Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 5 · Lecture 71
Lecture LXXI. On Psalme 51.5. October 9. 1627.
THe fift, and last point of application is to comfort, and strengthen those poore soules that being indeed in the state of grace, are yet much perplexed that either they are already or shall and may hereafter fall fearefully from it. Two tentations there be whereby the best of Gods servants are often troubled greatly in this point, of their perseverance in grace.
Tentatiō 1First, Some of them are apt to conclude that they are already quite fallen from grace; because 1 They have lost their first love, that delight, and fervency wherewith they were wont to serve God; 2 They have lost their faith, and cannot be assured of Gods favour, as once they were; 3 They slip ever and anon into the sins they have repented of, and find no strength to overcome them.
Against this first tentation there is notable comfort, and strength ministred to Gods people in the Word of God, and even in that which we heard the last day of the admirable worke of God in the perseverance of his Saints. And for the comfort, and strength of Gods people against this tentation, the Scripture giveth us two notable preservatives.
Preservative 1.First, The choisest of Gods servants, and such as unto whom the Lord hath given the best testimony in his Word have beene in this case that thou art in, subject to this variablenesse to these alterations in their spirituall estate. They have not stood alwaies steady in one state, but have beene of and on with the Lord. 1. For their delight, and fervencie in good duties. You shall read of David that sometimes hee did service unto God with marvellous alacrity, and cheerefullnesse of spirit. When hee contributed to the building of Gods house he did it with exceeding joy, 1 Chron. 29.9. David the King rejoyced with great joy. You shall also read of his going to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise, as one that were going to a feast, Psalme 42.4. And sometimes againe you shall heare him complaining of the deadnesse of his heart, that he could serve God with no life or cheerefullnesse at all, Psalme 119 25. My soule cleaveth to the dust, quicken thou mee according to thy Word. 2. So it is with them for their faith, and confident assurance of Gods favour. David that one while glorieth. The Lord is my light, and my salvation whom shall I feare? Psalme 27.1. At another time you shall finde him quite void of this assurance, Psalme 31.22. I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes. You shall heare him complaining, Psalme 88.15. While I suffer thy terrours, I am distracted. And blessed Paul who at one time speaketh so triumphantly, Romanes 8.35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? At another time (2 Cor. 7.5.) you shall heare him complaine of inward feares and terrours. 3. For their conscionable care to please God in all their waies, they have shewed great inconstancy in that also. 1. Abraham was sometimes so obedient unto God, so carefull to please him that there was no commandement of God so hard, so contrary to reason, but he made conscience to obey it, When God said unto him get thee out of thy countrey, and from thy kindred, and from thy fathers house, unto a land that I will shew thee, Gen. 12.1. he durst not breake or neglect such a commandement as this. Nay when God bad him goe and sacrifice his owne sonne, Gen. 22.1, 2. He durst not neglect such a commandement as that was. But stood hee alwaies in this estate? In this feare to offend God, and care to please him? No verily, for you shall find this resolute man, at another time dissembling and concealing for feare, that Sarah was his wife, and calling her his sister, Genesis 12.13. Yea you shall find him slipping againe into that very sinne, after he had (doubtlesse) repented of it, Gen. 20.2. 2. You shall heare David professing sometimes a strong and firme resolution that way, Psal. 26.11. As for mee, I will walke in mine integrity. And Psal. 119.106. I have sworne and I will performe it, that I will keepe thy righteous judgements. But for all this, we know what slips he had at other times, yea what fearfull falls he took also. By many more examples it might be made evident, that in the holiest of Gods servants there hath beene much variablenesse and shew of changing and falling in all these three degrees. In many things they have sinned all as the Apostle speaketh, Iames 3.2. they have slipped oft, and fallen also fearefully. And you wil easily conceive it cannot be otherwise if you remember what you heard the last day. 1 What a world they live in. 2 What a kind of enemy Satan is. 3 What a deale of corruption remained in the nature of the best of them, still after their regeneration.
But you will say the Lord is able to uphold,Object. 1 and keepe his servants from falling or slipping notwithstanding all this.
I answer,Answ. It is true he can doe it, and would also certainly do it, if he did not see it were for his owne glory, and for our good also (for these two are inseparably coupled together) to let go his hold sometimes in part, and to leave us to our selves, and so to let us take these slips and falls now and then. The Lord doth (saith Solomon, Pro. 16.4.) all things (and consequently this) for himselfe, and his owne glory. And all things (and consequently this) are for your sakes, saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 4.15.
How is God glorified hereby,Quest. will you say?
I answer,Answ. 1. He glorifieth his justice hereby, and sheweth he cannot abide sinne, but must needs correct it in them that he loveth best of all. When good Hezekiah waxed cold in his thankfullnesse to God, for his great deliverance, and his heart began to be lifted up, 2 Chron. 32.25. it is said, verse 31. God left him a while and let him slip. So when the Church grew secure and lazie and neglected her watch, her well-beloved (to correct her for this) withdrew himselfe for a time, Cant. 5.2—6. 2. God glorifieth his mighty power in this, by making such weake wretches as we oft shew our selves to be, able to hold out to the end, and stand against such adversaries as we have. Gods power is made (that is, declared to be) perfect through our weaknesse, as the Apostle speaketh, 2 Cor. 12.9.3. God glorifieth his goodnesse and mercy in continuing so constant in his love to such unconstant ones as we are. When the Apostle had said, Romanes 5.6. When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly, He addeth and inferreth, ver. 8. God commendeth his love towards us in this.
But how should it be possible that this should be for our good, to be left thus to our selves?Quest.
I answer,Answ. 1. Hereby we are taught not to trust in our selves, but to the Lord alone, to depend wholly upon him, for our eternall salvation; According to that of the Apostle, 2 Cor. 1.9. We had the sentence of death in our selues, that we should not trust in our selves, but in God which raiseth the dead. 2. To keepe us from pride; As we see in the case of the blessed Apostle, 2 Cor. 12.7. Tho whom lest he should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to him a thorne in the flesh, the messenger of Sathan to buffet him.
Yet might all this speech (may some say) that hath beene used touching the slips and falls of holy men have well beene spared;Object. 2 for many a carnall man will be ready to snatch at these examples, and say, Well I see then I may bee Gods child, though I slip and fall now and then into the same sinnes I have repented of, though I be oft drunken and wanton, and sweare and lie, and beguile my neighbour, &c. For the best men have had their slips, and falls too.
Answ. 1.To these I answer, First, That this is very true and cannot be avoided. Lewd and ungodly men will be apt to stumble at this, and to wrest it as they doe also the other Scriptures, unto their owne destruction, as the Apostle saith, 2 Pet. 3.16.
2.But then I answer Secondly, That this is the childrens bread; and belongeth not to dogs, as our Saviour speaketh, Matth. 15.26. This is written not for the encouragement of senslesse, and secure worldlings, but for the comfort of poore sinners that are humbled in sense of their often failings, and dangerous falls they are apt to take. To them I may say as the Apostle speaketh in another case, 1 Cor. 9.10. This is altogether for your sakes, for your sakes no doubt it is written. And it were better that reprobates should stumble and breake their necks at these examples, then that they should not have beene recorded in the Word, for the comfort of the humbled soule.
3.Thirdly and lastly, The carnall man hath indeed no cause of incouragement from these examples at all. For though the godly have had, and have daily their slips and falls, yet their falls are not like the falls of wicked men, but to them it may be said as Deut. 32.5. Their spot is not the spot of his children. There are many broad differences betweene them, as you shall heare in the second preservative which the Scripture giveth us against this first tentation, and that is this
Preservative 2.Secondly, That in none of these slips and falls thou complainest of thou didst ever fall desperately. In the greatest falls that ever any of the Elect have taken, the spirit of God did never wholly depart from them, but even when they have lost the feeling and comfort of it, when they could discerne no operation or working of it in themselves, yet even then have they had the root, and seed and habit of grace remaining in them.
First, If they could but diligently examine themselves and search for it, they might find in themselves some truth of grace remaining in them, even when they are at the worst; if they could stirre, and blow away the ashes that cover it, they should find some sparke of grace abiding in them still. This course David tooke when he was in that case, Psal. 77.6. I communed with mine owne heart, and my spirit made diligent search. Heere is a notable priviledge that Gods child hath above all hypocrites and wicked men in the world, the more narrowly he prieth into himselfe, the more diligently he searcheth into his own heart and waies the more comfort he hath in his estate. Nothing hindreth our comfort so much as the neglect of this examination of our selves. Let every man prove his owne worke (saith the Apostle, Gal. 6.4.) and then shall he have rejoycing in himselfe alone, and not in another.
Secondly, Admit that by examining themselves they could find none, yet may another experienced Christian that observeth them well, and whose judgement is not over-clouded with passion, discerne grace in them when they cannot discerne any in themselves. According to our proverbe, a stander by, may see that which the gamester himselfe seeth not. And as daily experience sheweth in them that by fevers or otherwaies have their braines distempered, they that visit them may discerne much goodnesse in them, when themselves know not what they say or do. This helpe the Church used when she had lost her beloved, Can. 3.2, 3. She went about the city to private Christians, she went unto the Watchmen the Ministers of the Word, that they might helpe her to recover her comfort, to raise her up againe when she was fallen. And even in this respect it may truly be said, as Eccle. 4.10. Wo to him that is alone, when he falleth, for he hath not another to helpe him up.
Thirdly and lastly, Admit that no truth of grace could be discerned to be in them, when they are thus fallen, either by themselves, or by any other; yet we may be sure it is in them, and that no elect child of God, called according to his purpose; can so fall as utterly to lose all grace; because God in his Word hath said so, and there is more credit to be given to Gods Word, then to the sense and reason of all the men in the world. We must walke by faith and not by sight, 2 Cor. 5.7.
If any man shall aske me where hath God in his Word said so?Quest.
I answer.Answ. 1. God in his Word hath said, Ioh. 3.36. He that beleeveth on the sonne, hath everlasting life. What life meaneth he there? Surely the life of grace which is the beginning of the life of glory. The life of grace, it is an everlasting life. 2. God in his Word hath said, 2 Ioh. 2. The truth dwelleth in us (not in himselfe onelyonly, but in all the faithfull) and shall be with us for ever. Whether we understand by the truth saving knowledge or sincerity of heart, the proofe is pregnant that where once it is, it is of a lasting nature. 3. God in his Word hath said, 1 Ioh. 3.9. He that is borne of God doth not commit sinne, (that is, doth not sin as the wicked man doth of whom he had spoken verse 8. with the full sway of his soule) for his seed (saith he, the seed of God, the seed of grace and regeneration, that incorruptible seed as the Apostle Peter calleth it, 1 Pet. 1.23.) remaineth in him; and he cannot sinne (he cannot so fall as apostates) because he is borne of God. This were easie to be shewed in all the three degrees I mentioned before of the spirituall decayes and falls, that the regenerate subject unto, which when thou findest in thy selfe thou maist take comfort. 1. When they have lost that cheerefullnesse and vigour of spirit wherewith they were wont to performe spirituall duties, the delight they were wont to take in the Word, and prayer, yet they dare not give over these duties, but in obedience unto God, and with a labour of love they performe them still, and grieve that they can performe them no better. Behold the seed of God remaineth in them. So was it with David, Psal. 119.25. When his soule cleaved to the dust yet he cryed still to God. 2. When they have lost their assurance of Gods favour in the greatest fits of infidelity that ever they have, they dare not then doe any thing that might offend him, they seeke and cry to God still, thirst after nothing more, then his favour, mourne for no losse so much. Their soule lamenteth after the Lord as his people did, 1 Sam. 7.2. Behold the seed of God remaineth in them. See this also in David, Psal. 22.1. When hee was even ready to sinke in despaire and to conclude God had forsaken him yet then hee could cry, and weepe and take on, for the want of Gods favour. And Psal. 31.22. I said in mine hast I am cut off from before thine eyes; neverthelesse thou heardest the voice of my supplications, when I cryed unto thee. 3. And lastly, When they have slipped and fallen most foully either through their owne security, or by the violence of any tentation, they doe not onelyonly feele inward checks for their fall in themselves (the spirit lusting against the flesh as the Apostle speaketh, Gal. 5.17.) but a greater aptnesse to rise againe when God shall be pleased to give them the meanes of recovery, and to reach out his hand unto them, then is in any other men. Behold in this also the seed of God remaining in them. See this in the Church, Cant. 5.2. I sleepe but my heart waketh, it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh. 1. She was not in a dead sleepe, not quite overcome with security. 2. So soone as she heard the voice, of Christ, she certainely knew it to be his voice, and it wrought upon her and made her rise, though not so soone as she should have done.
And so much may suffice for the strengthning and comfort of Gods people against the first of those two tentations that I mentioned unto you. I now proceed unto the second.
O but (saith many a good soule) though I be for the present (I praise God) in the state of grace;Tentatiō 2. yet God knoweth how long I shall so continue; I may fall away from God irrecoverably; yea I find my selfe so weake now, so unable now to resist any tentation, that when the fiery triall shall come, when the houre of death shall come, and that last, and sharpest skirmish that I must looke to have with Satan, I feare I shall then be unable to stand, and this feare disquieteth and tormenteth my heart.
Preservative.Now for the comfort of Gods people against this tentation, I say, that (though thou mayest in the houre of tentation shew much weakenesse, yet) if there bee the fruit of Gods eternall love and Election in any truth of grace in thee, thou shalt never be so overcome of any tentation, as to fall finally, but certainly thou shalt recover thy selfe before thou dyest. When the Apostle had spoken, 1 Iohn 5.17. of the sin unto death, hee addeth in the next words, this comfortable sentence, verse 18. Wee know that whosoever is borne of God sinneth not. This wee know, and are most certaine of, that hee can never fall into that sinne. Insomuch as that which the Apostle speaketh of the whole Church of the Iewes, Rom. 11.11. may be truly said of every elect child of God, Have they stumbled, that they should fall? (that is, that they should fall finally, and for ever, for in the next verse, 12. hee granteth, they are fallen) God forbid saith hee. See this also plainly taught us, Psal. 15. where the Prophet having described the upright hearted Christian, by sundry properties and actions, hee concludeth verse 5. Hee that doth these things, shall never bee mooved; never bee utterly and finally overcome by any tentation. And this is that which our Saviour teacheth also, Mat. 7.24, 25. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doth them; I will liken him unto a wise man, that built his house upon a rock; and the raine descended, and the flouds came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not, because it was built upon a rock. And that which hee saith of a godly life, hee saith Matth. 16.18. of a lively and true faith also. Thou art Peter (a rocke impregnable, whom Satan with all his might shall not be able to overcome, though thou shalt fall, thou shalt not fall utterly) and upon this rocke (this faith that thou hast made confession of) I will build my Church, and the gates of hell (all the cunning, all the power of Satan) shall not prevaile against it.Quest.
If any man shall aske me; and why cannot a chosen vessell and true beleever (what tentations soever shall assault him) perish irrecoverably?Answ.
I answer. There bee two pillars that uphold him, and make it impossible for him to fall in that manner, of which I spake the last day. 1. The almighty power of God. 2. The unchangeable love of God. Both fitly typified by those two pillars we read of, 1 Kin 7.21. that were in Solomons Temple, which was also it selfe, a type of the Church and people of God, the one was called Iachin, that is to say, he will establish, the other, Boaz, in him is strength.
First. Let us begin with Boaz. In the Lord is strength, enough to keepe us from falling, totally or finally. VponUpon this pillar, our Saviour lyeth this Doctrine, Iohn 10.28.29. None of my sheepe shall perish, my father which gave them me, is greater then all, and no man is able to plucke them out of my fathers hand. No, no man if hee bee once one of Christs sheepe, a true beleever, no man can plucke him away. VponUpon this pillar doth Paul ground his confidence, 2 Tim. 1.12. I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have beleeved, and I am perswaded, that hee is able to keepe that which I have committed unto him, against that day. Yea, upon this pillar, hee groundeth the confidence even of the weakest Christian that is, having an honest heart. Rom. 14. For speaking of one that is weake in the faith, verse 1. he saith thus of him, verse 4. Yea he shall be held up, for God is able to make him stand.
Now for the second pillar, lachin, hee will establish. The Lord not only hath strength to keepe his people, but wee are also sure he will establish them, that they shall not perish. This pillar, God giveth his Church to ground and build upon, Esa. 54.10. The mountaines shall depart, and the hills bee removed, but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace bee removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. VponUpon this pillar doth the Church ground her confidence, Esa. 64.5. Behold, thou art wroth, for wee have sinned; in those is continuance, and wee shall bee saved. And so doth David, Psalm. 23.6. Surely, goodnesse and mercy shall follow mee all the dayes of my life. And 48.14. This God is our God for ever and ever, he will be our guide even unto death.