The Saints Safety in Evil Times, Sermon 5

The Saints Safety in Evil Times · Sermon 5

p. 170THE SAINTS SAFETY IN EVILL TIMES.

SERMON V.

1 PET. 4. 19.

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their soules to him in well doing, as to a faithfull Creator.

I Am now to treate of that other Attribute of GOD, which should move us to trust in him, namely, as hee is a faithfull Creator. Now God is p. 171faithfull. 1. In his nature, Hee is 1I AM, alwayes like himselfe, immutable and unchangeable. 2. In his word; Hee expresseth 2himselfe as he is; the word that comes from God is an expression of the faithfulnesse of his nature. 3. In his workes; Thou art 3good, and doest good, as the Psal…ist saith. God being faithfull in himselfe, all must needs bee so that proceeds from him; whatsoever Relation God takes upon him, hee is faithfull therein; As hee is a Creator, so hee preserves and maintains his owne worke; as hee is a Father, hee is faithfull in discharging that duty to the full, for his childrens good; as bee is our friend, hee likewise performes all the duties of that Rel…ion, &c. And why doth God stoope so low to take these Relations upon him, but onelyonly to shew that hee will certainly accomplish p. 172the same to the utmost: Whence is it that men are faithfull in their Relations one towards another, that the father is faithfull to his childe? is it not from God the chiefe Father? That a friend should bee faithfull to his friend, is it not from God the great friend?

All his wayes are mercy and truth; Psal. 25. 10.Ps 25:10they are not onelyonly mercifull and good and gracious, but Mercy and Truth it selfe: If he shew himselfe to bee a father, hee is a true father, a true friend, a true Creator and Protector; (as one saith) Shall I cause others to feare, and bee a Tyrant my selfe? All other faithfulnesse is but a Beame of that which is in God: Shall not hee bee most faithful that makes other things faithfull?

Now this faithfulnesse of God is here a ground of this duty of p. 173committing our selves to him, and wee may well trust him, whose word hath beene seven times tryed in the fire; Psal. 12.Ps 12there is no drosse in it. Every word of God is a sure word, his truth is a Shield and Buckler, wee may well trust in it; therfore whē you read of any singular promise in the New Testament,1 Tim. 1. 15.1 Tim 1:15 it is said, This is a faithfull saying, &c. (that is) this is such a speech as wee may trust to, it is the speech of a faithfull Creator.

Considering therefore that God is so faithfull every way in his promises, and in his deeds, let us make especiall use of it: Treasure up all the promises we can, of the forgivenesse of sinnes, of protection and preservation, that hee will never leave us, but be our God to death, &c. and then consider withall, that hee is faithful in performing the same, p. 174when we are affrighted by his Majesty and his justice, and other Attributes, then thinke of his mercy and truth; He hath cloathed himselfe with faithfulnesse, (as the Psalmist saith;) In all the unfaithfulnesse of men whom thou trustest, depend upon this, that God is still the same, and will not deceive thee.

When we have mans word; wee have his sufficiency in minde, for mens words are as themselves are. What will not the word of a King doe? If a man bee mighty and great, his word is answerable. This is the reason why wee should make so much of the word of God, because it is the word of Ie…ovah, a mighty Creatour, who gives a being to all things, and can onelyonly bee Lord and Master of his word: we know Gods meaning no otherwise than by his p. 175word; till we come to the knowledge of vision in heaven, wee must be content with the knowledge of Revelation in the Word.

And in every promise single out that which best suiteth with thy present condition. If thou art in any great distresse, thinke upon the Almighty power of God. Lord, thou hast made me of nothing, and canst deliver mee out of this estate; behold I flie unto thee for succour, &c. If thou art in perplexity for want of direction, and knowest not what to doe, single out the Attribute of Gods wisedome, and desire him to teach thee the way that thou shouldest goe. If thou art wronged, flie to his Iustice, and say, O God, to whom vēgeance belongeth, heare and helpe thy servant. If thou be surprized with distrust and staggering, then goe p. 176to his truth and faithfulnesse; thou shalt alwayes finde in God something to support thy soule in the greatest extremity that can be fall thee; for if there were not in God a fulnesse to supply every exigent that wee are in, he were not to bee worshipped, he were not to be trusted.

Man is lighter than vanity in the Ballance; Every man is a lyar, that is, hee is false: we may bee so and yet bee men too, but God is essentially true, hee cannot deceive and bee God too; Therefore ever when thou art disappointed with men, retire to God and to his promises, and build upon this, that the Lord will not be wanting in any thing may doe thee good. With men there is breach of covenant, Nation with Nation, and man with man; there is little trust to bee had in any; but in all confusions p. 177here is comfort. A religious person may cast himselfe boldly in to the armes of the Almighty, and goe to him in any distresse, as to a faithfull Creator, that will not fortake him.

Oh let us bee ashamed that we should dishonour him,Vse. who is ready to pawne his faithfulnesse and truth for us; If wee confesse our sinnes God is faithfull to forgive them; hee will not s…ffer us to bee tempted above that which wee are able. When we perplexe our selves with doubts and feares, whether hee will make good his promise or not, wee disable his Majesty. Doe wee not thinke God stands upon his truth and faithfulnesse? undoubtedly hee doth, and wee cannot dishonour him more, than to distrust him, especially in his Euangelicall promises; wee make him a lyar, and robb him p. 178of that which hee most glories in, (his Mercy and Faithfulnesse) if wee rest not securely upon him.

See the basenesse of mans nature, God hath made all other things faithfull that are so, and wee can trust them, but are ever and anon questioning the truth of his promise. Wee may justly take up Salvians complaint in his time, Who hath made the earth faithfull to bring forth fruit (saith he) but God? yet wee can trust the ground with sowing our seed; Who makes man faithfull, (who is by nature the most slippery and unconstant creature of all other) but God onelyonly? yet wee can trust a vaine man, whose breath is in his Nostrils, and looke for great matters at his hands, before an Al-sufficient God, that changeth not: Who makes the seas and the winds faithfull p. 179that they doe not hurt us, but God? and yet wee are apt to trust the winde and weather sooner than GOD; as wee see many Sea-men that will thrust forth their goods into the wide Ocean, in a small Bark, to shift any way rather than trust God with them.

Yea, let Sathan by his wicked Instruments draw a man to some cursed politique reasons, (for the Devill doth not immediatly converse with the world, but in his instruments) and hee will sooner trust him than God himselfe; so prone are our hearts to distrust the Almighty, to call his truth in question, and to trust the lyes of our own hearts and other mens, before him. Let us therefore lament our insidelity, that having such an omnipotent and faithfull Creator to relie upon, yet we cannot bring p. 180our hearts to trust in him. There are two maine Pillars Of a Christians faith.

1. The Power of God.

2. The Goodnesse of God.

These two like Aaron and Hur, hold up the armes of our prayers. Let our estate be never so desperate, yet God is a Creator still; let our sinnes and infirmities be never so great, yet hee hath power to heale them. Oh how should this cheare up our soules, and support our drooping spirits in all our strivings and conflicts with sinne and Sathan, that wee yeeld not to the least temptation, having such an Almighty GOD to flye unto for succour.

Cursed is that man which makes flesh his arme; Ieremy.he that we trust in must bee no lesse than a Creator; We must not trust the creature.Cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils, (saith God) hee is a p. 181poore creature as thy selfe is, raised of nothing, and shall come to dust againe: If wee would beetrusting as wee needs must, (for we are dependant persons, and want many things whilest wee are here) let us goe to the fountaine, and not to broken Cisternes for comfort.

It is no small priviledge for a Christian to have this free accesse to God in times of extremity; be we what wee can bee, take us at our worst in regard of sinne or misery, yet we are his Creatures still; I am the Clay, thou art the Potter, I am a sinfull wretch, yet I am the workmanship of thy hands, O Lord, thou hast framed mee, and fashioned mee, &c. No wicked person in the world can upon good ground plead in this manner, though they may say to God, I am thy creature, yet p. 182they have not the grace in their troubles to plead this unto him. Why Lord, though I bee a rebellious sonne, and am not worthy to be called thy servant, yet I am thy creature, though a sinfull one. Surely had we… faith, wee would take hold by a little. I he soule of man is like the Vine, … windes about and fastens upon every little help; faith will see day at a little hole, and where it sees any thing, it will catch at it; as the woman of Canaan; Christ cals her Dog; why, be it so Lord, I am a dogg, yet I am one of the family, though I be a Dogge; therefore have mercy on me.

Oh, it is a sweet reasoning, thus to cling about God, and gather upon him; it is a speciall art of faith. Though a carnall man may reason thus, (as having a ground from the truth of the thing) yet hee hath not grace to reason out p. 183of an affectiō thereunto; though hee should say, Lord, I am thy Creature; yet his heart tels him thus, (if hee would hearken to it) I am thy creature Lord, but I have made all my members that I have received from thee, instruments to sinne against thee, and I purpose not to reforme: My tongue is an instrument of swearing, lying and prophane speeches; my hands are instruments of bribery and violence, continually working mischiefe in thy sight; my feete carry me to such and such filthy places, and abominable courses; mine owne heart tels mee that I fight against thee my Creator, with those very limbes and weapons which thou hast given me. Beloved, the conscience of this so stifles the voyce of a wilfull sinner, that (not withstanding he acknowledgeth himselfe to bee p. 184Gods creature, yet) hee cannot with any comfort plead for mercy at his hand in times of distresse.

But to a right godly man this is an argument of speciall use and consequence; in the midst of troubles he may alleage this, and it binds God to helpe him. Wee see great ones when they raise any, (though perhaps there is little merit in them, yet) they call them their Creatures, and this is a moving argument with such to polish their owne worke still, and not to desert them: Will it not be a prevailing argument with God then, for a Christian to pleade with him? Lord, thou hast raised mee out of nothing, yea, out of a state worse than nothing; I am thy poore Creature, forsake not the work of thine owne hands. We may see what a fearefull thing p. 185sinne is in Gods eye, that the works of our hands should make God depart from the worke of his hands, as hee will certainely doe at the day of judgement, Depart you cursed, &c. though we bee his creatures, yet because wee have not used those gifts and abilities which hee hath given us to serve his Majesty; hee will not indure the sight of us in that day.

But that you may the better practise this duty of committing your soules to God, take these directions.

First,Directions how to commit our soules to, God. see that thou bee thy owne man, it is an act of persons free to covenant; our soules must bee ours before wee can commit 1them to God. Naturally wee are all slaves to Sathan, the Strong man hath possession of us, and therefore our first care must bee to get out of his bondage; to p. 186which purpose we should much eye the sweet promises and invitations of the Gospell, alluring us to accept of mercy and deliverance from sinne and death, as, Come unto mee all you that are weary and heavy laden, &c. and so cast the guilt of our soules upon God to pardon first, and then to sanctifie and cleanse, that we may no more returne to folly, but lead an unspotted life before him for the time to come.

It is therefore a silly course and dangerous, which poore worldly wretches take, who think Lord have mercy upon them, will serve their turne, and that God will certainly save their soules, when as they were never yet in the state of grace or reconciliation with him, nor never had any divorce made betweene them and their sinnes, and consequently never any league p. 187betweene God and their soules to this day.

Beloved, when once a man hath alienated his soule from God by sinne, hee hath then no more command of it, for the present it is quite out of his power; Now when wee would commit our soules to God aright, wee must first commit them to him to pardon the guilt of sinne in them; when this is done, God wil give us our soules againe, and then they may truly bee said to bee our owne, and not before. It is the happinesse of a Christian that hee is not his owne, but that whether hee live or die he is the Lords.

In the second place,Direction 2. Wee must labour to finde our selves in Covenant with God; that is, to finde him making good his promises to us; and our selves making good our promises to him; For a man cannot p. 188commit himselfe to God, unlesse hee finde a disposition in his heart to bee faithfull to him.

There is a passive fidelity, and an active. 1. Passive faithfulnesse is in the things that wee give trust unto, as, such a one is a sure trusty man, therefore I will relye upon him. 2. Active faithfulnesse in the soule, is, when we cast our selves upon a man that is trusty, and depend upon him; the more a man knowes another to be faithfull, the more faithful hee will bee in trusting of him: and thus wee must trust God if ever wee expect any good at his hands; and our dependance on him bindes him to bee the more faithfull to us. He is counted a wicked man indeed that will deceive the trust committed to him; Trust begets sidelity, it makes a good man the more faithfull, when hee knowes hee is trusted.

p. 189Learne therefore to know thy selfe to be in covenant with God, and to trust him with all thou hast; traine up thy selfe in a continuall dependance upon him. Hee that trusts God with his soule, will trust him every day, in every thing hee hath or doth; hee knowes well, that whatsoever he enjoyes is not his owne but Gods, and this stirres him up to commit all his waies and doings to his protection, esteeming nothing safe but what the Lord keeps;Jer. 10. 23.Jer 10:23 He sees it is not in sinfull man to direct his owne steps, and therefore resignes up his estate, his calling, his family, whatsoever is neare and deare unto him to the blessed guidance and direction of the Almighty: Oh (thinkes he) that I were in covenant with GOD, that hee would owne mee for his, and take the care of mee, p. 190how happy should my condition then be?

He will likewise commit the Church and State wherein hee lives, to God, and strengthens his faith daily, by observing Gods faithfull dealing with his people in every kinde.

How behovefull it is for Christians thus to inure themselves to bee acquainted with God by little and little, first trusting him with smaller matters, and then with greater: how can a man trust God with his soule, that distrusts him for the petty things of this life? They that give to the poore are said to lend unto the Lord; and, if wee cast our bread upon the waters, wee shall finde it againe. Beloved, hee that parts with any thing to relieve a poore Saint, and will not trust God with his promise to recompence it againe, but p. 191thinkes all is gone, and hee shall never see it more, &c. exceedingly derogates from the truth and goodnesse of the Almighty, who hath promised to returne with advantage whatsoever wee give that way; Hee hath secret wayes of his owne to doe us good, that wee know not of. A man is never the poorer for that which hee discretly gives; It is hard to beleeve this, but it is much harder for a man to commit his soule to God, when he dyes; with assurance, that he shall partake of mercy, and bee saved at the last day.

Againe, Take heed of these evill and cursed dispositions, that hinder us from the performance of this duty; Direction 3.as namely, carnall wit and policy, and carnall will, and affection, &c. There is a great deale of selfe-denyall to be learned, p. 192before wee can goe out of our selves and commit all to God, ere we can cast our selves into his armes, and lay our selves at his feet: therefore take heed that wee be not ruled, either by our owne carnall policy or others, to knit our selves to that: for I beseech you doe but think (what is true in all Stories, not onelyonly in the Scripture, but elsewhere) the most infortunate mē that ever were (otherwise wise enough) were alwayes too confident of themselves: The greatest Swimmers you know are often drowned, because relying overmuch on their owne skill, they cast themselves into danger, and are swallowed up of the deepe; Even confidence in wit is usually unfortunate, though it bee great; let Salomon bee an example, you see how hee strengthened himselfe by carnall supports; p. 193but what became of all? alas, it soone vanished and came to nothing; the Iewes would runne to the reed of Aegypt, and that ranne into their hands; in stead of helping it hurt them. GOD takes delight to overthrow the ripenesse of all the carnall policy of man, that advanceth it selfe against his word and Gospell. Take heed of confidence in prosperity, in wit, in strength; take heed of whatsoever hinders the committing of our soules to God, and alway remember, that bonestic is the best policy, and that GOD reconciled in Christ is the best sanctuary to flee unto; The name of God is a strong Tower (saith Salomon) the righteous flee thereto and are safe.

Let Christians therefore have nothing to doe with carnall shifts,That Carnall Policy hinders our safety. and politique ends, for p. 194they have a strong Rocke, and a sure hold to goe to, the Almighty is their shield. Beloved, God will bee honoured by our trusting of him, and those that will bee wiser than God, and have other courses distinct and contrary to him, must looke for confusion in all their plots. A Christian should thus thinke with himselfe, Let God be…wise for me, his wisdome shall bee my direction, his will shall bee the rule of my life; hee shall guide me and support me, I will adventure upon no course that I dare not commit my soule with comfort to God in.

Oh beloved, if we tender our owne welfare, let us shun all unwarrantable courses, and adventure upon no action whatsoever, wherein we cannot upon good grounds desire the Lords protection: It is a fearfull p. 195estate for a man to undertake such courses, as that hee cannot if hee were surprized by judgement, suddenly commit him selfe to God in; The throne of iniquity shall not abide with God, hee will not take a wicked man by the hand, nor owne him in a distressfull time.

Study therefore I beseech you, to bee alwayes in such a blessed condition, as that you may (without tempting of God) in a holy boldnesse of faith resigne up your soules to him. A guilty conscience cannot seeke the Lord, naturally it runnes away from him; peace is not easily gotten, nor the gapp soone made up, therefore preserve conscience cleare and unspotted, if thou wouldest have God thy refuge in time of need. Adam when hee had sinned ranne from God. Peter, (when our Saviour p. 196discovered more than an ordinary Majesty in his miracles) said, Lord, depart from mee, I am a sinfull man: Luke …. ….It is the worke of flesh and blood to depart from God, but when a man goes to God, it is a signe hee hath more than flesh and blood in him, for this cannot bee done without a supernaturall worke of faith, which alone will make a sinfull conscience flie to God, and looke to him as a father in Christ, and desire him by his Almighty power, whereby hee created heaven and earth, to create faith in the soule. And when thou hast cast thy soule into the armes of the Almighty, labour to settle it there; and to quiet thy selfe in the discharge of thy duty; say thus, Now I have done that which belongs to mee, let God doe that which belongs to him; I will not trouble my selfe p. 197about Gods worke, but in well doing commit my soule to him, and let him alone with the rest.

Christians should not outrunne Gods Providence, and say, What shall become of me, this trouble will overwhelme mee, &c. but serve his Providence in the use of the meanes, and then leave all to his disposall. Especially this duty is needfull in the houre of death, or when some imminent danger approacheth, but then it will be an hard worke, except it be practised aforehand.

Labour therefore for assurance of Gods love betimes,Direction 4. get infallible evidences of thy estate in grace, that thou art a renued person, and that there is a through change wrought in thy heart, that God hath set a stampe upon thee for his owne. p. 198and that thou hast something above nature in thee; then maist thou cheerfully say, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit; L…ke …. 3. 46.I am thine, Lord save mee, &c. otherwise having no interest in God, how canst thou expect any favour from him? Oh the sweet tranquility and heaven upon earth which those enjoy who have God to be their friend!

This layes a heavy prejudice upon Antichristian Religion, which maintaines a doctrine of doubting, affirming that wee ought not to labour for assurance of Gods favour. Oh beloved, what deprives a poore Christian soule of cōfort more than this? Alas, how can a man at the houre of death commit his soule into the hands of Almighty God, that staggers whether he bee his childe or no? and knows not whether he shall goe to heaven p. 199or hell? Therfore it should bee our dayly indeavour, as wee would have comfort in the time of resigning and giving up our soules to God, to gather evidences of a good estate, that wee are in covenant with him, that hee is our Father, and that wee are his children in Christ Jesus.

For will a man trust his Iewels with an enemy, or with a doubtfull friend? how can the swearer commit his soule to God? how can loose livers and your filthy uncleane wretches that live in continuall enmity against the Lord, commit themselves with any comfort unto him? They pray, Leade us not into temptation, and yet runne daily into temptations, into vile houses and places of wickednesse, wherein they feed their corruptions, and nothing else: They say, Give us this p. 200day our daily bread, and yet use unwarrantable courses, seeking to thrive by unlawfull meanes.

Beloved, a man can cōmit his soule with no more comfort to God than hee hath care to please him. If a man knowes such a one hath his Evidences & Leases, and may hurt him when hee list, how carefull will hee bee of provoking or giving offence to such a man? Suppose wee knew a man that had the keeping of a Lyon, or some cruell beast, and could let it loose upon us at his pleasure, would wee not speake such a one faire, and give him as little cause of discontent as may bee? Beloved, God hath D…vils and wicked men in a chaine, and can, if we offend him, set loose all the powers of darknesse upon us; he can make Conscience flie in our p. 201faces, and cause us to despair and sinke. All our evidence and assurances of … are in Gods hands … can bring us into a state …ll of discomfort and misery, and make us in a maner to … the very flashes and scorchings of hell it selfe: Oh who would offend this God, much lesse live in the practice of any sinne, and yet think of committing their soules to him!

To incourage you the more to trust in God,Direction …. observe the constant course of his dealing towards you.Psa. 71. 6. …. 17. 18.Ps 71:6Ps 71:17Ps 71:18 Lord, thou hast beene my God from my …outh (saith David) upon thee have I h…ng ever since I was tooke out of my mothers wombe, for sake mee not in my gray baires, when my strength fa…leth mee, &c. We should gather upon God (as it were) frō former experience of his goodnesse, and trust him for the time to come, p. 202having formerly foūd him true. Beloved, it is good to lay up all the … of Gods love we can, that …ee may trust him at the houre of …ath; for all our strength then will hee little enough to uphold our fan…, whe many troubles shall me…e in one (as it were in a Center) …hen a world of feares and distra…ions will seise upon our soules the guilt of sinne past, thoughts of judgement to come; for saking of our former lusts & delights, trouble of mind, paine of body, &c. We have need of much acquaintance with God, and assurance of his love at such a time; Therefore let us learne daily to observe the experience of his goodnesse towards us, how when wee have committed our selves to him in youth, hee hath beene a God from time to time in such and such dangers to us. p. 203Ancient Christians should bee the best Christians, because they are inriched with most experiences: It is a shame for ancient Christians to stagger, when they yeeld up their …oules to God, as if they had not been acquainted with him heretofore. You see how David pleads to God,Ps. 315. Thou hast redeemed me; hee goes to former experience of his mercy, therefore now into thy hands I commend my spirit in this extremity. This Psalme is a practice of this precept; here is the Precept, Commit your soules to God, as to a faithfull Creator; here is the practice of David, Into thy hands I commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me O Lord, God of truth, &c. Therefore I beseech you let us treasure up experience of Gods goodnesse, that so when extremities shall come, wee may goe boldly to p. 204him upon former acquaintance with his Majesty; and being strengthened with former experience, I beseech you let us labour to practise these and the like rules prescribed, to incourage us in the performance of so necessary a duty.

But will not God keepe us without wee commit our selves unto him?Object.

I answer;Answ. God having indued us with understanding and grace, Wee must commit our soules to God if we would be preserved.will doe us good in the exercise of those powers and graces that hee hath given us; hee will preserve us, but wee must pray for it; Christ himselfe must aske before hee can have:Ps. 2. ….Ps 2 Aske of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance, &c. wee should therefore make it a continued act, every day of our lives to commit all wee have to the Lords disposall; and to that end p. 205observe how he dischargeth the trust committed to him upon all occasions, how faithfull hee is in delivering his poore Church in greatest extremities, and our selves also even in our worst times; Thou never failest those that trust in thee, (saith David) and, How excellent is thy loving kindnesse, Psal. 36. 7.Ps 36:7O God, therefore the children of man shall trust under the shadow of thy wings; Daily experience of Gods loving kindnesse will make us daily to trust under the shadow of his wings. It should therefore b…e our continuall course to observe the goodnesse, kindnesse, faithfulnesse and other Attributes of GOD, and often to support our soules with them.

Thinke, I beseech you, how hee numbers the very bones of men, they are all written in his booke of Providence; hee p. 206knowes every joynt, every part which he hath made; he knows his owne workmanship; therefore wee may well commit our soules to him. Doth God number our superfluities, and not our naturall and essentiall parts… Even our very haires are num… bred, our teares are taken notice of, and put into his Bottle; our steps are told, our desires are knowne, our groanes are not hidd, we shall not lose a sigh for sinne, so particular is Gods providence; hee watcheth continually over us; there is not any of our members but they are all written in his Booke, so that bee,Psal. 34. 20.Ps 34:20 will not suffer a bone to bee broken: Wee should therefore daily resigne up our soules to his mercifull tuition, and binde our selves to leade unblamable lives before him, resolving against every sinfull course, p. 207wherein we would be afraid to looke his Majesty in the face; What a comfortable life were the life of Christians, if they would exercise themselves to walke as in the presence of the Almighty? This is that which the Scripture speakes of Enoch, Gen. 5. 24.Gen 5:24and the rest, who are said to have walked with God; that is, to have committed themselves and their soules to him, … faithfull Creator.

It may bee objected,Object. Here is a great deale of labour and striving against corruptions in deed,Of wicked mens preserving, who doe not commit their soules to God. may not a man walk with God without all this adoe? we see wicked men that never commit their soules to God… g…ow satt and lusty, and have as good successe in the world, as the strictest men that are.

I answer,Answ. God many times preserves such wretches, but p. 2081alas, that preservation is rather a reservation for a worse evill to come upon them;Bs. 37. 13. 38. There is a pit a digging for the wicked; hee flourisheth and beares out all impudently, under hope of successe, D… his … is a making, and his present prosperity will but aggravate his future misery.

2Sometimes God preserves wicked men for other ends; it may bee he hath some to come of their loynes, who of wicked shall bee made good.

3Againe, God will bee in no mans debt, those that are civilly good shall have civill prosperity, as the Romans had, they had a common wealth well governed, and they prospered many yeares together, as Chancer observes, God preserves wicked men from many calamities, hee gives them civill wisedome, good carriage, &c. and answerable to p. 209those common gifts, hee gives them preservation and protection, &c. but then there is vengeance on their soules the while. Those that commit not themselves carefully and watchfully to GOD, have dead secure soules, without any life of grace or power of godlinesse in them. I speake this to waking Christians, that would know in what case they should live, walking in the sense and assurance of Gods love; they (I say) ought to practise this duty of committing the keeping of their soules to God in weldoing, as to a faithfull Creator.

Neither is it so easie a matter to commit our soules to God,What it is to commit our soules to God. as many fondly imagine; it is not the mumbling over a few prayers, saying, Lord receive my soul, &c. wil serve the turn, these p. 210are good words indeed, and soone learned, but alas who can not doe this? Our study therfore should bee to know the depth and meaning of the same, how that wee are not onelyonly to commit the essence of our soules to God, that hee would take them into heaven when we dye, but also to commit the affections of our soules to him, that he might owne us and governe us whilest wee live; for how are our soules knowne, but by those active expressions in ou… affectiōs, which immediately issue from them? when we cōmit all our thoughts, desires and affections to him, setting him highest in our soules, and making him our hope, our trust, our joy, our feare, &c.

Thus I have spoken of the duty, & of the thing to be committed, our soules; and to whom, to God; and the manner, in weldoing; p. 211and why, because hee is a faithfull Creator.

Now I beseech you consider how nearly it concernes us all to bee throughly acquainted with the practise of this duty, God knowes what extremities wee may fall into; certainly in what condition so ever we bee, either publike or private, whether in contagion and infection, or warre and desolation, happy are we if we have a God to goe to; if we have Him to retire to in Heaven, & a good conscience to retire to in our selves, we may rest secure;Psal. 46. 2…4.Ps 46:2 Though the earth be removed, and the mountaines bee carried into the midst of the s…a, yet we shall bee safe: (that is) Though the order of nature were confounded, yet there is a river shall refresh the house of God; there are Chambers of divine protection, that the Christian p. 212enters into, as the Prophet saith,Esa. 26. 20.Isa 26:20 Enter into thy Chambers, and God is his habitation still: If a Christian had no shelter in the world, yet hee hath an abiding place in God continually; as God dwels in him, so hee dwels in God. Sathan and all other the enemies of man must breake through God before they can come to us, when once we commit our selves to him, as to a Tower and habitation, and enter into him as into an hiding place; the enemies must wrong him before they can hurt us; so blessed an estate it is to bee in God, having commended our soules to him, as unto a faithfull Creator.

But wee see many of Gods deare children (that commit themselves to his care and protection) miscarry,Object. and goe by the worst in the world.

p. 213Beloved,Answ. it is not so, for when they commit themselves to 1God, they are under safety, and if he keepe them not out of trouble, yet he will preserve them in trouble.Esa. 40.Isa 40 I will be with thee in the …ire, and in the water, (saith God,) he saith not, I will keepe you out of the fire, and out of the water, for hee brought many holy Martyrs into it, some were drowned, some burned, &c. Though God will not keepe us out of trouble, yet hee will preserve our spirits in trouble; nay, God many times by a small trouble preserves us from a greater; Even the sufferings of the godly are oft preservations to them; Was not Ionah preserved by the Whale? What had become of him if that had not swallowed him up? A Whale that one would have thought should be a meanes to p. 214destroy him, was a meanes to carry him to the Coast, and bring him safely to land.

Againe, God seemes for a time indeed to neglect his children when they commit themselves unto him, but marke the issue; All the workes of God are beautifull in their season; he suffers them it may be, a long time to bee in danger and trouble, till hee hath perfected the worke of mortification in their hearts, and crucified their confidence in earthly things, till he hath made them more sensible of the evill of sinne, and watchfull against it, but waite a while and you shall see,Psal. 37.Ps 37 that the end of the righteous man is peace.

Gods presence and assistance to support his children in trouble is invincible, they have gladnesse and comfort that wee wo…e not of; they commit the p. 215safety of their soules to God, and hee seemes to neglect them, if we looke to their outward man, but they have a Paradise in their conscience, God preserves their soules from sinne, and their consciences from despaire, they have an invisible protection. There was a sence about Iob that the Devils saw, and a guard of Angels that Elias saw, and that his servant saw afterwards. Wicked men see not the guard of spirits that is about the children of God, (as Christ saith) They have meate the world knowes not of; they feed on hidden comforts.

As for carnall men that doe not commit themselves to God, they have no preservation, but rather a reservation to a further evill: Pharaoh was kept from the tenne plagues, but was drowned in the sea at last; and p. 216Sodome was kept by Abraham, hee fought for them, but yet it was destroyed with fire and Brimstone afterwards.

Let us then try our trust in God: those that intend to imbarke themselves and their estates in a shipp, will bee sure to try it first: This committing of our soules to God, must be our shippe to carry us through the waves of this troublesome world to the heavenly Canaan of rest and peace: Wee should therefore search and prove the same, whether it be indeed safe and sound, able to support our soules in the evill day, and not leake and prove insufficient for us.

Those that commit themselves to God aright,How to know when we trust God aright. are farre from tempting his Majesty;1. Triall. God will bee trusted, but not tempted; What though things fall not p. 217out according to thy expectation; yet waite thou, and thinke God hath further ends then thou knowest of: God will doe things in the order of his Providence, therefore if wee neglect that, it is our owne fault if hee doe not helpe us. If Christ had committed his health to God, and had cast himselfe downe from the Pinnacle, what an act had this beene? but hee would not so tempt the Almighty. Neither should wee unadvisedly runne into dangers, but serve his Providence upon all occasions; God useth our indeavor to this very end; He saves us not alway immediately, but by putting wisedome into our hearts to use lawfull meanes, and using those meanes hee will save us in them. A Christian therefore should bee in a continuall dependance upon God, p. 218and say, I will use these meanes, God may blesse them, if not, I will trust him; hee is not tyed to the use of meanes, though I bee.

Againe,…. Triall. those that commit their soules, or any thing to God, finde themselves quieted therein; Is it not so amongst men? If a man commit a Iewell to a trusty friend, is hee not secure presently? Have wee not Gods Word and faithfulnesse ingaged, that hee will not leave us nor forsake us, but continue our Alsufficient God and portion to our lives end? why then are wee disquieted? Those that are full of cares and feares may talke their pleasure, but they never yet had any true confidence in God; for faith is a quieting grace, it stils the soule; Being justified by faith wee have peace with God. Those that are hurried in p. 219their life with false doubts and perplexities, What shall become of mee? what shall I eate, and what shall I drinke, &c? Though they use lawfull meanes, yet commit not themselves to God as they should; for where there is a dependance upon God in the use of meanes, there is an holy silence in the party; All stubborne and tumultuous thoughts are hushed in him;Psa. 42.Ps 42 My soule keepe silence to the Lord (saith David) and trust in God, why art thou so vexed within me? still there is a quieting of the soule where there is trust. Can that man put confidence in God that prowles for himselfe, and thinkes he hath no Father in heaven to provide for him? Doth that childe trust his father, that (besides going to schoole) thinkes what hee shall put on? how he shall be provided for, and what inheritance he p. 220shall have hereafter? Alas, this is the Fathers care, and belongs not to him; Wheresoever these distractions are, there can be no yeelding up of the soule to God in truth.

There be two affections which mightily disturbe the peace of Christians. 1. Sinfull cares, and 2. Sinfull feares; to both which we have remedies prescribed in the Scripture. 1. Feare not little flocke (saith Christ) for it is your fathers will to give you a kingdome: As if he had said, Will not hee that gives you heaven, give you other things? In nothing be carefull, Phil. 4.Phil 4(saith the Apostle) that is, in a distracting manner; but doe your duty, and then let your requests bee made knowne to God, and the peace of God shall keepe you; and therefore were we redeemed from the hands of our enemies, that wee might p. 221serve him without feare all our dayes.

A Christian should keepe an inward Sabbath in his soule, and goe quietly on in doing all the good hee can: what a fearfull thing is it to see men lie groveling in the earth, and live without God in the world, troubling and …urmoyling themselves how to compasse this thing and that thing, as if they had no God to seeke unto, nor no promise to relye upon.

Againe,3. Triall. where this committing of a mans selfe and his soule to God is, there will bee a looking to God onelyonly in all a man doth, not fearing any danger or opposition that may befall him from without; as the three yong men said to Ne…uc…adnezar, Our God can keepe us if he will; Dan. 3.Dan 3But what if hee will not? Yet know O King, that wee will not worship nor fall p. 220duplicate page p. 221duplicate page p. 222downe before thy Image: So it is with a Christian foreseeing some danger, disgrace or displeasure of this or that man which may befall him, he resolveth notwithstanding in despight of all, to commit himselfe to God in doing his duty, come what will, whether God will save him or no, hee will not breake the peace of his conscience, or doe the least evill; hee is no foole, but foresees what may befall him for well doing; this inconvenience may come & that trouble, yet he sets light by these; he hath an eye to heaven, and sees more good to himself in the Creator that gave him his beeing of nothing; and more good for the time to come, (that will make him a blessed Saint in heaven) then there can be ill in the creature: therefore come what can come p. 223his heart is fixed to trust the Lord, and rather than hee will displease him, desert his honour and his cause, or doe any unworthy action; he will commit himselfe to God in the greatest dangers.

The ground hereof is this,Reason of trusting in God. A Christian is the wisest man in the world, and hee understands well enough that God is Alsufficient; hee sees there is a greater good in God than hee can have in the Creature, and counts it madnesse to offend God to please the creature, because there is a greater evill to bee expected from God, than from the Creature, though it were the greatest Monarch in the world, considering therefore that he hath his best good in his union with God, and in keeping his peace with him, hee will not breake with him for any Creature. p. 224And thus hee doth wisely, for hee knowes, if hee lose his life he shall have a better life of God than hee hath in his body; for God is his life, God is his soule and his comfort, and hee hath his beeing from God, hee is his Creator, and hee hath a better being in God when hee dyes than he had when he lived: for our beeing in God makes us happy, and therefore Christ saith, He that loves his life, before God and a good cause, hates it; and hee that hates his life when Christ cals for it, loves it, for hee hath a better life in him; wee give nothing to God, but hee returns it a thousand times better than we gave it. Let us yeeld our lives to him, wee shall have them in heaven if they be taken away on earth. Hee will give us our goods a thousand sold, we shall have more favour in God p. 225then in any Creature, and therefore a Christian out of this ground commits himselfe to God, though hee foresee never so much danger like to fall upon him.

Againe,4. Triall▪ if we doe in deed and not in pretence commit our selves to God, as to a faithfull Creator, we will not limit his Majesty, as many carnall hearts doe; oh if God will do so and so for them, then they would trust him, if they had but so much to live on a yeare, and s…ch commings in, &c. then they would depend upon God: but they must have a pawne, and so much in hand first: What a shame is it that wee should trust the vilest man in the world as farre as wee see him, and yet unlesse wee have somewhat to leane on, we will not trust God? Beloved, when a man limits God in any p. 226thing, such a one may talke, but hee trusts him not at all. Indeed wee should indent with God, and tie him to looke to the salvation of our soules, but for other things leave them to his owne wisedome, both for the time, for the manner and measure, doe what hee will with us; Suppose it come to the Crosse, hath hee not done greater matters for us? why then should we distrust him in lesser? If times come that Religion flourish or goes downward, yet relye on him still; hath hee not given his Sonne to us, and will hee not give heaven also? Why doe wee limit the holy One of Israel, and not cast our selves upon him, except hee will covenant to deale thus and thus with us?

A true Christian hath his eye alwayes heaven-ward, and p. 227thinkes nothing too good for God; O Lord, (saith he) of thee I have received this life, this estate, this credit and reputation in the world; I have what I have, and am what I am of thee, and therefore I yeeld all to thee backe againe: If thou wilt serve thy selfe of my wealth, of my selfe, of my strength, thou shalt have it: If thou wilt serve thy selfe of my credit and reputation, I will adventure it for thee; If thou wilt have my life, of thee I had it, to thee I will restore it, I will not limit thy Majesty, come of it what will, I leave it to thy wisedome, use mee and mine as thou wilt, onelyonly be gracious to my soule, that it may goe well with that, and I care not. Thus wee should wholly resigne our selves to the Lords disposall, and thereby wee shall exceedingly honour his Majesty, p. 228and cause him to honour us, and to shew his presence to us for our good, which hee will assuredly doe, if we absolutely yeeld up our selves to him. But if a man will have two strings to his Bow, and trust him so farre, but not so farre; so hee may bee kept from this danger or that trouble, &c. this is not to deale with God as an Omnipotent Creator: For hee that doth a thing truely in obedience to God, will doe it generally to all his commands; so farre as the reason of his obedience reaches, his trust extends; hee that commits any thing to God, will commit all to him; he chooseth not his Objects; but upon the same ground that hee commits his soule to God when hee dies, hee commits his estate, liberty, and all hee hath while he lives: Hee can never relye on God p. 229for greater matters, that distrusts him in lesser.

Againe,5. Triall. a man that truely trusts God, will commit all his wayes unto him, hee will take no course but what hee is guided in by the Lord; hee lookes for wisedome from above, and saith, Lord, though it is not in mee to guide my owne way; as thy Word shall leade mee, and the good counsel of thy Spirit in others direct me, so I will follow thee. Hee that commits not his wayes to God, will not commit his comforts to him; God must bee our Counsellor as well as our Comforter. Therefore the Wise man bids us, Acknowledge God in all our wayes, Prov. 3.Prov 3and leane not to our owne wisedome. Most men looke how safe their counsels are, not how holy and agreeable to God; is this to trust in him? Will God save us at p. 230last, and yet suffer us to live as wee li…t now? Deceive not your selves, hee that will have his soule saved must commit it to GOD before hand to bee sanctified.

Againe,… ▪ Triall. those that commit themselves aright to God, will commit their posterity to him, their wives and children, &c.

Why,Object. doe not men make their Wils and commit their goods to them?

Oh but how doe they resigne them?Sol. how covetous and full of distrust are they? I must leave such a childe so much, and so much, and why I pray you? because God cannot blesse him else: Oh fearefull, Is God …yed to mean…s, cannot heblesse with a little as well as with a great deale? Is not the earth the Lords, and the fulnesse thereof? Why? must God have so much in hand p. 231or else hee cannot inrich and raise up thy Children? Oh consider, he hath declared himselfe to bee the father of the fatherlesse, and lookes to the Widdow in a speciall manner, he doubles his Providence there; hee provides for all, but takes speciall notice of them; therefore quiet thy selfe, they are in covenant with God, and God is thy God, and the God of thy seed also; therefore if thou wilt commit thy soule, why not thy Wife, Children, goods, &c.

Looke into the course of Gods people in all times, those that have left but little with honest dealing, God hath blessed the same exceedingly; whereas those that have left great matters ill gotten, in stead of a blessing have often left a curse, and a snare behinde them. Why then should men take indirect p. 232courses, and wound their consciences for worldly pel…e?

Consider,Co… sid. 1. 1. thy children are Gods and not thine, hee gave them to thee at first, and he can provide hereafter when thou artgone; thou art the father of their body, but he is the father of their soule?

2. He provided for them before they were borne, doth not hee provide care and affection in the Mothers heart? doth not he provide suck in the Mothers breasts, and will hee not care for them now they are borne, as well as he did before they came into the world? it is Atheisme to thinke such a thought. Those that commit themselves to God in one thing, will doe so in all things, otherwise they deceive their owne soules, for it is a universall Act, that runnes through their whole life. Committing p. 233is an Action of trust, and there is a kinde of entercourse of trust betweene God and a Christian continually.

Lastly,7. Triall. those that commit themselves to God wil be faithfull stewards in whatsoever hee hath trusted them withall. Thou committest thy selfe, and thy health, and estate to God, and at length thou wilt commit thy soule when thoudiest unto him; very well; but what doth God trust thee withall? hath hee not trusted thee with a Body and a soule, with a portion of goods, with place, time, strength and abilities to doe good? Hast thou not all thou hast from God as a Steward, to improve for thy Masters advantage? If ever thou expectest the performance of what thou hast put in him, bee faithfull in that trust which hee hath committed to thee. Those p. 234that have misused their bodies, and wounded their soules in their lives, how can they commit thē to God at their deaths? How dares the soule looke up to him, when the life hath beene nothing else but a perpetuall offending of his Majesty.

I beseech you let us learne this wholesome lesson, great is our benefit thereby: Hee that trusts in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion, that cannot bee moved; wee may be shaken but shall never be removed. The earth is shaken with Earthquakes, but the earth keepes its owne Center still: Our best peace is in God, and our chiefest safety in his protection. I laid mee downe to rest, because thou Lord watchest over me, (saith the Prophet) and, Returne O my soule to thy rest, for the Lord hath beene very beneficiall to thee. Is it not a good thing to have a p. 235sweete security of soule? that whether I sleepe or wake, whether I bee at home or abroad, live or die, I have a Providence watching over mee better then mine owne? When I yeeld my selfe up to God, his wisedome is mine, his strength is mine, whatsoever hee hath it is for me, because I am his: What a heaven upon earth is this, that a Christian out of a holy familiarity with God, can resigne up his soule to him upon all occasions? Set heaven and salvation aside, what greater happinesse can be desired? How sweet is a mans rest at night after he hath y…elded himselfe to God by faithfull prayer?

I beseech you let us bee acquainted with the practise of this duty,Vse. and labour to bee in such a state as God may owne us,Exhortation. and receive our poore soules p. 236to himselfe; Let us keepe them pure and unde…iled, and labour to improve our Talents, that when we give any thing to God we may say, Lord, according to the grace I have received, I have kept it, and therefore now returne it to thee againe.

Beloved, when trouble of conscience comes, when sicknesse and death comes, what will become of a man that hath not this sweete acquaintance with God? hee was a stranger to God in the time of prosperitie, and God is now a stranger to him in adversitie. Saul was a prophane spirited man, hee did not acquaint himselfe with God in the time of his happinesse, and therefore in time of distresse he goes first to the Witch, and then to the sword poynt. So fareth it with all wicked wretches in their great extremities; no sooner p. 237doth any evill be…ide them, or the least danger approach them; let conscience never so little fli… in their faccs, &c. but presently they goe to cursed meanes, and runne upon desperate conclusions.

Therefore as we desire to die even in Gods armes, & yeeld up our selves into the very hands of the Almighty with comfort; let us daily inure our selves to this blessed course of committing our selves and all our wayes to him in doing good.

Come and see, saith the Scripture; Beloved, if you will not beleeve me; make tryall of this course a while; did you once taste the sweetnesse of it, how would your drooping spirits be cheared up?

Let a man continually keepe a good conscience, and hee shall bee satisfied with peace at last: p. 238Suppose hee meetes with danger and opposition in the world, this may seeme harsh at the first; ô but he shall know afterwards what it is to part with any thing for Christs sake, to commit his cause or whatsoever hee hath unto God, as to a faithfull Creator. Then wee …aste of God to the purpose, when wee put him to it; for God will not be indebted to us; wee never finde such sweete immediate comfort from him, as when wee deny our selves comfort of the Creature for his sake.

Little doe wee know what times may befall us, there is much danger abroad, and wee have cause to feare, not farre from us. It may bee the clouds even now hang over our heads; Oh if wee would be hidd in the day of the Lords wrath, & have no evill come nigh our dwellings, p. 239let us (above all things in the world) make sure our interest in Christ, and title to the promise; Wee should seeke to know God more, and then wee would trust him more.Psal 9.Ps 9 They that know thy name will trust in thee, saith David: Oh the blessed estate of a Christian, that now he may bee acquainted with God, that through Christ there is a Throne of Grace to flie unto! I beseech you improve this happy priviledge, and then come what will; come famine, come danger of warre or pestilence, &c. God will bee a Sanctuary and an abiding place to you. A Christian carries his Rocke and sure defence about him; I will bee unto them a little Sanctuary in all places, saith God. What a comfort is it to have a wall of fire still compassing us about? a Sheild that our enemies must breake p. 240through before they can come at us? Hee that trusts in God shall bee recompensed with mercy on every side; it is no matter what dangers compasse him, though hee be in the midst of death and hell, or any trouble whatsoever, if he commits himselfe to God in obedience, out of good grounds of faith in his Word, he shall be safe in the evill day.