The Returning Backslider, Sermons · Sermon 9
THE NINTH SERMON.
HOS. 14.6.
They that dwell under his ſhadow ſhall returne; they ſhall revive as the Corne, and grow as the Vine, the ſent thereof ſhall be as the Ʋine of Lebanon.
OUR deſire of good things is not ſo large as God is bountifull in ſatisfying our deſires, & going beyond them, as we ſee in this Chapter, their hearts were too narrow to receive all that good which God intended them. Receive us gratiouſly, this was their petition: whereunto God anſwers, that hee would be as the dew unto them, that they ſhould grow ac the Lillie, and caſt forth their roote as Lebanon: and their branches ſhall ſpread: that they ſhould grow in all dimenſions, upwards and downwards, and ſpread in beauty and ſmell, Their beauty ſhall be like the Olive, and their ſmell like Lebanon. And becauſe he would be God-like, like himſelfe, that is throughly and abundantly gratious and mercifull, he doth not only (as we have heard) promiſe a bleſſing to Iſraell himſelfe, but unto all neere unto him and belonging to him: Thoſe that are under his ſhadow ſhall returne, they ſhall revive as the corne.
We are all too ſhallow to conceive either the infinite vaſtneſſe of Gods juſtice to impenitent ſinners, or his boundleſſe mercy and goodneſſe to his poore Church and children. Therefore God to helpe our weake conceit in this kinde borroweth all the excellencies of nature, and makes uſe of them in grace. He takes out of the booke of nature into his booke what may inſtruct our ſoules: and therefore ſets downe the growing eſtate of a Chriſtian by all excellent compariſons that nature will afford, many whereof we have gone over, the laſt we ſpake of was, that mercy which God ſuperabundantly ſhewes unto the friends and ſervants of the Church, Thoſe that dwell under his ſhadow ſhall returne. Now thoſe that ſhall thus returne, they revive in returning: for they turne to the fountaine of life, to the Sonne of Righteouſneſſe: they come under Gods grace, therefore they muſt needs returne and revive in vigor, as they returne to God: which vigor is eſpecially meant here, when he ſaith, Thoſe that dwell under his ſhadow ſhall returne.
They ſhall revive as the corne.
Now how doth the corne revive? nor to ſpeake of that compariſon that the godly are corne and not chaffe, as the wicked are, who are driven too and fro without any ſolidity, which though true, is not here eſpecially aimed at. For it is ſuppoſed that they who are good and gratious have a ſubſtance, ſoliditie, uſefulneſſe and goodneſſe in them like the corne;Pſal. 1. not being emptie chaffe, which the wind blowes away. This is uſefull to mention: but to come to the ſcope intended by the Prophet.
They ſhall revive as the corne, In this firſt, that as the corne when unſowne it lies dead in the granarie, fructifieth not, but when it is ſown ſprings up to an hundred fold, as we reade of in Iſaacks time, who received ſo much increaſe.Gen. 26.12. So it is with converted Chriſtians before they were under any gratious meanes, or in a good place, they lay as it were dead and did not ſpring forth. But afterwards being planted and ſowen under gratious meanes, in good company in a good family, then they increaſe and grow up and multiplie: They revive like the Corne.
And then againe as it is with the Corne, though it ſeeme to die, and doth indeed die in ſome ſort, covered with winter ſtormes ere it ſpring out from the oppreſſions of froſt and ſnow, and hard weather, as if it were altogether periſhed: yet notwithſtanding it is all the while a preparing for ſpringing up againe more gloriouſly. So it is with the Church, which ſeemes to die often in regard of ſpirituall mortification by afflictions, whereby it is dead to the world: yet all this while, there is a bleſſed life in the ſpirit, preparing the ſoule under the hard preſſures of all weathers, to a glorious ſpringing up againe. Therefore the Church hath no hurt by afflictions, no more then the corne hath by the winter, which is as neceſſary for it, as the ſpring-time, or ſummer. For elſe, how ſhould the earth be ripened and prepared? how ſhould the wormes and weeds bee killed, if it were not for hard weather? So it is with a Chriſtian, thoſe afflictions that he ſuffers, and under which he ſeemes to be buried, they are as uſefull to him as all his comforts. Nay a Chiſtian is more beholding to afflictions for his graces and comforts, then he is to outward bleſſings. One would thinke that the goldſmith were a ſpoyling his plate when he is a burning of it, when all that while the droſſe is but a conſuming out of it; and the veſſell ſo hammered and beaten out, is but a preparing to be a veſſell of honour to ſtand before ſome great man. So it is with a Chriſtian: an ignorant perſon looking but one way, thinks God neglects ſuch a one, and that if God cared for ſuch a one, or ſuch a one, would or could ſuch and ſuch things befall them? they conclude hence (as the Pſalmiſt ſaith) God hath forſaken him, and forgotten him.Pſa. 71 11. And as Chriſt the head of the Church was thought to be forgotten and neglected, even when he was moſt deare and pretious unto God: ſo even they all this while, the Spirit of God is working an excellent worke in them, preparing and fitting them for grace and glory. Therefore in that reſpect alſo: They ſhall revive as the Corne.
Thirdly, They ſhall revive as the corne in regard of fructification; It is true both of the Church and of particular graces. We ſee one graine of corne when it is almoſt periſhed and turn'd to froth, nothing in a manner, preſently out of it ſprings a ſtalke, and thence an eare and in that many eares, God giving it a body, ſixtie or a hundred fold as he pleaſeth. So it is with a Chriſtian, when he is planted he will leaven others, and thoſe others and others. A few Apoſtles leavened the whole world, ſcattering the Goſpell like lightning all over the ſame. So it is true of grace in Gods Children, it is like a graine of muſtard-ſeed at the firſt, yet it growes up and fructifies,Mat. 13.31. from knowledge to knowledge, faith to faith, and grace to grace, from vertue to vertue, from ſtrength to ſtrength, from one degree to another: nothing leſſe at firſt, and nothing more great or glorious in this world in progreſſe of time, nothing ſo admired of God, and pleaſing unto man: as this which makes one all glorious and without ſpot.
O! what can be ſaid more to incourage us to come under gratious meanes, to love God and his Ordinances, good company and the communion of Saints, conſidering they are ſuch happy people? Thoſe that are under their ſhadow ſhall returne, revive, and bee vigorous; They ſhall revive as the corne, which doth (when it ſeemeth to bee dead) notwithſtanding all weathers grow up and multiply. And whereas it ſeem'd dead before and lay hid, being ſowen it growes: So being planted in the Church we ſhall grow: for there is a hidden vertue in the leaſt grace, in the leaſt of Gods Ordinances, more then we are aware off (ſaith Chriſt) Where two or three are gathered together in my name, Mat. 18.20.there am I in the middeſt of them. Much more is this made good in great Congregations and families. But this is not all, he ſaith; They ſhall grow as the Vine.
Howſoever the Church which is the mother Church growes before in the former words: the new Church that comes under her ſhadow, ſhall grow in the ſame manner; They ſhall grow as the Lillie: their Branches ſhall ſpread: and more it is ſaid heere, They ſhall grow as the Vine. It is a compariſon delightfull to the Holy Ghoſt, to compare Chriſt to a Uine, the Church to a Uineyard: and Chriſtians unto vines: but ſuch as draw all their moyſture and fatneſſe in them from Chriſt the true Uine, their ſweetneſſe being a derivated ſweetneſſe.
They ſhall grow as the Vine.
The Uine we know is a fruitfull plant:The Ʋine is fruitfull, ſo Chriſtians. Iud. 9.9, 13. as we reade in the Judges: The Olive and the Vine would not forſake their ſweetneſſe to be a king: for it is ſaid by them, that they revive God and man, being pleaſing to them. So every true Chriſtian is like a vine for fruitfullneſſe, he is a tree of Righteouſneſſe, a plant of Gods owne planting, a vine that ſpends himſelfe in bearing fruit.
Againe, as it is fruitfull, ſo it is exceeding fruitfull, abounding in fruit, ſo Chriſtians are vines not onelyonly for a little fruit that they beare: but becauſe they are aboundantly fruitfull, which is premiſed: that if they doe as they ſhould do; they ſhall be vines aboundant in the worke of the Lord:
And further the vine as we know is never a whit the worſe for pruning, but is pruned and cut (as our Saviour ſpeakes) that it may bring foorth the more fruit. Iohn. 15.2.So the Church and people of God are never a whit the worſe for afflictions: for as the beſt vines need dreſſing and pruning, the beſt ground plowing, the beſt linnen waſhing, the beſt mettall the fire to conſume away the droſſe, the beſt things we uſe having ſomething amiſſe. So the beſt Chriſtians need dreſſing and purging from the great husbandman, whereby they are not the worſe but the better, having thereby much corruption purged away from them: as the pruning of the vine, makes it not the worſe, but drawes wild things from it, which would draw away the ſtrength of the vine. A Chriſtian is the better for his afflictions, wherein the glory of the Church eſpecially conſiſts. For the Church never thrived better then in Aegypt, where they laboured to cruſh and to cut the vine. God brought his vine out of Aegypt for all this, maugre all the malice of the enemies. The Church was never more glorious in it owne ſeate, then it was in Babylon under the Captivity, how glorious then was the Church in Daniell and others.
The Ʋine is rugged, and unſeemely.Againe, to the outward appearance, the vine is a rugged unſeemely plant, being not ſightly and beautifull to look on: yet is it aboundantly fruitfull under that unſightlines. So if we look to the outward ſtate and face of the Church, it is nothing elſe to looke to but a deformed company, defaced by affliction, live-leſſe heere (as it were) having their life hid up with God in Chriſt, Col. 3.3.(as the Apoſtle ſpeakes) their life heere is covered over with many afflictions, croſſes, infirmities and diſgraces, whereunto they are ſubject, like unto other men. Therefore as it was the ſtate of the head, to have no outward forme or beauty, though inwardly he was all glorious. So the beauty of the Church is inward: for outward ſhew, it being unſightly like the vine, crooked and uneven, there being nothing delightfull in it unleſſe it be in regard of the fruit that comes from it. So it is with the Church of God and particular Chriſtians: who though in outward government they have not that pollicy and outward glory other governments have, yet there is an inward ſecret worke of Gods government of the Church by contraries,How God governes his Church by contraries. which exceeds all other pollicies, wherein he brings glory from ſhame, life by death, hee brings downe and lifts up; when he is about his excellent worke, he humbleth firſt. This is an ordinarie way, therefore wee muſt not take offence at any outward deformitie that wee ſee in the Church, and in Gods Children, when they ſeeme to bee trampled upon: they are but as vines, unſightly to the eye, they have a life, though it be a hidden one.
It is excellently ſet downe by EZekiel, Ezek. 15.what the vine is of it ſelfe, it is ſerviceable for nothing: we cannot make a pinne of it; It is ſuch a brittle wood as is good for nothing but to beare fruit. So take a Chriſtian that profeſſeth Religion, if he be not fruitfull in his place, of all men he is the worſt: of all men he is either the beſt, or the worſt: as the vine, if it beare fruit it is the beſt, though it be an unſightly tree: but otherwiſe it is fit for nothing but the fire. Therefore let no man glory in his profeſſion, that he is baptiſed, heares ſermons, and reads. But where is thy fruit? wherefore ſerves the dreſſing and pruning of the vine, but for fruit? if there be no fruit, a Chriſtian is the worſt man that lives: worſt, in regard that he is bad under good meanes, and in condition he is the worſt of all men, his torment is the greater. Thoſe that are barren and unfruitfull under meanes, the time will come, that they will wiſh they had never enjoyed ſuch a teſtimony againſt themſelves.
And further, a vine is ſo weake that it muſt be prop'd and ſupported a long, or elſe it will lie on the ground; ſuch is the eſtate of the Church, which muſt have ſomethi…g to fence it and under-prop it. God is the ſtrength of the Church, it is a wondrous weake plant. The Children of God are wondrous weake, and expoſed to a wonderfull deale of miſery: in regard whereof and of the injuries and weakneſſes they are expoſed too, they muſt have ſupport. A Chriſtian is compared to the ſhiftleſſe things, Sheep, Lambes, and Doves, and in the plants they are compared to the vine, which needs a ſtrong ſupport,Pro. 30.26. And (as Salomon ſaith of the conies) though they are a weake people of themſelves, yet notwithſtanding they have a ſtrong rocke over their heads, where they are ſafe, though they bee as weake as the vine. So Gods people though they bee weake of themſelves; yet they have a ſtrong ſupport to up-hold them; God by the Ordinances of Magiſtracie and Miniſtry (eſpecially by his Spirit) keepes them up and ſupports them, that they ſpread in largeneſſe and in fruitfulneſſe.
Vſe. 1 Is this ſo, then let us examine our ſelves what our fruit is: if we be vines what is our fruit? what comes from us? Certainely if we doe not ſhew foorth that fruit we ſhould in our lives and converſations, in our ſpeech, carriage and actions, when we are called to it, it is an argument that as yet the dew of Gods grace hath never fallen upon us ſo as it muſt before wee come to Heaven. As was ſaid before, a man may endure a dead plant in his ground; but in his orchard he will not. He may endure weeds in paſtures, in neglected grounds, but not in his garden. If wee be Lillies in Gods Garden, and vines in his Orchard, we muſt be fruitfull and grow, or elſe God will not endure us.Mat. 11.21. Of all woes, the greateſt woe lies upon them, who enjoy plentifull and aboundant meanes and yet are not fruitfull.
Vſe. 2 That we are vines, and Gods vines, it is in the next place an Uſe of Comfort; that God therefore will have a care of us, if we be fruitfull, he will have a ſpeciall care of that place where his vines are planted, if we ſee many gratious perſons, and families who are conſcionable in their practiſe and converſation, we may reſt aſſured that God the great husbandman will have a ſpeciall care of thoſe choice vines and the places they live in, they carry the bleſſing of God with them whereſoever they goe, with a ſhadow and protection, making every place the better for them. For God will care for thoſe vines which bring foorth much fruit; As it is in Eſay; Spoile it not, for there is a Bleſſing in it. Iſa. 65.8.If a Chriſtian be fruitful, and labours to be more fruitfull, God gives a prohibition, he is my vine, do him no harme: Touch not mine annoynted, Pſal. 105.15.nor do my Prophets no harme. Satan himſelf and all creatures in Heaven and in Earth, have a prohibition to touch his vines no further then ſhall be for their good. Will a man ſuffer men to come into his Orchard to break downe his vines? he will not. Surely though the ſinnes of this nation be very great: yet one thing miniſtreth hope, God hath a great many vines under his ſhadow and protection, many conſcionable Magiſtrates, Miniſters and people of other profeſſions; Governours of families and the like, which walke holily, God will ſpare the vineyard, even for the vines that beare fruit. A notable place amongſt others we have Cant. 2.15. Take us the Foxes and the little Foxes that ſpoile the vine: for our vines have tender grapes. There is in every Church not onelyonly groſſe Papiſts, and forraigne enemies, that would roote out all if it were in their power: but ſubtill foxes alſo, men that pride themſelves in diveliſh pollicie, to under-mine the Church and Children of God: who wherſoever they ſee vine or grapes, they malice that: both the meanes and grace wrought by the meanes is the object of their crueltie. Subtile foxes they are who account it a great deale of glory to be accounted polliticke men, to do miſchiefe ſecretly and cloſely in the Church: will God ſuffer theſe foxes? no, he will not,Cant. 2.5. Take us the foxes, the little foxes that deſtroy the vines. God hath young growing vines, ſo as he will not onelyonly care for the great vines, but for the tender vines alſo. Chriſt hath a care of his Lambs, as he ſaid to Peter, Joh. 21.15.loveſt thou me &c. Then feed my Lambes, my little ones. So Chriſt ſpeakes in the Goſpell of theſe little ones,Mat. 18.10. I tell you (of a truth) that the Angels of theſe little ones, behold the face of my Father, &c. And ſo he ſpeakes in another place;Iſa. 48.1, 2. A bruiſed reed will he not breake, and ſmoaking flaxe will he not quench, untill he bring foorth judgment unto victorie. So likewiſe he promiſeth, that he will carry the lambes in his boſome, Iſa. 40.11.and gently lead them that are with young.
Vſe. 3 The next uſe ſhall be for incouragement unto weake ones: ſhould tender and weake Chriſtians then be diſcouraged for whom God is ſo carefull? ſurely no. Put caſe they bring forth but little fruite, yet, O deſtroy it not, for a bleſſing is in it. Therfore let us not be diſcouraged if wee be Gods vines: which is knowne and diſcovered, not by the abundance of fruit only, but by the kind of our fruit alſo; if it come from the Spirit of God, and relliſh of the Spirit, though it be not in ſuch plenty: yet a vine is not a thorne, a Chriſtian is not to be diſcouraged though he bring not forth aboundance of fruit at the firſt. There are different degrees and tempers of ſoyle, and of ages in Chriſtianity, which is ſpoken to incourage thoſe that are good, and yet are diſcouraged, becauſe it is not with them as with ſome other Chriſtians of their acquaintance. Know that there is no ſet meaſure of grace neceſſary to ſalvation but truth. God doth aſſigne us a meaſure of grace according to his good pleaſure, and according as he hath purpoſed to make us profitable to others in the uſe of meanes. Thoſe whom hee meanes to uſe for ſuffering or doing of great matters in the Church, thoſe he fits ſutably for that he meanes to call them to: others have not that aboundance of grace, out of Gods wiſdome, who knowes beſt how to diſpenſe his owne graces to his owne glory. If we allow not our ſelves in our weakneſſes, but groane under them, hate them, and ſtrive againſt them, reaching towards perfection: in this caſe our weakneſſes ſhall not hurt our ſalvation; but God will perfect his power in our weakneſſe.2 Cor 12.9.
So we ſee it is not the multitude of fruit, but the ſincerity of it, if it be true, that makes a Chriſtian; if there be truth of grace, it will out and ſpread the branches, it ſhall not alwayes be ſo with us. Sincerity and indeavour to grow, with a deſire and thirſt after growth, makes a man a Chriſtian. Therefore as was ſaid, we muſt not be diſcouraged, though our growth and ſpreading be not like others. Every Chriſtian hath his meaſure; though every one be bound to goe further and further, from faith to faith, and grace to grace: yet there is a bleſſing in a little, and a promiſe alſo to him that uſeth it well: To him that hath it ſhall be given. Chriſt hath a care that the foxes doe not hurt the little tender grapes:Mat. 13.12. let none therfore be diſcouraged for their non-proficiency in the wayes of God, ſo as to goe backe and leave off, he knowes beſt when and how to take away the bates, ſnares and temptations that are ſet to catch them, and diſcourage them. Let God alone with his owne worke, who is the great vinedreſſer: doe thou thine owne worke, attend upon good meanes, waite upon God, and then let the malice of the world and the Divell be what they will, he will have a care of his vines, and the more care, the more young and tender they are, &c.
Theſe conſiderations may affect us, not only to take good by the vine for our bodies, but for our ſoules alſo, and ſo the ſame thing may cheriſh both body and ſoule. A Chriſtian by grace hath an extracting vertue, to draw holy uſes out of every thing, as the Holy Ghoſt here compares us to a vine, to teach us theſe and the like things now unfolded. The laſt thing promiſed is,
The ſent thereof ſhall be as the vine of Lebanon.
This Lebanon was a mountanous place, on the north ſide of Iudea, wondrous fruitfull in all kind of trees, in Cedars and goodly Vines, ſo it did abound in ſpice, and all goodly things. Therefore to ſhew that a Chriſtian ſhould be the beſt of his ranke, he fetches compariſons from the beſt things in nature.
The ſent thereof ſhall be as the vine of Lebanon.
Now the Vine of Lebanon had a ſweet ſent in it, both to draw to the liking, and then to delight in the taſt and taking thereof. So it is with the graces of God in his children, they carry as it were a ſweet ſent with them, both to draw others to delight in, and taſt of the ſame things.
Quest. But how comes it to paſſe that Chriſtians ſend forth ſo ſweet a ſent?
Anſw. Becauſe they are in Chriſt, in whom the oyntment and all ſweetneſſe is in fulneſſe. From him the Head firſt, and from thence it is derived unto the members,Pſal. 133.2. all who muſt partake of this ointment. As it is ſaid of the head of Aaron, that that ointment which was powred on his head, ran downe to his skirts, and all his rich attire about. So that ſweetneſſe in Chriſt is powred on the skirts, all along upon his members, even the meaneſt Chriſtian receiveth Grace for Grace, Iohn. 1.16.ſweetneſſe from Chriſt. The Virgins: Cant 1.3.that is, ſuch as defile not themſelves with idolatry and ſuch other lewd courſes: they follow after Chriſt in the ſmell of his ſweet oyntments. It is ſpoken of Chriſt who carrieth ſuch a ſweet ſmell with him,Pſal. 45.8. as all his garments ſmell of Myrrh, Aloes and Caſsia, &c. So ſweet is the ſmell of Chriſt when he is unfolded in his Benefits and Offices, that the pure and holy virgin ſoules of the Saints follow after it. His Name is as an oyntment powred out; Cant. 1.3.that is, himſelfe is his Name, and his Name is himſelfe (as the Hebrew Proverbe is) Chriſt made knowne in the unfolding of the Word, that is his Name. When the box is opened, all in Chriſt is like oyntment, in the preaching of the Word all is ſweet, and nothing but ſweet in Jeſus. Now a Chriſtian being a member of Chriſt, and a virgin ſoule following Chriſt, muſt needs draw ſweetneſſe from him, caſting out that ſent unto others drawen from him, becauſe they partake of Chriſts annoynting. What is the name of a Chriſtian, but a man anoynted with Chriſts oyntment, one annoynted to be a King and a Prieſt in ſome ſort?Rev. 1.6. therefore, they carry the ſavour of him whereſoever they goe. Aaron the high Prieſt,Exo. 39.26. had ſweet garments, which made a ſavour where he went, having Bels and ſweet Pomgranates at the bottome of his garment. Hee had not onelyonly Bels to diſcover him; but ſweet pomegranates alſo. So it is with every Chriſtian; not onelyonly the Miniſter, but every Chriſtian is a Prieſt under the New Teſtament, and carrieth a ſavour with him, graces that ſpread and caſt a ſweet ſent in all places whereſoever, which they exerciſe upon all good occaſions: as Saint Paul expreſſeth it,Rom. 8.5. They ſavour the things of the Spirit. Thoſe who are in Chriſt, they have the Spirit of Chriſt, or they are none of his. And having the Spirit of Chriſt they ſavour of the things of the Spirit, that is their thoughts, ſpeeches, actions, and converſation are ſavoury.Rom. 8.8. Thoſe that are in the fleſh (ſaith the) Apoſtle cannot pleaſe God, they are unſavoury. A carnall man hath no ſavour in his ſpeeches, they are either worldly or civill, without ſpirituall ſavour: becauſe he hath nothing of the Spirit of Chriſt to ſavour off. His heart (ſaith Salomon) is little worth,Pro. 10 20. the like we may ſay of his thoughts, actions, and affections, they are unſavoury and little worth. Hee hath a dead heart to goodneſſe, and thence whatſoever goodneſſe commeth from him is forced and againſt the haire (as we ſay) But a Chriſtian having the Spirit of Chriſt; and therewith communion with Chriſt, all his diſcourſes and actions are for the moſt part ſavoury, thoſe he acteth as a Chriſtian; therefore from his communion with Chriſt it is ſaid here, His ſmell ſhall be as Lebanon.
The ſent thereof ſhall be as the Vine of Lebanon.
Delightfull both to God and holy bleſſed ſpirits, likewiſe to the Church, and to the Angels which are about us, and pleaſing to our owne ſpirits; for there iſſueth a wondrous contentment, even to the conſcience of a perſon which is fruitfull and aboundant in goodneſſe, that ſoule receiveth an anſwerable proportion of comfort. As it is with heate that accompanieth fire alway; ſo there is a kinde of heate of comfort, which naturally accompanieth the heate of any good action: there remaineth a ſweet reliſh to the conſcience of the performer, reflecting with Humility upon himſelfe, with thankefulneſſe to God, from whoſe Dew (as we have heard before) commeth whatſoever is good: reflecting on this with an eye to the principall cauſe it breeds a great deale of comfort to the ſoule. As it was ſaid of Ioſiah, the memory of Ioſiah was like the oyntment of the Apothecary, whereas one the contrary, Jt is ſaid, The remembrance of the wicked ſhall rot. Pro. 10.7.God threatneth the Jewes, that they ſhould be a hiſſing to all nations,Deut. 28 37. and that they ſhould be abhominable to all kinde of people (for what is ſo odious now as the name of a Iew?) yet certainely this whole promiſe ſhall be verified even of them: this whole Chapter having an eye unto the calling of the Iewes. The time will come that the ſent of theſe odious people (who are now the object of hatred unto all people) ſhall bee as the Vine of Lebanon.
Vſe. 1 If this be ſo, it cuts off a carnall exception of ſenſeleſſe perſons, that thinke they can ſtop mens mouthes with this. I cannot make ſo much ſhew as you, but J hope I have as good a heart to God as you, or as the beſt. But a Chriſtian is a Vine, that brings foorth grapes, and much fruit, and caſts a ſent from him (as the ſent of Lebanon) upon all fit occaſions. For his words ſhould be,Pro. 25.11. as the Apples of Gold ſet with pictures of ſilver. He is ſeaſonable in his actions of Conſolation, and bringeth foorth his fruit in due ſeaſon, as the promiſe is.Pſal. 1.3. Eccle. 3.11. For Salomon ſheweth, that every thing is made beautifull in his ſeaſon. Thoſe therefore, that have not a good word to ſpeake, but rather expreſſe the contrarie, rotten unſavoury diſcourſe, vaine in their converſation, ſavouring nothing that is good: how have they as good a heart to God as the beſt? No this is not to be a Chriſtian, who ſhould ſavour like Aarons garments, or like theſe graces comming from his head to him: who ſhould ſpread abroad his ſweetneſſe unto others,Mat. 12.35. ſhining out as a light amongſt others? Therefore away with this baſe plea: a rotten ſpeech, argueth a rotten heart. What can come out of a veſſell but ſuch as is within it, if the iſſues be naught, what is the veſſell but naught? if all be unſavoury outward, what is there but a rotten heart within.
Vſe. 2 Againe, if Chriſtians ſhould caſt a ſent and ſavour, this ſhould moove and ſtirre them up, if they will anſwer their title to be Chriſtians, ſweet, annoynted perſons, Prieſts to God, to labour more and more to be ſpirituall and ſavour the things of the Spirit: and to labour for more and more communion with Chriſt in the uſe of all ſanctified meanes, that they may have the Spirit of Chriſt in their converſation, ſhewing foorth the Humility,1 Pet. 2.9. Patience, Love and Obedience of Chriſt. As Peter ſpeakes and exhorteth us, to ſhew foorth the vertues of him who hath called us from darkeneſſe into his marvellous light. Then we anſwer our title, and caſt foorth a ſent like Lebanon, when inwardly and outwardly, all things joyne to make us fruitfull and ſavoury before God and man.
Queſt. What will come of it if we be fruitfull and ſavourie?
Anſw. 1 God will be more pleaſed in all our actions,The excellency of a ſavoury and fruitfull converſation. and will ſmell a ſweet ſavour of reſt, as it is ſaid of Noah after his comming out of the Arke; for God delights in his owne graces, which he admireth in us. As hee ſaid to the woeman of Canaan, O woeman, great is thy faith, Mat 15.28.be it unto thee as thou wilt. God as it were ſtands admiring his owne graces, he is ſo delighted with the Faith, Love, Prayers, and Patience of his children, which is further excellently expreſſed in the Canticles. Cant. 3.6.Who is this that commeth up out of the wilderneſſe like pillars of ſmoake, perfumed with mirrh and frankincenſe, and all the ſpices of the merchant? Chriſt there is brought in admiring at his Church and Children, conflicting through all the miſeries and incumbrances of this world, which hinder and oppoſe their journey to Heaven-wards, wherein they thruſt forth all the practiſe of their holy graces, which ſmell like ſpices. Then let us not envy God, the Saints, and holy people the ſweetneſſe of our graces, but let our ſent ſmell abroad to the content and comfort of all, that they may delight in theſe graces that come from us, in our Humility, Patience, Faith, Love, Sincerity, and all theſe graces wherein we reſemble Chriſt, and ſhew forth his holy vertues: therefore for our owne comfort, and the delight of all, and to aſſure our ſelves of Heaven, and of the love of God whilſt we live here, let us labour to be fruitfull in our converſations, and to caſt forth a ſent in regard of others, which hath an attractive drawing force. For when they ſee a holy, fruitfull and gratious converſation, it caſts forth a ſent and makes others like Religion:Cant. 5. So God is glorified, and Religion is adorned. What greater ornament to Religion then to ſee a fruitfull gratious Chriſtian who hath ability and a heart to doe good upon all occaſions, with an humble meeke peaceable ſpirit, taught of God to be ſo for the good and love of others?
That a little gratious converſation is more winning then many words.There muſt be Pomegranates with bells, a ſweet converſation with words, a little wherof will doe more good to others then a great many words. A good converſation is ſweet, and hath a kind of oratorie joyned with it. Therefore if neither for God, or Chriſt, or others, yet for our owne ſakes and the reflection of that good ſent upon our ſelves, let us be fruitfull. A man cannot grow in fruitfullneſſe, but hee muſt needs grow in comfort, Peace and Joy. Nothing cheereth and ſolaceth the heart of a Chriſtian more then this, the conſcience that God honoureth him to be fruitfull, to doe good, and caſt a ſweet ſavor to draw others to good things. This will comfort us upon our deathbeds, more then all other things. Therefore in all theſe reſpects; for love of God, others, and our ſelves, which are delighted with the expreſſions of our graces, let us labour to be fruitfull trees in Gods garden, and to bring forth much fruite, that we may ſend forth a ſent like Lebanon.
Now who would not be in ſuch an eſtate and condition as this; as to have title to all theſe gratious promiſes, for the dew of Grace to fall upon him, To grow as Lillies in height, and to ſpread as other plants doe, to grow upwards, and downewards, to be rooted as Cedars, and fruitfull as Vines. The Spirit of God ſets himſelfe here to ſhew Spirituall things by Earthly compariſons, to make us the more capable of them. The miſery of the contrary condition may well ſtirre us up to ſeeke after the forementioned. For what a miſery is it, to have the curſe of God upon ones ſoule, to have it like the barren wilderneſſe void of all grace and comfort that may delight others, or is ſpirituall, ſavoury, or ſavingly good? So all theſe promiſes tend to incourage us to be in the condition of Gods Children, that when we are in that eſtate, we may comfort our ſelves, and be able to claime our part, portion and intereſt in theſe excellent promiſes.
Thus by Gods bleſſing we have paſſed over the particulars of Gods gratious promiſes to his Church, and all that ſhall come under the Church; all which ſhould incourage us to goe to God, and doe as the Church doth here, take words to our ſelves, and deſire God, to take away all iniquity, and heale all our backeſlidings, and that we may renounce all vaine confidence, as the Church doth here: who is taught to truſt horſes no longer; Aſhur ſhall not ſave us. And then let us (as was ſaid) cleave unto the bleſſed promiſes, that wee may improove them, and make them our own every day more and more. Therefore let us have in the eye of our ſoule the excellency of growth; or elſe we ſhall not value theſe promiſes. Let us conſider what an excellent condition it is to grow, flouriſh and be fruitfull, having a due eſteeme of all theſe promiſes before hand.The excellency of a growing Chriſtian Prov. 28.1. Doe but conſider how excellent a Chriſtian is that groweth above others, what a majeſty he hath in his carriage? how undauntedly he walks in all oppoſitions whatſoever, as a Lyon in his courſes. How he overlookes Hell, Wrath, Death, Damnation and all. What a ſweet communion he enjoyeth with God in all the diſconſolations that the world puts upon him. He carrieth his Heaven in his heart, and a Paradice within him, which is planted with all graces, whereas another man carrieth his Hell about him.
Wherefore let us take ſuch courſes to helpe our ſelves as the Church doth here: truſt in God and not in man, or in the arme of fleſh; and be incouraged from all which hath beene ſaid, to have a good conceit of God, to bee fruitfull and draw on others to goodneſſe, that God, his Saints and Angells may be delighted with the ſent of our graces, and our ſelves comforted; that we may rejoyce in our portion and lot that God hath dealt ſo gratiouſly to us, and glory more that he has made us members of Chriſt, and heires of Heaven, then in any condition of this world. O the incomparable excellent ſtate of a Chriſtian, above all the glory of this world: who not onelyonly groweth, but ſhall grow to heaven-wards ſtill; and as he hath begun to hate ſinne, ſhall hate it more and more: God hath undertaken it ſhall be ſo: Ephraim after all theſe ſweet promiſes and dew of Grace, ſhall ſay; What have I any more to doe with Idols, &c. The proſecution whereof muſt be referred untill the next time.
The end of the ninth Sermon.