Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 6 · Lecture 91
Lecture LXXXXI. On Psalme 51.6. Iune. 17. 1628.
FIrst I will shew you that religion doth not so abridge men of their liberty in lawfull delights, as is pretended. Secondly. That the taskes and duties that it imposeth upon men, are nothing so hard as Satan would make us beleeve. Thirdly, That the service of God, is so far from being a bondage and drudgery, that it is in sundry respects, the most comfortable life in the world.
For the first. Though God doe indeed restraine his servants from licentiousnesse, and liberty to doe what they list; his servants must live under a law, under government, they must beare his yoke; Yet is his yoke even in this respect, a most easie yoke to all that can once humble themselves to beare it. For hee doth allow to his servants liberty enough even in the comforts and delights of this life. Nay no man under heaven can with that freedome of heart, and true delight, use any of the creatures of God, any of the comforts of this life, as the servants of God may. That which the Apostle saith of marriage, and meates, 1 Tim. 4.3. may likewise be said of all other lawfull recreations, and delights. God hath created them to be received with thankesgiving of them which beleeve and know the truth. As if he had said, For their sakes they were ordained, they are the people that have just title unto them. God hath called us to peace, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 7.15. that is, not an hard, a troublesome, and rigorous, but a free and comfortable condition of life, even in respect of these outward things. And in this respect among others, the Apostle saith, Gal. 5.13. Brethren yee have beene called unto liberty, onelyonly use not your liberty as an occasion to the flesh. Religion doth not forbid the use of any lawfull delight, but the abuse of it onelyonly.
Secondly.The taskes that God sets to his servants, the burden he layes on them, I meane the duties and services that hee requireth of them, are not hard and heavy, nay they are certainely light and easie to bee borne; and in this respect also the service of God is no bondage nor drudgery, it is the most easie and comfortable life in the world, and it is nothing but the deceitfulnesse of Satan, and of our owne naughty hearts, that causeth us to judge otherwise of it. Now if any man shall object, and aske mee. Are all Gods commandements easie indeed?Quest. Is it a matter of no hardnesse or difficultie to observe them? For answer unto this, I will shew 1. How, and in what respect they are hard and difficult. 2. How and in what respect they are light and easie to be peformed.
Answ. 1For the first. The commandements of God, and burdens he layeth upon men, are hard and heavy in three respects.
First. To every wicked and naturall man, the commandements of God are not onelyonly hard, but impossible; hee can doe nothing that God requireth, in that manner that God requireth. I know well, that many things which such men doe, may seeme to other men and to themselves also to bee very good workes. All these things (saith the young man, Mat. 19 20.) have I kept from my youth up. But indeed this is utterly impossible, every unbeleever is reprobate unto every good worke. Titus 1.16. How can yee being evill (saith our Saviour, Matth. 12.34.) speake good things? that is, constantly, and conscionably▪ Can the Aethiopian change his skinne, or the Leopard his spots? (saith the Lord, Ieremy 13.23.) then may yee also doe good, that are accustomed to doe evill. And that which our Saviour saith of the covetous man, (Luk. 18.25.) may also truly bee said of the fornicatour, and of the drunkard, and of the proud man, and of every wicked man, It is easier for a camel to goe through a needles eye, then for such a one to enter into the kingdome of God, or to keepe any of those commandements, that are against his sin.
Secondly. To every regenerate and godly man, the commandements of God are not onelyonly hard, but impossible to bee kept, in that manner that the law requireth. In that respect the Apostle Peter professeth, Actes 15.10. that the law was svch a yoke, as neither their fathers (none of the holy Patriarches, nor prophets) nor they (none of the elect Apostles themselves) were able to beare. Now if a Papist (who holdeth and beleeveth that this is not only possible, but very easie also for every regenerate man to keepe all the commandements of God so perfectly as he may bee justified thereby in Gods sight, and merit also eternall life, if such a one I say) shall object against this proofe, that the Apostle speaketh not there of the morrall, but of circumcision, and of the ceremoniall law. I answer, Hee calleth circumcision and the ceremoniall law, an intollerable yoke, not in respect of it selfe (for the ceremoniall law was much more easie to bee kept, then the morall was) but because by urging the observation of the ceremoniall law then (when it was abrogated by Christ) they did deprive men of all benefit by Christ, and bound them to the observation of the whole morall law, and to seeke salvation by it. This the Apostle plainely teacheth us, Galat. 5.2.3. Behold I Paul say unto you, that if yee be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testifie againe to every one that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to doe the whole law. The observation therefore of the morall law in that manner that the law required (that is exactly in all points and perfectly) was such a yoke, as no Prophet, nor Apostle, was ever able to beare. This the Lord taught his people by delivering the law unto them in so terrible a manner as he did. The sight was so terrible (saith the Apostle, Hebr. 12.…1) that Moses said, I exceedingly feare and quake, and all Gods people were in that terrible feare, that they intreated (as the Apostle saith verse 19.) that the word might not bee spoken to them any more; that they might heare no more of it in that manner; and the reason is given verse 20. why they were in this horrible feare For they could not endure that which was commanded saith the Apostle, The commandements of God in that manner that the law enjoyneth them, have nothing but terrour in them, the perfect observation of them is so intollerable a yoke, as Moses himselfe was not able to beare.
Thirdly and lastly. To observe the commandements of God, even in such a manner as the Gospell requireth; that is, to say in truth and sincerity of heart, is a very difficult and painefull thing to the best of Gods servants, in respect of those reliques of naturall corruption that doe remaine in them, besides the manifold and strong pull-backs, and oppositions they shall bee sure to receive from Satan, and the world. This the faithfull find to bee too true by daily experience. The same combate and warre that they find oft in themselves, in every good duty and service, they would doe unto God, betweene the flesh and the spirit, the law of their mind, and the law in their members, the regegenerate and unregenerate part (of which the Apostle speaketh, Rom. 7.23. Galat. 5.17.) certainely putteth them to no lesse paine then Rebecca was in, when the two children strugled together within her, Genesis 25.22. and as the paine she was in then, made her cry out in a sudden fit of impatiency, If it bee so why I am thus? would I had never conceived, would I had never married. So doth the paine that this intestine warre putteth them in, make the best of Gods servants often times, not onelyonly to sigh, and grone, and cry out with Paul Rom. 7.24. Oh wretched man that I am; but even to entertaine such motions as Rebecca did. If it bee so, why am I thus? If it bee so hard and painefull a thing to serve God, would I had never entred into his service, but contented my selfe to live as other men doe. This tentation we know the Prophet himselfe was subject unto, when he cryed, Ps. 73.13. Verily I have clensed my heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocency. Let papists say what they will, how easie a thing it is for a regenerate man to keepe all the commandements of God, and to keepe them perfectly; it is certainely a painfull thing for such as the best of us are, that have so much flesh and corruption remaining in us, to doe any service unto God, even in that manner as the Gospell requireth of us; without labour and paine, no service can bee done to God acceptably. That which the Apostle saith of prayer, Strive together with me in prayer, saith hee, Rom 15.30. faithfull prayer can never bee well made, without striving and labour; the same our Saviour saith of all the wayes of God that leade to life (faith, repentance, love, keeping of the Sabbath, every other good duty and service) Lu. 13.24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. As though he should say, every way of God is strait and uneasie to our flesh, and therefore, without striving and labour, there is no possibility of walking in it.
Answ. 2.All this notwithstanding (to come now unto the second part of my answer) the commandements of God are not so hard, the service he requireth of us is not so difficult and paineful, as need to discourage any of us, or make us afraid of it. For
First. Though the commandements of God bee impossible to the naturall and wicked man, to the regenerate and true beleever, they are possible enough. All things are possible (saith Christ, Mar 9.23.) to him that beleeveth. Nay as it hath beene truly said of the wicked man, hee cannot possibly keepe them, he cannot but breake them; so may it bee as truly said of the regenerate man, he cannot but keepe them, he cannot breake them as the other doth. How can I (saith Ioseph, Gen. 39.9.) do this great wickednesse and sinne against God? Whosoever is borne of God, sinneth not (saith the Apostle, 1 Ioh. 3.9.) and he cannot sin, because he is borne of God.
Secondly. Though the commandements of God, and the observation of them as Moses enjoyned them, be an intollerable yoke, even to the regenerate themselves, yet as Christ enjoyneth them, they are not so. Though that perfect and strict obedience which the law requireth, be utterly impossible for the strongest Christian under heaven to performe; yet Evangelicall obedience to the commandements of God, an unfeined love to them all, and endeavour to keep them (which is all that the Gospell requireth) is no more then the weakest Christian is able to performe. For so saith our Saviour to the poore Christian, that is most wearied, and over-burdened, and broken-hearted, Matth. 11.30 My yoke is easie, and my burden light.
Thirdly and lastly. Though to the best of the regenerate, the cōmandements of God, even as Christ enjoyneth them, be difficult, & cannot be performed without labour and paine, in respect of the flesh, and the remnants of corruption that are in them, yet are they unto them in respect of the inward man and the regenerate part, most easie and sweet, I delight in the law of God (saith the Apostle, Rom. 7.22.) after the inward man. And for this wee have not only the expresse testimony of the holy Ghost, 1 Ioh. 5 3. His commandements are not grievous. But wee have also the experience of the faithfull in all ages, who have beene so farre from finding of that hardnesse in the yoke of Christ, as was in the yoke of Moses, that terrour in the law of Christ, as was in the law of Moses, that they have found more sweetnesse in it, then in any thing else in the world. And by how much the more, the inward man and grace of regeneration hath growne and increased, and as the flesh and corruption hath decayed, and bin weakened in them, by so much the more easie, they have found the commandements of God to be, by so much the more sweetnes and delight they have felt in them. We know how plentifull and patheticall David is in expressing this, Oh how love I thy law, saith he Ps. 119.97. & ver. 143. Thy cōmandements are my delights. As if he had sayd, they are to me in stead of all delights & pleasures in the world. And thus the Prophet professeth Ier. 15.16. Thy word was to me the joy & rejoycing of my heart. And whence commeth this strange alteration and difference betweene the people of God; Moses quaked at, and found terrour in the Law, David joyed, and felt sweetnes in it; all Gods people at the delivery of the law desired they might heare no more of it, Paul and Ieremy delight, & rejoyce in it? O see (beloved) what Christ hath done for us, he hath taken out the sting of the law, that it is no more a killing letter; See the difference betwixt Christ and Moses, betwixt the law and the Gospell. And thus have I finished the second part of my answer, and shewed you that the Lord setteth no such hard taskes to his servants, as Satan pretendeth. The commandements and duties that God enioyneth unto them that are in Christ, are not impossible, nor hard to be performed; it is nothing but this cursed flesh of ours that maketh us so to complaine of the commandements of God, and repine at the yoke of Christ, as we use to doe.
Now come wee to the third and last part of my answer to this slander that Satan hath raised against the religion and service of God, wherein I will shew you that it is so farre from being a bondage and drudgery, that it is the most happy and comfortable life in the world. And for proofe of this I will lead you no further then unto the consideration of the person, that wee doe service unto, how gracious and good a master the Lord our God is, unto all that serve him. We find among men, that great men that have honour, and power, and authority, can want no servants, every one coveteth, that themselves and their children may belong to such; And whose service is so much to bee desired in that respect, as the Lords is? Who would not feare thee (saith the Prophet. Ieremy 10 7.) ô King of nations? for to thee it doth appertaine. As if he had said; All greatnesse and Soveraignty, all power and Majesty belongeth unto thee. But when unto greatnesse, and power, goodnesse also, and graciousnesse of disposition is added; when men can say of a man, that he is not only a great man, but hee is also one that useth to bee good, and bountifull to his servants; this hath wonderfull force to draw the hearts of all men unto him. For a good man (saith the Apostle, Rom. 5.7.) some will even dare to dye; for such a one men thinke, they can never doe too much. And certainely, if wee knew the Lord well, and how gracious and good hee is towards his servants, there is none of us here, but would desire and long to bee in his service. And that which David saith, Psalme 9.10. of putting our trust in him, may also bee said of doing him service. They that know thy name, will be glad to serve thee. And surely Satan deceiveth men, and keepeth them from serving God, and being religious by no device, more then by this, that he perswadeth them, as he did the lazy and unprofitable servant; Matth. 25.24. that the Lord is an hard master, hard to be pleased, apt to exact rigorously of his servants, more then they are able to performe. Observe therefore I pray you (that you may perceive how false a slander this is) the gracious disposition of the Lord whom we do service unto, in these foure points especially.
First. His aptnesse to winke at, and passe by our offences. Whereas we can doe no worke hee setteth us about so well, but wee shall offend many wayes in it, and find cause to cry him mercy for it, as good Nehemiah did, Nehem. 13 22. the Lord is not apt to marke and observe strictly, every thing that is done amisse, but useth to winke at, and is ready to passe by, and remit many slips and failings of his servants in this kind. I will spare them (saith he Mal. 3.17) as a man spareth his sonne that serveth him. If thou Lord shouldst marke iniquity (saith David, Psalm. 130 3, 4.) ô Lord who shall stand? As if hee had sayd, Who could endure thy service? But there is forgivenesse with thee: that thou mayest be feared. As if he had said, That aptnes that is in thee to forgive thy servants their slips, would make any man (that is not a very beast) willing to serve thee. This made the Church break out into these words of admiration, Mic. 7.18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, & passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? As if he should say; Where shall a man find such a master as thou art?
Secondly. Observe his aptnesse to accept of that little wee are able to doe. That whereas wee are oft so untoward unto good duties, that wee find our selves unable to doe any thing, To will, is present with us (as the Apostle speaketh, Rom. 7.18.) but we find no ability at all, to performe that that is good; we have nothing in us but an unfeined desire to doe well, and a griefe that wee cannot doe it; this good Lord and master of ours, is apt to take even that in good part, if wee but doe what wee can, and accounteth that, as perfectly performed by us, which hee seeth us unfeinedly desire and endeavour to doe. If there bee first a willing mind (saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 8.12.) it is accepted, according to that that a man hath, and not according to that that a man hath not. And whereas wee, when wee have done our worke best, are apt to bee ashamed, and discouraged in our selves, because wee have so slubbered it over, and done it so illfavouredly, this good master of ours is apt to accept of in Christ, and to take in good part these poorest services that are done in faith and obedience unto him. Yea hee is apt to delight in them, and to praise us for them. Our spirituall sacrifices (the Apostle telleth us, 1 Pet. 2.5.) are acceptable to God by Iesus Christ. And let mee see thy countenance (saith Christ to his Church, Cant. 2.14) let mee heare thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance comely. And well done good and faithfull servant, saith the Lord to him, Matth. 25.23. that had but two talents. And who can complaine of such a master? Nay who that knoweth and beleeveth this, would not bee glad to serve such a master, as is so ready to accept of, and delight in, to commend and applaud such poore service, as wee are able to doe unto him.
Thirdly. Observe how ready hee is to helpe his servants in the worke that hee setteth them about. Whereas the Lord is sometimes pleased to enjoyne his people duties and services, of more then ordinary hardnesse, and difficulty (he presseth them with affliction out of measure above strength, as Paul saith hee was, 2 Cor. 1.8. He bringeth them to the fiery tryall that the Apostle speaketh of, 1 Peter 4.12. He setteth the messenger of Satan to buffet them with strange tentations as Paul was, 2 Cor. 12.7.) in such a case the Lord is wont to put to his owne hand to the worke, in an extraordinary manner, and to helpe his poore servants that they may be able to goe through with it. It is said, 1 Chron 15.26. that God helped the Levites that bare the arke of the covenant of the Lord. And the Apostle speaking of the great tryall of affliction that Gods servants are sometimes brought unto, telleth us, Rom 8.26. that in that case the spirit it selfe helpeth our infirmities. The greater that the tryall is, that God shall be pleased to exercise us by, the greater degree of strength will hee minister unto us, for the bearing of it. And what need the weakest of Gods servants feare the heaviest burden that can bee laid upon them, when he hath such a one to helpe and support him? When those everlasting armes that Moses speaketh of, Deut. 33.27. are underneath him? Nay, why may wee not in all dangers secure our hearts in this, and say, Lord give thou strength to beare it, and lay on me what thou wilt. The things that are unpossible with men (saith our Saviour. Lu. 18.27. to his Disciples, when they were astonied out of measure with a Doctrine hee had taught, as Marke 10.26.) are possible with God. So when Paul prayed thrice (that is often) unto God to bee delivered from that messenger of Satan, that buffeted him so (as it may bee some of you have done against those blasphemous thoughts, whereby you are buffeted) hee received this answer from God, 2 Cor. 12.9. My grace is sufficient for thee. As if hee had said, Feare him not, I will warrant thee, thou shalt be strong enough for him, he shall not be able to overcome thee, my grace and helpe will be sufficient enough for thee, in this very case to uphold and strengthen thee. And this made Paul speake so confidently. Phil. 4.13. I can doe all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.
Fourthly and lastly. Observe what wages God giveth to his servants. He is many wayes good unto them besides their wages (as all good masters are) they have many availes (as we speake) from him, even in this life many are the priviledges of Gods servants.
First. If wee bee his faithfull servants, wee shall have his countenance and favour. When David had spoken of the happinesse of them that dwell in Gods house, he mentioneth this for one part of it, Psal. 48.11. For the Lord God is a sunne to such, the light of his countenance useth to shine upon them. And this is such a priviledge as is worth all the paines wee can take in his service, though it were a thousand times more. Cause thy face to shine (saith the Church. Psalm. 80.19.) and wee shall bee saved. As if she had said, We have even enough.
Secondly. If wee bee Gods faithfull servants, we may bee assured of protection and safety in times of greatest danger. For what master is there that will not defend and beare out his servants, specially in the service they have done unto him. And this also David reckoneth for another part of their happinesse that dwell in Gods house, and serve him. Psal. 84.11. the Lord will bee a shield unto such.
Thirdly. If we be Gods faithfull servants, we shall be sure to want nothing, that shall be necessary for our comfort in this life. For what good master is there that will not provide for his owne, especially those of his owne house, as the Apostle speaketh, 1 Tim. 5.8 And this David reckoneth for a third part of the happines of those that dwell in Gods house, Psal. 84.11. No good thing will he with-hold from them that walke uprightly.
Fourthly and lastly. If we be Gods faithfull servants, we shall be sure when the time of payment commeth (that is not till the even be come as our Saviour speaketh, Matth. 20.8. till our day bee done, till this life bee ended) to receive such a reward of our service, as no tongue can expresse, no heart can conceive how great it shall bee Our Saviour speaking of the reward of such of Gods servants, as had done but little service unto God, even so little as themselves tooke no notice of it, saith, he will say thus to them at the day of judgement, Matth. 25 34, 35. Come yee blessed of my father, inherite the kingdome prepared for you, for I was an hungred, and yee gave me meat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me drinke. Alas, what was that that they had done, to be rewarded with a kingdome? Certainly there is no proportion betweene the service and the wages; but this it is to serve such a master; thus will the Lord reward all that serve him. And therefore admit the service that God should imploy us in all our life long, either in doing or suffering, were never so hard and painefull; yet the certaine hope wee have of this reward in the end, were sufficient to make it easie unto us, yea to make us cheerefull and comfortable in it, and even to sing at our worke, as Paul and Silas did, even at midnight, when they had bin grievously scourged, and were then in a dungeon, and their feete fast in the stocks, as you shall read Actes 16.25. And what was it that made Moses not only willing to forsake the pleasures of sinne, and all those wicked liberties and delights that worldly men dote so much upon, but to betake himselfe to the service of God, and joyne himselfe to the people of God, even then when they were in greatest affliction and reproach, yea to account their life a farre more happy and comfortable life, then the life of any courtier, or of Pharaoh himselfe, but onelyonly this, that he had respect to the recompense of reward; as the Apostle telleth us, Hebr. 11.26. For this cause wee faint not (saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 4.16, 17.) but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day (our delight in Gods service, and in his holy law increaseth daily) for our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory. Rejoycing in hope (saith the Apostle, Rom. 12.12.) patient in tribulation. As though he should say, The hope of this reward is able not onelyonly to make you patient in any tribulation (how great soever it may be) but even comfortable and joyfull in it also.
Applic.O that all this that we have heard, might (through Gods gracious and mighty working with it) become effectuall to make us all in love with Gods service. O that we could count it our happinesse and honour to be admitted into it, and thinke and say of it as David doth, Psal. 65.4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy house, and be one of thy houshold servants. And 116.16. O Lord truly I am thy servant, thy servant and the son of thine handmaid thou hast loosed my hands. As if he had said, I was a bondslave till I became thy servant; but thou hast brought me out of that bondage, and by making me thy servant hast loosed my bonds, and made me a free man. And then followeth, verse 17. I will offer unto thee the sacrifice of thankesgiving. As if hee should say. I will praise thy name for this so long as I live.