Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 8 · Lecture 141
Lecture CXLI. On Psalme 51.7. Febr. 23. 1629.
IT followeth now that I shew you likewise the force of justifying faith in the second part of true sanctification, in making us partakers of the divine nature, and renewing the image of God in our hearts, in producing the fruits of the Spirit in us; in the breeding and working of every saving grace. When a man is once justified by faith in Christ, is reconciled unto God through his bloud, then shall he bring forth fruit unto God, and never till then. This will make the heart of a man fruitfull in holinesse and righteousnesse; and nothing but this will ever be able to doe it. For the first; that is to say, that faith will make the heart fruitfull, we have a plaine proofe in that speech of the Apostle Galat. 2.20. The life that I now live (As if hee had said, The reformed, religious and holy life, that I now live since my conversion and calling) I liue by the faith of the Sonne of God, that faith I have in Christ, who loved me and gave himselfe for me. As if he had said, This faith that assureth me of that speciall interest that I have in Christ, of that speciall love that Christ hath borne to mee, is the onelyonly cause of whatsoever goodnesse is in me. And for the second, that nothing but faith will breed true goodnesse and grace in the heart, we have as plaine a proofe Hebrewes 11.5, 6. Enoch had this testimony given of him that he pleased God, but without faith it is impossible to please God. As if he should have said, A man cannot please God in any thing that he doth, till he have faith, till he be justified by faith, and reconciled unto God through Christ. Though the habit of faith and all sanctifying graces which the Apostle 1 Iohn 3.9. calleth the seed of God, be by the Spirit of God infused into the heart of man altogether, and at one time, yet the act and exercise of faith, is the first of all, and that that setteth every other grace on worke. As the earth, though it be made soft by those showers that fall upon it in the winter-time, and bring forth some blade of the seed that is cast into it, yet is it not thereby made fruitfull unto man; it never yeeldeth any good and perfect fruit, till it have received the sweet heat of the Sun into the bowels of it in the spring time; even so is it with the heart of man. It may bee, and is oft softened by the judgements of God and terrours of the Law. God maketh my heart soft (saith Iob 23.16.) and the Almighty troubleth mee. Even by the trouble of his mind, and terrours that God disquieted him with, his heart was softened. And some beginnings also of reformation and goodnesse have beene thereby wrought in it (such was that confession of sinne, and goodly words that God oft wrung from Pharaoh by his judgements, Exodus 9.27. I have sinned, the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked; and 10.16. Hee cryeth unto Moses to this effect; Good Moses forgive me, and pray to the Lord for me. Such was that repentance and reformation of the wicked Israelites that the Prophet speaketh on Psal. 78.34. When he slew them, then they sought him; and they returned and enquired early after God. And such is the repentance and goodly words that many a wretched man in his sicknesse is wont to utter) thus farre forth the winter-showers and stormes of Gods judgements and terrours may work upon mans heart. But till Christ Iesus the Sun of righteousnesse, as the Prophet calleth him Mal. 4.2. (like the comfortable and quickning heat of the Sunne in the spring) doe shine upon a man and bee by faith received into his heart, it can never bring forth any fruit that is good indeed, and acceptable unto God. And the true cause why some are fruitfull in grace and goodnesse, and some other, though they enjoy the same or greater meanes, yet no grace will grow in their hearts, nor come unto any perfection is this, which the Apostle giveth 2 Thes. 3.2. All men have not faith. But though the Lord let this visible Sunne shine upon all men indifferently, upon the reprobate as well as upon the elect he maketh his Sunne (saith our Saviour Matth. 5.45.) to rise on the evill and on the good; yet doth he not let the Sunne of righteousnesse to shine into every heart, but to his elect and peculiar people onelyonly. The Lord God is a Sunne and shield (saith David Psal. 84.11.) but to whom? To them that walke uprightly. VntoUnto you that feare my name (saith the Lord Mal. 4.2.) shall the Sun of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings. Not that their walking uprightly and fearing of his name, was the cause that moved God to be as the Sun unto them, but because it was a marke and note of them whom God would vouchsafe this mercy unto.
Now if any man shall aske me how faith commeth to be the breeder and worker, and increaser of all true goodnesse in a man? I answer you two wayes.
First, By receiving Christ into his heart, by making Christ his, by uniting him unto Christ, as nearely and as truely as the members of the body are united unto the head, and as the branch is unto the vine. By faith we receive Christ and make him our owne, as the Evangelist teacheth us, Iohn 1.12. By faith hee dwelleth in our hearts, as the Apostle speaketh Ephesians 3.17. And as it is not possible, but that heart in which Christ dwelleth, must needs be renewed, and have saving grace bred in it. He that abideth in me and I in him (saith our Saviour, Iohn 15.5.) the same bringeth forth much fruit. If any man bee in Christ (saith the Apostle, 2 Corinthians 5.17.) hee is a new creature. As the living members must needs receive sense and motion from the head, and the scion sap from the slocke it is ingrafted into. And this is that which the Apostle teacheth 1 Corinthians 6.17. He that is joyned to the Lord, is one spirit. As if he had said, No man can by faith receive Christ, and be united unto him, but he must needs together with Christ receive the Spirit of Christ also; So till we be thus united unto Christ, it is not possible for us to have any true goodnesse in us. As the branch cannot beare fruit of it selfe (saith our Saviour Iohn 15.4.) except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me. And 6.53. Verily verily I say unto you; except ye eat the flesh of the Sonne of man, and drinke his bloud, ye have no life in you. I know well that this union that faith maketh betweene Christ and the soule, is mysticall, and such as the reason of man is not able to comprehend. And so the Apostle speaketh of it. This is a great mystery, saith he Ephesians 5.32. But yet you see this is clearely taught us in the holy Scripture; and this every faithfull soule doth (in some measure) feele to be true in his owne experience. So soone as ever thou dost truely believe in Christ, and renouncing all other confidence, dost wholly rest and put thine affiance in him, thou hast received Christ, and made him thine owne; and so soone as thou hast received him, thou hast also with him received into thine heart his holy Spirit, the Spirit of grace and sanctification, whereby thou art made a new man. Hee that hath the Sonne (saith the Apostle 1 Iohn 5.12.) hath life (that is; the life of grace here which is the beginning and pledge of that life of glory which he shall be sure to have in heaven) and he that hath not the Sonne, hath not life.
Secondly, The faithfull soule by exercising and making use of his faith in meditating and feeding upon the goodnesse and love of God towards him in Christ, and of those promises of God which through Christ hee hath title unto, doth quicken and increase every saving grace in his heart. And nothing hath that force to quicken and increase grace in us, as this hath. The better wee know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge, the more assurance wee have of it, the more oft, and seriously wee thinke of it, and meditate upon it, the more we shall bee filled with all the fullnesse of God, that is, with all spirituall and saving and sanctifying grace, as I shewed you the last day out of Ephes. 3.19. And the apprehending and beleeving of the promises of God these exceeding great and precious promises that God hath made to us in Christ hath great force to quicken and increase grace, in the heart of man. By them (saith the Apostle, 2 Peter 1.4.) wee are made partakers of the divine nature. O Lord (saith Hezekiah in the prayer that hee made after that God had given him a promise to restore him to life, Esa. 38.16.) ô Lord (saith he) by these things (by these gracious promises of thine) men live, and in all these things, is the life of my spirit, so thou wilt recover mee, and make mee to live. As if hee should say, Though I be not fully recovered yet having thy promise for it I am revived in my spirit; by these promises of thine thy people doe live, thy promises are the life of their spirit. If you aske mee what promises of God they bee that are so effectuall to breed and quicken grace in the heart of man. I answer, All Gods promises are very forcible and effectuall that way for in them all Gods marvellous love and goodnesse towards us is manifested. And these bands of love as the Lord calleth them, Hos. 11.4. have great force to draw the heart of Gods child unto him. By them thou hast quickned mee, saith David, Psalme 119 93. But yet there is a speciall promise which (above all other) is most effectuall this way; and that is, that God hath promised to all them that are in the covenant of grace, that are reconciled to him in Christ, that hee will give them his holy sanctifying spirit. A new heart will I give you (saith the Lord, Ezekiel 36.26, 27.) and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes. As if hee had said, Hee will by his holy spirit worke sanctifying and saving grace in his people. And yet more particularly God hath promised, that as wheresoever Christ came, when hee was upon earth, he restored the deafe to their hearing and the blind to their sight, and the lame to their lims and even the dead to life, as wee read, Matthew 11.5. Yea hee made that woman goe straight and upright that had had a spirit of infirmity eighteene yeeres and was so bowed together, that shee could not lift up her selfe, of whom wee read, Luke 13.11, 13. Even so the Lord hath promised to worke the same mighty workes in the hearts of all his people, that have by a lively faith received and entertained Christ. The eyes of the blind shall bee opened (saith hee, Esa. 35.5. that is, they that were ignorant shall have knowledge wrought in them) and the eares of the deafe shall bee unstopped (they that could not heare heavenly things with any affection or fruit, shall bee made able to heare the Word feelingly and fruitfully) the lame man shall leape as a hart (they that were before reprobate to every good worke, shall bee made able cheerefully and willingly to walke in Gods waies) and the tongue of the dumbe shall sing (they that could not speake of any goodnesse before, shall bee able to speake graciously) for in the wildernesse shall waters breake forth, and streames in the desart, they whose hearts were most barren before of all goodnesse, shall bee made most fruitfull in grace and good workes. Now the promises of God all that are reconciled to God in Christ, all true beleevers have just title unto, they are all heires of the promises of God as the Apostle calleth them, Hebrewes 6.17. the promises of God are their chiefe inheritance. They are set downe in Christs testament and wee may challenge them as our legacy. And if wee would make use of our faith (when wee find in our selves most want of any grace, or are most troubled with the poverty of our spirits) and lay claime to these promises of God that in Christ wee have so just title unto, certainely wee might bee farre more rich in grace then wee are. Why are wee still so blind and so deafe, so dumb and so lame, so barren and unfruitfull? Surely because though God have made us promises to helpe us in all these things, wee doe not stirre up our faith to lay hold of and make claime unto them, and therefore wee have so little benefit by them. That as wee read Christ did not many mighty workes in his owne countrey, Matthew 13.58. nay it is said; Marke 6.5. hee could doe no mighty workes there; and the reason is given, because of their unbeleefe: so it may truly bee said, that the true cause why the Lord hath not in all this time wrought more spirituall miracles in our hearts, is because of our unbeleefe, either wee doe not at all beleeve these promises, or at least wee doe not stirre up our faith, nor make use of it in making claime unto them and challenging our right in them as wee ought to doe. But I shall make this plainer unto you by handling it more particularly and distinctly, and shewing you the force that is in justifying faith, 1 to breed every saving grace in the heart, 2 to enable a man unto every good duty.
And for the first, I will instance but in foure particular graces by which you may easily judge of all the rest.
The first of them is saving repentance. What is it that maketh a poore sinner when hee hath offended, willing and able to turne unto God againe and seeke reconciliation with him? Not the knowledge of Gods justice and power to consume him, though I know there is a kind of repentance, (a legall repentance, such a one as Iudas his was of whom wee read, Matthew 27.3. that when hee saw Christ was condemned (and what a gulfe of misery hee had cast himselfe into by his sinne) hee repented himselfe) that is wrought thereby. But this will never worke saving repentance in a man, it will never cause him to turne unto God and seeke reconciliation with him; no no, it will make a man hide himselfe from God and flie from him if possibly hee could, as Adam did, Genesis 3.8. It is the apprehension and perswasion the heart hath of the mercy of God and of his readinesse to forgive him upon his repentance and turning to him, and that onelyonly that giveth a man a heart to repent and turne unto God when hee hath offended him. As the thing that made the servants of Benhadad seeke unto Ahab, 1 Kings 20.31. with sackcloth upon their loines and ropes about their necks (whereby they professed their sorrow for offending him and that they were worthy to die for it) was this onelyonly thing that they had heard the kings of Israel were mercifull kings. This is the Motive that good Hezekiah used to perswade Israel unto repentance, 2 Chron. 30.6. Turne againe unto the Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel (hee putteth them in mind of the covenant God had made with their fathers) and hee will returne unto you. And that also which the Prophet useth to the same purpose, Esa. 55.7. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man (the man of iniquity the worst man that is) his thoughts, and returne unto the Lord and hee will have mercy upon him, and to our God for hee will abundantly pardon. Thus doth the Apostle likewise, Iames 4.8. perswade unto repentance, Draw nigh to God, and hee will draw nigh unto you. And (to conclude) this was the maine thing that drew the prodigall unto repentance even the consideration of the fatherly affection that hee knew remained in his father towards him though he had so hainously offended him, as we may perceive by his words▪ Luke 15.18. I will arise (saith he) and go to my father and say to him, father I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne. And certainely if the vilest sinner among you all, could thus be perswaded of Gods mercifull disposition and readinesse to forgive you, upon your repentance, you would come in and not stand out in rebellion against him as you doe.
The second grace wherein the force of faith appeareth is the true feare of God. What is it that hath most force to make Gods child when he is once reconciled to God, affraid to offend him againe. I know well that the consideration of Gods severity and power, hath and ought to have great force and power in the heart to restraine a man from sin. For so our Saviour teacheth, Luk. 12.5. Fe…re him which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell, yea I say unto you feare him. But the apprehension and perswasion a man hath of Gods mercy and goodnesse toward him in Christ, is much more effectuall to make a man afraid to offend God; and all feare that is wrought without this is but a slavish tormenting feare. Feare hath torment, saith the Apostle, 1 Ioh. 4.18. It is not a child-like and saving feare. There is forgivenesse with thee (saith David, Ps. 130.4.) that thou maist be feared. And Hos. 3.5. They shall feare the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter dayes. And certainely (beloved) if you were any of you by a lively faith assured of the forgivenes of your sins, and of Gods marvellous goodnesse towards you in Christ you would be much more fearefull to offend him, then the most of you are.
Thirdly, The third grace wherein this power of faith appeareth is Obedience. Nothing is able to make a man willing and ready to be ruled by God in all things, to yeeld hearty and constant obedience unto him, till he by faith be assured of Gods love to him in Christ. The terrours of the law may (like that hedge of thornes that the Prophet speaketh of, Hos. 2.6.) be able to stop a man from going on in an evill way; but a willing obedience shall a man never bee able to yeeld unto God, till he have faith. When David, Psal. 26.1, 2. maketh profession of his integrity even unto God and comforteth himselfe against the malice of his enemies by that testimony that his conscience gave him that hee had walked in his integrity, hee had walked in Gods truth, his honest and good meaning hee knew would have yeelded him small comfort … had not guided his saith by the direction of Gods Word; nay he … God to examine and try him whether it were not so; he giveth verse 3. this for the reason and cause of this care hee had to walke uprightly and to follow the direction of the Word in all things. For thy loving kindnesse (saith hee) is before mine eyes. Nothing hath that force to make a man upright and constant in a Christian course, as the knowledge and consideration of the mercy and loving kindnesse of God towards him in Iesus Christ. I delight to doe thy will ô my God, (saith David, Psalme 40.8.) and thy law is within my heart. Till a man know God to bee his God, reconciled unto him in Christ, hee will never delight to doe his will, his law will not bee in his heart, hee will never heartily affect it. It was the love of Christ that constrained Paul to doe him so diligent and faithfull service in his ministery as hee did, 2 Corinthinas 5.14. the assurance hee had of Christs marvellous love to him, in dying for him, made him force himselfe to doe him the uttermost service hee was able, and to thinke hee could never doe him service enough. And where the Apostle speaketh of the marvellous obedience of Abraham to every thing that God commanded; when God bad him get him out of his owne countrey and from his kindred and come into a land which hee would shew him, hee left all presently; when God …ad him circumcise himselfe, and every male that was in his family, hee did presently upon the selfe-same day, though himselfe were then ninety nine yeeres old, Gen. 17.23, 24. and hee had in his house three hundred and eighteene valiant men at that time, Gen. 14.14. when God bad him cast out him sonne Ishmael out of his house (though hee loved him dearely) yet hee did immediately, Gen. 21.14. Nay when God bad him sacrifice with his owne hands his sonne Isaac of whom it was said in Isaac shall thy seed bee called, as the Apostle speaketh, Hebrewes 11.18. yet hee was ready to doe it and that presently too, as you may see, Gen 22.3. But what was it that made Abraham so obedient to God in all things, even in such hard commandements as these were? Surely saith the Apostle, Hebrewes 11.8, 17. he did all these by faith. He knew God was his God, and his exceeding great reward as hee promised to bee, Gen. 15.1. Hee was strong in faith, as the Apostle saith, Romanes 4.20. and therefore was so ready and cheerefull in his obedience unto God. Certainely it is our want of faith (beloved) that maketh every commandement of God, so grievous unto us, if we had more faith and assurance of Gods favour in Christ, we could not be so slack, and backward in our obedience as we are.
The fourth and last grace that I will instance in, is our love unto God. No man can truly love the Lord, till hee bee first by faith assured of Gods love to him in Christ. Wee love him (saith the Apostle, 1 Iohn 4.19) because hee first love us. And when once a man is assured by faith, that God hath so loved him hee cannot choose but love him againe and serve him out of love and not out of feare onelyonly. Faith worketh by love, saith the Apostle, Galathians 5.6. As if hee had said, The first and chiefe fruit that it putteth forth, and whereby it sheweth that life and efficacy that is in it, is this, it breedeth in the heart that hath it, an unfained love unto God. Yea proportionable to our faith and the assurance wee have of Gods love, to us, will our love unto God bee. Many sinnes are forgiven her (saith our Saviour, Luke 7.47.) for shee loved much, but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth but a little. Certainely (beloved) the true cause why the most of us beare no more love to God and goodnesse, then wee doe, is this that either wee have no faith, no assurance of Gods love to us, in the pardon of our sinnes, or els wee have knowne but few sinnes by our selves and have beene but a little humbled for sinne, and therefore we are not much affected with the mercy and love that God hath shewed to us in the pardon of our sinnes.
Now for the force that is in justifying faith to quicken and enable us unto every good duty (which is the second particular that I promised to speake of) I might be large in the handling of it. There is no good duty either towards God or man that thou findest thy selfe most backward in, but if thou hadst faith to assure thee of Gods love to thee in Christ, and to beleeve the promises that God hath made unto that duty, and if thou wouldst also stirre up and exercise thy faith in meditating of Gods mercy and love and of those particular promises: thou shouldst find thy selfe thereby made farre more able to performe that duty and to performe it in a holy and comfortable manner then thou art. This is that whereby David was wont to prepare himselfe to Gods publique worship. I will goe to thine house (saith hee, Psalme 5.7.) in the multitude of thy mercies. But I will instance (and that briefly too) but in two particular duties; that is to say, the hearing of the word and prayer.
For the first, No man can heare the Word with any affection and fruit till he have faith, and be thereby perswaded of Gods love to him in Christ. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word (saith the Apostle, 1 Pet. 2.2, 3.) that you may grow thereby: if so bee yee have tasted, that the Lord is gracious. As if he should say, Then and not till then, you shall be able to doe it. God hath made many promises to such as heare his Word. Generall promises. 1. Hee will ever assist this ordinance and worke with it, Matthew 28.20. Goe teach all nations, and loe I am with you to the end of the world. 2. That hee will save the soules of his people by this ordinance, Iames 1.21. Esa. 55.3. 3. That by this ordinance hee will begin grace and convert the soule, Psalme 19.7. 4. That by this ordinance hee will increase and perfect grace where hee hath begun it. VntoUnto you that heare shall more bee given, saith our Saviour, Marke 4.24. And Acts 20.32. I commend you to God, and to the Word of his grace, which is able to build you up. And particular promises God hath also made to them that attend upon this ordinance. 1. That hee will by this ordinance give them strength to overcome their strongest corruptions. Even a young man may cleanse his way thereby, Ps. 119.9. 2. That he will by this ordinance, worke peace in their consciences, Esa. 57.19. How falleth it out then that many of us heare constantly and find no such thing? Surely the cause is rendred, Hebrewes 4.2. The Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith, in them that heard it. In our hearing wee make not use of our faith to make claime to these promises and expect the performance of them unto us.
Secondly, For prayer. Till a man have some assurance by faith of the pardon of his sinnes and of Gods favour hee can never pray aright nor with any heart and affection, Romanes 10 14. How shall they call on him in whom they have not beleeved? It is the spirit of grace, that is the spirit of supplications, Zach. 12.10. He that goeth to God must apprehend him and conceive of him as of his father, Matthew 6.9. And on the other side hee that is by faith perswaded that God is his gracious father, cannot choose but resort much to him in hearty prayer, Galathians 4.6. O God thou art my God (saith David, Psalme 63.1.) early will I seeke thee. And 86.4, 5. VntoUnto the Lord doe I lift up my soule for thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy, to all that call upon thy name. Many are the promises that God hath made unto prayer. Generall promises that he will heare and answer us, Esa. 30.19. Hee will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry, when hee shall heare it, he will answer thee. And Iohn 16.23. Whatsoever ye shall aske the father in my name, hee will give it unto you. And particular promises. 1. Deliverance from any trouble and affliction, Psalme 50.15. Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee; Or strength and patience to beare it, Iames 1.5. If any of you lack wisdome let him aske of God and it shall be given him. 2. Whatsoever spirituall grace we stand in need of, Luke 11.13. Your heavenly father will give his holy spirit, to them that aske him. 3. Inward joy and peace of conscience, Iob 33.26. Hee shall pray to God and hee will bee favourable unto him, and hee shall see his face with joy. Aske and ye shall receive that your joy may be full, Iohn 16.24. Why then have wee no more heart to prayer? Why receive wee no more good by it? Surely wee doe not make use of our faith in thinking of and trusting to these promises of God, when we goe to prayer and that is a maine cause of it. And let not that man thinke (saith the Apostle, Iames 1.7.) that hee shall receive any thing from the Lord. And thus have I finished those foure Motives I promised to give for the enforcing of this exhortation.