Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 6 · Lecture 79
Lecture LXXIX. On Psalme 51.6. Ianuary 29. 1627.
NOw it followeth that we proceed unto the second part of this application; and so unto the second grace whereof the right root of all true righteousnesse and goodnesse doth consist, namely a lively faith.
I told you the last day, that if God should move to every one of you particularly that that was moved unto Peter, Iohn 21.15. (as who knoweth how soone it may be moved to us, either by the Lord himselfe when he shall wrestle with us, as he did with Iacob, Gen. …2. or by Satan our adversary) there is many a one among you, that doe unfeignedly love the Lord would make a very doubtfull and fearefull answer unto this question, because though you doe indeed love him, yet you doe not feele or perceive in your selves that you doe so. But you are ready (upon the hearing of the former Doctrine) to say. Have none upright hearts but such onelyonly as doe love the Lord? Alas then I feare I am no better then an hypocrite, for I am exceedingly subject unto slavish feare. I cannot thinke of death but I tremble; I cannot heare of any danger of an invasion or such like troubles, but I am ready to quake for feare; I cannot heare or see any great thunder or lightning but I am exceedingly distempered with slavish feare. And can there be any true love of God in such a heart?
Now to these poore soules that object thus against themselves I have three things to say. 1. Thou maist have the true love of God in thy heart, though thou be subject unto these feares. 2. Thou hast in thee evident signes that thou hast the true love of God in thy heart, though thou bee so subject unto these feares. 3. Yet thou must strive against these feares and labour to rid thy heart of them.
For the first, I say, It is possible for one that truly loveth the Lord and that hath an upright heart, to be much subject to these feares. This I will make evident to you 1 by some instances and examples that will make it plaine unto you, that it may be so; 2 by certaine reasons that will shew you, why it may be and is so. For examples we read Iob was subject to these feares, even before the time of his great affliction, while he enjoyed much prosperity and outward peace. For whereas he saith of himselfe, Iob 3.26. that in those daies I was not in peace, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet, he telleth us in the former verse 25. that it was feare that did thus disquiet him. David also oft complaineth of this, Psal. 119.120. My flesh trembleth for feare of thee: and I am afraid of thy judgements. This may seeme to bee more then a child-like feare to offend God, that he could not see nor heare of any strange judgements of God but his flesh trembled at it, And Psal. ….4.…. My heart is …ore pained within me (with what? with feare as appeareth by the next words) and the terrours of death are fallen upon me; fearefullnesse and trembling are come upon me, and horrour hath overwhelmed mee. What poore Christian is there in the world, can say more of his feares. And yet Heman the Prophet goeth further, Psal. 88.15. While I suffer thy terrours I am distracted; and verse 16. Thy terrours have cut me off. As if he had said, For feare and terrour I know not what to doe, I have no use of my understanding, I am become even as a dead man. Take another example for this in the Apostle Paul who professeth of himselfe, 2 Cor. 7.5. that while he was in Macedonia he found no rest in his flesh, but that as he had fightings without (much opposition and trouble raised against him by men) so he had terrours within. Certainely he was much subject to these feares we speake of. But what speake I of particular examples? this is the condition of most Christians, that at one time or other they are subject unto them. Yea they are more subject unto them a great deale then the lewdest men are, who have much more just cause to feare then they have; as wee see the trees that have life and sap in them are shaken too and fro with the winds, when those that are dry and dead are not moved at all but strand stone-still. In which respect the Lord speaking to them to whom the promises of the Gospell do belong, calleth them Esa. 35.4. such as are of a fearefull heart; and chideth them for this, Esa. 51.13. Thou hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressour.
Now if you would know the reasons why Gods most faithfull and upright-hearted seruants may be so subject to these feares, and why they are so, I find two principall causes of this.
First, Their owne weaknesse. When the Apostle speaketh of those feares he was subject to among the Corinthians he imputeth them to his owne weaknesse. I was with you (saith he, 1 Cor. 2.3.) in weakenesse, and in feare and in much trembling. And there is a double weakenesse in the best of Gods servants, a naturall weakenesse, and a sinfull weakenesse; and so there is a naturall feare, and a sinfull feare in them. Our blessed Saviour that had no sin in him yet when he was in the garden was sore afraid, and (being to pray) durst not be alone, but got three of his Disciples to be by him, yea charged them to keepe themselves awake too, as you shall find, Mar. 14.32—34. Through this naturall weakenesse it is, that the best man that is, may feele in himselfe some feare of death; and when he seriously thinketh of his appearing before God, or when the Lord doth by any extraordinary worke as thundring and lightning and earth-quakes &c. manifest unto him his glorious power, he cannot choose but feare, and tremble. I remembred God, and was troubled, saith the Prophet, Psal. 77.3. and that hath oft beene the case of many a good soule. When God shewed his glory in the delivering of the law by darknesse and tempest, by thunder and lightning, it is said by the Apostle, Heb. 12.21. that the sight was so terrible, that Moses himselfe said, I exceedingly feare and quake. Yea when Christ did shew his divine and glorious power even in goodnesse, by bringing such a multitude of fish to the net that it brake withall, it is said, Luk. 5.8, 9. that Peter was so astonished with feare that he fell downe at Iesus knees, saying, depart from me for I am a sinfull man O Lord. But besides this naturall weakenesse, there is a sinfull weakenesse also in the best of Gods children; even weaknesse of faith which maketh them subject not to naturall feares onelyonly, but to sinfull feares also. There is much lacking in their faith as the Apostle said of the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. 3.10. And this is a chiefe cause of all their feares; Why are ye fearefull, ô ye of little faith, saith our Saviour to his Disciples, Mat. 8.16. pointing at the chiefe cause of all our feare. When are apt to doubt of Gods favour, and of the pardon of our sinnes; and who can choose but bee much disquieted in his heart, with …eare when he doubteth of Gods favour? When the Prophet complained, Psal. 88.15. While I suffer thy terrours I am distracted: he telleth us, verse 14. what was the cause of those terrours he felt in himselfe, Lord why castest thou off my soule? why hidest thou thy face from me? Hee could not be perswaded of Gods love, hee thought God had cast him of. And can you wonder then though his heart were full of terrour?
The second cause of these feares is the Lord himselfe. Certainely his holy hand is to be acknowledged in this kinde of affliction, as well as in any other. These feares are therefore called the Lords terrours, Psal. 88.15. and 2 Cor. 5.11. because they come from him. And the Lord seeth it to bee good, and profitable many waies, for sundry of his servants to bee much exercised by them. 1. This maketh them carefull by repentance to purge themselves from all their knowne sinnes. So the Lord speaketh of the feare which they that travell by sea are in, when they see the strange breaches which the whale by his rising doth make in the sea, Iob 4….25. When he raiseth up himselfe, the mighty (and most stout hearted) are afraid, by reason of his breakings they purifie themselves. As wee see the mariners that carryed Ionah did, Ionah 1.5. The mariners were afraid and cryed every man to his God. Every one sought to make his peace with God in the best manner that he could. This effect wee know feare usually hath even in all men; but much more certainely in Gods children. 2. This keepeth them humble, fearefull to sinne, tractable and willing to obey God in all things. This is also a naturall effect of feare to abate the pride of mans heart, and to make it humble and tractible. Put them in feare, ô Lord: (saith David, Psal. 9.20.) that the nations may know themselves to bee but men. Certainely if the Lord should not now and then visit them with inward terrours and gripes, there be many in the world would even forget themselves to be men. But this effect it hath in Gods children especially, O that there were such a heart in them, (saith the Lord of his people, Deut. 5.29.) that they would feare me, & keepe my commandements alwaies. As if he had said, Now they are fearefull to offend me in any thing, now they are willing to doe any thing I would have them; as they protested, verse 27. But when was that? Surely when by seeing the law delivered in that terrible manner, they were brought into a wonderfull feare. 3. Lastly, This prepareth them, and maketh them fit to receive comfort from God. Thus the Lord hath beene wont to prepare his servants, whom he meant to give most comfort unto. Before the Lord delivevered that large and comfortable promise unto Abram, Gen. 15.13—21. it is said verse 12. Loe an horrour of great darknesse fell upon him. Before Elijah could heare that still and small voice that spake so much comfort unto him, concerning himselfe and the whole Church, the Lord first affrighted him with a great and strong wind that rent the mountaines and brake the rockes in pieces, and then by an earthquake, and after that by a fire, 1 King. 19.11, 12. hee deepely humbled him by feare and terrour first, that he might prepare and make him fit to receive that comfort. You see then, that this may bee the case of them that are most upright hearted, and such as truly love the Lord they may bee much subject to these feares. And this is the first thing I told you I had to say, for the comfort of such poore soules.
The second is this, That it is not onelyonly possible that thou maist love God unfeignedly though thou be so subject to these terrours, but even while thou art in this case, thou hast evident signes in thee that thou dost so, and if thou couldst observe thine owne heart well, thou wouldst be able to discerne, that thou dost love God indeed. For
First, Thou desirest Gods favour above all things in the world, and no crosse afflicteth thy heart so much as this, that thou thinkest thou hast lost it, thou canst not be assured of it, this is a certaine signe thou lovest him. When the Churches diligence in seeking after Christ when she had lost him is described, Cant. 2.1—4. she expresseth the cause that moved her so to seeke after him, by calling him him whom her soule loved; and this title she repeateth in every one of those verses. Certainely if her soule had not dearely loved him, she could not in that manner have sought after him. So that this griefe and trouble thy heart is in, because thou canst not be assured of Gods favour, argueth plainely that thou art sicke of love as the Church saith she was, Cant. 2.5. and 5.8. Thy love to God is the cause of thy sicknesse and griefe. O how happy a thing would it be, with many if they were sicke of this disease?
Secondly, Thou darest not doe any thing that thou thinkest would offend God, but makest conscience to doe his will, therefore thou lovest God. Hee that hath my commandements and keepeth them. (saith our Saviour, Ioh. 14.21.) is hee that loveth me. And 1 Iohn 5.3. This is the love of God, that we keepe his commandements; we could not els do it constantly nor conscionably.
Thirdly, When thou hast through infirmity done any thing to offend God, thou grievest unfeignedly, and art troubled with it. This argueth that thou lovest the Lord. It was love that made Mary Magdalen to weepe so abundantly for her sinnes, as our Saviour testifieth of her, Luke 7.47. And this was the onelyonly thing whereby Peter did expresse that though he ha… so shamefully denied Christ, yet he loved him above all things; when he had so offended, hee went out and wept bitterly, Mat. 26.75.
Fourthly, Thou lovest the Word and ordinances of God and the sincerity of his worship. Therefore thou lovest God. For the Lord calleth them that keepe the second commandement (specially and above all others) such as love him, Exod. 20.6. And David professing himself▪ Psal. 119 132. to be one of those that did love Gods name; declareth it by no argument so much as by this throughout that Psalme, even by that love hee bare unto, and that delight hee tooke in the Word of God.
Fiftly, thou lovest the children of God, even because of the goodnesse thou seest in them; therefore thou lovest God. If we love one another (saith the Apostle, 1 Iohn 4.12.) God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. As if he had said, That is a signe of a sound and perfect love of God. So Christ will acknowledge at the last day that the love that was shewed to the least of his brethren, was shewed unto him, Matth. 25.40. If thou lovest the brethren thou lovest the Lord.
Sixtly and lastly, Thou dost unfeignedly desire to love the Lord and strivest against these feares that trouble thee, and wouldst faine doe God service out of love, and not out of feare. Therefore thou lovest him. For even as hee that doth unfeignedly desire to feare God, doth feare God, Neh. 1.11. And hee that mourneth for his infidelity and striveth against it, hath true faith; as it appeareth in that example of the poore man mentioned, Mar. 9.24. So hath hee the true love of God in his heart, that doth unfeignedly desire to love the Lord.
But how can this be,Object. will you say? Could I be so afrraid of God as I am, if I did truly love him? Is it possible for a man to be so afraid of him, whom hee doth love? Doth not the Apostle say, 1 Iohn 4.18. That there is no feare in love, but perfect love casteth out feare.
I answer,Answ. 1. It is true that in love there is no such feare, nothing is more contrary unto the nature of love, then these feares are. But in the person that hath true love these feares may be. As though there is no infidelity or doubting of Gods favour in faith (nothing more contrary unto faith then doubting and infidelity) yet in the person of a true beleever there may be much infidelity, as we have heard out of Mar. 9.24. 2. Perfect love will cast out all these feares; and the perfecter our love to God is, the more it will cast out these feares and deliver us from them. But the love of the best of Gods servants is imperfect and will be till we come to heaven; for there and there onelyonly are the spirits of just men made perfect, as the Apostle speaketh, Heb. 12.23.
The third and last thing I have to say unto these poore soules that are so much disquieted with feare is this, They must strive against these feares and labour to rid their hearts of them; as David did, Psal. 56.3. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. For 1 A trembling heart is in it selfe a judgement of God, and part of that curse that God hath threatned in his law against sinne; as you shall find Deut. 28.65. And Iob 18.11. Terrours shall make him afraid on every side. Yea it is the greatest tormentour of the heart, and enemy to the peace and tranquillity of it, that can be. Feare hath torment, saith the Apostle, 1 Iohn 4.18. He that is afraid to die must needs live in continuall and extreame bondage, as the Apostle speaketh, Heb. 2.15. 2. It is not onelyonly a judgement but a sinne also. For it is oft forbidden and condemned in the Word, Esa 8.12. Feare not their feare, nor be afraid. And Matth. 8.26. Why are ye fearefull, ô ye of little faith? Yea it is a cause of many other sinnes. The feare of man bringeth a snare, saith Solomon, Pro. 29.25. 1. It maketh a man apt to hide himselfe from God and run away from him. I was afraid (saith Adam, Gen. 3.10.) because I was naked, and I hid my selfe. 2. It maketh a man unprofitable and heartlesse to every good duty. I was afraid (saith the unprofitable servant, Matth. 25.25.) and went, and hid thy talent in the earth. 3. It keepeth a man from loving God as he should. The more servile feare of God is in the heart, the lesse love of God must needs be in it. These are so contrary that they doe mutually diminish and expell one another as the Apostle hath taught us, 1 Iohn 4.18.
Object.All this is true will you say, but by what meanes may I rid my heart of this servile feare?
Answ.I answer, These be the meanes.
First, Consider wherein thou hast offended him, and seeke peace with him, seeke his favour, seeing thou canst not flee nor hide thy selfe from him. It is the course Solomon would have us take when a great man is offended with us, Eccle. 8.3. Be not hasty to goe out of his sight. It is good for me (saith David, Psal. 73.28.) to draw neare unto God; to get within him, when he is most angry, and to fall downe at his feet. If thou returne to the Almighty (saith Eliphaz, Ioh 22.23.26.) then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Secondly, Nourish in thy heart a child-like feare to offend God and it will banish out of it, these slavish feares. Feare not their feare, nor be afraid (saith the Lord, Esa. 8.12, 13) Alas how should wee helpe that, might they say? He answereth. Sanctifie the Lord of …osts himselfe, and let him be your feare, and let him be your dread. In the feare of the Lord (saith Solomon, Pro. 14.26.) is strong confidence.
Thirdly, Pray earnestly unto God against these feares. This was Davids practise, Psal. 34.4. I sought the Lord and he heard me, and delivered me from all my feares, Pray as Ier. 17.17. Be not thou a terrour unto me, thou art my hope in the day of evill. As if he had said. If I be afraid of thee, what hope can I have in the evill day.
Fourthly, Frequent Gods Sanctuary, and in his ordinances there behold oft, and meditate of the beauty of the Lord, how amiable he is, and worthy to be loved. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seeke after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the daies of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, saith David, Psal. 27.4.
Fiftly, Seeke assurance by faith, that Christ is thine; and give thy selfe no rest till thou canst be able to say as Psal. 48.14. This God is my God for ever and ever, he will be my guide even unto death. In him (saith the Apostle, Ephes. 3.12.) wee have boldnesse, and accesse with confidence by faith in him.
Sixtly and lastly, Acquaint thy selfe with the promises God hath so oft made his people to free them from these feares, Iob 11.15. Thou shalt lift up thy face without spot, yea thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not feare. Psal. 112.7, 8. He shall not be afraid of evill ridings, his heart is fixed, his heart is established, he shall not be afraid. And Pro. 1.33. Who so hearkneth unto me shall dwelt safely, and shall be quiet from feare of evill. These and such promises thou shouldst by faith give undoubted credit unto; and apply them to thy selfe; and rest upon them; and make claime and challenge unto them. Remembring how able the Lord is to performe them, how faithfull also, and true of his word.