Sermons Experimental, Sermon 1 · Verse 7
VERSE. VII, VIII.
Return unto thy reſt, O my ſoul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee: for thou haſt delivered my ſoul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
ANother Paſſion, or paſſage of Davids devotion, upon meditation of Gods mercy in his deliverance from preſſure; And the words are, in ſumme, a ſweet ſoliloquie of David with his ſoul, checking it after a ſort for the diſquiet, and unreſt it paſſionately had plunged it ſelf into, by occaſion of his many, and grievous outward preſſures; Deduction it hath by way of uſe, and inference, from his experience of Gods mercy in his preſervation: The form of carriage is in a Rhetoricall Apoſtrophe (for what is more eloquent then Devotion)
Conſiderable therein; are, Firſt, The effect of Davids outward preſſures, They wrought the diſquiet and perturbation of his ſoul. Secondly, The check he gives to his ſoul, for admitting ſuch perturbation. Thirdly, The chearing he affords it. Fourthly, The ground of that chear, The Lord hath dealt bountifully; which in the eighth Verſe he evidenceth by particulars of favours vouchſafed him.
The reſt of the ſoul,*Matth. 11.29. foreign, is the calm temper of the faculties thereof, and the ſweet repoſe it findes in the fruition of what yeelds it contentment, Heathens called it foreign, or Tranquillitatem animi, which they anxiouſly ſought, but never enjoyed: This Chriſtian reſt of the ſoul is that ſweet temper, and tranquillity, grace frames in the faculties of it, and the ſweet repoſe it findes in Gods mercy through Chriſt: That David had formerly enjoyed, but now found interrupted, through the manifold afflictions outward, and inward, he was preſſed withall, and therefore checkingly adviſeth his ſoul to return thereto, and to enjoy the former tranquillity. So ye ſee how farre afflictions work upon gracious diſpoſitions, even to the diſturbance of the tranquillity of the ſoul; It is little Paul ſaith, Heb. 12.11. no affliction joyous, therefore addes, it is grievous: Pſal. 42.5, 11. and 43.5. we read of dejecting the ſoul, of tumults in his ſoul, Pſal. 6.3. of vexation, and Pſal, 38.8. he roared for the very diſquietneſſe of his heart: And you may obſerve the ſame to iſſue out of foure cauſes uſually. Firſt, Violent Paſſions, whether grief, or fear, or wrath, &c. when they grow immoderate, towards violent, what a cumbuſtion fill they the whole man withall? Iam. 4.1. See envious grief, and deſire of revenge in Haeman, what diſquiet it worketh, Heſt. 5.13. and 6.12. So Ahabs covetouſneſſe, 1 Kings 21.4. Secondly, Conflict. Firſt, Twixt ſanctified reaſon, and appetite, when reaſon perſwades one way, affection draws another, and each ſtrives for victory. Secondly, Twixt rectified conſcience, and affection, when affection would carry to evill, and conſcience would reſtrain from evill. Thirdly, Twixt corruption, and grace, Rom. 7.23. the law of the members rebelling againſt the law of the minde. Thirdly, Guiltineſſe, as Pſal. 32. and 38. and 51. This is piercing above meaſure, Pſal. 38.3, 4. I mean, when either new ſinnes are unrepented of, and for which we have not yet received aſſurance of pardon into the conſcience, &c. or when the Lord preſents to the ſoul old ſinnes, without manifeſtation of favour in the pardon of them, as Iob 13.26. Who can expreſſe the terrour of that unreſt the ſoul is then poſſeſſed withall? Fourthly, Apprehenſion, whether true, or fained, it matters not to the diſquiet of the ſoul; It was a falſe apprehenſion of Iob 13.24. that God counted him as an enemy; he meant his good, as his triall, his humiliation, his juſtifying againſt all the ſlanderous imputations of Satan; Yet how perplexed is that holy ſoul? Falſe, that of David, that God had*Pſal. 77.8, 9. forgotten to be gracious, or had ſhut up his loving kindneſſe in diſpleaſure; yet is he troubled, overwhelmed, breaks ſleep, yea is aſtoniſhed, Pſal. 77.3, 4. But is the apprehenſion true, then no marvell, if the ſoul can finde no reſt; It was true that God had taken from him the joy of his ſalvation, Pſal. 51. inhibited lively operation of his ſanctifyng ſpirit, Pſal. 32, &c. Here, if he roar for the diſquietneſſe of his heart, who marvells? Who, I mean, that ever taſted how gracious the Lord is?
Vſe. 1 Take heed how ye cenſure, leſt ye miſ-cenſure thoſe, to whom theſe things betide; What if through paſſion, or conflict, or conſciouſneſſe of evill, or apprehenſion of wrath, they finde for preſent happily no reſt in their ſouls? What, when through ſinfull infirmity they bewray impatience, murmuring? &c. Therefore are they none of Gods? Et quidni Davidem, Jobum, Jeremiam, & quicquid ſol unquam vidit renatiſsimum ex renatorum albo expungimus? Then condemn we the whole generation of the juſt. Pity, compaſſionate, comfort ſuch perplexities; for either thou mayeſt in like ſort be*Gal. 6.1. tempted; thou art yet in the*Heb. 13.3. body, Hodie mihi, cras tibi: and God is often moved to*Pro. 24.18. turn his hand from them to thee, that he may teach thee more compaſſion; and Iobs friends for this fault are ſharply rebuked, Iob 38.2. and ſacrifices expiatory for that ſinne preſcribed, Iob 42.7, 8.
Flatter not thy ſelf by miſ-underſtanding the Vſe. 2 promiſe, as if without interruptions the performance were intended: Mercy and peace ſhall be upon them that walk after the rule, Gal. 6.16. But think you, without interruption? Where is that promiſe? Hath not God reſerved to himſelf power to chaſten, to try, to prevent, &c. Though favour be not loſt, yet ſenſe is often interrupted; and though God never hate, Ioh. 13.1. yet is oft angry with his deareſt ſervants, &c.
Beware how we provoke the Lord to remove Vſe. 3 from us this bleſſedneſſe of our ſoul, or through our own indiſcretion interrupt, or diſturb the reſt of our ſouls; the happineſſe of a Chriſtian upon earth ſtands in it.
Occaſions of the ſouls diſquietneſſe.I will minde you of the occaſions how Gods own ſervants have fallen into it.
Firſt, Giving liberty to their reaſon to exact Gods juſtice, and to quarrell the unequall diſtribution of the good things of this life, ſee Pſal. 37. and 73. Ier. 12. Hab. 1.13, &c. Thus curb it. Firſt, He is an abſolute Lord, Matth. 20. Secondly, Yeeld, that there muſt be difference betwixt him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not: Muſt this difference needs be in outward things? Eccleſ. 9.1. Sufficeth it not, that we have our preferment in ſpirituall bleſſings? Epheſ. 1.3. And is he bound preſently to manifeſt it? ſee Mal. 3.18.
Secondly, Our over-prizing ſome ſpeciall bleſſings, and too much contentment found in them; I finde many have faulted in that kinde, Abraham in Iſhmael, Iacob in Ioſeph, David in Abſalon; None but God hath chaſtened; read the ſtories.
Thirdly, But above all, beware of preſumptuous ſins; ſins againſt conſcience, committed out of perſwaſion of the graciouſneſſe, and mercy of God: Doth thy experience of Gods favour, the pledges of his love, encourage thee to evill? Truſt me no more, if thou looſe not, till thy repentance renewed, that former fervour thou haſt taſted in his grace, and ſo pierce thy ſelfe thorow with perplexed ſorrows; ſee David, Pſal. 51. And ſo is the Effect of Davids Preſſures.
Follows now the check David gives his ſoul for ſuch cauſleſſe diſquiet; Return unto thy reſt, O my ſoul: Enjoy thy old tranquillity, ſolace thy ſelf in God: ſo doth grace check its own paſſions, the ſtorm of violence once overblown, eſpecially for what diſturbance riſeth from outward preſſures, ſee Pſal. 42.5, …1. and Pſal. 43.5. and Pſa. 77.10. It is mine infirmity; and Pſal. 73.22. he be-fools, be-ſots, be-beaſts himſelf for it; What a fool? What an ignaro? What a beaſt am I to be thus vexed, and diſquieted for what Gods provident hand diſpoſeth?
And weigh it well, ye ſhall ſee reaſons enough of controuling our ſelves in this behalfe, that we ſuffer either paſſion, or miſ-apprehenſion to rob us of ſo great a benefit as is the quiet of the ſoul. Firſt, Where have we learnt to equall, to over-value any outward bleſſing to the peace of the ſoul, which paſſeth all underſtanding? Phil. 4.7. Secondly, Where, to advantage the devill againſt us, to work upon our paſſions, till perhaps we be ſwallowed up of ſorrow, 2 Cor. 7 11. We are not ignorant, ſaith Paul, of Satans wiles. Thirdly, Is it juſt with God to afflict us? Have we ſinned againſt him? Why then do we not willingly bear his wrath? Mic. 7.9. Fourthly, Have we forgotten the conſolation, that God offers himſelf unto us as unto children? Heb. 12.5. His promiſe, that he will do us good for this evill? 2 Sam. 16. and in the iſſue make us partakers of the quiet fruit of righteouſneſſe? Heb. 12.11.
Bear we not our ſelves in theſe unavoidable paſſions, which diſturb the ſweet peace of our ſouls, they may have their motions, their ſtirrings in us; but when they grow tumultuous, check, curb, controule, correct them.
How to judge of paſſions inordinate.Thus learn to know when they are faulty. Firſt, Do they exceed their meaſure? Grow they unreaſonable? So that if thou ſhouldeſt ask thy ſoul, as Rahel, Why am I thus? as David, Why art thou ſo diſquieted within me? And canſt thou give no reaſon, when permitted to ſuch meaſure? Then think, thy otherwiſe lawfull, are turned to be ſinfull paſſions. Secondly, Do they diſturb reaſon, and underſtanding, ſtupifie and benumbe it, that it cannot ſtirre it ſelf to meditate, or do they command in the ſoul? Then know they are immoderate. Thirdly, Do they hinder performance of holy, and neceſſary duties, invocation, meditation, &c. or but caſt dulneſſe upon the ſoul in the performance of theſe duties? Then know, they are grown immoderate. I ſay not, but to ſuch meaſure they may ariſe in the wiſeſt, and moſt ſanctified; yet when they do riſe to this height, they have in them what deſerves our check. Now the remedy or means to work it in us, is to conſider Gods bountifull dealing with us; ſee Pſal. 42.5, 11. and 43.5. and but the expreſſions of Gods favour in that kinde, nothing can ſettle the diſquiet of the ſoul.
Ʋse Let us be exhorted in prudence to direct our meditations from our preſſures to the bounty of God, which in other particulars, many, and many we enjoy: there was never childe of God, ſo followed with Gods ſtorms, but he had left him ſome pledges of favor to ſupport him, had he had wiſdome to meditate on them under Gods hand: The cunning of the tempter is this, To keepe the minde wholly muſing on our evills, diverting us from the mercy God remembers in the midſt of judgement, Hab. 3.2.
See I beſeech you, ſee the enumeration of favours that David hath, Pſal. 103.3. who forgiveth all thy ſinnes, healeth all thy diſeaſes, redeemeth thy life from deſtruction, crowneth with loving kindneſſe, and tender mercies, who ſatisfieth thy mouth with good things, which executeth judgement for the oppreſſed, which makes known his wayes to his children; and which toucheth the point in hand, Verſ. 9, 10. He neither keeps his anger for ever, nor deals with us according to our ſinnes, puniſhing ever Citra condignum, rewarding Vltra condignum.
Oh that this people were wiſe, to conſider how favourable, how bountifull God is in the ſharpeſt of his corrections; How would it ſilence paſſion? How well ſhould we hereby provide for the reſt of our ſouls?