false gods ! The godly are ever acknowledging their vileness and
baseness, and indignity and unworthiness, when they have to do with
God and Christ : Gen. xviii. 27, And Abraham answered, and said,
SEKMON UPON MATTHEW VIII. 5-10. 151
Behold, now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am
but dust and ashes; 2 Sam. vii. 18,- Then went David in, and sat
before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, Lord God, and what is my
house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? Gen. xxxii. 10, I am
not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of all the truth which
thou hast showed unto thy servant/ So Mat. iii. 11, Whose shoes L
am not worthy to bear. So when Christ had let out a beam of his
divinity in that great draught of fishes, Peter said, Lord, depart from
me, for I am a sinful man, Luke v. 8. The prodigal : Luke xv. 19,
I am not worthy to be called thy son. So 1 Coiv xv. 9, ; I am the
least of the apostles, and am not meet to be called an apostle. So
though the Jews had said of our centurion, Lord, go to him, for he is
worthy, Luke vii. 4 : yet he saith of himself, Lord, I am not worthy
=that thou shouldest come under my roof.
Quest. Why are true and sound believers so ready to profess their
unworthiness ?
Ans. They have a deeper sense of God s majesty and greatness than
others have, and also a more broken-hearted sense of their own vileness
by reason of sin. They have a more affective light and sight of things ;
God is another thing to them than before, so is sin and self. The more
unworthy they are in their own apprehension, the more is God and
Christ exalted. Faith is an emptying grace, and the best men have
lowest thoughts of themselves. A proud man thinketh all things due
to him, but an humble man nothing.
4. He is content with Christ s word without his bodily presence :
Speak but the word, and my servant shall be healed. God s word is
enough to a believer ; he doth not limit him to a certain way of work
ing as if there were no way of working but that way only ; that is a sign
of weakness of faith : Ps. Ixxviii. 41, They limited the Holy One of
Israel. We are to depend upon him and submit to him, and not pre
scribe how and when he should help us, nor straiten and confine his
power to such or such means. Compare John iv. 47, 48, with this cen
turion : A certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum (the
town where this centurion was in garrison), he again and again be
sought Jesus that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at
the point of death. And Jesus said, Except ye see signs and wonders
ye will not believe. The cure must be done in their way : ver. 49, The
nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Christ
refuseth to go to the ruler s house, being twice entreated, but here he
offereth to come to visit this poor servant ; but the centurion saith,
Speak but the word ; he was loath to give him this trouble to come to
his house; one word will as easily cure him as if he come personally; he
doth not tie his virtue to his bodily presence, but ascribeth all to his word.
God made the world by a word, sustaineth the world by a word, therefore
the centurion only desireth a word. There is a threefold word of God
[1.] Verlmm scriptum, his written word, his promise, and that is
the food of faith; and a believer can make a feast to himself in the
promises when he is seemingly starved in the creature.
[2.] There is verbum bsnedictionis, his word of blessing. So Mat.
iv. 4, Man liveth not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God. It is quoted out of Deut. viii. 3. In the
152 SERMON UPON MATTHEW VIII. 5-10.
wilderness, where they had neither bread nor water, they were not
famished with want, nor compelled to use unlawful means for their
relief, God blessed manna. He that provided forty years for such an
huge multitude in the desert will not be wanting to his own Son who
had fasted but forty days. It is not bread, but the blessing of God
that sustaineth us. If they reserved aught of the manna till morning, it
putrified and stank ; yet the same manna, kept by the commandment
of God, was sweet and good in the Ark. God gave his blessing to the
one, and not to the other.
[3.] There is verbum potentice the word of his power : He spake,
and it was done, Ps. xxxiii. 9. So here the centurion desireth a word.
The word made the world, and the word upholdeth it : Heb. i. 3,
Upholding all things by the word of his power. The powerful word
of God doth all in the world : He sendeth forth his commandment
upon earth; his word runneth very swiftly/ Ps. cxlvii. 15. So Ps.
cvii. 20, He sent his word, and healed them ; it is dictum factum
with God. So the word of the Lord tried them/ Ps. cv. 19 ; that is,
his power ; there is a powerful commanding word, which is enough.
5. Here is Christ s power and dominion over all events, and events
that concern us and ours, fully acknowledged, and that is a great point
gained : He is Lord both of the dead and living/ Rom. xiv. 9.
Health and sickness are at his command. So 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 ? Here is a clear confession of Christ s omnipotency and sove
reign dominion. This sovereign dominion is backed with omnipotency,
and extendeth to all things. To devils : Mark ix. 25, I charge thee
come out of him, thou dumb and deaf spirit/ To sickness : Luke iv.
.39, He rebuked the fever, and it left her. Christ can speak to the
leprosy: I will ; be thou clean/ Mat. viii. 3. To the winds and seas:
Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the seas, and there was a
great calm/ Mat. viii. 26, 27. To death : Lazarus, come forth/ John
xi. 43. To nothing, as if it had ears and reason : Eom. iv. 17, And
calleth those things which are not as though they were/ To the fishes
in the sea : Jonah ii. 10, The Lord spake to the fish, and it vomited
up Jonah upon the dry land/ Thus all creatures have an obedieritial
ear, to hearken to what God saith, and God can make use of them
according to his own pleasure ; yea, he can speak to sinners, who are
the most stubborn and obstinate pieces of the creation : Ezek. xvi. 6,
I said unto thee, when thou wast in thy blood, Live ; Eph. v. 14,
* Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Every creature is a servant of
omnipotency, and doth suspend or exercise its natural operations as
God biddeth it. Christ hath this power as God and heir of all things.
[1.] Let us see what is this all-sufficient power and dominion of
Christ. It lieth in three things (1.) A right of making and framing
anything as he will, in any manner as it pleaseth him : Jer. xviii. 6,
* Behold, as the clay is in the potter s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O
house of Israel/ (2.) A right and power of possessing things so made.
SERMON UPON MATTHEW VIII. 5-10. 153
all is his ; they are rebels that said, Ps. xii. 4, Our tongues are our
own ; who is lord over us ? (3.) A right of using, governing, and
disposing of all things so possessed : Mat. xx. 15, Is it not lawful for
me to do what I will with my own ? whether men or any other
creature in the world.
[2.] This dominion and all-sufficient power is a great stay to the
souls of true believers, to cause them with comfort to trust themselves
and all their affairs in the hands of Christ. We have no reason to
doubt of his care, protection, and merciful disposal of us ; and if poor,
sick, and desolate, you may go to him ; it is in the power of his hands
to help you. (1.) There is no want, but he can easily supply it : Ps.
xxiii. 1, The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want/ (2.) There is
no pain or suffering, but he can easily mitigate or remove it : Mat. viii.
2, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
[3.] There is no danger so great from which he is not able to deliver
thee : Dan. iii. 17, 18, If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to
deliver us, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, king : 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 ; 2 Cor. i. 10,
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver ; in whom
we trust that he will yet deliver us. Where can we be so safe as in
the love and covenant of such an almighty saviour? Get but this
imprinted upon your hearts, and it will beget a strong and steadfast
confidence in him.
6. He reasoneth from the strict discipline observed in the Roman
armies, where there was no disputing of commands or questioning why
and wherefore: I am a man under authority, having soldiers under
me ; and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth ; and to another, Come,
and he cometh ; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it, ver. 9.
Where he compareth person with person : I am a man, thou a God ;
condition with condition, a subordinate officer with Christ the supreme
Lord ; he knew what it was to obey and to have power over others ;
power with power, his power over soldiers and servants with Christ s
command over all events, health and sickness, life and death. Reason
ing for God and his promises is a great advantage. We are naturally
acute in reasoning against faith, but when the understanding is quick
and ready to invent arguments to encourage faith, it is a good sign.
Use. Go you and do likewise. From the example of the centurion
let me encourage you
1. To readiness of believing : James iii. 17, The wisdom that is
from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated.
This is opposite to that slowness of heart to believe which we read of,
Luke xxiv. 25, fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have spoken. These are more receptive and easy to enter
tain a doctrine than others : John. vii. 17, If any man do his will, he
shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God/ The sincere and
renewed need less ado to convince them. There is a light credulity :
Prov. xiv. 15, The simple believeth every word ; and there is the
readiness of a sincere mind to embrace the truth. We are to captivate
our understandings to the obedience of faith, but not every fancy, lest we
be like children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind
154 8KRMON UPON MATTHEW VIII. 5-10.
of doctrine/ Eph. iv. 14. No ; a Christian must not be like a reed
shaken with the wind, nor believe every spirit ; but yet, where the
truth is sufficiently evidenced, we must embrace it. Most of our hesi
tancy in religion comes not so much from the conflict between our
light and the doubts of our mind, as from the conflict between our
light and lusts, which maketh us irresolute ; but a sincere heart soon
overcometh the difficulty.
2. To represent our necessity to Christ, and refer the event to him,
to commit and submit all to him. There is an all-sufficiency of power,
and infinite pity and goodness, that we need not trouble ourselves about
the event. Submission before the event is faith, as after it is patience.
This is true faith, in such cases as the centurion came about, to refer
all to Christ.
3. To be humble. In all our commerce with Christ, faith must
produce a real humility. Faith is most high when the heart is most
low : Luke xviii. 11-14, The pharisee stood and prayed, saying, God,
I thank thee I am not as other men are, &c. I fast twice a week, I
give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off,
would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his
breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner ! I tell you, this man
went down to his house justified rather than the other ; for every one
that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that hurnbleth himself
shall be exalted. The one challenged a debt, the other begged a favour.
Humble supplications to God become us better than proud expostula
tions.
4. To meditate often on the sovereign dominion of Christ, and his
power over all things that fall out in the world. To keep us from
warping and running to unlawful shifts, God propoundeth his all-
sufficiency to our faith when we enter into covenant with him : Gen.
xvii. 1, I am the Almighty God ; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
He hath power enough to help, defend, and reward us ; we need not
seek elsewhere for a protector or paymaster ; the word of his provi
dence is enough. He can heal our diseases, supply our necessities, or
bless a little, as he did the pulse to the captive children : Dan. i 15,
Their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the
children which did eat the portion of the king s meat/
SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and
Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same
coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, Lord,
tliou Son of David ; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and
besought him, saying, Send her away ; for she crieth after us.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep
of the house of Israel. Then came she and ivorshipped him, saying,
Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take
the children s bread and cast it to dogs. And she saith, Truth,
Lord : yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
master s table. And Jesus answered and said unto her, luoman,
great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou loilt. And her
daughter was made whole from that very hour. MAT. xv. 21-28.
WE come now to the second instance of a great and grown faith ;
this ought to be considered by us. In the centurion we had an
instance of a reasoning faith, now of a wrestling faith faith wrestling
with grievous temptations, but at length obtaining help from God.
We ought to consider this for these reasons
1. Because Christ pronounceth it to be great faith, and so proper
for our imitation, O woman, great is thy faith. It is the faith of a
woman ; a woman not proselyted or embodied with the visible people
of God at that time ; a woman whose faith is approved and commended
by Christ. And surely this should provoke every Christian heart to be
furnished with a like faith.
2. To instruct us that the life and exercise of faith is not easy, but
will meet with great discouragements. We must reckon of trials, and
prepare for them. They that leap into profession, and do not count
the charges, will soon find their rash confidence disappointed. They
may meet with rebukes from men. David s enemies said, There is no
help for him in God, Ps. iii. 2. Or from mistaking friends, as those
that would not have Christ hindered in his passage : Mark x. 48,
Many charged him that he should hold his peace ; but he cried the
more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me ! But this
woman seemeth to be checked and disappointed by Christ himself, who
at first answereth her not a word, and then seemingly defeateth her
156 SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28.
confidence. To wrestle, not only with temporal discouragements, but
disappointments of our hope in God, is the sorest trial. The blind
man wrestled with the rebukes of men, but she with the rebukes of
Christ himself. Yea, here is trial upon trial ; she is put back after a
first and second address. Christ, as God, knew the strength of her
faith at first, but yet he would exercise her faith to the uttermost ; as
in another miracle it is said, He himself knew what he would do, but
this he said to prove him ; John vi. 6, Whence shall we buy bread,
that so great a company may eat. Christ loveth to try them with
whom he hath to do, sometimes the weakness, sometimes the strength
of their faith.
3. Because of the success : ver. 28, Be it unto thee even as thou
wilt ; and her daughter was made whole from that very hour/ When
faith is sufficiently tried, Christ can hold out no longer. As Joseph s
bowels yearned, and he could not refrain himself : Gen. xlv. 3, I am
Joseph ; so when the strength of faith is sufficiently discovered, Christ
cannot continue the conflict any longer ; the believer shall have what
he doth desire : Hosea xi. 8, Mine heart is turned within me, my
repentings are kindled together ; and Jer. xxxi. 20, Is Ephraim my
dear son ? Is he a pleasant child ? For since I spake against him, I
do earnestly remember him still ; therefore my bowels are troubled for
him. I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. So Isa.
xl. 1, 2, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God ; speak ye
comfortably to Jerusalem, and say unto her that her warfare is accom
plished, that her iniquities are pardoned ; for she hath received of the
Lord s hand double for all her sins. Now it is enough ; let them have
their mercies and their comforts.
In opening this instance, let us consider
1. The quality of the woman. She is called in Mat. xv. 22, a
woman of Canaan ; in Mark vii. 26, a Greek, a Syrophoanician by
nation. Phoenicia was that country which was inhabited by the relics
of the ancient Canaanites : she was by nation a Phoenician, and by
religion a Greek ; for the term of Jew and Greek distinguished the then
world: Rom. i. 16, It is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek ; and it is as much as Jew and gentile.
She was a devout woman among the gentiles, that, bordering upon
the people of God, was acquainted with the true religion, though she
professed it not.
2. That she was a believer appeareth by her coming to Christ to
cure her daughter, who was bodily vexed with the devil. How she was
acquainted with Christ, it is said, Mark vii. 25, She heard of him ;
that is, by the rumour of his miracles. And if God blessed rumours,
or the fame of Christ s miracles, we may be ashamed that we do no
more improve a clear word. And not by her coming only, but also by
the title she gave to Christ ; her calling him, The Son of David, ver.
22. This was the solemn name of the true promised Messiah. So the
blind men, Mat, xx. 30, Have mercy on us, Lord, thou Son of David.
So Bartimeus (if it be a distinct story), Mark x. 47, Jesus, thou Son
of David, have mercy on me. Son of David was the common title
by which our Saviour was called and known among the Jews : Mat.
ix. 27, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us ; because Christ was
SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28 157
to be born of the seed and posterity of David : Jer. xxiii. 5, Behold,
the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise up unto David a right
eous branch ; Horn. i. 3, Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. The
Messiah was to come as a king, to rule and feed his church, and there
fore he is called sometimes David in the prophets ; and in the days
of his flesh, in the addresses that were made to him, Son of David.
So that in this she showeth her faith. There is in faith knowledge,
assent, and affiance, and all three are in this woman s faith. That
the Messiah was to be the Son of David, there is her knowledge.
There was her assent, that Jesus was the Christ or true Messiah, for
she applieth the title to him upon the rumours of his miracles. Then
there was her affiance and dependence in this address to him, as one
that was able and willing to help all distressed creatures ; and that
she renewed her suit after so many repulses showed a notable confidence
in his mercy and power.
3. The greatness and strength of her faith. To set forth that we
must consider (1.) Her trials and temptations ; (2.) Her victory over
them, by her importunity, humility, and resolved confidence.
First, Her temptations ; they are four
1. Christ s silence, He answered her not a word, ver. 23.
2. The coldness of the disciples dealing in her behalf, in the
same verse, His disciples besought him, Send her away, for she
crieth after us.
3. Christ s answer to his disciples, seeming to exclude her out of his
commission, ver. 24, He answered and said, I am not sent but to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel.
4. Her renewed importunity draweth another answer from Christ,
which implieth a contempt of her, or at least a strong .reason against
her, ver. 26, It is not meet to take the children s bread and cast it
unto dogs. So that you see here are sore trials, multiplied trials ; but
yet she keepeth begging and arguing with Christ till he giveth her
satisfaction.
First, Christ s silence : ver. 23, And he answered her not a word.
It is a great trial to our faith, but such as the people of God usually
meet withal. It is sad to go to a dumb oracle, and get not a word
from God ; so here. What ! not a word from a merciful and gracious
Saviour, who was so ready to hear and help upon all occasions, and to
cure all those that came to him ! But she gets not a word, though
her daughter was grievously tormented by the devil ; a notable temp
tation to a poor woman, who had heard so much of Christ s power and
compassion towards all those that came to him for relief. He heard
well enough what she asked, but not a word of answer gets she from
him. I will show you, that though Christ love our persons, and dis
likes not our petitions, but meaneth to grant them, yet for a time he
will seem to take no notice of them.
1. That this is a sore temptation.
2. That it should not yet weaken our faith.
1. That it is a sore temptation appeareth by the complaints of the
saints and servants of God : Lam. iii. 8, When I cry and shout, he
shutteth out my prayer ; as if God had locked up himself, that their
158 SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28.
prayers should not come at him, or find access to him. So ver. 44,
Thou coverest thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass
through ; as if God had wrapped up himself in a thick cloud of dis
pleasure against our sins, that our prayers could find no entrance. So
the spouse : Cant. v. 6, I sought him, but I could not find him ; I
called him, but he gave me no answer. That God should refuse and
reject our prayers is a grievous trial to the faithful, who value com
munion with God. Nay, this delay may be so long till the cause seem
hopeless ; Ps. Ixix. 3, I am weary of my crying ; my throat is dried,
mine eyes fail, while I wait for my God/ So Ps. xxii. 2, my God,
I cry in the daytime, but thou nearest not ; and in the night season, and
am not silent. And all this while God seemeth to forsake them, nor
to regard the suit, as if he had no respect to their hard condition. To
lose our labour in prayer is one of the saddest disappointments that
we can meet with, when our loud and importunate cries bring no relief
to us. But
2. It should not weaken our faith ; for God s delay is for his own
glory and our good.
[1.] For his own glory and the beauty of his providence. We read,
John xi. 5, 6, Jesus loved Martha, and her sister and Lazarus ; and
when he heard he was sick (even to death), he abode still two days
in the same place where he was. There is little love in that, you will
think, to a sick friend who was ready to die. Martha expostulateth with
him about it, ver. 21, Lord, if thouhadstbeen here, my brother had not
died. But Christ giveth the true account of it, ver. 40, Said I not
unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of
God. It was more for the glory of God to raise a dead man than to
cure a sick man. So when the disciples were in a storm, Christ made
a show of passing by : Mark vi. 48, He cometh unto them, walking
on the sea-side, and would have passed by them. So Christ delayeth
the woman as to appearance, and denieth her, that the glory and great
ness of her faith might be more seen. "Iva a-re^avcoa-rj rrjv yvvaiKa,
saith Chrysostom, that he might crown the woman as a notable
believer.
[2.] For our good, and to exercise our faith, patience, love, and desire.
(1.) Our faith, to wait and depend upon God for things we see not ;
for faith is a dependence upon God for something that lieth out of
sight. This woman was delayed, but had at last that which she de
sired ; but first her great faith was discovered.
(2.) Our patience in tarrying God s leisure. His dearest children,
are not admitted at the first knock. David saith in three verses, I
cried, I cried, I cried/ Ps. cxix. 145-147. Our Lord Jesus prayed
thrice before he got any comfort in his agony : Mat. xxvi. 44, And
he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time ; and
then an angel appeared to him from heaven, and strengthened him/
Luke xxii. 43. Elijah prayed thrice for the dead child ere he got him
to life: 1 Kings xvii. 21, And he stretched himself upon the child
three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, Lord my God, I
pray thee let this child s soul return unto him again/ Paul prayed
thrice : 2 Cor. xii. 8, For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that
it might depart from me/ The Lord useth the like dispensation to
SEUMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28. 159
us that are their followers : Heb. vi. 12, Be followers of them who
through faith and patience inherit the promises. We are told, Lam.
iii. 26, It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for
the salvation of the Lord/ It is bonum bonestum et utile. It is our
duty, and it is our profit. Our times are always present with us.
Hungry stomachs must have the meat ere it be sodden or roasted.
We would have our mercies too soon, like the foolish husbandman who
would reap his corn and get it into the barn before it be ripened.
(3.) Our love ; though we be not feasted with felt comforts and
present delights, or bribed with a sensible dispensation, or indulged
with a ready condescension to our requests. God will try the deport
ment of his children, whether we love him or his benefits most;
whether sensible consolations, especially external, be more to us than a
God in covenant : Isa. xxvi. 8, Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O
Lord, have we waited for thee. A child of God will love him for his
judgments and fear him for his mercies. God will try whether we
can rejoice in himself in our greatest wants and destitutions : Hab. iii.
17, 18, Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be
in the vines ; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall
yield no meat ; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there be
no herd in the stalls ; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the
God of my salvation. A resolute dependence on an unseen God is
the power and glory of faith, and a resolute adherence to a withdrawn
God is the vigour of love. Lime, the more water you sprinkle upon it,
the more it burneth. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can
the floods drown it, Cant. viii. 7.
(4.) To enlarge our desires, and put greater fervency into them. A
sack that is stretched out holds the more. Delay increaseth importu
nity : Mat. vii. 7, Ask, seek, knock ; the door is kept bolted that we
may knock the harder. The choicest mercies come to us after great
wrestlings. She prayeth, but Christ keepeth silence. Silence is an
answer, and speaketh thus much, Pray on, and continue your praying
still. Though Christ loved the supplicant, and meaneth to grant the
petition, yet at first he answereth her not a word.
Secondly, Her next temptation was from the small assistance she
had from the disciples : ver. 23, Send her away, for she crieth after
us. Interpreters dispute whether this was spoken out of commisera
tion or impatience. I incline to the former, and the sense is, Send her
away by granting her request ; do that for her which she desireth, that
she may be quiet/ But though it were commiseration, yet they spake
too coldly as to her distress, and seem to have a greater respect to
their own trouble than the woman s affliction, that they might not be
troubled with her cries, but they desire for quietness sake that she
might be despatched one way or another. Many a poor benighted soul
pray themselves, and set others on praying, till they are weary, and
God heareth not, which is a great discouragement to a poor afflicted
creature ; but yet it is but a temptation ; for though man s drop be
soon spent, yet God s ocean of compassions faileth not. When they
are troubled, yet importunity is welcome to Christ.
Thirdly, Her next temptation is sorer. Christ seemeth to exclude
her out of his commission : ver. 24, But he answered and said, I am
160 SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28.
not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel/ This was a truth,
for Christ in the days of his flesh was a minister of the circumcision,
Horn. xv. 8. His personal and particular ministry was principally
designed for the people of the Jews ; they were to have the morning
market of the gospel, and the first handsel of the Eedeemer s grace ;
which, by the way, was a rebuke to the Jews that they did no more
prize his ministry and dispensation when this stranger was so impor
tunate to receive the benefit of it. But, however, it was a great trial
to the woman, as if she were not one of these lost sheep whom Christ
came to seek. When salvation itself refuseth to save us, when Christ
shall in effect say, I am a Saviour, but not unto thee ; thou art not one
of my redeemed ones : this is an amazing thing. Poor believers, when
they are in this conflict, seem to be driven from Christ, not only by
their own misgiving hearts, but the denunciation of his word : they
question their election and the intention of God s grace, whether ever
it were meant to them or no. But this is but a temptation ; we must
not betray our duties by our scruples ; though it be midnight now, we
cannot say it will never be day. Our rule, which we must stick to in
such cases, is, God may do what he pleaseth. I must do what he com-
mandeth. Our necessities are great, and so are Christ s compassions ;
therefore a believing soul must not be put off by groundless fears, nor
must the threatenings of the word drive us from, but to the promise ;
for God opposeth for a while that he may at length give faith the
victory.
Fourthly, when the woman reneweth her suit : ver. 25, Then she
came, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. Yet ver. 26,
He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children s bread and
cast it to dogs. By implication Christ reckoneth her among the dogs;
a grievous word to drop from the mouth of a gracious Saviour. But
when Christ trieth us, he will try us to the quick, and humble us to
the very dust. Our Lord speaketh this according to the common rate
of language among the Jews, who accounted all the heathens as dogs,
and without the covenant. Such as were within the covenant and
pale of grace were holy and consecrated to God ; others who were
without the covenant, because of their false religion, were accounted
profane and unclean. Dogs and sheep were opposed one to another.
The people. of Israel are deciphered by the appellation of lost sheep ;
others are called dogs ; Kev. xxii. 15, Without are dogs, a term
applied to this day by all oriental people to those whom they count
to be misbelievers. Surely one would think now here were an end of
her faith and address to Christ. No ; the humble soul maketh an
advantage of this : ver. 27, Truth, Lord ; yet the dogs eat of the
crumbs which fall from their master s table. Faith is quick to observe
all advantages whereby it may strengthen itself. A dog is allowed to
creep under the children s table, and to feed on what falls down there.
Thus she maketh a seeming rebuke to be a kind of claim and title.
And then Christ can hold out no longer, for he will at length yield,
and will not always hide himself from the seeking soul. They that
wrestle will at length overcome : Mark vii. 29, And he said unto her,
For this saying, Go thy way ; the devil is gone out of thy daughter/
Secondly, Her victory over these temptations. (1.) By her importu-
SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28. 161
nity : (2.) Her humility ; (3.) Her resolved confidence ; all which are
the fruits of great faith.
1. Her importunity. She will not be beaten off by Christ s silence;
but she maketh some advantage of it ; for it is not said, he heard her
not a word, but answered her npt a word. Christ may hear his people
when he doth not presently answer them. She seemed to be excluded
out of Christ s commission, but neither this nor reproach of her own con
dition doth hinder the exercise of her faith, but still she reneweth her
suit, Lord, have mercy on me ; Son of David, help me. The woman
will not be put off praying when Christ seemeth to forbid or not to
regard her praying. Her daughter was sore vexed, and she must have
help from Christ or none. The more God seemeth to refuse us, the
more instant should we be in prayer, and pursue our suit constantly.
Let God answer how he pleaseth ; if he be silent, we must resolve to
follow the suit till we get audience ; if he seem to deny, we must get
ground by denials ; if he rebuke us, we must still make supplications.
Be it a suspension, a seeming denial, a contrary providence, faith will
not give over. To sink under the burden argueth weakness, but it is
strength of faith to wrestle through it. We read of Pherecides, a
Grecian, in a naval fight between his nation and Xerxes, that he held a
boat in which the Persians were fighting, first with his right arm, when
that was cut off with his left, when that was cut off with his teeth, and
would not let go his holdfast but with his life. This doth somewhat
represent an importunate soul. This woman, when Christ doth seem to
turn away from her and refuse her prayer, yet she prayeth, Lord, help
me. When he reasoneth from his charge, yet still she will come and
worship him. When he putteth her off with the common reproach
which the Jews did cast upon all that were not of their religion, his
doctrines and miracles were children s bread, she turneth a discourage
ment into an argument, and maketh her claim, The dogs eat of the
crumbs that fall from their master s table. Thus all true believers are
in good earnest ; come what will of it, they are resolved to pray still.
Thus blind Bartimeus, the more they rebuked him, the more he cried,
Mark x. 48. Faith is like fire, the more it is pent up, the more it
striveth to break out, and worketh effectually in us. We read of
Jacob s wrestling with God : Gen. xxii. 24, There wrestled a man
with him until the breaking of the day. And it is explained, Hosea xii.
3, 4, He had. power with God ; yea, he had power over the angel, and
prevailed ; he wept, and made supplications to him. Wrestling souls
that are good at holding and drawing with the Almighty will not let
him go till he bless them. The woman doth not turn her back upon
Christ, but draws the nearer to him the more he seemeth to drive her
away from him, and keepeth arguing with him, and beseeching of him,
till he giveth her satisfaction.
But how shall we do to keep up prayer in the midst of so many dis
couragements ? Ans. (1.) Our necessity should quicken us ; and (2.)
God s goodness and power should support us. Faith pressed with
need is earnest in prayer, when it is dealing with a God gracious and
powerful ; why should we give over the suit ?
2. Her humility. We read of no murmuring and impatience or
discontent at Christ s carriage. No ; if we will wrestle with God, we must
VOL. xvn. i,
162 SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28.
wrestle with prayers and tears, with humble and broken hearts ; there-
must be no complaining of God, but to God. The woman doth not
tax Christ as harsh and severe, but only maketh supplication, Lord,
have mercy upon me ; Son of David, help me. It is said, Mat. xv.
25, She worshipped him. But in Mark. vii. 25, it is said, She fell
at his feet. She fell prostrate before him, and owneth the term of
dog, that justly she might be accounted so, and maketh it her plea
and claim. Humility is contented to be humbled as deeply as the
Lord please th, but cannot bear this, to be excluded from Christ and
the benefit of his grace. In all faith there is always a deep humility.
When Christ rebuketh her as a dog, she doth not make a murmuring
retort, but an humble plea, that some of the mercy provided for Israel
might be spared to a poor Canaanite, a crumb at least.
3. A resolved faith under our greatest pressures: Job. xv. 14,
Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him. As Antisthenes told
his master that taught him philosophy, that he should not find a club
big enough to beat him from him. Faith will not quit its adherence
to God for any difficulty whatsoever ; when- God seemeth to quit the
believer, the believer will not quit God, but take him as a friend when
he seemeth. to deal as an enemy, and still put a good construction upon
his providence. This resolute adherence is seen in three things
[1.] An adherence to his way, how little soever he seemeth to own
it: Ps. xliv. 17, 18, All this is come upon us, yet have we not for
gotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant : our heart
is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way.
Sharp afflictions do not discharge us from our duty in professing the
truth ; as our steps must not decline, so not our hearts : Dan. iii. 17,
18, Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning
fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, king ; but if
not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods,
nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. However God
disposes of us, we must keep to our duty.
[2.] In perseverance in the use of means : Kom. xii. 12, Continu
ing instant in prayer/ We are to use the duty still, though we have
no satisfaction as to the event, and as long as there is life in the duty,
it will come to something at the last : Luke v. 15, We have toiled all
night, and have taken nothing ; nevertheless, at thy word we will let
down the net. It is enough that these means are appointed by God,
and we must use them, though hitherto we have gained little comfort
and success by them.
[3.] In a dependence upon his promises and powerful providence.
The woman sticketh to Christ as only able to help her, though there
was little appearance of any help from him. She runneth not away to
another helper, but worshippeth him, cleaveth to him. Better lie
dead at Christ s feet than die in a state of alienation from him. We
must resolve to be his, though we cannot know that he is ours. No
trouble, how great soever, is a warrant to quit our trust ; and what
ever disappointment saith to us, it doth not say, put your confidence
elsewhere, or trust no longer in God. This resolute confidence is justi
fiable upon these grounds.
(1.) His providence will never give his word the lie. Let God do
SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28. 163
what he will, they are approved who are approved by his word,
and they are condemned who are condemned by his word : Ps.
Ixxiii. 17, When I went into the sanctuary of God, then under
stood I their end ; Job. iii. 3, I have seen the foolish taking root ;
but suddenly I cursed his habitation. And, on the contrary, Ps. iv.
3, But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for him
self ; the Lord will hear when I call unto him ; Isa. iii. 10, Say ye
to the righteous that it shall be well with him ; for they shall eat of
the fruit of their doings.
(2.) There is more good-will in his heart than is visible in his deal
ings. The merciful nature of God should be a support to us, though
we see nothing of the effects of it in his providence : Job. x. 13, These
things hast thou hid in thine heart ; I know that it is with thee: He
speaketh of his favourable inclination to show pity to distressed crea
tures. We are not able always to reconcile his present dispensations
with his gracious nature yet faith must not quit its holdfast. We
must see what is hid in God s heart, and comfort ourselves with that
favour and mercy which we know to be essential to him. Though,
the mercy and pity be not visible and obvious to sense, the disposition
and inclination abideth in God unchangeable and sure. God is a
merciful God still, and Christ a compassionate Saviour, though the
effects be suspended to try and sharpen our faith.
(3.) Because God loveth to bring light out of darkness, to give the
valley of Achor for a door of hope to bring meat out of the eater,
and sweetness out of the strong, to bring about his people s mercies by
means very improbable and contrary, that he may train us up to hope
against hope. When deliverance is a-coming, it is not always in sight.
Christ at a wedding calls for water when he intended to give wine :
John ii. 7, and here he rebuketh the woman as a dog when he meant to
treat her as a daughter of Abraham.
(4.) When he seemeth to resist and be opposite to his people,
he giveth them secret strength to prevail over him. When Jacob
wrestled with God, it was by God s own strength ; God in Jacob
seemed to overcome God without him, or against him. Was not the
spirit of Christ at work in the heart of this woman all the while he
seemed to be struggling with her ? He never striveth with his servants
but he giveth them suitable strength to the task he imposeth on them :
1 Cor. x. 13, God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that you are able : but will with the temptation also make a
way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it ; Ps. cxxxviii. 3, In the
day when I cried, thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with
strength in my soul. He heareth not as to deliverance, but yet he
heareth as to support.
(5.) Because the saints are wont to train up themselves for these
difficulties, by proposing hard cases to themselves ; as Ps. iii. 6, I
will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set them
selves against me round about ; Ps. xxvii. 3, Though an host should
encamp against me, my heart shall not fear ; though war should rise
against me, in this I will be confident ; Ps. xlvi. 1, 2, God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will
we not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains
164 SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-23.
be carried into the midst of the sea. Presumption is a coward, and a
runaway from all thoughts of danger ; but faith meeteth its enemy
in open field ; it supposeth the worst, that the heart may be fortified
aforehand against whatever may fall out. They much inure their
thoughts to God, and dwell in and with the Almighty, and reckon
upon the changes of a reeling world, and so are prepared to be martyrs,
and suffer the worst for God.
Use. You have heard this faith opened to you ; labour to get such a
wrestling faith in expecting the benefits of the Messiah. You may
have your difficulties
1. About your spiritual estate and acceptance with God in Christ.
You would have the devil cast out of your souls : you beg it of God,
but he seemeth not to hear you ; you are to wait, not to give over the
matter as hopeless, and in despondency to throw up all at first : The
Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against his commandment/ Lam.
i. 18. He hath called, and you would not hear, and therefore now God
may delay. It may be you have doubts whether ever God will hear
you, and you question your election ; then consider God s mercy and
your necessity. Christ hath taught us how to pray for the spirit :
Luke xi. 8, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his
friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him. You
continue praying, and it is with you as before ; it may be worse : Horn,
vii. 9, But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. A
bullock is most unruly at first yoking ; fire at first kindling casteth
forth much smoke. What then ? Should you give over seeking to
Christ ? That is to shut the door upon yourselves. God seemeth to
shut you out, and you are discouraged with a deep sense of your own
un worthiness. Will he look upon such a dead dog as I am ? In such
cases you should creep in at the back door of the promise, as Paul
doth : 1 Tim. i. 15, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accep
tation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom
I am chief. If Christ came to save sinners, I am sinner enough for
Christ to save ; or, as the woman here, dogs lick up the crumbs.
2. In some prevailing carnal distempers, that you have long wrestled
with to get rid of, and you desire the physician of souls should cure
you. Follow the means, lay open before him the plague and sore of
your own heart. You do not presently find success ; will you therefore
give over the business as hopeless, and go still with a wound or thorn
in your conscience? No; consider (1.) It must be cured; (2.) If
ever it be cured, it must be by Christ ; (3.) Use all his healing methods ;
(4.) And beg a blessing upon all by prayer, Lord, if thou wilt, thou
canst make me clean, Mat. viii. 2 ; (5.) Believe his grace to be suffi
cient for thee. Be earnest and importunate ; we scratch the face of
sin, but we do not seek to root it out. If you are resolved, you will
take no nay. In a little time, and after some serious wrestling with
God, you will be eminent in the contrary grace.
3. In great straits and pressures you seek to God ; plead his cove
nant, and yet no answer corneth. Will you turn atheist, and say, It
is in vain to pray to God ? No ; He that believeth will not make
haste, Isa. xxviii. 16. Or will you faint and give over the suit ?
Where then is the exercise of your faith and patience ? It may be
SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28. 165
God showeth himself strange to you in your troubles ; as Jonah ii. 4,
I said, I am cast out of thy sight, yet I will look again toward thy
holy temple/ Let faith look to heaven and the covenant made with
Christ. Will you give way to the temptation till you are bribed by
sense ? No ; look again and again. Let faith triumph over diffi
culties, and the issue will be comfortable.
4. For the church, as God s children prefer Zion above their chief
joy. You pray for the welfare of it, and God giveth no comfortable
answer ; what then ? Will you neglect your duty or abate of your
love ? It may be the clouds are thickened, dangers greater. What !
will you swell against providence ? Hab. ii. 4, Behold his soul, which
is lifted up, is not upright in him ; but the just shall live by his faith.
No ; it is importunity, humility, resolved confidence will do you good
at the last ; follow the suit still, and say, For Zion s sake I will not
hold my peace, and for Jerusalem s sake I will not rest, until the
righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof
as a lamp that burneth, Isa. Ixii. 1. There should be an unwearied
solicitation of God for the church s restitution. Christ is the church s
advocate, we are her solicitors. This is an example, not to gaze upon,
but to imitate.
SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 56,
Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day ; and he saw it, and
was glad. JOHN viii. 56.
THE next instance and pattern of a strong faith we find in Abraham.
We must consider his faith in two things
1. His clear sight of things to come, before the exhibition of Christ
or his coming in the flesh.
2. His overlooking the difficulties which seemed to obstruct the
accomplishment of the promise. A believer hath two great works to
do to open the eye of faith, and shut that of sense. In both Abra
ham was eminent. His opening the eye of faith is spoken of here,
He saw my day. His shutting the eye of sense in Bom. iv. 13, 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. The former falleth under our consideration now,
Tour Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day ; and he saw it, and was
glad. The Jews were always cracking and boasting that they were
children of Abraham. Christ disproveth their claim because they did
not his works : John viii. 39, If ye were Abraham s children, ye would
do the works of Abraham ; and in particular, because they imitated
not his faith with respect to Christ ; they despised what Abraham made
great account of. Abraham rejoiced to see what you see, but they
rejoiced not in him, and the privileges of the gospel offered by him.
He desired to see me, though future and absent, and you despise me
now present. He valued what you scorn, and therefore they were
degenerate children of Abraham.
In the words observe three things
1. The earnest desire Abraham had to see Christ s day, Abraham
rejoiced to see my day.
2. His obtaining his desire in some sort, and in that way which
pleased God, And he saw it.
3. The effect of that sight : it bred joy and contentment in his mind,
And he was glad.
Some explicatory questions shall be handled
What was Christ s day ?
In what sense he earnestly desired to see it ?
How he saw it ?
168 SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 56.
[4.] The gladness which was the fruit of it.
[1. ] What was Christ s day ? I answer His coming in the flesh,
and setting up the gospel dispensation. Day in scripture is put for
all that space of time wherein any one hath lived, together with the
state of things during that time. So Christ s day was the time when
Christ came to fulfil his office of a redeemer, and the state of the gos
pel kingdom there begun.
[2.] How he earnestly desired to see it. His earnestness is employed
in that word yyaXTuao-aro, He rejoiced to see my day. With great
pleasure of mind he thought of Christ s coming into the world to save
sinners, and desired it might fall out in his time. He had no greater
desire than to see Christ s kingdom set up and flourish in the world.
He rejoiced, he vehemently and with ardent affection desired this might
come to pass.
[3.] How he saw it ? Not with bodily eyes ; that negative is proved :
Luke x. 24, Many prophets and kings have desired to see those things
which ye see, and have not seen them ; and to hear those things which
ye hear, and have not heard them. Abraham was one of these. But
affirmatively he saw it with the eye of faith: Heb. xi. 13, All these
died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them
afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them. There it is
explained. The object to be seen was revealed and set before them in
the promise, and their eye and visive power was faith. Thus God
granted him his desire in a better way. God may suspend the satisfy
ing the desires of his people in their own way all their days, and ) T et in
effect grant them in a way that is as good, and better for them. Moses
would fain enter into the land of Canaan, but God would only give him a
Pisgah-sight. The exhibition of Christ in the flesh was denied to
Abraham and the patriarchs during their lives, but yet he gave that
which was better than a simple bodily sight, a spiritual sight of him
in the word of promise. We desire the restoration of the church
speedily, but it may be it doth not suit with the harmony of God s
providence ; therefore we must submit our will to the wisdom of his
counsels.
[4.] He was glad, and heartily rejoiced at it : Gen. xvii. 17, Then
Abraham fell on his face and laughed. Not as Sarah laughed, as
doubting of the event, Gen. xviii. 12, but wondering, rejoicing at it,
being strong in faith that God could and would make good his promise.
There is the laughing of exultation, and the laughing of derision, when
one telleth an improbable thing. Sarah s was the laughter of derision
and unbelief ; Abraham s was the laughing of exultation. The exhibi
tion of the Messiah, and the setting up his kingdom in the world, was
matter of great joy and consolation to him.
Doct. That a strong faith giveth such a clear sight of Christ as pro-
duceth an holy delight and rejoicing in him.
In handling this point
1. I shall speak of the ground of Abraham s faith.
2. Of the strength of it, set forth by a double effect (1.) His clear
vision and sight of Christ; (2.) His deep affection, or rejoicing in it.
1. The ground of his faith ; for except the thing to be believed be
represented to us in a divine revelation, it is not faith but fancy. This
SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26. 169
sure ground was the promise of God. And if you ask, What promise
had his faith to work upon ? I answer That which you have : Gen.
xii. 3, In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. In thee,
that is, in thy seed, as it is explained, Gen. xxii. 18, In thy seed shall
all the nations of the earth be blessed. Now, to open this promise we
must inquire (1.) What this seed was ; (2.) What this blessedness
was.
1. What was this seed? We must distinguish of a twofold seed of
Abraham his seed to whom the blessing was promised, which was to
be blessed, and his seed in whom both Abraham himself and also his seed
and all nations were to be blessed. The promise of blessing to his seed is
spoken of, Gen. xvii. 7, I will establish my covenant between me and
thee, and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting
covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Now this
promise to his seed was either to his carnal seed which descended from
his loins (God was there God, in visible covenant with them), or his
spiritual seed : Gal. iii. 7, Know ye therefore that they which are of
faith, the same are the children of Abraham ; because they walked in
the steps of Abraham, and did receive and obey the doctrine of faith or
covenant of grace which he himself believed and received. But then
there was another seed, in whom he himself and all the families of the
earth were to -be blessed, that is, in the Messiah who was to come, who
is the Lord Jesus Christ. The promise of multiplication and blessing
of his seed was but an appendage of this promise, and the means to
effectuate it, and so subservient to it.
2. What was this blessedness ? All that good which resulteth to us
from God s covenant ; chiefly reconciliation with God and life eternal.
[1.] Our reconciliation with God, which consists of two parts
remission of sins, and regeneration ; without these two no man can be
capable of blessedness, and both these are included in the covenant
made with Abraham.
(1.) Kemission of sins. Certainly they are blessed whose sins are
forgiven : 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/ And this is included in the blessing of Abraham ; for
it is said, Gal. iii. 8, And the scripture, foreseeing that God would
justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto
Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So that justi
fication by faith, a principal part of which is remission of sins, is that
gospel blessing which was purchased by Christ for Abraham s seed.
(2.) Kegeneration was included also, as a considerable part of the
Mediator s blessing : Acts iii. 25, 26, Ye are the children of the
prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, say
ing unto Abraham, And in thee shall all the kindreds of the earth be
blessed. 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.
There the blessing is interpreted.
[2.] That eternal life is included in it also is evident from the nature
of the thing ; for this being the chief blessedness, it cannot be excluded ;
and may be further proved from the double reasoning of the apostle
from this covenant.
170 SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26.
S.) Because the patriarchs sought it by virtue of this promise :
. xi. 13-15, All these died in faith, not having received the pro
mises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and
embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they
seek a country ; and truly if they had been mindful of that country
from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have
returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly.
The argument is, they did not think themselves to be at home in
Canaan, but sojourned there as in a strange country. The apostle is
speaking of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were heirs of the same
promise, namely, of blessedness in the seed of Abraham; they still
sought another place.
(2.) Because else God could not act suitably to the greatness of liis
covenant love and relation, and did not make good his title : ver. 16,
Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath
prepared for them a city. God, having made so rich a preparation for
them, may be fitly called their God. Note our Saviour s reasoning :
Mat. xxii. 31, 32, But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have
ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 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.
II. Come we now to the strength of his faith ; that is seen in two
things (1.) His clear vision ; (2.) His deep affection.
1. His clear vision and sight of Christ : He saw my day. The
eagle eye of faith will see afar off and through many impediments, and
draw comfort not only from what is present, visible, and sensible, but
from what is distant and future, and but obscurely revealed. The sight
of faith may be illustrated by bodily sight.
Three things argue the strength of bodily sight
[1.] When the things are afar off that we see ; for a weak eye cannot
see afar off.
[2.] When there are clouds between, though the things be clear;
to pierce through these clouds argueth the sight is strong.
[3.] When there is but a little light to see by. To see a thing at a
distance, either in the morning or evening twilight, argueth a strong
sight. All these concur here.
[1.] The things to be seen were at a great distance, not to be
accomplished in their time, nor a long time after. Thousands of years
and many successions of ages intervened ere the Messiah was exhibited
to the world, and came in the flesh to erect his gospel kingdom ; yet
they went to the grave in assurance of this promise, that in due time
the redemption of sinful man should be accomplished. Well, then,
we see the nature of faith, that it can look upon things absent and
future as sure and near ; and without it man looketh no farther than
present probabilities : 2 Peter i. 9, But he that lacketh these things
is blind, and cannot see afar off, rv^Xof /cal /jLvanrd&v. A purblind
man cannot see things at a distance from him ; but faith surmounts
all successions of ages, and can fly over many thousands of years in a
moment to the object expected ; as the apostle John: Rev. xx. 12, I
saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. He saw it in the
SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26. 171
light of prophecy ; but the light of faith and prophecy differ little.
They agree in the general ground, viz., divine revelation; they differ
only as the general revelation is the ground of faith ; a particular
revelation is the ground of prophecy. They agree in the manner of
perception, by divine illumination ; the Spirit enlighteneth believers,
and the Spirit enlightened the prophets, for they were moved by the
Holy Ghost. But only believers by that general way of illumination,
which is common to all the saints ; the special illumination is peculiar
to prophets. They agree in the object, things absent and future and
at great distance ; here there is no difference. They agree in the cer
tainty of apprehension ; only by prophecy they may define particular
events ; by the other, the accomplishment of general promises. They
agree as to the affections of the heart, but they differ in the degree ;
the one hath more esctatic motions, the other is a more temperate
confidence. So that you see by this comparison a strong faith can see
things at a distance, and we are affected with them in some manner as
if they were present.
[2.] When clouds come between faith and the object to be seen.
When the promise was given to Abraham, he was childless, and so re
mained a long time. In the course of nature his own body and Sarah s
womb were dead ; and after he had a son, God commands him to slay
him and offer him in sacrifice ; a command not only against his natural
affection, but hope. And then afterwards his seed was few in number
for a long time, and when they did multiply they were oppressed, which
was revealed to Abraham. Now, to strive against all these difficulties
was to believe in hope against hope/ Rom. iv. 18. But this I must
reserve to the next time. However it is said of Abraham, He saw
my day ; he rested in the truth and power of God, and by it resolved
all difficulties. To see through such natural impossibilities argueth a
strong sight of faith.
[3.] For their light to go by, it was but a little ; the revelation was
but obscure; the patriarchs had only that promise, Gen. iii. 15, And
I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed
and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Abraham s was a little clearer ; all that he had was but this, In thy
seed all nations shall be blessed. Yet this was but a small glimmer
ing light in comparison of what we enjoy, far short in clearness and
plainness of the many precious gospel promises which are made to us.
The daylight is not only broken out, but it draweth nigh to high noon.
Though they saw not Christ so nearly and clearly revealed as we do,
yet they could do more mighty things with their faith than we can do
with ours, and did more excel both in comfort and holiness.
You will say, What is this clear vision of Christ to us ? How shall
we judge of the strength or weakness of our faith by this ?
Ans. 1. As to Christ, there is a sight of Christ past, present, and to
come, which still belongeth to faith.
(1.) Past : To see him whom we have not seen, that is, so to be
affected with his miracles and acts of mediation as if we had seen him
in the flesh, is still the work and exercise of our faith. So the apostle
telleth the Galatians, chap. iii. 1, Before whose eyes Christ Jesus hath
been evidently set forth crucified among you ; that is, before you he
172 SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26.
hath been convincingly declared, as if he were set before your eyes
nailed to the cross. We should receive Christ as it were crucified in
the midst of us; and the more lively and impressive thoughts we
have of this in the word and sacraments, the stronger is one s faith.
We do so believe it, and our hearts are so warmed by it, as if it were
all done before our eyes. Such evidence and conviction should we have
a,s to warm our hearts.
(2.) Present : To see him so as to make him the object of our love
and trust : John vi. 40, And this is the will of him that sent me, that
he that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.
There is a clear sight of Christ still necessary to believing ; we must
see him and know him spiritually. Though he be removed from us
within the curtain of the heavens, yet we must see him, and such
worth and excellency in him as may draw off our hearts from other
things ; see him so as to believe that he is at the right hand of God,
negotiating for us, that we may trust ourselves and our all in his hands.
Stephen said, Acts vii. 56, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the
Son of man standing at the right hand of God. He saw the Lord
Jesus as in a posture of readiness to assist and help him ; that was by
extraordinary vision, for it is said, The heavens opened. But faith
doth the like in its degree and proportion. Especially must we see him
at the right hand of God ready to receive us when we die.
(3.) Future : We must see him ; that is, be assured of his second
coming, and thoroughly persuaded that we shall see him-; as Job, chap.
xix. 25-27, For I know that my Kedeemer liveth, and that he shall
stand in the latter days upon the earth ; and though after my skin,
worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God ; whom I
shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold him. At the resur
rection we shall get this sight and blessed vision of God. Now faith
must overlook all impediments to assure ourselves of this.
Ans. 2. There are other objects about which the vision of faith is
exercised, as the glory and blessedness of the world to come. Faith is
the perspective of the soul, by which it can see things at a distance as
present. It can look beyond and above the world, and draw unspeak
able joy from the hope of eternal life. Moses, Heb. xi. 26, Esteemed
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt ; for
he had respect to the recompense of reward, eire^Xeirev ; he looked to
it. The glory of the world to come is represented and set before us in
the promise ; we see it clearly there : Heb. vi. 18, That by two im
mutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might
have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the
hope set before us ; Heb. xii. 2, Looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured
the cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God. To this we should look, and see it as if it were
before our eyes, that we ma) 7 not be allured or terrified by the things
that are before our eyes. But of this I have already spoken in the
nature of faith. (See Sermons on Heb. xi. 1.) Only let me advise you
now to keep the eye of faith clear, that Christ and heaven may be
always in view. The devil seeks to shut it : 2 Cor. iv. 4, In whom
the god of this world hath blinded the eyes of them which believe not,
SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26. 173
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of
God, should shine unto them. He doth it by the world, deluding and
bribing the flesh, and enchanting the mind with worldly felicity, so that
God and heaven are forgotten, and that necessary care which we should
use in preparation for it is neglected and omitted. But it is opened
by the Spirit : 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 reve
lation in the knowledge of him ; the eyes of your understanding 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. And
therefore we should always pray for this spiritual eyesalve, that we
may have a due sense of the world to come fresh and strong upon our
hearts.
2. The next effect is deep affection or rejoicing in Christ, and all"
the work of redemption done in his day. Certainly a sight of Christ
by faith doth bring true joy and peace into the soul.
Here I shall show
[1.] That no other affection will become Christ, and the salvation
offered by him and received by faith, but great joy. This is evident
by the whole drift and current of the scriptures. The angels told the
shepherds at Christ s birth, Lukeii. 10, And the angel said unto them,
Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people. Surely tidings of Christ, the Redeemer of the world,
are tidings of great joy, because then there was a way found out for
our reconciliation with God, and the taking up that dreadful contro
versy between us and him, that heaven and earth may kiss each other,
and meet again in a covenant of love and peace and grace, purchased
by Christ, whereby we might overcome the devil, the world, and the
flesh. The great enemies of our salvation are defeated, and a propor
tionable happiness found out for man, without which he would have
been as Leviathan in a little pool. So when this grace was offered to
any, as to Zaccheus, by Christ s coming into his house and bringing
salvation with him : Luke xix. 6, He made haste, and came down,
and received him joyfully; or published in the word: Acts xiii. 48,
When the gentiles heard these things, they were glad, and glorified
the word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal life
believed. Now we are concerned as well as they. The gospel should
never be as stale news to sinners, or as a jest often told. Our necessities
are the same with theirs, and the benefits are offered to us as well as
them. The Virgin Mary was thus affected : Luke i. 47, My spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Saviour ; that Christ was to be born of her,
and was formed in her. The eunuch, when Philip had preached to
him Jesus, and he was baptized into this faith, Acts viii. 39, He
went on his way rejoicing ; as men do that have met with a good
bargain, and have sealed it and made it sure. So the jailer : Acts
xvi. 34, He rejoiced, believing in God with all his house ; he was but
newly converted, and recovered out of the suburbs of hell, ready to
kill himself just before, so that a man would have thought you might
as easily fetch water out of a flint or a spark of fire out of the bottom
of the sea, yet he rejoiced when he was acquainted with Christ. So
that you see none reflect seriously on the gospel but they find cause of
174 SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26.
joy. We cannot consider and believe the great things which Christ
hath done and purchased for us, with some hope of the enjoyment of
them, without joy.
[2.] The reasons of this joy. These must be considered with respect
to the object, the subject, the causes.
(1.) The excellency of the object, which is Jesus Christ, and the
incomparable treasure of his grace.
(1st.) He is excellent in himself, as being the eternal Son of God.
Now, when he will come down, not only to visit, but redeem a sinful
world, this should be matter of joy to us. He came down, was not
thrust down ; he came as the pledge and instance of the Father s love :
John iii. 16, God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten
Son. To make divine nature more amiable, that we might not fly from
him as a condemning God, but return to him as a pardoning God, and
willing to be reconciled to sinful man : 2 Cor. v. 19, God was in Christ
reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them.
And in our nature died for us : Kev. i. 5, Who hath loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood. Christ would show us a
love that passeth knowledge, and would surprise men and angels with
a heap of wonders in the whole business of our deliverance from sin
and misery. And surely we bring down the price of these wonders of
love if we entertain them with cold thoughts, and without some con
siderable acts of joy and thankfulness.
(2<i) He is also necessary for us: Bom. iii. 19, And all the world
may become guilty before God, VTTOUCOS e> ; subject to the judg
ment of God, or obnoxious to his wrath and vengeance. What could
we have done without his passion and intercession ? If he had not
died for sinners, what had we to answer to the terrors of the law or
accusations of conscience, or to appease the fears of hell and approach
ing damnation ? How could you look God in the face, or think a
comfortable thought of him, or call upon his name, or pray to him in
your necessities ? In good sadness what could you do ? Would you
bewail sins past ; but what recompense or ransom for your souls was
there ? If you had wept your eyes out, it would not have been accepted
without a redeemer or some satisfaction to divine justice : Micah
vi. 6, 7, Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself
before the high God ? Shall I come before him with calves of a year
old? will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten
thousand of rivers of oil ? shall I give my first-born for my trans
gression ? the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul ? Would you
commit sin no more, or serve God for the future exactly ? If that had
been .possible with a sinning nature, yet payment of new debts doth
not quit old scores ; or paying what we owe doth not make amends
for what is stolen ; you might have lain in your blood. We could not
find out a ransom which God would accept : Ps. xlix. 7, 8, None of
them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom
for him ; for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth
for ever/ No ; it is the Lord s mercy to find out a ransom for us : Job
xxxiii. 24, Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from
going down to the pit ; I have found a ransom.
(3d) He is so beneficial to us. We have cause to rejoice if we con-
SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26. 175
sider the many benefits we have by him : 1 Cor. i. 30, 31, But of him
are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and right
eousness, and sanctification, and redemption : that according as it is
written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Ignorance alien
ates from God ; depraved nature brings doubts and fears, which always
haunt us about eternity and the way thither. Now, when God hath
provided such a suitable and all-sufficient remedy, should we not rejoice,
and esteem him, and delight in him, and count all things but dung
and dross in comparison of him, that we may gain him and his grace ?
(2.) The subject.
(1st.) They are affected with their misery; for according as our
sense of our misery is, so is our entertainment of the remedy. Those
that heal their wounds slightly little care for the physician. A doc
trinal sight of sin maketh way for a dead opinion about Christ. It
is they that are often in tears and groans, through the feeling of sin
and fears of the wrath of God, who do most esteem Christ and rejoice
in him : Mat. ix. 13, I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance ; Acts ii. 37, And when they heard this, they were
pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren, what shall we do ? A saviour is welcome to them,
for he is to them a comfortable and suitable remedy.
(2c?.) They mind their end, which is to return to God as their proper
happiness. When the soul seeth nothing better than God, then
nothing is sweeter than -Christ. Intention of the end maketh the means
acceptable : John xiv. 6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life ; no man cometh to the Father but by me ; Heb.
vii. 25, Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost all those that
come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for
them. Christ is of no use but where God is our chiefest good ; for if
we be indifferent as to the favour of God, why should we prize Christ ?
(3d) Their heart is suited to spiritual things. To excite delight
and complacency there are two things necessary the attractiveness of
the object, and the inclination of the faculty. Delight and pleasure is
applicatio convenientis convenient. If the object be never so lovely,
yet, if the faculty be not suited, there is no delight. We use to say,
One man s food is another man s poison : Kom. viii. 5, For they that
are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh ; but they that are
after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit/ Every man s taste is accord
ing to his constitution ; some are so lost and sunk in the dregs of
pleasures, honours, and profits, that they have no relish for better things.
Though Christ be so excellent and so suitable, and so all-sufficient to
soul-necessities, yet carnal men cannot savour him : this excellency is
only valued by a spiritual mind. Scarlet maketh no more show in the
dark than a better colour. The mystery of redemption to the carnal
is but a cold story, and the rose of Sharon but as withered flowers, and
the promises of the gospel are as dry chips.
(3.) The causes of it ; they are the Holy Ghost, and faith as his
instrument. This joy is stirred up by the Holy Ghost, therefore often
called joy in the Holy Ghost : Kom. xiv. 17, For the kingdom of God
is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the
Holy Ghost ; 1 Thes. i. 5, For our gospel came not unto you in word
176 SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 26.
only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost/ And the comforts of
the Spirit : Acts ix. 31, Walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the
comfort of the Holy Ghost. But then faith is the means : Bom. xv.
13, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing ;
1 Peter i. 8, Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom, though now
ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full
of glory. So that it is a fruit of faith as well as a work of the Holy
Ghost. Faith joined with love will bring much love into the heart of
a believer, and will cause it to be deeply affected with Christ s grace.
[3.] The nature of this joy and gladness. Here we must dis
tinguish
(1.) There is a superstitious joy which ariseth from knowing Christ
after the flesh : 2 Cor. v. 16, Wherefore henceforth know we no man
after the flesh ; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet
now henceforth know we him no more; which is seen in this, it prizeth
Christ s name but neglects his office, pretends a fond esteem of his
memory but despises his benefits. As the Jews would fly in the face
of any that would not count them Abraham s children, yet would not
do the works of Abraham, so is the nominal Christian s joy. This joy
venteth itself in a carnal way, by outward theatrical pomp and cere
monial observances, but not in real affection to Christ ; yea, they are
rather enemies to his spiritual kingdom and cause and servants, and
express their rejoicing rather as votaries of Bacchus than as disciples
of Christ, in a gross and carnal way. This joy is a rejoicing in Christ
for a day, but we are to make it our daily work, a holy festival that
lasteth our whole lives : Phil. iv. 4, Eejoice in the Lord always, and
again I say, Kejoice. This is a different thing from Abraham s rejoic
ing. He had a prospect of Christ s day, and was exceeding glad ; but
this is a carnal owning of the god of the country, and no more.
(2.) There is a holy rejoicing which may be considered (1.) As to
the lively acts ; (2.) Or solid effects.
(1st.} As to the lively acts, in solemn duties, as the word, and medi
tation, and Lord s supper, it doth your hearts good to think of Christ :
Cant. i. 4, We will be glad and rejoice in thee ; we will remember
thy love more than wine ; Ps. xxii. 26, The meek shall eat, and be
satisfied ; they shall praise the Lord that seek him : your heart shall
live for ever ; Heb. xi. 13, All these died in faith, not having received
the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of
them, and embraced them. ; that is, when they thought of it ; the time
of the gospel was a sweet time to them, and so it is to all other believers.
A man cannot think of his pelf or any petty interest in the world
without comfort ; and can a believer think of the promises and not be
affected with them ? In solemn meditation and other duties is faith
and joy acted.
(2c?.) As to its solid effects,
(1st.) It is such a joy as doth enlarge our hearts in duty, and
strengthen us in the way of God : Neh. viii. 10, For the joy of the
Lord is your strength ; Ps. cxix. 14, I have rejoiced in the way of
thy testimonies as much as in all riches. The hardest services are
pleasant to one that delighteth in Christ. This joy is the very life of
obedience ; a Christian cannot be without it.
SERMON UPON JOHN VIII. 20. 177
(2d.) It sweeleneth our calamities and crosses. (1.) Common afllic-
tions. It can never be so sad with us in the world but we have cause
of rejoicing in Christ: Hab. iii. 17, 18, Though the fig-tree do not
blossom, &c., yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my
salvation ; for we have better things in him than any natural comfort
which can be taken from us. This should not diminish the solid satis
faction of our souls. (2.) The afflictions of the gospel : Luke vi. 23,
Kejoice ye in that day. and leap for joy : for your reward is great in
heaven ; for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets ; Heb. x.
34, And took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves
that in heaven ye have a better and enduring substance. They are fit
occasions to show how much we value Christ above all our own interests,
how near and dear soever they be to us.
(3d.) It draweth us off from the vain delights of the flesh. Every
man must have some oblectation ; for love and delight cannot lie idle
in the soul ; either it is taken up with the joys of sense or with the
joys of faith. And it is good for every man to observe what it is that
puts gladness into his heart, where his solid contentment and pleasure
is. A brutish heart fetcheth all its solaces from the world, but a
gracious heart from Christ ; the one loves pleasures more than God, but
to the other Christ and his benefits are matter of joy and comfort;
this is that they are cheered with, as they get more of Christ into their
hearts : Ps. iv. 7, Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in
the time that their corn and their wine increased j as David calleth
God his exceeding joy, Ps. xliii. 4. They need not the carnal mirth,
without which others cannot live : Ps. iv. 6, Who will show us any
good?
Use. Well, then, you see faith is not only a sight, but a taste, or a
feeding on the promises with delight : Ps. cxix. Ill, Thy testimonies
I have taken for an heritage for ever ; for they are the rejoicing of my
heart. And such a delight as draweth off our hearts from other
things, as the man that hath found the true treasure, Mat. xiii. 44,
For joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that
field/
I observe a double joy in Abraham
1. In desiring, He rejoiced to see my day. The spiritual desires
of God s people after Christ are full of joy. There is a joy that accom-
panieth seeking before we attain what we seek after : Ps. cv. 3, Let
the hearts of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Before complacential
joy there is a seeking joy. Better be a seeker than a wanderer, and
delight in Christ keepeth up this seeking.
2. There is a joy after faith hath given some satisfaction. First,
r)<ya\\ido-aTo, he rejoiced ; and then, e %ap//,, he was glad. A man
sick of a mortal disease, when he heareth of a famous physician, he
desires to see him ; it is some contentment to a sick man to see him ;
but when his cure is wrought, he much more rejoiceth. So when we
feel the benefit in our own souls, it causes joy: Rom. v. 11, And not
only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom we have now received the atonement/
VOL. XVII. M
SERMON UPON ROMANS IV. 18-21.
Wlio against hope "believed in hope, that he might become the father of
many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy
seed be. And being not ivedk in faith, he considered not his own
body now dead, lohen he icas about an hundred years old, neither
yet the deadness of Sarah s womb : he staggered not at the pro
mise of God through unbelief; but ivas strong in faith, giving
glory to God ; and being fully persuaded that lohat he had
promised he was able also to perform. KOM. iv. 18-21.
WE are now come to handle the other branch of Abraham s faith.
A believer hath but two works to do to open the eye of faith, and to
shut that of sense. I shall speak of this latter now. This instance
deserveth to be considered by us (1.) Because he is called once and
again, The father of the faithful, ver. 11, 16, meaning thereby that
his faith is the pattern according to which our faith is to be cut out,
or the copy to be transcribed by us ; or, as the apostle s expression is,
ver. 12, That we should walk in the steps of the faith of our father
Abraham. (2.) Because this was great and grown faith. It is nega
tively expressed, ver. 19, He was not weak in faith ; and affirmatively,
ver. 20, That he was strong in faith, giving glory to God.
Now in Abraham s faith we shall consider three things
First, The ground of it.
Secondly, The excellency and strength of it, set forth by four expres
sions
1. That he believed in hope against hope, ver. 18.
2. That he considered not the difficulties, ver. 19, He considered
not his own body now dead, neither yet the deadness of Sarah s womb.
3. That he staggered not at the promise through unbelief, ver. 20.
4. That he had a full persuasion of God s power, Being fully per
suaded that what God had promised he was able to perform, ver. 21.
Thirdly, The fruit and effect of it, an exact, ready, and self-denying
obedience to God, not spoken of in the text, but to be supplied from
other scriptures, especially in those two eminent acts of self-denial, his
leaving his country, arid offering his son. Thus was Abraham s faith
tried, by promises of things strange and incredible, and by commands
of the hardest duties.
First, The ground of his faith was the promise of God, as is often
implied in the text ; for it is said, ver. 18, That he might become the
ISO SERMON UPON ROMANS IV. 1&-21.
father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall
thy seed be ; and ver. 20, He staggered not at the promise of God ;
and ver. 21, Being fully persuaded that what he had promised/ &c.
There were many promises made to Abraham, but those to which the
apostle alludeth are contained in Gen. xv., as appeareth by his dispute
all along, and the comparing the two chapters. Now the promise was
either general or particular.
1. The general promise : Gen. xv. 1, I am thy shield, and thy
exceeding great reward/ That God would take him into his pro
tection, and abundantly reward his obedience. The like promise is
made to all the faithful : Ps. Ixxxiv. 11, The Lord God 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. The only one and true
God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, will exercise all his wisdom, power,
and goodness to protect us, and deliver us from all evil, and to give us
all those blessings which are necessarily required to make us fully and
eternally happy. He will be a shield to save us and protect us, either
by way of prevention or removal of all evil, both temporal and spiri
tual, and he will be a reward to give us all good things, yea, a great
reward, yea, again an exceeding great reward/ which cannot come
short of heaven s glory and eternal happiness, which is the aggregation
of all blessings. It is implied also in the metaphor of being a sun to
us. Here he is as a sun at its first rising, shining upon us with his
morning beams of favour and compassion, which are very cherishing
and comfortable ; but then our sun shall be in its meridian, when he
shall directly, fully, and for ever shine upon the saints.
2. The other promise was particular, and thus occasioned : When
God had told Abraham that he would be his shield and exceeding
great reward, he replied, Lord what wilt thou give me, seeing I go
childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus ?
and again, Behold thou hast given to me no seed ; and lo, one born
in my house is mine heir/ Gen. xv. 2, 3. These words of Abraham
imply some diffidence, or conflict with unbelief, or a weakness of faith
at least ; though they also may be conceived to represent his condition
to God, and revive the remembrance of an old promise made to him
some time before : Gen. xii. 3, In thee shall all the families of the
earth be blessed. And they in effect speak to this sense : Lord, how
can I take comfort in the promised reward, since I do not see the ful
filling of thy promise touching my seed ? But now mark the Lord s
reply : ver. 4, This shall not be thine heir, but he that shall come
forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir ; that is, thou shalt
have posterity, the promised seed shall at length come of thy loins.
And then God led him forth : ver. 5, And he brought him forth abroad,
and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able
to number them. Ocular demonstration leaveth a stronger impression
upon the mind : And he said unto him, So shall thy seed be ; upon
this Abraham believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for
righteousness/ ver. 6 ; that is, upon this he began to grow stronger in
the faith, more and more overcoming the doubts of the flesh, and
embracing the great promises which God had made him. He was a
believer before, but now he commenceth a strong believer; this is
r
SKKMON UPON ROMANS IV. 18-21. 181
that which is said, ver. 18, He believed in hope against hope, that he
might become the father of many nations, according to that which
was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Secondly, The excellency of his faith, in four expressions
I. He believed in hope against hope. Abraham was still childless,
and so remained for some years after this assurance from God, and in
the course of nature he had little reason to expect a child ; but he
hoped in the word of God, when according to the order of nature all
hope of issue was cut off. We learn, then, that spiritual hope can
take place when natural hope faileth ; as Abraham had a strong hope
in God when all appearances seemed to forbid hope. Most men s faith
is borne up by outward likelihoods and probabilities, and when they
fail, their faith faileth ; they can trust God no further than they can
see him ; but true faith dependeth upon him when his way is in the
dark, and there is little appearance of the things we wait for ; as Paul
could assure them not a man should be lost, when all hope that any
should be saved was taken away, Acts xxvii. 20-22. I prove this
1. From the genius and nature of faith. There must be some
difficulty in the thing to be believed, or else it is not an object of
faith : Kom. viii. 24, But hope that is seen is not hope ; for what a
man seeth, why doth he yet hope for ? The nature of faith and hope
is so that it is not of things presently enjoyed ; for vision and posses
sion exclude hope, and what is easy and next at hand, it is as if it
were already enjoyed ; therefore it is no trial of your faith to wait for
probable things, and such as are within the view of sense or reason ;
but to hope against hope, when God disappointeth our confidence, and
seemeth to beat us off from believing, yet to adhere to him, this is the
disposition of faith.
2. From the warrant of faith, which is the word of God. Now we
must believe God upon his bare word, though we know not what time
or way he will take, or by what means the things promised may be
accomplished. In things future and invisible, we believe against
sense. To say with Thomas, Except I see, I will not believe/ John
xx. 25, this maketh way for atheism. In things incredible we believe
against reason : Heb. xi. 1, Faith is 6X67^09 T&V fir) f3\e7rofMevo)v, the
evidence of things not seen ; provided they be revealed by God. We
must not be false prophets to ourselves, and make promises which God
never made ; that is to interest his glory in our vain conceits : Jer. iv.
10, Ah, Lord God, surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and
Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace ; meaning the false prophets
using his name. And it is a snare to ourselves ; we dream of deliver
ance when God intendeth a further trial : 1 Thes. v. 3, For when
they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon
ihem, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
But when the promise is clear, then we must believe in hope against hope.
Sense, nature, and human reason must not be heard against faith :
Ps. xxvii. 3, Though war should rise against me, in this I will be con
fident ; whatever the danger was, for he had a particular promise of
coming to the throne. It must not be, saith sense : It cannot be, saith
natural reason : It both can and will be, saith faith. Though what
God had promised to do, do far exceed the power of nature, his word is
enough to faith.
182 SERMON UPON ROMANS IV. 18-21.
But if we have no express promise, may we not believe in hope against
hope ?
Ans. If believing be meant only of a confidence in God s power, not
determining the certainty of the event. Many times we are cast upon
God s providence, all human refuge and help faileth, there is no pos
sibility of escape ; yet God forbiddeth despair, and thus driveth us to
himself : 2 Cor. i. 9, But we had the sentence of death in ourselves,
that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the
dead. He means, when the furious multitude at Ephesus was let
loose upon him for his adherence to his way : Ps. xliv. 19, 20, Though
thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with
the shadow of death, we have not forgotten the name of our God. We
have sometimes that which is equivalent to a promise, even the usual
practice of God : Deut. xxxii. 36, For the Lord will judge his people,
and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth their power is gone,
and there is none shut up or left ; Gen. xxii. 14, In the mount of the
Lord it shall be seen.
3. The object of faith, God all-sufficient. We must neither measure
his goodness nor power by our scantling and module. Not his good
ness : Isa. Iv. 8, 9, For my thoughts, are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, saith the Lord ; but as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts ; Hosea xi. 9, I will not execute the fierceness
of mine anger, I will not return to destory Ephraim ; for I am God and
not man. We sin as men, but he pardoneth like a God. Nor his
power : Zech. viii. 6, If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant
of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes ?
saith the Lord of hosts. The promises then made seemed impossible
or improbable to be performed ; for the Jews were a despicable remnant,
and the times full of dangers and fears. Keason and probability is not
our support, but faith, which looketh to God, to whom nothing is
impossible. Nothing can be laid in opposition to his power, or can
overbalance his promises. We are at a loss many times, but God
is never at a loss. You would think that man ridiculous that should
say an horse cannot carry him upon his back because a fly can
not. It is more ridiculous to confine God to human likelihoods and
probabilities. We cannot do this, therefore God cannot : Ps. Ixxviii.
41, They limited the Holy One of Israel ; that is, straitened his
power, as if their wants were so great God was not able to supply them ;
or their miseries so grievous, that he were not able to remove them ; or
their enemies so strong, that he were not able to vanquish them. If
there be any difficulty in the case, it is the fitter for an almighty power.
Certainly we have no strong faith, if any faith, when we cannot see the
truth of God s promises, unless we see the possiblity of their accomplish
ment by natural means. If it pass the power of the creature, we say,
How can these things be? Alas! you do not know God s infinite
power. Can you say, Thus far God can go and no further ; this much
God can do, and no more ?
II. He considered not the difficulties : ver. 19, 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. Here
SERMON UPON ROMANS IV. 18-21. 183
vre learn that we must not oppose natural impediments to the power
and truth of God. Unbelief will stir up many objections, great reason
ings within ourselves against the promise. To hearken to these is to
tempt ourselves, and choke our own faith. As in other sins, to pore
upon the temptation is to parley with the devil, and suffer the evil to
fasten itself upon our spirits ; so, in point of believing, Abraham con
sidered not how dead and unmeet he and his wife were as to pro-
lification.
First, I shall examine how we are, or are not to consider difficulties.
1. In some sense it is our duty to consider them, that we may not
go about the most serious work hand-over-head. Christ bids us sit
down and count the charges : Luke xiv. 28, For which of you,
intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the
cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it ? The saints are wont to
put hard cases to themselves : Ps. iii. 6, I will not be afraid of ten
thousand of people that have set themselves against me round about ;
and Ps. xxiii. 4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil/
2. Therefore the ends must be observed. We must consider them
to prevent slightness, and to weaken our security, but not to weaken
-our confidence in the promise. When they are urged against the
promise, they impeach the truth of God ; but when we consider them
to prevent slightness, it is good. The difficulties of salvation must be
sufficiently understood, otherwise we think to do the work of an age in
a breath : Luke xiii. 24, Strive to enter in at the strait gate ; for many
I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able ; Josh. xxiv.
19, And Joshua said unto the peoples, Ye cannot serve the Lord; for
he is a holy God. It is not so easy a matter as you take it to be.
3. Difficulties must be thought on to quicken faith, not to weaken
it. If they be pleaded against the promise, they weaken faith ; if they
be pleaded to drive us to the promise, they quicken faith. What
greater arguments are there to press us to dependence than to consider
our impotency, the looseness of our hearts, and the strength of tempta
tions ? 2 Chron. xx. 12, For we have no might against this great
company that cometh against us, neither know we what to do, but our
eyes are unto thee. But to plead against the promise is to consult
with the wisdom of the flesh, and it hath ever fared ill with the saints :
Luke i. 18, And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know
this ? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
Therefore for a while he was struck dumb. So Moses : Num. xx. 12,
* Hear now, ye rebels ; must we fetch you water out of the rock ? God
had bidden him smite the rock, and assured him the water should flow ;
but he pleadeth the natural impossibility, therefore he was shut out of
Canaan. So that nobleman, 2 Kings vii. 2, Then a lord on whose
hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if
the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And
he said, Behold thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat
thereof. But he that will not believe the truth of a promise, shall not
partake of the benefit of it. Well, then, as Abraham regarded not
the great difficulties that might be pleaded to his faith from his own
.and his wife s age, so must not we.
184 SERMON UPON ROMANS IV. 18-21.
Secondly, I shall show you the inconveniences of this sinful con
sidering the difficulties in all the parts of faith, assent, consent, and
affiance.
1. As to assent. There are many difficulties which may be objected
against the truths propounded in the word ; but it is enough to a
believer that God hath revealed them in his word, and propounded
them to his faith. Reason is apt to reply, as Nicodemus, when Christ
spake to him of regeneration : John iii. 9, How can these things be ?
Carnal reason keepeth men from simple believing, or resting on what
is revealed, till they see a reason for everything. Now we see a reason
why we do believe, and that is the word of God or divine revelation,
though we do not see a reason of everything which we do believe, for
many things are mysteries. In such cases we must receive truths as
we do pills, not chew, but swallow them, take them upon the credit of
the revealer. To chew produceth a loathsome ejection ; to swallow a
wholesome remedy. Believing in the common notion of it is a receiving;
of truths upon trust from another, so it differeth from knowing ; and
divine faith is a receiving such things as God hath revealed, because
he hath revealed them. Therefore our first inquiry is, whether these
things be so or no ? Not, how they can be so ? There we begin at
the wrong end. In many cases, constat de re ; the thing is evident in
scripture whereby it is revealed, but how it can be is beyond our reach ;
the modus is not certain. Now, when we should believe, we dispute,
and so cavil rather than inquire. If it be not plainly revealed by God,
you may reject it without sin and danger ; but if it be, you must not
contradict all that you cannot comprehend, otherwise dangerous mis
chiefs will ensue. The true God will be no God to you, because you
cannot comprehend the trinity of persons in the unity of the divine
essence. Christ will be no Christ, because you cannot comprehend how
a virgin should conceive, or how a God should become man. It is
sufficient that it is revealed in scripture, which carrieth its own evidence
in its forehead, shining by its own light, hath the seal and stamp of God
upon it ; and moreover is confirmed by miracles, and handed and
brought down to us by the universal tradition of the church through
the successions of all ages, in whose experience God hath blessed it to the
converting, comforting, and sanctifying of many souls. In short, to see
a thing in its evidence is not to believe, but to receive it on the credit
of the testifier. If you will not credit it unless the thing be evident
in itself without his word, you do not believe Christ, but your own
reason ; and instead of being thankful for the revelation, you quarrel
with his truth, because it is in some things above your capacity. You
should be satisfied with the bare word of God, and captivate your
understandings to the obedience of it.
2. As to consent and acceptance. There are many things may be
objected against entering into covenant with Christ, as our unworthi-
ness, the fickleness and looseness of our hearts ; how unable we are to
keep covenant with him ; but these things must not be alleged against
our duty and the free offers of the Lord s grace.
[1.] Our great unworthiness. This is one reason why the instance
of Abraham is produced by Paul as a pattern of faith to the gentiles.
As Abraham considered not his natural incapacity to have children,
SERMON UPON ROMANS IV. 18-21. 185
so they not their unworthiness to be adopted into God s covenant.
The gentiles were not a people unto God, but were overlooked in the
dispensations of his grace ; but, Hosea ii. 23, c I will have mercy
upon her that had not obtained mercy ; and I will say unto them that
were not my people, Thou art my people, and they shall say, Thou art
my God. Our condition is not so desperate that the mercy of the new
covenant cannot reach us and recover us. So for particular Christians,
they exclude and repel comfort, because they are so vile and unworthy
and suqh sinners. If you be such a sinner, the more need of a saviour.
You would laugh at him that would argue thus : I am too cold to go
to the fire, too sick to send for the physician, too poor to take alms, too
filthy to go to the water to be washed. You must not consider what
you have been, but what you would be. Christ doth not invite us
because we are holy, but that we may be holy. The objection were of
weight if we did only advise you to be eased of your smart, but not to
be rid of your burden ; if this consent were only a claim of privileges,
and not an obligation to duties, or a submission to Christ s healing
methods. Celsus objected against Christianity, that it was a sanctuary
for naughty persons and men of a licentious life. Origen answereth him
that it was not a sanctuary to shelter them only, but an hospital to cure
them. It is not the worthy are invited, but the thirsty and the needy ;
you are unworthy to the very last, but are you hungry ? You are un
worthy to receive Christ, but God is worthy to be obeyed. It is not a
matter of privilege only, but duty.
[2.] Your hearts are so loose and changeable, you are afraid to bind
yourselves to God. The truth is, this consent implieth a delivery over
of yourselves to Christ, to seek happiness in the way that he hath ap
pointed ; it is the first egress of the soul towards the execution of the
duty of a Christian, our entry into the practice of the holy life, and an
entry withal into a resolved war with the devil, the world, and the flesh,
who will resist us herein ; and you must consider difficulties so as to
fortify your resolution : Mat. xvi. 24, If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. He will
surprise no man : Mat. xx. 22, Are ye able to drink of the cup that I
drink of ? and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized
with ? And not to consider is to discourage your consent.
Object. You will say you cannot do it by your own strength, and you
are uncertain of God s assistance.
Ans. Do not foretell the event, but charge yourselves with your duty.
It is your duty to engage your hearts to God, though you cannot lay
wagers upon your own strength. You must resolve, but continually
depend upon Christ for the performing of your resolutions. He will
maintain you in your way to heaven : 2 Tim. i. 12, For I know in
whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that day. In a sense of
your own insufficiency and deceitfulness of heart, you must still rely
upon his grace and spirit, who hath made many promises to support
and to keep you by his power, through faith unto salvation.
3. For affiance in the great promise of the gospel, or offer of pardon
and life by Christ. There seemeth to be an impossibility to sense ami
reason from first to last. If the difficulties of salvation were suffi-
186 SERMON UPON ROMANS IV. 18-21.
ciently understood, we should see, from the beginning to the end, from
the first step to its last period in everlasting glory, it is the mere
grace and power of God that carrieth it on, in despite of men and devils ;
and therefore it is said, Eph. i. 19, And what is the exceeding great
ness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of
his mighty power ? As for instance, the reconciling of a guilty soul
to God : Eph. ii. 3, Among whom also we had our conversation in
time past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and
of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as others. The
changing of a naughty and obstinate heart : Jer. xvii. 9, The heart is
deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked : who can know it ?
And the giving us an holy nature and life : Job xiv. 4, Who can
bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? not one. Or to quicken us
that were dead in trespasses and sins : Eph. ii. 1, You also hath he
quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. To strengthen a
feeble and weak creature : 2 Cor. iii. 5, Not that we are sufficient of
ourselves, to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of
God. That things meet with so much opposition by the way : Eph.
vi. 12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against princi
palities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places. What can maintain us in
the midst of so many temptations ? We at length die and rot in the
grave as others do ; now the raising of our bodies after it is eaten by
worms and turned to dust is a thing incredible, and to flesh and blood
wholly impossible ; it is wholly within the reach of God s power. Now
since we have ground to hope for all this from the word of God, even
to pardon our many sins : 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 ; to change this sinful nature, that we may become
an holy people to God : Titus iii. 5, Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to his mercy he sfiveth us, by the
washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost ; to over
come our obstinacy, perverseness in evil, fickleness in good ; to main
tain grace in the midst of temptations : Jude 24, To him that is able
to keep you from falling ; and finally to raise us up out of the grave,
we must not consider and plead the difficulties to damp faith, but to
quicken it, going on with our duty, and wait for his salvation.
III. He staggered not at the promise through unbelief/ Strong
faith is so satisfied with God s promise, that it leaveth no place for con
siderable doubtings ; as Abraham here admitted no doubts or ques
tionings touching the promise of God, but, without disputing or argu
ing to the contrary, depended fully upon the Lord, being persuaded lie
could do what he had promised. There are two reasons hereof the
immutability of his nature : Heb. vi. 18, That by two immutable
things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong
consolation ; and his tenderness of his word : Ps. cxxxviii. 2, For
thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Both these breed
this assured persuasion of God s faithfulness and steadfastness, and
make his promise the great prop and support of faith. Now this
staggering or not staggering at the promise, and so the weakness and
strength of our faith, may refer to three acts or parts of faith
SERMON UPON EOMANS IV. 1&-21. 187
1. A strong assent or clear sight of the evidence of the truth. If
we have the word and promise of God, we should believe anything as
surely as if we had the greatest evidence in the world. Thus some of
the disciples doubted of the truth of Christ s resurrection : Mat. xxviii.
27, And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted ;
Luke xxiv. 21, But we trusted that it had been he which should have
redeemed Israel. This argueth a weak faith, not vigorous and active ;
but faith is strong as it overcomes our speculative doubts, and so doth
settle and establish our souls in the truth : 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.
2. There is a doubting or staggering, as faith is a consent ; when
the consent is weak and wavering, faith is weak : Heb. x. 23, Let us
hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faith
ful that promised. But such a confirmed resolution as leaveth no room
for wavering and looking back argueth a strong faith : Acts xxi. 13,
Then Paul answered, What ! mean ye to weep and to break my heart ?
for I am ready not to be bound only, but to die at Jerusalem for the
name of the Lord Jesus.
3. As faith implieth a dependence and trust : James i. 6-8, But
let him ask in faith, nothing wavering ; for he that wavereth is like a
wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed ; for let not that man
think that he shall receive anything of the Lord: a double-minded
man is unstable in all his ways. Divided between God and other con
fidences : 1 Tim. ii. 8, I will therefore that men pray everywhere,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting ; Mat. xiv. 31, O
thou of little faith ! why didst thou doubt ? Well, then, it is a strong
faith that causeth such a fortitude, that we pass through all difficulties
and trials without distrust or anxiety of mind. It is opposite to faint
ing : Ps. xxvii. 13, I had fainted unless I had believed to see the good
ness of the Lord in the land of the living. To fears and troubles :
Mat. viii. 26, Why are ye fearful ? ye of little faith ! Strength of
assent doth exclude speculative donbts and errors ; strength of resolu
tion doth fortify us against worldly temptations, which beget uncer
tainty ; temptations of profit, pleasure, or vainglory, if the heart be
secretly biassed with these, it is opposite to faith : John v. 44, How
can ye believe, which receive honour one of another ? And strength
of confidence doth exclude those doubts which arise from fears of dan
ger and terrors of sense ; in such cases we dispute away the comfort of
the promises.
IV. He was fully persuaded that what God had promised he was
able also to perform/ A strong, steady, and full persuasion of the power
of God argueth a great faith.
1. There is no doubt of his will when we have his promise ; but the
ability of the promiser is that which is usually questioned. Unbelief
stumbleth at his can : Can God furnish a table in the wilderness ?
Ps. Ixxviii. 19 ; and, How can these things be ? Luke i. 34. So 2
Kings vii. 2, If the Lord should make windows in heaven, might this
thing be? Nay; and the children of God themselves. Sarah was
rebuked when she laughed: Gen. xviii. 12-14, Therefore Sarah,
laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have
pleasure, my lord being old also ? And the Lord said unto Abraham,
188 SERMON UPON ROMANS IV. 18-21.
Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child,
which am old ? Is anything too hard for the Lord ? Her laughter
was not the laughter of exultation, but dubitation. Moses : Num. xi.
13, Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people ? for they
weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh that we may eat. The case is
clear ; we doubt not but in case of danger, then we are full of fears and
suspicions ; if of his will, it is because we are so vile and unworthy ;
but we are vile and unworthy out of danger as well as in danger, there
fore it is of his power.
2. God s power and all-sufficiency is to the saints the great support
of faith in their greatest extremities. They are relieved by fixing
their eye on God s almightiness ; as Abraham here. So Heb. xi. 19,
\oyi<rdjj,6vo<;, Accounting that God was able to raise him up even from
the dead. So for perseverance : Jude 24, Now unto him that is
able to keep you from falling. And for the resurrection : Phil. iii. 21,
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto
his glorious bodj r , according to the working whereby he is able to sub
due all things to himself. His power reacheth to the grave and beyond
the grave. So for the calling the Jews : Rom. xi. 23, And they also,
if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in ; for God is able
to graft them in again. In short, to question his power is to put him
out of the throne, to deny him to be God, as if he were not able to help
bis friends, and to be a terror to his enemies. Well, then, in matters
absolutely promised we have nothing to do but to exalt his power ;
therefore you may reason thus : He will do it, for he is able to do it :
Eom. ii. 23, They shall be grafted in, for God is able to graft them
in again. In matters conditionally promised we must magnify his
power, and refer the event to his will : Mat. viii. 2, Lord, if thou wilt,
thou canst make me clean.
3. There are two things enlarge our thoughts and apprehensions
about the power of God ; they are mentioned ver. 17, Whom he
believed, even God who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things
that be not as though they were. We have to do with a God that
can say to the dead, Live. God s power can bring life out of death,
something out of nothing ; resurrection and creation are easy to him.
He that can quicken the dead can quicken those that are dead in tres
passes and sins. By the word of his power he maketh all things to be
that are not ; Let there be light, and there was light ; Lazarus, come
forth, and he came forth. He causeth things to appear and exist that
had no being before.
Thirdly, The fruit and effect of his faith ; an exact and constant
obedience : Isa. xli. 2, Who raised up the righteous man from the
east, and called him to his foot. The righteous man is supposed to be
Abraham, often designed by that character ; and he was called to his
foot, to go to and fro at God s command ; as the centurion said, Mat.
viii. 9, I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me, and I
say to this man, Go, and he goeth ; and to another, Come, and he
cometh ; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. There are two
great instances of Abraham s obedience
1. His self-denial in leaving his country: Heb. xi. 8, By faith
Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should
SEliMON UPON ROMANS IV. 18-21 189
after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out not knowing
whither he went. It was a sore trial to forsake kindred, friends, lands,
father s house and inheritance, and to seek an abode he knew not where.
Such a total resignation there must be of ourselves to the will of God.
This was done by him, and must be done by all that will be saved.
We know where the land of promise is, and the way to it, but it lieth
in an unknown world.
2. Another trial was, Heb. xi. 17, 18, By faith Abraham, when he
was tried, offered up Isaac, and he that had received the promise
offered up his only-begotten son, of whom it was said, that in Isaac
shall thy seed be called. Because God would make Abraham an
example of faith to all future generations, therefore he puts him to
this trial, to see whether he loved his Isaac more than God. Now
Abraham gave him up wholly to God s disposal, even Isaac, on whom
the promise was settled; being assured of God power, he made all
things ready for the sacrifice.
Use. Let us get such a faith, even such a sincere, hearty, giving up
ourselves to Christ, firmly to rely upon the promises, and faithfully to
obey all his commands delivered in the gospel. The gospel is a sum
mary of what we are to believe and do: Ps. cxix. 166, 1 have hoped
for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. Stick to this what
ever trial is made of you, and you have the faith of Abraham.
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
SERMON I.,
And Jesus looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for
the hardness of their hearts. MARK iii. 5.
IN the first verse of this chapter we read that there was a rnan which
had a withered hand, who came to Jesus for relief on the sabbath-day.
Here was a fair occasion offered to the pharisees to display their malice.
The sabbath was of high esteem and veneration among the Jews, and
therefore now they thought by this means to blast the repute of Christ
among the people. In case he should heal on the sabbath-day, their
noise and clamour against him might seem to be justified ; therefore
it is said, They watched him whether he would heal on the sabbath-
day/ ver. 2. But Christ is not daunted ; he goeth on with his work
for all their prejudices ; nay, to make the miracle more manifest, he
biddeth him stand forth, ver. 3. However, to satisfy the people, he
disputeth with them ; they themselves would do more to a beast than
he was requested to do to the man with a withered hand : ver. 4, He
saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath-day, or to do
evil ? to save life, or to kill ? In Mat. xii. 10, it is said they pro
pounded the question to him ; and in the llth verse, by way of answer,
he maketh use of an argument from a beast fallen into a pit : He said
unto them, What man shall there be among you that shall have one
sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath-day, will he not lay hold
on it and lift it out ? But they held their peace. They could reply
nothing by way of answer and sufficient confutation, and they would
reply nothing by way of approbation and consent. At their malicious
silence Christ is both angered and grieved. There is an excellent temper
and mixture in his affections. In Christ s anger there is more of com
passion than of passion ; he knew how to distinguish between the man
and the sin, and to manifest his displeasure and grief at the same time.
The cause of both is assigned in the text, for the hardness of their
hearts/ eVt rf} TTfopcaaet Tr)s /capSto.9 ai/row/. He was softened for their
hardness.
The point which I mean to handle is the grievousness of the sin of
hardness of heart. Christ was grieved with it in the pharisees, and
there is not a greater cause of offence to his Spirit.
192 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
Doct. That hardness of heart is a grievous sin, very offensive and
provoking to Jesus Christ.
I shall (1.) Open the terms ; (2.) Show you the nature of this evil
frame of heart ; (3.) The kinds of it ; (4.) The causes of it ; (5.) The
heinousness of it; (6.) Some observations concerning this spiritual
malady.
I. For the terms by which it is expressed, they are two, Heart, and
Hardness.
1. Heart. This hardness is sometimes ascribed to the neck; as
Prov. xxix. 1, i He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall
suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. And then it is a
metaphor taken from refractory oxen, that will not endure the yoke ;
and so it noteth disobedience. Sometimes to the face ; as Jer. iii. 5,
They have made their faces harder than a rock ; and so it noteth
impudence ; they can no more blush than a rock or stone. But most
usually it is ascribed to the heart, as in the text. So Ezek. iii. 7, The
house of Israel will not hearken to thee, for they will not hearken to
me ; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted; and
so it noteth obstinacy. All go together, an hard heart, an hard neck,
and an hard face. Men are first disobedient, then obstinate, then
impudent. But it is the heart that we are to consider, which naturally,
and in its first sense, signifieth a piece of flesh in the body, which is the
chief seat and shop of life ; but morally and metaphorically it signifieth
the soul : 1 Sam. xii. 20, Serve the Lord with all your heart ; that
is, with all your soul. Now in the soul there are many faculties the
mind, the conscience, the memory, the will and affections ; and they are
all expressed by this term Heart. The mind is called heart : Rom.
i. 21, Their foolish heart was darkened; that is, their mind. The
conscience : 1 Sam. xxiv. 5, David s heart smote him ; that is, his
conscience. The memory : Phil. i. 7, I have you in my heart ;
that is, I am mindful of you. But usually it signifieth the will and
affections ; as Mat. xxii. 37, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart. And this is the faculty in which this disease is seated.
Blindness is incident to the mind, searedness and benumbedness to
the conscience, slipperiness to the memory, deadness to the affections ;
but hardness is incident to the will, that part of the soul by which we
choose and refuse good or evil.
2. Hardness. It is expressed by different terms in scripture ;
sometimes by TTW/JCOO-I? 7779 ttapbfo}, as in the text, and Eph. iv. 18,
which noteth a callous, brawny, insensible hardness, such as is in the
labourer s hand or the traveller s heel ; sometimes by oveX^po/eapSt a,
or cr/eA,7?/jft)T?79 Trjs /capita?, so it is a metaphor taken from dry bodies,
when the parts are more condensed, and so more impenetrable. Duri-
ties est qualitas, densas et bene compactas habens paries, difficulter
cedens tactui. It doth not easily yield to any impressions from with
out. So it is set forth by the hardness of the adamant : Zech. vii. 12,
They made their hearts as an adamant stone/ They can no more be
wrought upon to receive any impression of grace and reformation than
the diamond or flint or hardest rock can be engraved or fashioned to
any form by the tool of the artificer.
II. I must open the nature of it. The hardness of heart discovereth
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 193
itself by two properties : it is Ktjp avcucrdrjTov ical CIKIWIJTOV, an insensible
heart, and an inflexible heart.
1. An insensible heart, as a brawny substance or callous piece of
flesh, like the labourer s hand and traveller s heel. This the apostle
intimateth, Eph. iv. 18, 19, Having the understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in
them, because of the blindness of their heart : who being past feeling,
&c. In one verse he chargeth them with hardness of heart, and in
the first words of the next verse with loss of feeling. Feeling, of all
senses, though it be not the most noble, yet it is the most necessary ;
there is no life without it ; it is diffused throughout the whole body ;
and in what member soever it is lost, there is no more intercourse of
vital and animal spirits ; and where it is totally lost, there is no more
life. There may be life when other senses are wanting ; a man may
be deaf and yet live, blind and yet live ; but if he utterly lose his
feeling, he cannot live. Such a dead senseless heart is the hard heart,
as appeareth in the wicked by that great security, ease, and quiet
which they naturally have, though lying under the guilt of many and
grievous sins ; and though they be obnoxious to the wrath of God, yet
they are never troubled nor affected with any sense of their condition ;
they can sin freely in thought, foully in act, without any remorse and
shame. Ab assuetis non fit passio. Men are not moved by such
things as they are much used to. As they that live by the fall of
great waters sleep quietly because they are accustomed to the noise, so
men that are accustomed to sin can swear, and be drunk, and commit
filthiness, or go on in some other trade of wickedness, and are never
troubled. Mithridates through the custom of drinking poison made
it so familiar to him that he drank it without danger. Elementa non
gravitant in suis locis Elements weigh not in their proper place. A
fish in the water feeleth no weight ; sin is not burdensome to wicked
men, it is in its own place. This insensibleness is the greater where men
will not be awakened out of their lethargic fit by all the means which
God useth to them, by the threatenings of his word, or the judgments
of his providence. There is a method in God s dispensations ; he
threateneth that he may not punish, and punisheth now that he may
not punish for ever. Now the children of God are startled at the
threatenings, and tremble when they see a storm in the clouds before
it falleth ; as Josiah had a tender heart, and melted at the threatening,
2 Chron. xxxiv. 27. And they are said to tremble at the word, Isa.
Ixvi. 2, and Ezra ix. 4. But wicked men think this is a vain scare
crow ; and though they are most obnoxious to the judgment and wrath
of God, yet they have no sense and tender feeling of it-; therefore God
goeth on to his second dispensation ; he punisheth now that he may
not punish for ever. As Absalom set Joab s barley-field on fire that
lie might draw him to come and speak with him, so God seeketh to
make men serious, to bring them to the throne of grace, and sue out
their pardon, by many temporal judgments. But still wicked men start
aside, and will not turn to him that smiteth them : Jer. v. 3, Thou
hast stricken them, but they have not grieved ; thou hast consumed
them, but they have refused to receive correction. As the anvil is
smoothed into hardness by many blows and strokes, so are men more
VOL. XVIL N
194 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
insensible of their condition, and will, not regard the meaning of God s
providences. Well, then, a hard heart is insensible of what they have
done against God, or what God hath or may do to them. And so far
as we lose our sense and tenderness, so far is the heart hardened.
2. It is an inflexible heart ; it is not easily bent to God s purpose ;
say he what he will, men are as light, as vain, as mindless of heavenly
things, as basely wedded to the delights of the flesh as ever, and obstin
ately, and against all means to the contrary, refuse the counsel of God
for their good. Though God hath the highest reasons on his side, and
great variety of powerful and alluring motives to gain souls to his
obedience, and these represented not only to the ear by his messengers,
but to the heart by his Spirit, yet men are so addicted to their own
wills and lusts, that they will not suffer themselves to be persuaded by
him to accept of his offers and rich mercies in Christ ; they will not
obey the sweet directions of his word, nor regard the motions and
strivings of his Spirit, to let their beloved lusts go, and comply with
the will of God.
[1.] They are inflexible to the counsels of his word, where God
interposeth in the way of the highest authority, straitly charging and
commanding us under pain of his displeasure, and reasoneth with us
in the most potent and strong way of argumentation, from the excel
lency of his commands, and their suitableness to us as we are reasonable
creatures ; from his great love in Christ, whom he hath given to die for
us ; from the danger if we refuse him, which is no less than everlasting
torment ; from the benefit and happiness of complying with his motions,
which is no less than eternal and complete blessedness both for our
bodies and souls ; and all is bound upon us by a strict impartial
day of accounts, when we are to answer for our neglects, or else to
receive the reward of our diligence. But alas ! the hard heart de-
feateth the end of this whole contrivance. Neither the awe of God s
authority, nor the reasonableness of his commands, nor the wonderful
love of Christ, nor the joys of heaven, nor the horrors of everlasting
darkness, nor the strictness of the last day s account, will work man to
a sense of his duty, or gain him to make serious preparation for his
own happiness and everlasting salvation. Out of what rock was the
heart of man hewn ? What will work upon you if this doctrine, upon
which God hath laid out all the riches of his wisdom and grace, will
not work upon you ? Hath God another Son to die for you ? a better
heaven to bestow upon you ? or an hotter hell to scare you withal ?
Would you have the day of judgment more exact and severe ? or
greater obligations to all holiness and godliness of conversation than
those already propounded ? or more charms and persuasiveness added
to the gospel ? Oh, no ! that cannot be. Infinite wisdom hath already
stated these things. Or would you have God save you against your
wills ? or thrust these things upon you without your consent? Surely
it is obstinacy, plain obstinacy and hardness of heart, that maketh you
stand out against God: Ps. Iviii. 4, 5, They are like the deaf adder
that stoppeth her ear, which will not hearken to the voice of charmers,
charming never so wisely. So Mat. xi. 17, We have piped unto you
and ye have not danced ; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not
lamented/ The sweetest strains of grace move not the obstinate sinner.
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 195
If an angel come from heaven, he cannot bring you hetter arguments,
for the gospel is the wisdom of God/ 1 Cor. i. 24. If one came from
the dead, lie cannot present you with more powerful motives : Luke
xvi. 31, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded though one rose from the dead. Oh ! why will you not be
persuaded ? You do in effect say, Let God do or say what he will,
he shall not have my heart. Well, then, this unteachableness and
unpersuadableness is another property of hardness of heart ; and slow
ness of heart and backwardness to God s work is a degree to it.
[2.] It is inflexible to the motions of God s Spirit. God doth not
only invite sinners by the word, but knocketh at their hearts by
the pressing motions and impulsions of his grace, and yet they do
not open to him to give him entrance. How often have we eluded the
importunity of many warm convictions, and baffled many pangs and
checks of conscience ! Acts vii. 51, Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised
in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost. Their ears are
said to be uncircumcised, as they do resist the counsels of the word ;
and their hearts, as they do resist the motions of the Spirit, who enforceth
truths with a clearer light and conviction upon their hearts. There are
many importunate motions and convictions which they slight and oppose.
An hard heart goeth to hell with violence ; the word standeth in the
way, and the Spirit standeth in the way ; but still they break through,
and so their condemnation is more just ; as the prophet said, Isa. vii.
13, Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but ye will weary my
God also ? Wicked men do not only grieve God s ministers and
messengers, but his Spirit, in refusing to accept his gracious offers.
The crime would be less if the counsel of the messengers were not
enforced by the motions and inspirations of the Holy Ghost. God is
not behindhand with a sinner. If the words of men offer occasion of
suspicion and prejudice, yet these inward checks and excitements in
their own bosoms to be more serious and diligent carry their own
evidence with them ; and upon such a close application we should be
ashamed to give God the denial. But they resist all inward and out
ward means of reformation ; they resist the Spirit as well as despise
the minister. But can the Spirit be resisted ? Certainly no, when he
worketh according to an eternal purpose of grace ; for God never made
a creature too hard for himself. Yea, it is said even of wicked men,
Acts vi. 10, They were not able to resist the wisdom and Spirit by
which he spake. The meaning is, they could not hinder his workings,
though they thwarted his motions ; the light was so clear that they
could not hinder the shining of it, nor contradict it, but out of obstinate
malice. But how are they said to resist the Holy Ghost ? We had
need to vindicate the place, because it is usually urged against the
efficacy of divine grace. The operation of the Spirit is not irresistible,
say they, for the Jews did always resist it. We may grant the whole.
Wicked men of an hard heart may resist the common operations of the
Spirit, his light and his motions, but the opposition of the elect is over
powered by the efficacy of grace. There is a spirit of resistance in us,
but the stronger operation of the Holy Ghost maketh it to give place ;
we may kick against the pricks till the soul be awakened, and then
God hath us at his own beck. Though the grace of conversion be not
196 SERMONS UPON MA.UK III. 6.
common to elect and reprobate, yet the grace that tendeth to conversion
is common,- and this may be resisted. God may knock at the heart
that is never opened to him ; they may have excitements, but alas !
they are as the rock or adamant to the tool. There is no impression
left upon them. Object. But if God will use a fainter operation, why
are they to blame ? I answer God is not bound, but they are bound
to prepare their hearts to receive his motions ; let them prove God a
debtor, and they may excuse themselves for their disobedience.
III. The kinds of hardness. These will be known by these dis
tinctions
1. The first distinction is, that hardness of heart is either (1.)
Natural ; or (2.) Voluntary and acquired; or (3.) Penal and judicial.
[1.] Natural hardness of heart is a part of inbred corruption, which
remaineth with us till God take it away by grace : Ezek. xi. 19, I
will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give them
an heart of flesh. The stone in the heart is a disease that all Adam s
posterity are subject unto ; it runs in the blood. It is not incident to
Nabals only, or such as he was, men of a churlish and crabbed temper.
No ; all men are sick, and most men die of this disease. We brought
with us into the world a strong bent to carnal things, and by con
sequence an averseness from God ; and it is a mighty work of grace if
we do not carry it with us out of the world. When Nabal died, his
heart was as a stone, and so might yours.
[2.] Acquired and voluntary, when men do wittingly and willingly
reject the counsel of God, and strengthen themselves in their natural
disobedience and obstinacy ; or being invited to faith and repentance
by God, out of love to sin resist God s call, and put away che word
from them, and refuse to obey : Ps. xcv. 8, Harden not your hearts.
It is our own act. And 2 Kings xvii. 14, They would not hear, but
hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers. This increaseth
our natural hardness, and maketh it grow more and more, till it be
stiffened and settled in an aversion to God ; as a crooked stick or twig
by growing becometh more difficult to be made straight. By every
act of sin we lessen our awe of God ; and having ventured once, grow
more bold to sin a second time. Men when they first put forth to sea
are very fearful, but afterwards laugh at storms; so when a man
cometh off safe from sin, he will venture again. By every act of
disobedience our incapacity to receive grace is increased, and our
inclination to carnal vanities is strengthened ; by frequent acts we are
confirmed in the habit. But nothing increaseth this voluntary hard
ness so much as refusing grace ; as no water is so apt to freeze as that
that hath been once heated. God is provoked when we refuse his grace
upon a closer application, and the heart is encouraged to continue in
sin. So that by their carelessness and delay men are hardening by
degrees. Every call defeated addeth one degree of hardness more;
and so God is more apt to desert us and forsake us.
[3.] Penal and judicial hardness. This adds to voluntary hardness,
as voluntary hardness implies something above natural. Man, as
naturally hardened, doth not turn to God ; as judicially hardened, he
cannot. There is a great impossibility he should. This is God s act ;
he hardeneth as a just judge, not by infusing evil, but withdrawing
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 197
grace. In scripture God is said to harden two ways (1.) By leaving
some in their natural hardness : Bora. ix. 18, Therefore hath he mercy
on whom he will have mercy ; and whom he will, he hardeneth. So
it is an act of dominion ; he passeth them by. He may do it justly ;
he is Lord of his own grace, and is not bound to save sinners. This
is not an act of justice, but dominion. God doth not act as a judge,
but as a Lord ; it is matter of favour to soften, not right. (2.) By
giving up others to a reprobate sense, which is a penal and judiciary
act : Acts xxviii. 26, 27, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not under
stand ; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive : for the heart of
this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their
eyes have they closed/ &c. There is consideration had of man s sin
and foregoing provocations. God punisheth them by their own sin.
Men first harden themselves ; they go beforepecccmcfo, by sinning ; then
God cometh after judicando, by inflicting this judgment of hardness of
heart on them. They harden themselves, and God leaveth them under
their hardness. As Jeroboam stretcheth out his arm against the
prophet and then God layeth a judgment upon him, that he could not
pull it in again to him, 1 Kings xiii. 4, so men hardening themselves,
God layeth this judgment upon them, that they shall not return to any
softness.
2. The next distinction is, that hardness of heart is either total or
partial. Some are in the state of hardness, others complain of it as
their present frame. There is a difference between hardness of heart
and an hard heart. Some hardness of heart is in God s children :
Mark vi. 52, They considered not the miracle of the loaves, for their
heart was hardened ; and Mark xvi. 14, He upbraided them for
their unbelief and hardness of heart. Original hardness of heart is
not altogether taken away by grace. Much of the heart of stone, or old
averseness from God and holy things, remaineth with God s children ;
but yet they are not wholly insensible, and wholly inflexible to God s
purpose ; their hearts are bent to his testimonies, though ever and
unon they are apt to fall back to the old bias. Therefore David
prayeth, Ps. cxix. 36, Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not
to covetousness. The children of God do often complain of deadness
and unaptness for holy things ; yet there is not in them that obstinacy,
impenitency, and hardness of heart, that is in the wicked : Rom. ii. 5,
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thy
self wrath against the day of wrath. In the one it is bemoaned, in
the other not ; in the one it ariseth from negligence and drowsiness, in
the other from flat disobedience and enmity to God. When God s
children give too free a contentment and license to the flesh, they have
not that sense, that liveliness in prayer, that readiness to obey, that
delight in the word, as at other times ; but the other are contemptuous
and scornful, and do not set their hearts this way, to please God or
enjoy his favour. In the wicked there is a careless security, no sense
of their eternal condition ; they banish it out of their thoughts : Amos
vi. 3, Ye put far away the evil day. If it intrude upon them, they
look upon it as a melancholy interruption ; they seek to put off what
they do not put away ; yea, there is a plain reluctancy and opposition
to good things, and a contempt of God s messages. But in the other
198 SKUMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
there may be some hanging off from God, for original sin is not quite
done away, especially under a distemper occasioned by carnal liberty :
Luke xxi. 34, Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life ;
and so that day come upon you unawares. A Christian is a compound
creature ; he hath hardness as well as softness. When, their hardness
prevaileth, for the present they mourn less for sin, and do not tremble
at the word, and are not affected with providences, slight the warnings
and motions of the Holy Spirit, are more dead in duty, find not alike
savour in the promises, and duties seem more irksome to them. An
hard heart maketh their work seem hard and tedious.
3. The next distinction is, that hardness of heart is either felt or
unfelt.
[1.] Felt, as by men under a preparative work, and in God s children
for hardness there may be in them ; yea, it is their condition as long
as they are in the world. Grief for hardness is a good sign that there
are some tender parts left. An heart judicially hardened can never
feel that hardness, nor grieve for it ; but the children of God fear it as
the greatest evil, and complain of it as the greatest burden, and so
accordingly strive against it. Thus Ephraim bemoaned himself, and
his obstinacy and inflexibleness : Jer. xxxi. 18, I have surely heard
Ephraim bemoaning himself thus : Thou hast chastised me, and I was
chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : turn thou me, and
I shall be turned ; for thou art the Lord my God. There is hope of
cure when they are sensible of the disease : they fear it in themselves
and others as the greatest evil : Heb. iii. 12, 13, Take heed, brethren
lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from
the living God: but exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day,
lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Of all
judgments, the judgment of the hard heart is worst. They com
plain of it as the greatest burden : Isa. Ixiii. 17, Lord why hast
thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy
fear ? They find much deadness and dulness of spirit ; they are not
affected with God s presence in duties, nor with his providences in the
world. This is their complaint and burden, Lord I have a stiff neck,
that will not easily be brought under the strict duties of religion, to
meditate and to pray in private ; I have a proud stubborn heart, too
hard for me to take down. Thus do they complain of these things,
and strive against it. As a man that hath a stone in the bladder, he
useth good means to soften it, and is careful of his diet, so are God s
children sensible, and therefore fearful and careful, often bemoaning
themselves.
[2.] Unfelt ; so it is in wicked men, who never consider the frame
of their hearts, or bemoan themselves because of spiritual evils. The
heart of stone is not sensible of itself; and so God s children for a
while may be under great desertions and the guilt of heinous sins, and
be insensible ; after gross falls they may lie in hardness for a while, till
God rouse them up again. Great falls are like a blow upon the head,
that stuns us and amazes us for a while, and it is some good while ere
we recover again. David s conscience was not presently awakened.
Spiritual lethargies are long fits. David lay ten months from the con-
SEKMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 199
ception to the birth of his child, and yet all this while did formally use
God s ordinances and public service. Nathan comes to him after the
child was born : 2 Sam. xii. 14, The child that is born unto thee shall
surely die. And he never relented till Nathan came to him, as
appeareth by the title of the 51st psalm, A Psalm of David, when
Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone into Bathsheba.
All this while grace was not dead, but in a deep sleep. The least sin
maketh way for hardness of heart, much more sins against conscience ;
there is a more long sequestration then. God will not let you enjoy
the comforts and effectual presence of his spirit. These blows and
wounds will leave you for dead for a long while.
SERMON II.
And Jesus looked round about on them with anger, being grieved
for the hardness of their hearts. MARK iii. 5.
IV. THE causes of hardness of heart.
1. Ignorance. The blind mind and the hard heart always go together :
John xii. 40, He hath blinded their minds, and hardened their hearts,
that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their
hearts. Men are first unteachable, then unpliable. Obstinacy be-
ginneth at sottishness of conceit. He that knoweth not what he ought
to do careth not much what he doth. The children of God never feel
hardness in their hearts but when the light in their minds is unactive
or obscured ; there is a kind of darkness for that time. We see that
the most carnal wretches, when they come to die, are sensible ; when
the mind is cleared from the fogs of lust, and conscience is awakened,
then they feel a great weight of sin upon them. Light always begets
tenderness, as in a clear vessel the dregs do soon appear. Well, then,
either they are ignorant, or have but a naked theory, not the lively
light of the Spirit ; and hence it is that their hearts are hardened.
2. Unbelief ; for it is faith that maketh all truths active and lively.
The great motives and arguments of religion are mainly fetched from
things to come. Now it is not enough to know the things of the world
to come, but there must be an hearty assent to them, as if we did see
them before our eyes. Things that are at a distance are as nothing to
us, as the stars appear as so many spangles, they lose much of their
greatness. Men sin, and no evil cometh of it, therefore they grow bold
and senseless in sin : Eccles. viii. 11, Because sentence against an evil
work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is
fully set in them to do evil. They grow remiss and slack in their
duty. The reward is not by and by : Mai. iii. 14, Ye have said, It is
in vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept his ordin
ances, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts ?
We are for a present good. Now, Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen/ Heb. xi. 1. It maketh
200 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
things present as if we did see them with our eyes, as if the judgment-
seat were set and the books were opened. Those that hardened their
hearts did not believe what God said was true, Heb. iii. 7-18. If
men did believe there were an heaven, and hell, and judgment to come,
they would not lie in their sins, they could not be unpliable to God s
motions. All disrespect of promises and threatenings cometh from un
belief. Christ did chide his disciples for their unbelief and hardness
of heart, Mark xvi. 14. What is the reason that though we preach
the law and the judgment of God so much to you, and beseech you to
come in and receive Christ, and you shall be saved, and this time after
time, and day after day, and yet the word hath no effect upon you,
you are as ignorant and careless as ever ? The reason is you do not
believe. Certainly the word would work otherwise than it doth if you
did believe it. If one should tell a man that such an earthly potentate,
if he would but come to him and visit him, would raise him to great
honour, it would be the first thing he would do. Truly so, if you did
believe that coming to Christ were the only way to happiness, you would
mind it more seriously than you do. Again, if you did believe that
the word of God is true, that God is a just God ; if the drunkard did
believe that drunkards should be damned ; or .the adulterer did believe
that no adulterer shall inherit the kingdom of God ; or if the vain per
son or the gamester did believe that they must give an account of their
misspent time, and idle words, and vain communication, they would
not sport themselves in their sins as they do. If men did believe that
God calleth when and whom he listeth, they would not defer their
repentance and put off the motions of the Spirit, but would strike while
the iron is hot, and let out the sails when the wind bloweth. But men
do not believe, and therefore go on in their sins as they do. Tell men
of earthly things, of a commodity which, if they would but buy, it
would yield an hundred for one, surely they would not neglect the
market. We press men to renounce but a little ease and carnal
pleasures, and to use diligence to get Christ into their hearts, and they
shall have a hundred for one ; but men want faith, therefore Christ
lieth by as a refuse commodity. There is nothing breedeth hardness
of heart so much as unbelief of what God can and will do.
3. Custom in sinning. As an highway is trodden hard by long
travelling in it, so the heart by long custom groweth more obstinate
every day. In sin there is not only a fault, guilt, but a blot, a stronger
inclination to the practice of the same sin again ; as a brand that has
been once in the fire is more apt to burn again. Every new oath is as
oil to the tongue, to make it more glib and fleet in the repetition of
that oath or vain speech. There is a natural tenderness in men whilst
young, at least, a lesser degree of hardness, which will get strength by
use and age if not in time cured : Jer. xiii. 23, How can ye do good
that are accustomed to do evil ? Water when it first freezeth will
not bear the weight of a pin, but afterwards by continual freezing it
cometh to bear a cart-load.
4. Hypocrisy. Take it for dissembling, whereby we deceive others ;
or formality, whereby we deceive ourselves. For dissembling: the
pharisees were a dissembling generation, and they are the famous
instances of hardness of heart in the first gospel days. Hypocrisy is a
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 201
constant lie, and every He is a sin against light. When men take a
religion out of design, their pretences condemn them. Men sin, and
are secured against the stroke of the word and checks of conscience by
their fame and plausible appearance. Then for formal performing of
good duties : Prov. vii. 14, I have peace-offerings with rne ; this day
have I paid my vows. I do this and that, I read so many chapters a
day, and keep to my church. Men think they have done enough
though they have done never so little. Hardness of heart is often occa
sioned by the ordinances. Now how do ordinances harden ? They may
harden partly as they irritate corruption, but chiefly as they are trusted
in. Duties soundly done humble men, as new wine rendeth and break-
eth old bottles all to pieces. But when formal duties are used as a
sleepy sop to stop the mouth of conscience, the heart is insensibly
hardened. Every man must have a religion to lean to. Conscience,
like the stomach when it hath no solid food, draweth wind.
5. Pride and stubborness against God. Men scorn to be controlled :
Exod. v. 2, And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey
his voice to let Israel go ? I know not the Lord, neither will I let
Israel go ; Neh. ix. 29, They dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto
thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, and withdrew
the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear ; Jer. xiii.
15, Hear ye, and give ear ; be not proud, for the Lord hath spoken/
Men scorn to submit to ordinances, to be checked by God s messengers,
and say, What have we to do with them ? In this light of Christianity
the contempt is cast upon the messenger, though indeed the heart
riseth against the authority of God himself. One great cure of hard
ness of heart is seriously to meditate on God s power : Deut. x. 16, 17,
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-
necked ; for the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, a
great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor
taketh reward. Do you know what God is? Will you contend with
him ? You will fail in the enterprise ; you cannot be hard-hearted if
you would, in the issue of the combat. Pride is the root of all sin.
What is the reason men dare sin ? They think they shall carry it out
well enough for all God, and so suffer their lusts to perk above the
commandment.
6. The deceitfulness of sin : Heb. iii. 15. Lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Now, how doth sin deceive
us, and so harden the heart ?
[1.] By general invectives. We all cry out of sin, and complain of
sin, and yet all this while regard it in our hearts. We make sin a
notion, and so defy it in the general, when in particulars we love it all
the while ; as many ignorant people defy the devil but hold the crown
upon his head, for he is the ruler of the darkness of this world. The
devil careth not for ill words so he can keep possession of the heart.
We make sin the common packhorse to bear all our burdens. Men
content themselves with empty declamations or forms of satire and
invective, yet the heart liketh it well enough, and so is insensibly
hardened ; they are not serious and particular. Men look upon
matters of religion as abstracted ideas and matters of fancy. Oh I
take heed of this.
202 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
[2.] By delaying : Acts xxiv. 25, Go thy way for this time ; when
I have a convenient season I will call for thee. Christian, it is but a
deceit ; take heed thy heart be not hardened by it. What reason hast
thou to presume of that which God can only give ? If CaBsar had
read the letters overnight to prevent the conspiracy, he had been safe.
What security have you, either of time or grace, but your own pre
sumptions ? and he that is security to himself is a fool. It is true all
may be redressed by repentance, but this is not in thy power, and thy
hardness by delaying increaseth every day.
[3.] It cometh lapped up in carnal baits of profit and pleasure, to
gratify our lusts and interests. Sin pretends great advantage; but
be not deceived, it will harden thy heart, and destroy thee ; it cannot
profit thee.
[4.] It hath many colours wherewith to beguile a man. It presents
itself in another dress than its own ; and therefore we have need to
have our eyes about us : Prov. xxviii. 14, Happy is the man that
feareth always : but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Many sins lie secret, unrepented of, and so the heart is hardened.
[5.] It will increase upon thee ; it groweth to a custom by degrees ;
it is of a bewitching nature, and soaketh into a man insensibly, from
thought to consent, then to action, then to reiteration, then to custom.
First men excuse sin, then justify it, then glory in it, and in time they
grow senseless and confirmed in a habit of sin, and are loath to quit it.
At first temptations seemed horrible ; the first committing of sin much
perplexed the soul ; but in time it is not so burdensome, yea, it is
become pleasing and delightful. Be not deceived and hardened by
saying, It is a little one, and my soul shall live ; unless we take it
betimes, as Peter went out immediately and wept bitterly, it cannot
easily be subdued. Sampson knew that Delilah had purposed to betray
him into the Philistines hands, and yet he could not leave her. Though
sin cost men temporal and eternal life, yet they cannot give it over.
[6.] That God will be merciful ; this is another thing whereby we
are deceived, a presumption of impunity: Ps. 1. 21, These things hast
thou done, and I kept silence ; thou thoughtest that I was altogether
such an one as thysejf ; but I will reprove thee, and set them in order
before thine eyes. So Deut. xxix. 19, 20, And it came to pass, when
he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart,
saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine
heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. Be not deceived ; mark what
follows: The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the
Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses
that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall
blot out his name from under heaven/ Take heed of the deceitfulness
of sin. These are the causes of hardness of heart.
V. The heinousness of it.
1. It is a contending with God, deofia-^la, a fighting with God. The
hard heart is the greatest enemy God hath on this side hell. That
there is a contest between God and a hard heart who shall have the
better, the instance of Pharaoh showeth, God sendeth a message to
him, and meeteth with a repulse. His message to Pharaoh was, Exod.
v. 1. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go. And
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 203
this proud creature hath the boldness to deny him : ver. 2, And
Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let
Israel go ? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. And he
standeth it out after many warnings and foregoing judgments. And
he doth not stand alone, but hath more fellows in the world : Neh. ix.
29, They dealt proudly, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
but sinned against thy judgments, and withdrew the shoulder, and
hardened their neck, and would not hear. Every command of God,
every offer of grace, is a message from God : To you is the word of
this salvation sent, Acts xiii. 26 ; and it should be respected with as
much reverence as if an angel himself were the messenger. Only here
is the difference ; God saith to Pharaoh, Let my people go ; to us
he saith, Let sin go. It is pity he should have the repulse. Sin will
be as bad an inmate to the soul as the Israelites were a snare to Egypt ;
they were fain to thrust them out at length, and were glad they could
be so rid of them. I say, this is the contest between God and his
creatures, whether sin shall go or tarry, whether Christ shall be accepted
or no ? He sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh ; and he hath sent
prophets, apostles, pastors, and teachers to us. Let idols, images, and
false worship go ; swearing, sabbath-breaking, adultery, murder, dis
obedience to parents, lying, covetousness, let it all go ; there should not
be a hoof left. This is God s message. Now, if you will try it out,
you shall see whose word shall stand, God s or yours ? Jer. xliv. 28 ;
his threatenings, or your vain and delusive imaginations ? If you put
it to the trial, you have more boldness than an angel: Jude 9, Yet
Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil (he disputed
about the body of Moses), durst not bring against him a railing accusa
tion/ An angel durst not use one passionate word, and will you dare
to set up other gods, to profane the sabbath, to swear, lie, or be drunk,
and to say, We will not let these things go, let God say or do what ho
will to the contrary ? The contest on God s part is managed for a
long time in a mild condescending way. He beseecheth his own
creatures: Jer. xiii. 15, 16, Hear ye, and give ear ; be not proud, for
the Lord hath spoken : give glory to the Lord your God, before he
cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains ;
and while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and
make it gross darkness. Be not obstinate ; it is better that you should
take down the stoutness of your hearts than that I should pull it down.
Let me have the glory of this conquest voluntarily ; I shall carry it at
length. You dream of happiness and pleasure ; alas ! you cannot enjoy
these vain delights long. Come, leave them, and I will make you as
happy as heart can wish, but if not, take that that followeth ; you will
stumble into the dungeon of hell, and then be as miserable as almighti-
ness can make you : Job ix. 4, He is wise in heart, and mighty in
strength; whoever hardened himself against God and prospered?
You will never get the day of God; if you contend with him, there is
nothing to be expected but blows. You may indeed overcome him,
but it is not by resisting, but stooping ; a tender heart overcometh him :
Jer. xxxi. 20, Is Ephraim my dear son ? is he a pleasant child ? for
since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still; therefore
my bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy upon hiin,
204 SERMONS UPON MARK IIL 5.
saith the Lord ; andlsa. Ivii. 18, I have seen his ways, and will heal
him ; I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him, and to his
mourners. But an hard heart is no match for God ; it is ever foiled in
the enterprise : if they yield not to his mercy, they are consumed by his
wrath. Pharaoh would contend with God, but found his maker too
hard for him at last ; so Julian the apostate. Ezek. xxii. 14, Can thy
heart endure, or can thy hands be strong in the days that I shall deal
with thee ? I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it ; and 1 Cor. x.
22, Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
It is a foolish contest ; it ever endeth with our destruction.
2. It is in itself the sorest of all judgments. When other means are
urged in vain, God giveth them up to hardness of heart ; it is one of
the chains of darkness, in which captive souls are held unto eternal
judgment. A stormy conscience, that lieth under the power of perplex
ing despairing fears, is not so bad as an hard heart. They are both
chains of darkness, despair, and obstinacy, as in the devils ; but in men,
despair may make way for repentance. God hath them in the briers ;
many are brought to heaven by the gates of hell. God hath begun
with them, but left these. Again, it will end in despair. The heart
that is not sensible now will then be sensible enough. We read of
the worm that never dieth, and the fire that shall never be quenched/
Mark ix. 44. In hell men will remember how every sabbath God did
stretch out the arms of his mercy to embrace them, and they would
not ; how Christ offered a plaster of his own heart s blood to cure them,
but they refused it, and made light of it ; how the Holy Ghost put
many good motions into their hearts, but they rejected these thoughts,
and would not be interrupted in their ease and false peace. Oh ! the
deep wounds and stings these thoughts will occasion when it is too-
late!
3. It never goeth alone, but bringeth other judgments along with it.
Pharaoh had plague upon plague : Zech. vii. 12, They made their
hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words
which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit, by the former prophets ;
therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts ; more than
ordinary displeasure. So Prov. xxix. 1, He that, being often reproved,
hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without
remedy. They shall be destroyed, not afflicted only, and that without
remedy ; there shall be none to help. And Horn. ii. 5, After thy hard
ness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against
the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God/
God will harden his heart against you, shut up his bowels against you
in your- greatest straits ; when his patience is quite spent, God will
retaliate: Zech. vii. 12, 13, They made their hearts as an adamant
stone, lest they should hear the law, &c. Therefore it is come to pass,
that, as he cried and they would not hear, so they cried and I would
not hear, saith the Lord of hosts/ There is a time when the stoutest-
hearted sinner, who careth least for God, shall stand in need of his help,
and would give the whole world for one favourable look from God.
But, oh, no ! not a glimpse, not the least answer. God s children meet
with sad suspensions sometimes : Cant. v. 6, I sought him, but I could
not find him ; I called him, but he gave me no answer/ He seemeth
SERMONS UPON MARK III, 5. 205
not to hear their prayers when they are dead to his counsels ; he will
make them sensible of their unkind, ungracious treating of him.
4. It is the great hindrance in the spiritual life ; it depriveth you of
grace. The Spirit of God will not animate a stony heart ; a body of
flesh is only fit to be animated with a living soul ; so the heart of flesh,
or tender heart, by the Spirit of God : Ezek. xi. 19, 20, I will give
them one heart, and I will put a new Spirit within you, and I will take
the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh,
that they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them ;
and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. So Isa. Ivii. 15,
Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name
is Holy ; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a
contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to
revive the heart of the contrite ones/ There is God present with his
graces. God hath two places of special residence the highest heaven,
and the humblest heart. In the one is the presence of his glory, in
the other of his grace. When the spirit is humbled and softened, it
is a fit pillow for God to rest on ; the hard heart hindereth us in duty,
it is an hard heart that maketh our work hard. If once the will were
gained, all things would be easy in religion : Horn. viii. 7, The carnal
mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be. It is not subject to God, but averse from him.
VI. The observations concerning this spiritual malady.
1. With spiritual hardness of heart there may be a natural and
sinful tenderness. Some men have a natural softness and sweetness of
spirit as to commerce with men, yea, rather a faulty easiness, yet they
are very hard-hearted as to God ; as Zedekiah : Jer. xxxviii. 5, The
king is not he that can do anything against you. He was easily drawn
by company and evil counsel. Usually it is so ; an hard heart is like
wax to the devil, but as a s tone to God, hardened against goodness, but
exorable and easy to be entreated by sin and Satan. If the devil do
but whist, they find an irresistible power in his temptations. If carnal
men do but hold up the finger, it is a strong cord to draw them to
excess. The looks and speeches of the harlot are enough to cause them
to follow, though it be like an ox to the slaughter: Prov. vii. 21. 22,
* With much fair speech she caused him to yield ; with the flattering
of her lips she forced him : he goeth after her straightway as an ox to
the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks. God may
plead and tell us of grace and glory, but we mind it not. A diamond
is not wrought upon but by its own dust. On the contrary, men may
have a stout heart in dangers that are very yielding and trembling in
point of sins : Prov. xxviii. 14, Happy is the man that feareth always ;
but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. David could
encounter lions, bears, and giants, yet in what a weeping humble pos
ture is he when he hath to do with God ! It is good to be a coward
in sin, puling and weak-hearted as to any contest with God.
2. Small sins harden as well as great sins; it is hard to say which most.
It is confessed for the present little sins do not deaden and harden the
heart so much as great ; as a prick of a pin maketh a man start, but
an heavy blow stunneth him, and leaveth him dead for a while. David,
when he cut off the Inp of Saul s garment, and had some revengeful
206 SERMONS UPON MARK IIL 5.
intention against his soveriegn, he quickly perceived his error : His
heart smote him/ 1 Sam. xxiv. 5. But when he committed the foul
sin of adultery, he lay insensible for a long space of time. But on the
other side, little sins do by degrees harden. Great sins are apparent
and liable to the judgment of conscience, but we neglect small sins, and
so a custom groweth upon us, and we are insensibly hardened by our
carelessness and constant neglect of our souls. A surfeit or violent
distemper maketh us run to the physician, but when a disease groweth
upon us by degrees, it proveth mortal ere we regard it ; therefore we
should make conscience of daily failings : Heb. iii. 13, Exhort one
another daily, while it is called to-day, lest any of you be hardened
through the deceitful ness of sin. Great falls, as they astonish us for
the present, so they awaken conscience afterwards, and so we regard
that and other sins ; as when a great sound hath awakened us out of a
deep sleep, we easily hear lesser sounds ; but men slide into a carnal
frame of heart unawares. Qui nunquam delirat, semper erit fatuus.
We would never grow wise but for some notable acts of folly. Chryso-
stom saith that we should be more watchful of small sins than of great.
Nature abhorreth these, but the other slide into us. A little leak
unespied drowneth the ship as well as a great breach. If we would
look more to small things, so many great mischiefs would not ensue.
3. Sins of omission harden as well as sins of commission, yea, some
times more ; a neglect of duties as well as the practice of gross sins ;
because they use not the means whereby the heart may be kept soft
and in a due remembrance of God and their duty to him. An instru
ment never so well in tune, if it lie by, it soon groweth out of kilter.
In every sin of commission there is a sin of omission, but not the con
trary. A man may be civilly harmless, inoffensive, and yet have a
very hard heart, if he hold no communion with God, and neglect the
means whereby the heart may be kept tender. The neglect of good
duties is a more general means of destruction than the commission of
evil. Men are estranged from God by the neglect of the word and
prayer : Ps. xiv. 4, They call not upon the Lord ; attend not upon
the means of grace with that life and seriousness they ought to do.
4. None are so confident of the goodness of their hearts as those that
have an hard heart ; for the more any spiritual disease increaseth upon
us, the less it is felt. There is hope, whilst there is some complaining
of sin, that there is some tenderness left. The hardest heart must needs
be the most confident, because they use no recollection and reflection
upon themselves : Jer. viii. 6, No man repented him of his wickedness,
saying, What have I done ? What am I, what have I done ? Yea,
they slight their danger, take up every vain pretence and allegation to
maintain their carnal peace and quiet : Deut. xxix. 19, And it come to
pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in
his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination
of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst : the Lord will not spare him,
&c. Broken-hearted Christians are sensible of the holiness of God,
and what an hard matter it is to hold communion with him, and observe
their own weakness and unworthiness ; and therefore they complain of
the badness of their hearts, that there is no greater bent towards God,
and are always suspicious of their spiritual condition.
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 207
5. Hardness of heart is most apt to creep upon us in times of ease
and prosperity. Solomon saith, Prov. i. 32, The prosperity of fools
shall destroy them ; and Eom. ii. 4, 5, Despisest thou the riches of
his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering ; not knowing that
the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? but after thy hard
ness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against
the day of wrath. Usually in the times of God s goodness and patience,
men are besotted with the pleasures of the flesh, and then lose their
feeling. Nothing bringeth a brawn upon the heart so much as sen
suality and an inordinate use of the creatures ; it taketh away the
heart ; and usually in a prosperous condition men grow sensual and
careless. Pharaoh himself, when under the rod, could speak as good
words as another ; but when he was well at ease, then his hardness
returned upon him ; as metal in the furnace is very yielding and melt
ing, capable of any impression, but out of the furnace it returneth to
its wonted firmness and consistency. The greatest plague was upon
his heart when he wanted other plagues. Men do well in their wicked
ness, enjoy themselves with comfort, and then fear nothing. We see
in the brute creatures, when they are in good plight, they grow
more fierce ; so doth man that aboundeth in ease and pleasure ; his
worldly happiness maketh the heart gross and senseless. We had need
to take heed of an hard heart at all times, but especially when we
are like to be corrupted with ease and pleasure. A sensual heart will
be senseless.
6. Hardness of heart is a grievous sin at all times, but then most
sinful when most unseasonable ; for time is an aggravating circum
stance in all things, so in this. Now when is it unseasonable ? In
times of judgment and times of gospel grace.
[1.] In times of judgment : 2 Chron. xxviii. 22, In the time of his
distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king
Ahaz. There is a brand set on him. Certainly the times we live in
are extraordinary times. We have seen many changes and great
effects of God s anger for sin ; we have now many spiritual judgments
upon us, error and blasphemy, great divisions and breaches among
God s people, and scandals of them that profess the gospel. An hard
heart now is most unsuitable ; it is like a garland of rosebuds in a
day of mourning. Clearly upon some the strokes of God s providence
have lighted very sore ; if they shall add hardness of heart to their
other plagues, who will pity them ? When all the corrections of an
angry God cannot draw any sensible and serious thoughts from them,
how sad is this ! I tell you, Christians, it looketh like hell to continue
sinning under suffering, and to be obstinate against God and the coun
sels of his grace for your salvation ; it speaketh much of a spiritual
plague added to temporal judgments. If we did persuade you to a
party only, it were more excusable ; but when we press you to come to
Christ, and you still remain obstinate and hard-hearted, this is sad.
If the ministry were only used as a state engine to engage you in such
a faction and design, you might have something to plead for yourselves.
Pardon me for dealing thus freely with you ; we are debtors to all,
Rom. i. 14. Would you be troubled if the base should rise against
the honourable ? It were a judgment certainly ; but what are you to
208 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
God ? Poor base worms ! will you contend with your maker ? You
would complain of it as an heavy burden, and strange inversion of all
states and conditions, if men of mean and low fortunes should be at
the top, and have power and domination over the ancient gentry and
nobility of the land. Be it so ; but I would have you to consider i 11
the mean time what an horrible presumption it is, and how God may
take it, that you stout it out against the fear of God. Alas ! there is
a greater distance between you and him than between you and your
fellow-creatures. For you to contest it with God, to swagger it and
outbrave his ordinances, to contend with his Spirit ! how may God
complain of this, if it be so grievous to you to be outbraved by your
fellow-creatures !
[2.] Times of light and great gospel grace. An hard heart in
gospel days is the very reproach of ordinances. Many think the
ministry and ordinances useless things. Why ? Because there is so
little success. You make them useless, and then there will not want
those that decry them apace: 2 Cor. vi. 1, 2, We then, as workers
together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of
God in vain ; for he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and
in the day of salvation have I succoured thee : behold now is the
accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation. An hard heart
should be a thing now quite out of fashion. In a time of ignorance, or
a time of restraint of preaching, when visions are not open, or under a
dead sleepy ministry, God might dispense with what he will not under
u clear discovery of his will. But now, when the doctrine of the gospel is
so clearly opened, and Christ so freely tendered, now to be estranged
from the fear of God is as unsuitable as if we should revert to the
fashions of barbarism, or those kind of clothes or dresses which our an
cestors wore before they were reduced to this pitch of civility where-
unto we are now arrived. You would laugh at garments of an antique
fashion, and if the gallants of the age should put on the dress of Adam,
or be clothed with skins newly taken from the beasts offered in sacri
fice ; a blind mind and a sottish obstinate heart is more uncomely in
the eye of God. Will you be strangers in Israel, and lose the bless
ings of the times by refusing the stricter ways of God ?
7. Hardness of heart groweth and increaseth on us more and more,
if we let it alone : Zech. vii. 11, 12, But they refused to hearken, and
pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not
hear ; yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they
should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent
in his Spirit by the former prophets. There are so many degrees men
tioned ; first they grow slight and careless, and do not care to hear
what you say ; then they refuse to obey what they have heard ; then
they grow sermon-proof; they can hear, and have no benefit by it.
As long as the word doth any way affect a sinner, there is some hope ;
but within a while conscience smiteth not, and men have gotten the
victory over their fears and scruples ; and thus they go on from natural
to voluntary, and from voluntary to judicial hardness of heart, and so
are a ready prey for the devil.
8. Dilatory excuses are the last refuge of an hard heart. When
they can no longer withstand a conviction, they adjourn and put off
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 201)
the compliance with God s will, and so elude the importunity of the
present conviction. Felix his heart boggled : Acts xxiv. 25, and as
he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,
Felix trembled, and said, Go thy way for this time ; when I have a
convenient season I will call for thee. Mind the present season, when
God is affording opportunities of getting grace : Heb. iii. 7, 8, To-day,
if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts ; Ps. cxix. 60, I
made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. Zaccheus,
Luke xix. 6, He made haste, and came down, and received him joy
fully. Peter and Andrew, Mark iv. 20, They straightway left their
nets and followed him : Paul, Gal. i. 16, Immediately I conferred not
with flesh and blood. If God hath given you any will and inclination
for the present, it is an advantage. Sin, the longer it continueth, the
stronger it groweth. He that doth not go over at the fountain-head
will not be able to go over when the stream groweth broader ; and the
farther he goes downward, the broader still he findeth it. Every day s
impenitency bringeth on a new degree of hardness. Would a man
that is to drink that which to his knowledge is poisoned put the more
into his cup, and then take it off, out of a presumption that at length
he shall find an antidote ? Alas ! thou mayest be poisoned and dead
before the antidote comes.
SERMON III.
And Jesus looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for
the hardness of their hearts. MARK iii. 5.
USE 1. Of trial. Is this our state ? Take the two properties to judge
by insensibleness and inflexibleness.
First, A hard heart is insensible ; insensible of providences, of the
word, and of the state of the soul.
1. Insensible of providences.
[1.] Of mercies : either of the author of mercies ; they never look
up to the God of their mercies : Hosea ii. 8, She did not know that I
gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold;
as swine, that feed upon the acorns, but never look up to the tree from
whence they fall : Cant. iv. 1, * Behold thou art fair, my love ; behold
thou art fair ; thou hast doves eyes. As doves peck, and look upwards.
It is a sign of a tender heart to see God in every mercy. A drowsy
and inattentive soul never heedeth it, is wholly swallowed up in present
enjoyments, and looketh no further. It is our privilege above the beasts
to know the first cause ; other creatures live upon God, but they are
not capable of knowing God ; they glorify God in their kind, but we
may know him. Idolatry and sottishness had never crept into the
world if men had owned the first cause ; or of the end of mercies, which
is to draw in our hearts to God : therefore they are called cords of a
YOL. 2.Y11. O
210 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
man : Hosea xi. 4, I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of
love ; Esther vi. 3, What honour and dignity hath been done to
Mordecai for this ? 2 Sam. vii. 2, Then the king said unto Nathan
the prophet, See now I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God
dwelleth within curtains. When the heart is urging to duty upon
this score, God hath been good to me, he hath given me food and
raiment ; what have I done for God ? Now the heart is hard when
we are not sensible of his daily providence and gracious supplies in this
kind : 2 Sam. xii. 7-9, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed
thee king over Israel, and delivered thee out of the hand of Saul ; and
I gave thee thy master s house, and thy master s wives into thy bosom,
and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah ; and if that had been
too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil
in his sight ? David had lost his awe of God, because he had not a
thankful sense of the mercies of God.
[2.] Of corrective providences. The body is a tender part with
wicked men ; when they are straitened for bodily conveniences, they will
complain ; yet the hard heart is still insensible of judgments. They
are insensible of the author or deserving cause ; they do not look
upward nor inward ; and though doctrinally right in these things, yet
they do not seriously consider it, and recall it to mind. Opinion is one
thing, and consideration is another. Wicked men may take up good
opinions, but they do not consider the force and consequence of them.
(1.) They do not see the hand of God in them : Isa. xxvi. 11, Lord,
when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see. They look on these
things but as a chance : 1 Sam. vi. 9, And see, if it goeth up by the
way of his own coasts to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great
evil ; but if not, then we shall know that it was not his hand that smote
us, it was a chance that happened to us. If men own God s hand,
they should take up the matter with him ; but they own it doctrinally,
though not practically. A godly man hath explicit thoughts of God.
Job doth not say, The Sabeans and the Chaldeans, but, The Lord
gave, and the Lord hath taken away, Job i. 21. They do not com
plain, when they are crossed, of chance, but the Lord is angry ; and
when they are stricken, they consult with him, and humble themselves
before him. Wicked men are sensible of the smart of the rod, but not
of the hand that holds it.
(2.) They do not see the deserving cause of them, which is sin :
Lam. iii. 39, 40, Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for
the punishment of his sins ? Let us search and try our ways, and turn
again to the Lord. If sickness cometh, if a relation be taken away, if
an estate be blasted, a waking conscience looks to the cause ; they would
see the mind of God in the rod. When Israel fell before the men of
Ai, Joshua looketh out for the troubler ; so do God s children.
2. Insensible of the power of the word ; they have no taste, no feel
ing of the powers of the world to come : Jer. xxiii. 29, Is not my word
like a fire, saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock
in pieces ? There is a breaking and a melting power in the word.
[1.] What law- work hath been wrought on you ? what shakings of
heart, and feeling of the powers of the world to come ? Have you
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 211
been roused and startled out of your natural condition ? Many will
assent to this truth, that all are miserable by nature ; but wast thou
ever sensible that this was thy case, and accordingly affected ? Wert
thou ever feelingly convinced of thy misery ? Otherwise we do but
learn these things as a parrot learneth them, by rote. What feeling
have you of your cursed estate by nature ? Have you had any exper
ience of the terrors of the Lord ? You know the misery of man by
nature, but have you ever felt it ?
[2.] What gospel-work hath been wrought on you ? what taste have
you had of the good word of God ? what experience of the .efficacy of
the Spirit ? 1 Peter ii. 3, If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is
gracious.
3. Insensible of the state of the soul ; they never look after it. If
the body feel but the scratch of a pin, or want but a night s sleep, we
complain presently ; but the poor soul, though oppressed with lusts
and unfit for duties, is never minded nor regarded, and they have no
heart to pray for a release out of that spiritual judgment. To own the
plague of our own hearts argueth tenderness : 1 Kings viii. 38, Which
shall know every man the plague of his own heart. When we complain
of lusts more than fevers, and indisposition of soul more than weakness
of body, the languishing of grace more than outward consumption, the
stone in the heart more than the stone in the bladder and kidneys.
We find Ephraim bemoaning himself, being ill at ease for an untoward
heart : Jer. xxxi. 18, I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning him
self thus : Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock
unaccustomed to the yoke. Did you ever complain of the hardness of
your heart, and lay it before God ? Do you not bemoan your spiritual
distempers when lazy and backward ? Where is your relish for the
word ? your delight in spiritual things ? Isa. Ixiii. 17, Lord, why
hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from
thy fear ?
Secondly, A hard heart is inflexible. That will be known where it
is more gross.
1. By a refusal of the word, when men will not give God the hearing :
Zech. vii. 11, 12, But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the
shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear ; yea, they
made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law,
and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the
former prophets. They refused to hear, either to vouchsafe their pre
sence or attention : Acts xiii. 46, Ye put it from you, and judge your
selves unworthy of eternal life. The case is clear in these, whereas to
others it is doubtful ; what needeth more dispute in the matter ?
2. By an unteachableness, so as not to apprehend ought that is spiritual.
To be ignorant is one thing, to be unteachable is another : Ezek. xii.
2, Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which
have eyes to see, and see not ; they have ears to hear, and hear not :
for they are a rebellious house ; Acts xxviii. 26, Go unto this people,
and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand ; and seeing
ye shall see, and shall not perceive. They do not see what they do
see ; they have no spiritual discerning, though a grammatical know
ledge : Job v. 14, They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope
212 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
in the noonday as in the night. They are simple in the midst of
rational advantages ; as the disciples : Luke xxiv. 16, Their eyes were
holden, that they should not know him. They see the general truth,
but make no application. When a man is shown a thing, and he
minds it not, but his mind is on another object, that man may be said
to see and not to see, because he doth not regard it. Or a maa that
hath a matter come before him, he heareth it, but his mind being
otherwise employed, he regardeth it not ; in which sense he may be
said to hear and not to hear. Not to apply is not to regard ; in seeing
rationally and literally, he doth not see spiritually, with any life and
power. There is a literal knowledge, and there is a spiritual know
ledge ; the literal knowledge is that which the hard heart may have.
It is said, 2 Cor. iii. 3, Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle
of Christ, ministered by us ; written not with ink, but with the Spirit
of the living God ; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of
the heart. It is an allusion to the law of Moses, Consider it in the
letter, as separated from the Spirit, and only as a law written in stone,
wherein there is a naked direction of life, but no power; so a stony
heart may see, but in seeing they see not. But the Spirit of Christ
writeth it on the mind and heart, and niaketh the heart docile and
tractable : Rom. vii. 6, That we should serve in newness of spirit, and
not in the oldness of the letter. The letter of the law only manifested
duty, but gave no power to perform it ; it discovered corruption, but
gave no strength to subdue it ; it was written in tables of stone, to
show the hardness of man s heart. But now the law, when it cometh
in upon us with a spiritual light, sof teneth and strengtheneth the heart,
and inaketh it docile and pliable to God s counsel.
3. By an unwillingness to be admonished in public or private ; if in
public, the greater the evil. Private admonition is a kind of charge,
a closer application. To storm against private admonition argueth an
ill spirit, when men are loath to be disturbed in the ways of sin. But
much more against public admonition, where the application ariseth
not so much from a personal charge as from their own consciences.
When men cannot endure sound doctrine, it is a dangerous crisis, that
which the prophet Jeremiah speaketh of, chap. vi. 10, To whom shall
I speak and give warning, that they may hear ? Behold, their ear is
uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken ; behold, the word of the Lord
is unto them a reproach, they have no delight in it. Surely men
delight in Satan s arms when they are loath to be plucked from thence.
Satan hath made his nest there, and is loath to be disturbed : 2 Sam.
xxiii, 6, 7, But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust
away, because they cannot be taken with hands ; but the man that
shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear.
The sons of Belial are compared to thorns that cannot be touched with
hands, but rend and tear those that meddle with them. Men are angry
that they cannot quietly enjoy their lusts. Plausible strains are very
suitable to a carnal heart, or tame lectures of contemplative divinity ;
but sound doctrine, that rendeth and teareth the conscience, is not
endured.
4. By scoffing at the word. The chair of the scorner is a prefer
ment in sin : Ps. i. 1, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sittetli
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. . 213
in the seat of the scornful ; Jer. xxiii. 34-36, And as for the prophet,
and the priest, and the people that shall say, The burden of the Lord,
I will even punish that man and his house. Thus shall ye say every
one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the
Lord answered ? and what hath the Lord spoken ? And the burden
of the Lord shall ye mention no more ; for every man s word shall be
his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the
Lord of hosts our God, &c. The prophets used to begin their pro
phecies with The burden of the Lord ; and they would in mockery
demand, What burden they had from the Lord for them ? Now shall
we hear again of the burden of the Lord. Saith God, Every man s
word shall be his burden ; that is, you shall dearly pay for this
scoffing language ; your words shall be your burden. But these marks
may not be close enough, let me propound other things.
[1.] Did you ever lay down the buckler before God, and say, I have
done foolishly ; I will do so no more ? Were you ever feelingly con
vinced, and your lusts powerfully subdued ? Did you ever say, as
Paul, Acts ix. 6, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? Every man
carrieth on his opposition against God till he be brought to yield by a
mighty Spirit breaking in upon him. When were the wings broken
that you could fly no longer ? the will subdued, that you said, Lord I
have too long stouted it out against thee, so that you were willing to
be at peace with God ? Isa. xxvii. 5, Let him take hold of my strength
that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me.
Were you ever forced to cry quarter ? Didst thou ever apprehend God
ready to smite and give fire upon thee, and then in a submissive
posture did entreat him to stay his hand ?
[2.] What effect hath the word upon you ? 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. It is a great part of sensibleness to tremble at
the word. What meltings and yieldings of heart do you express?
Doth it put you upon recourse to God ? 2 Chron. xxxiv. 27, Because
thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God when
thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants
thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes
and weep before me, I have even heard thee, saith the Lord. Didst
thou ever humble thyself before the Lord, to clear up matters between
God and thy soul, and to get thy doubts resolved, and thy lusts
mortified ?
[3.] What pliableness has there been in thee to the Holy Ghost s
motions ? A man that hath a tender heart yieldeth to the motions of
the Holy Spirit : Ps. xxvii. 8, When thou saidst, Seek ye my face;
my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. There is a
quick echo to God s voice : Isa, vi. 8, I heard the voice of the Lord
saying, Whom shall I send ? and who will go for us ? Then said I,
Here I am ; send me/ There is not only a readiness to obey, but he
offers himself to the work. When we grow lazy and backward in holy
tilings, and hang off, it is a high degree of hardness of heart.
Use 2. Exhortation.
1. To press us to beware of hardness of heart; it is a grievous sin,
I shall use three arguments
[1.] It depriveth you of grace. (See before, p. 205.)
214 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
[2.] It unfitteth you for duty while we are under the power of it.
An hard heart is forced and superstitious. With what coldness and
formality did David pray during the suspension of God s grace ! We
come into God s presence with great backwardness and reluctancy while
we are under the power of a hard heart.
[3.] It fitteth for judgment. The heart groweth harder and harder,
and the mind blinder and blinder, till it be cast into an utter indis
position and impossibility of repentance. Hardness of heart turns a
man into a beast, nay, into a devil ; and according to our sin so is
God s wrath : Bom. iii. 5, After thy hardness and impenitent heart,
thou treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and
revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
2. To press us to come out of this evil frame of spirit. Argu
ments
[1.] As long as the heart is hard you are very remote from the com
forts of the gospel. Christ came to heal the broken-hearted, Luke.
iv. 18. So Mat. ix. 12, 13, They that be whole need not the physician,
but they that are sick : I came not to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance. You are full of sin, but not sick ; as a toad is full of
poison, but the toad is not sick, because it is natural to him. Will a
physician go about to cure a toad ? Men lie under a great weight of
sin, yet they sleep, and eat, and drink, and trade, and look as well as
ever, feel no pain, nor anything to trouble them. These men have no
need and will to be cured, and, of all men, are most properly said to
be dead in trespasses and sins ; they neither break an hour s sleep, nor
abate one drachm of their carnal delights, but are heart-whole. The
physician hath no desire to meddle with them that will not take what
he prescribeth, as carnal men will not submit themselves to God s
directions.
[2.] You are very remote from the work of the gospel. As God
maketh a way for his anger, so he maketh a way for his mercy and
grace. The heart is fitted and prepared for the Spirit s residence. It
is softened before it is quickened : Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27, 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 judgments and do them. The
vital spirit is not infused till the body be organised and formed. God
made Adam out of the dust of the ground, and then breathed into him
the breath of life. The Spirit of grace coming into the tender heart
maketh way for itself.
Now for the cure of it, I will recommend unto you two means, two
graces, and two ordinances.
First, Two means, light and love.
1. Light : Jer. xxxi. 19, Surely after that I turned I repented ;
and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh ; I was ashamed,
yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
Men that know not the nature and danger of sin are little troubled
about it. Where there is no knowledge there is lit.tle conscience.
When the troops of Syria were smitten with blindness, they were easily
led into the midst of their enemies, 2 Kings vi. 18, 19 ; and when they
thought themselves at Dothan they were in Samaria. Ignorance,
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 215
Because it is not always accompanied with gross acts, is little thought
of ; but it is a bloody sin. If men did know God and themselves more,
they could not be satisfied with their condition. Ignorance is the
greatest cause of hardening.
2. Love. I do not consider it as a grace, but as an argument to
melt the soul. It is a forcible argument and a kindly argument.
[1.] It is a forcible argument. Saul relented when David had an
advantage against him, and spared him in the cave : 1 Sam. xxiv. 16, 17,
Saul lift up his voice and wept ; and he said to David, Thou art more
righteous than I ; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have
rewarded thee evil. To make the heart relent, it is good to study
God s kindness, not only how he hath spared us, but how he hath
blessed us.
(1.) For temporal mercies, " creation and providence. For the
mercies of creation : We all condemn the rebellion of Absalom for
rising against his father. God made us out of nothing ; none so much
a father as God, and yet we rebel against him. If we had lost a limb,
an eye, a tooth, or an arm, would we injure him that could restore us
these things? God gave them to us at first ; how should the thoughts
-of this soften our hearts ! Then for the mercies of providence :
Nathan mentions God s mercies to David to humble him : 2 Sam.
xii. 7-9, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee
out of the hand of Saul ; and I gave thee thy master s house, and thy
master s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and
of Judah ; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given
unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the
commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight ? It is God that
feedeth and maintaineth you, and preserveth you. Men stand upon
their honour in the world, to be true to their interest, not to be unthank
ful to their preservers. Now God giveth us life and breath and all
things. You value these things when they are given you by men,
much more should you when they are given you by God. Is water the
worse because it cometh from the fountain and not from the cistern ?
Water is purer in the fountain. We have more reason to value mercies
when they come from God, that so great a majesty should look after
you : Ps. cxiii. 6, * Who humbleth himself to behold the things that
are in heaven and in the earth ; that God that standeth not in need
of you, as man doth of the meanest ; that God whom you have offended,
whose favour you are so much concerned about. In a small gift from
a king, the favour is valued : we are continually fed and maintained
at the expense and care of his providence.
(2.) For spiritual mercies ; they melt the heart. What great love
Christ showed in the business of our salvation, what he left, what he
suffered, what he purchased !
(1st.) What he left. That love that is accompanied with self-denial is
accounted the highest. IJow many degrees did the sun of righteous
ness go back ! etcevcoatv kavrov\ Phil. ii. 8, He humbled, or emptied
himself. There was a veil upon his godhead : when he was rich, for
our sakes he became poor, 2 Cor. viii. 9. In the fulness of the God
head he abstained from the use of it. Did Christ leave heaven, and
wilt not thou leave thy lusts ? Was he made the Son of man, and wilt
216 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
not thou be made the son of God ? It was his abasement, but it is
our advancement.
(2c?.) What he suffered. We are more affected with what men
suffer for us than with what they do for us. Cubitum sine manu.
To show the stump of the arm where the hand was lost was an effec
tual plea : Zech. xii. 10, They shall look upon me whom they have
pierced ; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only
son, and be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his
first-born. Sin doth most affect the heart when we consider the wrong
done to Christ by it. Amor doloris causa The more a man loveth
another, or apprehends that he is loved of him, the more he is grieved
that he hath any way injured him. Your sins strike at Christ, and
have pierced him ; shall not your hearts be pierced when his head was
pierced with thorns, his hands and feet with nails, his heart with
sorrows ? Can you look upon Golgotha with dry eyes and a careless
stupid heart ? Think that you heard Christ say, Behold, is any sorrow
like to my sorrow ? Will you still go on in your rebellion against
me ? Ts all nothing, all that I have done and suffered for you ?
(3d) What hath he purchased for us ? He gave himself a ransom
and price, a ransom to free us from death and hell. We would love a
man that should get a pardon for our lives when we are condemned to
die: 1 Thes. i. 10, Even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to
come/ There was never any such wrath past or present ; it is a thing
to come, when we shall stir up all his wrath. And a price to purchase
for us the favour of God, and our eternal abode with him in heaven.
Heaven is called the purchased possession, Eph. i. 14. If we were
to be annihilated, or to spend our time in some obscure place, it were
mercy ; but to be for ever with the Lord, and to be filled up with God,
who can express the greatness of this mercy ? And all this is freely
offered to you in the gospel. Things that concern us affect us; and
therefore surely this should melt the heart : Rom. xii. 1, I beseech
you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God. What ! shall not
mercy prevail ? Joel ii. 13, And rend your heart, and not your
garments, and turn unto the Lord your God ; for he is gracious and
merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of
the evil. Surely God s graciousness and readiness to receive returning
sinners should work upon us. An hammer will easily break an hard
stone against a soft bed ; but if it be laid on an hard solid body, that
will not give way underneath, strike as hard as you will, it is kept from
breaking ; so smite thy soul on the gospel, hell and damnation may be
the hammer ; but then lay thy soul upon the gospel and gospel con
siderations, then it breaketh all to shatters. Strike thy soul with the
blows of God s wrath against the law, and it resists still ; all doth but
make us desperate ; but now remember the mercies of the Lord, how
freely he inviteth returning sinners, and this breaks the heart to
pieces.
[2.] It is a kindly argument ; the heart is not till then kindly
humbled for sin as sin. An apprehension of wrath is one thing, godly
sorrow is another thing ; the former is necessary, but not enough : 2
Kings xxii. 19, Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast
humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 217
against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should
become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept
before me, I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Threateriings may
terrify, but this melts the heart, and begets a serious remorse for sin,
as offensive, displeasing, and grievous unto God : 2 Cor. vii. 10, For
godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of ;
but the sorrow of the world worketh death ; Ezek. vi. 9, And they
that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they
shall be carried captives ; because I am broken with their whorish
heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a
whoring after their idols ; and they shall loath themselves for the evils
which they have committed in all their abominations. Not only for
the evils which they have suffered, but which they have committed ;
for the evil that is in sin, not for the evil that is after sin : 2 Chron.
xxxii. 26, Hezekiah, humbled himself for the pride of his heart. Not
only for the inconvenience and mischief done thereby, but because God
was offended. That Christian Niobe wept much because she loved
much, Luke vii. 47.
Secondly, There are two graces faith and fear.
1. Faith. As reason maketh a difference between a man and a beast,
so doth faith between a man and a man. It is faith bringeth us under
the power of a truth, and maketh light active. Three times Christ re
proached his disciples for hardness of heart, and still the cause given
is unbelief : Mark vi. 52, They considered not the miracle of the
loaves for their hearts were hardened ; Mark viii. 17, Why reason ye
because ye have no bread ? Perceive ye not yet, neither understand ?
have ye your heart yet hardened ? Mark xvi. 14, Afterwards he
appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them
because of their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed
not them which had seen him after he was risen. A man is dull,
stupid, and senseless till faith maketh light break in upon the heart
with power ; till then he will not make use of his eyes, ears, or memory..
All affections follow persuasion. Faith persuadeth of death, and hell,
and judgment to come. We would not trifle away the day of grace
if we did believe the goodness of God offering favour and life eternal
in Christ. Hcec audiunt quasi somnianies Men entertain these things
as a dream, and are only a little troubled for the present, till they
thoroughly believe them.
2. Fear. It is always made a preservative against hardness of heart :
Isa. Ixiii. 17, Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and
hardened our heart from thy fear ? Fear argueth a constant sense of
God s presence, and a deep respect to him, so as that we are loath to
offend him ; it makes the soul to walk as in God s company, and there
fore it is kept humble : Prov. xxviii. 14, Happy is the man that fear-
eth alway ; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
It will make us tender of offending God, and yielding to our own cor
ruptions, though never so secret. Who is the man that is opposed to
him that hardeneth his heart ? He that feareth alway. Careless
ness breedeth senselessness ; but now, when we are continually watchful,
and say, Shall I thus and thus offend God ? the heart is kept in a good
frame.
218 SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5.
Thirdly, There are two ordinances the word and prayer ; for
water, if never so scalding, will return to its natural coldness.
1. The word : 2 Chron. xxxiv. 19, It came to pass, when the king
had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes ; and ver. 27,
Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before
God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the
inhabitants thereof, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me, I
have even heard thee also, saith the Lord ; Heb. iii. 7, 8, To-day, if
ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. A conscionable hear
ing the word will prevent hardness of heart : Jer. xxiii. 29, Is not my
word like a fire, saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the
rock in pieces ? There is the double work of the word legal and
evangelical ; the breaking and the melting power of it. There is a
great deal of difference between breaking the ice with a staff, and thaw
ing or melting it : break it in one place, and it f reezeth in another ;
melting is more universal. There are legal breakings and gospel melt
ings ; there sin is discovered, here it is subdued. But then you must
use the word as an ordinance, receive it in faith and obedience ; use it
in obedience, when you are discouraged in point of faith: Luke v. 5,
Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing ; never
theless at thy word I will let down the net. But use it not only in
obedience, but in faith ; you must hear the word, not only as a moral
lecture or legal discourse, or as a means of literal instruction, but evan
gelically, waiting for the power and presence of God.
2. Prayer. God will be specially owned in this work. No creature
in the world can soften and turn the heart, but only God. He that
made the heart can only change it : Ezek. xi. 1 9, And I will give them
one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you ; and I will take the
stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh/ It
is God only that gives a teachable mind, a pliable will, and ready affec
tions. Go, then, and practise this duty ; beg of God to give you a
heart more pliable to the work of grace, more capable to be renewed,
more soft and ready to receive the impressions of grace, and be earnest
with him for this.
I shall now give you some further advice.
1. In the first place, begin with conversion to God ; look for a
change of state. Kepentance in particular cases is neither right nor
acceptable, as long as men do not mind conversion to God, and a change
of state by regeneration. When the tree is good, then the fruits are
answerable. Get the heart of stone taken away, and then labour to
preserve a tender frame. It is a fruitless course to look after a good
frame, till we are brought into a good estate. Natural hardness is the
cause of habitual hardness ; till that be taken away by regeneration all
cometh to nothing.
2. Be tender how you use your light. Men wax bold by sinning
against light, and seem to get a victory over their consciences. When
the candle is put out, lust will be stirring. Light and reason is God s
bridle on man to keep him in awe. Well, then, use your light ten
derly. If it be but an half light, search further ; if it be a full light,
walk by it. If you are children of the light, you will have no fellow
ship with the unfruitful works of darkness.
SERMONS UPON MARK III. 5. 219
3. After you have sinned, take up betimes ; as Peter went out, and
wept bitterly ; for sin will fret, and soak in more and more.
4. Use frequent recollection and communing with your hearts. Man
hath reason, and can talk with himself. God, that cannot err, surveyed
every day s work, and found it good. Cast up your account at the foot
of every page. He that runneth in debt, and never casteth up his
accounts, will sink at last. A man is insensibly hardened for want of
searching and ransacking his conscience ; there is no serious repentance
without it : Lam. iii. 40, Let us search and try our ways, and turn
again to the Lord. God will search you if you leave the work to
him.
5. Improve afflictions. It is a means God hath appointed to shake
us out of our security. We are apt to be lulled asleep with the delights
and pleasures of sin till we feel the sharp rod of afflictions : 2 Chron.
xxviii. 22, And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more
against the Lord : this is that King Ahaz. They are monsters of
nature and hopeless wretches that are not reclaimed by afflictions. God
sets a brand on Ahaz, like a dogged servant that will not stir, beat him
never so much. Unprofitableness under the rod is an ill presage. In
hell sinners are always suffering and always sinning.
6. Beware of those things which are both steps unto, and causes of,
hardness of heart ; for one degree is the cause of another ; as when sin
is committed without remorse, and swallowed without grief.
7. Beware of extenuating sin, of having less thoughts of it, and being
less troubled about it. At first it seemed a horrible thing, a burden too
heavy for us ; but afterwards it grows less light, and the heart more
insensible, and sin more delightful. The burden of sin increaseth in
the children of God as light and acquaintance with God increaseth.
That which they made nothing of at first groweth very heavy.
8. Keep grace in a constant exercise. Let the fire be kept always in
that came down from heaven, 2 Tim. i. 6, Wherefore I put thee in
remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God that is in thee.
9. Frequent the society of God s people. Want of care of our com
pany is a great fault ; for company hardeneth in sin or humbleth. The
very example of God s people will be a great help to you ; how tender
they are, how watchful, what meltings of heart they have in prayer, how
they make conscience of the least sin, how they complain of themselves,
Oh ! what a hard heart have I ! Coals lying together keep fire. This
is a means to keep us tender : Heb. iii. 13, But exhort one another
daily while it is called to-day, lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin/
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
SERMON I.
I will harden his heart, that he shall not let my people go.
EXOD. iv. 21.
I HAVE spoken of hardness of heart as it is proper to man. I shall now
speak of that judicial hardness which is inflicted by God ; a notable
instance whereof we have in Pharaoh, that was raised up that God
might in him make his power known ; that is, he was born into the
world, and advanced to royal dignity, that the world may know what
God can do against an obstinate contradicting creature. And accord
ingly it is applied by the apostle : Rom. ix. 17, For the scripture
saith unto Pharoah, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up,
that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be
declared throughout all the earth. Therefore it is an instance worth
the viewing.
In this place God acquainteth Moses of it aforehand, to fortify him
against all discouragements. He was to deal with an obstinate crea
ture, but it was that which God had foreseen and foredecreed : 4 I will
harden his heart, that he shall not let my people go.
The point or head of doctrine is, God s hardening of sinners. You
may take it in the form of a proposition, for the help of the weakest.
Doct. God himself hath a hand in the hardening of obstinate sinners.
About fourteen times is the hardness of Pharaoh s heart spoken of ;
and thrice it is said, He hardened his own heart : Exod. viii. 15,
4 When Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart,
and hearkened not unto them, as the Lord had said. So ver. 32,
And Pharaoh hardened his heart at that time also, neither would he
let the people go ; and again, chap. ix. 34, And when Pharaoh saw
that the rain, and the hail, and the thunders were ceased, he sinned
yet more, and hardened his heart, he and all his servants. In all the
other places it is ascribed to God himself. Man hardeneth, and then
God hardeneth. When God blindeth a man, he first closeth his own
eyes ; and when God hardeneth a man, he first contracted! a brawn
and stiffness upon his own heart. Pharaoh in hardening himself is
charged with two things slighting of the judgment: chap. vii. 23,
4 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his
222 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
heart to this also. And contempt of the threatening : chap. viii. 15,
He hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them, as the Lord
had said. And the very same thing also is said to be of God : chap.
vii. 13, He hardened Pharaoh s heart, that he hearkened not unto-
them, as the Lord had said.
For the clearing of this, I shall (1.) Give you some observations
from the story ; (2.) Show you how God hardeneth ; (3.) The causes
of it.
I. I shall give you some general observations from the story ; for in
the story of Pharaoh we have the exact platform of an hard heart.
1. Between the hard heart and God there is an actual contest who
shall have the better. The parties contesting are God and Pharaoh.
(See the first Sermon on Mark iii. 5.)
2. The sin that hardened Pharaoh, and put him upon this contest,
was covetousness and interest of state. Jacob s seventy souls that he
brought down to Egypt were grown to six hundred thousand fighting
men, besides children ; and to let such a company of men go, whom
they used as slaves, besides the prey of their herds and flocks, seemed
hard to Pharaoh. Which is not only an item to magistrates, to re
tain nothing which God hateth out of interest and reason of state,
but also to private Christians. Whatever of gain and advantage we
may fancy in sin, it will at length prove a certain loss. If God send a
message for our right eye, we must pluck it out ; or for our right hand,
we must cut it of. It is dangerous to deny God anything. If he
demand Israel, and all the flocks and herds, let them go ; the sweetest
interests, the dearest pleasures, the most gainful employments, if they
are unlawful, let them go. There is an usual contest between interest
and duty, between pleasure and obedience, between profit and the
command ; but it is better our own faith should give the command,
the victory, than God s power : 1 John v. 4, This is the victory
that overcomes the world, even our faith. He had before spoken
of keeping the commandments, ver. 3, and presently he speaketh of
victory over the world/ The world is the great enemy of the com
mandments ; and till it be overcome, a Christian can have no comfort,
but still be contesting with God, as Pharaoh was, and slighting every
message.
3. This contest on Pharaoh s part is managed with slightings and
contempt of God ; on God s part, with mercy and condescension. On
Pharaoh s part with slightings and contempt of God : Exod. v. 2,
And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to
let Israel do ? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
Words of profane contempt. Who is the Lord ? as if he should
say, Am not I king of Egypt ? who is my peer, much less my supe
rior and my lord? I know not the Lord. Ere God hath done
with Pharaoh he shall know him to the purpose. Mark the words, I
know not ; and then, I will not. Hardness is the usual effect of
blindness. Errors of mind go on to errors of heart. I will not know,
I will not hear of it ; I care not for such a duty, nor will I weigh or
consider what is God s will concerning me. The eye aifecteth the
heart. Pharaoh did not consider what it was to deal with God, and
then doubleth the burdens of the Israelites. But now, on God s part
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 223
it is managed with sweetness and kindness. God from the beginning
foreknew the hardness of Pharaoh s heart, and therefore might have
swept him away of a sudden, but he giveth him frequent warnings and
convictions. He would have men convinced ere they are punished.
Foregoing mercy showeth the righteousness of ensuing wrath. In all
the progress of the story the first miracles were before him, the next
upon him. And every judgment is threatened before it be executed ;
God telleth what he would do to warn Pharaoh. In one plague it is
notable that God doth not only threaten the judgment, but sendeth a
gracious warning to bid him take his cattle out of the fields : Exod. ix.
19, Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast
in the field ; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in
the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down
upon them, and they shall die/ To show that God delighteth not in
the ruin and destruction of the creature, and to make Pharaoh the more
liable to condemnation, and to spare such among the Egyptians as had
some fear of God remaining in them, but chiefly to harden Pharaoh
the more : Exod. x. 1, And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto
Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants,
that 1 might show these my signs before him. Moses might say, Lord,
therefore let me never go to Pharaoh ; but saith God, Go in unto
him, for I have hardened his heart. God continueth the means,
though he denieth grace ; and the wicked must be admonished, though
they will not be reformed. In the hardening of sinners, God usually
observeth this course : by mercies and the means of grace they are
convinced and hardened at the same time ; there is still new matter of
glorifying God, and hardening the creature.
4. The first plague on Pharaoh s heart is delusion. Moses worketh
miracles, turneth Aaron s rod into a serpent, rivers into blood, bringeth
frogs, and the magicians still do the same ; God permitteth these
magical impostures, to leave Pharaoh in his wilful error. It is pro
bable that what the magicians did was not real, but a mere delusion of
the senses ; but the Lord doth not discover the cheat, because his pre
sent aim was not to shame Satan, but to harden Pharaoh ; therefore
he suffered the devil to imitate the true miracles without discovery.
It is sad when men choose false teachers to themselves, and God suffer-
eth them to be blinded : Hosea iv. 17, Ephraim is joined to idols ; let
him alone. They may have some parts, plausible elocution, gifts of
prayer ; there may be common effects wrought by them ; these things
blind men, and their hearts are set upon familism and antinomianism ;
let them alone : Exod. vii. 22, The magicians of Egypt did so with
their enchantments, and Pharaoh s heart was hardened. This was one
means of hardening his heart, the magicians wrought the same miracles
that Moses and Aaron did. God suffereth men to be hardened by their
own choice.
5. God was not wanting to give Pharaoh sufficient means of convic
tion. The magicians turned their rods into serpents, but Aaron s rod
swallowed up their rods, Exod. vii. 12 ; which showeth God s super-
eminent power. They could not deliver him from the frogs, though
they could bring frogs. God may surfer the devil to add to the judg
ment, but to relieve them is an act of mercy : the magicians could add
224 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
to the plagues, but they could not deliver him from them ; the devil
can sooner bring a plague than remove it. This was warning enough ;
there was difficulty enough to harden them, and light enough to con
vince them. Again, the magicians were nonplussed in their art :
Exod. viii. 18, And the magicians did so with their enchantments to
bring forth lice, but they could not/ They sought to bring forth lice,
and could not, being hindered by God s will. They that could bring
forth frogs could not bring forth lice ; the greater the possibility, the
more are the magicians abashed ; this was an easy miracle. All colour
of excuse is taken away from Pharaoh ; they confess, This is the finger
of God, Exod. viii. 19 ; and yet Pharaoh s heart was hardened ; as
many will riot be won to the truth by the confession of those that led
them into the mistake. Nay, afterwards the magicians themselves
were smitten with boils : Exod. ix. 11, 12, And the magicians could
not stand before Moses because of the boils ; for the boil was upon the
magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. And the Lord hardened the
heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them. If the hard heart
go to hell, it is not for want of light, but grace. We may wonder as
much at the success as at the plagues. To what a height of obstinacy
will man come if he be let alone to plagues ! for all this while
Pharaoh s heart was hardened.
6. Observe, in one of the plagues Israel might have stolen away,
whether Pharaoh would or no : Exod. x. 22, 23, And Moses stretched
forth his hand towards heaven, and there was a thick darkness in all
the land of Egypt three days ; they saw not one another, neither rose
any from his place for three days ; but all the children of Israel had
light in their dwellings. They were not only deprived of the light of
heaven, but of candles and torches ; the air was condensed with thick
clouds, and the mists and vapours so thick, that they would easily have
damped them, and put them out again. Now whilst they were under
the power of three days darkness, the Israelites might have stolen
away, and have gone three days journey in the wilderness before they
could have made any pursuit ; but God had more miracles to be done.
When he hath to do with a hard heart, he will not steal out of the
field, but go away with honour and triumph. This was to be a public
instance, and for intimation to the world : 1 Sam. vi. 6, Wherefore
then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened
their hearts ? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they
not let the people go, and they departed ? The Philistines took
warning by it, and it will be our condemnation if we do not.
7. In all these plagues I observe that Pharaoh now and then had
his devout pangs. In an hard heart there may be some relentings,
but no true repentance. We have him confessing, Exod. ix. 27, I
have sinned this time : the Lord is righteous ; and I and my people
are wicked ; and chap. x. 16, 17, I have sinned against the Lord
your God, and against you : now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin
only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that he may take away
from me this death only/ So chap. xii. 32, Be gone, and bless me
also. Hardened sinners may have their gripes and sensible touches,
and so some faint purposes of reformation. But that which was defec
tive, and showeth it was not true repentance, was
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 225
[1.] Because it was only extorted by present horror : Job xxvii. 10,
* Will he always call upon God ? A still will send forth water as well
a fountain, but it is by drops, and by force : Prov. v. 11-13, And
thou mourn at last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed ; and
say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof ?
and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to
them that instructed me ? The lecher hath his penitent moods. A
malefactor on the rack will confess freely. Vows of men are very fre
quent. Oh 1 that men would be such when they are well as they pro
mised to be when they were sick 1
{2.] Because the aim of all was ease and safety. Pharaoh s cry is
not, Take away iniquity, but, Take away this plague. Offers of nature
after ease are found in hypocrites. Esau sought the privileges of the
birthright with tears, quid perdiderat, non quid vendlderat ; not be
cause he sold it, but because he had lost it. Nature may be sensible
of present evil.
[3.] Because it was vanishing. The good motions of an hard heart
are of no long continuance ; they pass through, and are gone like a
flash of lightning. Pharaoh s remorse for the frogs and grasshoppers
was as a cloud soon blown over. Till there be sound repentance, re
morse must needs be short, for it is an unpleasing penance. Water
heated is the colder afterwards, because it is rarefied ; after it hath
thawed a little, it will freeze the harder. Pharaoh after every respite
was hardened anew ; it is the temper of those that are doomed to de
struction.
[4.] Because his purposes came so short and lame of what God ex
pected. An hard heart, when it cannot prevail against God, would
fain compound with him. First he gave leave : Exod. viii. 25, Go ye,
sacrifice to God in the land ; then ver. 28, I will let ye go, that ye
may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness, only ye shall not
go very far away ; then chap. x. 11, Go now, ye that are men, and
serve the Lord. Their children were to remain for hostages. Then,
ver. 24, Go ye, serve the Lord, only let your flocks and your herds be
stayed ; let your little ones also go with you. Their cattle were to
remain for a pawn, and their flocks and their herds for a forfeiture if
they returned not, and a recompense for the damage of Egypt. But
God would not abate him a hoof. An hard heart yieldeth to God by
halves. Pharaoh hucketh with him ; first they might sacrifice in the
land ; then go a little way, three days journey ; then he would keep
their children, then their flocks and herds. An hard heart never
yieldeth to God his whole demand ; the devil is loath to let go his
hold. How do men huck with God in duties contrary to their affec
tions or prejudicial to their interests ? 2 Kings v. 18, In this thing
the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the
house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I
bow myself in the house of Eimmon ; when I bow myself in the house
of Kimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing. They have
their reservations, and in this and that thing they will be excused.
These are but deceitful pangs. Pharaoh doth often eat his words, and
retract every grant.
8. In process of time his hardness is improved into rage and downright
VOL. XYII. p
226 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
malice : Exod. x. 28, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my
face no more; for in the day thou seest my face thou shalt die/
Vessels, when they come to the lees, they grow sour and tart; so
Pharaoh began to run dregs. Or as beasts by long baiting grow mad
and furious, so it was with Pharaoh. Men first slight the truth, and
then are hardened against it, and then come to persecute it. A river,
when it hath been long kept up, swelleth and beareth down the bank
and rampire ; so do wicked men rage when their consciences cannot
withstand the light, and their hearts will not yield to it.
9. At length Pharaoh is willing to let them go. After much ado
God may get something from a hard heart ; but it is no sooner given,
but retracted ; like fire struck out of a flint, it is hardly got, and
quickly gone : Hosea vi. 4, Your goodness is as a morning cloud, and
as the early dew it goeth away. Many may have some show of good
ness, at least at some times, who yet are little the better, and their
condition nothing the better ; it proveth a great snare and neck-break
to them ; its unsoundness is presently seen in its inconstancy.
10. The last news that we hear of hardening Pharaoh s heart was a
little before his destruction : Exod. xiv. 8, And the Lord hardened
the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children
of Israel. Pharaoh begrudgeth his own grant, as if he had yielded too-
far. Hardness of heart will not leave us till it hath wrought our full
and final destruction. God always besotteth when he meaneth to de
stroy. Never any were hardened but to their own ruin. As God, that
loveth his own, loveth them to the end, so God, that hateth those that
are hardened, hateth them to the end. Pharaoh is first plagued and
then destroyed. This is the upshot of all : Job ix. 4, Who hath
hardened himself against him, and prospered ? The beginning is
imposture and delusion, the middle obstinacy, and the end ruin.
11. How God hardeneth. It is a point that needeth explication.
God is not and cannot be the author of sin ; if God should cause it,
man should sin of necessity, and then his punishment would not be
just, he being under force. God hath not brought upon any necessity
of sinning ; and God, that is good, cannot be the cause of evil. If God
were the immediate author, it would be no sin, for whatever God doth
is good.
How then doth he harden the heart ? I answer (1.) Negatively - r
(2.) Affirmatively.
1. Negatively. In the explication of this matter we must avoid both
extremes ; some say too much of it, others too little.
[1.] We must not say too much, lest we leave a stain and blemish
upon the divine glory.
(1.) God infuseth no hardness and sin as he infuseth grace. All
influences from heaven are sweet and good, not sour. Evil cannot
come from the Father of lights. God enforceth no man to do evil.
(2.) God doth not excite the inward propension to sin ; that is
Satan s work. He persuadeth it not ; it hath neither command, nor
approbation, nor influence, nor impulse from heaven. In all these
ways we must look upon man s sin. All sin is a child begotten by
that incubus of hell on the corrupt soul of man ; it is poured out as
milk into the womb of their hearts, and there it is curdled as cheese.
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 227
[2.] We must not give it too little. God doth not harden by bare
prescience, because God foreseeth other sins, and yet they are not
ascribed to God; he is not said to kill, or to steal, or to do wrong, as
he is to harden. There is a difference between God s concurrence to
this sin and others. It is not only by way of manifestation, that is, by
his plagues and judgments he declareth how hard it is. God hardened
Pharaoh, say some, that is, by frequency of judgments showed how hard
his heart was. The prayer by which we deprecate this evil showeth the
meaning of it. We would not say, Lord, show not how hard I am by
thy many judgments upon me; but, Lord harden not my heart, lead
me not into temptation, incline not my heart to any evil thing. And
it doth not hold good in other instances : Deut. ii. 30, Sihon king of
Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord thy God hardened
his spirit, and made his heart obstinate. There was no such long
process to make it evident they had hard hearts. So Josh. xi. 20,
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should not
come against Israel in battle. So that there is somewhat besides an
evident manifestation to the world by continued judgments that it is
hard. Nor is it by a mere idle permission (for there is besides that
his decree, and a judicial action of providence), as if God were like the
heathen s Jupiter, who was feasting in Ethiopia while things were out
of order in Greece. Or at least such think God hath no more to do
than a man that standeth on the shore and seeth a ship ready to be
drowned when he might have helped it ; there is somewhat more than
so. Nor is it merely by desertion and suspension of grace. It is true
this is a part, but not all ; as a captain leaving his soldiers in the
midst of a battle, may be said to leave them in the enemies hands.
God concurreth not only by way of permission and patience, but by
way of action and power ; not making hardness, but doing and willing
the things whereby the sinner is hardened. Besides his decrees, there
is his judicial sentence, and an active providence in order thereunto.
Many things concur to the hardening of the heart, all which God willeth
and intendeth, but justly. The wicked take these occasions of their own
accord ; Satan tempteth out of his own malice ; but all this cannot be
done without the will of God ; there is at least a permissive intention.
If there were not God s overruling it, then he were not God omnipotent ;
there is a supreme power overruling and ordering everything that is
done in the world. It was God s will that Pharaoh should be hardened,
that he might dispose of it to the ends of his providence : Exod. ix. 16,
And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in
thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the
earth. If there were only a naked idle permission, then it may be said
that he suffereth the heart to be hardened rather than hardeneth it,
which is the phrase used.
2. Affirmatively, how God doth harden. The inward way is won
derful ; as God s drawing sinners is secret, so is his hardening. But
if you ask me by what means it is accomplished ? I answer
[1.] By desertion, by taking away the restraints of grace, whereby
he letteth them loose to their own hearts : Ps. Ixxxi. 12, So I gave
them up unto their own hearts lusts, and they walked in their own
counsels. Man in regard of his inclinations to sin is like a greyhound
228 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
held by a slip or collar ; when the hare is in sight, take away the slip,
and the greyhound runneth violently after.the hare, according to his
inbred disposition. Men are held in by the restraints of grace, which,
when removed, they are left to their own swing, and run into all excess
of riot. Thus God took away his good Spirit from Saul : 1 Sam. xvi.
14, But the Spirit of the Lord departed from him, and an evil spirit
from the Lord troubled him. Take away the pillar that sustaineth the
house, and then the house falleth of itself. God taketh away his grace,
and then all runneth to ruin ; as darkness ensueth upon the withdraw
ing of light. Now herein God is not to be blamed.
(1.) Because he is debtor to none. He may give his grace to whom
he pleaseth, and withhold it as he will ; he is not bound to give or con
tinue, but is free to bestow or withhold. Man sinneth when he doth
not hinder sin, because he is bound to hinder it all that he can : Nek
xiii. 17, Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto
them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath-
day ? When the people profaned the sabbath, and they did not
restrain them.
(2.) He knoweth how to make the best of any evil, to turn the
greatest evil into the greatest good, which man cannot do, and ought
not, being under a rule. We must not do evil that good may come of
it : Rom. iii. 8, And not rather, as we be slanderously reported, and
as some affirm that we say, Let us do evil, that good may come ; whose
damnation is just.
(3.) There is an actual forfeiture. God is so far from being bound
to continue grace, that he is bound in justice to withdraw what is
given. When men stop their ears, God may shut them. But
[2.] By tradition. He delivereth them up to the power of Satan,
who worketh upon the corrupt nature of man, and hardeneth it ; he
stirreth him up as the executioner of God s curse ; as the evil spirit
had leave to seduce Ahab : 1 Kings xxii. 21, 22, And there came
forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.
And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith ? And he said, I will go
forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.
And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also ; go forth and
do so. There is a permissive intention, not an effective ; Satan is the
efficient and instrument, God is the judge ; he permitteth Satan to
excite and stir up their evil natures: they grieve his Spirit, and then
God withdraweth, and leaveth. them to an evil spirit ; as in Saul :
1 Sam. xvi. 14, But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and
an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. The light of the Spirit of
the Lord is gone, and then Satan filled him with rage and fury and
cruelty. It is said, An evil spirit from the Lord, because he was
sent from God to punish him for his sins.
[3.] There is an active providence, which disposeth and propoundeth
such objects as, meeting with a wicked heart, maketh it more hard.
God maketh the best things the wicked enjoy to turn to the fall and
destruction of those that have them. Sometimes natural comforts:
Jer. vi. 21, Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will lay stum
bling-blocks before this people ; and the father and the sons together
shall fall upon them, the neighbour and his friend shall perish. Their
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 229
table is made a snare, and an occasion and preparation and means to
ruin them. They harden themselves by despising the goodness and
patience of God : Rom. ii. 4, Or despisest thou the riches of his good
ness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the good
ness of God leadeth thee to repentance ? Sometimes corrections and
chastisements ; these produce nothing but a greater contumacy ; as a
resty horse, the more he is spurred forward, the more he goeth back
ward ; or as a. fierce bull or bear groweth mad with baiting. In what
a sad case are wicked men left by God ! Mercies corrupt them, and
corrections enrage them ; as unsavoury herbs, the more they are
pounded, the more they stink. Sometimes by spiritual ordinances and
advantages ; the most spiritual means do them no good : Isa. vi. 10,
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and
shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears.
and convert and be healed. He that bringeth in the light blindeth
the owl. Water poured on lime maketh it burn the more ; so do the
means of grace hurt wicked men, irritating their corruptions, or they
resting in them. Sometimes by withdrawing the word and means of
grace and prayers of his people : Acts xix. 9, When divers were
hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the
multitude, he departed from them ; Jer. vii. 16, Pray not thou for
this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make inter
cession to me, for I will not hear thee/ Do not any longer strive
between me and them. Sometimes by disposing and ordering the
deceits of false teachers : 2 Thes. ii. 10, 11, They received not the love
of the truth, that they might be saved : and for this cause God gave
them up to strong delusions, that they should believe a lie ; Job xii.
16, The deceived and the deceiver are his/ This doth not fall out
without a providence. The water runneth its own course, but the
miller maketh use of it to drive his engine. As all things work to
gether for good to them that love God, so all things work for the worst
to the wicked and impenitent. Providences and ordinances ; we read
of them that wrest the scriptures to their own destruction, 2 Peter iii.
16. Some are condemned to worldly happiness ; by ease and abund
ance of prosperity they are entangled : Prov. i. 32, The prosperity of
fools shall destroy them ; as brute creatures, when in good plight,
grow fierce and man-keen. If we will find the sin, God will find the
occasion. I shall instance in Judas ; Christ had reproved him for be
grudging Mary s bounty, and ye read, Markxxvi. 16, From that time
he sought opportunity to betray him/ He was offended with Christ s
reproof. Judas was hurried on with wrath and avarice ; and when
men are resolved, God in his providence suffereth them to have a fit
opportunity. The priests, alarmed with the miracle of raising Lazarus
from the dead, by which many were drawn to believe in him, were
thinking how to seize on him, and Judas comes in the nick, and
asketh them, What will ye give me, and I will betray him to you ?
Use. Let us take warning by Pharaoh s example, that this great
judgment light not upon us. The Philistines, that were otherwise a
blind and stupid people, yet were affected with it. Dngon was broken
in pieces, and they were smitten with em rods once and again, and
they begin to consult what to do. Their diviners told them, 1 Sam.
230 , SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
vi. 6, Wherefore do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and
Pharaoh hardened their hearts ? when he had wrought wonderfully
among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed ?
God delighteth not in judgment, and therefore he hath made a pre
cedent once for all ; here is Pharaoh set up, that all succeeding ages
may stand in fear. God would not have us learn to our bitter cost,
but take example by others. Qui alieno malo non sapit, gravius
punitur He that will not take warning by others shall be more
grievously punished. la judgments it is better to take example than
to become examples. If thy life should be nothing else but Pharaoh s
story acted over again (for certainly there is an exact parallel between
this case and the course of every obstinate sinner), how great will thy
doom be ! God was angry with Belshazzar because he was not warned
by Nebuchadnezzar s example : Dan. v. 22, And thou his son, Bel-
shazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.
You have known and heard of the way of God with Pharaoh ; God
hath a quarrel with some of you for your lusts and vanities ; do you
think to bear it up against warnings with peace and quiet ? Your
lusts may not bring you to present ruin, that you may be the more
hardened in them ; but be sure that God will have the best at last ;
and then I leave you to judge what will be your condition when you
fall under the weight of his displeasure. Have you not some qualms
of conscience sometimes about your eternal condition ? doth not con
science say, Surely I am not so careful to make my peace with God as
I should be ? Upon every such stirring } r ou are the more estranged
from God if you do not improve it. Conscience will repeat over these
warnings to you when you lie upon your death-beds ; and then you will
sadly howl over your neglects, and wish your magicians and old com
panions far from you ; then you will send for Moses and Aaron, and
it may be too late. When God is showing mercy, the last mercies are
the best, and the farther he goeth the sweeter he is ; and when God is
punishing, the last punishments are the sorest, and the farther he goeth
the more bitter.
I will propound two considerations
1. From the evil of an hard heart.
[1.] It is a contest with God, not only with his greatness and power,
but also with his goodness and mercy, and therefore it must needs
succeed ill with us. Before God breaketh out with fury he treateth
with us in a mild condescending way ; he beseecheth his own creature :
Jer. xiii. 15, 16, Hear ye, and give ear ; be not proud, for the Lord hath
spoken : give glory to God before he cause darkness, and before your
feet stumble upon the dark mountains ; and while ye look for light, he
turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
[2.] An hard heart makes us rebels to God and slaves to everything
else ; for we are wedded to some inferior thing ; we are our own
Pharaohs, and will not let ourselves go : 2 Tim. iii. 4, Lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God.
[3.] It is in itself the sorest of all judgments.
[4.] It never goes alone, but brings other judgments along with it.
[5.] It is the great hindrance of the spiritual life. (See Sermon on
Mark iii. 5.)
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 231
2. From the parties whom it may befall, not only the open wicked,
"but in some measure God s own children ; for God may harden two
ways as a judge, and as a father ; by way of punishment, and by way
of correction. By way of punishment again two ways totally and
finally. Some are totally hardened, and have nothing of a soft heart
in them, and yet not finally; the dreadful sentence of obduration
is not yet passed upon them, as it may be upon others, and that dur
ing life, when God leaveth them to their own hearts counsels, with
out any check or restraint of providence, or purpose to reclaim them.
These three kinds I must then speak of God s hardening the wicked
in general, his final hardening, and his hardening in part his own
children.
SERMON II.
I will harden his heart, that he shall not let my people go.
EXOD. iv. 21.
FIRST, Of God s hardening wicked men in general as a judge. The causes
of it are
1. Ignorance ; for light and love make the heart tender. Light is
that which we are now to take notice of. Light begets tenderness, as
it discerneth sin, and maketh us sensible of it, especially the lively light
of the Spirit: Bom. vii. 9, I was alive without the law once; but
when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died/ Sense of guilt
and punishment soon flashed in his face; as in a dungeon the worms
crawl as soon as light is brought in : Jer. xxxi. 19, After I was
instructed, I smote upon my thigh ; I was ashamed, yea, even con
founded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Instruction
breedeth remorse, and awakeneth men out of their stupid security ; but
while men continue in their ignorance they are stupid and senseless. Now
thus men may be for a long time, and yet afterwards God may make
the scales fall off from their eyes, and open their eyes, and turn them
from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Acts
xxvi. 18. However, affected and vinceable ignorance, when men are
willingly ignorant and err in their hearts, that is, when men have
powerful and enlightening motives and yet remain ignorant, this is
very dangerous. And for the present, that ignorance is one cause of
their hardening is evident, because the worst usually when they come to
die are sensible ; their mind is then cleared from the fogs and steams of
lust, and conscience being awakened, they then feel their load, and a
great weight of sin lying upon them, and most wish they had lived in
a more strict and ready obedience to God s will.
2. Unbelief. There is an hardness of the heart against the light and
offers of the gospel, when Christ is tendered, but not received, and
the cause of that is ignorance, affected ignorance ; and there is an
hardening of the heart against the truth once received, out of love of
232 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
their temporal peace, liberty, and safety of life and estate ; this cometh
from unbelief, and want of a sufficient sense and sight of the world to
come ; which hardness is caused by the veiglement and importunities
of the flesh, craving its satisfactions in the present world, and denying
or disbelieving the blessedness to come. If men did believe heaven
and hell, they would be more pliable to God s motions, and more deaf
to the importunities of the flesh ; but that this is a cause of hardening
appeareth by Christ s chiding his disciples for their unbelief and hard
ness of heart : Mark xvi. 14, Afterward he appeared unto the eleven
as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hard
ness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after
he was risen.
3. Sinning against light, either by way of omission or commission.
This provoketh God to give us over to more hardness of heart. By
way of commision is easily granted, but it is also by way of omission :
James iv. 17, To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to
him it is sin. They will find it to be sin in the sad effects of it. (See
Sermon on Mark iii. 5.)
4. Custom in sinning. (See Sermon on Mark iii. .5.)
5. Small sins may occasion this judgment, and harden the heart as
well as great sins. It is not easy to say which doth most ; indeed great
sins get into the throne presently, but small sins insensibly and by
degrees : Ps. xix. 13, Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous
sins ; let them riot have dominion over me/ A small sin may get the
upperhand of a sinner, and bring him under in time ; and after that,
it is habituated by constant custom, so that he cannot easily shake off
the yoke, and redeem himself from the tyranny thereof, as if a man be
addicted to any vanity and foolish delight. These do not exercise
dominion over the enslaved soul till they have gotten strength by many
and multiplied acts. But presumptuous sins by one single act weaken
the Spirit, and give a mighty advantage to the flesh, even almost to
a complete conquest. So that for the present little sins do not harden
the heart so much as greater. (See Sermon on Mark iii. 5.)
Now all these causes concur to the hardening of the heart, and
making it as a stone, but yet out of these stones God can raise up
children to Abraham.
Secondly, Of God s final hardening, when God leaveth men to perish,
and will no more treat with them. Now here I shall show (1.) That
there is such a dispensation ; (2.) The causes of it.
1. That there is such a dispensation.
[1.] It is an usual dispensation for God to leave men to perish in their
sins, and that irreversibly, even before death, and will be entreated no
more for them. It appears by many places of scripture : Eev. xxii. 11,
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still ; and he which is filthy, let
him be filthy still. Those which remain obstinate after many warnings
and calls, it is usual with God to give them over to their lusts, that
they may be ripe for hell : Ezek. iii. 27, He that heareth, let him
hear ; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear ; for they are a rebellious
house. As if God should say, Let them now do what they will, I am
at a point. Now sometimes their condition is irreversible, which is
clear, because when God hath given them over, how shall they repent,
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 233
nnd break off their sin ? God s oath is passed : Ps. cxv. 11, Unto whom
I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest/ God
standeth sworn to condemn and destroy them. If they should have any
anguish of conscience and remorse stirred up in them, God will have
no regard to it : Prov. i. 26, 27, I also will laugh at your calamity, I
will mock when your fear cometh ; when your fear cometh as desolation,
and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish
cometh upon you ; Hosea v. 6, They shall go with their flocks and
with their herds to seek the Lord, but they shall not find him, he hath
withdrawn himself from them/ When men have neglected God s
seasons, and begin to be surprised with death, then they would fain
have comfort and pardon ; but instead thereof the Lord puts them off.
No; you would have none of me: Ps. Ixxxi. 11, 12, But my people
would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me : so I
gave them up unto their own hearts lust, and they walked in their
own counsels/ Instead of compassion they are mocked, and turned
over to their evil courses and carnal company : John viii. 21, I go my
way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins/ That this may
be before death appeareth because grace is confined to a season : Isa. Iv.
6, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while
he is near. And that season is not always as long as life : Luke xix.
42, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things
which belong to thy peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyes/
The day of grace is bright but short. We may mourn over many thus ;
when the measure of their iniquities is filled up, God giveth over call
ing and expecting and waiting for their repentance. It is true the
time is not to be known by any man of himself, nor by others concern
ing him ; we cannot state the number of calls, because circumstances
are diverse, and light breaketh in with warnings in a different degree.
There is a great deal of variety in the Lord s dispensations, therefore
all must use the means, and warn we must to the last. We can only
say in the general, that after God hath done with them, and expects
no good from them, he may let them live for the glory of his justice ;
as after God had hardened Pharaoh s heart, yet he continued his life,
that he might show his power in him: Exod. ix. 16, And in very
deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power,
and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth/ You
may survive your final hardness, as a monument of God s justice in the
world.
[2.] It is a just dispensation. It is just with God to take the refusal
and be gone, and to cease to deal with your hearts any more, when, after
all the melting entreaties of his grace, you cast him off; he commands,
and you will not obey ; he is willing, and you are not willing ; he entreats,
and you will not hearken ; he wishes : Deut. v. 29, that there were
such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my com
mandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their
children for ever ! he laments : Ps. Ixxxi. 13, that my people had
hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways ! and you
will not join with him. He is grieved that his offer of grace is not
received, and you will not lament. It is but just that a man should
be left to his own choice, that a man should miss of that salvation which
234 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
he cared not for ; that if, after warnings, convictions, and entreaties,
he will be filthy, he should be filthy still. In hell conscience will
acquit God ; eyeo e/io? rov rwv atria, I have been the cause of all this to
myself.
[3.] It is a merciful dispensation to the rest of the world. We are
told of these things beforehand, not that we may despair, that is an ill
consequence ; but that, as we love our souls, we should take heed of
resisting grace, and turning our backs upon our own mercies. It is a
merciful and fatherly warning to strike in betimes, and own the God
of our mercies. Delay is that that undoeth all the world. Now this
is the best cure of delay.
2. The causes of it.
[1.] Sinning away the light of nature. By nature men have some
knowledge of good and evil. There are icoivai evvotai, some common
principles, as that God is, and must be worshipped, that we must do
wrong to none, nor pollute ourselves with promiscuous lusts. The heart
of a pagan would rise against it : Rom. ii. 14, 15, For when the gentiles,
which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law,
these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves, which show the
work of the law written in their hearts. Now, when men hold the light
of nature in unrighteousness, Eom. i. 18, when they hold poor truth
fettered and bound that it cannot break out into an holy conversation,
this provoketh God to give them up to hardness. There are many sins
which nature discovereth, and may be avoided upon such reasons and
considerations as nature suggesteth. Now, when men put the finger
into nature s eye, or will not suffer reason to exercise any dominion,
but let loose the reins to lust, God leaveth them to a carnal and sottish
heart. Though by the light of nature men cannot convert to God,
yet by the light of nature men may practise many duties and avoid
many sins. The gentiles were left to an unsound injudicious mind.
When men fall into foul sins against the light of nature, conscience
loseth its feeling and tenderness : Eph. iv. 19, Who being past feeling,
have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness
with greediness. Hearts prejudiced against the things of God may
grow to very stones.
[2.] Refusing God s many calls: Prov. xxix. 1, He that, being
often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and
that without remedy/ God may bear with us a while after one or two
or more reproofs, but when we are often reproved and often convinced,
and yet will not be reclaimed, God may give us over. The exact date
of Christ s patience, or the number of his calls ere the fatal period of
final induration cometh, we know not ; but when it is often, you are in
danger. Take heed of forfeiting your own mercies by refusing the
most earnest motions of the word and Spirit. When God importuneth
to be heard and obeyed, his Spirit being thus resisted and refused, God
will be at length wearied, and will not give as much grace as before :
Isa. Ixiii. 10, But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit ; therefore
he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Scevit
infelix amor. Gen. vi. 3, My Spirit shall not always strive with man,
for that he also is flesh/ The heathens did acknowledge that the
TOTTIKOI 6eol, the gods of cities and nations, did for the provocation of
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 235
the inhabitants forsake their altars and temples. The more calls and
convictions we resist in this kind, the more difficult and improbable is
the reducing a sinner to God ; every day he groweth more wicked and
profane. To resist the clamours of conscience is sad, but to weary and
grieve the Spirit is dreadful : Ezek. xxiv. 13, In thy wickedness is
lewdness; because I have purged thee, and thouwast not purged, thou
shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my
fury to rest upon thee. God sets them over the fire till their hearts
begin to be warmed, and then lets the sun remain on them.
[3.] Gross hypocrisy. This is a constant lie, a contempt of God, an
habitual and customary stifling and smothering of checks of conscience;
for their form and profession showeth what they should be, and if they
were what they seem to be, all would be well. Men have light enough
to take on the form of religion, and sin enough to resist the power of it.
And therefore their judgment is the greater ; for their whole life being
a constant rebelling against the light, they are left to perish by their
own deceivings; 2 Thes. ii. 10, 11, Because they received not the
love of the truth, that they might be saved, for this cause God shall
send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie. The car
nal Christian being not brought to true faith and sincere repentance,
God giveth them up that they may be deceived by every vain pre
tence.
[4.] Apostasy from grace received. Men are not only warmed, but
begin to have a taste. They that take up with some profession of the
things of God, but afterwards fall away again to looseness and vanity
and worldliness, they are more left by God than others : Heb. vi. 4-6,
For it is impossible for them who were once enlightened, and have
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to
come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance. For
they dishonour him more, and bring an evil report upon God. The
devil hath more power over them ; as a prisoner that hath made his
escape, if he be taken afterwards, hath more chains put upon him :
*2 Peter ii. 21, 22, For it had been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than after they have known it to turn from
the holy commandment delivered unto them : for it is happened unto
them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit
again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
They themselves are made more incapable of ever owning the ways of
God again ; it is impossible they should renew themselves, it groweth
up into wilful malice : Heb. x. 26, For if we sin wilfully after we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice
for sins. Grace will not pardon them, the Mediator will not intercede
for them. Apostates sunt maximi osores sui ordinis Apostates hate
the ways they have professed : Hosea v. 2, The revolters are pro
found to make slaughter. None so cross and malicious and perverse
in their cause.
[5.] Sottish despair (there is a raging despair, and a sottish despair ;
the one is when conscience is terrified , the other when it is stupefied),
when to custom in sinning there is added a passionate will : Jer. iL
25, Thou sayest, There is no hope ; no, for I have loved strangers,
236 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
and after them will I go ; Jer. xviii. 11, 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. Tlpodiprjatf OVK ecrrlv a&vvdrwv,
men do not use to consult about things that are impossible. It is said
of the Israelites, Exod. vi. 9, They hearkened not unto Moses for
anguish of spirit and for cruel bondage. Lust is so deeply rooted that
they cannot help it ; the case is desperate, they are at a point ; as we
use to say, Past cure, past care ; they grow out of heart, and so lie
down under the power of their lusts ; they resolve to persist in their
sins, to live as they list, and it is to no purpose to speak to them.
Thirdly, Of God s hardening as a father, in a way of the highest
fatherly anger and displeasure. This may be so : Isa. Ixiii. 17,
Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our
heart from thy fear ? This is a partial hardness. There may be
desertion in point of grace, though some tenderness left in the under
standing, that discerneth good and evil ; in the conscience, that is
dissatisfied in its present state ; in the will, that owneth the ways of
God ; so that there is a general purpose to please him in all things.
Yet the heart groweth dead and stupid ; there is an inaptness for
holy things ; they are less sensible of the evil of sin ; they have not
such delight in the word, nor rejoicing in hope, nor freedom for prayer,
nor patience under afflictions, nor complacency in communion with
God. And it is sad when it is so, when to sense there is little differ
ence between them and the wicked ; there is hardness in a stone, and
hardness in a piece of wax. I will show the causes of this, and the
means to cure it.
1. The causes of this are
[1.] Sinning against conscience. There are sins of daily incursion
and sudden surreption ; and there are sins of presumption, into which
God s children may in some rare cases fall, but then they make great
waste and havoc in their souls ; as David s great sin, by which he lost
that free spirit, and was forced to beg a new creation, as if all were to
begin again : Ps. li. 10-12, Create in me a clean heart, God, and
renew a right spirit within me ; cast me not away from thy presence,
and take not thy Holy Spirit from me ; restore unto me the joy of thy
salvation, and uphold me by thy free Spirit. Many are the mischiefs
which come by such sins. Partly God s love is obstructed, that he is
not so ready to do them good : Isa. lix. 2, Your iniquities have separ
ated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from
you, that he will not hear ; that is, the good-will and favour of God
is, as it were, bound up, and hindered from showing itself in all those
gracious effects which otherwise it would put forth for our comfort and
peace. He doth not actually pardon their sins, nor make them par
takers of spiritual benefit sin so ample and full a measure as otherwise
he would ; but holds his hand, and cuts you short in spiritual blessings,
which otherwise he would plentifully dispense unto his people. Partly
they exceedingly weaken the work of grace which is wrought upon
their hearts. Their faith is more dead, their love is more cold than it
was, hope is languid, the spiritual life is interrupted, and at a stand ;
though the seed of God remains, yet it cannot put forth itself with
such vigour and efficacy. Yea, they may never recover such a portion
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 237
of tlie Spirit as they had before : 2 Chron. xvii. 3, Jehoshaphat walked
in the first ways of his father David/ as having some note of blemish
n his latter ways. These sins, in short, as a wound in the body, let
lit our blood and strength. As a prodigal, that hath once broken
after he hath been set up, is not trusted with a like stock again, so
God s children may not recover that largeness of spirit and fulness of
inward strength and comfort which they had before ; as many after a
great disease do not regain that pitch of health which formerly they
had, but may carry the fruits of their disease with them to their graves.
Partly because acts are intermitted. When the soul is distempered, it
is unfit for action. Either duties are omitted, or else done in such an
overly manner as doth increase our distemper, and harden us the more.
In what a sorry fashion did David worship till God awakened his con
science by Nathan! Prayer is interrupted: 1 Peter iii. 7, As heirs
together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.
[2.] Grieving the Spirit: Eph. iv. 30, And grieve not the Holy
Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. All.
sin is a grief to the Spirit, especially filthiness and bitterness. Com
pare this with ver. 29, 31, Let no corrupt communication proceed out
of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that
it may minister grace unto the hearers. Let all bitterness, and wrath,
and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking be put away from you, with
all malice. Now the grieving of the Spirit makes a great breach in
our grace and comfort, as the Spirit is our sanctifier and comforter.
To speak only of the last : When the Spirit is grieved, we have not
such a sense of God s love : For the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us, Horn. v. 5. We
have not that liberty and confidence in prayer we once had : 1 John
iii. 21, Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence
towards God. Nor those lively hopes of glory and final redemption,
in that text, Eph. iv. 30, Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby
ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Nor that comfort in re
proaches, nor courage in afflictions, nor strength to resist sin, nor that
readiness and cheerfulness in obedience that once they had. So that a
Christian is like Sampson when his locks are gone ; all delightful com
munion with God is suspended, and a Christian doth not act like a ser
vant that is in his master s favour.
[3.] Carnal liberty. When a man giveth too much contentment to
the flesh, the spirit or better part is in bonds : Ps. cxix. 37, Turn
uway mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy
way. A man that lets loose the reins to worldly vanity will soon find
hardness coming on his heart, and see a need to ask quickening grace :
Luke xxi. 34, Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life.
Worldly comforts over-affected or immoderately used clog and enslave
the heart, and so we are more unpersuadable and disobedient to the
motions of his Spirit, and the counsels of his grace. Therefore, if we
will take heed that our hearts be not hardened, let them not out too
freely to worldly things, lest they be withdrawn from God ; but rejoice
here as if you rejoiced not, that you may keep up your liberty to
God.
238 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21.
[4.] Pride and self-sufficiency : 2 Chron. xxxii. 31, Howbeit in the
business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto
him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him
to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. Paul was
permitted to be buffeted, that he might be kept humble : 2 Cor. xii. 7,
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance
of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the mes
senger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
"When you trust to yourselves, God leavethyou to yourselves ; and then
we are as a glass without a bottom, broken as soon as out of hand :
James iv. 6, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble/
It is not so much understood of a moral humility, or a lowly carriage
towards men, as of an evangelical humility, which consists in broken-
ness of heart, or a sense of our unworthiness and weakness ; these are
influenced by grace, but others are left to fall and miscarry by their
own presumptuous confidence. And therefore, if we would not incur
any degree of this judgment, we must take heed of pride and spiritual
security. Those that feel the daily and hourly necessity of grace have
more of the supplies of the Spirit, they are oftener waiting upon God :
Ps. xxv. 5, On thee do I wait all the day. Christ hath taught us to
beg daily bread, daily pardon, and daily strength against temptations,
that he might engage us to be often with God, and keep in a constant
dependence on him, that the heart might be kept more awful, tender,
and serious.
[5.] Carelessness and spiritual sloth. When we carelessly entertain
the motions of his Spirit, and lie upon the bed of ease, he is gone :
Cant. v. 2, 3, I sleep, but my heart waketh : it is the voice of my be
loved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove,
iny undefiled : for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the
drops of the night. I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on ? I
have washed my feet, how shall I defile them ? and ver. 6, I rose up to
open to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was
gone/ God s children may stifle many a pressing conviction and
motion in their souls, hang off from the throne of grace and other good
duties, and upon every frivolous pretence keep away from God. This
unkind and ungracious dealing will cost them dear. Neglect of the
means of grace quencheth the Spirit : 1 Thes. v. 19, 20, Quench not
the Spirit ; despise not prophesyings/ Therefore we should be more
diligent in the use of means : Mark iv. 24, Unto you that hear shall
more be given. We must more carefully obey the sanctifying motions
of the Spirit if we mean to avoid hardness of heart.
2. The means to cure it.
[1.] Bewail the evil, and complain of it before God, who alone can
help us. We complain of hard times, of the hard dealings of men, of
hard duties. Durus est hie sermo, this is a hard saying, and who can
hear it ? But we seldom complain of that which we should most com
plain of, hardness of heart. The Lord is pleased with these complaints :
Jer. xxxi. 18, I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus .
Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed
to the yoke. Spiritual distempers must be most laid to heart. God s
children in some degree are inflexible and insensible ; there is too great
SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 21. 239
touchiness, and impatiency to be admonished, too much disobedience to
the Spirit s sanctifying motions ; they are too often benumbed with the
delights of the flesh, and cares of the world.
[2.] Hasten your repentance and return to God : Ps. cxix. 60, I
made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments ; Gal. i. 16,
Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. To press this, let
us consider these things
(1.) How soon God may take an advantage against us we cannot
tell. He hath not told us at what number of calls he will depart, and
give us over to our own hearts ; but he hath bid us not to delay, and
lose the present season : Heb. iii. 7, 8, To-dayifye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts. The command is as express for the time as
for the duty ; there is no season like the TO vvv, the present season. It
is but a flattering presumption to think that God will always stand
waiting. Felix had but one call that we hear of, and he fooled it away
to a more convenient season.
(2.) Every day spent in an unregenerate condition brings us nearer
to destruction, and puts us upon a greater disadvantage : Kom. xiii. 11,
Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Apari, we may
say ; now is our damnation and final impenitency nearer.
(3.) Every call sets us yet nearer still. Sins are ripened by every
call, as iron oft heated and oft quenched is the harder. When men are
often sermon-scorched, they prove at length sermon-proof. The holy
God will not cast his pearls before swine : Isa. Iv. 6, Seek ye the Lord
while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near/
(4.) A presumptuous going on in sin, upon a supposition that we
shall repent at last, is the very next door and step to hell. You wit
tingly continue under the devil s power. Life is uncertain. God may
take you away in the act of sin, as he did Zimri and Cosbi, Korah and
his accomplices ; or he may deny that space to call for mercy that you
think of, for death doth not always give warning ; or by an apoplexy, or
lethargy, or some stupefying distemper, he may deprive you of the use
of your reason. Let this rouse and awaken you out of your fond pre
sumptions.
[3.] Beware of tendencies to it, when the heart begins to harden ;
as
(1.) When you are not sensible of God s withdrawings, when there
are any suspensions of his grace, the comfort and conduct of his Spirit,
and the soul is stupid. It is sad not to be sensible of the accesses and
recesses of the Spirit : Mat. ix. 25, The days shall come when the
bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. Grace
stands in a continual watchfulness and observation of all God s deal
ings. Felt desertions are grievous, but not so dangerous as those that
are unfelt. It is some good degree of grace not to be quiet without
God.
(2.) When you scorn at reproof, when you are not only actors, but
defenders of sin, and bear up yourselves impudently and stubbornly in
your transgressions : Jer. vi. 10, To whom shall I speak and give
warning, that they may hear ? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and
they cannot hearken ; behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a
reproach. They are of an unteachable, untractable disposition ; they
240 SERMONS UPON EXODUS IV. 2L
think we rail when we do reprove. The devil hath then two victories
one by the scorn and opposition that is cast on the reprover, and the
other by the hardening of the heart of the fretting and reproved sin
ner ; that anger that should be turned upon the sin is turned upon the
reproof.
"(3.) When ordinances grow powerless. You live under ordinances,
and receive no profit by them ; you have much means, and can see no
fruit : Isa. vi. 9, 10, Hear ye indeed, but understand not ; and see ye
indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make
their ears heavy, and shut their eyes ; lest they see with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and
be healed. The word is powerful ; if it softens not, it hardens.
(4.) When our worldly comforts are apt to prove a snare to us : Mai.
ii. 2, I will curse your blessings, yea, I have cursed them already, be
cause ye do not lay it to heart. When your table is made your snare,
your meat becomes your poison, your estate is but as golden fetters to
bind and chain your heart to the world ; your honours blow you up.
When you do not take comforts as the mercies and blessings of God, to
praise him for them, and to devote yourselves in the strength of them
to his service.
(5.) When corrections go away without fruit : Jer. v. 3, Thou hast
stricken them, but they have not grieved ; thou hast consumed them,
but they have refused to receive correction ; they have made their faces
harder than a rock, they have refused to return. God will have an
account of every dispensation ; afflictions are upon the register as well
as mercies. Christians should never advance more in Christianity than
under the cross.
(6.) When we are lazy and loath to admit Christ into the heart.
It being thronged with creature comforts, we keep him at the door
knocking, and will not open to him : Eev. iii. 20, Behold, I stand at
the door and knock ; Cant. v. 3, c I have put off my coat, how shall
I put it on ? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them ? This
laziness and spiritual security is a cause and beginning of hardness of
heart.
(7.) When trivial and slight temptations prevail against the sense
of our duty ; when for a piece of bread, and handfuls of barley they
will transgress, and sell the righteous for a pair of shoes ; when they
are as a stone to God s counsels, but as wax to all other things.
(8.) When the heart grows vain and frothy ; for a slight heart will
be an hard heart ; or God gives men over to a reprobate sense and an
injudicious mind. These are the forerunners of hardness of heart,
which we should beware of, and carefully watch against.
SEBMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
It (i.e., the a^ed of the woman) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt
bruise his heel. GEN. iii. 15.
THESE words are a part of the gospel preached in paradise, or the
first promise of grace and life made to mankind, now fallen and dead
in sin. As God was cursing the serpent, he draweth out this comfort to
our first parents, who were confounded with the sense of sin and their
defection from God. Satan s condemnation is our salvation. He did
the first mischief, therefore the crushing of his head giveth hope of our
deliverance out of that state of misery into which he hath plunged us.
The words are dark in comparison of the larger explications of the
grace of God by Jesus Christ which were after delivered to the church.
Who would look for a great tree in a little seed ? Yet the seminal
virtue doth afterward diffuse and dilate itself into all those stately and
lofty branches in which the fowls of the air do take up their lodging
and shelter. So do these few words contain all the articles and
mysteries of the Christian faith, which are the fountains of our solid
peace and consolation. In the seed of the woman is contained all the
doctrine concerning the incarnation of the Son of God ; in the bruising
of his heel, his death and sufferings ; in the crushing of the serpent s
head, his glorious victory and conquest. As obscure as the words are,
an eagle-eyed and discerning faith could pick a great deal of comfort
out of them. The ol TrpeafivTepot, the elders, mentioned Heb. xi.
2, the antediluvian fathers, so famous throughout all ages for their
laith and confidence in God, had no other gospel to live upon. Abel,
that offered a better sacrifice than Cain, Enoch, that walked with God,
Noah, that prepared the ark, did all that they did in the strength and
upon the encouragement of this promise.
The words are considerable
1. For the person who speaketh them, the Lord God himself, who
was the first preacher of the gospel in paradise. The draught and
plot was in his bosom long before, but now it cometh out of his mouth.
2. For the occasion when they were spoken. When God hath been
but newly provoked and offended by sin, and man, from his creature
and subject, was become his enemy and rebel, the offended God comes
with a promise in his mouth. Adam could look for nothing but that
God should repeat to him the whole beadroll of curses wherein he had
* Treacked the fifth of November.
VOL. XY1I. Q
242 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
involved himself, but God maketh known the great design of his grace.
Once more, the Lord God was now cursing the serpent, and in the
midst of the curses promiseth the great blessing of the Messiah. Thus
doth God in wrath remember mercy, Hab. iii. 2. Yea, man s sentence
was not yet pronounced. The Lord God had examined him, ver. 8-10,
but before the doom there breaketh out a promise of mercy. Thus
mercy gets the start of justice, and triumpheth and rejoiceth over it in
our behalf : James ii. 13, Mercy rejoiceth against judgment."
3. They are considerable for their matter, for they intimate a victory
over Satan, and that in the nature which was foiled so lately. Man by
sin had not only incurred God s wrath, but put himself under the power
of the devil, who had a legal power over fallen man, such as the execu
tioner hath from the judge over the condemned person, and a tyrannical
power by conquest, man being seduced by him from God. Therefore
it is good news to hear of a victory over Satan, and that his power
shall be destroyed.
In the former part of the verse you have the combat ; in the text
the success.
[1.] The conflict and combat : And I will put enmity between thee
and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. It cannot be
understood of the hatred and antipathy between men and serpents,
though that be alluded unto. To what end should God thunder curses
and condemnation upon the serpent, a brute creature, that understood
them not ? Therefore it is meant of the war between the devil and
mankind, Satan and his instruments ; for wicked men are called his
seed : John viii. 44, Ye are of your father the devil ; and Ignatius
calleth Menander and Basilides, rrjv rov tcarjov ofaos 7rapa<f>voiSa,
the spawn of the old serpent. And on the other side, the seed of the
woman, by way of eminency, Christ and his confederates. But I shall
not consider the conflict now as carried on between the two seeds, but
between the two heads, Christ the prince of life, and the devil who
hath the power of death, Heb. ii. 14. It was begun between the
serpent and the woman ; it is carried on between the seed of the woman
and the seed of the serpent : but the conflict is ended by the destruc
tion of one of the heads ; the prince of death is destroyed by the prince
of life.
[2.] The success and issue of the combat Where observe (1.)
What the seed of the woman doth against the serpent, He shall
bruise thy head ; (2.) What the serpent doth against the seed of the
woman, Thou shalt bruise his heel.
(1.) There is something common to both ; for the word bruised is
used promiscuously both of the serpent and the seed of the woman.
In this war, as usually in all others, there are wounds given on both sides;
the devil bruiseth Christ, and Christ bruiseth Satan.
(2.) There is a disparity of the event, He shall bruise thy head, r
and Thou shalt bruise his .heel ; where there is a plain allusion to
treading upon a serpent. Wounds on the head are deadly to serpents,
but wounds in the body are not so grievous and dangerous ; and
a serpent trod upon, seeketh to do all the mischief it can to the
foot by which it is crushed. The wound given to the head is mor
tal, but the wound given to the heel may be healed. The seed of
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 243
the woman may be cured, but Satan s power cannot be restored. The
devil cannot reach to the head, but the heel only, which is far from any
vital part.
(1st.) For the first clause, It shall bruise thy head. The seed of
the woman crushed the serpent s head, whereby is meant the overthrow
and destruction of his power and works : John xii. 31, Now shall the
prince of this world be cast out ; 1 John iii. 8, For this purpose the
Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the
devil. The head being bruised, strength and life is perished. His
kingdom and strength is his head ; that is gone, that tcpd? Oavdrov,
that power of death/ Heb. ii. 14, the power to deceive and detain
captive souls: Col. i. 13, Who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness.
(2d.) For the other clause, Thou shalt bruise his heel. Where
(1.) Note the intention of the serpent, who would destroy the kingdom
of the Redeemer if he could ; but he can only reach the heel, not the
head. (2.) The greatness of Christ s sufferings ; his heel was bruised,
as he endured the painful, shameful, accursed death of the cross.
Doct. That Jesus Christ, the seed of the woman, is at enmity with
Satan, and hath entered the lists with him ; and though bruised in the
conflict, yet he finally overcometh him, and subverteth his kingdom.
I. That Jesus Christ is the seed of the woman. That he is one of
her seed is past doubt, since he was born of the Virgin, a daughter of
Eve. That he is The seed, the most eminent of all the stock,
appeareth by the dignity of his person, God made flesh : John i. 14,
The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us ; or, God manifested
in the flesh, 1 Tim. iii. 16. As also by his miraculous conception :
Luke i. 35, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of
the highest shall overshadow thee ; therefore also that holy thing which
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. So Mat. i. 23,
A Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they
shall call his name Emanuel, which, being interpreted, is God with us.
He that was God-man in one person, and thus wonderfully conceived,
without a male or company of man, might well be looked upon as the
seed of the woman here spoken of. Now, if you ask what necessity
there was that the conqueror should be the seed of the woman, because
the flesh of Christ is the bread of life, and the food of our faith ? I
shall a little insist upon the conveniency and agreeableness of it.
1. That thereby he might be made under the law, which was given to
the whole nature of man : Gal. iv. 4, God sent forth his Son, made of
a woman, made under the law. He that came to repair our lost con
dition needed to subject himself to the precepts of God s law, that by
obedience he might recover what by disobedience was lost, and might
be to us a fountain and pattern of holiness in our nature ; and there
fore Christ in our nature truly subjected himself, and conformed him
self to the law of God, that general and moral law which all men are
obliged unto. He performed the duties of the first table : Luke ii. 49,
Wist ye not that I must be about my Father s business ? He took
all occasions to glorify God. And the duties of the second table, as to
his natural and reputed parents : Luke ii. 51, He went down with
them, and was subject to them.
2. That he might in the same nature suffer the penalty and curse of
244 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
the law, as well as fulfil the duty of it, arid so make satisfaction for our
sins, which as God he could not do. He was made sin for us, 2 Cor.
v. 21, and was made a curse for us/ Gal. iii. 13 ; Phil. ii. 8, He
became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. There was a
curse denounced against those who yielded not personal obedience ;
and he came in the sinner s room to undergo it, that the justice of God
might be eminently demonstrated, the lawgiver vindicated, and the
breach that was made in the frame of government repaired, and God
manifested to be holy, and an hater of sin, and yet the sinner saved
from destruction.
3. That in the same nature which was foiled he might conquer Satan.
As a tempter he conquered him hand to hand in a personal conflict,
repelling his temptations, Mat. iv. As a tormentor, and one that had
the power of death, so he conquered him by his death on the cross :
Heb. ii. 14, Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood, he also himself took part of the same, that through death he
might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.
Christ would stoop to the greatest indignities to free us from this
enemy, and to put mankind again into a condition of safety and happi
ness, that he having conquered, they might also conquer.
4. That he might take compassion of our infirmities, having experi
mented them in his own person. Therefore he assumed human nature
that he might have assurance of this : Heb. ii. 17, 18, Wherefore in
all things it behoved him to be like unto his brethren, that he might
be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining unto God,
to make reconciliation for the sins of the people ; for in that he him
self hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are
tempted. We have now assurance that he will pity us, more than one
who is a stranger to our blood. He hath had trial of our nature and
our miseries and temptations, and will be more sensible of the heart of
a tempted man, and will mind and attend upon our business as his own.
5. That he might take possession of heaven for us in our nature :
John xiv. 2, 3, I go to prepare a place for you ; and if I go and pre
pare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself, that
where I am, there ye may be also. The devil comes to depress our
nature, and Christ came to exalt it ; he endeavoured to make us lose
paradise, and Christ gave us heaven. Man fallen is strangely haunted
with doubts about the other world. Now he that came to save us and
heal us did himself in our nature rise from the dead, that he might
give us a visible demonstration of the life to come, which he had
promised to us, that we might more regard the offer. He himself hath
seized upon it, that the rest of the seed may be possessed of it ; and
hath carried our nature thither, that in time our persons may be
translated.
6. That after he had been a sacrifice for sin, and conquered death by
his resurrection, he might also triumph over the devil, and lead cap
tivity captive, and give gifts to men in the very act of his ascension
into heaven : Eph. iv. 8, Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on
high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Having
foiled his enemies on the cross, it is fit he should triumph over them, to
assure the world of his conquest, and give such a measure of his gifts
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 245
and graces to his church as might help them to scatter the ranks of
the battle. His victory is shown to be complete as to the head ; and
as to the rest of the seed of the woman, who are all willing to enter
into confederacy with him, he hath left ordinances and an almighty
Spirit, that they may get to heaven after him.
II. That Christ is at enmity with Satan, and hath entered into the
conflict with him.
1. We must state the enmity between Christ and his confederates,
and Satan and his instruments. For it is said in the beginning of the
verse, I will put enmity between thy seed and her seed ; which is
principally to be understood of the Lord Christ, and of his confederates
in the second place ; against Satan in the first place, and his instru
ments on the other side. There is a double enmity which Christ hath
against Satan, and so he undertakes the war against him as contrary to
his nature and office.
[1.] There is a perfect enmity between the nature of Christ and the
nature of the devil. The nature of Satan is sinful, murderous, and
destructive ; for it is said, he was a liar and murderer from the begin
ning, John viii. 44 ; and 1 John iii. 8, He that committeth sin is of
the devil ; for the devil sinneth from the beginning : for this purpose
the Sou of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the
devil ; again, ver. 12, Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and
slew his brother : and wherefore slew he him ? because his own works
were evil, and his brother s righteous. Now the nature of Christ is
quite contrary. It is the devil s work to do all the hurt that he can to the
bodies and souls of men ; and it is Christ s work to do good, and only
good : Acts x. 38, God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that
were oppressed with the devil ; for God was with him. Christ did
nothing by way of malice and revenge ; he used not the power that he
had to make men blind or lame, or to kill any; no, not his worst
enemies, when he could easily do it, and justly might have done it.
No ; he went up and down giving sight to the blind, limbs to the lame,
health to the sick, life to the dead. He rebuked his disciples when they
tempted him to destroy some for their contempt by calling for fire
from heaven, telling them they know not what manner of spirit they
were of ; for the Son of man is not come to destroy men s lives, but to
save them, Luke ix. 55, 56. It was unlike his spirit and design. All
his miracles were acts of relief and favour, not pompous, not destruc
tive ; bating only two, the blasting the unfruitful fig-tree, which was
an emblematical warning to the Jews, and suffering the devil to enter
into the herd of swine, which was a necessary demonstration of the
devil s malice and destructive cruelty, who, if he could not afflict and
destroy men, would enter into the herd of swine, that the poor crea
tures might perish in the sea. Thus there was a perfect contrariety
of nature between Christ and Satan.
[2.] An enmity proper to his office and design. For he came to
destroy the works of the devil, 1 John iii. 8 ; and was set up to dis
solve that sin and misery which he had brought upon the world. The
devil sought the misery and destruction of mankind, but Christ sought
our salvation. Satan is the great destroyer of the creation, and Christ
246 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
is the repairer of it. Now salvation and destruction are diametrically
opposite ; so are the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan, the
function and office of Christ as a saviour, and the purpose and design
of the devil as Abaddon, the destroyer. And therefore Christ proveth
that he had not the least confederacy with Satan ; for then his king
dom would be divided against itself, and how could it stand ? Mat.
xii. 25, 26. It was impossible the Saviour could befriend the destroyer,
or the destroyer the Saviour. No ; their ends and designs are perfectly
opposite.
Now, as there is such an enmity between Christ and Satan, so there
is between the rest of the confederates on either side.
(1.) An enmity or contrariety of nature. The seed of the serpent
inherits his venomous qualities ; for as these are an estate opposite to
God, so they are to the people of God, and seek their destruction by
all cruel and bloody means. All people of a false religion, whether
infidels, idolaters, or heretics, are of bloody and desperate principles,
their minds being efFerated by their false religion, and the influence of
their great guide and leader, who is the devil : Jude 11, They have
gone in the way of Cain.
Let me instance in antichrist and his abettors and adherents, who is
the devil s eldest son. Witness their bloody practices that have been
acted on the stage of Christendom for so many years. What a deal
of blood hath been sucked by these leeches in England in Queen Mary s
days, in Germany, France, and the Netherlands ! Witness of late
their horrible slaughters in Ireland, Piedmont, and the hellish powder
plot, the deliverance from which we commemorate this day ; this was
a flash of their malice, by which they would have blown up the whole
state at once. On the other side, Christ conveyeth his holy, meek, and
lamb-like nature to his sincere worshippers and followers. There is
indeed a contrariety of nature to the carnal, so as they do not run with
them into the same excess of riot, so as their righteous souls are vexed
with the impure conversation of the wicked, so as they are grieved to
see people go by droves to hell, and list themselves in the devil s service.
But there is no destructive enmity. If they hate the wicked, it is with
an hatred opposite to the love of complacency, but not with an hatred
opposite to the love of good-will. There is an enmity to Satan, and
his works, yet a pity to the persons inveigled and deceived by him.
The wicked hate that holy disposition which is in the hearts of God s
people, and therefore malign and persecute them. But on the other
side there is a contrariety of disposition : Prov. xxix. 27, An unjust
man is an abomination to the just, and he that is upright in the way
is abomination to the wicked. There is odium offensionis, but not
inimicitice. ; an hatred of offence, but not of enmity. They bear with
them with patience, pursue their recovery, strive to rescue poor captives
out of the snares of the devil, but aim not at their destruction : 2 Tim.
ii. 25, 26, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of
the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of
the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
(2.) There is an enmity of design. As Christ actually employeth
arty as soldiers to fight under his banner, so they participate of the
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 247
enmity of his design and office. Every private Christian is one of
Christ s soldiers ; for we give up our faculties and powers as weapons :
Rom. vi. 13, Yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from
the dead, and your members as instruments/ or weapons, oVXa, of
righteousness unto God. And the graces of the Spirit are called
armour of light : Rom. xiii. 12, Let us cast off the works of darkness,
and let us put on the armour of light. And we are bidden to put on
the whole armour of God, because we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places,
Eph. vi. 11, 12. The ministers and those in a public station are
leaders under Christ the general, and are by office and employment
engaged in this warfare against the kingdom of the devil. And there
fore the apostle biddeth Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ, 2 Tim. ii. 3 ; and the apostle says, 2 Cor. x. 4, The
weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the
pulling down of strongholds. They must set themselves against the
devil and his kingdom.
2. The enmity being such between the seeds, Christ sets upon his
business to destroy Satan s power and works.
[1.] His power. Satan hath a twofold power over fallen man legal
and usurped.
(1.) The legal power is that which the apostle calleth the power of
death, and the terrors which follow upon it : Heb. ii. 14, 15, That
through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that
is, the devil ; and deliver them who through fear of death were all
their lifetime subject to bondage. The devil hath no power, as a
judge, to condemn sinners: he is not dominus mortis, the Lord of
death ; but minister mortis, the minister of death ; for, being con
demned of God, the poor sinner is put into his hand that he may either
terrify or stupefy him, and so more and more involve him in the curse
of God s broken law ; and also he may hasten his death and everlasting
destruction.
(2.) Satan hath a tyrannical usurped power. So the devils are
called rulers of the darkness of this world, Eph. vi. 12, the blind,
idolatrous, superstitious world ; and Satan is called The prince of this
world/ John xiv. 30, and The God of this world/ 2 Cor. iv. 4. God
made him an executioner, but we make him a prince, a ruler, and a
God. Now Christ, as a priest, disannulleth his legal power by his
death and the merit of his sacrifice ; and Christ, as a true king, and
head both of men and angels, pulls down Satan as an usurper, delivers
the poor captive souls out of his power ; and as a prophet he dis-
covereth his cheats and delusions.
[2.] His works. There is a twofold work of Satan the work of the
devil without us, or the work of the devil within us.
(1.) The work of the devil without us is a false religion, or those
idolatries and superstitions by which Satan s reign and empire is upheld
in the world. This is destroyed by the doctrine of the gospel, accom
panied with the all-powerful Spirit of God. And therefore, when the
gospel was first preached by Christ s messengers, the devil fell from
that great and unlimited power which he had before in the world :
248 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
Luke x. 18, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. It is an
allusion to his first fall ; as lightning flasheth and vanisheth, and never
recollecteth itself again, so Now shall the prince of this world be cast
out, John xii. 31. When Christ did first set upon the redemption of
mankind, the apostles went abroad to beat the devil, and hunt him
out of his territories ; and they did it with great effect. Therefore
this is made one argument by which the Spirit doth convince us of the
truth of the gospel : John xvi. 11, He shall convince the world of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. The silencing
of his oracles, the suppressing of his superstitions, the destroying of the
kingdom of wickedness and darkness, was an apparent evidence of the
truth of the gospel. The old religion, by which the devil s kingdom
was supported everywhere, went to wrack , no more the same temples,
the same rites, the same gods ; all was made to stoop and bow before
God as worshipped in Christ.
(2.) There is the work of the devil within us. This concerneth the
recovering particular persons out of the snare of the devil, who were
taken captive by him at his will and pleasure. Here we must dis
tinguish between the purchase and application. The purchase was
made when Christ died : Col. ii. 15, Having spoiled principalities and
powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it ;
that is, on his cross. Christ s death was Satan s overthrow ; then- was
the deadly blow given to his power and kingdom. This was the price
given for our ransom, and the great means of disannulling all that
power Satan had before. The application is begun in our conversion ;
for then we are said to be turned from Satan unto God : Acts xxvi. 18,
1 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan unto God. Then we are rescued out of the devil s
clutches, and adopted into God s family, that, being made children, we
may have a child s portion.
III. That in this conflict his heel was wounded, bitten, or bruised
by the serpent.
1. Certain it is that Christ was bruised in the enterprise ; which
showeth how much we should value our salvation, since it costs so dear
as the precious blood of the Son of God incarnate : 1 Peter i. 18, 19,
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, &c., but with the precious blood of Christ, as
of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He thought not his
whole humiliation, from first to last, too much for the overthrowing of
the devil s kingdom, nor any price too dear to redeem poor captive
souls.
2. But how was he bruised by the serpent ? Certainly on the one
hand Christ s sufferings were the effects of man s sin and God s hatred
against sin and his governing justice ; for it is said, Isa. liii. 10, ( It
pleased the Father to bruise him. Unless it had pleased the Lord to
bruise him, Satan could never have bruised him. On the other side,
they were also the effects of the malice and rage of the devil and his
instruments, who was now with the sword s-point and closing stroke
with Christ, and doing the worst he could against him. In his whole
life he endured many outward troubles from Satan s instruments ; for
all his life long he was a man of sorrows, wounded and bruised by Satan
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 249
and his instruments: John viii. 44, Ye are of your father the devil,
and the lusts of your father ye will do ; he was a murderer from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in
him. But the closing stroke was at last ; then did the serpent most
eminently bruise his heel. When Judas contrived the plot, it is said,
the devil entered into him : Luke xxii. 3, Then entered Satan into
Judas Iscariot, being one of the twelve. When the high priest s
servants come to take him, he telleth them, Luke xxii. 53, This is
your hour, and the power of darkness. The power of darkness at
length did prevail so far as to cause his shameful death ; this was their
day.
3. It was only his heel that was bruised. It could go no further ;
for though his bodily life was taken away, yet his head and mediatory
power was not touched : Acts ii. 36, This same Jesus whom ye have
crucified, God hath made both Lord and Christ. Again, his bodily
life was taken away but for awhile. God would not leave his soul in
the grave : Ps. xvi. 10, Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither
wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. The counsel and
purpose of God concerning man s redemption had then been wholly
frustrated : For if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain ; ye are yet
in your sins, 1 Cor. xv. 17. Once more, though Christ was bruised,
yet He was not conquered. When the Jews and Roman soldiers were
spoiling him, and parting his garments, then was he spoiling principal
ities and powers ; and when Satan and his instruments were triumphing
over the Son of God, then was he triumphing over all the devils in hell,
for by death he destroyed him that had the power of death. This was
a necessary means of conquest ; and Christ must overcome Satan by
suffering himself to be overcome visibly by him. The devil doth not
conquer Christ by death, but Christ doth conquer him. And still all
the temptations of the devil are but the wounding of the heel ; the
loss is not great to Christ or his members : as Dan is compared to a
serpent by the way, or an adder in the path, that biteth the horse-
heels, so that his rider shall fall backward, Gen. Ixix. 17. Such is the
craft of Satan; he doth not usually bring temptations before our
reason, but they enter in at the backdoor of sensual appetite ; but though
he bite the heel, the life of grace is secured. Satan prevailed so far
against Christ that his wicked instruments brought him to the cross,
pursued him to the death there. But, 2 Cor. xiii. 4, Though he was
crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God ; or,
as it is in 1 Peter iii. 18, Being put to death in the flesh, but quick
ened by the Spirit. So for Christians, he may divers ways wound and
afflict us in our outward interests, but the inner man is safe : 2 Cor.
iv. 16, Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is
renewed day by day. Nay, we may be bruised in the heel by divers
temptations and slips into sin ; yet the vitals of grace are not hurt,
there is no total extinction of our love to God.
I should come now to the fourth branch, that though Christ was
bruised in the conflict, yet it endeth in Satan s total overthrow. His
heel was bruised, but Satan s head was crushed. But of that anon.
In the meantime, by way of use, let me press you cheerfully to
remember and celebrate this victory of Christ. The duty we are
250 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
engaging in is an eucharist, and we come to rejoice in God our Saviour.
Let me bespeak you, in the psalmist s words, Ps. xcviii. 1, sing
unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvellous things ; his
right hand and his holy arm have gotten him the victory ; or, Ps.
cxviii. 15, 16, The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the taber
nacle of the righteous ; the right hand of the Lord doth valiantly ; the
right hand of the Lord is exalted ; the right hand of the Lord doth
valiantly ; Ps. cvi. 2, Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord ?
who can show forth all his praise ?
[1.] The conqueror is the seed of the woman, or the Son of God
incarnate. Oh ! let us bless God for so great a mercy : Luke i. 68-76,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel ; for he hath visited and re
deemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in
the house of his servant David ; 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, that he
would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hands of our
enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before him all the days of our life/ What ! shall the Son of God come
from heaven to subdue the kingdom of Satan, and to deliver men from
this bondage, and we be no more affected with it ?
[2.] The manner of overcoming ; it is by suffering a shameful, pain
ful, and accursed death : Rev. i. 5, 6, Unto him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood, and made us kings and
priests to God and his Father ; to him be glory and dominion for ever
and ever, Amen/ Again, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and
glory, and blessing, Rev. v. 12 ; and ver. 9, For thou wast slain, and
hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and
tongue, and people, and nation ; that by a death which he deserved
not he should destroy the death which we deserved.
[3.] Who is overcome ? The devil : Rev. xii. 10, Now is come
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of
his Christ ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused
them before our God day and night ; ver. 11, And they overcame
him by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony ; and
they loved not their lives unto the death ; ver. 12, Therefore rejoice,
ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them : woe to the inhabitants of the
earth and of the sea ; for the devil is come down unto you, having great
wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. O chris-
tians ! what will raise your hearts in thanksgiving to God, if not these
three arguments which I have plainly mentioned to you ? for the
matter needeth no descants. The incarnation of the Son of God, who
came as the seed of the woman, that he might free mankind from the
power the devil had over them by sin. Then the merit and satisfaction
of our Saviour, for he was bruised in his heel. And then the dissolu
tion of Satan s power, and the freeing of mankind out of his hands,
either as a tempter or a tormentor.
[4.] The effects of the victory when it is applied to us. I shall
mention three
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 251
(1.) Our conversion to God, and the destruction of sin in our hearts,
or our actual deliverance from Satan: Luke xi. 21, 22, When a
strong man armed keepeth his palace, 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.
This was our case ; all was in a sinful quiet and peace. When wind
and tide go together, no wonder if their be a calm. Satan s suggestions
and our corruptions suited the one with the other. But blessed be
God that this carnal security is disturbed, that the kingdom of God is
come upon us ; that Christ, by a sacred rescue, hath dispossessed Satan,
and destroyed sin. Oh ! let us give thanks unto the Father, who
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
light ; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated
us into the kingdom of his dear Son, Col. i. 12, 13.
(2.) Kemission of sins : Acts xxvi. 18, To open their eyes, and to
turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto
God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance
among them that are sanctified, by faith that is in me ; Col. i. 13, 14,
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated
us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Christ s subjects have
the privileges of his kingdom. Now 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 ; who pardoneth all thy iniquities, and
healeth all thy diseases, Ps. ciii. 1-3.
(3.) Our own personal victory over Satan s temptations. In part
now. We renew that covenant now, wherein we engaged to fight
against Satan : 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. Fully hereafter : Kom. xvi. 20. The
God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The God of
peace, as pacified in Christ. Now this is matter of thanksgiving : 1
Cor. xv. 57, Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ ; that Christ will take us along with him in his
triumphant chariot, and help our weak faith and faint hope, and that
we may conquer the tempter and accuser.
IV. Though Christ s heel was bruised in the conflict, yet it endeth
in Satans final overthrow ; for his head was crushed, which noteth the
subversion of his power and kingdom.
To explain this, we must consider (1.) What is the power of
Satan ; (2.) How far Satan was destroyed by Christ.
First, What is the power of Satan ? It lieth in sin. And Christ
destroyed him, as he made an end of sin, and brought in everlasting
righteousness, and made reconciliation for iniquities, Dan. ix. 24 ;
namely, as he reconciled man to God, and restored God s image and
life eternal. In short, the power of Satan may be considered either
as to single persons, or his interest in the corrupt world, or the
tiinful race of apostate Adam, who in their degenerate estate make up a
confederacy or party, that may be called the kingdom of the devil.
1. As to single and individual persons ; all his power over them is
by reason of sin, which was introduced by his subtlety and malice.
There are three things in sin the power, the guilt, the being.
252 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
Whilst any of these remain, Satan hath some power ; and all these
Christ came to dissolve, but by several means and at several times.
[1.] The devil s power lieth in the corruption of our natures ; for
men continuing in the apostasy from God are of Satan s party : Eph.
ii. 1-3, And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins ; wherein in time past ye walked, according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that
now worketh in the children of disobedience ; among whom also we all
had our conversation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh, and of the mind. This was the power that
Satan had over us, to rule us and govern us by the lusts of the flesh.
This was our daily walk and trade, without any remorse for it, or any
desire to change our condition. And we are the more confirmed in it
by the general and corrupt example of those among whom we live.
Now, whilst we follow these sinful motions and suggestions, Satan is
our prince and God ; the corrupt nature maketh us readily to entertain
his motions, and we are taken captive by him at his will and pleasure,
2 Tim. ii. 26.
Now how doth Christ take away this power ?
I answer By converting grace, which is not only a turning from
sin to God, but from Satan to God : Acts xxvi. 18, To open their eyes,
and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan
to God ; whereby the reign of sin is broken ; for as long as sin reigneth,
Satan is in peaceable possession: Luke xi. 21, When a strong man
armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace ; and the devil, who
hath lost his seat in heaven, hath still a throne in the hearts of men,
and lords it over them as his slaves. Now the reign of sin is broken
when Christ puts an enmity into your hearts against it : I will put
enmity between thy seed and her seed ; for sin dieth as your love to
it dieth, and is mortified and subdued as your enmity increaseth.
Well, then, they that are converted to God are possessed with a spirit
of enmity to Satan and his ways, such as they had not before whilst
they remained in the degenerate estate. Therefore it is said, Ezek.
xxxvi. 26, A new heart will I also give to you, and a new spirit will
I put within you ; such as none else have till the Redeemer work upon
them : 1 Cor. ii. 12, We have received not the spirit of the world, but
the Spirit which is of God. The spirit which possesseth the generality
of men is the worldly spirit that inclineth to earthly and sensual sat
isfactions ; but this Spirit maketh them look after the great things
promised by Christ, and the great things required by Christ ; in short,
a spirit quite opposite to the satanical spirit. The satanical spirit is
contrary to God and man. To God: Col. i. 21, And you that were
sometimes alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet
now hath he reconciled. To man : James iv. 5, The spirit that
dwelleth in us lusteth to envy. But this spirit begetteth in us love to
God and man, that we may seek his glory and the good of others.
Now till this spirit be planted in us, we have not changed parties and
masters. The being of sin is found in all, but the reign only in the
unconverted ; therefore the reign of sin must be broken by the dwell
ing of this spirit in us. Sin will put strongly for the throne again, but
you must pray earnestly : Ps. cxix. 133, Order my steps in thy word ;
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 253
and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. And watch con
stantly, as ever mindful of your baptismal vow and covenant : Rom.
vi. 11, Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And then you will
find Christ overcoming more and more the satanical spirit, and enlarg
ing you into the liberty of God s children.
[2.] The guilt of sin, which is an obligation to punishment, and
ariseth from the sentence of condemnation pronounced by the law
against sinners. Our misery ariseth first from the violation of the
precept of the law, and then from the sanction and penalty threatened.
And so also therein lieth Satan s power, as we are obnoxious to the
wrath of God ; for therein he is the minister and executioner of death,
as God maketh use of all his creatures according to their inclination.
And so this wrathful revengeful creature is the instrument of his wrath.
He hath an advantage against us by the law of God, the precepts
whereof we have broken, and so incurred the penalty ; and so Satan
cometh on as one that hath the power of death. Those obstinate and
careless souls who refuse the government of the Lord s grace and spirit
are put into his hands ; as when the Spirit of the Lord departed from
Saul, an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him, 1 Sam. xvi. 14. He
doth or may terrify and afright the consciences of men with the dread
ful expectation of death and the consequences of it, especially the sick
and the dying. He that formerly tempted then beginneth to trouble ;
and he that formerly showed you the pleasant baits of sin will then
show you the hook ; he who now representeth pardon easy, will then
represent it as impossible. And when death cometh, he hath power to
hale away the sinner to torments ; for as the good angels carry the
souls of the faithful to Christ, Luke xvi. 22, 23, so probably the devil
hath a power to carry them to hell. Now, as the devil hath this power
of death, he bringeth men into sin that he may bring them into terror.
Yea, Satan hath a great hand in the troubles of conscience which befall
God s children.
Well, then, how is this power destroyed ? By satisfying the law,
Christ destroyeth the power of the devil. For first, he blotted out
the handwriting that was against us, and then spoiled principalities
and powers, Col. ii. 14, 15. And when he doth actually justify, we
feel the comfort and benefit of it : Rom. viii. 33, 34, Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God s elect ? It is God that justifieth : who
shall condemn ? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God ; who also maketh intercession
for us. Our advocate is more gracious in court than our accuser.
Having paid our ransom, and interceding for us and pleading it,
\\hat accusation from the law can stand against those who have
canbraced this gospel?
[3.] The being of sin ; for while it remaineth there is somewhat of
Satan left which he worketh upon. There is a remnant of his seed in the
best : the godly are yet in the way, but not at the end of the journey ;
and therefore he hath leave to assault them while they are here ; but
Christ will perfect the conquest which he has begun, and so the very
being of sin shall at length be taken away : Jude 24, To him that
is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the
254 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
presence of his glory ; and Eph. v. 27, That he might present it to-
himself, a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing ;
but that it should be holy and without blemish. At death sin is
totally disannulled, the physician of our souls will then perfect the
cure. As in the first moment of our birth we were sinners, so in the
moment of our expiration all sin dieth. Christ taketh that time to
finish his work. No sinner can enter into the state of bliss ; but the
veil of the flesh being rent, we are immediately admitted into the sight
of God, and so made exactly perfect.
2. As to the general case, or his interest in the corrupt world. It is
true the kingdom of Satan yet remaineth ; but he doth and shall divide
the spoil with the strong : Isa. liii. 12, Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong/
And though his doctrine and religion meeteth with opposition in the
world, yet it doth prevail upon opposition, and against opposition, and
by opposition ; when in the seasons of it he cometh to set his kingdom
on foot : Eev. vi. 2, I saw a white horse, and he that sat on him had
a bow, and a crown was given unto him ; and he went forth conquering
and to conquer. This is an emblematical representation of the rise
and progress of Christ s kingdom. Where you may note his furniture,
a crown and a bow. The crown noteth his dignity, the bow his
armour and strength : Ps. xlv. 3-5, Gird on thy sword upon thy thigh,
thou most mighty, with thy glory and majesty ; and in thy majesty
ride prosperously, because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness ;
and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things : thine arrows are
sharp in the heart of the king s enemies, whereby the people fall under
thee. Christ having the grant of a kingdom over the nations, is every
way furnished with power to obtain it, by means proper to the medi
atory dispensation, by his word, Spirit, and providence.
[1.] His word, which is called The rod of his strength, Ps. ex. 2 ;
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God,
2 Cor. x. 4. When Christ will work, the world cannot resist its con
vincing power ; those that feel it not fear it : John iii. 20, Every one
that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved.
[2.] His Spirit. Now what can stand before the mighty Spirit of
God, convincing men of the truth of his religion? John xvi. 8-11,
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of right
eousness, and of judgment : of sin, because they believe not on me : of
righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye see me no more : of
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. Showing hereby
Christ was the Messiah, and therefore they were guilty of great sin
who did not believe on him ; that he was a righteous and innocent
person, and no seducer, because Christ rose from the dead and went to
the Father ; that he was an exalted prince, above Satan, and whatever
things were looked upon as divine powers. Many that were not con
verted were convinced of this.
[3.] His providence. All judgment was put into Christ s hands, to
be improved for the advancement of his mediatory kingdom : John v.
22, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judg
ment to the Son. He hath the government of all things, angels, and
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 255
all events that fall out in the world. None of the creatures are left to
their own arbitrament or uncertain contingences, but under the govern
ment of a supreme providence, which is left in Christ s hands. Thus
} r ou see, though the devil s interest be held up by the combined interests
of the world agreeing together to promote the idolatries and supersti
tions wherewith he hath inspired them, yet Christ is able to break and
dissolve all this force and power.
Secondly, How far was Satan destroyed or his head crushed ?
1. Negatively.
[1.] Non ratione essentice, not to take away his life and being. No ;
there is a devil still, and shall be, even when the whole work of Christ s
redemption is finished ; for then it is said, Rev. xx. 10, The devil that
deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the
beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night
for ever and ever. So Mat. xxv. 41, Depart from me, ye curr,ed, into-
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels/ Then eternal
judgment is executed on the head of the wicked state. Sentence was
passed before, and the devil feareth it : Mat. viii. 29, Art thou come
hither to torment us before the time ? He was condemned before,
but then it is executed upon him ; he is finally punished, and shall for
ever remain with the damned.
[2.] Non ratione malitice, not in regard of malice ; for the enmity
ever continueth between the two seeds, and Satan will be doing though
it be always to loss : 1 John iii. 8, The devil sinneth from the begin
ning. Therefore he is not so destroyed as if he did no more desire the
ruin and destruction of men. He is as malicious as ever. The devil
is always at the old trade of destroying souls, and watcheth all advan
tages, and observeth our motions and inclinations, to make use of
them.
2. Affirmatively, it remaineth that it is ratione potentice, in regard
of his power. But the question returneth, How far is his power de
stroyed ? for he still governeth the wicked, and possesseth a great part
of the world. Therefore the devils are called, Eph. vi. 12, The rulers
of the darkness of this world. He molesteth the godly, whether con
sidered singly and apart, or in their communities and societies. Singly
and apart he may sometimes trouble them and sorely shake them, as
wheat is winnowed in a sieve : Luke xxii. 31, Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. And
in their communities and societies: Ps. cxxix. 1, 2, Many a time
have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say : many a
time have they afflicted me from my youth.
Ans. Though he may afflict and molest the people of God, yet he
cannot totally prevail over them.
[1.] There is enough done by way of merit to break the power of
Satan, or that whole kingdom of darkness which is united under one
head called the devil. The price and ransom is fully paid for captive
souls : The Lamb of God taketh away the sin of the world, John i.
29. There need no more to be done by way of merit and satisfaction
to bruise the serpent s head and to dissolve that woful work which he
hath introduced into the world. Now, not only the comfort of parti
cular believers is ascribed to the death of Christ, but the success of the
256 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
gospel over false religions ; as 1 Peter i. 18, Forasmuch as ye know
that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers,
but with the precious blood of Christ. He purchased the power of re
covering souls out of their apostasy at a dear rate. Therefore, though
the superstitions of the world were entailed on people by a long de
scent, yet when we go forth to preach the gospel in the virtue and value
of the blood of Christ, that will work mighty wonders for the destruc
tion of the kingdom of the devil.
[2.] Christ is upon the throne, and we are under his protection ;
therefore the devil cannot totally prevail as to those who have interest
in him. As to single believers : John x. 28, None is able to pluck
them out of my hand. Or as to their communities and societies : Mat.
xvi. 18, Upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it. The gates of hell signify the power and
policy of hell, for there was their armoury and their counsel. Christ
expecteth their most subtle and furious assaults, but all should be but
as the dashing of waves against a rock, end in foam, and shame to the
aggressors and assailants. So that besides his merit on the cross, there
is his power in heaven, as now sitting upon the throne.
[3.] The victory is carried on so as that our duty and trials may not
be excluded.
(1.) Though Satan s head be crushed, yet still there is room for our
duty, that we may use the means for our safety, as good soldiers of
Christ, and live as in a continual fight. These are set down, 1 Peter
v. 8, 9, Be sober and vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour ; whom re
sist steadfast in the faith.
(1st.) Sobriety, or an holy moderation as to the comforts and
delights of the present life. The devil, the flesh, and the world are in
conspiracy. By the baits of the world he enticeth our flesh to a neglect
of God and heavenly things ; therefore we must use the world as if we
used it not, lest our hearts be burdened and depressed, and disabled
from seeking after our great end and happiness.
(2c?.) Vigilancy and watchfulness is necessary, that we may stand
upon our guard, avoiding snares, and forecasting hazards, lest we fall
as a ready prey into the mouth of the tempter : 1 Cor. xvi. 13, Watch
ye, stand fast in the faith, quit yourselves like men, be strong. The
first point of a Christian soldier is to watch ; conscience must stand
porter at the door, examining what cometh in and what goeth out.
The devil watcheth all advantages against us, that he may spy where
we are weakest ; and if the enemy watch and we sleep, we cannot be
safe.
(3d) Steadfast resistance in the faith. When we are yielding, Satan
gets ground ; but when we believingly and steadfastly resist, he is dis
couraged. This steadfast resistance in the faith is (1.) Adhering to
the privileges of the gospel as our happiness ; (2.) Persevering in the
duties thereof as our work ; resolving not to let go our hold, but by
patient continuance in well-doing to wait for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus unto eternal life. Now if Christ should so destroy the devil as
to exempt from this duty, the whole gospel would be in vain, and the
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 257
promises and precepts of it to no purpose, and all the furniture of grace
which Christ hath purchased for us and promised to us be lost and
useless. Surely Christ hath not so crushed the serpent s head but that
we need to be sober and watchful and steadfast in the faith ; otherwise
we were not his soldiers, but his enemies.
(2.) Not to exempt us from trials of our sincerity. God will have all
obedience to be tried and honoured by opposition, and sometimes by
sharp and grievous opposition : Eev. ii. 10, The devil shall cast some
of you into prison, that you may be tried. Thus Job was remitted to
Satan for his trial : chap. i. 12, And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold,
all that he hath is in thy power. And Paul had his messenger of
Satan for his trial, to see what shift he could make, with sufficient
internal grace under outward and vexatious evils, 2 Cor. xii. 7-10.
Now better undergo the fiery trial than the fiery torment. Tried we
are then, but not destroyed. God may let loose the wolf to drive us
into the fold, and exercise us with temptations, but not suffer us to be
overwhelmed.
[4.] In the external management of the mediatorial kingdom there
are many vicissitudes and interchanges of the outward condition of the
church. Sometimes God doth notably defeat Satan and his instruments,
and the devil s kingdom visibly goeth to wrack ; as at the first promul
gation of the gospel, though the world was captivated under Satan,
rooted in former superstitions, yet Christ prevailed and got ground by
the rod of his strength and the word of his kingdom, though Satan
everywhere had his temples wherin he was worshipped and his oracles
were resorted to with great reverence. Till the Hebrew child silenced
him, he ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink-
offerings, yea, often the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they
sacrificed to him ; yet all of a sudden his strongholds were demolished,
the idols broken, whom they and their fathers had worshipped and
prayed unto in their distresses and adversities, and blessed in their pros
perities; the temples broken down, the altars polluted and set at
nought, and the world turned from these vanities to the living God.
But a little while after the fires were kindled, and the professors of the
true religion were butchered and slaughtered ; but then they overcame
him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and
not loving their lives unto the death, Kev. xii. 11. So that when the
church seemed weakest and her enemies strongest, then she had more
for her than against her. When Satan s instruments were killing
Christians, then they were pulling down Satan s throne and advancing
Christ s ; so that it is better to be a simple soldier on Christ s side than
commander of a whole army against him. When the persecutors had
done, Satan raised up heretics in the church, as worms that bred in
the body, and devoured it ; yet Christ confounded them, and in a little
time brake each sect in pieces, and those that were the great scourge
and vexation of one age were scarce known to the next but by their
names and some obscure reports. The light of the gospel did soon
scatter these mists as soon as they did arise. Last of all came the
great apostasy of antichristianism, whereby the simplicity of the Chris
tian doctrine was turned into school niceties, the worship of the gospel
into a theatrical pomp and the pageantry of ridiculous ceremonies, and
VOL. XV IT. T,
258 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
the discipline of the church into a temporal domination ; and all this
supported by the blood of the saints and worldly grandeur, and the
combined interests of many popish nations. And here are the ebbs
and flows between the two shores of Christ and antichrist amongst us.
You know by what a bloody design Hagar the bondwoman, that was
cast out, sought to weaken and vaunt it over Sarah ; but the Lord broke
the snare, and our foot is escaped.
[5.] If the promised seed had not bruised the serpent s head the
world had been in a worse case than it is. There is some conviction and
restraint where conversion taketh not place. Consider how Satan
reigneth where Christ hath not pursued him with his gospel, or where
Christ hath withdrawn his gospel for the ingratitude of men. Surely
there is a difference between the places where people live in the dregs
of Christianity, and there where the devil is worshipped and idolatry
set up.
[6.] Though there be not a total destruction of the kingdom of Satan,
yet it is in an absolute subjection to the throne of the mediator. The
kingdom of sin and Satan are so far destroyed as not to hinder the
demonstration of mercy to the elect, and as to be subservient to the
demonstration of his justice to others, who neglect or contemn the
remedy offered, which is God s great design that the elect may obtain,
though the rest be hardened.
[7.] That in time Christ will destroy all opposite reigns and kingdoms.
He doth some sooner, others later ; but there will be an universal and
absolute subjection to Christ at the day of judgment. Infernal spirits
shall then bow the knee to him, Phil. ii. 10, with Kom. xiv. 10, 11,
and that with Isa. xlv. 23. Then saints shall judge angels, 1 Cor. vi.
2, and the whole mystery of iniquity will then be finished and come to
nothing.
Use 1. Thankfulness and praise to our mediator. The eternal God
hath selected a people from the rest of the world to praise him for the
mystery of his love here in the assemblies of his people ; for God
inhabiteth the praises of Israel/ Ps. xxii. 3 ; and hereafter, that he may
have the thanks of his glorified saints for ever. Consider to this end
how Satan s design is crossed and counterworked in the mystery of our
redemption.
1. Satan s design was to dishonour God by a false representation, as
if envious of man s happiness : Gen. iii. 5, God doth know that in the
day that ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be
as gods, knowing good and evil. And so to weaken the esteem of
God s goodness. Now in the work of our redemption God is wonder
fully magnified, and represented as amiable to man ; not envying our
knowledge and delight, but promoting it by all means, even with great
care and cost : 1 John iv. 8, God is love.
2. To depress the nature of man, that in innocency stood so near
God. Now that the human nature, so depressed and abased by the
malicious suggestions of the devil, should be so elevated and advanced,
and be set up far above the angelical nature, and admitted to dwell
with God in a personal union, oh ! let us now cheerfully remember
and celebrate this victory of Christ. Our praise now is a pledge of our
everlasting triumph. This table is spread for us in the sight of our
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 259
enemies, and we come to have intimate communion and fellowship
with him at his table.
Use. 2. To exhort us to make use of Christ s help for our recovery
out of the defection and apostasy of mankind. Oh ! let Satan be
crushed in you, and the old carnal nature destroyed. He that so will
ingly entered into the conflict on the cross, though his heel were bruised,
will as willingly employ the power of the Spirit to help you ; the one
was in order to the other. Christ doth not only enter upon the work
by conquest, but hath much to do with every individual person before
he can settle his kingdom in their hearts. There is a combat between
Christ and Satan for the rescue of every sinner, and we are not easily
brought to change masters. Now yield to him, suffer him to save you.
You look to the outward interest of Christ in the world, and you do
well ; but it is easier to bring men to own a true religion than to bring
them under the power of it. Christ s greatest victory is the overcoming
men s corruptions and carnal inclinations, to purify their polluted souls,
and to set up Christ s government in the heart, where once Satan ruled.
The kingdom of Christ within us is the most excellent kingdom : Luke
xi. 20, If I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the
kingdom of God is come upon you. If once we become Christ s, we
will more really care for his interest in the world.
Use 3. To show us the nature of Christ s victory, and wherein it
consisteth ; not in an exemption from troubles, nor in a total exemp
tion from sin for the present.
1. Not in an exemption from troubles. No ; you must expect con
flicts. Though Satan s deadly power be taken away, our heel may be
crushed. Christ hath delivered us from the present evil world : Gal.
i. 4, c Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from this
present evil world. Not that the world should trouble us no more,
but that the world should not be a snare to us. He came not to
exempt us from trouble, but to save us from our sins/ Mat. i. 21 ;
To deliver us from wrath to come, 1 Thes. i. 10. We have the
victory which he purchased for us, if the devil and the world do not
hinder the fruition of eternal glory. Our victory over Satan is mostly
gotten by patience even to the death ; and so those that are killed all
the day long are more than conquerers through him that loved them,
Bom. viii. 35-37. Satan s main spite is not at your worldly interests,
but your souls. God may give him sometimes a power over your
worldly and bodily interests, but he doth not give him a power over
your souls. Though he get his will over your bodies, yet, if he get
not his will over your souls, it is you that conquer, and not Satan ;
therefore in the Christian sense suffering is conquering. If he do not
draw you away from God and Christ, though he and his instruments
have great power over you, it is your heel only is bruised, but your head
is safe.
2. It is not a total exemption from sin. Necessary vital grace is
only absolutely secured ; you shall receive no deadly wound to destroy
your salvation. The godly sometimes may be foiled. Satan stirred up
David to number the people : 2 Cor. xi. 2, 3, I am jealous over you
with a godly jealousy ; for I have espoused you to one husband, that
I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ : for I fear lest by any
260 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds
should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ ; 1 Cor. vii.
5, That Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. Yea, God may
employ Satan in punishing his people ; as when the Israelites mur
mured, he sent evil angels among them, Ps. Ixxviii. 49, and they
were destroyed of the destroyer, 1 Cor. x. 10. Because careless souls
are apt to fall asleep, God permitteth him to be the executioner of his
indignation.
Use 4. To animate and encourage Christ s servants in their war
against Satan s kingdom, at home and abroad, within and without:
Not to give place to the devil, Eph. iv. 27. Christ whom we serve
is more able to save than Satan is to destroy.
1. The devil is a creature, but Christ is the sovereign Lord, who
hath power over him and all creatures. The devil s tempting is by
leave : Job i. 12, And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath
is in thy power ; Luke xxii. 31, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon,
behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
He could not enter into the herd of swine without leave from Christ :
Mat. viii. 31, So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out,
suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. When we are in Satan s
hands, Satan is in God s hands.
2. The devil is an usurper, Christ is the heir of all things. Satan is
the god of this world by usurpation, but by lawful ordination Jesus
is both Lord and Christ : Acts ii. 36, Therefore let all the house of
Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye
have crucified, both Lord and Christ/
3. The devil hath only a persuasive force, no constraining efficacy.
He cannot change the heart, or create any new principles and habits
there, which were not before. But God can put his law into our in
ward parts, and write it in our hearts/ Jer. xxxi. 35. He can only
propound alluring baits or objects to the outward senses and fancy,
but God worketh immediately on the heart.
4. If the devil be vigilant and assiduous in his temptations, he is
matched and overmatched. Christ is always mindful of the affairs of
his people ; he doth ever make intercession for us before God : And
he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep/ Ps. cxxi. 4.
Satan daily bloweth the bellows, inflaming our corruptions, suggesting
temptations ; but the Spirit is as watchful in our hearts, maintaining
his interest there.
5. The devil s malice is restrained, for he is held in chains of dark
ness : 2 Peter ii. 4, If God spared not the angels that fell, but cast
them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness to
be reserved unto judgment ; meaning thereby not only the powerful
restraints of providence, but the horror of their own despairing fears.
Chains imply restraint, but chains of darkness, horror. He himself
believeth and trembleth : James ii. 19, Thou believest that there is
one God, thou doest well ; the devils also believe and tremble/
6. The Lord Jesus doth often give out demonstrations of his power
and providence. Partly in protecting, strengthening, assisting his
people, and prospering their just endeavours for the advancement of
his kingdom, so that all the machinations of the wicked against them
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 261
come to nought. Partly in making fearful havoc and destruction in
Satan s kingdom. In protecting his people, sometimes he destroyeth
their enemies : Isa. xxvii. 4, Who would set the briers and thorns
against me in battle ? I would go through them, I would burn them
together. Sometimes infatuateth their counsels : Job v. 12-14, He
disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot per
form their enterprise : he taketh the wise in their own craftiness, and
the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. They meet with dark
ness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
Sometimes he hideth his people in the secret of his presence : Ps. xxxi.
20, Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride
of man ; thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strifes
of tongues. He smiteth his enemies by an invisible curse : Job xx.
26, All darkness shall be hid in his secret places ; a fire not blown
shall consume him ; it shall go ill with him that is left in his taber
nacle/ He divideth them : 2 Chron. xx. 23, The children of Ammon
and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to slay
and destroy them ; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants
of Seir every one helped to destroy another. Christ is the assailant,
and makes fearful havoc in the devil s kingdom. The word of truth is
come into all the world, and pulleth down idolatrous and false worship :
Col. i. 6, The word of truth is come unto you, as it is in all the world,
and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day you heard
of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
SERMON I.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide*
GEN. xxiv. 63.
THE context is spent in describing the journey of Rebekah with Abra
ham s servant, and the text showeth the occasion of the first inter
view between Isaac and Rebekah ; he goeth out into the fields to
meditate, and of a sudden he seeth the camels coming.
I cannot pass by this accident without some remark and observation.
Isaac goeth to meet with God, and he meeteth with God and Rebekah too
Godliness hath the promises of this life and that which is to come ; there
is nothing lost by duty and acts of piety and worship. Seneca said the
Jews were an unhappy people, because they lost the seventh part of .their
lives, meaning the time spent in the sabbath. This is the sense of nature,
to think all lost that is bestowed on God. Flesh and blood snufFeth
and crieth, What a weariness is it ! and what need all this waste ?
Oh ! let me tell you, by serving God you drive on two cares at once.
Worldly interests many times are cast into the way of religion, and,
besides the main design, these things are added to us. Wonderful are
the providences of God in and about duties of worship. Some have
gone aside to pray, and escaped such as lay in wait to destroy them ;
and Luther tells a story of one that balked a duty and fell into a danger,
passed by a sermon, and was presently surprised by thieves. Others
there are that thought of nothing but meeting God in his worship, and
God hath made their duties an occasion of advancing their outward
comforts. Certainly it is good to obey all impulses of the Spirit ; there
may be somewhat of providence as well as grace in it : Isaac went out
to meditate in the field at the even-tide ; and he lift up his eyes and
saw, and behold the camels were coming.
In the words you have several circumstances : the person, Isaac ;
his work, He went out to meditate ; the place, In the field ; the
time, At even-tide.
1. For the person, Isaac, I need not say much, because I would not
digress. He was Abraham s son, and God said of Abraham, Gen.
xviii. 19, I know him, that he will command his children, and his
household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do
justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that
2G4 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
which he hath spoken of him. Good education leaveth a savour and
tincture upon the spirit, at least an awe and a care of duties and exer
cises of religion ; and therefore it is no wonder to hear of Abraham s
son that had been trained up in the way of the Lord, to go out to
meditate ; it is a seal of the blessing of education, again Isaac was
now in his youth ; certainly he could not be very old. Sarah was
ninety years old when the promise was first made to her of a son : Gen.
xvii. 17, Then Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in
his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old ?
and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear ? Now Sarah was but
one hundred and twenty-seven years old when she died, Gen. xxiii. 1 T
and this match was immediately after her death ; for just as he received
Kebekah he left off his mourning for Sarah : Gen. xxiv. 67, And
Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah s tent, and took Eebekah, and
she became his wife ; and he loved her : and Isaac was comforted after
his mother s death. Probably Isaac was now a little above thirty.
Isaac, a young man, that was now entering into the world, goeth out to
meditate. Usually we make religious exercises the work of grey hairs,
and after we have spent the heat and flower of our spirits in the vanities
of the world, we hope to make amends for all by a severe and devout
retirement. Young and green heads look upon meditation as a dull
melancholy work, fit only for the phlegm and decay of old age ;
vigorous and eager spirits are more for action than thoughts, and their
work lieth so much with others that they have no time to descend into
themselves. But the elder world was more innocent ; the exercises of
Isaac s youth were pious ; he went out into the fields to meditate.
2. To open his work to you, to meditate, or, as it is in the margin,
to pray, Tl^ 1 ?, the word used in the original is indifferent to both senses ;
it properly signifies muttering, or an imperfect and suppressed sound.
The Septuagint sometimes renders it by aetSew, to sing, but here they
render it by dSoXea-^crai, which signifies to exercise himself, and most
properly a sportive exercise, as if his going abroad had been only to
sport and recreate himself after the toil of the day. But that is not so
probable ; the Holy Ghost would not put such a mark upon such a cir
cumstance. Therefore I suppose the Septuagint s word must be taken
more largely to comprise also a religious exercise. But how is it ? To
pray or meditate ? I would not recede from our own translation with
out weighty cause ; most other translations look that way. Symmaclms
renders it \a\rja-at, to speak ; Aquila, o/itX^crat, to discourse as with
others, that is, with God and his own soul ; and so it suiteth with the
force of the original word, which properly signifies to mutter, or such
a speaking as is between thoughts and words. So that the meaning is,
he went aside privately to discourse of God, and the promises, and of
heavenly things.
3. The place, { In the field. Partly for privacy ; deep thoughts
require a retirement. Many of David s psalms were penned in the
wilderness. He that would have the company of God and his own
thoughts had need go aside from other company, and be alone that he
may not be alone, that the mind, being sequestered from all distractions,
may solace itself the more freely in these heavenly thoughts : Exod.
iii. 1, Moses led the flock to the back-side of the desert and came to
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 03. 265
the mountain of God, even to Horeb. He goeth aside from the other
shepherds, that he might converse with the great shepherd and bishop
of our souls, and there he seeth the vision of the burning bush. When
God would communicate his loves to the church, he inviteth her into
the wilderness : Hosea ii. 14, Therefore behold I will allure her, and
bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. The
most familiar and intimate converses between God and the church are
in private. So the spouse inviteth the bridegroom: Cant. vii. 11,
Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us lodge in the
villages. In these solitary and heavenly retirements, to which no eyes
are conscious and privy, we have most experience of God and of our
selves. Duties done in company are more easy ; byends and man s eye
and observance may have an influence upon our worship, and therefore
meditation is difficult and tedious, because it is a work of retirement,
that hath approbation from none but our Father that seeth in secret.
Partly because the field is an help to meditation, fancy and invention
being elevated and raised by the sweetness, variety, and pleasure of it,
there being on every side so many objects and lively memorials of God.
However in this sense the circumstance is not binding. Some do better
in a closet than in a field or garden, where the senses being locked from
all other objects, the mind may fall more directly upon itself, which
otherwise in a field or garden would skip from object to object, without
pitching upon any seriously.
4. The last circumstance in the text is the time, In the even-tide,
which is also a matter of an arbitrary concernment. Time in itself is
but an inactive circumstance ; all hours are alike to God ; he taketh no
more pleasure in the sixth or ninth hour than in the first hour ; only
you should prudently observe when your spirit is most fresh and smart.
To some the morning is quickest, the fancy being fittest to offer spiritual
and heavenly thoughts, before it hath received any images and repre
sentations from carnal objects abroad. Morning thoughts are, as it
were, the virgin thoughts of the mind, before they have been prostituted
to these inferior and baser objects, and so are more pure, sublime, and
defecate ; and then the soul, like the hind of the morning, with a swift
and nimble readiness climbeth up to the mountains of myrrh and
frankincense : Cant. iv. 6, Until the day break, and the shadows flee
away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frank
incense ; and it tendeth much to season the whole day when we can
talk with the law in the morning: Prov. vi. 22, When thou awakest,
it shall talk with thee. To some the evening seemeth fitter, that,
when the gayishness and vanity of the spirit hath been spent in business,
their thoughts may be more serious and solemn with God; and after
the weights have been running down all day through their employ
ments of the world, they may wind them up again at night in these
recesses and exercises of piety and religion ; as David says, Ps. xxv. 1,
Unto thee, Lord, do I lift up my soul. To others the silence and
stillness of the night seemeth to be an help, and because of the curtain
of darkness that is drawn between them and the world, they can the
better entertain serious and solemn thoughts of God. David speaks
everywhere in the ppnlms of his nocturnal devotions: Ps. Ixiii. 6,
When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the
266 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
night-watches. The expression is taken from the custom of the Jews,
who divided the night into so many watches. Whilst others were repos
ing their bodies on their beds, David was reposing his soul in the
bosom of God, and he gave the less rest to his eyes that he might give
the more to his soul. So Ps. cxix. 148, Mine eyes prevent the night-
watches, that I might meditate in thy word. Certainly in the night,
when we are taken off from other business, we have the greatest com
mand of our thoughts, and the covert of darkness that God hath stretched
over the world begetteth a greater awe and reverence. Therefore Mr
Greenham, when he pressed any weighty point, and perceived any care
less, used to beg of them that, if God by his providence should suffer
them to awake in the night, they would but think of his words.
Certainly the mind, being by sleep emptied of other cares, like a mill
falleth upon itself, and the natural awe and terror which is the effect
of darkness helpeth to make the thoughts more solemn and serious.
So that you see much may be said for the conveniency of either of these
seasons, evening, or morning, or night. It is your duty to be faithful
to your own souls, and sometimes to take the advantage either of the
night, or of the day, or of the morning, or of the evening, as best suits
us. David saith, Ps. cxix. 97, Oh ! how love I thy law ! it is my
meditation all the day/ So he describes his blessed man : Ps. i. 2,
His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate
day and night ; that is, sometimes in the day, and sometimes in the
night ; no time can come amiss to a prepared spirit. Isaac s hour was
in the even-tide ; in the evening he went out to meditate, in which two
things are notable
[1.] That he made duty his refreshment. He had wrought all the
day, and in the evening he goeth to recreate himself with God. What
a shame is it that what was his solace is our burden ! If we had a
spiritual discerning, we should soon see that there is no delight to that
of duty, and no refreshment like that which we enjoy in the exercises
of religion and in communion with God. The world s delights are
vain and dreggy ; they may provoke laughter, but they cannot yield
any pure, solid, and true contentment. It was Christ s meat to do his
Father s will : John iv. 34, My meat is to do the will of him that sent
me, and to finish his work. It was sweeter to Job than his appointed
food to hear God s word : Job xxiii. 12, I have esteemed the words
of his mouth more than my necessary food. And David saith, Ps.
cxix. 54, Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my
pilgrimage. All the comfort he had to drive away the sad and dis
consolate hours of his pilgrimage was to exercise himself in the study
and meditation of God s word. And it was Isaac s evening comfort
to go out and meditate. Gracious hearts must have spiritual delights,
the word, and obedience, and prayer, and meditation. As one said,
Aid hoc non est evangelium, aut nos non sumus cliristiani Either these
histories are not true, or our hearts are much unlike theirs. Oh ! how
sweet would it be if we could make duty a recreation and our work our
pleasure ; that in the close of the day this might be our solace, after
the work of the day to take a turn with God in the mount, and to
walk in the garden of love, and, as David saith, Ps. civ. 34, My
meditation of him shall be sweet ; I will be glad in the Lord. Isaac
went out at even-tide.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 267
[2.] That at the evening his spirit was still fresh and savoury ; this
was the time not of necessity, but choice. Many spend their heat and
strength in the world, toiling all day, and in the evening come and
offer God a drowsy yawning prayer, when all the vigour of their spirits
is wasted. You should bring forth the best wine at last ; never so
engage in the world as to hinder a duty. It should be the wisdom of
Christians to guide their affairs with such judgment that duties may
not become a burden and a weariness. Now a soul encumbered with
business cannot act with such delight and freedom as it ought. Too
often do we suffer the lean kine to devour the fat. Mary hath cause
to complain of Martha ; so much time is spent in the world that we
have no heart or strength for communion with God ; and usually when
all are asleep and wearied out with the world, then we call to duty. Oh !
remember in the evening and close of the day your affections should be
quick and free for spiritual things. Isaac went out at evening-tide.
I shall sum up the intent of the whole verse in this one point
Doct. That it is the duty of Christians to sequester and set apart
some time and place for solemn meditation, or the exercising their
souls in heavenly and holy things.
My purpose is to speak of meditation, a duty unaccustomed and
unpractised ; both the practice and the knowledge of it are become
strangers to us. The times are times of action and tumult, and we all
think that we have so much to do with others, that few desire to con
verse with God and themselves. Our case is somewhat like theirs in
Nehemiah s time, Neh. iv. 17, With one hand they wrought in the
work, and with the other hand held a weapon. We are forced to
fight and quarrel for our religion, that we may rescue the innocent and
holy principles of it from violation and scorn. I observe that many
Christians use the sword, they spend the heat and strength of their
spirits in controversies ; but I. doubt they do not use the trowel enough,
and are not so serious in private retirements as they are earnest
in public defences. Therefore I shall make it my work to press
the duty of meditation. My method shall be this : I shall show
(1.) What meditation is; (2.) The necessity and profit of it; (3.)
The rules that serve to guide us in this holy work and business ; (4.)
The lets and hindrances of it, with the helps and remedies against
them ; (5.) The object or matters upon which you are to meditate,
which I shall handle first, generally ; secondly, particularly.
I shall give you some hints of meditation on those objects which
are most usual and most practical.
I. What meditation is. Before I can define it I must distingush it.
1. There is that which we call occasional meditation, which is an
act by which the soul spiritualiseth every object about which it is con
versant. A gracious heart is like an alembic, it can distil useful medita
tions out of all things it meeteth with. Look, as it seeth all things in
God, so it seeth God in all things. Our Lord at the well discourseth
of the water of life, John xxi. 10. At the supper of the pharisee
one discourseth of eating bread in the kingdom of God, Luke xiv. 15.
There is a chemistry and holy art that a Christian hath to turn water
into wine, brass into gold, to make earthly occasions and objects to
minister spiritual and heavenly thoughts. God trained up the old
268 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
church by types and ceremonies, that upon a common object they might
ascend to spiritual thoughts ; and our Lord in the new testament
taught by parables and similitudes taken from ordinary functions and
offices among men, that in every trade and calling we might be
employed in our worldly business with an heavenly mind, that, whether
in the shop, or at the loom, or in the field, we might still think of
Christ and heaven. There is a parable of merchant-men, a parable
of the sower, a parable of a man calling his servants to an account.
In all these similitudes Christ would teach us that we should still think
of God and heaven. So small a matter as a grain of mustard-seed
may yield many spiritual applications.
2. There is set and solemn meditation. Now this is of several sorts,
or rather, they are but several parts of the same exercise.
[1.] There is a reflexive meditation, by which we wholly fall upon
ourselves. This is nothing else but a solemn parley between a man
and his own heart : Ps. iv. 4, Commune with your own hearts upon
your bed, and be still. When in a solemn retirement, reason and
inward discourse returneth and falleth back upon itself. Of all the
parts of meditation this is the most difficult, for here a man is to exer
cise dominion over his soul, and to be his own accuser and judge; it
is against self-love, and carnal ease. We see all our shifts are to avoid
our own company, and to run away from ourselves. Guilty man, like
a basilisk dieth, by seeing himself. Hence the worldly man choketh
his soul with business, lest his thoughts, for want of work, like a mill
should grind upon itself. The voluptuous person melteth away his
days in pleasure, and charmeth his soul into a deep sleep with the
potion of outward delights, lest it should awake and talk with him.
Oh ! then, necessary it is that a Christian should take some time to
discourse with himself, to ask of our own souls, what we are ? what
we have been? what we have done? Jer. viii. 6; what straits, what
temptations we have passed through, and how we have overcome
them ? You would think it strange of two men that conversed every
day for forty or fifty years, and all this while they did not know one
another ; yet this is the case between us and our souls ; we live a long
time in the world, and are strangers to ourselves.
[2.] There is a meditation, which is more direct, and that is of two
sorts (1.) Dogmatical, whose object is the word ; (2.) Practical, whose
objects is our own lives. There is more of search and apprehension
in the first, there is more of plot and contrivance in the second ; the
one is more conversant about doctrines, the other about things ; the
latter catcheth hold of the heel of the former, for where dogmatical
meditation endeth, there practical meditation beginneth.
(1.) Dogmatical meditation is when we exercise ourselves in the
doctrines of the word, and consider how truths known may be useful
to us. It differeth from study, partly in the object ; study is conver
sant about a thing unknown in whole or in part : Kom. xii. 2, That
ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of
God ; but meditation is an act of knowledge reiterated, or a return of
the mind to that point to which it arrived before ; it is the inculcation
or whetting of a known truth, the pause of reason on something already
conceived and known, or a calling to remembrance what we know
SKIIMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV, 03. 2G9
before. Partly in the end ; the end of study is information, but the end
of meditation is practice, or a work upon the affections : Josh. i. 8,
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou
shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written therein. Study is like a winter s sun,
that shineth but warmeth not ; but meditation is like the blowing up
of the fire, where we do not mind the blaze, but the heat. The fruit
of study is to hoard up truth, but the fruit of meditation is to practise
it. Curious inquiries have more of the student in them than the
Christian. In study we are rather like vintners, that take in wines to
store themselves for sale ; in meditation we are like private men, that
buy wine for our use and comfort. A vintner s cellar may be better
stored than a nobleman s, but he hath it for others use. The student
may have more of notion and knowledge, his cellar may be fuller, but
he hath it not for taste and necessary refreshment, as the Christian
hath.
(2.) More practical and applicative meditation is when we take our
selves aside from worldly distractions, that we may solemnly debate
and study how to carry on the holy life with better success and advan
tage, when we are wise in our sphere : Luke xvi. 8, The children of
this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light, et?
rrjv yeveav, in their generation ; it is an Hebrew phrase for the man
ner, course, and sphere of our lives : Gen. vi. 9, These are the genera
tions of Noah ; Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation, and
Noah walked with God ; so to be wise in our generation is to be wise
in our manner of living and business. So it is said, Ps. cxxii. 5, He
will guide his affairs with discretion, which noteth plotting and wise
foresight, choosing our way, or devising our way, as Solomon calleth
it: Prov. xvi. 9, A man s heart deviseth his way. It is a great part
of a Christian s employment. The scriptures call for it for a minister :
2 Tim. ii. 15, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, to
devise how to carry on his ministry with most honour and success.
So for private Christians : Heb. x. 24, Let us consider one another, to
provoke unto love and to good works. We should consider one
another, each other s gifts, dispositions, and graces, that so our spiritual
converse and commerce might be the more improved. By this kind
of meditation piety is made more prudent, reasonable, and orderly.
Christians that live at haphazard, and order their lives at adventure,
without these rational and wise debates, if they do not stain their pro
fession with foul indiscretions, yet find much inconvenience and toil
in the holy life, and are not half so useful as others are. Certainly
we should learn this of the children of this world. A wicked man is
plotting for his lusts: Rom. xiii. 14, Make no provision for the flesh
to fulfil the lust thereof, p,r) rroiela-6e irpovoiav. They make provision,
they are catering how they may feed such a lust and satisfy such a
carnal desire. Therefore certainly we should take care for the conven-
iencies of the holy life, how we may be most useful for God, and pass
through our relations with most advantage, and cast our businesses
that they may be the least disadvantage to religion, and consider how
particular duties may be the most dexterously accomplished : Ps.
270 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
cxvi. 12, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits
towards me ?
These are the kinds of meditation. The definition may be formed
thus : Meditation is that duty or exercise of religion whereby the mind
is applied to the serious and solemn contemplation of spiritual things,
for practical uses and purposes.
I shall open the description by the parts of it.
1. It is a duty and exercise of religion.
[1.] That it is a duty and exercise of religion appeareth by the
evidence of scripture, where it is commanded, Josh. i. 8, This book
of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night. It is made a character of a godly man : Ps. i.
2, His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he medi
tate day and night. It is commended in the practice and example of
the saints that were most famous in scripture ; Isaac in the text, Moses
and David. And as it is plain by the evidence of scripture ; so by the
light of nature and reason. God that is a spirit deserveth the most
pure and spiritual worship, as well as such as is performed by the body.
The thoughts are the eldest and noblest offspring of the soul, and the
solemn consecration of them is fit for God. In the gospel meditation
is called for. I find in the Old Testament the main thing there called
for is meditation in the law ; in the gospel we are directed to a new
object, the love of Christ : Eph. iii. 17-19, That ye, being rooted and
grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is
the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love
of Christ, which passeth knowledge ; that is the study of saints. I
confess it is more called for in the Old Testament ; being gross and
carnal, they needed greater enforcements to spiritual duties ; but now it
suiteth every way with the nature of our worship : John iv. 24, God
is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and
in truth/ Now worship in spirit and in truth is more agreeable to
our state. Meditation is a pure and rational converse with God ; it is
the flower and height of consecrated reason.
[2.] It is not a duty of an arbitrary concernment. It is not only a
moral help that may be observed or omitted, but a necessary duty,
without which all graces would languish and wither. Faith is lean
and ready to starve unless it be fed with continual meditation on the
promises ; as David saith, Ps. cxix. 92, Unless thy law had been my
delight, I should then have perished in my affliction. Thoughts are the
caterers of the soul, that purvey for faith, and fetch in food and refresh
it with the comfort of the promises. Hope is low, and doth not arise
to such a fulness of expectation till by meditation we take a deliberate
view of our hopes and privileges : Gen. xiii. 17, Arise, walk through
the land, in the length of it, and in the breadth of it, for I will give
it unto thee. Our hopes arise according to the largeness of our thoughts.
It is a great advantage to have our eyes open to view the riches of our
inheritance, and to have a distinct view of the hope of our calling.
The apostle prays for the Ephesians, chap. i. 18, 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. Men of barren thoughts arc usually of low hopes, and for
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 27 1
want of getting to the top of Pisgah to view the land, our hearts sink
within us. Certainly hope thriveth best on the mount of meditation.
Then for love, the sparkles of affection will not flow out unless we beat
upon the will by constant thoughts. Affection is nourished by appre
hension, and the more constant and deliberate the thoughts are, the love
is always the deeper. Those Christians that are backward to the duty
of meditation find none of those impulses and meltings of love that
are in others ; they do not endeavour to comprehend the height and
breadth and length, and depth of the love of Christ, and therefore no
wonder that their hearts are so narrow and so much straitened towards
God. Affections always follow the rate of our thoughts, if they are
ponderous and serious. Then for obedience, or keeping the spirits
constantly in a religious frame ; to others good motions come like
flashes of lightning, and are as soon gone, as their thoughts are slight
and vanishing, but deep musing maketh the fire burn, and keepeth a
constant heat and flame in the spirits, not by flashes. And as for duty,
so for comfort ; a man that is a stranger to meditation is a stranger to
himself. In acts of review you enjoy yourselves, and you enjoy your
selves with far more comfort in these private recesses ; you have most
experience of God, and most experience of yourselves. Moses when he
went aside to meditate had the vision of the fiery bush. Usually God
cometh in, in the time of deep meditation, and an elevated heavenly
mind is fittest to entertain the comforts and glory of his presence.
Thus you see it is a necessary duty. Many think it is an excuse to
say it doth not suit with their temper ; that it is a good help, but for
those that can use it. I answer
(1.) It is true there is a great deal of difference among Christians ;
some are more serious and consistent, and have a greater command
over their thoughts, others are of a more slight, weak spirit, and are
less apt for duties of retirement and recollection. But our unfitness is
usually moral rather than natural, not so much by temper as by disuse ;
and moral unfitness cannot exempt us from a moral duty. Inky water
cannot wash the hand white, or a sin exempt me from a duty. Indis
position, which is a sin in me, doth not disannul my engagements to
God; as a servant s drunkenness doth not excuse him from work.
That it is a moral unfitness appeareth by two things
(1st.) Disuse and neglect is the cause of it. Those that use it have
a greater command over their thoughts. Men count it a great yoke,
but custom would make it easy. Every duty is an help to itself, and
the more we meditate the more we shall. It is pleasant to them that
use it : Ps. i. 2, His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law
doth he meditate day and night. Fierce creatures are tame to those
that use to command them, and if a man did use to govern his thoughts,
he would find them more obedient.
(2d.) Want of love. Thoughts are at the service of love ; we pause-
and stay upon such objects as we delight in : Ps. i. 2, His delight is
in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Love naileth and fasteneth the soul to the object or thing beloved ; as-
we see we can dwell upon carnal pleasures because our heart is there ;
as Solomon gives this reason why a carnal man cannot dwell upon a
Kiid and solemn object, because his heart is in the house of mirth,
272 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 03.
Eccles. vii. 4. We usually complain we want temper and we want
matter ; but the truth is we want an heart. David saith, Ps. cxix. 1)7,
Oh ! how love I thy law ; it is my meditation all the day. Delight
some objects will engross the thoughts. Therefore see if it be not a
moral distemper.
(2.) Suppose it be a natural unfitness, yet while you have reason it
is not total and universal, and therefore cannot excuse. We see in
other duties, some have the gift of utterance, and have a great savouri-
ness and readiness of expression for prayer ; others are more bound up
and restrained ; but this can be no plea for them wholly to neglect
prayer. Duty must be done as we are able ; God will hear the breath
ing, panting soul as well as the rolling tongue. So it is in meditation ;
some are more for musing, and can better melt out their souls in devout
retirements, others can show their love better in zealous actions and
public engagements for the glory of Christ; yet still, though there be
a diversity of gifts, we are all bound to the same duties, and though
we be fitter for some rather than others, yet none must be neglected in
their order and course.
(3.) The rank and place that meditation hath among -the duties.
Meditation is a middle sort of duty between the word and prayer, and
hath respect to both. The word feedeth meditation, and meditation
feedeth prayer ; we must hear that we be not erroneous, and meditate
that we be not barren. These duties must always go hand in hand ;
meditation must follow hearing and precede prayer.
(Ist.) To hear and not to meditate is unfruitful. We may hear and
hear, but it is like putting a thing into a bag with holes : Hag. i. 6,
He that earneth. wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes ;
James i. 23, 24, He is like unto a man beholding his natural face in
a glass ; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway
forgetteth what manner of man he was. Bare hearing begets but
transient thoughts, and they leave but a weak impression, which is
rather like the glance of a sunbeam upon a wall ; there is a glaring for
the present, but a man never discerneth the beauty, the lustre, and the
order of the truths delivered till he cometh to meditate upon them ;
then we come clearly to see into the truth, and how it concerneth us,
and how it falleth upon our hearts. David saith, Ps. cxix. 99, I have
more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my
meditation. The preacher can but deliver general theorems, and draw
them down to practical inferences ; by meditation we come to see more
clearly and practically than he that preacheth. We see, in outward
learning, they thrive best that meditate most ; knowledge floateth, till
by deliberate thoughts it be compressed upon the affections.
(2d) It is dangerous to meditate and not to hear because of errors.
Man will soon impose a deceit upon himself by his own thoughts.
Fanatic spirits that neglect hearing pretend to dreams and revelations.
We have a sophister and an heretic in our own bosoms, which soon
deceiveth without a stock and treasure of some knowledge ; for men
would be vain in their imaginations were not their thoughts corrected
by an external light and instruction. Jude calleth those fanatic persons
kvvjrviatpiJbevoi, filthy dreamers, Jude 8. All practical errors are
men s natural imaginations gotten up into a valuable opinion.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 273
(3d) It is rashness to pray and not to meditate. What we take in
by the word we digest by meditation and let out by prayer. These
three duties must be so ordered that one may not jostle out the other.
Men are barren, dry, and sapless in their prayers for want of exercising
themselves in holy thoughts : Ps. xlv. 1, My heart is inditing a good
matter ; and then it follows, I will speak of the things which I have
made touching the King ; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. The
heart yieldeth matter to the tongue ; the word signifieth, boileth and
frieth ; a word from mincha, their meat-offering ; the oil and the
flour was to be kneaded together, and then fried in a pan, and then
offered to the Lord; implying we must not come with raw dough-
baked offerings, till we have concocted and prepared them by mature
deliberation. It is notable that often in scripture prayer is called by
the name of meditation, because it is the product and issue of it ; as
Ps. v. 1, Give ear to my words, Lord: consider my meditation.
Implying that his prayer was but the expression of his deliberate and
premeditated thoughts. So Ps. xix. 14, Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, Lord, my
strength and my redeemer/ It is the vent of the thoughts.
2. Whereby the mind is applied to the serious and solemn consi
deration. I add this to distinguish it from occasional meditation, and
those good thoughts that accidentally rush into our minds, and to note
the care and intenseness of the soul in such an exercise : Prov. xviii. 1,
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and inter-
meddleth with all wisdom ; then is a man fit for these solemn and holy
thoughts, and for intermeddling with all wise and divine matters, when
he hath divorced himself from other cares, and is able to keep his
understanding under a prudent confinement.
3. Of spiritual things. This noteth the object, and so I call matters
that are of an useful consideration ; as for instance, God, that we may
fear him ; sin, that we may abhor it ; the works of God for the
Creator s glory; any useful subject. So David limiteth it : Ps. xlix.
3, My mouth shall speak of wisdom ; and the meditation of my heart
shall be of understanding/ He meaneth of the state and end of man.
Generally the object in the Old Testament is of the law.
4. For practical uses and inferences. This noteth the end. Medi
tation is not to puzzle the head with notions, but to better the heart
The proper use of this exercise is to set on those great practical heads
of religion, to work the heart to a greater care of duty and detestation
of sin. To a greater care of duty : Ps. cxix. 15, I will meditate in
thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways ; and to a greater detes
tation and hatred of sin : Ps. cxix. 11, Thy word have I hid in mine
heart, that I might not sin against thee.
VOL. XVII.
274 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
SERMON II.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.
GEN. xxiv. 63.
II. I AM now come to the necessity and profit of meditation, or motives
to press to this duty. I shall urge such as will serve also for marks ;
for when it is well performed, you will find these effects wrought in
you. Meditation is the mother and nurse of knowledge and godliness,
the great instrument in all the offices of grace ; it helpeth on the work
of grace upon the understanding, affections, and life, for the under
standing of the doctrine of godliress, for the provoking of godly affec
tions, and for the heavenly life.
1. In point of understanding it is of great advantage to us in the
entertainment of the doctrines of religion.
[1.] To give us a clearer and more distinct sight of them. A man seeth
the meaning, scope, and order of all points of religion, when he cometh
to meditate on them. Knowledge without meditation is but an hear
say knowledge ; we talk after one another like pan ots, and as the moon
that shineth with another lustre without any light rooted in its own
body : Kom. ii. 20, Which hast the form of knowledge, and of the
truth in the law, pop^pa-iv rfjs yvcaa-eatf, a map of knowledge ; we
have nothing but the lean apprehension of others. As the philosopher
said, TO, fjuev \eyova-iv 01 veoi, a\Xa ov Tria-revova-iv, they repeat them by
rote, without affection and belief ; so we speak one after another by rote,
but do not so distinctly discern the worth and excellency of Christianity
as when we come to meditate upon it : John iv. 42, Now we believe,
not because of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves, and know
that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. Most men s
knowledge is but traditional ; they never made an essay, and tasted the
sweetness of Christ, or of their own thoughts. Oh ! do but try ; bare
apprehensions of the report of Christ is but tradition, not religion.
When we come to exercise our own thoughts thereon, then we see him
ourselves ; the sight is more clear when it is steady and fixed. To one
that passeth by, to see men dancing and frisking seemeth lightness and
madness, but when he cometh nearer, and heareth the music, and
observeth that they keep time, and pace, and measure with it, he findeth
art in that which he thought frenzy. The beauty and excellency of
religion is not discerned by a transient glance ; when we come to medi
tate, and so see what is our beloved above all beloveds, then we admire
him. The Christian religion is not to be taken up by chance, but by
choice ; not because we know no other, but because we know no better
then our affections to it are the more rational, the judgment having had
a clearer sight and trial.
[2.] That we may the better retain them. When an apple is tossed
to and fro in the hand, it smelleth of it when the apple is gone, as when
civet hath been long kept in the box the scent remaineth when the
civet is taken out. A constant light is a great friend to memory, and
sermons meditated on are remembered long after they are delivered.
We do not forget those friends whom we have entertained with any
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 275
solemnity. Solemn and serious thoughts leave a charge upon the
memory.
[3.] That they may be always more ready and present with us. AH
sins do arise out of incogitancy or forgetfulness. As for instance, dis
trust : Heb. xii. 5, Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh
unto you as unto children ; Luke xxiv. 6, He is not here, but is
risen : remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.
A temptation gets the start of holy thoughts. It were a mighty
advantage to have truths always ready. Now this is the Spirit s office :
John xiv. 26, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. But
now, for an outward help, there is no such thing as meditation : Prov.
vi. 21, 22, Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them
.about thy neck : when thou goest, it shall lead thee ; when thou
.sleepest, it shall keep thee ; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with
thee ; that is, shall be always present with thee. Continual medita
tion maketh religious thoughts actual and present.
2. It is a great advantage to the work of grace upon the affections.
Ponderous thoughts are the bellows that kindle and inflame the affec
tions ; they blow up those latent sparkles of grace that are in the soul.
Impure thoughts stain the heart, and convey a taint and filth to the
soul : 2 Peter ii. 14, Having eyes full of adultery. When the fancy
is rolled upon unclean objects, lust is kindled. Lust, revenge, covetous-
ness, they are all fed with thoughts ; a wicked spirit distilleth sin into
the quintessence of villany, the imaginations of the heart are evil. So
suitably good thoughts leave a forcible impression upon the soul. The
papists talk of St Francis and St Clara, that had the wounds of Christ
impressed on them. It is true, in a spiritual way, deep thoughts leave
the wounds and sorrows of Christ upon the heart, and do crucify us ;
it is true morally, as well as mystically : I am crucified with Christ,
Gal. ii. 20. Certainly you find this by experience, that when you know
not things, you are not so thoroughly affected with them. Serious medi
tation hath this advantage, that it doth make the object present, and as
it were sensible ; therefore faith, which is a deep acting of the thoughts
upon the promises, and upon glory to come, is called vTroaTaaif, the
substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen/
Heb. xi. 1. It giveth the future blessedness a present subsistence in
the soul, and therefore it must needs ravish it. It is a principle in
nature, appetition followeth knowledge, and desire is answerable to
that certain and clear judgment that we have of the worth, value, and
dignity of the object. Now it is not enough that the judgment be once
convinced, but that it stay upon the object, for things lose their virtue
when we do not keep them in the eye of the soul. When the bird
often leaveth her nest and is long absent, the eggs grow cold, and do
not come to be quickened ; so do our desires grow cold and dull, which
otherwise by a constant meditation are hatched into some life. Instance
in any affection. Hope and trust are ripened by constant thoughts of
the grace, power, truth, goodness, and unchangeableness of God : 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/
276 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 03.
Presumption is an inconstant careless apprehension, and therefore soon
overborne : Ps. ix. 10, They that know thy name will put their trust
in thee ; that is, that seriously consider it ; for the Hebrew word is
used for consider ; they that know what a God thou art, how merciful,
true, and powerful thou art, they will trust thee. So for fear, so far
as it is sanctified it is fed by a consideration of the dreadfulness of
Gods wrath and displeasure : Ps. xc. 11, Who knows the power of
thine anger ? according to thy fear, so is thy wrath ; that is, who doth
seriously consider of it ? According to those awful apprehensions that
they form within themselves doth God s wrath more or less move them.
So for desire, either of Christ or of heaven. Of Christ ; a serious con
sideration of the excellency of Christ is that which ravisheth the heart.
The spouse formeth a description of Christ, and then she saith he is all
desires : Cant. v. 16, His mouth is more sweet, yea, he is altogether
lovely. Enough to ravish all our desires. The value of things lieth
hid when we do but slightly and superficially look upon them, but
when we meditate of them, they are double to that which is seen at the
first blush : Job xi. 6, And that he would show thee the secrets of
wisdom, that they are double to that which is. In natural things
serious thoughts are necessary, much more in spiritual, because the
mind, by long use, having been inured to earthly objects and profits,
had need to be much raised. We see that we do insensibly receive taint
from those objects with which we do converse, and therefore we had
need to be often and serious in meditating of the excellences of Christ,
that by a spiritual art he may be as usual an object to us as the world.
So for heaven, when we do not hold our hearts to the consideration of
the glory of it, it doth not work upon us. Moses, Heb. xi. 26, Had
respect to the recompense of the reward, eVeySXevre ; he had an eye to
it. The word noteth a serious and intent consideration ; we should
again and again consider it, and be sending our thoughts as spies into
the land of promise, to bring us reports and tidings of it, as love
between men is maintained by constant visits and letters. So for
sorrow for sin past : Ps. li. 3, My sin is ever before me ; and Jer.
xxxi. 19, Surely after that I was turned I repented ; and after that
I was instructed I smote upon my thigh ; I was ashamed, yea, even
confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. When we
come deeply to consider our errors, and the unkindness of them, that
begetteth a sad sense. So for hatred and displicency against sin. Evil
affections are nourished by thoughts, and kept up in life and strength,
for thoughts are pabulum animce, the food of the soul: Kom. vii. 13,
Sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is
good, that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
The sinfulness of sin appears by considering the purity of the law, the
majesty of God, and the kindness of Christ. So for joy and delight ;
the soul is feasted by meditation, it turneth the promises into marrow :
Ps. Ixiii. 5, 6, My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips, when I remember
thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night-watches. Hereby
we discern their relish and savour : Ps. xxxiv. 8, Oh ! taste and see
that the Lord is good ; the thoughts, taste, and the relish is left on
the affections.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 277
3. It is an advantage to the fruits of grace in the life ; it maketh
the heavenly life more easy, more sweet, more orderly and prudent.
[1.] More easy, because it calleth in all the rational help that may
he. Keason, which otherwise would . serve the senses, and be enslaved
to appetite and worldly desire, now is employed in the highest and
purest use ; and therefore when reason is gained, which is the leading
faculty, the work cometh on more easily. Meditation putteth reason in
authority, and rescueth it from being prostituted to sense : 2 Cor. x.
5, Casting down imaginations/ Xeyyttr/iow, reasonings, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And then for
sense, it maketh our eyes to furnish us with matter : Job xii. 7, 8,
But ask now the beasts, and they will teach thee ; and the fowls of
the air, and they shall tell thee : or speak to the earth, and it shall
teach thee ; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Every
element giveth in an help ; he that doth not want an heart cannot want
an object; the air, the sea, the earth giveth fuel for wisdom and
spiritual advantage. But for want of consideration a man is worse
than the beasts : Prov. vi. 6, Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; consider
her ways, and be wise.
[2.] More sweet. It bringeth the heavenly life into more liking
with us. Duty to worldly men is irksome and unsavoury, because they
lose the sweetness and blessedness of communion with God: Ps,
xxvi. 3, For thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes ; I have walked
in thy truth/ This constraineth and enforceth to holiness, and gives
encouragement to it. Others only attempt this work, but do not con
sider the fruit of it.
[3.] More orderly and prudent. Others do good duties by chance :
Phil. iv. 8, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report ; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of
these things.
III. That which I am now to do is to give you the rules to guide
you in this weighty affair of the Christian life. There are rules to be
observed to fit the soul, but those I shall handle under the term of
helps. I handle such now as must guide the soul.
1. Whatever you meditate upon must be drawn down to application :
Job v. 27, Lo this, we have searched it, so it is ; hear it, and know
thou it for thy good. In meditation our aim and design is to promote
the good of our souls. The heathen Emperor Antoninus had observa
tions, which he called ra els epavrov, things for myself ; that is the
proper end of this exercise, things for ourselves. In conference we
aim at the good of others, but the end of meditation is to fall directly
upon our own souls. All the while we stay in generals we do but bend
the bow ; when we come to application we let fly the arrow, and we
hit the mark when we come to return upon our own souls. Now this
application must bt- partly by way of trial, partly by way of charge.
[1.] The first reflection upon ourselves must be by way of trial.
This should always be the close of all, How is it with thee, oh ! my
soul ? or, Is not this my state ? When the apostle had taken a view
278 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
of the doctrine of justification, he shutteth up all with a practical
return upon his own heart: Bom. viii. 31, What shall we then say to
these things ? How am I concerned in this truth ? So Naaianzen
in his 41st Oration saith his custom was aTro^wprjcrai ew TO piicpov,
to go aside to converse with God, but always in the course of the duty
he did eavrov e r mcr^^raa 6aL, search himself.
[2.] By way of charge and command. You should charge your
selves to serve God with greater care. Meditation is as it were the
heat of the cause, and after the debate you should give sentence, and
issue forth a practical decree, as David ; now I see It is good for me
to draw nigh to God, Ps. Ixxiii. 28. When he had been meditating of
the providence of God in punishing the wicked, now, my soul ! thou
seest what is best for thee, even to keep close to God. So in two
psalms, when he had been meditating of the mercy and power of God,
he layeth a charge upon his soul to bless God for his mercy : Ps. ciii.
22, Bless the Lord all his works, in all places of his dominion ; bless
the Lord, my soul ! Of his power : Ps. civ. 35, Let the sinners
be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more ; bless
thou the Lord, my soul ! praise ye the Lord.
2. Do not pry further than God hath revealed ; your thoughts must
be still bounded by the word. There is no duty that a fanatic brain
is more apt to abuse than meditation. When men are once able to raise
their thoughts, they soar too high, and being puffed up with their fleshly
mind, intrude themselves into things that they have not seen, Col. ii.
18. They are dazzled with ungrounded subtleties, and so, like a lark
that have flown high, of a sudden fall down again. David saith, Ps.
cxxxi. 1, Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, neither
do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things to high for me. In
spiritual exercises you must stint your thoughts with what is revealed ;
fj,r) v 7rep(f)vovelv Trap o Bel <j>povelv, a\\a <j)poveiv et? TO aoxfipovelv, Rom.
xii. 3, Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,
but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the mea
sure of faith ; that is, as God hath revealed and dispensed the measure
of faith to you. To pry into the mysteries of the divine decrees were to
disturb affection, not to raise it ; nice disputes feed curiosity, not
religion. Again, regard must be had not only to the word, but to
your own abilities. Those that soar too high fall low enough ere they
have done. Consider what is fit for your pitch and size. Again, do
not leave bread and wine and gnaw upon a stone, or leave practical
matters for intricacy of dispute.
3. When you meditate of God you must do it with great care
and reverence ; his perfections are matter rather of admiration than
inquiry. Some dispute whether it be best to meditate of God s essence
or no. Certainly as it is discovered to us in his attributes it is very
comfortable and useful : Ps. civ. 34, My meditation of him shall be
sweet, I will be glad in the Lord. And though you should get as
large thoughts as possibly you can of his majesty and power, yet you
must not pry too curiously into his nature, lest you be oppressed by his
glory. The mysteries of the trinity are matters of belief rather than
debate, we may well cry out, u> /3a0o?, Oh, the depth ! It is enough to
know that it is so, we cannot search how. It is said, 1 Tim. vi. 16,
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 279
" Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see ; and Ps. xviii.
11, He hath made darkness his secret place, his pavilion round about
him were dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. God is said to
dwell in light to show his majesty, and to dwell in darkness to show
his incomprehensibleness. Do not entangle yourselves while you go
about to raise your zeal ; the full knowledge of these things is our
portion in heaven.
4. In meditating on common things, keep in mind a spiritual pur
pose. God hath endowed man with a faculty to discourse, and employ
his mind on earthly objects to spiritual purposes: Eccles. iii. 11, He
hath set the world in their heart. Mundum tradidit disputationi
eorum ; the meaning is, he hath endowed him with natural light to
contemplate on his handiwork. The mind is soon apt to grow common
and vain, and therefore here you have need of more care and watchful
ness : Ps. viii. 34, When I consider the heavens, the work of thy
fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained, what is
man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou
visitest him ? Basil calleth them SiSaa-rjaXeiov KOL Traibevrepiov
tyvxcov, a school to teach us not knowledge but religion : Ps. xix. 1 ,
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth
his handiwork. Philosophers study the creatures to find out their
natural causes, we to find out arguments of worship and religion.
5. Take heed of creating a snare to your souls. Some sins are
catching, like fire in straw, and we cannot think of them without
infection and temptation ; the very thoughts may beget a sudden
delight and tickling, which may pass through us like lightning, and
set us all on fire : Ezek. xxiii. 19, She multiplied her whoredoms in
calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played
the harlot in the land of Egypt Though the prophet speaketh of
spiritual fornication, yet there is a plain allusion to outward ; it is an
allusion to an unchaste woman, who feedeth a new fire by remembering
her vile lusts. Some temptations cannot be supposed without sin ; it
is less dangerous to suppose the temptation of Peter than the tempta
tion of Joseph, of Peter that was tempted to deny his master, than of
Joseph who was tempted to folly with his mistress. This direction is
not unnecessary ; you know not how apt a carnal heart and busy devil
may be to taint the best duties, and how soon an innocent thought
may degenerate into an unclean glance. The apostle would have some
sins not named among the saints : Eph. v. 3, But fornication and all
uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as
becometh saints.
6. Meditate of those things especially which you have most need of.
There is the greatest obligation upon the heart. The matter is not
arbitrary ; there you will find most help, and there the benefit will be
most sensible. Seasonable thoughts have the greatest influence. The
servants of God have sometimes meditated on his power, sometimes on
his mercy, sometimes on his providence, according as their affairs and
temptations call for it : Ps. Ivi. 3, What time I am afraid, I will
trust in thee. In a time of fear he would think of arguments of
trust.
280 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
7. Whatever you meditate upon, take heed of slightness. Transient
thoughts leave no impression. See that you meditate but of one thing
at once. Hoc age, mind the work you are about, is a good rule in
meditation as well as prayer, the thoughts should be under a restraint
and wise confinement. A skipping mind, that wandereth from one
meditation to another, seldom profiteth. In meditation be not like the
dogs of Nile, that snatch here and there, or like the bee, that passeth
from flower to flower. A constant fixed light worketh most. The
apostle speaketh of apostates that they have flashy tastes : Heb. vi. 4, 5,
They were once enlightened, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were
made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and tasted the good word of God,
and the powers of the world to come. . They had vanishing and fleeting
motions : James i. 25, He that looketh into the law of liberty,
6 Se Trapaicvtyas, he that boweth down to take a deliberate view ; it is
a metaphor taken from them that stoop down, and bend their bodies
toward a thing that they may narrowly pry into it. The same word
is used to imply that narrow search which the angels use to find out
the mysteries of salvation by : 1 Peter i. 12, Which things the angels
desire Trapaicvtyeiv, to look into/ an allusion to the cherubim, whose
faces bowed down towards the ark, as desirous to see the mysteries
therein contained. There must be a deep sight and serious inculca
tion : Luke ii. 19, But Mary kept all these sayings, and pondered
them in her heart/ <ri;/i/3aXXoucra ; she examined, compared them ,
traversed them to and fro in her mind, which is afterwards expressed,
ver. 51, She kept all these sayings in her heart/ There is a folly in
man, when once we apprehend a thing ; curiosity being satisfied, we
begin to loath it, the first apprehension having as it were deflowered it,
but at last they lose their power and virtue. When digestion is pre
cipitated there is no nourishment, and when the meditation is not deep
and ponderous we have no comfort, no lively perception and feeling of
it in our hearts. A glance doth not discover the worth of anything ;
he that doth but cast his eye upon a piece of embroidery doth not dis
cover the art of it.
8. Come not off from holy thoughts till you find profit by them,
either sweet tastes and relishes of the love of God, or high affections
kindled towards God, or strong resolutions begotten in yourselves.
Usually God droppeth in sweetness into the hearts of his people, as all
those ecstasies of love in the Canticles were occasioned by medita
tion. But we cannot always expect raptures and high elevations ; it
is some fruit if it maketh you fall to prayer and holy complaints.
9. Be thankful to God when he blesseth you in meditation, or else
you will find difficulty in the next. Christians often forget to return
God the glory : Cant. i. 4, Draw me, we will run after thee, the king
hath brought me into his chambers ; we will be glad and rejoice in thee,
we will remember thy loves more than wine ; the upright love thee.
That which goeth up in vapours cometh down in showers. So the
psalmist, Ps. Ixvii. 5, 6, Let the people praise thee, God, let all the
people praise thee ; then shall the earth yield her increase, and God
even our own God, shall bless us. There is a mutual access and recess
between the rivers and the sea, so there is between blessings and praises.
In this duty God is jealous lest we should give the honour to ourselves,
because there is so much work of our own thoughts : Ps. Ixiii. 4, 5,
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 281
Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee:
thus will I bless thee while I live, I will lift up my hands in thy name.
Not only in my necessity, but for ever, for such sweet experiences.
10. Do not bridle up the free spirit by the rules of method. That
which God calleth for is religion, not logic. When Christians confine
themselves to such rules and prescriptions, they straiten themselves,
and thoughts come from them like water out of a still, not like water
out of a fountain. Voluntary and free meditations are most smart and
pregnant. In all arbitrary directions, that make only for the conveni-
ency of the duty, you must remember we come to you like Paul to the
Corinthians : 1 Cor. vii. 12, To the rest speak I, not the Lord. We
do not prescribe, but advise.
11. Your success in the duty is not to be measured by the multitude
and subtlety of the thoughts, but the sincerity of them. Christians
puzzle and disquiet themselves because they look too much at gifts ;
you should covet the best gifts, but not inordinately : Ps. li. 6, Thou
desirest truth in the inward parts. In prayer God looketh more to
the impulses of zeal than the flowers of rhetoric ; so in meditation, if
we are less subtle, it is no matter, so we be more devout.
12. You must begin and end all with prayer. Duties are subser
vient one to another. In the beginning you must pray for a blessing
on the duty, and in the end commend your souls and resolutions to
God. There is no hope in your own promises, but God s. They were
in an high pang of zeal when they offered so freely to the service of
the house of God ; but David prays, 2 Chron. xxix. 28, Lord God
of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the
imaginations of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare
their hearts to seek thee. Our motions are fleeting and vanishing ;
God must preserve in us these resolutions of consecrating ourselves and
all that is ours to him.
SERMON III.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.
GEN. xxiv. 63.
MY work now is to handle the lets or hindrances of meditation,
together with the helps and means that may quicken you to the per
formance of it. The lets may be sooner discovered than remedied,
as the nature of many diseases is better known than the cures, and
therefore they are called opprobria medicorum, the disgrace of the
physician s skill ; so these remain as marks and memorials of the fall.
Entire and uninterrupted visions are the privileges of heaven ; we must
be contented with our broken and imperfect measures ; it is enough
that we have doves eyes/ Cant. iv. 1 ; that we can peck and look up
ward, and enjoy some temperate glances on the glory of our hopes,
though we be not transported with the ravishments of a constant
282 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
and steady vision. We cannot expect to be absolute ; we shall still
have cause to be humbled ; it is enough if we can be encouraged
against despair ; for many find themselves so unfit that they have not
hopes enough to attempt the duty. To these I shall speak chiefly in
this discourse. I had thought to have handled the lets severally, and
then the helps ; but I think it would be better to suit each discourage
ment with its proper helps.
The lets and hindrances are of several sorts, some common to this
with other duties, and others more peculiar to the duty of medita
tion.
First, I begin with the first sort, such hindrances as are common to
other duties, and they are four sloth, love of pleasure, a guilty con
science, and an unwieldy mind.
1. There is a spiritual slothfulness. Men lie upon the bed of ease,
and are loath in good earnest to apply themselves to what is painful
and difficult. If grace would drop to them out of the clouds, or God
would be contented with some faint lazy wishes, or some cold and
yawning expressions of a drowsy devotion, they would be religious ; but
where duties must cost labour and self-denial, and put them to pains,
men withdraw the shoulder, and hang off. Therefore Solomon saith,
Prov. xxi. 25, The desire of the slothful killeth him, for his hands
refuse to labour. They would fain have grace, and perform what God
requires, but are loath to take pains. Now, as this is a prejudice
against all other duties, so especially against the duty of meditation ;
partly because of all duties it is most difficult and tedious to the flesh ;
it is a duty lying within the soul ; we cannot so easily command our
own thoughts. Now inward duties are the most difficult, because we
cannot always exercise a dominion over our own spirits. Partly because
it is a private duty, to which God alone is conscious. In public duties
secular interests and ends have a great constraint, and therefore we
excite the heart to be more intent and serious. We see byends make
men deny themselves, but where there is not this to prompt them, they
either omit the work, or turn it into a slight and idle practice.
How shall we do to shake off this spiritual sloth ? I answer
[1.] You must consider that a lazy spirit is most unfit for Christianity.
The whole Christian life is carried on with much labour and diligence.
You were as good never look after Christ and heaven as refuse labour.
There is nothing required in the whole compass of religion but what
will cost you a great deal of pains. Faith is a work : John vi. 29, That
is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. It is
not a barren idle speculation, nor a naked apprehension, but a matter
of difficulty and diligence to bring Christ and the soul together, and to
lodge the soul in the bosom of Christ. Love is labour : Heb. vi. 10,
God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love. It
is not a naked profession, but there is labour in it ; take it either for
love to God or men. For love to God, that is not a fellow-like
familiarity, but a laying out ourselves in his service ; or for love to
men, that doth not consist in a few good words. Debts are not paid
with a noise of money ; you do not satisfy the commandment by say
ing, Depart in peace, be ye warmed, be ye filled, if you give them not
those things which are needful to the body, James ii. 16. So for
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 03. 283
obedience : it is expressed by a constant course of work and labour :
1 Cor. xv. 58, Be ye steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in
vain in the Lord. Religion is a constant exercise ; there are no loiterers
in heaven. God s work must not be followed with a faint wish and a
slack hand. Men mistake religion if they think it a broad and easy way
where men may live at large. No ; the gate is narrow and the path
is strait, and few there be that find it ; it is a work, not a sport and
play ; and men had as good lay all thoughts of God and Christ aside
as to resolve upon an easy course, and flatter themselves with an
expectation that they shall go to heaven with a lazy wish, and fancy
such a short cut and passage to heaven as will cost no pains.
[2.] It is better to take pains than to suffer pains, and to be bound
with the cords of duty than with the chains of darkness. The bonds
of duty are not gyves, but ornaments, for duty is the greatest freedom :
Ps. cxix. 45, I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy precepts. You
will never be more free than when you once make experience of God s
service. How sad is it to see men prejudiced against such pains as
yield freedom and comfort for the present and glory for the future, and
take pains for that for which they shall suffer eternal pains ! Isa. v. 18,
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it
were with cart ropes. They moil and toil in the work of Satan as a
horse in a mill, and labour for their own destruction. Consider the
devil s work is drudgery and his reward is death ; yet such is the
wretchedness of man, that he accounteth nothing toilsome but God s
work, and nothing pleasant but the accomplishment of his own lusts,
to be lust s vassal and pride s slave, and to be at the command of every
covetous and unclean desire. How do men toil in the world, go to
bed late, rise early, eat the bread of sorrows, exhaust and waste their
strength and spirits, and yet there is sin in the work, and hell in the
wages ! Oh ! consider, if it seem difficult, which is better, to labour for
a season, or suffer for ever ? which is the end of them that live in the
constant neglect of a known duty.
[3.] There is nothing so hard in God s service but he hath manifested
love enough to sweeten it. We begrudge a few thoughts of God, and
God had thoughts of us before all worlds : Ps. xl. 5, Many, Lord
my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy
thoughts which are to us-ward ; they cannot be reckoned up in number
unto thee : if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than
can be numbered ; Ps. cix. 13, How precious also are thy thoughts
unto me God ! How great is the sum of them ! Who can tell
what a condescension it was for infiniteness to think of poor worms,
and that he should before all worlds plot and design our salvation ?
And when the plot came out, there was a great deal of love to sweeten
duty. The Lord Jesus Christ thought no danger too great, no suffer
ing or extremity too hard, no work too difficult for our sakes, what a
mercy is this ! God hath not only required obedience, but discovered a
love that may sweeten the difficulties of it.
[4.] There is no difficulty in religion wholly insuperable and too
hard for an active and industrious spirit. Those that follow on after
God do at length find him to their comfort. A faint pursuit is the
284 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
cause of discouragement. When a flint doth not strike fire at the first,
we strike again : Prov. x. 4, He becoraeth poor that dealeth with a
slack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. It is a rule in
grace as well as nature ; let us therefore follow on till we have overcome
the difficulty that is before us.
[5.] A lazy backward heart must be urged forward with the greater
importunity. When David was shy of God s presence, he lays a
command upon himself : Ps. xxxii. 5, I said I will confess my trans
gressions unto the Lord ; he maketh reason to issue out a decree and
positive conclusion. So Ps. xxxix. 1, I said I will take heed to my
ways, that I sin not with my tongue. So by just analogy we may
gather that the soul should in this case determine, I will go and try,
and see what may be done ; I will keep off from God no longer, but
will go to him.
2. Another let and hindrance is love of pleasures. Men that would
pass their time in mirth are unwilling to be so solemn and serious.
When children s minds are set to play, it is irksome to hear of school
or of their books ; so when the heart is set for pleasure, it is a hard
matter to bring the soul to religious performances.
How shall we do to wean the soul from pleasures ?
[1.] Consider to love pleasure is to gratify the beast in us rather
than the angel. Man is in part an angel and in part a beast ; he hath
a nature common to both. Now when men study altogether to gratify
their sensual part, it is to turn men into beasts. To serve our lowest
faculty, and to enjoy pleasures without remorse, is the happiness of the
beasts ; to eat, and drink, and sleep, and sport is but to do as the beasts
do ; a man s delight should be in the pure and free exercises of reason.
If men would exercise themselves herein, they would find the greatest
delectation would be in the contemplation and view of truth : Ps. xix.
8, The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. That taste
which hypocrites have of the good word of God, Heb. vi. 5, is merely
such as scholars have in the height of speculation and study, because
the gospel is such an excellent contrivance, and a sublime satisfying
truth. Nulla major voluptas quam fastidium voluptatis ; there is no
greater pleasure than a disdain of sensual pleasures.
[2.] Consider the sweetness of religious exercises is far better than
that of carnal pleasures, as that heat is more manly that is gotten by
exercise than by hovering over the fire. It is hard, I confess, to abjure
accustomed delights ; pleasantness is connatural to us ; but we should
consider that by communion with God in spiritual exercises delight is
not abrogated but preferred, and advanced to a more noble becoming
object ; it is taken out of Egypt that it may grow in Canaan, trans
planted out of a fen into a paradise, that it may thrive in a better
soil ; it is less dreggy, but more masculine and grave : Ps. civ. 34,
My meditation of him shall be sweet ; I will be glad in the Lord ;
Eph. v. 4, Neither filthiness nor foolish talking n6r jesting which are
not convenient, but rather giving of thanks. We keep the affection,
but change the object. The comforts of Christianity are expressed by
terms proper to the delights of the senses, to teach us this excellent art,
to keep the affection and change the object, and by an holy sleight and
wile to cozen the soul into better joys. Here delight is most pure and
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 285
more free, no excess is vicious. Castce delicicG mece sunt scriptures
tuce ; thy scriptures are my chaste delights. The pleasures of the world
are but sugared baits ; a man may soon lose himself ; but here by trial
you will find the same sweetness with less hazard and danger.
[3.] We may make choice of matter more pleasant to allure the
soul. All the objects of meditation are not dark and gloomy ; there
are some things pleasing to nature the variety of providences, the
beauty of the creation, the excellent contrivance of the gospel. All
objects are not mournful, and in case of such a temptation we may
allure the soul ; and when we are not so fit for the severe exercises of
the closet, we may, as Isaac, go out into the fields to meditate, and
heighten fancy and imagination by objects more pleasant.
3. The next general hindrance is a guilty conscience. When the
soul is under the burden of guilt, we are loath to be serious and alone,
lest the mind should fall on itself ; of all things we then desire to flee
the company of ourselves, and therefore meditation is an unpleasant
duty. We cannot think of God but as of a judge, nor of a world to
come but as of our own ruin. A guilty conscience would fain obliter
ate the thoughts of God ; as the guilty heathens, Kom. i. 28, They
did not like to retain God in their knowledge ; that is actual, sound,
distinct thoughts of God. It is said, James ii. ] 9, The devils believe
and tremble. Thoughts of God impressed the more horror on them,
therefore they cried out, Mat. viii. 29, Art thou come hither to torment
us before the time ? So guilty men are under these horrors, They
are all their lifetime subject to bondage, Heb. ii. 15 ; which, though it
be not always felt, is soon awakened : Job xxi. 14, Therefore they say
unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy
ways.
What shall we do to remedy this.
[1.] Get your Conscience cleansed by the hearty application of the
blood of Christ. A galled conscience is much discomposed and un
settled, and unfit for such an exercise ; musing requireth a quiet sedate
mind.
[2.] There are matters comfortable that maybe of excellent relief to
the spirit. When the soul is sadly humbled, and bondage is indeed
revived, there is an hope set before us to which we may fly for refuge :
Heb. vi. 18, That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible
for God to lie, we may have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge
to lay hold upon the hope set before us. The wounded soul may run
up to the mountains of myrrh and frankincense. So David, Ps. xciv.
19, In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight
my soul.
4. Another let and hindrance is unwieldiness of spirit to spiritual
and heavenly duties. The heart is many times burdened and oppressed,
and sunk down with its own burden and weight, that it cannot be
lifted up to any holy duties, and so is unfit for any exercise of religion.
This our Saviour bids his disciples have a care of : Luke xxi. 34, Take
heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with sur
feiting and drunkenness and cares of this life. Pleasures and cares do
as it were hang a weight upon the soul that it cannot mount up to God
in heavenly exercises. This is expressed by a fat heart: Isa. vi. 10,
286 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
Make the heart of this people fat ; that is, spiritually dull, as it is
observed of the ass, which is the simplest of all creatures, it hath the
fattest heart. There is a spiritual dulness and listlessness that is apt
to seize upon us.
What shall we do to help this ?
[1.] Learn a holy moderation and sobriety in outward businesses
and pleasures. As the apostle says of prayer, Eph. vi. 18, Watching
thereunto ; the same rule holds good in meditation. Watch that you
may always keep the soul in a fitness for the duty ; order your affairs
with great wisdom, that you may not jostle out so necessary a duty.
When a man is encumbered with business, there is no room left for
such an exercise ; if he let loose his heart disorderly all the day, he will
find this spiritual dulness to seize on him.
[2.] Keep the body in a fit frame, that it may not be a clog to the
soul, but a dexterous instrument. There is a sanctification of the body :
1 Thes. v. 23, And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I
pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the apostle commands,
1 Thes. iv. 4, That every one of you should know how to possess his-
vessel in sanctification and honour/ Men emasculate and weaken
their strength and spirits, and so the body loseth its fitness.
Secondly, There are hindrances that are peculiar to the duty of
meditation. I shall name but two barrenness of thoughts and incon
stancy.
1. Leanness and barrenness of thoughts. When we go about to
meditate, we have no matter whereupon to bestow our time and
thoughts, and so Christians are much discouraged. This is opposite to
that which the scripture calls the abundance of the heart : Mat. xii. 34,
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh ; that is,
when there is a holy treasure in the soul.
Now to remedy this
[1.] You must not give way to it, but try and use constant exercise.
When we give way to such indispositions, they prove an utter bondage.
Voluntary neglects are punished with penal hardness, and evils grow
upon us ; as to lie in the dirt will make us more filthy, and by little and
little men are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. The apostle
speaks of them that have aurBijrjput ^e^v^vaar^iva : Heb. v. 14, Who
by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil. All habits are increased by frequent acts, long disuse makes the
duty uncouth. Wells which are at first a puddle are the sweeter for
draining. If we are under indisposition, should we not strive to come
out of it ? The more we work, the more vigorous and free is the soul
for the work of God.
[2.] Get a good stock of sanctified knowledge. Let there be a
treasure in your hearts : Mat. xiii. 52, Every scribe which is instructed
in the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder,
which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old/ Those
that buy by the penny will be sometimes in want: Prov. vi. 21, 22,
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
When thou goest it shall lead thee, when thou sleepest it shall keep thee,
and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee/ This is the way to make
SKUMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 287
truths present and ready in the thoughts ; when we have laid them
up, we can the better lay them out.
[3.] When the heart is barren, think of your own sins and corrup
tions, and the experiences of God to your own souls. If we did not
want an heart we could never want matter, did we but consult with
our own experiences : Ps. xl. 12, Innumerable evils have compassed
me about ; mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not
able to look up ; they are more than the hairs of mine head, therefore
mine heart faileth me. And if nothing else will come to hand, medi
tate upon your present unfitness for any holy duty.
[4.] You may season and affect your mind before meditation with
some part of God s word. Heading is a good preparative, and when
we have taken in food, we may exercise our depastion and digestion
upon it.
2. A loose -garish spirit, that is apt to skip and wander from thought
to thought. There is a madness in man ; his thoughts are light and
feathery, tossed to and fro, and like the loose wards in a lock, only
kept up whilst we are turning the key. This doth much discourage
Christians, that they cannot keep up their affections and command
their thoughts.
How shall we help and remedy this ?
[1.] When you go to meditate, you should exercise a command and
restraint upon yourselves. This is expressed in scripture by trussing
up the loins of your minds : Luke xii. 30, Let your loins be girded
about ; an allusion to their hanging garments, that they trussed up
when they went about any work, that they may be compact and succinct.
Lay a command upon yourselves : Zeph. ii. 1, Gather yourselves
together, yea, gather together, nation not desired !
[2.] Pray and call in the help of God s Holy Spirit : Ps. Ixxxvi. 11,
Unite my heart to fear thy name. Lord, make my heart one. He
that could stay the sun can stay the fleeting of your thoughts.
[3.] Dry up these swimming toys and fancies with the flame of
heavenly love. Love unites the heart, and where we have a pleasure,
there we can stay : Ps. cxix. 97, Oh, how love I thy law ! it is my
meditation all the day.
[4.] Let the course of your lives be grave and serious. The mind is
according to the course of the life. You flatter yourselves when you
think you are able to command spiritual thoughts on a sudden, when
you have suffered your thoughts to rove and wander : Prov. xvii. 24,
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding, but the eyes of a fool
are in the ends of the earth ; here and there and everywhere.
[5.] Watch against the first diversion ; how plausible soever it be,
look upon it as an intruding that breaks the rank. The devil injects
good thoughts sometimes that he might divert your other thoughts.
Charge your thoughts that they may not disturb your meditation :
Cant. iii. 5, I charge you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir
not up, nor awake my love till he please/
[6.] When you come to meditate in God s presence, do not bring
the world with you ; purge yourselves of all carnal affections : Ezek.
xxxiii. 31, Their heart goeth after their covetousness. Always consider
this, the prevailing lust will engross the thoughts. To a distracted
288 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
inind no place is a solitude ; the very closet is a market-place. There
fore before meditation we should purge our hearts of worldly affections.
SERMON IV.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.
GEN. xxiv. 63.
I SHALL not wholly divert from the subject in hand, though I shall a
little interrupt the method of it. My purpose is now to speak of that
meditation that is proper to the sacrament.
The main part of that worship is dispatched in thoughts. Here we
come to put reason to the highest and most sublime use, to be an
instrument and servant to faith and love.
But now the thoughts proper to the Lord s supper are many. There
are an union of mysteries, yea, so many, that they are a burden to some
Christians, and a snare to those that are most scrupulous. It will be
necessary therefore to give you some directions how you may guide
yourselves in this duty for your best advantage. It is a matter of
great profit to be wise and skilful in duties. Many that know the
general nature of them know not how to manage them. David saith,
Ps. cxix. 27, Make me to understand the way of thy precepts, so shall
I talk of thy wondrous works ; intimating that then we perform duties
with most success when we go about them with most wisdom and
understanding ; and when we are skilled in the way of God s precepts,
we shall understand those marvellous acts of grace which he vouch-
safeth to his people.
Now it is good that every one according to his talent should help
one another s joy, and therefore I shall now speak a little to this pur
pose, and the rather because it will much conduce to the opening of
the doctrine of meditation in the general. My method shall be this
(1.) I will show the usual defects of Christians in this service, with
their necessary remedies ; (2.) I shall handle some cases.
First, The usual defects and faults of people in this duty, I mean
so far as they concern meditation, and they are four barrenness,
stupidity, roving of thoughts, and a lazy formality.
1. Barrenness. This is a great trouble to Christians, when their
understandings are unfruitful, and they cannot enlarge themselves in
pertinent and necessary thoughts.
Now how shall we do to get our hearts to be fruitful in holy thoughts ?
[1.] There must be a solemn preparation for this service. It is
good to breathe ourselves in some religious exercises beforehand, that
we may run the more freely without fainting. Spiritual dispositions
do not come on us of a sudden ; Christians are deceived that look for
rapt and sudden motions ; there must be a time to put off the shoes
off our feet when we come upon holy ground to converse with God in
so sweet a service ; we must lay aside the distractions of the world,
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 03. 289
and not come reeking from the world into God s presence. There
must be a time to raise the soul into a zealous height and ardour ;
there must be a blowing of the fire, for here you come to flame, your
thoughts are to flame out in great and raised ascents : Cant. i. 12,
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth
the smell thereof/ Wood doth not blaze and flame as soon as it is
laid on.
[2.] Those solemn and preparative thoughts are chiefly to be spent
in these two things the nature of the supper, and the love of Christ
in the institution of it.
(].) The nature of the supper. You are to consider the great
things that are offered to you, and the great blessings and benefits
which God cometh to represent, exhibit, and seal up to your souls :
Mat. xi. 7, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see ? Christ
examineth the grounds of their resort and concourse to him. It is
good to consider what we are about, and the dainties of the banquet
we are invited to, what assurance the outward signs are to give you,
what communion we have with Christ and his graces. We are barren,
because we do not consider our work, and the nature and importance
of it.
(2.) The love of Christ in the institution of it. (1.) The time when
it was instituted : 1 Cor. xi. 23, The Lord Jesus Christ the same
night in which he was betrayed, took bread. The Lord Jesus Christ
had thoughts of the greatest good to man when man was executing the
greatest spite and malice against him. And the rather because it is
an act of mercy that Christ frequently useth to surprise sinners in the
midst of their wickedness. When Saul was breathing out threatenings
against the disciples, God had a design of love to him, and smites him
from his horse. Some are smitten with conviction in the height of
provocations. We read in ecclesiastical story of a young man that
came to stab St John who was converted by him ; so many come to
jeer and catch at a sermon, and have been converted by it. (2.) The
rights which he instituted, appointing bread and wine, symbols of
pleasure and delight. As a physician conveys health to us in a golden
pill, so doth Christ convey spiritual nourishment to us by those
elements which we take pleasure in. The outward observance is com
fortable. God doth not require us to lance ourselves, and to exercise
the body with whips and cords ; the rites are not bloody, as in circum
cision, but bread and wine. And yet this is nothing to the inward
sweetness, meat and drink which the world knows not off : John iv. 32,
I have meat to eat which ye know not of.
(3.) The advantage and relief that faith has from these things of
ftense. God speaketh to you now, not by words, but things. He doth
as it were embody religion, and represent it to the senses : Gal. iii. .1,
foolish Galatians ! who hath bewitched you, that you should not
obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set
forth crucified among you ? that is, in the word or sacraments ; here
God doth as it were hold forth Christ dying before your eyes. It is a
pleasure to see things by picture, though we know the person ; so
though we have an image of Christ in the word, and may know his
person there, yet it is a great relief to us to see Christ in the supper by
VOL. XVTT. T
290 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
these outward symbols, where sense may teach faith what strength of
grace and what sweetness of comfort to expect from Christ. These
thoughts through the blessing of God will raise the soul into a frame
of religion, that when you come to this ordinance you will not be so
dry and barren.
2. Wandering when the heart is prepared and set towards God, how
shall we do to keep it from roving, and prevent those excursions which
are apt to carry away the heart.
[1.] Get an awe and dread of God. Labour to have the deepest
apprehensions of the presence of God as possibly may be. Strong
affections, especially fear, lock up the mind, and do not suffer it to flit
abroad. Now fear is not unseasonable to this duty, but rather proper,
because of the excellent mysteries by which God condescendeth ano!
approacheth us. Chrysostom calls it terribilis mystica mensa, the
dreadful mysterious table, and therefore now our apprehensions should
be most aweful. When Jacob had a sight of God, says he, Gen. xxviii.
17, How dreadful is this place ! And the psalmist saith, Ps. Ixviii.
35, God ! thou art terrible out of thy holy places. Mixed affec
tions do best in the sweetest worship : Ps. ii. 11, Serve the Lord with
fear, and rejoice with trembling; Hosea iii. 5, They shall fear the
Lord and his goodness in the latter days. Here we are to have dis
tinct thoughts of his holiness and goodness, and therefore we should
fear before him, lest we forget ourselves to be poor guilty creatures ;
and fear confineth the soul, and will not suffer it to run abroad.
[2.] Chide the heart for your vain excursions. Christians might
have more command over their hearts if they would but hold the reins
a little straiter, and check their souls ; they are not so sadly sensible of
the idle roving of the brain, which do not so directly carry them after
the evil, though they make them to neglect the good. Take up your
selves, as David doth about his lumpishness : Ps. xlii. 5, Why art
thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted in me ?
Did I come hither to think of anything but Christ and heaven ? Did
I come to think of news, vanity, business, and lust ? My work is to
discern the Lord s body, not to think of worldly toys. Is this to remem
ber and fruitfully to insist upon his death ? Look, as Christ did chide
his disciples, Mat. xxvi. 40, What ! could ye not watch with me one
hour ? so chide your heart. Cannot I keep my heart free for God a
little while ? In heaven duty will be my constant work, and if my
heart wander now, how shall I be able to hold it for ever ? In the
supper God ties my soul by outward rites ; lest my eyes should carry
away my heart, God would exercise my eyes. Certainly if you would
chide your souls the heart would not steal so many glances. But
usually our hearts do not steal away ; we dismiss them, and let them
go. God gave reason a command of your thoughts at first, and we
might exercise it more than we do.
3. Stupidness. Many times the soul is surprised with deadness and
amazement ; it neither actually thinks of evil nor of good, but is at a
dead pause and stay. For this I shall urge a double help.
[1.] By earnest ejaculations call in the help of the Spirit : Cant. iv.
16, Awake, north-wind, and come, thou south ; blow upon my
garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Desire God to breathe
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. . 291
upon the soul with a fresh gale and excitement ; that he would take a
coal from his own altar, that the perfume might burn bright. Censers
must not be kindled with strange fire. Oh ! raise and quicken this
dead soul ! Kemember the first Adam was made a living soul, the
last Adam was made a quickening spirit/ 1 Cor, xv. 45.
[2.] Call upon your own hearts. It is a mistake of Christians to
think they are only to call upon God ; you are also to call upon your
selves, and to deal with your own souls by way of quickening : Ps. Ivii.
8, Awake up, my glory ; awake, psaltery and harp : I myself will awake
early. Charge your souls, awake to the consideration of heavenly
mysteries. Speak to your own hearts, as David lays a charge upon
himself : Ps. ciii. 1, Bless the Lord, my soul ; and all that is with
in me bless his holy name. The children of God are brought in
speaking to themselves, Oh ! my drowsy, blockish heart ! how coldly
dost thou think of Christ ! This dead heart will not become the ser
vice of the living God.
4. A lazy formality. Either we cannot get the soul to this worship,
or we perform it slightly. We content ourselves with a few careless
glances, and lazy barren thoughts. To remedy this, consider, in so
sweet a duty God doth not only require affection, but height of affec
tion, an holy ardour, earnestness and raisedness of spirit : Cant. iv. 6,
Until the day break and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the
mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense ; an allusion to
the censers used in the Levitical worship. God requires such thoughts
as will comfort, revive, and quicken our souls. Such thoughts as end
in affection. Leave not off till you can say as the spouse, Cant. ii. 5,
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love.
Do not leave meditating of Christ till you can bring your souls to a
holy ravishment, and your hearts are wounded with impatient desires
after communion with Christ. No thoughts will work but those that
are serious.
Secondly, I will propound some cases, which shall not only concern
the duty of the Lord s supper, but some of them the duty of meditation
in general.
Case 1. flow can we do, because of variety of matter that is to be
meditated upon, that plenty makes us barren ? And in such straits of
time, how can we run through all ? I shall answer to this in three
propositions.
1. The mind of man is eve/xy^?, working, and much may be done by
thoughts in a short time. The mind s motion is not so slow as that of
the body, which is burdened with a mass and clod of flesh, and there
fore must have time for its action, but the soul is quick. There are
two sorts of meditations in the supper, as indeed in all other matters
pregnant apprehensions and enforcing reasons. (1.) Pregnant
apprehensions, suitable to each circumstance of the duty. Now these
are absolutely necessary ; as in blessing the elements, and setting them
aside for this use, think of the eternal decrees of God, by which Christ
was separated to the office of mediator. In breaking the bread, your
thoughts must act afresh on the sorrows of Christ s cross, and those
bruises wherewith he was broken for our iniquities. Thus it is good
to follow every part of the duty with some devout and religious
292 SKRMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
thoughts. (2.) Enforcing; reasons, when we pitch upon one matter,
and inculcate it, and whet it upon the soul according to our present
distress and exigencies, which is a pleading with our own hearts from
the main design and end of the duty.
2. It is not good to skip from matter to matter hastily ; partly be
cause a light touch leaves very little impression, and therefore, as long
as milk cometh, suck on the breasts of consolation. Hold reason and
faith to its work ; when things drop thus on their own accord, they
are sweetest, as life-honey that drops of itself from the comb, or as
marrow, that the bone.droppeth of its own accord ; as the lamb sucks
the dam s dugs till they cease dropping. When thoughts come, freely
entertain them. Partly because we cannot think of all at once ; one
thought would but intrude and thrust out another ere we have received
comfort and profit, and in a throng and crowd of thoughts there is
little good done. And besides it would draw a tediousness upon the
soul if every time we should renew the same thoughts ; God appointed
this variety for our relief, not our burden.
3. There must be a wise choice in such variety of matter according
to your necessities and wants : Job v. 27, Hear it, and know thou it
for thy good. Things that nearly concern us do most affect us, and
thoughts in season are most affecting ; while we are here in the world
we are always humbled with some present want. Now these wants
are known by search and trial, and therefore is examination appointed
as a preparative to receiving, that we may know our wants.
Case 2. Is it good to bind ourselves to such or such a meditation ?
Will not this hinder much sweetness, which we should otherwise reap
by the duty ? and will it not exclude other thoughts which God by his
spirit might raise up in our minds ? and so we shall defraud ourselves
of much sweetness and comfort in the duty. To this I answer
1. In every particular duty a Christian should have one main parti
cular aim, either the removing of such a doubt the relieving of such a
want, the beating down of such a corruption, or the receiving of such a
grace. Upon a trial you will find some special need for the supply of
which you wait upon God. And there are several reasons why it is
good for a Christian to be thus particular ; partly because it discovers
sincerity, and prevents much guile ; partly because one case may be
best managed and carried on at one time, either in prayer, by wrestling
with God, or in meditation by argument and pleading with ourselves ;
partly because the comfort and success will be most sensible, as a
needle that toucheth but in one point entereth sooner than a blunt thick
piece of iron that toucheth many, so particular things are most sensible,
;ind leave a quicker and smarter sense upon the soul ; partly because
when you are thus particular it will make you come with fresh and
renewed affections. It is good to drive on this main care, and the bent
and design of your thoughts must run that way : 2 Cor. xii. 8, And
for this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me.
2. God usually comes in over and above our aims and expectations :
Eph. iii. 20, He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think. Solomon asked wisdom, and God gave him riches and
honour in great abundance. Jacob desired of God to be kept in the
way, and God made him two bands. The prodigal comes with a
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 6:J. 293
modest request, Make me a hired servant, and the father puts on him
the best robe, and entertains him with the fatted calf. We seek to
subdue such a lust, and the Lord comes in with an overflow of comfort.
He would have such a doubt removed, and it may be the Lord comes
in with a high tide of sensible appearance to his soul and increase of
grace.
3. You should do in the Lord s supper as in prayer. You meditate
in prayer, but not to exclude supervenient thoughts and sudden motions ;
so here, you meditate on your own wants and needs, and leave the
Spirit to his free assistance. When we use the most prudent course,
it is no straitening to the Spirit of God. In all preparations we
leave ourselves at a liberty to receive his free breathings and coming
into our souls. We keep matter ready at hand to kindle our thoughts
to feed our confessions and petitions, so it is good to keep matter ready
at hand to feed our meditations, and to drive on the main care, waiting
for supervenient assistances.
Case 3. Whether there be required of a Christian a fixing of the
soul in a steady view and contemplation of God in quietness and silence,
without any variety of discourse ? Or whether God doth now raise
and heighten the soul to a sole act of vision and intuition without
any discourse, or the traverses of reason, in the supper or any other
ordinance ?
That you may understand the case, you must know that the school
men and other writers of devotion usually distinguish between consid
eration, meditation, and contemplation. Consideration is a thinking of
truth, and a rolling of it in the understanding and memory. Medi
tation is an enforcing of truth upon the soul by discourse or variety
of pressing arguments. Contemplation is the fruit and perfection of
meditation ; and this they make a supernatural elevation of the mind,
by which it adhereth to God, and pauseth in the sight of God and
glory without any variety of discourse ; the soul being dazzled with the
majesty of God, or the glory of heaven, and transported into a present
joy, the use of reason is for a time suspended, and the soul is cast into
a kind of sleep and quietness of intuition, staring and gazing with
ravishing sweetness upon the divine excellences and the glory of our
hopes. In short, contemplation is a ravishing sight without discourse,
the work of reason not discoursing, but raised and ecstasied into the
highest way of apprehension.
Now it is inquired whether there be any such thing required
of a Christian ? or whether there be any such dispensation in these
latter times of the gospel ? As, for instance, Paul had the glory of
God and Christ presented to him ; he did not barely think of these
things by the apprehensions of the mind, or discourse of these things
by the enforcement of reason, but he had an intuition, a steady view
or sight of these things, such as did, as it were, ravish his soul from
his body. Doth God use such a dispensation now ? I. answer in these
propositions
1. In the primitive times these dispensations and raptures were more
usual. We read of John s rapture, Kev. i. 10, I was in the Spirit on
the Lord s day. Mark, he doth not say the Spirit was in him, as it is
present in the heart of every child of God ; but he was in the Spirit/
294 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
which intimateth height and plenty of revelations. So we read of
Peter s rapture while he was praying : Acts x. 10, He fell into a
trance, e r rre r rrea-ev eV avrov eWracri?, a trance fell upon him, noting
that those raptures are things of dispensation rather than choice and
duty ; they fall upon us, we do not work ourselves into them. So we
read of Paul s rapture : 2 Cor. xii. 2, I knew a man in Christ above
fourteen years ago (whether in the body I cannot tell, or whether out
of the body I cannot tell, God knoweth), such an one caught up to the
third heaven. Whether these things were framed by way of represen
tation to the soul, or whether the soul were for a time separated from
the body and was transported into heaven, Paul himself was at a loss,
and could not determine and resolve the case.
2. These dispensations may still be, though not in the same height
and manner which the apostles enjoyed. God may do it still, for he
is left to the liberty and sovereignty of his own dispensations; and
though sight, and the beatifical vision and contemplation be the happi
ness of the next world, yet in some measure God may begin it here,
that his children may enter into their inheritance by degrees, and may
be beforehand led into the suburbs of heaven. As a father gives the
child not only a part of the estate, but sometimes the liberty of the
whole house, so God may give us here in this world not only those more
Temperate enjoyments of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, and the
first-fruits of the Spirit, but he may lead us into the suburbs of heaven,
and put us above the clouds into the glory of the world to come.
Though there may be such a dispensation, yet not in the same manner
that the apostles enjoyed it, for that was peculiar to them ; and there
fore when the apostle Paul had reported his rapture, he pleaded that
he had the sign of an apostle: 2 Cor. xii. 12, Truly the signs of an
nn apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and
wonders, and mighty deeds. With these raptures there was a concom
itant revelation of the will of God. And they were for other ends;
these raptures were not so much excesses of religion, but revelations
for the great ends of the gospel. John s rapture was to receive the
visions of God for the comfort of the churches ; Peter s to go to the
Gentiles ; Paul s that he might have commission for the apostleship, and
the mark and sign of an apostle. Therefore though God may use some
such dispensation (for we know not what he may do out of sovereignty),
yet not in the same way, and for the same end.
3. Those raptures and transportations, which the children of God
now feel sometimes, proceed from strong pangs and ecstasies of love,
which for a while do suspend and forbid the distinct use of reason, and
cast the soul into a quiet silent gaze. Observe that love, where it is
moderate, venteth itself in thoughts and words, and it is a great help
to make the inward sense more acute and sharp ; but where it is
vehement and strong, it is contented with itself, and satisfied with its
own heat, ardour, and intenseness, therefore there is not such a distinct
actual discourse. As when a man huggeth and embraceth a friend,
the closer he huggeth him, the less distinctly doth he behold and
take a view of him; so in the embraces of love, when the soul
falleth into the arms of Christ, and claspeth about Christ with the
arms of its own love, it hindereth the distinct exercise of reason, and
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV, 63. 295
those offices of discourse by which the soul would otherwise reflect
upon him. A man that desireth a precious jewel, at first he vieweth
it with greediness and delight, but afterwards he layeth it up in
his bosom, and wholly pleaseth himself in the possession of it; so
the soul that thirsts after Christ pleaseth itself in the consideration
of his beauty and perfection, and dwells upon it with religious thoughts,
but afterwards love growing very strong, and being heightened unto the
utmost degree, shutteth the eyes of our souls, and we only please our
selves in a more intimate feeling, and in the sweetness of our embraces.
Great and high affections must needs hinder the use of reason, because
all our strength and vigour runneth out into one faculty, and then such
a poor limited creature as man is cannot attend other offices and em
ployments of the soul. It is very notable in the whole life of Christ
that he had no ecstasy, propter maximam capacitatem supernaturalern
animce, because of the extraordinary perfection of his person, and the
large capacity of his soul ; he had a transfiguration, yet all the while
in the midst of that he had a temperate use of reason, Mat. xvii. The
disciples were indeed surprised by those glimpses and emissions of his
glory ; they were overwhelmed, so that they fell on their faces, and
-were sore afraid, ver. 6. Poor man, being of a lesser capacity, cannot
suffer such a feeling and high tide of affection without some transpor
tation and ravishment beyond the support of reason, for the strength
and vigour of his soul is melted out to Christ in love. Now the soul
being of a limited power and capacity, the more strongly it attendeth
one office and function, the less can it serve others. Look, as a flame,
when it ascendeth, endeth in a point, and groweth narrower and thinner,
so such high flames and such glorious ascents of affection usually mind
but one thing, and do not permit the soul any variety of discourse, but
fix it in one thought, and in one steady and deliberate gaze.
4. Usually such experiences of God s children are given in to them
in the most social duties. As in the time of prayer ; Peter s trances
fell upon him in prayer. Ordinary ecstasies carry some proportion
with that which is extraordinary, and usually the soul flames out to
God, and breaks forth in religious accents in the time of prayer. And
so such strong affection oversets the soul in the time of the Lord s
supper: Cant. v. 1, Eat, friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly,
beloved. Be drunk with loves. That whole song concerneth our com
munion with Christ in heaven and in the ordinances ; above all, in the
ordinance of the supper, which is the pledge of heaven. So also in
the height of meditation ; when the soul hath been spent and much
exercised itself in that work, after the labowr of meditation God giveth
in this silence and rest in the steady contemplation of his love and
glory, and the mind being inflamed and heightened with spiritual
thoughts and exercises, suffereth a kind of transportation. It is very
notable that those ravishments that were between Christ and the
spouse were in the palm-tree: Cant. vii. 8, I said, I will go up to
the palm-tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof ; now also thy
breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like
apples. There Christ would satisfy himself with the church s breasts,
and there she should be satisfied with his love. The palm-tree hath u
long naked bark, and carrieth all its leaves, branches and fruits upwards ;
296 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
it noteth the religious ascent of the soul in spiritual exercises, when
the thoughts do not run out in underwood and lower branches, in
earthly thoughts and carnal distractions. Well, then, in the top of the
palm-tree there we taste the sweetness of Christ, and the soul is ravished
and spiritually made drunk with the clusters of his grapes.
5. These experiences, where God seeth fit to give them, are given to
persons of much holiness and religion : Mat. v. 8, Blessed are the pure
in heart, for they shall see God. Those bright and clear souls are
more fit to enjoy the sight of God ; when by constant and daily exer
cise the heart hath been subdued to a religious frame, the Lord may
then give in those ravishing sweets, and those gazes upon his beauty
and glory. There are degrees in the sense of God s love. Hypocrites
have but a taste and a little sip, as the merchant that selleth wine will
give a taste to those that do but cheapen it. Christians whose spirits
are not defecated or cleared from the clouds of passion or purged from
the dregs of carnal interests seldom meet with those sweet and rich
experiences ; to such an intimate discerning the senses had need be
exercised. The lute had need be rightly strung and tuned that maketh
a ravishing melody ; easy, lazy, and gross hearts feel none of these rapt
motions and strong qualms of affection : God usually gives them to
those that are purged and purified.
6. These rich experiences are very fleeting and vanishing, and but
now and then bestowed. We have not such high experiences under
lock and key, and at the command of our own endeavours. God given
them when he seeth fit, and when he pleaseth they pass away again.
If they were constant, and God should continually pour in, the vessel
would break, and the soul could not sustain itself under the burden of
it. The disciples in the transfiguration were astonished and fell down
for fear, they could not bear the glory, though but for a little while :
Mat. xvii. 6, And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces,
and were sore afraid/ Our present state is not capable of these trans
ports long ; the soul is not extended and enlarged to such a capacity
and fitness, neither is the body qualified. We are in the animal state
now, the deliberate contemplation is our portion in heaven, when sin
and weakness is done away, and when we have that which the apostle
calls a spiritual body, 1 Cor. xv. 44 ; that is, a body fit for those higli
communications, and for the continual presence of God. This is an
extraordinary indulgence, which, if continued, would destroy and abro
gate the economy and dispensation of grace. This pause of reason
upon the majesty of God and the glory of heaven is somewhat like the
sun s standing still in Joshua s time, which, if it were so always, would
burn up the frame of nature ; therefore God hath ordained that it
should roll hither and thither. Motion and change is fitter for this
state to which God hath subjected us.
7. Such ravishing experiences are not to be sought for, but referred
to the good pleasure of God. We cannot pray for them in faith, having
no promise of them, and we must not be too hasty to eat of the fruits
of paradise before our time. It is enough for us to go to heaven in the
usual roadway, and not like Elijah, in a fiery chariot. Look, as in
outward things we are not to desire riches, but a competency ; if God
casteth them in upon our endeavours, we should be thankful ; so
SERMON S UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 297
in meditation we must mind those enjoyments which are more temperate,
and leave other things to God. It is good to content ourselves with
grace, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, though we have not those
transports and high ecstasies of love and affection. We must not
tempt God with immodest requests and expectations, but sit down
humbly and quietly, and if the master of the feast bid us to sit higher,
and call us to a more choice dispensation, well and good. These
experiences are not to be ranked among duties, but among enjoyments ;
we shall not be called to an account for the want of them, for we are
not obliged to pursue them ; they are acts of God s magnificence and
indulgence to the soul. Many times Christians oppress their souls by
their indiscreet aims ; it is good to keep an even hand, that we may not
vex ourselves with the disappointment of a rash and foolish trust.
Some are altogether careless, and content themselves with any frame
of spirit in worship ; others are not satisfied but with ecstatic and rapt
motions. Look, as it is with a lute-string, if it be too slack, it doth
not sound at all, if it be too high stretched, it is hoarse and screeching ;
so it is with our souls in duty ; when we are careless, there is no melody
made to God, but if we be too high strained, then the soul is oppressed
with its own aims, and with a pursuit of things above our reach ; the
temperate middle way should be our aim.
8. Upon all such experiences we should be careful and watch our
hearts, because many times herein we delude ourselves ; we call that a
rapture which is but the suppositions of a troubled fancy, or some fanatic
delusions by which Satan abuseth an over-credulous and superstitious
soul. Dotage many times passeth under the pretence of vision, and
the extravagances of a wild zeal seemeth rapture. Always observe
their end and scope ; if they end in pride, and prove a temptation, they
are from the devil, and not from God. Experiences from God enlarge
our hearts for service, and make us more humble, as the highest flames
tremble most. These souls that are called to the highest enjoyments
are most humble. It is true we are apt to be puffed up with a revela
tion from God, as Paul was puffed up with the abundance of revelations,
but there was a subsequent dispensation, some cross to humble him :
2 Cor. xii. 7, And lest I should be exalted above measure through the
abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,
the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above
measure. This is through the corruption of our nature, which God
preventeth in his children by such dispensations. But if it tendeth to
make us neglect piety, and to be above duties, it is against the nature
of religion, which presseth us to wait upon God with the more encourage
ment, because we have already discerned his beauty and glory : Ps.
Ixiii. 2, To see thy power and glory so as I have seen thee in the
sanctuary/
Thus I have done with this case, in which I have been in the high
mountains. I shall come to the valleys, which, as they are more easy
of access, so usually they are more fruitful. What follows will be more
plain.
298 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
SEKMON V.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.
GEN. xxiv. 63.
CASE 4. When must we meditate ?
1. In the general, something should be done every day ; seldom
converse begetteth a strangeness to God, and an unfitness for the duty.
It is a description of God s servant, Ps. i. 2, His delight is in the law
of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night/ At least
we should take all convenient occasions. It is an usual way of natural
men to make conscience of duties after a long neglect ; they perform
duties to pacify a natural conscience, and use them as a man would use
a sleepy potion or strong waters ; they are good at a pinch, not for
constant drink. Alas ! we lose by such wide gaps and distances
between performance and performance ; it is as if we had never done
it before.
2. For the particular time of the day when you should meditate,
that is arbitrary. I told you before you may do it either in the silence
of the night, when God hath drawn a curtain of darkness between you
and the things of the world ; or in the freshness of the morning, or in
the evening, when the wildness and vanity of the mind is spent in
worldly business.
3. There are some special solemn times, when the duty is most in
season; as
[1.] After a working sermon ; after the word hath fallen upon you
with a full stroke, it is good to follow the blow ; and when God hath
cast seed into the heart, let not the fowls peck it away : Mat. xiii. 19,
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth
it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was
sown in his heart. Ruminate on the word, chew the cud ; many a
sermon is lost because it is not whet upon the thoughts : James i. 23,
24, He is like a man that .beholdeth his natural face in a glass ; for
he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth
what manner of man he was : Mat. xxii. 22, When they heard these
things, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. You should
roll the word in your thoughts, and deeply consider of it.
[2.] Before some solemn duties, as before the Lord s supper, and
before special times of deep humiliation, or before the sabbath. Medi
tation is, as it were, the breathing of the soul ; that it may the better
hold out in religious exercises, it is a good preparative to raise the spirits
into a frame of piety and religion. When the harp is fitted and tuned,
it doth the better make music ; so when the heart is fixed and settled
by a preparative meditation, it is the fitter to make melody to God in
worship.
[3.] When God doth specially revive and enable the Spirit. It is
good to take advantage of the Spirit s gales ; so fresh a wind should
make us hoist up our sails. Do not lose the Spirit s seasons ; the Spirit s
impulses are good significations from God that now is an acceptable
time.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 299
Case 5. What time is to be spent in the duty ?
I answer That is left to spiritual discretion. Suck the teat as long
as milk cometh. Duties must not be spun out to an unnecessary length.
You must neither yield to laziness, nor occasion spiritual weariness ;
the devil hath advantage upon you both ways. When you rack and
torture your spirits after they have been spent, it makes the work of
God a bondage ; and therefore come not off till you find profit, and do
not press too hard upon the soul, nor oppress it with an indiscreet zeal.
It is Satan s policy to make you out of love with meditation by spinning
it out to a tediousness and an unnecessary length.
Case 6. Whether should the time be set and constant ?
I answer It is good to bind the heart to somewhat, and yet leave it
to such a liberty as becomes the gospel. Bind it to somewhat every
day, that the heart may not be loose and arbitrary. We see that
necessity quickeneth and urgeth, and when the soul is engaged it goes
to work the more thoroughly. Therefore the Lord asks, Jer. xx. 21,
Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me ? It is good
to lay a tie upon the heart ; and yet I advise not to a set stinted hour,
lest we create a snare to ourselves. Though a man should resist dis
tractions and distempers, yet some business is unavoidable, and some
distempers are invincible. I have observed this, that even religious
persons are more sensible of their own vows than of God s commands ;
when men have bound up themselves in chains of their own making,
their consciences fall upon them, and dog them with restless accusations,
when they cannot accomplish so much duty as they have set and pre
scribed to themselves. And besides, when hours are customary and set,
the heart groweth formal and superstitious.
Case 7. Are all bound to meditate ? are the ignorant ? are men of an
unquiet nature ? are servants ? are ministers ?
1. Are the ignorant, and men of barren minds, that have not a good
stock of knowledge ? I answer Yes, they are bound to this as well as
other duties, though they cannot do it well ; it is their duty to strive
that the word of God may dwell richly in them. It is a mark of a
godly man; every man is bound to be skilful in the scriptures: Jer.
xxxi. 34, They shall all know me, from the least of them to the
greatest of them, saith the Lord. God hath no child so little but he
knows his father, therefore all are bound in some measure to be able to
discourse of God and of the things of God.
2. But some are of an unquiet nature, fit for public duties, but not
for private exercises ; are they bound as well as those of softer spirits,
and fitter for meditation ? I answer This is not temper, but distemper,
the unquiet spirit must not totaliter cessare, wholly discontinue this
work. They are to mind wherein they may serve God most, but not
totally desist from a work so necessary, and of such great importance.
5. Are servants bound to it, whose time is not their own ? I answer
They should do what they can ; God is more merciful to them, but
those that are in bondage to others may find some leisure for God.
4. Are ministers obliged ? Their whole work is a study, their em
ployment is a continual meditation. I answer There is a difference
between meditation arid study. In study we mind the good of others,
in meditation the good of our own souls. Things work with us accord-
300 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
ing to our end and the aims that we propose to ourselves. Public
teaching is no such trial of our hearts ; there is a natural pride in us
to urge us to teach others, and that makes so many intrude into the
ministry ; there is some kind of authority in it, that we exercise over
others ; but we are to mind the good of our own souls, and to regard
private duties. There is a greater engagement upon us than others,
because we have the help of art and education, and have greater advan
tages than others, and therefore we should not lose so sweet a comfort.
It is strange that papists confine it altogether to spiritual men, as if it
were not a lay duty, and usually we lay it aside, as if study would serve
the turn, and it did not belong to us.
V. My work is now to speak of the object of meditation, which I am
first to handle in general, and then in special.
First, In the general consideration of the object I am to speak (1.)
Of the choice of the object ; (2.) The manner how to work upon it.
1. For the choice of the object, I need not press you to choose that
which is seasonable, and what suiteth with your own case. A sermon
worketh more forcibly when it is suitable, so do thoughts when they
are seasonable, and direct to the present case of the soul : Ps. xciv. 19,
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my
soul ; he meaneth sad thoughts, then it was his advantage to exercise
himself in seasonable comforts, like a shower of rain on new-mown
grass ; it would be burnt up with the drought, which if rain had come
seasonably might have flourished and grown up with a fair herbage ;
so the soul is parched with a temptation, if it be not watered with suit
able thoughts. We faint not/ saith the apostle, for we look not to
the things that are seen, but to the things that are not seen, 2 Cor.
iv. 16-18, viz., by reviving our Christian hopes ; and therefore the exi
gencies of the soul must be served. Food in thirst doth enrage rather
than please. It is not enough to consider what is good, but what is
seasonable. Things mistimed and misplaced lose their force and
operation; as the blood when it is in vessels is the continent of life,
but when at is out it breedeth diseases, so truths out of their order and
place do not nourish the heart, but oppress it ; as if you should talk of
hell and the severity of God s judgment to those that are dejected, tin s
were to speak to the grief of those whom God hath wounded, and when
the back is ready to break to lay on more load.
I shall for the present (having spoken largely in the general direc
tions) give you but two rules
[1.] Choose that which is profitable. There is a great deal of differ
ence between the objects of meditation ; some are more speculative,
others altogether practical. There are matters speculative revealed in
the word which yet have their use and profit ; as the fall of the angels,
the order of providence, &c. ; yet out of these the heart may distil
matter of practical use and profit. All the benefit we receive from
these truths lieth in our meditation of them. But then there are others
that are altogether practical, and these should chiefly be chosen. The
mind of man is the mill of God, not to grind chaff, but wheat. Matters
practical are there to be ground for bread to the soul ; they that hunt
after fancies do but misemploy their thoughts, and beat chaff into
dust, and do not grind good corn for nourishment ; and that is the
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 301
reason why many times mean Christians excel those of the best gifts,
because they spend their time in subtle inventions and inquiries, and
whilst we strive to be more subtle they are more sincere. Oh ! con
sider the soul is diseased while it is only fed with quails and fine
notions ; there is more delicacy but less nourishment. Notions that
are airy tickle the fancy, and move the lighter part of the affections,
but those considerations that are grave and masculine convince most
soundly, and work most deeply : Wisdom entereth into the heart,
Prov. ii. 10. Look, as wicked men do not please themselves in abstrac
tions of sin, they devise wickedness to accomplish it, so the Christian
should not satisfy himself with nice speculations, but employ his
thoughts about practical matters to promote holiness in his heart and
life.
[2.] Choose matters to meditate upon in an orderly and apt method.
But you will say, Do you think this useful to confine the soul to
method in meditation, to prescribe a set course to ourselves ? Shall
we not jostle out seasonable thoughts ? I answer
(1.) It is lawful a-nd necessary to prescribe to ourselves a course and
method, partly that we may know our work, and that we may not be
to seek both of a subject and how to work upon it ; therefore, that you
may keep your religious exercises together, and know how to pass from
one to another, it is good to keep a set course. Partly because things
work with us according to method ; it is the way of knowledge and
affection ; the soul finds it an excellent advantage when things are
aptly suited and ranked in their order. God himself hath disposed all
his works in order, so should we ours. You will find an advantage
when you take your rise low, and go on from matters more plain and
obvious to those that are more mysterious. There are shallows for the
lambs of God, and there are deeps for those of an higher growth and
stature. You must pass from the most obvious matter of Christianity
to those that are of more sublime speculation. The rise of the sun is
first low, and gildeth with its beams the eastern parts, and then riseth
higher to the top of the heavens ; so in your progress there are the
third heavens to which you must ascend, but first you must pass the
first and second heavens. Before we search the depths of the Spirit, it
is good to search the depths of the belly (I compare Paul s expression
with Solomon s), to begin with the knowledge of ourselves before we
come to the knowledge of God. Prius redi ad te quam rimari prce-
sumas quce supra te, is a rule of Bernard, who was of much experience
in these exercises ; first return to ourselves, and by an orderly progress
to go on from examination of ourselves, before we soar up to the con
templation of the divine glory. You know what Christ saith, John iii.
12, If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye
believe if I tell you of heavenly things ? They were spiritual matters
he spake of, regeneration and principles of religion ; yet in comparison
of deeper mysteries of religion, and because he had set them out by
earthly similitudes of generation, water and the wind, he called them
earthly things. Christ trained up his own disciples this way ; first
he begins with plain matters : John xvi. 12, 1 have yet many things
to say unto you, but you cannot bear them yet. There were greater
mysteries above the reach and size of their present capacity. So the
302 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
apostle Paul speaketh of wisdom for them that are perfect : 1 Cor. ii.
6, Howbeit we speak wisdom to them that are perfect ; that is, for
them that had made some progress in religion ; perfect, not absolutely,
but in comparison with babes and novices. Therefore it is good, with
Mary, to sit at the feet of Jesus, and not presently with the spouse to
beg the kisses of his mouth, but to go on by degrees.
(2.) Though we must contrive a method and course, yet there must
be a liberty left for things, for all seasons and occasions. As in the
world, though a man hath disposed his business, yet he reserveth a
liberty for incidental and unthought of occasions ; so in these spiritual
matters, and in the course of religious exercises, you must not bind
up yourselves from these occasions. I shall name four
(ls.) Working and forcible sermons. It is not good to lose the
heat that we have gotten at the word, but to go home and chew the
cud. In the word there is ingestion ; in meditation you turn it into
nourishment. There must be a time for concoction, and when the
seed is scattered, it must be covered.
(2c) For present impulses, keep yourselves free, that you may
not lose the advantage of such impulses. Many times Christ cometh
leaping upon the mountains, and skipping upon the hills, Cant. ii. 8.
He impelleth our hearts on a sudden and unlooked for, by causing
holy thoughts to shoot into our minds ; by representing our unworthi-
ness, coldness, and deadness of life ; or else he inflameth us by repre
senting the beauty and loveliness of grace. Then it is good those thoughts
should take the next turn, and our method must give way to God s dis
pensation. As general nature altereth its course in some great par
ticular exigencies, fire descendeth, and water ascendeth, so in this case
the general work must be interrupted. It is a kind of resisting God
not to entertain these motions ; I do not mean when they come upon
you in the necessary work of your callings, but only that they may have
the next turn.
(3d.) For remarkable providences, when God casteth us upon such
objects as stir up special veneration and reverence, as some marvellous
events, or creatures that discover his wisdom and glory, or sudden
death of one near us, it is of excellent use while such experiences are
warm to go home and consider of them ; as Waldo, a rich merchant
of Lyons, was conversing with a friend, and he fell down dead, and
presently he went home, and thought of the uncertainty of life, and
the necessity of providing for a future state, and God blessed these
thoughts for his conversion. Or else the sad falls of a person eminent
for religion, when we see some glorious star fall like lightning from
heaven, these are accidents that must not be passed over without some
mark and consideration, and then God doth as it were call you off from
your usual thoughts.
(47i.) The present exigence of the Spirit. Choose that which is season
able, and what suits with your own case ; a sermon works more forcibly
when it is seasonable. Thus David : Ps. xciv. 19, In the multitude
of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. He means
his sad thoughts ; it was an advantage to him then to solace himself
with those comforts God had provided. The scripture useth this
similitude of rain upon new-mown grass. Kain when it comes season-
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 303
ably refresheth the grass and causes it to spring up, which otherwise
would be burnt up with the drought and heat of the season ; so the
soul would be parched with a temptation if it be not watered with
seasonable thoughts. But I have spoken to this point before.
But you will say, What is the method that we should use ?
Ans. Though I cannot exactly prescribe it, yet give me leave to
advise
(1.) For those that are wholly to begin this duty, it is best first to
meditate about meditation, the nature, use, and excellency of it, and how
they may carry it on with success ; it is a good preparative to the
whole work. I do direct you to this course, because this is that which
the soul standeth in need of ; this will lay a charge and necessity upon
the soul. As to pray is a good preparative to prayer, so to meditate on
meditation is a good preparative to meditation. To quicken you, con
sider the motives alleged, and when you have done all, say, soul !
do but go and try ! Lord ! help me, and keep this up in the thoughts
of thy servant!
(2.) For the general method, it is good to keep the method of the
Spirit. The method of meditation should follow that of God s dispen
sation : John xvi. 8, When the Spirit is come, he shall reprove the world
of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. First begin with sin, which
is more easy and familiar to the understanding ; it is good to lay the
foundation of all in the mortifying and purgative way ; and then go to
righteousness, and after the extermination of sin we shall be fitter to enter
tain the love of God, and then go to judgment. . Take another method ;
first consider the great end of man, that you may come to yourselves ;
then the evil of sin, that you may bemoan and avoid it ; then the
miseries of the world, or the vanity of the creature, that you may con
temn it ; then the horrors of death, the severity of judgment, the tor
ment of hell, that you may prevent it ; then the excellences of Christ,
the privileges of the godly, the rare contrivance of the gospel ; then of
providence, of heaven, of God and his attributes, his power, his wisdom,
his eternity, &c., with suitable scriptures for each of these.
2. For the manner how you must work upon these objects.
[1.] There must be pregnant thoughts and apprehensions. Deep
consideration begins the work ; you must set your hearts to consider the
subject, for when the heart is once set, these thoughts through the
blessing of God will come in freely. It is often spoken in scripture of
setting our hearts to seek the Lord ; when the heart is set for prayer,
God comes in with a great enlargement ; so when the heart is set to
consider, you will have serious and solemn thoughts. If vain thoughts
trouble you and interpose, yet still set the heart and go on ; as a man
in a journey, though dogs come out and bark upon him, he rideth on ;
to run after every cur would be a great hindrance and diversion ; so if
you stand quarrelling with ever vain thought, you lose your purpose, and
so the devil will gain that by a reflex act which you seek to reject in
a direct act ; as criers in a court in calling for silence many times make
the greatest noise. Mr Greenham was wont to lift up his heart in a
short ejaculation, and so go on.
[2.] There are serious enforcements and rational inculcations. Things
barely propounded do not work ; it is by lively reasons they are whetted
304 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
upon the soul. Look, as it is in going to sea, those that only mind
passage do not stay upon the ocean, and therefore do not fetch up the
treasures of the great deep, but those that go to fish cast out the net
again and again, so must you ; you must cast in reason upon reason,
enforcement upon enforcement, till you bring up treasure, cast on weight
upon weight till it weigh down. Now these rational enforcements are
four by arguments, similitudes, comparison, colloquies or soliloquies.
(1.) By arguments that are most effective. Inquire what kind of
arguments have most force upon the spirits. The usual arguments you
should look after are causes and effects ; by the one knowledge is
increased, and by the other affections are stirred. Do not emptily
declame, but see that your eye may affect your heart. Choose such
arguments as are evident and strong ; you have them in the word and
in sermons, and you should have them in your hearts : Luke vi. 45,
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaketh. A good man should be able to bring forth good
arguments, that he might bring his heart powerfully to the acknow
ledgment of the will of God ; for what did God give you faculties, and
the use of reason and discourse, and such helps in the ministry, but for
such a purpose ?
(2.) By similitudes. The word will furnish you upon every point.
Heaven speaketh to us in a dialect of earth. Heavenly mysteries are
clothed with a fleshly notion. . In the Book of Canticles communion
with Christ is set forth by banquets and marriages, and spiritual things
are shadowed out by corporal fairness and sweetness. In other places
of scripture Christ s kingdom is set forth by an earthly kingdom, the
word of God by a glass, the wrath of God by fire. Now apt similitudes
have a great force upon the soul for two reasons partly because they help
apprehension, and partly because they help discourse. There is as it
were a picture for the thoughts to gaze upon. By similitudes we come
to understand a spiritual thing that we know not, being represented
by sensible things with which they are acquainted ; the thing is twice
represented to the soul in reality and in picture, as a double medium
helpeth the sight, the glass and the air in spectacles ; a shilling in a
basin of water seemeth bigger, so it is here. Yea, they yield matter
for much enlargement, and help discourse, as when they brought God
the blind and the lame : Mai. i. 8, Offer it now unto thy governor ;
will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person ? saith the Lord of
hosts. Sin is expressed by death ; now the soul may reason thus : I
tremble at death, why do I not tremble at sin ? So mortification is
physic ; I can dispense with the trouble of physic for my body, this will
make my soul healthy.
(3.) By comparisons, wherein other things are like or unlike the things
we meditate upon. I urge this because it is a natural help ; it is a rule
of nature that contraries being put together do mightily illustrate one
another ; as when you compare fairness and deformity, black and white,
deformity is more odious, and black is more black. So if I would con
template the beauty of virtue and of the spiritual life, I would compare
it with the filthiness of vice, and of the profane life. So when you
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 305
compare the pleasant path of wisdom with the filthy and dreggy delights
that are in the path of sin, you gain upon the soul. Put earthly things
into the scales with heavenly, and see which weigheth heaviest, set
heaven against hell, and heaven against the world. Our Saviour
teacheth us to meditate by way of comparison : Mat xvi. 26, For what
is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world aiid lose his own
soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? So by
comparing yourselves with other creatures, as thus ; when you would
shame yourselves for your disobedience, you may argue thus : All things
obey the law of their creation, the sun delighteth to run his race, the
stars keep their course, and do not go beside the path God hath set
them, and I only have found out my oWn path. So for your uncom-
fortableness in the ways of God ; you may say, Wicked men delight
to do wickedly, but I do not delight in the service of God ; shall it not
be a pleasure to me to be exercised in the duties of religion ? shall I
not rejoice in the Lord ?
(4.) By colloquies and soliloquies ; colloquies and speeches with God,
and soliloquies with ourselves. Thoughts are more express and formal,
but when turned into words and speeches, it is a sign the affections are
stirred. Strong affections must have vent in words ; speech is an help
in secret prayer.
(1st.) In colloquies with God, either by way of complaint: Lord, I
am poor, and needy, and worldly. Lord, my heart is naked, and void
of grace. Or else by way of request ; as the infant will show the apple
or jewel, or whatever it hath received, to the parent or nurse, so the
soul representeth to God whatever it hath gotten by meditation, and
taketh occasion further to converse with God, and beg grace of him.
(2d) In soliloquies with your own souls, and these are either by way
of urging the heart or charging it. (1.) By way of urging the heart.
As suppose you have been meditating on the glorious salvation that
was purchased by Jesus Christ, let this be the close of all, How shall
we escape if we neglect so great salvation ? Heb. ii. 3. So if you have
been meditating on the sinfulness of sin, fall upon your own hearts :
Rom. vi. 21, What fruit shall we have in those things whereof ye are
now ashamed, for the end of those things is death ? Or if you have
been meditating of hell and the wrath of God, speak to your heart :
Ezek. xxii. 14, Can thy heart endure, or can thine hand be strong in
the day that I shall deal with thee ? Art thou stronger than God,
that thou canst wrestle with him ? Or if you have been meditating on
your sinfulness, or the course of your own wicked lives, you may return
upon your heart : Micah vi. 8, He hath showed, man, what is good,
and what doth the Lord require of thee ; and ver. 6, Wherewith
shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God ?
How shall I get a ransom to redeem my soul from the guilt of sin ?
(2.) By way of charge and command. Suppose you have been medi
tating of the benefit of God s service, and the danger of going a- whoring
from him : Hosea ii. 7, She shall say, I will go and return to my first
husband, for then was it better with me than now. Or if you have
been meditating of the benefits of God to your souls, you may return
upon your hearts by way of charge : Ps. cxvi. 7, Return unto thy rest,
O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with me. God hath
YOL, xvii. u
306 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
opened his good treasure to thee, this hath been thy portion, therefore
Return unto thy rest. Well, then, thus do, and then be watchful
that you do not lose what you have wrought. Isaac digged wells and
the Philistines dammed them up ; so when the soul hath digged a well
of salvation, Satan will seek to dam it up ; therefore be watchful.
SERMON VI
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.
GEN. xxiv. 63.
SECONDLY, I come now to the particular objects of meditation
First, I begin with that which is the chief end of man, a necessary
work that you may come to yourselves : Luke xv. 17, el? eavrbv 8e
\do)v, When he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants
of my father s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with
hunger ! That is, when he began to consider of his condition, it put
better thoughts into him. Therefore, that we may come to ourselves,
it is good to consider the end why we were created, and the errand upon
which God sent us into the world, to reason thus with ourselves : Why
was I sent into the world ? Why do I live here ? to get an estate, or to
get into Christ ? to wallow in pleasures, or to exercise myself in com
munion with God ? to heap up perishing things together, or to make
my everlasting state more sure ? When the end is rightly stated, men
know their work, and so live up to the purposes of their creation. But
alas ! many know other things, but are ignorant of themselves, and
so pass on carelessly to their own ruin ; like him that gazed on the stars,
and fell into a deep pit, their eyes are upon the ends of the earth, but
they do not consider their souls. Others, for want of considering the
end of their lives, are so far from living as Christians, that they scarce
live as men, but either as beasts or as devils. Delight in the pleasures
of the world transformeth a man into a beast ; it is their happiness to
enjoy pleasures without remorse, and to gratify the body ; and delight
in sin transformeth a man into a devil. Worldly pleasures are not
bread, and sinful pleasures are poison. You that are allured by the
pleasures of the world, which are lawful in themselves, you lay out
your money for that which is not bread ; and you to whom it is meat
to do evil, you feed upon that which is rank poison ; the world cannot
satisfy, and sin will surely destroy. Thus men beguile themselves, and
do not consider of the end of their lives, till their lives be ended, and
then they make their moan. Usually when men lie a-dying, then they
cry out on this world how it hath deceived them, and how little they
have fulfilled the end of their creation. Partly because then conscience
is awake, and puts off all disguises ; and partly because present things
are apt to work upon us, and when the everlasting estate is at hand,
the soul is troubled that it did no more think of it. Oh ! consider, it
is better to be prepared than to be surprised. Think not only of your
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 307
last end, but of your chief end ; what should be the great aim of your
lives, even before death comes ? All religion lies in this, in fixing the
aim of your life ; all the difference between men and men is in their
chief good and utmost end.
In the managing of this meditation, I shall pursue it in this method ;
not that I prescribe to you, but that I may set some bounds to my own
discourse. However I shall use such a method as is most facile and
obvious, not exceeding the capacity and reach of the meanest. The
work of such a meditation may be divided into three parts (1.) The
considering work ; (2.) The plotting and contriving work ; (3.) The
arguing work.
First, In the considering work you may propound these or such
like things to your thoughts.
1. Man was made for some end. All God s works are referred to
the service and use of his glory : Prov. xvi. 4, The Lord hath made
all things for himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of wrath. God,
being a wise agent, must have an end ; now God could have no other
end but himself and his own glory, for the end must be more worthy
than the means, something better and above all created things ; and
if God made all things for himself, then man, who was the visible
masterpiece of the creation, the lesser world, the compendium and sum
of all God s other works. So the apostle, Horn. xi. 36, For of him,
and through him, and to him are all things. All things are of him as
a creator, through him as a preserver, and to him, or to his glory ;
from him as the first cause, to him as the last end. Certainly God
did not make such a glorious creature as man for any low use. The
whole creation was for man s use, and man was for God s glory : Ps.
viii. 3, 4, When I consider the heavens, the works of thy fingers, the
moon and the stars that thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art
mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him ? He was
God s deputy and vicegerent, created to enjoy the comfort of other
creatures, and to exercise dominion over them ; the whole world is his
palace, arched with heaven, and floored with earth, but still, that he
might be faithful to his Maker, and do his homage to God, and give
him the rent and tribute of his glory and praise. And therefore if the
heavens do declare the glory of God, and the creeping things, and all
beasts in their rank and place, much more should man, who was
furnished with higher privileges, and with an higher capacity. We
have faculties that are especially suited to this purpose ; therefore it is
said, 1 John v. 26, He hath given us an understanding that we may
know him that is true/ Certainly God never made such a glorious
creature for wealth or pleasures, but for an higher use and purpose,
even for himself. If you do but look upon his mind and understand
ing, you will find it to be a wrong and debasement to take it off from
a spiritual use, and put it to a carnal.
2. This end is the enjoying and glorifying of God. To enjoy God
is man s happiness, and to glorify God is man s work ; by glorifying
God he comes to enjoy him, and he enjoyeth him that he may glorify
him. Herein he differeth from other creatures ; they were made only
to glorify him, not to enjoy him, but man to glorify him, and enjoy
him too.
308 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
[1.] He was made to enjoy him, for that is his happiness. Domine,
fecisti nos propter te, et irrequietum est cor nostrum, donee perveniat
ad te. The soul is made up of unlimited and restless desires ; there
are such crannies and chinks in the soul that cannot be filled up but by
the enjoyment of God; we were made for him, and we are not quiet
till we do enjoy him. Nature will teach us to grope after an eternal
good, as the Sodomites did after Lot s door in the dark : Acts xvii. 28,
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him,
and find him. So Ps. iv. 6, There be many that say, Who will show
us any good ? * It should be translated, The many say, &c. ; for this
is the voice of the multitude ; all are for good, for something that is
every way satisfying and contentful. There are some remains of entire
reason and right nature, as Job s messengers said, Job i. 15, And I
only am escaped alone to tell thee. There are some obscure instincts
that are alone escaped out off the ruins of the fall, to tell us that God
is our chiefest good, and therefore must be our utmost end. But the
scriptures go further, and teach us that there is no way of enjoying
God but in Christ, and till then man can never be happy. God is the
centre of the soul, the place of the soul s rest. All things move to their
own place, so should man to God. It is monstrous to see things move
contrary to the impulse of nature, to see fire to descend, or a stone to
leap upward; so it is as monstrous in grace for our souls to descend,
and to cleave to those things which are without us, which were made
only to rest in God ; our souls are of a heavenly original, and therefore
should tend thither. - Say then, This is that which will make me happy
here and hereafter, and therefore why should I run elsewhere ? It is
against grace and nature. There is a principle in nature by which all
creatures aim at their own satisfaction ; there is a weight and propen-
sion that poiseth them to their happiness. If I would show myself a
Christian or a man, all my comfort lieth in enjoying God in Christ :
Isa. xlvi. 8, Kemember this, and show yourselves men/ He is a
beast that can satisfy his soul with the world, and he is a devil that
can satisfy his soul with sin. Let me show myself a man, and return
to my own rest. Things are miserable when they do not attain their
end ; so shall I be out of my place, tossed to and fro till I return to
God ; the faculties of the soul are misplaced, and are as a member out
of joint.
[2.] He was made to glorify God. The creatures do it necessarily ;
we must do it voluntarily and by choice. This must be the care of
our hearts (1.) In every business ; (2.) In every enjoyment.
(1.) In every business, be it never so trivial and low, even in the
ordinary refreshments of nature : 1 Cor. x. 31, Whether therefore ye
eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. These
common actions of eating and drinking must be done upon reasons of
religion. In a king s house there are many officers, but they are all to
please the king ; so in my calling, in my duties, all must be done for
the glory of the great God. All things must be measured by this rule,
and give place to this great end, how I may glorify God, whether in the
shop or in the closet, in my outward calling or in my private duties, or in
my public relations or engagements, so far am I to mingle with any out
ward business as I may still enjoy God, and be serviceable to his glory.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 309
This is to make religion your work, and not your play and recreation,
when still in every business God is at the utmost end, whatever present
ends I have. If nature interpose to make us look after our particular
conveniences, yet this is but in subordination to God s glory.
(2 ) In every enjoyment, whether it be natural or spiritual. I am
to desire outward increase and estate, but I cannot desire it lawfully,
but so as I may honour God with it. Agur measureth every estate
by ends of religion : Prov. xxx. 8, 9, Give me neither poverty nor
riches, but feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and
deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ; or lest I be poor and steal, and
take the name of God in vain. As God should be at the end of every
business, so at the end of every enjoyment, though it be spiritual. It
is a mistake in Christians to think that spiritual blessings are only to
be desired for themselves. I must desire the pardon of my sins, not
merely for itself, but that God may be glorified in pardon. I must
desire grace not only that I might be saved, but that God may be
glorified in my salvation : Eph. i. 6, To the praise of the glory of
his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. The
creature s aims are never regular but when they suit with God s. In
the work of redemption Jesus Christ pleased not himself, but had an
aim at the Father s glory : Eom. xv. 3, For even Christ pleased not
himself. So should we in the comforts of redemption, not please our
selves merely in the consideration of our own happiness, but rejoice in
it as God s ends are promoted in it, that God is glorified in pardoning
my sin, or giving me grace and salvation. Though it be a difficult,
yet it is a necessary piece of self-denial to desire salvation in a subor
dination to God s glory.
Secondly, For the contriving plotting work. The end being once
fixed, we are to consider generally by what means it may be accom
plished, and more particularly how you may observe and carry it on to
the glory of God.
1. Generally, by what means we may accomplish it. Every end is
obtained by apt and fit means, and God, as he hath ordained the end,
so he hath appointed the means. The whole duty of man is to fear
God and keep his commandments, Eccles. xii. 13. The whole duty is
comprised in obedience and fear ; obedience respects the rule, and fear
the principle. Or obedience and love ; he instanceth in that principle
that was most suitable to the present dispensation. In the Old Tes
tament, fear is the beginning of wisdom, fear is represented as the great
principle of duty and worship, as in the New Testament, love : 2 Cor.
v. 14, The love of Christ constraineth us ; 1 John v. 3, This is the
love of God, that we keep his commandments. The meaning of that
place is, that God hath required entire obedience out of an holy and
upright principle. Look, as God hath appointed to the creatures a
law of creation by which they are bounded to their stated times and
paths, as the psalmist saith of the waters of the sea, Ps. civ. 9, Thou
hast set a bound, that they may not pass over, that they turn not again
to cover the earth, so God hath given a moral law and rule to the
rational creature, which must be observed by love and reverence. So
it is said, Eph. ii. 10, We are the workmanship of God, created in
Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath before ordained that we
310 SKRMONS UPON GENESIS XXIVl 63.
should walk therein. God having by the same decree and wise counsel
ordained both end and means, he hath given us a rule by which we
are to be guided in serving his glory.
2. More particularly, how you may observe and carry it on in this
way according to the will of God. A Christian is to be wise in his
generation ; that is, in the course and sphere of his employments to
manage the holy life by a wise foresight. A man that is a child of
God hath wisdom if he would improve it : Luke xvi. 8, For the chil
dren of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of
light. Christ makes it to be the application of the parable of the
unjust steward; he was plotting aforehand how he should maintain
himself when he was turned out of his service ; so Christ would hence
commend to us spiritual wisdom, how the children of light should plot
and contrive how to manage their course according to the will of God ;
as the prodigal contrives aforehaud how he shall make his address
most acceptably to his father : Luke xv. 18, I will arise and go to my
father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven
and before thee. He is searching out meet words, words of humble
ness and submission, by which he might work upon his father s bowels.
So if this be my end, to enjoy God and glorify him, how shall I order
my life so as to maintain most communion with him, and so as I may
most promote his glory ? Neh. i. 11, Grant me mercy in the sight
of this man ; for I was the king s cup-bearer. He showeth the reason
why he did undertake the work ; he was a courtier, and had the liberty
of address to Artaxerxes ; Mnemon, he was devising what he might
do for God in that station. So you should be contriving : This is my
place, and these are my relations ; what shall I do for God as I am a
minister, a magistrate, a master of a family ? how may I serve the
great end of my creation, and promote the glory of God ? Such fore
sights make the holy life to be a life of care and choice ; not merely
of chance and peradventure, but managed and guided with discretion
for the glory of God.
Thirdly, For the arguing work. In such a meditation as this is
you must dispute and argue with the soul, that you may gain it from
base and inferior objects, which would divert you from looking after
the great end of your conversation, which is the glorifying and enjoy
ing of God.
Follow the method formerly prescribed by pregnant reasons, apt simili
tudes, forcible comparisons, and by holy colloquies and soliloquies.
1. By pregnant reasons. Debate thus with yourselves, Why should
I look after other things, when my end is to enjoy God ? Take these
reasons
[1.] Other things cannot satisfy and yield any solid contentment to
the spirit : Isa. Iv. 2, Wherefore do you spend your money for that
which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?
Carnal affections are most irrational ; why should I lavish away my
choice respects upon those things that will do me no good ? The
things of this world cloy rather than satisfy. A man is soon weary of
worldly comforts, therefore he must have shift and change. When
we have wealth and honour, we want peace and contentment ; nay,
sometimes the particular pleasure must be changed because of satiety
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 311
and loathing which will grow upon us. A man may be weary of life
itself, and it may be a burden to him, but never of the love of God ;
you never heard any one complain of too much communion with God.
Heavenly comforts are more lovely when they are attained than when
they are desired ; one taste ravisheth, and imagination is nothing to
feeling. Worldly things cannot satisfy the affections. Man s heart is
made up of vast and unlimited desires, because it was made for God,
-and cannot be quiet till it enjoy God. He that is all-sufficient can
only fill up those crannies and chinks that are in man s heart. But
alas ! if they could satisfy the affections, they cannot satisfy the con
science ; they cannot calm and lull conscience asleep. There is no
proportion between conscience and worldly things ; these are a covering
too short for us ; there will be trouble, though we have abundance.
[2.] They are not durable and lasting. An immortal soul is for an
eternal good. It is the greatest misery that can be to outlive our
happiness. We have a soul that will never perish, and why should we
labour after things that perish? When the things are gone, our
affection will increase our affliction; we shall be the more troubled
because we loved them so much. All things under the sun are there
fore vexation, because vanity: Eccles. i. 14, I have seen all the works
that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity and vexation of
spirit. That which is vain and flashy will vex the soul with disap
pointment ; we can enjoy nothing with contentment but what we
enjoy with security : Isa. xl. 6, All flesh is grass, and all the goodli-
ness thereof is as the flower of the field. The flower may be gone,
the blustering of the wind and the scorching of the sun may soon
deface the beauty and glory of the flower, and then it remains a rotten
and neglected stalk : Prov. xxiii. 5, Wilt thou set thine eyes upon
that which is not ? The men of the world call them substance ; they
think they are the only things, when of all these Solomon says they
are not. How fading are honours ! Haman was one day high in
honour, and the next day high on the gallows. Therefore these things
being so fickle and of such uncertain enjoyment, they cannot give the
soul any quiet.
[3.] They are inferior, and below the soul ; they do not perfect
nature, but abase it ; they suit only with the outward and baser part
of man, and serve only the conveniences of the body. That which
makes a man happy must be something above a man, better than him
self ; now this is beneath your souls. You would count it absurd to
adorn gold with dirt, or lay on brass upon silver ; it is a stain and dis
grace, not an ornament to it. One soul is more worth than a whole
world : Mat. xvi. 26, What is a man profited if he shall gain the
whole world and lose his own soul ? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul ? God created the world only with a word, but
Christ redeemed the soul with his blood and sufferings, and why should
you degrade yourselves ? Heaven thought your souls worthy of the
blood of Christ, and you should think them too worthy to be prosti
tuted to the world. Men do not know the worth of a soul till they
come to die, and then what would a man give in exchange for his soul,
to redeem his soul from the destruction of fears ? Job xxvii. 8, For
what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God
312 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
taketh away his soul ? When God comes by a fatal stroke or a mor
tal disease to take away your soul, you will see that a soul once lost
can be redeemed by no price, and how little doth the hypocrite then
think of all his gain that he hath heaped together ? Oh ! then do not
debase your souls. It is dishonourable among men to match beneath
their birth and dignity ; oh ! why will you match your souls, that are
of a heavenly original, to these base outward things ?
[4.] All these things which we think increase our happiness do but
add to our trouble, both to our outward, inward, and eternal trouble.
(1.) Many times to our outward trouble. The greater gates do but
open to the greater cares, and the more any are endowed with any
excellency in the world, they have proportionable sorrow and encum
brances. Moral wisdom is the best of all outward enjoyments^ yet
that increaseth our portion of sorrow : Eccles. i. 18, For in much
wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth
sorrow. Many have observed that never was a man eminent for any
outward endowment, but the joy of it was abated with an answerable
proportion of sorrow and trouble, and their encumbrances have been
every way suitable to their comforts. Those that have been most
famous for outward qualities have come to some dismal end, as Sampson
for strength, Saul for stature, Absalom for beauty, Achitophel for
counsel and parts, Asahel for swiftness, Alexander for warlike prowess,
Nabal for riches ; and God hath made it good by many experiences in
our times ; the wheel of providence hath rolled upon them, and they
have come to some sad end. So for wit and parts. Wit has been
many a man s ruin : Isa. xlvii. 10, Thy wisdom and thy knowledge
hath perverted thee. Many are undone by their own wisdom and
knowledge, and the greatness of their parts, and come to sad accidents.
(2.) For inward troubles. As children catch at painted butterflies,
and when they have taken them, their gaudy wings melt away in their
fingers, and there remaineth nothing but an ugly worm, so we catch at
those things which perish in the using, but the worm of conscience re
maineth. Many times outward blessings are salted with a curse ; we
never have outward things as a blessing till we have an higher interest
in them : Ps. cxxvii. 2, So he giveth his beloved sleep. Those that
have an interest in God can rest quietly in the bosom of providence ;
and outward comforts are given as a blessing when they are additional s
and appendices to the covenant of grace : Mat. vi. 33, Seek ye first
the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall
be added unto you. God doth not say, Seek the world, and heaven
shall be added to you ; but, Seek heaven, and the world shall be
added ; for by seeking of heavenly things first, you drive on two trades
at once for earth and heaven. But when men cumber themselves
with the world, there is a snare upon the conscience, and they cannot
enjoy the comfort of their condition. It will add to your inward
trouble when God is neglected and the world sought.
(3.) For eternal trouble. These things are temporal, and we hazard
the loss, of eternal things for them. We never leave God but with
disadvantage to ourselves : Jonah ii. 8, They that observe lying vani
ties forsake their own mercy. Whenever you go off from God for a
fleeting shadow, you loose an eternal joy. The comfort of the world
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 313
is but for a time ; but our punishment is for ever. Ea quce ad usum
diuturna esse non possunt, ad supplicium diulurna sunt. Why should
we look after those things that we cannot use for ever, and so wound
and destroy our souls for ever ? An immoderate seeking after
temporal things will be our eternal ruin. Oh ! that men would be
wise, not to run so great a hazard for so small a pleasure ! Kiches are
uncertain, but the love of them brings a sure damnation : Phil. ii. 19,
Whose end is destruction, who mind earthly things. Oh ! say then,
Shall I overturn the quietness of my life ? shall I wound my con
science ? shall I contract guilt and terror for the time to come, for that
which will perish in the using and is uncertain in the enjoyment ? Let
us leave things that perish to men that perish. Shall 1 adventure my
soul upon so vain a pursuit ? Shall I lose eternal glory for a little vain
glory ? Shall I make my children or kindred rich, and be poor to all
eternity ? Shall I bereave my soul of all my hopes, and of those eternal
joys which God hath provided for them that love him, for a possession
that is so uncertain and so ensnaring ?
2. You should deal with your hearts by apt similitudes. The word
will afford you several. Who would dwell in a ditch that may have a
goodly house in a city ? Who would leave treasures and feed off
husks ? Who would refuse a pleasant bride for a company of nasty
harlots ? Or who would sit on the stairs when he is called up to sit
on the throne ? I may enjoy God in Christ, and shall I think it my
happiness to enjoy the world ?
3. By comparisons. Compare the world with heaven. Here you
have the fuller wealth, and but a foretaste of heaven, but the grapes
of heaven are better than the vintage of the world, and these present
enjoyments are sweeter and more sure than all honours and riches in
the world. These things are gotten with care, kept with fear, and lost
with grief. Reason thus with yourselves : What are these pleasures
to the joys of the Spirit ? These gratify the body, the beast, and are
so disproportionable to reason itself, that when we have sucked out the
quintessence of all earthly delights, they cannot yield a perfect con
tentment. Therefore Solomon saith, Prov. xiv. 13, Even in laughter
the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness/ -We
see that laughter, by too much extension and dilatation of the spirits,
causeth an aching in the sides ; in the outward expressions of jollity
God would show how painful it is ; you will find carnal delights
always go away, and leave some sad impressions. God s worst is better
than the world s best ; the groans of the Spirit are better than the joys
of the world. The groans of the word never go away, but they leave
a contentment and drop some sweetness ; but the joys of the world
never go away but clouds of sorrow are left behind. God s children
rejoice in the midst of their mourning, and a glory hath risen upon
their spirits even when they seem to be disconsolate in the eyes of the
world.
4. By colloquies with God. Either by way of complaint that thou
hast sinned and been ungrateful to God : Ps. Ixxiii. 22, So foolish
was I and ignorant ; I was as a beast before thee. Lord, this hath
been my brutishness, to choose outward pleasure before communion
with God, and to prefer the contentments of the world before the
314 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
delights of thy presence. Go and humble yourselves, and say, Lord, I
have traded with vanity, and vexed myself in unprofitable pursuits ;
I have lived so long in the world, and have scarce minded the end
wherefore I was sent into the world ; as if I was put into the world
only as leviathan in the sea, to take my fill of pleasure, and bathe my
soul in carnal delights. Or else by way of thanksgiving, if the Lord
hath taught thee better ; as David, when he had chosen the Lord for
his portion, Ps. xvi. 7, * I will bless the Lord, who hath given me*
counsel/ My own reason would never have taught me so much ; that
is a dim light ; there were some obscure instincts to sway me to my
happiness in general, but I might have groped a"bout for the door of
grace, but not have found it, but God gave me counsel. As Austin,
sait h, Errare per me potui, redire non potui Lord, I could go
astray of myself, but I could not return of myself ; so we could go
astray fast enough out of the inclination of our own nature, but thou
hast brought home a poor lost sheep on thine own shoulder ; if I had
been left to the counsels of my own heart, what would have become of
me!
5. By soliloquy with your own souls. Expostulate with yourselves
for your former errors and follies : Rom. vi. 21, What fruit had ye in
those things whereof ye are now ashamed ? The end of those things
is death/ Why should I melt away my spirit and emasculate my soul
by stooping to such low contentments ? What have I got by turning
away from God, but a wound and disquiet in my conscience ? Then
charge your souls, issue out a practical decree, determine with your
selves, Well, now I see it is best to cleave to God, I will choose God
for my chiefest good and utmost end. Oh ! my soul, I see, with David,
Ps. Ixxiii. 28, It is good for me to draw nigh to God/ Therefore,
farewell my pleasure, that pleased my childish age. When I was a
child, I did as a child ; it shall be my care now to enjoy communion
with God, to be ruled by his word, to live to his glory. Those things
that have intercepted the delight and contentment of my spirit, I will
leave them to the men of the world.
SERMON VII.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.
GEN. xxiv. 63.
SECONDLY, I am now to propose to you another object of meditation,
which is the sinfulness of sin, an argument very necessary and practical.
It is necessary in several respects. Partly to humble us ; we have low
thoughts of sin, and therefore we are but slight in the matter of humi
liation. Until we understand the evil of sin sufficiently, we do not
think it worthy of a tear or one hearty sigh ; but when the understand
ing is once opened, the heart is deeply affected : Ps. vi. 6, I am weary
with my groaning ; all the night make I my bed to swim ; I water my
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 315
conch with my tears. We see such filthiness in sin as cannot be washed
away without a deluge of sorrow. And it is necessary partly to awaken
us to a greater care and conscience. Who would adventure upon a sin
that doth but know and seriously consider what it is ? Gen. xxxix. 9,
How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God ? That
will be the issue of such a consideration. The child will thrust his
fingers into the fire that doth not know the pain of being scalded, or
play with a snappish cur that hath not been bitten. Men are the more
bold in adventuring upon sin because they do not know the danger.
And it is necessary partly to urge us to come to Christ ; none look
to the brazen serpent but those that are stung, so none regard sal
vation but those that have been stung with some remorse in their
consciences for the great evil of sin ; when the poor soul feels the weight
and burden of sin, then it will come to Christ. And it is necessary
partly that we may more loathe ourselves when we come into the presence
of God. Gracious men are most self-abhoring. Elijah covered him
self with a mantle ; Isaiah said, chap. vi. 5, Woe is me, for I am un
done, because I am a man of unclean lips. Peter had such a sense of his
sins that he says, Luke v. 8, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man,
O Lord ! Though there was something of excess and sin in these
dispositions, that is, so far as they do exclude the encouragements of
the gospel, but yet there is somewhat worthy of imitation, so far as they
had a deep sense of their own unworthiness.
It is a necessary argument you see, and of much practical use, but
very large, and will yield great plenty of thoughts ; it will be harder to
to know what we should omit in the consideration of it, than what we
should pitch upon. I shall pursue it in this method
1. I shall give you some general rules and observations concerning
meditating on the sinfulness of sin.
2. What arguments you should propound to your souls to work your
hearts to a sense of it.
I. For the general observations and rules concerning the sinfulness
of sin.
1. None can know the utmost evil of sin perfectly but God. There
is a kind of infiniteness in sin, because it is committed against an
infinite object, and therefore a finite and limited understanding cannot
conceive of the evil of it. The greatness of sin is known by the party
offended and the party satisfying ; both are infinite : 1 John iii. 20, If
our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all
things. As if he had said, Your heart doth not suggest half the evil
that there is in sin, for the infinite God knows there is a great deal
more evil in it than you can conceive. What is our light to the eye of
God ? We are the guilty parties, and so are apt to be partial in our
own cause ; but God is the party offended, and therefore he can best
judge of the measure of the offence. Again, God s whole nature setteth
him against it ; we have but a drop of indignation against sin, God
hath an ocean ; he is most good, and therefore most hateth what is evil.
The truth is, there is nothing properly an object of divine hatred but
sin ; it is wholly and only carried out against it, and therefore he seeth
more evil in it than any creature possibly can.
2. Man s knowledge of sin is more clear at some times than at others
316 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
When conscience is opened there is not a greater load and burden.
David could say, Ps. xl. 12, Innumerable evils bave compassed me
about ; mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able
to look up ; they are more than the hairs of my head, therefore my
heart faileth me/ It is a rule in philosophy, Elementa non gravitant
in suis locis Elements are not heavy in their proper place. A fish in
the water feeleth no weight, though it would break the back of a man
if that weight of water lay upon him ; so wicked men are in their
element when they are in the heat of their sinful pursuit ; here they
sport and play, and feel not the burden of sin. Sometimes when men
come to die conscience is touched, and then they cry out of the burden
of sin : 1 Cor. xv. 56, The sting of death is sin ; then their hearts
are filled with a sad despair ; this makes death to be dreadful and
terrible to the soul, and keeps the soul in bondage : Heb. ii. 15, Through
fear of death they were all their lifetime subject to bondage. But cer
tainly it shall be at the day of judgment, then we shall see the folly of
it ; conscience shall then be extended and enlarged, and the sinner shall
remember the wickedness of his past life. You will then find the devil,
that is now a tempter, will prove an accuser. Oh ! what kind of
apprehensions will you have when the devil shall come forth and plead,
Lord, adjudge this person to me ; I never died for him, I never shed
my blood for him, I could promise him no heaven and glory, yet he
easily hearkened to my temptations ? Tuns esse noluitper gratiam, sit
meus per culpam ; ostende tales tuos munerarios, Christe. He
would not be thine for all the grace and kindness thou didst show him,
and all the rewards thou didst propound and promise to him. Then
all disguises will be laid aside. A little consideration and search, and
prayer for conviction for the present, would help us to the same appre
hensions. If conscience should be now extended as it will be then, we
should soon be weary of our lives. At least, do not rest in your own
valuation and account, for then the secrets of all hearts shall be
opened.
3. The less sin appeareth, many times it is the greater sins are not
to be measured by the smallness of the matter of them, but by the
offence done to God. The first sin to a vulgar and common apprehen
sion was but the eating of an apple ; it seemed a small matter if we did
not consider the offence against God. It is an aggravation mentioned
by the prophet, Amos ii. 6, They sold the righteous for silver, and
the poor for a pair of shoes ; that is, upon so small an occasion, or for
such a contemptible matter they would oppress the poor. The lesser
the occasion and temptation is, the greater the impudence, the impru
dence and the unkindness ; the greater the impudence that they will
dare God to his face for a trifle ; the greater is the imprudence that we
will hazard our souls for a mean thing ; the greater is the unkindness
that we will stand with God for a little. Sins that are accounted small
in the matter of them have been overtaken with the sad revenges of
God ; he that denied a crumb could not receive a drop of water to cool
his tongue. The contempt of God is the greater when we break with
God for a small matter, and transgress his commandments upon every
light occasion. In short, sin is in no case small, but only in regard of
God s mercv and Christ s merits.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 317
4. None are exempted from bewailing the evil of sin. Though the
children of God shall never feel it, nor have the dregs of God s dis
pleasure wrung out to them for it, yet they must bewail the evil that
there is in sin. The death and merit of Christ doth not change the
nature of sin nor put less evil into it. Why should we look upon it
with a different eye after conversion than we did before ? Sin is still
damning in its own merit and nature, and it is still the violation of an
holy righteous law, and an affront to the holy God, and an inconvenience
to the precious soul. Sin is the same as it was before, though the
person be not the same. Nay, the children of God are not altogether
exempted from the effects of sin neither ; it is a disease, though not a
death ; and who would not groan under the heat of a burning fever
though he be assured of life ? God hath still a bridle upon you to keep
the soul in awe ; and though the godly can never lose their right in the
covenant, that doth remain, yet they may lose the fruition of it, and
this is enough to make a child of God mourn. Notwithstanding all the
privileges of grace, you may be branded, though not executed ; and
though the Lord hath made them vessels of mercy, yet he doth not use
and employ them as vessels of honour, but they are set aside as useless
vessels. Sin will still be inconvenient, it will bring disgrace to religion
and discomfort to your souls, and furnish the triumphs of hell, and
make Satan rejoice, and eclipse the light of God s countenance ; and
who can brook the loss of God s favour and of intimate communion with
him without sadness and bemoaning his case ? I may ask you that
question, Job xv. 11, Are the consolations of God small with thee?
l)o you make so little reckoning of those rich comforts of the Holy
Ghost ? Though you cannot be damned, for there is no condemna
tion to them that are in Christ/ Horn. viii. 1, yet your pilgrimage may
be made very uncomfortable ; and he that prizeth communion with God
would not lose the comfort of it for the least moment^ Besides, if there
were no inconvenience, yet love is motive enough to a gracious person ?
Where is your love ? Christians, you sin against mercy ; the warm
beams of mercy should melt the heart : Ezek. xxxvi. 31, Then shall
ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good,
and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities, and for
all your abominations. As long as there is love in the heart, you can
never want an argument to represent the odiousness of sin. Put the
matter in a temporal case ; it would be ill reasoning for an heir to say,
1 know my father will not disinherit me, therefore I do not care how I
offend him. Where is your love to God if you do not hate sin ? Ps.
xcvii. 10, Ye that love the Lord, hate evil. Though your right in
the covenant be safe, yet you should still have the evil of your own
doings in remembrance.
5. Many speak much of the evil of sin in prayers and confessions, yet
loathe it never the more, yea, the less. What should be the reason of
it ? All their thoughts are spent in empty declamations and forms of
satire or anger, and these do not subdue affections. Or else it may be
we only paint sin in our fancies, and that worketh no more than a
picture or image, which doth not allure and draw love so much as a
living beauty; it only pleases and tickles a little. Things foul in their
nature are pleasant in their picture and description. What more
318 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
dreadful than war ? and yet what more pleasant than in a strain of
poetry or rhetoric, or in a lively picture to describe the fury and heat
of battle ? What more ugly than a toad ? and yet a toad painted to
the life pleaseth. So when we merely paint sin by the help of the
imagination or fancy, it moves only the lighter part of the soul. It is
good to be rational in our considerations, and where there is the less
art, it leaveth the deeper stroke upon the heart. Imagination and
fancy is a great instrument in the work of meditation, but still it must
be wisely ordered and guided by reason. Sound conviction by God s
blessing doth the work, of else they rest in generals ; they are not serious,
particular practical discourses, brought home to their own case against
the sin they are struggling with. Lusts take the throne by turns, and
that our thoughts may fall with the greatest sense and feeling upon
our souls, it is good to bend the strength of our thoughts against our
iniquity. It is good to be particular, to fetch the aggravations of sin
out of thine own heart, or else men soar high, and in affected strains.
To draw an arrow always to the head breaketh the bow. Sin, Christ,
heaven, and hell admit of an hyperbole, but yet a man may strain too
much, that a soul may be discouraged by it, and much hurt may be
done. Men look upon matters of religion as abstracted ideas, and high
strains, and matters of fancy. Certainly the more simple and natural
your thoughts are, the more working. Forced, high-flown arguments,
if they raise the affections, it is but like fire in stubble, that flashes for
the present, not like a fire furnished with fit materials, that yields a
constant heat. Modest arguments fitted to our present state do better.
I will bring it to the matter in hand. Men usually overlash, while
they should set out sin as exceeding heinous, and forget those material
a/nd natural arguments that should work the soul into a hatred of it
That saying of Anselm is justly censured by Mr Fox, Siliic peccati
pudorem, et illic inferni horrorem, &c. If here were the filthiness of
sin, and there were the horrors of hell, I had rather be in hell without
sin than in heaven with it. These expressions do not come from a
modest virtue, but the over-daring of fancy, and besides they leave a
snare and temptation upon weak Christians. God doth not put us to
that trial to choose hell or sin, and, as Mr Fox urgeth, God in the
gospel will bring sinners though sanctified to glory. Or else if they
use solid reasons and arguments, they rest in their own discourse and
reason, and then it is said, Job vi. 25, What doth your arguing
reprove ?
II. Having premised these observations, I will give you a few argu
ments whereby you may come to understand a little of that evil that
there is in sin. And they shall be drawn (1.) From the nature of
sin ; (2.) From the effects of sin ; (3.) From the circumstances and
aggravations wherewith sin may be clothed.
1. From the nature of sin, and so it may be considered as to God
and as to ourselves.
[1.] Consider the nature of sin as to God.
(1.) It is an aversion from God, a turning from the chiefest good to
the chiefest evil. The very nature of sin is punishment enough to
itself; it is misery enough to depart from God, the centre of rest, and
the fountain of life and blessing. It is a dishonour to God and a dis-
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 319
advantage to ourselves. A dishonour to God to prefer carnal sweets
and the satisfaction of sin before the comforts of his presence, and yet
this is the root of every sin : 2 Tim. iii. 4, Lovers of pleasures more
than lovers of God. Every natural man loves the pleasures of sin
more than communion with God. You are angry at Judas for betray
ing Christ, and at the Jews for preferring Barabbas before Christ, a
murderer before a saviour, and yet you do the same almost every day :
Job xv. 1, Why doth thine heart carry thee away ? and what do thine
eyes wink at ? You forfeit the best things for the basest, as children
part with a pearl for an apple or a nut. Nay, I may go higher ; it is
a preferring the devil before God, Sins are called his lusts : John viii.
44, * Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you
will do ; and duty is enforced by God s law, and will you gratify the
devil and displease God ? You will find him to be an ill master at
length. He that now tempts will hereafter accuse, and that for this
very thing, that you were so easy to be entreated to leave God and
follow him ; as Austin brings him in pleading against us to God,
Though thou didst try him by thy grace, and direct him by thy law,
though thy Son did die for him, yet he would not be thine, and there
fore let him be mine : I never died, and shed my blood for him, I
could not promise him heaven and glory ; I only brought him the bait
and temptation, and he easily hearkened unto me. When the tempter
shall thus become an accuser, you will know what it is to turn from.
God and to prefer the devil before a Saviour. Then it is a great dis
advantage to yourselves ; you turn your back upon your own happiness.
Sin will make you shy of God s presence, and it will make you hated
of God, that he will not endure your presence ; he will have no com
munion with you, nor you with him. It is the comfort of God s
children, whatever befalls them in the world, that they can go in secret,
and their eyes can pour out tears to God ; but now God will turn away
from you, God who is the centre of your rest, the God of your
mercies , and then to whom will you unbosom yourselves ? Isa. lix.
2. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and
your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. They set
you at a distance from God, and God at a distance from you. Oh !
reason thus with yourselves : Shall I commit that which will cause me
not to endure God, nor God to endure me ? that I shall not care to
have to do with him, nor he with me ? Sin has always been attended
with a casting out from God It cast the angels out of heaven,
where God is present in a glorious manner; it cast Adam out of
paradise, where God was present by his own image ; and it cast Cain
out of the church, where God was present in his ordinances and wor
ship ; and it will make God cast you out as an abominable branch.
If you are not sensible of this at present, yet you will be sensible here
after, when God shall say, Depart, ye cursed.
(2.) It is enmity against God. It is not only a turning from God,
but an opposition to and turning against God : Kom. viii. 7, The
carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be. The more the heart is set upon sin, the
more it hateth God formally or virtually. The soul hates God as a
lawgiver though not as a creator, because he comes in with a restraint
320 SEKMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
between us and our carnal desires : Col. i. 21, You were sometime
alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works. In the original
it is e%0pov<t rfj Stavoia ev rot? epyot? rot? Trovrjpols, ( by your mind in
wicked works ; because your minds were set upon wicked works, you
were vexed God should restrain your desires ; for we cannot endure
one should restrain the exercise of our carnal affections. Now this
enmity is mutual ; God hates us, and we hate God. On man s part
it is driven on with fury ; he doth so hate God that he seeks the de
struction of his being ; as he that hates another seeketh the destruction
of his goods, life, and honour, so he that hates God seeks to un-God
him. The sinner wishes there were no such being as a God in the
world : Ps. xiv. 1, The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.
The heart is the seat of desires ; these are the fool s wishes ; it is a
sweet pleasing thought to him. Though he cannot get rid of these
impressions of a Godhead, yet he wishes he could. A man that would
live at liberty could wish there was no judge to call him to an account;
he could let loose the reins of vile affections if there were no God ;
were it not for this restraint he could live as he list. Nay, they deny
God in their lives : Titus i. 16, They profess that they know God,
but in works they deny him. Sin in effect doth lay God aside, and, to
put the greater affront upon him, it sets up something base in his
stead ; it sets up the belly for God : Phil. iii. 19, Whose god is their
belly ; the choicest respects of the soul run out upon the sensual part.
Or it sets up a little wealth for God. Or if sin cannot take away the
being of God, yet it strikes at his honour, and would make him to be
an unjust or an evil God. Sin deprives God of the honour of all his
attributes ; of his omnisciency, for though we are ashamed to sin
before man, yet, though God seeth all things, we do not blush if we
can carry on a wicked design under the veil of darkness, and dig deep
to hide our counsels from the Lord. Doth such a sinner think God is
nil-seeing and all-knowing ? Jer. ii. 26, A thief is ashamed, when he
is found ; when the eye of man hath surprised him, but alas ! we are
always found of God. It robs him of his omnipotency and power, as
if he were impotent and weak, as if we could make our party good with
him. The apostle useth a smart question, 1 Cor. x. 22, Do we pro
voke the Lord to jealousy ? are we stronger than he ? As if he had
said, Man, consider what thou doest ; by sinning thou dost enter into
the lists with God, and art thou able to deal with him ? It is a con
test with God, as if we could arm our lusts against his mighty
angels. Will you contend with him that can command legions of
angels ? When you go about to sin, you do as it were wage war with
heaven, and enter into combat with God. That is the reason the
Lord by the prophet asketh sinners, What do you think ? Is there
such a thought in thee as if thou wast able to deal with me ? Ezek.
xxii. 14, Can thy heart endure, or can thine hands be strong in the
day that I shall deal with thee ? Are you able to grapple with my
omnipotent arm, and snatch judgment out of my hands, and oppose
my mighty angels ? Can thy heart endure when my almighty hand
shall seize upon thee, and divine displeasure shall break out against
thy soul ? The angel when contending with the devil durst not bring
a railing accusation, Jude 9. He knew the mighty God would
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 321
avenge him, therefore he durst not be malicious ; yet we dare enter
the lists with heaven. Thus is sin an enmity against God ; it would
either have no God, or an impotent, unjust, unwise God. Nay,
there is an enmity in sin against every person in the Holy Trinity.
Against God the Son : When Christ came into the world, his great
work was to dissolve the works of Satan : 1 John iii. 8, For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the
works of the devil ; that he might unravel all those webs which Satan
had been weaving, and you strive as much as in you lies to set it up.
and make his death of none effect : Heb. x. 29, Of how much sorer
punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden underfoot
the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith
he was sanctified an unholy thing ? You make a low thing of it, tread
it underfoot ; it is an allusion to the sprinkling of the lintels of the
door, but they sprinkled it on the threshold. And it puts an affront
upon the Holy Ghost ; it grieveth and vexeth the Spirit of God ; it is
a setting up lust against lust, and a direct thwarting of his motions
and impulses : Gal. v. 17, The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and
the Spirit against the flesh. You do as it were reproach him, and say
he shall do no good upon your hearts, this shall not gain upon you.
Moses, when he speaks of a presumptuous sinner, saith, Num. xv. 30,
The soul that doth ought presumptuously, the same reproacheth the
Lord ; when you do thus deliberately sin, you do as it were reproach
the Spirit of God, Likewise on God s part , he hateth us too, and
though he be full of kindness, yet he cannot give sin a good look , Hab.
i. 13, Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look
on iniquity. God loveth all his creatures, and loveth to look upon
them, but he hateth that which is properly man s creature, and that is
sin ; there is no antipathy greater than between these two natures.
You may sooner reconcile fire and water, light and darkness, cold and
heat, than God and sin. The enmity of all creatures is as their beings
are, finite and limited ; but God s being is infinite ; his whole nature
sets him against sin ; therefore there is no comparison which serves to
set out the indignation the Lord hath against sin, there is no antipathy
like it.
(3.) Sin is a transgression of the law. Do but consider what a dis
grace sin puts upon the law that forbiddeth it ; it doth in effect
condemn the law, as if it were not good and useful and righteous,
as if it were an idle restraint. There is a notable expression, James
iv. 11, He thatspeaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother,
speaketh evil of the law and judgeth the law , that is, he puts this
affront upon the law, as if it were injurious, as if God were not right
eous in making such a law against passion and evil-speaking. There
fore Nathan comes to rouse up David s conscience, and tells him his
sin: 2 Sam. xii. 9, Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment
of the Lord, to do evil in his sight ? In every sin there are some
implicit thoughts by which the law is disvalued and disapproved ; we
secretly tax it of envy, folly, and rigour, as if God had dealt harshly
with his creatures ; they look upon it as a weak and simple law : Ezek.
xviii. 26, Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. The devil,
when he inspired the first sin, would suggest to our first parents as if
VOL. XVII. X
322 SEKMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
God had envied the perfection of man by prescribing a law to him :
Gen. iii. 5, God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof then your
eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
[2.] Consider the nature of sin with respect to yourselves, and so
the evil of it appears in these respects.
(1.) It is a degradation of your natures, and sets you beneath the
rank of men, and equals you with beasts : Ps. xlix. 12, Nevertheless
man being in honour abideth not ; he is like the beasts that perish/
In the original it is, he abideth not for a night. Adam sinned the
very same day that he was created. So Ps. xxxii. 9, * Be ye not as the
horse or as the mule, that have no understanding ; implying that in
considerate and rash men, that never consider their ways, are like the
horse and mule, which are void of understanding, and are guided only
by their own instinct. To what use do men put their reason that do
not reflect upon their consciences ? It would be an odd sight to see a
man with the head of a mule or the feet of a horse, yet there is a greater
affinity between the body of a beast and the body of a man than be
tween a beast and a man s soul ; the former are in the same degree
of being, as material substances.
(2.) It is the defilement of your natures. The scripture, when it
speaks of sin, sets it out by filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness/
James i. 21 ; an allusion to the brook Kedron, where the garbages of
the sacrifices were wont to be cast. So it is called a blot. These
notions are to heighten our souls into a detestation of it. Omne malum
naturam, aut timore, aut pudore perfudit. There is such a filthiness
in sin, that it is ashamed of itself, and therefore it always seeketh for a
disguise. There needeth no argument against it, but to be seen in its
proper colours ; it either seeketh a show of virtue, or a veil of dark
ness. Pray why doth the adulterer seek for the twilight (Prov. vii. 9,
In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night ) but
that he is ashamed of sin ? Sin is so monstrous and deformed that it
seeks to hide itself from those that love it most, from the conscience
of the party that committeth it, or from the sight of others. Nay. there
is such a turpitude in it that some sins beget shame in their very name
and mention. The apostle speaks of a sin that is not so much as
named among the gentiles/ 1 Cor. v. 1 ; and Eph. v. 3, But fornica*-
tion, and all uncleanness, and covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becometh saints/ Socrates hid his face whenever he
spake against wantonness.
(3.) It is the bondage of your natures. Oh! what worser captivity
can there be than this, for reason to be put out of its empire, and that
you should be under the command of vile affections, a slave to pride,
and a drudge to your lusts and carnal pleasures ? Sin is a bondage
here and hereafter ; here it binds you with the cords of vanity, and
hereafter with the chains of darkness. This is the preposterous judg
ment of men, that they look upon the service of God as their greatest
bondage : Ps. ii. 3, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away
their cords from us ; but then it is otherwise , there is no greater
freedom than to be employed in the service of God, and to be free for
the actions of a holy life : Ps. cxix. 45, I will walk at liberty, for I
seek thy precepts. The bonds of duty are not gyves, but ornaments ;
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 323
and there is no greater bondage than to be a slave to sin : 2 Peter ii.
19, While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants
of corruption ; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he
brought into bondage. What a bondage is this, to be a vassal of hell,
to be at the command of our lusts, a slave to pride and uncleanness, and
we know not how to help it !
SERMON VIII.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.
GEN. xxiv. 63.
2. ANOTHER argument to prove the evil of sin is taken from the effects
of sin. We being in a lower sphere of understanding, know causes by
their effects : Jer. ii. 19, Know therefore and see, that it is an evil
thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God ; when they
had seen the sad effects of it, their cities wasted and destroyed. And
where shall we not find the sad effects of sin ? Survey the story of sin
since it came into the world.
The first news we hear of sin is in the fall of the angels, and what a
dreadful instance is that ? The angels, that were the most noble part
of the universe, the courtiers of heaven, and as soon as they had sinned,
in a moment from angels they were made devils, and cast down into the
pit of darkness, for one aspiring thought against God s imperial majesty.
If we should see ten thousand princes executed in one day, we would
wonder at the cause of it, and yet this is but a short resemblance of this
case. Think of those princes of the creation, those morning-stars, those
sons of God ; now if one sin cast down these angels, what will become
of us who have millions of sins ? If God be so angry with the nobles,
how may the scullions tremble ? If God will cast angels out of heaven
lor one sin of thought, what will become of us poor dwellers in clay,
who are but a little enlivened dust, that may be soon crumbled into
nothing ? Yet Christ was not made an angel for angels, as he was
made a man for me. If you should hear of a drop of gall that should
embitter a whole ocean of sweetness, you would wonder at the pestilen
tial influence of it ; here one sin of thought embittered the whole ocean
of the angelical sweetness.
The next news we hear of sin is in the fall of man. Who would taste
of that poison that poisoned all mankind at once ? Adam did but taste
of the forbidden fruit, and all his posterity were poisoned ; in the morn
ing he was God s favourite, and in the evening the devil s slave ; he
slept not one night in innocency. Nay, this is not all, you shall see
the venom of sin went further ; it did not only ruin all mankind, but
it gave a crack to the whole creation. All the creatures groan under
sin : Rom. viii. 20, 21, For the creature is made subject to vanity,
not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in
hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage
of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. When
324 SKRMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
God looked upon the creatures that he had made, he saw all was good,
but when Solomon looketh upon God s works, he seeth nothing but
vanity ; what is the reason of this ? Sin intervened, so that the crea
tures are not only the monuments of God s power, but of man s rebellion.
The next dreadful instance of sin is in the old world, and there all
mankind except eight persons were swept away at once.
The next news of sin is in the instance of Sodom, and there sin was
of such an evil influence that it made God to rain hell out of heaven ;
as one expresses it, Gehennam misit e coelo : Gen. xix. 24, Then the
Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from
the Lord out of heaven ; dominus a domino, the Lord Christ from the
Lord Jehovah. Jesus Christ himself will become the executioner upon
such a wicked people.
Go from Sodom to Sion, and further trace the story of sin. Who
can read the Lamentations without lamentation, or run over the story
of Jerusalem s sorrows with dry eyes ? There was not such a people
under heaven both for mercies and judgments, the dearly beloved of
his soul given up to a sad ruin ! Lam. iii. 39, Wherefore doth a
living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins ? What
is the reason of all this but sin ?
Will you go further, and see the effects of sin upon the Son of God
himself, who was the Son of his love, the man God s fellow, as he is
called, Zech. xiii. 7 , his associate ; they solaced themselves mutually
in each other : Prov. viii. 30, There was I by him, as one brought up
with him ; I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him. See
what sin did to him that was but imputed to him. Look into the
garden, see him in his agonies ; go to Golgotha, see Christ hanging on
the cross, if you would know sin. Gold and silver would not ransom
us, nothing would serve but the blood of Christ. Oh ! come and wonder.
The boundless sea of the Godhead was stopped by the bank of sin. For
a candle to be put out is no such matter, but for the sun to be quenched
and darkened, this is dreadful. So for a poor creature to be forsaken is
nothing, but when the Son of God shall complain that he cannot actu
ally enjoy the comfort of the Godhead, when the Sun of righteousness
shall complain of an eclipse, and of a suspension of consolation, this is
dreadful. Though the human nature recoiled out of a just abhorrency
of the sufferings he was to endure, and he came to his Father, Mat. xxvi.
39, * my Father ! if it be possible, let this cup pass from me ; and
again, ver. 42 ; and again, ver. 44, saying the same words ; yet divine
justice would not bate him one farthing. What then would have
become of us if Jesus Christ had not catched the blow ?
Then survey common experience. If all the charnels in the world
were emptied upon one heap, and all the bones of all that ever died
were laid together, you might say, All these were slain by sin. When
ever you see sin, you may entertain it as Elisha did Hazael, Thou art
the murderer. All diseases, pestilences, wars, famines, tumults, earth
quakes, these are but the births of sin ; it hath laid houses desolate,
wasted kingdoms, destroyed cities. Sin may say, Zeph. iii. 6, 7, I have
cut off the nations ; their towers are desolate : I have made their streets
waste, that none passeth by ; their cities are destroyed so that there is
no man, there is none inhabitant : I said, Surely thou wilt fear me ;
that which we feel we may fear.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 325
But we may come nearer home. Do but consider the effects of it
within yourselves in the terrors of conscience. What a sorry creature
is man when God arms his own thoughts against him, and sets home
one sin upon his conscience ! He longs for death rather than life.
Heman, who was a child of God, complains, Ps. Ixxxviii. 16, 17, Thy
fierce wrath goeth over me, thy terrors have cut me off; they came
round about me daily like water, they compassed me about together/
What a sad thing is this, that a man should be magor missabib, fear
round about, that his own thoughts should be his hell, and wherever
he goes, he carries his hell with him ! When he lies down in his bed,
hell lies down with him ; when he walks out into the field or garden,
hell walks with him ; when he goes about his business, hell goes with
him. Sin is its own executioner ; however it smiles in the first address,
yet afterwards it scourgeth the soul with horror and despair.
Consider the horrors in death. There is a natural abhorrency from
death as an evil to our life and being, but that which increaseth
horror is sin : 1 Cor. xv. 56, The sting of death is sin. Oh ! what
agonies will it raise in our souls when we come to die if we die in our
sins ! Though we were immortal, yet sin is so great an evil that it were
not to be committed ; but when we are to die, and give an account,
how doth it fill the soul with horror and diffidence and shame and
anger ! Some wicked men indeed die stupid and careless, at least
doubtful ; and some may be foolhardy ; like a man that fetcheth a leap
in- the dark over a bottomless gulf he doth not know where his feet
may light. A wicked man is like a tree that grows on the bank of a
river ; he is on the borders of hell, and when he dies, he falls into it.
When they come to die, sin will be accusing, conscience witnessing,
the law condemning, Satan insulting ; heaven will be shut up against
them, and hell enlarging her mouth. Oh ! how will the body curse
the soul for an ill guide, and the soul curse the body as a wicked instru
ment ! It is a sad parting when these two loving friends, body and soul,
part with curses, and can never expect to meet again but in torment. A
godly man, when he dies, takes a fair leave of his body, and says, Fare
well, flesh ! He goes down to the grave with the covenant of grace in
his hand, My flesh shall rest in hope ; but a wicked man dreadeth it, that
ever his body and soul must be united again ; they part with an expecta
tion never to meet but in flames.
But all this is nothing to the everlasting estate that follows after it.
Consider either the loss or the pain ; both will represent the evil of sin.
Consider the loss ; by sinning thou losest God and heaven and glory
for a trifle ; for a little dreggy pleasure thou thrustest away eternal
joys. Thou dost as it were say, I care not for heaven, so I may have
carnal satisfaction ; as of Esau it is said, Gen. xxv. 34, Thus Esau
despised his birthright ; it is not worth a mess of pottage. With
what sad reflections wilt thou declaim against sin when thou shalt see
the holy ones of God stand at the right hand of Christ, and thou art
haled to thy own place ! How will thy heart turn upon thee for thy
own folly then ! As one dreamed that his heart was boiling for his sins
in a kettle of scalding lead, and it cried out to him, 700 aot TOVTOV
alria, It is I that have been the cause of this. Were it not for sin I
might have had a place in Abraham s bosom, but now I am going to
everlasting torment ; then you will know what sin is. Every sinner is
326 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63-
as a mad gamester ; he ventures a kingdom, the largest and fairest
that ever was, at every throw, and he is sure to lose it too. Then con
sider the pains of hell ; they will set out the greatness of sin ; and con
sider them either in regard of God s ordination or appointment, or in
regard of your own feeling. (1.) In regard of God s ordination and
appointment. That the good God, who is meekness and sweetness and
bowels itself, should adjudge his creature to eternal torments ; certainly
there is some cause. We pity a dog if he should be cast into a furnace
for half an hour ; yet those tender bowels of mercy shrink not up at
the sight of sinners, though man be the work of his own hands ; and
though the creature screech and howl under these pains, yet he will
not lessen and take them away. Surely there is some great evil in sin
that hath tied up the hands of mercy. (2.) Consider it in regard of
yourselves and your own feeling. Oh ! for a short temporal pleasure
thou runnest the hazard of eternal pains. We that cannot endure the
scratch of a pin or the aching of a tooth, how shall we endure the torment
of so many thousand years, and yet still to look for more ? Heb. x. 31,
4 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Mark
the attribute, the living God, who lives for ever to see the vengeance
accomplished. As long as God is God, hell will be hell ; there can never
be any hope that God s being can be destroyed, or that there will be
a cessation of those torments and paics. God ever liveth to reward the
godly and to punish the wicked.
3. The third sort of arguments are from the aggravations of sin,
that may enhance it, and show the greatness of it to your thoughts.
[1.] It is natural to us. It is necessary to reflect upon this circum
stance, because it is the hardest matter in our humiliation to be suffi
ciently affected with our birth-sin. Evils that come by accident are
objects of pity, but evils of nature are objects of hatred. We pity a
dog that is poisoned, but we hate a toad that is poisonous by nature.
Oh ! how may the Lord hate us that have evil in our nature ! It is not
accidental to us. It is the great fondness of men to make that an
excuse which is in itself the greatest aggravation. Some will say when
they are reproved for sin, I cannot do otherwise ; it is my nature.
This will be the cause of thy ruin without an interest in Christ. The
waters that come out of a pure fountain may be soiled and dirtied, but
they will be clear again ; but a puddle that runneth out of a dung
hill will be always nasty and filthy. Our sins are not by accident,
but by nature ; they are not like the muddying of a. clear foun
tain, but like the unsavoury liquor that comes out of a dunghill.
Original sin (however you think of it) is the sin of sins ; we are born
with such a sin, and it is worse than any other sin. Actual sins are
but as a transient act, whereby there is a violence offered to one of
God s commandments, but this is a constant, rooted, abiding contra
riety to God s own nature. Actual sins are a blow and away, but this
is a remaining enmity. Actual sins are like a fit of anger and dis
pleasure, soon up and soon down, but this is a rooted hatred. This is
the cause of all other sins, the bitter root that diffuseth a poison into
all the branches. All other sins that a man commits are but original
sin acted and exercised. Look, as in the art of numbering, the greatest
number that can, be numbered is but one multiplied, so the whole frv
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 327
of actual transgressions is but original sin multiplied, this spawn dif
fused and spread abroad ; all those traitorous actions that we are guilty
of in the course of our lives are all summed up in this sinning sin.
[2.] Our sins are many. We sin in praying, in eating, in ploughing,
in trading ; and any one of these is enough to undo a world. The
angels became devils for one sin, for one sin of thought, a proud
thought against God s empire and greatness, and for this they were
thrown into places of darkness. What ruin then will a great many
sins procure to thy soul ! If single sins seem light in themselves, j r et
what are they all together ? There is nothing lighter than one sand,
and yet nothing heavier than sand in a great quantity. A gnat, a
fly, a locust are poor inconsiderable creatures, yet when they come
in multitudes they are called God s great army, and destroy whole
countries: Joel ii. 11, The Lord shall utter his voice before his army,
for his camp is very great. If every pore in the body were but pricked
with a pin, the veins would soon be emptied of blood. One sin was
deadly, but what are they altogether, when from top to toe there is
nothing but sores and putrefaction ? Herod was eaten up with lice, a
.small inconsiderable kind of vermin, yet the abundance of them destroyed
him ; so though sins seem small in themselves, yet when they come in
clusters, how soon will they devour and eat out the life and comfort of
the soul ! Ps. xl. ^2, Innumerable evils have encompassed me about ;
mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look
up ; they are more than the hairs of mine head ; therefore my heart
f aileth me. And if David may say so, may not we much more ? Nothing
can be little that is committed against the great God. But suppose
them small, yet they are a company. Oh ! this will make your hearts
fail. The little finger of sin is weighty, but when all the loins of it
are laid upon the soul, how great will the burden be ! Look upon all
the troubles of the servants of God, and you will find they were first
occasioned by a small sin, as Mr Peacock s by eating too freely at a
meal ; but when innumerable evils shall compass you about, that
wherever you look there is sin if you look on duty there is sin, if you
look on your calling there is sin, if you look on your recreations there
is sin, if you look on the hours of your repast there is sin oh ! this
will make your hearts fail indeed.
[3.] If they have been such as have been committed against know
ledge. There is more of the nature of sin in such acts, for the nature
of sin is avofj,ia, a transgression of the law. Now the more we know
the law the greater is the transgression ; according to the sense we
have of the law so the offence is elevated and raised. He that hath
knowledge is magis particeps legis, the law is a piece of himself ; it is
impressed upon his conscience, and he offereth violence to the prin
ciples of his own bosom. This is the reason why the children of God
use this aggravation ; as David : Ps. li. 6, In the hidden part thou
shalt make me to know wisdom. God had taught David wisdom and
some spiritual skill, and yet he sinned against him. So Christ : John
xv. 22, If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin ;
that is, none in comparison. According to the proportion of light, so
the rate of sin riseth ; the more you know of the law, the more you sin
against the law. It is sad to put the finger in nature s eye, but it is
328 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
worse to sin against the light of the word, that will make sin rise high
indeed. Then there is more of enmity and malice in it. When a
man will break through the convictions and restraints of conscience,
it is a sign a man does love sin, and sins for its own sake ; which is
sensibly and clearly discerned in apostates, who are carried on with
most wilful malice and rage against the truth which once they pro
fessed. Apostatce sunt maximi osores sui ordinis. Hosea v. 2, The
revolters are profound to make slaughter. Forward professors, when
they revolt, turn violent persecutors. They set themselves against the
light. Alexander was once a disciple, yet he made shipwreck of the
faith/ 1 Tim. i. 19, 20 ; and he is the man that must set on the multi
tude against Paul : Acts xix. 33, And they drew Alexander out of the
multitude, the Jews putting him forward. The same man is intended,
for by the epistles to Timothy we learn that he dwelt at Ephesus, where
Timothy was when those epistles were directed to him. Now the Jews
set him up as the fittest accuser of Paul ; he knew his doctrine, and he
must appear to turn all the blame of the uproar on the Christians.
Once more we read of this Alexander as a desperate adversary to the
truth: 2 Tim. iv. 21, Alexander the coppersmith did me much hurt.
Certainly their rage and malice is the greater because of the abundance
of light which they have forsaken. No vinegar is so tart as that which
is made of the sweetest wine ; so when knowledge is once corrupted, it
fills the heart with most rage : Prov. xxviii. 4, They that forsake the
law praise the wicked. They not only commit sin, but like it in
others ; they are the most violent and forward men to defend wicked
ways and unjust courses. Sins against knowledge have the greatest
marks of the divine vengeance and displeasure. When men abuse
knowledge, God giveth them up to sottishness, madness, hardness of
heart, or despair. To sottishness : Horn. i. 21-23, Because that when
they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful ;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened : professing themselves wise, they became fools, and changed
the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corrupt
ible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things
Heathens, that had some common knowledge of the divine nature, when
they sinned against their light, God darkened their hearts and made
them more foolish. The heathens that were most civil and had most
light were given up to the most beastly errors about the nature of
God. The Romans worshipped fevers, passions, and paltry gods; the
Egyptians, thunder and the sun. Or else the Lord gives them up to mad
ness. The most moral heathens were the sorest persecutors, as Severus,
Antoninus ; they abused their light, and therefore God gave them up
to fury and madness against his ways. Or else they are given up to
hardness of heart. Iron oft heated and oft quenched groweth harder.
God justly punisheth contempt of light with obduracy; when a man
hath had frequent convictions, and still he quencheth them, he grows
the harder. Or else the Lord gives them up to a sad despair God
opens their consciences, and makes them to see how they have gone
against their own light. Much knowledge not digested is like meat in
the stomach, that, being not concocted, breedeth the colic ; it breedeth
sad gripes in the conscience.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 329
[4.] If they are committed against love. It is sad to sin against God s
laws, it is more to sin against God s love. Suppose it be but against
common love, against God that giveth us food and raiment, rain from
heaven, and fruitful seasons. The apostle calls this a despising the
goodness of God, Eom. ii. 4, either by employing it to vile uses, or else
by a careless slighting and not taking notice of it. You that slight
the kindness of God do as it were say, God shall not gain me to his
ways for all this. Every sin is not committed against knowledge, but
every sin is against love and bowels. Christ may say to every sinner,
as he said to the Jews, John x. 32, Many good works have I showed
you. from my Father ; for which of those works do you stone me ?
Thus the Lord may plead, I have given you protection and provision,
and food and raiment, for which of these do you violate my law and
put such an affront upon me ? It is I that have been so liberal to you,
in giving you the fruits of the earth, the fish of the sea, the fowls of
the air ; it is I that have caused your sheep to bring forth thousands,
and your fields to yield meat ; and will you return upon me with my
own weapons ? Malefactors are punished in the same things in which
they offend, and you seek to do me despite by my own blessings, as if
I did you wrong when I did you good. But much more if you sin
against special love. You that are Christ s favourites, every sin of yours
is as a stab at the heart of mercy ; as when the multitude forsook him,
says Christ to his disciples, John vi. 61, Will ye also go away? 7
That went to his heart. God reckoneth upon you that he shall have
much service and obedience from you, and disappointment is the worst
kind of vexation : Gen. xviii. 19, I know Abraham, that he will com
mand his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep
the way of the Lord ; Isa. Ixiii. 8, Surely they are my people, children
that will not lie. That which in others is but single fornication in
you is adultery ; others sin against common mercies, but you against
the bowels of Christ ; they are not thankful for a piece of bread, nor
you for the bread of life. As Absalom said to Hushai, 2 Sam. xvi. 17,
* Is this thy kindness to thy friend ? so is this the fruit of all those
tender loves and mercies which God hath meted out to you ? It is
unnatural, as if a hen should bring forth the egg of a crow.
[5.] If it be against vows and covenants, against frequent and reit
erated promises and purposes. By such sinning you break double
chains God s and your own. It is not a simple sin, but treachery ;
Judah hath dealt treacherously : Jer. iii. 7, Her treacherous sister
Judah saw it. You commit a sin under the show of friendship. Obed
ience is due, though it were never promised, but it is a help to our
weakness that we vow. It is God s condescension to make a cove
nant ; his laws bind, though we do not seal and subscribe to them ; they
bind as a law though not as a covenant ; but vows and promises make
the covenant more explicit. A lawful thing vowed and dedicated to
God could not be alienated without sin. Ananias was smitten dead
for receding from his purpose : Acts v. 4, Whilst it remained, was it
not thine own ? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?
why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart ? thou hast not lied
unto men, but unto God. But much more in vows in things necessary
that are not in your power. When you have promised obedience, you
330 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
have promised a thing necessary. God might require duty from you,
and punish you for the violation of his law, whether you vowed or no.
It was never left to your pleasure to deal falsely in your covenant with
men ; it is the sin the Lord doth always avenge. Such solemn obli
gations should be sacred and inviolable ; what then is it to break
vows with God after we have solemnly renewed our covenant with
him?
[6.] If it be against former experiences, and that either of the sweet
ness of grace or the evil of sin. (1.) Of the sweetness of grace : The
Lord takes it ill that you should sin against him after you have tasted
his good word/ Heb. vi. 5. It is a mighty affront to Jesus Christ to
go off from him after we have had experience of the sweetness of his
ways. The apostle calls this a denying the Lord that bought them,
2 Peter, ii. 1 ; that this, in foro ecclesice, in the court of the church,
and with respect to the outward covenant that is between the Lord and
every church member. An apostate doth as it were proclaim to the
world that Jesus Christ is no good master ; that, after he hath made
trial of both, the devil is a better master than Christ, for he seemeth to
have known both masters. So we find the Lord contests with his
people about their provocations : Jer. ii. 5, What iniquity have your
fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked
after vanities, and are become vain ? You have gone far from me,
and departed from my ways ; what is the matter ? Did I ever do you
hurt ? have I ever been a land of darkness to you, or a hard master ? So
Micah vi. 3, my people, what have I done unto thee, and wherein
have I wearied thee ? testify against me. When we go off from God,
we do as it were proclaim that we have found just discouragement in
the ways of Christ, as a man that goeth off from you showeth his
expectation is deceived in you. (2.) If you have done it after experi
ence of the evil of sin. When a man hath found the bitterness of sin,
suppose it be of drunkenness or anger, when it hath weakened his body
and broken his peace, and yet he runs into it again, it is a sad aggra
vation ; as that king that would adventure another captain and his fifty
when one captain and his fifty were consumed with fire from heaven,
2 Kings i. 10, 11. When we will be tampering with the carnal sweets
again which have cost us so much trouble, when we have found the
hand of God meet us in a carnal way, yet we will venture again, and
enter into the lists with him, and set ourselves against him, it is as the
breaking of a bone in the same place : James iv. 2, Ye lust, and have
not, yet kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain ; ye fight and war, yet
ye have not. This is a plain contest with God, when, after ye have been
broken in pieces, you will again gather and associate yourselves, as
it is Lsa. viii. 9, Associate yourselves, ye people, and you shall be
broken in pieces ; and give ear, all ye of far countries ; gird your
selves, and ye shall be broken in pieces ; gird yourselves, and ye shall
be broken in pieces. Thus the children of Israel argued with the Keu-
beuites and Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh : Josh. xxii. 17, 18,
Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed
until this day (though there was a plague in the congregation of the
Lord), but that ye must turn away this day from following the Lord ?
[7.] If sin has been committed against a special relation, as suppose
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 03. 331
that of a magistrate or a minister, this doubles the offence. Your sins
are imitated ; you should be fountains of religion and justice, and you
poison the fountains. You are as the first sheet that is printed off,
and all others are stamped after your copy. It was a sad title that
was given to Jeroboam, that he made Israel to sin ; so when you do
not show forth a special strictness of religion according to your place,
it is a great aggravation.
SERMON IX.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.
GEN. xxiv. 63.
THIRDLY, The matter I am now to propose to you is the excellent con
trivance of the gospel as a subject for your meditation ; an argument
that challengeth all our reverence and thoughts and wonder, a mystery
of mysteries, the fairest draught and picture that ever came out of the
workhouse of God : 1 Tim. iii. 16, And without controversy great
is the mystery of godliness. This is a depth that cannot easily be
fathomed ; here are miracles enfolded in miracles, and mysteries within
mysteries ; God would astonk Ji mankind, and save it at the same time.
Christ is called the wisdom of God : 1 Cor. i. 24, Christ, the power
of God and the wisdom of God ; not only as the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge are hid in him, and through him conveyed to the
creatures, but because herein is God s wisdom most discovered by dis
posing and putting our salvation into the hands of Christ ; not only as
a fountain of wisdom, but as a map of wisdom, as discovering the
excellent contrivance of God, and the curious variety that is in his
counsels. God showeth wisdom in all things: Ps. civ. 24, Lord,
how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all.
Every creature is disposed into apt cells and storehouses, and contri
butes to the glory of their creator. But here God would discover the
curiosity of his wisdom. The world is his work, but the gospel is
his plot. And therefore in your solemn and most deliberate thoughts
you should take a view of it. It is the great duty of saints -. Eph. iii.
18, 19, That ye may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of
Christ, which passe th knowledge. This should be your continual task
and search. There are two great mysteries in the world Christ and
antichrist, the mystery of the gospel and the mystery of iniquity. It
is the great advantage of Christians to discern the mystery of iniquity,
and to meditate upon the mystery of godliness ; to observe antichrist s
cunning, and to consider the contrivance of the gospel. Oh! then
exercise your thoughts herein, and study the excellency of God s
design ; bring hallowed and reverend thoughts, that by a deliberate
gaze you may raise your souls into an holy wonder and admiration.
332 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
1. I shall lay down some preparative considerations.
2. I shall come to the work itself.
I. To prepare you to consecrate your thoughts for the entertainment
of so great a mystery, consider these things
1. When you have done your utmost, your thoughts will still fall
short : Isa. xl. 28, There is no searching of his understanding/
There is an excess in every attribute above all human thought and
conceit, and though we follow on after God, yet we cannot find him
out to perfection. Now among all his attributes none is more hidden
from us than his wisdom, as children that are only busied in puppets
and baubles cannot imagine what it is to govern a commonwealth.
Power is obvious, but our foolish spirits cannot trace the wisdom of
providence, much more his wisdom discovered in the gospel. One of
the names of Christ is Wonderful, Isa. ix. 6. It is a point that we
should always be studying, and yet we can never come to the bottom
of it, and therefore what is wanting in thoughts must be supplied by
wonder. When we have done all, we must cry out, Horn. xi. 23, O
the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God !
how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out ! *
As if he had said, I have done as much as I can, I have discovered as
much as I am able ; but I must leave off disputing, and fall now
to wondering. The light of the scripture doth not discover him
fully : 1 Cor. xiii. 9, We know in part, and we prophesy in part/
Full knowledge is our portion in heaven ; these are but partial disco
veries we have even in the word of God. However this is no excuse for
negligence and barrenness. Not for negligence, for we must follow on
to know the Lord, Hosea vi. 3. It is the fault of Christians that they
keep always to their milk and first childish thoughts and apprehensions ;
we should rise higher in our considerations and admirations of the love
and wisdom of God. It is notable that Moses his first request to God
was, What is thy name ? Exod. iii, 13. and then, I beseech thee-
show me thy glory/ Exod. xxxiii. 18. We must follow on from con
sidering God s name to clearer sights of his glory. Not for barrenness ;
empty thoughts void of argument and discourse beget a confused stupor,
not a wonder ; the thoughts are only stayed, not raised.
2. Not only men, but angels themselves are at a loss in this great
mystery ; they study it as well as we, and cannot come to the bottom
of it : 1 Peter i. 12, Which things the angels desire to look into/
The word TrapaKirfycu signifies to bow down and bend the body ; it is
an allusion to the cherubim, that were pictured over the ark stooping,
and as it were bending their bodies, as prying into the mysteries of the
ark. The mysteries of the gospel are so sublime that the angels which
do continually behold the face of God cannot perfectly comprehend
them ; they are learning and improving their knowledge by learning
and improving the dispensations of God 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 ;
that they may know the curious contrivances of God s wisdom by
observing the revelations that are made, and the dispensations God
hath used towards his church. And possibly this may be the meaning
of the apostle in that expression, 1 Tim. iii. 16, Seen of angels ; that
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. C3. 333
is, with reverence, admiration, and wonder, to see Christ stoop so low,
to be clothed with flesh, to condescend to a nature so much beneath
their own. This is the work of angels, either they desire to know
more of Christ, or they delight themselves in beholding of that they
know. Oh ! we should never be weary of searching into these holy
mysteries, and acting our thoughts upon them.
3. They wonder most at the contrivance of the gospel that have
most interest in it ; to others it is but a cold story or naked plot. Con
cernment sharpeneth invention and affection, a man doth then more
seriously consider of it ; their eyes are open, and they have more of
sense and feeling. And that is the reason why the enjoyments of the
saints have notes of wonder annexed to the expressions of them ; as
Phil. iv. 7, The peace of God, which passeth all understanding/ &c.
1 Peter i. 8, Joy unspeakable and full of glory ; they that have a
taste of it know what it is to enjoy a calm and serene conscience
through the application of the promises of the gospel. They can best
wonder at the contrivance of the gospel, who are called out of darkness
into his marvellous light, 1 Peter ii. 9. They wonder in their thoughts
that God and Christ should design their heaven, be plotting and con
triving their salvation before all worlds, how they may be vessels
filled up with glory. marvellous light ! wonderful, unutterable joy !
These are the apprehensions of God s children ; others may look upon
the gospel as a probable truth, but they have found it a comfortable
truth, therefore their hearts are raised in wonder.
II. I come to the work itself. You may manage it three ways -(I.)
By observations ; (2.) By arguments ; (3.) By comparisons.
1. By observations. Observe what is beautiful and excellent in the
gospel.
[1.] God did not contrive to save the fallen angels : Heb. ii. 16,
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him
the seed of Abraham. He was not made an angel for angels, as he
was made a man for men. Lord ! thou sawest angels sinning, but
not returning ; in them thou didst discover the severity of thy justice,
but in us the riches of thy mercy. God would not so much as treat
with fallen angels, but plotted a way to recover man. In the election
of angels mercy is not so much glorified as in the election and calling
of men ; there was grace showed in the election of angels, but not mercy ;
none of the fallen angels were saved, but fallen man is called to grace
in Christ. Certainly whatever the causes were, there was much of
wisdom and mercy in it. Whether it be for this cause, that when Adam
sinned the whole human nature fell, but the whole angelical nature
did not fall, but only a part of it ; the kind itself needed not to be re
paired, but all the mass of mankind was poisoned ; or whether this
be the cause, merely the will of God, certainly there is much of mercy
in it. Love after a breach is more glorious ; it is more to be reconciled
than to be confirmed. Pcenitens, the penitent, have more cause to
glorify God than innocens, the innocent ; those that are received to
mercy than those that are confirmed by grace. Or else was this the
cause ? Because the angels sinned out of their own motion. Angels
had no other temptation but their own ambition and aspiring thought,
but man sinned by the devil s suggestion. Certainly it is more to be a
334 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
tempter than a sinner, and he thatsinneth himself doth not offend God
himself so much as he that made Israel to sin. However it be, we have
cause to bless God that he hath revealed his justice against them and
his mercy to us.
[2.] Observe God s wisdom fetched a large compass and circuit ;
and those things which we count the ruin of man were through the
wisdom of providence his preservation. The fall of angels, the fall of
man, those crooked things which seemed to be the destruction of the
creature, through the overruling of God made for the manifestation of
his glory. Gregory called the sin of Adam foelix scelus, because it occa
sioned the coming of Christ. Providence hath many creeks and turnings,
but all concur to the beauty of the whole frame. The apostle calls it
vroXuTToi/aXo? cro<f)ui, the manifold wisdom of God, Eph. iii. 10. There
fore we are not to judge by present sense. God s mending is better
than his making ; he would have all fall to pieces to discover more of
his mercy. Man must commit a shameful act, and Christ must suffer
a shameful death, and all this to advance his own glory. As a vessel
that is cracked and soldered is the stronger there, or a leg that has been
broken, and set again by a skilful hand, is the stronger ; so the Lord
would first have man to fall and ruin himself, that he might be the
better established by his own grace.
[3.] Observe again, that God should pitch upon this way of sending
his Son. God was not limited or bound up ; he could have done it by
an angel, or of his own will have released the creature of his offence ; but
it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell, Col. i.
19 ; it was God s will that salvation should be brought about this way.
In the whole business of salvation God would proceed by choice, not
necessity. I confess, supposing the determination of the divine decrees,
no creature was qualified to do us good ; the angels do but their work,
they could not so fitly supererogate for us ; but if God would send his
own Son, he might have come as a king in glory and triumph, and
wrestled with Satan, and rescued all the elect out of his hands. But
the Lord would not now discover power, but love ; he had discovered
power in creation : Horn. i. 20, For the invisible things of him from
the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead ; but in
redemption he discovered his wisdom ; every attribute of God was to
be discovered in its season. Again, the Lord would meet with the siri
of men and angels. The angels had lost their holiness out of a desire
of greatness, they would be over all, and under none ; and man was
sick of the same disease, and did desire to be rather great than good.
Adam would be as God ; Adam fell by pride, and to counterwork this,
Christ was to restore mankind by humility. When he cometh to save
mankind, he lays aside his majesty, and puts on a humble garb ; he
would not save mankind by power, but by suffering ; the Lord s de
sign was by the quality of the remedy to show the nature of the
disease.
[4.] Observe, man or angel could not have found out such an excel
lent plot or design as this is. It could not have come into our heads
or hearts, and therefore it came merely from the breast of God ; it was
devised by Father, Son, and Holy Ghost : Horn. xi. 34, Who hath
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 335
known the mind of the Lord ? or who hath been his counsellor ?
What creatur.e did prescribe to God, or direct him to such a way ?
The apostle showeth it could not enter into the creature s thoughts :
1 Cor. ii. 9, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him. You will find by the context he speaks of the doctrine
and contrivance of Christ crucified ; neither sense, nor fancy, nor reason
could suggest such a thing to the creature. There are some seeds of
the law in nature, but not the least seeds of the gospel. We see in
other nations they cannot so much as think of a way of a recovery :
Isa. Ivi. 19, He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there
was no intercessor, therefore his arm brought salvation unto him ; it
is chiefly understood of the everlasting salvation by Christ. If the
Lord had tarried till man had devised a way for his own comfort, we
had been miserable to all eternity.
[5.] Observe, God discovered this design before it was accomplished
in the fulness of time : Isa. xlii. 9, Before they spring forth I tell you
of them/ This love was too big to be contained in his heart, but he
must open his mind. The prophecies and promises of the Old Testament
were the eruptions and overflows of God s love ; his heart was so full
of love, that it could not be contained within the bounds of secrecy.
He openeth his heart, and gives vent to his love in the midst of anger.
As soon as man had displeased him, God drops out the promise that
the seed of the woman should break the serpent s head.
[6.] Observe again, God discovered this by degrees, first in types,
ihen in truths ; first in promises, then in performances. God spake
to his people formerly not so much by words as by things. We teach
children to fight with puppets, and in the oriental nations it is their
genius to be taken with allegories and figures. God would prepare the
world by degrees, as the day groweth till it cometh to high noon ; to
us he hath opened all his good treasure. And further, it was for our
instruction, that wickedness should be perfectly discovered. And
besides the former ages needed restraints more than comforts. Every
age had sufficient revelation for what God required of them.
2. Follow this meditation by arguments. There could not have
been a better way to save the creature, whether we respect God s glory
or the creature s comfort and profit.
[1.] If we consider God s glory.
(1.) It was the best way to commend his love : Horn. v. 8, But God
commended his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. Herein was the commendation of the divine love,
that God would give up the Son of his own love and bosom to die for
us that were sinners. As the apostle saith, Heb. vi. 13, When God
made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he
sware by himself. So when the Lord could give us no greater gifts,
he gave us his Son. David seems to be amazed with wonder when he
considers the power of God in making such creatures as the moon and
stars, much more when he considers the love of God in framing of
man : Ps. viii. 3, 4, When I consider the heavens, the work of thy
fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained ; what is
man, that thou art mindful of him ? and the son of man that thou
336 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. fi3.
visitest him ? But here the Son of God himself is become man for
us. Oh ! that Jesus Christ should stoop so low ! that he that fills all
things should be shut up in the narrow straits of the virgin s womb 1
that Christ should disrobe himself of all his glory, and submit to the
greatest abasement ! John iii. 16, For God so loved the world that
he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
(2.) Hereby his justice is discovered. One attribute is not to be exer
cised to the wrong and prejudice of another. Now in this excellent con
trivance God did glorify his mercy so as his justice was no loser, that
being sufficiently satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore justice,
which in itself is our dread, is in Christ the ground of our comfort and
support, and that attribute which would discourage sinners doth now
invite and draw unto Christ : 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 un
righteousness. So Horn. iii. 25, 26, Whom God hath set forth to be
a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God ;
to declare at this time, I say, his righteousness, that he might be just,
and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." God would dispense
acts of grace with the greatest advantage to his justice. This is the
beauty of his design, he would be just in justification, and those acts
which to us are acts of mere grace, are now made acts of righteousness.
(3.) Hereby the authority of the law is still preserved. God in
innocency had written a law in man s heart, and he was to preserve
the honour of it. Man transgressed this law. Now by appointing
Jesus Christ to die for us, the dignity of the law is kept up. Impunity
maketh sin to be lightly esteemed ; when laws are relaxed there must
be some commutation or recompense, or else their authority is not
preserved : Mat. v. 18, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
Tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled. The
omission of punishment would detract from it, therefore Christ must
be made under the law : Gal. iv. 4, 5, But when the fulness of time
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the
law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive
the adoption of sons. Christ endured the severity of it.
(4.) Hereby God s essence is discovered, even the whole Trinity,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The doctrine of the Trinity was but
darkly revealed in the Old Testament till Christ came in the flesh.
One of the main designs of our redemption was to discover God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. There is a God that
must be satisfied, there is a God that must satisfy, and there is a God
that must seal up all this to the soul. At Christ s baptism, when he
was solemnly inaugurated into the mediatorship, there was a discovery
of the Trinity, the Father in a voice, the Son in person, and the Holy
Ghost in the shape of a dove.
[2.] If we consider the creature s comfort, it was the best way to
establish that.
(1.) Here is excellent provision made against the infiniteness that is
in sin by the infiniteness of Christ s sufferings ; for though sin be but
a temporary act, yet it is infinite because of the object, being committed
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 337
against an infinite majesty ; so Christ s sufferings were but a temporary
act, yet they were infinite, he being a person that was both God and
man. Therefore as sins receive a value from the person against whom
they are committed, so Christ s sufferings receive a value from the
person by whom they are performed. The apostle puts a how much
more upon the blood of Christ : Heb. ix. 14, How much more shall
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve
the living God ? His Godhead did put a value and merit upon his
blood to expiate the guilt of sin, and therefore the blood of Christ is
called the blood of God : Acts xx. 28, Feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood. So that if sin did abound,
grace had superabounded ; if sin be put into one scale, put the blood
of Christ into the other. The great purpose and design of God was
to give us triumph over the clamours of our own conscience. Sin is
expiated and done away by the blood of the Son of God.
(2.) There is an excellent provision made for all that the creature
stands in need of. There are three things which trouble the creature,
and they are only accomplished and made good in this great contri
vance of God the bringing of God and man together, the bringing of
justice and mercy together, and the bringing of comfort and duty
together. How God and man are brought together, who were separate
by sin : 1 Peter iii. 18, Christ also hath once suffered for sin, the just
for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. To unite man fallen
to God, there is mortal and immortal, greatness and baseness, finiteness
and infiniteness brought together. There is God and man in one
person, that there might be a commerce between us and God ; our
nature, as it were, grafted and planted into the person of Christ, that
our persons might have social communion with God. Then justice
and mercy are brought together. The great inquiry of nature is, how
to have a satisfaction for justice, that mercy might have a free course ?
What shall we do to recompense justice ? Creatures would sacrifice
themselves, and all they have : Micah vi. 6, 7, Wherewith shall I
come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God ? Shall I
come before his face with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old ?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousand of rams, or with ten thousand
of rivers of oil ? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the
fruit of my body for the sin of my soul ? But it is not our first-born,
but God s first-born. So also comfort and duty are sweetly united
together, the Lord having provided a merit against our defects, and a
spirit against our weaknesses ; the Lord is at peace with us, and we
are enabled comfortably to serve God.
[3.] If we consider the profit of the creature.
(1.) This way serves to represent sin. You have nowhere such a
sight of sin as upon Mount Calvary, when you see the Son of God
stretched out upon the cross, and crying out, My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me ? When the punishment of our sins was laid
upon Christ, God showeth how displeasing sin was to him.
(2.) To wean us from vanity. We make great matters of trifles,
and are apt to idolise every petty and vain thing in the world ; there
fore in Christ the Lord would show us the highest self-denial when he
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338 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
took the human nature on him, and endured the wrath of the Father.
The whole world wondered after the beast, and the disciples wondered
at the goodly stones of the temple, Mat. xxiv. 1 . Oh ! what will you
do at the Son of God, in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily ?
This should beget a special veneration and reverence towards God.
(3.) To overcome us by love. There is a great engagement laid
upon a sinner hereby. When the king of Moab was pressed hard by
Israel, he took his eldest son, that should have reigned in his stead,
and offered him for a burnt-sacrifice upon the wall, 2 Kings iii. 27,
according to their superstition, who were wont in extreme dangers and
desperate cases to sacrifice their children, whereupon they raised the
siege, and went home. God hath taken his own Son, and sacrificed him,
that we might leave off fighting against heaven. God would overcome
sin by the highest act of goodness and kindness imaginable, hereby ho
would shame and overcome the heart of a poor sinner.
(4.) That we might have a high and glorious pattern of obedience.
We are referred to angels, and to Christ himself, who would leave us
a more glorious example.
3. Magnify this great contrivance of your salvation by comparisons.
Compare it with creation, with other deliverances, and with the works
of nature.
[1.] Compare it with creation. The Lord discovered much of his
glory in making the world out of nothing, but he discovered more of
his glory when Jesus Christ was born of his own creature, a vine out of
the berry or grape. This was his masterpiece and grand design, in
which he purposed to gain to himself most honour and glory. The
world was made with a word, but redeemed with a serious plot and
contrivance. The world was made for man and woman, but Christ
was made out of a woman. In the creation God made us like himself,
but here the Lord made himself like us. In the creation all things
were made out of nothing, here order came out of confusion. In the
creation man was made out of the earth, but here God was made man.
In the creation God went the high way to do us good, in redemption
he came the lower way ; Jesus Christ abased himself for our sakes.
[2.] Compare it with other deliverances. It was a great thing to be
delivered out of Egypt and Babylon, but it is far greater to be delivered
out of hell, and from damnation and wrath to come. Bead the story
of the children of Israel s deliverances, Ps. cvii. They were delivered
from the oppression of Pharaoh, but we from Satan. God gave them
food, and satisfied the longing soul, and filled the hungry ; but Jesus
Christ incarnate is made bread and food to the soul. They had deli
verance from diseases, but we from sin, the sickness and disease of the
soul, and from the vanity of our own spirits. Then he goes on to the
wonders in the deep, but we may see the depth of mercy swallowing
up the depth of sin, and the glorious love of God breaking out in such
a wonderful deliverance by Jesus Christ, that we may well cry out with
them, ver. 31, Oh ! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men.
[3.] Compare it with the miracles of nature. There are strange
things among the creatures, yet there may be some footsteps of reason
seen ; but it cannot enter into the heart of man to conceive of this
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 339
glorious salvation brought about by the Son of God. Therefore bless God
for the revelation, and complain of thyself for not thinking of these
things with serious admiration, scarce vouchsafing to look into these
things, but are more pleased with every bauble and vain contrivance
than the great and serious plot of the gospel.
SERMON X.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide.
GEN. xxiv. 63.
FOURTHLY, The object which I shall now propose is providence, a large
field, and full of useful matter. It is a draught which God hath been
plotting from all eternity, and accomplishing these thousands of years.
Take it altogether, and it is a continued contexture or concatenation
of decrees, actions, and events, from the creation to the day of judg
ment. It is our duty to understand it for the present, and it will be
our happiness to understand it perfectly hereafter : Ps. cvii. 43,
Whoso is wise, and will observe those things, even they shall under
stand the loving-kindness of the Lord. It is an excellent piece of
wisdom to be able to link events together that we may see the wisdom
and love of God in the usual occurrences that happen out. We being
of short narrow thoughts, fail most herein. Power is such an attribute
as is visible and obvious to a common and careless eye ; the heathens
knew it : Eom. i. 20, For the invisible things of him from the crea
tion of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that
are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. But to find out the
beauty and wisdom of God s work, there needs the light of faith and
some acquaintance with God himself ; therefore it is said, Job xi. 5, 6,
* that God would speak, &c., and show me the secrets of wisdom,
that they are double to that which is. Power is obvious to sense and
reason, but wisdom is scarce discernible to faith. There is an outside
and an inside in all divine dispensations ; the outside is full of beauty,
but that is but dark to the inside, to the secrets of wisdom. God s
works are full of mysteries as well as his word, and we cannot under
stand them unless God himself be our teacher ; we are blind and see
not, and then we murmur. But the full knowledge of the mysteries
of providence is reserved for our portion in heaven, when we shall know
as we are known : 1 Cor. xiii. 12, Now we see through a glass darkly,
but then face to face ; now I know in part, but then I shall know even
as also I am known. We shall view all the passages of providence by
which we have been brought to glory, and see the beautiful order and
links of them. Now we have known God, or rather are known of
God/ Gal. iv. 9. God knoweth what is the meaning of such a provi
dence, what is in the womb of such a dispensation. Here there is a
handwriting upon the wall, but we, as Belshazzar, cannot read it.
As when we see a woman with child, we cannot tell what it will prove ;
but when we are on the top of the mount, we shall look back, and see
340 SKKMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 03.
how many are the crooked lanes we have passed, the uphill and down
hill we have trod, and God knew us all along, and did not only lead
us in, but lead us out ; then we shall know the multitude of his
thoughts, and what the great number of them is. I confess by narrow
observation we may discern a little for the present ; as David : Ps.
cxxxix. 17, How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, God!
how great is the sum of them ! When he looked back, how God had
carried him through many difficulties, and brought him to rule his
people, and watched over him with a careful eye of providence, and
ordered every event for his comfort. Some general view and knowledge
we may have for the present.
Now, to direct your meditations upon the providence of God (1.)
I will show what it is ; (2.) That it is ; (3.) I will give you some
observations ; (4.) I will press you to treat with your own hearts about
the use and comfort of it.
I. To open the nature of it, what it is. Consider (1.) The grounds
of providence ; (2.) The acts of providence.
1. The grounds of providence; it is founded in God s nature and
attributes, three especially omniscience, wisdom, and power.
[1.] God s omniscience, or knowledge of all affairs in the world.
God, like the sun, is all light and all eye : Prov. xv. 3, The eyes of
the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good ; in the
congregation, in the closet, in the shop, the eyes of the Lord are every
where, and do not only behold the evil and the good person, but the
evil and the good action. But chiefly God s eyes are upon his children ;
they fall under his special care : 2 Chron. xvi. 9, 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 towards him. God minds
their whole condition, takes notice of their wants and dangers and
troubles, and will show himself strong in their supply and deliverance.
He doth not only know their persons, but their way : Ps. i. 6, The
Lord knoweth the way of the righteous. God takes notice of every
particular step he takes and every case he is in ; by one intuition all
things are present to God. Therefore when Christ would comfort his
disciples, and fence them against worldly care, he saith, Mat. vi. 32,
Your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.
God takes an exact and particular account of all your wants and
necessities. So the psalmist : Ps. Ivi. 8, Thou tellest my wanderings ;
put thou my tears into thy bottle ; are they not in thy book ? There
is not a tear you shed but it is treasured up in God s bottle ; not a weary
step you take for his name s sake but it is recorded in God s book. He
speaks of those weary steps he took through the two forests of Ziph
and Hateph. But if this be not full enough to commend the particu
larity of God s care, he goes higher : Isa. xlix. 16, Behold, I have
graven thee on the palms of my hands ; thy walls are continually be
fore me. When we are apt to forget, we fix a memorial on our hands ;
and if we forget a thing recorded in our book, we shall not forget what
is imprinted on our hands.
[2.] God s wisdom. He knoweth their wants and ordereth their
deliverance. There is something of counsel in all that the Lord doeth :
Eph. i. 11, Who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 311
Therefore his will is called his counsel : Acts iv. 28, For to do what
soever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done/ There
is not only a mighty hand seen in all the dispensations of God, but a
wise counsel. So these two attributes are coupled : Job ix. 21, He
is wise in heart and mighty in strength . We are rash and precipitate,
carried on with more resolution than reason ; our desires beget an heat
that oversetteth us; but whatever God doth it is with exact judgment.
If we have eyes to see it, we should see that all the circumstances of
providence are disposed with much art.
[3.] God s power to execute and administer that which his wisdom
hath devised. God s counsels and purposes are always followed with a
shall be, or shall not be , he hath infinite power to accomplish them.
His power is as it were the midwife to his blessed decrees ; he con-
ceiveth all things in the womb of his will, and then he educeth and
bringeth them forth by his mighty power : Ps. xxxiii. 9, He spake
and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast. Let it be was
sufficient to make the world, and I will is enough to preserve it. God
pleadeth this as the privilege of the Godhead : Isa. xliv. 7, Who, as
I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me ? that is,
that can by calling ordain or create. Therefore Christ, when he would
discover the power of his godhead, cured by a word of omnipotency :
Mat. viii. 3, I will ; be thou clean. Now this power of God is dis
covered in providence three ways by his ability and sufficiency to work
without means, by unlikely means, or by contrary means.
(1.) By working without means. God is not bound to the road of
nature, or tied to the course of second causes ; he can create where he
doth not find ; therefore when God is represented as an object of trust
to his people this expression is used : 1 Peter iv. 19, Wherefore let
them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of
their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator ; as one
that is able to create where nothing is found. So God promiseth, Hosea
i. 7, I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by
the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor
by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. These were the only means
they could pitch upon to re-establish themselves, but, saith the Lord,
I have a purpose to save them, but it shall not be by these. God would
do it by an invisible sway and turn of things, that they should enjoy
the mercy but not see the means. So Isa. xlviii. 7, They are created
now, and not from the beginning , even before the day when thou
heardest them not, lest thou shouldst say, Behold, I know them.
Sometimes God by an immediate sovereignty will help us : Mat. iv. 4,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God. Sometimes God will not reach out a supply
by the ordinary means, but by the powerful word of his providence or
commanded blessing.
(2.) By working with unlikely means. There is nothing so evil or
FO inconsiderable but God can work by it. In the story of Joseph
(which is one of the fairest draughts of providence), a lie cast him into
prison, and a dream fetched him out ; so evil a thing as a lie, and so
inconsiderable a thing as a dream. So the Lord makes use of the
neglect and errors of men. Possidonius hath two remarkable stories
342 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XX[V. 63.
in the life of Austin ; one was that in travel he lost his way and
found his life, for he escaped an ambush of the Donatists. At another
time, being to preach, he forgot both his text and matter, and fell upon
that which through the blessing of God converted Firmius. Ornni-
potency needeth no outward advantage. So in public deliverances.
God s instruments are usually despicable. A straw is as good as a
spear in the hands of omnipotence. Most of the judges that rescued
Israel were taken from the plough and sheepfold. So for judgments ;
God by weak means punishes sinners. Egypt was plagued with flies
and lice ; they were strong to execute God s word.
(3.) By working with contrary means. Christ used clay and spittle,
that one would think should put out the eyes, to restore sight to the
blind man. Joseph was first made a slave and then a favourite ; his
brethren first sell him and then worship him ; he is cast into the
dungeon to be preferred to court. There are strange contrivances and
contrarieties in providence ; the way seemeth contrary to the aim,
and the means disproportionate to the end. When we see great con
fusions in the world, we wonder how this should tend to God s glory
and the church s good, and are apt to say, as Joshua, chap. vii. 9,
What wilt thou do unto thy great name ? and as the prophet, Amos.
vii. 2, By whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small ? We wonder
how God means to save when Babylon destroyeth, and how confusion
and mischief can end in order and beauty. But God knows the suffi
ciency of his own power, and is able to bring about these things, to
bring light out of darkness, and one contrary out of another.
2. The acts of providence ; they are three conservation, guberna-
tion, and ordination.
[1.] Conservation, conserving and keeping all creatures in their
being. Therefore the apostle saith, Heb. i. 3, He upholdeth all things
by the word of his power ; Isa. xxii. 23, 24, I will fasten him as a
nail in a sure place, and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father s
house, and they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father s house.
If God should take away the shoulder of his providence, all things
would return to their first nothing, and vanish and disappear ; as a
seal upon the waters, the impression is defaced as soon as the seal is
gone. Providence is a continual creation ; everything that is kept in
working and being is, as it were, newly born, newly brought forth,
newly produced. Nay, Chrysostom saith it is peiCpv ri, something
greater than creation. As it is more to support a burden long in the air
than to raise it up from the earth, so it is more to keep all things from
returning to nothing than to educe and bring them out of nothing.
That is the reason why the Holy Ghost speaks in the present tense :
Ps. civ. 2, Who stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain ; and Isa.
xl. 22, It is he that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and
spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in. It is not in the future tense,
because God is always a stretching them out. So our Saviour : John
v. 17, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Though there be a
cessation of work in regard of new kinds, yet there is a continuation
of work in regard of their preservation and God s providential influence.
The power which raised from nothing must still preserve from nothing :
Kom. xi. 36, For of him, and through him, and to him, are all
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV 63. 343
things. This Solomon intends when he saith, Prov. xx. 12, The
hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
He doth not mean spiritually, but naturally ; he doth not only give
the faculty, but the exercise ; as he gives the eye, so the seeing, and
as he gives the ear, so the hearing : this could not be done without
new acts of providence, assistance, and supportation from God. There
fore we read Hagar did not see the well of water till the Lord opened
her eyes : Gen. xxi. 19, And God opened her eyes, and she saw a
well of water. So the disciples: Luke xxiv. 31, And their eyes were
opened, and they saw him. When the Lord suspended his influence,
the fire could not burn the three children. God did not destroy the
property of the fire, but only suspended the efficacy of it. No creature
can put forth itself in a way of operation without a new providential
assistance from God.
[2.] Gubernation, or governing all things according to his will and
pleasure. All things keep their course, for God sitteth at the helm
and steereth all : I)an. iv. 35, He doth according to his will in the
army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth ; and none
can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou ? God doth all
according to his pleasure ; he is not confined by any external law, nor
straitened by the course of nature, but acts with a great deal of sove
reignty and freedom, and sometimes inverts the order of second causes.
God s will is sometimes called drfk/Ma, sometimes evSo/cia ; his pleasure
is all. There are indeed some standing ordinances of nature, as the
ordinances of sun and moon and the covenant of day and night : Jer.
xxxi. 35, Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by
day, and the ordinances of moon and stars for a light by night ; and
Gen. viii. 22, While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and
cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not
cease. God can alter the course of these, as in Joshua s time and at
Christ s death ; there were three days darkness in Egypt : Mat. v. 45,
4 He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth
rain on the just and on the unjust. There is nothing so casual but it
is governed by God, and falls under the ordination of his wise counsel.
It is said, 1 Kings xxii. 34, And a certain man drew a bow at a ven
ture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness.
It was a mere chance as to him, but God directed it into the sides of
the king. So Exod. xxi. 13, If a man lie not in wait, but God deliver
him into his hand ; compared with Dent. xix. 5, As when a man
goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand
fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head
slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour that he die.
God slew him. There is nothing so casual but it is directed by the
wise ordination of God : Prov. xvi. 33, The lot is cast into the lap,
but the whole disposal thereof is of the Lord. There seems to be
nothing so trivial and casual as the casting the lot into the lap, yet it
is overruled by him ; he doth not only permit, but govern. God
governs all his creatures ; in such a throng of stars there is no interfer
ing. We wonder at strange events when the great sway is discovered.
The sea is higher than the earth, yet it doth not transgress its bounds
and limits. We live and breathe as the Israelites did in the midst of
the Ked Sea ; this is a daily miracle.
344 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
[3.] Ordination. All things are overruled by God s great sway;
it is not as the creature will, but as God will ; and many times the
creatures are serviceable to the designs of God contrary to their inten
tions : Isa. x. 6, 7, I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and
against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the
spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of
the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think
so, but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few/ The
king of Assyria was moved with a principle of ambition, rage, and
cruelty, but the Lord sent him on his work. So Augustus his covet-
ousness in taxing the whole world God orders it for the occasioning
Christ s birth at Bethlehem, Luke ii. The actings of the creature are
disposed and carried on besides the purpose of the creature to another
end. He discovers his wisdom by man s folly, and his righteousness
by man s sin. Look, as in a ship some sleep, and some walk contrary
to the ship s motion, so in the world some men are negligent, others
keep bustling and stirring and seek to resist the designs of God, but
the ship goes on : Acts iv. 28, For to do whatsoever thy hand and
thy counsel determined before to be done. The devil thought to ruin
all mankind by seducing of Adam, yet that made way for Christ.
Herein is the great beauty and order of providence seen, that God can
make hindrances to be helps, and while men seek to cross his will most,
they do but accomplish and fulfil it.
II. That there is such a thing as providence. Heathens granted it,
though they had but a dim sight of it ; and therefore Tully saith, Dii
magna curant, parva negligunt The gods take care of great things,
but neglect little things. We count them atheists that deny a provi
dence, as well as they that denied a God.
That there is a providence may be proved from the being of God :
there is a God, therefore there is a providence. His wisdom and his
goodness enforceth it ; he is so wisely good : Ps. cxix. 68, Thou art
good, and thou doest good. The divine wisdom ordereth all things
for an end, and the divine power governs all things in order to that
end. We read it in the order of the world and the sense of our own
conscience ; if there were no providence, the devils would soon overturn
all things, honesty would be folly, a title without substance, labour
without reward : 1 Cor. xv. 19, If in this life only we have hope in
Christ, we are of all men most miserable. The godly would have no
relief; they would not call God to witness, nor acquaint him with
their sorrows, which is their great solace: Job xvi. 20, My friends
scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God/ God s works
discover it. Who feedeth the beasts ? Job xii. 7-9, But ask now the
beasts, and they shall teach thee ; and the fowls of the air, and they
shall tell thee : or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee ; and the
fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all
these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this ? His judgments
show it: Ps. Iviii. 10, 11, The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth
the vengeance ; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked :
so that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous,
verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth/ Some men s sins are
open beforehand, and God keeps a petty sessions before the general
assize cometh.
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 345
The great objection that is against providence is because all things
come alike to all ; but that which seemeth the blemish of providence
is the beauty of it. The prosperity of wicked men complieth with
God s ends; that there is such a checker-work of providence is for
the exercise of the godly, as the stones that are for a temple are hewed
and squared ; and hereby wicked men are left without excuse ; they
have prudence, but not grace ; and they cannot complain, having
common mercies.
III. I will give you some observations.
1. Providence reacheth to the least and most inconsiderable things,
as the flight of a sparrow, the falling of a hair : Mat. x. 29, 30, Are not
two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not fall on the
ground without your Father ; but the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. God takes particular account of every concernment and
circumstance of your lives : Ps. cxlvii. 4, He telleth the number of the
stars. It is much that God should be at leisure to tell the stars;
much more that he should take particular notice of the hairs of your
head.
2. Though providence extends to all things, yet it is chiefly exercised
about the most noble creatures, men and angels. The psalmist saith,
Ps. xxxvi. 6, Lord, thou preservest man and beast ; but chiefly man.
For mark it, these are not only governed by God, but by themselves.
Other things, that are void of understanding, are only guided by an
external principle without the knowledge of an end, as arrows shot
out of a bow ; but rational creatures have a principle of their own,
viz., prudence, which is a shadow of divine providence. In these
providence is most discovered. Man s will is rebellious ; it is harder
to rule a skittish horse than it is to roll a stone. God challengeth
this as his own prerogative : Jer. x. 23, Lord, I know that the way
of man is not in himself ; it is not in man that walketh to direct his
steps. He can bridle, rule and restrain the hearts of men, and turn
them as he pleaseth : Prov. xxi. 1, The king s heart is in the hand
of the Lord ; as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he
will. The hearts of kings, those that seem to be most led by will
and passion, God can turn them, and rule them at his pleasure.
3. Though the providence of God chiefly concerns man, yet the
chiefest care of providence is about the good of the elect : Mat. vi. 26,
Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns ; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them : are ye
not much better than they ? I Tim. iv. 10, We trust in the living
God, who is the saviour of all men, especially of those that believe/
He is a saviour in this sense in regard of providential administration,
but all dispensations towards his people are more exact, and have
more of care ; God particularly looks after them : Amos ix. 9, For
lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all
nations like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain
fall upon the earth. Mark, above all nations God would have a care
of Israel ; whatever becomes of the chaff, God watcheth over the corn.
The elect are the darlings of providence ; the world is continued for
their sakes, that all the elect may be gathered in : Isa. xliii. 3, 4, I
gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou
346 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have
loved thee ; therefore I will give men for thee, and people for thy life.
All the rest of the world are but as dust and refuse, which God will
give up to his justice. If justice must have an object whereon to
exercise itself, I will give up Seba and Ethiopia and Egypt to justice ;
a thousand of them shall perish rather than my people. So ver. 14,
For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all
their nobles. God will stain the glory of all the world for the elect s
sake. If God throw them into the furnace, he sitteth by the furnace,
prying and looking after his metal : Mai. iii. 3, And he shall sit as
a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi,
and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord
an offering of righteousness/ The fire shall not be too hot, that nothing
be lost.
4. Providence must not be considered by pieces, but all together.
You must consider the way of God with the aim of God, and the means
with the end. You must not measure things by present feeling : Rom.
viii. 28, All things shall work together for good to those that love God,
to those that are the called according to his purpose. A single part of
providence taken out of the frame is odd and unseemly. Providence is a
draught of many pieces ; there is the manifold wisdom of God in it.
All the links of the chain of providence are not of one size. If you
would think aright of providence, you must take in your own case and
God s aim. (1.) Consider your own case ; not what is absolutely good,
but what is respectively good for you. Gold absolutely is better than a
draught of water, but not to Sampson, who was ready to die for thirst.
Cutting a vein is in itself ill, but good in a fever ; so such or such a
providence, though not good in itself, may be better for you. (2.) You
must take in God s aim with your own case ; the single links of provi
dence are not all of a sort ; like Nebuchadnezzar s image, partly gold,
partly iron, partly brass, and partly clay. To an observant eye there
is a wonderful beauty in the providences of God. There is no beauty
in the parts of a building till they be set together ; no more is there
in the several pieces of providence till you consider them together and
compare one with the other. The first dashes of a picture are uncomely,
therefore do not look on God s work by halves, but all together.
5. God doth manage and govern all things without labour and diffi
culty. It is much for us to spread a small net ; the care of a family
and the care of a congregation is too great for our shoulders, but the
Lord governs all the world without difficulty and pain ; he is not bur
dened with the multitude of cares ; it costs him no more to govern
angels than to govern ants, to govern palaces than cottages. Look, as the
sun doth as easily shine upon a thousand places at one time as upon one
field, so the Lord doth as easily manage the affairs of the whole
world as of any one place in the world ; his care is without trouble, his
work is without pains. Lucian scoffs at God s running here and there.
No ; all things are represented to him in one view.
6. God s providence is conversant about sin, yet without sin. God
doth a-vvepydv, work with us, but he doth not o-vvapapTaveiv, come
into the fellowship of our sin or guilt. As the sunbeams may shine
upon a dunghill, and in a filthy place the warm sun draweth forth
SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63. 3-17
stinking vapours, but the sun is not stained hereby. The apostle saith,
Acts xvii 28, For in him we live and move. We are moved by him ;
but as the lameness of the horse is no blemish to the rider, so neither
is the defect of the creature to be imputed to the providence that doth
support it.
7. Providence doth not take away either the industry or the liberty
of the creature : Acts xxvii. 22, compared with ver. 31 ; it is said, ver. 22,
There shall be no loss of any man s life among you, but of the ship ;
and yet, ver. 31, Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved.
We must plough though the clouds drop fatness ; still there is a place
for human industry, and human counsel and deliberation : Ezek.
xxi. 21, For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at
the head of the two ways to use divination/ &c. There were two ways ;
one way led to his country, the other way led directly to Jerusalem.
God had determined which way he should go, yet freely out of his own
spirit he is moved to take the way he went ; still there was place for
human counsel and human deliberation.
8. Observe the providences of God to yourselves, in the womb and
from the womb : Ps. cxxxix. 12, How precious also are thy thoughts
unto me, God ! how great is the sum of them ! Gen. xxxii. 10,
With my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two
bands. Broad rivers come from a small fountain : Job viii. 7, Though
thy beginnings were small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase/
9. The great aim of providence is God s glory and the salvation of
the elect. God s glory : Eom. xi. 36, For of him, and through him,
and to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever, Amen ; Ps. cxix.
91, They continue this day according to thine ordinance, for all are
thy servants. The salvation of the elect : Kom. viii. 28, All things
shall work together for good to them that love God, to them that are
called according to his purpose. The world would soon shatter to
pieces, but that God had some elect to gather out of it.
IV. When you have meditated, and taken some view of providence,
treat with your own hearts about the use and comfort of it ; either
about the providences of God in general, or to yourselves in particular.
1. About the providences of God in general. Consider of the care
which God hath over all creatures. Urge the providences of Grod
against your fears. Is it fear of man s policy ? Oh ! consider divine
providence is above human prudence : Job v. 13, He taketh the wise
in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the fro ward is carried head
long. Suppose they be able to contrive mischief, yet God can hinder
the execution of it, that they cannot find their hands for their enter
prise. Or do you fear the cunning of Satan ? Consider providence is
chiefly exercised for this end, to defeat the power of Satan. There is a
providence over the swine, much more over the flock of Christ ; and as
Tertullian saith, He that has told the bristles of swine hath much more
numbered the hairs of the saints. Urge your hearts with the provi
dence of God to encourage your trust in God for outward provision.
When you are humbled with straits, and pinched for maintenance of
your families, consider there is a providence. The world is God s great
common, and he doth not overstock his own common. All things wait
upon God ; how do the beasts live but upon providence ? Ps. civ. 27,
348 SERMONS UPON GENESIS XXIV. 63.
These all wait upon thee, that thou mayest give them their meat in
due season. Who is it that feeds the ravens ? Ps. cxlvii. 9, He
giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry ; and
Ps. cxlv. 16, Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every
living thing. Compare it with ver. 19, He shall fulfil the desire of
them that fear him ; he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Urge your hearts herewith to patience under miseries. Not a sparrow
falls to the ground without a providence, therefore certainly your crosses
fall under the wise dispensation of God : Ps. xxxix. 6, Surely every
man walketh in a vain show ; surely they are disquieted in vain. Again,
urge your hearts to thankfulness for mercies; look upon the first
cause, and acknowledge the providence of God in all that you enjoy.
2. Consider the providences of God to yourselves in particular, for
thou art a little world. Consider how the providence of God watched
over thee in the womb ; when he took thee out from thence, how he
provided two bottles to sustain thee ; how he hath borne thee up from
the womb hitherto ; especially how he took care of thee when thou hast
been in distress. Oh ! it is sweet when we can say, as David, Ps. xxxiv.
6, This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out
of all his troubles. I have been in these and these distresses, yet the
Lord hath heard and delivered me. Especially if he hath blessed thee
from small beginnings, and increased thy substance, urge thy heart to
trust in him for the future : 1 Peter v. 7, Casting all thy care upon
him, for he careth for thee.
Fifthly, The next object of meditation is the excellency and happi
ness of our estate in heaven. (See this subject treated on in a sermon
on Titus ii. 13, Looking for that blessed hope. )
SERMONS
OH
SEVEEAL TEXTS OP SCRIPTURE.
PAET IL
THE EPISTLE DEDICATOEY.
To THE LADY BAWDON.
MADAM, It needs no apology that I have prefixed your ladyship s
name to this part of the late Keverend Dr Thomas Manton s works,
since the memory of the author is so precious with you, by whom you
and your children were baptized into the Christian faith, under whose
ministry you were brought up in the knowledge of the mysteries of the
gospel, and whose works published both before and since his death,
have been so highly valued by you. But your ladyship has a more
especial title to these sermons, because a great part of them being
committed to my care to publish, the preparing them for the press was
performed in a great measure under your ladyship s roof, when the
providence of God called me there in my attendance on your honoured
mother, the Lady Wharton, in the last scene of her life.
The duty I owe to the memory of that great person obliges me to
testify to the world what I, as well as others who had the honour of
knowing her, observed in her. She was one whom God had endowed
with more than common gifts and graces ; one of a piercing judgment,
quick apprehension, great presence of mind, useful in all her relations.
But that which adorned all was her eminent godliness, which was
visible in the whole course of her conversation. She had a great
understanding of the mysteries of the gospel ; and though she abounded
in good works, yet she knew how to account all things loss and dung
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus her Lord. She was
often in the admiration of the riches and freeness of God s grace in
Jesus Christ ; and all her hopes, trust, and confidence were in his merits
and righteousness. She had a very high valuation and esteem of the
ordinances of God ; and when her long sickness had for some time
hindered her from a public attendance on the worship of God, she would
often complain of it, that she was as a leper shut out from the sanctuary
of God. She was of a noble, generous, and charitable frame of spirit ;
and her charity was dispensed with great prudence. I cannot but mention
one branch of it, viz., the relieving of sick persons, especially providing
and giving medicines to the poor who had no money to buy them ; and
God did wonderfully own her with great success- herein.
In her latter clays God was pleased to exercise her with great trials,
her sickness was long and tedious, her pains great and sharp ; but under
all, her steady adherence to God showed the strength of her faith and
the truth of her patience. I have often heard her say this one thing
352 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
silenced all complaints It is God who hath done it. All the breaches
God made upon her made no breach between God and her soul. In
her languishing hours, when her strength failed her, she expressed the
inward tranquillity and repose of her mind ; it being almost the last
words she said, All is well, all is well.
Thus she lived and thus she died, and is now joined to that great
assembly of glorified saints who are always praising, blessing and
adoring God, where she is always beholding the face of her God in
glory, and fully understands the meaning of all the dark providences of
God towards her in the latter part of her life.
I mention not these things to renew your ladyship s grief for so great
a loss, and to make your wounds bleed afresh, but to provoke you to a
holy imitation of so great a pattern, and to be a follower of her, as she
was of Christ. Good examples have a powerful influence upon us, for
we are led more by pattern than by precept, especially the examples of
those we love, for such we are prone to imitate ; but more especially
of those who are in nearest relation to us, for there nature sides with
grace. And what an advantage your ladyship has had in having such a
precedent before your eyes appears by the fair transcript you have been
of so fair a copy.
Madam, God hath been pleased to exercise your ladyship also with
great trials, but you have had your comforts and supports. God hath
taken away some of your nearest relations, but he hath continued others
to you. What a blessing hath God bestowed upon you in those
excellent daughters that have sprung from you ! But, alas ! we are too
apt to pore on our losses and overlook our enjoyments, to make our
afflictions the grave of our mercies. God hath given your ladyship a
better frame of spirit, and taught you how to see his love in the losses
you have sustained and the blessings you enjoy. But were it worse
with you as to outward comforts, yet the foundation of God standeth
sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And
certainly there is more in God, and a covenant relation to him, to
support your joy, than there can be in any outward affliction to cause
grief and sorrow of heart ; and a due sense of God s afflicting hand is
not inconsistent with a holy rejoicing in him. Now that God would
fill you more and more with the joys and comforts of his Holy Spirit,
and multiply his blessings upon yourself, and those that have descended
from you, is the prayer of, honoured madam, your ladyship s most
obliged, and most humble servant,
WILLIAM TAYLOR.
February 9, 169J.
SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31.
SEEMON I.
And Tie said, Nay, father Abraham : but if one went unto them from
the dead, they ivill repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one
rose from the dead. LUKE xvi. 30, 31.
IT hath been a question whether this is a parable or a history. A
parable, surely, for otherwise many incongruities would be asserted ;
for it supposeth body and soul already in hell : ver. 23, And in hell he
lift up his eyes, being in torment. And it would suppose charity, and
care of conversion of others in hell, therefore it is not a history. The
scope of this parable is to teach us three lessons
1. To show that the godly poor are blessed, and the unmerciful rich
are in everlasting torments. Desideravit guttam, qui non dedit micam
He desired a drop of water that would not give a bit of bread.
2. The irreversible estate of the damned : ver. 26, Between us and
you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they which would pass from hence
to you cannot ; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence.
3. That the direction of the holy scriptures is the only means to
escape these torments.
This latter is represented in a dialogue between Dives and Abraham.
Dives would have one sent from the dead to his father s house, suppos
ing that would work on them to repent. Christ s parables do imper
sonate our thoughts ; we always dislike the present dispensation which
God useth to reclaim us, and would have extraordinary means, and then
we presume we should believe and repent ; these are our thoughts. But
Abraham thinketh otherwise, or rather Christ, who is the author of the
parable : If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they
be persuaded though one rose from the dead.
By Moses and the prophets are meant the whole scriptures of the
Old Testament and the New. These are mentioned because these only
were then written and received by the Jews ; and these include the
rest, the same truth being carried on in all the books, though more
explicit in the latter.
DocL That the word of God is a more conducible means to persuade
us to repentance than if one should come from the dead.
There are two ways of proof of this doctrine, and therefore let us
see what may be said for and against one coming from the dead.
VOL. xvir. z
354 SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31.
First, If one coming from the dead be presumed to be a more effec
tual means to bring men to repentance and conversion to God, it must
be either because he can bring a more necessary doctrine, or could urge
better arguments, and more persuasively, or propound these truths with
more certainty, or could by his own strength convey a power with his
words, or rationally expect a greater concomitancy and co-operation of
grace than is ordinarily dispensed by the word. One or other of these
things it must be, or else the conceit is vain and frivolous. But now,
proceeding from one consideration to another, I shall show you that the
word of God hath clearly the pre-eminence, and is a far more accom
modate instrument to work upon the hearts of men than any extra
ordinary dispensation whatsoever.
1. One coming from the dead, angel or man, cannot bring a doctrine
more necessary, there being in the scriptures sufficient direction about
the way to true happiness, for which we have not only express testi
mony, but apparent reason and sensible experience.
[l.j Express testimony, which should sway with Christians : 2 Tim.
iii. 16, 17, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ;
that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works. A man of God, or minister of the gospel, thoroughly furnished,
hath from the scriptures full out enough to guide man to the enjoyment
of God; nothing is wanting for information as to doctrine, convic
tion, arguments of quickening or exhortation, for instruction or direc
tions concerning the whole duty of man. And
[2.] Apparent reason. If God be a sufficient teacher of divine things,
and if we suppose him willing to inform the creatures (neither of which
can be denied without blasphemy), then surely, supposing the scriptures
to be the word of God, as all Christians do, and in this debate it is fit we
should suppose, then certainly we have enough in the scriptures, and
need not that the rest of the dead should be discomposed that there may
be a fit messenger found out to invite us to return to God. If it need
proof, who can teach us the way to blessedness more than the blessed
God ? Ps. cxix. 12, Blessed art thou, Lord ; teach me thy statutes.
Who more willing to show man what is good than the good God ? Ps.
cxix. 6,8, Thou art good, and doest good ; teach me thy statutes/ The
blessed God needeth not to envy us the perfection of knowledge, as the
devil insinuated : Gen. iii. 5, God doth know that in the day ye eat
thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, know
ing good and evil. Wherein is his happiness lessened by our perfection ?
And the good God, who is so full of goodness and love to mankind,
would give us a sufficient direction, especially since his Son appeared
in human nature, and became his messenger. Would God reveal him
self to any one from the dead, yea, to an angel, more than to his own
Son ? Or could he see. feel, or hear more than God hath made known
to Christ ? or be presumed to have a greater charity to mankind than
the Lord hath, whose creatures they are ? No, no ; it cannot be : He
hath showed thee, man, what is good/ Micah vi. 8. Abide by that,
and thou hast enough.
But let us confirm it. Compare the provisions of the word with
your own necessities. What ! would you have a rule ? Then see if
SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 355
you have it not in the holy scriptures : Titus ii. 11, 12, For the grace
of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in this present world/ By * the grace of God
is meant the gospel ; and what doth the gospel teach us ? To live
soberly, righteously, and godly ; to enjoy God, to live with man, and
the government of ourselves. We have enough if we have all this.
But we have all this in as ample manner as heart can wish for, and
therefore he that cometh from the dead must either preach the same
doctrine, and then it is needless and superfluous, or contrary things,
and then how shall we believe him, who are forewarned ? Gal. i. 8,.
But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed/
Christ enters a caution against them.
2. Better arguments cannot be urged, nor more persuasively. The
gospel is the wisdom of God/ 1 Cor. i. 24; and surely God knoweth
all the wards of the lock, and what kind of keys will fit the heart of
man. He hath laid forth the riches of wisdom and grace upon this
blessed design, and hence it is that we have such mysterious doctrines,
such dreadful threatenings, such sweet promises, such strong obligations-
frorn the death and incarnation of the Son of God, from the example
of Christ, which doth secure our direction and encourage our practice.
Out of what rock was man hewn if all this will not work upon him ?
What must God do ? provide a better Jieaven, a hotter hell, another
Son to die for us ? or a more forcible and encouraging example than
that of Jesus Christ ? What is the matter that the wicked sinner will
not be allured and made tame, charm the charmer never so wisely ?
What do we need more to move us ? Shall God pipe to you in a
sweeter strain than that of gospel grace or gospel promises ? Is the
giving himself and his Christ a price too cheap to purchase your
hearts ? or must he thunder to you in a more dreadful accent than
the horrors of everlasting darkness ? Are these but poor and mean
scarecrows to tell you of a pit without a bottom, of a worm that never
dieth, of a fire that shall never be quenched ? Or what is the
matter that the sinner stirreth not ? Is the scripture a dead letter ?
and needeth it to be actuated and enforced by a living voice ? God
hath provided us apostles and prophets to write scriptures, so pastors
and teachers to explain and apply scriptures : Eph. iv. 11, He gave
some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pas
tors and teachers ; men who are concerned as well as ourselves, the
value of whose credit we know by their faithfulness in other things,
that have the same temptations, affections, and necessities as we have ;
men with whom we may more familiarly converse, and with less fright,
than with one from the dead. Oh ! but one that cometh from the
dead is supposed to testify his own sight and knowledge, and so to
speak more feelingly. And have not God s messengers some exper
ience ? Cannot they say, We declare to you the things which we have
seen and heard and felt ? Have they not been scorched by the spirit
of conviction, tasted comfort, felt a change in their own hearts?
What can any messenger from the dead say that hath not been told
you over again and again a thousand times ? Would he say that ail
356 SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31.
shall die ? that you see with your eyes. That presently after death
cometh judgment ? that you pretend to believe already. That the
torments of hell are terrible and insupportable ? this God hath told
you over and over ; and if we receive the witness of men, the witness
of God is greater, 1 John v. 9. That you must repent and be con
verted ? this is that that is sounded in your ears every day. Therefore
we are better provided already than to need the horror of an apparition
or a warning from one among the dead.
3. It is not because he could propound these truths with more cer
tainty, for these things are already propounded to our understandings,
and we have sensible confirmation.
[1.] They are propounded to our understandings with a fair and full
credibility. The holy scriptures have in themselves a self-evidencing
light, by which they make it out to the consciences of men that they
are of God. Everything that hath passed the hand of God discovered:!
its author ; all God s works have his signature and impression upon
them, which is legible and visible to every attentive beholder : Rom. i.
20, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and godhead ; so that they are without excuse ; Ps.
xix. 1, The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament
nhoweth his handiwork. Not a pile of grass but showeth its maker
Prcesentem refert quodibet herba Deum ; and surely his word, which he
hath magnified above all his. name/ Ps. cxxxviii. 2, is not altogether
without such an impress and stamp of God upon it, therein being
revealed things most worthy of the truth, wisdom, goodness, and holi
ness of God, and suitable to that wisdom and truth that is in us, so far as
there is any in us. What shall I speak of the most satisfactory way of
reconciliation with God, the fairest draught of moral perfection, far
beyond all that which is of mere human recommendation ? Here is no
dead fly in this box of ointment, but all pure and holy, without mix
ture ; nothing so accommodate to the necessities of man, and fit to bring
us to the enjoyment of that which the reasonable nature aimeth at.
What shall I speak of the majesty of the style, the genuine simplicity of
the narrations, the harmony of the parts, the sublimity of the doctrines,
the impartiality and purity of the precepts, the overflow of God s love
in the promises, the glorious rewards, the certainty of the prophecies ?
all which are so many innate characters and evidences of the divine
authority of these writings, by which they clearly insinuate themselves
with wonderful force and power into the consciences of men : 2 Cor.
iv. 2, But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walk
ing in craftiness, not handling the word of God deceitfully ; but by
manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man s
conscience in the sight of God. There was an evidence in the truth
itself preached by the apostles, so there is in the word written by the
apostle, for the voice could add nothing to it, and the writing take
nothing from it. A man of art and judgment discovereth himself in
every book he writeth. Aristotle s writings show him a person of great
knowledge. Can a book have God for its author, and have nothing to
discover its author ? It is unreasonable. Masters in writing or paint
ing show their hand; the scripture doth not stand or fall to the
SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 357
courtesies of man. Well, then, if these things be so (as certainly
they are so), we have more certainty by the word itself than possibly
we can have by a messenger from the dead, yea, or a voice from
heaven, for it hath such a signature of God upon it that we need go no
further : 2 Peter i. 18, 19, And this voice which came from heaven
we heard when we were with him in the holy mount, who have also
/3e/3aioTepoz> \6yov, a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do
well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts/ What
greater confirmation could the apostles expect than that voice from
heaven, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased ? Mat.
xvii. 5. Yet Peter who heard that voice telleth us that comparatively
we have greater security from and by the written word ; not in itself,
but as it is given in evidence to us, so that there is no compare between
it and one from the dead.
[2.] We have sensible confirmations. We are wrought upon by
sense. Now -is not ordinarily the word as sensibly confirmed to us as
it would be by a vision or apparition from the dead ?
(1.) There is the holiness of professors : 1 Cor. xiv. 25, And thus
are the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so, falling down on his
face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth ;
1 Peter iv. 4, Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with
them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you. Is it not more
wonder to see a living man that hath not divested himself of the
interests and concernments of flesh and blood to deny himself for
things to come, than to hear a tale from a dead man ?
(2.) There is the constancy of the martyrs, that have ratified this
truth with the loss of their dearest concernments : Eev. xii. 11, And
they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony ; and they loved not their lives unto the death. It is pos
sible a man may suffer for a false religion, and sacrifice a stout body
to a stubborn mind. But is there no true gold because there hath
been some counterfeit coin ? The devil s martyrs have not been so
many for number, nor for temper and quality, so holy, so wise, so meek,
as the champions of the truth. The Christian religion can show you
persons of all ages, young and old ; of all sexes, men and women ; of
all conditions of life, noble and of low degree ; of all qualities, learned
and unlearned. (See Sermons on John xvii.)
(3.) Then there is the inward feeling of God s children ; they find a
power in the word, convincing, changing, comforting, fortifying their
hearts. These can speak of what they hear, feel, and taste, as well as
one that cometh from the dead. They have answerable impressions on
their hearts : Heb. viii. 10, I will put my laws into their mind, and
write them in their hearts ; 2 Cor. iii. 3, Ye are manifestly declared
to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but
with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in fleshly
tables of the heart. All this stamped upon the heart in legible
characters. A true Christian is the lively transcript of his religion ;
the scriptures are the original, and every believer is the copy ; it is gone
over again in his heart.
(4.) Those that have no experience of this have a secret fear of the
358 SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31.
power of the word : John iii. 20, For every one that doeth evil hateth
the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
He will not come to the light because he is afraid of the majesty of
God shining forth in the scriptures. Men dare not muse upon and
seriously consider the doctrine therein contained. Atheism lieth in
the heart, the seat of desires: Ps. xiv. 1, The fool hath said in his
heart, There is no God. Men question the word, because they would
not have it true ; they are willing to indulge their lusts; and therefore
they are afraid of the word that forbiddeth them ; as Ahab was loath
to hear Michaiah, because he prophesied evil. Strong lust maketh us
incredulous. A malefactor desireth to destroy the records and evidences
that are against him.
(5.) There are also outward effects of the power of the word ; its
propagation throughout all the world within thirty years or thereabout ;
The doctrine itself, contrary to nature ; it doth not court the senses
nor woo the flesh ; it doth not make offers of splendour of life or
pleasures and profits, but biddeth us deny these things and expect
troubles. The drift of it is to teach men to row against the stream of
flesh and blood, to renounce our lusts, deny our interests. And this
was done by a few fishermen, who had no long sword, no public interest
or authority to back them, and that in the face of the learned world,
when all civil disciplines were in their ctK/nrj and height. The word
prevailed against ancient customs ; the ark was to be set up in the
temple that was already occupied and possessed by Dagon.
(6.) Then consider the many sensible effects of the word, as the
accomplishment of prophecies, promises, threatenings, and answer of
prayers. God s providence is a comment upon scripture. It is an
authentic register, and infallible prognostication and calendar. We
need not have one come from the dead to tell the truth of it ; it is
fulfilled before our eyes every day.
4. Or else they can convey a power, or expect that God will co-oper
ate more with their report than with the holy scriptures. Surely they
are finite creatures though passed out of this life. Nothing can convert
and turn the heart of man but the infinite power of God ; all the angels
in heaven cannot pluck one sinner out of the state of nature. We read
one angel could destroy one hundred and eighty-five thousand in
Sennacherib s host, 1 Kings xix. 35 ; but all the angels cannot convert
one soul.
But will God co-operate ? Alas! when all prejudices are removed,
men are nothing the better till the Lord puts in his grace. The Jews
suppose Moses and the prophets to be of God ; they were confirmed by
notable miracles, the fame of which continue among them. But the
matter is about God s efficacy. But now God concurreth with his
instituted course ; common means of God s appointing have a singu
lar efficacy annexed ; as reading, Acts viii. 32, hearing, Mark iv. 24,
meditation, Acts xvii. 11. Christ died to sanctify ordinances, Eph.
v. 26 ; and there if ever shall we meet with the power and grace of
God.
Secondly, Against it. There are more rational prejudices that lie
against any other way than this way that God hath taken. As to
instance in the matter in hand.
SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 359
1. It is no mean scruple about the lawfulness of hearkening to one
that should come from the dead, since they are out of the sphere of our
commerce, and it is a disparagement to the great doctor of the church.
Against consulting with the dead, see Deut. xviii. 10-12, with 14, 15,
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or
his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an
observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a con-
suiter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer ; for all that
do these things are an abomination unto the Lord, and because of these
abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
For these nations which thou shalt possess hearkened unto observers
of times, and unto diviners ; but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath
not suffered thee so to do. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee
a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me ; unto
him ye shall hearken. It would make religion ridiculous, like a
story of hobgoblins and bugbears, wherewith we fright children, or like
the fond superstitions of the heathens, that held the world under the
servility and bondage of scrupulous fears,.
2. It is not so sure a way. How could we trust or believe any one
that should bring a message from the dead, since impostors are so rife ?
Satan can turn himself into an angel of light. What security can we
have against delusions ? how miserably we may be deceived by stories
from the dead is to be seen in popery. Therefore it is a favour that
we have such a sure rule : Gal. i. 8, But though we or an angel
from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed. We shall never be free from
evil designs.
3. It is not so effectual a course as some think. The great doctor
of the church arose from the dead, which was confirmed by five hun
dred witnesses ; nothing so credible, and yet they would not believe
and repent for all that. The Jews would not believe Lazarus, when,
after he had been four days dead, he was raised up again.
4. It is not so familiar a way, and therefore not so fit to instil faith,
and reduce men to God s purpose by degrees, as the written word, to
which we may have recourse without affrightment, and that at all times.
This spirit must be supposed to appear but rarely ; for if it were fre
quent, and settled into a constant converse, the way would be contemned.
But here we may view and review the counsel of God in our most
deliberate and serious thoughts, and by searching come to know the
mind of God. Faith groweth in a rational way : Acts xvii. 11, These
were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether these things were so.
Use 1. Information.
1. That man is apt to indent with God about believing and repent
ing upon terms of his own making : Mat. xxvii. 42, If he be the king
of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe
him ; Ps. Ixxviii. 19, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness ?
Mat. iv. 3, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be
made bread/ Many require miracles or new apostles, that maketh
them turn seekers ; or a testimony from the dead, a spirit or a vision,
360 SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31.
and that maketh them turn atheists ; or an infallible interpreter, that
should solve all questions, or excuse them from the p.iins of study and
prayer, and that maketh them turn papists. Thus foolishly would we
give laws to heaven, and prescribe to God how he shall reveal his mind
to men. God will not always give sensible confirmation.
2. There lie more prejudices by far against any way of our devising
than against the course which God hath instituted for the furthering
of our repentance. Man is an ill caterer for himself. The people
slighted Moses, and would hear God himself speak ; but when he
thundered upon the Mount, then they say, let us no more hear the
voice of God, for then we shall die : Exod. xx. 19, And they said
unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear ; but let not God
speak with us, lest we die. All God s institutions are full of reason,
and if we had eyes to see it, we could not be better provided for.
3. God in giving the scriptures hath done more for us than we could
imagine, yea, better than we could wish to ourselves. He hath cer
tainly done enough to leave us without excuse. You think if one came
from the dead this would be better, but you have more -, and therefore,
if you be damned, it will not be for want of power, but want of will ;
you have more than if one came from the dead. Try what you can
do with Moses and the prophets. It is a great mercy to have a rule
by which all doctrines are to be tried, to have a standard and measure
of faith, and that put into writing to preserve it against the weakness
of memory and the treachery of evil designs, and that translated into
all languages. That we have such a rule, and so thoroughly finished,
is a great mercy.
4. That we are apt to betray present advantages by wishes of
another dispensation, as that we may have oracles and miracles. It is
but a shift to think of other means than God hath provided. They
that believe not the word will not believe one that should come from the
dead. Extraordinary means will not work upon them upon whom ordi
nary do not prevail. Whatever dispensation God uses, man is man still :
Ps. Ixxviii. 22-24. They believed not in God, and trusted not in his sal
vation, though he had commanded the clouds from above, and had
opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to
eat, and had given them the corn of heaven. There were unbelievers and
carnal wretches when there were miracles, and so there would be still.
Though there were never so sufficient proof yet such is our perverse-
ness, that we shall slight God s counsel. Man is ever at odds with the
present dispensation. It is a sign the heart is out of order, or else any
doctrine that is of God would set it a-work.
5. Those that like not the message will ever quarrel at the mes
senger ; and when the heart is wanting, something is wanting. We
have means enough to believe ; it is our own carelessness and obstinacy
that we do not : Mat. xi. 18, 19, John came neither eating nor drink
ing, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and
drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a
friend of publicans and sinners. There is always one exception or
another.
6. How credulous we are to fables, and how incredulous as to
undoubted truths ; spirits and apparitions, these things are regarded by
SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 361
us, but the testimony of the Spirit of God speaking in the scriptures is
little regarded.
Use 2. To exhort us to improve the scriptures to repentance. This
is the great work.
Here I shall show you (1.) What repentance is ; (2.) What the
holy scriptures offer to work us to repentance ; (3.) How we may improve
these.
I. What repentance is. It is a turning of the whole heart from sin
and Satan to serve God in newness of life ; or a turning from sin
because God hath forbidden it, to that which is good because God hath
commanded it. There are in it, as in every action, two terms a quo
and ad quern.
1. The terminus a quo, that from which we are to turn. We turn
from something ; from sin : Acts viii. 22, Kepent of this thy wicked
ness ; aTTo T?7<? KaKia<f, from thy wickedness. From dead works : Heb.
vi. 1, Kepentance from dead works. And Satan is sometimes made
the term from which, because the sinner falleth to his share : Acts xxvi.
18, To turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan
to God.
2. The terminus ad quern, the term to which we are to turn, that is, to
God : Acts xx. 21, Kepentance towards God ; to the truth : 2 Tim.
ii. 25, Mf <Srod peradventure will give them repentance ei? tirtrftwrw
d\r]0eta^, to the acknowledgment of the truth. To holiness and new
ness of life : Kom. vi. 4, Even so we also should walk in newness of
life/ To life : Acts xi. 18, * Then hath God also to the gentiles granted
repentance unto life. According to which terms there is a double
action required of us humiliation and reformation ; humiliation or
compunction, and a due remorse for sin ; reformation, or a change of
course. Which answereth to the double work of God upon the soul
mortification, or the subduing of sin ; vivification, or the infusion of life.
So suitably there are aversion from sin and a conversion to God and
the things of God ; which is expressed by two duties confession of sin,
and entering into covenant with God. Serious confession of sin is morti
fication acted ; entering into covenant with God is vivification acted, or
the desire of grace expressed. Confession of sin is required, that a man,
laying aside all extenuations, evasions, and excuses, may take shame to
himself, giving glory to God. Entering into covenant with God is
required that a man may be under a firm obligation of obedience, and
be cautious over his own heart and ways ; the one respects sin past, the
other sin to come.
First, Let us speak of the first act, the terminus a quo, turning from
sin. Supposing the judgment enlightened and the heart made tender
by grace, the work doth mainly discover itself in the affections of fear,
shame, grief, and indignation. True humiliation is begun in fear, con
tinued in shame, carried on by sorrow, and endeth in indignation. And
so sin is renounced, and the power of it broken. And indeed, when
ever we renew our repentance upon special occasions, these are the affec
tions that are to be exercised. They all have a proper ground and
consideration to set them at work. (1.) Fear leadeth the rank. That
trembleth at the wrath of God and judgment to come ; an accusing
conscience telling us that we are in a state of damnation. (2.) Shame
362 SEKMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 3L
looketh upon sin not only as hurtful but filthy and brutish. It is </>o/3o?
Si/calo tyvyov, a fear of just reproach for the filthiness and folly of sin.
(3.) Sorrow looks upon God s goodness and sin s unkindness, lamenting
that ever we should lose the favour of such a God as this is, who hath
made us, and kept us, and gave his Son to die for mankind ; now that
we should forfeit his favour ! (4.) Indignation is stirred up by the
unseemliness and disproportion of sin to the nature of man, much more
to grace infused, or that interest we have or would have by Christ. In
short, fear looketh upon sin as damning, shame as defiling, sorrow as
offensive to God ; indignation is misbecoming our present resolutions,
hopes, and interests. The guilt of sin causeth fear ; the stain, shame ;
the unkindness, sorrow ; the unsuitableness, indignation. By this means
did we come to be divorced from sin, and by these means it is daily
weakened.
1. The first awakening of the soul is by the sense of the wrath of
God, and everlasting woe denounced on impenitent sinners. You have
done that which in its own nature deserveth you should suffer eternal
torments, and be separated from the Lord, and be cast forth with the
devil and his aogels. And then the sinner, being under a fear of being
condemned, crieth out, Oh ! what shall I do to flee from the wrath to
come ! I am undone and lost unless God help me. I say here the work
beginneth ; punishment is soonest felt, and the first notion that we
have of sin is the guilt of it, which causeth fears and terrors with
respect to the wrath that is to ensue. So it is said of those converts,
Acts ii. 37, That they were pricked at their hearts ; they were
troubled about their condition. It requireth a quicker and more tender
sense to be sensible of the folly and filthiness of sin. A man that is
covered with noisome boils and sores, the first thing that affecteth him
is the pain, though he also abhorreth the sight and smell of them.
First we tremble at the thought of God s judgments, before we are
ashamed of sin or grieve for it. In renewing our repentance this is an
ingredient. It is not against the liberty of the gospel to make use of
threatenings ; we are sluggish, and need all kind of helps.
2. There is shame and self-loathing, which ariseth from an appre
hension of the odiousness of sin : Ezek. vi. 9, They shall loathe them
selves for the evils which they have committed in all their abomina
tions ; Job xlii. 6, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
So Ezra ix. 6, my God ! I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face
to thee, my God. They are ashamed to look God in the face, they have
dealt so unworthily with him. This is to hate sin as sin, when a man
is not only afraid of it, but ashamed of it, as it is against the revealed
will of God ; not only as it bringeth misery, but as it crosses God s
will ; not only for the evil after sin, but the evil in sin ; that you
have polluted your souls, defiled your natures, defaced the image of God,
become as a beast before him : Ps. Ixxiii. 22, So foolish was I, and
ignorant ; I was as a beast before thee. Oh ! what a fool I was to turn
my back upon God ; to imagine that any good could come of sin, which
God hateth, and to practise a thing so unbefitting the reasonable nature !
3. Sorrow and lamentation to the Lord, which ariseth from a thought
of the Lord s goodness and sin s unkindness : Zech. xii. 10, They shall
look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him ;
SEKMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 363
Luke vii. 47, she wept much because she loved much. Sin will
affect the heart most when the wrong done to God is considered, who
never showed any backwardness to our good, but who gave his Son to
die for us. He made us at first, and how soon can he take from us
that which he hath given us. He hath obliged us with a multitude
of benefits : Isa. i. 3, I have nourished and brought up children, and
they have rebelled against me ; Kom. ii. 4, Or despisest thou the
riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing
that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance ? And shall we
use all these as weapons of unrighteousness ! food, raiment, peace,
plenty ? Ah ! but his Christ above all ! Oh I never any sinned as I
have done. The devil sinned, but Christ never died for him, as he did for
me. Judas sinned, but he was never pardoned, as I have been. Achan
sinned, but he had not that light and knowledge of the gospel that I
have had ; he did not live under such means as I have enjoyed. We
content ourselves with a hasty sigh. Oh ! but it is a deep sorrow that
is required, and an active pungent grief, rending the heart, Joel ii. 13 ;
* Afflicting the soul, Lev. xvi. 29 ; Mat. xxvi. 75, Peter wept bitterly/
When we are touched with a sense of our unkindness to God, we shall
mourn.
4. Indignation, which is an act of our hatred against sin, hatred
quickened into a zeal against it. Indignation is the soul s expulsive
faculty, when we heartily renounce it, as unsuitable to our present
resolutions, professions, and hopes : Isa. xxx. 22, Thou shalt cast them
away as a menstruous cloth ; thou shalt say unto them, Get ye hence/
So Hosea xiv. 8, Ephraim shall say, What have I any more to do
with idols ? The soul saith first when it is convinced, Oh ! what have
I done ? and then, What shall I do ? and then, What have I any
more to do ? If a Christian did remember what he is and what he
hopeth for, these questions would be more rife with him. Eepentance
is not a bare purpose to leave sin, but to leave it with a hatred and
deep displeasure against it.
SERMON II.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham : but if one went unto them from
the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear
not Moses and the prophets, neither ivill they be persuaded though
one rose from the dead. LUKE xvi. 30, 31.
SECONDLY, I now proceed to the next term, which is the terminus ad
quern, turning to God, which is done in two things
1. A settled purpose and solemn dedication of ourselves to his use
find service, which is a resolution taken up upon debates of conscience :
Luke xv. 17, 18, And when he came to himself, he said, How many
hired servants of my father s have bread enough and to spare, and I
perish with hunger; I will arise and go to my father. First he came
to himself, then I will go to my father. This ariseth out of a sense of
364 SERMONS UPON LUKE ^VI. 30, 31.
God s mercy in Christ: Horn. xii. 1, I beseech you, brethren by the
mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service/ Lord, accept me
for thine ; and is the fruit of supernatural grace : James i. 18, Of his
own will begat he us with the word of truth ; and is accompanied with
shame that God so long hath been kept out of his right : 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 ; and a purpose to
serve him with all our might.
2. It is seconded by a real performance : Mat. iii. 8, Bring forth
therefore fruits meet for repentance ; Acts xxvi. 20, That they should
repent, and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance/ Without
these he is a liar, and deceiveth his own soul, if the heart be not more
watchful over itself, afraid to offend God, and grieve his Spirit, more
tender of the least sin, more careful to please God in all things, more
close at work in the business of eternal life. These are fruits worthy
of repentance ; this is that Trepia-aov TI, that which we do more than
carnal hypocrites, fruits suitable to the power of grace working in us,
and to our professions of respect to God. This is the sum of the
doctrine of repentance.
II. What doth the scripture offer to persuade us to this work ?
1. It clearly layeth down the absolute and indispensable necessity of
it in grown persons, or such as are come to years of discretion : Acts
iii. 19, Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence
of the Lord ; Luke xiii. 5, Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish ; Ezek. xxxiii. 11, Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord
God, 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 ? One way or the other,
turn or die : it is no mootpoint or matter of controversy. There are
many controversies about other things, but in this all is clear. Many
will say, There is such a doubtfulness, that every one bringeth scripture,
and maketh a nose of wax of it, ductile and pliable to his own fancy.
But in points of absolute duty it is fully clear, and in the marks of one
that shall go to heaven or to hell, especially in the doctrine of repent
ance. Make use of the scriptures, and practise conscientiously according
to your light, and God will clear up his mind to you. By study and
prayer and practice you will come to an increase of knowledge : John
vii. 17, If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself/
2. It doth not only call for repentance, but a speedy repentance :
Heb. iii. 7, 8, Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day, if ye will
hear his voice, harden not your hearts ; Joel ii. 12, Therefore also
now saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart/ God
standeth upon now. If the season were not determined, yet the nature
of the thing would bear it. A necessary work, that is to be once done,
should not be left to uncertainties. But because men are loose and
arbitrary, and think they may make use of repentance at their leisure,
therefore the scripture is as peremptory for the time as for the thing :
SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 365
Now, and to-day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts/
As soon as you are convinced of your sinful estate. Why not now ?
Sin is such an evil that you cannot be rid of it too soon. Sin is as a
poison in the bowels, a fire in a building. Now who will say, We
will get an antidote next week ? or quench the fire hereafter ? Sin is
a wound, and shall we let it alone till it fester and rankle ? No wound
so dangerous as that which destroyeth body and soul ; no fire so dread
ful as the wrath of God ; no poison so hurtful as that of sin ; it robbeth
us of eternal life. God hath not given us leave for a day, nor for a
moment. If a man were banished by proclamation, and it were death
whoever should entertain and harbour him after ten days, till the time
were out there were no danger ; but God saith now. When we are
in any trouble, we cannot brook any delay : Ps. cii. 2, In the* day
when I call, answer me speedily. We must have a present answer ;
and shall God stand waiting when there is danger of his dishonour ?
Therefore now while it is to-day turn unto God. To-morrow is a
very uncertain thing. Besides if you were certain of to-morrow, it is
folly to lie under the wrath of God any longer. If really you are con
vinced of a sinful state, why do you not repent and return to God now ?
In every sinful action thou art laying thy soul at pawn, and one sin
more may fill up the measure of your iniquity. Besides, every day
will make you more unfit to turn to God ; and it is base self-love to
think of indulging the flesh longer, provided at length you can be
saved.
3. The scripture showeth the profit of it.
[1.] What a remedy it is against sin : Ezek. xviii. 30, Repent, and
turn yourselves from your transgressions ; so iniquity shall not be your
ruin. Every man is a sinner, but every man shall not die by sin.
There is in sin reatus, culpa, pcena, macula. (1.) Heatus, the guilt
that is blotted out : Acts iii. 19, Eepent, and be converted, that your sins
may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord. Sin is written in two books, one in God s keep
ing, the other in our own. He doth not say that we may blot out our
sins out of God s book ; that is not the debtor s, but the creditor s work
to cross the book : Isa. xliii. 25, I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy
transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
There is a handwriting against us, but it is blotted out when we
repent. Oar own book is the book of conscience : Heb. x. 22, Having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. The worm of conscience
gnaws us till we repent, then the Spirit blotteth it out of our hearts.
(2.) Macula, the stain ; the more a man sinneth, the more he is inclined
to sin, as a brand that hath been once in the fire is apt to take fire
again. We lose tenderness by every act of sin, and the smart of repent
ance is a means to kill the sin, as breaking up the fallow ground doth
destroy the weeds : Jer. iv. 3, Break up your fallow ground, and sow
not among thorns/ (3.) Culpa, the blame. God will not upbraid us
with former sins : Mark xvi. 7, Go tell my disciples and Peter/ It is
judged in one court already ; not a word of Peter s miscarriage : Tell
him, I am risen. (4.) Pcena, the punishment ; that is done away by
repentance ; we may look for days of refreshment.
[2.] The comfort it will bring. God hath comforts for his mourners :
366 SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31.
Mat. v. 4, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Never such sweet revivings as after godly sorrow : 2 Cor. vii. 10, For
godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation never to be repented of.
Many have repented of their carnal mirth, but never any of their godly
sorrow ; you will never curse the day of your new birth.
4. The scripture ofFereth grace and help of God to work this in us :
Ezek. xi. 19, 20, I will give them one heart, and I will put a new
spirit within you ; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and
will give them an heart of flesh ; that they may walk in my statutes, and
keep mine ordinances, and do them ; and they shall be my people, and
I will be their God/ Men will say they cannot repent ; come and wait
upon God, and he will give you to repent : Acts xi. 18, Then hath
God also to the gentiles granted repentance unto life. God doth not
only give occasions of repentance, time of repentance, means of
repentance, but power to repent, yea, repentance itself : Acts v. 31 ,
Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a prince and a
saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. So
that if we would turn wrangling into prayer, and bemoan ourselves,
and say, Jer. xxxi. 18, Turn us, Lord ! and we shall be turned.
If we would follow him close, we need not be discouraged.
5. The scripture layeth down powerful arguments to quicken us to
repentance, which have a marvellous tendency and influence that way.
I shall single out three The death of Christ, the day of judgment,
and the torments of hell.
First, The death of Christ. A serious consideration of the death of
Christ will further humiliation and reformation.
[1.] Humiliation.
(1.) Here is the highest instance of the love of God, and the purest
fountain of tears is God s love. Mary wept much, because much was
forgiven her. Nothing thaweth the heart more than the warm beams
of mercy. Wrath causeth sorrow to flow like water out of a still by
the force of fire ; but love gently rnelteth the heart, and causeth it to
run out at the eyes in a flood and stream of tears. Here is the highest
instance of God s love. Christ is the greatest gift that ever he gave
the world. When he gave us life, and breath, and all things, though
he gave them to us, yet he gave us nothing from himself ; but now out
of his bosom he gave us Christ, that is love : John iii. 16, God so loved
the world that he gave his only-begotten Son. It cannot be told, it
can only be wondered at : Eom. v. 8, But God commended his love
towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
So great a person for such vile creatures ! How can an ingenuous
heart think of this ! I have sinned against God that gave his Christ :
I have grieved his Spirit, that loved me, and died for me. Saul had a
hard heart, and yet he wept when David told him how he had spared
him when it was in his power to kill him, 1 Sam. xxiv. 16. Had God
done no more for us but spared us, that should melt us ; but he com
mended his love that Christ died for us.
(2.) Here is the truest spectacle of sin ; for all that was done to
Christ, sin did it. What could men or devils do ? Men could do
nothing : John xviii. 6, As soon as he said unto them, I am he, they
went backward, and fell to the ground. Poor dust and ashes swooned
SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 367
at the breath of his mouth. Not devils ; he could cast them out with
a word. Not God s justice; that hath no place against innocency.
No ; it was we, not Judas, nor Pilate, nor the Romans, nor the Jews,
but we that have pierced him : Zech. xii. 10, They shall look upon me
whom they have pierced. This will give us the truest spectacle of sin.
The old world was a sad spectacle, but that is no wonder ; a filthy
world to be washed with a deluge. Sodom was another sad spectacle ;
hell was rained out of heaven ; but it is no wonder to see combustible
matter burn. But Christ was a green tree, the Son of God, holy and
undefiled, who was made sin only by a voluntary susception ; but when
he was made sin, God spared him not. Now the heinousness of sin
appeareth (1.) In the value of the sacrifice ; (2.) The extremity of
his sufferings.
(ls) In the value of the sacrifice. Nothing could expiate sin but
the blood, and shame, and agonies of the Son of God. A man would
have thought that a word of Christ s mouth would have pacified God ;
but so great was the offence, that though he cried with strong cries,
God would not hear him till he had endured his wrath. Christ prayed,
Mat. xxvi. 39, my Father ! if it be possible, let this cup pass from
me. But God would not bate him a farthing. If you would know
sin, go to Golgotha.
(2d) The extremity of his sufferings. His outward sufferings were
much. If you consider the majesty of his person, he was the great
God, that filled heaven and earth with his glory, and yet was sold for
thirty pence, the price of a slave. His back was mangled with whips,
his body nailed to the cross, he was scorned in all his offices, a variety
of sorrow was poured in by the conduit of every sense seeing, smell
ing, tasting, hearing, and feeling. If you consider the excellency of his
constitution, his body, being framed by the Holy Ghost, was of a more
exact temper, his senses more lively ; they that enjoy life in a higher
measure than others, the more delicate the sense, the higher the pain ;
the back of a slave is not so sensible of strokes as of one that is nicely
and tenderly bred. His senses were kept lively and in their full
vigour ; he refused the stupefying cup that was given to him. He kept
his strength to the last ; this appeared by his strong cry when he gave
up the ghost ; Luke xxiii. 46, And when Jesus had cried with a loud
voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit ; and
having said thus, he gave up the ghost. But what is this to what is
inward, the agonies of his soul under the curse and wrath of God due
for sin, his desertion of the Father. It is more to see the sun eclipsed
than to see a candle put out. He complained that his soul was exceed
ing sorrowful, even unto death/ Mat. xxvi. 38. His soul dwelt with
God in a personal union. Christ knew how to value his Father s
wrath ; he had an excellent judgment and tender affections. When he
sweat drops of curdled blood, he needed support from an angel. Now
put all these circumstances together, and see if sin be a light thing.
Object. But many think this lesseneth sorrow. Christ hath endured
so much, what need they be troubled ?
Ans. (1.) These know not what faith and love meaneth. Can a man
love Christ, and not mourn for that which was the cause of his
sufferings ? Thou art the man that laid all this upon Christ. (2.)
368 SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31.
Slight thoughts of sin are a disparagement of Christ s sufferings : you
make nothing of that which cost him so dear. (3.) Christ s death doth
not nullify our duty in this kind, but ratify it. He died not only to
expiate the guilt of sin, but also to show the heinousness of it. God
might have taken another course. This for humiliation.
[2.] As to reformation. The death of Christ furthereth this
(1.) By way of obligation : Gal. ii. 20, I am crucified with Christ :
nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life
which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me. The great argument that quick-
eneth us to the spiritual life is that it is a thing pleasing and acceptable
to him. If we knew anything pleasing and acceptable to a man that had
redeemed us out of a miserable thraldom, we would do it. They are
unthankful wretches that dare to deny Christ anything.
(2.) By way of purchase. Our liberty from sin was bought at a
dear rate ; not with silver and gold. You disparage your redeemer
and seek to put him to shame, if you live in sin, for you go about to
make void the purchase, and to overturn the whole business which
Christ hath been establishing with so great a cost. He paid dear for
that grace which you slight ; you tie the bonds which he came to
loosen.
(3 ) By way of conformity to the purity of our sacrifice. He was
without spot and blemish. A carnal Christian dishonoureth his head,
and puts him to an open shame, as if the church were but a sanctuary
for naughty men, and Christianity a design to make us less careful and
holy. What a spotted Christ do we hold forth to the world ! We are
to look upon Christ crucified so as to be crucified with him.
Secondly, The day of judgment. The serious consideration of that
day is an help to repentance : Acts xvii. 30, 31, He hath commanded
all men everywhere to repent ; because he hath appointed a day in
which he will judge the world in righteousness. As hell worketh on
fear, so this on shame. It helpeth humiliation and reformation.
[1.] Humiliation. It is a means to prevent the shame of that day ; if
we do not call sin to mind, God will call it to mind : Ps. 1. 21, I will
set thy sins in order before thee. The book of conscience shall be
opened, and not only ours, but God s book too. Now it will cost us
grief to look upon our sins, then grief with desperation ; terms of grace
are ended, and we can have no hope. A sinner now blots the book that
is in his own keeping, but then he cannot. We will not own the con
victions of the word when it showeth our face, but then, Jude 15, He
will convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds that they
have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly
sinners have spokeu against him. Confession now is neglected, but
then all shall be bruiight to light out of our own reins : 1 Cor. iv. 5,
Judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who both will
bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts ; and then shall every man have praise of
God. Let us take shame before it be imposed on us. Sins repented
of will not be mentioned to our confusion, but only to the glorifying of
the riches of the Lord s grace. They that repent, their sins shall be
then blotted out : Acts iii. 19, Repent and be converted, that your sins
SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 369
may be blotted out when the days of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord.
[2.] Keformation. It includeth faith and obedience. (1.) Faith.
Let us get our discharge before that day cometh ; then we shall have
boldness : 1 John ii. 28, And now, little children, abide in him, that
when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed
before him at his coming. The members of Christ s mystical body
need not be afraid of Christ s judgment ; their advocate shall be their
judge ; their hearts are sprinkled with his blood, as the door-posts
against the destroying angel. They that are not careful to be found in
Christ, surely they do not believe that God will make inquisition for
sinners. Is the day of judgment a fable ? Scripture and conscience
saith the contrary. Or are we innocent? Or hath God provided
another way than Christ ? (2.) Obedience. Everything is written, and
must be reviewed. If things were forgotten as soon as we forget them,
we need not revise our acts or be so careful of our conversation. Oh !
but we must come to an account : James ii. 12, So speak ye, and so
do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty ; Ps. i. 5, There
fore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the
congregation of the righteous/ What a shameful story will there be pro
duced against careless sinners ! All the business of our lives is to stand
in the great congregation, and to appear with confidence. Would a
man give way to vain thoughts if he knew he were to give an account ?
or to vain discourse if he thought every idle word would be brought to
judgment? or to carnal actions, though never so secret, if he thought
that all these would come to a review ? or neglect the duties of his
calling if he knew he were to give an account of his stewardship ? or be
unmerciful to the poor if he did think of, Have you fed ? have you
clothed ? or that he should be examined upon these questions ?
Thirdly, The consideration of hell, or the dreadful punishment of sin ;
for this is the matter in this text. This is useful to think of hell that
we may shun it. Presumption is a coward : Mat. iii. 7, 8, gener
ation of vipers ! who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come ?
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. There is a forced
repentance ; they that do not weep for their sins for a while here, shall
there mourn for ever with a fruitless repentance. It is peace upon
arth. What is hell? (1.) There is poena damni, the punishment
of loss ; a separation from the presence of God, and everlasting exile :
Depart from me, ye cursed, Mat. xxv. 41 ; Luke xiii. 25, 26, When
once the master of the house is risen, and hath shut the door, and ye
begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord,
open to us ; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know ye not
whence ye are ; and ver. 28, When ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac,
and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you your
selves thrust out. When God turned Adam out of paradise, it was
sad, but then he clothed him, made him coats of skins. Adam was a
rebellious child, and was turned out of doors, but God had a care of
him, would not turn him out of doors without his garments, gave him
the promise of the seed of the woman, hopes of a better paradise. This
is the worst part of hell, to have a glimpse of God, the remembrance
of which shall remain with them for ever, and then to be shut out
VOL. XVII. 2 A
370 SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31.
Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but not taste it ; as a prodigal
reduced to rags goeth by the lands and houses he hath sold with a
sad heart. (2.) The pcena sensus, the punishment of sense, the worm
of conscience and the fire of God s wrath. The worm of conscience ;
the sting of conscience when we think of our folly and imprudence.
A man may run away from his conscience now by sleeping, reading,
working, drinking, sporting, as Cain built cities and Saul called for
music ; but in hell there are no such diversions, not a thought free day
nor night, but memoria prceteritorum, the remembrance of what is
past, slighted means, abused comforts, wasted time, and sensus prcesen-
tium, a sense of what is present ; the understanding maketh heaven or
hell ; aiidmetusfaturorum, a fear of what is to come for ever and ever.
blind fools ! that we did not think of these things aforehand. The
pleasures of the world for a thousand years will not countervail one
minute s torment. And then the fire shall never be quenched : Heb.
x. 31, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Do but make trial, and put your finger in the candle, and see how you
can bear it : Isa. xxxiii. 14, Who among us can dwell with the
devouring fire ? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings ?
III. How to improve the scriptures to repentance.
1. Believe them as you would an oracle or one from the dead. Con
sider the authority and veracity of God. The authority of God : God
commandeth men to repent ; charge the heart in the name of God, as
it will answer to him another day. If God had bidden thee do some
greater thing, wouldst not thou have done it ? Will you contradict
your maker ? The veracity of God ; these things are true. If you
had heard a voice from heaven, as Abraham, or had a vision, or
a messenger sent out of the other world, you would believe. You
would think him to have a very hard heart that is not warned by an
oracle or frighted by an apparition. God himself hath spoken in his
word, and is not he of credit ? You would fly in the face of him that
should give you the lie, and will you give the lie to the God of truth ?
We should be ashamed that the word, which is a greater and surer
revelation than oracles or apparitions, should prevail no more with us,
and that all those arts of grace which are used in the scriptures do not
persuade us to obedience and amendment of life. There is more reason
to persuade a rational man that the scriptures are true and worth the
heeding, than to persuade him of the truth of any voice from heaven or
message by one from the dead. There you are warned that if you are
unbelieving, unholy, or uncharitable, you shall go to hell, and as Lot
seemed to his sons-in-law as one that mocked, Gen. xix. 14, so we are
looked on as if we were in jest, and it were a matter of course to make
one another sad by repeating of matters mournful and lamentable. If
thou hadst seen a ghost this last night, or a devil had appeared to thee
in man s shape, thou wouldst have been terrified ; and shall not the
threatenings of the word startle thee ? So when you are spoken to
concerning the joys of heaven, it should not seem oxrel A%>o?, as an idle
tale ; as it is said, Luke xxiv. 11, And their words seemed unto them
as idle tales, and they believed them not. The report of Christ s
re surrection was an idle tale. If an angel had told you that within
such a compass of years you should be in another world, he would have
SERMONS UPON LUKE XVI. 30, 31. 371
been credited ; but you have a more sure word of prophecy ; we tell
you the same from God s word, and yet we are not regarded, as the
Israelites did not believe the spies.
2. Urge thy heart with it ; recollect yourselves : Rom. viii. 31,
What shall we then say to these things ? Come to yourselves :
Luke xv. 17, And when he came to himself. The prodigal came to
himself before he thought of returning to his father : Ps. xxii. 27, All
the ends of the earth shall remember, and return unto the Lord/
Think with yourselves, Whence am I ? whither am I going ? what
have I done in the work of repentance ? what will become of me to all
eternity ? Here in the scriptures God himself hath told me what I
must look for, and will God deceive me ? Oh ! let me take God s
directions for the saving of my soul.
I might take occasion hence to press you to bless God for trans
mitting such a doctrine to us, and to give you caution not to look after
other revelations ; there are none, or, if there were, none can be so cer
tain and so sufficient as this. And whatever is pretended as a message
from God, bring it to the scriptures : Isa. viii. 20, To the law and to
the testimonies ; if they speak not according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them. Some cry up the church ; some the Spirit,
in contradiction to the scriptures. Do you take the middle course ; go
to the word opened and dispensed in the church, and wait for the
Spirit s teaching ; and whatever is pretended, if it be not according to
this, there is no light in it ; and if there be no light of knowledge, there
will be no light of comfort, and no light of happiness.
SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21.
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord
Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the
everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good ivork to
do his will, working in you tliat which is well-pleasing in his
sight, through Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
HEB. xiii. 20, 21.
THE words carry the form of an apostolical blessing or prayer for those
Christian Hebrews to whom he wrote. Consider in them (1.) The
person to whom he prayeth ; in which the grounds of audience are
implied, ver. 20 ; (2.) The matter which he prayeth for, ver. 21.
I. The person to whom the prayer is directed ; who is described
1. By a proper title, The God of peace/
2. By his great work, He brought again from the dead our Lord
Jesus Christ ; who is set forth
[1.] By his office, The great shepherd of the sheep.
[2.] By his merit and satisfaction, Through the blood of the ever
lasting covenant ; which may relate
(1.) To God s title ; he is become the God of peace through the
blood of the everlasting covenant.
(2.) To God s work, Through the blood of the everlasting cove
nant, he brought him again from the dead.
(3.) To Christ s office, Through his blood shed for sinners he is
become the great shepherd of the sheep.
II. The matter which he prayeth for ; the continued sanctification of
man once regenerate ; set forth by both its parts the will, and the
deed, Phil. ii. 13. First, the will or remote power, Make you perfect,
or fit you for every good work to do his will ; secondly, the deed, or
actual assistance, Working in you that which is well-pleasing in his
sight. We have both by Jesus Christ, for it is added with a doxology,
Through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.
The text is long ; I must give you but short strictures upon it, and
I will begin with the second branch, the matter prayed for ; and there
fore let me observe
Doct. 1. That the beginning, progress, and accomplishment of every
good work is from God through Jesus Christ. This appeareth plainly
from the 21st verse, which may be reduced to two heads
1. The expressions which concern man s duty, which is to be per
fect in every good work, that we may do God s will, and that which is
pleasing in his sight.
374 SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21.
2. The expressions which concern God s power to enable us for this
duty ; there are two words, perfecting and working. The first relateth
to his habitual grace, the second to his assisting grace.
I. The first expressions which import man s duty are four (1.)
Perfecting ; (2.) Every good work ; (3.) Doing his will ; (4.) So as
may be pleasing in his sight.
1. We must be made perfect, or the begun work of grace must be
carried on to perfection. We all come short of that perfection which is
attainable in this life, therefore those that have attained some good
measure of grace should not rest satisfied with it. We need to be more
able for duties, more fortified for trials. A man groweth till he be fit
for all manly actions ; and a Christian groweth and must be made more
perfect till he be fit for every good work. An artisan must be so long
learning his trade till he be fit for all those functions which belong to
his trade. A sick or wounded man is under the hand of the physician
or chirurgeon till he be perfectly cured. So is a Christian under the
care of his spiritual physician till he be fitted for all the parts and duties
of a Christian. Here upon earth, Christ by one offering hath perfected
for ever them that are sanctified, or dedicated to God, Heb. x. 14 ; but
now he is in heaven, he perfecteth us by degrees. The sacrifice needeth
not to be repeated, but his intercession is continual, because we still
need new influences of grace. Absolute perfection is not attainable in
this life ; but the perfection of sincerity is here required, that we should
mortify ail our lusts, and serve God in every good work, and please him
by an universal and impartial obedience : Phil. iii. 12, Not as though
I had already attained, either were already perfect ; but I follow after,
if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ
Jesus ; that is, I aim at that which Christ aimed at, that I may be
thoroughly and exactly perfect.
2. In every good work. Not in one, but all. Many will do some
good, but are defective in other things, and usually in those which are
most necessary. They cull out the easiest and cheapest parts of reli
gion, such as do not contradict their lusts and interests. We can never
have sound peace till we regard all : Ps. cxix. 6, Then shall I not be
ashamed, when I have respect to all thy commandments/ Shame is
<o/3o5 SifcciLov tyoyov, fear of a just reproof. This reproof is either from
the supreme or the deputy judge. The supreme judge of all our actions
is God. This should be our principal care, that we may not be ashamed
before him at his coming, nor disapproved in the judgment. But there
is a deputy judge which every man hath in his own bosom. Our con
sciences do acquit or condemn us as we are partial or sincere in our
duty to God ; and much dependeth on that : 1 John iii. 20, 21, But
if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth
all things. Beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then have we con
fidence towards God. Well, then, that our hearts may not reprove or
reproach us, we should be complete in all the will of God. Alas !
otherwise you will never have evidence of your sincerity.
3. The next expression is, That you may do his will. The rule of
man s duty is the will of God. The will of God signifieth two things
either his decree concerning them, or else that law which he hath given
concerning our duty. This last is intended. The works of man are
SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21. 375
the actions and operations of a reasonable creature subject to the laws
of God. If his actions be conformable to his law, they are good ; if
not, they are evil. Therefore a man cannot be a good Christian with
out doing God s will. If it be the will of God he should forbear such
a practice, custom, or evil action, he dareth not go forward: Jer. xxxv.
6, We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Bechab, our father,
commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye nor your sons
for ever. If it be the will of God he should do such a thing, he will
do it ; he dareth not omit it, how cross soever to his inclinations and
interests : James iv. 17, Therefore to him that knoweth to do good,
and doeth it not, to him it is sin. This is the reason of all reasons :
1 Thes. iv. 3, For this is the will of God, even your sanctification ;
1 Thes. v. 18, In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you ; 1 Peter ii. 15, For so is the will of
God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men/ Well, then, it is not enough that we should well and thoroughly
understand the will of God, but we should do it. And I will add this
one consideration : the more we do it, the more we will understand it :
John vii. 17, If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doc
trine whether it be of God. It is doing that God looks at and we must
most regard ; not who can acutely plead or eloquently declaim about
it, but readily frame his heart to do the will of God ; for the pre
cepts of God are given, not to try our wit or memory, but prac
tice.
4. We must do it so as may be well-pleasing in his sight ; where
note
[1.] That all that we do is done in the sight of God. He observeth
who break and who keep his law, and nothing can escape his view and
knowledge : Luke i. 75, In holiness and righteousness before him.
We are ever in his eye, and he is our witness, approver, and judge :
Will he force the queen, saith Ahasuerus, before my face ? Esther
vii. 8. Will ye, God looking on, be vain, foolish, and carnal ?
[2.] This must be our great aim and scope, to please God. It is a
well-tempered religion that beginneth and endeth in God. Man-pleas
ing is the hypocrite s religion, but God-pleasing is sincere and true reli
gion : Col. i. 10, That ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing. And the apostle often inculcateth this as the right end of
all our duties : Not as pleasing men, but God.
[3.] Our work must be so ordered as it may be pleasing and accept
able to God ; for every slight thing will not please him, but when it
is agreeable to his will. Therefore it is not enough to do what is for
the matter good, but what is for the manner pleasing to him ; that is
to say (1.) It must come from a right principle, love to God : 2 Cor.
v. 14, The love of Christ constraineth us ; and faith in Christ : Heb.
xi. 6, Without faith it is impossible to please God. Not as forced,
nor as a mere natural act, but as depending on the Kedeemer for our
acceptance. We are sinners ; we are not exact. (2.) Then for the
manner, it must be with seriousness : 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 ; so as
will become so great a majesty with that diligence which our aim at
376 SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21.
perfection calleth for : 1 Thes. iv. 1, Furthermore then we beseech
you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus Christ, that as you
have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would
abound more and more.
II. The words which express the necessary concurrence of the divine
power ; they are two
1. The first is, Make you perfect. He prayeth not now for framing
the new creature, but for perfecting it. God, that maketh man, new
maketh him, and then he perfecteth him. God is wonderful in the first
creation, in raising such a beautiful piece out of the dust of the ground
as the first man was ; and in ordinary generation David telleth us, Ps.
cxxxix. 14, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. So God is wonder
ful in re-making or regenerating us : Eph. ii. 10, For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works ; Eph. iv. 24,
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in right
eousness and true holiness. There is much of the wisdom, goodness,
and power of God seen in the new creature, to enable a man to capti
vate those lusts which the generality of the world are mastered by, and
to live a divine life in the flesh. He is also wonderful in perfecting us
till we grow up to our full stature in spiritual things. As it is not in
man s power to make himself or regenerate himself, so it is not in man s
power to perfect himself. No ; but the Spirit of regeneration abiding
in us doth renew us more and more. Well, then, it is not meant of
regeneration when we are created to good works, but of the increase of
his sanctifying grace, which is to regeneration as preservation and pro
vidence is to creation. God, that begun the work, must continue it and
strengthen it, otherwise we shall be unfit for every good work, or as a
member that is out of joint, as the word importeth which is there
used.
2. Working. God doth continually co-operate and work in us and
with us, without which we cannot fulfil his will, or do anything that
will please him. So will and deed are joined together : Phil. ii. 13,
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do. God
worketh in us a power to will, and maketh us actually to will ; and a
power and strength, or ability to do it. The new creature dependeth
absolutely on his influences from first to last : 2 Peter i. 3, According
as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life
and godliness. He giveth us spiritual life, and he giveth us godliness.
He first giveth supernatural faculties, and then the use and exercise
of them in our walk or conversation ; the first motions, and then the
flowing forth of these motions into acts suitable.
Use 1. To establish our dependence. In doing any good we must
depend on God, both for the power given at first and continued unto
us. Will and deed come from him, and they come from him through
Christ, who purchased and convej^eth this power to us by his constant
intercession and the influence of his Spirit. Of unwilling he maketh
us willing, and causeth us to do what he would have us to do. He
doth not only give us the will, that is, the desire, and purpose, but the
grace that we may do that good which we will and purpose. These
are distinct ; many may have assistance in one kind, not in another.
Paul showeth us that willing and doing are different : Horn. vii. 18,
SEKMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21. 377
For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good,
I find not. To will is more than to think, and to exert our will into
action is more than both. In all we need God s help, both to think a
good thought or conceive a good purpose, much more to perform a good
action. Man is mutable, and here is much opposition.
Use 2. Exhortation to several duties.
1. Let us shake off carnal security and laziness. Here is not only
God s grace represented, but man s duty. God s doing all doth not
warrant us to lie upon the bed of ease, but stir us up to diligence :
Phil. ii. 12, 13, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure/
2. We are not to neglect the motions of the Spirit lest we grieve
him: Eph. iv. 30, And grieve not the Holy Spirit, whereby we are
sealed to the day of redemption.
3. We are to use the means, and God will bless our endeavours :
1 Peter ii. 2, As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word,
that you may grow thereby. We are to attend upon the word and fre
quent the sacrament.
4. We must pray earnestly, for a twofold reason (1.) That we may
humbly own our wants : James i. 5, If any man lack wisdom, let
him ask it of God. (2.) That we may express our desires and long
ing for grace : Mat. v. 6, Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after
righteousness, for they shall be filled.
5. We must improve our talents, lest we be accounted evil and sloth
ful servants, that receive grace in vain : 2 Cor. vi. 1, We beseech you
that you receive not the grace of God in vain.
Doct. 2. That the continued sanctification and perfecting of man
once regenerate cometh from God as the God of peace.
This is the blessing prayed for, and when the apostle prayeth for it,
he calleth God the God of peace. So elsewhere :. 1 Thes. v. 23,
The very God of peace sanctify you wholly ; and I pray God your
whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the com
ing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He prayeth there for the whole progress
of sanctifying grace, till it hath attained its end and final perfection,
and giveth God the same title.
Here I shall open to you these five things (1.) In what sense God
is said to be the God of peace ; (2.) The ground and foundation of this
peace; (3.) The evidences how it appears that God is pacified; (4.)
The conveyance of it to us, or how we come to be interested in this
peace ; (5.) The reasons why all increase of grace cometh from him as
such.
I. What is the meaning of this title ? God is called c the God of
peace in two respects
1. With respect to union and peace with men, especially our fellow-
christians. God is the God of peace as he is the author and approver
of this peace : 1 Cor. xiv. 33, For God is not the author of confusion,
but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints ; 2 Thes. iii. 16,
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always, by all means.
2. With respect to our reconciliation with himself after the breach
that was between us. Heaven and earth are at an accord, and the great
378 SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21.
quarrel between us and God is compromised and taken up. In one
place the angels come to proclaim peace on earth, Luke ii. 14. At
another time, when Christ solemnly entereth as the Messiah into
Jerusalem, they cried out, Luke xix. 38, Peace in heaven, and glory
in the highest. One of the parties at variance is in the earth, the other
in heaven. The angels, the inhabitants of the other world, proclaim
peace on earth ; and men, that dwell here below, echo to them again
peace in heaven, and that when they gave Christ the honour of the
Messias, showing that his great business was to make reconciliation. It
is not a primitive original peace, but a reconciliation after a breach, a
restoring of. peace when it was lost. We had all broken with God, and
God was angry with men for sin; now while God was angry and
offended there was no hope to receive any gift of grace from him ;
therefore with respect to this is God called the God of peace.
II. The grounds and foundation of this peace ; and that is by the
blood of the everlasting covenant, which is the only propitiatory
sacrifice which could appease God, and give his justice full satisfaction
and recompense for our offences. Before this peace could be made
and this woful breach repaired, there were two things to be removed
which stood in the way God s wrath, and our rebellious nature. The
righteous wrath of God is appeased by the blood of Christ ; our rebel
lion is cured and healed by his Spirit. The latter is but a consequent
of the former. The first foundation for this peace was laid in the blood
of Christ : Col. i. 20, And having made peace through the blood of
his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself ; Isa. liii. 5,
The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we
are healed. The enmity had been irreconcilable and impossible to be
removed, unless God had taken this way, unless the Son of God had
died for a sinful world, that by the merit of his obedience he might
give satisfaction to a provoked God for the wrong we had done him.
III. The evidences that God is pacified. Here are three mentioned
1. The bringing back of Christ from the dead. This showeth that
God was propitiated, that he hath accepted the ransom that was given
for souls. Christ s resurrection is called by the prophet a being taken
from prison and from judgment, Isa. liii. 8. While Christ was in the
state of the dead, he was in effect a prisoner, under the arrest of divine
vengeance ; but when he rose again, then was our surety let out of
prison. The expression is notable in the text, Brought again the
Lord Jesus from the dead. The force of the word may be explained
with allusion to that carriage of the apostles when they were cast into
prison : Acts xvi. 35, 37, 39, And the magistrates sent to let them go.
Nay, verily, say they, but let them come themselves and fetch us out ,
and they came and brought them out of prison/ So was Christ
brought again. Though Christ had power to rise, yet was he rather
raised. The Lord sent an angel to remove the stone, not to supply
any lack of power in Christ, but as a j udge when he is satisfied sendeth
an officer to open the prison doors. Though Christ had power to rise,
yet not authority, till the angel rolled away the stone. He did not
break prison, but was brought again from the dead. Neither did he
perish in prison ; then we could have no assurance of our discharge ;
but as he died for our offences, so he rose again for our justification,
SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21. 379
.Rom. iv. 25, as having perfectly done his work. As the Father
delivered him to death, so he brought him back again from the dead.
The apostle lays a great weight upon this : Kom. viii. 34, Yea, rather,
that is risen from the dead/ There is some special thing in Christ s
resurrection comparatively above his death, which hath influence on
our justification. Was not Christ s death enough to free us from sin ?
Yes ; but the visible evidence was by his resurrection. It is as it were
an acquittance from those debts of ours which he undertook to pay ; as
Simeon was dismissed when the conditions were performed, and Joseph
satisfied with the sight of his brother : Gen. xliii. 23, * He brought
Simeon out unto them.
2. Christ s office is allowed, so that he is the great shepherd of the
sheep ; that is, the blessed Saviour into whose hands God hath put
his flock, to be justified, sanctified, and saved, and from whom we may
expect all that comfort which a flock hath from a good and faithful
pastor. We are put into his hands as he is Mediator, not by way of
alienation, for they are in the Father s hands still : John x. 29, My
Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to
pluck them out of my Father s hand ; but an oppignoration laid at
pledge in his hands. A shepherd is not lord of the flock, but as a
servant to take care of them. They are not his as Mediator by way of
original interest and dominion, but in point of trust and charge. He
hath an office about them, and giveth an account of them at the last
day. He is sometimes called simply, without any addition, The
shepherd/ 1 Peter ii. 25, Ye are returned unto the shepherd and
bishop of our souls/ Sometimes TTOI^V 6 /caXo?, The good shepherd/
as John x. 11 ; and here, The great shepherd ; and The chief shep
herd/ 1 Peter v. 4, because of the dignity of his person and office.
And surely if we put ourselves into the hands of this shepherd we can
lack nothing : Ps. xxiii. 1, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not
want/ We may look for all manner of supplies from Christ.
3. God is so far appeased that there is a new covenant procured and
constituted, called here the everlasting covenant ; partly because it
shall never be repealed, and continueth unalterable, and the called
obtain by it the title and possession of an eternal inheritance : Heb. ix.
15, They which are called may receive the promise of eternal inherit
ance/ And partly because Christ s blood is the foundation of this
covenant, and the virtue of it never ceaseth ; therefore this covenant is
everlasting also, and made effectual and able to obtain its ends, which
is the eternal salvation of sinful man once converted and reconciled to
God. This covenant also is called the covenant of God s peace, because
it is a public demonstration that God is pacified : Isa. liv. 10, But
my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of
my peace be removed ; Ezek. xxxvii. 26, I will make a covenant of
peace with them/ Partly because in this covenant this peace and
reconciliation is published, and offered to us, that man may not stand
aloof from God as a condemning God. So it is said, Eph. ii. 17,
4 Christ came to preach peace to those that are near, and to those that
are afar off ; Acts x. 36, The word which God sent unto the children
of Israel, preaching peace by Christ ; he is Lord of all/ Partly because
in this covenant the terms of this peace between us and God are stated.
380 SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21.
God bindeth himself to sinful man to give him remission of sins, and
eternal life begun by the Spirit, and perfected in heaven upon the con
ditions of faith . Born. v. 1, Being justified by faith, we have peace
with God ; and repentance : Acts iii. 19, Bepent and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out ; at our entrance and new obedience
as to continuance : Heb. v. 9, He became the author of eternal salva
tion to all that obey him.
IV, How we come to be interested in this peace and reconciliation,
or the conveyance of it to us ; for this peace may be considered as to
the impetration and application of it.
1. As to the impetration and laying down of the price ; that was
done by Christ on the cross. Therefore it is said, 2 Cor. v. 19, God
was in Christ reconciling the world to himself/ Then was God pro
pitiated, and the merit and ransom interposed, by virtue of which we
are pardoned and reconciled.
2. As to application, when God is actually reconciled with us, and
we enter into his peace, and are restored unto his favour. This may
be considered either as to the first gift. God is never actually recon
ciled to us, nor we to him, till he give us the regenerating Spirit ; that
is our receiving the atonement, Bom. v. 11. It was made on the
cross, but received at our conversion and regeneration. Or else it may
be considered as to the further measure of his sanctifying grace, called
here, Perfecting us for every good work, and working in us that which
is pleasing in his sight. This is given with respect to our reconciled
estate, as we are actually at peace and in covenant with God : 2 Cor.
v. 17, 18, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature :
old things are passed away, behold all things are become new : and all
things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.
The sum is this : at the death of Christ there was such a foundation
laid that we need no other ransom nor propitiation. He hath so far
satisfied divine justice that he hath obtained the new covenant. The
first grace is given us merely with respect to the merit of his sacrifice ;
for Christ purchased the mercies promised, and power to perform the
conditions. Further grace is given us because we are already recon
ciled unto God, which is a ground of the greater joy and confidence ;
for our actual reconciliation giveth us a title to all consequent acts of
friendship which can be expected or received, for in God s way we shall
have further sanctification, and after that salvation.
V. The reasons why all increase of grace comes from God as the
God of peace.
1. From the giver. God will not set us up with a new stock of
grace till satisfaction be made for the breach of his law. We must
not look upon him as pars offensa, the offended party, but as rector
mundi, the governor of the world. Private persons may forgive offences
as they please, but the governor and judge of the world would not pass
by the offence of man till the ends of government be secured, or that
the law fall not to the ground, which it doth not whilst God standeth
upon the satisfaction of Christ and the submission of the sinner. The
right of passing by a wrong, and the right of releasing a punishment,
are different things ; because punishment is a common interest, and is
referred to the common good, to preserve order, and for an example to-
SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21. 381
others. Certainly punishment doth not belong to the wronged party
as such ; then every one would have a right to punish, and so invade
the power of the magistrate. A private person hath a right of seeking
restitution or compensation for the wrong done to him, unless higher
reasons of charity forbid him, but not a power to compel them to pun
ishment unless satisfaction be given. But the case is different ; here
God punisheth non qua Icesus, sed qua rector, not as the offended party,
but as a governor. Now the government of the world requires God s
holiness should be demonstrated, and his laws vindicated, and a brand
put upon sin.
2. From the gift, which is the sanctifying Spirit, which, being the
gift of his love, must needs be the fruit of his peace and reconciliation
with us ; Rom. v. 5, Because the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost. Other things may be given us during his
anger, for God showeth himself placable in the whole course of his
providence. Yea, they may be given in anger, but the regenerating
Spirit is never given us during his anger or in anger. Sanctifying
grace doth evidence his special favour. Look, as the payment of the
ransom was testified by the visible pouring out the Spirit, Acts ii., so
is our particular reconciliation by the gift of the Spirit to us.
Use 1. Is of instruction.
1. How we are to look upon God in our prayers, as the God of peace,
reconciled to us by Jesus Christ. When we pray to him, we look upon
him as a God of grace : 1 Peter v. 10, But the God of all grace, who
hath called us, &c. This showeth his propension and inclination to
communicate his grace freely to unworthy sinners. We also pray to
him as the God of power : Rom. xvi. 15, Now to him that is of power
to establish you according to my gospel. But here we are directed to
look upon him as the God of peace, as pacified in Christ, which is a
greater ground of confidence. If a socinian were to pray to him, he
could only use the plea of Benhadad to Ahab, We have heard the kings
of Israel are merciful kings ; so we have heard the God of Israel is a
merciful God. If the papist would pray with confidence, he thinketh
he must appease God by himself, by his penal satisfactions and costly
offerings ; as Jacob would appease Esau by sending gifts to him, Gen.
xxxii. 20 ; but the penitent believer is reconciled to God by Christ :
Rom. v. 1, 2, Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by
faith/ &c. He cometh to God in his name, and no other : John xvi.
23, 24, In that day ye shall ask me nothing : verily, verily, I say
unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will
give it you. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name ; ask and
you shall receive, that your joy may be full. He runneth to the horns
of the altar, accepteth of the peace published in the gospel, devoteth
himself to God, and rests upon Christ s mediatorial sacrifice as suffi
cient. Here is his hope and confidence.
2. How careful we should be that no breach fall out between us and
God, lest we stop grace at the fountain-head. Continued sanctifica-
tion cometh from the God of peace, as well as the first renovation of
the heart. The giving the Spif it is a sign of God s love, and the with
holding of the Spirit is a sign of his anger and displeasure ; the one is
382 SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21.
the greatest mercy, the other the greatest misery. In his internal
government, the one is the highest reward, the other the greatest
punishment. As a reward it is spoken of Prov. i. 23, Turn you at
my reproof: behold I will pour my Spirit upon you; I will make
known my words unto you. As a punishment : Ps. li. 10-12, Create
in me a clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit within me ; cast
me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me :
restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free
Spirit. The one is to be sought : Luke xi. 13, How much more will
your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
the other to be deprecated : Take not thy Holy Spirit from me ; Ps.
li. 11. Therefore take heed the Spirit be not grieved, but obeyed.
3. What ground of thankfulness to Christ
[1.] That he hath made our peace with God at so dear a rate. All
your repentings, if you had wept out your eyes for sin, would not have
made your peace with God, nor have satisfied his justice, nor procured
pardon and life for you. Now God is appeased, Christ having slain
the enmity by his cross, Eph. ii. 16.
[2.] That the new covenant is procured, wherein pardon and salva
tion is offered to you, as sealed by the blood of Christ, who hath paid
our debts: Luke xxii. 20, This cup is the new testament in my
blood, which is shed for you. There had been else no place for your
repentance, faith, prayer, or hopes.
[3.] That such free and easy conditions of mercy, with power to per
form them, are propounded in the gospel : Lord, thou wilt ordain
peace for us, for thou also hast wrought all our works in us, Isa.
xxvi. 12.
[4.] That he should call us, and have such favourable thoughts to
us, who for a long time were dead in sin, and in hostility against him :
Kom. v. 10, For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be
saved by his life.
SERMON PREACHED ON A DAY OF PUBLIC
THANKSGIVING.
But Hezekiah rendered not according to the benefit done unto him; for
his heart ivas lifted up : therefore wrath was upon him, and upon
Judah and Jerusalem, 2 CHRON. xxxii. 25.
THAT I may not detain you in a preface, let me tell you the words
hold forth
1. A sin, But Hezekiah rendered not according to the benefit done
unto him.
2. The proof and argument of it, For his heart was lifted up.
3. The sad effects and punishment of it, both as to his own person
and the people under his government.
Let me explain these branches, and then come to observe something
in order to the work of the day. I know, Christians, you look 1 not for
things luscious, but savoury.
1. In the sin there was a benefit done unto him, and Hezekiah s
fault is that he rendered not accordingly. The benefit done him
implieth a complication of mercies ; not -only his miraculous recovery
out of sickness, and fifteen years added more to his life, but also the
destruction of his enemies the Assyrians ; mercies which fell out near
about the same time ; though I dare not say, with the Jewish writers,
that three days before the slaughter of the Assyrians this sickness and
recovery fell out ; yet certainly they were near together, as appeareth
from 2 Kings xx. 6, And I will add unto thy days fifteen years, and
I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria.
The report of which flying abroad, all the princes round about him
stood in awe of him ; his neighbours sent him presents ; his treasures
were increased ; yea, nations remote, and those of no small power, as
the king of Babylon, reckoned to be seven hundred miles distant from
Jerusalem, sent congratulatory embassies to his court. Well, then,
Hezekiah was looked upon as one highly in favour with God, honoured
of men, courted on every side with costly and precious presents, and so
grew full of treasure and wealth. When such strong winds fill the
sails, it is hard to steer right. This was the benefit done to him ; all
things fell out according to his heart s desire, and concurred to the lift-
384 SERMON PREACHED ON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.
ing up his heart : Hezekiah rendered not according. How can that
be ? He was a holy man and a thankful man. He penneth a psalm
of thanksgiving, and sung it yearly as a memorial of God s mercies to
him : Isa. xxxviii. 9, The writing of Hezekiah, king of Judah, when
he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness. God will not be
complimented with. It is not words and ceremonies, formal acknow
ledgments and days of thanksgiving, that God standeth upon, but holy
and humble carriage under mercies ; and therefore Hezekiah, though
he rendered somewhat to God, he rendered not according. There was
a defect which is here charged as his sin. He should have carried it
more humbly, as holding his life and kingdom and everything of the
grace of God.
2. The proof and argument. How doth it appear that he rendered
not according ? His heart was lifted up. There is a twofold lifting
up of the heart in a way of zeal and encouragement in the Lord s
ways. So it is said of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. xvii. 5, 6, that he had
presents, and riches, and honours in abundance ; and his heart was
lifted up in the way of the Lord : moreover he took away the high
places and groves out of Judah. This is a good lifting up, when a
man groweth cheerful and undaunted in the Lord s work, and therefore
falleth a-reforming, whatever it cost him. He knoweth the God of his
mercies will bear him out. But there is a carnal lifting up of the heart,
in a way of pride and vainglory, or daring violence and oppression.
Thus it is said of Amaziah, after he had smitten the Edomites, 2 Chron.
xxv. 19, That his heart was lifted up to boast ; and this was in part
Hezekiah s sin. Indeed it is not easy to state the kind of his pride.
[1.] Whether the pride of arrogancy or self-ascription, or taking
God s part to himself, as if the blessings were merited by him ; a
disease incident to the creature when exalted : Deut. ix. 4, Speak not
thou in thine heart after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out
from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought
me in to possess this land ; and therefore God puts in a caution
against it.
[2.] Or else conceit, musing upon and admiring his own greatness ;
as the king of Babylon strutteth and vaunteth, Is not this great
Babylon, which I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might
of my power, and for the honour of my majesty ? Dan. iv. 30. Pride,
of all sins, puts men upon vain musings : Luke i. 51, He hath scattered
the proud in the imaginations of their hearts. Proud men, of all
others, are subject to imaginations, or self-admiring thoughts. His
heart was too much tickled. In the story it is said, when Merodach
Baladan sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, Isa. xxxix. 2, He was
glad of them; wherein the secret intimation of his spirit was discovered.
Or else
[3.] The pride of security or self-dependence. When we are well,
God is forgotten ; good men are apt to sleep upon a carnal pillow or
bolster, and dream many a pleasant dream, till God taketh it away
from under their heads : Ps. xxx. 6, And in my prosperity I said, I
shall never be moved. Carnal confidence is very natural. Or
[4.] The pride of vainglory or ostentation. He seemeth to be tainted
with a spice of that vanity by showing his treasure to the ambassadors
t
SERMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING. 385
of the king of Babylon : He showed them the house of his precious
things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oint
ment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was in his treasures ;
there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah
showed them not, Isa. xxxix. 2. Whether one or more, or all, I will
not determine ; they are all branches of the same root. Certainly, vain
men are apt to be puffed up in all these kinds, that have had deliver
ances far less strange than was this of Hezekiah.
3. Come we now to explain the punishment and sad effects of this
great failing : Wrath was upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
[1.] Upon his particular person, Wrath was upon him/ There is
a near link between pride and wrath. His heart was lifted up, and
presently wrath was upon him : Prov. xviii. 12, Before destruction
the heart of man is haughty. It is a sure sign of the loss of our com
forts, parts, estate, children, authority, when we grow proud of them.
It is a sin that God deeply detesteth, and will severely chasten it, even
in his own dearest children : * Wrath was upon him ; sentence was
passed, but execution respited. All was well for the present. Wrath
is said to be upon us as soon as sentence is passed. Men think not so,
but God judgeth so : Wrath was upon him. Doth it stay there ?
No.
[2.] Upon his people. It followeth, And upon all Judah and Jeru
salem. The whole land smarts for the sins of magistrates. Delirant
reges, kings offend. Hezekiah s heart was lifted up. Plectuntur
Ac/iivi, the people are punished. Judah and Jerusalem are obnoxious
to the stroke of God s vengeance. But how can this stand with the
Lord s justice? What have these sheep done? as David said in a
like case, 2 Sam. xxiv. 17. I answer They had done enough to ruin
them long since. Hezekiah s sin was not the main cause, but one great
occasion of hastening the judgment. Sometimes God takes occasion
to punish magistrates for the people s sin : Prov. xxviii. 2, For the
transgression of a land many are the princes thereof. The government
is often altered, and they are tossed from hand to hand as a just pun
ishment. At other times the people are punished for the magistrates
sins : Zech. x. 3, Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and
I punished the goats. A great oak cannot fall but all the little shrubs
about it suffer loss. On the other side, when the burning beginneth at
a cottage, it may increase till it come to the paiace. If the dispensa
tion seem harsh, remember that God would involve us in one another s
judgments, to make us more careful of one another s duties ; that when
magistrates transgress, the people may mourn, and, with that modesty
which will suit with the duty of their place, give warning of the danger.
And magistrates may not give liberty to the wickedness of the people,
lest they bring a judgment on their own heads.
I have given you some view of the words, let me come to the points.
1. That those that have received mercies must be careful to give in
answerable returns, or to render according to what they have received.
2. That it is a sign we are unthankful for mercies when our hearts
are lifted up under the enjoyment of mercies.
3. Pride and unthankfulness is a sad intimation of approaching
wrath and destruction.
VOL. xvii. 2 B
386 SEBMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.
4. When a ruler s heart is lifted up, and doth not thankfully improve
the mercies received from. God, the whole land may smart for it.
I shall speak but to the two first of these points
Doct. 1. That those that have received mercies must be careful to
give in answerable returns, or to render according to what they have
received. It was Hezekiah s sin that he did not render according.
Here I shall inquire what it is to render according to what we have
received. Observe (1.) There must be a rendering ; (2.) A render
ing according to the rate and kind of our receipts.
I. A rendering. There is a reflection upon God from all his works.
Hell-fire casts back the reflection of the lustre of his justice and the
power of his wrath. The world is round, and the motion of all things
circular ; they begin in God, and end in God ; their being is from him,
and the tendency of their motion is to him : Horn. xi. 36, For of him,
and through him, and to him are all things. All things do thus reflect
upon God : The wrath of man shall praise th.ee/ Ps. Ixxvi. 10. We
should want many occasions of rejoicing in God if it were not for the
wrath of man ; thus God is glorified passively. All events turn to a
good account ; thus all creatures praise him : Ps. cxlv. 10, All thy
works shall praise thee, Lord ; the creatures offer matter of praise to
God.
But we speak of the active rendering and returning praise to God.
There are many words used in this matter. Those three which are
most solemn are, praise, blessing, and thanksgiving ; which last is the
solemn word of the new testament, as being proper to the dispensa
tion of it, God s benefits being now fully manifested and accomplished.
There is a difference between these three terms. Praise respects God s
excellency, as I may praise a man that never did me good. Blessing,
God s benefits ; it is an echo to him : Eph. i. 3, Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. And thankful
ness is not only declared in word, but in deed. These three should
always go together. We should gather up God s excellences out of
his providences, and acknowledge the mercy, and live the life of love
and praise. Or, if you will, in rendering praise to God these things
concur (1.) We must be affected with the mercies ; (2.) Solemnly
praise God for them ; (3.) Eenew the remembrance of them ; (4.)
Improve them to some good use.
1. We must be affected with the mercy. Formal speeches are but
an empty prattle, which God regardeth not. David first calleth upon
his heart: Ps. ciii. 1, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is
within me bless his holy name. The noblest faculties must be exer
cised in the noblest work. Is the soul raised into an admiration of
God ? church adversaries took up the customary form : Isa. Ixvi. 5,
Your brethren that hate you, that cast you out for my name s sake,
said, Let the Lord be glorified. In an instrument of music, the more
the sound conieth out of the belly of it the sweeter ; if we expect flame,
we presuppose fire. When the heart is full of gracious affections, the
tongue will be loosed to praise God : Ps. xlv. 1, ; My heart is inditing
a good matter, my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2. Solemn praising God for them. It is an honourable work ; love
SERMON UPON A DAT OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING. 387
is the grace of heaven, praise the duty of heaven. There is no room
for faith nor use of prayer. It is angels work, as sin is the devil s
work. It is good to be preparing for our everlasting estate. It is-
comely for the saints : Ps. cxlvii. 1, Praise the Lord, for it is good
to sing praises unto our God ; for it is pleasant, and praise is comely.
Usually we thrust gratulation into a narrow room : it is a stranger
in our public worship. Self-love will put us upon supplication, and
our wants will beget a natural fervency in prayer. We are eager
to have blessings, but we forget to return to give God the glory . Hosea,
v. 15, In their affliction they will seek me early. This is self-love,
not religion. All the ten lepers could say, Jesus, Master, have mercy
upon us/ Luke xvii. 13, but only one of them, when he was healed,
turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, ver. 15. Pharaoh
could pray when God s hand was upon him. Oh ! it is the more
honourable thing to give thanks, and it is profitable : Ps. Ixvii. 5, 6 r
Let the people praise thee, God, let all the people praise thee ; then,
shall the earth yield her increase. There is a KVK\o<yevve<ri<?, a circular
generation, between vapours and showers. Vapours cause showers, and
showers cause vapours. The course of mercy is stopped when God is
not praised. Where do husbandmen bestow their seed most plentifully,
but where the ground yieldeth most increase ? When the land faileth
year after year, men withhold their seed. God will not bury mercies in,
the grave of unthankf ulness. It is a due to God ; it is his bargain with
us : Ps. 1. 15, Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee,
and thou shalt glorify me. He expects it as the return of all his mer
cies. Glory and praise are the revenues of the crown of heaven, the
rent reserved to God. We have the comfort and use, God will have
the glory and praise. We promised it to him : Ps. li. 15, Lord, open
thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. Want of
mercies maketh us prize them. If we would look upon the vows of
our affliction, we should find cause to value our enjoyments. It is our
privilege, as men, that we have a tongue to bless God : James iii. 9,
Therewith bless we God, even the Father. Therefore our tongue is
called our glory : Ps. cviii. 1, I will sing and give praise, even with
my glory. Beasts have no reason, angels no tongue. Praise is neces
sary to give vent to our affections, yea, to increase them. F^re warmeth
the hearth, and then the warmth of the hearth doth preserve the fire.
Praise is necessary to convey our affections to others, as one bird may
set the whole flight on chirping.
3. Renewing the remembrance of them : Ps. cxi. 4, He hath made
his wonderful works to be remembered ; the Lord is gracious and full
of compassion. Great deliverances are things not to be once mentioned,
and no more, whilst the experience is warm upon our hearts ; when
the act is over, we should be remembering again and again.
4. The merries must be improved to a greater trust in God, and love
and fear ov God, and obedience to him.
[1.] Trust. The more we know of- his name, the more should we
trust him : Ps. Ixiv. 10, The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and
shall trust in him. That is true praise and thanksgiving that endeth
in trust. It is the purest respect of the creature, and that which
keepeth up a respect between God and us ; faith is the best thanks.
388 SERMON UPON A DAT OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.
I doubt we are not spiritual enough in our returns to God. We content
ourselves with verbal praises, and do not look after the growth of faith
and trust : 2 Cor. i. 10, Who delivered us from so great a danger,
and doth deliver ; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. He
findeth it growing upon him whilst he was mentioning of it. Every
experience we have is a condescension in God towards the strengthen
ing of our faith.
[2.] Love ; it is a special part of this rendering. God will be loved
again where he loveth first. Radius reflexus languet. The cold wall
will reverberate and beat back the sunbeams ; a little water put into a
pump fetches up more : Ps. cxvi. 1 , 2, I love the Lord, because he
hath heard my voice and my supplication ; because he hath inclined
his ear to me, therefore I will call upon him as long as I live. God
is more endeared to us. Love him as thy Father in Christ. Every
mercy cometh wrapped in his bowels to the saints, and swimming in
his blood. When Moses had received mercies, Deut. x. 12, Now,
saith he, what doth the Lord require of thee, but to fear the Lord
thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to love him, and to serve the
Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul ? We have a
good master, and love is one chief part of our work. We were bound
to love him if he had never done us good, much more when he is so
gracious. It is the end of all common mercies : Deut. xxx. 20, That
thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his
voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him, for he is thy life, and the
length of thy days.
[3.] Fear, that we dare not offend so good a God. That is a true
improvement : Hosea iii. 5, Afterwards shall the children of Israel
return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and shall
fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. When we grow
more presumptuous because we are well at ease, that is naught ; but
when it increaseth our reverence of God, and holy fear and trembling,
then it works kindly. You that have been conscious to the terrible
things of righteousness which God hath executed in the high places of
the field, you should fear, love, and trust him more than others. You
see what a great God he is, that he will find out those that hate him.
How suddenly can he blast worldly confidence, however supported !
and how able is he to protect those that trust in him ! Will you offend
such a God ? These changes do not only speak duty to the enemies, but
to you. Habakkuk trembled at the thought of God s judgments on
Babylon : Hab. iii. 16, When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips
quivered at the voice ; and David : Ps. cxix. 120, My flesh trembleth
for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments. It is an appear
ance of God, and tender hearts melt at it, as a lion trembleth to see a
dog beaten. Tender hearts are affected with the wrath that lighteth
upon others, especially when they are the instruments.
[4.] Obedience. You should walk the more humbly and strictly
with God. David was at a loss : What shall I render ? This was
one of his resolutions : Ps. cxvi. 9, I will walk before the Lord in the
land of the living. This is your duty, to bind yourselves to a more
humble and holy walking with God. This is a good use of experiences.
The army that have seen so much of God should be a school of piety to
SEKMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING. 389
the nation. There is a notable place : Judges ii. 7, And the people
served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders
that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord
that he did for Israel. Whilst there were any to keep alive the memo
rial of such experiences, what an awe was it upon their hearts ! Oh !
that you could get your hearts in such a frame. Methinks you should
have such arguings as this : Shall I, that have seen the wonders of the
Lord, be proud, vain, carual, contemptuous of holy things ? Such holy
reasonings argue a good frame : Ezra ix. 13, Seeing that thou our
God hast given us such deliverance as this, should we again break thy
commandments ? Certainly none sin so dearly, and with so much
expense, as a people saved by the Lord s mercies.
II. To render accordingly, What is that ? It implieth two
things
1. Keal mercies require real acknowledgments. When your lives
were in jeopardy in the high places of the field, did God compliment
with you, or save in jest ? And now, in the day of your thanksgivings,
will you compliment with God, and put him off with a little bodily
presence ? What is a little cold thanks if you be proud and injurious,
and despisers of the ministry, regardless of God s institutions, cavilling
at his ordinances, neglectful of church-communion, a thing grown into
fashion with many ; they content themselves with a loose profession of
Christ, living out of the communion of any particular church ; a sad
thing ! God would have coals lie together. Wine is best preserved in
the hogshead, and saints in communion. Did God take their thanks
well that would own a mercy but oppress the people ? Zech. xi. 5,
Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty, and they
that sell them say, Blessed be God, I am rich. They were grown great
and high, and God must have the glory by all means ; but they used
the people severely at their own pleasure. There was a thanksgiving,
but withal there was disobedience and abuse of authority ; and in that
case keeping a day will be to no purpose. The devil s leading Christ
to the top of the pinnacle was but to persuade him to cast himself down
again.
2. The acknowledgment must answer the proportion of the mercy,
be it in word or deed. It is true we cannot vie with God for degree
and measure, but we must do what we can.
[1.] If the acknowledgment be in word: Ps. cxlv. 3, Great is the
Lord, and greatly to be praised ; it must be taken notice of in a more
than ordinary manner. The more of God is manifest, the more it
should be taken notice of : Ps. cl. 2, Praise him according to his excel
lent greatness. According to the great appearances and manifestations
of God so must our praises be : Let the high praises of God be in their
mouth, Ps. cxlix. 6. There are higher and lower praises, more and
less solemn according to the proportion and size of our mercies. The
spouse s eyes were as dove s eyes/ Cant. iv. 1, to peck and look
upward.
[2.] If in deed, some notable thing must be done for God. When
Ahasuerus had heard of a good deed done by Mordecai, he saith, What
honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this ? Esther vi.
3. So, what honour hath been done to the Lord ? What have we
390 SERMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.
done for him ? Saith David, 2 Sam. vii. 2, I dwell in a house of cedar,
but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. The Lord hath advanced
me from a sheep-hook to a sceptre ; what love have I showed to God ?
what excellent thing have I done for God ? wherein am I carried out
with zeal for God ?
Use. To reprove
1. Those that, instead of rendering according, render the quite con
trary, who, the more God hath blessed them, grow unthankful, proud,
sensual, dead, formal in prayer, less in communion with God, more
licentious in their actions. They are like tops, never well but when
they are scourged ; abuse their mercies to the contempt of God, as the
Israelites took the earrings of gold and silver, which were the spoils of
the Egyptians, and made a golden calf of them. As the sea turneth
all the sweet dews and influences of heaven into salt water, so they turn
all their mercies into occasions of sin.
2. Those that do not render aught at all. They are crying for mercy,
but think not of returning thanks to God, but, when they have what
they would have, turn the back upon God, not the face : Jer. ii. 27, In
the time of their trouble they will say, Arise and save us ; then their
face is to God. There was a law in Ezekiel xlvi. 9, He that entereth
in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the
south gate/ &c. He that went in at one gate was not to go out at the
same gate, but an opposite ; some say, lest he should turn his back upon
the mercy-seat.
3. Those that render something, but not suitable. If you would
render according, you must be in a capacity. Under the law, the peace-
offering was brought at the top of a burnt-offering, Lev. iii. 3. We
must be first reconciled to God before we can do anything acceptable.
Awaken the heart to the work. David awakens his soul : Ps. ciii. 1,
Bless the Lord, my soul ; and all that is within me, bless his holy
name. Search out the works of God : Ps. cxi. 2, The works of the
Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure in them.
Consider what the world gaineth by every discovery of God, what
attributes of God are manifested, what promises are accomplished, how
church hopes thrive. Desire God to give you the heart to render, that
he that gave the occasion would give the disposition : Ps. Ii. 15, Lord,
open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. We
are spiritually dumb and tongue-tied. Keason and argue from your
experiences to your duty : Ezra ix. 13, Seeing thou hast given us such
a deliverance as this, shall we again break thy commandments ? When
you have done all, you will be at a loss : Ps. cxvi. 12, What shall I
render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me ? He that hath a
right sense of God s mercies will be forced to say so ; and therefore be
striving more and more.
Doct. 2. That it is a sign we are unthankful under mercies when the
heart is lifted up upon the enjoyment of them. The Spirit of God
hringeth this as the evidence against Hezekiah.
Eeasons of the point.
1. Because God can never be rightly praised and exalted while the
heart is proud : Isa. ii. 17, And the loftiness of men shall be made low,
and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. God is exalted in
SERMON UPON A DAT OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING. 391
the creatures self-abasement ; as two buckets in a well, when one goeth
down, the other cometh up. The ark and dagon cannot stand together,
1 Sam. v. 3. Set up the ark, and dagon must come upon his face. If
you would have God exalted in the riches of his grace, you must lie
in the dust.
2. A proud, lifted-up heart cannot be rightly conversant about bless
ings. It doth not give them their due rise, nor their due value, nor
their due end.
[1.] Not their due rise. Many will say God did it. God, I thank
thee, was in the pharisee s mouth, Luke xviii. 11 ; but they do not
stand wondering why God should do it ; as David : 2 Sam. vii. 18,
Who am I, Lord God ? and what is my father s house, that thou
hast brought me hitherto ? that God should look upon a worm, whence
is it ? what did God see in me ? They actually disclaim all respect,
and worth, and merit in themselves, that praise God aright.
[2.] A proud heart doth not give blessings their due value. He
looketh for more still, he entertaineth crosses with murmuring, and
blessings with disdain. It is but thus and thus, and still set God a new
task to do : Ps. Ixxviii. 20, Behold he smote the rock, and the waters
gushed out, and the streams overflowed ; can he give bread also ? can
he provide flesh for his people ? They slight what is past if they have
not what they look for : All this availeth me nothing, as long as I see
Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king s gate, Esther v. 13 ; Mai. i. 2, I
have loved you, saith the Lord ; yet they say, Wherein hast thou
loved us ? Where are all those mercies and glorious experiences ? It
is all forgotten and undervalued. If the mercies fit not our mould, all
is nothing.
[3.] It doth not give blessings their due ends. God giveth us mercies
that we might be more holy and humble, and pride maketh us more
carnal and insolent and secure ; and so we feed our lusts of the Lord s
provision. He gives mercies that we may be lifted up in his ways,
2 Chron. xvii. 6, that we might promote his interest the more cheerfully,
without baseness, fear, or carnal respects. But pride abuseth it to care
lessness, contempt of holy things, insultation over those that are fallen
under God s hand: Deut. xxxii. 15, Jeshurun waxed wanton and
kicked. They despise the ordinances of God, and dispute away duties,
and cavil at religion. Is this the fruit of our deliverances ?
How shall we know when the heart is lifted up? Pride is a
capacious sin, therefore called pride of life, 1 John ii. 16, because it
is a sin that diffuseth itself throughout all affairs and conditions of life ,
children, estate, beauty, strength, parts, honours, graces. A worm may
breed in manna. Paul was puffed up : 2 Cor. xii. 7, Lest I should
be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations,
there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to
buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure/ But the text
speaketh of a pride after deliverances, which is a self-blessing and self-
depending confidence ; which is mainly shown (1.) In security ; (2.)
In insolency.
(1.) In security. Men live as if they were above changes. God is
neglected, or but coldly owned, as if now we had no more need of him :
Lam. i. 9, She remembered not her last end, therefore she came down
392 SERMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.
wonderfully ; that is, she was not mindful of the changes and muta
tions to which all things are obnoxious. Men usually lose their sense
of duty with their fears. The heart groweth flat and dead in prayer,
not carried out with such zeal and earnestness as when we were in dis
tress. Or it takes us off from what we proposed in our affliction, and
all our vows and promises are forgotten.
(2.) In insolency. This is manifested
(1st) By contention. When we are delivered, then we revive the
old quarrels ; as timber warpeth in the sunshine. When God giveth
us success, then follow divisions. The greatest strife is in dividing the
spoil : Only by pride cometh contention, saith Solomon, Prov. xiii.
10. Plenty and ease begetteth pride. Dioclesian s persecution was
brought on by the factious carriage of the Christians themselves, con
tending for the honours of the church. In king Edward s days, when
there was a little breathing, then was there a contention for ceremonies.
(2d) By insultation over enemies. True they are under, but it is
unmanly to speak to the grief of those whom God hath wounded. If
our mercies cannot be advanced but by the fall of our brethren, let us
not insult, but pity them. David grieved when Saul fell, and fasted
for his enemies. Those whom the hand of the Lord hath touched
have a kind of reverence due to them ; as places blasted with thunder
and lightning were accounted sacred Judges xxi. 6, And the
children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother.
(3<i) By oppression and violence : Because it is in the power of
their hands, Micah ii. 1. Power doth mightily draw forth corruption.
Tenderness of conscience should be a restraint where public force is
not. This I can do, but I dare not. But when men employ their power
for hurt, not for good, and think to be borne out in a sinful course by
their strength and power, it is pride and carnal confidence.
Use. Christians ! beware of being lifted up in any kind.
1. Take heed of secret thoughts of merit : Deut. ix. 4, Speak not
thou in thine heart after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out
from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought
me in to possess this land. Though there be not such formal thoughts
or downright expressions, yet this is the implied thought. There are
explicit thoughts and implicit thoughts ; the one is actually and
sensibly conceived in the mind, the other lurk and lie hid there, and
our actions being interpreted, are necessarily resolved into such thoughts.
As when you are scornful and pitiless, vaunting yourselves above others,
and do not actually admire the riches of the Lord s goodness, surely
there is some latent thought of merit in the heart. You may take
notice of God s justice, but still you must admire free grace.
2. Take heed of ascribing to your wisdom, power, and conduct. Man
would fain be faber fortunes suce, the author of his own happiness,
jostling God out of his thoughts : Hab. i. 16, They sacrifice to their
net, and burn incense to their drag, because by them their portion is
fat and their meat plenteous ; insulting and glorying in their wisdom
and strength. Though a man doth not fall down as a gross idolater,
and perform rites of devotion, yet his thoughts run this way, and so
God is laid aside. God giveth his people warning of this : Deut. viii.
14, Let not thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy
SERMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING. 393
God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt ; and ver. 17, And
thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of my hand hath
gotten this wealth/ Why should the Lord give so many warnings if
we were not exceeding prone to this ? We should throw our crowns
at God s feet. It is enough for us to be poor instruments in God s
hand. I hope you came here before the Lord with such a design this
day, to strip yourselves, and give all the glory to God.
3. Take heed of the pride of self-dependence. Hereby the heart is
taken off from God, and then the devil hath us upon the hip. He that
swimmeth in a full stream is apt to be carried away with the stream.
It is a hard matter to see the nothingness of the creature when we
enjoy the fulness of the creature. Man s thoughts are always swallowed
up with his present condition. In misery we think we shall never
come out of it ; in prosperity, that it will never be otherwise. Paul
could say, As having nothing, yet possessing all things, 2 Cor. vi. 10.
Few can say, As possessing all things and having nothing, so as to sit
loose from our worldly dependences : I have learned to abound ; it
is an harder lesson than I have learned to be abased, Phil. iv. 12, as
there is more of choice in it, and less of necessity. We are beaten to
the other. We use to say, Such a one would do well to be a lord or
a lady. It is an harder matter than you are aware of. Many have
done well in a low condition that could not manage an higher.
Ephraim is a cake not turned/ Hosea vii. 8 ; not baked of both sides,
so as to walk with an holy equality and evenness of spirit in all condi
tions. You think it is hard to bear miseries ; it is as hard to master
comforts, to carry a full cup without spilling, and to keep from sur-
i feiting at a rich and luscious banquet. Few know how to abound.
To prick these windy bladders in solemn remembrances of mercy,
such things as these are necessary.
[1.] A special recognition and recalling of sins is not unseasonable.
Let the warm sun melt you : Ezek. xxxvi. 30, 31, I will multiply the
fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no
more reproach of famine among the heathen ; then shall ye remember
your ways and doings that have not been good, and shall loathe your
selves in your own sight for all your iniquities/ When mercies humble
us and set us a-mourning, it is a kindly work. Moses bowed himself
when the Lord proclaimed the name of his mercy. Oh ! bow your
selves ; poor worthless creatures, that God should look upon us !
[2.] Meditate upon the changes of providence. Things are at a great
uncertainty in the world. Hezekiah is delivered and then falls sick ;
he is delivered again, and then groweth proud ; and then came wrath
upon him, and upon all Judah and Jerusalem : Ps. xxxix. 5, Verily
every man at his best estate is altogether vanity ; not only in his worst,
but at his best estate ; when he is in his zenith, then he is at the
vertical point. Verily this is a truth should be stamped deeply upon
all our hearts. Belisarius, a famous general to-day, and within a little
while forced to beg for a halfpenny. Things and persons are as the
spokes of a wheel, sometimes in the dirt, and sometimes out. The
church complaineth, Ps. cii. 10, Thou hast lifted me up and cast me
down ; a sad dejection after some comfortable elevation. All outward
glory is like a glass, transparent, but brittle. Paul was rapt in the third
394 SERMON UPON A DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING.
heaven, and was full of unspeakable ravishments and revelations, yet
presently he talketh of a thorn in the flesh. Now, at your best think
of this, that you may inure your thoughts to changes, and settle your
solid happiness in God. David, when he had a glorious victory, speak-
eth of losing, and God s blasting their armies, Ps. Ix. 10, compared
with the title ; he acknowledgeth past judgments as the fruit of God s
displeasure. In the Roman triumphs there was one to remember them
of their mortality in the midst of their pomp. Yea, under the law
leavened cakes were allowed in peace-offerings and sacrifices of thanks
giving, which were forbidden in other sacrifices : Lev. vii. 13, He
shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanks
giving of his peace-offerings/ to teach us to temper our joys with the
thought of sorrow and affliction.
SERMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32.
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to 7iave
you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee,
that thy faith fail not ; and when tJiou art converted, strengthen
thy brethren. LUKE xxii. 31, 32.
IN the words observe two things (1.) A warning of danger approach
ing, ver. 31 ; (2.) A comfort propounded, ver 32.
First, In the first branch observe
1. The person to whom Christ directeth his words ; to Peter, though
they concerned all the rest, for it was not him only whom Satan desired
to sift, but all of them ; but Christ speaks to him in particular, because
it most concerned him. The devil would vex all of them, but our Lord
foresaw that he would more grievously fall than his fellow-disciples,
and, being more fervent and confident than the rest, was more exposed
to temptations ; and when he addresseth his speech to him, he calleth
him not Peter, but Simon. It was, Mat. xvi. 18, Thou art Peter, and
upon this rock will I build my church ; q. d., the name by which thou
art known to me signifieth a rock and stone. But this was when he
uttered his good confession ; but now he was to be an instance of
human frailty, he calleth him not Peter, but Simon. And mark
the ingemination of his name, Simon, Simon. This doubling of his
name doth partly intimate affection, and is as much as to say, My
dear Simon ; partly to stir up a serious attention, that he might mark
what is said.
2. The danger itself, Behold Satan hath desired to have you, that
he may sift you as wheat. Where observe
[1.] The author and procurer of this trouble, the devil, called here
Satan, that is an adversary. Our danger is mainly from the devil ; he
hath a great hand in the troubles of God s people. He assaulteth them
himself by his wiles, and fiery darts, Eph. vi. 11 and 16, and stirreth
up his instruments to persecute them : Luke xxii. 53, This is your
hour, and the power of darkness. That was the time when the devil
and his instruments were permitted to work their wills on Christ;
when the shepherd was smitten, and the flock scattered abroad.
[2.] The way how he bringeth it about, He hath desired to have
you/ It intimateth two things
396 SERMON UPON LUKE XXIT. 31, 32.
(1.) He asketh leave ; for Satan and his instruments cannot touch
any of God s children without God s permission ; therefore he asketh
leave to have the disciples of Christ in his power to vex them. So for
Job ; he has leave to touch his substance, but must not meddle with
his person : Job i. 11, 12, But put forth thine hand now, and touch
all that he hath ; and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord
said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power, only upon
himself put not forth thy hand. Then to afflict his body with boils,
and sores, but he must spare his life : Job ii. 5, 6, But put forth thine
hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee
to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine
hand, but save his life. Nay, he was fain to ask leave to enter into
the herd of swine : Mat. viii. 31, So the devil besought him, saying,
if thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. Surely
then the flock of Christ s sheep need not be troubled. If the bristles
of the swine be numbered, much more are the hairs of your heads.
(2.) It is a kind of suing out of his right. The word signifieth the
putting in of a plea and suit, not a bare asking leave ; e^rjTijaaro vfjuas,
poposcit vos adpcenam. Sin giveth Satan some right of claim, and when
we have committed some sins, we provoke God to give us over to Satan
to be disciplined. Therefore this desiring to have you is his accusing
you to God, and requiring that he may have the shaking of you. For
the devil is an adversary : 1 Peter v. 8, Because your adversary the
devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour/
The word is azmSweo?, an adversary. Satan is an enemy at law; he is
always indicting and accusing you before God, that he may get you into
his power and reach. Oh ! how watchful should the children of God be,
when they have an adversary that pleadeth law and equity on his side,
and pursueth his right against them to bring them to the trial ! But
how could he do so in the case of the apostles, and of Peter in parti
cular ? Possibly it might be something criminously done by them in
that contention of the disciples about primacy and superiority, who
should be chief est, mentioned ver. 24, And there was a strife among
them, which of them should be accounted greatest ; and the indigna
tion of the ten against the two brethren, James and John ; and in that
contest Peter might be most faulty, he being with them too. Those
of the disciples whom Jesus most loved, Peter, James, and John, were
often admitted to his privacies when others were excluded. Oh ! it
is a sad thing when we give occasion to Satan to demand us to the
judgment.
[3.] His aim and purpose, To sift you as wheat, that is, to toss and
shake you as grain in a sieve. The meaning is, the devil would have
permission from God wholly to subvert you, and cast you awa) T . A
great judgment is expressed by this phrase : Amos ix. 9, I will sift
the house of Israel among all nations like as corn is sifted in a sieve.
This is the devil s aim, utterly to destroy God s people. But he can
obtain no more than to shake and molest them for trial. In sifting,
two things are considerable (1.) The agitation of tossing to the corn,
now this way, now that way, from one side to another ; (2.) The sepa
ration of the wheat from the chaff. The devil only intends the former,
but God the latter. He would have Peter and the rest of the apostles
SERMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32. 397
given to him that he might trouble and vex them, and not suffer them
to have any rest ; but God would turn it to an holy use, to purge you
from your dross, your worldly and carnal affections. Satan desireth to
trouble us, but thereby God doth cleanse and refine us. He would have
liberty to do his worst to drive you from the faith of Christ ; but though
somewhat of that is granted to him, yet the power of the devil is limited,
both as to tempting and hurting. Critoatione Satance non perditur,
sed purgatur frumentum. The corn is not spoiled but cleansed by
Satan s sifting.
Secondly, Here is comfort propounded to sustain them under this
great danger ; where observe two things
1. The means of disappointing Satan, I have prayed for thee, that
thy faith fail not.
2. The event, delivered in the form of a direction. Peter should
recover out of this lapse, and be a means to strengthen others : And
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
1. The means of disappointing Satan, I have prayed for thee, &c>
Mark, to Satan s desires there are opposed Christ s prayers. There is
more force in Christ s prayers than in Satan s temptations. More par
ticularly consider (1.) Who prayeth ; (2.) For whom he prayeth ;
(3.) For what.
[1.] Who prayeth ; Jesus Christ, the Mediator and advocate of his
people. The devil is the accuser, but Christ the advocate, to whose
mediation and intercession it must alone be ascribed that we do not
finally miscarry. Christ is ready to pray, for he knoweth the heart of
a tempted man : Heb. ii. 17, 18, Wherefore it behoved him in all
things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful
and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconcili
ation for the sins of the people ; for in that he himself hath suffered,
being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. And his
prayer is effectual : John xi. 42, And I know that thou nearest me
always. Christ doth not only perfume our prayers, or stay till we pray
for ourselves, but prevents them by his own intercession when he fore
sees the danger.
[2.] For whom he prayeth : I have prayed for thee ; that is, for
Peter. What ! for him only ? No ; but the rest of the disciples also.
The remedy was prepared for them before the trials came, and the
plaster fitted before the wound was made. But was it for the apostles
only ? No, but for all believers : John xvii. 20, Neither pray I for
these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their
word. Christ here upon earth did pray first for the college of the
apostles, and then for all believers ; so in heaven he hath a watchful
care over us, that we may not faint under the temptations of Satan.
[3.] For what he prayeth : That thy faith fail not ; that is, may
not utterly miscarry. Here observe
(1.) The grace prayed for, faith, the grace most necessary, and upon
which other things depend. All matters that concern Christ and his
kingdom depend upon faith : 2 Peter i. 5, 6, Add to your faith virtue,
and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temper
ance patience, and to patience godliness. If faith fail not, other graces
will not fail : 1 Peter v. 9, Whom resist, steadfast in the faith. And
398 SERMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32.
faith is the grace most assaulted in the present trial ; for Peter was put
to it whether he would own and acknowledge Christ to be his Lord and
Master. To faith there belong two acts Believing with the heart,
and confession with the mouth : Rom. x. 9, 10, If thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in thy heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved ; for with the
heart man believeth to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. This last was put to the trial.
(2.) How far it was prayed for, in the word, Fail not. Christ
prayeth not that our faith should never be tried and assaulted, nor that
we should be exempted from trouble, but kept from the evil : John
xvii. 15, I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world,
but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. Not that we should
be never oppugned, but not expugned ; neither that it should be not
in any degree weakened, but not extinguished. Faith doth not fail
totally as to the habit and root of it in their heart, though the habit
may be much weakened and diminished, and its proper and natural
action obstructed and interrupted, such as is confession with the mouth.
Christ foresaw his approaching denial of him, and foretold it ; but
Peter did not utterly forsake the faith, as appeareth by his speedy
repentance. As a candle smoking and newly blown out easily sucketh
light and flame again, so did he recover himself out of that surprise.
2. The event, delivered in the form of a direction ; wherein
[1.] Is intimated his recovery and being converted. Peter had
denied Christ with oaths and execrations, a foul fault ; but Christ
recovered him by his look, that no man might despair ; and after his
resurrection bringeth him to a threefold confession: John xxi. 15, 16,
Lovest thou me more than these ? and lovest thou me ? and lovest
thou me ? Now the core of his distemper was gotten out : Lovest
thou me more than these ? Is thy love to me so great as thou didst
seem to affirm it when thou saidst, Though all men forsake thee, yet
will not I ? Is thy love surpassing the love of all other my disciples ?
What was Peter s answer ? Lord, thou knowest that I love thee ;
that is, sincerely. Being taught by his smart experience, he dareth
not make comparison witl*all others ; no more comparisons now. Peter
had been under a severe discipline, which taught him humility, and
before all the disciples he testifieth his repentance, which was first acted
in secret. Now he was grown more jealous of himself, he would not
boast of such a singular love.
But observe the term, converted. Recovery out of a sore temptation
is a kind of second conversion. Grace is battered and bruised, and so
many things are necessary to put us in joint again. Denial of Christ,
even out of weakness, is a loss not easily recovered. First, Peter had
Christ s look : Luke xxii. 61, And the Lord turned, and looked upon
Peter ; which pierced his very heart, upon which he went out, and
wept bitterly, ver. 62. And then Christ s message : Mark xvi. 7,
Tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee ;
there ye shall see him. Be sure to tell Peter, a little to revive and
comfort him. He was now full of tears, and grieved at heart for his
former offence ; then Christ appeared to him alone, as Luke xxiv. 34,
The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. Therefore
SERMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32. 399
the apostle saith, 1 Cor. xv. 5, That he was seen of Cephas, then
of the twelve. Then afterwards he is brought publicly upon the stage
to acknowledge his love to Christ, John xxi. 15-17. So hard a matter
is it to set a member in joint again that is once out. So David : Ps.
li. 10, Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit
within me/ He speaketh of it as a second creation and renovation ;
not that there was a total expulsion of faith or charity, but to show
that the loss is not soon repaired.
[2.] There is counsel given him, Strengthen thy brethren. When
by repentance thou art recovered out of thy sin, be more careful to
confirm and strengthen others.
(1.) To prevent falling, pray for them, warn them, be an example of
constancy to them, that they may not fall or fail in like manner ;
which he did by his threefold profession of love to Christ, and in
glorifying God in his whole life and death : John xxi. 19, This spake
he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. Christ warneth
him of his future sufferings, showing that he should be more stout than
in his former trial. Such a difference there was between Peter trust
ing in his own strength and Peter supported by God. He that before
was blown down by the weak blast of a damsel s question, could then
confidently look a cruel death in the face.
(2.) Eecover them if lapsed with meekness, that they may not
despair : Gal. vi. 1, If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thy
self, lest thou also be tempted. If the possibility of falling be an
argument, the actual experience is much more. Christians should not
exercise too great severity on them that are fallen, considering we have
or we might fall into like sin in the time of temptation. Thus would
Christ season and prepare his servants for their office, and by their
own experience teach them meekness and tenderness to others. In
general it is said, 2 Cor. i. 4, Who comforteth us in all our tribulations,
that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble with
the comforts wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. Such
comforts are not only for our good, but for the benefit and advantage
of others. Confirm thy brethren/ saith Christ here to Peter. They
are brethren, and they need to be strengthened ; for all these afflictions
are incident to all our brethren which are in the flesh, and our example
and consolation from experience are a great relief to them.
Thus you have a full view and prospect of the words. I shall
observe this point from the whole.
Doct. That though Satan by God s permission may sorely trouble
and vex his people, yet we are not wholly exposed to his fury to be
dealt with as he pleaseth. Let me show you how many ways Satan
may vex and trouble God s people ; either by inward suggestion, or by
outward persecution and affliction.
1. By inward suggestions ; as when he tempted David to number
the people : 1 Chron. xxi. 1, Satan stood up against Israel, and pro
voked David to number Israel/ Namely, as he moved him to pride
and glory in the arm of flesh, or in his grandeur or multitude of
subjects. God had an hand in it : 2 Sam. xxiv. 1, And the anger of
the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against
400 SERMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32.
them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah ; to punish David and his
people for their sins, God as a just judge using Satan as his minister
therein. God by permission and a wise ordination of it for good, and
Satan by suggestion and malicious intention for evil. God as a judge
in a just punishment for sin, and Satan as an enemy and an actor of
sin. It is no excuse to Satan or David that God moved, nor any blot in
God that Satan moved, they acting from diverse principles and diverse
ends. Well, but to our present purpose, Satan moved David, a man
after God s own heart. Alas ! the best have their infirmities, and
Satan hath many hidden secret arts to mischief souls which we think
not of.
2. By persecutions or afflictions. Many of Satan s temptations are
conveyed by afflictions, that he may make the people of God weary of
their profession, and either quit the truth or cast off their duty to him.
Thus when the apostle telleth us of the devil s unwearied malice and
enmity to souls, he biddeth us resist him steadfast in the faith, know
ing that the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren which
are in the world, 1 Peter v. 9. And again, Kev. ii. 10, The devil
shall cast some of you into prison. Surely they were put in prison by
men, but these men were Satan s instruments. They have their hour
sometimes and seasons when they work great trouble to the people of
God. God doth not so altogether bind up Satan but that he suffereth
him to act many strange parts in the world, either by himself imme
diately or by his instruments.
Again, our trials are the more sore because Satan hafh an hand in
them.
1. Not only because that is cumulative to the malice of men, or
superadded to it. And so the apostle : Eph. vi. 12, We wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wicked
nesses in high places. Our business lieth not with men, with flesh
and blood only, but with Satan. Men are but the devil s instruments.
Human and bodily powers are Satan s auxiliaries, whom he stirreth up
and employeth ; so that there is a double party the visible agents,
and the invisible powers by which they are assisted and acted. But
2. There are special reasons why the devil is a more terrible and
dangerous party than any human power : as partly
[1.] Because of his great enmity to mankind, especially the redeemed
by Christ; because he looketh upon them as likely to possess the
vacant places from which he and his angels are fallen. He is always
called the enemy with respect to war ; adversary, or opposite litigant
party, with respect to law
[2.] Partly because of his unwearied activity. He is always going
about 1 Peter v. 8, Your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walk-
eth about, seeking whom he may devour ; and in the book of Job,
chap. i. 7, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up
and down in it. And
[3.] Partly for his insatiable cruelty. His malice is bitter and
extreme, Seeking whom he may devour. His aim is utter ruin and
damnation, to prejudice us in our eternal estate or our spiritual and
heavenly concernments. It is not your temporal and bodily interests
SERMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32. 401
that he would mainly bereave you of. He can let you enjoy the plea
sures of the world that he may deprive you of your delight in God.
He can be content that you shall have dignities and honours, ease and
safety, so they prove a snare to you ; all is to ruin your souls. If he
cannot prevail so far, yet he would thereby draw you to scandalous
sins, that you may dishonour God : 2 Sam. xii. 14, By this deed thou
hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme ;
and destroy your own peace : Ps. xxxii. 3, My bones waxed old
through my roaring all the day long.
[4.] Partly for his subtlety. He is of a spiritual nature, and so the
devil is invisible both in his nature and approaches, and doth often
reach us a deadly blow before we know it is he ; and he seeketh by all
means to conceal himself : 2 Cor. xi. 3, I fear lest by any means, as
the serpent beguiled Eve by his subtlety, so your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ. The devil maketh
as if he meant all kindness, when he conieth to ruin and destroy souls.
He playeth of all hands ; tempteth Peter to dissuade, and Judas to
betray, and the high priests to persecute. He endeavoureth to keep
out of sight, that he may not be seen himself in the temptation,
as the fowler and hunter hide themselves till the bird or beast is gotten
into the snare or toil. Alas ! little do we think the devil is so near,
and hath so great an hand in the business which .we are about to per
form, as we afterwards find him to be. It is not he that seemeth to
do it, but such a neighbour, such a minister, or wise man.
3. Why God permitteth this. For many holy and wise reasons.
[1.] To glorify the power of his grace in preserving us : 2 Cor. xii. 9,
My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in
weakness. Made perfect, that is, found or discovered to be perfect ;
for God s strength cannot be more perfect than it is. There are no
degrees in infiniteness, much less can our weakness add anything to it.
The meaning is, it is manifested to be perfect. The greater the
pressures are. the more visible and conspicuous is the perfection of the
divine assistance. More goeth to the keeping of a saint here in the
world than to the preserving of an angel ; for the angels are e eo /3eXou?,
out of gunshot and harm s way, but we are making our way to heaven
almost every step by conflict and conquest.
[2.] To abate our carnal confidence. For till we have experience of
the strength of sin, danger of temptations, and our own weakness, we
are too confident of our own resolutions, which, because they are sincere
and undissembled, we think they may be easily maintained ; therefore
God, to show us ourselves, suffereth Satan to tempt us and his instru
ments to vex us, that by experience we may see how weak that faith is
in the temptation which we thought to be strong out of the temptation.
This is the meaning of that counsel our Lord giveth his disciples :
Mat. xxvi. 41, Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation :
the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. To enter into
temptation hath a peculiar sense and signification in that place, and
the meaning is, to be overcome by temptations, to enter so as to abide
under the power of them, to be encompassed so as we cannot get out.
Therefore watch and pray that it be not so with you ; for however
your mind and resolution be .good, and your professions for the time
VOL. xvn. 2 G
402 SEllMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32.
zealous, yet you may fall from your stoutest resolutions if you be not
careful. Or thus, though the spirit or-the renewed part be willing to
resist and oppose temptations, yet the natural and unrenewed part is
weak and ready to be overcome by them. They were confident, secure,
and unconcerned when that danger was approaching which would make
them either to forsake Christ or to deny and forswear him, as Peter
did ; therefore it were better for them to be watchful and importunate
with God, that they might not be overcome with this temptation. In
many cases we find that those that thought their faith strong find it
very weak when the temptation cometh : John xvi. 31, 32, Do ye now
believe ? Behold the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be
scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone. There is a
great deal of difference between trials in imagination and trials in
actual experience. Trials in imagination do not affect us so much,
because we only know them at a distance, or by guess and supposition ;
but evils in sense and feeling are another thing than we could imagine.
It is a lamentable thing to see what a cowardly spirit there is in most
Christians, how soon they are discouraged with every petty assault or
slender temptation, and their resolutions shaken with the appearance of
any difficulty, how confident soever they were before.
[3.] God sendeth temptations to abate our pride, and so to humble us
as well as prove us, that we may not be proud of what we have, or
conceit that we have more than we have. Paul giveth this reason : 2
Cor. xii. 7, Lest I should be exalted above measure through the
abundance of revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above mea
sure. There is a difference about the interpretation what this a/c6\oty
rf) crap/cl, thorn in the flesh, was ; either a racking disease or some other
sharp affliction. Surely it was not stirrings of sin or some boiling lusts,
for Paul was aged, and he would then speak of it in other words.
Some think it was some racking disease, like the stake thrust into the
fundament of a slave that ran from his master, and came out at his
back. Whatever it was, it was a messenger of Satan. Now, whether
God would permit Satan to have such power over Paul s body, I leave
it to you to consider. Therefore some think it was some sore afflic
tion. In the general, I remember the pricking brier and grieving
thorn is put for the despisers and persecutors of Israel : Ezek.
xxviii. 24, And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house
of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them
that despised them. This may be called a thorn in the flesh. A
sad and sharp affliction questionless it was, inflicted on Paul by
the power of the devil. But whatever the event was, God s end was
clear, that he might not be elevated with his transcendent revela
tions : he twice repeateth it, Lest I should be exalted above mea
sure. When the instruments of Satan deal roughly with him, this
was designed by God to keep him humble.
[4.] God sendeth these temptations in justice to correct us for other
sins: 2 Sam. xxiv. 1, The anger of the Lord was kindled against
Israel, and he moved David to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
The Lord permitted Satan to move David, as I explained it before ;
but mark, it was because God was angry with Israel, when they had
SERMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32. 103
abused their plenty and prosperity to licentiousness and forgetfulness
of God. Satan is permitted to tempt David, that God might take
that occasion to punish them. And it is observed in the censures of
the church ; a scandalous sinner is delivered over to Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the
Lord Jesus, 1 Cor. v. 5 ; that is, permitted for a while to the devil s
power, that he might be recovered to God. And in the text, Satan
hath desired, e^Trja-aro, hath required him of God, demands to have
him delivered up to him as to an executioner ; and if God thinks fit
to answer this request, then he delivereth them up to Satan. Now
this should be regarded by us. It is a sad thing when the devil hath
a just plea in law against us. The apostle warneth Christians not to
give place to the devil/ Eph. iv. 27. This may be done effective or
meritorie. Effectually, when you comply with his insinuations, and give
way to your inordinate passions and carnal affections ; then you set
open the door to Satan, for he watcheth for any opportunity to recover
his old possession and exercise his former tyranny again. Pharaoh was
not so hasty to pursue after the Israelites as this malicious spirit is to
recover the prey taken out of his hands. When you give way to any
known sin, and continue and lie asleep in it, Satan is encouraged and
God provoked. And so meritorie ; meritoriously you give place to
Satan as you make God to withdraw his assistance or to give Satan
leave to tempt you : 2 Chron. xxxii. 31, God left him to try him, that
he might know all that was in his heart. And so fearful havoc is
made in the soul, not only of comfort, but grace as to many degrees of
it. One sin prepareth for another, as a spark doth for a flame ; and
the longer and oftener we sin, so much the worse it is for us. Repen
tance is the sharper, because of the wrong done to God ; and the
harder, because it is not easy to settle and restore such a soul, that
the influences of God s grace and favour may have their wonted course.
4. That God doth not expose us to the fury of Satan, to be dealt
with as he pleaseth, but doth bridle and restrain his rage.
[1.] God is the sovereign orderer of this business of temptations.
As the shaking and tossing of the saints is by his leave, so is the pro
tection of their faith from his grace. The devil is a creature under
government, as all other creatures are ; and it is a great comfort to
the saints that, when they are in Satan s hands, Satan is in God s
hands. Neither the devil nor the world can help or hurt us without his
leave. The devils are represented to be under chains, and chains of
darkness, Jude 6, 2 Peter ii. 4. These chains are God s irresistible
power and terrible justice ; either the restraints of his powerful provi
dence, called therefore chains, or the horror of their own despairing
fears, called therefore chains of darkness. They can do nothing but
as far as God s justice and holy wisdom permitteth them.
[2.] As our protection cometh from God, so it cometh to us by the
intercession of Christ, who prayeth for his people ; a copy whereof we
have, John xvii., and a pledge of which is this. He hath intendered
his own heart by experience, and so is more likely to pity us : Heb.
ii. 18, For that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to
succour them that are tempted. There is ability of power, ability of
idoneity and fitness, as it is proper and agreeable that he should
404 SERMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32.
become compassionate, and willing to relieve those that fall into the
like or same evils, namely, sharp persecutions in this world for his
name s sake : Heb. iv. 15, He was in all points tempted as we are.
He hath felt the weight and trouble of temptations himself, and will
be sensible of our condition ; as a man that has had the stone or gout
knows better how to sympathise with others in the like case, and as
Israel was commanded to be merciful and pitiful to strangers, because
they knew the heart of a stranger. Non ifjnara mali, miseris suc-
currere disco.
[3.] Christ s love is never more at work for us than when under
temptations. He hath a tender sense of our danger by Satan. When
he followeth them out of malice and spite, then God puts forth the
strength and efficacy of his mediation : 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. When his people are
assaulted by Satan he hath most love for them, and taketh care
aforehand - John xiii. 1, Having loved his own that were in the world,
he loved them to the end. Saith Christ of them, Poor creatures !
they are left to storms and tempests, and they are undone if I help
them not.
[4.] Though he permit the temptation, yet he alloweth not a total
victory, as he prayed that Peter might not utterly forsake the faith.
Non pugna sublata est, sed victoria. He doth not hinder the fight,
but the victory. He overcame the devil and the world, therefore fear
not. God promiseth help for human frailty, not for rashness and
sloth. We are sure of victory whilst we resist and keep up the fight :
James iv. 7, Kesist the devil, and he will flee from you.
[5.] Being kept from the evil is better than to be exempted from the
trouble of vexatious temptations. Our Lord prayeth so : John xvii. 15,
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
thou shouldest keep them from the evil. He teacheth us to pray so :
Mat. vi. 13, * Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
There is a direct prayer, and a prayer by way of reserve. First, if it
be the will of God, lead us not into temptation ; but if that be, then
keep us from the evil. It is a more wonderful providence to be kept
from the evil than to be kept from temptation. A garrison never
assaulted is easily kept. And partly because the evil of sin is greater
than the evil of trouble. Sin separateth from God, affliction driveth
us to him ; and to be preserved from the reign of sin is better than
not to be permitted to fall into a signal act of sin ; for the act may be
consistent with grace, but not the reign.
Use 1. Let us not be secure. Christ was tempted, so was Job, so
was Paul. We have a fierce and subtle adversary to encounter with,
many trials we must look for. None are so tempted as the best
Christians; the pirate doth not set upon an empty vessel. Wicked
men are not troubled ; they are already in the snares, slaves and vassals
to Satan, of whom he is sure already : Luke xi. 21, Where a strong
man keeps his palace, his goods are in peace. A middle sort of men
God permitteth not to be tempted : 1 Cor. x. 13, God will not suffer
you to be tempted above what you are able. They are not seasoned
SERMON UPON LUKE XXIT. 31, 32. 405
enough, nor furnished with life and light. Satan s malice aimeth at
the best, but he prevaileth with the presumptuously confident and
fool-hardy. They know not their own weaknesses. If we slight these
things, and thrust ourselves into temptations, we fall as a ready prey
into the mouth of the roaring lion. You know how many a good
purpose hath come to nothing ; and will not you watch ? This is the
cause why we are so often surprised ; we live and walk as if we were
not among our enemies, as if the devil did not haunt us, and we gave
him no occasion to solicit God against us.
2. Being forewarned, let us be forearmed or prepared against Satan s
devices ; otherwise, when we think, as Samson, to go forth and
shake ourselves as at other times, we shall find that our strength
is gone, and we have permitted ourselves too much to the power of
the enemy. Our preparation mainly lieth in two things
[1.] That we be dead to the flesh and the world. Be sober and
watchful. Sobriety is a moderation in all earthly things. The devil
usually gets the world on his side. Therefore, till we be dead to applause,
commodity, honour, and profit, and resolve to be holy and obedient to
God though it cost us dear, we shall do nothing in Christianity. Satan
will tempt the flesh, and that will soon say, Spare thyself : Mat. xvi. 22,
This shall not be unto thee/ Therefore as long as there is a bias of
worldly inclination upon us, and we are set on the pleasures, profits, or
honours of the world, or be taken too much with its ease, peace, and
prosperity, we are not prepared ; and what work will Satan make when
he comes to toss us !
[2.] Keep faith upright. Christ prays that Peter s faith may not
fail, and 1 Peter v. 9, Whom resist, steadfast in the faith. Faith has
many things to pitch on, the whole gospel, but chiefly the promises
and threatenings of the gospel ; they will inform you what will be the
end of godliness and sin, and a man that hath his eyes opened, and seeth
the end of godliness and sin, hath a mighty advantage. As to the
promises of Christ, surely Christ is no deceiver. Will you credit the
devil, whom you have found to be false, and suspect the promises of
Christ ? Luke xii. 32, Fear not, little flock ; for it is your father s good
pleasure to give you the kingdom. Christ promiseth more than the
devil. As to the threatenings, let not the threatenings of men affright
you ; if they threaten a prison, God threateneth hell ; if they threaten
to molest the body, God can cast body and soul into hell. God can pre
serve you from what men threaten, and he threatens what is worse than
man threatens ; and therefore, to have our eyes in our head, and see the
end of godliness and sin, is a mighty help in this case, that our faith
may not fail.
SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9.
Thou liast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity ; therefore God, even
thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy
felloivs. HEB. i. 9.
IN the context the apostle is proving that Christ hath obtained a more
excellent name than the angels. They are servants, he a son ; they
are creatures, he is God ; they are to worship, he is to be worshipped,
in which divine honours they can have no communion ; they are spec
tators of the mystery of redemption, he is the head of the redeemed
world, as being solemnly appointed thereunto by God. This is the
argument of the text, which is a quotation out of the 45th Psalm,
Thou hast loved righteousness, &c.
In these words we have (1.) A description of Christ ; (2.) The
exaltation of Christ ; (3.) The respect of the one to the other, there
fore. The one is the foundation of the other.
1. In the description of Christ his holiness is taken notice of ; and
[1.] Both branches are mentioned, loved righteousness/ hated
iniquity.
[2.] The habitual inclination of his heart is asserted in all that he
did or now doth do ; all proceeded from his love to righteousness, and
his hatred to sin.
[3.] This commendation or description doth not only concern his
personal practice, but his design. His heart was set upon it, not only
to practise holiness himself, but to promote it in the world ; for the
holiness of God incarnate is essentially necessary both to his person and
employment. By it he was fitly qualified. Nothing puts us on to do a
thing thoroughly more than love ; this was Christ s principle ; and
therefore he would express the most effectual means.
2. His exaltation : God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the
oil of gladness above thy fellows ; that is, exalted thee above men and
all angels. Anointing is often applied to Christ : Ps. ii. 2, Against
the Lord and his anointed ; Acts iv. 27, Thine holy child Jesus,
whom thou hast anointed ; Isa. Ixi. 1, The Lord hath anointed me
to preach good tidings to the meek. Therefore he is called in the
Hebrew Messiah, and in the Greek Xpio-ros. This anointing usually
signifieth three things
[1.] The giving of power and authority, as Saul by being anointed
408 SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9.
was made king of Israel, 1 Sam. x. 1, and Aaron and his sons made
priests, Exod. xxx. 30. So Christ was anointed to authorise his dis
pensation, or to invest him in the authority and power of the mediatory
office.
[2.] To fit and enable the person so authorised for the discharge of
the office unto which he was called ; for the oil was typical, and
signified the gifts and graces of the Spirit. So Jesus Christ was
* anointed with the Holy Ghost, and with power, Acts x. 38, to fit his
human nature for so high a function.
[3.] His welcome and entertainment at his return to heaven ; and
so the glorious exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ, when he solemnly
sat down at the right hand of majesty, and entered upon his kingdom,
was his anointing ; for then was he solemnly made both Lord and
Christ/ Acts ii. 36, and evidenced to be the Lord s anointed one, as I
shall show more fully by and by.
3. The respect or relation of his exaltation to his description, there
fore. At least it is a consequent of what he had done in the world in
love to righteousness and hatred of sin, but moreover it is to him a
recompense : Phil. ii. 9, Wherefore God hath highly exalted him,
and given him a name which is above every name ; Horn. xiv. 9, For
to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be
Lord both of the dead and living. Which is no lessening of his merit ;
for therein he considered not himself, but us, that he might be a merci
ful high priest to us, or a powerful king to defend his people. The
Son of God had before his incarnation a glory to which nothing can be
added, and a full right which cannot be increased ; and whatever glory
he received as mediator, it concerneth us more than him.
Doct. That Jesus Christ as mediator, because of his love to right
eousness and hatred of sin, is dignified and advanced by God, not only
above all men, but also above all angels.
In handling of this point (1.) I shall speak of the holiness of
Christ ; (2.) His unction, which is the consequent and fruit of it.
First, Of the holiness of Christ, both as to his person and office.
1. As to his person. There we must consider the original holiness
of his natures, divine and human. Divine ; he is called, Isa. xlv. 21,
A just God, and a saviour. Human ; he was wholly free from that
original contagion wherewith others that come of Adam are defiled :
Luke i. 35, That holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God. Now add to this his perfect actual obedience to God
both in heart and life, and this either to the common law of duty that
lieth upon all mankind, for it became him to fulfil all righteousness,
Mat. iii. 15, or that particular law of mediation which was proper to
himself : Heb. v. 8, Though he were a son, yet he learned obedience by
the things he suffered ; by which he answered the end of the law which
we have broken, and was also the meritorious cause of the covenant of
grace, by which all blessings are conveyed to us : 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. Well, then, his personal
holiness did make him acceptable to God, and should make him
amiable to us. He loved righteousness, and hated iniquity. Adam
in the state of innocency did perfectly love righteousness and hate sin
SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9. 409*
but not constantly, for he soon fell. Believers in the state of regener
ation love righteousness and hate iniquity sincerely and constantly, but
not perfectly ; but Christ, when he assumed our nature, did love right
eousness and hate iniquity both perfectly and constantly, in heart and
practice, and this even to the death. This qualified him for his office
of prophet, priest, and king. As a prophet, who is so fit to teach the
world holiness as one that hath a perfect love to holiness and hatred of
sin, and this manifested in our nature ? Angels are holy and right
eous, but not so as Christ, who, besides the essential purity and holiness
of the Godhead, hath also assumed our nature, and preserved it in
purity and innocency. And therefore his nature and practice agreeth
with his design : 1 John iii. 5, He was manifested to take away our
sins, and in him is no sin. So as a priest ; his holiness gave a value
both to the merit of his sacrifice and intercession : Heb. vii. 25, 26,
Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God
by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them : for such
an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate
from sinners/ Here was a pure, unspotted sacrifice, offered up to God
here upon earth, and pleaded and represented in heaven. He that was
to satisfy in the behalf of others needed to be free from the defilement
of sin himself, that he might be not only our ransom but our pattern.
Then as a king, this purity and holiness is necessary, not only that he
might powerfully affect, but also favour and patronise all that is good,
holy, and just in the world ; for, Prov. xv. 9, The way of the wicked
is an abomination to the Lord, but he loveth him that followeth after
righteousness. The one are the objects of his abomination, the other
of his love. The wicked are for a while prosperous and successful,
therefore they think God loveth them, but they are an abomination to
him into whose hands all judgment is put. They cannot collect or
conclude his approbation from his forbearance. No ; nor any neglect
of human affairs, as if they were left to their own chance and arbitra
ment. No ; all that can be gathered from thence is his great for
bearance and mercy to the worst, while he is inviting them to repent
ance. On the other side you have the disposition of the regenerate set
forth, who do not perfunctorily and by-the-by do that which is holy
and righteous, but set their whole heart and desire to it. They follow
after righteousness ; their business is to be eminently holy ; and surely
they are loved by Christ : for he that hateth iniquity and loveth right
eousness will love those that follow after it, than which nothing more
sweet, honourable, and blessed can be thought of by us than to be
loved by our Redeemer. To have a prince love us, or a wise or learned
man love us, we highly value it ; what is it then to have Christ love
us ? This will not be a barren or an empty love. Well, then, he is
fit to be the king of the world.
2. All this while we have spoken of his personal holiness, which
maketh him acceptable to God and amiable to us, and qualifieth him
for his office. Now let us see how he showeth this love to holiness
and hatred to iniquity in his office as well as in his person. The-
general term whereby this office is expressed is mediator. The three
particular functions are those of prophet, priest, and king.
[1J As to the general term mediator, whose work it is to bring
410 SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9.
heaven and earth to kiss each other, or to make peace between God
and man, God offended, and man guilty, all that he did therein was
out of his love to righteousness and hatred of iniquity, which was the
great makebate between God and us ; therefore surely his chief design
was to destroy sin and to promote holiness. So much we are told, Dan.
ix. 24, that the Messiah shall come to finish transgressions, and to
make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to
bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and pro
phecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. The great business for which
the Mediator came into the world was to destroy the reign and power
of sin, and to advance the practice of all goodness and holiness, and to
recover the lost world to God. Now, because his heart was so much
set upon this, God anointed him with the oil of gladness above his
fellows.
[2.] Come we to those three particular functions wherein this office
is exercised, those of prophet, priest, and king.
(1.) As a prophet, by his doctrine he showeth that he loveth right
eousness and hateth iniquity, for the whole frame of it discovereth and
breatheth out nothing else but an hatred against sin and a love to
holiness : John xvii. 17, Sanctify them through the truth ; thy word
is truth j Ps. cxix. 140, Thy word is very pure. All the histories,
mysteries, precepts, promises, threatenings, aim at this one business,
that sin may be subdued in us, and brought into disrepute and dis-
esteem in the world. The histories are certain patterns and examples of
holiness, and those taken from men and women that had not divested
themselves of the interests and concernments of flesh and blood no
more than we have, and yet pleased and served God in their several
generations, to excite us to like diligence and self-denial : Heb. vi. 12,
Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the
promises. The mysteries are not only to raise our wonder, but breed a
true spirit of godliness : 1 Tim. iii. 16, And without controversy great
is the mystery of godliness. The whole gospel is called, Titus i. 1 , The
truth which is after godliness ; and 1 Tim. vi. 3, A doctrine which
is according to godliness ; because it delivereth the exact and most
perfect way of serving God. The Lord Jesus was desirous that this
doctrine should take place in the world, therefore he himself was
pleased to assume our nature to preach it to us. So for his precepts,
they all prescribe an universal adherence to God, and dependence on
him, that we may not be carried away by the false offers and delights
of sin, but may live in perfect obedience to God, and justice and charity
to men. Besides, the word discovereth all the cheats and fallacies we
put upon ourselves, to keep us from all impure mixtures of worldly
and carnal aims : it discovereth the crafty pretences, and the most
insinuating and cunning contrivances to disguise and hide sin : Heb.
iv. 12, For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and the intents of the heart/ In short, the whole aim of it
is that we may please God and be beloved by him : John xiv. 21, He
that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth
me ; and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love
SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9. .411
him, and will manifest myself to him/ The promises call for the
greatest purity and cleanness of heart and life : 2 Cor. vii. 1, Having
therefore these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
both of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. So the
threatenings ; why doth Christ tell us of torments without end and ease,
of a pit without a bottom, of a fire that shall never be quenched, but
to make sin more odious and hateful to us ? Surely not to terrify us,
but to sanctify us ; for his government is rather by love than by fear.
Now, whosoever wisely considereth the Christian religion, he will soon
discern that it was framed and set afoot by one that loved righteous
ness and hated iniquity.
(2.) His priestly office consists in his oblation and intercession, as
the high priest under the law did both offer sacrifice and intercede for
the people. Now what was the intent of Christ s sacrifice but to put
away sin ? Heb. ix. 26, Now once in the end of the world hath he
appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself ; that is, not
only to destroy the guilt, but the power of it. There are three things
in the death and sufferings of Christ to make us hate iniquity, and so
by consequence to love righteousness (1.) By way of representation ;
(2.) By way of impetration ; (3.) By way of obligation.
(ls.) By way of representation. His bitter sufferings are an instance
of God s great wrath against sin and sinners : for if Christ must thus be
handled rather than sin shall go unpunished, it warneth us to be very
cautious how we meddle with the forbidden fruit. When we remem
ber his bitter agonies, his accursed, shameful death, we should cry out
Oh, odious sin ! This is the meaning of that expression, Horn. viii. 3,
1 And for sin he condemned sin in the flesh ; that is, by a sin-offering,
or the sacrifice of Christ, he hath condemned sin, he hath left a brand
or mark of his displeasure against sin, which should induce us to be
very cautious and watchful against it ; for if these things be done in
the green tree, what shall be done in the dry ?
(2d) By way of impetration and purchase. Christ came not only
to expiate the guilt of it, but to get it out of our hearts. As he pacified
the wrath of God, so he purchased the Spirit ; in which sense our old
man is said to be crucified with him, Rom. vi. 6, namely, as grace was
obtained whereby it might be crucified. Now we are sluggish and
cowardly if we tamely yield to our lusts, and pretend want of power,
when it is want of will to cast them off.
(3d) By way of obligation, by this great instance of his love to induce
us to kill our love to sin : 1 Peter ii. 24, Who his own self bare our
sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should
live unto righteousness, by whose stripes we are healed. Since he
hath borne the weight of our sins, and endured the wrath due to them
in his own person, if we have any esteem of Christ s love, certainly wo
would not spare our most beloved lusts, nor be still alive to sin and
dead to righteousness, nor wittingly and allowedly do the least thing
that is offensive to him : Ezra ix. 14, Should we again break thy com
mandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations,
wouldst thou not be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that
there should be no remnant nor escaping ?
(3.) The next is a king. He is one whose heart was so set upon the
412 SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9.
love of righteousness, and the hatred of all iniquity, that he would corne
as a prophet himself to teach the sinful lost world how to become holy
again. And as a priest to die for the guilty world to reconcile them to
God. Surely he was fit also to rule and govern the world. There are
two parts of government laws and actual administration. His laws
are all good and equal, the same with his doctrine. As he giveth notice
of these things as a prophet, so he giveth charge about them as a king.
Of his laws we need not further speak, but the administration is undei
our consideration. Now in the righteous ordering the affairs of his
kingdom he showeth himself to be one that loveth righteousness and
hateth iniquity. As the laws are good and equal, so the administra
tion is right and just. The administration of this kingdom is twofold
internal and external.
(1st.) Internal. Christ is set over the church of God as a glorious
head and chief, who is to recover a lost people unto God. His internal
administration is either effective or remunerative.
(1st.) Effective by his preventing grace, as he changeth our hearts,
bringeth us into his kingdom, worketh faith in us, and maketh us
willing subjects to him. Conversion is one of his kingly acts, wrought
in us by the efficacy of his preventing grace ; otherwise we cannot
enter into his kingdom : Mat. xviii. 3, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven ; Col. i. 13, Who hath delivered us from the power of dark
ness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son/ Till
he subdue the power of sin and Satan in our hearts, we shall still groan
under that tyranny : Acts xxvi. 18, To open their eyes, and to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.
(2d.) Kemunerative, by the rewards of godliness here and hereafter,
Here : Rom. xiv. 17, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink,
but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Peace of
conscience, increase of grace, joy in the Holy Ghost. They shall not
want encouragement who seriously set themselves to love righteousness
and hate iniquity: 2 Peter i. 11, For so an entrance shall be minis
tered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Hereafter, heaven is the portion of the
sanctified: Acts xx. 32, And now, brethren, I commend you to God
and the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give
you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified/ He doth
sanctify all that believe on him, and then gives them eternal life.
(2d) External, in the course of his providence. Christ hath set up
a government wherein he will favour and protect those that walk up
rightly : Ps. xi. 7, For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness ; his
countenance doth behold the upright. But with the disobedient God
is angry every day, Ps. vii. 11. Only it is the day of God s patience.
God is preparing himself. Well, then, we must neither rebel against
his government nor distrust his defence; for Christ administereth
justice in his kingdom, defending the good, and destroy ing the wicked,
and he will in time earnestly espouse the cause of all holiness and
righteousness.
Secondly, I come now to the unction of Christ, which is the conse
quent fruit of the former : God, even thy God, hath anointed thee
SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9. 413
with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. There you may observe (1.)
The author of this unction, God, even, thy God ; (2.) The privilege
itself, to be anointed with the oil of gladness ; (3.) The partakers of
this privilege, or the persons to whom it is applied. One principal and
singular, who hath the pre-eminence, and that is the Mediator ; others
inferior, and in a lower degree of participation, called here his fellows.
Let us a little explain these things.
1. The author of this unction, God, even thy God. Is this spoken
to him as God or man ? It may be true in both senses. As to his
divine nature he is God of God, or, as it is in John i. 1, The Word
was with God, and the Word was God. As to his human nature, he
is a creature made of a woman, and so God is his God, as he is the
God of all flesh. But especially is this spoken of him as Mediator, so
Christ is one of God s confederates. There is a covenant between God
and him : John xx. 17, I go to my Father and your Father, to my
God and your God/ The sum of the covenant was, that after he had
suffered here upon earth, and satisfied God s justice by being made a
curse for us, he was at length to be raised out of the grave, and exalted
to his regal power in heaven. All that belongeth to a covenant is found
in this transaction between God and Christ.
[1.] God propoundeth the terms, or dernandeth of his Son that he
lay down his life ; and for his labour he promiseth that he shall see
his seed, that God shall give him many children : Isa. liii. 10, He
shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the
Lord shall prosper in his hands.
[2.] The Son consenteth, and saith, A body hast thou prepared for
me ; Lo, I come to do thy will, Ps. xl. 6, 7 ; Sacrifice and offering
thou didst not desire ; mine ears hast thou opened : burnt-offering and
sin-offering thou hast not required. Then said I, Lo, I come ; in the
volume of the book it is written of me. Here the eternal Son of God
doth agree and contract with his Father to perform that perfect obed
ience to his laws, and to offer up himself such a divine and spotless
sacrifice for the sins of the whole world as was necessary for the expia
tion of sin.
[3.] Christ hath not only consented, but doth with all joy and delight
set about this whole will and counsel of God, and go through with the
work and office assigned unto him very cheerfully and heartily, till he
had brought it to a good end and issue : Ps. xl. 8, I delight to do
thy will, my God ; yea, thy law is in my heart.
[4.] After this ready and willing obedience he is to plead the cove
nant : Ps. Ixxxix. 26, He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father,
my God, and the rock of my salvation ; Ps. ii. 8, Ask of me, and I
will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost
parts of the earth for thy possession. Upon this there is
[5.] God s answer, God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the
oil of gladness above thy fellows ; and Ps. ex. 1, The Lord said unto
my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot
stool. Thus doth the scripture lisp to us in our own dialect, or in such
language as we can best understand, concerning that bill of contract or
transacted bargain between God and Christ from all eternity, wherein
Christ, undertaking perfectly to fulfil the will of God, and to perform
414 SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9.
all active and passive obedience even unto death, had the promise from
God that lie should become the author of eternal salvation to all that
obey him. The redemption of sinners is not a work of yesterday, nor
a business of chance, but well advised, and in infinite wisdom contrived.
There was a preparatory agreement to that great work before it was
gone about, and therefore it should not be slighted by us, nor lightly
passed over.
2. The privilege itself; to be anointed with the oil of gladness. It
noteth his solemn exaltation and admission to the exercise of his office.
By oil all agree is meant the Spirit, by which Christ was anointed :
Luke iv. 18, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath
anointed me.
[1.] Christ was anointed at his conception in his mother s womb,
when he was sanctified by the Holy Spirit ; for the work of the Spirit
was not only to form his body out of the substance of the virgin,
which nature could not do of itself ; but chiefly to preserve it from sin,
and endow it with the gift of holiness ; from which time he grew in
wisdom and grace, as well as in stature : Luke ii. 52, And Jesus in
creased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
[2.] Again, Christ may be said to be anointed at his baptism, which
was the visible consecration to his office, when the Holy Ghost de
scended upon him in the form of a dove, Mat. iii. 16, 17, and John i.
33. Once more
[3.] He may be said to be anointed at his ascension, when he received
of the Father the promise of the Spirit to pour him forth upon his dis
ciples : Acts ii. 33, Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted
and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he
hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear/ This I take to be
the sense here, his glorious exaltation at the right hand of God, where,
being possessed of all power, he joyfully expecteth and accomplisheth
the fruits of his redemption. I am the more confirmed in this
(1.) Because the exaltation of Christ is as it were his welcome to
neaven ; God doth as it were take him by the "hand, and set him upon
the throne after all the sorrows of his humiliation. As we welcome a
stranger or a guest whose coming is pleasing to us by taking him by
the hand and bringing him into our houses, so is Christ exalted by the
right hand of God, and welcomed into heaven, as having done his
work, and made full provision for the glory of God and the obedience
of the creature ; as we are also received into glory after we are guided
by his counsel : Ps. Ixxiii. 24, Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel,
and afterward receive me to glory ; and then all tears shall be wiped
from our eyes.
(2.) The term, the oil of gladness, implieth it ; for that was the
entertainment of honourable guests invited to a feast. We see it prac
tised to Christ by one woman : Luke vii. 37, And behold, a woman in
the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in
the pharisee s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment. And by
another : Mat. xxvi. 7, There came unto him a woman having an
alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head as he
sat at meat. And the psalmist, speaking of God s festival entertain
ment : Ps. xxiii. 5, Thou preparest a table before me in the presence
SERMON UPON HEBKEWS I. 9. 415
of mine enemies ; thou anointest my head with oil. Another mention
of this practice is, Ps. civ. 15, Wine to make glad the heart of man,
and oil to make his face to shine. All these places, and many more
in the scripture, allude to the custom of pouring some fragrant precious
ointments on the heads of guests of special eminency, called the oil of
gladness, because the use of it was to exhilarate and cheer the spirits.
Now, because this was an extraordinary respect paid them, this phrase
came at length to signify the preferring one above another ; and so it
is fitly applied to Christ, whom God hath dignified above all men and
angels, in that he hath received power spiritual and divine above what
was communicated to any other.
3. The persons anointed.
[1.] One singular in this unction, the Lord Jesus Christ. There are
two sorts of privileges (1.) Some things only given to Christ, not to
us ; as the name above all names to be adored, Phil. ii. 9 ; to be the
head of the renewed state, Eph. i. 21, the saviour of the body, Eph. v.
23 ; to have power to dispense the Spirit, to administer providences,
&c. All this is proper to Christ ; neither men nor angels share with
him in these honours. (2.) There are other things given to Christ
and his people ; as the sanctifying and comforting Spirit, the heavenly
inheritance, victory over our spiritual enemies, the devil, the world,
and the flesh ; these are given to us and him ; only God doth grace
his Son above his fellows : Rom. viii. 29, That he might be the first
born among many brethren. He must have the honour due to the
first-born. Anciently the first-born was lord of the rest of the family :
Gen. xxvii. 37, And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I
have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for
servants. And also the first-born gave the rest of the brethren a share
of the father s goods, reserving to himself a double portion : Deut. xxi.
17, He shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the first-born by
giving him a double portion of all that he hath, for he is the beginning
of his strength, the right of the first-born is his. Christ being the
first-born, he must in all things have the pre-eminence. In our con
flicts and trials he is the captain of our salvation, Heb. ii. 10. In
holiness he is our pattern, or the copy which we must transcribe : 2
Cor. iii. 18, Are changed into the same image from glory to glory.
Primum in unoquoque genere est mensura et regula cceterorum The
first in every kind is the standard for all the rest. In our glory and
blessedness he is our forerunner, Heb. vi. 20, having actually taken
possession of that felicity and glory which he will bestow upon his
followers ; so that Christ s honour is reserved, and believers are com
forted whilst they follow their head in every state and condition.
[2.] Others are admitted to be partakers of this grace in a lower
degree, called his fellows. They are also dignified and graced by
God above the rest of the world, but not as Christ was. Two things
I will observe here
(1.) They must be his consorts and fellows. Sometimes they are
called his brethren, Heb. ii. 11 ; sometimes members of his mystical
body, Eph. i. 22, 23, sometimes joint-heirs with Christ, Rom. viii.
17 ; meaning thereby all believers, who are companions with him both
in grace and glory. Thus we must be before we partake of this
416 SEKMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9.
anointing. Actus activorum sunt in passive unito et disposito They
that receive influence from another must be fitted for what they receive,
and united to him from whom they receive it. Therefore none but
Christ s members and fellows do partake of his unction. But who are
they ? All such as are like-minded with himself, that love righteous
ness, and hate iniquity, that set themselves seriously to promote the
glory of God, and to destroy the reign of sin in the world, both in
themselves and others ; in short, those that are regenerated and planted
into his mystical body by the Spirit.
(2.) The next thing which I observe is, that all these may have
somewhat of this unction according to their measure and part which
they sustain in the body : 1 John ii. 20, But we have an unction from
the Holy One ; compare Ps. cxxxiii. 2, It is like the precious ointment
upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron s beard, that
went down to the skirts of his garments. The ointment poured upon
our head in such plenty that it diffuseth itself to all his members,
God is the author thereof : 2 Cor. i. 21, Now he that establisheth us with
you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God. It is a divine work but
the pipe or means of conveying it to us is Christ, who is the great re
ceptacle from whence the whole family is supplied : John i. 16, Of
his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace/ And it mainly
consisteth in the gift of the Spirit, sanctifying and preparing us for our
present work and final reward, and comforting us with our present
interest in the love of God and hopes of glory : 2 Cor. v. 5, Now he
that hath wrought us for this self-same thing is God, who also hath
given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
Use. I shall exhort you to two things (1.) To holiness ; (2.) To
get more of the oil of gladness.
1. To holiness. If there were no more than that it is pleasing to
Christ, and visibly exemplified in his own person, this should induce us.
It was love to holiness and hatred of sin that brought him out of heaven,
and put him on the work of our redemption. Nothing doth more urge
us to do a thing than love, or to forbear it than hatred. These were
Christ s motives to undertake the redemption of sinners. Now we should
love what he loveth, and hate what he hateth : Kev. ii. 6, Thou hatest
the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate ; Prov. viii. 13, The
fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride, and arrogancy ; and the evil way
and the froward mouth do I hate. But there is more in the argument
than so. This was the design of our Redeemer : 1 John iii. 8, For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the
works of the devil. Now it doth not become Christians to contradict
the designed end of their Redeemer. But this is not all ; it is to slight
the price of our redemption, as if there were no such great mystery in
it, that the Son of God should die ; for if we slight the benefits we
slight the ransom, 1 Peter i. 18. Yea, there is this further in it, we
neglect the grace that may be had upon such easy terms. Surely the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ did somewhat shorten the power of
sin, or else he came in vain. He obtained the grace he purchased :
John xii. 31, Now is the judgment of this world ; now shall the prince
of this world be cast out. These are the glorious fruits and effects of
his death, that it shall tend to the glory of God and the bringing down
SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9. 417
the kingdom of sin and Satan in the world. They to whom this pur
chase is revealed, and yet reject the offer, are guilty of sluggish cow
ardice, and if they be not delivered from the power of the devil, and
restored to a life of holiness, their condemnation is just. In our natural
estate by the fall of Adam we were all corrupted and out of frame, but
the second Adam came to restore things that were in confusion and
out of frame to their right and primitive order. Man hath fallen
from holiness and happiness ; sin and Satan have reigned and raged in
this world ; the children of this world have blessed themselves in their
bad condition, and delighted in their slavery and bondage. Now if
Christ come to make an end of sin and bring in everlasting right
eousness, shall it be so still as it was before ? shall the disordered
world go on in its ancient wont ? Surely there should be more
visible fruits of his coming seen among us. If men should lie in
wickedness still, and turn their backs upon God, after whose image
they were created, and sin and Satan rule them at their pleasure,
how are things put in frame that were out of course ? What hath the
Son of God done by all his holy life and bloody sufferings ? Surely
either the purchase is not so great and glorious, or we make but little
use of it, and so are quite strangers in God s Israel.
I have not done with the argument yet. We have no communion
with Christ, yea, we renounce it, if we continue to be so unlike him :
1 John i. 6-8, 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, then have we fellowship one with another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say we have
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Such a solemn
preface introduceth that truth, to show that if we live in our sins, we
shall die in our sins, and then farewell all happiness.
2. To look after more of this unction. He is Christ the anointed of
God ; we must bechristians : Acts xi. 26, The disciples were called chris-
tians first in Antioch ; anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power,
that we may understand the mind of God, consecrate ourselves to him,
work his work, and engage in his warfare, fighting against the devil,
the world, and the flesh, till we triumph with Christ in heaven. All
must be anointed.
[1.] This is the fruit of Christ s exaltation, to send and shed abroad
the Spirit. There are effects of Christ s humiliation and effects of
Christ s exaltation. The effects of Christ s humiliation are taking away
the curse of the law, pacifying God s wrath, satisfying his justice, the
annihilation of the right which the devil had over sinners, a right to
return to God and enjoy eternal life. The exaltation of Christ also
hath its effects ; the application of this grace and the execution of this
right, by quickening us who were dead in trespasses and sins, and par
doning our transgressions, and putting us into the way everlasting.
.Now we should seek in Christ not only the force of satisfaction but the
force of regeneration, and his efficacious grace to apply what he hath
purchased for us, that he may be made sanctification to us as well as
righteousness, 1 Cor. i. 30. Since Christ is so able and willing to
dispense this grace freely and abundantly into men s hearts, surely it
should not be neglected.
VOL. XVJI. 2 D
418 SERMON UPON HEBREWS I. 9.
[2.] Consider the necessity of this grace. Our love to righteousness
and hatred of iniquity is the fruit of this unction, for affections follow
the nature. When we live in the Spirit we shall walk in the Spirit :
Ps. xcvii. 10, Ye that love the Lord, hate evil. All that pretend to
return to God must show the reality of it this way. Therefore, as you
would be pleasing to Christ, do not neglect this grace.
[3.] Consider the utility and profit. It is for our comfort. The
Spirit is called the oil of gladness/ because the benefits whereof we
are partakers are matters of great joy : Acts xiii. 52, The disciples
were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost; Acts viii. 39, He
went on his way rejoicing ; Acts xvi. 34, He rejoiced, believing in
God with all his house. It is for our honour we are dignified above
others, the more we are made partakers of the Spirit : 1 Peter ii. 9,
Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar
people.
UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
SERMON I.
Believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets r
and have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that
there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and
unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a con
science void of offence towards God, and toivards man. ACTS
xxiv. 14-16.
THESE words are part of Paul s apology against the accusation of
Tertullus. Among other things, he chargeth him to be an heretic, or
an apostate from the Jewish religion. When the Eomans had con
quered the Jews, they submitted upon this condition, that they should
innovate and change nothing in their religion, but defend it against
the disturbers of it. Now the Christians being accused of innovation
and disturbance of such a religion as was under the caution of the
Konian laws before a Roman tribunal, it concerned them to show the
harmony and agreement of both religions as to the substance. This is
Paul s business, and therefore he giveth an account of his faith, worship,
and conversation. He did indeed observe the way of the Christian
worship, which they called sectarism or heresy, and Paul was accused
to be a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, ver. 5 ; but yet this
was agreeable enough to the religion of the Jews for the substance,
which he proveth by his faith, hope, carriage, and conversation.
Here is in effect all Christianity delivered to us in one prospect and
view.
1. An account of his faith at the bottom of all, Believing all things
which are written in the law and the prophets.
2. His hope, as the immediate fruit of it, And have hope towards
God ; and the principal object is, The resurrection of the dead, both
of the just and the unjust, when we shall enjoy the full of what we
wait for.
3. An account of his manners, where you have a brief description of
a Christian conversation, Herein do I exercise myself, to have always
a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men/ My
business is not to discuss all these branches of Christianity apart, and
in their full latitude, but to give you the sum and delineation of all
religion in one view. Therefore observe
420 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16
Doct. That true Christianity is such a believing the truths contained
in the scriptures as produceth an hope of eternal life, and is expressed
in an impartial, uniform, and constant obedience.
Here is Paul s apology ; faith at the bottom, hope as the immediate
effect and product of it, and an holy conversation as the fruit and
consequent. The same method is observed in other scriptures ; as
1 Tim. i. 5, The end of the commandment is charity, out of a pure
heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. The com
mandment is the gospel institution, and this received with a pure heart
and faith unfeigned produceth a good conscience, which shows itself
in love to God and men, by a true and lively faith in Christ. The
Holy Ghost purifieth the heart and conscience, and so produceth love :
2 Peter i. 5, 6, Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and
to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience
godliness. In the chain of graces faith is the root of all. I shall
(1.) Examine the expressions here used; (2.) Give some reasons why
this is true Christianity.
I. Examine the expressions here used.
First, Concerning faith, Believing all things that are written in the
law and the prophets.
1. Here is the object, or things believed, Things written in the law
and the prophets.
2. The extent, All.
3. The act, Believing.
1. The object, Things written in the law and the propnets. Law
and prophets is an expression commonly used for all the scriptures then
extant : Mat. xi. 13, For all the prophets and the law prophesied until
John ; and Luke xvi. 29, They have Moses and the prophets ; let
them hear them. The books of the Old Testament are thus called.
We Christians, who have received the canon and rule of faith more
enlarged, are said To be built on the foundation of the prophets and
apostles, Eph. ii. 20; so that now the object of our faith is prophets
and apostles. The object of faith may be considered formally or ma
terially. Materially, such things as God hath revealed; formally,
because God hath revealed them. If God hath revealed what is in
the writings of the apostles, then we are to believe them. God s
veracity is the ground and support of our faith, into which it is ulti
mately resolved. His instruments in revealing are the prophets and
apostles. We know God hath revealed the things written by them,
partly because these writings are delivered to us by the universal tradi
tion of the church, and the testimony of Christians through all succes
sions of ages, in whose experience God hath blessed these writings for
conviction, conversion, and consolation ; and partly because of the
consent between the prophets and the apostles, the one foretelling what
ever the other declared as accomplished : Acts xxvi. 22, Having therefore
obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small
and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and
Moses did say should come. Partly because the doctrines have an im
press of God upon them, as everything that hath passed his hand hath.
How do I know a fly, gnat, or any other creature to be made by God ?
God hath set his signature upon them : Ps. xix. 1, The heavens
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 421
declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
So the scriptures agree with the nature and properties of God. As
God is wise, powerful, and good, these doctrines become his wisdom ;
they have the stamp of his moral goodness, which is his holiness ; and
as for his power, they that feel it not fear it : John iii. 20, For every
one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light,
lest his deeds should be reproved. There is something that alarmeth
the conscience. And partly because it agreeth with the nature of man,
so far as a man hath any good left in him. It agreeth with the
necessities of man, his guilty fears and his desires of happiness. For
his guilty fears, men, that by reason of sin are afraid of God s justice, can
not be quieted by any other means, but are by this : Jer. vi. 16, Stand
ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good
way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls ; Mat.
xi. 28, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. In life and death the conscience is quieted. So
for desires of happiness. Men rove and grope about for some satisfying
good : Acts xvii. 27, That they should seek the Lord, if haply they
might feel after him, and find him ; And Ps. iv. 6, There be many
that say, Who will show us any good ? Life and immortality are
brought to light in the scriptures, and the way to obtain it clearly
revealed : Ps. xvi. 11, Thou wilt show me the path of life ; in thy
presence is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand are pleasures for ever
more. Partly because God hath witnessed and attested it by his
Spirit : Acts v. 32, We are witnesses of these things, and so is also
the Holy Ghost. Without, by miracles and other wonderful effects ;
within, by enlightening the heart and mind, inclining and exciting us to
believe it upon these motives and arguments : 2 Cor. iv. 6, God, who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ ; so as to discern God s impress. Upon these
accounts we receive what is written in the prophets and apostles as
revealed by God.
2. The extent, All things. A believer receiveth all truths which
are of divine revelation, whether precepts, promises, threatenings,
doctrines, or histories. But then we must distinguish of an implicit
or explicit faith. With the latter we can only believe those things
which we know ; what we know not we cannot believe with an explicit
faith. Some Christians know not all things which are contained in the
prophets and apostles, and yet in a sense they do believe by an implicit
faith ; as Agrippa believed the prophets : Acts xxvi. 27, King Agrippa,
believest thou the prophets ? I know that thou believest. Yet he was
ignorant of some things revealed by them. So all Christians own the
writings of the apostles and prophets as the rule and warrant of faith,
yet they do not discern every truth therein contained ; they do believe
that whatever the prophets and apostles say and have written is true,
and so are ready to believe all things which shall be demonstrated to
them to be written or said by them. But by an explicit faith they
believe all fundamental truths, such as are absolutely necessary to sal
vation, and usually most other truths which are next to fundamentals.
The fundamentals are set down, John xvii. 3, This is life eternal, to
422 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
know tliee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
That God ia to be known, loved, obeyed, worshipped, and enjoyed, and
that the Lord Jesus is our Redeemer and Saviour, to bring us home to
God, with his gifts of pardon and life, to be begun by the Spirit here,
and perfected in heaven.
3. The act, Believing. " It is not enough not to deny or not to con
tradict, but we must actually and positively believe. The reason why
the generality of people living in the Christian world feel so little force
of their faith is from their inadvertency ; they leap into the Christian
faith by the advantage of their birth, but do not consider what they
believe, nor why they should believe it, and how they are concerned in
it ; and so may be rather said not to contradict than to believe. But
true faith is a positive, firm assent, excited in us by the Spirit of God.
As the apostle saith of some that were zealous for the law, Understand
ing neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm/ 1 Tim. i. 7, so
the rabble of common Christians may be zealous for the gospel, yet are
not instructed in the nature and grounds of it, what and why they
should believe. A sound belief requireth a thorough understanding of
what we believe, and a deep consideration of the grounds and reasons
why we are to believe it. And then it is such a fixed assent as is not
perplexed and haunted with doubts about the truth of it, and such a
close adherence as is not discouraged with difficulties and oppositions.
It would be much better with the Christian world if every one that
carrieth the name of a Christian could say, I believe all that is written
in the prophets and the apostles. In short
To a sound belief there is necessary
[1.] A knowledge or full instruction in the things which we believe;
for it is said, 1 John iv. 16, We have known and believed the love
that God hath to us ; first known and then believed.
[2.] A due conviction of the certainty of them : Luke i. 4, That
thou mayest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been
instructed ; and John vi. 69, We believe and are sure, that thou art
that Christ, the Son of the living God ; and John xvii. 8, They have
known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that
thou didst send me.
[3.] This faith doth not only imply a bare intellectual assent, but a
practical trust and affiance ; for the nature of the object requireth so
much. Christianity doth not only propound bare truths to be assented
unto, but joyful, comfortable truths suitable to our necessity and
desires ; and therefore we must depend upon them, seek our happiness
in them in the way appointed by God, which is nothing but practical
trust and affiance. Therefore it is not a bare opinion, but a reliance
upon God, that he will make good his word to us, whilst we continue
with patience in well-doing. Therefore we are said to belong to Christ,
4 If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto
the end, Heb. iii. 6.
[4.] Those truths which are contained in the word are to be consi
dered with application, that we may know them for our good : Job v.
27, Hear it, and know thou it for thy good. Every doctrine, which
upon search we find to be sound and good, we must make application of
it to ourselves, that it may affect our own hearts ; if threatenings, that we
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 423
may escape the curse ; if comforts or promises, Horn. viii. 32, What
shall we say to these things ? The promise of pardon to all believers
is so universal, that it includeth you as well as others. Christ is
offered to every creature, that he may be yours as well as another s ;
and the offer of heaven and eternal life is so propounded that you
should engage your hearts to seek after it, and closely to adhere to it
till you obtain it. But to apply it so as to be persuaded that your own
sins are already pardoned, that you are an heir of glory, that you are
Christ s as to actual interest, you must have good evidence for that from
a spiritual sense of your own qualifications : but it belongeth not to
faith simply taken. Thus we have set forth a Christian in his first part,
as a believer.
Secondly, The apostle asserts his hope, And have hope towards God,
which they themselves allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the
dead, both of the just and unjust.
1. Mark that he propoundeth his hope as the immediate effect and
product of faith ; for when I believe, then I must look and long, and
prepare for the blessedness offered, otherwise my faith is but a cold
opinion, not such a faith as will subdue the inclinations and interests
of the flesh, nor make the labours and sufferings of the spiritual life
tolerable : and that is true faith which breatheth and longeth after the
end of all religion, and looketh for it. What good will it do me to
believe the doctrines of the prophets and apostles, if I expect no good
from thence ? Faith would be vain, and religion vain. Only note
here that hope is twofold
[1.] One the fruit of regeneration, or the immediate effect of conver
sion to God : 1 Peter i. 3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us
again unto a lively hope. And this is nothing else but a seeking and
looking for a happiness in another and an unseen world, with a longing
desire and diligent care to obtain it. It is faith to place my happiness
so high and so far from sense ; now when my desires and delights are
there, and my daily care is to get thither, and to live in a continual
preparation for it, and desirous expectation of it, and to deny myself,
arid suffer any loss and pain to get thither, this is the work of hope.
[2.] There is an hope built upon experience : Rom. v. 4, 5, And
experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of
God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. This dependeth
upon the sense of my qualification and interest, and is confirmed by
experience of God s love to my soul, for grace hath the force of an evi
dence and pledge.
2. Observe that he pitcheth upon the resurrection as the great thing
hoped for, because then is our full and final happiness. We do not
believe in Christ unless we believe in him for eternal life : 1 Tim. i.
16, 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 ever
lasting ; John xx. 31, But 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. This is the great thing which we
hope, wait, and labour for. Nobody would trouble themselves about
religion, which abridgeth us of present delights, and exposeth us to
424 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
great troubles and sufferings, but for these things. Who would deny
himself, and devote himself entirely to God, but for these things ? 1 Cor.
xv. 19, If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men
most miserable ; but at the resurrection all shall be recompensed to
us, all the effects of sin cease.
3. Observe that he proposeth the double resurrection, of good and
bad ; all that ever lived shall be judged and rewarded, whether good
or evil ; though with a hope to be found among the good and among
the sheep, not the goats. This is the true way of Christian reflection
upon the great day ; however we are assured of our own interest, that
whilst we strengthen faith and hope, we weaken the security of the
flesh. Some may miscarry, though I have hopes to be accepted : 1
Cor. ix. 26, 27, I therefore so run, not as uncertainly ; so fight I, not
as one that beateth the air ; but I keep under my body, and bring it
into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others,
1 myself should be a castaway. We have a covenant wherein to trust,
as long as we continue faithful with God, and deny the flesh its satis
factions.
Thirdly, See what account he giveth of his manners and conversa
tion : ver. 16, And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a con
science void of offence both towards God and towards men.
Observe here three things (1.) The encouragement ; (2.) The
integrity of his obedience ; (3.) The laborious diligence wherewith he
carried it on.
First, His encouragement, ev TOVTW. Interpreters diversely expound
this ev rovTO) (xp6vq>), interea temporis, in the meantime, till faith be
turned into vision, hope into fruition. There is a time between believ
ing and possessing, hoping and having ; and during that time there is
much exercise for our faith and patience : Heb. yjL 12, That ye be
not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience
inherit the promises. Again, ev TOVTW, by virtue of this faith and
hope, upon this hope and encouragement. Faith and a good conscience
are often coupled : 1 Tim. i. 5, Now the end of the commandment is
charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith
unfeigned/ We cannot keep the one without the other ; not a good
conscience without faith, nor faith without a good conscience. Not the
first, for no man will make conscience of his duty unless he believeth
in God and hopeth for salvation ; for unless we believe in God and
hope for his promises, we shall not be so careful to keep a good con
science, by eschewing evil and doing good. Sometimes faith is said to
work by love, and sometimes by hope. By love : Gal. v. 6, For in
Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision,
but faith that worketh by love. The soul is never fit for duty till it
be possessed with the love of God and man. Sometimes by hope : 1
John iii. 3, He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as God is
pure. And the second is evident, for it is said, 1 Tim. i. 19, Holding
faith and a good conscience, which some having put away, concerning
faith have made shipwreck. Any great lust cherished will destroy
our faith and hopes, as a man cannot long subsist in a leaky vessel.
So 1 Tim. iii. 9, Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience/
Precious liquors are best kept in a clean vessel.
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 425
Secondly, The integrity of his obedience, set forth in all the neces
sary requisites.
1. There is sincerity asserted. For his conscience was in it, and a
good conscience. Now conscience is that faculty which is apt to take
God s part, and is the judgment a man maketh upon his actions, mor
ally considered, in order to praise and dispraise, reward and punish
ment ; and the goodness of conscience consisteth in its ability to do its
office, in its clearness, purity, tenderness, quietness, or peaceableness.
For its clearness : a blind conscience is an evil conscience ; for with
out knowledge the heart is not good/ Prov. ix. 2. As a judge that
understandeth not the laws of the country is unfit to give judgment in
any matter that cometh before him, or as a dim eye cannot do the office
of an eye, so a blind conscience is no competent judge of our duty to God.
So for the purity of conscience : 1 Peter iii. 21, Not the putting away
of the filthiness of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
towards God ; and Heb. xiii. 18, We trust we have a good conscience,
willing in all things to live honestly. A good conscience is an heart
set to please God in all things, an heart hating sin and loving holi
ness. Again, tenderness is another property of a good conscience
when it is wakeful, and smiteth for sin upon all occasions offered. This
property may be understood by what the apostle saith of heathens for
gross sins : Rom. ii. 15, Which show the work of the law written on
their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts
in the meantime accusing or else excusing one another. In David :
1 Sam. xxiv. 5, David s heart smote him because he had cut off Saul s
skirt ; and by what Job saith, chap, xxvii. 6, My heart shall not
reproach me as long as I live. The opposite is a seared conscience
that hath no feeling : 1 Tim. iv. 2, Having their consciences seared
with a hot iron. This we contract by frequent heinous sinning, or by
a customary practice of that which is evil, by which the heart groweth
as hard as the highway which is trod upon. Quietness of conscience
is another property, whereby the goodness of it is discerned ; only this
quietness must arise from the former properties, else it is a dead, sleepy,
seared conscience. For in this we must consider not who hath most
quiet, but who hath most cause ; as in buildings, not the fairness of the
structure, but the foundation of it is to be regarded. There is a quiet
evil conscience : Luke xi. 21, When a strong man armed keepeth his
palace, his goods are in peace. When wind and tide go together there
is a calm, but the quiet good conscience is from faith in Christ : Rom.
v. 1, Being justified by faith, we have peace with God; from a sense
of our sincere dealing with God : 2 Cor. i. 12, For our rejoicing is
this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sin
cerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had
our conversation in the world. A serenity resulting from our peace with
God and close walking with him.
2. The strictness and exactness of the apostle s course. He would
keep this good conscience void of offence. It may be understood
passively or actively. Passively, that conscience be not offended and
suffer wrong ; actively, that we offend not, or offer wrong to others.
[1.] That conscience be not offended, or receivo wrong by any mis
carriage of ours, for it is a tender thing. The least dust in the eye
426 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
hindereth its use, so doth sin offend and trouble the conscience. Take
those four notions before mentioned. Clearness : Mat. v. 8, Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. A dusty glass hindereth
the sight of the image, so lust cloudeth the mind. In regard of purity ;
so far as we give way to sin, conscience is defiled. The apostle speak-
eth of some whose minds and consciences were defiled/ Titus i. 15.
It is defiled by sin. In regard of tenderness, nothing bringeth a brawn
upon conscience so much as frequent and allowed sinning in small
things. First it is wounded, and then hardened, and so groweth dead
and sleepy ; though it may write, it refuseth to speak ; it is a register
when it is not a witness. So it is offended in. regard of quietness. An
offended conscience will offend us, and a wounded spirit who can
bear ? Prov. xviii. 14. You may as well expect to touch the flesh
with a burning coal without pain as to sin without trouble of con
science. Sin will bring shame and horror ever since Adam s experi
ence, who was afraid and ashamed, Gen. iii. 7.
[2.] The second sense, that we offend not, nor offer wrong to others,
will fall in with the next head.
3. The impartiality of his obedience, Both towards God and towards
men. There are two tables, and we are to take care we do not give
offenceto God or men, by neglecting our duty to either.
[1.] Our chief care should be that we do not make a breach upon
our love to God. Conscience standeth always in dread of God s eye
and presence, to whom it is most accountable : Acts xxiii. 1, I have
lived in all good conscience before God until this day ; O grieve not
the Spirit ! Eph. iv. 30. Offend not the pure eyes of his glory.
[2.] That we do not offend men : Kom. xii. 17, Trpovoovpevpt, ra
Ka\a, Provide things honest in the sight of all men. We must be
careful of our conscience before God and frame with men, that we
neither seduce them by our example nor grieve them by any unjust or
uncharitable carriage of ours, but be blameless to men.
4. The constancy, SicnravTos, always, in all cases, by all means, at
all times. A conscience brought forth at times, and for certain turns,
is not a good conscience : Job xiii. 18, Behold now I have ordered
my cause ; I know that I shall be justified. A man is tried by his
course, not by a step or two : 1 Peter i. 15, As he that hath called you
is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, ev Trda-r) avacnpoffi ;
in every creek and corner of your lives, not in an humour and in good
moods. A Christian is everywhere like himself, and never dareth to do
anything knowingly against conscience.
Thirdly, The laborious diligence wherewith he carried it on : I
exercise myself. We must make it our constant labour and endeavour,
"by a diligent search into the mind of God : Kom. xii. 2, That we may
prove what is the good and acceptable will of God ; Eph. v. 17, Be not
unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is ; Eph. v. 10,
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord, that we may not offend
him in worship or daily conversation. By a serious inquiry into the
state of our own hearts and ways : Ps. iv. 4, Stand in awe, and sin
not ; commune with your hearts upon your bed, and be still. If we
would have conscience speak to us, we must often speak to conscience :
Jer. viii. 6, I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright ; no
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 427
man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done ?
Ask questions of your hearts. And also by a constant watchfulness
and taking heed to our feet : Ps. xxxix. 1, I said, I will take heed to
my ways, that I offend not with my tongue. Many live as if they had
no conscience, and by a broken-hearted making use of Christ s death :
Rom. v. 1, Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through
our Lord Jesus Christ ; and 1 John ii. 1, If any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous ; and Heb. ix.
14, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eter
nal Spirit offered himself to God without spot, purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God. By a serious resistance and
mortification of sin, cutting off the right hand, and pulling out the right
eye, Mat. v. 29, 30 ; and Gal. v. 24, They that are Christ s have cruci
fied the flesh with the affections and lusts ; and by the use of all holy
means which God hath appointed.
II. The reasons why this is true Christianity.
1. The necessity of it. It is a great question how far obedience be-
longeth to faith, whether as a part, or as an end, fruit, and consequent ?
I answer Both ways. Consent of subjection is a part of faith, actual
obedience a fruit of it. In the covenant there is a consent first before
practice. Faith believeth the precepts as well as the promises : Ps.
cxix. 66, Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I have believed
thy commandments ; Heb. x. 22, Let us draw near with a true heart,
in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil con
science, and our bodies washed with pure water. It believeth the pro
mises to sweeten obedience to us ; it hath a persuasive oratory, as it
worketh by love or hope. It worketh us to an observance of the precepts
by the hopes of the resurrection, lest we be enticed from them either by
things grateful or troublesome to present sense : 1 Cor. xv. 58, Be
steadfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as you know that your work is not in vain in the Lord. If
you believe things written in the law and the prophets, you will see your
labour is not in vain in the Lord.
2. The comfort of obedience to us. We cannot make out our evi
dence and plea but by a uniform, constant, and impartial obedience.
Principles are latent till they discover themselves by their fruit. Our
faith and hope is but a fancy unless it prevail over sensitive inclina
tions to present things, that we may live in the patient and delightful
service of God, and an entire obedience to his holy will. The sap is
not seen, but the apples and fruit appear: Acts xxvi. 20, That they
should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance ;
Mat. iii. 8, Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance ; we can
else have no comfortable evidence of it.
3. It is for the honour of Christ, as well as our own comfort and
safety. Obedience maketh faith visible and sensible : 2 Thes. i. 11,
12, And fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of
faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be
glorified in you, and ye in him/ An holy conversation briugeth
doctrines near to our senses, and thereby it is more clear and powerful
to gain upon others : Christ hath the honour, we the reward : John xv.
8, Herein is my father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit, so
428 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
shall ye be my disciples ; and Phil. i. 11, Being filled with the fruits
of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise
of God/ Uniform practice is such a fruit of grace as representeth the
doctrine of life with advantage to the consciences of others ; otherwise
we shall never do any great things for Christ in the world.
SERMON II.
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 unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a
conscience void of offence towards God and toioards man.
ACTS xxiv. 14-16.
USE 1. Is disproof of the nullifidians, and solifidians ; those that cry
up good life without faith, and, on the other side, that cry up empty
faith without obedience and holiness.
1 . Nullifidians, who are very rife among us, who do as wisely as
those that would plant a tree by the top, and not by the root ; so they
cry up a morality without the faith and hope of the gospel, and that
love to God which is engendered by it ; and so, out of a fondness of
pagan strictness and philosophic institution, defy the religion they
were bred up in. There can be no true love to God or man without
the faith of the gospel. The apostle telleth us, Born. vii. 4, That we
are married to him who was raised from the dead, that we may bring
forth fruit to God. As the children who are born before marriage are
illegitimate, so all that justice, and temperance, and charity which is not
cherished in us by the love of God, and faith in Christ, and the hopes
of the other world, is but mock grace and bastard holiness, and is not
acceptable to God.
I shall prove two things
[1.] That morality is not kindly unless it be founded on the gospel,
and never so thoroughly promoted as by the principles laid down there :
Titus ii. 11, 12, The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath
appeared to all men, teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present
world. The more we believe all things contained in the writings of
the prophets and apostles, the more we are taught how to live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present world. There we have the true
principle of obedience, viz., love to God fed and bred in us by his
love to us in Christ ; the true encouragement and motive of obedience,,
the hopes of the other world ; the true rule of obedience, God s mind
revealed in his word, and perfecting the light of nature so far as it
discovereth anything of our duty to God, neighbour, and self. Here is
better furniture than we can have elsewhere, a forcible principle and a
glorious hope, and an exact rule. Now they that would cry up right
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 429
reason in defiance of these are not Christ s disciples, but would make
him theirs, and teach him and his apostles how to speak and teach the
way to true happiness ; and so are guilty of great unthankfulness for
this blessed revelation which we have in the gospel.
[2.] That true morality and good conscience cannot be had without
the faith of the gospel ; so that we are not only better provided, but
indeed cannot perform such obedience as is acceptable to God without
faith in Christ. And therefore I shall show you the defects that are
in men s obedience till they believe in Christ.
(1.) There is a defect in their state. They are not reconciled to
God till they be in Christ ; and therefore he will not accept an offer
ing at their hands who neglect his grace, and will not sue out their
atonement with him in that penitent and broken-hearted way which he
hath appointed in the new covenant. Let them first sue out their pardon
in the name of Christ, and then begin with a new course of obedience.
God is first placandus, then placendus. First his wrath is to be appeased,
and then he will accept of our duties and actions ; first our persons are
accepted, and then our duties and offerings : Gen. iv. 4, The Lord
had respect to Abel and to his offering ; Abel being a believer, and
under grace, as the apostle explaineth it, Heb. xi. 4, By faith Abel
offered unto God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, by which he
obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and
by it he, being dead, yet speaketh ; that is, he was justified and accepted
with God. This is such a principle of reason, that Lilius Gyraldus
saith it was the custom of the heathens, Utprius iratos deos placarent,
et postecu mvocarent propitios First to appease their gods, and then
to pray unto them. Man cometh as a sinner to God, and therefore
first he must deprecate his wrath, and use all means how God may be
pacified and appeased.
(2.) There is a defect in the actions themselves.
(1st) In the root ; there is not a clear fountain or principle of grace
in their hearts ; and then, Who can bring a clean thing out of an
unclean ? Job xiv. 4 ; a clear stream out of a dirty puddle ? How can
he perform a good action which is naturally corrupt ? Without the
Spirit of Christ all our good actions have a blemish : The fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth/ Eph. v. 9. It
is but wild fruit unless it be the fruit of the Spirit, and floweth from
the grace of regeneration, and that new state of heart into which we
are put by Jesus- Christ : John xv. 5, I am the vine, ye are the
branches : he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth
much fruit ; for without me ye can do nothing. One that is in Christ
will be fruitful to God, but without him, %%>t<? e/jiov, seorsim a me, or
apart from him, there is no bringing forth fruit to God. It is not
niliil magnum, some great thing, ye cannot work miracles without me,
but niliil, nothing, nothing saving and acceptable to God.
(2d.) In the manner. They do not obey God with that purity, that
life and affection, that he hath required. Their actions are superficial,
shadows of good things ; they draw nigh to him with their lips when
their hearts are far from him : Mat. xv. 8, This people draweth nigh
to me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their
heart is far from me." Their duties to men are but shadows of good
430 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
actions, not flowing from a hearty love and a good conscience, but from
interest or natural temper.
(3d.) There is a defect in the end ; they do not regard God s glory :
Col. iii. 17, Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of
the Lord Jet>us, giving thanks to God and the Father by him ; 1 Cor.
x. 31, Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God. The most commendable actions of carnal men have
either a natural aim, as self-preservation ; so in their worship : Hosea
vii. 14, They have not cried unto me with their heart when they
howled upon their beds ; they howl upon their bed for corn and wine.
Or self-quiet and ease ; so in their duties to men, more for wrath
than conscience sake, Kom. xii. 5. Or for vain-glory, To be seen of
men, Mat. vi. 1. Or a legal aim ; when most devout, to quiet con
science, or to satisfy God for their sins by their duties : Micah vi. 6, 7,
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the
high God ? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves
of a year old ? will the Lord be pleased with thousand of rams, or
with ten thousands of rivers of oil ? shall I give my first-born for my
transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul ? Usually
the sacrifice of the wicked is brought with an evil mind, Prov.
xxi. 27 ; to buy our indulgence in some sins by avoiding others, or by
performing some duties to pay for their neglect of others which are more
weighty. Duties are performed as a sin-offering, not as a thank-offer
ing ; to pacify God, not to glorify him. There is no delight in God
or obedience. In short, all is as flowers strewed upon a dunghill.
2. The solifidians, that cry up an empty faith without obedience
and holiness, these are to be dealt with as well as the other.
[1.] The end of all religion is practice. Christianity was not brought
into the world that we might talk of great things, but do great things
for God. All the mysteries of our most holy faith are mysteries of
godliness ; and if it be not so, the word of God is come to us in word
only, and not in power, and we are Christians of the letter, not of the
spirit. The law of grace was never intended to try the acuteness of
men s wits, who could reason most profoundly of these glorious things,
nor the firmness of their memories, who could best carry in mind these
holy truths, nor the readiness of their invention, who could most
plausibly discourse about them, but the willingness of their obedience,
who would most entirely practise them : John xiv. 21, He that hath
my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me/ The
practical Christian hath the truest sense of his religion.
[2.] The end of our redemption is obedience. Christ hath ends of
his own, as well as those which more immediately concern our benefit ;
Kev. v. 9, Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy
blood. Sin had made us unserviceable to God, and the end of Christ s
death was to put us in joint again, and to bring us into a course of
service and obedience unto our Creator : Eom. xiv. 9, For to this end
Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of
dead and living. He came to redeem us not only from wrath, but
from sin ; not only to abolish guilt, but to establish holiness: Titus
ii. 14, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 431
[3.] It is the end of his renewing grace. He hath altered the con
stitution of our hearts, that we may live unto God : 2 Cor. v. 17,
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature : old
things are passed away ; behold, all things are become new. We
are renewed in heart, that we might walk in all newness of conversa
tion.
[4.] It is the end of our faith and hope. Faith and hope are but
means subservient to love, which is the grace by which we are inclined
to perform our duty to God and man ; and therefore the strength of
our faith is to be judged by the readiness of our obedience : Gal. v. 6,
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncir-
cumcision, but faith which worketh by love. That carrieth away the
prize of justification. It is the love of God, stirred up in us by faith
which maketh us watchful against sin, and careful to please him in all
things.
Use 2. To press us all, if we would be complete Christians, to take
nil the three parts. (1.) Let us be sound in the faith ; (2.) Let us
keep up hope ; (3.) Let us be thorough and exact in obedience.
1. Let us be sound in the faith, believing all things that are contained
in the word of God, not contenting ourselves with a light credulity or
common tradition, but have a faith of the Spirit s working. Your
love to God dependeth upon the principles laid down in the gospel,
which discover to you his love in the Redeemer, and the provision
made for your souls ; therefore you are to build up yourselves in
your most holy faith, that you may keep yourselves in the love of God/
Jude 20, 21.
2. Let not hope be left out as an unnecessary grace. This is not a
cursory and slight, but a desirous expectation, so as not to be weakened
by the lusts of the flesh : 1 Peter i. 13, Wherefore gird up the loins
of your minds ; be ye sober, and hope to the end for the grace that i
to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. When
Christ cometh all your labours and self-denial shall be recompensed :
Rom. viii. 24, 25, For we are saved by hope ; but hope that is seen
is not hope, for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for ? but if we
hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
3. Be sound and thorough, and exact in obedience. Many hold
sound doctrine, and have some lazy expectation of eternal life, but they
are defective in the third branch ; they are not careful to keep a good
conscience, and do their duty in all things to God and man. Here I
shall press you to two things
tl.] Let conscience be your guide.
2.] Exercise yourselves in this, that conscience may be a good
guide to you.
First, Let conscience be your guide. I shall press you hereunto by
two considerations
1. From the nature of conscience. It is not only a monitor, but a
judge. As a monitor it warns us of our duty ; as a judge it censures
our neglects of it. Science is one thing, conscience is another. Science
is a man s knowledge of other things ; conscience is a man s knowledge
of himself, his state, and ways, to know what he is to do, and to know
what he hath done; that is conscience. It is the judgment of a man
concerning himself and his actions with respect to reward and punish-
432 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
ment. God, that is our Lord, is also our proper judge ; but it pleaseth
God to put a faculty into man, this spirit within him, that he should
have something in his own bosom to be a rule and judge, but yet a
subordinate rule, and a deputy-judge, accountable to God ; but a judge
it is. However it much conduceth to the glory of God and to the
safety of man.
[1.] To the glory of God .
(1.) As it is an evidence of his being, whose law is the ground of
conscience, and before whom conscience doth accuse, and whose sentence
it doth dread and stand in fear of. Why doth conscience scruple this or
that, if there be not a God by whose will good and evil are distin
guished ? To whom doth it accuse us but to God ? Why is conscience
sometimes afraid, sometimes comforted, if there were no God to mind
things here below ? We find conscience appalleth the stoutest sinners
after the commitment of some offence, though it be secret, and beyond
the cognisance and vengeance of man : Ps. liii. 5, There were they
in great fear where no fear was ; that is, no outward cause of fear,
where none sought to hurt them ; accusing themselves when none else
could accuse them, as Joseph s brethren : Gen. xlii. 21, We are verily
guilty concerning our brother s blood ; or where none had power to
reach them, as princes and worldly potentates feel the stings of con
science as well as others. Felix trembled, who was the judge, at Paul s
words, who was the prisoner : Acts xxiv. 25, And as he reasoned of
righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled.
What is the reason of this, but that they know there is a supreme
judge and avenger ?
(2.) It is for the glory of his judicial proceedings. Self-accusers
and self-condemners have no reason to quarrel with God and impeach
his justice. Man hath principles and sentiments graven upon his
heart, which justify all God s dealings with him : Luke xix. 22, Out of
thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant ! and Ps. li.
4, That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear
when thou judgest/ Hereby he is left without excuse : Horn. i. 20,
So that they are without excuse, avaTro\o<yr)Tovs ; Titus iii. 11, Know
ing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of
himself, avTOKardicpiTos. Hence the frequent appeals to conscience :
Isa. v. 3, 4, Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard : what
could I have done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it ?
I have produced these scriptures to show that by conscience man is
better induced to give a testimony to God concerning all his dealings
with him.
[2.] To the safety and benefit of man, that he may have an oracle
in his own bosom to direct him to his duty, and to warn him of his
danger if he doth amiss. Conscience is spoken of in scripture both
ways ; as instructing us in our duty : Ps. xvi. 7, My reins also instruct
me in the night season ; that is, conscience showed him his duty, and
how he was concerned in the law of God, or the rule which God had
given to his creatures. And as it showeth us what to do, so it reflecteth
upon what we have done. If evil, it smiteth us for it : 2 Sam. xxiv. 10,
And David s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people.
If good, it cheereth us with it : 2 Cor. i. 12, For our rejoicing is this,
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 433
the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity,
not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our
conversation in the world. It smiteth as it exciteth fear of punish
ment ; it cheereth as it stirreth up hope of reward, and we do very
much understand hereby how God standeth affected towards us : 1
John iii. 19-21, And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and
shall assure our hearts before him ; for if our heart condemn us, God
is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our
heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.
2. Conscience is God s vicegerent and deputy. You may know
much of his mind by the voice and report of conscience ; therefore,
next to the judgment and sentence of God, a man should regard the
judgment and sentence of conscience: 1 John iii. 20, 21, If our heart
condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards
God. Observe what conscience speaketh; doth it condemn thee or
acquit thee ? and upon what terms doth it either ? The voice of con
science is often the voice of God, and men would sooner come to know
themselves, and might make a right judgment upon their estates, if
they would look inward, and regard the voice of conscience, doth it
condemn or acquit ? Indeed there lieth an appeal from court to court,
and from judge to judge.
[1.] From court to court. In what court doth conscience condemn
you ? In the law court ? You ought to own the desert of sin, clear
ing God, if he should inflict it upon you : 1 Cor. xi. 31, For if we
would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But yet you may
take sanctuary at his grace, and humbly claim the benefit of the new
covenant : Ps. cxxx. 3, 4, If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity,
Lord, who shall stand ? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou
mayest be feared. If it condemn you in the gospel court for no sound
believer, the case must not be lightly passed over, but examined,
whether there be a sincere bent of heart towards God : Heb. xiii. 18,
We trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live
honestly.
[2.] There is an appeal to an higher judge. Doth conscience write
bitter things against thee ? Yet if God justifieth, Kom. viii. 33, Who
shall lay anything to the charge of God s elect ? it is God that justifieth.
God s act is authoritative and powerful : Isa. Ivii. 19, I create the
fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is
near, saith the Lord, and I will heal him ; Ps. Ixxxv. 8, I will hear
what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace unto his people
and to his saints/ But sometimes he speaketh in the sentence of his
word when not in the conscience ; his authority may comfort when
we feel not his power. So for acquitting ; conscience is not the highest
judge : 1 Cor. iv. 4, For if I know nothing by myself, yet am I not
hereby justified ; but he that judgeth me is the Lord ; Prov. xvi. 2,
All the ways of a man are clear in his own eyes, but the Lord
weigheth the spirits. We must consult his word, and thereby clear
our case, so as to assure our hearts before him. *
3. Conscience is easily offended, but not easily appeased ; as the eye
is easily offended with the least dust or mote, which soon gets in, but
VOL. XVII. 2 E
434 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
is not easily gotten out But then to appease it costs a great deal of
trouble. Therefore, if we would, as Paul, keep a conscience void of
offence, there needeth much tenderness and watchfulness, for by the
commission of deliberate and wilful sins you may raise a tempest that is
not easily laid again ; as David felt broken bones after his foul fall :
Ps. li. 8, Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which
thou hast broken may rejoice. Before the action conscience showeth
what is to be done ; in the action it guideth us in doing ; after the
action it censureth it as well or ill done ; and so either comforteth us
with hopes of a reward, or terrifieth us with fear of punishment. As a
man acteth, so conscience is a party ; as the action is censured, so
conscience is a judge. After the action the force of conscience is,
usually seen more than before the fact or in the fact, because before
and in the action the judgment of reason is not so clear and strong,
the affections raising mists and clouds to darken the mind and^ trouble
it, and draw it on their side by their pleasing violence. By the
treachery of the senses and revolt of the passions the mind is betrayed ;
but as the violence of the affections ceaseth, and is by little and little
allayed, guilt flasheth in the face of conscience, and reason hath the
greatest force to affect the mind with grief or fear. The act being
over, and the affection satisfied, the soul giveth place to reason, which
was before contemned ; and when it recovereth the throne, it striketh
through the heart with a sharp sentence and reproof for obeying
appetite before itself, and brings in terror and trouble, which causeth
the soul to sit uneasy : Mat. xxvii. 4, I have sinned in that I have
betrayed the innocent blood; Eom. i. 32, Knowing the judgment of
God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death. There
fore do not go like an ox to the slaughter, nor a fool to the correction
of the stocks.
4. Conscience is the best friend and the worst enemy. It is the
best friend, partly for its comfort : Prov. xv. 15, He that is of a merry
heart hath a continual feast ; 2 Cor. i. 12, For our rejoicing is this,
the testimony of our conscience ; no bird sings so sweetly as the bird
in the bosom. Partly for its nearness ; it is always with us, in health
and sickness, in life and in death. Husbands and wives, who are most
together, yet "because they live a distinct life, they are often apart;
death looseth the bond and knot, but this remaineth with us. So it is
the worst enemy. Partly for its universal nearness. It is sad for a
man to be at odds with himself, and fall out with his own heart. It
is a domestical tribunal, which always remaineth with us ; and there
fore Job could bear the reproaches of others, but his own heart should
not reproach him as long as he lived, Job xxvii. 6. Partly because of
the grievousness of the wound and stroke : Prov. xviii. 14, A wounded
spirit who can bear ? It is no less than the fear of the wrath of the
eternal God. A man cannot run away from his conscience, no more
than he can run away from himself ; and therefore for a man to please
others and offend his conscience, what folly is that ! or to please a lust
to wound his conscience. A lust or vain appetite is an unjustifiable
thing, and will soon appear so, but the fears of conscience are justified
by the highest reason, the law of God. The satisfaction of a lust is a
poor vanishing pleasure, but the observing and keeping a good con-
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 435
science breedeth a solid joy, which will stick by thee to the very last,
and when thou comest to die, will be a support to thee : Isa. xxxviii.
3, Kemember now, Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before
thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is
good in thy sight/ When thou must leave riches, honours, and
pleasures, which are the baits of thy lust, this will stick by thee :
1 John ii. 17, The world passeth away, and the lust thereof ; but he
that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Therefore now thou
shouldst mortify thy lust and gratify thy conscience.
5. Thy conscience is the beginning of heaven and hell. A good
conscience is the beginning of heaven, and peace and joy in believing
is a foretaste of that fulness of joy and pleasure which we shall have
when we come into God s immediate presence. The glorified spirits
carry a good conscience with them to heaven ; their works follow them/"
Kev. xiv. 13 ; and the damned carry their stings and convictions with
them to hell : Mark ix. 44, Their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched/ Oh, think of this ! The joys of the Spirit are an antepast
of glory, called often an earnest in scripture : 2 Cor. i. 22, Who hath
also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
And the horrors of conscience are the suburbs of hell. Oh ! therefore
be sure to keep all quiet within, and whatever be your temptations, do
not offend conscience, but unfeignedly discharge your duties to God
and men.
6. If there be a crack and a flaw in your conscience, all your trading
with heaven is at a stand ; there cannot be any serious dealing with God,
nor holy boldness in prayer: 1 John iii. 31, If our hearts condemn
us not, then have we confidence towards God/ When you have sinned
away your peace, a strangeness and distance groweth between God and
you : Ps. xxxii. 3, When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through
my roaring all the day long ; Gen. iii. 8, And Adam and his wife hid
themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the
garden/ Adam ran to the bushes. Your hearts will grow shy of
God, and you cannot so comfortably look him in the face, and so the
sweetness of holy privacy and communion with God will be lost. Time
was when you could go boldly, and open your hearts to God, but now
you are afraid of him, and every act of commerce is a reviving of your
bondage ; the remembrance of God is a trouble to you.
7. If conscience speaketh not, it writeth, for it is not only a witness,
but a register and book of record : Jer. xvii. 1, The sin of Judah is
written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond/ We
know not what conscience writeth, being occupied and taken up with,
carnal vanities, and carried away with foolish and hurtful lusts, but we
shall know afterwards, when the book of conscience shall be opened :
Kev. xx. 12, And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God :
and the books were opened ; and another book was opened, which is
the book of life ; and the dead were judged out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their works/ These books are
the book of conscience and the book of God s remembrance. The
remembrance of our actions shall be forced upon us. Conscience is
God s register, and keepeth a diary, and sets down everything. This
book, though it be in the sinner s keeping, cannot be razed : what con-
436 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
science writeth is written to eternity, unless it be blotted out by
repentance and a serious application of the blood of Christ. Well, then,
consider a sleepy conscience will not always sleep : if we suffer it not
to awaken here, it will awaken in hell, where there is no remedy ; for
the present it sleepeth hi many, in regard of motion, check, or smiting,
but not in regard of notice and observation. This secret spy is privy
to more than it speaketh of ; it is laid up as matter for the worm that
never dieth to feed upon.
8. If the stings of an evil conscience be not always felt, yet they are
soon awakened by serious thoughts of death and judgment to come, and
then forced upon us. There is a fire smothering in our bosoms, and it
is soon blown up into a flame. Sometimes by the word : Acts xxiv. 25,
* And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to
come, Felix trembled. Belshazzar s edge was taken off in the midst of
his carousing : Dan. v. 6, Then the king s countenance was changed,
and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed,
and his knees smote one against another. Sometimes by some great
troubles : Isa. lix. 12, For our transgressions are multiplied before thee,
and our sins testify against us : for our transgressions are with us, and
as for our iniquities, we know them. Therefore we roar like beasts,
and mourn like doves/ ver. 11. In a tempest, that which is at the bot
tom cometh a-top. Or by death ; whatever silence there be in conscience
before, yet death usually reviveth these fears : 1 Cor. xv. 56, The sting
of death is sin. Men are wise and more serious as they are entering
on the confines of eternity ; near things affect us ; the baits of the flesh
have then lost their allurement. The devil, that was before a tempter,
will then be a tormentor. Things overlooked before are then seriously
considered ; then the stings of sin work more sensibly, and in a lively
manner, and the deluded sinner begins to see what he would not take
notice of before.
9. If conscience do not speak to you, you must speak to it, and call
upon it to do its office. Call yourselves to an account for the expense
of your time and employment : Ps. iv. 4, Commune with your own
heart upon your bed, and be still ; Ps. Ixxvii. 6, I commune with
mine own heart, and my spirit made diligent search. Take a time to
parley with yourselves, and consider how matters stand between you
and God. When the clock striketh not, it is a sign the plummets are
down, and we must wind them up again. Every day we must do
something, as Job sacrificed for his sons day by day : Job i. 5, It
may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.
And God himself reviewed every day s work, and saw that it was good,
Gen. i. 4, 10, 12, &c. So should we review every day s work, and cast
up the account at the foot of every page. Short reckonings prevent
mistakes. Pythagoras taught his scholars that they should never
give way to sleep till they had posed themselves with these questions,
Quid fed, &c. What have I done ? what good have I omitted ?
wherein have I transgressed ? Conscience, what hast thou to say to
me ? And Seneca telleth of his friend Sextius, that before he would
betake himself to rest he would ask his soul, Quid Jwdie malum tuum
sanastif cui vitio obstitisti? qua parte melior es? What evil hast
thou- got rid of to-dav ? what sin hast thou resisted ? wherein art
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 437
better than thou wert before ? And he saith of himself, Quoiidie apud
me causam dico, totum diem mecum scrutor, dicta et facia meet, reme-
tior ; that he scanned all his actions and speeches in the day. Shall
heathens be more serious, and shall Christians, who are acquainted with
eternity, never take time to set conscience a-work ? Oh ! let us be
ashamed of our slightness and negligence !
10. We can never have a sound conscience till we be sincere with
God in a constant uniform course of self-denying obedience : 1 John
iii. 19, Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our
hearts before him ; and this is described in the text by keeping a
conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men. So
2 Kings xx. 3, I beseech thee, Lord, remember now how I have
walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done
that which is good in thy sight, and this not in an act or two, but in
a man s whole course : Ps. cvi. 3, Blessed are they that keep judgment
and he that doeth righteousness at all times. Not by starts and good
moods only, but constantly and at all times. And our obedience must
be self-denying as well as constant and uniform. That religion is worth
nothing that costs nothing : 2 Sam. xxiv. 24, I will not offer burnt-
offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.
When we value God s interest above our own, and we can deny our
selves upon the hopes of glory, then is our sincerity most evidenced.
But if we embrace only the safe, cheap, and easy part of religion, and
cannot deny our ease, profit, and honour, we do not set up Christ s re
ligion, but a Christianity of our own making : Mat. xvi. 24, Then said
Jesus unto his disciples, If any one will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
11. If we would have conscience to do its office, there must be great
heed and watchfulness, for it is corrupt as well as other faculties, and
from a judge it may become an advocate, excusing the partialities of our
obedience. To evidence this more fully with respect to conscience,
men may be considered three ways as acting without conscience, or
according to conscience, or against conscience.
[1.] A man may act without all conscience, so a man may do either
good or evil.
(1.) Good, as those that act rashly, inconsiderately, or customarily.
As when men pray, give alms, go to church ; conscience did not send
them thither, but custom, inducement of friends, persuasions of parents,
or the like. These do that which is good, but they do it not well ~
Luke viii. 18, Take heed how you hear. Conscience doth not put
them upon it. To this first sort may be reckoned those that intended
to do evil, but by accident do that which is good ; as Joseph s brethren :
Gen. 1. 20, But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God
meant it unto good. And those that perform the duties of Christianity
so far as the interest of the flesh will give them leave, for the flesh
itself will command you to do wejJ, and sin itself forbid sin, that it may
not disgrace them in the world, and bring some hurt and inconvenience
on them. Conscience doth not guide them herein, but hypocrisy or
sin sets them a-work.
(2.) Evil, as Lot s incest with his daughters: Gen. xix. 33, 34, He
perceived not when they lay down, or when they arose. Conscience
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
was laid asleep ; it did not stir and chasten or rebuke him. So when the
people of Ephesus came together, Acts xix. 32, The most part knew
not wherefore they were come together ; they were in a hurry, tumult,
and sudden passion. These consult not with conscience in their
actions, and the evil they do is not against conscience ; yet evil it is,
and doth not exempt from punishment, for a man is bound not to act
rashly, but according to the dictate of conscience.
[2.] A man may act out of conscience, or according to conscience,
and so he may act either good or evil.
(1.) Good, either lawful, because it is permitted, or necessary,
-because it is commanded ; in the one conscience is sensible that he
may, in the other that he ought to do so. This he doth not out of terror,
but the sweet force of love and willing obedience unto God ; for fear and
conscience are opposed : Kom. xiii. 5, Wherefore ye must be faithful,
not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake; but he doth it in
obedience to God : Ps. xxvii. 8, When thou saidst, Seek ye my face,
my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. I acknowledge
thy power over me.
(2.) Evil. So Paul out of conscience persecuted Christ, for his
erring conscience told him that the precepts and ceremonies of the
law of Moses were all of eternal obligation, and necessary to a man s
justification towards God, and therefore that Christ, abolishing the
ceremonies, was an enemy to Moses : Acts xxvi. 9, I verily thought
with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of
Jesus of Nazareth. Error of conscience dictated it to him. But did
Paul do well or ill herein ? As to the manner of the action, it was
well, for he did it with a good mind, and according to his conscience ;
thus far Paul sinned not. But as to the matter of the action, he did
wickedly, that he followed the dictates of a misguided conscience, and
did not subject his conscience to that higher revelation of God which
is in scripture, but to the tradition of the elders. So many persecutors
<lo evil, and do not think they do evil, but do God good service : John
xvi. 2, They shall put you out of the synagogues ; yea, the time
cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service ;
and this through ignorance and blind zeal. This erring conscience is
.their bane ; it may urge them to do evil, but it cannot oblige them to do
evil, for they are bound to know better ; and according to the means of
their conviction, so is the greatness of their sin.
[3.] A man may act against conscience.
(I.) So he may do good. As a papist communicating with the
reformed churches in the word, and prayer, and sacraments, he doth
that which is good, but he doth it against his conscience, because he
thinks it is not lawful to have communion with heretics. To this
head belongeth those things that we do with scruple of conscience,
fearing the things which we do are not right. So many times we do
things which, are lawful, yet fearing^ they are unlawful ; we do them
not without some scruple, and terror of conscience ; as, for instance, a
self-condemning sinner coming to the Lord s supper, yet because he
hath not a clear sense of the love of God, his conscience troubleth him,
and he is afraid he eatethand drinketh unworthily. The apostle saith,
Horn, xiv.- 22. 23, Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that
SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16. 439
thing which he alloweth ; and he that doubteth is damned if he eat,
because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin;
that is, to the party that doeth it, though it be good in itself. There
fore we must endeavour that, whatever we do, we may be assured out
of the word of God that it is lawful : Kom. xiv. 5, Let every one be
fully persuaded in his own mind.
(2.) So he may do evil. When a man doeth good against his con
science, it is evil ; but when he doeth evil against his conscience, it is
a double evil, because he doth not only transgress the rule that should
guide him, but affronts the judge which God hath set over him in his
own bosom, and kicketh against the pricks, the urgings of his own con
science : James iv. 17, Therefore to him that knoweth to do good,
and doeth it not, to him it is sin. But especially it is a greater sin,
when not only by light natural, but by the checks and motions of the
Spirit, he understandeth the evil which he doth, or the necessary good
which he omitteth, for this is to resist the Holy Ghost : Acts vii. 51,
Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always
resist the Holy Ghost/ Especially when he wilfully and blasphemously
rejects that sufficient evidence that is given him of the ways of God,
and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace, Heb. x. 29 ; for that
is the sin unto death, 1 John v. 19. In short, we should be careful
we sin not against conscience, for it is our best friend or our worst
enemy. It is God s deputy, and to resist the officer is to resist the
prince or magistrate. Therefore do nothing without conscience, do
nothing against conscience, but do all things with conscience, rightly
informed by the word of God.
Secondly, Exercise yourselves in this, that conscience may perform
its office, and be a good guide unto you. There are two offices of con
science to direct and to censure ; to judge rightly de jure, what you
ought to do; and to judge rightly de facto, what you have done or
what you are, that you may neither have a blind and erring nor a
sleepy conscience.
1. That you may not have an erring conscience, or a blind one, you
must consult with your rule : Bom. xii. 2, That ye may prove what
is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God ; Eph. v. 17,
Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the
Lord is ; with a mind fully resolved to do his will : John vii. 17, If
any man do his will, he shall know .of the doctrine whether it be
of God, or whether I speak of myself. This rule is the word
of God : Ps. cxix. 105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and
a light unto my path. Beg the light of the Spirit : ver. 133, Order
my steps in thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion
over me. And be not rebellious against this light, for our sins and
lusts blind the mind, and a naughty heart defileth the conscience,
so that it groweth loose and indulgent, and from a judge it becometh
an advocate, excusing the partialities of our obedience to God and our
injuries to men. Therefore there must be a resolute endeavour to
overcome every sin you are convinced of : Heb. xiii. 18, Pray for us,
for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live
honestly.
2. That you may not have a dead, sleepy, stupid conscience, you
440 SERMONS UPON ACTS XXIV. 14-16.
must often excite it. For your actions, bring them to the rule : Hag.
i. 5, Now therefore thus saith the Lord God, Consider your Ways ;
Ps. iv. 4, Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
For your state, try it often : 1 Cor. xi. 28, But let a man examine
himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup ; 2
Cor. xiii. 5, Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith ; prove
your own selves : know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is
in you, except ye be reprobates ? The acts of conscience are three to
be an accuser, witness, and judge.
[1.] As an accuser, hearken to its voice ; what doth it say to you,
good or evil ? Job xxvii. 6, My heart shall not reproach me so long
as I live. If it speak not to you, you must speak to it. God com-
plaineth, Jer. viii. 6, I hearkened and heard, but they spake not
aright ; no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I
done?
[2.] As a witness, consider the evidence it bringeth, that it may be
matter of joy or sorrow to you, of confession or thanksgiving. If it
reproach you, do not smother the check : Acts xxiv. 25, And as he
reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix
trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time ; when I have a more
convenient season I will call for thee/ If it cheer you, see upon what
grounds: Horn. ix. 1, I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not, my con
science also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. It is no matter
what others think, but what conscience thinketh. Nothing is nearer
to us than ourselves ; it is a domestical tribunal, that we always carry
about with us.
[3.] As a judge it passeth sentence ; if it be wrong, there is an appeal
from court -to court: Ps. cxxx. 3, 4, If thou, Lord, shouldst mark
iniquities, Lord, who can stand ? but there is forgiveness with thee,
that thou mayest be feared. Conscience is a judge, but it is an inferior
judge ; there lieth an appeal to a higher: 1 Cor. iv. 4, He that judg-
eth me is the Lord ; Heb. xii. 23, And to God the judge of all/ But
it should be done with great admiration of grace. But if the judgment
be right, it is ratified ; its judgment we must yield to : 1 Cor. xi. 32,
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord/ Thus should
we keep up the force of conscience.
SERMON UPON ZEGHARIAH XIV. 20, 21.
In that day (here shallbe upon the bells of the horses, Holiness unto the
Lord; and the pots in the Lord s house shall be like the bowls before
the altar. Tea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be
holiness unto the Lord of hosts. ZECH. xiv. 20, 21.
THESE words describe the purity and holiness of the gospel church in
such terms and notions as are proper to the old testament dispensa
tion. In them observe (1.) The inscription or impress ; (2.) The
things on which it is engraven ; (3.) The time when it is done.
1 . The inscription or impress, Holiness to the Lord. This was of
old written on the priest s mitre : Exod. xxviii. 36, And thou shalt
make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it like the engravings of a
signet, Holiness to the Lord ; to show that he was a person sacred,
and designed for special holy uses : therein he was a type of Christ.
Now what was upon the high priest s frontlet was inscribed on every
thing, to show they should consecrate their all to God.
2. The things inscribed, particularly enumerated, first, the horse-bells,
or the ornaments of their horses ; secondly, their bowls or basons ;
thirdly, their pots.
[1.1 What was used in the kitchens of the temple.
2.] "
The utensils of every ordinary house and family. There were
kitchens belonged to the temple, wherein the thank-offerings were dressed
for their sacred feasts. The bowls of the altar were for an higher use,
namely, to receive the blood of the sacrifices to make the sprinklings,
as Solomon made an hundred basons of gold for that use, 2 Chron.
iv. 8.
3. The time, c In that day. He speaketh not of any peculiar time,
but the whole state of things under the gospel, which is as it were but
one day. And it is called that day by way of excellency. Thus the
time of the gospel are days indeed full of light and grace, and that day
by way of limitation. It should be reserved for this day, and not found
in such a degree and measure at any other time ; even then when there
should be no sacrifices, no altars, then the bells, pots, and basons should
be sanctified or separated from a common, and dedicated to an holy use ,
that is, there shall be such special universal holiness, as if it were so
done upon all these things.
But you will say, When and where is it ? Alas ! considering the
442 SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH XIV. 20, 21.
degenerate state of the Christian world, where is this universal holiness
to be found ? How shall we make it good ?
Ans. 1. Prophecies of things belonging to our obedience are to be
understood many times quoad officium, of our duty, rather than qucad
eventum, of the event ; it is their duty to be thus holy in all their employ
ments and affairs ; that dispensation requireth it as our duty.
2. As to the event, it is to be understood comparatively, not abso
lutely, to show that there shall be a far greater holiness under the
gospel than under the law ; both intensive as to the degree of the
holiness itself, and extensive as to the persons sanctified. Intensively
the holiness itself is greater, because the ordinances of the gospel are
rational, and not typical, and the duties of it moral more than cere
monial. God taught them by ceremonies to hate sin by the types of
legal uncleanness, to devote themselves to God by offering their beasts
in sacrifice. Theirs was like a training, ours a real war, as much as
the difference is between shooting at a puppet or painted castle and
fighting with an enemy. And because more of the Spirit is poured
out ; now grace is not given upon trust, but the price is actually paid.
Extensively, more persons are sanctified, as the pale is enlarged, and
the gospel prevaileth on them : Eev. v. 9, Thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue,
and people, and nation ; Mark xvi. 15, Go into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature.
3. The gospel state hath its ebbs and flows in several ages. Some
times there is a notable vigour and power of godliness, at other times
a great increase of wickedness, and men do so far corrupt their way,
that we are forced to put another sense upon words, or expect a better
time when the prophecy shall be more amply fulfilled. We can hardly
reconcile the words with the state of the times.
Doct. God in and by the gospel will effect an eminent and notable
sanctification both of things and persons. (1.) Let us consider how
gospel holiness is set forth in this prophecy ; (2.) I shall speak of holi
ness in the general ; (3.) Give you the reasons.
I. That degree of holiness which is here prophesied of.
1. All such things as were before employed against God should be
then employed and converted to his service, for the horse-bells shall be
inscribed. He speaketh before of horses employed against the church,
which God would overthrow, ver. 15. It was the fashion of those
oriental countries to adorn their war-horses and camels with golden
chains and bells, Judges viii. 26. This prophecy intimateth that now
these bells should be converted to another use, to make golden pots and
bowls for the temple, and be inscribed by God s motto and impress.
In our natural estate we employed our time, and wit, and parts, and
strength against God ; but if converted, then for him. As one of the
fathers glosseth upon Eve s seducing Adam, she was a rib, but she
proved a dart. We fight against God by his own weapons, but con
version maketh a change : Rom. vi. 13, Neither yield ye your members
as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin ; but yield yourselves unto
God, as those that are alive from the dead, and } our members as instru
ments of righteousness unto God. The oVXo, aSt/aa?, the weapons or
instruments of unrighteousness/ are become oVXa iKcuoa-vyrjs, instru-
SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH XIV. 20, 21. 443
ments of righteousness. So ver. 22, For now, being made free from
sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness.
There is a manifest change in the use of all things.
2. Upon all the utensils of the temple there shall be Holiness to the
Lord, whether pots or bowls. The great and immediate duties of the
worship of God should have special holiness in them, for God will be
sanctified in all that draw nigh unto him : Lev. x. 3, I will be sancti
fied in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be
glorified. There should be a special awe and reverence upon our
hearts in our conversing with God, when the i)lood of the sacrifice is
presented to him, as it was in the bowls, or the flesh of the sacrifice
eaten by ourselves, as it was by the priests when it was sodden in the
pots of the Lord s house. We read of discerning the Lord s body, 1
Cor. xi. 29. We receive it not in an holy manner if our eating be not
in a different manner from eating our ordinary meal. The impression
of our great end should be upon our ordinary and common actions, but
in worship the nature of the work is holy, and the manner of our deport
ment should be very reverent and serious.
3. The expressions imply a proficiency and growth in holiness ; for
the pots of the kitchen of the temple shall become as the bowls of the
altar for purity and holiness. There were degrees of holiness in the
several vessels belonging to the temple ; the meanest things in sacred
use shall be advanced to an higher degree of esteem and holy employ
ment than before, which some understand thus : that the meanest things
in the Christian church shall be as precious as the most glorious things
in the Jewish church ; rather that holiness should be upon the growing
hand, and increasing from degree to degree, till all be perfected in the
everlasting estate. The bells or neck-ornaments of their horses shall be
turned into pots of the Lord s house, and the pots in the kitchen become
as the bowls on the altar. Christians ! the holiness of the gospel is
a growing holiness ; we should go on from strength to strength, Ps.
Ixxxiv. 7, from glory to glory, 2 Cor. iii. 28. The inner man must
be renewed day by day, 2 Cor. iv. 16. There should be a continuance
in gospel holiness. Carnal men seek to grow greater and greater, and
higher and higher, and attain further degrees of their worldly happi
ness, and shall not we seek to grow better and better ? One drachm of
holiness is worth a whole world of greatness. Holiness is the glory of
saints, the beauty of angels, the delight of God ; you cannot be too holy.
But alas ! many lose ground in religion ; holiness is in the wane, not in
the increase ; sin is not so hateful as it was before. What will this come
to at length ? How can he be rich who groweth every day poorer ? or
reach the goal who goeth every day a step back ? who lose their zeal,
and, the older they grow, live in more indulgence to the flesh ?
4. As it is a progressive holiness, so it is also a diffusive holiness,
that spreadeth itself throughout all actions, civil and sacred ; in things
which belong to peace and war. (1.^ In things civil and sacred, all
the pots of the Lord s house, and all the pots in Jerusalem. (2.) In
things of war and peace, for here are horse-bells and pots ; all things
should now become holy, and holily used. In every point and ordinary
action of the Christian life, a Christian should devote himself to God.
True holiness will extend itself, and shine forth in a man s most com-
444 SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH XIV. 20, 21.
mou things and employments, and the sincere man referreth all to God,
even in his ordinary conversation, as if he were about immediate wor
ship : 1 Peter i. 15, For as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye
holy, ev Trdcrr) dvaa-rpotyfj, in all manner of conversation. In every
creek and turning of your lives, or in every particular passage of your
Christian course. Oh ! what a blessed thing is it when godliness run
neth through a man s whole life as the woof through the web ! when
our whole conversation savoureth of godliness and true holiness, and
our common and civil actions are done in the Lord and for his glory,
and upon all occasions you show yourselves haters of sin and lovers of
what is good ! Everything that passeth God s hand discovereth the
author ; there is not a gnat or a pile of grass but you may see God in it
as well as in the more stupendous works of the creation. So should
a Christian in every condition, prosperous and adverse, in an high or low
condition, whether he be abased or do abound, carry himself like a
Christian : Phil. iv. 12, I know both how to be abased, and I know
how to abound ; everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to
be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need ; Hosea vii.
8, Ephraim is a cake not turned/ baked but on one side, and dough
on the other. So in every action, civil or sacred, there must not only
be a spirit of holiness breathing in our duties, but shining forth in our
ordinary employments and recreations. "Every action, morally consi
dered, is in itself a step forward to hell or to heaven ; in every relation,
in love to our maker, in duty to our fellow creatures: Acts xxiv. 16,
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of
offence towards God and towards men. To all men, and to our fellow-
saints : 2 Peter i. 7, And to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly
kindness charity ; injustice and charity. When the web is one thing,
and the woof another, the Lord abhorreth it.
II. Of holiness in the general. What it is ? It may be considered
relatively or positively.
1. Kelatively ; so that thing or person is holy which is set apart from
a common to a holy use.
2. Positively ; so it implieth the renovation of our natures and the
rectitude of our actions ; for holiness may be applied to persons or
actions. An action is holy by its conformity to the rule ; a person by
the prevalency of his principle. Holiness with respect to our actions
is an universal endeavour of conformity to the will of God. A person
is holy by the prevalency of his principle, when his heart by those divine
qualities which we call graces is constantly bent and powerfully inclined
to please God in all things.
1. For holiness relatively considered, or with respect to our relation
to God. These four things are in it
[1.] An inclination towards God. There is a new bias upon the
heart, which bends it to God, which before bended and tended towards
carnal vanities. Conversion is aturning to God, and the holy life is a
living to God : Gal. ii. 19, For I through the law am dead to the law,
that I might live unto God. The great work of grace is to set and fix
the heart towards him from whom we departed by our folly and sin,
that we may serve, please, and glorify him in all things, and finally come
to enjoy him as our chief happiness : 1 Chron. xxii. 19, Now set your
heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God.
SERMON UPON ZECHAKIAH XIV. 20, 21. 445
[2.] From this tendency towards God ariseth a dedication of ourselves
and all that we have to the Lord s use and service : 2 Cor. viii. 5, But
first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of
God ; Kom. vi. 13, But yield yourselves unto God, as those that are
alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness
unto God ; Kom. xii. 1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service/ They are
ashamed they have so long kept God out of his right, therefore now they
resign themselves to be what he will have them to be, and to do what he
will have them to do.
[3.] From this dedication there results a relation of the persons so
dedicated to God, so that from that time forth they are not their own,
but the Lord s : Ezek. xvi. 8, Now when I passed by thee, and looked
upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love, and I spread my skirt
over thee, and covered thy nakedness, yea, I sware unto thee, and entered
into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest
mine ; Rom. xiv. 7, 8, For none of us liveth to himself, and no man
dieth to himself ; for whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and
whether we die, we die unto the Lord ; whether we live, therefore, or die,
we are the Lord s.
[4.] There is another thing, and that is the actual using of ourselves
for God. We. are vessels set apart for the master s use : 2 Tim. ii. 21,
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto
honour, sanctified, and meet for the master s use, and prepared unto
every good work. And accordingly we must live, not to ourselves, but
unto God ; it resulteth from all the former : 2 Cor. v. 15, And that
lie died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him which died for them. If we love God, and
have a thankful sense of his love and kindness to us, we will do so ;
there needeth no other law to bind this upon us but our love. Love is
the poise which inclineth the soul to God. If we are dedicated to God,
the sincerity of our dedication is known by our use. Many give up
themselves to God, but in the use of themselves there appeareth no such
matter ; they use their tongues as their own, their hearts as their own,
their bodies as their own, their wealth, strength, and time as their own ;
but a sincere Christian maketh conscience of his dedication : 1 Cor. vL
15, Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ ; shall
I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an
harlot ? God forbid ! Our members are members of Christ, as
we are in covenant with him ; in point of fidelity, we must not do so.
And his interest in us obligeth us : Mat. xxii. 21, Render therefore to
Ceesar the things which are Caasar s, and to God the things which are
God s. We are not our own, but God s : 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20, Ye 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. Do not rob God of his
own ; you should make conscience of alienating that which is the
Lord s.
Once more, this is bound upon us by another argument, the certainty
of our future account : Luke xix. 23, Wherefore then ga vest not thou
my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have received
446 SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH XIV. 20 21.
my own with usury ? He will require his own with usury. We
should keep a constant and faithful reckoning how we lay out ourselves
for God ; we must not spare God something only, but the main drift
and business of our lives must be to honour God ; he must have a share
in all things we have and do.
I might add, as another binding consideration, the constancy of
divine inspection. We are always in the eye and presence of the
great God, who still looketh upon us, and considereth whose business
we are about, his or our own : Luke i. 75, In holiness and righteous
ness before him all the days of our life. We are always before him,
and observed by him.
2. Positive holiness may be considered either with respect to our
persons or actions.
[1.] Our persons, when we are renewed by the Spirit, or there is an
inward principle of sanctification wrought in our hearts. Other things,
when dedicated to God, are changed only in their use, as gold, silver,
and goafs-hair ; but when man is dedicated to God, he is changed in
his nature ; there is not only a difference between him and others, but
a difference between him and himself. There is a difference between
him and others, not only as he is set apart for God and dedicated to an
holy use ; the godly are set apart for God : Ps. iv. 3, But know that
the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself ; but as he is
cleansed, purified, and renewed by the Holy Ghost, and so there is a differ
ence between him and himself: 1 Cor. vi. 11, And 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. Now
this is necessary, that a man should be holy before his actions shall be
holy ; for till a man be regenerated, and act from a principle of grace
in his heart, all that he doth is but the shadow and imperfect imitation
of a good action, as an ape would imitate a man, or as a violent motion
doth resemble that which is natural. We are bidden to be holy as
God is holy : 1 Peter i. 15, But as he that hath called you is holy, so
be ye holy in all manner of conversation. God as to his essence and
being is holy, and all his acts carry a condecency with his nature :
He is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works/ Ps. cxlv.
17. So we are made partakers of a divine nature, 2 Peter i. 4, and
so live and walk in a godlike manner : 2 Peter i. 3, According as his
divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and
godliness. Grace is given to beget life, and then we are visibly to
express it in a course of godly walking. Grace is planted in the
heart, and then the influence of it is diffused throughout all the parts
of his life. First there is internal holiness, in the hatred of sin and
the love of that which is good, and then external holiness is expressed
in avoiding the one and pursuing after the other. In short, actions
without life are the motions of puppets, not living creatures. On the
other side, if there be a change of heart, there must be fruits becoming
it. Habits are known by their acts, and resolution by our practice,
and the new nature by newness of conversation. A principle of grace
there must be, and a prevalent principle, such as gets the mastery of
sin, before a man can be denominated holy. There are mixed principles
and mixed operations in a Christian, but one is in predominancy
SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH XIV. 20, 21. 447
though there be a mixture of principles and of operations, yet there is
not a mixture of interests ; there is but one chief good ; their great
design is to please God in all things.
[2.] As a person is holy by his principle, so an action is holy by the
rule, when it agreeth with it as to manner and matter and end. The
substance of the matter must be such as is wan-anted by the law of
God, which rneteth and sets out the bounds of sin and duty : For by
the law is the knowledge of sin," 7 Kom. iii. 20 ; Kom. xii. 2, That ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God ;
Gal. vi. 16, As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them,
and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. So for the manner ; it must
be done in such a way as will suit with the nature of the action we are
about. A man may sin in doing good when he doth not do it well :
Luke viii. 18, Take heed how you hear ; Eccles. v. 1, Keep thy foot
when thou goest into the house of God, and be more ready to hear than
to give the sacrifice of fools ; for they consider not that they do evil.
And in our ordinary conversation : Eph. v. 15, See then that ye walk
circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise ; Prov. iv. . 26, Ponder the
path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. The end must
be to glorify God : 1 Cor. x. 31, Whether therefore ye eat or drink,
or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God ; Col. iii. 17, What
soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him/ A common rule for all
our actions, that they be undertaken in Christ s name, and thanks be
given unto God for the event and success of them. In short, to be
ruled by Christ s command, depending on his help, aiming at his glory ;
the heart must be habitually inclined to all things in him and for him,
so as in the issue and close of their actions to yield them matter of
thanksgiving to God ; this is that universal holiness which is required
of all Christians.
III. Eeasons why this eminent holiness, both of persons and actions,,
should take place in the gospel, above the times of the law.
1. Because of our principle, the new nature wrought in us by the
Spirit of God, which is suited to the whole will of God : Eph. iv. 24,
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteous
ness and true holiness. As thou art a creature, thou art bound to do
the whole will of God, for no creature can be exempted from subjection
to his creator ; but now as new creatures, so are we fitted and prepared
or put into a capacity to serve and please God in all things : Eph. ii.
10, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Every creature is fitted for the operations which belong to that life
which it hath ; so the new creature., if created anew, is fitted
anew, and therefore the new nature must show itself in all our
actions towards God and men. The new nature must still show itself
in all our actions with God, our neighbour, and ourselves : Titus ii. 12,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world. In our
worship, taking all occasions of conversing with God ; as Cornelius, a
devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave
much alms to the people, and prayed to God .alway, Acts x. 2. la
448 SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH XIV. 20, 21.
our dealings with men : Eom. xii. 17, Provide things honest in the
sight of all men. In charity : Acts ix. 36, Dorcas, a devout woman,
full of good works and alms-deeds which she did. Nay, in oar
recreations and delights of the present life, use them still in order to
God : 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5, For every creature of God is good, and nothing
to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving ; for it is sanctified
by the word of God and prayer. God s permission, and prayer calling
for a blessing on it. The word showeth what is commanded as neces
sary, what is lawful or indifferent. Prayer on all things showeth the
seriousness of a Christian ; in lesser matters, he would go about nothing
but what is recommended to God.
2. Because of the exactness of our rule, which teacheth us how to
walk in our several businesses and employments. A Christian in his
walk, either as to faith or manners, is not left indifferent to choose
what rule pleaseth him best ; but there is a fixed determinate measure
of all our actions, how we shall enter into a state of grace, how we
should behave ourselves in it : Micah vi. 8, He hath showed thee, O
man, what is good ; and what doth the Lord God require of thee, but
to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God ?
and Ps. cxix. 105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto
my path. Carnality is a walking Kara rov alwva TOV KOO-^OV TOVTOV,.
* according to the course of this world, Eph. ii. 2. Holiness is walk
ing Kara Kavova, according to the rule, Gal. vi. 16. The one accord
ing to the fashions of men, and the guise of fleshly-minded creatures,
the other according to the holy will of God : Horn, xii, 2, Proving what
is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God ; or, as becometh
the gospel/ Phil. i. 27 ; a conversation strict, spiritual, and heavenly.
3. Because of our pattern and example, Jesus Christ, who was exact
in all his actions. He declared himself to be the Son of God, useful in
all his converses, still aiming at the honour of his father : John viii.
50, I seek not mine own glory ; there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
He was careful to please him in all things. Christ came from heaven
not only to expiate our offences, but to give us an example ; and he
that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he
walked, 1 John ii. 6. Wherein lieth this example ? He telleth us he
came not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him/ John
v. 30. In temptations, sufferings, reproaches, in the midst of the
ingratitude of men, and poverty and meanness of condition, in all his
fastings, labours, and death, he sought still to please his father and
promote his will : John viii. 29, For I do always those things that
please him. This is your pattern, Christians ; and it is true religion to
imitate him whom we -worship : likeness to him is the true note of our
communion with him ; if your life be such a life, then there is Holi
ness to the Lord written upon it from first to last.
4. Our obligations to Christ ; partly because of his dominion, as the
Lord-redeemer by right of purchase : Eom. xiv. 9, For to this end
Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of
dead and living. In all conditions and states of life he hath a right
in us, therefore in every state of life we should glorify him. Partly
from our gratitude to Christ as a Saviour as well as a Lord. What
doth he expect from thee, when he hath done so much for thee already,
SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH XIV. 20, 21. 449
and will do much more, but that thou shouldst love him, and live to
him ? 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
lie died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again. What
hadst thou been were it not for his love ? What wouldst thou have
answered to an accusing conscience in the midst of thy griefs and fears?
How wouldst thou have looked God, the judge of all the world, in the
face ? Who could free thee from the curse of the law, and the flames
of hell, but the Son of God, who parted with all his glory that he might
redeem thee to God ? And if thou wilt not part with thy sins, thou
justly deservest to suffer for them. Thou lookest for more from him
than ever yet thou hast received, to live with God for ever ; what then
is thy business, but to glorify him upon earth, that thou mayest be
glorified with him for evermore ? Partly by thine own covenant vow ;
thou art baptized in his name, and hast often ratified the bond of the
oath into which thou art entered ; and what is baptism but a dedication
unto God, not to be thine own, but his ? Acts xxvii. 23, Whose I am,
and whom I serve. If thou art this, thy whole life should be Christ s.
We are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh/ Kom. viii. 12 ;
with Gal. v. 3, I testify to every man that is circumcised, that he is a
debtor to do the whole law.
Use. Is to persuade you to this universal obedience. None enter
upon God s service but with a consecration, and none entirely give up
themselves to God unless ^they give up all things with themselves, not
one thing reserved ; and if nothing be reserved, nothing must be used
but for his glory, otherwise the dedication is a mockery. The consi
derations are plain. Now I shall give you sundry directions, and they
will mostly come to the same purpose, but altogether will bind this
holiness upon you.
1. Undertake nothing but what will bear this inscription upon it,
* Holiness to the Lord. This question should be put to ourselves, Can
I dedicate this to God ? In worship, Am I now acting for God or for
myself? In your callings, Is this for God? Is it inconsistent with
my great end, or impertinent to it ? If it be inconsistent, it is plain
treachery to my covenant vow ; if impertinent, it is a diversion not
voluntarily to be allowed : 2 Cor. v. 9, Wherefore we labour that,
whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. In your sports
and delights, Eccles. ii. 2, What doeth it ? When you are carding
away your precious time or your substance, which might be better
employed, is this Holiness to the Lord ? That should be legible in
all you are and do. In the choice of your relations, disposal of your
condition of life, here is your measure still.
2. Be sure to exercise your general calling in your particular ; your
general calling is to be a Christian, your particular calling is that way
of life to which God hath designed you by your abilities and education
for the common good. Now the one falleth into the other. I am to
guide myself in my calling by the general duty of a Christian, as" a
minister, magistrate, gentleman, or tradesman, as one fearing and
loving God : John xvii. 4, I have glorified thee upon earth, I have
finished the work thou gavest me to do ; Acts xiii. 36, David served
YOL. XVII. 2 P
450 SERMON UPOX ZECHARIAH XIV. 20, 21.
his generation by the will of God. As an instrument of providence,
I must consider how my particular calling will serve my great end :
1 Cor. vii. 21, 22, Art thou called, being a servant ? care not for it ;
but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called
in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord s freeman ; likewise also he
that is called, being free, is Christ s servant ; Neh. i. 12, The Lord
show me favour in the sight of this man ; for I was the king s cup
bearer. He had improved his place for God.
3. Turn all second-table duties into first-table duties : Heb.
xiii. 16, But to do good, and to communicate, forget not ; for
with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Sacrifice is a first-table
duty, yet relieving the poor is called a well-pleasing sacrifice : James
i. 27, Pure religion (dpycnceia, worship) and undefiled before God
and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their
affliction. Whatever we do must be a sacrifice ; then in serving
men you serve the Lord Christ. This is to turn common pots into
temple pots, and pots into bowls of the altar : Eph. v. 21, Sub
mitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God/ Be con
scientiously careful and tender of your duty to man : Col. iii. 22,
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not
with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing
God ; Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the
Lord, Eph. v. 22 ; out of love to Christ : Eph. vi. 1, Children, obey
your parents in the Lord.
4. Go about your earthly business with a heavenly mind : Phil. iii.
20, But our conversation is in heaven. All is a journey thither ; look
to the unseen world.
5. Content not yourselves with the natural use of the creature, as
brute beasts do, but see God in all. The creature is as a glass and
image wherein to read your Creator s goodness, and as helps and means
to enable you to his service ; therefore still they must be received with
thanksgiving : 1 Tim. iv. 3, For every creature of God is good, and
nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. Man is to
use the inferior creatures for God, not as the lord of them, but as the
steward of the Creator, to whom he is accountable for that use ; not to
sacrifice them to his own pleasure and will, and to gratify his fleshly
mind ; they are neither his, nor for him, but for God ; for he hath not
the right of a lord, but a servant.
6. In all your ways acknowledge God, depending upon him for
direction and success, and consulting with him, and approving thy
heart and life unto him : Prov. iii. 6, In all thy ways acknowledge
him, and he shall direct thy paths. Especially duties must be done
by virtue of influence from Christ: Phil. ii. 13, For it is God which
worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure ; Gal.
ii. 20, I live by the faith of the Son of God. In our ordinary actions,
we must still ask his leave, counsel, and blessing, acknowledging his
dominion over us and all that we do ; there we must call in his help,
and aim at his glory : 1 Cor. x. 31, Whether you eat or drink, or
whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God ; that, doing things
by him, we may do them for him.
7. God should be worshipped by every faithful person in his own
SERMON UPON ZECHARIAH XIV. 20, 21.
451
house in as God-like a manner as he was worshipped by the Jews in
the temple. A Christian must be alike everywhere, at home and
abroad : Phil. ii. 12, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye always have obeyed,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling. So David: Ps.
ci. 2, I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. There
where we familiarly converse, we should show most of holiness, order
ing all our affairs and actions as may best demonstrate the sincerity
of our hearts.
SERMON UPON JOHN IIL 14, 15.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the
Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have eternal life. JOHN iii. 14, 15.
THE former part of this chapter is spent in a discourse with Nicodemus.
(1.) About regeneration. That great pharisee needed to be catechised
and taught the plainest principles of Christianity. (2.) About salva
tion by Christ, the great secret which our Lord brought out of
his Father s bosom. He instructed him in two things mainly
(1.) The manner of purchasing ; (2.) The manner of applying, this
salvation. As the whole context may be comprised under these two
heads, so also the words read to you. The manner of purchasing is
by Christ s coming into the world and dying for sinners ; the way of
applying is by faith in the Son of God. He instructeth him in the
manner of purchasing ; partly that he might not think light of sins,
seeing he must die for them ; partly that he might not be scandalised
at his sufferings, as afterwards he buried Christ, and provided a mix
ture of myrrh and aloes for his funeral, John xix. 39. He instructeth
him in the way of applying and obtaining the purchased benefits,
partly that he might not be ashamed of professing himself one of
Christ s followers and disciples ; partly to engage his heart to own him
as the Saviour of lost sinners, having sufficient virtue to cure the sin-
fulness and misery of such as fly to him by faith. These things are
represented to him by a type, and that a notable one, the type of the
brazen serpent. In the words take notice
1. Of the vrpoTacris, or proposition, As Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness/
2. The aTToSoans, or the reddition or explication of it, Even so must
the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have eternal life. In which
[1.] The way of saving mankind, The Son of man must be lifted
up.
[2.] The means of applying it, That whosoever believeth in him.
[3.] The benefit propounded, negatively, he Should not perish ;
positively, But have eternal life.
I shall open the words by a short illustration, and then come to the
point.
1. For the protasis. As Moses, by God s appointment, though
the minister be only mentioned : Num. xxi. 8, The Lord said unto
454 SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15.
Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent ; it was not his device, but God s
ordinance ; no invention and institution of his ; he had God s express
command and warrant for it. Lifted up ; that is, set upon a perch
or pole, as an object to be looked upon by the stung Israelites. The
serpent ; that is. the brazen image and figure of a serpent. Signs are
often called by the name of the thing represented and signified. In
the wilderness ; a figure of this world, through which we have our
passage to the heavenly Canaan. You may add, that the Trporaa-is, or
proposition of the type, may be more full, That the people might not
perish, but be healed and live/ for then the reddition or explication of
the type will run more smoothly.
2. The apodosis. Even so must the Son of man ; that is, Christ,
spoken of in the former verse ; the Son of man that ascended and
descended, that was in heaven, and knew the depths of God s counsel,
and came down to make them known to us. This Son of man must
be lifted up/ believed on, or looked unto by faith, and then the guilty
sinner is healed, and shall not perish, but have eternal life. The lift
ing up of the Son of man in the sound and first hearing seemeth to
note his exaltation ; but it doth not carry that notion here, but such a
lifting up as is correspondent to the erection of the brazen serpent on
a tree or pole. It signifieth the crucifixion of the Son of God, not his
exaltation, but the lowest act of his humiliation. So in many other
places : John viii. 28, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then
shall ye know that I am he. He speaketh it to the wicked Jews ; and
how did the Jews lift him up but by crucifying him ? Surely they
intended no honour to him, yet there it is made their act. So John
xii. 32, 33, I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men after
me. This he said, signifying what death he should die/ as the evan
gelist there explaineth his meaning ; so that there needeth no further
scruple about the sense of the words. It followeth, that whosoever ;
all persons are invited, without exclusion of any ; that universal particle
eomprehendeth sinners of all sorts and sizes, of all ranks and conditions
in the world. Believeth in him ; this answereth to looking upon
the brazen serpent. Believing is a looking to Christ, a looking upon
him by the eye of faith. Shall not perish, but have eternal life. He
shall escape the present danger which he feareth. Souls shall be
healed, and delivered from hell, and life eternal is restored to them.
Doct. That we ought to consider salvation by Christ as prefigured
and represented by the history of the brazen serpent.
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of man be lifted up/ And Christ here propoundeth it to
Nicodemus.
1. It is useful to consider the types, partly to confirm our faith, when
we see the harmony between the testaments. There are historical
types and prophetical types. Historical types are only patterns and
examples : 1 Cor. x. 11, All these things happened to them for TVTTOI
ensamples or types ; so the providences of God to his ancient people :
! Cor. x. 9, Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted,
and were destroyed of serpents/ Prophetical types were instituted to
prefigure a thing to come, as the ceremonies of the law were figures
of better things to come. Now we see the sospel is not a novel inven-
SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15. 455
tion, only hatched in that age when it was first set afoot. No ; it was
long since foretold, not only by words, but things ; there was a prepar
ation made for it. And partly to help our meditation ; we reflect upon
these things with more delight and sweetness, whilst we view the agree
ment between the truth and the type. When we know the person, yet
we delight to see the picture ; and so we may take a view of things
with a grateful variety. We see them double when we consider both
the shadow and the mystery. Partly to . increase our thankfulness ;
we have not such dark and long prospects, through which they only
could look to Christ ; we may see him more clearly in the doctrines of
the gospel, where he is evidently set forth unto us, and, as it were,
crucified before our eyes, Gal. iii. 1. Surely then we are more obliged
to mind these things. The more clearly and convincingly Christ is
represented to us, the more will our negligence be aggravated, and our
contempt the greater, if we make light of these things.
2. Among other types, the brazen serpent must not be forgotten ;
partly because it doth in a most lively and full manner represent
Christ. Here a word is a sermon ; and we cannot think of the brazen
serpent but the necessity, the remedy, the means of application, do
presently offer themselves to our thoughts. And partly because this
took off the great scandal and Jewish exception against Christ, which
was the ignominy of the cross. Therefore to a doctor of the law he
doth not produce the paschal lamb or other figures, but the brazen
serpent, as clearly representing the cause, quality, and fruit of his
sufferings.
3. To help you in this consideration, I shall (1.) Give the history ;
(2.) The typical use of it.
First, The history, in Num. xxi. 6-9, And the Lord sent fiery
serpents among the people, and they bit the people ; and much people
of Israel died. Therefore the people came unto Moses, and said, We
have sinned ; for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee :
pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us : and
Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make
thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole ; and it shall come to pass,
that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, he shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole ; and it
came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld
the serpent of brass, he lived. The sin occasioning the judgment was
their murmuring at Moses and Aaron, and their loathing of manna ;
for this God sendeth fiery serpents. Observe how God suite th the
judgment to the sin ; venomous tongues are plagued with venomous
serpents. It is said, Eccles. x. 11, Surely the serpent shall bite with
out enchantment, and a babbler is no better. And again, Ps. cxl. 3,
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent ; adders poison is
under their lips. They have a bag of water under their tongues, which
is most poisonous and inflaming, which in biting is broken. But this
was not the asp, but the chersydrus, a sort of serpent which abideth
on land as well as in water ; whilst it liveth in the water, it is not
altogether so venomous as when it cometh to live on the dry land, and in
this part of the thirsty howling wilderness these kind of serpents were
most fiery and burning, and at that time of the year when the Israelites
456 SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15.
were there, which was about the end of August ; for Aaron died in
the first day of the fifth month, Num xxxiii. 38, which was about the
10th of July, and the children of Israel mourned thirty days before they
journeyed, Num. xx. 29. And when they journeyed from Mount Hor,
then we read of their murmuring and God s plaguing them with fiery
serpents. Observe, again, that God, that bringeth manna from heaven,
can also send serpents. God is not all honey ; abused mercy is turned
into fury, and when his favours are despised, he hath judgments to
sting us ; and if men will loathe their food, God will chastise them with
poison.
But again to the history. These serpents which God sent are called
fiery serpents, partly for their colour, being of a shining glistering
skin ; the word in the original is seraphim-burners, a name given to
the angels : Isa. vi. 2, Above it stood the seraphims, which angels
are called elsewhere flames of fire, Ps. civ. 4 ; partly because their
venomous stinging and biting did cause a raging heat and grievous
burning in the bodies of the Israelites. And it seemeth they were a
kind of serpents with wings, not of feathers, but of a cartilaginous
substance, like the wings of a bat, and did here and there seize upon
them and bite them ; or at least they are said to fly because of their
swift motion, where by suddenly jerking they shoot themselves forward,
or dart themselves out of trees on men or beasts as they pass by them.
There is a plain allusion to those flying serpents, Isa. xiv. 29, Out of
the serpent s hole shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be
a fiery flying serpent. And indeed that wilderness through which the
Israelites passed did abound with many sorts of these serpents ; there
fore it is said, Deut. viii. 15, Who led thee through that great and
terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents and scorpions. Well,
then, they go to Moses, and said, We have sinned ; for we have spoken
against God, and against thee : pray to God for us, that he take away
the fiery serpents. In adversity men will own the faithful servants
of God, against whom they have murmured when all is well. Moses
forgetteth the injury, and prayeth to God for them ; and God, though
he doth not take away the serpents, yet he provideth a remedy unlikely
in appearance, a brazen serpent to cure the bites of living serpents ;
but divine institution conveyeth a blessing. The word of command is
that they should look upon the brazen serpent ; and the word of pro
mise is that they should be healed ; Num. xxi. 8, Make thee a fiery
serpent, and set it upon a pole, and it shall come to pass, that every
one when he is bitten, that looketh upon it, shall live/ This is, in
short, the history.
Secondly, The mystery, or typical use of the brazen serpent. The
chief things represented in it are sin, Christ, and faith ; the deadliness
of sin, the manner of our deliverance by Christ, and the nature of
faith.
1. The Israelites deadly sin and misery occasioned the setting up of
the brazen serpent ; so the occasion of Christ s sending into the world
was man s sin and misery, we being all bitten by the old serpent, and
so liable to the curse. The devil is called the old serpent, Rev.
xii. 9 ; and in the appearance of a serpent he deceived our first parents ;
therefore we read that the serpent beguiled Eve, 2 Cor. xi. 3. Human
SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15. 457
nature was then stung to death by Satan, and the venom dispersed
itself throughout the whole race of mankind. Among the Israelites
there were but a few stung, here all ; there their bodies, here the soul ;
there temporal death followed, here eternal. In the sting of these
fiery serpents two things representeth our misery by sin (1.) It is
painful; (2.) Deadly.
[1.] This sting is painful. The bitings did presently cause pains,
and an intolerable thirst and burning, which was very grievous to
them ; so the sting of sin is painful ; not always felt, but soon awakened.
In spiritual things we are more stupid, and are not so sensible of the
maladies of the soul as they were of the pains of the body. We are
subject to bondage, Heb. ii. 14. Though we do not always feel
actual horror, there is a fire smothering in our bosoms, though it be
not blown up into a flame. One of our spiritual diseases is a lethargy,
and it is a great part of our misery not to know our misery. If con
science were not lulled asleep we would be more sensible. Surely
Satan s bites are more painful than those of these serpents. His darts
are called fiery darts, Eph, vi. 16. His darts are dipped in the gall of
asps and vipers. Boiling lusts will in time awaken raging fears and
despair. Oh I what horror and torment will sin procure to us if it be
not speedily cured ! Sin is an evil and a mischief, whether we feel it,
yea or no ; but we shall soon feel it an evil, as the stung Israelites felt
the biting of the serpents. Sin in the life will make bell in the con
science ; it seemeth a sweet draught while we are taking it down, but
there is rank poison at the bottom. A wounded spirit findeth it now :
Prov. xviii. 14, A wounded spirit who can bear? Horror and
anguish of conscience is insupportable. Ask any man whose heart is
well awakened, and he will tell you that the sense of the guilt of sin
is more bitter to the soul than the gall of asps ; no terror comparable
to the terror and sting of an accusing conscience. God s terrors are
compared to a fire that drinketh up the blood and spirits : Job vi. 4,
The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof
drinketh up my spirit ; the terrors of God do set themselves in array
against me/ No poison more burning than sin in an awakened con
science. It may lie asleep till you come to die in sin, stupid and be
numbed creatures ; but then ( the sting of death is sin, 1 Cor. xv. 56.
Death is made terrible by those sad horrors and apprehensions which
sin raiseth in us.
[2.] This sting is deadly. As the biting of the fiery serpents could
not be cured, but was present death till God found out a remedy, so
this sting of sin is deadly : Kom. v. 12, By one man sin entered into
the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for
that all have sinned ; Gen. ii. 17, In the day thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die ; dying thou shalt die : Kom. vi. 23, The wages of
sin is death ; death temporal, eternal. Thou art a dead man, lost for
ever, if thou art not cured. Those who were not solicitous about their
cure are a figure of the impenitent, who obstinately continue in their
sins though they bring destruction upon them. Not only death tem
poral, which consists in the separation of the soul from the body ; but
death spiritual, which consists in an estrangement from God as author
of the life of grace ; yea, death eternal, which consists in a separation.
458 SERMON UPON JOHN HI. 14, 15.
both of body and soul from the presence of God for evermore, and is
a perpetual living to deadly pain and torment. This second death is
set forth by two solemn notions, The worm that never dieth, and the
fire that shall never be quenched, Mark ix. 44 ; by which is meant
the sting of conscience and the wrath of God: Prov. viil 36, A1J
they that hate me love death.
2. Christ is set forth by the brazen serpent. Here I shall show you
(1.) The resemblances ; (2.) The superexcellency of Christ above
this, and all the shadows and types of him.
[1.] The resemblance between Christ and the brazen serpent.
(1.) The brazen serpent was a remedy of God s own prescribing out
of his great mercy ; so is this remedy for lost sinners the mere fruit of
God s love : John iii. 16, God so loved the world that he gave his
only-begotten Son. The causa irpoKarapKriKr}, the occasion or outward
moving cause, was our misery ; the causa irpor^jov^evt]^ the inward
impulsive cause, was his own love and pity to lapsed mankind. God
found out the remedy ; we neither plotted it nor asked it ; he saw the
world of mankind was perishing, and involved in eternal ruin, and
because there was no intercessor, therefore his own arm wrought out
salvation. Herein the antitype differeth from the type. The stung
Israelites, having death in their bosoms, go to Moses ; Moses goeth to
God, for he saw there could be no help elsewhere ; then God said,
Make thee a brazen serpent/ The motion came from them first, but
here it is quite otherwise ; God is the offended party, yet he maketh
the first motion : 1 John iv. 19, We love him because he loved us
first. There God found out the remedy, but here his mere love began
the whole business, and did set at work all the causes that did concur
to our salvation ; we neither minded our danger nor asked our remedy.
(2.) The conveniency of this type to set out the low estate and humi
liation of Christ. The form of a serpent was chosen to show that he
came in such mean estate as if he were a worm and no man : Ps.
xxii. 6, I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men, and despised
of the people. So also Isa. liii. 3, He was despised and rejected of
men ; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief ; and we hid as it
were our faces from him ; he was despised, and we esteemed him not ;
as a vile and abominable creature, both despised and rejected, scarce
deemed worthy the name of a man, or to have any converse or com
munion with them. It is the leavings off of men, as we would say,
the very list and fag-end of mankind; so low and mean, that the
nature of man can hardly descend lower : Mark ix. 12, The Son of
man must suffer many things, and be set at nought ; it is egovSevwdf),
made nought worth, or nothing. Once more, the serpent, of all the
beasts of the field, was the creature which was cursed by God : Gen/
iii. 14, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle,
and above every beast of the field ; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and
dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. Yet by this form would
he represent Christ to the ancient church. God chose this to be a type
of Christ, which we would have thought a dishonour and disparagement
to him. Yea, this serpent that was now set up was made of brass, not
of gold, to show that Christ would not appear in glorious estate and
majesty, but in the meanest and most abject form of any creature. All
SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15. 459
together will help us to meditate upon the great abasement of the Son
of God. Quanta vilior, tanto clarior nobis esse debet. The more he
humbled himself, the higher estimation should we have of our crucified
Lord. Never was any child of God before Christ under so much
misery as Christ himself was. His own heaven, his own Father, his
own Godhead, hid their face and consolation from him. God s wrath
pressed the weight of punishment with the full power of justice both
upon his soul and body ; those for whom he died despised him, he
himself being emptied of all things that make men respected in the
world, and depressed lower than ever any man was, as a worm to be
trod upon. He was made the matter of common talk and reproach in
all men s mouths ; condemned by the ruling part of the world, and
set at nought by the basest of the people ; derided and scorned in his
most holy behaviour, his bitter sufferings made a matter of sport and
laughter, malice feeding itself with pleasure upon his pain and misery,
and expressing itself with the basest signs of mockage which disdain
could devise, flouting at his saving doctrine, and insulting over him
as if he had been neither the Son of God nor an honest man. And all
this was counted little enough for satisfaction of justice, exacting of
him the due punishment of our sins. We tenderly resent contempt,
and cannot endure to be despised and thrust down, when the Sun of
righteousness went back so many degrees in the dial of honour.
(3.) The brazen serpent had the shape and figure of the serpent,
but not the sting and the poison. Figuram Jiabuit, non rMturam ; it
had the figure, not the nature of a serpent. Let us pause upon this a
little. God would cure the bite of a serpent by a serpent ; a serpent
stung, and a serpent healed : God sending his own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh, Kom. viii. 3 ;
that is, by Jesus Christ in our nature, who was made a sin-offering,
and therefore called sin there. The parties to be cured were men,
therefore the Son of man must be lifted up; that title is given him
here in the text. Christ was debased by this title, by being called
the Son of man, but yet the sons of men are dignified by it ; he
came in the likeness of sinful flesh. As the brazen serpent was in all
things like the true serpent, but without any hurtful quality, so Christ
in all points was like us, but without sin ; Heb. iv. 15. He came in
the likeness of sinful flesh, yet was holy, harmless, and separate from
sinners.
(4.) The precise place where the brazen serpent was lifted up. Moses
doth not tell us in the story where this matter is recorded ; but it may
be collected from other places. Moses telleth us that the Israelites
going from thence pitched their tents in Oboth, Num. xxi. 10 ; from
whence it follows that the place was Punon, for from Punon they came
to Oboth, Num. xxxiii. 42, 43. Now this Punon was a place belong
ing to Idumtea, very famous for mines of brass or copper, as is com
monly known in ancient writings, the brass being called from thence
the metal of Punon. Eusebius in the eighth book of his Ecclesiastical
History tells us that Sylvanus and thirty-nine more were beheaded for
the faith s sake, Kara ra lv $vvu> %d\Kov //.eraXXa, near the mines of
brass in Punon ; and Eutychius speaketh of divers Christians condemned
to work in these mines. So also doth Epiphanius and Theodoret. So
460 SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15.
that the brass out of which the serpent was made was taken out of
the very place in which they were bitten ; it was the brass of Punon,
not without a mystery. That body which Christ assumed was not
brought from elsewhere, but born there and formed there where he
was manifested in the flesh for the salvation of the world ; and where
the mischief was, there was the remedy at hand.
(5.) The similitude chiefly holdeth in this, that as the brazen ser
pent was lifted up upon the perch or pole, so was Christ lifted up on
the cross : 1 Peter ii. 24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own
body upon the tree. The serpent first stung us by the fruit of a tree,
and Christ saved us by suffering upon a tree. David had foretold that
his hands and his feet should be pierced : Ps. xxii. 16, They pierced
my hands and my feet. And the curse of the law was to be borne :
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a
curse for us ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a
tree/ Gal. iii. 13. The apostle obviates an objection ; if the law do
curse all men, how are any freed from the curse of the law ? Even
by Jesus Christ, who took upon him the curse due to us, while he was
obedient to death, even the death of the cross ; for that kind of death
was pronounced to be accursed : Deut. xxi. 23, He that is hanged is
accursed of God. He came as a surety in the sinner s name, and
would take our burden upon himself, and therefore chose a death of
all others most cruel and painful and contemptible, ordained for the
wickedest and vilest wretches, thereby to assure us of a full ransom
and satisfaction to divine justice for our wrongs, and to imprint upon
our minds the horrors of our sins. Well, then, here is the spectacle
offered to our faith, Jesus Christ hanging upon a tree. We should
look upon Christ crucified as if the thing were now a-doing before our
eyes: Gal. iii. 1, Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently
set forth crucified before you. Though it be past long ago it is present
to faith ; for he is lifted up, that by the eye of faith we should look to
him, and see not only the thing, but the end, use, and virtue of this
mystery. The brazen serpent was a sufficient remedy for the stung
Israelites ; none that looked towards it perished, the cure never failed;
and Jesus Christ lifted up, and being eyed, is sufficient to cure the
guilt of sin, and pain of conscience through sin, and to heal our dis
eased souls, and free them from the power of corruption. For being
made a curse for us, the blessing cometh freely upon the believing
gentiles, even the gift of the Spirit : Isa. liii. 5, He was wounded for
our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement
of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.
[2.] The superexcellency of Christ above this and all the shadows
and types of him. The type doth express the thing signified, but yet
the truth doth much exceed the shadow. The brazen serpent was but
a sign of salvation ; so called in the Book of Wisdom, chap. xvi. 6.
But Christ is the author of salvation, Heb. v. 9. The serpent bene
fited only the Israelites, but Christ all nations, both Jew and gen
tile : Isa. xi. 10, In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which
shall stand for an ensign of the people ; to it shall the gentiles seek,
and his rest shall be glorious. It freed them from present death, but
yet so that they might die by other means ; but Christ hath freed us
SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15. 461
not only from the death of the body, but of the soul, and this for ever,
as in the text, That they should not perish, but have everlasting life.
So John xi. 26, Whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never
die. There natural life is preferred 1 but for a while, here eternal life
obtained. This benefit might last for a day or two, but Jesus Christ
is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever, Heb. xiii. 8. Christ
ever retaineth his healing virtue. This was but a piece of brass while
they lodged it in the temple, but Christ is a mediator to all eternity.
It was a great wickedness to worship the brazen serpent, therefore
Hezekiah broke it in pieces, when once he understood the people to be
guilty of that idolatry: 2 Kings xviii. 4, He brake in pieces the
brazen serpent that Moses had made, for unto those days the children
of Israel did burn incense to it ; and he called it Nehushtan, or a
piece of brass ; but it is our duty to worship Christ : All men must
honour the Son as they honour the Father, John v. 23 ; and Heb. i. 6,
Let all the angels of God worship him ; Phil. ii. 9, 10, Wherefore
God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above
every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. When
the Israelites worshipped the brazen serpent, it was broken in pieces ;
but they shall be broken in pieces themselves that deny Christ his due
worship : Ps. ii. 9, Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou
shalt dash them in pieces like a potter s vessel ; Dan. ii. 44, And in
the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom
which shall never be destroyed ; and the kingdom shall not be left to
other people, but shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms,
and shall stand for ever. The kingdom that will not submit to him
shall be broken in pieces : Luke xix. 27, Those mine enemies that
would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay
them before me. Thus it sets forth Christ.
3. Faith is set forth, or the way and means how we come to have
benefit by Christ. It is not enough to look to what Christ hath done,
but what we must do that we may be partakers of him. The way of
cure was by a look ; so it is believing in him that bringeth home the
blessing to our souls.
From this type we learn
[1.] The necessity of faith. None had benefit by the brazen serpen-
but those that looked on it. The promise was made to those that
observed the command : Num. xxi. 8, Every one that is bitten, when
he looketh upon it, shall live. If a man turned away his eyes and
refused God s remedy, the biting was mortal to him. As there is a
necessity Christ should die, so there is a necessity you should believe ;
for besides impetration there must be application ; and the work of the
Spirit is as necessary to apply grace as the work of the Mediator to
obtain grace for us. A deep well will do you no good without a
bucket, nor the purchase of salvation unless you apply it.
[2.] An encouragement of faith.
(1.) To broken-hearted sinners ; if you are stung with sin, you may
look to Christ. It was ground enough for any bitten Israelite to look
to this brazen serpent, because he had need ; he found himself bitten,
and thirsted for cure by this appointed means. A felt sense of sin is
warrant enough to look to Christ as the offered remedy. Look not
1 Qu. preserved ? ED.
462 SEKMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15.
altogether to your sore, to your sins, but to Christ as the means of
healing. Indeed there must be a feeling and a sense of sin, or else
there is no work for Christ to do; what should a hale Israelite do
with the brazen serpent ? Their looking began in a sense of pain ;
none troubled their thoughts about it till they were stung. Com
punction goeth before faith. The Israelites cried out, Oh ! what shall
we do for these fiery serpents ? So Acts ii. 37, When they heard this,
they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of
the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? An empoisoned
dagger was flung into their souls, and then, What shall we do?
The jailer came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and
said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? Acts xvi. 29, 30 ; And they
said, ver. 31, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved. Only look upon the serpent. A sinner must first feel himself a
sinner before he will or can come to Christ, but then come ; The Son
of man is lifted up, that whosoever belie veth in him should not perish
but have eternal life. Some that know not themselves believers have
been welcome to Christ ; but never any that know not themselves
sinners.
(2.) To lapsed believers. The serpents were left to sting the
Israelites while they were in that place, only the brazen serpent was
lifted up. God did not presently take away the serpents, only he gave
a remedy for such as were bitten. Sin is not abolished, but whilst we
are in this station the remedy is still offered ; we are never so cured
but we may be bitten again. The disobedient Israelites needed this
motive and chastisement to keep them in awe ; we cannot imagine
that any would provoke these serpents to sting him that he might be
healed. So say I, as the apostle, 1 John ii. 1, These things I write
unto you, that ye sin not ; and if any man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. For the present, stings
of conscience is one of God s rods over us, but when we fall, there is
forgiveness by Jesus Christ; as Peter of Alexandria destroyed the
idols, but only left one for a monument.
[3.] The nature of faith, which is a looking to Christ. It is usually
said that faith is 6 $0aXju,o9 TT/S ^f%}9, the eye of the soul. Certain
it is that the act of faith is often expressed by seeing or looking, and
faith itself by an eye; as Zech. xii. 10, They shall look upon me
whom they have pierced. So Isa. xvii. 7, At that day a man shall
look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of
Israel. So John vi. 40, This is the will of him that sent me, that
every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have ever
lasting life/ 6 Oewpwv Kal ma-revav. And faith is described to be
the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not
seen, Heb. xi. 1. By faith Moses saw him that was invisible, Heb.
xi. 27.; Heb. xii. 2, Looking to Jesus/ So faith itself is said to be
the eye of the soul : Eph. i. 18, That the eyes of your understandings
being opened/ Gal. iii. 1 ; Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been
evidently set forth crucified among you/ The mystery of Christ
crucified was so evidently set forth as if he had been crucified before
their eyes. So where the work of faith is impeded and hindered, it is
said the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15. 463
believe not/ 2 Cor. iv. 4 ; that is, hindered their faith. Therefore I
shall here inquire (1.) What sights are proper to faith ; (2.) What
kind of looking faith is.
(1.) The objects proper to faith are matters that lie out of the view
of sense, ra ^rj /3Xe7ro/u,era, things that cannot be seen by any other
faculty or discerning power. Some things are invisible in regard of
their nature, and some things because of their distance from us, because
either they are past or to come. Things invisible, because of their
nature, are all spiritual things, which are not obvious to the eye of sense.
Sense is only conversant about bodily things, which may be seen, heard,
tasted, or felt ; reason can only see things in their causes. Things
invisible, by reason of their distance, are either things past, as the creation
of the world, or the sufferings of Christ ; or things to come, as the glory
and happiness of the other world. Let us explain this by applying it
to the matter in hand, the Son of man lifted up on the cross. This
was sometimes a matter of sense, namely, at the time when Christ suf
fered ; and therefore then if a man had seen him, or looked upon him, it
had done him no good, as it did not to those that wagged their heads at
him and mocked him, though it did to the centurion, who cried out,
Mat. xxvii. 54, Truly this was the Son of God. But in another regard
this is always matter of faith, namely, if we consider his deity, and
offices ; as the Son of God dying and healing wounded consciences this
is a thing invisible in its nature. Therefore the soldiers that turned
subjects to him, and confessors of his name, even then when he is hang
ing dead on the cross, they that could see his Godhead, and confess it
in its deepest humiliation, were believers ; they saw Christ not with the
eye of sense, but of faith. Now go to the other things invisible, viz.,
by reason of their distance, because they are either to come or past.
Christ crucified was sometimes a thing to come. The fathers had need
of clear eyes, who could see salvation at such a distance, and represented
under such dark figures and shadows ; yet some had such an eagle-eye
of faith : Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day ; and he saw
it, and was glad, John viii. 56 ; and Heb. xi. 13, All these died in
faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off,
and were persuaded of them, and embraced them. To us now it is a
thing past ; there needeth faith both to believe the history and the
mystery too. When we believe the history so clearly as if we saw it,
Gal. iii. 1, that is faith ; and the mystery : 1 Cor. ii. 2, For I deter
mined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and him crucified ;
and ver. 4, My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words
of man s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power.
This a-rroSeifys Trvev/juaros, this demonstration of the Spirit, is the
ground of faith, when the object is so represented that it maketh a
powerful impression, and so affected as if we had seen him with our
eyes. Well, then, it is some faith to believe the history, to see it as a
thing now done. So John xx. 29, Blessed are they that have not seen,
and yet have believed. But to believe the end and the use, that was
always matter of faith, whether past, present, or to come. And herein
all believers stand upon the same level. Christ is not now lifted up
upon the cross, but it is our duty to lift him up, that poor sinners and
wounded consciences may look on him with an eye of faith : Isa. xi. 10,
464 SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15.
There shall be a root of Jesse which shall stand for an ensign of the
people ; to it shall the gentiles seek ; Isa, xlix. 22, Behold, I will
lift up my hand to the gentiles, and set up my standard to the people ;
and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be
carried upon their shoulders. Christ is lifted up in the ministry
of the word as a sign of salvation to draw people to him, so to see him
as to follow him, and as to submit to him. If David prayed God to
open his eyes to see the wonders of his law, Ps. cxix. 18, we may
much more pray to God to open our eyes to see Christ, and own him
in the gospel, and to see him crucified in the symbols of bread and wine
for our comfort.
(2.) We have showed you what is to be seen by faith, now what kind
of sight faith is. Not a bare speculation, but such as was the look of
the Israelites on the brazen serpent, serious, applicative, affectionate,
engaging to thankfulness and obedience, when they went away and
were healed.
(ls) Serious ; not a glance, but a fixed eye. A stung Israelite would
not cast a careless glance on the sign of salvation and health, neither
should we upon Christ. Ponderous thoughts take hold of the heart ;
musing maketh the fire to burn, and a steady sight hath the greatest
influence upon us.
(2d) Applicative. So Job v. 27, Hear it, and know thou it for thy
good. The Israelite came for the cure of his own wounds ; so must
we look upon Christ as our own Saviour, with application to ourselves :
John xx. 28, My Lord and my God.
(3d) Affectionate, with desire and trust. With desire longing for
cure ; there must be hearty groans and desires : Our eyes are upon
thee, 2 Chron. xx. 12. The having our eyes to anything noteth our
desire: Ps. cxxi. 1, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from
whence cometh my help. Earnestly desire to be partaker of these
benefits by Christ : 1 Peter i. 7, To them that believe he is precious ;
and with trust : Isa. xvii. 7, At that day shall a man look to his
Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel ;
that is, he shall seek to him, trust in him, depend upon him, because
what men trust to they are wont frequently and wistly to look after,
and to have their eyes fixed upon : Ps. cxxiii. 2, Behold, as the eyes
of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a
maiden to the hand of her mistress ; so our eyes wait upon the Lord
our God, till he have mercy on us ; Ps. xxxiv. 5, They looked to him,
and were lightened ; that is, comforted in the midst of their darkness
and trouble ; Ps. cxli. 8, Mine eyes are unto thee, God the Lord ;
in thee I trust.
(4th.) Engaging ; we need to get open eyes to see him and contem
plate him, till we sec- beauty in him that may allure us to love him,
.and esteem him as the fairest of ten thousand, to renounce ourselves
and the vanities of the world, and betake ourselves to his discipline, to
see all is nothing in comparison of his excellency : Phil. iii. 8, Yea,
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. A true knowledge of Christ is
called eVtfyi/wcrt?, Eph. i. 17, which is elsewhere rendered acknow
ledging, so as to give due honour, respect, and reverence to him. We
SEIttlON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15. 465
may know strangers, and those whom we contemn and despise, but we
do not acknowledge them.
Use. Let us look upon the Lord Jesus for cure. He calleth upon
us in his word. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the
earth, Isa. xlv. 12. It is little that we can afford Christ if we cannot
afford him a serious look. It may be you will think that this is so
slight a work that it will not produce any great effects in the soul ;
that a look should heal is strange. Surely, you will say, this is not a
full notion of faith, nor an act that will do us any good. I answer
Indeed it will not if it be done slightly. Therefore let me tell you
that there are several notions of faith, which all have their use. Some
notions are fitted for soul-examination, as faith that worketh by love,
that conquereth the world, that purifieth the heart ; these do best for
a deliberate search, and the stating of our interest. Some for anxious
thoughts at the first awaking of the soul out of the sleep of sin, as
coming, running, flying, and seeking. When the soul is under trouble,
and hangeth off from the grace offered, we press them to come ; as our
necessities are great, we press them to run. A soul deeply pressed
with a sense of its necessity and danger is always in haste, so we
press them to fly for refuge. When comfort appeareth not presently, we
press to seek, and to a diligent attendance on the appointed means.
Some for agonies of conscience after some former manifestations of
God s love ; these we exhort to staying and resting : 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 upon his God. We press recum
bency and adherence : Isa. xxvi. 3, Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Some
for agonies of death; and great and imminent dangers, when long
debates are not so seasonable, these we press to committing : 2 Tim.
i. 12, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day;
1 Peter iv. 19, Let them that suffer according to the will of God
commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a
faithful Creator/ Jesus Christ himself did so: Luke xxiii. 46,
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit , and David : Ps. xxxi.
5, Into thine hand I commit my spirit. Some for holy duties, as
word, prayer, Lord s supper ; we press to acceptance of Christ in the
word, to coming to Christ, or to God by Christ in prayer ; we accept
him from God in the word of promise, we present him to God in
prayer as the ground of our confidence and hope for the mercies prayed
for. In the Lord s supper, as religion is made visible, and we are to
make use of the help of sense, eye, taste, and hand, so we press you to
take, eat, and look ; this is a notion for this use when Christ is crucified
ns it were before our eyes. Well, then, this is one great work, to look
to Jesus, the author and dedicator of our faith, to spy out Christ under
his memorials; here he is set forth dying and hanging on a tree.
Pilate, when he had scourged him, brought him forth and showed him
to the Jews ; he said, Behold the man ! John xix. 5. We say, to
you in God s name, Behold your dearest Redeemer bleeding and dying.
VOL. xvii. 2 a
466 SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15.
Now he is evidently set forth to you, your business is to behold him.
And that this look may be serious, remember
1. This is supposed, that you come hither as stung with sin, and
that your hearts are deeply affected with your malady. Alas ! other
wise here is no work to do. If men are not sensible of their malady,
why should they look after a remedy : Mat. ix. 12, 13, They that be
whole need not a physician, but they that are sick ; for I am not come
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. None but the bur
dened will look out for ease, or the self-condemned for pardon. If sin,
be not sin indeed, grace will not be grace indeed. Christ was anointed
to heal the broken-hearted, Luke iv. 18.
2. Your sight of Christ must not merely be historical and literal,
the work of the understanding and memory, but of faith. A few cold
thoughts raised upon this occasion do not warm and comfort the heart.
You are to look to him so as that the heart be affected with mourning,
desire, and trust.
[1.] Mourning for sin. If you are sensible of your case you will do
so. A slight glance of the thoughts leaveth no impression. Look, as
the three Marys, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Cleophas,
and Mary Magdalen, they were affected when they saw Christ dying,
John xix. 25, 26 ; of one of them it is said, Luke ii. 35, Yea, a sword
shall pierce through thine own soul also ; so do you : Acts ii. 37,
When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart.
[2.] Desire. Would not the stung Israelite desire a cure? So
must you : Mat. v. 6, Blessed are they that hunger and thirst- after
righteousness, for they shall be filled/ Saith the church, Lam. iii. 51,
Mine eye affecteth my heart.
[3.] Trust. You see nothing by the eye of sense but his memorials,
which God hath instituted as helps of faith, yet to appearance as
despicable and as unlikely to produce any great effect as .a figure of
brass to cure a raging wound. But things under an institution are
under a blessing : 1 Cor. i. 21, It pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe. You may think a crucifix a
more lively representation. No ; that is not under the blessing of an
institution, as bread broken and wine poured forth is ; that is too much
a matter of sense, and begetteth bare thoughts, which stirreth up fond
pity and gross and wrong thoughts. This conveyeth a blessing : You
are to behold not only a dying man put to a cruel death, but the Son
of God in his deep exinanition ; not carnally to pity him, but to see
his love and the wrath of God and the desert of sin, that you may
abhor it ; to see the great price paid for our ransom, the necessity of
having the virtue of his cross, and finally our thankful subjection to
God. Behold him that you may bless and praise God for your
redeemer. The type had its effect, and shall not Christ ? Oh !
labour to feel the comfortable effects of his death.
3. Beg of God the Spirit to open your eyes. Christ crucified is only
seen in the light and evidence of the Spirit : 1 Cor. ii. 4, My speech
and my preaching was not with the enticing words of man s wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. The eyes of our
minds are opened by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, for our light
is but darkness.
SERMON UPON JOHN III. 14, 15. 467
4. See him so as to expect not only comfort, but healing : Isa, liii. 5,
With his stripes we are healed. That heart is to be suspected that
looks to comfort more than duty. Look to him that you may live by
him : Gal. ii. 20, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me ; and the
life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me. Look to him that you may
be like him : 2 Cor. iii. 18, For 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. Look to him that
you may loathe sin : Ezek. xxxvi. 31, Then shall you remember your
own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe
yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abomi
nations.
SERMONS UPON 1 THESSALONIANS V. 16;
SERMON I.
Rejoice evermore. 1 THES. v. 16.
THE words are brief and short, and therefore they may be easily car
ried away. They are independent on the context, and therefore will
need no long deduction. They press you not to a painful, but pleasant
duty ; therefore you should be readily induced to practise it. But yet,
when we look more intrinsically into the nature of it, it is not so easy
as we first imagined. Every one cannot receive this saying ; it is hard
to keep the heart in such an exact frame as to rejoice evermore, pray
without ceasing, and in everything to give thanks ; as Christ saith in
another case, He that is able to receive it, let him receive it, Mat.
xix. 12. But what if we prove it to be a duty incumbent on all chris-
tians, and that at all times? The text seemeth to enforce it, Rejoice
evermore.
In which words take notice of two things
1. The duty to which we are exhorted, Rejoice.
2. The constancy and perpetuity of it, in the word, Evermore.
Delight and pleasure are greedily sought after; in Christianity it is
not only part of our wages, but much of our very work.
Doct. That God s children should make conscience of rejoicing in
God at all times and under all conditions.
Here is a precept for it ; not only a liberty given, but a commandr
If you look upon the words as a licence or liberty given, you may con
ceive of them according to the apostle s speech of marriage: 1 Cor. vii..
39, She is at liberty to be married to whom she will, pbvov eV Kvpiw,
but only in the Lord. But it is not only a liberty given, but a
command ; for he addeth, ver. 18, This is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you/ The will of God is the supreme reason of all
duties, and the will of God in Christ Jesus falleth upon the conscience
with a double force ; the law of the mediator binding us to delight in
God, as well as the primitive duty which we owe to God as the Creator.
And that this clause respects all the three duties is evident to any con
sidering mind. In the opening of this duty I shall show you (1.)
What rejoicing the apostle intendeth ; (2.) How this must be constant
and perpetual ; (3.) The many reasons which do enforce this duty
upon us.
I. What rejoicing the apostle speaketh of. There is a double rejoic
ing a carnal rejoicing, and a spiritual rejoicing.
1. The carnal rejoicing is in the world, and the good things of this
470 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.
world apart from God : Luke xii. 19, Soul, thou hast much goods laid
up for many years ; take thine ease ; eat, drink, and be merry.
2. The spiritual rejoicing is in God : Phil. iii. 1, Finally, my
brethren : rejoice in the Lord ; Phil. iv. 4, Eejoice in the Lord always,
and again I say, rejoice. These two sorts of rejoicing must be carefully
distinguished, for they differ in their causes. To the one we are
prompted by carnal nature, which taketh up with present things, and
the other is excited in us by the Spirit of God, therefore often called
joy in the Holy Ghost/ The one is called the joy of sense, the
other the joy of faith. The joy of faith is in God, the joy of sense in
the creature ; the joy of faith is most in future things, the joy of sense
in present things ; the joy of faith is in the good of the soul, the joy
of sense in the good of the body or the provisions of the flesh ; the joy
of faith is built on the covenant and the promises of God : Ps. cxix.
Ill, Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever ; they are
the rejoicing of my heart/ The joy of sense on the blessings that flow
in the channel of common and general providence. Now the first sort
of rejoicing the apostle would not press us unto. Nature there needeth
a bridle rather than a spur ; but to the latter, delight in God, and in
all things that come from God and lead to him.
This delighting ourselves in God must be the thing, which must be
further explained.
[1.] God himself, as God, is a lovely nature, and the object of our
delight ; for he is good, even before and without the apprehension of
his doing good : Ps. cxix. 68, Thou art good, and doest good ; and
of him, and to him, and through him, are all things, Kom. xi. 36.
God s essential goodness is not, I confess, the first inviting motive to
draw our hearts to him, but his beneficial goodness ; yet the infinite
perfection of his nature is also an object of our love and delight ; for
the creature was made for him, and our good and benefit is not the
last end. As the angels admire and adore God not only for his
benefits, but also for his holiness and sovereign majesty and dominion :
Isa. vi. 3, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts ; the whole earth is
full of his glory ; so should we, who are to laud God and serve God
on earth as he is served in heaven, Mat. vi. 10. Admire him, and
delight in him for his holiness and the infinite perfection of his nature.
Surely we are not only to bless him, but praise him : Ps. cxlv. 2,
* Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name for ever and
ever ; and ver. 10, All thy works shall praise thee, Lord, and thy
saints shall bless thee/ These two words have their distinct reference ;
blessing to his benefits, and praise to his excellences ; and when we
praise God for his glorious being, we should do it in a delightful
manner : Ps. cxxxv. 3, Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good ;
sing praises unto his name, for it is pleasant/ It is pleasant and
delightful to think of, or speak of, or show forth the excellences of
his heavenly majesty. Again, his holiness is an amiable thing, and
therefore the object of our delectation. If we must delight in the
saints because of their holiness, though they have never done us good :
Ps. xvi. 3, But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent,
in whom is all my delight ; if we are to account them the excellent
ones of the earth because of the image and beauty of God that is upon
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16. 471
them, then surely we are much more to love God, not only because of
his benefits, but because of his holiness. Yea, if we are to love the
law of God, and to delight in it, as it is pure : Ps. cxix. 140, Thy
word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it ; then surely we are
to love God also because of the immaculate purity of his nature, and
to delight in him. At least this is one, though not the only nor the
first reason of our love to him and delight in him.
[2.J We are to delight and rejoice in God as he hath discovered
himself to us in Christ. That was the foundation of his beneficial
goodness, and the greatest discovery of the amiable nature of God
that ever was made to the creature : John iii. 16, God so loved the
world, that he gave his only-begotten Son ; Rom. v. 8, But God
commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. That we might not conceive God to be all wrath
and inexorable, unless upon hard terms, therefore Christ came as
the express image of his person, full of grace and truth. Well, then,
God reconciled in Christ is the life and spirit of all our joy and glad
ness. In Christ we see him accessible, near to us, and within the
reach of our commerce, as dwelling in our nature. In Christ we see
him gracious and propitious to us, ready to do us good : Luke i. 46,
47, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in
God my Saviour. We have a great and a good God in Christ ; he is
God and our Saviour.
[3.] We rejoice in God as we rejoice in the fruits of our redemption,
or in all those spiritual blessings which are offered or given to us by
Christ ; such as reconciliation, or God s admitting of us into the privi
leges of his holy covenant : Rom. v. 11, We joy in God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Clear that once, and the cause of all our sadness and drooping dis
couragements is taken out of the way. The bottom cause of our
bondage and fears is the quarrel God hath against us by reason of sin ;
we can never be soundly merry and comfortable till that be taken up ;
for as long as we apprehend him an enemy and an avenger, how can
we rejoice in him ? So Ps. xxxii. 11, Be glad in the Lord, and
rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in
heart. The Psalmist speaketh of the pardon of sins ; it is David s
Maschil, an instruction from his own experience ; he begins the psalm,
Blessed is he whose iniquity is forgiven, whose sin is covered : blessed
is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not sin. Then he con-
cludeth, Rejoice, ye upright. A man that is condemned for some
criminal offence, and ready to be executed, oh ! what joy hath he when
,he hath received his pardon ! So we should rejoice in God, who are
as it were brought back again from the gibbet, and have received our
atonement. So also in the gift of the Holy Spirit to sanctify and heal
our natures ; if the angels, who are but the spectators and lookers-on,
rejoice in the conversion of a sinner, should not the parties interested :
Luke xv. 10, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner that repenteth. So in the hopes of glory Luke x. 20,
Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven ; Rom. v. 2, We
rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
[4.] We rejoice in God when we delight to do his will, and are fitted
472 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.
for his use and service. To be set and kept in the way to heaven is a
greater comfort to us than if we had all the world bestowed upon us:
Ps. cxix. 14, I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as much
as in all riches. David had experience of both as a puissant king,
and as God s servant. So 2 Cor. i. 12, For our rejoicing is this, the
testimony of our conscience, that, in simplicity and godly sincerity, not
with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our con
versation in the world/ In carnal rejoicing men seek to conceal and
hide the grounds of their joy, as being ashamed of them ; the world
ling in his bags, the voluptuous in the instruments of his pleasure.
The glutton will not point to his dishes, nor the drunkard to his pots,
and say, This is my rejoicing ; but a Christian dareth own his joy,
This is my rejoicing, that God hath taught me his ways, and enabled
me to walk in them.
[5.] We also rejoice in God when we rejoice in the blessings of his
providence, as they come from God and lead to God : Joel ii. 23, Be
glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God ; for
he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to
come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the
first month. So God s care in protecting us: Ps. v. 11, But let all
those that put their trust in thee rejoice ; let them ever shout for joy,
because thou defendest them : let them also that love thy name be
joyful in thee. These common favours and benefits manifest God s
respect to us, and should be as a step to the Lord s people to lead them
up to rejoice in God. This was God s quarrel with his people : Deut.
xxviii. 47, 48, Because thou servest not the Lord thy God with joy-
fulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things,
therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies, which the Lord shall send
against thee, in hunger and thirst and nakedness, and in want of all
things ; and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he hath
destroyed thee. Whatever we have, we should look upon it as a token
of God s love to us, and so rejoice in them ; not as satisfied with these
worldly things, but as they direct us to God. Carnal men rejoice in
the creature, but in a carnal and sensual manner ; their joy neither
ariseth from God, nor endeth in God ; they neither look to God as
their author, nor make him their end ; and it is a naughty heart that
can rejoice in anything without God and apart from God.
II. How this must be constant and perpetual, Eejoice evermore.
1. In all estates and conditions ; this joy must not be infringed.
God s children have or may have cause of rejoicing in God, whatever
their outward condition be ; and therefore they should make conscience
of it, whether their affairs be adverse or prosperous.
[1.] A state of worldly sourow and affliction is reconcilable and agree
able enough, or consistent with our rejoicing in the Lord. The scrip
tures abound in the proof of this : 2 Cor. vi. 10, As sorrowful, yet
always rejoicing ; 1 Peter i. 6, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now
for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temp
tations ; 2 Cor. vii. 4, I am filled with comfort, and am exceeding
joyful in all our tribulations. So David : Ps. xciv. 19, In the multi
tude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. Paul
and Silas sung in the dungeon at midnight : Acts xvi. 25, At mid-
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16. 473
night Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God. Tribulation
disturbeth not the harmony of a well-composed mind. The reason is,
because there is more matter of delight in God than can be taken
from him in the creature : John xvi. 22, Your heart shall rejoice, and
your joy no man taketh from you. Whatever falleth out, God s all-
sufficiency and heaven s happiness are everlasting grounds of rejoicing.
(1.) God s all-sufficiency : Hab. iii. 18, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord ;
I will joy in the God of my salvation/ Your .right and interest in
God is not made void by the blasting of the creature. So (2.) Hopes
of glory remain unshaken : Mat. v. 12, Eejoice and be exceeding glad,
for great is your reward in heaven. Though the world be bent against
us with all manner of spite and hatred, yet there is more cause of
joy than sorrow. There cannot be more evil in our sufferings than
there is good in God and happiness in heaven.
[2.] A state of sorrow and affliction is not only consistent with this
holy rejoicing, but doth much promote it ; partly as afflictions conduce
to refiue, and purge the soul from the dregs of sense, and make it
capable of the comforts of the Spirit: Jude 39, Sensual, having not
the Spirit. Till our taste be clarified from the feculency and dregs
of sense, we cannot relish spiritual comforts, nor know their worth
and value. Whilst we flow in worldly comforts, the carnal gust
and taste is too strong upon us, and so we have mean thoughts of
God s consolations. They do best relish with the afflicted, as cordials
are for the fainting, not for those whose stomachs are full of phlegm
and filth. Partly as they occasion greater experiences of God : 2 Cor.
xii. 10, Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ s sake ; for when I
am weak, then I am strong. So Horn. v. 3-5, And not only so, but
we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh pa
tience, and patience experience, and experience hope : and hope maketh
not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by
the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. Partly as they are sanctified,
and increase grace ; and an increase of grace will bring with it an
increase of comfort : Heb. xii. 11, Now no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous ; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth
the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby. Now from all these considerations, though afflictions may a
little damp it, yet they do not extinguish it.
2. We must rejoice evermore, because it is not a duty to be done
now and then, or which doth only belong to some eminent Christians,
that are assured of God s love ; but from our first acquaintance with
Christ till the last period of our lives it is of use to us.
.] Some act of joy our first entrance into Christianity is begun
, before our interest is well settled and cleared. There are general
grounds of rejoicing which oblige all ; as that there is a good God,
and poor drooping spirits should apply themselves to him who hath
comforts for his mourners : Isa. Ivii. 15, For thus saith the high and
lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy ; I dwell in
the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and
humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the
heart of the contrite ones. That there is a merciful and ablf ^aviour
474 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS Y. 16.
a gospel, or new covenant, that bringeth glad tidings to sinners : Luke
ii. 10, 11, Fear not, for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. The world being
fallen under God s wrath and deserved condemnation, it is matter of
joy that God hath found a ransom, and that he offereth pardon and
life to those who will seek it and accept it upon his "blessed terms.
It is matter of joy before we have interest in these things ; a possible
conditional reconciliation with God, that dreadful controversy taken
up, heaven and earth kissing each other, that life and immortality is
brought to light, and such a blessedness discovered as satiate th the
mind of man, without which man would have been but as leviathan
in a little pool. In short, the gospel showing a sure way of reconcilia
tion with God, and the everlasting fruition of him in glory ; the very
offers of it stir up a joy in us. And wherever the gospel cometh, it
hath at its first coming upon these accounts been entertained with
joy. As when Philip preached the gospel in Samaria, Acts viii. 8,
There was great joy in that city ; not only joy, but great joy. So it
is said of the jailer, that new convert, Acts xvi. 34, that he rejoiced,
believing in God, with all his house ; he was but even recovered out
of the suburbs of hell, ready to kill himself just before, ver. 27, so that
a man would think he should easier fetch water out of a flint, or a
spark of fire out of the bottom of the sea, than to find joy so soon in
such an heart, yet he rejoiced, though he was still in danger of his
life, for treating those as guests whom he should have kept as prisoners.
So 2 Cor. viii. 2, we read of the abundance of their joy/ and deep
poverty, because they were acquainted with the gospel. So Zaccheus
received Christ joyfully, because salvation was come to his house:
Luke xix. 6, He made haste and came down, and received him joy
fully. And the man that found the true treasure, for joy thereof
foeth and selleth all that he hath/ Mat. xiii. 44; he parted with all
is satisfactions, comforts, and contentments. This is so sure a truth,
that wherever the gospel of Christ is received in any degree and pro
portion, though not to a converting degree, there is some joy. In
converts I have showed you, and you may cast in that text by way of
overplus: Acts ii. 41, Then they that gladly received the word were
baptized ; and the same day there were added to the church about
three thousand souls. It is a degree not amounting to conversion.
Luke viii. 13, the stony ground received the word with joy. Herod
had some kind of joy in hearing John the Baptist : Mark vi. 20, He
did many things, and heard him gladly ; and bis other hearers
rejoiced in his light for a season, John v. 35. These bad a joy, but
not in such a predominant degree as to be able to control their affections
to other things, and so this joy could not maintain itself or keep itself
alive. Therefore it is said, that we are his house, if we hold fast the
confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end, Heb. iii. 6.
The first offers of pardon and life by Christ do stir up this joy in us,
as the gospel showeth us a way how to come out of the greatest miseries,
and get an interest in the greatest happiness. The possible hope of
relief and deliverance cannot but affect us if we be serious.
[2.] As to our progress in the duties and hopes of the gospel, it is
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16. 475
still carried on with joy. Therefore believers are described by it as
their vital act : Phil. iii. 3, We are the circumcision, which worship
God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence
in the flesh. What is the constant work of a Christian but a rejoicing
in Christ Jesus, or a thankful sense of our Eedeemer s mercy ? And
therefore the whole life of a Christian is represented by keeping a feast :
1 Cor. v. 7, 8, Christ our passover is sacrificed for us ; therefore let
us keep the feast. Seven days the Jews kept their feast of unleavened
bread, which figureth the whole time of our pilgrimage till we enter
into the everlasting sabbath. Every day is a holyday and a feast-day
with a Christian, now Christ hig passover is sacrificed for him ; partly
through a sense of God s love, partly through the testimony of a good
conscience, and partly through the hopes of glory. He is always rejoic
ing in God, if he be in a right frame and liveth up to his gospel-privi
leges. Let me chiefly instance in two duties of prayer, and praise
or thanksgiving, which take up a great part of our commerce with
God ; and especially because they are connected with the duty we are
upon, for we must Kejoice evermore, praying without ceasing, and in
everything give thanks/ The duties that follow serve to act and
cherish this joy. ,
(1.) Kejoice evermore so as to pray without ceasing. They that
delight in God will be often with him, and can come cheerfully, and
unbosom themselves to him, as a man would to his friend. They are
not dragged into his presence as into the presence of a judge, but they
come freely to him as children to their father. They that love God
as their portion and happiness will much converse with him ; they are
out of their element but when they are praying to God, or speaking of
God, or thinking of God ; therefore they are still with him. But this
is denied of the hypocrite : Job xxvii. 10, Will he delight himself in
the Almighty ? will he always call upon God ? They may sometimes
cry to him, not because they love him and his service, but because they
love their own ease, and to be free from trouble ; their straits may
force a little service from them. Well, then, without delight we can
not keep a continual course of communion with God in prayer.
(2.) For praise or giving of thanks : In everything give thanks ;
that is both the fruit of our delight in God and a means to quicken it.
One that delights in God will have cause enough to give thanks,
whether the creature come or goes. Whatever is taken from him, his
joy is not taken from him. He can bless God for his mercies in Christ
when retrenched and cut short in the world ; though he hath lost
some comforts, yet others are yet remaining. Shall one cross embitter
all our comforts, as one string broken puts the whole instrument out
of tune ? They can bless God for taking as well as giving : Job i. 21,
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name
of the Lord. If the Lord gave all, why may he not take away a part ?
A thankful heart can praise God for God himself, for choicer mercies
yet continued, for some outward mercies remaining. If God gave all,
and take but a part, have we any cause to complain ?
[3.] Still I prove this joy must be continued throughout the whole
course of the spiritual life, because the beginning, progress, and ending
is carried on by it ; the joy of God is our support in our declining
476 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.
time, the staff of our age ; for then Christians grow more dead to the
world and worldly things, and are less moved by them, whether they
ueep or lose, have or want them ; and then they are nearer to eternity,
and have more of that Rejoicing in hope 3 spoken of Eom. xii. 12.
This joy is a beginning of the joys in heaven ; here we have a sip,
there a full draught. Our delight in God now is of the same nature
with that which the saints and angels have in heaven. There is in
deed a vast difference in the degrees ; here a little joy entereth into us,
hut there we enter into our master s joy, Mat. xxv. 23. But though
they differ in degree, yet the object and affection is the same. It is
the same God and the same glory which delighteth us ; only now they
are seen by faith, then they shall be objects of direct sight and fruition ;
we shall see him face to face. In short, rejoicing in God is a begin
ning of the employment we shall then have in heaven. Therefore,
when we expect in a few days to be swallowed up of this joy, shall we
be no more affected with it now ? We that shall so shortly be so full
of joy, shall we be empty now ? Shall not we rejoice, who have now a
title to heaven, and shall in a little time be in the full and perpetual
possession of it ?
III. The many reasons which show we should have a greater
inclination to this blessed work than usually we have, and be oftener
in it.
1. Because God hath done so much to raise it in us. All the
persons of the Godhead concur and contribute their influence, in that
*vay of operation which is proper to each, to give us grounds of joy.
[1.] The Father giveth himself to us, and his favour as our felicity
and portion. God s love is the bosom and bottom cause of all our
happiness, which sets all other causes at work ; and when we have the
sure effects of it, can anything so bitter befall us that will not be
sweetened by the love of God? or so evil that this shall not be
ground of comfort to us : Ps. iv. 6, 7, There are many that say, Who
will show us any good ? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy counte
nance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the
time that their corn and their wine increased. Carnal men must
have something good to sense, but godly men take their full delight in
Cod. This doth them good to the heart ; it is not like a little dew
that wets the surface, but like a soaking shower that goeth to the root.
And more ; enough to draw us off from the world, enough to
swallow up all our infelicities; yea, to encounter the thoughts of
death, hell, and judgment to come.
[2.] The Son is also matter of rejoicing to us, as our Eedeemer and
Saviour. You are to consider what the Lord Jesus hath done to
deliver you from sin, and the bitter curse of the law, and the fears of
death, and the flames of hell. The eternal Sou of God came to heal
our wounds : Isa. liii. 5, By his stripes we are healed ; to make our
peace with the Father by the blood of his cross, Col. i. 20 ; to vanquish
our spiritual enemies, and triumph over them, Col. ii. 14, 15 ; to be
the ransom of our souls, 1 Tim. ii. 6 ; the captain of our salvation,
Heb. ii. 10 ; the head of his church, Eph. i. 22 ; the treasury and
storehouse of all our comforts, John i. 16 ; and, in short, he hath
recovered us to God, and hath given us an interest in the comforts of
SERMONS UPON I THESSA.LONIANS V. 16. 477
.his gospel and the promises thereof, which are in him Yea, and in
him Amen ; and is not this matter of joy and rich comfort ? The
whole covenant breeds strong consolation in the hearts of God s
people, Heb. vi. 18 ; and David saith, Ps. cxix. Ill, Thy testimonies
have I taken as an heritage for ever, for they are the rejoicing of my
heart. It doth our hearts good when we take these things for our
happiness. Abraham rejoiced in the forethought or foresight of Christ s
day : John viii. 56, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day,
and he saw it, and was glad. And should not we rejoice, that live
under the clearest dispensation of it ? The benefits of our redemption
by Christ should be so esteemed that no affliction should be grievous.
The kingdom of Christ is everywhere represented as a kingdom of joy
and comfort: Eom. xiv. 17, The kingdom of heaven is not meat and
drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. And
if we be real members of it, we should see more cause of rejoicing in
Christ Jesus.
[3.] The Holy Ghost concurreth in his way of operation, as a sanc-
tifier, guide, and comforter. As a sanctifier he layeth the foundation
for comfort ; for it is the spirit of delusion that comforts us in our sins,
that by imaginary comforts he may keep you from those that are real,
solid, and everlasting ; but the true Spirit is a sanctifier, and therefore
a comforter ; he first poureth in the oil of grace, and then the oil of
gladness. Comfort and joy follow holiness, as heat cloth the fire. And
then as a guide, either in his restraining motions, as he mortifieth sin,
or in his inviting motions, as he exciteth and quickeneth to holiness ;
these are helps to our comfort. Cannot a man live merrily without
sin ? And do you think a life of holiness irreconcilable with a life of
rejoicing ? No such matter ; it is the ready way to joy, especially to
joy spiritual. But chiefly as a comforter ; he is purposely given us to
keep in this holy fire, and maintain a constant delight in God in our
souls. And therefore it is called Joy in the Holy Ghost. Where
God himself taketh upon him the office of a comforter surely there
will be comfort. Life will quicken, light will illuminate, and the com
forting Spirit will comfort in that season and degree God seeth fit and
we are capable to receive. Now he comforteth partly as sealing, partly
as giving earnest : 2 Cor. i. 22, Who hath also sealed us, and given
us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. As sealing us, by stamping
the impress and image of God upon us, which is the mark of his
children, the sure evidence of his love, and the pledge of our happi
ness ; and as giving us the earnest of a blessed estate to come ; that
life is begun, which there shall be perfected. Now consider all this.
When God himself will be our portion, our saviour, our comforter,
should not all this cause us to rejoice in God, whatever our condition
be in the world ?
2. All the graces tend to this faith, hope, and love.
[1.] Faith, that is a dependence upon God for something future
that lieth out of sight. Now these invisible and future objects are so
great and glorious that they support and comfort the heart, how
afflicted soever our present condition be : 1 Peter i. 8, In whom
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory ; Horn,
xv. 13, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believ-
478 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.
ing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost/
In both these places faith implieth a firm belief of and dependence
upon Christ as an all-sufficient Saviour, by whom alone God will give
us eternal life. This faith will breed a perpetual rejoicing in the soul,
if it be firm, strong, and operative.
[2.] Hope breedeth this joy also : Kom. xii. 12, Kejoicing in hope ;
and Kom. v. 2, We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Though
we be pressed with miseries for the present, yet there is a better estate
to come, the excellency and certainty of which causeth us to rejoice,
and giveth us a foretaste of it. Joy is chiefly for enjoyment, but there
is a partial enjoyment by hope, which is not only a desirous expecta
tion, but delightful foretaste or preoccupation of the thing hoped for.
[3.] Love to God also causeth us to rejoice in him, for it showeth
itself in a complacency and well-pleasedness of mind in God as our
chief good : Ps. xvi. 5, 6, The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance
and of my cup ; thou maintainest my lot : the lines are fallen to me in
pleasant places/ Certainly they do not love God that do not value
and esteem him as better than all worldly things. Other things with
out him cannot give any solid contentment to the soul, but he without
other things is enough ; he is all in all to the heart that loveth him.
Therefore if we be rooted and grounded in love to God, he will be the
delight of our souls and our exceeding joy, whatever we lose in the
world. Thus you see faith, hope, and love have a great influence
upon this joy.
3. All the ordinances and duties of religion were appointed to breed,
and feed, and act, and increase this joy in us. Beading, hearing, pray
ing, meditating, the Lord s supper ; all these duties were appointed to
quicken the soul to delight in God, and they must all be used to this
end. Reading ; wherefore were the scriptures written but to beget in
us a comfortable sense of the love of God in Christ? 1 John i. 4,
These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full/ The
word doth beget and keep up our delight in God by those discoveries
which it maketh of his gopdness to us, in doctrines, counsels, and pro
mises, that every time we look into God s blessed book we might have
a fresh delight acted and stirred in us. So for hearing ; its main end
is to increase our joy, therefore was the ministry appointed : not for
^hat we have dominion over your faith, but as helpers of your jo) r ,
2 Cor. i. 24. That is the main end of our ministry, because the
gospel dispensation is a dispensation of grace. We must press repen
tance, but it is to cure you of your vain rejoicings in order to more
solid comfort ; to put you out of your fool s paradise, that you may
prize and esteem your Saviour, and set more by him than by all
the pleasures, honours, and riches of the world. Holy mourning
is in order to comfort, the vain delight and carnal rejoicing is
checked and deadened, that we may raise in you the true joy.
We are helpers of your joy in God s way, and truly that is
the only way. We need not over-gospel the gospel, as honey needs
not to be sweetened with other things. So prayer; we put pro
mises in suit that we may have new experiences of the love and bounty
of God : John xvi. 24, Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may
be full/ In prayer you come to solace yourselves with God and to
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.. 479
unbosom yourselves to him as your best friend. Meditation on God s
excellences and benefits, it is still to maintain this delight in God :
Ps. cxl. 34, My meditation of him shall be sweet, I will delight in
the Lord. The Lord s supper was appointed for the elevation of our
joy to the height ; it is our spiritual feast and refection, that we may
go on our way with joy ; as the eunuch, when baptized, He went on
his way rejoicing, Acts viii. 39. Here the whole gospel is applied
and sealed to us ; and bread and wine doth not so much cheer the
body as the body and blood of Christ doth the soul. You come not
only to remember your privileges by Christ, but it is your solemn in
vestiture ; here you take possession of Christ and all his benefits.
SEEMON II.
Rejoice evermore. 1 THES. v. 16.
USE. To press you to this spiritual rejoicing. God never hath our
hearts till he hath our delight. To enforce this exhortation, I must
(1.) Take off prejudices ; (2.) Persuade by arguments ; (3.) Direct
you in the exercise of this great duty.
First, To take off prejudices and objections which may lie in the
hearts of men against this duty.
1. Prejudice. How can this rejoicing evermore stand with that
sense which we should have of afflictions coming from God ? Is it
not a stupid thing to be merry when God is angry? Must we
rejoice in troubles notwithstanding the breaches God hath made
upon us ? I answer
[1.] Carnal rejoicing is a very provoking thing, because it is an
affront to God s providence. It is a defiance of the dispensation we
are under when we are not affected with our own or our brethren s
misery, or our father s anger : Isa. xxii. 12-14, In that day did the
Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness,
and to girding with sackcloth : and behold joy and gladness, slaying
oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine : let us eat
and drink, for to-morrow we shall die. It was revealed in mine ears
by the Lord of hosts, Surely, this iniquity shall not be purged from
you till you die. So James iv. 9, Be afflicted, and mourn and weep ;
let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness ;
and chap. v. 1, Go to now, ye rich men ; weep and howl for your
miseries that shall come upon you ; and ver. 5, Ye have lived in
pleasure upon earth, and been wanton ; ye have nourished your hearts
as in a day of slaughter. Now compare this with chap. i. 2, My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. Never
any were reproved for rejoicing in God in calamities, but for carnality
and for rejoicing in sensual satisfactions. If you say the answer
cometh not home ; you may rejoice in unjust dealings and persecutions
of men, or in trials ; but in corrective dispensations from the immediate
hand of God how shall we rejoice ? I reply We are directed to this
480 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.
rejoicing in God in those calamities which come from God s immediate
hand: Hab. iii. 17, 18, Although the fig-tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall 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 I will rejoice in
the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Surely famine and
desolation come from God, and come as a punishment ; Yet I will
rejoice in the Lord. This spiritual rejoicing is not irreverence, but
an honour to God when we are satisfied in him though all creature
comforts and means of subsistence are blasted ; and we show that we
have comfort enough in God, that is out of the reach of trouble, and
this can support us when all things beneath God fail : Job v. 22,
c At destruction and famine shalt thou laugh. Stupidity and carnal
mirth are very unseasonable, but to live above the creature and with
out the creature is an high point of faith and love to God ; and to
rejoice in him when all outward causes of rejoicing cease, is so far from
being a sin, that it is an eminent duty. Our better part and happiness
is out of the reach of trouble, though it be never so grievous.
[2.] We must distinguish between the sense of affliction and sup
port under it ; for we must neither slight it 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. These are the two extremes. The
sense of our condition is necessary, that we may not slight the afflic
tion ; and the support, that we may not faint under it. Both may and
must stand together : for in all worldly cases we must weep as if we
wept not, 1 Cor. vii. 30 ; and again, Sorrow not as those without
hope, 1 Thes. iv. 13, and so be without all comfort. In short, the
sense is necessary for improvement, the support to make trouble easy.
(1.) If we have not a sense, we cannot make a right use of our suf
ferings and afflictions, but our hearts will be more hardened in sin.
God is their author, repentance is their end, and their cause is sin :
Lam. iii. 39, Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the
punishment of his sins ? And therefore, though we be not to droop
and languish under our afflictions, yet we must consider the righteous
providence of God ; and the smart of his displeasure must awaken us
to repentance, otherwise the affliction is frustrated, and you leave the
thorn in your foot, which caused your first pain and soreness. If you
do not repent of your sins, and no cure is wrought, if you still let out
your hearts freely to the world, and the prosperities and delights
thereof, this is the highway to security and carelessness of soul con
cernments.
(2.) You must not faint and despair, as if all joy and comfort in
God were lost. For
(1st.) We are not utterly undone as long as we have God for our
portion: Lam. iii. 24, The Lord is my portion, saith my soul, there
fore will I hope in him. Though the creature be blasted, he is alive
still, and should be the joy and delight of our souls ; for then we are
tried, whether he be so or no.
(2cZ.) God is a loving Father when he corrects. Our chastisements
are effects not only of his justice, but mercy ; it is a rod in the hand of
our Father wherewith we are scourged: John xviii. 11, The cup
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16. 481
which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it ? and so it is an
act of love and kindness to us.
(3c?.) Our Father hath mercy enough to turn it to our benefit :
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 holi
ness. And shall we mourn for that which is for our benefit? If we
rejoice in God and holiness it will not be so. If God will stir us up to
more humility, contempt of the world, confidence in himself, and to
place our delight in him alone, shall we be dejected and displeased, as
if some great wrong had been done us ?
(4th.) If this affliction fits us for everlasting happiness, there is cause
of joy still left : 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/ One that must have eternal glory, and eternal glory pro
moted by such a means, should not grudge at a little suffering and
affliction, which is the common burden of the sons of Adam.
2. Prejudice. Christ hath pronounced those blessed that mourn for
sin : Mat. v. 4, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be com
forted ; how then can we rejoice evermore ?
Ans. 1. Mourning for sin is necessary to cure our vain rejoicing, or
delight in carnal vanities ; and at our entrance into Christianity this is
a duty highly incumbent upon us, because of sin and the curse which
we naturally lie under. Certainly while we are out of Christ we have
nothing to comfort us, nothing to answer to the terrors of the law, or
to reply against the accusations of conscience, and the fears of ap
proaching misery and judgment; and what should we do, if we be
sensible of it, but bemoan ourselves, and seek after God with weeping
and supplications ? God s first work in conversion is to put men out
of their fool s paradise, who are satisfied with the creature without
himself. Therefore humiliation and a broken-hearted sense of misery
is required to deaden the relish and taste of sin, and that men may
more prize and esteem the healing grace of Christ, and set more by it
than all the pleasures, and riches, and honours of the world. Can a
man see himself lost, and in danger of condemnation, and not be
grieved ? But all this while joy is in the making, and we are pro
viding everlasting comfort for ourselves ; for God is ready to ease us
as soon as our need requireth and our care will permit : Isa. Ivii. 15-17,
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy ; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him
also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the
humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not
contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth ; for the spirit shall
fail before me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of
his covetousness I was wroth, and smote him ; I hid me, and was wroth,
and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. And he saith after
wards, ver. 18, I have seen his ways, and will heal him : I will lead
him also, and restore comfort to him, and to his mourners. The Lord
is ready to come in with sweet and heavenly cordials when the physic
worketh but a little kindly: Jer. xxxi. 18-20, I have surely heard
Ephraim bemoaning himself thus ; Thou hast chastised me, and I was
chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke ; turn thou me, and I
YOL. XVIT. 2 H
482 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.
shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was
turned, I repented, and after that I was instructed, I smote upon the thigh ,
I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of
my youth. Is Ephraim my dear son ? is he a pleasant child ? for since I
spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still ; therefore my
bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy on him, saith
the Lord. Well, then, this sorrow may be well allowed, because it pre
vents greater sorrow, namely, the pains of hell. It is better to mourn
for a while than for ever ; better to have healing grief than tormenting
grief ; to mourn now, while mourning will do us good, than to howl
at last, when all sorrow will be fruitless, and only a part of our pun
ishment, not of our cure. And besides, this sorrow maketh for com
fort : Mat. \ r . 4, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be
comforted. When the shower is fallen, the sun cleareth up, and
shineth in his full strength and beauty. The vain rejoicing being
deadened, we have grounds of everlasting joy, by considering the
means God hath appointed for our deliverance from sin, and death,
and the flames of hell.
Ans. 2. Mourning for sin and joy in the Lord may stand well
together; for grace and grace are not contrary, but grace and sin.
Those who most mourn for sin do most rejoice in the Lord, and those
who most rejoice in the Lord do most mourn for sin ; as that Christian
Niobe wept much because she loved much ; and she loved much,
because much was forgiven her, Luke vii. 47. As many times the
sun shineth when the rain falleth, so there is a mixture of spiritual
rejoicing and holy mourning ; a deep sense of God s love, and yet a
mourning because of the relics of corruption. Well, then, carnal
rejoicing is opposite to holy mourning, but not joy in the Lord, there
fore these two must be mixed. Sorrow is a servant to faith, and love,
and joy in the Holy Ghost ; and joy and thankfulness for the mercy
of God in Christ is an help to godly sorrow : the one serves to mortify
sin, the other to strengthen grace. None are so displeased with them
selves for offending so good a God as those that have tasted how good
and gracious the Lord is. But more thoroughly to reconcile this holy
mixture to your thoughts, take these considerations
[1.] Godly sorrow is better than all the pleasures of sin : 2 Cor.
vii. 10, Tor godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be
repented of. Many have repented of their vain pleasures or of their
carnal mirth, but never any repented of their godly sorrow. Many
have cursed the day of their birth, but never any cursed the day of
their new birth. Whoever had any loathsome remembrance of those
hours which they spent in reconciling themselves to God, though it
were done with grief and bitterness of spirit ? Oh ! the remem
brance of that happy time is ever sweet and grateful to them !
[2.] That mourning for sin containeth in itself the -matter of joy is
evident, because a poor Christian is glad when his heart can melt for
sin. A day of serious and sound humiliation is more to him than all
carnal pleasures whatsoever ; he would not exchange the comfort that
he findeth in his penitent tears for all the mirth in the world. He
findeth this helpeth to mortify sin, which would mar his rejoicing in
God ; it helpeth him to value Christ and taste the sweetness of his
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.
love ; they are more glad of that measure of grace received than if
they were masters and rulers of the world. To be affected with the
dishonour done to God is included in their love and esteem of him,
and floweth from their delight in him.
[3.] Though they groan under the relics of sin, yet they are glad they
are but relics ; that they are in any measure gotten out of their former
estate is a comfort, though that they are gotten no further be a grief
to them. The mourning Christian would not change estates with the
best and greatest of ungodly men, which showeth there is some solid
complacency and delight in their present condition, though not that
full joy which they shall have in heaven, when sin shall be no more.
Joy is not perfect till holiness be perfect, yet there is joy still, though
it be not perfect joy. Here there is gaudium ineffabile cum suspiriis
inenarrabilibus, a joy mixed with sorrow ; groans unutterable, and joys
unspeakable and glorious.
Secondly, Having removed the prejudices, let me now persuade
you to rejoice evermore by the two arguments of necessity and utility.
1. The necessity of it.
[1.] That you may own God as your God ; delighting in God is a
duty of the first commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods
before me ; that is, rejoice in no other, but in me only, as thy full and
all-sufficient portion and happiness ; and therefore it is a part, not of
instituted, but of natural worship, such worship which we are to give
God, though he had never given direction about it, which immediately
resulteth from the owning and choosing of God for our God ; for if
God be not loved and delighted in more than anything, or all things
else, he is not our God. Now, then, is there not a necessity, if you
would worship God as God, that you should rejoice evermore, and
delight in him as sufficient to your happiness, whether the world
corneth or goeth, whether your creature comforts and relations con
tinue with you or be taken from you ? God still must be the heart s
defight and your exceeding joy : Ps. xxxvii. 4, Delight thyself also
in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
[2.] The necessity appeareth by this, how can you be thankful, and
prize and value those blessings which you have from God by Christ,
unless you rejoice evermore, whatever your condition be in the world ?
Surely Christ when received must be received with all love and thank
fulness, else you do not know the worth and value of his grace ; and
this esteem is never so much shown in words as in deeds, when you can
delight in him more than all things else : Ps. iv. 7, Thou hast put
gladness in my heart more than in the time that their corn and their
wine increased. Delight in him so as to lose all for him : Phil. iii. 8,
* For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them
but dung that I may win Christ ; Heb. x. 34, And took joyfully the
spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven
a better and an enduring substance. And you can esteem a naked
Christ ground enough of comfort, though you be stripped of all things.
The heart is not sound with Christ, till we be so taken up with the love
and praise of our Kedeemer that we have scarce leisure to observe
whether we be rich or poor, or to regard the honours and dishonours
of the world.
484 SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.
[3.] How can you profess to follow the conduct of that Holy Spirit
who hath undertaken to be your comforter, unless your solid delight
and comfort he in God and heaven ? I know the Spirit is not so
necessarily a comforter as he is a sanctifier ; but I speak of that dis
position of soul which belongeth both to his sanctifying as well as his
comforting operation, and is necessary to grace ; and that is to place
your happiness not in this world, but in God and heaven, and so to
place it there as that this may be a support to you in poverty and dis
grace and pain, that nothing may be able to overcome your joy : John
xvi. 22, Your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from
you. Surely this is a necessary work of the sanctifying Spirit, to
teach you to fix your comforts 1 there, where they may be out of the
reach of the world, that you may have everlasting grounds of delight,
whatever man can do unto you.
2. The utility of it, both with respect to our spiritual benefit and
profit, and our acceptance with God.
[1.] With respect to the temper and frame of our own hearts, or
our spiritual benefit. There are two parts of regeneration, mortifica
tion and vivification ; and this rejoicing evermore promoteth both of
them.
(1.) As to mortification. It is most profitable to wean us from
carnal vanities. The love of sensitive delights is the root of sin ; some
carnal lure there is, which enticeth and draweth us away from God :
James i. 14, But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his
own lust and enticed. This carnal favour is our undoing ; pleasure
being born and bred with us, and deeply ingrained in our natures, is
hardly removed ; yet if it should be cherished, it would wholly fasten
our souls to earthly things, to riches, pleasures, and honours. Now
that we may not be deceived and inveigled with the delights of the
flesh, we should think of another joy, which may be continual and
perpetual, that so this higher joy may drive out the carnal joy, as a
greater nail driveth out the lesser. Man cannot be without some joy,
nor can delight lie idle in the soul ; it must be occupied and taken up
either with the delights of the flesh, and the toys and trifles of the
world, or acted upon God and heavenly things. The brutish part of
mankind employ their oblectation about trifles, and love pleasures more
than God ; but the renewed part make God their exceeding joy, and
favour the things of the Spirit : Rom. viii. 5, They that are after the
flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit,
the things of the Spirit. These latter employ their oblectation aright,
and being acquainted with better things, the carnal gust dieth away in
them by degrees ; as men left off the use of acorns when they found
out the use of wheat or bread-corn, or as dainty fare maketh us de
spise coarser viands. When our delight findeth a better object, it is a
great check to those dreggy contentments and petty satisfactions which
obtrude themselves upon our senses at every turn ; the taste of them
is marred, they become sapless to a Christian who hath higher and
chaster delights. Every life hath its taste, and every man s joy is in
worldly vanities, or in God, and other things as they have respect to
God. He that is acquainted with God and hidden manna cannot
relish the garlic and onions and flesh-pots of Egypt : We will be glad,
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16. 485
and rejoice in tliee ; we will remember thy love more than wine,
Cant. i. 4. So that you see it is a great help to mortification to
rejoice evermore in God. Delight puts out delight, as the sun doth
the fire.
(2.) As to vivification. It quickeneth us to the life of holiness;
The joy of the Lord is your strength/ Neh. viii. 10. There is a
natural dulness and deadness in holy duties which we find in ourselves,
which is only cured by delight in God, which is as oil to the wheels.
Everything goeth on easily and smoothly which is carried on with joy
and delight ; that maketh us yield to duties which otherwise would
be tedious and irksome to us. Shechem yielded to be circumcised for
the delight which he had in Dinah, Gen. xxxiv. 19 ; so the apostle
saith, But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear
nnto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy/ Acts xx. 24.
Whatever is done without delight is ingrate and harsh : the mortifying
of a lust is like the cutting off an arm with a rusty saw ; the perform
ing of a duty like the bringing of a bear to the stake. Delight
sweetens things, and puts a life into them. Obedience is done readily,
when it is done out of a thankful and delightful sense of our Kedeemer s
love : Ps. xl. 8, I delight to do thy will, my God ; yea, thy law is
in my heart. So 1 John v. 3, For this is the love of God, that we
keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous/
Well, then, this joy is very profitable, both as to mortification and
vivification ; it is a joy that maketh us better. Carnal joy maketh us
worse ; it filleth the minds with vanity and folly, and bringeth a
slavery upon the heart : Titus ii. 3, Serving divers lusts and pleasures ;
but this delight doth not corrupt you, but perfect you.
[2.] With respect to God s acceptance. This rejoicing evermore is
more honourable to God, and more pleasing to God.
(1.) It is more honourable to God to rejoice in him evermore, as a
cheerful servant is a credit to his master. We show forth the goodness
of God by the joy of our faith and continual delight in God, however
it be with us in the world. God standeth upon his credit that he
doth not weary his people : Micah vi. 3, my people ! what have I
done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against
me/ He is not a rigorous and an hard master, but every way good
and kind. The Thessalonians that received the word in much afflic
tion, with joy of the Holy Ghost, were ensamples of all that believed
in Macedonia and Achaia, and from them sounded out the word of
God to others, 1 Thes. i. 6-8. These propagate their profession, and
recommend it to others. Surely God is a good master; he hath
made joy both our work and our wages, our way and our end. What
is our great end and hope but to enter into our Master s joy ? And
what is our constant business and work but to rejoice evermore ? *
Why then should we dishonour God by our uncheerfulness, and justify
the prejudices of the world, who draw an ill picture of religion in their
minds, as if it always looked sour, and with a tormenting and discon
tented look ?
(2.) It is most pleasing to God, the life that he is best pleased withal
God, that loveth a cheerful giver, loveth a cheerful sufferer, a cheerful
practiser of godliness. Men love a thing done cheerfully, because it
486 SEKMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16.
betokeneth love in the party that doeth it. Surely this rejoicing ever T
more is very pleasing to God, because he doth so often call for it : Ps.
xxxvii. 4, Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee the
desire of thy heart; Phil. iv. 4, Rejoice in the Lord always, and
again I say, Eejoice ; Ps. Ixviii. 3, Let the righteous be glad, let
them rejoice before God ; yea, let them exceedingly rejoice ; and in
many other places. Surely that which God calleth for so often and so
earnestly should be more cared for by a Christian. Be sure of this,
that a cheerful spirit is more pleasing to God than a troubled, discon
tented spirit. When Isaac longed for savoury meat, such as his soul
delighted in, a profane Esau taketh his bow to get it for him. When.
God hath told us how much this is pleasing to him, should we not
make more conscience of it ?
Thirdly, I must direct you how to perform this great and necessary
duty.
1. Be prepared for it. The precept belongeth to the renewed and
reconciled : Ps. xxxi. 1, Eejoice in the Lord, ye righteous ; for praise
is comely for the upright. Delight is not forced by arguments, but
drawn forth by inclination ; therefore till we have a nature and heart
suited to it, we shall never perform it. Canticum novum, et vetus
homo male concordant The new song and the old man do not well
agree. Well, then, be prepared. It is easy to rejoice after a natural
and worldly manner, but not easy to rejoice in the Lord. We are
never prepared till our state be altered, heart altered, and life altered.
[1.] Our state must be altered. For naturally we are children of
wrath, condemned by the sentence of the law, and under the curse ;
and doth it become condemned men to rejoice, and go to their execu
tion dancing ? No ; you must take hold of another covenant, the hope
that is set before you, and then you provide matter of joy, yea, of
* strong consolation, Heb. vi. 18. By taking sanctuary at the Lord s
grace, the heirs of promise have strong consolation. When the eunuch
was solemnly admitted into God s covenant by baptism, He went on
his way rejoicing/ Acts viii. 39. By repentance towards God, and
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we enter into the new covenant, and
that is a state of peace, life, and joy. In the new covenant God offers
himself to be your reconciled Father, Christ your Saviour, and the Holy
Ghost your sanctifier ; are you willing to consent to this ? And then,
why should not you rejoice in the Lord ? for you have enough in
God.
[2.] Our hearts must be altered ; for every man s relish and com
placency is according to the temper and constitution of his soul : Rom.
viii. 5, They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh,
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Know his
complacency, what it is that a man is pleased with most, and you know
the man. An old corrupted heart and mind cannot delight itself in
God : 1 Cor. ii. 14, But 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. But those that
have a divine nature put into them cannot satisfy themselves in the
world : 2 Peter i. 4, Ye may be partakers of the divine nature, hav
ing escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. They
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 1G. 487
can easily spare the pleasures of the flesh, and leave these husks for
swine to feed on. A change of heart inferreth a change of delights
and pleasures ; for the new heart is nothing else but new desires and
delights ; when you have a new understanding and a new heart, then
you will discern and relish spiritual things.
[3.] The life must be altered. For holy walking and fruitfulness
in obedience raiseth the greatest joy: John xv. 10, 11, If ye keep my
commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my
Father s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have
1 spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you, and that your
joy might be full ; Acts ix. 31, Walking in the fear of the Lord, and
in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. The godly life is the only sweet life :
2 Cor. i. 12, For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience,
that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by
the grace of God, we had our conversation in the world. If you will
but learn what it is to live in the love of God, and the belief and hope
of life eternal, and in universal obedience to the laws of Christ, you
will soon see what it is to live in a state of joy and comfort. If you
fall into great and wounding sins, no wonder if your rejoicing in God
be disturbed. Surely a tender heart cannot make light of sin, but it
will cost them broken bones and broken hearts.
2. Act it continually. Partly for that the grounds of rejoicing are
everlasting, an eternal God, an unchangeable covenant, Jesus Christ,
the same yesterday and to-day and for ever ; a kingdom that cannot
be shaken, an infinite and eternal weight of glory. Now these things
should ever be thought of by us, that we may keep up our delight in
the Lord. Partly because we need it continually to enliven our duties,
to sweeten our crosses, and to wean us from our carnal vanities ; for
otherwise our duties will go off heavily, our crosses will swallow us up
with too much sorrow, or our hearts will be apt to be ensnared by
sensual delights, unless we remember that we are continually to rejoice
in God and heavenly things. Partly because this delight cannot be
maintained in the soul unless it be continually exercised; by constant
acting it we keep it, and increase it, till at length it cometh to be pre
dominant in the soul, and able to control our affection to other things.
It is said of John the Baptist s hearers that they were willing to
rejoice in his light for a season/ John v. 35 ; and of the stony ground,
Luke viii. 13, That they received the word with joy, and believed for
a while, but in time of temptation fall away. Herod heard John the
Baptist gladly for a while, Mark vi. 20. God s offering eternal happi
ness in Christ may affect us for the present, but this rejoicing faileth,
being over-mastered by the appetites and desires of the flesh. There
fore to root it and increase it, that it may be firm to the end, it must
be continually acted and exercised.
3. Take heed you do not forfeit it, or damp it by any great and
wounding sin. As David speaketh, Ps. li. 8, Make me to hear joy
and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Sin cloudeth the face of God, wasteth our comfort and joy : Ps. xxxiL
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 ; Eph. iv. 30, And
488 SERMONS UPON I THESSAIONIANS V. 16.
grieve not the Holy Spirit, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemp
tion/ When the Comforter is offended, he showeth his dislike, and
withdraweth when we grossly omit any known duty or commit any
foul sin ; he will show himself displeased with it, and withdraw his
gracious and comfortable presence : Isa. Ivii. 17, For the iniquity of
his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him ; I hid me, and was
wroth. On such occasions he is wroth and smiteth ; he is wroth, and
hideth himself, and then our comfort and delight in God ceaseth.
Therefore we should deal more dutifully with the Spirit, neither
grieving him by the omission or intermission of necessary duties,
nor by the commission of any hardening sin, by some error of the con-
cupiscible or pursuing faculty, or the irascible or eschewing faculty ; by
sins of the tongue, which most easily bewray corruption, for words
discover the temper of the heart. I observe that grieving the Spirit/
Eph. iv. 30, is put in the middle between a dissuasive from corrupt
communication, ver. 29, Let no corrupt communication proceed out
of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying/ When
men endeavour to make themselves glad by carnal discourse, which
argueth an heart set for carnal delights, and is contrary to rejoicing in
the Lord : Eph. v. 4, Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jest
ing, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks ; and on
the other side, ver. 31, Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and
clamour, and evil-speaking be put away from you/ By discontent,
impetuous rage, passionate commotions, contumelious speeches, envy,
revenge, we hinder our joy in the Lord. Now all this must be
carefully avoided, lest we contract deadness and numbness of con
science.
4. If by sin you have wounded your conscience, and brought smart
and mourning upon yourselves, abide not in that estate, but humble
yourselves; renewing your repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ, suing out your pardon, and getting your wounds healed. Beg
of God to restore the joy of his salvation, that your broken hearts may
be revived, and your broken bones restored and set in joint again : Ps.
li. 8, Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou
hast broken may rejoice ; and ver. 12, Eestore unto me the joy of thy
salvation/ Never rest till you come again to delight in God, with an
hearty resolution not to break with God any more : Ps. li. 6, Behold,
thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou
shalt make me to know wisdom ; Ps. Ixxxv. 8. I will hear what God
the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace unto his people, and to
his saints ; but let them not turn again to folly/ God is ready to
receive lapsed penitents, that are sensible of their errors, and are
willing to return to their duty : Ps. xxxii. 5, I acknowledged my sin
unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid ; I said, I will confess my
transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of rny
sin ; Isa. Ivii. 17, 18, For the iniquity of his covetousness was I
wroth, and smote him ; I hid me, and was wroth ; and he went on
frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will
heal him, I will lead him also, and restore comfort to him, and to his
mourners/ Your case is sad and grievous, but not desperate and
SERMONS UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 16. 48 9
Hopeless ; you may have comfort upon God s terms, mourning for sin,
that sin may be made bitter to you, and you may not hazard your
peace for trifles another time; and putting your business into the
hands of your Kedeemer , the advocate must make your peace for you :
1 John ii. 1, If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous.
SERMON UPON 1 THESSALONIANS V. 17.
Pray without ceasing. 1 THES. v. 17.
IN the words we have (1.) A duty, pray ; (2.) The continuance of
the duty, always, aStaXeiTrreos ; from both observe
Doct. That constant and frequent prayer to God is a duty required
of Christians.
In handling this doctrine I shall show
(1.) What prayer is ; (2.) How it is to be carried on without ceas
ing ; (3.) The reasons of the doctrine.
I. What prayer is ; and here I shall speak (1.) Of the nature of
prayer ; (2.) Of the several kinds of it.
First, For the nature of prayer. Prayer is the offering up of our
desires to God, in the name of Christ, for such things as are agreeable
to his will.
1. It is an offering up of our desires. Desires are the soul and life
of prayer, words are but the body. Now as the body without the soul
is dead, so are prayers unless they are animated with our desires : Ps.
x. 17, Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble. God heareth
not words, but desires.
2. These desires are offered unto God, or brought before the Lord
in this solemn way : Zeph. iii. 10, My suppliants, even the daughters
of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering ; that is, shall reverently
express their desires to God. An offering was either a sacrifice, and
prayer is a spiritual sacrifice : 1 Peter ii. 5, Ye are an holy priest
hood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
As a man did then present himself and his offering before the Lord,
so do we present ourselves and our desires, and pour out our hearts
before him. Or an offering might be the mincah, or meat-offering,
which was baked or fried in a pan, and then presented to the Lord :
Ps. xlv. 1, My heart inditeth a good matter; not raw indigested
services must be performed to God, such as are the eructations of the
flesh ; or incense was offered to the Lord : Let my prayer be set before
thee as incense, Ps. cxli. 2. And we read of Vials full of odours,
which are the prayers of the saints/ Rev. v. 8. Incense was a mixture
of sweet spices, which, being set on fire, the fumes thereof ascended
into heaven ; so do our holy and ardent desires ascend unto God.
3. They are desires presented in the name of Christ, in whom
alone we are acceptable to God : John xvi. 23, Whatsoever ye shall
ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
492 SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17.
4. They are desires of things agreeable to the will of God : 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. All our desires must
be regulated by his revealed will, and subordinated to his secret will,
so far as God seeth it fit for his glory and our good ; for upon other
terms he is not bound to us.
Secondly, The kinds of prayer, so there are sundry distinctions.
1. There is mental prayer : Exod. xiv. 15, Wherefore criest thou
unto me ? Moses cried unto the Lord, and yet no words are men
tioned. And vocal prayer : Ps. v. 3, My voice shalt thou hear in the
morning, Lord ; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee,
and will look up. When prayers are put into language, or formalised
into some outward expression. Again
2. There is sudden and ejaculatory prayer ; as Neh. ii. 4, The king
said unto me, For what dost thou make request ? so I prayed unto the
God of heaven. That is, some sudden dart of prayer, such as, Prosper,
I pray, thy servant ; lifting up his heart in a sudden desire to God,
to direct or give success to his petition. And solemn prayer, and of
greater length : Eom. xv. 30, That ye strive together with me in your
prayers to God for me ; which words imply a prayer full of earnest
pleadings.
3. There are public or church prayers: 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2, I exhort
therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in
authority ; where he giveth directions how the prayers of their public
assemblies should be ordered. And private or family prayer: Acts
x. 2, Cornelius is said to be * a devout man, and one that feared God
with all his house, and gave much alms to the people, and prayed to
God always ; that is, a man that worshipped God with his family, as
good men use to do. And it is said, 1 Chron. xvi. 43, that David,
after public services, returned to bless his house ; that is, to pray for
his family, as he had done for the people before. And secret and
closet prayer, concerning which Christ giveth direction : When thou
prayest, enter into thy closet, Mat. vi. 6. Again
4. There is ordinary and extraordinary prayer. Ordinary prayer is
performed upon ordinary causes, such as daily necessities : Ps. Iv. 17,
Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud, and he
shall hear my voice. Extraordinary prayer is upon special weighty
occasions, which requireth more than ordinary continuance of time and
affection : Joel i. 14, Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather
the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the
Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord. Now all these kinds of prayer
are to be made conscience of, and none to be neglected ; and in none
of these cases must we cease to pray when God requireth it at our
hands.
II. What it is to pray without ceasing. This needeth to be ex
plained, because some strain it too far, others straiten it too much ;
and we must state the matter so as to avoid the extremes on both
sides.
First, One extreme is that of the ancient Euchites, and because
they seem to be befriended by the letter of the text, we must clear the
SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17. 493
matter a little. Their senseless error was, as if the act of prayer were
never to be discontinued, and therefore they omitted all other duties,
and would only pray.
Secondly, The other extreme is of those who keep not up a constant
frequent return of this duty. We must obviate both.
1. For those that would never intermit this exercise.
[1.] We must show them their error by explaining the word. A
thing is said to be done continually and without ceasing, which is done
at the constant times and seasons as often as they return. As David
told Amasa, 2 Sam. xix. 13, Thou shalt be captain of the host before
me continually ; that is, as often as the army was led forth ; so 2 Sam.
ix. 12, Mephibosheth did eat bread at the king s table continually ;
that is, at the constant stated times of eating. So Horn. ix. 2, I have
great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart ; that is, as often
as he thought of them. So also is the word without ceasing used,
1 Thes. ii. 13, For this cause we thank God without ceasing; that is,
as often as he was with God. So 2 Tim. i. 3, Without ceasing I
have remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day ; that is,
evening and morning, as often as he went to God.
[2.] The matter may bear a good sense if you interpret the apostle s
direction either
(1.) Of the habit of prayer, or the praying temper ; that frame of
spirit or affection which is fit for prayer must never be lost : Ps. civ.
9, But I give myself unto prayer. In the original there is no more
but I prayer, as if he were wholly made up of prayer and supplica
tion ; this was the work he was given to, or most intent upon.
(2.) It may be interpreted of a vital prayer. All duties may be
resolved into prayer and praise. Now as the life of a Christian is a life
of love and praise, a kind of confession or hymn to God, so in other
respects it is a prayer. Semper orat, qui semper bene agit ; he that
liveth in a constant obedience to God and dependence upon him, doth
in effect always pray to him. Now thus doth a Christian, both as to
life natural and spiritual : Ps. xxv. 5, On thee do I wait all the day. ,
Every minute we depend upon him for the direction and support of
his Holy Spirit. So Prov. xxiii. 27, Be thou in the fear of the Lord
all the day long. He liveth in an awful regard, loath to displease
God because all cometh from him. Now this is virtually a prayer,
because he still elevateth his thoughts and desires towards him, and
looketh for all from God.
(3.) This praying without ceasing may be interpreted of our con
tinuance in the duty, till we obtain the ends of prayer ; and that some
competent time is to be spent in it. Prayer is the lifting up of the
heart, or the offering of our desires to God in some affectionate manner.
In extraordinary occasions the time may be longer ; as Christ spent
whole nights in prayer : Luke vi. 12, He went out into a mountain
to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. On ordinary
occasions the time may be shorter, but the general direction is, con
tinue in prayer : Horn. xii. 12, Continue instant in prayer. A short
good-morrow is too slight a compliment for the great God ; such inter-
parlance with him is necessary as may warm the heart and serve the
ends of prayer.
494 SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17.
(4.) Praying without ceasing may express our perseverance in prayer
without fainting : Luke xviii. 1, He spake a parable unto them to this
end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint ; when we will
not let God alone until he bless us. We must not yield to despon
dency, though we be not heard presently, but let us pray the more
earnestly, though the prayer seemeth to be checked and contradicted
by God s providence, as the woman of Canaan gets ground by dis
couragements, Mat. xv. 22-28. We must reiterate our petitions for
one and the same thing till it be granted ; as Paul prayed thrice : 2
Cor. xii. 8, For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
depart from me. A seeming repulse and denial maketh us the more,
vehement ; for the language of God s rebukes is, not to pray no more,
but pray on still ; it is yielding to a temptation to desist.
(5.) This praying without ceasing is to be interpreted of the univer
sality and the frequency of the return of the occasions and opportunities
of prayer ; and we may be said to do that without ceasing which we
do very often. So that though the act of prayer be intermitted, the
course of prayer should not be interrupted ; for we are to pray at all
times, in all conditions, and in all businesses and affairs.
(ls.) At all times, never omitting the seasons of prayer, stated or
occasional. There are stated times of prayer; something must be
done every day. Thus our Lord directeth us to pray : Mat. vi. 11,
Give us o-rj/juepov, this day our daily bread. Though it be mentioned
but in one petition, yet it referreth to all the rest. We need daily
bread, daily pardon, daily strength against temptations. Tea, there
seemeth to be a double standing occasion ; every day in the morning
for direction, in the evening for protection ; as God appointed a
morning and evening sacrifice : Num. xxviii. 4, The one lamb shalt
thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even.
If any be contentious, let me tell you, it is an ill spirit that doth dispute
away duties rather than practise them. So there are occasional times
when God by his providence inviteth us to it, as by some special afflic
tion : Ps. 1. 15, Call upon me in the day of trouble, or some business
in hand, wherein we are to ask his leave, counsel, and blessing : Ezra,
viii. 21, Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we
might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for
us and our little ones/
(2d.) In all estates and conditions, afflicted and prosperous. In an
adverse or afflicted estate : James v. 13, Is any among you afflicted ?
let him pray. That gives vent to our sorrow, and turneth it into a
spiritual channel. In a prosperous estate we are to pray that we may
not forget God. Carnal men never come to him but when they have
extreme need of him : Jer. ii. 27, But in the time of their trouble
they will say, Arise, and save us. That our hearts may not be cor
rupted, but our portion sanctified to us, for everything is sanctified by
the word of God and prayer, I Tim. iv. 5. Thus God must hear
from us, sick and sound, in pain and well at ease, whether we are
abased or abound.
(3d) In every business, civil or sacred: In all thy ways acknow
ledge him, and he shall direct thy paths, Prov. iii. 6. In business
secular. Abraham s servant beggeth success in his errand : Gen. xxiv/
SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17. 495
12, Lord God of my master Abraham ! I pray thee send me good-
speed this day. In matters sacred : 2 Thes. iii. 5, The Lord direct
your heart into the love of God. So that a serious sensible Christian
seldom wanteth an errand to the throne of grace, and if we be not
strangers to ourselves, we cannot be strangers to God.
2. To the other extreme we now come, when men are rare and un-
frequent with God, upon the pretence that they are not bound to pray
always, and the time of duty is not exactly stated in the New Testa
ment. To these we oppose other considerations.
[1.] Though there be not an express rule particularly set down how
often we should be with God. yet duties are required in the strictest
and most comprehensive terms, and God s expressions about them are
very large. For -here God saith, Pray without ceasing; and Eph.
vi. 18, Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance/ So Col. iv. 2, Con
tinue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving/ So Ps.
Ixii. 8, Trust in the Lord at all times, ye people ; pour out your hearts
before him/ So Luke xxi. 36, Watch ye, therefore, and pray always.
So that here is no gap opened to loose and vain spirits to countenance
them in their neglect of God. The scriptures rather speak over than,
under. Nature is apt to encroach upon grace, as the sea upon the
banks, and sloth and strangeness to God will soon creep upon us;
therefore the crooked stick is bent the other way. Bather pray always
than be always in the world, and always in pleasures ; at least take the
due occasions. Though these expressions be not to be understood as
if we should do nothing else but pray, yet they imply frequency in this
duty, at all times when opportunity calleth for it.
[2.] The examples of the saints should move us. David prayed
three times a day, at morning, noon, and night : Ps. Iv. 17, Evening
and morning and noon will I pray, and cry aloud/ So did Daniel,
and would not omit it in times of persecution : Dan. vi. 10, Now when
Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and
his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled
upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before
his God, as he did afore time/ Now, though every one s necessities,
abilities, or condition of life will not permit him to do so much, yet in
the general we must conclude from thence that we must be constant
in our daily worship and attendance upon God.
[3.] The ceasing of the daily sacrifice was accounted to be a great
part of the misery occasioned by the abomination of desolation: Dan.
ix. 27, And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and
the oblation to cease, and for the over-spreading of abominations he
shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that deter
mined, shall be poured upon the desolate/
[4.] Now God trusts love, and would not particularly define the
times of our duty and immediate converse with him, surely we should
be more open-hearted and liberal to him. God expecteth much from
a willing people : Ps. ex. 3, Thy people shall be willing in the day of
thy power. Our attendance upon God should be rather more than
less, since it is left to our choice.
[5.] God himself was angry with his people, and complaineth of
496 SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17.
their neglect of him : Jer. ii. 32^ My people have forgotten me days
without number. Time out of mind, as we say in an English
phrase, have I not heard from them. Now these considerations show
this expression should not be too much straitened.
III. The reasons why constant and frequent prayer is our duty.
1. With respect to God, that we may acknowledge his being and
sovereignty over us and all events that concern us and ours.
[1.] We acknowledge his being in prayer, for, He that cometh to
God must believe that he is, Heb. xi. 6. Men of all religions call
upon that which they think to be God ; as in the storm, the pagan
mariners cried every man unto his god/ Jonah i. 5. Men take their
god to be their sure refuge in all their troubles, distractions, and
fears. Now the people of God know him by experience to be the only
true God that heareth prayer, therefore they own him as such : Ps.
Ixv. 2, thou that nearest prayer ! unto thee shall all flesh come.
Now this owning of God must not be done in a few rare and disused
prayers, but in a constancy of prayer, that we may often call to mind
his being and attributes. It is a sin not only to deny God, but to for
get him : Ps. ix. 17, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all
the nations that forget God. We are apt to forget God, who is an
invisible being, though we have all things from him, and he be neces
sary to us continually ; therefore we must often remember him, and
present ourselves before him, and inure ourselves to a reverence of his
majesty. God complaineth, Jer. ii. 32, My people have forgotten me
days without number.
[2.] We acknowledge his supreme providence by taking all out of
his hands, and so are kept more humble and in a constant dependence.
We do not enjoy our mercies by chance or by good fortune, but by
the gift of his providence. That we may not be forgetful of this, God
will have us pray often, yea, thus solemnly take our daily bread out of
his hands : Mat. vi. 11, Give us this day our daily bread/ The bread
you eat is not your own, but God s ; you intrench upon his prerogative
when you use it without asking his leave.
2. With respect to the nature of prayer. It is the converse of a
loving soul with God, the nearest familiarity which a soul dwelling in
flesh can have with him. Now acts of friendship and communion
must not be rare and unfrequent, but constant and often, therefore
called an acquainting ourselves with God: Job xxii. 21, Acquaint
now thyself with him, and be at peace. Acquaintance implieth fre
quent commerce and intercourse. Men that often visit one another,
and meet together are acquainted. Prayer is a giving God a visit :
Isa. xxvi. 16, Lord, in trouble have they visited thee. The keeping
up of this acquaintance is necessary both to our present comfort and
future acceptance.
[1.] For our present comfort, it giveth you boldness to come to God
in all your necessities and straits, if you daily wait upon him. Fre
quency of converse begets familiarity, and familiarity begets confidence.
When God and you grow strange, you cannot come with that freedom
to ask his help as those that familiarly converse with him do : Eph.
iii. 12, In whom we have boldness, and access with confidence, by the
faith of him. A child is not afraid to go to his father, nor a man.
SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17. 497
unto his friend, to pour out his complaint into his bosom ; nor a servant
of daily attendance to open his suit to his master ; they know his
name, Ps. ix. 10, and are acquainted with him.
[2.] For our future acceptance : Lukexxi. 36, Watch ye, therefore,
and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these
things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man,
viz., at his coming. They that are constant in prayer make up their
accounts with God daily, and so may with the better confidence attend
his coming. When you have been frequently with him, frequently
entertained by him and accepted with him, had your prayers heard
and desires granted, it is a great encouragement in the hour of death,
when you are to leave the world, and come immediately before him.
On the other side, for men to appear before a God whom they never
knew nor heartily loved, and with whom they were never acquainted
as to any intimate communion and converse, this is a sad case. Alas !
at the best it is to an unknown friend, but indeed it is to a certain
enemy. They never had experience of his kindness which they would
own, nor interest in his love, and now are forced into his presence
against their will. Alas ! how soon will the time come when men
would fain set about prayer, but it is too late. They have then neither
leisure nor skill to pray ; and the prayers they then make are not the
fruits of faith and love, but of despair and horror. They cry, Lord,
Lord ; but Christ saith, I know ye not ; ye are workers of iniquity.
But on the other side, they are fitted for everlasting communion with
God who are acquainted with him already ; and when they come to be
translated, they do but change place, not company. Heaven is an
access to God, and the throne of grace is the porch of heaven. We
begin the heavenly life here by these frequent converses with God, and
our access to him now.
3. With respect to the new nature, or the temper and disposition
of the saints. Prayer is the cry of the new creature, a work natural
and kindly to the saints : Zech. xii. 10, I will pour upon the house
of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of
supplication. A spirit of grace will soon break out into supplications,
and vent itself that way: Acts ix. 11, Behold, he prayeth; Zeph.
iii. 9, I will turn to the people a pure language, that they may all
call upon the name of the Lord, and serve him with one consent. In
the margin it is a pure lip. God s true children are carried to him
by a kind of natural motion, as light bodies move upward ; they are a
sort of men that are seeking after God : Ps. xxiv. 6, This is the
generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, Jacob ! Selah !
Therefore we should quite check and cross the bent and inclination of
the new nature, unless we be much in prayer and often with God.
4. With respect to the necessities of the saints. Our wants are
continual, as well in spiritual as in temporal things. That we need
daily bread is evident to sense, and that we need daily pardon and
daily strength against temptations should be as evident to faith. The
soul hath its necessities as well as the body ; yea, they are greater, and
of a more dangerous nature. Sometimes we lack wisdom, and who
shall give it us but God ? James i. 5, If any of you lack wisdom,
let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth
YOL. xvn. 2 i
498 SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17.
not, and it shall be given him. Sometimes we lack strength, and that
is to be sought in prayer : Eph. iii. 10, 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. Sometimes we lack life and
quickening, and to whom should we go but to the life-making Spirit,
to him who quickeneth all things? In short, the throne of grace
was set up for a time of need, and therefore, when our necessities drive
us to it, we should not hang off: Heb. iv. 16, Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find
grace to help in time of need. We always need to be delivered from
evil ; we always need to be established in good. Sometimes we need
a blessing on what we have, that our comforts may be sanctified to
us ; sometimes a blessing on what we do, that we may begin it and
end it in God. All our relations increase our necessities, so do all our
enjoyments ; new mercies occasion new necessities ; and in the variety
of our afflictions we have still somewhat to do with God. The receipt
of one mercy discovereth the need of another.
5. With respect to the utility and profit of it. It is endless to instance
in all things, I shall confine the discourse to spiritual profit, and there
[1.] The three radical graces, faith, hope, and love, are acted and
increased in prayer: Jude 20, 21, But ye, beloved, building up your
selves in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercies of our Lord
Jesus Christ unto eternal life ! Mark there, praying in the Holy
Ghost is to be referred in common to them all, to building up your
selves in your most holy faith, to keeping yourselves in the love of
God, to looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal
life. Surely frequent prayer keepeth every grace active, and more
ready than if it were seldom used.
(1.) For faith in this duty : the mysteries of our most holy faith are
reduced to practice ; even that great mystery of the trinity, and their
distinct personal operations ; we find the benefit of it in prayer : Eph.
ii. 18, For through him we both have an access, by one Spirit unto
the Father/ To the Father as an all-sufficient fountain of grace :
Gen. xvii. 1, I am the Almighty God. By Christ, who hath pur
chased leave, welcome, and audience : Heb. x. 19* By a new and
living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is
to say, his flesh. And by the Spirit, who hath given us an heart to
come, inspiring us with holy motions, enlivening our affections : Horn,
viii. 26, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities ; that we
may open our hearts to God. If prayer be prayer indeed, not a few
cold heartless words, then is faith solemnly acted.
(2.) Love is acted and increased in this duty, while we desire of
God all things in order to God, and show forth our hearty groans after
everything that will bring us nearer to himself; praying first for
God s love, then the grace of the Kedeemer, and all other subordinate
blessings and helps as they relate thereunto. Yea, this very opening
our hearts to God is a solace to us, and the fruit and act of our delight
in him. The groans of the Spirit are the immediate issues of love,
and come from a heart strongly bent to God and heavenly things.
As faith directeth us to God as the first cause, so love to the chief
SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17. 499
end, the glory of God, and regulateth all our choices and desires by
it. The fruit of prayer increaseth love : Ps. cxvi. 1, 2, ( I love the
Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications ; because
he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as
long as I live/
(3.) Hope is acted and increased by it, because in prayer this grace
is predominant, the certain and earnest expectation of the promised
glory. Our thoughts of heaven at other times are cold and heartless ;
here we enter into the holiest ; we beg heaven, and all things in order
to heaven, because we expect it from the mercy of God in Jesus Christ.
There is desirous expectation in hopes, and prayer is but the expression
of our desires, and a certain expectation in hope ; so in prayer we
plead promises, and show the grounds of our trust, why we look and
wait for it, that God will preserve us, and bear our expenses to heaven.
[2.] The three duties pressed in this place are much promoted by
frequent prayer : Kejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, in every
thing give thanks.
(1.) Kejoice evermore. We cherish our rejoicing, or peace and
tranquillity of mind in all conditions, by frequent praying. This vent
and utterance easeth us of our burden. If anything troubleth us, we
go to God, who is able and willing to help us : Job xvi. 20, My
friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. It is our
comfort that there is a throne of grace before which to bring our com
plaint. So Phil. iv. 6, 7, Be careful for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known unto God, and the peace of God, which passeth all under
standing, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ/
Be careful for nothing is parallel to rejoice evermore/ What help
have we to pray ? Let your requests be made known unto God ; and
the effect of prayer is the peace of God/ When the air is imprisoned
in the bowels and caverns of the earth, there are shakings and terrible
convulsions till it gets a vent ; so is the soul tossed and turmoiled with
many tormenting thoughts till we open our hearts to God. Hannah,
when she had prayed, went her way, and did eat, and her countenance
was no more sad/ 1 Sam. i. 18. Now should we not be frequent in
this duty, which will keep up our delight in God, and our tranquillity
of mind in all conditions on the confidence of his all-sufficiency ?
(2.) Pray without ceasing/ The duty is promoted by the duty ;
pray without ceasing and you will pray without ceasing. The way to
be fervent is to be frequent. A key that is seldom turned rusts in the
lock ; wells are the sweeter for the draining. We lose the habit of
prayer arid fitness for prayer when we are seldom with God, and there
is such an intermission between duties. The more we walk, the fitter
we shall be to walk ; and the more we pray, the fitter we shall be to
pray. They find so much sweetness in it that experiment it by practice,
that they cannot be without it. It is the strangers to prayer that
need to be persuaded. When we intermit this necessary work, we
lose our fitness. He that hath often prayed will pray : Ps. cxvi. 2,
Because he hath inclined his car unto me, therefore will I call upon
him as long as I live/
(3.) For the last duty, In everything give thauks/ They that
500 SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. IT.
pray often see all things come from God, and they return all to God
again ; they take it out of his hands, and use it for his glory. Usually
what we win by prayer we wear with thanksgiving. Others do not
and cannot observe providence as much as they do that pray often and
upon all occasions look to God. Besides, prayer sweeteneth the mercy :
For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition,
which I asked of him : therefore have I lent him to the Lord as
long as he liveth ; he shall be lent to the Lord/ 1 Sam. i. 27, 28.
[3.] It is useful to preserve in us a sense of our duty to God, as
it obligeth us to be more cautious and watchful. Who should be so
careful of their conversations as they that come often into God s pre
sence ? They had need to be careful on a double account
(1.) That they may be in a readiness always to pray: Eph. vi. 18,
Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance ; 1 Peter iv. 7, Be sober,
and watch unto prayer. If we would be often with God in prayer,
we must watch against anything that would hinder our communion
and intercourse with God, that we may look God in the face with
comfort ; as those that are always to appear in the presence of earthly
princes must be more decently clad than other men. How shall we
pray at night when we have been offending God all the day.
(2.) The very praying often inferreth an obligation of greater strict
ness, that we may be such out of duty as we profess to be in duty : 1 Peter
i. 17, And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth
according to every man s work, pass the time of your sojourning here
in fear ; 2 Tim. ii. 19, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity. What ! confess sin, and yet commit it ? What !
pray so zealously, and live so vainly ! confute and contradict your
prayers by your lives ! ask grace so earnestly of God, and cast it away
so carelessly in your conversations ! Leave off one or the other, for
hypocrisy is a double provoking thing, more than open profaneness.
Use 1. Is to reprove those that never call upon God, or very rarely,
either in their families, or closets, or both. This cometh to pass
1. Sometimes through a defect of their faith ; they do not believe
God s being and providence, and the promises of his holy covenant as
made with us. They do not believe his being : Ps. xiv. 1, The fool
hath said in his heart, There is no God ; and ver. 4, They call not
upon the Lord. The practical atheist doth not pray : Job xv. 4,
Thou easiest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God. As the
awe and reverence of God abateth in them, they cast off prayer, espe
cially in secret. God s children may be straitened in prayer, but they
do not restrain prayer. Conscience is clamorous ; prayer would fain
break out, but they smother these checks and sentiments of religion
till they wholly quit a course of praying. Sometimes they deny provi
dence : Ps. Ixxiii. 11, They say, How doth God know ? and is there
any knowledge in the Most High ? and ver. 13, I have cleansed my
heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency ; Mai. Hi. 14, Ye
have said, It is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have
kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the
Lord of hosts? Or else they do not soundly believe the covenant
of God as made with them in Christ : Horn. x. 14, How shall they
SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17. 501
call upon him in whom they have not believed? We cannot address
ourselves to God in Christ, if we are not rooted in the faith of the gospel.
2. Sometimes through a defect of their love to God. They have no
delight in him, and therefore call not upon his name : Job xxvii. 10,
Will he delight himself in the Almighty ? will he always call upon
God ? They may sometimes cry to him to be free from trouble, but
they do not always call upon him, nor keep up a constant use of prayer.
They are weary of God: Isa. xliii. 22, Thou hast not called upon me,
Jacob ; thou hast been weary of me, Israel. They that left their
first love left their first works, Rev. ii. 3, 4. Or else they are glutted
with worldly happiness, and so God is neglected : Jer. ii. 31, We are
lords, we will come no more unto thee. They are well and at ease,
or else they are besotted with carnal pleasures, that they have no
heart to come to God : Luke xxi. 34, Take heed to yourselves, lest
at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunken
ness and cares of this life/ The heart is withdrawn from God, and
stolen away by carnal vanities.
3. From a defect in their hope ; they despair either of assistance or
acceptance.
[1.] Of assistance. Having such a wandering, lean, and barren
understanding, and dead affections, they think they shall be never
able to pray. And though God hath promised a Spirit of grace and
supplication, and is ready to give it to those that do not give way to
these evils, but strive against them, and the Holy Ghost is appointed
to teach them to pray, yet they give way to this dulness and deadness,
out of an indulgence to the ease of the flesh, and slothfulness and
despair of God s help : Isa. Ixiv. 7, And there is none that calleth
upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee/ There
is the lazy despair, as well as the raging despair, when men will not
stir up themselves, and overcome the seeming difficulties which at
first a course of prayer meeteth with.
[2.] Of acceptance. They have lost their peace by some grievous,
wounding sin, and then have not the heart to go to God ; as David
kept silence, and hung off till he recovered his peace, Ps. xxxii. 3.
So others have offended God, and represent him to themselves as an
angry judge rather than a gracious father, and so run away from
him as guilty Adam did to the bushes, Gen. iii. 8, rather than come to
him. In part this may be in God s children when they have grieved
the Spirit ; but mostly it is in the wicked, who go on impenitently
in some grievous and heinous sin, and so can have no heart to go on
in a course of lively prayer. The presence of God is terrible to a
sinner because of the conscience of their own sinful courses ; they
expect nothing but wrath and vengeance from God, and they will not
take God s way to reconcile themselves, and make their peace with
him, but only put off the thoughts of that they cannot put away, and
neglect God rather than seek to appease him.
Use 2. It informeth us of a necessary truth ; if we must pray ever
more, then there must be an endeavour to keep up our hearts still in a
praying temper, or in a disposition to go to God upon all occasions,
that when God offereth these occasions, there may not want a suitable
frame of heart. The disposition and temper of heart fit for prayer
502 SERMON UPON I TIIESSALONIANS V. 17.
must never be lost. Satan is a great enemy to this commerce with
God, and our hearts soon grow unfit for it. It is a difficult thing to
keep up this praying frame, yet this must be a Christian s constant
work and care. The whole spiritual life is but a watching unto prayer.
Now this praying frame lieth in three things
1. A broken-hearted sense of our spiritual wants. We have a quick
and tender feeling of bodily wants, for these are evident to natural
sense, and we love the body more than the soul, and are tender of our
bodily interests ; but we should be alike affected with soul-necessities,
or else there will be no life in our prayers. God filleth the hungry
with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away, Luke i. 53.
The poor in spirit do most mourn before the Lord, and hunger and
thirst after righteousness : Mat. v. 3-6, Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn,
for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall
inherit the earth. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after
righteousness, for they shall be filled. Now, that which hindereth this
brokenness of heart is carnal pleasures, which bring on a brawn and
senseless deadness upon the soul. Therefore the apostle saith, 1 Peter
iv. 7, Be sober, and watch unto prayer. Now sobriety is a sparing
use of sensual and worldly delights, or a moderation in all earthly
things. This you must labour after, if you would keep up your cor
respondency with God by prayer in a lively manner.
2. A strong and earnest bent of heart towards God and heaven, and
so towards spiritual and heavenly things : Isa. xxvi. 9, With my soul
have I desired thee in the night ; yea, with my spirit within me will
I seek thee early. The soul that is set to seek the Lord is most fit
for this duty. But unless the heart be thus set towards God and
heavenly things, prayer will be as a customary task ; we shall ask for
fashion s sake, pray from our memories rather than our conscience, and
from our conscience rather than heart and affections ; or from affections
actually excited and stirred, rather than from an heart renewed, or
that habitual bent and tendency towards God which is at the bottom
of prayer. The heart sensibly stirred in one duty may do well for the
time, but it is soon lost, and controlled and mastered by contrary
affections. That which doth habitually dispose and incline you to
pray always is the fixed bent of heart towards God and heaven. There
are three agents in prayer, as in every holy duty the human spirit, the
new nature, and the Spirit of God. The human spirit, or my natural
faculties, that by my understanding I may work upon my will and aflec-
tions, and rouse up myself ; for the Holy Ghost doth not work upon a
man as upon a block. Then the new nature, which inclineth us to God as
our chief good and last end ; for the Holy Ghost doth not blow as to
a dead coal. Then the divine Spirit, which excitetji those graces in
us which incline us to God ; as faith or a belief of his being, provi
dence and covenant, love and desire of the full fruition of him in the
heavenly glory, and hope of the means and end ; of the means by
which we attain the end, and the end that we shall thus enjoy by the
means. These are the three agents in prayer and every holy work.
I must do something as a reasonable creature, something as a new
creature, and the Spirit iufluenceth all. The second we are now speuk-
SERMON UPON I TFIESSALONIANS V. 17. 503
ing of, the new nature or inclination to God ; which inclination is not
barely natural as the inclination of creatures without life, as in fire
or light bodies to ascend, or in a stone or heavy bodies to descend ; but
voluntary, as in a rational agent, and therefore it is not so indeclinably
set but it needeth to be strengthened, excited, and increased in us ;
and this I now press you to if you would keep up your praying
frame.
3. There is a liberty or confidence which ariseth from our peace and
friendship with God : 1 John iii. 21, If our heart condemn us not, then
have we confidence, -n-apprja-iav, towards God. When we walk unevenly,
we grow shy of God ; our mouths are shut, our prayers choked in the
utterance. Therefore we should take heed we do not interrupt our
peace : 1 Peter iii. 7, Dwelling as heirs together of the grace of life,
that your prayers be not hindered. Our access to God in prayer can
not be carried on so cheerfully unless we walk orderly and peaceably
in our relations. A Christian is very careful that he may not interrupt
his communion with God, but must avoid heinous wounding sins. And
because, do what we can do, daily infirmities will break out, he often
renews his covenant with God, that his heart may be settled.
Use 3. To exhort us to pray without ceasing, Consider
1. The throne of grace, which God hath erected in the midst of his
people, standeth always upon. God doth not keep terms and days of
audience. The high priest was not to be too familiar with God to
come to him, but once in a year ; but we may come every day : Heb.
iv. 16, Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Let us
then be often with God.
2. God s compassions and mercies never fail. There is an inexhausted
treasure and stock of grace: James i. 5, If any of you lack wisdom,
let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth
not, and it shall be given him. Compare this with Prov. xxv. 17,
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour s house, lest he be weary of
thee, and so hate thee. You may come too seldom, but you can never
come too often to God.
3. We owe this respect to God, that we must not go about his
service by fits, but constantly. As the Queen of Sheba pronounced of
Solomon s servants, 1 Kings x. 8, Happy are thy men, happy are these
thy servants, that stand continually before thee, and that hear thy
wisdom ; much more may it be said of the servants of God, Prov. viii.
34, Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates,
waiting at the posts of my doors. It is a blessed thing to be much
with God.
4. We never want occasions of praying, either for ourselves or for
the church of God. Therefore we ought always to live in the sense of
our own emptiness, and in the faith of God s fulness and willingness
to supply our wants ; always sensible of our need to pray, and always
confident of God s readiness to answer and pray accordingly.
5. Love will not suffer us to keep long "out of God s company.
They that delight in one another must have their frequent meetings
and frequent interviews. An instance of this we have in Jonathan
and David : 1 Sam. xviii. 1, The soul of Jonathan was knit with the
504 SERMON UPON I THESSALONIANS V. 17.
soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul, and therefore
he could not be long without his friend David. If we have a love to
God, we cannot keep long out of God s company, but will be with him
pouring out our hearts to him. Consider these things, that you may
quicken yourselves to this duty of praying without ceasing.
END OF VOLUME XVII.
-1UNTKn BY BALLANTYKK AND COMPANY
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
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