The Souls Conflict With Itself, Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX.
Of God, our God, and of particular application.
[MY God.]
These words imply a speciall That Davids interest in God, was a speciall foundation of his trusting in God.interest that the holy man had in God, (as his God) being the ground of all which was said before; both of the duty of trusting, and of praising, and of the salvation that hee expected from God. He is my God, therefore be not disqui…d but trust him. He is my God, therefore hee will give mee matter to praise him, and will be the salvation of my countenance; God hath some speciall ones in the world, to whom he doth as it were …e over himselfe, and whose God he … by vertue of a more speciall covenant; whence we have these excellent expressions. I will be your God, and you Ier. 31. 3…. 2 Cor. 6. 18.shall be my people: I will be your Father, and you shall be my sonnes and daughters. Since the fall wee having lost our communion with God the chiefe good, our happinesse stands in recovering againe fellowship with him. For this end wee were created, and for this redeemed, and for effecting of this, the Word and Sacraments are sanctified to us, yea, and for this end God himselfe (out of the bowels of his compassion) vouchsafed to enter into a gracious covenant with us, founded upon Jesus Christ, and his satisfaction to divine justice; so that by Faith wee become one with him, and receive him, as offered of his Father to be all in all to us.
Hence it is, that CHRIST hath his name Immanuel, God with us. Not onelyonly Why Christ hath his name Immanuel.because hee is God, and man too, (both natures meeting in one person) but because being God in our nature, he hath undertooke this office to bring God and us together. The maine end of Christs comming and suffering, was to reconcile, and to gather together in one; and (as Peter expresseth it) to bring man againe to God. Immanuel is the bond 1 Pet. 3. 18of this happy agreement, and appeares for ever in heaven to make it good. As the comfort hereof is great, so the foundation of it is sure and everlasting, God will be our God, so long as he is Christs God; and because hee is Christs God. Ioh. 20. 10.Thus the Father of the faithfull, and all other holy men before Christ, apprehended God to be their God in the Messias to come. Christ was the ground of their interest. Hee was yesterday to them as well as to day to us. Hence it is that God is called the portion of his people, Heb. 13. Psa. 73. 26. Mal. 3. 25. Psal. 71.and they his jewels: he their onelyonly rock and strong Tower, and they his peculiar ones.
Well may we wonder that the great VseGod should stoope so low, to enter into such a covenant of grace and peace, founded upon such a Mediator, with such utter enemies, base creatures, sinfull dust and ashes as we are. This is the wonderment of Angels, a torment of devils, and glory of our nature and persons; and will be matter of admiration, That there must be on our part an appropriating of God, as he tenders himselfe to be our God.and praising God unto us for all eternity.
As God offereth himselfe to be ours in Christ (else durst we lay no claime to him) so there must be in us an appropriating grace of faith, to lay hold of this offer. David saith here, My God. But by what spirit? by a spirit of faith, which looking to Gods offer, maketh it his owne whatsoever it layes hold of God offereth himselfe in covenant, and Faith catcheth hold thereon presently. With a gracious offer of God, there goeth a gracious touch of his spirit to the soule, giving it sight and strength, whereby (being ayded by the same spirit) it layeth hold on God shewing himselfe in love. God saith to the soule, I am thy salvation, and the soule saith againe, Thou art my God. Faith is nothing else, but a spirituall eccho, returning that voice bark againe, which God first speakes to the soule. For what acquaintance could the soule claime with so glorious a Majesty, if he should not first condescend so low, as to speake peace, and whisper secretly to the soule, that he is our loving God and Father, and wee his peculiar ones in Christ, that our sinnes are all pardoned, his justice fully satisfied, and our persons freely accepted in his deere Sonne.
But to come more particularly to the words [My God] The words are pregnant; in the wombe of them, all that is graciously & comfortably good is contained; they are the spring head of all particular blessings. All particular Relations and Titles that it pleaseth God to take upon him, have their strength from hence, that God is our God. More cannot be said, and lesse will not serve the turne. Whatsoever else we have, if we have not God; it will prove but an empty Cisterne at last. He is our proper element, every thing desires to live in its owne element, fishes in the Sea, Birds in the ayre; in this they are best preserved.
There is a greater strength in this [My God] then in any other Title, it is more then if he had said My King, or My Lord; these are words of soveraignty and wisdome; but this implies not onelyonly infinite power, soveraignty, and wisdome, but likewise infinite bounty and provident care; so that when wee are said to be Gods people, the meaning is, that wee are not onelyonly such over whom God hath a power and command, but such as towards whom hee shewes a loving and peculiar respect.
In the words is implied, 1. A propriety and interest in God. 2. An improvement 1.of the same for the quieting 2.of the soule.
David (here) layes a particular claim, Particular faith necessary, and why.by a particular faith unto God. The reason, is, 1. The vertue of faith is as to lay hold, so to appropriate to it self, 1.and make its owne whatever it layes hold on, and it doth no more in this, then God gives it leave by his gracious promises to doe.
2. As God offers, so faith receives, but God offers himselfe in particular to the 2.beleeving soule by his spirit, therefore our faith must be particular. That which the Sacraments seale, is a peculiar interest in Christ; This is that which hath alwayes upheld the Saints of God, and that which is ever joyned with the life of Christ in us. The life that I live (saith Paul) is by the faith of the Sonne of Gal. 2. 20.God, who loved me, and gave himselfe for me. The spirit of faith is a spirit of application.
This is implyed in all the Articles of our faith; we beleeve God to be our father, and Christ to be borne for us, that he dyed for us, and rose againe for our good, and now sits at the right hand of God, making requests for us in particular.
3. This is that which distinguishes the faith of a true Christian, from all 3.hypocrites and cast-awayes whatsoever. Were it not for this word of possession [Mine] the devill might say the Creed to as good purpose as we; He beleeves there is a God and a Christ, but that which torments him is this, he can say [My] to never an Article of …aith.
4. A generall apprehension of Gods goodnesse and mercy may stand with 4.desperation. Take away My from God, Tolle meum tolle Deum.and take away God himselfe in regard of comfort; what comfort was it for Adam, when he was shut out of Paradise to looke upon it after he had lost …t? The more excellencies are in God, … more our griefe if we have not our …rt in them: the very life blood of the Gospell, lyes in a speciall application of particular mercy to our selves. All relations that God and Christ have taken upon them, imply a necessity of application; What if God be a rock of salvation if we doe not rest upon him? What if he be a foundation, and we doe not build on him? What if hee offers himselfe as a husband, if we will not accept of him, what availes it us? How can we rejoyce in the salvation of our soules, unlesse we can in particular say, I rejoyce in God my Saviour.
5. Without particular application, we can neither entertaine the love of 5.God, nor returne love againe, by which meanes we lose all the comfort God intends us in his word, which of purpose was written for our solace and refreshment; Take away particular faith, and we let out all the spirits of cheerefull and thankfull obedience.
This possessive particle [My] hath place in all the golden chaine of our salvation. The first spring of all Gods claime to us as his is in his election of … we were by grace his before we were, those that are his from that eternall love, … gives to Christ; this is hid in the breast … God, till he calls us out of the rest of … world into Cōmunion with Christ, … answering of which call (by faith) … become one with Christ, and so … with him. Afterwards in justifica… wee feele God experimentally to … reconciled unto us, whence arises … and inward peace. And then upon …her sanctification God delights in us … his, bearing his owne image, and we …om a likenesse to God, delight in him … …rs in his Christ, and so this mutu… interest betwixt God and us, conti… untill at last God becomes all in all …o us.
But how can a man that is not yet in the Object.… of grace say with any comfort, [My God?]
Whilest a man regards iniquity in his Answ.… without any remorse or dislike of …e same, if he saith my God, his heart …ll give his tongue the lye, however in … outward profession, and opinion … others, hee may beare himselfe as if … were his, upon false grounds. For there can be no more in a conclusion then it hath from the principle an… premises out of which it is drawne. Th… principle (here) is, that God is the God of all that trust in him. Now if wee ca… make it good, that wee truly trust in God, we may safely conclude of comfort from him; for the more certaine clearing of which, try your selves by the signes of trust delivered.
It is no easie matter to say in truth of heart [My God] the flesh will still labour for supremacy, God should bee all in all unto us, but this will not bee till these bodies of flesh (together with the body of sinne) bee laid aside. Hee that sayes God is [my God] and doth not yeeld up himselfe unto God, raiseth a building without a foundation, layeth a claim without a title, and claimeth a title without an evidence, reckoning upon a bargain, without consent of the party with whom he would contract.
But if a man shall out of the sight and sense of sin, thirst after mercy in Christ, and call unto God for pardon, then God who (is a God hearing prayer and) delighteth Psal. 65. 2.to be knowne by the name of …cifall, will bee ready to close and …t with the desire of such a soule, so …re as to give it leave to relye upon … for mercy, (and that without pre…ption) untill he further discovers …selfe graciously unto it; upon sense … which grace, the soule may bee en…aged to lay a farther claime unto …od, having further acquaintance with …. Hence are those exhortations so … in the Prophets, to turne unto the Zach. 1. 3.…dour God, because upon our first re…ion to turne unto God, wee shall …de him alwayes ready to answer …se desires, that hee stirres up by his … spirit in us.
Wee are not therefore to stay our …ing unto God, till wee feele him, …ing to our hearts, I am thy God, but …hen he prevents us by …s grace, ina…ng us to desire grace, let us follow … worke begun, in the strength of …at grace we have, and then God will …ther manifest himself in mercy to us
Yet God before we can make any …ng towards him, lets into our hearts some few beames of mercy thereby drawing us unto him, and reaching us out a hint to lay hold upon.
And as sinne causeth a distance betwixt God and us, so the guilt of sinne in the cōscience, causes further strangenesse, insomuch that we dare not loo… up to heaven, till God open a little crevise to let in a little light of comfor… (at least) into our soules, whereby we are by little and little drawne neerer to him. But this light at the first is so little, that in regard of the greater Ien… of sinne, and a larger desire of grace, the soule reckons the same as no light at all, in comparison of what it desires and seekes after. Yet the comfort is, that this dawning light will at length cleere up to a perfect day.
Thus we see how this claime of God to be our God, is still in growth untill full assurance, and that there is a great distance betwixt the first act of faith in cleaving to God, offering himselfe in Christ to be ours, and betweene the last fruit of faith, the cleere and comfortable feeling, that God is our God indeed. Wee first by faith apply our selves to …, and then apply God to us, to be …; The first is the conflicting exercise … faith, the last is the triumph of faith; …refore faith properly is not assu…ce. And to comfort us the more, the …ises are specially made to the act of …th, suller assurance is the reward of ….
If God hath not chosen mee in Christ Object.…e his, what ground have I to trust in …? I may cast away my selfe upon a vaine …ence.
We have no ground (at first) to trou… Answ.our selves about Gods election. Se… things belong to God; Gods re…led will is, That all that beleeve in …ist shall not perish. It is my duty Ioh. 3. 15.…refore knowing this, to beleeve, by …ing whereof, I put that question, …ther God be mine or no? out of all …estion; for all that beleeve in Christ, … Christs, and all that are Christs are …. It is not my duty to look to Gods secret counsell, but to his open offer, in…ation, and command, and thereupon to adventure my soule. And this adventure of faith will bring at length a rich returne unto us. In warre men will adventure their lives, because they thinke Quis pollicetur serēti proventum; naviganti portum; militanti victoriam? Jdeo Navigantes vitam ven tis credunt, &c. Salvian. Ideo terris … credimus ut cum usuris credita recipi…us.some will escape, and why not they? In traffique beyond the Seas many adventure great estates, because some grow rich by a good returne, though many miscarry. The husbandman adventures his seed, though sometime the yeare proves so bad, that he never sees it more. And shall not we make a spirituall adventure in casting our selves upon God, when wee have so good a warrant as his command, and so good an encouragement as his promise, that hee will not faile those that rely on him? God bids us draw neere to him, and hee will draw neere to us. Whilest wee in Gods owne wayes draw neere to him, and labour to entertain good thoughts of him, hee will delight to shew himselfe favourably unto us. Whilest we are striving against an unbeleeving heart, he wil come in and help us, and so fresh light will come in.
Pretend not thy unworthinesse and inability, to keepe thee off from God, for this is the way to keep thee so still, …f any thing help us, it must be God, and … ever hee help us, it must be by cast…g our selves upon him, for then hee will reach out himselfe unto us in the promise of mercy to pardon our sinne, …d in the promise of grace to sanctifie …r natures. It was a good resolution …f the Lepers, If we enter into the City, the 2 Reg. 7. 4.…ine is there, and we shall dye, (say they) …f we sit still, we shall die also: Let us there…e fall into the hoast of Assyrians, if they Omnia in rebus humanis spes futurorum agunt.…ve us, we shall live; if they kill us, we shall … dye; So we should reason, if wee sit …ll under the load of our sin wee shall …, if we put our selves into the hands …f Christ, if he save us we shall live, if … save us not, wee shall but die. Nay …ely, he will not suffer us to die. Did …er Christ thrust any back from him, …at put themselves upon him? Unlesse … were by that meanes to draw them … neerer unto him, as we see in the … of Canaan. His denyall was but … increase her importunity. We should …refore doe as she did, gather all ar…ments to help our faith. Suppose I am a dogge (saith shee) yet I am one of the family, and therefore have right to the crummes that fall. So Lord, I have beene a sinner, yet I am thy creature; and not onelyonly so, but such a creature as thou hast set over the rest of the works of thy hands; and not onelyonly so, but one whom thou hast admitted into thy Church by Baptisme, whereby thou wouldst binde me to give my selfe unto thee before hand, and more then this thou hast brought me under the means, and therein hast shewed thy will concerning my turning towards thee. Thou hast not onelyonly offered me conditions of peace, but wooed me by thy Ministers to give up my selfe unto thee, as thine in thy Christ. Therefore I dare not suspect thy good meaning towards me, or question thy intendment, but resolve to take thy counsell, and put my selfe upon thy mercy. I cannot thinke if thou hadst meant to cast me away, and not to owne mee for thine, thou wouldst ever have kindled these desires in me. But it is not this state I rest in, my purpose is to wait upon thee, untill thou dost manifest thy selfe far…er unto me. It is not common fa…ours that will content me (though I … unworthy of these) because I heare … choyse blessings towards thy chosen people, that thou entrest into a peculiar …venant withall, sure mercies, and such Isay 55. 3.… accompany salvation. These be the …vours I waite for at thy hand. O visite Ps. 106 4, 5… with the salvation of thy chosen. O remember mee with the favour of thy people, that I may see the good of thy …sen. Whilest the soule is thus exerci…d, more sweetnesse falls upon the will … affections, whereby they are drawne …ll neerer unto God. The soule is in a …ting and a thriving condition: For …d delights to shew himselfe gracious … those that strive to be well perswa…d of him, concerning his readinesse … shew mercy to all that look towards … in Christ. In worldly things, how … wee cherish hopes upon little …ounds? if there shineth never so little …pe of gaine or preforment, wee make …er it. Why then should we forsake …owne mercy, (which God offers to be our owne if we will embrace it) having such certain grounds for our hope to rest on?
It was the policie of the servants of Benhadad, to watch if any word of comfort fell from the King of Israel, and when hee named Benhadad his brother, they catched presently at that, and cheered 1 Reg. 20. 33.themselves. Faith hath a catching quality at whatsoever is neere to lay hold on. Like the branches of the vine, it windeth about that which is next, and stayes it selfe upon it, spreading further and further still. If nature taught Benhadads servants to lay hold upon any word of comfort, that fell from the mouth of a cruell King: Shall not grace teach Gods children to lye in wait for any token that hee shall shew for good to them? How should we stretch forth the armes of our faith to him, that stretcheth out his armes all the day long to a rebellious people: God will never shut Esay 65. 2.his bosome against those that in an humble obedience flye unto him: wee cannot conceive too graciously of God. Can wee have a fairer offer, then for God in Christ to make over himselfe …to us? which is more then if hee should make over a thousand worlds; Therefore our chiefe care should bee, first by faith to make this good, and …hen to make it usefull unto us, by li…ing upon it as our chiefest portion; which wee shall doe, 1. By proving God to be our God in particular; 2. By improving of it in all the passages of our lives.