Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 5 · Lecture 67
Lecture LXVII. on Psalme 51.5. Aug. 14. 1627.
THE third and last point which hath beene propounded for the more distinct handling of the last means of mortification, is this.
He that desireth to get strength against any corruption, must not content himselfe to have faith, but hee must exercise, and make use of his faith in this worke. The most of us loose much of the benefit and comfort, wee might find in our faith, because wee doe not make use of it; nay, the cause why wee find it so weake and feeble to stand us in any stead, when wee have most need of it for our comfort, is because wee have not beene wont to exercise it, and put it into action. We have an old proverbe, Vse legs, and have legs; and experience teacheth, that the neglect of exercising the body, is a great meanes to weaken it much. This may every whit as truly bee said of the graces of Gods spirit, exercise them by practise, and they will increase, neglect to exercise them, and they will decay in thee. To every one that hath (saith our Saviour in the parable of the talents, Mat. 25.29 that is, that by making use of it, and imploying it, doth shew that hee hath grace) more shall bee given, and bee shall have aboundance, but from him that hath not, shall bee taken away, even that which hee hath. The Apostle commending the Thessalonians, saith, 1 Thess. 1.3. hee remembred their worke of faith, their faith was ever in action, ever exercising it selfe. And what is the proper worke and act, wherein faith exerciseth it selfe? Surely in taking hold of the promises that God hath made unto us in Christ, in applying them unto our selves, and resting upon them. Thus must wee exercise our faith, if we would have it grow, if wee would have the comfort of it. The Apostle saith of all the faithfull, 2 Cor. 5.7. that they walke by faith. In our whole conversation we may, and ought to make use of our faith. And of himselfe he saith, that hee did live by his faith. The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, saith he, Galat. 2.20. In all the occasions of our life, we may, and should exercise our faith, and we loose a great deale of sweetnesse, and comfort, because we doe not so. But in no occasion of our life, can we have more use of our faith, then when wee are troubled with any strong corruption, which wee would faine overcome, and get the mastery of; Let us come then to Christ, and stirre up our selves to take hold of him, and confidently expect, and looke for helpe and strength from him against it, and wee may bee sure to bee delivered from the dominion of it. Through God wee shall doe valiantly (saith David, Psal. 108.13.) for hee it is that shall tread downe our enemies. And Phil 4.13. I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. Wee read in the history of the Gospel, of sundry that came to Christ for helpe in their bodily diseases, and infirmities, and had wonderfull cures done upon them. And concerning these cures, three things are to bee observed. 1. That there were none that came to Christ, whatsoever their disease or infirmity was, but he cured them all. Matth. 12.15. Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all. 2. That the cure that was done upon them, and the helpe they received from Christ, is still ascribed to nothing else, but to their faith. They did pray, and cry to Christ for helpe, but the helpe they received, is ascribed to their faith, and nothing else. They came to Christ in full affiance and confidence of heart, that they should receive helpe from him, in these particular infirmities that troubled them, and that was it that drew vertue from him to cure them. This you shall see in the poore woman that had the issue of bloud, Matth. 9.21. Shee said within her selfe, if I may but touch his garment, I shall bee whole. And to this our Saviour ascribeth the cure that was done upon her, verse …2. Daughter, bee of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole; and she was made whole from that houre. So saith hee likewise to blind Bartimeus, Marke 10.52. Goe thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And to the Leper, Luk. 17.19. Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. 3. That our Saviour requireth nothing else of any of them, that came to him to be cured of any infirmity, but only this, that they would beleeve, and rest confident in this, that they should certainely receive helpe from him. When the poore man came to him for his son, that had been possessed with a divill from his childhood, this is all that Christ saith to him, Marke 9.23. If thou canst beleeve, all things are possible to him that beleeveth. So saith he to Iarius, when his daughter was dead, and all men counted it folly in him, to seeke to Christ for any helpe then, Marke 5.36. Be not afraid, onelyonly beleeve. Where this faith was, the cure was alwayes made; where this was wanting, no good could be done, Acts 14.9, 10. When Paul the servant of Christ, stedfastly beholding the creeple, perceived that he had …aith to be healed, he cured him presently. Whereas of our blessed Saviour himselfe it is said, Mar. 6.5, 6. He could do no mighty worke at Nazareth, because of their unbeliefe.
But to what purpose (will you say) are these cures, that men received from Christ in all their bodily infirmities, alleaged in this case, that we have now in hand?
Surely to teach us, to take the same course for the healing of our soules, that they did take for the curing of their bodies. Thou complainest of the blindnesse, and ignorance of thy soule, doe as blind Bartimeus did, Marke 10.47. Thou feelest many foule issues, and fountaines of sin in thy soule, of blasphemy, pride, hypocrisie, wrathfulnesse, uncleannesse, worldlinesse, &c. Wouldest thou bee cured of them? Doe as that poore woman did, that had the issue of blood twelve yeares, and had spent all that shee had, to get helpe, and was never the neerer, Mar. 5.25.27. Thou hast a spirit of infirmity in thee, that maketh thee unable to doe anything that is good, or to lift up thy heart to God, doe as that poore woman did, Luke 13.11. that had a spirit of infirmitie eighteene yeares, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up her selfe. Goe thou to Christ for helpe as they did, and goe in the same manner as they did, in in faith with full assurance of heart, to receive helpe from him, and thou shalt be sure to receive as much help from him for thy spirituall infirmities, as they did for their corporall.
Foure reasons and grounds of faith, I will give you for this.
First. Christ is as able to heale our soules as our bodies. When the two blind men came to Christ for helpe, Matth. 9.27, 28. before hee would helpe them, he asketh them this question, Beleeve yee that I am able to doe this? This perswasion of the power of Christ, is necessary also, in all them that would receive helpe of him for their soules. We must bee confident in this, that hee is able to heale our soules of all their diseases, how great soever they bee. Hee is full of grace and truth, Iohn 1.14. In him (saith the Apostle, Col. 2.9) dwelleth the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily. And as in respect of this all-sufficiency that was in him, …all bodily diseases were alike to him, hee could as easily cure a leper, Luke 17.14. or one that was lunaticke, Matth. 4 24. or one that was borne blind, Iohn 9.32. as one that had but an ague. Matth. 8.14, 15. So is hee as easily able (as to pardon the greatest sinnes, as well as the smallest, so) to heale the greatest of our corruptions, as the smallest, and to give us strength against these sinnes that wee have the strongest tentations unto, as against any other. Greater is hee that is in you (saith the Apostle, 1 Iohn 4.4.) then he that is in the world.
Secondly. Christ is as willing to yeeld helpe to his people in their spirituall diseases, as ever hee was in their corporall. Nay, hee is more affected with compassion, and commiseration towards us in the one, then in the other. For hee knoweth they make us much more miserable, then any bodily disease can doe, and (misery being the proper object of mercy and compassion) when hee seeth most misery, hee must needs have most compassion. When hee saw the multitudes like sheepe, having no shepheard to take care for their soules, it is said, Matth. 9.36. hee was moved with compassion on them, foreign his bowells even yearned with griefe and compassion towards them. As a father pitieth his children (saith the Prophet, Psal. 103.13, 14.) so the Lord pitieth them that feare him; for hee knoweth our frame; hee remembreth that wee are dust. So the Apostle saith, Hebr. 4.15. that hee is touched with the feeling of our infirmimities. Hee knoweth what our nature is, and hee knoweth what the tentations are, we are subject unto, and pitieth our case for this, more then ever hee did any man for his bodily diseases. And he will therefore be more ready to yeeld us helpe in this case, then he was then. And so saith the Prophet Mic. 7.19. He will have compassion upon us, he will subdue our iniquities.
Thirdly. This was the speciall work that he came into the world for, even to heale our soules. All the cures he did upon the bodies of men, when he was upon the earth, were done of purpose to teach men to seeke to him for the cure of their soules; that hee was the person, by whom only their soules were to bee healed. Therefore the Evangelist, when he had spoken of the miraculous cures Christ had wrought, Matth. 8.16. he addeth verse 17. that all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the Prophet, saying; himselfe tooke our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses; he meaneth our sins, the infirmities, and sicknesses of our soules. When the name Iesus is given to him, the reason is said to be this, Matth. 1.21. Because he shall save his people from their sinnes. And that not onelyonly by procuring pardon for them, by justifying and delivering them from the guilt and punishment of them, but also by sanctifying them, and healing their natures, by killing sin in them. All Christians will be ready to acknowledge, and magnifie the all-sufficiency of Christ, for procuring pardon at Gods hands for their sins, and are apt to run to him for ease and comfort, when their consciences are oppressed with the burden of them; but few or none will run to Christ for strength against their corruptions, for helpe in their spirituall combate and wrestling with them; whereas he came into the world to yeeld us helpe that way, as well as the other, to sanctifie us as well as to justifie us, to deliver us from the power of sinne, as well as from the guilt and punishment of it. For this purpose (saith the Apostle, 1 Ioh. 3.8.) was the sonne of God manifested, that he might destroy the workes of the divell; that he might destroy sin. And he is made to us of God (saith Paul, 1 Cor. 1.30.) not onelyonly wisdome and righteousnesse, but sanctification also and redemption. He gave himselfe for us (Tit. 2.14.) that he might redeeme us from all iniquity. (And how are we redeemed from it, if it still be suffered to reigne and domineere in us?) and purifie to himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes.
Fourthly, and lastly, We have his expresse promise whereby he hath bound himselfe to yeeld us helpe that come to him for the healing of our soules, and for strength against our corruptions, which we do not read that any of them had, that came to him for cure of their bodily infirmities. Indeed the spirit of God did extraordinarily worke in them a full assurance that they should receive help from him (For els Christ would never have said they had faith) but an expresse promise of God (which the Apostle calleth the word of faith, Rom. 10.8.) they had none as we have.
Why but (will you say) hath every member of Christ any such promise from God that no sin shall reigne in him?Quest. That he shall have strength given him to master any head-strong and unruly lust that troubleth him, if he will seeke to Christ for it?
I answer,Answ. Yes verily, hee hath the expresse promise of God and that not onelyonly in particular against some speciall corruptions, but also in generall against all.
Foure speciall corruptions there are that Gods people use much to complaine of, for which we have the Lords promise in particular that we shall have helpe against them.
First, Ignorance, blindnesse, and blockishnesse of minde that we cannot learne or carry away any thing, no not from the best meanes. Many good soules say that of themselves, which Paul speaketh of bad ones, 2 Tim. 3.7. I am ever learning, and can never come to the knowledge of the truth. But see what a promise we have against this, Esa. 35.5. In Christs kingdome the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the eares of the deafe shall be unstopped. 2 Cor. 3.16. When the heart shall turne to the Lord, the evill shall be taken away. And thus our Saviour expresly speaketh, Ioh. 9.39. I am come into the world, that they that see not, might see. And 12.46. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever beleeveth in me, should not abide in darknesse.
Secondly, Hardnesse of heart, is another great corruption that Gods people much complaine of, they cannot repent nor mourne for sin, nor be affected with Gods judgements, there is a feared thick skin upon their hearts, they are so brawny and hard. See also what a promise we have from God for helpe against this, Deut. 30.6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and take away this thick skin from it. And Ezek, 36.26. I will take away the stony heart out of you, and give you an heart of flesh. And Acts 5.31. God hath exalted Christ to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel, and forgivenesse of sinnes. Christ will give thee grace to repent, as well as forgivenesse of sins.
Thirdly, O but saith many a good soule. I thinke no body in the world hath so profane a heart, I cannot feare nor stand in that reverent awe of God that I should, but have oft most blasphemous thoughts rising in me against his Majesty, his providence, his Word, &c. Have I any promise of helpe against this? Yes verily, Ier. 32.39. I will give them a heart, that they may feare me for ever. And verse 40. I will put my feare into their hearts.
Fourthly, O but I am so unconstant (saith many a Christian) in every thing that is good, that I feare much there is no truth of grace in me. I have by fits good motions and desires, and can performe good (duties with some comfort, but all my goodnesse is like the morning dew as the Prophet complaineth of hypocrites, Hos. 6.4. Have I any promise for helpe against this? Yes indeed hast thou, Hos. 14.4. I will heale their backeslidings.
Fiftly, and lastly; Whatsoever other sin and corruption any child of God can be troubled withall (be it pride, or worldlinesse, or uncleannesse, or frowardnesse, or any other whatsoever) he hath promise through Christ to receive helpe and strength against it, Ezek. 36.25. I will poure cleane water upon you, and ye shall be cleane, from all your filthinesse, and from all your Idols I will cleanse you. And (lest that should be understood onelyonly of that washing we have by the blood of Christ in our justification) he addeth, verse 26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. And Mal. 4.2. VntoUnto you that feare my name shall the sun of righteousnesse arise, with healing in his wings. When the sun of righteousnesse doth arise in our hearts, he shall heale our nature, and dry up the issues of corruption that are in it. And so speaketh the Apostle Peter, Acts 3.26. God hath sent his sonne to blesse you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities. Christ will turne every one from his iniquities, whom he is sent of God to be a Saviour unto. Many more such promises I might alledge whereby God hath bound himselfe to sanctifie all such, as are in Christ, and to purge them from all their sins; yea to strengthen them against the strongest of all their corruptions, and tentations also that they can be subject unto as Ier. 33.6. 2 Pet. 1.3, 4. Mat. 5.6. Act. 26.18. Rom. 16.20.
Applic.To conclude therfore, If Christ be 1 as able now to heale our soules of all their diseases, as he was to cure all corporall infirmity when he was upon earth. 2 If he be as willing to yeeld his people helpe, this way as he was the other, and more willing too. 3 If the principall worke he came into the world for, was not to cure the bodies of men, but to heale their soules. 4 If we have his expresse promise for the healing of our soules of all their corruptions, which they had not for the curing of their bodily infirmities. How commeth it to passe that so many then were cured by him of all their bodily infirmities, and we have little or no helpe at all from him for the healing of our soules? Surely one of these three things must needs be the cause of it. 1. Either we doe not so earnestly desire helpe for our soules this way, as they did for their bodies; the punishment of our sins we would faine be delivered from, but whether we be freed from the power of them or no, we are indifferent. 2. Or we doe not seeke to Christ for helpe in this case of ours, as they did in theirs. Pardon of sin and mercy with God, and comfort, and peace we looke to have through Christ alone; but we seeke not to him for grace to sanctifie us and mortifie sin in us, nor looke to receive that benefit by him also. Or els 3 we seeke not to Christ for helpe this way, in that manner as they did; that is, in faith and full assurance of heart to receive helpe from him in this case. But of us it may be said in this case as the Apostle speaketh in an other, Iam. 4.2, 3. We desire to have grace and cannot obtaine; we fight and warre against our lusts and yet have not victory over them because we aske not we seeke not to Christ, we aske and receive not, because we aske amisse; that is, we aske not in faith, in confidence and assurance to obtaine it of God, through Christ. Let us therefore stirre up our selves to take hold of Christ and these promises, and confidently expect the performance of them to our selves in our owne particular cases; and so by faith draw vertue from Christ, to drie up all the filthy issues that are in our foules. As the Israelites looking on the brasen serpent in faith healed them, Num. 21.8, 9. So let thine eyes be upon Christ with expectation & dependance upon him (as Iehoshaphat speaketh, 2 Chron. 20.12. in another case) for helpe and vertue will be derived from him to cure thee. All things (saith our Saviour, Mat. 21.22.) whatsoever ye shall aske in prayer, beleeving (having his promise for them, as in this case we have) ye shall receive. And if thou canst beleeve (saith he, thou maist have helpe against that spirit that hath possessed thy son from his very childhood, though my Disciples could not cast him out, Mar. 9.23.) all things are possible to him that beleeveth. Certainely it were possible enough for any of us to get power over our strongest corruptions, and to attaine to a farre greater measure of mortification then we are yet come unto, if we would imploy our faith in this worke, if we would make claime to these promises, and rest upon them, and confidently expect strength and helpe from God through Christ, against them.
Say not any of you,Object. 1 alas I am so sinfull and unworthy a wretch that I dare not presume to beleeve and be so confident that Christ will helpe me. For
First,Answ. 1 Thy unworthinesse will not barre thee from receiving helpe from Christ. In all the cures he did upon men, he had no respect at all to the worthinesse of the persons, Mat. 8.16. He healed all that were sicke, without all respect of persons. He selleth not his grace, but giveth it freely, Esa. 55.1. Every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money.
Secondly,2. The more unworthy thou feelest thy selfe to be, the more fit thou art to receive helpe from him. For God giveth grace to the humble, Iam. 4.6. And among all that received helpe from Christ those had the strongest faith, and did most confidently expect helpe from him that had in themselves the deepest sense of their owne unworthinesse, as is evident in the example of the Centurion, Luke 7.7, 8. and of the woman that had the bloudy issue, Mar. 5.27, 33, 34. and the woman of Canaan, Mat. 15.27, 28.
Neither say secondly,Object. 2 Alas I cannot beleeve, I go to Christ, I pray against my hardnesse of heart, and against my frowardnesse, and against my blasphemous thoughts, &c. but I cannot pray in faith nor certainly beleeve that God will give me helpe against them. For
First,Answ. 1. Do as the poore man did that went to Christ to have his sonne dispossessed, Mar. 9 24. mourne and weepe for thy unbeleefe, that thou canst not give credit unto God.
Secondly,2. Do againe as he did, pray heartily to God to helpe thy unbeleefe, Mar. 9 24.
Thirdly,3. Then know assuredly thou hast a true faith though a weake one; and that this weake one will be sufficient to procure helpe to thee from him; as it did for that poore man, Mar. 9.25.
Thirdly and lastly,Object. Say not this is contrary to mine owne experience and to the experience of all the godly, who though they have had true faith, yet they could never obtaine power from Christ to vanquish their lusts, I have in my prayers against my corruptions called to mind these promises you have spoken of, and made claime to them and am never the nearer. Yea Paul though he had so much faith, yet complaineth, Rom. 7.23. that the law of his members did bring him still into captivity to the law of sinne. The faithfull do indeed receive from Christ their justification in this life fully and perfectly, but as for their sanctification it is but litle, that many of them do receive as appeareth by the strong corruptions, that may be discerned even in the most of them.
To this I answer.Answ. 1. First, Christ doth not utterly destroy sinne in any beleever so long as he liveth here. For he seeth that would not be good for us in many respects; as we heard in the handling of the Doctrine.
Secondly,2. He doth give to some of his servants a greater measure of sanctification, and power to overcome their corruptions, then he doth unto other, Ephes. 4.7. To every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Thirdly,3. Every beleever is in some measure sanctified by Christ, and his corruption hath received from him a deadly blow, that it shall never reigne more; he hath so much strength given him as he shall never be quite overcome, nor brought under the dominion of sinne any more, but shall be made able to maintaine warre against it. For Christ hath made us all Kings and Priests unto God, Rev. 1.6. And Rom. 6.…4. Sinne shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
4.Fourthly, Proportionable to the measure of our faith shall our sanctification be, and our strength to overcome our corruptions. And even to this may that speech of our Saviour be applied, Matth. 9.29. According to thy faith, so be it unto thee.
5.Fiftly and lastly, That soule that can seeke to Christ for helpe against any corruption, and confidently expect to receive it, and wait upon him for it, shall be sure not to be overcome of it, Esa. 40.31. They that waite upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. And 30.18. Blessed are all they that waite for him.