Exposition of 2 Thessalonians, Exposition · Chapter 3 · Verse 3
VERS. 3.
But the Lord is faithfull, who ſhall ſtabliſh you and keepe you from euill.
THE words ſeeme intended to preuent the feare might ariſe in this people, from meditating their owne danger in the Apoſtles; as alſo the intermingling of falſe brethren, faithleſſe beleeuers with the Churches of God. Though that be true, you as I, may iuſtly expect vexations and perils from ſuch; yet be not diſmaied: God is faithfull, who will ſtabliſh you, and keepe you from euill.
In which comfortable ſpeech of the Apoſtle, two things to be obſerued. 1 The Bleſſings, as arguments of comfort, propounded. 2 Next the ground of the bleſſings; Gods fidelity.
The bleſſings two, both acts of the Lord towards his children. 1 Stabliſhment; that vnderſtand their firme ſetling in gracious goodneſſe, ſo as vnmoueably to perſiſt therein without defection: compare 1 Cor. 1.8. Act. 11.23. Eph. 3.16, 17. and that excellent parabolicall expreſſion of it, Mat. 7.25.
2 Cautelouſly vnderſtand it: 1 Shakings and wauerings in the very purpoſe may befall vsus by violent blaſts of temptations, Pſal. 73.2, 13.
2 Intermiſſions of the exerciſe of grace may betide vsus: yet ſemen manet, 1 Iohn 3.9.
3 Particular fals we are not exempted from; not Peter himſelfe, a rocke for firmeneſſe, yet from prolapſion, whole falling away, 1 Iohn 5.18.
3 Thus its conueied: 1 Comforts are proportioned to the meaſure of Afflictions, 2 Cor. 1.5. Rom. 5.5. 2 The ſweetneſſe taſted in gracious courſes glues vsus faſt to goodneſſe. 3 And the Lord addes continually to the graduall quantity of our gifts, Mal. 1.6.
4 Perſons to whom the bleſſing belongs, you ſhall obſerue thus qualified: 1 None moredPro. 28.14. timorous of their owne infirmitie: 2 nor more watchfull againſt occaſions of reuolting: 3 nor moree1 Iohn 5.18. carefull to vſe ſanctified meanes of confirmation.
2 The ſecond bleſſing, arguments of comfort; Preſeruation from euill. Queſt. of paine? or fault? Reſp. foreign, ſometimes denotes euill of penalty, as well as of ſinne; foreign, neuer but euill of fault: whither hee meanes maſculinely that euill one, the diuell, as 1 Iohn 5.18 Eph 6.16. Mat. 13.28. or rather euill worke, as 2 Tim. 4 18. is no matter of curious inquiry: this latter I rather thinke. Nor neede we anxiouſly diſpute, whither from the wickedneſſe of others, that is the miſchieuous plots deuiſed by their malignity to enſnare vsus; or from our perſonall wickedneſſe: though hereto I rather incline; ſee Gen. 20.6. q.d. The Lord ſhall ſo put his feare into your hearts that you ſhall neuer depart from him, Ier. 32.40.
Meanes he 1 that we ſhall not all be tempted? Reſp. Not ſo, Gal 6.1. Luc. 22.32. yet not led into temptation. 2. That in no particular we ſhall ſinne? Reſp. Nor that, Iam. 4.1. Eccl. 7.22. but that we ſhall not ſinne vntounto death, 1 Iohn 5.18. The euill ne toucheth vsus not tactu qualitatiuo: ſo as to alter vsus from our gracious diſpoſition and propenſion to goodneſſe. Caietan.
Thus its wrought: 1 violent temptations not permitted where the Lord ſees vsus infirme, 1 Cor. 10.13.
2 WefApoc. 3.10. taken from the temptation, as Henoch, leaſt the malice of the times ſhould change his minde.
3 Power giuen ſufficient to ſupport and ouercome, where tempted, 2 Cor. 12.9. datâ reſiſtendi virtute.
4 Sanctity of affection is giuen, and abhorrence from admitting thought of foule ſinnes; ſanitate affectionis.
5 Occaſion and opportunity withholden,Occaſionis ſubtractione. where temptation hath preuailed to procure conſent and purpoſe. Legantur ſuauiſſimae Bernardi elegantiae de triplici miſericordia & quatuor miſerationibus. Item de fragmentis Septem miſericordiarum, Serm. 3.
6 And where we ſall, the Lord raiſeth that we periſh not: 1 either our owneg2 Sam. 24.10. heart ſmites vsus: 2 or ſome outwardhPſa. 119.67.71 affliction reclaimes vsus: 3 or ſomei2 Sam. 12. Nathan ſent to rowze vsus.
Thus qualified are the men to whom the priuiledge belongs. 1 Theyk1 Iohn 5.18. keepe themſelues, vſing all holy meanes of preſeruation:lPſal. 19.13. prayer, m1 Cor. 9.27.humiliation, &c. 2 Are watchfull, none more, againſt occaſions. 3 Specially againſt their owne ſinne, that whereto they are by nature or ill cuſtome moſt inclinable, Pſal. 18.23. And of the bleſſings themſelues, and particulars belonging to explication of their nature, thus farre.
The ground and foundation of them, ſhewing certainty of their performance to vsus, is Gods fidelity. That vnderſtand the Lords conſtancy and truth in performing his promiſe and couenant. As if our establiſhment in grace and preſeruation from damning ſinnes, were among the bleſſings conuaied in the Couenant of grace. Nothing is more plaine. See 1 Cor 1.8, 9. 1 Theſ. 5.23, 24. Ier. 32.40. 1 Ioh. 5.18. Iohn 17.15.
Amongſt thenHeb. 8.6. better promiſes whereupon the new Couenant whereof Chriſt is mediatour, is eſtabliſhed, you may number theſe eminent. 1 Remiſſion of ſins. 2oEzech 36.27. Enabling in acceptable manner to performe our reſtipulation: 3pIer. 32.40. Confirmation therein: 4qMat. 16.18. Reſtraining the powers of Hell from effecting our ouerthrow. 5 Gods ownerPet. 1.5. ſafe guarding vsus to the poſſeſſion of the purchaſed inheritance, &c.
That me thinkes, amongſt the many impertinent queſtions raiſed in this curious age, none is more idely moued, then that of Saints perſeuerance. Doubteſt thou, whither God called according to his purpoſe ſhall perſiſt in their gracious eſtate? Turne Atheiſt, and make quaere too whether God be faithfull who hath promiſed; or of his power, whither he be able to doe it. But Controuerſies I meddle no more with, they are too tyreſome: I could elſe minde you of their incongruous explications, and abſurd euaſions: as that they ſuppoſe veſſels of wrath for the time iuſtified and ſanctified: when yet Paul makes theſe graces peculiar to the predeſtinate, and as ſeuerall to them, as glorification, Rom. 8.30. 2 Next, that they diſtinguiſh totall, and finall relapſing in the queſtion referred to the elect; into whom they imagine whole loſſe of theſe fauours may fall for the time, as when ſinne mortall feizeth them; yet the loſſe to be in ſuch recouerable, that ſo the purpoſe according to election may ſtand. When yet by Pauls rule whoſoeuer fals totally, fals finally, and its impoſſible he ſhould be renewed to repentance, Heb. 6 4, 6. ſee 1 Iohn 5.18.
But whither I ſhould more pitie or chide the paſſionate and perplexed feares of Gods children, I can ſcarſe reſolue. Who gazing to aſtoniſhment vponupon 1 might of Aduerſaries: 2 ſtrength of Temptations: 3 ſmall meaſures of Grace: 4 Interruptions of exerciſe: 5 partiall decaies: 6 weake feelings of fauours, with the like, grow too too wauering in faith of perſeuerance; yet lies Gods faithfulneſſe and truth to gage for it: 1 his promiſe and oath, fHeb. 6.18.thoſe two immutable things, wherein its impoſſible for God to lye: 2 Nor can we be ignorant, howtEph. 3.20. able he is to doe exceeding abundantly aboue all that wee can aske and thinke: that heuIohn 10.29. is ſtronger then all who hath giuen vsus to Chriſt; that we*1 Pett. 5. are guarded by that Almighty power through faith to ſaluation.
For ſinne and ſhame, why, are we faithleſſe? Are they mighty that oppoſe? Reſp. Yet the Lord aboue is mightier: Greater is he that is in vsus, then he that is in the world, 1 Iohn 4.4. Iohn 10.29. 1 Pet. 1.5.
Are temptations violent? Reſ. Yetx2 Pet. 2.9. knowes God how to deliuer: hath promiſed ſupport, 2 Cor. 12.9. & 1 Cor. 10.13. And in thoſe that hauehave yet befalne vsus, we hauehave experimented it: Is the Lords hand ſhortned?
Strength ſmall? Reſp. The greater ſhall be the glory of our ſupporter. 2 Cor. 12.9. Its all one to the Lord to helpe with much or with no power, 2 Chr. 14.11. the little ſtrength we hauehave, God ſhall make victorious, Apoc. 3.8.
Obedience interrupted? Reſp. Blame thine owne inuigilancy: churle not at him, who by permitting to feares and iealouſies, chaſtens it: yet caſt not away thy confidence,yPſal. 4.10. Auguſt. ad Rom. 8.28. Care ſhall ſpring afreſh; thou ſhalt riſe more vigilant, circumſpect, zealous to make amends for former aberrations: the ioint where its broken, when well ſet, growes ſtronger: ſee alſo 1 Iohn 2.2.
Decaies in meaſure of feruour? Reſp. Bewaile it, and hereafter ſhun the occaſions. But there is who heales ſuch breaches, and hath ordained wherewith to zEph. 4.12.repaire them: when pride, and contempt of weaker brethren, and preſumptuous confidence are chaſtened, and humility againe ſucceeds, the Lord ſhall reſtore thy meaſures as at the firſt; cauſe thee to doe thy firſt workes, and make them more at the laſt then aforetimes.
Small feelings of fauour? Reſp. Walke we by ſenſe? why not rather a2 Cor. 5.7.by faith? asbPſal. 22.1. Chriſt, and Dauid his type, againſt ſenſe holding the concluſion, God is their God: who but beleeues what he feeles? Its the ſpeech & proofe of glorious faith, Though he kill me, yet Ile truſt in him, Iob 13.15.
That nothing might be wanting to our comfort, in holding faſt the hope that is ſet before vsus, God hath couenanted not onelyonly for the bleſſings, but for the conditions that concerne vsus; to cauſe vsus to walke in his ſtatutes, to ſupport, to restore, to pardon, without all nay from Satan and our own weaknes, to ſet vsus in poſſeſſion of the purchaſed inheritance.
The Lord is faithfull. But Atheiſts none deliberately queſtion it. Its his perpetuall ſtile: the faithfull God which keepeth couenant, and mercy, Deut. 7.9. Dan. 9 4. Not a word goes out of his mouth but exactly is performed: ſee Ioſ. 21.45. & 23.14. 2 Chro. 6.14, 15. 2 Kin. 10.10. Circumſtances exactly kept: compare Gen. 15.13. & Exo. 12.41. As his mercy extends not to good onelyonly but to the froward, ſo oft his faithfulnes to them that deale perfidiouſly in the couenant: ſee Rom. 3.3, 4. moral vertues of men are all in God eminentor: our faithfulneſſe, & other vertue, what are they but raies of that Sun? Explication we need here rather then proofe.
c2 Pet. 3.4.Whence is the promiſe of his comming? Reſp. Pieuiſn Atheiſt: I muſt he needes acquaint thee with thedActs 1.7. times? in an houre thou eLuk. 12.46.thinkeſt not of, he ſhal come to take vengēnce of ſuch Scoffers. 2 And where is thy Reaſon? vaniſht, I ſuppoſe, with thy Religion. Elſe thou wouldſt ſee the inference abſurd: he yet comes not, therefore will neuer come.
Where the performance of thoſe promiſes of f1 Tim. 4.8.this life, and that to come made vntounto godlineſſe? Reſp. Take them with their intended modus, exactly they are performed. 1 Temporalties not promiſed abſolutely, but with limitation to expediency; withgMar. 10.30. exception of the Croſſe, and reſeruation of power to the promiſer to hPſal. 89.31, 32.chasten delinquencies of his children: 2 performance not intended alwayes after the letter, but in the equiualent: diſiunctiuely vnderſtand thoſe promiſes, either the particulars, or ſomething iMar. 10.30.better; if not peace, yet patience; if not wealth, yet contentment: ſo God breakes not promiſe, but changeth in melius: ſee ſupra.
Ʋſe 1 Build we our ſelues firme in expectation of all good things promiſed, ſo as they are promiſed, ſeeme nature and ordinary courſe neuer ſo croſſing to the performance. So didkRom. 4.18, 19. & 12. Abraham, whoſe children we are, while we walke in his ſteps: the eye of faith ſees farther then the meanes; in ſpight of croſſe meanes, holds firm expectation of the promiſe.
There are foure degrees of Confidence: 1 where are meanes competent and ſufficient: 2 where meanes weake, and in eye of reaſon diſproportioned to the effect. 3 Where are no meanes. 4 Where meanes are oppoſite, and ſtrongly repugnant to the promiſe. GiueGive me that faith that reſts on naked promiſe of God; and thinkes it potent to breake thorough all impediments.
Next in prudence weight, 1 the promiſer hath reſerued in his own power times and ſeaſons: 2 choiſe of meanes: 3 chooſeth oft vnlikelieſt meanes: 4 performes ſometimes without meanes: 5 ſometimes by meanes extraordinary: 6 and whiles againſt meanes.
This is amongſt the diuine vertues which admit reſemblance in the Creature; part of that holineſſe, wherein the Lord requires his children, to reſemble him. The faithfull and true God ownes, not perfidious children.
Mans fidelity hath a twofold relation: 1 to God. Not onelyonly God bindes himſelfe to vsus, by promiſe becomming our debtor; but we to God hauehave couenanted, vowed obedience. Lord how ready are we, failing of what we ſeeke, to charge God fooliſhly? when either 1 we miſtooke the quality or manner of the promiſe: 2 elſe, a thouſand to one failed in our reſtipulation.
2 To man; and bindeslPſal. 15 4. with loſſe to ſupport credit of fidelitie. Oh tell it not in Gath that our Chriſtians are as Ieremies Iewes: mIer. 9 4, 5.EueryEvery brother will ſupplant; eueryevery man deceiue his neighbour: when ſhall that golden age returne, that the Argument may againe proceede? Sacerdos eſt; non fallet: Christianus eſt; non mentietur.