Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 2 · Lecture 26
Lecture XXVI. on Psalme 51.1, …. May 23. 1626.
NOw it followeth, that we proceed to the second sort of those to whom the consideration of the loving kindnesse, tender mercies, and the multitude of tender mercies that are in the Lord, doth minister cause of comfort, and encouragement, and those are such as are regenerate, and in the state of Grace, and have truly repented, yet are subject oft to inward feares, and trouble, by doubting of the mercy and love of God. For it is evident by the Word, and by daily experience also, that many of Gods dearest, and choicest servants, such as above all other, have most title to these speciall mercies of God, that wee have heard of, are yet much subject to trouble of mind, much given to inward heavinesse, and feare; yea many of them are in that case that David complaineth he was in, Psalme 88.15. While I suffer thy terrours, I am distracted. Yea, 2. many of them continue a long time in this case as David complaineth, Psal 38.6. I am troubled, I am bowed downe greatly, I goe mourning all the day long, and Heman, Psal. 88.15. I am afflicted and ready to dye, from my youth up, while I suffer thy terrours. And upon this ground groweth all this trouble of mind, and terrour, that they are subject unto, that they cannot be perswaded that they are in the favour of God, and that his speciall mercy, and loving kindnesse belongeth unto them. This Heman expresseth to have beene the cause of all his trouble. Psalme 88.14. Lord, why castest thou off my soule, why hidest thou thy face from mee. Now before I speake any thing to the comfort of these poore soules, I thinke it necessary to give you some reasons, why I insist upon this use. For I know well, that many of you will thinke this a needlesse labour, and be little or not at all affected with this Sermon. Pro. 27.7. The full soule loatheth the honie combe. 1. I know well, the most of you stand in no need of comfort, you have much more need of humbling then of comfort a great deale. The secure sinner that never felt yet, what it was to bee troubled in mind for sin, hath more need to heare of the terrors of the Law, then of the comforts of the Gospell. The Law was made (saith the Apostle, 1. Tim. 1.9. that is appointed and ordained of God) for the lawlesse, and disobedient, for the ungodly, and for sinners. These comforts that I am to speake of, are the childrens bread, and it is not meete to take the childrens bread, and to cast it to doggs, as our Saviour speaketh, Matthew 15.26. I know well, that such kind of men will bee likely to take hurt, by this that I shall teach, by turning the Grace of God, into lasciviousnesse, as many did in the Apostles dayes, Iude 4. To such, Christ, and the Doctrine of Gods mercy is a stone of stumbling, and a rocke of offence, as Peter speaketh. 1. Peter 2.8. 2. I know well, that not onelyonly such men, but the most of you that professe the feare of God, have no need of comfort, but of humbling rather. As our Saviour speaketh, Matthew 9.12. the whole have no neede of a Physician, but they that are sicke. And you have just cause to desire rather that Doctrine, that may search, and pierce, and wound your hearts, then that that should comfort them, and to pray with David, Psalme 141.5. Let the righteous smite me, that is, let him reproove mee, that shall bee a benefite, and a kindnesse unto me. The fat, and the strong (among Gods sheepe, and such are the most of you) should be fed with judgement, as the Lord speaketh, Ezek. 34.16. 3. I know well, that many of you, that truly feare God, do not stand in present need of comfort, you are for the present in no trouble of mind, your hearts are chearefull, and comfortable, through the assurance, and feeling you have of Gods love. His Candle shineth upon your head, as Iob speaketh, 29.3. You know the joyfull scund (and can take comfort in his word and promises) you walke in the light of Gods countenance, and of you I may say, as Ethan doth, Psalm. 89.15. Blessed is the people that know the joyfull sound; they shall walke O Lord in the light of thy countenance. But though I know all this concerning three sorts of you, that heare mee now, yet dare I not passe over this use of comfort.
First. Because I am sure that some of you that heare me now, have present need of it. Nay it cannot be presumed, but that in so great a congregation (specially of voluntaries, whom no law of man as on the Sabbaths, but their owne inclination, and love to the word draweth together) there are many tender hearts, that have had experience of this trouble of mind. This we may learne from the tēder care the Apostle had in writing to particular Churches to prevent the grieving, & troubling of the hearts of such people; which argueth, he doubted not but there were such among them. Rom. 8. when he had spoken of the dangerous state of the naturall man, ver. 8 They that are in the flesh cannot please God; he addeth verse 9. But yee are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. And writing to the Church of Corinth (which was a congregation very loose, and disordered) very sharply; and namely; 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shal not inherit the kingdome of God; be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor wantons, nor theeves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, shall inherite the kingdome of God. Hee addeth by way of prevention (because he knew that even in that congregation, there could not choose but bee some humbled sinners) verse 11. And such were some of you, but yee are washed, but yee are sanctified, but yee are justified, &c. Sundry other such places I could alleadge for this purpose.
Secondly, there is none of you that heare me this day, but though you be for the present whole & sound in your spirits, cheerfull and comfortable, and that upon good ground too, & the Lord in mercy continue you in that estate, yet you must looke for a change; you must not thinke this cheerfulnes, & comfort will last alwaies, you must looke to drinke of the cup of inward trouble, and affliction of minde which the rest of your brethren, and sisters have begun to you in, sooner or later in one measure or other (it may be ye shall not pledge them in the same glasse that Iob or David began to you in, the Lord it may bee out of respect to your weaknesse will call for a lesser glasse for you, but) pledge them you must, and pledge them in the same wine in one measure or other, ye know not what your measure will be; and you must not choose your glasse your selves, the cup is in the Lords hand, and he mixeth it, and he powreth it out, as Asaph speaketh (for I have not taken this comparison, and allegory from the wretched fashion of your drunkards in drinking of healths, but from the sacred Word of God) Psal. 75.8. Certainely we must looke for an evill day as the Apostle speaketh, Ephes. 6.13. And we have no reason to thinke or hope we may avoid it, if we consider 1. That this hath beene the case not of some, or of a few good men, but of the whole Church the mother of us all, who is in that short booke of the Canticles reported twice to have beene in that case, Cant. 3.1. and 5.6, Her welbeloved had withdrawne himselfe, and was gone. 2. That our blessed Saviour had experience of this tentation, and affliction, that in his owne sense for the present his father had forsaken him, Mat. 27 40. and we are all predestinated to be conformed unto his image in affliction, Rom. 8.29. 3. We all have the same adversary that other of Gods people have had that will buckle, and wrestle with us one day. This reason the Apostle giveth the Ephesians why they must looke for an evill day, Ephes. 6.12. For we wrestle not against flesh, and bloud, but against principalities, against powers, &c. And if ever hee assault us, these are the tentations he is most likely to assault us by; and if thou be free from them thou art not of God, thou art an hypocrite, thou hast no part in Christ, Gods mercy belongeth not unto thee. For these are his chiefe, his fiery darts, as the Apostle calleth them, Ephes. 6.16. 4. That we all give the Lord as just cause daily by our carnall security, and neglect of our watch to humble, and afflict us, as ever any other of his people have done. Insomuch as I may say to every one of you as the Prophet Oded did to the Israelites, 2 Chron. 28.10. Are there not with you, even with you, sinners against the Lord our God? And this is a chiefe scourge that the Lord useth to afflict his people for their security by, even by withdrawing, and hiding himselfe from them. As Christ served his Church when she grew lazy, and was loath to rise and put on her clothes, and defile her feet to open unto him, he withdrew himselfe, and went away, Cant. 5.3, 6. So that you that have the most cheerefull, and comfortable hearts have cause to hearken to this that I shall say for the comfort of Gods afflicted servants, because your selves may have use of it hereafter. We have the wit now in summer to provide for winter; and oft to traine our souldiers and to try their armour aforehand; let us learne to be wise for our soules, and to get our armour in a readinesse against the day of conflict, we are like to have with Satan. In which respect I may use to you the words of the Prophet, Esa. 42.23. Who among you will give eare to this? who will hearken, and heare for the time to come?
Thirdly and lastly, Admit there were but one or two among you that had present need of comfort, and none of the rest of you either needed it now, or were like to stand in need of it hereafter, yet stand I more bound to respect the two poore afflicted soules then al the rest of you, though you were as many more as you are; and rather let you all go without that portion that belongeth to you, then those two. And I have three reasons to move me to it.
First, the example of the Prophet Elisha, 2 King. 4.27. who had tender respect to the Shunamite when her soule was vexed within her. Yea of Christ, who is foreign the chiefe shepheard, and pastour who professeth this to be his chiefe care. Ezek. 34.16. I will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that that was sicke. And that this was the chiefe worke God appointed him to when he sent him to preach, Esa. 61.1, 2. He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, and to comfort all that mourne in Zion; And gave an experiment of this in Peter, and Mary whom (because they were afflicted in conscience) he shewed more care of after his resurrection then of all the rest of the Disciples, Mar 16 9. 1 Cor. 15.5. Ioh. 21.15.
Secondly, the charge and commandement of Christ which he hath given all his Ministers concerning these; as appeareth Esa. 40.1, 2. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God; speake ye comfortably to Ierusalem. And in that charge to Peter, Ioh. 21.15. Feed my lambes.
Thirdly, as these poore soules have need to be comforted, and have this evill usually accompanying their other misery that it is a hard thing to fasten any comfort upon them, their soul… usually refuseth comfort when they are in this case as David speaketh, Psal 77.2. So the ministery of the Word (being ordained to this very end, 1 Cor.: 4.3.) hath more force, and God sheweth his power more in it this way then in any private meanes; According to that Esa 57.19. I create the fruit of the lips, peace peace, to him that is farre off, and to him that is neere saith the Lord, and I will heale him. Now therefore hearken unto me so many of you as feare the Lord, and yet are much subject to trouble of mind, and heavinesse of heart; and (to use the words of the Evangelicall Prophet, Esa. 51.1.) heark…n unto me, ye that folow a…r righteousnesse ye that seeke the Lord. Stirre up your hearts, to admit of the word of consolation.
Foure things I have to say to you for your comfort.
First. It is the will of God that such as you are should be cheerefull, and comfortable in your spirits. He hath oft charged you in his Word to be so, yea as oft, and as earnestly as ever he charged you to feare him, and to lead a godly life, Psal. 32.11. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoyce ye righteous, (so I would wilt thou say if I were so, but marke what followeth) and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart. Yea Psalme 105.3. Let the heart of them rejoyce, that seeke the Lord. Yea Phil. 4.4. Rejoyce in the Lord alway; and againe I say rejoyce. To omit many other places as Psalme 2.11.33.1.48.11.68.4.97.12.149.2.5. Matth. 5.12. Luke 10.20. Rom. 12.13. Phil. 3.1. 1 Thess. 5.26. By all which you may perceive this, that God greatly delighteth to see you cheerefull, and comfortable.
Secondly, I must intreat you to consider the mischiefe that commeth by your giving so much way to your heavinesse, and feares. 1. You give occasion to wicked men to blaspheme and speake evill of the good waies of God, as if this preaching, and profession made men mad or mopish that follow it; and so yee alienate their hearts from religion, and make them hate preaching. As the spies that brought an evill report of the land of promise, and said Numb 1….32. It was a land that devoured the inhabitants of it; alienated the hearts of the people from it, and made them murmur against Moses, and Aaron, Numb. 14.2. It is said Acts 9.31. that while the faithfull walked in the feare of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, they multiplied. That is the way to add to the Church, and gaine others to it when Christians walke cheerefully, and comfortably; and so the contrary is a stumbling blocke to keepe men from it. 2. By yeelding to this heavinesse you give advantage to Sathan, and make your selves lesse able to resist his tentations. Neh. 8.10. Be not so sorrowfull, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. 3. By yeelding to this heavinesse, and feare ye make the duties, and services ye do to God lesse acceptable unto him. For as God loveth a cheerefull giver, 2 Cor. 9.7. so doth he a cheerefull worshipper. Psalme 100.2. Serve the Lord with gladnesse. The Lord would have us call the Sabbath a delight, Esa. 58.13. And threatneth captivity even for this, Deut. 28.47. Because they served him not with joyfullnesse and with gladnesse of heart.
Thirdly, I must desire you to consider, how just cause such as you are have to be comfortable, and cheerfull in the Lord, what cause soever you have of humbling in your selves. For certainly yeare in a blessed state. Psal. 128.1. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord. 1. You are the people to whom the kingdome of heaven doth belong, Mat. 5.3. Blessed are the poore in spirit; for theirs is the kingdome of heaven. And all things that befall you shall certainely tend to the fitting of you for it, and therefore you have just cause of joy. Feare not, little flock (saith our Saviour, Luk. 12.3….) it is your fathers good pleasure, to give you the kingdome. Rom. 8.28. All things worke together for good, to them that feare God. Rom. 5.2. We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God. Yea we glory in tribulation also, verse 3..2. You are the people whose sins are forgiven, and for whom Christ hath fully satisfyed the justice of his father, so as though you may be chastised sharply for them, punished you shall never be. In that day there shall be a fountaine opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem for sinne, and for uncleannesse, Zach. 13.1. In what day? See that Zach. 12.10. when God shall poure upon them the spirit of grace, and supplications so as they should looke upon him whom they had pierced, and mourne for him. And therefore thou hast just cause of joy. Esa. 40.2. Speake ye comfortably to Ierusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished (the battell is fought, and victory obtained against all her enemies) that her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the Lords hand double for all her sinnes. 3. You are the people that (how ever men esteeme you, or you thinke of your selves) are precious in Gods sight, and of high account with him above all the princes in the world. Psal. 147.11. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that feare him. He hath appointed the glorious Angels to be your servants. Mat. 18.10. Take heed you despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their Angels do alway behold the face of my father. You are more gracious with him, and may prevaile more with him in prayer, and a wise Christian had rather to have one of you to pray for him, then all the learned, and eloquent men in the world. Psal. 145.19. He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him; and 10.17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble. Your prayers, and services (how poore and unperfit soever they seeme to your selves) he will take in good part. Mal. 3.17. I will spare them as a man spareth his owne sonne that serveth him. He will not be rigorous to observe what is amisse in your services. Mic. 7.18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? And in this respect you have just cause to be comfortable. Rom. 8.31. If God be for us who can be against us; at least to hurt us? 4. You are the people whom Christ (as I told you before) hath more care of, then of all the world, nay then of all his Church besides, whom he graciously and earnestly inviteth to come unto him, and promiseth ease unto Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that are weary, and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. And therefore you have cause to rejoyce; And I may say to you as they did to Bartimeus, Mar. 10.49. Be of good comfort, arise, he calleth thee. 5. And lastly, you are the people that have speciall interest in all Gods mercies. If there be any goodnesse any mercy in the Lord (as you have heard from this Text there is an infinite multitude of them) they are all yours. Luke 1.50 His mercy is on them that feare him, from generation to generation.
You therefore that feare God know 1 that you ought to be comfortable, that it is your sin that you are not, learne to check your selves for it, and say as Psal. 42.11. Why art thou cast downe ô my soule? and why art thou disquieted within me? 2▪ Pray to God that he would make thee cheerefull, as David doth, Ps. 51.8. Make me to heare joy and gladnesse, that the bones that thou hast broken may rejoyce; and 86.4. Rejoyce the soule of thy servant For he, and he onelyonly is able to comfort them that are cast down. Esa. 51.12. I even I am he that comforteth you.