Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 4 · Lecture 54
Lecture LIIII. On Psalme 51.4. Aprill. 17. 1627.
THe sixt meanes to attaine unto true patience, is Hope. He that would with patience, & comfort, stand in the evill day, must get assurance before-hand, that when he dyeth, he shall go to heaven. He that knoweth not what shall become of this soule when he dieth, whether it shall go to heaven or to hell, can never endure any great afflictions, and troubles, with patience and comfort. Such men must needs be through feare of death (as the Apostle speaketh, Hebr. 2.15.) all their life time (but specially when any great troubles shall come upon them) subject unto bondage, & miserable slavery. But on the other side, he that knoweth death is the worst that can befall him, in the most troublesome times, and that death will make him a happy man, he that can say to his soule, as Pro. 23.18. Surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off; that man must needs be patient and comfortable in any affliction that can befall him. We rejoyce even in tribulations (saith the Apostle, Rom. 5.23.) in hope of the glory of God. And 12.12. Rejoycing in hope, patient in tribulation. What maketh Gods people, not onelyonly so patient, but even so comfortable, and full of joy in all tribulations? Surely the hope they have of the glory that is prepared for them, they know the end will pay for all. This made Moses to choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, and to esteeme the reproach of Christ, greater riches then the treasures of Egypt. For (saith the Apostle, Hebrewes 11.25, 26.) hee had respect to the recompense of the reward. Heaven was ever in his eye, and that made him to endure the reproach of Christ so comfortably. And of the faithfull Hebrewes hee saith 10.34. that they tooke joyfully the spoyling of their goods, knowing in themselves (inwardly, assuredly, feelingly) that they had in heaven, a better, and an enduring substance. In which respect, this hope of heaven is compared to an helmet. Ephe. 6.17. that defendeth the head, and keepeth us from the most Capitall tentations, and dangers. Heb. 6.19. The Apostle calleth it, the anker of the soule, both sure and stedfast. It will stay the soule, and make it steady against all waves, and tempests. And in the same chapter, verse 18. he compareth it to a place of refuge. Wee have strong consolation (saith he) who have fled for refuge, to take hold upon the hope that is set before us. If a poore man that had all his wealth about him, should fall into the hands of theeves, and be robbed, and rifled by them, he must needs cry, and take on pitifully, for alas he is cleane undone, he hath nothing left at home to succour him and his family withall. But a rich man that hath store of money at home safe lockt up in his chest (unlesse he be a base and miserable wretch) will never complaine much, nor be disquieted, when he hath twenty or forty shillings taken from him. For worldlings to rage and take on, when they must loose their life, or their peace, or their wealth, it is no marvell; for alas, when these things are gone, they have nothing left, they are quite undone; But a Christian that knoweth, and considereth what hee is borne unto, and what hee shall enjoy when hee comes home, so soone as he dyeth, hee cannot doe so. O then (to apply this in a word) as wee desire to endure with patience, and comfort, the troublesome times that are at hand, let us in time make this sure to our selves, that when we shall dye, we shall go to heaven. I know most men will say, they hope well to do so, but it standeth us upon, to examine our hope, whether it be such as will abide the tryall, when we shall come into the fornace of affliction. The hypocrites hope shall perish in that day, as Bildad speaketh, Iob 8.13. Yea, the hope of every wicked man shall perish, saith the holy Ghost. Proverbs 10.28. But of true hope it is said, Romans 5.5. that it maketh not ashamed, it will not deceive nor disappoint him that hath it, when hee shall have most need of it. A few notes I will give you to try your hope by.
First. He that hath true hope, got it by the Word, and the ministery thereof. So saith the Apostle, Rom. 15.4. That by patience and comfort of the Scriptures, we might have hope. The holy Scriptures are the breeders of true hope. Yea of hope it may be said, as it is of saith, Hope commeth by hearing. When he had spoken, Col. 1.5. of the hope they had of that happines that was laid up for them in heaven, he sheweth the means wherby it was wrought in them, Ye have heard of it before (saith hee) in the word of the truth of the Gospel. He calleth it therefore, verse 23. the hope of the Gospel.
Alas then,Applic. such as never received good by the word, never felt any power or comfort in it, never regarded nor tooke delight to read or heare it, are not acquainted with it, nor exercised in it at all; what sound hope can they have to go to heaven when they die? No, no, their doome is set downe, Ps. 119.155. Salvation is far from the wicked, sor they seeke not thy statutes. They that care so little for Gods Word, are far off from any true hope of salvation.
Secondly. True hope is grounded upon true faith in Christ. For Christ is our hope, as the Apostle calleth him, 1 Tim. 1.1 the only ground we have to hope we shall goe to heaven. And Col. 1.27. Christ is in you, the hope of glory. Till Christ be in us by faith, we can have no hope of glory. And Rom. 15.13. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in beleeving, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost. Without faith, no hope, as faith aboundeth, so will hope also.
O then,Applic. they that talke much of their hope, and yet (with Papists) hold it presumption to say they are assured that Christ died for them, and that their sins are forgiven them, will be found in the time of triall to have no true hope in them. They that are without Christ, have no hope, saith the Apostle, Ephes. 2.12.
Thirdly. He that hath true hope, cannot choose but think oft of heaven, & mind heavenly things more then earthly. Where the treasure is (saith our Saviour, Mat. 6.21) there will the heart be also. Gods spirit is compared unto fire, Mat. 3.11. and will cause the heart it dwelleth in, to mount upward, and to think oft of heaven. Our Saviour in that perfect forme of prayer he hath given us, teacheth us, we can never pray well, unlesse our thoughts be in heaven. For he teacheth us to direct our prayers to our father which is in heaven. Matth. 6.9. to lift up our hearts to heaven when we pray; yea, he teacheth us to pray to God that his kingdome may come, ver. 10 to desire and looke after the glory, and happinesse of the kingdome of heaven. And these should be our thoughts, not only when we pray, but at other times also. Set your affections (saith the Apostle, Col. 3.2, 3.) on things above, not on things on the earth, for your life is bid with Christ in God. He that is perswaded his life, & happines is in heaven, cannot chuse but have his thoughts, and affections much set upon the things above. Thus the Apostle saith of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, Heb. 11.15, 16. that they were not mindfull of that countrey from whence they came out, but desired a better country, that is an heavenly (al their mind was of that) wherfore God was not ashamed to be called their God (because they minded heaven so much) for he had prepared them a City.
Hee then that never speaketh, nor heareth, nor thinketh of heaven with any delight,Applic. that feeleth in himselfe no desires, nor longings that way, but all his thoughts and affections are ever groviling upon the earth, certainly hath no true hope in himselfe to go to heaven when he dieth. For of them that mind earthly things (onelyonly or chiefly) the Holy Ghost hath given sentence, Phil. 3.19. that their end is destruction they shall never go to heaven.
Fourthly and lastly, He that hath true hope to go to heaven, will be carefull to prepare, and fit himselfe for it. 1. By ridding his heart, and hands from every thing that will keepe him out of heaven. Every one (saith the Apostle, 1 Ioh. 3.3.) that hath this hope in him, purifieth himselfe, as he is pure. He knoweth no uncleane thing must come there. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? (saith David, Psal. 24.3, 4.) and who shall stand in his holy place? He (and none but he) that hath cleane hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lift up his soule unto vanity, nor sworne deceitfully. 2. He exerciseth himselfe in those things that may be of most use to him, when he comes there. Lay up for your selves (saith our Saviour, Mat. 6.20.) treasures in heaven Seeke to be rich there. Our Merchants that trade into Turky or Persia or such farre countries, count it good husbandry, to lay out their moneyes heere before they goe upon such commodities as they know will be of best esteeme and sell best in those countries. And so will the wise Christian doe, that hopeth to goe to heaven. Our trading, that we busie our selves in, foreign is for heaven, saith the Apostle, Phil. 3.20. This is that that our Saviour meaneth, Luk. 12.33. Give almes, and so provide your selves b…ggs that wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not. As if he should say, that that is so bestowed, will prove more to your advantage when you shall come there, then all that you keepe by you, or lay out otherwise. Our works will follow us, Rev. 14.13. yea they will be there before us, Luk. 16.9. Certainly the hope we have to go to heaven, if it be sound, will have great force to restraine us from sinne, and worke in us a care of a godly life. When Paul had spoken at large of the assured hope, and longing desire that was in him, and all the faithfull of their going to heaven, he concludeth thus, 2 Cor. 5.9. Therefore we labour that whether present, or absent (living or dying) we may be accepted of him. And 2 Pet. 3.14. Wherefore (beloved) seeing yee looke for such things, (such happinesse and glory in heaven) be diligent that yee may bee found of him in peace, without spot and blamelesse.
Applic.Alasse then, what hope can most men have to go to heaven, when they die, that have no care at all to prepare themselves, for that place, while they live. Be not deceived (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10.) neither fornicatours, nor theeves, nor covetous persons, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdome of God. They that will not, or cannot forsake their sinnes, how can they hope to go to heaven? They that spend all their time in providing for this life, but make no provision for heaven, have no care to doe that, that may yeeld them profit and increase, when they shall come thither, what hope can they have to go to heaven when they die? Be not deceived, (saith the Apostle, Gal. 6.7, 8.) God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall be also reape; he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reape corruption, but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reape everlasting life.
Seaventhly, He that would with patience, and comfort beare troubles and afflictions when they shall come, and stand in the evill day, must be carefull before hand to lead a godly life, and to get a good conscience. The godly man that maketh conscience of all his waies, may seeme to get no good by it at all, but to be rather a great looser by it in the world, while the daies of peace, and plenty, and jollity do last. Long peace and plenty hath in all ages bred in worldly men a humour to hate, and scorne true piety. Ye have shamed (and dashed out of countenance, saith the Lord, Psal 14.6.) the counsell of the poore (and humbled Christian) because the Lord is his refuge. And Esa. 59.15. He that departeth from evill (and dareth not do as other men do) maketh himselfe a prey; every body will be apt to do him wrong But shall we thinke that piety will never stand a man in more stead then thus even in this life? Yes yes beloved. When the evill day shall come the godly man shall find his labour hath not beene in vaine, he shall certainely find more strength and comfort in that day then any other man can do. Riches profit not in the day of wrath (saith Solomon, Pro. 11.4.) but (righteousnesse doth) righteousnesse delivereth from death. VntoUnto the upright (saith David, Psal. 112.4.) there ariseth light in the darknesse; comfort in time of greatest heavinesse. Thy light shall rise in obscurity (saith the Lord, Esa. 58.10. When there shall be a palpable darknes in all the land of Egypt, Gods people shall have light in their dwellings, Exod. 10.22, 23.) and thy darknesse (thy trouble and affliction) shall be (for comfort, and joy) as the noone day. The Apostle mentioning the meanes, whereby he was enabled to beare with such patience such afflictions, necessities, distresses, stripes, and imprisonments; among others reckoneth this, 2 Cor. 6.7. by the armour of righteousnesse, on the right hand, and on the left. And speaking of all the parts of the Christian armour, Ephes. 6.14. he calleth this the brest plate. Certainely the testimony that our conscience shall give us that we have endeavoured in all our waies to please God, will be as armour of proofe unto us in the evill day. It will be so, to us that are Ministers, as we shall find in two notable examples. The first is Ieremies, Ier. 17.16, 17, I have not hastened from being a pastour to follow thee (as Ionah did) neither have I desired the wofull day, (this wofull captivity that thou hast caused me to denounce) that which came out of my lips, was right before thee. As if he had said, I have dealt faithfully in my ministery. And what followeth? Be not a terrour unto me, thou art my hope in the day of evill; God will not be a terrour to such Ministers, but their hope, and comfort in the evill day. The other example is Pauls, 2 Cor. 1. Who having spoken of the troubles he had in Asia, wherein (saith he, ver. 8.) we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life; telleth you verse 12. what it was that yeelded him comfort, in that great distresse even the testimony of his conscience, that in simplicty and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdome (as the flaunting Corinthian preachers did) he had exercised himselfe in his Ministery. And as this will be a great supporter to us, that are Ministers in all our afflictions, so will it certainely be to you that are Gods people also. See this in the example of good Hezekiah who when the dolefull message was brought him from God, by the Prophet, to set his house in order for he must die and not live, comforteth himselfe in this testimony of his conscience, Esa. 38.3. Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart. This will comfort a man on his death bed. And so our Saviour assureth us, Matth. 7.24, 25. that he that heareth the Word, and doth it (maketh conscience to practise what he knoweth) is like the wise man that built his house upon a rock, and though the raine fall, and the winds blow, and the flouds beate upon him, that is, the most sore and violent tentations or afflictions come that can come, yet shal he be able to stand, and abide them all.
O thinke of this,Applic. you that are so carelesse of your practise, carelesse of your consciences, whose religion standeth onelyonly in hearing and in a profession of the truth; certainely when the evill day shall come, you will be found to be foolish builders that have built upon the sand, when the raine shall fall, and the winds blow, and the flouds beate upon you, when great troubles and afflictions shall come upon you, you will never be able to stand out you must needs fall, and sinke under them, and your fall will be great as our Saviour speaketh there, Matth. 7.26, …7.
The eight, and last meanes whereby this grace of Christian patience, to beare all troubles and afflictions comfortably, may be obtained, is prayer. If any man lack wisdome (saith the Apostle, Iam. 1.5. and by wisdome he meaneth patience in that place) let him aske of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. Heere is a plaine promise you see. And the Apostle when he had exhorted the Romanes, Rom. 12.12. to be patient in tribulation, he addeth immediatly continuing instant in prayer. Instant and earnest prayer and continuing in it, is the meanes to make us patient in tribulation. So speaking of the compleat armour whereby a Christian, may be made able to beare and stand out in the evill day, he nameth this as a principall part of it, Ephes. 6.18. Praying alwaies (not by fits and starts) with all prayer, and supplication (according as our own, and the Churches various necessities shall require) in the spirit (fervently, not formally and with lip labour onelyonly) watching thereunto (against distractions and wandring thoughts) with all perseverance; holding out, and not giving over, when we speed not at the first. This was the way whereby Iob sought strength to beare his afflictions, Iob 16.20. My friends scorne me: but mine eye poureth out teares unto God. And David when many of his mortall enemies compassed him about, but I give my selfe unto prayer, saith he, Psal 109.4 Nay this was the way, whereby our blessed Saviour sought strength to beare his extreame sufferings, Heb. 5.7. He offered up prayers, and supplications, with strong crying and teares, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though the cup were not removed, yet strength was given him to beare it with patience.
Applic.Let me apply this in a word or two. 1. Would you know the true cause you have so little patience, surely it is because you do pray so little. 2. Let the signes God giveth us every day of marvellous troublesome times that are at hand, make us all more frequent, and fervent in prayer. 3. We should call upon and exhort Gods people to fasting and prayer. Is there any such meanes either to stand in the gap, and keepe out Gods judgements, or to prepare us with patience and strength, to beare them as fasting and prayer is? Well take this for a conclusion to your comfort which you shall read, Act. 2.20, 21. When the Sun shall be turned into darknesse, and the Moone into bloud, when the darkest, and saddest times shall come, that can come, yet it shall come to passe, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. He that can pray shall doe well enough.