A Cloud of Faithful Witnesses, Commentary 17
The faith of the widowe and the Shunamite.
VERSE 35.
The women receiued their dead raised vp to life.
THis is the tenth and last fruit of their faith, which must be vnderstood of these two women especially: the widow of Zarephath, and the Shunamite. The widow of Zarephath, giuing entertainment:…. Kings 17. o Eliiah in the great famine, had this blessing vouchsafed vntounto her for her faith, that her dead sonne was restored to life by the Prophet: And the Shunamite that prouided lodging for the Prophet Elisha, 2. Kings 4.had her onelyonly son restored to life from death by the Prophet through faith. Now heere we must obserue, that these two women did not only beleeue in the true God; but more particularly, that God would vse these his seruants, as meanes to restore to life their two children that were dead: as appeares by this, that both of them made means to the Prophet, for the reuiuing of their children; which they did, by faith.
But some wil say, This last effect of faith, may seeme to crosse the Scripture else-where; which saith, that Christ is the first fruites of them that sleepe. 1. Cor. 15.20.How then could these that were before Christs incarnation, be restored from death to life? Answer. Saint Pauls meaning is this; that Christ is the first of all those that rose from death to life, to die no more, but to liue for euer. So, indeede, Christ is the first fruites of them that sleepe: for, he rose to liue for euer. As for these two, and some other, mentioned both in the olde Testament and the new, that were raised from death to life, they rose not from the sleepe of death, to liue for euer, but to die againe.
In this tenth fruite of faith, all Parents may learne their duty towards their children, in the case of sicknesse or such like. They must follow the example of these two godly women, and labour especially to shew forth their faith in such duties as God requireth in such a case: to wit, they must humble themselues for their owne sinnes, and for the sinnes of their children and family; praying earnestly to God for the pardon of them (for GOD may visite the iniquity of the Parents vponupon the children in bodily iudgements) and entreating the Lord to restore them to health and liberty: and withall, they must vse the ordinarie lawfull meanes of recouerie in physicke and such like, praying to God for a blessing thereupon.
This is their dutie; but (alas!) the manner and practice of many Parents, is farre otherwise: for, whereas they should first seeke vntounto the Lord, and come to his Prophet, they either runne first to the ordinary meanes of physicke; or, being worse disposed, seeke help of wizards & blessers by their charmes and sorceries, forsaking GOD and running to the Diuell. Indeede, the vse of lawfull meanes is not to be discommended simply: but this preposterous course is blame-worthy, and depriues many, of Gods blessing in the meanes, That they seeke helpe of Physick, before they hauehave sought to the Lord, in this holy practice of faith.
Quest. But how can the parents faith benefit the childe? Answ. It cannot procure vntounto it eternall life: for, eueryevery one must bee saued by his owne faith in Christ. And, yet the childe receiues many a good blessing at Gods hand, by meanes of the Parents faith; as namely, the benefit of the couenant of grace in the seales thereof; besides the fruition of many temporall blessings, as life it selfe, in this place.
The consideration hereof, must mooue all parents, aboue all things, to labour for true faith: for, by the practice hereof, they shall be able to bring the greatest blessing vponupon themselues, and their children, and vponupon the lawfull meanes which they shall vse for their good. Say, the Lord shall lay his hand vponupon children and seruants in a family, what must parents and masters doe? Surely, the best way for helpe, is the practice of faith, in true humiliation for sinne, and prayer to God for mercy, and for a blessing vponupon the meanes which they shall vse. In all societies this is true, that by the faith of the gouernors, many curses are remooued, and many blessings procured. God sends his Iudgements among vsus daily, and we knowe not when other moe shall befall vsus: but for the remoueall and preuē ting of them, we must giuegive our selues to true humiliation and praier; and so shal we finde the Lords mercy towards vsus, as these two women did.
And thus much of this tenth fruit of faith, and of them all seuerally.
Now, from them all ioyntly together, obserue this speciall point; That faith is such a grace of God, as doth bring downe from heauen vponupon eueryevery beleeuer, all Gods blessings that are needfull for him. Who is hee that desires not to bee made partaker of GODs blessing… needfull for him, both in soule and body? Well: the onelyonly way and meanes hereto, is to get a true and liuely faith, and to put the same in practice, in all such duties as God shall require at our hands. The worthy men before named, obtained al the former most wonderfull blessings, by meanes of their faith: By it they scaped the edge of the sword, they quenched the violence of the fire, waxed mighty in battel, &c. as wee hauehave heard.
Now, if faith be such a notable grace of God, then aboue all things in this world, let vsus labour for it. We must not content our selues with lip-faith, and so presume vponupon Gods mercies; but, wee must labour for a true and liuely faith in Christ, which may purifie our hearts, and bring forth fruit in our lyues. Here are strong motiues to perswade vsus hereunto: for, what doe wee desire? riches, honour, or fauour, and grace in the world? would wee hauehave health, and strength? nay, the fauour of God, which is all in all? then, looke to get true faith: for, in the practice thereof, thou shalt obtaine of God, all needfull blessings, both temporall and spirituall. Many toyle themselues exceedingly, by worldly meanes to get temporall blessings, as health, wealth, honour, &c. and yet neuer attaine thereto, because they seeke them not by faith. I confesse, naturall men get many good things: but to them they are no blessings; because they want faith both in getting, and keeping of them: for, they lay all religion aside, and toyle themselues wholly in worldly meanes. This course the childe of God must beware of. Say, that a Prince bids one of his seruants goe to his Treasurie, and there inrich himselfe with Iewels, with gold, and siluer, and with whatsoeuer he lacketh: what will this man doe? Surely, first hee will call for the keyes, wherby he may vnlocke the doors and chests; for else he can get nothing. Behold, in the Ministerie of his word, God shewes vsus his full treasury, wherin wee may inrich our selues, with all his blessings: Now, wee must not with the foole, runne without the key, but labour first, for true faith; which is that key, whereby Gods heauenly treasures are opened vntounto vsus: and, we must be sure that we hauehave a sound key; that is, a true and sound faith, which may strongly turn about the lockes of Gods treasury. For, this is most certaine, he that doth vnfainedly beleeue, shall neuer want any thing, either in body or soule, that is good for him to hauehave. EueryEvery one will say, hee beleeues; but the truth is, that true faith is rare: for, mens hearts are not purified, nor their lyues changed; but they remaine as sinnefull as ever they were: which causeth Gods iudgements to be rife among vsus. Wherefore, as we desire our owne good, both in soule and body; so let vsus labour for true faith, and shewe forth the power of it in our lyues. And thus much of these Iudges and Prophets, and of the fruits of their faith.