Joy in Tribulation, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. What meanes must be used for obtaining this assurance.
SUrely, the land of Canaan was the glory of al lands, Ezek. 20.6that garden of God, which he had allotted, and bequeathed to Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, and their seed, even to his owne deare children on earth. As a father therfore, intending some portion for his beloved childe, will build, plant, furnish, and adorne it with all commodious helps, & convenient pleasures for his good;Deu. 11.12 so the Lord cared for this land, his eyes were continually upon it from the beginning of the yeere to the ending. Hence as it flourished with Corne, Balme, Oyle, &c. so was it watered with showers, and flowing Rivers of Milke, Wine, and Hony: yet was this earthly, but a darke shadow of that heavenly Canaan: which land of eternall life the Lord legac…ed onelyonly to his heires, even the joynt-heires with Christ. How rich therefore is it in glory, how ravishing in divine pleasures? If the outward courts of heaven dazle the strongest eye with surpassing beautie and brightnesse? Oh what is the inward retiring, and Presence of that great King? How unspeakeably, how incomprehensibly bright and glorious? No marvell then if the Children of God (having tasted some fruits of this heavenly Countrey) labour for full assurance in the conveyance of this purchased possession.
Now then in the next and last place, let us consider by what meanes a Christian may attaine this security, and finde his soule firmely instated and setled in it.
Verily, as in the material, so is it in this spiritual building: hee that will build sure, must digge deepe, and casting out loose …ands, lay a fast, and strong foundation, and then set up the walls, and roofe. So hee that would build up his soule in assurance of his heavenly Mansion, must first fling out loose waverings of a distrustful heart, and doubtful appearances cast into his mind by Satan; and then lay his ground upon the Rocke, the sure and unmoveable promises of God in Christ.
I have often observed divers of the faithfull, strong in many graces, and in this only (to sight) weake, who have by the plaine evidence of the Spirit in the Word bin clearely convinced, that the Lord hath planted, and rooted the life of grace in their hearts, and so have beene (for the present) not a little cheered, aud comforted; yet after by some tentation to have bin wholly disheartned, and cast downe againe in themselves from all their joyes and consolations; concluding that all their religion was meere hypocrisie, and themselves bare forms and images without life: This (I am perswaded) proceeds especially from want of a thorough-grounding their perswasions: much suspense, and unsetlednesse remaining in them.
Now then it will be very needefull and expedient, (as briefly as may bee) to set downe how farre the way of hypo…risie (in appearance) lyes in our way to life, and the period of it, where it stops.
First then it cannot be denied, but that a man of meere shewes, without the life of God, may in his outward carriage to the Word, and ordinance of God, keepe way with a faithfull and sincere Christian; heare, frequent, invite others, honour th… Word, and the Messengers of it. Most of these are found in Herod, Luk. 13.22.a stinking Fox, a rancke-smelling Dissembler:Mar 6.20. Hee heard Iohn, and knowing him a just, and holy man, feared, and observed him; when hee heard him, did many things. So those hypocrites (Ezek. 33. 30,31, 32.) come to the Word, as Gods people, sit there as the people of God, and call on others to the same dutie. Thus farre they seeme to hold way with the Saints; where doe they part? 1. In the ground, and end of this their frequent hearing: 2. In the effects and issues following their attendance.
The ground, and end of hearing the Word, in an hypocrite, is sometimes his carnall delight, when his lustfull eare is tickled with the soft eloquence, and sweet tongue of the Speaker, and his itching heart clawed with carnall wisedome: Sometimes he is driven by the cryes of his yelping conscience: His best end is by further informing his understanding to set a faire glosse upon his profession, and that he may not sit as a mute, stand as a Cipher, when matters of Religion are in discourse, and handling. But the faithfull soule, out of a deepe loathing of sinfull matter in himselfe, & an unflaked hunger and thirst of righteousnes, knowing the word to be both the physicke of the soule, whereby it is throughly clensed; and the food, whereby it is nourished, presents himselfe before the Ordinance of God, that hee may finde it Gods power to his salvation, in purging out all sinfull filthinesse, and filling him with the fruits of righteousnesse. Thus are they described, Esa. 2. 3. They shall say, Come ye, and let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord, and hee will teach us his wayes, and wee will walke in his paths. Where the faithfull plainly expresse their end of comming to God in his Word, not onelyonly that it may be a light to teach, and point out the right way, but that it may give strength to their feet, and enable them to walk in every good path?
Secondly, they differ in the effect and fruit of hearing: For where the heart thus drawes neare to God, as that holy Cornelius, to heare (as in the presence of the Lord) all things commanded by him:Acts 10.33 the Word is a mighty weapon to beat down all strong holds,2 Chr. 10. 4,5. and every thing exalted against the knowledge of God, to bring every thought in obedience to Christ… it wil work effectually when it is thus received: see 1 The. 2. 13. so that the faithful soule can truly say, I know no sin which my heart doth not loath, & desire to expel: I know no cōmand of Christ, in which I do not unfeinedly desire, & endevour to walke with God.
This cannot stand with hypocrisie: because (as in a Tombe) there must be both a beautifull front without, and a dead heart within. An hypocrite must have a shew, else hee is an heathen: and but a shew, else a true Beleever. But he is a neuter to both: Not a plaine Infidell, for hee hath a forme of godlinesse: not faithfull indeed, for his heart still cleaves to much sinfull filthinesse, and is not purified from the whorish love of some darling-sinnes. Many things (as Herod) he may; all, not onelyonly he doth not, but he will not doe.