Exposition of 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 5 · Verse 24
VERS. 24.
Faithfull is he that calleth you, who alſo will doe it.
THe ſecond part of the Concluſion, deliuering ſweet conſolation; aſſuring them of obtayning the bleſſings prayed for; the parts are two. Firſt, an aſſertion, God will doe it. Secondly, confirmation of the auouchment, by a double reaſon: Firſt, from the propertie of God, hee is faithfull; which implies his promiſe. Secondly, from the action of GOD begunne and continued; in Pauls apprehenſion a pledge of Gods purpoſe to perfect and preſerue them; becauſe he calls them.
Prayeth Paul for that which hee is aſſured the Lord will doe? Belike then, Gods promiſes and purpoſes that are of ſureſt accompliſhment, muſt be furthered to accompliſhment by prayer, and ſuch like meanes as God hath ſanctified. tLuk. 24.26.What more certayne, then Chriſts returne to his glorie, his humiliation being finiſhed? yet with what inſtance uIoh. 17.5.prayes he of his Father, his owne and his Churches glorie? ThexReuel. 22.17, 20. Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come, though Amen hath teſtified, that he will come quickly.
No man can thinke it ſtrange that viewes. Firſt, the qualitie and conſtitution of Gods decree touching grace and glorie; ſo ordered, that it is not abſolute for the end, but includes the meanes, God hath choſen vsus to ſaluation, ſhall we ſay as thoſe deſperate, howſoeuer we liue? In no ſort, buty2. Theſ. 2.13. through ſanctification of the Spirit and Faith of the Truth. Thence is that reaſoning of the Apoſtle; from Gods purpoſe touching the end, to our neceſſarie vſe and application of the meanes. The Gentiles God decrees to ſaue. No matter, would a miſcreant ſay, though the Goſpell be neuer preached vntounto them; Paul otherwiſe,zRom. 10.13, 14. Therefore to them alſo muſt the Goſpell be preached. See alſo 1. Tim. 2.
The ſame, euidence the ſignifications of GODS will and purpoſe; two wayes hath God manifeſted to vsus his purpoſe touching the ſaluation of his Church. Firſt, by Promiſe. Secondly, by Precept: His Promiſes ſignifie, what he will doe: His Precepts preſcribe, what we muſt doe, that his promiſes may be to vsus fulfilled. To his Church hee promiſeth, to forgiue their ſinnes; withall giues vsus command,aAct. 3.19. to repent and beleeue, that our ſinnes may be done away when the time of refreſhing ſhall come: his promiſe is to ſaue his Children; their duetie yet,bAct. 2.40. to ſaue themſelues from the vntoward generation. I forbeare much proofe, rather apply it to vſe. Reprouing, not without indignation, the profane opinion and practice of men, that turne the grace of God into wantonneſſe: and in a deſperate reſolution, vponupon a miſtaken ground, neglect all holy meanes of furthering Gods gracious purpoſes to their execution. If God will ſaue them, he will ſaue them; what needs ſuch niceneſſe in matter of obedience? If he will ſanctifie them, hee will ſanctifie them, though meanes of ſanctification be neglected.
How ſtrange and profane is this abuſe of the grace of God; that what hee propounds to encourage vsus to vſe the meanes he hath ſanctified, we ſhould ſo farre peruert, as to make our chiefe excitement to contemne them? How ſhould it incourage vsus to labour for the meat that periſheth not, to know, our labour ſhall not c1. Cor. 15.58.be in vaine in the Lord? How animate vsus, todHeb. 12.1. runne with ioy the race that is ſet before vsus? becauſe we run not on e1. Cor. 9.26.vncertainties. In things of this life, nothing ſo much excites our induſtrie, as aſſurance of good iſſue: How falls it, that in matters of ſaluation, it ſhould dull our indeuours?
We cannot paſſe doome on any during this life, nor ſentence the vileſt miſcreants as Reprobates: howbeit, of men thus reaſoning we may ſafely ſay, They hauehave yet no euidence of their election to Life.
Let Gods people all be admoniſhed, to beware how they admit thought of ſundring, what God would hauehave ioyned together. Let this euer be noted one difference betwixt Faith and Preſumption: Faith, hauing promiſe of a bleſſing, vſeth with preciſeſt care, meanes ordered to obtayne it. Preſumption, ſo builds on the promiſe, that it regards not meanes of accompliſhment. See Act. 27.25, 31.
The ſubſtance of the Conſolation, God will doe it, that is, will ſanctifie you throughout, and preſerue you blameleſſe in that gracious eſtate. The Concluſion here affoorded vsus, is, Whom God beginnes to ſanctifie, he continues to ſanctifie, and preſerues euer in the ſtate of ſanctitie.
The collection, ſay ſome, is naught, except wee limit it to the Elect. Belike then, it is poſſible for Reprobates to be ſanctified. Let that Concluſion be examined. Firſt,fEpheſ. 1.4. Sanctification, we finde Scriptures to make as properly a fruit of election, as ſaluation. Secondly, ſo to appropriate it to Gods Choſen, that it is made the vndoubtfull g2. Pet. 1.10.marke of election: How is it ſigne of election, if incident into a Reprobate? Thirdly, the Spirit of ſanctification, promiſed onelyonly to the Elect: the hJoh. 14.17.world cannot receiue him. Fourthly, the heauenly inheritance appropriated to Gods Choſen, yet extended to iAct. 20.32.all that are ſanctified. Fiftly, And I wonder, by what meane is this bleſſing procured to Caſt-awayes? Not by their owne merit: for who giues God firſt? Neither may wee thinke the Lord ſo prodigall of this fauour, as to caſt it away, on them whom hee hath caſt from his LoueLove: As for Chriſts merit and interceſſion, by which alone it is purchaſed to the Elect, therein hath the k2. Ioh. 17.9.world no portion. What place then for ſuch limitation? We reſume the Concluſion propounded, in largeſt ſenſe; and thus make good the truth of it.lPhil. 1.6. He that beginnes the good worke, will perfect it to the day of Ieſus. The Lord will m1. Cor. 1.8.confirme you to be blameleſſe in the day of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
For our fuller comfort, wee hauehave Gods promiſe: his Faithfulneſſe and Truth laid to pawne, ſhall we doubt of his faithfulneſſe? What promiſe of GOD made to the Church, ſeemed it neuer ſonRom. 4.17.18 improbable or impoſſible in the eye of Reaſon, euer fayled of due accompliſhment?
Obiect. It is true, may ſome ſay, God is faithfull and true, ſo we be not vnfaithfull.
Anſw. Firſt, Not only ſo, ſaith the Apoſtle, but God is true, thoughoRom. 3.4. eueryevery man be in part vnfaithfull. The vnfaithfulneſſe of men doth not abrogate the Truth of God. Secondly, God promiſeth not only the mayne bleſſings, but the meane graces; promiſeth to inable vsus to performe, what he requires to be performed of vsus: hee commands to walke in his feare; promiſeth ſopIer. 32.40. to put his feare into our hearts, that we ſhall not depart from him: commands to pray, and make knowne our wants vntounto him: promiſeth to powre vponupon vsus qZach. 12.10.the Spirit of grace and deprecation: Commands to keepe his Commandements: promiſeth, torEzech. 36.27. cauſe vsus to walke in his Statutes. So forcibly flowes our Conſolation from the faithfulneſſe of the Promiſer.
See if from the fact of God, mentioned by the Apoſtle, it runnes not as fluent. Hee calleth you; therefore will doe it. God calleth three wayes. Firſt, Operando. Secondly, Loquendo. Thirdly, Spirando. By his Workes, his Word, and his Spirit. Firſt, by his works of Creation and Prouidence, hee calls alowd to the ſinnes of men, that they ſhould ſAct. 17.27, 28.ſeeke after and acknowledge that God that made the world, and the fulneſſe thereof for the vſe of men; thattAct. 14.15, 16, 17. giues raine and fruitfull ſeaſons, and filleth our hearts with ioy and gladneſſe. The iſſues and effect of this calling, is only to depriue of excuſe.
Secondly, To this therefore hath hee added in his Church, his Word and Miniſterie thereof; therein inuiting all that heare it, to Repentance and Saluation: withall, ſhewing the way and meanes of reconciliation, and peace with God. But this alſo, is often through mans hardneſſe uHeb. 4.2.and infidelitie, ineffectuall to ſaue.
Thirdly, Therefore is the Spirit ſent alſo together with the Word, by ſecret motions and inſtincts exciting our hearts to accept ſo great ſaluation offered in the Goſpel. And of his calling are two degrees. Firſt, Inuitement. Secondly, effectuall perſwaſion. Inuitement hath place in many caſt-awayes; children of perdition hauehave their holy motions, and heare that voyce behinde them:xIſai. 30.21. Here is the way, walke yee in it. Wretched caytiffes that quench Gods Spirit, reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt, and ſmother violently the ſweet motions and inſtincts wherwith he inſpires them.
Hereto therefore he ads, in thoſe whom he purpoſeth to ſaue, effectuall perſwaſion; preuayling with their hearts to entertaine the Grace offered, and framing them to the obedience of the Will of God. Of this calling it is truly ſayd, it is pledge to vsus of our profection, and preſeruation in Grace. Therefore makes Peter no queſtion, but makingy2. Pet. 1.10. our calling ſure, we make our election and ſaluation ſure: and Paul deliuering vsus like conſolation elſewhere, buildes on the ſame grounds.z1. Cor. 1.8, 9. Firſt, God is faithfull. Secondly, That hath called you to the fellowſhip of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt. The Text explained, hath fully prooued the concluſion.
I meane not on this occaſion to make long ſtay in confuting the Doctrine of the poſſible Apoſtaſie of the Saints. The heads of Reaſons brought to maintaine it, I touch onelyonly. Firſt, Cautions many wee hauehave giuen vsus, to looke toa1. Cor. 10.12. our ſtanding; to feare, to beware how bHeb. 3.12.wee fall from the Grace of God. Anſw. Firſt, theſe ſhew a poſſibility of reuolting in reſpect of our weakeneſſe, and the power of meanes aſſaulting vsus: tend to admoniſh, not to preſume of our owne ſtrength, but to relie on the power and promiſe of God. This hinders not our reſting ſecurely on the faithfulneſſe and power of the promiſer: whereon depends our ſtableneſſe in Grace. See 1. Pet. 1.5 Secondly, they imply a poſſibility conditionate onelyonly, not abſolute: ſuppoſe thus; it is poſſible to fall from Grace, except our care be to ſtand. But this cautionateneſſe in Gods children, is as certaine in their performance, as the iniunction is in the precept. Whoſo is borne of God, c1. Ioh. 5.18.keepes himſelfe; and that euill one toucheth him not. 1. Ioh. 5.18. Thirdly, they are meanes effectuall to worke, what they preſcribe: Humilitie: feare & trembling, to depart from the liuing God.
Obſer. Secondly, Paul intimates; experience teſtifies ſome Sanctified to hauehave fallen away.
Anſw. Of men Sanctified, after the Homonymie of the word, Scripture notes diuers degrees. Firſt, ſome Sacramentaliter; ſo alldHeb. 10.29. Baptized, are ſaid to be Sanctified, becauſe of theireTit. 3.5. waſhing in that lauer of Regeneration: and their conſecration in Baptiſme to the Seruice of God. Secondly, ſome foreign; that receiue ſome parts materiall of Sanctification,f2. Pet. 2.18. Illumination, outward Reformation, &c. Thirdly, ſome foreign, by way of diſpoſition; as thoſe that are ſaid to gHeb. 6.4, 5.taſte the heauenly gift, & powers of the world to come. Fourthly, ſome foreign; in the opinion andh2. Pet. 2.1. charitable Iudgement of men. Fiftly, ſome foreign; In truth receiueng the habited gifts of Sanctitie: of theſe onelyonly is our concluſion; of others, the teſtimonies and experiences alledged, vnderſtood.
Obiect. Thirdly, Laſtly, the fouleſt falles of God Saints are produced; which how may we conceiue to ſtand with Sanctification?
Anſw. Such ſinnes could not ſtand with the exerciſe or act of Grace; yet well ynough with the habite of Sanctitie: as the vnreaſonable and brutiſh behauiour of a man in his drinke, ſtands not with the vſe; yet well ynough with the facultie of Reaſon. So that notwithſtanding theſe oppoſitions, the concluſion ſtands firme, for the certaine progreſſe and preſeruation in ſanctity of all that God hath begun to ſanctifie.
How full of ſweet comfort and conſolation is it vntounto Gods Saints, wreſtling with corruption, and many a vile thought, headſtrong in rebellion? incountred with principalities and powers; ſeeing in themſelues nothing but weakeneſſe, and fraileſt infirmitie? Know all ſuch to their comfort, God is faithfull; and his promiſe is, toiAct. 20.32. build further, to preſerue blameleſſe, to giuegive the inheritance to all them that are ſanctified. Hath God begun his good worke? HekPhil. 1.6. will perfect it to the day of Christ. Here alſo hath place that ſaying of MOSES, Perfecta ſunt opera Dei. This onelyonly hauehave we eye vntounto, that our euidence be ſound for the beginnings; we are aſſured of our progreſſe, and preſeruation. For euidence we need not wander beyond the Text, ſo fully it affords them.
Firſt, The Grace of Sanctification ſpreads ouer the whole of man. The mind, erſt blind in the things of God, notable to conceiue them, quarrelling at the preſcripts of the Law befooling the ſimplicitie of the Goſpell, is now inlightned to ſee into the myſteries of Gods Kingdome; approoues the equitie and goodneſſe of the Law; admires Gods wiſedome reueiled in the Goſpel: The will naturally ſo froward and auerſe from goodneſſe, ſo thirſtingly inclined to wickedneſſe; is now as inſatiably deſirous of Heauenly Graces; propenſe lRom. 7.18.beyond ability to obedience: The eyes, that before wandered after vanitie; prie now for occaſions to glorifie God: The vntamed tongue, ſet on fire on hell, to lie, and raile, and curſe, and blaſpheme; is now reſtrained from ſo rotten communication; inures it ſelfe to gracious ſpeech, ſuch asmEphe. 4.29. may miniſter grace to the hearer, &c. The whole ſpirit, and ſoule, and body, is now ſo altered and renewed, that a man becomes a maruell to himſelfe: an1. Pet. 4.4. wonderment to the world, with whom hee erſt ran to the ſame exceſſe of riot.
Beloued Chriſtians, thus if it be with vsus, we hauehave more then ciuilitie; wee hauehave that ſanctitie, that ſeales vsus to the day of Redemption. Let eueryevery man enter new ſearch of his heart; ranſacke it to the bottome; anatomize the whole man, take ſuruiew of his whole ſpirit, and ſoule, and body: that if any corner he finde corruption raigning, hee may ſtriue to mortifie it. Vainely ſhall we flatter our ſelues in opinion of ſanctitie, except wee bee in meaſureo2. Cor. 7.1. purged from all filthineſſe of fleſh and ſpirit.
A ſecond euidence pointed at by the Text, is our calling; our continuall calling out of the power of darkeneſſe. The act is continued as Pauls word imports. God calleth continually, thoſe whom he ſanctifieth; bleſſeth all holy meanes vntounto them, ſo that they eueryevery day more and more are deliuered from bondage to corruption. Sure it is, ſanctification is not perfited in an inſtant: as ſure, that by what meanes it is begun, by the ſame it is increaſed and continued: ſo that the man truely ſanctified, findes a continuall bleſſing vponupon his hearing, meditation, Praying, Conference, Contemplation of the Creatures, Afflictions; or if there be any other meanes, that God hath ſanctified, to call vsus into his marueilous light.
Make it the touchſtone of our ſeeming ſanctitie; wee hauehave many of vsus beene of long ſtanding in holy profeſſion, we are dayly hearers of the Word of God: frequent in vſe of that Sacrament. It ſhall behooue vsus to prouide, that our proceedings be anſwerable to our means; that the more we heare, the more we grow out of ignorance; get more power ouer our corruptiōs. I dare not ſay, but Gods children truely ſanctified, may hauehave their pauſes, yea alſo their declinatiōs: But ſure it is true for the ordinary, They that are planted in the houſe of God, are fat and flouriſhing; andpPſal. 92.13, 14. bring foorth more fruit in their Age. Now God be mercifull to this declining Age, this ſlowbacke, or rather backe-ſliding generation. How many gracious Sermons hauehave we heard, the fruit whereof we neuer yet taſted? And where is the man amongſt many, that can ſay, his proceedings are anſwerable to his time and ſtanding in Grace? and thinkes it not well with him, that hee holds what he firſt receiued, in knowledge and obedience? How many are of the mind to befoole themſelues, for their ancient zeale and ſtrictneſſe in holy practices? Yea, which a mans heart would bleede to thinke on, how many carried away with the errour of the wicked, hauehave fallen from their wonted ſtedfaſtneſſe? Enlarging their Conſcience, to ſwallow vp ſuch ſins in commō practice, the thought whereof they once trembled to admit? Seriouſly and betimes thinke of theſe things.qReuel. 2.5. Remember whence ye are fallen, and doe your firſt workes. Iealouſie of our gracious eſtate, it is iuſt ynough, that ariſeth from our pawſings; more, that iſſues from our declinings. The man truely ſanctified, God calles continually out of the power of darkeneſſe.
Thirdly, To theſe adde, continued carefull vſe of meanes, that God hath ſanctified to worke growth and continuance in Grace; Word, Sacraments, Prayer; exemplified in therAct. 2.42. Conuerts of Ieruſalem, Dauid, &c. See alſo 1. Pet. 2.1. Prou. 8.34.
They are dangerous concluſions taken vp by ſome, I hope it is through their ignorance. Suppoſe: hearing is good at all times; not ſo neceſſary, after a man hath felt the power of the Word to conuert him; ſuch an one, by priuate ſtudie may ſufficiently further his progreſſe in ſanctitie, though publike meanes be neglected.
A proud and curſed concluſion; TheſHeb. 10.25, 26 high-way in the practice of it to Apostaſie: had theſe men wiſdome, without flattery to examine their owne ſtate, how ſenſibly might they perceiue, that if they loſe not what they had receiued, yet they grow not as others, that wait at the gates of wiſedome? They hauehave cauſe to be iealous of their ſoundneſſe in ſanctitie, who are thus indifferently affected to publike Miniſtery.