Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 11
VERSE. 10: 10. Create in me a cleane heart, O GOD, and renew a right ſpirit within me.
Dauids new Petition.DAVID hauing hitherto creaued at the hands of God pardon of his ſinnes, doth here put vp a new petition to God; namely, for regeneration, or the new birth, that God would caſt him in a new mould, and make him a new man: And that God would in merciemercy goe forward with that bleſſed worke of Sanctification begunne by his ſpirit, and now interrupted by his ſinnes.
Our reconciliation with GOD ſtands in two partes. Namely, pardon of ſinne and regeneration: And Dauid hauing in the former Verſe prayed for grace and merciemercy, that God would hauehave merciemercy vponupon him, pardon all his ſinnes and waſh them all away in the blood of his Sonne. Now hee doth begge for regeneration and encreaſe of the bleſsed worke of ſanctification, which is begunne and continued by the holie Spirit of God: for though the Lord ſhall pardon ſinnes paſt, yet if hee giuegive not power againſt ſinne in time to come, we ſhal marre all quickely, and commit either the ſame againe, or elſe ſome greater ſinne, there fore hee craues power againſt ſin in time to come that he may not fall into the like againe.
Parts of this verſe two.In this tenth verſe there be two things to bee confidered: firſt, hee craueth a ſanctified heart, becauſe till the heart be pure, no good motion can proceede from thence, no more then ſweete Water from a bitter Fountaine; ſecondly, he praies for the renewing of the worke of grace, or new birth, and ſanctification, which he had by his ſinnes hindered, yea greatly interrupted, that ſo his ſoule and filthy heart being renued and ſanctified, thence might proceed good affections, and holy actions, with continuall and conſtant obedience.
Doctr. 1 Whereas the Prophet ioynes this petition of Sanctification vntounto the former of Iuſtification, we learne,Iuſtification and Sanctification go together. that theſe two graces of Gods ſpirit, Iuſtification, pardon of ſinne, and ſanctification, a godly life and conuerſation, are ſo knit and vnited together, that they can not be ſeperated; ſo as no man is truly iuſtified by faith in the bloud of Chriſt, but he is alſo ſanctified by the Holy-Ghoſt; no man can hauehave the pardon of his ſins, but he muſt becom a new creature in Ieſus Chriſt. And this appereth plainely by the Apoſtle S. Paul, Rom. 5. treating of Iuſtification, and Chap. 6. verſ. 4, 5. intreating of Sanctification, he ſhewes that theſe two go euer together: ſo as he that is not ſanctified, is not iuſtified; and he that is not regenerate and borne anew by faith in Ieſus Chriſt, and the worke of the Spirit, cannot hauehave the pardon of his ſinnes.
Seeing Iuſtification, Ʋſe 1 and pardon of ſins, and Sanctification, and new-neſſe of life, cannot be ſeuered in the children of God, no more then fire and heate: then men had neede to take heede leſt they deceiue themſelues while they ſay, God is mercifull, and they hope all their ſinnes are pardoned in the bloud of Chriſt. But vnleſſe thou be truly ſanctified, vnleſſe thou be a new creature in Chriſt Ieſus, thou canſt hauehave no aſſurance of thy Iuſtification and pardon of thy ſins: & therfore if thou liue in ſin, delight in ſin; no change, no new birth, no reformation of thy hart & life, certainly thou haſt no pardon of thy ſinnes as yet, and thy hope is but a fooliſh and vaine fancy of thine own braine.
Hence to trie the aſsurance of our ſaluation, Ʋſe 2 by the fruit of our Sanctification; for heereby wee may aſſure our ſelues, that we are iuſtified, if wee leade a ſanctified life. If wee hauehave our conuerſation in holineſſe, wee ſhall hauehave in the end euerlaſting life, 2. Timoth. chap. 2.19. the Apoſtle ſheweth there, that the foundation of the Lord ſtandes ſure, ſo that the Lord knoweth who are his. He ſheweth alſo how wee ſhall know that wee are the Lords; euen this, EueryEvery one for his own aſſurance muſt depart from iniquity: and this is confirmed by that of S. Iohn Ioh. 1.6, 7. If wee ſay wee hauehave fellowſhip with him and walke in darkeneſſe, we lie, and do not the truth. O then! as we glorie in the name of Chriſtians, and would be accounted Chriſts, let vsus be carefull to bring forth the fruits of Chriſtians, and to leade a ſanctified life, for God hath ioined theſe two together, ſo that not all the wit and pollicie of men whatſoeuer, is able to ſeperate them.
[Create in mee a new heart.]
TO create, is to make a thing of nothing, as God created the world: Doctr. 2 Gen. 1.1.that is, he made all things of nothing. Hence then learne, that it is as great a worke to create a new heart,Repentance is a new creation. and ſo to ſaue a ſinner, as to create the whole world of nothing; yea in ſome reſpects it ſeemes harder: for in the creation of the world, the Lord but ſpake the word, and all was made, there was no hinderance, no reſiſtance or oppoſition: but in the creation of the heart a new, there are many lets and hinderances. Firſt within a man, eueryevery man is an enemy to his owne ſaluation, and the fleſh reſiſts this worke: againe, the deuill doth labour to hinder by all meanes poſſible, ſo bleſſed a worke.
Yea and beſides that, it is a great work to create in a man a new heart: It is alſo a worke of great difficulty, not accompliſhed without great labour and paine, and therefore is it called a Birth, a Death, a Circumciſion; ſo then, euen as no birth, no death, no cutting off of the fleſh can bee without paine and ſorrow: So the conuerſion of a ſinner is not wrought without paine and ſorrow: The Infant is not deliuered out of it mothers womb without paine; and doſt thou thinke (ô man) to part with ſinne which is in thee, was conceiued with thee, and which ſince thy birth day, vntounto this preſent, thou haſt nouriſhed with ſuch delight, and not to taſt of paine in thy new birth? no …ſſuredly it will not bee, but it will coſt thee much ſorrow, many a ſigh yea and teares themſelues before thou haſt the ſame effectually wrought in thee.
Seeing it is ſo hard a thing to hauehave a new and ſanctified heart, V;ſe 1 euen as to create the whole world, then we had need to take the greater paines about it, to vſe all meanes that God hath appointed: namely,Ioh. 17.17. Acts 15 9. the word preached, the Sacraments, prayer, meditation in the law of God, and to cry vntounto GOD for the ſame continually.
Wee ſee that there is nothing in man of himſelfe that is pleaſing vntounto God, Ʋſe 2 for Dauid praies to hauehave a new heart created in him; and therefore there is no will no motion in any man of himſelfe to pleaſe God, all muſt be new, yea till the heart be created a new, and ſanctified, it is a ſinke of ſin and all vncleanneſſe, full of poiſoned luſts and concupiſence, and therefore no freedome of will to any thing that is good til God create this new heart.
Seeing Dauid prayes to God to create a cleane heart within him, Ʋſe 3 it muſt admoniſh vsus all to looke vntounto our hearts that they be cleane: for it is the fountaine of all life and motion. Now ſuch as the fountaine is, ſuch will the water bee, ſuch as the roote is, ſuch will the fruite bee: and if thy heart be euill, it will ſend forth filthy luſts and deſires. And as our Sauiour ſaith:Mat. 15.19. Out of the heart commeth euill thoughts, murthers, adulteries, thefts, falſe teſtimonies, ſlander…: theſe are the things which defile the man. Oh! then let vsus look vntounto our hearts, and labour for ſanctified hearts, intreate the Lord to create them in vsus, and to take away our ſtony and corrupt hearts,Luke 8. and giuegive vsus good and honeſt hearts, ſanctified by his Spirit; for looke how our hearts bee, ſo will our thoughts, words, and workes be: a good heart will hauehave good words, and good deeds; but a ſtinking and corrupt heart will ſend forth vile and filthy words and workes.
Queſt. Doth Dauid deſire no more but a cleane heart? hath he no care of his words and his actions, of his outward life and conuerſation?
Anſ. Yes verily, Dauid though he names but the heart, yet vnderſtands the whole man, both outward and inward: but becauſe that is the fountaine of all, therefore hee names that: and if the heart be pure, it will make the whole man good: for the heart of man is like the great wheele of a clocke, it is the firſt mouer either to good or ill.
Hence marke, Doctr. 3 that in true ſanctification,True Sanctification is neuer in part. where the worke is truely wrought, it is not onelyonly outward in word and deed, but it is inward, and of the whole man, both body and ſoule, heart, will, iudgement, affection, conſcience, words, and workes, The God of peace ſanctifie you throughout: 1. Theſſ. 5.23.So that the minde, which by nature is full of blindneſſe and ignorance, is inlightened with the true knowledge of God, reuealed in his Word the will flyeth euil, and imbraceth that is good, the affections are purged from rebellion: yea, eueryevery part and faculty, both of body and ſoule is ſanctified: So that as wee hauehave giuen vp our members ſeruants of vnrighteouſneſſe to worke ſinne: Rom. 6.19.Now they become ſeruants of righteouſneſſe to holineſſe. Yea the body is now a fit Temple of the Holy-ghoſt, fit to performe all duties to GODS glory, and the edifying of our brethren. And therefore this muſt be remembred, that he he which is truely ſanctified, is wholy ſanctified throughout in ſoule and body.
Vſe 1 This ſhewes thouſands in the world to bee in a miſerable caſe: for (alas) they ſeeme to be religious, and yet are not truely ſanctified, for they liue in ſome ſinne or other with Herod, Mark. 6.2.they nouriſh in their boſomes many ſinfull and rebellious luſts and deſires.Note this well. Well, if thy tongue bee not ſanctified to ceaſe from ill words, and to ſpeake well, if thy hands, or eyes, or eares,Iames 1. &c. if thou be not ſanctified throughout, in eueryevery part, there is no true worke of grace, no ſound ſanctification, for where it is truely wrought, there will bee a change in all parts and powers of ſoule and body.
Vſe 2 Let vsus labour to bee aſſured of this bleſſed worke of Sanctification, in that wee finde our ſelues purgd throughout our mindes, will, affection, reaſon, conſcience, tongues, hands, feete, that we deny any ſeruice to ſin and Sathan, and doe willingly conſecrate all to God: for if we keep one part, and neglect another, it will not boote vsus no more then to ſet a ſtrong defence at one place of a Caſtle, and to neglect the reſt, or to ſhut one gate, and let the reſt ſtand open.
Notes to know whether this change is wrought in vsus or no.Now that wee may the better deſcerne our eſtate, whether the ſound worke of grace be wrought in vsus, or no, and whether God hath ſanctified our hearts truly or not, we ſhal know it by theſe three fruits of ſanctification, which are euer found in all them that be truely ſanctified.
Firſt a deteſtation and earneſt loathing of our former ſins, in which we hauehave delighted and taken pleaſure in, with an hearty louelove of righteouſneſſe and holineſſe, and newneſſe of life: ſo as wee are loath to offend God in any thing, and are moſt carefull to pleaſe him in all things, when as wee carry a purpoſe not to ſin, but can ſay; I delight in the Law of …d in the inward man, Rom. 7.22.though we fall by the infirmity of our owne fleſh.
Secondly, when wee finde in our ſelues that from this louelove of that is good, and hatred of euill, we find an earneſt deſire in our hearts to imbrace the one and to flye to other: ſo that from this deſire there ariſes a ſetled purpoſe in heart, and a carefull endeuour in life to mortifie our corrupt nature, to ſubdue the fleſh, and in time to come to frame our liues in all things, according to the rule of Gods holy word: and that we not onelyonly deſire this, but vſe all bleſſed meanes, Word, Sacrament, Prayer, meditation to performe it.
Thirdly, another fruite is this: namely, when as wee finde in vsus this deſire (to do well, and purpoſe, and hearty indeuour to kill ſinne, and to liue to God) is hindred by our ſpirituall enemies, the deuill, world, and the fleſh, that then wee finde a griefe of heart, a ſpirituall combat between the fleſh and the ſpirit, whereby wee ſtriue & ſtruggle to preuaile againſt our ſpirituall enemies, and to ouercome them: then there is wonderfull peace of conſcience, and ioy in the Holy Ghoſt.
Ʋſe. 2 Well then, let all men try themſelues whether God hath by his Spirit truly wrought the worke of Sanctification, or not. Firſt, doſt thou hate thy former ſins, and loath them as bane and poyſon, yea as the deuill himſelfe? and doth thy heart louelove good duties, holy and righteous, which before thou foundeſt bitter? Secondly, doſt thou deſire and indeuour to kill thy corruptions, to ſubdue and mortifie thy luſts and deſires? and doſt in deuour to frame thy life according to the rule of Gods word, and makeſt that thy ſole guide? Thirdly, doſt thou grieue at thy faults and infirmites, ſhunneſt the occaſions of ſin, and doſt wreſtle againſt all the temptations of Sathan? and doſt thou reioyce in nothing more then to preuaile and get the victory? Theſe bee good ſignes and fruits of Sanctification, but bee they wanting, thou canſt not be aſſured thou art truely ſanctified, or haſt any true worke of grace, as yet, wrought in thy heart.
[O GOD.]
HEnce we learne who is the Authour of this worke of Sanctification: Doctr. 4 God the Author of Sanctification.namely, it is the proper worke of the third perſon in Trinity, the holy Ghoſt, he doth ſanctifie the Elect:1. Theſ. 5.23. The very God of peace ſanctifie you throughout. The faithfull are begotten,Iohn. 1.13. Not of fleſh and bloud, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This worke of Sanctification cannot flow from our parents: For who can bring a cleane thing out of filthines: S. Ioh. 13. The new birth is not of bloud, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of man, but of Chriſt, who 1. Cor. 1.30 It made vntounto vsus ſanctification. Col. 1.19. In him are hid all the treaſures of it: Of whoſe fulneſſe wee receiue grace for grace. 1. Ioh. 16.
Againe it is ſaid:Eze. 36.26 A new heart will I giuegive them, and a new ſpirit will I put into them: And I will take away their ſtony hearts, and giuegive them hearts of fleſh. God the Father ſanctifieth in giuing his Sou Chriſt vntounto vsus: ſo Chriſt ſanctifieth in waſhing vsus from our ſins in his bloud: And the Holy Ghoſt in applying CHRIST IESVS his death and reſurrection to vsus. And thus the worke of Regeneration, or Sanctification is by GOD alone wrought i… the Elect.
Vſe. Well then, this ſhewes that man hath no freedome of will in heauenly things pertaining to Eternall Life: but all is of God, faith, ſaluation, life eternall, and comes from GOD, and therefore let vsus vſe all good meanes appointed of GOD, and ſeeke this at his hands, who alone can and will do it.
Now followes the ſecond part of the verſe:Part of this verſe. And renew a right Spirit within mee: Wherein Dauid craues grace from GOD to become a new creature, and withall that God wold inable him by his ſpirit to be faithful and conſtant in time to come, and therefore requires of God a ſtable Spirit, a firme Spirit: that is, not onelyonly a conſtant purpoſe to walke vprightly with GOD, but power and ſtrength from his Spirit to become faithfull and conſtant, as fearing his owne weakneſſe, if the Lord ſhould leaue him to himſelfe: For as GOD giues grace to obey, ſo he muſt giuegive grace to perſeuer. As if hee ſhould hauehave ſaid: O Lord thou haſt begunne this bleſſed work of regeneration & new Birth by thy holy Spirit: But I like a ſinfull wretch by ſin and rebellion hauehave hindred the ſame, and broken off the gracious worke of thy holy Spirit: Now I beſeech thee O Lord, lay to thy hand againe, and a freſh begin to renew the work of thy Spirit, euen the bleſſed worke of new Birth; and withall grant that in time to come I may be ſtrengthned in the inner man by thy holy Spirit, and may bee made thereby firme and conſtant to continue: yea, to grow and hold out to the end in holy obedience.
Doctr. 1 Marke that Dauid acknowledgeth he had broken off the worke of God his Spirit in him,Man by ſinning breakes of the worker of Sanctification. and interrupted the ſame, and hindred the worke of Sanctification by his ſinnes, and diſobedience. And therefore wee learne that after God hath touched a mans heart to repent, and ſanctified him by his Spirit, if hee ſinne and rebell againſt God, hee doth what lies in him to cut off the worke of grace, to hinder the work of his ſaluation, and breake off the gracious worke of Sanctification and new Birth; and if the Lord ſhould leaue him, hee ſhold fal cleane away from grace: for the Spirit of God is glad and ioyfull when as we are carefull to auoid all thoſe waies which offend God, and wound our ſoules, when we ſeeke to keep good hearts, faith vnfeigned, & a good conſcience; then the Spirit of God doth daily proceed with the worke of new Birth and Sanctification: but after we ſhall rebell againſt God, and comm… ſinne, we g…eue the holy Spirit of GOD, and vexe him that hee is compelled by our lewdneſſe, to leaue off the worke in the middeſt, becauſe wee ſuffer not our ſelues to bee wrought vponupon;Eph. 4.30. but we will follow our owne luſts and liking, and when the ſpirit of GOD ceaſeth to renue vsus and to beget our hearts to God, then there riſes blindneſſe of minde, ſo as we cannot conceiue and feele the louelove of God, as in Dauid: And then this gracious worke of the spirit being interrupted, there ariſes griefe and ſorrow of ſoule and conſcience.
Vſe 1 Well, ſeeing this is the fruite of our ſinnes, againſt knowledge and conſcience, they hinder the worke of grace and new birth, & interrupt the bleſſed worke of ſanctification, begun by Gods Spirit, & bring blindeneſſe of mind, and hardnes of heart: Oh then let vsus take heed of ſinne intreate the Lord that hee would giuegive vsus grace for euer to hide his word in our hearts, that wee might not ſinne againſt his Maieſty, and that he wold not leaue vsus to blindeneſſe of minde and hardneſſe of heart; but that hee would rather continue his louelove, and mercy vntounto vsus, and that his holy ſpirit would daily proceede with the bleſſed worke of Sanctification and renuing of our ſoules vntounto holineſſe and true righteouſneſſe.
Vſe 2 So often as we bee tempted to ſin, let vsus remember, that if we yeeld vntounto it, wee ſhall hinder the bleſſed work of Gods Spirit, hinder our new Birth and Sanctication, and thereby do what lies in our power to grieue the holy Spirit of God, and cauſe him to leaue off the bleſſed worke of regeneration.
Vſe 2 When Dauid intreates the Lord that hee would renue a conſtant and ſtable ſpirit in him,Good to feare our weaknes. he ſhewes that he was greatly affraid of his own weak neſſe, and therefore deſires ſtrength from God to hold out and perſeuer in obedience euen vntounto the end: that God would by his Spirit giuegive him a conſtant purpoſe & continuall indeuour both in heart and life to doe his will: and therefore we learne from him to ſuſpect our ſelues, to feare our owne weakenes and infirmity, if the Lord ſhould leaue vsus to our ſelues: Bleſſed is the man that feares alwaies, Pro. 28.14but hee that hardeneth his heart ſhall runne into all euill waies: For ſuch is our weaknes that we are ready to fal into the ſelfe fame ſinne from the which wee are eſcaped of the Lord doe but a little leaue vsus to our ſelues: This doth the Prophet teach: Pſalme 78. How oft d…d they prouoke him in the wildernes, and grieue him in the deſart: Thus did Pharaoh, Exod. 9. Chap. 27. I hauehave ſinned, and the LORD is righteous, but I and my people are ſinnefull: But when the Iudgement was remoued, his heart was hardened againe, and hee continued in his ſinne: Wee ſee this in the example of the Iſraelites: Iudges the third Chapter. They commiteed euill againe and againe, they fell into idolatry, they knew it was a ſinne, yea, and they had experience of Gods ſeueritie againſt it: for all that they fell againe into the ſame ſinne, and ſo prouoked the Lord to puniſh them. So Hebr. 6. Many ſinne againe after the receiuing and acknowledgement of the truth. So that except the Lord vpholde and holde men backe, they wil fall into the ſame ſinnes they before committed, and ſo prouoke the Lord afreſh to puniſh them.
O then let vsus feare our weakenes! If Dauid, a holy Prophet, a man after GODS heart, prayeth thus, that GOD would ſtabliſh him with his free Spirit, that is, giuegive him a conſtant purpoſe and indeuour to continue in obedience; how much more hauehave we need to do the ſame, knowing how weake we are, how many inticements wee hauehave to ſinne, how cunning the Diuell is, and vſeth the world and the fleſh as ſo many enemies to fight againſt vsus: well, let vsus feare the worſt, and doubt our weakneſſe, and it will make vsus more carefull to ſhun ſinne, and the occaſions of ſinne, for ſeldome ſhall a man fall into that ſinne which he doth truely feare to commit.
Ʋſe 4 As wee are to feare our owne weakenes, ſo wee muſt intreate the Lord, that he would neuer leaue vsus to our ſelues; but that hee would giuegive vsus his ſtable and conſtant ſpirit; or as Paul praies for, That God would ſtrengthen vsus by his ſpirit in the inner man: that wee might not onelie beginne well, but continue by conſtant perſeuerance in obedience all our dayes: for if the Lord leaue vsus, alas! we ſhal eaſily fall flat to the ground: euen as a ſtaffe in a mans hand, ſo long as it is ſtayed, it ſtands, but if it be left alone, it falls to the ground: ſo it is with vsus, and therefore let vsus not preſume of our owne ſtrength or power, but ſuſpect it, and pray to God to renue his conſtant and ſtable ſpirit in vsus.
Vſe 5 Heere is matter of great comfort to the children of GOD, that fall of weaknes and infirmitie into the ſame ſinnne after repentance; and ſuch is the deapth of Sathans temptations, that hee tells them that the children of God fall not into the ſame ſinne againe after their repentance; if they do, he then telleth them, that there is no place for a ſecond repentance: but this is falſe, for the promiſes of God are without limitation of times, or conſideration of ſinnes, or reſpect of perſons: hee will receiue to merciemercy all repentant ſinners, whether their ſinnes be committed before or after repentance, whether once or often; ſo that they renue their repentance, according as they hauehave ſinned anew. This pardon Chriſt himſelfe publiſheth, Matthew chap. 11. Come vntounto me all yee that are wearie, and are heauie laden, and I will refreſh you. Yea the Lord enjoyneth vsus ſinnefull men, Luke 17. To forgiue our brother ſeuentie times ſeuen times, if he turne againe, and ſay, it repenteth me: So that wee ſee this is a maruellous comfort to all ſuch as groane vnderunder the burden of ſinne, that hauehave fallen through infirmity into one ſin often; let not ſuch be diſcouraged, but aſſure themſelues, That albeit with Peter they fall often, yet if with him they repent truely, and weepe bitterly for their ſinnes, the Lord …s mercifull to forgiue them their ſins. Not that wee ſhould liue prowdly, preſumptouſly, ſtubbornely, and obſtinately againſt him: but if we fall through frailtie; for Pſalme 103. The Lord knoweth whereof wee be made: hee remembreth that wee are but dust.
Doctr. 3 When Dauid prayeth to be renued and to recouer his former feeling and comfort.Childe of God not alwaies at one ſtay. Hence we learne that the childe of GOD is not alwayes at one ſtay, but there is an entercourſe in the eſtate of a Chriſtian man or woman, ſometimes full of comfort, ioy, and peace of conſcience, and ſometimes againe heauy and ſad, yea full of ſorrow and perplexity, euen as a man in an ague, ſometimes ſicke, and ſomtimes wel: & as it is with trees, ſomtimes winter, and ſometimes ſummer: this is the ſtate of all Gods children, as Dauid, Ioſeph, Hezekias, Iob, &c. and continuall experience prooues this, that the eſtate of GODS children ebbes and flowes, hath their change: when as they walke directly and vprightly with God, then they hauehave peace and comfort, but when they ſtart aſide and commit ſome ſinne, then they finde torments of conſcience and griefe of mind.
Vſe 1 This ſhewes vsus what is the eſtate and condition of the childe of God in this life: Hee is not heere ſo ſanctified, as that hee feeles no corruption of ſinne to hang about him, but rather ſuch a one as feels the burden of his corruptions hindering him in this his courſe of Chriſtianity, vnderunder which he ſighes and groanes, labouring by all good meanes to bee disburdened. Indeed it is matter of great comfort to feele the graces of Gods Spirit, as faith, louelove, &c. but no childe of God can alwayes feele the comfort of grace; but as fire that is raked vp in the Aſhes, it is hidde from his feeling for a time, but at length it will breake out againe to his great ioy and comfort.
Vſe 2 Wel, ſeeing this is the ſtate of Gods children heere, that ſometimes they find great peace and comfort, ſometimes great griefe and ſorrow, let vsus not be too much diſcouraged; but rather whenas by our falls and ſlips, wee hauehave weakened our comfort: let vsus intreate the Lord to renue our comfort againe; let vsus doe as a poore traueller, if hee miſſe his way, and goe out of it, hee will haſten into it againe, and trudge, and plucke vp his heels to recouer that he hath loſt; ſo let vsus, when we hauehave ſinned and gone out of the way, make haſte to returne, and as a man that hath beene long ſicke, and growne feeble and weake, will vſe all meanes to gather vp his crummes, and to recouer his former ſtrength againe: ſo let vsus when wee hauehave loſt ſome part of our comfort and heauenly ſtrength: let vsus (I ſay) vſe all bleſſed means, to recouer our former health and comfort againe; let vsus pray much, reade much, heare much, and meditate much; let vsus bewayle our former ſlouth, and make more vpright ſteps in time to come, to GODS Kingdome.
Doctr. 4 Note hence, that it is a ſpeciall fruit and marke of a ſanctified heart,A purpoſe not to ſin, the marke of a ſanctified hart. and of the minde renewed to hauehave a right Spirit, that is, a purpoſe not to ſin, but in all things to pleaſe GOD, and to doe his will, to walke with GOD in all his commaundements: whereas of the contrary, when a man hath a purpoſe to liue in any knowne ſinne;Pſa. 50.17 Marke 6.2 it is a fearefull and manifeſt ſigne of a naughty and wicked heart: for when the heart is truly ſanctified, then will be wrought this right ſpirit not to ſinne in any thing: I doe not ſay, that the man ſanctified and regenerate, doth not ſinne at all; but he hath not purpoſe to ſinne, no delight in ſinne, but beareth a conſtant purpoſe in all things to pleaſe God: when he can ſay with Dauid, I hauehave refrained my feet from eueryevery euill way: Gen. 17.1. Pſa. 18.23 1. Ioh. 3.9 Gen. 39.9Againe, Hee that is borne of God ſinneth not, that is, with full purpoſe of heart, with delight in ſinne, and as they purpoſe, ſo they indeuour it, they are afraide and ſuſpect themſelues, ſhunne the occaſions of ſin, ſtriue againſt their corruptions and Sathans temptations.
Vſe. 1 This doctrine doth euidently conuince the greateſt number to be ſuch as neuer had the true worke of Sanctification wrought in them: their hearts be not ſanctified, their minds be not renewed. Why? namely, becauſe they want this marke and fruit of a ſanctified hart. For though they heare of their ſinnes, be told of them and the fearefull iudgement of God denounced againſt them: yet they will not leaue them, nor forſake them, but will continue in them, yea thogh it coſt them the loſſe of Gods fauour, and the loſſe of their owne ſoules. Let vsus not deceiue our ſelues; let vsus trie our harts by this rule whether they be ſanctified, or not: doſt thou find a diſlike of all ſinne, and an hatred of them? haſt thou a conſtant and reſolute purpoſe no more to ſin againſt thy God wittingly and willingly, haſt thou a reſolute purpoſe, by the grace of God, to walke before him all thy dayes? This is a ſigne of an vpright heart, and that it is ſanctified: but doſt thou finde no ſuch reſolution, no ſuch purpoſe, but rather contrarie a purpoſe to runne on in thy olde ſins, thou wilt continue in them, let God and men ſay and doe what they can, in lying, ſtealing, drunkennes, whordome, ignorance, contempt of the word, &c. ſay what thou wilt, profeſſe what thou wilt, it is a cleare caſe thy heart is naught, it is filthy, not ſanctified: for it is impoſſible that a man ſhould hauehave true repentance, and an heart truly ſanctified, and to keepe a purpoſe to liue in his knowne ſins. And therefore it conuinceth all ſuch to bee impenitent ſinners and notorious hypocrites: yea if they leaue many ſins, and yet purpoſe to liue in one, it argueth the heart is not ſanctified:Marke 6. Matth. 28. Herod left many, yet liued in couetouſneſſe.
Ʋſe. 2 This Doctrine may ſerue for the comfort of Gods children, who are much grieued for their ſins and infirmities, when they faile & come ſhort of good duties, and ſometimes ſtart aſide, as ſaith S. Iames, In many things we ſinne all, and the iuſt man falls ſeuen times; but if thou canſt truly ſay, it is againſt my purpoſe, I hate the ſinne I commit; I condemne it; I had no purpoſe to doe it, my deſire was to pleaſe GOD, then thou maieſt hauehave comfort, thy heart is ſound; God wil not condemne thee for it,Mal. 3.17. The Lord will ſpare his children as a father his only ſonne. A child is going to Schoole, and his purpoſe is ſo to doe; in the way he fals into ſome company, and ſtaies there too long, and playes the truant, but it is againſt his purpoſe: euen ſo the childe of God purpoſeth to ſerue God, and to pleaſe him in all things, hath no purpoſe to ſinne, but by ſome temptation of the Diuell, or allurement of the world, hee is ouertaken, I do the euil I would not, Rom. 7.I cannot doe the good I would, but I delight in the Law of God concerning the inner man: This is Pauls comfort, and this is the comfort of all Gods children, if they can truly ſay, I doe the euill I would not, I delight in the law of God, that GOD will accept the will for the deede.
[Renue or refreſh a right ſpirit in mee.]
AS if the ſhould hauehave ſaid, O Lord I hauehave (by my ſins) dimmed thy graces in me, yea euen quenched and extinguiſhed them, and almoſt put them cleane out; but Lord I beſeech thee renue thy graces in me: Refreſh them. Euen as we ſee a lamp when all the oyle is ſpent, it winkes, and is almoſt extinguiſhed till it bee renued and refreſhed with oyle, then it burneth againe and giues light.
Doctr. 5 Hence we learne what is the curſed nature of ſin,Sin quenches grace as water doth fire. and the great power of it; namely, it is as a poole of water caſt on the fire, which if it do not quench, and extinguiſh, and put out all, yet it greatly allayes the heat of it: Euen ſo the graces of GODS ſpirit in his children, alas they be but weake and ſmall: but ſinne is as a poole of colde water, to quench the heat and comfort of them. Dauid, was wont to delight in Gods ſeruice, to be forward thereunto: but ſinne did ſo coole him, that he could hauehave little ioy in it now: Demas was forward a while, but the world choked him ſo that he left Chriſt, and Chriſt biddes the Church of Sardy to be awake, and to ſtrengthen the things that are ready to die in them; and the Laodiceans grew neither hote nor cold, by reaſon of their pride & carnall ſecuritie:Reuel. 3.3 Reuel. 2. ſo is the church of Epheſus reprooued, for that ſhee had loſt her firſt louelove: So the Apoſtle S. Iames reſembleth and compareth ſin to Childe-bearing for the fruitefulneſſe of it, Iames 1.15. Luſt when it hath conceiued, it bringeth foorth ſinne, and ſinne when it is finiſhed, it bringeth foarth death. 1. Cor. 5.6. Likewiſe it is compared to leauen that leaueneth the whole lumpe, and therefore no maruell though it proceed by little and little from one degree to an other.
Vſe 1 When we ſee ſome men who hauehave been forward, & hauehave taken delight in good things, now grow cold and loſe their firſt louelove, this is a flat ſigne, that ſome ſin or other hath ſtole vponupon them, they either fall in louelove with the world, delights, pleſures, profits, preferments, or elſe ſecuritie poſſeſſe their ſoules, pride, idlenes, ſlouth, ſecurity, couetouſnes, pleſure, ſome ſin or other hath bewitched them: and therfore let all ſuch as find thēſelues thus decaying in grace, faith, cōfort, care and conſcience, let them ſuſpect themſelues, and think all is not well, let them ſearch and find the cauſe of their decay, and it is ſinne, ſome ſin or other hath crept vponupon them.
Vſe. 2 How ſhould this make vsus afraide of ſin, ſeeing it hath ſo woful effects, which is to quench the comfort and graces of Gods holy Spirit in vsus, it duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page blindes our eyes, that we cannot ſee what is good and euill, it hardeneth the heart, that a man can not relent and mourne for his ſins, and bee moued with Gods iudgements, it bringeth a decay & eclipſe of Gods graces: men are afraid to doe any thing that might hinder their health or wealth, how much more the health and happines of their ſoules! Let vsus therefore alwayes keepe a diligent watch ouer our ſoules; let vsus ſeeke to cut off all occaſions to euill, and indeuour to ſtop the firſt beginning: for the more ſin groweth to an head, the more the ſpirit of God is quenched, the worke of grace is diminiſhed, and the aſſurance of our comfort is weakened and leſſened.
Ʋſe 3 When we find any decay in louelove, zeale, faith, knowledge, repentance, obedience, &c. O then let vsus labour to be renued to recouer our former eſtate againe;Reuel. 2.1 2. Tim. 1.5 Doe thy firſt workes againe, awake and ſtrengthen the things ready to die. Stirre vp euen as a ſparke of fire in aſhes, blow it vp; ſo muſt we vſe all means whereby we may hauehave the worke of grace renued in vsus.
Meanes for the increaſe of grace▪1 We muſt attend vponupon the word of God preached, for as that is the meanes to beget faith, ſo it is to encreaſe it and renue it.
2 Wee muſt reade and meditate much, call our liues to account, and be ſory for our decayes, and labour to repaire them euen as a ſhip when it leakes! or a Citty when the walles be battered.
3 Wee muſt with Dauid pray often and earneſt vntounto God to renew a right ſpirit in vsus.