A Lifeless Life, Sermon
A PROFITABLE SERMON PREACHED AT LINCOLNESINNE, ON
GEN. XXII. XIV.
As it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seene.
THe occasion of these words,The occasion of the words▪ was that famous hystorie of Abrahams offering his Sonne Isaack: now that so great a passage of Gods providence, and so great a tryall of Abrahams faith might not passe away, but be remembred, the Lord delivereth it in a proverbe, As it is said unto this day; because wee are apt to forget, and proverbs are short and pithy, and so the better remembred, and therefore the Lord setteth this marke upon it:Observ. whence by the way we observe, That speciall passages of Gods providence should not be forgotten.
And therefore it is the manner of the Lord in such passages of his providence, to make songs of them: and so hath it beene likewise the practice of the Lords people to turne such things into songs, which they would not forget, as we see at the Red Sea,Iudg. 5. Deut. 31. 19. and in the time of Dehora; and so did Moses, when he would have some things to bee remembred of the children of Israel, he left them a song: so did David likewise, who for the remembrance of the Lords goodnesse, made many Psalmes of thanksgiving.
Now a proverbe is much of the same nature; but it is short, and makes a greater impression, and therefore this great matter here set forth by it, is the dispensation of the Lords providence.
Wherein note wee in the first place, That the Lord will be seene: Two things observable in the Text.why, what strange thing is that? the Lord is seene every where of us, and makes himselfe continually visible unto us. I, but this is another kinde of sight, which is not in a generall manner to bee beheld, but in his speciall providence to his servants in their afflictions.
The second thing is, The time when he will be seene; that is, In the mount: that is, when things are brought to an extremity, when we thinke there is no more helpe nor hope, that is the time when the Lord will be seene.
Now the scope of this place is,The scope of the place against discouragements. to helpe us against discouragements, when wee see it goe hard with the Church that there is no hope for them, for then we are not to distrust, Because in the mount will the Lord be seene, in distresse will the Lord shew himselfe; and therefore you are to take heed of discouragements that you leave not your hope, for then you take away indevour, and so Gods causes fall to the ground, and thereby the Lord is forsaken of us; for it is our hope that sets all aworke, and the want of hope makes us turne our backes; yea, foyle and give over the Lords Battels; and therefore we should still maintaine our hope in all extremities whatsoever, for when the Lord sends any afflictions on the Church or our selves, wee ought not to despise or make light of them, because they are the messengers of the Lord, to humble us: so we must not on the other side have the sinewes of our soules loosened by them; for as we are not to despise the Chastening of the Lord, so are wee not to faint when wee are rebuked of him; for in the Mount will the Lord be seene: that is, it is a thing that the Lord will usually doe, not at this time when thou wouldest have him, but even when Abraham was fetching the blow, then to stay his hand: And it is his usuall course so to doe; and therefore it is turned into a proverbe, because it is ordinary.
Secondly,For ordinary use. we have ordinary use of it, and therefore likewise it is put into a proverbe; for the Lord usually brings us into extremities; and that it might be the better remembred of us, it is put into a proverbe, for that is the use of short sentences to be easily carried in the memory; and therefore the Lord hath thus turned it: As men doe by their Silver,Simile. they change it into Gold that it may with the more ease be carried.
Now to cometo the words; out of which wee may learne,Doct. 1. That it is Gods usuall manner to bring his children to extremities. The examples are so many in Scriptures, and in our daily experience of this, that we need not insist on the proofe of it, but proceed to shew the reasons thereof.
And the first cause why the Lord doth so usually doe it,Reas. 1. To make it an affliction. is, When hee brings afflictions on his children, he lets it runne along till they may thinke there is no more helpe, nor hope, that so it may be an affliction to them; for it would not bee an affliction, except it did runne on to the uttermost point; for if there were any doore for us to get out, wee were not compassed about, but when a man hath no gap to goe out at, that is it that makes the spirit of a man to sinke.Simile. If a man were in a smoky house, and had a doore open, it were no difficulty for him to shift himselfe out of it; but when wee are shut up, that is it which makes it difficult; and that it might be so, the Lord suffers it to come to an extremity.
Secondly,Reas. 2. Because the Lord might be sought unto. The Lord brings us to an extremity because the Lord might be sought to; for so long as the Creatures can doe us any good, we will goe no further; but when they faile us, wee are ready to looke up to the Lord:Simile. As it is with men which are on the Seas, when they are in an extremity, those that will not pray at any other time, will pray now, and bee ready to say with these in the Prophet Hosea 6. 1. Come and let us returne unto the Lord; for … hath torne, and he will heale us; he hath smitten, and he will binde us up: and the reason is, because where the Creature ends, the Lord must beginne, otherwise there can be no helpe at all. And hence it is that at the time of death, when a man once sees that, and hath no deliverance, it quaileth the stoutest spirits that are: as Saul, when he could see nothing but death before him, then he sanke downe to the ground, and till then the Lord is not sought to; but in their afflictions they will seeke mee, saith the Lord; because then they can goe no where else. Therefore when a man is brought to say, vaine is the helpe of man, then he will looke to the Lord for his helpe; but till then, man is subject to looke round on every side to see if there bee any that will helpe: but when there is none, then hee seekes unto the Lord and is delivered.
Thirdly,Reas. 3. Because God may be known to be the helper. The Lord doth it, because that hereby it comes to passe that the Lord may bee knowne to be the helper; that when wee are delivered, hee may have all the praise; for otherwise if there be but a little helpe in the Creature, wee are ready many times to ascribe it all to it, or at least to divide the prayse; and therefore the Lord said to Gideon, Iudg. 7. 2. The people that are with thee, are too many: though indeed they were but few in comparison of the multitude which they were to goe against, yet they were too many for Gideon, to have acknowledged the hand of the Lord in it, if hee should have had the victory with them. But the Lord will not divide his glory with another, and therefore he will bring a man to the streight to bee without all hope, that so hee may have all the praise; for when other meanes concurre with his helpe, then it is divided; but without that, his arme lyes naked, as it were, and therefore that it might bee knowne, hee brings them to extremitie.
Fourthly, The Lord doth it, because all that we have,Reas. 4. Because we might receive it as a new gift wee might have as a new gift: Therefore the Lord suffers us, as it were, to forfeit our Leases, that he may renew them; otherwise we should thinke our selves to bee Free-holders. But when wee come to see all gone, our health, wealth, and credit to faile us, and in that extremity the Lord to give it us, it is as a thing given on a new gift, and then we take our life as given againe of the Lord: and so in any other streight, when there is no helpe of man left, then wee take it wholly from the Lord; and then wee give it to him againe.
Fifthly,Reas. 5. Because wee may know the Lord. Quest. The Lord doth it, because hee may teach us by Experience to know him.
But here some man will be ready to say, Why cannot that be without these extremities?
To this I answer,Answ. God is never knowne well but by experience. You must know when a man goes on in a course, without any troubles, or changes, his experience is to no purpose; for hee hath no great experience of the Lord: But when a man is in tribulation, that brings experience; and experience, …pe; for it is another kinde of experience that is so learned, than that which comes without it: and indeed nothing is well learned till it bee learned by experience. And therefore our Saviour Christ himselfe that had all knowledge that could be had without this, would have this also of experience likewise; for when a man is in ex…emity, then shall hee have experience of the Lord: And therefore it is said of Manasses, when he was in affliction, and had prayed to the Lord, humbling himselfe, and was restored, that he knew the Lord was God, 2 Chron. 33. 13. Why, did hee not know that before? No, not as now hee did; for now hee knew the Lord by experience: and the want of this is the cause why many feare not God; for because they have no changes, they know him not by experience, and therefore they feare him not.God manifefleth himselfe ever upon some great change. And for this cause, when the Lord did ever manifest himselfe in any speciall manner to any of his people, ye shall see it alwayes to bee upon some great change that befell them: As when Iacob was forced to leave his fathers house, to flye from his brother Esau, then did the Lord in a speciall manner manifest himselfe unto him; and so likewise at his returning home againe, when his brother Esau came against him with foure hundred men to destroy him, which was a great change, then the Lord appeared to him againe: so still upon the great changes of his people doth the Lord appeare unto them; and as hee did to them in former dayes, so he doth to us now; hee doth appeare unto us sometimes by …erience of his goodnesse; which that he may doe, he brings us to extremities.
Lastly,Reas. 6. The Lord doth it for proofe and tryall, for so it is said in the beginning of this Chapter, God did prove Abraham; and therefore said unto him, Take now thine onelyonly Sonne Isaack, whom thou lovest, and offer him up on one of the mountaines which I shall shew thee: Now seeing the Lords intent was to prove him whether hee would part with his sonne Isaack for his sake, therefore he lets him goe to the very place and utmost period of offering his sonne; for if the Lord had taken this tryall of him before hee had brought him to the very utmost, hee had not beenetryed; but when the knife was as it were going to the throat of his sonne, then was heefully tryed: And like unto this doe we deale with friends one towards another; for when you will try how another will trust unto you, you will let him alone till there be none else to help; for if there be any other for him to go to, it is no tryall; but if it is come to this that you must doe it, or none will, then have you tryed him and not before: in like manner did the Lord prove Abraham in this place.
The Use of it is,Vse. Not to be discouraged whatever our case be. That wee might searne never to be discouraged; whatsoever our case is, let us never suffer our hearts to be cast downe in us; for as we are very prone to let goe our hold upon all occasions, so is it a very great fault so to doe. We see how David doth recollect himselfe together when h… soule was disquieted within him,Psal. 43. 5. asking himselfe why it was so? which hee would not have done, if the other had not beene a fault in him; and therefore why doe wee so cast downe our soules? If we say,Obiect. it is because it will be long before the Lord will come and undertake our helpe:Answ. I answer, no, it will not, for as soone as he doth see thee fit for helpe, hee will give it; for when things are most desperate, then his helpe is nearest: for as he is able then to doe it, so is hee most willing to doe it then. And to this purpose is that place, Hos. 14. 4, 5, 6. I will heale their backesliding, I will love them freely, Hosea 14. 4, 5, 6. opened.for mine anger is turned away from them. I will be as the dew to Israel, he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon: his branches shall spread, his beautie shall be as this Olive, and his smell as Lebanon. When Israel was fallen into a very low condition, and had taken to him words, and repented of their sinnes, then the Lord healed their back-sliding, which was the cause of their misery: and then though they were outwardly miserable, yet he will be as the dew unto them; that though they be as the Lillies in winter which hath neither colour, scent, nor beauty, yet consider in the spring time what I doe unto them, and learne to know me by the workes of nature; for if I doe but send a little dew, such as is in the time of spring, it shall grow againe, yea and bring forth such a flower, whose beauty shall exceed Salomon in all his Royalty: and if the Lord can doe so in nature to the hearbs of the field, doe you not thinke he is able … doe it to you in the ordinary passages of his providence? If hee shall but shine on you with the light of his Countenance, yea though you were as the Lilly in the Winter, yet shall you spring againe as the Lilly in the Spring: that is, you shall spring quickly. I but you will say, and quickly wither againe: No, saith the Lord, you shall be confirmed and established in your estate, for hee will fasten your roots as the trees of Lebanon, and they were faster than the trees in other places; for though they be tall, and so their boughes might bee moved, yet the bodies of the trees hold their owne, because they were well rooted: and in Lebanon they were faster than in other places, because it was a firmer ground: so that if the Lord list to plant you, you shall be sure to remaine firme. I but what shall I be good for? I know not how to be usefull neither for God nor man, but to bee laid aside as a thing for which there is no more use. Nay, saith the Lord, I will not onelyonly make you beautifull as the Lillies, and rooted as the Cedars, but I will make you as the Olivetrees which are fit for use. And put the case thy name and credit bee lost, yet your smell shall be as the smell of Lebanon, that is, as Lebanon had many sweet blossomes and sweet smels, so shall it be with you, whatsoever your condition be.
This place then is a place of comfort aganst discouragements,Examples. which you may see exemplified in divers examples:Iob. As in the example of Iob: you know in what a case hee was, he lost all hee had, that he had not a friend left him; no, not his wife nor servants that would sticke unto him, but was brought to the very Mount, to an extremity that could not goe further, for he was at the very brim of the hill: yet when Iob was fit for mercy, when hee had humbled himselfe, you see what a change the Lord made, how his beauty did returne againe, and how all his health, prosperity, and friends did returne unto him, in so much as he was in all things as before, yea and beyond it. So in the fourth of Daniel 26.Nebuchadnezzar, who would have thought it possible for Nebuchadnezzar ever to have beene restored, that had lost his kingdome and wits too, which is the onelyonly meanes to bring a man in againe; yea, hee had lost all his beauty, for hee was a beast of the field, yet the Lord made a change with him: now a man would wonder how this should be brought to passe that hee should have his kingdome againe and be made knowne to his Nobles; why the Text saith, He looked up to heaven, vers. 34. and then his Nobles and Princes sought unto him: for the disposition of all people is to have the right heire to rule the kingdome; and therefore he had as much glory and honour as ever before. The like you shall see in Mordecayes time,… …ewes in Mordicaes time. when the Church was in extremity; for you see how farre Haman went, the blow was as it were in the giving, the knife was in his hand to cut the throat of the whole Church of the Jewes, yet when they had humbled themselves by fasting and prayer to the Lord, that made worke in heaven; and when there was a change in heaven, you see how quickly the Church was changed, and brought even from the lowest degree to the highest that could be, or ever was in the time of their trials. And therefore let us never give over our hopes, and despaire not, for because the Lord is ever ready to shew mercy, for mercy pleaseth him: A man when he corrects his childe,Simile. he doth it unwillingly; but when hee is fit for mercy, hee is glad to shew that: why so it is with the Lord, hee being willing to doe it, and exceeding able, for hee is a Physician that is able to heale the most dangerous diseases, and shall wee then doubt of the accomplishment? It is a common fault amongst us to measure the Lord according to our selves; and so when we see man cannot helpe us, we thinke that God cannot; but he that can turne Winter into a Summer, can speedily turne our estates when we are fit for it: As a Physician that administers hard potions to his Patient,Simile. it is not because he cannot or will not give him pleasant things, but it is because his Patient is not fit for it; for as soone as hee is fit for Cordials, hee most willingly gives them unto him: And as the Husbandman,Simile. hee is willing enough to sowe his seed in the earth, and would bee glad if the time were come; I but hee knoweth if he so we it on the wilde waste ground it would be lost, and therfore he plowes it first, and againe too, yea thrice if it be needfull, and then having well fitted it, hee sowes his seed; Even so it is with the Lord, hee first plowes the ground, he digges deepe into the hearts of men if it be needfull so to doe, but if a little plowing will serve, he never takes a deeper; and if one will serve, he never gives a second; and therefore when we are fit to receive the seed, mercy shall come in amaine amongst us, even as that which goes with wind and tide; yea, it shall come as fast as our misery did, which though it comes headlong upon us as it did upon Nebuchadnezzar, yet how quickly did the Lord deliver him againe? and so shall it, bee with us, because the Lord is delighted with mercy, therefore the Lord doth usually helpe in extremities, and not before; for in the Mount will the Lord be seene.
And as the first Doctrine is drawne naturally from these words, That it is Gods usuall manner to bring his children into the Mount; so in the second place, then and there will he be seene: Therefore it followes, That
In the time of extremities will the Lord be seene, Doct. 2. Reasons why God will not be seene till extremities are.and not before: But then he will appeare in his speciall providence, for the comfort of his Children, though not before.
And why so?To exercise the graces of your God by. First, because the Lord knowes this is the best way to draw forth the practice of many graces, and good duties, which otherwise would be without use: As for example; When Iacob had made his brother Esau his enemy by his hasty getting of the blessing, whereas if hee had stayd the Lords time, he might have had it without any sorrowes with it; but because he will have it a wrong way, it is accompanied with many sorrowes both in him and Rebecca likewise: Now if the Lord had presently made reconciliation betwixt him and his brother, as he could have done, though he did not, but made it long first, that made Iacob exceeding fruitfull; for hee being caused to to flye, as his mother counselled him to doe, in his necessity became acquainted with the Lord, and knew him better than ever otherwise hee should have knowne him; yea, he knew himselfe better too, and therefore vowed to give the Lord the tenth of all that he had, and that the Lord should be his God for ever if hee would give him food and Clothing, of which hee felt the want at that time; and this brought his heart to the Lord: So likewise when Esau came against him at his returning home againe; if it at the first it had beene told Iacob that his brother had beene friends with him, hee had never wrestled with the Lord as hee did; and so should he have missed of that great blessing which he received in being called Israell. And therefore we se… the Lord by this doth draw many great fruits from them, of which otherwise the Lord should lose the glory, and wee the benefit, if it were not so with us. So likewise the Angell was sent to Daniel when he began to pray; I but if the message had then beene delivered to him, his heart had not beene so well moulded in the frame of grace, therefore the Lord lets him alone; though hee had given the Angell charge to deliver the message to him, yet till he had done his worke, and was made fit for it, the message of their full deliverance was not made knowne unto him.
A second reason why the Lord deferres, and will stay till the very extremity comes, is,Reas. 2. To give time of repentance▪ Because he would give a time to men to repent and meet him in, which is good for his Children, otherwise we should not seeke unto the Lord: and for such as doe not seeke him, it is to leave them without excuse: as in 2 Chron. 11. 12. Chapters, you shall finde that Roboam sought the Lord for three yeares together, and then departed from him, yet Shisacke was not sent against him till the fifth yeare of his reigne: Whence this is to be observed, that though he had forsaken the Lord, who therefore had resolved to bring judgement upon him, yet he gives him two yeares liberty to see if he would returne. So when Nebuchadnezzar was like a flourishing tree, when he had dreamed his dreame, and that made knowne unto him, that he should be cut downe to the very root, like the lilly in winter, nothing should be left but the stumpes, yet you shall finde it twelve moneths after before the Lord strucke him. So in the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, the Lord was oftentimes offering to strike it, yet called backe his hand again that they might humble themselves and seeke his face: but as it is said of Iezabel in the second of the Revelations verse 12. hee gave her time to repent, but she repented not.
Thirdly,Reas. 3. To let us know the vanity of the creature. the Lord doth not deliver till the time of extremity, that we may know the vanity of the creature. And see that they are but as reeds that are empty: as for example, when a man is brought to some great straight, and sees that men will forsake him in it, as the Lord will cause them to doe when he will bring a man to a streight indeed, for then he will shew him that there is no helpe in man; as when a man that is sicke,Simile. and so farre gone that no physicke will doe him good, but all Physicians have left him; or when a man hath some great businesse in hand, and nothing that he hath will effect it; and so likewise a man at Sea, when hee is in such a tempest that neither rowing nor any thing else will doe him good, then when men are in such cases, they come to see the vanity of the creature, and that all outward meanes will start aside like a broken bow; for a broken bow being drawne but a little, will hold; but if it bee drawne up to the head, then it breakes in the hand of him that handles it: Even so, when the creature is put to it, then the vanity of them is seene, and that they are but as hollow reeds that are empty, and so not bee trusted to.
Now we must adde to this,Though God defer till extremity, yet then he will surely helpe. that as the Lord will not deliver till then, yet then he will doe it; and of that you must make no doubt, because the Lord will make good his promises and bee just, for he is abundant in truth, he will make good all that he hath said, and that in abundance. Now if the Lord will helpe, and yet not till a man come to extremity, why then hee must helpe or not at all, and so he should faile them that trust unto him, when as one man will not faile another that trusteth him, for that were treachery so to doe; why then much lesse will the Lord faile thee, if thou rely upon him, if thy heart can tell thee thou dost intirely rest upon him, it is impossible hee should faile thee: And therefore hee must helpe thee at the last cast, or else not at all; and untill thou art so farre gone, thou art not come unto the Mount; for Abraham was three dayes in going the journey, and the Lord might have revealed it before if hee would, but hee did not till he came to the mount: And therefore doe not say, now is the extremity, and yet the Lord doth not helpe mee, when thou art but in the way, for thou art not yet come to the brow of the hill, thou art not at the utmost part of the Mount.
The Use of it is,Vse. To teach us not to make too much hast for deliverance. to teach us not to make too much haste for deliverance in the time of distresse, but to wait upon the Lord, yea depend upon his providence when we seeme to be without helpe: If we looke upon the Creature, yet then are wee to depend upon the Lord, so as never to say there is no helpe; but on the contrary, to say, I will trust in him though he kill me; for so did Abraham here, he was to kill his Sonne, and yet he had hope: So let us, though there were a thing that would bee our utter undoing if it should come on us, yet if it doe come thou oughtest to hope, because it is the Lords manner to bring his people to extremities, as here to Abraham: and the like hee did to Peter when he came to him on the waters; for he might have holpen him before he beganne to sinke if he would, but hee did first let him sinke a little and then he holpe him: So when the people were at the Red Sea, and had no gap to goe out at, then the Lord holpe them, by making a way thorow the Sea: In like manner he did to Iacob when hee was returning home from his father in law Laban, hee, suffered Esau to come out against him with foure hundred men, before hee holpe him; and who would have thought that Esau's mind should have beene so suddenly turned? But when Iacob was brought to a streight, then the Lord turned all another way. And the like he did with David in the time of his distresse, he let him alone till the waters were like to goe over him: but when his feet had almost slipt, in regard of his outward and inward troubles, for he was at the very going downe to the grave, then the Lord brought his feet out of the Net, and set him at liberty, and tooke him out of the waters that he was not drowned▪ and therefore still trust in the Lord, and labour that thy faith faile thee not whatsoever thy straights be; for that was Peters fault when hee was on the water, for if he had sunke, being hee had the Lords word, hee should have beene safe enough, and therefore had no cause to doubt; and so wee should learne to doe, in all our streights still to beleeve; which if we doe, wee shall finde the Lord very exceeding ready to helpe beyond all that we can be able to aske or thinke.
See this in an example or two, how the Lord comes betwixt the cup and the lip as it were, betwixt the very lifting up of the hand to the stroke; and as in the Text, so also when the Shunamite had by the command of the Prophet left her land, because of the Famine that was to come when the seven yeeres were done; for shee trusted the Prophet, and therefore did not say, Alas, what shall I doe for my lands againe? but did goe; and when shee returned, and was gone to the King for her lands againe, at that very instant was the King talking with Elishaes servant about the great workes of the Prophet, who then told the King of this woman and her sonne, confirming that which Gehezi had said, and Gehezi being present to helpe to speake for the woman; and then shee had not onelyonly her lands restored her, but the fruits of it also for the whole time of her absence. So likewise when Mordecayes destruction was plotted by Haman, and so neare brought to passe, that there could be no hope of helpe on any side, yet then when Mordecay was asleepe in the night, and had made no plots at all for his safety, then the Lord brought it to passe;Ester 6. 1. for that night the King could not sleepe; then hee must needs call for a booke, and then that above all other bookes, that should bee brought, and in that booke that very place to bee turned to of the treason against the King, and Mordecayes truth and faithfulnesse in discovering the same; and that this should be done at the very extremity, when a day or two after would have done him no good, it is worth the considering: therefore never doubt, feare not, but trust to the Lord in any streight; for though hee doth not worke miracles now, yet he workes wonders, and is able to doe as great things as ever he was, yea, and doth so too when there is the like occasion: In like manner, when our Saviour Christ was brought to the very brow of the hill by the people to bee cast downe from it, why then he went a way thorow the midst of them; so is the Lord able to doe with us, and will also if there be the like need; and therefore let us learne to trust in the Lord, and in all things to depend upon him. One would have thought it impossible when fortie men had secretly vowed neither to eat nor drinke till they had killed Paul, for that to bee revealed, and Paul to be delivered, when so many that were able enough to destroy a poore prisoner had conspired against him, yet we see the Lord delivered him from that great streight; and therefore let us wait still upon the Lord, for it is but the staying till the time be out, and then he that can save, will save, and will not tarry. And so much for the second thing.
The last point observable from these …
That godly mens extremities are but tryals,Doct. 3. Godly mens extremities are trials, not punishments. sent for their good; and not punishments, sent for their hurt and ruine.
The Lord did this but to prove Abraham, hee meant him to hurt at all in it: And so the Lord doth by afflicting others of his owne people, he doth not meane to hurt them by it. And therefore when you see an affliction to bee so great as if it would undoe those on whom it is, yet you shall see in the issue it was but like an evill; for when Abraham was bid to take his onelyonly Sonne Isaack whom he loved, and offer him in a Sacrifice to the Lord, and was suffered to bee the three dayes in the tryall, yet the Lord meant him no hurt; here was indeed a great apprehension of evill, yet it was no evill; but it might as much worke upon him as the evill it selfe: Even so is it with us in our afflictions, they are not evils, but meere tryals, and therefore we are not much to be dismayed for the greatest afflictions that can befall us in the world, because they are but trials, that doe befall thee from God.
I,Obiect. Answ. but will some say, what shall I get by it? Why, so much that there is so little cause to be sorry for it, that thou hast cause to rejoyce, if thou woudest beleeve; as it is said in the first of Iames 2. My Brethren, count it great joy when you fall into divers trials: It is a very fit Text for the purpose, for the Lord said hee would prove Abraham; and all is no more but to try us, and not to doe us any hurt: and this is a good reason why it is so, in that wee are bid to rejoyce in it; now we have no cause to rejoyce in that which wil hurt us, neither will the Lord lay any unreasonable command upon us.
I,Obiect. Answ. but what if the tryals bee many? Yet hee bids us rejoyce, though they be of divers kindes; when wee are not onelyonly afflicted in the losse of goods, and our friends forsake us, in which wee might have some comfort, if our healths and liberty might bee enjoyed; or if all the outward man were afflicted, yet if the spirit were whole it would beare out infirmitie. I, but what if that bee wounded too? Why, if there bee tryals of all sorts, and you fall into them all, and that of a sudden too, as a fall of waves, one comming upon the necke of another as they did upon Iob, yet wee are bid to rejoyce: Why one would thinke it were enough for a man to bee patient in that case; yet (saith the Apostle) you must rejoyce in it; yea, count it exceeding joy: that is, as your trials are greater, so let your joy be greater.
Why,Obiect. Answ. We ought to rejoyce in trials, because the greater the tryall is, the more will be the good. that is a strange command you will say: I but though you see not the reason of Gods Commandements, yet there is a great reason in them, which if you saw, you would keepe them most willingly. And the reason of this Command is, the greater the tryall is, the more will bee the good, and therefore the more cause of joy; for if the most painefull bee the most gainefull, then they that have them, have the greatest cause to rejoyce in them: It was a tryall for Abraham to goe from his owne land, and to cast out his sonne Ismael; I but this was the greatest, and this brought him the greatest fruit that ever hee had.
I,Obiect. Answ. The good that comes of trials, is, but what is that good? Why this; first, it shall increase grace in your hearts; for as the gold when it is tryed loseth nothing but drosse, and so is made the better thereby; so it is with our afflictions, for the triall of our faith, 1Increase of grace.saith the Apostle, bringeth forth patience: so the greater thy tryall is, the more it strengthens thy faith, and so increaseth comfort: for when the afflictions of the Apostle abounded, his Consolation abounded also. And hence it is, that our Saviour Christ saith, You shall receive an hundred fold with persecutions; that is, when the tryall doth abound, the comfort shall abound.
Againe,2Increase of reward. you shall have the greater wages; for when a man hath a friend that hath be one employed about any great thing for him, why the greater the trouble was which he did undergoe for him, the more will hee bee beholding to him, and the greater reward will hee bestow upon him; even so the greater the tryals are from the Lord, the greater benefit will come to us by them; and therefore when you see the greatest tryals befall the Church and people of God, bee assured by this which hath beene said, that some great benefit is comming to them; for doe you not thinke this is a usefull doctrine; it may bee it concernes some of you now at this present; if not, it may doe, and therefore lay it up before-hand; and let us not thinke of our afflictions as of things that will undoe us, but as tryals that will bring us profit. For as the Spyes that went to Canaan were of two sorts, and looked upon the Gyants that were in it with a double eye; and so some of them said, O the land is a very good land, and incouraged the people to goe up into it; and others that were afraid, they said, nay but the land eats up the Inhabitants thereof, and discouraged the people to goe up into it: Even so it is with many amongst us, when they see afflictions befall the Church and people of God, O they presently are afraid, and therefore they say, Who would be as these men? let me be of such as be in prosperity and have friends, and some that will provide for mee: but what is the reason of this? Why they send forth wrong spies, and therefore they bring backe a false report: but if thou wouldest send forth thy faith and spirituall wisdome which ought to be in thy heart, then thou shouldest see it were no such matter. And therefore let this be our practice concerning the estate and condition of the Church at this time, and needfull it is wee should so doe; for doe you not see the dangers that they and we are in, and the confusion that is almost throughout all Europe? yet God hath not forgotten us, neither will he leave us, if wee can but rest upon him: what though there should be a sudden change, so that all things were with us as it was in Hesters time? yet could the Lord bring forth some good thing out of it that should tend much to his glory and our good: Put the case all were turned upside downe, as it was in the confused Chaos, wherein heaven and earth was mingled together, and the waters overcomming all the rest,Simile. yet as then when the spirit of the Lord did but move upon the waters, many beautifull creatures were brought forth, and the Sea divided from the rest, that those waters that seemed then to spoyle all, serves now to water all, and without it we cannot bee: Even so, were the Church in never so confused a condition, yet the Lord shall so order the things that seeme to undoe us, that they shall bring forth something of speciall use; that is, something to water and make fruitfull the house and people of God: and therefore be not out of hope whatsoever befalls thee, onelyonly bee humbled; for there is great cause so to be, and the Lord calls thee to it by his Ministers, and wee are his messengers to declare his will unto you; and as we must bee humbled and take to heart the cause of the Church, so wee must consider the time, that wee may bee throughly affected thereby; for it was Ephraims fault not to doe it: and thou must see this distresse, so as it may bring thee into the Mount; for it is not an extremity simply that will cause the Lord to helpe thee; but when thy soule is plowed up therewith, and then the Lord will cast in the seed and water it, so as thy soule shall spring againe; and therefore let us still maintaine our hope in all conditions whatsoever. And for this end did I fall upon this Text at this time, That in the Mount will the Lord be seene.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Preston, A Lifeless Life (1633)